Stings Like Fire
If you don't know what it's about by now, you're really screwed, aren't you?
There are probably typos… lots of 'em.
THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SEXUAL INNUENDO . IF YOU AREN'T THE CORRECT AGE, FIND THE 'STARTS HERE' LINE IN BOLD BLACK PRINT, AND SCROLL DOWN UNTIL YOU FIND THE 'ENDS HERE' LINE. THANK YOU.
The two nurses outside her door murmured quietly as they came down the hall. Ginny sat, knees folded against her chest, a flesh-colored string in her ear as she rested her chin against her knees. The nurses carried on in careful whispers, oblivious that someone would be eavesdropping.
"…it's all okay, his mother's in the library, been locked in there all night long I guess, but we got him stitched up all okay. He was hard givin' in when we first laid him down, butClip gave him the knock out and he didn't even try to rip them out. He'll be good as new in a few minutes, but there'll still be a scar," one nurse relayed to the other.
"Oh?"
"Yes. Narcissa sent us down to check on him. One more little peek, she said. Then it's back to guarding his door."
"It's a shame for the boy."
"The boy and the girl."
"How do you figure?"
"He kept mumbling in his sleep."
Ginny sucked in a breath.
"Really?"
"Yes. Something about that girl, Ginny's her name, and how somehow, he thinks he's failed her or something," she reported.
"Oh. Well."
"Are you ready to go back to his room?"
They were approaching now, their voices slightly louder but farther away as they came closer. Risking her hiding space, she cracked the door, waiting. The second nurse, upon passing, looked down, catching her eye. But instead of stopping, she only nodded, winking discreetly. She took the first nurse's arm, turning to face her.
"Actually… I don't think Narcissa would mind much if we went down and had a cup or two of coffee. I know I need it right about now."
"But didn't you - " the first began, slightly befuddled, but the second cut her off.
"No, I drank it."
"Oh."
"Mm-hmm."
"Well, I could use one now. I seemed to have finished mine already. That's the 2nd cup I've had in an hour… the mug is simply colored with my lipstick, just sitting underneath my watch station sign…"
"Well, I know I could use one."
She nodded at Ginny again, before hooking her arm through her coworker's and leading her back the way they came. Ginny sighed in relief, opening the door as she slipped into the hallway, listening for people. As she descended the stairs and passed the workstation, she stopped; underneath the second nurse's work sign, black and full, was a mug of untouched coffee. She came to his bedroom door, the small crack a hint of carelessness in his attitude. She gently pushed it open, giving way to the gentle sighs of his breathing and all other muffled sounds of his nocturnal chamber.
The light spilled across his gentle figure. His bare chest heaved in sleep, the sleek but craftily carved landscape of it glistened in his sleepy sweat, sloping down to the jagged redness of a new scar. A sharp line of blonde hair trailed down a taut stomach, into the waistband of pajama pants.
His eyes were closed, but the whites of his eyes are barely visible beneath angelic blonde eyelashes that press against the tops of his cheekbones. They flutter as his eyes move back and forth in sleep, in dreams she doesn't know. She examines his face.
She couldn't help but see that it was slightly troubled, his face. The beautiful, well-dreamt nose-eyes-cheeks-lips-forehead-chin. As the eyes flicker his nose, strong and slightly pointed, is still, curving down to lips that are parted barely with quiet sighs, giving way to a sturdy chin that melds around to curved cheekbones and a deep, thoughtful forehead. A sigh escapes as she steps forward to him, closing the door behind her as moonlight leads the way. Silver eyes open, arms pushing down.
STARTSHERESTARTSHERESTARTSHERESTARTSHERESTARTSHERESTARTSHERESTARTSHERE
He sits up. His hands are greedily reaching, curling around her waist as he pulls her over and under, pressing her into a mattress so soft his weight is but barely noticeable. Muscles ripple as an arm curls beneath her head, fingers dusting her temple and the least bare skin as his lips press softly against her own. She pushes back, hard, hands running up the slickness of his chest to his shoulders, fingers grazing his skin in delicious tremors as her greed and pain are transformed. Her finger traces his new scar. Bit by bit his energy returns, slipping his hands around to undo her silk camisole, pressing it down, past thighs and knees, slipping over her feet to be kicked to the floor in a single flourish.
Skin to skin burns incessantly, but it's too sweet to be painful. Shocking coolness clashes with burning heat, smoky steam rising up to mingle in breath as his fingers cross her stomach, grazing her belly button, dipping down and pausing her, still as ever, to teeter on the edge of breath at this hard, unexpected touch. One by one his fingers dip in, disappearing, reappearing, the erotic version of hide and seek. Her pants cross greed and pleasure as she falls limp above his arm, fumbling to catch air s he huskily laughs.
Fingers suddenly abandon their game, travel to breasts, tracing sweet circles that rub her raw in a skin she feels she's never been in. Rough, calloused thumbs print circles and press hard, push her under as mouth takes place, sweet, tantalizing tongue strokes pressing at nervous, taut breasts. He draws away, expels a sweet sigh, cold, icy on this dewy area, emitting a sharp gasp from her mouth. He falls back, Ginny's hands following, slipping beneath his waistband as she slips them over his hips, pushing them into the floor. He slides gently up her body, knee breaking her clamped thighs. Her eyes slam open as loss overwhelms her, mouth parting in pants as he kisses her collarbone, the corners of her mouth.
"Stop?" comes the sharp, waspish question, frantic eyes clouded in lust. Her fingers grab at him, nails grappling to memorize every gloriously sweet crevice.
The junction of her thighs ache. On other nights she would've rolled to her side and clamp her knees hard together, but not this night. She pulls at his shoulders, calling and commanding him in offhand gestures, mouth calling, "please." Hands grip her sides for balance as he puts himself at level with her, hardness ever-pressing, almost…
He ducks his head, hesitating, pressing cold lips to burning skin.
"Please," she says again, eyes beseeching him through fog. He grins, barely, wolfish and tired, but aroused and waiting. He levels up to her again, dips in, drawing out a gasp. Then he ducks down and, all at ones, bites hard into her shoulder as he penetrates the barrier that forever held him out. Her mouth is a round 'o', perfect in shape of shock. He kisses tears that slip away, sadly laps up blood he'd drawn from her shoulder. He's very still, but up to hilt and throbbing, waiting.
She begins to move. Her legs curl around his waist, hands curling back around to grip forearms, then biceps. She pulls up, presses against him, gives a small squeak and falls back into the pillows with a huff. He brushes hair from her temple and draws back out, very slowly, and back in, bit by bit. Her body is nervous, her mind on edge. He draws out, a bit faster, and back in. Again. She groans. He murmurs, grumbles, voice deep and husky. Again. Fingernails cut into his skin. Lips press. Again. Oh, she's gone.. She must be. Never anything so wonderful.
"Faster."
Yes, faster. An act of God in the making, all theirs. She's panting to their rhythm, breathing hard and moans synchronized, oh oh oh. She becomes rigid, cries out, a sharp thrust, a scream. Oh. He dives in again.
"Last time," he says - he's crippled. His body shudders, his eyes roll back, his weight topples her.
"Wonderful," he says. "Beautiful."
ENDSHEREENDSHEREENDSHEREENDSHEREENDSHEREENDSHEREENDSHEREENDSHEREENDS
In the thick silence, all she does is breathe, as he whispers incoherently into her hair. Moments pass until he curls his arms around her and rolls onto his back. He sat, stroking her sides, until she buried her face into his shoulder, body shuddering. Even though the lull, it took him a moment to think - hey - she was laughing!
"Ginny?" he sleepily croaked. She turned her face away, taking a deep breath.
"Yes?" came the quiet, bubbly reply. He lifted his head, running a hand down her bare back.
"What is it?"
She buried her face back into his shoulder, short breaths escaping.
"It's nothing. I'll tell you tomorrow. It's confusing."
He emitted a tired chuckle.
"What about?"
When she lapsed into giggling silence, he figures perhaps she just didn't want to tell him, when she suddenly stopped and sighed into his shoulder.
"Isn't it weird?" she asked, so quiet it was like a whisper.
"Is what weird?"
She laughed again.
"How we went from little teenagers, to these sudden, more mature, worried-sick people. I mean, we were young once. We were enemies."
She went back into giggling again, as he thought about it.
"We were, weren't we."
She nodded.
"You were so mean, to me and my brothers."
His face puckered.
"I know."
Then she sniffled.
"I mean, honestly. Who knew under all those threats and snarls, lived a soul that could love?"
Then she laughed.
"I just can't get over it. I feel like I've grown overnight."
He nodded.
"I know how you feel."
She sighed quietly as she rubbed her cheek along his shoulder, closing her eyes.
"I'm sure I do."
The sun pokes barely over the mountains through the black velvet drapes, shedding mellow light on Draco's sweat-streaked back. Ginny hugged him close, pressing her forehead into his shoulder, taking a deep breath. They were silent and still; outside the window, new snow covered the ground. Ginny kissed his shoulder, then his neck, pausing to stare up at him. Through the morning haze, he met her eyes. Her lips parted, gently, to let out a shaking sigh.
"Do you know what I want?" she murmured sleepily.
He eyed her wickedly and grinned, raising an eyebrow, a gesture she hadn't seen in months.
"Darlin', if you let me get my energy back, I'll do my best to give you anything you're achin' for."
She grinned shyly down at his neck. He brushed his fingers against her chin, gently tilting it upwards.
"What is it?" he asked, more serious now. She smiled so softly it was a mere gesture and a breath of air, before she closed her eyes, hugging him close again.
"I just wish you could lay here with me, like this, all day."
He looked down at her, kissing her temple.
"I'll do my best," he replied.
Hours later, she nudged him awake.
"What now?" he grumbled.
"What I would like now, is - "
"What did I tell you about that?" he interrupted slyly, grinning in his sleepy state.
She giggled into the pillow. The clock on the wall struck 11, eleven dings that filled the room of silence. A shiver ran through her. Down the hall, her mother called from the bottom of the stairs.
"Come on," she whined, trying to roll over him.
"What?" he squealed into his pillow, dark eyes barely opening. Her own innocent eyes stared up at him until she pushed gently on his chest.
"I have to pee," she whimpered. He rolled far enough to let her by, picking up his silk bathrobe on the way. She felt the pain in her legs ache, but only yawned as she stepped out the door.
"I'll come after you if you don't come back," he called after her, rolling again into his pillows. "If I don't fall asleep first," he sleepily added. When the door clicked shut, his eyes closed, sealing out noon's light in an opal slumber haze.
"I spot a rat," came the disgustedly amused voice down the hall.
"'Morning, Pansy," Ginny murmured carelessly, shuffling out of a bedroom in a silk bathrobe, eyes still sleepily squinting as she shuffled across the hall. Pansy's stricken face was unseen as she gaped, rather unattractively, at the redhead who wore Draco Malfoy's black silk robe. She slammed her bedroom door behind her, making the redhead jump.
"W-Weasley?" she stammered, eyes screwed up in confusion. Ginny rubbed her eyes, slightly irritated.
"What?" she snapped back, growling as Pansy's vacant expression closed.
"Nothing."
"Good."
She continued to shuffle down the hall, footsteps wavering slightly as the carpet ended. She gave a little trip that had Pansy cackling madly behind her.
"Shut up, you old cow," Ginny retorted, clutching the robe tighter around her waist. Pansy's lips lit up with a smirk.
"Takes one to know one, Weasley," she snorted. Ginny shook her head, maliciously grinning behind her disheveled curtain of red.
"You say what you are," she shrugged.
Her smirk fell.
"Bitch."
"Whore."
"Bint."
"Wench."
"Fucker."
"Asshole."
Pansy's brain racked for another retort.
"Er… bitch."
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"What's the matter Pansy? Ickle bwain all fwull of spiders? Maybe that's why you can't think of a comeback."
Pansy's growl was deep and ferocious.
"You don't belong here."
"Now what have we said about saying things that apply to yourself?"
"Shut up, Weasley. You don't belong here like a skunk in a fox den. You might as well go before someone else throws you out," Pansy sniffed. Ginny narrowed her eyes.
"Like who, Narcissa? She's such a doll… I do remember her saying just the other night that she simply adored my mother and I… and I do recall her mentioning to Draco what a sweet and lovely bride I'd be. I don't know why you're here, Pansy, but I'll assure you that it isn't for Draco's company," she sniffed.
At least we hope, a voice in her head growled.
Shut up, she told it. Pansy's face grew pale and pinched. A brief sheet of grief spread over her face, before she swiped it away with a hand that brushed her confused, fluttering eyelashes.
"I don't know what Draco sees in you. You're a nothing, Weasley. That's all you are, if anything. A nothing. So why don't you take your skanky ass down to breakfast for a last meal before I throw you out."
Ginny looked at her, eyebrow raised. She felt a giggle bubble in her throat, and before she could help it, burst into laughter, cackling and snorting as she keeled over onto her knees, hands over her mouth as her eyes watered with mirth. Pansy, very surprised and somewhat embarrassed, rushed back up the hall, turned, and slipped into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. Ginny, face red, continued to cry with laughter, but stopped making noise besides the hiccups issuing from her open mouth. Somewhere down the hall, Harry blundered from a door and made his way up the hall, smirk carefully fading from his face as he approached her.
"Ginny?"
She squeaked in reply, hiccupping again, as she turned to face him with tear-strewn cheeks.
"Oh, God, Ginny, I'm sorry - er - I didn't know, I was just going to say hey, but - are you alright? What happened?"
Her eyes widened.
"Oh, no, Harry - it's not what you think - I just came back from Draco's room, but I ran into Pansy - such a funny little bitch - and some words were exchanged."
She hiccupped rather loudly. Harry jumped at the sound. His face reddened slightly.
"Well - er - so you've come back from his room? Well, er - are you doing anything tonight? Would you like to go to town with me on a - uh - date?" he spluttered, face coloring deeply with a maroon that would put Uncle Vernon's to shame. Ginny looked up at him, shocked, a million thoughts flitting through her head. She pictured Harry's lusting, dangerous eyes in the dark that one afternoon, locked in a closet where her screaming couldn't help. She shivered, afraid.
Go. You can take care of business, Ginny. Go, and see what happens. You need that baby. Without that baby, you couldn't have Draco, remember? And if anything, you need him more.
But what would he say? What would he say when I walk back in there and tell him I'm going out with Harry? He'd never let me explain!
Make him wait, tell him what you've got to do tonight and wait for him to understand. It's now or never, Ginny.
Harry had begun to fidget nervously at the time she was taking. Noticing she was staring she immediately averted her gaze, stammering convincingly.
"Er - I - uh - I'm not doing anything - but - I'd - I'd like to go," she mumbled, looking up at him with false happiness. His face brightened, and he quickly slipped into a dashing smile.
"Well, good. Your Mum said you'd be back with her around 8ish, so I s'pose we'll go then?"
She shrugged, wiping her face.
"Sounds lovely. I'll be here."
"Grood. Er - good. And great. Great and good," he spluttered. She grinned, watching his back in a very confused manner as he walked back down the hall, a chilling bounce in his step that made her slightly queasy.
She stepped up to the door, pressing her cheek against the coolness of the wood. She sucked in a breath and pushed it open, stepping inside and closing it quickly. Draco lifted his head, eyed her for a moment, and then rested it back on the pillow, smirking slightly.
"I think I like you better in my clothes," he snickered, and she rolled her eyes, swallowing, leaning against the door.
Silence struck as a moment passed. Then two. He stared at her.
"What is it?" he finally asked, lifting his head again to take her in, in her nervousness.
"Don't be mad," she murmured, shifting her eyes to the floor.
"About what?"
"I did what I had to do," she said, ignoring him.
"What did you do that you had to do?" he asked, confused.
"When he asked, I said yes, like a good girl," she carried on.
He stopped, and stared at her. Finally, he sat up, pulling the covers around him.
"So, Pothead asked you on a date," he said slowly, looking at the carpet, "and you said… you said yes?"
She nodded dumbly, before he looked up at her, shock and a slight anger very aware on his face.
"So you just fucking jumped the gun, no plan at all, without even discussing this with me before you answered?" he raged, his face flashing.
She pressed her back against the door, hand curling around the knob.
"It's my body. I did what I had to do."
"'What you had to do'? You know another thing I think you had to do?"
"What, bow down before you, almighty Draco, ruler of people lesser than him?" she snarled, now angry.
"No, you were supposed to fucking ask."
"I never had to ask anyone and you know it."
"Oh, I do, do I?"
"Stop making up the rules as you go along! I did my part, all by my lonesome, and you can't even say, 'Good job, Ginny' like I made a total fool of myself. If you can't support me on this, then fuck you!" she cried, opening the door and stomping out.
He laid back on his bed, head spinning. He knew he shouldn't have fought with her. Now he'd just have to wait until she came back.
There was a knock. A frilly, stiff-blonde haired head poked through the widening crack, her body following. She frowned, closing the door behind her, and tilted her head.
"Why so glum?" she inquired, announcing her unknown presence. Draco sat up abruptly, only to find it wasn't Ginny as he'd presumed.
"No reason," came the lifeless reply. He scratched his bare chest and laid back on the bed, ignoring the snort of disbelief she uttered as she made her way across the room towards his bed.
"That can't be. Why are you upset? You can't lie to me," she said, falling onto her back next to him.
"Of course I can. I've done it all my life," he sniffed indifferently. She shook her head.
"You think so unnaturally, Draco," came the sighed murmur. He shrugged limply.
"I never said you had to believe me," he shot carelessly. There was a great pause when he rolled slightly to face her.
"Have you found love yet, Pans?"
She didn't reply. After a moment of quiet breathing, she rolled to answer, half shrugging.
"I did. Well, for a little while. It turns out he was just a jackass, an egotistical maniac, and only kept me for a decent fuck. It's not really any different than other guys, I guess. It's hard to find much with my well-earned reputation," she sighed. He glared at her suspiciously.
"And who was this person?" he murmured, raising a disturbed eyebrow. She closed her eyes, a faint smile pulling at her lips.
"It was Potter," she whispered, the faint smile pulling into a lazy grin. Draco's face pulled into shock and horror.
"Potter? What the hell?" he cried in shock, sitting up straight. "Why Potter?"
"Why not? Why Ginny?" she snapped, narrowing her eyes. They hardened.
"Ginny's different," he replied coolly. Pansy rolled her eyes.
"Oh, come on. That's bull."
"Shut up, Pansy," came the muttered growl.
"Only when you tell me why. Why was it her? We were doing so well, Draco. Then you… changed."
He shrugged once again, staying silent.
"I love her," he whispered. Pansy's eyes teared angrily.
"You loved me too."
He looked away.
"Like I said, Ginny's different."
She shook her head.
"You're different."
He nodded in solemn agreement.
"And I like it."
"You don't even have a problem with it?"
He shook his head. Her tears spilled over her carefully rimmed eyeliner and splashed down her cheeks.
"Then why do you have a problem with Harry? Why don't you have a problem with Ginny too?"
He turned to glare.
"Well?"
"Pansy - "
"You're not still ego-tripping, are you? God, Draco, get over it! He may be your rival, your sworn enemy, or whatever, but you can't fucking hate him forever!"
His rage flickered.
"He's the stupidest fucker I know, Pansy. He's so nasty it makes my stomach twist. The way he prances around with those two idiots of his, and sucks up to all the teachers and staff - ugh - and not to mention his sap story! You'd think people would get over it by now! Besides, he's dangerous, Pans! He tried to rape Ginny!"
"But you don't know who he really is, Draco," she whined.
"Neither do you really know Ginny," he said softly. She snorted disgustedly.
"That old rat? I wouldn't want to know her."
"Just as I really don't want a heart-to-heart with Pretty-Boy-Potter unless it involves me ripping it out through his chest," he growled. There were scuffing steps down the hall. He sat up, alert, hoping once again it was Ginny.
"Forget it, Draco. Heartless bitches don't deserve you."
"Ah, a word from the wise. You are what you say," he retorted. She recoiled, barely hurt after intercepting the very same line just before.
"That was cold," she growled. He lifted one shoulder, still staring at the door.
"So's your heart."
"Speak for youself," she scoffed.
"Oh, but I do," came the arrogance. Her eyes narrowed again.
"I hate you," she sniffed coldly.
"Ditto."
Silence.
There was creaking of his bedsprings as she sat up beside him. Then, catching him completely off guard, she hugged him hard, pressing her face into his shoulder. He draped an arm carefully around her shoulder, patting her back awkwardly.
"There, there, Pansy… just - er - suck it up, you'll be fine…" he murmured, giving her a slightly hard pat.
"No it won't, not ever! You don't know how he is! How it is, or how it feels to deal with someone like him! I loved you, Draco! He doesn't love me like you did!" she wailed.
He shook his head.
"I loved you, once," he shrugged, "You can't let grudges from the past press into your future, Pans." Her rage surged.
"You love me! I know you do!" she shrieked. Outside, scuffling footsteps hurried down the hall.
"Ginny," he whispered. Pansy growled.
"I hate her! She stole my life! I hate her!" she roared, and very suddenly, before he could react, he was flat on his back, lips pressed against his mouth, lush body parts in all the right places… he moaned…
"Pansy?" a voice crowed weakly, high-pitched and sad.
The door cracked against the wall as it was pushed further open. A shriek of pain and anger.
"You double-faced ferret!" she screamed. "I can't believe you! I should've known all along! How could you? How could you?" she wailed, quite complicatedly pulling her wand out of the many folds of silk and hexing wildly, hitting Draco twice in one flick. Pansy emitted a shrill squeak and fell backwards off the bed, Draco himself angry and panicking as his legs wobbled uncontrollably and he felt the great, horrid black things flapping on his face. He knew he'd been hit by Ginny's notorious Bat-Bogey Hexes and a horrible Jelly-Legs Jinx. He growled furiously and fumbled blindly for his wand, but it still took nearly 20 minutes to find out what was wrong with Pansy.
"Ginny?" he finally called, sprinting down the hall. "Ginny?"
Narcissa suddenly appeared in a doorway.
"Draco!" she scolded.
Paying no mind to his mother's temper, he searched the hall with his eyes.
"Mother, have you seen - "
"Draco! I'm so ashamed of you!" she cried in disbelief, anger flitting simultaneously into her voice.
"I - what?" he said slowly, brows puckered.
"How could you do that to Ginny? Such a sweet little peach, quite looking forward to having her around…" she added in as an afterthought.
"Mother, what?"
She stopped.
"She said she caught you and that - ugh - horrid Parkinson girl going at it, or some such nonsense. Hexed you both, she said, then bumped into me. She asked me to get you, but unfortunately, Molly had to take her back to the Burrow for this afternoon - something about her father? - and won't be back until after her date."
"Date? What date?" Draco demanded, eyeing her angrily.
She blanched.
"You didn't know? She said something about you having to understand - something about a mission? I don't know. Molly's dropping her back off here at eight. She's going on a date with Potter, I suppose," she shrugged.
Draco pressed himself to the wall, head throbbing, hands in his hair. He looked up at his mother, who looked very angry and disturbed.
"Well?" she spluttered, hands on her hips as she tapped her foot impatiently.
"Well what?" he replied wearily, sliding down to sit on the floor.
Narcissa stared at him.
"What did you do?" she crowed.
He let out a mingled sigh and growl.
"Pansy came in," he mumbled. "She went on into all this bogus about her and Potter. Starts wailing, so I did the civil thing, tried to cheer her up. So she throws herself at me, just as Ginny opens up the door and hexes the hell - sorry - heck out of both of us. Then runs off, before I have a chance to even explain."
Narcissa shook her head.
"I don't even know why you let her in, Draco. You and I both know she's nothing but trouble, and still you let her in. I don't know if you're my son," she muttered. Draco rolled his head around on his neck.
"I'm going back to bed," he mumbled, getting up off the floor. "Wake me up 'round eight."
"Alright."
Wake up, said a voice. He was dreaming in nightmares again; a screaming Ginny and a demon baby boy. Blaise cackling madly away as Harry worked mechanically over Ginny, pink sweater muffling screams as burning, razor-blade fingers bit into her skin, while all he could do was watch on from a block of ice, frozen to the spot. The very tears he seemed to cry froze in droplets, each one only hindering escape.
Draco, someone whispered. He whimpered in his frozen state, trying to withdraw himself.
Wake up, lazy, it said, a little louder, shaking him angrily. Searing pain shot through him as Blaise wrapped his slender fingers around Draco's wrist, concentrating hard, squeezing slightly on two veins. His eyes shot open upon the pain, vision blurry with cold tears. He looked up at Blaise, who stared down at him before quickly slipping to the door. As Draco rolled out of bed, Blaise tossed him pants, a shirt, a cloak, and a sack of galleons, opening the door for him.
"There's a cab outside," he whispered, as they shot stealthily down the hall.
"If you were smart, you'd follow her to wherever they're going," he said now. Draco felt his skin prickle as he woke more to the early night. As he slid into the cab, his eyes fixed on Blaise in front of them, face easily lit up by ghostly headlights. Draco nodded to Blaise, who smiled grimly. As the cab pulled out of the loop, Draco braced himself.
"Here it comes," he whispered. He knew he'd be jealous. He'd be jealous and confused. And angry. He'd say things he didn't mean. But it wasn't his fault. It was his heart.
He watched from the taxi. It wasn't nice, no, it wasn't very civil and it wasn't right to spy. But he was so miffed, so pissed, he had to know. He had to watch. Potter was a fucking stupid idiot to have enough ego to ask out his girl, even if it was for their lives, and even bigger of an idiot to take her to Muggle London for some sort of date. He hadn't gone in when they went to dinner, he hadn't gone in when they went to the bar, but after the bar, he needed to know where they'd go; what would happen. And where they went made him so fucking angry, so fucking jealous, so fucking hurt (not that he'd admit) that he watched from the car as the window portrayed everything. The flipping of the light switch, the luminous red of her cheeks as she blushed and he knew she was scared of Harry. After all, Draco himself had been the only man she'd ever 'been' with, so Potter was surely no match, right? Jesus, it was so fucking cold - stupid fucking Potter.
There was the slight anger but entertainment as he offered her wine - which he knew she hated, especially red wine, it was the color of blood to her - and then the twisting, blinding white-hot ferociousness in stomach that leapt at his insides and had him twisting his jacket as Harry reached down, with the slightest hesitant pause, and cupped her chin in his hand. He said something, perhaps flattery was how he'd get beneath her skin, he didn't know, but either way she blushed a bit and turned her head, looking through the window, right into his eyes. Sudden shock and unbidden thoughts flurried through her head, and he turned away, afraid she'd know he was spying. By the time he'd turned back around Potter was upon her, arms circling her waist and drawing up her dress - ugh. Damn Potter.
Coming out of my cage
And I've been doin' just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I wanted it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss
It was only a kiss
There was a fleeting moment when he saw her in his mind, the day he'd kissed her for the first time. They were on the train, then; the Trio standing, angrily, shocked outside the door, watching as he moved forward, Ginny's eyes slightly closed and then - he saw them again, not long after, in the North Tower. He was scolding her for something or other, when he saw her brother lunge at her - Draco dove towards him, fists raised, fear rising as she slid, almost unconscious, down the wall… head bleeding, eyes half lidded… he shuddered at her pain. And then he saw them, not far back, just before he told her who she was to him… there was fear in her eyes, still donned in her black dress, red curls tousled … she'd told him she hadn't wanted him to die, and she'd take what was thrown, just for his sake… why did Pansy have to show up when she did?…
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
Letting me go
He chanced a glance up at the window and almost instantly regretted it, his gut burned so bad. They were glued together by the face, Ginny's eyes closed, dress halfway down her hips, her hands on his shoulders - but he notices, with a sudden pang of something that was pride, that the name she whispered during their rendezvous wasn't Potter's… he tilted his chin defiantly as Potter jerked his head up, curiosity brewing. She shook her head and stammered some excuse, but he knew it was true… no one could make her feel like that… no one but him… his stomach curled again, but in sickness. Her dress was gone, completely deserted, and he could tell he was backing her toward the bed… but she stopped, so suddenly, hands on his chest, and told him to slow down, to wait… he turned his head.
And I just can't look
It's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy
Turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
Cause I'm Mr. Brightside
I'm coming out of my cage
And I've been doin' just fine
Gotta gotta be down
Because I want it all
It started out with a kiss
How did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss
It was only a kiss
Now I'm falling asleep
And she's calling a cab
While he's having a smoke
And she's taking a drag
Now they're going to bed
And my stomach is sick
And it's all in my head
But she's touching his chest now
He takes off her dress now
Letting me go
He looked up, looked up at the window, and realized with a sudden dawning that it was over, and she was standing in her underwear at the window, crying… Potter sat up, shocked but angry, screaming at her to come back to bed… she ignored him, dressed, and walked out the door without so much as a goodbye…
"Back up some, driver. Go 'round the block, but make sure that we arrive in front of this hotel. When a redheaded girl in a black dress calls for a cab, make sure you get there," he instructed. The driver looked up and nodded, taking care to speed through every car and pull back in about a half a block from the hotel, just as she arrived through the entry doors.
'Cause I just can't look
It's killing me
And taking control
Jealousy
Turning saints into the sea
Swimming through sick lullabies
Choking on your alibis
But it's just the price I pay
Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
Cause I'm Mr. Brightside
I never
I never
I never
I never
The driver's sudden moving brought him back as he finished the song in his head, fingers still clutching his jacket and body trembling with anger. She raised her hand and waved it, hailing a cab, and he was pleased to find that the driver pulled right in, waiting for her to slip in on the other side, and give her destination, the small village just ahead on the road to the Manor…
When the cab pulled out, she looked out the window, sighing mournfully and thumping her head on the glass. She muttered sadly to herself, crying silently, before she looked up at Draco's sudden uncomfortable rustle, and saw his platinum blond hair…
"Draco?" she said, more in surprise and shock than curiosity, jumping slightly and making to wipe her cheeks free of tears. He snorted.
"Fat lot of good that did. Have fun screwing Potter?" he drawled, carefully filtering the anger from his voice. Her head snapped around, staring at him in horror.
"I - I don't know - know what you're talking about," she said, straightening her spine as her eyes continued to tear.
He scoffed.
"Don't fucking lie, Ginny. I saw," he said quietly. "I saw you go up there with him, and I saw it happen. You can't run away from it."
She sat silently, pressing herself against the door.
"Draco, you don't understand - "
"Oh, shut it. I fucking understood. Which part couldn't I have understood? The part where I loved you? Or the part where you fucked him? Or, wait, the part where he tried to rape you awhile ago? God, Ginny, which fucking part do I have to fucking understand?" he roared, turning to face her and screaming. She cowered against the door, the odd-shaped bruises on her head just blooming before his eyes. He turned in his seat, and reached shakily out toward her, fingers brushing the side of her face where the skin was so soft she winced at his touch, and the odd, beautiful pale skin was purpling and blacking with contusion. He choked a sob.
"The part where it saves your life!" she screamed right back, hands clawing his shoulders as she scrabbled to hold him.
"Oh, God, Ginny…" he whispered, arms curling around her as he whispered nothing into her ear, her hands eagerly grabbing his jacket as she buried her head in his shirt.
"What happened? Oh, God, Ginny… what happened? What did he do to you?" he cried in disbelief, pushing her jacket off her arms and seeing the finger marks and red around her wrists and forearms, the blood red jumping out like the purple from the white milkiness. She sobbed again.
"Oh, oh! I didn't - I didn't want to! I swear I didn't - God, I don't know what I wanted - but I didn't want him! Not 'til had to! I didn't want that! I just wanted to get everything over and go, after what I saw - I just wanted - wanted someone there - I didn't think it would go that far - oh! Please don't be angry, Draco, you're the only person I love, I'd never love him, never!" she whimpered, fingers still curled around his jacket.
"Shh, I'm not mad, calm down - Merlin, what the hell happened up there? What the hell did he do to you?"
She hiccupped several times and wiped her face on his t-shirt, forced breathing into his shoulder.
"We - we went to dinner, we drank some - we went to a bar, we drank some more - he said he had a room, it was too late to go back - I followed, I had nowhere to go - we - we got up to the room, and he said I was beautiful, the only girl he'd ever wanted, and I b-believed him… things got far and I wanted to stop, to slow down, but he heard your name and got angry… I t-told him I wanted to l-leave, I didn't want to stay, but he wouldn't let m-me go! H-he pulled off my dress and pushed me back to the bed and I fought, I swear! I punched and kicked and bit but he wouldn't let go, he said I wouldn't slip this time… he held me down and smacked me around a few times to shut up… it hurt so bad, it was nothing like us…"
She paused, eyes widening fearfully as she saw his angry face, his malicious grin floating above her head as she screamed…
"T-then, it was over… I didn't want to stay, I was afraid… I went to the window… he was yelling at me, screaming to come back to bed, someone came to our door… I dressed and left as soon as I could, I was afraid… God, I was so stupid… but I couldn't believe I betrayed you like that… I couldn't believe anything, I couldn't even think…"
She buried her face back in his shirt.
"At least it's over, Draco. At least it's done. Or at least I hope so. I don't want to ever do that, ever again… and I'm sorry," she whispered, her body's quaking residing slightly as they grew ever farther from the hotel. "I'm sorry."
He hugged her tight, shifting slightly to rest his back against the window. At least it's over. God, it better be. Her breathing slowed, barely. She was sleeping. Resting. He was glad.
There you go, peoples. Another long chapter. Hope you enjoy it - toot-les.
Gabrielle Howell.
Again, any questions? Email I shall answer them a.s.a.p.