Rating:
PG
House:
Astronomy Tower
Characters:
Draco Malfoy Ginny Weasley
Genres:
Romance Drama
Era:
Multiple Eras
Spoilers:
Chamber of Secrets Goblet of Fire
Stats:
Published: 12/26/2002
Updated: 12/26/2002
Words: 10,543
Chapters: 1
Hits: 1,325

The Way You Make Me Feel

dgfan89

Story Summary:
Draco and Ginny meet one night in a lonely corridor...and from there, a shy romance begins to blossom. However, the ever interfering Ron and Harry are not happy about that. Feel-good fluff, mostly.

Posted:
12/26/2002
Hits:
1,325
Author's Note:
I only write D/G fics, coz that's the only pairing I truly find intriguing...anyway, this is my first fic and it may be either horrible or good; it's up to you! I wrote this just for fun, and coz I like writing anyway. Enjoy!


The Way You Make Me Feel

(songfics: Ronan Keating and Steps)

Chapter One

Outside the Great Hall where dinner was taking place, sixth year Draco Malfoy peered in from his place on the stairs. He was watching Ginny Weasley, the Gryffindor fifth year who was having her dinner at that very moment, wondering why he had decided to skip a meal just to watch her.

What was the big deal about her anyway? So, she was...well, pretty. But something else in Malfoy was pulling him to this Weasley girl like a magnet to steel. Not that he had a chance with Ginny. Just look at her, he thought, staring hard at Ginny, getting all flustered and embarrassed as that Harry Potter talked to her.

Pathetic. No other word for it. Pathetic how Ginny seemed so drawn to Potter, glancing at him all the time, blushing when he spoke to her and whispering non stop to Hermione Granger.

Simply pathetic.

If only I weren't a Malfoy, he thought, sighing. Things would be so much easier. Every Weasley knew that the Malfoys were trouble. Famous for their sarcasm and sneering disposition. Malfoy turned away from the window. It was irritating, not to mention...painful, staring at Ginny so embarrassed around her darling Harry Potter.

But he realised that he was not exactly in love with Ginny. This was merely something secondary, not as important as to draw him away from everything else in his life. Malfoy shook his head. No point thinking about it now. He needed food. His taut stomach let out a growl and he decided dinner was currently the best option.

The Great Hall was buzzing with talk and laughter. Malfoy's eyes flit to the Gryffindor table, where Ginny and Hermione were giggling. He narrowed his eyes and walked to his own Slytherin table, hoping he would not be noticed. It was the first time he'd ever skipped a meal for these purposes. Well, he had changed his mind. He was too hungry to skip dinner.

After all, ogling at Ginny was definitely not an activity high on the Slytherin list. He'd have to keep this a secret.

Is she even worth it? Malfoy wondered as he stared at the Gryffindor table where Ginny sat, back to him. He sighed as he poured pumpkin juice from the jug in front of him into his goblet.

He didn't even know.

* * * * *

The corridor was lit with flaming torches as usual. Malfoy made his way up to the Slytherin common room alone from a different route (he needed to think) and was just arriving at the stairs when he heard footsteps echoing behind him. Whoever it was, they were on their own, too.

Malfoy went on walking, but when the footsteps caught up to him he saw Ginny Weasley going on the same route as he was.

Damn! Did she have to see him now? When he was all alone, thinking about...her?

Malfoy slid into a dark corner where he hoped she wouldn't see him, and when she passed by, he stepped out.

"Well, well, well. Miss Virginia Weasley herself. All alone," Malfoy drawled, stretching the 'alone'. Ginny glared at him.

"Shut up, Malfoy," she snapped.

"Oooh...look who's had a bad day," Malfoy said lazily. He shook his head. "One day, Weasley, if you're not careful, attitudes will stick. And oh, won't famous Harry Potter shun you." He cocked an eyebrow.

Ginny turned bright red. "Go away and leave me alone," she said and started walking away. Malfoy, determined to keep her talking (though she was talking to him extremely angrily), fell into step beside her.

"What's with the embarrassment, Weasley? Can't take Potter's ignorance?" Malfoy sneered.

"I told you, Malfoy. Sod off!" Ginny cried. She ran on, and so did Malfoy. Being tall and with a fit body, he had no problem keeping up with her. "Seriously, Weasley. What do you see in him?"

Ginny stopped and faced Malfoy, her eyes blazing. "I have no idea what you're talking about. If I like Harry...well, a little...who cares?! Are you jealous?" she spat, and Malfoy was caught off his guard.

She was right; the bloody girl was right.

He was jealous.

"What makes you think that?" he asked coolly, folding his arms over his chest.

"It--it just s-seems like that," Ginny stammered, still glaring defiantly at him.

She was still so pretty when she was angry. Malfoy narrowed his eyes to slits. "If you don't know anything about me, keep quiet. It'll work for you." He was about to stalk off, realizing how pointless the conversation was, when Ginny grabbed his arm. He looked down at her hand, on his arm, then back up at her.

Stop it! his brain was screaming. Get a grip!

"What?" Malfoy snarled, but not dropping Ginny's hand.

She looked down and noticed her hand was still there. She swallowed hard and dropped it. She seemed scared, suddenly, afraid of the Malfoy she saw in front of her. She'd probably infuriated him. Or so she thought. She took a deep breath.

"You and Pansy...?" she asked, trying to fight back feebly against Malfoy's insults thrown at her about Harry. Her face was angry and tight, she looked like she needed some sleep. Desperately.

Pansy Parkinson was a sixth year Slytherin Malfoy had been linked with, but he somehow never really accepted her as somebody he could actually love. She was annoying and whined non stop anyway. Unlike...Ginny. Ginny was the epitome of perfection--a sweet, gentle smile (which she wasn't using right now), the wide, dark brown eyes, the slender (OK, a little too skinny) frame. But just look at the relationship between them. And their families.

"What about us?" Malfoy muttered.

"You finally realise she isn't good enough for you, is that it?" Ginny practically demanded. Malfoy stared at her. She stared back. Was she...hinting? The thought made Malfoy feel funny. Not exactly good, but funny. Weird, strange...

Against his own will, Malfoy started to laugh.

Ginny stared blankly at Malfoy, her heart racing. He looked so much different without his smirk, and when he laughed, for real...she had to look away. She couldn't bear to look at how different he seemed now, alone...alone with her.

Ginny had to fight a smile. It seemed unlikely that someone like Draco Malfoy would want to be here, with her, when their feuding families could never come to a truce. Ginny had secrets of her own, it wasn't only Malfoy who had to hide how he felt...

Secrets about how she thought how handsome Malfoy could finally be when he wasn't acting like a total creep and looking like one either, secrets about how, although she liked Harry, she wished sometimes Malfoy would talk to her, keep her company sometimes. That would be...nice.

"Malfoy," she said.

He stopped laughing and cleared his throat. "Huh...? I mean, what?"

This time Ginny couldn't bite back her laughter. It was ridiculous of Malfoy. Obviously he was trying to retain that bad-boy attitude. Hell, he was a Malfoy. But it was easy to see that he was...changing. When he was around her. All of a sudden her shyness overcame her, and she felt herself blushing.

"Well?" Malfoy said impatiently.

Ginny tried to stop herself from laughing, but she couldn't. Unexpectedly, Malfoy waited (impatiently, but he waited) for her to stop laughing before he repeated, "Well?"

"Just forget it, OK?" Ginny said, turning.

This time Malfoy stopped her. "Wait."

Ginny turned around and took a step towards Malfoy. Her brown eyes met his gray ones, and her heart began to thud.

It's the way that you make me feel

The way that you make me feel

Spinning my world around...

Malfoy stared intently at Ginny, trying to remember what he wanted to say. He was lost for words. The words just deserted him. What did he want to say? What did he want to say...?

That's the way you make me feel

Better than I've ever known it

Better than it's ever been...

Malfoy blinked, breaking eye contact.

"Never mind," he grunted, and strode away, leaving Ginny alone in the corridor. For awhile, she stood stock still, watching him head in the other direction. How strange and how coincidental he was going this way. He must be brooding to want to be alone, Ginny thought.

The moment she had shared with Malfoy, just lasting for around five seconds, was over and gone. Ginny tried to calm herself down, after all, this was Draco Malfoy. The Malfoy family and hers had been enemies for ages, and now she was...how would Ron, her brother, put it...? Fraternising. With Draco.

Not really, Ginny thought, beginning to walk back to her dormitory. She hadn't meant to bump into Malfoy like that. She'd only been walking back alone because she wanted to think about Harry.

Now as she thought about Harry, and Malfoy, she wondered why she even bothered with Harry in the first place. He was nice, but Malfoy was...

What was the word to describe him? There was so little that could describe him in positive terms. It clicked just as Ginny reached the common room.

Malfoy was three words: interesting, intriguing and...

Irresistible somewhat.

Ginny had to stop herself from smiling just then. This was getting too far out of hand. So what if Malfoy could be someone totally different when he was around her? It didn't mean a thing--Malfoy was still impossibly forbidden.

But as everyone knows, forbidden fruit is all the more tempting.

Chapter 2

Ginny woke early the next morning, still thinking of her brief, fleeting moment in the corridor with Malfoy. Her heart fluttered when she thought of him, like the wings of a bird. Yanking on her robes, she decided to take a walk in the school grounds, sit down somewhere, maybe under a tree.

She slipped quietly out of the Gryffindor common room and walked down the stairs, out of the castle and into the grounds. She took in the smell of the fresh flowers and relished the breeze, enjoying the morning calm.

Ginny crossed over to a wide, tall tree with an excellent view by the lake and flopped down, resting against the trunk of the tree. A head poked round it, and, slightly shocked, Ginny turned.

"Malfoy," she said against her own will.

Just seeing him again made her heart start to thump loudly.

It's the way that you make me feel

The way that you make me feel

Spinning my world around...

"Well, Weasley. We meet again," sneered Malfoy, and Ginny's heart sank. The cold smirk was back on his pale face, and she didn't have the guts to face him now. She turned back to face the lake, ignoring Malfoy.

Malfoy didn't know why Ginny was ignoring him; he felt a twinge of guilt for acting so cruelly. Shaking his head, he scooted over to sit next to her, but when he spoke, somehow he couldn't make the words sound gentle and kind.

"Feeling upset in my company? Oh, that breaks my heart," Malfoy gushed sarcastically, and Ginny turned on him angrily.

"Shut the hell up, Malfoy!" she said angrily.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Temper, temper, Weasley," Malfoy remarked, examining a blade of grass on the ground. "I can't imagine how Potter would feel if you said that to him. Oh, well. Different people get different receptions, I suppose."

Ginny could hardly stand Malfoy next to her anymore. If he didn't care, what was the point in her staying under the damn tree with him?

She got up abruptly and stormed away.

"Watch that temper, Weasley!" Malfoy yelled after her, laughing mockingly.

She turned back and shouted, "Watch your mouth, Malfoy!"

"Right back at you!" Malfoy called back. He shook his head, smirking as she stomped away. She was so easy to anger, that Ginny. But deep inside that wasn't what he wanted at all.

Instead, he thought, he wanted her to accept him as a friend, for her to...love him.

Impossible, Malfoy thought. She'll never feel like that about someone like me. Draco Malfoy. The evil soon-to-be Death Eater, like his father, Lucius Malfoy.

Malfoy hated his father. He remembered all the times Lucius had tormented him, treated him like dung, forced him into things he did not want, insisted he become the perfect replica of the elder Malfoy.

Death Eater, Voldemort supporter, Muggle and Mudblood hater.

What would Ginny want to do with someone like me? Malfoy wondered. Evil, cold, cruel Malfoy. But what would Lucius think...oh, to hell with him...why should he care about my life?

Malfoy had gone down to the tree by the lake extra early that day, just to think alone. He usually went everywhere with Crabbe and Goyle, but ever since he fell for Ginny he became a loner. Pansy Parkinson was upset with Malfoy's change, but Malfoy couldn't care less about Pansy.

How can I, when there's someone else I have in mind, somebody else I could--could love? Malfoy thought back to last night. He had not been expecting to run into Ginny, but it seemed to be that the more he wanted to be alone, the more he met Ginny, too. Like this morning, at the tree. When he'd heard footsteps walking up to the tree, he'd remained perfectly still, until whoever it was settled down by the tree. He'd peered round cautiously, and when he spotted Ginny's flaming red hair, flowing down to her back, his heart stood still.

Malfoy got up. There was no point in remaining here alone. Ginny was obviously angry with him, although Malfoy suspected she had enjoyed the night before. He had, that was for sure, but he wished it would last.

As Malfoy was jogging slowly back to the castle, a voice called his name from somewhere. He squinted. It was a redhead, but not Ginny. More like Ron Weasley, Ginny's irritating, foolish brother. Malfoy's other enemy, apart from Potter, of course.

Ron joined him halfway, his eyes blazing.

"All right. What have you done to her?" he asked scathingly.

"Me?" Malfoy said lazily. "What have I done? To who?"

"Don't lie to me, Malfoy," Ron spat. "You've been sitting at that tree with Ginny, talking to her. She just flew by me in a fit of anger, so it must mean you've hurt her. Haven't you?" His voice was shaking, he was so angry.

Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "I'm not going to deny the fact that we were talking. But I don't know what caused her temper to flare up like that so quickly." He sighed dramatically. "Must be the genes, eh, Weasley?"

Ron's face was so red, it clashed with his hair.

Pathetic, thought Malfoy.

"Listen to me, Malfoy," Ron said in a low, angry tone. "You stay away from my sister. If I catch you...fooling around with her again, I swear you will be in for big trouble."

Malfoy shrugged. He hadn't done anything wrong as far as he was concerned.

But maybe he had sort of hurt Ginny. He never meant to do that, but he couldn't help it in a way. As he watched Ron storm off just like how Ginny did, he decided it was time he changed his attitude.

Could he?

Somehow he knew it would take a miracle.

* * * * *

"I can't believe it," Hermione whispered to Ginny at breakfast. They were seated at the Gryffindor table, as usual, with Harry, Ron and their fellow Gryffindors.

"What, Hermione?" Ginny whispered back.

Hermione glanced over her shoulder again. "I've been observing the Slytherin table," she said softly. "And it seems to me that a certain Draco Malfoy is very interested in you."

Ginny felt herself turning deep red. She could never tell Hermione how she was feeling, about last night in the corridor, how she had stared into Draco's eyes...she snapped out of her daydream.

"Oh, why would someone like Malfoy be staring at me?" she said carelessly, brushing it off.

"Well..." Hermione turned to face Ginny. "Ginny, haven't you noticed how different you are from when you first arrived here in Hogwarts?"

"Uh...no."

"Well," Hermione repeated, "I think you've changed."

"What? As in, in a bad way? Oh, no, Hermione, why didn't you tell me before..." Ginny knew she was babbling, but whenever anyone mentioned Malfoy, she would get all tense. She had met Ron when she stormed back to the castle, and she knew he'd seen her with Malfoy. He mentioned the scolding he'd given Malfoy after she'd left when they met up at the Gryffindor table, but Ginny was still a little angry, so she chose to ignore him.

"No, no, Ginny." Hermione grinned. "Don't you see, Gin? You're really pretty now! Not gawky, not strange...and I think Malfoy is finally noticing it!"

"What about Malfoy?" Ron asked immediately.

"Er...nothing, Ron," Ginny said quickly. "We're just talking about how stupid he is."

Ron narrowed his eyes. "Stupid git," he muttered, and Ginny knew he was talking about Malfoy. She shuddered, wondering if Hermione would act the same if she ever found out about Ginny's odd feelings for the Slytherin student.

"I don't think so, Hermione," Ginny said. "He's probably looking at...uh...you. Or Parvati Patil. Or Lavender Brown, but definitely not me. You must be mistaken." And she stuffed a huge piece of toast into her mouth, hoping Hermione would end the conversation.

"Oh, come on, Ginny. You know, if he weren't such a horrid bastard, excuse the language, wouldn't you say he's quite good-looking?" Ginny dropped her toast and faced Hermione, her eyes bulging. This coming from Hermione? Anti-Malfoy? The girl Malfoy called Mudblood, a nasty term for Muggle-born...?

"Uh...Hermione? Is something wrong with you?" Ginny mumbled. "I mean, well..."

"Admit it, Ginny," Hermione grinned. "You find him attractive, don't you?"

Again, Ginny turned red.

"See. I knew it," Hermione said matter-of-factly, turning back to her breakfast. Ginny took a deep breath, then said, "Hermione?"

Hermione turned to her. "Yes, Gin?"

Ginny opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She wanted to tell Hermione about last night, but she was afraid Hermione would tell Ron, and Ron would be furious...and if Harry found out...oh, what about Harry? Ginny glanced at him, talking to Ron, and she felt her head start to spin...did she like Harry...or Malfoy?

"Ginny!" Hermione said.

"Huh?" Ginny shook her head to clear her thoughts.

"You had something to tell me?" Hermione prodded.

"Oh...nah," Ginny said. "I don't think I have anything to say right now...I mean, I forgot what I wanted to say. I...well, I...I have to go."

She got up and grabbed her bag. Harry looked at her. "Leaving so fast, Ginny?"

"Yeah, sorry," Ginny said. "But I think I have some, uh, Potions homework I have to finish." She pasted a weak smile on her face. "You know...with Professor Snape and all."

"Oh," said Harry knowingly. "OK, then. See you."

From across the room, Malfoy watched Ginny packing up, then talking to Harry, and he felt anger slowly building up inside him. Did she know how he felt? Would she ever know how she was tearing his heart in two every time he saw her with any other boy? It was getting harder and harder to conceal his feelings around Ginny. He knew he was weakening.

Trying to swallow his envy, Malfoy got up immediately and strode out of the Great Hall, ignoring his sidekicks Crabbe and Goyle, who were demanding why he was leaving so abruptly.

Malfoy knew Granger had seen him watching Ginny. And he was shy all of a sudden, finding it impossible to look at Ginny again from that moment onward. Now he had to find her, to talk to her. He didn't plan to tell her how he felt just yet, but he wanted to see her.

Badly.

Chapter 3

"Weasley!"

Malfoy caught up with Ginny very quickly; the build he'd attained from his Quidditch playing had made it no problem. Ginny turned around instantly, a puzzled look on her face.

Then the look dissolved. She frowned.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" she asked, folding her arms.

Malfoy wanted to speak, but again the words were unreachable. He wondered what he was going to say as his eyes met hers, and a tingling feeling ran through him. Ugh, sickening. But he just couldn't help it.

Like the sun coming up in the morning

Like holding the world in your hands

In a way I could never imagine

It's the way you make me feel

"What is it, Malfoy?" Ginny asked impatiently.

"Uh...I...I just wanted to...well..."

"Well?" Ginny said.

"Er, apologise," Malfoy managed to say. Ginny's brown eyes widened, and Malfoy felt his heart start to beat faster.

"Apologise?" Ginny said in disbelief.

"Yeah. For just now. Under the tree. You know," Malfoy grunted. He'd never been good at expressing his feelings, and now was such an embarrassing time. "And," he added, "I guess...if you want to, you know. Go there every morning. It's, uh...fine with me."

Ginny's eyes lit up, and a small smile played on her face.

Wow, Malfoy thought. She has these amazing cherry lips. Wonder if she'll ever kiss me...?

"Are you sure, Malfoy?" she asked in a light-hearted tone.

"Yep," Malfoy said.

Ginny paused, then looked down. But when she looked up, she was smiling radiantly, and Malfoy swallowed hard.

"Will you--will you be there?" she asked shyly, and Malfoy, heart soaring, nodded. Words were not necessary. She would understand him even if he were dumb. "I'll be there."

Ginny's smile grew broader.

"I'll see you then," she said, and turned away from him shyly.

Malfoy watched her go, then turned and walked away, feeling...happy. For the first time in his life.

* * * * *

Incredible.

Simply incredible.

Ginny smiled to herself as she continued walking down the corridor. Malfoy was actually allowing her to sit under that tree, and he would be there! Just thinking of him made her smile and turn red.

"Ginny!" came an angry voice from behind her.

She turned around. "Ron!" she gasped. "What...what are you doing here?"

Ron looked furious. "You've been talking to that...that monster behind my back!" he shouted. "Why the hell d'you find Draco Malfoy interesting?"

Ginny's mouth dropped open.

"How did you know I talked to him?" she asked defiantly.

"I saw you," he argued. "I saw you with my very own eyes. How dare you! You're a Weasley, Ginny! Weasleys don't go around with Malfoys on their arm! What's gotten into your head, huh? I don't believe it!"

"You followed me," Ginny shouted, her voice trembling. "What gives you the right to follow me wherever I go?"

"I'm your brother!" Ron yelled, so red Ginny swore he looked like an overgrown tomato. "I'm the only family member you have here in this school! No Bill, no Charlie, no Percy, no Fred and no GEORGE!" Ron's voice had been getting louder and louder, so when he yelled George's name, Ginny jumped.

"Look, Ron, for God's sake, leave me alone," Ginny insisted. "What I do is my business and I don't need a nosy brother to intrude in my private life!"

"You're a fool, Ginny. A stupid, brainless fool. I guess that's why you hang out with idiots like Malfoy," Ron spat. "You don't deserve to be a Weasley, you hear me?" With that, he stormed off.

Ginny stood stock still for a moment. How could Ron say something like that to her? He was her brother!

She fought back the tears all through the day, skipping lunch and hardly touching her dinner, and avoided Ron the whole day. That night she slept fitfully, and the next morning she went down to the tree early. She decided it would be best if she told Malfoy they were never to see each other again.

Malfoy wasn't there yet, and Ginny wondered if he'd gone back on his word. The thought of it made her so miserable that she burst into tears. She flopped down by the tree and cried her heart out. She had never felt so terrible in her life. Chilly weather conditions made everything worse. Plus she didn't have a cloak on. Shit, she thought.

She did not hear Malfoy walking up to the tree half an hour later. Her tears were ebbing away, but the pain was still there. She was no longer sobbing, but when Malfoy's drawling voice came, ("Weasley...up early, aren't you? Not at the Great Hall? You should eat, fatten up...save your parents some money") the words stabbed through her like knives. He didn't care about her after all.

Then she sat up, staring at him, tears still trickling down her cheeks.

Oh, my God, Malfoy thought in shock. Oh, God...she's crying...

"Ginny," he said gently, quickly kneeling in front of her. She managed an ever so faint smile. Then she looked down, sobbing quietly.

"No, Ginny...don't cry," Malfoy said, gently tilting her chin up so she faced him. He reached out and wiped her tears away. Ginny's large brown eyes grew even wider when Malfoy did this. She had never expected it. She had, in fact, thought he would laugh at her.

What will Ron say? she wondered in despair, but at the same time managed to flash Malfoy a watery smile. He smiled, too, glad she was OK, and Ginny realised it was the first time she had seen him smile like that. She blushed.

When I look into your eyes

Everytime you smile at me

I go weak inside

I just can't hide my love

"Thank you," Ginny whispered. Then she realised what Malfoy had called her.

He called me...Ginny.

"No problem," Malfoy said, and he moved to sit beside her. "You don't mind, do you? If I sit here, I mean."

"Uh...not at all," Ginny stuttered. She forced herself to calm down, and wiped her eyes on her robe. Sniffling, she hugged her knees to her chest. She wanted to tell Malfoy how nice he was being to her. But she didn't dare.

Finally, she decided to get it out.

She turned to Malfoy and gently touched his arm.

He looked at her.

"Draco," she said softly.

Malfoy's heart seemed to explode with happiness. So she cared about him enough to call him Draco! He had to stop himself from bursting into tears of joy.

The simple things you do to me

Simple things you say

I sometimes can't believe it's real

"Yeah?"

"I...well, you were really...really nice to me," Ginny said, turning deep red. "So I just want to say thank you again. I m-mean, I never expected you to be so...sweet."

She watched as a pink tinge appeared in Malfoy's cheeks.

"Oh...er...you're--you're welcome," he said stupidly. Had he ever felt so dumb? He really, really liked Ginny. He did. And he got so tongue tied around her. He felt the blush creeping into his cheeks more now, and he knew that soon he would turn red.

Oh, how embarrassing.

It's the way you make me feel

Better than I've ever known it

Better than it's ever been

I can't seem to control it, no

The way you make me feel

"Anyway," Ginny went on, feeling herself turn redder and redder, "I need to tell you...to tell you..."

She stopped, shivering. Not only was she freezing cold, she was so afraid of telling Malfoy how she felt...oh, the agony...it was so impossible to think that she, a Weasley, had fallen for a Malfoy...Ron would never forgive her. She couldn't meet Malfoy's eyes, but he knew she was cold.

He had a cloak on, and he took it off immediately, draping it around her. Underneath, the sight of his green and silver Slytherin tie made Ginny queasy. He was a Slytherin, she was a Gryffindor. It sounded awful. But what could she do about it?

"So, what was it you wanted to say?" Malfoy asked.

"D-Draco, I...I..." Ginny gulped. She felt sick. "I'm sorry. Thank you again for being with me, and being so nice and all. I have to go."

Malfoy felt his heart drop a thousand feet when he heard that. The last thing he wanted was for Ginny to leave him.

"Oh, well...I guess, if you have to," he said. "Keep the cloak, return later."

"Thanks," Ginny whispered. She was trembling and looking at the ground nervously. Then she looked up, leaned forward quickly and kissed him on the cheek. Without another word, she got up and ran away.

Too stunned to do anything, Malfoy stayed where he was. Then he raised his hand to his cheek, touching the place where Ginny had kissed him, and he smiled.

The way you make me feel

Like the sun coming up in the morning

Like holding the world in your hands

In a way I could never imagine

It's the way you make me feel

Chapter 4

Ginny could hardly believe what she'd just done.

As she made her way to Potions, her first class, after breakfast, she felt her heart flutter and she smiled, knowing how much she had wanted to kiss Malfoy since the night in the corridor. Forget Harry. Malfoy was so much more amazing. So what if she only kissed him on the cheek? A kiss is still a kiss.

Ginny decided to take the lonely corridor to the Great Hall at lunchtime so she might see Malfoy again. Wondering what Malfoy would say if she met him, she turned a corner and gaped in shock.

Her brother was duelling with Malfoy. Both had raised wands, and were about to send curses flying at each other again.

Stunned, Ginny remained where she was. She knew how angry Ron could get and she wanted to yell out for them to stop, but she knew she was the cause of all this, and besides, she still couldn't face Ron.

Oh, yeah, and the words wouldn't come out.

Ginny watched in horror as Ron shouted angrily at Malfoy, "What are you doing with my sister, eh, Malfoy? Kissing her and all! What the hell do you think you're playing at? We're different, and I know it, Malfoy! So stay away from her! Didn't I tell you to already?"

Before Malfoy could reply, he yelled, "Expelliarmus!"

Malfoy's wand fell to the floor, and he dove for it. But Ron screamed, "Reducto!", the Reductor spell, to blast solid objects out of the way. Ginny let out a whimper as she watched Malfoy being blasted to the other end of the corridor. He hit the wall and fell with a loud thump on the ground.

Ron was heading to Malfoy, probably about to hurt him even more than he already had...Ginny couldn't bear it anymore.

She took off after Ron, who was striding towards the unconcious, bleeding Malfoy with a determined look on his face.

"Ron!" Ginny cried. "Don't!"

Ron turned angrily. "Ginny! What the hell are you doing here? Go away!"

"Listen to me, Ron," Ginny pleaded. "I kissed Malfoy, Ron! He didn't kiss me! Don't do it! Please! Just leave him alone!"

"You get out of my way!" Ron growled, and Ginny backed off slowly. "I've wanted to perform the Cruciatus curse on Malfoy for a long time now..ever since I learned about it in fourth-year, and learned how to do it recently...stay out of this!"

"No." Ginny's voice was quiet but firm.

"Bloody hell! For God's sake! Get out of the way!" Ron shouted.

"No, Ron! You get out of the way!" Ginny yelled. "Stay away from Draco!"

"Oh, you're calling him Draco now, are you?" Ron snarled. "What will you be calling him next? Sweetheart?" He turned his back to her and proceeded, but Ginny ran forward, grabbed his shoulders and flung him away.

"Ginny! Get away!" Ron shouted.

"Stay away from him, Ron!" Ginny warned.

Ron raised his wand. Ginny lunged and knocked it out of his hands. "You stay away from Draco, do you hear? Ron!You're a bastard, Ron, you don't care about how I feel...I--I love Draco, Ron!" She was pummeling him, she knocked him to the ground, attacking him. Her own brother.

Stepping back, Ginny panted as Ron lay squirming on the ground. He got up, eyes narrowed.

"Stay away from him!" Ginny screamed. "Don't you touch him!"

Ron picked up his wand and Ginny whipped hers out. "Don't come near me," she hissed. "Or Draco."

Furious, Ron raised his wand, but Ginny screamed the first spell that came to her mind. "Rictusempra!"

Ron started to laugh, and laugh. And laugh.

Thank God, Ginny thought. Then her thoughts turned to Malfoy, and she turned immediately, kneeling down beside him. His face was even more pale than before, and she started to cry.

"Draco! Draco!" she cried. "Draco...please...get up, Draco..."

She sobbed into his robes, knowing that although he was not dead, it tore at her heart to see his blood, to see him lying like that on the floor. She tried to lift him, but she was too weak to do so. Her brother, the only person who could have helped her to lift him then, was still rolling on the ground, laughing.

Finally Ginny decided to test the latest spell she had learnt--to conjure up an invisible stretcher. She took a deep breath and waved her wand. Malfoy rose into the air slowly, and relieved, Ginny guided him to the hospital wing. She didn't want anyone to know about the duel just then--it would be horrible if Ron blamed her in front of everyone. She knew that fate would be coming soon, but she decided she'd rather it be later anyway.

"Draco," she kept sobbing as she led him up to the hospital wing. "Draco, please wake up..."

Madam Pomfrey said he was just knocked out, and, although the wound was serious, it was nothing she couldn't handle.

"You'd better go back to the Great Hall for lunch, Miss Weasley," she said, more kindly than Ginny had expected.

She must know how I feel about Draco, thought Ginny, who shook her head.

"I don't feel like eating, Madam Pomfrey," Ginny lied. "I think I'd rather stay.

"Oh, all right then," Madam Pomfrey sighed. "You sit there, and if you need any food, just let me know."

Ginny sank into a chair by Malfoy's bed and swallowed her tears as she watched Malfoy sleeping. He was so relaxed when he slept. Unlike the smirking face he showed her brothers all the time in the past.

Madam Pomfrey came bustling back with a bottle of what looked like bloodstain remover. Ginny looked at her questioningly.

"Oh...just for his robes," Madam Pomfrey explained, reading Ginny's mind. She poured a little into her hand, sprinkled it over Malfoy's blood-stained robe and with a wave of her wand the blood disappeared. Then she got busy, fetching bandages and some yellow medicine Ginny knew would help to heal the wound faster. Living with Molly Weasley, her mother, was useful--she realised how much she had learnt about herbs, cooking and medicine.

Ginny stayed by Malfoy until lunch break was over. She could hardly bear to leave him...she stared at him sleeping peacefully, and she smiled. She took his warm hand and held it for a few seconds, then left the hospital wing for her next class.

* * * * *

When Ginny got to the Great Hall for dinner that night, she had second thoughts about stepping in. Ron was going to kill her--he'd probably sent an owl back home telling their parents about Ginny's behaviour, defending Malfoy of all people and fighting him, Ron...Ginny closed her eyes. She knew saving Malfoy was more important than arguing with Ron. So what if she got a Howler the next morning? She had saved Malfoy, and she felt good about that.

So Ginny stepped into the Great Hall, and the first thing she saw when she sat down at the Gryffindor table was Harry, angrily talking to Hermione. Ron was not at the table.

"Ah, there you are, Ginny." Harry's angry voice was quiet now, but Ginny knew he was forcing himself to stay calm. "Ron's very upset about what you did earlier. He's--he's at the owlery. Sending...an owl home."

"Ginny," Hermione said gently, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you...what?" Ginny asked.

"That...you know, you were...in love with Malfoy." She grimaced. "You could have told me and would have explained everything to Ron. Look, Ginny. Your parents are going to be really angry. However, they might get over it." She got up. "But you know Ron never will."

Ginny knew Ron was extremely protective of her, and she nodded. But then she was angry, angry with Ron for being overprotective, angry with Hermione, who thought she would just "explain" everything to Ron, angry at Harry for being so supportive of his friend...well, she couldn't blame Harry. But it felt sickening to think that Harry was defending Ron when...well, couldn't he see the power of...love? After all, wasn't Harry the one who loved Cho Chang, the girl of whom Ginny had been so jealous of recently?

"I'm sorry, Hermione, Harry, if I upset you with my attitude," Ginny snapped. "But I've got better things to do than worry about what Ron does. Goodbye."

She spun on her heel and walked out of the Great Hall. She realised how little she'd eaten the whole day--her breakfast, then some sandwiches Madam Pomfrey insisted she eat while she watched over Malfoy. And that was it.

But the thought of seeing Malfoy in the hospital wing was enough to strengthen Ginny, and she walked faster.

"Draco," Ginny whispered when she had arrived in the hospital wing and was seated by him again. Her stomach growled; a little too loudly. Malfoy opened one eye and grinned at her.

"Hungry, Weasley?" he teased.

She was so relieved to hear him speak again, she ignored the teasing note in his voice and hugged him.

"Whoa, Ginny...the invalid needs rest," Malfoy joked, and Ginny laughed.

Malfoy watched her eyes sparkle in the light, her beautiful brown eyes, and smiled to himself. She doesn't know how pretty she is, he thought. Then he realised he had forgotten to talk to her about the kiss.

"Ginny," he said, taking a deep breath. "Why did you...well, kiss me?"

Ginny opened and closed her mouth, and turned bright red again.

"No, it's OK," Malfoy said. "I...was hoping you would." This time it was his turn to blush. Ginny's eyes widened.

"R-really?" she whispered.

"Yeah," Malfoy admitted.

There was silence.

"I was hoping you'd allow me to," she confessed. Then she sighed. "The duel. I was so angry with Ron. I can't believe he'd fight you, Draco."

"It's not entirely Ron's fault," Malfoy said. "Remember all those times I was mean to him and all? I know I shouldn't have mocked him and all. But I have to admit that I'm...well, I'm not a nice person." He looked at her. "That was why I was amazed someone like you would..." He stopped, blushing furiously.

Ginny touched his arm. "Would what?"

He swallowed hard. "Would want to...kiss me."

Ginny laughed, and Malfoy started, too. They were laughing for about a minute when Ginny leaned forward ever so slightly. "OK, well...I guess I wanted to say thanks. And I hope you appreciated my efforts in bringing you up here," she teased.

Malfoy smiled. "I appreciate it. Thanks. I mean," he said, and he frowned, "I wouldn't have blamed you if you turned against me and helped Ron or whatever. Things can change. Feelings can change as well."

"No," Ginny said. "I wanted to help you, Draco. I did. I...I put a tickling charm on Ron, though."

"What?" Malfoy gasped, laughing. "You put a tickling charm on your brother?"

"Hey!" Ginny said, swatting him playfully. "It was the only thing I could think of! And I had to save you."

Malfoy shook his head. "Ginny...God, why did you do that?"

"I did you a favour," Ginny joked.

They laughed again.

"You know," Ginny said slowly, "I've been thinking about...you. And me. As in, you know. And I've been thinking about our families too. What they say and all that, about being enemies. But, Draco, I realised something."

"What?"

Malfoy's eyes met Ginny's, and Ginny smiled.

"It's cheesy," she said. "But it's true."

"Well?" Malfoy prodded.

Ginny leaned forward. "Love conquers all," she whispered, and she kissed him; not on the cheek this time. On the lips.

Tell me how can I walk away

I don't care what they say

I'm loving you anyway

It's the way you make me feel

When they broke apart, Ginny's eyes were wider than ever.

"I'm sorry," she said. She was blushing like anything now.

"It's OK," Malfoy said. "I kind of liked that."

"Kind of?" Ginny joked, amazed at her own courage.

"OK, then," Malfoy said. "A lot."

Ginny smiled.

And she kissed him again.

Chapter 5

When Ginny had left, Malfoy stared straight up at the ceiling of the hospital wing. He loved Ginny so much, and every day they were getting closer and closer. She had finally kissed him, and the thought of it made him smile to himself. He wanted her to know how he really, really felt. But he was afraid. Afraid of...

He realised he was afraid of what Ron would do--not to him, but to Ginny. He'd seen the worst of Ron's temper earlier that day when he'd walked to the Great Hall for lunch. On his way, Ron accosted him and the duel ensued. What if Ron hurts Ginny? Oh, God...what would I do then? Malfoy wondered.

He thought of Ginny again, the perfect build, the deep chocolate eyes, the long red hair and the cherry lips. It made him smile. He was just wondering whether Ron would kill him when he got out of the hospital wing when an owl flapped in. It was his eagle owl, who dropped a note into his lap.

Malfoy picked it up.

"Malfoy,

Ron here. You know I'm angry with you and Ginny, but she told me it was her who kissed you and not the other way around. So I guess I'm sorry for accusing you. Ginny also admitted she loved you, and that made me realise I was, well, blind. She fought me, and I knew how much she must love you to do something like that. I mean, bloody hell. She was screaming at me. And crying into your robes. But this isn't the beginning of a friendship. And I still want you to stay away from Ginny. But that's about it. I know you can hurt her. And that's what I'm afraid of. You may be confident about taking care of her, but will you still feel the same after some time?

Leave Ginny alone, Malfoy. Or things are going to happen, very soon.

Ron"

I'm not going to leave Ginny alone, Malfoy thought angrily. Ron couldn't tell him what to do. He now knew Ginny loved him. So he could probably tell her how he felt too...his insides squirmed. It would be difficult. But he wouldn't be lying or anything, so it was all right. But the thought of confessing his feelings to Ginny was embarrassing.

"I love her," Malfoy found himself saying out loud.

It sounded so amazing that he repeated it.

"I love her."

He read Ron's letter again. Ginny had been screaming at Ron, fighting him, then crying into his robes. Malfoy felt a sudden burst of happiness. He wanted to see Ginny again. No matter what it took.

* * * * *

Ginny left the hospital wing with a spring in her step and a broad grin on her face. She, Ginny Weasley, had just kissed Draco Malfoy...and he liked her! She felt like doing a few cartwheels to express her feelings, but stopped herself because Professor McGonagall was walking very quickly towards her.

"Miss Weasley!" she called. "Follow me, please."

Ginny wondered what Professor McGonagall wanted as she trailed the head of her house to her office. Upon stepping inside, Ginny caught sight of a sullen Ron and a furious Harry.

"Ginny!" both cried and got up at the same time.

"Sit, please, Potter. Weasley." Professor McGonagall's voice was stern. Both sat down immediately, and Professor McGonagall gestured at a chair next to Ron's. Ginny sat down hesitantly, wondering if Ron was going to lash out at her. He didn't.

"I have just heard from Mr Potter and your brother here that a duel took place in a lonely corridor earlier this afternoon," Professor McGonagall said. Her face was ashen. "I have already found out from Madam Pomfrey that Mr Malfoy is recuperating in the hospital wing. And I feel that it is my duty to punish both Mr Weasley and Mr Malfoy with a detention." She took a deep breath and was about to go on, but Ginny spoke first.

"P-Professor," she stammered, "I just need to straighten things out first. Ron and Draco were fighting because of me. It was because I--I kissed Malfoy--" Professor McGonagall winced, "--and I know Ron just wants to protect me. But, Professor, all this is because of me. So I--I don't think you should punish either of them." She said all this in a very tiny voice.

Professor McGonagall sighed. "Exactly what happened this afternoon, Miss Weasley?"

Ginny swallowed hard. "I--I took the lonely corridor where I met Draco before because I...wanted to see him."

Harry swore.

"Potter!" Professor McGonagall warned.

"Sorry, Professor," Harry muttered.

"Go on."

"Anyway, I saw Ron and Draco duelling. And Ron...Ron hit Draco with the Reductor spell, Professor. So I tried to stop Ron from harming Draco anymore, and I had to hit him back with a tickling charm." Ginny's voice was quiet.

"You have something going on with Mr Malfoy, Miss Weasley?" Professor McGonagall asked curtly.

"I..." Ginny looked up. Both Harry and Ron were glaring at her. She turned to Professor McGonagall. "Yes, Professor. I d-don't think I can deny that."

"Very well. Twenty points from Gryffindor, Mr Weasley, for using magic in hallways, though it was in your good intentions to protect your sister," Professor McGonagall said. "Miss Weasley, I would have taken points away for your usage of magic in hallways as well. But I see that you have shown that you are capable of showing such...care for Mr Malfoy although your brother here despises him. You may go, all of you." She said all this very awkwardly, as if it pained her to do so.

Harry and Ron trooped out first, but Ginny lagged behind. She knew Professor McGonagall wanted to talk to her some more, and she was right.

"Miss Weasley."

"Yes, Professor?"

"What is it that attracts you to Mr Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall asked. "I'm just...curious."

Ginny smiled. "He's different from my friends," she said shyly. "He's..." She wanted to say how interesting, intriguing and irresistible she thought he was. The three i's. But she held her tongue.

"He's just more like me than I expected him to be," she finished.

"Ah. I see."

"Bye, Professor."

"Yes, very well, Miss Weasley..."

As Ginny walked away from Professor McGonagall's office, she thought she heard her Transfiguration teacher sigh, "Ah, the spell of true love..." and Ginny smiled. Her teacher was right indeed.

* * * * *

That night Malfoy tossed and turned.

He knew the password to the Gryffindor common room. As usual, Neville Longbottom, Gryffindor dunce, had dropped the week's passwords, and Malfoy could easily get in, just to see Ginny again.

"I'm going to see her," he said aloud, and flung off his sheets. His bare feet touched the floor and he shivered slightly. He remembered that Ginny had borrowed his cloak, but he'd give up anything for her. Slipping into clean robes and his shoes, Malfoy took out the slip of paper he'd found a few days ago and read the password.

"It's Owl Post," he muttered, and, lighting his wand, he walked to Gryffindor Tower in the darkness. He was afraid of getting caught, yes, but he had the excuse of being unwell and could always fake sleepwalking.

However, he made it to the Gryffindor common room without a single problem and he whispered the password to some portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress.

Climbing through the portrait hole, Malfoy looked around the common room and realised how much cosier this was compared to his own, in the dungeon. He shook his head remorsefully and searched for the girls' dormitories.

And he found Ginny, sleeping peacefully, within five minutes.

Malfoy watched her, watched the object of his affection sleeping so comfortably, her head laid on her pillow. He wished it were his shoulder she was laying her head on, and he reached down to her.

Did he dare? His heart was thumping; he wanted just to touch Ginny, to feel her skin and the rush he got whenever he was around her.

That's the way you make me feel

Better than I've ever know it

Better than it's ever been

I can't seem to control it, no

Malfoy reached out and lightly, ever so gently, touched Ginny's cheek.

He felt a surge of happiness, running through him. Ginny stirred, and he snuck into the shadows, keeping his eyes on her. Then her own eyes opened, and she caught a glimpse of him.

Ginny sat up in her bed. She hadn't been dreaming after all. There was Malfoy, hiding in the shadows. She'd recognise his grey eyes anywhere.

"Draco?" she whispered, and he rose from his hiding place.

Ginny slipped off her bed. "What are you doing here?" she hissed under her breath.

"I had to see you," Malfoy said innocently, seeming so like a stubborn child that Ginny melted.

"I'm sorry," Malfoy added, "If I woke you."

"It's OK," Ginny said, taking his hand and feeling electricity flow through her.

It's the way you make me feel

The way you make me feel

Spinning my world around

Tell me how can I walk away

I don't care what they say

I'm loving you anyway

It's the way you make me feel

She led him to the common room, and lit the fire quietly. Then she sank into an armchair.

"Sit," she said softly.

Malfoy sat opposite her.

"Draco, I..." Ginny began. She took a breath. Then she shook her head. "You didn't have to do this for me, you know. You didn't have to come here."

"Why not?" Malfoy asked sharply. Was she saying that she didn't want him around? "I took the trouble to leave the hospital wing because I had to see you. I had to tell you something."

"What is it?" Ginny asked.

Malfoy hesitated. He gazed at Ginny, seated opposite him. The fire flickering off the walls accented her features, making her look more beautiful than ever.

"I got an owl from your brother," he said.

"You did?" Ginny gasped.

"Yes."

"What did it say?" Ginny whispered. She was fearful that Ron would have threatened Malfoy, or...or...

"He told me what you did," Malfoy said, getting up and walking over to Ginny. She felt her heart start to pound. Malfoy took her hands and pulled her up gently.

"So I want to thank you again for doing what you did. Saving me, I mean. Because, well, I know it's hard for you to...fight your own brother. And it takes guts to do that." Malfoy took a deep breath. "I wanted to tell you something else, too." He blushed ever so slightly.

"What is it?" Ginny asked again, her eyes full of concern. What if he tells me he can never see me again? Oh, no...please don't...wait a minute--he's blushing...

Malfoy couldn't speak. He couldn't. Instead, he leaned down and kissed Ginny. She felt herself fall into his arms. Finally. Her dreams were coming true. Malfoy loved her. Who cared what her family or his said? She loved him, so much...

Tell me how can I walk away

I don't care what they say

I'm loving you anyway

It's the way you make me feel

Malfoy could hardly believe what he was doing. All he knew was that the words "I love you" simply wouldn't come out, and he kissed her instead.

But then, actions speak louder than words, he thought.

That's the way you make me feel

Better than I've ever known it

Better than it's ever been

I can't seem to control it, no

The way you make me feel

Ginny fit into his arms perfectly; he knew they were meant for each other. When they finally broke away, the shy blush on Ginny's face told him she was happy. That was all he wanted, and he kissed her again before leaving her by the fire, dizzy with happiness, while he made his way back to the hospital wing.

Chapter 6

Things would have gone better for Ginny if Ron and Harry were less angry with her. She knew how they hated Malfoy.

But how can they hate me even if I love him? she wondered, thinking of how Malfoy kissed her last night. She could still feel it; the sensation and the happiness inside...she was only happy when she was with Malfoy, when she was talking to him...just being with him sent fireworks off in her brain.

The next day Ginny saw Malfoy at breakfast, and she smiled at him. He smiled back, and she felt like she was soaring on clouds.

When I look into your eyes

Every time you smile at me

I go weak inside

I just can't hide my love

That evening after dinner Ginny walked slowly back to Gryffindor Tower. Several of her friends had accompanied her to the start of the lonely corridor Ginny now frequented, but had decided to take the brightly lit one back to the common room. So Ginny was alone.

It was strangely dark on that particular night. The atmosphere was positively eerie, and Ginny wrapped the cloak she had on tighter around her. She realised it was Malfoy's cloak, and she felt more comfortable immediately. Wherever Malfoy was now, she was thinking of him and she knew she was safe.

Then a footstep behind her jolted Ginny out of her "daydream". Spinning around, all Ginny heard was a cold voice that shouted, "Crucio!" and all Ginny knew was that she was being tortured...she screamed, feeling her heart start to rocket around her chest...who was doing this to her?

"Help!" she cried. "Somebody!"

"There's no one to help you now," said the same cold, angry voice. "I'm sick of you, Ginny. Go and suck up to Harry now. He's all yours."

Then Ginny was lying flat on the freezing ground, panting, and sobbing. She knew who it was. Draco Malfoy had put the Cruciatus curse on her.

Ginny got clumsily to her feet but the impact of what Malfoy had done made her sink to the ground. She rocked back and forth, crying, her heart wrenched from its socket...didn't Malfoy love her? What was he doing, trying to hurt her like that?

Then she realised that the voice was supposed to be Malfoy's, but it didn't sound a hundred percent the same.

After ten minutes, lying there in agony, Ginny finally got to her feet. She had her mind made up. If Malfoy didn't want her, fine. She didn't want him either. Determined, she took a deep breath and strode towards Gryffindor Tower purposefully. Tomorrow, Draco Malfoy was never going to see the gentle, sweet Ginny anymore. She would turn cold, cruel and calculating.

He will pay for what he did to me! Ginny thought furiously. Wait till Ron heard about it...then she realised Ron was angry with her and would only say, "I told you so." Harry was definitely on Ron's side--and she couldn't face Hermione either.

Then a distant yell was heard, saying, "Stupefy!" and Ginny turned, running in the direction of the speaker, her own wand whipped out.

"Ginny!"

It was Malfoy. "Are you all right?"

Ginny gasped in anger. She narrowed her eyes. "Don't touch me, Malfoy," she hissed, pointing her wand at him. "You put the Cruciatus curse on me and now you want to play all dumb! Get the hell out of here, Malfoy! Now!"

Malfoy's heart sank. She was calling him Malfoy again. But why? And why was she so angry? He'd bumped into Potter when he was trying to catch up to Ginny, to see if she was all right, because he'd heard Potter shout the Cruciatus curse. And he stunned Potter, because he suspected him, but what was Ginny doing, getting so angry with him?

"Ginny, I..."

"Don't bother explaining!" Ginny screamed. "Just get away from me! I was wrong, Malfoy. I thought I could defy my family and love you. But I see how right they always were. They told me to stay away from you. I didn't listen, Malfoy. Now I know I should have. If you attack me with the Cruciatus curse, I know you hate me."

Ginny glared angrily at Malfoy, her mind made up. She'd curse him if she had to. But suddenly she burst into tears. The whole thing was too overwhelming for her to take. She turned and ran from him, and Malfoy followed her.

"Ginny! Stop running!" he yelled, but she wouldn't. He wanted to immobilise her, but stopped himself. She would never forgive him. He realised it was Ginny who had been tortured earlier, with the Cruciatus curse Potter had placed on her, and his anger at Potter burned stronger than before.

"Ginny!" he shouted again. He had to explain. And he would have to threaten her in order to stop her.

"Stop running before I curse you!" Malfoy bellowed, and Ginny stopped running immediately. Malfoy could still hear her choking back tears, and he knew how she must feel...

I know he hates me, Ginny thought, wiping her eyes. He cursed me and now he's going to do it again. She buried her face in her hands and sank to the ground, crying.

Malfoy slowed down when he approached Ginny. He skidded to a stop, then immediately knelt beside her. Ginny's wild, frightened eyes met his, and he noticed a lock of brilliant red hair falling over her face, hiding her from him. He reached out to tuck it away, but she flinched.

Oh, holy shit...she thinks I'm going to hurt her, Malfoy thought, his heart wrenched in two. It hurt him so much. Instead of moving back from her, he puched the lock of hair behind Ginny's ear and helped her up. Tears still ran down her cheeks, and she was shuddering.

How could I ever hurt her? Malfoy wondered as he gently pulled her closer. She relented, but stared blankly at him.

"That's all I wanted to do," Malfoy whispered. "Tuck your hair behind your ear."

He felt Ginny's chest heave with raggedy breaths. She was still crying, but without a single sound. He swallowed. She looked into his eyes, and he smiled at her to show he never intended to hurt her anyway.

Ginny felt so stupid. How could it have been Malfoy who had cursed her? He never had to say how he felt. She understood. He loved her. And she had just been jumping to conclusions earlier. After all, she never really determined the voice of whoever had cursed her. She was so shy now, to tell Malfoy she was sorry. After shouting at him like a mad hag...

She looked at him again, and he was smiling. Ginny gazed at him. She could hardly believe he, Draco Malfoy, would love someone like her. But he did. And she was grateful for that. Somehow, a part of her just wanted to say sorry and walk away from him. Tell him she couldn't see him anymore. Walk away from everything they had shared. Couldn't she see that their feuding families would never agree to their relationship?

But the other part of her refused to walk away. Ginny knew she never could. She finally flashed him a shy smile, and he looked so happy then, so, so happy, that Ginny could hardly stand it anymore.

It's the way you make me feel

The way that you make me feel

Spinning my world around

Tell me how can I walk away

I don't care what they say

I'm loving you anyway

It's the way you make me feel

"It was Potter," Malfoy said softly. "Potter cursed you, Ginny. He's jealous."

Ginny couldn't help but notice how...innocent he sounded.

"You're too overprotective, Draco," she whispered, and his eyes lit up. He grinned.

When I look into your eyes

Every time you smile at me

I go weak inside

I just can't hide my love

"I'm--sorry," Ginny murmured.

"It's OK," Malfoy said. He took her in his arms, and she melted right into them. Malfoy smiled, a smile Ginny could not see. She would never know how happy it made him when she did that.

That's the way you make me feel

Better than I've ever known it

Better than it's ever been

I can't seem to control it, no

The way you make me feel

Like the sun coming up in the morning

In a way I could never imagine

It's the way you make me feel

Ginny pulled away from him.

"I love you, Draco."

Malfoy's heart stopped.

He had wanted her to say that ever since he met her in the corridor that night. He leaned over. Ginny's eyes were closing slowly, and as they fell shut, their lips met.

The simple things you do to me

Simple things you say

I sometimes can't believe it's real

Ginny's eyelids flickered open, and her eyes met Malfoy's.

Without another words, she kissed him again.

Tell me how can I walk away

I don't care what they say

I'm loving you anyway

"Guess what, Gin?" Malfoy whispered throatily as they broke apart.

Like the sun coming up in the morning

Like holding the world in your hands

In a way I could never imagine

"What?" Ginny murmured as she leaned forward again.

I don't care what they say

"You sure you wanna know?" he asked, and they kissed.

Like holding the world in your hands

"Yes, I do," Ginny giggled.

I'm loving you anyway

"I love you, too," Malfoy whispered; he leaned forward and kissed her. Again.

In a way I could never imagine

Ginny slipped off the cloak and pressed it into his hands, but he handed it back to her. "Keep it. I want you to have it." She was so enthralled by him, she nodded and put it back on.

"You know what, Draco?" she asked, laying her head on his chest.

"What?"

"For a moment there, I thought you were going to say 'I want you' instead," Ginny laughed, and Malfoy took her face in his hands so she looked up at him.

"Yes," he said. "I do want you."

It's the way you make me feel...

The End