Somehow he had maneuvered them to his room. No one had said a word seeing that Ginny frequented the Slytherin dorms with her boyfriend. Once in the dark cold room he helped her to the bed and knelt on the floor before her.
She was still sobbing quietly and shook from the coolness of the dungeons. He absently lit a fire in the fireplace with his wand and reached up rubbing her arms up and done for warmth. She had her eyes closed with tears silently escaping as she helplessly clung to the front of his robes.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he whispered. It was the first words spoken since he brought her here. The sudden break in the silence startled her making her jump slightly and her eyes to snap open.
"I-I'm sorry," she croaked tightening her grip so that her knuckles turned white.
"Oh Gin," he breathed miserably. The last thing he wanted to do was make her feel bad. Here he was feeling guilty and that was bad enough. After all if he hadn't pushed her away she wouldn't be with that bastard of a boyfriend.
"He hates you, you know?" Her voice was broken and barely audible. He had to strain his ears to listen. "He hates that I can't love him."
"So he hits you?" She nodded then shook her head. As if he needed to be more confused. There was already too many emotions swirling around him.
"He gets angry so easily. I don't mean to make him mad. I just-I can't love him Draco."
"Ginny." He stood up on his knees and placed his arms around her waist. His hold was ginger, but she grasped onto him fiercely. "You never have to do something you don't want to do. Haven't I always told you you're better than most people? You never have to settle, and you don't have to explain yourself to me."
She pulled back slightly and moved her hands from around his waist to holding his face. His body suddenly grew very warm as her eyes engulfed him. It sent a wave of liquid heat from the tips of his ears all the way down to his toes. Her looking at him like that made him squirm and breathe a sigh of relief. It's been so long. It's been far too long.
"I'm sorry that you doubted how I feel about you." Finally his heart started to beat again. It's been standing still collecting cobwebs. Now he can hear it in his ears.
"Never doubted." He smiled weakly. "Just a little unsure at times." She shook her head and pulled at his shirt. He stood getting the hint and was surprised when she pulled him on top of her. Pleasantly surprised.
"Draco," she breathed moving her lips to his ear. He always loved the warm breath fanning against it. When she spoke into it he nearly went mad. "I want you."
"You have me," he replied simply. Her tongue barely touched his earlobe and he was lost. He groaned from the back of his throat and pressed his face against her neck. She could whatever she wanted to do to him and he would die a happy man tonight.
"Draco, before he comes back," she pleaded arching her hips into his. Yep, he was surely going to die. What a way to go though.
"Gin wait," he hissed struggling to grasp her hips and make them still. "Before, you said you wanted to wait. You wanted to wait until marriage and I-"
"Draco unless you're going to slide a rock on my finger this minute then I changed my mind." He lifted his head so he could meet her eyes. She opened hers and held his gaze intensely with her own.
"All you need to do is say the word."
"Later love," she breathed overlapping her hands over his. They were low on her hips making her feel hot and sexy. "Make love to me."
"Oh Gin."
"Please," she pleaded not too proud to beg. "Please make love to me Draco."
"Merlin Ginny," he muttered moving her hands away from his to entwine their fingers together. "You have to be positive." He moved their joined hands to rest above her head. Holding them there he made sure his gaze pierced into her. Made her feel exactly what effect her words were having on him. No doubt she could feel it but still she always claimed to love his eyes. "I don't think I could start and not follow it through. It would kill me."
She bit down on her bottom lip making fear flush throughout his body. Here she was rethinking what she had asked for. All because he had to go all noble and have her make sure she was positive about this step. Now he could be losing the one and only chance he ever has to show Ginny Weasley how much he loves her.
"I've never been more sure in my entire life as I am about you." His heart resided back into his ears again. "Now show my why I should have chased after you stormed off that day."
A lump suddenly formed in his throat. No, she was right in not following after him. He had been a bastard and no one deserved to be forgiven for what he did.
"I just want you to forgive me."
"I already have," she promised softly and after cupping a hand around the back of his head pulled his mouth down to hers. If she has to silence him to get on with it she couldn't think up a better way.
They laid quite and still in his bed. His body was curled around hers, and she was absently playing with his fingers. It all seemed so natural and right. Most certainly it didn't feel like this would be the last time. At least for him it didn't. It was too right to be a one time occurrence.
"What are you thinking?" he asked his lips brushing against the back of her neck. She smiled and rubbed the leg she had slipped in between his against one. He groaned softly. "Gin, aren't you tired," he asked incredulously.
"Mmhm," she yawned nodding. "What about you?"
"It's been an exhausting day."
He could not remember a time when he had gone through so many emotions. Then to top it all off with rigorous lovemaking, and he thought he could sleep for a week.
"Let's go to sleep then," she suggested and released his fingers to run her hand over his arm that laid casually draped over her waist.
"Won't argue with that." She laughed already on her way to sleep.
"Didn't think you would."
He closed his eyes and squeezed her to him before he allowed his body to relax. When he woke up he just hopes this isn't a dream. It isn't a dream, and she's still in bed with him.
"Hey," he mumbled deliriously a minute or so from a restful sleep. "You didn't answer my question." The lithe frame he was holding snuggled further against him as she breathed the three words he had been waiting a lifetime to hear.
"Love you Draco."
"Love you Gin," he somehow managed to mumble back not sure of she heard them.