I am special

"Listen, Malfoy."

Draco stepped back involuntary.

"Listen, Malfoy..."

George laughed.

"Don't panic. You have nothing to fear, except..."

"Except any decision you make that will hurt our sister," Fred finished half-threatingly. "After all, it is her choice who she makes out with."

"You seem to have changed," continued George. "And don't worry about Ron, he'll come around. But once again, Malfoy, if you hurt Ginny in any way, you are a dead man, understood?"

"I'd rather kill myself," Draco snarled.

"Oh, and I'm sure Mum will have something to say about that little scene that just happened, I might add." Fred grinned evilly. "Wasn't too genius to use our living room for that."

Draco's naturally pale face turned slightly pink.

"I know," he growled. "You don't have to tell me that."

They had reached the Burrow all together.

"Come on, it's now or never, Malfoy. Good luck."

***

Much to Draco's relief, Ron wasn't in the kitchen anymore; neither were Harry or Hermione. George and Fred excused themselves, too.

Ginny was sitting with her father and Sirius Black, talking. Despite some dried tears on her cheeks she still smiled about something her father said.

Draco hesitated, and then sat down in front of Mrs Weasley.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I shouldn't have exploded like I did."

"I just want you promising me one thing, Draco Malfoy," Molly said in earnest, looking at her daughter's boyfriend. "I don't want a scene like that happening again, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Go to bed," she continued, her voice getting warmer. "You're wet and freezing, and you'll catch your death of cold."

Draco nodded, and left the kitchen without another word.

***

He tossed and turned in bed.

It had seemed like the battle of his life just to get out of the wet clothes, and he still felt as cold as ice. He vaguely heard the arguing voices of Ron and Hermione through the walls.

But he was thinking of Ginny.

As if she had been reading his mind, the door creaked open at that very instant, and Ginny sneaked in.

He jumped up.

"You must be nuts! If your mother ..."

"Shh! Mum, Dad and Sirius went out for walk. I had to know how you were doing."

"Well, I was interrupted while snogging my girlfriend, attacked by her brother and humiliated in front of her mother, but otherwise, I'm just dandy!" he said sarcastically.

Ginny just grinned.

"So?"

"So? That's all you have to say?!"

"Yeah, I guess I had a good teacher in Sarcastic Remarks 101," she responded, still smiling.

Draco's lips curled up.

"The best."

She sat down on his bed, taking one of his hands in hers.

"You're cold," she stated.

"I was outside?" he asked mockingly.

"I want to make you feel warm," she murmured, starting to kiss his face.

"Really, Weasley, that's insane ..." He moaned involuntary as her hand travelled to his crotch.

"But you want it."

"Bloody hell, yes." He kissed her back, almost furiously.

Ginny moaned, too, and relaxed into his kiss.

His hands touched her body eagerly. Soon her nightshirt was gone, followed by his boxers.

"Virginia, if we go any further, I won't be able to stop myself," he whispered in her ear, still kissing and stroking her desperately.

"I don't want you to. Please, Draco, make love to me."

And he did.

***

"Know what, Weasley? You're the best that's ever happened to me," he whispered into her ear.

They were still lying entwined together, Draco suckling at her neck.

"I'm not that special," she answered, suddenly shy.

"Ha!" He snorted. "You're perfect. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise, or they will get to know the wrath of Draco Malfoy, understood?"

"If you say so," Ginny smiled, shivering as he kissed one of her still erect nipples. Then she sighed. "I have to go now. If Mum ..."

"Just five more minutes, okay?" he murmured, pulling her close.

"Well ... okay."

***

The following morning Draco awoke to a desperate knocking on the door.

"What the fuck ..." he yawned, and his eyes travelled to the alarm clock. "Shit. Ginny, wake up!"

He shook his girlfriend softly.

"Ginny! Malfoy!" Hermione's voice hissed from outside. "Get up, or all hell will break loose!"

"What ..." Ginny said, still half sleeping.

"Weasley, it's morning! You have to get out of here, fast, or your Mum will transfer you to Beauxbatons and me to Durmstrang! If we're lucky enough to survive the wrath that is Molly Weasley in the first place."

"I overslept." Ginny blinked.

"Yeah, me too. If it wasn't for Granger ..."

Hermione knocked harder.

Ginny suddenly became aware of the impending danger and jumped up, pulling on her nightshirt hastily.

Draco seized her arm and pulled her back in a kiss.

"Just one more," he murmured, then let her go. "Give Granger my thanks."

Ginny smiled lovingly at him and vanished.

He could hear her whispering with Hermione in the corridor, and then it got quiet again.

He couldn't sleep anymore, and therefore paced the room restlessly. Too much was running through his mind. Caring, loving Ginny ... it was almost too much for him to handle, especially because he was taught not to show or even feel any emotions but pride, cold aloofness and sense of superiority. Lucius' opinion, not that of his mother, but Narcissa had never been allowed to speak up in this, or any other, matter.

Draco stared into the mirror challengingly, as if trying to get find the answer in his reflection.

"Nice eye!" The mirror quipped.

"Shut it," he retorted, trailing his hand softly over it. Ron had obviously hit the perfect spot, and a nice black eye stared back at him.

He put on his clothes and quietly walked down into the kitchen. He wasn't the first to get up; Harry was already sitting at the kitchen table, staring out the window.

At Draco's entrance, he turned, casually observing the Slytherin from head to toe.

"Good morning", he said, almost mockingly.

Draco hesitated, and then shrugged mentally.

"Morning," he answered gruffly.

Harry turned his glance back to the window, while Draco quickly sat in the chair the farthest away from him, grabbing his sketchpad. He started to draw the first picture which came to mind, Ginny. He grinned involuntary. Her long, red hair, the impressive eyes, the way she said but you want it ...

"That's quite good, Malfoy," a voice said from over his shoulder.

Draco flinched visibly. Potter was looking at the picture from behind.

"Would you mind looking elsewhere?" he snapped. "It's none of your business anyway!"

"Isn't it?" Harry sardonically asked. "You know, I care about Ginny. I have known her for quite a long time, and I just don't want to see her get hurt."

"Really?" Draco answered coolly, but a sudden pang of jealousy hit him. "As I recall, it was you that told her to sod off."

Harry was close enough to grab his collar.

"You..."

The coming argument was abruptly halted when Sirius entered the kitchen, yawning widely.

"Morning Harry, Draco." He curiously glanced at the two scowling boys. "What's up with you?"

"Nothing," Harry retreated, sitting back at his place, his eyes still full of loathing.

"Same as ever," Draco stated, matter-of-factly.

Sirius glanced from Harry to Draco and back again. He rolled his eyes.

"When do you go back to school again?" he asked the Slytherin after some time.

"Right after the holidays. Severus...um, I mean Professor Snape, is meeting me tomorrow at Diagon Alley, to buy a new wand. Mighty Voldie went and destroyed mine."

Sirius snickered at that.

"Will you be joining your fellow Slytherins next semester?" Harry asked, trying to uphold whatever semblance to a civilized conversation he could find.

Draco scowled at him.

"No...I don't think it's a particularly good idea. I get an extra room near Snape's office."

"And he really is your guardian?" Harry was still awestruck about this.

"Any problems with that, Potter?"

Sirius threw Draco a glance which the Slytherin didn't like one bit.

"What?"

"I really don't want to end up on your list of Most Hated People, but you and Harry are working for the same side. I don't want you to become inseparables, but can't you at least call a truce?"

"Can I think it over?" Draco snarled.

Sirius was spared having to answer, due to the entire Weasley family having chosen that exact moment to appear in the kitchen.

Ginny came in with Hermione and grinned at him.

"Your eye looks horrible."

"Thanks to your brother." But he decided to drop the subject, and pulled her close instead, whispering something in her ear that made her blush.

"Oh please!" Ron cried out. "I'm getting sick of this shit!"

"Ronald Weasley!" Molly hissed sharply. "I'm not liking your attitude at all!"

"Sorry, Mum," he mumbled, throwing hateful glances in Draco's direction.

Ginny heard Draco's teeth grinding as he tried to control the impulse to yell at Ron again. She punched him lightly.

"Don't worry, I can control myself," he answered, but it sounded strained.

Ginny glanced angrily at Ron, whose answer was a murderous look.

"Let's go outside after breakfast," she suggested.

"Yeah. I definitely need some air."

***

Ginny and Draco were walking in a mutual silence. Both were deep in thought.

Suddenly he stopped.

"Weasley?"

"Hm?"

"If you ..." Draco stopped, and started again. "If you want to think it over ... I mean ... our ... us dating ..."

"Excuse me?" Ginny stared at him.

"Ron is your brother. Potter is one of your best friends, and you've had a crush on him since the very first time you saw him," he continued, staring at the ground. "I'm just a lousy deserter who isn't worth..."

Ginny decided she had enough, and kicked him as hard as she could.

"OW!! Have you gone MAD?!" he yelled, rubbing his shin. Thankfully, she got the one which wasn't injured - yet.

"Shut up!" she answered icily."Don't give me that load of bull, Malfoy! We both knew it wouldn't be easy! Ron is mad. So what? He'll come around, just give it time. He is my brother, after all. You don't think I'm sure, after all that happened? After last night? Hells, do you really think I bloody slept with you because I was rebounding from Harry?"

"Ginny, I never ..."

She interrupted him with an angry gesture.

"I did it because I wanted to. And I wanted to with you, you stupid prat!"

"Look, I just wanted to give you the choice," he answered quietly.

Ginny took his face in both hands and pressed her lips on his.

"Convinced?"

Draco smirked slightly.

"Um ... I'm not sure. Can you try again?"

He ducked hastily as a snowball flew in his direction.

***

"So, where are our favourite love birds?" Ron asked sarcastically.

Hermione, Harry and Ron were sitting in the Weasley's living room, the former two hunched over the chessboard.

"Ron, honestly!" Hermione's voice held an exasperated tone.

"Outside, I think," answered Harry without looking up.

Ron fumed. He then turned to Hermione.

"What do you mean with Ron, honestly? Do you like the idea of my baby sister getting it on with that slimy ferret?"

"She looks a lot happier now," Hermione responded diplomatically. "That should be the main reason to keep our mouths shut."

Harry sighed and looked at his best friend.

"No, I'm not thrilled about this. But ..."

Ron interrupted him, seething.

"What is this? The We Love Draco Malfoy fan club?? Have you forgotten what he's done in the past? He almost got us all killed, tried to get Hagrid fired ... and I'm not even going to mention hearing his damn insults about my family all the time!"

"We have not!" Harry's voice got louder now, too. "But it's not about us, it's about your sister. You have to trust her."

"I DO TRUST GINNY!" Ron yelled, losing his temper. "But I don't trust Malfoy one bit, don't you get that?"

With that, he stomped out of the living room. Shortly after, Harry and Hermione heard the door to his room slam with a bang that made the windows rattle.

Hermione and Harry exchanged a glance.

"If I'm not right, please correct me, but I think there is going to be a lot of trouble before he calms down," Hermione stated flatly.

Harry ruffled his hair.

"Actually, he's right, and we both know it. What a bloody mess."

"Wouldn't argue with you about that."

***

Draco and Ginny tried to avoid Ron's hateful glances and insults the whole day, but it was hard. It was snowing heavily outside, and they had to stay inside the Burrow. The atmosphere was explosive.

Later, in the evening, as Draco was seriously thinking about leaving for Hogwarts, an owl arrived for him.

He turned it around in his hands.

"From Severus," he informed Ginny.

In the background, they could hear Ron snorting in contempt.

"What does he want?"

"Wait a minute. Don't understand why, but he knows Black is here and has to talk with him. He's coming to the Burrow tomorrow morning to pick me up, instead of sending me by floo to Diagon Alley on my own."

"I thought they hate each other? I mean, Snape and Sirius?"

Draco shrugged.

"Don't get it either. Must be an Order thing. Anyway, are you going to join us in Diagon Alley?"

Ginny looked a little uneasy.

"I'd love to, but do you really think Professor Snape will appreciate that?"

"Unfortunately for him, he wanted to take me into his custody, so he has to deal with my girlfriend, too. He'll come around. Eventually." Draco grinned evilly. "And you'll be spending some time in Slytherin - in my room, I hope."

Ginny got slightly pink, but started to gnaw on her lip.

"What are you thinking, Weasley?"

"Oh, nothing." But her expression was a sorrowful one. "I can just imagine Professor Snape's face as I continually pass by and vanish into your room. He'll get me detention for the rest of my life."

"Don't think so. Relax, Weasley, he's not that bad at all."

"No, not with you, you are a Slytherin. But me?"

"He will come around," Draco insisted. "Don't worry so much."

Knowing Mrs Weasley wasn't around, he started to kiss her, burying his hands in her thick red hair.

"Oh no, NOT AGAIN!" Ron shouted from behind, and stomped outside.

Draco grumbled something, but he got up, too, limping in the direction in which Ron had vanished.

"What are you up to?" Ginny asked with a worried voice.

"Just wanting to know how thick your brother really is."

Hermione joined the conversation, looking as uneasy as Ginny.

"Do you really think that's a good idea? He'll slaughter you!"

"You have any other ideas, Granger? I'm open for suggestions." Draco stared at her challengingly

"Um ... no."

"My, my. Granger, out of words. And hell freezes over!" With a grand sweep of his hand, he went outside.

Hermione swallowed audibly.

"Not good," she murmured.

Ginny's face had reached the colour of snow.

"Do you think they'll kill each other?"

"Stop that, Ginny, you're not helping!"

"I'll keep an eye on them," Harry said determinedly.

"What? How?"

"Hello, invisibility cloak owner here!"

***

Ron was sitting on the old swing at the garden, looking murderous. He glanced up, seeing Draco limping in his direction.

"Save it!" he hissed, even before the Slytherin could open his mouth. "I know exactly what you have in your evil mind, Malfoy. You can't fool me!"

"So?" Draco smirked. "And what exactly is in my evil mind, Mr Genius?"

"You know very well!"

"Afraid not."

Suddenly, he sensed somebody moving behind him, and turned around. There was nobody there, and he frowned.

Ron sneered at him. "You're using Ginny. I know you have something wicked planned for her, haven't you? It must have been the satisfaction of your life when she fell in love with you."

He has a point. Not that he meant it that way.

"For your information," Draco answered through clenched teeth. "It was I who fell in love first."

"Oh, really?" Ron snarled.

"Listen, Weasel, I can't force you to believe me. But maybe you can think - if you can think - about what you're doing to your sister."

"Saving her life, probably?"

"I would never harm her in any way!" Draco was quickly losing his temper. "I repeat, Weasel, hate me as much as you want, the feeling is mutual!! But stop acting as if her opinions were worth shit, because it's killing her inside!"

"You fucking asshole!" Ron yelled, jumped up and stormed in Draco's direction.

The Slytherin paled as much as he could, but stubbornly held his ground.

Ron punched him again with all his strength. Draco lost his balance and fell backwards into the snow.

The red haired Gryffindor was on him in a second, and both boys started to pummel each other.

Harry swore under the invisibility cloak.

Draco tried desperately to defend himself, but he just wasn't on the winning side. He had never had to deal with any of this before, not with Crabbe and Goyle in the background, and certainly not with an already injured leg.

Ron punched him mercilessly, yelling obscenities all the time. Then he landed a direct hit on Draco's left leg.

From very far away, Draco could hear someone screaming. Finally he realised that it was himself. Tears of sheer agony threatened to escape his eyes, and the world around him was falling apart.

Harry had enough. He threw off the cloak and ran to them, grabbing Ron from behind.

"Get your bloody hands off me!" Ron yelled. "I am going to kill that damn bastard!"

"Ron, stop it! Have you gone mad?!"

"Damn it, get your hands off, or I'll ..."

"Or you what?!" Harry yelled back. "You'll attack me then, too? Hells, I never thought I would agree with Malfoy about anything, but can you even fathom what you're doing to Ginny??"

"Potter, he's not listening," came Draco's weak voice from the ground. He spit some blood in the snow. "You'll just make things worse."

"Shut up, Malfoy! As things stand right now, I should punch you, too!"

Ron was slowly calming down. He angrily shoved Harry's hands off his arms.

"We're not finished, ferret boy!" he said icily and stalked away, muttering something under his breath.

Harry rolled his eyes, but he offered his hand to Draco, pulling him out of the snow.

"What a show, Malfoy. I never thought you were that dumb."

"Look who's talking," growled Draco back, taking a step and almost falling down again.

Harry clenched his jaw.

"Lean on me," he said gruffly. "We have to get you back in."

The back door opened, and three female heads - Molly, Hermione and Ginny - glanced at the garden worriedly.

"We're all still alive out here!" Draco shouted. Then, quieter, almost in a whisper: "Although we wouldn't have been if it had been up to me. I...uh...thanks, Potter."

Harry stopped dead in his tracks, regarding him unbelievingly.

"What?" Draco snapped. "It's true. And I am capable of thanking people!"

Harry was still stunned, but he composed himself.

"Look, Malfoy, let's straighten this out. We're not friends, and probably we never will be. But I have to agree with Sirius, and we should at least try to be civil to each other. Voldemort would be much obliged if we continue with all the fighting."

Draco snorted, but he knew all too well that Harry was right.

"Truce then?"

"Truce."

They shook hands, not looking at each other. Harry was closely reminded of a scene between Snape and Sirius some years ago.