"I don't want to know anything!" Hermione cried out. She threw her hands up in frustration and started towards the girl's staircase.
Ginny was furious. "If you don't want to know anything, then why did you wait up for me?"
"I didn't! I was down seeing Hagrid, now that he's back. I was just trying to finish the chapter I have to read.... Oh Ginny, how could you?"
Hagrid's back. Thank God. Some relief spread through Ginny, who had been extremely worried about her friend in the last few weeks. It was dominated by the stress she was beginning to feel. She had told Hermione because she thought she could trust her, and now she didn't want to hear anything about it. What if she told one of her brothers, or worse, Ginny's parents?
"Just hear me out," Ginny whispered pleadingly. They were all alone in the common room, but she still feared someone would be listening in.
Hermione looked carefully at Ginny, her eyes penetrating and worried. "How could you do that, Ginny? You know what he's like! You're going to end up getting hurt again!"
"I will not get hurt again!" Ginny retorted. "He cares for me, and he would never hurt me!"
"Oh God," Hermione moaned, putting her head in her hands. "I can't even fathom how this came about." She looked up, and continued, "Ginny, he has made it clear what side he's on. You can't risk this, especially not now. He's obviously using you, to get information or something that he wants. It's not safe."
"Stop it!" Ginny said, not caring to keep her voice low anymore. "I trust him, and I know that he's on our side! I told you because I knew I could trust you, not because I wanted a lecture!"
There was a brief silence in which neither girl said anything. Instead, they stared at one another, trying to understand the other.
Finally, Hermione spoke in a soft whisper that was alarmingly gentle to Ginny. "You mean it? He really cares for you?"
Ginny nodded feverently. "I'm sure of it."
Hermione nodded once. "Then I wish you the best of luck. Just please, Ginny, be careful!" Hermione pulled Ginny into a strong hug and then let go.
"Thank you," Ginny whispered, a smile spreading across her face. It was so relieving for her to know that someone was supporting her and Draco's relationship.
"I...," Hermione began. She suddenly seemed nervous. "I know this sounds stupid but I've... had a bit of a crush on him in the past. I know how ridiculous that sounds!" she said defensively.
Ginny smiled. "You don't say."
Both of Hermione's cheeks were turning red. "I know, it makes absolutely no sense! I just used to find him so attractive! I'm glad to see that he can actually care for another human being."
The two hugged again, and then silently went up to bed.
A week had passed since Draco's last encounter with the girl he now considered more than magic. The separation was driving him insane, but it was inevitable. Christmas was approaching quickly, and the teachers were piling on more O.W.L work than ever. She had been appointed seeker to the Gryffindor Quiddich team, which he loved. If he ever had a spare moment, he would sneak down to the Slytherin locker room and watch her fly.
Sleep had been hard to come by for him. Even when he was tired, he would try to avoid sleep as much as possible. When he was awake, all he could think about was her- the way she looked in the darkness, the way her words affected him, the way she felt under his hands. Sleep would bring this, too, but it would also bring him false hope: in his dreams, they were together, and there was no one to care about that.
Dark circles developed under his eyes, clashing with his pale complexion. He noticed that she had them, too.
One day, he sat through History of Magic without dozing at all. He needed to see her right then. Quickly, he scribbled a small note to her, and then stuffed it into the pocket of his robe.
Meet me in one hour, in our spot. I need to see you again.
After class dismissed, he knew he needed to act quickly if he was going to catch up with her. Lunch was starting, and she was all the way down at Charms.
"Go along, Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle... I need to ask Professor Snape about our Potions assignment." Obediently, the three went the opposite way towards the Great Hall. Draco turned the corner and sprinted towards the Charms wing.
His heart beat even faster when he saw her. She was standing there innocently, chatting innocently to that blond girl. A large mass of fourth year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws stood around her, talking amongst themselves. Draco took a brief second to admire her, and then put a false sneer on his face and sauntered down the hall.
She noticed him, out of the corner of her eye, but didn't make it obvious. Draco loved how stealth she was being. Reaching into his pocket, he put the note into the palm of his hand and started to walk next to her. Roughly, he shoved the piece of paper into her pocket, and then continued on his way.
Once he turned the corner, he gave one quick glance back and saw her continue her conversation with her friend, but also slip a hand into her pocket. She nodded up and down for no apparent reason, but Draco knew.
Feeling oddly elated, Draco rushed down to the Great Hall. He quickly ate a bowl of stew and some biscuits, more than he had eaten in awhile. Pansy talked to him, and he actually made an attempt to talk to her. After half an hour, he suddenly excused himself, to Pansy's displeasure.
Draco wanted to sprint to their abandoned classroom, but he also did not want to draw attention to himself. Instead of going the direct route, he took several detours that wouldn't reveal his destination. All he could think about was her, and the way he would feel once they were together.
He arrived at the classroom, took a good look around to make sure nobody was near, and then slipped inside.
She was already there, perched up on a desk, her legs crossed. Draco started, and then moved towards her. A sly smile was spread across her face. She had abandoned her school robe on the floor, and was wearing a short black skirt and a green sweater.
"Ginny," he whispered. He couldn't find his voice anymore. She stood and they moved together. Draco wrapped his arms desperately around her and pulled her close. The world around him seemed to melt away with her this close. He breathed in and was intoxicated by the beautiful scent of lilacs from her hair.
"I've missed you so much," she mumbled into his shoulder.
"I've missed you too."
Draco pulled away and put her face into his hands. She looked up at him, her brown eyes shining and full of happiness. He leaned down and kissed her lips. She kissed him back eagerly.
For several minutes, they exchanged only chaste kisses. Then the cold classroom began to feel very warm to Draco. He broke their kiss for an agonizing moment and pulled off his robe, leaving him in blue khakis and a sweater. He draped the robe onto the floor like a rug and sat upon it. Ginny followed and sat close to him.
The way Draco felt changed dramatically when she sat next to him like this. With them sitting this close, nearly lying down, he lusted for her stronger than ever. He needed to touch her body, and he needed her to touch him.
They kissed again, this time wetly and intensely. Draco put his arms back around Ginny's middle and gently lowered her until she was lying down on the robe. For the second time, she allowed him to move his hands up her sweater. Draco moaned loudly into her mouth and moved so he was on top of her. He no longer cared if she knew the effect she had on his body anymore. He needed her now. Moving his mouth from her lips to her neck, Draco was pleased to hear her whisper desperately, "Draco."
Reaching her hands down, she fumbled with his belt and let her hands do what he wanted her body to do.
After their kissing and touching session was over, Ginny and Draco lay there on the robe, his arm around her. There had never been a girl he had ever cared for more, one who made him feel so whole. But still, he had to know, what had Lucius done to her? It was the one thing that connected him, and he still didn't have a complete answer.
"Ginny?" he whispered.
"Mmm?" she returned. She cuddled closer into his arm.
"What did my father do to you?" he asked gently.
She let out a long sigh, and didn't speak for a while. Draco wondered if she ever would, and he regretted having asked the question. To his surprise, she spoke again.
"When I was eleven, I had a diary that used to belong to Voldemort-" Draco flinched,"- when he was merely human. To make a long, painful story short, Tom- that was his name- possessed me. It was me. I opened the Chamber of Secrets." She was shaking slightly. Draco leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"If you don't mind me asking, what did my father have to do with it?"
"He gave me the diary. That son of a bitch gave me the diary."
Anger surged through Draco's veins. He knew his father had gone low before, but he could never have imagined something so terrible. Because of him, a girl was permanently scarred. And why her? What had she done? She had only been an eleven year old girl.
"Oh, Ginny. I'm so sorry," was all Draco could manage to say.
He held her closer, and she burrowed into his arm. Finally, he looked at the clock. He had cut Herbology, and she had cut Potions. Classes would let out soon. If they left now, nobody would notice their absence together.
Silently, they walked through the abandoned hallway daringly hand in hand. They knew that no one would be in the halls at this time, and neither one wanted to let go. They stopped at the end, preparing to say goodbye.
"I'll see you soon," she whispered sadly. Draco couldn't respond. Now more than ever, it was breaking his heart to leave her all alone. He held her hand tighter, not wanting to forget the way it felt when he let go.
"Oh, my. What have we got here?" someone said sleekly behind them. Draco froze and thought he might faint. Ginny whimpered audibly. He recognized that voice. After all, he had taken Potions from him for the past five years.
[A/N- Sorry the update took so long. I just haven't been in a writing mood. I was also working on an original fiction plot bunny that I needed to chase. Now this story is getting realllly interesting, so expect an update in a day or so!]
