It All Began With Dwarfing Draco

The sun rose lazily on the horizon, making the morning sky turn red. It made the darkness in the room begin to fade before the blue eyes that watched as the shadows pulled back. Exhausted as she was, Ginny hadn’t slept at all night. She had watched Draco fall asleep and wished to do the same but was too afraid that the horrible dreams that had haunted her for over five years would return.

Slowly, carefully, she untangled herself from Draco’s arms and slipped off the bed. With one last look at his sleeping face, Ginny silently made her way over to the window seat. She gingerly slid into the soft cushions, pulling her large, long sleeve pajama top closer around her and looked out to watch dawn breaking

It was beautiful. Gold was poking through the treetops as the sun got higher and higher in the sky. A few fluffy looking clouds floated lazily overhead but all in all, it was the makings of another beautiful day. Why couldn’t it be rainy or at least overcast? It would match her mood perfectly.

Ginny sighed heavily and crossed her arms over her stomach, leaning her head against the windowpane. Her mind was buzzing with stray thoughts. There were too many unanswered questions to keep track of. Will we win the war against the Dark Lord? Will my family be safe? Will Voldemort come for me? Will I die?

All these thoughts raced the through her mind along with many more. She glanced over at Draco and more questions stirred inside her. Will he really go and fight in the war? Will he come back to me? Alive?

He moaned in his sleep, apparently disturbed by his dream. Ginny watched as his brow furrowed and his jaw clenched. His fist closed around the sheets so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He then reached out with his other hand, calling her name softly. Ginny smiled, almost like a mother would who was watching over her child, and walked over to him. She sat on the edge of the bed and took his hand that was reached out for her in her own. She ran her other hand along his cheek but he pulled away, yanking his hand out of her grasp. What was he dreaming about?

"Draco," she cooed softly and put her hand over his that was still holding the sheets.

"Don’t," he whispered. "Don’t do it." He grabbed her wrist, non-too gently at that.

"Wake up Draco," she coaxed, panic in her voice. "Wake up!" She gently shook his shoulder but his other hand flew up and grabbed her other wrist. "Draco!"

"I won’t let you!" he yelled. A vision of Tom passed through her mind, holding her wrists as Draco did now. She tried to free herself from Draco’s grasp but it was to tight and was getting tighter. She winced from his force. If he didn’t let go soon, he was likely to break a few bones.

"Draco! WAKE UP!" Ginny screamed. Draco’s eyes shot open. She could see the shock on his face immediately. He released her and sat up and Ginny felt the pain a lot more. She clutched them to her chest and let out a gasp. Looking down at them, she could see the bruises already beginning to form. A tear slipped down her cheek as a memory forced itself into her mind. She remembered having bruises just like these when Tom…No. She did not want to remember. Shaking her head slightly, she forced the memory from her mind.

"Gin, I’m so sorry," she heard Draco say. Concern and shock were in his voice and when Ginny looked up, she saw them in his eyes as well. She watched him as his gaze traveled down to the tear on her cheek and then to the flowering bruises that she was too late in hiding. His eyes, if possible, went even rounder and his lips parted slightly.

"Oh gods," he whispered. "Did I do that?" Ginny nodded slightly and brought her hands around infront of her. She had tried to hide them when she realized that he would soon see them by pulling her hands behind her back, but apparently she wasn’t quick enough.

"I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean too! I never meant to hurt you! I…" Draco rambled but stopped when Ginny pressed her fingers to his lips to silence him.

"I know Draco," she replied as calmly as she could, dropping her hand. "I know you would never do that on purpose. You were dreaming and had no idea what you were doing." No, she would not compare Draco with him and she would not tell Draco about that memory. She looked down at her wrist and winced before looking away again, not wanting to be reminded.

"I promised myself I would never let anyone hurt you and then I turn around and do it myself," Draco said quietly. His eyes were on the bruises but they were distant and unfocused. "I promised. I made a promise and broke it without even knowing I was breaking it in the first place."

"Draco, listen to me," Ginny said softly. "You didn’t break your promise. You didn’t know what you were doing. Don’t blame yourself for something you didn’t mean to do."

"But I hurt you."

"I can barely feel it."

"You’re lying." He looked up and wiped away the tear that had been resting on her cheek. Ginny had completely forgotten about it. She caught his hand before it fell away and pressed it against her cheek, wanting to convince him that she was all right.

"I’ll be fine," she said in a gentle tone. She leaned forward and kissed him gently and whispered an "I forgive you" against his lips. His hand slipped into her hair as he kissed her back with the same gentleness. When she pulled back, she smiled at him in a reassuring way. She was startled but grateful when he wrapped her in is arms. She snaked her own around his waist, needing him more than any other person alive at this moment in time.

"I love you Gin," Draco whispered into her ear.

"I love you too."