Hey sorry about the lack of updates lately but my weekends are just so busy around here. I'll try to get some chapters going this week. But remember, hearing from you guys helps motivate me to keep writing. So don't be afraid to review! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 18

"Are you out of your mind?" Neville said.

"Well, why not?" argued Seamus.

Neville looked around at all the faces looking back at him. "It's absolutely bonkers! If you get caught-"

"We won't get caught." interrupted Seamus.

"If you do, you'll be punished." he finished. "You heard what Snape did to us. Imagine what the Carrows will do."

There was a brief moment of silence as the others contemplated the implications. "It doesn't matter." shouted Padma Patil.

"Right!" her sister, Pavarti, echoed.

"See there Neville," continued Seamus. "We're willing to risk it."

"They're right Neville." Ginny said finally. "We're Dumbledore's Army. We are here to defend our kind."

"Yes," said Luna. "They've got some first years chained up in the dungeons, you know."

There were whispered murmurs throughout the room.

"That's awful!" Lavender Brown shrieked.

"We can't let them get away with this Neville." Ginny said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "We have to defend the students who can't defend themselves."

Neville nodded. "Alright then."

Cheers erupted in the room.

Ginny sat on her bed, staring at the book Draco had given her. The book was pulsing slightly but she was too afraid to touch it to find out why. Slowly, she stretched out her hand and touched the book. It was strange that it pulsed, almost as if in beat with her heart. Her fingers closed on the cover of the book and she gently lifted it open.

The pulsing stopped at once. She watched in amazement as words in bright green ink appeared in Draco's beautiful handwriting.

Ginevra, Are you there?

Her heart beat wildly as she reached for her quill and the new bottle of ink she had received for her birthday. Her hand shook as she dipped the quill and lowered it to the page.

Draco? Is that you?

The words didn't disappear as they had with Tom Riddle's diary. The realization of that made her much more calm. Moments later, more writing appeared.

I've been waiting for you all day. Why did

it take you so long to answer me?

She read the words and picked up her quill again.

I'm sorry. I was busy.

She wrote the lie easily, unwilling to tell him that she had been too terrified to open the book. She didn't want Draco to know that his gift had scared her to the point of near panic.

It's fine. Will you meet me now?

Ginny sighed. He wasn't going to question her. Thank Merlin.

Yes.

Draco was waiting when she came through the door. He walked up to her as she closed the door. His hands went to her waist and he turned her around.

"I'm glad you came, Ginevra." he whispered in her ear.

Ginny smiled. "So am I."

Draco brought his mouth to hers and gently kissed her. His arms held her tight against him and he felt her arms resting on his shoulders. Her hands were in his hair and she sighed into his mouth.

When she sighed, her lips parted, permitting him entrance inside. Draco deepened the kiss, wanting nothing more than to explore every inch of her. Her tongue danced with his as their slow, sweet kiss turned into something more. It became hot and rushed.

Draco pulled her over to the bed that stood in the center of the room. He undid the buttons of her jeans and helped her push them to the floor so she could kick them off. They broke off long enough for her to pull her sweater over her head and toss it aside. Piece by piece every article of clothes the two had on joined the floor.

Draco lowered her to the bed and they slowly moved to lay in the center. He kissed her once more before leaving her lips to move lower. He kissed his way down her body and she sighed.

Ginny squirmed in pleasure and Draco moved lower. When she felt his hot mouth on her, Ginny's back arched off the bed. "Oh, god." she panted. "Draco..."

Draco wrapped his arms around her and she snuggled closer to him. As they sat together, exhausted and sated, Ginny's head fell back on Draco's chest.

"That was wonderful, Draco." she said, smiling.

"I was pretty great, wasn't I?" he said with a cocky grin.

She turned to look at him and saw the laughter in his eyes. Playfully, she smacked his shoulder. "You are so full of yourself!"

Draco laughed. "You know I'm only joking Ginevra! It wouldn't be half as good without you."

She blushed, her face turning a brilliant shade of red, causing her to burrow into his chest. "Don't say stuff like that." she said. "It embarrasses me."

"Why should it?" he asked. "It's the truth. You're sexy, smart and you've got a hell of a temper." Draco told her before he lifted her chin to kiss her lips.

Ginny kissed him back. It was a wonderful kind of freedom. To be here, with him, and not have to care about anything else. Why can't it always be this way? She thought.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" Draco asked suddenly.

"Nothing."

"Don't lie, Ginevra. You're thinking about something."

She sighed. "I was thinking about how nice this is. How it seems like there's not a thing in the world that could bother me when I'm here, with you."

He was quiet a moment. "I know what you mean. It's a great feeling, being so carefree."

"I wish it didn't have to end." Ginny confessed.

"Ginevra-"

"No." she said. "Don't say anything, please. I know it has to end eventually. I just don't want to think about that now." She looked into his eyes. "Let me pretend, please, Draco?"

He nodded.

They sat on the bed talking about their childhood. Draco told her about the brooms he had been given as he grew. How he had learned to ride from a young age. He told her about the Quiddage games his mother and father had taken him to.

"I know they aren't the best people." he said. "But Mother always tried to make sure I was well taken care off."

"And what about your father? He didn't care?"

"Father wanted me to have the best of the best. But he also expected me to be the best. And when I wasn't-" Draco stopped.

"Yes. I imagine I know exactly what your father is capable of." she said, thinking back to the diary he had slipped into her cauldron all those years ago.

"Ginevra, I'm sorry my father did that to you. It was a vile thing to do."

"Yes, it was. I nearly died."

Draco held her tight and stroked her hair. "I'm sorry..." he whispered to her.