Chapter 3
By Crystal
Author's Notes: A lot of this is going to be in Ginny's POV. Less in Draco's POV.
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
~*~ Ginny ~*~
That bloody Potter asked me if I had a partner this afternoon! What a moron, and the Ball was tonight. Jesus, if he wanted someone to go with him, he could at least ask someone earlier. Hermione went with Ron of course, Harry could probably find someone to go with him, after all, he is The Boy Who Lived. Or he can go alone, I don't give a darn anymore. And of course, the smallest Weasley is going with Draco Malfoy. I smiled at the mirror.
I bought my dress in Hogsmeade last week, the day after Draco kissed me under the mistletoe. I went alone, of course. Didn't want anyone to know I had money, now did I? Anyways, I slipped on the dress I got. It was navy blue with spaghetti straps. It stuck on my skin until the part of my butt and for the first time, I'm glad I have a thin waist. The rest trails down like a wedding dress and it covers my feet. I have a light blue shawl just in case I get cold and if Draco and I ever walk out to the lake (it's lake, not river. Sorry for last chapter.) again.
I brushed my red hair till it shone and left it down, wavy. Then applied blue eye shadow, a bit of blush and a bit of lip gloss. If I put anymore than that, I'm going to kill myself. I even bought shoes to match the dress, not that anyone's ever going to see them, since my dress covers all... But whatever. I was to meet Draco at the front of the Great Hall at seven, and it was already six-thirty. I checked my reflection in the mirror one last time. Perfect. Knowing it was going to be a great night, I put on a real smile, I've been doing lots of those lately around Draco, and walked out my room, meeting with Hermione, Ron and Harry. Looks like Harry was going alone.
Ron certainly wasn't happy about me refusing Harry, you could see by the colour of his face. I already had a lecture from him a few hours ago, and I don't think I'll have time to have another one. Without saying anything, I walked out the Gryffindor tower, but turned around to wave at them. What I saw made me want to laugh out loud so much, the three of them were gaping at me. Because of my change of attitude or my dress, I wouldn't know.
Anyways, knowing I had around twenty minutes left, I rushed down to the Great Hall, arriving just on time to see my ferret arrive. He was wearing a muggle suit. He looked... let's just use the term, drop dead gorgeous. Fortunately, that boy, or man, depends how you look at it, that looked damn handsome was my date, Draco Malfoy. I smiled as I approached and a grin almost showed, seeing the way he was gaping. The 'Dream Team' was certainly gaping at my dress, I knew. I stopped in front of him, waiting.
Finally, he gave me a quick kiss on the lips, "You look beautiful, Virginia."
I grinned, "Thanks, you too, Draco." He held out his hand and I took it, and we slowly walked into the Great Hall. I leaned on his shoulder, happy. I could not remember a single time where I was happier than I was now. I was in the arms of someone I seriously loved, even though I never told him and he never told me. But our actions showed. The day he kissed me, it all started with me coughing up blood in potions. Ah... That felt so long ago, and I'm talking like an old lady at the end of her life now. Actually, I kind of am at the end of my life, but I think I'm going to ignore that fact for tonight. Tonight, I'm going to have the best time of my life and enjoy it.
The thousands of candles floating in the ceiling were gone, replaced by flying angels carrying a candle, snow was gently falling down and when it met with the floor, it vanished, near the professor's table was a Christmas tree with candles that blinked, and candy canes hung. On the walls were four hangings. One for Slytherin, one for Gryffindor, one for Hufflepuff and one for Ravenclaw. The walls underneath the hangings was ice. It looked very Wintery indeed.
Arriving in the middle of the room, Draco wrapped his arms around my waist once again and I had my arms around his neck and my face at the crook of his neck. He smelt... nice. Hopefully, nobody would ruin this moment. But that was a bit too much to hope for. Sooner or later, some Slytherins, or either the 'Dream Team' is going to come in the Great Hall and ruin it.
I was surprised, at the end of the dance, I saw Ron, Harry and Hermione sitting at one of the tables, looking at me. Ron's face was red with rage, Hermione was smiling... A bit. More like a forced smile, Harry was not happy looking. Excusing myself from Draco, I walked up to them. "Hey. What's wrong?" I asked, knowing fully well what was wrong. I don't even know why I bothered.
"You. Malfoy. Wrong." Ron said, between angry hisses.
I shrugged indifferently, why should I care about what they felt after years of being in their shadow. After years of not being cared for. I didn't care, and I wasn't shitting. I didn't. "Well, I don't think there's anything wrong."
"Ginny, can I talk to you?" Hermione said.
I forced myself not to roll my eyes and followed her out the Great Hall. Hermione Granger, always the peace maker around here. Feeling Draco's eyes on my back, I turned around and smiled, waving to him that I'd be back. "What is it, Hermione?" I asked once we got out of the Great Hall.
"Did Draco do something to you to make you go to the Ball with him? Like blackmail you?"
I laughed humourlessly, "Yes, of course!" I said, barely able to contain my tears in. Finally, someone finally paid attention to me. But it was all because of Draco. Her eyes widened in shock as if saying 'Tell me what he did, Ginny, and I'll get him suspended from Hogwarts!'. "Of course he did something! He was concerned over me and talked to me when no one else would. Not even the people I trusted most. Not the people I treated as friends. No one, I tell you, no one, paid any attention to me, Granger. Except Draco. And you all act as if he drugged me or performed one of the Unforgivable Curse on me." I felt the tears drip down, and I did something I did not intend to ever do in my life, "Sod off, Granger. Don't fucking act like you care when you don't." It took a moment for me to understand what I just said, and without another moment's of hesitation, I ran back into the Great Hall and into the arms of the man I loved.
I guess I was to blame for the whole thing, after all, I was the one who walked towards them and asked what was wrong. But I couldn't very well leave them like that for the whole night. Draco, sensing something was wrong lead me out of the Great Hall. Hermione was still in shock at the entrance and I said an apology, then walked away, until she called me back. I turned around. "I'm sorry... I didn't know you felt that way." She said. I just nodded and turned around to walk away to our favourite place. The lake.
"What happened?" He asked, wiping the tears from my cheek.
Finally, I had grown a backbone. Finally, when my life was about to end. But I guess I had Draco to thank for that. He stayed with me and kept me happy. And I answered his question. "I told Hermione to sod off and don't fucking act like she cares when she doesn't. I swore to her."
He embraced me again, always. Whenever I needed someone's comfort, he was the one to give it to me. Why couldn't other people understand? Draco Malfoy was not Lucius Malfoy. Draco was not a normal Malfoy. He didn't join the dark side and kill muggles and mudbloods. He wasn't a normal Malfoy because he didn't hate me. I don't know how long I was there crying on his chest, but after a while, he lifted my head up and gave me another one of his gentle kisses. "Let's go back in." I nodded, and let him lead the way.
I was afraid that when we opened the doors to the Great Hall, Ron would be shouting, but nothing happened. The dance kept on going and I saw the 'Dream Team' once again sitting on a table like nothing much happened, except that's not what their faces said. Hermione was still a bit in shock and Ron was still red in the face, Harry's was just... staring off in space.
As the song ended, Professor Dumbledore stood up and all of us focused our attention on him. "Ah yes, I have a special request from somebody." His twinkling eyes moved to where Draco and I was and I frowned in confusion. People were now looking at us because Professor Dumbledore was, then he continued, "He would like to dedicate this song to someone. I believe it's called Für Elise. Enjoy!" The song went on immediately and I felt my mouth wide open with shock. Draco... dedicated a song, for me? I flung myself on Draco with my arms around her neck as his arms once again encircled my waist.
"I love you, Draco Malfoy." I said quietly.
I felt him stiffen all of a sudden, and my fear came. Did he love me, or was I just another girl he was playing around with, then he relaxed. "I love you too, Virginia Weasley." Loud enough just for me to hear, and I felt tears come again. Darn, I was too emotional. He must've felt my tears coming, because the next second, he said, "Damn, woman! Can't you hold your tears for a minute?" I laughed and danced along with him. The night went nicely and I only danced with Draco. It was certainly the best day of my life, and I'm sure I'll remember it forever.
~*~ Draco ~*~
The angel in my arms was certainly something. A beautiful human being, and I have doubts about it sometimes. She certainly looked more angel than human. I had said the three words I had sworn I'd never say. Three words that felt so unfamiliar to our tongue. Lucius had once said that Malfoys did not believe in love. That might've been true, but I'm not like other Malfoys. Neither did I want to be. I wanted to be Draco. I wanted to be free of my father, and I will be.
The night went along very well and I was glad. Thank god Potter, Weasley and Granger didn't do anything. Well, not after Granger had called her out and after Virginia swore at her. Secretly, I'm proud, but I'm not going to say that to anyone. Swearing like that to one of your friends, or once you thought was your friend wasn't too easy, I'm sure. Not that I ever tried, but whatever.
After this ball, I would be able to meet with Virginia at all times, I think. Most of the stupid gossipers know already, then the next thing I know, the whole school will know. And I don't think I give a damn anymore. Hell if my father disowns me. I don't care anymore. I'm set on giving her the happiest time of her life... Until... Until she dies... And if we find a cure for it, until both of us die. Her dying, it's become one of my worst nightmares.
But then again, if she doesn't go to Madam Pomfrey, how is she suppose to find a cure for it? But from what I heard from Virginia, her friend, a Gryffindor named Erica went to Madam Pomfrey as soon as she found out that she had Tuber whatever the heck, and she didn't have a cure either. This problem was getting to me. She's walking beside me now, towards the lake. She doesn't look like she's getting worst at all, she doesn't look any different from a few weeks ago, but she's been coughing a bit more blood than usual, since last week. Maybe it's the cold, maybe it's her getting worst. I don't know... But she refuses to go see Madam Pomfrey and it's getting on my nerve. Kind of.
She's having another coughing fit now. I watch her try to stop her coughing and I try to help by patting her back softly, but it didn't work. After a few coughing while covering her mouth, she removed her hands from her mouth and to her throat, then there goes the blood. I was worried of course. Another trail of blood from her mouth and once again, I wiped it away. "Are you all right?" I asked, worriedly.
She nodded her head, "It's stained by my blood again..." She said quietly.
"Someday, it won't be. Someday, it won't be." I said, trying to reassure her, although I don't think it worked well, because I wasn't reassured by myself at all. She said something under her breath and when I asked her what it was, she said never mind. Although, if my ears are right, it was something like, 'It won't be when I die'. But of course, she won't say that. She doesn't want to die yet... Does she? At least I hope not, if she dies, I'll be alone again.
I tilt her head up again, like I've done for so many times and she shook her head, "My mouth has the taste of blood."
"I could care less, Virginia, I could care less." And with that, I kissed her passionately, tasting every inch of her mouth, which tasted like blood, but after that taste was gone, it was back to the taste of honey I got to know so well. Sweet, sweet honey.
Draco-lover – I'll be updating really soon, since I want the Christmas chapter (next chapter) up on Christmas. So the next chapter will be up on December 25, 2002. ^^
Darcel – I'm having trouble deciding what to write. A happy or sad ending, but I think I already have an idea, although I won't tell you, cause that's going to spoil the story ^^
Pseudonym Sylphmuse – Well, my brother thinks he knows me well and thinks he knows what I'm thinking. But he's just wrong. Last time my mom gave me a lecture before dinner, I felt like crying, but I smiled through the whole dinner. My bro asked me if I was happy receiving a lecture, I said sure. He thought I totally lost it. Darned siblings...
Some Dude – Thanks!
Black Sakura – I know exactly what you mean, but I'll see... I'll see... ^^
Author's Notes: Hopefully, next chapter will be up on Christmas since it's about Christmas, lol. And it's getting sad, and I don't think next chapter will be sad. Or it might, actually. Don't know yet, haven't started it! But I will tomorrow, or later tonight. Enjoy! And reviews please!