Going Away

Going Away

By Harlette003

Ginny Weasley was supposed to be an angel of a girl. She always received straight O's; top of her class; loved her family, especially her elder brothers Bill and Charlie; she upheld up the Gryffindor reputation; and she was Harry Potter's girlfriend. Yes, Ginny was supposed to be an angel.

But you see, many things in Ginny's life stopped this from being true. For starters, the little Tom Riddle stint in her first year turned her into quite a skittish young lady. Oh, she hid it well behind bold statements and a devil-may-care attitude; but Ginny was frightened. She did not want to fall into the clutches of Voldemort again.

This was what made Ginny's relationship with Harry such a paradox. She was with him, not as everyone thought because she loved him, but for protection. With Harry, she was safe. Yet in this lay said paradox, for Ginny was a smart girl. She knew all too well just how much danger being with Harry put her in.

So the youngest Weasley was always stuck on a knife edge. When she was with her brother, Harry or Hermione, she felt relatively safe. They could protect her. But when she was without them, she was vulnerable as anything. Because of this, Ginny's mind was never at ease.

So it was that when she was offered the chance to leave it all behind, she took it.

* * * * * * * *

It was winter; three days from Christmas to be exact; and Ginny sat alone on a large window ledge in the Astronomy Tower. This was one of her favourite places in Hogwarts, as it was solitary and quiet. Most people went up there for a snog, but not Ginny.

Strangely enough, being alone in the tower didn't seem dangerous to her. Perhaps it was because Tom had never spoken to her there. It was the one place in the castle she could totally relax and let down her guard.

Ginny flipped idly through her potions text book. It was all so boring. She knew everything in it and had done each potion at least three times. Why Professor Snape refused to give her harder work, she would never know.

"Shouldn't you be in bed, Weasley?" came a snide voice from her left. She looked up from her book and glared at Malfoy.

"What do you want?" she snipped.

Malfoy smirked. "You're out past curfew. What I want is to dock you twenty points."

Ginny's eyes widened. Had she really missed curfew? Damn, and Malfoy of all people had caught her. Then she remembered.

"I'm doing my rounds," she said simply with a small smirk. Not a total lie. I am supposed to be doing that. I just forgot about it.

Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "Are you really? Looks more like daydreaming to me."

"Well, it's not like there are any people up here. It's the most commonly used place for after curfew... extra curricular activities and I am here to send anybody who might turn up on their way." Nice. That should work.

Malfoy peered thoughtfully at her then proceeded to sit down opposite her on the ledge.

Ginny narrowed her eyes. "What are you doing?"

His smirk widened. "Joining you for your late night vigil. Four ears are better than two."

Ginny huffed and went back to her potions book. Of all the people to run into, she was now stuck with him.

"So do you ever come up here for extra curricular activities?"

Ginny's eyes moved from the book to the boy sitting opposite her. He was now leaning forward, one arm resting on one bent knee, and a rather evil look in his eyes.

"What?" Ginny snipped slightly. What the hell is he playing at?

"You heard me." He grinned malevolently, almost predatorily. "Because you look oh so interested in that potions book, I wondered if you had a mind for anything else."

"What?" Ginny said again. There was something about this she didn't like. And the jitters were starting to take hold.

Malfoy's hand shot out and whipped the book out of her hands. It fell to the floor with a muffled thud. Next thing she knew, the candle next to her was snuffed out and she could feel a presence close to her skin.

In the darkness, she could sense him positioned above her; his hands resting on the stone to either side of her hips, his own hips between her legs. How had that happened? Hadn't her legs been safely closed only a second ago?

She felt his hot breath on her neck. "I want you," he whispered, "and perhaps you want me, because you haven't pushed me away yet."

Truth be told, Ginny had frozen. She couldn't think. Draco Malfoy had just said he wanted her. That was not supposed to be possible.

"Why," she whispered back. "Why do you want me?"

She could feel him smirk into the darkness. "For plenty of reasons. You're beautiful, sexy, forbidden. The fact that you're Potter's girlfriend and Weasel's sister does make it a little more delicious, but mostly it's the other bit."

Of all things... Ginny's mind was in a whirl. She couldn't think. He thought she was sexy. Her! And he was a Malfoy. Of all the people she could be in this situation with, it was him. He wasn't trustworthy, nor was he a decent human being; yet he was still above her.

Then, without a sound, she felt his lips brush hers. She didn't move. He did it again, and again, waiting for her to respond.

And the cogs started turning. Not the ones Ginny might have hoped would turn; not the ones that would make her push him away and run. No, it was a whole different set that were put in motion. Her mind was still silent. It was something else that moved.

And all of a sudden, Ginny felt safe. For the first time in six years, she felt safe. Not Harry Potter safe, not Dumbledore safe, but totally and utterly secure. She kissed back.

She couldn't help it. A force overtook her, telling her to cling onto this newfound feeling and never let go. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him flush with her body.

While one of his hands still supported him above her, the other moved to hold her waist. He pulled her up so that she was straddling his lap, her mouth attached firmly to his and her hands roaming about his shoulders. She felt it then, the sudden urge to be close to him; closer than anything else.

Her hands moved to his robes, tugging them gently away from his skin. He broke their mouth contact and looked at her. His eyes were unreadable, but she didn't care. She knew what was happening. Now he had removed both of their shirts and started on her skirt. But then she stopped him.

"Too much time," she whispered into his ear. And she shifted so that his totally erect member could be freed from his pants. It stood there and she marvelled at the sight. Yes, she had seen them before, but never something so perfect. And she knew then that it and he belonged to her.

He pushed her skirt to crumple at her waist and proceeded to practically rip her knickers off. As she sank down onto him, she let out a small sigh of longing. She had not known she had needed this. She had not known that anyone could fit her so well.

They rocked, almost silently back and forth. Draco had his face buried in her shoulder and his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, while she bit her nails into his back and threw her head back in ecstasy.

After, when both had finished, she held him to her. They didn't move for so long. He did not attempt to leave her, nor did she attempt to move him out of her. They simply sat.

"You're mine," she whispered to him once.

"Yes," he replied, "and you are mine."

* * * * * * * *

It was after the incident in the Astronomy Tower that Ginny decided to leave Harry. The safety he had provided her was no longer sufficient. He had been confused and Ron had berated her for over an hour. Only Hermione had thought it the right choice. She knew what Harry was to her and believed Ginny ought to be strong on her own. She did not truly understand why Ginny left him.

And Ginny kept meeting Draco, there in the Astronomy Tower. It was by no means a perfect relationship. They had to pretend indifference when in public not only to keep Ron from killing Draco, but also to keep his fellow Slytherins from becoming suspicious.

And one day, their time came. Dumbledore saw what they were to each other, and so confided in her parents. It was with slight hesitation that they agreed to his plan and let their daughter go.

* * * * * * * *

During breakfast, not three months after they first came to be together, Ginny received a letter.

My dearest Ginny,

I have been offered freedom; freedom from the war, a place to hide, a place to be safe. Dumbledore has decided to send me away.

And Ginny, he wants you to go with me. He says he has talked to your parents and they are in agreement. We have their permission to be together.

I never thought we could be offered such an opportunity. I shall be forever grateful to that totally barmy man.

I shall not force you to accompany me. I give you the choice. I leave this Thursday night, at eight, just before curfew.

If you wish to come with me, bring your things to the entrance hall. I will be waiting for you at eight. If you do not show, I will know what choice you made.

Please come. I do not think I can bare this life without you.

I love you,

~ DM

And so Ginny had agonised for the next two days, wondering what it was she was going to do. She could stay, fight the war, maybe come out of it alive and go to find him afterwards. Or she could run away; with him, with her love, and with her parents' blessings.

She did not tell a soul of her predicament, nor did she see Draco at all before he was due to leave.

* * * * * * * *

In the end, she made her choice. Ginny stood at the top of the stairs that led down to the huge double doors of the entrance. She could see Draco talking to Dumbledore, his back to her.

She took a deep breath and patted her pocket where her shrunken trunk and broom resided. Her much patched cloak was folded in the crook of her arm.

"Where are you going, Malfoy?" came a snide voice from the direction of the great hall.

Ginny watched as Ron, Harry and Hermione moved out into the open. Draco watched too, but his eyes were suddenly drawn to Ginny, standing silently on the stairs. She saw him take in the absence of a trunk or broom. His face seemed to fall slightly.

Hermione saw the strange look and frowned. "Ginny," she said slowly, "why are you coming down the stairs? It's almost after hours."

Ginny took a breath, her eyes not leaving Draco. "I came to say goodbye."

And his face seemed to shut down. All the openness that it had gained in the last few months was gone.

"To who, Malfoy!?" Ron practically squeaked in horror. Both Hermione and Harry where also looking suitable disturbed.

"No," Ginny said softly, and she watched the faces around her change. All now resembled confusion, all that was accept Professor Dumbledore. She focused on Ron. "I have come to say goodbye to you."

She stepped slowly down the stairs, drawing out her cloak silently and donning it. She stepped up to Draco and stared hard into his eyes. A flash of understanding could be seen and he gave an all but invisible nod.

She turned to her brother and his friends. While Harry and Ron wore identical expressions of bewilderment, Hermione's was one of sudden understanding and astonishment. It was with a glance at Dumbledore that she moved to embrace the younger girl.

"We'll see you when the war is over," she said with a tight smile.

After another quick hug, Ginny moved to give one to Harry and Ron respectively. While Harry reciprocated in comprehension after the utterance from Hermione, Ron stepped away.

"You can't go," he said matter-of-factly, "especially not with him. Mum and Dad would flip."

Ginny smiled sadly at her brother. "Mum and Dad agreed. I'm going Ron." So, with one short hug, she turned away from him.

Draco's face was once again open to her. Perhaps no other would have seen the vast relief in his eyes or the slight slump of his posture in appreciation. It was something only she could see. To anyone else; and there were by now many students and teachers gathered in the entrance hall; he would still appear to be a blank canvas.

She moved back to his side and took his hand reassuringly. With a slight nod from Dumbledore, and a small backwards glance at her brother, Ginny stepped out into the night, Draco by her side.

As they walked down towards the front gate, Ginny had to ask. "Where are we going?"

"I have a portkey to Dumbledore's home... an island, I think; somewhere along the coast. It's unplottable, like Hogwarts. "

They stood at the entrance to the grounds now. Back at the castle, many students and teachers watched the two fade into the darkness of the night. They did not see them kiss just before the portkey whisked them away to safety. But they knew, they all knew.

They were simply gone.

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