Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the story line...sadly. JKR owns everything - including the characters, spells, and the entire world of Harry Potter. I wonder if I could buy it from her for a dollar?
Thanks to my wonderful, wonderful beta - dragonsangel68.
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Chapter 4
The remaining partygoers said their goodbyes and left soon after. Draco and Ginny found themselves wandering around a fountain in the park at the center of Hogsmeade. Draco had pulled Ginny into his arms and was kissing her forehead lightly.
"Did you have a nice day?" Draco asked.
"Yes, I did. The ending is the best part." She stood on tiptoe and kissed him on his full lips.
"Mmm... I love kissing you - even if you do wear far too much flavored lip gloss." Draco licked her bottom lip. "What is that? It's a new one."
"Passionfruit. I thought you'd like it." A smirk crossed her lips. "It came in a set with shower soap, bubble bath and lotion."
"Gin, wear whatever lip gunk you like. I'll kiss you regardless, but it is quite possible I'd kiss you more often if you didn't wear the stuff to begin with."
"I like the sound of that. Think of the money I'd save on lip gloss alone."
"Wait, did you say shower soap and bubble bath? Is that a hint, Miss Weasley?"
"No- but I could do with a bath. Mum and Dad don't expect me home tonight. I told them I was going to stay at the flat."
"You told your parents you were staying with me at the flat? How did your Dad take that?"
"I'm seventeen. They trust me."
"Right." He nodded thoughtfully, "But do they trust me?"
She smiled, "Of course they do. They know that I stay at the flat with you when I can. They know that- we- they know we don't have sex, Draco."
"Ah." Draco kissed her forehead. "Well, since you have me at your disposal for the rest of the evening, what do you want to do?"
She tilted her head up to look at his profile and found his eyes looking straight down at her. "Mmm… I like this - just you holding me. I love you."
Draco felt his heart skip a little beat. "I love you, too, Ginny." He couldn't explain why he loved this girl as much as he did. It was just a fact of nature. He wanted to marry her. "Do you want to stay here and soak up the ambiance or do you want to go back to the flat? You can run a bath then we could go get some take away or I can run to the grocer, whichever you prefer. There's no food in the flat."
Ginny melted into his chest - they weren't married, she wasn't pregnant, they hadn't even had sex yet, but he was doting on her like Harry did Hermione. "You've made my night. A bath sounds heavenly. Will you go to the baker and bring me chocolate croissants?"
"Of course, but do you want to have them tonight? If you want them for breakfast, I'll run out and get them in the morning so they'll be fresh."
She felt her throat tighten in emotion, "Seriously? You'd go to all that trouble?"
"Gin, I'll go and get you whatever you want. If you want chocolate croissants now and in the morning, I'll go twice. Our first breakfast together in our flat deserves to be special." A tear ran down Ginny's cheek and Draco wiped it away with his thumb. "Ginny, seriously, I'll go get you anything you want. Do you need any- umm- feminine products? Tell me what kind, and I'll go get them for you."
Ginny swatted him and grabbed his hand. "You're impossible, but sweet."
"Ginny, for the last time, I'm gallant. I suggest you remember that."
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Draco and Ginny walked through Hogsmeade toward the flat. It took much longer than expected because they kept pausing to snog up against the brick walls of the buildings they passed. After quite a heavy session, Draco stepped back from the wall he'd shoved Ginny against, releasing her bum and letting her legs slither down his sides to the ground.
"Ginny- we need to make it to the flat. Someone is bound to see us, eventually - it isn't as if it's the middle of the night, it's barely past sundown."
"You're right. Besides, I hear the bath calling my name. Let's go."
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"Finally home." She practically sighed with contentment. "You called it `our' flat earlier. Freudian slip or is that how things really are?"
"Gin-Gin, I didn't buy this flat for me - I bought it for us. As far as I'm concerned, you don't have nearly enough of your things here. You should remedy that immediately. I, for one, would be perfectly happy to spend the extra few minutes apparating to work, as long as I lived here with you - every day." Draco choked on the last word as he grabbed both her hands in his for emphasis.
"Oh." Her heart leapt, he had just asked her to move in with him and here she was barely able to form a coherent reply. "I- I- Alright then."
Draco smiled, a true genuine smile and Ginny returned the favor.
"So, what is it my lady desires? You had better give me a list so I don't forget anything."
Ginny went to the kitchen and found an ink pot, a quill, and a piece of parchment, in the drawers. Once she had made out the list for Draco, he took it from her and looked it over.
"What type of feminine products am I supposed to be looking for?"
She laughed maniacally. "Honestly, Draco, I was just kidding. I'd appreciate it if you'd bring the other hygiene products though. I'd really like a toothbrush - and a pair of pajamas."
Draco thought for a moment. "The toothbrush is fine, but I refuse to buy you pajamas - you'll wear my button-ups."
"You like that, do you?" Ginny coiled her arms around his waist.
"Yes, I do, but I'll never admit it past this night."
Draco unwound himself from his very lovely girlfriend, pecked her on the cheek and asked cheekily, "Will that be all, darling? If so, I'll be off to patronize most of the stores in England."
"Uh-huh. Thank you. I'll most likely still be in the bath when you get back. I'll help you unpack everything when I get out."
"You just enjoy your bath. Oh, one more thing, how many chocolate croissants will you be needing?"
"Umm… probably about ten or so."
"Ginny, are you really going to eat ten croissants this evening?" Draco asked wide-eyed. He knew his girlfriend could eat, but he doubted she could tuck into ten croissants.
"I'm going to eat a couple of them this evening, but the rest are for breakfast." She stated as if it were the most logical thing in the world.
"Love, I told you I'd go out again in the morning for breakfast."
"I want to wake up snuggled up against you, not waiting for you to return with my breakfast." She pouted.
"You'll never know I was gone, love." He kissed her quickly and walked out the door.
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"And here I was thinking I was going to have to go to most every store in England- turned out it was just Hogsmeade." How he longed for a chain-store where you could get everything at once, like they had in the Muggle world. Wait, did Draco just wish for something in the Muggle world? Times, they were a changing.
Draco struggled with all of the purchases he'd made for Ginny while making his way up the stairs to their flat. Opening the door he heard the distinct sound of Ginny humming in the bathroom. The faint scent of Ginny's lip-gloss found his nostrils and he smiled to himself. "Passionfruit. She must have opened up her bubble bath."
He unpacked what he could in the kitchen and moved to the bureau where he unpacked some silky underthings he knew he'd never see, but he liked the thought of Ginny wearing them, nonetheless.
"Draco, baby, is that you?" Ginny called from the bathroom.
"Yes. It's me. I've returned with your croissants."
"I think you might be my hero," she replied with a lilt in her voice.
Draco went to the kitchen and put tea on then went back to putting his purchases away. He'd bought Ginny several gifts and wanted to place them where she'd just happen upon them - a new pad of parchment, a beautiful new quill, a simple flowering plant, and several other baubles were placed in their chosen destinations. Draco put the new sheets he'd bought on the bed and changed into his black silk pajama pants.
We went into the kitchen and unpacked the last of his purchases. Ginny had forever complained at the lack of dishes and silverware not made of plastic in their kitchen. He'd bought both for her this evening while on his escapade.
He placed two chocolate croissants on one of the newly purchased plates, and poured hot water into the cup containing the tea. He padded into the bathroom where his girlfriend was sitting amongst a sea of bubbles.
"Enjoying yourself? Pruning up nicely, are we?" he asked with amusement in his voice. He pulled the bench from under the vanity in the sink beside the tub and sat down.
"So much. Thank you for the croissants and tea. You're- shall I say- gallant."
He smiled and laughed heartily. He very rarely giggled, let alone laughed unabashedly. It brought a smile to her face.
"What are you smiling about?"
"You're laughing. I adore it when you laugh. It makes me think all is right with the world." She sighed wistfully.
"It's all because of you." He bent to give her a kiss over the edge of the tub. She reached up out of the water to run a wet touch over his cheek. "I didn't laugh before you decided I was yours."
"I love you." Her whispered words almost inaudible.
"Love you, too. Do I need to cast a warming charm on that water or are you getting out soon?"
"I'm getting out. I forgot to get a towel and something to change into. Would you?"
"Of course."
He went out into the living room to retrieve the new, fluffy bath towels he'd bought for her then to the armoire and where he pulled out a freshly laundered white, button-up shirt. Casting warming charms on the towels and shirt, he made his way back into the bathroom to find Ginny had finished her croissants and tea.
"Ready to get out of the tub?" he questioned as he fanned out a towel for her to step into.
She nodded, pulled the stopper to the bathtub, and stepped into the towel - and his arms. He sat down on the bench from the vanity and pulled a towel wrapped Ginny into his lap. She leaned in to kiss him as he reached out for the second towel.
"Mmm..." she sighed as he massaged her head while drying her hair. "Draco, did you buy me new towels?"
"I thought you'd like them."
"I do. Did you buy new plates as well?"
"I thought you'd like those as well."
"I do. I was wondering why you were taking so long. What else did you buy? The list I gave you wasn't at all extensive. I thought it would take you an hour at most, but you were gone for nearly three."
"You'll have to find out for yourself. I've put most of it away so you'll have to investigate."
He continued absorbing the excess moisture from her hair with the towel as she opened her mouth to speak, "You know, drying charms are quicker, but I really think I prefer this."
"As do I." Draco whispered. "You can do some sort of charm on it to get it completely dry, but this is more- special. That's all I wanted -to make this day special for you."
"You succeeded. Thank you." Ginny stood up and Draco moved to stand, but a small hand on his shoulder stopped him. He looked at her quizzically as she went to sit straddling his waist. She dropped her head to kiss him as his arms went around her back and pulled her closer to his chest.
Draco moved to stand, cupping his hands under her bum, and lifted Ginny easily. Her legs went around his waist and her towel fell to the floor. He carried her across the room and turned to sit on the edge of the bed. With a wave of his hand, a fire sprang to life in the hearth. Another wave of his hand and the Floo was turned off. One more frontward wave lit the candles he'd placed strategically around the room while the backward motion started a modified-to-work-with-magic Muggle stereo.
Ginny lifted her head from Draco's and looked around the room. "You really went all out, didn't you? You. Are. The. Sweetest. Man. Alive." she said punctuating each word with a kiss to his lips.
"I try," he murmured into her mouth.
They kissed for a few more minutes until Ginny pulled away from their ministrations. "My skin is drying out, Draco. I need lotion."
He was shocked to see her extricate herself from his lap and walk across the room starkers while casting a drying charm on her hair. "Ginny, don't you want to put something on? The shirt I brought out for you is in the loo."
"No, I think I'm fine as is, love." She threw him a look over her shoulder tossing her hair.
Draco felt his throat go dry.
She returned to the bed, crawling up on it like a cat. Handing him the lotion bottle, she looked at him expectantly and turned her back to him. "Would you?" He turned his legs up onto the bed and adjusted himself while Ginny had her back turned.
He'd done this many times before, but never with Ginny completely starkers. She always had something covering the portions of her that were not being rubbed down. Draco swallowed audibly and she smiled wickedly.
Once the lotion was applied to her satisfaction, she turned around on all fours and crawled to give Draco a searing kiss. She pushed him down onto the bed and straddled his hips.
Draco couldn't stand it. He drew his knees up and sat up taking Ginny with him. His breathing ragged and cheeks flushed, he lifted her off of him and placed her on the bed. He stood up and stalked into the bathroom.
"Draco?" Ginny was suddenly unsure of herself.
Draco walked back out of the bathroom to find Ginny had covered herself with her hands. His heart broke when he saw the look in her eyes and the tears begin rolling down her cheeks. He extended his hand to her and, after a moment's hesitation, she reached out took it. Pulling her up from the bed, he wrapped his button-up around her and, consequently, wrapped his arms around her.
She kept her face hidden in her hands. He kissed the top of her head as it was buried in his chest. She was sobbing. "Ginny-"
"Draco, don't."
"Ginny, let me explain-"
She let out another sob and looked up at him.
Draco shuddered. "Gin-Gin, I love you. I don't want it to be like this. I want it to be perfect. It's going to be so much better than this- please, believe me."
Ginny put her face back in her hands and returned to the sobbing mess she'd been only seconds before.
"Ginny, please stop crying. What did I say? How can I fix it?" He rubbed her back soothingly.
Ginny's arms wound back around Draco's neck as she began laughing. Propelling herself up against Draco, he had no choice but to cradle her bum in his hands and hold her to him. "Ginny?"
"Nothing's wrong, Draco. I'm just - happy."
"Oh, alright. Wait," he pulled back a little, "you cry when you're happy, too?"
"Yes, sometimes." With tears still streaming down her face she crashed her lips into his. The force of her kiss almost chipped Draco's front teeth.
He pulled back from her again and stated, "I suppose it's alright if you cry because you're happy. I love you."
"I love you, too, Draco. Let's go to bed. I'm exhausted."
"Ok."
He walked the few steps to the bed and pulled back the covers. He laid her down on the new sheets and she scooted over to allow room for him to lie beside her. He crawled into bed and lying on his back, held out an arm for her. She cuddled up to his side, throwing a leg and an arm over his body. He wrapped one arm around her and contented himself with stoking the arm she had thrown over his chest with his free hand. He turned his head and kissed her. "Love you."
"Love you, too," she replied sleepily.
As he was about to drift off to sleep, he heard her questioning voice, "Draco?"
"Yes, love?"
"Did you buy new sheets?"
"Yes, love?"
"Draco?"
"Yes, love?"
"Did you buy new pillows?"
"Yes, love?"
"Draco?"
"Yes, love?"
"Flannel sheets don't really seem to be your style."
"No, love, but they are yours. I'll get used to them."
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Author's Note: I know the story is crawling a bit, but that's the way I wanted it to be. I've never had so much appreciate for fanfiction writers as I do right now. It is really difficult to submit your writing to someone and have them critique it. Beta readers are curious creatures that live on payment of being the first ones to read your fic. Dragonsangel68 is a wonderful lady with a full life of her own, but she still manages to critique my fic with grace and nothing but kind comments. I appreciate all of you that have reviewed and I ask that you keep hooking me up with them. Reviews are good for the soul-they make you feel vindicated in a way that I have very rarely experienced in life. Having someone think your writing is of a quality they would like to see again is a very good feeling. I appreciate everyone who reads my fic and doesn't think it stinks, even if you don't review.
At this moment, I have two more chapters written of this fic. There are enough people reading it and wanting it to continue for me to continue posting/asking dragonsangel68 to keep betaing for me. I think I'd continue the story just for her seeing as she seems to enjoy it quite a bit. With that said, the updates might start coming more infrequently as I'm back in school. I'm attempting to finish course work for and incomplete I took last semester and so all my work for this semester. I will try to write a couple of new chapters every weekend until the fic is finished and post them at even intervals so everyone can get their `fix' during the week.
I'm going to try the mailing list thing. I've had one person as me to email her when I update the fic so far, but, if anyone else would like me to email them, please either leave a review with your information or email me directly with something in the subject line denoting why you are emailing me…the name of the fic or something along those lines would probably do. Thanks!
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