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Format: Novella
Chapters: 17
Word Count: 41,107
Status: WIP
Rating: 15+
Warnings: Mild Language, Scenes of a Mild Sexual Nature, Sensitive Topic/Issue/Theme
Genres: Romance, General, Drama
Characters: Draco, Ginny, Harry, Hermione, Neville, Ron, Snape, Luna, Pansy
Pairings: Draco/Ginny
First Published: 10/15/2005
Last Chapter: 05/02/2006
Last Updated: 12/28/2009
Summary:
Props go to Tinkerbell76 for the banner! Each are filled with six years worth of misconceptions, but after one strange night, both are about to learn that things aren’t always as they appear and sometimes, the person it all comes back to, is the one you want most to forget…
Back to You
Disclaimer: I am the queen of England and all characters in this are owned by me… no, wait, that was a dream I had last night… I own nothing with exception to the plot.
(Author’s Note) A few things you should know before starting this story:
1. As a matter of principle, I don’t swear. However, in this particular story, I wish to stay as close to possible to their character personalities. So, just in case you actually know me and you see a swear word here and there you don’t die in shock… this is your warning…
2. In this story, HBP has no influence. Dumbledore is alive, Draco has not received the Dark Mark, Snape is not evil (well… not in the Death-Eater-must-worship-Voldemort sort of way at least…), etc...
3. The title of this story comes from the song of the same title, sung by John Mayer.
4. Nothing gets me writing quicker than a bit of feedback. *coughcough* *hinthint*
5. If someone would like to make me a banner, I’d love you forever…
6. I understand that the Prologue seems a bit confusing, and, well, strange… If you hang with it, then everything will make sense soon…
Now, on with the story…
Prologue: Dying on the Inside (part 1)
December 25, 1997
The tears fell down her cheek as she attempted to wipe them away. Her chest ached with sobs of heartache. No, it couldn’t possibly be heartache, for she had lost her heart after she had just barely given it away. Her mother had always told her to be careful who she gave her heart to; she should’ve listened, she should’ve heeded the advice.
She was a fool, a complete and total fool. She couldn’t believe how stupid she had been and now, here she was on Christmas day, hopelessly alone, surrounded by family and friends who insisted they knew and loved her. But they didn’t know her. Not anymore.
They didn’t know what had happened during the past four months of her life. They didn’t see how badly she was hurting. They didn’t know. They would never know. She could never tell them, for they would never understand.
Ginny scoffed at how they all thought she still longed for Harry Potter, her brother’s best friend since his very first day at Hogwarts. She knew Harry was beginning to see that she was no longer the same timid little girl he had first met all those years ago. It was only a matter of time until he came to her, giving up his heart to her in exchanged for her own. But she didn’t want his, and she would never be able to give him hers.
Slowly she pulled herself up out of bed and into the bathroom. She washed her face, careful to make sure that all signs of her early morning cry were gone. She forced a believable smile onto her face, hoping that the people who awaited her downstairs would still see the innocent girl they had always known. They hadn’t seen through her strong façade yet, though she knew it was a matter of time.
Taking a deep breath she turned and grasped the knob of the bathroom door and in the same instance caught a glance of herself in the full length mirror. She had changed in so many ways since she once stood in front of this mirror as a little girl longing to be a woman of beauty; a woman who men would gladly seek after. She frowned as she looked at the woman she had slowly grown to be. Sure, men looked at her and they wanted her. Sure, they thought she was beautiful. But the truth of the matter was, if they looked into her soul, into the vacant space in her chest which used to house her heart, they would no longer see the sweet little angel whom had once lived there.
Looking into her own eyes once more, she longed to see the light she knew had been there the last time she had looked into this full length mirror. The light that had been there not but four months ago. The light she had seen before she had left to start her sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And slowly, she closed her eyes, trying in vain to remember what she had felt like at that moment of her life. Trying to remember every bit of that moment and the moments of her life between now and then. When had it all gone so terribly wrong?
Letting out a breath she hadn’t even known she was holding, she knew the answer to that loaded question. The answer couldn’t be penned back to a specific day or time, but to a long series of events. And inevitably, every event led back to him.
Chapter 2: Chapter 1: If Ever a Day was Perfect
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Disclaimer: As much as I wish that the characters were mine, they are not… They belong to one J.K. Rowling… However, the plot to this story does belong to me and if you copy it, I will hurt you… Do not underestimate me…
(Author’s Note) So, I’d just like to thank you for sticking with me.. Any questions? Ask away… Any suggestions? Please make them…
Chapter 1: If Ever a Day Was Perfect
Approx. Four Months Earlier
September 1, 1997
Ginny Weasley smiled a wide smile into the full length mirror as she adjusted the new light tan corduroy skirt she had just bought last week. She smiled at her appearance. She had allowed her long ginger hair to grow out during the summer, and it now fell down her back in waves. It seemed as if this past summer, she had finally grown into her figure.
She smiled happily at the thought as she adjusted her black halter top before slipping on a denim jacket. Pulling out an elastic band, she pulled her hair back into a ponytail before slipping out of the bathroom to gather any last minute things she would need for the new school year.
“Ginny! What’s taking you so long? We have to go! Harry and Hermione are meeting us at King’s Cross!” Ron bellowed from downstairs. Though the loud complaint of her taking too long to get ready was meant to get her to hurry up, Ginny merely rolled her eyes as she took one last glance at her reflection in the mirror over her dresser in her bedroom. She smiled at the reflection. This year was going to be different from previous years, she could feel it.
After a few more minutes of checking around the room to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything, she grabbed her wand and used it to levitate her bags down the stairs just in time for Ron to call her again. “Listen, Ron, I know you’re just dying to get to the station to drool all over Hermione and spend another year attempting in vain to confess your undying love for her, but I needed to make sure I had everything and that I looked alright. Now, if you’re done pouting over the fact that I just called you on your feelings for one Miss Granger, can we go?”
“Number one, I am not pouting over you calling me on anything because, number two, I do not have feelings for Hermione.” Ron’s face seemed to be slowly growing redder than his hair. Whether it be from anger, embarrassment or frustration, Ginny couldn’t tell. Then again, she didn’t really care.
“Number one, yes you are because, number two, yes you do.” Ginny quickly replied and without giving another thought to the matter turned to walk to the fireplace. Her parents had already arranged for them all to be able to floo straight to King’s Cross, so all that was left was to hope in and go.
It seemed however, that the moment Ginny turned to walk away was the moment that Ron actually took a moment to look at his baby sister. It wasn’t but a few moments after his eyes looked at her outfit that his voice could have been heard from The Burrow clear to Privet Drive. “GINEVRA WEASLEY WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU WEARING?!”
Ginny, however loud her brother was yelling, didn’t even flinch. “Clothes Ron. I’m wearing clothes.”
“There’s hardly enough of fabric to be considered clothing!”
Ginny rolled her eyes as she turned to look at her older brother who, while taller, bigger and stronger than herself, didn’t scare her in the slightest. “I’m wearing a jacket that covers my arms, cleavage on this top is practically non-existent, and my stomach is not showing, what may I ask is uncovered?”
“Put pants or something on Ginny. We’re not leaving here until you do!”
“You know it’s funny,” Ginny spoke as she tilted her head to the side, as if studying her brother, “I don’t ever remember you magically becoming Arthur or Molly Weasley. So, I’m sorry if I won’t follow your orders as you are not either of my parents. Now, we really are running a tad late.”
It was at that moment that both of her parents seemed to bustle into the room, tears brimming from the corners of Molly Weasley’s eyes. “Oh my! This is the last time we’ll be sending a son off to Hogwarts. My, my, time has just positively flown.” She chose then to pull her son into a death grip hug. “Oh Ronald, you make your father and I so proud!”
“Funny how you weren’t saying that when he crashed the car into the Whomping Willow,” Ginny murmured under her breath. Neither of her parents had heard her, but if she judged by the glare he was now giving her, Ron had.
“Now, Molly dear, you don’t want to strangle him before he starts his final year. They’re already late enough as it is.” Arthur Weasley smiled to his wife as he touched her shoulder in an effort to comfort her. She always seemed to be emotional this time of the year, especially if one of their children was going into their seventh year.
Sniffling she nodded as she let go of her youngest son and moved instead to give her only daughter a big hug. “Now, Ginny dear, if you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to owl.”
Ginny smiled at her mum in an attempt to please her. “I know mum.” She gave each of her parents a quick kiss before moving to the floo. “Now, are you coming with us or are Ron and I on our own from here on?”
“Your mother and I think that you are both capable of getting yourself on the train. Just, go straight there, alright?” Arthur looked at both of his children. Though he was smiling and proud of the both of them, it was clear in his eyes that he meant it as he told them to not take any sudden detours. Each of his children nodded in understanding.
The two parents and two children made their way to the fireplace before they said their last goodbyes. It seemed that all was set for the youngest two of the group of four to make their way back to school before Ron froze in his spot looking at his sister once more before turning back to his parents. “Wait! You mean, you two are just going to let her leave, looking like… wearing… that?”
Ginny rolled her eyes again as she muttered something sounding like “Honestly Ron!”. Her parents looked at each other quizzically before looking at Ginny and back at their son. Molly was the one to speak as her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “I don’t see anything wrong with what she’s wearing? I actually think it’s quite nice that she would dress up for the train ride back to school.”
Ginny had to stifle her laughter as she saw the look on her brother’s face. “But her skirt!”
“What about it dear?” Molly still seemed confused on the matter as she looked at her daughters skirt that ended somewhere between mid-thigh and her knees.
“You can see her knees!”
It seemed that everyone in the room thought he was joking until he didn’t laugh. No, instead he stared wide-eyed at both his parents. As if he was honestly appalled by what they were allowing their only daughter to leave the house in. “Oh honestly Ronald!” Molly spoke again. “Did you time travel back to the 1800s this summer and I not know it? Your father and I appreciate you taking a protective side for your sister but really Ron, this is a bit much, don’t you think?” Molly rolled her eyes at her son.
Ron opened his mouth a few more times before shutting it and walking towards where the floo powder was set out. Picking a fist full out, he called out “King’s Cross” before stepping into the flames.
Ginny merely rolled her eyes again before giving each of her parents would last hug and kiss before following the same actions her brother had taken. It didn’t take her long before she caught up to her brother and his friends who had, over the past two years, become hers as well. She smiled as she hugged Hermione, the sister she had never really had, and congratulated her at seeing the Head Girl badge pinned to her robes.
Quickly they all boarded the train, and found a compartment as they recounted each of their summers. She smiled as she looked around to all in her compartment. Her poor excuse for brother, to Hermione, then to the famous Harry Potter, to Luna Lovegood, and finally to Neville Longbottom. It seemed that they had somehow formed a bond two years ago, at the end of her fourth year when they had journeyed into the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic.
She sighed as her mind drifted to the one subject they all seemed to avoid. The war. No one seemed to talk about it more than was necessary. It was raging, and they all knew that the final battle would be upon them soon. Ginny knew that Harry had taken up lessons with both Snape and Dumbledore at Grimmauld Place during the past summer after his brief stint on Privet Drive. Yet, it was something that was never once mentioned during their long train ride to the place they called home for the better part of the year.
Allowing her mind to rejoin the conversation her friends seemed to be enjoying, she laughed at another one of the many insane notions Luna had gotten into her head. Letting out another chuckle, she began to recount her brother’s anxiety attack over her choice of outfit for the day. It was good for a laugh and somehow became even more hilarious as Ron’s face once again began to turn a remarkable shade of red.
Ginny smiled. It seemed to be the perfect start to what she was hoping to be a perfect year. She could only hope that it would stay this perfect.
Chapter 3: Chapter 2: Muggle Phrases and Troubled Glances
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Back to You
Disclaimer: As much as I wish that the characters were mine, they are not… They belong to one J.K. Rowling… However, the plot to this story does belong to me and if you copy it, I will hurt you… Do not underestimate me…
(Author’s Note) Three quick things: 1) I know the story seems slow right now, but it will be heating up very soon. 2) Feedback is my best friend. You give me feedback, I give you story. 3) If anyone would like to make me a banner for this story, I would be SUPER grateful and love you forever and may even give you a small cameo appearance.
Chapter 2: Muggle Phrases and Troubled Glances
Two weeks had gone by since the start of the new school year. Slowly everyone was becoming accustomed to their class schedules and workloads. Well, all except Ronald Weasley and Harry Potter, but then again, Ginny couldn’t remember a time when her brother and his best friend actually had sat down and done all of their own work more than twenty-four hours from the actual due date. She rolled her eyes. She still couldn’t figure out how Ron had made Prefect. It was no surprise when he hadn’t been picked to be Head Boy.
Well, it had been a surprise for him. It still seemed to be a soft spot for Ron, and if you even so much as mentioned the new positions for Head Girl and Boy this year he could be found scoffing and muttering something along the lines of ‘Malfoy?! Why in bloody hell would Dumbledore pick Malfoy?!’. Of course, Hermione was doing a spectacular job as Head Girl, and upon hearing who had been picked for Head Boy, no one was more relieved than she when Dumbledore had also made the fact known that the Heads would no longer be sharing a dormitory. While they did get their own dorms, right down the hall from each other, in fact, they didn’t have anything that would be shared. Each had their own common room, bedroom and bathroom.
Ginny looked up from her plate, casually observing her fellow students in the Great Hall. Something both looked and felt out of place, though she couldn’t put her finger on what. Scanning the room slowly, she located the abnormality sitting in his usual place in the middle of the Slytherin table, surrounded by his usual cronies. Now, anyone else might say that there was nothing out of place as they glanced in the direction of the blond wizard, however, to Ginny there was something different there. She first found it odd that instead of his usual high-and-mighty posture, he was sitting slightly slumped. Next Ginny noticed, in slight confusion, how as Crabbe slapped his back in an effort to show an agreeable response to whatever Draco Malfoy had just said, he seemed to hold back a grimace before casually threatening his ever-present bodyguard.
“You okay Gin?” Harry’s voice shook her from her concentrated glance.
“Yeah, but…” She paused, unsure of how to phrase it. “Have any of you noticed how Malfoy has seemed to practically disappear?” Her question caused the trio to look toward the Slytherin table before looking right back at her.
“Uh, Ginny, he’s right there, pretending to own Hogwarts.” Harry replied, all the while wondering why she ever cared about the blond ferret.
The truth was, she didn’t. She just happened to have a knack for noticing things out of the ordinary. “And yet, he hasn’t made a single comment to any of us. Don’t you find that, well, odd?”
They all seemed to ponder her words a moment. Yes, it was odd, and it usually meant he was planning something. However, even if he was, Hogwarts’ Golden Trio wasn’t going to admit it. With the entire Wizarding world on the cusp of a war - a war that each of them were heavily involved in - they really didn’t have the time or energy to deal with whatever it was Draco Malfoy had up his sleeve.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity but was really only a few seconds, Hermione shrugged before saying, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Ginny and Ron both looked confused before Harry explained. “It’s a muggle phrase. It means you shouldn’t take it for granted.”
Ron nodded in understanding. “Maybe Malfoy finally found someone else to torture.”
Ginny simply nodded her head in agreement. “Yeah, maybe.” But as she looked back over to the Slytherin table, she still couldn’t help but feel that something wasn’t right.
- - - - - -
The day seemed to move along at steady rate. Ginny was actually feeling rather hopeful about this year. So far, all her classes seemed to be causing her no problems at all. She had to admit, after listening to Ron and Harry do nothing but complain over the course work last year, Ginny was quite a bit nervous. Hermione had told her not to worry, that there was nothing too hard, but somehow, knowing it was Hermione saying the words hadn’t helped her to stop worrying. Hermione, after all, was known for her high intelligence, which was one of the many reasons that not a single person had been even a slight bit surprised when she had been made Head Girl. After all, who else would they have chosen? Pansy Parkinson?
The thought of Pansy being Head Girl made Ginny laugh harder than she thought it would. For some reason, she couldn’t picture Pansy doing anything other than pretending to be more powerful than she really is, torturing first and second years and fawning over Malfoy.
Ginny knew she must look absolutely insane, standing by herself in the middle of the hall as she laughed uncontrollably. In the back of her mind, she knew that it was only a matter of time before someone laughed at her for it. And sure enough, as she heard a familiar voice, she knew what was about to come.
“What’s this? Has the Weaselette truly lost her mind? Or has she met an imaginary friend who tells jokes in the hallway?” Draco Malfoy sneered at her as she managed to sober herself.
“You know, I have got to say Malfoy, you’re losing your touch. Coming out of your mouth I would expect a far better insult than that.” Ginny looked at him and raised an eyebrow. She looked around him as she faked confusion. “Wow, who would have thought it? Your insults have actually begun to stink so much that they have scared your bodyguards away. Or maybe Crabbe and Goyle finally grew brains and figured out that you don’t rule the world after all?”
“You’re hardly in a position to criticize my insults when yours are hardly any better.” His steely gray eyes narrowed at her.
Ginny rolled her eyes. “Why would I waste all my best insults on you? You’re hardly worth it. Besides, you make it entirely too easy.” She shook her head before turning and walking away.
Draco stared after her, a single eyebrow raised. He couldn’t help but wonder where the annoying little girl who seemed to be scared of everything that moved had gone to and where this new, feisty firecracker had come from. The summer had done the youngest Weasley some good. His eyes grew wide as he shook his head. What the hell was he thinking?
Though, if was honest with himself, which was something Draco Malfoy really always tried to be as he did hate lies, Ginny Weasley had seemed to become one hot witch. He could see what pretty much every male in Hogwarts had been talking about. He smirked before thinking to himself, “If only she wasn’t a damn little do-gooder glued to Potter’s side.”
Shaking his head he continued the direction he had been going before he had decided to act on the opportunity to annoy the Weaselette. He didn’t want to be late to Potions, favorite student or not, Snape was still a scary man when interrupted.
- - - - - -
Several hours later, Draco lay on the bed in his room, thankful to have his own dormitory as Head Boy. Another owl had delivered yet another letter from his father. Draco sighed as he thought of the contents of the letter. The instructions were simple, so it seemed. He was to deliver his ‘progress’ in two days time. Draco rolled his eyes as he muttered, “Can’t wait.”
It was funny, really. When his father had been locked up in Azkaban a little over a year ago, Draco had been sure his father’s oh-so-delightful little reign would be over. He shook his head at the thought. His father was truly a brilliant and powerful man, as he had proven Draco to be entirely wrong. It was only six months ago that Draco had been taught to never underestimate his father; a lesson that Draco was sure to never forget. Yes it may have taken him a year, but Lucius Malfoy had finally managed to sneak out of Azkaban.
Back to You
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Rowling owns everything. Have a nice day.
(Author’s Note) Three quick things: 1) Thank you so much to those who have reviewed!!! It keeps me motivated to post! 2) Still looking for a banner… *hinthint*
Chapter 3: Prelude to a Storm
September 17, 1997
It was well past curfew and though the silence was deafening to some, Ginny Weasley welcomed it with open arms. She hated to admit it, but as much as she loved her brother and her friends, it was times like these that she craved most. A time when she could just sit and think. As a little girl, she had never had such an overwhelming desire to be alone for any given amount of time. No, she had relished living in a house which was always humming with excitement, always crowded. As a little girl, she never needed to have time to just sit by herself and reflect on, well, anything.
However, that all changed in her first year at Hogwarts. It had taken her a long time to get over what had happened to her that year. It was months before she could learn to forgive herself for all she had done, despite the fact that she was being controlled by a young Voldemort. She had been used, and it was a feeling she never wanted to have again. But she would be kidding herself if she said that the events in the Chamber of Secrets hadn’t left a mark on her in some way. It had changed her, made her more aware and vigilant. (Though, she supposed that at least Moody would be happy about that.) It had made her less trusting. She had closed herself off from the company of others for a year before she allowed herself to open up, ever so slowly, to Hermione and Harry.
A frown formed on Ginny’s face as she shook her head. She didn’t want to think about her past right now. She had been forgiven for that long ago; she had moved on. Hell, she had even managed to put Lucius Malfoy in Azkaban; something she had longed to do since he had given her that diary all those years ago.
Her eyes drifted to the wall clock that hung above the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. She sighed; it was almost one in the morning. Yawning, she closed her eyes as she rested her head against the cold glass window. She wanted nothing more than to go to sleep right now, but something was gnawing at her and it was causing her to have a severe case of insomnia. It was the second night in a row she had been kept up with it and she was seriously considering dealing with a week’s worth of detentions and waking up Madam Pomfrey for a Sleeping Drought potion.
She let out a quiet groan as she remembered the annoying, not to mention strange, reason for her insomnia. For some reason, not clear to even her, she couldn’t stop thinking about Draco Malfoy. Ever since he approached her in the hall, he seemed to have gone back to his old ways. Though - and this is why she was convinced she was going insane - his insults seemed almost forced. Almost. And then there was the time that Harry had made a comment about Draco’s parents. It seemed that if you mentioned his father he would go quiet, but one word about his mother and you’d have a wand pressed against your throat.
And then, of course, there was the way he was acting in the Great Hall two days ago. It was something that Ginny’s mind was having a ridiculously hard time letting go of. There was just something not right about Draco Malfoy slumping, not to mention his near acknowledgement of some sort of pain. She was positive that no one else would have seen it but she was quite the perceptive one and had caught it without even really trying. He had been in some sort of pain that day. Both the slumping and the slightly hidden look of pain had both seemed to appear later that same day as he took the time to insult her in the hall.
And it was all driving her absolutely batty because as much as she tried to get her mind off of these slightly strange events, she just couldn’t. It was driving her entirely mad to the point of exhaustion due to her lack of sleep. She ran a hand over her face and through her hair as she let out a sigh. She needed to get out of here.
She looked up to the clock once more. It was now 1:02 in the morning. She looked to her cloak that she had tossed haphazardly over a chair in front of the fire when she had come down here not but an hour ago. She had a horrible feeling that if she walked out of this room and into the rest of the castle she would get caught. She thought for a moment before grabbing he cloak, suddenly not caring what the consequences would be. She wasn’t a prisoner and insomnia was not a crime. Besides, if she had to stay locked up in the Gryffindor common room, unable to sleep, she would lose her mind - though she wasn’t entirely convinced she hadn’t already lost it.
Shaking her head, she went to entrance and whispered the password before making her way out into the corridor.
- - - - - -
Her footsteps were soft as she crept around the castle. She actually found it a bit of a rush to be wandering around the castle this late. There was a certain level of danger and threat which hung in the air, knowing full well that if she got caught, the consequences could be disastrous. But yet, as Ginny Weasley walked down the halls she knew so well, she didn’t care about getting caught.
She smiled as she realized that for the first time since she was eleven, she felt free. She had no one watching her, waiting for her to become a frightened little girl. No one controlling her every move. No one around to question what she was doing and why. It was rather exhilarating and she had to wonder why she hadn’t done this before.
It wasn’t until she was nearing the Great Hall that something made her freeze. She heard something, though she didn’t know what. Years of secret training with Harry and the remaining members of Dumbledore’s Army had made her quite adept at making her way around without being heard or noticed. So, silently, she moved closer, startled to see the last thing that would have ever come to mind.
Ginny had been expecting to see a Professor, the Headmaster, or, possibly, even a couple that were being carelessly loud after a rendezvous. So as she peered from the shadows at an unidentified someone as they limped through the front doors before falling against a wall, she was filled with shock. The person, whoever they were, seemed to be injured badly as they could barely move and used the wall for support.
She watched in a bit of horror as the person seemed to slide down the wall, a gasp of pain coming out of their mouth. She couldn’t stay in the shadows anymore, she needed to know who this person was, and then she needed to get help. Carefully attempting not to startle whomever it was who was lying almost crumpled on the ground, she moved a few feet closer before a gasp of shock came from her mouth as she stared in complete surprise.
As awful and cruel as it may have been to think it, she couldn’t help thinking to herself for even the shortest moment that it was just her luck she would stumble across him at one o’clock in the morning and in need of serious medical attention. Shaking her head to rid her mind of such a thought, she moved closer to confirm her recognition.
But she really didn’t need anything confirmed. She knew it in her gut. She knew it from the way the light hit the bit of hair that seemed to peek out of the shadows. No, she didn’t really need any sort of confirmation, she already knew it was Draco Malfoy laying there completely helpless.
He must have felt her presence because it was at that moment that he looked up, a deep look of sorrow and agony in his eyes for a minute before it was replaced by an attempt at his usual cold look of loathing. “Come to find me and spread to the whole school that you saw a Malfoy at their weakest?” He had tried to get it out in one breath, sounding no worse for the wear but he had failed miserably. Several small gasps had made their way into his sneering question, though he seemed to ignore them.
Ginny was entirely unsure of what to do. She couldn’t leave him here, she just couldn’t - it wouldn’t be right no matter who it was. She shook her head before hesitantly responding, “No, actually I…”
He struggled to take another quick and pained breath before snapping at her once again, cutting her off mid-sentence. “Just save it and leave me the hell alone weasel.” He leaned his head against the wall as he tried hard not to wince. She couldn’t see him like this. No one could see him like this.
Her eyes grew wide once more before narrowing at him. “I came to help, but if you don’t want it then fine. Lie here and die, see if I care.” That said, she turned on her heal, knowing the back of her mind she would be stopping by the Hospital Wing to let Madam Pomfrey know he was down here and needed help.
Draco Malfoy merely rolled his eyes in his typical fashion before starting to push himself up. Another gasp flew through him as tears of pain threatened to spill before he fell back to the cold ground, unable to move. He looked to the side as he could still see Ginny Weasley’s outlined form slowly walking away. Closing his eyes, he did the hardest thing in the world for him to do. He swallowed his pride as he called her back, his voice breaking in his words. “No, wait…”
Back to You
Disclaimer: I know, if you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times… However, I own NOTHING… The credit for creation of the delightful world Harry Potter goes directly to JK Rowling… Do not pass go, Do not collect $200...
(Author’s Note) Once again, thank you so much to those who have reviewed!!! From here on, I have no more written, so it could take me a little while to update. I am, however, going to try my hardest to update once a week at the least. Oh, and if there is anyone out there who is good at making banners - I'm still looking for someone to make me one! Thank you!
Chapter 4: It Happened One Night
Ginny froze in her spot before turning around slowly, her eyes holding a mix of a glare, a bit of curiosity and even a bit of concern. She walked back toward where he was as she sighed. “What do you want, Malfoy? I do believe you already told me that you don’t need my assistance.”
“Look, I’m only going to say this once,” he bit back the overwhelming desire to call her any sort of name that might offend her. “I’m in an excruciating amount of pain right now, and I don’t think I could move on my own without possibly killing myself in the process. I have no intention of dying this evening, and I’d appreciate it if you could just forget the brash response from a moment ago.” He paused for a moment, his voice not coming out in more than a whisper, anything else only made his pain vibrate through him at an even higher level of intensity. He had honestly never felt this much pain in his life, which, when he thought about it, was rather surprising considering how much pain he actually had endured in his life. He managed to look up ever so slightly to see an unidentifiable look strewn across youngest Weasley’s face. He couldn’t help it, his impatience was over taking him. He managed a glare at her as he roughly asked her if she would be helping him any time this century.
Ginny rolled her eyes. “Not if you keep up with that attitude I won’t.” She stared at him a moment longer and watched in mild surprise as his glare softened. She nodded. “Okay, I’ll help you. Relax your body, I’m going to levitate you.”
He had no energy or room to disagree so he tried to relax, while mentally praying she wouldn’t prove herself a true Weasley and manage to drop him. He closed his eyes, meditating as much as possible - trying to focus on anything other than the pain that reverberated through him.
When he opened his eyes what had seemed like only a second later, he was surprised to find himself being gently lowered to the ground of… the girls bathroom? “What are we doing here? Where are we?” He looked around. It was clear that they were in one of the girls restrooms, which one, however, was a complete mystery. As was the reason as to why he was now resting on the cool ground of the girls restroom. He had thought she would just levitate him back to his room, he would have a drink of one of the many potions he had “borrowed” from Snape’s cabinet to help him get rid of the pain and go to sleep. So why the hell had she brought him here?
She walked away for just a minute before walking back, a medium sized wooden box in her hands. “Gee, I was half expecting a comment on my ability to actually levitate you without dropping you.” She raised an eyebrow as she kneeled down next to him. Goosebumps ran down her spine as she watched him blush slightly. She choked back a laugh. Draco Malfoy knew how to blush? Who would have guessed? “In answer to your questions: We are in the abandoned girls washroom so that I can heal you up a bit before you go on your merry way.” Looking at the box she had set down on the ground next to her she opened its lid to reveal a small quantity of various supplies.
“Where’d you get that from?” There was slight surprise in his voice as for a moment in time he forgot that he was supposed to be above asking for her help. Then again, who would he be kidding? He had already asked for her help and she had given it to him. He couldn’t honestly say he would have done the same if the roles had been reversed.
She took out a few small bottles, bandages and pulled her wand out of her cloak before looking up at him. “I started leaving this in here a few years ago after Harry and Ron started to get into more trouble. The injuries they sustained during their own adventures combined with the ones from Quidditch practice left good reason for me to store a first aid kit in the restroom no one uses anyway.” She shrugged as she set to work on patching him up. “Besides, it’s not like I don’t know the basic healing spells.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “Where would you learn healing spells from?” He couldn’t help asking, his curiosity was beginning to get the best of him.
“What do you mean, ‘where would I ’ learn the spells from? I’m no less a witch than you are a wizard, Malfoy,” she narrowed her eyes at him. He had some nerve to try to be condescending to her! She was the one trying to help him! “For you information, after having six brothers around the house and watching as they beat each other up or played rough versions of Quidditch, and then watching my mother heal them, it seemed like a good reason to learn the spells myself.”
After her speedy explanation, the room seemed to grow quiet as she did what she could to clean and sow his wounds up, and fix his minor fractures. She did love the quiet, especially at night, but this was almost too much. Sighing, she finally broke the silence that had been almost deafening. “So, Malfoy, talk to me.”
He raised one eyebrow as his lips stayed in a thin line. To be honest, all he wanted to do was pass out from the pain, but he wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of watching that happen. So, instead, he merely responded in the only way he knew how - patronizingly. “About what, weaselette?”
She froze for a moment before moving to look up at him. She said nothing for a moment before allowing a smirk to trace her lips. “Might I remind you that this might not be the time for annoying and insulting nicknames as I am the one attempting to heal you? Or, if you’d rather, I could always take you to Madam Pomfrey…”
His eyes grew wide at the thought. “No! I mean…” He paused a moment, was that a smirk on her face? Ginny Weasley actually knew how to smirk? He let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. “Talk to you about what?”
She shrugged as she resumed what she had been doing. “Anything. How this happened, life, classes, whatever you feel like talking about that might make you not pay attention to what I’m doing because there is a very good chance that this is about to sting. A lot.” With that, she poured the alcohol solution over the deeper of all his gashes.
His eyes grew wide as several obscenities left his lips. He closed his eyes tightly as they felt like they might start tearing up from the sudden searing sting. When he finally was able to look at her, his eyes narrowed. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
She seemed taken back as she glanced up at him. “Enjoying what?”
“You’re enjoying causing me more pain. Not to mention being able to now go around telling the whole bloody school that the only reason I’m alive is because of you.”
Her eyebrows rose ever-so-slightly. “I don’t enjoy causing anyone pain, Malfoy. Even an insufferable git like you. As for the possibility of me gloating, who ever said that my helping you was going to be leaving this bathroom?”
His eyes darkened a tad as he looked at her. How dare she be embarrassed by him! “Ashamed, now are you? Wouldn’t want your precious Potter and his cronies to know?”
She shook her head, not even bothering to look at him. “Number one, I don’t give a crap what anyone thinks about me and what I do. I’m helping someone who needs help, that in itself should be a good thing - no matter whether it is you or whether it’s Harry I’m helping.”
There seemed to be a brief pause as Draco waited for her to finish her thought. When it didn’t seem like she was going to continue, he spoke. “Number two?” She looked at him confused. “Normally when one starts off saying, ‘number one’, they follow it up with a ‘number two’. Though, I suppose that would be one of those things you wouldn’t have learned. What, with your family’s asinine background and all.”
She glowered at him a moment before continuing. “Number two, I wouldn’t go around gloating for the simple fact that I don’t think you would want anyone to know. If word of this got out, people would wonder what happened to you and before you know it there would be questions flying from all directions. Questions that can be rather annoying and much of a bother and don’t really help the situation much.” Her voice seemed to soften somewhere in the middle of her short tirade.
“Know from experience do you?” His voice was no longer held the sneering tone that had always been so prevalent, but a softer, more curious and even concerned tone.
She nodded hesitantly, suddenly fully aware of where she was. She took a deep breath as she hazarded a glance to the sinks behind her, her eyes settling on one specific sink which had never, and never would, work. The basilisk may be dead, and the diary gone, but down below them, at this very moment, the Chamber of Secrets still remained. She shook her head from her short reverie as she looked back up at who she was healing: A young man that was supposed to be her enemy. “Well,” she finally spoke, “seeing as I was hypnotized by Tom Riddle and practically brainwashed into setting loose the Basilisk in my first year thanks to the oh-so-lovely diary which held Riddle’s sixteen year old self… yeah, I’d say I have some idea of the questions people like to ask.” She wasn’t sure why she had just said what she had. She prepared herself for whatever snarky comment her audience would come up with after she had unintentionally bared part of her soul. She was surprised, however, when the snarky comments never came.
“I’m sorry.” His voice was soft, unlike anything Ginny had heard before. She could tell he meant it, and not in the way most people said it where they said they were sorry but were really just thinking ‘I’m glad that didn’t happen to me’.
She couldn’t help the words as they came out of her mouth as she looked at him, still surprised from the words they had just spoken. “For-for what?”
His wounds seemed to be forgotten as he looked at her and she looked back and for the first time in his life, Draco felt that there could be someone in the world who might actually listen to him. Someone who would see that he wasn’t like his father after all. He sighed as he looked at her. “I’m sorry my father gave you that diary. Yes, I know it was him. He’s a sodding bastard who I sincerely wish would just rot in hell for more reasons than one could even begin to understand.” He shook his head. There was a brief pause in his words before he spoke again. “He’s out of Azkaban.” He heard her sharp intake of breath as her eyes grew wide and locked on his. He looked down. “He made a deal, I still don’t really understand. The ministry is being tricked into thinking he’s there, I think - I’m not entirely sure. But I know he can get out of the prison when he feels like it.”
“But…but why would you… Why haven’t you told anyone?” Her eyes were wide, and she couldn’t help but feel a little scared. After all, she had put him in there, who is to say he wouldn’t come after her?
He locked his eyes on hers as his face grew more serious than she had ever seen it before. “I don’t have a death wish. Call me self-preserving, I don’t care. He wouldn’t hesitate to kill me if he knew I had ratted him out. Hell, if he knew I had told you right now then I’m sure I would be dead already.” His eyes once again looked away, suddenly finding the sinks behind them of great interest.
“Then why did you? Tell me, I mean?”
“Because I feel I can trust you, and please don’t ask me why, but I do. And because, well… Because you asked me earlier how this happened to me. I felt that after all you have selflessly done, you deserved an explanation.”
If it was possible for her eyes to grow any wider, then they did. “You mean, he…” She looked at his body and the gashes that were slowly fading into the night. “Your own father did this to you?”
He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter to him that I’m his son. If I disappoint, he doesn’t hesitate to punish me.”
“What do you mean… disappoint?” To be honest, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know what he had been asked to do and then failed to accomplish.
“He wants me to figure out Dumbledore’s greatest weakness. I just keep telling him that there isn’t one.” He looked at her and could see the look on her face, filled with the one question she didn’t want to ask. Not even thinking about it, he moved slightly to push up the sleeve on his still covered left arm.
She looked down and felt an immediate feeling of both surprise and relief. There was no Dark Mark. No mark at all, actually. In the back of her mind she almost convinced herself that she was sitting next to a Death Eater. But she was wrong, and happy to be so.
“He has every intention of me forcing to join him once I graduate. I managed to convince him that if I got the Dark Mark while at school, there was a likely chance that someone would notice it. I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to pull off escaping the inevitable once graduation rolls around.” He sighed as he ran an arm through his hair, wincing as his fingers rubbed a cut that was on his forehead. He would have to use a glamour charm in the morning. The thought made him freeze. It was already the morning. How long had they been here? “What time is it?” His eyes were wide as he looked at her.
She started to shrug when she remembered the small muggle watch that she had kept in the first aid kit just in case she was using it in-between classes. Looking at it, her eyes grew wide. “It is almost four.”
“Shit. We’ve got to go.”
Ginny nodded as she began to clean up the small mess of bottles and bandages. Draco slowly started to stand before wincing and falling back to the ground. She looked at him. “Your cuts are healed but I’d imagine your muscles would still be sore, and the bruises will still hurt. I cured all your fractures but I would still be careful what you do for the next twenty-four hours, just to let everything mend completely. Here,” she handed him a small bottle with a blue liquid in it, “drink this and stay still for another minute.”
He didn’t think to question her as he swallowed the contents of the bottle in one drink. He watched out of the corner of his eyes as she finished picking up the remainder of the mess, with the exception to the one small bottle she had set aside. Once she was done she stood up and motioned for him to do the same. Mentally, he braced himself for the pain that was about to shoot through his body as he stood. However, he was pleasantly surprised when he felt no real pain at all, just a dull soreness. He looked at her with wide eyes. “Wow.”
She smiled a small smile a nodded as she walked toward the door. Stopping only to turn around to hand him the small bottle she had left out. It looked identical to the potion he had just swallowed moments before. “The potion will last for twelve hours. Take this at around four this evening and after that one wears off, you should be fine.”
He nodded as he took the bottle and pocketed it. “Hey, Ginny?” She froze, her hand on the doorknob, as she turned to look at him, shocked he had used her first name. She was pleasantly shocked once again as he smiled a small genuine smile. “Thank you.”
She couldn’t help smiling a small smile back as she nodded. “You’re welcome.” She turned around and began to open the door before hesitating one last time. “And Draco?” She turned back to look him in the eye, pleased that he was just as shocked that she had used his first name as she was when he had done the same. “Your secrets are safe with me. I promise.”
And with that, she turned and left, careful to make her way back into her dorm where she would get a small amount of two hours for sleep. Stranger still than the evening she had just endured, was the feeling in her heart that made her look at the youngest Malfoy in a new light. She yawned as her tired body drifted into sleep, all the while thinking of the strange events of that night.
Back to You
Disclaimer: Me? I own nothing but my second rate story plot… The genius? That’d be J.K. Rowling…
(Author’s Note) Once again, thank you so much to those who have reviewed!!! I am still looking for someone to make me a banner. If you're interested, or willing, or whatever - PLEASE let me know!!! Thank you!
Chapter 5: The Morning After
When Draco woke the next morning, he felt like he had just become conscious after a strange and slightly foggy dream. Reality, however, began to set in the moment he moved. A dull pain seemed to fill every crevice of his body, a slightly stronger throbbing pain still in his right arm and shoulder. He cringed as he thought of how just last night his wand arm had been broken in two places, his shoulder dislocated. Draco wondered idly how Ginny had managed to put his shoulder back in place without him realizing it.
His eyes grew wide at the memory.
He owed his life to Ginny Weasley. A wicked smile fell on his face as he thought of the irony. His father had attempted to kill him last night, but failed. It was rare that Lucius Malfoy would fail at anything, yet here Draco sat, on his plush Head Boy bed, alive and fully functional. And for that he had only to thank the one other young minor who his father had failed to kill.
It was strange that one would form a bond because you had both survived one man’s wrath. Stranger even, that it would be two enemies forming the bond.
Draco’s wicked smile grew faint as he remembered the end of his encounter with the young Weasley. She had actually listened to him. No one, not even his own two parents, had ever given a crap about him. No one had ever given him a sincere listening ear. Until a sixth year Gryffindor had. One of the very Gryffindor’s he had been born to hate.
He closed his eyes and massaged his right temple with his right index and middle fingers. He wanted to see her again. He needed to see her again.
But he couldn’t. It pained him to realize that the woman who had just last night been his salvation was now in danger for doing so. No one could find out about this; for his life and hers.
His eyes drifted across the room to his pile of school books. Slowly, his eyes glided to the small vile that laid next to the books, and then to the small piece of parchment that laid next to the vile. On that parchment laid every reason, balled up into one giant one, why he should not so much as look at her in any way other than hate and contempt ever again. In that vile however, that one small vile, sat every reason he should damn the parchment to hell and do the only thing he really ever had a burning desire to do.
He looked to his wand that sat bedside. He had always thought he was a powerful wizard, that he could handle what was thrown at him. He had thought that, where his father was concerned, he had just never tried to defend himself and that was why he had suffered all those crucios in the past. Last night proved to him just how wrong he was. If forced to, could he really protect her if Lucius tried to kill her again? Could he save her from dying for saving him? He couldn’t honestly be sure.
It was at that moment when one thought came roaring to the front of his mind. One single thought that forced him out of bed. One thought that made him write a brief note. And one thought that had him owling that note faster than any note before.
Last night he had been given a priceless gift: He had been given the possibility of a true friend. It was rare, it was something he could never buy, and it was something had never had before.
He looked in the mirror, his eyes looking straight back at him.
It was something he would be willing die for.
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Ginny awoke that morning with one resolution: She had resolved to forget about the night before. That plan, however, seemed to last all of six hours before she received an owl from Draco Malfoy requesting that she meet him in the same abandoned bathroom late that night.
She quickly decided to pretend that the owl had gotten lost. That the message had never been delivered.
And then he made eye contact with her during dinner in the Great Hall.
So she now found herself walking silently to the abandoned restroom at a quarter past midnight. Opening the door, she crept quietly inside. Casting a silencing spell on the bathroom so no one could hear them talk, she began to walk over to the long lean figure that lay in the same spot as they had last night. “What do you want?”
Her question jogged him out of his thoughts as his attention turned from the sink in front of him to her. He stood as he cleared his throat. “I didn’t think you would show.”
“I don’t know why the hell I’m here, but I am. So, what do you want?”
He looked away from her and blushed. What did he want? He wanted to talk. He wanted to form a friendship. He wanted tell her everything and anything, secrets that he had never told anyone else. Not even the only person in the school that could begin to resemble a trustworthy friend to him. That “friend” was a Slytherin, and he learned long ago that no Slytherin could be trusted with any information of value. Not even Pansy Parkinson, the girl he had known since diapers.
He drew his attention from his thoughts and back to the woman before him. “I want to talk, is that a problem? Hot date with Pothead that I’m interrupting?”
“For the last time I’m not dating Harry!”
“Does Harry know this?” Draco chuckled. She managed a deathly glare at him before turning on her heal and walking to the door. His eyes grew wide before he moved to stop her. “No, wait…”
She froze. “You seem to be using those words a lot around me. Perhaps you could just remember that taunting and insults get you nowhere and you could shave a whole lot of time off the beginning of our conversations. Now, if you excuse me, I have to head to bed before I wind up caught and in detention.”
“I’m Head Boy.”
She froze again, this time turning around. “What?”
“I’m Head Boy.” He repeated.
She stared at him, one eyebrow raised. “Thank you Captain Obvious.”
He rolled his eyes. “I have no curfew and if you are with me, you won’t get in trouble.”
She laughed as she rolled her eyes. “That’s bullocks and you know it.”
He shrugged. “Well, I used my invisibility cloak to get down here, and seeing as I have no curfew, I won’t be needing it to get back… I was going to offer to let you use it. Ergo, if you are with me, you won’t get in trouble.”
She seemed slightly taken back. She wasn’t sure if it was the fact that he was offering to let her use something of great value, the fact that he had seemed to have thought about this before coming, or the startling revelation that Draco Malfoy actually had a thoughtful bone in his body, but she soon found herself walking the few steps back to where she had stood just a few minutes before. “Talk about what?”
It took him a minute before he realized she had backtracked the conversation, and he smiled. Not one of wickedness, but an actual smile. He shrugged as he took a seat against the wall and motioned for her to do the same. “Anything.”
She looked at him before following his lead and taking a seat. “You know, I must be honest, you seemed like a pretty good listener last night. Though, I wasn’t sure if that was because you owed me and I had you rather trapped or if it was because you actually are a good listener.”
“If you have something of value to say, I tend to be an excellent listener.”
She quirked her head to the side as she looked at him. “And tell me, Draco Malfoy, do I have anything of value to say?”
He smirked as he returned her gaze. “I have yet to hear something come out of your mouth that isn’t.”
It would be a lie if she said she wasn’t taken back by his response. Was she really flirting with Draco Malfoy? Was he really flirting back? Not trusting the words that would come from her mouth at that moment, she turned her head back to look straight, and her eyes locked on the sink. She did not want to stare at that all night. Moving slightly she sat Indian-style as she turned to face him, her back now to the sink. “So what is the first topic on tonight’s conversational list?”
He chuckled. “I thought we might just go with the flow.”
Several hours later, an amused Ginny lay with her back on the cold flooring, trying to control her laughter. Draco, however, seemed less than amused as he sat up straight, back against the wall, with his arms folded across his chest. A pout covered his lips as he spoke, “I was drunk! I don’t see what’s so bloody funny.”
She seemed to quiet down for a minute as she turned her head to look at him. One look at his pout-covered face and she couldn’t help but let out another laugh. “You and… and… and Zabini. That’s timeless, that is.”
“I swear if that leaves this room you will have serious hell to pay.” He frowned, as if a thought suddenly coming to him. “If you even think of telling your brother or his precious cronies…”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “Really Malfoy, your trust in me is overwhelming.”
He was quiet for a moment before relaxing a bit. “I’m sorry.” That word was slowly getting easier for him to say. Well, easier for him to say to her at least.
“It’s okay.” She told him quietly before sitting up slightly, using her elbows to prop herself up. A surprisingly comfortable silence consumed them before she broke it only minutes later. “Would it be entirely pathetic if I said that tonight has been one of the best nights of my life?”
His silver-blue eyes turned to her brown ones in surprise. He shook his head. “No. I would hope it wouldn’t be, at least, as I know it has been one of the best nights of mine.”
She nodded before taking a deep breath. “I’m going to ask you a question, but you don’t have to answer it if you don’t want to.” He nodded to signal he was paying attention. “What happened to you to make you so cold to everyone else? I mean, I understand your father is a heartless bastard, which makes feeling loved at home rather difficult but… If you don’t agree with your father, why do you act like you do? Why don’t you just take a stand?”
“I told you before that I don’t have a death wish.” His voice was quiet, unwavering but not nearly as harsh as she would have expected it to be.
“But if you…” She paused. If she said anything about the Order, she would be jeopardizing the secrecy of it. If she let him know that she was, in some way, a part of the Order of the Phoenix, and he told anyone… the thought was stupid and she cleared her mind of it. She could trust him. For some reason unbeknownst to even her, she knew she could trust him. “If you were to go to Dumbledore, if you were to join the Order - you could be protected. He couldn’t get to you if you were under Dumbledore’s protection.”
He said nothing, but merely shook his head. Ginny knew that she would not be getting the answers to her questions that evening, she knew even before she asked. Nonetheless, she had wanted to try. Draco drew in a breath before slowly letting it out, his eyes staring directly at the sink in front of him. “Something about that damn sink keeps drawing my attention.”
Ginny’s eyebrows creased at his changed of topic as she let her head turn to see where he was looking. A cringe ran up her spine as she drew in a pained breath. She managed a wavering sigh before stating matter-of-factly, “It’s the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.”
His eyes grew wide as his head snapped to look at her. She was still looking directly at the sink, a conflicted and pained expression on her face. It was heartbreaking for him to look at her, looking so lost and hurt. So… haunted. “Wha-What do you mean? That sink is the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets?” If he hadn’t been looking at her right at that moment, fully able to see her face, he would have thought she was joking. If it had been anyone but Ginny Weasley saying the words, he would have thought them either mad or hilarious. But it was Ginny Weasley saying the words and if anyone in the world knew where the elusive Chamber of Secrets was hidden it would be her.
“I don’t remember exactly how it works, you would have to ask Harry. But if you speak parseltongue to it, ask it to show you the Chamber, or something like that, then the sink will be pulled into the floor and the sinks will pull apart enough to show a long portal downward.”
Draco blinked a few times. “The Chamber of Secrets is under the school? And the entrance to it is through the sinks in the girls bathroom?”
Her head snapped to look at him. “You don’t have to believe me.” She snipped. “It is, however, the truth.”
His eyes grew wide. “I do believe you. I have no reason not to. If it were anyone else, anyone, I wouldn’t believe them - but I believe you.”
She took a deep breath before quickly letting it out. “I’m going to honest here, Malfoy. I’m beginning to feel like you’re the friend I’ve always needed, but never had. The thought scares me a tad because I’ve always been told that you were evil and I needed to hate you. You have done nothing but terrorize me and my family and friends and I have no reason to like you, let alone trust you. Yet, still, I do. That, Draco, is why I’m going to ask you at least consider asking Dumbledore for help.” He opened his mouth to speak but she wouldn’t let him. “Draco - you are the one person I feel I can talk to about anything; I don’t want to lose you after I just found you.”
The sincere look in his eyes as she admitted that she cared about him was what compelled him to nod in response. It seemed to satisfy her as she stood. He followed suit before reaching for a medium sized paper bag that lay on the ground.
“It’s getting late.”
He nodded in agreement before handing her the bag. “The invisibility cloak is in here. I know I don’t need to instruct you on how to use it.” She smiled a small smile at that.
“Thank you, Draco.” The more she used his first name, the more natural it began to feel.
“No, thank you.”
She took the bag from his hand before looking him in the eye again. She could almost feel the ice on his heart begin to melt. She hesitated only a moment before throwing her arms around him in a hug. He seemed shocked at first before he relaxed and reciprocated the hug. “Until tomorrow then?” She asked, to which he nodded and gave a small smile.
She smiled back before she took the cloak out of the bag and threw it around her shoulders, causing only her head to remain visible. “Goodnight Draco.” She smiled once again before pulling the hood up and walking out of the bathroom.
He stepped back and leaned against the wall, his head resting on the cold stone. His mind reeled from the past few hours. He had never felt so comfortable with someone. He had never had someone care whether he lived or died.
Draco took a deep breath as he closed his eyes. He couldn’t believe it when he had first admitted it to himself that morning, but after this evening he was indisputably positive of one thing: He would step in front of an Avada Kedavra for Ginny Weasley.
Back to You
(Author’s Note) Sorry this took so long. Holidays, tests, research papers… And that’s just been the past week! This chapter was actually supposed to be longer but I’m cutting in half and make the last half of what was supposed to be Chapter 6, Chapter 7 due to the fact that I haven’t update in so long and this is what I have written. Haven’t written the second half part yet. Sorry if you find this completely confusing!!! Oh! And I’m still looking for a banner - so if anyone’s interested, please let me know…
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Chapter 6: To Tell the Truth
If someone were to stand in the hidden alcove near the abandoned girls lavatory every night around midnight, they might notice a strange occurrence. It is quite possible that said observer would see a seventh year boy entering said bathroom at a quarter past midnight. In fact, it is entirely possible that this boy would not be just any boy, but the Head Boy.
Now, the casual observer might find this unusual, but not terribly shocking. He could, after all, be patrolling. If however, they were to listen in on the conversation behind the heavy door, they would hear not one, but two voices. One, of course would be that of the Head Boy. The other, on the other hand, would be most obviously that of a girl. If the listener were to listen carefully they might even recognize that this was not the voice of just any girl, either. No, this was the voice of the Weasley girl. And if you knew anything about these two students, shock would not begin to cover your reaction, for these two students were sworn enemies. They were fire and ice; oil and water.
Despite this, if someone were to watch this same location every evening at the same time, they would see the same strange activities as the night before. And the observer would slowly be drawn to look in awe as they watched two enemies form a bond of friendship like no other before it.
Ginny smirked as she watched him enter their meeting place. “You’re late,” she drawled, pushing herself from the wall she had previously leaning on.
He looked up before returning her smirk. “Well, Miss Weasley, there’s a first time for everything.” It was strange really, he should be pissed that she’d stolen his smirk, but he wasn’t. Quite the opposite in fact; the look on her face provoked a funny sensation in the pit of his stomach. She was smirking at him. And it wasn’t just any smirk, it was his smirk. “Though, I must say, if you’re going to smirk at me like that for being late perhaps I’ll be late more often.” Where the bloody hell had that come from?
She blushed and bit back a giggle. If you knew her at all, you would know that Ginny Weasley didn’t giggle. The fact that she almost had was enough to make her want to revisit dinner. Good thing they were meeting in a restroom. She shook her head, clearing her mind. Suddenly, she never wanted to be early again.
They both made themselves comfortable in their now usual places on the floor. “So, I was thinking tonight we could play a little game.” Ginny look at Draco, a single eyebrow rose in question. To say she was slightly curious as to what kind of ‘game’ he could come up with would be an understatement. “I ask you questions about yourself and you answer truthfully. The complete truth.”
To that, Ginny laughed. “Nice try Malfoy. Better idea, I say something most don’t know about me and you tell me the same about yourself.” Draco gave her a blank look. “It’s only fair.”
He snorted. “I don’t know if you noticed Gin, but I’m in Slytherin. Slytherins don’t do fair.”
“And Malfoys don’t typically befriend Weasleys, but that hasn’t seemed to stop you yet.” She countered.
He frowned. She was right. He hated it when she was right. He muttered a string of unnecessary curses before sneering at her and muttering, “fine”. She unconsciously smirked in victory, which somehow forced him to abandon his high horse. “You’re going first.”
She shrugged. “Okay.” She thought for a moment. “I stole a Chocolate Frog from Honeydukes when I was five.”
“Really?” This seemed to intrigue him. She nodded. He thought carefully for a moment. “I cheated on the written final exam in History of Magic during our first year.”
Ginny’s eyes grew wide. “You’re kidding! Off who?”
He shook his head mournfully, not really wanting to admit it but relenting nonetheless. “Granger.”
To that Ginny laughed. “Wow, Hermione would kill you if she knew. Of course, what we talk about here stays between us, so she never will, but still… Wow.” She thought carefully about what to reveal next. “I set my brother up to get caught roaming around late at night by Filch last year.”
Draco’s eyes snapped her hers and he could tell she wasn’t joking. “I’ve been trying to do that since first year, how the hell did you manage it? Why did you manage it?”
She shrugged. “Him and Harry and often Hermione would constantly go off late at night to explore the school. They’d use the invisibility cloak. I got a bit jealous and pissed. Ron had refused to let me come with them. So, I set him up. Practically led him to Filch.” She shrugged. “It really wasn’t hard, but he still doesn’t know I had set him up. He thinks it was an honest mistake.”
He shook his head. “You’re not one I want to be pissing off anytime soon.” He narrowed his eyebrows in concentration. “Let’s see… I think I’ll go with… I made out with Parkinson when I was twelve.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You call that a secret?”
“Did you know that?” He countered with a mirrored raise of an eyebrow.
“Well, no. But what’s the big deal with that?” She looked at him, feeling slightly irritated. And strangely, there was a part of her that wanted to pull out Pansy Parkinson’s tongue and tie it to a hippogriff.
He blushed. “Well…uh…” He should have known that he wouldn’t have gotten away without telling the full story. And strangely, he almost felt like he wanted her to know this. He wanted her to know everything. “It was my first kiss.” He blurted out.
She wanted to giggle at the look on his face as he said it. And that fact infuriated her. How many times tonight was she going to have to tell herself that she didn’t giggle?! “And…” She was fishing here, because she knew there just had to be more to the store. Draco Malfoy wouldn’t blush for just mentioning his first kiss.
“I sort of… well… you have to understand…” He stopped as he realized he was beginning to stumble with his words. He clinched his eyes shut as he yelled at himself to grow a backbone. “You have to understand that Pansy and I are rather like brother and sister by now. The mere thought at being anything more greatly disturbs my ability to keep food down.” Ginny nodded and signaled for him to keep going. So he did. He finally blurted out what only one other soul knew. “I kissed her and pulled away just in time to vomit.” Ginny stared at him and blinked a few times, trying hard not to laugh. “Don’t you dare laugh Weasley!” He glared.
She took a deep breath and sobered herself up. There was really only a few other things that many people didn’t know. She was a private person, but she hadn’t really done many things without one of her brothers knowing about it. Besides, she had already told him the less embarrassing stories during their more casual conversations this week. So she tried to go with the one thing that nearly no one knew. Oh Merlin, why did she feel embarrassed about this? “Um… well…” The fact that she was now the one blushing a fierce shade of red seemed to catch Draco’s attention. He forgot all about his momentary embarrassment as he braced himself for hers. But hers was not embarrassing at all. Simply… personal. Incredibly personal. “Well, not many know this but I’m… well… I’m not so much a virgin as everyone seems to think I am.”
Both his eyebrows rose in response. “What…” His eyes grew wide as his voice cracked. He cleared his throat before trying again. “What exactly do you mean, ‘not so much’?”
“I slept with Dean last year.” She paused as the blush seemed to creep up her cheeks at the memories. “A lot.”
He didn’t even flinch until she said the last part, and then suddenly his pants felt a little tight. This whole thing worried him greatly. She was supposed to be his best friend. He was not supposed to feel this way about his best sodding friend. “I’m not so much a playboy as everyone seems to think I am.”
“Not so much?” She was glad to have the attention from herself, but she was starting to feel a little hot and bothered by the feelings stirring within herself. This wasn’t good. It wasn’t good at all.
“I’ve only slept with three girls, one of them I was drunk during.” He cleared his throat again; it was beginning to truly annoy him how this girl sitting before him could force him to feel like he still hadn’t gone through puberty. “The first was this French girl that I meant during my family’s summer at the vacation home in, well, France. The second was after that girl cheated on me, so I got drunk and I don’t exactly remember who it was I slept with. The third, and don’t ask me why because I’m still not exactly sure of that, but it was Millicent Bulstrode.”
That was a lot of information for Ginny to soak up at once but it seemed to slowly sink in. They were starting to talk about the matters of a more serious nature. She didn’t mind it. She trusted him more than she probably should. “I sent your father to Azkaban.” Her voice was quiet when she said it, but he heard it nonetheless. That, however, didn’t mean he believed it.
“My father got caught in the Department of Mysteries, Ginny. I know there is no way you yourself could have handed him over to the Ministry. Not that I’d really care if you had. Still…”
“I know.” She interrupted him. “It was a night that I don’t really ever want to think about again.” Thinking about it right now was beginning to make her choke up. It simply reminded her that Sirius was gone. She had barely gotten to know him the summer before that fateful year, but he had treated her as if he was her uncle, and as if he had been there since was born. For someone who was locked away in Azkaban, and then on the run for a year after, he was quite sane and quite an interesting person to talk to.
“I…I don’t understand.”
She looked up, into his eyes, as she said it for the second time. “I sent your father to Azkaban.”
He froze as he stared into her eyes. “I…but…how? I thought you ran off with your brother, and Lovegood, and Longbottom…”
“After I hexed you, I took our wands and we went to find Harry. We then took the Thestrals to the Ministry. We ended up in the Department of Mysteries, there was a big fight over some prophecy. It was ugly, it was intense. I…I really don’t want to think about it. I just, I thought you should know. I literally helped send your father off to Azkaban.”
Draco looked at this redhead next to him, amazement written all over his pale face. “Wow…” He blinked. “I’m beginning to realize, Ginevra Weasley, that you really are stronger than you look.”
She nodded. “Funny how people judge people simply by what they see.” She looked at him as she said it, knowing full well that he would understand her double-meaning.
He nodded. They truly were beginning to see each other for the first time. He sucked in some air before slowly releasing it. He looked at her, ready to tell her what no one else knew. His father didn’t even know he knew. But Draco was smarter than he often appeared to be and had figured it all out last summer. “My mother is under the Imperius - which will only change if my father either dies or up and decides to take the curse off her.”
Ginny’s eyes grew wide as she gasped. “That’s… Draco, that’s serious. You need to tell someone about that. Dumbledore…”
His eyes snapped to hers. “No.”
“But…”
“No one knows that I know. Besides, she’s safer that way. She wasn’t always under it, only for about the past three years. I think it started shortly before the start of my fourth year. Not too long before the Quidditch World Cup.”
“But - why?” Why would Lucius Malfoy attempt to truly control his wife? She was just like him…right? She was a Death Eater right along side of him, right?
Draco just shrugged as he let out a sigh. “I think she was starting to realize how wrong this all was. She wasn’t exactly my father’s biggest fan when she found out that he had set that diary onto you. She seemed furious when she found out, constantly yelling at him, “but she’s just a child!”. You were only a year younger than me, and I think she just couldn’t get the thought of ‘what if it was Draco’ out of her mind. She stopped going on about it six months later, but she still seemed less… I don’t know… cold-hearted?” He shrugged. “In some weird way I know my father loves her, and I think he just figured his only alternative was to kill her. So, being that he loves her in whatever demented way, he figured he’d rather control her free will rather than kill her.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “I’d rather have him controlling her right now, than to have him kill her. Just until…” He took a deep breath he had never admitted it to anyone. He had never even said his ultimate goal aloud before. “Just until I kill him first.”
Her eyes shot to his and she knew he was serious. She said nothing in response, knowing she’d never change his mind. Not tonight, anyhow. Slowly, she edged closer to him before pulling him to her in a tight embrace. “It’s okay. Everything will be okay. You have me by your side to help you now too. I’ve helped to put him away before, I promise I will find some way to do it again.”
Chapter 8: Chapter 7: Victims of Circumstance
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Back to You
(Author’s Note) I do believe this one is the longest yet. Yay for that. I’m suddenly rather glad I split Chapter 6 and this chapter up. It would have been around, oh, 12 or so pages if I hadn’t… Not that any of you would’ve been complaining about a longer update… Also, I would just like to give a great big hug and ‘thank you’ to my awesome new beta: DaisyMama (from the Fire and Ice Archive). Now, if there is anyone else out there with the overwhelming desire to make my story a pretty banner… *smiles wide and bats eyelashes*
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Chapter 7: Victims of Circumstance
October 1, 1997
No matter how hard she tried, Ginny couldn’t get the new found information of Narcissa Malfoy being under the Imperius out of her mind. She wanted nothing more than to tell someone, but she knew she couldn’t. She wouldn’t. Draco’s trust meant a lot to Ginny; probably more than it should given their history and the fact that she’d only really gotten to know him over the past two and a half weeks.
She smiled when she thought of Draco Malfoy. The boy who everyone knew to be a cold-hearted son of a Death Eater. It still seemed rather surreal that the boy she had spent two weeks talking to in an abandoned lavatory was someone who was thought to be evil and, quite possibly, a Death Eater himself. If only everyone knew him the way she now did.
“Hey Ginny!” Ginny stopped in her footsteps as she heard the voice calling behind her. Turning around, she smiled as she saw Hermione jogging toward her, followed closely by Ron and Harry.
“Hello Hermione,” Ginny her only close female friend and confidant as the brunette came to stand in front of her, “to what do I owe this visit?”
Hermione let out a giggle. “It seems like we haven’t seen or talked to you in ages!”
Ron came to stand next to Ginny as he threw an arm over her shoulders. “How is by favorite sister doing?”
She glared at her older brother before rolling her eyes. “Ron, I’m your only sister.”
He merely shrugged. “Eh, technicalities.”
Shaking her head, she turned her attention to the one person who had yet to say a word. “Hello Harry. How have you been?”
Harry smiled. “I’ve been good. How about yourself?”
She smiled widely. Truth was, she had been rather preoccupied since Draco had told her about his mum, but other than that - she was feeling better than she had in quite a long time. Too bad she couldn’t explain that to her brother and friends. “I’m good. Classes are rather tough, but I’m adjusting. I’m just happy that I don’t have to think about the O.W.L’s anymore.”
That seemed to draw Hermione’s attention. “Oh! I have meant to ask! How did you do on those? You never told me what you got.” Leave it to the standardized tests to get Hermione Granger overly excited. However, Ginny never got around to replying as a familiar voice could be heard behind them.
“Yes, do tell us Weaselette, what did a poor excuse for a witch such as yourself get on the O.W.L.’s?” Draco Malfoy drawled behind her. As hard as he tried to glare at the redheaded girl in front of him, however, the sharper the pain that sliced across his heart. He had never felt any true guilt when he had spat out a snide or insulting comment before. But then again, that was all before he got to know Ginevra Weasley.
Ginny looked at the blond boy, an eyebrow raised in challenge. They had discussed this - how they would act in public - before now, but as of yet they had never actually had to confront one another. She couldn’t lie to herself, it was becoming a whole lot more difficult than she had originally thought it to be. She swallowed, trying to remind herself that he didn’t mean the words falling out of his mouth. She tried to remind herself that she had traded so many insults with him over the past six years of her attendance at Hogwarts that it should come naturally. And once upon a time, it did. But that, of course, was before she found him all bloodied up in the entrance hall one fateful night.
Forcing herself to look him in the eye, she managed to throw him a glare. “What business of yours is it what I got on the tests? Afraid that a witch of my social class could possibly be better than you? Not that a feat such as that would be too difficult.”
His eyes grew wide before closing into slits. He took a step forward. “What is that supposed to mean?”
She grinned an evil sort of grin as she stared straight into his eyes. “If you didn’t understand, then perhaps you are even more stupid than I originally thought.” She paused a moment before speaking to him again. “Perhaps I should remind you that you don’t scare me, Malfoy. Why don’t you run along? Go make out with your pathetic excuse for a girlfriend.” She nodded toward Pansy Parkinson, who stood almost directly behind Draco and in-between Crabbe and Goyle.
It looked as if Draco was going to say something else, but before he was able to Ron had his wand pointing at Draco’s jugular. “Step away from my sister, Malfoy.”
If anyone had been looking at Ginny, they would have noticed the slight panic that passed through her eyes as she looked at the familiar wand that was pointed at her best friends throat. Draco stepped a foot back as Ginny glared at Ron. “I can take care of myself you know.”
“I know full well what you’re capable of Gin, but I’d rather it not come to the hexing and cursing. Especially in the middle of the corridor.”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “Yeah, let’s just avoid the hexing and the cursing and instead put a wand to Malfoy’s throat. Good plan, Ron. I dare say your most brilliant yet.”
It took everything in Draco not to laugh at his female counterpart’s remarks. Eyeing Ron, and then the wand pointed at his throat, he used a single finger to push it away. “Now, how would it look if I told that old bat you call a Head of House that you pointed a wand at me for asking about the Weaselette’s O.W.L’s? And to think, I was simply offering some inter-house unity.”
“Inter-house unity my ass…” Ron grumbled under his breath as he put his wand away. Taking a breath, he glowered at the son of a Death Eater in front of him. “Malfoy, do us all a favor will you? Go to Hell.”
He offered them the infamous Malfoy smirk before turning to swiftly walk away, pausing only to throw back a blasé comment. “I’ve been there. I find it quite nice in the winter season, albeit still a bit warm for my tastes.”
His groupies turned and followed in suit, though it seemed no one noticed the way Pansy Parkinson looked back and forth from the female Weasley to the boy she had known since diapers. She smothered an all-knowing smile as she watched them, before turning with Draco and walking away. She’d have to ask him about that all later.
* * * * * *
He sighed as he looked into the fire. He had just returned from dinner to find the common room empty. He had grown to like it that way. Over the years he had spent in this very room, he had grown quite accustomed to the silence that overtook it when it was suffering from an absence of students. It made it much easier to just sit and think.
In his earlier years, he hadn’t much to think about. As he grew up, he began to think about what was going on in the world around him. He began to see his father for who he really was, and not the man he had idolized for the first thirteen years of his life. In the past year, however, was when Draco’s mind really began to think. He thought about how different he wanted his future to be. He wanted to have a life of honesty, even if he had to work for it. Hard work never frightened or intimidated Draco Malfoy. No, the only thing that had ever intimidated him was his father. But at the time in which he made the decision to go a separate path from that of the one his father had followed, his father had still been locked away. The intimidation factor was considerably smaller when the man behind said intimidation was being held under high security.
Now, however, while his thoughts still managed to drift to that of his own desired path in life occasionally, most of the time they were stuck on a petite red-haired girl who was filled with more spunk than he had seen in a long time. There were just so many things about her that both challenged and amazed him. And as he stood there today and attempted to tear her down, he felt like he was simultaneously killing a piece of himself.
So deep in his thoughts was he that he didn’t even notice the dark-haired girl who came to sit next to him on the couch. “What has your mind in such fierce concentration?”
His head snapped to look at her, startled by her presence. “When did you get back?”
“Few minutes ago. I came before everyone else; I wanted to talk to you.”
An eyebrow rose on his perfectly structured face. “Oh? What about?”
“Ginny Weasley.” If there was one thing Pansy Parkinson most certainly was, it was that she was blunt.
“And you want to talk about that pathetic muggle lover why?”
“Oh Draco, I really wish you would remember who it is you’re talking to here. I can see right through that mask of yours, so take it off, put it away… I don’t care what you do with it just get rid of it. I’ve known you far too long for you to think you can get away with pretending with me.”
“If you have a point, I really wish you would get to it.”
She rolled her eyes. He really could aggravate her at times. “So, what’s your hang up on the girl Weasley? I saw the way you looked at her today before you approached her. I saw the way she looked at you when she first turned to look at you. I saw the slight panic in her eyes when that brother of hers pointed his wand at you. What haven’t you been telling me?”
He sighed as he looked to the girl beside him. He knew he could trust her. She was the only other person in Slytherin that held the same thoughts that he did. The same wonder over what side was really the right side of this war they were all being forced to fight. So slowly, Draco began to tell her of the past several weeks, leaving out only the specifics of his conversations with her. That information was not meant for anyone’s ears, Pansy’s included.
She smiled at the boy next to her - offhandedly wondering whether or not Draco knew he was beginning to fall in love with this girl he spoke of. Wondering whether he knew that every time he spoke her name, his eyes seemed to get this spark that Pansy had never seen before. She patted his knee as she stood. She was happy for him. “You’re like a brother to me Draco, which is why your secret is safe with me. If you need any help with the sneaking around, know that I’m willing to help you. I’d love to talk to her some time, if you don’t think she’d mind. She sounds like the type of friend I too may need.” She smiled a faint smile. Being in Slytherin had not exactly helped her make friends. Make no mistake, Pansy Parkinson was a Slytherin through and through - just subtract the actual desire to practice the dark arts. No, much like Draco, she would rather live a more honest lifestyle. Nevertheless, girls in Slytherin never trusted one another. It was an unspoken rule, it seemed, that you didn’t need friends of any kind if you were a Slytherin. Not that Pansy would have actually wanted to associate with any of the dim witted excuses for witches in both her class year and house.
Draco just nodded as he stood. “I should head back to my own common room and sleeping quarters.”
Pansy rolled her eyes for what felt like the tenth time this evening. “Why do you even come here anyway?”
He shrugged as he made his way to the entrance. “I guess I’m just used to this place.” Pansy just nodded in understanding as she watched Draco leave.
* * * * * *
Ginny sat against the window in the Gryffindor common room, looking out at the darkened school grounds below. Night had almost suddenly crept upon the castle, and it left Ginny feeling rather unnerved. She couldn’t say why, but she was feeling a small sense of dread in the depths of her stomach.
She sighed as she tried to get her mind away from the feelings threatening to consume her. She thought to her conversation with Draco the night before. She let out a small laugh as she thought about his greeting as she had walked into their meeting spot.
“Hello my little Weaselette,” Draco drawled, leaning against the usual wall.
She smiled at him a small smile. “Now tell me Draco: Why would you feel the need to ask about me O.W.L’s when you already know my scores?”
He chuckled as he gestured for her to have a seat. Once she had done so, he followed suit. “The four of you were gathered in the middle of the hall, it would have seemed far too suspicious if I had simply walked past and not said anything. Too uncharacteristic of myself, someone would have noticed. Besides, I may be a friend of yours, but that doesn’t mean I like Potter, Granger or your brother any more than I did two months ago.”
She nodded. She had decided a while ago that it would have been unfair of her to ask for him to accept her friends, just because he wanted her own friendship. “No one on my side raised an eyebrow of suspicion. However, I will admit that Ron had me a tad worried when he pulled his wand. He has always been a little too hasty to curse now and think later.”
Draco nodded, a grim smile forming on his lips as he recalled the time Ronald Weasley had attempted to make him eat slugs. He would have succeeded, Draco was sure, if his wand hadn‘t been broken. “I remember.” Clearing his head, he decided she should best know about Pansy. “I feel that I should probably tell you that someone on my side did notice.”
Ginny’s eyes grew wide as she began to worry. “Who?”
Draco smiled. “Just Pansy. Nothing to worry about. I’ve already told you she’s like a sister to me. She too has grown her own brain over the past year or so.”
“How did she notice though? Nothing felt unusual to me. It felt like the same old times of name-calling and arguing.”
He shook his head. “Pansy noticed my hesitance. She also noticed my lack of, shall we say, gusto.”
Ginny nodded grimly. “We’ll have to be more careful of that. But onto better topics…”
Of course, the subject of Pansy Parkinson had come back up later. To Ginny’s surprise, the dark-haired girl seemed to hold a certain desire to befriend her. Ginny wasn’t entirely sure of what she felt about this, but she told Draco he could bring her with him some time. This seemed to please him, as he had immediately felt the urge to hug her tightly. Weeks had passed since their first chat, and she still hadn’t been able to really pop, what she referred to as, his personal bubble. Hugging, apparently, wasn’t a very natural thing to a Slytherin. So one could imagine Ginny’s surprise when he had hugged her tightly to him, thanking her profusely. For just a small minute, she had thought she had walked into what Muggle’s referred to as “the twilight zone”.
“Ginny? You’re still up?” Ginny froze as she moved to get a look at the voice speaking to her. It was Harry. She managed a smile as she nodded. “Everything alright?”
She looked at him curiously. “Yes, life has been no more crazy than usual. Just can’t sleep is all.”
He nodded. “Me neither. I was just rather worried that perhaps Malfoy had gotten to you yesterday.” It was rude, but she wanted to laugh. Instead she just smiled politely as she shook her head. Harry looked around the room. “Up for a game of Wizard’s chess?”
She looked at the time; she still had forty-five minutes. Maybe if she played him a quick game, he would go back up to his room and she could make her way out of Gryffindor Tower. She nodded. “Sure.”
He smiled wide as he sat down at the table - the chess game already set up and waiting to be played. “Great. You can move first.” She nodded and sighed before making her first move.
One hour later she unconsciously tapped her foot on the ground. Harry was just one move away from winning, and usually she would be competitive and care that he was about to beat her but at the moment the only thought in her mind was the fact that she was already fifteen minutes late for her meeting with Draco. “Checkmate.” She looked up as Harry spoke the words.
“Darn.” She faked a yawn. “I must have been a bit too tired to play to my usual ability, or else you would have lost long ago.” She smirked. “I expect a rematch at a later date.” She felt awful, because she really could care less if they had a rematch or not.
He smiled, apparently pleased at the thought. “I’d like that. But you better get to bed. You look like you’re going to fall asleep right here.”
She nodded. “You too.” She gave him a quick hug before standing and walking toward the stairs that led to the girls dorms. “’Night Harry.”
“’Night Ginny.” He replied back before he began to walk up to his own dorm.
Ginny held her breath as she stood on the fifth stair, just far enough out of sight that Harry wouldn’t be able to see her as she waited to hear his footsteps trail up to his room. When she finally felt she was safe, she threw Draco’s invisibility cloak over her shoulders before making a dash for the door. Once out of the Gryffindor Tower, she began to jog as quietly as possible as she made her way toward the usual meeting place.
Nearing the Entrance Hall, however, she began to feel a strange sense of déjà vu that she just couldn’t seem to place. She pulled the cloak tighter, for warmth, as she felt a chill crawl up her spine. Her eyes scanned the corridors, heightening her sense of awareness. It would just be her luck to run right into a teacher while hurrying to her destination. Crossing through the Entrance Hall, she turned to make her way past the Great Hall when she froze in her footsteps. Her eyes locked on a familiar form, lying almost motionless in a most familiar spot against the wall. Her mind drifted to the worst possible thoughts as she neared the form crumpled on the cold, hard ground.
She hadn’t even realized she had been holding her breath until his eyes opened and locked onto hers, and she let out her held breath of air. Her own eyes held worry as she knelt down beside him and pulled him into her arms. It was only then that he seemed to relax, as he literally passed out in her arms. A subconscious tear slid down her cheek as she looked at him in her arms. His breathing was slight, though often hesitant, probably due to the pain.
She didn’t need to know who had done this to him. She already knew. She shook her head as she looked at the young man covered in bruises and blood. Even if it was the last thing she did, she would make sure Lucius Malfoy paid for this.
Back to You
(Author’s Note) A bit on the shorter side. I haven’t started Chapter 9 yet so that could take me a bit longer than the past two chapters have. (Well, I have a very small outline, but that is more of a guideline than anything else…) Once again, I would just like to give a great big hug and shout out to my beta, without whom this chapter would be filled to the brim with awkward sentences and run-on sentences. Last (and certainly never least) if there is anyone out there with the overwhelming desire to make my story a pretty banner… *smiles wide and bats eyelashes*
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Chapter 8: No Escape
Draco opened his eyes slowly, adjusting to the room around him. The last thing he remembered was seeing Ginny Weasley walking towards him and kneeling beside him before his world went black. Now, he found himself in a déjà vu scenario; Ginny’s eyebrows furrowed in concentration as she tried to patch him up to the best of her abilities. He watched her for a moment, studying her as her hands worked using medical supplies and her wand. He smiled. “You should be a healer.”
She jumped as she looked up at him. Ginny breathed a sigh of relief at seeing he had woken up. “I didn’t know you were awake.”
He nodded, “Just for a few minutes.” Using his right arm, he tried to prop himself up but his efforts only ended in a sharp hiss of pain as his arm gave out and he fell backwards. He was sure his head was about to smack against the hard stone wall, but was instead pleasantly surprised by Ginny catching him. Her head was hovering just above his and he found himself thinking thoughts that he probably shouldn’t.
Ginny took a deep breath as she propped him up against the wall. “I would have thought you learned your lesson about trying to move too soon the last time you were in this position.” The words, on any other occasion, would have come out in a manner of a teasing reprimand - but not tonight. Tonight, Draco noticed as he studied her, her moves and words were distant. She swallowed the lump in her throat again as she moved to see to another of his many wounds.
He shook her off as his hand moved to her arm. “Ginny?” His voice was soft and gentle. When she looked up, he was shocked to see a row of unshed tears hidden in her eyes. “Gin, what’s wrong?”
Her eyes grew wide as she shook her head and looked away. “Don’t ask me what’s wrong Draco. You should know. I mean - look at you!” She looked at him, her eyes filling with small doses of anger and frustration. “You don’t know what it was like to hurry to our meeting spot just to find you in the hall, unmoving. You don’t understand that, for those few minutes, I thought you were…” A sob reached the back of her throat as she looked away.
Draco wasn’t sure what to say. Aside from maybe Pansy, no one had cared about him this way. “The important matter here is that I survived. It’s what I do, I’m a survivor.”
Her eyes met his as she sobered herself. “You have to go to Dumbledore.”
Draco’s eyes grew wide at the suggestion. “No. Ginny are you crazy? I don’t want to pick a side, you know that. I just…I don’t. I can handle my father… For now…” He didn’t want to fight. In his opinion, the war was a stupid war started by a stupid man. He didn’t, in any way, agree with Voldemort, but he didn’t exactly want to jump to the front lines with the Order either.
“Draco, I worry about you.” Her voice broke with the words.
“You…you what?”
“I…I…I worry about you. I mean, what if he goes too far next time? What if, next time, I don’t find you? What if…” Her eyes began to tear up again as Draco pulled her into his arms, his pain ignored for the time being.
Draco had never been so touched. He truly had no idea what to say. How had he gotten so lucky? To have this angel in his arms? To have someone who truly cared about him? He found that he was actually, for the first time, jealous of Potter for having someone like Ginny in his life for so long. Did Harry Potter even realize how much of a gift that was?
He hugged her tightly to his chest. The thought hadn’t quite sunk in yet; he had someone that actually cared about what happened to him. He had someone who would cry for him. He took a deep breath as he kissed the top of her head. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”
She inhaled, relishing in the scent of him. For some reason she just couldn‘t explain, she just felt so right in his arms. “Can you promise that?”
He closed his eyes tightly as he breathed in. As he exhaled he opened his eyes and pulled away to look at her. “I promise you, Ginevra Molly Weasley, that nothing is going to happen to me.” His fatal mistake, however, was to choose that moment to look deep into her eyes. He never knew how easy it could be to get lost in someone’s eyes until that moment. His right hand came up to gently graze her cheek, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. Slowly, almost hypnotically, they each leaned forward, two pairs of eyes fluttering closed.
It was as if they were each in a magnetic trance as their lips tentatively touched before pulling away ever so slightly. Draco seemed to be the one to take the initiative as his lips fell back to hers in a nearly explosive kiss. Ginny responded as her hands came to his chest, her left hand clutching his shirt tightly as her right hand ran up his chest to be draped around his neck, pulling him closer to her. Their lips, which fit together as if they were pieces to a muggle puzzle, moved in perfect synchronization.
It seemed they couldn’t escape the attraction to one another, just as Draco Malfoy seemed to not be able to escape his father. Looking back on this kiss they might wonder about the way something as simple as a kiss could cause them to forget everything from the fact that they were best friends in an abandoned girls lavatory, to the way in which he was covered in bruises and shouldn’t be able to move let alone pull her to be practically on top of him. Somehow, with their lips pressed firmly together, nothing else mattered.
It wasn’t until a few minutes later that they each realized what it was they were doing, and with whom.
Pulling simultaneously away from one another, their chests heaved in an attempt to regulate their breathing as they opened their eyes to find themselves staring at each other. Ginny swallowed as she moved off of Draco to lean back against the wall next to him. Her mind was racing. What were they doing? How in the world did they end up making out? And why the hell did it feel so bloody right?
Draco moved to sit up properly. Feeling seemed to come back to him as a sharp stab of pain ran up his side forcing him to let out a hiss. “Damn I forgot about that.” He grumbled.
Ginny was up and back to fixing him up the moment she heard him hiss in pain. “You-” Her voice cracked due to her dry throat. She cleared her throat before trying to speak again. “You need to stay put. Just relax, I’ll let you know when I finish, and then I’ll give you the same potion I did last time. You’re lucky I brewed more right after I gave you the vials I had.”
He nodded before laying his head back against the cold stone wall. How could she be so casual with him? They just kissed. No, that’s not true. They didn’t just kiss - because it wasn’t just a kiss. It was quite possibly the most electric kiss he had ever experienced. Had she not felt what he had? Was that why she was suddenly shrinking back into a distant shell? He looked at her, studying her actions as he had when he had first woken up. “Gin, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have-”
“Don’t.” She cut him off. “It wasn’t just you, it was the both of us. Tension is high, we’re a little too stressed and emotional. It’s okay; it’s forgotten.” She had said it with ease, though the guilt could at any moment consume her. She had just flat out lied, because that kiss would never be forgotten. She had never felt anything as spine-tingling as she had when his lips melted into hers. It was a kiss that would forever be etched into her mind.
He felt like he had just met with a punch to his gut. Or rather, a punch to his heart. How could she honestly forget that? How the bloody hell had she not gotten from that kiss as much as he had? He wanted to scream at her that it was the furthest thing from a mistake, but he didn’t. Instead, he just nodded in agreement. “Yes, forgotten.” The words came out of his mouth, but he didn’t believe them.
Silence overcame them as neither could think of a thing to say. His mind seemed to fall into a daze until he heard her tell him she was done. He nodded and thanked her as she helped him stand. She handed him the familiar two blue vials before giving him a hug, to which he returned.
Both excelled in pretending things never happened; they each had forced themselves to believe that much larger events had not mattered or taken place. Ginny had, over the course of five years, managed to create the illusion that the Tom Riddle incident had never happened. Draco had continually convinced himself that his father would never kill him. (Hex him until an inch of his life - yes; kill him - no.)
By tomorrow, this kiss will have never happened. They would make themselves believe it.
Chapter 10: Chapter 9: It's All About Concentration
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(Author’s Note) Sorry it’s taken so long. I had research papers, and finals that needed my attention, and then I had my own personal drama to deal with, but here you all go! I hope you enjoy it. Somehow, though, I think you’ll like the next chapter more than this one. This one is more of a necessary filler. Once again, I would just like to give a great big hug and shout out to my beta, DaisyMama. Last (and certainly never least) if there is anyone out there with the overwhelming desire to make my story a pretty banner… *smiles wide and bats eyelashes*
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Chapter 9: It’s All About Concentration
As this year’s captain, it wasn’t unusual to see Draco Malfoy arrive early for practice; however, even the most quidditch-obsessed individual would find three hours early a bit extreme. Today, Draco couldn’t help it. He hadn’t been able to get an ounce of sleep the night before; the kiss playing on repeat in his mind every time he dared to close his eyes.
To matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get Ginevra Weasley out of his mind. Everything about her made his nerves stand on edge, a feeling he wasn’t accustomed to feeling. Then again, that seemed to be a pattern with her. She made him think and feel the things he had never felt before.
When she first found him, he thought he was going to die. He didn’t care that it was her who found him, because he was sucking in his last few breaths anyway. Then she tried to save him. No, she didn’t try - she succeeded. It would be a lie if Draco Malfoy didn’t admit that he was in awe of her healing skills. She knew exactly what she was doing with every potion, charm and touch. Her touch…he hadn’t wanted to admit it but from the moment she had touched him while healing him all those weeks ago, he had felt a spark. He had pushed the thought away, telling him it was just the pain. Then they met again, and he felt the same spark in her touch and the same swell in his heart as she spoke to him. She treated him like an equal; she never once acted as if she was above him or below him. He wasn’t accustomed to that. But he liked it. No, that too was a lie. He didn’t like it, he loved it.
For the first time in his life he found someone who was equal to him in almost everything. And to top it off, the things he fell short it, were the things she excelled in, and vice-versa. She was daring, brave (he blamed the Gryffindor blood in her), cunning (he thought she should have been a Slytherin), and, to top it all off, she smirked at him. Yes, she had an attitude on her - and he found it completely refreshing. The smirk was the icing on his cake. No one dared try to pull of his smirk, let alone smirk at him. It was in the Malfoy blood, the smirk was. And then she used it. He knew she had no idea the power of what she was doing, but as her lips formed with the expression with a natural ease, he knew. That smirk had been his undoing.
When he had gone to meet his father last night, it hadn’t helped any that he couldn’t get that bloody smirk out of his mind. That was the last thing he needed - to have his father look into his mind just to see Ginevra Weasley. It was the last thing she needed as well.
He knew what would happen when he had left the castle that night. He knew his father would ask him what he had found out and Draco would respond with ’nothing, father’ and then give a brief excuse as to Dumbledore being guarded. Unfortunately, Lucius Malfoy didn’t care for excuses. He wasn’t accustomed to not getting what he wanted, and he wanted to know the Headmaster’s weaknesses.
What Draco hadn’t expected was for his father to be angered to the point of nearly killing him. He thought he wouldn’t be able to take any more pain, but then his father mentioned how he was going to have to resort to swarming the school in Death Eaters. That hadn’t shocked him, until he made specific mentions of the targets for that hypothetical attack. Harry Potter; Draco hadn’t been surprised. Ronald Weasley; Another given. Hermione “the Mudblood” Granger; Draco had almost flinched at the ‘mud blood’ part, which surprised even him, but he couldn’t say he was surprised at the choice of target. And then he spoke the last specific name: Ginevra Weasley. Draco thought he was going to be physically ill at the thought of her being harmed, let alone killed.
It was then that Draco made the simple mistake of questioning his father. He hadn’t even noticed the words before they flew out of his mouth. “Why? Why target them? Surely the Golden Trio has to be the most protected students in the school. And the Weaselette? What could she possibly know?”
He never received an answer to that query. Instead, he was met with several more Cruciatus curses followed by a swift blow to the head from his father’s staff. When he had come back to a hazing consciousness minutes, or possibly hours, later there was no trace of his father to be found. So he had dragged himself, however painfully, back to the castle to once again collapse in the Entrance Hall. He had hoped it was around the time of their meeting, and that Ginny might find him. But minutes were passing and she hadn’t yet showed. He had given up hope, and decided that perhaps it was better for her not to watch him die - for surely she could not save him now - when he heard faint footsteps and a familiar gasp. And the next that he knew her eyes were locked on his, and he was passing out in her arms.
When he had woken up in the girls lavatory, he hadn’t be too shocked. It wasn’t until she actually stated her worry for him that his heart grew tight and he grew speechless. What had he done to deserve her worry? To deserve her tears? It hadn’t processed what he was doing until his lips found hers and the spark he had previously felt he felt once more, only this time it was more of an explosion than a spark.
When the night had ended and they had excused the kiss, he still couldn’t be sure. He didn’t know what to do about his development. Never in his life had he been unable to convince himself of something. He could pretend that his mother was perfectly fine, perfectly safe, but he couldn’t for the life of him pretend he didn’t feel something for Ginny Weasley. So once again Draco found himself feeling a feeling he was not accustomed to: For what he was sure was the first time in his life, he felt utterly lost on what to do.
And in Draco Malfoy’s life, when he didn’t know what to do, he got on his broom and flew. To Draco, there was nothing more freeing than flying strategically through the air. Nothing could hold you back; nothing to dictate your limits. The possibilities were endless.
Now, more than four hours since he had originally stepped onto the Quidditch Pitch, he scowled as his focus for the snitch was once again interrupted. If he had to warn Crabbe and Goyle over the dangers of bludgers one more time he was going to kick them off the team altogether. He let out another growl as he lectured to his team members about their incompetence.
Getting back to the practice games, his eyes scanned the field for the familiar flit of gold. His infamous smirk spread over his lips as his eyes locked on the small winged ball of gold. Instinct taking over, he dove after the small golden snitch. His eyes were focused on only the snitch, but his mind began to slowly wander. He let out a few colorful words as his mind seemed to rage a pitiful war against his concentration.
His mind’s eye drifted to a familiar head of ginger-red hair. He closed his eyes for a millisecond before he shook his head, still chasing after the elusive snitch. Closing his eyes was one of his more stupid moves for all he saw behind his eye lids was sparkling brown eyes that he was sure could see his soul. A laugh that only he could hear rang in his ears, causing his heart to swell.
He swallowed as he yelled out another curse and brought his broom to a hover position not fifteen feet from the ground. He had lost the snitch. It should have been an easy grab and he had lost it. Closing his eyes, he ran a hand through his platinum blonde strands, attempting to bring his focus back to his task at hand. Unfortunately, while blocking out everything else, he missed Goyle’s hearty and careless swing at the bludger.
The next few minutes seemed to run continually into one as it all seemed to happen at once. Draco opened his eyes as the bludger came pelting into his broom, knocking it out from under him. His eyes wide, he fell through the air, thankful to have not been higher up than fifteen feet. He let out a groan as his back hit the ground. His head laying on the well-kempt grass he let out a moan of agony as he let out a mutter under his breath. “Ginny Weasley, this is all your fault.”
- - - - - - -
Concentration wasn’t coming naturally to Ginevra Weasley today. At breakfast, she had attempted conversation with her favorite Head Girl, only to find her mind wandering back to the startling kiss she had experienced just the night before. Hermione, luckily, hadn’t noticed as Ginny’s eyes kept unconsciously moving to the Slytherin table. She just couldn’t help it. It was as if there was some magnetic pull, pulling her in the direction of her brother’s worst enemy.
She felt as if she should be disgusted by the thought of kissing Malfoy. He was supposed to be despicable and heartless. He was, in fact, her brother’s enemy. Hell, both of their families were enemies and had been for years. Who really knew how far back the rivalry had gone? Her parents would be ashamed of her. That alone fact should push her away from the Slytherin, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get her mind away from him. His silky hair, and how it had felt between her fingers. The look in his eyes as he promised he would be careful, as he promised he wouldn’t do anything stupid to get himself killed. And here she sat, doing quite possibly the stupidest thing she could be doing: Fantasizing about a Malfoy.
Perhaps she should just go check herself into St. Mungo’s right now. Obviously there was something wrong with her brain.
Ginny Weasley looked up from her textbook to see Snape taking another five points from Gryffindor. She shook her head as she watched Colin Creevey stare at the potions Professor in shock. She felt bad for Colin, he had inadvertently become the Neville Longbottom of her year while in the potions classroom. It really was a wonder he had made it into Advanced Potions. Turning back to her textbook, she attempted to focus back on the assigned potion.
“Add the sopophorous bean and follow it by turning counter-clockwise seven times…” She murmured to herself as she followed the directions. She let out a sigh as she made the counter-clockwise turns. Her mind began to drift away to the one thing she just couldn’t push out of her mind. ‘How could I be falling for Draco sodding Malfoy?’ Her mind questioned itself before she froze. ‘Wait. I’m falling for Malfoy? Oh damn, I’m falling for Malfoy. This is great, just great. Let’s just start the school year off with a little unrequited love followed by… Shit. How many times was I suppose to turn?’ Her eyes turned to her potion before her brown orbs grew large. ‘And why is this potion turning blue? It should be lilac. And now Snape is coming over here…’ She glanced the direction of her least favorite member of the faculty before letting her head come crashing down to the desk. Letting out a groan, she muttered to herself, “Draco Malfoy, this is all your fault.”
Chapter 11: Chapter 10: Unavoidable Confrontations
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(Author’s Note) So, let me apologize in advice for the short length of this chapter. I had planned for it to be a little longer, but I found it to be so emotionally draining on me that anything longer would just prove pointless. It would only end up being space-filler anyway, and, in the end, only detract from the point of the chapter. Now that I’ve babbled… I hope you enjoy it. Once again, I would just like to give a great big hug and shout out to my beta, DaisyMama. As always, feedback makes me happy. I’d really like to know how YOU think I could improve this story (less plot-wise as writing-wise). Last (and certainly never least) if there is anyone out there with the overwhelming desire to make my story a pretty banner… *smiles wide and bats eyelashes*
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Chapter 10: Unavoidable Confessions
October 4, 1997
The sun was shining and the air was considerably warm for the beginning of Autumn. Only a light jacket was needed on a day like today, as a breeze would every so often sweep over the castle grounds. Many of the students had decided to take advantage of the fortunate weather, bringing their studies out onto the different areas of the massive property. Ginny Weasley was no exception.
The young vibrant redhead sat on the grass, her back propped up by a tree as she gazed out at the lake in front of her. Every so often the giant squid would make himself known before sinking back down to the depths of his dark home. She sighed as she leaned her head against the tree trunk. She loved this spot. It was secluded, so no one would be able to find her unless they were actually looking, but not so secluded that she felt separated from the rest of the school.
“Potions, huh?” A familiar voice sounded behind her, forcing her out of her reverie.
She looked down to the book sitting open and neglected in her lap. “I haven’t been able to concentrate, thought the fresh air would do me some good,” she replied.
“Unable to concentrate?” Draco Malfoy repeated as he took a seat next to the Gryffindor. He pondered her words a moment before continuing his own train of thought. “Neither have I.” He silently wondered whether he should tell her about the events of the day before, finally resigning to doing so. “I fell off my broom yesterday.”
That got her attention. She looked at him, giving him a once over before letting out a sigh of relief. Closing her eyes she developed a mental image of what he had just told her. A smile flickered on her face for only a moment before she sobered herself. Holding back a chuckle, she said “I just want you to know, I’m biting my tongue right now.” Oh the many insults she could be formulating with just six words and mental picture.
He rolled his eyes before feigning an insulted look. “Gee, thanks.” She just smiled as the silence began to overtake them. It was filled with just a tad bit of awkwardness, having not really seen each other since their surprise kiss only two evenings before. Draco sighed before finally turning to look her in the eye. “Listen, Ginny, in all seriousness, I need to talk to you about something.”
Ginny nodded as she too let out a sigh. “I know.”
The pause that directly followed was filled with uncertainty before Draco began to speak. “A few months ago, I would have laughed if someone told me that I’d be saying what I’m about to say right now to anyone let alone a Weasley.” He paused and took a breath. “I don’t know what you’re doing to me, I just know that I can’t get you out of my head and it’s driving me bloody mad.”
A startled look fell across her face and she didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t sure what she had expected him to say, but it had not been that. “I…” she paused before closing her eyes and inhaling the fresh air, “Draco, I don’t know what is going on between us right now so I’ll just be honest about what I’m feeling right now.” She turned to face the lake, her eyes concentrating fiercely on the water in front of her. “After we began talking, I started to view you as a friend I had never had before. You suddenly showed me that all I had heard about you before, and all I had known to be true, was wrong. You showed me that all we knew of each other was a just pile of misconceptions and pre-conceived notions. We were wrong about so many things concerning one another and I just can’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, I was wrong in viewing you as the first true friend I have ever had.”
She looked at him carefully, trying to read his face. Finding that she couldn’t, she began to press forward. “I know that I just made it sound like we aren’t friends, but that isn’t how I meant it. I just mean…” she hesitated, unsure of whether she should go on or not, “I know we promised never to bring it up again Draco but for the life of me I can’t forget that kiss. I’m sorry but I just can’t. I have never had a problem pushing things out of my mind, but for some reason I just can’t make this go away. Whenever I close my eyes it replays and I just can’t help but wonder if it was meant to happen. If maybe we weren’t meant to be simply friends. I’m sorry, I know you don’t feel the same and I should just obliviate my own memory of the kiss or something, I just needed to get that out. And I’m so sorry if this puts a strain on our friendship, I never would want that to happen. I… I don’t know what I’m saying, I should really just stop. I guess I’m just afraid that I just crossed some line that will inevitably end whatever friendship or bond we’ve formed over the past two weeks. I’m sorry I even-” But she didn’t get to finish her thought before he interrupted her.
His interruption wasn’t quite what she had been expecting, as his lips suddenly fell over hers, ending her words abruptly. The shock over the fact that he was kissing her had just begun to wear off when he pulled away. Resting his forehead against hers, he sighed. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know how else to interject.”
“I - I don’t understand.”
“I don’t know how it happened Ginny, but my mind can’t leave the kiss from two nights ago. I can’t make you any real promises toward the future, but Ginny, I can tell you this: I don’t know how you did it, how you brought me into your world and allowed me to see that things aren’t as bad as they seemed, but you did. And in that process, something happened that I didn’t know was possible. Gin, I never knew I was capable of the emotion, but I really think I’m falling in love with you.” She let out a small gasp at his admonition, but he plowed on as if she hadn’t. “I need your help with this because I don’t know what to do here. This isn’t like anything I have felt before, and it confuses me to no end.” He swallowed the nerves that were beginning to creep up his throat. “Ginny please, I need to know, what is it exactly that you’re feeling?”
“I was pretty sure of it before, but after that I’m positive.” She stopped for only a moment as her right hand came up to cup his cheek. “Draco, I’m falling in love with you.”
She knew, the moment the words left her lips and his own leaned in to gently touch hers, that from that point forward there would be no going back. And she knew in her heart she had either made the biggest mistake or the best decision of her life. She could only hope to whatever God above that it was the latter of the two.
Chapter 12: Chapter 11: Falling for Ginny Weasley
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(Author’s Note) Sorry for the delay in this chapter, I wanted to post it sooner but with my new semester starting up and whatnot, I just didn’t have time to. Once again, I would just like to give a great big hug and shout out to my beta, DaisyMama. As always, feedback makes me happy.
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Chapter 11: Falling for Ginny Weasley
October 16, 1997
It had been two weeks since the most unlikely pair had begun a real relationship, and it was proving to be more difficult that they had previously thought it to be. Draco had not believed it when Ginny had warned him how hard it would be to date in secret, he had just shrugged it off in his usual cocky way. To a degree, Draco Malfoy still felt like there was no circumstance in which he didn’t have control over. He blissfully attempted to ignore the dysfunctions of his family or the controversy of his newfound love. In his mind, he was officially on top of the world. He was a pureblood wizard at the top of England’s elite, and he had a beautiful girlfriend who had managed to see past his ever-present mask of arrogance.
The conditions under which he had originally befriended the youngest Weasley, along with the fact that she is, in fact, a Weasley, was pushed to the far corners of his mind. If he looked hard, he could see himself changing over the course of the past several weeks, but the truth of the matter was that he didn’t want to see it. And besides that, he couldn’t let anyone else see it.
Draco couldn’t help but smile when he was near his girlfriend, and he couldn’t help but glow when he remembered that she really is his girlfriend. He had never had a problem with masking his emotions, but lately it was just too much. The unspoken glances in the Great Hall were not enough for the heir to the House of Malfoy. He wanted to get up from his table filled with Slytherins, walk straight over to the Gryffindor table Ginny was sitting at, pull her from her seat and kiss her senseless. The only thing that really stopped him from doing so was Pansy Parkinson’s constant reminder of how he had to be nonchalant, if not for his own safety then for Ginny’s.
Ginevra Weasley’s safety: That was one thing he would do most anything for. He had decided that a long time ago, after she had saved his life the first time.
He sighed from his Slytherin seat. For now he would just have to make due with a few unspoken glances and smiles. At least until tonight when they would meet as they usually did.
Ginny sighed as she hid her smile. She could feel him looking at her. She could feel his presence when he was in the same room as her. She wasn’t sure what it was, but her body had become completely in tune to Draco Malfoy’s essence during the past two weeks.
“Wonder what’s with Malfoy.” Ginny looked up as she heard her brother’s comment. Her expression must have mirrored Hermione’s as the brunettes next words were identical to the ones running through her mind.
“What do you mean?” Hermione asked, looking to her tall red-headed friend curiously before daring a quick glance at the object of their questioning. Ginny didn’t even dare to move her head to look at the blond Slytherin, knowing she could give everything away if she did.
“He seems downright happy about something. It’s just not natural.” Ron replied, his lips forming a grimace. Luckily, no one seemed to notice the blush as it crept up Ginny’s cheeks.
“He probably just got done torturing a first year.” Harry threw his two cents in as he shrugged his shoulders in indifference.
“Or he just seduced another unsuspecting fifth year.” Ron snorted.
Ginny sighed. When she had started falling for Malfoy, she never knew how hard it would be to keep it all undercover. “Guys, you’re talking about Malfoy. He’s probably just up to something. There’s really nothing new about that, is there?” The trio individually shrugged and Ginny chanced a glance at Draco, her heart aching to be able to just shout at the whole Great Hall how the Malfoy heir was so different from whom they all thought he was. How he was loving, and gentle. How he didn’t have the dark mark and had no desire of getting it. How he was in love with her, and how - most importantly - she was in love with him. But no one could know those finer details of their lives. The pair each went along with his years old charade, knowing that if for even one moment they forgot about it their lives could very much be over. They both knew all too well that if word of their union reached the ears of Lucius Malfoy there would be no telling what the eldest Malfoy would do.
Draco laid on his bed, staring at the plain ceiling as he lost himself in his thoughts. He loved her, he was certain of this. Of course, she already knew this, but still. Truth-be-told, Draco still wasn’t completely used to the fact that someone else held the key to his heart. He had finally allowed himself to accept that him losing himself in the eyes of Ginny Weasley was inevitable, but that didn’t help his uncertainty.
He had, of course, told no one of the newer developments between himself and the youngest Weasley. He knew, on some level, however, that he wasn’t fooling Pansy for a minute. Every time he seemed to reach a new level of happiness in the presence of others, Pansy’s foot seemed to immediately collide with his shin.
Almost as if he had summoned her by thinking of her, the main door to his chambers opened and with it came Miss Parkinson, her wavy black hair tied back in a ponytail and her skirt rolled up a time or two.
“I should have never given you the password.” He muttered, mostly to himself but she heard him all the same.
“Yes, well it’s fitting since half the school thinks I’m your girlfriend. Quite honestly, that thought makes me sick.”
He turned to look at her as he rolled his eyes. “You know, you look like a slut with your skirt rolled up like that.”
She rolled her eyes. “I know.” She walked further into his room before taking a seat in one of the chairs in front of his fireplace.
With ease, he rolled himself of the bed and made his way to sit on the couch next to his lifelong friend. “What are you doing here Pansy?”
She scoffed. “What? You mean you don’t yearn to have me spontaneously enter your chambers?” He answered her sarcastic question with only a raise of an eyebrow before she let out a laugh. “I wanted to talk to you about this relationship between you and Miss Weasley.” She raised her eyebrows suggestively.
“What business is it of yours?” He sneered.
“Well, considering I’ll be the one to pick up the mess your body will leave behind when the rest of the world finds out…” Her sentence trailed off. She sighed. “So how long has it been loverboy? Last we talked you two had just befriended one another.”
He glared at her for the ‘loverboy’ comment before answering her. “Two weeks. It was unexpected, and both of us tried to deny it but it all just seemed to happen.” He sighed knowing full well he was beginning to sound uncharacteristically mushy. “We kissed and it all just seemed to fit. I never expected it, didn’t even know I was capable of it, but nonetheless, here I am, falling in love with Ginny Weasley.”
The room was silent for a minute before Pansy let out a squeal. “This is just too exciting.”
He looked at her with a raised eyebrow and a questioning gaze. “I was thinking more along the lines of suicidal, but okay. Why are you so excited about this?”
She looked at him, completely elated with the thought of her best friend finding love. She honestly never thought it would happen. Draco had always been far too cold and closed off to really let himself fall for anyone.
She let out a small laugh before shaking her head. “I’m happy for you, that’s all. You deserve this. Let me know if I can be of any help. I really do what to sit down and meet this girl who has melted your heart.” He nodded in understanding as she stood and made her way to the exit. “Congratulations again Drake, I really can see this has been good for you.”
He rolled his eyes at his friend as she left the room. It amazed him how different the Pansy he knew was to the one everyone else knew. Though, people could probably say that about him too. He shook his head as he looked at the clock. He still had a few hours to kill before he met his girlfriend in their new location, the Room of Requirement.
Later that same evening, Draco Malfoy laid on a couch in the Room of Requirement, his arms encircling the young woman who held his affections. He let out a sigh; he had never been this relaxed with anyone in his life. He smiled as he thought of how different he was with Ginny than with everyone else he came in contact with.
She looked up at him, her head resting comfortably on his chest. “What?” Her eyebrows furrowed in curiosity.
He smiled again. She looked so cute when she was curious. That thought alone could make him laugh at himself. This was not the Draco Malfoy he used to know. Leaning down, he gently captured her lips in his. “Ginny Weasley, you’re horrible for my heartless reputation.” The words seemed to fall naturally from his lips as he kissed her again.
She merely smiled against his lips, whispering, “You wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Chapter 13: Chapter 12: The Point of No Return
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Back to You
(Author’s Note) Once again, I would just like to give a great big hug and shout out to my beta, DaisyMama. As always, feedback makes me happy!
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Chapter 12: The Point of No Return
Friday; October 17, 1997
She lay on the couch in the Room of Requirement, peacefully resting against his chest. Neither one of them uttered a sound as they watched the fire in the hearth crackle. Despite being lost in their individual thoughts, they couldn’t find it in themselves to get up and go back to their separate common rooms.
Draco’s hand stroked her back in a light, comforting gesture. She smiled when she realized he was doing it, fully aware he had no idea. She knew if she mentioned it, he would stop. That’s just the way he was. He wasn’t emotionally built for being extra-sensitive, and she was okay with that. She was sure that the Draco Malfoy she knew was the complete opposite of the one everyone else knew. She frowned at her thoughts. Draco Malfoy. A Malfoy shouldn’t be lying calmly on a couch giving loving, comforting gestures to anyone. She couldn’t bear to pair her full name with his own. By the world’s standards, it just didn’t fit.
“I wish that our names meant nothing. I wish we could just…” Ginny sighed, she was sick of all the sneaking around. She just wanted to be with her boyfriend in public and in peace.
Subconsciously, Draco pulled her closer to his chest. He sighed as replied, “I know. I wish I could just walk into the Great Hall with you by my side, but we can’t.” Softly, he kissed her temple.
But. There was always a ‘but’. She was sick of being Ginevra Weasley. She was tired of him being Draco Malfoy. Suddenly, she felt caught in a Romeo & Juliet complex. Well, without the dying part anyway. She smiled for a moment, suddenly aware of how they could pick up a conversation as if they had been talking for hours. As if their thoughts were running along the same wire.
Going back to his statement, she turned slightly in his arms as she replied back, “I know.” Reaching her head up, she kissed him softly.
The kiss started out slow, but the intensity of the once simple kiss began to pick up quickly. It was as if they had silently, mutually, decided to pull all their anxiety over their problems outside of this room and get rid of them in a different way.
He kissed her back with equal, if not greater, ferocity before flipping them over so he was half on top of her. He smiled nefariously against her lips as he whispered, “I think I like this position better.” A giggle sounded from the back of her throat as she pulled his lips back to her own. Her blood had begun to feel as if it was on fire in her veins. It was a strange feeling, but she liked it, craved it, all the same.
Her hands ran through his hair that was free from its usual mounds of gel and she smiled. She loved his hair when he allowed it to fall freely, naturally. He knew that, too, and always tried to wash it out before coming to meet her in the evenings.
His lips seemed to find the sensitive spot at the base of her neck as he sucked and nibbled, smiling against her soft skin when she let out a moan she had been unable to hold back. Unknowingly, her right leg wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer to her. But even as he felt flush against her, it didn’t feel close enough.
Her right hand roamed lightly up his spine to his shoulders and her left grasped his hip, not fully believing the feelings he was evoking out of her. She let her hand travel further up, running over the nape of his neck before her fingers tangled with his blonde strands, all the while not fully aware that one of his hands had begun to slide up her shirt. They had never gone this far before, but it all seemed to be happening so naturally that she didn’t even think to stop him. On the contrary, she wanted more.
His hands roamed her toned stomach and up to her bra line as his lips laid kisses up her neck and jaw line. He ran a finger under the bottom of her bra as her hands roamed up and down his back. Her hands clenched at his back as his hands began to cause sensations in her that she had never thought possible.
Yet, it still just didn’t seem enough.
His lips found her own again and she welcomed them by slipping her tongue into his mouth. Moving just slightly, she pushed her hips to his, forcing him to let out a small, almost unnoticeable gasp. Suddenly, the thought of causing Draco Malfoy to lose even the slightest bit of the control he seemed to hold onto so tightly intrigued her. Smiling wickedly against his lips, she ground her hips up against him once more.
He responded by letting out a moan that sounded something like, “Merlin Ginny” before letting his weight push down on her just a little bit more.
As his lips left hers to kiss, nip and suck his way down her neck to where the fabric of her school blouse began, it was all she could do not to tell him to rip the damnable material off her and keep going. His hands still roamed and massaged circles into her sides and stomach, all the way up to the line of her bra, where he would stop as if unsure as to whether or not he was allowed to go further.
Pulling away just slightly, Ginny looked at Draco, her eyes filled with both love and lust. “Draco Malfoy, I love you.”
It didn’t matter how many times she had said those words, his heart swelled each time he heard them. He looked at her and smiled a smile that reached his eyes; a smile that only she could cause and a smile that she was sure only she had ever seen. Leaning down he kissed his way back up the length of her jaw line, towards her ear. When he reached her ear, he nibbled her earlobe for just a moment before whispering, “Ginevra Weasley, I love you too.”
Her breath caught in her throat, as it always did when she heard him say those words. Never in her life had those words affected her as much as they did when Draco said them.
Her hands trailed down to his own waistline as they slipped underneath his shirt. She could feel his quidditch-developed muscles as her hands roamed over his abs and a moan sounded from back of her throat. She wanted him in ways she had never had before. She had barely had time to wonder whether he was feeling the sinuous sensations she was before the evidence of his own desire pressed into her thigh.
Her mouth trailed kisses up his neck and over his jaw line. “Draco, make love to me.” Her words came out in one breathy sentence.
It was in that moment that he froze before pulling away just far enough to look her in the eye. Surely, he must have misheard her. “Wh-what?” The stuttering words came out sounding a whole lot more shaky than the one word question had sounded in his head.
She looked at him, her heart beating hard enough that she was sure he could feel in against his own chest. Her chest rose and fell from her heavy breathing as she began to repeat herself. “Draco, please make love to me.” Her words sounded as if she was pleading, but he could see in her eyes she was just trying to urge him on.
“Are-are you sure?” His eyes held a slight amazement that she had never seen before. It was obvious that he had expected this from this evening as much as she had, which was not at all. She would have laughed if that hadn’t seemed so inappropriate.
She nodded before pulling his lips down her meet hers. “I love you and I’m sure.”
Those seemed to be all the words he needed to hear before he proceeded in a way he had not even thought about before. It seemed natural that they would make this step eventually, but for all the galleons in the world he had not expected it to be tonight. Despite his wonderment, he could not deny the one thing that kept him going in his caresses and touches: It felt right. He had thought this would happen naturally, and at this very moment it was.
From her words forward he stopped only long enough to make sure she hadn’t changed her mind and to perform the contraceptive charm before joining the two of them together in a way they would never be able to go back from.
Chapter 14: Chapter 13: Of Romance and Potions
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(IMPORTANT Author’s Note) So, this is about half as long as it was meant to be. I came to the realization that if I wrote out the full outline of this chapter, in one chapter, it would end up being about 7-8 pages in length. (Well, at least it would be in Verdana size 10 on Microsoft Word…) It also would have taken me another week to find the time to finish and get out. Ergo, I broke it up into two separate chapters. It’s a win/win situation. A win for me, as I don’t have to push myself to find time I don’t have to finish this chapter really really quickly. And, of course, a win for you, as you don’t have to wait ANOTHER week to read the next chapter. And also, I want to thank DaisyMama from Fire and Ice for being the best beta ever.
On that last note, I have a request. Out of pure curiosity, I’m trying to figure out how many people actually read this story. So, if everyone who DOES read this (whether you usually leave reviews or not) could just leave a comment saying ‘I read it’ (you can copy and paste those exact words if you want…) or whatever, that would be AWESOME. I have a reason for asking you all to do this, I promise. I’ll tell you why in my next A/N… (And just to stop the worrying that may/may not occur, it’s not because I plan on quitting this story… It does have to do with the frequency of updates, however…)
Now, after that lengthy note, on with the chapter…
Chapter 13: Of Romance and Potions
Saturday, October 18, 1997
The next morning found Ginevra Weasley waking to a familiar tapping sound at the window. Groaning, she pulled herself from the comfort of her bed as she made her way across the room, completely aware that her roommates were still sleeping soundly in their beds. She had made it a full two steps from her bed before she found the previous night’s events rushing back to her in the form of a familiar dull pain in her thighs.
Cursing Draco Malfoy and his stamina, she wrenched the window open to allow the familiar owl to enter. She untied the parchment from her leg before offering her a few owl treats. She pecked at them happily before flying out the still-open window.
Ginny made her way back to her bed as she sat down and opened the note. The well-known scrawl caused small butterflies to flutter in her stomach as she began to read it.
“Una nota semplice per la ragazza che ha rubato il mio cuore. I love you. Always.
- Draco Malfoy”
Her eyebrows narrowed as she recognized the foreign language as Italian. She didn’t know he spoke Italian. Her heart raced at the thought of him speaking the language to her. Though she didn’t understand a word of it, she had always been turned on by the beautiful language of Italy.
Her heart swelled as she re-read his last four words. She would have to go to the library to translate the beginning of the note, but no matter what those words said, the fact remained: Even after they had slept together, he still wanted her.
She had to admit, the idea of him only wanted her for sex had briefly occurred to her after she came back to the common room last night and overheard her brother talking about everything Malfoy had done since they had been first years. Her brother was still in disbelief that Draco had been appointed Head Boy and used every opportunity he could find to vocally contemplate the many reasons as to why the blond Slytherin should not hold the coveted position.
When she had gotten to her room, she had managed to return to her senses and remember that the real Draco, the Draco she had come to know, wasn’t like that. Still, it made her heart inflate to actually be able to read his declaration of love to her. She couldn’t help but feel a blanket of relief wash over her.
Looking to her right, she noticed one of her roommates was beginning to stir. Sighing, she took that as a sign for her to start her day. Remembering that today was a Hogsmeade day she smiled briefly before the memory of the date flew into her mind. She had detention today. With Snape.
Desperate to not let Snape ruin her day entirely, she grabbed the note from Draco before getting dressed and making her way to the library. If she had to sit in detention, she would sit there with the memory of last night fresh in her mind, as well as the translation of the twelve Italian words.
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After two hours spent in the library (on a Saturday; Madam Pince had looked at her as if she was crazy), she walked into the Potions classroom with an irrepressible smile spread wide on her face. She couldn’t help it. Unknown to the general populace, Ginny Weasley was dating the most romantic man alive.
“A simple note for the girl who has stolen my heart.”
That’s what the note had said. When she had written down the translated words, she was surprised she hadn’t melted right into the library floor. In actuality, when she had read the translated words, she had nearly turned into a ruddy school girl, letting out an uncontrollable giggle.
Ginny shook her head as she entered the dreary classroom, trying her hardest to keep her smile at bay. It wasn’t an easy task as her mind constantly drifted back to the note now stashed in the back pocket of her jeans.
Taking her usual seat in the front row, she looked up at the greasy-haired professor. He made brief eye contact with her before nodding in recognition. “Miss Weasley.” Professor Snape stood from his desk as he walked around to stand in front of it. “You are to effectively brew the potion in which you managed to horrifically botch up during class. Do you know which potion that would be?”
She nodded. “Draught of Living Death.” She sighed as she began to remember how she had even gotten the detention in the first place.
“Correct.” Turning, he picked up a few pieces of parchment that had been lying on his desk before rotating back to face her. “Now, I will be leaving as I have business to tend to. You’ll be supervised by my best student.” As if on-cue, Draco Malfoy walked smugly into the Potions classroom, not yet fully aware of the redhead that sat in the front row; the same redhead who turned upon hearing him enter the room and tried in vain to hide her shock at the realization of who her detention supervisor would be.
“Miss Weasley,” Snape continued, not missing a beat, “I expect you to have successfully brewed the assigned potion by the end of your detention today. Mr. Malfoy, I expect you to see that she does this.” Draco nodded in understanding as he walked to stand next to Professor Snape. If he had been shocked to see that his girlfriend would be his charge for the afternoon, he didn’t show it.
Without reason to doubt that the allocated task would be completed, Snape nodded at the young Malfoy before stalking out of the dungeon classroom.
Draco walked behind the professor’s desk before taking a seat in his chair as he comfortably propped his feet up on the desk. “One might wonder whether Professor Snape would have left me in charge if he knew the truth of our relationship.” He smiled his usual cocky smile at the redhead as she still sat frozen in slight surprise at her desk.
He fought the urge to laugh at her facial expression before attempting to clear her confusion. “He asked me yesterday to supervise this detention. Obviously I agreed, however I had no idea who I would be supervising. I do believe, I am the luckiest man alive.” He winked at his girlfriend who was beginning to come out of her shock. “So, what are you supposed to be brewing?” He asked before moving smoothly to the front of her desk, making himself comfortable as he half-sat on the desk, one leg bent as a majority of his weight sat on the desk, his other leg still firmly on the floor.
“Draught of Living Death,” she groaned before continuing, “I know how to brew it, I really do. It’s just…” She paused as a crimson blush crept up her cheeks as she once again remembered the reason behind this detention.
“What?”
She smiled shyly as she looked up at him, her head cocked to the side. “Remember when you found me sitting under the tree at the lake? And I said I wasn’t able to focus in potions?” Her smile changed from shy to sly as another realization dawned in her brain. “So, I have every reason to completely blame you for this detention.” She nodded to herself, happy with her new placement of blame.
Draco merely rolled his eyes as he leaned across the top of the desk. “Yeah, sure, blame me.” Clearing his throat, he looked down at the textbook that lay open in front of her. “Blame me all you want but I say we whip up this Draught of Living Death and then make use of the opportunity to be alone in the potions classroom with all these desks to create memories on.”
She fought the blush that wanted desperately to creep up her cheeks. Slowly, she pushed herself up so that their lips were almost touching. She stopped just a millimeter away from his lips, close enough that she could feel his lips move if he decided to talk. Or rather, close enough so he would feel her lips as she spoke. “Well, I say that is a very naughty suggestion Mr. Malfoy.” Her lips formed a wicked smile as her eyes stared wantonly into his. “I like it.” In one swift move, she then pulled away from him before he had a chance to lower his lips to hers, forcing him to let out a groan.
“Damn woman, must you be so seductive if you’re not going to follow through?”
Ginny just shrugged. “It’s part of my charm. Just one of those many reasons as to why you love me.” Unable to say anything to the contrary, he just rolled his eyes as he went to fetch the necessary ingredients. When she was right, she was right. Not that he would ever actually admit such a thing.
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On a side note, I felt that I should also mention that the Italian translation came from the Babel Fish Translator at Altavista.com. I have no idea if it’s word for word correct or not. As much as I love the language, I don’t, nor do I pretend to, speak it. (I do, however, dream of a hot young man that bears a remarkable resemblance to an slightly older version of Draco Malfoy sweeping me off my feet while whispering Italian in my ear… but enough about my daydreaming…)
Chapter 15: Chapter 14: Tokens of Affection and Guilt
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( Author's Note) Thank you all SO much for your feedback. I’m so sorry I haven’t updated. I must say though, that it was not entirely my fault. As a majority of you know, HPFF has been going through some changes and updates and us authors were unable to update during that time.
As I said last time, there was a reason to my begging you to leave some sort of feedback. Here it is... I've come to a decision that I'm going to try and update once a week, without fail. I'm thinking the update day will be either Sunday or Monday, but we'll see. It might vary week-to-week.
If you can, PLEASE keep reviewing. It's a nice reminder for me that people do actually read this story. I live for feedback. It makes me all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
On another side-note, I made a fanfic website (link is in my profile).
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Chapter 14: Tokens of Affection and Guilt
Late that same night, the forbidden lovers found themselves resting comfortably on a sofa in the Room of Requirement. Not a word was spoken into the silent night as the younger rested in the arms of the elder as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Each seemed to be consumed with thoughts left unsaid. Finally, after what felt like hours of thought-consuming silence, the redhead spoke, her voice soft and gentle while at the same time expressing her tired emotions. “It’s funny,” she sighed as she snuggled deeper into her lover’s arms, “anyone could look at the two of us and say that it would never work.”
“I always knew I was smarter than everyone else,” the blond replied smoothly, his infamous smirk plastered on his lips.
She rolled her eyes as she reached back to smack him lightly on the shoulder. “You’re such a pompous git.”
He pulled her closer to him as he moved to kiss her temple before whispering into her ear, “Just one of the many things you love about me.” His smirk still in place, he pulled away from her ear to rest his head on the back of the sofa, where it had been only moments before.
She couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “It really is quite sad, but that is true.” She paused as the fact sank in for another moment before she continued, “I find it rather humorous actually.”
“Yes, well, I live to amuse you.” He shifted his weight to find a more comfortable position. “I have something for you.” Once again, he adjusted his position as he reached into his pocket, all the while not letting Ginny out of his embrace. Reaching his arms around her once more, he held the box in front of her.
The box was small, dark green and velvet and upon first sight Ginny knew it housed jewelry. With one eyebrow raised in both hesitance and curiosity, she took the box. She’d be willing to bet her life savings that whatever was in that box was worth more than anything else she had ever owned.
Sitting up, Ginny opened the box, her eyes growing wide. In the small box rested a beautiful and yet fairly simple necklace. She recognized the ancient Irish and Celtic Claddagh symbol immediately from a picture in a book she had once borrowed from the library.
The charm was silver with a green jem she could only assume to be an emerald in the place of the heart. The arms were studded with a braid of small diamonds that glittered in the light. Ginny was speechless.
“I charmed it so that it looks invisible against your skin.” Draco spoke from behind her, “I have its companion ring.” Moving his left arm ever-so-slightly he held his hand out so that she could see his middle finger, where the silver claddagh ring rested; it too had a heart-shaped emerald stone.
She smiled as she turned in his arms to kiss his cheek and then his lips. “I love you.”
“And I you. Now, sit up properly so I can put it on you.”
She smiled as she eagerly did as he told her to. True to her thoughts before she had even opened the box, she had never owned anything as beautiful as what he was now fastening around her neck, and though she knew he didn’t have to buy her love, she loved it all the same. She loved it because she knew that he had bought it out of love, not in attempt to buy her affections. Once it was securely fastened around her neck, she laid back down against his well-sculpted chest, fingering the Celtic symbol.
“It’s an old symbol,” he told her. “The hands mean friendship, the heart love and the crown loyalty. The arms are joined in a circle to mean that it is never-ending.” Leaning down, he kissed her neck where the chain now laid. He proceeded to kiss all the way down the chain until he had gotten to the charm. Looking up at her, his eyes locked on hers as he spoke his next words, his normally stoic eyes betraying his warm emotions, “I love you Gin. Don’t let anyone ever tell you different.”
His words and actions left her speechless for the second time that night. She looked at him, no longer able to see the boy who had spent years tormenting her. In that misguided boy’s place was a man so misunderstood by the rest of the world. If only the world knew him the way she knew him. If only they could see him in moments like these, when his defenses were down. When he could just be the man he had grown up to be, and not the boy shadowed and manipulated by a madman of a father.
As she looked at him, there was no doubt in her mind; He was truly the kindest, most gentle and loving man she had ever met. And he loved her. Her heart swelled at the thought. “Yours are the only words that matter.” Her voice was filled with so much emotion that the words came out in just barely a whisper.
But really, no words needed to be said in a moment like this. Their auras spoke their feelings loud enough and in a way that words couldn’t even come close to.
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It was late when she finally found herself back in the common room of Gryffindor Tower. She hardly expected anyone to be up as the hour neared one in the morning, so when she walked further into the room to be met with the faces of a familiar trio, she was taken by surprise.
Ron seemed to jump to his feet as Hermione and Harry just seemed to roll their eyes. “Where have you been? Are you okay? You’ve been missing all bloody day!”
Sighing, Harry looked at Ginny, a slightly apologetic look on his face. “What your dolt of a brother means to say is that you weren’t in Hogsmeade today and we were worried.”
Ginny smiled warmly at their brotherly concern. “Harry, there’s no need to worry. I’m perfectly fine. Ron, I love you, you know that, but I’m sixteen and can go twenty-four hours without seeing you and still be quite alive and well.” She held back a chuckle as she addressed her brother.
Hermione let out a quiet laugh before she looked at three of her closest friends. “That’s what I said. However, we do know how much you love Hogsmeade and we were worried when we didn’t see you there. It seems like we haven’t seen you at all since the start of school. I don’t think Ron meant to ambush you just now, we were just all wanting to make sure that everything was all right.”
Ginny smiled at Hermione; she really did love the girl as a sister and harbored secret hopes that her brother would just ask the brunette out already. To everyone who knew them, it was clear that they belonged together. Maybe all they needed was a small shove in the right direction. Pushing back that thought to be addressed on another day, she addressed her friend’s concern. “Yes, I do love Hogsmeade. In fact, I’m quite bitter about having to miss it today, I wish I could have gone. However, I had the misfortune of having a detention with Snape today.”
Hermione’s eyebrows furrowed in contemplation. “I thought the staff had a meeting today.”
Ginny rolled her eyes, pretending to be annoyed at her entire detention experience. She fought back the blush from wave of memories of having been pinned to the Potion Master’s desk with Draco Malfoy hovering over her, a nefarious grin on his face. Those were quite possibly the last thoughts she should be having at the moment, while standing in the common room in front of her brother and his two best friends.
“They did. He left Malfoy in charge.” She thought she deserved an award for the glum and disgusted look she managed to procure.
Ron’s eyes grew about as wide as saucers as he heard his sister speak of being left alone in the same room as the bouncing ferret. “Malfoy? If that…ferret…so much as touched you…” He yelled, blood rushing to his face as he thought of all the things he would do to the blond devil’s incarnate if he had laid a hand on his sister.
“Calm down Ron, Malfoy doesn’t frighten me. Remember that bat bogey hex from my fourth year? I can take care of myself.” She spoke purposefully, managing to leave out her thoughts of how the aforementioned ‘ferret’ had done far more that touch her.
“Just be careful Ginny,” Harry warned. “I heard Malfoy took the Dark Mark last summer.”
Ginny nodded, her heart once again feeling weighed down at all the misconceptions people had of her boyfriend. “Will do. If you guys don’t mind, I’m going to bed. It’s been a long day.”
The trio nodded as they wished her goodnight. She really did miss them, but it was plain to see that if she told them the truth of where she had just returned from, they would have checked her into the insanity ward at St. Mungo’s before proceding to hunt Draco down and fix his head on a silver platter.
Yes, she loved Ron, Harry and Hermione. After the past six years, Harry and Hermione had grown to become an extension of the family. However, and it startled her to admit this, she loved Draco more than she ever thought possible.
Looking out her window, her eyes caught on a shooting star. Silently, she wished for the one thing she truly wanted. She wished for the ability for the two worlds she now lived in to be able to come together in a way that wouldn’t end in her Love’s death.
Lying back on her bed, Harry’s words rung in her ears.
“I heard Malfoy took the Dark Mark last summer.”
She wanted to cry, knowing that her wish would never come true. If only everyone realized just how wrong they all were.
(Author’s Note) Here‘s the new chapter! It‘s a bit longer than usual, but I‘m sure you‘re all more than okay with that. Haha
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Chapter 15: Of Dates and Things
Sunday, October 19, 1997
It was late into the evening and the Room of Requirement was filled with a silence so deafening, one would hardly think it was currently accommodating two occupants. Each looked at the other, an enchanting mix of hazel and brown meeting a chilling gray-blue.
The two secret lovers sat opposite in the room that was now adorned with a burning fireplace, sofa, armchairs and a table. The table, a resting spot for a forgotten platter of miscellaneous fruits and sweets with two chilled bottles of unopened butterbeer beside it.
No words were uttered as they merely stared at one another. There wasn’t a single word that seemed appropriate. They were in a bind and there was no way around it. A situation had risen to which neither could agree on a solution.
Finally, after more than an hour of silence, Ginny’s voice, though barely audibly in her hushed tones, was heard. “We can’t go together, Draco.”
The two had just come from a Prefect meeting with the Head Boy and Girl. The Head’s had received word from Dumbledore just hours earlier of an announcement to be made to all Prefects. The rest of the student body would receive word via a bulletin to be posted in all common rooms the following morning.
There was to be a dance at Hogwarts this Halloween.
While the rest of the student body was thrilled at the news, one blond and one redhead sat in turmoil over the idea.
Draco stood and, out of pure uncontrollable frustration, hit the arm of the chair he had previously been sitting in. “You think I don’t know that?”
Ginny sighed, both helpless and hopeless for a solution. “We can’t go alone, that would be too suspicious.” Mentally, Ginny damned the fact that they each really were quite sought after. “We can’t not go; I’m a Prefect and you’re the bloody Head Boy.” Irritated with the whole scenario, she threw her hands up before standing and beginning to pace.
“I don’t want to go with anyone else.” Draco’s face illustrated a stoic expression that he had probably patented by now. “I refuse to go with anyone else.”
Freezing in her aggravated paces, she pivoted to look at her lover, “Then we’re stuck.” Defeated, she fell back into the chair with a sigh of frustration. It was at that very moment that a solution, the only real solution, struck her. Sitting up almost as quickly as she had sat down, she looked at Draco. “You can go with Pansy.”
He froze as he looked at his girlfriend. A look of disgust adorned his face as he answered with a strict “No.” His response had been blunt and if he had been saying it to anyone else, they would have dropped the subject.
Ginny, however, was not ‘anyone else.’ “Why? It would be strictly platonic.”
“It would be like taking my sister to the dance. I’d rather take my gorgeous girlfriend, thank you very much.”
“Well, as much as she appreciates being called gorgeous, you can’t take your girlfriend, and no one knows that Pansy’s practically your sister. It would be perfect. You two already have the illusion of dating, so it‘s almost a given that you two would attend together.”
She had him there. The only real problem he could find was, if he went with Pansy, who would she go with? The thought of her attending on anyone’s arm but his own tied a great amount of revolting knots in the pit of his stomach.
“I haven’t thought that far yet.” He looked at her in dumbfounded confusion as she looked at him questioningly. “What?”
“Did you just read my mind?”
“What?” She repeated, completely lost on the stupidity her boyfriend was suddenly presenting.
“I thought the question of who you would go with any you answered it.” He replied as if his question had been clear as day.
“No you nitwit, you asked the question aloud. Therefore, I answered it aloud. Have you gone completely nutters?”
An unfamiliar blush crept up his cheeks as he cleared his throat and nodded, trying to think of a way to play it off. Finding none, he went back to the subject at hand. “Go with anyone but Potter. Show up with Potter and I assure you Voldemort won’t have to worry about The Boy Who Bloody Lived anymore as I’ll kill him myself.”
Ginny looked up, her eyebrows raised in surprise, though it was clear she had not heard anything beyond one word: Potter. Harry Potter. “Of course! That’s it!”
Draco looked at her, once again, confused. “What?”
“I view Harry like a seventh brother. I’ll ask him to take me.”
“Did you not hear me? I said no. Hell no. You may see him like a brother, but I can tell you right now that is not how he looks at you.”
“It doesn’t matter how he looks at me, Draco, what matters is how I look at you. The thought of any form of intimacy with Harry makes me physically ill.”
Draco was quiet for a moment. Everything she had just said should have placated him, but still he felt uncomfortable with the idea. “How about Longbottom?”
“You want me to ask Neville?” She looked at him oddly.
“You went to the Yule Ball with him, correct? You’re friends. I doubt he’d try anything.” The more Draco thought about the suggestion, the more he back to feel satisfied with it.
Ginny merely let out a sigh as she shrugged. “Fine, I’ll ask him. And how about I fake ill and meet you before the end of the dance. You can just have Pansy leave with you early, no one will really question it and you can meet me in your room.” Draco smiled in approval of this idea as he nodded his consent.
* * * * *
Draco paced his Head Boy quarters, anxiously awaiting his old friend’s arrival. He wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of asking for this favor. Nor was he thrilled over the general thought of taking Pansy.
He let out a groan. Malfoys, out of principle, don’t ask for favors. It was just one of those things that simply wasn’t done.
Then again, they traditionally didn’t fall for Weasleys or turn their backs on the Dark Arts, either.
What a great Malfoy he was turning out to be.
Pausing in his train of thought, his lips formed a smile. He was breaking the mold as far as his heritage was concerned, and it really did feel great. Besides, look where his family’s demented sense of values had put his father?
He sighed as he sat down on the sofa, his head in his hands. If there was one person he didn’t want to think about it was his father.
Draco had spent the past several weeks fielding letters from his evil elder and wasn’t entirely sure how much longer he could put off another meeting. With each meeting, it was becoming harder and harder to maintain an indifferent stance on the many threats his father had made toward his girlfriend. Draco knew quite well that one wrong move, one misplaced gasp in breath, would only result in getting caught.
And if he got caught, it would only be a matter of time before Lucius went after Ginny.
The opening of the door to his quarters broke him from his concentration. Thankful for the expected interruption, he stood to greet the raven-haired young woman who he had known for far too many years.
“Pansy.”
She cocked an eyebrow as she made her way to the sofa Draco stood at. “Draco.” Taking a seat in one of the two armchairs, she looked at him with a mildly amused expression. “I suppose you didn’t call me here to tell me my name.”
The rolling of his gray-blue eyes was hard to miss as Draco relaxed back into the sofa. “Hardly. I need a favor.”
She let out a laugh as she watched the words fall out of his mouth. Though the casual observer might not notice how uncomfortable he was with those words, she couldn’t miss it. “Words I never thought I’d live to hear to you say.”
Glaring at her, he spat, “Shove it.”
“Be nice! Remember, you’re trying to ask for my help this time around.” She smirked evilly at him as he rolled his eyes in response.
“As you may or may not have heard, there is going to be a Halloween dance. I can’t take Ginny. So I need to take you.”
Pansy let out a laugh. She had seen this coming from the moment she had read the flyer indicating there would be a dance. However, her ability to foresee her friend’s problematic situation didn’t stop her from badgering him about it. “Draco, if you’re asking me to accompany you to the dance, you’re going to have to do a damn-well better job of it.”
His gray-blue eyes narrowed and Pansy could’ve sworn they turned at least two shades darker. “Pansy, you’ve already heard me admit I need a favor-”
“Contrary to popular belief, I have a life. Not a very entertaining or promising one, but a life nonetheless. Everyone in this damn school thinks we’re dating or betrothed or something and so not a single male will step within five feet of me for fear you’ll jump them. Our charade has all but ruined by romantic life so if you intend on ruining it further by having me on your aristocratic arm then you’re going to have to step out of your comfort zone and ask for it.” She took a breath before continuing. “And furthermore, you’ll have to do the one thing I’ve been asking from you since the beginning of this new little relationship with Ginny Weasley.”
His eyebrows furrowed as he tried to figure her out. “Why do you insist on meeting with her? What could you possibly want from her?”
Pansy looked away as she rolled her eyes. She was far past fed-up with Draco’s constant search for the ulterior motive. She could see plain as day now that she was going to have to introduce herself. Sighing, she turned to walk out of the room. She heard her name called from across the room but she didn’t stop until she reached the door.
The was no mistaking the dejection found within her voice as she spoke. “Draco Lucius Malfoy, of all the people in this school I never would have expected it from you. How can you not trust me? After all the times I stood up for you? Took the heat for you? After I allowed myself to be hooked onto your arm so you wouldn’t be paraded around for all the eligible debutante daughters of your mother’s socialite friends.” She shook her head. “You know me better than anyone else in the world Draco. You’re all I have. How, even for a moment, can you think I would wish anything but good for the woman who actually manages to bring light to your eyes? Then again, I suppose you can never really stop, can you? You just can’t stop looking for the ulterior motive in everyone? Even in your best friend. Well, you might want to work on that personality flaw Malfoy, I don’t think your girlfriend would take too kindly to being accused of such a betrayal.”
Not waiting for a response, she turned to leave, shutting the door behind her with a resounding slam.
* * * * *
Ginny tapped her foot on the wood flooring of the Gryffindor common room. Her eyes magnetically moved to the portrait door every time in swung open, hoping that Neville would finally waltz through it. She had been waiting nearly two hours when her hopes were finally met. It seemed as if luck was on her side as well as the room was occupied by only the two of them at the moment.
Moving to her feet she helped Neville set down the pile of books he had been carrying. She had to hand it to the boy, over the many of years at Hogwarts, he had grown into quite the young man. He had grown up in every way that could be considered appealing. She was truly happy for her friend.
Their friendship was odd, really. He had been her first kiss all those years ago, after the Yule Ball - though she had never counted it as a real kiss. Nevertheless, the first time her lips had touched a boy’s it had been with Neville. It really made no difference whether or not it was a one second peck when you were stating simple facts.
“Thanks Gin.” He smiled at the redhead he had grown to think of as the sister he never had. He too preferred not to think back on the awkward one second kiss after the Yule Ball. It had seemed like a good idea at the time… No matter, all was really forgotten and they had moved passed it.
“No problem.” She paused a minute as she set the books down on a nearby table. “Actually, I need to talk to you about something.”
“Oh?” His eyebrows creased in confusion. “I didn’t forget your birthday, did I?”
“What?” She laughed. “No! That’s not until the spring Nev.” She rolled her eyes.
“Oh. Good then. What’s up?”
“Um, well, actually… Can we take a walk?”
His eyebrows furrowed as he took a closer look at the young woman in front of him. He couldn’t believe he hadn’t seen it before. Something was eating at her. “Sure. Is everything okay?”
She smiled as she nodded. “Everything’s quite well actually. Come on.” She led the way out of the tower and didn’t seem to speak again until they were out far enough on the grounds that there would be no chance of being overheard.
Neville gave her the time and space she needed, and she loved him for that. He was great at reading people, and reading their emotions. She wondered if that had anything to do with his skill in herbology. He had always had the knack for noticing what others didn’t; whether it be with the treatment of certain plants or with the emotional baggage of a friend.
“I need a favor, Neville, but before I ask it I need to know I have your confidence. What I tell you stays between us.” She looked him in the eye, a slight curve of a smile on her lips as she thought of the prospect of telling him about Draco. At least she would have someone to talk to about it.
“You know you can tell me anything, Gin.”
“First off, I need you to take me to the Halloween dance.”
“Uh, okay. You could do a lot better than me for a date this time around, Ginny. Half the guys in school are getting up the courage to ask you.” His eyes clouded with confusion as he tried to figure out why she would want to go with him.
“Yes, well, I can’t go with them. Even if I could, I wouldn’t want to.”
“You can do whatever you please. What’s stopping you?”
She stopped walking as she turned to stare out at the lake. She took a seat on the browning grass as she signaled for him to do the same. She really had no idea where to start. “I’m dating someone, but we can’t go to the dance together.” She smiled as she thought of Draco. “Our relationship is secret, and it needs to stay that way.” She tilted her head to look at Neville, attempting to see if he was following.
“Who? Or are you not going to tell me?”
“I’m going to tell you, but you have to trust me.”
He let out a small laugh. “Ginny, you know I trust you.”
She knew he was thinking back to the Department of Mysteries and she nodded, “I know. I just needed to hear you say it.”
“Well, I trust you.”
“Thank you.” She took a deep breath as she maintained eye-contact. “I’ve been dating Draco Malfoy.”
Neville’s eyes grew wide as his mouth gaped open. He would have laughed, but somehow he knew she wasn’t joking. “How? Why? When?”
“It’s quite a long story really, but we helped each other at a very vulnerable time at the beginning of this year. After that, we just started talking. First it was a secret friendship, we would meet every evening around one in the morning, and it somehow evolved into more. It surprised him about as much as me. Honestly, I don’t know what surprised me more, getting to know the real Draco Malfoy, or realizing that a Malfoy is, in fact, capable of love.”
The four-letter word caught Neville’s attention. “Love?” He looked at her, skeptical.
“I know it sounds crazy Neville, you really just have to trust me here. I don’t know how it happened, or when it happened, but I fell in love with Draco Malfoy. And somehow, with luck I wasn’t aware I possessed, Draco fell in love with me too.”
“And the Halloween dance?”
“We can’t go together. That’s obvious really. However, we can’t each go stag either. He’s not only Head Boy but one of the most sought-after bachelors in the entire school. And me, well, I’m a Prefect and, according to Draco anyway, I’m quite sought-after myself.”
“You are.” Neville nodded in confirmation, causing a blush to creep up Ginny’s cheeks.
“Yes, well, we can’t go together and we can’t go solo. After long deliberation, the conclusion was drawn that the only male in the entire school, aside from my brother, who Draco feels okay with me going with is you.”
Neville‘s eyebrows shot up near his hairline, “Me? Why me? Why not Harry?”
“Because Harry apparently fancies me.” She rolled her eyes. “I know that is completely absurd, but Draco seems to think it’s accurate and-”
“It is.”
“It is, what?”
“Accurate. Harry’s fancied you since the start of the year. Actually, he might have finally decided to take real notice of you at the end of last year, I’m not sure exactly.”
“What?” Ginny’s eyes grew wide as her skin began to crawl. The thought of Harry liking her made her stomach queasy, and not in a good way.
“I’m assuming that question to be rhetorical.”
Ginny only nodded in confirmation before getting back on track. “You’re the only option. Which is really quite fine with me as you’re a fantastic date and a spectacular dance partner.”
“Who is Malfoy going with?”
“Pansy.”
“And you trust them?” He still sounded skeptical, but she couldn’t really blame him.
“Yes. I trust Draco completely. I also trust the fact that any and all physical relationship between him and Pansy makes Draco ill. Literally.” Her statement left no room for questions and Neville fought back a laugh at the image of Draco becoming ill as Pansy chased after him professing her love.
“And Parkinson?”
“Their relationship is comparable to ours. Would you ever think of trying to put a move on me?”
Neville visibly cringed. “No.”
“Exactly.”
“Okay. I’ll do it. So what’s the plan exactly?” Neville sighed as Ginny grinned widely.
Throwing her arms around his neck she thanked him profusely before continuing to tell him the details of how the dance would work.
* * * * *
Draco walked slowly down the familiar hallway. How was he going to tell Ginny that he hadn’t held up his end of the deal? Did he even have to tell her? He could still make it right.
He scowled. Why did Pansy have to choose then to have a moment of self-devotion?
Pausing he stopped to kick the nearby wall. He couldn’t blame her. Everything she had said had been completely accurate, and called for.
He would just have to tell Ginny what had happened and fix everything with Pansy. Perhaps he could start by begging forgiveness. Malfoys weren’t built to beg, however it seemed as if he was doing more and more things lately that no Malfoy before would have even thought of.
Stopping at the familiar spot in the hallway he paced three times before a door appeared. Taking a breath he opened it, completely unprepared for the sight on the other side.
He had imagined his girlfriend, lounging by the fireplace waiting for him. Perhaps she would be studying or reading a book. That seemed to be her usual practice and he had no reason to think that things would be any different this evening.
Except that instead of textbooks sprawled about the floor, he was met with the sight of two familiar girls giggling over God only knows what.
Flabbergasted, he blinked a few times as he walked further into the room, allowing the door to close behind him. He hesitated in making his presence known as he carefully observed, with uneasy eyes, as his longtime friend meticulously braided his girlfriend’s hair as they laughed over something else that sounded to be inane.
Clearing his throat he tried to relax his expression to a more amused look, as it really was quite amusing the more he thought about it.
“Hello Draco. Since you refused to introduce us, I thought I would take it upon myself to do so.”
“And you’ve been here how long?” He asked for the pure sake of curiosity.
“Couple hours. I think.”
“About two and a half, I believe.” Ginny piped in. “How are you, Draco?”
Her smile was his undoing as he let out a sigh. “I’d be better if I knew that my lifelong friend would accept a sincere apology for my actions this afternoon.”
“You’re forgiven,” Pansy spoke as she began to stand. “Just don’t let it happen again.”
“I don’t plan on it. So will you accompany me to the dance?”
“Of course. And I will see to it that you are back at your room in the appropriate amount of time it will take for you to get ready for the latter part of your evening.” She turned to wink at Ginny before looking back to Draco. “Now, I must be on my way. Talk to you both later. It was great chatting with you Ginny, we should do this again soon.”
“I’d love to! It’s nice to have another girl to chat with.” She smiled before reaching for her already opened bottle of butterbeer.
“I’ll owl you. Maybe we could make it a weekly thing.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
Pansy nodded before taking her leave.
“What was that about?” Draco looked at Ginny as he made his way to the couch, leaning over to plant a kiss on her temple.
“Bonding time.”
“Bonding time? What could you two have to bond over?”
“Other than you?” She raised an eyebrow as he blushed. “School, gossip about the rest of the student body. what she plans on doing after graduation; basic stuff really.” She moved to lean against him as he wrapped an arm around her. “I talked to Neville this afternoon. I told him about us and he seemed happy for me. He still seems a little unsure of you, but that’s to be expected. You have treated him awful these past seven years.”
“Perhaps I can work on that. I don’t want people thinking I’m getting too soft, though.”
“Apparently Harry fancies me, take it out on him.”
Draco raised an eyebrow at that remark. “Beg your pardon?”
“I’m sorry, I find it quite unnerving. It’s one thing if other members of the student body fancy me, but Harry? I feel for Harry the same as I do for Ron these days. The whole idea of him wanting me in any way other than as a family member makes my skin crawl.”
“Understandable. If I’m allowed to sound selfish, I must say I’m quite happy at that thought.”
She smirked before leaning up to kiss him softly on the lips. “I bet you are.”
Chapter 17: Chapter 16: Save the Last Dance for Me
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(Author’s Note) So sorry for the delay folks! I’ve been busy on my college newspaper and then this chapter turned out to be twice as long as I had thought it would be. It might be a week or two until I can get the next chapter out. (As finals get closer, my updates may become slower.) I hope this can tide you over! As always, please review! Your feedback really does motivate me to write during the little free time that I have!
* * * * *
Chapter 16: Save the Last Dance for Me
October 31, 1997
Preparing for the Halloween ball had taken more time than either of the Heads had anticipated. In turn, the prefects had been forced to devote more time and energy to the ball than previously considered, leaving everyone involved exhausted.
However, for a most unlikely pair the exasperating planning involved with such an event was beginning to become an occasion to annoy them to their respective deaths.
Draco and Ginny hadn’t spent a single moment alone together in a week, save for the brief moments in which Hermione had Ginny running supplies to and from the Head Boy’s room. Unfortunately, with all the prefects from Slytherin and Ravenclaw present in Draco’s Head Boy suite, the two couldn’t spend more than a moment alone or chance looking at each other the wrong way for fear of someone catching them.
Ginny was at the end of her rope, and when she overheard Draco telling Hermione that it might actually be faster to all work in the same place, she knew Draco was at the end of his too.
On the bright side, however, Hermione and Ginny managed to steal a few hours to go into Hogsmeade for an arranged Hogsmeade weekend. Dumbledore had consented on a trip to the familiar village for those needing to buy costumes for the ball. After the week of decorating and planning that never seemed to end, Ginny merely wanted to find a costume that looked half-way decent on her and be done with it all.
In her slightly deluded logic, she couldn’t see the point in shopping so extensively for an outfit that at the end of the evening would be ripped off by the only person whose opinion mattered to her anyway.
So Ginny was in luck when she found a deep emerald green and silver renaissance dress within her budget that fit her perfectly. The shop owner had even set aside shoes that would match the ensemble. She smiled when she tried the dress on for the first time. Hermione had loved it on her, and she knew Draco’s heart would stop. And, as an added bonus, her brother was likely to fall down dead with the amount of cleavage that was shown. It wasn’t obscene by any means, however even the slightest bit of shown skin was enough to send her brother around the bend.
Ironically after finding the perfect dress, by the time the end of the week came, Ginny wasn’t even sure she wanted to go to the dance. Her body was raging with so much desire for the man she had been separated from during this week that she wasn’t entirely sure she would be able to keep it at bay until this evening. She was, to some extent, afraid that the moment she saw him she might actually jump him.
Yet here Ginevra Weasley stood in her dorm, in front of a full-length mirror Hermione had conjured up to help them get ready. She smiled at the thought of her friend. One thing she did love about this past week-from-hell was the time she had gotten to spend with her longtime female confidant. Though it was hard to avoid all questions the brunette had about Ginny’s love life - which Ginny insisted was non-existent - she still enjoyed the girl’s company.
Since the beginning of the school year, it felt to Ginny as if she had spent barely any time with the trio. Then again, they were a trio; so her fourth member existence was really nothing but a fourth wheel. She knew when the time came for Harry to go fight Voldemort they wouldn’t let her stand beside them on the frontlines. Despite her defense ability being on the same par as all of theirs, they would never allow her to join them in what was sure to be a fight to the death.
“Ginny! You look gorgeous! I fear you’ll give poor Neville a heart attack.” Hermione giggled as she walked into the room, snapping Ginny out of her reverie.
“It’s not Neville I worry about.” Ginny murmured under her breath as she looked at herself in the mirror. Her dress was a deep emerald green with silver detail and trim. She smiled as she took in the corset-like bodice that hugged her upper body perfectly before the dress flared out into a full skirt. Her arms were covered in fitted sleeves that flared out in a more sheer material at the elbow. Though no one could see it but her and Draco, the necklace that hung around her neck matched perfectly.
“What was that?” Hermione adjusted her strapless gown before fixing the tiara to make sure it wouldn’t move while she was dancing.
“I was just thinking about how badly Ron’s going to freak out when he sees me.” She lied as she looked at Hermione. “You know, dressing like a princess really suits you. It looks quite natural.”
Hermione chuckled. “Thanks. And don’t worry about your brother, leave Ron to me.”
That last statement caught Ginny by surprise forcing her to narrow her eyebrows in curiosity. Before she could ask any questions on the subject, however, Hermione had already pulled out her wand and pulled Ginny back in front of the mirror. “What on earth are you doing?”
“I just learned a new hair charm. It would work perfectly with the whole renaissance look, now stand still.”
Putting her faith in the Head Girl, Ginny stood still in front of the mirror, eyes closed, as Hermione muttered a few unfamiliar words and swished her wand. “Beautiful!” Ginny opened her eyes and Hermione’s cheerful evaluation of the charm.
Her jaw dropped as once again stared at herself in the mirror, her long ginger-colored hair now falling down her back and around her shoulders in flawless waves. Slowly, she smiled. She couldn’t remember ever looking this gorgeous before. Hermione had been right; this hairstyle complimented her outfit perfectly. “I love it!” She turned as she hugged the brunette behind her.
Hermione hugged her back as she smiled. “Not a problem.” Pulling away from the hug she looked at herself in the mirror. “Now, how do I look?”
Ginny smiled. “Like a princess.”
“Perfect,” Hermione winked, “now let’s go find those men who call themselves our dates.”
Ginny let out a giggle as she followed her excited female counterpart out the door and down to the common room.
* * * * *
“He’s going to freak.” Neville whispered under his breath as he escorted Ginny to the Great Hall.
After pausing to make sure Ron and Hermione, who were only a few feet in front of them didn’t hear, she replied. “I would consider that an added bonus.”
“He might go on a killing rampage and ‘Avada’ every male who looks at you. I’m only hoping he’ll grant me pardon as I am your date.”
Ginny rolled her eyes. “Honestly, I have much doubt that he’s capable of killing anyone - save it be his father. He won’t say it but I can see in his eyes that he’s becoming increasingly frustrated with his sire.”
Neville nodded, unable to either confirm or deny the observation. “Have you talked to him about it?”
“I’m sure I could. And I’m sure if I did, he’d answer me honestly. However, I don’t want him to feel like I’m trying to pry. He has plenty of other people in his life for that, when he wants to talk to me about it, he will.”
“You really love him, don’t you.” It wasn’t question, but a statement of fact. Though he had been unsure of the relationship between his friend and one of his enemies at first, he was beginning to see that perhaps it was a good thing. Maybe it would help to break down these walls society had placed on them. If two complete opposites who had been born and raised to hate each other could become friends then lovers, then what other impossibility was really possible?
Ginny looked at him, a blush creeping up her cheeks as she smiled. “Yes, I really do.”
The conversation seemed to end at the perfect moment as they approached the doors to the Great Hall. Opening the door, Neville paused to let his date walk in before him. She smiled as she took in all the decorations that she had spent the past week arranging and re-arranging.
“Beautiful job on the decoration Gin.”
“Thanks Neville, but I assure you it wasn’t all me.” She laughed as her eyes combed the room for a head of blond hair.
“Who are you looking for?” She nearly jumped when Harry came to stand beside her.
She smiled politely at him, still slightly unnerved by his feelings for her. “Just seeing who is and isn’t here. Where’s your date?”
He shrugged. “Decided to come stag. There was someone I wanted to bring, but she was otherwise taken.”
Ginny nodded, trying her hardest to forget the fact that he was referring to her. “That’s too bad.”
He shrugged again, which Ginny was beginning to find annoying. “You win some you lose some. Probably best, as I should stay concentrated on the upcoming battle and not other things that will come later.”
She didn’t to ask what he had meant by the end of his comment, she simply knew. And it unnerved her even more. Lucky for her, Neville had heard it too and found it the perfect moment to save his thoroughly uncomfortable friend. “Care to start this evening out with a dance, Gin?”
She smiled at him, her eyes telling him how thankful she was for his timing. “Well, that is the reason I came with you, is it not?” She laughed, knowing full-well she was being escorted by the best dancer in the room.
He blushed. “Practice makes perfect,” he replied as he led her onto the dance floor.
* * * * *
Pansy rolled her eyes at her date as he looked to the other side of the room. She knew by the look on his face who had just arrived. She also knew that she could be standing on her hands doing a tap dance and at this moment Draco Malfoy would not notice.
Knowing exactly whom she would see, she glanced in the direction of the door and smiled. She often enjoyed being right. “She looks beautiful.”
“I’m trying to think of Quidditch stats but it’s not working.” He muttered. Mentally, his thoughts were ranging from ones he should not be having in a public setting to questioning whether or not he could get away with murdering every male who looked at his date in any way other than innocent friendship.
She laughed, unaccustomed to seeing her friend so undone. “Shall we dance then?”
“What?” He looked at her in utter confusion.
“Dance?” Upon seeing his perplexed expression she paused, “Draco, you are aware we’re at a ball, are you not?”
“Ball? Oh… Dance. Yes, of course.”
She stifled the laughter that she wanted to be rolling on the floor with as she dragged him, showing far less etiquette and grace than she had been raised with, onto the floor. “And stop looking at her before you have to hide a whole lot more than a relationship.” Her eyes quickly glanced downwards in a signal to what she as referring to.
“Why is Potter talking to her?”
“Why the bloody hell are you still looking?”
“I haven’t gotten a moment alone with her in a week. And there stands Potter, talking to her at complete ease while he pathetically attempts to look down her dress. Do you realize how torturous this evening is going to be for me? And with her dressed like that?”
“Draco, seriously, take a deep breath and move your attention off of her.”
Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and smiled as a familiar song came on. He had learned a few dances to this song and had been surprised to discover that its singer was in fact about as muggle as he was. At this moment in time, however, he couldn’t get over how fitting the words were to the situation he presently found himself in.
You can dance every dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye, let him hold you tight
You can smile-every smile for the man
Who held your hand beneath the pale moon light
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling save the last dance for me
As he moved effortlessly across the dance floor with Pansy, he took notice of the way Ginny did the same with her date. He frowned at that term. He wasn’t entirely accepting of the fact that he couldn’t bring his own girlfriend as his date.
He watched out of the corner of his eye as she danced a perfect tango with Neville Longbottom. He raised an eyebrow of surprise, he had no idea that Longbottom could dance so well. Perhaps the Gryffindor had more social propriety than previously thought.
His heart clenched as he saw Ginny smile and laugh at something Longbottom had said. The only thing that was going to get him through tonight was the firm knowledge that she would be coming home with him.
Oh I know that the music's fine
Like sparklin' wine, go and have your fun
Laugh and sing, but while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
But don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me
Ginny’s gaze found the head of blond hair, and the body attached to it, that she had begun searching for when she had first entered the room. She smiled wistfully, wishing she could be in Pansy’s place at that moment.
It had been harder than she originally thought to be at a dance with her boyfriend, but not truly with him. She let out a sigh as she saw him laugh, before he tried to cover it up, knowing that he hardly ever let his guard down enough in public settings to do something like truly smile or laugh.
She knew there was no danger of losing him to the girl he was there with tonight, but still she found her only shred of comfort in the thought of whose arms he would be in tonight.
Baby don't you know I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never never let you go
I love you oh so much
“Take your mind off it,” the respective dance partners told their otherwise distracted dates.
“You only have to last a few more hours,” the raven-haired one spoke as the other simultaneously assured his partner of her mate’s love.
The words seem to serve as only a momentary placation before each of their respective partners were once again trying to catch unseen glances at the other.
You can dance, go and carry on
Till the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks if you're all alone
Can he walk you home, you must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling, save the last dance for me
Draco nodded at Pansy’s comment, yet only a moment later found himself trying once again to sneak a glance at his lover. “A few hours is far too long.”
“It’s too late to change the plan, any form of civil conversation with them will seem suspicious. You two are looking far too shifty as it is; one real look at either of you and the cover is blown to hell.” Pansy tried hard to mentally quell her nervousness. She had bad feeling that they were going to get caught and that the results would be far less than pretty.
“Then it’s a good thing no one dares to poke their nose into my private affairs.”
“That’s true as far as you’re concerned - while at Hogwarts anyway. However, Harry Potter has been staring like a starving puppy at Gin all night long.”
Draco’s eyes darkened considerably when his nemesis’ name was mentioned. “You know, I never had a real reason to hate Potter before. It feels good to be justified this time around.”
“How is your hatred of him now justified? Because he’s attracted to your girlfriend? Look around Draco, half the men in this room are attracted to her. Do you hate all of them too?”
He glared pointedly at the raven-haired woman in front of him. “How the hell you got into Slytherin is beyond me.”
She shrugged, “The hat wanted to put me in Ravenclaw at first. Fully aware that my parents would disown me if I ended up in any house other than Slytherin, I convinced it I was sneaky enough to be in the house I now call home.”
“I always thought the hat was stupid.” He rolled his eyes as he caught one more peek at Ginny Weasley, “How much longer did you say we had to be here?”
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling,save the last dance for me
Save the last dance for me
Save the last dance for me.
“I know he loves me but damn this is bloody hard.” Ginny groaned in reply to Neville’s reassurance.
“No one ever said it would be easy.”
She glared at him, “Thank you Mr. Smartass.”
“Ouch. Malfoy’s really not doing much for your social skills.”
She shook her head in apology. “Sorry Neville. I just, I didn’t imagine it would be this hard to be in the same room with him. I mean, we do it every day during meals, and in the hallways we pass each other as if it is nothing. We even do fake arguments in which I have tried on more than one occasion to hex him. I didn’t think this would be any more difficult than that would be.”
“The problem is that tonight is all about couples and love and attraction. It would only be worse if it was a Valentine’s Ball. You’re surrounded by examples of what you can’t be like in public, which is making it all the more challenging for you to not blow your cover.”
She smiled at Neville as the song began to end and he dipped her. “Neville? When did you become so smart?”
He let out a chuckle as he shrugged. “I suppose it comes naturally.”
“Thank you.” She smiled genuinely as she pulled him into a hug. “Seriously, I don’t know what I would do without you.”
He laughed as he pulled back, “You would suffer pitifully in silence.”
She sighed, “yeah, actually. Thank you for being so understanding.”
“That’s what friends are for Ginny. I’ll be honest, I still haven’t given my real approval, but I can see how much you care for him and if his constant attempts at glancing at you this evening are any indication of his own, then I suppose I can believe that he cares for you just as much.”
“I can’t thank you enough.”
“You really don’t have to thank me at all.”
* * * *
Several hours, more than enough rounds of punch and quite a few dances later Ginny let out a moan and a sigh as she grabbed her head in fake pain.
Her brother and Harry seemed to be on their feet at once, ready to carry her to the Hospital wing. It had taken five minutes before Ginny managed to adamantly convince them that they should stay and enjoy the dance, her date would take her to see Madam Pomfrey.
With their final acquiescence, both Ginny and Neville made their exit in the way toward the supposedly intended wing before doubling back toward the Head dormitories.
Now, twenty minutes after leaving the Great Hall, Ginny leaned against the wall in the shadowed alcove as she waited patiently for Draco to meet her.
She looked to the brown-haired boy that stood leaning against the wall across from her. “You can go back to the dance or our common room, you know. I’m a big girl fully capable of waiting here alone.”
He smiled a smile she could barely see in the darkened shadows as he nodded. “I know. I don’t want to leave until he comes. You may trust and love him, but I don’t know Malfoy the way you do. My faith is not yet great enough to be assured he won’t stand you up.”
“If Pansy would have let him, he would have followed us straight back here. As it is, we planned this carefully to make sure no one would have any reason to connect dots between any of the four of us.”
“Your guile is beginning to scare me. Are you sure you weren’t meant for Slytherin?” Neville chuckled.
“Positive, but let’s face it, we all have a little bit of each of the four houses in us, there are just certain parts of our individual characters that are more prominent than the others - hence the four individual houses.”
“And your intelligence is beginning to intimidate me,” he muttered. She only laughed in response.
Ginny opened her mouth to make another comment but Neville was quick to shush her, his ears listening intently to the unmistakable noises of people coming up the hallway. They both stood still and silent, waiting to see if the persons coming their way were the two they were waiting on.
It wasn’t long before unmistakable voices were heard and Ginny’s face lit with excitement. However, she still stood quiet, taking the moment to eavesdrop on the two childhood friends.
“I don’t see why you had to make me wait so bloody long to leave. We could have left at the same time as them and no one would have thought twice. Hell, I could have just thrown some boorish comment out about Gryffindors and people wouldn’t have sensed a thing.” An unmistakable voice could be heard, obviously bitter for being held back from leaving the ball when he had so evidently wanted to.
“Quiet Draco or someone might hear you.” Pansy hissed.
“Yes, well, I’m beginning to not give a damn.” Draco spoke, entirely piqued over the entire situation at hand.
Pansy stopped walking only a mere feet from where Ginny and Neville stood, pulling Draco’s arm back as she did so. “Draco, you better start giving a damn before word gets to your father about this love of yours. You’re already on thin ice there - and don’t you dare deny it!” She was quick to stop him from attempting to contradict her. “You can fool whoever you like about how you’re handling the situation with your father and his wishes for you, but you can’t fool me. I know your family, Draco, and I know that your father will only take you pushing him off for so long before he screws being discreet and in hiding, and approaches you face-to-face here.” She sighed as she took a deep breath. “I know you love Gin, I do too. I just worry, you know that. I guess all I’m trying to say is that you need to be more careful.”
Draco stared at the young woman in front of him for a moment before nodding. “I know. Now, can we go before you suddenly turn into my mother?” He raised an eyebrow.
She let out a small chuckle as she let go of his arm and once again began to walk toward his suite. “And just for the record, had I allowed you to go near enough to her to leave at the same time as her there would have been the all too real and unpreventable possibility that you would lose your cool and jump her right there.”
He rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by the sound of someone clearing their throat. He turned smoothly to see who had been listening to them, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the ginger-red tresses he had fallen in love with.
He smiled the smile reserved solely for her as he walked towards her, his arms scooping her up as his lips kissed her forehead. Pulling back he dropped a kiss on her lips before pulling away enough to get a full look at her.
His voice was filled with the same awe that was present in his love-filled eyes as he spoke. “You look so incredibly gorgeous. Like a renaissance goddess.” His hand caressed her cheek, “I love you.”
She smiled as her heart melted. “I love you too. And I’ve missed you so damn much.” She whispered as her arms snaked around his waist. Pulling his lips down to meet hers again, she kissed him hard. Pulling back, she whispered, “I’ve been wanting to do that all night.”
He smiled against her lips. “Me too.”
Neville stared dumbfounded as he watched the Slytherin who had spent the past seven years denigrating him as he treated Neville’s best friend with the utmost love and respect. It was at that moment that all his fears for his ginger-haired date faded away. “Amazing, eh?” A voice sounded from beside Neville.
He nodded as his eyes moved from the couple before him to the raven-haired beauty next to him. He had never really taken the time to really look at Pansy Parkinson in recent years. She had outgrown the awkward years of being pug-faced and managed to truly turn into a ravishingly gorgeous young woman. “It really is. I watched as he stared at Ginny like a love-sick puppy all evening, but I never really imagined…” His voice faded off as he let out an approving sigh and nod.
“I don’t believe we’ve ever been properly introduced over the past seven years.” She held out her hand in way of greeting, “I’m Pansy Parkinson.”
“Neville Longbottom.” He smiled as he took her hand and placed a kiss on the back of her hand.
Her mouth gaped like a fish for a moment before she realized she was close to drooling. Gone were the days where Neville Longbottom was an inept adolescent. Pansy watched with enamored eyes as the brown-haired young man let go of her hand and stood to his full height.
She blinked a few times, a thought occurring to her as she began to regain her full composure. “Not that it’s really of any consequence, but the name Longbottom… Isn’t that still pureblooded?”
Neville let out a small chuckle, “Yes, it is - I mean…” he blushed as he stumbled with his words, “Yes, I am a pureblood.”
Pansy shook her head, “I’m sorry that was rude of me to ask.”
“Really, it’s okay. I put my foot in mouth plenty of times daily, not that you just did that…” He paused as he ran a hand over his face, “I think that I should perhaps stop talking now.”
Pansy smiled as she let out a chuckle of amusement. “On the contrary, I quite enjoy talking to you.” Her eyes moved to look at the love-struck couple that still stood next to them. Shaking her head she cleared her throat loud enough for them to hear her. “Perhaps you two should take that inside?” She raised an eyebrow.
Ginny blushed as she nodded pulling Draco towards the portrait door to his suite. Draco followed before pausing and turning back to Pansy and Neville. Taking a few steps toward Neville, he did something he never before dreamed of himself doing. He stuck his hand out in a truce. Neville stood a moment before grasping the blond’s hand and shaking it. “Thanks for taking care of her this evening, and thank you for keeping her the hell away from Potter.”
Neville laughed at that before nodding, “Not a problem. I’d do anything for Gin so long as it’s in her best interest. She’s like a sister to me. That said, I feel it’s only fair to warn you that if you hurt her in any way, I will not hesitate in dropping foxglove in your morning pumpkin juice.”
Though not entirely sure what foxglove was, Draco nodded in understanding. “You have nothing to worry about, I assure you.” That said, he nodded good evening to Pansy before turning to follow his girlfriend in the familiar quarters.
“Don’t be too late!” Pansy called after them, still slightly fearful that their carefully laid plans would in some way go awry.
“Don’t worry about them.” Neville placed a cautious hand on her back.
Surprised at the tingles that ran up her spine from the touch of hand, she could only manage a nod. Swallowing her sudden nervousness, she turned to look at the well-built man next to her. “Foxglove? That’s a muggle herb, is it not? Extremely poisonous if I’m not mistaken. How are you familiar with it?”
It was Neville’s turn to gape at the woman before him as he nodded. “That’s right. I…Well, I excel in herbology so much that Professor Sprout has me studying up on the more potent muggle herbs and plants.”
Her eyes lit up in fascination. “Really? I’d love to hear about what you’ve learned!” She blushed as she realized how over-eager she sounded. “Sorry, I’ve just always had a strange fascination with herbology. I excelled quite well last year, but my parents find the subject to be completely useless so they forbid me from taking it this year.” She frowned at the thought of her Death Eater parents.
“You’re interested in herbology?” Neville’s eyes grew wide as his new-found feelings for the girl in front of him grew ten-fold. “I can teach you what Sprout has taught me this year so far, if you like.”
“I’d love that!” She smiled wide as she mentally made note to thank Ginny for being such good friends with Neville Longbottom.
* * *
After making sure the portrait door closed behind them, Draco turned to look at the woman he had fallen so uncontrollably in love with. He smirked as he watched her pull out a wand to light various candles in the room.
Turning back to face him, her lips mirrored his smirk. “How’s that for romance?”
“I don’t wish to sound so uncharacteristically pathetic, but I don’t need a mood to be set to feel attracted to you.” He walked the few feet so that they were only inches apart.
Her smirk turned into a smile as she let out a laugh. “Whatever have I done to you? You use to be all conniving and harsh, now look at you: You’ve spent the whole night looking like someone ran over your puppy.”
He glared at her before putting his hands on her hips and pulling her to him. “You’re all ready quite aware of how much of an act I put on for everyone else. Let’s face it, I’m only wholly myself when I’m alone with you.”
“I love you Draco. I would do anything for you, you know that right?”
He looked at her quizzically. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head before looking away, allowing her temple to rest on his shoulder. “I just heard Pansy and you talk on your way to the alcove. I worry about you Draco. No one is more aware of how capable and ruthless your father is than me. I’ve seen the way he would leave his own son; his cruelty is comparable to only Voldemort.”
Gently he cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. “I don’t want you to worry about me Gin.” He closed his eyes momentarily as he shook his head. “Let’s not talk about this, not now. Not tonight.”
She took a deep breath as she nodded in agreement. Tilting her head up, her lips met his in a feather-light kiss.
Flicking his wand, Draco cued the song being played currently in the Great Hall to be heard in his private chambers. Pulling her to him, he moved against her in a seductive slow dance.
“I suppose it’s a sign that the teacher’s have begun to turn in for the night when they start playing songs like this,” Draco grinned wickedly as his hands roamed up her back, allowing the first verse of an unfamiliar song set the mood.
“There you go again when you
Rub up against my skin
I have to catch my breath
I began to sweat, oh
Lips tracin' down my neck and
it's scarin' me to death
How'd you learn to draw me
to the cliff
Just to push me off
Just to push me off the edge”
Ginny let out a sigh of agreement as she allowed her temple to once against rest against his shoulder. One arm draped around his torso, she let her free hand play with the buttons on his renaissance shirt. She remembered the irony of finding that they had each dressed out of the Renaissance era without telling the other.
She let out a quiet moan as his hand softly roamed up her back and his head bent to kiss her neck. She hadn’t even realized when she had fully unbuttoned his shirt and had pushed it off of him, the white dress shirt now resting in a heap on the floor.
She could barely feel the back of her dress loosen as he untied the corset-like upper half of the gown.
In one swift move, he twirled her so she now swayed with her back against his chest. With one of his hands resting on her hip, holding her to him securely, the other roamed up her abdomen. Her sudden intake of breath and look of pure ecstasy on her relaxed face was his only indication to how she was feeling at the moment.
Mentally, he knew if she rubbed against him in this fashion much longer there would be no doubt in her mind how he was feeling.
He let his lips trace her neck once again she moved against him, her actions naturally becoming more seductive. He took in a sudden gasp of breath as one of her arms came around his neck and the other guided his hand higher up on her torso.
His hand reached her shoulder as he pushed the beautiful green fabric down off her body.
“Damn, I hate the way you know me and
Damn, you kill me when you hold me
Like I'm your world,
Like this won't hurt
Like a favorite curse hittin' every nerve
Damn I'm fightin' and I'm losin' and
Damn you, you're pullin' and I'm pushin'
I'm wrestlin' with,
I toss and twist
Till finally I give in, Damn…”
Neither could hear another word of the song as their emotions and urges took over their actions, each needing the other to fulfill an insatiable need that only they could attempt to quench.
Her lips captured his from the attention they were giving her neck as he began to move them closer to the bed.
If someone asked them later when it was they had actually fallen heatedly onto the lush Head Boy bed, neither would have been able to tell you for the night had began to blur the moment they had stepped into the room.
The moment their worlds had stopped spinning, Draco moved from on top on his beautiful girlfriend, rolling off of her, and pulling her to his chest. Each was silent as they took a minute to absorb everything.
“That was…”
“I don’t believe there are words.” Draco finished her sentence and she nodded against him in agreement.
“I love you Draco.”
“I love you too Gin.” He moved to kiss the top of her head as she snuggled against his chest.
“I’m exhausted,” she moved to cover her mouth as she let out a yawn.
“Close your eyes.” He told her soothingly, his hand rubbing her back absent-mindedly.
“I can’t, I have to go back to the tower before someone notices I’m gone.” Her words were filled with fatigue as she moved to cover another yawn.
Her eyes were already drooping as he said, “You still have an hour or so, I’ll wake you when it’s time.”
“Aren’t you tired?”
He smiled wistfully as he replied to her question. “I prefer to watch you sleep,” but she was already asleep before she could hear his answer.
Content with her in his arms as he watched his angel sleep, he hardly realized when he too began to drift off to a world of dreams. His last coherent thought being the realization that this was the first time they had truly slept together.
* * *
FYI-
* The song Pansy/Draco and Neville/Ginny dance to is called ‘Save the Last Dance for Me’ and is supposed to be the version performed by Michael Bublé. The title of the chapter also comes from the song.
* The song Draco/Ginny dance to is called ‘Damn’ and is performed by LeAnn Rimes.
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