Cast Away

Chapter 10 ~ Maria's Woes

The Quidditch season had started, three games already been played, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff versus Slytherin and Hufflepuff versus Gryffindor. The match this coming Saturday was Slytherin versus Ravenclaw. Gryffindor had come out to an early lead, winning both their games. If Slytherin won this match, it meant that the two rival houses would be equal first, that is, until they play eachother the Saturday after this one.

Three weeks had passed since Ginny's last run in with Malfoy, and she hoped sincerely that she wouldn't have another private meeting with him sometime soon. Ginny walked with Sigma towards their usual spot in the Quidditch Stands, right at the back where not many people sat. Ginny soon found her eyes wandering around the Gryffindor section of the stands. She saw Phillip, Julia, Cassandra and Drew, but not Maria. She was no where to be seen, and Phillip looked slightly paler than usual. Ginny saw Harry and Ron looking anxious to be out on the Quidditch Pitch, as Madam Hooch came out to signal the teams to come out.

Since Lee Jordan no longer attended Hogwarts, a new announcer had been appointed by Professor McGonagall, Seamus Finnegan. His heavy Irish accent boomed out as he introduced the Slytherin team.

'THE SLYTHERIN TEAM, CAPTAIN DRACO MALFOY AS THEIR SEEKER, BLAISE ZABINI AS THE KEEPER, THE BEATERS ARE VINCENT CRABBE AND GREGORY GOYLE LEAVING LEANNE BRAYSHAW, JAMES McKENZIE AND JOEL REILEY AS THE CHASERS!' Seamus's voice boomed over the crowd. Ginny recognised James and Joel as seventh year Slytherins, and she wondered why they wouldn't be made captain over Draco, a sixth year. Leanne had her pretty long hair in curls, stationed above her head with some tiny braids weaved in here and there. Ginny wondered why Leanne would dress up so nicely just for a game of rough Quidditch.

'Who wins this match, Sigma?' Ginny turned to her friend. Sigma seemed dazed, in some sort of trance. 'Sigma!' Ginny shook Sigma's shoulders. Sigma snapped out of her trance, and looked at Ginny with a plain expression. 'Who wins?'

'I wish I didn't know…' Sigma said painfully. 'I used to love surprises, now I have none.' Ginny felt bad for her friend, but Sigma continued. 'I know the score, I know the exact moves, I can see it playing through my head.' Sigma closed her eyes and tried to block out the game which ran through her head.

'Okay, try and think of something different, how about Maria? Where is she?' Ginny said. Sigma remained silent and Ginny knew she was concentrating hard. She scrunched her face up and looked troubled. After a few minutes had passed, Sigma opened her eyes and looked at Ginny. The first thing Ginny noticed was Sigma's left eye. A small slither of black had appeared on the very left hand side of Sigma's left eye. It was so small, barely noticeable, so Ginny thought nothing of it, however, she couldn't help but wonder, it wasn't there before.

'I don't know.' Sigma said finally.

'You don't know?'

'I haven't had any premonitions about Maria for over three weeks.' Sigma told her, sighing.

The game had long started, and the score was Slytherin on 60 and Ravenclaw on 20. Slytherin were a sure win in this match. Ravenclaw's seeker, Cho Chang, was not flying her best, however Malfoy ripped through the air in search of the Snitch.

'BRAVE SAVE BY KEEPER MONICA GOODWIN OF THE RAVENCLAW TEAM!' Seamus was saying. 'THERE GOES A BLUDGER! HEADED STRAIGHT FOR SLYTHERIN SEEKER, BUT HE'S SEEN THE SNITCH! DRACO MALFOY HAS GONE AFTER THE SNITCH, NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE BLUDGER HURTLING STRAIGHT TOWARDS HIS -' Crack! The impact of the bludger to Draco's spine was blood curtling. The whistle was blown and the game paused. Madam Hooch rushed onto the field where Malfoy's still body lay. She conjured up a stretched and rushed him off to the castle, obviously to the hospital wing.

The remaining Slytherin team flew to the ground, and huddled, while the Ravenclaws did the same. Professor McGonagall took over the microphone.

'STUDENTS, SLYTHERINS FORFIT THE MATCH, UNABLE TO CONTINUE LACKING A SEEKER AND CAPTAIN.'

~***~

Ginny sat in the common room with Sigma that night. Julia and Cassandra came over to them, red eyed and looking like they hadn't used any of their regular beauty products for the last week. Julia looked particularly stressed.

'Ginny, it's Maria, she's in the hospital wing, and she wants to talk to you,' Cassandra said, then narrowed her eyes when Sigma stood up with Ginny.

'She doesn't want to see you, Sigma,' Julia told her. Ginny looked back at Sigma, worried about her friend, but Sigma just smiled meekly and sat down, closing her eyes. She'll probably see the whole conversation anyway, Ginny thought with a discreet smile.

When they reached the hospital wing, Ginny saw Maria, lying just a few beds from Malfoy. She silently hoped he was asleep. The three walked over to Maria's bed, Julia and Cassandra looking worried. Ginny noticed that Maria was pale, but other than that, she looked quite healthy.

'Could you two please leave me to talk to Ginny alone?' Maria said softly. Julia and Cassandra nodded, and went to sit just outside the hospital wing. Ginny sat down next to Maria's bed and looked at her.

'What's wrong with you Maria?' Ginny asked, and Maria's eyes dropped, not being able to face Ginny.

'You were right, you know. A few weeks ago how you warned me about going to the dorms with Phillip, you were right,' Maria said, looking up to reveal silent tears streaking down her face. Ginny didn't know what to do, or say. A part of her expected this, Sigma is a seer, and her premonitions are quite accurate, or so Ginny believed.

'So you're saying …?' Ginny was afraid to say it, she wanted to hear it from Maria herself.

'Yes, okay? I'm pregnant!' Maria broke into silent sobs. Ginny sat there in silence, not knowing what to do.

'I did warn you,' Ginny began, but stopped when Maria looked up at her, with the most evil look Ginny had ever seen Maria wear.

'I know perfectly well that you warned me,' Maria spat. 'I just wanted Phillip to be happy,' She broke into small sobs again. 'I still want him to be happy.' She said between sobs. 'But he doesn't want any part of my life now, what will I do?'

'It seems like he got more than he bargained for.' Ginny said. 'What will you do with that baby?'

'I'm keeping it, I don't want to end a life because I'm too selfish.' Maria said. 'But it means Phillip will never come near me.'

'Why?'

'He doesn't want the responsibility, he thinks he's too young to be a dad, and he just wants to have "fun" with girls.' Maria choked up, but found the need to continue. 'He had his fun with me.'

'It just seems so unlike Phillip to abandon you like this,' Ginny said.

'Don't you think I know that?' Maria cried in hysterics. 'I thought he was a nice guy, but I was wrong! He mislead me, and I misjudged him horribly. I thought he would stick with me through anything.'

'This is a big deal Maria, this is your life here, swimming around in your stomach. You'll never have freedom, you'll have to deal with a child for the rest of your life.' Ginny said softly. 'How do you expect to pay?'

'I don't know! Stop saying this, I already know!' Maria screamed.

'Sorry.' Ginny said, but Maria collapsed, too weak to argue or yell anymore.

'I haven't even told my parents yet, they think I'm a good girl, now look at me. They'll see a slut! A dirty whore who can't keep her legs closed.' Maria broke into tears again. Ginny felt rather bad for her.

'You could get an abortion -'

'Don't even say that word, it means murder.' Maria cut in.

'Sorry.'

'I just don't know what to do! Dumbledore won't want a pregnant girl running around school, and he most certainly won't want a baby here when it comes…'

'When is the baby due?' Ginny asked.

'Should be next June.' Maria answered.

'Just before the holidays…'

'Yes.' Maria answered. 'If it was due during the holidays then there would be no problem, but my baby will come by the end of term.'

'Sorry to hear that.' Ginny said.

'So what about you, Ginny? Got any special guy in your life? Colin Creevey seems to fancy you.' Maria said, quickly changing the subject. Ginny scrunched up her face.

'No, I'm going to save myself for marriage.' Ginny told her. Maria's eyes instantly widened.

'You could get married when you're twenty seven! How could you wait that long for something so good?' Maria asked, a dreamy look on her face.

'Look at what happened to you, I don't want that until I have a husband to support me.' Ginny said sensibly.

'Shut up.' Maria said bitterly.

'I'll just be on my way then, I'll send Cassandra and Julia in.' Maria had no objections, so Ginny left the hospital wing.

A few beds over, Malfoy lay awake, having just overheard the entire conversation between the two Gryffindors.

So, the Brently Slut and the Virgin Weasley… Draco thought. I'll get both of them in bed by the end of my sixth year. He only wished he had someone to share his little promise with, but he couldn't tell even Blaise, because Draco knew that Blaise would run off to them and spoil his plans.

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Orli-anon ~ If you think the last chapter was breif, this one was even more breif! Sorry! I wasn't saying I have no imagination, but I just don't like to have characters that aren't "built up" as my main characters, you know? Oh anyway… thanks for the review, and I hope you liked this chapter!

purfectchild ~ Maria's character will gradually change after this chapter. Being pregnant will effect her a great deal. Ginny is a nice, caring person, so she gave the warning even though Maria is not nice to her. Maria chose to ignore Ginny's warning, and look where it got her. Thank you for your review!

VoiCeZWiThiN ~ Yeah, being friends with Ginny and Sigma would be cool! I made the Slytherins cheat because, yes, it seemed like a Slytherin thing to do. I'm trying not to have any OOC's in this fiction as much as possible! Thank you for reading and reviewing, I hope you liked this chapter.

rose petel ~ Sigma isn't coping with her gifts, she hates being a seer. That will most definitely play a larger part in the fiction later on, just think "the black in Sigma's eye". Just a little hint there! Ginny will be even lonlier when Sigma starts behaving strangly… another little hint! I hope you liked this chapter.

Tylah ~ I hope you have a great time on your holidays!! There should be a lot of chapters waiting for you when you get home, if all goes to plan! Hehehe. Shame there won't be any internet or computers, I couldn't live for that long without the net! I look forward to hearing from you in a review when you get back! Have fun!

HarryzBabe ~ I didn't understand the first part of your review "That's very hippose=ritical of them! Everyone's different but, that's ok, it's only a story." I don't get it, lol. Sigma doesn't like her gifts, she's doing everything she can not to have them, and fighting a losing battle "the black slither in her eye". You'll just have to wait to see what happens with her. Did this chapter answer your questions about Maria? I hope you liked it.

Tigeress61290 ~ Thank you for the compliments, and yes this most certainly is a Draco/Ginny fiction! I do try to update as soon as I can, I know I like a story which goes along quickly over one that doesn't! Thank you for putting me on your favourite stories list and author alert! I hope you liked this chapter.

kura52 ~ Yes, it will be really sad when Sigma grows away from Ginny, it shouldn't be too long before that happens. I hope this chapter was what you expected! Thank you for reading and reviewing.

Darcy16 ~ I will update as soon as I have the next chapter written, which shouldn't be too long between chapters! I'm glad you like the speed I'm writing this fiction at. Did you like Draco's promise at the end? I'm not to sure how that will go, but I'm hoping it will do well! Thank you for reading and reviewing, I hope you liked this chapter!