Chapter 8: Halloween Festival
Ginny studied herself in the mirror with a small smile. She was getting ready for the Halloween Festival and was allowing herself a moment of sadness. Harry would love this outfit, Ginny thought to herself. Since she had been dating Draco, she had barely spared a thought for her ex-boyfriend. There was still no word from Harry, Ron or Hermione, and Ginny was becoming more than a little worried. I hope they're alright, she wished fervently.
Shaking her head to dispel her depressing thoughts, Ginny returned to preparing for the Festival. She had decided on a cute, yet provocative outfit. She was wearing black skinny jeans which clung to her legs, showing off their length. Her cute top and shoes matched, both were a bright pumpkin orange. Instead of clashing horribly the colour perfectly brought out the darker tones in her hair. The top had a black pumpkin on it, which Ginny had charmed to move across her shirt randomly. Ginny finished the outfit with black and silver beads, messy hair and black eyeliner. She loved this look, and had modelled it from a group of muggles the three girls had spotted in London during their shopping expedition. It was bright and funky and it suited them perfectly.
Ginny grabbed her black purse and wand, and left her room, walking down the steps to the Common Room. Very few people were present as most of the school was already down in Hogsmeade. Hurrying past the portrait, Ginny made her way down to the Entrance Hall where she was meeting her friends.
Olli and Luna came into view as Ginny walked down the steps. All three girls had a similar look but they had each made it their own. Olli had a shirt similar to Ginny's except that it was white with an orange pumpkin whose eyes and mouths were a leery black. She had black and white striped leggings underneath a black mini-skirt. She was wearing black shoes that the muggle shop had called 'Converse'. Olli's eyes and hair looked the same as Ginny's and Luna's. Luna's Halloween shirt was black with an orange pumpkin and she wore black jeans. She also had a sparkly black, orange and silver scarf which was wrapped around her neck.
The trio looked at each other and smiled widely. They looked gorgeous and their boyfriend's would be putty in their hands. Linking arms, Ginny, Olli and Luna walked down to the pumpkin carriages which would carry them to Hogsmeade. The girls chatted away happily as they travelled, eagerly anticipating the festival. After a short trip, Hogsmeade finally came into view. Collectively, the trio gasped at the transformation Hogsmeade had undergone overnight.
All the buildings had been turned into giant orange pumpkins, which glowed and cackled as people passed them. First and second year students were dressed up in costume and running from pumpkin to pumpkin yelling 'trick or treat'. Ginny smiled as a group of first years ran past them, dressed as skeletons and ghouls. Past the main town, the girls found the main area of the festival. A large field had been cleared and it was taken up by lots of black and orange wizarding tents. The field was decorated with floating pumpkins which worked as lights and draped between these were coloured fairy lights. Beyond the tents was a black and orange marquee which held an eating area, where students were able to sit on rounded tables and order dinner. The girls sat down here and waited for their boyfriends to find them.
***
Draco's grey eyes scanned the crowd of Hogwarts students for Ginny. She should stand out; he thought sourly, her red hair should be easy to spot. However, she was nowhere in the wizarding tents where he and Blaise were currently searching. He had wanted to meet Ginny at the Entrance Hall but she had brushed his request aside and told him she'd see him at the Festival. Blaise was clearly as frustrated as Draco, and they decided to walk past the tents and find somewhere to sit down. The two boys found themselves at a huge marquee, under which tables and chairs were set for the hungry and weary. It was there that the two boys finally found Ginny, Olli and Luna, who waved them over. The boys sat down at the spaces allocated them by the girls and smiled at each other in triumph.
"Hey Ginny," Draco kissed her cheek. "So this is where you were hiding." Ginny smiled mischievously at him and Draco noticed her outfit for the first time. His jaw dropped and he took in everything, from her sexily dishevelled hair and black eyeliner to her killer orange heels. His mouth watered as he thought of picking her up and taking her to his room so that he could have his evil way with her.
"Wow," he whispered reverently. "You look good enough to eat." Ginny giggled and the three girls exchanged their own looks of triumph. Blaise appeared to be having a similar reaction to Olli and was looking at her with a gob-smacked expression. At that moment, a black-haired boy came up behind Luna and caught her in a hug. She squealed and turned to return his embrace. Draco took in the boy's appearance with a raised eyebrow. He was quite tall and skinny with long messy black hair, reminding Draco of Harry Potter. So this was Luna's new paramour, the elusive Duke Davies. He and Blaise had heard that Luna was dating a sixth-year Hufflepuff, but Draco had never heard of or noticed him before. He and Blaise exchanged a furtive glance, which promised a meeting later in the week to discuss this boy.
Catching Ginny's attention, he excused them from their friends, and they made their way back towards the festival. The time flew as they explored the wizarding tents and Draco delighted in buying Ginny presents from all of them. He shrunk them all down for her and placed them in a cute Cauldrons merchandise bag he had bought at the band's tent. The two of them had chatted for awhile with the band members and they were now sitting with their friends in front of the stage where the band had begun setting up their instruments.
Draco turned and regarded Ginny, whose face was glowing under the eerie orange glow of the overheard pumpkins. She seemed so alive and he felt a tug in his heart as he watched her laughing with Olli and Luna. He had come to genuinely like Ginny, but a dark cloud hung over their relationship. In order to escape the Dark Lord's clutches, he and Blaise had to create their own Dark Order. Before too long, he would rob her of her innocence and introduce her to his dark world. Ginny seemed to catch his melancholy mood and she turned and cupped his face in her hand, smiling softly. He closed his eyes and inhaled her sweet scent; he had to enjoy her innocence while he still could.
***
Ginny lay back against Draco's chest and breathed in his spicy cologne. She had enjoyed spending time with him, running through the tents and searching out the best items. He had bought her so many gifts and she had let him because it seemed to make him happy. She had laughed and talked with so many people, just enjoying the magic of the evening. It was now dark and Ginny pushed back her feelings of unease for another day and just had fun. Tomorrow she could worry about that niggling at the back of her mind which warned her that something bad was about to happen.
Olli and Luna soon caught her attention back to the present. Her worries forgotten, she got up and danced to the band's first song. The band was made up of a female singer, a male back up vocalist and guitarist, a male drummer, and another girl playing a bass guitar.
"HELLLOOO HOGWARTS!" The female singer, Jessie screamed out. The students of Hogwarts stood up and clapped and whistled as the lead singer introduced their first song. The three girls danced wildly for a couple of songs and eventually, they sat down with their guys for a break. Ginny's face was flushed and she panted and laughed as she sat on Draco's lap. She looked up at him with a wide smile. He leaned forward and kissed her, and Ginny knew that he had watched her dancing. After awhile the girls grew bored of sitting and so they decided to dance again. Ginny grabbed Draco's hand, and pulled him towards the stage. Surprised, he followed her obediently.
"Okay everyone, this song is called 'In Fate's Hands'. Let's see some enthusiasm," Jessie yelled to the crowd. Ginny cheered and she started to dance around Draco as the music started up. They moved together and Ginny smiled and laughed as she twirled around him.
I remember a year ago I was standing in the crowd
waiting for my chance to break through, my chance to live again.
Now it seems I've found some friends who finally understand what it takes
to make this dream come true, we'll be here till the end.
She looked into his eyes, and smiled as he head-banged to the song. His eyes looked alive and his head was sexily mussed up.
Shake it, break it, get off your feet,
come dance with me and don't you fake it.
Shake it, break it get off your feet,
get close to me and don't you fake it.
They were moving as one, his hands on her hips as she smiled at him over her shoulder. She grinded against him and smirked at his shocked expression. She then danced away from him and twirled in a circle, her eyes unfocused as the stars blurred past her eyes.
Shout and scream my friends, connect with me and we'll pretend
this night will never end (wo oh) this night will never end.
Just let go you'll see together we'll do anything
this night will never end (wo oh) this night will never end.
Ginny smiled at the words of the song. I don't want this night to end. I want to capture this moment and remember it forever. Draco pulled her close and Ginny kissed his cheek fondly.
Oh, wish I could thank you all for what you have done
and all of the things that you have shared with me.
Oh, wish I could take you all too where I must go wish I could take you all
I'll take you with my heart.
She pulled away and they jumped around to the song, head banging and punching the air as the singer screamed out the lyrics.
Dance, get on the floor, shake, get on the floor, break, get on the floor
Dance, get on the floor, shake, get on the floor, break, get on the floor
Shake it, break it, get off your feet
come dance with me and don't you fake it
Shake it, break it get off your feet
get close to me and don't you fake it.
The people around them were closing in as the song reached its crescendo. A mosh pit was forming and Draco and Ginny joined it, jumping around in time to the music.
I'm reaching out here to show you what we've been through
I think there's something we can share, that's completely new
or maybe I'm just insane
Shake it break it get off your feet
The song ended and Ginny jumped up and down screaming with the rest of the crowd. The air was pulsing with electricity and Ginny collapsed on the nearest chair with a laugh. Draco pulled up a chair next to her and Ginny pulled him close for a kiss. Their lips mashed together and Ginny lost her breath as Draco deepened the kiss. His hand was making distracting little circles at her hip and she was losing herself in the kiss. When they pulled away, they were both panting for air. Ginny rested her head against his shoulder and looked around for her friends.
Luna was now dancing with Duke to a slow song, and the two were in each other's arms, gazing into their eyes. Ginny smiled at the tender look on Duke's face; she knew he would look after her friend. Searching now for Olli, she caught sight of her in the back of the marquee, attached at the lips to Blaise. They seemed intent on making out and Ginny blushed for her friend as she saw Blaise slip his hand underneath her top. Seeing Ginny's red face, Draco turned and also noticed the pair. Draco smirked as he inwardly cheered his friend on. Catching Ginny's eye, he smiled mischievously, silently telling her that they would eventually be doing the same.
It was now close to midnight, and Draco draped his arm around her as they waited for the fireworks. Ginny had told him that her brothers had been commissioned for the job, and so they were both looking forwards to the display.
A loud crack rent the air as the first firework lit the sky. A flash of orange washed over the watching ground as an enormous cackling pumpkin seemed to fly down towards them. Some of the younger kids screamed but at the last moment it exploded into a shower of sparks, which spelled Happy Halloween. This heralded the beginning and soon the night sky was awash with colour as firecrackers, catherine wheels and skyrockets flew and exploded through the air. The sound and light was overwhelming and Ginny snuggled into Draco's chest as they watched in awe.
Half an hour later, white spots were dancing behind Ginny's eyes. The finale had light up the sky and it was as bright as day. Blindingly white ghosts had shot towards the sky, growing bigger and more menacing as they flew towards the moon. With a loud -CRACK- they had exploded into white stars which slowly drifted towards the students. A star landed in the hands of each student and turned into a small silver pumpkin. Ginny had clapped and laughed with the others, silently vowing to thank and praise her brothers tomorrow.
Now, she and Draco were waiting in line for a carriage to return them to the castle. Ginny held Draco's hand in hers and was tracing circles in his palm. He watched her with hooded eyes, lost deep in his own thoughts. Ginny wondered what would happen when they finally got back to the castle. Would he grab her hand and pull her into his room with that knowing smile? A flash of desire caught her and she shivered as the cool night air whispered along her heated skin. Would she lose her virginity to him tonight? Was she really ready to give herself to him, heart, body and soul?
Draco pulled her towards a carriage and she settled next to him, jumping as his finger caressed her arm. Her troubled eyes met his and she could read the question in them. She bit her lip and looked down at her feet. She knew he could kiss away her fears and doubts, but then she would have regrets in the morning. She needed to make a decision on her own. He waited patiently at her side as she fretted all the way back to Hogwarts. They had reached the Great Hall now, and they waited until it was empty
Ginny studied and wondered what was so different about him. She had dated other boys before; Michael, Dean and Harry had all been sweet to her. Yet with Draco things were different, she was different. He was a perfect gentleman when he was helping her with potions and a devil when it was the two of them hiding in a secluded broom closet. He kissed her as if she were oxygen to his dying lungs and the way he touched her never failed to send a thrill through her body. He listened to her, helped her, bought her silly presents for no reason and could make her smile. Her every waking thought was consumed by him and yet she still found herself hesitating at his door. She couldn't help but think of Harry. If she went through with this, she was committing totally to Draco. There would be no making up with Harry, no happy-ever-after. Was she really going to give up on Harry, the boy she had loved since that fateful day at the train station?
She shut her eyes and clenched her fists. Harry had left her, he didn't believe in her, didn't think she was strong. He didn't really understand her, not like Draco did. She opened her eyes and looked up at Draco. She had made her decision.
