Matters of Blood and Connection

Chapter 23: More Than That

There were so many things going through his head after Ginny left that he didn't sleep much throughout the night. When he tried he ended up waking in a cold sweat, his heart aching. He wasn't used to this reaction and it bothered him a little more than he had liked. Breathing slowly, he got up off the bed, walked into the bathroom, and flicked on the light.

Draco didn't even want to look at himself in the mirror after what had happened, mainly because he didn't understand what had taken place. Things were going well until he let his hormones get the better of him.

Slowly, he lifted his head, his gray eyes wide, and muttered, "Fuck."

He reached the faucet and turned on the water. Cupping his hands, he dipped them into the warm liquid and splashed his face. He waited for most of the water to drip from his skin before he dried the rest of himself off with a towel. He turned around to head back into his room but stopped.

Ginny was standing there, her red hair tangled; face pale, and eyes watery. She didn't say anything as she crossed over the threshold and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close.

"Ginny, I'm-"

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her body trembling against his. She held him tighter, her eyes shut, the tears streaming down her cheeks, onto his chest. "I didn't mean to."

"You had every right to get mad at-"

"No," she said, stopping him. She looked up at him, her eyes glassy. "I'm not talking about that. When I left I was angry and hurt, and I happened to run into Blaise on the way back to Gryffindor Tower..."

As she spoke the last words, she felt his arms leave her, and he stepped back. She didn't need to look at his face to know the expression. She had seen it enough these passed months.

"So," he said, his voice savage. "How was he?" Draco kept his eyes on the floor as the anger he felt coursed through his veins. "Blaise always talked about how many girls came back for more after he was through with him. Is it true? Do you want more?" He stepped close to her again, reached out to grasp her by the shoulders, and he shook her. "Answer me."

Ginny's brown eyes widened before narrowing and she wrapped her hand around his arms, her fingers feeling his muscles tense, and she pushed him back.

"Fuck you," she said quietly. "You're always jumping to conclusions. This is the second time you've accused me of sleeping with your best friend."

He was about to say something when he stopped. He took a breath and glared at her. "We've done that already, clearly, I wasn't enough."

"Are you listening to anything I'm saying?" snapped Ginny. "I'll say it again: You are jumping to conclusions."

His eyes widened slightly.

"You didn't sleep with him?"

"No, I didn't, but I did kiss him."

Draco blinked. Had he heard her right? She kissed him. Someone else who wasn't her boyfriend, all because of a silly, little fight? He exhaled lightly and reached out to her again, drawing her to his bare chest, and wrapped his arms around her.

"You're not mad?" she asked skeptically as she breathed against his skin. "I don't understand. I kissed someone el-"

His lips found hers quickly, hungrily.

"No," he whispered, "I'm not mad. I love you. If I had been my old self, I might have went off and slept with someone, but I'm better than that now. I understand how you feel now, why you ran away. I'm sorry I hurt you."

She raised her head from off his chest and touched his cheek, her eyes watery and puffy. Then she giggled and watched his expression soften as he bent his head and brushed his lips against hers once more.

"I'm sorry," she said again.

"Don't worry," he said, his lips sliding to her jaw. "I admire the fact that you came to me and said something, and I'm sorry I was being a royal prick, so we're even."

"How is that even?" Ginny mumbled.

"Just shut up and kiss me," he muttered.

A grin spread across Ginny's face as she leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss him. Draco took full advantage of the situation and picked her up off the ground, placing her lightly on the sink. When she squeaked from the coolness of the marble, he smirked.

"It's not funny," she muttered. Her fingers tangled in his hair and she yanked. He groaned. "Don't make fun of me again or it'll be worse," she said calmly.

"You bitch," he hissed. "Now I have to comb it again." He stared at her, strands of hair falling into his eyes.

Ginny burst out laughing the moment he turned around to go back into his room.

"What?"

"Your face," she said through giggles. "It's just hair, Draco. Here," she said, taking his hand and placing it on her head. "Do it to me."

He stared at her, his hand tense against the top of her head as he started to move the pieces every which way until Ginny looked like she had used far too much spray and mousse.

"I don't care," she said as she blew a few strands out of her mouth. "It's not like it's the end of the world if your hair gets messed up a little. Stop being such a girl."

"I'm not being a girl," he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Oh yes you are," she said, snickering. "Presently, you're acting like a five-year-old girl."

"I am not!" he shouted.

"Now I've seen everything," a female voice said as it drifted into his ear and he turned around.

"Hi," Ginny said brightly, smiling.

"Hello Weasley," said Pansy with awkwardness. She was staring at her with large eyes. "What happened to you?"

"I was showing Draco that he doesn't have to be such a baby about his hair being out of place sometimes."

"Yes, Draco is hopeless with that," Pansy agreed wholeheartedly. "But I think teaching our little dragon a thing or two about-"

"Is there something I can do for you?" Draco interrupted. "You've walked in on a private moment."

"Not too private if you don't lock your doors," muttered Pansy. "I came to tell you that Blaise is looking for you."

Draco stared at Ginny.

"Oh, I see she's told you already," said the dark-haired witch. "That saves me the trouble of having to."

"Why would you have to tell me?" snapped Draco.

"Blaise's too worried about losing a friend."

"He should have thought of that before snogging what's mine," Draco snarled as he crossed the distance between himself and Ginny and kissed her hard. "Mine," he whispered against her lips.

"Always," she promised.

Draco smiled as he walked out of the bathroom and slammed another door. Ginny heard his footsteps fade and she turned to Pansy, who was looking at her with curious eyes.

"So," she said kindly, leaning against the sink next to the redhead. "Tell me about the night he proposed to you."