Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. I do however own a lot of boxes. My house is full of them! Moving is so not enjoyable. I'm open to offers from professional packers!

Okay guys, this might be a new record. Four chapters in four days! And at such a pivotal moment in the story too. I won't keep you from it! Go and read my lovelies!

Without further ado…

Chapter 20

Ginny POV

We had found out just the day before that there was someone the Order had taken in that needed a safe-house placement. Seeing as Ron, Harry and Hermione did not join me at the hell that was Aunt Muriel's, we had the space. Depending on who it was, it would be a welcome distraction. If this new person was old and cranky like Aunt Muriel however, I may just take my chances on the streets.

I was preparing dinner when I heard Aunt Muriel call from the sitting room where she'd been waiting impatiently for her new houseguest. I charmed a spoon to stir the sauce I was working on, my own homemade spaghetti sauce made from fresh tomatoes and herbs picked from the garden, before taking off my apron and tossing it on the counter. I prayed silently the entire way to the sitting room for our new houseguest to at least be tolerable.

"Come on girl!" I hard Aunt Muriel call again, impatient.

"I'm right here," I said, turning the corner into the sitting room. Any further words stuck in my throat as I came to a dead stop in the doorway. The newest member of our little household was standing still by the fireplace, deep silver eyes glued on me.

We stood there for a long moment, neither moving, neither speaking. Was this real or had I fallen asleep while cooking? This would be a new dream. But I knew I wasn't dreaming, this was too real. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Draco. Draco was here. I wanted to weep with joy. I wanted to slap his perfect face. I wanted to run away.

So I did the only logical thing I could: I ran. Turning on my heel I dashed through the house to the back door, making a beeline for the garden. I sank to my knees in the soft earth, taking in deep, gasping breaths. How was he here? What purpose would that serve? He had to have been put through rigorous interrogation before Kingsley would have allowed him into a safe-house, so theoretically it meant he was on our side now. But it didn't make sense! He had proved his alliance when he'd let Death Eaters in to the school four months ago.

I knew I needed to go back inside, needed to face this. I just didn't think I could stay composed in the same room as him. Feelings I had tried to push down almost a year ago came flooding back like a tidal wave breaking over me. Love, anger, distrust, sorrow. Tears stung my eyes and I was so lost in my own head that I didn't hear the footsteps approaching me.

"Ginny?" his voice was soft, unsure.

I looked up from the plants that surrounded me and into those stormy eyes that had the ability to pierce me to my soul. "What are you doing here?" I choked out, not even trying to get to my feet. I doubted my legs would hold me at the moment.

Since I didn't rise, he joined me at my level, kneeling down in front of me. "Running away," he said with a soft sigh. I didn't know how to respond. My silence prompted him to continue. "Look, I know you don't trust me and it will take time to earn that, if I'm even ever able to do so. I've done a lot in the past I'm not proud of. I'll never forgive myself for hurting you, for doing everything I've done. But I'm here because I couldn't stand another second living the life I'd been. I'm done with it, done with it all. I'd rather hide here for the rest of the war than raise my wand against an innocent person again."

I could hear the determination and the sorrow in his voice. But I had fallen for his silken words once, would I let myself do so again? I wanted to believe him, wanted to trust him, but my heart had been too hurt to allow me to. "You're right that I don't trust you," I finally said, my voice hardly more than a whisper. The words hurt to say. "I did that once and look what happened."

Tears blurred my vision as I clambered to my feet, needing to get away from him. He let me go without a word and I made it back inside before he'd even risen to his feet. I made my way back into the kitchen where the spoon was still stirring the pot on its own. Needing to keep myself busy, I dropped the pasta I had made earlier into a pot of water, setting another spoon to stir it too.

"What in the world is wrong with you?" I heard the sharp voice of my aunt demand from the doorway.

"Sorry Aunt Muriel," I said automatically, not turning to look at her. She would be able to tell I'd been crying. "Seeing him caught me off guard. We went to school together and we didn't exactly part on good terms." I would give her no more detail than that.

"Well you were very rude. I suggest you make friendly with him and get over whatever happened in the past. I don't need two teenagers bickering night and day under this roof. Now, when will dinner be ready?" She changed topics in the blink of an eye and I was glad for it.

"Soon, the noodles have to cook for a few minutes but the sauce is done. I'll serve in in the dining room in probably ten minutes." The task had fallen to me to cook ever since I got here. I didn't mind though. I loved cooking and, after growing up with Mum's food, suffering through Aunt Muriel's cooking was like walking across hot coals.

"Good," she said, waddling away on slipper clad feet.

Draco didn't try and talk to me again. He was sitting in the dining room when I brought the food it but he said nothing beyond thank you. Aunt Muriel, having a new victim to subject to her long-winded stories, launched into one of her rambles. Draco nodded politely and spoke only when necessary. His eyes kept straying over to me though, I could feel his gaze each time.

I kept my eyes on my plate and ate quickly, wanting to get out of there. I'd deal with the dishes tomorrow, I decided. I wanted nothing more than to escape to my room and crawl under the covers. As soon as possible, I excused myself and dashed up the stairs despite the disapproving glare from my aunt. The door closed with a satisfying click as I shut myself in.

Downstairs I could hear Aunt Muriel's voice drift up as she explained to her new guest where everything was and to keep out of her room. If Draco replied, his voice was soft enough not to carry this far. I did however hear the footsteps as he ascended the stairs and found his new bedroom. Thankfully he didn't open my door. I didn't know if I could handle being around him anymore right now. My poor heart was already having a heck of a time processing everything I was feeling.

As I lay down in bed that night I couldn't shake the thought that, just across the hall, Draco was there. It took all my will power not to break down and knock on his door. The later it got in the night, the more I longed to do so. I wanted to just blindly believe that he had truly changed, that he sincerely did regret what had happened. Maybe he ever had really felt something for me last year, not just pretended for that stupid bet.

Finally, fitfully, I slept. Like each night before, I was not spared the dreams that hunted me. This time it wasn't a nightmare, it was the good dream. The love I had for the Draco in my dreams overwhelmed me and the peace of the dream settled over me. Life in that dream was perfect. I woke when dream Draco fell asleep. For the first couple of seconds, the peace that had filled my dream lingered. Then reality seeped back in and, like each night before, I began to weep at the loss of what could have been.

Draco POV

Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the turn of events my life was suddenly taking. To say I had been shocked to my core to see the small redhead in the doorway of that unfamiliar room was an understatement. My heart leapt and my stomach dropped and I couldn't tear my eyes away from her face. The last time I had seen her had been in the middle of one of the worst moments of my life. It had been even longer before that, that I had been this close to her. She had avoided me ever since Blaise walked in on us and she found out about the bet. Had it really been a year ago?

The look on her face told me everything I needed to know. She had not forgiven me. After a long, agonizing moment, she turned and ran. My heart ached, knowing I was the one causing her pain. I had tried to apologize once, months after that disastrous night. She was angry and shut me down quickly, not letting me speak. I wanted to tell her that I loved her, that I hadn't meant to hurt her. I wanted to tell her that stupid bet meant nothing to me, that what we had shared was real.

Until that point, I had left her alone because it was obvious she hated me for what I did. I gave her that space, gave her what she evidently wanted. But after months alone, working endlessly on the impossible task I had been set and hating myself every minute, I broke down. I wanted to be selfish and talk to her, to try and make her understand. I needed that ray of light back in my life, the peace she brought me.

After that meeting in the library, I retreated into myself and left her alone. I didn't try and talk to her again, though I longed to every moment. She had opened my heart, making me feel things I had never felt before. I doubt if anyone else would ever be able to touch my heart like she had. I had fallen in love with her, even as I was losing her. I would never forgive myself.

The large woman, Ginny's aunt, I realize, was taking. I nodded, not really hearing her words. "Excuse me," I said, trying to be polite but not really caring what this woman thought of me as I walked away, following the direction Ginny had gone. The hall ended at a door leading to the back yard. I opened the door into the twilight of the evening. She was there, in the corner of the yard amongst a variety of plants.

My heart squeezed in my chest when I saw her kneeling in the dirt, crying. I knew I had to try and talk to her, even if she hated me. I had to show her I was sorry, that I would do what I needed to, to earn back her trust. This unforeseen turn of events might be the biggest stroke of luck I ever hand. I would not let it go to waste. I would prove to Ginny that I loved her. If it was possible, I would win her heart back.

Her large, tear-filled eyes bore up at me distrustfully, the wall she had thrown up between us palpable. She didn't let me talk for long, taking the first opportunity to escape my presence she could, rushing back inside. She sat through dinner for only a short period of time before escaping upstairs. How would I ever be able to earn her trust if she forever ran away from me?

I listened to my host as she droned on and on, nodding when needed an excusing myself as soon as was polite. She instructed me as to where my room was and told me to not go in hers. That would be an easy rule to follow. I bade her goodnight and, after grabbing my small bag from the other room, headed up the stairs, going to the door on the right side of the hall and opening it. The bedroom was small, but better furnished than the one I'd stayed in at Kingsley's. The bed at least was a bit bigger and there was a dresser on one wall.

I unpacked the few things I owned and changed into some hand-me-down pajama pants. They at least fit well, even if they weren't the quality I was used to. As I lay down for sleep that night, I couldn't shake the feeling I needed to be across the hall with Ginny. I couldn't fall asleep, couldn't stop my racing mind long enough to. Eventually, I gave up on sleeping altogether. Standing, I made my way out into the hall and stopped in front of her door. Beyond, I could hear the faint creak of her bed as she tossed and turned.

This was as close as I could allow myself, so I slid to the floor beside the door, listening to the faint sounds of her sleeping. It eased my mind a little, and I eventually closed my eyes. I drifted off, dozing, but a new sound pulled me from my light sleep. Ginny was crying. I listened for a moment, warring with myself. It was probably because of me she was crying, so I doubted she would welcome me, but I couldn't just leave her to cry.

After a long moment of internal debate, I slowly opened the door. In the moonlight coming in through the open curtains, I could see her small frame shaking under the covers. She must have known I was there but she didn't look over, didn't move. At least she wasn't yelling at me to go away. So, taking that as a good sign, I walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge, reaching out to rest my hand on her shaking back.

She gasped at my touch, crying harder. "Why, Draco?" she whimpered, her voice thick with tears. "Why did it have to end?"

Not sure what to say, not knowing how else to comfort her, I slid beside her on the bed and pulled her shaking form against me. "I'm sorry, Ginny," I whispered, wishing she would understand just how much I meant that.

To my surprise, she curled into my chest without hesitation, clinging to me. Her tears fell on my bare chest, hot and wet. It took a while before she cried herself out, but eventually she relaxed against me, going limp in my arms. It was only once I was sure she was asleep that I let myself close my own eyes. I didn't sleep, not right away. Instead I just lay there, soaking in the feeling of the woman in my arms. A sudden hope for the future began to fill me. Maybe we would have a chance in this crazy world. Maybe this war was our blessing, this safe-house our sanctuary.

Alright guys, I know you're loving these daily updates as much as I am. I'm going to try and keep it up but I have got to be moved out of my house within the next three days and into the new one (which FYI I'm not even near packed!) so my writing time is seriously limited. I'll try though! Just keep leaving reviews, they fuel me!

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