Into the Light, Into the Dark (2/3)
Title: Into the Light, Into the Dark (2/3)
Pairing: Draco/Ginny
Rating: R
Summary: When Ginny is rejected by Harry in the most humiliating way, she turns to an unexpected choice. But are his feelings enough to protect her from Harry, and is she strong enough to help him change?
Chapter Two
It's all in your mind,
She said the darkness and the light.
The clock, it bleeds for you,
But you never got the timin' right.
Thanks A Lot by Third Eye Blind
---
"What are you thinking of, Ginny?" Hermione asked. It had been a few days since the 'Incident', as it was now known throughout the school. Harry tried to comfort Ginny anytime he saw her, but every time she waved his concerns away and continued on to wherever she went nowadays.
Now she was staring (dreamily?) out the window of the room she shared with Hermione. Her thoughts were on Draco Malfoy. Yeah, he was still an obnoxious, cold-blooded, vicious, and overbearing ponce, but never towards her. Actually, she didn't mind his attitude at all because she found humor in it, even when he was riling her brother. And she knew that even in the middle of the night, she could owl him and they'd take midnight walks around the Astronomy Tower, pointing out constellations.
"Nothing in particular." She turned to face Hermione. After the 'Incident', they'd gotten closer. She and Hermione had actually talked about what happened, although Ginny didn't tell her the complete version, i.e. she left out the part where she and Draco were snogging in an empty classroom, but said enough to have her feelings out in the open about the whole thing. "Hermione? Are you really busy?" she asked. It's time to test the waters, she thought to herself. Hermione would be the most understanding.
"No, not really," she replied, and she placed the quill and parchment she was working with on the desk. "Do you want to talk?"
"Yeah." Ginny swung her legs over the side of the bed and intertwined her fingers. "Um, what do you think about Malfoy?" she began. "Do you think he's really all how he acts towards... others?"
Hermione was taken back by the query. "Well, I guess he's...uh...I suppose if you got to know him...Why do you ask?"
Ginny took a deep breath. "I didn't tell you the complete truth. After I left that night, I went to a classroom on the third floor, you know this. But I wasn't alone the whole time -"
"Malfoy was with you," Hermione interrupted, realizing what her newfound friend was implying. "Oh, Ginny, why didn't you tell me?"
"I knew you'd tell Ron, or even worse, Harry. Besides, nothing happened... except a small, innocent kiss," she added quickly.
Hermione blanched at the new information. Her imagination was shot through with images of shy, chaste Virginia being taken by icy cold Malfoy. Ginny could see the wheels turning in Hermione's head and said, "No, it wasn't like that. I kissed him. Oh, that couldn't have made things better."
"No, not really. Is that why you've been ignoring Harry?"
"Partly," she answered with a dark look. Then she quickly stood up. "Hey, listen, you can't tell anyone else, please? I've got some things to work out," and she went to the wardrobe to change.
"Alright, I won't, but where do you think this thing you have with is going? Is there even a 'thing'?" Ginny thought over the words, but dismissed them as she grabbed a cloak. It was a chilly night, after all.
"Ginny, listen to me," Hermione tried in vain, "do you even know his intentions? Or how many girls he's had?"
But Ginny was too busy to reply and with a quick "Thanks, Hermione" and peck on each cheek she was gone. Hermione moved to the door and shouted after her, "Well, be careful, Ginny," not sure if she heard her warning. Going back to her chair, she softly muttered, "Malfoy? Honestly, girls and crushes..." and proceeded to finish her work.
---
In the commons, Harry and Ron were playing chess. Harry had a slight advantage, but Ron quickly countered and won the match.
"Good game," Ron gloated with a smile, "but still not good enough to beat me."
"Don't be so sure that next time I won't be better," Harry replied, then spotted Ginny practically flying down the steps from the girls' dormitory. He glanced at Ron and nodded towards her, then stood to go to her. Ginny all but ignored him, but gave him a nod and a tiny smile. Her gestures looked as if to say, "Don't worry, you won't wake up in a bed full of your own hair that I've snipped off with a pair of rusty scissors, not that it would make any difference," then continued out the Portrait hole.
"What was that about," Ron wondered, noticing the look she gave Harry.
"I don't know. She's been acting that way since...you know..." Harry sat back down and ran his fingers through his hair like he knew what her smile and nod meant. "I really wish it hadn't happened that way. She seemed crushed."
"Yeah," Ron agreed. "But at least she isn't so mad that she's plotting against you, right."
Harry thought for a moment and scrunched his eyebrows together, then said, "No, I don't think she's mad at all. She's been turning a blind eye to me, but she's definitely not mad."
"Well, you did the right thing, mate. That crush of hers was really making both of us uncomfortable," Ron reflected, kicking his feet up on the table. Then, as if a light came on, Ron realized what time it was: 11:48 p.m. "Harry," he exclaimed, "do you know what time it is? It's almost midnight!"
"So?" Harry murmured. He was studying at the chessboard to see what he moved he could have made to win. Suddenly, like the light of a new morning, it dawned on him. Ginny left the Gryffindor dorms.
---
The Owlery was quite lively in the night. All of the school's owls, and some of the students', were wide-awake. Their eyes were bright and round, like you'd see on the Muggle cartoons where the main character would find themselves in a dark environment filled with glowing eyes. They were watching Ginny's every move, which slightly unsettled her, but she had something to do.
Instead of using her own owl as a message envoy, she decided that the anonymity of the school's owls would keep curious people from knowing it was from her to
Draco. She pulled out her wand and murmured, "Lumos," and quickly set to writing a note to Draco. She made sure that he would know who it was from by tying it with a small, red ribbon, reminiscent of her hair.
She looked about for an owl. Every time before, she picked an owl different than the last. The owl she picked this time was snowy white with brown mottled wing tips.
She attached the note to its leg. "Fly quickly, pet," she told the bird after giving it its destination and released it to the night air. At that point, she just waited...
---
The Slytherin commons was quiet. All of the house's residents had retreated to their rooms, either for resting or plotting purposes.
But Draco Malfoy was doing neither.
He was lounging on the leather couch, which he had especially imported for his comfort (Why be rich if you can't shove the fact in the commoners' faces? he thought at the time), staring at the fire. The firelight illuminated the room, but did little to warm it. Although it was a little cool, he was used to far colder temperatures...
This night, as on a few others before it, he was waiting on an owl. Ah, Ginny, don't keep me waiting long, he thought to himself. He couldn't voice his thoughts (there was an ever ongoing intra-house competition going on where every conniving Slytherin was trying to gain top positions, in which Draco did have the top position and there could be spies everywhere), so he kept them to himself, like he'd done for years before.
But now he had Ginny Weasley to tell his thoughts to, if he wished to at all. Oh, what turn of events brought them together. Yes, the Malfoy lineage and the Weasley people never did get along and yes, Draco could be Crucio'ed for the rest of his natural born life and into the hereafter for even thinking of liking a Muggle-lover, but what the hell? You only live once.
But what actually brought them together, Draco still couldn't explain. It started as revenge, him plotting on how to best get to the Weasel, and what better way than through the heart of a younger sister? Then it changed to lust, his every waking moment nearly driven by the need to touch her, to take her. The last straw to his emotions broke when he witnessed her most humiliating rejection and at the hands of that no good Potter, too! He saw how when he said the words 'I would never love you,' her spirit crumpled and died. That day, he discovered a whole other reason to hate The Boy Who Lived.
When he saw her cry, the tug on his heart became too much to bear. So okay, he knew what brought him to her. One day, he supposed, I'll tell her. What he didn't know, and wanted to know, was why she had a sudden change of heart about him. Or was it even sudden? Maybe she's always been hiding the side he brings out in her, which was wild and carefree.
While Draco was still staring at the burning wood, the owl came swooping in and dropped the note in his lap. Noticing the coloring of the owl, Draco made a half-smile as he opened the note, which read:
D,
Meet me at the regular location. Send the owl back, and I will be on my way.
G.
Standing up and stretching like a cat just arisen from its midday nap and ready to prowl, he tossed the note in to the fire, and watched the flames consume it. As the whirling wisps of smoke rose from its ashes, Draco was already gone.
---
Ginny didn't notice how much time elapsed, but when the owl she sent returned she knew it was time.
Pulling the cloak tighter around her and tugging the hood down farther to hide her face, she set out for the Tower. It wouldn't be good for her if she was recognized...
...but watching, unbeknownst to her, was Harry and Ron, underneath the Invisibility Cloak. Silently, they followed her.
---
As she neared the rendezvous point to meet Draco, she heard a noise behind her. Seeing no one there, she dismissed it as the creak of the building or snore of one of the paintings' habitants, she continued on.
Draco saw her before she saw him. He was leaning against a window open to the clear night sky. When Ginny neared, a smile came to her lips as she saw he was just wearing a long sleeve white turtleneck shirt and black pants with a belt that soon became her favorite. Undoing her cloak, she tossed it to the floor, to be as underdressed as him with just a pink blouse and black skirt on.
"Draco," she breathed as they embraced, "did I keep you waiting long?"
"Not at all. I was just admiring the view...of you, I mean, as you were walking my way," he replied with a sly grin. "Shall we go outside, or just head back to my room?"
Playfully patting his chest and pulling him by the belt, she said, "Outside, I think the view is better."
As they ascended the final stairs to the top, Harry and Ron stood livid, and for the same reasons: A) Ginny was out late with Malfoy, B) Ginny was 'familiar' with Malfoy, and C) Ginny was with Malfoy!
While Harry stood slack-jawed and pale faced, Ron attempted to run after Malfoy and beat him to a bloody pulp. "Malfoy!" he growled through gritted teeth, "is with my younger and only sister! First I'll kill him, then...then I'll kill her a little!"
Harry grabbed Ron by the arm and kept him under the Cloak. "Relax, Ron. We don't know what's going on. Maybe...it's...um...oh, screw it, this is just bad any way you slice it."
Trying to control his temper, Ron tried to reason through it. "No, maybe she has a good reason. Oh gods in the heavens, let her have a good reason!" A small voice in the back of his head said, And what if that good reason is to shag Malfoy senseless?
Ron began cracking up, his mind boggling with images, sounds, and worst of all, smells! "No!!! I can't take this anymore, Harry. If I see anymore, there's gonna be blood shed tonight!"
"Yeah, let's go. We'll talk to her about it in the morning." All the while, Harry was thinking, Did I drive her to him? Just please, please, don't let her go to his room!
With this, the two left in a state far worse than when they began, and for Ginny and Draco, the fun was just beginning.
---
The night was just beginning for those two. The starry night was twinkling at the lovers, and the cool night breeze caressed their skin. The two were flirting with Nature herself.
Ginny sprinted to the edge of the Tower. She was gazing up to the heavens. She turned quickly, glanced at Draco and smiled. "Come to me," she said, opening her arms to him.
Draco strolled after her, his hands in his pockets and a grin on his lips. "Do you have something to give me?"
"Maybe. You'll only find out if you get here," she replied.
Draco came closer to his temptress and reached out, holding her with his lean arms. "So, where's that gift?" His silvery gray eyes were glittering in the starlight, making his eyes dance.
Her own eyes danced mischievously. "Right here," she replied sultrily. She brought her lips up to his. She bit the lower lip once, twice, three times, teasing him.
"Oh, you're such a teasing minx," he groaned with desire.
"Well, minxes and ferrets have always gotten along," she teased. "And I'm your minx, right?" She ran her fingers up the side of his chest, underneath his shirt. He shivered again, from a mix of the cold and her touch.
"Are you, Virginia?" His countenance turned serious. "Are you mine?" He took her hands and looked deep in her chocolate brown eyes.
Ginny sighed, and said, "I'm afraid I belong to no one, Draco. At least, not yet, anyway." A faint sad smile appeared and she asked, "Why do you ask?"
Draco tilted his head to the side slightly. "Ginny, you never quite told me what I do for you. Why did your opinion of me change so much?"
"I could ask the same of you," she replied softly. Ginny thought for a moment as she gazed up at the moon. She pressed herself closer to his body and cleared her mind. "But, I could better answer that if I were warmer," and a coy smile played upon her face.
Who is this vixen and what spell has she wrung over my heart? he thought as she took him again by the belt that became his favorite, too, and led him to his room.
---
"Wait here," Draco ordered. "I'll see if the coast is clear."
Ginny said nothing, but hid in the shadows. At the Portrait hole, Draco gave the password (which was 'Sally sells seashells' for some odd reason). Peering into the room, he didn't see anyone, so he waved her in.
This was Ginny's first time in the Slytherin house (and doubted anyone from any other house had entered as well) and she was surprised by the adornments. Aside from the large leather couch nicely positioned facing a grand fireplace, there were rugs of obviously different origins depicting what seemed to be the same story. There was a rather large painting of Salazar Slytherin above entryway, too. Other things in her own house appeared here, too, but they didn't add to any sense of familiarity she might've had at seeing them. Overall, she only got the impression of indifference and emptiness. Poor Draco...
He took her hand and led the way to his bedroom. He felt he didn't have to admit this wasn't the first time he'd brought a girl to his room. Nearly every girl in Slytherin could attest to that.
Before Draco could open the door to his chambers, Ginny halted.
"Draco, what do you expect from me? Tell me now or I won't go through that door." The dark glint in her eye showed she was serious, but the less time they lingered in the open the more secure they'd be.
"Ginny, don't be contrary. But believe me now when I say I have no intention of taking advantage of you," he smirked. His face wasn't a mask with her now, but from years of not showing emotion, it'd become semi-permanent. Still, his voice betrayed him as it held a slight sign of unease. He quickly reaffirmed his Malfoyness by stating that it was her idea to come back in the first place.
Deciding it was a moot point to continue while in the hall, she reached for the doorknob herself. Before he could warn or stop her, the charmed handle had burned her.
A burst of stars appeared before her eyes, followed by an intense pain. Before she knew it, he pushed her back against the wall and jammed one hand lengthwise into her mouth, between her teeth. "Bite down," he told her, "and don't stop until I tell you to." His eyes showed he wouldn't take no for an answer. She nodded, her eyes tearing from the pain. If it wasn't for his hand acting as a gag, she knew she'd have screamed till there was no air left in her lungs.
With his free hand, he opened the door then forced the weight of her body to lean on him as he backed them both inside. He was secretly amazed that she was so light, but she had a hell of a bite. Ginny began feeling light-headed and squeezed her eyes shut. The pain was so excruciating, she didn't think twice about how she could've been hurting his hand.
Then a wave of pain sent her into a convulsion and she drew blood. Draco sharply inhaled and at the same time Ginny threw her eyes open. He looked at her and saw in her expression a mix of pain and contrition. But she didn't stop, she knew what they had to lose.
He kicked the door shut and drew her over to the bed. He laid her gently on her back and climbed on top her. "I'm going to remove my hand soon," he said calmly. "Hold your hand out."
She complied and with his wand he muttered a counter hex. The pain was instantly gone, she still had the memory of the pain and that alone caused her to cry out. After a good few minutes, her body relaxed and he removed his hand and climbed off her somewhat reluctantly. He examined his hand; both sides were marked with bleeding half-moons. She looked at them and realized she could still taste the blood on her lips. He watched intently as her red tinted lips parted to reveal a tongue that darted out to catch the rest of his blood.
"Oh, Draco," she began ineptly, "I'm so sorry." She averted her eyes, but held his injured hand in hers and cleaned the wounds. She tore strips of cloth from the bottom of her skirt, which was fortunately knee-length, and wrapped his hand with it. "I'm sorry...I hope this helps."
"I should've warned you about the door," he said with a pained smirk. "It's a spell I use to keep intruders out." He raised her head to face him and gazed in her eyes. "Besides, it's not as bad as it looks. I've dealt with worse," he continued quietly, letting the implied truth become apparent to her. "And don't worry about the others. I had this room soundproofed before I arrived."
Tears began afresh in her large, bright eyes and she smiled weakly. All the things she thought about when she was obsessed with Harry she now felt for him. She knew what he did for her, physically and emotionally. "Draco, I...you make me so...so confused."
"Then will you let me relieve you of that," he purred and gently pushed her back down against his bed, leading her with a passionate kiss. Her lips yielded to his advances and he could taste his own blood. He pulled away, giving her a quizzical glance, then began planting a row of feathery pecks along her neck. Her body arched into his and he ran a hand under her blouse, letting his fingers trail trippingly on her silky smooth skin.
Oh, the desire Ginny felt for Draco increased ten-fold. She let him stay his course, but soon became restless with want. She set to work on removing his shirt, the fabric rustling quietly as it came over his head. She ran her fingers over his smooth, yet toned chest, then lower still. "Quidditch sure does a body good," she said sultrily, squirming beneath him as his body responded to her touch.
Draco chuckled, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "Have your mind set in exploring, do you?" His eyes flickered to the grandfather clock in the corner as it rang out in clear tones to signify that it was 2 a.m. and he stood, bringing Ginny to her feet as well. "Ah, but that'll have to come later. It's gotten too late for you to stay any longer."
Ginny gazed at him longingly, perhaps also with love, as he donned a black t-shirt that fitted his body like a glove. "Yeah. But let's not do the pain thing any time soon. They headed for the door. "Maybe I'm saving that for later."
Draco raised an eyebrow and opened the door. Hard to believe this is the same Ginny. Or is she? He kissed her one last time before they left his room. This is definitely a secret worth keeping.
---
Draco had stayed with her through the corridors until he was sure she would be safely back in her room. He didn't care that that meant going with her half-way through the school avoiding every living, and no longer living, thing. She was glad to have his company and didn't mind the protective arm draped over her shoulders the whole way.
Ginny strolled up to the Portrait hole with an elated feeling. The night's activities caused the adrenaline to flow through her veins. She was happy, the rebellion against her former life made her happy. She had discarded the old (as in Harry,) and welcomed the new (hello, Draco). She was sure that now, no matter what the 'thing' they had going was, it was way past being purely companionable.
The Fat Lady was fast asleep. Ginny cleared her throat and the picture stirred. "Well, I don't believe it," the woman said incredulously, "but have you any idea what time it is?"
"I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to enter," Ginny said politely, yet urgently. She was fascinated by the portraits on occasion, but they were entirely too nosy sometimes.
The woman took an indignant air and said, "Well, the password?"
"Fireflies," came the reply and Ginny entered the room. The sight that greeted her froze her at the spot she stood.
Hermione, Ron, and Harry were all awake and in the room. Ron was pacing the floor, nearly eroding a groove in the floor. He was muttering half-coherent phrases about 'Weasley standards,' 'Malfoy trash," and 'corruption spells'. Harry was sitting on the edge of a table, rubbing his eyes as if to relieve stress. He looked much older and world-weary than he'd ever been before. Hermione was sitting in an armchair watching Ron walk back and forth. Then Hermione shifted her gaze and caught sight of Ginny. She stood, and the guys stopped what they were doing to look at her, then they noticed her, too.
Ron was the first one to say anything. "Ginny, what the hell!" he erupted. "You have any idea of what time it is? Wait, screw the time, we know where you were tonight!" By 'we' he gestured to the others, who had adopted scolding looks.
Ginny shot Hermione a glare that said "You told?!" Hermione shook her head, and said, "I didn't tell them. They followed you."
The boys sent Hermione homicidal stares. They didn't know she knew, but at the same time, if looks could kill, Ginny would have seen both boys drop dead then and there.
"I don't believe this! You followed me? Who gave either of you the right?"
Ron absolutely blew a fuse. His face turned three different shades of red. Then he turned deathly white as he declared, "That right was bestowed to me the minute you were born!"
"Well, then I wish I wasn't born!" Ginny stated with equal ferocity, causing the other three to gape at her shocking behavior redirection. Changing gears, she pointed at Harry. "You! You and your stupid Invisibility Cloak and Marauder's Map! I should have known," she scoffed. Harry's outward expression didn't change a bit, and he remained silent.
Before Ron could retort, Hermione grabbed his arm, pacifying him. He growled and turned away from Ginny. "Let's all calm down," she spoke gently, being the voice of reason. "Now we might as well get it out in the open that Ginny was with Malfoy tonight. But I don't feel that she's done anything wrong except leave at an ungodly hour." Hermione looked at Ginny like a mother who's just admitted to herself that their little child has grown up and can make decisions for themselves.
Ron whirled around. "Wrong? Wrong? Hermione, everything and that is wrong!"
Harry cleared his throat. The whole time he hadn't spoke, he just observed Ginny. Now he said, "No, Ron, she's right... there's nothing wrong with that. Ginny's a big girl." The way he said 'girl' made her feel smaller than 32 centimeters.
Ginny huffed. "Thank you, Harry, not that I need your help. Or that it's any of your business. You turned me down, remember?" Harry furrowed his eyebrows at that last particularly vicious remark, and she felt slightly shamed at saying it.
"Damn it," Ron grumbled, running his hands down his face in a show of exasperation. "Not you, too, Harry. You were there, you saw what happened. How can you trust that git?" Ginny waved his concerns away with a swipe of her hand, and in that instant, Ron's eyes opened wide in astonishment. He darted forward and grabbed her by the wrist, palm up.
"Ouch, you're hurting me!" she exclaimed and wrenched her hand away.
"What the hell is that?" he demanded. She blinked a few times, trying to figure out what he meant. Then she looked at her hand. Clearly marked on her palm was a capital M. She hadn't noticed it before, and wondered when it appeared, but now wasn't the time.
"I, I don't know," she stammered. It looked like a welt, then she remembered the burning pain when she tried opening Draco's door.
The others gathered around her. Harry was concerned, but said nothing, while Hermione traced the symbol with a finger. Unexpectedly, Ginny shivered.
"What happened tonight, Ginny?" Hermione asked. She had seen things like this, when studying in the library, and knew it was a brand, the result of a security charm. She thought of an explanation, but refrained from telling the others what she knew of it.
"Why do you have this M, Gin?" Ron asked, his tone more tender with the use of his childhood name of his sister.
She stared dumbly at the M. "I was opening the door." She blinked back tears as she again recalled the sensation the spell caused. Pain unrivaled. A mini Crucio. "Malfoy's door."
"He's behind this, then," Ron said accusingly and shook his fist, making Ginny cringe. A hard look surfaced to his eyes. "I'll make him pay."
"No! It wasn't on purpose. I didn't know..." her words trailed off defensively. She didn't want to make their opinions of Draco any worse than they already were, though she doubted they would ever get better.
Harry shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against a table. "What were you doing in Malfoy's room, Ginny? Don't you know how reckless that is? He just can't be trusted." His frank tone riled Ginny.
"You don't even know him!" she spat. "You didn't even want to get to know him. And I...I trust him. He wouldn't hurt me."
"So torn skirts just happen to be in style?" Harry parried. He stood and approached Ginny. The closeness of his body sent her head spiraling. She could feel his warm breath on her skin, and it sent shivers down her spine. Damn my body! she thought venomously. He fingered the strap of her chemise and continued in a sotto voice, "And you avoided my question. I think you have something to hide. In fact, I think that story about the door is a lie. I think I know the truth, though. What, did you have sex with him? Did he brand you like cattle to prove you're his property?" Ginny blushed a deep red and shook her head in disbelief. She never knew Harry could be so hateful.
"Bastard," she hissed, "I didn't sleep with Draco. I'm still a virgin!"
Ron couldn't hear what they were saying, but looked about ready to burst again. "Stop it, the both of you. Ginny, what were you doing there? Just give us a straight answer."
Ginny was so tired of arguing she simply gave in. "We were talking, like we've done many nights before. But tonight was my first time in his room, honest." And the last, Ron said to himself.
"Yeah, you've really painted a picture for us. We feel like we were there," Harry said sardonically.
"Oh, I see, no one believes the guilty, huh? As I see it, I'm only guilty of liking Draco."
"Which is bad enough in itself. That guy's a total tool," Harry retorted. Ginny looked at him again, realizing he was jealous. The notion that he was jealous of Draco over her brought a smile to her face.
"Speak for yourself, Harry." Hermione looked Ginny straight in the eye. "I believe her. And I trust her." Ginny sighed with gratitude. "Now, what's done is done. Come on, Ginny, I'll clean up your hand in our room. Good night, boys." The girls left, leaving the guys to themselves.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Ron asked Harry.
"Yeah, I think we should pay the ferret a visit..." and Harry and Ron retired to their room to plot the day Malfoy would pay.
Pairing: Draco/Ginny
Rating: R
Summary: When Ginny is rejected by Harry in the most humiliating way, she turns to an unexpected choice. But are his feelings enough to protect her from Harry, and is she strong enough to help him change?
Chapter Two
It's all in your mind,
She said the darkness and the light.
The clock, it bleeds for you,
But you never got the timin' right.
Thanks A Lot by Third Eye Blind
---
"What are you thinking of, Ginny?" Hermione asked. It had been a few days since the 'Incident', as it was now known throughout the school. Harry tried to comfort Ginny anytime he saw her, but every time she waved his concerns away and continued on to wherever she went nowadays.
Now she was staring (dreamily?) out the window of the room she shared with Hermione. Her thoughts were on Draco Malfoy. Yeah, he was still an obnoxious, cold-blooded, vicious, and overbearing ponce, but never towards her. Actually, she didn't mind his attitude at all because she found humor in it, even when he was riling her brother. And she knew that even in the middle of the night, she could owl him and they'd take midnight walks around the Astronomy Tower, pointing out constellations.
"Nothing in particular." She turned to face Hermione. After the 'Incident', they'd gotten closer. She and Hermione had actually talked about what happened, although Ginny didn't tell her the complete version, i.e. she left out the part where she and Draco were snogging in an empty classroom, but said enough to have her feelings out in the open about the whole thing. "Hermione? Are you really busy?" she asked. It's time to test the waters, she thought to herself. Hermione would be the most understanding.
"No, not really," she replied, and she placed the quill and parchment she was working with on the desk. "Do you want to talk?"
"Yeah." Ginny swung her legs over the side of the bed and intertwined her fingers. "Um, what do you think about Malfoy?" she began. "Do you think he's really all how he acts towards... others?"
Hermione was taken back by the query. "Well, I guess he's...uh...I suppose if you got to know him...Why do you ask?"
Ginny took a deep breath. "I didn't tell you the complete truth. After I left that night, I went to a classroom on the third floor, you know this. But I wasn't alone the whole time -"
"Malfoy was with you," Hermione interrupted, realizing what her newfound friend was implying. "Oh, Ginny, why didn't you tell me?"
"I knew you'd tell Ron, or even worse, Harry. Besides, nothing happened... except a small, innocent kiss," she added quickly.
Hermione blanched at the new information. Her imagination was shot through with images of shy, chaste Virginia being taken by icy cold Malfoy. Ginny could see the wheels turning in Hermione's head and said, "No, it wasn't like that. I kissed him. Oh, that couldn't have made things better."
"No, not really. Is that why you've been ignoring Harry?"
"Partly," she answered with a dark look. Then she quickly stood up. "Hey, listen, you can't tell anyone else, please? I've got some things to work out," and she went to the wardrobe to change.
"Alright, I won't, but where do you think this thing you have with is going? Is there even a 'thing'?" Ginny thought over the words, but dismissed them as she grabbed a cloak. It was a chilly night, after all.
"Ginny, listen to me," Hermione tried in vain, "do you even know his intentions? Or how many girls he's had?"
But Ginny was too busy to reply and with a quick "Thanks, Hermione" and peck on each cheek she was gone. Hermione moved to the door and shouted after her, "Well, be careful, Ginny," not sure if she heard her warning. Going back to her chair, she softly muttered, "Malfoy? Honestly, girls and crushes..." and proceeded to finish her work.
---
In the commons, Harry and Ron were playing chess. Harry had a slight advantage, but Ron quickly countered and won the match.
"Good game," Ron gloated with a smile, "but still not good enough to beat me."
"Don't be so sure that next time I won't be better," Harry replied, then spotted Ginny practically flying down the steps from the girls' dormitory. He glanced at Ron and nodded towards her, then stood to go to her. Ginny all but ignored him, but gave him a nod and a tiny smile. Her gestures looked as if to say, "Don't worry, you won't wake up in a bed full of your own hair that I've snipped off with a pair of rusty scissors, not that it would make any difference," then continued out the Portrait hole.
"What was that about," Ron wondered, noticing the look she gave Harry.
"I don't know. She's been acting that way since...you know..." Harry sat back down and ran his fingers through his hair like he knew what her smile and nod meant. "I really wish it hadn't happened that way. She seemed crushed."
"Yeah," Ron agreed. "But at least she isn't so mad that she's plotting against you, right."
Harry thought for a moment and scrunched his eyebrows together, then said, "No, I don't think she's mad at all. She's been turning a blind eye to me, but she's definitely not mad."
"Well, you did the right thing, mate. That crush of hers was really making both of us uncomfortable," Ron reflected, kicking his feet up on the table. Then, as if a light came on, Ron realized what time it was: 11:48 p.m. "Harry," he exclaimed, "do you know what time it is? It's almost midnight!"
"So?" Harry murmured. He was studying at the chessboard to see what he moved he could have made to win. Suddenly, like the light of a new morning, it dawned on him. Ginny left the Gryffindor dorms.
---
The Owlery was quite lively in the night. All of the school's owls, and some of the students', were wide-awake. Their eyes were bright and round, like you'd see on the Muggle cartoons where the main character would find themselves in a dark environment filled with glowing eyes. They were watching Ginny's every move, which slightly unsettled her, but she had something to do.
Instead of using her own owl as a message envoy, she decided that the anonymity of the school's owls would keep curious people from knowing it was from her to
Draco. She pulled out her wand and murmured, "Lumos," and quickly set to writing a note to Draco. She made sure that he would know who it was from by tying it with a small, red ribbon, reminiscent of her hair.
She looked about for an owl. Every time before, she picked an owl different than the last. The owl she picked this time was snowy white with brown mottled wing tips.
She attached the note to its leg. "Fly quickly, pet," she told the bird after giving it its destination and released it to the night air. At that point, she just waited...
---
The Slytherin commons was quiet. All of the house's residents had retreated to their rooms, either for resting or plotting purposes.
But Draco Malfoy was doing neither.
He was lounging on the leather couch, which he had especially imported for his comfort (Why be rich if you can't shove the fact in the commoners' faces? he thought at the time), staring at the fire. The firelight illuminated the room, but did little to warm it. Although it was a little cool, he was used to far colder temperatures...
This night, as on a few others before it, he was waiting on an owl. Ah, Ginny, don't keep me waiting long, he thought to himself. He couldn't voice his thoughts (there was an ever ongoing intra-house competition going on where every conniving Slytherin was trying to gain top positions, in which Draco did have the top position and there could be spies everywhere), so he kept them to himself, like he'd done for years before.
But now he had Ginny Weasley to tell his thoughts to, if he wished to at all. Oh, what turn of events brought them together. Yes, the Malfoy lineage and the Weasley people never did get along and yes, Draco could be Crucio'ed for the rest of his natural born life and into the hereafter for even thinking of liking a Muggle-lover, but what the hell? You only live once.
But what actually brought them together, Draco still couldn't explain. It started as revenge, him plotting on how to best get to the Weasel, and what better way than through the heart of a younger sister? Then it changed to lust, his every waking moment nearly driven by the need to touch her, to take her. The last straw to his emotions broke when he witnessed her most humiliating rejection and at the hands of that no good Potter, too! He saw how when he said the words 'I would never love you,' her spirit crumpled and died. That day, he discovered a whole other reason to hate The Boy Who Lived.
When he saw her cry, the tug on his heart became too much to bear. So okay, he knew what brought him to her. One day, he supposed, I'll tell her. What he didn't know, and wanted to know, was why she had a sudden change of heart about him. Or was it even sudden? Maybe she's always been hiding the side he brings out in her, which was wild and carefree.
While Draco was still staring at the burning wood, the owl came swooping in and dropped the note in his lap. Noticing the coloring of the owl, Draco made a half-smile as he opened the note, which read:
D,
Meet me at the regular location. Send the owl back, and I will be on my way.
G.
Standing up and stretching like a cat just arisen from its midday nap and ready to prowl, he tossed the note in to the fire, and watched the flames consume it. As the whirling wisps of smoke rose from its ashes, Draco was already gone.
---
Ginny didn't notice how much time elapsed, but when the owl she sent returned she knew it was time.
Pulling the cloak tighter around her and tugging the hood down farther to hide her face, she set out for the Tower. It wouldn't be good for her if she was recognized...
...but watching, unbeknownst to her, was Harry and Ron, underneath the Invisibility Cloak. Silently, they followed her.
---
As she neared the rendezvous point to meet Draco, she heard a noise behind her. Seeing no one there, she dismissed it as the creak of the building or snore of one of the paintings' habitants, she continued on.
Draco saw her before she saw him. He was leaning against a window open to the clear night sky. When Ginny neared, a smile came to her lips as she saw he was just wearing a long sleeve white turtleneck shirt and black pants with a belt that soon became her favorite. Undoing her cloak, she tossed it to the floor, to be as underdressed as him with just a pink blouse and black skirt on.
"Draco," she breathed as they embraced, "did I keep you waiting long?"
"Not at all. I was just admiring the view...of you, I mean, as you were walking my way," he replied with a sly grin. "Shall we go outside, or just head back to my room?"
Playfully patting his chest and pulling him by the belt, she said, "Outside, I think the view is better."
As they ascended the final stairs to the top, Harry and Ron stood livid, and for the same reasons: A) Ginny was out late with Malfoy, B) Ginny was 'familiar' with Malfoy, and C) Ginny was with Malfoy!
While Harry stood slack-jawed and pale faced, Ron attempted to run after Malfoy and beat him to a bloody pulp. "Malfoy!" he growled through gritted teeth, "is with my younger and only sister! First I'll kill him, then...then I'll kill her a little!"
Harry grabbed Ron by the arm and kept him under the Cloak. "Relax, Ron. We don't know what's going on. Maybe...it's...um...oh, screw it, this is just bad any way you slice it."
Trying to control his temper, Ron tried to reason through it. "No, maybe she has a good reason. Oh gods in the heavens, let her have a good reason!" A small voice in the back of his head said, And what if that good reason is to shag Malfoy senseless?
Ron began cracking up, his mind boggling with images, sounds, and worst of all, smells! "No!!! I can't take this anymore, Harry. If I see anymore, there's gonna be blood shed tonight!"
"Yeah, let's go. We'll talk to her about it in the morning." All the while, Harry was thinking, Did I drive her to him? Just please, please, don't let her go to his room!
With this, the two left in a state far worse than when they began, and for Ginny and Draco, the fun was just beginning.
---
The night was just beginning for those two. The starry night was twinkling at the lovers, and the cool night breeze caressed their skin. The two were flirting with Nature herself.
Ginny sprinted to the edge of the Tower. She was gazing up to the heavens. She turned quickly, glanced at Draco and smiled. "Come to me," she said, opening her arms to him.
Draco strolled after her, his hands in his pockets and a grin on his lips. "Do you have something to give me?"
"Maybe. You'll only find out if you get here," she replied.
Draco came closer to his temptress and reached out, holding her with his lean arms. "So, where's that gift?" His silvery gray eyes were glittering in the starlight, making his eyes dance.
Her own eyes danced mischievously. "Right here," she replied sultrily. She brought her lips up to his. She bit the lower lip once, twice, three times, teasing him.
"Oh, you're such a teasing minx," he groaned with desire.
"Well, minxes and ferrets have always gotten along," she teased. "And I'm your minx, right?" She ran her fingers up the side of his chest, underneath his shirt. He shivered again, from a mix of the cold and her touch.
"Are you, Virginia?" His countenance turned serious. "Are you mine?" He took her hands and looked deep in her chocolate brown eyes.
Ginny sighed, and said, "I'm afraid I belong to no one, Draco. At least, not yet, anyway." A faint sad smile appeared and she asked, "Why do you ask?"
Draco tilted his head to the side slightly. "Ginny, you never quite told me what I do for you. Why did your opinion of me change so much?"
"I could ask the same of you," she replied softly. Ginny thought for a moment as she gazed up at the moon. She pressed herself closer to his body and cleared her mind. "But, I could better answer that if I were warmer," and a coy smile played upon her face.
Who is this vixen and what spell has she wrung over my heart? he thought as she took him again by the belt that became his favorite, too, and led him to his room.
---
"Wait here," Draco ordered. "I'll see if the coast is clear."
Ginny said nothing, but hid in the shadows. At the Portrait hole, Draco gave the password (which was 'Sally sells seashells' for some odd reason). Peering into the room, he didn't see anyone, so he waved her in.
This was Ginny's first time in the Slytherin house (and doubted anyone from any other house had entered as well) and she was surprised by the adornments. Aside from the large leather couch nicely positioned facing a grand fireplace, there were rugs of obviously different origins depicting what seemed to be the same story. There was a rather large painting of Salazar Slytherin above entryway, too. Other things in her own house appeared here, too, but they didn't add to any sense of familiarity she might've had at seeing them. Overall, she only got the impression of indifference and emptiness. Poor Draco...
He took her hand and led the way to his bedroom. He felt he didn't have to admit this wasn't the first time he'd brought a girl to his room. Nearly every girl in Slytherin could attest to that.
Before Draco could open the door to his chambers, Ginny halted.
"Draco, what do you expect from me? Tell me now or I won't go through that door." The dark glint in her eye showed she was serious, but the less time they lingered in the open the more secure they'd be.
"Ginny, don't be contrary. But believe me now when I say I have no intention of taking advantage of you," he smirked. His face wasn't a mask with her now, but from years of not showing emotion, it'd become semi-permanent. Still, his voice betrayed him as it held a slight sign of unease. He quickly reaffirmed his Malfoyness by stating that it was her idea to come back in the first place.
Deciding it was a moot point to continue while in the hall, she reached for the doorknob herself. Before he could warn or stop her, the charmed handle had burned her.
A burst of stars appeared before her eyes, followed by an intense pain. Before she knew it, he pushed her back against the wall and jammed one hand lengthwise into her mouth, between her teeth. "Bite down," he told her, "and don't stop until I tell you to." His eyes showed he wouldn't take no for an answer. She nodded, her eyes tearing from the pain. If it wasn't for his hand acting as a gag, she knew she'd have screamed till there was no air left in her lungs.
With his free hand, he opened the door then forced the weight of her body to lean on him as he backed them both inside. He was secretly amazed that she was so light, but she had a hell of a bite. Ginny began feeling light-headed and squeezed her eyes shut. The pain was so excruciating, she didn't think twice about how she could've been hurting his hand.
Then a wave of pain sent her into a convulsion and she drew blood. Draco sharply inhaled and at the same time Ginny threw her eyes open. He looked at her and saw in her expression a mix of pain and contrition. But she didn't stop, she knew what they had to lose.
He kicked the door shut and drew her over to the bed. He laid her gently on her back and climbed on top her. "I'm going to remove my hand soon," he said calmly. "Hold your hand out."
She complied and with his wand he muttered a counter hex. The pain was instantly gone, she still had the memory of the pain and that alone caused her to cry out. After a good few minutes, her body relaxed and he removed his hand and climbed off her somewhat reluctantly. He examined his hand; both sides were marked with bleeding half-moons. She looked at them and realized she could still taste the blood on her lips. He watched intently as her red tinted lips parted to reveal a tongue that darted out to catch the rest of his blood.
"Oh, Draco," she began ineptly, "I'm so sorry." She averted her eyes, but held his injured hand in hers and cleaned the wounds. She tore strips of cloth from the bottom of her skirt, which was fortunately knee-length, and wrapped his hand with it. "I'm sorry...I hope this helps."
"I should've warned you about the door," he said with a pained smirk. "It's a spell I use to keep intruders out." He raised her head to face him and gazed in her eyes. "Besides, it's not as bad as it looks. I've dealt with worse," he continued quietly, letting the implied truth become apparent to her. "And don't worry about the others. I had this room soundproofed before I arrived."
Tears began afresh in her large, bright eyes and she smiled weakly. All the things she thought about when she was obsessed with Harry she now felt for him. She knew what he did for her, physically and emotionally. "Draco, I...you make me so...so confused."
"Then will you let me relieve you of that," he purred and gently pushed her back down against his bed, leading her with a passionate kiss. Her lips yielded to his advances and he could taste his own blood. He pulled away, giving her a quizzical glance, then began planting a row of feathery pecks along her neck. Her body arched into his and he ran a hand under her blouse, letting his fingers trail trippingly on her silky smooth skin.
Oh, the desire Ginny felt for Draco increased ten-fold. She let him stay his course, but soon became restless with want. She set to work on removing his shirt, the fabric rustling quietly as it came over his head. She ran her fingers over his smooth, yet toned chest, then lower still. "Quidditch sure does a body good," she said sultrily, squirming beneath him as his body responded to her touch.
Draco chuckled, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "Have your mind set in exploring, do you?" His eyes flickered to the grandfather clock in the corner as it rang out in clear tones to signify that it was 2 a.m. and he stood, bringing Ginny to her feet as well. "Ah, but that'll have to come later. It's gotten too late for you to stay any longer."
Ginny gazed at him longingly, perhaps also with love, as he donned a black t-shirt that fitted his body like a glove. "Yeah. But let's not do the pain thing any time soon. They headed for the door. "Maybe I'm saving that for later."
Draco raised an eyebrow and opened the door. Hard to believe this is the same Ginny. Or is she? He kissed her one last time before they left his room. This is definitely a secret worth keeping.
---
Draco had stayed with her through the corridors until he was sure she would be safely back in her room. He didn't care that that meant going with her half-way through the school avoiding every living, and no longer living, thing. She was glad to have his company and didn't mind the protective arm draped over her shoulders the whole way.
Ginny strolled up to the Portrait hole with an elated feeling. The night's activities caused the adrenaline to flow through her veins. She was happy, the rebellion against her former life made her happy. She had discarded the old (as in Harry,) and welcomed the new (hello, Draco). She was sure that now, no matter what the 'thing' they had going was, it was way past being purely companionable.
The Fat Lady was fast asleep. Ginny cleared her throat and the picture stirred. "Well, I don't believe it," the woman said incredulously, "but have you any idea what time it is?"
"I'm sorry to bother you, but I need to enter," Ginny said politely, yet urgently. She was fascinated by the portraits on occasion, but they were entirely too nosy sometimes.
The woman took an indignant air and said, "Well, the password?"
"Fireflies," came the reply and Ginny entered the room. The sight that greeted her froze her at the spot she stood.
Hermione, Ron, and Harry were all awake and in the room. Ron was pacing the floor, nearly eroding a groove in the floor. He was muttering half-coherent phrases about 'Weasley standards,' 'Malfoy trash," and 'corruption spells'. Harry was sitting on the edge of a table, rubbing his eyes as if to relieve stress. He looked much older and world-weary than he'd ever been before. Hermione was sitting in an armchair watching Ron walk back and forth. Then Hermione shifted her gaze and caught sight of Ginny. She stood, and the guys stopped what they were doing to look at her, then they noticed her, too.
Ron was the first one to say anything. "Ginny, what the hell!" he erupted. "You have any idea of what time it is? Wait, screw the time, we know where you were tonight!" By 'we' he gestured to the others, who had adopted scolding looks.
Ginny shot Hermione a glare that said "You told?!" Hermione shook her head, and said, "I didn't tell them. They followed you."
The boys sent Hermione homicidal stares. They didn't know she knew, but at the same time, if looks could kill, Ginny would have seen both boys drop dead then and there.
"I don't believe this! You followed me? Who gave either of you the right?"
Ron absolutely blew a fuse. His face turned three different shades of red. Then he turned deathly white as he declared, "That right was bestowed to me the minute you were born!"
"Well, then I wish I wasn't born!" Ginny stated with equal ferocity, causing the other three to gape at her shocking behavior redirection. Changing gears, she pointed at Harry. "You! You and your stupid Invisibility Cloak and Marauder's Map! I should have known," she scoffed. Harry's outward expression didn't change a bit, and he remained silent.
Before Ron could retort, Hermione grabbed his arm, pacifying him. He growled and turned away from Ginny. "Let's all calm down," she spoke gently, being the voice of reason. "Now we might as well get it out in the open that Ginny was with Malfoy tonight. But I don't feel that she's done anything wrong except leave at an ungodly hour." Hermione looked at Ginny like a mother who's just admitted to herself that their little child has grown up and can make decisions for themselves.
Ron whirled around. "Wrong? Wrong? Hermione, everything and that is wrong!"
Harry cleared his throat. The whole time he hadn't spoke, he just observed Ginny. Now he said, "No, Ron, she's right... there's nothing wrong with that. Ginny's a big girl." The way he said 'girl' made her feel smaller than 32 centimeters.
Ginny huffed. "Thank you, Harry, not that I need your help. Or that it's any of your business. You turned me down, remember?" Harry furrowed his eyebrows at that last particularly vicious remark, and she felt slightly shamed at saying it.
"Damn it," Ron grumbled, running his hands down his face in a show of exasperation. "Not you, too, Harry. You were there, you saw what happened. How can you trust that git?" Ginny waved his concerns away with a swipe of her hand, and in that instant, Ron's eyes opened wide in astonishment. He darted forward and grabbed her by the wrist, palm up.
"Ouch, you're hurting me!" she exclaimed and wrenched her hand away.
"What the hell is that?" he demanded. She blinked a few times, trying to figure out what he meant. Then she looked at her hand. Clearly marked on her palm was a capital M. She hadn't noticed it before, and wondered when it appeared, but now wasn't the time.
"I, I don't know," she stammered. It looked like a welt, then she remembered the burning pain when she tried opening Draco's door.
The others gathered around her. Harry was concerned, but said nothing, while Hermione traced the symbol with a finger. Unexpectedly, Ginny shivered.
"What happened tonight, Ginny?" Hermione asked. She had seen things like this, when studying in the library, and knew it was a brand, the result of a security charm. She thought of an explanation, but refrained from telling the others what she knew of it.
"Why do you have this M, Gin?" Ron asked, his tone more tender with the use of his childhood name of his sister.
She stared dumbly at the M. "I was opening the door." She blinked back tears as she again recalled the sensation the spell caused. Pain unrivaled. A mini Crucio. "Malfoy's door."
"He's behind this, then," Ron said accusingly and shook his fist, making Ginny cringe. A hard look surfaced to his eyes. "I'll make him pay."
"No! It wasn't on purpose. I didn't know..." her words trailed off defensively. She didn't want to make their opinions of Draco any worse than they already were, though she doubted they would ever get better.
Harry shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against a table. "What were you doing in Malfoy's room, Ginny? Don't you know how reckless that is? He just can't be trusted." His frank tone riled Ginny.
"You don't even know him!" she spat. "You didn't even want to get to know him. And I...I trust him. He wouldn't hurt me."
"So torn skirts just happen to be in style?" Harry parried. He stood and approached Ginny. The closeness of his body sent her head spiraling. She could feel his warm breath on her skin, and it sent shivers down her spine. Damn my body! she thought venomously. He fingered the strap of her chemise and continued in a sotto voice, "And you avoided my question. I think you have something to hide. In fact, I think that story about the door is a lie. I think I know the truth, though. What, did you have sex with him? Did he brand you like cattle to prove you're his property?" Ginny blushed a deep red and shook her head in disbelief. She never knew Harry could be so hateful.
"Bastard," she hissed, "I didn't sleep with Draco. I'm still a virgin!"
Ron couldn't hear what they were saying, but looked about ready to burst again. "Stop it, the both of you. Ginny, what were you doing there? Just give us a straight answer."
Ginny was so tired of arguing she simply gave in. "We were talking, like we've done many nights before. But tonight was my first time in his room, honest." And the last, Ron said to himself.
"Yeah, you've really painted a picture for us. We feel like we were there," Harry said sardonically.
"Oh, I see, no one believes the guilty, huh? As I see it, I'm only guilty of liking Draco."
"Which is bad enough in itself. That guy's a total tool," Harry retorted. Ginny looked at him again, realizing he was jealous. The notion that he was jealous of Draco over her brought a smile to her face.
"Speak for yourself, Harry." Hermione looked Ginny straight in the eye. "I believe her. And I trust her." Ginny sighed with gratitude. "Now, what's done is done. Come on, Ginny, I'll clean up your hand in our room. Good night, boys." The girls left, leaving the guys to themselves.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Ron asked Harry.
"Yeah, I think we should pay the ferret a visit..." and Harry and Ron retired to their room to plot the day Malfoy would pay.