Title: Amour Mystere
Rating: T for language
Pairing: Draco/Ginny
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Full Summary: Pride is the only thing you have left when your dignity, power, and sense of reality is stripped away slowly, leaving you broken from the inside
As the world gets ready to engage in the oncoming war, Ginny is stuck inside the castle, restless, and needing to feel a change in her life. Draco stays in fear that the Dark Lord will finally discover that he doesn't support the cause. They clash in the most cliché of ways…. Detention. Yet, it doesn't end there.
A/N: Thank you to both Alexandria malfoy and dimethylmercury for beta'ing my fic, or I would never have finished! This was written for the DG Fic Exchange on LJ for lyndsiefenele! I'm glad you liked it! This is the first chapter in a five part story; and guess what? It's finished. Read & Review!
…
Chapter 1
If I was truly honest with myself, which I wasn't, I would truly admit that being at Hogwarts and acting like a good little princess while the rest of the world, or your family, is fighting in a war against infinite odds didn't really thrill me. Because in times like this, you really can'tbe honest with yourself. Pride is the only thing you have left when your dignity, power, and sense of reality is stripped away slowly, leaving you broken from the inside; you can only rely on your pride to step up and not let you fall into pieces at your adversaries' feet. With the war raging right outside the walls of the ancient castle, you can practically cut the tension — seventh years longing to fight in the war, trying to prove their potential; fifth years, Slytherin and Gryffindor alike, trying to protect the innocent at heart; and small first and second years who try to live a normal life while everyday, black owls swarm the castle and land in front of poor souls. It's sad these days as we watch students' faces crumble when they read that deathly note: the realization that their family is dead while they are stuck inside the stronghold meant to protect the students, with no real way to truly be comforted by those you love.
When a first year receives that owl, it's truly tragic watching them, aghast and staring in disbelief at the parchment, before their small faces crumple in grief and they take on a mourning expression way beyond their years. We try and comfort them, all of us here. The whole castle, even the teachers (with the exception of the Carrows) and rumored Death Eater children, has reached a sort of truce as we watch the poor kids. They don't torment us, we don't torment them. It's a set, invisible rule that we all respect. After all, we are only kids; the whole world is out there fighting. Even the likes of Draco Malfoy, who was thought to have a heart of ice and stone, showed he did know what was at stake.
…
As I patrolled the halls on Wednesday night, I heard a soft rustle of footsteps and peered into a small alcove. Another rule in a castle that was wracked with grief is that whenever we catch a small unsuspecting person, we just send them on their way; no questions asked and no points take away. No one ever ventures into abandoned corridors to meet anymore, or walks around trying to avoid Filch on a dare. Peeves still has his fun, even if it is toned down. It's the highlight of our day as we watch him prank the horrid Carrows before they try to curse him as he just cackles and disappears.
In the small alcove, I found a hidden room. Cozy and clean, it was warm and gave a nice sense of security and silence. As I was about to move on, a blonde head moved from behind a couch and I turned in shock from behind the curtain to see Draco Malfoy talking quietly to small Jimmy Peakes, his blue eyes wide with shock and glistening with terrified tears. I took a step forward but halted and tried to listen.
"Walk quickly…" the Slytherin prince murmured, quickly glancing toward the waving curtain every few seconds.
"Go back to you room, don't leave…"
"But…"
"It's dangerous… your mates should know that…"
"Don't wander about anymore, Peakes…"
Stifling a gasp, I turned to flee. Malfoy's face was a complete mask, but his tragically beautiful grey eyes glowed with fear, panic, and… compassion?
Quickly, I dashed down the halls, red hair flying, as I hurried to finish my patrol in hopes of receiving a good night's sleep and never run into the Slytherin prince again. Turning a corner, I slammed right into… Draco Malfoy.
Of course. Damn.
"Well, if it isn't the little Weaslette," he smirked condescendingly, but something was bothering him. They say the eyes are the windows to your soul and I certainly believe that. Harry's emerald eyes always sparkled with grief and, in contradiction, happiness. You could practically see his life reflected through them. Mine were always said to be warm and open for the entire world to read. Malfoy was no different. Even though his face was an incredibly blank canvas, save for the slight smirk, his eyes still glowed with… something. I didn't have the energy to respond and just inclined my head,
"Malfoy." I pushed myself up quickly, warily watching Malfoy's lithe body as I straightened.
"What?" he sneered, "Did the poor Weasley clan leave their precious wittle princess here while Perfect Potter and his sidekicks are off saving the world?"
"As a matter of fact, yes they did." I sent him an overly sweet, sugar-coated grin at his disbelieving expression, "Thanks for clearing that up." I guess Malfoy pride came to his rescue as the shocked expression washed from his face, and he moved closer to me. I could smell the subtle scent of his obviously verymanly cologne.
"Little girls shouldn't be walking around at this time, especially little Weaslettes," he murmured, invading my personal space. My head screamed for me to move as I remembered all too well what happened the last time I let someone get near my body, and my heart. I flinched, taking a shaky step back, eyes wide, and I fled, mind racing.
Not Tom, not again…
…
"Ginny! Ginny, wake up!"
A hand pressed urgently on my shoulder, jostling it as I slept.
"Gin, please! We are going to be late for Carrows'!"
I snapped up, head spinning as I turned to the stupid clock over at my bedside.
"Oh, damn it!" I screeched, flying out of bed as I tried to pull on some more or less presentable clothes and brush my teeth at the same time. I ended up, instead, on the floor with both legs in one pant leg, toothpaste in my hair, face, and everywhere that it was obviously not supposed to be, with a lone sock stuck to the left side of my face with static. I wasn't always the best at multitasking. The girl near my bed sniggered, flopping onto the sheets and counting the cracks in the Gryffindor Tower ceiling as I hurried to assemble a presentable idea of myself.
"Shut up, Cas!" I panicked, trying to pull on my robes while brushing the tangled mass of knots in my impossibly thick hair. She chose not to comment, and instead, resumed counting (137) while I finally combed my gigantic knot of hair into a presentable ponytail and smoothed down my black robes. There was a stain on my right shoulder, but I couldn't bring myself to care. Staring at the clock, I nearly fainted in horror.
"Bugger, we are going to be so late!" Dashing down the stairs with Cassidy at my heels, I flew into the common room, eyes wild.
"Shite, shite, shite!" I hissed. "Why the hell didn't you wake me up earlier?"
She shrugged. "You needed the sleep."
"What I don't need is a stupid detention!" I cried hysterically. The infuriating girl just smirked, pulling black hair into a ponytail swiftly and pointed to the notice board,
Dark Arts class will be canceled for Tuesday at 8:30 and rescheduled for Thursday during the Sixth year's free period.
Amycus Carrow
I gasped as the panic washed away, only to be channeled into unbridled anger at my dorm mate.
"AND YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THIS, BECAUSE?" I glared, eyes crackling, enunciating each syllable slowly and deliberately.
She just shrugged, not caring, and said, "I didn't see a reason to. Are you done now? I want to eat." She picked at a small hole in her robe sleeve, unconcerned. Why the heck was this girl my friend?
"Anyway," she continued. "You still have to finish the potions essay during breakfast and — don't look at me like that!" Oh right, that's why. Homework had always seemed insignificant to me. Why study when the real world is just at your fingertips?
"I'm not hungry," I snarled. I knew I was being immature, but I was in no mood to allow defeat. Of course my empty stomach decided to finally make an appearance and rumble quite loudly in the empty common room. Slanting an amused look at said stomach, she dashed through the portrait hole to the Great Hall. I had no choice but to follow, lest Cass get into even more trouble with her care-free attitude. I always admired how she was able to just get up and have fun, even in a time of crisis. She nearly surpassed the twins' record with how many detentions she got, but that didn't stop her, even now, from trying to boost everyone's considerably low spirits.
As I leisurely made it to the Great Hall (just to annoy her some more) my eyes naturally, or unnaturally, flew to a shock of white blonde hair as he laughed out loud with his cronies. At least they can laugh at a time of sadness, I couldn't help but think. I shook my head in confusion and kept walking, keeping my eyes resolutely forward as I quickly strode past him. There was a burst of rowdy laughter behind me, punctured by the high-pitched squeals of that pig, Parkinson. I walked quicker, knowing that I was their victim, the rousing joke that started their laughter. Probably about my appearance again, I sighed and walked through the doors, where Cassidy greeted me. If I had turned around, I just might've noticed Draco's quick glance as he smirked to his friends and sneered about the Dark Lord. I might've noticed how he sent a futile look in my direction before sitting down. But, of course, I remained oblivious as I sat with my back to the Slytherins. I thought I knew everything, was wary of everything, but maybe I was wrong.
