The Seductress

Part VII

Sinister Bride

The hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Draco's wrist firmly, her fingernails digging into his skin. Her hood flapped over her hair again, concealing her face. Ginny screamed as Draco fell onto the floor, and the person leaned over him. She looked around frantically. She needed a wand, but the only wand was Draco's, which the intruder had now taken. She groaned in confusion and then felt numb as she watched the scene reveal itself. The intruder lowered it's head and kissed him on the lips gently, before running away, slamming the door behind her, a strand of brown hair throwing itself onto the air.

~

She was embarked across the ground. Images flashed through her closed eyelids.

"Are you okay?" the familiar voice said.

The Seductress fluttered her eyelashes open and smiled.

"It was her again, pushing me. She thinks just because I hang around you, I am going to bed you and run away."

He smiled, causing her to blush slightly. "She doesn't know you. She's new in town, give her a chance. That girl works with my father, and it's only right to give her respect."

The Seductress glared. "Respect? What about me? Just because everyone gave me a label in this town as a mere whore, it doesn't necessarily mean that I am one. She can't go off just abusing me just because she thinks you and her are to be married."

"We? We are nothing but only acquaintances. Yes, my father has been talking about my marriage, but it is only if I am not fit to find myself a bride. Come, Vi -"

"Don't say it," she warned him playfully, a smirk across her lips. "I hate that name. My mother should be cursed for naming a newborn that."

"Come along," he finished, placing his hand into hers.

~

Hermione Granger's eyes tumbled thoroughly across the page, and was oddly aware that two eyes were watching her. She looked around and met green ones. Shrieking, she jumped up in shock, dropping the book in the process. She sighed in relief, her face replaced with a scowling frown at her friend, Harry, who had obviously been watching her read. It was creepy, she had gone downstairs to the vacant common room to read something in front of the comforting and heated fireplace. Since tomorrow was Saturday, she found it to be alright to stay up a bit late.

"You scared the daylights out of me, Harry! What are you doing, in the middle of the night?" she asked, still breathing hard. He grinned at her.

"Sorry, 'Mione, didn't want to disturb you. What is that you're reading, anyway?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Nothing that's of your concern, I won't tell you till you tell me why you scared the hell out of me."

He sighed, the faint smile quivering his lips. "Ron's going with Lavender."

"What?" a crestfallen Hermione's voice erupted.

"Sorry Herm," Harry looked at her.

"To the Valentine's Ball?" Hermione questioned, although she knew the answer.

"Yes. I decided to tell you, at night, because Ron really likes her and all..."

"Right."

"I thought maybe we could go together, as friends. I mean, it's better than going alone," he suggested.

"Right. Alone. Okay, fine," she answered timidly.

He brightened instantly, grinning. "Great!"

She forced a weak smile.

"So, what was it that you were reading?"

"Oh, it's lovely, wait till you hear." She proceeded in showing him a cover of pure satin red, with curly script as the title.

The Seductress

First Edition - X X X Version

" X X X?" Harry read, looking at her slyly.

Hermione blushed. "It's the best I could find. Anyway, the book's not really dirty, yet, anyway. It's a wonderful myth."

"Who's it written by?"

She shrugged. "I have no idea. It's supposed to be stuff that really happened, or a myth that's been handed down from generations to generations."

He paused before speaking. "Oh, I see."

"I better get to sleep," she said, putting the book neatly on the armchair. He nodded at her, and watched as she walked upstairs. He took one more look at the book and picked it up, wondering why it seemed so weird. There was a slight tingle to his fingers, as if the book was affecting him. He shook his head. It wasn't possible. He opened it, going to the last page. He stared hard at it. There were no written words. Harry found this extremely unusual, and went to the previous page. Nothing, nor trace of a letter existed. He frantically searched through the last eleven pages before he found words.

She felt dizzy, a sudden motion surrounding her. A lump in her throat was forming uneasily. She scrunched up her eyebrows in confusion. Why did she feel like this, when she had made love to the man that she was meant to be with? She clutched her stomach, moaning

There were no more written words.

~

Weeks passed by, and January turned into February quickly. Exams were starting, and people were studying hard through their books, making up last minute homework, and barging into libraries, looking for books they would need to know how to make a Forgetfulness potion, or what was Frank the Third famous for, or what did Allison Monroe discover first, the Polyjuice Potion, or the Cremation Charm?

There were other things besides exams, of course. Word had gotten around that Professor Dumbledore and the other remaining members of the staff were planning to give the students a Valentine's Ball, a simple dance where the students were to dress properly in dress robes or their own dresses and suits, and celebrate Valentine's Day.

The only couple of people, however, that did not seem interested in studying frantically or planning what they should wear to the dance were Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy. Ginny had not been able to speak to Draco unless they passed each other in the halls, smiling or nodding at each other. She was becoming helpless by the second, unsteady for the exams, and nervous about the dance. She was planning on going stag, alone, and just hang around for a while before returning to the Common Room. She was not into festivities or love, and was not keen on going on another date with Neville, who seemed to be wanting to catch her eye.

Draco, obviously was avoiding her. Confused from the events that happened weeks ago that night, he seemed to notice that Ginny was not getting hurt anymore, and although he found the need and want to talk to her, he knew it would be unnecessary. After all, he had healed her the times she had been hurt, and it was best to stay away from her so that whoever the person was, would not feel the need to ensue his or her attacks on Ginny.

It wasn't as if he didn't try to talk to her, no, he had tried on various occasions to get hold of her, but she was either not paying attention, or busy to even look her way. Finally, on the near end of the first week of February, he got his chance. Three last classes had been cancelled in the day, because of a Staff Meeting. It was crazy, students were doing last minute studying or going outside to practice Qudditch. Some were even daring enough to go out in the cool air and swim in the lake.

Draco, however, was strutting across the halls and happened to pass by the library, and walked in, on first instinct. He didn't go there often, but when he did, he found the library to be interesting. As he went inside, his eye caught on flashing red hair nearby. Strolling across the stacks of books and muggle enhanced computers, he took a seat next to the redhead, who was reading a small little leathered book quietly, her lips more swollen then usual. Her red hair was tangled, and there were faint black circles under her eyes.

"Hey," he said, startling her.

She looked at him and gave him a small smile. "Hi," she replied softly, bringing a strand of red hair from her forehead.

"So, haven't seen you lately," he remarked as she went back to her book. She looked up again, and pulling a small ribbon in the page she was reading, she set the book down on the table and folded her fingers.

"Well, you've been the one avoiding me," Ginny accused, as another strand fell over her eye. He reached up and took the time to brush it away, making her cheek collide with his fingers. A strange, rush flashed through his body, and he looked at her curiously, waiting for her reaction. Surprisingly, she gave none. She just stared at him.

"I've been busy. So, no more attacks huh?" he asked, a lousy attempt at feeble conversation.

"No. But I still didn't forget what happened that night," she commented quietly.

"Me either," he admitted.

"So, did the kiss seem familiar?"

He looked at her, puzzled.

"I mean, you've kissed a lot of girls before, did it seem familiar, like you've kissed her before or something?" Ginny said, her face turning a faint shade of red.

He chuckled, and frowned a bit. "No, it didn't seem familiar."

"Can - can I ask you permission to like, examine your room...please?"

Draco shot her a strange look. 'Has she gone mad' he thought.

"Um, why?"

She blushed harder. "Oh, never mind, it's stupid."

"No, what?"

"Well, there might - there might be clues, you know."

Ginny suddenly began to feel very stupid as the puzzled look on Draco's face expanded.

"Well, okay, I guess. Let's go now."

Surprised, Ginny left the book she was reading at the table, and they started walking. Suddenly, a fast tingling rushed through her fingers as she felt flesh across them. She looked down at her feet, and allowed Draco's fingers to slip through hers.

~

Thank you all for reviewing, though I have to say it's not really Hermione lol. I didn't know you guys would think that, but I guess that's what I get for the wisp of brown hair thing. Anyways, to BlondieChild: Thanks for your great reviews, I made a mistake in the summary, it was supposed to be VI, I'm sorry, I'm not good with roman numerals. Thanks everyone for reviewing and I assure you that you will find out who the mystery person is soon. Some of you will be surprised, some of you will not...

Love,

-Court