Cold Comfort
Tip of the Iceberg
"What do you want?" Draco Malfoy hissed angrily, Ginny hiccupped in fear despite herself.
"Uh-well, I-I…"
"Oh, how very glib, Weasley. Did you come after me to work on your vocabulary or just to amuse me?" at his words Ginny bit her lip and straightened up, to her full height of-not very much. She still only reached his upper chest.
"I came to say thank you, actually."
His look at her was both incredulous and suspicious, "What on earth are you talking about?"
"Last night." Ginny ventured timidly and he stayed silent. "I'm not wrong am I? Was it someone else?"
"You'd like that, you would wouldn't you? If you hero Potter had saved you? You'll have settle for second best." The anger was undeniably flaring up in his eyes, heating them up like a kiln with pottery and Ginny actually shrank back.
"It was you! I know, because you're getting so upset!"
"I'm not getting upset." Draco gritted his teeth and she shrugged the action, seemingly harmless blew his temper past its safety gauges. "You want to know something, Weasley? Your saviour almost did save you, but scurried off to his mudblood of a girlfriend." Ginny drew back even further but he reached out and gripped her upper arm, "So I guess you're right, you are invisible to him, and everyone else."
Ginny squeaked trying to wrench her arm out of his grip but contrary to what everyone thought, he wasn't the new Slytherin quidditch team captain for nothing. "You have no right to use that against me!"
"Oh, really? How are you going to stop me? I could tell the whole school."
"They wouldn't believe you," that was the only thing Ginny had said so far with total confidence.
"Are you positive about that? There would be little seeds of doubt, 'Oh, what if for once in his useless life, Malfoy was telling the truth?' Consider that." Draco couldn't recall the last time he had reacted to someone so emotionally, something about her following him, even just to express gratitude boiled his blood inside it's veins. Then a face peeped around the corner and then the rest of the body followed, jumping out into the light from the lit torch.
"W-whose there?" It was Neville Longbottom. Groaning simultaneously the pair looked over at him, Neville saw Ginny and his face lit up. Draco nearly choked on laughter, Ginny whipped around to glare at him, then turned to look at Neville with a small but obviously forced smile.
"Neville, what are you doing down here?" she tried to ask gently,
"I saw you leaving…and…" This was too much for Draco who practically collapsed on the nearest thing, which, conveniently was Ginny, he slung an arm as a rest for his forehead on her shoulder and continued shaking with laughter. "S-s-shut up, M-malfoy! You're n-n-nothing but a big b-b-b-bully!" Choking back fresh bout of laughter, Draco straightened and moved past Ginny, closer to a suddenly smaller and meeker looking Neville.
"If I'm such a bully, Longbottom, I'll have no problem hexing you," with that Draco pulled out his wand and pointed it straight at the sudden frozen stiff with fear Neville. Ginny shrieked and jumped at Draco from behind, trying to distract him. "Petrificus Totalus" Neville fell back as stiff as a board onto the cold ground.
"A body bind, Malfoy? I thought you were supposed to be a Dark Wizard or something." Draco tucked his wand away, ignoring Ginny's unusually snide yet decidedly shaky remark.
"In order for me to kill someone, they have to matter."
"Oh, that just puts everything in perspective." Ginny muttered going over to Neville, kneeling and gently prodded his stiff body with her forefinger. Then she paused, his words sinking in, straightened with a gulp she looked right at him with her lower lip beginning to tremble. "Are you saying you have killed someone?"
"I don't think I have to tell you anything," he said glowering at her; Ginny thought he looked even more intimidating that usual shrouded in the shadows.
"I think I have a right for you to tell me! I am standing a corridor all alone with you." Ginny said this nervously as he strode forward to stop at the otherside of the prone body.
"Don't be stupid, Weasley. You have Longbottom to keep you company." At this, he kicked lightly at the leg of the unfortunate boy. "Besides, you don't matter, not to me, not to anyone." A retort was on the edge of her tongue but it died away as he turned to leave,
"You're just going to leave me-uh, us here like this?" Ginny asked timidly
"I'm sure you can manage to counter it. It'll be your greatest event of life. Weasley conquers Malfoy's curse, that is if you could." With that, he melodramatically swept his robes about him and headed down the corridor.
After a few stunned moments of disbelief Ginny clambered back to her feet, staggering slightly in the dark and gripped her wand, "Lumos." Racing after him, damn her shorter legs and then grabbed his robes with a shaking hand.
"Keep your grubby fingers off my robes, Weasley!" Draco roared trying to rip himself away, she had a stronger grip on the material than expected.
"No! You undo that hex right now or I'll-" It was right then when Ginny saw his wand coming up, he hadn't even bothered tucking in back into his robes, now it was pointed right in-between her eyes and judging by the look in his eyes. He was so…she didn't know what it was but she thought briefly that her life was about to end, or that she was about to be seriously maimed. But then she saw the trembling of his hand, the hand holding the wand, "Draco?" Ginny whispered, his first name seemed appropriate to use, to use a touch of familiarity, his eyes flickered and just for a moment the Malfoy mask was dropped and she thought she saw something different but then his eyes steeled and closed up like the family vault at Gringotts.
"I'm not going to kill you," he muttered through gritted teeth and forced his wand to lower, "not right now anyway." Draco whipped the wand back up and muttered another word so fast Ginny couldn't catch it, her hair immediately fell down along her shoulders and back, shocked she stood there as he strode off once more, not running after him this time. There was something underneath that horrible exterior, after all he couldn't even accept gratitude and the most normal person could, but Draco Malfoy wasn't normal, he was unfamiliar territory that Ginny wondered if she could explore and get out before it was too late. Only moments before she had only scraped the tip of the iceberg, there was a lot of ice submerged under water.
* * * * *
The next few days passed without event, Neville had been released by Ginny, who had immediately escaped afterwards, going to hurl herself onto her bed in her otherwise empty dorm room, all the while thinking that she would never ever understand guys. They were the most frustrating, not to mention weird, creatures on this earth, that muggle saying was true, can't live with them, and can't live without them. The latter part of the saying was the thing that she wished wasn't so true, she knew enough about sex and that and all of that to not be so disillusioned as to think women could live without men. Funny that a few days later she was once again in that position in an empty dorm room, Ginny had been trying to ask around about Malfoy all day, but all she got from her fellow Gryffindor's was the same sort of comment.
"A slimy son of a bitch!" (Harry, who had been suprisingly awkward around her when she finally managed to corner him) Thinking of Harry reminded her that she wanted to find out if Malfoy's words were true, that he had left her there to go to Hermione, but while she had been pondering a way to bring the subject up he had escaped. "The most vile person, and student ever, it's unfortunate there's brains under there somewhere." (Hermione, who had her nose in a book as always) and of course there was her ever 'placid' brother. "Gin, you know me well enough to know my views on that, but since it's a chance to rag on Malfoy..." Ron had then proceeded to bitch about Draco for about ten minutes. Ginny didn't actually know how long her brother had gone on because she had slipped up to her room, sighed heavily and collapsed on the bed where she was still lying.
"Is everything this complicated?" she asked herself, her voice muffled by the pillow as she contemplated the last week with a sense of detachment. It was quite strange, in the last week she had, had more contact with Draco Malfoy then she had ever before and Ginny was absolutely certain that there was to be a lot more for her to try and uncover. She would have to try a more direct approach; less then throwing herself at him she'd have to actually try and have a conversation with his goons, Crabbe and Goyle; rumours were that they were incapable of stringing a proper sentence between them. The hulking pair didn't seem to have any magical powers that they had demonstrated, average wizards with a worse brain; maybe they passed a brain cell between them, how on earth had they gotten into Hogworts?
The lunch hour would end soon; she needed to catch some fresh air so it was down to the flower gardens she went to sit and contemplate about this new curiousness she was developing for a member of the family that her very own hated. If that was all that was developing, even she would be angry at herself if she ever started liking Draco Malfoy, not to mention Ron would yell at her; Harry would be bewildered (he seemed to be that a lot lately) and Hermione would become even more insufferable, if that was even possible. Barely suppressing a shudder at the idea of that, Ginny reached out and gently traced the outline of a rose with her fingertip, the pink blossom nuzzled her hand and soon she practically had the flower in her lap.
"What's this then? Flowers bowing to a Weasley, don't you feel special?" A nasty tone invaded the sweet silence that had ensued for the last ten minutes. Ginny glanced up to see Pansy Parkinson sneering, her ugly pug face looking even more distorted than usual.
"What do you want, Pansy?" The younger girl spoke; voice quiet with resignation. The Slytherin laughed. It was a bitter bark of a laugh, mirthless and disbelieving.
"What do I want? I want you to stop occupying my air space you disgusting muggle-loving filth. You and your family take up precious space. Even if there's only two of you left here. Oh, my bad, four Weasley's. What with the honorary Weasels, Potter and Mudblood Granger." Pansy looked extremely satisfied and Ginny looked down, anger surging through her resolve to ignore her as quickly as the robes on her back were withstanding the summer sunshine beating harshly on her back. The family insult was the one that really got her blood boiling, the dream team could have their problems and eat them too.
The silence was eating away at her insides; the triumph emitting from the girl in front of her and the sudden brittle and dry feeling in her eyes, her throat was tightening up. It was hard to swallow and her stomach was beginning to hurt from all the repressed emotion charging through her veins.
"Oh, Weasley! You're not crying are you?" Pansy asked in disgust, the malice emanating solidly from her words. "I swear, after every shame your family has encountered; you'd all have thicker hides, but obviously you have a shred of humility as you are turning incredibly red, if I do say--"
"--so who wrote the insults for you, Ms Parkinson? 'Cause I'm sure you couldn't think enough to say those from you're own mind." The sharp words could've only come from one person, and one person only; twisting around in her seat she saw the familiar shock of hair, glinting with even higher red highlights then it usually did. Funnily enough, the vision of another beloved Weasley was blurred, then hastily wiping at her eyes Ginny saw it was not Ron but another brother (she had a lot, you see)
"Who do you think you are?"
"I am a guest here, young lady. So I suggest that you watch your words with me!" the somewhat helpful sounds of Pansy storming off in a terrible huff. Bill Weasley crouched down in front of his baby sister with a sympathetic look, not a pitying, sympathetic; he was good at making sure there was a difference.
"Are you okay, Gin? That girl was pretty rough on you, huh?"
"You don't need to be nice. Go on, tell me I'm too old to be crying." Ginny said staring stubbornly down at the ground now,
"Hey, it's only Ron that is that horrible. You're never to old to cry, besides; where is that horrible brother of yours? Your favourite wants to see him."
"Talking about yourself other than the first person isn't healthy, come to think of it-neither is working with Goblins so much."
"You shut up kid, before I make you." Bill threatened good-naturedly, messing up her already unruly hair. Despite the dried tears still lurking in the back of her throat, where it ached from holding the little droplets in so fiercely Ginny felt much better since the arrival of one of her long missed brothers. But why on earth why was he at Hogworts once more? The last time he had been there, and it was the last time she had actually seen him in the flesh was at the Triwizard Tournament back in her third year. Something was happening, she was sure of it. With a deeply burdened sigh she took his offered hand and let herself be pulled to her feet, something else to try and figure out.
* * * * *
…Meanwhile…
* * * * *
Draco
Your mother and I are concerned. Apparently a Weasley, yes another, has been brought into Hogworts for some reason and I want you to find out what exactly is he doing there. Oh and by the way, your birthday is coming up, send an owl back stating what you would like. I know you detest suprises, just like your father. Find out about that Weasley as soon as possible, as I also detest aforementioned suprises.
Your father
Lucius Malfoy
The seventh year Slytherin growled in response to the unfolded piece of parchment in front of him on the desk, that was his father's idea of a loving letter. I'll have you know that I do have certain affection for surprises-oh bloody hell, I'm even thinking like that man now. Draco would also be willing to bet that his mother was not concerned as long as it didn't interrupt her renovating of the East Wing, that had been her birthday present; an entire wing to redecorate to her tastes. Lucius Malfoy had only granted that because he never went to the East Wing himself, a fine gift for his wife. Almost gagging at the thought of something generous having to do with his father, Draco swept the letter from the desk and looked over at his father's owl.
"I'll send my own."
The black owl flew out the window immediately after his words and Draco placed his forehead squarely on his desk. It was lunchtime, he had seen the sun outside while walking through the courtyard, trying to keep to shade as much as possible and down in his room, thankfully a single, he could feel no trace of the heat. Another Weasley? At Hogworts, one of the elder ones obviously, that Head Boy one was at the Ministry of Magic, he knew that much, the bothersome twins opened a shop, he also knew that, that left two others. Ignoring the sudden hot flush of blood to his head thinking about the Weasley's, some of it anger, some unknown emotion and some of it was confusion at the very unknown emotion he couldn't decipher.
"…In order for me to kill someone…"
"…Draco?"
"…They have to matter…"
His wand hand was trembling and he started repeating to himself over and over that the wand coming up to meet the middle of the skin between her eyebrows was just a defense mechanism.
"…I'm not going to kill you…not right now anyway…"
A shout of frustration spelt the end of his memory, catching on that the shout had come from himself. Draco lifted his head and looked at his bed, but somehow knowing his dreams would reveal something he did not want to see nor think about he would experience in that dream he was sure to have. Pulling off his school jumper he rolled his sleeves up to his elbows and loosened the ever aggravating tie, leaving his room he clatter down the stairs, feeling almost childish at making such a racket, but it couldn't be helped. He was entitled to a little immaturity as his childhood could be named anything but. Draco passed Pansy and her little friends, only half taking in their shrieks of laughter and mocking voices then he stopped, almost skidding right into the wall.
"What?"
The group of girls stared open-mouthed at him.
"Stop staring, closes your mouths and explain to me what you're talking about!"
Temper fraying he folded his arms staring impatiently at the group who had suddenly lost their tongues. After a sharp movement of his eyebrows they shifted, mildly shocked out of their stupor.
"Ah, right…" Pansy, flustered, bumbled over her words and explained the story, something about upsetting the Weasley girl. Staring thoughtfully at the Slytherin girl in the middle of the bunch, Draco nodded and carried on, formulating a plan to get rid of the thoughts of a certain pesky Weasley. He'd learn everything he could until he was sick of her, it was simple but genius, Draco only hoped it would work properly and then he could-'What in the blazes? Walls moving around here too? What bloody next?' It was a rather soft wall, and the 'wall' was now on the ground staring up at him with a wide-eyed deer-in-muggle-car-headlights look in her eyes.
"Weasley!"