The Dragon's Savior

Chapter 10

Ginny did the first thing she thought of, she opened her mouth to scream. The scream never actually came out however, Draco quickly clamped his hand over her mouth. "What are you doing here?" Ginny demanded coldly.
"You invited me," Draco replied calmly.
"No I didn't. Why would I invite you over to my house?" she asked.
"You may not have invited me on purpose, but I'm Hotdragon," he informed her.
"No, you can't be. You must have found out about him somehow. You have to be lying," Ginny cried hysterically.
"Think about it, Weasley. Hotdragon's father curses him into unconsciousness. My father, Lucius Malfoy, curses me into unconsciousness. His sister just died. My sister just died. His name is in his screen name. So is mine, just in English. Draco is Latin for dragon. His initials are L.M. So are mine," Draco provided some evidence.
"But you're name's Draco. That starts witha D," Ginny replied snidely.
"Draco is my middle name. My first name is really Lucius, but no one ever calls me that," he told her.
"Fine, but why was Hotdragon nice? You're certainly not nice," Ginny shot back.
"I told you that was my real personality. Besides, you thought I was really a nice person deep down anyway," Draco pointed out.
"Why are you not surprised by this?" Ginny asked, feeling very overwhelmed.
"Because it all makes sense. Your screen name is Fierysprite. You have red hair, the fiery part, and you're a small girl, the sprite part. You're initials are V.W. Virginia Weasley. You were at Diagon Alley the day we agreed to go. We even talked to each other. It all fits," Draco said.
"Oh my God, you're right. I am so stupid. I should have seen it sooner. Why didn't I see it sooner?" she asked, mostly to herself.
"I didn't realize it either. We were kind of blind," Draco admitted.
"We both avoided the subject of Christina. You knew I was in the Hospital Wing because you were the one to see me fall. You knew about Christina's attacks because you found her. The annoying girl who likes you is Pansy Parkinson. It's all so obvious now," Ginny said, shaking her head in amazement.
"So you did make the Quidditch team," Draco said.
"Yes, I did," she replied, still amazed.
"Oh God, we're so dense. We were even talking when we were in the same train compartment," Draco pointed out, smacking himself in the head with the palm of his hand.
"Oh my gosh, we were, when we were going to Hogwarts," Ginny remembered. "I should have seen it."
Draco was about to reply when Ron and Harry entered the room. Both Draco and Ginny froze. "So Gin, why don't you introduce us to Hotdragon?" Ron suggested, clearly not noticing it was Draco.
"Well, I think you already know him," Ginny replied, gesturing toward Draco Hotdragon."
"Malfoy?!?!" Ron and Harry yelled in shocked unison.
"Hey Potty, Weasel," he drawled in reply.
"You're Hotdragon?" Harry asked in surprise.
Draco merely nodded. "Hotdragon, meet Emerald Hottie," Ginny introduced.
Draco's jaw dropped unbecomingly, and he quickly snapped it shut, saying, "You're Emerald Hottie? From the chat room?"
"Yep," Harry replied.
"There is no way Malfoy is staying in our house," Ron said.
"I don't think you have the authority to make that decision, Ron," Ginny pointed out.
"We'll see about that," he retorted. "Mum, Dad, Ginny's letting the enemy sleep in our house."
"What are you talking about, Ron?" Mr. Weasley asked, clearly confused.
"Look who Ginny invited over," Ron said, pointing to Draco.
"He's Hotdragon," Ginny explained. "You can't kick him out, he had no where else to go. If he goes back home he'll probably be dead before the end of the week."
"So what?" Ron asked, bemused.
"If you send him home, you'll prove yourself to be no better than Lucius Malfoy himself. Please let him stay," Ginny pleaded.
Mr. Weasley was about to reply, but Mrs. Weasley beat him to it, saying, "Yes, he can stay. We already said he could, and we're not going back on that now."
"Thank you very much. I really appreciate your help," Draco said genuinely thankful.
Mrs. Weasley smiled at him. "It's no problem at all Draco," she said warmly.
"Thank you," Draco repeated.
Ginny then lead him upstairs before Ron could cause a scene. "Why'd you help me?" he asked, nonplussed. "You haven't been all that nice to me the past month."
"I know, but I'd like to apologize for that. I should have never refused your apology when you tried to make the situation right a month ago. I just made it a lot worse," Ginny apologized.
"I want to apologize too. I didn't mean to blame you for what happened to Christina. It wasn't your fault, I was just upset. I regretted ever saying that, and then when you wouldn't let me fix it by apologizing, I turned really cold again. I'm sorry," Draco said contritely.
"I now realize that it wasn't my fault, hearing you say that really helped for some reason. We were both kinda stupid, weren't we?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, we were, and just when we had been making some progress," Draco replied.
"What do you say? Truce?" Ginny offered.
"No," Draco began, but continued when Ginny looked dismayed. "I'll do you one better. Friends?" Draco suggested, sticking out his hand for her to shake.
"Friends," Ginny confirmed, shaking his hand.
Draco smiled at her, and she smiled back. "I just thought of something," he said suddenly.
"What?" Ginny asked curiously.
"You don't have a date to the ball," Draco replied.
"No, I don't. What does that have to do with anything?" she inquired.
"I just find it odd," he answered.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because you're such a nice person," he stated. "And, Ginny, your friends were right."
"About what?" Ginny replied.
"You are pretty. You're really pretty in fact," Draco said, almost shyly.
"That's really sweet," Ginny answered. What happened next, neither one was expecting it. It was like an unknown force pushing them both. Draco began to lean in closer to Ginny, and her eyes fluttered closed as she moved closer also. Draco moved closer and paused about a millimeter from her lips. Ginny, waiting impatiently for contact, closed the remaining space, and when their lips met, it was almost like fireworks going off in her brain. The sensations were amazing. An electric shock had shot up her spine when their lips had first met. It was amazing, but it was soon over.
Draco pulled away, looking slightly dazed. He reached a hand up to his lips and touched them in amazement. "Wow," he breathed. Ginny could only nod. That had been a lot better than their first kiss.
Ginny was about to lean in for another kiss, but Draco stopped her. "Want to go to the ball with me?" he asked.
"I would love to," Ginny accepted. "Now, shut up and kiss me."
Draco chuckled, but leaned in all the same and complied with her demands.

*~*~*~*

About ten minutes later, Draco and Ginny went into the kitchen where Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Harry, and Charlie were seated. They both had huge smiles on their faces. After they'd finished their kiss, they'd agreed not to tell anyone about their new found relationship. They didn't feel like ruining the evening by staring a fight. When they entered the kitchen, Ron turned to glare at Draco. Ginny knew, even if Draco didn't, that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had told Ron to try to be civil towards Draco, otherwise he would have done more than glare. She was so glad that her parents were okay with Draco staying there. They realized that he wasn't like his father, and for t, Ginny was grateful.
"Draco, I heard that you have a sister, I never knew about her," Mrs. Weasley said conversationally.
Ginny saw Draco tense up at the mention of Christina. "I had a sister. My father killed her about a month ago," he replied tightly.
"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," Mrs. Weasley gasped. "That must have been a very hard thing for you."
"It was. Even though I hadn't known her for all that long, we were pretty close," Draco confirmed sadly.
"Oh, that's terrible. If you don't mind my asking, how did your father kill her?" Charlie asked with interest. "I'm Charlie by the way."
"Nice to meet you, Charlie, and no I don't mind you asking. My father gave her something called the Cruciatus Potion. It tortures like the curse of the same name and then knocks the drinker unconscious," Draco told him.
"Is there an antidote?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, Ginny helped me make it, actually, but Christina died before we could give it to her," Draco answered.
"You helped, Gin?" Charlie questioned her.
"Yeah, I helped him find the potion and make the antidote. I also helped him not make it in time," Ginny said ruefully.
"What do you mean?" Charlie inquired.
"I tripped and broke the vial with the potion in it. We had to go back to the potions classroom to get more," Ginny explained.
"It wasn't your fault that she died though," Draco cut in hastily.
"Of course it wasn't her fault," Mrs. Weasley said. Then there was silence.
"Hey, Mum, where's Draco going to sleep?" Ginny asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
"Well, tonight, he can have Bill's, Percy's, or the twins' room, but when they get here, we'll have to figure something out," Mrs. Weasley replied matter-of-factly.
"He could stay with me," Charlie offered. "If he wants."
"Well, it's settled then, if Draco has no objections," Mrs. Weasley said, looking at Draco. He shook his head. "Good."
"Well, I'm going to bed," Ginny announced with a yawn. "Come on, Draco, I'll show you where you can sleep tonight."
Draco stood up and began to follow Ginny. "Thank you again, for letting me stay here," he said before exiting the room.
"Stay in Percy's room tonight, it's across the hall from mine," Ginny commanded.
"Alright," Draco complied. "Good night." He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, then went into the bedroom Ginny had told him to sleep in.
Draco looked around the room. It was extremely neat, but also looked like no one had stayed in it for awhile. There was a bed in the middle of the room. Against one wall, there was a bookcase, filled with books, and on the opposite wall there was a desk. Next to the bed was a dresser with a lamp on it.
Draco crawled into the bed and turned off the light. He knew that he wouldn't be able to fall asleep right away, he had too much on his mind. Just this afternoon, he had been unconscious. Now, he was at the Weasleys' house. He couldn't believe that he actually knew who Fierysprite was now. He also couldn't believe she turned out to be his worst enemy. Now, ex-worst enemy. They were a couple now. That was another thing that had changed drastically today. One minute, they'd been bitter enemies, the next they were kissing. He smiled at the thought. He'd kissed a Weasley, voluntarily, and liked it. He also now had a date to the ball. His life was definitely looking up. The only bad thing that could happen, would be Father finding me, Draco thought. He certainly hoped his father didn't find him.
He yawned and decided it would be best to try and get some sleep. He'd had an exhausting day. He quickly fell into a peaceful sleep.

*~*~*~*

In the room across the hall, Ginny was having similar thoughts. She couldn't believe that Draco had been right all along. If she'd known Hotdragon's true identity she would have probably stopped talking to him. She also couldn't believe that she'd been right about him. His father did use Unforgivables on him, and he really was a good person, under his cold facade.
Ginny smiled to herself, thinking of what else had happened. She's kissed Draco Malfoy. She shivered just thinking about it. It had been one of the most amazing experiences of her life. She felt that when they were kissing, she never wanted to stop, and that everything was right with the world. This kiss or rather kisses, had been much more satisfying than their first kiss on the Quidditch pitch. For one, that one had been by pure accident, and for two, it had only lasted a few seconds.
Ginny gave a contented sigh and lay down on her bed. She turned off the light, but continued thinking. She had a date for the ball. The thought fully struck her for the first time. She, Ginny Weasley, had a date for the ball. A hot date at that, too. She couldn't believe it, she'd never thought it was possible. It was too good to be true. There's nothing that could make this vacation any better, she thought as she drifted off to sleep. She would soon find that she was wronher vacation could get better. A lot better.

*~*~*~*

The next morning or rather afternoon, Draco got out of bed at about twelve thirty. He sleepily made his way out of Percy's room and made his way downstairs, into the kitchen. Ginny was sitting at the kitchen table, alone. She looked up when he walked in. She got out of her seat and gave him a quick kiss.
"Draco's up," she called.
Mrs. Weasley came rushing in from another room. "Good afternoon, sleepy head," she greeted warmly.
"Oh, by the way, this might interest you," Ginny said mischievously, passing him The Daily Prophet. Draco looked at the headline and gasped. It read, "Powerful Death Eater Arrested." He scanned the article and slowly smiled. The Ministry had gone to his house yesterday, after seeing the spells he'd preformed. They had checked what had happened before that and seen the Cruciatus and Imperius Curses had been cast there. They'd arrested Lucius right away and thrown him in Azkaban. His trial was to take place in week, and if he was convicted, he would be sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss.
Draco just stared at the article inhock as he sank down into one of the kitchen chairs. He couldn't believe it. They'd finally caught his father. Pretty soon, he'd be given the Dementor's Kiss, there was no way he could weasel his way out of this one. He was gone for good.
"Draco?" Ginny called tentatively.
Draco looked up at her. "Did you read this?" he asked. She nodded in reply. "I can't believe it. He's finally going to be gone."
"Yep. He'll never bother you again," Ginny said, smiling. "And, if you hadn't cast those spells, the Ministry would have never done anything."
"He'll never be able to curse me or do anything to me," Draco began excitedly. "Do you know what this means? I don't have to become a Death Eater. I don't have to hide from him anymore. He can't hurt me. This is awesome."
"Draco, you're free. You can do almost anything with your life now," Ginny exclaimed and without thinking, kissed him on the mouth. Mrs. Weasley smiled and quickly exited the room, giving the couple some privacy. The kiss deepened, and at that moment, Ron walked into the room.
"Ginny?" he croaked in disbelief.
Ginny pulled away form Draco and turned towards her brother.
"What are you doing snogging Malfoy in the middle of the kitchen?" he demanded.
Ginny shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other and looked at Draco for help. He only stared back at her emotionlessly. "Well, uh, er, you see Ron, we'regoingtotheballtogether and we'rekindaacouplenow,' Ginny finished quickly.
Ron must have understood her however because he blew up. "What do you mean you're dating a Malfoy?" he yelled angrily.
"Exactly what she said, Weasley," Draco drawled. He was going to make some comment about Ron's intelligence, but refrained for Ginny's sake.
"Stay out of this Malfoy," Ron snapped.
"Why should I? This concerns me too," Draco shot back.
"Just stay out of it," Ron said impatiently.
"No," Draco retorted defiantly.
"Both of you stop fighting," Ginny intervened. "Ron, this does concern him, he's right." Draco shot Ron a smug smile. "Now, I'm not a little girl anymore. We've been through this. I can make my own choices, and I have chosen to date Draco. Now, stay out of it Ron."
"He better not hurt you. If he does, he's dead," Ron threatened.
"I'll keep that in mind, Weasel," Draco called as Ron exited the room. He and Harry were playing Quidditch in the Weasleys' backyard.
"Thanks for you help," Ginny said sarcastically when Ron was gone.
"Well, what was I supposed to say?" Draco asked helplessly.
"I don't know, but you could have helped a little more," Ginny replied.
"I think you handled it very well on you own," Draco praised.
"I still could have used your help," Ginny replied stubbornly.
"I'm sorry, I tried my best," Draco defended himself. "I'll try harder next time."
"Whatever. Now that Ron knows, we don't have to be as careful," Ginny said impishly. "We can kiss anywhere we want." She then leaned in for the aforementioned kiss.

*~*~*~*

Later that day, Draco, Ginny, Charlie, Ron, Harry, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley piled into a Ministry car and went to pick up Bill from King's Cross. Ron, Charlie, and Ginny had tried to convince their parents that they should just floo there. It would make everything so much easier, but they paid no heed to their children. Neither Draco nor Harry liked the idea any better, but being the guests, didn't voice their opinions.
So, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley sat in the front, Draco, Ginny, and Charlie in the middle seats, Ginny between the two boys, and Harry and Ron in the backseat. When it would usually have been pretty squished, it was charmed to fit a lot of people comfortably. Deciding to tell her parents about her relationship with Draco, Ginny said conversationally, "Mum, did I tell you that I got a date to the ball?"
"No, you didn't," Mrs. Weasley replied, deciding not to mention what she'd seen earlier in the kitchen. "Who is your date, dear?"
"Draco," Ginny answered.
"Really?" Mrs. Weasley asked in a good impression of surprise. "I think it's wonderful."
"You do?" Ginny and Ron asked in unison. Ginny in delight, Ron in disgust.
"We're also sorta going out," Ginny informed her mother, deciding to tell her everything.
"That's great. I can't believe my little baby girl is growing up so fast," her mother commented, her eyes filling with proud tears.
"Mother," Ginny said, mortified. She was blushing, and she knew it. She bowed her head so that her hair covered her blush. She could hear Draco sniggering quietly from beside her. "Oh, shut up, Draco," she snapped.
"Sorry, I can't help it. You're so cute when you blush," Draco replied, trying to stifle more laughter.
Ginny just glared at him. He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to him. She leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed in content.
"I think I'm going to be sick," Ron commented in disgust.
"Shut up, Ron," Ginny said half-heartedly.
"Leave your sister alone, Ron," Mrs. Weasley reprimanded.
The rest of the car ride went by in relative silence. They all climbed out of the car and went to meet Bill when he came off the train.
They soon spotted him, and the five Weasleys rushed forward. Draco and Harry followed at a distance. "Don't do anything to hurt Ginny, or I'll hurt you," Harry threatened quietly.
"I would never do anything to hurt her," Draco replied genuinely.
"Okay then, all I can say is, truce?" Harry offered, sticking out his hand.
"Truce," Draco agreed, shaking Harry's hand.
Ginny had been watching them from where she stood with Bill, and she smiled. She'd known that her parents and Harry would be the easiest to convince that Draco wasn't as bad as everyone thought. Now all she had to do was convince her brothers. Charlie already approved of him. Bill probably would too, and Percy would approve quickly enough. The hardest people to convince would be Ron, Fred, and George because they'd had the most experience with Malfoy.
"That was very noble of you," Ginny joked to Draco who had walked up next to her.
"Yeah, I know," Draco teased back.
"I'm glad you're trying to be civil to them, I appreciate it," Ginny said gratefully.
"Anything for you," Draco replied seriously.
"You're such a romantic," Ginny stated with a smile.
"Yeah, it's terrible, isn't it?" Draco asked rhetorically.
Ginny only laughed and shook her head. "What's Malfoy doing here?" Bill whispered to Ron.
"Ask your dear sister," Ron replied sarcastically.
"Hey Gin, who's your friend?" Bill asked cheerfully.
"Oh, sorry. Bill, this is my boyfriend, Draco Malfoy. Draco, this is my oldest brother, Bill," Ginny introduced.
"Nice to meet you, Bill," Draco said politely.
"Same to you," Bill replied.
"I love it when you call me your boyfriend," Draco whispered to Ginny as they approached the car. Ginny laughed happily. They all piled, once again, into their Ministry rented car. Bill sat in the back with Ron and Harry. Everyone else stayed in the spots they'd had when they'd come to the train station. No one really talked that much. They soon arrived back at the Burrow, and everyone got out of the car.