Kinda a boring chapter, just warning you. You guys have to review!! It's my motivation. Flame for all I care, but I want reviews! Anyhow, here's chapter 10.
"So in conclusion, Uric the Oddball was convicted of many things, but always managed to elude punishment."
Draco scratched away with his quill, writing down this last sentence. When he was done, he looked up. "Thanks. You make history sound so much more exciting than old Professor Binns."
Charlie grinned. "Well, I think anybody could, really."
Draco returned the smile. "I can't believe I just complimented a Weasley," he thought to himself." But in reality, the seven days he had spent with the ghost that was supposed to be "haunting" him were fun. Being an only child, he had never had someone to talk to over the summer except for his father. Draco scowled inwardly. He remembered that he had like talking to his father. But Charlie was like the older brother he never had.
Charlie was saying something. "What?" Draco asked.
"I was just inquiring as to whether or not you had written to Ginny yet? I want her to know that some form of me still exists."
Draco winced. He was trying to avoid that duty. "Er-I haven't gotten around to it yet…"
"Draco!"
"What?" Draco snapped.
"A deal's a deal. Come on, you owe me. I've only been helping you with your Quidditch and homework for seven days now. I think it's time for some repayment."
"You can go visit her."
"Nice try, Draco. Even with your permission, I still have to haunt you, that is, until my death is avenged. Then I'm free to leave."
"So it's either kill Voldemort or write to your sister?"
"That's right."
"Want to start teaching me the Killing Curse?"
"Draco!"
"Okay, okay." Draco sighed, resigned to his fate. "What do you want me to tell her?"
"Well, maybe you could tell her that I'm haunting you, for starters," Charlie said jokingly.
"Do all Weasleys have a rotten sense of humor?" Draco muttered under his breath.
"I heard that! Well, anyhow, you're going to have to sound convincing, or she'll think you've gone bananas. Arrange to meet with her somewhere."
"I am not sneaking out of my house to fraternize with a Weasley!" Draco said, outraged.
"Calm down! Why not try to go to Diagon Alley at the same time? Then you can talk to her in a store, no questions asked. It's as simple as that."
Draco stared at Charlie. He wondered if he was really going to do it. Then he saw Charlie's eyes. They were filled with hope, and he knew he owed Charlie anyhow.
"Fine." He sighed. What had he gotten himself into?
* * *
Ginny stared up at the ceiling. She was starting to feel boredom ease into her mind. She mentally kicked herself.
"How can you be bored when your brother's dead?" She felt horrible, but at the same time, she still wanted to do something. She sighed as she watched Ron open and walk out her back door. She had noticed that he had seemed less depressed than she was, and she hated him for it. She was avoiding him and most of the others in her family. She thought back to the time her mother had tried talking to her about Charlie.
"Ginny, sweetheart, I think it's time you come out of your room," her mother had pleaded.
"I don't want to. I can't believe you all have forgotten Charlie so quickly!"
"Ginny, we haven't. But we need to get on with our lives."
"Yea, we have that privilege, and Charlie doesn't. Just leave me alone, mother! Go away, please."
Her mother had actually left the room, which surprised Ginny. What bugged Ginny the most was that her mother hadn't scolded her for being so immature. Ginny knew she was, but no one told her off for it. How was she supposed to get over Charlie's death if no one was to help her?
Ginny whirled around at a sudden tap at her window. She walked toward it and saw a huge barn owl hovering there. Curious, she opened her window and let the owl fly in.
It landed on her bed and stretched out its leg. She obediently took the letter and started to read it.
Weasley,
Hello. It's Draco Malfoy. You may or may not remember me. I'm a Slytherin, and your brother, your boyfriend, and I are always arguing. Anyhow, I'm not writing this letter to discuss acquaintances. I have important news for you. I was there when your brother was murdered in cold blood, and I swear on my purebloodedness, that I was ready to fall down and weep when my father killed him. I was the last person your brother saw. So, according to him, there's some type of special bond between us, and now he haunts me. Yes, your brother haunts me. Really. I see him everyday, whether I want to or not. We have a deal between us, and my end of the deal is to tell you this: we need to meet when you go to Diagon Alley next, so you can see Charlie. That's it. I need to know exactly when you're going, if you want to see your brother.
Malfoy
P.S. Charlie would like to add that he wants you to keep this a secret now. He also sends his love to you and all of your family. I would like to add, that if you're moping over him, get over it. He's very much still here, and damn annoying, too.
Ginny had to read the letter three times over to process it, and she still had so many questions. Was this a joke? Why on earth was Malfoy writing to her? Was Charlie really alive? Why would Malfoy pretend he was? And did he really expect her to believe him about his sadness at Charlie's death? And why was Malfoy the one to tell her what she had been waiting to hear from anyone else? It just didn't make sense. And lastly, despite all this, why was she ready to believe him?
Ugh, bad ending. Anyone want to beta for me? Please? Let me know. R/R please!!