It All Began With Dwarfing Draco

Draco woke the next morning when the sun shone through the Hospital Wing windows. His eyes fluttered open, feeling a small body curled up against him. Looking down he saw his angel, Ginny, her head on his chest and an arm lazily slung over his stomach. He smiled softly, noticing how much he loved watching her sleep. He knew how corny and silly that sounded but it was the honest truth. She looked so peaceful, as if nothing in the world could harm her or make her afraid.

Draco made a silent vow to himself to never let anyone hurt Ginny again. He came way to close to losing her last night and he didn’t know if he could take losing her if anything did happened. He wrapped his free, undamaged arm over her shoulders protectively, even though at the moment there was no one to protect her from. It re-assured him however. A tendril of crimson hair had fallen infront of her face. Draco tried to brush it away but when he moved his other arm, it screamed in protest by sending pain shooting through it. He winced and abandoned his attempt. Raising his gaze, he noticed a flock of white birds fly by with movements so graceful, so planned looking, it could have been a dance. A sudden urge came over Draco. He wanted to dance with Ginny. That was the second corny thought that passed through his usually anything-but-corny mind. This was more folly than he had ever been in his entire life. How could she do this to him without even being awake?

"Penny for your thoughts," a soft voice whispered. Draco chuckled.

"I didn’t realize you were awake," he replied just as softly before lowering his gaze to the face he loved most. Ginny was smiling and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"You were too wrapped up in whatever you were thinking about," Ginny mused. "You had that look on your face."

"What look?"

"The one when you’re thinking about something."

"I figured that much. Care to share in your observations?" Ginny giggled.

"You look like your far away, some where else that no one else can see but you."

"I would rather no one knew what goes on in this head of mine, might frighten them off." Ginny rolled her eyes dramatically before sitting up and fixing Draco with a curious stare.

"Care to share?" she said, quoting his earlier comment. Draco smirked but before he could "share" Madame Pomfrey came through the Hospital Wing doors.

"Good morning you two, I was beginning to wonder if you two would ever wake up. I have to give you your check up now Mr. Malfoy," Madame Pomfrey said cheerfully from her office door. " Miss Weasley, you may go and get some breakfast and get changed if you’d like." Ginny nodded gratefully and slid off the bed.

"I’ll be right back," she said, kissing him softly on the cheek and then sliding of the bed. She was almost at the door when Draco called her. She turned and saw the smile that made her insides turn to liquid.

"I love you."

"I love you too Draco." She blew him a kiss and giggled when he pretended to reach out and catch it. Sliding her way out of the Hospital Wing, she sighed and then practically skipped her way down the corridor.

"You look cheery this morning," said the Fat Lady when Ginny reached the Gryffindor Tower. Ginny beamed and said the password (Butterbeer and Chocolate Frogs (upon Neville’s request)). The portrait swung open and allowed her inside. She more than grateful when she didn’t see Ron in the common room as she hurried up to her dorm, that would have been a disaster and a half. She grabbed her shower kit, a pink tee shirt, a pair of old gray pajama pants and her towel before hurrying down to the girl’s showers, slipping her wand into her shower kit as she left. Her mind buzzed with what had happened the night before as the hot water sprayed over her body. Every muscle in her body tensed up when Lucius’ face stuck out in her mind. She grabbed her shampoo bottle and squeezed it hard, venting some of her anger and fear, then scrubbed her hair with a little too much force and pulled her hair in the process. Ginny groaned and calmed herself before she got hurt anymore which she knew was possible. She soon finished, turning off the tap and wrapping her towel around her. She changed quickly before drying her hair with a spell and brushing her teeth.

She returned to the Gryffindor Tower a little distracted this time, thankful that the Fat Lady didn’t comment when letting her enter the common room. She was so distracted that she almost jumped a mile high when she heard a voice behind her.

"How’s the ferret doing?" Hermione asked, giggling at Ginny who turned around and gave a sigh of relief.

"Draco got knocked around a bit last night. Had dislocated shoulder and a cracked rib. He’s sore but he’ll be okay. I’m staying with him today because he has to stay in the Hospital Wing and could use some company." Hermione smiled and nodded understandingly.

"I better get down to breakfast, I’ll bring some food up to you two if you’d like."

"Oh please? I think Ron would have about a dozen quaffels if I run into him and tell him about Draco and me."

"Sure no problem Gin," Hermione replied, laughing. "If you don’t mind me prying, what is there between the two of you?" Ginny smiled broadly, a dreamy look forming in her eyes.

"I love him Hermione. Its weird because I never would have thought in a million years that I would ever love a Malfoy but I do. Other than that I can’t explain it." Hermione mouthed and "oh" but smiled.

"I can see why you think Ron will blow. Listen, I’m always here for you if you need anyone to lend a helping hand. I know how hard it is to find someone to talk to around here."

"Thanks Hermione, that means a lot," Ginny said. They exchanged a sisterly hug and the two said their good byes, arranging to meet later when Draco was out of the Hospital Wing. Ginny went up and dropped her cloths from the night before into her trunk and headed back down to the Hospital Wing. She received a few strange looks from some of the students, noticing her clothing even though it was a Monday morning and uniforms were required, but didn’t care. She just wanted to get back to Draco. When she arrived at the Hospital Wing she saw Draco in the same place she left him, his eyes shut. Ginny smiled and walked over to him. She sat down beside him and laid a hand on his chest. He opened his eyes and smiled at her.

"Dressed down quite a lot today aren’t we?" he mused, taking in her appearance as he rested one of his hands over hers.

"No harm in being comfy." Draco rolled his eyes and pulled her down to him. Ginny giggled and laid her head down on his chest while he wrapped his undamaged arm around her, kissing the top of her head.

"Dancing," Draco said quietly.

"Huh?" Ginny lifted her head, confusion practically painted on her face.

"Dancing, that’s what I was thinking about."

"Dancing?" Ginny asked in an amused tone, her lips turning into a smirk.

"With you."

"I think we need to arrange this and soon."

"I concur," Draco chuckled. His smile faded as he slid the back of his hand down Ginny’s cheek before she leaned forward, gently pressing her lips against his. She loved his kisses. She would gladly just sit here and…

"Get off my sister you bloody ferret!" Ginny whipped her head around to see Ron standing at the doors to the Hospital Wing, face twisted into a scowl and beat red from anger. "I said get off her!" He began to approach them. Ginny had to do something or Ron could potentially make Draco hurt a lot more than he already did. She jumped off the bed and stood infront of Draco just like he had the for her night before. Ron stopped in his tracks and stared.

"Are you mad?!" Ron bellowed. "Your sticking up for Malfoy?!"

"I won’t let you hurt him Ron," she said defiantly.

"Ginny, you’re my sister and I love you but move right now or I will do it for you," Ron threatened.

"I won’t let you hurt him," Ginny repeated, unmoving. Ron growled and took a step forward when the doors behind him and Harry and Hermione ran to stop their friend. Harry reached Ron first and grabbed him around the shoulders before he could charge. Hermione ran to Ginny.

"Are you guys okay?" Ginny nodded. "Sorry, he asked about the amount of food I had when I was about to bring it up here and I stupidly said I was bringing it to you two. I’m so sorry. I’m glad he didn’t hurt either of you."

"Hey," Ginny said, grinning. "It’s okay. Ron wouldn’t have hurt me. I’m the beloved sister remember. Thanks for coming to our rescue any way though."

"I suppose we had better get him out of here before he breaks Harry in two trying to get to Malfoy," Hermione joked. "Oh and sorry about your food, I kind of left it in the Great Hall." Ginny giggled, telling her not to worry about it and looked over Hermione’s shoulder at her brother who was yelling and squirming as much as he could to get out of Harry’s grasp. Hermione turned and nodded at Harry and they both began pulling, pushing and dragging Ron out of the Hospital Wing while he yelled at the top of his lungs. Ginny let out a heavy sigh and turned to Draco. He reached out a hand, taking hers and gently running his thumb over her knuckles. He drew her to him and Ginny gingerly sat down, cuddling up against Draco.

"Thanks."

"Well I couldn’t have him thrash you into next week now could I?" Ginny asked sarcastically. She looked up and smirked at Draco.

"No, definitely not." Draco smirked back and then kissed her gently. He leaned back against his pillows and ran a finger down her cheek. A frown formed on his face however when e saw the distress on Ginny’s face. "What’s wrong?"

"Ron," Ginny whispered and sat up, turning her back to Draco and drawing up her knees to her chin. "He’s really mad. Probably hates me." Draco’s fingers drew small circles on Ginny’s back comfortingly.

"He may be a little angry right now, but you’re his sister," Draco said gently. "Like he said, he loves you, he will forgive you." Ginny couldn’t help but believed him. It was going to take a while but her brother would forgive her. She heard Draco grunt behind her as he tried to sit up. She turned back to him, shaking her head and putting a hand on his undamaged shoulder to force him back down onto the pillows.

"Don’t sit up, you’re still hurt. You have to rest," she said in a mothering tone while smoothing the hair off his forehead. Draco caught her hand and held it to his chest, looking up at her with hurt in his eyes.

"Ginny, you know how much you mean to me but I will understand if we can’t be together because of Ron and your family." Ginny let her face show the confusion she was feeling inside.

"What?"

"I will understand if you don’t want to be with me because of our families."

"How could you even think that Draco? There’s no chance I would give you up over family differences. Do-d-do you want to-to…Do y-you want me to l-leave?" " Ginny stammered.

"No! No never!" Draco eyes held shock in them. He brought a hand to her face and cupped her cheek. "You mean way to much to me. If I lost you I don’t know what I’d do." Ginny smiled and lay down next to him, hugging him as tightly as she could with out hurting him. What was this feeling? There was love there of course but there was something else. Whatever it was, it felt right and she never wanted it to leave. She could stay right here with Draco for the rest of her life and be perfectly happy. Reality hit her in the gut however when he spoke next.

"How are we going to tell everyone?" Ginny winced. She didn’t want to think about this right now. It was enough that Ron was mad at her but telling her parents would be suicide. Her friends would understand after a while but her family, they would throttle her and Draco at the same time. She hated this family feud.

"I don’t know," she whispered and buried her face in Draco’s shoulder.

"I want to be there when we tell your family." Ginny shot up and stared at him as if he had two heads.

"Are you mad?! They will kill you from the moment you come into their sight range!" Ginny exclaimed. He was asking for an early death if he was serious.

"I can’t let you face them on your own," Draco said sternly.

"But you don’t understand! My family will kill you the moment you reach the gate! They hate you with a passion!"

"I don’t care Ginny, all I care about is you and I want to show your family that. If I wasn’t there then what would that make them think? That I was too big a coward to face them?"

"And the fact that Ron will beat you into a bloody pulp doesn’t bother you in the least I see." How could she make him see that it was like walking into a hungry dragon’s den?

"Don’t worry, it will all be okay," Draco said comfortingly. He ran a hand along Ginny’s cheek and stared into her eyes. "I want to be there. Please don’t tell them without me."

"I’m not going to change your mind, am I?" Ginny asked sarcastically. Draco smirked and shook his head.

"I’m a stubborn git, you should know that by now," he mused. Ginny rolled her eyes and smiled.

"Fine, but if they try to kill you it’s not my fault." Draco chuckled. "Now how are we going to tell your mother?" Draco’s face fell with her words and he looked away.

"We can’t," he said sadly.

"Why not?" Ginny asked cautiously.

"She wouldn’t be able to hear us if we tried," he whispered as if afraid to let anyone else hear. "Lucius didn’t find her…necessary anymore and did what he does best. He killed her last summer and was gone before anyone could catch him, the bloody sod." He said his father’s name with hatred as if it burned his tongue to say it.

"I’m sorry Draco." Ginny didn’t know what else to say. How could a man so easily murder his wife? Then the answer came to her because she had known it all along, he was Lucius Malfoy. She took his hand and kissed his knuckles. She dropped her eyes to see Draco’s hand shaking slightly. When she raised her gaze to his face again, she saw him clenching his jaw. His eyes, even though they weren’t looking at her, held pain and anger. It more than obvious that he hated his father more than anyone living, it looked like he always had. She lay down beside him and wrapped her arms around him comfortingly. She felt his undamaged arm snake it’s way over her waist and Draco turned his head to look at the ceiling.

"I hate him," he whispered as if knowing the thoughts going through Ginny’s mind. "He is not my father. No real father would do what he has done to my family and you. I hope he rots in Askaban."

"It’s okay Draco," Ginny said softly. "He can’t hurt us anymore."

"He killed my mother Ginny, and then he tried to kill you. I cannot forget that so easily."

"I know, I never said that I wanted you to forget it. Just remember that he can no longer control you." Ginny turned his face to look at her with her hand on his cheek. "You don’t have to be afraid anymore." He leaned into her touch and then kissed her palm before returning his eyes to her face.

"Thank you Ginny."

"For what?"

"For being here, helping me, loving me." Ginny smile and kissed his forehead.

"I would do anything for you." Ginny was surprised at her own words but apparently it was just what Draco needed to hear. Happiness once again filled his eyes and a smile was already on his lips. There was love there too, love for her, filling Ginny with her own happiness and brining a gentle smile.

There had been some shuffling out in the hall as people slowly made their way back to their morning classes but now all was quiet until Draco’s stomach softly growled. They both burst into laughter.

"I guess I’ll go get some food then," Ginny mused and was about to leave when Draco grabbed her hand, pulling her back and pressed his lips against hers. He then pulled back and grinned broadly.

"What was that for?" Ginny asked a little surprised.

"Do I have to have a reason?" Draco replied, his grin turning into a smile. Ginny giggled.

"No, I guess not."

"Good." Draco kissed her lightly but it was Ginny this time who pulled back.

"We won’t get any food if we keep this up."

"That’s fine with me," said Draco but as if on queue his stomach rumbled again. He rolled his eyes and glared at his stomach as if scolding it for not doing what he wanted it to.

"I’ll be right back," Ginny said as she giggled and left the hospital wing. She smiled to herself, her mind swamped with thoughts of Draco. She didn’t realize how distracted she was until she almost ran into someone. She apologized and then looked up to see the smiling face of her headmaster.

"Good morning Miss Weasley," Professor Dumbledor chuckled. "How is Mr. Malfoy today?"

"He is sore but doing better. Thanks for letting me stay with him today Professor."

"It’s no problem at all Miss Weasley. I assume your going down to get some breakfast?" Ginny nodded. "I was just about to stop by for a piece of that marvelous lemon pie, do you mind if I accompany you?"

"Not at all," said Ginny and they began to walk.

"So I heard that your brother doesn’t like the fact that you are staying with Draco, am I correct?" Normally, people asking her about what had only happened half an hour ago would disturb Ginny, but she knew that Professor Dumbledor knew basically everything.

"Yes Professor," Ginny said quietly. "I don’t know how to tell him that Draco isn’t half as bad a person as everyone thinks he is."

"He will eventually get used to the idea."

"How do you know?"

"He will have to face facts soon enough. Your brother is a very stubborn young man but he does care a great deal about you."

"Yes but I don’t like the fact that he feels like he has to protect me from everything. I’m not the little five year old trying to degnome the garden when the gnomes are half my own height any more. He just doesn’t understand that I can take care of myself," Ginny explained in an exasperated tone. There was something about Dumbledor that everyone could feel comfortable when telling him about his or her secrets and Ginny was no exception.

"He is just being an older brother," Dumbledor said as he reached out and tickled the pear. The painting swung open and Ginny and Dumbledor stepped inside. Dobby was immediately infront of them.

"Professor Dumbledor sir, what can Dobby get for you?"

"For myself a slice of that wonderful lemon pie and for Miss Weasley here some breakfast for two." Dobby scampered away and a moment later he was bringing a large slice of the pie while two other elves brought a huge tray of food for Ginny. They placed the tray in Ginny’s hand’s that almost dropped it because of it’s weight from the amount of food piled onto it.

"Will there be anything else sir?" Dobby asked in a polite voice.

"No that will be all. Thank you Dobby." With that Professor Dumbledor and Ginny left the kitchen. When outside, Dumbledor stopped and turned to Ginny with an understanding look on his face.

"He will understand Ginny, just give him and your family some time to adjust." He then turned swiftly and left Ginny staring after him in confusion. How could he have known that they were going to tell her family?