.
CHAPTER 7
Disclaimer: I don't own much, most is J.K.R.'s
A special note to Nice: I'm sorry about the wait. My life has been hectic and my computer just recently got over a virus. (We had to totally clean off the C drive) I tried to E-mail you but both E-mails were returned to my inbox. Sorry!
Thank you to those who do review! I love You!!!! Without further adue I give you the next chapter!
***-
I checked on Jason momentarily when I returned to the common room. He lay completely asleep clutching his new wand to his chest. His chubby little fingers were wrapped tightly around it. I didn't want to sleep in the dorms to night as I am a restless sleeper who has a hard time with constant reoccurring nightmares of horrid memories of my past, so I headed out with a blanket to the couch. I hadn't but a moment to think when professor McGonagall entered briefly mentioning that the other students would arrive tomorrow as well as a group of new transfers. I know that they will probably be from other schools in fear that any where else they are that they will be in the path of the dark lord. She left and the Bloody Baron entered.
With him I spoke briefly of the troubles with Peeves that I were happening and he happily promised to set Peeves on his track for me. The final knock on the door was Ginny. I opened the door to find her tired and frowning but as she glimpsed my concerned face she smiled, wrapped me in a hug and shut the door behind her.
"You Ok?" I asked gently lifting her up in my arms and carrying her over to the couch that I had been napping on.
"Hard night…Hard day… Hard week… Hard life" She groaned pulling my blanket tighter around her.
"That bad, huh?" I asked pulling her into my arms where I lay. "You want to talk about it?"
"Draco, is secret keeping such a crime, it's not like it was life or death or even close. Why did he have to come down so hard on me for it." She laid her head against my chest, and I realized she was still in her day clothes.
"You can take a shower or a warm bath to get your mind off them." I suggested helping her stand up as she nodded. I directed her to the large dark green tiled bathroom and as she showered I conjured her light blue nightgown that I had seen her wear so many times in the book over summer. She came out wearing only a green towel with my initials on it. I smirked realizing that the Slythern bathroom contained a towel for every Slythern with their initials embroidered on it. I quickly handed her the nightgown as she began to blush and she hurried back into the bathroom to put it on.
She returned once more looking even sleepier but this time smiling a bit.
"Who do you the new arrivals are going to be?" She asked yawning and burying her face into my chest.
"Probably Drumstrang and Buexaton students." I said as I caught her yawn followed by one of my own. " Your brothers don't know you're here… right?"
"No they think I'm running through the forest with Delvi and Firenze." She answered looking up at me.
"Tell me more about your lessons." I pleaded pulling out from under her then straddling her back and massaging gently. She tensed up momentarily before relaxing fully. I must admit until that point in my life I had only given one back rub in my life and it was to Pansy. I can't even call it official because I was so appalled at touching her skin. Now, however, my hands were gliding along the smooth folds of her soft satin lacy nightgown as if I had been doing it my entire life.
"Hmmmmmm…" She mumbled happily, loosening her shoulders before speaking of Delvi. "Delvi is an Aneth. She is kinda cat-like and a distant ancestor of the Veela. That's why Ron and Harry kept stealing glances at her. Hermione didn't notice because she probably thought they were just fascinated by her rarity of complex form." I laughed at the thought of Hermoine asking the Aneth is she could interview her for a report for care of magical creatures. "She's slightly more rebellious than the other Aneths. Probably since she hangs with Firenze."
"And Firenze, how is he?" She smirked.
"I didn't remember that you had met him. In your first year, right? He rebelled against the other centaurs because he believes that humans and Centaurs should work together to help fight Voldermort." I could feel her shiver run up and down her spine as she said his name.
"What do they do when you go to them?" I asked laying atop her then rolling and pulling her back on to my chest.
"Teach, I guess. I mean they sit in a circle around me sometimes casting curses for me to attempt to deflect. I get pretty battered up sometimes and they have to hide the bruises so that my parents won't find them."
I pulled her tighter into my grasp. "That's horrible!" I burst out savagely interrupting her. I could feel a cold hate intrude my heart again and briefly a reminder of my old life at home. I felt her involuntarily shudder and I was reminded much of how my mother acted when my father came home drunk after a night out with the Death Eaters. "Sorry." I mumbled my voice faltering a bit.
"It's not all bad, like when they taught me to be an animagi."
"So that's how you knew about all the stuff down at Hogsmeade. Will you show me… perhaps tomorrow as you look pretty sleepy now."
"Perhaps I could even teach you how… Though it wouldn't happen over night and we'd probably have to go back to Hogsmeade to get some of the supplies I don't already have. For the potion part I mean. There is a complicated spell to go with it and you can't choose which animal you want to be." I heard her murmur as I pulled her back on top of me.
"What animal do you become?" I asked becoming more and more intrigued with her by the second.
"A Phoenix…" I heard her murmur as her grip on me loosened and her eyes fluttered shut and her breathing became rhythmic. Pushing a few locks of red hair from her face I thought of how much she had changed me since we had arrived this morning. Prepared for anything that could come tomorrow I closed my eyes and fell in to the deepest sleep without nightmares I had been in since I could remember*
***-
It was only a dream. I fantasized that Draco and I were so deeply in love that he wouldn't care about my special task and held me in his arms and protected me. Ha now I'm going open my eyes and see that I'm back in my bed in the fourth year girls dormitory, and that I need to switch pillows with someone who's is softer because this one is too well defined… like somebody's chest… Oh my God, it's DRACO!
I sat up rather fast staring down at him in his unbuttoned shirt with silvery bond hair falling across his face. Before I had a chance to gape any longer, Jason burst squealing through the door halfway between acting like it was Christmas morning or he was being chased. Guess two was correct. The Bloody Baron flew after him waving his arms in attempts to scare Jason. Both stopped at the sight of Draco and I lying on the couch. Jason gasped pointing at the two of us before turning on one heel and high-tailing it back to the boy's dorm. Was it just me or was the Baron a little more red than his bloody self?
Draco sat up laughing and gazing after them, before wrapping me in a hug and standing. A wave of relief followed the hug as I realized that it hadn't been just a trick or one-night-stand. I smiled and he muttered something about a shower. I stepped up the staircase and found my way in to the dorms to speak with Jason. I unlatched the dungeon looking door and stepped inside. The Bloody Baron literally blushed and Jason squeaked diving under the bed. My guess was that he had probably been punished for such happenings in the past. My eyes widened at the book of fairy tales in the Bloody Barons lap. HE had been READING them to Jason!
"Come on out Jason it's almost breakfast time." I cried in the most cheerful voice I could muster in an early morning. He peeked out from under the bed, astonished that he wouldn't be punished. I gave a reassuring smile before I turned toward the door to hide a yawn.
At that second Draco entered in only a towel. (The towel I had been using the night before) He was about to pull it off and change into some robes when he noticed I was standing next to the wardrobes. I turned a shade pinker but he just laughed.
"You probably should take the pass around the Charms corridor and then enter the great hall from outside to throw the others off," He stratigzed. I nodded transfiguring my nightgown in to some robes then threw open the window. He looked slightly confused at first but then nodded. I walked toward the window but he twirled me back with one arm and then pulled me into a kiss. I smiled against his lips as I wrapped my arms around his still dripping back. I traced down the divot of a particularly deep scar that I had seen the previous evening in Dumbledore's office until my fingers grasped the terry cloth. I glanced at him with concern but he shrugged and pointed toward the window.
I jumped from it swiftly spreading my fingers-feathers and feeling the wind catch my now light fiery wings. I caught the wind drift floating close enough to see the towel begin to slip down Draco's hips with each step he took toward the window.
I inwardly sighed as he shut it just in time smiling once more at me and turning towards the still dumbfounded Baron and Jason. I soared through the clouds and glanced at the teachers as they made their way to the great hall for breakfast. They looked so tiny through the windows that I couldn't help but laugh as I noticed Dumbledore leading the group looking much like a Head boy and some first years.
I landed transforming back from my phoenix animagi self to a windblown girl in slightly ruffled robes… Just as if I had been in the forest all night. I conjured the suede bag at my side and entered the castle. Harry and Hermoine and Ron looked up upon my entrée. Just then Draco and Jason enter the Great Hall.
"Where were you last night? Don't tell me the forest… I don't believe you." I pulled my arm out of my over protective brothers grasp.
"Back off! I'm here for breakfast… then to the owlry, then back to the forest. I have lessons to attend. My slacking could easily mean the death of your best friend over there." I hated putting Harry in the conversation, but it easily gave the affect that I was looking for from Ron. However Harry interrupted.
"You have to protect me… which must mean that you know why I am special… Tell!" He said walking up to us holding a tray with some biscuts on it.
"I have been sworn to secrecy… parts of the information they won't even tell me so that if I am caught and tortured by the Death Eaters I will be unable to give too much information…"
"And you would go through all of this for me?" Honestly a few years ago I would be screaming my head off at that but not this morning. No way. Thank Merlin for Draco!
"Really, since now that we have to sit at the Godforsaken same table do you think in the name of the Excaliber that I want to hear you and Weasley flirting? Honestly I might just puke up the few bites of breakfast I've gotten down…" He drawled on gesturing towards his still full plate, his eyes never leaving it but none the less filled with hate and a rising anger. Did my mind sense jealousy?
Suddenly my mind blurred then filled with his voice. "You wana leave? We can fake a fight."
"Perfect," I thought smiling to myself. "But how will we end it?"
"The teachers will."
"If you have a problem with Harry take it out on him personally." I said for the first time speaking aloud. "I am not here to be messed with."
"I have every right to mess with you…" He growled. Later I would congratulate him on his acting skills. The statement had brought a smirk to my face but not for the reason that the others were probably guessing. I briefly saw him return it.
"I challenge you to a fight!" I yelled. Draco paled slightly then with a fake glint of mysteriousness in his eyes he challenged back.
"A sword fight! If they've taught you anything it's how to fence." He materialized a sword covered in black gems. The sword's very hilt was a silver serpent spiraling into his clutches. The only thing that wasn't silver, black or green was a single ruby gem the color of blood protruding like poison from the serpent's fangs.
I stood awestruck as his long robes billowed backward revealing tight black pants and perfectly shined silver toed boots. Not long though. Within a moment's time I too was holding my sword that I had summoned from it's post over my bed and a similar type of robe that floated open around my suede boots and tight black pants. He stared wide eyed for a moment and I took the opportunity to strike.
***-
It's obvious that she hadn't learned to fence over night. Each strike was clean and precise. The choice of sword alone was a sign of her expertise. I was guessing that it would have gold and a few minor details on it. Instead I was surprised by an ebony black hilt. From the very tip was the engraving of a rose with short thorns, and as it reached the hilt gold and jewel embedded it wrapped it's self so that it perfectly would surround and tighten her grip, but cut into anyone else's.
I spent the first few hits avoiding being caught by her blade. When she sent it swinging a bit high, I ducked to avoid it but also take a quick glance at our audience. The others were standing back a ways, jaws wide in a mixture of horror and awe. The teachers had entered but Dumbledore had stopped them from interfering. A slight panic rose through me. What now? Ginny seemed to notice as well.
"Draco," her voice entered my head "What are we going to do? They aren't stopping us." I sighed, this was one sacrifice I would have to make.
"I'll lose." I sent in barely a whisper.
"What???!" She screeched back, echoing and silencing the cacophony of blades hitting temporarily. "No Draco. You can't!!! Harry and Ron will never let you live it down."
"Well there are no other solutions." I watched as she expertly dove under a quick swing rolling under my sword and over the flat blade of her own. The others gasped, but she rolled up grabbing her sword in the process and continued fighting unfazed.
"Cute trick."
"Thanks but that's Delvi's teaching." As if being called, Delvi's voice entered both our heads.
"Ginny, COME ON! Really now." She cried out.
"Cheering me on is not going to help, we're trying to stop fighting with out one of us being the victor and the other… well…" Ginny replied.
"I wouldn't cheer you on. Not when your fighting against a hot guy in tight pants…"
"DELVI!!!! Lay off, he's mine." Ginny exploded sending an amazingly well placed shot toward just below my hips.
"Whoa now that's one way to keep him all to your self… just cut right…"
"DEVI!!!" We both cried out in displeasure.
"OK well the real reason I am talking to you is to offer you two choices. The first is you can throw down your swords and makeout…." Silence followed this, as we both looked slightly discomposed.
"I hope your second idea is better than that, not that I'd mind making out with Draco but I can just see how much Ron and Harry would love to see that. We'd end up sending Hermoine to Saint Mungos. And your second idea is….?" Ginny added with a bit of impatience in her voice.
"Remember last week when Firenze you I and Evadeam were walking through the forest and he taught you how to… well you know."
Ginny looked relieved and smiled nodding to her self. I heard Delvi faintly mutter 'good'. And like a bird Ginny started to float out of reach of my sword. It was truly amazing and I gazed around for a rope that should have been pulling her up, but I was still uncertain how this would solve our problem until I myself began to hover.
It was hard to make it seem natural, as I had never flown with out my broom. The other fact was that every thing that was happening was completely out of my personal control. We circled around one another before charging. I was terrified we would crash into each other. The only possible way we wouldn't was if we hit swords instead. Finally it came clear that that's what she had intended. I slammed my sword into hers and a shower of sparks surrounded us.
When the sparks disappeared we were standing in the middle of the forest. Ginny dropped her sword and stared screaming and jumping up and down like her favorite Quidditch team had just won a victory.
"We did it Draco! We pulled it off. Wooo-Whoo! Yeah!" She wrapped me in a hug. Delvi and an elf that had to be Evadeam appeared congratulating her. Delvi and Ginny looked like a couple of screaming teenage muggle girls. Evadeam held an orb out to me that they must have been watching during our sword fight. It still showed the Great Hall where the final sparks from our fight had materialized into tiny gold and green gems and jewels that had scattered the Great Hall's floor.
***-
It was Firenze who placed a fake black eye on Draco and a pretend cut on my lip as to not arise suspicion on our return. Madame Profmey healed them up over our late brunch. Dumbledore had a mysterious glint in his eye as smiled and said that no punishment could be given since the school year wouldn't actually begin until that evening when the others arrived.
I was standing outside next to Draco when the new arrivals did come.
A.N. well if next times chapter had to have a title it would be New Arrivals and Old Rivals so that's your hint. I curious as to what you think every one in this story looks like. I absolutely love you guys' comments on certain characters and if anyone draws up a quick sketch with If I had You in mind please send them to me at TigerWolf_Moonbeam@Hotmail.com . If I get some perhaps I will set up a home page to put them on display. Once again, SO VERY SORRY ABOUT THE WAIT. Since Before my world came crashing down got 1 (ONE) review for it's last chapter I highly doubt you will see much more of it. Thanx to all my constant reviewers. Love ya!
TigerWolf
CHAPTER 7
Disclaimer: I don't own much, most is J.K.R.'s
A special note to Nice: I'm sorry about the wait. My life has been hectic and my computer just recently got over a virus. (We had to totally clean off the C drive) I tried to E-mail you but both E-mails were returned to my inbox. Sorry!
Thank you to those who do review! I love You!!!! Without further adue I give you the next chapter!
***-
I checked on Jason momentarily when I returned to the common room. He lay completely asleep clutching his new wand to his chest. His chubby little fingers were wrapped tightly around it. I didn't want to sleep in the dorms to night as I am a restless sleeper who has a hard time with constant reoccurring nightmares of horrid memories of my past, so I headed out with a blanket to the couch. I hadn't but a moment to think when professor McGonagall entered briefly mentioning that the other students would arrive tomorrow as well as a group of new transfers. I know that they will probably be from other schools in fear that any where else they are that they will be in the path of the dark lord. She left and the Bloody Baron entered.
With him I spoke briefly of the troubles with Peeves that I were happening and he happily promised to set Peeves on his track for me. The final knock on the door was Ginny. I opened the door to find her tired and frowning but as she glimpsed my concerned face she smiled, wrapped me in a hug and shut the door behind her.
"You Ok?" I asked gently lifting her up in my arms and carrying her over to the couch that I had been napping on.
"Hard night…Hard day… Hard week… Hard life" She groaned pulling my blanket tighter around her.
"That bad, huh?" I asked pulling her into my arms where I lay. "You want to talk about it?"
"Draco, is secret keeping such a crime, it's not like it was life or death or even close. Why did he have to come down so hard on me for it." She laid her head against my chest, and I realized she was still in her day clothes.
"You can take a shower or a warm bath to get your mind off them." I suggested helping her stand up as she nodded. I directed her to the large dark green tiled bathroom and as she showered I conjured her light blue nightgown that I had seen her wear so many times in the book over summer. She came out wearing only a green towel with my initials on it. I smirked realizing that the Slythern bathroom contained a towel for every Slythern with their initials embroidered on it. I quickly handed her the nightgown as she began to blush and she hurried back into the bathroom to put it on.
She returned once more looking even sleepier but this time smiling a bit.
"Who do you the new arrivals are going to be?" She asked yawning and burying her face into my chest.
"Probably Drumstrang and Buexaton students." I said as I caught her yawn followed by one of my own. " Your brothers don't know you're here… right?"
"No they think I'm running through the forest with Delvi and Firenze." She answered looking up at me.
"Tell me more about your lessons." I pleaded pulling out from under her then straddling her back and massaging gently. She tensed up momentarily before relaxing fully. I must admit until that point in my life I had only given one back rub in my life and it was to Pansy. I can't even call it official because I was so appalled at touching her skin. Now, however, my hands were gliding along the smooth folds of her soft satin lacy nightgown as if I had been doing it my entire life.
"Hmmmmmm…" She mumbled happily, loosening her shoulders before speaking of Delvi. "Delvi is an Aneth. She is kinda cat-like and a distant ancestor of the Veela. That's why Ron and Harry kept stealing glances at her. Hermione didn't notice because she probably thought they were just fascinated by her rarity of complex form." I laughed at the thought of Hermoine asking the Aneth is she could interview her for a report for care of magical creatures. "She's slightly more rebellious than the other Aneths. Probably since she hangs with Firenze."
"And Firenze, how is he?" She smirked.
"I didn't remember that you had met him. In your first year, right? He rebelled against the other centaurs because he believes that humans and Centaurs should work together to help fight Voldermort." I could feel her shiver run up and down her spine as she said his name.
"What do they do when you go to them?" I asked laying atop her then rolling and pulling her back on to my chest.
"Teach, I guess. I mean they sit in a circle around me sometimes casting curses for me to attempt to deflect. I get pretty battered up sometimes and they have to hide the bruises so that my parents won't find them."
I pulled her tighter into my grasp. "That's horrible!" I burst out savagely interrupting her. I could feel a cold hate intrude my heart again and briefly a reminder of my old life at home. I felt her involuntarily shudder and I was reminded much of how my mother acted when my father came home drunk after a night out with the Death Eaters. "Sorry." I mumbled my voice faltering a bit.
"It's not all bad, like when they taught me to be an animagi."
"So that's how you knew about all the stuff down at Hogsmeade. Will you show me… perhaps tomorrow as you look pretty sleepy now."
"Perhaps I could even teach you how… Though it wouldn't happen over night and we'd probably have to go back to Hogsmeade to get some of the supplies I don't already have. For the potion part I mean. There is a complicated spell to go with it and you can't choose which animal you want to be." I heard her murmur as I pulled her back on top of me.
"What animal do you become?" I asked becoming more and more intrigued with her by the second.
"A Phoenix…" I heard her murmur as her grip on me loosened and her eyes fluttered shut and her breathing became rhythmic. Pushing a few locks of red hair from her face I thought of how much she had changed me since we had arrived this morning. Prepared for anything that could come tomorrow I closed my eyes and fell in to the deepest sleep without nightmares I had been in since I could remember*
***-
It was only a dream. I fantasized that Draco and I were so deeply in love that he wouldn't care about my special task and held me in his arms and protected me. Ha now I'm going open my eyes and see that I'm back in my bed in the fourth year girls dormitory, and that I need to switch pillows with someone who's is softer because this one is too well defined… like somebody's chest… Oh my God, it's DRACO!
I sat up rather fast staring down at him in his unbuttoned shirt with silvery bond hair falling across his face. Before I had a chance to gape any longer, Jason burst squealing through the door halfway between acting like it was Christmas morning or he was being chased. Guess two was correct. The Bloody Baron flew after him waving his arms in attempts to scare Jason. Both stopped at the sight of Draco and I lying on the couch. Jason gasped pointing at the two of us before turning on one heel and high-tailing it back to the boy's dorm. Was it just me or was the Baron a little more red than his bloody self?
Draco sat up laughing and gazing after them, before wrapping me in a hug and standing. A wave of relief followed the hug as I realized that it hadn't been just a trick or one-night-stand. I smiled and he muttered something about a shower. I stepped up the staircase and found my way in to the dorms to speak with Jason. I unlatched the dungeon looking door and stepped inside. The Bloody Baron literally blushed and Jason squeaked diving under the bed. My guess was that he had probably been punished for such happenings in the past. My eyes widened at the book of fairy tales in the Bloody Barons lap. HE had been READING them to Jason!
"Come on out Jason it's almost breakfast time." I cried in the most cheerful voice I could muster in an early morning. He peeked out from under the bed, astonished that he wouldn't be punished. I gave a reassuring smile before I turned toward the door to hide a yawn.
At that second Draco entered in only a towel. (The towel I had been using the night before) He was about to pull it off and change into some robes when he noticed I was standing next to the wardrobes. I turned a shade pinker but he just laughed.
"You probably should take the pass around the Charms corridor and then enter the great hall from outside to throw the others off," He stratigzed. I nodded transfiguring my nightgown in to some robes then threw open the window. He looked slightly confused at first but then nodded. I walked toward the window but he twirled me back with one arm and then pulled me into a kiss. I smiled against his lips as I wrapped my arms around his still dripping back. I traced down the divot of a particularly deep scar that I had seen the previous evening in Dumbledore's office until my fingers grasped the terry cloth. I glanced at him with concern but he shrugged and pointed toward the window.
I jumped from it swiftly spreading my fingers-feathers and feeling the wind catch my now light fiery wings. I caught the wind drift floating close enough to see the towel begin to slip down Draco's hips with each step he took toward the window.
I inwardly sighed as he shut it just in time smiling once more at me and turning towards the still dumbfounded Baron and Jason. I soared through the clouds and glanced at the teachers as they made their way to the great hall for breakfast. They looked so tiny through the windows that I couldn't help but laugh as I noticed Dumbledore leading the group looking much like a Head boy and some first years.
I landed transforming back from my phoenix animagi self to a windblown girl in slightly ruffled robes… Just as if I had been in the forest all night. I conjured the suede bag at my side and entered the castle. Harry and Hermoine and Ron looked up upon my entrée. Just then Draco and Jason enter the Great Hall.
"Where were you last night? Don't tell me the forest… I don't believe you." I pulled my arm out of my over protective brothers grasp.
"Back off! I'm here for breakfast… then to the owlry, then back to the forest. I have lessons to attend. My slacking could easily mean the death of your best friend over there." I hated putting Harry in the conversation, but it easily gave the affect that I was looking for from Ron. However Harry interrupted.
"You have to protect me… which must mean that you know why I am special… Tell!" He said walking up to us holding a tray with some biscuts on it.
"I have been sworn to secrecy… parts of the information they won't even tell me so that if I am caught and tortured by the Death Eaters I will be unable to give too much information…"
"And you would go through all of this for me?" Honestly a few years ago I would be screaming my head off at that but not this morning. No way. Thank Merlin for Draco!
"Really, since now that we have to sit at the Godforsaken same table do you think in the name of the Excaliber that I want to hear you and Weasley flirting? Honestly I might just puke up the few bites of breakfast I've gotten down…" He drawled on gesturing towards his still full plate, his eyes never leaving it but none the less filled with hate and a rising anger. Did my mind sense jealousy?
Suddenly my mind blurred then filled with his voice. "You wana leave? We can fake a fight."
"Perfect," I thought smiling to myself. "But how will we end it?"
"The teachers will."
"If you have a problem with Harry take it out on him personally." I said for the first time speaking aloud. "I am not here to be messed with."
"I have every right to mess with you…" He growled. Later I would congratulate him on his acting skills. The statement had brought a smirk to my face but not for the reason that the others were probably guessing. I briefly saw him return it.
"I challenge you to a fight!" I yelled. Draco paled slightly then with a fake glint of mysteriousness in his eyes he challenged back.
"A sword fight! If they've taught you anything it's how to fence." He materialized a sword covered in black gems. The sword's very hilt was a silver serpent spiraling into his clutches. The only thing that wasn't silver, black or green was a single ruby gem the color of blood protruding like poison from the serpent's fangs.
I stood awestruck as his long robes billowed backward revealing tight black pants and perfectly shined silver toed boots. Not long though. Within a moment's time I too was holding my sword that I had summoned from it's post over my bed and a similar type of robe that floated open around my suede boots and tight black pants. He stared wide eyed for a moment and I took the opportunity to strike.
***-
It's obvious that she hadn't learned to fence over night. Each strike was clean and precise. The choice of sword alone was a sign of her expertise. I was guessing that it would have gold and a few minor details on it. Instead I was surprised by an ebony black hilt. From the very tip was the engraving of a rose with short thorns, and as it reached the hilt gold and jewel embedded it wrapped it's self so that it perfectly would surround and tighten her grip, but cut into anyone else's.
I spent the first few hits avoiding being caught by her blade. When she sent it swinging a bit high, I ducked to avoid it but also take a quick glance at our audience. The others were standing back a ways, jaws wide in a mixture of horror and awe. The teachers had entered but Dumbledore had stopped them from interfering. A slight panic rose through me. What now? Ginny seemed to notice as well.
"Draco," her voice entered my head "What are we going to do? They aren't stopping us." I sighed, this was one sacrifice I would have to make.
"I'll lose." I sent in barely a whisper.
"What???!" She screeched back, echoing and silencing the cacophony of blades hitting temporarily. "No Draco. You can't!!! Harry and Ron will never let you live it down."
"Well there are no other solutions." I watched as she expertly dove under a quick swing rolling under my sword and over the flat blade of her own. The others gasped, but she rolled up grabbing her sword in the process and continued fighting unfazed.
"Cute trick."
"Thanks but that's Delvi's teaching." As if being called, Delvi's voice entered both our heads.
"Ginny, COME ON! Really now." She cried out.
"Cheering me on is not going to help, we're trying to stop fighting with out one of us being the victor and the other… well…" Ginny replied.
"I wouldn't cheer you on. Not when your fighting against a hot guy in tight pants…"
"DELVI!!!! Lay off, he's mine." Ginny exploded sending an amazingly well placed shot toward just below my hips.
"Whoa now that's one way to keep him all to your self… just cut right…"
"DEVI!!!" We both cried out in displeasure.
"OK well the real reason I am talking to you is to offer you two choices. The first is you can throw down your swords and makeout…." Silence followed this, as we both looked slightly discomposed.
"I hope your second idea is better than that, not that I'd mind making out with Draco but I can just see how much Ron and Harry would love to see that. We'd end up sending Hermoine to Saint Mungos. And your second idea is….?" Ginny added with a bit of impatience in her voice.
"Remember last week when Firenze you I and Evadeam were walking through the forest and he taught you how to… well you know."
Ginny looked relieved and smiled nodding to her self. I heard Delvi faintly mutter 'good'. And like a bird Ginny started to float out of reach of my sword. It was truly amazing and I gazed around for a rope that should have been pulling her up, but I was still uncertain how this would solve our problem until I myself began to hover.
It was hard to make it seem natural, as I had never flown with out my broom. The other fact was that every thing that was happening was completely out of my personal control. We circled around one another before charging. I was terrified we would crash into each other. The only possible way we wouldn't was if we hit swords instead. Finally it came clear that that's what she had intended. I slammed my sword into hers and a shower of sparks surrounded us.
When the sparks disappeared we were standing in the middle of the forest. Ginny dropped her sword and stared screaming and jumping up and down like her favorite Quidditch team had just won a victory.
"We did it Draco! We pulled it off. Wooo-Whoo! Yeah!" She wrapped me in a hug. Delvi and an elf that had to be Evadeam appeared congratulating her. Delvi and Ginny looked like a couple of screaming teenage muggle girls. Evadeam held an orb out to me that they must have been watching during our sword fight. It still showed the Great Hall where the final sparks from our fight had materialized into tiny gold and green gems and jewels that had scattered the Great Hall's floor.
***-
It was Firenze who placed a fake black eye on Draco and a pretend cut on my lip as to not arise suspicion on our return. Madame Profmey healed them up over our late brunch. Dumbledore had a mysterious glint in his eye as smiled and said that no punishment could be given since the school year wouldn't actually begin until that evening when the others arrived.
I was standing outside next to Draco when the new arrivals did come.
A.N. well if next times chapter had to have a title it would be New Arrivals and Old Rivals so that's your hint. I curious as to what you think every one in this story looks like. I absolutely love you guys' comments on certain characters and if anyone draws up a quick sketch with If I had You in mind please send them to me at TigerWolf_Moonbeam@Hotmail.com . If I get some perhaps I will set up a home page to put them on display. Once again, SO VERY SORRY ABOUT THE WAIT. Since Before my world came crashing down got 1 (ONE) review for it's last chapter I highly doubt you will see much more of it. Thanx to all my constant reviewers. Love ya!
TigerWolf