Chapter 23

"I'll be along in a bit, Neville." Ginny told him. "I just want to practice on my own a little while longer."

Neville looked nervously about. "Alright Gin. Just be careful coming back. It's already eight and the Carrows love finding students out after hours."

She nodded. "I know. Don't worry. I'll be careful."

Neville nodded and left the room.

As careful as I can be. She thought to herself. Meeting up with a Malfoy.

The door opened suddenly and Ginny's heart beat rapidly, thinking Neville must have come back. But when she turned, it was Draco who stood before her, not Neville.

"About bloody time Longbottom left." he was saying.

"Merlin's beard, Malfoy!" she nearly shrieked. "How did you get here so fast? I thought Neville had come back!"

"Not likely." he scoffed. "I've been standing out there for twenty damn minutes waiting for Longbottom to leave."

"And how'd you know that Neville would be the last to leave?" she asked. "There could have been others still in here."

"It's always you and Longbottom who leave last." he said in a matter of fact tone.

Ginny raised an eyebrow, looking at him skeptically.

"What?" he asked, annoyed by the look she gave him.

"You've been watching me."

"I have not." Draco said indignantly.

"Then how do you know that I always leave last with Neville?"

"Alright, fine. I sometimes come up and watch for you to leave." he said. "But it's not like I do it every night. And anyhow, why is it always you and Longbottom who's last to leave?"

"Not jealous, are we, Draco?" Ginny coerced, hearing the twinge of jealousy in his last question.

"Of Longbottom?" he sneered. "As if."

"Well, okay then." she said, refusing to answer his question. "It was foolish of you to come tonight. You understand that, don't you?"

Draco stepped closer to her for the first time since he entered the room. "Stop complaining, Ginevra. If you didn't want to see me, you'd have left with Longbottom." His hand stroked the side of her face gently. He lowered his lips to lightly brush her own.

Ginny shivered at the feeling of his lips on hers. For weeks, she had been starved of this feeling. For weeks, she had longed to feel it again. Now, she relished it.

Draco pulled back to look into her eyes. The look he saw in them drove him mad. He lowered her to the floor where they stood, his hands roaming over her. There was no control left in him after weeks of waiting.

He tore at their clothes, peeling them off piece by piece, until they both lay naked together. His hands dragged her hips up and he thrust into her. Her back arched as she pushed closer to him.

Draco watched her eyes drift shut. It was a wonderful feeling, to know he could do this to her. To know that he could reduce her to nothing more than a lustful woman. He moved slowly at first. But his thrusts came harder and quicker as she began to move with him, thrusting her hips to meet his own.

Soon, he had no control over himself. He couldn't have stopped if the Dark Lord himself had walked through the door. He was out of control and it was the best feeling in the world to him.

"Draco..." he heard her moan as her nails dug deeper into his flesh. "Oh... Draco..."

Before he could stop it, Draco felt himself fall over the edge, rushing to the glorious ending. When the waves of pleasure stopped, he collapsed on the floor beside her, breathing harshly.

After what seemed like hours but was likely only minutes, he caught his breath.

"God, Ginevra." he breathed. "I'm sorry."

Ginny turned to him, looking puzzled. "Sorry for what?"

"That." he said. "I didn't even wait until we were in bed."

Ginny laughed. "Draco," she said, kissing him, "that was mind-blowing. I couldn't care less that we weren't in a bed."

"I'm a Malfoy, Ginevra." Draco said, standing and pulling her to her feet. "I'm supposed to be a gentleman. Gentlemen don't ravish women on hard stone floors some randy teenagers."

She smiled and touched her hand to his cheek. "But you are a randy teenager, Draco."

He scoffed.

Ginny sighed. "Would it help to ease your guilt if I let you take me to that bed over there and have your way with me again?"

She felt Draco stiffen against her and grinned.

"It might." he conceded.

Draco was laying on his back, Ginny curled up beside him with her head on his chest. She jumped suddenly, causing Draco to jump as well.

"Bloody hell, Ginevra!" he said, watching her climb out of bed. "What was that about?"

She was scrambling for her clothes. "It's late!" she told him. "I've got to get back. The Carrows are probably patrolling the halls already."

Draco got out of bed as well, joining her to find his own clothes. "Right. I forget about time when it's just us."

When he realized that she was panicking still, he reached over and took her arm. "Ginevra, calm down. You'll be fine."

"Easy for you to say. You're a Slytherin! They love you Slytherins."

"Look," he said, "I'll walk you up there, okay?"

She stopped, turning to him. "Really?"

He nodded and they both got dressed. Once they were fully clothed, the pair left the room and headed up towards Gryffindor tower.

They climbed the stairs and, turning the corner, came face to face with one of the Carrows.

"Malfoy," she said, "What are you doing in the corridors at this hour?"

"Evening, Alecto." Draco said in a calm voice. "I found this Gryffindor wandering the halls. Had to show her why we don't walk around after hours. You know, the dangers and what not."

"Ah, yes. The dangers of being out in the dark." Alecto laughed.

"Right," said Draco. "Now, if you don't mind, I'll just make sure she goes straight back to her common room. Wouldn't want her sneaking away again, would we?"

"Come now, Draco. Surely she hasn't been punished enough." Alecto grinned evilly. "The dark, after all, is quite dangerous."

Ginny's heart skipped a beat. Oh god.

"She's been dealt with just fine," Draco said firmly. "Unless you'd like to take this matter up with Professor Snape, who, I assure you, has better things to do."

"Very well." The pudgy little witch said, "Go on then. Off with you."

Draco nodded curtly and pulled Ginny, who's eyes had not left the ground, away with him.

"That was close." he said when they were clear of the Death Eater.

Ginny's heart was beating fervently.

"You okay Ginevra?" he asked.

She nodded. "I just- I was terrified. I thought she was going to-"

"I told you that I'd protect you." Draco said. "I won't let anything happen to you."

"Thank you, Draco." she said as they approached the portrait. She gave the password and the Fat Lady's portrait swung forward. She glanced at him once more before disappearing inside.