Disclaimer: JK owns them all!
We are now on Monday in case you've lost track - no weekend chapters this time around. Thank you to everyone who reads this story, and extra thanks to those who review. I know I don't update often enough but I spend a lot of time thinking about how the story will progress so don't think I've given up! Knowing there are people reading and (hopefully) enjoying makes me determined to continue!
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A cloud of red hair burst through the door opposite Draco, and he raised his eyebrow slightly at the sight of the witch before him.
"Dra-" she began, then her mouth twisted unhappily and she started again "Malfoy," her voice wobbled. "Please... PLEASE do the talking with Pince?"
He took in her bedraggled appearance, her red rimmed eyes which shone brightly with unshed tears, and her slightly quivering chin. He nodded curtly and she sped off past him.
Ambling over to the head librarian he was glad to see her back was turned, maybe she hadn't noticed...
"Mr Malfoy," she greeted, "is there any particular reason why Miss Weasley saw fit to pass me without acknowledging my existence?"
So much for that hope then.
"She... Thought she might have left her best quill here. On Friday."
"Her best quill?" The librarian looked nonplussed.
"Yes, her best quill. She wanted to run and check if she'd left it where she thought she had before we started work. Didn't want it to get mixed up with all the ones we're trying to fix and getting chucked."
"Indeed?"
Draco shrugged, it wouldn't do to look or sound overly interested and his tactic paid off as the librarian dismissed him to pass on the message that they would continue with quills today.
As he rounded the corner Draco's growing curiosity was quenched at the sight before him. Weasley had her head on her arms resting a top the desk that usually sat between them. He could tell from the shakes that wracked her body that she was crying. He approached cautiously and hovered at the edge of the desk.
"Weasley?" He questioned softly, hesitantly. She didn't seem to hear him, or if she did she wasn't acknowledging it. Draco was at a loss. Crying girls were not something he was used to dealing with. Used to witnessing, sure, but he had never before felt the need to interfere, let alone comfort them. The closest he had come had been a time when a girl had burst into tears as she witnessed her best friend wrestle tongues with him in a heated make out session. Blaise had made some quip and Draco had tossed a sin filled smile at his friend along with a wink that had promised mischief. He'd followed the girl, leaving her friend behind as a completed conquest. Finding the weeping girl in a deserted classroom nearby he had carefully closed the door behind him and approached her as if he were a tiger stalking its prey. She had initially pushed him away, told him she hated him… but it only took a few gentle words, a few careful kisses to her tears before she succumbed to him too. He seemed to recall she had been straddling him on a table when Blaise had entered and let out a short laugh at the sight, mentioning something about killing two birds with one stone and sending the girl running, a fresh set of tears streaming down her face as she realised she had been used.
Draco pushed the thought to one side, his face twisting with shame as he remembered the callous occasion, whilst he equally tried to quench his desire to comfort Ginny with heated kisses too.
She was still crying and he acknowledged that it upset him to see her this way, and worried him. He stepped carefully closer.
"Ginny?" he tried again, but this only seemed to make her cry harder if anything. He moved to her properly now, and crouched in front of her, trying to look up in to her face. He reached out, unsure and tentative, and rested his hand on her shoulder.
"Ginny. What's wrong? Are you… has someone hurt you?" His heart seemed to twist inside him at the thought and his anger blossomed inside him, but he was relieved to see a tiny shake of her head.
"Have you had some bad news?" Again a tiny shake of her head but a fresh sob wracked her body.
"Have you flunked a test? Because whatever Granger tells you I assure you that isn't actually the end of the world?" This time a slight gulping laugh seemed to escape her, and after a moment she took a breath and very quietly said: "no."
"Well that's good I guess because even if it isn't the end of the world it might mean the end of your friendship with Granger and you do seem pretty fond of her for some reason."
Draco was surprised to see Ginny shake her head at this and mutter "not such much anymore." He was perplexed.
"Ginny… has Granger said something? To upset you?"
Finally Ginny raised her head from her arms and lifted her hands to wipe her face.
"Her… and everyone else." She said bitterly, still not meeting his eyes as she dropped her hands to her lap and her face appeared the mask of unhappiness.
There was an awkward pause.
"Do you want to… talk about it?"
Ginny scoffed. "Yeah right. Like you care."
Draco looked up at her, his eyes never leaving her face. He ran his hand slowly down from her shoulder to her elbow, and she finally met his eyes.
"I'm here." Was all he said.
Ginny was captivated by his eyes. They seemed like deep silver pools, which seemed to say more than his words.
"I -" she blushed and looked away. "It's stupid." Draco didn't move, and she could still feel the warmth on his hand on her elbow. She looked at him again and his clear eyes seemed to jerk the words out of her.
"Have you ever had it where people expect something of you… for no good reason? They presume something or everything about your nature and your wants, based on no evidence? Without even asking what you might want? Without even taking the time to consider you might not be who your parents are?" Ginny suddenly realised what she'd said when Draco's eyes broke from her own. There was a tense silence and Ginny was just beginning to wonder how she could fill it when Draco spoke.
"Yes." He said shortly.
"Yes?" his eyes flicked back to hers and held them, seeming to ask why she was surprised.
"Yes. I have had that." His words were harsh, almost daring her to ask… "What are people presuming about you?" his question beat her to the punch.
"Harry." She answered the question unthinkingly, and saw Draco's eyes harden. His grip on her elbow tightened.
"Potter?" she didn't speak. "And what do they presume about you and Potter?" Draco seemed angry, his eyes boring into hers, defiantly seeking an answer. Was he jealous?
"That I want him." Ginny's words were barely above a whisper as she looked down at Draco, felt his tight, warm grip on her elbow, felt her pulse quicken at his looks. He seemed to be probing her now, his eyes still hard as they searched her out. She didn't look away as the silence stretched once more. He rocked forwards from his crouch, touching his knees to the ground and then kneeling up, bringing his face up, and closer to hers. His left hand stayed at her elbow and he slowly brought his right hand up to sweep some hair back of her face and behind her ear. His hand rested there, fingers in her hair and palm laid across her cheek. Ginny felt her heart beating hard in her chest as his face stopped, so close to hers. His features were delectable, his beauty turning her on. She licked her lips.
"And what do you want, Ginny?" he whispered. She felt his breath on her face, she was finding it hard to breathe but her eyes flicked to his lips then back to his eyes. She knew he had noticed, knew that he knew, but he wasn't making any move. His hands were still, resting at her elbow, her cheek, and he made no move. Ginny leaned her head slightly forwards, her gaze locked with his. They were so close there was hardly any distance to close. He looked almost worried, beneath the hard look in his eyes. Her eyes flicked once more to his lips, and he didn't move away as she leaned carefully into him, closing her eyes as her lips touched his. He still didn't move and she broke their contact fleetingly only to kiss him again. Her lips trembled as they lingered on his and she carefully flicked out her tongue to touch his lips before she closed her kiss again. He moved slightly into her next one, starting to greet the deep press of her lips, and she touched his with her tongue once more. As her kisses continued they gradually coaxed more of a response from him, and eventually he met her tongue with his own. Ginny responded enthusiastically and was surprised when Draco broke their kiss. He was breathing heavily, and he untangled his right hand from her hair to let it drop at his side as he looked away from her.
"Draco?" Ginny questioned softly, but he didn't look up. She reached out her right hand, and carefully laid it across his cheek. "Draco." He looked at her. He looked so vulnerable, scared almost, and Ginny wanted to reassure him. "Kiss me." He looked at her doubtfully for a moment and she could see that he was fighting some sort of internal battle. She slid her hand down from his face to rest at his neck. "I want you to kiss me." she whispered. It was all he needed. His arms snatched out to her waist and grabbed her, practically dragging her off the chair to kneel in front of him. He captured her lips and kissed her fiercely as he pulled her body into his, and Ginny could feel the heat that flooded to her core as she was turned on so deliciously by the boy in front of her. Eventually his kisses stopped and he reached up to her face to once more brush the hair away from her.
"We'd better fix some quills," he said enigmatically, and Ginny couldn't help but burst out laughing at the anti-climax.
*******
"We're dismissed." Draco said as he saw the usual note flying towards them. They packed up, suddenly awkward after their enjoyable evening of banter and work. Draco finished first, as usual, and lingered as Ginny put the last few things in her bag and slung it over her shoulder. She looked up at him, a blush already colouring her face.
"So." She said.
"So." He replied.
There was a pause before Ginny stepped close to him and leaned up to kiss him on the lips.
"Bye!" she said with a cheeky grin as she broke from him and sped off. Draco smiled, and quietly left the library, already looking forward to returning there tomorrow.