Once Upon A December
Ginny sighed as she entered her hotel room. A month ago, if someone had told her she'd be searching around like that for a person who left long ago, she would have laughed at them. Now here she was, somewhere in the middle of France, searching for him. She couldn't understand herself, but first she was figuring out her thoughts, then next she was apparating around the world.
After their graduation from Hogwarts, Hermione had left to take a teaching course, and it took about a week till Ron went after her. Harry was playing for the Chudley Cannons and had met up again with Cho, who had become their new manager. All of them settled into happy families, relaxed at last.
Mum had been so happy when Harry decided to live near The Burrow. Sirius too lived close to Harry, no doubt about that. He had been cleared that same graduation day, now known to people as the day He was killed. Sirius free, Harry, Ron and Hermione all happy with their families, and then her. She left home right after her graduation day. She had gotten a job with the Daily Prophet, and never once let herself look back. Her family was behind her, he was behind her. Or so she thought.
That graduation day had been the worst one of her life. No longer could she stand to be near her family, their happiness hurt her. She deserved that happiness, and she deserved it with him. But no, she couldn't have it could she. She could swear, someone had it in for her. Sinking into her bed, she closed her eyes and remembered that fateful time.
*******
Dancing bears
Painted wings
Things I almost remember
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December
Ginny came into the Great Hall. It was the last week of
term before graduation day and Professor Dumbledore had decided to hold a
costume ball. She had an angel costume on, with charmed wings so they would
flutter. Her friends had told her she was beautiful, and she did think so. But
the person she wanted to notice her, didn't see her. Harry didn't notice her at
all. She was just Ron's sister, little Ginny. The Slytherins had come, and
laughed at her. Laughed at her costume, told her that angels didn't have red
hair, and tore her wings. Perfect, was it not, now she was a broken angel.
Turning to the door, she started running out. Harry would never notice her. She
smashed into someone. Looking up with tearstained eyes, she saw Draco Malfoy.
"If it isn't the little Weasley," he drawled. Then his
face twisted into a different expression, not the sneer that he usually wore,
could it have been pity? Or something else? "Repairo" he practically whispered.
Ginny looked in amazement, her wings had been repaired, and now looked even
more beautiful than they had.
"Thank you," she murmured.
"You really shouldn't be wasting this beautiful costume
on Potter, you know. He doesn't know what he's missing," Draco reached up and
brushed off her tears. "Dance with me?" He led her to the dance floor, and they
danced.
Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory
They spent his last week of Hogwarts together. He was
so beautiful, so charming, it was hard to believe that he was the same person
her brother and his friends were constantly complaining about. She thought he
loved her. She knew she did. The Gryffindors didn't like it, Slytherins hated
it. She could care less. She loved him.
Far away, long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart
Used to know
Once upon a December
The graduation ball. She was going to lose him, she
feared. He promised her forever, they would be together always. He held her
close, and once again they danced.
Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory
Then Voldemort came. Curses on him. He ruined
everything.
*******
The smile Ginny had worn a minute ago was replaced by terrible fury clear upon her face. If not for Voldemort, she would be holding him, laughing with him. He would be hers, with her, and she wouldn't be out in the middle of nowhere, searching uselessly.
She had finally, after 10 years, met with her family again. The rush of feelings, the coldness of being alone had hit her. She was lonely, and seeing so many happy families made her realise how much she missed him. Maybe she had been too young to truly know love, but Ron and Hermione turned out perfectly fine, with 5 new additions to the Weasley family to prove it. Her heart used to be happy, used to know love. "So long ago..."
*******
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart
Used to know
Things it yearns to remember
The room turned to darkness. Ginny's heart went cold,
and she held on to Draco even tighter. Sweeping figures entered the room, and
soon gasps could be heard. Dementors. They filed into the room, and stood in a
line. Already Ginny was starting to remember her horrible time in the dungeons
with Tom Riddle. Voices shot through her head. She sank to the ground,
speechless and watched the Death Eaters form another line. Then Voldemort swept
in. Barely being to keep her head up she watched a fight erupt between Harry,
Dumbledore and Voldemort. He was beaten, and his supporters fled.
*****
Ginny reached for the owl, heart pounding. More than a
week had passed since Voldemort's death and she heard that Draco had been
freed. He had been taken to the jury, along with his mother and father to be
judged for being allies with the Dark Lord. His father was put away in Azkaban,
the mark on his arm sealing his fate. His mother put in a special unit at St.
Mungo's, not entirely insane, but very unstable. He had done no wrong that
could be proven and was let go.
Ginny opened the letter.
"Dearest Ginny,
I
apologise for what I am about to say. I can no longer be with you, as I shall
be leaving England right away. Thank you for all you have given me, and in the
short time I have known you, I realised I have truly met an angel sent to me.
Never will I forget you, and all you have taught me will forever be in my
heart, as you are.
Farewell,
Ginny spent the night sobbing.
*******
People had said things after his departure. That he had left of guilty conscience or madness. Ginny trembled with rage at the memory of their accuses. They had no right to say things like that, when they never bothered to know him, understand him. But his leaving had hurt her badly.
And now here she was, at France, seeking for him, the only thing to help her a Daily Prophet rumour column article. She checked her bag to make sure it was there.
'Mr Draco Malfoy, last heard of in England 10 years ago is now in France. He has secured a place in a broomstick invention company – The Fantastic Flyers – helping with the marketing of their newest broom – Bolts Of Stars – which is soon to be coming to England. He is supposedly putting his past behind him and starting a new life.'
Ginny had looked up The Fantastic Flyers in the Wiz Wizarding Directory. To her utmost horror, there were 7 shops with that same name in France, all spread throughout the country. Having gone to 5 of them, Ginny was ready for a break. She took a drink of pumpkin juice and flopped on the bed, looking for the next address on the list. She set her empty glass on the table and disappeared with a pop.
*******
"Erm, do you have a Draco Malfoy working for you?" The man
gave Ginny a funny look, said something in French and motioned for his friend
to come over.
"May I help you?" he asked her in polite English. "I'm sorry, Laurent here can't speak English."
"Do you have a Draco Malfoy working here for you?" Ginny repeated.
"Him? Yes, I'll just get him. Draco!" he yelled out the last bit and Ginny felt her stomach twist and turn.
"Roald! I told you, I'm busy..." Draco Malfoy's voice faded as he was met with the face he had longed for over the past few years. "Ginny..." he whispered.
"We'll leave you alone for a while." Roald told them, with a slight smile.
"Come into... into my office," Draco told her. "We can talk there." He grabbed her hand and led her along the corridor. Ginny shook at his touch again, a swarm of feelings over-taking her. At his office she pulled up a chair. "So..." he started, "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you," Ginny told him stubbornly, "I came to
see you."
"Gin..." he told her wearily, "I-"
Ginny cut it off by placing a finger on his lips. "Look Draco, I was looking for you. Do you know how much time I spent to look for you? Did you know there are 7 shops with the name 'The Fantastic Flyers'? If after all that you aren't even going to greet me properly then it was all a waste. Was it?"
Draco ran a hand through his white-blond hair, looked at her with a piercing gaze, walked up to her and kissed her. "Enough greeting?" he whispered.
"Definitely!" Ginny told him, grinning. Draco scooped her in his arms and twirled her around.
"Do you know how much I missed you?" He told her. He put her down and stared into her beautiful eyes. "Do you know I love you?"
"Maybe not," Ginny told him, laughing. "Maybe you have to show me!" Suddenly, as if on cue, music started. Ginny looked around in amazement. "What's that?" she asked him surprised.
"It's Roald." Draco told her. "He charmed the radios in all the offices to go of at this time." He stopped, and looked at her again. "Dance with me?"
And a song
Someone sings
Once upon a December
And they danced.
A/N: Review review review! And does anyone what me to do a sequel or prequel? I won't ask for a specific amount of requests, but ask and ye shall receive! (Hopefully!) If you do, review! (Yawn, back to that again...)