Ginny turned over as the early morning's light began to filter in through her window, squeezing her eyes shut. Her house was quiet except for the birds outside and Malfoy's sleepy breathing beside her. She took a deep breath, his musky scent filling her nose as his fingers lightly flexed against her hip. She willed sleep to come back to her, but knew it wouldn't as a cool breeze flitted in and caused her body to shiver.

Malfoy instinctively pulled her body closer to his and she stared at his face. His features were relaxed, brows smooth and eyes shut. His mouth was open the tiniest bit, his lips full. Morning stubble dotted his jawline, a light shadow that framed his face.

She felt her worries slip away as she took in his familiar face, felt the memories of his touch on her body. She leaned forward, barely touching her lips to his forehead before slipping out of bed and grabbing a robe from the floor. Ginny wrapped it around herself, yanking the tie tightly as she grabbed her cigarettes and went downstairs.

The dew was still on the grass outside as she leaned against the house and lit her cigarette. Where did she want to take their relationship? Sleeping with Malfoy was fantastic, but did she really want to go back to their old ways?

"Ginevra, there's another damn owl for you." Malfoy walked into the kitchen, gesturing up toward their room as he grabbed a piece of toast. She looked up from her notes, glasses askew on her nose.

"Which owl?"

"A scrubby one. Probably from one of your dirt poor brothers."

"Malfoy, stop it." He moved toward her, sitting on the edge of the table and swiping his thumb gently across her cheek.

"You've got a spot of ink," he explained as she rubbed her temples.

"Thanks." She crossed her arms and leaned back in the chair. "I wonder what they want now."

"Probably warning you off again from me."

"Maybe I'll take their advice one of these days," she said cheekily as she stood up, heading toward the stairs.

"You'd better not," Malfoy said quietly, warning in his voice. Ginny looked back, her hand on the banister as her eyes locked with his. She broke the spell first, slowly taking the stairs up toward their room.

Malfoy was right. Ron's owl was perched outside her window, pecking at the frosted glass. A small piece of parchment was tied to his leg with a piece of twine. She opened the latch, catching the note as the owl zoomed around the ceiling.

"Dammit," she muttered as she scanned the note in Ron's chicken-scratch handwriting. He missed her, Malfoy was a git, she hasn't met Rose yet...the attack on their relationship was the usual. There was a small photograph tucked behind the note featuring baby Rose. Tears welled up in Ginny's eyes as she slipped it into her pocket.

She balled the note up and tossed it into the trash, clucking lightly to grab the small owl's attention. Ginny guided him to the window and closed it quickly behind him, looking down as the owl looked back at her with a hurt expression on his face.

"What did that one say?"

"The usual," Ginny replied, her arms wrapped tightly around her tiny waist.

Malfoy placed his hands on her hips from behind, resting his chin on top of her head as they looked out the window.

"Are you okay?" His voice was soft and concerned.

"I'm fine. I'm just...sick of everyone judging us."

"By everyone, I assume you mean your family. No one else cares." She turned around angrily.

"Everyone cares! We're not supposed to be together! I was supposed to marry Ha–Potter. I'm supposed to be with him."

Malfoy's face twisted into a sneer as his grip tightened on her hips. He stared at her, brows furrowed in anger. With a quick shove she found herself flying back onto the bed.

"You're supposed to be with me," he hissed into her ear as his hand trailed lazily along her hip, the other wrapped loosely around her tiny wrist. She glared at him, her lips tight as anger filled her eyes.

"Let me go," she spat, wriggling from under him. He kept his position, pinning her body down with his. She bit her lip, glaring through her eyelashes up at him. He rolled his eyes and bent his head down to kiss her neck gently.

"Don't be mad, love. It was a joke," he murmured against her pale flesh. She jerked away from him, rubbing her wrist as she stood up.

"I'll be back later," she muttered as she grabbed her cloak and Apparated on the spot.

Their relationship had been dangerous, both toying on the edge of perpetual anger with every remark. She flicked her cigarette, taking another drag before stubbing the butt out on the damp ground. Her thin arms wrapped around her waist, feeling her ribs through the thin robe. He obviously cared for her, but why the anger and pain? The answer came quickly: they were both strong personalities that clashed frequently. He wanted to be the dominant one, the protector. She wanted to be independent, to prove she didn't need anyone but herself. Their relationship was long-winded, every aspect of their lives entwined with their previous love.

Ginny set her lips as she made her decision. Her expression was blank as she slowly climbed the stairs, running her hand along the old wooden banister. The door to her room squeaked quietly as she gently pushed it open. Malfoy was sprawled on the bed, his breaths measured and even. The sun was a bit stronger now, and it cast a light golden halo around his hair.

She closed her eyes and kicked the bed. "Get up."

He started, his grey eyes opening then squinting up at her.

"No. I'm sleeping."

"Get out of my fucking house right this second," Ginny said quietly as she walked to her dresser and picked up her wand. Malfoy shook his head and stretched, pushing himself up to a sitting position. He raised an eyebrow.

"Don't be a child, Ginevra. I'll leave when I'm good and ready."

Ginny climbed onto the bed and straddled Malfoy, touching her wand to the skin between his eyes.

"You'll leave within one minute or I'll blast your body through the wall."

"That'll be a costly fix," Malfoy muttered as he shifted out from under her. He grabbed his trousers and quickly buttoned them, then shrugged on his shirt as he grabbed his wand. "Bye, love."

"You bloody prick," Ginny hissed to the now-empty room as the pop! of Malfoy's Apparation sounded through the room. She immediately grabbed the blankets and bundled them together, walking briskly to the Muggle washer. She stuffed them all inside, turned the knob and sank against the cool machine as it began to fill with water.

Malfoy stirred something inside of her, something no man had every made her feel. It wasn't just sexual; he pushed all her buttons, everything that made her tick. He made her mad, sad, excited, elated. He made her want to have a future. That had all changed when Ron decided to show up at her house on Valentine's Day. Malfoy had actually cooked for her, and they had barely gotten a single bite in before he pushed all of the dinnerware to the floor and decided to have his wicked way with her. She was in the middle of screaming his name when Ronald pushed the front door open.

Her parents were shocked. Why would she have consensual sex with the man who raped her? They had been told by no other than Harry Potter himself that he had found her broken body in their flat, and Malfoy's ring lying next to her. They believed Malfoy had raped her, and famous Potter got away with his lie. Molly and Arthur were emotionless when they told her to never speak to the family again. She made her bed, and now she had to lie in it with her supposed rapist.

Ginny let out a breath slowly as she opened her eyes and blinked away tears. Potter's lies broke her down. He got away with everything, always appearing as caring and sympathetic when he had destroyed her. Malfoy had nothing to do with it.

The doorbell rang, and Ginny raised herself up to start another day.