Disclaimer: I did not create any of the Harry Potter characters or storyline.

Ginny took in a deep breath, her eyes shut against the burning sun that glowed so fiercely above her. The blurring, red shadows of the sun flickered and danced against her closed lids; the wind rustling against the delicate flowers brushing her cheek, and slipping through the jade leaves of the proud, wizened trees surrounding her. It was so quiet; so quiet and peaceful, as if nothing could disturb the serenity of this tiny little world she had escaped to. No words were spoken to disrupt the tranquillity; no darkness to block the light of that tender, warm sun- everything was gentle, soothing… as if nature had wrapped her in a soft embrace, closing her in its arms to lull all her worries away in the quiet whispers of the wind.

Out here in this field, Ginny could almost feel like she was melting away from everything; drifting to a place where nothing could hurt her. The memories of Tom seemed so far away, locked tight in an untouchable place that had no consequence to her heart. The very real fear she felt living in a world she did not understand became laughable when greeted with the comforting beauty of this peaceful, little sanctum. Even the sudden panic that filled her when she thought of her feelings for Draco became nothing more than a bothersome buzz that had no real meaning to her- like the lazy murmur of the bumblebees drifting near her: always there, but not really important.

Letting out the deep breath she had taken in, her lips curved into a slow smile, her bare arms brushing against the silken green as she stretched out on the grass- as if making a snow angel without the blanket of white snowflakes. The sun continued to stretch its warm rays down to her sanctuary, and slowly she opened her eyes, greeting the pastel blue sky with a contented smile. Fluffy clouds looking like squishy marshmallows chugged past her gaze, bringing back all the childlike innocence she used to feel when staring up at the sky on lazy afternoons at Hogwarts, just watching her marshmallow trains trekking across the world of periwinkle blue above her. It was nice to have that peace again. It was nice to be able to lie here in this field, surrounded by the sweet scent of lavender, and not have to worry anymore about the past or the future. She could just be at peace.

This was what she wanted. She wanted to always feel safe like this. It was here that she felt like herself again, as if she was once more stepping into the shoes of that sixteen-year-old girl who had first smiled at the world with all the gentleness she carried. Here she felt like she could embrace the future with hope; here she felt like she could love Draco without worrying about the bad things. She was not a fool; she understood her feelings for the grey-eyed man were more than just friendliness or gratefulness.

It was love that she felt. This love was different to the love she had felt for Tom, though; she understood that now. That love had been filled with insecurity and a neediness that stemmed from her fear of loneliness and abandonment. The love she felt for Draco was much more gentle. It was hard to describe, but in a way it reminded Ginny of rain falling softly while the sun still shined. It was strange… almost surreal, and yet like the sun showers that shed warm, gentle rain, it was a nice change from the cold, biting storms she had faced with Tom. She just wished she didn’t have to feel so afraid of it, despite its calming gentleness. She wanted so desperately to allow her heart to love Draco as he wanted her to. She could see the pain she was causing him, and it was all because she was so afraid of being with someone again.

Rolling over onto her stomach, the sleeve of her light summery dress slipping down her shoulder as she propped herself onto her elbows, Ginny gazed at the collection of daisies sprouting up near her face. Her fingers traced the silky, white petals that were so fragile and soft, and yet so beautiful in all their frailty. This place really was so magical. She was glad Draco had brought her here. It had been nearly two weeks since he had brought her to his home in France, and in that time they had talked and laughed with each other, but only now did Ginny feel that perhaps she was finally settling in. Only now did Ginny feel like she could accept her place again in the world.

A shadow descended over her, and Ginny smiled slightly, knowing already who was blocking her sun. She placed a hand to shield her eyes, tilting her head back to see Draco standing in front of her, the smallest of smiles on his lips. He was wearing casual black pants and a loose shirt, with an unzipped, grey jacket over top. He looked like he had just crawled out of bed, with his tousled blond hair and sleepy, grey eyes, and dressed in whatever clothes he had grabbed first. Ginny wondered if he was hot in that jacket, but knew that he didn’t particularly like to wear just T-shirts thanks to the hideous scars that ran down his left arm. He had them on his chest and back too, but it was his arm where the real disfigurement lay. She had never minded them herself, but she knew he was self-conscious about them.

“I thought I might find you out here,” he said lightly, hands stuffed in his pockets.

Her own smile coming in to play, Ginny tapped the warm grass next to her. “Why don’t you join me? It’s nice out here, and I could do with some company.”

Draco nodded and took a seat next to her, hands loosely resting on his knees. They both stared out towards the lavender fields in silence, the meadows seeming to go on and on forever in a purple sea. Bees lazily drifted about, and the faint tune of birds twittered around above them from the leafy treetops. It was just so peaceful and beautiful, and she wished she could stay here forever.

“Are you happy here, Ginny?” Draco asked after a moment of silence. 

She turned her face, meeting his grey eyes that were always so full of emotion. They were not intense like Tom’s had been, but there was something soothing about the soft grey in his eyes; something that drew her to him and made her want to just stare into his eyes always. Normally she was afraid of the feelings his eyes gave her, but right now she couldn’t find it in her heart to be scared. There was just something so magical about this spot; something so calming…

“Why do you ask?”

He shrugged and gazed back out towards the fields. “I was just wondering... I want you to be happy…”

Ginny impulsively placed a hand on his arm, her eyes finding his once more as he turned to look at her. There was a crease on his brow, revealing the trouble he felt. She wondered what could be causing this sudden change in him, and felt suddenly driven to smooth away the worry on his face. Just as he wanted her to be happy, so did she wish the same for him. Trying to be strong for him had helped her overcome her own fear in living, and in doing so allowed the dark clouds that swarmed around her life to fade away, if only for a little bit. He had given her hope again, and hope could only bring happiness.

“I am happy,” she said softly, not breaking his gaze, her hand still resting lightly on his arm. “Being here… being with you… It’s all I could want.”

“Really?”

Ginny nodded. “Yes… I wish I could stay here forever, just you and me… I love-” she broke off, shaking her head and quickly looked down, her cheeks flushing with pink. She felt embarrassed for admitting so much, knowing that she had almost allowed her feelings to get the better of her. She loved him, but she was too afraid to say it. She just couldn’t say those words.

Draco was silent for a moment, and Ginny didn’t quite trust herself to look at him again, knowing that he was intelligent enough to realise she had almost said she loved him. Something had changed in the air between them- something that made her feel suddenly nervous and afraid. Even the wind seemed to have stilled, as if all the universe and nature was focussing in on this moment. It was terrifying, and yet there was a part of her that yearned to know what was going to happen next.

Slowly he leaned in towards her, his hand gently tilting her face up towards his so she had no choice but to meet his grey eyes. He was so close- so close she could see all the different shades of colour that made up his eyes, and not just the stormy greys, but also the pale flecks of blue that swirled into the storm. She had never known he had blue in his eyes, and her brain seemed to seize on the fact so that she wouldn’t have to think about why he was so close to her. He just kept coming closer though, and she could feel her heart start speeding up in her chest, so that it drummed almost painfully against her ribs. Her breath quickened of its own accord, but she couldn’t seem to pull herself away, or even stop herself from looking into his eyes. There was a magnetic pull between them that could not be dispelled.

“Don’t hate me for doing this Ginny,” Draco whispered softly, his other hand coming to gently rest on her cheek. His eyes closed, and then he leaned in and placed his lips against hers. Almost instantly her stomach started fluttering uncontrollably, as if butterflies had been released from a cage and had taken flight inside her. The blood pounded in her ears, and her heart started beating more wildly than ever. She couldn’t believe this was happening; she couldn’t believe he was actually kissing her, and somehow her fear of falling in love had gotten lost in amongst all the magic of this moment so that all she could think about was how right this felt.

Slowly, ever so hesitantly, she allowed her lips to respond to the chaste kiss, her body sinking in towards him so that he could slip his hand around her neck. Not once did he try to deepen the kiss, and somehow that made Ginny think the kiss all the more special. With Tom everything had been desperate and rough- almost to the point where it hurt to be with him. Draco was different though. His kiss was passionate and yet gentle as well. He wasn’t trying to rush anything; instead, just slowly allowing his lips to explore hers with a tenderness that made a soothing warmth fill her body until she seemed to be humming with that peaceful, comforting feeling. There was no room for fear in her heart now. There was only sweet, beautiful love.

They broke away at the same time, his eyes finding hers once more. Ginny could see the apologetic expression in his eyes, and knew that he was afraid she might get angry with him for kissing her. She had always shied away from his attentions, being too afraid to just let him love her, and had told him more than once that she just couldn’t love him. Now she thought she could though. She didn’t want to lose this; she didn’t want to lose him. That kiss had shown her that she had nothing more to fear. He would never hurt her, and she realised now how foolish her fears had been.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.” Draco muttered, looking suddenly guilty.

Ginny shook her head, a soft smile coming to her lips as tears sprang to her eyes. “Don’t apologise.”

“Are- are you crying?” Draco asked in astonishment, his grey eyes widening in shock. He ran a hand through his hair and looked a little embarrassed. “Was I really that bad?”

“No…” Ginny said with a laugh, feeling suddenly like the clouds in her world had finally disappeared. Everything was back to normal again. The sun was shining, the world was beautiful, and peace had finally settled into her heart. There was a balloon of joy inside her that just seemed to keep rising and rising, and even though the past still hurt her, she knew she had a future now: a future with Draco.

“…You were wonderful.”

Draco’s cheeks went a bit pink, his eyes flickering about in his awkwardness. “I…um… well….”

Smiling, Ginny leaned forward and brushed her lips against his briefly, before once more pulling back and meeting his stunned gaze. “I love you Draco.”

He blinked, not quite able to believe what he was hearing. “Y-you do?”

“Yes, I really do,” she confessed with a small laugh, the tears slipping down her cheeks from the sheer relief she was feeling in knowing she was finally free from the chains of her fears. She felt like something had released inside her; as if the wall that held all her heart and hopes back had finally crumbled and now she could just be herself again. She was alive; she was that girl she used to be. Tom’s taint had finally gone...

“Ginny, I-” he broke off and shook his head, not quite able to put his feelings into words. Ginny understood though. He had spent so many years loving her- so many years hoping that she would love him back… This was all he had needed to heal his wounded heart. He had struggled for ten, long years, trying to forget about the battles he had faced during the war. His mother had been murdered before his eyes; his father had tried to kill him, and in doing so Draco himself had had to kill his own father, and then he had suffered the pain in being a werewolf... All of this had caused him pain, but Ginny realised now the only thing that could have healed him was the love she could give, and she had finally given it. It was all he had needed, and somehow it was all she had needed as well.

Love truly was so mysterious and powerful, for it was his love that had healed her too. He had opened her heart again and removed the nightmare of Tom that had lingered inside her, and in doing so allowed her to experience the simple beauty of life again. She was not naïve enough to think that everything would be perfect from now on, but she did know that her heart was finally mending, just as his was too. The two of them, so fragile and broken in the pain from their pasts, had finally found their feet. She, who had thought she would never be able to love again, had had her eyes opened to the truth and beauty of the love she had always felt for Draco. He, so lost in despair that she would never love him, had finally heard those three powerful words to give him that peace he had so desperately desired. There was still reason to fear for the both of them, but together Ginny knew they could get through this. Draco had always said they were each other’s strength, and now, for the first time, Ginny realised he had been right.

Smiling tenderly at him, Ginny moved closer and leaned against his chest, feeling his heart beating against her steadily. He placed his arms around her and held her close like he had done so many times before, but this time there was a sense of completeness about the act, as if a silent agreement had been made between them that they would never let each other go again.

“I never thought I could be this happy,” Draco said softly, still with his arms around. “I always hoped you would love me, but hearing you say it… I just…”

“I know,” Ginny replied with a small smile, closing her eyes and snuggling more against him. “I feel the same.”

They both fell silent, but somehow Ginny knew nothing more needed to be said. They both understood each other’s pain, just as they both understood each other’s happiness. There had always been a special bond between them that allowed them to feel for the other, and that had only been strengthened with time. Now, after all had been said and done, Ginny felt like she didn’t need to say anything more. Just being held in his arms was enough; just knowing he loved her was enough. She was happy.

Looking up into the pastel, blue sky where the sun shined so gloriously down on them, Ginny couldn’t help but smile to herself. Two weeks ago she had known that the future would only get brighter, knowing that each new day would bring new hope. Now she knew that each new day would bring not just hope, but also joy. She and Draco were at the beginning of a new journey, and though she did not know what lay ahead for them, she knew this journey would be a good one. The past was the past, and the world was theirs again. Love had healed them, and love would lead them to happiness.

A/N: Oh so corny, and oh so not what I wanted, but I really had to just end this story. It was excruciating to write for me, and when that happens I usually just end up abandoning the story altogether. Twisted was not exactly the easiest fanfic for me to write, and this one proved to be the monster of fanfics too. I know this is rushed, I know it’s probably not what any of you expected, but I’m afraid this is all I could get out.

In any case, I hope you enjoyed it, and I really am sorry I could not do this story more justice. It was just too frustrating for me to write. I just had writer’s block all the time, and, ugh, it was just painful.

I don’t want to leave on a depressing note, so I just want to say thank you for the reviews, and for putting up with my painful writing. You’ve all been wonderful, and I only wish I could have done this better for you.