Who Followed Who?

"Well, now that that's settled," Draco said, feeling pleased. She smiled. "Will you be needing to go back to your flat to get some of your things?"

"Yes," she said, rising from her chair. "How much do you think I should bring back with me?"

"You mean, how long do I want you to stay here?" he corrected her, grinning cheekily. She laughed.

"If you want to take it that way, fine. How long do you want me to stay here, oh Master Malfoy, so that I know exactly how many articles of clothing to bring with me?" His grin faded and was replaced by a look that made her heart speed up inexplicably.

"At least enough for a week." Her eyes widened.

"That long?"

"Not acceptable? All right, then, enough for a month." Her mouth dropped open.

"Draco, do you realize what you're saying?" He frowned.

"Still not good enough? Merlin, Weasley, you drive a hard bargain, but okay. Forever, then. I'll just go and tell my parents that you're moving in permanently..." she reached out and slugged his arm gently, and he laughed.

"Now that you've taken the mickey out of me, really, how much do you think I should bring with me?"

"At least a month's worth."

"But a minute ago, you said a week's worth."

"I've upped my price. A month's worth, take it or leave it." She laughed and shook her head.

"And if you tire of me before the month is out?"

"Then I shall send you packing, back to Potter and his band of unwashed miscreants." She burst into peals of laughter, at which point his Father peeked into the room.

"Is everything quite all right in here?"

"Yes, Father," Draco laughed. "Everything is fine. Ginny has decided to stay with us."

"Excellent," his father said, grinning broadly. "For how long?"

"I've convinced her to stay for at least a month," Draco said. Ginny felt the blush rising in her cheeks as Lucius smiled knowingly at her.

"You're welcome to stay longer, child." With that, he disappeared around the corner again. Ginny looked at Draco with something akin to wonder.

"Your parents are amazing."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"You're amazing."

"Again, tell me something I don't know." Ginny poked her tongue out at him, and he chuckled. "Let's go and fetch your things, so we can get back here and I can have my nightly cup of chocolate." He paused and turned to look at her. "Scratch that, I want you to make me some of your chocolate."

"Aha! I knew it! This is the catch. You're going to turn me into your personal house elf while I'm here, aren't you?" her eyes sparkled with laughter, and he let his sparkle back.

"Get off of your arse, Weasley, and let's get your things so I can have my chocolate!" She stood and followed him into the hallway.

"You are an utterly spoiled man, do you know that?"

"As if there were any other way to be." She laughed and stepped into the fireplace. She had barely moved out of the way in her flat when he emerged, covered in soot. She snorted with laughter as he wrinkled his nose distastefully. "This isn't funny, Ginny. Look at my hair!" Particles of gray dust marred the perfect white-blonde locks. She giggled again and pulled her wand out.

She moved to stand in front of him and waved her wand, muttering "Scourgify!" The soot was gone from his hair. She looked into his eyes and her laughter faded. By moving in front of him to clean him off, she had placed herself so close that she could feel his warm breath on her mouth. Her lips parted slightly as she stared into his eyes.

"All clean," she murmured. He leaned forward slowly. Their lips were just about to touch when a loud crack sounded, surprising them enough to make them jump apart. Ginny whirled around and was faced with a very surprised, very angry Harry. When he saw Draco, his frown deepened. Ginny stood protectively in front of Draco, not missing the fact that he brought his hands to rest lightly on her hips. Warmth spread through her body in waves from the contact.

"Malfoy," Harry said, his voice clipped. Draco gave him a curt nod.

"Potter." Harry turned to Ginny.

"A word, Ginny?" She didn't move.

"About?"

"Personal business."

"Sorry, Harry," she said, shaking her head. "Draco and I just stopped in to pick up a few things, and then we're going to be off again. Whatever it is that you want is going to have to wait." Draco squeezed her hips gently.

The gesture was not lost on Harry, whose lips stretched into a taut line.

"What are you playing at, Ginny?" he asked softly. Her eyes narrowed into slits.

"Excuse me?"

"What are you doing? I don't understand this sudden change in you. It's like you're a totally different person than the one I used to know."

"That's because I am a different person, Harry. If you ever spoke to me longer than to ask me to fetch something for you, you'd have known that. Now if you don't mind, I promised to make Draco a pot of chocolate, and it's getting late." She wanted to move out of the room to give Harry the hint, but that would mean moving away from Draco's warmth, and that was the last thing she wanted to do.

"We're not giving up on you." The words fell from Harry's lips like chips of ice. She rolled her eyes and broke loose of Draco, turning and stomping into her room to pack. Harry turned to eye Draco, who forced his face to remain expressionless. "So help me, if you've put a spell on her-"

"Oh, sod off, Potter," Draco said calmly. "The girl does what she wants."

"And I suppose you think she wants you?"

"What if she did? Why would it bother you? Aren't you cozy with the Patil girl?" Harry's hands balled into fists at his sides.

"You stay away from her. You stay away from me. And most importantly of all, you stay away from Ginny." Draco smirked at him as he folded his arms across his chest.

"And if I don't, Potter? What will you do then? Go home and cry about it?"

"She's not going to give you any information, Malfoy. She's been banned from the meetings."

"She told me as much." Harry's jaw drooped slightly.

"And you're still here?"

"And I'm still here," Draco answered, raising his eyebrows. "You know, with the way your little band of outcasts treats her, it's a wonder she and I haven't become friends sooner."

"Friends?" Harry snorted derisively. "As if you knew what that word really meant! Friends are more than people you pump for information."

"And maybe we're more than friends," Draco's voice was low and dangerous.

Ginny walked in just in time to see Harry's fist colliding with Draco's jaw.

She ran to Draco's side, lifting his chin to inspect the damage, then turned to Harry. "Get out. Get out, and never come back. I never want to see you again, Harry Potter."

"But Gin, he-"

"I don't care what happened, you struck my friend inside my flat! Get out! Go try to run Padma or Parvati or whoever else's life, and leave mine the bloody hell alone!" She turned back to Draco, who was working his jaw back and forth. He smiled malevolently at Harry over the top of Ginny's head. It was too much for Harry, who disappeared instantly.

"I provoked him," he said, grinning. Ginny smiled.

"I know."

"And you still kicked him out?"

"It's been a long time coming." She shrugged and pressed her fingertips gently to his jaw, eliciting a wince from him. She raised her wand and murmured a healing charm. The purpling stopped and faded, but the pain was still there. "I know it still hurts; I'll get you a pain potion from the medicine cabinet."

"Thanks." He watched her leave, then come back with a small stoppered vial. As he lifted the vial to his lips, the sleeve of his shirt moved, and the Dark Mark was visible on his left arm. He saw her looking at it and downed the potion. She took the empty vial and met his eyes.

"Did it hurt?" Of all the things she could have said, could have asked, this was the most surprising.

"Like hell." She smiled.

"I've packed everything. Are you ready?" It was too much. Her gentle acceptance of the Mark, her defending him to Potter, her warm smiles. It was too much to bear any longer; he'd reached his breaking point.

He leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. When she didn't pull away from him, he plunged his hands into her hair and pulled her closer, teasing her lips apart with his tongue. She made a tiny mewling noise inside the kiss, and he pulled away slowly.

"Oh," she breathed raggedly. He dropped his hands to his sides as though he'd been burnt. What had he been thinking? She hadn't given off any signals that she'd wanted him to-

His thoughts were abruptly forced from his head as her mouth descended on his.

Several moments later the kiss was broken as they pulled apart. They were both breathing raggedly, staring at each other. Draco was the first to break the silence.

"This changes everything, you know." She nodded.

"I know. Does it bother you?"

"Yes."

"Does it bother you enough to make you change your mind about me staying at the Manor?"

"No."

"Well, then- I believe I promised someone a pot of chocolate."