Jigsaw

Chapter 14: Safety

He sets her down, gently, on his bed. His back aches from carrying her all the way from the forest, and he is covered in her blood, but he doesn’t care.

"I should really take her to Madam Pomfrey," he says to himself. "But she would hate anyone seeing her like this. And I know some basic healing spells. I can deal with the deepest of them."

He conjures a bowl of warm water, a wash cloth, and some gauze.

He dips the wash cloth in the water and runs it across her forehead.

She makes a small noise and her eyes flutter open. He watches her take in her surroundings, look wildly around the room, and finally land her eyes on him.

He gives her a small wave and watches her smile weakly back.

"Morning, red."

She moves to sit up, but winces as she puts her weight on her arms, then glances down to survey the damage.

He watches her narrow her eyes at the sight of her arm covered in wide, deep gashes, most still bleeding lightly.

"Damn," she whispers.

"Damn is right," he says softly. "You really did some number on yourself, Red. You’re lucky you didn’t die. You lost a whole hell of a lot of blood."

She looks down, then back up at him. "I don’t even remember. . . doing this. I don’t remember anything past Harry–"

"Well, Potter has earned himself a good jinxing or so, and I will take care of that. After I take care of you."

He walks to her side, kneels by the bed, and gently pulls her arm to him.

He points his wand at her and mutters something she can’t understand. A second later, the cuts close, turning to thin red lines.

"That’s the best I can do," he says. "If you want any better, you’ll have to go –"

"No," she says quickly. "No hospital wing."

"I figured as much. That’s why I brought you here, not there."

"Thank you," she whispers, as he wraps gauze around her arm.

He doesn’t respond, but is surprised when she puts her hand on top of his, stopping him in his bandaging of her arm.

He looks up at her, feeling something inside him go weak at the sight of her brown eyes glittering with tears.

"I mean it. Thank you."

He shrugs. "Had nothing better to do."

She smiles. "Can’t you just accept my gratitude?"

"Of course I can. I’m a Malfoy, I can accept anything someone gives me. Hell, I love accepting gifts."

"Why did you come after me?"

He frowns at her. "What do you mean, why?"

"Well, you told me a while back that playing the hero is idiotic."

"Well, it is. But I guess it’s okay when it . . ."

"When it gets a pretty girl in your bed?" she teases, laughing.

He meets her eyes, his grey eyes completely serious. "When it really matters."

He watches her blush, and feels a smile creep across his face.

"Have I told you that it’s really cute when you do that?"

She blushes deeper. "Did you, Draco Malfoy, just use the word cute?"

"I did, didn’t I? Well, you know that if you tell anyone, I will have to kill you."

"Understood."

She lets her gaze travel over him as he gets to his feet, and her eyes widen as she sees thta he is covered in blood.

"Draco, I ruined your shirt!"

"Oh, right," he says, and she blushes redder than ever when he begins to take it off.

She can’t help but notice that his chest is incredibly toned. And smooth.

But then, she sees something that makes her blood go cold.

She stands up and crosses over to him, ignoring him as he asks her what she is doing.

And traces her fingers over several small, silver scars that form the word HONOR.

Her eyes on the scars, she whispers. "Now it makes sense."

"So, now you know," he says, sounding uncomfortable and slightly angry.

She raises her face, locking her eyes with his.

"Your secret is safe with me."

The anger fades from his face, and all that is left is a softness she has never seen in him before.

Perhaps it is that that makes her do what she does next.

Perhaps it is how good it feels to be that close to him.

Perhaps it is temporary insanity.

But the reasons don’t matter.

Because, she, Ginny Weasley, is kissing Draco Malfoy.

And she likes it very much.

~*~fin~*~