In the Night

by Butterflysky

Ginny can't stand the pain of knowing that her life is a complete failure anymore. So one night, she commits suicide but before she hits the ground, a creature with gray eyes saves her. Who else could it be but Draco Malfoy?

6. Forever Can Seem Like Eternity

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my twisted plot and my obsession with Draco.

A/N: Yea! The Next Chapter! Sorry for making you all wait but I had a lot of work, again. Well, I get used to it after a while. By the way, I made this chapter extra long because I'm going to be gone for a week and a half and will not be able to write anything. So, here you go! My next chapter in my twisted world of d/g.

**NEW A/N**: I am so SO sorry, but I have a tendency to never be happy with what I write. It's my nature so sue me. I changed the ending to this because one: it was not Draco and two: the new ending that I came up with will help me later on with more subplots. I am SO sorry again for the inconvenience, but this ending will definitely cause more angst and fluff later on - so be prepared. LOL. It was also between doing this or ending the story, which I really didn't want to do because I love it so far. So, please reread the ending if you read the one before it.

Chapter Six: Forever Can Seem Like Eternity

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dear Athena,

I changed my mind. I didn't go to breakfast this morning. Instead, I am sitting here on my bed writing in you, confiding in you. I'm stunned, so stunned that it is hard for me to put words together at the moment. This has neither happened to me before nor have I ever suspected it would.

Ever since I was thirteen and started seeing other people have boyfriends or girlfriends, I've wondered if I would ever have what they did. Now, almost four years later, it still doesn't happen. Whenever I'm angry or sad, I just wish someone would be there to hold me and make it all better. But when it doesn't, I feel this tightening around my heart like there are chains there that twist and turn laughing in my face and telling me that no one will ever come, and then I feel like crying. I don't even have to try hard to do so. The tears just come in a river that never ends. And I'll sit on my bed, with my head in my pillow, and wonder when - when will my day come? Will it take forever or is it just a few moments away?

You know how you feel after a missed opportunity or when you think that if you did something different, it would have come out better in the end? No, no you wouldn't. You're just a diary - no offense. Yet, everyday, I feel that if I turned a different corner in the hallway or waited a couple more minutes in the library, something could have happened to me - something exciting, dangerous, different. I want to feel like I'm soaring above the clouds where no one can come and touch me.

That's how I felt when Malfoy kissed me. That's why I was stunned. I've never felt like that before.

Or maybe it was just because I've never been kissed and was just stunned by the fact that someone did. I was actually planning on becoming a nun if no one did this year. No seriously! But there go those plans.

Although it was only for a second or two, when he kissed me, I felt this shell around me break and shatter and those chains around my heart disappear. If only it could have lasted longer, but Hermione was at the door, suspicious as always whenever I'm quiet.

God, I must have looked so dumb when Draco opened his eyes. Mine were open because, again, I was stunned - completely and utterly stunned. But, when Draco opened his, he didn't look any different. His eyes looked the same - mischevious and nonchalant as always. He didn't care that he kissed me. I'm just another piece of meat to him that he has fun teasing with. Why does he have to do this to me? Why does he have to make me feel so weird and not give that he does? I've always wanted my first kiss to be romantic, under the stars, and in front of a lake or something that will give off an essence of serenity. But instead, I just get the ass playing games with my head, and that pisses the shit out of me.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ginny was lying down on her stomach on her bed as she closed her red diary that kept all of her secrets. Tapping the cover three times and then performing a spell that would make the pages appear white and empty, she put the diary on the night-table next to her bed. The alarm clock kept obnoxiously blinking 1:00 repeatedly under the dismal light from the gray sky that crept through her window. She tried to look around her room, especially at the spot where Draco once stood, but her eyes were cloudy from crying.

Ginny knew that she never wanted to cry over a boy again, but she couldn't hold the tears back. The last time she cried over something as stupid and irrelevant as a boy was over the summer when she opened her eyes and saw how Harry would never pay attention to her and how he was always preoccupied with stealing glances at Hermione, who would occasionally do the same to him. And, oh no!, they were so not furtive. They had to do it at the Weasley's table at dinner and at the huge parties that Fred and George regularly threw when all could see. So, no, their feelings were not kept solely between themselves; they were very public indeed. And it just must have been a coincidence that those stolen kisses were always in front of Ginny. Just a coincidence … right, and pigs can fly. Whenever Ginny would notice those glances or sweet kisses between the two of them, she would bottle her feelings of sadness up inside in a little container in the depths of her heart where she would release them later on the windowsill in her room. Of course, she would keep the window closed, so that no one could hear her and she could keep her emotions to herself. However, it was at those moments that she wished that she did have someone to hold on to and cry into his arms, telling him all that she had ever felt, wished, dreamed of. Then, they would kiss under the moonlight and he would make everything better.

And who else comes along to mock all of her wants in her face. Draco, the enemy, the ferret, the macho asshole, had to come into her room and kiss her just to get off of that look on her face, which must have been pretty stupid after all. Her first kiss was not in a million years supposed to be with a guy who she, at the moment, positively hated and who made her feel like shit most of the time. Her first kiss was not supposed to be with a guy who would make fun of it later and who was, most importantly, her bete noire.

And for that, Ginny said to herself while staring out the window towards the bleak sky and drying her eyes with her hands, I will make him pay.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After Draco flew to his Slytherin prefect room from Ginny's, he immediately went to his dresser while planting his feet in front of his full-length mirror and leaning against his closet door. Draco stared at himself for about five minutes. His hair was windblown, his clothes slightly disheveled, and his cheeks had a pinkish tint on them from the cold weather. All in all, he did not look like he normally did with his cleanly pressed clothes, slicked back hair, and perfectly pale face. However, Draco didn't move an inch to fix anything, for his mind was distracted, instead, with an image of Weasley's stunned face.

Truthfully, Draco did not know exactly why he kissed her. Perhaps it was instinct or perhaps it was because he just wanted her to shut up and to stop raving and ranting. Yes, that was it; he wanted her to shut up. Running his hand through his hair and making it more messy than before, Draco thought about that look on her face that seemed like a mix of surprise, wonder, and, strangely, sadness. Why sadness: Draco had no idea. But that made her look even more beautiful.

Hearing a slight tap on his window, Draco shook his head in an effort to erase Ginny from his mind, which did not work. Her sad and surprised face kept looming before his eyes that he turned to his windowsill to find a midnight colored owl perched on it. It was his father's to Draco's dismay. He was hoping not to see, hear, or listen to him until winter break, which was about one week away. Tied to the dark owl's leg was a neatly rolled piece of parchment with the Malfoy coat of arms on it - two green snakes wrapped around a gleaming sword. Draco detached the letter, and the bird proudly lifted its beak, much like Malfoys raising their noses in the air, and flew off gracefully into the dreary sky. Blowing a piece of silvery hair out of his eyes, Draco sat lazily down on his bed and opened the letter although he already knew what would be written on it. It was his seventh year; his mark would be given soon.

Draco,

Of course, as you know, it is nearing winter break. You shall soon join us as a force. You shall bear the mark. You shall be loyal. Voldemort will arrive at the manor towards the end of the break. I will pick you up from school on the second to last day of break, January 4. You should at least be grateful that I am leaving your despicable self there for Christmas and New Years, but then again, who would want to celebrate them with you? I'm certainly happy that I don't have to.

I also have not heard of anything about Potter as I have instructed you to before you left for Hogwarts. It is important that we know of Potter's every move. Do not disobey me, boy. You know what will happen if you do…

Also, when you meet Voldemort, do not lie. I cannot stress that enough. He will find out if you are. He will search every crevice of your mind, so be prepared for pain, but that is the price that you must pay to be in the inner circle, a privileged position.

Do not disobey me, boy.

Father

Standing up from his bed, Draco angrily crumpled up the letter and threw it into the roaring fireplace across from him. He hated his father with a passion, so Draco would try to destroy anything that had to do with him. Therefore, he watched with glee when the edges began to smoke and sizzle, but then it stopped doing so and instead, the letter flew out of the fireplace. Draco ran over to where the letter landed and picked it up, noticing that it felt cool. As his fingers ran the length of the parchment, the original writing on it disappeared to be replaced with red, bleeding letters that read "I told you not to disobey me."

Soon, the letter erupted in flames with Draco's fingers still on it. When his fingers caught on fire, he jumped on the letter to put the flames out as it released a malevolent laugh that was an exact replica of Lucius's: evil with malice resounding from every part of it. Draco's eyes opened wide out of fear. Thinking quickly, he ran into his bathroom, turned on the facet in the sink, and put his hands under the cold, running water. Smoke rose from the sink to envelope the bathroom in a cloud of gray. Draco glanced down at his hands to see third degree burns forming.

The pain was horrible, and it felt like a thousand knives coated in deadly poison were piercing his hands. Blisters began to form, and his skin started to turn a pink/brown color. Draco tried to hide the pain by putting on an emotionless mask and biting his lips, but soon they began to bleed, releasing a metallic taste into his mouth. He could not subdue his screams of pain anymore, and as he opened his mouth to take in a breath of air, Draco yelled in agony while shouting obscene words. From his bedroom, Lucius' laughter was vibrating off the walls and increasing in pitch as every second passed.

Sliding down the wall next to his sink and wrapping his arms carefully around his legs as to not let his burned hands touch, Draco finally cried into his arms letting feelings of anger, pain, and hate for his father come to the surface. He hid them for too long, and like anything that is kept under pressure, it will eventually come to the surface and explode. This was the first time that Draco had ever cried; all the frustration just accumulated over the years to this point. The years of abuse and of torture and of agony, but the agony was not always caused by his father. It was also because of himself, of what he was. It hurt keeping the secret to himself kind of like feeling guilty after telling a lie. Then, there were those nights where he couldn't sleep. Insomnia was commonplace for him now. He also couldn't tell anyone for fear of putting that person in danger. He did not want pity either. It was his problem; he had to deal with it, but then he told Ginny, going against his implied vow to keep it to himself. Yet, now he finally felt guilty for doing so. He put her in danger - a danger beyond imagination. What if Voldemort found out about his secret? What if he found out that Ginny knew?

He moved his head to look at his hands, the ones so discolored and strangely textured from the burns. The ones that, if things kept going the way they were, would one day kill people under a mask of fear. The ones that would one day serve Voldemort and probably become his loyal first commander, murdering muggles, mudbloods, and purebloods alike for either a purpose or just for fun. Was this what he wanted to become? Was he destined to be like his father, a mindless slave to an equally mindless tyrant?

Draco did not like to kill. He already saw what could become of it, for what he was resulted from a killing. So, then, what would happen if he slaughtered hundreds of people?

Draco thought of the man who did this to him, his father - a man who had all the power, or most of it, that the world could offer. But was power something that Draco wanted? He had power already. How could being a creature of the night not have its power? He most definitely already had an advantage over both his father and Voldemort. But what about respect? Did Draco have respect? With his father, Draco did, but independently he did not. All of the "friends", if they could be called that, were because of his father, making it only temporary admiration. Without his father, Draco would lose all of those who "respected" him.

An idea formulated in Draco's mind. If he became a death eater, than Voldemort's followers would revere him and look up to him. Not only would they respect him, but they would also fear him, and with fear, Draco could have all of the respect that he wanted.

Lucius' laughing ceased, and a blank quiet took its place.

Draco's eyes never moved from his hands, which were still as discolored as they were before and still hurt like hell although now it felt like a few knives stabbing into them instead of a thousand. Slowly moving his body and using the wall as a prop to stand up, he moved over to look into the bathroom's mirror. His eyes lost their silver glint and were simply a dull gray, and reflected in the mirror was the sky, which looked completely black. It was going to snow again.

On Draco's night-table lay his wand. Moving slowly though his smoke-filled room, Draco arrived at the table and bent gently down so that he was at eye level with the wand. He knew it would hurt to pick it up with his burnt hands, but it was the only way. He could not leave his room smelling like this. It would arose suspicion from both the teachers and the whole school. Draco picked up his wand and closed his eyes shut from the pain as he let out another piercing yell. He needed to put the wand down and quickly so he muttered the incantation that made his room once again smell like him. Draco then threw the wand down on the ground and sprinted to the hospital wing. The pain had become too much for him to bear. Picking up his wand no longer made his hands feel like a few or a thousand knives piercing into him. Now, it felt like they were on fire all over again.

Draco ran like hell through the halls in the school, and when he arrived at the archway that opened into the hospital wing, he shouted for Madam Pompfrey who came sprinting to Draco thinking that an Apocalypse was upon the school from the way he was screaming.

"Draco Malfoy? What happened?"

Through ragged breaths, Draco swiftly replied, "I burned them. I burned my hands, and God, it hurts."

That's when the nurse looked down to see the boy's disgusting palms. Madam Pompfrey could not believe the sight in front of her, for normally Draco would just come in with a broken nose or arm from quidditch and trying to beat Harry to the snitch. But, this was different. This time, Draco's hands were burned. She knew that she had to act fast, for from the look on Draco's face, she knew the pain must be horrible.

"Quick, Draco. Get on the bed and stay still. Let me go get something." Madam Pompfrey ran off and came back as quickly as she left only she had a clear red bottle with her.

"This might hurt a little."

"As if it doesn't hurt already," Draco said through gritted teeth.

The nurse opened up the top to the bottle and began to pour the clear contents over Draco's hands not caring whether the substance got on the sheets. It felt like needles were being punctured into his hands when the liquid was poured on them. However, the needle-like pain began to disappear as well as the feeling of knives and his hands on fire. Raising his hands into the air, Draco watched as they started to return to their normal pale color although here and there, a few scars could be seen.

"Sorry, Draco, but those will stay forever."

Draco was still looking at his hands, amazed that they were almost completely normal again and not covered in red blisters.

He moved his head to look at Madam Pompfrey through his sad and dull gray eyes. "Thank you."

"You're quite welcome," the nurse paused afraid to ask her next question. Madam Pompfrey was not stupid. Although the other teachers might have been and ignored the cuts and bruises that Draco came in with after summer and breaks, Madam knew, or speculated pretty well, what was happening at Draco's home. She could guess what kind of person Lucius was. Seeing those marks on his son and the rumor, which she could not believe was still a rumor and that no one had actually investigated it thoroughly, that his father was a Death Eater gave away his personality. Too occupied with her thoughts to recognize what was coming out of her mouth, she asked the question.

"What happened Draco?" Yes, she didn't exactly ask if his father was abusing him, but what she asked could have implied it.

Draco, on the other hand, was surprised that she questioned him. Nobody had asked why he would have random scars or bruises before. This nurse was the first person to ask, and her care just took him by surprise.

Should he tell her what his father was doing to him? No. No he couldn't. What if his father found out about that too? He had already put Ginny in danger; he was most definitely not going to put the first person who cared about his whereabouts in danger either.

Draco smiled at the woman and created a most ingenious lie being sure to use his charms. "Oh, Madam, I am so sorry about this. I was trying to ignite my fireplace this morning because it was freezing cold when I couldn't find my wand. I must have displaced it. So, I tried to do it the muggle way, you know, with a match. Well, I found a packet of them on top of the fireplace (I guess they are placed there for incidents like this) and tried to use it. But, I've never seen such things before, and when I finally got the stick to catch fire, I was so happy that I figured this strange muggle invention out that I didn't notice the flames growing in height. I tried to put it out with my hands (I did not know better), and they caught on fire. I am so very sorry for the inconvenience this early in the morning."

"It's one, Draco."

"Well, I guess time flies when your hands are on fire."

Again, Madam Pompfrey was not stupid. Of course she did not believe Draco's lie. But what could she do? Wash his mouth with soap and threaten him? That would go over well with the Ministry of Magic. Very well indeed. So, she did the only thing she could: pretend to believe him.

"That was very clumsy of you, Draco. Next time, ask for help."

"I will, Madam. I will."

"Well, you may leave now if you like. Just be sure to apply cream to your hands every night until the itching or any effects from the burns begin to die down."

Placing his hands carefully down on the bed, Draco began to lift himself up while ignoring the slight pangs that came from his palms. He threw his legs over the side of the bed and was about to get up and leave when Madam Pompfrey called him from where she was standing in front of him.

"Draco," she replied while gazing at him behind her glasses that helped her strained sixty-year-old eyes, "if you have anything bothering you, I'm … I'm always here to help."

Draco looked up into her eyes and noted the sympathy for him that laid in them. Although Madam Pompfrey could be quite irritating at times, such as when the Slytherins and Gryffindors got into fights and came bleeding into the hospital ward, she really did care about the welfare of the students, especially Draco who she decided long ago was not as bad as people thought he was. He was actually kind deep down but just tried to mask it over with his lies, sneers, and disdainful comments.

Draco did not reply but instead raised himself form the bed and exited the infirmary leaving the nurse to shake her head in sympathy for what he had to endure in school, at home, and in himself.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ginny, still in her room, kept running her plan through her head. It would work - hell yes it will work. Cleaning her room up afterwards might pose a problem though. Strewn around her quarters were all of the clothes in her closet. Although the rest of the Weasleys could not afford a lot of clothes, Ginny was able to stretch a few sickles a mile long by shopping in second hand and vintage stores, which had extremely beautiful clothes from past eras. Bent over in her closet and throwing outfits over her shoulder to find "the one," Ginny finally came by what she was looking for: a navy knee length, wispy skirt that flared out at the bottom, a white and navy off the shoulder peasant top, and a pair of heels from the forties. Ginny quickly put her hair half up, allowing a few strands to frame her face. Then, grabbing her pale concealer, pink lip-gloss, and rose blush, she began to apply her makeup. When she was done and standing in front of her mirror, Ginny had a casual and timeless look at the same time. She looked both graceful and "teenage," and if no guy noticed her looking like this, then he must be blind. Plan Draco was going into action.

Actually, the reason why Ginny was doing this was not to impress the snob; it was to make him pay for taking away one of the moments that she was supposed to treasure - her first kiss. Instead of having Prince Charming, she got the nasty toad that did not change into a handsome royal. So, by dressing like this, she was going to parade herself in the Great Hall in front of all the guys and piss Draco off when all of them stared. Oh yes, she was going to get her prince this way - no Draco. He'll just be one of them staring, knowing that she was most definitely not going to pick him.

And knowing Draco, Ginny thought, not getting any girl, let alone me, will bug the shit out of him. This … this is going to be fun.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lunch, which began at 1:00, was still being served at 1:30 when Draco entered the Great Hall. To his right sat those stupid Gryffindors; he saw Seamus, Dean, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and … no, wait he didn't see her. Ginny was not there.

Draco did not know exactly why, but he felt his stomach drop when he saw the redhead's seat empty.

Or maybe it was just because Ron was staring at him with angry, squinted eyes. Normally, Draco was not afraid of anyone, but for Ron he made an exception. Of Ron's foolish personality, he was not apprehensive of. It was the fact that Ron had huge muscles and was about 6'10, like one of those American basketball players that looked like mutated beanstalks.

"What are you looking at Malfoy?"

However, Draco was not supposed to show fear for anyone taller or more muscular than he, especially if that person was a poor Weasley. So, as usual, Draco slapped on an emotionless face and a sneer and ignited his arrogant personality.

"A pug-nosed, shit-faced, poor piece of…"

Unluckily for Draco, he forgot that all Weasley tempers were alike: feisty and bad as Hell. Currently, the sexy Slytherin had a black eye on the right side of his face to match the slap he received earlier from Ginny on the left. He was very symmetrical now.

Everybody was looking at the fight that was about to ensue in the middle of the room. Ron moved from his chair to jump right on top of Draco and land a blow to his stomach. Hermione and Harry both turned around quickly and jumped on top of Ron to pull him off. Therefore, not only did Draco have a 250 pound redhead on him but also his two best friends. Draco was a nice pancake to say the least.

Harry and Hermione grabbed Ron across the chest and struggled trying to pull him off Draco. Ron was, of course, resisting them, and he had one hand on Draco's collar while the other was raised in the air to punch him again.

And it was at that time that Ginny decided to walk into the Great Hall.

(A/N: Hehehe, I could end this right here if I wanted to, but seeing as I will be gone for a week and a half and won't be able to update, I guess I'll be nice and continue. Hehe)

She threw the doors open and was about to begin her plan when she saw the sight before her: an enraged brother, two struggling friends, and a bleeding Draco. Without knowing what she was doing, Ginny ran to Draco's side and amazingly threw both her brother and his two best friends off of him to the surprise of the whole school and, of course, the trio. How could a little girl push three people away when two, Harry and Hermione, were just trying to do so to one? Strange … very strange.

Maybe it was instinct or maybe it was because of Draco bleeding from the side of his face and his lips or maybe it was because Draco was at a disadvantage, but the point is, Ginny was at Draco's side. The rage in Ron was replaced by inquisitiveness and a feeling of "huh?". Both of his hands fell to his sides in wonder as he noticed how his little sister forcefully threw him off Draco.

Ginny, on the other hand, was too busy wiping the blood from Draco's face and lips. She really did not know what she was doing. All thoughts escaped her mind as she stroked her fingers over the bruised areas on his visage. Moving her hands down his body, she saw his scarred hands, picked those up, and kissed his knuckles. Draco just kept staring at her face in wonder. He had no idea why this girl who he had made fun of over the course of six years was caring for him. The only reason he could conjure for her anxiety was because she felt badly that her huge brother was beating someone smaller than he.

Ginny kept moving her fingers over Draco's face. She touched his forehead, his cheeks, his nose, and his lips, but never looked directly into his eyes. Her mind, again, was utterly blank, and it was as if some intangible force was controlling her and compelling her to touch him. It was also like déjà vu, for almost six years ago, she was doing the same exact thing to a certain falcon.

Yet, when Ginny moved to touch his eyes, she glanced into his and all of her senses and her mind came back to her. The wheels in her brain began to move again, and she finally noticed that she was touching Draco Malfoy, the one and only. Ginny immediately jumped up from her crouched position next to Draco and moved her hand to her mouth as a gasp entered it.

What? What the fuck am I doing?!

Ginny looked around the Great Hall to see that everyone, including Draco, was staring at her with wide eyes. Like Draco, they were all surprised to see a Weasley caring for a Malfoy. Well, at least part one of the plan was accomplished: everyone was staring at her. However, it was not in the way that she wanted, and out of utter embarrassment from her actions towards Draco, Ginny spun on her heels and ran out of the Great Hall with her hand still on her mouth in surprise and confusion.

At that moment, Draco's mind was definitely turning on its axis. Without Ginny knowing it, the second part of her plan was accomplished, for the moment that she ran through those doors, Draco was captivated by her beauty with her red, waist length hair flowing everywhere and her stunning blue eyes. And, in that outfit, she looked like a model, a goddess, a microcosm of all the beauty in the world. Then, he was even more taken away when she came running to him of all people - not her brother, not Harry … him - and started to touch his face. Her fingers were soft, delicate, beautiful, too. Everything about her was beautiful, but he knew that she would never want him. No matter what she says, he knew that a part of her would always still love Harry.

Draco was still planted on the ground, and took advantage of the fact that everyone, including Ron, was still staring at the doors in which Ginny left through to get up and exit through the back door that students used in case the Great Hall doors were crowded.

Draco's mind, however, was still on Ginny. Her worried face still loomed before his eyes.

She was worried for me, Draco thought. Why would she be worried for me - Draco Malfoy, the person who hurt her for such a long time? I don't get it. I don't get it at all.

Draco closed the door to the back entry to the Great Hall and began to walk down the dark hallway to the Main Hall. On his way, he found a window with a cushioned seat that was reflecting the dim light from outside. Sitting down on the seat, Draco leaned his head against the cold glass window and looked out towards the dark forest under the equally darkened sky. Snow was coming again although the grounds were already covered in it. Sighing, Draco saw Ginny's face dance in front of his eyes again, and it bothered him that his mind could be so preoccupied with a stupid Gryffindor. Sure, he loved to be preoccupied with girls, but it normally wasn't his mind or heart that was.

This is stupid, Draco presumed. Thinking about a Weasley is not something important for me to be doing at the moment. I should be planning on becoming a deatheater, instead. And, besides, she doesn't even like me. And… and … I don't ….

Ginny's worried face loomed before him again and as every second passed, Draco found it harder to tell himself that he did not have any feelings for Ginny. Every time he tried telling himself that he did not like her, something twisted in his stomach. Looking down at his hands again and then outside, Draco sighed and shook his head.

This cannot be happening.

Five minutes later, Draco found himself face down on his pillow in his private bedroom drifting off into a slight slumber, for he kept having dreams about Ginny. Only one stood out in his mind when he woke up later that night.

-DREAM-

Draco found himself hovering above his dream self (A/N: I know this sounds confusing, but Draco is above his dream self looking down at it). He was in the middle of a circle of deatheaters and Ginny, fully awake with her legs and arms bound, was lying in the center of the circle next to him. The circle made an opening at the side opposite the dream Draco, letting Lord Voldemort enter in his black cloaks that billowed out from all sides. The Lord was the same height as Draco, but his power and respect made him tower over Draco. He looked directly into the dream Draco's eyes and muttered quietly, "Kill her." The dream Draco, with strangely blank eyes, looked down towards Ginny as a red light was emitted from his wand. The last thing Draco heard before he woke up was the dream Ginny's piercing scream.

-DREAM-

Draco jumped up to a sitting position on his bed and was gasping loudly. His eyes darted around the room thinking that someone was standing in a corner watching him. Several times, he mistook the shadow of a branch as some kind of demon.

What kind of dream was that? It … it felt real.

Just like the dream Draco, when Draco awoke he felt slightly blank and empty. After a few more breaths, his senses came back to him. Shaking his head slightly, Draco followed the light that was coming in through his window to the waning moon outside. He still would not be able to sleep this night because one, the moon was still quite full and two, that horrid dream kept running through his mind like a broken record.

Draco moved the green, silk covers off him and wrapped his slightly muscular arms around himself. As much as he did not want to admit it, that dream frightened him a little. Draco walked over to the large gothic window in his room that had two doors towards the bottom of it that opened to a small balcony. All of the private rooms, prefects rooms, and head boy and girl rooms had balconies in them. It was kudos for either the money a student paid for one or the great grades that he or she received in school.

Draco opened the doors and stepped out onto his balcony letting the cold winter air crawl on his skin. At first, Draco ignored the cold, but as the wind increased in fervor, he grabbed his wand out of his pajama pants and muttered a warming spell over his body. Immediately, he felt like he was standing in front of a cozy fire.

Draco knew that he would not receive sleep that night, and before he flew off to "his" spot next to the frozen lake, he noticed that his clock was blinking 11:00 p.m.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After she ran out of the Great Hall, Ginny went straight to her room, crawled under the covers on her bed, and cried into her pillow.

Nothing ever went the way that she wanted it to. Nothing. Ever. Everything kept screwing up in one way or another. Her plan did not work (that much was obvious). People were staring at her in surprise for her strength, not in awe for her outfit, her body, or her looks.

Ginny always felt let down.

She had no idea of what came over her to start touching Draco like that. All she remembered thinking about after she walked through those doors and saw him bleeding was how hurt and angry he looked. She could remember nothing else except feeling worried and scared. She saw her brother about to punch him again and Harry and Hermione struggling to pull Ron away and felt fear hit the pit of her stomach. Ron was going to hurt Draco again, and she couldn't let that happen.

Something happened to her at the moment where she yanked Ron and his two best friends off Draco. She felt powerful, and no one seemed to notice that at that instant, her eyes started to become darker but changed to normal when her fingers were caressing Draco's face.

Ginny still could not believe what she did. It was not her. She hated Draco with a passion, but there she was touching his face and wiping away his blood. Ever since that night at the tower, everything turned so strange.

And with that, Ginny cried herself to sleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ginny's slumber was not quite peaceful in fact. Actually, the whole scenario in the Great Hall kept playing in her subconscious, and every time it restarted, Ginny would wake up a bit more until finally she was wide awake. Rubbing her eyes, she looked over at her clock that blinked 11:12 p.m. and pulled herself gently out of her bed. Ginny, however, did not get far, because she was still tired from receiving no rest; therefore, the farthest she moved was one of the four bed posts that faced the window next to her balcony. Leaning against the pillar, she looked up at the dark sky to see that no stars were showing, and after tiring of that scene, she made a quick glance at the ground around the forest and lake. Scanning the white grounds around the school, Ginny noticed a figure in black pajama pants that stood in stark contrast to the white. She squinted her eyes to receive a better look but found that didn't help, so she muttered a warming incantation, opened the doors to her balcony, and stood outside peering at the figure next to the frozen lake.

It was Draco.

To Ginny up on her balcony, Draco looked peaceful and different from the obnoxious boy that she always knew. In the snow, he looked sweet and innocent although he was actually far from that. His hair kept blowing in all directions and Ginny found it hard to admit to herself that he looked sexy and handsome like that in the moonlight.

Shaking her head and putting her hair into a pony tail as to not let strands of it blow into her face, Ginny was about to walk back inside when the figure on the ground absentmindedly turned his head in her direction on accident. What he saw was a redheaded girl staring right back at him. Ginny did not move, and thinking that this was a welcoming gesture, Draco flew gracefully to Ginny on her balcony.

"Hello, Ginny."

Ginny, however, was stunned at how he flew and just continued to stare at Draco in awe. The fact that Draco was a result of a freak accident and that he could fly finally hit her. He was different. He wasn't exactly the perfect little rich snob that she originally thought he was. He must have his share of problems, like her. He must have felt sadness and regret, for he was human.

"You know," Draco awkwardly said, for the way she was staring at him was making him feel … well… bothered, "the way that you're looking at me does make me think obscene things."

His voice broke the silence between them and made Ginny aware that she had been staring at him for quite a while.

"You're gross. You know that, right?"

"I am a guy."

"No, really? I thought you weren't."

"I have proof."

"I was being sarcastic you nitwit."

"I know. I just wanted to be irreverent."

"So," Ginny replied after a few minutes of silence, "do you always sit over there by the lake?"

"Sometimes. It's normally just when I feel like it."

They both turned to look at each other under the faint light from the moon.

"I like the lake. It gives off this feeling of mystery, of" he paused, looking for a suitable way to describe what he felt, "innocence." Draco moved closer to Ginny, who was finding it hard to stand on her legs as every second passed. Draco's scent, his presence and his aura were intoxicating her. She was going to fall into the snow on her balcony if she didn't find something to hold on to.

Draco glanced down at her feet and noticed that they were wobbling. Knowing that her shaking legs would cause her to fall, Draco grabbed her around the waist just as her feet slipped out from under her body.

"Um… thanks," Ginny said taking her gaze away from his eyes to stare at the lake.

"Yea… you're welcome," Draco quietly replied while glancing up at the clouds, which began to swirl around each other and turn darker, signaling another imminent snowfall. He looked at the grounds and at the forest dark in the night and awaiting another blizzard to cover its ominous presence with white. The school was covered in an old sheet of snow that delicately coated every tower, courtyard, and inch of the castle. It was the perfect picture of beauty.

"Just like the girl standing in front of me," Draco absentmindedly thought aloud.

Ginny turned her head to look at him and whispered, "Excuse me?"

"Nevermind. It's not important."

"Right."

Ginny again peeled her eyes away from Draco's and moved them down his arm to notice that it was still wrapped around her waist while hers were around his neck.

"Well, um, this is awkward. You, Draco Malfoy, standing in front of me on my balcony, not to mention holding me, and me … not … moving … away, " Ginny said slowly as her head moved a little more towards Draco's.

"Yea," he replied as his head moved with hers. "It is."

However, as soon as their heads started moving towards each other, a sound of music rang through the cold, pristine air. They both looked for where it came from and their eyes landed on a light up in a room in the Ravenclaw Tower belonging to none other than the American transfer student, Kristine. She was blaring American music at almost midnight with her window open, and, of course, it just had to be "A Moment Like This" by Kelly Clarkson.

Draco and Ginny turned back to look at each other while wrapped in each other's arms as the music continued to blare across the grounds.

A moment like this

Some people wait a lifetime

For a moment like this

Some people search forever

For that one special kiss …

Finally, the sky erupted into another shower of snow covering the grounds again and raining its delicate figured designs into the two teenagers' hair. Draco looked into Ginny's eyes while stroking her wet hair from the melted snow. He slowly moved his head next to her ear.

"You know," he whispered enticingly, "this is turning quite cliché."

Ginny cupped the side of his face and moved it away from her ear so that his nose was only an inch away from hers. His breath delicately showered her face and lips making her even more motivated to do something that she never in a million years would have thought that she would do, especially with Draco Malfoy. Maybe it was the romantic atmosphere or maybe it was the romantic music or it could have been something deeper than that. Something deep in both of them that moved their hearts and bodies towards each other. Ginny couldn't handle it anymore. That wobbly feeling in her legs came back and her eyes were dropping like they were drugged, which in fact they were. Draco was entering all of her senses. She was breathing in his breaths, smelling his cologne, and touching him. She couldn't handle it anymore.

"Well," she replied huskily, "I like cliché."

The remaining space between them was closed as their lips locked in a sweet embrace. The kiss was gentle, delicate, and luscious at the same time. Ginny felt like she was on top of the world. Her senses heightened tenfold as her arms locked tighter around Draco's neck and played with the hair on the nape of his neck. Draco's other arm moved to wrap around her upper back while his other tightened around her waist.

The two broke slowly away for breath as they looked into each other's eyes. Ginny was waiting for this moment for what seem like forever. Those years of waiting for Harry to notice her erased from her memory to be replaced with this moment with Draco. Why did she spend so many years after some guy who never noticed her when she had this person in front of her the whole time? Although it was because of ridiculous rivalry between their families, she forgot about all of that and decided that now, she was going to live for the moment. And, right now, that moment was with Draco. Her arms moved down his as she tilted her head to kiss him again - to taste what could only be described as Draco.

He welcomed her warm lips, and although both of them already had warming incantations on them, they felt like they were on fire. The heat kept increasing as Draco's tongue swept across Ginny's lips for entrance, which she allowed. Their bodies pushed against each other more as Draco's arms moved down her back and Ginny's moved up his chest to wrap around his neck again.

It was the perfect moment. There, two people stood so intertwined with each other beneath the falling snow, the glittering grounds, and the soft music playing in the background; it was that romantic moment that Ginny had so long waited for. It was like out of story tale where two people meet under the dark night sky and share a time in which only the two of them could have.

Ginny never wanted this moment to end. She wanted it to continue forever, for she finally had someone in front of her that found her among the crowd although his name was Draco Malfoy, her supposed enemy.

Yet, Draco's mind started up again. What was he doing? Why in the world was he in front of a Weasley snogging her senseless?

No, thought Draco, this isn't right. What the Hell has come over me? Why the fuck am I standing on Weasley's balcony? She's a Weasley, and I'm a Malfoy. This is kind of illegal.. Besides, I have more important things to do. I can't let myself get near her now. It might stop me from my goal, my respect. Snogging a poor, timid Weasley will definitely not help me later on. No person - let alone a Weasley - will ever get in my way. And, as much as I don't want to admit it, if I don't quit while I'm ahead, I probably won't ever be able to leave her. This isn't right.

Draco began to pull away.

When Ginny felt his lips move away from hers, she brought up her eyes in worry.

What's wrong?

"No," Draco whispered from his lips that were but a mere centimeter away from hers. "No, Ginny." He knew he had to go. He couldn't stay here, for that look in her eyes (that sad, longing stare) would make him stay if he kept gazing into it. "Sorry. I have to go." Looking away from the melancholy redhead, Draco shoved his hands into the pockets of his black, silk pajama pants and flew off into the night sky leaving Ginny to stare at him as he ascended.

For those two minutes while Draco was kissing her, she felt on top of the world - she felt like nothing could harm her, like nothing could come and ruin that moment. But, something did - Draco's conscience.

Ginny felt cold after he left - freezing cold. Her body no longer had warmth neither from the spell nor from Draco. But, her mind didn't register this, for it was too empty. In a way, Draco took away all that she had hoped for, all that she had wished for when he left because he gave it to her. Draco gave her hope for romance with that kiss or two, but now that he was gone, Ginny felt nothing.

Like a body without any soul that can be controlled by strings, Ginny slowly trudged back into her room, did not close the balcony doors, and descended onto her bed. She never put the covers on top of her. She slept in the cold.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N: There you all go! Another chapter that I am very proud of. Don't worry, I'll have Draco's comments in the next chapter. I'm just quite tired right now and thought that leaving it off there would be fine. I hope you all have a wonderful winter break and Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate it. I hope you like this chapter, and please review. Thank you so very much to all of those who already have! ^_^

A/N 2: Well I kept the snogging for all of those, teehee including me, that LOVE snogging scenes. BTW, if you guys want to help me with ideas of what should happen later on, I'd be verrrryyy thankful. You'll get cookies!!!!!! WEEEEE!!!!!! Oh, and before I forget, please don't flame … thankies!