Disclamier: I don't own anything except some of the characters I made up (You guys could figure out who they are.)
A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this out. Well here it is.
Chapter 16
Dream Sequence
Gwenivere sat on a chair in front of Darien. She watched him concentrate while he was painting. She had a feeling that she had to stay quiet when he's like that. He was so absorbed in his work. Occasionally he would look up and glance at her.
"You can relax now," Darien told her, "If you wish, you can walk around my room."
Gwenivere was relieved. She was getting tired of sitting up straight and not moving. She got up, walked to him and she stood behind him to see what he was doing, but there was one problem, there wasn't much to see.
"This is just an outline," Darien told her, "I have your picture in my mind. You are very beautiful."
Gwenivere blushed at his comment. He looked over his shoulder and saw this.
"Has anybody told you so?" Darien asked.
"No one. You are the first Lord Darien."
"Call me Darien, just Darien."
"He does not mind people that he cares for to address him properly. Of course, around guest we have to do so."
Gwenivere watched intensively as Darien continued to paint. She wondered why he wanted to paint her in the first place.
"Are you betrothed?" Darien asked, startling her.
"No my lord."
Darien looked at her. "Darien," he corrected her.
"I am sorry lo…um…Darien."
Darien continued with his work, "Do you have any suitors?"
Gwenivere wondered why he was so interested in her private life.
"No Darien," Gwenivere answered. She liked saying his name; it gave her a feeling as if they were equal. There were no formalities and she didn't have to watch how she spoke to him. She was still a little nervous being alone with a noble. She has heard stories of nobles taking advantage of servants.
Darien set his paints and brush aside and turned to her.
"How old are you?" Darien asked. She looked almost twenty. Girls like her usually wed in their teen and she was a beautiful girl. There were also many young men in the village, surely one of them had their eyes set on her. Maybe her dowry wasn't enough to attract anyone. He knew that her family was one of the poorest in the village.
"Nineteen."
Darien got up and walked to the window. He turned to face her.
"I was you age when I was married."
Gwenivere didn't know what to think of this. Why hasn't anybody mentioned this before? If he is married, where is his family? Darien saw her confusion and he gave her a sad smile.
"I am twenty-four. I was nineteen and she was sixteen. She and my son died four years ago. My child son was born without a breath and my wife could not take the pains of childbirth."
"I am sorry," Gwenivere said. He must have cared for her. She could see that he was hurting.
"It is all right, it is the past. Why are you even saying sorry to me? You played no part in her death."
Darien walked back to her and faced the painting.
"I will not be able to finish it today," he told her, "It is almost supper time. I am sure you are needed in the kitchens."
"Yes my lord."
Darien turned to face her. "I mean Darien," Gwenivere corrected herself.
He smiled, took her hand and placed a kiss upon it.
"It was a pleasure to spend time with you Miss Gwenivere," Darien told her.
Gwenivere eyes widened. Did he kiss her? Darien dropped her hand. He was casual about it and acted as if it was nothing. Most nobles wouldn't even dare touch a servant and some out there would rather die than approach a peasant.
"Will you send for Nicholas on your way to the kitchen?" he asked her walking back to the window.
"Y-yes Darien," Gwenivere said as she left his room.
End of Dream Sequence
"So Draco, did anything happen between you and Ginny during the break?" Hermione asked, nudging him. They were walking towards the Prefect's room for a meeting.
Draco ignored her and kept walking.
"Hey, are you all right?" Hermione asked. She had to speed up to keep up with him. She grabbed his arm to stop him.
"I had another dream," Draco told her, "I had another dream about Darien and Gwenivere. It's getting to me Hermione. It's tearing me apart that I can't tell her."
He turned to face her and Hermione saw that his face was blank. Usually she could read his face and tell what he was feeling, but she couldn't. He was clenching his jaw. Hermione reached out to hold his cheek.
"Draco, just hold on a bit," Hermione told him, "You could tell her soon when all of this is finished."
Draco pulled her hand away, "When will this be over? I don't even know how to end this. When I do fall in love with Ginny, what then?"
"Wait a minute. You don't love Ginny?" Hermione asked. The two have been dating for almost four months and they spend almost all the time they could together. Hermione even found Draco sleeping on a chair next to Ginny's bed holding her hand. She thought that Draco already loved Ginny. The way those two are acting it's hard to think otherwise.
Draco shook his head, "I'm not sure. Ginny loves me, but I don't think that the curse will break if only one of us is in love."
"Come on, we have a meeting. We'll talk about it later," Hermione said. She didn't think that it was wise to talk about this out in the open. She took his hand, and started walking.
*_*_*_*_*
"Due to recent events, the Headmaster wants to have activities during spring break. Are there any suggestions?" Katie Bell asked.
"What about a dance? The Yule Ball was successful last year," Draco suggested.
Katie looked at Draco, "That's actually a good idea Draco. I'll write that down. Does anybody else have any suggestions?"
"Actually, I think all of us want a dance. Well, I want to have a dance," Justin said.
"Me too," Padma answered.
"What about you six?" Katie asked the other Prefects. All of them agreed.
"Okay, so what's the theme?" Katie asked.
Draco shrugged his shoulders at this. Katie looked at the clock on the wall.
"I guess we'll just talk about this in the next meeting. Think about it until then and keep this a secret," Katie asked, "You are all dismissed."
*_*_*_*_*_*
"Where are we going?" Draco asked Hermione. She was once again dragging him off somewhere.
"We are going to meet a friend of my Aunt," Hermione answered.
"Who? Hermia?"
Hermione stopped walking and Draco bumped into her.
"Why did you stop?" Draco asked.
"How do you know?"
"About Hermia? I've met her, what about you?"
"My aunt introduced me to her sometime when you were gone. We talked with each other during that time. Did you know that she fell in love with Gwenivere's brother, Reynold?" Hermione asked, she continued to walk, pulling Draco.
"That's no surprise. You're her heir, Ron is Ginny's brother. Makes sense, it's like history's repeating itself."
"Don't say that. Let's hope history isn't the same or else you'll die," Hermione told him, "It's just sad though that Hermia had to watch everyone she cared for die. She still ages, but at a slower rate. When she was sixty years old, she still had the body she had when she was twenty. We're here."
Hermione knocked on the door of her aunt's room.
"Come in, it's open," Linda said.
Hermione opened the door and entered. Draco closed the door behind him.
"You know, you should lock the door Linda or are you just waiting for a certain Potion Master to come in?" Draco asked. Hermione slapped Draco on the arm and gave him a warning glare.
"Oh come on Draco, leave my aunt alone."
"Actually, Severus just left," Linda greeted them, wearing only a bathrobe. Draco raised an eyebrow and Hermione's jaw dropped as she stared at her aunt in horror.
"Hermione, close your mouth, a bug might fly in," Linda warned.
Draco walked to a couch, flopped on it and tried to get comfortable.
"Would you like some tea Draco?" Linda asked.
"Yes please," Draco answered politely.
Hermione looked at Draco and back at her aunt. Since when have the two gotten along? Linda left and went to prepare tea. She came back five minutes later with a kettle and three cups.
"Hermione, are you just going to stand there?" Linda asked.
Hermione walked to the couch and sat next to Draco. Once again she squirmed on the seat, feeling uncomfortable sitting so close to him. There was practically no space between them.
"Um…is there something going on between you and Snape?" Hermione asked.
"Severus? No, we're just good friends."
"Friends that shag each other every now and then," Draco whispered in Hermione's ear.
Linda poured everyone a cup of tea. She took one and she sipped it.
"I heard that Draco. Severus and I don't even sleep in the same bed."
"Who said people had to make love on a bed?" Draco questioned.
Linda shook her head and laughed. Hermione thought that she was going to be sick.
"You have a point," Linda said, winking at him.
"Aunt Linda!"
"Yes Hermione?"
"What are you insinuating? Are you and Snape actually…you know?" Hermione asked.
"No Hermione. Severus and I are not have sex. There, I said the forbidden word. Why did you even mention Severus, Draco?" Linda asked.
Draco casually drank his tea, "I don't know. Probably because a certain Potions Master can't stop talking about a certain DADA professor."
"Really? What he is saying?"
"Since when did you two start gossiping? You sound like Lavendar," Hermione commented, turning to Draco.
"I'm not gossiping. Is it wrong to be informed about the happenings around the castle?" Draco asked.
"We're not here to talk about my aunt and her non-existent relationship with Snape."
"Sorry. I guess I got a bit sidetracked. You did look funny though, wish Creevy was here to take a picture of you when Linda mentioned the 'forbidden word'," Draco said, "Linda, we're here to talk with Hermia. Is she awake?"
"Oh, I thought you two were here to spend time with me," Linda said, feigning hurt.
"Sorry Aunt Linda. We really need to talk with Lady Hermia," Hermione told her.
"It's okay. Follow me," Linda said. She got up and walked to the portrait leading to Hermia's room. Draco saw Hermia sitting in front of the fire. He wondered if she ever left that chair of hers. She was exactly in the same place he last saw her. Linda ushered the two of them inside and asked them to keep their voices down. When Hermione and Draco were inside the room, Linda left them and closed the portrait behind her. Hermione and Draco looked at each other and started walking towards Hermia. When Draco was in front of Hermia, he got down on his knees, took her hand and kissed it. Hermia looked down at him and smiled.
"It has been a long time Darien," Hermia greeted. She saw Hermione and smiled at her too.
"How have you been Hermione?" Hermia asked.
"I've been fine. Christmas break was…um…fun," Hermione answered.
"Fun?" Hermia questioned. She liked having Hermione around.
"I hardly think being locked up in a tool shed with you is fun," Draco commented. Hermione looked at Draco and saw that he was serious. Being locked in the tool shed was probably one of the main highlights of the winter break. Somehow, Tracy didn't know that Hermione and Draco were not together anymore. She had the idea that they had a lover's spat and were not on speaking terms. She hatched up a plan to get them to settle their 'differences.' Hermione did have to admit that it wasn't any fun. After hours of yelling for help, Draco's grandfather found them practically frozen and starving. Both of them were confound in bed for three days.
Hermione saw Hermia staring in Draco's eyes.
"I see," Hermia said.
"I know, I almost froze to death out there," Draco commented. He didn't feel like explaining to Hermia what happened so he asked her to read his mind instead. That way, she would know the details. He didn't mind her doing that.
"So, to what do I owe this visit?" Hermia asked. She knew that the two children didn't come to just talk about winter break.
"We were wondering how the curse ends. I mean, after he realizes that he's in love with Ginny what happens?" Hermione asked.
Hermia looked down at this, "Their bloods would have to be mixed through an act of love."
Hermione was confused at this. The blood thing didn't seem to be appealing. She saw that Draco got pale at this. Did he understand what had to be done?
"Does Ginny have to get pregnant?" Draco asked. Hermia nodded and Hermione stared at her.
"Pregnant?" Hermione asked, not knowing she said it aloud.
"Yes."
"Why couldn't they just make vows or something?" Hermione asked.
"Vows and promises can be made and broken. It takes only one person to make a vow. For a child to come into the world, two people are needed. A child can be proof of two people's love for each other," Hermia explained. She didn't know if they understood. There was a deeper meaning, she wasn't sure if she should tell them the real reason a child was needed. A child was the start of all of this.
"There is something that you don't know about Gwenivere," Hermia started. She saw that she caught Draco and Hermione's attentions.
"Shortly after Darien died, Gwenivere found out she was carrying his child."
"A baby? What happened to it?" Hermione asked. Hermia looked up at her and Hermione could see that she did not want to continue.
"The child died before it was born." Hermione and Draco's eyes widened at this.
"Salazar found out about the child. He beat Gwenivere until it died inside of her. He didn't want a child with Slytherin blood born from a muggle mother. He would've killed Gwenivere had Gryffindor not interfered. She wanted that child so much, it would have been the only thing that would have came from her love for Darien. If the child was born we probably would have never done this. Lady Hufflepuff knew of a way to give Gwenivere and Darien another chance to be together. Love can give the power to some of the most powerful magic. She helped Gwenivere and I perform the spell. Unfortunately there was someone informing Lord Salazar. While we were in the middle of the final preparations Salazar succeeded in killing Gwenivere. I got in the middle of the attack and this is what happened. I was cursed and what was only supposed to be a wait of fifty years became more than nine centuries."
Draco couldn't move. He didn't think that so much happened to Darien and Gwenivere. He felt badly for Hermia because she had to witness all of this. Now he believes that Slytherin really was a horrible person. How can a person kill a baby that has never even seen light? The child couldn't even fight back. So all of these problems focused on a baby. Is that what Draco's goal is now? After he falls in love with Ginny he has to get her pregnant?
"A baby. All of this because of a baby," Draco said, "I have to get Ginny pregnant?"
Draco didn't know how many times Hermia answered that question.
"I understand that you and Gwenivere are still young. You two are barely into. It is perfectly fine that you two wait until you are ready. A few years are fine with me," Hermia told him.
Draco stared at her. He suddenly became angry. A few years? She's giving him a few years. Why didn't she say this before? He rushed everything to win Ginny's heart in a few months. Now, he's getting worried that everything would fall apart. Keeping all of this is tearing him apart.
"Draco, are you all right?" Hermione asked.
"Why didn't you tell me about this before?" Draco asked Hermia.
"I did not feel that you were ready. I was waiting until you had a few more dreams of Darien and Gwenivere."
"You're the one giving Draco dreams?" Hermione asked. Hermia nodded.
Draco shook his head. This is a lot of information for one day. He never realized how much Hermia played a part in this.
"I'm sorry, I have to go," Draco said and he ran out of the room.
"Lady Hermia, he's just confused. Please…" Hermione started, but Hermia stopped her.
"It is all right. It is understandable. You should go after him," Hermia told her.
Hermione nodded and ran after Draco.
*_*_*_*_*
Draco ran out the door of Linda's room, ignoring her shouts. He didn't stop until he turned a corner. He leaned against the wall and tried to collect his breath. He wondered why he was even acting this way. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned.
"Draco, are you all right?" Hermione asked him.
"Of course I'm fine. I feel fine and dandy," Draco said sarcastically.
"Are you mad? Never mind, don't answer me. Draco, what's wrong?"
"How can she keep all of this to herself?" Draco asked.
Hermione assumed that he was talking about Hermia.
"Why did she start now? Why didn't she give me a few year as she said?" Draco continued.
"I don't know. Maybe, she wanted you to get to know Ginny better. Having a child with someone is a big step."
Draco sat down on the floor and buried his hands in his hair.
*_*_*_*_*
"So Ginny. Where's Malfoy?" Lavender asked.
"He's in a Prefect's meeting," Ginny answered. She was walking to the Great Hall to meet up with Draco. She had no idea when Lavender and Pavarti started following her. One minute she was walking alone and the next the two of them were by her side.
"Hey, isn't that Draco?" Pavarti asked.
Ginny saw Draco sitting on the floor. She was about to walk to him, but stopped when Hermione hugged him. Hermione ran her fingers through Draco's hair.
"Hermione, what am I supposed to do?" Draco whispered.
"I don't know."
Draco chuckled, "That's a first. You usually have all the answers."
Hermione suddenly stood up and Draco looked up at her. She stared at a dark hallway and her hand was shaking slightly.
"Hermione?"
"What do you feel for Ginny?" Hermione suddenly asked.
"What? I thought we talked about this already."
"I need to know," Hermione insisted.
"You already know," Draco answered.
"No I don't."
"Why do you want me to repeat this?" Draco nearly yelled, "Why?"
"Just tell me."
"I don't know what I feel for Ginny."
"Do you love her?"
Draco stared at her. Didn't he just tell her earlier that he didn't love Ginny yet? What was Hermione trying to do? Was she trying to throw everything at his face? He was already feeling badly about this. What's with the change of attitude?
"No."
"I didn't hear you," Hermione told him.
Draco glared at her, "No! Okay, I don't love Ginny!"
Draco thought he could see a slight smile on Hermione's face. Now he was confused. He shook his head, turned around and froze. He could see Ginny, and she was crying. He took a step towards her and she ran.
"Ginny! Wait!" Draco yelled. He ran after her, ignoring the glares Lavender and Pavarti were giving him.
Hermione stumbled and put a hand on the wall to steady herself. She looked around and could not find Draco.
"Where did he go?" Hermione whispered. She saw Lavender and Pavarti glaring at her and she wondered why.
"What happened?" Hermione asked.
*_*_*_*_*_*
Draco couldn't catch up with Ginny until he reached her dorm. The door was locked when he reached it. He undid the locking spell and went inside.
"Go away Draco!"
"Ginny, listen to me…"
A pillow was thrown his way and he caught it. Cautiously he walked towards Ginny.
"What do you want?" Ginny asked.
"Ginny, I…sorry."
"Is that all you can say?" Ginny asked, "Why did you lie to me? Why did you tell me that you loved me? Were you just playing around?"
"God no. I was never playing Ginny. Let me explain."
"Then explain!" Ginny yelled.
Draco tried to take her hand but she pushed his hand away. Draco sighed and stood in front of her. He told her about dreams, and also about Linda and Hermia. He told her that he was only trying to help Hermia with the curse. He explained that he was Darien and she was Gwenivere. He was supposed to make her fall in love with him. When he finished, he stared at her, waiting for a reaction.
Ginny stood up and slapped him.
"How could you do this to me? I poured my heart to you and you used me! You used me Draco. Why didn't you tell me before?"
"I didn't want you to feel as if you were being forced to fall in love with me."
"And you think that not telling me was better? Look what happened! Yes, your plan worked, I do love you, but what about you? Did you ever feel anything for me? You're just like him. You're just like Tom!"
Draco couldn't think of anything to say to her. He just stood there, staring at her.
"Get out Draco," Ginny was able to say calmly.
"Ginny, I want you to know that I never meant to hurt you."
"Get out!"
"I care about you," Draco told her, and he left.
When Draco reached the common room, he was confronted by Ron.
"I just came in here and I heard yelling. Is everything okay with you and Ginny?" Ron asked.
Draco looked at him. He was going to say something but the portrait hole opened and Hermione walked inside.
"Draco, what happened?" Hermione asked.
Draco glared at her, "You tell me. Why didn't you just let it rest? You knew how I felt about Ginny."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"What? How can you say that?"
"I'm telling you, I don't know. The last thing I remember is hugging you and then I got dizzy. The next thing I knew, you were gone and Lavender and Pavarti were glaring at me."
"What's going on here? What happened to Ginny?" Ron asked, obviously confused.
"I don't think that Ginny and I are together anymore," Draco said. He didn't wait for Ron to comprehend when he left the common room.
*_*_*_*_*
"Ginny, are you all right?"
"Go away!"
"It's me, Neville. Ginny, you have to eat. I brought you a sandwich," Neville told her. He walked towards her and set the plate with the sandwich on her bedside table. He took a chair and sat next to her bed.
"Are you going to go away?" Ginny asked.
"No, not until you eat and talk to me."
Ginny turned and looked at Neville. She was mad at him. Why won't he just leave her alone? She looked at the sandwich and her stomach grumbled. She hasn't eaten anything since breakfast. She yelled at her room-mates to just leave her and understand what she's going through and they did. Apparently the news about Draco and Ginny's breakup spread like wildfire. Why wouldn't it? Lavender and Pavarti knew the reason, but they didn't tell anyone. They didn't think that Ginny would want them to. They just spread the news about the break-up and nothing else.
Ginny sat up, glared at Neville and took the sandwich. She took a bite, chewed and swallowed.
"Thank you," Ginny said. Neville smiled. He took a handkerchief and offered it to her. She thanked him again and wiped her tears with it.
"Are you mad at Draco?"
She glared at him, "What do you think?"
"I guess you are. The guy is miserable though."
"He should be. After what he did, I don't think we're going to get back together."
"You're not serious."
"I am. Do you know what he did? Do you? He used me Neville. He lied about everything."
"Not everything," Neville said, looking down.
"What do you mean?"
"I gather that he told you about Darien and Gwenivere," Neville said. Ginny nodded.
"How do you know about them?" Ginny asked.
"He told me. He told me and Harry about it. I was mad at him, but then again I was glad that at least he was being honest. Ginny, listen to me if you won't listen to Draco. The guy is stupid…and confused. He loves you, he just doesn't know it."
"How do you know?"
"Did you know that he was only doing all that stuff because he was being forced? You looked surprised, don't be. He doesn't want to admit it but Hermione and her aunt were making him do all this stuff. He'd do anything for Hermione, he feels as if he owes her."
"That doesn't explain how you think Draco loves me. You only told me about Hermione. Draco never mentioned her once in his explanation. And who is her aunt?"
"Professor Shaw. I thought Draco would have mentioned her. Did he ever tell you what happened during the summer?"
"How do you know all of this?" Ginny asked. She was starting to get a feeling that Neville knows more about Draco than she does, and she was his girlfriend.
"Draco says a lot of things when he's angry. I have never heard Draco raise his voice at you. I don't think he has ever even been mad at you."
Ginny thought about everything he told her. She's not stupid nor blind, she knew that Neville liked her. Everyone was always teasing her about him up until the point she started dating Draco. Draco was also never nice to Neville until this school year. Neville has every reason to be mad at the guy, but he's not. He's actually backing him up.
"Why are you helping Draco?"
"I…I have to. This is the best thing I could do to…I owe him."
"Oh," Ginny said. She wondered why Neville owed Draco, but she didn't press any further.
"I know it's hard, but you have to forgive him. Get back together with Draco before it's too late," Neville said quickly. He got up and ran out the room before Ginny could stop him.
'Before it's too late?' Ginny wondered. What did he mean by that?
Dream Sequence
"It's actually beautiful," Hermia told Darien.
"Is it really?" Darien asked.
Hermia nodded. The painting really was beautiful.
"How long have you been working on it?"
"A month."
Hermia started coughing.
"Are you all right?" Darien asked her.
She turned to him. "Are you serious? A month?"
"Yes, why?"
"Are you sick?" She was going feel his forehead but he backed away. She wondered why he wasn't finished yet. She could see that he spends time on the painting. The details are magnificent. She wasn't born yesterday not to notice the glances he has been giving Gwenivere. It was some sort of adoration. Of course Darien would never admit it. She was still surprised that he's not even finished with the painting. Usually when Darien starts a project he finishes it quickly. He would not eat nor sleep until a painting is completed. It's just not him to take so long on something like this. A thought came to her mind. Is he taking his time on purpose so he would spend more time with Gwenivere?
"I am going to enchant it."
Hermia was shaken from her thought. "You are what?"
"I am going to enchant it. You know, make it a wizard portrait. I love this painting and it deserves life."
"You mean you love the subject," Hermia told him. Darien turned to her.
"I do not know what you are talking about."
Hermia sighed. "Oh Darien. Who do you think you're fooling? Surely not me. Who would have thought, Darien Slytherin falling for a muggle? You better not do anything to dirty your blood," Hermia threw back at him. Darien stared at her.
"Tell me, what kind of company is Gwenivere? There has been talk in the kitchens about Gwenivere spending all her free time with you."
"I am not going to comment."
Hermia started giggling, "You like her admit it. You do."
"I do not like her. I cannot like her, Henry…"
"Henry is not going to do anything. Both of you and I know that he is fickle. He loves through his eyes, not his heart."
Darien walked to his bed and sat down.
"You're right. I should not do anything to dirty Slytherin blood."
Hermia frowned. She was just joking with him. She was actually glad that he's falling for Gwenivere. This could probably help with settling the differences between muggles and magic folk.
"Gwenivere is great company. She doesn't bore me with talk of politics or marriage. She talks about various things. Mainly life here in the hacienda. Talks about life. I am so sick and tired of hearing women talking about how I would make a great husband. I feel as if they are the suitors."
Hermia giggled. She has noticed that much. Besides, who wouldn't want to marry Darien Slytherin? His family was rich, you can't say he's ugly and he has one of the purest blood in the wizarding world. Hermia went to a party with Darien once and the moment they stepped in the room, the men started introducing their daughters and Darien couldn't get away from them. Hermia was glad that all the attention isn't getting to his head.
They heard a knocking at the door. Darien told the person to enter. When Gwenivere opened the door and entered, Hermia raised an eyebrow. Darien saw this and scowled. Gwenivere thought that the scowl was directed to her.
"I am sorry to disturb you Lord Darien, but I was told to deliver a message," Gwenivere explained. She held out a sealed letter and Darien walked towards her. She handed him the letter and he opened it. While reading it, he smiled and turned to Hermia.
"My uncle is coming," Darien told her.
End of Dream Sequence
Draco woke up and was drenched with sweat. He hated those dreams. He got up and walked to the bathroom. All he needs now is a cold shower and he would forget about the dream. While he was in the shower, he did forget about the dreams but he started thinking about Ginny. He hasn't seen her since the breakup and he even avoided Hermione. When he did try to get into Ginny's room her brothers would stop him. The only Gryffindors that bothered talking to him were Harry and Neville. Even then he could sense that Harry was mad at him, but Neville confused him. The guy actually tried to comfort him. He thought it would be the other way around. He thought that Neville would go to Ginny instead. He has noticed the glares Neville used to give him when he was with Ginny.
Draco turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. He wrapped a towel around his waist and left the bathroom. When he got inside his room, he froze.
"What are you doing here?" Draco asked.
Neville turned and smiled, "This is actually a nice room Draco. I need to talk to you."
Draco glared at him and walked to his dresser. He took out clothes and changed into them. He didn't care if Neville was watching. After he buttoned his shirt, he turned to Neville.
"Why didn't you wait until I got to the Great Hall?" Draco asked.
"I need to talk to you now."
"Then talk."
"You have to get back together with Ginny."
Draco stared at him. Neville stared back waiting for him to say something.
"Why would you care if it got back with Ginny? It doesn't concern you."
"You don't know anything. This concerns me as much as it does with you and Ginny. Don't let history repeat itself."
"What are you talking about?" Draco asked, utterly confused.
Neville took in a breath. "I can't tell you."
Draco advanced on him. "What do you mean you can't tell me. You mentioned it, tell me now. What do you know Neville?"
"I can't let history repeat itself. I can't, this is my chance to make it right. Draco talk to Ginny, plead with her, please do anything you can to win her back," Neville asked him. Draco thought that he sounded desperate.
"You still haven't answered my question. You can't just come in my room and tell me what to do."
Neville's hands were shaking.
"If you don't get back together with her you'll die!" Neville shouted.
Fore the second time that day, Neville surprised him and he didn't know what to say.
"What are you going on about?"
"I've said enough. I have to go." Neville turned to the door. Draco quickly got out his wand and a muttered a spell.
"I locked the door. It's the only way out unless you want to jump out the window. If you do I doubt that you'll survive the fall. I won't let you out until you tell me what you know," Draco told him.
"I can't tell you anything else," Neville said, clenching his jaw, "Let me out."
"No. Tell me or you'd have to fight me."
"Fine," Neville said. He jumped on Draco and punched him. Draco, who was caught by surprise couldn't prepare himself for the blow and took the full impact. His head hit the hard stone floor, he heard a crack and his nose and head exploded in pain. He never thought that Neville would actually fight him. He saw Neville raise his fist to hit him again. Draco was able to catch it and he pushed him back. He rammed Neville to the wall. Neville brought a knee to his stomach, he lost his breath and stumbled back. Neville bent down, took the wand out of his pocket and ran to the door.
"Alohamora!" The door opened and he ran out. Draco got up and went after him.
*_*_*_*_*
"Hey guys," Ginny said cheerfully.
"Why are you so happy?" Ron asked, sitting next to Hermione who avoided looking at Ginny.
"Didn't you just break up with your boyfriend yesterday?" Ron asked.
Ginny sat down across from him. "How do you expect me to act? Should I be crying over him? I cried a lot yesterday, I'm not going to waste anymore tears on him."
"O-okay," Ron said, not knowing how to respond to that.
"Can you pass the bread?" Ginny asked him. Ron stared at her and gave her the bread.
'How could she act as if nothing happened?' Ron asked himself.
The door suddenly burst open and Neville ran inside. Everybody turned to look at him. They were surprised to see blood on his ragged clothes. The teachers all stood up, alarmed. Suddenly Draco ran inside. His clothes were disheveled and covered with blood. Ginny also stood up when she saw him. Everybody was wondering what happened to the two. He was running towards Neville whom stopped and was now pointing his wand at him.
"I'm sorry Draco, but you left me no choice," Neville told him. He threw that wand at him and Draco caught it.
Draco glared at Neville. He saw Professor Snape walking towards him. He turned and ran out the Great Hall.
Ginny stared at Neville who stared back at her and gave her a look as if he was telling her to go after him. Ginny turned to the door and she ran out, following after Draco. She had no idea where Draco went, but when she saw blood on the floor she figured that it was Draco's. The trail of blood led her outside the castle. She looked ahead and could see a figure bending over the lake. She walked towards him.
Draco brought his hands to the water. He scooped some out and splattered it on his face. He could see blood drip down to the lake. He looked at his reflection and scowled. He saw another reflection and he turned around.
"Ginny."
"Hey Draco. Are you okay?" Ginny asked. She bent down to be face level with him.
"Shouldn't you be glad that I look like this? You actually sound concerned."
Ginny frowned. "Of course I'm concerned. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I thought that you hate me."
"I am mad, but I don't hate you. Let me see your face," Ginny asked. She touched his nose and he winced.
"I think it's broken," Ginny said. She took out her wand and pointed it towards his nose. She muttered a spell and the pain went away.
"Thank you," Draco told her. He was going to walk away but Ginny held him back.
"Does your head hurt?" Ginny asked, "It's bleeding."
Draco shook his head, "It's just a bump. I touched my nose and then my hair."
"What happened?"
"Neville and I just had a little argument. Who knew the guy could throw a punch?"
"If you don't get back together with her you'll die!" Neville shouted.
"Do I look sick?" Draco asked Ginny. He still couldn't believe what Neville told him.
"You look a little pale, probably because of the blood loss. Why? Do you feel sick?" Ginny asked.
"Well…no, but Neville said something to me."
"What were you and Neville talking about anyway?"
Draco looked up at her, "You. He was trying to convince me to try to get back together with you."
Ginny wondered if Neville did convinced Draco. If he did, should she accept him back.
"Did he convince you?" Ginny asked.
Draco looked into her eyes, "He told me to plead with you to take me back. He didn't really give me a good reason why to. He did catch my attention though."
Ginny wondered why he didn't answer her question yet. She was doubting that Draco would ever plead with her.
"Do you want to know what he said that caught my attention?" Draco asked. Ginny nodded.
"He said that I was going to die. Do you believe that? I still find that hard to believe. Me, die? I don't think that's going to happen until I'm over a hundred years old."
"Draco, are you serious?"
"About the dying thing? I don't believe him, why should I?"
"I don't want you to die," Ginny whispered.
"What did Neville say?"
"You don't believe him, do you?" Draco asked.
"It's better not to take chances."
Draco started laughing. Ginny looked at him and slapped him.
"Are you just joking with me?" Ginny yelled. She didn't know how worried she was about him.
"No, I was not joking. What was that slap for? Was it because I laughed? You looked so serious about it. Neville is lying okay. If I'm dying, I would know about it."
"Draco, do you love me?" Ginny asked out of the blue.
"I don't know."
"Draco! It's a yes or no question."
"Ginny, I seriously don't know, okay. Maybe I do, but I'm not too sure. Why did you ask me? I thought you heard what I said yesterday."
"I heard you, but Neville said…"
"Neville thinks he knows a lot of things," Draco interrupted her.
"Probably because he does. He knew more about you Draco than I did," Ginny told him, "He knew more and I was you're girlfriend."
Draco sat down on the grass. Why was everyone telling him things that confuses him? He had no idea what Ginny was talking about. Besides Hermione, Ginny is the only person he ever really talks to. How can Neville know more about him than her, he doesn't even see the guy until his classes with him. Even then they don't talk much. They're just friends, they don't fight nor do they get along as if they were brothers.
"What did he know that you didn't?" Draco asked Ginny.
"Why did you tell him about Darien and Gwenivere and not me?"
'Darien and Gwenivere?' Draco wondered. He tried to think of a time when he told Neville, but he couldn't think of any. He has never even mentioned them to Neville.
"I never told Neville about them and I don't know how he found out. Wait…maybe…it couldn't be."
"What?"
"All of us are getting dreams about Darien and Gwenivere. Maybe Neville is too, but if he is, who could he be?" Draco asked. He thought about this. There could be no other explanation. Maybe Hermione just told Neville, but she wouldn't do that.
"I have to go," Draco told Ginny.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"I need to talk with Hermia."
"I'm coming with you."
*_*_*_*_*
"Tom, he's fighting back."
"Don't call me that," Voldemort hissed.
"What do you want me to call you? Surely you don't expect me to call you master. I don't see what's wrong with Tom. It's an old name used by many."
"It's a muggle name," Voldemort spat, "What is the boy doing now?"
"He's struggling, I can feel it. Who would have thought that a small thing like Longbottom could overpower the potion? What are you going to do now?"
"What I am going to do is none of your concern. Go back to your chambers."
"You cannot not order me around!"
"You forget that if it weren't for me you would be out in the streets like a beggar. You also forget the small part I play in your existence. Now leave!"
"If mother were alive, you wouldn't be like this!"
The person glared at him and left him alone. Voldemort glared after her. A snake slithered next to Voldemort's feet.
"Nagini, what am I going to do with the girl?" Voldemort asked the snake.
"Wormtail!" Voldemort yelled. Wormtail came in the room and bowed before Voldemort.
"You called for me master."
"Send another potion to the boy. If he refuses, force it down his throat."
"Y-yes master," Wormtail stuttered and left the room.
Voldemort sat down and faced Nagini.
"We have to hurry Nagini. We cannot let Hermia beat us."
Thank you's: I just want to thank everyone that reviewed. Kori at school, charismatic, Analy, Wizzabee, silver-star, Neni Potter, Evenstar, MagicalMoonPrincess, Sarah*xGinnyDracox, Aly. Thank you Francesca for betaing. All you guys are the best.
A/N: Sorry again for the delay. Don't forget to review.
Next Chapter: Darien's uncle comes to the manor. During a party, Darien realizes how he really feels about Gwenivere. Draco and Ginny meets someone from the past that may be able to help them.