Journey of Time

Disclaimer: HP not mine, yada, yada, yada...

A/N: I tried and tried to think of a way to start the snogging in this chapter but unfortunately it just didn't work into the story line and I don't foresee any in the next chapter (although I could be wrong, stories sometimes have a mind of their own). Soooo, I wrote a fluffy little short story, T-R-O-U-B-L-E, just for you devoted people that have been faithfully reviewing and reading Journey. Special thanks to all of you!

Chapter 7

            Ginny wasn't out long. She felt herself lying in grass and she could hear birds chirping nearby. She made it. She tried to move before opening her eyes and panicked; she couldn't move.

            Her eyes flew open to find someone was lying on top of her. Not just someone; Draco Malfoy.

            "Gitoff, Malfoy," Ginny complained, trying to push him away. Unfortunately, he was much bigger than her and her attempts to remove him were futile.

            She saw him lean up on his elbows and shake his head to clear it. His eyes were unfocused for a moment, his expression disoriented. Ginny gave his chest another ineffective shove.

            Malfoy's eyes focused on her and he gave her a slow, lazy smile. "I'm rather comfortable, Weasley. I don't think I will,"

            Ginny glared up at his cocky smile, his head back dropped with the dazzling blue sky. She wanted to get away from him, away from here, and find Damien. Let Malfoy fend for himself, it was his own stupid fault he was here.

            "Malfoy," She seethed. "I'm warning you-"
            He arched an eyebrow, cutting her off. "You're what?" he asked, pressing his body down on hers and bringing his face closer, causing her to turn her head away. She was at a severe disadvantage. "Warning me?" He continued. "I don't think you're in a position to be making threats, little girl," He drawled, his breath hot on her ear.

            "If we stay here, we're both in danger," Ginny told him quietly, but forcefully, hoping to reason with him. Her head was still sideways; she was staring at the forest line that was not far away. She plainly remembered all the dangers that forest held.

            She could feel his eyes boring into the side of her head. The two of them seemed to lay there, silent, for an eternity.

            Finally, he rolled off her onto his side. Ginny used this to her advantage, before he changed his mind, and rocked to her feet to stand up, brushing herself off. Malfoy still lay sideways on the ground, propping himself up on an elbow. She refused to look at him, even though she knew he was watching her.

            "You knew it was a port key." Statement, not a question. Ginny only nodded. "You know where we are." Also not a question. Ginny nodded again, a bit more hesitantly.

            She had begun surveying their surroundings. The castle was still to the East but everything seemed...different.

            Of course it's different, she thought grumpily, Malfoy's here. He must have grabbed the card the same instant she had, that's why he was here too.

            Malfoy finally stood up but didn't bother brushing himself off. His messed up hair was partially hanging in his eyes and, had he been anyone else, Ginny would have thought he looked rather sexy in his snitch pajamas. Except maybe that sneer...no, that was sexy too.

            Focus! Ginny shook her head, tearing her eyes from Malfoy. "We have to get to the castle," She pointed eastward.

            "Not so fast, little weasel." Malfoy grabbed her arm as she turned to go. Ginny whipped her head around, trying to keep the anger from her face. She jerked her arm from his hand, startling him.

            "Don't touch me," She said simply, voice devoid of anger, or any other emotion for that matter. Surprisingly, he nodded curtly.

            "Where are we?" Now it was a question.

            Ginny sighed automatically, knowing he wouldn't believe her if she told him they were in the past. He'd have to see it for himself. "Hogwarts," She informed him, pointing, again, at the castle.

            "You're avoiding my question."

            "No, we need to get to the castle. You'll understand there,"

            "I don't trust you," He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. Merlin, he could do that well. When Ginny tried to raise an eyebrow she usually ended up raising both.

            Ginny, you're staring, her mind snapped her back to reality. "Join the club," she replied sarcastically, thinking about how Damien had told her that same thing repeatedly. At his unmoved expression she shrugged. "Fine, Malfoy, stay here and get your self killed for all I care," Ginny threw her hands up and began walking away. She heard Malfoy following her. Turning sharply, she eyed him wearily. "I thought you didn't trust me,"

            He continued walking past her. "Right, but I didn't say I was stupid," he called over his shoulder. "I leave that to the Gryffindors,"

            With a noise of frustration, Ginny chased after him, trying to catch up.

* * * *

            They walked in silence, which was fine for Ginny who trailed behind Malfoy who insisted on leading. She wanted to be able to hear everything around them in case bandits or riders were going to ambush them. In a way, it was comforting to have Malfoy with her; at least he was a guy who could protect her. She narrowed her eyes at that thought. Would he protect her? He was, after all, Malfoy. He'd probably run away screaming like a girl. That mental picture brought a smile to her lips.

            The forest, however, was peaceful and their excursion to the road was uneventful. It was almost pleasant, with the birds chirping the breeze barely blowing. Ginny was relieved to reach the road, however; it meant their journey was nearly complete. She studied the road, thinking it looked different somehow then she remembered it.

            "What is this?" Malfoy finally spoke. He was glaring at the road as if it offended him.

            "A road," Ginny said, looking at him as if he lost his mind.

            He cocked his head to the side, giving her his best sneer. "Really, Weasley, did you figure that all out by yourself?" He turned back to look at the road. "What I meant was," He continued before she could make a come back. "Why is there a road here? There's nothing like this around Hogwarts."

            Ginny took a deep breath, her face tinged red at his words earlier. "Malfoy, would you for once shut up and get a move on? I want to reach the castle before dark."

            He frowned at her with a barely veiled look of surprise. True, she had never spoke to him in such a way, or anyone else for that matter, but she was in a hurry and did not want to dwell on his expression. She began walking down the road, past him. He had no choice but to follow. He asked no more questions.

* * * *

            They did reach the castle before dark. Ginny quickened her pace in anticipation of seeing her friends again, forgetting for a moment that Malfoy was trailing not far behind. A hand clamped on her shoulder reminding her a moment later.

            She turned her head to the look at the hand, which was promptly removed. Ginny met Malfoy's eyes questioningly. "It's different," He was talking about the castle.

Ginny nodded. "I know," She replied. "You'll find out why,"

"I already said I don't trust you, Weasley," He cut her off, glaring past her at the castle before them.

Ginny grit her teeth in effort not to punch his lights out. "Look, I told you before you didn't have to follow me. There's nothing dangerous up there. I know what I'm doing, so either be quiet and follow me or go away," she tried to keep her voice even but she could still hear the anger in it. He was getting on her last nerve.

Not waiting for his answer she spun on her heel and began running toward the front door, leaving him to make his own decision. She slowed when she got within a few feet, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. No guards. She glanced around, wondering if she missed them or if they were patrolling nearby. Nope, nobody was around.

A sinking feeling in her stomach set in. Damien had to have survived his wound; he wouldn't have a family tree in Kiandra's journal if he hadn't. But the tree hadn't told her anything about where he lived or if de Ferrers' men had won the battle she disappeared in the middle of. What if the Despencers were no longer here?

Ginny stood in front of the closed door, staring at it. She was attempting to take deep breaths and calm her wild imagination. De Ferrers' men could have been defeated and now there was no reason for guards. She liked that thought better so she hung onto it.

"Why are you staring at the door?" Malfoy's voice behind her brought her crashing back to reality. She didn't turn.

"There used to be guards here," Ginny said aloud, knowing it would make no sense to him. "I guess I should knock," She stepped forward and grabbed the large brass ring that served as a knocker. She was about to knock when she heard giggling voices off to the left of the castle. She paused, listening intently for the sound again. "Isabel!" Ginny grinned, turning and pushing past Malfoy who was blocking her way.

Ginny jogged toward the sound, her smile growing. It sounded as if the whole family was just around the corner in the gardens. She didn't even turn to see if Malfoy was with her.

She was about to turn the corner when someone came around first. A little someone. A little girl, no more than four, came running full tilt around the corner and slammed into Ginny's leg. Ginny had to lean down and catch the girl before she fell over. Ginny's brow creased as she stared at the little one's laughing face. Familiar gray eyes...

Her thoughts were cut off by the appearance of another giggling person, this time an older boy, closer to seven. "Anne!" he called, just before turning the corner. He stopped and gaped at Ginny who was now squatting by the little girl. "What are you doing?" He cried, taking a step toward them, reaching for the little girl. Ginny barely had time to notice that he had similar gray eyes and strawberry blond hair before he yelled at the top of his lungs. "Daaaaaaaad!"

Ginny blinked, standing up, unsure how to react. There hadn't been young kids here before; this was strange. Feeling disoriented, she stumbled backward a step to be steadied by Malfoy. Once again, she had forgotten he was there. His hand quickly left her elbow when she had her balance.

The young boy had grabbed the laughing little girl and was pulling her away from Ginny and Malfoy while calling for his dad. Ginny heard the sound of pounding footsteps running toward them. She watched the corner of the wall, holding her breath, waiting.

A man came around the corner, concerned expression on his face. He looked from Ginny to his son then did a double take back to Ginny. She forgot to breathe. It was Damien. Not the Damien she knew from a week ago, but a grown up, thirty-year-old Damien, staring at her as if he didn't believe his eyes. Ginny didn't want to believe hers.

"Ginny?" Damien's voice hadn't changed.

She nodded, feeling her whole body going numb. Her thought process seemed choppy and she knew she couldn't fully process what was happening. Bright spots started appearing before her eyes. Breathe, her head reminded her. Ginny exhaled slowly, feeling the urge to vomit subside. She still couldn't tear her eyes away from Damien.

He wasn't looking at her now; he seemed to be looking over her shoulder. Ginny frowned wondering what he was looking at. She turned and almost slapped herself in the forehead. Duh, Draco Malfoy was behind her. The mirror image of Damien at seventeen. Malfoy was sizing up the older version of himself with mere curiosity. Could nothing upset this boy's demeanor?

Ginny turned back to Damien. "Uh, he's a...friend. He came back with me by mistake. I, um..." She trailed off, not knowing how to continue. I came back to say goodbye? There was more to it than that and she knew it.

But what had she expected? To come back and have Damien fall at her feet? To get married and live happily ever after in the 15th century?

She was saved however because at that moment another two people appeared from around the corner. "Dear, what is going on?" A woman with long fiery hair carrying a small boy came around the corner.

Ginny tried to hide her gasp but it escaped anyway. Remembering the name from Kiadra's family tree, Ginny whispered to herself, "Eleanor," Ginny thought that she could be looking at herself in a mirror in ten years.

Eleanor Despencer stared at the two newcomers with a pleasant smile. The seven year old was hiding behind her skirt while the young girl was begging for Damien to pick her up. He did, without taking his eyes off Ginny.

"Hullo," Eleanor greeted them. Ginny and Malfoy remained silent, causing Eleanor to frown.

"Ella, take the kids inside and tell the cook to prepare two more plates. We have company tonight," Damien finally turned away from them to look at his wife. She nodded and set the boy in her arms down to take Anne. The four of them left around the corner leaving Damien alone with Ginny and Malfoy.

Damien smiled but Ginny could tell it was forced. Disappointment washed over her as she realized that her coming here was upsetting his life. She looked at the ground, suddenly unable to meet his eyes.

"How?" He asked what she was sure was the most pressing question in his mind.

"That's what I'd like to know," Malfoy added from behind her. Ginny decided to ignore him.

Without looking up she responded, "Kiandra made another card, like the one she told me about," she paused, now looking at Damien to see if he knew what she meant. He nodded quickly, indicating he did. Ginny gave a quick explanation of the journal and what was inside it, leaving out the family tree details. "I realized I never got to say goodbye since I didn't know the spell was ending..." She trailed off, unsure of what else to say to explain herself.

Malfoy made a noise of disgust. "So where are we?" He asked, looking from Damien to Ginny.

"Hogwarts..." Ginny replied quietly. "Just a different year,"

"The year of our Lord, 1460, to be exact," Damien offered. "It's been ten years, Ginny. Ten years."

Ginny blinked back the tears that were threatening. "I didn't know that," She stopped herself because she was starting to sound whiney.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up." Malfoy put his hands in the shape of a T. "Time out, one minute. We're in the year 1460? And it's been ten years since what, exactly?" He glared from Ginny to Damien.

Damien frowned. "You didn't tell him before the two of you came back?"

Ginny sighed in frustration. "No, he wasn't supposed to come back, he just grabbed the card the same time I did. No one knows about the first time,"

Malfoy looked at her intently. "The first time?" he asked, starting to sound incredulous. "There was a first time? You've traveled in time before?" He was also starting to sound very condescending.

"Stuff it, Malfoy, I don't need any grief from you," Ginny was starting to lose her temper. First she was in the wrong time now she had Malfoy all over her case.

"You two are friends?" Damien looked rather amused. Ginny only continued to glare at Malfoy who glared right back. "I see. Well, Malfoy, you and Ginny are welcome to stay in my home as long as you need. As much as it may not appear so, I am happy to see you again, Ginny. I missed you." His eyes looked sad as he turned them on her again. "Come, let's go in. Dinner should be ready soon."

Having little other choice, Ginny and Malfoy followed Damien into the castle. Inwardly, Ginny felt herself falling to pieces. Not only was Draco Malfoy with her, she ended up in the wrong time. She struggled to remember when she thought everything about coming back seemed to be going her way. That was a distant, fading thought. Now, it seemed, this trip was destined to be doomed.

And just how did they plan on getting back?

A/N: Okay, I know it's rather short, sorry, but I'm busily working on the next one, it should be up soon. Please take a moment to review, it lights up my day!