Pride

Chapter 1 - Rattle

She stopped and stood completely still, her eyes narrowing as a figure stepped out from the shadows, his face illuminated by dim light.

He smiled coolly at her. "It's good to see you didn't disregard my letter."

He moved forward, his fingers touching the sensitive part of her neck. She held it together, and she knew he knew how hard that was for her to do.

"How could I?" she asked. "You know if I had, your insufferable owl would have never ceased its incessant hooting nor allow me a moment's peace." She almost laughed at her own stubbornness.

"You ignored me for weeks," he pointed out, petulantly.

The girl blinked and tilted her head. "I'm sorry about that, but your invitation seemed, at first, to be a cruel joke. What else did you want me to do?" She smoothed her dark hair from her eyes and frowned. "I'm here now, aren't I?"

"Yes," he murmured as he stepped forward, swiftly capturing her slim body with his hands. He bent his head low and kissed her, eliciting a moan from his partner. "Would you like to go somewhere more private?"

"Like your dorm?" she asked quietly.

He smirked, cupped her cheek, and laughed. "More like the Room of Requirement."

"We can't!" she protested. "Someone might see us."

He leaned his head against hers and took her hand. "Come on," he whispered. "Where's that bravery of yours - you're a Gryffindor, aren't you?" He did not let her reply as he pulled her with him to the Seventh Floor. Upon reaching it and locating the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy trying to teach the trolls to dance the ballet, he stared at the empty stone wall across from the statue.

There was a door almost immediately, which she opened, and stepped inside. To her surprise, there were candles everywhere and a large bed in the centre of the room. Her eyes strayed to his. "This is beautiful," she said quietly.

"You deserve the best," he said with a smile, and his arms snaked around her waist as his mouth found her neck.

Gently, he used his teeth and lips until she turned in his embrace and kissed him. She looped her arms around his waist and pulled him closer, effectively knocking them back onto the bed. Cautiously, he removed her blouse and skirt, exposing matching black undergarments.

The white sheets clashed dangerously with her deep red hair. There was a strange smile on her face as she sat up and rested her head on his shoulder. "Do you still want to do this?" she asked nervously.

She watched her boyfriend nod foolishly as she removed his shirt, running her hands over his chest, her eyes flickering with lust as she pressed her lips to his skin, feeling him squirm slightly at her touch. He fisted a hand into her hair and kissed her again, holding her to him, trapping her. She felt his tongue invade her mouth, and she giggled, liking the feel of it. She repositioned herself to sit on his lap, her legs wrapped around his torso as much as her muscles would allow.

She could feel his erection through his boxers as he had discarded his pants some time ago. He prodded her to lie back as he hovered over her, his eyes soft, trying to read her expression.

"You still look nervous," he said softly, looking into her eyes. "Maybe we shouldn't do this." He watched her bite her own lip and sighed. "Are you sure?" he asked. He would be as gentle as he possibly could, but they both knew that the pain was inevitable. He called, "Gin?" when she hadn't answered for several minutes.

"I'm sure," she replied, nodding, closing her eyes.

He let out a deep breath and slid inside her. She winced slightly, her eyes watering as she looked up at him. So many months of preparation for this day, and she still wasn't as ready as she had thought she would be.

"It hurts," she moaned, and he could have sworn it was half from pleasure as well as pain.

"I'm sorry," he apologised and kissed her mouth again. His lips were like a feather against her own. "But it only hurts for a second or so until you get used to everything." He smiled tenderly, but the pain he saw in her eyes broke him. He pulled out and wrapped the sheet around himself. "You should have told me you weren't ready." He held her closely, nuzzling her neck.

"I thought I was," she whispered hoarsely. "I guess I'm not good enough."

"What?" He sat up, his eyes wide. "Is that why you've been avoiding me?" He blinked at her, his eyes surveying her movements. "I can't believe you think that."

"I hear the way people talk when I pass them," Ginny remarked, her brown eyes dark. "They whisper about how I betrayed my friends to be with a Slytherin." She brought her knees up to her chin and held her head. "It's what I expected, but it's still not fair."

"Why would you say that?" He didn't touch her, not when she was like this.

"Because I'm in love with you, that's why." Ginny sniffed, pushing her hair behind her ear.

She couldn't look at him now. She felt him move against her, his breath warm against her ear.

"See, that's funny," he whispered. "Because I think I love you already."

She blinked at him, her expression blank. Months of passion and fighting had brought them here.

"I have for a long time; I figured you knew that with how I acted a few months into this," he said softly, and she began to sit up.

"I think we should go," she said without emotion and began rummaging about the sheets, looking for her knickers.

He frowned, stretching. "I think so too. It's later than I thought."

They gathered their things and left the room without making much noise and headed towards the Gryffindor Tower. They stood by the Fat Lady, and he kissed her softly.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Ginny asked hopefully.

"Definitely," he grinned, nodding.

---

Draco Malfoy was seated by the fireplace in the Slytherin common room when the entrance opened and someone stepped inside.

"You look like an ass, Nott." He smirked until he noticed the mark on Theodore's neck. "With your mystery woman again, I presume?" he asked, although not all that interested.

Theo's widened, and he tried to fix his collar to hide it. "Shove it, Malfoy. Ginny just got a little rough, that's all."

Draco's eyebrow lifted, and he could have sworn he misheard him. "Ginny Weasley?" he asked, just to make sure.

"Yes," Theodore said, straightening himself up, his face determined. He didn't give a shit what anyone thought about her. "Why do you even care, Malfoy? You hate her."

"You're treading on thin ice with that one, mate." Draco said simply.

"I know what I'm doing," Theo said . "I've been doing it for the past eight months."

"No, see, you don't know what you're doing, you daft git!" Draco said with disdain as he sat down, using his long fingers to mess up his fine, blond hair. "Don't sit there and act like you know her, 'cause you don't. She's poor as dirt. Her family lives in horrid conditions that are only fit for rodents."

"Again, why do you even care?" Theo asked, becoming angry as he sat beside his friend.

"I'm just looking out for you," Draco said, but Theo was unconvinced.

"Yeah, no thanks. If I needed help, I would have asked." Theo made to get up and glared contemptuously at his fellow house mate. He was gone before another word was spoken.

Well then, Draco thought to himself. I'll have to teach Weaslette a lesson because whether Theodore likes it or not, she will ruin him, and I can't let that happen.