-Chapter Eleven-

Draco clung onto his broom and Ginny miraculously and steered the magical flying cleaning implement carefully but quickly to the ground. Ron was immediately next to him, worry etched onto his face.

Draco carefully laid Ginny onto the wet muddy ground and blocked the falling raindrops with his back, providing some sort of shield for Ginny. Ron and Draco looked warily at the girl they both loved dearly, pale, unconscious and purpling at the neck.

The rage Draco had felt when he first saw Franko Harley forcing himself on Ginny, and kissing Ginny had all come back. He quickly looked around for him, knowing that he would be near. But he had just been taken out of the grounds, probably headed for the hospital wing.

'Lucky bastard,' thought Draco viciously as he gazed at the bruise that marred Ginny's pale neck. He gripped Ginny's hand tightly, hoping for any response. His only consolation was that he could feel a steady heartbeat in her wrist. Before Draco knew it, Ginny was carefully levered onto a stretcher and taken to the hospital wing flanked by Draco and Ron.

Headmistress McGonagal held her wand primly and with a steady flick, sped up Ginny's transport past the doors leading into the hospital wing. Draco and Ron sped up their own pace only to have the door slammed in their face.

Both swore violently.

Eventually the two calmed down and sat down on the hard worn out chairs that made up the waiting room. Although none wanted to admit it, there was an uncomfortable silence where both teens replayed what had just happened in their head. Draco was furious with Franko Harley. The bastard obviously had something against Draco and he had worked out Ginny was his key weakness.

Ron was simply furious. His little sister had done nothing to the Slytherin captain, and there he goes forcing his lips on hers and strangling her in the air. Ron satisfied himself with the knowledge that he was going to be expelled but lamented the fact he never got to kill him.

A heavy depression started cloud Draco and he found he was drowning in morose thoughts and phrases like 'I'm going to kill him!' Suddenly the quidditch game came into focus and Draco quickly jerked his head in Ron's direction. "Who won?" he asked sharply.

Ron simply focused his light blue eyes on Draco solemnly. He paused before answering the question. Looking at Draco directly, he tried to figure out his new personality. This older, tired Draco contrasted exceptionally to his previous character. Now Draco never argued. He never teased. He never ridiculed or behaved in an undesirable way.

Ron had also seen the secret looks he gave Ginny. His hard eyes would soften, his body tension would ease off a bit and he'd always look… pleased. Merlin behold if Ginny should catch his eye and send a smile back in return. Draco's sudden brightness and happiness could have probably lit a candle.

So now all Ron saw in Draco was someone in love with his sister. Someone who had nothing to live for but his sister. Ron always wondered if Draco had really changed, now the decision was clearer. He had. For Ron reasoned why would he save a mere Gryffindor in front of the entire school if he had not loved her enough to not want her to die? Ron couldn't deny it. If it wasn't for Draco, Ginny would be dead.

"Gryffindor won," replied Ron softly and almost apologetically. Ron just couldn't bring himself to rub it in. He didn't even feel like smiling. He had totally ignored Harry when he was racing towards the ground with Draco to see Ginny. Harry was stupidly grinning and waving the captured snitch around like an idiot.

"Right," whispered Draco to himself. He closed his eyes and jerked his head backwards to the seat, making a resounding smack. Ron looked on worriedly but to Draco the pain felt good. It distracted him from the bitter disappointment and hate he would have to endure from his house-mates. Draco wished he didn't have to expose themselves like that, but he just couldn't have let Franko keep going. If the same thing happened, Draco knew he would have done it again.

Now that the ringing pain at the back of Draco's head had disappeared he couldn't be bothered with smashing his head again. Instead, to distract the annoying thought of Slytherins, he thought about Ginny. But all he could picture was Ginny kicking thin air and then suddenly stop still.

Anger coursed through Draco again and he clenched his fists within his robes trying to control the raging emotion. Ron saw it all. The weariness, the horror, the love and the anger. Finally, Ron saw Draco's full emotions and they were written on Draco's face as plain as parchment and ink. Draco and finally let his emotional walls down.

Ron was suddenly dying to know what he just asked Draco; "Why do you love her?"

Draco unclenched his fists and froze.

"I love her because she has entranced me."

"What?"

"She's beautiful, intelligent, kind and understanding. But anyone can be any of those things. There's something else to her, I cannot explain. It's why we're attracted. It's why I picked her out," murmured Draco, his eyes clouding over with thought. He continued. "I don't need to think about why I love her too much. I'm just grateful I have her. I'd die for her, I'd die without her."

Ron opened his mouth to reply but the doors of the hospital wing suddenly opened. Draco was already on his feet walking to Madam Pomfrey before Ron even snapped his mouth shut.

"How is she?" asked Draco with desperate urgency. It softened Poppy right to the core.

"Come in and see her," said Madam Pomfrey softly. Draco stepped past her without

another word. Poppy looked at Ron with an arched eyebrow.

"I'll go in when Malfoy comes out," muttered Ron. Poppy nodded once and spun on her heel out the door, leaving it open.

Draco quickly approached the bed with a fountain of red hair splashed over the pillow. On the bed was a softly sleeping Ginny. Her natural sleeping pattern made Ginny twist the sheets around her bare pale legs. Draco drunk the sight in, guessing that Ginny must have been wearing a hospital wing gown.

The sheets were tucked up right to Ginny's chin so Draco couldn't tell if the bruises remained. He gently pulled away the covers to reveal the ever marring discolourations. Anger flared. Sighing, trying to expel the anger, Draco tucked the sheets back under Ginny's chin.

As gentle as he tried to be, his slight nudges woke Ginny. She didn't open her eyes though, she couldn't be bothered. She heard a heavy chair being drawn up to the bed and by the soft strokes she could feel on her hair and face she guessed it was Draco. She simply lay there, too tired to smile and enjoyed Draco's ministrations.

"Draco," whispered Ginny hoarsely, surprising Draco. He quickly held Ginny's face softly in his hands and kissed her oh-so tenderly before saying anything at all.

"Don't speak," whispered Draco back. His face still hovered over Ginny's and he hadn't opened his eyes. Ginny was too entranced by his perfect closeness to talk anyway. "I am going to kill him," continued Draco but before Ginny could strain her throat he added "Franko Harley."

Draco watched with satisfaction as Ginny blanched and wiped her lips roughly. "Don't worry," whispered Draco, "you aren't tainted. Never ever tainted." His voice dropped even lower than possible. Without warning, Ginny brought her arms to Draco's head and neck and pushed his lips onto hers, pushing her tongue in to dominate Draco's mouth.

Draco responded immediately, wrapping his lithe arms around Ginny's slight body possessively whilst trying not to jostle her neck too much. Ginny was losing herself in the haziness of Draco's kisses. The pain of moving her neck added to the fire she was feeling throughout her body.

Just when Ginny thought she was ready to rip the robes of Draco he pulled away gasping. Ginny had a moment of kissing air before she realized the warmth of Draco's lips had gone. She glanced desperately at Draco but he could only be found with his legs around Ginny's waist and straightening up his collar and hair.

"Your brother wants to see you. I don't want to keep him waiting," explained Draco when he had finished grooming himself. "I don't want to hurt you either. You get better Ginny, I love you. I'll make sure Harley gets what's coming to him. I'll see you soon."

Ginny only opened her mouth to speak but no sounds came out due to her throat restriction. Draco swung his legs over Ginny and got off the bed. It never really hit Draco how he had actually gotten onto the bed in the first place. However something restrained him from moving away from the bed completely. Ginny. She had her eyes closed, lips slightly puckered with her head tilted up.

Draco looked down to his redheaded angel of a girlfriend and found he had lost all resolve. 'One more kiss,' thought Draco with as much conviction as possible. He leant down and took one more sweet taste of Ginny's lips before sweeping out of the room, leaving Ginny wanting more.

Minerva McGonagal paced around her Headmistress office with her expression set in a deep frown. "Franko Harley. How dare you choke a student in midair like that? Words cannot describe how disgusted I am with you. You have no excuse for this behavior. Well, have you got anything to say before I expel you Mr Harley?"

Franko only looked sullenly at his Headmistress. He internally cursed Malfoy to death. He pictured a knife going through Ginny's heart too. His expression must have shown it as McGonagal's lips pressed into a thin line and her tone was sharper than a newly wielded sword.

"Franko Harley, you have shamed your house, your position as captain and your status as student at Hogwarts. You are now expelled and may never become a fully qualified wizard. Your belongings will be returned to you as soon as you walk out of this room and you will make yourself scarce from this school within ten minutes of exiting this office. Furthermore, you shall not harm Ginny Weasley ever again otherwise you shall be facing Ministry prosecution. Good day Mr Harley."

And with that, McGonagal ushered Franko out the door and closed it behind him with a snap. Franko paused before descending the spiraling staircase. His normal brown eyes flashed red with anger before he continued on. Now the only thing on his mind was to track down Voldemort to sought out his assistance in dealing with certain… issues.

As Minerva slammed the door behind Franko's back, she finally let her body relax and slumped. She dragged her feet to her desk and sat heavily on the chair behind her grand mahogany table. Now that Dumbledore was gone, running the school had seemed so difficult. Minerva felt that she just couldn't live up to his standards.

Sighing, Minerva locked the door with a complex locking spell before proceeding to take out her stash of wizarding alcohol. She relaxed as she gulped down the firewhisky and her mind let loose.

Her thoughts drifted over to Draco Malfoy. She had been very very surprised when she discovered Mr Malfoy's partiality towards the youngest Weasley. She was happy that he seemed to be toeing the line this year.

Minerva began to consider Draco's future. She was fairly sure his family weren't going to support him even though they did leave a small fortune behind. However, fortunes don't last unless they are continuously replenished.

'Perhaps it's time for Mr Malfoy to pick his cause. Aurorship training?' thought Minerva as she took another swig of whiskey. She decided to talk to Ginny for her opinion before she made any decisions.

The days passed and Ginny started recovering from the attack in the air. It was Monday when she finally got her voice back and was chatting to Colin in the hospital wing.

"So how are you feeling? Really?" enquired Colin.

"Just, grossed out that he would do that. Freaked out, that he just about hung me, but apart from that quite numbed."

"I was so scared for you," admitted Colin after a pause, "it seemed so unrealistic that someone would lock anyone in a headlock and dangle them in thin air during a quidditch match."

"It's weird… I felt Draco's arm go around me and I just knew everything would be okay. Y'know? When you just get those feelings."

Colin smiled wistfully. "I know. I get that feeling with Luna." Ginny grinned as well.

"I've seen you two together. You look great. By the way, did I tell you? Your happiness is starting to annoy me," joked Ginny giving Colin a friendly punch.

"Your smile blinds me whenever you're around Malfoy," cajoled Colin back, giving Ginny the lightest of light shoves.

"Careful," growled a voice from above. The two friends looked up to see a Malfoy pointedly looking at Colin, though still friendly. "I don't want her breaking on me," said Draco, smiling as he swooped down to plant a kiss on Ginny's cheek. After that display of affection, the three people hung around for a few moments, looking at each other in a comfortable yet awkward way.

Finally, Colin made a move. "I have to go to the toilet… for a while. You guys won't die of boredom with out me will ya?"

"Creevy, if Draco wasn't watching me like a hawk so I don't strain myself, I'd jump up and hit you on the head. Why? Because I haven't done that for a while." Colin blanched a bit and looked at Draco. Draco however, was smiling and it didn't seem to want to restrain Ginny at all.

"Um, bye!" was Colin's quick response and he quickly walked away, keeping his head down so he could smile to himself.

"You look much better commented Draco as he lowered himself onto the bed next to Ginny.

"Yeah! I feel much better too," replied Ginny with enthusiasm, running her fingers along her neck to gauge the pain she was experiencing. Draco gripped Ginny's hand lightly with his own and gentle ran it along the now light purple bruises.

"Harley's expelled. He won't hurt you anymore," said Draco in an obviously controlled voice.

"Lucky he is expelled, otherwise I would hurt him," said Ginny, her eyes set in determination. Draco laughed.

After a few moments, Ginny looked up at Draco from underneath her lashes and let her forehead rest on his. With a sigh, she asked, "are you disappointed that Slytherin lost?"

"Yeah," sighed Draco back. "But not as disappointed as I normally would be. Suddenly quidditch doesn't seem that important.

"Is it because of me?" enquired Ginny, wrapping her arms around Draco's torso.

She was expecting him to joke about what she asked but she was surprised by his response. "Of course it's because of you. If it weren't for you, Potter and I would still be out there looking for that blasted snitch. You just put everything into perspective."

"I guess love does that to you," said Ginny, tightening her hold around Draco. "What happens now?"

"I don't know," whispered Draco. He enjoyed the feeling of Ginny hugging him. It always reminded someone cared about him, reminded him that someone was there with him.

Draco knew the whole school would have known he cared about the Weasley enough to save her, but he still thought it would be a good idea not to let the public know they were dating. Instead, he changed the subject.

"When are you allowed out of here?" Ginny quirked her eyebrow suspiciously up at Draco but she didn't say anything about it. She'd let it drop for the meantime.

"Tomorrow," answered Ginny to Draco's question, but she didn't say anymore. Draco, undeterred, tried another subject.

"We still going to be studying together?"

"I don't think so," was Ginny's brief reply. Draco was beginning to worry.

"Is something the matter? Your replies are so straight forward. Normally you'd babble on for another minute or so."

"I don't know… well… I do know. And I'm trying to deny it."

"Which is?" Draco's eyes smoldered and Ginny couldn't help but be compelled to answer truthfully.

"I just want to be with you. I just wish, I didn't have to, hide. Even though just about everyone will know something's going on, I still just can't hold your hand in public. I mean, meeting secretly is great but everybody knows everybody gets sprung whenever that happens. I just want to be with you, without limitations."

"Ginny," murmured Draco lovingly. "I don't want you stressing about it. We're still together, nothing is going to split us. Believe me, nothing's going to go wrong. Even though I won't see you all the time I'll still love you. It's for the best, you know it. I hate it… but the sooner you accept it the more okay it will seem."

"Really?" smiled Ginny, though Draco knew she was convinced.

"Yes, really," responded Draco with one of his rare but beautiful smiles.

"Well, I suppose it will be good enough for me… for now anyway," whispered Ginny as she ran her hands up the lapel of Draco's robes and into his blonde hair.

"Yes, for now," he muttered, distracted. Ginny hoped to dear Merlin Madam Pomfrey wasn't looking as she pressed her lips determinedly onto Draco's. Just as Ginny broke away, an owl suddenly flew through the doors and soared to Ginny's shoulder.

"What's this?" said Ginny curiously as the owl landed on her shoulder and nibbled her ear softly. Draco quickly untied the short note affixed to its leg and gave the owl a moment to let it fly away.

"I'll read it for you," said Draco smugly. Ginny only sighed exasperatedly and leaned back onto the bed, keeping her eyes on her boyfriend.

"Miss Weasley, you are required in my office after dinner tomorrow evening.

Headmistress Minerva McGonagal."

"Well," drawled Ginny. "That was brief."

"Pfft, you're telling me," added Draco. "Well, I guess you're busted," he teased causing Ginny to roll her eyes.

The two carried on long into the evening, skipping dinner. They chatted, kissed, chatted, kissed, chatted, pashed, chatted and then finally lay back on the bed, exhausted.

"Don't you reckon Pomfrey would have already said something by now?" queried Ginny.

"She's probably spying on us behind her medical charts," muttered Draco darkly in answer. Ginny shuddered. She then glanced at her watch and noted that the time was ten thirty. Draco peeked over at Ginny's wrist and saw the same thing. "I better get going," commented Draco with a sigh.

Ginny looked wistfully at him. "Stay, please?" she whispered pleadingly. She was expecting a "I better not," or something like that so she was surprised when he nodded and took his shoes off, placing them together neatly on the side of the bed.

"Stuff Pomfrey. She's going to have to levitate me out of this bed if she wants me gone," muttered Draco darkly, putting an arm around Ginny. Ginny smiled triumphantly before exhaustion over took her and claimed her consciousness.

The next day was spent waking up early, stuffing clothes into bags and rushing about getting ready for a new school day. That evening after dinner, Ginny cursed McGonagal and her own amount of homework.

"Fucking hell, this better be good," muttered Ginny to herself as she strode to the head's office. Ginny knocked on the heavy wooden door after she ascended the spiraling staircase and pushed on the door handle gently as she heard a request to enter.

"Good evening Professor McGonagal," greeted Ginny respectfully.

"Evening Miss Weasley, take a seat," replied Minerva from behind her desk. "I've asked you to come here tonight to ask for your opinion."

"Okay, sure," replied Ginny. Her curiosity spiked.

"What do you truly think of Mr Draco Malfoy?" Ginny's eyes widened, but more out of predictability than shock. She knew questions like this were to be coming.

"Well, I think he's great. He's sensitive, he's decent, now. He hates Voldemort, if that's what you're thinking."

"So, do you think he's a good person? Despite all his past actions?" pressed on the Headmistress.

"I think he's a better person, yes. There were reasons behind his actions. Not everybody knows about them though," said Ginny cryptically.

"Hmm… that's what I thought," muttered Minerva distractedly. "The reason I've asked you to come here tonight was just to confirm my opinion about that young man. He must love you very much to save you on that Saturday. Either that or he can't stand seeing someone die. Death Eater's love death. My opinion on that matter will never waver."

Ginny only smiled with happiness. The smile brought a warmth that flooded through Minerva. The days were dreary and she hadn't seen happiness for a while.

"I'm meaning to find Mr. Malfoy a career when he's finished at Hogwarts. I'm fairly sure you know not just anybody will hire him. Not with his reputation," continued Minerva.

"No, I guess they won't." Ginny's sudden burst of happiness fell away sharply.

"So, I'm going to recommend him to an Aurorship. That is, if he wants to accept it. I can give a very powerful recommendation and if he's willing, it will rebuild his reputation. I just need to know if he has the will-power to stay on the light side." Minerva's face was creased with deep thought.

"Wow," was all Ginny breathed. "That, would be, really good. I'm sure Draco would like to vent his frustration on the dark-side, plus, I don't think he could just get a job as a healer or something."

"Precisely. Well, I will be discussing this with Mr. Malfoy. Please refrain to speaking to him about this, I would like to gauge his reaction."

"Yeah, sure," replied Ginny a bit distracted.

"You're free to go now Miss Weasley, have a nice evening," dismissed Minerva and for the first time, she gave Ginny a warm smile.

"You too," smiled Ginny back as she let herself out of the room.

She descended the staircase happily and bounced out the door right into Ron.

"Don't hurt yourself there sis," laughed Ron, steadying his sister.

"I'm not that fragile," complained Ginny though she was still smiling.

"What are you so happy about?"

"I'll tell you later," was all Ginny said before walking away quickly. She didn't want to confirm anything until Draco knew what was going on and what his choices were.

Ginny made her way to the library and spotted Draco heading in the same direction. She snuck up behind him and pushed him into an inconsequential wall that was hidden in the shadows.

"What the," Draco managed to mutter before his lips were occupied by Ginny's.

When Ginny broke off, she gave him a brilliant smile. Draco smirked. "You're that happy to see me? Well, I'm not surprised," he said smugly.

Ginny didn't drop her smile but she did say "you're a tool."

"I love you too." Ginny replied to that with a kiss. "Need any help with transfig?" questioned Draco after a moment.

"Um, nah. Right now it's all theory and I manage theory pretty well."

"Good. My mind is too distracted to think up a good excuse to sit next to you in the library." It was only then Ginny realized Draco had his hands on her arse and was pressing her very close to his body. Draco swore he could feel the blush radiating from Ginny's cheeks.

"By the way, Hogsmeade this weekend. W-will you go with me?" asked Draco, pretending to stutter. Ginny wiped Draco's smirk away softly with her fingers so his lips were didn't make any shape at all. She then nodded once and confirmed the request with a kiss.

"You'll be the end of me woman," whispered Draco huskily in Ginny's ear. Ginny's temperature seemed to sky rocket ten-fold. Draco smirked as he felt her temperature rise.

Ginny decided it was time to start homework even though she hated the decision. So after prying Draco's suggestive hands away from her body, Ginny walked towards the library, trying to control her raging hormones.

Meanwhile, Draco sighed and slid against the wall towards the ground. He had an eyeful of Ginny's backside which was revealed by tight hand-me-down robes. 'Why the fuck does it have to be too cold for a cold shower?'

Haaah... stupid chapter… I know… I hope something plot-like will kick in next chapter. But anyways, this is an adjoining one. Whelps, I hope you liked it anyhow.

Again I apologize for any typos.

Review! It's really great to hear from you. Even if you just say "POST SOON!"

It's basically you guys who keep me up at night thinking about different ways to express my fic.

You're part of this fic!

Much love,

Jessica/yourbeautifulnightmare