Chapter 9: Victory At Last?
Ginny slumped out to the grounds. She hadn't been able to sleep at all. When she closed her eyes, pictures of Christian kissing her would pop up, and Ginny would remember that feeling that she needed to vomit. She also hoped that Draco would be there; she needed to explain to him what had happened.
Sneaking out the great oak doors, Ginny quickly scanned the bank of the Black Lake. She huffed in defeat: Draco was nowhere to be seen.
Ginny began walking down to the lake, to her normal spot. Instead of sitting down, she kept walking, her body tense and jittery at the same time. She walked slowly, occasionally kicking a stone into the still water. Her thoughts were completely jumbled. The events from earlier that day seemed dreamlike to Ginny. More like a nightmare she thought savagely. How was she ever supposed to break away from Christian? Even more importantly, how was she going to get Draco to speak to her again? He had seemed so angry with her when he discovered that she had blamed him. Ginny still couldn't believe what she had done. It was still killing her inside.
What was I thinking? Ginny thought to herself. If I hadn't opened my big mouth, then maybe Draco would still be here to comfort me. Instead, Ginny was stuck in the biting cold weather that was winter. She shivered, ready to turn around and go back to her warm bed. Wait a second…Ginny thought, peering out into the darkness. A couple yards ahead of her was a small gathering of trees, and leaning against one, was a shadowy figure. Could it be? Ginny hoped.
"Draco?" she called out expectantly to the darkness, "Draco is that you?" Ginny stepped forward, but the shadowy figure neither spoke nor stirred. Ginny almost convinced herself that her eyes were playing tricks on her, when he finally spoke up.
"Leave me alone," he growled, still not moving.
"Oh Draco!" said Ginny, as she made her way quickly to his side. "Draco, I'm so sorry! Christian…he hurt me…and when I ran into my brother and the others…I…I didn't know what to say!" Ginny stuttered, but he wasn't moved.
"So you thought you could blame me?" replied Draco evenly. "You thought you could just throw all the blame on me, and I'd just accept it? And then I'd welcome you back with open arms?"
Ginny stared at him, feeling the anger resonating from his body.
"D-Draco," she stammered. "I thought you would understand…I didn't know what to do…I-"
"No, I don't understand!" he yelled, interrupting her. "I don't understand how you could do something like that to someone you supposedly care about!"
"Draco," she began, feeling the tears she'd been holding back finally breaking forth. "I…I made a mistake-"
"Hell yeah, you made a mistake!" he yelled, and Ginny finally shut up, unsure of what to say or do to make him forgive her.
"P-please forgive me, Draco," she muttered weakly. "I'm so, so sorry!"
He finally looked up at her, seeing the tears gliding down her cheeks, but feeling no remorse. She had hurt him so much in the past week, but this last incident had finally pushed him over the edge. Draco couldn't understand what in the world was going through Ginny's head when she did or said certain things. How could she act the way she did at times? He just didn't get it, and it was all much easier to just let her go.
"Screw you, Ginny," Draco said darkly as he got to his feet.
With that, he stormed away from her, disappearing into the darkness of the night. Ginny collapsed to the ground, letting the new wave of tears wash over her. She lay on the cold ground for hours on end, letting all of her despair out through her tears.
When the first rays of sunshine started to peak out from above the Forbidden Forest, Ginny finally collected herself and snuck back up to her room. She sat on her bed, still as a rock, until her roommates began to stir. She dressed robotically, not thinking at all. Ginny went through her day with a dazed expression on her face, and with her mind completely blank. She was in shock. Shock at the realization that Draco would never take her back, even if she could be rid of Christian.
"Hello, Dear," said Christian with a smirk. Ginny hadn't realized that it was already time for her charms class. She hadn't even realized that she had already walked down to the class and was already seated next to the monster himself. Ginny stared at him, slightly dazed.
"Today," Flitwick squeaked from the front of the class, "we won't be working on nonverbal magic."
The class cheered in excitement; they hated practicing nonverbal magic.
"Instead, I would like you to attempt self-illusioning," The class cheered again, but Flitwick held up his hands.
"Before you get too excited," he said with a smile, "I want to warn you that many, if not all of you, will not be able to perform a self-illusion. There is something different about self-illusions that make them very difficult to perform. There is no set way of performing a self-illusion. I could tell you how I concentrate and what I imagine when performing a self-illusion, but it would, most likely, not work for any of you. You have to find your own way, your own method, to self-illusions. Only then will you be able to do what so many other witches and wizards covet."
He looked around the class, evaluating how they were taking this news. Not one face showed any hint of being fazed. They were pumped and ready to try it.
"I emphasize this again," Flitwick said, before letting them get to work. "That most, if not all, of you will fail miserably at self-illusions. Only a small percentage of the wizarding population is able to cast a self-illusion."
After his last words exited his mouth, the class began in a burst of enthusiasm. Ginny watched with a small smile tugging at her lips. It made her slightly happy that she was already able to cast a self-illusion. Even in her horrible situation with Christian, she found some happiness in watching him fail miserably at self-illusioning.
"And what do you think you're smirking at?" Christian growled at her. Ginny had snorted loudly when Christian's face had turned red from all his useless effort.
"Nothing," Ginny replied innocently. He glared at her and raised his hand in a flash.
"Professor Flitwick," he called across the classroom, and the whole class turned to stare at the pair of them.
"Yes, Mr. Lander?" Flitwick said cautiously. He had never quite gotten over his first encounter with Christian.
"It's Ginny," he said dutifully. "She's not working at all. She's just been sitting here this whole time, doing absolutely nothing,"
Ginny threw a dirty look at Christian, which he, luckily, didn't notice. She looked up quickly to see Flitwick walking towards them.
"Is this true, Miss Weasley?" he asked, and Ginny could see slight frustration on his face.
"Yes, but-" Ginny began, but her professor cut her off.
"Miss Weasley," he snapped, and this was first time that Ginny had ever seen him seriously pissed. "I have given you an opportunity to be in this advanced class, and you're just going to throw it away? Maybe you shouldn't be here in the first place." He finished, and Ginny saw Christian smirk out of the corner of her eye.
"But I can already do a self-illusion!" Ginny blurted out before she knew what she was doing. She saw Christian's face fall and heard the other students whisper quietly, but Flitwick remained unfazed.
"Alright," he said evenly. "Let's see then!"
Ginny closed her eyes at once, breathing in deeply and slowly. She could feel her confidence growing the more she concentrated. Within moments, Ginny felt that familiar twinge of magic in the air. She smiled to herself, feeling it prickle her skin, then smiled even more as it wrapped itself quickly around her body, hiding her true appearance.
She heard the class gasp in unison, and when she opened her eyes, she smiled, seeing the complete shock on Christian's face. She flipped her straight brown hair and made her ocean blue eyes open wide for effect.
"Oh my," Flitwick gasped, with what could only be described as admiration. Ginny got up and twirled for the class, her deep blue dress twirling out magnificently around her. She glanced around one more time. Everyone was shocked into silence. The girl before them was definitely not Ginny Weasley. Only Draco seemed unaffected, as he stared straight forward, avoiding Ginny's eyes.
"Excellent! Excellent!" Flitwick squeaked, as Ginny removed her self-illusion and turned herself back to normal. "50 points to Gryffindor! Oh my!" he said, still beaming at Ginny, "I haven't seen that kind of magic from a student in ages! Well done, Miss Weasley!"
He stared admiringly at Ginny for a few long moments until he realized what he was doing. Then he bustled around the classroom, getting the other students back on task, but occasionally glancing back at Ginny and smiling.
"You're dead," Christian whispered, and she whipped around to see him glaring at her. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach, all the happiness and confidence she'd just obtained vanishing the instant Christian spoke. "How dare you make me look like an idiot!" he yelled at her quietly. Ginny flinched, feeling the anger resonating from his body. She'd pay for her mistake later.
After class Ginny ran away to her room, determined not to leave. She didn't ever want to see Christian again, and they'd have to pull her down from her dormitory if they wanted her to leave. Ditching her last classes, Ginny had time to relax in the quiet of her dormitory. The afternoon passed in one big haze. Within a couple of hours, Ginny was already getting sick of her dormitory and was seriously considering the chance she'd have if she tried to sneak out of there.
Ginny could hear people bustling down below her in the common room, and she occasionally saw some of her roommates enter and exit the room. It must be dinner time Ginny thought, as the sounds quieted down. She made up her mind quickly as she jumped up from her bed and walked across the room. She made her way through the common room and downstairs stealthily.
As she neared the Great Hall she took a turn and started out towards the grounds. She hastily snuck down to the lake, looking forward to her favorite spot.
"Trying to avoid me?" came a voice angrily from right behind her. Ginny flinched. Turning around slowly, she saw Christian's face, contorted with anger, right next to her own. "Poor, pathetic Ginny," he said, a smirk dancing on his lips "How naïve. You'll pay for earlier, you wench," he said angrily, grabbing her by her long, red hair. "I can't believe you honestly thought you could avoid me!" Christian threw Ginny to the ground angrily.
Ginny felt her head make contact with hard stone. She winced, feeling tears prick the corner of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She wouldn't let Christian see her cry. She couldn't.
"I see everything you do!" Christian yelled, kicking her in the gut. Ginny curled up, her stomach swarming with pain, "You can't escape me!" he shouted kicking her again. This time, the blow landed on her face. Ginny felt her nose break and blood began to flow freely from it. She yelped involuntarily and tried to scamper away, "Get up!" roared Christian. "Get up, you pathetic-"
"You touch her one more time," came an even angrier voice, "And I swear I'll kill you!" Ginny looked up hastily. Walking quickly from the castle was Draco, his wand raised, ready to attack.
"Malfoy," Christian smirked evilly. "Do you honestly think I'm afraid of you?" he asked, whipping out his own wand.
Draco marched right over to Ginny, not letting his wand leave Christian's form. He reached his hand down, and Ginny automatically placed her hand in his, loving the comfort she felt from the simple gesture.
"Are you okay, Gin?" he asked softly, not looking away from Christian.
"Yeah," Ginny whispered, even though her body was reeling with pain. She pulled out her wand quickly, pointing it at her face and fixing her nose. She also cleaned away the blood, but the pain still remained.
"Ginny?" came yet another voice. Ginny looked up at the school. Walking towards them were three familiar figures that Ginny knew well.
"Ginny what's going on?" Ron asked, clearly troubled.
"This monster," Christian explained quickly, "has hurt Ginny again! I came down here when I saw it happening!"
The trio rounded on Draco the moment Christian's words left his mouth.
"Get away from my sister!" Ron bellowed, as he, Harry, and Hermione all whipped out their own wands. Ginny just backed away slowly, silent as the grave.
"Ginny, dear, come here!" Hermione said breathlessly. Ginny made to move toward her but caught sight of Draco out of the corner of her eye.
This is it she thought to herself. Breathing in deeply and pulling all the confidence she could muster, Ginny stood her ground.
"Come on, Gin!" Harry said encouragingly, but Ginny wouldn't budge.
Now or never, Gin she told herself.
"Ginny!" Ron shouted. "For goodness sake, get over here!"
"No," she said evenly, and for a moment, all eyes turned to her. Stepping from behind Draco, Ginny raised her own wand and pointed it straight at Christian.
"What are you doing?" the trio shouted at her.
"Yes, Ginny," Christian said, a warning flashing from his eyes. "What are you doing?" Ginny paid him no attention; she was done playing his little games. Ginny now knew that Draco would always be there for her, whether he was mad at her or not, and that was plenty enough for her.
"You want to know what I'm doing, Lander?" Ginny asked, glaring at the monster who had been ruining her life. "I'm standing up to you; I'm not going to let you control me anymore."
"Ginny, what on earth are you talking about?" Ron asked, staring at his sister like she was crazy.
"Are you sure you want to do that, Weasley?" Christian volleyed right back at her, ignoring Ron and abandoning his innocent pretense.
Ginny saw the truth hit Ron as he turned to face Christian, his wand pointing at his new target. "It was you?" he asked incredulously. "You were the one who was hurting her?"
"Took you long enough," Christian growled at him.
"I can't believe you!" Ron bellowed. "I trusted you, and you turn around and treat my sister like crap!"
"Don't make me sound like the monster here, Ron!" Christian argued back. "You three didn't pay poor Ginny any ounce of attention until I got here! You never acknowledged her, never treated her like a sister or a friend, never paid attention to how desperate Ginny was for your attention! Then when I come, you fling her at me like some offering! You never asked her whom she really wanted to be with, which was definitely not me. You are the ones who gave her to me! You are the ones to blame!"
Ron, Harry, and Hermione all looked crestfallen, realization splashed across their features.
"Don't even try to throw the blame on them," Ginny snarled at Christian, all her hate for him finally coming forward. "You are the monster. You are the one who hurt me, and you are the one whose going to pay." Ginny stepped forward, facing him with her wand lifted.
"You can't be serious?" he snorted, staring at the tiny girl before him. "You want to fight me?"
Ginny nodded, confidence flowing through her veins, but the trio didn't agree.
"That's not a good idea, Ginny," Ron said quickly.
"Gin, we don't want you getting anymore hurt than you already are!" Hermione shouted dismally.
"Come on, Ginny," Harry said, reaching for her arm. "Let us handle it."
"No!" she shouted angrily, turning to face them. They stepped back in unison, Ginny's anger hitting them dead on. "I can handle this!"
"Ginny," Draco said more quietly, speaking up finally. "Are you sure about this?"
"I can do this, Draco!" Ginny shouted at him, angry that he didn't have confidence in her abilities.
"Oh, I know you can do it," he reassured her. "But do you want to do this?"
"I do," Ginny said, her eyes sparkling with anger and power. "I need to do this."
"I'm waiting!" Christian interrupted arrogantly, and Ginny turned to face him. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco all backed away, giving the two some room.
"I'm going to kick your ass," Ginny said with a smirk, readying her stance.
"In your dreams, Gin." He smirked right back at her, planting his feet and raising his wand.
They squared each other off and were both still for a few moments.
"Expelliarmus!" Christian shouted, sending a wave of magic at Ginny.
At that moment, everything slowed down for Ginny. She felt the magic nearing her slowly, could feel it coming closer to her flesh. Ginny raised her wand and blocked it easily.
"Is that all you've got?" Ginny sneered at him. She loved the way his face went blotchy red from embarrassment and anger.
"Densaugeo! Furnunculus! Immobulus! Locomotor Mortis!" Christian shouted, throwing curses at Ginny. She blocked them all easily though.
"I'm waiting Christian," Ginny said, taunting him.
"Yeah…" he shouted back at her. "Well…let's see what you've got!"
"Alright, then," smirked Ginny, focusing all of her strength. Concentrating, Ginny focused on one spell, hearing it in her mind, over and over again. Expelliarmus!
In a flash, Ginny released the spell that she sent hurtling in Christian's direction. It hit him before he could even realize what was going on. His wand flew from his grip, and his body was sent spiraling backwards.
"Is that good enough?" Ginny asked slyly, as Christian picked himself off the ground and went to go retrieve his wand. Accio wand! Ginny thought quickly, and Christian's wand flew over to Ginny just as he was about to grab it. "Oh!" she said, faking shock. "Do you want this?"
Christian glared at her, his face getting redder by the second.
"Here," she said, tossing his wand back at him. "You can have it back."
The moment Christian caught his wand he shouted back at her, "Expelliarmus!"
Ginny didn't have time to react at this quick counterattack. She was sent spiraling backwards, her wand flying from her hand. She hit the ground hard, but that didn't stop her. Getting up quickly, she saw Christian smirking at her, and anger flooded through her body.
"Accio wand!" Ginny shouted, even though her outstretched hand was empty. She had blurted out the incantation before she knew what she was doing, but the magic flowing through her seemed to have a mind of it's own. To her surprise, and to everyone else's, her wand darted back into her waiting hand. She looked at Christian; his smug expression vanished from his face like it had never been there in the first place.
Ginny felt the magic surge through her, and she mentally began to throw every hex and jinx she knew at Christian. Ginny saw him take every hit, staggering as every spell came at him. With one last burst of energy, Ginny mentally disarmed him and knocked him unconscious. She walked victoriously over to his still form.
"Ginny!" Ron, Harry, and Hermione shouted "You were amazing!"
Ginny beamed at them, and then searched anxiously for Draco. He was standing in the same position he'd been in the whole time, trying to avoid Ginny's eyes. Her face fell, realizing he was still mad at her, but what did she really expect? That he would just come running back to her after all she put him through?
The trio bombarded her with compliments and questions, but Ginny wasn't really listening.
"Can you hold on one moment?" She asked them politely, glancing back at the still and quiet Draco. Ron looked from Ginny to Draco and back again.
"Ginny," he said, shaking his head. This was all too much for him. I mean, come on! His little and only sister with the Draco Malfoy? The very devil himself? No, he couldn't let that happen to Ginny.
"Ronald," Ginny warned.
She had finally gotten the truth out about Christian and he still wouldn't let her be with Draco? He was unbelievable! Ron remained unfazed as he gazed at his younger sister. Ginny sighed reluctantly. She could tell that this would take time…if Draco would have her back, that is.
"Just give me a moment to talk to him," she said weakly. Ron contemplated this idea and eventually gave in. After all, he, Harry, and Hermione would be standing just right there; they could come and pull her away from the monster if necessary.
Ron nodded reluctantly, and Ginny walked slowly up to Draco. She looked him straight in the eyes, but he looked away uncomfortably. Of course he liked Ginny, – well, loved her, really – but was love honestly enough? Could love survive even if two completely different people wanted to be together? Could love look past the differences, the obstacles?
Maybe it could…but maybe it couldn't.
If he was with Ginny, they'd constantly have to be defending their relationship. No one would approve, even her prat of a brother already made it clear that he didn't want his sister to even talk to him. No one would like the idea of them being together, and he couldn't forget how much she had hurt him. He couldn't just let all that pain she'd caused him to disappear.
Was it worth it? Could they make it?
It'd be safer to just let go, and Draco knew it. If he backed out now, it was save the both of them a lot of heartache and a lot of pain. If he let Ginny go now, then she'd be safe to grow up and be with someone who she deserved. Keeping her all to himself would be selfish. It would just hold her back from someone who would be perfect for her…someone who could be everything she needed and deserved. Draco couldn't do that to Ginny.
"Draco?" Ginny asked quietly. She didn't like the way he was looking at her. His expression was pained, like he was about to do something he didn't want to do.
"Ginny, we…" he began, his voice breaking slightly.
Ugh! This was going to be harder than he thought. No. He had to concentrate on the anger. Focus on how pissed you are at her. Don't feel sorry, just angry. Taking a deep breath, he began again, not hesitating for a moment.
"We can't be together. There's nothing for us. It's better if we just go our own separate ways, living life like we have before this year."
So this is it? Ginny thought, tears stinging her eyes. A couple emotionless words and they were over? That's how it was going to be? No, she had to make him see.
"But Draco," she argued through tears, "I…I love you…"
The words hung in the air awkwardly. On the inside, a part of Draco lit up, hearing the words he imagined so many times in his head. Another part of him died completely. He couldn't be with her.
"I don't love you." He said the words so dully and evenly that he even surprised himself. He could see the pain on Ginny's face, could see the utter agony in her sweet, brown eyes. His angry resolve cracked a little when he saw her misery. How could he be mad at Ginny? How was it even possible? No, be angry. He kept his face an emotionless mask, and Ginny seemed to buy it.
"O-okay," Ginny whispered. She opened her mouth again, but before she could speak, Draco was gone, walking back up to the school to collapse in misery once he was safe in his dormitory.
A/N: Like it? Read! Review! Let me know what you think!
