Disclaimer: same as always, all belong to JK Rowling.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I hope you like chapter eight, and once again, don't hate me for how I made Draco act in the last chapter.

Chapter Eight

Draco's Mistake

Ginny knew she was doing the wrong thing even as her house rapidly faded into the distance behind her. Something in her gut told her to turn around and go back, that it wasn't safe.

She commanded her thoughts to be silent. This is Draco, she told herself firmly. He won't hurt me . . . he'd never hurt me.

Still, she didn't feel comfortable. Even though she had her arms wrapped tightly around Draco's waist, holding on to him tightly so she wouldn't slip off the broom, her cheek resting on the back of his shoulder, she did not feel safe at all.

It took about two hours to get back to Draco's house. Ginny had never seen it before, but when she did she realized she could've lived ninety years longer without needing to lay eyes on it. The house where he grew up was the darkest, dreariest house she had ever seen in her life.

Ginny was stiff from the ride, but she had to remain outside for nearly twenty minutes while Draco took the hexes off a side door. Finally, he led her inside.

And as the door slammed behind her, she couldn't help but wish she were on the other side of it.

Draco could also not get his thoughts to be quiet. He was afraid to look back at Ginny, afraid that he would change his mind and tell her to get the hell away while she could. So he led the way by keeping a few strides ahead, never glancing back at her once to see if she was still with him.

I'm a horrible person, he thought. I'm acting exactly what everyone accuses me of – evil.

But it was too late. He couldn't back out now. Before, maybe, because then he would've just died a quick and easy death. Now, Slytherin would be sure to torture him long and hard for warning Ginny and telling her to leave. It would not be pleasant.

I should let her go. I'm being a wimp, more afraid for my life than hers. She actually has something to live for – her family . . . Potter. But I don't. I should be the one to die, not her.

Draco scowled angrily. What would be the point in that? If he turned around and told her to leave, then he would die and either way, Slytherin would eventually get her and kill her. Why should he have to die, too?

So he led her to the library, where Slytherin had told him to take her. When he got there, he was surprised to see it was empty. He had been expecting to see him there.

He turned around and got a real good look at Ginny for the first time. She had never seemed so small and vulnerable. Normally, she seemed tough and ready for whatever happened. But he happened to catch her unaware, and saw how her eyes darted nervously around the room and how she chewed her thumbnail uncertainly. When she saw him staring at her, she straightened her shoulders and dropped her hand away from her mouth, her expression softening into a smile. "Can we talk here?" she asked quietly.

Where's Slytherin? Draco wondered, somewhat annoyed. Did he expect to keep her amused for an hour while he took his time, plotting how to kill her?

"Is there anything to talk about?" Draco answered coldly, staring at her hard. Now that she was here, there was no need to even pretend that he still wanted to be with her.

Her smile faded, and uncertainty filled her eyes once more. "But you brought me here to talk," she said doubtfully.

"Damnit, Ginny, there's nothing to say," he snapped viciously. "If you wanted Potter you could've just told me. Why would I have stopped you?"

Her eyes went wide. "But I don't want him, Draco. I told you that."

"Actions are louder than words," he said bluntly.

She opened her mouth helplessly. "I don't know who you think I am, Draco, but I'm not someone who would lead you on and be going with someone else behind your back."

"Really? Because that's exactly who I thought you were."

He saw her expression clearly now – she was hurt. And it was genuine hurt. Hurt that made Draco's anger diminish slightly.

And then her eyes filled with tears. Real tears that she could not have possibly been faking. "Draco," she said, her voice thick. "I don't want Harry anymore. Maybe I did, but that was until I met you. You're everything to me. When I'm away from you all I think is of you. And these past twenty-four hours I've been scared to death, even more afraid than the time I stood face to face with Voldemort, that I would never be able to hold you again."

Why did she have to say that? Why? Now he was definitely losing all anger. She's just acting, he tried to tell himself. It's all an act.

But no one could act that well. She was telling the truth.

I've got to get her out of here, he thought, and he did not hesitate.

He rushed up to her and took hold of her arm, looking away. He knew if he stared into her eyes he'd have to kiss her, and he might have never been able to stop.

"What are you doing?" she asked as he pulled her towards the door.

"Getting you out of here," Draco replied.

"Why?" She sounded confused.

Draco started to answer as he pulled the door open, but he was not able to say anything. Slytherin stood right in their way, a wide smile on his face.

"Leaving so soon?" he asked softly.

Ginny almost fainted at the sight of Lucius Malfoy. She had never expected to see him again, at least not in anything but pictures. And there he was, blocking the doorway and her only escape.

Draco dropped her arm quickly and took a step away from her.

Her earlier fears returned, replacing all sadness she had felt. Lucius was there – here – standing right in front of her. And he wasn't very much like she remembered. She'd encountered him many times, but she'd never felt so intimidated by him before. Had he always felt so capable of anything, so powerful?

"I would like to talk with you a moment, Ginny," Lucius said clearly, gesturing towards an arrangement of chairs in the middle of the room, all facing each other. "Sit."

It wasn't a suggestion, it was an order. Ginny looked at Draco for help. But he was visibly avoiding her gaze.

Now shock was mixed in with fright.

What is he doing? she wondered. Had he known his father was here the whole time? Is that why he wanted to talk here? So his father could talk, too?

Numbly, Ginny fell heavily into the chair.

I can't help her, Draco thought, turning towards the door. I tried, but I can't. It's not my fault. She brought it upon herself. Even if she does want me, she was kissing Harry and I saw her. It's her fault . . . not mine.

"Close the door when you leave, Draco," Slytherin added almost pleasantly.

Draco cringed, but obeyed and shut the door behind him as softly as he could.

Ginny stared at the closed door, feeling a sense of dread wash over her. Seeing me with Harry has really messed him up, she thought, a lump in her throat. He's leaving me here with his father – someone who probably wants me dead.

"I am not Lucius."

Ginny returned her eyes to Draco's father, who had sat down in the chair in front of her, and could not keep the confusion from her face. Had she heard him correctly?

"I am Salazar Slytherin. My spirit has taken over Lucius Malfoy's body."

As unbelievable as it sounded, Ginny believed. There was no other way to explain the new power that radiated from him.

"I am not going to kill you," Slytherin began, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "Yet."

Ginny's heart gave a lurch.

"You have a lot of magic in you, Virginia," he said, catching her by surprise and using her real name. "And I want some of it. With your powers combined with mine I'll be almost unstoppable."

Oh God. Another Voldemort.

"I have never performed this procedure before," Slytherin said. "So I'm not sure if it is painful or not. Yet it will work so much easier if you stay still."

Stay still? Was he crazy? She looked towards the door. She could possibly make it, if she ran fast enough. Sure, he could whip out a wand and kill her, but at least then he wouldn't be able to take anything from her.

Just as she was gathering the courage to bolt towards the door Slytherin stood up. Before she could even look at him he had grabbed her arm and yanked her roughly to her feet.

She struggled to get free, but he only grabbed her other upper arm and held her out in front of him. He had a strong grip, and it was beginning to hurt, but she knew she wasn't going to be able to twist out.

"Like I said," Slytherin whispered as she continued to struggle even though she knew it was hopeless, "it will be so much easier if you stay still."

"The hell I will!" she shrieked, and without warning brought her knee between his legs. She watched his face as his eyes widened and then he relaxed his grip enough for her to break free.

She was halfway to the door when he dove at her with a shout of rage. He managed to grab her waist and tackle her to the ground. It all happened quickly, and somehow, as much as she tried to wiggle her way out from under him, he managed to shift so that his whole body weight was on hers and she could not move. She was on her stomach, and so was he on top of her, and she could barely even lift her head to see the door.

She heard him breathing loudly and angrily in her ear. Then he grabbed a handful of her hair and jerked her head up. She couldn't help it – she let out a short, loud scream of pain.

"Now I will make sure your death is slow and painful," he hissed furiously, "for that stunt you pulled."

Ginny heard a noise that sounded like the door was opening, and as she looked up eagerly, almost hoping to see Draco coming to her rescue, Slytherin moved so that he was no longer pinning her on the floor. Then he violently tugged her to her feet by her hair. She was too busy squeezing her eyes shut to keep the tears from coming that she couldn't see if it had really opened or not.

He shoved her forcefully against the wall and finally released her hair, only pin her tightly with his arm across her neck. For a minute, she could not breathe and her hands went up to try and peel his arm away. There was an odd ringing noise in her ears, and she did not hear a voice say, somewhat softly and shakily, "Stupefy."

And then Slytherin's arm dropped. She coughed and tried to get her breathing back to normal, seeing that he was now unconscious on the floor.

Her eyes looked towards the door, which was indeed open, and expected to see Draco. Instead, she saw no one.

And then she did. The Invisibility Cloak slid away from a form and revealed Harry standing in the doorway, his wand still pointed at Slytherin, and looking shaken up.

Ginny sighed in relief and fell back against the wall, her hand over her chest to try and get her heart rate back to normal. Harry followed me here, she thought. He must've heard me talking with Draco and followed me.

She had never been happier to see him in her whole life, which is saying a lot.

A/N: Review, please! And now I shall take the time and thank all my wonderful, wonderful readers and reviewers! All righty, here I go:

Helena Darjeeling, Carrie (you'll find out what's up with Ginny and Harry in the next couple of chapters!), Mina Potter, Ally (if JK Rowling read this, she would be seriously mad that someone tampered with her stories so badly :P) Kawaii Sakuna, Jenaque, Sophie W, Serena Snape (yes, Ginny did act like a slut, but don't worry, there is a reason for it) Zoemma (still waiting to read your awesome stories!!!) Lady Ev (I'm glad someone finds my stories funny . . . I can't write humor at all!) Trinity AKA Archer (Yes, I am a total G/D shipper! And I'm not sure if I could chose between Draco or Harry, either – LOL. Also, do you really want Draco in leather? I've read Cassandra Claire's stories – has anyone read those? They're FANTASTIC – go to www.geocities.com/wyrren if you haven't! - and Draco is in leather there. Do you really want him like that? If so, maybe I could squeeze it in… hee hee) Matt and Mimi, summer_thyme (oh, what a nice review, I think I'll finish it!) Amanda Mancini (thanks for the tip – I put G/D in the summary), eos (of course she needs to be with Draco) Pepperjackcandy (I'm not so sure about the Ron/Harry thing…lol) Alienchick (You're so cool, chick! Your reviews are positively awesome! I should email you, in fact, that's what I'll do right after I finish this….) Minerva (you're so smart!), and Aquaria (you think I would let Ginny die? I don't THINK so – lol). Whoosh, that took a little while. Anyway, review some more even if it's just one or two words! Thanx!!!