It All Began With Dwarfing Draco

That night at supper, many people were surprised to see Draco walk through the oak doors of the Great Hall. He and Ginny had prepared for this and went in separately, not wanting to draw attention. The minute he sat down, Draco was overcome with questions from the curious Slytherins.

"Where the hell have you been?" was the main question.

"Like I need to explain myself to you lot. I was having a little vacation if you must know," Draco replied in a convincing tone but noticed Pansy smirking at him. He didn’t want to know what was going on in that twisted mind of hers so he didn’t ask. Instead, his eyes flicked over to the Gryffindor table, instantly finding Ginny. She was apparently trying to pay attention to something the Creevy kid was talking about but her gaze locked with his. He winked at her playfully, noticing from even across the Great Hall that her cheeks were tinged with a bit of redness but she did not break eye contact. A challenge.

"Ginny!" Ginny was snapped out of her staring match with Draco when Colin yelled at her.

"What?" she asked, a little annoyed that she had lost the game she started in a matter of seconds.

"You haven’t paid attention at all!" Colin exclaimed. "Honestly, what is so interesting over there that makes you this distant?" Ginny smiled to herself. If only he knew.

"Nothing. Well I’m off, going for a walk before bed. Night Colin." She gracefully stood up and left the Great Hall. After reaching the corridor, she looked back to see that Draco wasn’t far behind with a large grin on his face. She laughed to herself and began to walk a little faster, heading outside. Looking back over her shoulder, she saw that Draco was beginning to catch up. Ginny squealed with laughter and took off at a run. She ran down to "their" tree and leaned against it, waiting for Draco. When he didn’t come she poked her head around the tree only to see empty grounds. She crept out a little farther and jumped when she felt arms wrap around her waist, hearing Draco’s laughter in her ear. He kissed her crimson hair and then rested his head on her shoulder. Ginny laced her fingers with his and let out a content sigh.

"You know what Ginny?" Draco whispered in her ear playfully.

"What?" she replied just as playfully.

"I love you," he said and kissed her ear.

"I love you too." She turned around in his arms and rested her hands on his shoulders. Standing on her tiptoes, she lightly brushed his lips with her own. Draco pulled back and rested his forehead on hers. The starlight shone on his platinum hair making him look more like an angel than ever.

"Get your filthy hands off my son!" a commanding voice bellowed. Ginny and Draco snapped their heads up to see Lucius Malfoy standing not to far away. His eyes were practically bulging out of his head. His wand was at his side, clenched in his fist and looking like it would snap from pressure. Draco stepped forward so he was placed between Ginny and the man he called father, taking the most defensive stance possible. Ginny ducked her head, trying to stay hidden from the monster that had cause her pain and almost her death in her first year at Hogwarts.

"Move aside son," Lucius instructed. "I must teach this mudblood loving wench never to touch something that is more valuable than her life as well as her families’." Draco didn’t move. He glared at his father with more hatred and scorn than he felt for anyone else still living. If looks could kill, Lucius would have died a thousand and one times and be six feet under by now.

"No," he said in a defiant voice, planting his feet.

"You’re not seriously protecting that little piece of filth behind you? Come now, move aside," Lucius said sternly but Draco stood his ground. "If you do not move I will do it for you."

"You will not hurt her Lucius," Draco growled. Lucius sighed dramatically and stuck out his wand. Draco was thrown aside and slammed into a tree. Ginny screamed. She looked back at Lucius to see his wand pointed at her. She frantically looked from side to side, looking for a means of escape but there was none. Her hand slowly reached into her pocket, nervously trying to find her wand.

"I wouldn’t try anything that is going through your thick minded brain right now Miss Weasley. I do believe that the best lesson for my son would be to take you out of the picture. It will teach him not to fall in love with unworthy scum like you." The word love fell from his lips like a deadly poison. "Love is a vile thing that needs to be destroyed and it will start with you. Good bye, Miss Weasley." He raised his arm above his head, his smirk so evil it stung Ginny like acid. She quivered with fear, was this really the end?

"Avada…"Lucius began but before he could finish the rest, Draco tackled him to the ground. Lucius’ wand went flying. The two of them wrestled, rolling over and over while punches and kicks flew everywhere. Ginny grabbed her own wand out of her pocket. She tried to aim but every time Draco got in the way. Suddenly, Lucius was on top of Draco, ready to punch him hard.

"Stupefy!" Ginny screamed at the top of her lungs. Lucius dropped to the ground unconscious and frozen. Ginny raced over to Draco. She could see the pain in his face. She ran a hand along his cheek as tears slid down her own. He smiled weakly and gently brushed the tear away.

"It’s all right Gin," he grunted. Ginny looked over at Lucius, a smirk was plastered on his face. She wanted to kick him, punch him, beat him as hard as she could for hurting Draco. A low growl sounded from deep in her throat and began to get up but Draco pulled her back, shaking his head.

"Help me up." Ginny nodded and took the hand he offered her hands, gently pulling him to his feet. She pulled his arm over her should to support him and then glared at Lucius motionless form. She knew she could leave him there no matter how desperately she wanted to. She pulled out her wand hesitantly.

"Windgardium Leviosa," she whispered and Lucius body floated a little above the ground. She steered both him and Draco back into the castle purposely letting Lucius’ head hit every step, satisfied when hearing the thump every time it made contact. The door swung open before them and there stood Professor Dumbledor, Harry, Hermione and Ron. The trio were breathing heavily and Ron was giving Draco a death glare but made no move towards him.

"Well done Miss Weasley, Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledor said with a kind smile. He pulled out his own wand and took Lucius from Ginny. "Take Mr. Malfoy to the Hospital Wing please Miss Weasley. I shall deal with Lucius." He then turned and walked down a separate corridor, Lucius limp form hanging in the air before him.

"Gin?" Ron asked in a demanding tone.

"Not now Ron," Ginny pleaded. "I’ll explain it all later." She then walked past her brother and led Draco to the Hospital Wing. She held the hand that was on her shoulders comfortingly but remained silent on the way.

Madame Pomfrey almost had a fit. She demanded to know what happened while she lead the two of them to an empty bed. Ginny helped lay Draco in the bed and then launched into her story of what had just happened. She gripped Draco’s hand, shaking slightly. Draco squeezed her hand to comfort her, knowing she must being going through a lot in her mind right now.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, that was very brave of you, you too Miss Weasley. It takes a lot to stand up to a man like Lucius Malfoy. I assume you will want to stay here then Miss Weasley?" Ginny nodded sheepishly, causing a smile to form on the older woman’s face. "All right but right now I have to take a look at Mr. Malfoy. It sounds like he took quite the beating."

When she had finished her examination, Madame Pomfrey found Draco’s shoulder to be dislocated and he had a cracked rib. She easily fixed Draco’s rib and shoulder with her wand, apologizing when he winced. Wrapping a bandage around his rib cage and then putting a sling around his arm, she nodded, satisfied with the job she had done. "He is going to be sore for the next couple of days but he should be all right. I want him to stay here tonight and tomorrow just to make sure nothing else was damaged that I couldn’t find tonight. I’ll go get a potion to help him sleep."

"Thank you," Ginny said softly. Madame Pomfrey smiled.

"It’s what I do dear, I couldn’t not help him now could I?" She chuckled softly and walked away. Ginny watched her leave and the turned to Draco. There was pain behind his eyes but his face was brave. Ginny smoothed the hair out of his eyes and kissed his forehead.

"Ginny," he croaked. "I’m sorry."

"For what?" Ginny asked softly running her hand down his cheek.

"For almost getting you killed."

"It’s not your fault." Draco looked away and pounded his fist on the bed, wincing in pain afterwards.

"I knew it, I knew if he found out he would try to hurt you."

"Shhh. It’s okay, it wasn’t your fault he found out. I’m still alive and fine and I don’t plan on dying anytime soon." Draco turned back to her, his eyes hopeful. Ginny smiled at him and kissed him tenderly. She pulled back and kissed him on the nose. "I love you Draco." Draco brought a hand to her cheek and she leaned into his touch.

"I love you too Ginny, I don’t know what I would do if he had killed you. You mean so much to me." He gently pulled her face down to his and kissed her once more. They broke apart when they heard someone clearing their throat behind them. Ginny snapped her head around to see Dumbledor and Madame Pomfrey standing there with smiles on their faces and exchanging knowing glances. Ginny blushed and an embarrassed smile formed on her lips. She heard Draco chuckle slightly and then her own giggles came forth. Soon everyone in the room was laughing at the pair’s embarrassment.

When the laughter died, Dumbledor’s face went stern but his eyes did not lose their sparkle.

"Mr. Malfoy, I don’t know what kind of news this will be to you but your father is being escorted to Askaban prison tonight for, as you already know, the attempt of murdering Miss Weasley here by using one of the Unforgivable curse," he said calmly.

"That is good news to me, sir," said Draco as confidently as he could though his voice was cold and full of hatred directed towards his father. Dumbledor nodded.

"Well now that I have been the bearer of what has proved to be good news, I must retire for it has been a long night for me. Mr. Malfoy, Madame Pomfrey has told me of your condition and you may be excused from classes tomorrow. Miss Weasley may stay with you as well. I will have your professors send you work."

"Thank you Professor Dumbledor," Ginny said gratefully. Dumbledor nodded once again, his eyes twinkling as he smiled at them. "And sir? How did you know when we were at the doors?"

"A few young birds told me, three to be precise, and we were about to come to your rescue when you were on the other side of the door," Dumbledor said with a wink. He then turned and disappeared through the Hospital Wing doors.

"Well, its time for that potion Mr. Malfoy," Madame Pomfrey said while she gave Draco the gray coloured potion. Draco took the potion but looked at it hesitantly. "Drink it Mr. Malfoy, now. You won’t heal properly if you don’t." He obeyed and lifted the flask containing the potion to his lips, draining it. His face screwed up instantly at the taste. Ginny giggled only to receive a glare from Draco, which softened into a smile.

"I’ll be back to check on you in the morning, goodnight you two," Madame Pomfrey said in a tired voice. Ginny bid her goodnight and as soon as she was out of sight, she crawled into Draco’s bed. She curled up against him, resting her head on his un-damaged shoulder and sighed contently. His arm was immediately wrapped around her but when she looked up, Ginny met a sleeping face.

"Goodnight Draco," she whispered even though she knew he was beyond hearing and deep in his dreams. She kissed him softly and then returned her head to his shoulder, her eyes fluttering closed. She yawned widely and then, within minutes, she too was asleep and dreaming.