Christmas, Christmas Time Is Here…
Ginny caught sight of Draco standing near the library doors; she was as nervous as she had ever been in her life. Everyone knew they were attending the dance together which caused her to receive many thumbs ups and comments about how jealous they were down to Pansy making a comment that he was just using her until someone better came along.
But, as she stood there watching him walk towards her and she heard him say she looked beautiful, she forgot all the comments she had heard over the past two weeks. The ones about her dating a Malfoy. She almost said the same comment right back at him, but remembered to catch herself. He WAS beautiful in his dark blue, almost black dress robes complete with cape. His blond hair was combed slightly to the left and his fringe touched the ridge of his eyebrows. She just once wanted to run her hand through his hair, but had managed to resist the urge so far.
Before she walked to the library, back in her tower, she had received many stares, including Harry's when she glided down the steps in to their common room; she wasn't used to showing so much skin or wearing something so feminine she was sure she would make a fool out of herself. But she knew if she could even render her brother speechless, then she must have looked like someone other than Ginevra Weasley.
Tucking her arm in to his, they walked towards the magnificently decorated Great Hall watching charmed mistletoe zoom in and out of the halls, chasing third years some who ran away screaming and laughing while there were others who were trying to catch it.
As they entered the dance she could feel people looking at them and whispering. She looked right at some of them and noticed that most had smiles on their faces which she guessed and hoped was a good thing. Many females in her class and dorm had asked her why he seemed so relaxed and more pleasant. All she could say was that he wasn't living under his father's shadow anymore and maybe this was the start of a new person.
Ginny saw Luna in her dark purple dress robes, dancing with Neville near the Christmas Tree that was at least four times as tall as Hagrid. Her brother and Samantha were chatting to a couple from Hufflepuff and she saw Tom with his date, a girl named Sara from Ravenclaw.
Not stopping to talk to anyone, Draco took her hand and led her to the dance floor. There was no hesitation this time on where to put arms and hands. Ginny felt that she couldn't get close enough to him…the candles flickering their soft light and the white bulbs on the Christmas Tree were sources of illumination in the room and it added to the romantic atmosphere.
She saw girls in beautiful dresses, boys in new robes some talking to each other along the wall, many dancing with their dates or girlfriends and the happiness that was engulfing the room was thrilling. She barely heard a few girls happily laughing across the room she was so lost in her own thoughts and feelings of being held.
After they danced, they walked hand in hand towards the table she saw her friends occupying. Hermione came running up to her and Ginny stopped, taking her hand out of Draco's to grab the one Hermione held in front of her face. There on her finger was a beautiful diamond and sapphire engagement ring. Letting out a small squeal Ginny hugged Hermione hard, so happy that she and Harry were engaged. She couldn't wait to hear the whole story and she continued on to the table where Draco was talking to Harry. In a rush of words Hermione explained how Harry took her out onto the balcony and asked her before they were even done the first dance; she said he was so cute being so nervous and Ginny couldn't help but smile at him. Samantha had snuck up to the stage and made the announcement, causing the Hall to erupt into cheers and whistles and many well wishers descended upon their group. Ginny backed up with Draco into the corner, letting Colin take Harry and Hermione's picture.
"I can't believe he kept that a secret from everyone!" Ginny said more to herself than Draco.
"I thought at least your brother would have been privy to that," Draco said glancing up as a bunch of third years pointed up above their heads and giggled. He glanced down at Ginny who wasn't paying attention to the mistletoe hanging above their heads. Draco gave the third years a dark look and they scampered away, giggling the whole time.
Nudging Ginny she looked over at him and he pointed towards the ceiling. She followed his finger and saw the mistletoe hanging there. Immediately, Ginny felt her stomach practically jump to her throat and quickly looked around the Hall. Most people were still hovering around Harry and Hermione or on the dance floor. She didn't see her brother's tall red haired frame anywhere, so she glanced back up at Draco.
"Well," Ginny said, mentally kicking herself for that nice intelligent remark.
"Deep subject," Draco gave a small little smile, reached out and placed his hands on her bare arms. She felt him pull her towards her and she let him, feeling his arm go around her waist.
"Don't look so terrified Weasley," Draco said softly and Ginny blushed, for some reason she didn't want everyone to see them kiss, but then again part of her reasoned that it was mistletoe. If she had been caught under here with Harry they would have to kiss, so it didn't matter. Apparently, the rumor was if you didn't kiss then it would start shrieking and follow one of you around until you kissed the person it caught you with.
"I could be Crabb or Goyle."
Ginny let out half a laugh and half a snort then felt his lips on hers, just like when they were in the snow. She froze for a minute- her senses on overload. Ginny could hear laughter and the band; she felt his arm around her waist and his other hand on the back of her neck and his warm lips against hers. On their own accord, her hands slid up his chest and rested on his shoulders, feeling the tight muscles of his arms and she felt herself lean into him, feeling like she was going to fall with all the emotions coursing through her. He tightened his arm around her for a moment then they both pulled away, faces inches apart. At the same time they both looked up and Draco said softly, "Looks as if went over to bother someone else."
"Too bad," Ginny said quickly then covered her mouth. She saw Draco's eyes light up and he laughed, a deep, delightfully happy laugh and it was so surprising that Parvati, Padma, Neville and Luna who were nearby glanced over with a look of surprise on their faces.
"You surprise me to no end," he quickly got a hold of himself and escorted her to the refreshment table. They found Harry and Hermione had finally been let out of the circle of admirers and were grabbing plates of fruit, pudding and glasses of champagne.
"Come have a drink with us!" Harry gestured to them and Draco grabbed two glasses and followed him back to the table. Most of the Gryffindor house, and a few others from the other three houses were there with champagne. They all raised their glasses to Harry and Hermione, who both looked tremendously happy, and everyone took a drink. Ginny could tell her brother must have been on his third or fourth glass because of the flush in his face; thank goodness the school had enough sense to schedule the time for the train to depart at 3pm, getting them home at night but letting the students sleep in a bit and recover.
Harry turned to Hermione after everyone started drinking and set his glass down. He pulled her to him and gave her a kiss that had many girls "ohhing" and "ahhing" and left Hermione breathless. Ginny couldn't help but smile and caught Draco looking down at her. She quickly took a sip of her champagne, fully expecting Dumbledore to come over and tell her she wasn't 17 yet, but it looked as if he was busy sharing a dance with McGonagall. As the happy couple broke apart, everyone cheered and Ron announced another round "on him" and accio'd numerous glasses their way.
"Well, we know what they will be doing tonight," Draco said and Ginny took a sip from her second glass of champagne so she didn't have to answer that she thought the same thing.
"Do you want go out on the balcony or dance some more?" she heard Draco ask. She tore her eyes away from Harry and Hermione kissing again and nodded towards the balcony. With a hand on the small of her back he escorted her through the crowd and onto the slightly cooler balcony. Ginny rested her arms on the balcony and looked at the lake shimmering in the moonlight, Draco stood next to her one hand still on her back and the other resting on the railing.
"How is your mother doing?" Ginny asked softly, trying a different line of conversation. She felt Draco shrug then let out a quiet sigh.
"She's dealing fairly well. I think she expected this to happen, as did I."
"What will you do over Christmas?" Ginny pressed, trying to get him to open up a bit.
"Spend the day with her and some family friends I suppose. Though once they find out I don't intend on following in Lucius Malfoy's steps, they won't be so supportive."
"That doesn't sound like fun," Ginny sympathized, feeling his arm move from her back to the balcony. His hand was very close to hers and she could almost feel energy coming off of him and she didn't know why.
"No, but it needs to be done. I am not going to waste my life chasing people and hiding from things and people like my father did. He never really saw my mother the past two years, even more so since Potter defeated Voldemort," Draco watched some bats fly over the lake and Ginny looked at his profile.
"I think that it needs to be done, for you to move on," was all she said and she wished he could see how a happy family acted, how they laughed, joked and teased each other. Then almost as if the words formed in the air in front of her (instead of in her head) she blurted out, "Would you like to visit The Burrow after Christmas?" She had to grip the railing hard in order to not smack herself in the head for what she had just offered. He turned and looked at her, moving a bit closer so she had to tilt her head up.
"I have a feeling your parents wouldn't approve of that."
"Well, I was going to," Ginny looked away feeling very hot at the moment, "…to talk to them about you. I want to see what their reaction is. I think that it would be fine with them so, if it was, will you consider it?" she held her breath as he thought for a few quiet moments.
"I think I would." He looked up as a shadow passed over them and this time Ginny saw the mistletoe along with him.
"I think it heard you last time," Draco let a hand trail up her arm and rest on the hollow of her neck. Ginny smiled at him, leaned up and brushed his lips with hers, feeling his hand move to her hip and pull her gently to him. He didn't release her and for a moment they stood pressed against each other letting the unsaid emotions hang in the air between them.
Smiling at him, she took his hand, "I think we have kissed more than we have danced tonight, so let's go dance some more," and she led him back inside, squeezing her brother's arm as they walked by him to let him know that everything was fine with her and he had no reason to worry.
Draco had to help her carry Ron and Harry back to the dorm, while Samantha and Ginny helped Luna with a drunk Neville. For the first time, Draco got to see the Gryffindor Common Room and it couldn't have been any more opposite of his dungeon in the basement of Hogwarts.
The Common Room was where he and Ginny had shared a most enlightening kiss and Draco felt the very first degree of his control slipping away as he felt her slender body in his arms, her chest against his. Their tongues touching had been the undoing and he had reached up and let the clip out of her hair, feeling her soft red hair fall into his hand; then she made a movement with her hips against his and he fought the urge to take her right there on the couch. Summoning his willpower, which seemed to be all over the room, he managed to pull away from the kiss, telling her that he couldn't keep holding her, not in the common room. She seemed to understand and as she walked with him towards the portrait he had turned and saw her standing there, a bit sleepy, a bit unnerved from their kiss, holding her shoes by their straps and her hair falling in waves around her shoulders.
"You look beautiful tonight, Ginny," he said and saw her eyes widen at the use of her first name. After brushing her lips with his, he walked slowly back to his room wondering how long he was going to be able to control himself around her. She had no idea what she did to him and if she did, she would probably turn around and run.
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The train ride home was relaxing and somewhat fun. Harry and Hermione were talking about their engagement and the article that appeared in the paper; Hermione couldn't wait to show her parents the ring and was practically bouncing off the walls.
Neville and Luna were holding hands and flipping through a new Herbology magazine that Neville had received through OWL mail.
Ron and Samantha were a bit more subdued, realizing that this was the last time they would spend any length of time together. They were nestled in the corner, her head on his shoulder and they were talking quietly about possibly buying an owl so they could write frequently.
Ginny almost felt out of place, realizing that everyone in her car was paired with someone. Draco was actually doing some type of paperwork his mother had sent him saying it needed to be done by the time he got home. Ginny quietly walked out of the crowded compartment and decided she would search for him; he had probably been doing the paperwork for the whole two hours they had been on the train and maybe he could use a break.
Walking down the aisle she saw Pansy walking towards her; pressing herself against the door to a meeting room she waited for her to walk by, but instead Pansy stopped and stared at her.
"What Pansy? What else do you have to say now?" Ginny asked an edge to her voice.
"I hope you are very happy with Malfoy, Weasley. I know the richness factor must attract you to him greatly," Pansy said rudely.
"Actually, I never thought about that, Pansy," Ginny retorted truthfully.
"You are probably just one of his play toys along the way of him finding himself," Pansy gave her an evil look and stomped off down the aisle. Ginny opened the door behind her and walked in, shaking her head but stopping short as she saw Draco sprawled out along a bench reading a piece of parchment. He turned and looked at her, noticing the expression on her face. He had heard them talking outside the door but couldn't make out the words.
He sat up and set the parchment next to him, gathering everything up and making a pile. "Did you piss her off very much?"
Ginny leaned back against the door and shook her head, "What is wrong with her? Why won't she leave me alone?"
Draco stayed seated and looked up at her, "Well, she is the very jealous type; and I guess after being together for three years she feels she is entitled to run my life. I won't let her, so she takes it out on you. I can try and talk to her again---."
"No, I can handle Pansy. I was just thinking out loud that's all," Ginny walked over to Draco and looked over his head out the window. "I do that a lot, so don't listen to half of what I say because it is probably me just thinking out loud."
"So, I should ignore what you just said?" he joked and Ginny stuck her tongue out at him.
"That's mature."
"I didn't say I was mature," Ginny mocked him then looked down at the papers next to him. "Can I ask what you are doing?"
Draco looked at the papers next to him.
"You can ask, but I can't tell you. Mostly moving money around for something my mother has up her sleeve. That's all I can say," he noticed the expression of doubt on her face. "Really. I don't talk to myself aloud so you should listen to all I have to say."
"Wow, two jokes in the span of two minutes," Ginny kidded and felt his hands come up to her ribs, she grabbed them and tried to push them away, dissolving into laughter as he tickled her. Falling to her knees she gasped for him to stop. He pulled his hands away, causing her to collapse at his feet as she caught her breath.
"I am going to kill Ron for telling you I'm ticklish," she sat up watching his amused expression.
"But I wonder…?" she thought aloud and got up on her knees, carefully took the pile of papers (purposefully not looking at them) and set them on the floor. She rested her hands on his knees, feeling his muscles twitch under her touch. A part of her screamed with glee that she could evoke this reaction out of him so she slid her hands up above his knees, keeping eye contact with him; she could see he was clearly wondering how far she was going to move her hands and saw he wasn't making any moves to stop her.
"What are you doing?" Draco asked and Ginny noticed his voice sounded strange. She gave him a slow smile and before he could react she reached up and pounced, hands on his ribs, tickling him. He started laughing as he grabbed her hands.
"You," he started but by now she had pinned him to the seat and had her hands on his ribs, "will pay!" he gasped and managed to capture her hands and pulled her down, holding her hands above his shoulders.
"So, you are ticklish. I would have NEVER pegged Draco Malfoy as the ticklish type," Ginny grinned down at him, realizing that they were in the opposite position they had been when lying in the snow behind the girls fort. He squeezed his thighs against her hips holding her in place.
"No one has ever been brave enough to try it," he said catching his breath, not believing what she had just done. For a moment he had lost total control as he felt her fingers making crazy movements on his ribs. The moment he caught her hands and brought himself back under control, he realized it was the first time someone had ever caught him unaware and part of him wanted to experience that feeling again. Now, wasn't the time though-not on the train.
"Is this what you came in here to do?" Draco asked, letting her hands go and she crawled off of him, settling herself next to him on the bench. She handed him is pack of papers from the floor and he placed them on the other side of him.
"No, actually. I really was just coming in here to get out of Pansy's way. I was bored so I decided to wander the train, looking for something to do. I'll let you get back to your work," Ginny stood up and straightened her sweatshirt. She felt his hand on her arm and he yanked her down next to him. She fell against him, wondering what this was about.
"You don't wander when you are bored, Weasley," he drawled, "I think you did come looking for me and you just happened upon Parkinson in the hall." He smiled to himself as he realized he had pegged it right on the nose.
"Fine," Ginny muttered, glancing down at her hand still in his.
"I didn't realize you had so much work to do, so I should probably leave you alone."
She felt his fingers take her chin and turn it towards him so she raised her eyes to his.
"Maybe I don't want to be alone."
She felt his eyes penetrating hers and it took her a moment to figure out what he was doing. Quickly, she shut the door on her mind, just like Harry had taught them last year in DA.
Neither one acknowledged what the other had done; she had shown him he won't get very far practicing Legilimens on her, like he might have been able to do with Pansy.
"What should I do here while you work then?" Ginny asked, feeling his thumb trace the underside of her bottom lip and she bit back a moan of pleasure.
"Well, first I think I would like to kiss you," Draco declared softly, moving his thumb to the side of her mouth.
Ginny nodded and managed to stutter, "You-you don't have to ask."
"I wasn't," he said in a low voice as he bent in closer to her.
Forgetting his earlier thoughts of NOT doing this on the train he leaned forward and instead of kissing her lips, he placed his lips right at the corner of her mouth where his thumb had been and he felt her lean into his touch, feeling her breath on his cheek. He trailed his lips over hers, feeling them open under his, but he bypassed them and kissed the other side, then lightly slid them back towards her ear. Feeling her hand that wasn't still in his come up and touch his neck he pressed a kiss into the hollow of her throat, feeling her shudder.
"Merlin," she whispered, grabbing a fistful of his dark blue sweater between her fingers and he lightly brushed his lips over that same spot again, liking how she was clinging to him; being Draco and liking that sense of power he lifted his head up and touched her lips lightly with his, feeling her pull herself towards him as he moved down the other side of her neck, finding the spot like it's twin on the other side and pressing his lips right under her ear. He loved the smooth, silky feel of her skin and cautiously flicked his tongue out to taste her. She yanked her hand out of his and brought it up to his shoulder, digging her fingers into him as she yearned for him to move. Finally she felt his lips on hers and she pressed a hand to the back of his head, keeping his mouth pressed against hers until she needed to breathe.
Pulling her head away from the sweetness of his lips she stared at him.
"I thought we weren't supposed to be doing this," she said breathlessly, every nerve of her was tingling and sparking, wanting more of him. She knew she had to back down a notch or she was going to get caught doing something she and he shouldn't be doing….not yet anyway. She slowly released her grip on him and he sat back against the bench, marveling in the fact that she could exert so much control.
"You're right; not here," he picked up his work and handed her the Daily Prophet which had been sitting on the bottom.
Wordlessly, she took it from him and it was about fifteen minutes later after reading some boring document that Draco realized that he had never SAID they shouldn't be making out on the train; he had only thought it.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw her reading the article about Harry and Hermione's engagement and explored the possibility that there was a lot more to Ginny Weasley than he thought he knew.