Disclaimer: I'm the disclaimer. So I don't claim any of these things I
write about. They're J.K Rowling as you all already know and yeah.
A\N: The end is near. What am I saying? It is here. Now, your questions will be answered. Thanks for the reviews once again. Wow, they really mean a lot to me. Read this and enjoy it. Don't forget to review.
Chapter Four
The Girl Who Won Draco's Heart
A music box played in the background, coming from behind the closed door. Little Ginny Weasley, dressed in her pink pajamas and clutching her teddy bear was walking silently down the hallway, wondering why there was thick red liquid running from underneath the door.
The door knob was before her, waiting for her to turn it. A feeling was pulling at her guts, telling her to run away, to run into her mommy and daddy's room, but with the curiosity that a four-year-old had, she turned the knob.
She stepped into the blood, soaking up her tiny feet. The door was opened slightly now and she peeked in, wondering what was happening. A man was in there, not the same man that had come in earlier.
Ginny stared curiously up at the cloaked man, his face hidden in darkness and wondered what happened to that kind man who was there earlier. He had been her mommy's brother who came all the way from Romania. He was given that bedroom, but now, she wondered where he was.
Another man was in the room, but he wasn't standing like the other one. He was on the ground, red things spilling from a wound he had on his chest.
"Mister?" she asked the man on the ground though she had not moved from the door.
The other man who was cloaked turned when hearing her voice and a vicious glare crossed his face. He pointed his wand at the man who was wheezing now and whispered something. Then everything disappeared.
It was just Ginny at the door, the man standing up, and the man who was lying on the ground. There was no blood, there was no wound, and there was no evidence that a murder had been committed there.
The cloaked man chuckled lowly and pointed his wand at the little girl. She was a witness and would have to die.
He thought of a kind death because she was just a little girl, but there was no such thing. He looked at the ceiling bored and almost whispered the forbidden curse when another figure appeared in the room with him.
He was young with a handsome face. Dark hair graced his head and his blue eyes looked the little girl over. "We could use her," he said, nodding.
The cloaked man with slit red eyes thought about it a moment before putting his wand down. "And what can we use a little girl for?" he asked, a bit irritated.
"She's a little witch, a growing one," the younger stranger said. "I sense she will become very powerful if influenced by the right source. Spare her life and as soon as she attends Hogwarts which shall not be too long after the Potter child, we could use her to get to him. We can possess her and kill him."
The red eyes flashed with malice and he nodded to agree with the younger man. "Very smart," he said and pointed his wand at her again.
Ginny felt something cold and dreading hit her. She looked up into the younger boy's eyes and gasped for what she saw in there frightened her. He stared at her, almost possessively.
* * *
She jerked from her dreams and found herself in darkness. Her breath came out hard, her heart beating rapidly having been scared by the dream. She didn't remember that event ever in her life, but it could explain why she was frightened of blood.
Ginny could see her breath in the cold. She hugged herself for warmth and scolded herself for doing something as stupid as sneaking out.
Where was she? The darkness kept the truth from her, but she had a feeling she knew. It's been ages since she's been in there and it's the last place she would ever want to be, but there she was, in the Chamber of Secrets.
Then there was a light far off in the distance. It was tiny, like a dot, but it came closer and it got bigger. It was on the point of a wand, and a man was holding it. No, not a man but a boy of merely seventeen.
The tip of his wand wasn't lit enough to illuminate his face, but she could already make out who he was. He came closer and the light was big enough to show his face. Draco Malfoy had no expression. He kept his eyes on her all the time through and for a while there, she thought she caught sadness in them. She thought.
He reached her and the light grew big enough to illuminate both of them. Draco paused inches from her, making sure his eyes were holding hers. The light of his wand danced in them and he looked different. How? She didn't know.
"You tried to kill them didn't you?" she accused him, her voice filled with panic though she did not want to show she was afraid.
Draco's countenance didn't change. It still showed nothing of what he felt or what he was thinking. But then it didn't surprise her because he was an attempted murderer and he's not supposed to feel or think anything.
"Nothing too surprising is it?" he laughed mirthlessly. "I mean, you've thought so all along anyway, right?"
Ginny glared at him, hating herself for feeling sorry for him before. "You were right, you are cold hearted Draco."
His face was emotionless again and he turned so his back was to her. "You don't get it do you? After everything that's happened, you still don't realize what's going on?"
"I understand exactly what's going on alright," she said, willing him to turn back around but he wouldn't. "You did all this. You hate my family, so you thought that you'd kill me to get to them. You beat Collin, Michael, and Harry and then you brought them in yourself. You did it because you wanted people to suspect you and then I would feel sorry for you like you knew I would. There, you would wait until I'm alone and helpless as I was in the corridors. Then you kidnapped me and brought me here."
He rounded on her and his eyes flashed with anger. "And how would I explain how you died?"
She had to think about it before answering. "No one knows you took me, so you'll leave my body in here as Tom Riddle was going to do in my first year." Something flashed behind Draco's eyes but it disappeared like a candle in the wind.
"You're so naïve, Weasley," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Everything is before you and you can't even understand what's going on."
Ginny brought her hand up and tried to slap him, but he held onto her hand as though it had been nothing. His grip was firm, but it wasn't hard.
"As soon as Harry and the others wake up, they'll tell Dumbledore about you," she informed him. "They'll tell him about how you tried to kill them and he'll take you to Azkaban and lock you up where you belong.
Draco laughed maniacally and Ginny backed up, frightened by his actions though there wasn't far to go because he still had her arm in his grip. "That's where you're wrong, Weasley," he said, staring into her eyes fiercely. "When they wake up, they'll tell Dumbledore exactly what happened and you'll realize that it was never me." He raised his brows challengingly, "but then again, maybe they won't ever wake up because something might happen."
Ginny's eyebrows knitted and she tried to push Draco's hands away. "You're crazy, Draco," she almost yelled. "I don't know what's wrong with you, but you're crazy. Just let me go and I'll never tell anyone what happened here."
"Oh, but love, it's too late," he said. "You're already in here and even if you get away from me, you won't get away from him."
His words surprised her and she felt hairs rise at the back of her neck. It was the same feeling she had when she felt that someone was watching her and Harry that one night they were in the corridors.
Draco's grip on her loosened and she pulled away, running in the direction she hoped the exit would be. But how would she get out? Last time, they did so because Fawkes had been there, but now she was trapped.
Even though she knew that, she continued to run. Maybe it took her away from Draco, but it also brought her closer to something that continued to make the hair on her neck rise. Somehow, she felt more secured closer to Draco.
The same serpents that lined the pathway still stood their spot by the wall. Water littered the floor and her feet made splashing noise when it connected with the ground. Then Ginny ran into someone and fear coursed through her body.
A cold laugh rang through the chamber and Ginny fell to the ground. She looked up helplessly at the man in the darkness and she waited to see who it was.
Two wands lit at the man's side and Ginny could see who stood before her. Blaise Zabini grinned evilly at her, and his hands reached out to touch her red hair. She tried to back up, but her legs were frozen before her.
For a moment there, Ginny forced herself to look beyond him and at the two who lit their wands. Crabbe and Goyle stared at her, their grins matching Blaise's.
"Hello, my precious," Blaise whispered, his voice not quite the same. "It's been a long time since we've meet face to face."
Ginny watched him fearfully. He motioned his head towards her and Crabbe and Goyle came forward to pick her up. They still held their wands, but it only took one of their arms to hold her.
In between Draco's goons, they dragged her behind Blaise and back in the direction that Draco was in. Now she had no chance to escape, especially with her wand nowhere near.
How stupid could have she been? Why couldn't she have left her warm clothes and taken her wand with her?
They dropped her on the cold floor where she had been and went to stand a little behind Blaise. Draco stood beside Blaise, but his countenance didn't match theirs. He was emotionless like he had been earlier.
Ginny glared at him. Not at the others, but at him, Draco Malfoy. It was his fault she was there. It was he who kidnapped her and brought her there, that's why she's even there in the first place.
"If you're going to kill me, then do it now," she spat.
Blaise looked amused, but Draco was still neutral.
"You think that's why you're here?" Blaise asked, his brows rising well into his hair line.
Ginny glared at him, but didn't answer. She was afraid, that much was true, but she wasn't going to go down without a fight. Even without a wand, at least she could die knowing that she tried to escape.
"You're sick, Blaise," she whispered. "You're all sick."
Then she stood up and turned, fleeing the way she did that day in the corridors when he had grabbed her from behind. She kept running, going as fast as her bare feet could carry her. Why hadn't she done this when she was a little girl?
She was almost there, the huge chamber door just beyond her reach. The water was cold and she felt her feet freezing. How long would she be able to keep this up before she collapsed?
It didn't take much to figure that out because someone tackled her from behind. His huge form took hers to the ground and pinned her there. Ginny struggled beneath him, but to no avail. He was bigger, not like Crabbe and Goyle big, but bigger than her and she couldn't win.
Well, at least she wouldn't have to say she didn't try.
"Don't do anything stupid, Weasley," his cold voice spat, his breath heavy. He had been running hard. "He'll kill you if you don't stay put, but then he already knows you won't get away."
Ginny stopped struggling beneath him and stilled. "What's going on?" she asked, finally understanding that she didn't understand.
Draco scoffed, but it was very lightly. When he spoke, it was barely above a whisper, like he didn't want the others to hear. "Something that could kill you if you don't stay still," he said. "Stay put by his feet."
"Draco!" Blaise called from across the chamber. "You going to bring her back or have her all to yourself?"
He sighed and stood up, dragging her along. "Watch what you do, Weasley," he said. "You don't know what's going on, so ask him."
She frowned, but it didn't matter. She let him drag her back to where she started again and she once again sat in her spot. What was it with that spot and those psychos?
Blaise bent down and brought her face up to look at him with his finger. Tears coursed down her cheeks because she was helpless now, not that she wasn't before. But at least she had strength to run. Now, she's done for.
"Why do you choose to run?" he asked, his voice still very strange from Blaise's. "You know you won't get away. You belong here with me."
Ginny didn't even look at him. This angered him and he slapped her hard enough to turn her head. She caught sight of Draco and she thought she saw him tense, but she only thought.
A metallic taste filled her mouth and she spat on the ground to find her spit red. Damn Blaise.
"What do you want?" she asked.
Blaise raised him eyebrows at her. "Isn't it obvious? Stay here with me, Virginia."
Ginny flinched at the name. It was what Tom Riddle used to call her.
"You remember don't you?" he asked, standing up. Then Ginny did. This wasn't Blaise Zabini, this was Tom Riddle himself, possessing the body of Blaise as he had hers before.
She scurried to get away from him. "You," she said through fear. "No, you're dead. Harry destroyed your diary and you're dead."
"You think?" he asked, grinning maniacally at her. "You think that that's the only diary that holds a memory of me? I'm far too smart for that Virginia. I'm far too smart for anything, actually.
"Draco over there had nothing to do with the beatings, unless you count watching of course," Blaise, or Tom Riddle said, nodding his head in Draco's direction.
Ginny glanced in his direction and managed a glare at him when she caught his eyes.
"Yes, he knew all along and he said nothing," Tom Riddle whispered. "I've been watching you, my sweet," he said then. "I know the people who you love and those who love you. It's them I have to oppose of. They stand in the way. I had to get them out."
She didn't understand what he was saying. It showed and Tom Riddle's maniac grin turned even crazier. "Didn't you realize it, Virginia dear?" he asked in mock surprise. "Collin, Michael, and Potter. They all love you and even if Potter didn't love you, you loved him. I couldn't take that now can I?
"I got him on his way from Quidditch practice," Tom Riddle said, staring off into space, remembering that night. "Yes, it felt nice to hit him. You should have seen what he did when he realized I knocked his glasses off. He crawled on his knees like an animal, searching for them."
Ginny's fist clenched and she wanted to stand up and sock the grin off the maniac's face.
"I would have killed them of course, if Draco hadn't stopped me," Tom Riddle continued, looking at his fingernails like they were the most interesting things in the world. "Don't know what got into him, but he convinced me not to and so I didn't."
Tom Riddle sighed. "I returned to kill them that night you saw me actually," he said, staring at her. "I was going to finish them off so if one of them happened to wake up, they would never know it's me. But then I saw you and you had to wake up."
She remembered that night. "But I still don't get it. Why? Why would you go through all this just to get me here?"
Tom Riddle looked at her in surprise, but it vanished. "It was so long ago that I saw you," he said, reminiscently. "Yes, you were but a mere four year old and my heart just fell for you. You were so innocent, and so powerful I could feel it radiating through you. I made my older self spare your life and it was worth it. You've grown up beautifully.
"When I took over you in your first year, I knew it wouldn't be long before Potter was dead and you would be mine," he stopped then, anger filling him. "But Potter didn't and you never became mine."
Ginny scoffed and she wondered where she got the boldness from. "How would you have had me if I was dead? I was inches from death. You were going to kill me back then."
"You think so?" he asked. "It was all an act to make Potter fall for it. You were going to get better afterwards, but everything had to go so wrong. But that was back then. All that matters is you're with me now."
"But how were you able to be there with your older self back then? And how was he able to be there? Wasn't he weak by then because of Harry?" Ginny asked out of mere curiosity.
Tom Riddle shrugged. "I wasn't so weak then. As years passed, time made me weary and I became weak. He was Voldemort all right, but that doesn't mean it was his body. He possessed half of Quirrell's head even then."
She swallowed and tried to get away again, but Tom riddle shook his head and he held his hands out to her. He looked deeply into her eyes and something compelled her to take his hand. Maybe at least this ordeal would be over with and she'll be okay.
Ginny's hand began reaching for his. She was going to hold onto him, but someone yelled, 'accio Ginny,' and she wasn't by Tom Riddle anymore. No, she was by Draco's side, him holding onto her possessively, but it was comforting.
She looked up into his face and saw something she's never seen before. He stared at Tom Riddle with hatred and never once did his glare waver. "She isn't yours to have, Riddle," Draco said threateningly.
Tom Riddle laughed mirthlessly. Crabbe and Goyle stepped forward with their wands raised at Draco, but Tom shook his head to tell them to back off. "I knew you had it in you, Malfoy," he said. "I knew you weren't one to trust."
Draco carefully pushed her behind him as to shield her and Ginny willing did so. "Give up, Riddle. She doesn't want you, leave her be."
"She belongs with me, Malfoy," Tom said. "Your father serves Voldemort as his slave, why must you rebel?"
His words stung Draco and he raised his wand. "Stupefy," Draco yelled. But Tom Riddle only blocked it with a countercurse.
He laughed, "You think it shall be easy to kill me, Draco?" Tom Riddle asked, putting emphasis on Draco's name. "Don't be too sure."
The amusement disappeared on Tom Riddle's face and Blaise's wand was in his hands, pointing dangerously at Draco. "Expelliarmus," he yelled.
Draco's wand shot into the air and disappeared into the darkness. He was filled with surprise, but he began backing up, making sure Ginny was safely behind him. "My wand is to your left right here," Draco said, his voice so low she could barely hear. "Run to it and grab for it. Getting out of here is up to you."
Ginny nodded and slipped into the shadows. Draco was left in the light that both Crabbe and Goyle's wand lit up. Tom wasn't happy with the movement. His face contorted with fury and he yelled a curse in rage. Draco was thrown into the air, but he never once left the circle of light.
She kept still in the darkness, but she peeked in Draco's direction to see that he was clearly hurt. A wound was opened at his shoulder and it was bleeding hard. Draco's black robe was beginning to soak up the thick liquid.
"Wand," she gasped, searching for it in the darkness. Where was the wand. He had said it was to her left, but she couldn't find it. "Ouch," she almost said too loudly in the darkness. She stepped on the wand and it rolled, causing her to fall down.
Tom heard the sound of her 'oof' and looked in her direction. He nodded to tell Crabbe and Goyle to search for her.
Ginny picked up the wand and waited silently in the darkness as to not give herself away. Their light was getting nearer though. If it got anymore closer, she would be found.
Tom was walking towards Draco who hadn't gotten up from where he fell. But her mind wasn't on that much. If she was caught, who would save him?
She whispered an enchantment Hermione taught her to make Crabbe and Goyle's light diminished. Now they were in complete darkness and Ginny moved stealthily away from the goons.
As thick headed as they were, they didn't know what to do and ran into the wall. The sound of head bumping against something hard told her so.
With them out of the way, Ginny moved in the direction she guessed Draco to be. He shouldn't be far because she hadn't gone too far. "Draco?" she whispered lowly.
Big mistake. Tom was right by her and knocked the wand out of her hands. He grabbed her from behind the way he did before and pinned her against his chest, his arm around her neck. He lit up his wand so it illuminated only them.
"Thought you could get away huh?" he asked, making a chill run down her spine. "I've loved you for ages, Virginia. Now, I will finally have you."
Ginny breathed hard and took in a breath to prepare herself for what she's about to do next. It was something her brothers taught her to do. Being in a family of mostly boy had it's advantages because Ginny socked him in his chest with her elbow.
Surprised by her blow, he let go and she turned around to kick him in his shins. Tom Riddle bent down and she took the chance to hit smack him in his nose with the insides of her palm. He doubled over in pain and something shot from within the darkness to hit leg. He collapsed to the ground and didn't move.
She knew he wasn't dead. It wasn't enough to kill him, but she ran over to Draco anyway. Turns out his wand flew from within her hands near him. He lit his wand and she picked him up onto her lap.
Blood was everywhere, but Ginny didn't turn away because she wasn't afraid of it anymore. Draco was pale, very pale from his lost of blood.
"I know a healing spell," she said, taking his wand from him. She murmured the spell and the wound cleaned up quickly, no trace of blood anywhere. The dream taught her something, though she didn't only clean up but heal him.
"Where'd you learn that from?" he asked, sitting up.
Ginny giggle and turned away. "In my dreams," she answered.
Draco grinned and ran a finger down her cheeks. "I'm sorry about everything."
She frowned at him. "What'd you do? Thanks, Draco. You saved my life here today. I owe you my life."
"No you won't," Tom Riddle said from where he had fallen. "If I can't have her, no one will." Then he yelled a curse at her. The same cold dreading sensation ran through her and she fell. Ginny felt Draco catch her before darkness took her once again.
* * *
"No!" Draco yelled. He set her on the ground and began his hunt for Tom Riddle. That bastard. If Draco had known any better, he would have killed that boy sooner.
His footsteps silently graced the ground, listening to Tom Riddle's careless splashing. Draco heard a noise to his right and he shot a curse that way. It missed.
"Draco," Tom's voice said in a singsong way. "Oh Draco," he said again.
Draco smirked into the darkness. How stupid could that prat be? His voice was only leading him closer to Tom Riddle. Then something else hit him from behind. "Stupid git," Tom Riddle yelled. "Gave yourself away when you tried to curse me."
Draco swore and limped farther away. This time, he wasn't soundless because he was hurt. His feet caused the water to splash underneath him.
"Come out would you?" Tom said. "You can't get away. You're done for."
He didn't answer. He continued to walk, following the voice. It led into one of the pipes filled with water. He was even noisier than before.
"Did you really think I was going to let you have her?" he asked. "I love her and if I can't have her, no one will."
"Tell me how I will wake her back up," Draco demanded, furious.
Tom's laugh was mirthless through the long pipes. "You can't, Malfoy. Once she's under my spell, she can't be awoken. Well, not by you anyway."
Draco burned with anger. "Tell me, you bastard!"
"Only true love's first kiss will wake her up, idiot," Tom said. "If you kill me, she'll never wake up."
"You expect me to believe that?" Draco asked. "It only exists in a fairy tale."
"You think?" Tom asked, sounding further away.
Then Draco saw his chance. Not far away, Crabbe and Goyle were coming to and they were lighting their wands. If Tom was heading in the direction that Draco thought he was, he could curse Tom when he walks into the light.
And as he thought, Tom did just that. He hadn't realized the two goons had woken up and walked right into their light. Draco took the moment and said the only spell he knew to use on Tom Riddle.
"Avada Kedavra," he said. Green light shot through his wand and then Tom Riddle wasn't anymore. Only Blaise's body was left behind, and he was dead.
Draco walked back out to Ginny and kneeled by her, staring in the direction of Crabbe and Goyle. He had just used an unforgivable curse. What would Ginny think of him now?
The two oafs stumbled towards him and Ginny. They held their light out until all four of them were illuminated. Draco didn't want to fight them because he was tired and he just wanted Ginny to wake back up. But to protect her, he pointed his wand up at the idiots and put an arm over Ginny protectively.
"We won't kill you, Draco," Goyle said slowly.
"Yet," Crabbe added. "We will let you go now, but don't ever get caught alone. We won't be so nice then."
Draco almost gave them a grateful smile, but decided against it and picked Ginny up. She wasn't dead but asleep like she had been earlier when he first kidnapped her. How stupid could have he been? He thought he was doing the right thing, bringing her there to keep her from Tom's grasp, but all he did was bring her into Tom's grasp.
He carried her outside of the chamber and walked over to pick up his firebolt. He had brought her in there on it. There had been many times when he was closed to dropping her but somehow managed not to.
Then everything was behind them and they were soaring towards Hogwarts and its safety. Dawn was approaching and Draco could make out the beautiful color of the horizon. If only Ginny were awake to see it.
He dropped her off at the Hospital Wing. He left her right by the doorway and knocked on the door. When he was sure Madam Pomfrey was on her way to open it, he walked away as fast as he could. It wouldn't do him any good to have people suspecting him. And especially after he used an unforgivable curse, he wasn't sure he was any different from Tom Riddle.
Draco went into his dorm and fell asleep. When morning was there and the school had been awake for hours, he stayed in bed. He fell asleep again and didn't wake up until darkness fell and dinner was being served.
Hungry, Draco cleaned himself up and went down for dinner. He looked at the Gryffindor table for her, hoping maybe she woke up, but she wasn't there. Actually, Ron and Hermione looked pretty worried and Draco noted to himself to go check up on her.
"Did you hear?" Pansy asked from where she sat beside him. "Heard the Weasley girl was found in the doorway of the Hospital Wing and she wouldn't wake up. Dumbledore has set up a time tonight when every boy in Hogwarts would get a chance to kiss her. Looks like they're searching for her true love."
Pansy laughed hysterically but stopped when Draco stood up and left. He didn't have time for her. No, someone else needed him.
He made his way to the Hospital Wing and sat by her. At six, the first boys began coming by. They saw Draco, but only thought him to be another boy there to try his luck. Who wouldn't? Ginny was one of the most beautiful girls there, he's just noticed.
Days went by, and then week. Still, she didn't wake up and everyday he sat by her side. When the Creevey boy woke up, he tried his luck too, but she didn't wake up. Another week went by and still, Ginny was still asleep.
Then the Corner boy woke up. He tried his luck too, but to no avail. She was still deep in her sleep and Draco had nothing else to hope for but Potter. She's loved him her whole life, maybe he might be the lucky guy.
Another week went by, and then Potter woke up. He looked like horrid, but the worry in his face was genuine. Draco informed him on what happened, along with Weasley and his now girlfriend, Granger because he told them earlier.
Potter got the story. "So you think I'm the one to do this?" Harry asked.
Draco nodded, a bit irritated. Harry seemed unsure. He put a hand to her cheek and looked at her longingly. Draco didn't know what happened, but his fist clenched tightly the way it did when all the other boys took their turn.
Then Harry dived in for the kiss. He came back up and everyone held their breath, but no, she didn't even stir. Hope floated out of Draco, but he was somewhat relieved to find that Harry wasn't her true love. No, he didn't know what he would do if Harry had been.
"It's not me," Harry said, sad and relieved at the same time.
Maybe Tom Riddle had been right. He said he was her true love and only he would wake her up. Maybe Draco made a huge mistake by killing him. Now, Ginny would never wake up.
Hermione saw the way Draco's fit clenched earlier and now she watched him search the room worriedly. She bit her lips and kept staring at him until he couldn't take it anymore.
"What?" he snapped at her.
"Did you try, Malfoy?" she asked, her voice holding no warmth.
Draco was surprised by her question. "Me?" he asked, somewhat dumbly. "Me? It can't be me. She's loved Potter for ages and if he can't do it, you think I can?"
She nodded.
He scoffed at her and left the room. He walked through the corridors at first, cursing Granger for even thinking of such a thing. But his walk turned into a brisk one and then a jog and he ended up flat out running.
Draco ran down the flight of stairs and past the Great hall. He ran straight through Hogwarts until he reached the lake, and there he finally stopped. He was gasping, trying to catch his breath.
"Damn you, Granger!" he yelled at the lake. His legs were weak and he fell to his knees, feeling hopeless. Everything was a mess.
He was a Malfoy, a damn Malfoy and this wasn't what he was supposed to do. He wasn't supposed to fall to his knees in despair, because Malfoys don't despair. They don't feel anything. They keep that steel mask of theirs and hardened their already icy heart until there was no warmth to be found.
He's vowed never to love again, not after what happened in the past. But with Ginny, he's suddenly found love again. He's gone against his vow and fell in love with a girl, no a woman who would never love him back.
Draco stayed there for quite some time. And then darkness fell. He went back into the castle and into the Hospital Wing. He didn't know why. He just had to go see her face again.
Ginny was still lying in her bed, paler than ever. Her breathing was even and she was so angelic. Draco ran a hand down her cheek and before he knew it, his lips were mere inches from her.
He had to try. Maybe she didn't love him, but he loved her. "You won my heart, Ginny," he whispered, still only inches from her. "You wanted to play a game and now you've won. My heart is yours, so take it."
Then he kissed her, deep and passionately. He put everything he had into it, giving her a taste of what's she's done to him. His fingers caressed her face lightly the whole time and when he pulled away, he waited to see if she would stir. When she didn't, he turned and walked away.
He wasn't her true love. He should have seen that ages ago. Now he's let himself get hurt again. How foolish could he get? How many times was a person supposed to make a mistake before they realized they can't win? How many times was a person supposed to get himself hurt before he found the one person who would love him?
Not long, because-
"Draco?" her tiny and frail voice called out in the big Hospital Wing. He was surprised, he was shocked, and he didn't know what to do. Then like a coward, he ran.
A\N: And that's the end. But there's gonna be an epilogue. I'm just saying it's the end for the chapters. So what did you guys think huh? I just put the other chapter up, but I'm gonna do this one too because I have another story coming and I want to get this done as soon as possible. I hope I answered your questions and if I didn't, send me a review. If I did, still send me a review. Also, I'd like to add that the part where every boy gets a chance to kiss her is an idea I got from Icecooler's Sleeping Someone. I hope you didn't mind me borrowing it. Thanks for reading this far. I appreciate it and you guys inspire me. You know you do. Bai.
A\N: The end is near. What am I saying? It is here. Now, your questions will be answered. Thanks for the reviews once again. Wow, they really mean a lot to me. Read this and enjoy it. Don't forget to review.
Chapter Four
The Girl Who Won Draco's Heart
A music box played in the background, coming from behind the closed door. Little Ginny Weasley, dressed in her pink pajamas and clutching her teddy bear was walking silently down the hallway, wondering why there was thick red liquid running from underneath the door.
The door knob was before her, waiting for her to turn it. A feeling was pulling at her guts, telling her to run away, to run into her mommy and daddy's room, but with the curiosity that a four-year-old had, she turned the knob.
She stepped into the blood, soaking up her tiny feet. The door was opened slightly now and she peeked in, wondering what was happening. A man was in there, not the same man that had come in earlier.
Ginny stared curiously up at the cloaked man, his face hidden in darkness and wondered what happened to that kind man who was there earlier. He had been her mommy's brother who came all the way from Romania. He was given that bedroom, but now, she wondered where he was.
Another man was in the room, but he wasn't standing like the other one. He was on the ground, red things spilling from a wound he had on his chest.
"Mister?" she asked the man on the ground though she had not moved from the door.
The other man who was cloaked turned when hearing her voice and a vicious glare crossed his face. He pointed his wand at the man who was wheezing now and whispered something. Then everything disappeared.
It was just Ginny at the door, the man standing up, and the man who was lying on the ground. There was no blood, there was no wound, and there was no evidence that a murder had been committed there.
The cloaked man chuckled lowly and pointed his wand at the little girl. She was a witness and would have to die.
He thought of a kind death because she was just a little girl, but there was no such thing. He looked at the ceiling bored and almost whispered the forbidden curse when another figure appeared in the room with him.
He was young with a handsome face. Dark hair graced his head and his blue eyes looked the little girl over. "We could use her," he said, nodding.
The cloaked man with slit red eyes thought about it a moment before putting his wand down. "And what can we use a little girl for?" he asked, a bit irritated.
"She's a little witch, a growing one," the younger stranger said. "I sense she will become very powerful if influenced by the right source. Spare her life and as soon as she attends Hogwarts which shall not be too long after the Potter child, we could use her to get to him. We can possess her and kill him."
The red eyes flashed with malice and he nodded to agree with the younger man. "Very smart," he said and pointed his wand at her again.
Ginny felt something cold and dreading hit her. She looked up into the younger boy's eyes and gasped for what she saw in there frightened her. He stared at her, almost possessively.
* * *
She jerked from her dreams and found herself in darkness. Her breath came out hard, her heart beating rapidly having been scared by the dream. She didn't remember that event ever in her life, but it could explain why she was frightened of blood.
Ginny could see her breath in the cold. She hugged herself for warmth and scolded herself for doing something as stupid as sneaking out.
Where was she? The darkness kept the truth from her, but she had a feeling she knew. It's been ages since she's been in there and it's the last place she would ever want to be, but there she was, in the Chamber of Secrets.
Then there was a light far off in the distance. It was tiny, like a dot, but it came closer and it got bigger. It was on the point of a wand, and a man was holding it. No, not a man but a boy of merely seventeen.
The tip of his wand wasn't lit enough to illuminate his face, but she could already make out who he was. He came closer and the light was big enough to show his face. Draco Malfoy had no expression. He kept his eyes on her all the time through and for a while there, she thought she caught sadness in them. She thought.
He reached her and the light grew big enough to illuminate both of them. Draco paused inches from her, making sure his eyes were holding hers. The light of his wand danced in them and he looked different. How? She didn't know.
"You tried to kill them didn't you?" she accused him, her voice filled with panic though she did not want to show she was afraid.
Draco's countenance didn't change. It still showed nothing of what he felt or what he was thinking. But then it didn't surprise her because he was an attempted murderer and he's not supposed to feel or think anything.
"Nothing too surprising is it?" he laughed mirthlessly. "I mean, you've thought so all along anyway, right?"
Ginny glared at him, hating herself for feeling sorry for him before. "You were right, you are cold hearted Draco."
His face was emotionless again and he turned so his back was to her. "You don't get it do you? After everything that's happened, you still don't realize what's going on?"
"I understand exactly what's going on alright," she said, willing him to turn back around but he wouldn't. "You did all this. You hate my family, so you thought that you'd kill me to get to them. You beat Collin, Michael, and Harry and then you brought them in yourself. You did it because you wanted people to suspect you and then I would feel sorry for you like you knew I would. There, you would wait until I'm alone and helpless as I was in the corridors. Then you kidnapped me and brought me here."
He rounded on her and his eyes flashed with anger. "And how would I explain how you died?"
She had to think about it before answering. "No one knows you took me, so you'll leave my body in here as Tom Riddle was going to do in my first year." Something flashed behind Draco's eyes but it disappeared like a candle in the wind.
"You're so naïve, Weasley," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Everything is before you and you can't even understand what's going on."
Ginny brought her hand up and tried to slap him, but he held onto her hand as though it had been nothing. His grip was firm, but it wasn't hard.
"As soon as Harry and the others wake up, they'll tell Dumbledore about you," she informed him. "They'll tell him about how you tried to kill them and he'll take you to Azkaban and lock you up where you belong.
Draco laughed maniacally and Ginny backed up, frightened by his actions though there wasn't far to go because he still had her arm in his grip. "That's where you're wrong, Weasley," he said, staring into her eyes fiercely. "When they wake up, they'll tell Dumbledore exactly what happened and you'll realize that it was never me." He raised his brows challengingly, "but then again, maybe they won't ever wake up because something might happen."
Ginny's eyebrows knitted and she tried to push Draco's hands away. "You're crazy, Draco," she almost yelled. "I don't know what's wrong with you, but you're crazy. Just let me go and I'll never tell anyone what happened here."
"Oh, but love, it's too late," he said. "You're already in here and even if you get away from me, you won't get away from him."
His words surprised her and she felt hairs rise at the back of her neck. It was the same feeling she had when she felt that someone was watching her and Harry that one night they were in the corridors.
Draco's grip on her loosened and she pulled away, running in the direction she hoped the exit would be. But how would she get out? Last time, they did so because Fawkes had been there, but now she was trapped.
Even though she knew that, she continued to run. Maybe it took her away from Draco, but it also brought her closer to something that continued to make the hair on her neck rise. Somehow, she felt more secured closer to Draco.
The same serpents that lined the pathway still stood their spot by the wall. Water littered the floor and her feet made splashing noise when it connected with the ground. Then Ginny ran into someone and fear coursed through her body.
A cold laugh rang through the chamber and Ginny fell to the ground. She looked up helplessly at the man in the darkness and she waited to see who it was.
Two wands lit at the man's side and Ginny could see who stood before her. Blaise Zabini grinned evilly at her, and his hands reached out to touch her red hair. She tried to back up, but her legs were frozen before her.
For a moment there, Ginny forced herself to look beyond him and at the two who lit their wands. Crabbe and Goyle stared at her, their grins matching Blaise's.
"Hello, my precious," Blaise whispered, his voice not quite the same. "It's been a long time since we've meet face to face."
Ginny watched him fearfully. He motioned his head towards her and Crabbe and Goyle came forward to pick her up. They still held their wands, but it only took one of their arms to hold her.
In between Draco's goons, they dragged her behind Blaise and back in the direction that Draco was in. Now she had no chance to escape, especially with her wand nowhere near.
How stupid could have she been? Why couldn't she have left her warm clothes and taken her wand with her?
They dropped her on the cold floor where she had been and went to stand a little behind Blaise. Draco stood beside Blaise, but his countenance didn't match theirs. He was emotionless like he had been earlier.
Ginny glared at him. Not at the others, but at him, Draco Malfoy. It was his fault she was there. It was he who kidnapped her and brought her there, that's why she's even there in the first place.
"If you're going to kill me, then do it now," she spat.
Blaise looked amused, but Draco was still neutral.
"You think that's why you're here?" Blaise asked, his brows rising well into his hair line.
Ginny glared at him, but didn't answer. She was afraid, that much was true, but she wasn't going to go down without a fight. Even without a wand, at least she could die knowing that she tried to escape.
"You're sick, Blaise," she whispered. "You're all sick."
Then she stood up and turned, fleeing the way she did that day in the corridors when he had grabbed her from behind. She kept running, going as fast as her bare feet could carry her. Why hadn't she done this when she was a little girl?
She was almost there, the huge chamber door just beyond her reach. The water was cold and she felt her feet freezing. How long would she be able to keep this up before she collapsed?
It didn't take much to figure that out because someone tackled her from behind. His huge form took hers to the ground and pinned her there. Ginny struggled beneath him, but to no avail. He was bigger, not like Crabbe and Goyle big, but bigger than her and she couldn't win.
Well, at least she wouldn't have to say she didn't try.
"Don't do anything stupid, Weasley," his cold voice spat, his breath heavy. He had been running hard. "He'll kill you if you don't stay put, but then he already knows you won't get away."
Ginny stopped struggling beneath him and stilled. "What's going on?" she asked, finally understanding that she didn't understand.
Draco scoffed, but it was very lightly. When he spoke, it was barely above a whisper, like he didn't want the others to hear. "Something that could kill you if you don't stay still," he said. "Stay put by his feet."
"Draco!" Blaise called from across the chamber. "You going to bring her back or have her all to yourself?"
He sighed and stood up, dragging her along. "Watch what you do, Weasley," he said. "You don't know what's going on, so ask him."
She frowned, but it didn't matter. She let him drag her back to where she started again and she once again sat in her spot. What was it with that spot and those psychos?
Blaise bent down and brought her face up to look at him with his finger. Tears coursed down her cheeks because she was helpless now, not that she wasn't before. But at least she had strength to run. Now, she's done for.
"Why do you choose to run?" he asked, his voice still very strange from Blaise's. "You know you won't get away. You belong here with me."
Ginny didn't even look at him. This angered him and he slapped her hard enough to turn her head. She caught sight of Draco and she thought she saw him tense, but she only thought.
A metallic taste filled her mouth and she spat on the ground to find her spit red. Damn Blaise.
"What do you want?" she asked.
Blaise raised him eyebrows at her. "Isn't it obvious? Stay here with me, Virginia."
Ginny flinched at the name. It was what Tom Riddle used to call her.
"You remember don't you?" he asked, standing up. Then Ginny did. This wasn't Blaise Zabini, this was Tom Riddle himself, possessing the body of Blaise as he had hers before.
She scurried to get away from him. "You," she said through fear. "No, you're dead. Harry destroyed your diary and you're dead."
"You think?" he asked, grinning maniacally at her. "You think that that's the only diary that holds a memory of me? I'm far too smart for that Virginia. I'm far too smart for anything, actually.
"Draco over there had nothing to do with the beatings, unless you count watching of course," Blaise, or Tom Riddle said, nodding his head in Draco's direction.
Ginny glanced in his direction and managed a glare at him when she caught his eyes.
"Yes, he knew all along and he said nothing," Tom Riddle whispered. "I've been watching you, my sweet," he said then. "I know the people who you love and those who love you. It's them I have to oppose of. They stand in the way. I had to get them out."
She didn't understand what he was saying. It showed and Tom Riddle's maniac grin turned even crazier. "Didn't you realize it, Virginia dear?" he asked in mock surprise. "Collin, Michael, and Potter. They all love you and even if Potter didn't love you, you loved him. I couldn't take that now can I?
"I got him on his way from Quidditch practice," Tom Riddle said, staring off into space, remembering that night. "Yes, it felt nice to hit him. You should have seen what he did when he realized I knocked his glasses off. He crawled on his knees like an animal, searching for them."
Ginny's fist clenched and she wanted to stand up and sock the grin off the maniac's face.
"I would have killed them of course, if Draco hadn't stopped me," Tom Riddle continued, looking at his fingernails like they were the most interesting things in the world. "Don't know what got into him, but he convinced me not to and so I didn't."
Tom Riddle sighed. "I returned to kill them that night you saw me actually," he said, staring at her. "I was going to finish them off so if one of them happened to wake up, they would never know it's me. But then I saw you and you had to wake up."
She remembered that night. "But I still don't get it. Why? Why would you go through all this just to get me here?"
Tom Riddle looked at her in surprise, but it vanished. "It was so long ago that I saw you," he said, reminiscently. "Yes, you were but a mere four year old and my heart just fell for you. You were so innocent, and so powerful I could feel it radiating through you. I made my older self spare your life and it was worth it. You've grown up beautifully.
"When I took over you in your first year, I knew it wouldn't be long before Potter was dead and you would be mine," he stopped then, anger filling him. "But Potter didn't and you never became mine."
Ginny scoffed and she wondered where she got the boldness from. "How would you have had me if I was dead? I was inches from death. You were going to kill me back then."
"You think so?" he asked. "It was all an act to make Potter fall for it. You were going to get better afterwards, but everything had to go so wrong. But that was back then. All that matters is you're with me now."
"But how were you able to be there with your older self back then? And how was he able to be there? Wasn't he weak by then because of Harry?" Ginny asked out of mere curiosity.
Tom Riddle shrugged. "I wasn't so weak then. As years passed, time made me weary and I became weak. He was Voldemort all right, but that doesn't mean it was his body. He possessed half of Quirrell's head even then."
She swallowed and tried to get away again, but Tom riddle shook his head and he held his hands out to her. He looked deeply into her eyes and something compelled her to take his hand. Maybe at least this ordeal would be over with and she'll be okay.
Ginny's hand began reaching for his. She was going to hold onto him, but someone yelled, 'accio Ginny,' and she wasn't by Tom Riddle anymore. No, she was by Draco's side, him holding onto her possessively, but it was comforting.
She looked up into his face and saw something she's never seen before. He stared at Tom Riddle with hatred and never once did his glare waver. "She isn't yours to have, Riddle," Draco said threateningly.
Tom Riddle laughed mirthlessly. Crabbe and Goyle stepped forward with their wands raised at Draco, but Tom shook his head to tell them to back off. "I knew you had it in you, Malfoy," he said. "I knew you weren't one to trust."
Draco carefully pushed her behind him as to shield her and Ginny willing did so. "Give up, Riddle. She doesn't want you, leave her be."
"She belongs with me, Malfoy," Tom said. "Your father serves Voldemort as his slave, why must you rebel?"
His words stung Draco and he raised his wand. "Stupefy," Draco yelled. But Tom Riddle only blocked it with a countercurse.
He laughed, "You think it shall be easy to kill me, Draco?" Tom Riddle asked, putting emphasis on Draco's name. "Don't be too sure."
The amusement disappeared on Tom Riddle's face and Blaise's wand was in his hands, pointing dangerously at Draco. "Expelliarmus," he yelled.
Draco's wand shot into the air and disappeared into the darkness. He was filled with surprise, but he began backing up, making sure Ginny was safely behind him. "My wand is to your left right here," Draco said, his voice so low she could barely hear. "Run to it and grab for it. Getting out of here is up to you."
Ginny nodded and slipped into the shadows. Draco was left in the light that both Crabbe and Goyle's wand lit up. Tom wasn't happy with the movement. His face contorted with fury and he yelled a curse in rage. Draco was thrown into the air, but he never once left the circle of light.
She kept still in the darkness, but she peeked in Draco's direction to see that he was clearly hurt. A wound was opened at his shoulder and it was bleeding hard. Draco's black robe was beginning to soak up the thick liquid.
"Wand," she gasped, searching for it in the darkness. Where was the wand. He had said it was to her left, but she couldn't find it. "Ouch," she almost said too loudly in the darkness. She stepped on the wand and it rolled, causing her to fall down.
Tom heard the sound of her 'oof' and looked in her direction. He nodded to tell Crabbe and Goyle to search for her.
Ginny picked up the wand and waited silently in the darkness as to not give herself away. Their light was getting nearer though. If it got anymore closer, she would be found.
Tom was walking towards Draco who hadn't gotten up from where he fell. But her mind wasn't on that much. If she was caught, who would save him?
She whispered an enchantment Hermione taught her to make Crabbe and Goyle's light diminished. Now they were in complete darkness and Ginny moved stealthily away from the goons.
As thick headed as they were, they didn't know what to do and ran into the wall. The sound of head bumping against something hard told her so.
With them out of the way, Ginny moved in the direction she guessed Draco to be. He shouldn't be far because she hadn't gone too far. "Draco?" she whispered lowly.
Big mistake. Tom was right by her and knocked the wand out of her hands. He grabbed her from behind the way he did before and pinned her against his chest, his arm around her neck. He lit up his wand so it illuminated only them.
"Thought you could get away huh?" he asked, making a chill run down her spine. "I've loved you for ages, Virginia. Now, I will finally have you."
Ginny breathed hard and took in a breath to prepare herself for what she's about to do next. It was something her brothers taught her to do. Being in a family of mostly boy had it's advantages because Ginny socked him in his chest with her elbow.
Surprised by her blow, he let go and she turned around to kick him in his shins. Tom Riddle bent down and she took the chance to hit smack him in his nose with the insides of her palm. He doubled over in pain and something shot from within the darkness to hit leg. He collapsed to the ground and didn't move.
She knew he wasn't dead. It wasn't enough to kill him, but she ran over to Draco anyway. Turns out his wand flew from within her hands near him. He lit his wand and she picked him up onto her lap.
Blood was everywhere, but Ginny didn't turn away because she wasn't afraid of it anymore. Draco was pale, very pale from his lost of blood.
"I know a healing spell," she said, taking his wand from him. She murmured the spell and the wound cleaned up quickly, no trace of blood anywhere. The dream taught her something, though she didn't only clean up but heal him.
"Where'd you learn that from?" he asked, sitting up.
Ginny giggle and turned away. "In my dreams," she answered.
Draco grinned and ran a finger down her cheeks. "I'm sorry about everything."
She frowned at him. "What'd you do? Thanks, Draco. You saved my life here today. I owe you my life."
"No you won't," Tom Riddle said from where he had fallen. "If I can't have her, no one will." Then he yelled a curse at her. The same cold dreading sensation ran through her and she fell. Ginny felt Draco catch her before darkness took her once again.
* * *
"No!" Draco yelled. He set her on the ground and began his hunt for Tom Riddle. That bastard. If Draco had known any better, he would have killed that boy sooner.
His footsteps silently graced the ground, listening to Tom Riddle's careless splashing. Draco heard a noise to his right and he shot a curse that way. It missed.
"Draco," Tom's voice said in a singsong way. "Oh Draco," he said again.
Draco smirked into the darkness. How stupid could that prat be? His voice was only leading him closer to Tom Riddle. Then something else hit him from behind. "Stupid git," Tom Riddle yelled. "Gave yourself away when you tried to curse me."
Draco swore and limped farther away. This time, he wasn't soundless because he was hurt. His feet caused the water to splash underneath him.
"Come out would you?" Tom said. "You can't get away. You're done for."
He didn't answer. He continued to walk, following the voice. It led into one of the pipes filled with water. He was even noisier than before.
"Did you really think I was going to let you have her?" he asked. "I love her and if I can't have her, no one will."
"Tell me how I will wake her back up," Draco demanded, furious.
Tom's laugh was mirthless through the long pipes. "You can't, Malfoy. Once she's under my spell, she can't be awoken. Well, not by you anyway."
Draco burned with anger. "Tell me, you bastard!"
"Only true love's first kiss will wake her up, idiot," Tom said. "If you kill me, she'll never wake up."
"You expect me to believe that?" Draco asked. "It only exists in a fairy tale."
"You think?" Tom asked, sounding further away.
Then Draco saw his chance. Not far away, Crabbe and Goyle were coming to and they were lighting their wands. If Tom was heading in the direction that Draco thought he was, he could curse Tom when he walks into the light.
And as he thought, Tom did just that. He hadn't realized the two goons had woken up and walked right into their light. Draco took the moment and said the only spell he knew to use on Tom Riddle.
"Avada Kedavra," he said. Green light shot through his wand and then Tom Riddle wasn't anymore. Only Blaise's body was left behind, and he was dead.
Draco walked back out to Ginny and kneeled by her, staring in the direction of Crabbe and Goyle. He had just used an unforgivable curse. What would Ginny think of him now?
The two oafs stumbled towards him and Ginny. They held their light out until all four of them were illuminated. Draco didn't want to fight them because he was tired and he just wanted Ginny to wake back up. But to protect her, he pointed his wand up at the idiots and put an arm over Ginny protectively.
"We won't kill you, Draco," Goyle said slowly.
"Yet," Crabbe added. "We will let you go now, but don't ever get caught alone. We won't be so nice then."
Draco almost gave them a grateful smile, but decided against it and picked Ginny up. She wasn't dead but asleep like she had been earlier when he first kidnapped her. How stupid could have he been? He thought he was doing the right thing, bringing her there to keep her from Tom's grasp, but all he did was bring her into Tom's grasp.
He carried her outside of the chamber and walked over to pick up his firebolt. He had brought her in there on it. There had been many times when he was closed to dropping her but somehow managed not to.
Then everything was behind them and they were soaring towards Hogwarts and its safety. Dawn was approaching and Draco could make out the beautiful color of the horizon. If only Ginny were awake to see it.
He dropped her off at the Hospital Wing. He left her right by the doorway and knocked on the door. When he was sure Madam Pomfrey was on her way to open it, he walked away as fast as he could. It wouldn't do him any good to have people suspecting him. And especially after he used an unforgivable curse, he wasn't sure he was any different from Tom Riddle.
Draco went into his dorm and fell asleep. When morning was there and the school had been awake for hours, he stayed in bed. He fell asleep again and didn't wake up until darkness fell and dinner was being served.
Hungry, Draco cleaned himself up and went down for dinner. He looked at the Gryffindor table for her, hoping maybe she woke up, but she wasn't there. Actually, Ron and Hermione looked pretty worried and Draco noted to himself to go check up on her.
"Did you hear?" Pansy asked from where she sat beside him. "Heard the Weasley girl was found in the doorway of the Hospital Wing and she wouldn't wake up. Dumbledore has set up a time tonight when every boy in Hogwarts would get a chance to kiss her. Looks like they're searching for her true love."
Pansy laughed hysterically but stopped when Draco stood up and left. He didn't have time for her. No, someone else needed him.
He made his way to the Hospital Wing and sat by her. At six, the first boys began coming by. They saw Draco, but only thought him to be another boy there to try his luck. Who wouldn't? Ginny was one of the most beautiful girls there, he's just noticed.
Days went by, and then week. Still, she didn't wake up and everyday he sat by her side. When the Creevey boy woke up, he tried his luck too, but she didn't wake up. Another week went by and still, Ginny was still asleep.
Then the Corner boy woke up. He tried his luck too, but to no avail. She was still deep in her sleep and Draco had nothing else to hope for but Potter. She's loved him her whole life, maybe he might be the lucky guy.
Another week went by, and then Potter woke up. He looked like horrid, but the worry in his face was genuine. Draco informed him on what happened, along with Weasley and his now girlfriend, Granger because he told them earlier.
Potter got the story. "So you think I'm the one to do this?" Harry asked.
Draco nodded, a bit irritated. Harry seemed unsure. He put a hand to her cheek and looked at her longingly. Draco didn't know what happened, but his fist clenched tightly the way it did when all the other boys took their turn.
Then Harry dived in for the kiss. He came back up and everyone held their breath, but no, she didn't even stir. Hope floated out of Draco, but he was somewhat relieved to find that Harry wasn't her true love. No, he didn't know what he would do if Harry had been.
"It's not me," Harry said, sad and relieved at the same time.
Maybe Tom Riddle had been right. He said he was her true love and only he would wake her up. Maybe Draco made a huge mistake by killing him. Now, Ginny would never wake up.
Hermione saw the way Draco's fit clenched earlier and now she watched him search the room worriedly. She bit her lips and kept staring at him until he couldn't take it anymore.
"What?" he snapped at her.
"Did you try, Malfoy?" she asked, her voice holding no warmth.
Draco was surprised by her question. "Me?" he asked, somewhat dumbly. "Me? It can't be me. She's loved Potter for ages and if he can't do it, you think I can?"
She nodded.
He scoffed at her and left the room. He walked through the corridors at first, cursing Granger for even thinking of such a thing. But his walk turned into a brisk one and then a jog and he ended up flat out running.
Draco ran down the flight of stairs and past the Great hall. He ran straight through Hogwarts until he reached the lake, and there he finally stopped. He was gasping, trying to catch his breath.
"Damn you, Granger!" he yelled at the lake. His legs were weak and he fell to his knees, feeling hopeless. Everything was a mess.
He was a Malfoy, a damn Malfoy and this wasn't what he was supposed to do. He wasn't supposed to fall to his knees in despair, because Malfoys don't despair. They don't feel anything. They keep that steel mask of theirs and hardened their already icy heart until there was no warmth to be found.
He's vowed never to love again, not after what happened in the past. But with Ginny, he's suddenly found love again. He's gone against his vow and fell in love with a girl, no a woman who would never love him back.
Draco stayed there for quite some time. And then darkness fell. He went back into the castle and into the Hospital Wing. He didn't know why. He just had to go see her face again.
Ginny was still lying in her bed, paler than ever. Her breathing was even and she was so angelic. Draco ran a hand down her cheek and before he knew it, his lips were mere inches from her.
He had to try. Maybe she didn't love him, but he loved her. "You won my heart, Ginny," he whispered, still only inches from her. "You wanted to play a game and now you've won. My heart is yours, so take it."
Then he kissed her, deep and passionately. He put everything he had into it, giving her a taste of what's she's done to him. His fingers caressed her face lightly the whole time and when he pulled away, he waited to see if she would stir. When she didn't, he turned and walked away.
He wasn't her true love. He should have seen that ages ago. Now he's let himself get hurt again. How foolish could he get? How many times was a person supposed to make a mistake before they realized they can't win? How many times was a person supposed to get himself hurt before he found the one person who would love him?
Not long, because-
"Draco?" her tiny and frail voice called out in the big Hospital Wing. He was surprised, he was shocked, and he didn't know what to do. Then like a coward, he ran.
A\N: And that's the end. But there's gonna be an epilogue. I'm just saying it's the end for the chapters. So what did you guys think huh? I just put the other chapter up, but I'm gonna do this one too because I have another story coming and I want to get this done as soon as possible. I hope I answered your questions and if I didn't, send me a review. If I did, still send me a review. Also, I'd like to add that the part where every boy gets a chance to kiss her is an idea I got from Icecooler's Sleeping Someone. I hope you didn't mind me borrowing it. Thanks for reading this far. I appreciate it and you guys inspire me. You know you do. Bai.