Author's Note: Here's chapter 11! Chapter 10 received quite a handful of reviews, thank you for that! And oh this chapter's quite long, around 3000+ words because I don't think I will be able to update in quite some time because of my upcoming exams. Yes, I know I said that in my last chapter but I can't seem to stay away from the PC! Anyway I hope you'll enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it for you!

Disclaimer: I own only the plot, unfortunately.

Chapter 11

"No more beating around the bush, Avery. Tell us how you got out and who helped you. Don't make me put you in more pain as you are in now," Harry said as barged into the interrogation room with Tonks behind his heels.

Avery looked up at them. He was still dizzy and bloody having just awoken from his unconsciousness and the only potion given to him was Veritaserum; nothing that could help him ease the pain that bloody git caused him.

"What's the point of telling you? I'm still going to get that bloody Dementor's kiss even if I tell you," drawled Avery, his head lolling in dizziness.

"Not until you tell us," Tonks said sternly. "Now, who helped you get out and how?" she demanded.

Avery tried to think despite the aching in his head but felt that had no choice. He knew he couldn't lie because of the veritaserum so he grudgingly answered, taking a deep breath before saying, "Rodolphus Lestrange."

Harry and Tonks stared at him with disbelief. Despite the pain it caused him, he managed to laugh.

"What? But he's dead! Shacklebolt confirmed it!" Tonks said incredulously. Harry's eyebrows came together in confusion.

"Not so smart, are we?" Avery spat, his deep voice full of venom. "He placed a disillusionment charm on a body of one of his victims before he ran off after the Dark Lord drew his last breath."

"What is this spell?" Harry asked, leaning towards him against the table threateningly.

"Dislusion eretha," Avery said. Harry tried to remember where he had heard that spell but realized that he had never heard of it at all. He looked at Tonks.

"Ancient magic, of course," Tonks said in comprehension, irate at their mistake at identifying the body. "But how did he get you out?"

Avery shrugged. "I was sleeping and the next thing I knew, Lestrange was there waking me up. He handed me my wand and we got out of Azkaban. There were no aurors in sight. I don't know how he did it."

"You plan on rising as the next Dark Lord?" Harry asked coldly.

"I can never replace the Dark Lord! I am merely showing my respects and my loyalty!" Avery yelled angrily, a vein in his temple throbbing.. Harry felt disgusted at this man's obsession with the dark lord. Even so the fact that this man was still worshipping someone, no, something that was long dead. Voldemort was dead. Harry found the horcruxes and killed him himself. There was no way that Voldemort could be alive, unless he could rise from his own ashes.

"We're done here. Harry, you and Ron must take him to Azkaban and arrange for the Dementor's Kiss tonight. The Minister has given me permission to do so earlier," Tonks said as she started to stand up but what Avery said made her freeze in place and chill her to her core. Even Harry turned cold at Avery's last words.

"Rodolphus is with Lucius and Bellatrix. Together they will not be stopped easily. The dark side is not completely defeated. They will bring you a new war. They will avenge Lord Voldemort."

Meanwhile, Ginny sat beside Draco on a couch in front of the fireplace in the auror's lounge, her head resting on Draco's shoulder and her fingers intertwined with his. He had been given a calming draught which did calm him but there were still so many thoughts running through his head.

Images of the day's events flashed in his mind as he remembered the feeling of holding the life of his mother's murderer in his hands. He wanted to kill him right then and there but he didn't; Ginny had stopped him and he was glad that she did. Ginny was right. He didn't want to be a murderer like Avery but would he have killed him if Ginny didn't stop him? He didn't know. All he knew was that Avery would be getting the punishment he deserves and that he was grateful for.

He was pulled out of his reverie when he felt Ginny stir and pull away. He shuddered at the sudden loss of warmth her body offered but suddenly realized why she did so. Tonks was approaching them. Her expression was that of an unreadable expression so neither Ginny nor Draco knew what she was feeling or what her mood was right now. He stood up beside Ginny.

"Avery will be getting the Kiss tonight. Do you want to be there to witness it?" Tonks asked.

Draco thought for a moment if he wanted to actually witness the sodding git get punished. No, he thought, it isn't worth it. He voiced out his thoughts.

"Very well. I have one more important news," Tonks said. Draco and Ginny looked at her expectantly. "You are no longer under the protection of the Ministry. On behalf of the Minister, I am offering you the position of a Senior Auror."

Draco looked at her incredulously as Ginny grinned.. She looked at him hopefully. "Senior Auror?" he asked just to make sure he heard right. Tonks nodded.

"Yes. Like Ginny, Harry and Ron," Tonks confirmed. Upon hearing this, Draco's face broke into a grin as he nodded.

"Of course! I accept!" he said with determination in his eyes. Tonks nodded and smiled. Ginny quickly put his arms around Draco's neck and hugged him. She had never felt so proud and happy for Draco.

At the doorway behind them, a very confused and angry Ron Weasley was watching the whole scene.

"Ron are they in there?" Harry asked as he approached his friend who was standing at the doorway. When Ron didn't answer, Harry looked at him and saw that he was angry; furious even. He followed Ron's line of sight and saw what had angered him: Ginny and Draco hugging. Harry sighed and put a hand on Ron's shoulder but was surprised when Ron shrugged his hand off as he turned and stormed away.

That night, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Draco walked into the Scarlet Lioness to celebrate Avery's capture and of course, Draco's freedom and new job. Harry and Hermione actually felt happy for the bloke and was at least making an effort to enjoy the night as much as they can with him. Ron, on the other hand, was beyond happy and was only forced to come by Hermione.

"Draco, I'm really happy for you," Hermione said as they took their seats in a booth.

"So am I," he said, smiling as he slid next to Ginny. Ron cringed with loathing at his cocky smile. Draco could feel Ron glaring at him but decided to ignore it. Soon, they ordered what they wanted (for free, of course) and were then telling Hermione all about the past day's events. Throughout the conversation, all Ron did was glare at Ginny and Draco and take copious gulps of his firewhisky. And suddenly, when Ginny couldn't take it anymore and couldn't ignore him any longer, she snapped. She slammed her hands on the table and stood up, catching the attention of the other customers close to their table.

"That's it, Ron. Outside," Ginny said in a low and dangerous voice, as she walked out of the pub. Ron stood up and followed her. Draco stood to follow but was stopped when Harry put a hand his shoulder.

"No, let them be. This is between them," he said as Draco reluctantly sat back down, worried.

"What the hell do you think you are doing, Ronald?" Ginny yelled at her brother as soon as they were out on the rain-slicked, dark alley.

"What am I doing?" he asked incredulously. "Why don't you ask yourself that question, Ginny!"

"What is it that's making you so bloody miserable?" Ginny asked through gritted teeth, trying to keep her voice as low as possible. "Is it the possibility that Draco and I could be toegther? Is that what's making you tick?"

"It's more than that, Gin! He is a Malfoy. He hates all things Gryiffindor and all things Weasley for Merlin's sake!" Ron snapped.

"Your prejudice blinds you, Ron! Can't you see how he's changed?" Ginny said.

"Why do you love him? Why can't it be Harry or someone else!" Ron yelled.

"Oh please, Ron! You don't have the right to choose who I love!"

"You love him? Malfoy is your choice?" Ron asked incredulously. She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "Ginny, you've got hundreds of wizards out there who've been trying to catch your attention and Malfoy is the one you decide to fall for!"

Ginny felt her anger rise at Ron's words. "I didn't 'decide' this. It just happened. Don't you understand me? Don't you know how it feels being in love? Don't you feel that with Hermione?"

Ron opened his mouth but no words came out. He didn't know what to say. It was like a ton of bricks fell on top of his head when he heard what Ginny had said. He knew exactly how it felt to be in love, to be swept away and sent to a carefree world whenever they were together.. After all, Hermione meant the world to him. But Ginny and Draco Malfoy? He just couldn't accept that.

"See? I hope you'll think about this, Ron. I hope you can find it in your heart to understand me," Ginny said in an almost pleading voice but Ron was not easily convinced.

"I don't trust him with you. You forget everything he did to us in Hogwarts. You say he's changed, but the truth is Ginny, once a Malfoy, always a Malfoy." And with that, Ron disapparated with a pop that left Ginny in the dark, deafening silence as tears steadily streamed down her face.

The next morning, Ginny awoke to an empty bed, feeling groggy as she rubbed her puffy, sore eyes as she remembered the past night's events. Draco had taken her home after her argument with Ron and she had cried herself to sleep in Draco's arms. Draco felt so guilty for he thought that it was all fault. He wanted to take Ginny's pain away and he wanted to hurt Ron for hurting her.

She got out of bed, slipped on her robe and walked outside to the living room where she saw Draco sitting on the couch looking deep in thought. She took a moment to revel in his handsome face, bathed by the morning sunlight coming in from the windows.

"Morning, Grey," Ginny said as she approached him and curled up next to him. Draco didn't respond.. "What's wrong?" she asked cautiously.

Draco sighed and put his hands to his head. "Ginny, I've been thinking," Draco said in a serious voice that Ginny wasn't used to. She looked at him expectantly.

"About what?" she asked. Draco looked at her, his silver eyes empty of emotion but not cold.

"I've got a job now and I'm not under your protection anymore," he said. Ginny just looked at him, urging him to go on. "What I'm trying to say Gin, is that I think its best if I move out."

Ginny felt like all the oxygen was being sucked out of her lungs as she looked away and contemplated what he had just said. Wasn't this the day she had been waiting for? The day that he would finally move out. No, that was before she fell in love with Draco Malfoy. She knew that even though she dreaded it, it was the right thing to do. What would her parents think if he stayed here any longer? Her relationship with Ron was already on the rocks. Meanwhile, Draco held his breath for her answer.

"I guess you're right. It's the right thing to do," Ginny said slowly in a whisper. At that moment, Draco immediately regretted his decision. He was hoping she would persuade him to stay, even if it was the right thing to do. But Ginny had already agreed and he can't take back what he had suggested. Silence engulfed them for a moment until Ginny broke the ice.

"Are you going back to Malfoy Manor?" she asked, avoiding his eyes because she knew that if she looked at them, she would probably cry.

"Yes," Draco said. "Ginny, look at me."

Ginny took a deep breath as Draco held her chin so that she would look at him. Finally, she locked eyes with those now warm, silver eyes she knew so well.

"Ginny, I'm just moving out. Nothing will change. We won't change," Draco said as he managed to give her an encouraging smile.

"Draco, just exactly what are 'we'?" she asked. Draco looked away. What exactly were they? He wasn't so sure. The only thing he knew was that he felt strongly for her. He wasn't sure if it was love since he's never experienced that before. "Am I... am I your girlfriend?" she asked, a light blush creeping up to her cheeks.

Draco looked her back in the eye as he said firmly, "No. I've had numerous girlfriends and you are not and never will be one of them."

Ginny felt like her heart was being stabbed again and again at that moment. That was really painful. Ginny turned her face to look away, obviously embarassed and hurt, but Draco held her chin firmly and brought it back to him.

"My girlfriends meant nothing to me. You're diffent; special. You are mine," he said as he brought her face closer to kiss her; a kiss so full of passion that Ginny felt she was going to lose herself in the kiss, like she always did when he kissed her. She broke the kiss before anything else happened that would make her force Draco to stay.

She pulled away, both breathing heavily and eratically. She smiled and rested her forehead on his, their eyes looking deep into each other's. "But when do you move out?" Ginny asked in a whisper.

"Soon," he said, never tearing his eyes from hers. "I'm sorry," he said. He didn't know why he was apologising. He just felt like he had to.

Ginny sighed. "Back to being along again," she said as she pulled away and leaned on the couch.

"We'll see each other at work. I'll come to visit of course," Draco said as he stood up to pack his things. His stomach felt heavier and heavier with each step he made. He didn't know why his emotions were getting all worked up. He was only moving out. It wasn't like he was never going to see her again. He realized that he'd miss waking up to her rosy scent and warmth in the mornings, sleeping in her arms and just sitting with her doing nothing. He shrunk all his clothes into a small paper bag since he didn't have a trunk and put it in his pocket. As soon as he was ready, he turned to Ginny, who sitting on the couch, watching and memorizing his every move. It's silly, she thought. He was only moving out. They were going to see each other most of the time anyway. Or would they? Would work get in the way? She stood up as Draco approached her. She brushed his bangs aside so she could look into his eyes and smiled.

"We're acting as if we're never going to see each other again," she said, half-laughing. Draco grinned as he took her cheek in his hand and brought her face to him to give her a soft kiss.

"I'll see you at work tomorrow then, Red," he said as he pulled away. He walked to the fireplace, grabbed a handful of floo powder and turned to look at Ginny one more time before he flooed to Malfoy Manor.

As soon as Draco was out of sight, Ginny plopped down onto the couch and sighed frustratedly.

That night, Ginny had the most difficult time trying to sleep. She had already told a very empathetic Hermione, who was the only one she thought that understood her and knew all about her relationship with Draco, about Draco's moving out (which Ron was ecstatic to hear about). Over the weeks Draco was living with her, she had gotten used to sleeping next to his warm and hard body. Now it was just her and the empty, cold sheets. When she finally couldn't take it anymore, she conjured more pillows and arranged them so that she was surrounded by them, in hope that they would make up for Draco's absent warmth and took a sleeping draught that finally put her to sleep.

Meanwhile, at the Malfoy Manor, Draco was also having a hard time falling asleep. Although he was tired from having searched and inspected the Manor for anything unusual or out of place and strengthened the wards on the Manor, he just couldn't sleep. He was afraid that if he fell asleep alone, the nightmares would haunt him again. He already missed Ginny and couldn't stop thinking about her. He wanted to go back to her apartment but decided against it. It was time that he get used to living alone again. After hours in bed trying to sleep, he finally resorted to taking a sleeping draught and a dreamless draught which to his delight, were effective.

The next morning, Draco was awoken early by a house elf whom he had ordered to last night. He got out of his black silk sheets and elegant four poster bed and walked to his bathroom that was even bigger than Ginny's living room itself. At the thought of Ginny, he was immediately filled by excitement to see her again and quickly took a shower. Once he was ready, he put on a set of dark robes and pinned the Auror badge that Tonks had given him the day before. He examined himself in the huge mirror in satisfaction.

"I look quite exquisite and handsome in these!" exclaimed his reflection. Draco smirked and after putting on his cologne, he walked down the carpeted hallways, the portraits eyeing him inquisitively and making comments on his Auror badge and descended the huge, curved, marble staircase into the foyer, his heels clicking on the Italian, dark, marble tiles with every step he made. He walked to the oak double doors which were opened for him by a house elf and walked into the Italian style dining room, bathed in sunlight by the huge, wall length windows. It was a wonder how he still remembered his way around the huge manor.

"Master Malfoy," a house elf said as it bowed to him and pulled back Draco's chair for him. He sat down, spread his napkin on his lap and asked for the Daily Prophet. The house elf handed it to him, which Draco snatched from the house elf's scrawny hands in disgust. He looked at the front page and immediately saw his photo on it which was looking stoic and serious, ocassionally sneering, accompanied by the headlines that said: 'Draco Malfoy: Heroic Auror'. He raised a blonde eyebrow at the cocky headline. Rita Skeeter must have written this article, he thought as he read the article that was somehow accurate save for a few exaggerations.

He turned to the next page, feeling proud that he was little by little rebuilding his life, and what he saw on the next page served to please him even more. A photo of Avery which was looking very nervous was on the page. The headline read 'Avery, former Death Eater recieves Dementor's Kiss." He didn't read the article. He was already satisfied and pleased. After that, he ate his breakfast quickly and soon after, apparated for the Ministry.

When he arrived at the Ministry, heads turned his way immediately as they greeted him and smiled at him and ocassionally hearing squeals of delight from various female workers in the Ministry. He smiled inwardly to himself as he walked to the lifts where he caught sight of the red head he had been craving to see entering a lift. He jogged to the lift just in time to stop the gate from closing. He looked at Ginny, who was smiling at him as he entered the lift. As soon as the lift was moving, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to him roughly, smirking as he leaned closer to her so his mouth was hovering over hers.

"I missed you last night," he said as he brought his lips to her, kissing her hungrily, losing themselves in their torrid kiss, only pulling away when the operator announced they were on their destined floor. They pulled away reluctantly, smiling like idiots as they straightened out their robes and walked out together into the Auror's Department This, Draco decided, would definitely be a very interesting job.

A/N: So what did you think? Hope you liked it! Actually, I've already completed this story before (It contained only 11 chapters) but because of the encouraging reviews thats coming in I've decided to edit the last few chapters and make it longer and more interesting, I hope! So it will probably take a while before I complete this and I hope you'll support me all the way!

And of course thank you to my reviewers who're keeping me going!

beckysue2: I'm glad you liked it! I was hoping that chapter would surprise my readers!

Catnipob: Actually, I didn't know which death eater to choose for that role but since Avery didn't have a big role in the books and would be easier to make an interesting character out of him, I chose him. And about Harry, I think he's sweet that way. And yeah I liked the Ginny stopping Draco part too!

kimarachaos: Thanks so much! I'm glad you think so!

angelica: Thanks! hint: In my mind, i think the story's going to have a lot more drama later on. winks

Robin: I feel so honoured that my story is one of your faves! Will Draco be on the take down of Bella and Lucius? Well, we'll have to wait and see!

Chicago Is so 2 Years Ago: I'm happy that you liked it!

Prrowcat: Yeah I was hoping it would be unpredictable and surprising! Thanks yeah!

lemonwedges4: Thank you!!