CHAPTER TWENTY RAIN FILLED PAIN AND WICKED GAMES

Harry walked the dark hallway toward the sounds of the voices in the living room. He could see several splashes of red around the room, but not the one that he was searching for. He scanned the room, watching the laughter emit from all the lips he crossed, but did not see the lips that had become his nectar of life. He finally gave up his search in that room and turned to try the steps. As he opened the door he instantly saw the rose petal hair that stuck to the rose petal lips as she turned to look up at the intruder on her thoughts. The skies cried on the endearing scene as Ginny stood and moved her hair out of her mood ring eyes that now showed a shade of electric green that told Harry she had been deep in thought. They changed as her pupils narrowed to a darker satin green that made Harry smile. Her eyes held the window to her soul and nothing brought more comfort to Harry than seeing those cat-like eyes looking into his. They arched slightly at the ends reminding Harry of an Egyptian goddess and he always wondered if it was a reminder of her past life. Her lips twitched into a slight smile and he yearned to kiss them. They were always so soft and held lingering flavors of her chap sticks that she was a prisoner to. She was constantly applying some form of moisturizer to those soft lips and they retained it so well, even through the longest kiss. He realized that he had been staring open mouthed at Ginny for nearly a minute and hadn't even said 'hello'.

"I was...I hoped you...um..hi," Harry found that as the water from the rain dripped slowly off of her auburn hair he wished that he could be that droplet clutching briefly to the softly twisting tendrils he knew would smell like melons and citrus. She crossed her arms tightly over her milky white stomach and he noticed how this action brought out the curve of her body. Her soft curves that had always fit into him so well were suductive even when she didn't intend them to be. She was beautiful, not just in the meaning of the word but in a meaning that only Harry's soul had once understood. He searched for that spot hoping that it would finally light the sparks that the power from her smile was emitting. If she was beautiful before, she was a million times that whenever her lips parted into a wide laughing smile. Her laughter was the greatest sound in the world sending a tingle down Harry's spine and infecting his own throat to join in the joy, but it had been years since he had heard her laugh.

"How's your...I mean, did I hurt you? Permanently?" Ginny asked as she placed one foot behind the other and rocked slowly trying to warm her numbing body from the bitter cold of the winter rain.

"Nothing permanent. Why don't we get you inside? You'll freeze to death out here." Harry put a concerned hand out in a truce offering, but it was not taken.

"Is that a promise?" Harry was startled to see that there wasn't any sense of the words being jovial. Her eyes had become even darker and Harry knew that the clouds were starting to settle into her heart. His stomach clenched at her unhappiness and he felt, if possible, even more empty. Her pain was radiating through the rain and piercing Harry's heart even more than the cold. She was his final string on his lifeline and as her will slipped away, he felt himself begin to leave with her.

"Please, don't talk like that, Gin. I can't stand to think of a world where I can't wake up next to you." Ginny looked into his blank eyes and her heart screamed at the sweet words that sounded so bitter when coupled with his empty stare.

"Harry, I've done a lot of thinking these last few days. I miss you, the real you, and I just don't know that I can do this anymore."

"Ginny please," Harry's interrupting cry was nearly strangled by his swelling throat. "Don't do this."

"I'm not leaving you, Harry. I can't do that. As much as it hurts to love you, I couldn't live if I didn't. That's what I've concluded. You may have hurt me over and over again, but it would kill me to not see you everyday. Draco talked to me about the Hermione thing, and while I still wish you would have told me, I guess I can't be too upset. I wasn't a virgin when you met me, either. He made me realize that I had done the same thing to you that I was so upset with you for and I couldn't be upset. I've decided that we'll put that behind us...someday. I can't promise that I'll be comfortable with the two of you, but as long as you promise it's me that you see when you close your eyes, I'll have to believe you. But it's gonna take time. Can you give me time, Harry? Like I'll give you time to come back to me? 'Cause you will, won't you? We'll find a way, right?" She was pleading with him for an affirmative answer as she closed the distance between them to bury her head in his chest. He closed his arms tightly around her soaked form and the two held each other so tightly not even the rain falling over them could come between them. She looked up blinking as the water fell into her eyes to meet with his and saw that droplets ran down his face mimicking tears. The water had brought hope to her soul and she kissed his wet cheeks, imagining that the water was salty.

^___^

Inside in the living room Draco sat on the couch, one leg propped up, like he owned the thing. Fred and George were showing off their newest invention in the center of the room and Luna, Ron and Hermione all sat by applauding when appropriate and laughing when it went wrong. Draco had made sure to place himself directly across from Ron and as Hermione was distracted by the twins idiotic bumbling he stared directly at Ron waiting for the perfect moment.

Ron could feel eyes burning into his skull, but he was sure where it was coming from and knew that as much as his curiosity wanted to confirm it, he did not want to see what he knew was there. He had felt that same burning earlier on the stairs, but before he knew what he was doing, his eyes sought out the cause and found exactly what he expected.

Draco smiled at the attention he was suddenly given. He winked softly before readjusting his hips so that his pants where pulled tight against his legs leaving his bulge very pronounced. He saw Ron squirm at this sudden sight but, like a car accident, he was unable to look away. Draco placed a hand to his lips and nibbled on the tip before slipping the tip of his digit slowly into his mouth, licking slowly down the side and closing his eyes. He swallowed a huge outburst of laughter as he swallowed the entire finger. Ron's face had changed to a look of disgust but Draco was certain that there was some intrigue behind those eyes. Ron tried to get Hermione's attention, but she was wrapped up in a conversation with Fred and George and didn't so much as give him the time of day. Draco smirked as he saw Ron adjust in his chair and knew it was time to push it to the next level.

As Ron watched involuntarily from across the room, Draco ran his finger down the front of his shirt to gently fondle the growing bulge of his jeans. He made sure to emphasis that he was enjoying the feeling by biting his bottom lip and worrying it between his teeth. He tried to convey with his eyes how much better it would be if he had some help and saw Ron swallow hard before he tapped Hermione firmly on the shoulder. It took Hermione so long to finally give into his persistent taps that by the time that she turned to speak to Ron and glanced over to where he was gesturing, Draco had straightened up on the couch and crossed his legs to hide his slight erection from view. He tried to appear very interested in what the twins where saying to Luna as if he had not missed a word of the conversation. Hermione looked irritated over at Ron before standing up and walking irritated from his reach. Once again, Draco had to hide a smile as he saw Ron take the same position in his chair as Draco. It worked. Ron had been aroused. Perfect. His entire plan depended on proving that somewhere inside that red-headed freak was a gay red-headed freak.

Fred and George were now showing off their Cupid's Arrow Starter Kit by shooting it at Luna and making her make out with Crookshanks. Everyone was having a great time watching as one after another people began to make out with everything from the couch to a very violated Hedwig until the final arrow struck a little too close to home. Before they knew it, everyone in the room was looking completely aghast at the one sight they were sure they would never have to witness. Draco Malfoy, pure blood, Slytherin, had his tongue down the throat of one Hermione Granger, mud-blood, Gryffindor. They broke away as quickly as they realized and Draco saw a very distinct blush in the brunette's otherwise pale complexion but she didn't look disgusted. Ron, however, was fuming.

Ron left the room tight lipped and clenching his fist as cries of "It's only a game, mate" carried through the house but whether they reached his ears before the bedroom door was slammed, they would never know. Everyone turned to stare at Hermione as if wondering what her next move would be and were shocked to find that she hadn't followed her husband upstairs to comfort him, but was sitting comfortably in her chair trying to avoid stares. Several silent uncomfortable moments went by before Draco finally spoke.

"I think it's time for me to retire, gents and ladies. It's been real." He nodded his head slightly at Hermione as he passed but wasn't even benefited with a goodbye glance. She seemed to prefer his absence as he walked past and Draco felt his heart drop slightly. "Well what did you expect, a good night snog? She's a married woman and she was just caught with her pants down. Leave the poor thing alone, you horny bastard." Draco slammed his door a little too hard and the sound carried throughout the house.

"Good thing we're leaving. I don't think I want to be in the bed next to that crazy buggar." George piped up with his opinion. He was whisking his belongings into his backpack as he spoke and his counterpart was cleaning up the mess their regurgitating toilets had made. Luna had gathered her things much earlier as she was accustomed to having to search for her belongings. They were soon all piled at the front door saying their quick goodbyes.

"Angelina will kill me for this 'Mione, but I just can't be the only one left out." George leaned forward and pecked the blushing girl on the lips but they both ended up laughing as his nose smacked into hers and knocked her back a bit. Fred stepped up and layed one on her check and they all turned to Luna to see if she would except the challenge. To great applause and catcalling, Luna showed she was not about to step down from any challenge.

"She's definitely the best of you three." Hermione called down the stairs after their retreating backs. "I hope you don't kiss your wife like that, George." Hermione began to close the door but heard a call from the top of the stairs that made all four of them pause.

"Fred, George, just a minute. I have to ask you a favor." Harry was nearly leaping down the stairs three at a time carrying in his left hand the only thing he had treasured more than his own life at one time. His Firebolt, still neatly polished although obviously not flown for several years, bounced against his hip as he whipped past Hermione out on to the steps. "Could you take this to Hogwarts for me? I overheard Dobby saying that they're paying top price for my things for the museum and I thought this might bring a pretty Galleon or two." All four stood opened mouthed as if they thought that Malfoy and Granger playing tonsil hockey would be the most shocking thing they would ever witness. But Harry Potter, willingly selling his Firebolt?

"Harry, that's all you have of... Sirius." Hermione said tepidly as she began to creep forward. She knew what he was doing and why and her arms where trying to come out of their sockets to hug him.

"I have this house. I never fly anymore and I just don't think that I have much use for the old thing. You might as well take it now while I can't feel attached to the thing before I regret it. Take it. Just do me one favor, whatever they give you, just bring me enough back that I can give Ginny the wedding she deserves. Could you do that for me?" Harry had already turned to leave to go back into the house as they all stared at the magnificent piece of art that had been bestowed into Fred's trembling hands.

"You reckon I ought to do it? I mean, what if he changes his mind? They'll never be able to afford to get it out of hawk with Ginny's salary." Fred looked to both sides as if begging for someone else to take the broom off his hands. He didn't want to be responsible when Harry came too and realized it was missing.

"I think he means it." Hermione said from the top of the steps. "He's trying to come out. Throw him a rope." She kissed her hand and blew them a kiss before closing the door behind her. She looked up the stairs and saw Harry sitting on the top step staring blankly at her as she started for the kitchen. The blank stare after losing his second most prized possession was haunting her and she thought of that face being used at the loss of the first most prized. " I don't know about you Harry, but I need a drink. Care to join me? I think there's some more of Draco's 'heartbreak killer' in my butter beer from the other night. We'll split it. Then you can tell me all about your plans for your wedding." Harry joined her and they walked arm and arm into the kitchen.

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Chapter 21 Teaser

Draco was unaware of falling asleep but he was aware that suddenly Hermione was standing next to him wearing nothing but a towel. Her hair was ratted out to the sides and she was slowly nibbling on the end of her finger. "Hermione? What are you doing here?" She didn't reply she just put her hand up to her pillowy lips and blew him a kiss before dissapearing into the moonlight creeping through the window.