He stood silently for a moment, and Ginny looked down at her feet, feeling colour rise in her cheeks. You don't need him, Ginny. Come on, be strong! She tried to bully herself into looking up, but found that she couldn't. It's just too hard.. A scene flitted across Ginny's mind.. Draco was leaning against the wall, snogging Cho passionately. He was passing a hand through her voluptuous hair, then broke off to whisper something into her ear. She giggled breathily, batting her eyelids and turning a bit pink. She felt anger and jealousy start to boil up, and that evil little voice in her head goaded her onward, whispering about how he had betrayed her, how naïve she had been to believe in Draco Malfoy.
She looked up defiantly, forcing herself to stare right into his cold gray eyes.
Her stomach dropped, her heart beating restlessly. Her anger was gone almost in an instant; lost in Draco's hurt, bewildered eyes. Ginny was about to rush into his arms and start to bawl when she remembered those arms, holding Cho, holding Cho instead of her. Her heart slowed, jealousy twanging through her bloodstream.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" She said slowly and clearly, not a bit of quavering in her voice. Draco stood silently, blinking. She had called him Malfoy, yes. Yes, she had. That was all the respect he deserved, now.
"What did I do, Ginny? Why have you been ignoring everyone?" He was trying to find those kind, laughing eyes inside her cold ones, but they had disappeared long ago. She wasn't herself, anymore. She had become the Ice Queen; the Stone Hearted Mistress. Impenetrable, even to Draco Malfoy.
Well, two can play at that game, he thought bitterly, turning to a window when she didn't answer.
When Draco turned to the window, Ginny let out a gloomy sigh, watching the window. She fixed upon Ron and Hermione, who were walking around the lake and talking. Suddenly, Hermione stood on her tiptoes and kissed Ron lightly, then ran off towards the school. Ron stood there for a moment, then ran after her, and Ginny could see his wide grin from her window. They're so happy together.. She couldn't help feel a little regret; regret that she and Draco could never be like that. Well, who needs him, anyway? He's just a two-timing Slytherin, remember?
She walked away from the window, and from Draco, who was still staring listlessly outside. Those footsteps felt so long, Ginny fighting the urge to run back and reassure Draco that everything was fine, it was alright every step of the way. She knew that the long awaited tears were arriving, even before she had shed them. She ran off, away from Draco, tearing her heart the further she went. She went outside into the frigid winter air, tripping and falling to her knees in the snow. She cried and cried, as the air grew colder. Finally, her eyes were dry, and she couldn't cry any more. She stood up, dusting the snow from her knees, then looked up at the sky.
It was dusk, and the sun was slowly melting into darkness. Ginny, instead of turning to go inside the castle, kept going outwards, finding herself wandering towards the Quidditch stadium. She went up to the stands, wiping snow from one and sitting down silently. She stared out at the frosty winter landscape, letting her mind sift in between sleep and conciousness. She was barely aware of anything, and let her mind wander from Harry to Draco to Ron. Was it possible that it hadn't been Draco that was snogging Cho? Could it have been Harry, trying to trick Ginny? If that was true, then.. Then you've just ruined the best thing that's happened to you. But if it really had been Draco.. Then she was justified enough, wasn't she? To try and hate the man who had betrayed her?
Well, she had tried, and failed. Just the slightest word from Draco had sent her crying into the snowy Quidditch pitch. How had she ever managed to let the proud Slytherin Prince to hold such dominion over her? How had he gained so much power over a matter of weeks, months? Was she really going mad? Or did she.. did she.. do you love him, Ginny? You've tried to convince yourself it was just a school-girl's crush, but school-girl's crushes don't hurt like this. Or do they? How could one define love? Ginny had always pictured adults falling in love, not a 16 year old girl. Was it really possible, for one so young to feel love?
Ginny found the thought so bewildering, so eternal. Define Love. Maybe it was love. Maybe that was why she couldn't forget about Draco, even when she had seen him with another. Maybe that was why he could send her reeling with just one word, one kiss. Then there was a noise, disturbing Ginny's thoughts, as Ron sat next to her. His silly grin that Ginny had seen him last wearing had disappeared into a small, worried line.
"Are you alright, Gin? Why are you sitting out her all by yourself?" His simple words, so caring and sweet, sent Ginny to tears again. Ron held her silently, resting his chin on the top of her head.
After a moment of sitting, silently crying into Ron's chest, Ginny sniffled, wiping her eyes with a watery smile.
"I'm sorry, Ron, I've gotten snot all over your robes." He smiled warily, pulling her close to him for warmth.
"It's alright, Gin. No harm done." It had long gone black, the whole world blanketed by the silent night and the powdery snow. Ginny sniffed again, closing her eyes for a moment. Maybe Ron would end up being the one.. The one who understood.
"You love her, don't you?" Ginny said quietly, and Ron gave her a startled look.
"Love who?"
"Hermione. I saw you two today outside.." She grinned sheepishly, feeling a bit like she had been prying. Even in the dark, Ginny could see that Ron's face had turned a bit pink, but not much.
"How about we go inside.. It's getting a bit chilly." He put a comforting arm around Ginny's shoulder, leading her out of the Quidditch field and into Hogwarts, where the smells of dinner were wafting from the Great Hall. After they arrived in the empty common room, Ron collapsed onto a chair, pulling off his scarf.
A few minutes of amiable silence passed between the two siblings as they thawed in front of the fire. Finally, Ginny's curiosity got the better of her.
"You do love her, Ron?" He sighed, rubbing his hands together.
"I had hoped you would forget about that one.. I dunno, Gin. I guess.. I guess I do. But how do you define love, Gin?" Ginny laughed sadly. Hadn't been the very question she had been asking herself?
"I dunno, Ron, I really don't." He stared into the fire a bit, thinking. He turned back to Ginny after a moment.
"What about you, Gin? Do you love someone?" Ginny bit her lip. Now came the all important moment. Could she trust Ron not to blow up and kill her and Draco in a fit of rage?
"Well… yes. But it's a long and complicated story.." She was trying to put him off the track, but he wouldn't be misguided that easily.
"They just started dinner. It'll be another half an hour, at least, before the fast eaters get here. I think you'll have enough time." The girl gave a small sigh, then nodded.
"Well, where to begin.." So Ginny started to tell Ron of her adventures with Draco Malfoy. She finally reached the end, where she had talked with Draco, then ran outside. Ron had been silent the whole time, listening intently. Then he grinned, startling Ginny. She hadn't been expecting him to be happy about it..
"Hermione was right the whole time. I should listen to that one more often." Ginny cracked a smile. Hermione was almost telepathic in these kind of things.
"Now I know why you were crying, at least. You really shouldn't have trusted the git, Ginny.." and Ron started to rant about Slytherin, going into his overprotective older brother mode. Ginny just ignored it, forcing herself to turn to her thoughts of Draco. She needed to find out if it really had been Draco kissing Cho, and why. And she had to find out soon, before her mind imploded by trying to think about it too much.
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Ginny had her chance a few days later, the day before Valentine's Day. It was after potions, and Ginny had talked to Emmy marginally, breaking her silence to the blonde girl. Emmy seemed grateful for the interaction between the two again, and for the moment, didn't ask anything about Draco. She seemed content to moon over Blaise every five seconds, talking about everything from his eyes to the way he talked. Ginny soon found it annoying, but didn't say anything, because she was at least glad to have the girl as a friend.
The bell rang, signaling the end of class, and Ginny's stomach went icy. This was the day, she had decided, that she would talk to Draco about the Cho fiasco. If he would talk to her. She took a deep breath, walking calmly out of the dungeon and into the fray.
It was like it had always been; Draco was talking to Emmy, who was talking very quickly (probably complaining about, "Oh, do you really suppose Blaise likes me?") and Ginny watched the two with curiosity before she remembered the task she had set herself. She strode quickly over, addressing Emmy first, instead of Draco.
"Emmy, do you think I could talk with Draco for a minute?" Emmy gave her a startled look, then glanced up at Draco. Then she nodded, and retreated to Blaise, starting to converse quietly with the dark haired boy. Ginny took another steadying breath, pulling Draco over to the familiar dark niche in the wall. She twisted her hands, trying to think of the right words. You knew that this wouldn't be easy, Gin. Now just get it over with! Draco was standing silently, giving her a reproachful stare which masked his feelings.
"Draco, did you.. were you.. well, did you snog Cho Chang?" His glare changed to a blank look, and then his face went pale. Ginny took this as a sign of guilt.. or knew she should, but she couldn't help feeling the least bit.. alone and helpless, talking to Draco.
"What do you mean, did I snog Cho Chang? Why would I snog her?" Ginny saw his mind turning over what she had said, and then something clicked.
"Wait.. do you think.. is that why you.. Ginny, I would never do that! Especially if.. especially if I had you." Things were still making complete nonsense in her mind, and the fact that her thoughts were spinning around didn't help things.
"But.. I saw you with her, Draco! Saw you, with my own two eyes! It was.. after Professor Snape found me in your dormitory! Right before dinner! Don't you remember that?" She said in a frenzy, trying to set things straight. Draco blinked for a moment, trying to recall.
"Wait.. you mean.. that.. that wasn't you, Gin?" Ginny laughed. It felt good to laugh, after all the stress she had been feeling. And it was utterly ridiculous.
"I don't look anything like Cho, Draco! Of course it wasn't me!" As soon as the idea popped into her head, Ginny saw Draco think of it, too.
"Potter." Draco said ferociously. "He must have cast a spell.. made Cho look like you.. and then.. what? Then he told Cho to.. oh, if Potter weren't holed up in Dumbledore's office.." Then he stopped, looking down at Ginny.
"I'm sorry he put you through this, Gin.. if I had known it was Cho.. I wouldn't have.. Surely you believe me?" He whispered quietly, then jumped as the bell to signify the start of the last period rang. He ignored the rush of semi-late student, embracing Ginny in his safe, comforting arms. Ginny felt a smile appear on her mouth, and buried her head into Draco's chest to avoid having him see it. He had no idea how much Ginny had been waiting to feel his arms around her again..
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And is this the end? Only time (and your reviews) will tell! Seriously, I have been considering ending it here. If you think it should keep going, then be sure to review! Even if you think it should stop here.. review anyway! Grazi, ciao!