So I know the last chapter was severely lacking in the Draco department. But I felt that it needed to be put in and it pained me not to include him. But don't worry. He's back!

Chapter 17

News of their wild escapade spread like wildfire. Everyone who saw the three friends had something to say. While the majority of the school secretly congratulated them, the students of Slytherin house openly mocked them. They didn't let the Slytherins bother them, nor did they let the hidden praise get to them.

Ginny parted ways with Neville and Luna, heading into the library. Though she was reluctant to admit it to the others, she couldn't shake the horrible feeling of the Cruciatus Curse. She could practically feel the pain radiating through her still.

She was so distracted by the path her mind had taken that she jumped when a little paper bird landed on her table. Reaching for it, she looked around. She saw nobody. Ginny opened the bird. In it was a single word.

Now.

Ginny shoved her books in her bag and left the library. When she reached the door to their meeting place, she took a deep breathe and opened it. The door had barely closed behind her when he grabbed her, pushing her back against the wall.

"What the bloody hell did you think you were doing?" Draco growled. "Sneaking into Snape's office! Are you mad, you daft little idiot?"

"I-"

"Shut up." he growled at her. "The Cruciatus Curse! You could have been killed!"

"I- I'm sorry." Ginny stammered.

He seemed to calm down at her quietly said words. His hands, which had gripped her arms so tightly, now loosened their hold, gently rubbing them instead. "Are you okay?" he whispered.

She nodded. "I'm okay. Neville got the worst of us all. He started yelling at Snape when he cursed me. Snape hit him with a few spells, I don't know what they were. Then he used the Cruciatus on him as well."

"Longbottom? Really?" he asked, astonished.

She nodded. "Neville's not a little boy anymore. He's quite the wizard now."

"Who would have thought. Longbottom, standing up to Snape."

Ginny sighed, slumping forward to lean on him. Draco's arms came around her, holding her up. "I thought you said you were okay?"

"I am..." she mumbled heavily. "Just a bit... sleepy."

Draco lifted her into his arms and carried her to the couch. She started to protest, squirming feebly to get down. "Stop that, will you. I'll drop you."

She ceased moving, letting him carry her instead. Draco sat on the couch with her. Her head was in his lap and she turned, curling up beside him.

Ginny drifted into a peaceful oblivion while Draco sat there, watching her. His hand stroked her soft red hair and he thought back to when he had been hidden away, watching her. It was in this very room. Draco thought. The day he had walked in and found her singing with the bird. Her voice was beautiful.

He sat quietly, stroking her hair and remembering her voice.

Some half an hour later, Draco remembered the book he had brought with him. The book that lay resting in his bag.

"Ginevra." he said, gently shaking her. "Ginevra, wake up."

"Draco..." she said sleepily.

His heart beat wildly in his chest at the sound of his name whispered so softly from her.

"Draco..." she said again. It was different this time, the way she said his name. It was still soft but Draco could hear the yearning in the way she whispered it.

He reached for her, his hand gently touching her face. Her eyes opened slowly and she looked at him. "Draco..." she whispered again, and he was certain there was yearning in her voice.

She moved slowly, coming up to straddle his lap. She kissed him, he hands sliding into his hair. Merlin, I love his hair. She thought. It's so soft and silky.

Draco's hands were at her waist. He kissed her back, unable to think past what was happening. He could feel himself getting aroused. Oh, god. Does she even know what she's doing to me.

His unvoiced question was answered quickly. Ginny moved closer to him, gently grinding herself against him, causing him to groan.

He wasn't sure when the couch they were sitting on turned into a bed. Nor did he care. He turned with her, laying her on the bed. Ginny's legs wrapped around him and he ground his hips against hers.

"Ginevra," he whispered in her ear, "I need you."

Then she said the only word he needed to hear, "Yes..."

Draco slowly undid her clothes, sliding each item off, one by one. Once she lay naked before him, he quickly shed his own clothes. He looked at her and she attempted to cover herself.

"Don't..." he said. "You are beautiful."

Ginny blushed and looked away.

His hand went to her face, turning it back to him. "I mean it, Ginevra. You are the most beautiful witch I have ever seen." he told her before he kissed her.

Ginny squirmed as he slowly kissed his way down her body and back up. When his lips met hers, he kissed her once more. "Are you ready?" he asked.

She nodded.

Draco slid himself into her, causing Ginny to arch her back at the contact. She moaned softly, relishing this feeling.

Draco began moving, slowly at first, until his control faltered. He moved faster. Their breathes were becoming shallow and harsh as they approached their climax.

Ginny's nails dug into his back as her back arched. "Oh, Draco..." she moaned, causing him to meet his own end sooner than he wanted.

Draco pushed into her with one final thrust before groaning. When they had finished, Draco rolled over, taking her in his arms as he lay beside her.

"Ginevra?" Draco asked, after their breathing returned to normal.

"Mmhmm?"

"Are you okay?"

"Mmhmm." she answered, moving closer to him.

"I- uh, I have something for you." Draco told her.

Ginny looked up. "For me?" she asked. "What is it?"

Draco got out of bed and retrieved his bag from the floor. From the black and green bag, he extracted a small, leather-bound book. He handed it to her.

She opened it but the pages were all blank. Ginny looked at him questioningly.

"It's a journal."

"Thanks," she said. "But I don't use journals."

"This one is special." Draco informed her. "It's linked to mine. Whatever you write in it will show up in my book. And it goes the same the other way. Whatever I write in mine, you will see."

She looked at him skeptically. "You know, the last time a Malfoy gave me a book that wrote back, I nearly died."

Draco couldn't think of what she meant at first. Then he remembered. His father had given her the diary that almost killed her during her first year. Merlin, how could I have forgotten! He wanted to hit himself.

"Ginevra, I-. I forgot. I'm sorry. But I promise you, this is different."

Ginny looked down at the book in her hands. Could she really trust him? "Okay." she said, nodding. "Thank you."

"You'll accept it then?" Draco asked, and Ginny was sure she could hear a tiny bit of hope in his voice.

She nodded.

Draco grinned and kissed her. "Thank you, Ginevra. Thank you for trusting me."

Ginny smiled back at him, looking down at the book in her hands. "You're welcome, Draco." she said. I just hope I'm making the right choice.