15. All Hallows Eve
"Desperate for changing; starving for truth. I'm closer where I started; I'm chasing after you. I'm falling even more in love with you; letting go of all I've held on to. I'm standing here until you make me move. I'm hanging by a moment here with you." -Hanging by a Moment, Lifehouse
Ginny chose the best place to concentrate on her runes: the prefect bathroom. It was perfect because today was Thursday, bright and early and there was no school today or tomorrow. Halloween. Therefore everyone was still fast asleep.
But not Ginny. Ancient Runes was one of her favorite classes. She listened intently, took thorough notes and kept an accurate Runic journal.
She sat in the wide open space and took out her wand. "Point me." She said laying it in the palm of her hand. It spun a bit before pointing North. Ginny pulled out her white cloth and laid it out so the corner pointed North and placed a Cushioning Charm on the south side for her to sit on.
Ginny sat to relax for a moment before beginning. First it was the hammer working. She closed her eyes and traced the hammer sight (an upside down T) in front of her in the air. In her mind the hammer was a glowing red and in brutish form.
"Hammer in the North, hold and hollow this stead."
She repeated this act five more times: south, east, west, above and below. She rested for a moment with her eyes closed. She could feel the warded area around her. It brought a small smile to her face.
Her next step was to call the attention of the Norns. They were taught many different ways to do this. Ginny found the one to best suit her needs was to recite a stanza from the Valuspa.
"From there comes the maidens
with knowledge of many things
three from the sea,
which stands beneath the tree;
one is called Urdhr,
the other Verdhandi,
they carved on sticks,
Skuld the third.
they laid down the law,
they chose the lives
of the children of men,
the fates of men."
Now it was time for the asking. Generally Ginny did her homework the same day it was assigned. Meaning yesterday. But Ginny couldn't think of a decent question to ask. So she woke up early this morning and settled on questioning tonight's happenings.
Concentrating on her question while shuffling the runes in their small purple, cashmere, draw-string bag, Ginny prepared herself for the reading. Fully satisfied on the shuffle, Ginny asked her question:
"What will tonight's celebration hold? Runes down right rede!"
The first rune she pulled out she placed in front of her, saying "Urdhr." The second she placed under the first and slightly to the left saying "Verdhandi." The third mirrored the position of the second but opposite side and she said, "Skuld."
"Odin may I read the runes aright."
Now Ginny picked up her runic journal to read her casting. The first on the top, Urdhr, meaning that which has become (simply put, in the past) she had drawn Elhaz. The quick read meant communication and danger.
The second rune Ginny had drawn, Verdhandi, that which is becoming (the present) Ingwaz. Quick read meant hiding, separation, gestation.
The third rune, Skuld, that which shall be (the future) was Hagalaz, means crisis, stress, storm.
Ginny's interpretation on this was some communication in the past may have been a danger therefore she was hiding or separating herself from it now. But tonight it would result in a crisis or storm to stress her out further.
Not one of her best readings.
Ginny finished up her reading the same way she always did, with speaking the last verse of Havamal:
"Now are Odin's sayings said Har's Hall.
helpful to the son's of men,
but of no help to sons of Etins.
Hail the one who speaks them
Hail the one who knows them
Gain, the one who grasps them
Hail those who hear them!"
As Ginny picked up her runes and the like, there was only one situation that came to mind that this reading could possibly pertain to: Draco. Actually it could pertain to Harry's engagement situation as well. But somehow – with a stressful crisis inevitable, Draco was more likely the reference in this reading.
With a sigh, Ginny wondered if it was too late to back out of the Halloween party.
Unfortunately it was too late to back out. Ginny had already promised Evan she'd be his date. He'd just been through a bad breakup with Phyllida Hayes, a Gryffindor in their same year, and he'd begged Ginny to be his date so to keep his mind off her. She'd accepted on multiple reasons: her mind would be kept off both Harry and Draco, she'd be helping her friend and out having fun.
So Ginny readied herself in her dorm with Natalie currently fixing her hair. The party was mask mandatory but it was your own discretion as to whether or not to keep your identity secret or not.
Ginny and her friends were dressing up as muggle superheroes from the Teen Titans comics. Natalie was dressed as Wonder Girl, Santanna as the Ravenger II, Laura as Jinx (though she was a villain not a hero), Orla would be Terra II, Nova would be Starfire, Colin as Kid Devil, Evan as Nightwing, Geoffrey would be Superboy and Ginny was Raven.
Ginny absolutely loved her costume: a shiny black body suit that she could barely breathe in because it was so tight and a huge midnight blue cloak. Her hair was charmed black again, eyes blue once more and a red chakrah on her forehead. She did have to add the mask because Raven didn't really wear a mask. They would be an amazing looking group.
Ginny had been in a fairly good mood but listening to Phyllida whimpering and whine to their other roommates, Daisy Alexander and Miranda Powers, was slowly making her sour. A glance in the vanity mirror to Natalie said she was feeling the same way.
Ginny knew the truth of the breakup. Evan never lied, Ginny wasn't even sure if he knew how to tell a lie. So when he said that after a year and three months of catering to her every whim, she turned around and cheated on him with Michael Corner from Ravenclaw, Ginny knew he was telling the truth. And if she had to listen to too much more of her carrying on, there would be no holding her back.
Apparently Natalie felt the same and her temper flared faster. After fastening the last strand of Ginny's hair securely in place, Natalie spun around, her blonde hair in an elastic whipping behind her. The golden lasso from Aries glowing bright as her anger rose.
"Had you been half as loyal or half as appreciative to Even you'd not have to sit here crying like a baby. You ruined the relationship Phyllida when Evan caught you snogging Corner. You deserve the misery you bloody bint."
With that she grabbed Ginny's hand and dragged her from the room. Ginny laughed. "Go Alie."
Natalie gave her a half smile as the anger slowly subsided. "Stupid girl drama."
The boys were waiting for them at the end of the stairs, Evan looked a little down so Ginny circled him, her cloak tightly wrapped around her. When she caught his attention, Ginny ripped open her cloak. Every one of the boys' mouths dropped and eyes bulged.
"Damn, Gin." Geoffrey said. "That's hot!"
Natalie hit them all. "Stop drooling you fools."
Ginny took Evan's hand and the five of them met up with the other super heroes at the entrance to the castle.
The night was going pretty well so far. The group of nine did well to stick together and keep everyone in high spirits.
Evan and Ginny clung to each other whenever the group tended to thin a little for whatever reason. Ginny hadn't told the boys about Draco this summer but they did know a bit of what went down and all about her and Harry's dwindling relationship. Like the true friends they were, they took turns rescuing her when needed. Tonight, so far, was perfect.
Wonder Girl and Superboy were dancing questionably a ways away with Santanna and Nova making teasing sounds at them. Ginny laughed. They'd been trying to get Natalie and Geoffrey together for a long time now.
Evan was being pretty quiet behind her, holding on to one of her hands loosely. They'd been standing like that for a while now. When Evan squeezed her hand a little too hard, Ginny turned to him to see his eyes had found Phyllida and Corner hanging all over her.
Ginny turned and grabbed his hand and started pulling him away. He turned to her to see a suggestive look grace her pretty features.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're trying to seduce me, Gin." He said with a smirk.
She had lead him to the dance area and pulled him close as she did a little evocative movement of her own. His hands rested unsurely on her hips as she whispered in his ear, "Maybe I am, Nightwing."
It was moments later that Evan started laughing and playing along to her madness.
They danced and laughed for a long, long time, despite all the eyes that fell on the two friends.
The Castle grounds looked pretty good. There were giant Jack-O-Lanterns scattered around the border with some sort of spell not allowing the student beyond their invisible boundary. There were various bands playing and numerous tables of food. There were dozens of large campfires set up with logs surrounding them for ghost stories later in the evening.
Draco really didn't want to go tonight. For some reason he did though. He spent the first half hour with Tempus until she left him for the boy she'd been seeing since the Ball. He'd only come to identify him somewhat recently as the Head Boy, Terry Boot.
So that left him wondering by himself for a while. He'd spotted Blaise and the surrounding girls. Draco knew he could get in on the action if he chose but he didn't want some mindless bint. He knew what he wanted.
Draco danced half-heartedly with various girls, his eyes scanning the crowds for his girl. It wasn't long until he found her. Whatever she was dressed as was amazingly sexy; that entire suit and her radiant smile was enough to make any boy stare.
It wasn't Potter she was with though. It kind of surprised him. But then again, she never smiled when in his presence. Therefore it was down to one of the three ponces she called friends.
Draco glared when she pulled him to the floor and started dancing all over him; letting his hands go wherever they landed. He felt the jealousy slowly – no that's a lie – quickly turn into rage.
Fine, he told himself. I'll play your game. The only one that would do exactly as he wanted without realizing it, was Parkinson. So he found her fast and brought her to do his bidding.
They danced close by Ginny until it was time for the ghost stories. He'd tried to get her attention the entire time they were in the dance area to no avail. Draco was starting to get extremely irritated.
So he grabbed Pansy and followed Ginny to the same fire and sat down where she was sure to see them. And she did. He saw the recognition in her eyes and he gave her a smirk as he pulled Pansy close.
Ginny looked away.
The 'scary story' was being told by Professor Trelawny. The Countess of Blood. Apparently it was based off the true Hungarian history of the Countess Elizabeth Bathory who believed that bathing in the blood of young virgin women would keep her youthful. For years she tortured and murdered her victims between the ages of 12 and 15, drained their bodies of their blood and bathed in it. Her reign claimed the lives of 650 and she died at 54 in 1614.
It was a story he'd heard before – of one of the first recorded vampires – and so he spent this time coaxing Pansy into playing her part.
Ginny couldn't help but look over and it was during those times that he'd whisper suggestive things in Pansy's ear. It had been close to forty-five minutes later when Pansy laughed her show-laugh and said loudly, "Oh, Draco. You know I love bad boys!"
Ginny leaned over and said something to her date, gave him a hurt look and ran off in the direction of the castle.
Draco inwardly cringed. He hadn't intended to upset her, only make her jealous. Maybe entice her to give in and give him a chance.
Draco stood.
"Draco!" Pansy whined. "Where are you going?"
"Shut it, Parkinson. And stay here." He snapped before sprinting off after Ginny.
She was just heading into the castle when he caught up with her.
"Gin." He called.
"Leave me alone, Draco."
She had slowed once she made it inside but now picked up her pace. Her blue cloak bellowed behind her.
Draco chased her down. "Look, I'm sorry."
Ginny looked to him, her mask discarded and tears in her eyes. "So, it was your plan to try and hurt me?"
"No. I wanted you to want to give us a chance."
"Draco." Ginny shook her head. "I told you already."
Draco took off the mask he wore now. "If I promise, in a couple weeks, that we can tell more people—"
"NO!" Ginny said in a forced steady voice. "I want it all or nothing at all. And if you really wanted to be with me, you wouldn't have been trying to get Parkinson in bed tonight."
Draco rolled his eyes. "As if I'd have to try. Besides for all your devotion to one cause, you looked pretty cozy and indicative with Potter tonight."
"That wasn't Harry."
"Which makes it so much better. Why should I give in to your circumstances when you're all over someone other than your fiancé? Or have you finally told him it's over?"
Ginny turned mad instantly. "Who do you think you are, Draco Malfoy? Talking smut you know nothing about. Because if you did, if you knew me at all, you'd know that I was with Evan, who'd just caught his girlfriend of over a year, snogging someone else and that I was being there for him like a friend does and helping to keep his mind off the nasty wench. But I don't expect you to understand since you can't trust anyone long enough to make a friend."
It hurt. It stung. And she was right.
"I'm sorry-"
"No. I'm sorry, Malfoy. I'm sorry I thought that this – we- could possibly work." Tears were streaming down her cheeks now. "I'm sorry that I thought that you really were a different person. I'm sorry that I believed in you at all. But mostly I'm sorry I wasted my time on someone who can't make himself man enough to approach things in a mature way. I'm sorry I was falling for you."
She ran off.
Draco felt his chest tighten with every word she said. It was harder and harder to breathe. He could feel his lip start to quiver and escaped to the dungeons. Life was over.