Love Behind the Shadows
Chapter Sixteen: Crisp Winter Evenings
Another day slipped through the cool, flowing draperies of the newly decorated room, chasing away the dark murky blackness that had set in the night before, and casting a warm glow about everything within its walls. A mass of stunning red curls lye strewn about a plush pillow, a freckle coated face hiding beneath the fiery curtain. The sun's glistening rays beat down on the red-head, causing her to shift slightly in her sleep due to the new found warmth. A sudden, groggy groan split through the air, accompanied by a cheerful giggle.
"Draco … stop it." Ginny pleaded sleepily, a bright smile adorning her lips.
Draco only smiled, ignoring her request, continuing to tickle her lower stomach.
"Draco!" Ginny groaned, her eyes still closed, and a smile still playing across her lips.
"Ginny." Draco replied, teasingly mimicking her girly voice.
"Stop it." She demanded, holding back a giggle as he lightly tickled her once more.
"Fine, fine. Bloody hell women, you're no fun." He retorted, turning over on his side, his arms leaving Ginny's petite figure.
Ginny laughed outright, reaching over her shoulder and slapping him playfully. "Oh sod off."
Draco chuckled, settling back down into the sheets. "Oh really? Is that what you want?"
"Mhm." Ginny mumbled, turning over and sliding over against Draco's back.
Draco smirked, and then suddenly he slid from the bed, standing straight, and wrapped a sheet around his muscular frame. Ginny's eyes flew wide, as a gush of cool air washed over her body.
"Draco!" She shrieked, her hands shooting towards a sheet, and yanking it up over her body.
The blonde turned, gazing at Ginny with a skeptical look. "Yes?" he questioned, raising a brow.
"I-I … ummmm." She stuttered, her mouth opening and closing like a fish as she stared dreamily at Draco's exposed chest.
"Yes, Gin?" Draco questioned, his brows slowly beginning to knit together in a frown.
The Gryffindor blinked numerous times before she was able to regain a normal state of being. "Ummmm, wha-what are you doing?" she questioned, gulping visibly.
Draco smirked, noticing as her eyes grazed his well built chest. "Isn't this what you wanted? For me to, 'sod off'?"
Ginny frowned, her previous words smacking her violently across the face. "Oh … that. I didn't-what I mean is-I … ummmm."
Draco grinned, watching Ginny ramble on continuously, spouting out words like a fish before finally he felt bad for letting her make such a fool of herself. In one swift motion, Draco scooped up a pillow, and shoved it at Ginny, hitting her square in the face. Her rambling ceased almost at once, as she peered over the plush edges of the pillow, glaring at Draco annoyed. Gripping the pillow she tore it from her face, tossing it carelessly onto the floor.
"What was that for?" she demanded, fire dancing in her eyes.
Draco smirked; he loved that look she got when she was angry, the way her eyes lit up with loathing so fiery. "You were rambling on like my mother, consider it a favor."
Ginny's brow furrowed, knitting together tightly. "A favor?"
Draco sighed, "Only one who knew my mother would understand. You see, she has a tendency to … well, ramble."
Ginny's frown fell loose from her face, and she raised a skeptical brow. "Oh, I see … so I was rambling?"
Draco nodded, "Precisely."
Ginny got quiet, her brain racking itself silly for a decent comeback; unfortunately for her, her brain lacked such a comeback. "Well … I … ummmm … I'm sorry for annoying you with my rambling." She drawled sarcastically, turning over on her side.
An annoyed sigh split through the air and the next thing Ginny knew the bed was dipping down low, accompanied by a set of muscular arms wrapping securely around her.
"Gin … I was only teasing." Draco reasoned. "Even though you were rambling," he paused, as Ginny's body tensed slightly. "But, that's not the point."
"It's fine Draco …" Ginny murmured, turning the tables for her own good; if she was too get Draco's soft side out, she would have to act as if she was mad at him, it was the only way to bring out his sweet side.
Another sigh slipped through Draco's lips, "Gin-"
"Draco, it's fine … really."
"Ginny, I was only-"
"Teasing. I know."
"Well then-" he sighed.
Ginny smirked inwardly, knowing her goal was almost complete. "What?" she asked innocently.
"Nothing …" he mumbled.
Ginny turned in his arms, her front pressing flush against his own. "What is it Draco?" she questioned again, her chocolate orbs piercing into his shimmering, icy pools.
Draco's eyes darted desperately, trying to ignore the fact that a gorgeous red-head was lying in his arms. "It's nothing Ginny." He answered flatly.
Ginny's mind spun with thoughts, Hmmm … this is tougher than I thought. He's not opening up as easily as I expected. Maybe-Oh! I've got it. A smirk slipped across her lips, her eyes twinkling dangerously. Draco, who had been gazing at her intently, noticed the new demeanor and he himself acquired a smirk of his own. He knew that look all to well.
"Gin …" he warned, knowing what she was up to.
Reaching up Ginny silenced him with a lone finger, her smirk widening by the second. "Shhhh." She whispered airily.
Then slowly, she traced his lips with her finger, and continued down his neck until she reached his chest, there she skimmed her finger nails across his firm abs gently. A low groan echoed throughout the room, and Ginny's watched as Draco's eyes fluttered closed.
"Ginny …" he moaned, pleadingly. "Ginny, you-"
"Draco … shut up." Ginny said with a giggle.
Draco's lips curled into a smile, and in one swift motion, he pulled Ginny atop his body. The red-head giggled some more, her smile seeming to brighten up the room with each second.
"Shut up?" he questioned, his fingers skating across her sides in a tickling motion.
Ginny continued to sputter out giggles like mad, "Draco! Draco! Stop!" she sputtered out through all her laughter.
"What was that?" he asked dumbly, a smirk working it's way on his lips.
"I said-"
"What?"
"I said s-"
"Huh? What did you say?"
"DRACO!" Ginny screamed, still giggling.
The blonde's fingers suddenly came to a halt, a smile plastered upon his lips. "Yes?" he asked, a platinum brow raised.
"I said, stop." Ginny replied smirking.
"Oh … sorry, I'm getting a bit hard of hearing." He countered.
"That could be but, personally I think you just have selective hearing." The red-head smirked, feeling quite accomplished.
"Ahhh, you do, do you?"
Ginny nodded, still smirking.
"Oh well, that might be the case."
Ginny giggled, and buried her head in the crook of his shoulder. Draco smiled, as her warm breath beat down against his bare skin, and he wrapped his arms around her lower back.
"Hmmmm … this is nice …" Ginny hummed approvingly, peeking up from his shoulder, and resting her head against his chest.
"What?" Draco asked teasingly.
Ginny swatted at him playfully, "Oh sod off."
Draco shifted slightly, and almost instantly Ginny's grip on him tightened. "I was teasing, you know just kidding."
"Oh, I see."
Ginny smiled, and moved to lay her head back down once more but, not before she caught site of the small clock sitting graciously beside a dim lamp.
Her eyes widened, "Oh no …" she whispered, her eyes becoming stricken with horror.
Draco looked at her, confusion apparent in his crystal like eyes. "What is it?"
Ginny scrambled from the bed, her legs tangling in the sheets, causing her to tumble to the ground with a loud 'thump'.
"Ginny!" Draco sprang up, wrapping a sheet around his bare figure, as he walked towards her. "What in blazes are you doing women?" he demanded.
"I have to go!" she hissed, snatching up her bra from the floor, and slipping into it.
"Wha-why?"
"Because, my family has no idea where I am and if they are to find out I was with you-oh merlin!" she rambled worriedly, pushing herself from the floor, and scurrying about the room in search of her cloths.
"So you're just going to leave?" Draco demanded.
Ginny nodded, throwing her sweater over her upper body before looking in his direction. "Draco I'm so sorry … I never imagined it this way, trust me. But, I just," she sighed. "I have to go."
Draco sighed, and leaned against the wall continuing to watch as she picked up each and every item of clothing, hurriedly putting them on. Finally, she was fully dressed, and before he knew it she was heading towards the door. But, before she could leave, he caught her in a fiery kiss.
Ginny pulled away, out of breath due to the amount of intensity and force put into that single kiss. "I love you." She whispered.
Draco smiled, pushing a stray curl from her eyes, and behind her ear. "I love you too, Gin."
Placing one last kiss to his cheek, Ginny dashed through the door and down the steps. Draco, now alone in the room, made his way over towards the window. Pushing the curtain aside, he watched her race across the yard and over near a tree, then in the blink of an eye she was gone.
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Ginny hurried across the long, rolling field, her feet meeting with the snow in a 'crunching' sound as she walked. Her thoughts were whirling, a mass of jumbled up worries and concerns. What happens if they've been looking for me for ages? What do I say to them? How am I going to explain my absence? Suddenly, through her haze of thoughts, she heard the distant, faint sound of someone calling her name. Her eyes flickered up, darting back and forth across the field like the snitch during a quidditch game, when suddenly she caught site of a troubled looking Harry, barreling directly for her.
"Harry-"
A sudden gasp split through the cold, crisp winter air, as Harry's lips met Ginny's passionately. His arms coiled around her small waist, bringing her closer towards him, and his tongue swept out across her bottom lip begging for entry, to which Ginny unwilling gave. Her eyes were slammed shut, dreadfully hoping the tears stinging her eyes, would not spill out onto the frozen ground. Harry, continued to kiss her roughly, his emotions overcoming him, when suddenly an un-known waft of scent filled his nostrils.
A frown knit at his brows, and he pulled away slightly, his warm breath beating against Ginny's rosy cheeks.
"Ginny," he began cautiously. "What is-"
"Harry, I'm so sorry!" Ginny shrieked hurriedly. "I-I … well, you see I got lost in the woods during my walk. And-"
"Bloody hell Gin! Slow down!" Harry demanded, cutting off Ginny's further rambling.
Ginny's lips fell shut, her voice coming to a halt.
"Now, what was this about you getting lost?" Harry asked skeptically.
Just as Ginny opened her mouth to explain, her mother's plump figure came scurrying out of the house.
"Ginny dear, is that you?" she sang.
Ginny smiled inwardly, thanking merlin for her mother's blessed timing. "Yes mum, it's me!" Ginny called, waving in order to distract her mother's full attention.
"Oh, there you are dear! Merlin, aren't you two freezing? Come inside right this instant, before you catch a cold!" Her mother commanded.
Ginny sighed, "Coming mum!" She replied, moving to shuffle off towards the house.
But a sudden hand shot out, preventing her from going any further. "Ginny, I-"
"Harry, can't we talk about this later? I'm cold, and my nose is numb … I just want to go inside." The red-head moaned, pulling off a wonderful show.
Harry nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets casually. "Right, right … sorry."
Ginny smiled weakly, then side stepping Harry, she made her way towards the burrow. Harry watched her fiery curls swaying side to side, the way her hips moved slightly as she walked, a sly smirk slid its way onto his lips.
"Harry?"
The Gryffindor shook himself awake, "I'm coming Gin." He replied, and began weaving his way through the snow towards the Weasley's humble abode.
Thank merlin he's so oblivious. Ginny thought, as she reached the front door. Otherwise-oh I don't even want to think about it. Her thoughts came to a halt as her mother bustled over towards her, dragging her over to the table, where a large bowl of soup awaited her.
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After Ginny's filling bowl of soup, she wandered up to her room, and got comfortable on her bed. She smiled, leaning back on the plush pillows, and let her mind drift off to the memories of the night before. A sudden longing pulled at her heart, and she fought the desire to apparate back to Draco. Sooner than expected, Ginny's thoughts carried her off, and she fell into a deep state of sleep.
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Later that evening, Hermione arrived, as she had decided to stay for the remainder of the holiday, and Mrs. Weasley prepared a rather large meal for the family. The group ate, and caught up on minor things that had happened over the course of Christmas vacation. Eventually, everyone had left the table with overly loaded stomachs, and the strong desire to get a good night's sleep, leaving Ginny and her mother to finish up the dishes. As Ginny stacked four plates atop a large dish, her mother began to strike up conversation; a conversation which she had dreaded for quite sometime.
"So, you and Harry are certainly serious about your relationship." She stated, flicking soap onto a dish with her wand, and watching as it scrubbed itself clean.
"Mhm." Ginny stated flatly, carrying the dishes to the sink, and placing them beneath the steaming hot water.
"He's a wonderful boy, Harry is. So sweet, and very polite." Mrs. Weasley said, fondness spouting from each word.
Ginny turned her back, almost immediately rolling her eyes. Bloody hell mum. She sighed. If only she knew how truly oblivious the boy is! Ginny thought annoyed.
"Yes, he is quite the charmer isn't he?" Ginny replied, playing along with her mothers little game.
Molly smiled brightly, turning towards her youngest child. "I'm so glad you picked him Ginny, instead of some oaf. Merlin, would that be trouble!" She laughed to herself, and glanced over her shoulder at the blank table. "Alright Ginny dear, that's all I needed. Thank you."
Ginny smiled, "Your welcome mum." She answered sweetly.
Ginny turned up the steps, making her way towards her room. She was desperately in need of a walk, it was the only thing keeping her sane, even though it was quite tempting to wander off, and end up apparating to Draco once again. Pushing her door open, she snatched up her coat from the bed, and slid into it. Then hurriedly throwing her hair up into a messy ponytail, she moved towards the door but, a sudden 'hoot' rang out causing her to halt almost instantly. Peering over her shoulder, she caught site of one of the most beautiful owls she had ever seen. He was almost as dark as the midnight sky, with piercing yellow eyes, which glowed like the moon itself.
Slowly, she eased her door closed, and then with curiosity pulling at her every whim she made her way across her room to the window. She stood there taking in the glorious creature for a moment, and almost lost herself to her thoughts, when a loud 'hoot' split through the air once more. Shaking her thoughts clear of her mind, she opened the latch on the window, and stepped aside to give the owl entry.
Before she knew it, the owl had swooped in dropped a letter on her bed, and the flew right back out the window. Ginny's brows knit together in a deep frown, and she hurried over to the bed snatching up said letter. Her fingers worked there magic with the parchment, tearing it open quickly before diving in the envelope, and fishing out the letter itself. Hurriedly, she unfolded the letter, and the moment her eyes met the text they welled with emotion.
"Draco …" she breathed, a smile slipping across her lips.
Ginny's brown orbs scanned the text hurriedly, her smile faltering more and more with every word.
Ginny,
I hate writing to you, only to bring you horrible news but, I think its best you know. I went to another death eaters meeting last night, and the information made clear was certainly not pleasant. The bloody idiots have perfected a way to break into Hogwarts. Crazy as it seems, it's liable. Now, normally I wouldn't be concerned but, seeing as this plan seems to be serious, I'm a bit worried. They've planned on hitting Hogwarts the day all the students return to the school how well that will work out I don't know. But, please Ginny, please be careful. I don't know what I would do should something happen to you. I love you.
Draco
Tears pricked at Ginny's eyes, causing her to rub at them furiously. "Bloody emotions." She muttered, folding the letter back up, and gripping it tightly in her hand.
This new found information was certainly not what she had expected to hear, and were most definitely what she wanted hear either. With a heavy heart, she dropped the letter airily to the bed, and set about going on that walk she had desperately needed to endure. As she neared the door, she glanced over her shoulder for one last look at the letter before exiting the room completely.
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Hermione bustled down the hall, muttering to herself, mainly of all the things whirling around in her head. She had been considering approaching Ginny all night, confronting her with what she had been contemplating the past few weeks. But, she neither had found the right time, or the right way to phrase said words. Finally, after thinking on the subject up in her room, she came up with a solution, and was now going to put her plan into action.
"Ginny?" She knocked lightly on the door.
Silence.
Hermione frowned, and knocked once more. "Gin? Are you in here?"
Silence.
Sighing, Hermione pushed open the door and entered. "Ginny I-"
Her words hitched in her throat, as she caught site of a letter lying carelessly on Ginny's mattress. Curiosity gleamed in her eyes, and she contemplated reading it or not. But, soon enough the desire to know its contents became unbearable and she hurried over towards the letter, snatched it up and began scanning the text. A sudden gasp split through the air, and the letter cascaded to the floor airily.
"Oh my …" Hermione whispered, rushing out of the room quickly.
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Finally! It's finished, chapter sixteen is complete! YAYAYA! Haha. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it, please review! And thanks a ton for still sticking with the story even when I was hopeless at updating!
