~*~Green and Gold~*~
By Kellyanne
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I solemnly swear that I am up to no good…oh, I mean…I own nothing *sheepish grin*
Chapter 11
She couldn't breath. She could feel the icy cold air circling around her body, but none of it reached her lungs. She felt like she was suffocating in a hallway full of air.
Tom was smiling at her, his right eyebrow raised like it had been when he lured her into the Chamber during her first year at Hogwarts. His black, lifeless eyes were boring into her and she felt sick.
He licked his lips and she shuttered. Then someone joined him in the painting.
She gasped, not willing to let herself believe what was right in front of her eyes. It couldn't be him!!
But it was. Silver hair, gray eyes.
Draco.
His eyes met hers and he smirked. It was one of his cold smiles that he gave her during her first year, when he used to torment her.
"No!" She screamed, feeling sick to her stomach. She wouldn't let herself believe that that person smirking maliciously at her was the same person she had kissed and loved the night before.
"I see you recognize young Malfoy here," Tom whispered, resting an elbow on Draco's shoulder.
She shook her head, "No…it's not him!" She whimpered, fighting tears and the sickening dizziness that was slowly taking over her body.
"I'm afraid it is, Virginia." Tom hissed. "But who cares who he is? What he's going to do is more important, don't you think, Malfoy?"
Draco nodded, his eyes meeting hers again. She shivered. His gaze was like ice.
"Well, Virginia, I must say, you have grown from the pathetic, little girl you once were. Such a beautiful creature now. I almost feel guilty that Malfoy will have to kill you…almost."
The painting disappeared and Ginny fell to the floor in a heap of fiery red curls.
Ginny wasn't in potions. Her seat next to him stood empty and cold. He wanted to know where she was.
He needed to know where she was.
After an impossibly hard quiz, he asked Snape if he could be excused. He was out the door before Snape had even finished saying, "Yes."
After searching for a few painfully long and unproductive minutes, Draco walked up to one of the paintings hanging on the wall. The woman in the frame curtsied.
"Has a beautiful redhead gone this was? Her name is Ginny." Blimey, he felt dumb, talking to a painting.
"A redhead, hmm? I do believe I saw a redhead some time ago."
"Where did she go??" He asked impatiently, inadvertently raising his voice.
"She ran towards the North Tower, but you don't have to be rude!" The woman walked off and left the canvas.
He rolled his eyes and started towards the North Tower.
Climbing flight after flight of stairs, he finally reached the landing, only to trip over something on the floor.
He fell flat on his back and silently thanked Merlin that the hallway was empty.
Sitting up, he saw what he had tripped over. It was a girl with skin too pale and hair too red.
She was perfect. Blimey, she was Ginny!
He had reached her side when he realized her head rested in a pool of crimson…blood from her body.
He bit his lip and checked her wrist for a pulse. Her skin was cold…death cold.
(Hmm…should I stop there???)
(Nah, I'll be nice)
"She's lucky you came along when you did, Mr. Malfoy. That was quite a fall she had. She lost a lot of blood. You deserve to be rewarded for your deed. Ten points to Slytherin."
"I don't want points! I want Ginny to be ok!!"
"I certainly cannot let this act go unrewarded."
He frowned at Pomfrey, "It'll be reward enough when I see Ginny smiling again." He let his eyes fall to Ginny. She was too pale. The piece of black fabric was still pressed to the gash on her forehead. He had ripped it from his robe.
It broke his heart seeing her like this, helpless and small like a child.
"Alright, Mr. Malfoy. I'll see what I can do for Miss Weasley."
"What can I do? I can't just wait here!!"
"I suppose you could go get her brother, if you need something to do."
He felt like he was being sent to Azkaban. The second Pomfrey told him to tell Weasley about Ginny, he knew the redhead'd probably murder him.
And yet…he was still walking towards McGonagall's classroom.
"So good of you to join us, Mr. Malfoy," McGonagall said sarcastically when she noticed him in the doorway.
"I was in the Hospital Wing…may I speak to Wea…um…Ron?" Ugh, calling Weasley by his first name was…ugh! It was all he could do not to throw-up.
"Very well, Mr. Malfoy. I do believe you can find his seat on your own," A few people snickered at the professor's comment. He ignored it and navigated through the sea of desks to the Dream Team.
"What do you want, Malfoy??" Potter asked, glaring. He rolled his eyes.
"Not that it's any of your concern, Potter, but Weasley's sister is in the Hospital Wing." He turned to Weasley to see his reaction, but soon found himself shoved against a desk, the redhead's fist raised to punch.
"What'd you do to my sister??!?!?!"
"Nothing!"
Draco rolled out of the way and fell to the ground, Weasley's fist hitting the desk instead of his face.
"Malfoy! Weasley!! What is the meaning of this????" McGonagall screamed. Every head in the class was now turned on the two of them.
"Nothing, Professor. I just need to take Weas…um…Ron to the Hospital Wing. His sister is there." He said quickly, standing from the floor. McGonagall looked at him, her eyes narrowing.
"Very well, Mr. Malfoy. Take Mr. Weasley down," Potter and Granger both opened their mouths to protest, "And bring Mr. Potter and Miss Granger with you as well."
He groaned as the Dream Team walked triumphantly ahead of him.
Being in Azkaban was better then this!!
It was late. He had been sitting in the same chair for hours but he couldn't sleep. Every move she made caused his eyes to snap open. Every sound made him think she was waking.
But it was well after midnight now and she still showed no signs of opening her eyes.
He stood from his seat and walked closer to the bed. He looked over her sadly, noting that her skin was even paler then it had been when he first brought her. A few beads of sweat had formed on her upper lip. Pomfrey said she had a fever, some kind of Muggle sickness.
He wished she'd wake up. It was too hard, watching her lie there, barely moving, barely breathing.
He knew he should go back to his dorm. He had been saying it to himself for hours. Pomfrey actually threatened to give him detention if he didn't leave, but he refused. He wouldn't leave Ginny's side.
He couldn't leave Ginny's side.
Not realizing it, he sat down at the edge of her bed, a finger stroking her red hair absentmindedly. Looking down, he let his mind freeze the way Ginny looked at that moment. Despite the paleness of her skin, despite the bloodied bandage wrapped around her forehead…despite everything, she'd never looked more beautiful to him and he wanted his mind to remember that.
He planted a kiss softly on her forehead, watching her brow furrow though she was unconscious. He smiled and touched her face gently. Her skin was so soft. He traced her lips with his pointer finger, and then replaced his finger with his lips, barely touching her. He smiled again and went back to tenderly stroking her hair.
He stopped when he felt her fingers tighten around his wrist.
"I can't sleep if you're doing that," She mumbled groggily, her eyes still closed.
"I'm tired of you sleeping," He replied quietly. Her eyes snapped open at the sound of his voice.
They weren't filled with happiness…they were filled with pain, confusion…and malice.
"What are you doing here?" She hissed, taking him by surprise. What was wrong with her??
"Ginny, do you remember what happened? What made you fall?"
"What are you doing here?" She repeated icily, moving away from him on the bed.
"Ginny, I…"
"You what?? Hmm…you didn't expect me to find out? You don't really want to do it?? What, Malfoy, enlighten me!!"
"Find out what? Really want to do what?? Ginny, what are you talking about???"
"Don't act all innocent, Malfoy. You were never good at acting." The bitterness in her voice stung him. How could he have done something to hurt her? She'd been passed out since the morning!!
"What the hell are you rambling about, Ginny, because I have no idea."
"Why don't you ask Tom?" She spit out the words like they were poison.
"Tom?? The guy from the Leaky Cauldron?? Why would I ask him anything?"
"You know what I'm talking about Malfoy!!" She screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"No, I don't, Ginny! And stop calling me Malfoy!!" Now he was angry. He hated being accused of something that he didn't do, but he hated it more when he didn't know what he was being accused of.
She closed her eyes, tears escaping from under her lashes. When she opened them, the brown had softened, "You really don't know?"
It was barely a whisper, but he heard her, "No, I don't!"
"Tom Marvolo Riddle. Rearrange the letters and it spells I Am Lord Voldemort. I saw a painting of him…and you were in it."
His eyes widened, "A painting of me and Voldemort? How could that be? Ginny, I've never even met Voldemort."
"Yeah, well, it's kinda hard to misidentify someone like you. There aren't many six-foot-tall guys with silver-blonde hair running around."
"My father," He whispered softly, "It was a painting of Voldemort and my father. He and I…I look just like he did when he was my age."
"Riddle said that you…your father was…was…" She squeezed her eyes shut, her voice cracking. Tears were spilling out again, "You father is going to kill me."
"What?" He asked, bringing Ginny into his arms. She pushed away, standing from the bed.
"I can't do this. We…we can't do this. You're…" Tears were pouring out of her chocolate eyes.
"Don't cry Ginny. You're tears make the world weep."
"Don't do that!!! Don't try and make it better!!! My life is falling apart and it's because of your father. I was fine until now, Draco. I was happy…but now I'm living with the thought of my own death weighing my shoulders down!!" She turned to the door, but he reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Don't go Ginny!"
"Why shouldn't I?? You certainly wouldn't care. Once the Weasley wench is gone, you can have whatever…whoever you want!!"
"Ginny, that's not…"
"Come on, Draco. Tell me why I shouldn't go. Tell me why the hell I shouldn't walk out that bloody door and put this part of my life behind me!!!"
"Because I Love You!!!"
"What?" She whispered, blinking tears out of her eyes. He knew how she felt. He was just as shocked that he had said it.
"Yeah, I bet you'd never believe that a Malfoy could have feelings. Well, I do!! I've loved more then you can even imagine. I've lost love, too, and I don't want to lose you. I can't lose you…I'd die," He took a breath, closing his eyes, "I love you so much, Ginny…I have ever since that day on the train…I just never realized it."
"But…"
"No, Ginny, there aren't any if, ands, or buts. Don't you understand? No other plans, no other dreams, no grand adventures in the world would mean anything to me if I couldn't have you."
"You can't, Draco…we can't…"
"Why not?? Because of my father?" She nodded, her eyes on the floor, "Ginny, I'll protect you from him. He won't hurt you unless he kills me first."
"That's just it, Draco. He would kill you to get to me. I couldn't let that happen."
"Why not???"
"Because I love you, too." She whispered.
"Oh," was his only reply.
"I'd rather die then let you sacrifice yourself for me." She started crying again and he took her into his arms.
"Ginny, it's ok. My father won't get anywhere near you. And if you don't believe me…we…could go to Dumbledore."
A/N- Well, I'm pretty proud of this chapter…had you scared for a minute with the 'death cold' thing, didn't I?? Good, lol, you all need some excitement in you lives. Hope you guys enjoyed…REVIEW!!! I want reviews…pretty please
Love from the author