A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers! I made it past 400 reviews thanks to you, so, here is a present-- two chapters in one day! Also, there are only 9 more chapters plus an epilogue left in this story! I hope you are enjoying it as much as I did writing it.
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Separation
Ginny tossed and turned in her bed. She had just finished rounds and couldn't sleep. It was Friday night, the last day of the month and Draco was leaving with the rest of the Order for Ireland in the morning. He said he would stop by after he was packing but she felt she needed to see him now. Her mind and body were calling out for him so she got up and without bothering to change out of her cotton pajama bottoms and top she floo'd directly to his flat.
He looked up in surprise as she stumbled out. He had a bag on the sofa and was in the process of zipping it. One trunk was already packed with Potions and other items he might need.
"I was just finishing up and getting ready to come over," Draco said quietly wrapping his arms around her. She had walked straight out of the fireplace and right over to him, hugging him tightly.
"I couldn't wait any longer," Ginny said and kissed his neck softly, breathing in that spicy scent mixed with soap that she loved so much. Once she started kissing him she couldn't stop and with a thud the bag he was holding fell on the floor as he pulled her to him, his mouth assaulting hers, his body hard and warm pressing against her causing her to sigh against his lips as she decided his hands were taking to long in removing her top so she pleaded with him.
"Now Draco," she gasped as his hands threw her top to the side and her hands pushed back his black silk shirt. Her hands moved with smooth precision to unzip his pants and he kicked them off as he lowered hers so they pooled around her ankles. Holding each other they drifted to the floor and immediately Ginny grabbed his hips, letting him know what she wanted. His lips left hers and she let hers rest against his neck as he pushed into her letting out a satisfied groan as he felt how ready she was for him.
Right away, Ginny felt herself beginning to unravel. They moved quickly, pushing as hard as they could against each other, getting out all the frustration from the past three months of barely touching. Ginny arched into him, grabbing the back of his muscular thighs and trying to get him to go deeper; she felt as if she was going to break into two from the strength of his thrusts.
Her hips met every thrust of his and the feeling of him moving in and out of her brought her to the top so quickly she wasn't ready for the shattering of the tension in her body. Her throaty cries carried through his room and within moments she gasped his name digging her nails into his back as he cried out into her shoulder, his hands grabbing her hair and the top of her head. Over and over she trembled against him as he cradled her, holding her, bringing her back to the solid ground all the while planting kisses on her neck and her cheeks.
"Sweet Merlin's beard! Ginny, that…was-," Draco murmured, then stopped, not being able to think of an adjective to describe what he just experienced.
"Animalistic?" she said softly with laughter in her voice. He nodded mutely against her shoulder and kissed it, breathing deeply and taking in her flowery scent.
"Stay with me tonight?" he asked and Ginny smiled broadly, kissing his shoulder in response.
"Do you realize that is the first time we have done that since we got engaged?" Ginny questioned. Draco pushed himself up on his hands and stared down at her.
"That's totally unacceptable; how could you let me do something like that?" he asked seriously, but his eyes were bright with laughter.
"How could I? It's all my fault? You are supposed to be the super smart Professor…you could have figured something out. Fit me into your schedule or something," Ginny ran a hand through his hair, letting the soft pieces cascade through her fingers.
"I think we need to go make up for lost time, but preferably on a softer surface," he groaned as he untangled himself from her and helped her up off the floor. Tenderly touching and kissing they slowly made their way back to his bedroom, leaving their clothes in the living room, not needing them anytime soon.
It was four hours later that they stopped all their touching, kissing, murmurs of love and settled into each other's arms. The reality that he was leaving had set in when she glanced at the clock seeing it was a bit after three in the morning. He was to meet everyone at Grimmauld Place at seven and they were to diasapparate from there to a secure location in Ireland.
"Draco," Ginny murmured.
"Hmmm?" he was turning the engagement ring on her finger around and around absentmindedly. She could tell he was thinking about what he would be doing in four hours.
"How long do you reckon it takes to round up that many Death Eaters?" it was the first question she had asked him of his mission. She wondered if right now, Samantha was doing the exact same thing with Ron, questioning him, holding him and pretending to be brave. She was sure her parents were worried as were her oldest brothers for three of the Weasley's were going to try and round up what was left of the Magical World's worst nightmare.
"A few months, depending if they got word that we were coming...if they did and scattered, I really have no idea." He turned towards her and ran a hand down her bare hip. "Why don't you get some sleep?"
Ginny shook her head and copied his motion. "I want to spend every last minute with you while I can," Ginny's breath hitched in her throat and she willed herself not to cry. Draco definitely didn't need her to sobbing hours before he was to leave.
"Is everyone moved into Grimmauld?" Draco cupped her face in the dark and Ginny nodded.
"Samantha will go there tomorrow, along with Harry, Hermione and Brian. It probably is just as safe as Hogwarts…my parents and other brothers refuse to leave though. I wish my nieces would go…I worry about them," Ginny said quietly, closing her eyes as he ran his thumb over her eyelid, letting his fingers trail over her face as if memorizing all her features and committing them to memory as a blind person would.
"Charlie won't let anyone hurt them; I've seen him in action," Draco reassured her, being forced to use first names now that he was associating with all her brothers. She nipped his thumb as he passed it over her lips and he lightly smacked her bum, before settling his hand on the small of her back.
"I'm keeping you up; you should sleep for a bit. You never know when you will get another chance," Ginny whispered hoarsely, clearing her throat.
"I'll be alright," he said hearing her voice break and he cupped her face in his hands, pressing his lips to hers. Ginny felt the tears spill out her eyes, but she didn't make a sound. His thumbs wiped the tears off her cheeks. "You have the ring that will still warm up if I am thinking of you and we still have the parchment we used last summer. I can't guarantee that I will write every day but I'll try. And, I hope that I can try to come back for your graduation, just for a bit."
Ginny nodded, thankful that he had bought her the ring and was so proud of him as he explained the enchanted parchment to Harry and Ron…who immediately took his idea and adapted it to Samantha's parchment.
"And, as soon as I get back…we're getting married," he said. Ginny felt a wave of happiness wash over her as she snuggled her head under his neck, pressing every piece of her body she could against his, stealing every moment, every breath she could from him.
Distantly, Ginny heard the sounds of the shower and she struggled to open her eyes. 'Damn! I fell asleep,' she scolded herself and struggled to sit up, a bit sore from the three times she and Draco had loved each other between last night and early this morning. The shower turned off and she could hear him moving around in there. For a minute she was busy picturing him naked, coming out of the shower, and thought one day she should draw that, just for her own perverse pleasure.
A thought entered her head and she jumped out of bed, pulling on her knickers and one of Draco's crisp black t-shirts and padded into the kitchen. It was six in the morning and she felt like she hadn't slept at all.
Realizing he had nothing in his fridge, she managed to conjure up some eggs, cheese and mushrooms and went to work making omelets for breakfast, along with coffee and toast. She wasn't very hungry and she wasn't sure if he was either, but at least the gesture was there. She was sliding the omelets out onto the plates when he walked in sniffing the air appreciatively.
"Thank you," Draco came up and wrapped his arms around her from behind as she buttered the two pieces of toast. He kissed her temple and let his hand rest on her stomach watching her spread the butter evenly over the toast.
"You're welcome," she said simply, leaning back into him as she set the butter knife down. "Hungry?" she pulled a plate toward them and he stepped back silently telling her he was ready to eat.
They ate in silence and Ginny was surprised she actually did finish everything on her plate. Wrapping her warm hands around her coffee she stared at the trunk by the front door and the bag on top of it. They weren't there when she had arrived from school the other night.
"Did you sleep at all?" Ginny asked and she moved her head a bit to catch his gaze. She could see the circles under his eyes and she knew he hadn't.
"I'll be fine," he said quietly and Ginny reached across the table and grabbed his hand. He picked it up and kissed her engagement ring then lowered their hands, still linked, to the table.
"Just make sure my brother doesn't do anything stupid." Ginny tried to lighten the mood a bit and was rewarded with a small smile.
"He actually knows what he is doing, so you can stop worrying about him," he sent their dishes to the sink, still holding her hand and he settled his gaze upon her. She gave him a sad smile, not wanting him to go, but knowing he had to find these Death Eaters and what better person to hunt them down than someone who used to know them, almost intimately?
"I need to get going…will you come to Grimmauld with me?"
Ginny thought for a moment then shook her head.
"No, thanks…I don't think I could take seeing everyone depressed right now," Ginny said quietly, not wanting to add to her own emotions.
They stood up and embraced each other, both running their hands up and down each other's back. Ginny squeezed her eyes shut and when Draco spoke she swore it sounded like he might cry too.
"Be safe, do what Harry says and know that I love you…you're the best thing that has ever happened and ever will happen to me." His voice was husky and Ginny nodded using all her willpower to keep her tears back and not to let them fall until after he was gone.
"I will; same here," was all she could choke out and a second later found his mouth against hers in a slow, gentle kiss. Ginny cupped his face in her hands, memorizing everything about this moment and with difficulty he pulled away and rested his forehead against hers. She had her eyes closed and he didn't ask her to open them. Each were lost in their own thoughts as they stood there in the kitchen.
He kissed her forehead and stepped away, causing Ginny to open her eyes and look at him. She didn't say anything as he walked towards his bag and trunk, shrunk them down and put them in his robe pocket as he shrugged it on. Ginny wanted to scream at him and tell him not to go, but she didn't. She remained stoic; her jaw clenched as he buttoned his robe up and pocketed his wand.
"Harry said he would relieve me for your graduation, so I hope I can make it to that," Draco said and saw Ginny nod, her face full of emotion, her eyes bright with tears.
Once more he walked towards her and hugged her, with one final kiss and two whispered "I love you's" he disapparated and it wasn't ten seconds later that Ginny was crying in frustration into Draco's pillow.
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It was exactly one week since Draco, Ron, Fred and George had left with most of the members of the Order and neither Maggie nor Ginny were in the greatest of moods. Since Ginny had already taken her NEWT for Potions, she had a lot less homework, so she and Maggie decided to go to Grimmauld to visit Samantha and Brian. It was a rainy Saturday morning and neither were in the mood to hang around school, seeing their fellow classmates laugh and play games, while they were worried about their loved ones fighting to capture thirty very hard to find people.
Ginny had sought permission from Dumbledore to floo into Grimmauld and he granted Maggie and her permission, so after breakfast they went back to the Common Room and floo'd into Harry's house.
Ginny could hear Brian crying in the kitchen while they brushed themselves off. She walked over and peaked in seeing Hermione sitting at the table, the Daily Prophet open in front of her and a bottle now stuck in Brian's mouth.
"Hey," Ginny said softly and Hermione jumped a bit, then relaxed.
"Hi you guys…how're you doing?" she smiled up at them and Maggie sat down with a thud across from her while Ginny made herself a cup of coffee.
"Hanging in there I suppose. I just don't see why everyone is so happy at Hogwarts…and here I feel like I have lost my best friend," Maggie complained quietly.
"Hey, I am one of your best friends and I am here…you are mixing your boyfriend and me up," Ginny kidded and was rewarded with a small laugh from Maggie.
"Sorry, you're right," Maggie said watching Hermione burp three week old Brian. Ginny noticed that she looked very tired.
"How's baby Brian doing?" Ginny ran a hand over his dark hair.
"Good, up three times last night. Harry got up twice, so I am letting him sleep," Hermione yawned and shook her head slightly.
"Here," Ginny set her coffee down and made a motion with her hands, "Give him to me and you go to sleep."
"No, I-," Hermione protested.
"Hermione, we are up and dressed and had a good night's sleep. Please let us help?" Ginny asked and Maggie nodded in agreement, stealing a sip of Ginny's coffee.
"Alright, but call me if you need anything," Hermione handed her the baby without taking the bottle out and he squirmed down into his godmother's arms, drinking hungrily from the bottle.
"Sleep as long as you need. Harry too," Ginny called after her, settling down in the chair. She gazed down at Brian who was sucking intently, his eyes shut and a hand curled up near his nose. Ginny wedged her finger into his tiny fist and felt a pull at her stomach as he closed his fingers around hers.
"He's really cute," Maggie commented leaning over to look at him and Ginny nodded.
"He has Hermione's brown eyes, but looks like Harry every where else, except for the scar. It's just so weird to see my friends have a kid," Ginny said taking an empty bottle out of his mouth, then leaning him against her hand to burp him.
"You're a natural," Maggie complimented and Ginny smiled.
"Twin nieces and I DO want to deliver babies, so…," Ginny laughed as he let out a huge burp that would make Uncle Ron proud. Brian fell asleep with his head resting against Ginny's hand and she eased him back into her arms.
"Will you and Draco have kids?" Maggie asked suddenly.
"I'm sure…he mentioned he wants one," Ginny said getting a funny feeling in her chest thinking about having a child with him.
"Fred said he wants two," Maggie said suddenly and Ginny stared at her.
"You've talked about that?" Ginny asked incredulously. Maggie nodded shyly.
"Ever since he was told he was going to be trained as an auror it was like a crash course in each other…talking about kids, jobs, sharing stories about our past," to which Ginny grunted thinking of all the stories she knew about them, "and if we have a future together."
"And?" Ginny asked seeing Maggie flush under her dark hair.
"I think so," she whispered and Ginny smiled broadly.
"That's wonderful, Maggie. Really!"
"Thanks," Maggie stole the rest of Ginny's coffee and they looked at Brian as he squeaked in his sleep.
They chatted for a few more minutes until they got up and went to the living room, where Ginny showed Maggie the TV and taught her to flip through the channels. Ginny stretched out on the sofa and placed Brian on her chest where he scrunched his legs up under him and sighed in his sleep. Maggie laid a baby blanket over him and together they watched the Muggle News and some type of cartoon.
Samantha made her presence known by sneezing in the kitchen and then seeing two people in the living room she came out to investigate.
"Hey," Ginny looked up at her and noticed she looked awful.
"I have the worst cold," Samantha blew her nose into a tissue. She kept her distance from Brian, taking a seat near the fireplace, holding coffee in her hand.
"How's work?" Ginny asked quietly, her hand rubbing up and down Brian's small back.
"Gives me something to do during the week so I don't think about Ron too much," Samantha replied honestly. "Then I come here to sleep. I hate my empty flat, so basically I just closed it up and stay here. I enjoy watching Brian," Samantha smiled then sneezed again, causing Brian to jump then settle down.
"I wish I could give you some potion for that cold, but it won't work on Muggles," Ginny said apologetically and Samantha thanked her.
"I'll live. I haven't had a cold in a long time; no idea what brought this one…it's draining me too," Samantha stood up mumbling something about wanting some eggs. Maggie and Ginny declined her offer to make them some and continued being entertained by what was now a wildlife show for kids on the TV.
A short while later Ginny sat up, realizing Brian needed to be changed. Maggie helped her search for diapers and together and with some magic they made him all comfy again, without setting off Brian…trying to let his parents sleep in as late as they could.
"Well, only two more weeks until graduation…that's great Draco will be able to come," Maggie said as she turned off the TV.
"Have you heard from Fred at all since they have been gone?"
Maggie shook her head. "I have that parchment like what Draco gave you, but nothing yet. You?"
"Just my ring…it's been warm a few times but nothing else. I suspect we should hear something soon," Ginny said positively. She had managed to go almost a whole summer without seeing him and had survived three months of barely touching or talking to him, but yet seeing him everyday. She figured it would have been much easier to get through her days if he wasn't out there risking his life.
"If I get that job in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office, I think I will be using postal stamps and letters…poor owls won't get so tired," Maggie commented out of the blue. Ginny looked up and saw Hedwig sore in through an open window and head towards the kitchen.
"That sounds like a cool job! My dad would love that," Ginny said placing a pacifier in Brian's mouth as he rooted around for something to suck on.
"Have you heard about the Healer job yet?"
"No, Hermione said it was August when she heard; so I will probably come here after school, see if I can find
something to do to earn some money," Ginny said a bit worried about how she was going to support herself if she
didn't hear something soon.
Maggie reached into her jeans pocket and pulled out her parchment, idly flipping it open.
"Hey, Fred wrote! Listen: All is fine here, found the camp and am watching their movements now, trying to get numbers down. Everyone is fine, tired and missing real food," Maggie paused and read something obviously private with a small smile on her face.
"Take Brian, so I can reach into my back pocket," Ginny said helping Maggie take Brian who woke up and looked up at her. Maggie smiled at him, wiping a tear off her cheek and Ginny searched her pockets finding her parchment from last summer. Indeed, Draco wrote her a short note.
"Ginny, We are at our destination and just biding our time. Your brothers are doing well, fighting a lot but I guess that is normal? Still have no idea when we will be back, but I still hope to see you in three weeks. I miss you, Love, Draco." Ginny didn't read hers aloud, afraid her voice would crack as she read his line over and over again. She grabbed a quill off the coffee table and wrote him one back, saying all was well, she was at Grimmauld (which she know would make him happy) and she missed him immensely. She drew a quick sketch of Brian, the first thing to come to her mind when she felt the need to draw something and then folded it and placed it back in her pocket.
The three girls chatted for the next few hours, until lunch time when Harry finally made his way downstairs, looking more awake then Ginny had seen him in the past few classes. He took Brian from Maggie as he started to fuss for his bottle and took him into the kitchen, listening to the girls tell them about the notes they received.
All in all, Ginny had a pleasant day off of her studies. She knew she would have to buckle down and spend all of Sunday
studying for her exams but reconnecting with her friends and seeing her godson helped lift her spirits a bit and it was
with a bit of a happier heart that she and Maggie floo'd back to school in time for dinner.