Welcome everyone to Something to Believe in, a sequel/companion to The Power of Love. While it isn't imperative that you read POL, some characters and situations are alluded to in this story. It might help you all to read that one first, if you haven't already. Although, in this prologue we have done something that we've never seen done: our prologue is an excerpt from POL, to set the scene for all of you. The story will pick up from graduation night after this point!
James and I [Marina are excited to have you with us here! Please read, review, and, above all, enjoy! We have a nice little deal that three reviews in one chapter will get you a brand new chapter!! So take advantage of it!
Have a wonderful weekend! And especially, a very happy, healthy Eid!
Marina & James
Christmas had been a small affair and for that, Pansy was glad. She'd only had a little bit of money and had ended up settling on getting Goyle a couple of books on protective charms that he has asked for. In return he had been overly generous, giving her a journal in which to write her thoughts, enough chocolate to kill the Giant Squid, and a jade necklace that hung beautifully around her neck.
Days passed and they began to fall into a routine with the Order members and others who were assigned to guard them. After a week, the students began to return from their holiday and more people were put into rotation. At first nothing had changed, Pansy and Goyle got to know each other, drank tea, and studied a bit for NEWTS. But by the next week, Pansy was undeniably in the thick of morning sickness. Every morning, every evening, she was leaned over the toilet bowl, heaving up everything she had consumed that day. In turn, she had actually lost weight instead of gained it as Madame Pomfrey had wanted.
This particular evening, after the first day of classes had ended for the day, Pansy was lying on the couch her arm wrapped around her roiling stomach. Goyle was getting them dinner, or so she thought...she hadn't exactly been paying attention as he tried to explain where he would be. But the newest rotation of guards was coming within a few minutes, she'd be fine...that was, if she survived this wave of nausea.
Blond hair was easily brushed aside from covering the eyes of Draco Malfoy. He smirked as he walked down the hall. Damn that Potter, he'd gotten his revenge for Draco's part in killing Dumbledore, and Draco wasn't at all happy about it. He stopped in front of the door he had been told to go through, but he hesitated. He knew there were two guards out here and they had been told he'd be stopping by. Hopefully they'd remembered so he wouldn't get hexed. After a moment he raised his hand and knocked on the large oak door. Time to face the music.
A soft knocking on the door broke her out of her moaning. She pressed a hand to her belly as she slowly made her way to the door; damn, if she wasn't so ill, maybe she could have thought a bit about what she was doing before she opened the door and came face to face with Draco Malfoy. Gasping, she lurched back, "No!" She cried, almost stumbling back but his arms came around her. Damn, she was even too weak to scream...all she could do was wrap her arms around herself and pray that Goyle would return soon.
Draco had been quick enough to catch Pansy before she fell backwards, thankfully. If anything happened to the baby inside of her he'd be toasted, roasted and then tossed out like last week's treacle tart. He smirked in that usual Malfoy way. "So, I see the big lug really did knock you up." His voice was condescending as usual. Draco's eyes roamed over her as he stepped into the room and closed the door with a foot before releasing her, "So, Pansy, nice to see you again."
Righting herself, she stepped back, grasping for her wand...but damn, she couldn't use magic! Her child...it was all for her child. "What are you doing here, Malfoy? You're not supposed to know where I am, where we are!" Another wave of nausea hit and she sat down, gasping against the breaths that came in labored spurts. Her blue eyes clouded with fear as she looked back at him, "Do what you want to me, but don't hurt my child...please, Malfoy, if you ever cared for me, please."
Draco laughed, he actually laughed at her. It took a few minutes to calm down, and once he got himself under control again, he had to wipe away a tear from his eye. He'd never laughed that hard before. His eyes narrowed and he glared hard at Pansy, "Like I'd ever want you again. I don't go for sloppy seconds…or in this case sloppy thirds." He turned to look at their quarters for a moment before turning back to her. "Besides, you're pregnant. I don't do pregnant." His hand ran over the back of the couch. It was ratty and old, just like most of the faculty dorms had. Far beneath anything a Malfoy would own. "Oh how far the mighty have fallen." It was a personal attack on her, playing on her being disowned by her parents. He was good at head games, best to stick to what he knew.
Pansy couldn't use her wand but she damn well could throw things at him. Grabbing the cup of tea from the counter and hurled at him, hot tea and all, "You slimy bastard!" She snapped, still keeping her arms wrapped around her waist. Grabbing another teacup she sent that hurling at him too, "Don't you dare insult me or my child. I know what you were trying to do...I know everything!" Exhaustion came over her just because she had moved and she barely made it to the chair before her legs buckled under her. "If you're not here to kill me, what are you doing here?"
Draco made a quick movement to the left and then to the right. Damn girls and their throwing things! Now his robes were wet, thank Merlin she hadn't gotten any on his face; that would have ruined his looks. He glared at her and felt like smacking her, but if he did, Goyle would likely rip his arms off and beat him to death with them. "Of course I'm not here to kill you. If I were, I'd have done it already. I know you can't use magic just yet." He smiled at her, daring her to put two and two together. "Think about it. I got in here, no struggle; the guards didn't stop me. I knew where to find you. I know you've got a brain," He approached her and tapped her temple, "use it."
Pansy didn't understand at first. He was being a bloody arsehole but he wasn't trying to hurt her, he wasn't screaming or holding her down. Although, when he walked toward her, she visibly recoiled. And still, he did not hurt her; he merely tapped the side of her head as gently as could be. "Malfoy, don't play games with me," She said dejectedly, "Can't you see that I'm ill?"
Malfoy threw up his hands in resignation. "Maybe I had it wrong the whole time. Maybe you were the dumb one. I mean, Goyle fooled us all pretty good. I bet he'd figure it out." He smirked menacingly at the girl before deciding to sit himself down in a chair. "Nice hostess you are by the way. You did a good job there offering me tea on the go but you forgot to offer me a seat." When it was obvious she wasn't going to use this stalling time to figure out what he was doing there, he gave up altogether. "Oh bugger! I'm here to protect you. It's my first day of being the inner guard and all. My partner, if you can call them that, should be here soon."
Tears ran down her cheeks as Pansy turned away from him. As if on cue, a shock of red hair bounced through the doorway. Freckled cheeks tightened with a frown as Ginny Weasley made her way into the antechamber of the room. Anger surged through her, "Bloody hell, Malfoy!" She snapped, storming over to where Pansy sat, sniffling in her chair. "What the hell did you do?!"
Draco turned to see who his partner was going to be for the evening. Before he got a look, he heard the voice and then saw the red hair. Bloody Potter. He was going to hex the supposed savior with a rather nasty bat-bogey hex the next time he saw him, "Weasley!" His voice was filled with loathing. How dare Potter put a Weasley on duty with a Malfoy! It was downright rude. Draco was far above these people. "I can't believe you're going to be my partner. I hope this isn't permanent." Unfortunately, Harry had told Draco before that whoever he got paired with would likely be his regular partner so everyone got used to a scheduled routine.
Growling, she gently rubbed Pansy's back, "It's as permanent as that bloody dick in your pants." She fired back, her hazel eyes filling with anger. Still glaring at him, Ginny grasped her wand. "Pansy may not be able to hex you for another couple of weeks, but I sure can!" Raising her wand, Ginny opened her mouth to speak, but felt a hand on her arm.
"Don't, he's not worth it." Pansy said softly, her arm still firmly resting against her belly. In the weeks prior she had greatly disappointed Madame Pomfrey when she had actually lost two pounds. The woman had put her on a special diet, high in calories and fat...and yet, her belly still felt so hollow. Grabbing another cup of tea, she took a sip and nibbled on a cracker that Minerva McGonagall had recommended. Looking at the two of them, "Are you going to be alright or do I need to get Harry to reassign you?"
Draco glared at Ginny Weasley and felt his hand unconsciously reach for wand. When he realized it, he stopped. "I can tolerate it if she can." He would not be the first to back down, the first to give up. After all, he was a Malfoy. He pulled his wand out of his robes and held it in his hand, best to have it out for guard duty, and in case Weasley got any ideas. "So, what are we supposed to do on this inner guard duty? Potter didn't explain it to me. Maybe he told ickle Ginny-kins though." He laughed; playing her name off the one he'd heard the twins use for her brother Ron.
Ginny folded her arms, "It's pretty simple Malfoy. Not even a dimwit like you could botch this one." Stepping away from Pansy, she flipped her auburn hair from her shoulders, "We make sure no one unauthorized enters this flat. And if they do, we fight to the death protecting Pansy and her unborn child." Glaring harder, she cocked one of her eyebrows, "Think you can handle that, Drakkie-poo?"
Draco sneered at Ginny. So she could counter his verbal assaults, excellent. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. He could at least practice his verbal jousting. "I can handle that. I am a Malfoy. But can you handle it Ginny-kins? I don't think you can. I'll even put money on it, say twenty galleons?" He smiled and laughed. "I know, I know. That's more money than your poor pathetic family sees in a year. But I'm feeling charitable." He kicked his legs up and rested them on the coffee table in front of him and smiled. "This is going to be boring if all I have to look at for the next few hours is you. Potter could have at least given me someone pretty to look at."
Smirking, she shook her head, "I wouldn't waste my time playing your little games, Malfoy. And you shouldn't waste your precious money on them either." Eyes blazing with fury, she didn't let her body reflect the tension. Swiftly, she grasped his legs and pulled them off the coffee table, "Didn't your parents ever tell you not to put your feet on the furniture?" Leaning down, she let her eyes meet his, "Oh I forgot, your parents don't care a thing about you. My mistake..."
Draco was up in an instant with his wand pointing directly at Ginny's pretty little nose. He blinked, had he just thought her nose was pretty? He brushed the thought aside. "Watch how you talk about my parents, blood-traitor. My father might be a right bastard, but my mother is not!" His eyes were a light with anger and he felt a rather nasty curse sitting on the tip of his tongue. "You're not even worth the trouble," he said as he lowered his wand. "You and your hand me down robes and wands; I bet that all used to belong to your mother, didn't it?"
Laughing, she pressed her wand down toward his 'pride and joy', "Blood traitor? That's funny, Draco. Look what side you're on...and then take a look at your father. You're a traitor to your own blood." Tendrils of red hair fell around her face as her lips curled into a smile, "Robes have nothing to do what's inside a person, Draco. Put you in second hand robes and you'd still be the same bloody git you always were. It wouldn't change one thing."
Draco's eyes widened when he felt her wand press...there. He gulped passed a lump in his throat, and his eyes turned pleading. He was turning into the coward he really was when he wasn't hiding behind his family's reputation or the Dark Lord's protection. Because right now he didn't have either of those. "Come on Gin, I was just playing. You wouldn't really hurt me, would you?" He swallowed hard, "Think of what Potter would say...he'd be angry with you for stooping to my level." He was worried...she might say she didn't care what Potter would think. And then where would he be? He dared to hope that she at least didn't know any cutting curses, though having dated Potter last year; he'd probably taught her some. That would be just Draco's luck.
Smirking, she gave him a sultry look, "Of course not, Draco. And it's not because I hold any loyalty to you or even to Harry. It's because I'm not that kind of girl." Stepping back, she tucked her wand in the pocket of her robes. "What would I gain from depriving you of the only thing you seem to be halfway decent at."
Pansy, who had been watching the entire time, cleared her throat meekly. "I think halfway decent is overestimating it a bit." She said, her blue eyes filled with mirth. These two had single-handedly helped her through this night's bought of evening sickness. Smirking, she sat back in her chair, "A gross overestimation indeed." Turnabout was fair play.
Draco's eyes darted between the two girls and he plastered a flirty smirk to his face. "Oh come now, Pansy. You can't honestly expect me to believe that you didn't enjoy it. All the times I made you scream my name?" His face fell then, and his eyes dropped to the floor. "I-I know you didn't enjoy the time I hit you...or when I'd kick you out and treat you like shit afterwards. But...well that was for your own good." He looked up defiantly at them, his stormy grey eyes blazed with anger. They'd somehow managed to get him to reveal things he hadn't wanted to reveal. Damn women, how did they always manage to do that to him?
Pansy flushed underneath the heat of his gaze, "I was supposed to marry you, and I didn't want you to get a complex." He'd brought her to orgasm maybe twice, and each time they had been very short lived…mostly because he often threw her out before she had finished. Running her fingers through her dark hair, she shrugged, "I guess I should thank you then, Draco." It was almost frightening how sincere she was, "You could've done the Dark Lord's work…it could be your child that I'm carrying." Swallowing, she turned away again, "You inadvertently gave me everything I ever wanted out of life. I have a man I love, a child, a future. So, thank you."
Draco could only stare at her. She was thanking him? For all the terrible things he'd done? Sure, he'd been overly mean and rough with her, he'd even hit her. But, he'd done it to protect her, figuring maybe if he treated her like shit, she'd leave him and get out of all this. He'd long ago resigned himself to being like his father, it was expected after all but that didn't mean he wanted to see her in the thick of danger. "Y-You're welcome. Glad to see it worked." Draco stood up and glared at them for a moment. "I'm going to get something from the kitchens. Want me to bring anything back?"
Looking at the clock on the wall, Pansy sighed. "I thought Goyle was going to get food but I don't know. He left a while ago when I was feeling sick. I don't know where he went…" Maybe he had gone to talk to Crabbe or, who knew, maybe even Madame Pomfrey about her awful morning sickness. But either way, she was hungry and needed to take advantage of that while she still could. "Bloody hell, if I'm supposed to carry a fifteen pound baby, someone ought to feed me before I wither away." For some reason, whenever her sickness dissipated, she was suddenly ravenous all over again. It was a vicious cycle that she couldn't wait to be done with. "I just hope he's okay..."
Draco had been just about to reach for the door handle when it swung open on its own. Before anyone saw who it was on the other side, Gregory Goyle had Draco pinned the wall by his throat, held a good three inches off the ground. In his other hand, he held tray of food teetering precariously on his fingers. His eyes glared at Draco and he squeezed a little harder. "What the bloody hell are you doing here? How did you get past the guards?" Draco could only sputter and choke as his face started to turn blue. Goyle looked over to Pansy, seeing the tear streaks on her cheeks, and then slammed Draco against the wall; it felt good to cause him pain. "What the hell did you do to my girl?"
Pansy stood, "Gregory!" She gasped, quickly stepping forward and taking the tray from him. Malfoy could wait; she'd seen him turn worse colors before. As soon as the food was safely balanced on the counter, she grasped her boyfriend's arm, "It's alright! I'm fine. He didn't do anything. Malfoy and Ginny are on inner guard detail," She explained quickly. Ginny stepped forward as well, although she didn't dare get as close as Pansy, "She's telling the truth, Goyle, Harry sent us here...Malfoy's on our side."
Goyle sputtered and then glared at Draco. "You're one of the guards?" He pulled the boy away from the wall and shifted to holding him up by his collar. The blond boy took in a deep breath and coughed a bunch of times, still unable to talk. "What the hell is Harry thinking? Draco's one of them! He's probably acting the spy for them right now." He slammed Draco against the wall again, and then looked at the two girls. "I don't suppose either of you know Legilimency or have any Veritaserum?"
Wrapping her small hand tighter around his arm, she brought the other one to rest on her abdomen, "Goyle, look at the facts. Malfoy wasn't shagging me every night like he was supposed to, he wasn't using the sticking charms, he was pushing me away, not drawing me closer, and Harry isn't daft. He has been able to defeat the Dark Lord for a reason." She said quietly, letting her words wash between them. "Do you think I would let him anywhere near our child if I thought he was dangerous, love?"
Gregory stared at Pansy for a long time; she was right. He couldn't argue against that kind of logic. He turned to stare at Draco, who was still coughing but had a look of utter fear in his eyes. He growled and then let him drop to the floor. The blond boy crumpled and spent a long time in a ball coughing, and what sounded like crying. That almost made Goyle smile; he'd made Draco Malfoy cry. Gregory's attention, however, was turned to Pansy. "Why were you crying then if he didn't do anything?"
It was better to not let Goyle get overly upset again, "Oh Gregory, I'm pregnant! I don't need a reason to cry," She chuckled and stood on tiptoe to give him a chaste kiss on the lips. Wiping her face, she let a smile play on her lips, "Now come, I'm starved. Draco, Ginny, you're welcome to eat with us."
Ginny didn't know why but she felt sorry for the boy. Leaning down, she pressed a gentle hand to his back. Gripping his arm, she hoisted him to standing, "Up we go, Malfoy. This is no time to be whining like a first year. You said you were hungry, now come on." She wouldn't play nursemaid to his bruised ego, not a chance; but, she could at least be cordial. They did, after all, have to get along...for all their sakes.
Gregory glared at Ginny for being nice to Draco. He didn't think the boy deserved it, not even if he'd turned over a new leaf and had secretly been working to keep Pansy safe. The things he'd done to get to that point justified more than a few beatings. He sat down next to Pansy and went about the process of eating and making sure she did the same.
Draco glared at Goyle and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. It took him a moment to realize Ginny had been the one to help him up, and he jerked himself away from her. "I...don't need...your...pity." His words were raspy and broken with coughs every now and then.
Ginny frowned and let go of Draco's arm, "It's not pity, you fool," She snapped. "Maybe if you weren't so self-absorbed you could see that I'm trying to help you. But Merlin forbid you actually say thank you." Turning away, she seated herself on the other side of Pansy. "Thank you for the invitation. I must say, I'm famished, having missed dinner myself."
Pansy couldn't thank Goyle enough. He had brought back all of her favorites: turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and a wide variety of desserts. He had told her in no uncertain terms that he was going to make sure she gained weight; she was far too thin as it was and it wasn't healthy for her or their child. Well, she had no trouble following orders tonight. She ate hungrily, filling her plate to the brim and then adding desserts. She even finished two glasses of pumpkin juice, a real feat for her. "This is delicious," She said, eating with gusto. Maybe it wouldn't be too long until she swelled after all.
Draco glared at them all as a series of purple bruises in the shape of Goyle's hand around his throat started to develop. He rubbed his throat tenderly, wincing every now and then. He sat down on a chair apart from the other three, and looked down at his shoes. Bloody hell, this was painful. He looked up at Ginny and grumbled for a moment before reaching out and grabbing a piece of turkey and slowly chewing on it. Swallowing hurt more than anything else. It felt like molten metal pouring down his throat every time the muscles of his throat contracted.
Gregory smirked as he watched Pansy finally eating more than a few bites without tossing it all back up within minutes. Maybe she was finally starting to get the hang of this morning sickness thing. He reached over and kissed the side of her neck before shooting Draco a look that said 'You fool. You had this, and you blew it. Thanks.' Goyle pulled away and started to slowly eat something himself. He had cut back recently on how much he was eating, thanks to Pansy, and was doing more exercise, tuning more of the fat he was known for, into muscle. In a matter of months he'd probably not even look the same, but that was okay. Anything was better than being as big as he had been.
Draco looked at Ginny in shock for a moment; she had just drawn her wand on him. Was she going to hex him after all? He watched with bated breath until she cured his neck of the welts and the pain. It was like a cool tingling running over and through his throat until it was done. He shivered and ran a hand over his neck, testing it. After a moment he looked up at her and mumbled, "Thank you", though it was barely audible. He stood up and turned, walking to the wall near the door and leaned against it. Best to be by the door if that's where intruders might enter from.
"Don't mention it...ever," She said, taking her place opposite him. They'd be here all night, she may as well make nice. Tomorrow was her day without classes; she'd waived her need for charms and herbology. Instead of those useless classes, she was apprenticing with Madame Pomfrey and taking advanced potions with the seventh years. She just hoped, before too long, she'd know a few simple healing spells on the battlefield and maybe she'd even be a mediwitch for a while. Looking over at Pansy, she folded her arms, "Do you get sick often, Pansy?"
Looking up from her work clearing off the counter, she nodded. "Twice a day at least, I'll be alright for a few hours and then I'll be sick all over again." Sitting herself down on the couch, she let out a heavy sigh, "It's taking its toll on me, as you can believe. And Madame Pomfrey said this will happen for another couple of months...I'm sure I'll be ready to pull my wand on myself by that point."
Goyle looked over at Pansy and frowned. "I won't let you pull your wand on yourself. I'll just have to find a way to take your mind off the sickness..." he let that thought trail into a sly smile. She could come to her own conclusions, and he doubted she'd be confused by what he meant. He winked, and then took a long swig of pumpkin juice. After a moment he turned back to Ginny. "So, I heard you were apprenticing with Madam Pomfrey. That true? How's that going for you?"
Ginny smiled softly, "I enjoy it very much. Poppy is a very skilled mediwitch and I've learned a lot from her, in many respects." Blushing, she looked down at her feet, "If you want, I know a couple of tricks, muggle ones that might help your sickness." It was a long shot that purebloods would be interested in muggle remedies but Ginny wanted to help in any way she could. "They're safe, and Madame Pomfrey told me that if you want, I could show you."
Pansy looked up from her lap, "Lord, I'm willing to try anything at this point." A week into morning sickness and she was way past readying. Standing up again, she leaned down, giving Goyle a small kiss on the lips, "I know you wouldn't let me pull a wand on myself, love." She said gently, "And by the time you can use those techniques, the sickness will be gone."
Gregory blushed deeply. Sure, he'd been verbally teasing Pansy in front of Draco and Ginny, but he hadn't really expected her to do so back to him. He cast a glare at Draco and then stood up. "I'll let you ladies do your thing. I'm going up to bed, love." He hugged Ginny, kissed Pansy, and then turned and glared at Draco again, "Malfoy." With that he walked up the small stairs and to the bedroom he shared with Pansy.
Draco couldn't be happier that Goyle had left the room. He'd be even happier when Pansy left. Then he'd be alone with Ginny...wait a second. Why was he looking forward to being alone with Ginny Weasley? It must have been because she was pleasant to him, while the other two were down right mean. Or he must have just wanted to be away from them and Ginny was better company anyway. That had to be it. Couldn't possibly be any other reason...could it?
Ginny chuckled as she pulled a list from her robes. "Any of these herbs will help, especially in your tea and the muggles have these little bracelets you wear on your arms and they supposedly help with all sorts of sicknesses. I'll tell Poppy to bring some for you at your appointment next week." Looking at the clock on the wall she was shocked that it was almost midnight. "Now, I don't mean to be bossy but morning sickness can often be worse when you're overtired. So, off to bed you go!"
Pansy chuckled, biting back a yawn, "Come to think of it, I am very tired. Should you ever have children, you'll understand what I mean." Cocking an eyebrow, she smirked, "What am I saying? You're a Weasley." Both girls burst into a fit of giggles and Pansy had to resist the urge to hug the redheaded girl as she made her way to the bedroom.
Draco watched Pansy share a laughing moment with Ginny before she decided to turn in for the night. He stared at the wall clock and then back at Ginny, "How much longer until our replacements arrive? Potter never told me how long these shifts would be." He was getting even angrier at the Boy-Who-Lived as the night progressed. He'd thrown him into a horrible situation with filthy people without any information at all. He was going to hex him over and over again until he felt better...which would be sometime in the next decade.
Looking over at him she frowned again, "Not for a while yet. We don't get relieved until after breakfast tomorrow." Hadn't Draco listened when Harry made the announcement at the meeting? Pansy and Goyle were in very great danger, and it was partly Draco's fault. Hadn't he helped switch her birth control? Hadn't he been meant to sire this child? Folding her arms, she looked down at her scuffed boots, "Malfoy...did you really hit her?"
Draco looked at Ginny before crossing his arms insolently. "It was the only thing I could think of doing to get her to leave me. I tried everything. I was mean to her, rough in bed, and I always kicked her out, treated her like shit. But she kept hanging on and coming back for more. It was like she just didn't see the signs!" He threw his arms up in frustration before stomping over to a chair and sitting down with his back to Ginny. He stared at the fire for a moment before speaking again. "I was so angry that night, I'd tried everything and she still came to my bed. And I knew if she didn't leave soon, get the hell away from me, they'd get her. She'd fall right into their plans. I'd done all I could to keep it all from happening. But you can only do so much before things stop going your way. So I lost it, I yelled at her, called her all sorts of names and told we were through. But she just stood their teary eyed and she wouldn't leave! So I did the only thing I could think of..." A ragged breath tore from his chest, "I don't think she's ever been hit that hard before."
A sick feeling welled inside of Ginny as she cast a silencing a charm to ensure they didn't disturb Pansy and Goyle. Walking after him, she stared him down, "I believe you were trying to help her, Malfoy. And she forgives you. So, then what can anyone do about it?" She had some sort of git-radar that told her that Draco was agonizing over this. "But that doesn't explain why you were goading her when I walked in here." Softening her voice, she took a seat down next to him, "She's already pregnant. It's over… they can't force you on her anymore." Staring into the leaping flames, she sighed, "So stop beating yourself up."
Draco examined her profile and stood once again. He was taller than her, almost a full head. His eyes narrowed. "I goaded her because it's what I do. I'm Draco bloody Malfoy! If I didn't come up with some snide comment or treat everyone like shit, you'd all want to know who I was and what I'd done with the real Draco. Old habits die hard." He turned away from her and walked over to the fire. He reached out to put another log in and stoked it for a bit. "Besides, I don't want her anymore. I haven't wanted her for a year now. But I couldn't just call everything off or I'd have to deal with my dad...and worse, the Dark Lord." Draco visible shivered at the thought of having to face down Voldemort. "I've seen the Dark Lord angry at his followers enough times to know what happens. I'd die of fright if his wrath ever caught up with me. I don't how Potter can face him time and time again. And what's more, how does he always manage to survive when fully trained Death Eaters last no more than a minute."
Laughing, Ginny folded her arms, "Oh and you think Pansy wants you back? Are you blind and stupid Malfoy?" The boy was trying to intimidate her, standing taller than her, glaring down at her. But didn't he know that she had six brothers who tried the exact same thing and had failed miserably all her life? "You may have missed it but she loves Goyle and he loves her back. That transcends all else, Malfoy." A dark emotion flickered in her eyes, "I know what your father is and I know far better than you who Tom Riddle is. Don't forget what they've done to me as well." She was not some simpering girl...she was Tom Riddle's eternal victim. She was meant to die by him, to become part of him...instead, she had survived. And some days, she almost wished she hadn't. "I hear him sometimes in my dreams, calling to me." Why was she telling him this? It was none of his business and she was sure that he'd use it to hurt her later. And yet, she couldn't stop it from spilling out of her, "He gets into my mind and he tells me over and over that he wants me, that he misses me." It was how Tom had gotten to her the first time, by playing her friend, her trusted confidante. "So if you think I don't understand your wanting to push people away...you're dead wrong Draco."
Draco stared at her for a moment before giving a noncommittal grunt. He turned to stare back at the fire. She'd been Voldemort's intended host in his second year, but Potter had saved her and almost died in the process. She'd seen just a fraction of what Voldemort could do, he'd only sent a basilisk out to kill mudbloods and had tried to posses her. She had yet to see Voldemort's full fury. Part of him hoped she never have to face that. He knew of fully grown, highly trained wizards and witches far more powerful than she'd ever be who had broken under the horrors that Voldemort used on them. Some had never recovered, some hadn't survived; but all of them were scarred for life. Draco turned to face her and watched her for a long moment, not saying anything. One hand reached over to his opposite forearm, and scratched the place where the Dark Mark sat on it. He'd never be able to get rid of the mark, why had he ever agreed to take it? "Do you ever wish Potter hadn't come to save you? Or that he would have been too late to do anything?"
Ginny let out a desperate laugh that almost sounded like a sob, but there were no tears in her eyes. Only pain and rage resided there, "All the time. I wish that I didn't have to live my life in constant fear of becoming his again. If only I had not been so young, so naive, maybe I could've fought him. But I know that's not true. I could never have fought him and I never did fight him...and for that, I'm as terrible as your father."
Draco scowled at her, the foolish girl comparing herself to his father. She had never had a choice in it, his father sure as hell had. "You're as daft as your brother if that's what you think. You never had a choice in the matter. I know for a fact my father was the one who planted the diary in your things. I was there when he did it. You never stood a chance. He had a choice, lots of them, and he chose this. You weren't given the choice, and you still turned out good." He walked right up to her and pointed a finger at her, poking her in the nose with it. "Don't ever compare yourself to that bastard."
His finger against her nose made her well with anger. Grabbing the offending finger, she held tight, "Aren't I though? I did have a choice, I did, and I chose Tom Riddle." Bending his finger back just enough to cause pain, she growled at him, "Maybe I didn't kill them myself, but he worked through me. I killed them too!"
Draco yelped slightly as his finger was wrenched back. He quickly reached out with seeker reflexes and snagged her wrist, twisting it so she was forced to let go of his finger. He grabbed her robes, spun her around and pinned her to the wall. "You don't get it do you Weasley? The Dark Lord is one of the most powerful wizards ever to walk this planet. When he took control, you never stood a chance. Only someone like Dumbledore, or maybe even Potter could resist that man. And they planned it all out. They knew you had a thing for Potter and would be too distracted by those feelings to realize what was going on. You are an innocent, a mere pawn in the machinations of the truly evil people in this world." He drew his face within inches of hers. "Despite being a poor, pathetic Weasley, you're still a good person. One of the best I've ever had the misfortune of laying my eyes upon. Don't spoil it with a false guilty conscience." His eyes looked into hers, and then down at her lips. A brief thought entered his mind, what would it be like to kiss them? Why was he thinking that?
His words spilled over her and she flinched as he grasped her wrist and pushed her against the wall. Her eyes to his stormy grey ones and then down just a tad to where his lips were moving. What was he saying? Something about her being innocent and a good person, "I'm sure you believe that." She might very well have been the best person he'd ever really talked to. But that didn't make her ready for the order of Merlin. He was staring at her now, silence between them...she felt herself flushing, heating up in his grasp. Was her body really on fire? Looking down, she realized that yes, it really WAS the fire. Gasping, she pushed him back, "Malfoy!" Tearing off the robe, she did a dousing spell which quickly extinguished the flame. Standing there in little more than a muggle tank top and her skirt she frowned, wrapping her arms around herself. "Turn around, Malfoy! I won't have you staring at me while I'm half naked!"
Malfoy jumped back when he realized he'd managed to catch her robes on fire and she pushed him back. He watched as she doused the flames, and stood there practically naked before him. He smiled; she was quite the looker when he got passed his prejudices. His eyes roamed over her for a moment, even after she had told him to turn around. "Why, Weasley? Afraid I'll see something I might like? A little too late for that. Now I see what Potter saw in you all this time." His grin turned to a leering smile as he undressed her the rest of the way with his eyes. "I must say, Quidditch did you good."
Blushing several shades darker than her auburn hair, she frowned. "You sodding bastard!" He made her feel so exposed the way he was looking her up and down, staring at her. No man had ever looked at her like this...no, not since Tom. It was no use, no matter how tightly she wrapped her arms around her chest, she couldn't hide her figure. Voluminous robes always managed to make her look thicker than she was, not at all the curvy, busty woman she had become over the years. "Fine Malfoy, take a good long look...but fair's fair." Storming over to him, she grabbed him by the collar and ripped the school robes right off him in one sweeping movement. Two could play this game.
Draco smiled as she pulled his own robes off. "Guess you're looking for something you might like too?" He wasn't the least bit embarrassed. You didn't shag half the female population and still retain the ability to become embarrassed or self conscious when exposed to a girl. Besides, his body was lean and toned, the body of a Seeker. He smiled at her and struck a mock pose. "Fair is fair." She was still standing very close to him; maybe she hadn't realized it yet. His eyes traveled over her again and he took a couple steps to close the gap between them. "Does it do anything for you? You like looking?" His right hand reached up and traced a line down her jaw.
Eyes darted around, taking in all of him. She was very nice looking, all planes and hard muscles and maleness. Honestly, she didn't see anything she didn't like…but she wasn't about to tell him that. He'd probably get an even bigger ego and Merlin forbid it popped and splattered all over her. The feeling of his silky hand on her jaw made her shiver. "What do you think?" She asked softly, moving closer to him.
Draco smirked, he was getting to her. He still had it. His hand closed over her jaw, holding her tightly after she started to move closer to him and he looked at her eyes. He had been wondering, time to find out what they felt like. He closed the gap between them closely, almost touching his lips to hers. He knew she could kiss; she'd been caught more than once making out with Potter last year. It was time to see if she was as good as the rumors said. His free arm snaked around her waist, pulling her closer to him. How had they ended up like this? He didn't care any more, just as long as it continued to feel as good as it did right now.
The beauty of silencing charms was that Pansy and Goyle had no idea what was going on outside these doors. The downside was that Draco and Ginny could hear exactly what went on in there. The bed creaked, followed by heavy footsteps and the gut-wrenching sound of Pansy hurling up the night's supper followed by the grunt of her boyfriend getting up to make sure she was alright.
Ginny pulled back, "No, this is wrong. We have a job to do." She said, feeling tightness in her chest. She wanted to kiss him so badly...but the sounds of Pansy's violent retching spoiled the mood quite thoroughly.
Draco grumbled and let her go. His sour mood and face were quickly replaced by a smirk and a self assured laugh. "I see nothing wrong with it. But whatever," He pulled out his wand and cast a quick 'reparo' on his robes before slipping them back on. "There's always next time." He could see it in her eyes, she wanted him. He felt better now about his prowess, although right now he was cursing Pansy and Goyle for ruining the mood.
Rolling her eyes, she sat back on the couch. "Just because you light me on fire and do a little sweet talking doesn't mean I'm going to shag you." Anger laced her words but she wasn't angry at him, she was angry at herself for feeling this way. She wanted him, she really did...but hadn't everything her family and her friends ever told her been to stay away from the Malfoys? But then, when had she ever listened to reason? "We're here to do a job, Malfoy. That's it. If you want to court me, you can do it on your own time. Pansy and Goyle come first." She hadn't said no...
Draco smiled. She was going to play hard to get. Make it a challenge for him, huh? Good, he liked a good challenge. And he'd love to see the look on Potter's face when he finally got Ginny in the sack. Oh that would make it worth the beating he'd most assuredly receive, and not just from Potter, from her brothers as well. But it'd be worth it. Besides, she might even be good at it. He sat down in his chair he'd all but claimed and watched her, "My own time, huh? Alright then, dinner tomorrow night. We don't have to come back on duty until the day after." It was given as a command, but the question was in his gaze. He wouldn't force her, he'd only done stuff like that to Pansy and he didn't feel like recreating this little situation again.
Had Draco Malfoy really just asked her to dinner? Looking into his eyes she noticed the question there, the desire...he had told her to come to dinner, but his body language was asking her. "You sure you want to spend your free day with a blood traitor?" She queried, challenging him to think about what he was doing. Smirking, she sat back, "Dinner it is. But you better make it worth my time. Don't forget I'm too poor to afford good food...even if I do have expensive taste." She was taunting him, deliberately teasing and playing. She just hoped he understood what he was getting himself into; it wasn't just a date, it was decades of bad blood between their families, her brothers, the Dark Lord…all of it would be looming over their head.
Draco watched her for a moment as she spoke and then leaned back confidently and smiled. "You said it yourself earlier, Weasley. I'm a blood traitor now too, may as well start being around others of my kind." She was challenging him, and he was well ready to rise to it. "Oh, I think you'll enjoy this. There's a new restaurant opened up in Hogsmeade for the rich pureblooded crowd. We'll go there at four, before the dinner rush." He smiled again as his eyes roamed over her once more. "Wear something nice. I may be a blood traitor but I still have a reputation to uphold."
Frowning, she folded her arms over her chest, "Draco, I don't have anything nice to wear! Unless you're itching for me to pull out my Yule Ball gown from three years ago and I've grown since then!" She'd actually grown quite a bit...she was tall now, not quite as tall as him but the top of her head brushed his chin if they stood front to front. "Perhaps Pansy has something I can borrow, I'll ask her tomorrow."
Draco reached into his robes and pulled out a small pouch. He grinned and looked inside of it before pulling out a few Galleons. "Why would you want to go from one set of hand-me-downs to another?" He tossed the pouch over to her and smiled. "Go buy yourself something nice." Draco pocketed the rest of the money and leaned back again. "Never let anyone say I don't buy nice things for my girls."
A look of disgust crossed her face and then threw the pouch back at him, harder than he tossed it to her. "I don't accept pity either, Malfoy. I may not be rich and I may not be pretty but I damn well have my pride." Turning away from him, she scoffed, "You can throw money at your whores but I am not that kind of girl, Malfoy. You're not going to earn my respect and my trust with money."
Draco's jaw practically hit the floor. She'd taken that entirely the wrong way. Okay, maybe his words hadn't helped her draw the right conclusion, but damn it! She was supposed to be smarter than that. He stood up, grabbed the pouch and walked over to her furiously. "I wasn't giving you pity and I sure as hell wasn't trying to buy you or your bloody trust. I just wanted you to have some pretty robes that matched your pretty face!" He was almost livid. He took a few calming breaths before he managed to get the red out of his face.
Looking up at him, she almost couldn't believe what he said. "You think I'm pretty?" She asked, gazing into his eyes. No one had every told her she was pretty, everyone told her she was the too-tall, gawky Weasley girl, nothing special, nothing great. Standing up, she moved closer to him, "Draco, it's sweet that you want to do that for me. But I'm still not taking your money...I might never be able to pay you back and Weasleys don't accrue debts we don't intend to repay."
Draco stared at her blankly...pay him back? Where did that come from? Since when did he require anyone to pay him back? He only forced people to do that if he wanted power over them in some way and he didn't want any power over Ginny… well, not that he'd admit. "I don't recall asking you to pay me back or even hinting at you having a debt with me. I have more money then I know what to do with, I don't need you to pay me back. Nor would I want you to. Going to dinner with me is payment enough." He was speaking a dull, bored tone. This was the most obvious thing to him, how was it she failed to grasp it?
"Draco, I said no. If you give me money, I have to pay you back. That's how the world works." Grasping his shoulders, she looked into his eyes, "Listen to what I'm saying. I don't care what people say about you Draco, you have redeeming qualities. You don't need to throw money at people to make them like you and want you." Psychoanalyzing him was giving her a headache.
Draco gave a frustrated grunt and snatched the money from her hand, "Whatever Weasley. I just told you I wasn't trying to buy favor or get you to like me by tossing money at you. And I specifically remember telling you I don't want you to pay me back. But if you're too pig headed to take a gift when it's given, then fine." He turned from her and walked back over to his chair. He flopped down in it and looked over at the wall clock. Barely past 1:30... Damn time seemed to crawl by tonight.
A spoiled child, that's what he was. A big spoiled brat! Walking over to him, she followed after him and sat down on his lap. "Don't move," Slinging her leg over him, she let their hips bump gently against one another's as she looked into his eyes. Letting her hair fall over her face in fiery ringlets, she smiled, "Do you like this, Draco?"
Draco watched her for a moment before realizing what she was doing. He sneered at her and placed his hands on her hips. "Thinking of teasing me Weasley? Want to try and sate my ego? Yeah, I do like it. More than you can imagine." His growing erection would testify to that in a moment if she kept this up, she'd be doing much more than just teasing. "You should think about what you're doing, and who you're doing it to, Weasley. You might do something you'll regret later. We wouldn't want that now would we?"
Despite what she had set out to do, she was immediately distracted by his hands coming to rest around her waist. She wanted to regret things with him later...that was the problem. "I'm making a point, Malfoy," She did have one, really. "My point is," Swallowing, she looked into his eyes again, "That you want me, sitting here in muggle clothes in the middle of a dorm at some ungodly hour of the night and… dear Merlin, Pansy is still retching." She ought to have been more concerned for the poor girl...but it had been twenty bloody minutes, didn't the girl have the decency to finish? "What would new robes do that I can't?" There it was. The point.
Draco smiled at her, so she had a point to it all did she? And she had a rather remarkable and unique way of making her point known. His fingers messaged her hips and he pulled her down toward his face. "New robes would do nothing that you can't. But they have a dress code at the restaurant, Ginny. It's obvious I want you no matter what you're wearing but I have a reputation to uphold. I want the people who see you there with me to want you, and be jealous that I'm the one with you." It was a bit of a fetish with him. He liked to know he had something others wanted, especially if that something was a woman.
She'd never actually seen Draco smile before...not really smile. Sure he smirked, leered, and grinned but he didn't just smile. It made her smile as well, like somehow his happiness transferred to her. "That's why I'll borrow some from Pansy," She answered. She could feel the bulge of him between her thighs and she didn't know if she could stand up at the moment without falling. "I'm flattered you want to make the entire world jealous...but for now, let's keep things simple. No promises, no titles, just you and me having fun. And if it leads to more, great; if not, then there's nothing lost, nothing gained."
Draco's narrowed a bit as his smile grew, "Whatever you want, Ginny. I'm just going to be along for the ride." He emphasized that by pulling her tighter against his groin, leaving no doubt as to what he might be referring to. "And I doubt I'll leave dissatisfied. In fact, I think I'll quite enjoy my time with you." He reached one hand up to her face and cupped her cheek. "How about a little taste of what to expect..." He lifted his face towards hers. If she wanted a taste, she had to close the gap.
Ginny felt heat soar through her as he gently touched her, waiting to kiss her. She desperately wanted to feel those soft lips of his, to find out what he tasted like. Leaning down, she was a mere millimeter away when the bedroom doom flew open. Gasping, Ginny watched as Pansy hobbled over to the refrigerator and pulled out a large flagon of pumpkin juice, muttering something about hydration. The girl was deathly pale, looking sickly thin as she padded back into the room with her glass; in her state of illness she hadn't even noticed the couple one second away from snogging in her sitting room.
Draco grinned as she moved off him, and his eyes darted over to the unknowing form of Pansy. "Yes definitely tomorrow. Four is good for you right?" He was already making plans in his head. He needed to owl the restaurant, make sure there was a seat for them, and request a few things. Yes, he'd make it a very memorable meal for her. Even if it didn't lead to other activities, he'd still make a night she'd never forget. He highly doubted Potter had done much with her. Hell, he'd probably taken her on dates to the Three Broomsticks. How typical.
Laughing melodically, she nodded, "Yes Draco, I'll meet you in the Great Hall and we can go over there together. And if you're a good boy, I'll even let you pay." A heavy yawn swept over her and she moved toward the door to think about what had transpired tonight. She'd gone from hateful enemy of three Slytherins to a trusted confidante, guard, and possible date. Hmm, things sure were coming up strangely all over. Who knew what all this could possibly lead to?