Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the content and material of Harry Potter. This story takes place in Harry's Sixth Year, with NO horcruxes involved, therefore the events from HBP and DH will not interfere with this plot.

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Chapter Twenty-Eight - A Sign of Fear

Ginny couldn't remember a situation that was more frustrating or that she had less control over than the one she was in now. By all means and definitions she should have been able to break the magical ward that surrounded Draco's quarters. She was capable with her own abilities and she knew enough to be able to disarm the spell but everything she tried had failed.

Her time was running out as an hour eclipsed and she was no closer to figuring out a way into his rooms than she was when the portrait had first swung shut in her face. She knew she should be able to find her way to his private room through the Slytherin dormitories but Ginny wasn't willing to take that risk when the other students were due back shortly. Neither one of them needed rumors flying so soon and for some reason she didn't think Draco would come to her rescue this time if she got into a scuffle of trouble with his Housemates.

"Miss Weasley - what are you doing down here?" An oily voice questioned with surprise and she twirled around with wide eyes, her wand still gripped tightly in one hand as she wiped at the tear tracks with the other.

"Professor Snape -" Ginny stated with apparent unease. "I was just - I was -"

"Should you not be up in your Tower waiting for your precious friends to arrive?" Severus snidely asked, his crooked nose lifting higher as he gazed down its uneven line at the panicking redhead and his beady eyes focused on the wand in her grasp.

"Yes sir but -" she hurried.

"But what, Miss Weasley? The Headmaster specifically told the students to remain in their Houses until the train had arrived. Are you directly disobeying his orders?"

"No sir - I was just -" Ginny stuttered, her nerves fluttering as she worried that he would ask again why she was in the dungeons.

"Then you were just on your way back to your common room I assume," Severus tonelessly stated, his dark eyes narrowing as he withheld a sneer for her bumbling excuses. "One would be loath to receive detention so soon after the holidays, do you not agree?"

"Yes sir," Ginny replied tersely, her shoulders tensing as she suppressed her despise for the Professor.

"Wonderful," Severus responded blandly and his eyebrows rose in question when she did not immediately turn away. "You were just going back to your Tower, then?"

"Yes sir," she repeated and slowly moved to leave.

Ginny spared the portrait of Salazaar Slytherin a long glance before she exhaled heavily and took several precise steps down the hallway. She could feel the Potions Master's gaze on her back, incentivizing her to quicken her pace, but controlled her movements until she was turning a corner at the end of the stone corridor. Whatever had happened to Draco would have to wait until she could get him alone. Professor Snape, being a Death Eater and his Head of House, had surely shown up at that exact moment to steer her away from the crucial situation and she internally fumed with worry and anger that she could not be there to help him.

Help him? Ginny questioned her own thoughts, her stride pausing as her gaze unfocused and she spun in a vortex of her own ideas. Draco shagged me then left me alone and I want to help him? Merlin - what has happened to me?

She was still upset by his disconnected decision to abandon her in his rooms - hell she had wept numerous tears for the bastard - so how could she want to aide him when he had done nothing to garner her sympathy?

Two weeks ago I was ready to forget about him even after everything that had already happened and now - I'm trying to help Draco Malfoy. Ginny laughed incredulously and threw up her arms in defeat, her chocolate eyes rolling up to the dark ceiling as she shook her head. What is wrong with me? If I had any sense I would forget about him like he's forgotten about me. I'm a Weasley for Merlin's sake.

And with that determination, Ginny dismissed the tugging in her chest that indicated that she did care and she clenched her jaw with resolution. If he wants to play this game - then so can I.

The stone archways revealing snippets of the grounds outside echoed the calmness of the castle as she purposefully strode through the corridors and up the staircases. As Snape had stated, all of her Housemates that had not returned home for the holidays were sequestered in the Gryffindor common room and every head turned in rapt anticipation when she rushed through the portrait with a breathless gait. Her feet halted and she looked around, blinking in surprise when she noticed the five pairs of eyes suddenly focused on her.

"What?" She questioned blankly and the set of Second year twins immediately looked away out of nervousness.

"We thought you were the other students getting back," Dean answered with a wide smile in response, his thoughtful mocha orbs steady in their honesty. "Where have you been, Gin? We missed you at lunch."

"Taking a walk," she replied, skirting the question. Ginny ducked her head to keep them from seeing the lies in her gaze and she quickly hurried towards her dormitory stairwell before they could ask anything more. "When will everyone be back?" She called as she moved onto the first step.

"By four o'clock," Colin answered and she heard the hardness in his tone that held his knowledge of where she had really been.

Three days before he had point blank asked if she had been sneaking off to meet Draco at night. Her blonde best friend was not daft and he had surely seen the worry in her eyes at dinner every night when the Slytherin did not show up. Ginny couldn't tell him the truth but she couldn't honestly say she had been seeing the ferret either. So she shrugged it off with an excuse about not being able to sleep and dismissed the topic. Colin had grown a little angrier at her with each passing day since then. Not because he knew she was going to see Draco but because she wouldn't honestly tell him the truth. His inquisitive personality saw through her anxious lies and he was hurt that Ginny wouldn't trust him enough to give him an honest answer to an obvious question.

The wooden door slammed into its frame as she stopped in the middle of her dorm room. Everything was still neat and tidy except for her space of the room and she glanced around as she realized she didn't have too much time before she wasn't alone anymore. Ginny felt the anxious crawling of pent up frustration and energy along her shoulders and her fingers itched to pick something up, throw it, and watch it smash into a million pieces. She wanted to break something to absorb the sadness and loathing she felt inside. She needed to destroy something that could the satisfaction she had been craving.

Her chocolate gaze caught on a slender crystal vase on an empty nightstand and her feet hurried across the open space to grab the glass object. Its weight felt sturdy in her hands and the fractured light reflected off the multifaceted surface, pausing her motions as she stared at the beautiful glasswork and reconsidered the damage she was about to inflict.

But her boiling nerves roared their unsatisfied head and she jerked her arm, releasing the vase as her momentum threw it against the curved stone wall. The shattering echoed loudly and Ginny stared at the thousands of shards of glass now decorating the floorboards. A deranged grin spread her chapped lips and with the flick of her wand the vase was repaired and flying back into her grasp. She had barely gripped the smooth surface when her arm spasmed and she threw it again, hitting the same spot on the wall as the glass fractured and broke once more.

A heaviness enveloped her chest and for a moment the physical release of her aggression did not seem like enough. Her lungs heaved with a ragid breathing and Ginny squeezed her eyes shut to keep at bay the overwhelming sensation of anger. Her arms felt like jello now that she had done something to ease her tension and an all-encompassing tired overtook her body as she sighed wearily. The sides of her hands were sore from where she had been pounding on Draco's portrait, angry bruises already forming down the line of her palm from the repeating banging. She felt drained from the emotional rollercoaster of the day and with shaky legs she turned to sit on the edge of her bed.

Shards of glass glittered on the wooden floor and she distractedly waved her wand to repair the vase a second time before levitating it back to its place atop the nightstand. Ginny fell backwards across her mattress and her mocha orbs peeled open to listlessly stare at the maroon canopy of her bed. Her body felt like a puddle of skin and bones as she lay there but even as she remained motionless her mind continued running.

All she could think about was Draco - how angry she was with him, how she still wanted to know what had happened to him, how she wished she could take back her untimely exit from his rooms that morning. If only she had stayed for a few more minutes - if she had just waited a little bit longer.

Her frustrations mounted as the questions and what ifs doubled and quickly she sat up as a grim line straightened her lips. The tension was returned to tighten the blades of her shoulders and Ginny rolled her head from side to side in an effort to stave off the rolling anxiety. Her body felt like a taut rubberband ready to be released and she jumped to her feet as her fingers twitched and her wrists shook. Within a breath she was standing in front of a small window and with rapid movements she pushed open the glass pane to allow the biting air in.

The winter chill was like a slap in the face though - something to remind her that she had lost what little warmth she had left. Bracing her small hands on the frigid ledge Ginny pushed her flaming head through the open window and tore her lips apart as she screamed loudly.

"Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" She bellowed into the peaceful quiet of the outside world. "Aaaaaaaggggggggghhhhhhhhhh!"

The agitation and frustration ebbed away with each scream and as she inhaled deeply for another vocalization of her anger, she distantly heard the loud horn of the Hogwarts Express as it stopped at the school's station. Soon everyone would be back and there wouldn't be any time for Ginny to wallow in her own self-pity. Her friends and Housemates would be back with exciting tales of their vacations at home while all she would have to offer was a boring and dishonest retelling of her time spent at the castle.

Sure enough not even twenty minutes later the door of her dorm was flung open as Lavender barreled in with her trunk closely behind. Ginny plastered on a fake, enthusiastic grin and held her arms wide her a hug as the blonde witch sighed dramatically and ran for her embrace.

"How was your holiday?" She asked encouragingly, her arms tightening around Lavender as she burrowed her face in Ginny's fiery curls.

"Awful! It was just dreadful, Gin!" Her roommate wailed.

"Anything has to have been better than being stuck at school the whole time," she consoled with a barby tone.

"No!" Lavender protested, her head shaking as she denied Ginny's claim. "It was two weeks of absolute hell."

"Tell me about it," the redhead murmured, caught up in her own musings, and she leaned backwards to catch her friend's attention with a forceful but patient smile. "Come on - sit down and tell me all about it."

Lavender nodded bashfully and took a seat on her bed facing Ginny's. The rest of their roommates came in with wide grins and eager stories but they left them alone and unpacked instead as Lavender dramatically recalled her vacation at home and all of the horrid news she had learned. She filled Ginny in about the breakout from Azkaban and the murders and mishaps that had followed. No one they knew had been killed but this was only the beginning.

"When did this start?" She questioned as her mind worked to put all of the pieces together.

"Almost three weeks ago I think," Lavender replied cautiously, remembering the dates on the newspapers she had seen at home.

"Hmmm," Ginny responded, unhappy that the events didn't quite match her theoretical timeline.

"I'm just glad to be back at school and away from the real world," the blonde commented with a slight laugh and she hopped off her bed to bend over her trunk as Ginny sat there puzzling over how what Lavender had just divulged affected her situation with Draco. It's all connected somehow, she assured herself but still doubted if he was involved with or knowledgeable of the breakout and Voldemort's sudden surge of war.

Once it seemed like everyone was unpacked and their dorm was once again littered with clothing and random objects, her roommates began twittering excitedly about the welcoming back feast and how eager they were to see the greater male population. Lavender haughtily promised the other five witches that she was going to snag Seamus Finnigan and that soon he would be off the market. The girls kept up the mindless chatter as they walked down to the Great Hall but Ginny forgot to pay attention as they began passing other gaggles of students and her eyes suddenly peered at every face looking for Draco.

The room was almost full by the time they arrived and the roommates swarmed over a small section of open seating just as Dumbledore approached his golden podium to speak. Ginny listened for half a moment before she tuned out the old man's words and began sneaking glances around the Hall. She had to nearly turn all the way around to look at the Slytherin table so instead she kicked her leg over the bench and made it look like she was moving to get a better look down the aisle at the Headmaster. Her eyes were able to stealthily scan the long table on the far side of the room and with a disappointed exhalation, she realized Draco was not there.

I need answers from him, Ginny thought frustratedly. He needs to tell me what's going on. She spent the rest of the feast pretending she was paying attention to her friends talking when all she was really thinking about was how she could get Draco alone to talk. If he was injured somehow he would be in the Hospital Wing but once the meal was finished, she took a quick trip up to the infirmary where Madam Pomfrey looked at her as if she had three heads when she asked if anyone had been admitted that day.

I'll find him tomorrow. And he won't be able to dodge me any longer. Then - it's over. No more, Ginny mentally declared as she hurried up the staircase towards the Fat Lady and the fake smile returned as she greeted her merry Housemates and sat down for a long night of gossip and storytelling.

But the next day, the first day of classes and of the new semester, she couldn't find Draco anywhere. She waited outside of the Great Hall before meals and strayed in the corridors where she knew he should be passing. There was not a sight of his platinum head all day and by the time she was waking up the following morning, Ginny was determined to find him and get their much needed conversation over with. But Tuesday followed the same pattern as the day before and by the time she was walking out of the Great Hall from dinner, she was more confused as to how Draco kept avoiding the public eye, and her, especially when his Prefect duties called for his presence in the hallways between classes. Ginny was still plenty frustrated with the predicament she had been forced into and by the end of Wednesday when she had yet to see Draco, she became more impatient than anything else.

The perfect timing of Quidditch practice on Thursday afternoon allowed the youngest Weasley an opportunity to dispel her anger as she scored goal after relentless goal on Ron while the rest of her team stayed away from her prickly mood. Harry proved a sight for sore eyes and Ginny couldn't seem to remember why she had broken things off with him when he smiled genuinely at her and asked her opinion on everything from their playing strategies to his choice of finally magically alerting his eyesight for games, temporarily of course. For a couple of hours she felt like she mattered again but when the players left the pitch and entered the locker rooms, Ginny was once again reminded of Draco. His presence was everywhere and before she could even enter the small, wooden house to change out of her uniform, she was bolting across the grounds and back up to the castle.

On Friday morning Ginny swore she would find Draco. He's not avoiding me today, she thought with conviction and straightened her Gryffindor robes before she strutted through the common room and down to the Great Hall. She sat with Luna and Romilda at the Ravenclaw table to afford herself a better look at the Slytherins but she was only disappointed when the seat between Blaise and Goyle was left mysteriously empty once more.

Her friends had been quick to notice her snappish remarks and biting attitude and they held off from commenting until she explained what had happened during their absence over the holidays. Romilda wagered that Harry had caused some sort of fiasco during the break that no one would mention while Luna remained silent, knowing the Boy Who Lived had never created such a violent rouse in Ginny. Especially after her improved demeanor the day before after practice.

Still - she went about her day, searching for Draco wherever she went. On Wednesday she had snuck in the question during a conversation with Ron and Seamus asking if they had seen the Slytherin. Both looked at her oddly but neither could clearly recall if he had been in their joint classes over the week. The pair had joked that either way they would rather he not be there and they missed the frown that turned down Ginny's lips before she hastily turned and left for her dorm. It was nothing to go on but she looked for him still in the chance that he was going by under the radar.

As if by some miracle, and at first she thought it was an illusion, she saw him that evening on her way to the Great Hall for dinner. Her eyes widened and her breathing stopped but she hurried past a group of students as she kept her gaze locked on Draco arguing with Blaise just around the corner of the massive double doors.

"Malfoy!" Ginny called out through the throng of students who wouldn't move out of her way. "Malfoy!" She tried again, grinning slightly when he paused and looked up.

Blaise peered through the teenagers for whoever was yelling his name but Draco hastily returned to their conversation, nodding and gesturing with his hands as the dark skinned boy distractedly paid attention. Just as she was breaking through the crowd, he glanced once more in her direction then turned towards the dungeons and hurried off. Ginny sprinted to the spot where he had just been and she gazed down the hallway longingly as she realized there was no point in following him now - he would just disappear into his quarters.

"Weasley?" Blaise questioned with curiosity, his rich voice like erotic honey.

She glanced sideways at the taller boy and his deep hazelnut eyes captured her stare as his full lips pulled back to reveal pearly white teeth. Ginny felt self-conscious about her frizzy curls and her blotchy cheeks - and surely there was a stain or two on her clothing. He was a notably handsome wizard and she wanted to melt like butter in his presence.

"Yes Zabini?" She responded, stiffening her spine as she mustered some of that Gryffindor courage. One auburn eyebrow cocked in a silent question and his smile turned into a tight lipped frown as his brows furrowed. He seemed to make up his mind about her and his muscled arms wrapped around his chest as he stared down his perfect nose.

"This isn't a path you should tread lightly on," he stated mysteriously but Ginny understood his meaning as she faced him full on and tilted her chin up.

"I think I can handle it."

"There's more to it than what you already know."

"Isn't there always?"

"I'm just saying -" Blaise unfurled his arms and raised his open palms defensively, his serious expression breaking as a winning smirk made his features appear even more handsome. "You're not the first person to take road. No one would blame you for turning around now - especially not him."

Ginny frowned - she hated it when people insinuated what she should do.

"Malfoy and I have some unfinished business." She took a step forward and pointed one finger at his lean chest. "If you don't think I can handle a little chat with that pompous ass -" she paused, watching as Blaise waited for her finale with one eyebrow raised. "Then tough shit," she finished and her finger jabbed at his sternum before she spun on her heel and hurried into the Great Hall.

Ginny felt like skipping the meal entirely now but her feet took her down the main aisle so that she had to look back and retrace her steps because her angry momentum had carried her almost to the front of the room. Colin barely acknowledged her presence when she sat down and Dean grinned excitedly as she glanced up and weakly smiled in return. She felt desperation clawing at her anxious nerves and as she hastily prepared a plate as a distraction, she leaned sideways into Colin and turned her head as she whispered roughly.

"I need to talk to you."

"I'm kind of busy right now."

"Please," Ginny exaggerated the word, almost pleading as he looked at her with a straight face.

"What is it?" Colin asked as he turned back to his plate. Dean was watching their interaction with as much open curiosity as any boy who was trying to listen in on a private conversation and he silently wondered what Ginny was so upset about that Colin would disapprove of.

"I need to talk to you - about him."

"Oh - now you suddenly want to tell me all of your secrets?" His voice was a rough whisper that conveyed his hostile frustration.

"I need your help with something," Ginny replied, her tone a plea as she glanced over the Great Hall in an attempt to be discrete with their discussion.

"What? - your lover won't give you any attention anymore now that you've put out?"

The scathing remark hit home and she violently twisted her head to gaze at him with an incredulous stare as she inhaled sharply. She could never admit to being thrown to the curb by Draco Malfoy after she had chosen to pursue him but Colin's reproachful comment validated that her situation wasn't that hard to figure out and that he was indeed sore with her for lying when he had only been a concerned friend asking about her emotional health.

"Fine - don't help me," Ginny replied with a tone that despised his childish behavior. What little food she had blindly eaten was now turning over in her stomach and she pushed her plate away before rushing to her feet to stand. "But I am sorry for not telling you the truth before - you would have given me the best advice if I had asked for it." Her voice implied the forcefulness of her apology but Colin ignored her words and tilted up his nose as if he hadn't heard her. "Be that way," Ginny scornfully remarked after a short pause, hastily dodging a few milling students as she hurried down the aisle and out of the Great Hall.

She sat atop the Astronomy Tower until the bell chimed for their curfew and even then she felt uncomfortably close to everyone she passed in the wide corridors, especially her Housemates who were crowded in the common room when she entered her dormitory. Somewhere during her silent reflection she had come to the decision to bombard Draco the next day since nothing else had worked so far. He was sure to be out on the Quidditch pitch bright and early and Ginny knew that was her chance to find him alone so they could finally speak. That night she went to bed thinking of what she would say to him when she saw him and sleep drifted in as anxiety plagued her thoughts with the hopes of increasing her worry.

It was well past seven o'clock and the sun had already risen when Ginny was jolted awake the next morning. One glance at her bedside clock told her she was already late for practice and she scrambled out of her bed as her anxiety reappeared with the notion that she had already missed her opportunity to find Draco on the pitch. January had proved as brutal a winter as the worst records showed and she rushed to get dressed in as few layers as possible before hopping out the door as she pulled on her riding boots.

No one else was wandering the halls at such an early hour and Ginny used it to her advantage as she ran down the stairs and through the hallways to get to the closest exit to the Quidditch pitch. The frigid air was a slap to the face but she ducked her flaming head and continued outside as the rising sun cut through the misty fog. She stopped at the broom shed for her Cleansweep, checking the clock on the shabby wall that read five after eight. The worn, polished handle of her broom was like an icicle even through her thick gloves but she gripped it tighter and trudged through the heavy snow until she was passing underneath the tall stands.

The grassy pitch was magically cleared of the white powder and the golden goal posts gleamed as Ginny inhaled, momentarily relaxed as the air seemed crisper and her problems seemed less worrisome. But her chocolate eyes immediately scanned the skies above the oval stadium and she frantically questioned if she had already missed Draco. She took a few running leaps and looked straight up as she turned in circles to affirm that he was nowhere in sight.

Without thinking she righted her broom and hoisted herself over the handle, gripping it tightly as she pulled up and took to the skies. The height did not make a difference because she still did not see anyone even in the nearby vicinity. It's still early, Ginny thought with dying hope. He must not have woken up yet.

So she lazily began flying laps around the pitch. It was a slow, time killing exercise and after another hour had passed, she flew higher until the air became thin and then dove back down to the ground. Repeating that process several times made her dizzy so she returned to flying laps as the sun rose higher and the remainder of her hope for Draco's appearance diminished.

It was just after ten o'clock when she pulled open the wide entrance doors and reentered the castle. Now a few students were up and about but no one took notice of her as Ginny sped through the hallways to reach the main corridor into the dungeons. Her feet knew where to go but when she arrived in front of Draco's portrait within minutes, she suddenly didn't know what she was going to do.

Should she just bang on the door until he got annoyed and opened it?

Would it be better to wait and pray he intended to leave his quarters on a chilly Saturday afternoon?

In an effort to avoid asking at all, Ginny crept up to the portrait and whispered the last password he had told her, placing her hand lightly on the gilded frame as she leaned forward. "Womping Willow." She had expected nothing to happen but the confirmation that he had changed the keyword recently sunk a weight in her chest and tightened the tension along the cords of her shoulders. Maybe I'll just wait then, she resolved and stepped backwards to lean against the wall facing his portrait.

Thirty minutes went by before Ginny panicked at the sound of footsteps echoing louder. Her eyes grew wide and glanced all around the small section of the hallway as she reached for her wand. The wooden handle was warm and pulsing with magic in her grasp and with a hasty incantation, she looked down to find herself invisible. She grinned at her handy work despite the oncoming threat and she was grateful for the twin's keen ability to teach her every upper Level spell she shouldn't know yet.

The footsteps were a deafening sound in the still silence and when she saw the long shadow that accompanied the footfall, she pressed herself against the wall and prayed that it wasn't Draco. Ginny was brimming with nerves as she waited to confront the blonde Slytherin but she told herself she was too anxious just now and that she couldn't face him just yet.

She breathed a sigh of relief when the student appeared around the corner and it turned out to be a stray younger Year with their nose stuck in a book. From the emerald markings on her rove, Ginny knew she was of the snake House and thanked Merlin the person had not been Draco.

What she guessed was an hour passed and then another came and went. In those one hundred and twenty minutes she only held her breath three times as students passed by her unaware of her invisible presence and every time she inhaled sharply and felt her anxious nerves tense as she prayed she wouldn't see Draco turn that corner. It was past lunchtime now and Ginny's stomach attested to the time as she stayed stock still without even considering going to fetch some food.

Somewhere before two o'clock she heard an ominous click clacking of footsteps and without even seeing the face, she knew the echoing sounds belonged to Draco. The footfalls resounded with a confident stride and she could hear in the shifting of his weight across each foot the expensive creak of leather and pride.

This is it - Ginny told herself as her palms began to sweat and her hands were left shaking as she regulated her breathing to a more shallow pace.

Draco's dim shadow came first before his long legs were swallowing up the distance through the hallways to his rooms. When he came into view she imperceptively inhaled sharply and held her breath so he wouldn't hear her - her heart was hammering loud enough in her chest that Ginny thought for sure he would sense her out. But the regally tall Slytherin sauntered around the bend in the hallway and didn't give her a second look. She had to remind herself that she was invisible - if she wanted to talk to him then she had to initiate it.

Should I follow him inside? No - that would seem weird. I can't do this - not when he looks so. . . peeved.

Draco was indeed frowning deeply and his usual handsome gaze was clouded over with worry. Ginny could see the tension in his broad shoulders and in the hunched posture of his torso. He wasn't paying attention to anything but where he was going and she took a hesitant step forward as her fearful instincts told her to stay away. He was marching to stand in front of his portrait and she reached an invisible hand forward as he roughly muttered his new password.

"Toads eye."

"Malfoy - " Ginny hastily breathed his name and his weight shifted forward but he didn't move as the door swung open and he stood still. She knew she had his attention - whether he thought it was her or just a figment of his imagination - and she balled her fists as she bravely took another step so that she was right behind him.

"Malfoy," she softly stated this time.

"Weasley - I should have known you would find a way to sneak up on me. I thought you had understood that I was avoiding you," Draco replied without turning around and Ginny was almost fuming now that he couldn't even begin their conversation civilly.

"What the bloody hell was that about?" She forcefully asked, reaching a small hand out to grab his elbow and turn him around. He appeared amused by her invisibility trick and Draco actually cracked a grin which became a sneer as he waved his wand to rip away her concealment spell. Ginny felt the cold rush of his magic and shivered lightly as her body became visible once more.

"What we had is over," he stated baldly, his icy words betraying the gut wrenching pain he felt inside for having to lie to her like this. "I don't want you following me around anymore or waiting outside of my classes or giving me googly eyes across the Great Hall. You were a great shag, Weasley, but you're just another notch on my bed post now."

His seemingly honest words cut her to the core and Ginny let her shoulders sag and her chest nearly collapse as it felt like a cannon had been launched into her stomach.

"Bullshit," she whispered hoarsely and her wide chocolate eyes met his steely orbs as Draco stared blankly at her.

He merely shook his head in a tilted motion in response and his inability to give a better excuse drove a wedge down the middle of her jolted surpise. Anger bubbled forth and she felt it consume her chest as she tightened her lips and stepped forward to stand closer.

"We have something. You felt it - otherwise you wouldn't have pursued me for so long without getting anything in return," Ginny said vehemently.

"You were a challenging chase but you were just a conquest," Draco responded.

"Bullshit!" She screamed. "I waited every night in your rooms while you were gone! Waiting for you to come back - praying you hadn't left because of me!"

"I hardly consider you worth the cause of leaving," he drawled with sideways glance as if he were bored.

"So we shag and you just decide you'll leave me alone in your bed and disappear for two weeks?"

"What I do is none of your concern, Weasley."

"You made it my business when you kissed me at the Halloween dance and you damn sure made it my concern when admitted to lying to me about Harry and Snape!"

"I don't have time for this," Draco commented with a sneer and he looked her up and down before shaking his head and turning to walk into his rooms.

"Well make time, you asshole!" Ginny yelled, jumping forward to grab his arm as he twisted in her grasp. "You're going to tell me what happened and then you're going to explain why you think you can lead me on and then treat me like shit when you feel like it."

Draco grew furious at her inability to leave something alone and he was getting irritated with her questioning when he had clearly displayed his desire to not be around her.

"What happened is we shagged and I left. End of story," he growled, jerking his arm free as she started towards him again.

"Just tell me what's going on! Quit lying to me like you didn't feel something between us - like you don't feel it now," Ginny pleaded and his resolve was fading quickly as she badgered him with annoying demands.

"You're only lying to yourself if you think you and I ever had a chance."

"Stop it! Just tell me the truth!" She bellowed and Draco's composure finally cracked as he leaned forward menacingly.

"You want to know what happened? Do ya? My father came and dragged me off to see Voldemort. It seems he has a little mission for me." His tone was falsely upbeat and Ginny could see the loathing in his gaze as he poured out all of the hatred he had been holding in. "But the Dark Lord didn't think I was loyal enough so he got into my head and scanned through my memories." She felt the bottom drop out of her stomach and Draco came closer as his hot breath fanned her neck in an uncomfortable way. "I don't think he saw what he liked because he decided he needed to be able to keep me in line. He made sure I was awake enough to feel the pain as he tortured me with this."

His left arm shoved forward and his hand pulled back his sleeve as his pale forearm came into view before she gasped as a hideous Dark Mark that starkly contrasted with his parlor became visible.

Her first instinct was to recoil at the reddened flesh and black ink but her chocolate gaze jumped up to Draco's face and he sneered at her wide eyes and fearful expression.

"This is why I am avoiding and this is why I had to leave you that night. I'm Marked and there's nothing you or I can do about it," he simply stated but his words held venomous longing that spoke of his hatred for the Dark wizard who had decided his fate.

"No! We can do something! We'll talk to Dumbledore!" Ginny suggested and he shook his head, feigning a chuckle before he stood up straight and glanced away as he blinked.

"No one can help me now." Draco solemnly turned around and took the handful of steps until he was standing in the entryway of his private quarters. He paused inside the doorway and his platinum head dropped as he add evenly, "I'm sorry, little one."

The portrait swung shut in front of his image and Ginny gasped as she heard the locks faintly fall into place, stunned into stillness at her luck for being on the wrong side of that door for the second time in two weeks.