I'm so sorry it's been so long since I updated but I've been having important exams at school and revision was more important, sorry. I've decide that I'm splitting the last chapter in two so they will be two chapters after this, Hope no one minds. A great big thank you to all my lovely reviewers.
I'd like to say a special thank you to GinnyGINvampire00 for all her help and support through out the fic and pop-pop-bananas for all her lovely reviews. You rock!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot. The characters and places belong to J.K.Rowling, I'm just playing with them.
Ginny woke up in a nicer way that morning and it seemed that having not been woken with a 'SPASH' had put her in a better mood. She'd woken up extra early with plenty of time before breakfast and Pansy even heard her singing in the shower. But what the others didn't realise was that whilst she seemed to be happy she was actually the saddest she'd been in a long time. She'd decided faking happiness was the best way to cope with what she'd have to do the next night; after all she didn't want people to get suspicious. Leaving everything, for however short the time may be, was going to be one of the hardest things she'd ever have to do. All she wanted to do was help and she couldn't do that if she was hiding away from everything, but she'd already promised Draco and there was no point in crying over spilt milk.
She thought she'd give Draco an early morning wake up call, she wanted him to be wide awake today; it was his graduation. So she pulled on her robes and fixed her hair into a sloppy ponytail before leaving her dorm room. As she made her way through the common room she came to the conclusion that Slytherins were lazy. Only two people were up and it wasn't that early. As she'd expected Draco was asleep when she walked into his room. She sat on the edge of his bed and waited…and waited…and waited some more. She finally grew so bored that she started to whisper in his ear, softly at first "Draco…" didn't work, maybe a little louder? "Draco!" but he didn't even stir. Ginny came up with a very Slytherin-ish idea; she'd bounce him awake! So quickly before her conscience got the better of her, she struggled up onto Draco's bed and started to jump repeatedly up and down with force.
"ARGH!!" Draco screamed before he looked up with tired eye to see a grinning Ginny. "Merlin Ginny what the bloody hell are you doing jumping on my bed at 7:00 o'clock in the bloody morning?!" he practically shouted at her but didn't wait for an answer before he grabbed one of her ankles bringing her down on top of him where he kissed her hungrily. Pansy and the girls choose that moment to walk into Draco's room to find Ginny lying on top of Draco kissing him passionately. The pair didn't stop until they heard their unwanted visitor speak "oh dear, are we interrupting something?" Pansy asked smirking suggestively.
Ginny blushed but Draco just said "Yes and I was enjoying myself so bugger off!" and he tried to start another kiss but Ginny climbed off him grinning broadly. "Better get dressed Draco and wake up earlier in the future or I'll be forced to think up something really bad to do to you. You got off lightly this morning". Then she smirked and left the room with her friends.
"How did you wake him up," asked Millicent.
"You didn't soak him with freezing cold water did you? That would have been absolutely horrible of you," spoke Pansy with mock horror.
"Ha-ha Pansy and no I didn't soak him with water I just bounced on his bed instead," Ginny told them shrugging casually.
"And your still alive?! Merlin! He must really love you to let you get away with something like that," Said Daphne in a shocked voice. Ginny just shrugged again grinning madly she already knew he loved her too much to be angry at her for waking him.
Pansy cracked jokes as they walked down to breakfast and Ginny laughed hysterically at every one of them even if they were cruel or simply not funny. The girls were starting to get suspicious of her happiness.
"Ginevra your cheerfulness is nauseating," moaned Millicent whilst rubbing her temples.
"I agree, I'm starting to believe you are a misplaced Hufflepuff. Quit with the happy, joyful act will you its cramping are style." spoke Pansy smirking. Ginny dropped the grin that had been plastered on her face all through breakfast and shyly smiled apologetically. They weren't buying her act anyway. They could all tell that something was wrong with her.
Ginny was just about to bite into her toast when a red feathered owl landed gracefully in front of her sticking her leg out for Ginny to untie the letter. Ginny took the letter and offered the bird some toast; it just hooted in disgust and picked out a piece of apple from Ginny's fruit salad before flying of proudly. 'Strange owl' Ginny thought to herself frowning. She didn't know that owl, who could it have belonged to? The letter read…
Dear Miss Ginevra Weasley
I'm writing to offer you a day free from lessons in order to pack and do whatever unfinished business you still need doing. Don't forget your old friends Miss Weasley. I have also arranged a meeting with your parents for 12:00pm today, forgive me for not telling you about it sooner I've been rather busy with arrangements for tonight I wont write any more about that particular topic in case you have some nosey friends spying over your shoulder. Draco is, of course, welcome to come to are little meeting and please inform him that he to is free from lessons today. Have a good day and we'll speak soon.
Yours faithfully
Albus Dumbledore
p.s. I like sugar quills.
Ginny stupidly hadn't thought about what her parents would say about the whole thing nor had she thought about what she'd say to them. At least she'd have Draco with her, he always seemed to know exactly what to say or do to make everything alright.
"Ha-ha, look Ginevra, Draco looks …err… refreshed." Laughed Tracey. Ginny spun around to see Draco looking anything but refreshed. He shuffled his feet as he walked obviously too tired to pick them up. His eye lids were heavy and his hair was not in its usual immaculate style. He looked thoroughly shattered. Ginny had to try hard to hold in her laughter as he sat down next to her and rested his head on the table.
"What's the matter Drakie? Not get enough sleep last night," Cooed Ginny.
"Ergh, don't call me that Gin," moaned Draco still not lifting his head from the table "it's like waking up with Pansy. Now that's a fate worse then death!" Pansy shot him a glare from across the table and throw a kipper at him, it narrowly missing his face.
Ginny chuckled. "Well here's something that might wake you up, a meeting with my parents." Draco's head shot up and Ginny had to suppress a smirk at the terrified look on his face.
"Don't worry about it to much Draco. They're nothing compared to your mother and father, no offence but he gives me the heeby jeeby's." Ginny faked a shiver and Draco laughed.
"I'm not worried about your parents," he said trying to convince her. "But your brothers are a completely different story." He muttered to himself.
"What was that?"
"Nothing dear." He smirked as she rolled her eyes.
"Here," she said tossing him Dumbledore's letter and watched as he read it.
"No lessons?" Draco asked.
"Nope," then she lowered her voice "He just wants us to be ready to leave I think."
Draco nodded and resumed to his former position, with his head rested on the table. "Please don't wake me up that soon ever again Ginny, I feel like I could sleep for a hundred years!"
"Well, get over it sleeping beauty we've got bigger fish to fry." She told him.
"Huh?" Draco so eloquently asked.
"It's a muggle saying meaning we have bigger things to worry about then how much beauty sleep you got last night you idiot!" Ginny explained to a dozing Draco. "Oh wake up Draco! Honestly it wasn't even that early, you're just lazy!"
"I am awake you annoying woman!" Draco almost shouted, causing most of the Slytherin table to laugh at the pair.
"Well, look who's acting like a married couple," Laughed Theo Nott. This made everyone laugh even harder. The other three house table stared in awe, never had they seen such a thing as this; almost the whole of the Slytherin table laughing their socks off hardly bothered by the fact that everyone else in the room was staring at them. This bunch of students that were usually quiet, cold and haughty now seemed almost human as they let their guards down to laugh. No one except Draco and the-all-knowing-Dumbledore realised how much Ginny had effected this quarter of the school, she'd be a great loss.
By the time the Slytherins had calmed down it was a few minutes before their first period lesson.
"You two are going the wrong way we've got DADA!" shouted Pansy from up the corridor. Ginny looked at Draco, pleading with him to come up with an excuse.
"Dumbledore wanted to see us about something, we'll catch you later Pans!" Draco shouted back and Ginny took a relieved sigh.
"So, what are we doing until twelve o'clock?" asked Draco as he put an arm casually around Ginny's shoulders.
"I don't know 'bout you but I need to write a few letters, you know? To explain to my friends why I'm leaving. Dumbledore told me not to forget about my old friends either and I don't intend to, they've stuck by me through everything. What will you be doing?" she asked.
Draco shrugged "Watching you," He replied.
"You do that a lot don't you." He raised a questioning eyebrow and she answered. "Watch me, you do it all the time," she answered.
"Yeah well, you smell me so you can't complain about me simply looking at my own girlfriend once in a while," he joked.
The pair reached the dungeons and Draco sat in the common room while Ginny ran up to her dormitory to get a quill, ink and parchment.
They sat in a relatively silent room, but it was a comfortable silence. All that could be heard was the scratching of Ginny's quill as she wrote her goodbyes to her friends. Draco sat watching her the whole time. Watching how she bit the inside of her lip as she concentrated on a certain line of her letter and watching her sigh and angrily scribble out a part of the letter that she didn't like. He never grew bored of looking at her, it helped him understand her better and he grew acquainted with her habits and started to understand the mood she was in by her body language.
"There!" She spoke, breaking the silence. "I'm finished; tell me what you think of them." She handed him three letters.
Draco started to read…
Dear Colin
I'm writing this letter for a couple of reasons the first and probably the main reason is to tell you that I'm leaving school with Draco. We are both in danger from You-Know-Who, It's entirely necessary that we run away, you know I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't; please don't be angry at me. I'm not sure where I am going so I can't tell you, sorry, but I do want you to know that I wont be away forever only until the war starts. Another reason why I'm writing this letter is to tell you that I'm eternally grateful for your help and support. You are and always have been a fantastic friend to me Colin and I don't want you to think I'm abandoning you because you've never abandoned me. You've stuck by me through thick and thin and I'm almost sure I wouldn't be here today had it not been for you. We'll forever be friends. Take care and I'll see you soon.
Love my love
Your Ginny
xxx
Draco finished reading the first letter and nodded to tell Ginny it was fine. So, he had this Colin to thank for Ginny still being alive he'd have to bare that in mind for the next time he saw the boy.
The second letter read…
Dear Morena and Ami
I'm assuming you are both reading this together as it addressed to both of you. Now, please don't completely flip when you read this but me and Draco are running away tonight, where to? I don't know, though we do have a perfectly good reason for doing it. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named knows about me and Draco being together and he also knows we are both at Hogwarts. It would be dangerous and stupid of us to stay here, therefore we'll be going into hiding, under Dumbledore's protection of course. We wont be away long, only until the war starts, I refuse to hide away while everyone else is fighting. Don't hate me for doing this it's not like I really wanted to, in fact I'm dreading it, but it must be done. I'd like to thank you both for still being my friends even while practically everyone else in Gryffindor wanted nothing to do with me, it means a lot and I wont ever forget it. I promise to see you both soon.
Lots of love from
Ginny
Xxx
Draco nodded his approval again and carried on to read the next letter that he knew would be addressed to Pansy, Daphne, Millicent and Tracey.
Dear Slytherin girls, Pansy, Millicent, Daphne and Tracey
I suppose you're all wondering why I'm writing to you instead of just coming to tell you what I have to say as we all live in the same room as each other. Well, I writing because by the time you read this I will no longer be a Hogwarts student. Draco and I are leaving the school to go into hiding, you all know why I'm sure, as we've already spoken about it. Sorry about not telling you sooner but I knew you'd all be angry, upset and want to stop me and I wouldn't have been able to deal with that as I am horribly sad about having to leave everyone. I'm going to miss you all so much. You've all been very kind to me in my time of need; you took me under your wing and treated me like I was one of you. I'll always remember your kindness and this isn't goodbye. We'll see each other shortly, as soon as the war begins we'll both be out of hiding and ready to help fight.
Lots of love from
Ginny
Xxx
P.s. Draco sends his love.
Draco nodded a third time and raised an eyebrow at the last sentence of the letter. "Send my love do I?" asked Draco cheekily.
"Yes you do so don't even bother moaning about it that's my fifth attempt and my hand is aching so I'm not changing it," huffed Ginny and Draco just laughed and kissed her telling her not to be so stressed and that her letters were fine.
At 12 o'clock Ginny could be found clutching harder on to Draco's hand as the pair made their way to Dumbledore's office. This was it; it was finally time to tell her parents. She'd have liked to think she was completely confident and fearless, but that would have been a lie because in actual fact she was shaking with nerves. What would her mother and father do when Ginny walked in hand-in-hand with the son of their greatest enemy? She'd have liked to have thought they'd support her and be happy that she'd found love. But she couldn't get rid of that nagging little voice in the back of her head saying 'what if?'
'What if they didn't take it well?'
'What if they couldn't be happy for her if she was in love with someone like Draco?'
'What if they shouted at her and told her she was a disgrace?'
'What if they disowned her?'
Draco, sensing her nervousness, wrapped her in a hug and told he was here for her and that she had nothing to worry about, that everything would turn out fine. He was lying, he couldn't know that everything would be fine but it comforted her none the less.
They rounded a corner before stopping in front of the stone gargoyles guarding Dumbledore's office.
"Sugar quill," Draco spoke the password in a strong steady voice; it showed none of the worry that he felt at that moment. He couldn't show it. He had to be strong for Ginny. This was hard enough for her without the added stress of Draco being nervous. This feeling of nervousness was completely knew to him and seemed very, very strange. He'd never needed to feel nervous before because he'd always got whatever he wanted and he had no one to feel nervous towards. As he was the Malfoy heir, people had no choice but to do whatever he wanted them to do. He often felt something similar to nerves when around his father but he was now pretty sure that was just disgust and a hint of fear.
The gargoyle leaped out of the way as a stone, spiral staircase came twirling into view. Ginny looked up at Draco giving him a small shaky smile, he returned it with a huge, genuine grin that he knew she loved so much. It lit up his whole face making him look so happy and full of live. Those smiles were hard for Draco to give, which is why he didn't do it a lot, he'd never had any need to smile. At his house, life was either painful or boring giving him not much to smile about. At school, if he smiled in the Slytherin dungeons he'd probably be punched and should he smile anywhere else in school it would completely ruin his reputation as a cold-hearted son of a death eater. So, the lack of practice made it difficult to get out of the habit of smirking instead of smiling. But to him, smiling seemed so much more natural in front of Ginny because he had nothing to prove, no expectations to fore fill, she loved him and everything about him from his smirking evil Slytherin Prince character to her smiling, caring, loving soul mate. She wouldn't have him any other way because then he wouldn't be the same man she'd fallen in love with. She didn't ever want him to change, though some times it upset her when he was using his emotionless mask that he'd been trained to use in public or that he was unable to trust people or see good in them, she still understood that he couldn't help it, it was part of who he was and she was quite content with the fact that she, at least, could make him show her how he was really feeling, it made her special.
Ginny (and maybe Draco, though he didn't show it) felt like she was walking to her doom as she made her way up the stone steps, staring straight ahead and trying desperately to steady her breathing.
They made it to the top of the stairs and stood still staring at the solid oak door with a brass handle that led to Dumbledore's office, considering whether to knock and deal with the horror that would surely be unleashed or to run back down the stairs in fear. Draco took it into his own hands to decide as he raised his fist and knocked twice loudly.
A broadly smiling Dumbledore opened the door and invited them inside, where Ginny's jaw dropped to the floor.
Draco gulped audibly as he stared at the rather large group of angry male red-heads. 'Her WHOLE family! That idiot invited her whole family!' Draco thought. It was completely true as well, inside the office sat Ginny's mother, father, and all six of her brothers.
They all stood up suddenly when the pair walked in. "will I need a lawyer?" whispered Draco with a cheeky grin but apparently her brothers had heard him.
"When we're done with you all your going to need is coffin Malfoy!" shouted Charlie whilst walking toward Draco in a threaten manner, he always had been the most badly tempered of Ginny's brothers that probably came with working with Dragons. When Charlie reached out his hands, no doubt trying to wrap them around Draco's throat, he found he was unable to touch him at all.
"I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of placing a restricting charm on you all, just a safety precaution wouldn't want anyone to wind up in saint Mungo's." Dumbledore said smiling with a knowing twinkle in his eye.
"Never mind saint Mungo's that git belongs in Azkaban after what he did to our sister!" shouted Fred, while George nodded his head vigorously in agreement.
Ginny finally found her voice "Stop being stupid, all of you, Draco did nothing bad to me at all so I suggest you all, calm down, sit down and shut up!"
The six brothers looked at each other before silently agreeing to sit down but they weren't planning on shutting up they'd get their points across One way or an other.
Once her stupid, lanky brothers were seated Ginny noticed her silent parents standing in the corner, her father with his arm around her mothers shoulders, he didn't look very pleased and was shooting venomous glares at Draco, as was every other Weasley male in the room. But Mrs Weasley didn't look angry at all instead she looked slightly scared, a little upset and dare Ginny think it…..proud?
They locked eye contact and Ginny realised her mother had tears in her eyes but she smiled slightly and that meant a lot to Ginny maybe things would work out ok, just like Draco that told her.
Apparently as Ginny had being sharing a smile with her mother another argument had broken out.
"There is no way in hell your taking are baby sister away" shouted one brother.
"What have you done to her ferret?! What spell have you put on her?!" shouted another.
Draco remained calm and collected "Ginevra is not under the influence of any spell, charm, curse, hex, jinx or potion. She's with me because she wants to be and I don't mean to sound disrespectful but Ginny is a strong minded woman and I highly doubt that anything you may say would push her away from me, in fact I suspect the exact opposite and you'd only be pushing her away from yourselves. If you don't wish to lose your only sister then I suggest you except her decisions." He finished, completely unfazed by the fact that an extremely angry pack of red baboons were ready to pounce on him.
"Don't act like you know her Malfoy! She's are sister and obviously isn't thinking straight right now." Bill then redirected his gaze to Ginny "Gin-Bug, you can't be serious about running away with that! I don't think you understand what your doing, where's my innocent baby sister that would never dream of betraying her family like this?"
Ginny's eyes started to fill but she bit them back determined not to show them such a weakness. She really did love all of these people but they made her very frustrated. "You're the one that doesn't understand, your making it sound like some great scandal! We're running away for are own safety for Merlin's sake!" she shouted at him.
Draco knew what would happen soon, he could see her eyes filling and he pulled her away from her brother and into his arms where he could feel her tears seeping though his shirt. He glared at her brothers; anyone who made his Ginny cry was scum as far as he was concerned. Not only because of how much he loved her but because her tears hurt him as well.
"Well done Weasley, now look what done! She's your own bloody sister and you made her cry. You've got no idea what she's been through! How DARE you upset her when she's done nothing wrong? What's your problem? Don't you want her to be happy? Because she is and will be forever I'll make sure of it, I wont let you spoil it because she bloody well deserves it and more!" the male red head and everyone else was in shock, how could this evil Slytherin be saying and promising such things and unbelievably seeming truthful; no one's that good of an actor presides his love for Ginny shone in his eyes every time he looked at her.
Draco rubbed her back and rested his head on hers. Dumbledore finally looked up from the wood of his desk having previously just sat, listening with the tips of his fingers touching in a thinking position. He believed Draco, with all his heart. He prized himself on his knowledge of love. Though he was well known for being too trusting, that was just everyone else's opinion. He thought of himself as quite a good judge of character.
"Get your slimy Slytherin hands of my sister or we'll introduce you to forge and Gred's fists you sister stealing ferret!" shouted Fred and George, but before they could even attempt to get past the restricting charm that was protecting Draco. There heard a female voice shout….
"ENOUGH!!!" Screamed a very pink Mrs Weasley. She pulled out her wand, opened the door, magically lifted her sons and husband into the air and threw them onto the floor outside the office door. "I'll deal with you all later" she hissed in a deathly quiet voice that made even her own husband cringe in fear. But then she turned around and her face softened, tears started to pour from her eye and yet she was smiling warmly at both of them. Ginny had never released how confusing her mother could be.
"Mum?" Ginny asked nervously.
"Oh Gin, my baby girl." and the two walked forward and embraced each other both sobbing with happiness. Draco couldn't suppress his smile as he watched the two of them, happy that at least one Weasley had some sense.
"I'll excuse myself for a little while if you don't mind," spoke Dumbledore tactfully. Molly nodded thanking him.
Molly let go of Ginny and walked over to Draco. He didn't know what to do so he stuck out his hand awkwardly. Mrs Weasley smiled, took the offered hand and used it to pull him into her arms in a bone crunching hug. Draco ended up grinning despite himself at the little woman's boldness. She pulled away and wiped her eyes.
"I want you both to know that I fully support your relationship. I only want the best for my daughter and I have a feeling she'll be happy with you, Draco." Molly was still crying whilst smiling and Ginny couldn't help but compare her mothers smile to a rainbow. She felt it strange that her mother could be showing happiness by smiling yet showing sadness by crying just like a rainbow that only comes out when it's raining. Her smile shining through her tears like a rainbow shining through the rain.
"Thank you Mrs Weasley, it means a lot that someone is excepting us." Said Draco actually saying what he meant instead of the sugar coated statements he'd had planned.
"I know it does dear and please, call me Molly." Ginny could see that her mother was starting too really like Draco. "Would you mind giving us a few minutes alone Draco dear, wont be long."
"Of course I will Molly." He answered before giving Ginny a swift kiss and left the room.
"Mum I'm so glad you're ok with this, I was horribly scared you'd hate me because of it. But I couldn't leave him, ever. I love him mum, so much. I know nobody wants us to be together, I know it may seem wrong to people but…" she was interrupted by Molly putting a finger on her lips, politely telling her to shut up.
"Believe it or not I know exactly how you feel. Do you think my family and friends were happy about me falling in love with a Weasley? When I meet your father he was terribly poor and had no job prospects. But that didn't matter to me because we were in love. Though apparently it did matter to my loved ones. None of them supported me through my marriage, we were completely alone. I know that Draco may not be who everyone expected you to be with but you can't help who you fall in love with and I promise you I'll be right by your side, I'll always be they for you if you ever need me because I never had that and I want you to." Molly told her all the while Ginny was hugging her mother, her arms around her waist with her head on her chest. Ginny hadn't known all this about her but was glad her mother knew what it felt like to have the whole world be against you and the person you love.
"I'll speak to your brothers and remind your father that he has more in common with Draco then he thinks. I'll get them to see sense dear, have faith in your old mum."
"I do mum, I really do. I should be getting back to Draco now, he'll be worried. Thank you again, I'll see you soon." Ginny said. She hugged her mother once more before she opened the door, waved and left with a smile on her face.
As she had expected Draco was waiting outside for her with apprehensive look on his face.
"Well, you're smiling that's a good sign." He said and Ginny could him visibly relax.
"Yes because I'm happy. My mothers being very supportive, I'm just glad she took it so well."
They both started to walk down the corridor in silence and Draco reached for Ginny's hand. "And the rest of your family?" he asked raising his eyebrows.
"They don't matter, anyway mum's promised to try and convince them that you're not entirely bad." She said grinning. They'd reached the dungeons now and Draco was giving the statue the password. They both needed to pack and quickly it was already two o'clock and the graduation ceremony started at 4 o'clock.
They walked up the stairs to Ginny's dorm in silence. They wanted to pack together therefore decided it would probably be best if Ginny packed her things first as all her dorm mates had a free period soon and would be coming back in about half an hour. The pair needn't worry about unwanted guests whilst Draco was packing as he had his own room, no doubt bought for him by his father.
Nobody except Dumbledore, Ginny's family and a few members of the order knew about Ginny and Draco running away, neither wanted to face their friends and tell them they would be leaving. The looks on their faces would surely drive Ginny insane; she'd lose every bit of her courage and change her mind, wanting to stay instead. No, she couldn't tell them face to face that's the reason she'd written the letters after all. Hopefully they'd find the letters after she and Draco had already left.
"Do you think I should pack everything? I think I should." Draco smiled at Ginny as she answered her own question.
Ginny pulled out two small suitcases from under her bed where they usually stayed throughout her year at Hogwarts. Draco walked over and helped her heave them on to her bed. He took a look at her smiling face. Anyone would think she was just a happy, normal, teenage witch, but Draco saw true sorrow in her deep brown eyes, he felt like he should understand what she was going through, but he didn't. He knew she was not in the slightest bit happy about leaving her friends and family but that's all and he only knew that because she'd told him so yesterday. He didn't understand what it felt like to have to leave everything he'd ever loved, she was the only thing he loved, nothing else, not another person, thing, not even a pet animal. He wasn't leaving anything that was of great importance to him, the only person that mattered to Draco would be coming with him anyway.
As she went over to her wardrobe Draco followed and wrapped her in a hug from behind. "I'm sorry," he whispered "I'm sorry you have to leave. You'll see everyone soon, I promise."
She spun around in his arms and he looked down into her teary eyes. "Maybe I will, but when I do it'll be because a war has started. How long do they have left Draco? How long do any of us have left? I'd never forgive myself if the last thing I remember of my brothers is their red, angry, betrayed faces. How would I live knowing we'd never made up before they died and what if they don't die? What if I die instead and it's them who have to live thinking I was angry with them? It's so awful! The whole war, it's stupid and unnecessary. If only Voldemort would swallow his pride and admit he was wrong hundreds, maybe thousands, of innocent lives could be saved. I want so much to help; I've practiced and readied myself since my second year so I would be absolutely ready when the time came. I don't want all that hard work to go to waste, I want to protect the people I love!"
"As do I Ginny and that is what I'm going to do. Don't you understand? You're the reason I'm still here, you're the only reason I haven't taken my life already. Why would I want to live without you when my life would only consist of torture, terror and loneliness? You are everything to me and I won't risk losing everything simply because you feel the need to be heroic. I will protect you, I've promised myself and McGonagall that I would take care of you and I will, no matter what it takes. You're leaving Hogwarts whether I have to carry you out of here kicking and screaming. So suck it up and think of yourself for once and if that doesn't work think of me, if you die I die, it's as simple as that. Don't do anything stupid because it would risk both our lives." He said breathing heavily. She only nodded in response and sniffed back the tears that were prickling her eyes. "It's not for long probably only a month or so. As soon as Voldemort makes his move we'll be there ready to fight. But until that time I am your only form of protection against him and my father. Please just trust me when I tell you this really is for the best." He told her in a softer voice. She nodded again and their shared a kiss.
"Now come on lets pack your bags before them nosey room mates of yours get back." She laughed and bent down to pick up the things from the bottom of her wardrobe, Draco helping.
Once Ginny had completely finished packing they left the room, Ginny taking one last look at the place where she'd been living for the past week or so. She might not have been there very long but the place still held so many memories, of nights she'd spent sitting on her bed chatting away to her Slytherin girlfriends, sharing gossip and secrets, of pillow fights and of cosy weekends curled up by the dorm room's fire place, reading. This was the first place where she truly felt she belonged; somewhere she could be herself, where she could show that she did have a darker side without being judged and a place she could really call home. Another thing she'd have to leave behind.
It only took twenty minutes for Draco to pack his belongings. The pair stacked their suitcases by Draco's bed until the time they'd need to be shrunk and put into Draco and Ginny's pockets.
"Half past three gin, I need to start getting ready for the ceremony."
"You should have gotten everything ready days ago, now you're going to be rushing around last minute like a headless chicken!" Ginny snapped at him whilst Draco struggled into some jeans he would be wearing under his dress robes.
"Oh be quiet you sound like my mother," Draco replied. "I'll be done in no time. At least I don't need to spend hours plastering make up on my face or charming my hair until its ready to drop out," Now he had his trousers on he shoved on a black t-shirt and started undoing the robes that wear hanging on his wardrobe.
"Excuse me! I don't spend longer than five minutes on my make-up and I NEVER charm my hair thank you very much!"
"Listen to us, arguing about something so little and unimportant. Lets not fight today Gin, it's going to be hard enough without us fallen out as well." Draco sound stressed.
"Don't be silly we aren't arguing. I just like playing mother to you, that and I wanted to see how far I could push you," Ginny laughed at his expression. "Come on, get your robes on your going to be late."
Draco pulled on the robe, buttoned it up and clasped a cloak around his shoulders. He looked at Ginny then twirled around waiting for her approval.
"Very dashing," Ginny joked with him, though he did look very good in his dress robes and even though she said 'dashing' in a joking tone he actually did look dashing, among other things.
"Milady," Draco said with his chin held high as he offered her his arm. Ginny grinned and took it. She was wearing a plain but stylish black dress that reached her ankles, hugged her every curve and the neck line was low enough to show ample cleavage; she opted for muggle attire instead of dress robes. Together the pair looked every bit the perfect couple that they were, if you paid no attention to their names that is.
They reached the great hall and Draco gave Ginny a lingering kiss before telling her he must leave to stand by the other soon to be graduates.
"I'll be sitting right at the front," he nodded and started to walk away "good luck!" she called to him and he turned to grin at her and give her a mock salute before joining a line of seventh years, all dressed in similar dress robe, though none as extravagant as Draco's. Ginny smiled once more in his direction then went to sit down in her allocated sit, every graduate was entitled to two sits for guests, as Ginny was Draco's only guest she had an empty sit on her left and on her right sat a proud, posh and probably filthy rich woman in her early sixties. Ginny decided not to bother Initiating convocation with the old prune, the woman would probably only insult her anyway.
One hour later Ginny was ready to staple her ears shut. Dumbledore went through the same ten minute long speech with every student, then the students head of house would talk about what a loss the student would be to the school and how they were sure the student would do well in life blah blah blah …… then they'd give the student their diploma and carry on with the same boring, endless routine with the next graduate.
Finally after two and a half hours of pure, unadulterated boredom it was Draco's turn to walk up onto the stage like platform where the professors usually sat during meal times. Ginny woke from her boredom induced slumber and fixed her eyes on her boyfriend in all his glory standing beside their aging headmaster. They locked eyes and Ginny beamed at him. He didn't smile back, but what had she expected? He wouldn't smile in a room where he along held everyone's attention, where every eye was on him. If she had known he wouldn't do such a thing, why was she feeling slightly disappointed?
Dumbledore babbled on with the same speech he'd already used a countless number of times that evening, but for the first time Ginny paid attention to what he was saying. She stomped out all the disappointment that was in her and filled herself with pride, support and happiness for Draco. This was an important day for him and she would have to be selfless. After Draco had said his bit about himself, his school life and his plans for the future, he shook hands with Dumbledore and Snape handed him his diploma. He turned around to face the audience and smirked as the photographer took his photo, Ginny knew he'd wanted the smile at the camera but apparently he could only manage a smirk. Ginny sighed audibly, 'he'd learn one day' she thought 'I'll help him learn' she promised herself.
The old prune next to Ginny had obviously confused her sigh of aggravation with one of admiration. "No point in falling in love with the likes of Draco Malfoy you young blood traitor, I'm sure he'd rather court a mudblood then a Weasley. Your just as bad as each other if you ask me," she told Ginny, in a voice fit only for an old prune like her, whilst looking at Ginny as though she was an annoying piece of used chewing gum stuck on the bottom of her 1000 galleon priced shoes.
"Well actually I didn't ask you and don't care much for your opinions on anything and for your information Draco happens to be my boyfriend so he obviously doesn't agree with your closed minded opinions of me. I've been sitting on this disgustingly uncomfortable chair for almost three hours now, my ass is currently numb, my ears are aching, my mind is corrupted with boredom, my nose has lost all sense of smell thanks to that putrid thing you call perfume and I have an old prune who things she's a hell of a lot better then anyone else because her mothers married to her uncle, just thought I'd let you know incest is illegal in the muggle world for a reason you smelly, rude old woman. Thanks to all the previously mentioned problems I simply can't be bothered to even talk to a thing that calls herself a woman; it's tedious, tiring and almost as infuriating as having my head stuffed down a toilet repetitively. So if you don't mind I'd like to carry on gazing innocently at my lover."
Ginny smiled to herself in triumph at the shocked, scandalised expression on the prunes face. That one expression made all Ginny's pain and boredom completely worth it.
Another hour and half and the ceremony was finished. Ginny meet a relieved looking Draco outside the great hall, she was still smiling to herself as Draco came up to her.
"Well done Draco, you were great!" Ginny told him whilst wrapping her arms around his neck and making a huge show of placing a big kiss on his smirking lips, knowing the old prune was standing only a few metres away, shaking her head in disbelieve. Their lips parted and Draco followed Ginny's gaze until he was meet with a deathly glare from a pure blooded old lady he knew by the name of Beatrice Crabbe, the grandmother of his former friend Vincent Crabbe. Ginny smiled at him again and Draco raised an eyebrow, Ginny just shrugged and told him she'd explain later.
"Excuse me? Mr Malfoy and Ms Weasley?" asked a frightened looking 1st year.
"That is us." Answered Draco coldly and Ginny tutted at his cold demeanour. "What do you want?"
"I…erm...w…was…t…told…to...t…tell…you…b…oth…p…professor…Dum…b…bumbledore…w…would…like…t…to…see…y…you." the young boy stuttered helplessly.
"OK thank you," spoke Ginny politely, before Draco could reply harshly. The boy scattered of quickly in the wrong direction.
Ginny gave Draco an I'm-not-happy-with-you look before walking away towards Dumbledore's office. "What?" asked Draco rushing off after her "What did I do? What's wrong?"
"Nothing Draco," she told him still not slowing down "Nothing's wrong. Everything's bloody great." She told him, her words practically dripping with sarcasm. They reached the stone gargoyle and Ginny was about to tell it the password when she felt Draco's hand on her arm. She spun around ready to start shouting at him but then she saw his eyes, those mercury pools, swimming with never before seen emotion. Ginny closed her mouth and stared into Draco's eyes, she saw her reflection in them, a contorted, puzzled, slightly angry version of herself.
"I'm sorry my mannerisms upset you Ginny. It's who I am; it's how I've been brought up. I'll change if that's what you want, I promise I'll try. Don't be angry at me please I'm sorry, I really am." His stunning eyes started to fill as he gazed down at her. How could she be angry with him, it wasn't his fault. It was his damn fathers fault. He really was trying his best to change, but is that really what Ginny wanted? She found his bad boy I-don't-give-a-shit attitude quite attractive. Would he still be Draco if he didn't treat other people as inferior? No, of course he wouldn't.
His desperateness was visible as he tried to convince her he was sorry for his cold ways. It made her want to cry as much as he did when she saw how badly he'd been affected be such a small thing. They was no way she could stay angry at him, especially for something that was barely even his fault.
"I'm not angry at you Draco and I don't want you to change. It was stupid of me to act like that over something so small. I'm happy with you being exactly who you are. Don't change for anyone, not even me."
He smiled a real smile, snaked his arms around his girlfriend and buried his face in her neck, breathing in her sweet scent. "I'm immensely glad to hear you say that, because there's something I've been meaning to ask you for a while." He lifted his head and locked his eyes with hers, only to see a puzzled expression, he waited, almost asking permission before carrying on.
"You don't need to ask permission to ask me something, you can ask me anything you want," she told him confidently.
He took a deep breath before continuing "We've been through a lot together Gin, you've taught me so much. You've helped me and hopefully I've helped you." She nodded in agreement and he reached into his pocket to pull out a small deep green box. He got down on one knee and Ginny heart started to pound. Draco opened the green box and there inside sat a white gold ring. It had a gold snake with green, emerald eyes wrapped protectively around a single sparkling ruby. Ginny gasped.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley, you are the most important person in my life, I love you with all my heart and always will. Will you marry me?" that's it, he'd said it and he'd said it without falling ill with nerves. That in itself was an achievement in his eyes. Now everything was up to Ginny. He'd been so sure she'd say yes, yet now he couldn't help but be a little scared in case she said no. He'd always been in control of every situation and if he wasn't he could always make it so he was. But, this was different Ginny was the one with all the control; he was powerless to do anything but wait. 'This woman will be the death of me' he said to himself.
Ginny was speechless, it had been exactly how she'd planned a proposal to be. This was the man she loved kneeling before her, there was no one else in the world she'd rather spend her life with. She didn't even have to think about it. She couldn't help but notice how nervous he looked. Did he think she might say no? 'Best put him out of his misery.' She thought to herself grinning. Draco saw her smiling and relaxed considerably. The tension was so thick in the air that they could have cut it with a knife.
"……..YES!!" she nearly shouted at him before pulling him from the floor and into a hug. Her eyes started to water as he slid the beautiful ring onto her finger. "Of course I'll marry you," she was so overcome with emotion that she barely realised tears were running freely from her eyes. He kissed his soon-to-be wife passionately and they only stopped when oxygen became an issue.
They were both smiling and laughing uncontrollably as they gave the gargoyle the password. "Now that's something I don't see everyday." The gargoyle muttered to himself as the happy couple jogged up the stairs. They hoped whatever Dumbledore had to say was good because they were both blissfully happy and wanted nothing to ruin it.
'I love you, Draco' Ginny thought to herself.
'I love you, Ginny' Draco thought to himself.
A/N it's very long I know, sorry if it was too much to read at once. I'd like to thank everyone who reads my story even if you don't review thanks for taking the time to read. I've already started the next chapter so it will be out much sooner then this one, hopefully this week. If not it will definitely be out the beginning of next week.
Thank you.
P.S. Hi auntie Louise, Uncle Tony and my cousin Lily Rea! Love you!