A/N: And here is chapter three… I hope that those of you who have been reading/following this story continue to enjoy it after reading this new posting! Also, I want to thank all of you who have reviewed this story so far!! Your comments, compliments, encouragement and suggestions are wonderful and much appreciated!! Anyway… on with the story! Please be sure to read, review and most importantly… ENJOY!!
All things Harry Potter belong to the wonderful JK Rowling… :-)
Chapter 3: Insults and Injury
Draco sat in the windowsill of his private bedroom, just gazing out into the night. He glanced over at the clock against his wall… it was near midnight.
He stood up and walked out of his room. He was determined that, after two nights of failed attempts, he would find this girl who had such a hold over his soul with her voice and musical talents. Now, at least, he knew where to go so he would not waste any more time wandering about the halls and corridors.
The Slytherin hurriedly made his way towards the piano room. He was disturbed, however, because he heard no music… no intoxicating voice. Finally, he came upon the door. He gently pushed it open… the room was completely empty except for the piano.
Draco frowned as he entered the room. He walked over to the piano and gently brushed his hand along its smooth black edge and then finally onto the keys. He smiled slightly and sat down.
He placed his hands on the keys as if ready to play and he suddenly closed his eyes. Thoughts of his mother raced through his mind… thoughts of how happy he was when playing. For when he played, all his worries and troubles were forgotten… it was just him and the piano… nothing else existed during those moments.
When Draco opened his eyes again, he pressed down on one of the keys. A beautiful sound echoed in the room. Draco pressed another key… and soon another and another. Before he knew it, he was playing.
He forgot about his father… the Death-Eaters… the up-coming initiation. The only thing that existed was him… and the piano he was playing at that very moment.
When the song ended, Draco pushed himself away from the piano. His heart was racing and his breathing was rapid. He had forgotten how emotional it was for him when he played. It was the only time he ever felt or showed any real emotion at all. This was the reason why he never played in public and why no one in Hogwarts knew he even played at all.
'Where is she?' Draco thought. 'She plays every night… why not tonight?'
Draco frowned and left the room. He was upset that his attempts to find the girl were turning disastrous yet again… so he decided to continue walking through the corridors, taking care not to get caught of course. He really needed to clear his mind.
The blond Slytherin felt himself being pulled towards the Hospital Wing for some reason. When he walked by, he glanced inside to see who was there. All the beds were empty except for one. Draco arched an eyebrow and inched a little closer to see who was sleeping in the hospital bed.
He still could not see who occupied the bed. So, he took a deep breath and cautiously and quietly walked over to the bed.
There he saw Ginny Weasley sleeping soundly. She looked like an angel… her breathing was silent, but her chest was moving up and down.
Draco stood there in awe, just watching her, for several minutes. Suddenly, she began to stir causing Draco to wake up from his reverie.
He was about to run out of the Hospital Wing when Ginny opened her eyes and sat upright just staring at him. Draco felt his body shiver as her eyes locked with his.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered.
Draco smirked, "What's it to you, Weasley."
Ginny frowned, "I just wondered… it's in the middle of the night and you are hovering over my bed like some sort of phantom."
Draco arched an eyebrow, "I suppose," he hesitated. "Sorry to startle you."
Ginny's eyes widened, in shock. Is he really being nice for a change…?
Her face softened, "It's all right… but really, what are you doing here at this hour?"
Draco sighed, "I couldn't sleep, if you must know. Needed to take a walk and clear my head."
Ginny nodded in understanding.
"So… you here because of earlier?" Draco asked already knowing what her reply would be.
"Yes. I caught a chill, but Madame Pomfrey said that I should be fine by the morning."
Draco felt a knot forming in his stomach. Why does this seem to happen only around her?
"Sorry about that. My temper got the better of me." Draco could not believe that he had apologized to this girl twice already in about three minutes time… she was a Weasley… a Gryffindor… a mudblood-lover!
The Slytherin suddenly sneered causing Ginny to shrink back a little in fear. Draco noticed the affect he had on her and he felt the knot in his stomach tighten even more. Dammit!
"Well…" he began.
"W-well…" she answered with a slight stutter.
"See you around, Weasley."
***
The next morning, Draco hurried through the corridors towards the Hospital Wing. When he got there, he saw Ginny getting ready to leave.
The girl turned around, a look of surprise on her face. "Malfoy? What are you doing here?"
Draco smirked, "I don't know… just felt like a walk. Would you like to accompany me?"
Ginny's expression was that of pure confusion. Even Draco looked a little surprised at his own words to the girl.
"Well… all right," she finally agreed… a hint of exasperation in her voice.
But Draco only smiled… a real smile. Ginny looked astounded.
The two silently walked through the halls and went outside onto the grounds. The air was a bit damp with chill, but neither of them seemed to mind. "Will you be okay with the cold?" Draco asked. Ginny just nodded.
They both headed towards the lake when Ginny suddenly stopped and turned to look directly into Draco's eyes, "Look… I'm not sure what you are on about. You've always been horrible to me… and these past few days… well you've been just impossible!! Now, all of a sudden, you're acting like I'm your best friend! Why the sudden change? It doesn't make sense!"
Draco sighed, "Well Weasley… I owe you… for making you ill and all. I'm trying to make us even is all."
Ginny narrowed her eyes, "I suppose… but you have a reputation, you know. I'm surprised that the Hufflepuffs and especially the Ravenclaws haven't caught on yet."
Draco sneered, "What do you know of my reputation. You don't even know anything about me!"
"I know enough!" Ginny's cheeks were turning very red, "If this is some game where you think that you can be my friend one moment and then my enemy the next, you are sorely mistaken. And if this is some cruel joke to get me to sleep with you… well, you're sorely mistaken about that too!!"
Draco shook his head lazily and rolled his eyes, "Weasely, Weasley… do not flatter yourself. What on earth would give you the notion that I wanted anything to do with you at all… I'm merely trying to repay a debt is all… then, I'll be done with you. You are disgusting… I want to get all associations with you done and over with. I am a gentleman you know and I'm trying to repay you… nothing more… get it through that thick head of yours!!"
Ginny's eyes were becoming wet with tears at his cruel words, "You are such a bastard…" she mumbled.
Draco walked closer to her and whispered, "They all say that… at some point."
"Just leave me alone…" she was crying now, though she tried desperately to hide it.
"Or what… you'll have Potter, your boyfriend, come and hex me?" He stood there eagerly awaiting for her response and reaction to his words… for he remembered her reaction towards Potter the other day when he tried to help her. He found the whole thing amusing.
She looked up into his eyes, "He's not my boyfriend… I don't want him to be my boyfriend… and I can hex you myself… I've done it before…"
Draco backed away from her, "Fine then… if I leave you alone at your request, I'll consider my debt repaid." At that, he walked away… leaving her to cry by herself.
***
That night, Draco wandered the corridors of the castle. He could hear the intoxicating music once again and it grew louder as he approached the room in which he knew had the piano in it.
He came upon that mirror and glanced at himself. He smirked and ran his fingers through his blond hair. Finally, he looked away and continued onward towards the piano room. She won't get away this time… not this time…
When he came upon the door, he peered into the keyhole. He could see the girl's silhouette swaying slightly as she played… and her voice… that of an angel. Draco closed his eyes for a moment. Finally, he stood up and gently pushed on the large wooden door causing it to creak open.
The girl stopped singing and playing. She sat there silently for several moments as if in shock. Suddenly, she got up and tried to run past him. Draco grabbed her arm and pushed her away from the door. He then quickly shut the door behind himself.
"Shh… do you want Filch finding us?" he hissed. The girl recoiled, still hidden by the shadows.
Draco walked over to the girl, "Oh gods… not you…" she muttered almost inaudibly.
The Slytherin arched an eyebrow and walked even closer to the girl. Suddenly, his gray eyes widened… there before him stood Ginny Weasley.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Again… I want to say thanks to all of you who have read and reviewed this story so far! I hope that you all continue to enjoy this story as I post!!! :-) Hopefully, chapter four will be posted soon!!
SaintlySmile ~ Too true! Ginny definitely knows what she wants and what she doesn't want! It only gets better as the story goes… I just hope that I can pull it all off!! Anyway, thank you so much for reviewing!! Be sure to continue reading… I always look forward to what you have to say!! :-)
Luna-Elentari ~ Thanks for the compliments… I hope that you liked this chapter too! Please keep on reading and reviewing! :-)
Ang3l666 ~ Yes… Ginny does have an attitude…! It's always great when a woman can speak her mind, don't you think?? :-) Anyway… I'm glad you like this story… please continue to read and review!
Shini Maxwell ~ I'm glad that you are liking my story… I hope you continue to like it as more chapters get posted! Please keep on reading and of course reviewing!