Dragon's Fire

I woke up the next day, happier than I'd been in a long time. Ginny was mine and nothing could take her away from me. I smiled all through my shower and all the way down to breakfast. I sat down at my table, grinning at Ginny from across the room. She smiled back, as she ate her breakfast and talked with her friends. Blaise plopped down next to me, clearly upset about something.

"What's eating you, mate?" I asked him.

"Nothing, Draco. I'm just tired."

"Seems like more than that to me," I said.

"No. Not all of us can spend the night with a beautiful girl and smile like an idiot all morning, you know. It just wouldn't be right," he said.

"The horror," I said. I laughed aloud, and the sound seemed unfamiliar, foreign almost. It was like an old friend that had left on bad terms and returned, hoping to be made a part of me again. Blaise just stared at me, like I'd grown another head or I was talking out of my ass.

"What's with the face? I've laughed before," I said defensively.

"Yeah, but usually we're torturing first years, or Hufflepuffs, or something," he said.

"Well, not anymore."

"What, have you turned over a new leaf, or something like that?" he asked, dumbfounded.

"Yeah, sort of. I'm in love," I admitted.

"With Pansy? Come on, mate. I know she's beautiful, but she's not exactly the 'wife' type," he said.

"I'm not in love with Pansy," I said quietly.

"Then who is it? Do I know her? How long have you been together? Does Pansy know about this?" he asked in rapid succession.

"I'm not telling you who it is; no, you don't know her, we haven't been together long, and yes, Pansy knows about this," I returned.

"Come on! I'm your best mate! You're supposed to tell me this shit!" he practically yelled, as he stood over me.

"Blaise, shut up. Now is not the time to negotiate for details, especially not at that volume. Sit back down, people are staring."

"Draco--" he started.

"No," I said, silencing him with a hand, "We'll discuss this another time. We are in full view of the entire school, and this is a very private matter. Eat your breakfast, and not another word."

"But--"

"Not another word, or you'll get nothing," I said again. Blaise huffed out a breath, and I slowly released mine, grateful that I wouldn't be pressed for details about my love life until much later.

I sat through Charms and stared blankly off into space, thinking of Ginny and the kisses we'd shared the night before. I felt wonderful. It seemed like the whole world was off my shoulders and had been passed to the next bloke. I quickly learned that everything people said about being in love was true- you felt lighter, stupid expressions were daily accoutrements, and dancing around like an idiot was pretty much a requirement. I found that I was no different. Indeed, I hummed my way through the rest of my first class, and all the way to Professor Vector's class. I could feel my face shine as Ginny walked into the room. Her eyes connected with mine and a shiver ran down my spine.

Ginny and Hermione sat down across from Blaise and me, smiling as she sat. I grinned like and idiot and found concentrating in class to be a thing of the past. Instead, I familiarized myself with curves that I hadn't noticed before and hollows in Ginny's deliciously pale skin that I hadn't yet explored. I noticed a mark on her neck that stood out quite noticeably on her fair complexion. It was a hickey. Pride, uncontrollable and inexplicable, rose in my heart. I was obvious that she hadn't tried to cover it up; a thought that brought me great joy.

Her gorgeous red hair was pulled back, exposing the gentle lines of her neck and her delectable ears. Hunger, instantaneous and intensely potent, rose in my belly and I worked hard to lessen it. I didn't want to fully extinguish it, because one- I enjoyed it, and two- I knew I deserved this punishment. There wasn't much about Ginny that turned me off. Except the obvious drawbacks of her family and Potter.

My day passed in similar succession: I fantasized about Ginny, then had to keep from excusing myself to the lavatory. I constantly had to remind myself that she was related to people that would love nothing more than to catch me in a compromising situation. That would be an exceptionally bad thing.

I often thought of ways I could have approached her sooner. I dared not to dream of the future. I scarcely believed in the present. As much as I wanted forever with my red-haired siren, I knew it was unlikely to come to that. Our respective parents would never allow it, not to mention her brothers and the entire network of people that she seemed to be connected to.

Voldemort probably wouldn't be too keen unless I promised to keep her under the Imperius curse at all times. Sometimes, I hated myself for accepting the role of double spy. Other days, I cursed Dumbledore for even offering me the damn mission. Though I tried not to show it, I was constantly afraid that Voldemort would read my mind and find out about Ginny. I'd learned long ago to school my features, due to Father's abuse, but there were times I was afraid my happiness showed. I often found it necessary to concentrate on my father just before leaving to attend meetings. Voldemort was the closest thing to a human lie detector as anyone could get sans Veritaserum. He always knew when one of his fold was lying, except with me, it seemed.

My entire House at school would be against it as well, save for Pansy. This, of course, is due mainly to the fact that they're all Death Eaters. Ginny's House might be a little more accepting with time, but still reluctant.

Dumbledore would be ecstatic. He was always onto us about Inter-House unity and making friends with one's enemies. I was very upset when I learned of his death. But, it is because of his death that I continue my mission. Hopefully, in defeating him, or at least helping to do so, a kind of interpersonal and interracial peace might come about.

I wanted nothing more than to be with Ginny and love her forever, but I knew that it was naïve to think that. Yet still, I hoped against hope and prayed with abandon that somehow it would all work out and I could give Ginny the kind of life she dreamed of. Ginny had given me my faith back and I held onto it with the frayed hope that I clung to. It was difficult to maintain a Slytherin persona, when I often felt like clicking my heels together.

Love was an intoxicating drug that I'd happily become addicted to. I smiled all through dinner and when it was finally over, Ginny and I met by "our" tree and sat together, drinking in the moment and each other. I sat silently reflecting on our kisses the night before, when Ginny broke the silence.

"Why did you kiss me?"

"I wanted to. Why did you kiss me?" I challenged.

"I've wanted to do that for a long time," she admitted, shocking me. I couldn't believe it; she'd wanted to kiss me?

"So have I. I just never found the right time."

"I know what you mean. Either I was busy with Harry or you were with Pansy. Something was always in the way."

"Yeah. There never seemed to be an open window. Until now," I said, taking her hand and lacing her fingers with mine.

"Till now," she agreed, looking in my eyes. I felt so complete at that moment, so fulfilled.

"Ginny?"

"Yes?"

"Will you be my girlfriend?" I sat on pins and needles while I waited for her answer.

"Yes," she replied breathlessly. Time stopped in my world as I smiled and leaned down to kiss her. The kiss was a meeting of souls, of minds. I poured all that I felt into that kiss and hoped that eventually Ginny would return the feeling. Love filled my heart and surged in my chest. Our tongues met and danced in a rhythm that seemed to flood my every sense. I finally had to pull away for air. I stepped back and looked down into her eyes, which were glazed over. Her lips were slightly parted, and she panted out a breath, even as I did. I tried to clamp down my desire, but I was so drunk on love that it was more difficult than ever. Ginny was standing in front of me, far better than any fantasy I could have dreamed up. I ached to touch her, to show her how much I loved her. I didn't want to scare her away by sharing too much of my feelings too soon, but it was very hard to concentrate on anything except carrying out my desires. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that going too far with Ginny too soon would only ruin my plans.

"Ginny, we need to stop." As much as those words pained me, both mentally and physically, I knew that if I stayed in close proximity to Ginny much longer, my resolve would crumble and something she might regret would probably happen. I knew she wanted me; I could feel it coming off of her in waves. I wanted her to want me because she loved me. I didn't want her first time with me to be something she'd regret for the rest of her life. So with that thought, I took another step back. I glanced at her face; big mistake. Her eyes were still glassy and her lips were parted in an invitation that my body was only too happy to accept.

"Ginny?" My voice sounded hoarse to me; not a good indication of how the rest of my night was going to go.

"Ginny, are you there?"

"Yes," she answered dreamily. My hormones were in overdrive already, and with this, I was lucky I had such a strong will.

"Ginny, darling, we must stop," I said again.

"Hmm?" She sounded so far away, like she had just come out of a haze.

"Ginny, luv, we have to stop. Ginny!" I yelped as she moved forward and stumbled right into my arms, her chest colliding with my already over-sensitized body. I nearly moaned aloud at the contact, but caught myself in time. She grunted and my breath whooshed out in a strangled gasp. I struggled to regain some sense of right and wrong, but the very thin line blurred as she nestled closer. What new hell was this? This must be payback for all the wrongs I had committed when I was under a strong influence of evil. I was so fucked. Praying to whatever deity would have me, I asked for strength to resist Ginny, as I slowly disentangled myself from her arms. When I finally got free, I felt bereft without Ginny's warmth. Oh, hell.

"Draco, kiss me." I froze, unsure what to do. "Kiss me, please." I really was going to burn in hell. I tried to control the impulse that rose within and failed miserably. I leaned my head down and kissed her, visions of fire and brimstone forming in my mind's eye. I gave over and kissed Ginny with abandon. I pulled her closer, afraid she'd slip away and I'd find it was all a dream. Flames raced up and down my arms, where her supple skin brushed mine. Lightning arced all over my body as Ginny melded her body to mine. I never wanted it to stop, even as I knew it should have never began. I reveled in the feelings that overcame me: the sense of danger, the love that flowed in my veins. I felt the sweet agony of being so close to one's desire, yet so far from achieving it. When Ginny moaned into my mouth, I lost it. Freeing her body from mine momentarily, I then gripped her hips and pressed against her. A strangled gasp emerged from my throat.

"What the fuck is going on here?!" Oh, shit. Think, think, think.

"None of your damn business. Fuck off," I said.

"I would, but it does seem that you've started without me," came a very drunk Blaise's voice. Ah, hell.

"Just go away. I'm busy," I nearly yelled.

"I really should be going anyway. It's after curfew and I'm going to have a hell of a day tomorrow." This from Ginny, who'd pulled back when I'd yelled at Blaise. Ginny started to rise and I jumped to my feet to help her up. I quickly realized that all my blood was not in my head and promptly fell back down.

"Draco, are you okay?"

"Drake! Is that you, mate? Who's this? She's absolutely fuckable!" Didn't I know it.

"Blaise, you're kind of interrupting something here," I said, through clenched teeth. I grimaced as my body reminded me of the long night I was bound to have.

"Am I? Deadful, abominabidably sor- sorry," he slurred.

"Yes, I'm sure you are. Could you just leave?"

"Draco! I'll go to my dormitory and you stay here and help Blaise. I'll see you tomorrow," Ginny reprimanded as she started to leave.

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow." I grunted as I got up to help Blaise, who had started dancing about and singing "Auld Lange Syne" very loudly and off-key.

"C'mon, Blaise. That's a good drunk." Blaise leaned heavily one my arm, which was halfway asleep from holding Ginny against me. My arm faltered and Blaise pitched forward, into a wall.

"Ah! S-s-shit! Fuck me, that hurt!" Blaise slurred. It hurt to laugh, but it was just so damn funny. I picked Blaise up from where he'd slid down the wall and we stumbled in to the Common Room. I put Blaise into his bed, the started to walk to my room.

"Draco, didn't know you felt that way about me," Blaise slurred.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You. You've got a hard one for me," he said, laughing hysterically. I was so embarrassed and felt my face color.

"It's not for you," I said.

"' S not?"

"No. It was for that girl you scared away."

"What girl?"

"The one who- oh, never mind! Go to sleep, Blaise."

"'Kay. Nighty- night."

"Good night." I left his dorm for my own, rolling my eyes. That was one of the longest nights of my life.