Matters of Blood and Connection

Chapter 19: A Little Piece Of Heaven

He touched her shoulder and she turned around. She stared at him for a moment or two before wrapping her arms around his waist and squeezing tightly, burying her head in his chest. She took a breath and was startled, suddenly, by his erratic heartbeat. Curiously, she looked at him.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

Draco smiled faintly and brushed the hair from his eyes. "Yes, I'm fine. My father's letter is just getting to me."

He knew she would understand, being the baby in her family. With six brothers, he was in no position to ruin things, or they'd come looking for him. He didn't need that, on top of everything else, and possibly her father to deal with as well. Draco had seen Arthur Weasley's temper and it wasn't something he wanted to experience being on the receiving end of any time soon.

"What did it say?" Ginny asked as she sat down at his feet. She yanked him down with her and stared into his face.

His lips curled into a sneer suddenly and it startled her. When she realized the look wasn't for what she had said, she relaxed. He reached into the pocket of his robes and yanked out a piece of parchment. "He doesn't understand," Draco said. "Mother does, though, as she's put some words in this as well."

He hand it to Ginny and she began to read:

Draco,

I don't want you to throw your life away on someone like that blood traitor. You have a reputation to uphold, and a duty to fulfill to the us, remember. That Weasley girl is going to ruin everything if you keep her close, I assure you. Your mother seems to think that she is good for you, as she's over my shoulder reading this. She's frowning at me. Just think about what I've said, and send me word of your decision soon, or I'll take matters into my own hands.

"At least your mother approves," said Ginny quietly as she handed the letter back to him.

"Mother's probably hit him over the head with something by now," said Draco smiling slightly as he tucked the paper back into his robes, then took her hands in his. "I don't want you to be scared if my father does try something, because I won't let him, I'll keep you safe. Besides, he wouldn't dare right under Dumbledore's nose."

Ginny considered this for a moment then said, "What about the engagement?"

"What about it?" Draco asked raising an eyebrow. "Do you want to call it off?"

"No, no, nothing like that. I just can't imagine what my parents will say."

He stared at her briefly before reaching over and stroking her cheek with his hand. She closed her eyes to his touch and he smirked. "They don't have to know anything yet. This doesn't mean we'll be getting married next month, you know. We'll wait until the year is up and take things from there."

Ginny nodded, leaned over and brushed her lips against his. It was a polite kiss with no ulterior motive, which Draco appreciated, because he didn't want to start something that he wouldn't be able to finish. He knew she wouldn't mind if he had his way with her, but maybe for Ginny, that part of the relationship was moving too fast.

"Gin," he mumbled nervously. "Are you all right with the way things are?"

"You mean the sex?" Ginny asked, smirking. "I've never known a guy to be nervous about that before. What are you afraid of? I don't plan on getting pregnant for a long time, and there's a potion for that, so we'll be fine." When her lips were pressed against his, she muttered, "Besides, I enjoy the foreplay entirely too much."

He said nothing as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the bed that was now in the room. He set her on her feet and looked down at her, one hand settling behind her neck, the other around her waist. He smiled slightly and jerked his head to get the hair out of his eyes, his mouth inches from hers.

He held her face in his hands, his thumbs stroking her cheeks, as he brushed his lips across her jaw. He felt her shudder against his touch and he smirked. He raised his head, his gray eyes locking with her brown ones, and he pressed his mouth to hers, his arms sliding away from her face to around her waist.

Ginny's eyes fluttered shut and she wound her own arms around his neck, pulling him close, her lips pressed so hard against his that she most likely would find them bruised tomorrow. She smiled slightly when he moaned and his fingers ran down her back. She kept trying to dismiss the thoughts going through her mind right now.

"I don't have to be a mind reader to know what you're thinking, or what you want," he whispered against her mouth. "You're very much like a man with your needs."

Ginny pulled away from him and frowned. "Then you're gay, I'm afraid."

"What? Oh, no. You misunderstood."

"I didn't," said Ginny with a smirk. She brushed her lips against his ear. "I was just kidding. Though, if you were gay, that would explain why you dress so perfectly."

He snatched her left wrist suddenly and glared at her. "You're treading on thin ice, dear." He smiled then, and began to chuckle. Her expression was priceless. "Did I scare you? Heh. Now you know better than to joke around with me like that."

He looked startled suddenly as her brown eyes shimmered and she sniffled. She called him a jerk and started for the door to leave, when he cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings," he said politely. "Please don't cry." She came back toward him, into the light, and he nearly dropped dead. She was smirking very deviously. "That wasn't funny. I really thought I did something wrong!"

She smiled kindly and kissed him on the lips. When she urged him on the bed, he grinned at her, but as it turned out she only wanted to cuddle. He was fine with that, he noticed, when she curled up beside him, on arm stretched across his chest, the other wedged in between them.

He was petting her hair lightly as he said, "I can't imagine the Trio's reaction. Granger and Potter might be too stunned to say much, which would be good because they irritate me. But when your brother finds out, I'm going to do us both a favor and hide, okay? I'd rather not have him castrate me."

"You're afraid of Ron?" Ginny said giggling as she reached up to stroke his cheek. "That's cute."

"I am not afraid of your brother. I'm afraid of losing my-"

"Yes, I know," said Ginny as she sat up to stare into his face. He looked back calmly. "You wouldn't want your most...valuable asset." She grinned as he narrowed his eyes at her.

Before she knew what had happened, he pounced, pinning her beneath him. He kissed her, his fingers sliding underneath her blouse to caress her stomach. When she moaned against him, his fingers feeling like fire on her skin, he pulled back. He gazed at her for a few seconds before brushing his lips against her collarbone.

"Things are going to be better for both of us," he said softly as he lay next to her. "You'll have everything you could ever want."

"All I want is you." She smiled, feeling her eyes drifting shut, and she curled against him again.

He brushed his lips against her hair and wrapped his arms around her, holding her closely, his chin resting on top of her head before he let the relaxation he felt sink in.