Draco's Desires

Part Fifteen

Blame

*~~~~~*

When I woke up, I felt like I had been pulled through hell and back. I opened my aching eyes and squinted against the light. The first person I saw was Granger. "Hermione?" I groaned.

She turned and looked at me. Her cheeks were streaked with tears. "Oh, Malfoy…what have you done?"

I lay back and let my own tears slip down my cheeks. "I don't know." What had I done? Oh God. Soon I was sobbing hysterically.

Granger fidgeted uncomfortably. "Well then…don't cry…it can't be as bad as all that." She felt sorry for my pain. I found this almost sweet.

I turned my head to the side, mouth open slightly. I was so wracked with sobs I could hardly breathe. We were in the hospital wing. Potter was lying on the bed next to me, asleep. He must have felt the same exhaustion I had. Granger had been sitting in a chair next to his bed. I wondered where Ron was. Even worse, where were Ginny's parents? Draco, you've really screwed things up this time, ruddy bastard. You should have never pushed her into opening the Chamber again. What did you think would happen, anyway? You didn't even stop to think that Tom Riddle might have planted a little something down there to entice the next generation of kids into joining him.

Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey walked into the room at this moment. Dumbledore came to my side and squeezed my hand. "I know you're scared and upset, Draco, but everything will be fine. We will find Ginny again and everything will go back to normal. All three of you will be able to enjoy the rest of your summer before the start of the first term, but you must help us in order for that to happen."

I tried to breathe and choked. Madame Pomfrey quickly poured a warm sweet potion into my mouth and my sobs quieted once I had swallowed. "H..How can I help?" It was so hopeless.

You need to tell me all that has happened over the past few months between you and Ginny."

I gladly related the whole sad story, so glad that I could finally get everything off my chest. I related how I had been interested in the Chamber of Secrets, how I convinced Ginny to open it, how we accidentally discovered the pool that makes you feel free and wonderful, but also makes you evil. I made it clear that Ginny had never wanted to go down, and neither had Potter. Ginny had gone because her brother and her friends had ignored her, and Potter had gone down to protect Ginny. It was my entire fault.

Dumbledore listened, smiling kindly the whole time. "But Draco…why did you go down?"

I immediately felt anger boiling up inside. "Because I wanted to be better than my father!" I spat. And I wanted Ginny. But I would never admit that to him.

Dumbledore nodded. "You've done well, Draco. I promise you that everything will be fine." He left the room and I lay back on my pillow, still too tired to think any more.

*~~~~~*

When I came to again, I heard angry dialogue outside the door. I looked over at Potter's bed. He was awake now, and he looked back at me with a worried expression. "The Weasleys are here," he whispered. The two of us nodded at each other and we headed to the door, pressing our ears against the wood to listen.

The woman was talking in a high pitched, nearly hysterical voice. "Where is my daughter?! How could this have happened?!"

"Please keep calm, Molly dear…the Ministry has scouts out all over England and Scotland looking for her. They'll find her."

Dumbledore tried to sooth her as well. "Arthur is right, Molly. They will find your daughter."

The woman would just not be calmed. "But how could this have happened? One moment my baby is safe in her room, and the next minute she's gone!"

Mr. Weasley explained to Dumbledore, "Harry left us a note telling us that he and Ginny were taking an unexpected trip and that he was sure they would be back later in the day. It was rather odd, but Ginny has always been one to play by herself, and we trust Harry with her life. So we weren't worried at that point. We figured they went out for an early morning walk in the woods or for a swim."

A swim. We took a swim all right…

"But then our clock on the wall showed that Ginny was at school, as impossible as that is."

"We thought the clock had broken," Mrs. Weasley cut in.

"So we didn't think much of it. But then they didn't come back, and the clock switched to mortal peril."

"Oh, my baby!" Ginny's mother cried.

"We didn't even have time to act before we received an emergency owl from you, Professor, telling us that Ginny was in a stitch of sorts. We apparated here right away." He sighed. "We had no idea it was this bad. She tried to take over Hogwarts? What can she be thinking?"

Dumbledore cleared his throat. "You daughter is not herself anymore. We have reason to believe that Voldemort has gotten to her, making her believe the spirit of Salazar Slytherin has possessed her. What she has done is not her fault."

Mrs. Weasley was livid. "How could she go back down into that Chamber after what happened to her the first time? And what was she doing with that…that…BOY anyway?"

At this, Dumbledore chuckled. "Dear Molly…I hardly doubt your daughter was trying to get herself into such trouble. You have raised six children before her, and you know how teenagers are. I think the two young ones were just looking for a place that was private…a hard feat in a boarding school."

There was a silence, but then Mrs. Weasley spoke, her voice choked with tears. "You're right, Professor. She's growing up and we don't even notice. If anyone is to blame, it's me. I smother her."

Suddenly, Ron's voice broke through. "It's my fault too. I exclude her."

Potter opened the door and ran out to Mrs. Weasley. "No! It's my fault, Mrs. Weasley! I never paid her enough attention. I was too busy thinking about the Triwizard Tournament."

A voice spoke up from the corner of the small room…Granger's. "Oh no! It's all my fault! I should have been more of an older sister to her."

The twins were pacing around in the background. "We shouldn't have teased her so much," Fred muttered. Or was it George?

I was sick of this. I burst into the room, the green robe I still wore flaring around my shaky legs. "It's my fault! I loved her too much."

They all gawked at me. I wanted to crawl down under the floorboards. "I mean…it was my idea to open the Chamber. I wanted to be alone with her. I…loved her too much." I suddenly realized that I did love Ginny. It wasn't just teenage hormones…I really cared for her.

Mrs. Weasley hesitated for a moment, but then she smiled softly. She walked towards me, and to my surprise, she hugged me. "Thank you. Thank you for loving my daughter too much."

I looked at Dumbledore, completely floored. The woman was batty, but it was still nice to be held so. I missed my mother.

*~~~~~*

Note: OMG…I have over 100 reviews, and all of them are lovely! Thanks so much!! I just wanted to add something about this text. I know Mr. Weasley said that they apparated to Hogwarts, but I know you can't do that in the Hogwarts grounds. In all truth, they apparated as nearby as they could, and hiked the rest of the way. It was still the fastest mode of travel for them. I suppose the boys and Hermione might have taken floo powder to some nearby place since they can't apparate yet. Well, anyway…they got there somehow. lol Just wanted to clarify that. :) Next Chapter: The beginning of the hunt for the evil Ginny!