Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, and therefore do not claim them
as my own. But yes! The complex plot is mine! But not the characters!
They are not mine. Does everyone get it? Good...now we can proceed.
A/N: Thank you so much to all the reviewers! I greatly appreciate any praise, comments, or corrections! If anyone finds anything wrong in this chap please don't hesitate to tell me. I hope it isn't crap.
Facing Fear
Chapter 6 Many Suspicions
Every night after her first run-in with Cain and his group, Ginny was out, prowling the castle, and every now and then wandering into Hogsmeade. She hadn't told Malfoy about going out so late all these nights. He believed that she spent her evenings training, like he had instructed her too. But she would slip away as soon as he headed for bed, and escape out into the night. She liked it this way, staying out till the early hours in the morning, it made her feel alive and ready for anything that hell wanted to throw at her. But staying awake during her classes seemed to be getting harder and harder to do.
It had been a week now, since what she referred to as her "failure". And the frightening thing was, that there wasn't a vampire to be found..anywhere. They all seemed to have disappeared. No doubt, gone into hiding.
But Ginny knew it wasn't going to be long until they were back...with even more force than they had begun with.
She was going out again tonight. This time determined to kill a demon. She would hunt them down if that's what it took. That boy was not going to have died in vain.
Entering Honeydukes through the secret tunnel, she exited the store and began her searching of the streets. Drifting from shadow to shadow, her eyes alert at the slightest movement, her hand tucked safely around the wooden stake placed securely in the back of her muggle style jeans.
She smelt him first, the coppery essence of blood, and unusual smell of death. She shifted her gaze around, taking in the environment. She was walking through the cemetery, a prime spot to kill newly sired vampires. But this vampire...it wasn't new. It had been very much dead for a long time. Ginny spun on her heels, sensing movement behind her, and found Cain resting quite calmly against a particularly large tombstone.
"Good evening Ginny." He said, his eyes moving steadily over her body.
The use of her first name startled her so, that Ginny lost her train of thought.
"Ah," He began, waving his hand with elegant strokes through the air, watching with delight her dumbfounded and annoyed expression. "I know more than you think. I am a diligent person, and use all my free time doing resourceful things..such as looking up information on our charming new Slayer."
He made it sound as though she were a magical creature, it's habits and origin being studied by a student.
"You're alone." She stated, changing the subject. "I hope your friends aren't to far away..because you'll need all the help you can get."
She pulled out the stake, indicating that she was ready to fight.
"You are cute when you're all riled up pet. This fiery look gets in your eyes. It's very sexy."
Ginny lunged forward, knocking Cain to the ground, and straddling him there.
"A bloody worthless specimen you are Cain." She spat. "And after I've finished you off, I'm going to find all of your little friends as well, and break their necks with pleasure."
"Don't be so sure Slayer." He retorted. And with more strength than Ginny had expected, he flipped over, landing with his full weight on top of her. He shoved her wrists to the ground and held them there. Effectively steering the stake away from his heart.
Ginny felt her breathing stagger...she was losing control of her emotions and was beginning to panic. All of her training and strength seemed to melt away, leaving her body feeling very empty.
Cain's mesmerizing blue eyes were only inches from her own. A glow of anger filled them...or was it hunger?
"You see," He spoke softly, sending shivers through Ginny. "You could not win if you tried. The other night..I could have gone after you, overtaken you, and ended what would have been a miserable life."
A pleased smirk played on his face, and he pushed down on Ginny with all his might, causing her to gasp.
"But I decided that I would rather kill you after we had a bit of time to get to know one another..and when the other vampires weren't around to rush the process."
Ginny struggled underneath him, the small little pebbles on the ground pressing hard into her back. She shouldn't be going weak like this..he was just a vampire after all.
"And although Slayer blood does sound quite appetizing, I must refrain from my hunger for now."
Ginny's eyes widened in surprise. Was he saying that he wasn't going to try and kill her?
"It's not the right time." He continued, a hint of something in his voice that aroused her suspicion. "Not yet doll..."
His mouth wandered to her ear, and he gave it a quick nip, drawing a small amount of blood, before releasing her and moving away quicker than the eye could blink.
Ginny gathered herself off the ground, wiping the dirt off her backside.
She hadn't been strong enough.
That was all she could think. She tortured herself with it as she walked back, somehow finding her way, even though her mind was focused on the self- criticism. Cain could have killed her. He could have done anything to her..his presence seemed to damper her abilities. He made her feel so alone and useless, something she feared above everything else...being alone.
But she was alone. Very much alone.
~*~*~*~*~
Harry wasn't sure how much more he could take. The glances, the flirting, the "accidental" touching. It was just all too much, too fast. The three of them were supposed to be friends..they were always supposed to be there for one another. And there wasn't supposed to be any third wheels in the relationship.
Which is exactly where Harry found himself..the third wheel.
He rounded a corner on the way to the kitchen, using the excuse to see Dobby to get away from Ron and Hermione's irking relationship, and collided into Ginny.
"Whoa!" Harry exclaimed, as he reached out to steady her. "Are you alright?"
But Ginny didn't even glance up. She was just staring at the floor, mumbling under her breath, and her eyes seemed so far away. As if she were lost in another world.
"Ginny?" He asked again.
She didn't even acknowledge him, just moved around him as if he were a tree in her way.
Harry ran to catch up with her. And kept pace next to her as she moved through the halls like a zombie.
"You know, if Filch caught you out this late..." Harry began, trying to get her attention.
"Why wasn't I strong enough?" Ginny mumbled, a strange anger flashing over her face. "Why?" She whispered again.
"What?" Harry asked again, this time even more concerned. "Did someone try and hurt you?"
Suddenly Ginny's head snapped up, and she seemed to finally realize that Harry was there. Her eyes grew wide and she stared at him as though seeing him clearly for the first time.
"Harry!" She exclaimed. "What are you doing out so late?"
Harry stared at her in evident disbelief. "You didn't hear a word I just said, did you?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," she began. They started walking towards Gryffindor Tower. "I haven't been with it lately. Lots of things on my mind."
"But you're alright then?"
"You're beginning to sound like my brother." Ginny said, almost laughing. "Ginny, what's wrong!? Ginny, are you okay!? Ginny are you hiding something from me!?" She mimicked Ron.
Harry chuckled and put his arm lazily around her.
"Your brother cares for you. I would be worried if he didn't show so much affection."
"Well," Ginny responded, smiling at her own inside joke. "I can take care of myself..believe me."
Harry smiled down at her, catching her eye and blushing. He cleared his throat and moved his arm away, suddenly realizing how alarmingly pretty Ginny really was.
"Good-night Harry." Ginny said as they entered the Common Room. The fire was burning down, and it cast a deep glow on Ginny's face. "I enjoyed our small chat. We should do it more often."
"Yeah." Harry agreed.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and turned away. But not before Harry got a glimpse of a small trail of blood running down her earlobe. He reached out and gripped her arm gently.
She spun quickly, almost in a defensive way, her eyes flashing. But she quickly calmed herself and looked at Harry questioningly.
He touched his finger to her ear, and she went up to meet his hand there.
"Tell me what happened Ginny." He almost pleaded. "Is someone bothering you?"
"Oh, this?" Ginny wiped some of the blood away with her finger. "I accidentally caught it with my fingernail." She indicated, showing him her longer-than-usual fingernails.
He looked at her skeptically, but didn't push it.
"Good-night Ginny"
She smiled in response and moved away.
He watched in silence as Ginny headed sluggishly up the girl's stair. She was hiding something. Something that she shouldn't be hiding.
Harry's curious nature always got the best of him. So now he was determined to figure out what was going on. Why was she always coming in so late? Why was she muttering things about 'not being strong enough'? And who is she defending?
~*~*~*~*~
Draco knew with the first glimpse. Cain was the one. The same vampire that had killed his mother. The same vampire that caused him so much pain and fear.
And the one vampire he was collaborating with.
He had lied to Ginny. And she had believed it. He had been there while she had fought Cain. Draco had even seen the boy die.
That's when he realized that they had no chance. That he had no chance.
So he had formed a plan. A plan that no sane wizard would even consider putting into action.
He was going to conquer his fear once and for all.
Even if it meant losing something else...
A/N: Okay, I lied. There weren't any snogs in this chapter. But maybe in the next one. Hopefully. I hope to get longer chapters out soon too. Of course you know me...always the procrastinator.
Anyway, I hope everyone liked. If you did, please leave me a review!
A/N: Thank you so much to all the reviewers! I greatly appreciate any praise, comments, or corrections! If anyone finds anything wrong in this chap please don't hesitate to tell me. I hope it isn't crap.
Facing Fear
Chapter 6 Many Suspicions
Every night after her first run-in with Cain and his group, Ginny was out, prowling the castle, and every now and then wandering into Hogsmeade. She hadn't told Malfoy about going out so late all these nights. He believed that she spent her evenings training, like he had instructed her too. But she would slip away as soon as he headed for bed, and escape out into the night. She liked it this way, staying out till the early hours in the morning, it made her feel alive and ready for anything that hell wanted to throw at her. But staying awake during her classes seemed to be getting harder and harder to do.
It had been a week now, since what she referred to as her "failure". And the frightening thing was, that there wasn't a vampire to be found..anywhere. They all seemed to have disappeared. No doubt, gone into hiding.
But Ginny knew it wasn't going to be long until they were back...with even more force than they had begun with.
She was going out again tonight. This time determined to kill a demon. She would hunt them down if that's what it took. That boy was not going to have died in vain.
Entering Honeydukes through the secret tunnel, she exited the store and began her searching of the streets. Drifting from shadow to shadow, her eyes alert at the slightest movement, her hand tucked safely around the wooden stake placed securely in the back of her muggle style jeans.
She smelt him first, the coppery essence of blood, and unusual smell of death. She shifted her gaze around, taking in the environment. She was walking through the cemetery, a prime spot to kill newly sired vampires. But this vampire...it wasn't new. It had been very much dead for a long time. Ginny spun on her heels, sensing movement behind her, and found Cain resting quite calmly against a particularly large tombstone.
"Good evening Ginny." He said, his eyes moving steadily over her body.
The use of her first name startled her so, that Ginny lost her train of thought.
"Ah," He began, waving his hand with elegant strokes through the air, watching with delight her dumbfounded and annoyed expression. "I know more than you think. I am a diligent person, and use all my free time doing resourceful things..such as looking up information on our charming new Slayer."
He made it sound as though she were a magical creature, it's habits and origin being studied by a student.
"You're alone." She stated, changing the subject. "I hope your friends aren't to far away..because you'll need all the help you can get."
She pulled out the stake, indicating that she was ready to fight.
"You are cute when you're all riled up pet. This fiery look gets in your eyes. It's very sexy."
Ginny lunged forward, knocking Cain to the ground, and straddling him there.
"A bloody worthless specimen you are Cain." She spat. "And after I've finished you off, I'm going to find all of your little friends as well, and break their necks with pleasure."
"Don't be so sure Slayer." He retorted. And with more strength than Ginny had expected, he flipped over, landing with his full weight on top of her. He shoved her wrists to the ground and held them there. Effectively steering the stake away from his heart.
Ginny felt her breathing stagger...she was losing control of her emotions and was beginning to panic. All of her training and strength seemed to melt away, leaving her body feeling very empty.
Cain's mesmerizing blue eyes were only inches from her own. A glow of anger filled them...or was it hunger?
"You see," He spoke softly, sending shivers through Ginny. "You could not win if you tried. The other night..I could have gone after you, overtaken you, and ended what would have been a miserable life."
A pleased smirk played on his face, and he pushed down on Ginny with all his might, causing her to gasp.
"But I decided that I would rather kill you after we had a bit of time to get to know one another..and when the other vampires weren't around to rush the process."
Ginny struggled underneath him, the small little pebbles on the ground pressing hard into her back. She shouldn't be going weak like this..he was just a vampire after all.
"And although Slayer blood does sound quite appetizing, I must refrain from my hunger for now."
Ginny's eyes widened in surprise. Was he saying that he wasn't going to try and kill her?
"It's not the right time." He continued, a hint of something in his voice that aroused her suspicion. "Not yet doll..."
His mouth wandered to her ear, and he gave it a quick nip, drawing a small amount of blood, before releasing her and moving away quicker than the eye could blink.
Ginny gathered herself off the ground, wiping the dirt off her backside.
She hadn't been strong enough.
That was all she could think. She tortured herself with it as she walked back, somehow finding her way, even though her mind was focused on the self- criticism. Cain could have killed her. He could have done anything to her..his presence seemed to damper her abilities. He made her feel so alone and useless, something she feared above everything else...being alone.
But she was alone. Very much alone.
~*~*~*~*~
Harry wasn't sure how much more he could take. The glances, the flirting, the "accidental" touching. It was just all too much, too fast. The three of them were supposed to be friends..they were always supposed to be there for one another. And there wasn't supposed to be any third wheels in the relationship.
Which is exactly where Harry found himself..the third wheel.
He rounded a corner on the way to the kitchen, using the excuse to see Dobby to get away from Ron and Hermione's irking relationship, and collided into Ginny.
"Whoa!" Harry exclaimed, as he reached out to steady her. "Are you alright?"
But Ginny didn't even glance up. She was just staring at the floor, mumbling under her breath, and her eyes seemed so far away. As if she were lost in another world.
"Ginny?" He asked again.
She didn't even acknowledge him, just moved around him as if he were a tree in her way.
Harry ran to catch up with her. And kept pace next to her as she moved through the halls like a zombie.
"You know, if Filch caught you out this late..." Harry began, trying to get her attention.
"Why wasn't I strong enough?" Ginny mumbled, a strange anger flashing over her face. "Why?" She whispered again.
"What?" Harry asked again, this time even more concerned. "Did someone try and hurt you?"
Suddenly Ginny's head snapped up, and she seemed to finally realize that Harry was there. Her eyes grew wide and she stared at him as though seeing him clearly for the first time.
"Harry!" She exclaimed. "What are you doing out so late?"
Harry stared at her in evident disbelief. "You didn't hear a word I just said, did you?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," she began. They started walking towards Gryffindor Tower. "I haven't been with it lately. Lots of things on my mind."
"But you're alright then?"
"You're beginning to sound like my brother." Ginny said, almost laughing. "Ginny, what's wrong!? Ginny, are you okay!? Ginny are you hiding something from me!?" She mimicked Ron.
Harry chuckled and put his arm lazily around her.
"Your brother cares for you. I would be worried if he didn't show so much affection."
"Well," Ginny responded, smiling at her own inside joke. "I can take care of myself..believe me."
Harry smiled down at her, catching her eye and blushing. He cleared his throat and moved his arm away, suddenly realizing how alarmingly pretty Ginny really was.
"Good-night Harry." Ginny said as they entered the Common Room. The fire was burning down, and it cast a deep glow on Ginny's face. "I enjoyed our small chat. We should do it more often."
"Yeah." Harry agreed.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and turned away. But not before Harry got a glimpse of a small trail of blood running down her earlobe. He reached out and gripped her arm gently.
She spun quickly, almost in a defensive way, her eyes flashing. But she quickly calmed herself and looked at Harry questioningly.
He touched his finger to her ear, and she went up to meet his hand there.
"Tell me what happened Ginny." He almost pleaded. "Is someone bothering you?"
"Oh, this?" Ginny wiped some of the blood away with her finger. "I accidentally caught it with my fingernail." She indicated, showing him her longer-than-usual fingernails.
He looked at her skeptically, but didn't push it.
"Good-night Ginny"
She smiled in response and moved away.
He watched in silence as Ginny headed sluggishly up the girl's stair. She was hiding something. Something that she shouldn't be hiding.
Harry's curious nature always got the best of him. So now he was determined to figure out what was going on. Why was she always coming in so late? Why was she muttering things about 'not being strong enough'? And who is she defending?
~*~*~*~*~
Draco knew with the first glimpse. Cain was the one. The same vampire that had killed his mother. The same vampire that caused him so much pain and fear.
And the one vampire he was collaborating with.
He had lied to Ginny. And she had believed it. He had been there while she had fought Cain. Draco had even seen the boy die.
That's when he realized that they had no chance. That he had no chance.
So he had formed a plan. A plan that no sane wizard would even consider putting into action.
He was going to conquer his fear once and for all.
Even if it meant losing something else...
A/N: Okay, I lied. There weren't any snogs in this chapter. But maybe in the next one. Hopefully. I hope to get longer chapters out soon too. Of course you know me...always the procrastinator.
Anyway, I hope everyone liked. If you did, please leave me a review!