A/N: I really love reading all the reviews but there is an ANONYMOUS person that is leaving huge, bothersome reviews that only include icons and "PLEASE UPDATE" etc. I can't respond to ANONYMOUS reviews and these really long "reviews" are taking up space on James'/Portkey's server and is making my computer lock up when opening my review screen. Please, please say something constructive or just tell me once that you like it. If those reviews don't stop, I won't update. For those of you who don't know what I mean, look at my last reviews and you'll see a page of just smiley faces. Thanks for everyone's cooperation. This story is posted on Fanfiction.net if you (the anonymous reviewer) would like to read DT in its entirety. It's still under my name, JazzyGeorgie.
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Ginny's Birthday
Ginny was well into her trip to Spain by the time Draco got around to reading the "Daily Prophet", one late night. He was two days away from returning to a much cooler England; having lived in a tent, set up next to Professor Snape's and a few other professors from the African Wizarding School.
He took off his shirt in an attempt to cool down and sat down on his cot, laying out the paper before him. There it was on the front page, a photo of the new Mr. and Mrs. Potter smiling and looking around, right in front of the entrance doors to Hogwarts. He scanned through the article, which went into great detail about the type of dresses worn by the bridal party to the weather at Hogwarts that day.
Turning to the next page where the story was continued, he saw two more pictures from the wedding. Underneath the bridal party photo was a caption of who was who and his eyes widened as he found Ginny, hair piled on her head. She was laughing at something Luna had said and he wondered what was said between them. Skimming down the article, this section was about the food served, a history of Hermione and Harry and then listed some notable guests, showing a picture of Ginny dancing with Viktor. They were talking, then turned to the camera and both smiled. He noticed that she was as tall as Viktor now and got a strange feeling in his chest seeing them dancing…seeing Viktor's hand on her waist, the other holding hers. He looked at her for a minute longer, taking in the dress and how she was just so different than when he had left in early July.
Groaning, Draco fell backwards onto the cot, trying to figure out how this year was going to work. If he had noticed the change in Ginny from girl to woman, it was obvious that Viktor and every other male at Hogwarts had too. He was going to have to trust her; something he wasn't used to do doing to such a large extent. He grabbed the paper and looked at it again, brushing his hair out of his eyes. He made a mental note to get a haircut the moment he set foot on English soil as he stared at the picture. Ginny was mentioned twice in the article, once for being Krum's dance partner and another mention as Hermione's best friend from Hogwarts.
Draco folded the paper and set it on the floor, picking up the parchment that lay on top of his school bag and unfolding it. There was a new note from Ginny; these notes helped him get through the hot, humid days of walking, cutting, categorizing plants…he was so ready to go home, he would jump on his broom and go now, if he had it and if Professor Snape wasn't breathing down his neck so much.
Placing a hand behind his head he read the short paragraph Ginny wrote sometime that evening.
Draco,
It's August 3rd and I love Spain. I love it, love it, love it! Today, Ron and I visited Costa De Valencia, where the Witchcraft and Wizardry School is located and watched their Quidditch team play against a small school from Portugal. The scenery is beautiful, the weather is warm and the people are so nice. If I had the money, I would buy a house in Valencia and come here all the time; it's wild, swampy, marshy, freshwater pools…everything including mountains that go right up to the sea. Tomorrow, we shall go to Granada then come back home; I can't wait to sleep in my own bed. Ron gets a few days off, then he is off to Ireland again. I'll be babysitting that whole week as Katharine needs to get her classroom ready for school. Apparently she and Bill have worked something out where one is home with the babies while the other one works. I hope you are staying cool and I bet you are glad to be coming home in another day or two.
Thinking of you always,
Ginny
Under her writing was a picture she sketched of the mountains and sea. She had used some colored pencils or something to bring out the hues of the mountains and he charmed it so it wouldn't disappear, wanting to keep that picture.
Draco let the paper flutter to his chest, wondering if he had ever been to Costa De Valencia. He didn't think his parents ever took him there. Madrid, yes, but never the coast. Reaching into his bag he grabbed a Quill and sat up to write a quick note back to her.
Ginny,
Spain sounds fascinating; I have only ever been to Madrid…to busy there for my taste. I finally got a chance to read the Prophet; you looked beautiful. I wish I was there instead of Viktor, but as you can see that didn't happen. Tomorrow we pack up and get ready to send things back to school. If all goes well I should be back in two days. I am going to immediately get a shower, sit in the dungeons for awhile, and eat a steak and kidney pie. I will Owl you when I get back.
Draco
Folding up the paper he set it back on his bag and turned on his side, tired and drained from the heat
and all the walking and lifting he was doing. Soon, he fell into his typical dreamless sleep.
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August 6th came and for the first time Draco got a nice shower, changed into a nice pair of jeans and a black shirt, glad that he was back at his flat that he had yet to really make home. His mother had seen to it that his bedroom set was delivered and he had purchased a sofa, but not liking the brown color changed it to black. A piano was in the corner, courtesy of his mother. He had a table and two chairs and an office…that was it. He laid back on his bed and relaxed before he was to have dinner with Professor Dumbledore and talk about his trip. As he went through his mail he saw a note from Samantha. Peaking his interest he opened it first and saw a short note.
Draco,
As you know, Ginny's 17th birthday is August 11th and I thought it would be a great birthday surprise if you were able to attend a surprise lunch. We are going to do what we did for Harry; wait for her at the magical phone box and take her to lunch. "We" being, me, Ron, Luna, Neville, Susan, Maggie, Blaise and maybe Fred and George. Harry and Hermione won't be back until August 13th from their honeymoon so they won't be there. Her test is scheduled for 11:30am, according to her mother. If you can make it, feel free to contact me and you can apparate into my flat if you want to. Just let me know so you don't scare the hell out of me.
Samantha
Pocketing the note, he thought he might be able to make it, since the 11th was a Friday. He would ask Dumbledore at dinner…he quickly wrote back a note with the intention of having a school owl send it back to her.
Samantha,
I should be able to make it, but I just need to pass it by Dumbledore. I would apparate into your flat around 11:15 or so.
Draco
For the next week, Ginny babysat her nieces, exhausted at the end of each day with watching two of them, but determined to enjoy the time that she could have with them. She knew that when the next school year came, she wouldn't be apparating much back home to see anyone.
Her mother had asked her what she wanted to do for her birthday and if there was anything special she wanted to do for it. As she lay in the pool early in the morning of her 17th birthday, she still had no idea what she wanted. She figured the clothes her mother had to buy her during the summer were enough; she made plans to meet Hermione when they came back to go out for her lunch, but other than that she had no big plans. She was an adult now and after 11:30am today, she hoped she would be able to apparate anywhere she wanted to. She was going to apparate to work with her mother, meet some of her co-workers in the Ministry and just hang out until her appointment. She was getting ready to slide off the raft when Pig flew up and dropped two letters, right on her stomach then managed to fly into the barn behind their house.
Shaking her hands dry, she opened the first letter carefully, recognizing Hermione's handwriting.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GINNY! Sorry we aren't there to celebrate it with you, but we will take you out to lunch when we get back. America is great and so far we have managed to sightsee in five different states. No one knows us over here and it's the most relaxing feeling to be able to walk outside and not have someone yell HARRY POTTER aloud so everyone else can hear it. I am loving married life and Harry says, "Happy Birthday". Love, Hermione and Harry.
Inside the letter was a postcard from New York City and Ginny gazed at the tall buildings, wondering how in the world someone could live up so high without having a broomstick. Carefully folding it and placing it on the edge of the pool she had drifted to, she opened the second which she could tell was from Draco.
Happy Birthday, Ginny. I have a gift for you that I would like to give you in person, so the next time I see you, it's all yours. Also, good luck with your apparition test; I know you will pass without any problems! Things are winding down a bit here, so I will come visit when I can. Love, Draco
Ginny smiled, realizing it was the first time he had signed any of his notes with the word "love". Carefully she climbed out of the pool and walked to the house, drying herself with a Drying Spell as she went.
After a shower and settling on a pair of white jeans and a dark blue sleeveless top, she grabbed her school robes and wand and went down to the kitchen to meet her mother. She was now taller than her mother and as tall as her father. Her mother had measured her the other day, insisting that she was taller than the twins. When her mother said Ginny was 5'10", she about fell over. The twins were an inch taller and Ginny mentally prepared herself for the comments that would ensue on her arrival at Hogwarts in September.
After spending some quality mother daughter time in her mother's office, she went and visited her father, getting a huge hug from Kingsley Shacklebolt, and yet another comment on how tall she was. At 11:25 she made her way down to the Apparition Licensing office and went through the same motions that Harry and her other friends had a year earlier and within twenty minutes, she had apparated successfully from one room to another. On exiting she filled out her license and walked quickly from the room, her heart soaring that she was free! No more hanging on her brother's arm to go somewhere, no more stumbling out of sooty fireplaces. She backtracked to her mother's office and told her the good news, then to her father. Surprisingly, he handed her a few galleons saying since she hadn't told them what she had wanted for her birthday to go above ground and peruse the shops. Leaving her robe with her father, she pocketed her wand and headed towards the lifts to go up above ground.
As she ascended to the ground, she pulled her hair back into a barrette, trying to figure out where to start shopping first. As she arrived above ground she stepped out of the phone booth and was immediately hugged.
"Happy Birthday, Ginny!" Samantha's voice said in her ear and Ginny jumped back before she saw Neville and Luna standing there.
"Merlin you all. You scared the hell out of me!" Ginny hugged Samantha, and saw Susan, Maggie and Blaise and gave them each a hug in return.
"Ginny, what has your mother been feeding you?!" Maggie asked and Ginny just shrugged and smiled.
"What are you all doing here?"
"Did you pass?" Susan asked and Ginny nodded, receiving more congratulations and hugs.
"We came to take you to lunch, to the restaurant we went to for Harry's birthday last year!" Samantha tucked her arm through her to-be-sister-in-laws and they all headed towards the restaurant.
"How's your summer, Ginny?" Neville asked and Ginny launched into a detailed description of babysitting, Spain and the pool her father had in their back yard now. Everyone was wanting a pool party, after she and Samantha had explained what an in-ground pool was.
"Do you have one of those thingies you bounce off of?" Susan asked as they rounded the corner.
"A diving board, yes, we…," the words died coming off her lips as she caught sight of a particular blond Slytherin leaning against the wall in front of the door to the restaurant.
"Draco?" Ginny said softly and Samantha heard her along with Luna.
"Surprise number two," Luna said as Draco stood up straight.
Ginny walked quickly over to him and threw her arms around his shoulders, noticing that all his body parts hit her in different places now.
"Hey you," Draco whispered in her ear and she could only nod, feeling the tears start at the back of her throat and work their way up to the back of her eyes.
"Happy Birthday," he said and kissed her in his usual spot, right next to her ear. She squeezed him hard.
"Thanks," she whispered back then slowly pulled away as a couple walked past them into the restaurant.
Turning around, but keeping an arm around his waist she looked at her friends.
"You guys are crazy, you know that?" Ginny smiled at them and they all shrugged. Draco and Blaise shook hands quickly and Ginny went over to Samantha and hugged her.
"Thanks, Samantha," she whispered and felt Samantha pat her back.
"Come on, let's go in and find a seat. Give them a bit of time," Samantha winked at Ginny and herded Susan, Maggie, Blaise, Neville and Luna into the building. Ginny turned and saw Draco staring at her. He caught her eye and gave her a smile.
"I got your letter this morning, thanks for that," Ginny said, noticing that he cut his hair which was now sun bleached white. He wasn't as sunburned as last time she saw him, although he was a bit darker then he had been when he left, but what she couldn't believe was how much he had filled out; it was like as she was growing in height he grew in breadth.
"No problem. I figured Pig could handle the flight and not get lost," he reached over and pulled her to him in a one armed embrace. They stood hip to hip for a moment until he turned her towards him.
"You look great," Ginny said, feeling her heart pounding in her throat and those feelings she had when he first kissed her in the snow were back.
"So do you," he said looking at her. "I leave you alone over a summer and you go from girl to woman," he touched her cheek and Ginny blushed, then felt his hand force her chin up. Closing her eyes she met his lips half way and she gripped his arms, feeling the hard muscle under them, as their lips slowly explored each others. When he pulled back, Ginny was ready to fall into his arms right there.
"We should probably go inside," he said and she nodded, feeling his arm stay around her waist as he led her inside and to the back where they could hear Neville and Luna laughing.
All during lunch, Ginny tried to pay attention to her friends and their conversations but all she was really aware of was the presence next to her. She felt like they were communicating on an energy level that was so strong, it kept pulling her mind away from the conversation at hand and to this person next to her. His arm stayed around the back of her chair the whole time, sometimes she could feel him playing with her hair, or his fingers brushing her bare shoulder and she would practically leap out of her chair, wanting to be in his arms but trying to exhibit some control.
After a wonderful lunch and Samantha paying after a stare down with Draco, which Ginny was impressed she won, they made their way outside. Samantha had to get back to work and everyone else begged off saying they had things to do too, which left Ginny and Draco.
"How's your flat?" Ginny asked and she saw him look around quickly, grabbed her hand and the next thing she knew she was blinking inside his flat.
"Geeze, you're fast!" Ginny said and shook her head, trying to get herself together. She noticed the piano first off, then the leather sofa facing the fire place. It was sparse, yet so Draco.
"You know who your neighbors are?" Ginny asked and Draco shook his head, pulling up the blinds along side the fireplace.
"Hermione and Harry."
"What?" he stopped and stared at her and she laughed.
"I'm glad I can still surprise you! They are renting next door actually," Ginny too a few steps and peaked into the eating area, seeing a table with two chairs settled into the middle of the floor.
"I get to live next to a newly married couple? Merlin, I hope they remember to silencio their flat," Draco said, coming over to her. She turned into him and wrapped her arms around his back, placing a kiss on his neck. His hands ran up her back and she pushed herself against him as his fingers brushed her neck, half tickling and half torturing her.
"Draco-," Ginny whispered in the same tone she had used last winter. And, like last winter that was all he needed to press his lips to hers and she didn't hesitate in opening up to him- wanting him right there.
"Bedroom," she said and he walked her backwards down the short hall, kicking open his door and when Ginny felt that soft mattress beneath her back, she knew it was all over. What began as a slow, passionate kiss turned quickly into frenzied hand movements, frustrated with buttons and snaps, they wordlessly used magic to remove the pesky items in their way.
Draco let his hand trail up her long leg, not believing how different she was now. He felt the muscles from swimming quiver beneath his fingers and as his hand passed around her hip he noticed it felt different to him there too. It was like someone took Ginny and stuck her in a different body.
As he trailed his hand up her side, feeling her squirm and hearing her muffled laugh under his lips he cupped her breast in his hand and even that part of her felt a bit different. All of this struck him at once as he felt her hands lightly skim down him and squeeze his lower back, silently asking him to move and he didn't need to be told twice. His hand passed over her stomach and her hand found it's way to the top of his, feeling the warmth radiate out of his hand into her abdomen. Then her hand stroked its way up to his shoulder, squeezing his arm slightly with each movement she made.
As she felt him kiss her deeply he entered her at the same time, causing her to wrap her legs around him, keeping him still, not moving inside her. He pulled away, questioning her with his eyes and she gave him a small smile, then nipped his bottom lip, releasing her legs and moved her hips against his. Slowly Ginny nudged him to his side and she laid one leg over his hip and pushed into him, gasping at the difference in feeling that it brought her. Hearing his sharp in take of breath she realized he felt it to and she moved faster against him, her arm tucked under his neck, wrapping around to his shoulder, pinning him to her as his hand grabbed her thigh and moved it higher, bringing her closer.
The familiar, long awaited clenching feeling was deep inside her and she moved her mouth to his cheek urging him on. He responded, his hand pressed against her lower back, forbidding her to pull away as he pushed into her warmth and heard her sigh each time he did. She came suddenly, surprising both of them with the energy she radiated. Falling back against the pillow he rolled on top of her, feeling her shudder and clench against him, causing him to move maybe twice more and spilling himself into her, swearing and saying her name in the same sentence as he felt her arms tighten around him, pulling him to her so they were molded together.
Draco listened to her rapid breathing in his ear, loving that sound that only he heard in moments like this.
The ache that Ginny had felt all summer was filled for the moment. She had nowhere to be, he had the whole day off and she laid in his arms, under the blanket as he told her about Africa. Ginny swore it was the most she had ever heard him talk without anyone interrupting and she kept her head on his chest, hearing the vibration of his voice in one ear and listening with her other one. His hand was tracing circles on her arm and she wished she was done school. If she was, then this might not be the last time for who knows how long.
"So, do you really have the whole day off?" Ginny asked after telling him about Spain.
"I do; I expect your parents would like you home for dinner?" Draco turned so he was facing her.
"I expect so…would you like to come?"
"I think that I would. A home cooked meal would taste excellent about now."
Sighing, Ginny snuggled against him, trying to milk every moment she could alone with him.
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That night after her birthday dinner, including all her brothers but Ron and after they had all left back to their own flats, Ginny and Draco decided to go for a swim. Her parents had settled down in the living room, each reading their own favorite magazine, listening to the Wizarding Wireless. Upstairs Ginny changed into her simple one piece suit as Draco changed into his swimming trunks in the guest room.
It was dark out, but with the light of the moon and a few well placed dim lanterns they were able to see their way out of the house and past the garden to the pool.
Draco watched in fascination as she executed a perfect dive off the board, swam underwater to the shallow side and stood up, using both hands to push her hair back from her face. He slid in down the side of the pool, feeling the warm water envelop him and they met halfway, where the water was chest deep.
"Nice dive," he complimented her, snaking an arm around her waist and she didn't have a chance to thank him as he picked her up and threw her in to the deep end. Consequently, she went after him and for the better part of an hour they chased each other splashed and floated around on the rafts, trying to see shooting stars in the sky.
As she floated around on the raft, Draco a few feet away from her she thought that if she could get a house in Spain and a pool, life would be perfect.
Her fingers trailed in the water, making little circles as she stared, literally, into space thinking about what life would be like for her after school. She felt Draco's hand touch hers and tug her raft closer to his.
Slipping away from his grasp, she rolled off the raft, came up under his and turned him over. Quickly, she turned and swam towards the side, only to feel a hand on her ankle as he yanked her under with him.
They both came up spluttering and coughing, treading water in the deep end. Making her way backwards to the wall, she tried to calculate her next move, but he was too fast and pinned her up against the side of the pool. Her arms were out to the side, hanging on and he placed his hands over each of her shoulders.
"Do you have tomorrow off too?" Ginny asked hopefully and he shook his head.
"I actually need to go through some formulas and make sure they work before I teach your class how to make them," one arm had gone around her waist, pulling her to him, making his face level with hers.
"Well, working on a Saturday isn't any fun," Ginny admitted, reaching up and brushing his hair to the side, then placing her hand on the back of his head, she guided him to her lips kissing him and tasting the chlorine in the water on his mouth.
Slowly, he moved her towards the shallower end until he could touch the bottom, then reaching down her grabbed her legs and wrapped them around his waist.
"One last time?" he whispered over her lips and she let out a small whimper, feeling his fingers pull at the fabric between her legs.
"My parents…," she whispered back, her hips snapping forward as he ran a finger against her.
"Won't hear a thing," he said and she gave a slight nod, settling in his arms enjoying the weightlessness that surrounded her as she moved against his hand, his mouth firmly clamped over hers silencing the whimpers he loved so much.
Hours later, close to midnight, they stood at the end of her walk, saying goodbye for what they knew to be the last time until the first day of school.
"Well, PROFESSOR Malfoy, thanks for a wonderful birthday," she smiled and kissed him on his cheek, then hugged him, feeling his damp hair against her cheek.
"I haven't given you your present yet," he gently pushed her away from him and she gave him a sly smile.
"You mean that two or-,"
"Ginny!" Draco rolled his eyes and placed his hand over her mouth. He felt her smile underneath it and he removed his hand, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a box then handed it to her.
"You didn't have to buy me anything," Ginny said kindly as he took her hand and placed the box, roughly two inches bigger than the ring box, into her hand. Grabbing his wand, he muttered LUMOS so she could see what she was opening. Ginny flipped the lid off.
"Draco! Oh my…how did you…?" She pulled out the necklace and stared at it under the light. There, hanging on a fine gold chain was a flat circular disk, not even one inch in diameter. Etched into it was an exact copy of the picture she had drawn him of the mountains and sea during her visit to Spain.
"How did you do this?" She practically squeaked as she ran her thumb over the picture.
"Magic," Draco replied evasively loving the look of complete surprise on her face.
"I love it!" deftly she put it around her neck and hooked the clasp, watching it settle against her chest. "Thank you," she looked at him and leaned over to kiss him again.
"I'll wear it always, just like the ring," she whispered as he held her close, and for a moment they stayed locked in each other's arms.
"I'll see you on the first, at the sorting ceremony," he said quietly and she nodded, her mind not quiet grasping the concept that in two weeks time, he would really be her teacher.
"I'll see you there," she hugged him tighter for a few seconds and the slowly backed away. He took her hand and kissed the back of it, like Viktor had done at Hermione's wedding. Then, as if realizing that wasn't going to cut it, he pulled her to him and kissed her, letting one hand travel to her chest where he squeezed gently.
"Behave," Ginny said softly, smiling as she pulled back, reached around grabbed his arse and squeezed.
"Who's telling who?" he grabbed her offending hand and held it tight in hers. "I have to go."
"I know. Feel free to drop by anytime; I'm babysitting here until school starts."
He nodded, extinguished his wand and kissed her cheek.
"Bye," Ginny whispered, not feeling the tears threatening this time.
"See you…Head Girl," and with that he was gone before she had time to comprehend what he had said.
She realized that he WOULD know that since he had to pick Prefects and a Quidditch Captain out of his own house, so it would make sense he would know all the other positions the students would be in. She practically skipped down the path as she realized that being Head Girl meant her own room, the ability to be out after hours. 'This might actually not be such a bad year,' Ginny thought to herself as she quietly let herself in and headed up to her bedroom.