Title: The Truth About Trees

Author: Tiny Q

E-Mail: one_legged_lesbian_seagull@hotmail.com

A/N:  Well, as promised, two weeks later.  This is the second last chapter.  ~nods~  But the final one is in need for some major revision so I don't know when it will come out.  The epilogue is pretty much done though.  And so is the present, but I won't say anything more about that.  Anyhoo, back to angst which makes me happy. Oh so happy.  It's easier to write angst when school is on.  Stupid stupid school.  And this time I have to pay to attend.  ~grumbles at the unfairness of it all~

Disclaimer:  I own nothing but the plot.  NOTHINGSSSSS!

The Truth About Trees

Chapter 14

A Changing Tone

~*~

            I stared at her.  It was all I could really do.  What was I going to say?  Stop smiling at me?  That just wouldn't do.  Yet she did seem rather nervous and a part of me was slightly happy about that.  I was making her feel that way.  I wonder what else I could make her feel.

            "Ginny," she finally spoke in a soft voice.  "Can I speak to you?"

            I stared a bit more.  She wants to talk?  Why now all of a sudden?  Why not a month ago, a week, a year?  But for whatever reason I shrugged.  "Sure."

            Her smile spread slightly and she glanced around.  "Why don't we sit down?" she gestured around the room to all the empty chairs.  I shrugged once more and we moved towards the chairs the trio usually sat in before the fire.  Or at least where they used to sit when they were all on good terms.  I felt a pang in my heart for the old days.  For the way Harry had been treated. 

            Then it occurred to me that I wasn't going to make it easy.  She hurt more than just me.  She had hurt her best friend as well.  And if this conversation was going to lead where I thought it was, I sure as hell don't want to be her friend again.  Not now, not ever.  But the way life goes I will probably accept some bull shit apology someway down the line.  Hopefully it will be a very far off time. 

            "So," she said slowly, looking anywhere but my face.  Then she met my eyes and I suddenly really didn't want to be here anymore.  Not one little bit.  "How have you been?"

            "Fine," I said simply.  As if I would suddenly spill everything about how my life is to her.

            "How can you be fine after that kidnapping incident?" she asked me, her eyes getting a touch larger.  "I would have been scared out of my mind."  She would have been too.

            "I don't want to talk about it," I said flatly.  The last thing that I need is for her to go and poke around Malfoy's rescue.

            "Ok," she said softly, seeming slightly taken aback.  Good.  She remained quite for a moment.  Obviously this wasn't going as she had planned, but I wasn't about to make it easier for her.  I didn't care.  "Ginny, what happened between us?" she finally asked, looking me straight in the eye.

            I stared back, slightly startled.  That was blunt.  "Things went wrong," I replied, shrugging a little.  Very very wrong. 

            "I don't see how," she said slowly, still looking at me.  How can you not?  "We just had a few little problems."

            "A few little problems?" I gasped despite myself.  "Hermione, you broke Harry's heart and used me to do it!  Then you went out his best friend, my brother!  And now you're trying to tell me that we had a few little problems?  Now let me guess, the next thing you are going to say is that it was somehow my fault as well!"

            "Well it was!" Hermione suddenly said sharply back.  I felt the anger in my chest rise so quick I would have been startled if I hadn't already been in a rage.

            "And how was it my fault?" I asked slowly, quietly.  I sounded like Snape when he gets beyond angry.  I suppressed a shudder.  I also would not let myself think as to how I had acquired that lovely ability.

            "You never tried to talk to me," Hermione said earnestly, her voice taking on that annoying bossy, know-it-all tone.  "Through everything you never tried to talk to me and sort it out.  So whatever you think I did wrong to you is just as much your own fault."

            "What?!" I burst out.  "That is complete and utter bull shit!"  I stood up, glaring down on her.  Sometimes being tall has its advantages.  She stood up as well, but I was still taller.  Ha.  "Did you ever think that I didn't want to talk to you?  That I didn't want to be reminded that I let what happened to me in my first year happen again?  That I was sick of feeling like shit when I was around you?"  She seemed slightly taken aback, and honestly, so was I.  I never really realized it.  Sure, I had told Malfoy something like that, but I never added that Hermione was the representation of it all.  Creepy.

            "Ginny-" she began, but I cut her off.

            "No, Hermione," I said sharply.  I glared at her for a moment.  "You know, it must be simply wonderful to be you, isn't it?  I mean you live with a clear continence, and if you have the slightest inkling that perhaps maybe something was your fault, you simply find a scapegoat and use them to rid yourself of any guilt.  What more could you want?"  With that I turned away from her and headed towards my dorm room.  Enough of this shit.

            "Don't you ever think of how I feel?" she demanded shrilly from behind me.  I turned to look over my shoulder.  She was crying.  Yet somehow, I couldn't make myself feel sorry for her.  Much to my own horror.  How could I not care when someone is in pain? 

            "You don't care about anyone else's feelings," I said coldly, surprising myself once more.  "Why should we care about you?  Talk to me when you grow up a little."  And with that I stood up a touch straighter and disappeared up the stairs to my dorm. 

            All the way feeling that I was a complete and utter bitch.

~*~

            This can't be happening.  This can't be real.  This has to be some sort of sick and cruel joke.  Yet I knew it wasn't.  This was real.  This was now.  This was disgusting.

            I had half a mind to burn the letter.  To destroy it and deny that it ever existed.  But I couldn't.  It would have larger repercussions if I did that.  Now I could do something about it.

            Without a second's more thought I tore out of my dorm room, letter clutched angrily in my hand.  People had started to fill the Common Room and I heard Goyle call after me as I shoved my way out of the portrait hole.  A moment later I was barreling down the hall, skidding to a stop in front of my destination.  I banged on the door.

            "Come in," a voice called curtly from behind the large oak door.  I shoved the door with all my might, taking out my anger on it.  It slammed into the wall.  Snape looked up at me with a mildly amused expression.  "Ah, Mr. Malfoy.  I was wondering when you would come to see me."

            "Shut up," I snapped, slamming the door shut with a slightly satisfying bang.  But not satisfying enough.  "What the hell is this?"  I threw the letter at him.  "And don't tell me you don't know," I growled.  "Because I know you do."

            Snape took the letter off the desk and smoothed it out and began read it.  I took that time to try and take a breath.  To calm down.  But how could I?  How could I when my father sends me something like that?  Sends me the order to kill her.  To kill Ginny.  And Snape knew about it.

            "I was hoping he wouldn't do this to you, Draco," Snape said, letting the letter fall back onto the desk.

            "You were hoping," I sneered.  "Yeah, well I can hope too you know.  I can hope that at that next meeting you go to, the Dark Lord realizes what you are and deals with you accordingly."  I glared at him, yet he didn't seem to be glaring back as properly as he should.  It made me angry.  "How could you let this happen?"

            "And what say do you think I have in all of this?" he demanded of me, suddenly frowning more than before.  "What did you expect me to do?  Demand the Dark Lord to go easy on you?  To beg your father to let you live your own life?"  He snorted slightly.  "If it were that simple I would have done it for you."

            I stared at him, thunderstruck.  He would have?  He would have stood up for me in such a way?  But, why?

            "Sit down, Draco," Snape said suddenly, gesturing towards the chair opposite the desk of him.  I numbly sat down.  "They have been planning this for months."  I opened my mouth in question, but he never gave me the chance to speak.  "Not with your involvement of course, but all the rest.  But when your father was tipped off about you Gryffindor girlfriend, as he put it, something must have clicked in his deranged mind.  Now you are the symbol to start it all."  He paused.  "Well you and her death that is."

            "How can you say that so easily?" I demanded.  "How can you talk about her as though if she died it wouldn't matter?" 

            "I'm not," he said sternly.  "I am simply expressing the way they are seeing it all.  The way they are looking at you and her and the way they are going to use you both as pawns in their little game so they can get what they want."

            I stared at him, now more than ever wishing that my mouth would suddenly speak for me.  To tell the professor before me what he said meant to me.  How his playing both sides was worthy of heroism, despite what others might say.  Yet nothing came out, and all I was left with was to stare at him.  To realize that I had never seen the greasy haired man look so tired.  So worn out.

            "She means a lot to you, doesn't she?" Snape suddenly spoke.

            I looked at him slightly startled.  He seemed to have a nostalgic look on his face.  In his coal black eyes.

            "Yes," I said truthfully, surprising myself once more.  I had just admitted to Snape what I couldn't even admit to myself.  Ginny did mean a lot to me.  More than anyone in my life ever has.

            "Hold on to her then, boy," he said softly, not looking at me any more.  I looked at him wide eyed.  "Don't make my mistake and let her get away."

            Well, if I hadn't had enough shocks for one day, this sure as hell would have taken the cake.  Snape had a love life at one point in time?  It's just bizarre. 

            We lapsed into silence once more.  What was I supposed to say?  Ask who she had been?  How she had gotten away?  Who had taken her?  I couldn't ask any of that.  Ever.

            "We should go over what you have to do," Snape said suddenly, pulling the silence away.  "You can't get it wrong."

~*~

            "Are you sure you're alright?" Colin asked me for the second time as we made our daily trip down to the Great Hall for breakfast.  It was rather touching that he was so concerned, but then he's been like this ever since he and Draco saved me.  Yesterday it was Malfoy, the day before Harry, the day before that my excessive problems with my hair.  Today: Hermione.

            "Yes, I'm fine," I said again.  Then something occurred to me.  "How did you find out about it, anyway?"

            "Well," Colin began slowly, frowning in his mock serious way.  "I guess Hermione was crying in the Common Room and Lavender and Pavarti were the first ones back from supper.  So they got the story out of her before she went up to her room.  Then the two of them told Seamus and Dean."  He was now holding his hand up, raising a finger for each person he spoke of, with the exception of Hermione of course.  "Then they told Neville who told Harry who then told me."  He paused, his six digits in the air.

            "Really?  You needed that many people?" I asked him sarcastically, not being able to help but stare.  "And here I thought you were better at the game than that.  I'm disappointed, Creevey."

            He sent me a dirty look, but seemed to choose not to comment.  He continued instead: "And Hermione must have told Ron because I guess he threatened everyone in his dorm that if they talked about what happened that he would personally throttle them."  He paused again, opening his mouth to say something, but never quite got the chance.

            "Hi Colin!" a chipper voice said from our right and we both turned to see his pretty Ravenclaw girlfriend heading our way. 

            "Morning sweetheart," he said in a chipper voice of his own.  I frowned at him slightly, but stopped when I saw the pathetic puppy look on his face.  It seemed a little out of place on him in my eyes, especially when he took the girl's hand and kissed her on the cheek.  She then turned to me.

            "Hi Ginny," she said in a voice that wasn't polite at all, but simply nice.  I stared at her.  She was being nice to me?  But she hates me!  How come she's smiling at me as though she doesn't though?

            "Morning," I replied and smiled back at her.  Well, I couldn't just stare blankly forever.  She would think me daft.  Or dafter than I actually am.

            "I was just telling Ginny that I'm lucky not to be in her brother's dorm room," Colin told his girlfriend.  "He threatened to harm any of his dorm mates if they told about Gin and Herm's little fight."

            "From what I heard it was a touch more than a little fight," the other girl replied with a slight giggle.  "Is it true that she started to cry?"

            I felt a slight pang in my heart at the memory but nodded anyway.  "Yeah," I replied, then frowned.  "You heard about that?" 

            The girl nodded.  "I think your painting told ours," she said with a smile.  "At the rate it's going about everyone will know by lunch time."

            Colin made an odd noise.  "You better be careful then, Gin," he said, turning to look at me with a concerned face.  "I have a feeling that you're next on Ron's hit list."

            "Just what I need," I muttered darkly, then looked determinedly at the curly haired boy.  "I'm eating with you today," I said firmly.

            "Why?  So that if he does come you can use me as a human shield?" Colin scoffed, grinning nonetheless.

            "Exactly," I said simply, returning the grin and causing his girlfriend to laugh.

            "Fine," he replied shortly.  "But tell me: did you really tell her to grow up?"

            Breakfast was pretty good as breakfasts go.  It was Friday again and you know how it is. Food tastes better at the end of the week.  I still hold that it is the prospect of freedom.  Even if it is only for a couple of days.  No matter though, it was good.  I had fruit loops.  Apparently we are now serving Muggle foods every now and then.  They were rather tasty. 

            But all things that are tasty must be eaten and I was soon making my way towards Potions.  Hastily mind you, so as not to get stopped by my brother.  Yet despite my hurrying, I was still the last one into that classroom, save Snape.  I approached my seat only to see Malfoy frowning at me. 

            I was startled at first until I realized what he was doing when he gave a small wink.  The whole secret bit.  This class was the only one we had together and we would have to be careful for there were Hufflepuffs abound.  And they seriously are the worst gossips in the school.

            "Late again, Weasley," Malfoy drawled as I shoved past him to get to my own seat.  I glared back.

            "Yeah well," I sneered, pulling my books and ingredients out.  "I only had your face to look forward to so as you can tell I had no real ambition to get here early."

            "Of course," he said smoothly.  "My beauty must intimidate you.  It must be hard to sit by me, must make you feel rather dull and, well, mundane."

            I let out a snort but never got the chance to retort as Snape chose that moment to walk in the door.  He didn't seem to be in a very happy moody today.  In fact, I don't think I have seen him this disturbed looking since Harry and Ron "accidentally" set the back of the potions room on fire.  But I won't get into that.  It would take far too long to explain.  Well actually it wouldn't but I don't feel like telling you.  All you really need to know is that Snape looked really pissed off.

            "We will not be creating a potion today," Snape snapped at us, causing most of the class to jump out of their seat.  Only Malfoy and I seemed unaffected.  "So put your ingredients away."

            We all did just that, and sat there waiting for him to explain our task for today. 

            "Theory," he said sharply, glaring at everyone.  Well, everyone but Draco and I it seemed.  I must have been imagining it though, why would he not take up an ample opportunity to glare at a Weasley?  "Chapters twelve through twenty eight."  I could tell the class was holding back a groan.  I was too for that matter.  Double Potions and we will be spending it writing boring theory?  Man, he was in a worse mood than I thought.  "And I want it in by Monday."  With that the greasy haired professor sat down in his chair, pulled out a roll of parchment and began to scratch away at it. 

            Glancing at Draco, who was glaring at Hannah Abbott, I pulled out my parchment and bright blue quill.  There is no real point to waste time. Why leave it for tomorrow when I can spend the class doing it instead?  But just as I opened my book I heard Draco say something.

            "Eh?" I whispered, pretending to work.  There was enough furious scratching going on that I doubt anyone could hear. 

            "I said," he hissed at me, doing the same as I was.  "That quill is an eye sore.  Remind me to get you a new one."

            I stopped flipping through my book and stared at him.  He's going to buy me a new quill simply because he doesn't like it?  That's insane.  But I suppose that's what you can do when you have a lot of money. 

            "But I don't want a new quill," I hissed back.  Then, making a point of swirling my apparently hideous quill before his face, I began to create my own scratching noises as I began to write out my theory.  Not seeming to want to attract attention to himself, Draco began to do the same. 

            It took me the first block of the double class to finish five chapters.  If I kept up this speed I might be able to finish it tonight.  Now wouldn't that be nice?  I think it would be.  But my ambitious plan was put on hold as I felt Draco's hand bump into my thigh.  I glanced down to see his hand clutching a piece of parchment.  Without looking, I reached over and took it, letting my hand linger on his for a moment. 

            I slid back in my chair, and propped my book and parchment up on the edge of the table so that no one could see my hands.  I glanced around.  No one had noticed.  Good.  Slowly I unfolded the parchment.

            Tomorrow's a Hogsmead weekend, will you go with me?

            Well, he doesn't wait to the last minute, now does he?  You know, my father always told me that I should never accept invitations for Friday evening after Wednesday.  I suppose the same rule applies with a Thursday and a Saturday.  But then he also said that I shouldn't just sit around on the weekends either, especially when someone invites me to do something.  What a double standard. 

            I scribbled a "sure" on the parchment and handed it back to him in much the same manner he had done to me.  He seemed to smile slightly at my single word then scribbled something down and passed it back as well.

            Good.  Meet me at the entrance gates to Hogwarts.  We'll walk the rest of the way there together.

            I nodded slightly and smiled into my book for him.  I then attempted to finish my homework, seeming to have increased ambition to finish now.  Good.  I don't think I will be able to finish it tonight if I had wanted to.

            You know, that last resolution about my homework was probably a good one, because as soon as I got back to the Common Room at the end of the day, Ron did in fact track me down.  And we sat down and had a nice little sibling chat.  There was a surprisingly minimal amount of screaming and ranting and throwing of objects. 

            It seems to me that he is trying very hard to repair whatever damage happened over the year.  It's a little awkward, and not to mention annoying, but it's kind of nice to see the most stubborn and arrogant of my brothers trying to be humble.  Well not so much humble as apologetic.  I think I'll let him keep trying.  But it was kind of odd.  He didn't really get mad at me for what I had said to Hermione.  Oh sure, he was mad, but he didn't direct his anger at me.  I think he is really trying to come off as being a good brother.

            After all that, I actually managed to go to sleep, and wake up and get dressed.  Well the dressing part took a bit of time though.  I had to make sure that I didn't look too dumpy or too cheap.  But I managed to scrape past with a long-sleeved, baby-blue tailored shirt and a short black skirt.  I put my cloak on over top of that.  Ok, that part didn't look too great, but I'm glad I am wearing it now as I stand here.  It's rather chilly outside.  And I am now regretting not asking what time I was supposed to show up at for I have been here for quite a while already.

            I hadn't had that boring of a time getting here though.  It seemed that all the teachers were placing charms on the castle.  And I say this because they were all outside of it, scattered about, pointing their wands at it and shouting out magic.  Pretty big give away eh?  It was actually kind of interesting to watch, but I can't see them anymore.

            Which is why I am a touch bored now.  It's all just so dull standing here in the cold, staring at nothing really and watching laughing people walk past me.  I doubt it could really get anymore dull either.  No one around, with the exception of the passersbys.  I suppose it could get a touch more dull if I didn't know some of the people who did pass by.  They usually wave.  Perhaps if I simply begin to laugh hysterically then things would get a touch more interesting.  Well at least until Draco shows up.  That way when people walk past I can get some amusing looks.  Now that would be entertaining. 

            I was about to begin just this regardless of the absence of people but sadly never got the chance.

            "Been waiting long?" a voice drawled in my ear as this same someone wrapped an arm around me. 

            "No," I lied, letting my head rest against this same person's shoulder.  "And it's not like I would wait for you either Draco."

            "Harsh," he said, yet he increased his grip slightly.  I couldn't help but grin.

            Without saying another word, we began to walk into the small Wizarding town that was just a ten minute walk away.  My left arm was beginning to feel rather stupid so I let it snake around Draco's back and rest on his hip.  I think he was slightly startled, but he never said anything.  It feels weird touching someone there.  You can feel their bones moving as they walk. 

            "So what did you do Thursday night?" I asked him, not even realizing I had spoken or that I had needed to.  Guess I did. Perhaps I just wanted him to ask how my night was.  Perhaps I just wanted to tell him about Hermione.  What a selfish way to do it.

            "Thursday night?" he asked, his body stiffening slightly.  I frowned.  Why would he get all tense at a simple question like that?  I looked up into his face.  It was unreadable, yet his posture seemed to be rather hunched, nervous.  "Nothing interesting.  Just read a little."

            "Oh," I said simply.  Well, if he didn't want to talk about it I wasn't going to press it.  He could tell me when he was good and ready. 

            And so we continued to walk in silence, arm in arm.  I think it's nicer to have someone hold you when it's a bit chilly out rather than trying to wrap yourself in layers of clothing.  This way is much simpler, not to mention more comfortable.  Yet as we rounded a bend in the path and came into sight of the rather busy town, Draco did not let go.  I looked up at him questioningly.

            "What happened to the whole secret bit?" I asked him quietly, gesturing towards his arm.  He surprised me by pulling my body closer to his.  I was expecting it to be a lapse, but apparently not.

            "Forget about the secret," he whispered into my ear.  "It doesn't matter anymore."

            I stared at him.  How could it not matter anymore when it mattered two days ago?  Something was up.  He was nervous, shifty even, and now he doesn't care if people stare at us?  There is something definitely wrong.  If only I knew what it was though...

            "But Draco," I began, trying to pull away.  But he held fast.

            "Do you trust me?" he asked into my ear, louder than before, but not by much.

            I looked up at him.  He was looking at my face blankly, awaiting an answer.  I stared.  There was something in his eyes.  Something I don't think I have seen there before.  But I couldn't place it. 

            "Yes," I said slowly, still staring at him.  "Why wouldn't I?"

            "Just wondering," he said lightly, then he shrugged and dropped his arm.  Instead he took my hand in his and pulled it gently.  "Let's go get something to drink."

            It took a total of three minutes to make it to the Three Broomsticks, get drinks and find a seat amongst all the students.  It seemed like this was the place to be today, as it was packed full.  Probably the chilly and gloomy weather.  And people kept looking at us.  Looking as if to see why we were sitting together.  Why a Malfoy and a Weasley were getting along.  We ignored them.

            "So what do you think all the professors were doing outside?" I asked Draco after we had sat in silence for a while, studiously ignoring stares and points, trying to enjoy our butterbeers.  "They seemed to be up to something."

            "They're enforcing the guards and spells on the castle," he said simply, taking a sip of his drink.  His face was once again unreadable. 

            "How do you know?" I asked with one narrowed eye.

            "I asked Snape," he said simply, smirking at me slightly.  "Unlike some people at this table I am not terrified of the Potions Master."

            "I'm not scared of Snape," I said indignantly.  "He just doesn't like me so I give him no reason to pick on me."

            "I wouldn't say that he doesn't like you," Draco said slowly, narrowing his eyes slightly.  "Otherwise he never would have let you into the advanced class."

            Hmm.  Never really thought of it that way.  Oh well.

            "I guess," I said slowly.  "But aren't you scared of werewolves?"

            "What do werewolves have to do with Snape?" he demanded, his eyes going slightly wide at the fact that I knew.  I had heard it from Harry of course, who put two and two together back in his first year and other passing comments the Slytherin had made.  I had heard a few of these comments myself.

            "Nothing really," I replied with a slight grin.  "Except that he loathes one with a passion."

            "Lupin, right?" he asked, seeming to suppress a shudder.  I nodded and had to keep myself from giggling.  Lupin was such a nice man.  There was no reason to be afraid of him.  "I can see why Snape hates him so much."

            "You're so narrow minded sometimes," I replied, shaking my head and taking a sip of my drink.  Yum.  Butterbeer.

            "It has nothing to do with being narrow minded," he snapped.  "It has to do with being bitten and becoming a reject of society."

            "So why don't you start to try and make a difference for them now," I said lightly, smiling at him slightly.  "So that when you are bitten, it won't be such a big deal."

            He opened his mouth to say more, but then closed it in defeat.  "Damn you Weasley," he said darkly, glaring down at his drink.  I couldn't help but laugh at that.  He looked so miserable.  So comical even.  Like one of those little doodles of a tiny figure with a shadow cast on them. 

            He looked up at me, his hair hanging in his face.  "Nothing like hitting a guy when he's down," he grumbled and all I could do was grin back.  He glanced around then shoved his drink to the center of the table.  "Let's get out of here.  I don't know how much more of this," he gestured towards the people who all quickly turned their heads away, "I can take."

            I nodded, taking a final sip of my drink then stood up along side of him.  People continued to stare as we maneuvered our way out, and it took all my will power to not give them the finger.  Or yell.  Or attack.  Well the last one wasn't that hard, but still.

            The air outside hit us with a strong wind.  It startled me at how cold it suddenly was.  It seemed to have dropped ten degrees while we were in there.  We both pulled our cloaks closer to our bodies then began to stroll up the street.

            "So, where are we going?" I asked Draco as we passed the packed joke shop.

            "Dunno," he responded with a shrug, then turned and looked at me.  Well rather he looked at my hair.  He didn't really look at my eyes.  Before I could ask anything else, he had taken his wand out, and pointed it at my head.

            "Draco-" I began but never got the chance to say more as he sent a spell my way.

            Slowly I raised my hand to my hair to see that it had been put into a light bun, tendrils spilling out around my face.  And it was brown.  He had changed the color of my hair.

            "Draco!" I shrieked then.  "What the hell did you do that for?!"

            He shrugged.  "Just wondering what it would look like."

            "Well change it back!" I demanded, my hands on my hips.  I instantly felt like my mother, but refused to let them drop. 

            He stared at me for a moment then smirked at me.  I suddenly wanted to wipe that smirk off as I never had before. 

            "Just leave it for now, will you?" he asked, grinning slightly and pulling me towards him.  I glared but allowed him to do so. 

            "Fine," I huffed, still glaring.  "But could you have at least chosen a color that didn't make me look like Hermione?"

            "You could never look like her," he drawled, and I felt a pang of hurt.  He must have seen it though because he quickly added: "You're far too pretty to be compared to that chipmunk."

            "Oh," was all I could say before he had begun kissing me.  It was as rather deep kiss as our kisses go.  And I was just beginning to melt into him when I heard a pop.  I ignored it though but it didn't matter as someone called his name.

            "Draco."

            We both stopped, looking around for he source of the voice.  Who I saw made my heart stand still.

            "Father," Draco said simply, nodding at the older figure standing in an alley way but twenty feet away.  Draco's grip on me increased until it was almost painful, but I wasn't about to stop him.  It was rather comforting even if I knew I was going to get bruises. 

            Not knowing what else to do, I simply stared at the older Malfoy, getting the feeling that something was wrong.  Terribly wrong. 

            "Come here son," Lucius Malfoy drawled, sounding so much like his son it was almost scary.  Actually, it was scary.  And what was even scarier is that he looks so much like Draco.  Or rather Draco looked so much like his father.  The same pointed face, silver-blonde hair.  The same smirk even.  Yet Lucius kept his hair slicked perfectly back while his son let it hang about his face.  And his own face had far more wrinkles on it.  No laugh lines though.  I suspect they were sneer lines if there is such a thing. 

            Draco hesitated.  I could feel in his posture that he was far past nervous now.  I reached back slightly and grasped his hand tightly. 

            "There is no need to stand there like a fool boy.  I am not going to hurt you," Lucius said a touch more sharply than before.  It was subtle, but regardless, I still felt Draco wince. 

            Draco shook his head slightly then strode towards his father, taking me with him into the seclusion of the alley.  Lucius looked even more menacing close up.  I repressed a shudder.  He was looking at me.  But unlike the people in the Tree Broomsticks who were mainly curious, his look was full of lathing.  I stared back though, trying hard not to look away.  To not show the fear that was steadily building inside of me.

            "I see that they were right about the Gryffindor," his father said to him, looking away from me and staring at his son instead.  I looked up at him, but he seemed to be avoiding my gaze.  I felt something jump in my stomach.  Something was really wrong.  Something was really really wrong.  And Draco knew about it before we left.  That's why he had been so awkward.

            "Yes father," Draco said simply and I felt my eyes grow wide.  I am just a "Gryffindor" now?  I tried to let go of his hand, but he only held on tighter. 

            "Good," Lucius drawled, looking at his son with something that could only be pride.  I suddenly felt sick.  What the hell was going on?  He then turned his cold grey eyes on me and I could do nothing but stare like some animal caught in a light at night.  "I can see why you would choose her though," he said, his eyes traveling up and down my body. 

            I shrunk back.  I felt dirty.  I felt that I had to get away.  Yet Draco's hand was gripping mine even harder now.  Any harder and I had a feeling it would break.  Why wasn't he doing anything?  Why was he just standing there?  Why was he letting his father look at me like that?!

            "Well I suppose all I can say is that it's a relief that she wasn't a Weasley, Draco," Lucius said coldly, then began to laugh a terribly cruel laugh.  What does he mean by that?  Can't he tell by the red- my hair's not red anymore.  I felt panic now.  Something was really wrong.  Something was really not right.  I tried again to get my hand out of Draco's.  But it was like trying to pry apart a metal crate with a banana. 

            "Yes, father," Draco said flatly, staring straight ahead as though he was too ashamed to look down on me.  But why would he be?  All he has to do is run away.  To take me with him.  Just like he did with Joe.  That's all he has to do.  That's all.

            "Well," Lucius finally said, clapping his hands together.  Both Draco and I jumped slightly at the sound, but Draco's face remained emotionless.  "I suppose we should get this over with.  You know what to do, son."

            Know what to do?  What the hell did that mean?  My heart began to pound.  What the hell was going on?  Then Draco pulled me around to face him, gripping my hand even harder, yet the sudden pain in my hand didn't matter anymore.  He pulled me closer and I looked up from my hand into his eyes and felt my pounding heart stop.      

            His eyes were hallow.  As if nothing mattered anymore.  I tired to pull back, but couldn't.  He was too strong. 

            "I'm sorry," he whispered softly and I felt fear like I have only ever experienced around Riddle grip me.  What did he mean by-

            I didn't even realize that I had screamed until I closed my mouth and tasted blood.  I slowly looked down to see the hilt of the knife in my left side, clutched in Draco's hand then looked back up to stare into those hallow eyes, those large and blank eyes.  Then he pulled it out and I had to bite my tongue not to scream again.  I wouldn't give him the pleasure.  I wouldn't give it to his father.

            I felt myself slump forward into the one who I had trusted.  Who I had thought was different from what everyone saw of him.  The one who I had thought was better than what he made himself seem. 

            But I realize I was wrong.  I was wrong for the second time in my life.  And there was no Harry Potter to save me this time.  This time I was going to have to pay the price for my blindness.  For my trying to see something that truly wasn't there.  For ignoring my brother's warnings. 

            Without a sound, I felt my body go limp.

            Not for the first time this year everything went black. 

            For the last time.

~*~

A/N: Mwa!  Mwa ha ha ha!  Ha ha ha!  Hee hee !  ~ehem~  Ok.  Enough of that.

Many thanks to: SkysTheLimit(I had to write an essay on why cannibalism should be allowed. It was fun), alenchic(Well, I suppose I can put some more in in the end...), tulzdavampslayer(Oh, that's priceless, but you really shouldn't do that to your brain. It might come in handy someday), smprsgrrl(What are you talking about? Ducks are evil!), o0true0o, Tessa1(If you liked the cookie bit you should really read my friend's story. It's better than my attempt to imitate it), wow(How could I not when you reviewed like everything?! Thanks again for that), Nerwen Faelvirin, Hplova4eva, LadyBex, RosyCheeks, Azalai(I loved how the animator fell, and yes, I had SO much fun at the dentist. Then my friend came over and laughed at my inability to speak), Furnikle(I like being evil. It makes me feel better about myself. You should throw your keyboard at your teacher. It would be fun until he figures out who did it...), Lallie(Actually, it's pathetic. And I disclaimed your idea. Twice! So there. Free advertising.), cashew(Perhaps he should... or get his own little spin off one shot...), Lady Coia(But that's the one thing I love to write! Cliffys are so much fun!), Darcel(But I think it might be funny...~grin~), Jade Summers, Ambrosine and littlebluebanana(Well, I'm my own beta. And I'm not perfect. But I will be putting up edited versions when I am finished, cause I realize my mistakes after I post. Bah).