Ginny avoided the trio as best she could. She steered clear of the common room, usually roaming the halls or reading in the library. Even Madame Pince was better than seeing Ron, Harry, and Hermione.
As the day slowly crawled forward, the rain slapping the windows making everything even more dark and dismal, Ginny had plenty of time to think. She would wonder why Draco had snogged her. That one hadn't been an accident. But surely the Crowned Prince of Slytherin wouldn't want to snog a short, red-headed Weasley? Maybe someone had jinxed him or given him a potion that made him crazy? That would at least make sense.
And now she would have to deal with Emmy. His cousin. Who had an uncanny talent of acting like Draco. And reminding Ginny continually about him, without really knowing it. It would be too hard to be with Draco, anyway. Everyone would bother Draco about it.. and Ron would never forgive Ginny for loving the enemy. But it was too hard not to be with Draco. He appeared everywhere she went, and whether it were a glance after Potions or an accidental snog in the hallway, she was always painfully reminded of their awkward situation.
Ginny wasn't even sure she really did love him. It was probably just a crush; something to keep her occupied (other than schoolwork, of course). There was a crash in the usually deathly quiet library, and Madame Pince sat, stunned, as Ron and Harry strode into the room, making a beeline for Ginny. She sighed. It was all too good to last, wasn't it?
"Ginny! Where in the Bloody Baron have you been! We've been looking for you for ages!" Ron huffed to a stop, crossing his arms in front of him like Molly Weasley tended to do when she was very, very angry.
"Just enjoying the quiet of the library, Ron. And don't do that. You look like mum." Ginny stood up, annoyed at their intrusion of her thoughts, and swept past Harry, heading towards her dormitory. She could hear Ron practically screaming, although she was quite sure Madame Pince was about to burst from shushing him so much. She heard quick footsteps and was twisted around by Harry's hand on her wrist. She jerked her hand out of his grasp, watching Ron run to catch up with Harry.
"Ginny, you cant keep running off like that." It was Harry this time who spoke. She could tell he was angry; but his anger was cold, silent, quite the opposite of Ron's rash yelling and pitching a fit. It scared Ginny, to see this anger finally directed at her. Harry gave Ron a little, dismissive nod, and Ron stalked off, looking over his shoulder every second or so with a scowl.
"Why were you and Malfoy together, Ginny?" Ginny drew back. Harry's quick, decisive anger was rising, yet it was so subtle. Then suddenly he smiled, but it wasn't a pleasant one. It was rather cold and snakelike, and he was starting to resemble Malfoy.
"We weren't together, Harry. We were just… talking." She left out the snogging fiasco, hoping that maybe Harry hadn't seen it.
"Alright, Ginny, whatever you say." Suddenly he turned towards her, covering her passionately with a snog. She stood there for a moment, wondering how she had ever gotten herself into this mess, then wriggled out of Harry's grasp, trying to run off. Harry blocked her path, and he was suddenly dark and seething with anger.
"Ginny, youwillgo out with me. Unless you want me to break Ronald's little heart. I will do it, Ginny." Ginny trembled. Could this be the real Harry, the one he had hidden from everyone, ever since his arrival at Hogwarts seven years ago? He was threatening to do the one thing that could have Ron, her family.. everyone, ruined, for the rest of everyone's lives. He would shun Ron, Hermione, make everyone's dreams of having the boy defeat Voldemort disappear in a flash. Then. . . no one would have any hope, anymore, would they? It would be all because of Ginny Weasley that the world had fallen into darkness.
"All..alright. Please, don't hurt Ron. I couldn't bear it if.."
"You wont tell anyone about this little.. discussion, will you?" Ginny nodded mutely, and turned away, disgusted, as he kissed her darkly.
"See you tonight, then, Ginny darling." He walked off, and Ginny slid back against the wall, crying silently for everyone; wishing that someone, anyone, could hear her.
"Ginny!" Harry said, giving her a quick kiss, making Ginny's insides crumble to dust. No, this wasn't right. But it was the only thing that could be done. She endured it, putting on a smile to mask her insecurity and fear of the man who had his arm around her waist.
Ron was looking rather happily at the couple, and Hermione was positively beaming. She kept squealing at odd moments, then would collapse into giggles.
I could never hurt them.. Never.. but Harry could. I wish someone could see.. see who Harry really is. But no one ever would. The only time he let that part be seen was when he was very angry. As long as Ginny did whatever he said, she could save everyone else from seeing that bitter, dark side of him. And that was something she was determined to do.
"Well, well. If it isn't Malfoy." Harry was looking coldly at the blond, who seemed, for a moment, confused, then quickly covered it up with a scowl. It hurt Ginny tremendously, having to have Draco see her with Harry, but it was the only way to keep him protected.
"Potter. Seems you have a new girlfriend." Ginny turned to Draco, absolutely begging him to see things differently, but he wasn't Draco any more. He was Malfoy, as cool and distant as ever.
"Yes, Malfoy, I do. And I don't want to see you ever touching her, or I'll make you pay." No one could see the hidden malice, desire to destroy, in that sentence, except for Ginny. Draco raised a pale eyebrow, smiling dangerously, then stalking off, Blaise close behind.
"Good job, Harry. Hopefully, that'll keep him away from you, Gin." Ron said, thumping Harry on the back. Harry had somehow managed to convince everyone that Malfoy had grabbed her, holding her so he could snog her, or something of the like. She knew, that since it was what they wanted to believe, they would believe it. Ginny gave a halfhearted smile, detaching herself from Harry and practically running to her first class.
Her classes blurred by, her heart slowly plunging as the rain kept coming, and the sky grew darker. It was Potions, finally, and Ginny was more nervous than she had been on her first day. Surely, Draco would have told Emmy something about her and Harry. How would she react to it?
The dungeon was cold, but Emmy's glare was even colder. It was evident, from that moment, that Draco had told her. She had done the unforgivable, in a way; snogged Draco, then turned around and went out with Harry. If only she could see past the lies and deceit Harry had been weaving his whole life.
The class was utterly uncomfortable. It was almost heartbreaking for Ginny; she was reduced to lonesome thoughts. She really had no friends; no friends that would believe anything she said about Harry, anyway. Emmy might have believed her, but talking to Emmy was out of the question, now. The only person she had left was Draco.. but she couldn't tell Draco.
So she was alone. The class was over soon then Ginny had anticipated, and she was the last one out, having daydreamed most of the class.
Standing outside of the classroom, as usual, was Draco, and just the sight of his talking to Emmy sent pangs run through Ginny's heart. He turned a cold stare to her, his unforgiving gray eyes, that had once shown warmth.. even passion.. It was all gone now. He would never understand that she had done it for him, for Emmy, for everyone who lived. She had to keep the hope alive in everyone's hearts, even though her heart might be broken.
Seeing Draco was too much. Ginny ran off, but was stopped by Emmy, who had caught up to her as she was about to leave. Draco was right behind her, standing irritably close. Ginny saw Harry round the corner (he had potions with Malfoy), but it was too late. She was right in the middle, between Harry and Draco. Harry stopped, halfway towards them. His face went dark, and Ginny knew that she was in trouble.
"How could you go out with him, Ginny? You've turned out to be worse than I thought.." Emmy turned away, walking off. Draco, not Malfoy, turned back, halfway through the door, and Ginny one of the most heart wrenching stares she had ever known, then disappeared into the dungeons.
Harry, too, gave her a stare, but it was filled with anger, hate, and jealousy. Who knows what he would do now..