Ginny Weasley woke up in a sweat, gasping for air as she shot up in her bed. She had been having nightmares again; ones about Tom Riddle. She would always end up in the same place at the end, having a looming dark figure hanging over her, laughing maniacally. Her hands were always covered in blood as she screamed trying to remember what she had done. Sometimes there would be a dagger lying be her, or worse, a lifeless body. She always awoke from these dreams drenched, still shaking as she tried to rid her mind of the images.
She looked out into the half empty dormitory. The sun was shining through a crack in the maroon curtains. She clanked over at a small alarm clock she kept on her bedside table; 8.45 A.M. It was a Saturday, but as work was already starting to pile up she assumed that most people were using their weekend to try and get as much finished as possible. Amycus Carrow had set a particularly awful essay which required ten pieces of parchment on The Dark Arts. Professor Slughorn had also been particularly unkind in giving his sixth year students the task of perfecting a … potion over the weekend, with their end result to be handed in on Monday morning.
Ginny groaned as she thought about all of the work she had to do, still shaking from her nightmare. There were only another two girls in the dorm, still fast asleep. Ginny quietly collected her clothes and made her way to the bathroom to dress. She stood in the shower a lot longer than she had planned to, staring into space and letting the warm water calm her. She stared in the mirror as she brushed her teeth thinking that she could have it worse. She knew Harry was on the run and that her family and other friends were also trying to fight and stay alive. Part of her wished she was with them.
She crept back into the dormitory, glancing at the papers on her bedside table. She sighed, not willing to face them and grabbed her broom instead. She glanced out of the window as she passed; a sunny day, perfect weather for flying.
As she made her way down each floor she contemplated going to breakfast, then changed her mind. She couldn't be seen with her broom and she wasn't that hungry anyway. She snuck past the great hall and out of the Hogwarts front gates, heading for the Quidditch pitch.
The pitch was empty from what she could see. It made sense as Quidditch had been disbanded after Severus Snape took over as headmaster. No one went to the pitch anymore, no one was really allowed to. Ginny was taking a risk even being there but she didn't care. She had to clear her mind and flying was the only way to do that. The Carrow's could use the Cruciatus Curse on her all they liked.
Ginny stepped out into the field taking in the vast pillars, remembering the good times she had had there. She closed her eyes as she remembered her first game, finally being free to play Quidditch with the team. She mounted her broom, taking in a deep breath and flew straight up as high as she dared. The sky was a brilliant blue and she twisted up into the air feeling the cool breeze on her face. Her anxieties already began to float away as she climbed higher and higher. She felt calm until a figure zoomed past her, causing her to lose her balance and start to plummet.
*.*.*
Draco Malfoy had been pushing the same piece of bacon around his plate for the last five minutes, his head resting on his raised hand. Life as a Death Eater was not all he had imagined. He had watched innocent people tortured and killed, sometimes at his own hand. Yet he had no choice; Voldemort forced his hand every time. Being at Hogwarts was much better than being at home after the Dark Lord had commandeered it as his headquarters. Yet he was alone there. People would whisper as he passed in the halls and his friends didn't seem to trust him as much as they used to.
He gave up on the bacon, knowing that it would be cold by now. He couldn't much face spending the day inside, knowing that he would just be whispered about wherever he went. He needed some air. As he headed back down to the Slytherin dorms, two Ravenclaws shot him evil looks. He shot them the same look back, feeling empty inside. He ignored the groups of people sitting in the Common Room, walking up the stair to his bed. He sat on it putting his head in his hands feeling a headache coming on. He sat there for a while trying to think where to go. She looked to his right catching the slender shape of his broom. He sighed and grabbed it, then made his way down the steps, through the Common Room again and out into the dark corridor.
The sun was bright and the sky almost cloudless. He walked determinedly to the Quidditch pitch, taking in the air as he went. Just need to clear my head. He thought as he approached the changing room entrance. It was fairly quiet, with only the sound of flapping banners filling the air. As he entered the pitch he looked up and saw a figure moving in the sky. He narrowed his eyes, placing his hand above his head to block the sun. No one should be out here. He thought, trying to figure out who was up there. Then he saw the flash of red like fire in the sky. He smirked as he realised and mounted his broom, headed straight for the person.
*.*.*
Ginny managed to catch herself before she fell too far. Her mood went from calm to furious as she balanced herself, snapping her head over her shoulder to see who had knocked her.
"Malfoy." She muttered, taking in the boys pale blonde hair and smug face.
"Careful their Weasley." He said, full of himself.
She whipped her broom round, flying over to him, her anger raging. Malfoy stayed put as she approached him, not wiping the smug look off his face.
"What the hell is your problem Malfoy?" she screamed
"My problem?" he grinned, "You shouldn't even be out here in the first place."
"Neither should you!" she snapped back, knowing full well that he was only trying to rile her up.
"Urgh!" she said, turning her broom around and heading for the ground. How stupid was she to think that she could get a little peace?
She heard him swoop down behind her as she dismounted from her broom and headed towards the changing rooms. Her anxiety had returned as she walked out towards the exit.
"C'mon Weasley, you don't have to leave on account of me." She could hear the sarcasm in his voice.
She turned to look at him, nothing but hatred on her face. He was arrogantly leaning on his broom, one leg crossed over the other, still with a smug look on his face.
"Why do you have to be such an arse all the time?" she shouted, taking a few steps towards him, balling her left hand into a fist.
"Why can't you take a joke?" he asked, taking a few steps towards her.
"You call nearly knocking me off my broom that high up, a joke?" she spat back at him, feeling her face flushing red.
"Gods, I wouldn't have let you fall Weasley, seriously calm down."
She stared at him breathing heavily, wanting to knock his block off.
"What're you doing out here anyway?" he asked, "Looking for a detention with the Carrows?"
"I was just trying to clear my head." Ginny muttered, knowing that the ten minutes or so she had spent in the air doing that, were for nothing.
Ginny looked away, heading for the exit again. This time Malfoy didn't stop her and she left off up the hill back into the castle.
*.*.*
Draco watched as Ginny Weasley left the changing rooms of the Quidditch pitch, barging through the door in anger. He had gotten a little pleasure out of annoying her, making himself feel a little better. He lingered in the changing rooms for a bit, smiling at how angry she had gotten. She is pretty sexy when she's angry. He thought, then quickly shook himself and headed out of the changing rooms himself.
He spent the rest of the morning in the dormitory, lying on his bed and reading the Daily Prophet. It was mostly Voldemort propaganda, with stories of who had gone missing or died in the past 24 hours. Draco sneered at the articles, painting the Dark Lord as some hero. Draco shoved it onto his bed side table knocking over some other papers as she did. As he looked down at what he had dropped he remembered that he had homework to do. It wasn't anything much, just some tedious essay on common potions ingredients. He knew the uses for some of them but there were a couple he had never heard of before. He sighed and decided to head to the library. May as well get it over and done with, he thought.
He made his way to the library in silence. The halls had become quieter since last year, with all the muggle-borns gone into hiding. Draco didn't realise how many there were until he returned for his seventh year. Good riddance he had thought.
The library was silent too. That made sense, it was a library. Yet still, there were various people reading books, scribbling down notes and frantically looking through large piles of paper. Draco found an empty seat in a dark and uncomfortable corner. He set down his quill and parchment along with the assignment and headed to the section of the library he needed.
He scanned along the shelf looking for generic books on potions ingredients. It seemed like a tedious assignment in Draco's mind. He was in his final year, they were supposed to be creating complicated potions, not researching ingredients and writing about them. Still, he persisted knowing that it would be done soon. As worked his way along the shelves he caught a red flash out of the corner of his eye. A smirk appeared on his face as he edged closer to the figure.
"Retreating to the library now, Weasley?" he whispered, only inches from her.
She jumped slightly, closing the book she was holding with one hand.
She turned around, "Piss off Malfoy." She scolded.
"I have just as much right to be here as you do." He said, not taking is eyes off the books.
Ginny groaned moving away from him. He looked over as her long red hair swished out of sight. He smiled and then returned to his table, picking up random books as he went.
*.*.*
Why did he have to be so annoying? Ginny thought as she angrily sat down at the desk by the window. She had decided to work on the Dark Arts essay first, thinking that Slughorn would be more lenient with her if she rushed her potion.
"Everything alright Gin?" she heard Luna whisper from across the table.
"Yes, fine." She said, flicking through the pages of her book, "Just this stupid essay is all."
Luna nodded in agreement as she too flicked through a book.
They had been at it for hours. Ginny had drawled on for seven and a half pages written about the Dark Arts, and her head was reeling trying to think of more to write. Luna was stuck with just six but she was good at beating about the bush. The light in the library was beginning to dull and she noticed it was already six o'clock.
"C'mon, we've been at this for hours," Ginny whispered, "Let's go eat."
Ginny hadn't eaten all day and she now regretted skipping breakfast. The two girls stood up, collecting their books and papers, putting what they didn't need back and checking the rest out from Madam Pince.
As they entered the Great Hall, Ginny caught sight of her usual crowd at the Gryffindor table. She said goodbye to Luna as house mingling had been strictly forbidden. Ginny hated leaving Luna alone to eat but the girl always seemed content with her own company. Sometimes Cho Chang would sit with her, but that was only when they decided to eat at the same time.
Ginny sat beside Neville silently, grabbing a large plateful and digging in.
"Hungry?" Neville asked.
"I haven't eaten all day." She said, still chewing some chicken.
"Charming." Seamus said with a grin.
Ginny concentrated on her food, not realising how hungry she was. She listened idly to the conversation the group was having, about their homework and what not. They never talked about anything but school outside of the Room of Requirement. They didn't know who could be listening.
As Ginny shovelled more food into her mouth she glanced over to the Slytherin table. She caught the gaze of Draco Malfoy as she did and he immediately looked down at his plate when he caught hers. What is his problem? She thought to herself.
She continued eating, listening to the group more intently now.
*.*.*
Draco had been staring at Ginny since she sat down. What great company she keeps, he thought sarcastically to himself, looking at Longbottom and Finnigan. He was almost in a daze as he looked at her, sitting on his own. He took in her silky red hair and freckly face. She smiled at something one of her friends had said and Draco felt a slight tingling as she did. She had a lovely smile, even though she didn't do it much anymore. He continued looking until she caught his gaze. He looked down at his food when she did. Shit he thought, knowing that both the staring and immediate look away when she caught him were stupid. He pushed his food around a bit, eating slowly.
Five minutes later he dared to look over again. She was laughing now and again, Draco felt tingling from when he saw her smile before. He continued eating, glancing up at the girl every so often. Stop looking he told himself, trying to fight the urge. He then saw her friends leave and she was alone. A few moments later Ginny got up too and Draco subconsciously mimicked her movements. He hung back a few seconds allowing Ginny to go on ahead and then followed her. What am I doing he thought as he headed out of the Great Hall. He exited to his left, nearly bumping into the girl.
"You really are stalking me, aren't you." She said, her face angry.
"Don't flatter yourself Weasley." Draco said, trying not to blush.
"I'm not, I'm simply making an observation. Do you have a fetish for watching people eat or something?" she was furious.
"No. I was just wondering how someone could possibly consume as much food as you did in about three bites." His cover up was weak, he knew that.
"Fuck off." Was her reply as she turned, flipping her hair as she did.
Draco grabbed her arm, swiftly turning her back to face him. He held onto her arm tightly as a look of shock played on her face.
"Now, now, now. That's no way to talk to your superiors now, is it." He hissed.
She wriggled her arm out of his grasp, giving him a look of disgust. He took in her fruity scent as she left, stomping up the stairs. Ignorant bitch, he thought as he stood by the entrance of the Great Hall for a few moments.
With no other reason to be there he left for the Slytherin dorms.
*.*.*
What an arrogant dick, show thought as she stormed into her dorm room, lying flat on her bed. First he nearly knocks me off my broom, then watches me as I eat and now he's following me. Why am I the victim of his stupid, smug, arrogant, ugh! She placed a pillow over her face and screamed. The room was empty thankfully; she didn't fancy explaining why she was screaming to anyone. After a few moments she sat up, racking through her bag. It was only half past seven and she wanted to get this essay finished. She spread the books out in front of her, the parchment covering the middle of her bed. She could feel a headache coming on again as she wrote.
Her roommates began to slowly file in for the night, one by one. She continued writing as they fell asleep. By eleven she was still lingering on the final page; her conclusion. She wasn't really sure what she had written to begin with, but she sat there for an hour before she wrote one word. By one o'clock she had finished and she put the essay in her bedside cabinet thankful to be done with it. She yawned as she changed into her pyjamas, hoping that her sleep was restful.
Ginny awoke with a jolt again the next morning, sweat pouring from her. She had another nightmare; that was four nights in a row now that she had the same nightmare. As she slowly sat up she realised that something was different this time. She had been saved by someone this time. She felt him yank her arm as she looked into grey eyes almost covered by platinum blonde hair. She shook herself, No, no, no. I did not dream about him! The thought screamed in her head. She took her face in her hands and closed her eyes shaking the thought. She looked over at the clock on her bedside table; 7:30 A.M. Earlier than yesterday. No one would be up this early on a Sunday and it looked dry, if a still a little dark outside. She decided to try the Quidditch pitch again, desperately needing air after another bad dream.
The air was cool and she regretted not wearing a scarf or gloves. Her cardigan provided some warmth but she still shivered when a small breeze hit her. The sun was beginning to rise as she walked down the hill. Part of the Quidditch field was already starting to be bathed in light and she hoped to have some peace to relax. At least if she did it this early, she could have breakfast too.
Ginny opened the door to the changing rooms slowly and her stomach flipped at the sight of two grey eyes staring at her.
"Oh bloody hell!" she said, flinging her head back.
"Morning to you too Weasley." He drawled.
"No, ok, just. No." she said, turning to leave.
"Look, there's plenty of room out there for the both of us. I promise not to bother you." He said, sounding genuine.
Ginny rolled her eyes and turned back to him.
"Don't try and lie to me Malfoy. Gods, why are you everywhere I turn!" she said, and Draco raised an inquisitive eyebrow at her.
"I'm not everywhere Weasley. You haven't seen me since dinner yesterday."
She flushed slightly, remembering their last real encounter and their last encounter which happened in Ginny's stupid mind.
He smirked looking at her pink face, "Or am I?" He said as if reading her mind.
"Don't flatter yourself." She said, mocking him, yet her cheeks remained pink.
He came closer to her, "Drooble?" he asked, taking a small packet from his trouser pocket.
Ginny looked as if he was trying to hand her a dead toad.
"Gods Weasley, it's just gum." he said, opening the packet. As he did, the bag split and pieces of gum when flying everywhere.
"Shit." Draco mumbled, bending to pick them up.
Ginny bent down to help, not wanting to leave the changing rooms a mess. As they scrambled about the floor picking up every piece of gum, their hands touched on the last bit. Ginny felt a sudden rush of heat fill her body as she turned to look at Draco. His grey eyes were looking at her, but there was no smugness or hatred. He was looking deep into her brown eyes. She stood up and turned away feeling something she hadn't felt in a long time. She stepped away taking a deep breath, trying to shake the feeling.
"I should go." She mumbled, bending down to pick up her broom. She felt flustered.
"Stay." She felt Draco's warm breath on her hear as she stood up.
She turned to look at him, but before she could speak their lips touched and the cold air around her became warm. The energy flowing through her was electric and any negative she had earlier melted at his touch.