A/N: Hey everyone. I'm really truly sorry for how long it's taken me to get this chapter finished. I won't give excuses except say that it was not an easy half-year for me. Don't hate me I can tell you I have no plans whatsoever of stopping writing this until it's complete, so please stick with me if you like it. I don't really know why, but this chapter was incredibly hard to finish. I think I went through like five different versions, so I hope you like this one! ;) And please review, I like criticism.
Keep the Faith
Chapter Thirteen
That night she dreamed.
Gin, I hope you know I would die for you.
Words that she had once imagined to fill her with pleasure, she hadn't expected it to feel so wrong.
A warm body and strong arms enveloped her. But something didn't feel right. Suddenly she was cold, and without a clear reason, she pushed the body away from her.
He looked down at her in confusion in his spectacled green eyes. Ginny heard her own voice saying, Don't say that Harry, as the image of him faded away.
The green of his eyes turned into the dull green of the fall grounds at Hogwarts.
She was suddenly alone in the courtyard as she had been not a few weeks ago. The wind was blowing, the sky was blue, and she stood, looking ahead of her out at the lake. She knew he was behind her, wearing a cloak that covered his face from the sun. He was twirling her wand around in his fingers, just as before.
Draco, she whispered.
And suddenly he was right behind her; full of vitality, as he snaked one arm around her waist, resting his hand on her stomach, as he slid her wand into the pocket of her cloak. His face nuzzled her neck, and suddenly she felt warm, safe. She leaned back against him and closed her eyes.
Ginny, run!
Ginny opened her eyes to the feeling of panic and the dark corridor. She was running. Running down the cold stone hallway, but she wasn't alone. Someone was running with her, in her peripheral vision. Someone with long blonde hair. Yells and curses followed behind them. Rounding a corner, Ginny's foot caught on a stone, and she let out a yell as she fell–
Ginny awoke with a start. The echo of the scream resonated in her mind, and she wondered briefly if she'd been yelling in her sleep. Taking in a deep breath she sat up in bed and hugged her legs to her body.
Why did she feel so unsettled? She could still see Harry in her mind, feel the fear of being chased, and she could remember Draco's embrace as though he were really there.
It was just a dream, right? But that part about Harry, it's true, isn't it? I need to let him go – no, she realised, I've already let him go.
The clock on the nightstand said it was 11:40, approaching midnight. Twenty more minutes and it was Christmas.
Ginny sighed. This would be her first Christmas without any of her family. What was her mum thinking right now? Were they okay? She wondered whether or not Ron would even bother drop by to say hello to her family.
For the first time in ages, she really missed them. Of course, she missed them all the time, but Ginny felt a sudden surge of homesickness.
And what about Draco? Ginny wondered. Was he missing Christmas with his own family? What was he even thinking, now that his father was gone and he didn't believe his mother even loved him.
Was he still angry with her? Most likely he was.
Ginny found herself once again frustrated with her previous actions. Although just thinking of him had her heart racing, it hadn't exactly been the right time to bring up the fact that she regretted giving herself to him so fast.
Deciding that her mind was too awake now to go back to sleep, Ginny lifted the bed covers and stood up. She went over to her closet and pulled out a big oversized sweater. She tugged it over her head as she left the room.
Ginny muffled a yawn as she walked down the stairs to the kitchen. She filled the kettle and plugged it in.
Peering into a cupboard, she found what she was looking for, and reached up to grab the can of cocoa. She reached into the next cupboard over, took a big round mug and set them both down.
Ginny leaned against the counter as she waited for the water to boil. After her first year, she would often have nightmares, waking up in the middle of the night after reliving the worst experiences of her life. She'd never been able to get back to sleep. During the summer, and even during Christmas breaks, Ginny had gotten into the habit of making herself a hot cup of tea or cocoa depending on her mood. It usually calmed her down, and she was able to sleep afterwards. After that first year or so the nightmares had left her, but whenever she couldn't sleep, she continued the tradition. It was a habit she still had, admittedly, but she didn't have an invisible cloak like Harry's, so she'd never been able to sneak out to the kitchens at night when she was at Hogwarts.
The whistling of the kettle told her the water was boiling and ready; she mixed together the cocoa and water and sat down at the table.
Ginny drank, holding the mug in her sleeve-covered hands to protect from the heat, and mulled over her feelings. What should she say to Draco in the morning? Was he back to hating her? It pained her to think it; after all, they'd only slept together once and had no romantic relationship before that. Ginny put her face in her hands, and moaned, unwilling to believe that it meant nothing to him.
There was one thing she knew; she wanted him so much it made her heart ache, and honestly, she didn't know why. Of course, the passion they had had that night was likely part of the reason, but Ginny knew that she was unreasonably attracted to him – not only his looks, but to him.
Ginny sipped the hot chocolate, relieved by the warm comfort it provided to her in the cold house.
I really should sort things out, Ginny thought, biting a nail absentmindedly.
Putting the near-empty mug down, Ginny decided to go back to her room.
Near the top of the stairs, she heard a noise and noticed a dim flickering light coming from the library. Ginny crept silently to the doorway.
She felt her heart thump when she saw Draco sitting on the floor and staring into the crackling fire. He looked so lost, so lonely. Ginny leaned against the doorframe and watched him. He had a blanket over his shoulders. He looked almost like a child, looking forlorn, his hair unkempt and his posture rounded. Ginny felt sad as she realised that he probably didn't want to see her. She sighed and turned to leave.
"Wait."
The sound of his voice stopped her in her tracks. Ginny tensed up in reaction and closed her eyes, taking in a breath. She turned around hesitantly, watching for his reaction.
Draco's eyes were dark as he followed the curve of her body up to her face, but when his eyes caught hers, Ginny saw a dullness in them that unsettled her.
To her surprise, he lifted up his arm in silent invitation to join him under the blanket. Ginny could not look away from his impenetrable eyes, trying to read them.
It was a peace offering.
Feeling rather awkward, she approached Draco and sat down beside him giving him a shy smile as she did. He adjusted the blanket comfortably so that it covered them both. His arm lingered on her shoulder before he brought it down to his side.
The fire crackled and the emanating warmth enveloped her in a sense of calm. It was just like winter nights at home, she thought, when they spent the evening by the fire.
If there was one thing that Ginny was known for, it was her ease and boldness in tough or tense situations. Life had taught her through the shyness. So feeling it was the right thing to do, she leaned her head comfortably against his shoulder. It was her own peace offering. Draco needed comfort, not excuses from her.
Draco tensed up, surprised at the contact, but his muscles relaxed because he was oddly comforted by her presence. It didn't even matter that he was seriously irritated and confused by her mixed signals. Just knowing she was still there brought him ever so slightly out of the depression in which he'd been drowning for the past few hours.
Ginny gathered her resolve, told herself that she was just being silly, but she couldn't find the words to say anything she wanted to. Instead, she opted for the easiest thing to say.
"What are you thinking about?" Ginny asked, her voice floating softly over the crackle of fire.
Draco could have groaned. He knew the answer was that he was thinking about her – it was hard not to – but Draco closed his eyes and forced his mind on other things; things that had been on his mind all day.
"My father," Draco admitted morosely. With a cautious glance at Ginny, he added, "I'm sorry he tried to hurt you."
Ginny felt her body tense up, as it always did when the subject arose. She took a moment to control the automatic fear that overwhelmed her with the memory, and oddly enough, she took comfort in Draco's touch at that moment. "It's not your fault," Ginny responded truthfully.
After a moment, Ginny blinked and sat up and looked over at him. "Wait a minute… You remember then?"
Draco heard the accusing tone in her voice. He could practically taste her anxiety. He nodded. "It's been coming back to me. It shouldn't have happened to you."
Ginny thought about that in silence, and Draco fell into silence with her. What would her life be right now if that hadn't happened, he wondered. Would she be happier?
"I feel like an idiot for ever believing in him," Draco broke the silence again. He found it hard to speak; he was making himself vulnerable, and it meant facing the truth, but nevertheless, Ginny's presence once again propelled him. She was the first person he'd ever felt compelled to be open with, and if there was ever a time he felt he needed to just talk, it was now.
Ginny lifted her head off of his shoulder, giving him the space to think. "You're not an idiot," she said quietly, but his brow descended in contemplation.
"I never realised what he was like; I mean there was always some doubt in my mind, but… I trusted him." Draco gripped a hand in his hair in frustration. "I idolised him," Draco continued. "My whole life has been about gaining my father's approval. I'd never be good enough for him, and he'd let me know it. I wanted to be like him, so I bragged about the dark arts. Don't get me wrong," he added, casting a sideways glance at Ginny. "I was fascinated by the dark arts. I still am."
Ginny pursed her lips but stayed silent. She reminded herself that she wanted to keep her mouth shut and let him talk.
"When Voldemort returned, I'll admit I was scared. I wanted to be a part of it in theory, but I wasn't prepared for the reality of it, of his ruthlessness and he prospect of death at any minute."
"Are you talking about the task he gave you to kill Dumbledore?"
Draco nodded, looking at her and seeing the empathy in her eyes. How could she even begin to understand what it's like? Draco narrowed his eyes. "That among other things. It's a tough world, being a death eater. There wasn't a moment afterward where I wasn't convinced I was going to die. I tried anyway so he wouldn't kill my mother as well." Draco frowned and shook his head. "I've always sort of wondered whether Lucius was punished with being kept in Azkaban because I failed, or if I was meant to die as Lucius' punishment for screwing up with the prophecy."
Ginny was quiet and mulled over the sadness of the whole situation, but lacking tact and subtlety, which often happened to her, the only thing she could think to say was, "We put him in Azkaban, actually."
Draco shot her a look. "Maybe the Ministry or the Order put him there," he explained, "but Voldemort held him there. He has control over Azkaban and if he wanted my father out he would have been released in a fortnight."
It surprised her that he was so emotionless over the whole matter. She supposed that was his way of coping, hiding his feelings.
In truth, Draco wished he could be more upset. It was as thought he were numb inside. It was different than just hiding his feelings away like he was used to. Now it was as though he couldn't even access the feelings of sorrow that he knew were in there.
Talking to Ginny, however, had brought out the bitterness in him and Draco scowled. If he couldn't be sad, at least he could be angry; that was better than nothing. "He must have been loyal to the dark lord all that time, even when he was in Azkaban. You'd think family would matter more to him, but apparently not," he muttered angrily.
Ginny watched him sadly, wanting to comfort him but not knowing how. On par with the effect of his father being murdered, she knew Draco felt deeply betrayed.
"Why else would he have gone back to him?" Draco demanded, searching Ginny's eyes for an answer he knew he would not find.
Ginny sighed and hugged her knees up to her chest. It was hard to be objective, but she tried to put away her own feelings for the moment. She had to make him see the logic she saw. "You don't know that," she said forcefully, and her brown eyes captured his with their intensity.
"I don't know what?" Draco narrowed his eyes the tiniest bit, taken aback at her tone.
"You don't know that he went back to Voldemort. I don't think you should just assume that. I know you think I've just had a sheltered life, or whatever, but just trust me. He is your father, and your family, and you should believe that he tried his best for you and your mum. Lucius might have been a horrible person to others, but family is always different. As hard as this is for me to say, I don't believe that he would condemn both his wife and son to death."
Draco was silent as he looked into the flames. He wanted to believe that it was all just bad luck that Lucius was found and murdered, he really did, but for some reason, it was so much easier to believe the opposite.
"And what if he did go back to him?" Draco asked after a minute, his tone defensive.
"Well what if he didn't?" Ginny countered impetuously. "Wouldn't you feel terrible if you thought he betrayed you for Voldemort when he might have actually died trying to help you?"
Draco shook his head, running his hands through his already dishevelled hair. "I don't know," he said wearily, "I don't know what to think anymore."
"Look," Ginny said quietly, "Right now you're upset and you have reason to be, but you're not thinking rationally. All I'm saying is don't commit yourself until you know the truth."
Draco narrowed his eyes, wondering if that was an insult. He sighed, grudgingly wondering if she was right.
And then, as he was mulling over what she'd said, Draco noticed that Ginny was rubbing her left shoulder. A wave of guilt crested in him all of the sudden, and his anger mellowed into defeat. His thoughts turned from his father to the redhead beside him. It sickened him, the thought that he was the cause of her pain.
Before he could control himself, Draco put his hand over hers, stopping the motion.
Ginny looked down at his hand, then up at his face, surprised. She hadn't even realised what she was doing.
She let Draco manipulate her hand in his as he laced his fingers in hers and pulled it away from her.
"Are you okay?" Draco asked quietly, looking up at her with clear eyes.
Ginny's eyes rose up to his, but she quickly looked away. She felt odd from the concern in his eyes.
"You didn't hurt me," Ginny said. "I'm fine."
"Show me," Draco ordered briskly.
"I'm fine," she repeated indignantly. "I'm made of tougher stuff than that for you to hurt me." Ginny tried to pull away her hand in defiance, but Draco chuckled and purposely tightened his grip.
"And don't I know it," he muttered to himself. Draco raised an eyebrow. "Show me or I'll show myself."
Ginny glared at the threat, wondering if he would actually try. She wrenched her hand away from his finally, and lifted the sweater over her head, exposing the thin tank top she was wearing underneath.
Draco swallowed, trying to ignore the sudden hit of desire he felt in the base of his spine. His hand traced the faint bruise on one lightly freckled shoulder, causing Ginny to shiver at the sensation, even though she was hot from the fire.
"Damn it," Draco cursed himself, the dreaded feeling of remorse filling him. "I – " He wanted to tell her he was sorry, but the words caught in his throat. As soon as he thought it, he knew it was desperately true and he wanted – needed – her forgiveness, and that thought disturbed him.
He looked at Ginny, slightly unsettled, and pulled his wand from his pocket – he'd been holding onto it just in case anything happened. The Death Eaters did know where he was after all.
Ginny was brought back to the present as Draco touched his wand to her skin on one shoulder, then the other. Looking down, she saw that the bruises were gone.
"Better?" Draco asked, running a hand over the smooth lightly freckled skin of her shoulder.
Ginny closed her eyes at his touch, reminded of the same drugged feeling she'd felt before with him.
"Mm hm."
Draco watched her, and swallowed nervously at her reaction to his touch. No one had ever turned him on the way she could with no more than a sigh.
However, his desire was quickly replaced by frustration. She could have gotten hurt a lot more than anything he would do to her. He was suddenly angry with her.
"You know," Draco said dangerously, changing the direction of the conversation abruptly. "For someone so strong and intelligent, I didn't expect you to be lacking in common sense."
Ginny frowned, surprised at the sudden attack. Her brown eyes questioned him, accused him. "What are you talking about?"
"You shouldn't have come after me," he told her angrily. "You're too reckless."
The effect he'd had on her gone, she narrowed her eyes. "Am I? Well if I'm reckless, then what are you, suicidal?" Ginny retorted, crossing her arms.
Draco mimicked her expression and leaned toward her. "Maybe, but I have reason to be. What you did just wasn't smart."
Ginny glared, the Weasley temper was flaring up, but she restrained herself, wondering what his game was. "Fine then, explain."
"Going after me without a wand, you could have been killed. Death Eaters are after you everywhere, and if they found you, knowing who you are, I – I don't –" Draco paused to gather his resolve, realizing once again that he was baring his soul to her. He decided that he was already in too deep to back out again. He took a steadying breath. "Look, I don't want you hurt. I never thought I could be so afraid to lose you, but I am."
Ginny's heart softened at the words. She didn't know what to say, and just searched his eyes. The liquid emotion in them told her that he was telling the truth.
"Ginny." Draco touched her face, moving his fingers across her cheek, on her lips, the line of her jaw. "I'm going to give you a piece of advice," he told her uncertainly.
In the midst of the pleasure of his touch, Ginny frowned, but she nodded. "Okay," she said, but her tone was defensive.
"You can't be so reckless if you want your family to trust you to fight against Voldemort."
The shock at his calm words registered on her face for a fraction of a second, but although he dreaded what would come next, he watched her reaction. She needed to know, or she would end up getting herself killed in this war, something that scared him more than he wanted to admit.
"I was upset! I was worried and angry at you! And you hid my wand," Ginny defended herself, crossing her arms over her chest.
The defensive gesture had Draco stopping a smirk. He continued, keeping his voice calm, "I know that, but it doesn't change the danger you were in."
"Hmph." She looked away from him, a scowl on her pretty face. Her indignation had Draco frustrated with her resistance.
"Stop comparing yourself to me, damn it," Draco growled, "I've admitted that I was reckless, but so were you, and I don't know how you can think you can be so useful in this war if you're going to be so careless. You have to be smarter than that. I usually am, and I know how to be – I was raised to be."
"You know, Draco," Ginny scoffed at him, "I appreciate your concern, but I have to tell you, I wish you would stop insulting my intellect."
Draco rolled his eyes. "Ginny, I'm being serious, not insulting. Don't –" he cut her off before she could speak, "I am bloody serious. Promise me you will be more careful, or I can't support you risking your life like you want to."
"Who said I needed your support?" Ginny looked at him, hurt. There was a moment of silence as they looked at each other.
"You would rather be on your own, would you?"
Though there was a twinge of sarcasm that coated his words, Ginny knew he was right. Caught in a state of irritation and gratitude, she realised she didn't want to be on her own. Her whole family, even Harry and Hermione wouldn't approve of her fighting. But in any case, what would his support even matter since he didn't want to be there with her? From now on, Ginny thought sadly, she would be more careful and she would have been if she'd known there was a Death Eater involved. She'd have to be more vigilant and not let her emotions for Draco blind her.
"Just promise me, please," he asked, his eyes searching her face. It didn't even bother him that he was begging. He just needed to know that she would at least try to be safe, especially if he wasn't always going to be there to protect her. "Please, Ginny," Draco pleaded.
Ginny could see the raw and rare emotion in his eyes. She felt tears well up in her own. "I promise," she whispered sadly.
Her gaze dropped to his lips and on an impulse, she put her hands on either side of his face, and pulled his lips down against hers in a soft kiss. She wanted to memorize his taste in the case that she wouldn't have the chance again.
Draco responded lightly, slightly shell-shocked at the sudden gesture. He was left with nothing but a sense of deep longing as she took her sweet lips away from him.
When he opened his eyes, he was shocked to see that there were tears running down her face. Draco felt his heart contract and reached up to brush a hand over her cheek. "Are you crying?" he asked gently.
"No," Ginny denied childishly, wiping the wetness from her cheeks and giving Draco an unconvincing smile. She felt foolish. "I'm exhausted. I think I'll go to bed." And with that, Ginny pulled herself up to leave.
Draco watched her for a moment, confused and concerned, before going after her. Normally when girls came crying to him, he just rolled his eyes and patted their backs, but right now her tears were unsettling to him. He caught her hand at the door, turning her around to face him.
He looked in her eyes and at the disguised hurt and sadness he saw in them. Brushing a hair from her face, Draco impulsively leaned down until his lips were a breadth from hers. He could feel her shaky breath and the tremble in her hand. He moved in to brush his lips against hers in a tentative kiss. When she didn't back away, his hands went up to her face, and he increased the pressure.
Ginny's hands went up to grab in his shirt for support, and she responded belatedly to the movement of his lips on hers.
A hand moved to her hair as he explored her mouth, relishing the taste and feel of her lips and the softness of her curls. Tasting the salt from her tears, Draco reluctantly pulled away gently so he could look at her properly. Her cheeks were still wet from tears and her soft, swollen lips were pink. Her long dark lashes were forming together from the wetness as she looked down.
Draco cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look up at him, and said gently, "Ginny, tell me what's wrong."
Just looking at him and seeing his concern for her just made it harder. It would be too hard to miss him, she thought, and more tears welled up. "I'm sorry," she said, looking down, and paused to steady herself. "It's just, thinking about the possibility of never seeing you again. It hurts."
Draco watched her, his heart skipping at the sight of her crying and the idea of never seeing her again. Impulsively, he pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms around her so that Ginny laid her head on his chest. He held her silently and let her cry, while trying to hold back the well of emotions he felt. Draco smoothed her hair down and he kissed the top of her head.
After all they'd been through, though it had been short, he wanted her more than he could remember wanting anything.
When her tears subsided, Ginny rested against him and took in the warmth and comfort his body provided, all the while berating herself for being so transparent – she tried as a rule not to cry in front of boys.
"It's decided then," Draco declared into her hair. "I'm going home with you." He looked down at her and smirked.
"What?" Ginny asked, leaning back to look at him properly. Her eyes were wide and dark. "What did you just say?"
Draco wrapped his hands loosely around her waist.
"What if I stay with you."
Ginny stared. "Are you saying what I think you are?" She squeaked.
"Shut up Weasley," he teased, "I'm not going to repeat it again."
"You'd better be serious," she warned him.
"You can't handle being away from me, so what else am I to do but cater to your request?" Draco teased.
Ginny wiped a hand across her eyes, glaring at him half-heartedly. "You prat, don't make fun."
Draco grinned and put his hands on her arms. "Look, Ginny? It kills me, the thought of leaving you," he said worriedly, looking into her eyes. "You are the only good thing in my life right now, trust me when I say that. The truth is, I have nowhere to go. What you said before made sense, and you know the reasons I don't want to live with the Order, but I don't want to leave you. I want you, and I'll go back with you as long as you want me to." Draco stopped and waited for her reaction, searching her eyes and remembering the things she'd said earlier in the day. "But," he added hesitantly, "I guess I'd understand if you don't."
Throughout the speech, Ginny's blush had been growing and so had her smile. Ginny launched herself around Draco's neck. Her mouth crushed his with such a force that Draco had to hold her waist to keep himself from falling backward.
Getting the idea in his head that falling over might turn into reality with the intensity of what he was feeling and his self-control in a fast spiral to oblivion, Draco followed his feet, bringing Ginny with him as he walked backwards until he was leaning against the armrest of the couch. His hands that were around her waist moved silently up her back to tangle in her hair and press her closer.
Ginny sighed, deeply turned on by how his lips ravished hers like a starving man being granted his first meal in ages. Her hands had moved down to hold on to his shirt for support, but now they smoothed over the muscles in his chest and shoulders in dangerous curiosity.
Ginny moaned as Draco pulled on her bottom lip with his teeth.
The sensuous feel of her lips massaging his and the delicious taste of her tongue battling his own made Draco not want to part with her, even for a moment. He let himself be overcome with the sensations. He didn't even care that she had been sending him different signals as long as he could continue kissing her in this moment.
Unluckily enough, Ginny pulled slowly away from his. Heavy-lidded and breathless, she smiled a quirky grin, and breathed, "Of course I want you to, you moron."
It took Draco a moment in his haze to realize what exactly she was talking about. He let the insult slide and rested his hands on her hips smugly, grinning.
Ginny's eyes twinkled and she gently pushed Draco slowly onto the couch in a mischievous manner, crawling on top of him on all fours. Draco watched her intensely, and eyebrow raised and a sexy grin beginning to form at her tactics. Ginny felt a sense of accomplishment that she had such an effect on him.
Ginny leaned over him and dipped down to kiss him slowly, her lips the only part of her touching him.
Draco pulled her down so that she lay on top of him and resumed the slow, sensual movements of their mouths, so different than before, but no less pleasurable.
Ginny found a hard time tearing herself away from him, and that was dangerous. He was dangerous; his mouth, his touch, his scent even. He was basically telling her that he wanted to be with her, she knew. The thought made her heart flutter. But she also knew that he must be confused at what she wanted. It would probably ease her conscience to sort things out. Ginny pulled her lips away from his and took a deep breath.
Draco could see the guilt in her eyes as she looked at him. At once he was wary.
"Look, about this morning…" Ginny started, biting her lip.
Draco understood the source of the guilt. Now he just had to hear it, and wasn't sure he wanted to. He nodded that he was listening,
Ginny sighed and laid her head on his chest. "I was just an emotional mess today. I want you to understand that I do really like you, but being so quick to sleep with someone is not something I do. I've never been so impulsive in my life to do something like that. But oddly enough, I'm actually glad it was with you," she added quietly.
Draco's hand ran up and down her arm in a seemingly absent-minded, comforting gesture.
"Are you?" Draco asked quietly.
She could hear the self-doubt in his voice and Ginny lifted her head so she could meet his eyes.
"…Yes. Merlin knows why, but I like you. Quite a lot actually. But I won't take back what I said before. It was rash and stupid of us. You can't possibly disagree. We both knew, or thought, that you were going to leave the next day and we would probably never see each other again. Do you think that maybe we did it because of that?" Ginny asked him uncertainly.
Draco sighed, and reached up to tuck a stray hair behind her ear. His thumb lingered on her cheek, and Ginny closed her eyes at his touch. "I don't know about you, but I couldn't think of anything other than you that night. I didn't think ahead, and I'm going to sound like a fool saying this, but it was really, really hard for me to leave you that morning."
Ginny couldn't stop an embarrassed smile from creeping onto her face.
"You definitely do not sound like a fool," she mumbled hiding her face in the crook of his neck.
Draco chuckled and wrapped his arms comfortably around her. As much as he desired kissing her again, or tasting her skin like he was tempted to try from the sight of her bare shoulders, just being like this, the closeness of holding her, was a phenomenon to behold in itself.
After a while he sighed, the reality of life not quite dampening his mood as it normally would. "I hope you know this is going to be hard."
They both knew what he was talking about.
Ginny looked up again, smiling lightly. "Yes I know, but don't forget I'll protect you," she teased, though they both knew it was the truth. "Some of them may grill you at first, but I'm sure once you're there for a while, they'll warm up to you."
Draco snorted disbelievingly.
"Well," Ginny teased, "try not to antagonize them, that's all."
When Draco didn't respond, Ginny gave him a playful peck on the lips and adjusted her position so that she lay beside him, her head laying on his shoulder and her arm comfortably resting on his torso. "It'll be okay," she whispered, trying to convince herself as well as him.
Draco breathed in the smell of her hair and closed his eyes, hugging her closer.
Ginny sighed, and the happiness at seeing her mum and dad filled her. Ginny wondered sleepily whether she could convince Draco to go tomorrow – see her family on Christmas Day. Everyone would be there. The only thing she really worried about was Draco. Would they accept him once she told them everything? Her mum would, Ginny knew, but the others she was unsure about. It would be an interesting day, that was for sure.
The warmth from Draco's body and the heat from the dying fire made Ginny realise how exhausted she was. Soon enough, she was asleep.