The anxiety written upon Blaise's face was enough to cause Ginny worry, and silently she turned and crept back up the corridor. Rounding the corner, she stopped, leaning heavily against the wall as she pondered the nature of conversation. The one conclusion she kept arriving at was almost sufficient to reduce her too tears.

"Enough," she whispered fiercely to herself. "No more tears over Blaise." And the immense love she felt for him welled up inside her, consuming her with its bitterness and power. She tipped her head back against the wall, staring up at the ceiling in the vain hope of finding the answers she needed.

She heard Blaise retracing his steps, and wondered about moving before deciding it was too late, she did not have the time.

"Ginny!" He knelt in front of her, surprise, delight and something else, a single shadow fleeing across his face. "Are you alright?" She nodded, lurching forward and hugging him just to be near to him. With his arms around her, she didn't need answers, just him.

***

Waiting at their arranged spot, Ginny hugged herself with the cold, stamping her feet as the bones of the castle seeped the chill and sapped her warmth. It was nearly Christmas, and she would be going home to see her parents again, missing him terribly.

"I promise I'll send you an owl every day, and maybe even travel over by floo powder," He had assured her, his voice earnest and yet they both knew that it would not be as simple as that. Neither of their families had any idea about the pair being together, and neither would react in a pleasant way to the news.

Ginny tucked her scarf in around her neck tighter, wishing she had thought to bring her gloves. Just for standing in a corridor! And yet, when the night swept over the sky it brought with it frost, and snow enough to make Snape shiver.

He was late, and she could not wait for him any longer. She shrank further against the statue that concealed her, waiting with trepidation for Filch to appear.

Blaise

It was early when Malfoy woke me, his eyes darting and terrified. He jumped at every creak f the bedsprings, every moan of the wind.

"Can you not feel it?" He hissed, his hands scrabbling at his sleeve in mortal fear. I knew what he meant; the steadily growing pain was shooting up my arm like heated pins and needles. I had always imagined that it felt this way for Potter, when that scar hurt him.

"Of course I can,"

"So?"

"What?"

"What the fuck are we going to do Blaise?" Sitting up, I grabbed my arm, clenching my teeth as the pain ripped through my skin."He's angry,"

Malfoy's face blanched as he too clutched his arm, his frantic eyes looking to me for guidance.

"We can't go!"

"Blaise he will kill us! You saw what he did to Crabbe, just because he was late!"

"I'm not going,"

"You will die,"

"I'm not going,"

"You fool!" Malfoy's high pitched whisper was akin to a muffled scream as he shook me, fear making him tremble as though he was ill.

I rolled out of bed, searching for my clothes as the bitter taste of defeat assailed me. How could I ever look her in the face again? I was a coward, with no right to be alive.

We were creeping through the dark, deserted passages as I remembered our date.

"You go on, there's something I have to do first," I whispered, glancing back the way we had come.

"Please, don't be long!" He was biting his nails as I left, fidgeting and glancing repeatedly out of the window.

Ginny

She had turned to go, when he raced up behind her.

"I'm so sorry," He murmured in her ear, "Were you here long?"

The relief at him coming was so great that she almost melted in his arms. "Not long at all," She smiled, biting back the truth.

He kissed her lingeringly, hands cupping her chin tenderly. She sighed, nestling in to him and resting her head on his shoulder.

"Blaise!" The whispered scream was enough to make them break apart, and to her shock and disgust, Ginny saw Malfoy hurtling down the corridor towards them. "We have to fucking go!"

He grabbed Blaise's arm, yanking him away from her as she stood gaping at them. "What's going on?"

Blaise shook Malfoy off, almost throwing him as he turned back to Ginny, his eyes pleading.

"I'm so, so sorry," He mouthed at her, as Malfoy picked himself up and threw himself at Blaise, pulling him away.

"He's calling us!"

"Who is? Blaise, Blaise, what's going on?"

"Ginny, please, I'm so sorry!" He was calling to her, his voice echoing.

"No..." She was choking on the word, her face disbelieving and yet panicked. As Malfoy yanked Blaise's arm once more, his jacket slipped.

His left shoulder was exposed.

Where the Dark Mark was burning.