A/N: So, Julie convinced me to post this here. If you are a regular with my fics, you will note how not like me the end of this chapter is- so please be kind about it. I will be posting this at dracoandginny dot com as well. I hope you like it and that it is a good apology for not being able to update my other fics as quickly.

Story disclaimer: You all will see this here and it counts for the whole fic- none of it is mine. Don't sue as I have nothing you want. All recognizable HP stuff belongs to JKR and her associates...I just play with them.

Rouge feu

Chapter One

The beginning of the end

Draco sighed softly as he slid from underneath her arm and out of the bed, wary of waking her. He tossed his plait over his shoulder as he stretched, thankful that they had found the ramshackle cabin to sleep away the day in. The night before had been rough and he couldn’t help but be relieved that they would be moving on at dusk. He silently crossed the small one room shack and stepped outside, scanning the area. His eyes instinctively transformed to that of a werewolf with the ease of long practice. As he carefully scanned the tree line, he thought over the current situation. Now that they were so close to freedom, he wasn’t about to muck it up. This was too important, more so than anything before and he wouldn’t allow himself to fail this time. Not with her counting on him, trusting him, loving him. Failure now wasn’t an option he was even willing to consider. Giving a small nod of satisfaction that the forest was clear he allowed himself to relax slightly.

Tipping his head back and resting it on the door, Draco cautiously sniffed the air knowing that he would detect anyone or anything moving in the trees out of his line of sight, a secondary precaution that had saved them more than once over the past couple of years. Lupin had promised to keep the way clear for them, but Draco didn’t trust anyone but himself and Ginny completely.

He smiled at the irony of the situation. Had someone told him three years ago that he would not only trust Ginny Weasley with his life, but his heart as well, he would have laughed until he cried and then Crucioed them for their trouble. Now…well now she was his world and he wasn’t afraid to admit it.

He stepped away from the door now that he knew the area was secure and dropped down onto the rough stone steps with far less grace than he had in the past and stretched his legs. Draco leaned back on his elbows and thought over their current circumstances. They were mere miles from Dover and complete freedom. Well, as much freedom as two werewolves could find in a still bigoted wizarding world. But, France was by far a more understanding society where werewolves were concerned, which was why they were here. Lupin had contacted a small village where werewolves were welcomed with open arms and secured a place for them there.

He couldn’t resist smiling when he thought of the man who had become somewhat of a mentor to both himself and Ginny in the past two years. Draco had been at his lowest point- a prisoner of the Dark Lord. Oh, the madman didn’t call Draco a prisoner. He had been a guest. As if being forced to observe his mother’s murder and then handed over to Fenrir Greyback for training was in any way similar to being a guest.

He still remembered the first time Remus Lupin had slipped into his rooms.

Flashback

'Pacing, always pacing like a caged animal,' Draco thought disgustedly. The days training had taken a lot out of him and he still couldn’t stop pacing. Greyback’s headquarters was not a place that anyone could relax and Draco never once let his guard down.

Draco whirled around and crouched when the door creaked open, not willing to be caught off guard again. His eyes narrowed and he nearly snarled when Remus Lupin slipped inside and closed the door carefully.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” Lupin whispered, holding his hands out in a peacemaking gesture.

Draco slowly stood. “Then what are you here for?”

“A month ago Albus Dumbledore made you an offer,” Lupin said gently. “I’m here to reassure you that his offer still stands. I can help you, Draco, the Order can help you.”

Laughing derisively, Draco scoffed, “Help me straight into Azkaban no doubt.”

Lupin smiled sadly. “Just think about it. You weren’t of age when you did what you did, Draco. Your father is secure for the moment and we can help you. All you need to do is ask.”

Draco had long ago learned that nothing was given freely. “What's the catch? Not that I really believe you. Your Phoenix lot wants nothing to do with me even if I wasn’t a werewolf and you know it, Lupin.”

“I’m a werewolf and they accept me.”

Draco shook his head. “You aren’t a Malfoy or a suspected Death Eater.”

Lupin’s eyebrows rose impossibly high as he said, “You don’t have a Dark Mark?”

Draco crossed his arms over his chest, unwilling to trust Lupin enough to show him his mangled forearm. Buried in the scars from Greyback’s original attack there was a half-Mark, just the snake. It had been the Dark Lord’s way of keeping track of him but not quite making him a Death Eater. He hadn’t been worthy; the task had been his test. Had he been caught, even the Aurors and Wizengamont would have been hard-pressed to call his tattoo a Dark Mark. The newest Death Eaters were receiving an amended Mark since it was clear that the old one was too well known. He would have simply been seen instead as a child who ran off and got himself a wizarding tattoo that was similar to the Mark. Those fools had no way of knowing how terrified he’d been when his mother took him to see the Dark Lord, the threats he’d faced, or the attack that came that very same night.

Lupin’s soft voice brought Draco from his thoughts.

“I will be back, Draco. Think about what I’ve said. We can help you.”

Draco watched him go with a part of him wishing that he could believe Lupin. But, Draco had given up hope of salvation the first time he’d been locked away for his monthly transformation. Something had broken deep down inside and Draco wasn’t certain that it could ever be mended or even if he wanted it to be.

With a weary sigh, Draco dropped to the edge of the bed and pondered the validity of Lupin’s words long into the night.

End Flashback

The creak of the door had Draco turning to see Ginny watching him worriedly. He smiled to assure her that nothing was wrong and took a moment to look her over. Her vibrant hair was still plaited and twisted up at the base of her neck, the only way she’d found to keep it completely out of her way and out of reach. As his eyes scanned her face, he held out his hand. Those big, tired, brown eyes lit with happiness and she slowly smiled and twined their fingers together. Draco gently tugged her into his lap and laid his cheek on the top of her head. She was tiny enough to fit perfectly in his lap, since he wasn’t exactly tall for a man. His lean Seekers build had filled out with their training, but at 5’6 he was still considered quite short. The training, no matter how much he’d hated it in the beginning, had given both of them the added strength they’d needed to hold their own against the bigger opponents that Greyback had faced them off against.

“It’ll be nice,” she murmured, turning to lay her cheek on his chest.

Smiling, he brushed a kiss on her head and wrapped his arms around her. “What will?”

“Being away from here…with others like us that aren’t dead set on ripping us to shreds.”

“Reynolds learned his lesson, did he not?” Draco drawled, not quite hiding the residual anger he still felt for the idiot that had thought Ginny was an easy target, one he could ravage and then kill without repercussions. The fool hadn’t counted on Draco never being far from her side. He remembered all too well what had happened when he had come across them.

Flashback

Draco knew something was wrong. Ginny had sent him ahead, claiming that she would be fine, that Greyback had spent too much time training them to let anyone loose on either of them. He hadn’t wanted to leave her there, but he also knew her temper all too well. So, he’d gone to their rooms. Greyback and the Dark Lord found them amusing and had moved them into a suite of rooms on the first floor. Everyone knew that they weren’t stupid enough to try and escape, some of the most talented Death Eaters had warded the grounds thrice over.

But, the nagging feeling that Ginny wasn’t safe wouldn’t leave. He quickly decided that he could deal with her anger and being called an ‘overprotective, stubborn wanker’ as long as he got rid of this feeling. He was still getting used to the fact that he felt something for her other than loathing and disgust and he wasn’t about to ignore his instincts.

He was exiting the Manor when he heard low voices off to the right. His eyes narrowed. He would know Ginny’s voice anywhere and she sounded downright livid.

“Get away from me, Reynolds. The Dark Lord and Fenrir will torture and then kill you...that is if they don’t give you to the pups as a chew toy.”

Reynolds giggled madly. “I’ll have you and no one will stop me, little girl. You need to learn your place and I’m just the man to do it.”

Ginny’s cold, angry tone did nothing to assuage Draco’s concern as she hissed, “I’ll take you apart piece by piece, Reynolds, and you’d best pray to whatever god you believe in that Draco doesn’t happen along before you die.”

“That little boy doesn’t scare me,” Reynolds retorted. “Now, be a good girl and strip for me. The more you fight, the longer this will take.”

“Sod off,” Ginny spat. “You won’t be touching me and I’ll rip your prick off before I let you rape me.”

Draco had heard more than enough. He slipped through the shadows silently and ducked into the courtyard. He could see Ginny backed against the far wall with Reynolds leaning over her and leering. He flexed his hands, for once grateful for Greyback’s training as he felt them transform. His eyes narrowed dangerously as his vision changed and sharpened. Ginny spotted him over Reynolds’ shoulder and she grinned nastily.

“Do you know what sort of trouble you’re in?” she asked with that mocking sweetness that had surprised even Draco the first time he’d heard it. It was so unexpected to hear Ginny's demeanor as acidic and sarcastic as Draco's was.

“Little girl, you’re no trouble, no trouble at all,” Reynolds said huskily. “Now strip so I don’t have to make you do it.”

Draco didn’t think, he simply let the animalistic instinct to take over. Draco's claws bore into the bastard's back, sending Reynolds flying through the air with an alarmingly forceful speed. Ginny’s low, angry growl mingled with his as they launched themselves at the man currently cowering, covering his head, and pleading incoherently.

Draco watched as Ginny gripped his hair and yanked his head back so she could look into his eyes.

“So, now you’re scared,” Ginny said dryly. “Why didn’t you listen?”

Draco snickered at the condescending almost motherly reprimand. “He’s not smart enough to think with anything but his prick.”

Ginny huffed, tossing Reynolds against the wall with enough force that the distinctive crack of bones breaking filled the air.

“You forget,” Draco said crouching in front of the now sobbing idiot. “Fenrir trained us as his enforcers. No one else is foolish enough to risk my wrath, let alone hers.”

Ginny rolled her eyes as she crouched next to Draco. “What to do? What to do?” she said musingly.

Draco flicked his blood-coated claws, spraying Reynolds' face with his own blood. “We’re within our rights to kill him.”

Reynolds' muttering got louder and Draco was able to hear him say, “Merlin, please don’t let them kill me.”

Draco smirked knowingly. “You’ve seen our training and our trainer, haven’t you, Reynolds?”

“Y-y-yes,” he stuttered.

“Spineless,” Ginny said disgustedly. “I don’t know why the Dark Lord sent such a coward.”

“He wanted us to have a chew toy.”

Ginny laughed. “Too true, Draco, too true. It is good to know you still have that lovely sense of humor.”

Draco could quite literally smell Reynolds fear growing every second that they bantered with one another, seemingly ignoring him. Deciding that the fool deserved it, Draco turned to face Ginny and kissed her soundly.

“That was quite the show.”

He felt her tense at the sound of the Dark Lord’s amused tone even as he shifted to see the Dark Lord and Greyback standing in the archway, clearly pleased.

“He’ll not fully mend,” Greyback said conversationally. “Well, not without weeks in the infirmary.”

“He should die,” Ginny muttered angrily.

“What was that, my dear?”

Draco winced inwardly. They’d managed to stay alive for the past two years on luck alone. They amused the Dark Lord and so he let them live. One wrong step now could mean their deaths.

Ginny slowly got to her feet and bowed. “My Lord, I was merely stating that Reynolds doesn’t deserve to live any longer.”

Draco stood and bowed, waiting for permission to speak. He’d learned his lesson about being sarcastic with the Dark Lord…it was inadvisable.

“What did he do?” Greyback asked tightly.

“He-” Ginny was cut off by the Dark Lord. “Malfoy will explain.”

“Of course, My Lord,” Ginny replied submissively.

“He cornered her and was attempting to rape her, My Lord,” Draco said, blocking his mind to hide his disgust and hatred of the monster he was forced to show reverence to.

“Is this true, Reynolds?” he hissed.

“M-my L-lord,” Reynolds stuttered, too injured to move and still shaking.

“Malfoy,” Greyback snarled.

“Ginny warned him,” Draco confirmed knowing Greyback well enough by now to understand what he’d been after.

“Did she now?” the Dark Lord said with a light laugh. “What was the threat, Ginevra?”

“That I’d rip off his prick before I’d let him rape me,” Ginny said proudly.

Draco didn’t dare risk reaching out for her just yet. He could feel her disgust with the whole situation and loathed the fact that he would have to wait until they were in their rooms to soothe her.

“Are either of you injured?” Greyback asked.

Draco laughed. “One middle-aged puny human against the two of us? Surely you jest, sir.”

Greyback tipped his head back and laughed long and loud.

“Matthew Reynolds will die,” the Dark Lord said flatly. “For his trespass on those I hold in high regard and who are an important part of our Cause. Fenrir Greyback and his enforcers will decide the means.” He smiled insanely. “You two have made me very proud. I knew you would eventually come around.”

Draco felt the bile rise in his throat and struggled to remain calm and unaffected. He and Ginny played the game well enough, but tonight had been too much for the both of them. He needed to get Ginny and get back to the safety of their rooms There was no way they could keep up the impassive façade much longer.

“Thank you, My Lord,” he and Ginny chorused, bowing low.

“Return to your rooms. If you both continue to improve you will be allowed more freedoms,” the Dark Lord said.

Draco mentally cheered. That was the break they needed. Lupin was waiting patiently to help them escape, but they were so closely guarded that it had been nearly impossible until now. Who knew that it was this easy? Maybe now they could finally escape the hell that their lives had become.

End Flashback

Ginny curled up in his lap and sighed. “I can’t wait to get out of Britain.”

Draco wanted to ask about her family, well what was left of it, but didn’t dare. The last time he’d tried, she hadn’t spoken to him for two whole days. He knew that the first three months of her captivity had been horrible. She’d been all alone in the Dark Lord’s headquarters and told day after day that the Order and her family didn’t care enough about her disappearance to search for her. Add that to the fact that Potter had vented his temper for Granger’s actions on Ginny rather than the guilty party…it was no wonder why she didn’t want to contact her family. He knew how much they meant to her, but now was obviously not the time to try to talk her into sending a letter at the very least. Hell, even Lupin had given up months ago. The big problem was that Draco had initially been against her contacting them. He’d feared their reactions to him nearly as much as Ginny feared their reactions to her actions of the past couple of years. Lupin’s pleadings had changed Draco’s mind and he had slowly been working on changing Ginny’s.

So, he pushed it aside and concentrated on the pretty redhead in his lap. “I can’t either. According to Lupin, the villagers are working on the Wolfsbane, hoping to improve it.”

Ginny turned and wrapped her arms about his waist, straddling his lap in the most distracting manner. She grinned. “I’m more excited that he got us pardons and your inheritance. Even with jobs and understanding neighbors we would have been living in poverty. I don’t want to live that way again.”

He grinned. They’d spent the last year constantly on the move. It had been one hovel after another, when they could find any shelter at all. Neither of them had been willing to actually go to the Order, no matter how many times Lupin insisted that both would have been welcomed. Instead, they’d utilized Greyback’s training to capture Death Eaters, werewolves, and even a vampire. After incapacitating their prisoners, they would drop them in a predetermined location for the Order or Aurors to retrieve. Of course, there were a couple of unexplained disappearances as well. Paybacks were a bitch after all.

“Draco?”

“Sorry, love, I was lost in thought. It’s nearly time to go.”

She rolled her eyes, leaning forward to nip at his neck. He tipped his head to give her better access as his hands slid up her sides to cup her unfettered breasts through her thin shirt. He was well rewarded as she groaned and pressed closer, biting his bare shoulder just hard enough to elicit a guttural moan from him. He slid one hand down and up under her shirt, brushing his thumb over her hard nipple while his other hand circled her waist to keep her in place. She rocked her hips into his and he bucked up on instinct alone.

“Inside,” he murmured, even as he leaned forward to nip at her collar bone. When she didn’t answer, he tightened his hold and stood.

She whispered, “Inside, outside, I don’t care. I just want you.”

Nearly undone by her low, husky voice, Draco kicked the door open and stepped inside, trailing kisses up her neck all the while. He kicked the door uncaring whether it closed fully or not, completely focused on Ginny. One of her arms was hooked around his neck and she slithered down his body, nipping and licking his chest as she went. He nearly swallowed his tongue as she nimbly moved him backwards until his knees hit the bed. He fell back, bracing himself on his elbows, his hooded eyes on the redhead kneeling on the floor bracing her hands on her knees and watching him with those big brown lust-filled eyes he adored so much. The wolf inside was howling in pleasure as she crawled across the floor and knelt between his legs. Those tiny hands slid up his legs and hovered over the button on his denims.

“We really should be going,” she said huskily, yet teasingly.

He growled sitting up fluidly. “We’ve time enough.”

She grinned, dragging her sharp nails down his thighs hard enough to urge him on but not hard enough to do any damage. He reached forward, cupping the back of her head and kissed her, nipping at her bottom lip before snaking his tongue into her eager mouth.

“Don’t tease,” he murmured before deepening the kiss as his hands slid down to grip the hem of her shirt. He broke away just long enough to pull it over her head and toss it aside before gently tugging her to her feet and darting his tongue out to flick her nipple.

Ginny pulled him to his feet even as she gripped his plait obviously unwilling to allow him to stop what he was doing.

“Who’s teasing now,” she whispered, unbuttoning his pants (what did I have here – I’m asking because pants underwear from my understanding) and shoving them down.

“Not me,” he assured her before suckling her breast in a way that he knew would drive her wild.

She moaned, taking his length into her hand and stroking it. His knees nearly buckled as she twisted her wrist. His hips bucked forward and he made quick work of her denims. They fell onto the narrow bed together.

“I adore you, you know,” she whispered as she straddled him.

He reached up and tenderly drew her head forward and kissing her gently. “I adore you too, you know.”

She lifted her hips and slowly took him in. Draco lay perfectly still all too willing to let her set the pace this time. They’d both been virgins until the night they had come together, both needing intimate contact- an attempt to forget what they’d been forced to do. Since then they’d experimented and learned together.

He groaned as she tightened around him before sliding down his length, fully taking him in. She was still as tight as she had been that first night and it took all of his control not to slam his hips into hers and take control.

Ginny snickered and leaned over, trailing her nipple over his lips. He grinned, nipping and drawing it in his mouth twining his tongue around the hard nub.

“Ohh…”

He would have said something…that was if she hadn’t twisted her hips. All he could manage was a low groan of pleasure. She was trying to bring him off quickly. He reached between them and slid a finger over her clit lightly. She was undone, her slow pace quickening as she searched for release. Draco held off his, wanting to insure her climax. He let go of her breast and gripped her hip with the hand that wasn’t tweaking her clit. He allowed his claws to half form and pressed them into her hip just to the point where pleasure met pain.

She cried out as her walls clenched around him again and again, her hands gripping his shoulders, her claws sending a throbbing pleasure-pain straight through him. He couldn’t hold off any longer, slamming into her once, twice, three times as he too screamed as he came.

She collapsed, burying her face in his neck, pressing a light kiss there. He turned his head and kissed her brow, still coming down from the mind-blowing orgasm. He did manage to bring his arms about her waist since she was still shaking too.

“What a way to say goodbye to Britain,” she murmured wearily.

Draco just laughed.