New Year's Kisses

"This is not my idea of a good New Year," Ginny insisted, crossing her arms and staring adamantly ahead. Draco Malfoy yawned, picking absently at his fingernails.

"Nor is it mine," he agreed, shifting his gaze momentarily to the woman next to him. She continued ignoring him, turning her head to look out the window of the carriage they rode in.

"I mean, I should be laughing and catching up with my family, not stuck up in this wretched carriage with you. I hate you."

Draco adopted a bored expression, trying to stifle another yawn. "This carriage is far from wretched. It's top notch, I'll have you know."

"No, I don't just hate you," Ginny continued, unaware of anything her companion was doing or saying. "I loathe you. I despise you."

"Honestly, Virginia," Draco moaned, rolling his eyes. It's getting rather old, don't you think? Can't you just get over yourself?

Ginny, for the first time in the entire ride, turned to Draco, gaping at him. Draco was suddenly afraid for his life. He'd heard stories of the female Weasley tempers. And the fact that she was a redhead probably had an effect on her fierceness as well.

"Did you just tell me to get over myself?" she asked, voice dangerously low. Draco gulped, but drew himself up straight.

"Technically, I asked," he replied, trying not to look too afraid.

"That's real rich," Ginny snapped, glaring. "Really rich. A Malfoy telling me to get over myself. You could use a little of your own advice, you pompous bastard."

"Now see here!" Draco spluttered, his own temper flaring up. "You have no right to speak to me that way!"

"I have every right to speak to you like that," Ginny countered, eyes flashing. "It's your fault we're stuck in this blasted carriage in the first place. If you had stopped preening when I told you to, I could be having tea and chatting with my brothers already."

"Well if you hadn't taken four ruddy hours in the bathroom getting ready, I would have had plenty of bloody time to preen. Getting yourself all prettied up for Potter, then, were you?" Draco sneered, folding his arms over his chest and glaring at Ginny.

"You know it's not like that," Ginny said quietly. Dangerously. But Draco was already passed fearing her.

"And how do you propose that I come to that conclusion? While you hang all over him? While you absorb every word he says? While you fawn over everything he does? 'Oh, do you need some more tea, Harry? Another biscuit, Harry? Want me to submit to your every whim and have your children, Harry?'" Draco knew from the look on Ginny's face that he had crossed a line, but he couldn't stop himself. Years of frustration and anger were pouring out, and there was nothing he could do about it.

"Stop it," Ginny demanded, voice trembling.

"Does it hurt knowing that he will always be out of your reach? Knowing that he will always be there, but you can never have him?"

"Shut up," Ginny whispered fiercely, tears already starting to stream down her cheeks.

"Tell me, Ginny. When did you first realize that he didn't want you? Was it when he didn't speak to you for almost a whole year? Or was it when you found him and Hannah Abbott shagging in the Quidditch locker rooms?"

"Shut up!" she screamed, shoving Draco away and curling into her corner of the carriage. She sobbed brokenly into her hands, drawing her knees up to her chest. Draco stared at her helplessly, just realizing what he had done.

"Shit... Damn it, Ginny, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to go that far." Ginny only cried harder, so Draco scooted closer, touching her shoulder softly. "Ginny, please. You know how riled up I can get. You know how to push my buttons. I just...exploded." Ginny shook her head.

"You know it has nothing to do with Harry. You know this, and yet you still bring that stupid crush up every time."

"I know," Draco murmured, slowly wrapping his arms around her and nestling his face in the crook of her neck. "I'm so sorry, Gin. I just get...so ruddy jealous. Every time you two talk, I just want to go rip his face off and break him into little bitty pieces."

"He's just a friend, you stupid prat." Ginny reluctantly snuggled into the embrace, sighing heavily. Draco tenderly wiped her tears away and rested his forehead against hers.

"...If you had the chance, would you run away with him?" Draco asked, playing with Ginny's fingers.

"No," she answered firmly.

"Why not?"

"Because for reasons unknown, I love you, you idiot. Even though you're rude, abrasive, and sometimes I want to strangle you with my bare hands...I love you, Draco Malfoy."

A smile - a real, genuine smile - spread across Draco's lips, and he kissed Ginny softly, holding her close.

"I love you too," he murmured to his wife of three months, drawing her closer and driving all thoughts of anyone else from her mind as the carriage slowly made its way towards the Burrow.