Holy cow! I'm now up to 24 reviews...I can't even express my joy. And they're all nice
reviews, too! You are all my heroes. I encourage anybody who's enjoying my story to go
check out my reviewer's stuff, as I've read samples from each of them and am very impressed.
KeeperOfTheMoon (twice, how great! Thanks for coming back to read my fourth chapter!),
Lynn-chan (again, you're so funny. Very hyper, too.), cherries, animegirl-mika (for the
second time, thanks bunches!), PATIENCE101 (for the third and fourth time...I think you
win the most reviews award), kaze (again! I like the lullaby, too), Annie Christopher
(again as well and another fan of the lullaby), Grania the fire witch, sky, and Krista
of StarTress (told you I'd update by Monday night!). You guys are fantastic!
Extra special thanks goes to animegirl-mika and Annie Christopher for reading and reviewing
my other story, Shine, crappy though it may be. Kudos for managing to get through it without puking!
All right, on to other business:
First up, the few non-English words in the lullaby are Gaelic, I believe. One of the reasons I chose the
lullaby is that I imagine the Weasley's to have a lot of Irish in their blood, so I figured a Celtic
lullaby would by appropriate. So there's the answer to that question.
Second: Thanks for waiting for me to post this chapter. It's a little bit longer than the previous
ones, but I didn't have time to proof it as carefully as I usually do, so please forgive and mistakes.
Also, I did rush a bit with a few parts and I'm not altogether happy with them. So if I get a few spare
moments in the future, I may edit this chapter further.
Third: Hopefully I'll be able to continue updating at the very least every other day for this week,
but next week is exams, so I'll be a bit preoccupied with that. However, afterwards is Christmas hols,
so I promise many a long chapters in that interim. Just giving you all fair warning.
Fourth: I have no idea why my computer is formatting so strangely. Any advice on the matter would
be greatly appreciated. Im currently running a virus scan, but it's going to be awhile, so I figured
I'd post this, warts and all.
Hmm, I think that's it. Sorry that took so long, just had to clear up a few things. Thanks for all
of your support and PLEASE keep the reviews coming. They're my motivation to continue writing and
are all phenomenally helpful. Now, on with the show!
Disclaimer: Not mine, neither is Destruction of the Seven Endless, he belongs to Neil Gaimen and can be
found in the graphic novel series, "The Sandman". Check it out.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
"What...what are you doing here?" Ginny was proud that she kept most of the tremor out of her
voice.
"Now there's a stupid question, isn't it, Weasel? I'm here because I was following you, obviously.
Although I didn't expect to have the great fortune of being the only person alive ever to see
you open your mouth." sneered Draco, the sarcasm dripping from his lips.
"Please...leave me alone. I swear last night I was just confused ...I heard a scream...I was
trying to help." she stammered
A light leapt into his eyes and he took three great strides toward her.
"Of course! Ever the Gryffindor at heart, aren't we? Too brave and valient to leave me well
enough alone and mind your own damn business!"
Ginny's eyes widened and any thought of fear was lost as she realized what he had just subtley
admitted too.
"So it really was you that I heard! When I saw you there I thought I must have made some sort of
mistake...I...I didn't think that you could make a noise that human."
Deep chocolate eyes stared up at him, disregarding fear of hands and eyes alike, boring into his
head until Draco felt quite exposed and quickly looked away.
"Well you're right Weasley, you WERE wrong. It wasn't me. I suppose Ms. Gryffindor abandoned some
poor wretch to lonrliness or worse because she was so busy obsessing over Potter that she couldn't
follow a noise correctly!" That came out harsher than he'd meant it, but he'd had to cover up for
his momentary weakness.
Stunned, she staggered backward as if by some physical blow. Then she visibly took hold of
herself. She would not let Draco Malfoy do this to her and she wouldn't hide from his stare.
It was one thing to fade into the background because that's what everyone expected of you.
It was quite another to be bullied into cowering. Ginny had often wondered why the Sorting
Hat had placed her (apparently) meek little soul into the House of a lion's courage. Had she
seen the fire that sprang into her eyes at that moment, she would have had her answer.
"Say what you want, Malfoy." she spit the words at him. "But I know the truth now. Every one
else knows that you're a liar, a prat and a spiteful bastard. But I know something so much
worse. I know what I heard in that scream, Draco Malfoy. I heard pain. I heard sorrow. I heard
fear." Her face was flushed and her breath was coming quickly. Her eyes flashed daggers and she
was scared spitless at the words that were pouring out of her mouth, but she was powerless to
stop the flood. "Be careful Malfoy. I know your 'dirty' little secret. You may keep it hidden
from your so-called friends. You may hide it from your disgrace of a father...but you can't mask
it from me. You feel human emotions just like the rest of us 'mere mortals' and what you've been
feeling is terror. You're a coward, Draco Malfoy. I don't know what you're afraid of, but you're
a coward all the same!"
Now it was his turn to stumbled backward, but as he did his foot caught on the edge of a tuba
and he sat down hard on the cold floor. When he looked up and saw her advancing figure, he
caught his breath. Lit from behind, her hair seemed to glow with all the fires of Hell. Her
eyes stabbed into his head and he felt that she knew every secret hope, fear or desire that he
had locked away in the darkest corner of his brain. She lifted her arms, gesticulating in a
graceful rage as her tirade continued on and the light silhouetted her, lending an otherworldly
gleam to her shape. She looked like the first Goddess of War, like the personification of
nature's wrath, like Destruction of the seven Endless...and as she drew closer to him, Draco
felt a stab of fear worming its way into his heart. At least, until what she had been saying
suddenly became clear to him.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ginny's words cut off abruptly. The room around her screamed in silence except for the roaring
of the blood in her veins, as she was staring at the most terrifying thing in her world. She had
seen herself ranting at Draco in a sort of third person. She could hear the words she was saying,
see the way his eyes widened in shock as he tripped and fell and felt the anger and volume of her
words growing. She had watched his eyes grow fuzzy and almost warm as he looked at her and then
seen them snap back into focus with the look that caused her breath to stop.
He stood in one graceful motion, his eyes never leaving her face. Ginny suddenly remembered how
much she didn't like to be looked at under any circumstances, bullying or otherwise, and took a
step backward. He took a measured step forward, his face completely blank...but oh those eyes.
Those eyes pushed her back another pace. But he per sued her again, still without any outward sign
of agitation. The calmer his face, the more terrified she was and she abandoned dignity and
courage alike to flee in the opposite direction as fast as she could.
"It's no use running Weasel. You don't know the way out any better than I do." The drawling voice
echoed about the chamber and stopped her in her tracks.
She turned slowly, barely daring to look up at the pale, statuesque figure advancing towards her.
"He's really got quite a nice body." she thought crazily, as her breath began coming out in short,
panicked pants. It was odd how the strangest details came to mind when you were about to be
murdered in cold blood.
His face was no longer blank. In fact, there was a smile plastered all over it that Ginny really,
REALLY didn't like the looks of...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oh, he was going to enjoy this.
He was going to enjoy repaying her for every single problem she had caused him over the last 24
hours, from the mammoth to the minute.
"Come here, Weasel. I promise if you come to me by your own power it will be much easier on you."
The delicious terror on her face was enough to send a cold smirk onto his pale lips. He could
see her warring with herself over what to do. Surely by now she had to realize that running away
again was pointless, she could run as long as she wanted, he had all the time in the world. No
one knew they were down here, and no one would miss either of them. And yet she still wasn't
moving. The damned stubborn Weasel!
"I said come here!"
She started at the volume of his voice, but fixed her features in a firm cast and sat down
insolently on the ground.
She was going to pay extra hard for this.
"Fine then. If that's the way you want it to be, that's the way it will be." he said as he strode
over to her. He had the momentary satisfaction of seeing her shrink away in terror before he grabbed a fistful of her copper tresses and yanked her to her feet. She cried out in pain before she could stifle the noise in a stupid attempt
at bravery as he dragged her over to where he had been standing before and sent her crashing back
to the floor. So great was the force of his throw that she slid several feet before coming to a
stop. Much to his surprise, however, she didn't stay huddled in a ball on the floor. Instead, she
pushed herself to her hands and knees and glared up at him through long eyelashes.
"What are you going to try to do to me?"
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
'I will not make a sound, I will not make a sound...' Ginny repeated this to herself over and
over again as Malfoy pulled her across the room by her hair. She wouldn't give him the
satisfaction of hearing her weakness. She clung to that even as she felt herself propelled
through the air and held onto that resolution as she hit the ground much harder than she was
comfortable with. Despite the fear coursing through her system and the ache in her limbs, she
pulled herself to her hands and knees and forced her eyes to meet his.
"What are you going to try to do to me?"
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
It was the 'try' that got to him. That, and the light that turned her eyes from chocolate to
amber as she stared up. Never before had anyone so easily pierced through his carefully wrought
facade and he could feel himself crumbling under her gaze. Disturbed, he turned away,
accidentally catching a glimpse of himself in the highly polished surface of the grand piano.
Pure rage and hate had twisted his features and blended with a sneer he had been born with.
But it wasn't the sight of the raw emotions painted across his face that caused his heart to
thump painfully against his ribcage. For a split second he had been staring into the face of his
father. Cold and cruel, uncaring and unendingly wrathful, Lucius Malfoy had mocked his son's
inevitable future of following in Daddy's footsteps from the smooth black surface of the piano.
"No!" he said aloud, causing Ginny to jump in alarm.
He glanced over at her, doing her best to be brave even though she was terrified, and felt a
strange sensation. Self disgust, certainly, but that hadn't been odd since that terrible night
last summer. But this new emotion...it flickered through his head, tickled it's way into his
veins and he was almost positive that he didn't like it. He felt...protective...was the only way
to describe it. Protective of this sniveling mess lying in front of him! Him! Draco Malfoy! But
still...it was there.
"Get up." he said roughly, doing his best to mask the strange feeling. She looked up at him
doubtfully, those damned eyes still drilling into his and he felt himself soften. This was
getting ludicrous! 'No more!' he thought. 'She can bloody well stay down there if she's so
comfortable!'
He stood there impatiently, looking down at her for all of half a second before he reached his
hand out and pulled her gently to her feet.
"Get that look off your face." he said gruffly. "I'm not going to do anything to you."
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ginny stood poised on the balls of her feet, ready to flee at any sign of aggression from her
captor. Though she fought against it with every fiber of her being, stark terror was plain on
her pale, freckled countenance.
"Get that look off your face. I'm not going to hurt you."
He said it in a low voice that didn't seem in the least menacing. Still, she couldn't bring
herself to accept this incredibly bizarre tournabout. 'He must have something planned. Draco
Malfoy would never sound...apologetic.' she thought. Her mind racing furiously and she came to
the conclusion that, if there was going to be an all out pitched battle, it might as well come
when she chose it to.
"Oh really? Not going to hurt me? Is that why you're throwing me about the room like a rag doll?
Why you're pulling out half of my hair? You'd better watch out, Malfoy," now she hissed the words
through gritted teeth, "or you'll end up all alone, a Death Eater faithfully licking the hand of
a fallen master...just like your father!"
"I AM NOT LIKE MY FATHER!" the words bounced harshly off the walls and ceiling, ringing in her ears.
At that explosive admission, Ginny's jaw dropped almost as far as Draco's, before he clapped a
hand over his mouth and, with a horrified look in his eyes, sped off into the darkness.
She knew after looking at the agony in his grey orbs that she really shouldn't push him any
further, but his recent behavior towards her let her tongue go free. Using a bit of dramatic
irony, she called into the distance:
"It's no use running, Ferret. You don't know the way out any better than I do."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
He never lost control. He was Draco Malfoy. A Malfoy. And Malfoy's didn't lose control. They
especially didn't lose control of their tongue at the pathetic attempts to abrade by a miserable
little Weasel! Therefore, he had not just blurted out his darkest secret to his greatest enemy.
Logically, it wasn't possible.
So why was he running?
'Stupid prat! Idiot! Fool!' These were also not words that ran through a Malfoy's head, but Draco
decided that he was an exception to that particular rule at the moment and continued on with his
self beratement.
How could he have done that? It was one thing to look into her eyes and think she knew all of his
secrets. It was quite another to speak those secrets aloud. Damn him, damn his father and damn
all things Weasley! That damned night some five months ago had been working on him in ways that
he didn't like in the least, changing his opinions, his feelings and now, apparently, his ability
to hold his tongue.
To add insult to injury, he could feel a very tiny part of his...soul, he supposed you'd call it,
that seemed to be a bit lighter than usual. As though part of the burden he'd been carrying for
so long had floated away. That was impossible! No way that an admission spoken in moment of
carelessness could ever possibly effect him that way. Especially not when it was directed at
a Weasley!
'I will die before I let myself be helped by or indebted to a Weasley.' he thought, quite seriously.
Then, out of the blackness separating him from that red headed annoyance, words floated into his
ears.
"It's no use running Ferret. You don't know the way out any better than I do."
How on Earth did she know about that?!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"You might as well come back and help me find a way out of here," she called out. "That way we'd
never have to see each other again. Wouldn't that be nice?"
She was trying to use a sugary sweet voice in an attempt to coax him back into view. Unfortunately,
it was coming out as more of a screech as her nerves were shot and she knew she really did need
him if she ever hoped to escape.
"No need to shout, Weasel. It's a most unbecoming trait." drawled a voice from behind her.
With a shriek she tried to climb into the air and spin around at the same time. This caused
some problems with balance and she found herself in a very uncomfortable proximity to the shapely
face of one Draco Malfoy.
"Besides," he very nearly purred. "I'm right here..." as he very gently tweaked the tip of her nose.
Ginny's eyes fogged over for a minute, lost in sensation, before she took a very quick, very
nervous step backward. And then another step, just for good measure.
"Well," she squeaked. Blushing magenta, she cleared her throat and started again, this time on a
much more attractive key. "Well. The only other time I've been in a secret chamber, I was mostly
unconscious. But it seems to me that there must be a tunnel or something leading out of here. Isn't
that a sort of cliche that all hidden rooms have?" she peeked up nervously at the smirking visage
of the boy towering over her. "Uh...right?"
"Hmm...I'm very impressed to hear you making actual words, Weasel. I didn't think you had it in
you. I'm also quite surprised at the fact that you're no longer jumping like the scruffy little
rabbit you so resemble whenever I look at you. However, your logic is irredeemably bad, so I
suppose I had better take over this little escape mission."
At his words Ginny forced herself to stand taller and meet his gaze, even going so far as to put
on an affronted expression when he defamed her logic.
"The first thing you've got to know about secret chambers is that the way out is very nearly
always hidden. It could be anywhere. What's more, the device that activates the opening of the
exit is comparably concealed, usually in a completely opposite location." He began walking confidently
about the large room, secure in his surety that, whatever he lacked in knowledge on other matters,
hidden passages, shrouded rooms and covert hideaways were his specialty. After all, he had learned
at the feet of the master, however that might grate.
"Now, since this is a room apparently devoted to music, my guess is that we'll have to play some
sort of code on one of these instruments in order to activate the exit. Of course, playing the
wrong code could arouse a nasty curse, so we'll have to be exceedingly careful. So tell me, what
do you know about music?" He turned smugly towards her, impressed and pleased with himself.
"Well?" he said, when she didn't answer. "Where'd you wander off to, Weasel?" he yelled. "Get
yourself lost looking for your ridiculous 'magic tunnel'? Hello? Weasel?"
From far in the distance, her voice wafted back to him.
"Well, I don't know much about music," she called drily, "But you might want to check out the
passageway across from the piano. It leads into the hallway below the Astronomy Tower. See you
around!" With a vindictive and delighted giggle, her taunting ended and her voice faded away.
For the first time in a long time,Draco Malfoy found himself with a genuine smile on his face.
Chagrined, yes...but it was still a smile.
reviews, too! You are all my heroes. I encourage anybody who's enjoying my story to go
check out my reviewer's stuff, as I've read samples from each of them and am very impressed.
KeeperOfTheMoon (twice, how great! Thanks for coming back to read my fourth chapter!),
Lynn-chan (again, you're so funny. Very hyper, too.), cherries, animegirl-mika (for the
second time, thanks bunches!), PATIENCE101 (for the third and fourth time...I think you
win the most reviews award), kaze (again! I like the lullaby, too), Annie Christopher
(again as well and another fan of the lullaby), Grania the fire witch, sky, and Krista
of StarTress (told you I'd update by Monday night!). You guys are fantastic!
Extra special thanks goes to animegirl-mika and Annie Christopher for reading and reviewing
my other story, Shine, crappy though it may be. Kudos for managing to get through it without puking!
All right, on to other business:
First up, the few non-English words in the lullaby are Gaelic, I believe. One of the reasons I chose the
lullaby is that I imagine the Weasley's to have a lot of Irish in their blood, so I figured a Celtic
lullaby would by appropriate. So there's the answer to that question.
Second: Thanks for waiting for me to post this chapter. It's a little bit longer than the previous
ones, but I didn't have time to proof it as carefully as I usually do, so please forgive and mistakes.
Also, I did rush a bit with a few parts and I'm not altogether happy with them. So if I get a few spare
moments in the future, I may edit this chapter further.
Third: Hopefully I'll be able to continue updating at the very least every other day for this week,
but next week is exams, so I'll be a bit preoccupied with that. However, afterwards is Christmas hols,
so I promise many a long chapters in that interim. Just giving you all fair warning.
Fourth: I have no idea why my computer is formatting so strangely. Any advice on the matter would
be greatly appreciated. Im currently running a virus scan, but it's going to be awhile, so I figured
I'd post this, warts and all.
Hmm, I think that's it. Sorry that took so long, just had to clear up a few things. Thanks for all
of your support and PLEASE keep the reviews coming. They're my motivation to continue writing and
are all phenomenally helpful. Now, on with the show!
Disclaimer: Not mine, neither is Destruction of the Seven Endless, he belongs to Neil Gaimen and can be
found in the graphic novel series, "The Sandman". Check it out.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
"What...what are you doing here?" Ginny was proud that she kept most of the tremor out of her
voice.
"Now there's a stupid question, isn't it, Weasel? I'm here because I was following you, obviously.
Although I didn't expect to have the great fortune of being the only person alive ever to see
you open your mouth." sneered Draco, the sarcasm dripping from his lips.
"Please...leave me alone. I swear last night I was just confused ...I heard a scream...I was
trying to help." she stammered
A light leapt into his eyes and he took three great strides toward her.
"Of course! Ever the Gryffindor at heart, aren't we? Too brave and valient to leave me well
enough alone and mind your own damn business!"
Ginny's eyes widened and any thought of fear was lost as she realized what he had just subtley
admitted too.
"So it really was you that I heard! When I saw you there I thought I must have made some sort of
mistake...I...I didn't think that you could make a noise that human."
Deep chocolate eyes stared up at him, disregarding fear of hands and eyes alike, boring into his
head until Draco felt quite exposed and quickly looked away.
"Well you're right Weasley, you WERE wrong. It wasn't me. I suppose Ms. Gryffindor abandoned some
poor wretch to lonrliness or worse because she was so busy obsessing over Potter that she couldn't
follow a noise correctly!" That came out harsher than he'd meant it, but he'd had to cover up for
his momentary weakness.
Stunned, she staggered backward as if by some physical blow. Then she visibly took hold of
herself. She would not let Draco Malfoy do this to her and she wouldn't hide from his stare.
It was one thing to fade into the background because that's what everyone expected of you.
It was quite another to be bullied into cowering. Ginny had often wondered why the Sorting
Hat had placed her (apparently) meek little soul into the House of a lion's courage. Had she
seen the fire that sprang into her eyes at that moment, she would have had her answer.
"Say what you want, Malfoy." she spit the words at him. "But I know the truth now. Every one
else knows that you're a liar, a prat and a spiteful bastard. But I know something so much
worse. I know what I heard in that scream, Draco Malfoy. I heard pain. I heard sorrow. I heard
fear." Her face was flushed and her breath was coming quickly. Her eyes flashed daggers and she
was scared spitless at the words that were pouring out of her mouth, but she was powerless to
stop the flood. "Be careful Malfoy. I know your 'dirty' little secret. You may keep it hidden
from your so-called friends. You may hide it from your disgrace of a father...but you can't mask
it from me. You feel human emotions just like the rest of us 'mere mortals' and what you've been
feeling is terror. You're a coward, Draco Malfoy. I don't know what you're afraid of, but you're
a coward all the same!"
Now it was his turn to stumbled backward, but as he did his foot caught on the edge of a tuba
and he sat down hard on the cold floor. When he looked up and saw her advancing figure, he
caught his breath. Lit from behind, her hair seemed to glow with all the fires of Hell. Her
eyes stabbed into his head and he felt that she knew every secret hope, fear or desire that he
had locked away in the darkest corner of his brain. She lifted her arms, gesticulating in a
graceful rage as her tirade continued on and the light silhouetted her, lending an otherworldly
gleam to her shape. She looked like the first Goddess of War, like the personification of
nature's wrath, like Destruction of the seven Endless...and as she drew closer to him, Draco
felt a stab of fear worming its way into his heart. At least, until what she had been saying
suddenly became clear to him.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ginny's words cut off abruptly. The room around her screamed in silence except for the roaring
of the blood in her veins, as she was staring at the most terrifying thing in her world. She had
seen herself ranting at Draco in a sort of third person. She could hear the words she was saying,
see the way his eyes widened in shock as he tripped and fell and felt the anger and volume of her
words growing. She had watched his eyes grow fuzzy and almost warm as he looked at her and then
seen them snap back into focus with the look that caused her breath to stop.
He stood in one graceful motion, his eyes never leaving her face. Ginny suddenly remembered how
much she didn't like to be looked at under any circumstances, bullying or otherwise, and took a
step backward. He took a measured step forward, his face completely blank...but oh those eyes.
Those eyes pushed her back another pace. But he per sued her again, still without any outward sign
of agitation. The calmer his face, the more terrified she was and she abandoned dignity and
courage alike to flee in the opposite direction as fast as she could.
"It's no use running Weasel. You don't know the way out any better than I do." The drawling voice
echoed about the chamber and stopped her in her tracks.
She turned slowly, barely daring to look up at the pale, statuesque figure advancing towards her.
"He's really got quite a nice body." she thought crazily, as her breath began coming out in short,
panicked pants. It was odd how the strangest details came to mind when you were about to be
murdered in cold blood.
His face was no longer blank. In fact, there was a smile plastered all over it that Ginny really,
REALLY didn't like the looks of...
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Oh, he was going to enjoy this.
He was going to enjoy repaying her for every single problem she had caused him over the last 24
hours, from the mammoth to the minute.
"Come here, Weasel. I promise if you come to me by your own power it will be much easier on you."
The delicious terror on her face was enough to send a cold smirk onto his pale lips. He could
see her warring with herself over what to do. Surely by now she had to realize that running away
again was pointless, she could run as long as she wanted, he had all the time in the world. No
one knew they were down here, and no one would miss either of them. And yet she still wasn't
moving. The damned stubborn Weasel!
"I said come here!"
She started at the volume of his voice, but fixed her features in a firm cast and sat down
insolently on the ground.
She was going to pay extra hard for this.
"Fine then. If that's the way you want it to be, that's the way it will be." he said as he strode
over to her. He had the momentary satisfaction of seeing her shrink away in terror before he grabbed a fistful of her copper tresses and yanked her to her feet. She cried out in pain before she could stifle the noise in a stupid attempt
at bravery as he dragged her over to where he had been standing before and sent her crashing back
to the floor. So great was the force of his throw that she slid several feet before coming to a
stop. Much to his surprise, however, she didn't stay huddled in a ball on the floor. Instead, she
pushed herself to her hands and knees and glared up at him through long eyelashes.
"What are you going to try to do to me?"
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
'I will not make a sound, I will not make a sound...' Ginny repeated this to herself over and
over again as Malfoy pulled her across the room by her hair. She wouldn't give him the
satisfaction of hearing her weakness. She clung to that even as she felt herself propelled
through the air and held onto that resolution as she hit the ground much harder than she was
comfortable with. Despite the fear coursing through her system and the ache in her limbs, she
pulled herself to her hands and knees and forced her eyes to meet his.
"What are you going to try to do to me?"
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
It was the 'try' that got to him. That, and the light that turned her eyes from chocolate to
amber as she stared up. Never before had anyone so easily pierced through his carefully wrought
facade and he could feel himself crumbling under her gaze. Disturbed, he turned away,
accidentally catching a glimpse of himself in the highly polished surface of the grand piano.
Pure rage and hate had twisted his features and blended with a sneer he had been born with.
But it wasn't the sight of the raw emotions painted across his face that caused his heart to
thump painfully against his ribcage. For a split second he had been staring into the face of his
father. Cold and cruel, uncaring and unendingly wrathful, Lucius Malfoy had mocked his son's
inevitable future of following in Daddy's footsteps from the smooth black surface of the piano.
"No!" he said aloud, causing Ginny to jump in alarm.
He glanced over at her, doing her best to be brave even though she was terrified, and felt a
strange sensation. Self disgust, certainly, but that hadn't been odd since that terrible night
last summer. But this new emotion...it flickered through his head, tickled it's way into his
veins and he was almost positive that he didn't like it. He felt...protective...was the only way
to describe it. Protective of this sniveling mess lying in front of him! Him! Draco Malfoy! But
still...it was there.
"Get up." he said roughly, doing his best to mask the strange feeling. She looked up at him
doubtfully, those damned eyes still drilling into his and he felt himself soften. This was
getting ludicrous! 'No more!' he thought. 'She can bloody well stay down there if she's so
comfortable!'
He stood there impatiently, looking down at her for all of half a second before he reached his
hand out and pulled her gently to her feet.
"Get that look off your face." he said gruffly. "I'm not going to do anything to you."
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ginny stood poised on the balls of her feet, ready to flee at any sign of aggression from her
captor. Though she fought against it with every fiber of her being, stark terror was plain on
her pale, freckled countenance.
"Get that look off your face. I'm not going to hurt you."
He said it in a low voice that didn't seem in the least menacing. Still, she couldn't bring
herself to accept this incredibly bizarre tournabout. 'He must have something planned. Draco
Malfoy would never sound...apologetic.' she thought. Her mind racing furiously and she came to
the conclusion that, if there was going to be an all out pitched battle, it might as well come
when she chose it to.
"Oh really? Not going to hurt me? Is that why you're throwing me about the room like a rag doll?
Why you're pulling out half of my hair? You'd better watch out, Malfoy," now she hissed the words
through gritted teeth, "or you'll end up all alone, a Death Eater faithfully licking the hand of
a fallen master...just like your father!"
"I AM NOT LIKE MY FATHER!" the words bounced harshly off the walls and ceiling, ringing in her ears.
At that explosive admission, Ginny's jaw dropped almost as far as Draco's, before he clapped a
hand over his mouth and, with a horrified look in his eyes, sped off into the darkness.
She knew after looking at the agony in his grey orbs that she really shouldn't push him any
further, but his recent behavior towards her let her tongue go free. Using a bit of dramatic
irony, she called into the distance:
"It's no use running, Ferret. You don't know the way out any better than I do."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
He never lost control. He was Draco Malfoy. A Malfoy. And Malfoy's didn't lose control. They
especially didn't lose control of their tongue at the pathetic attempts to abrade by a miserable
little Weasel! Therefore, he had not just blurted out his darkest secret to his greatest enemy.
Logically, it wasn't possible.
So why was he running?
'Stupid prat! Idiot! Fool!' These were also not words that ran through a Malfoy's head, but Draco
decided that he was an exception to that particular rule at the moment and continued on with his
self beratement.
How could he have done that? It was one thing to look into her eyes and think she knew all of his
secrets. It was quite another to speak those secrets aloud. Damn him, damn his father and damn
all things Weasley! That damned night some five months ago had been working on him in ways that
he didn't like in the least, changing his opinions, his feelings and now, apparently, his ability
to hold his tongue.
To add insult to injury, he could feel a very tiny part of his...soul, he supposed you'd call it,
that seemed to be a bit lighter than usual. As though part of the burden he'd been carrying for
so long had floated away. That was impossible! No way that an admission spoken in moment of
carelessness could ever possibly effect him that way. Especially not when it was directed at
a Weasley!
'I will die before I let myself be helped by or indebted to a Weasley.' he thought, quite seriously.
Then, out of the blackness separating him from that red headed annoyance, words floated into his
ears.
"It's no use running Ferret. You don't know the way out any better than I do."
How on Earth did she know about that?!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"You might as well come back and help me find a way out of here," she called out. "That way we'd
never have to see each other again. Wouldn't that be nice?"
She was trying to use a sugary sweet voice in an attempt to coax him back into view. Unfortunately,
it was coming out as more of a screech as her nerves were shot and she knew she really did need
him if she ever hoped to escape.
"No need to shout, Weasel. It's a most unbecoming trait." drawled a voice from behind her.
With a shriek she tried to climb into the air and spin around at the same time. This caused
some problems with balance and she found herself in a very uncomfortable proximity to the shapely
face of one Draco Malfoy.
"Besides," he very nearly purred. "I'm right here..." as he very gently tweaked the tip of her nose.
Ginny's eyes fogged over for a minute, lost in sensation, before she took a very quick, very
nervous step backward. And then another step, just for good measure.
"Well," she squeaked. Blushing magenta, she cleared her throat and started again, this time on a
much more attractive key. "Well. The only other time I've been in a secret chamber, I was mostly
unconscious. But it seems to me that there must be a tunnel or something leading out of here. Isn't
that a sort of cliche that all hidden rooms have?" she peeked up nervously at the smirking visage
of the boy towering over her. "Uh...right?"
"Hmm...I'm very impressed to hear you making actual words, Weasel. I didn't think you had it in
you. I'm also quite surprised at the fact that you're no longer jumping like the scruffy little
rabbit you so resemble whenever I look at you. However, your logic is irredeemably bad, so I
suppose I had better take over this little escape mission."
At his words Ginny forced herself to stand taller and meet his gaze, even going so far as to put
on an affronted expression when he defamed her logic.
"The first thing you've got to know about secret chambers is that the way out is very nearly
always hidden. It could be anywhere. What's more, the device that activates the opening of the
exit is comparably concealed, usually in a completely opposite location." He began walking confidently
about the large room, secure in his surety that, whatever he lacked in knowledge on other matters,
hidden passages, shrouded rooms and covert hideaways were his specialty. After all, he had learned
at the feet of the master, however that might grate.
"Now, since this is a room apparently devoted to music, my guess is that we'll have to play some
sort of code on one of these instruments in order to activate the exit. Of course, playing the
wrong code could arouse a nasty curse, so we'll have to be exceedingly careful. So tell me, what
do you know about music?" He turned smugly towards her, impressed and pleased with himself.
"Well?" he said, when she didn't answer. "Where'd you wander off to, Weasel?" he yelled. "Get
yourself lost looking for your ridiculous 'magic tunnel'? Hello? Weasel?"
From far in the distance, her voice wafted back to him.
"Well, I don't know much about music," she called drily, "But you might want to check out the
passageway across from the piano. It leads into the hallway below the Astronomy Tower. See you
around!" With a vindictive and delighted giggle, her taunting ended and her voice faded away.
For the first time in a long time,Draco Malfoy found himself with a genuine smile on his face.
Chagrined, yes...but it was still a smile.