Author's Note: I'm afraid this isn't one of my best chapters. I was going to wait and make it longer, but since the story wasn't really going anywhere I thought I'd just update the chapter as it is. I know it's really short, and once again, my sincere apologies. It may be awhile before my next update. *winces* well, here's the shamefully short chapter. I hope you enjoy the little that I did write.

- Marigold

Chapter 10: No Turning Back

Ginny was dressed primly in her silvery-black auror's robe; her luxurious red hair tightly confined in a bun. She looked so distant and professionally business-like that Draco could scarcely believe this was the same woman he had spent the last few months living with.

"You ready?" Ginny asked, turning to Draco.

Draco swallowed. I'm going to be as good as dead before this day is over. He thought. I'm going to kiss a Dementor and my soul is going to be sucked right out of me and then I'll spend the rest of my days living at St. Mungo's. Who could ever possibly be ready for a trial when they know they're doomed no matter what? He smiled cynically. "Of course I'm ready, ready to get my soul sucked out right through my mouth," Draco said sarcastically.

Ginny bit her lip. She knew Draco was just using sarcasm to hide his fear. "Come on," she said at last. "We don't want to be late."

"Why?" Draco demanded. "It's not like it matters. Either way, I'm –"

Ginny had had enough. "Do you have to be so pessimistic?" Ginny demanded furiously. "Have a little faith in me at least. I'm testifying; my word counts more than anything else during the trial because I'm the one who knows you best, and they trust my opinion. So maybe you won't have to be Kissed after all."

Draco stared at Ginny in surprise. She's frightened. He realized. She doesn't want me to be Kissed; she actually cares about the Ministry's decision.

Ginny was aware of Draco's surprised and scrutinizing gaze after her outburst. Instinctively she wrapped a finger around the dragon pendant hanging around her neck. He can't be kissed, she thought desperately. The Ministry has to realize he's changed; he's different. And I care about him too much. The dragon pendant nibbled her finger reassuringly. "Right," Ginny said, beginning to feel uncomfortable under Draco's gaze. "Let's go."

~ ~ ~

"Where are we?" Draco wondered, looking apprehensively around him. Ginny had disapparated them to a rundown street lined with dingy offices. "I thought we were going to the Ministry."

"Come on," Ginny gestured towards a telephone box.

"What are you doing?" Draco asked incredulously. He stared at the old red telephone box, missing several panes of glass.

"You'll see," Ginny said impatiently, dragging Draco into the telephone box. Ginny picked up the phone and began dialing random numbers. Almost as soon as the dial whirled into place, a cool female voice sounded inside the telephone box.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."

"Ginny Weasley, Auror Headquarters, here to witness and escort Draco Malfoy for a trial."

The reminder of his trial sent a jolt of fear through Draco. Suddenly, he was feeling distinctly ill. There's always a chance the judge will find you innocent. Draco reminded himself. Maybe they'll believe you've changed. The rational side of Draco snorted sourly. Fool's hope. It's my father running out there terrorizing the magical community. All they need to hear is I'm a Malfoy and I'm off to Kiss a Dementor. Draco's blood ran cold at the truth. His palms were sweaty and his hands were trembling. Draco hastily shoved his hands into his pockets, unwilling to let Ginny see him lose his composure. His right hand collided with a small box sitting at the bottom of his pocket. The very same box enclosing the dragonheart garnet ring. Draco's fingers curled instinctively around the ring.

Without warning the telephone box shuddered and sank into the ground. Darkness closed over his head, and Draco couldn't see anything. A minute later the door of the telephone box swung open and Draco found himself looking down a splendid hall with polished wooden floors and a brilliant blue ceiling shimmering with gold symbols. Draco was far from being awed. At the present moment, his mind was far more occupied with his fate.

Although Ginny was looking more composed, her mind was almost as rattled as Draco's. She anxiously went over her testimony mentally, searching for any errors. It was imperative that the judge realize that Draco had changed and would not join his father's ranks as another Death Eater.

"Ginny!" A voice broke through her thoughts. Surprised, Ginny whirled around and saw her friend Alice.

"What are you doing here Alice?" Ginny asked, her voice strained.

"I work here, silly," Alice laughed. Her eyes lit on Draco. "Mr. Englebert!" Alice exclaimed with pleasure. "Now this is a surprise. I didn't know you work in the Ministry."

Ginny glanced at her watch impatiently. "I'm really sorry Alice but we're running late. We'll catch up later." Ginny grabbed Draco's hand and dragged him onto a lift whose golden grille had just opened. The grille slid shut with a crash. A cool, female voice rang out.

"Level seven, Department of –"

Draco didn't bother listening. He wondered vaguely if a Dementor's Kiss hurt, or did you be come so cold that you never realized what happened. Inside his pocket, Draco fingered the dragonheart garnet. A smile lit his face as he recalled his first kiss with Ginny in Madame Malkin's shop. His lips still tingled at the memory.

"Department of Mysteries," the cool, female voice announced.

"That's our cue," Ginny muttered, stepping off the lift. "We'll be in courtroom 10." Draco followed Ginny down a flight of stairs and through a corridor. "Ahh, here we are," Ginny stopped before a dark, grimy door with an immense iron lock. Ginny made to open the door—

"No, wait!" Draco grabbed Ginny's arm.

Ginny gave Draco a sympathetic look. "Look Draco," Ginny began. "I know you think that you'll be sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss, but the Ministry is fair. They'll see that you're different." They have to, she added mentally. "As long as they believe you're not a threat to the magical community, you're free. You just have to convince them you've changed, you're not the same Death Eater imprisoned in Azkaban months ago—"

"No, it's not that," Draco interrupted hastily. "I thought, I mean, I w-wanted to give you something."

Ginny stared at him blankly.

"I meant to give it to you awhile ago, but the moment just never came up. And I know now isn't exactly the best time, but seeing as there might not be another chance…" Draco faltered. "Here." Grabbing Ginny's hand, Draco took out the little box and placed it in Ginny's opened palm. Ginny just gaped at the silver box sitting in her hand. "You should open it," Draco said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Wh—why? What is it?" Ginny demanded, her eyes betraying her bewilderment. She glanced at the door to courtroom ten. "Now? I don't think now would be an appropriate time to open this."

"It won't take long," Draco urged.

Sighing, Ginny opened the little box. Laying cushioned beween the fabric folds was the dragonheart garnet ring. Its polished facets gleaming with alluring redness.

"Phonixes!" Ginny breathed. "Is this—How—oh Draco!" Eagerly Ginny took the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. "It's gorgeous! Have you any idea how long I've wanted this! Where on earth did you get it? And how?" Ginny was not normally a very vain girl but she couldn't help continually admiring the ring on her finger from various angles.

"I got it the same day you bought your little dragon pendant," Draco said, shrugging. He suddenly felt himself caught in a very tight embrace.

"Thank you," Ginny breathed in his ear. "But why?"

Draco hesitated. That was precisely the same question he was asking himself. "You wanted it so badly," he said at last. "And I had the galleons."

"A thousand galleons?" Ginny reminded him. Suddenly Ginny remembered the trial. "Shoot, the trial's about the start. We better go in." Without warning, Ginny turned the heavy iron door handle and stepped inside the courtroom.