ducks flying tomatoes

I have a perfectly logical explanation for not updating sooner…but im sure you are all don't want to hear the explanation until u've calmed down and read the latest hcppai eos read on…

OoOo

"I can't take her today." Draco explained as he sat at his huge mahogany desk with Blaise sitting across from him. "I have to perform the ritual tonight." He rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Bloody hell I'm glad there's only two more weeks left until this damn ritual is over."

Blaise observed him from over his joined fingertips as he spoke. "Just think about it. After this ritual is over, think of the power you'll hold...and later on you can go with your little Ginny for a long visit to Malfoy castle."

Draco ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "If I survive this damn ceremony that is. It's draining more power from me than I expected."

Blaise looked at Draco startled. "You mean that's the reason you...er...haven't been your healthy self lately?" Draco nodded and Blaise raised and eyebrow. "Do Lucius and Narcissa know?"

Draco shrugged. "Father probably knows as he went through the same ritual...he knows how...taxing it can be." Draco gave a wry smile before proceeding. "But mother must not find out under any circumstances. She'd have a fit. Then she'd probably convince father I'm too weak to undergo such...'strenuous' activities.'" Draco smiled humorlessly.

"Do you think it wise to use Helen?" Blaise asked curiously. "Wouldn't Ginny-"

"Absolutely not." Draco snapped and narrowed his eyes at Blaise. "I am not going to expose her to...to all this."

"Shouldn't you at least tell her what's going on?" Blaise replied quirking an eyebrow. "She'll have a fit when she learns what you've been doing."

Draco looked down at his desk top for a minute in contemplation before he looked up at Blaise slyly. "If she learns what I'm doing."

Blaise simply heaved a sigh knowing that this was going to lead to trouble.

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"I can't!" Ginny exclaimed in frustration as Medea pointed towards a round ball made of metal. "I can't!" she repeated and sat down in frustration. She was getting a splitting headache. Her head felt as if it were about to burst and all she'd tried to do was lift that heavy ball with her mind. She felt as if someone had dropped the ball in her head...'or rather' she thought as she cringed against the pain 'as if someone dropped it inside my head.'

"You must." Medea commanded.

"I can't!" Ginny exclaimed. "I feel as if my head will explode."

Both her hands were around her head. She could feel herself glowing and then very suddenly an odd shiver passed through her body and it was as if someone else was taking over her body. She could feel an outer spirit entering within her…a calmness setting over her.

"No...NO!" Ginny screamed in panic as some sort of ethereal spirit seemed to enter her...and then she fell back onto the ground with her eyes closed. There was a silence as Medea quickly walked over to where Ginny lay. She tentatively reached out a hand to touch the delicate red head but suddenly Ginny's eyes opened.

Medea retracted with a gasp. A yellowish white light was all that could be seen where Ginny's eyes should have been. Her whole form was surrounded by a white light. Red hair whipped around as if controlled by some unseen breeze as Ginny regally stood up. Her eyes narrowed on Medea.

"Who are you?" Ginny demanded but it wasn't Ginny's voice. It was a voice of ancient times...a voice that had been lost to the world long ago. It was a voice that told of better times...and better days. It was a voice that at the moment held Medea in the utmost contempt.

Medea shook beneath the heavenly gaze that was being cast upon her. She kept her eyes downward not daring to look up.

"I cannot stay for long...otherwise she shall be lost." the voice spoke rapidly. "But tell her..." Medea took a step back and kept her gaze downward. "tell her to..." again there was pause as white heavenly light in the place of eyes observed Medea curiously. Medea was unaware of this and kept her eyes downward. The sudden pause made Medea look up from beneath her lashes. "tell her to go and see-" but the voice was cut off as they finally registered a glint of gold from beneath heavy eye lashes. "YOU!" the voice lashed out in anger. "YOU! You vile, despicable witch! Have you ANY idea what you've done! You-" suddenly the light from around Ginny receded and the glow from her eyes became slightly dim. Her eyes narrowed on Medea before she said. "-this isn't over yet." and the light around Ginny disappeared as the girl felt to the floor in a tangle of red hair and limbs.

Medea with a shaking hand went to put her hand on Ginny's forehead before she checked for a pulse. Ginny's eyes opened suddenly and she blinked in confusion.

"What happened?" Ginny asked curiously.

"N-nothing." said Medea. She was trembling from head to foot. Ginny shook her head and sighed with relief as she discovered that her head ache was gone.

"I guess I fainted." said Ginny with a weak smile.

Medea nodded and swallowed a lump in her throat. "I-I think that's all for today." Medea whispered before helping Ginny to her feet and shooing her out the door.

Ginny sighed as she emerged from the dungeons and made her way to the blue drawing room where Narcissa was going to hold her etiquette lessons.

"Another day of fan opening and curtsying." Ginny muttered under her breath as she walked towards the blue drawing room. On the way she bumped into something hard...and strong...which emanated Ginny's favorite aroma (though she'd never admit it). Recognizing the strong arms that were holding her steady Ginny looked up into Draco's grey eyes.

"Hi." Ginny said looking up at him shyly.

"Hey." Draco said smiling down at her. He studied her for a minute and allowed himself to take in his fill of her before finally looking away. He extracted something from his pocket and held it out to her. It was a small silver bracelet with small emeralds all around it. "I was going to wait until later to give this to you..." he trailed off and picked up her hand to slip the bracelet onto her wrist. "...but now's as good a time as any." he ended.

Ginny looked down at the bracelet before looking up at Draco. Before she could even protest Draco began speaking again. "Don't deny this gift Ginevra." he said achingly as his knuckles traced her jaw. "It pleases me to give you such things...don't deny this joy to me."

Ginny felt as if she were about to swoon. "You certainly do have a way with words." Ginny said breathlessly before smiling sweetly. "Thank you." she said tenderly.

Draco's arms encircled her waist. "Thank me with a kiss." he said gruffly and waited for Ginny to lean up and kiss him.

Ginny complied and kissed him. Her soft lips made contact with his warm responsive ones and she was lost. Lost in the exquisite splendor of the kiss as his tongue entered her mouth to gently rub against her tongue, coaxing her to respond. Ginny pulled back slightly and allowed her tongue to lightly dip in and out of his mouth as she teased him to oblivion. Chills raced up and down her spine and the need to have her hands feel him everywhere overwhelmed her. Her hands roamed up and down his back unknowingly causing him more pleasure. Draco let out a low groan as she took his bottom lip into her mouth. Ginny felt his hands tighten around her waist and she was half tempted to wrap her own legs around his waist. She pressed herself against him coming into contact with his muscular thighs and chest. And still she wanted more...more contact...her response became more fervent casing anther low growl to come from Draco's throat...and then Draco began to pull back lingering long enough to tenderly carrase her tongue with his. When he finally pulled back his breathing was heavy and his heart was hammering madly in his chest.

"My God." he whispered hoarsely looking at Ginny whose own chest was heaving up and down. Her lips were swollen from the kiss and her cheeks had an exotic blush to them. Draco suddenly chuckled. "I'm going to have to start buying bigger diamonds for you."

Ginny squirmed uncomfortably at that remark. What did he mean by that exactly? She tried to shift in his embrace but his hold on her tightened.

"Don't-" Draco began in her ear. "-do that unless you want to find yourself flat on your back with me on top."

Ginnys whole face turned a deep shade of red at his bluntness...and yet it denoted a sense of intimacy between them which she liked very well.

I love you.

The thought came unbidden into her mind and Ginny felt her blood run cold. She loved him...she loved him. She suddenly shook her head. No she couldn't love him. She couldn't love this Draco...this cold, unfeeling man who had stolen her virginity...who had bedded her against her will...who had made tender love to her and taken her with all the ardor and gentleness of a lover. This Draco who had kept her captive in his home...who had slept with Helen...who had said he loved her. This Draco who had so long ago been her dearest friend…

Ginny shook her head and looked up at Draco...should she tell him? No she couldn't...not yet. He wasn't the old Draco...no matter how much she wanted to believe it...he wasn't the old Draco.

Ginny pulled away from suddenly and Draco looked down at her quizzically.

"Lessons...with your mum." Ginny blurted out before running down the hall.

Draco stared after her oddly before walking towards Helens quarters.

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"Draco." Helen whined as she wound her arms around him while he sat at her desk going through some paperwork. "What's wrong sweetheart?"

"Nothing." Draco snapped as he signed a piece of paper. He jerked her arms away from him and proceeded to read another parchment.

"But why aren't you-"

"That's none of your business." Draco snapped. He heard a crash and looked behind him to see that Helen had thrown a lamp onto the floor. She looked angry enough to kill. Draco's eyes widened, startled at the sudden change in Helens demeanor.

"You-you've been with that slut haven't you?" She yelled accusingly.

Draco raised an eyebrow as if to challenge her.

"You...come here!" she yelled and stomped her foot pointing crudely towards the bed.

Draco pointedly ignored her and went back to his paperwork. Helen came up behind him and took deep breaths to calm herself. She then bent her head and began to nibble on his neck. Draco stiffened as Helen began to work her sensuous spell oh him...teasing him...tempting him...and he was already aroused due to his encounter with Ginny. She sensuously worked her way upwards to his ear. His control finally snapped. Draco dropped his quill and turned to crush her lips to his.

It was...disappointing. The sweet taste of silky warm chocolate and mint was not present. The lips were not as smooth as they were supposed to be and her hair was not the becoming shade of red he desired. Draco pulled away and stood up. Helen at once crushed herself to him.

"Come Draco." Helen purred into his ear as she tried to pull him towards the bed.

Draco jerked away from her and left the room taking his paperwork with him.

ooooOOooOOOOoOO

"Wow." Ginny breathed as she looked at the trunk full of cloths that Narcissa had laid in front of her.

"They are to be sewn into new robes for you. You will wear them to the upcoming functions I will hold here at Malfoy Manor." Narcissa said.

Ginny nodded as she held up a light yellow cloth made of smooth silk.

"Now." Narcissa clipped. "We are going to go through the living members of our family...according to rank. You shall explain how they should be addressed and-" she handed her a card with a rectangle drawn in the middle. She then handed a list of names. "-then you are going to make seating arrangements for these members of the family exactly as if you are hosting a party and need to make proper seating arrangements for them."

Ginny tiredly looked down at the two pieces of paper before beginning.

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Ginny sat tiredly in front of her desk trying not to fall asleep. She felt her eyelids drooping and her quill falling out of her hands and then-"Ginevra." a voice whispered into her ear sending her into perfect awareness of her surroundings.

Ginny looked up to see Draco standing behind her. "Tired?" he asked amusedly.

Ginny nodded and looked at Draco. "You don't look so bad yourself." she commented after observing the smudges under his eyes.

"Why not try and wear me out Weasley?" he teased.

"Is that a challenge Malfoy?" Ginny asked raising an eyebrow.

"First one to fall asleep looses." Draco replied as he led Ginny towards the bed.

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"You loose." Draco whispered down at the slumbering beauty before him. She lay beside him, her head on his shoulder with her hair fanned out over the pillow. Long eyelashes brushed against her cinnamon cheekbones and her naked form shivered. Draco pulled a sheet up over both of them and kissed the top of her head. Ginny snuggled closer to him.

"I'm still half awake." she mumbled as she slung an arm over his chest. The thin blond matting of hair on his chest brushed against her bare arm and Ginny snuggled closer. "Mmmmm." she mumbled. "Hold me closer."

Draco didn't need telling twice as both his arms came to encase her within him. Draco felt his heart constrict oddly as Ginny fell into a peaceful sleep in his arms. She was his...and he...he wasn't hers entirely. Guilt washed over him as he thought that Ginevra deserved more than what he was giving her.

"I'll make it up to you one day." he whispered into her ear even though he knew she couldn't hear him. "I promise."

And with that he fell into a deep sleep as well.

OOoOoOooOoo

Ginny awoke in the morning to an empty bed and a necklace of rubies in the place where Draco had slept. Again Ginny felt odd at getting a gift from him after being physically intimate...those were the only times he gave her anything...well almost the only times.

Ginny shook these thoughts from her head and got up to get ready.

As she showered she thought to herself that one day...one day she was going to wake up to see Draco laying beside her with a smile on his face...one day she would wake up to Draco's kisses...one day she would wake up to see Draco's eyes reflecting the love he so fondly spoke of to her...and that day he would be hers completely.

A/N: mmm yes I am sorry for not updating sooner…I swear I will try my best to update more often now..however…I have misplaced my beta….i cant find her email addy…someone deleted all the emails in my inbox….so yea…im in a bit of a fix. Charming visions if ur reading this plz leave ur email addy in a review or something….and im not sure if she's still keeping up with my story….so is there anyone out there willing to be my new beta incase she isn't keeping up with the story? Pretty pleeaassee?

I have had this in my floppy since…January, I think but see I moved back to America (YAY FOR ME) so moving and stuff took awhile…then I had to buy a new comp…and I bought one last month…then I had to go through all my old stuff and find my old floppy…plus I have ajob so im pretty busy with that.

Anyways I will eternally be grateful to all ofyou who review…and oh yea plzz tell me if u r willing to be my new beta incase my old one can't be contacted! Ni promise he next chapie will be updated before the end of august!