Draco's Love

Christmas morning, Ginny was awoken by an eagle owl tapping on the window beside her bed. She rolled lazily out of bed and opened the window. The owl landed gracefully on her bed.

Ginny gently slipped the package off of the owl's leg and allowed him to fly back out the window. On top of the package was a letter, with the address in green ink.

Ginny Weasley

Gryffindor Girls' Dormitory

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

She opened the envelope and pulled out a piece of parchment. It too was written in green ink.

December 24, 1996

Dear Ginny,

I just opened your Christmas/birthday gift. I want to thank you for the necklace with the dragon. I can't believe that you bought something that expensive for me.

Your present is attached. I hope you like it.

I miss you more than you can imagine. I just got back from the Ball (for my birthday). So many people were there- the Parkinsons, Goyles, Crabbes, Notts... You know, all of the supporters of the Dark Lord. After the Ball, my father took me down into the dungeon. The Dark Lord was waiting there. He pointed his wand at my left arm and put the Dark Mark on it. I'm scared, Ginny. It burns on my skin and it won't stop. I wish I were with you. I hate being stuck in this house. Anywhere I go in this house, someone is always watching me. The only place I can go to truly be alone is where I am now, in the attic. No one disturbs me here besides the house elves.

I watched the sun come up this morning and thought of you. The orange rays of the sun reminded me of your silky hair.

I hear someone coming. It's probably one of the house elves, but just to be on the safe side, I'm going to stop writing. Happy Christmas, Ginny.

I love you.

-Draco Malfoy

Ginny smiled. Tears were running down her face from thinking about his pain, but she was so happy to know that she was missed.

She set aside the letter and took the package. She slipped the green ribbon off of the box and ripped off the brown paper. Beneath the plain wrapping was an elaborately covered book. The cover read, in dark purple writing:

Living on your Love

Ginny flipped through the pages of the book. It was filled with poems of love that made her heart turn to mush. There were several pages that Draco had marked, which had obviously meant something to him. There was one that seemed to catch her eye.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of everyday's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints, - I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning