Again I don't own anything!

Blood Rain

Chapter 11

Trapped. She was trapped.

"Think your going somewhere Love?"

It took several seconds for Ginny to realize the words hadn't been said aloud but had echoed through her mind.

Nutters. She was going completely nutters?

"Pretty, oh so pretty." An unfamiliar gravelly voice cooed as Ginny moved towards the far wall until her back was against the chalk board. She wanted to see the attack when it came.

"Attack; there will be no attack my sweet. Only mating."

The shadowy figure slowly advanced out of the darkened corner. Their eyes met and Ginny gasped in shock. For standing not five feet away was a lethal looking black panther ready to pounce.

"Oh fuck." She breathed as the beast advanced.

A terrified scream died in her throat as the huge creature lunged, pinning her to the chalk board with one huge deadly paw on either side of her head.

"Mine. My mate." The midnight cat growled quietly.

Ginny could feel its hot breath against her neck, but strangely it wasn't hurting her in anyway. In fact the beast bared its sharp teeth and began gently removing the shards of glass protruding from her bleeding arm, dropping them at her feet. She closed her eyes as pain washed down her arm. Once the glass was removed, the panther gently licked at the crimson river staining her shoulder.

Licking? Was this deadly creature actually licking me? Does it want to eat me?

Ginny heard deep rich laughter in her mind, "Yes darling, I want to eat every delicious part of you."

The panther's tongue felt rough, and deliciously soft against her bare skin. The pain of the wound vanished as her body temperature increased. Flashes of that pink tongue licking, lapping at her naked nipples rolled across her closed eyelids. Small fluttering sensations began in her abdomen and traveled down to pool between her legs. A soft moan left her lips as the tongue increased in tempo.

"Your lust smells heavenly my love. I can't wait to lick every part of your delectable body."

His words broke though the lust filled haze and brought her back to present. Slowly, hesitantly she opened her eyes and found the creature nuzzling her neck. Pushing his head back, Ginny examined her wounds. To her amazement the jagged cuts looked a healthy pink.

It had healed her. It had picked the glass out of her shoulder with its teeth and healed her. It couldn't be could it? This was to fantastical to be real.

Goose bumps covered her exposed flesh as she slowly grasped the beast's soft head with both hands and looked deeply into the panthers glittering silver eyes.

She gasped softly in surprise, "Oh my." The truth was there for all to see. The endless stream of information and explanations from the previous days ran at warp speed through her brain.

Berserker….

Shape shifting….

Soul Mated….

"Oh my God……….Draco?" She whispered as the cat above her softly growled and lowered its head to gently nuzzle her exposed neck.

Soft, his fur was so soft under he palms. A low purr began deep in the animal's throat as she slowly scratched his ears.

"Draco is that you?" She asked as the purring grew louder.

"Yes Love. It's me. I'm sorry." His voice sounded remorseful as he lowered himself to the ground and backed up, releasing her.

"I never meant for you to see this. I just couldn't stay in control when you said I wasn't your mate."

Several moments of silence slowly ticked by as the two just stared at each other, almost daring the other to speak first.

"Everything you said. It's all true isn't it?" She said quietly as she watched him sit down, his long sleek tail lightly swaying.

"Yes, every word was true. I am a Berserker. I can shift into any shape I choose. I prefer the shape of a panther; its battle tactics are unsurpassed." The great cat's body started to shift and blur, almost like watching the scene through a heat wave. With a pop, the black panther disappeared and a humongous grey wolf stood in its place.

"I can be anything or anyone I want." To emphasize his point, and with another POP, Ginny came face to face with Professor Severus Snape.

Shock shown clearly on Ginny's face as "Snape" drew closer.

"Not him. Anyone but Snape." She begged.

"Snape" chuckled softly, and with another POP, Draco's face shown through the shadows.

"Better Love?" He smirked as he stepped closer. Ginny could feel the heat radiating off his body in waves. The pull that she felt towards him was woven though out her entire body. At that moment the only thing she wanted to do was to grab him and never let go.

"Why were you so upset? Why did you miss classes today?" Draco whispered as his hands settled onto her waist, pulling her closer.

"Blaize…he…he." Ginny stutter helplessly.

Just his smell was reeking havoc with her thought professes. His thumbs began massaging the exposed skin of her sides sending delicious shivers down her spine.

"What about Blaize and Daphne? Why did you mention them before?"

Ginny let out a long sign, and shifted out of his grasp. She needed to have a clear head if she was going to make any sense out of all this. She walked over to the dirt encrusted window and grasped the ledge, praying for strength.

"Daphne stopped me on my way to Potions this morning. She asked me to return something to Blaize, said he forgot them in her room last night."

"What was it Love? What could she have possibly given you that got you this upset?" The concern in his voice touched her heart. He really did care.

"It was a pair of green silk boxers." She whispered. Ginny waited a moment and then turned from the window to face him.

The anger and confusion on his face gave her pause. What if he didn't believe her? What if he thought this was an attempt to get attention from the two of them. These thought swirled and collided in her brain as he drew closer to her.

"It can't be true Kitten. He would never hurt you like that. I know that Blaize and Daphne were fuck buddies last spring, but since he found out that you were our mate, he stopped seeing her. Their relationship never went beyond physical. She wanted more, but he didn't."

Draco could feel the tension in her body as soon as he touched her shoulders. She wouldn't look him in the eye, instead stared intently at the floor. He was incredulous that she would think either he or Blaize could be unfaithful. He knew she didn't understand much about his kind, but she would learn.

"How did she have a pair of his boxers Draco? How would she know there was anything between Blaize and me if he hadn't told her?" Her voice cracked with emotion as she clasped her hands tightly together. She hated that they had this much control over her after such a short time.

"Look at me Love. Please." He implored as he pulled her close, lifting her face. Their eyes connected and Draco saw the sadness and mistrust swimming in the chocolate depths. "I have no idea how she ended up with them. How do you know that they were his to begin with?"

It was a valid question.

"It was kind of hard to miss his name sewn into the tag." She said in a resigned voice.

"We will figure this out. I promise." He pulled her closer still her breasts brushed his chest and wrapped his arms around her.

The beast growled and snarled at the sorrow flowing from Ginny. It wanted blood. No one would hurt her and get away with it, especially Blaize. If what she said was true, and Blaize was gracing the Slytherin slut's bed, there would be hell to pay.

Draco and Ginny stayed like that for some time, just holding each other. The feel of her in his arms was unlike anything he had ever experienced. The growling, snarling beast that usually lurked beneath his steely cold exterior was content, happy even just to have her close. Her scent soothed the savage beast.

As the old adage goes, all good things must come to an end.

"Will you trust me enough to come with me to my rooms? We'll find Blaize and fix this misunderstanding." He saw the uncertainty in her eyes, and felt angry that Blaize had put it there.

After a few tense moments, Ginny nodded. Entwining their fingers, the couple left the deserted classroom behind and descended into the dungeons, Slytherin territory. The hour had grown late and the Slytherin common room was deserted. Draco breathed a sign of relief and continued on to his rooms. His beast was already seething, between his anger at himself for phasing in front of Ginny, and this little misunderstanding with Blaize, he was already walking a fine line of control.

Opening the door, Draco ushered her inside. The interior layout was three times the size of her sleeping chambers, and the décor subtly spoke of wealth. While her own rooms were predominantly red and gold, Draco's rooms were tastefully done in silver and green accented with black furniture. She was pleasantly surprised, this wasn't what she expected.

"What. Did you think there would be skulls and blood covering every surface?" Draco chuckled as he led her to an emerald sofa in front of a warm roaring fire.

"No." She mumbled as she grinned unabashedly at him.

Looking around the room, she was amazed to find numerous book cases that covered almost every wall. The shelves reached from floor to ceiling and practically groaned under the weight of the numerous volumes. Many looked to be first additions with a varied of topics.

Draco followed her gaze and hastened to explain, "I enjoy reading. It helps to keep me calm. There's nothing like getting lost in an adventure, or researching new potion methods."

Ginny just nodded in response and continued to survey her surroundings.

"Will you be alright here? I need to go find Blaize, he's probably already in his rooms for the night." He didn't want to leave her, but they had to get this mess straightened out.

"It's okay. I don't mind." Ginny really didn't know what to say. She wanted to get this thing with Blaize and Daphne straightened out, but she knew there had to be a grain of truth to Daphne's words. How else would she have gotten those boxers?

Draco closed his door and whispered the containment spells. He wasn't going to take any chances with her life. It was better to be safe than sorry when Slytherin's were involved. He knocked lightly on Blaize's door and waited for his friend to answer. Usually he would have just walked in, but after talking with Ginny, he was afraid of what he might find.

After what seemed like forever, Blaize opened the door. A wet towel hung around his waist, indicating he had just freshly showered.

"Hey mate. Since when do you knock? Blaize asked as he turned back into the room and Draco followed, shutting the door.

"I want to know what is going on with you and Daphne. Ginny is sitting in my rooms right now pretty upset about something Daphne said about the two of you." Draco wasn't going to beat about the bush. This was too important.

Some unreadable emotion flashed in Blaize's eyes, "There is nothing between us. I told her to stay away."

Blaize didn't look Draco in the eye as he crossed the room to the bathroom and pulled on a pair of familiar green boxers and a white t-shirt. The fabric stretched across his toned body, accenting his hard muscles. Draco couldn't help but acknowledge the beauty of his fellow Slytherin.

Draco crossed his arms over his chest, "If you told her to stay away, then why did she give Ginny a pair of your boxers saying you had left them in her room last night?" Draco saw the panicked look that crossed his friends face.

Anger unlike Draco had every known coursed through his veins. The beast was angry, angrier than he had ever been. Ever.

Control. He had to stay in control. There had to be a simple explanation.

"What the fuck is going on Blaize? Ginny is our mate. She spent the day crying, thinking that you had sex with that slut. Tell me you didn't." Draco's voice lowered as he growled the last sentence. He advanced on Blaize with fire in his eyes. The beast was coming.

Blaize backed up a step, "I swear I didn't fuck her, but she was in my rooms last night. She was naked and I……" His sentence trailed off as he watched the unchecked anger play across Draco's face. Without warning, Draco phased, and in an instant the midnight panther was at his throat.

"You bastard."He growled as he pinned Blaize to the floor, his razor sharp claws digging violently into the floor boards not inches away from Blaize's face.

"STOP. Stop Draco. It isn't what it sounds like." The black beast wasn't listening. He knew it sounded bad, he knew that Draco would be angry, but he hadn't expected this. How dare he? How dare he attack him for something that he didn't do?

Resentment began to course through Blaize's body. His beast was fuming, spoiling for a fight. His stress levels had been at an all time high since discovering Ginny was their mate, and no amount of hunting game had alleviated it.

He decided in an instant. If Draco wanted a fight, so be it. He let the beast loose. With an immense amount of power, he threw Draco off and phased.

The black panther watched as Blaize's human form melted away to reveal a golden cougar, and he was angry.

"You want to do this? Let's do it."

The two powerful beasts clashed ferociously in the middle of the floor. Furniture went flying as the black and golden bodies rolled and wrestled, bit and clawed. Blood flowed freely as they each took hit after hit.

At least twenty minutes went by as the "fur flew". They were evenly matched and both knew it. After a time the fight stopped being about Blaize's infidelity and more about satisfying the beasts need for release.

Finally Draco knocked Blaize off for the hundredth time, "I'm finished. How about you? His breathing was labored as he sat licking his numerous wounds.

Blaize lifted his head off the floor to look at Draco, signing in resignation. "I didn't fuck her Draco. She was in my room when I got there." Blaize lifted himself up and began the blood off his golden coat, getting ready to phase back to his original form.

"How did she get your boxers?"Draco's tone was accusatory, but Blaize ignored it.

"She must have taken them when she left."Blaize knew it was a flimsy excuse, and would have to tell him the whole truth.

The two finished healing themselves and phased back into their human forms. Draco went to sit on the edge of Blaize's bed as the two friends faced off.

"Why were the boxers off your body?" Draco dreaded the answer, but had to ask anyway. He had to protect Ginny at all costs, even if it meant protecting her from Blaize.

Blaize took a deep breath and looked Draco in the eye, "I got undressed and into bed without lighting the candles. She was waiting for me naked, scared the shit out of me too. Once I got the lights on, I told her to leave. She got all steamy and she crawled out of bed towards me naked." There was a long pause and Draco could see the agony on his friends face.

"Continue."

"The only thing I could think of was how long it had been. I haven't been inside a woman in over six months. I was weak. She pulled my boxers down and she started to blow me. I couldn't help it. It felt beyond good, her mouth was hot and….."

"I really don't want to hear this, especially about Daphne of all people." Draco shook his head in disgust, trying to get the disturbing images out.

"I know, I know. There is nothing I can say that excuses my behavior. It lasted less than a minute before I realized what I was doing. I pulled away from her and told her to get out. She grabbed her robe and ran. She must have picked up the boxers on her way out. I swear that's what happened. I didn't fuck her like she implied. I wasn't in her rooms last night." Blaize pleaded with Draco to understand.

"Do you realize the upset you've cause? Ginny missed classes today because of you. She was so upset at being told of your thing with Daphne she started to doubt you, doubt us." Draco shivered at what could have happened if Daphne's accusations were true. Ginny would never trust them.

"I had no idea Daphne would do this. If I had I would have gone to Ginny and told her what happened." Remorse and guilt clouded his voice. He had fucked up and fucked up royally. He just hoped Ginny could forgive him.

"She's in my rooms now. I promised you could explain this. She's angry."

"I don't blame her. I would be angry too if I was faced with that kind of damning evidence." Blaize conceded as he walked towards the door, intending to go to Ginny right away.

"One thing Mate. Why in Merlin's name do you have your name sewn in your undies?" Draco snorted with laughter as a blushing Blaize left the room.

With a wave of his hand, Blaize lifted the containment spells as he opened the door to Draco's room. He didn't know what to expect. She could either be so angry she wouldn't talk to him, or yell obscenities. He wasn't sure which he would prefer; he deserved both.

The room was silent and the candles burned low casting shadows on the walls. His heart sank as the fear creped in. "She left; she left and didn't wait for an explanation."

As he advanced into the room, her scent reached his finely tuned nose. Approaching the bed, Blaize found her curled into a tight ball in the middle of the bed, fast asleep.

"Baby, I am so sorry." He whispered softly as he looked down hungrily at her sleeping form. He knew once she awoke he would have to tell her the truth, but for now she needed her sleep.

Quickly and quietly Blaize removed her shoes and lifted her so he could settle her under the thick covers. He noticed the blood on her blouse and the newly healed scars, but decided to wait and ask her about them tomorrow. Right now he just wanted to feel her in his arms, have her body close to his.

Blaize extinguished the candles with a wave of his hand and settled in next to Ginny. Looping his arm around her waist, he pulled her close and buried his face in her fragrant hair. With a sigh of contentment he closed his eyes and let sleep take him, content in the knowledge that he was where he needed to be.

Draco waited over half an hour before going back to his rooms. He was uncertain of what he would find, but knew that Blaize wouldn't physically harm her in any way. Ginny on the other hand, she could be down right mean when she wanted to be, and he wouldn't change places with Blaize for anything in the world right now.

Draco softly shut the door, amazed at the silence that filled the room. An uncharacteristic sappy smile spread across his face as he looked down on the couple cuddled together in sleep. This is what he wanted. The two of them wait for him in bed. It would have been even better if they had been making love, waiting for him to join them, but that would come in time.

Quickly shedding his clothes, Draco gently slid into bed and cuddled up to Ginny's sleeping form. He lifted her gently so that her head rested on his chest and her body was flush against his. Blaize's arm wrapped around his waist and the three settled into sleep. Tomorrow everything would be clearer, and hopefully Ginny would be ready to listen to Blaize's explanation and apology. Hopefully.

Next Time:

"You bloody bitch. THAT HURT."

Sorry, this was a long one. Let me know what you think!!!!