DISCLAIMER - I don't own Harry Potter and Co. and I don't own a monkey.
Chapter 14- Akward Moments
Draco and Ginny waited for the faint noise to stop, as they had heard with themselves, but strangely, it continued with what seemed to be a series of "yeah! alright! woohoo!"s. They looked at each other in bewilderment a moment until they heard a familiar voice say, "Whoa now, that was unexpected!" The person had obviously come to the 'slow-down' part of the fall right above the chamber. In a flash of black and skin colors, the arrival landed in a graceful crouch in front of him, his robes billowing out around him.
Blaise dusted himself off and looked at the astounded pair.
"Hey kids!" he said brightly. Draco's mouth hung slack a moment before he caught himself, and Ginny burst into a fit of giggles. "You know, I really don't appreciate it when you two go off to have an adventure and leave me all by my lonesome. If you want to have some private moments, that's swell, but you ought to inclde me on these escapades of yours." Blaise paused, his face taking on a confused look for a moment. "Unless, of couse, this is a private moment and I'm interrupting- and you just happen to be in a secret chamber underneath the school with-" he leaned to the side and took a look at the tomb at the other end- "a mysterious coffin in it." He coughed, replacing the laughter in his throat.
Ginny smiled and stood up. "Blaise, this definately wasn't meant to be a 'private moment'." She turned around and glared at Draco. "And if I had any adventures at all," she continued, giving Blaise a hug around the neck, "then of course I'd include you!"
Blaise chuckled and ruffled her hair as if he were her older brother, returning the hug. Draco, however, scowled at the two, his eyes narrowing in thought. He didn't like them hanging all over each other like that- for Blaise's sake, of course. Slytherins and Griffindors weren't supposed to interact in such ways. Seeing Draco's look, Blaise let the girl go. "It looks like Drakie could use a hug to," he said in a condescending tone. He swiveled his head with a lopsided smile at Ginny.
Ginny laughed, as though a hilarious joke had just been said. "No, really," Blaise commented, "He's all alone over there like a lost puppy-" Blaise grabbed her face with his hand, pulling it next to his own and facing it towards Draco- "Just waiting for someone to love him." Draco looked scandalized, not really knowing how to reply.
"Hmm..." Ginny joked, a serious look on her face, "At the rate he's going, he'll be alone the rest of his life," she said icily, this time meaning it.
Draco's brow knitted together in anger. "And at the rate you're going," he snarled, getting up using his one arm, "You'll be screwing Potter for the rest of your life-" he stepped closer to her, his eyes flashing and his teeth bared, "-miserably chained to a famous, love-sick boy-" he stood inches away from her, looking down into her eyes with rage, "-with your vile brother controlling every move you make until the both of them die and you are left all alone with an unfufilled life behind you!"
Ginny fought back violent anger, her fists clenched and shaking, determidly staring back into his eyes. "The only reason that my brother is always on my back,"" she replied coldly, stretching her neck to be at a better level with him, "Is becase he loves me and only wants to keep me safe from people like you!"
The two stood there silently, both breathing heavily with the excitement of a verbal spat. Blaise, on the other hand, was becoming nervous. "Ah- kids," he said, trying to be soothing, "Let's break this up and decide that both of you will be alone for the rest of your lives! See? All better!" He lifted his hands with a shrug and a false smile.
Draco and Ginny immediately swiveled their heads his way, both baring a white set of teeth. "Hmm..." Blaise mused. "Ooh!" he said quickly, changing the subject, "What's that over there?" he asked, pointing to the tomb and book. Ginny was not fooled. Sighing, she realized he was only trying to make amends. She strode over that way, beginning to explain to him what had happened since she fell down there.
Draco stood where he was, still able to smell her feminine scent after she had walked by. That stupid comment should never had gotten him mad. Few were able to get him so riled up with words like that- few girls, anyway. Pansy only chattered on about herself. It was true, even, that most girls didn't approach him for anything but flirting, much less conversation or a verbal spat. This one had no intention of flirting. Draco wrinkled his nose momentarily. He would never admit it, but it bothered him that she wasn't attracted to His Greatness. What's more, he couldn't decide why, since he knew she wasn't a lesbian... he hoped...
Ron skidded to a halt as he nearly ran head-first into Dumbledore, causing him to fall back on his posterior. "P- Professor!" he gasped, struggling to get back on his feet. Harry grasped his arm and hauled him up.
"And to what do I owe this pleasure?" the old wizard asked kindly with a twinkle in his eye.
Ron and Harry looked at each other. "Ginny's gone," Ron said quietly. "I- we don't think that she's even on the grounds." Ron's words tapered off as he looked at the elder with uncertainty.
Dumbledore's face was unreadable. "You know this for sure?" he asked in a level voice. Ron and Harry nodded together like two small children.
"Proffessor Dumbledore!" a female voice called from behind them. The boys turned in surprise. Pansy trotted up, her pretty face flushed from what looked like hard running. "He- he just fell right through!" Her hands fluttered wildly about her face. It was now apparent that she had tear stains on her cheeks, and her eyes were wide in fear. "Nothing- black- gone- and then the wall-"
Dumbledore stepped foward and grasped her shoulders. "Please calm down Miss Parkinson." He touched her forehead with two fingers, and her eyes dropped for a moment, a gusty sigh slipping from her lips. They fluttered open again looking less frazzled. "It was Blaise," she twisted her fingers and glanced warily at the bewildered boys. Dumbledore nodded at her to go on. "We- we went to go look for Draco and-" she sniffled daintily "He- he just knew where to go- I don't know how- he just-" she hiccupped "We got to this wall down in the castle- farther than I've ever been. He was running his hands over it when the wall- poof! It was gone and he fell through. I," a tear leaked out of her eye, "I screamed for help but I didn't want to touch it so- You've got to help him!" she sobbed.
Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by Ron. "Malfoy was supposed to be looking for Ginny!" Dumbledore's eyebrow shot up, and Pansy became silent. "They- they could all be trapped!"
Dumbledore's face took a deadly serious look. "Please show the way, Miss Parkinson."
There was a sound above them like a huge stone being pulled across a rough surface. Ginny cocked her head and stared at the ceiling. "Guys..." she said softly, moving slowly across the room to where Draco sat moodily beneath the entry place, "Something's wrong." She looked down at Draco, who was sitting suddenly alert and was also staring at the cieling. "Come on, we need to move you away from here." She grabbed Draco by his good arm and slowly hauled him up. Draco groaned and stumbled into her, leaning on her for support. Ginny thought she would collapse.
A rumbling through the shamber and outside sent the two tumbling to the floor, shaking Blaise awake who had been napping against the stone coffin. Draco cried out as he hit the floor, his injured arm crushed beneath him. Ginny fell against him and immediately rolled away, concious of his already-hurt condition. Another rumble erupted around them and Draco screamed as it jarred his arm.
Ginny crawled to him and gently turned him over amidst his moans of pain. Blaise came to their side as Ginny lifted his head and cradled it in her lap. As a another shock went through, Ginny brushed his hair away from his forehead and coohed gently to him.
Draco's face was contorted in pain. "It's worse-" he said through a clenched jaw. Ginny took his hand in sympathy, rubbing her thumb across the top.
Ginny looked up at Blaise. "I can't heal it and I can't do anything else to help him- can you?"
Blaise looked very smug, staring down at the pair with his arms crossed, however he took on a serious tone. "No." He glanced up. "We simply have to get him out of here- and what in the world is going on out there?"
Ginny stared down at Draco, including his hand in hers. Her face clouded over and she withdrew her hand to stroke the bracelet in his wrist. As the last tremor went through the chamber, there was a blinding light around them. A hole opened in the cieling and four forms dropped through. Dumbledore in front and the three kids behind him, it was an akward moment for Ginny and Draco as they sat in what would appear to be an intimate situation. Ginny moved to get up and jarred her hand back down in the movement. Ginny looked at it in surprise. What appeared to be a glowing, gold thread linked the two bracelets indefinately together.
Draco groaned in annoyance.
A/N - Once again, another strange situation for the duo. I hope I made it quite clear here that Ron loves his little sis dearly and that something is going on between the Blonde and the Redhead. Thank you all who reviewed and keep it up to keep me going!