A/N-Warning! Extreme violence and language. Not for the weak at heart or those who are addicted to fluff. This was a difficult chapter to write and may stink, but at least it's finally done and I can get on to the easier task of writing the last two (maybe three) chapters. I don't think this ends on a cliffie, but if so, it was either that or make the longest chapter in history. It was the logical place to end. Thanks again to everyone reading and still checking for updates. Now (yawns) to bed!
Draco crept down the now-dark passage, wishing the guttering torches didn't automatically rekindle when a person passed by. Even now, they were brightening, lighting his way. He might as well blow on a trumpet to announce his coming. After years spent traveling these corridors, he knew where he was going, so he didn't need the torches. He knew that Crabbe would try to get Virginia to the far exit of the tunnel. It opened to the rear of the castle and was virtually invisible to the naked eye. Being at the rear of the castle, it was easier to approach with out being seen. That was where Crabbe would try to take her. But she was wounded and weak, so that might slow him up. And she was a fighter! If he let his guard down for a second, Crabbe might find himself in trouble.
Draco smiled grimly at the thought of what tiny little Virginia Weasley had already done, not only to his former cronies, but to him as well. She had completely disabled Draco when she thought he was going to choke her. He wasn't sure exactly what she'd done to Goyle, but he looked like he might never be able to eat normally again, much less talk and breathe normally. Crabbe was obviously not having an easy time of it if he'd resorted to trying to beat her and knock her unconscious. Draco heartily hoped Virginia Weasley was safe, but he hoped she tore Crabbe to pieces at the same time. If she doesn't, I will, he promised himself.
He continued to move through the tunnel, feeling it incline downward. As he traveled downward, the air became mustier. Even though some Slytherins passed through this route occasionally, it smelled stale and unused. And there was an unpleasant smell behind the mustiness, almost as though something had crawled down here and died long ago. But now there was another, fresher odor; a faint, coppery smell that made Draco think of blood. Virginia Weasley's blood.
Draco bit back a curse as he moved a bit faster. The torches here were still fairly bright, and he could see to the end of the incline. There was no one moving ahead, but now he thought he could hear a faint scuffling. Then he heard a clanking of chains. He knew where the sound was coming from! There was a stretch of the tunnel that had chains attached to the wall. It was possibly two or three hundred yards ahead, but the area between was riddled with side passages, any of which could be hiding Vincent Crabbe. He was tempted to charge ahead, wand blazing, but until he knew exactly what was waiting for him, he thought he should hold back. He wouldn't do Virginia any good if he blundered into a situation before he knew what was going on. His good intentions dissolved instantly when he heard Virginia suddenly scream.
Ginny was still trying to free her hands from the manacles, but blood made a poor lubricant. She was ready to try spitting on the things when she felt the hair on her nape stand up. She was being watched! Slowly she turned toward where the passage slanted upward. She couldn't see anything from that direction, and was just turning the other way when she was slammed face first into the wall.
"Well, well," Crabbe's voice gloated in her ear. "Looks like the little weasel is tougher than I thought. Good job on your shoulder, by the way. Now I don't have to listen to you squealing when I fuck you!"
Ginny felt the shriek welling up inside her. Any fear she'd felt with Draco was nothing compared with what she was feeling now! Crabbe was going to brutalize her, rape her and then kill her! She was chained up and helpless, unable even to kick at him with him crushing her against the wall with his large, sweaty body. Disgust nearly choked her when she felt one of his hands slither around to grope at her breast. She let the scream loose, throwing her head backward and trying to shove away from the wall. Her head struck his nose with a loud crunching sound, and he bellowed, stumbling back.
"You bitch!" he shouted, hands to his face to staunch the flow of blood. "You broke my fucking nose!"
Ginny turned to face him, shrinking back against the wall as he approached again.
"Oh, I'm REALLY going to hurt you now!" he told her, shoving her back into the wall and wedging his knee between her legs. "And you're not going to get me like you did Malfoy!"
Ginny tried to struggle, but if Draco outweighed her by fifty pounds, Crabbe must have had at least a hundred on her. Not only that, but the chains on her wrists were hampering her. Crabbe laughed evilly, and, with one sharp movement, ripped her now tattered robe completely off. He hauled the bottom of the sweater up to her waist and dug his hand into the waistband of her jeans, trying to rip the fastening open.
"Get OFF!" Ginny screamed, still trying to fight Crabbe off.
Crabbe yanked at the button of her pants, finally tearing the buttonhole out completely. He grinned into her face and started shoving his hand downward when an outraged bellow from behind him startled him.
Then Ginny could only stare in amazement as Crabbe seemed to be yanked away from her. He was thrown, arms and legs flailing, across the tunnel against the far wall. He landed in a heap on the floor and was still. Ginny turned her head to look up the passageway and saw Draco standing, fists clenched, face stormy, staring at Crabbe.
"Draco!" she breathed.
She didn't know how he'd gotten loose, but it was like a miracle to see him here. And she'd never been so happy to see anyone before. Then Ginny realized he wasn't holding his wand. How had he thrown Crabbe across the tunnel? And how had he gotten loose for that matter? Goyle couldn't have released him, since she'd left him stupefied upstairs.
Draco tore his gaze away from Crabbe's motionless form and fixed on Virginia's face. He'd heard her scream and taken off running, stuffing his wand into a pocket. When he'd reached the bottom of the incline, he had frozen for a second. He'd wanted to do murder when he'd seen the huge bastard groping at her. Gathering the rage he felt, he had simply pointed and thrown him. He still wanted to kill him, but Virginia needed his help. He hurried to her side and pulled his wand from the pocket he'd shoved it in. The powder and his knife fell from the pocket and landed, unnoticed at his feet.
"Look what I found," he said in a low voice, taking in the cuts and bruises on her face. "A little, trapped weasel. What should I do with you now, little weasel? After all the trouble you caused me?"
Ginny looked up into his face, unable to read the expression there. Had she been wrong? Was he in league with Crabbe and Goyle after all? No, that's wasn't possible, because his anger had been very real. Draco wasn't looking at her face anymore, though. He was holding one of her hands and inspecting the raw, chafed wrist. His brow lowered and he tapped the iron band with his wand. It snapped open, freeing her wrist. He opened the other, then took both hands in his.
"I could strangle you for what you've put me through!" he said suddenly.
Ginny felt a chill travel down her spine at the tone of his voice. He sounded so angry! And who could blame him? She could have prevented all of this by just giving him his damned wand. Or not starting this in the first place! She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, as though inviting him to throttle her. She was so tired, she couldn't have fought him if she'd wanted to. But she had no will to fight. When she felt his large, strong hands encircle her neck, she merely sighed and leaned into his hard frame.
Draco watched her close her eyes and surrender. He felt his anger drain away as he took in the cuts and bruises on her face. He glanced from the injured arm, the sleeve torn, tattered and soaked with blood, to her chafed, raw wrists. His gut wrenched and he raised his hands to her throat. He felt the faint, thready beat of her pulse, rapid and slightly erratic. He looked at the arm again, realizing that it was still bleeding. Even though he wanted to rouse Crabbe from his stupor and beat the hell out of him, he had to get Virginia to the healer.
He was about to tell her so when she opened her eyes. He looked into the great, brown eyes, feeling himself pulled to her. He leaned forward slightly, longing to brush her trembling lips with his. But he remembered what Crabbe had been about to do to her. She was frightened enough already. She didn't need HIM mauling her as well.
Ginny stared up into the hard eyes, wondering what he was thinking. He wasn't hurting her, but his expression was impossible to read. She reached up to touch his face, brushing the blond beard again as she had earlier. Then she slipped her hand around his neck and rose up on her toes, bringing her mouth to his.
"You still have chocolate on your mouth," she breathed, not believing she was doing this, unable to stop herself.
She pressed her lips to the small smudge just under his bottom lip and gently licked off the smear.
"Dear gods," Draco breathed, then pressed his lips to hers, trying to be gentle.
Ginny winced slightly as he pressed against her swollen lower lip, but pressed closer. She didn't want gentleness right now. She wanted him to kiss her like he meant it! Draco saw that he was hurting her and pulled back. He stared into her face, trying to rationalize why she would want him, especially now.
"You're hurt. You've lost a lot of blood. I think you must be delirious." His words were sharp as he decided this was the only possible explanation.
Ginny opened her eyes wide, then sighed. "You're right, of course," she said sadly. "I must be. I thought you wanted to kiss me."
He did! Desperately. More than she could know. And, unbelievably, it seemed she wanted him to. But she WAS weak with blood loss. She mightn't feel the same way once she recovered. He watched her lower her forehead to his chest, like a tired child. Gods, how he wanted her!
Trying for a light tone, he said, "Let me get you to Pomfrey, then, if you still feel the same, we'll discuss kissing, right?"
Ginny gave him a slight smile and nodded. After she saw the healer, Draco would be lucky to get off with merely a kiss! She wrapped her good arm around his neck as he prepared to lift her.
"Petrificus Totalis!"
The curse was completely unexpected and Ginny felt Draco's body go rigid before he fell to the ground. She tried to hold him, but he was too heavy for her. She looked, horrified, as Vincent Crabbe struggled up from the floor where he had lain, wand out and face contorted with hatred and rage.
"SHOWED YOU, YOU PRAT!" he screamed at Draco's inert form.
He finally made it to his feet, blood streaming from a gash on his head. He advanced on Draco, wobbly at first, then more steadily. He kept his wand trained on Draco's body, as though afraid the petrified form might suddenly leap up and blast at him. Ginny looked around for anything she could use to defend Draco, but he had his own wand clamped tightly in his petrified hand. Then she spotted the knife and bag that had dropped from his pocket earlier. Keeping an eye on Crabbe, she slid down the wall, trying to look as though she were on the verge of collapse. Crabbe wasn't even looking at her right now, though. He was staring at Draco with intense hatred, his small, piggy eyes almost bugging from their sockets.
"So the great Malfoy isn't so great after all!" he yelled. "Where's your father now, Drake-Oh!? Not here to protect his widdle Drakie-wakie, is he?"
His voice climbed higher and higher, and his expression became more and more demented. Ginny had never seen true madness before, but she was certain Crabbe was very close. Suddenly, Crabbe's foot shot out and caught Draco square in the stomach. Ginny cried a protest, but Crabbe ignored her.
"Always acting like you're BETTER," he punctuated the word with another savage kick. "Think you're special because you're old man is thick with You-Know-WHO!" Another kick.
Finally Ginny couldn't stand it. She scooped up the knife and opened the blade. It was small, but wickedly sharp. Crabbe had kicked Draco into the middle of the passage and now stood with his back to Ginny. Ginny gathered all her strength and courage, and, with another small cry, launched herself at Crabbe's back. She couldn't hang on with her hurt arm, but she was able to drive the small blade deeply into the muscle of Crabbe's shoulder. As he wrenched away, the blade was torn from her hand and clattered away against the wall. Ginny stumbled back a few steps, but not fast enough.
Crabbe whirled around, yelling, and sent Ginny crashing into the wall with a backhanded slap. He followed her and hauled her up by her robes.
"You stuck me! ME! You'll pay for that, bitch!" He raised his hand but found it caught in a viselike grip that he'd felt before.
Draco hauled him back, and he released Ginny's robes. Ginny fell back again and watched in disbelief as Draco sent Crabbe flying across the tunnel to smash into the far wall again. He knelt next to her, touching the new bruise on her face. His own features went dark as he fingered the blood escaping from her mouth.
"How..." she started to ask, but he was gone.
The pain from Crabbe's kicks had been nothing to the pain he'd felt when he watched Crabbe strike Virginia. Concentrating, he'd released himself from the body binding curse. He felt the power coursing through him as he pulled Crabbe away from her and sent him across the passage. Now he was going to kill the piece of filth.
He advanced on Crabbe's crumpled form, willing the other young man to stand up and fight. Crabbe played into his hands. He shook his head and looked up at Draco, not believing what had just happened. It was impossible that the skinny rich boy he had come to hate with his entire being had just thrown him into the wall. He must have used magic, like he had the first time. But Crabbe had felt Draco's hands on his shoulders, hauling him backward and tossing him, like a rag doll. Crabbe stumbled to his feet and stood facing Draco, arms apart, legs crouched and ready to spring. He'd been taken by surprise, but Draco was hurt, now. Crabbe had heard one or two of his ribs break and could see the smaller young man hunching over in pain. Vincent grinned.
"Right, then, come on, Malfoy. Let's see what you've got."
Draco only watched him. He would wait for Crabbe to make the first move. Crabbe shifted from leg to leg, feinting forward then falling back. But Draco didn't fall for any of the fake attacks. Then Crabbe sprang forward, intending to wrap Draco up in his strong arms and crush his ribs. He didn't plan on Draco's hard fist driving into his gut, driving the air out of his lungs and driving him to his knees.
Draco watched Crabbe fall to his knees, trying to hitch breath into his lungs. He stepped forward and gripped Crabbe's short hair in his right hand, holding his head up.
"You piece of shit," he muttered.
Then he lashed out with his left fist, knocking Crabbe onto his back. Ginny cringed as she watched Draco's cold, hard expression. Draco calmly straddled Crabbe and reached down to grab his robe. He hauled him into a sitting position and struck again. And again. And again.
Crabbe had been struggling, but after the third or fourth blow, his head lolled back and he hung lifelessly in Draco's grip. Draco made a sound of disgust and dropped the other young man, then sat on his chest and began to pummel him with both hands.
Ginny realized with a feeling of horror that Draco was really going to beat Crabbe to death! She had to stop him! Picking herself up painfully, she stumbled over and tried to wrap her arms around his, but he shrugged her off easily.
"Draco! Please! Stop!" She shouted loudly, but he was beyond hearing her.
Looking around desperately, she saw the bag of awful smelling powder. She scrambled over to it and brought it back. She had an idea what it was and hoped desperately it might work. Fumbling with the tie, she sprinkled a small pile into her hand.
Draco was still pounding at Crabbe. Crabbe's face was now a bloody mess and he was no longer even moaning. Please don't let me be too late, she breathed.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled, and shoved her hand into Draco's face.
Draco flinched back slightly, inhaling sharply at her unexpected attack. Much of the powder went directly up his nose. Ginny backed away and watched, trembling, as the powder took immediate effect. Draco's eyes widened and he wrapped his arms around his stomach. He rolled off Crabbe's chest and pulled himself into a tight ball, retching and heaving horribly. He tried to clear his nose, blowing and sneezing between retching, but it didn't help.
Ginny stared helplessly for a second, then remembered a spell she'd learned from the twins to ward off sneezing powder. She moved to Draco's side and whispered a small prayer. She dipped into the only pocket she could reach, his left, and came up with his wand. She performed the spell quickly, relieved that his retching stopped almost immediately. He was breathing hard, tears streaming from his eyes, but he wasn't gagging or heaving anymore.
Draco took several deep breaths, then looked up at Virginia. She was watching him with worried eyes. She looked like she was ready to cry. He reached up and grabbed her sweater, pulling her down to him.
"Why!?" was all he could manage to croak out.
"Gods, I'm sorry! But you were killing him! I couldn't stop you!"
He let go and let his hand fall to his side. Why did she care if he killed Crabbe? The world would be better off without that filth.
As though reading his thoughts, Ginny said quietly, "I couldn't let you go to Azkaban for murder. Not when you were trying to protect me."
She dropped her eyes and put a tentative hand on his shoulder. "Can you stand?"
Draco pushed her hand away and sat up. The effects of the powder were gone, but the physical strain was draining. But he wouldn't let her see him weak and shaky. He couldn't believe that he'd come to rescue her and she'd dosed him with his own powder. Regardless of the reason, that was a hell of a way to show gratitude. He stood, swaying slightly.
"Yes, I can stand," he told her icily. "Now get up. We're getting out of here."
Ginny looked down and folded her hands in her lap. She mumbled something.
"Damn it, Weasley, speak up. I can't hear you!" he snapped
"I said, I don't think I can," she repeated. She looked up and gave him a wobbly smile. "I think I left it too late."
Then she fainted dead away.
Draco hurried up the passage, Virginia's limp form draped in his arms. She was dying! He could have had her to the healer, but instead he'd wasted time with Crabbe. While her life was slowly ebbing away, he'd been proving how `macho' he was, how strong and manly he could be. She'd even used the last of her strength preventing him from ending up in prison for murder. Gods, what an idiot he was. He had to get her to hospital. If she died, he'd just hurl himself from the nearest turret! He was almost to the entry when she stirred.
"Draco?" she murmured.
Her voice was like a caress when she said his name. He loved it but she had to save her strength.
"Don't talk. I'm taking you to the healer," he instructed.
His heart swelled as she smiled and whispered, "Then we'll discuss kissing, right?"
He brushed her forehead with his lips and said, "That's right. But now, just relax and let me take care of you."
With a soft sigh, she nestled her head against his shoulder. He would get her to the healer, then he would go to Dumbledor and tell him everything. Draco didn't relish the idea of going to the man he'd been taught from infancy to hate, but he'd do it. He felt a bit light headed, and knew he had to get some medical help himself. Crabbe's kicks had done some serious internal damage and Draco could feel himself growing gradually weaker. He was finally at the entrance to the tunnel.
He pushed the portrait open, but was astounded at what met his eyes. The small alcove was crowded with people, all staring at him with shocked surprise. The first to react was the Headmaster himself.
"Mr. Malfoy!" he said, stepping forward. "You've found her!"
He said this loudly, seeming to be addressing his words not to Draco, but to the rest of the crowd.
"We were at our wits' end. I didn't even know this passage existed!"
He stepped to Draco's side, not trying to take the girl from his arms, but looking intently at her.
"It looks as though you've not had an easy time of rescuing her."
Again, Draco got the impression that what he was saying was for the benefit of the others gathered in the alcove.
"Headmaster, she's hurt. She's got a knife wound that's been hexed to be a bleeder!"
Professor Dumbledor seemed to understand instantly. He turned and called to one of the onlookers.
"Poppy! Miss Weasley is hurt. I need you."
The healer came forward immediately, conjuring a litter and instructing Draco to lay her on it. Before this could be accomplished, though, the crowd stirred and another person stepped forward.
"Get your filthy hands off my sister, you bastard. What have you done to her?"
Ron Weasley pushed toward Draco, his face flushed with anger. Draco gently deposited his burden on the litter, then faced Ron.
"Get out of the way, Weasley. She needs to get to hospital."
Ron drew back a step to let Madame Pomfrey pass with the litter and a small group of medics. Then he rushed up to Draco and shoved him into the wall next to the portrait, trying to get his hands on Draco's neck. Draco grabbed Ron's wrists, but hadn't the strength to break his hold. Professor Dumbledor stepped forward, along with Professor Snape, but before they could reach the two young men, a chilling voice cut in.
"Loose him!" the voice shouted in Ron's ear.
Ron felt an icy cold invade his body. He turned and saw the Bloody Baron gripping his shoulder, his ghostly hand seeming to sink right into his flesh. Ron's eyes widened and he promptly let Draco loose. Draco was as surprised as the rest of them. He'd never known the Baron to interfere with the affairs of the living residents of the castle. Professor Dumbledor gave the ghost a slight bow.
"Thank you for your timely intervention, Baron. I believe we would be better served if we adjourned to my office. Mr. Malfoy, you will join us and perhaps explain some of the, er, unusual happenings?"
He motioned for Draco to precede him, but a small voice stopped him.
"Dost not ken this boy's injuries? Cans't thou not see he needeth an healer?"
Draco turned back to see the woman in the portrait turning a wrathful look on the Headmaster.
"No, lady," he told her softly. "He's right. We have to sort this out. I'll be fine."
Draco thought he would be, now that Virginia was on the way to being taken care of.
The lady was not to be put off, though.
"Thou wilt die, young fool. Thy injuries are grievous. The evil young whelp hast done thee serious hurt!"
The headmaster and Professor Snape turned to peer questioningly at Draco. Even Ron stopped to look at him speculatively.
"She means Crabbe," he explained with a shrug. "He didn't want to give Virginia up, so I had to change his mind."
He gestured absently to the portrait. "He's in there somewhere."
Then, to his supreme disgust, Draco did what he'd only done once before. He fainted.
Draco crept down the now-dark passage, wishing the guttering torches didn't automatically rekindle when a person passed by. Even now, they were brightening, lighting his way. He might as well blow on a trumpet to announce his coming. After years spent traveling these corridors, he knew where he was going, so he didn't need the torches. He knew that Crabbe would try to get Virginia to the far exit of the tunnel. It opened to the rear of the castle and was virtually invisible to the naked eye. Being at the rear of the castle, it was easier to approach with out being seen. That was where Crabbe would try to take her. But she was wounded and weak, so that might slow him up. And she was a fighter! If he let his guard down for a second, Crabbe might find himself in trouble.
Draco smiled grimly at the thought of what tiny little Virginia Weasley had already done, not only to his former cronies, but to him as well. She had completely disabled Draco when she thought he was going to choke her. He wasn't sure exactly what she'd done to Goyle, but he looked like he might never be able to eat normally again, much less talk and breathe normally. Crabbe was obviously not having an easy time of it if he'd resorted to trying to beat her and knock her unconscious. Draco heartily hoped Virginia Weasley was safe, but he hoped she tore Crabbe to pieces at the same time. If she doesn't, I will, he promised himself.
He continued to move through the tunnel, feeling it incline downward. As he traveled downward, the air became mustier. Even though some Slytherins passed through this route occasionally, it smelled stale and unused. And there was an unpleasant smell behind the mustiness, almost as though something had crawled down here and died long ago. But now there was another, fresher odor; a faint, coppery smell that made Draco think of blood. Virginia Weasley's blood.
Draco bit back a curse as he moved a bit faster. The torches here were still fairly bright, and he could see to the end of the incline. There was no one moving ahead, but now he thought he could hear a faint scuffling. Then he heard a clanking of chains. He knew where the sound was coming from! There was a stretch of the tunnel that had chains attached to the wall. It was possibly two or three hundred yards ahead, but the area between was riddled with side passages, any of which could be hiding Vincent Crabbe. He was tempted to charge ahead, wand blazing, but until he knew exactly what was waiting for him, he thought he should hold back. He wouldn't do Virginia any good if he blundered into a situation before he knew what was going on. His good intentions dissolved instantly when he heard Virginia suddenly scream.
Ginny was still trying to free her hands from the manacles, but blood made a poor lubricant. She was ready to try spitting on the things when she felt the hair on her nape stand up. She was being watched! Slowly she turned toward where the passage slanted upward. She couldn't see anything from that direction, and was just turning the other way when she was slammed face first into the wall.
"Well, well," Crabbe's voice gloated in her ear. "Looks like the little weasel is tougher than I thought. Good job on your shoulder, by the way. Now I don't have to listen to you squealing when I fuck you!"
Ginny felt the shriek welling up inside her. Any fear she'd felt with Draco was nothing compared with what she was feeling now! Crabbe was going to brutalize her, rape her and then kill her! She was chained up and helpless, unable even to kick at him with him crushing her against the wall with his large, sweaty body. Disgust nearly choked her when she felt one of his hands slither around to grope at her breast. She let the scream loose, throwing her head backward and trying to shove away from the wall. Her head struck his nose with a loud crunching sound, and he bellowed, stumbling back.
"You bitch!" he shouted, hands to his face to staunch the flow of blood. "You broke my fucking nose!"
Ginny turned to face him, shrinking back against the wall as he approached again.
"Oh, I'm REALLY going to hurt you now!" he told her, shoving her back into the wall and wedging his knee between her legs. "And you're not going to get me like you did Malfoy!"
Ginny tried to struggle, but if Draco outweighed her by fifty pounds, Crabbe must have had at least a hundred on her. Not only that, but the chains on her wrists were hampering her. Crabbe laughed evilly, and, with one sharp movement, ripped her now tattered robe completely off. He hauled the bottom of the sweater up to her waist and dug his hand into the waistband of her jeans, trying to rip the fastening open.
"Get OFF!" Ginny screamed, still trying to fight Crabbe off.
Crabbe yanked at the button of her pants, finally tearing the buttonhole out completely. He grinned into her face and started shoving his hand downward when an outraged bellow from behind him startled him.
Then Ginny could only stare in amazement as Crabbe seemed to be yanked away from her. He was thrown, arms and legs flailing, across the tunnel against the far wall. He landed in a heap on the floor and was still. Ginny turned her head to look up the passageway and saw Draco standing, fists clenched, face stormy, staring at Crabbe.
"Draco!" she breathed.
She didn't know how he'd gotten loose, but it was like a miracle to see him here. And she'd never been so happy to see anyone before. Then Ginny realized he wasn't holding his wand. How had he thrown Crabbe across the tunnel? And how had he gotten loose for that matter? Goyle couldn't have released him, since she'd left him stupefied upstairs.
Draco tore his gaze away from Crabbe's motionless form and fixed on Virginia's face. He'd heard her scream and taken off running, stuffing his wand into a pocket. When he'd reached the bottom of the incline, he had frozen for a second. He'd wanted to do murder when he'd seen the huge bastard groping at her. Gathering the rage he felt, he had simply pointed and thrown him. He still wanted to kill him, but Virginia needed his help. He hurried to her side and pulled his wand from the pocket he'd shoved it in. The powder and his knife fell from the pocket and landed, unnoticed at his feet.
"Look what I found," he said in a low voice, taking in the cuts and bruises on her face. "A little, trapped weasel. What should I do with you now, little weasel? After all the trouble you caused me?"
Ginny looked up into his face, unable to read the expression there. Had she been wrong? Was he in league with Crabbe and Goyle after all? No, that's wasn't possible, because his anger had been very real. Draco wasn't looking at her face anymore, though. He was holding one of her hands and inspecting the raw, chafed wrist. His brow lowered and he tapped the iron band with his wand. It snapped open, freeing her wrist. He opened the other, then took both hands in his.
"I could strangle you for what you've put me through!" he said suddenly.
Ginny felt a chill travel down her spine at the tone of his voice. He sounded so angry! And who could blame him? She could have prevented all of this by just giving him his damned wand. Or not starting this in the first place! She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, as though inviting him to throttle her. She was so tired, she couldn't have fought him if she'd wanted to. But she had no will to fight. When she felt his large, strong hands encircle her neck, she merely sighed and leaned into his hard frame.
Draco watched her close her eyes and surrender. He felt his anger drain away as he took in the cuts and bruises on her face. He glanced from the injured arm, the sleeve torn, tattered and soaked with blood, to her chafed, raw wrists. His gut wrenched and he raised his hands to her throat. He felt the faint, thready beat of her pulse, rapid and slightly erratic. He looked at the arm again, realizing that it was still bleeding. Even though he wanted to rouse Crabbe from his stupor and beat the hell out of him, he had to get Virginia to the healer.
He was about to tell her so when she opened her eyes. He looked into the great, brown eyes, feeling himself pulled to her. He leaned forward slightly, longing to brush her trembling lips with his. But he remembered what Crabbe had been about to do to her. She was frightened enough already. She didn't need HIM mauling her as well.
Ginny stared up into the hard eyes, wondering what he was thinking. He wasn't hurting her, but his expression was impossible to read. She reached up to touch his face, brushing the blond beard again as she had earlier. Then she slipped her hand around his neck and rose up on her toes, bringing her mouth to his.
"You still have chocolate on your mouth," she breathed, not believing she was doing this, unable to stop herself.
She pressed her lips to the small smudge just under his bottom lip and gently licked off the smear.
"Dear gods," Draco breathed, then pressed his lips to hers, trying to be gentle.
Ginny winced slightly as he pressed against her swollen lower lip, but pressed closer. She didn't want gentleness right now. She wanted him to kiss her like he meant it! Draco saw that he was hurting her and pulled back. He stared into her face, trying to rationalize why she would want him, especially now.
"You're hurt. You've lost a lot of blood. I think you must be delirious." His words were sharp as he decided this was the only possible explanation.
Ginny opened her eyes wide, then sighed. "You're right, of course," she said sadly. "I must be. I thought you wanted to kiss me."
He did! Desperately. More than she could know. And, unbelievably, it seemed she wanted him to. But she WAS weak with blood loss. She mightn't feel the same way once she recovered. He watched her lower her forehead to his chest, like a tired child. Gods, how he wanted her!
Trying for a light tone, he said, "Let me get you to Pomfrey, then, if you still feel the same, we'll discuss kissing, right?"
Ginny gave him a slight smile and nodded. After she saw the healer, Draco would be lucky to get off with merely a kiss! She wrapped her good arm around his neck as he prepared to lift her.
"Petrificus Totalis!"
The curse was completely unexpected and Ginny felt Draco's body go rigid before he fell to the ground. She tried to hold him, but he was too heavy for her. She looked, horrified, as Vincent Crabbe struggled up from the floor where he had lain, wand out and face contorted with hatred and rage.
"SHOWED YOU, YOU PRAT!" he screamed at Draco's inert form.
He finally made it to his feet, blood streaming from a gash on his head. He advanced on Draco, wobbly at first, then more steadily. He kept his wand trained on Draco's body, as though afraid the petrified form might suddenly leap up and blast at him. Ginny looked around for anything she could use to defend Draco, but he had his own wand clamped tightly in his petrified hand. Then she spotted the knife and bag that had dropped from his pocket earlier. Keeping an eye on Crabbe, she slid down the wall, trying to look as though she were on the verge of collapse. Crabbe wasn't even looking at her right now, though. He was staring at Draco with intense hatred, his small, piggy eyes almost bugging from their sockets.
"So the great Malfoy isn't so great after all!" he yelled. "Where's your father now, Drake-Oh!? Not here to protect his widdle Drakie-wakie, is he?"
His voice climbed higher and higher, and his expression became more and more demented. Ginny had never seen true madness before, but she was certain Crabbe was very close. Suddenly, Crabbe's foot shot out and caught Draco square in the stomach. Ginny cried a protest, but Crabbe ignored her.
"Always acting like you're BETTER," he punctuated the word with another savage kick. "Think you're special because you're old man is thick with You-Know-WHO!" Another kick.
Finally Ginny couldn't stand it. She scooped up the knife and opened the blade. It was small, but wickedly sharp. Crabbe had kicked Draco into the middle of the passage and now stood with his back to Ginny. Ginny gathered all her strength and courage, and, with another small cry, launched herself at Crabbe's back. She couldn't hang on with her hurt arm, but she was able to drive the small blade deeply into the muscle of Crabbe's shoulder. As he wrenched away, the blade was torn from her hand and clattered away against the wall. Ginny stumbled back a few steps, but not fast enough.
Crabbe whirled around, yelling, and sent Ginny crashing into the wall with a backhanded slap. He followed her and hauled her up by her robes.
"You stuck me! ME! You'll pay for that, bitch!" He raised his hand but found it caught in a viselike grip that he'd felt before.
Draco hauled him back, and he released Ginny's robes. Ginny fell back again and watched in disbelief as Draco sent Crabbe flying across the tunnel to smash into the far wall again. He knelt next to her, touching the new bruise on her face. His own features went dark as he fingered the blood escaping from her mouth.
"How..." she started to ask, but he was gone.
The pain from Crabbe's kicks had been nothing to the pain he'd felt when he watched Crabbe strike Virginia. Concentrating, he'd released himself from the body binding curse. He felt the power coursing through him as he pulled Crabbe away from her and sent him across the passage. Now he was going to kill the piece of filth.
He advanced on Crabbe's crumpled form, willing the other young man to stand up and fight. Crabbe played into his hands. He shook his head and looked up at Draco, not believing what had just happened. It was impossible that the skinny rich boy he had come to hate with his entire being had just thrown him into the wall. He must have used magic, like he had the first time. But Crabbe had felt Draco's hands on his shoulders, hauling him backward and tossing him, like a rag doll. Crabbe stumbled to his feet and stood facing Draco, arms apart, legs crouched and ready to spring. He'd been taken by surprise, but Draco was hurt, now. Crabbe had heard one or two of his ribs break and could see the smaller young man hunching over in pain. Vincent grinned.
"Right, then, come on, Malfoy. Let's see what you've got."
Draco only watched him. He would wait for Crabbe to make the first move. Crabbe shifted from leg to leg, feinting forward then falling back. But Draco didn't fall for any of the fake attacks. Then Crabbe sprang forward, intending to wrap Draco up in his strong arms and crush his ribs. He didn't plan on Draco's hard fist driving into his gut, driving the air out of his lungs and driving him to his knees.
Draco watched Crabbe fall to his knees, trying to hitch breath into his lungs. He stepped forward and gripped Crabbe's short hair in his right hand, holding his head up.
"You piece of shit," he muttered.
Then he lashed out with his left fist, knocking Crabbe onto his back. Ginny cringed as she watched Draco's cold, hard expression. Draco calmly straddled Crabbe and reached down to grab his robe. He hauled him into a sitting position and struck again. And again. And again.
Crabbe had been struggling, but after the third or fourth blow, his head lolled back and he hung lifelessly in Draco's grip. Draco made a sound of disgust and dropped the other young man, then sat on his chest and began to pummel him with both hands.
Ginny realized with a feeling of horror that Draco was really going to beat Crabbe to death! She had to stop him! Picking herself up painfully, she stumbled over and tried to wrap her arms around his, but he shrugged her off easily.
"Draco! Please! Stop!" She shouted loudly, but he was beyond hearing her.
Looking around desperately, she saw the bag of awful smelling powder. She scrambled over to it and brought it back. She had an idea what it was and hoped desperately it might work. Fumbling with the tie, she sprinkled a small pile into her hand.
Draco was still pounding at Crabbe. Crabbe's face was now a bloody mess and he was no longer even moaning. Please don't let me be too late, she breathed.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled, and shoved her hand into Draco's face.
Draco flinched back slightly, inhaling sharply at her unexpected attack. Much of the powder went directly up his nose. Ginny backed away and watched, trembling, as the powder took immediate effect. Draco's eyes widened and he wrapped his arms around his stomach. He rolled off Crabbe's chest and pulled himself into a tight ball, retching and heaving horribly. He tried to clear his nose, blowing and sneezing between retching, but it didn't help.
Ginny stared helplessly for a second, then remembered a spell she'd learned from the twins to ward off sneezing powder. She moved to Draco's side and whispered a small prayer. She dipped into the only pocket she could reach, his left, and came up with his wand. She performed the spell quickly, relieved that his retching stopped almost immediately. He was breathing hard, tears streaming from his eyes, but he wasn't gagging or heaving anymore.
Draco took several deep breaths, then looked up at Virginia. She was watching him with worried eyes. She looked like she was ready to cry. He reached up and grabbed her sweater, pulling her down to him.
"Why!?" was all he could manage to croak out.
"Gods, I'm sorry! But you were killing him! I couldn't stop you!"
He let go and let his hand fall to his side. Why did she care if he killed Crabbe? The world would be better off without that filth.
As though reading his thoughts, Ginny said quietly, "I couldn't let you go to Azkaban for murder. Not when you were trying to protect me."
She dropped her eyes and put a tentative hand on his shoulder. "Can you stand?"
Draco pushed her hand away and sat up. The effects of the powder were gone, but the physical strain was draining. But he wouldn't let her see him weak and shaky. He couldn't believe that he'd come to rescue her and she'd dosed him with his own powder. Regardless of the reason, that was a hell of a way to show gratitude. He stood, swaying slightly.
"Yes, I can stand," he told her icily. "Now get up. We're getting out of here."
Ginny looked down and folded her hands in her lap. She mumbled something.
"Damn it, Weasley, speak up. I can't hear you!" he snapped
"I said, I don't think I can," she repeated. She looked up and gave him a wobbly smile. "I think I left it too late."
Then she fainted dead away.
Draco hurried up the passage, Virginia's limp form draped in his arms. She was dying! He could have had her to the healer, but instead he'd wasted time with Crabbe. While her life was slowly ebbing away, he'd been proving how `macho' he was, how strong and manly he could be. She'd even used the last of her strength preventing him from ending up in prison for murder. Gods, what an idiot he was. He had to get her to hospital. If she died, he'd just hurl himself from the nearest turret! He was almost to the entry when she stirred.
"Draco?" she murmured.
Her voice was like a caress when she said his name. He loved it but she had to save her strength.
"Don't talk. I'm taking you to the healer," he instructed.
His heart swelled as she smiled and whispered, "Then we'll discuss kissing, right?"
He brushed her forehead with his lips and said, "That's right. But now, just relax and let me take care of you."
With a soft sigh, she nestled her head against his shoulder. He would get her to the healer, then he would go to Dumbledor and tell him everything. Draco didn't relish the idea of going to the man he'd been taught from infancy to hate, but he'd do it. He felt a bit light headed, and knew he had to get some medical help himself. Crabbe's kicks had done some serious internal damage and Draco could feel himself growing gradually weaker. He was finally at the entrance to the tunnel.
He pushed the portrait open, but was astounded at what met his eyes. The small alcove was crowded with people, all staring at him with shocked surprise. The first to react was the Headmaster himself.
"Mr. Malfoy!" he said, stepping forward. "You've found her!"
He said this loudly, seeming to be addressing his words not to Draco, but to the rest of the crowd.
"We were at our wits' end. I didn't even know this passage existed!"
He stepped to Draco's side, not trying to take the girl from his arms, but looking intently at her.
"It looks as though you've not had an easy time of rescuing her."
Again, Draco got the impression that what he was saying was for the benefit of the others gathered in the alcove.
"Headmaster, she's hurt. She's got a knife wound that's been hexed to be a bleeder!"
Professor Dumbledor seemed to understand instantly. He turned and called to one of the onlookers.
"Poppy! Miss Weasley is hurt. I need you."
The healer came forward immediately, conjuring a litter and instructing Draco to lay her on it. Before this could be accomplished, though, the crowd stirred and another person stepped forward.
"Get your filthy hands off my sister, you bastard. What have you done to her?"
Ron Weasley pushed toward Draco, his face flushed with anger. Draco gently deposited his burden on the litter, then faced Ron.
"Get out of the way, Weasley. She needs to get to hospital."
Ron drew back a step to let Madame Pomfrey pass with the litter and a small group of medics. Then he rushed up to Draco and shoved him into the wall next to the portrait, trying to get his hands on Draco's neck. Draco grabbed Ron's wrists, but hadn't the strength to break his hold. Professor Dumbledor stepped forward, along with Professor Snape, but before they could reach the two young men, a chilling voice cut in.
"Loose him!" the voice shouted in Ron's ear.
Ron felt an icy cold invade his body. He turned and saw the Bloody Baron gripping his shoulder, his ghostly hand seeming to sink right into his flesh. Ron's eyes widened and he promptly let Draco loose. Draco was as surprised as the rest of them. He'd never known the Baron to interfere with the affairs of the living residents of the castle. Professor Dumbledor gave the ghost a slight bow.
"Thank you for your timely intervention, Baron. I believe we would be better served if we adjourned to my office. Mr. Malfoy, you will join us and perhaps explain some of the, er, unusual happenings?"
He motioned for Draco to precede him, but a small voice stopped him.
"Dost not ken this boy's injuries? Cans't thou not see he needeth an healer?"
Draco turned back to see the woman in the portrait turning a wrathful look on the Headmaster.
"No, lady," he told her softly. "He's right. We have to sort this out. I'll be fine."
Draco thought he would be, now that Virginia was on the way to being taken care of.
The lady was not to be put off, though.
"Thou wilt die, young fool. Thy injuries are grievous. The evil young whelp hast done thee serious hurt!"
The headmaster and Professor Snape turned to peer questioningly at Draco. Even Ron stopped to look at him speculatively.
"She means Crabbe," he explained with a shrug. "He didn't want to give Virginia up, so I had to change his mind."
He gestured absently to the portrait. "He's in there somewhere."
Then, to his supreme disgust, Draco did what he'd only done once before. He fainted.