Ginny felt heat wash through her body. God, he was only holding her hand and her heart was doing double-time. She looked through half-lidded eyes at his face. He still was looking at their hands, his eyes dark and glittery, his mouth curved in a small, lazy smile. She barely understood when he spoke again.
"Will you tell me your middle name? Please? I'm asking nicely," he asked, his voice teasing.
Ginny almost told, then stopped. She had a better idea. Not better, her cynical voice said. Just more dangerous.
"How about a trade?" she asked, watching his reaction.
He finally looked at her, tilting his head to one side.
"Not fair," he answered. "I don't have a middle name."
"Oh, I didn't mean, uh, that is, okay, you could trade something else."
He grinned the wicked grin and leaned in closer. She caught a whiff of his cologne. The tingles began again. She would never again smell that scent without associating it with Draco.
"What did you have in mind," he asked huskily.
Ginny pulled her hand away gently. She couldn't think when he was touching her. She probably wasn't thinking clearly now or she wouldn't be about to suggest this.
"Would you consider sneaking me into the Astronomy tower one night, just for an hour or so, and show me the constellations? I mean, I'm really horrible at Astronomy. And I know you're good, because it drives Hermione crazy that you two are almost tied in scores in Astronomy. I could even help with Magical Healing if you need it. I'm really good in that class." She realized she was starting to babble and stopped.
He was staring at her, mouth open. "Uh, I guess it, uh, wasn't such a good idea. Never mind." Ginny felt extremely foolish. She would be imposing, encroaching on one of the places he felt he could go on those sleepless nights. She looked miserably at her now folded hands lying in her lap.
Malfoy took one of the hands again and twined his fingers with hers, much as she had done that afternoon. He lifted her chin with the other, forcing her to look at him. He was smiling!
"Do you really want to?" he asked in a strange voice. "Are you sure you trust me, all alone up there in a deserted tower?"
Ginny grinned again because he was teasing again. "Well, I did until you asked. I suppose I could bring Ron's club with me to make sure you behave?"
Laughing quietly, Malfoy agreed. "I suppose a bash in the head with that thing would do the trick." Then the smile left his face.
"Speaking of your brother and head-bashing,"
"Were we?" Ginny interupted. She thought she knew what was coming.
"Well, we should be. Did Ron tell you what I said that made him so angry?" He was staring at their hands, his colour rising a bit.
"Yes, he did," Ginny answered, softly.
"And?" Gruffly.
Ginny smiled, even though he couldn't see it. "And I went into a fit of hysterical laughter. Just like earlier."
Malfoy looked up, disbelieving. "You laughed?"
She nodded. "I couldn't help it. He sounded so shocked, when you really hadn't said anything at all." She looked at him, her head tilted slightly. "Unless I misunderstood? I told Ron that maybe I had to be there to understand what made him so mad. Maybe you should tell me?"
Malfoy shook his head. She was unbelievable. "Maybe I'd better not. You might actually bash me with the candle if you heard it again."
Ginny placed her other hand on top of his, and looked down. "You said you hadn't done nearly what you planned with me...was this part of your plans?"
Malfoy looked a bit uncomfortable. "What, having your brother try to bash your head in, then have my ex-girlfriend have another go at you for good measure? Certainly not."
Ginny clicked her tongue. "What about holding my hand? And talking to me and laughing with me? And sneaking me up into the tower?"
"Those were certainly high on the list," he admitted, smiling again.
"What else?" Her voice was so soft, breathy, as though she were having trouble breathing normally. He looked into her eyes and leaned forward.
"Something like this," he murmured, brushing her lips lightly with his. A sudden cough from the office caused them to spring apart, both of their heads swiveling toward the door. They heard another cough, then nothing. Ginny let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Malfoy slipped off the mattress and backed away to his chair. He slipped into it and ran unsteady hands through his hair. Ginny sighed and lay back against the pillows. So close, she thought.
Malfoy looked up at her and saw the disappointment in her face. So she had wanted it too, he hadn't imagined it. He'd said he hadn't accosted her in her bed yet, but he was awfully damned close. The gods knew he wanted to. But he also wanted to be able to look her in the eye tomorrow. She still had pain and sleeping potions in her system, not to mention the concussion. She might feel differently after a full night's sleep and time to think. She probably didn't fully understand what she was inviting. And he bet that she was too damned inexperienced to stop him if he tried to go too far. His heart was pounding so hard it almost hurt. Trouble didn't come close to describing her. Dangerous was much more apt. Dangerous and beautiful and desirable, and she didn't even know it.
"I'd better go." His voice was unsteady. "You need to get some rest. Do you still want to go up to the tower?" Again he tried not to sound too hopeful.
She nodded, her eyes brightening again.
"When is your next Astronomy class?"
Ginny thought. "Tomorrow night, well, I guess that's really tonight actually. Just the Gryffindors." Ginny felt a little queasy with a sudden mix of apprehension and anticipation. It could be wonderful, but it could also turn into a disaster.
"All right, then, I'll meet you by the library right after your class. If no one's about, we'll go right up, but if there are people hanging about, we can go into the library until it closes. Sound good?"
"Mmmm," she murmured, wishing he would come and hold her again.
Malfoy gathered his wits, then stood. He took her hand again, steeling himself against the soft welcome in her eyes. He turned the hand over and brought the palm to his lips. He pressed his lips against the skin, then ever so quickly flicked the palm with his tongue, smiling as she gasped. Then he released her.
"Until tomorrow?" he asked, his voice husky and soft.
"Tomorrow," she sighed. "It seems so far away."
Far away, but necessary he thought. He relented slightly and brushed her cheek with his lips. "Just a few hours," he whispered, then disappeared.
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Draco and Ginny belong to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Warner Bros and various other corporations. They are being used here without permission and/or affiliation with the above. None of the authors listed here make any profit from these stories.