Sleeping Beauty
Chapter 5: The Image of Innocence
A/N: The title of this chapter is due again to my friend Ayla Pascal.
Everything belongs to JKR.
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He stepped silently into her room, hoping to catch her unawares. Perhaps he would find her brushing her hair with that dreamy look on her face or maybe standing at the window, enveloped in moonlight or perhaps just sitting in the chair reading a book. He had discovered in the last week that he enjoyed just being around her.
But she wasn't brushing her hair or reading a book or even sleeping; though she was standing in front of the window. She was fully dressed, obviously preparing to escape through the open portal. She whirled around when she heard his step. She didn't say anything, didn't in any way show her fear; she just looked at him, waiting for him to decide her fate.
Draco took a deep breath. This was the moment; he had to choose now. There was no one watching, no one pressuring him, just the girl he loved. He had hoped for one more evening with her, but Fate wasn't so generous. He stared into her eyes for a long moment, acknowledging now that it was too late for them, that he wished things had been different.
Ginny watched, astonished as Draco calmly turned and walked out of the room.
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Draco paced slowly down the hallway, deliberately walking slowly so Ginny would have enough time to get away safely. He was going to die, but Ginny would live. Draco had not doubt that when his father discovered what he had done, his punishment would be death; in truth he did not fear that fate, at least it would all be over.
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In the courtyard below her window, Ginny paused in the shadows. The wall to her left was on the perimeter, all she had to do was boost herself over and sprint for the forest; the open area wasn't as long as a Quidditch pitch. Once inside the trees, she would go north, guiding by the stars. Eventually she would find a town and could contact her family. This strange nightmare would be over.
Ginny hooked her hands over the top of the wall, preparing to chin herself up and over. A tiny voice sneered in her ear. {but it won't be over. you'll never forget this, or that look in Draco's eyes. you'll remember until your dying day that he sacrificed himself for you.}
Ginny tried to ignore the voice, tried to ignore the certainty that Draco was walking to his death: by letting her go, he doomed himself. Ginny dropped back to the soft ground. She had spent too much time around her brothers and the others. She couldn't let him die. Not only was he innocent, not only had he been kind to her, not only was he going to die because of her...Ginny admitted to herself that she loved him and considering the look in his eyes just before he left, he loved her as well.
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Draco hesitated in front of the door to his father's office. By his count, Ginny had been free for 20 minutes. That was more than enough time for her to have reached the forest and its dubious safety. Out of habit, he smoothed his blond hair and straightened his robes. His father always insisted that Draco appear neat and composed at all times; even while being punished he was expected to be calm and cool.
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Ginny shimmied up the old tree growing by the library, for once in her life thankful for her brothers and all they had taught her. The library doors were open, but the heavy drapes were pulled closed, cutting off the cool night breeze and thankfully muffling her steps as she dropped from the tree onto the balcony.
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Draco stood at attention in front of the desk, glaring at the portrait of some illustrious ancestor while his father ranted at his stupid incompetence and cowardly spirit in letting the girl go. Draco had told Lucius exactly how he had allowed the girl to leave, though he did expand her escape time from 30 minutes to 3 hours, hoping to buy Ginny some time. He thought he heard a thump out on the balcony, but he didn't bother to turn his head to look. Whatever was out there could have no effect on these last moments of his life.
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Ginny peered through the gap in the curtains, anxiously watching the man she recognized as Lucius Malfoy stalk up and down the library berating Draco. Ginny raised her wand and waiting; she had only one chance, she had to wait for the right moment.
Finally, Lucius strutted past the curtains, all his attention on his wayward son. Ginny sprang through the heavy material, pointed her wand at the Death Eater and yelled:
"STUPEFY!"
The light hit Lucius Malfoy square in the back, knocking him to the floor, where he toppled a table onto his head, further stunning him. Draco looked stunned himself, staring at his rescuer with wide eyes.