Variations on a Theme by LaydeLyra

Rating: NC17
Genres: Romance, Action & Adventure
Relationships: Draco & Ginny
Book: Draco & Ginny, Books 1 - 5
Published: 06/06/2004
Last Updated: 30/01/2007
Status: In Progress

As always, Draco is assigned to protect Ginny from harm... if you can think of a romantic
stereotype, it's probably in here, but it's fun and you know you'll love it anyway...
so read on!




1. The beginning
----------------



Disclaimer: I own nothing, but I still get to play with them in my head... hehehe.

A/N: okay, so I decided to write something else! I actually really like this one, because
there's an actual plot and everything! And the D/G action is great... trust me. A number of
things are fully cliche, as well, just so you know, but I made them better *proud smile* Beta is
Claresse, so thanks to her for her ideas and her editing! Now... On with the Show! Gypsy.

“No, no, no, no, no!!”

“Ginny -“

“No!” Ginny couldn't help the screech that came out, and really, she didn't care.

“Gin -“ Harry was trying as hard to hold onto his temper as Ginny was.

“Not on your life.” Okay, maybe he was fighting it harder. The danger in her voice was
clear.

“Ginevra Molly Weasley!!! Sit down and listen to me!” He expertly cut her off when she opened
her mouth to retort. “I'm through pretending that you have a choice in this!” Ginny fell back
into her chair with a huff and her arms crossed.

“The situation is very clear. There is some information that the Death Eaters are searching for.
From the ministry intelligence analysis, there are three people who could have that information, or
be needed to find it. Hermione is probably the most likely, which honestly kills me, and you know
it. Pansy Parkinson is also seeming very likely, and you are the third suspect, as it were. No
matter which of you knows what they are seeking, all of you need to be protected.”

“Then why can't someone else do it!”

“Ginny,” Harry rubbed his temples in an attempt to regain his patience, they'd been at this
for awhile and he was beginning to think that fighting Voldemort hadn't been this hard. “The
rules of the ministry are clear: Protective Aurors cannot be assigned to a person they are in any
way attached to. Ron's your brother, I practically am, and you've been friends with Blaise
for awhile now.” Harry's voice was clearly disapproving of this last bit and Ginny frowned at
him, so he just continued, “I'm the supervisor, so I oversee the whole thing and that leaves
three people, two of whom are not allowed to protect you officially. So, Ron will be protecting
Pansy, Blaise is responsible for Hermione, and Draco will be your protector.”

“And what does that mean, exactly? Why don't we just all go into a safe house or
something?”

“You can't go into a safe house, because, strategically, we need to know what those last few
Death Eaters are after, and we can't find that out without the three of you.” Again he cut off
her attempt to retort and continued, “You know I hate that too, you're basically part of my
family and Hermione is my fiance. I don't like the thought of using any of you as anything
remotely resembling bait. As for what exactly all of this means, we've got a meeting in about 5
more minutes where all of us who are involved in this thing will discuss what to use as cover
stories. Luna and Ron will discuss with Pansy; Hermione and I will plan with Blaise; and you will
talk, *civilly*, with Draco.”

“And I have no choice anyway.” Ginny's voice finally showed resignation to the situation. At
Harry's nod, she prepared herself for the inevitable, “Well then, I think a chat would be
lovely!” She grinned and stood up with mock cheerfulness as he lead her out of the room.
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2. The conversation
-------------------



Disclaimer: Sadly, I own nothing… no, really, I hope I get a job soon.

A/N: Hello all! Thanks so much for the reviews! They're very fun to receive (and they prompt
me to update quicker)! Thanks to Resse, my beta, once again for editing and suggestions. Thanks to
Frost21, by the way, and I'll update Ginny's name and use the real one from now on (even
though I hate it) because, as we all know, she's not my character… I don't have the first
chapter on file on this computer though, so I'm hoping you'll all forgive me and understand
that I'll re-edit as soon as I can. Oh! And just so everyone's clear… this is a boy Blaise
story. Okay now… On with the Show!

A/N 2: Sorry, This is only an edit of the update I did yesterday, I guess I didn't look it
over well enough, cause this is the direct edit! (that's what most of the parenthesis were,
sorry to the reviewer who mentioned it, but I wouldn't have realized the mistake without
you!)

Chapter 2: The meeting

As Ginny and Harry entered the private ministry meeting room, Ginny noticed that the three
tables in the room were already occupied. Ron and Luna were talking with Pansy (whom Ron was
assigned to protect in this case) and Hermione and Blaise were discussing their cover story at the
center table, where Harry was currently headed. Over to her left, Ginny locked eyes with Draco
Malfoy and realized that she was the only protectee who didn't have a live-in boyfriend or
husband to have to concoct a story with…she'd be working directly with Malfoy. Without losing
eye contact, Ginny took a deep breath and moved over to the far table.

Fifteen minutes later, the Weasley/Malfoy meeting was still extremely unproductive as they sat
and glared at one another. It was Draco who finally broke the silence.

“So, Weasley, are you finally ready to admit that you couldn't wait to spend every moment
with me?” He sneered at her, frowning and glaring across the table.

“Actually, Malfoy, I've decided you weren't worth the problems that might otherwise
arise. I still don't know why they picked you though, since you're obviously as likely to
smother me in my sleep as anything else.” Ginny's voice was casually detached from her cutting
words.

Draco clearly recognized the cut, and his eyes narrowed in response. The little chit dared to
suggest that he couldn't do the job he worked so hard for… Protection Aurors were supposed to
be the most respected Aurors in the ministry, and the most trustworthy. “Doubting my
trustworthiness, little weasel?” His voice was dangerous already, almost daring her to say it
again.

“Just wondering, Ferret, how much do Protector placements go for now?” Her tone of voice was
once again the true insult…it didn't matter what they said, she was prepared to battle him and
he wasn't about to back down.

“Look, Princess, I earned my job and I don't plan to let a little bint like you screw it up
for me. So why don't we just figure out our cover? Speaking of which, where's the other
party we're supposed to be working with? Creevey finally figure out to ditch the rag doll?”

“Actually, I think Colin and Neville will be very happy together.” Only a slight blush indicated
that she took any offense at all to his mention of her lack of relationship…but it wasn't
enough to slow either of them down.

“My, my, my! I think the poof community should thank you…that's the second man in recent
history who hops into bed with you and then runs screaming from the female species forever. Perhaps
you should be isolated from all wizards, you know...to protect the rest of us.”

“Actually, I think that men do just find being gay without my initial influence.” Ginny took the
time to look Draco up and down with a significant look as to her meaning.

That was enough. Draco was tired of the banter when he really did want to do his job…even if it
had to do with…her. He stood up to tower over her, palms flat on the table between them as he
leaned in.

“Listen you stubborn, obnoxious, little chit! If you think that I need to sit and listen to you,
just so I can protect you from whatever it is that's supposed to be after you…you can forget
it! Either you start being somewhat cooperative so we can get something done, or I say let them
have you!” Draco sat down heavily, somewhat gratified that she stayed quiet long enough to let him
get that all out.

It was Ginny's turn now. Slowly moving into a position that clearly mimicked Draco's
former posture, Ginny had her own say. “You know what, you ferrety, pointy nosed, obnoxious bloody
prat!!!! I don't need your help! No one is after me, and even if they were, I don't know
anything that would help them, so it doesn't matter! And you know what else, even if I did need
help, I'd jump into a bottomless pit without a cord before I'd ask you!” The scorn in her
voice as she spoke to him was almost as palpable as his had been and they locked eyes once again,
glaring angrily at each other.

***********************************************************************

Harry sighed. He, Blaise, and Hermione had finished their discussion of their cover story. All
three now sat watching the side show act that had formerly been the silent table on the far left.
The story they'd concocted was that Blaise and Hermione (who worked in the Mystery Research
Sector) were working on a project together, during the day, and Harry (a Protection section leader
in his own right) would manage at night. That way Blaise wouldn't have to move in with
them.

Ron and Luna had already reported to him their story with Pansy as well. Luna and Pansy worked
together at the Daily Prophet, and Pansy had already been looking for a new flat, they simply
decided to let her move in with them on the pretext that her previous flat had already been sold.
Since, to the public, Ron didn't have regular work, him accompanying the both of them on a
story or two wouldn't be completely out of place. Ron was currently being held in his chair by
his wife to prevent him from engaging in the escalating war between his sister and Malfoy. His face
was a study between pride and extreme anger as he listened to his sister's and Malfoy's
jibes , respectively.

“How will anyone ever believe that the two of them are together willingly at all?”
Hermione's question was enough to bring him out of his musings and back to the problem at
hand.

“I don't know, I can't think of anything that Ginny and Draco would have remotely in
common… they hate each other… and remarkably, by ministry rules, that makes him the only person
qualified to protect her.”

“Right,” Hermione had her “business” voice on now. “So, let's figure out something for them.
I'm not losing my best friend just because she can't calm down and be mature enough for
even a second to figure out some sort of cover for them being together.”

“I agree, so, let's think of what we need to include.” Blaise broke into the conversation as
well, joining both tables, still watching the “entertainment”, in the discussion. “They have to
spend time together… almost constantly…”

“No, constantly. Since Ginny and Colin broke it off, Ginny's alone in a large, somewhat
isolated flat… there's no one to get help if something happens, so Malfoy will have to be right
there.” Ron had worked, grudgingly, with Draco for almost three years now, so he knew his sister
would be well protected if they ever got to that point. Right now his hope to protect his sister
over-road his personal dislike for Malfoy.

“So, why would they be talking to each other, much less living together?” They all turned to
regard the pair in question in answer to Pansy's question.

“Lust.” Luna's somewhat dreamy voice was the only to supply an answer. As a result, she was
now the subject of the incredulous stares.

“You've got to be kidding me.” Ron was vigourously shaking his head in response to the idea
his wife supplied.

“Actually, Ron, I think that may be the only thing that's going to work. People almost never
have trouble attributing that particular emotion to people of the opposite sex who fight like those
two do whenever they're in the same room. Maybe the cover is that they've been seeing each
other for a bit, based on sex, and have decided to come out into the open about it cause the secret
is causing too much stress for one or the other of them. Does that work?” Hermione was applying a
wholly scientific thinking to the problem, as usual, but she couldn't help the small smile that
came out at her imagining of what would happen if Draco and Ginny were told that she came up with
the idea for their cover story.

“Listen to me you stupid, bloody, vain, pansy-ass, sodding wanker!” Ginny's voice
interrupted any further conversation with a vengeance.

“Now, now Weaslette, thinking naughty thoughts about me?”

“Could you get any more smarmy, you slimey, slithering, despicable snake? 'Oh, look at me,
I'm Draco Malfoy...Merlin's answer to every love-lorn witch or wizard that ever lived!
Pathetic, Slytherin man-whore! I bet -“

“ENOUGH!!!!” Harry's shout finally put an end to the mudslinging as the blond and red head
turned their mutinous glares on him. Harry took a deep breath and quickly filled the noise gap with
what he had to say. “Since you two can't talk civilly for long enough to come up with a cover
story, we've come up with one for you. You've been secretly involved for about 6 weeks now,
and since the stress of the secret was getting to you, Ginevra, you're finally coming clean and
moving in together… Great. Now that that's done, we're all dismissed and I can go home
after I file these things away.” Picking up his papers detailing the cover stories the three groups
would be following, Harry left the room with Hermione, Ron, Luna, Blaise, and Pansy following
behind… all alternately suppressing laughter and sheepishly avoiding the looks of the flabbergasted
couple in the corner.

Draco closed his mouth with a snap. Malfoys did not gape. Oh, god. Malfoys don't date
Weasleys either. He turned to the woman beside him and set his mouth into a grimly determined line.
“Right, fine, see you tomorrow then.” Then, just as the others had, he left Ginny Weasley standing
in the room alone.

The whole ministry heard the aggravated scream… they assumed it was from the Department of
Mysteries.
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3. Memories
-----------



Disclaimer: still, I own nothing... I have a job now though. :-D

A/N: Okay, I've done back edits, so everything should be good now... but we'll see. On a
note for this chapter, this is mostly background, but it's very important for the rest of the
story (motivations and such). Hope you like this newest chap and thanks, as always, for reviewing!
Oh! And I have nothing to read... so everyone update soon with your Draco/Ginny bits! :-P

NOTE: This chapter is NAUGHTY! I have my rating for a reason, and at this point you find why...
*cheeky grin* and this is all because we're such good girls (and boys, if there are any).

Ginny's night was not going well. Reminiscing is fun and all when you're with someone
else... when the thoughts don't leave you wallowing in a sea of rejection... Bastard. It was
all his fault! Really, she hadn't been thinking about two years ago when Harry had come up with
his crackpot cover story. But then he had to Floo her; he just had to come check...

“Did you tell them?” His face in her fireplace had shocked her out of her own reverie... which
is probably how he got the whole sentence out.

“No, you pointy faced prat, I did not!” She crossed her arms and smirked as he abruptly
disappeared. She had put a charm on her fireplace that ended conversations based on the hostile
inflection of her voice. It was very useful... and she liked the idea of Draco Malfoy covered in
soot, having basically been shoved out of the fireplace by a sudden magical barrier.

He was gone and she was sure he wouldn't try to get in touch with her again. For the night,
at least... but he was moving in tomorrow morning. Ginny was, of course, filled with apprehension
at that thought.

“UGH,” Ginny shouted and began pacing; being quiet and still held very little appeal at the
moment. “Two years! Two!!” she began ranting to her, very attentive, snowy owl, Athena. “Two years
without anyone asking anything about why we stopped getting along... without anyone wondering if
something had happened! Now, I have to go and tell a story that is all too close to two years
ago!!” Glumly she fell back onto her sofa, “Except this time he has to stay...” and the musing
began anew.

*******************************Flashback*********************************

Ginny had been so excited going into Auror sorting. Getting accepted into the Protector Program
was an amazing honor, those in this program would eventually be Protectors for the secrets of their
divisions. She knew where the students from the year ahead of her had been placed and that really
made it all the harder for her to think where she'd like to go. She knew that the personality
and aptitude tests she had taken would place her without a choice, but she was still thinking about
it. Harry was among the officers, mostly those who had already distinguished themselves somehow and
who would be good working without much supervision. Hermione had been put in the Research Division,
of course, and now spent much of her time in the Department of Mysteries. Ron was a Strategist, a
General Protector during peacetime and somewhat like a Muggle lawyer (so Hermione said) in some of
his duties as well. She also knew that Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini had created a stir when they
had joined the same program... grouped under `those with something to prove', mostly these were
people who felt they needed to earn trust and respect before they could determine what they wanted
to do. Some people in that division were also happy to know that, after their initial, all-around,
two year training, they'd get to choose their own assignments to some degree, if they had
distinguished themselves enough for those accepting applications. When the results of her test had
been revealed to her, Ginny had been surprised to find that, for at least a year, she would also
find herself working with the likes of Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini.

After the initial shock, and the blustering of Ron, Ginny had settled into her own division,
and, like many others, she found it fun and interesting to be able to work in many of the different
departments, instead of being confined to just one. The only other group that got so much movement
was the officers, which she found very interesting. She even found herself beginning to like
spending time with Malfoy and Zabini, who had initially begun hanging around her to annoy the
`Terrible Trio' but found themselves intrigued by the red head as well. The three would
regularly go out, talk, and generally have fun together by the time six months had passed.

Then the Ferret had to go and be in a towel when she stopped by one night. Prat.

That incident and the subsequent realization that one of her closest friends was also a very hot
male had made things a bit harder as the blushing returned full force…as did her penchant for
falling for male friends.

It had been about two weeks after that incident that Draco, Blaise, and Ginny had gone out
drinking after training. Ginny had had slightly too much to drink and out of concern, and the fact
that he noticed her reaction to his best friend, Blaise had suggested that Draco Apparate Ginny
home. But merely to prevent splinching, of course.

When they had gotten to her house, Draco, like any good and concerned friend, had asked why she
had consumed so much alcohol, when usually she'd have one or two and be helping one of the guys
home later. This had prompted her own tirade about not having someone of her own to help her home
and wondering why men didn't want her and then blaming the whole thing on him and his `bloody
towel'.

“What?” Draco stood up from his place on the couch, in order to make her face him in her
accusation, and also to prevent himself from becoming dizzy watching her pace in front of him.

“You heard me, you prat! If you hadn't been in your towel when I came to talk to you at the
Manor about my project, I would have been just fine and I wouldn't have had to worry at all
that two of my best friends are two of the hottest guys in training, and the fact that I can't
seem to stop thinking about one of them! If I can't stop thinking about how sexy you are and
how much I want you, then how am I supposed to be able to find someone else!? And for that matter,
how am I supposed to do my job!?” She put her hands on her hips, began tapping her foot, and waited
for him to give her an acceptable answer.

He was speechless.

“Ginny, I - “

“Oh, bugger it!” After throwing her hands in the air to admit her own defeat she grabbed him by
the collar of his shirt and pulled his mouth down to meet hers. In his shock, and to keep them both
from falling, his hands had moved of their own accord to her hips.

The kiss was searing. At first, neither had moved, due mostly to shock of what they were doing,
but then Draco had pulled her closer to himself. She wrapped her arms up around his neck, lifting
herself more to his height. He ran his tongue along her lips seeking entrance as his mouth moved
over hers and she gratefully granted it to him, battling his tongue with her own as the kiss
deepened even further. Finally, as it became clear that kissing wouldn't be enough to make the
raging feelings go away, he pulled out of her embrace.

“Ginny, I - I do want this, I promise you, but I don't want you to do something you'll
regret just because you're drunk.” He was somewhat out of breath and the longing in his voice
was apparent as he prepared to leave her in her flat. He knew if he looked at her again all his
hard earned morals would be damned.

“Draco, I have a secret.” Just the way she said it was enough to make him lose his resolve not
to look at her, and when he turned, she was close enough to kiss again and her hand was on his
shoulder.

“Gin?”

“I'm not that drunk.” Without waiting for an answer she pulled him down to meet her once
again in a passionate kiss, but this time, all restraint had flown.

This kiss was enough to heat the blood racing through the pounding hearts of both of them. They
pressed themselves together, regretting every tiny space between them. His hands pulled her into
him by her arse and she fitted herself as closely as she could manage. She felt his arousal clearly
in her abdomen. It wasn't clear if she had moved first, or if it was him, but, without breaking
their lip lock, he lifted her and she wrapped her legs around him so that now their still clothed
centers were pressed against each other.

He began walking to her bedroom, both of them moaning with each step as they rubbed against each
other. He finally leaned over her bed, letting her fall from his hold onto the mattress as he began
trailing his lips over her jaw and down the column of her throat. His hands began moving the fabric
of her shirt up her body, caressing her bared skin as he went. Eagerly, she began removing his
shirt as well, her movements frantic. She lustily caressed his skin once his torso was fully
revealed to her. Both their bodies were sculpted and toned by months of hard training. His lithe,
slightly more muscular body, caused her mouth to water as she looked at him. And her athletic,
small frame seemed to cause the same reaction in him. He was the first to move, beginning to kiss
down her chest as he simultaneously began unhooking her bra and pulling out of the way to free her
to his lustful gaze. He bent his head to take a firming nipple into his mouth as he began kneading
her other breast with the hand not holding his weight off of her. She moaned and arched into his
touch, running her hands up his muscular back to entangle in his hair and hold him to his chest. As
he sucked on her left nipple, lathing it with his tongue, he took her right between his fingers,
rolling it to hardness, before moving his head to her right and sending his left hand to move
further along her body. He rested his hand, open palmed, on her stomach, feeling the flutters
there, waiting to go further. As his hand rested, she moved her hands down over his back, to the
belt of his trousers, which she then followed forward until her hand was on his zipper. Unzipping
his pants, she immediately began pulling them down over his hips, not hesitating to reach into his
boxers and grip his arse teasingly as his trousers fell to his ankles.

With his pants down, Draco lifted himself away from her body, kicking the final way out of his
pants and allowing her to see him as she pulled his boxers down to follow his pants. Seeing him
nude in front of her, Ginny couldn't help reaching out to take his penis in her hand, bringing
her lips to it briefly before looking up at him and taking pride in the fact that she could cause
his face to look so ecstatic with so brief a gesture. She then pulled away, unhooking her skirt as
she dragged herself up the bed. The friction of her movement caused her skirt to be pulled down of
its own accord, leaving her in only her knickers by the time her head was up among the pillows.
Slowly, he moved up the bed after her. Kneeling beside her legs, he caressed up the outside of her
left leg before hooking his finger through the waistband of her knickers and pulling them down with
his hand trailing down her right leg. With her completely bared to him, he moved so that he was
kneeling between her knees. He ran his hands up the inside of her legs, lightly caressing the
inside of her thighs before running his hands along her slit, teasing her before entering her body
with one slowly thrusting finger, followed by two fingers. His other hand moved up her already
writhing body and moved to cup and kneed her breast while he leaned to capture her moaning mouth in
a sensual kiss. He moved the thrusting hand to brace himself and the other hand to lift her as he
moved into her, both of them gasping and moaning with his entrance. She brought her arms up to grip
his shoulders as he slowly thrust into her. As his thrusts sped up, she moved her hands to grip his
arse and pull him as far as possible into her center. Their hands had continued to explore and move
over each other at first, but now they both sought release with complete abandon and desperation.
As he felt her nearing her peak and his own thrusts became erratic he caught her lips in yet
another fiery kiss, sending them both over the edge together.

After they had recovered from their orgasm enough that he was no longer collapsed on top of her
and someone had had enough energy to grab a wand and clean up the aftermath of their copulation,
she curled herself against him. When they were nearly asleep, and he was trying to decide if he
should stay with her or not, he heard her small voice beside him.

“Draco?”

“Mmm?”

“Will you stay tonight?”

“Of course.” And with that she had moved even more against him, his arm around her and her arm
thrown across his chest. He had pulled up the comforter to cover their naked bodies and they had
both fallen asleep.

She dreamed that maybe he had kissed her in the night, but she didn't feel him leave.

He wasn't there in the morning.

The next day, she didn't see him at work either, not that, at that point, she wanted to.
When she did see him again, she asked why he hadn't been there when she had woken up.

“I had to leave. Ginny, I don't want this completely screwing up our friendship.”

“It wouldn't have. If you had been there.” And she had walked away. After that she had
proceeded to pretend that Draco Malfoy did not exist. About a month later, she dated and then broke
up with Blaise Zabini as well. The reasons for the break up were never revealed, but Hermione had a
hard time convincing Ron not to have a party for the fact that his sister no longer spent time with
`those bloody gits'.

The day after the break up, Ginny came into the office with eyes blood-shot and puffy, clear
proof that she'd been crying. The day after that, Blaise had come in with an eye bruised and
puffy, and his lip split, clear proof that he'd been beaten up. Harry and Ron swore that it
wasn't them. A short while after that incident, however, Ginny, for some reason, decided that
the silent treatment was far less interesting than all-out verbal warfare, and that was how the
relationship between Draco Malfoy and Ginevra Weasley had progressed up until the current point.
And now, they were going to have live in the same house and pretend to be in love...
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4. New Beginnings
-----------------



**A/N**: I know, I know, I 'm a bad, Bad person! Sorry, a lot's happened since the
last chapter, obviously, especially some major writer's block about how to proceed. Hopefully
this satisfies you and hopefully I'll get more out post haste! Cheers!!

"Honey, I'm home!" *Thunk*. Ginny groaned at the sound of something heavy
being deposited in her living room, and cursed the training in the muggle world that had allowed
Draco to pick up some annoying catch phrases.

"Gin?" Hearing her brother helped to wake her somewhat as she turned over in her
large, comfortable bed. She knew he wouldn't go long before he began to search her out, and
being his sibling left him few inhibitions as far as what was appropriate wake-up technique.

Ginny groaned and turned onto her back, looking up at the ceiling and wondering what possesses
people to be up in the morning... especially when she had so much trouble managing a wink of
sleep.

As light began entering the room, she groaned again and moved up onto her elbows to look towards
the door and assure her brother that, no, conjuring water above her head was not necessary this
morning.

"Hey Gin." It was the Smug Bastard.

"Get out." Most people would consider that her Dangerous look... he seemed
unaffected.

"No."

"Well, I warned you."

Hermione, Harry, Blaise, and Ron didn't really need to ask what the loud crashing sound was
in the hallway when Malfoy came, rubbing his shoulder and his head alternately, from the same
direction. They did however have to try valiantly to smother their laughter... that they failed,
can't really be held against them.

"Right, no going in the Weaslette's bedroom and she's not a morning person... check
and check." He moved past the trio and began unpacking his things, starting with the
kitchen... farthest from Her room.

Ginny wasn't long in following Malfoy from the hallway. Still wearing her pajamas and a
disgruntled look, she glared at the laughing trio and began giving rough, gestured directions on
where boxes should be placed.

"Why are you all here so bloody early, anyway?" She frowned at a picture of her,
Draco, and Blaise that must have been dug up from training photos as she unpacked it. She did
realize what it could lend to their cover, and so put it on the mantle, opposite a picture of the
other ministry trio.

"Gin, it's after noon..." Harry pointed at the mantle clock.

"Oh." She didn't feel the need to be ashamed of her sleeping habits and thus went
on casually unpacking... once again ignoring snickers and "looks" from the others in the
room.

And so it began.

************************************************************************

Ginny and Draco had walked hand in hand into work the next day. And generally people took the
stormy looks on their faces to be frustration with the number of questions they still had to answer
on their relationship, and not really anything serious. Especially after Pansy Parkinson on the
Daily Prophet announced them in her column to be unequivocally in love.

As such it proceeded with Draco picking Ginny up from work everyday. Obviously so that he could
be with her and protect her from all those horrible reporters talking about "forbidden
romances" and "star-crossed lovers" and generally prophesying their overall doom and
the end of their relationship. Given the modesty of the relationship, there were also plenty of
reporters just waiting to have the ultimate picture, the hot-blooded kiss, to add to their
columns.

At home, the general bickering continued. Draco slept in an expanded towel closet next to
Ginny's room, which was still off limits. They had moved into less intense arguing, however,
after each of them realized how much of a drain that was on their time and energy. Thus, they lived
with a nominal truce. Ginny did the cooking and Draco was actually very helpful where he could
manage, going shopping and even casting a few cleaning charms every once in awhile. They did not go
on public dates... despite Harry's urging that it would help their cover to keep from becoming
suspicious.

Once a month the whole group got together at one of the houses to discuss how things were going
within each group and to be able to talk to other people, without being watched so closely by their
own guardian. Draco didn't take long to notice that Ginny did everything in her power to keep
Blaise away from her... thus, without her noticing much, so did he.

Four months passed, just so, with no new information really coming in and quiet in all the
homes. As things went on, the stormy looks faded from Draco and Ginny's faces as they held
hands into work and they started looking for each other out of habit around the office, despite
their differing departments. He began to notice what shampoos and soaps she liked, as well as her
favorite ice cream, without a list for shopping. She began to note his favorite dinners, and they
worked more and more into her rotation. Everything happened gradually, with no one really noticing.
And then Harry had to go and insist they have that Bloody Date.

************************************************************************

They had gotten away with four months of no one questioning things and of them managing to get
along just fine! Harry had set up dinner tonight though, in their name, and Draco had to go and
agree with him! Ginny couldn't believe it. If she didn't go along, that was sure to cause
suspicions somewhere and if she did... well, then she had to go on a date with Draco Bloody
Malfoy!! Upon musing, Ginny began to realize that Bloody could not possibly be his last name and
she had to remember to ask him so that she could use it if the occasion arose... for now, she was
happy to improvise, coming up with some creative combinations of what to put between the two names
she did know as she viciously ransacked her closet for a nice dress to wear.

Once she finally came up with a lovely green dress, which only suited, since she was supposed to
be in love with a Slytherin and it went well with her hair, she began going at her hair and
make-up. Once everything was fully applied, she admired her own sleek appearance quickly before
storming into her living room to turn her anger onto the Middle Nameless One.

Both parties stopped abruptly when they came in sight of each other.

Upon noting the stormy look on her face, Draco held up his hand to stall her and took a quick
step back before trying to explain himself as quickly and reasonably as possible. "This
wasn't my idea. Harry didn't give me any more notice, or choice than you and I still have
to think it's probably a good idea so that someone can't just say one of us has the
Imperious on the other when we're out in public."

"Fine." He wasn't expecting her to be even this understanding, but he just chose
to be glad for it as he held out his arm for her to take so that they could apparate together to
the restaurant.

It was a sin that he had to look so good in that slate gray color... she had some really good
insults worked out too.

************************************************************************

Somewhat unexpectedly for both, dinner was very pleasant, despite the expected gawkers and
reporters who just "happened" to show up. Ginny and Draco were able to draw upon many of
the similarities they had found during her first year of training as well as their first true
discussion of what they had each been up to since their fallout with each other. Neither mentioned
that little part.

After dinner, they decided to walk for awhile before settling back at home, since neither had
gotten much chance to be out in the last few months, given their mutual fear of some massive insult
session over something blowing their cover entirely. While this was a small fear at the beginning
of the night, it seemed to fade as the hours went by, until it was late enough that even a
reasonable couple would probably want to head home.

Upon arriving home, it became apparent that they were obviously expected. The reporters
weren't doing a good enough job of being subtle as the once again vied for the picture of the
Weasley-Malfoy kiss; at least, two aurors were easily able to spot them. They spoke in quiet tones
before entering the apparation-warded house.

"What do you say, Weasley? After tonight we may as well get it all finished with, then
maybe they can leave us alone." To anyone else this would look as a simple exchange of loving
words, instead as further instigation of a large-scale scam on the public.

"Draco, given our history, I don't know if that's a good idea..." Dammit, did
he have to stand so close? And what was with that whole *leaning* thing!?

"Come on, Gin, it's just a little kiss... that's all, there doesn't even need
to be anything behind it, unless we put it there." When she didn't respond, he just leaned
in and pressed his lips to hers, brushing against her mouth.

Well... if there was nothing behind that kiss, it certainly packed a punch. Neither one really
noticed the flashes going off around them, and it's doubtful that either would have seen
Voldemort himself involved in a wild naked snow dance in their yard once the kiss deepened.

Ginny did notice herself pulling him against her and she noticed his hand on her lower back as
they tried to move as close as possible to one another. Draco was the first to notice that it would
be indecent to continue this snog session on the front lawn, surrounded by reporters, as he began
to fumble with the handle of the door to move them both inside. Once they were inside, nothing
could stop him from pressing her up against the closed door and not even he could prevent the moan
that escaped him as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

It was that noise that finally broke her concentration on seeing exactly how she could fit him
and memorizing exactly what he tasted like. Ginny quickly broke the kiss and placed her hands on
his chest in an attempt to get him to move away. With the connection broken, both took only a
moment to jump clear of each other, exchanging nervous looks and taking in the disheveled
appearance of their partner. Draco was standing in the middle of the living room, breathing heavily
and his hair in disarray. Ginny leaned back against the door, letting it cool her. She was the
first to move again.

She pulled down her dress and began to move towards her room. "Just a little kiss my
arse."

Given his current state, I don't think we can hold the thought that it was also quite a nice
arse against Draco.

Her door slammed and they each spent the rest of the night going over what could have happened,
why it shouldn't happen, and what in the world they were possibly going to do about the fact
that they wanted nothing more than for that very disaster to strike.

**A/N:** Just so everyone knows, reviews are why I didn't forget about this thing in the
first place. Thanks to Claresse for the beta. And the Naked Snow Dance reference is due to the
clever banter of Anywho and myself as we did our best to scare those who don't really know us.
Cheers!

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5. The morning after
--------------------



A/N: I love my reviewers!! I didn't think anyone was still reading this, but someone
reviewed and pointed out to me that it had been two and half YEARS!!! I'm so sorry, I never
meant to do that to all of you! I'm settled now, and I'll be getting a reliable internet
source soon, and as it turns out, I had a chapter waiting for all this time!! It just needed some
adjustments and a beta. I've got another that should be coming fairly quick and I'd just
like to say that Draco and Blaise, though adorable, have been amazing prats all this time, screwing
up my ideas and not coming out like I wanted them to! Alright, without further ado (and many
apologies) here's the next chapter.

Sleep deprivation makes some things that would seem obvious, not so obvious, and some things
that you would normally know to keep away from, suddenly become very good ideas.

I suppose that means that this day was fated after the small amount of sleep Ginny got, and the
large number of naked Dracos doing interesting things to her while she was asleep.

The first slip of the memory was when she forgot that there was a man staying in her house. She
also forgot that she, and said man, were not allowed to lock the bathroom door, and thus should
always knock. This little procedure arose since said man was her Protector, and they weren't
sure if Death Eaters would have the sensibilities to stay out of her bathroom-- there was also the
small matter of Draco breaking the lock after she had aggravatingly locked him out after an
argument and then screamed when she fell on the still wet floor.

In forgetting all of this, Ginny woke up groggy and wandered into her bathroom unannounced.

The first thing she noticed was that Draco still looked excellent in a towel.

The second thing she noticed is that she was (mostly unconsciously) trying to come up with a
spell that would make the towel fall without causing suspicion.

After tamping down this thought, she noticed that Draco had spun away from toweling his hair and
was currently staring at her... though not openly arguing with her seeming contemplation of his
towel clad body.

"Can I help you, Gin?"

*Yes!*

"Er... no." With that, the bright red Weasley daughter immediately slammed the door to
the bathroom closed once again.

Once that was accomplished, she immediately began banging her head against the door jam... still
clutching the door handle. "Stupid, bloody, buggering *towel*" was the general
mantra for this process.

Until, of course, the door was pulled open from the other side, causing Ginny to conveniently
miss the door jam and instead plant her head firmly in what felt suspiciously like a male chest.
Looking up, she confirmed that it was, in fact a male chest. At this point, she also realized that
she had reached out to find purchase on something to balance her when the door had been pulled
open. Turning bright red, she valiantly fought the urge to look down, ostentatiously to check and
make sure that her hand was *only* full of terry cloth.

Both parties were speechless at this point.

Still over compensating by looking at the bathroom ceiling, Ginny held up the towel between them
and stammered out that they needed to talk, before quickly getting herself far clear of the area of
the flat containing the bathro

Somehow, this was not how she had hoped her morning would go.

************************************************************************

After that embarrassing display in the bathroom, Ginny sat at the kitchen table staring at the
entrance to the room and desperately hoping that Draco would never walk in. Or at the very least,
give some indication that the earlier happenings were actually all composed of her morbid fears and
that she had actually been asleep the whole time.

"Alright, Weasley, would you care to tell me now *why* you needed to talk to me? And,
while you're at it, could you add what possessed you to barge into the bathroom, stare at me,
and then divest me of my only covering after I came to see what was the matter with you?" His
face was so serious and composed that Ginny couldn't help herself.

She burst into laughter.

Not that calm, dainty kind that so many want to emulate. No, Ginny Weasley was laughing until
she had tears streaming down her face. Laughing in that boisterous way that had no guile or
subtlety. Laughing in such a way that Draco was afraid she could easily fall off her chair and
possibly do herself bodily harm.

In short, Ginevra Weasley was hysterical.

Okay, maybe not really, but it was certain that the night before, combined with this morning had
definitely driven her past some kind of breaking point.

Faced with that image, as well as the number of images they would have presented to spectators
over the last two days, Draco failed to keep his decorum as well. Though he only released a few,
much lighter, chuckles, it was still an impressive feat for someone who was so very...
*Malfoy*.

After a few minutes of this shared camaraderie, both subsided and looked to each other, eyes
still expressing mirth, but ready to return to the actual matter at hand.

"I'm sorry--" the hiccup that interrupted her planned sentence nearly set Ginny
off again, and certainly received a patented smirk from Draco. Clearing her throat, she began
again, "Sorry about that. And I'm definitely sorry about the," she waved her hand in
the vague direction of the hallway with this statement, "bathroom... thing."

"It's alright, Weasley. I suppose it's bound to happen with the two of us living
here together..." He ran his hand through his hair. It was a gesture that drove Ginny mad,
since it made his hair somewhat mussed and made him look... She shook her head before the thoughts
continued onto another disaster and returned to what he was actually saying. "What did you
need to talk to me about that was so important?"

Ginny blushed, she had actually only said that so that it wouldn't seem *completely*
absurd for her to be looking for him. In reality, she had temporarily forgotten his presence in her
house, since she was so tired, and had still been somewhat lost in the fantasies she had had the
night before. It didn't help matters much that he had been a main character in most of those,
rather fun and interesting, dreams.

"Um, last night." Right... that's the last thing she wanted to bring up, but here
goes.

Now it was his turn to look somewhat discomfited. Ginny did *try* not to be satisfied by
that. "Alright... what about it?" Was he fidgeting? Malfoys didn't fidget... he'd
told her so once when they'd been completely smashed and she'd asked about the nervous
movements.

"I think it went well... um... what are we going to tell the others?"

He blinked. "Others?"

"About the kiss... the picture's bound to be in the papers now, and we've got our
monthly meetings with them today, and Ron's going to be livid, even with the cover. And I
don't know how Harry will take it, since the whole thing was his bloody idea, and I know
Hermione's going to read something into it no matter what, and then there's Luna and
there's no telling what she'll think. And Blaise..." Her words were rapidly speeding
up as she spoke, and he wasn't sure there had been a breath anywhere in there.

"Don't worry about them. They'll understand." He interrupted her with a calm
tone, and what he felt was a more reasonable pace of speaking to someone who was clearly on her way
to going mad. "Harry, Ron and Blaise will understand the necessity. Hermione's got nothing
to read in," There was a searching look with this statement that Ginny deftly avoided meeting,
"and Luna's always been mad."

She looked up to argue with him on the final statement and saw that his eyes had softened
somewhat from what she expected and that, in actuality, he seemed amused by her concern about all
of them. He probably did think Luna was mad, though not in a malicious way. For some reason, the
thought that he would be there and that he wasn't insulting one of her oldest friends, not
really, made her happy.

She smiled at him. "Ron's going to beat you to a pulp... you know that,
right?"

"If he tries then Potter and Granger will hold him back. That's pretty much been the
way of things for the last few months, we remember." He smiled back and it became harder to
convince herself that, if she kissed him again, it would all be for the people who were
watching.

He reached across the table and took her hand, applying pressure to pull her out of her chair.
"Come on, go get ready and we'll get to work. The get together tonight is at Blaise's
manor."

A small shiver went down her spine at the thought of going back there, but the reassurance that
Draco would help her if she needed him, which she knew regardless of any other feeling there might
be, was enough to move her into her bedroom so that she could being dressing to get on with her
day.

Once she was done, she came back to the living room, took his arm and they apparated together to
the ministry.

************************************************************************

Work went pretty well that day. Tiring, but not all that interesting. Most of the day was spent
trying to determine why the Death Eaters hadn't attacked, if whatever information they were
looking for was so important. No new leads, though Ginny and Hermione both admitted some fear that
somehow whatever it was that they wanted, they had already gotten by some subtle means.

They had already fought stupid, evil people in the Second War. Cunning evil was an infinitely
more frightening prospect.

Too much time contemplating that prospect was making Ginny extremely jumpy. She was glad when
Draco showed up to the office. She didn't, however, realize how much it had concerned Hermione,
until the other woman asked that Draco and Ginny stay until Harry or Blaise showed up to get
her.

It turned out to be Blaise that showed up and he and Draco nodded to each other in greeting.
Once again, Ginny realized how distant the two men had become since two years ago when all three of
them had been close. She also noticed the darkened look on Blaise's face when Draco put his arm
around her waist and pulled her close before apparating to the Zabini Manor.

All four arrived at the same time and Blaise sent out a notification via his wand that the wards
were now open for everyone to arrive. Draco had been allowed through the wards for years, so Ginny
wasn't sure if she was still allowed through on her own, though she guessed that Blaise was the
type of person who rarely got around to changing his security settings, auror or no.

Tea and snacks arrived via houself; Hermione scowled; Ron apparated and immediately jumped at
Draco; Harry held him back and did his best to talk sense to him; and everything was normal, with
everyone together again.

As always, it was only a moment before the two factions of the whole group split apart. Draco,
Blaise and Pansy made polite, if somewhat cold conversation on the outside of the room and the
Trio, Ginny, and Luna sat on the couch talking expressively and laughing. Ginny never had a moment
where she didn't feel Draco's eyes on her, and for some reason, it didn't feel odd, as
perhaps it should have, it felt safe.

Each of them talked about their days and how work was going, on this case and on others. They
discussed how Harry and Hermione had finally set a date and Mrs. Weasley was ecstatic over being
involved in wedding preparations. Luna revealed that apparation would only work for her for a very
short while more, since she had found out she was pregnant, and apparation was only safe for this
first trimester. Ginny smiled, and hugged, and congratulated, and generally felt the overall
emptiness of her romantic life.

With this rather depressing thought, Ginny rose to go to the bathroom. At least a moment alone
would help her gather her thoughts a little. As she rose she caught Draco's eye as he began to
push off the wall and shook her head. She had no doubt that she'd be fine without him for just
a moment, there were more wards on this house than St. Mungos, she was pretty sure.

With that, she moved out of the room and took in her surroundings as she casually moved further
into the house towards the entrance hall where the loos were. There were many beautiful paintings,
priceless vases, and ancient tapestries that she knew came down through the Zabini family line,
just as the ones in Malfoy Manor did. This thought struck her as she realized that Draco had never
suggested everyone meet at Malfoy Manor. For some reason, she found herself curious about this fact
and about the place that was his home.

"Knut for your thoughts." Surprised, Ginny whirled around and found herself face to
face with Blaise Zabini.

"Only a knut?" Ginny laughed nervously as she tried to back away from him. His smile
was positively predatory.

"I'll give more, if it's good." He was still advancing on her and she was
pretty sure a wall would be coming up on her soon.

"I was wondering why we've never been to Draco's home." As she let the thought
escape her quickly, she hoped that that surprised look meant he would stop advancing on her. He
didn't.

"Didn't you know? Malfoy was disposessed when he failed with Dumbledore, refused to
join the Death Eaters and went into Auror training, he can't even get through the wards now,
the house only answers to the master of Malfoy Manor... that's not Draco." He was
definitely in her personal space now, and that was definitely a wall behind her. She chose to focus
on the conversation, instead of his nearness.

"Why weren't you dispossessed? You did the same thing." Was he smelling her
hair?

"That is the question, isn't it? Now let's find something better to do than talk
about Draco." He was leaning into her now. Frantically she searched for another way to keep
him talking, so that he wouldn't be moving his lips in other ways. Merlin, why was he so
unnerving!

"What are you doing, Blaise?" Her voice was stronger this time. It was an age old
question of former lovers.

"What do you mean, Ginny?" He pulled back, and looked at her with what could only be
described as innocence.

"You were the one who didn't want me... remember?" She turned her head away and
tried again to move away from him.

“We didn't talk about it… I wanted to say I'm sorry for that, Ginny.” He pulled back and
ran his hand through his hair. Ginny noted that it was the same gesture Draco made when he
didn't want to admit to being uncomfortable.

“It's alright, it doesn't matter anymore anyway.” She started to move away from him,
trying to cut the conversation short before she had to relive yet another thing she didn't care
to.

Blaise grabbed her arm as she turned away from him, “Ginny, wait, can't we try again?”

“Let go of her, Zabini.” Ginny couldn't explain why she felt relief at Draco's voice,
cold and hard as it was.

“We're just talking, Malfoy, it's not a big deal.” Ginny did notice, however, that
Blaise hadn't released her arm… in fact, his grip had tightened when Draco spoke. Unnoticed by
either of them, she looked at his hand, and then his face, trying to figure out what was actually
going on here.

“Come on, Ginny, let's go home. It's been a long day.” Finally, Draco broke eye contact
with Blaise to address her, holding out his arm for her to take.

“In a minute, Malfoy. Ginny, what I'm saying is --,” Ginny knew the mistake Blaise had made,
but she still wasn't expecting quite the reaction they got when Blaise stepped between her and
the doorway… and Draco. With good reason, Protectors are generally charged with making sure the
person they're defending isn't trapped in a small area with anyone they might not want to
be. Of course, not all Protectors respond by pinning someone to a wall with an arm over the
neck.

“Draco!” She hadn't wanted Blaise holding onto her, or standing so close in the alcove, but
his face was already turning a very unnatural red. Fear prevented Ginny from even trying to
comprehend what was really going on as she tried to work out the best way to finish all of
this.

The men were still involved in a fierce staring contest, a silent angry conversation between
them, when Ginny grabbed Draco's arm. “Draco, he's an auror, he wasn't going to do
anything. It wasn't anything worth getting worried over, let's just go home.” Ginny was
pretty sure neither man heard her, but she hoped some of the reasoning could penetrate whatever it
was that had actually caused this.

“Draco, *Please*.” The last was barely above a whisper, but it seemed to be enough as Draco
dropped Blaise.

“Keep your hands off her. Don't even *think* of cornering her like this again, or I
will consider it part of my *duty* to hex you within an inch of your life.” With that, in a
tone of voice that could have frightened the wall now supporting Blaise's gasping form, and
with Ginny still pulling on his arm to remove him from the scene. After another pointed look, they
moved further down the hallway, he put his arm around her, and they apparated home.

************************************************************************

When they arrived back at her flat, Ginny began to move away from him, to begin preparations for
dinner. Cooking was always good at calming her nerves.

"I'm sorry." She almost didn't hear it, and certainly didn't expect it. As
she turned back to face Draco, his face gave her a vague sense that maybe she should be wondering
more what he was apologizing for.

"It's alright. I grew up in a family of redheads... everyone loses their temper
sometimes." She smiled at him, still completely relieved that he had shown up when he did,
even if his methods of dealing with the problem had been somewhat harsh and unexpected.

He looked as if he was going to say something, but stopped, so she turned into the kitchen once
again.

Once she entered, and realized that they had a lot of leftovers and very few ingredients left,
she decided on a sandwich and some pumpkin juice and she'd find something to read to help calm
her instead. After making the sandwich, she went back to the refrigerator to search for the
juice.

It was somewhat unnerving that Draco had returned to his stony former self for now and was
sitting at the kitchen table watching her. So unnerving, in fact, that she couldn't for the
life of her find the juice!

"Do you know where the pumpkin juice has gotten to? I can't find it." She heard
the chair scrape against the floor as he got up and turned to see what he was doing and why he
hadn't answered. When she turned, for the second time in one day, she found herself staring
directly into a male, though this time clothed, chest.

He put his hand on her waist and leaned past her into the fridge to pull the pumpkin juice out
of it's conspicuous place on the top shelf and moved back to hold it in front of her. Despite
the relative similarities of the two times she had been in this position, with two different men,
this time it seemed frighteningly comfortable. She wondered why his eyes seemed darker now, as she
took the pumpkin juice, and fled the room.

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