Fire and Ice

Eavesdropping

Draco and Ginny stared at each other until the second set of footsteps softly faded away.

Slowly, they lifted their heads and sat opposite each other, still not speaking.

Ginny's mind was numb, and Draco's mind was racing.

Potter still likes Ginny?

Lovegood knows about Ginny and Draco?

Whose hands are Ginny safe in? Who's protecting Ginny?

...is it me?

Finally, one of them broke the silence.

"So," Ginny muttered, staring at her hands/

"So indeed," Draco replied coolly. After hearing the harsh tone of his voice, he stood and walked a metre towards his red-headed companion, who rested her head on his shoulder.

The two of them sat in a second silence.

"He was going to find us," Ginny suddenly blurted out. "He was gonna walk in, and fin us together, if it weren't for-"

"Stop." Draco interrupted, as he rubbed his eyes like a young child. "He didn't find us, though, did he? Stop with all the 'what-ifs' and 'buts'."

Ginny sniffed and turned to look at him, she was staring at nothing straight ahead.

"Draco?"

"What?"

She pulled away, frowning slightly. "What's up with you?"

He broke from his trance and turned to her. "What do you mean? Nothing's up with me."

"Yes, there is." Ginny started, her voice growing stronger. Draco leant his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. Ginny continued.

"Why are you being like this? Is it because of what we heard-"

"Stop talking. I need to think."

Ginny fell into a silence and simply stared at the man who made loved to her less than an hour before.

Am I responsible for Ginny, now?

Is she mine?

How could I keep her safe? I'm not even on her side.

The "good side".

"I can't protect you."

"What?" Ginny jerked at the sound of Draco finally speaking, and scuttled near him. Her frown and concern deepened as she stared at his sallow face. Pale blue lines were streaming rivers on his forehead, and a muscle in his jaw jumped faster than a Red Karp in water. A thin veil of sweat clung to his immaculate hairline, and his fists were clenched. He didn't answer. He knew she heard what he said.

"Draco, I never asked for you to protect me."

"You never had to. I'd assumed the role without even thinking, because I wanted to protect you. But after hearing Lovegood..."

"Luna doesn't know what she's talking about, Dray." His eye flicked when he heard Ginny use his nickname she invented for him. "She's clever, but cuckoo. Just... ignore everything we heard, okay? I think that'd be best."

"Ginny, I can't protect you. You have to know that. We're not... we're not..."

"Shh," Ginny murmured, kissing Draco's forehead carefully. He opened his eyes and Ginny wasn't surprised to see that they were bloodshot.

"I'm a brave girl, remember?" Draco smiled slightly. "I don't need looking after. I don't want you as my protector, my guard. I just want you."

"Really?" Draco said, and it almost broke Ginny's heart to hear the man of stone speak in such a hopeful, childish voice.

"Yes," she grinned, "really."

Draco leaned over to claim her lips, before pausing.

"Potter."

"What about him?"

"His voice... I feel like he made a connection. I feel like he knows."

Ginny closed her eyes and nodded as she remembered thinking the same thing while the two of them were eavesdropping.

"I think so too. But I think he forgot, to be honest. I mean, he just left. His conversation with Luna really threw him off."

"You're probably right," Draco muttered, lost in his thoughts.

"We should probably go," Ginny said softly, as she nodded towards the window. A ray of sun scarred the purple sky.

"Yeah," Draco said hoarsely, before clearing his throat and gathering their things.

They sneaked out quietly.

When it was time for them to go opposite directions, Ginny kissed Draco hard on the lips. He bit her lip softly and turned to walk down the stairs to the dungeon. He waved without turning around, knowing that she'd be watching.

She waved back, even though he couldn't see it.