Last chapter before epilogue.
Thanks so for all those reviewing. And, as always, many, many thanks to Aerileigh.
~~~~~~~~
Ginny stared at her reflection in the mirror, hands idly smoothing down the long-sleeved peach paisley dress she wore. Her hair was out, long curly locks trailing down her shoulder to her waistline. On her face was a light dusting of makeup, not enough to cover her freckles, which had become prominent due to all the time she spent in the sun on the Malfoy Island. Her feet were strapped into a pair of beige sandals. Briefly, she wondered what happened to the girl from six months ago, the girl who wore trainers almost everyday and only wore dresses to catering events.
The room door opened with a slight knock. "Hello, Ginny."
"Hi, Narcissa," Ginny greeted, a little shocked at seeing her. "I didn't expect to see you."
"I thought I would come and say goodbye." Narcissa smiled and entered the room. "You look beautiful. Is that a new dress?"
"Yes, I bought it for the island," Ginny said, biting her lip. "I was just thinking about Serena's party. I feel the same way I felt back then, like a dressed up doll."
Narcissa laughed, the sound dainty like the woman herself. "It seems like such a long time ago, doesn't it?"
"Ages," Ginny agreed. She turned and faced Narcissa. "I can't get over how much has happened in the last six months, how much my life has changed."
"For the better, I hope," Narcissa said with one eyebrow arched.
"Yes, for the better. Though, I could have done without being beaten to a pulp and almost killed." Ginny laughed a little to herself, though the situations weren't humorous. "But at least I now have a good story to tell when I get old."
"You have many years ahead of you, and many more stories to experience. By the time you have your grandkids running around, all the other tales will outshine these trying times." Narcissa walked over and gave her a hug. "For what it's worth, Ginevra, I couldn't have chosen a more suitable woman to be the mother of my grandchild."
The two women separated and silence reigned-neither knew the appropriate topic of conversation after such a hefty statement. After a minute, Narcissa decided to break the silence.
"I brought Serena along. She's outside saying hello to Luna and Pansy," Narcissa said. "Apparently, she didn't get enough of a goodbye yesterday."
Ginny smiled sadly and shrunk her small bag with a whispered spell. "She was rather upset when I told her I would be gone for a few days."
"She's young and was terribly frightened when you were hurt." Narcissa waved off Ginny's sad expression. "But Serena will be fine for a few days. What's important is that you get some time to process all that's happened and recover mentally."
"Thank you, Narcissa, not just for this, for everything. You've done so much for me in the few months that I've been back," Ginny said sincerely.
"Not a problem, dear," Narcissa replied softly, walking out into the living room.
"Mum!"
"Oh, Serena, it's been so long." Ginny stooped down and hugged her daughter. "How I've missed you."
"I missed you too, Mum." Serena giggled and stepped back. "How long will you be gone, again, Mum?"
"Not long at all," Ginny said with a smile. She touched her daughter's cheek. "I wouldn't dream of staying away."
"How long is not long?" asked Serena, clasping her hands in front of her.
"A few days, a week at the most," Ginny answered. "I promise to call you by Floo every day."
"Father will miss you," Serena said earnestly.
Ginny felt as if her daughter had plunged a knife in her stomach. Like any good mother would, she hid behind a smile and said, "Your father will be fine. I'm more worried about you."
"Will you bring me back a present, Mum?" Serena wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, holding her away at arms length.
"I will bring you back a present for each day I'm gone," Ginny said, kissing her daughter on the forehead. "Now, are you going to allow me to stand up?"
"I guess," Serena said, though she didn't move far from her mother's side.
Ginny sat down on the sofa next to Pansy, Serena hopping onto her lap soon after. "Why yes, you can sit on my lap, Serena."
"Thanks, Mum," Serena said with a grin.
With a small shake of her head, Ginny turned to Luna, who was holding a fussy Guinevere. "Luna, what time is my Portkey?"
"At one," Luna answered, rocking the child in her arms and smiling as Pansy kept leaning over to play with the baby's chubby hands. "Perhaps you'll start having some babies of your own now."
"Aunt Pansy are you going to have a baby? Is he going to be my cousin?" Serena bounced excitedly on her mother's lap. "I want a cousin."
Pansy scowled at Luna before turning to Serena. "I have no intention of giving you little cousins any time soon."
"Sometimes, you can't help it," Narcissa murmured with a laugh.
"Oh dear Merlin," Pansy cried, tossing her hands up in the air. "Do not call a pregnancy down on me. Could you honestly see me as a mother?"
"I could," Ginny said, her smile softening Pansy's defensive exterior.
"Me too," Serena said. "You would be so cool."
"Meanwhile, Serena, did you tell your father that I would be leaving?" Ginny wrapped her arms around the young girls' waist, gently pulling her daughter close to her chest. "I haven't been able to get a hold of him."
"He's still away, Mum. I've been staying with Grandmother," Serena said, turning and sitting sideways on her mother's lap. "Grandfather says he'll be back tonight. I'll tell him then."
"Don't worry, Ginny. If Serena forgets, I will let Draco know your whereabouts." Narcissa sat across from the women on the sofa, legs crossed, arms resting in her lap. "We've only had a few correspondences with him by owl since he's been traveling for Quidditch. He popped in a few nights ago and spent the night with Serena, but he was gone in the morning."
Ginny nodded in thanks and checked the clock above the mantle of her fireplace. "I ought to get moving. The Department of Transportation wrote and asked that I be there thirty minutes prior to the Portkey activation."
"It's a shame you couldn't just Floo," Pansy said, gently taking Guinevere from Luna so the blonde could get up.
"I had the Floo deactivated when I left, which reminds me that I need to contact the Ministry in Pennsylvania when I get there," Ginny said, squeezing Serena tight before nudging her to stand up. "I need to say my goodbyes, sweetheart."
"Do you have to go, Mum?" Serena stood and turned to stare at her mother.
"It'll only be a few days. I promise I'll be back before you know it." Ginny kissed Serena and hugged her tightly. "If you miss me terribly, Aunt Luna has my information and will give it to your dad. You can Floo me at any time."
Serena sniffled into her mother's shoulder. "Okay."
"Oh, Serena," Ginny murmured, feeling tears come to her own eyes. She watched as Luna, Pansy and Narcissa excused themselves to the kitchen, leaving to give the two some privacy. "I know you don't understand why I need to go away right now-"
"Grandmother says it's because you're hurt," Serena mumbled, turning her head to burrow into her mother's neck.
Ginny frowned, not knowing how to explain it to the young girl. "Your grandmother is right-sort of. I'm not hurt in the way that you get hurt when falling. I'm hurt emotionally."
"Like being sad?" asked Serena, backing away so she could look at her mother.
"Yes, like being sad." Ginny wiped away a few remaining tears on her daughter's cheeks, smiling. "Plus, I still have some things that I'd like to get from my old home."
"Can I come and see you when you're there, Mum?" Serena bowed her head.
"I think we should take a family vacation there one weekend," Ginny said in an excited whisper. She tucked a strand of Serena's red hair behind her ear. "We'll just make sure your Aunt Luna isn't pregnant this time."
Serena giggled. "Mum!"
"There's that smile I love," Ginny said, pulling her daughter in for one last hug. "I love you, Serena."
"I love you too, Mum."
The next hour passed in a blur for Ginny. She hugged and kissed everyone, thanking them for their wishes for a safe journey before Apparating to the Ministry. Within minutes, she was in the Department of Transportation, silently waiting for her Portkey to be activated, which she had to take from the Ministry since America didn't allow transportation into the country from private locations. Her mind kept flashing back to Serena and the tears before turning to Draco and his absence over the week. She let out a wistful sigh, happy to hear her name being called to take the Portkey. After signing the international travel documents, she held onto an old, featherless quill and her body lurched forward before she landed in the Portkey Center in Pennsylvania.
"Ms. Weasley?"
The room she landed in was not the one she had arrived in the first time. This time, instead of a large open room, she was in a small room, with only an armchair and a painting inside. There was a petite woman with a clipboard in hand, glasses resting on her nose and quill poised above the parchment. She looked at Ginny above the rim of her oval, silver-rimmed glasses, a questioning expression on her face.
"Yes, Ginevra Weasley," Ginny quickly answered.
She smiled. "Hello, I'm Marsha. Welcome to Pennsylvania. Are you here for business or pleasure?"
"Uhm, pleasure, I suppose," Ginny said.
"Well, I'm sure Pennsylvania will provide you with a surplus of pleasure and relaxation," Marsha said, beaming. "Is this your first time here-oh, silly me. Your travel documents said you lived her. Oh, goodness. You're the owner of Buttercup."
"Yes, that's me," Ginny said. "Were you a customer?"
"I've never actually been there, but I had one of your cakes at my wedding two years ago. My mother insisted," Marsha said. "It was absolutely delicious."
"Thank you," Ginny replied. "You're too kind."
"Well, listen to me chatting away. I bet you want to get home. I just need to ask you a few routine questions," Marsha said, becoming business-like. "How long will you be staying?"
"Uhm-"
"An approximation will be fine," Marsha cut in.
"A maximum of five days," Ginny said.
"And your address? Will you be staying in the Poconos?"
"Yes, I will," Ginny replied.
"No need to give me the address then. We have it here in your documents," she said. She scribbled down a few more things before smiling at Ginny. "Do you have any baggage?"
Ginny reversed the shrinking spell on her luggage, which she retrieved from her small purse. "Yes, right here."
Marsha inspected her things before righting them and reapplying the shrinking spell. "All set. I shall escort you to the front now."
"Oh, I can get there on my own," Ginny said hurriedly, stuffing her shrunken suitcase into her purse.
"It's part of the package requested by one-" she looked down at her clipboard, "Blaise Zabini. There's a car waiting outside as well."
Ginny laughed. "Of course. Lead the way."
Ginny followed Marsha out into the welcome area of the Portkey Center. Marsha handed the man at the door a slip of parchment, and he tipped his hat to Ginny as she passed through the doors. After pointing out the waiting car, Marsha bid Ginny adieu and left her to greet her driver and get into the car. And before she knew it, Ginny was stepping out of the car and onto the small gravel driveway of the cottage.
She inhaled deeply as the driver backed out of the driveway, smelling the familiar scents of fall in Pennsylvania and taking in the red leaves swaying in the breeze. She walked up the pathway, under the arch with buttercups growing wildly upon it, and stepped onto her porch, tapping her wand to the doorknob and watching the wards shimmer. When she opened the door, her nose wrinkled in distaste at the musty smell that permeated the air. She quickly decided that her first order of business would be to open the windows to let in some fresh air, cast some cleaning charms and turn on her oven. After all, she was used to the cottage smelling like freshly baked cookies, particularly chocolate cinnamon cookies, her favorite.
~~~~~~~~
Draco rubbed his temples as he listened to his assistant coach rattle off the highlights of his last away game for the week. Frankly, he didn't care at this point. The only thing on his mind was getting back to Falmouth and dropping off his things before going to see Serena at the manor. However, as he checked the clock in the hotel lobby, he realized that Serena would be in bed by now, and it would be pointless to go and wake her up, especially since she would not go back to sleep as easily as she would wake up. And right now, he desperately wanted a good night's sleep.
He hastily checked out and bid his assistant coach goodnight before Disapparating from the Apparition checkpoint in the lobby. Moments later, he appeared inside Ginny's flat, an eerie quiet greeting him. The fireplace was dim, casting just a bright enough glow for him to maneuver around the furniture. He made to knock on the door to Ginny's room but found that it was open, and her room empty. His brow furrowed as he moved to Ron's room, finding it in the same state as Ginny's.
"Polly!"
Polly appeared in the living room with a small pop. "Master Dr-"
"Where is Ginny?"
"Mistress Ginny is away," Polly answered.
"Away, what do you mean away?" asked Draco, confused.
"Mistress Ginny went to Pennsylvania," Polly replied.
Draco's jaw ticked, his mind reeling at this new information. "When did she leave?"
"This afternoon," Polly answered, cowering under her old Master's look. "Mistress Ginny will-"
But Polly's word were said to an empty room as Draco Disapparated to Malfoy Manor. His mind was in a red haze as he thought about Ginny and her quick escape. He couldn't believe that she would leave her daughter behind-or him for that matter. They had yet to hash things out from the vacation, and his anger rose at the thought that Ginny had run away. Then Luna's words sounded in his mind: "Look at your feelings carefully, because when she wakes up, she's going to need more than what you've given her in the past." He stopped pacing the entrance hall of the manor, his mind seemingly frozen in time as he attempted to analyze his feelings.
"Draco!" Narcissa appeared at the top of the steps, a robe haphazardly resting on her shoulders, her hair disheveled. Quickly descending the steps, she approached her son, looking up at him in worry. "One of the house elves said that something was wrong with you."
"She's gone, Mother." Draco shook his head in defeat and stared at his mother, his face a mask of confusion. "I don't understand."
"Draco, what in the world are you talking about?" Narcissa wrapped her robe firmly around her and crossed her arms. "Who is gone?"
"Ginny, Mother."
Narcissa smiled. "You went to see Ginny first?"
Draco gazed at his mother as if she had grown an extra head. "What is there to smile about, Mother? Ginny went back to Pennsylvania. She ran away. She left m-Serena."
"You were going to say that she left you," Narcissa said, poking him in the chest on the word 'you.' His mother was beaming at him. "Do you know what that tells me, Draco?"
"Mother-"
"No, I am going to tell you what you are feeling right now. Your father and I have tried to inspire action from you, but you can be so stubborn sometimes," Narcissa said, eyeing her son with impatience. "You have yet to realize that you love the girl, and you're not willing to let her slip from your grasp. There are many men out there, Draco, who will scoop up Ms. Weasley in a heartbeat."
"I don't love her," Draco replied adamantly.
"Which is why I'm telling you how you feel." She stepped back, eyes glancing over him as if appraising him for an auction. "You're confused. You can't understand why she left. You feel abandoned and restless. But most importantly, when you think of her being so far away, you feel inexplicable sadness and anger at her abandonment."
Draco refused to show any emotion on his face, refused to let his mother know how much her words had hit home. Luna was right. He had chased Ginny halfway across the world because of his refusal to admit to her that he wanted her in his life-more than just a friend and the mother of his child. He wanted to be able to wake up with her in his arms, her red hair splayed out across his pillow. He wanted her.
"I have to go," Draco said abruptly.
"Draco, wait," Narcissa called. "Ginny-"
"Mother, I have to do this," Draco said, his voice urgent. "I will be back in the morning."
"She'll be ba-"
Draco didn't stay long enough to hear what Narcissa said, but Flooed to the Ministry. He arrived in the Atrium and stalked past the small crowds of late night stragglers, brushing the soot off his cloak and making his way to the lift. There were very few people remaining in the Department of Transportation: a small, mousy man behind the desk, rubbing his eyes; a woman, her hair frazzled and wand behind her right ear; and an older man, glasses on his face, rifiling through papers behind the clerk's desk.
He approached the mousy man with determined steps. "I need a Portkey to Pennsylvania and the location of Ginevra Weasley."
"Er-uhm, sir, I can't give out personal information," he squeaked, eyes falling to the old man next to him.
Draco smirked, feeling more stable when dealing with the fearful man. "Considering the amount of money donated to this Ministry, and money spent in this department by my family, I'm sure you can bend the rules."
"Mr.-"
"Malfoy," Draco filled in smoothly.
"Mr. Malfoy, sir," the older man said with a small cough. "While we appreciate-"
"Yes, yes, you appreciate my money but refuse to do small favors. Well, Mr.-"
"Borde."
"Should I go to your superiors, I can assure you that not only will my small favor be given, but this department will have some new openings," Draco said, a dangerous flicker in his eyes. "I am almost positive that there are people out there who would appreciate your job."
The man's face slowly took on a red tinge before he told the mousy man to ready the Portkey. Within seconds, the man listed off the address on Ginny's forms and provided Draco with a slip of parchment on which to write it down. Draco thanked him, smirk firmly in place, before taking a seat in the same chair that Ginny had sat in earlier in the day, his hands thrumming a tune on his thigh as he impatiently waited.
"Sir, the Portkey is ready," the mousy man squeaked, his voice going up an octave.
Draco raised an eyebrow, amused, and removed a sack of coins from his outer robes. "This should cover the expenses."
The man stammered as he peeked into the bag, eyes glinting at the sight of gold, "Thank you, sir."
Draco didn't spare any more words, but went into the room with the Portkey and took it from the woman. She wished him a safe journey before he felt a lurching feeling in his stomach, his body propelled from the spot. He landed in an empty room, eyes falling on the empty chair by the door and the painting of a sunflower. As he was about to leave the room, the door opened, and a woman entered the room, flustered.
"Phew, I'm sorry. We just got the Floo call that you would be coming in." She smiled up at him. "Emergency travel?"
"I need to get to this location," Draco said, handing her the parchment.
"Well, I checked in Ms. Weasley this afternoon. Are you a friend of hers?" Marsha shook her head with a small laugh. "Silly me, of course you're a friend. You wouldn't have her address otherwise."
"I don't have any luggage or anything so-"
"Now, now, we'll get to all that business. I need to ask you a few questions," Marsha said, removing her quill from her pocket.
She listed off a series of questions to a disgruntled Draco, who did not appreciate the way the small woman pushed him around, especially with her cheerful attitude. But he answered the questions, knowing that it would be quicker. When she finished, she led him out the door and to the entrance, pointing out the different modes of transportation and informing him that Ginny had taken a car earlier. She waved goodbye, and he hurriedly chose a driver, reciting the address before being driven away.
~~~~~~~~
Ginny jumped at the sound of banging at her door, fear setting in as she brushed the hair out of her face, unknowingly smearing a streak of chocolate cookie batter across her forehead. Fear paralyzed her for a moment as she thought of Warrington finding her here-or one of his associates. For a few minutes, she could only stand in silence, her body not willing to respond to the booming noise coming from the front of the cottage. But after her door wasn't knocked down, she began to think of other scenarios, such as Serena being hurt and someone from home coming to get her. Quickly, she grabbed her wand and ran to the door, opening it just a crack and pointing her wand at the intruder.
"Draco?" He seemed confused at seeing her wand, and then an emotion Ginny recognized as worry slipped into his eyes. She opened the door and invited him in, asking, "What are you doing here? Is something wrong?"
"I should be the one asking you that question," he retorted, glancing about the living room. "Running away again, Ginevra?"
Ginny closed the door and locked it before turning back to look at Draco, his back facing her. "Running away? Draco, what in Merlin's name are you talking about?"
"How could you leave without telling me, Ginny?" Draco spun around, eyes flashing dangerously. "Do you know how worried I was when you weren't at your flat? Then Polly tells me you left for Pennsylvania. What were you thinking?"
"How could I tell you, Draco? You've been away for the past week. I told Serena to let you know when you got back," Ginny said confusedly. "I don't understand why this is such a big deal."
"Serena knows? You told our daughter that you were abandoning her again?" exclaimed Draco, his muscles clenching beneath his jaw, shoulders tense.
"Abandoning her?" Ginny felt like a parrot as she repeated Draco. "Draco, I think you're confused."
"Confused? I'm not the one who is willingly leaving my child behind," Draco said angrily.
"Before you put your foot in your mouth, let's backtrack a little," Ginny said, holding up her hands. "You came here because you thought I left Serena."
"Considering you're here, it's more than a thought," he drawled.
"Draco, I'm only staying here for a few days," Ginny said, her temper reaching its peak. "You come here and scare the living daylights out of me so that you can yell at me for going away for a few days? I needed some time to think and sort myself out. After my ordeal, I didn't think it would be that big of a deal. Apparently I was very wrong."
"A few days?"
"Yes," Ginny said tiredly, hand reaching up to her forehead. "What did you think?"
"I thought you had left for good," Draco said in an almost whisper.
Suddenly, it dawned on Ginny why Draco was so upset. "You thought that when Polly said I left for Pennsylvania, she meant I moved back here. Oh, Draco, I would never leave Serena-not willingly anyway. Why would you even think that?"
Draco's face crumpled, and he let out a sigh. "I don't know. It's Luna's fault."
Ginny couldn't help but to laugh at Draco's petulant voice. "And what exactly did Luna do?"
"It's not what she did, but rather what she said," Draco said, moving closer to Ginny. "Her words have my thoughts all jumbled together."
"What thoughts?" asked Ginny, her voice coming out in a breathy whisper as Draco reached up to wipe the chocolate cookie dough from her forehead. She watched as he slipped his thumb in his mouth, sucking on it gently, and had to restrain herself from snogging him on the spot. "Draco?"
He looked down at her with dark, stormy eyes. "I can't control these feelings I have for you, Ginny. I want you, and I want the world to know how much I want you. I don't know how to put these feelings in romantic words, Ginny. All I know is that I want to come home every night and wrap you in my arms. While I was away last week, thinking about coming back and seeing you never failed to put a smile on my face. Ginny, I just-"
He stopped, seemingly frustrated, and Ginny pressed a finger over his lips, tears in her eyes. "I love you too."
"I-"
"Don't," Ginny said, applying pressure to his lips with her finger. She stepped closer to him, her body pressing into him. "You'll ruin a perfectly good moment, and I happen to like moments, even if you insist that you don't have them."
"How can you be so sure that I love you when I haven't said it yet?" he murmured, his arms encircling her waist.
She dropped her finger, reaching up to wrap her arms around his neck. "Because you're a silly boy, and we girls know that silly boys don't know up from down when it comes to love."
"Boy?"
"And everything you just said affirms my belief that you do, in fact, love me," Ginny continued.
"I am not a boy," Draco protested.
"Even if you can't come to terms with it yet, you do love me," Ginny said, pointedly ignoring him.
"I'm a man, not a boy," Draco stated proudly.
"And I love you, and as such, I refuse to let you go," Ginny said, toying with the fine hair at the nape of his neck.
"Right, but can we get back to this boy business? A boy, Ginny?"
"Draco!" Ginny shook her head in amusement and exasperation. "You really never fail to ruin moments. I called you a boy because you're acting like one."
"How about I show you how much of a man I am?"
Ginny found her lips covered by Draco's as she moved to protest, and her body melted into his at the feeling of his lips against hers. Anything else she wanted to say was lost as Draco pressed his hand to the small of her back, as if trying to meld her body with his own. Heat flooded through her, her arousal increased at the thought that Draco loved her, even if he hadn't said the words yet. She knew that he loved her, and the way he nipped on her lower lip, his tongue seeking entrance into her mouth, affirmed the fact that she loved him, the feel of him against her, the idea of him being around her everyday. This was what she wanted, what she desired, and finally, she had it.
She felt his hand under her shirt, his palms pressing against the soft skin on her lower back. Before he could say or do anything, she stepped back and removed it, knowing that she wanted this. In seconds, she was attacking his mouth again, his hands playing with the newly exposed skin-fingers idly toying with the strap of her bra. Her hands sought the clasp of his cloak, unclipping it and tossing his outer robes away before finding the buttons on his shirt. Nimbly, she unbuttoned it, pausing in their kiss to remove the shirt from his shoulders.
But before she could reach for his belt, his hand stopped her. "Are you sure you're ready for this, Ginny? I don't want you to feel that I'm rushing you into all of this. I understand you need time to heal."
If she didn't know he loved her before, her thoughts were now confirmed by this simple caring act of asking her if she was okay, and his willingness to stop despite the fact that she could clearly feel his desire pressing into her. At that moment, Ginevra Weasley realized that Draco Malfoy held her heart in the palm of his hand, and she wanted nothing more than to be one with him, right there.
"Draco," she murmured softly, "make love to me."
He didn't let a moment pass before he captured her lips in his once more, pausing briefly to ask, "Where's the bedroom?"
"Too far," she whispered.
Before she could say his name, she found herself on the carpet, completely naked with an equally naked Draco above her. He showered her body in kisses, the feeling of his lips against her skin torturing her. She writhed beneath him, her hands finding purchase wherever they could. The sound of his whispered name fell from her lips as her back arched off the floor, his hands pressing her hips down into the carpet as he devoured her. She felt ready to burst from the feelings within her, the love and the ecstasy that flowed through her body. And she screamed his name, turning it into her own mantra, as her body exploded.
Unshed tears pooled in her eyes, and she fought to restrain them as her mind descended from the foggy haze of pure bliss. She looked up to see Draco above her, arms on either side of her head and a grin on his face. She couldn't help but smile back up at him, her hand reaching up to push away the strands of hair that fell in his face. They stayed in that position for a minute, and Ginny enjoyed the feeling of being so close to Draco, knowing that he loved her and she him.
She didn't expect for Draco to kneel above her and scoop her into a sitting position, straddling him. He had a wicked grin on his face as he leaned against the sofa behind him, his hardness pressing against her stomach, urging her to make them one. And that was what she did. She sank down on him, knees pressed into the carpet on either side of his legs. The feeling of them together with the emotions that coursed through her caused those tears to fall from her eyes, and she pressed her body to Draco's, her head falling to rest on his shoulder as they continued to move together, her stomach tightening and clenching.
Draco called out her name, his member growing inside of her, as his hand fisted in her hair, his teeth softly sinking into her shoulder. She cried out his name, the pain and pleasure mixing together and causing her stomach to tighten even more. She could feel him inside of her, pressed against her walls, and the same mantra from earlier began to fall from her lips-with the addition of begging for more. And Draco, his jaw clenched, eyes flashing dangerously, squeezed his hand between them to the spot where they were joined, and Ginny saw white lights burst before her eyes as both she and Draco fell over the precipice.
She felt tears fall from her eyes and found herself unable to stop them. What just happened was unlike any other time they had together, and she could only contribute that to the fact that there was a new bond between them, the type of bond that formed after emotions were revealed.
"I love you," Draco murmured softly in her ear.
She kissed his shoulder, turning her head to whisper, "I know."
He chuckled, her body vibrating along with his. "I believe you're supposed to say 'I love you too.' Or am I mistaken?"
"I love you too," Ginny said, lifting her chest away from his. "And because I love you so much, you're entitled to all my baked goods, which is good since I happen to have chocolate cinnamon cookies in the kitchen."
"I like the idea of having your cookies available to me at all times," Draco said with a smirk. "I love your cookies."
"Mhmm, I bet you do," Ginny murmured, disentangling herself from him. She stood up and grinned as Draco groaned. "If you want those cookies, you'll have to come and get them."
Ginny squealed as Draco grabbed her around the waist, pulling her to the floor. "I don't want those cookies right now. I want your cookies."
"Stop perverting my cookies," Ginny said with a laugh.
"You're my ginger cookie," Draco murmured, the term both endearing and insulting. "And I love you."
"I will never get tired of hearing you say those words," Ginny said as she brought his head down to kiss her. "I love you, Draco Malfoy."