-Chapter Twenty Two-

"Darvo Finchly, do you have any extra light to shed on the situation? I may consider lowering your sentence if you do speak," said Ginny in her level voice, gazing down from her judge's desk.

"You fuckin' whore! No! I'll never betray master!" rasped Darvo and he spat at the closest guard in his confined court-prison.

"Please refrain from profanity Mr Finchly," reprimanded Ginny in her effortlessly stern voice. "Very well then, you still hide your master's secrets. We have cajoled you, counseled you and we have tried compromises. What we will not do is lower ourselves to Voldemort's standards and torture the information out of you. I sentence you to a lifetime in Albatoir. Court dismissed." Ginny brought her gavel down with a resounding smack and started tucking away her papers whilst listening to Finchly kick, scream and spit at the guards. Albatoir was Finchly's final destination. Rumoured to be even more secure than Azkaban, it was a second wizardry prison as Azkaban became overrun with convicts. Ie, Death Eaters.

Ginny Weasley was now twenty six years old and had gotten the judge job she desired. Everyday she saw countless numbers of Death Eaters appear before her, never yielding their master's secret information. She never took off the dragon pendant Draco had given her. She was surprised at how clean it stayed. The engagement ring also never came off.

Two years ago she finally moved out of her parents place when Draco didn't come home. His battalion had been the most successful in eliminating Death Eaters and the Ministry couldn't afford to let them go home. Ginny had received Draco's letter which brought the bad news the day he was due home. To say Ginny was upset wasn't enough; she felt crushed, shattered. Draco was ripped away from her like a bottle of water ten centimeters away from a dying man who suddenly lost the energy to walk.

Ginny finally got sick of her childhood room after that. She had lived in it for twenty four years and it was time for a change. She, Colin and Luna decided to split the rent for a small two bed roomed flat in inner-muggle London. Ginny would never forget what she first saw when she entered her new room. On her small beside table was a framed photo of Draco and her kissing in the Three Broomsticks, right next to that tree. It was a still photo which emphasized how much time had passed, but how in that moment, they were locked in their kiss.

Five years, Ginny had used five years to start building her resolve. She had five years to try to stop crying, to stop moping around because Draco wasn't around. Five years since she had seen anything that reminded her strongly of him (apart from the ring and necklace.) Five fucking years to get on with her life. One gaze at the photo was all it took to break that resolve. Ginny didn't know how long she must have cried for. She simply cradled the photo to her chest and let out years of emotion.

The picture of them was such a long time ago. Both had grown up so much. It pained Ginny to think of the years they missed, the time stolen from them. It wasn't fair. Who was Ginny kidding? She missed him like crazy, but she still had a number of years to go on without him. Voldemort was still at large.

After the sentencing of Finchly, Ginny headed home. She was exhausted, but it was her night to cook so she stopped off at the grocers to buy groceries. (Obviously.) Ginny walked, the conventional way the muggles did as she could not apparate. She climbed up ten flights of stairs, the shopping bags getting heavier by the minute. She dug around in her handbag for her keys and wearily slotted them into the keyhole. She came face to face with Colin and Luna getting it on on the couch and backed right out and slammed the door, trying to get the disturbing image of her best friend and his girlfriend screwing on their local couch.

Luckily, Colin saw Ginny out of the corner of his orgasm-lidded eyes and ceased his mating with a blush. Luna protested but then she realized Ginny must be home. A few minutes later Colin opened their front door tentatively and poked his head around. There was Ginny in her formal judge's robes with bags full of shopping around her.

"Heheh, sorry about that Gin," said Colin with a blush, his clothes hastily thrown on.

"No problemo," sighed Ginny shakily, grateful that Colin hastened to help her with the shopping.

"What's for dinner tonight?" asked Colin as they put away the shopping.

"Toast," grunted Ginny, swiping her long red hair away from her face.

"Hahah… you're not serious are you?" said Colin in a little helpless voice. It broke Ginny's heart. Poor guy must have been starving. Ginny was semi-serious about serving everyone toast. She was exhausted. The stupid pledges of honour to Voldemort that the Death Eater's kept spitting out could get tedious and all Ginny wanted was a nice hot bath.

"No, I'll whip up steak and potatoes," replied Ginny, trying to hold in an exhausted sigh.

An hour later, at eight o'clock, dinner was served and the three twenty six year olds crammed into their tiny kitchen table.

"This is great Gin," said Colin through a mouthful of steak.

"Don't talk Colin," sighed Ginny.

"How was work?" asked Luna.

"Tiring. Yours?" replied Ginny.

"Brilliant. The Quibbler bought piranhas!" Ginny managed to smile brightly. Luna would always be her quirky self. She was one of the chief editors of the now famous magazine.

"Your day?" asked Ginny to Colin.

"Boring. I re-labeled cameras that belonged to the Prophet," answered Colin. Colin had become one of the top photographers who worked at the Prophet, but slow days meant boring work. It was funny how all three of them managed to be completely successful. Back at Hogwarts, many thought Colin as an annoying nitwit who had a fetish for cameras. Now he was world renown. Everybody thought of Luna Lovegood as the freak from Ravenclaw who lavished reading Quibbler upside down. Now she was one of the most well-paid editors.

Ginny was always overshadowed by her huge family. She was always "the Weasley's only daughter." Or "the Weasley's youngest child." Now she was a young, but respected judge who broke away from the restraining holds of family.

It was Friday night and Ginny had the luxury of the weekend but she was achingly tired. Also, on nights where she sometimes caught Colin and Luna being extremely close, it would dredge up long-before memories of Draco which added an ache to the heart. It was November and the nights were getting colder and Ginny was about to disappear into her room to sleep when Luna suddenly called out.

"Ginny, here are your letters."

"Oh, okay, thanks," replied Ginny and she took the pile from Luna's hands. She could see straight away that the pile of about ten or so letters would be boring. She settled into bed and sorted through the envelopes.

'Ministry, ministry, water bill, ministry, rent, electricity bill, ministry, readers digest, election notice, Draco,' thought Ginny as she flicked through the letters. It took a moment for her tired mind to realize that Draco sent her a letter. She dropped the boring pile of letters to the ground and eagerly opened Draco's. Her restrained hopes broke free and were high for Draco's arrival, however when Ginny did read the letter, they plummeted.

Ginny, my closest, dearest, most beloved jewel of the Nile.

How was that for your dose of corniness?

I am fine, as fine as I can be whilst hidden up in a tree with five other stinking men waiting to ambush the remaining Death Eaters. As you probably guessed, things are very cramped.

Vic says his hello's from the branch above me. The sweat from his arse is dripping onto my hair. I try not to think about this. We are in a brilliantly exotic location. South Brazil. I can't tell you anymore though.

I really miss you Ginny. Seven years. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. How is the job treating you? Five years, wow. I don't know how you put up with seeing their filthy faces everyday.

I don't know when I'm coming home still, I can't believe they're not giving me leave. Bastards. The healers managed to save your brother from gang grene in the foot. He'll make a full recovery.

As for Potter? He's worrying me. A shocker hey? He's done some impressive things in this war, some things that I respect him for. But Potter seems to have lost it. I think that if he manages to kill Voldemort, he'll die because he has no other purpose. He already looks dead.

I have to go. The sun is setting and they are approaching.

Never forget that I love you.

-Draco

Ginny's eyes started to prickle at the familiarity of Draco's hand writing, and the fact Draco wasn't coming home yet. However, she blinked angrily, forcing her tears to retreat and went to sleep; fitfully.

For the first time ten years, Ginny dreamed about Voldemort. Voldemort was trying to persuade her with love then getting angry when she rejected it. He then demanded that she kill Draco, the traitor but she adamantly refused. Finally, his image distorted into something that chilled Ginny's blood. She tried squirming away from him but invisible bonds held her still. Voldemort's fingernails lengthened and sharpened. All five nails punctured Ginny's heart.

At one fifty-three AM on a Sunday morning, Ginny awoke with a blood curdling scream.

"Ginny!" yelled Colin a few moments later, clad in a blanket with a weary but worried expression on his face. "What's wrong? What happened? Are you hurt?"

"Voldemort," whispered Ginny. She was barely heard. Luna rushed in at that point, wearing her nightie backwards.

"Is he here?" asked Colin, his eyes darting around Ginny's tidy but small room.

"He's in my head," replied Ginny, still shuddering with the aftershocks of fright. At this point, Colin realized what she was talking about straight away. Luna didn't, but she and Colin walked forward and hugged the shuddering Ginny anyway. Colin was confused, Ginny hadn't had her dream about Voldemort for ten years. It must have meant one thing. Voldemort was getting desperate.

Ginny felt a bit better being around people she trusted, but somehow it wasn't the same. Nothing was the same without Draco.

Draco nimbly stepped over a mangled body of a gibbon which had obviously been hit by some curse. Possibly the sectumsempra.

He made his way to his hammock at the Auror camp which was deep in the Brazilian forest.

"Hey Draco," waved Vic from above with a bandaged hand. Draco knew he had just been looking at his photo of Sasha since he had a dreamy, far away look in his eyes.

"Vic," nodded Draco. He took off his boots and placed them side by side neatly. Vic's were tossed higgledy piggledy on the ground next to his. Draco reached into his pocket and withdraw the now worn out photo of Ginny. Much of the lustre had faded and there were folds which made their own way there. The photo still served its purpose though, Ginny was in the paper, smiling and waving like she was no older than eighteen and eleven months old. She was so young in that photo and Draco felt so old.

With all the time that passed, Ginny almost seemed like a different person. Her letters grew mature, her handwriting grew 'grown-up' in a sense. Her outlooks on life shifted into something that wasn't childish. Draco had missed out. He felt like he didn't know her, he felt left out of the important moments of Ginny's life. Like graduating for law and getting the job as judge. It was like time had replaced the old Ginny he knew. Yet he still loved her passionately, knowing every moment was bringing peace. Whether being with Ginny again or death. He couldn't help loving her. He was bound.

The past seven years of war gut wrenchingly painful, mind-numbingly boring and the moments of furious action were adrenalin-pumping. Draco lost about ten kilograms. He had also lost most of his compassion. Over the seven-year span, he must have killed over five hundred people. Ignoring the fact they were Death Eaters, they were people. Once innocent, ordinary humans. Flesh and blood, just like Draco. He killed them. Legally, he was allowed to do so in hot blood or out of self defense. Despite his "tough-guy" exterior, he felt so wretched after his first murder. Draco first thought of it as murder. But he then realized there was absolutely nothing he could do about it, and he simply stopped contemplating it.

Vic took longer to get over it, for the first year, sobbing could be heard from the bunk/hammock/sleeping apparatus above Draco. It must have been hard for an open guy like Vic who never witnessed much death or horror in his life.

Also, it wasn't as if Aurors didn't die either. In fact, many Aurors perished in their battle against Voldemort. But in the end, Draco had to come to terms with the fact they were all people, and at times he fought hard not to cry out in hysteria. At the end of battles, the war zone would be littered with bodies. Cold blood ran like rivers, the cadavers could have been new flooring.

Draco wiped the photo clean after Ginny blew a kiss to him and settled down for a rest before dinner. Just as his eyes were closing and his brain was detaching itself from consciousness, a feminine voice belted out, "Malfoy!" Draco's grey-blue eyes snapped open and they sought out Opal who was standing next to his hammock.

Opal gave Draco a directed gaze which Draco returned effortlessly. A year back, Opal had made a move on Draco without the knowledge that he was going to be married. They were on a green, grassy field which was painted with crimson and staccato'ed with limp bodies. They were the last to leave, standing in the middle of the carnage, contemplating their previously adrenalin powered actions.

"Tragic," Opal had murmured, her voice full of sincerity.

"Mm," replied Draco. The blood on the field soon turned to the blood in his eye. A gash at his hairline secreted the red down to his orbs but soon it stopped. It was Opal clearing out the blood and healing the wound with her wand. The gesture reminded him of Ginny and a pang of longing for her hit him. He really was quite oblivious to Opal's closeness.

One moment, Draco was staring off into the distance above Opal's black hair, day dreaming about his lover, the next moment Opal's lips were on his. Draco froze for a second, and in that second he thought Opal was Ginny. Then his mind jumped back into order and his senses started serving him. This was not Ginny. The lips, the touch, the smell; everything! It was different and Draco wrenched his lips away from Opal's.

"Don't you ever do that again," hissed Draco in a soft but deadly voice.

"Oh?" oh'ed Opal, moving back away from him. She didn't even have enough to blush or look embarrassed. Instead, she seemed nonchalant, almost disappointed.

"I'm getting married," Draco said in a dangerously cold and impolite voice. It was the only time he got away with being rude to his senior. After that, Opal never bothered him. She didn't let it bother him for she carried on like it never happened. Draco decided if she was going to play it cool, then he would too. Professionalism was maintained. On the outside. Draco was an extremely perceptive person, and often out of his peripheral, he saw Opal just gazing at him. Not boring into him like her usual steely stare, just gazing. Somehow, Draco just didn't feel flattered.

After that encounter, rumour's were flying around battalion that Opal was a slut, that she slept with a different man every night. One young Auror even had the gall to mention it non-too subtly whilst Opal was in the vicinity and he had received a broken nose for his remark. After that, everybody suddenly remembered Opal was lethal.

Over the years, Opal had displayed her impressive martial arts and dueling knowledge to the younger Aurors who were usually slacked jawed. Most of them were used to the sight of innards and blood by now but a lot of the Aurors cringed when they thought back to one particularly impressive and gruesome move Opal made. The battalion was at an abandoned farm in the fields of America. The Aurors and the Death Eaters were having a fairly equal fight when Opal's wand was suddenly knocked aside from an unseen spell.

The poor Death Eater's thought this woman was defenseless.

They were inside a large barn at the time and Opal grabbed the closest thing to her. A pitchfork. Two Death Eaters advanced towards her in the strong light of midday but before they could mutter a spell, Opal jabbed the pitchfork lightning fast and snapped the two wands from the two DE's in succession. For a moment they bumbled about uselessly but then put their fists up wearily. Opal was more than they thought she was.

After inevitably losing their wands, the DE's were rendered useless. Again they tried to advance onto Opal but she struck out with the gardening tool. Bang, with a whirl and a twirl and one end of the pitchfork was in a DE's neck. Opal quickly yanked it out of his neck and swirled around 180 degrees, pitchfork out, sending it straight into the other DE's eyeballs. Wham. Perfect eye annihilation. Ignoring the man's screams of pain and terror, Opal held onto the pitchfork forcefully and pushed the DE off it with her foot. The eyeballs were firmly imbedded onto the spikes of the pitchfork but Opal ignored that. The DE was still alive, shitting himself with pain but alive. Not for long though, Opal stood above his unseeing form and brought the pitchfork, eyeballs and all right into his heart. Giving the pitchfork a nifty twist, she yanked the organ right from his chest.

Squelch.

All the action in the barn had ceased as they stared slack-jawed at the Auror director. With a touch of prerecognition, Opal ducked as a spell came hurtling towards her from behind and with the hearty, eyeballed pitchfork, she swept the DE's legs from underneath him, used the handle of the pitchfork and smashed his head. A sickening crack could be heard.

Opal darted to her wand and plucked it off the ground and sent up a large series of sparks. "Get back to it!" she roared and went off into the foray.

Back to Opal standing next to Draco's hammock.

"Malfoy, you're free to go home. Anytime you want a job at the Ministry, feel free to talk to any seniors," said Opal with a smile playing on the corner of her lips. She finally let her smile break free and stuck a hand out which Draco shook. His expression almost hid his joy and delight completely.

"What of Voldemort?" Draco asked, his brows crinkling in thought.

"We've got that covered. Well, Potter mostly has. Meet at the portkey centre at 9 am tomorrow morning. Face it Malfoy, you're getting old." Opal winked and started yelling up to Vic.

Draco laid back on his hammock and let his emotions unwind. He was going home! After seven, bloody, hard and long years he was free to go. He was going to see Ginny again! Boy, isn't she going to have a surprise when Draco rocks up unexpectedly. For the first time in a long while, a proper smile, a grin, appeared on Draco's face and suddenly everything seemed okay. To put the double chocolate icing on the cake, Vic was going home too!

The last night of Draco's duty was painfully slow. Some younger dickhead Auror's mucked around so Draco had to do his bit with ablutions, yet he didn't mind. Ginny was on his mind, with the knowledge he was going to see her again. That night, Draco took one last glance at his photo of Ginny. Out of pure foolish love, he kissed the photo where Ginny subsequently blushed. A smile was on Draco's lips as he slept.

"Thanks for helping me sort out all these legal documents," sighed Colin, rubbing his weary shoulders. It was the 22nd of December, three days from Christmas. Colin had just quit from his job at the Daily Prophet. Said his bosses were screwing him over.Literally trying to screw him over. He had to create a shield around himself to repel the horny old bastard.

Now Colin had transferred over to the Witches Which, which (excuse the pun) was a new witches magazine who were hungry for professional photographers. Colin snapped up the offer like a piranha snaps up anything that is flesh. God, anything would be better than Colin's old boss! Ginny knocked off early on Fridays and decided to help Colin sort out his transference documents and put an application for a restraining order in for him.

"Make sure you're ready for clubbing tonight," said Colin semi-sternly. He always tried to get Ginny to get out and about more often since she was always so listless. The only real cure was Draco, but it wasn't as if Colin was going to go risk his beautiful self to procure Draco from the bloody battlefields? Luna would have a fit! Instead, he tried distracting Ginny with meeting new people, partying and a bit of drinking. Ginny would appear to be having fun, and to any outsider she would be, but not to Colin. He could see the deep unrest within Ginny's eyes.

Many of the bachelor men that Ginny met chased after but they were always knocked back. Their ego's were blown. They couldn't not figure out why a knock-out like Ginny Weasley was seemingly single. She never accepted offers to dates but she never mentioned any significant other. Eventually they gave up and admired from afar.

Ginny sighed long-windedly and shed her coat. She was wearing a black number, deep v, tight sleeves and a flowing skirt that swished below her knees. Black stiletto's completed the outfit. Her long crimson hair trailed down to her cleavage, the leading lines. She swirled around and then glared at Colin. "See? I'm ready."

"You look great, let's go home for dinner. Luna should be home by then and then we'll make our way there," said Colin cheerfully as he stacked away his papers in his new office neatly. On the way home, Colin spotted a baby koi in the display window of a pet shop which he could not resist buying. Of course, Ginny had to carry the fish bowl and all since Colin had his hands full with briefcases and such.

'Honestly, I'm like his mother,' thought Ginny grumpily to herself.

Ginny and Draco tramped their way through blustery muggle London, admiring the Christmas decorations the muggles seemed to be able to display without magic. Ginny was in a slight good mood. She had a nice warm jacket, all her presents were bought, including Draco's which was hand made clay mug, but hey, Ginny was feeling sentimental. Ginny also had lasagna for dinner to look forward to and Christmas itself. Her twenty sixth Christmas. It had to mean something, it just had to.

However the good mood dissipated when she had to start lugging the heavy, albeit cute baby koi up ten flights of stairs. Colin and Ginny dared not to apparate, too risky around so many muggles. Slightly out of breath when she got to their apartment, Ginny fumbled about in her handbag and procured her keys. She then slid it into the keyhole. Turning the knob, she pushed the door open and placed her handbag and keys on the side table of the tiny entranceway. She kept her eyes on the fish as she put it down on the table and removed her jacket. Finally, she was free to place the baby koi somewhere practical but when she saw who was sitting at their dining/kitchen table, the fish bowl slipped from Ginny's suddenly limp hands and crashed onto the floor, spilling its contents everywhere. However none of this registered in Ginny's mind because Draco was home.

"Draco," murmured Ginny, her eyes glazed over. "Is it really you?" The man in front of her certainly looked like Draco. The floppy platinum blonde hair, same features as well. But something was different. Perhaps was how much weight he lost or the way he was sitting on his chair, tense, alert. Paranoid?

"The fish!" yelled Luna and she scrambled to fix the broken bowl and to save the baby koi from its non-watery death. Ginny and Draco ignored this however, and the gasp from Colin who had just made his way into the apartment.

"It's me," said Draco in his ever-so even voice, but his eyes held the emotion, the same emotion they held those seven long years ago. Ginny did the only thinkable thing, she ran forward and hugged her fiancé for a very long time. Ginny reveled in his touch, his familiarity. It was all there. She could feel his hard muscles underneath his old clothes, she could smell his scent, his manly scent. The way his head fitted in between her shoulder and her neck. Everything. Draco was home, and everything would be okay.

Unbeknownst to Ginny and Draco, Luna and Colin quietly slipped out of the apartment to give them some space. Luna and Colin shared a happy smile, glad that their friend had her love back. They could go to dinner themselves and clubbing without Ginny wouldn't be so much of a big loss.

"Ginny, I've missed you so much. Merlin, you look beautiful," murmured Draco, looking appreciatively at his fiancé.

"I can't believe you're here! Every day I thought you were going to die. I nearly went crazy with worry. At some points I think I did. Why didn't you tell me you were coming back? We could have had a big celebration, my god, I really can't believe you're here! I'm so happy! This is the best early Christmas present ever!" replied Ginny, cupping Draco's face. If Draco had any puppy fat, he would have lost it. He was well and truly a man, with all the sharp angles and a streak of maturity in his eyes. The newer yet older Draco was just as captivating as the seventeen year old Draco.

"Sorry I didn't appear from under the tree on Christmas day," said Draco.

"I don't care," replied Ginny. "You're here, all my wishes have come true."

Without another word, Draco cupped Ginny's own cheeks with his hands and pulled her close for a soft kiss. The sparks leapt immediately. Seven years of abstinence. Seven years! Touching themselves over those years weren't enough to quell the fire inside, and in the small kitchen, the kisses turned fiery. Their bodies needed, lusted, ached and yearned for each other's. Without another word, Ginny lead Draco to her bedroom, taking his shirt off in the process. Oh his abs! If there was one good thing about the war, it was that it conditioned the body. Ginny broke the kissing off to fully appreciate what she was seeing. With a streak of domination, Ginny pushed Draco roughly against the wall and began running her hands up and down his body furiously.

"Where the fuck have you been all these years?" growled Ginny, biting Draco's collarbone.

"You fuckin' tell me," growled Draco back and with a sudden tug, Ginny's dress of was off and she was left with a simple black cotton bra and brief on. Oh and the shoes. "Good to see you've kept yourself," muttered Draco silkily just beside Ginny's ear. Tingles of pleasure shot straight up and down Ginny's spine, a sensation she hadn't felt since the last time they had sex; seven years ago.

"If Opal was here, I'd break her face," hissed Ginny, trying not to moan from Draco's kisses which were being placed on her neck. Draco's chest rumbled with his deep laughter and he swung Ginny around so her back was against the wall. He pressed his whole body against hers, signifying his dominance. Ginny wasn't complaining. Draco pressed a hard kiss on Ginny's lips and undid the clasp on her bra.

"Wow," said Draco appreciatively, his eyes drawn to Ginny's B cup endowments. "I don't remember this."

"My puberty finished at twenty four," muttered Ginny huskily after a furious spate of kissing. Her hands shot downwards and she yanked Draco's pants down, popping buttons, taking his boxers with them.

"Oh you'll pay for that," growled Draco devilishly and Ginny gulped with anticipation. His large, calloused hands were suddenly everywhere at once, possessing her, making her skin feel as if it were on fire. Somehow, Draco proceeded southward and when he reached her underwear, he paused to place a kiss beside her belly button and tore the flimsy black material off. The ripping noise made a resounding sound in the room and heightened their senses more than possible. Ginny focused her hungry eyes on Draco.

Heart racing, blood pumping, temperature rising. Ginny and Draco shared a desperate and fiery kiss before melting to the ground as one.

Every man and woman, well they'll just lose control.

"Ronald! If you touch that cake, you'll be wishing you were never born with teeth!" hissed Ginny with a deathly glare at her older brother. Ron visibly gulped and backed away from the cake.

The doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" cried Ginny and hurried to the front door of The Burrow.

"Ginny! Great to see you again," said a man.

"Vic! Likewise! Come in," said Ginny warmly, a contrast in tone from when she spoke to her brother. They were sharing some light chit chat when Harry suddenly walked by.

"Harry," said Vic, nodding his head genially towards the man who finally slayed Voldemort. Harry nodded back with a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. Now that Voldemort was dead, Harry felt so listless, so useless, so unimportant. He didn't say anything of course, but everybody could tell. He received an Order of Merlin, First Class though that was only a small happiness. Now in July, after Ginny's twenty seventh birthday, the Wizarding world was starting to operate normally again. Peace reigned and people were recovering.

"Vic," came a voice from behind them. It was Draco, dressed in summer attire of a loose shirt and three quarter jeans. And thongs. (The shoes, not the uncomfortable looking underwear.)

"I still can't believe you or Ginny aren't having some sort of party before your wedding," sighed Vic, running his hand through his dark curls. "Sasha had hers and I had mine, it was a blast."

"Nah, it's okay. We don't need them," replied Draco with a smile and he put an arm around Ginny. It was strange, no one who knew Ginny and Draco's history would have put the two together as a couple. Now small actions like an arm around the shoulder or a secret kiss behind a closed door seemed so natural for them. But hey, that's love.

Ginny decided to have a summer wedding as the winters were too dreary. The Burrow had heaps of land and a rustic arch was put up in their expansive backyard for Ginny and Draco to wed under. For the past fortnight, Molly was beside herself with wedding preparations and Arthur was simply beaming night and day at his daughter and his son-in-law to be.

The wedding was tomorrow and Draco was to sleep on the couch. Molly and Arthur thought it wouldn't be appropriate for them to share a bed before their wedding, despite their prior knowledge to some of the (kinky) things they had done already. That night, before Ginny and Draco parted in the same house, they shared a kiss and a few stolen moments.

"So, Miss Ginny Weasley, ready to be turned into a Mrs Ginny Malfoy?" smirked Draco. Ginny, as always, was melting at the sight of Draco's smirk but decided to play along.

"Malfoy? You seriously think I'm going to change my name to something that translates into bad faith? You're dreamin'!" teased Ginny, acting snooty.

"B-but, aaww please?" said Draco pitifully, somehow pulling off an I'm-a-puppy-that-has-just-been-stepped-on face. Ginny couldn't help but laugh, and to Draco's delight, she ignored the fact he was feeling up her boobs.

"You doofus, of course I will change my name," whispered Ginny happily, placing a teasing kiss on her husband-to-be's lips. After they broke away, Draco dropped all pretenses of joking and simply gazed at Ginny. Which made her blush. He took his hands away from Ginny's cleavage and brought her closer, holding her like she was some fragile piece of glass. In short, Draco held her in a way so that she felt loved, like he hungered for her touch every moment of his life.

"I love you Ginny," murmured Draco, looking straight into Ginny's eyes and she felt like she was flying.

"I love you too," murmured Ginny back, deliberately kissing the side of Draco's mouth. Ginny moved upwards to walk away and left Draco alone to anticipate the next day.

It was one o'clock in the afternoon on a clear, warm and cloudless July day. Everybody who cared about The Weasley's or Draco could be found waiting on The Burrow's neat lawn in their nicest clothes and expectant expressions on their face.

Ginny's immediate family, not including Arthur, were situated at the front of the aisle, looking down it expectantly. A minister was a bit further back in the rustic arch with his book and podium at the ready. Draco was standing just in front of the podium with nervousness wracking him and a cheerful and supportive Vic as his best man. Vic decided to return the favour of being best man since Draco was his at his wedding.

Draco was wearing a neat black suit, with all wrinkles annihilated.

Draco was waiting there patiently for what seemed like hours. Ginny was in the goddamn house behind them, how could it take her so long to walk to her backyard? But, his patience bore wealth as the wedding march suddenly struck its tune. The tip of Ginny's redhead peeked over the hill and soon the rest of her stunning figure was rising above the hillock. Arthur had Ginny's arm looped around his and Draco's breath caught at the sight of his daughter. He could honestly say he had never seen anyone as beautiful as Ginny Weasley on that warm July day.

Ginny's dress was a simple sleeveless dress with slight embroidery around the top of the dress which melted into pure white silk which clung to her curves perfectly. Draco absolutely loved it. The simple yet elegant designs always worked so well on her figure.

The tinkling wedding march kept playing and Ginny kept walking towards Draco. He completely ignored Hermione who was Ginny's bridesmaid. Ginny decided on a blue theme for her wedding and Hermione was wearing a sleek blue dress with spaghetti straps.

Time seemed to slow as Ginny neared. She was slightly flushed but her pale skin and deep hair shone radiantly in the sun anyway. Soon Ginny reached Draco and they stood facing each other lovingly. "Beautiful," mouthed Draco, his grey-blue eyes dancing with happiness. Ginny's blush deepened and Draco had to use all his will-power, all of it to not reach out and grab her, to kiss her senseless like she should be kissed. But they were getting married, and Draco would have his chance soon.

The minister started his speech about love, life and death but it sounded very monotonous so Ginny and Draco tuned out. Ginny's hair was done up in an elegant swirl, with loose curly tendrils falling out of the swirl here and there. A slight sighing breeze wafted through the collection of people and blew one of the tendrils into Ginny's face. Before Draco stop himself, he reached over and tucked the red lock behind Ginny's ear, brushing her soft skin along the way. The minister gave a pointed clearing of his voice and half the audience gasped whilst the other half sighed. (Mostly the girls.)

"You may say your vows," wheezed the minister after closing his book.

"Draconis Xavier Malfoy, I never fully understood you back at school. I thought you were cold, heartless and cruel. Every since that fateful library day, you have proved me wrong. You captivated me. You won me over. I know this vow isn't very long, but I know you so well Draco. I know your feelings, I know our feelings inside out. I know you know I love you with every possible part of my being. I find words cannot describe the feeling. I love you, always and forever." Ginny finished her vow and looked deep into Draco's eyes. He replied in a tender, raw voice.

"Ginerva Stephanie Weasley, I was so lost without you. You are my direction, my leading light, everything. I am nothing without you. I am completely devoted to you. I see you and I see everything that is worth living for is you. You are beautiful, you are my one and only. You are my soul mate. Always, I will always be yours, I will be forever faithful to you for I love you Ginny. Never forget that even in your darkest hour." Ginny smiled her beautiful smile at Draco and he found himself happier than possible.

"Rings please," said the Minister in a more normal voice. He was not fazed by the vows since he had heard bajillions in his career and he had evidently gotten his voice back.

Ginny turned to Hermione who had Draco's wedding ring resting on a pouffy cushion. They were settling for white gold rings, breaking tradition. The wedding band was plain but on the inside there was an inscription.

'Draco and Ginny Forever'

Ginny smiled at Hermione and took the ring from the cushion and slid it onto Draco's outstretched finger. A perfect fit. Draco's lips graced into a happy smile and Ginny itched to kiss them. He turned around to Vic who had Ginny's ring on its own cushion. The white gold band held a small but pure white diamond, surrounded by small artistically placed sapphires.

Ginny's elegant finger was outstretched and Draco held her hand softly, enjoying the touch before slipping the ring onto the finger where it remained perfectly. Then, the shining moment. Draco was suddenly as nervous as a thirteen year old on a first date when the thought about the kiss he was going to administer to Ginny. Finally the fateful words fell.

"You may kiss the bride."

Draco looked at Ginny, and Ginny looked back at Draco. He moved forward and gripped her gently by the waist, dipping his head down to her head. Ginny's eyes closed as did his and there lips met confidently and tentatively amidst wild cheering from the happy crowd.

Ginny and Draco broke away smiling. The kiss was like their first one, slow and sweet. Tentative, holding hope. Draco's arms slid around Ginny's waist and they gazed at each other lovingly. Ginny and Draco were married, and each felt that their hearts would burst with joy.

Dies and goes to heaven with happiness. OH MY GOD EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! THEY GOT MARRIED I AM SOOOOOOOOO DAMN HAPPY! YAYAYAYAYAY!

That's it! The fic is finished! I hope you guys loved it, I do! I am so happy!

But!

There will be an epilogue.

:D:D:D:D!

Anyway, I will have a full author's note in that last chapter, (though some of you may think my author's drivel is too boring to read) but yeah! There will be the thankyous and etc. Read it if you like reading these stupid author's notes.

I am so happy! Honest to god I am so fuckin' happy!

Please review, even though there will be one last chapter please review because this really is the end of the story. I will appreciate it so much!

Anywho, stay tuned for the last ever instalment of My Study Partner.

Lots love,

yourbeautifulnightmare/Jessica.

P.S sorry about the gory bits with Opal. My imagination ran away with my fingers :S

P.S Every man and woman, well they'll just lose control. – Those italics are from the song Monster by Funeral For A Friend. That sentence from the song kept playing in my head as I was writing that bit so I decided to add it in.