Can't Decide to Love or Hate You

"Crap! Does anyone know where my hairbrush is?"

"A lost hairbrush is no big deal. I can't find my right heel!"

"Look under your bed, I think I saw it there."

"Gin, how does my hair look?"

Ginny grinned in amusement at her four roommates who were running around her room frantically, trying to get ready for the Halloween ball that took place in a few hours. Leaning against the window frame, she turned towards Riley who was nervously patting at her hair.

"I love my short hair and all, but it's such a pain for formal occasions," she muttered as she glanced in a mirror next to the window. "Do you think Scott will like it?"

Ginny smiled sweetly at her best friend as she nodded. "It's beautiful, Riley. Scott's definitely going to think of himself as the luckiest guy there."

A faint blush swept over Riley's powdered face. "Thanks for the Kodak moment, Gin," she said with a friendly smile as she turned towards her dresser for some hairspray. "And your costume better come soon or I'm going to make sure that Ambrogi lady goes out of business."

Ginny tried to agree with her, but her stomach was too full of anxiety that she could only muster another smile. Ms. Ambrogi never did say what time her costume for the ball would be sent, but with only a few hours left until show time Ginny was beginning to feel nervous. What if the owl got lost, and her costume never shows up? What was she to do then? She could always borrow a fancy dress robe from a friend at the last minute, but what would Draco think once he saw her attire? Did Draco even have his costume?

"No, that's going easy on her, Riley," Vanessa's muffled voice said as she continued her search under her bed for her missing shoe. "If she ends up ruining your night, Gin, I'm going to hunt her down with a spork. Yes, I found it!"

"Hey, Gin, can I borrow your hairbrush? I can't find mine anywhere," Christy asked as Vanessa nearly fell trying to balance herself to put her shoe on.

"Might as well, I'm definitely not using it now," Ginny said gloomily.

Christy frowned slightly at her unhappy roommate. "Are you sure you don't even know what colors or style you're going to wear? That way you can at least get your hair and makeup out of the way."

Ginny slowly shook her head. "I know nothing. With my luck the dress will arrive a minute before the ball starts, leaving me with no time to even try to make myself look pretty."

"Don't worry about that, Ginny," Mary Elizabeth called over her shoulder as she slipped her dress over her head. "We'll of course help you get ready. And no matter how you look, I'm sure Malfoy will still be head over heels for you."

"Oh, not you too," Ginny groaned. "Why does every one insist on Draco being helplessly in love with me? You guys are all crazy."

At this comment all four roommates paused at what they were doing and turned to look at each other with a smile before looking at Ginny. "Are we?" Vanessa spoke for all of them.

"Yes!" Ginny exclaimed, throwing up her arms in frustration. She did not understand how the tailor in the shop to all of her friends would assume such an idea, and she did not want to spend too much time as to try to. "Draco and I are just friends. I told you guys that we broke up." She wanted to let them all know that their previous 'relationship' was all a scam and that they were just pretending to like each other, but that would create more drama than necessary.

"That doesn't mean that he still can't feel anything for you," Vanessa said matter-of-factly. "Colin and I broke up once for a month before we realized that we still loved each other."

"But that's different," Ginny whined, almost ready to give up on this battle.

"Maybe," Vanessa said as every one else slowly returned to their business, "but most guys don't go around treating their friends how Malfoy does to you. I mean, how many guys do you know would have a white carriage for just a friend, even a girlfriend for that matter?"

Ginny shrugged her shoulders as she looked outside the window, hoping to spot an owl. "You know Draco, always having to out do himself and wanting the best of everything."

Vanessa slowly nodded as she turned to help Mary Elizabeth zipper her dress, but not before adding, "I have a feeling the only thing he really wants is you."

Ginny opened her mouth to continue her protest, but silently closed it in thought. He did surprise her with his gentle words, extravagant gestures, and just his overall appearance these past few months. The Draco she knew today was almost an exact opposite from the one she thought she knew. There was no doubt that he was her friend, but could there be anything else? Is the possibility of Draco wanting her more than a friend really that far out there?

Tap tap tap

Ginny immediately jumped out of her thoughts and realized that there were three brown owls outside of her window carrying a large parcel. Excitement and relief overflowing her, she quickly opened the window up, which the owls immediately flew through, straight to her bed, dropped the package, and just as quick as they came they left.

As soon as Ginny closed the window, she raced over to her bed and stared at the still wrapped package.

"Well, are you going to open it?" Riley asked in anticipation. By now all of the girls were already finished getting ready, and took liberty to hover around Ginny and wait to see her costume.

Ginny slowly nodded. "I am. I guess I'm suddenly nervous on how it turned out."

After a few more seconds went by, which seemed like hours to every one, Riley silently nudged Christy, Vanessa, and Mary Elizabeth away, muttering at them to give Ginny her space. The three girls sulked over to the other side of the room, disappointed that they had to wait even longer, as Riley gave Ginny a quick smile before taking out her wand and transfiguring a drape to hang between Ginny's bed and Vanessa's, giving Ginny the privacy she needed.

Very gently, as if she was afraid to ruin what was inside, Ginny opened the package, the whole time holding her breath. After disregarding the tissue paper that she came across next, she left out a gasp.

"What? How does it look? Is something wrong?" Riley's panicked voice called from the other side of the curtain.

"No," Ginny finally managed to say as she gently picked up the material and carefully put it on. "Nothings wrong at all."

"Well, how does it look?" Vanessa asked impatiently.

Ginny stared into the mirror on the wall after she was completely done, hey eyes growing wider as she checked herself out. Her costume was a green medieval gown that went down to her ankles, just high enough to show dainty gold slippers. It fit around her bodice comfortably, a daring U-neck kept closed by criss-crossing ties down her front. It split at her waist to reveal a darker green in the center. Ginny spun around in the mirror, appreciative of her costume. The eccentrically belled sleeves flew past her arms. The crushed velvet made her skin tingle with the warmth but when she moved the dress flowed, allowing caressing breezes.

With a wide smile she opened up the curtain, and gasps of shock and amazement filled the room.

"Does that mean you guys like it?" Ginny said with an even wider smile as all four girls came closer to examine her dress. "It came with a hair piece also."

"Well, then let's get right to work!" Mary Elizabeth said excitedly as they all surrounded her with makeup and hair products.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco tried to wait patiently at the bottom of the main stair case where he and Ginny agreed to meet, but his nerves were starting to get to him. He wasn't nervous about how he looked in his costume, and by the look of the girls who walked by him he knew he looked as handsome as ever. He sported a black medieval get up, tight across his built chest. His shoulders, broad, stretched the fabric across. The silver ruffle on his shoulder bothered him slightly, but it was more of how the costume fit to his form that made him forget about it. His arms were covered in black sleeves, and his black pants hung closely to his lean hips. His hands reflexively skimmed his perfect hair, just to make sure it was behaving as it always did. He was so busy bothering over his own appearance that he didn't even realize that someone was standing on the last few steps, clearing their throat at him.

Draco glanced up at the person, only to have his eyes bugged out slightly. There was Ginny - the one who always wore the baggy, hand me down robes, and barely put a brush through her hair since the beginning of the year. And now, the hair was perfectly combed, shiny and in gentle loose curls. The wispiness matched the natural chain of white flowers that she had on the top of her head. His eyes moved down to focus on her face, growing even wider at how the makeup looked on her. And just when he thought his eyes couldn't grow any wider, he skimmed her dress, gulping deeply at where it was a bit tight in certain areas.

"You look beautiful," he almost whispered. It was as if she took his breath away.

Soft and gentle, she smiled shyly at him. "Thank you. You look great also. Who would have thought that ruffles would look good on a Malfoy?" Ginny said with a kidding face as she continued down the last few steps.

Still lost in her beauty, Draco hardly heard a word she said. As soon as she reached his side he held out his arm for her to put hers through, and they began to walk towards the Great Hall. Draco was half aware that there were other couples around him, but barely paid any attention to any of them. He still could barely take his eyes off of Ginny, let alone breathe properly.

Ginny's gasp of awe brought him back to reality. The head table, where the professors usually dined, had been cleared and a stage conjured in its place where The Weird Sisters were already set up. Candles, which flames were more of a warm orange for Halloween than a yellow, lighted the room. Small pixies, bright orange and rather ghastly in the face, floated around the room, never still enough so that people could actually look at its face. The magical ceiling portrayed a brilliantly clear and starry night. Side tables lined the walls, leaden with punch and food. In the center of the room, various couples with different costumes stood talking, waiting for the music to begin.

"Ginny! Over here!"

Draco and Ginny both turned at her name near the center of the floor where a group of 6^th and 7^th year Gryffindors stood. Ginny started to lead them over there with a small, when she suddenly paused.

"You don't mind, do you?" she asked, referring to dragging Draco to his worst nightmare.

Draco glanced at all of her friends, people he often referred to as his enemies, but smiled softly at her at her excited face. She hasn't looked this happy in quite some time. "Of course I don't mind," he said as he took charge in leading towards the group, "you'll just have to owe me later."

Ginny couldn't help but grin widely. "Okay, Draco, whatever you say."

"Ginny, you look amazing!"

Draco's smile immediately fell as Colin greeted Ginny with a big hug, which lasted a bit longer than Draco liked. It barely made him any happier to see Colin put his arm around a girl after he let go of Ginny.

"Draco," Ginny addressed, "these are my friends, Vanessa, Christy, and Mary Elizabeth, and you know Riley. I wasn't sure if you knew them personally or not. You should know their dates, Colin, Neville, and Dean. And that's Scott. He's in Ravenclaw."

"Hmm, just when I thought Gryffindors traveled in packs I was wrong," Draco drawled slowly after being introduced to Riley's date.

He smirked slightly at the narrowed eyes and glares of Ginny's friends, but quickly wiped it off as soon as Ginny's elbow met his side.

"So," Ginny said quickly to break the awkward silence, "what are you two supposed to be again?" she asked Colin and his date, who she introduced as Vanessa.

"Yes, Colin," Draco smirked, emphasizing his first name greatly, "what the hell are you supposed to be?" Looking at Ginny's not too happy face, Draco said a bit too innocently, "What? I just asked a question."

"We're Tarzan and Jane," Vanessa said matter-of-factly as she showed off her leopard print strapless dress, which ended mid-thigh.

"Who?" Draco asked as he tried not to vomit at Colin's matching leopard outfit, which looked very much like a skirt to him.

"You know, Tarzan," Colin said, getting nothing out of Draco. "Don't you ever watch movies?"

"If by movies you mean muggle inventions, no I don't," Draco said as he looked at the couple next to Colin and Vanessa. "Let me guess, another couple out of a...movie is it?"

Ignoring Draco's bored voice, Mary Elizabeth nodded happily. "I'm Cinderella, and Dean is my Prince Charming," she said with a giggle.

Draco's face went completely blank at the giggly girl in front of him, and he desperately looked at Ginny for an escape. Sighing quietly at Draco, Ginny explained to her friends that they were going to get some punch, and that they would see them later.

The minute they were at the punch bowl and away from her friends, Ginny playfully swatted Draco's shoulder. "Can't you even pretend to be nice to my friends?"

Draco glanced back over to the group before looking at Ginny with a raised eyebrow. "Ginny, you have two people over there who are wearing matching leopard dresses. Do you really expect me to be gentle on them?"

Trying her best to stay mad, Ginny eyed her friends slowly before breaking out into a grin. "They do look a bit ridiculous, don't they?"

Draco smiled at her, thankful that she was done with pretending to be mad at him, and gently took her hand, dragging her to the dance floor where The Weird Sisters had just started their first song, a fast number that stirred excitement out of all of the teenagers.

"Care to dance, my dear Juliet?" Draco said with a bit of a goofy smile, at least as goofy as a Malfoy can look.

"Isn't dancing to a fast song un-Malfoy like? I highly doubt you will look as graceful and perfect as you always do," Ginny said with a laugh as they reached the center of the floor near her friends.

With a knowing smile, Draco pulled Ginny close to his body. "Oh, you'd be surprised at what I can do," he whispered into her ear, making her gulp as shivers ran down her spine.

Suddenly at a loss for words, Ginny could only manage to nod as they started dancing to the melody, a bit closer than they first started out.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco was right. Ginny was definitely surprised at what he could do.

She was nearly panting with the amount of dancing they have done, but enjoyed every minute of it. She laughed aloud as Draco grabbed her hand and twisted her around to the quick beat, having her end right back into his arms. She was so involved in the music and the surroundings that she barely noticed how his hands were placed on her hips, or how their bodies would rub up against each other a certain way. She may not have noticed, but Draco certainly did.

Draco couldn't help but let out a huge smile as Ginny laughed with pleasure as he twirled her around. He had never felt so full of life, and even if he had before, he would never have showed it off in front of so many people. But this was different. This time, they weren't putting on a show. It was all free will. This time, he had Ginny in his arms.

As the song grew to a closing, all of the worn out but happy teenagers stopped dancing and clapped loudly at the performers. Draco was just about to ask Ginny if she would like a cup of punch when Dumbledore walked up to the platform.

"If I could please have every one's attention," Dumbledore said loud enough to fill the hall. "It is now time to announce the couple who won best costume! The winners will receive twenty points for their house and a spotlight dance."

Draco grew completely still at Dumbledore's words. He had no idea that there was a contest involved. Scanning quickly around him, there wasn't a costume in sight that had any comparison to his and Ginny's, unless some couple wearing M. L. Design's was hiding in the corner. He quickly eyed Ginny, who seemed to have no idea of what was most definitely going to happen next.

"And the winners are," Dumbledore said as Professor McGonagall produced an envelope out of thin air, "Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley!"

All of Ginny's friends immediately exploded with squeals as they surrounded Ginny, nearly trampling Draco in the process. Draco just caught the look on Ginny's face of surprise and shock before Vanessa blocked his view.

On cue to Dumbledore's exit, the Weird Sisters took their places and began to play a slow melody as all lights were distinguished except the stars above and one spotlight in the middle of the floor.

Every one grew into a quick hush as they all anticipated Draco and Ginny to do something, all the while adjusting to form a circle around the spotlight. Ginny's friends immediately took a few steps back from her, leaving Draco and Ginny staring at just each other.

He could barely make out her own face in the dark lighting, but knew that all was watching their every move. Gulping, Draco took the few steps to Ginny and held out his hand to her.

The second their hands touched, Draco felt a volt of electricity go up his arms. Ginny's eyes widened, her feeling it too, and never taking his eyes off of hers, he slowly led them to the spot light that awaited them.

They turned towards each other in the light, placing their hands in the appropriate places. Draco stared down in Ginny's face as the song started to progress. Her face was between a look of shock and happiness, of confusion and comfort.

He never took his eyes off of her as they began to dance very slowly to the words the band sang. He was so entranced in those two warm globes that he almost didn't hear the lyrics.

The cold breeze whispers in secrecy through the dark velvet sky

There are things unknown that pass you by

You fear love when love fears you

Why can't the two of you see what's true?

Somewhere between the strong lyrics Draco pulled Ginny closer to him. So close he could smell her sweet perfume.

Love may not be easy, but please hear this

If you turn your back now, you never know what you could miss.

Draco nearly stopped breathing when Ginny laid her head on his chest. His heart was beating so fast, he was sure she could feel it.

Don't look too far ahead while worry conquers all.

You're head over heels, just don't trip and fall.

Draco knew the song was closing to an end after two more frames, because his feet stopped moving. He knew that the lights turned back on, because others around them went on with their own business. He knew that he should let go now, but he couldn't.

They stood like that, holding onto each other, too afraid to move or say anything. Another slow song started to play, and the empty space around them was quickly filled. Instead of continuing onto another dance, Draco gently departed himself from Ginny, but never fully let her go.

"Gin, I," but he paused. He wanted to say something Malfoy-like to fix the awkward silence they were both in. He wanted to make a crack about how she looked star struck, but he just continued to stare at her with his mouth open and nothing coming out.

Who knows how long they would have stood like that until there was a tap on Draco's shoulder, causing Draco and Ginny both to snap back into reality.

Letting go of Ginny, Draco turned around to face Harry.

"May I cut in?" Harry asked. He wasn't even asking Draco's permission. He was asking Ginny.

Hate that he has never felt so greatly before quickly filled Draco's veins. "No you may not," Draco started to growl but was quickly quieted by Ginny's hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay, Draco," Ginny said as she eyed Harry curiously. "It will just be one dance. I'll come find you when I'm done."

Draco heard the words, but did not register them in his mind to move. He continued to stand there, starring Harry down. Harry accepted the challenge, but he even backed down a bit towards the evil look in Draco's eyes.

"Or maybe I'll just catch you later?" Harry asked quickly as he dropped his gaze from Draco's cold eyes, making Draco feel at victory.

"No, now is fine," Ginny stretched each word, waiting for them to kick into Draco's mind. Draco paused from giving Harry his death glare long enough to stare at Ginny with eyes that read 'Are you sure?' and 'Are you crazy?'

"It will be fine, Draco," Ginny promised as Harry took her hand, and began to lead her away from Draco. The further she walked away, the more pitiful Draco looked, and not until did she fully turn away from him did he swear.

"No," he said quietly as he walked off the dance floor and towards the back, dark corner. "It will not be fine."

All he could do was stand in isolation and ignore the happy couples dance around the only couple he had his eyes on. He couldn't see Ginny's face, thinking that Harry purposely put her back to him, but he could see that Harry was doing more talking instead of dancing. But what was he saying? And why now did he just have to talk to her?

"You knew this would eventually happen."

Draco found he could not argue with Pansy, who took the liberty of approaching him and pointing out the obvious.

"It's a bit ironic, don't you think?" she said as they watched the two together. "Her coming to you when he hurt her, only for you to be the hurt one in the end."

"This isn't the end, Pansy," Draco tried to assure himself. "Why would she go back to him after all he has done to her?"

"Because love is blind, Draco. She doesn't know that she had something right in front of her all along, because she didn't know to look."

Draco only nodded, not at all surprised at Pansy's statement. "So you finally figured it out, hu?"

"I guess I too was blinded for awhile," she said as she eyed him cautiously. "Are you going to do anything about it?"

"Isn't it a little too late if this is the end?"

Pansy slowly shook her head. "Love does not come to an end," she stated as she left Draco alone to think that over.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ginny couldn't keep her eyes off of Harry the second he took her into his arms for a dance, wondering what the hell was going on. But she wanted this, didn't she? She wanted Harry to be the one to approach her and talk to her about whatever was on his mind, not her running to him.

"You look stunning, Gin," he said with a huge smile as he eyed her up and down. "I couldn't keep my eyes off you when you had your spot light dance. It's a pity that you had to share it with Malfoy."

"His name is Draco," she corrected him, a bit annoyed that he already took liberty into making mean comments about Draco.

Harry just merely shrugged at her comment. "Just seeing you dance up there, made me wish that was me you were dancing with"

Ginny's feet nearly stopped moving. "Oh," was all she could say.

"I mean," Harry kept on talking, "When I asked Lavender to go with me, I just assumed that you and Malfoy were going together."

"We were," she half lied. "I mean, why wouldn't we be? It wasn't like I was sitting around waiting for someone else to ask me."

She smiled inwardly at the taken back look on Harry's face. Yep, she definitely grew a bit of a backbone from being with Draco too much.

"Of, of course not," he started to stutter, saying the words too quickly. "I wasn't saying that you were..."

"Speaking of Lavender, where is she?" Ginny asked as she turned her head to each side. "She's not going to attack me for dancing with you, is she?"

Harry let out a loud, forced laugh. "Don't worry about her," he whispered as he pulled Ginny closer to him.

Ginny froze at being so close to Harry. "What's really on your mind, Harry? I highly doubt you asked me to dance just to compliment me on my costume."

His grip on her relaxed. "You're right," he said quietly, "there is something else on my mind. It's you, Ginny."

This time Ginny did stop dancing. "What are you getting at, Harry?" she asked as she pulled her hands to herself. Something wasn't right. She wasn't feeling excited or happy, like she imagined she would if he ever said those words to her.

"I haven't been the same without you," Harry explained as he took his hands away to run them through his hair. "You're all that has been on my mind."

"Is that so?" she asked as she saw Lavender walking towards them. "Even while you've been screwing Lavender?"

Harry's face completely fell. "How did you know about that?"

Ginny's heart completely stopped as her eyes widened slightly. "I guess I didn't know until now," she nearly whispered as Lavender approached Harry and gave him a long kiss to rub in Ginny's face.

"Didn't know what?" Lavender asked as she eyed Ginny down.

"Nothing," Harry said quickly, trying to get rid of the subject of conversation.

"That you two have been...together sexually," Ginny managed to spit out. She couldn't even use the word sex with Harry.

Lavender's face split into an evil smile. "Well of course we are," she said as Harry looked away with guilt, "We have been since our sixth year."

Life as she knew it paused for a second. "You've been what?" she asked, trying not to let out the tears of shock that were forming in her eyes. She turned her eyes on Harry. "You had sex before we were together, and you never told me?"

"How sad, you really didn't know anything," Lavender said in a happy voice.

"I can't believe you, Harry Potter," Ginny said as she slowly backed away from him.

"Ginny, I would have told you, but,"

"But you didn't want to hurt me?" Ginny finished for him. "Just like all the other times you would keep stuff from me, in sake of hurting my feelings? Well you should know by now that all you do is hurt me more." She gave him one last look before she turned around and tore off in tears towards the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Draco scowled at himself for letting Pansy distract him, because he now couldn't find Ginny anywhere. He looked back where she should have been, and only saw Potter and Lavender standing there. Suddenly concerned, he started to walk towards the dance floor when a flash of green and red ran by him.

'Ginny!' his mind screamed as he indeed saw her run out the doors. He immediately took off after her.

"Ginny!" he yelled as he chased her down towards the dungeons. 'Where the hell is she going?' he frantically asked himself. "Ginny! Please stop! Tell me what the hell is wrong!"

He didn't catch up to her until they were near the Slytherin Common Room entrance. Grabbing her arm, he quickly halted her to a stop. "What in blazes is going on here?" he asked as he turned her around and just noticed that she had tears falling down her cheeks.

"What happened?" he asked, full of concern. "Gin, why are you crying?"

Ginny opened her mouth but quickly closed it when they heard footsteps just around the corner. Not wanting anyone to see the state that Ginny was in, he took her hand and quickly led her into his common room.

Once they were in the privacy of his room, he gently sat her down on his bed. He patiently sat next to her as he waited for her to settle down, all the while wiping her tears away.

When she finally stopped crying and took a deep breath, Draco couldn't help but ask, "Any particular reason why you ran to my common room instead of yours?"

Ginny shrugged as she gently took off her hair piece that nearly fell off her head. "I don't know," she said as she played with the flowers, "I figured here was the last place he'd look for me."

"Who would look for you?" Draco asked, already knowing the answer.

"Harry."

Draco swore silently, not understanding how Potter can be such a pain. "That bastard! What did he do to you?" he asked with a force of protection.

"Nothing that he hasn't been doing this whole time," Ginny said with a loud sniff. "Oh, Draco, I've been such a fool!" she said as she looked at him with red, puffy eyes.

"No you haven't," he said as he put a hand on her shoulder for comfort. "It's Potter who has been the fool from day one. I don't understand how anyone would want to hurt you."

"I don't know how I could have wanted to go back to someone who hurt me in the first place," she said as she slowly shook her head and went back to staring at the flowers in her lap.

"Because you were comfortable with him, and afraid of a life without him," he said slowly as his own words dawned on him. "But I guess that fear made you blind from the truth and other things."

"Like what?"

Draco stared at the young woman next to him, still looking as pretty as ever in her dress while he replayed his and Pansy's conversation in his head.

"Because love is blind, Draco. She doesn't know that she had something right in front of her all along, because she didn't know to look."

"Me," he finally said quietly, but clearly.

Ginny's hands paused at his words, and it seemed forever until she turned to look him in the eyes. "What?" she nearly whispered.

Draco gulped slightly as he hesitantly took his hand off of Ginny's shoulder. "Me, Ginny," he said a bit louder. "I've been right here in front of you all along."

It was when Ginny didn't respond right away that made Draco nervous and want to explain himself.

"I know there must be a million things going through your head," he said quickly. "There are in mine, but I just don't know how to form it into words."

A pause went between the both of them until Ginny broke it with hesitant.

"Then show me."

It was now Draco's turn to freeze and ask, "What?" even though he heard her loud and clear.

Turning fully towards Draco, Ginny said with a low voice, "Show me, Draco. Show me how much I mean to you."

Draco nodded, not being needed to be told twice. He gently cupped her cheeks, surprised at how warm they were, and leaned towards her slowly. He was an inch away from her lips when he stopped to stare into her eyes that were bright with excitement and lust.

She wanted this just as much as he did.

Taking one last look into her eyes before they started to flutter to a close, Draco leaned in fully and did the one thing he has wanted to do since he knew he loved Ginny Weasley.

Kiss her.

He could barely register into his mind how soft her lips felt against his, or how she made him feel like he was soaring through the clouds. The only thing that stuck out in his mind was that she was kissing him back.

Suddenly full of newfound courage, he went to deepen the kiss, outlining her lips with his tongue. She willingly opened her lips to him, anxious to be kissed harder and more thoroughly.

A rush filled Draco's' body as he moved his hands to steady himself, but the second he did Ginny's arms moved to wrap around his neck, pulling him not only closer to her but on top.

They fell together on the bed, and without breaking contact, they readjusted themselves more comfortably on the center of the bed. Draco hovered over Ginny's body, his hands on either side of her head holding himself up, and her hands nestled tightly in his hair.

Being this close to her made Draco nearly loose it. Frantic to taste her everywhere, he let go of her numb lips and nipped the side of her throat, making her gasp in pleasure.

"Oh gods, Ginny," he breathed at her noises before crashing his lips back to hers.

Ginny responded to Draco's whispers by draping a leg over the back of his and pressing her body into his obvious erection, making him groan into her mouth.

His one hand anxiously cupped her breast with force, causing her to buck up into him once more, but before she lowered herself back down, she grinded a small circle around his erection with her hips.

"Merlin, what are you doing to me, Gin?" he said through a lust-filled voice against her lips.

"What?" Ginny said through pants of getting fresh air, "Don't you like it?"

"More than you know," he whispered as he went back to kissing her roughly.

He got to the point where he needed to feel skin on skin, and at the looks of her dress, it looked like it took talent to take it off. His impatient hand instead went to rest on Ginny's knee, where her dress was already hiked up to. When she made no move to remove it, he gradually dragged it up her leg until it was well underneath her skirt and resting near her panties.

His hand paused, and he was near ready to almost ask Ginny for permission, when her own hands went towards his pants and started to unbuckle his black belt. Draco grabbed her thigh tightly in excitement, making Ginny speed up her process.

She started to unzip his pants when he ran one finger along the inside of her panty lines, making her pause at his sudden contact. He paused, afraid that he took it too far, and was about to withdrawal his hand when Ginny pulled his head close enough to nip his lip before giving him a hard kiss.

In response to her reaction, Draco slipped one finger fully underneath her panties, nearly letting himself go at feeling how wet she already was.

"Draco," Ginny moaned as she continued to kiss him and unzipped his pants.

Draco this time did withdraw his hand, determined to take that dress off one way or the other.

But before he went on a search for the zipper, he kissed a trail from her mouth to her ear while his hands went back to roaming every inch of her body.

He nibbled her ear, making her meow with pleasure as she pressed hers hips even closer to his. Draco had to let go of her ear to let a gasp out into her ear, along with a few words that slipped.

"Gods, I love you, Ginny."

He knew the second he said it, it was a mistake. He felt Ginny's body almost shudder at his words before completely freezing. A flashback of the night they began their fake relationship, the one that made him fall for her in the first place, hit him hard.

"Doesn't Potter love you anymore?"

"Don't you ever say that word to me again!"

"What? Afraid of the word love?"

"Only fools fall in love. I refuse to be one of those fools again."

Draco completely tensed at what he had done. He hesitantly lifted himself up, and his stomach twisted at her face.

Her pupils were no longer filled with desire, but with fear. Her face turned completely white, and she looked as if she had just seen a ghost.

"Ginny?" Draco said with hesitant as he went to gently touch her cheek to see if she was okay.

"Don't touch me!" Ginny suddenly yelled as she shoved Draco off of her, causing him to fall off the bed with a thud.

"Ginny!" Draco shouted as he got himself on his own two feet and saw that she too was standing and looked ready to run. "Ginny, wait don't leave."

"Why? So I can sit around and wait for you to hurt me like Harry did?" Ginny yelled, near hysteria. "You know how I feel about that word, why did you have to say it?" she asked quieter, near tears.

"I," he started, trying to think of ways he could fix this whole thing. But he couldn't do it, he couldn't lie. "Because it's the truth, Ginny. I can't hide my feelings anymore."

Ginny stood very still and stared at him, as if she was studying him for the truth. Draco didn't know what she saw, but she went back to her option of leaving.

"Damnit," Draco muttered as he ran to the door, and just cut Ginny off before she reached the door knob. "Now listen here," he said quickly as he blocked her exit, "I am not Harry! Ginny, I'm not lying and I won't hurt you! Please believe me!"

Ginny's tears continued to fall as she looked Draco hard in his eyes. "A smart girl kisses but never falls in love, listens but never believes, and leaves before she is left."

With those words still seeking in, she nudged Draco aside, who was too shocked to fight with her anymore. He watched as she walked out of his door, and probably out of his heart forever.