FireSprite

Author's Note: Um, perhaps a late Valentine to all my readers? This is again, unfortunately for me, un-beta'd. If you are willing to beta for me, I desperately need someone reliable, fast and experienced (Examples of previous experience or whatnot is very helpful) to beta. Please drop me a line at fire_sprite16@hotmail.com or on Yahoo! M at whisperstoriddle or AOL M at FireSprite007. Thanks so much!

***

"Where are you going?" Draco demanded, as Ginny suddenly got up and started to leave the kitchen. They had both been on the floor, tangled from both trying to reach the gem Ginny had been wearing.

"I'm getting a broomstick," was the curt reply from the redhead as she stepped over a sleeping kitchen elf and out into the hallway. Draco quickly got up from the floor and ran after her; at least he was trying to when he tripped over the elf, who squeaked. "Sorry," Draco mumbled, getting up and running after her properly this time.

"Why?" he had to pant. Why do the small ones move the quickest?

"To fly to your house." Ginny quickly turned the corner, walking fast and determined.

"Why?"

"Because... That sword is important. And if you say 'why' one more time, I swear-"

"How are you getting to my house? You don't even know the way." Draco finally caught up to her, his pace not quite slacking off. She could sure move fast when she wanted to, he thought.

"You're coming with me, dimwit."

"Ah..."

***

"So..." Ron said, putting his book down and looking at Hermione. "Ginny's now missing, no one can find her and so is Draco. I don't think you suppose there's a connection, Hermione? Eh?"

"Oh for God's sake, Ron, give it a rest. I'm sure it's just coincidence-"

"No, you see, it's not," Ron said, leaning forward. "It's too perfect, too right for it to be a coincidence." He held up his hands, talking with them. "Draco's been following Ginny round, she's acting all weird, she wakes up from a dream sounding like she's being murdered, something's very off, my dear Hermione."

"Yes, Ron," Hermione said, taking the quill out of her mouth. "I'm sure they're just off in some broom closet shagging," she said scathingly.

"Argh! 'Mione!" Ron said, covering his ears with his hands. "I did not need mental pictures to go along with my guesses!" He paused for a moment, then shook his head and looked at her again. "Gods! You, woman, are evil!"

"Me?" Hermione said, trying to look innocent. "Why, never!"

"You know that's going to be stuck in my head for the rest of the night, now? How will I get to sleep thinking about his hands on her body, running up her legs and... ARGH! No! No! Stop it!" he said, hitting his head with his hand. "Out, you! Outttt!" After a moment of his eyes closed, her looked at Hermione and said weakly, "My brain hurts."

"Oh," Hermione said, laughing. "You poor thing." She got up and sat next to him on the coach. "Well, you know what you could do," she said, putting her hand on his knee. From that moment on, all Ron could think was: Knee! Her hand is on my KNEE! Knee!

"What's that?" Ron finally managed.

"Imagine you... and someone else," she whispered, looking absolutely devious.

"Like who?" Ron said, his mouth dry.

"Oh! I don't know," Hermione said, off-handily. "It was just a suggestion! Something to keep your bed warm at night."

"'Mione!" Ron said, groaning. She was torturing him. She was definitely playing with him.

"I'm sorry, Ron," Hermione said.

"You're not sorry. You're just enjoying yourself... playing with a frustrated man!"

"Guilty," Hermione said lightly, with a little shrug. "Why so frustrated, dear?" she asked, mock sultriness in her voice.

"Because..." Ron muttered, not looking at her. His knee began to jiggle as it often did when he was nervous. It actually caused Hermione's hand to slip up his thigh. From then on Ron's only thought was: Thigh! Oh God, it's on the *thigh*! THIGH!

"What?" Hermione asked, leaning in. The fire made her brown hair soft and touchable and the hint of smile on her lips was just too much for Ron.

"You," he finally said, gruffly, before reaching up and pulling her to him, kissing her deeply on the lips. Ron's thoughts were on an entirely different level when her hand moved again. He only managed to think three words: Oh. Good. God.

***

"Ginny?" a voice suddenly said, and Ginny spun around just as Draco ducked into the next hallway. It'd be a bit hard to explain why these two people, of all people, were roaming around Hogwarts late at night.

"Colin?" Draco heard Ginny ask. "What're you doing up and around?"

"I.. I don't know. I couldn't sleep, I guess." Colin shrugged. "What about you? You're quite out of your way aren't you? And walking around in your pyjamas... Isn't it a bit cold?"

"I don't find it..." Ginny said, quietly, as she realised the reason she wasn't cold was because she always felt herself become warm around Draco. "I-I was just leaving the kitchen. I needed some warm milk; couldn't sleep either I guess." She offered him a lopsided smile.

"Is something bothering you?" Colin asked, stepping forward. "You seem so distant lately, Gin. It's like we're not friends anymore. Did I do something wrong? Are you mad at me?"

"No, Colin, no!" Ginny said. "I'm sorry... I guess I've been a bad friend lately."

"Why?" Colin asked, taking Ginny's hand in his. He noticed they were ice-cold. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Ginny whispered, wishing she didn't have to lie to Colin like this. "Everything's fine. I just... have been distracted lately, Col. I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do to make it up to?

"Tell me what's going on, Gin..." Ginny bit her lip. "Please? It'd help me so much to know what's going on... I feel like you're pushing me away. I don't want to lose you."

"You won't, I promise," Ginny said. "Look, I have to go... I'll tell you everything tomorrow morning, all right? Tomorrow, you and me, I'll let you know whatever you want, okay?"

"All right," Colin whispered, looking at Ginny. She looked unhappy. He inwardly sighed; he wished he could help her. He only wanted her happy. And she wasn't. "Have a good night, Ginny," he told her, as she leaned in a gave her a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."

"Thanks," Ginny said, standing barefoot, watching him until he turned to corner and disappeared. She was silent and unmoving until Draco came out from the darkness and walked over to her.

"Well, wasn't that all lovely and beautiful? So sweet. I can see why he's so special to you," he said, sarcastically.

"What?" Ginny asked, shooting Draco an annoyed look before looking back at the last spot Colin had been before turning the corner.

"What?" Draco asked, bothered that Ginny wasn't looking at him, but at the place where Colin had been.

"You. What are you talking about?" she turned to him. Her eyes were unreadable, which was unusual. Draco had spent years and years leaning to read people's emotions just from their body language, so well; it was why he knew how to conceal his wonderfully.

"What are you talking about?" Draco fired back, inwardly amused by this. He'd allow a tiny grin, but thought that'd set Ginny off.

Ginny growled, a low growl, coming from deep in her throat. "Draco, fuck off," she said, turning around and walking away from him. She needed to go get changed before she left for the Manor. It was beyond a doubt, below freezing out there; after all, December was just around the corner. And with a broomstick, it'd be even colder.

Draco smiled and began to follow her. She was too easy sometimes. "Anyway, you can't tell Colin," he said, bringing up the subject as casually as he could.

Ginny looked back at him. "Yes, I can," she told him.

"Well, no, you can't." Draco looked at her, waiting for a reaction.

"What do you mean, I can't?" Ginny asked. "I'm pretty sure I can. Just walk right up to him and go, 'Right, Colin, Draco and I, you see, are being hounded by gods from the Otherworld and now we must go on a top secret mission to stop someone or something.'"

"No, you can't."

"And why not?" Ginny asked, turning around to face Draco. She looked annoyed again. Too easy.

"Well..." Draco drew out. "You see, we have no idea what's going on, and the best thing to do would be to keep it under-wraps until we're sure what we have to do, what they want from us."

"Yes. But Colin is also my friend and I promised him that I'd tell him. If I don't, I'll lose my friendship with him."

"And that'd be such a pity, too," Draco said, looking so saddened.

"What is you're problem with him, Draco? Honestly, what do you have against him?" Draco didn't say anything; he only slightly shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Are you jealous?" Ginny asked, wondering if it was possible.

"Not jealous," Draco said, his mouth in a thin line. He looked almost angry now. "But he bloody hangs off of you like you're the last thing he's got. He looks like a leech; and he's got it for you. It's quite disgusting, really."

"Well, I don't care what you think of him, Draco Malfoy. He is my friend and as my friend, I owe him the truth. Now, I'm going to the Manor and you're going to help me get there so we can finally figure out this whole damn situation and get rid of it before it drives both of us mad!"

"Well, I don't want you to, so I'm not taking you to the Manor," Draco fired back. God, sometimes women were just so hard to deal with. Couldn't she understand that it was unsafe for that little twit to know what was going on? He would probably kill Draco and Ginny too trying to be a hero like Potter and save Ginny.

"Well, then, how am I supposed to get in there, eh?" she asked, her eyes wild like fire. "I can't do it alone, and we need to know what that sword has to do with everything, Draco."

"You'll just run to Colin, Ginny, and I can't allow that. I don't care if that bloody sword is the answer to all our problems, I'm not taking you there for you to find out everything for that brat, and that is FINAL."

"Then, fine, be an arse for all I care, I'll go myself."

"Fine!"

"Fine!" Ginny turned around and stormed off. "I'll go myself and if I die, it's on your hands, Draco Malfoy," she muttered to herself as she walked down the hall.

***

Anna groaned and rubbed the back of her neck. Why did she have this horrible pain? What did she possibly deserve to feel this? Keeping her eyes closed, Anna wondered if perhaps she had got drunk earlier. No, she didn't normally drink that much, if at all...

Pushing her self up from the grass, Anna noticed that it was indeed grass and not a carpet or a stone floor. She was outside. And there was darkness all around herself, the night sky the only light in all its glory. Looking around, she didn't understand. Why was she on the Quidditch pitch in the middle of the night?

Then she remembered. That stupid Slytherin; playing dirty! Pansy must have knocked her out as she turned away from her, about to leave her and be the better person. Anna had never, ever in her life been so furious at a human being. She had deliberately hurt her and left her here all night. Just because Anna bested her two goons... goons that weren't supposed to be at the idiotic duel in the first place.

She grit her teeth and stood up so fast, so furious that she almost fell again. The scenery blacked out in front of her eyes for a moment before the world returned; fuzzy at first, but slowly clearing. Perhaps she really had hit her head hard... She must go find Adara and get it checked out. That girl was a whiz at everything... Hermione Jr., she remembered with a smile.

Anna quickly ran from the pitch, up to the castle. She had to stop as approached the doors because her head began to spin. Not so fast, she told herself. She leaned against the wall, holding her head, hoping the world would stop spinning for a moment. As she rested, she looked out to the sky, and saw a figure leaving on a broomstick. Could it be some Quidditch player unable to sleep going for a few laps on the Quidditch Pitch? Good thing she hadn't been down there when they found her, that would have been embarrassing. Anna travelled the figure with her eyes. Wait, the flyer wasn't heading for the pitch, it was going in the opposite direction. But you weren't allowed off the grounds... Weren't there some sort of wards to prevent students leaving? Dumbledore wouldn't be as stupid to leave the castle unprotected like that, especially with the threat of terror. Suddenly, Anna stood up straight and peered at the flyer; that wasn't Ginny was it? It couldn't be... But the way the small figure gripped the broom, it was unmistakable. While it had taken Ginny a while to learn how to fly, she was a good flyer, seemingly very graceful. Where would she be going? Anna wondered. Was something wrong at the Burrow? And if there was, why didn't she Floo on home?

No, she was up to something. Anna knew she wasn't going in the direction of home... She was heading north. What was going on? She'd have to ask her when she got back. There was no way Ginny would hear her yelling now.

Shaking her head, Anna walked into the castle, her head feeling better. She walked over to the main stairway and cautiously climbed it. Damn that Pansy, she thought as she had to grab onto the rain to stop from falling. She took a breath, trying to keep her head straight. A slightest move and she felt as though she was about to faint.

Anna finally made it up the stairs and into the common room. No Adara here... Which is obvious, she'd probably still be asleep, it was, after all,--Anna looked at the clock above the fireplace--two in the morning. Definitely asleep. She walked over to the stairs and went up to their dorm room.

The door squeaked as she opened it and Anna winced, hoping she wasn't waking up Raina. No, all was quiet. The silent sounds of breathing filled the air; it was peaceful and soothed Anna. How she wished she was sleeping now. Sighing silently, she walked over to where Adara's bed was and slowly opened the curtains surrounded her bed.

"Adara," she whispered, hoping it would be enough to wake to girl. It wasn't. "Adara!" she hissed and this time the girl moved slightly. Anna shook Adara softly, and said her name again. This time Adara slowly opened her eyes, blinking, confused.

"Anna?" she asked, throatily, her voice unused for hours now. "What're you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you, it's really important."

Adara looked up at Anna and saw that she was worried, angry and confused all in one. It was amazing just how much she could tell about a person in one single glance. Adara cleared her throat and yawned, before reaching for her glasses.

"All right, climb in." She motioned for Anna to climb onto her bed. She hastily shut the curtains after Anna did so; it was winter and the castle wasn't exactly toasty warm. She sniffed a little (as she was getting a cold) and turned to Anna. "So?" she asked, yawning again and rubbing at her eyes. "What's wrong? What can I help you with?"

"Um... Well, I got into a fight." Anna rung her hands, hoping Adara wouldn't be mad. Adara had always been a bit pro-peace, hoping that everyone could work out their differences by talking. "And as I was leaving, the bitch hit the back of my head and now I can't stand up without being dizzy or walk to fast and I'm worried I have a concussion or something. Can you help me? Please?"

"Oh, dear," Adara said, shaking her head. "All right, An, turn around, and let me see what damage has been done." There was silence in the room as Adara inspected Anna's head by wand-light. "Well, I see a bump, there, but that's it. No skin broken, nothing that serious. You could have a concussion, however. I guess it all depends on how hard she hit you."

"I guess pretty hard to knock me out!" Anna said, in a low voice. Adara said nothing but Anna knew she was listening. She sighed. "Sorry, there's just something about that girl that gets to me. I don't know what it is..." Anna couldn't help but pull her hand into a fist, squeezing, feeling her nails dig into her skin. "She's so slimy... And unfair. The worst is she thinks the world will be handed to her on a silver platter as soon as she graduates, and it's frustrating because it's true. She will never have to work a hard day in her life. She's from money and she's going to marry into money and power. It's not fair. The rest of us have to struggle to even get to that platform... Ouch!" Anna said, as she felt a prick where Adara had been touching her hurt head.

"Sorry... But there, it's all fixed, Anna. Just a quick healing charm is all you needed I think. Try and stand up." Anna did as she was told and smiled when she didn't feel faint or dizzy.

"Thanks, I guess that was all I needed."

"I know how you feel," Adara said, taking her glasses off and putting them on her bed-side table. "A lot of things aren't fair, Anna. But I guess we just have to be happy with what we're dealt with, right?"

"I guess..." Anna said, not really agreeing but seeing that Adara was tired, let it drop. "Look, sorry for waking you up so late at night. I think I'm going to read a bit before I turn in myself..."

"All right," Adara yawned. "Don't stay up so late though, you really need some sleep."

"I will. 'Night."

She heard no answer and knew Adara had fallen back asleep. As Anna walked over to her own bed, she rubbed the back of her head, trying to find any tell-tale sign of damage, but couldn't find any. All the better. Grabbing the book Anna had found with all those dark spells in the library, she walked down to the Common Room, hoping that the intricate world of Dark Magic might lull her to sleep. Or perhaps she'd feel that power she felt last night, after reading the book. She liked that feeling. It was so comforting.

***

It had actually taken Ginny a while to fly to the house. A lot longer than she had imagined it would take. As a result, by the time she landed about a kilo-meter outside the grounds of the Malfoy Manor, Ginny was chilled to the bone.

"Damn," she swore softly as she leaned her broom up against the tree. Pulling out her wand, she whispered, "nexi nexum," binding her broom to the tree, making it impossible to steal. It really was cold. She shivered as she wrapped her shawl around her more, and pulled the hood up over her hair. The shawl was green, so perfectly complimenting her red hair. Her mother had knit it for her and suddenly, Ginny was very glad for this. At least she had some shelter from the harsh North wind.

Walking forward into the trees, Ginny hoped she wasn't turned around wrongly. Taking out her wand from its pocket she lay it flat on her palm and whispered, "Point me." The wand began to spin, faster and faster until it slowed down and pointed in one direction: the North. She was facing the right way. Smiling slightly, Ginny put the wand back in her pocket and walked onward, pushing aside the branches as she went, trying not to get caught up in the undergrowth.

The moon was out tonight, Ginny noticed as she stared up at the crisp night sky. The stars shone brilliantly, specks of sharp white contrasting with the almost blue-black of the backdrop. A black cloud partially covered the moon, hindering its necessary light. Ginny paused, one hand resting gently on a tree as she listened and looked for any sounds that may tell her someone knew she was here.

Nothing, silence... Suddenly, a wolf howled, his cry long and raw. He sounded close to Ginny, very close. And frustrated. Ginny shivered, her eyes widening. Okay, so maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to come alone after all... But what could she have done? Draco hadn't been willing to take her... And she had to charm her broomstick to even get near the Malfoy Manor. Well, she had to hurry now. Who knew if the wolves were aware of her or not? Best to not take that chance.

Running across the forest, with her cape flooding behind her, Ginny saw a light up ahead, a sort of yellow-green light. And then... The forest melted away, disappearing right behind her and she was in an open field, looking up, up, up at the enormous Malfoy Manor, bathed in all its sickly green light.

Time stood still for a moment as Ginny gazed upon the grandeur house in all its evil. It was a sight to be seen. Such a tiny girl in such a huge field of long dark grass. Grass that was as sharp as a blade itself, and when the wind blew, it sliced through the air just as violently. Grass that was a dark and as shadowed as the house this tiny little girl looked upon. The house itself was not so much tall as wide. Five towers wound up into the black sky, up, up, to the highest of highs; these were the only vertical things to be seen. At the very most tops of these towers, a small light was to be seen in each small attic window. It glowed a frail green.

There were two stories to be seen, but Ginny imagined there were floors and floors of dungeons, all holding horrible, nasty things, people, and animals... Each window Ginny could see was lit up, with yellow instead of green, and the walls of the house were darkened with shadow and night. However, seeing as Ginny could only see a few handfuls of such windows, she assumed most rooms were darkened for the night. The rooms where the lights were on must have been done so by house-elves that were cleaning in the dead of the night.

Finally, Ginny took a breath and slowly walked forward in the field, towards the house, towards the sword and all its infinite answers.

To get to the main wall and gate, Ginny had to cross over the field, jump over a stream, in which she almost fell in and across a few boulders before she reached the main road that wound up to the Manor. Slowly, carefully, Ginny walked up the road that led to the great steel gate, bathed in moonlight. At the top of the closed entrance, Ginny could see a snake burned into the steel of the magnificent "M" owning the gates.

"What is your business at such a late hour?" a sinister voice suddenly said out of no where. Ginny jumped backwards and looked all around for some sort of guard or servant. Upon seeing none, she returned her gaze to the steel bars. There, the snake had come alive, glowing silver, a rich silver in the light. It slithered down the bars halfway to get a better look at Ginny. "What do you want with the Malfoys..." the snake stopped to look at her, her red hair, her freckles, her robe. "Weasley?"

Ginny was surprised he'd be able to recognise family blood; he was obviously the gate keeper, and a very good one at that. Ginny hadn't expected such a thing to be guarding the house; she hadn't thought this far. She opened her mouth to say something, but no sounds came out, her jaw just bobbed up and down, like a bird in the sea.

"Well?" the snake slithered in the air closer, its tail wrapped around one of the bars for support. "You came. You must have had a reason, Weasley."

"I-" Ginny said, stalling. "I-"

"You pathetic little thing," the snake glowered. "You somehow expected to walk right in, didn't you? Like someone with your dirtied blood--no matter how pure it may actually be--dirtied by Mudbloods no less. You do not deserve to be near the Malfoy Manor."

Ginny couldn't believe this. This snake was yelling at her, calling her family names, making her feel bad. And it seemed to possess such power in itself.

"I cannot let you do that, Ms. Weasley," the snake hissed. "You must see to our master, he know what to do with you."

"NO! Please," Ginny said, backing away a tad. "Please-"

"You've already wasted enough of my time." The snake came out so suddenly, Ginny hadn't even had a chance to prepare for the sudden squeeze she felt around her wrist. She looked down and saw that the snake had wrapped itself around her arm, squeezing, cutting off the circulation to her hand. It hurt, it hurt like hell.

"Ow," Ginny whispered to herself, her eye unwillingly filling with tears. How would she get out of this? She couldn't resist this snake, he already had her where he wanted her. And he's take her to Lucius Malfoy... The one man she feared most of all, perhaps, behind the Dark Lord.

"See what happens when you try to sneak in, to lie?" the snake hissed, his voice very smug and pleased. Ginny could almost see the smile upon his lips. "See what you've done?" He glowed a more brilliant silver, and Ginny was startled to see that silver was coming from her body. It was as if the snake was soaking up her power, the tiny little wisps of silver pulled from her being and into the snake's form. She swallowed, and realised she felt suddenly feverish. Not good.

"No," Ginny whispered. "No, I-"

"Let her go, Slinn," came a hard voice from behind. "Now. She's mine."

***

Draco gritted his teeth as he watched Ginny leave. Fine, he told himself. Fine. Do whatever you want, Ginny. I don't care.

Leaning against the wall, he huffed and crossed his arms, hearing the echoes of Ginny's shoes as they made their escape from him. It didn't concern him. Ginny didn't concern him. If she wanted to be stupid and act like a dumb ass then she was very welcome to it.

It was as though she actually thought she would get into Malfoy Manor. Please. As if with Malfoy Manor, you could simply knock on the gate, explain why you were there and be let in. His Father wasn't that stupid. There were all sorts of sorcery on those grounds. Ones that Draco had been victim to a few times in his childhood. But it was for the best; he had been told not to wander the ground after eleven. Of course, childhood curiosity had had led him there. Draco had eventually found himself stuck up a tree with his Father's devilled hounds barking and biting at his feet. He hadn't been let down until the following day.

"Bet Potter's never been in a situation like that," he huffed to himself. Running a hand through his hair, he sighed. He didn't care if Ginny died, so why was he so disturbed all of a sudden? It's not like he actually had feelings for her, good Lord, no!

That'd be the ultimate sin, it would. It'd pierce a hole right through his Father's heart. ...Of course, that wasn't an altogether bad thing. Draco could see himself using Ginny as a pawn just to hurt his Father. But no, using Ginny, as annoying as she was at times, just wouldn't work now. She'd see what he was up to. After all, he's already told her that them kissing had been a mistake. And a big one at that. He couldn't suddenly turn right round and tell her this was what he wanted. She'd see right through him and then they'd never figure out this mess.

Ah, but you're not really helping with this mess, are you? a voice in the back of his head taunted. Letting the littlest Weasley run off to your castle in the sky isn't the smartest way to go about solving this problem, is it?

"Be quiet," he told himself. He then shook his head. Talking to yourself. Horrid behaviour, it was. So why did he feel bad? Ginny deserved what she got for trying to get into the Manor.

Images of Ginny running from those hounds filled Draco's head, flashes of her terror and pain as they bite into her, tasting her blood, wanting more. Her sweet, pale flesh being ripped apart, her scream of anguish. These were things that Malfoy's were supposed to cherish, but it only made Draco taste a bitter vile in his mouth.

"Damnit all to hell. Damnit, damnit, damnit." He paced up and down the corridor. Thoughts of the wolves getting to her as well snaked their way into his imagination. They were hungry, there was nothing left in the Malfoy forest to eat, all long eaten or having the smarts to run away. Yet, they couldn't leave; they were bound to the property. They'd welcome Ginny as much as the hounds would. Perhaps more. The hounds were fed on a regular basis. Oh, and then there was Slinn. He'd recognise her for sure. One small sight of her and Lucius would know within a matter of minutes. Slinn was no one's servant save Lucius. Even Draco had suffered from him before.

"FUCK!" Draco said brutally, hitting the wall with his fist to get out some of his anger and frustration. He felt a few of his bones crush together and looked upon his hand in a detached way as blood rushed to the surface, to run down his arm. He didn't feel the pain right away, but when he did, he welcomed it. It was bittersweet. So, he'd have to go after the stupid girl. This was not his night. If only he hadn't goaded her into going. She'd probably be dead by now. Draco would have to fly faster than the wind.

The only thing that would keep him from killing Ginny upon seeing her was this gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach. He'd better be there in time. It was up to him. Malfoys don't believe in luck.

As fast as he could, Draco ran down the corridor to where his broom was being kept in his dorm. That damn Weasley, making him worry.

***

"Donn!" Taranis bellowed, punching on the ancient door. "Donn, open the door." Taranis stood back for a moment, taking a deep breath; he had run the whole way here and he was still out of breath. Quickly, he pushed his wet hair out of his face. Only Donn would have it raining all day and all night in his land. His chest heaved and he started for the door again. Open up, he silently prayed. There is no time to waste.

Suddenly, the door was thrown open and Donn stood there, in his simple peasant tunic, his favourite sword (the sword he had probably used against Ginny, Taranis thought, with anger) hanging limply in his right hand. He stood awkwardly to one side as he always did, portraying properly his oafishness.

"Oh, Taranis," he sounded surprise. "Can I assist you?"

"Yes," Taranis said. "You can."

"Very well. Will you please come in?" Donn motioned Taranis in. The room was dark, as was the whole house; Donn didn't like light too much. It seemed as though the darkness was almost a deep blood red colour, which wasn't right. Usually the darkness was black. Then again, this was the portal to the Underworld. One couldn't count on too many things being normal here. "How may I help you?" Donn asked, as he sat down on one of his chairs. He started playing with his sword, running his hand up and down the blade, as though daring it to cut him.

"I have come to talk to you about Maeve," Taranis said, as he too sat down, this time on a bench.

"What about Maeve?" Donn sat up. "Is she hurt or troubled about something?"

"Nien. Maeve," Taranis spoke the name in distaste; how did he end up with her anyway?, "is fine. I think you, my friend, has been misled however."

"On what points?" Donn said, throwing his sword down. He looked angry almost. But was the anger directed towards Taranis, Maeve or even himself? Taranis didn't know.

"What was the reason Maeve told you to get rid of that small girl that was here days ago, Donn?" Taranis needed to know how deep the deceit went. Did Donn know the truth or was he just as blind as he, himself had been?

"She was evil! She was upsetting the universal balance of good and evil, was she not?" Donn asked, looking at Taranis, wondering, doubting his lover all of a sudden.

"Just tell me all she said, Donn," Taranis spoke through a forced calm.

"That girl... She was hurting the magical world, the world on Earth. She was destroying wizards and Muggle-borns. She was attempting to heave up the universal balance such that all powers would be in her hands. That is what Maeve told me. I couldn't let that happen... There must be balance, or horrid things will happen. You and I know that too well."

"And you believe a young girl such as that could destroy the worlds?" Taranis asked.

"Appearances can be deceiving, Taranis, you and I can both speak from appearances."

"Yes, and it seems we have been played again, my old comrade. Fool us once, shame on Maeve. Fool us twice, shame on us." Taranis shook his head. How could have they been so stupid?

"And what is the truth?" Donn asked, stepping forward. Played! By the she-bitch. Once more. How could he keep coming back to this woman, every time? Again and again.

"That girl is what is going to restore the balance to this universe, before a wizarding madman by the names of Voldemort grabs all the power for himself and destroys every single Muggle and Muggle-born alive. He would rule the world with an iron fist, if he could. It would be such dark times, even worse than anything we've ever witnessed before. Zut, quelle terrible temps ça pourrait être."

"I see." Donn paused and thought back to those memories. "We only punish those who deserve it... This girl, you are right, I could see the innocence in her eyes; but I pushed it away. It was an act, I told myself. This girl is horrid, as Maeve had told me. Such a bastard, I am. She was innocent, she did not deserve what I put her through; I see this now." He thought for a moment, feeling like he had caused some horrible grief upon this doe... She had not been destined to see those things; those were for the cruel of heart and the soul-less. She would probably never fully recover from a trip to his hell; his own personal nightmare. "Alors, on va. We will find Maeve, and we will destroy what she is certainly trying to do. Along with her, if we must."

***

"Let her go, Slinn," a hard voice said. "Now. She's mine."

Ginny looked back, her eyes wide as a doe's, expecting to see Lucius. Only he talked in such a cold, hard manor. It was a voice Draco hadn't fully mastered yet.

...Or maybe he had. Because there was Draco standing there, his face closed, his eyes slits, one hand loosely holding a broom. His face shone in the moonlight, and Ginny realised that it was sweat. He must have flown at such a force to bring forth sweat. He walked past Ginny, hardly taking any notice of her and he shrugged by.

"What did I say? Let. Her. Go, you slimy bastard." The snake glared at Draco, as if trying to out glare him, to win the girl.

"As you wish, Master Draco," Slinn finally hissed. He uncoiled himself from Ginny, who felt immediate relief for her hand and slithered back to the gate. "For I have no doubt in my mind that there is something afoot when a Malfoy defends a Weasley. Be sure I will tell Lucius."

"You won't," Draco said. "Unless you expect to face the loss of your head. You forget I turn eighteen next month, and with that, I inherit this castle, and you along with it."

The snake took a long look at Draco before replying. "Very well then... Master. I will not say a word."

"You are smart," Draco said. "And I suggest you retreat, Slinn, to your position, if you wish to stay with me."

"Yes sire," Slinn said, "as you wish." He slowly slithered up the gates to the grandeur "M" and promptly turned to steel.

Ginny looked up at the snake that had been so animated only seconds earlier, amazed with the ease of magic here for protection. She then turned to Draco, a small smile on her lips.

"You saved me."

"I had to," Draco said roughly, "you couldn't even get passed the front gates. I'm somewhat disappointed, Ginny."

This caused Ginny to smile further. "Thank you," she said, grabbing Draco before he had a chance to react and hugging him tightly.

Draco cautiously put his arm around her waist, hesitating for a moment before squeezing her tightly back, his hand running up her back. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling serene. The moon shone down on the two students, each so different from each other, yet still finding each other so irresistibly pulled to one another. For one unguarded moment, he let himself breathe in the scent of this fiery redhead and was surprised to smell vanilla, the subtle but sexy scent of vanilla.

Ginny turned her head slightly and kissed his almost parted lips, slowly, unsure. It was a moment before Draco reacted, but he pressed back, against her lips. His hand came up to tangle itself in her hair, pressing her closer to him, as his other arm wrapped tighter around her waist. Their tongues lightly touched for a fleeting moment before Ginny pulled back slightly, looking at Draco. He opened his eyes to look into her. Deep warmth looked into the icy oceans of grey as they stared at one another.

He raised his hand and touched her cheek lightly, none of his usual rejection there in his eyes, none of his 'it was a mistake' lines, just... acceptance.

"Thanks," she whispered to him one last time.

"I had to," he said quietly back. He paused and looked around his surroundings, never letting go of his grip on her. "Well, I suppose now that you've got me here, we'd better go find that stupid sword."

"What an excellent idea," Ginny laughed.

"Somehow I think you may have planned it this way," Draco said, giving her a long hard look.

"Somehow," Ginny said, letting herself out of his grip and smiling, "I think you're right."

***

Maeve yawned prettily and snuggled under her pure white covers, which almost glowed angelically. To one who viewed this vixen wrapped up these blankets of light, it would be a sight unseen; the perfect look of innocence and goodness. Yet, all that glitters is not gold.

It wasn't long before Maeve became aware of another being in the room. Slowly opening her eyes, to blink and watch the figure in front of her come into view.

"Ah, ma chère, ma petite," she said, smiling as she saw Donn.

He glared at her, before replying, "Go scriosa an diabhal thú."

"What?" Maeve said, sitting up. "Whatever have I done to you my little one, to deserve that?" She pushed the hair out of her face in one gesture and looked at him, hey eyes seemingly innocent.

"You lied to me, Maeve." He walked into the glow from the bed and Maeve could see his eyes were murderous. Gods were angered very easily, and when they were angered, they could do that most terrible things. Maeve knew this all too well, she constantly had gods angered at her, but it proved to amuse her rather than terrify.

"How dare you suggest such a thing!" Maeve play-acted, inwardly laughing. "My lovely, I would never, ever," she emphasised, looking at him with doe eyes, "lie to you. What led to believe such horrors about me. Me, ma petite."

"Taranis-" Donn started to say, but Maeve cut him off with a laugh.

"Taranis, chère?" she asked. "Honey, he had to be lying. Taranis was upset with me because I did not go quite according to our plan. He must have run to you with some silly little story to make you angry."

"This time that won't work, Maeve," Donn said, starting forward. "Three times you've fooled me like that, but this time I will not allow an innocent mortal like that young one be hurt by your vicious ways!"

Maeve looked disgusted. "You've fallen for that--that child just like Taranis, haven't you?" she accused, getting up from the bed and walking over to him. "She is a child, barely seventeen. She is all eyes and no action, my dear. She'd never be able to give you anything, anything to satisfy you! Whereas I very well could and have, which is why you repeatedly come back to me. Because I am everything you need. Forget that not! That child... she has no experience in anything. She'd never be able to make you groan like I do! And I will destroy her just to pr-" Realising what she was saying. Maeve shut her mouth.

"Ah, the truth has emerged from the lie," Donn said, sounding pleased. "You let something slip and fallen. I see how it is now, you are jealous of Taranis' attention towards the mortal. You wish Taranis for yourself."

"I would never want someone as angered as Taranis!"

"And the moment I show an interest in the little fiery one, you get predatory."

"She'd never want your oafishness anyway! You have nothing to offer," she threw at him, trying to hurt him.

"All the powers of the underworld, I have. You forget my role. And your place in this world." He looked down upon her, her eyes proud and strong. She was dressed in white, a beautiful corset and dress, offsetting her raven hair perfectly.

"My place is here, with Taranis, helping him with our agreement with the Druids!"

"Your place is no longer, Maeve, dear. Taranis and I are here to tell you that we no longer need your services... You've helped enough," he said sarcastically.

"No! You cannot take me from this, Donn, I swear. I will make you pay, dearly." She glared at him, daring him to make a move.

"And you have no choice," he said, grabbing her by the shoulders. "We leave; now." He pulled her from her place.

"Donn, let go of me. You have no right to touch me in such a manner!" she struggled against him, and was surprised to find out that he was stronger than she had thought. Even a war goddess like herself; one that made grown men weak simply with her presence could not get out of Donn's grip. She had angered him too much.

"I have every right, my princess. I thought you were an honest woman. It is only because of Taranis that I see you what you are. This silliness must stop and it will stop now. I will deal no longer with your sinister ways."

No matter how much Maeve struggled, she couldn't get out of Donn's grip. It was as if he had the power of two gods within his grip and she grew furious, trying to scratch at him with her fingernails. "Where are you taking me, you bastard?" she demanded.

"You are being sent to where you can't hurt anyone; away from your Sídhe, away from the Otherworld, away from mortals. Far, far into the plains of your homeland, the Daoine Sídhe, with all your other faeries."

"You cannot!" Maeve said, aghast. "I cannot go back there; Donn, please, do you not see how I plead with you? You know how much I detest that place, that place where I was forced to live, to grow up in, for all those years. I would never go back, I could not!"

"But you are, my dear, dear Maeve. It is only suitable for you; and you are, after all, the queen of your land. You must serve your people."

"Donn, I beg your mercy." Donn could see that she was truly scared to go back, and he almost faltered, almost let his grip go. But no, he couldn't. She had hurt and therefore she must be hurt. Restitution is how they dealt with others here. An eye for an eye. "You do not understand my people, they... they are so selfish, so cruel, I could not survive, I could never survive." She turned to him, her arms still held firm by his grip. "Please," she whispered, her voice barely controlled from shaking.

Donn could not look at her. "It is too late, leanna." Quietly, he whispered the spell that would send her back to her homeland. "Imeacht gan teacht ort."

There was a wisp of smoke and a small cry from Maeve as she was sent back to the Daoine Sídhe, to stay until she was prepared to help Taranis the proper way. Donn looked at the spot where Maeve had been standing.

He sighed.

***

The corridor was dark, eerily so. There was a few torches along the way, small ones, one that provided minimal light and maximum shadows. Yet, it was as if this evil presence was spreading throughout the darkness, infiltrating everything, contaminating it. It was definitely the Malfoy Manor. Ginny was amazed at how easily slipping into the castle had become once Draco was your guide. It was almost as simple as slipping down to the kitchen in the middle of the night at Hogwarts. One tiny little secret passage and voilà.

"Now we have to be quiet," Draco whispered to Ginny, who was following him down the long corridor. "My father is home right now; he's been attending meetings in the castle for the past week. Any unusual noise and we're dead, you got that?"

Ginny only nodded, not saying anything about the meetings. She knew what they were for; as did Draco. Voldemort and his followers were planning something.

"All right, let's go try my Father's study, seeing as that's where I last saw the sword," Draco whispered. Without thinking, Ginny grabbed his hand. He looked back at her, giving her a long measured look but Ginny said nothing and held his gaze. She finally motioned him to move. He nodded and together they walked down the dark hallway.

It felt odd holding hands with Draco Malfoy. It was evident he was a little uncomfortable, though he dared not show it if possible. No, Draco was definitely in tune with womanly ways, but this, this holding hands, it was foreign to him. Sure, he had had girlfriends before but Ginny couldn't ever remember seeing him cuddling with them or holding their hand or any of those 'couple' things.

Suddenly they stopped and Draco seemed to be listening for something unusual. Ginny didn't hear a thing and tried to protest but he quickly held his hand over her mouth, muffling everything. After a moment of utter stillness, he slowly lowered it.

"Please," he said, as he looked at her. "No talking..." Ginny sighed but nodded.

They continued down the hallway, pausing here and there as Draco seemed to hear something every once in a while. Ginny didn't understand what was going on; she could hear nothing and after years of eves-dropping on her brothers, she was pretty sure her hearing was quite good.

Finally, Draco stopped outside a pair of great, tall golden door that were shut. He seemed to stare at them for a moment, before putting his hand on the doorknob and slowly, almost excruciatingly, turning the brass globe. He slipped inside, pulling Ginny with him quickly.

Once inside, her closed the door and barricaded it with a chair.

"Okay," he said, turning to Ginny, "we can talk in here without being caught. My Father does a number of silencing charms on his study every week or so."

"So what was with you stopping every once in a while? I swear, Draco, I didn't hear a thing," Ginny asked, arms crossed and her head cocked to one side.

"I didn't hear anything, Ginny." Draco wouldn't look at her as he spoke. He seemed to be staring at the tall dark green drapes that hung from the ceiling and were blocking out the night scene from outside.

"Well, then, what was it?" she asked, coming over to the mantel piece where it was warmest..

"I'd rather not say. This place is dangerous, but the less you know, the safer."

"Oh, aren't we rather noble now, Draco," Ginny fired. "I'm not some poor maiden, you know. I managed to get to Malfoy Manor!"

"And get stopped at the front gates! You didn't even make it onto the lot," Draco replied, turning to her, his face narrowing. The fire that was roaring in the fireplace made him almost look like a pale devil.

"Well, excuse me, most wizards don't have charmed metal at the front gates knowing everything!" She crossed the room towards him.

"Well most of the wizards aren't Malfoys, Ginny!" he yelled. "God damnit, if our family is to not be disgraced, we can't let every single person who visits in. There's got to be some sort of elitism here."

"Oh, right, I fucking forgot. No one but the dark and deadly are allowed in."

"Exactly!" Draco said. "Which is why I was stopping every few minutes. I wasn't hearing anything, I was feeling something!"

"What do you mean, Draco? You have some sort of aura around you in this house?" Ginny said, completely confused.

"NO! This," he said, pushing up his sleeve and thrusting the mark of Voldemort in her face, "for fuck's sake. Every few minutes it would throb, like they knew we were here or something!"

"Oh god!" Ginny backed away from it, tripping on an ottoman she didn't see and falling on the floor. She stared at Draco, shaking. "I'd almost forgotten."

Draco looked at her, slightly hunched over, his breathing laboured. "Yes, Ginny, I'm a servant." Ginny looked away from him as he said it, closing her eyes. "You can't stand that, can you? Knowing that, I, will do terrible things."

"Draco, don't-" Ginny started, her voice low and soft.

"You didn't understand, did you? When you said you did... You lied to me," Draco realised, his voice becoming less loud.

"What was I supposed to do?" Ginny said, turning back to him, her eyes ablaze. "I couldn't very well call on Dumbledore. I couldn't say to you 'No, Draco, I'm afraid I can't get why you would chose to sell your life to a man whose only regard is to destroy and hurt.' Whose only agenda is power, power for him!"

"You don't think I don't know these things?!" Draco said. "You don't think I'm aware of just how meaningless my life is right now? How the only person who actually cares is you! You, who I thought understood. You, who lied to me." Draco couldn't control the anger in his voice, and it boiled over as he reached down to is Father's desk and picked up a glass paperweight. He threw it as hard as he could against the wall, listening and watching as it shattered into millions of tiny pieces.

"Draco! Stop!" Ginny said. "STOP!"

"Ginny, I KNEW that I was a dead man the moment I got that letter from my Father. But what you don't seem to get is that I had no choice. It was not something I would chose to do if given a chance. It was either I refused and died that day or I agreed and perhaps I will live long enough to figure out how to get out of this. It's not me that wants to be doing these things. I wish with all my heart that I could undo it, but I can't. "

Ginny looked up at him, her eyes wet with unshed tears. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice cracking. Her throat felt like it was closing in on her. "I didn't understand..." She looked down at one of her hands, which lay in her lap and closed her eyes.

Draco sighed and walked over to her. Kneeling down and feeling like a pansy, he took her hand and pulled her to him.

"It's all right," he said somewhat awkwardly. Pulling Ginny on top his lap, he just held her, unsure what to do. How did someone comfort another? He had no experience, no example to follow from.

Ginny disentangled herself from Draco and smiled at him. "We're quite a pair," she said, laughing quietly. Draco only nodded, holding her and feeling calm, rubbing her back slightly. Ginny looked down at the hand Draco had resting on her knee and was taken aback. "What's this?" she asked as she raised the bloodied and bruised hand.

Draco shrugged. "I hit a wall," he said, indifferently.

"You hit a wall? Why? Why would you do something so self-destructive?" she asked, lightly touching the crushed bones. Draco didn't flinch.

"Because I was mad."

"Why?"

"Because I had to go get you." He didn't seem to mind Ginny's questioning.

Then the doors opened before Ginny and Draco could say anything more. They both turned around quickly, expecting to see an army of evil wizards, wand pointed and ready to maim. But no, it was a small house-elf, who was busy closing the door and putting the chair back up as a barricade without question. She then turned around and seemed quite startled to see Draco home. Not Ginny and Draco sitting in a heap in the middle of the floor with glass shards everywhere on the floor, but just Draco home.

"Master Draco!" the house-elf squeaked. "We was not expecting you here for a least a month!"

"Yes, I know, I had some urgent business," Draco said in that closed off voice again. Ginny was startled how quickly it could change. He got up and helped Ginny up too.

"Well! This news must make Master happy! We must go tell him right away!" The house-elf turned to leave when Draco cried out, "No!"

"He is not supposed to know I am here," Draco said. "It will be a surprise for tomorrow morning. Don't tell him."

"But sir! Master would want to know-" the house-elf began.

"Ploinky! You insolent house-elf! When I tell you Lucius is not to know, you understand, and follow orders! We haven't time to waste here," Draco said, walking towards the house-elf in a sinister way.

"Draco!" Ginny said, aghast. "Stop it! She probably thinks she'll get hurt by Lucius if he finds out she knew."

Draco stopped in his tracks, looking at Ploinky the house-elf. "Is this true?" he asked, after a long pause.

"Yes sir," the house-elf said. "What the beautiful lady says, is the truth, Master."

"Fine," Draco said, turning from the house-elf. "I will promise you will not be punished if Lucius finds out. You have my word. A word of a Malfoy."

"Oh! Ploinky thanks you Master." The house-elf bowed. "In return, I's can get you up to your room to hide for the night, if you's like."

"Yes, we'd like that," Draco said. Turning to Ginny, he looked as though he was asking if it was fine with her.

"What about the You-Know-What?" she asked in a quiet whisper so Ploinky wouldn't hear. They hadn't even begun to start searching for the sword yet, when they finally made it to the study.

"We can come find it later," Draco said, coming back to her. "It's best if we follow along with Ploinky; it'll raise less suspicion."

"All right, Draco," Ginny said, suddenly tired. She clutched at her shoulder, as it began to throb dully. "Let's go."

"Misses! You is hurt!" The house-elf suddenly cried, seeing her clutch her shoulder. "What happened?"

"Nothing, nothing," Ginny said, quickly, noticing Draco's stare. He hadn't noticed that she'd been in any pain this night. Maybe she was good at covering it up. The house-elf quickly came over and got her to sit down on the floor. Ginny did as she was told, not knowing what else to do. The house-elf was suddenly so commanding after being so submissive. Of course, Ploinky was right in her element.

"Misses, you take off your school robe!" the house-elf cried, trying to help it off.

"Wait, wait, Draco, turn around," Ginny told him, blushing slightly, not really wanting to strip in front of him. Draco smiled, but turned around as he was dutifully told. When he looked over his shoulder, slyly, he saw her reveal a creamy shoulder and show it to the house-elf who looked at it. It was as if they both saw something there that Draco did not, because he could see no mark upon the skin but the house-elf went to work right away. Ginny flinched as the house-elf worked and he saw her clench her teeth. Something was obviously painful. Ginny looked up quickly, but Draco turned his head in time.

"Is there anything else wrong?" Draco heard Ploinky ask. He head more shuffling of robes and when he turned around, Ginny had shed her robes to her waist, showing only a thin camisole. As he watched, Ginny lifted the side of the camisole to show a dark bruise on the skin where her ribs were. It was such a harsh contrast with the pale of her skin. Draco found himself drawn to the perfection despite the violence she had been inflicted with.

With the magic of the house-elf's hands, the darkness cleared up and was left with only a small mark. Ploinky conjured up some gauze out of one of the shards of glass and placed it against her ribs, as Ginny's eyes flinched.

"Misses needs to rest for one night. Sleep, Misses." And then Ploinky waved her hands and the shards were gone. Draco walked over to Ginny, leaning down and pushing up the robe on the shoulder that also had some gauze on it. Ginny seemed to be having difficulties getting the robe up on that shoulder; she had a lack of movement in that shoulder, supposedly for a day or two.

"Come on," Draco said, helping her up again. "Let's go get some sleep."

"Sounds find by me, I'm exhausted," Ginny said, closing her eyes for a moment and sighing. Draco nodded and they both followed the house-elf out into the corridor again, away from the heat and light of the fireplace in the study and into the darkness and cold of the hallway.

***

"Follow me quickly, Master," the house-elf whispered and Draco and Ginny did so, up through a maze of staircases and around many a corners. Ginny was soon lost in the maze, but Draco seemed to be aware of where they were going.

Finny, just when Ginny didn't think she could take another set of stairs, Ploinky stopped. Giving Draco the candle she had been carrying, she bowed. "Thank you Master. Sleep well, sir."

"Thank you Ploinky," Draco said, waving the house-elf away. She disappeared from Ginny's sight, much to Ginny's amazement. Turning around, she saw that the door was already open and Draco was waiting for her to go in. She quickly did, as stopped once she reached the middle of the room. It was very exquisite. There was a full length mirror in the corner, a huge armoire made of silver wood, if that even existed, a wonderful balcony, an adjoining bathroom and... One bed.

Ginny looked at Draco, who seemed to be waiting for her approval. "Whose bedroom is this?" she asked, finally.

"Mine," Draco said simply.

"That would explain the mirror," Ginny said, in an attempt to lighten the suddenly thick mood. Draco graciously offered her a small smile. "So..." Ginny said, clearing her throat, "I see only one bed. Am I to sleep on the floor? Like a Weasley?"

"No," Draco said. "You can have the bed." He placed the candle down on the desk that was facing the window.

"Ah, and you'll be sleeping...?" Ginny said, wringing her hands.

"Well," Draco said, walking up to her and looking at her. "I suppose that's up to you."

"Me?" Ginny asked, suddenly not sure if it was a wise idea to stay in the same room. Draco only nodded.

"Unless you'd like me to take another room..." Draco said, softly, raising a hand to touch her pale, soft neck.

"Uh, no, I'd, uh..." Ginny managed a smile. She couldn't quite think straight when he touched her. "I guess I wouldn't feel comfortable sleeping by myself in an arch rival's house... If you understand."

"Yes," Draco said, still quiet. "I do."

"Is something wrong?" Ginny asked, suddenly, one eyebrow quirked. "You seem awfully... calm for Draco Malfoy."

Draco stepped back for a moment, letting his hand drop from her skin. "I suppose I just feel... peaceful with you," he said gruffly. "Sorry, I'll be a bad ass now."

"I'd rather you didn't, however sexy that is..." Ginny said, taking a giant leap of faith. She hoped he didn't shoot her down. Draco threw her a look, as he had been folding back the covers of the big bed.

"Sexy, hunh?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "You think I'm sexy?"

"Uh..." Ginny stalled. "Well, yes, I guess. I mean, no!" She took a deep breath. "What do you want to hear?" she asked, after a pause, with a smile.

Draco walked over to her, almost strutting. "I think I'd like to be told how sexy I can be," he said, giving her a debonair smile. "I've always liked my ego stroked."

Ginny knew she was blushing and she couldn't help but smile. "God..." she said, staring at him. She couldn't stop looking at him. "God, you're hot." Then realising what she said, clapped a hand over her mouth.

Draco laughed, his eyes crinkling, the second time she'd ever seen him really laugh. Not that evil laugh, not that sarcasm laugh, a real good, happy laugh. The eyes crinkling were undeniably sexy. Ginny felt pleased with herself, knowing she could make him happy.

"Well, then," he said, looking at her. "I'd like to say you're sexy as hell, too."

"What? Me?" Ginny said, looking at her tattered robes and shawl. "I don't know if I'm dressed to be sexy, Draco..." She felt sad, all of a sudden. She'd never be good enough for Draco. Always too poor, too many Weasleys.

Draco didn't say anything for a moment, as he was reading her. Her eyes were downcast and he knew she was ashamed of the way she dressed. But that was her, he didn't mind it as much as he thought he would.

"If you want..." he said, "I have something for you to change into." Ginny looked up at him startled.

"What?" she said. "You randomly have women's pyjama's laying around? Have you given them to your other girlfriends?"

"No!" Draco said. "I don't know... I sort of found it last time I was here for... you know. I think my Mum bought it or something! But she'd never worn it and well... I don't know, I thought it reminded me of something I'd once seen." He wouldn't look at her but perhaps it was a good thing as Ginny was silently laughing.

"Oh Draco," she finally managed. "All right, give it to me, I'll try it on."

Draco quickly went over to his armoire and pulled out a silky white thing. Ginny looked sceptical but took it and went into the bathroom to try it on. While she was in there, Draco paced, not quite sure why he was nervous. It was as if the air was thick with... something. Lust? Desire? Perhaps. He decided to take off his sweater, leaving him in only his pants. He was about to cross over to get a T-shirt when the door opened. Draco stopped in his path. It was exactly as if he was back in the forest, that forest that he'd dreamed of so many times, and the heavenly vixen was standing there, the small silk night-gown moulding so very perfect to her body.

Ginny came out of the bathroom, very self conscious. Her hair was beautiful, the top pulled back, the rest hanging down to her shoulders, curling slightly, looking like she'd wet it. She looked naturally like an angel in the white. "Well?" she as came out fully into the room. "It's a bit tight... I don't know if that makes me look good."

"Look good," Draco breathed, repeating her. "Looks good! Oh God, Ginny, you look better than I'd ever dreamed."

Ginny blushed, she couldn't help it. It was as if she were the last female on earth. It was a wondrous feeling. And then she noticed that Draco wasn't wearing a shirt at all. He looked good, despite what she'd thought he'd look like without a shirt. Not muscular, but not bony, just fit. She couldn't imagine that Quidditch had done that, he must have started working out on his own or something.

Walking over to Draco, she touched his chest with her hand, looking up at him. He looked into her and then leaned down and kissed her, pulling her tightly to him. His kisses were hard, needy, as if she was his air. She couldn't get enough of him, as well, her arms winding around his neck, pulling herself closer. It was as if there were no clothes between them, the silk was so thin; Draco could feel every little bit of her flesh against his. He could feel the heaviness of her chest, and he could tell she wanted this as much as he, a statement she would have definitely noticed by now.

He picked her up, her legs wrapping around his instinctively and she closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath. She felt as though she was about the burn up, the heat and passion was something she'd never felt, not even with him before. An ache began to form in the very belly of her stomach and she knew Draco felt the same. His breathing was becoming so laboured, his skin slowly becoming slick. Walking slowly, kissing her passionately, their tongue dancing a forbidden dance only lovers could know, Draco carried Ginny to the bed.

He lay her down upon the duvet, to crawl on top of her, one hand snaking up her legs, up to the middle thigh where his hand met the silk night-gown. She made a small sound at the back of her throat when he pulled away, his hand dancing around the hem line, making her want more and more. Slowly, his hand danced up across her hip bone to touch the panties she wore. Unsure if he should touch them or not, he decided to move his hand upward again, to trace a trail of want across her stomach and up, to cup one of her breasts.

"Ginny," Draco said, pulling back, his hand retreating from beneath the silk. "We have to stop. We can't do this..."

Ginny opened her eyes, her pupils were already heavily dilated with desire. "Why?" she asked, "why do we have to stop?"

"Because... because this is wrong."

"Does it feel wrong?" she asked. "Do you feel like you're doing something horrible to me?"

"I don't know if this is what you really want..." Draco said, not believing he was actually saying that. He'd never cared enough about a girl to actually wonder if he was taking advantage of her. "Do you want this?" he finally asked.

"Draco," Ginny said, "if you're trying to pull out, I understand, but I was quite enjoying where this was heading." She looked at him. No, this wouldn't be a mistake. She knew she loved him, even if he didn't know. Perhaps she was taking advantage of him this way... Even if they never did anything else again, never talked Ginny did know she wanted this, at least, as a memory. Something to smile back upon. "Do you want this?"

"Yes," Draco said. "I want you so bad it hurts."

"Good," Ginny whispered, pulling him back to her to kiss him one more time, to perhaps show him how she felt. Maybe he'd never understand with words, but Ginny intended on showing him just how much she loved and wanted him tonight.

***

Author's Note: Oh God, I'm sorry it took so long. Exams and school and the doomy doom of hell, you know, all that jazz. I suck at updates, and I'm really sorry. You guys rock so much by sending my "I'm gonna kick your ass if you don't update!" emails. It makes me feel the love. Really! Now, how did you like that ending as a make-up present? Snerk. I wrote 15 pages tonight for you guys. The sacrifices I make!

Next chapter: Raina and Anna go down to the dungeon! Expect ghosts and Salazar's evilness! Also, the gem dealy is investigated and we finally find our sword!

Also, I have fanart! I loff Linn for this picture of Ginny. Oh it's lovely! I will post the link in my profile. To see this picture COPY AND PASTE into the browser, otherwise it may not turn up!

Chapterl-y plug for the group Brianna [MochaButterfly] and I have, but for some reason links aren't working right. The links are in previous chapters. It's for all our 'fics and the story Bri and I are working on, which is Desired Life. [Can also be found on ff.net and Schnoogle.com]

And my chapter-ly plug goes right here: If you'd like to get an email when I update my stories instead of losing track of them, just find the link on my profile and sign up! I am now going to send out cookies and ETA's for each new chapter to my list, so if you'd like a sneak peak, make sure to sign up. I will email you if you ask, but I'd rather you just joined this; it would make everything easier on me.

Remember, reviews are nice! :o)

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.