A flash of red hair alerted him of her presence. He quickly hid behind a pillar and watched her walk swiftly towards the stairs leading to the Astronomy Tower. Having been looking for an opportunity like this for the past two weeks, there was no way he was letting it go now.

You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into, little Weasel.

Draco Malfoy knew he could have whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. And he wanted answers. Answers only a certain redhead could provide him with.

She opened the door at the top of the stairs and suddenly looked behind. If it wasn't for Draco's fast reflexes honed by years of Quidditch, he knew she would've seen him. He had to give her credit though, she was cautious.

She is bound to be, if what I saw was real and not a figment of my twisted imagination.

He quickly got out from his hiding place and raced towards the Tower, taking two stairs at a time. The door opened smoothly and he walked inside. The sight before was very confusing, and for some reason, it aroused him.

She was on her knees, facing the night and taking deep, shuddering breaths. A slight sheen of sweat covered her face and arms, making her shine in the moonlight. Draco always knew she was good looking, but before tonight, he had never felt attracted to her.

It's all because of that blasted moment in the Prefect's Bathroom.

Flashback:

Qudditch practice that day had been grueling and very tiresome. Draco couldn't wait to get the dirt, sweat and grime off his body. So instead of going to his very own bathroom [courtesy of being the Head Boy], he decided to use the prefect's bathroom closest to him.

As it was on the 6th Floor, prefects barely used it. Not really wanting any company in the first place, he entered the bathroom and first went to the changing room. Clad in his boxers only, he walked towards the huge tub in the centre and froze at the sight that met him.

Pale, creamy skin. Long, dark red hair which was already wet. The girl's back was turned to him so he couldn't see her face yet. She twisted her hair in a knot and turned it over her shoulder, so that her back was totally bare to his eyes.

Draco couldn't breathe. Even if he wanted to, he didn't think he could've. Right in between her shoulder blades was a mark. A mark that had been burned into his arm and a selective other few. The skull with the serpent surrounding it stood out starkly against her porcelain skin. He couldn't believe his eyes.

She immersed herself in water. Before she could get up, Draco ran back towards the changing room and peeked from there. He pinched himself. It wasn't a dream. Someone other than him and Snape had the Dark Marks inside Hogwarts.

Getting up from the tub, she quickly dried herself using her wand. If it wasn't for the fact that Draco was confused and wanted to see her face badly, he would've taken his time to appreciate the curves of her body. She put on her skirt and shirt, but her hair was still shadowing her face from view.

She whipped her hair back. As brown eyes locked into his, Draco received the biggest shock of the day. It was the youngest Weasley. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped. He was pretty sure he looked the same.

Before he could form a word, she ran out of the bathroom so quickly, it was as if the hounds of hell were after her. He stared at the door for a minute or so, almost numb. His brain just couldn't comprehend what had happened.

What the fuck had he just seen? Was he delusional? Draco was pretty sure he was out of his mind. There was no fucking way a Weasley would carry the Dark Mark. It probably went against the rules of nature or something.

At that moment, Draco Malfoy knew something was going on. What exactly, he didn't know yet. But he would find out, as soon as he cornered the little Weasel.

"What the fuck are you doing here Malfoy?"

Draco suddenly found Ginevra Weasley's wand directed at his throat. Sometime during his reverie, she had noticed him. It wasn't like he was trying to hide in the first place. In fact, he wanted a confrontation with her.

"I could ask the same to you Weasley."

"Please, as if I have to answer to you, Malfoy. Now get out of here before I hex you into oblivion." she said.

"Firstly, you do answer to me. I'm Head Boy, after all. Secondly, you don't have it in you to hex me, Weasley." he said, his tone slightly taunting.

"Don't try my patience, Ferret Boy. Dock points or whatever, just tell me what you're doing here. I'm pretty sure you weren't making rounds. Have you been following me?" she said, her eyes narrowed.

"Now now, little Weasel, why would I be doing that, hmm?"

Draco knew he was wasting time. With the entourage this red head kept, he knew he wouldn't get her alone that easy. This was his only chance to confirm his suspicions of her being involved with the Dark Lord.

He took two steps forwards, making her wand prod into his throat.

"I think the question you should be asking, little Weasel, is what do I want." he said softly.

She looked apprehensive first, but refused to let her guard down. Tightening her grip on the wand, she asked, "Okay, what do want?"

"I want you to tell me why you have the Dark Mark on your back."

Her eyes widened and Draco was sure she sucked in a breath. For a second it looked like she was afraid, but then her expression became almost defiant. She tilted her chin up and said, "I don't know what you're talking about, Malfoy."

"Don't lie to me, Weasley. I saw you in the bathroom that day. Being who I am, I think I'd know what the Dark Mark would look like." If Draco was confused about what he had seen that day before, he wasn't anymore. The way she kept looking back at the door, as if she was searching for a route to escape him, confirmed his suspicions.

"You're talking shit, you know. I don't have any Dark Mark on my back. It's just a tattoo I got. Now leave me alone."

With that, she tried to run past him, but he was having none of that. Taking hold of her waist with both hands, he slammed back her against the nearest wall and manacled both of her wrists. Pushing them above, he took her wand and threw it behind him.

Draco leaned into her so that their noses were almost touching, and spoke in a deadly whisper. "I told you not to lie to me, little Weasel.

Ginny Weasley knew she was in deep shit the moment she had seen Draco Malfoy in the Prefect's bathroom. She had hoped he hadnt seen anything, but since when had she been lucky? For the past two weeks, Malfoy had been staring at her with those scrutinizing grey eyes. During meals in the Great Hall, in the corridors between classes. She should've known he'd corner her someday and demand an explanation.

And he just had to confront me tonight, of all nights.

"I want you to tell me why you have the Dark Mark on your back." he said.

She had been dreading this since that day. A small part of her had known he would ask her at some point, but she had ignored it and gone about her ways, pretending nothing had happened. Now he was here, looking all high and mighty, demanding to know her secret.

As if I'd tell Draco Malfoy.

No, she couldnt afford to let him know, let anyone know. She was frightened, but mustering up the Gryffindor courage she was born with, she tried to bluff him.

"I dont know what you're talking about, Malfoy."

"Don't lie to me, Weasley. I saw you in the bathroom that day. Being who I am, I think I'd know what the Dark Mark would look like." The look in his eyes dared her to defy him.

So he is going to be demanding, is he? Well he can go fuck himself, I've had it with demanding men.

Ginny knew there was no way she could bluff him. He was too smart and nosy for that. Her only option, once again, was to run. She had gone up to the Tower to calm her mind, but that wasnt happening, not tonight anyway. There was no point in staying there anymore.

"You're talking shit, you know. I don't have any Dark Mark on my back. It's just a tattoo I got. Now leave me alone."

Chances of her making it out of there was almost nil, but she had to try. So she ran for the door. Malfoy caught her around the waist and hauled her against the nearest wall. Before she could make a sound, he caught her wrists pushed them up with one hand and slammed his other into her stomach, rendering her immobile.

Ginny was so furious she was ready to curse him. As if reading her mind, he plucked her wand away from her grasp and threw it out of her reach. Leaning in so close that she could smell his scent, he whispered into her ear, "I told you not to lie to me, little Weasel."

She couldnt help but shiver at his menacing tone. She tried to wriggle out of his hold, but he was pressed so close to her even paper couldnt pass between them.

"Let me go, Malfoy." she said through gritted teeth.

"Show me your Mark, Weasley, and I'll let you go."

Ginny stopped struggling and just stared at him. His face was blank, but his eyes were determined. She knew her position was compromising and helpless. But she just couldnt let him see it.

"No." she said, venom dripping from that single word.

Malfoy roughly turned her, facing her against the wall with her arms still up. The hand that had been on her stomach gripped the hem of her t-shirt and tugged. His head dropped down and she could feel his lips on her ear.

"Show it to me, little Weasel, or I'll see to it myself." he threatened.

Her heart was pounding and she could feel tears brimming up in her eyes.

No no no, this isnt happening to me.

"No, please, dont do this Malfoy." She felt desperate at this point. If she had to resort to begging a Malfoy, so be it. He heard her, but he just pushed her shirt up and above her shoulders. She felt the fight go out of her then, and sagged against the wall.

Ginny stopped breathing all together as the cool night air caressed the skin on her back. She felt Malfoy lean back a bit and look at the Dark Mark etched on the skin between her shoulder blades. He wouldnt tell anyone about it, she knew that much. He was a Death Eater, and by law, they never went against the ones Marked. But there was no way she could pretend to be normal anymore, when just looking at him would remind her of what she had to do everytime the Mark burned.

A sob wracked through her as Malfoy traced the Mark with his finger. For a long time, that's all he did. She turned her head a bit and took in his expression. He looked dazed, confused and almost...awed. He looked up at her and what she saw in his eyes surprised her so much she gasped. It wasn't disgust or disdain, like she had expected, but lust.

Malfoy smirked and said the most preposterous thing. "I was right. Gryffindor's Princess isn't a miss goody-two-shoe after all."

That did it. With surprising strength, Ginny wrenched herself out of his hold and slapped him. Even though what he just said was true, it pissed her off. He had no right to say that to her. "You have no idea what you're talking about. No fucking idea." she screamed.

She pushed him back and started to walk always when he grabbed her arms again. Bringing his face closer, he sneered, "If you don't tell me just what you're upto, Weasley, trust me when I say that I'll find out anyway."

At that, Ginny gave him a cold smirk. She couldn't help it. She was one of the Dark Lord's most preciously guarded secrets, just as he was hers. Malfoy was in for some disappointment. "Good luck with that." she said.

"Thanks Weasley, not that I need you to wish me luck. I always get what I want. It's the rule of nature."

Such over confidence and arrogance. Ginny wanted to bash his head with a club. Even though she knew he was going to give her a hard time at school now that he was aware of her Mark, she wanted to patronize him.

"You might always get what you want, but you're never going to get to me." she challenged.

Malfoy's cheeks were turning red and his eyes were ablaze with a cold fire. He looked like he was about to say something really nasty, when they heard voices coming from the other side of the door. Before he had time to react, Ginny ran towards her wand, picked it up and put an invisibility charm on herself.

A 4th year couple stumbled in and when they took one look at Malfoy, they cringed. He started shouting something at them. Not wanting to waste time, Ginny quietly slipped out the door and almost jumped down the stairs.

It provided her with a small bit of comfort, knowing Malfoy would never find out why she had the Dark Mark. The Dark Lord would never reveal the reason, and other Death Eaters had no idea she even existed. If Malfoy hadn't seen her in the bathroom, he would've been ignorant of the fact as well.

Damn him for coming to that bathroom the day I decided to use it.

With her thoughts running wild, she stood infront of the portrait hole, gave the Fat Lady the password and entered the common room. Since it was well past curfew, she wasn't surprised to find it empty. Going to the girl's dormitory, she flopped down on her bed. The stress of the whole day was finally taking it's toll on her.

She couldn't help but think of Malfoy again as she looked at her wrists. They were red from his tight grip on them. As she drifted off to sleep, she thought of her family and Harry and Hermione, and her friends.

Would they ever look at me the same way, if they knew how I was bonded to the Dark Lord?