1. All texts written in BOLD [B] are the narration.
2. All ITALICIZED [I] texts are the thoughts of the characters (what the characters are thinking of).
So I guess that's all. Enjoy reading chapter…
IX. The Blood Stone
'Hmm…what is this place? Is this heaven?' Ginny thought as she once again engaged into another dream. Only this time, it was more like a real dream, and not a nightmare.
The place looked so wonderful. She sat there amidst the Green pastures with dots of beautiful wild daisies surrounding everything. The trees stood along with their grandiose atmosphere. It was like paradise; no fear, no grief, no anger…
"No pain…"
By uttering this, Ginny remembered Harry, the lake, the oak tree. The smile diminishing any pain she felt a while ago vanished without a trace. She bent her head down, and was all of a sudden interested with her hands. She played with her hands and because of this, she wasn't able to notice the two butterflies flying around her.
When she finally noticed them, their beauty mesmerized her. One of the butterflies was blue with a tint of black here and there; the other was red, also with a tint of black in its proper places.
She was captivated merely by there beauty. By then, she stood up, and was reaching towards the butterflies. She followed them with her arm outstretched. She walked as if in a trance, not noticing the sudden change in her surroundings. She walked, one step then the other…step, by step, by step until…
"Huh? What happened?" Ginny noted as she saw the butterflies disappear in a flash, and finally noticing her surroundings turn black.
Fear swept all over her face. She was worried once again as scenes from her dream came flashing back. She realized- she was alone again.
By the consciousness of this, Ginny knelt down, hugged her legs, and cried. All of a sudden, the butterflies reappeared from the dark. They surrounded her, flying around her. She noticed them, and a smile slowly crept in her face.
Ginny watched the two. Suddenly, they flew away from her. She watched them, and was shocked to see a mirror hanging in mid-air. Instantly, she wiped her tears and immediately stood up. She walked towards the butterflies and towards the mirror. As she was approaching it, the two butterflies entered the mirror. This stopped Ginny for a mere second, but curiosity got the best of her. She continued towards it, and finally came to a halt in front of it.
As she looked into the mirror, she was horrified not to see her own reflection but the reflection of another. The mirror lies. She knows it. It must be, for the picture before her is not hers. Yes, it does have her face, but it's not her. The reflection before her was the image of the lifeless "Ginny" sitting on the chair, with both eyes wide open; blank as it always was in Ginny's dreams.
As she was watching the other Ginny, she noticed the butterflies reappear. This time, they weren't surrounding her but the "puppet" instead. As they flew around it (the puppet), a figure appeared. The figure wore the same cloak as that of every dream; only this time, his hood wasn't on. She knew that face. She knew that he's someone from her past. The only problem was- she couldn't remember who he was.
He walked towards the "puppet". As he stood behind the chair, he pulled something from his cloak. It was a necklace with a pendant of utmost glamour. It was extraordinary, with its blood-shaded color, shaped into a deformed orb, making it look almost like a teardrop. It was beautiful.
Ginny saw the man put the necklace around the puppet's neck. All of a sudden, the two butterflies flew slowly towards the puppet. As they did, they slowly disappeared, little by little till they were no more but specks of light. The dots of light crept into the puppet's eyes. Once they entered it, a strange glow can be seen circling in the puppet's iris. Instantly, the puppet closed its eyes, bent down its head, and suddenly… looked straight at Ginny.
~*~
~*~
~*~
*Ginny catches her breath* "It—was--only a—dream" Ginny said as she tries to stop breathing too loud. She puts her hand on her chest to hold onto her aching heart. But then, there was something strange. She looked down, and saw the necklace dangling on her neck.
"Huh? What is this?"
She stood up, approached her dresser, and looked into the mirror. "What is the meaning of this?"
With that, she touched the pendant for a few seconds. Then, her hands slowly traveled towards the back of her neck to remove the only remains of her nightmares. She can't unlock the necklace. Panicked, she wrapped her right hand around the pendant and she tried to yank the necklace from her neck. It was no use. It won't come off.
After a few attempts, she felt a cold chill run down her spines. She felt a sudden power overwhelming her strength. She felt numb, she felt weak, and she felt powerless.
"What do you want?" Ginny asked in a mere whisper.
"For you to be mine…" said a voice in her head.
At that point, her hand had let go of the pendant and had fallen down her sides. Ginny's sight turned into nothing. Black. Blank. She was still standing though, but her eyes were wide open; not blinking, not hinting life. After a few seconds, Ginny opened her mouth and flatly said, "I understand, my lord..." And suddenly, the two butterflies from her dreams reappeared, flying around her…
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(The next day…)
"Ginny, Hurry up! We're gonna miss breakfast!" Ron yelled from behind Ginny's door.
At that, Ginny stood up from her bed, massaged her temples, and immediately walked towards the bathroom.
"Ginny! What's taking you so long?!" Ron yelled.
"Hold your horses! I'm coming!" Instantly, the door opened revealing a beleaguered Ginny, with damp curls laying flatly below her shoulders.
"Ginny, are you alright?" Ron asked.
"Mm-mmm…Ron, just stop staring and let's go down to the Great Hall." But Ron didn't move from his spot. He was still staring at Ginny's hair, and once Ginny realized this, she said, "…Now!" with an emphasis.
"Huh? Sure." Ron said, but still was staring at Gin's hair.
"What's with you? C'mon" With that, Ginny pulled Ron's hand and headed straight towards the Great Hall.
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(In the Great Hall…)
'I wonder where Ginny is. I haven't seen her for a―'
"Draco! Watch out!" came the voice of Pansy.
"Huh?" All of a sudden, a quaffle came soaring towards him. Draco wasn't able to get out of the way, instead, he just readied his hands and… "Oof!" caught the quaffle with his bear hands, causing it to hit his abdomen slightly because of the force exerted to the ball.
"What the―" But even before he could finish, somebody interrupted him.
"BOSS!" came the chorused voices of Crabbe and Goyle.
"Huh? Ugh." Draco instantly let out because of the force his two cronies are putting onto their body-breaking, instant BEAR HUG.
"Hey dream boy. What's up?" Pansy asked with an evident smirk plastered on her face as she approached the boys with both arms crossed.
"Pansy, what the bloody hell –ugh!- is going on here?" asked Draco as he battled the power exerted by his two bloody stupid companions.
"Ohh…well, let me think. Hmm…right! You see Draco darling, this two sidekicks of yours were constantly babbling about you planning to jump off a cliff or something."
"Huh? Why should I –ugh- do that?!"
"Dunno. Why not ask them?"
"Argh!" With that, Draco looked down at his cronies and cried out, "Stop it you mindless buffoons! Put me down this instance!"
With that, the two boys looked at one another, and let their boss down. By the minute they let go of him, the quaffle and Draco (A/N: of course he fell off at his feet with style ^.^) fell on the floor. After straightening up, Draco bent down and took the quaffle. He played with it and asked, "Who threw this?"
"I-I did" Stuttered a younger boy who soon stood up from the Slytherin table. Seeing the boy's horrified face, a smile crept on Draco's face. He threw the ball at the kid and said, "Nice throw, kid." The boy caught it, and then looked questioningly at Draco.
By then, Draco turned around and asked Pansy and his cronies, "What?" He then sat down, and began to eat breakfast.
While Draco was eating, Pansy sat beside him. She asked, "What's wrong? What were you thinking of?"
"Whatever I am thinking is none of your concerns." Draco answered with an emphasis on "your".
"Mm-mmm…whatever you say. So, who're you going with to the ball?" suddenly asked Pansy.
"Huh?"
Hearing that Draco truly is oblivious of what she was talking about, Pansy tried enlightening Draco by saying, "Yule ball, silly. So,
who are you going with?"
Draco shrugs at the question, and answered, "Nobody." Simply.
"Nobody?" asked Pansy.
"Yes. What are you deaf or something?"
"No. It's just, well, strange. You going to the ball without a date? That's impossible. Say, in the first place, are you going to the ball?" Pansy inquired.
"No." answered Draco monotonously.
"What?!" Pansy almost screamed.
Draco shook his head. He then quietly said, "Pansy, I. Just. Said. No."
Pansy looked at Draco, who was now eating his bacon, and then said, "Alright, alright. No need to repeat."
For a while, there was silence, as Pansy watched Draco finish his breakfast while reading his newspaper. Pansy then broke the silence by saying, "Uhm, Draco?"
Draco puts down his goblet of pumpkin juice, and then looked at Pansy. "What?" he asked.
"There is something I got to tell you."
"And that is?" Draco asked.
Seeing that Draco really is unaware of what is happening to him, Pansy sighed and then said, "Draco…you've changed."
"Oh really?" Draco almost laughed.
"Draco, I mean it-" Pansy tried saying, but was cut off by Draco.
"Pansy, do you mind? Stop the crap."
"Crap? Draco, this is no crap. It's true, I'm telling you."
After saying this, Draco looked away from Pansy. Once again, there was silence, and once again, Pansy broke it.
"Draco?"
Draco sighs, and then said, "Pansy, please… just stop it with the pathetic act."
Pathetic?! Who are you calling pathetic?!"
Draco then looks back at Pansy. There was this hint of amusement in his eyes. He then mouths, "You."
Pansy kept quiet as she tried to process Draco's answer. She then gasped at the realization of its meaning, and then cursed him.
"Damn you."
"Mm-mmm…" came Draco's amused respond.
Silence for the third time, reigned between the two. Draco then emptied the content of his goblet, and finally stood up from his sit.
"Where are you going?" asked Pansy.
"Away from you." Draco answered knowingly.
"Bastard." Insulted Pansy.
"Hussy." Retorted Draco
"Git."
"Can't find anything better to say?" asked Draco amusedly.
Pansy then smiled, and then asked, "Can't find a retort to say?"
By that time, Draco stood up, ignoring Pansy, and started to walk towards the exit. He then turned around, and with a smirk plastered on his face, he said, "Hmm…really?"
He looked amusedly at Pansy, and then continued, "I won't say that if I were you." With that, he looked at her for the last time that morning, turned his heels, and walk away.
"AAARRRRGGHHHH!!!" screamed Pansy. "Men!" she screamed back at the retreating figure of Draco.
"Women" muttered Draco to himself.
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(Meanwhile, at Griffindor table…)
"Hey Ron, Ginny." Greeted Harry with a nod.
"Hey Harry! What did we miss?" asked Ron.
"Nothing much…just missed Malfoy and Parkinson scream their heads off, I guess." Harry answered with a grin on his face.
"What?! We missed that much?! Darn!" Ron said as he hit his fist on the table to add emphasis on the "Darn" part.
"Hmp…" Ginny sighed.
"You alright, Gin?" Harry asked.
"Huh? Oh, yes…I am." Ginny answered in a mere whisper as she started to play with her breakfast.
With her answer, Harry gave Ron a questioning look, but it was answered back with an unknowing look.
"Uhm, Ginny? Is there a problem? You know… you can always tell us." Harry tried persuading.
"Really…it's nothing."
"Ahem…" came a female voice.
The boys looked behind Ginny, and slowly did she.
"Hey Hermione" Greeted Ron. "Something wrong?" he added with a nervous smile.
With that question, Hermione crossed her arms and slowly said, "Well, I was just wondering where a certain redhead boy went. You see, funny it may seem, but I remembered him promising me that we were supposed to meet by the lake. Do you know anything about this Ginny?" Hermione asked looking down at Ginny.
Ginny then looked at her brother, and when she saw the nervous face he was making, she looked at Hermione and said, "No."
"Oh? So I guess that I have to remind someone that it really is rude to leave friends freezing outside for more than I-don't-know-how-many hours, hmm?" By now, Hermione was shooting daggers towards Ron.
"Uhmm…I think I have to go. Harry?" asked Ron.
"Uhmm…why don't you go ahead." Harry answered with a smile plastered on his face.
"Okay…sure…see ya!" With that Ron dashed towards the exit.
"Oh no you don't!" Hermione warned. She then instantly ran towards the exit too.
"Hehehe…" Harry sniggered, but when he saw Ginny's depressed face, he stopped. He then put his fork down and asked, "Ginny, what's wrong?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothing." Suddenly, Ginny put her fork down. She then stood up with her backpack hanging by her shoulder. She looked at Harry, and with a sweet smile, she said, "I think I ought to go. Excuse me." After that, she started off towards the door of the Great Hall.
"What is wrong with me?" thought Ginny.
"Ginny!"
"Why do I feel as if I'm in a trance?" still thought Ginny.
"Ginny!"
"Ginny! Snap―" but even before she could finish with her inner debate with the nagging part of her, someone caught her arm and pulled her to face whoever was holding her arm. "Harry!" Ginny said with a hint of surprise in her voice. "Come with me." He whispered, and then pulled Ginny with him. "Okay…so where are you taking me, Harry?" asked Ginny as she was pulled by Harry himself. "To the lake." He simply answered as he gave Ginny a brief sideward glance. "Huh? Wait." Ginny said as she yanked her arm free from Harry's grip. "And why are you taking me to the lake?" Ginny asked. Harry thus turned around and looked at Ginny. He then said, "Ginny, there is something wrong with you. And I bet that even if I beg you to tell me, you wouldn't, especially with all those people around." "Look Harry, I know that I'm not acting like myself today, but I'm alright. Really." Ginny then tried explaining Harry then looked considerately at Ginny. He then said, "Ginny, I know that I have no right to know your personal affairs, but as a friend, I just wanted to help." "Harry, I know that. But I'm alright, really." By saying that, Ginny then smiled at Harry and slowly turned around. While Ginny was about to turn around, Harry noticed something shining on Ginny's neck. He then walked closer to Ginny, and asked, "Ginny?" With that, Ginny turned around and looked questioningly at Harry. Seeing that he got her attention, Harry continued, "Ginny, what's that on your neck? I've never seen you wear that before." "Huh?" Ginny then looked down, and saw the necklace hanging on her neck. Seeing this, a disturbing smile slowly crept on Ginny's face. She looked up at Harry and said, "This? Well, it's a gift." "A gift? From who?" asked Harry. "From a friend" she simply answered. "Really? Can I see?" He then reached out towards the necklace. When his hands were inches from the pendant, Ginny suddenly covered it with her hand. She then angrily said, "No." With that, she turned around and ran away from Harry. Harry was about to follow Ginny but he heard someone call his name.
"Harry!" came the voice of Ron.
Harry turned around and was faced by a panting Ron. Ron then asked Harry what he was doing, when all of a sudden, Hermione came to the scene.
"There you are!" came Hermione's voice
Seeing Hermione, Ron then looked at Harry and said, "Uhmm…sorry Harry. Gotta go!" With that, Ron also ran away from Harry.
"Oh no you won't! Come back here, Ron!" called Hermione as she also ran passed Harry towards Ron.
"Hehehe…" Harry sniggered, but remembering Ginny, he stopped.
"Ginny…" muttered Harry to nobody in particular.
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A/N: Does it suck? I'm really sorry if it does. Anyways, Hey! Okay…I'm back. So first of all, I would like to apologize for the late coming of this chapter. I would like to dedicate this to my readers and reviewers:
Reviewer
Date
Chapter
Type
rage (rage_angel26@hotmail.com)
2003-04-01
8
Anonymous
Thank you so much for reading my fic. I'm very sure that I'll definitely be missing you next year. Hey gurl, UPDATE SOON!!! Hehehe…well, thanks anyways:)
Barbie(baby)gurl
2003-03-28
8
Anonymous
Thank you too for reading my fic. You guys just don't know what this means to me…THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
eLoQueNCe
2003-03-27
8
Signed
Hehehe…I can't believe you fell for that one! Well, sorry anyways, and THANK YOU TOO!!!!!!
Iselin
2003-03-27
8
Anonymous
Hey! Thank you all so much for once again reading my story. I'm really sorry if this chapter may suck a lot more than that of the previous ones, but I hope that you'll like it somehow. Well, I have to cut this short because if I don't, I may not be able to post this chapter. So once again…THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Also, I would like to thank all my previous reviewers. I know that I've done this so many times, but THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!
And finally, I would also like to clear something up. Many people have been complaining that Draco is OOC. Yes, I know that Draco is too OOC (Out Of Character), but the case is- He is supposed to be "changing." Love has its own twists and turns. We all know that love can change a person even without him of her noticing it. and this is what's currently happening to Draco. Okay?
So, I guess that that is that. Uhmm…THANK YOU FOR READING, and I hope that you liked this chapter. So, this is Marda a.k.a. Nepherei, temporarily signing off. Bye!
-Nepherei:)