Matters of Blood and Connection

Chapter 20: Calling All Skeletons

He woke up startled, his eyes flickering around the unfamiliar room before he felt her move beside him, and he was able to relax once more. Wrapping his arms around her, his fingers brushed her stomach and she shifted closer. He swept his lips across her hair and squeezed tightly, refusing to let go.

"You're warm," she muttered, bringing his hands against her chest.

"So are you," he replied, moving her hair to nuzzle her neck. She stiffened against him abruptly.

"What time is it?" Ginny asked, her voice tiny.

"Eleven-thirty," whispered Draco.

"Shit!" exclaimed Ginny as she bolted up, groping around for her things. "I have to get back to Gryffindor Tower." As she moved to get off of the bed she felt Draco's hand on her back. He had his chin on her shoulder, and his breathing was hot against her ear, making her insides squirm.

"We've been here all day and no one has come looking for you," he reminded her firmly.

"That I know of right now," she said. "You know I'd stay if I could, right? I'm sorry." She turned her head and kissed his cheek. "I love you." she said softly.

For some reason the words surprised him. They had only exchange them once before and even then he wasn't sure how she would have responded. It just felt nice to hear, he figured as a small smile touched his lips, and he wrapped his arms around her. He concluded that tonight he would have difficulty sleeping.

"I love you, too." he whispered. "I'll walk you back so there won't be any trouble."

"Thank you," Ginny said as she grabbed his hand and they walked to the door. "I know if I went on my own Filch would catch me. But maybe with you around it'll be less of a punishment."

"Oh, that's nice, Gin." He smiled. "Taking me down with you if you get caught."

"You're going to be with me, aren't you?" she said. "Filch won't think you're doing a good deed by making sure I get back safely. He'll assume I did something wrong."

"Naturally," said Draco with a smirk.

They were halfway to Gryffindor Tower before Ginny realized. She kept a strong hold on his hand as they walked and she stayed close to him as well. She looked around, watching the shadows on the walls dance, and vaguely heard the thunder rolling lazily outside above the castle. When it grew louder, she shifted closer to Draco who noticed and chuckled.

"You're afraid of thunder?" he said.

"I don't know why," she said. "It's just noise."

"Loud noises can startle people," he said with a grin. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "I guess that Gryffindor bravery only works for some things."

"Shut up," she muttered, playfully hitting his arm. "I'm sure you're scared of things too."

He stopped suddenly and stared at her. His arms went around her waist and he pulled her closer, his lips brushing her gently, then a little more pressure was added. He tightened his hold on her and settled for tangling his hands in her hair, deepening the kiss. He could feel her responding very enthusiastically at first before she pulled away.

"Don't you see?" he said slowly. "The only thing I'm afraid of losing is you."

"Well, let's get engaged then," Ginny said seriously.

Draco rolled his eyes and they kept walking. They were at the Fat Lady's portrait, and as Ginny said the password, she glanced behind her at Draco. He was looking around absentmindedly and whistling to himself. She grinned.

"You can turn around now," she said. "And you're not deaf so you heard the what I said. Are you thinking of using it to sneak into my dorm at night?" she teased.

"Would that be so bad?" he asked, reaching for her. He caught her mouth in a soft kiss. "I think that would be amusing come next morning."

"I don't need you starting fights," she said poking him in the chest.

"I won't," he said putting his hands up in surrender. He brushed his lips against hers. "I promise."

As Ginny watched the portrait swing open and started to climb in, she felt his hands on her hips, trying to tug her back. She resisted and she heard Draco make a tiny noise of protest. She turned and eyed him wearily. "It's almost midnight, and I should have been back here hours ago, you know. Do you want me to get into more-"

He stopped her words with a kiss, his hand sliding up her body as he pulled her away from the portrait and tentatively backed her up against the wall near it. As they kissed, he could hear the Fat Lady grumbling in disapproval and anger because she had been woken up for nothing.

"Quiet, we're leaving," Draco muttered against Ginny's lips. He stopped and grabbed her hand, heading in the direction of the Entrance Hall. "I have a better idea of where we could go and not be bothered."

When they reached the doors to the ground, Ginny had given him a confusing look and said, "Where are we going?"

"Your pick: Quidditch locker room or my dorm." He smiled.

"Well, what could we possibly do in the lock - Oh. Oh!" She seemed to be connecting things, and to his surprise, getting a little more excited than necessary. "That's a nice idea," she purred as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. "I imagine we'd have fun in the showers."

"Showers?" Draco asked, blinking. "No, no, we're going to play Quidditch."

Ginny's eyes widened and her face crumbled.

"Merlin, you're gullible," he said, then burst out laughing. "You think I'd pass up the opportunity of sex with a vivacious redhead to ride a broom?" He pulled her toward the double doors. The rain had stopped, he noticed, as he pushed them open and they stepped onto the grass.

"Well, before me, you and your broom were inseparable," said Ginny sourly. "But we can have sex if you want," she signed dramatically. "I was planning on taking a bath and touching-"

Draco stopped dead, his eyes wide. "If you say yourself I'm going to lose it."

Ginny smirked and tugged on his hand. "You're such a male."

Draco grumbled something under his breath as they reached the locker rooms. He wasted no time in pulling her inside. Once the door was shut, he backed her into the lockers, his face inches from hers. "I want to see that," he whispered, his lips brushing her jaw lightly.

"See what?" she mumbled.

He grasped her hand and pressed it against her thigh.

"That," he said hoarsely.

She glanced at him, her face completely red, and her eyes half-closed. "That's no fun. Why don't you do it for me?" She closed her eyes when his hand touched her thigh, his fingers stroking the skin there as he pushed her skirt up slightly, pressing himself against her body.

He smirked and let his fingers graze the bundle of nerves. He could feel her body tremble against him, her knees weakening as she tried to focus. He grabbed her leg and hitched it up around his hip, her other meeting it as she wrapped herself around him. "I wasn't done," he groaned as she squeezed.

She kissed him roughly, her fingers tugging at his hair, her arms sliding around his waist. She was grinding her back into the lockers so she didn't fall. He held her tightly, his lips pressed against her neck, and when he heard her moan, he almost lost it. He loosened his grip on her to undo his trousers and boxers. He watched her face closely as he gripped her again and slid inside of her. She looked more relaxed now than she did the first time, which he was relieved for.

Over his girlfriend's cries, Draco's eyes widened as he heard the sound of metal scraping against metal. He didn't dare look toward the door, but he knew who it was immediately. He was just caught off guard that there were two harsh intakes of breath instead of one. He swallowed and stilled himself.

"Why are you stopping?" Ginny gasped, her face flushed as she opened her eyes, a terrifying expression coming across her face as she turned her head.

Harry was standing there, his emerald eyes as wide as they would go, beside him Pansy looked on the verge of tears. Apparently everyone had the same idea tonight, except no one could have predicted this outcome.