Matters of Blood and Connection

Chapter 16: Connect the Dots

Ginny's fingers trembled as they locked with Draco's. He brushed his lips against hers briefly before pulling her forward, wrapping his hand around the knob and pushing the door open. Inside was a very large room decorated with Slytherin colors.

It's very appropriate, Ginny thought.

She held onto Draco's hand tighter as they made their way through Malfoy Manor. She kept looking around nervously, he noticed, and he chuckled softly.

"There's nothing to be nervous about," he mumbled. He stopped and tipped her chin up with his finger. "Relax - you look like you're going to pass out."

"I'm fine," the redhead muttered as she pushed her hair out her eyes. "I just don't know what I'll say when-"

"Draco," said a silky voice. He had come out of nowhere. His gray eyes narrowed as he looked at the girl next to his son. "Your mother would like a word."

"I'll be right back," Draco said, pressing his lips to Ginny's forhead.

He disappeared and she swallowed nervously.

"I imagine, if your parents knew you were here, that'd they'd be sorely disappointed, Miss. Weasley," Lucius said softly. Slowly, he reached a hand out to touch a strand of her hair. "How did this happen? You're far too lovely for my son, Ginevra."

"I think I should go find Draco," Ginny said uncomfortably.

"Nonsense," muttered Lucius, his fingers sliding against her throat. "Why don't you have a drink instead?"

"I think you've had too many already," said a cold voice. Draco was back, looking particularly vicious as he eyed his father. "Please, go entertain the guests."

A deep growl issued from Lucius at his son's order and he wandered off.

"I'm so sorry," Draco said, wrapping his arm around Ginny's waist. "I should have warned you."

"What did your mother want?" asked Ginny as they walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. It wasn't until more people started to arrive did she become increasingly uncomfortable. "They're all staring at me."

"That's because you're so gorgeous," Draco said with a grin. His fingers danced across the bare skin of her lower back as he brushed his lips against her ear. He gripped her chin lightly and turned her head to face him, his expression worried. "I want to say something to you, Ginny, but I don't want you to think I'm joking."

"I wont, I promise," she said quietly. "What's wrong?"

He chuckled softly and scratched the back of his neck at her words. "Nothing is wrong." He pressed his lips against hers and mumbled something that only she could hear. When he pulled away, she was staring at him strangely.

"Really?" she asked.

"Really."

She grinned at him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

"I love you too," she whispered.

"That's good," he said.

Ginny's eyes widened slightly as she saw a woman talking to some of the guests and she grabbed Draco's arm. "That woman is really beautiful," she whispered.

Draco smiled and pulled her up with him. They headed toward the crowd of people, and when they woman saw Draco, she reached out a pair of elegant hands to hug him.

Ginny cleared her throat.

"Easy, Red, you look like you're going to claw her eyes out." Draco smiled, pushing the redhead in front of him. "Ginny, love, this is my mother, Narcissa. Mum, Ginevra Weasley."

Mrs. Malfoy smiled and extended a hand. "It's lovely to meet you. Draco's told me that my husband has been... well, less than a gentlemen towards you, dear."

Ginny shook her hand almost eagerly and said, "He was a little over enthusiastic when he met me."

Draco frowned at her. "He doesn't normally get like this when he's had too much to drink."

Narcissa suddenly stuck her hand into the crowd of people next to them and pulled out her husband.

He looked at her skeptically before looking at his son and the girl next to him. "Cissy, dear, what's going on?"

"I think you owe Miss. Weasley an apology, Lucius," Narcissa mumbled, gesturing toward the redhead. "You were rude to her when she arrived, or have you forgotten?"

Lucius' eyes narrowed as he stared at Ginny. He thrust his hand out to her. "I was being disrespectful."

Ginny glanced around uncomfortably and edged closer to Draco, wrapping her hand around his. Something about this entire situation was making her uneasy. When she placed her hand in Lucius', she felt him tug slightly, his fingers dancing across her skin. As she looked at him, his expression was perfectly clear.

Dropping her hand, Lucius slithered an arm around his wife and dragged her off to mingle with the rest of the guests. Meanwhile, Ginny looked at Draco with worried eyes.

"He wants me to leave," she said quietly.

"Is that so?" Draco muttered, wrapping his arms around her waist and brushing his lips against hers. "Because I had an entirely different idea for tonight."

A smile flitted across her face as she allowed him to pull her upstairs, the gathering completely forgotten.

* * *

She was sitting awkwardly on his bed, looking around, when he came over and sat beside her. His fingers, hesitantly, laced with her own, and she stared at him cautiously. His one hand free , Draco wrapped it around her chin and tugged, so that her cheek was pressed against the side of his face.

His lips brushed her cheek and then her mouth. His hands snaked around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. Ginny had her hands wrapped around his neck, her nails tracing patterns on his back. He growled and kissed her roughly, maneuvering her, so she was flat on her back, with her legs on either side of him.

Ginny's eyes fluttered when he slid his hand down her thigh, stopping at her knee. He gripped her flesh firmly and hitched her leg around his hip. He grinned sheepishly at her and pressed his lips against her throat, his hands running up and down her bare arms. He gazed at her for a moment, and smirked.

"That dress is truly stunning on you," he complimented as he reached a hand out to slid his fingers against her throat, then a little lower. "I have impeccable taste."

"Oh, yes," said Ginny with a smirk. "You got me, didn't you?"

Draco grinned and kissed her, his hand sliding to hold her hip. He groaned when her fingers tangled in his hair, and growled when she moaned against his mouth, her fingers hastily undoing the buttons on his shirt.

"This is too slow," he muttered, pulling his wand out and flicking it once.

He'd no sooner had he done that when Ginny felt her body become cold and she glanced down, her cheeks coloring as she whimpered. "This exactly how I..."

"You were taking too long," replied Draco, brushing his lips against her bare stomach. "You're nervous," he mumbled against her skin, his fingers stroking her waist.

"I'm not," said Ginny confidently.

"I won't hurt you," promised Draco as he kissed her on the lips. "Try and relax."

When she closed her eyes he watched a strained expression flicker across her face before he took her other leg and wrapped it around himself. He didn't want to scare her, and he was sure that she was feeling that way. Most girls thought he would be rough with them, because of how much anger he had towards other people. It was hardly true, and with her, it was very different.

When she dug her nails into his shoulder, he stopped moving, and glanced at her; she had her eyes open and was looking at him, a frown on her lips. She loosened herself from his back and wrapped her arms around him, a sign for him to go a little deeper, which he did gradually.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly.

Ginny nodded and wiggled slightly. "It feels okay now."

"It usually doesn't take long to get used to," Draco reminded her as he kissed her, his tongue sliding against hers as he started to move again. He felt her shudder beneath him and he smirked.

She feels good, he mused, laughing to himself.

"This should interest the Trio very much," said a familiar voice.

Draco stopped moving and Ginny's eyes flew open.

"You might want to put some clothes on, Malfoy, but you can leave her the way she is, because I rather enjoy that sight." He stepped further into the room as the blond wizard rushed to put his pants on, and tossed a blanket over Ginny. "I think Lucius forgot to mention I was invited. I've been looking everywhere for you."

Theodore Nott was standing several feet away from them, and as Ginny started to get dressed, she felt her legs tremble at the sight of him.

"So much for safe sex," said Theodore. "I'd be wondering how your father is going to take this, Draco."

"I can do what I want in my own room," said Draco as he slipped his shirt on.

"And, clearly, you can do whomever too."

Ginny sneered at him. "You couldn't even get me."

An eerie smirk spread across Theodore's lips. "Yes, Ginny, but only because I wasn't the biggest bastard in the school. Isn't that right?"

"I'm not-" Draco snarled.

His father's voice drifted up the stairs suddenly.

"You'd better get back to the party," Nott said, stepping to the side. As Ginny passed him, he smirked coldly.