Fire and Ice

Comfortably Hidden

Ginny's eyelids fluttered, and Draco's heart soared.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang coming from Madame Pomfrey's quarters, as if she had dropped something. Jumping at the noise, Draco swooped down and hid under Ginny's hospital bed.

"Hello?" Ginny's voice mumbled, as Draco imagined her rubbing her eyes. He kept quiet, listening. "Is anyone- ooft!"

With a soft yelp, Ginny tumbled off her bed and landed next to Draco, who held his breath.

"Ouch," she grouched, as she looked up and saw a blonde Slytherin sitting under her bed.

"Hi," she said, biting her lip sexily. Draco could tell she was trying not to laugh.

"Hi," he replied awkwardly, banging his head on the bed as he attempted to stretch non-chatantly. "Had a nice nap?" He asked sarcastically, and Ginny chuckled, crawling under the bed until the two of them were comfortably hidden.

"It was good thanks. A bit boring though."

"A few hundred boys tried to kiss you awake."

"Really?"

"Yeah. And I was the one who woke you up."

Ginny smiled slightly at his smug, haughty tone. Her Draco.

"Of course you were," she replied, snuggling into the crook of his armpit. He held her close and breathed in her scent.

"You stink. Didn't Madame Pomphrey bathe you?"

"Always the ladies man, Malfoy."

"Whatever," he murmured, dipping his head into his hair again. "I'm just glad you're back."

Ginny sighed contently.

"Could have brought me flowers," she said playfully, as she stroked the light hairs on Draco's arm.

"Flowers? Didn't think you were that type." Draco said, smirking.

"I've always loved orchids," Ginny continued, ignoring Draco's interruption. "People always looks past orchids, because they're not stereotypically pretty flowers, and the petals don't quite fit, and the colour's always off. But they're beautiful."

Draco snorted and nipped her shoulder. "Well, don't expect any flowers from me anytime soon." She stuck her tongue out at him.

"You know what this feels like?" She said suddenly, breaking their confortable silence.

"What?"

"It feels like home, in your arms, under this bed, in this Hospital Wing, whatever. It just feels like I'm where I should be."

Ginny felt Draco's smile against her cheek. "Same," he murmured into her ear.

Turning fully so that Ginny could face Draco, she leant in and kissed him slowly, gently, savouring the moment.

"It feels like this is where I will feel happiest, where I'll feel the most... me. Even if nobody else knows."

"Err..." Draco shifted uncomfortably under her weight. "Not quite."

"What do you mean?" Ginny replied slowly.

"Granger found out. She figured it out herself, actually, when she realised that I could touch you when you were under her spell. Only people you love could touch you, so it wasn't hard for her, to be honest, adding when I caught you on the Quidditch Pitch. And..."

"Hermione knows?! Oh my-"

"Your friend Parvati knows too. She saw me sneak in."

"But..."

Draco waited patiently, absently fingering Ginny's now-vibrant red hair.

"Parvati... I think I'm glad she knows now. I trust her more than anyone in the world. I've been wanting to talk to her about you for so long. But Hermione..."

"Gin," Draco said quietly. "Granger was... she was fine about it. As far as I know, she hasn't told anyone, nor is she planning to. I think she respects our- your privacy."

Ginny remained quiet, mulling over what she had just learned. Parvati would respect her decision for wanting to be with Draco, and support Ginny with whatever she chooses to do, and vice-versa. The two best friends have always been that way. But Hermione...

"What if she tells Ron?" Ginny said quietly. "My brothers would kill you."

Draco's body tightened for a second, before he released his tension. "I don't think she will, Gin. She had a look in her eye... I don't know. I think you should talk to her about it though, just to be safe."

"Okay," Ginny smiled, happier knowing that Draco had so much faith in Hermione. It warmed Ginny knowing that Draco would even defend HERMIONE GRANGER, just to make Ginny feel better. And now, Ginny wanted to make Draco feel good.

"Thank you," she breathed into his mouth, as they kissed again, unbuttoning eachother's robes, their shadows alight with fire and ice under the plain white hospital bed.