Chapter 21

"Hey Gin," Colin said, coming up behind her. "Where are you off to?"

Ginny froze. Bloody hell. Not now Colin... She turned around as he reached her. "Oh, hey Colin. I was just about to head up to the common room."

"But this isn't the way we usually go."

"I know. I was taking a detour."

Her friend smiled back at her. "Oh okay. Well I was heading up to the common room too. I'll walk with you."

Ginny forced a smile back and they started off towards Gryffindor tower.

"So have you heard anything from Luna yet?" Colin asked.

She shook her head. "No. But I overheard some Slytherins earlier. They were talking about someone being taken off the train by Death Eaters."

"You don't think...?"

"I hope not." she replied. "I really hope not..."

"So, Gin." Colin said when they stepped through the door to the common room. "Do you think you can help me out with this essay for Dark Arts? I'd rather not get in any trouble with the Carrows."

"I'm sorry Col, but I've got a lot of my own work to do. I haven't finished my potions work yet."

Colin looked at her, astonished. "But you always have your work done by now."

"Not this time. I'm going up to the dorm to get my stuff now so I can work on it." she told him.

"Oh. Right well I guess I'm on my own then." he said, grinning awkwardly.

Ginny smiled and took off up the stairs.

She quickly opened her trunk. Rummaging through her things, she found her potions book, a quill, a bottle of ink, and the parchment containing her potions essay. Ginny stuffed them into her bag and rushed back down the stairs to the common room.

"Alright, I'm off to the library." she told Colin, who had begun to pester Neville to help him. "I'll be back before the Death Eaters come out."

She rushed from the room before anyone could stop her.

Draco was pacing the floor when she barreled through the door to the Room of Requirements. "Sorry," Ginny breathed when she saw him.

He had stopped and turned to stare at her. "What happened? You were supposed to be here half an hour ago." he said.

"I know." she replied. "I'm sorry. I was on my way here but then Colin saw me."

"He saw you? How could you let him see you Ginevra?" Draco said, his voice raising slightly. "What did you tell him? How much does he know?"

Ginny shook her head. "Nothing. I told him I was going to the common room. But then he said that's where he was going too. So I had to walk up with him. I couldn't get away. I told him I had a potions essay to finish though. He thinks I'm in the library."

"Bloody Creevey." Draco said, coming to stand in front of her. "Messing things up."

Ginny sighed, leaning into him as she caught her breathe.

"Are you alright, Ginevra?" he asked, worried.

"Fine. Just a little tired from running all the way here."

Draco slipped her bag off her shoulder and led her to the couch. He sat, pulling her down beside him. She went willingly, letting her head fall back to rest on his chest.

"It feels so good to relax." she said, sighing.

Draco sat there tensely, his arms wrapped around her. How can I tell her? He asked himself. She'll blame me. She'll think it's my fault some how.

Ginny could feel the tension in him. "Draco?" she said hesitantly. "What's wrong?"

He took a deep breath and released her. Ginny turned to look at him. "Ginevra." he started. "I, uh. Well I don't know how to tell you really."

"Tell me what?"

"Well- it's just that... The other day, I heard some kids talking about someone being pulled off the train."

"I heard that too. But I'm sure it wasn't tr-"

"It was true." Draco said, cutting her off. "It was your friend. That Luna girl. The one you told me about on the train."

Ginny stared at him. "How do you-? You can't know that!" Her voice rose as she spoke.

"Ginevra. She's at my home. That's where they took her." he said. "I went and saw Snape when I heard about it. He confirmed it."

"But-. No. No, it can't be true." she said, panic setting in.

"She's not hurt." Draco said quickly, gently grabbing her arms to steady her. "That much I know. They just don't want her dad printing any more stuff in that paper of his."

Ginny seemed to calm down slightly at being told her friend wasn't hurt. "Thank you." she said at last. "Draco, thank you for telling me."

He pulled her back to him, wrapping his arms around her again. "You don't blame me then?"

"Blame you?" she asked, pulling away to look at him. "For what?"

"I thought you would blame me. I am one of them. I have the mark, Ginevra." he said, reaching for his sleeve.

Her hand covered his own trembling one. "You may have the mark on your arm Draco, but you are not one of them." she told him, bringing her mouth to meet his.

Draco kissed her hard, his lips crushing hers. He stripped them both of their clothes quickly and carried her to the bed. He didn't waste any time before climbing on top and thrusting himself into her. Her back arched off the bed and she moaned. Their bodies moved as one, thrusting to come together.

When it was over, Ginny laid in Draco's arms, each leaving something behind. Here, in this moment, all could be forgotten. Ginny could forget her love for Harry, choosing instead to let something new and mysterious grow. Draco could forget the black ink that linked him to the horrible life that had been forced upon him. Together, nothing else mattered. Nothing but each other.