A/N: Here we go, chapter four! Hopefully it should get more interesting. I think I might ditch the plot I was going to do, and just go with the flow. Don't worry, I'll figure something out! And this one got out faster than the last one! Hooray! Also, I'm leaving for vacation on Saturday, so unless I manage to pump out another chapter before them, this will be the last one for a few weeks. Sorry! But I'll see if I can talk my muse into something reasonable.
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter Universe is the property of JK Rowling and companies not belonging to me.
Ginny slammed out of the Great Hall, and exited the main entrance. As it was Sunday, there were no classes to be had, and therefore the grounds should have been swarming with students. But it was a gray day of a Sunday, one that made you want to curl up in a small, secluded corner and sleep. No one but the insane (or the Gryffindor Quidditch team) would want to be out in this weather. But Ginny was one of the few who appreciated dreary days, and was hoping to stanch her anger.
She walked over to the lake, and gently dragged her fingers across the surface, attracting the giant squid to swim in the shallows. She stroked one long tentacle gingerly, and then watched in silence as it floated across to the other shore. The water temperature was pleasant, unusual for the season, and under other circumstances would've been nice for a swim.
Or nice to throw irksome older brothers in.
Not for the first time, she fervently wished she had her little black book to confide in. Tom would understand her, he always did.
Oh Tom, just one sign! Please!
She crouched in silence, watching her reflection in the water. Her outline was blurred and fuzzy, like a picture out of focus. She stayed until she saw another figure, gradual getting bigger. She turned around, and saw Draco striding towards her.
She licked her lips. If Ron was being a prat today, at least she could have a little fun. I wonder what he wants . . .
Draco smirked as he casually strolled towards her. She was waiting for him, he could tell. Her eyes were large and wet, reminding him of a doe's. But he was not fooled by the outside appearance; she knew a fire was raging under those brown orbs. And if he could aggravate it in the right direction, he could use her to his advantage.
"Hello Ginny. Make anyone cry today?"
She smiled slowly, narrowing her eyes. "Not yet. Would you like to be first on the list?"
He laughed. "No thank you. I've seen you when you've been upset; it's not a pretty sight." He paused. "Actually, since you're so ravishing, it was a beautiful sight indeed."
She knew he was just trying to flatter her, but a blush still crept surreptitiously into the apples of her cheeks. The pink of it, instead of clashing, seemed to compliment her hair.
Draco gracefully lowered himself to the ground on the shore beside her. He rolled up his sleeves.
"Nice day for a swim, eh?"
Ginny didn't say anything.
"Ginny?"
She was staring, gaze focused on his left forearm.
Draco convulsively rolled up his sleeves, turning his head away, and mentally giving himself a vicious diatribe.
You dumbass! You idiotic wet prat! It was supposed to be a secret, you know what they said! God, I hope no one finds out about this. But the girl may say something! What would father do?
He turned to look at Ginny, preparing to give her a small memory charm, just strong enough to forget the sight she had just seen. But to his amazement, she didn't seem disturbed. She was gazing at him with a mix of awe and adoration, and the slightest hint of . . . longing?
"You know him?"
Draco nearly started. Why would she want to know? And why was she giving him that peculiar look? Should he tell the truth? And why did she look so hungry for the knowledge?
Would she want to see him, too?
After hesitating a bit, he finally uttered a small, but no less forceful, "yes."
She leaned over, and in a touch that suddenly felt too tender and innocent, reached for his arm. While doing so, her blouse fell slightly open, revealing the soft swell of her breasts and an ample supply of her cleavage. Draco took a deep breath, and tried to control his body's reaction; she was dangerously close to his lap, and would surely notice.
She took one of her long, pale fingers and gently traced the outline of the skull, then drug the tip along the emerald curl of the snake.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
Draco's eyes widened. Was this really little Ginny Weasley, daughter of mudblood-loving Arthur Weasley, and practically a sister to the Git-Who-Lived?
Could she really be a supporter?
He looked at her again. That expression was back. It was as if she was trying to remember something from a long time ago, and couldn't recall exactly what she wanted.
She raised her large brown eyes until they met his icy gray ones. "Could you take me to him?"
* * * * * *
What was that? Ginny did a double take at the image she saw imprinted on Draco's left forearm. The Dark Mark!
It was another blurred memory, like a photograph with water spilled on it. She saw his arm.
"Tom, what's that?"
He glanced at the point she was gesturing towards. "Oh, that?" he said, with a slight grin. "That's to show how strongly I feel. I have so much conviction in what I told you, so I put this on to show everyone just how serious I am."
She smiled. "That's great Tom! And it's so pretty. Can I have one too?"
He chuckled merrily, and tweaked her nose. "Don't worry sweetheart, you'll get yours someday too."
Ginny traced the outline of Draco's mark.
Could this be it? She thought. Tom, after so long, is this finally my sign?
Draco had the mark. That meant that he had saw Tom, or at least the form of Tom that existed now. But he was still the same old Tom, her Tom. Draco knew him. Draco had seen him. How could one person be so lucky?
Think, Ginny. Use this to your advantage. You have, in your hands, a boy of seventeen, who can take you to Tom. An ignorant, easy to manipulate teenage boy. Do this right and he will take you to Tom.
She licked her lips slowly, and looked back up at Draco's face, biting her lip. She made big, sad eyes at him, an expression she knew to be very attractive, hoping to appeal to his "lower-brain." She took a deep breath.
"Could you take me to him?"
A little short, I know, but the next one will be longer. Tom should be making his appearance in chapter five or six . . . I can't wait! This is really fun to write (well, when I get inspiration). My Draco Malfoy action figure is my muse, so he's helping me along. He sits on my computer and calls me a mudblood ;)
Thank you . . .
Wednesday Adams (I noticed that too! Everyone makes a big deal about his b-day, but he doesn't give a flobberworm's ass about theirs!) bri (More Gin'n'Tonic to come!)
Missy-chan (Thanks! I'm glad you like it) Dazma (Yes, right up where the sun don't shine! ^_^) Siren (Nah, he'd be a disgrace to the Slytherin house. But hey, at least he'd be miserable!) Caroline X (Evil Gin ROCKS!) ~*pinkpanther*~ a.k.a. skyblupink (I don't know how he lived either) Nala /Ethereal (Thank you!)