Disclaimer: Conveniently located at the beginning of chapter one.

Chapter Six
Aftermath

Professor Snape stood, motionless, next the doorway, his dark eyes flickering from Draco to Ginny, and then back again as they got quickly to their feet. The situation looked awkward at best, and it was a quite a while before Snape spoke.

"What," Snape said at long last, and his voice was little more than a poisonous whisper. "Do you think you are doing." He looked almost exclusively at Ginny as he said this, and Ginny, longing to shoot off a witty comeback, thought better of it and remained silent, though she blushed bright pink and lowered her gaze to Snape's feet.

"My fault, Professor," Draco said, and though his voice was steady Ginny saw his hand twitch anxiously. "I – er – suggested this as a meeting place –"

"Really, Mr. Malfoy," Snape said, turning his piercing gaze towards Draco, who faltered and fell silent. "In my private storeroom? What an odd place to… meet." Ginny dared a glance upward in time to see an unpleasant smirk trace itself across Snape's pale lips. "If that is, indeed, what you were doing, which I doubt."

Draco's cheeks flushed, and he looked as if he was attempting to come up with a good argument. It didn't seem to be working.

"So I ask you, Draco," Snape went on. "Why meet so early in the morning, and why in my storeroom? Why not simply ask for a little privacy?" He shot a nasty sort of glance at Ginny, and Draco found his voice.

"I apologize, Professor," he said hurriedly. "I don't know why it didn't occur to me to ask in the first place, really, and I swear it will never happen again –"

"See that it doesn't," Snape said icily. "Or you will quickly realize that being a Slytherin does not exempt you from certain… punishments." His lips curled unpleasantly, and Draco bowed slightly, took Ginny by the hand, and was halfway to the classroom door when Snape called after him again.

"And for God's sake, try to retain a little dignity and do keep your romantic escapades out of the teachers' cupboards."

"Y-yes Sir," Draco gasped, and, still tugging Ginny along, wrenched open the door and hurried out of the room without a backward glance.

>> >

The next day, Ginny was still marveling at the fact that neither of them had gotten detention from that particular stunt, and was further amazed when an unfamiliar tawny owl landed in front of her at the breakfast table, bearing a large envelope in its beak.

"Who's owl is that?" Hermione asked, who had looked up from a copy of the Daily Prophet.

"Dunno," Ginny admitted, taking the envelope. "School owl, I think." The owl ruffled its feathers importantly before taking off again, and Ginny focused on the letter itself. It was addressed simply to Ginny in dark green ink, and, having a hunch on who had sent it, stuffed it hastily inside her bag.

"Oh, go on, read it," said her brother Ron, who was sitting next to Hermione and taken an interest.

"I don't think I will," Ginny said, looking at him reprovingly. "And even if I did open it, it's none of your business who sent it or what they have to say."

Ron grimaced.

"So it's a love letter," he grumbled, taking a savage bite out of a jammy dodger.

"I never said that, did I," Ginny snapped. "And what do you care if it is." She stood up, annoyed.

"I'm going to go get ready for my first class," she told him huffily. "And don't you dare harp on me about this, Ronald, just butt out if you know what's good for you."

Ignoring the way Ron's ears had gone bright red at the mention of his full first name, Ginny grabbed her book bag and strode out of the Great Hall. Halfway up the marble staircase, however, she stopped, and after making sure that there was nobody else lurking around, pulled out the envelope and tore it open. Inside was a quite short letter, and Ginny read it eagerly.

Ginny –

Glad we're together, but don't think that this
changes anything between us during the day.
I shudder to think of what would happen to
my reputation as a Slytherin if anybody found
out about us: Snape was bad enough.

As for nighttime "meetings", we'll just have
to find more private closets, now, won't we?

Love always,

D. M.

The bell rang just then, and Ginny's heart was racing as she stored the letter safely in her bag. She would read it at least a dozen more times before she fell asleep that night.

Draco clearly intended on carrying through with his statement he had made in the letter; he was horrible to her during classes, and she was horrible to him as well, and nobody save Luna (who applauded the fact that Ginny was able to have Draco without the use of a Love Potion) was the wiser. Nightfall, however, heralded the only time they met and were able to apologize to each other for all of the awful things they had said to each other that day.

They always forgave each other, and they always ended up in a closet.

Fin

AN: Well, what did everyone think? I hope Snape finding them wasn't too much of a cliche, -S3v3rusIsMin3-, but anyway, you guessed right, so good for youCheers to everyone who reviewed, thanks so much and I'm glad you guys enjoyed reading (especially the people who have followed the story since I published it).

Please review and tell me what you thought of the story... hopefully it wasn't too gushy or romantic (especially the last line), but I tried to keep Draco and Ginny in character as much as possible (don't know if it worked that well, but there you have it).

Thanks again for reading!

Love,
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