More Stolen Moments
For Ginny, the fist few weeks back at school flew by. Her suspicions were correct in how busy all the seventh years were and any moments she had with Draco were short. She began re-routing how she would get to some of her classes, knowing that if she took one passageway to Transfiguration, she would see him emerging from the stairway fromt the dungeons on his way to Herbology. They would say "Hello", maybe smile then move onto their respective classes; not yet comfortable with public displays of affection.
Draco had been right about everyone seeing the picture in the Daily Prophet and both had given the curious the same answer…lunch and shopping in Diagon Alley. Both were aware of people watching them curiously, waiting to be the first one to see them kiss so they could run and tell everyone that the two students who had been enemies were now boy and girlfriend. But, neither Draco nor Ginny were giving their fellow students the satisfaction in witnessing that. Hermione, Neville-whose grandmother was finally out of the hospital-Luna, Ron, Harry, Blaise, Susan and Maggie were the only ones who knew how close the two had become and were intent on keeping it under wraps…some because they knew Draco's wrath might come to the surface if he found who let it slip.
So, any moments between Draco and Ginny, like the ones on the train or in the carriage didn't happen as often as each other would have liked.
Once, he had caught up with her on her way to Quidditch practice, pulled her behind the supply shed and the kiss they shared left her weak kneed and distracted from practice, resulting in Harry yelling at her to pay attention. She chalked up a mark in the NO column for being snogged by Draco before any Quidditch practice or game.
Sometimes she would sneak into the library and sit so she could see him but he couldn't see her. Sometimes he was alone, studying and taking notes, his head bent in concentration; other times there were some other Slytherins and they would be talking quietly about the topic at hand. If he ever knew she was there he gave no inclination; she always got up to leave before he did…except the one time he snuck in and watched her. She was actually studying for her Astronomy test and was busy charting constellations, when she heard him slide into the chair next to her, his arm bumping hers.
"You could have come over to the corner and we could have studied together," Draco whispered his head bent towards hers, aware of the students around them sneaking glances their way. Ginny turned towards him and answered just as quietly.
"You know studying would not have happened," and she met his gaze, jumping as his hand brushed hers, closing the cap on the ink bottle. He jerked his head towards the door and helped her pack up her items.
As they walked out of the library, heads from every house turned and followed them. Ginny followed Draco wondering what he was doing, where he was going. She knew he had class in another half hour, which was when she would head to the opposite side of the grounds…Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid. He turned around every so often waiting for her as his long legs carried him up into the castle.
"Where are you going?" Ginny asked as she ran to catch up with him; he didn't need to answer as she saw the familiar wall, blank at first in front of her, then a door appear. Looking around and not seeing anyone, Draco wrenched it open and pulled her in after him.
The Room of Requirement was bare, somehow he had gotten it to open, but since he didn't walk by it three times thinking about what he wanted, it didn't have anything in it but stone walls and a stone floor…and a small window up high letting in some dusty, winter rays of sun.
"Why?" Ginny asked, dropping her bag next to his. He turned around from looking up at the window.
"Did you hear your brother set up a Chess match between us next Friday?" He moved towards her, resting his hand on her collarbone.
Ginny shook her head, watching him unbutton her robe to reveal her Hogwarts uniform underneath…grey vest, white shirt, tie, grey pleated skirt, white stockings, black shoes. She let her hands grip the stone wall behind her as he took of his robe and laid it carefully next to hers. He stood there in his matching vest, shirt and tie, with black pants and shoes.
"Who do you think you will want to win?" He walked over to her and placed his hands on her hips. Ginny opened her mouth to say something but couldn't form a coherent thought, thinking that perhaps at the moment, she could care less. She shook her head wordlessly, feeling him pull her to him.
Staring at each other, she circled her arms around his neck and met his lips halfway and not wasting anytime with niceties, she pushed herself against him and felt herself being backed up against the wall. She briefly wondered if she should heed the advice she gave Hermione three weeks ago back in the train, about paying Harry back.
She then felt a surge of energy flow up through her at the thought of her bringing Draco Malfoy, dubbed Prince of Slytherin, richest 17 year old in the Wizarding World, dark, mysterious, hard to please Draco to the point of no return in a sexual way.
Feeling his hands under the back of her shirt, loving the feel of his hands against her skin, she placed one of her hands between him and her and slowly felt his hardness through his pants and for a moment he froze. She flicked her tongue against his lips, which brought him back to the task at hand and she continued moving her hand slowly over him, feeling him press into her every so slightly, feeling her back press further against the hard stone wall. His hands moved from her back and now he placed his forearms on the wall on either side of her, causing her to tilt her head back to continue kissing him.
"Ginny," he whispered, his breath in his throat and not moving her hand, she reached up with her other arm and wrapped it around his back, wanting him to trust her.
"It's ok, Draco…let it go," she said softly against his mouth, knowing the affect it had on her when she heard those words.
Heeding her advice, he pressed his lips to hers, hands lost in her hair, pushing against her hand which was now sandwiched between them moving slowly up and down against him as she marveled in an embarrassed way that this was part of Draco. Unsure of her ministrations, she squeezed her hand lightly around him which had more of an effect on him that she thought it would.
Grabbing her suddenly he yanked her roughly to him, hands grasping her hips, moving against her and her hand and she matched a rhythm he set, marveling at how he suddenly and forcefully drove her back against the wall and pushed his full body into her, his heart pounding against hers, moaning softly against her lips as she wrapped her arm around him holding his body to hers as he froze for a minute and by what she felt against her hand she knew she had succeeded.
Carefully she pulled her hand away and ran that hand up his back, his lips now against her ear, breathing heavily. He leaned into her for a minute and she memorized this moment between them, in case for some reason it never happened again.
"That is not what was supposed to happen when we walked in that door," Draco said into her shoulder and Ginny gave a soft laugh.
"I told you I liked surprising you; I don't say things I don't mean," she teased and he pulled away, his face flushed, his eyes shining but dark as if taking in all of her. He smoothed back her hair from her face and kissed her hard on her mouth, not knowing what else to say.
They pulled away and in the dim light, they straightened their clothes, said a Scourgify Spell and made themselves look presentable for class. Her body still tingled where his fingers had found her skin and she was sure her Magical Creatures class was going to go in one ear and out the other today. Draco peeked out the door and quickly pulled her out behind him. Ginny swore as they walked down towards the main hall that people were looking at them, knowing what just happened. But, of course it was all in her head; she was just over analyzing. He stopped and grabbed her hand to stop her next to him, right in the middle of the main hall.
Students who were there were divided over what happened next; some say they saw the couple look into each other's eyes as if talking and then he leaned down and just brushed his lips across her forehead, holding her hand all the while. Then they split up and walked away to their class.
The other side said that he looked at her as she said something quietly and he smiled, a genuine smile causing her to smile back, then saying something to her he kissed her on the forehead before they split up.
Only Ginny and Draco knew what truly went on and what was said, if anything, and when asked numerous times, "What did you say to get him to smile like that?", "Draco, what went on in the hall? Did you really kiss her?" they would just shrug and pretend that they had no idea what they were talking about.
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The night of the Chess Match was upon them and much to Ron and Draco's surprise, 99% of the student body was in the Great Hall, perched on tables, conjured up chairs, some even on the same bench that Ron or Draco was on…waiting to see who would win, if anyone, in this match of Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Professor Dumbledore was present and Professor Snape had actually stopped by, lightly asking if Weasley or Malfoy had wagered a bet with each other; the answer was "no" but, they agreed to think about it later if another match was to ensue.
Ginny was happy that her brother had managed to pull himself together after getting a note from Samantha that had HER asking HIM to her Muggle Valentine's Day dance. Ron had practically hyperventilated with that prospect and Ginny inadvertently pushed him over the edge suggesting he take the engagement ring he bought with him. But now, he seemed fine; intent like Draco whom she was sitting next to…secretly taking pleasure in adding another event to the rumors of her and Draco. Professor Dumbledore actually had taken a seat next to Ginny for the last half hour of the game, watching beneath his glasses already knowing that the outcome would be a draw…just like the last time these two at played at The Burrow.
In the Common Room that night, it had been decided that every Friday night for the rest of winter there would be a Chess Match; Draco and Ron had agreed to the idea each hoping to beat the other the next time. They decided to place a bet, but to not tell anyone until such time the situation presented itself during the game when the winner would reveal their secret.
It was late and many of the students had retired to their rooms except Ginny and Ron; Seamus and Lavendar were making out in a corner.
Ron was writing Samantha back about the dance and Ginny was finishing her Potions homework, humming a song to herself that she had heard before school started again.
She was so into the music in her head and the Potions in front of her she didn't hear Ron talking and didn't hear Draco floo into her Common Room. Therefore, when he appeared next to her she practically fell off her chair. He slid into the chair next to her, squeezing her shoulder gently after seeing Seamus in the corner.
"What-what are you doing here? Everything ok?" Ginny asked, her stress level going sky high as he sat here next to her, in a very sexy dark purple shirt. She had changed into plain colored pajama pants and a maroon long sleeve shirt she liked to wear to bed.
"Yes, why?" Draco rested his arm on the table and slid her parchment towards him, looking at her Transfiguration Essay and Potions Homework.
"Ummm…you're here. In my Common Room…how did you get here?"
"Floo…you can do that between Common Rooms."
"Oh," Ginny seemed to be saying that a lot around him. She watched him reading through her homework and sat silently, knowing he would tell her what he was doing there when he was ready. In the background she could hear Seamus and Lavender making noises; she could hear Ron's quill scratching away.
Draco slid her homework to her, "Looks good; you know your Potions."
"Thanks. But, I'm not done yet."
She pushed another piece over to him and tapped it, "This stumps me. Draught of Peace, I know I learned it last year, and managed to get it to work, but I think it was luck."
Draco slid it towards him and skimmed down the page.
"This is a tough one, especially trying to measure Hellebore in the exact amount," he tilted the paper towards her and pointed to a spot halfway down, "I found that if you take the leaves and add them first then add the stalk a bit at a time until you get the right amount, then draught works much better, rather than adding the whole plant in one piece."
Ginny stared at him, "I never thought of that. Did you figure that out yourself?"
Draco nodded, sliding the paper back to her, watching her take notes, then suddenly slamming down her Quill.
"Seamus! Can't you take it upstairs or something? You'll have the room to yourself if you haven't noticed…Dean is gone; Neville is probably with Luna; Harry is in Hermione's room and Ron is down here!" Ginny glared at them as Lavender offered quick apology and they trotted up the stairs. She didn't even think they noticed Draco sitting with her.
"Way to go Gin. That was asking them nicely," Ron said from the sofa.
"At least they're gone. Sounded like they were going to eat each other," she muttered picking up her quill.
"Then they would both be gone forever in a matter of seconds," Ron offered, folding his letter and standing up. "I am up to the Owlry. Then to annoy Seamus and go to bed, snoring loudly for them," he came over and looked over his sister's shoulder, reading her Draught of Peace.
"Merlin, that would have been so much easier if someone had told me to add the leaves separately, back then. Mine might have actually worked!"
"I doubt it," Ginny and Draco said in unison, looking at each other and then laughing. Ron frowned at them.
"Gits. Off to find my owl," he ruffled Ginny's hair and walked out of the Common Room not caring it was past curfew, figuring a Prefect and Head Boy were holed up in one room, Head Girl asleep in another and he didn't really care about Filch much at the moment.
Ginny realized she was alone with Draco, set her quill down and turned to him.
"Why are you here?" She asked softly and rested her hand on top of his. She felt him take her other hand and begin to trace her knuckles. 'Excuses for touching,' was the thought that ran through Ginny's head; fully realizing it had been a week since their little episode in the Room of Requirement.
"Mainly to ask you to the Valentine's Dance."
"Oh, okay," Ginny smiled. "Ask away."
"Ha ha. You are almost as funny as your brother."
"Hereditary disorder, I suppose," Ginny said seriously and Draco rolled his eyes again.
"Fine, I will let you off the hook. Yes." Ginny answered, excited that he finally asked. "Are you going to Hogsmeade tomorrow afternoon?"
Draco nodded. "I need to do some paperwork at the bank, so I will be there most of the day. Exciting I know."
"What are you doing with all these meetings and such?" Ginny asked, fearing he would not answer but having the need to know.
To her surprise he smiled, "I can't tell you yet. I would if I could, but you'll find out soon enough."
"Fine. Secrets, secrets," Ginny kidded and stood up, more awake now than she had been an hour earlier, and it wasn't even 11pm yet. She walked over to the smaller table near the stairs and poured some water for her and Draco, handing him his glass while she stayed standing. She nodded towards the sofa and he got up and followed her, sitting next to her and setting his glass next to hers on the table.
To Ginny's delight, they actually had a conversation. They chatted about school events, but also about the rumor that Professor Sunnyvale was leaving like most DADA teachers seemed to do; they talked about meeting at Hogsmeade possibly; she listened to him talk a bit about growing up before Hogwarts. He told her he had heard from his mother and she would be back from America in a week's time. Sometime during their talk, Ron came back and headed upstairs for bed, bearing an armful of snacks. He tossed a bag of chips to Ginny and she and Draco munched on them as the houses settled in for the evening.
Before they knew it, it was 1am and Ginny started yawning.
"Sorry; I had an 8am class," she smiled apologetically, raised her arms and stretched like a cat.
"Sleepy Ginny," Draco said softly and she looked at him curiously.
"What?" She froze in mid stretch, catching a smile on his face. She let her hands drop as he moved closer.
"On the train, you were sleepy after I woke you; you have that same look now," his hand reached out and touched her face, "you had creases right here, remember?"
Ginny smiled and leaned a little into his touch, "I did? I must have looked a fright."
"No, quite the opposite actually," was the answer Ginny least expected to hear. He was moving towards her in a way that made her recline onto the sofa, positioning herself so she was laying under him. Not much was left to her imagination between her dark blue pajama pants and his dark green sweatpants. Her hand came up and brushed his hair lightly, rejoicing in this serious moment.
"What does a sleepy Draco look like?" she asked him, running a hand down his back. He shrugged a little and looked at her, eyes very dark and his mouth so close to hers she could feel his lips move against hers when he talked.
"I have no idea. You will have to tell me sometime," and with that he finally met her lips, feeling her mouth open immediately to welcome him, and her hand coming to the back of his head, pulling him closer.
Ginny could feel Draco relaxing, a feeling like his body was pouring into hers and it was at that moment he pulled away.
"Not here," he whispered and struggled to stand up and pulling her with him he saw a disappointed look pass across her face.
"Follow me," he held her hand, led her to the fireplace and in one swift move floo'd them back to his common room.
Ginny barely had a chance to look around at the deserted dungeon-seeing only a black leather sofa and low table as he led her down a hallway and through a door, shutting it behind him. She managed to glance around seeing that it was set up like Hermione's room, but with Slytherin colors before he was standing in front of her, hands on her waist.
"It's charmed," Draco ran a hand lightly up her back, pausing at the nape of her neck and rubbing lightly. She let her head fall forward to his chest.
"Charmed?" Ginny was reeling from the speed of him bringing her here.
"So nothing moves around."
Ginny quickly raised her head and stared at him, "I'm not ready for…," she began hoping that wasn't why he brought her here. He shook his head, cutting her off.
"I didn't mean for you to think THAT, just this," he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, letting all his control and barriers down for the first time in front of Ginny. Later she would tell Hermione it was like he had just stepped out of his body which had been keeping all his actions contained and let all his emotions envelop her.
Wordlessly, he picked her up and carried her the few feet to his large bed, gently placing her down and stretching out next to her, feeling her wiggle herself under him-loving the feel of his long body on hers; the feel of certain body parts on hers.
Ginny noticed a difference right away in Draco, doing this in the comfort of his own room…no worries about her family, no one between them whether physically or mentally. She responded to his touches, feeling for the first time that she was on the receiving end of THE fully relaxed Draco.
His mouth caressed her lips, her neck and shoulders. Draco soon found other places on her that when kissed made her gasp, pushing into him. In the warm circle of his embrace, Ginny felt the world spinning around them; hands rubbing and trailing, pulling him to her, hands on bare skin causing what felt like little shocks, bodies moving in a rhythm she never had with anyone else; her trembling fingers pulling his shirt over his head; her silent feeling of pleasure at seeing him without a shirt for the first time ever, the embarrassment she felt without her shirt until he kissed her through her simple light blue bra…all traces of embarrassment erased under his hands and lips.
Each time he moved against her the tense electric feeling would increase in the pit of her stomach until it was coursing through her and the world spun away from under her; his arms holding her tightly keeping her safe as her breathing turned erratic and she writhed in his arms, arms wrapped around his shoulders pulling him to her- forcing his head into her neck and as she reeled in the feelings of holding him so lovingly; she heard him gasp against her neck and simultaneously hearing her voice shakily calling his name. Pushing himself into her they completely spun out of control as what could only be described as a magical feeling that left them satiated and drained; gasping for breath.
Slowly Ginny felt the world around her fall back into place. Her pajama pants, bra and his sweatpants were still on, shoes discarded, shirts on the floor mixed in with the comforter and a pillow. Then the reality of what they each just experienced settled into her heart and her arms curved protectively around Draco's sweaty back, feeling his lips resting against her shoulder. Every fiber of her being betrayed her, screaming she loved him and the tears leaked out of her eyes as the overwhelming sense of what she was feeling draped over her.
"Am I to heavy?" he murmured in a voice that was muffled and sounded so distinctly the opposite of the Draco everyone else knew.
"No," Ginny said, her voice thick with emotion and he lifted his head, hearing the tremor in her voice. He seemed surprised to see her crying as pushed himself up on his hands and he gazed down at her.
"Are you ok?" and Ginny heard the concern in his voice as she willed the tears to stop but they kept coming, running down her cheeks into her ears.
"I'm great," she wiped the tears away with her hands, taking a deep breath and smelling HIM.
"Why are you crying?" he questioned.
'Again', she added in her head.
Ginny shook her head not trusting herself to speak and she met his eyes seeing herself reflected in his pupils and felt a sensation that he could see right into her. Quickly, she raised her hands to her eyes and brushed the last of her tears away.
"I'm sorry; I guess I'm a bit emotional…after…everything," she added lamely. She didn't even have time to open her eyes after she removed her hands when she felt his now familiar mouth on hers. No words were said and from the sweetness of his kiss and the way his hands framed her face she knew he saw what she was thinking. She could sense he was trying to tell her his thoughts in his own way as his thumbs caressed her cheekbones.
She was falling in love with him and there was nothing she could do about it except open herself to him, let him know he could trust her to help him: help him find his way to the new person he was trying to become, help him to reveal this sweet side more often and to trust that falling for her was safe and believe her that she would never hurt him.
Later that morning, as she turned over beneath the heavy comforter waking up to noises outside his door, she saw the real and true Draco.
Lying on his stomach, arms under his pillow, face half buried into it, his hair falling into his eyes; the comforter draped across his waist, shirtless, she could see the rise and fall of his back. He was still sound asleep, looking very relaxed. She just wanted to run her hand over his expansive shoulders that slowly tapered down to his narrow waist. She wondered, as she curled up on her side, if Pansy ever saw him like this. She thought not; she had the feeling she had never been alone with him long enough too, especially since he didn't have his own Head Boy Room back then.
She slowly brought her hand to his bangs and brushed them out of his eyes. He moved his head slightly so she could see more of his face and he was so relaxed that Ginny couldn't help but run the back of her finger down his cheek before she tucked her hands back under the comforter. He seemed to be a very sound, still sleeper and she looked at his lashes, a few shades darker than his hair, rest upon his cheeks. Her mind was memorizing every detail and this was one picture that she was going to draw. Closing her eyes, she saw his sleeping form behind her eyes and drifted back to sleep, happily remembering it was Saturday and there wasn't a need to be anywhere, until the afternoon, when the Hogsmeade trip was happening.
She wasn't sure how much longer she had slept, but she wasn't in the same position that she was when she was looking at him earlier. She was lying on her back, head turned the opposite way of Draco. She felt him curled up next to her, his head on her shoulder, her arm wrapped around his shoulders feeling him breathe evenly and she wondered when this happened. One of his legs was settled in between hers and his arm was thrown over her waist, like he had turned over in his sleep and decided to use her as a pillow.
Whatever mental chart she had stored in her head that kept track of all the surprises Draco Malfoy had ever said and done was now torn off and thrown away. She felt a whole new chapter in her life opening up and realized that with the future being unknown that she needed to enjoy the here and now and memorize every sweet moment she managed to steal with him.
This well built, tall Slytherin who had once been an enemy was now wrapped in her embrace, sleeping like a baby. And the feelings that blossomed and grew in her heart in a matter of hours now became clear--that she did love him and when he was ready he would tell her the same thing. She knew no one had ever told him that they loved him, so why should it be so easy for him to spit out the words? She wondered if she would ever say them aloud to him, or if he would just know, as he seemed to be able to read her very well, even when she didn't get that Legilimens feeling from him.
Lightly, she trailed her fingers around his shoulder, feeling a scar on the back, wondering when he received that when it could have been taken care of at St. Mungo's with no visible signs at all. He stirred in her arms and she felt him take a deep breath and let it out; for some reason she thought he would have been the type to bounce out of bed wide awake, but now it seemed to be taking him forever to wake up. She smiled and curled herself up when she felt him nuzzle her neck.
"That tickles," she murmured, her voice cracking from sleep. He pulled away and rested his head on his pillow, arms and legs still intertwined with hers, and blinked slowly as if bringing her into focus. He then smiled the sexiest smile she had ever seen come across his face, a slow lazy smile that reached his eyes and almost crinkled up his nose.
"What?" she whispered, smiling back because she couldn't help it, she reached over and brushed his bangs away from his eyes and he captured her hand, watching her fingers move between his. Her breathing seemed to hitch in her chest, not being able to take a lung full of air; she felt something emanating off of him and knew what he was about to say was going to be important.
"I could wake up like this every day," he said, voice thick and hoarse with sleep. Right then seeing and hearing the "sleepy Draco" made all those feelings and truths she admitted to herself seem even more real to her and now to him. Understanding the seriousness of that statement she pulled him back to her holding him as tight as he held onto her, not moving, not talking, just feeling.
And that feeling carried her and him through the rest of the day when they didn't see each other until dinner; it carried them through the next hectic two weeks that led up to the Valentine's Dance and when they weren't alone at all or when they managed to sneak one quick kiss in that two weeks while taking a walk outside in the snow.
Everyone had a great time at the Hogwarts dance and Ron survived his first Muggle dance, leaving the ring in his trunk at Hogwarts. He didn't know it, but his friends were planning a surprise visit from Samantha for his birthday in early March.
Ginny did find out a bit about Draco's mysterious appointments while talking to him at the dance.
He had only told her he was doing something his father would have never approved of; his mother saying that it was probably making Lucius so angry he would fight his way back to life just to kill them both.
Intrigued, Ginny had shared this with Hermione and they only thing they could come up with is that it had to do with something GOOD.