Muggle Year
by Virgi Ca
Chapter 23: Invisible Scars over Dried Tears
A/N: ;_; My betas abandoned me...... ;_; wu....wu.... this isn't the edited version but I figured I'd post it anyway because I just couldn't stop myself from doing so. When I get into contact with my betas I'll replace this with the edited version.
Thank you for all the reviews, whether you liked the story or not. It will come to an end quite and I assure you that it will not exceed thirty chapters, mind you. This chapter is quiet depressing and uh... just don't kill me, okay?
The normal version without any weird signs (if any) and pictures drawn: http://muggleyear.wildimagination.net
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Draco stared up at Virginia ¡¦s face, his gray eyes wide with naked shock. Virginia just stared back at him blankly, unable to form words with her lips. They stared at each other like that until Dumbledore finally stepped out and knelt down beside Myra who was still shaking in Draco¡¦s arms. Myra stared up at Virginia with complete horror in her green eyes, tears threatening to roll down her cheeks.
¡¥Poppy!¡¦ Dumbeldore called.
¡¥Uh, yes Headmaster.¡¦ Madame Pomfey rushed forward and gently detached Myra from her cousin. ¡¥Let¡¦s go to the hospital wing to see if your hurt Miss Kirkimburgh.¡¦
Dead silence continued to dominate the air as the crowd that was usually noisy was now abnormally quiet. Ron and Hermione were staring at Virginia while Harry was looking at the Dark Mark on the wall in pure hatred.
Looking from Draco and Virginia calmly, Dumbledore stood up again and motioned for Professor McGonagal and Professor Sprout. The usual twinkle was gone and in place was a frown under his white beard and dark eyes behind his spectacles. ¡¥Please send the students back to their respective dormitories and make sure they stay there until further notice. No student shall be running around the school grounds until you have the permission of your House Heads.¡¦ Dumbeldore looked around the crowd of students sternly. ¡¥Argus, please take all the foreign students back to their respective places and alert Professor Moyet and Professor Persidats about the current situation.¡¦
¡¥Severus!¡¦ Dumbeldore called in a low voice as all the students retreated, leaving Draco and Virginia behind.
Snape emerged from the shadows, ¡¥yes Headmaster.¡¦
¡¥Take the wand and see what you can do with the Dark Mark.¡¦ Dumbeldore instructed, then turned to Draco and Virginia. ¡¥I have to inform the Ministry. Would Mr. Malfoy and Ms. Weasley kindly go up to my office?¡¦
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They sat in Dumbledore¡¦s office in dead silence. Draco had his eyes closed and was leaning back against the chair, his eyebrows wrinkled in knots. Virginia was sitting on the chair next to him, her fingers playing with her black robes, cramping and releasing the fabric over and over again. Her heart was pounding in her ears and her eyes were constantly unfocused, she couldn¡¦t think or see straight at all and her head was pounding violently.
It had been over two hour and still Dumbledore had not come back. The two had not made a noise since. Virginia snuck a glance at Draco but quickly adverted her eyes again, not daring to look at him. She could feel the anger hate rising within him¡K¡K
It wasn¡¦t me¡K Virginia thought frantically.
¡¥Yes, this way please¡K¡¦ a voice behind the wall echoed. Both of them turned and saw Dumbledore leading two other men, one of them was obviously the Minister of Magic: Cornelius Fudge.
The other was a man with straight shoulder length jet black hair and was wearing long black robes with a silver clasp in front of his chest. His hair covered one of his eye and his lips was curved in a sly smile, as if he was looking for his prey.
Fudge didn¡¦t look happy at all, in fact, he looked extremely annoyed. His face was slightly flushed as if he had had a heated argument with someone and he was digging his nails into his palm so hard it wouldn¡¦t be surprising at all if he made a hole through his flesh. When he entered the room his eyes immediately set sight on Draco, who just looked back at him with narrow eyes. ¡¥Honestly Dumbledore, you cannot be more troublesome than this can you?¡¦
Dumbeldore¡¦s eyes darkend. He looked much older than he did usually and this was the first time Virginia ever thought hat Dumbledore was completely serious. ¡¥Cornelius my friend, this is no time to deal with whom should take the responsibility. The presses have managed to be covered but this will go out sooner or later since the whole school and students from Durmstrang and Beauxsbaton know. We are here to discuss just how the Dark Mark appeared.¡¦
¡¥Ha!¡¦ Fudge¡¦s spat in disgust. ¡¥The Dark Mark! How do you look over your school Dumbeldore, letting something so evil appearing at an institution of magic!¡¦
¡¥As Dumbeldore has said, this is not the time to discuss who is responsible for what, but to investigate the appearance of the Dark Mark.¡¦ The man who was silent all along finally spoke, sticking one hand into his robe pocket.
¡¥I know you, you¡¦re a Death Eater.¡¦ Draco suddenly said, standing up. Virginia had to cover her mouth to suppress the gasp that attempted to escape from her lips.
The man¡¦s eyes penetrated into Draco¡¦s, as if wanting to melt him. Draco narrowed his eyes and realized that one of his eyes were actually red while the other one was blue.
¡¥And so are you, young Malfoy.¡¦ The man said calmly. He grabbed Draco¡¦s arm and before he could protest, his sleeve was ripped off and revealed the ugly dark mark. Cornelius Fudge gasped and stepped back while Dumbeldore just stood there and let the man do whatever he wanted to. The man looked up and smirked at Draco. ¡¥Like father, like son.¡¦
Draco glared at the man, his gray eyes reduced to slits. Without another word he snatched his arm back and punched him right in the jaw, causing him to step back. He didn¡¦t feel the least bit surprised, as if he had expected the blow.
¡¥Don¡¦t you ever say that about me.¡¦ Draco seethed, glaring down at his smirking face.
¡¥Dra ¡V ¡¥ Virginia started.
¡¥SHUT UP WEASLEY!¡¦ Draco shouted without even turning around. Virgini shuddered and stepped backwards, not daring to say another word.
¡¥Headmaster, I¡¦ve finally found out that ¡V ¡¥ Snape came in but stopped abruptly at the scene before him. ¡¥Sean?¡¦
The man called Sean turned and gave Snape a sly grin. ¡¥Long time no see old brother.¡¦
¡¥Brother?¡¦ Virginia gasped in shock.
Dumbledore exhaled loudly. ¡¥This is Sean Snape, Severus¡¦ brother and a former Death Eater.¡¦
¡¥Much to my opposition!¡¦ Fudge cut in hotly.
¡¥You were a Death Eater?¡¦ Draco repeated suspiciously, ¡¥I saw you two years ago in my father¡¦s mansion, why are you here now?¡¦
¡¥That¡¦s confidential my son.¡¦ Sean replied, seating himself down at the couch.
¡¥Please continue Severus.¡¦ Dumbledore said. Cornelius still looked alarmed at the three Death Eaters in front of him. Just then Professor McGonagal came inside as well and nodded at Dumbledore, silently reassuring him that all students were safely placed at their respective dormitories.
¡¥I can be almost absolutely sure that the Dark Mark was cast from that wand.¡¦ Snape announced gravely, looking straight at Virginia .
¡¥Who was holding this wand?¡¦ Cornelius Fudge demanded.
¡¥I didn¡¦t ¡V ¡¥ Virginia squeaked.
¡¥It was you?¡¦ Fudge said incredulously, he then smirked in disgust. ¡¥A Weasley, that hair of yours will never hide you.¡¦
Virginia bit her lips at the comment while McGonagal frowned, glaring at the Minister of Magic. She never really liked the man and she was certain that she possessed a passion of hating him when he summoned two Death Eaters two years ago.
¡¥Yes, it was her Cornelius.¡¦ Dumbledore confirmed, his voice full of disapproval, ¡¥but I am more than sure that there¡¦s something twisted behind all this, behind all the things that has happened in Hogwarts.¡¦
¡¥Yes, which reminds me how famous Hogwarts as been in the ministry for the past few months.¡¦ Fudge spat furiously, glaring at Dumbledore. ¡¥You are deliberately ignoring the measures the Ministry takes Dumbledore. We have given you as much freedom you can get, creating this ridiculous Muggle Year Programme. I have a reason to suspect that all these threats have something to do with it and that new student, Adrian Bradley!¡¦
The whole office went silent again as his name was brought up.
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes. ¡¥I will not allow you saying something like this about my student. Adrian Bradley is one of the best students of Hogwarts and to such, I assure you that Adrian should not be involved in such a riducluous assumption.¡¦
¡¥Come now Dumbeldore!¡¦ Fudge roared, ¡¥He was a prisoner from Azkaban! I had been more than lose to accept your proposal and let him study at Hogwarts, letting him live a normal life. Do you know how much pressure I had suffered? How much trouble Barty Crouch has given me to deal with? What Adrian Bradley had done three years ago was enough to make him receive the Dementer¡¦s kiss!¡¦
¡¥Enough!¡¦ Dumbledore said sharply. ¡¥Adrian Bradley is a student of Hogwarts and is under my protection, I do not care what he looks in your eyes minister, but I will not let these words come out of your mouth again. The only way to know the truth is to let Ginny take Veritaserum.¡¦ Dumbledore turned to Severus, who held out a vile with the transparent liquid.
Draco glared at the vile and sat down again, his stormy gray eyes completely unreadable and refusing to look at Virginia .
Fudge¡¦s cheeks were turning purple from the anger. He will never forget what had happened two years ago at the Triwizard Tournament, till now he still couldn¡¦t believe that Lord Voldemort had returned, and no evidence could convince him of this ¡¥fact¡¦.
¡¥Weasley.¡¦ Severus handed Virginia the vile. ¡¥Take this.¡¦
Virginia stared at the vile containing the few drops of serum. She would never thought of taking this potion, it was so powerful and she feard it much. Gulping hard she looked up at Dumbledore.
¡¥Take it.¡¦ Dumbledore said gently, nodding his head.
Biting her lips, Virginia opened the vile and took in the liquid. She closed her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks at the stinging taste. It burned her throat as it traveled down, she could almost feel the smoke coming out from her ears. Sitting straight again she opened her brown eyes, which had turned pitch black and unfocused.
¡¥Sean.¡¦ Dumbledore nodded towards the black haired man who had been silent again. Sean nodded and stood up, standing right in front of Virgnia.
¡¥Ms. Weasley, where were you when Draco Malfoy was in the hallway with Myra Kirkimburgh?¡¦
¡¥The hospital wing.¡¦ Virginia replied dully.
¡¥What were you doing?¡¦
¡¥My Potions work.¡¦ Virginia replied again, her eyes half closed.
¡¥Do you have any proof?¡¦ Sean asked, narrowing his eyes.
¡¥I¡K¡K¡¦
¡¥Why were you in the hallway with the Dark Mark, holding the wand?¡¦ Sean continued, his voice turning sharp.
¡¥I don¡¦t ¡V ¡¥
¡¥What did you actually do when the armor hit the floor?¡¦ Sean demanded.
Don¡¦t listen to him Ginny¡K you don¡¦t have to listen to him, you don¡¦t have to answer him.
¡¥Answer me!¡¦ Sean commanded harshly.
Ginny¡K come to me, come to me where no one will control you again, no one will force you to do what you don¡¦t want, where no one will ignore your existence again.
¡¥Ms. Weasley!¡¦
Where someone would appreciate you¡K
¡¥No!¡¦ Virginia gave you a bloodcurling scream and held the side of her head, dropping onto the floor with a thud. She curled her body into a ball, sweat dripping down her face.
¡¥Ginny!¡¦ McGonagal rushed forward and knelt before her student.
¡¥No¡K¡K¡¦ Virginia repeated over and over again, her eyes turning black, then empty.
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¡¥This is impossible Cornelius.¡¦
¡¥I do not care, I want Ginny Weasley removed from this production right this instant or I will insist that this whole musical rubbish canceled!¡¦
¡¥How dare you call it rubbish you old coot!¡¦
¡¥You ¡V ¡¥
¡¥Calm Lesley¡K¡¦
¡¥But Dumbeldore ¡V ¡¥
¡¥And why, Minister, do you want the child removed?¡¦
¡¥It is clear that she was the one who had cast the Dark Mark, but we still do not have evedience, that is the only thing that we need to gather. I will not allow this to happen again, especially on such a huge occasion. Ginny Weasley is obviously a dangerous person, I do not want her to ruin the whole bloody thing!¡¦
Virginia opened her eyes at the shouting voices. Pulling the sheets up to her chin, she closed her eyes again, burying her face further into the fluffy pillow of the infirmary.
¡¥I strongly the oppose the idea of removing Ginny from the production.¡¦ Spencer declared, balling his fists. ¡¥She is one of the most talented dancers we have ever seen, it would be a waste to throw her out!¡¦
¡¥What do you know muggle!¡¦ Fudge snarled.
¡¥How dare you insult us!¡¦ Lesley exclaimed, her face turning red. It was obvious that Fudge¡¦s words were getting out of control from the fear of the Dark Mark and Voldemort.
¡¥This is my order Dumbledore.¡¦ Fudge said colding, eyeing the Headmaster, ¡¥take heed, or you will regret that you have ever proposed this programme at all. The press will be very interested in knowing just what had happened and I am more than glad to reveal this just to make sure that nothing goes wrong.¡¦ With that Cornelius Fudge crammed his bowler hat onto his round head and stalked out of the infirmary, ignoring the protests of Madame Promfey, whose face with equally red with fury of the noise being created in the infirmary.
¡¥Oh dear¡K¡¦ Lesley sighed, throwing up her hands. ¡¥What are we going to do?¡¦
¡¥We will find a way out.¡¦ Dumbledore said gently.
Once the infirmary was quiet again after the door was shut, Virginia opened her eyes again and stared into space.
I¡¦m being removed¡K Virginia thought bitterly. Ignoring the stinging flow attacking her eyes, she flipped onto her stomach and buried her entire face into the white pillow, shutting herself from the outside world.
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¡¥What do you mean REMOVED?!¡¦ Draco roared, standing up abruptly.
Lesley sighed and leaned herself against Charlie weakly, who wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
Yvette gasped in shock, dropping onto the sofa. Adrian looked at them with raised eyebrows, silently digesting the news.
Spencer nodded, racking his fingers through his blusish black hair. ¡¥A rash decision, in my opinion. That Cornelius Fudge commanded the removal of Ginny as the main role. Damn him for it, does he know just how much work we¡¦ve put in?¡¦
Charlie shook his head grimly. ¡¥Cornelius Fudge will not consider this, all he considers is what to do in order to protect his interest.¡¦
¡¥Damn him.¡¦ Spencer cursed again. ¡¥Just what is so big deal about that mark?¡¦ he continued to ask to particularly no one.
At the mention of the Dark Mark, Draco shuddered, wrinkling his forehead. He would never forget the sight of Virginia holding the wand in her hands, the ugly Dark Mark behind her. It was so real¡K as if¡K
Was it really her? Draco thought, looking down in deep thought. When he looked up at it was like looking at his father, wand outstretched, wanting to burn the Dark Mark on him. What had happened back at Dumbledore¡¦s office early ago with the Veritaserum was something not experienced before.
¡¥It maybe the fact that Weasley has a strong will to keep this to herself, to keep it a secret. It had been an hypothesis that someone could do so with a truth potion, but never with Veritaserum. We have a reason to suspect Weasley¡K¡K¡¦ Draco recalled Snape¡¦s explanation after examining the vile and Virginia .
Did she trigger the Dark Mark? Draco closed his eyes shut. He hated the Dark Mark, he hated it so much that the hatred would be transferred instantly to those associated with it. Why did he have to have the Dark Mark? Why did he have to let Virginia Weasley know about it? Why did he have to let himself fall into her¡K
Was he starting to¡K
Spencer exhaled loudly and turned to Lawrence who was quiet all along, leaning against the door in deep thought. ¡¥We¡¦ve worked too hard and the production¡¦s already halfway done¡K¡¦
Lawrence shook his head. ¡¥Its either Ginny out, or the whole thing out.¡¦ He looked around, eyes lowered. ¡¥You know the choice¡K¡¦
Lesley whirled around, throwing her arms around Charlie, refusing to listen further. Charlie patted her back, whispering inside her ear. His face was shadowed grimly, silently cursing the situation.
¡¥But who¡K..¡¦ Yvette gulped, her eyes darting sideways, looking at them uncomfortably.
Adrian closed his eyes and shook his head, leaning back in silence.
Draco narrowed his eyes. Am I?
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Virginia woke up to something teasingly warm. Blinking open her eyes, she paused to adjust to the darkness which was bathed dimly in the soft moonlight. Blinking furiously again she sat up slowly and let out a low gasp as something sharp grasped the shoulder of her pajamas.
¡¥What the ¡V ¡¥ she turned abruptly and found herself staring directly into a pair of golden eyes. She blinked for a second, frozen, then sighed and gave out a short laugh. ¡¥Are you trying the scare me too? You have no idea what I¡¦ve been through.¡¦
It was the black falcon again. It was perched on her shoulder, rubbing its neck against her left cheek, its feather¡¦s soft and warm. Its eyes were like gold nuggets under the moonlight, sharp and penetrating.
Virginia let it fly to her outstretched arm and caressed its feathers with her palm, looking at it with lowered eyes, smiling. She hadn¡¦t smiled for the whole day and couldn¡¦t believe that it was a falcon that made her relieved from the current situation, soothing the waves that were crashing against each other inside her.
Then realization hit her.
She never really smiled.
Virginia blinked, wrinkling her forehead. She had never really smiled ever since that Tom Riddle incident four years ago. She had always been cool to everything, not really bothering about anyone anymore. She never really protested when something was wrong, she never argued when she knew she was the one right and she never defended herself when someone wanted to hurt her. What had made such a great difference in her this year?
Draco?
Virginia shut her eyes and shook her head violently. She still couldn¡¦t forget the face full of hatred projected on her in Dumbledore¡¦s office. They might have not really known each other before this year, but he had not really been nasty to her except for a few insults now and then when she was with her brother, Hermione or Harry. It was Draco that made her smile genuinely, it was Draco that made her lose her temper.
It was Draco that had made such a huge difference inside the Virginia Weasley who had thought that emotions were something unnecessary anymore.
What¡¦s the big deal about that though. Virginia thought bitterly, looking out of the window again. No matter how hard she tried, Draco Malfoy would not treat her differently in the way she wanted, because she was a Weasley, the daughter and sister of his ultimate enemy.
Virginia jerked back to reality by a soft hoot from the falcon. It pointed its head towards the window, as if urging her to get out the infirmary. She suddenly felt suffocated inside her and desperately wanted to go somewhere else.
Virginia smiled and stroked the falcon¡¦s feathers again. ¡¥You want me to break the school rules huh? Well I don¡¦t see why I shouldn¡¦t, everyone thinks I¡¦m a bad girl now don¡¦t they?¡¦ As if responding her, the falcon flapped its wings and jumped onto her shoulder again.
Giving out a small laugh she pushed away the white covers and stepped into her shoes which were placed beside her the bed.
Surprisingly no one was on patrol in the hallways as she walked her way outside the castle, even Filch, who everyone suspected he didn¡¦t need sleep, was absent along with his precious Mrs. Norris. The castle was exceptionally quiet, as if someone had cast a silencing charm to exclusively block out her hearing.
Virginia walked out into the square and was surprised to find that the grass in the gardens were wet. It was still early March and snow usually didn¡¦t start to melt until late March.
Virginia sighed and stared up at the moon, continuing her walk. But then again, what is normal for me this year? She asked mentally.
Her lips curved into another ¡¥rare¡¦ smile of hers as she gazed up at the twinkling stars. She never really had a keen in star gazing or astronomy, but sometimes she felt that the diamonds up there were soothing when it came to a troubled person. When she was little she always wondered what they really were. She had once thought they were huge diamonds stuck up on a piece of huge black cloth.
Virginia laughed, ¡¥What a ridiculous notion, I always wondered why I had such a simple mind.¡¦
¡¥I wonder that too.¡¦ A cold sarcastic voice echoed in front of her. Before she could take a closer look at the speaker, she gasped as the falcon that was perched on her shoulder take flight, its feathers soaring in the sky and drifting in front of her.
Virginia blinked, feeling her heartbeat accelerate.
¡¥Draco.¡¦
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¡¥Draco? I thought you liked calling me Malfoy before.¡¦
Virginia blinked, staring into the cold gray eyes of Draco Malfoy. A shiver ran up her spine as she felt the sudden distance between them. Before she always felt warm and belonged when she was around him, but now¡K nothing but coldness and¡K
Hate.
Virginia ¡¦s chest started to constrict at the thought of that.
Draco continued to stare at her with his sharp gray eyes, half of his handsome face hidden behind the shadow of the moonlight. His thin lips were set in a thin line and his hair was messy due to the breezy midnight wind. He had changed into a new school robe and was standing at the edge of the lake, the very lake where water sports were held.
¡¥Draco I¡K¡K¡¦ Virginia bit her lip, refusing to let her tears fall down. She lowered her head slightly, not daring to look at Draco.
¡¥What? Can¡¦t think of anything to say with that clever tongue of yours Weasley?¡¦ Draco sneered.
An undescribable wave of hopelessness washed through her, like a cold bucket of water dumped right on top of her head. The coldness he posessed chilled her to the bone as if she was locked in a huge refridgerator. She wasn¡¦t used to Draco calling her Weasley again, as if something has broken between them, and can never be repaired again.
She didn¡¦t like this feeling one bit.
Taking a deep breath she looked up, meeting his cold eyes again. ¡¥Draco, I just wanted to explain ¡V ¡¥
¡¥Don¡¦t explain anything, I don¡¦t need your explanation.¡¦ Draco cut off, narrowing his eyes.
Virginia ¡¦s eyebrows twisted together. ¡¥But Draco ¡V ¡¥
¡¥I don¡¦t need your explanation Weasley.¡¦ Draco repeated, ¡¥not now, not ever.¡¦
Virginia stared at Draco with wide eyes, trying to digest what he had just said.
He didn¡¦t want an explanation? Why? She had an explanation, it wasn¡¦t even her who cast the Dark Mark! How could have it been her? Why wouldn¡¦t he want her to explain? He can¡¦t possibly think it¡¦s me¡K can he? She thought frantically.
¡¥I thought you understood me.¡¦ Virginia said quietly.
Draco snorted. ¡¥Since when did we have such a understanding that we understood each other Weasley? Don¡¦t say you understand me because you don¡¦t.¡¦ He didn¡¦t need her understanding, all care from her had just been a vision, an illusion¡K..
¡¥Why?¡¦
Draco gave out a short laugh. ¡¥Why?¡¦ he walked forward and grabbed her chin. At blinding speed he crushed his lips onto hers roughly, pulling her into a strong embrace clutching her arms so tight they started to bruise.
Virginia widened her eyes as Draco¡¦s lips continued its invasion. She tried to push him away but it only earned a tighter embrace, a refusal to her struggles. She closed her eyes as Draco deeped the kiss, forcing her mouth open. The pressure was hurting her but deep down she knew that she wanted him to kiss her, wanted to feel his warmth against her, wanted someone to trigger her buried emotions¡K¡K
A sudden push broke the spell as Virginia felt herself stumbling back, almost falling onto her bottom. She blinked at Draco blankly, panting from the kiss they just shared. She was so preoccupied that she didn¡¦t even notice that huge drops of rain were starting to pour down from the sky.
Draco glared at Virginia . Damn her for her soft lips! Damn her for that warm and seducing body of hers! Damn him for his lack of control! DAMN IT! He wasn¡¦t going to fall for one her other tricks again, he wasn¡¦t going to let himself suffer once again! He hated her for her care, hated her for his attraction to her. If it weren¡¦t for the rain that had suddenly poured down he would have let himself enjoy the kiss which was not what he wanted. He wanted to hate her! To hurt her! She was a Weasley, someone that was worth to hate for life! He wasn¡¦t going to care for her, to like her, to¡K
¡¥Get out of my sight Weasley!¡¦ Draco spat.
Hurt flashed through Virginia ¡¦s eyes and Draco forced himself to not notice and continue to hurt her.
¡¥I don¡¦t care if we had been ¡§friends¡¨ before,¡¦ Draco snarled, ¡¥but I will never let myself sink into something so ridiculous again! You¡¦ve won the game, you¡¦ve seen me as a Death Eater, what more do you want? Do you want to see me suffer and die? Would that make you happier?¡¦ He had to hurt her, hurt her to make himself feel better!
Virginia took in a sharp breath. ¡¥How could you say that! What would make you think ¡V ¡¥
¡¥Because you¡¦re a Weasley!¡¦ Draco roared, losing all his temper. ¡¥Do you really think I¡¦d give in any emotions for a friendship with a Weasley? Snap out of it! I was just using you! Do you know how much I¡¦ve gone through for the past two years? How my father had been a tyrant to me? How he had tortured me till I wanted to just die, ALL BECAUSE OF THE DARK MARK!¡¦ He wasn¡¦t going to let himself fall for her again, never!
¡¥I wasn¡¦t the one who ¡V ¡¥
¡¥I DON¡¦T CARE!¡¦ Draco spat, turning around abruptly. ¡¥Just get out of my life. I don¡¦t care if you were the one who cast the dark mark, I just don¡¦t want you to interfere my life again Weasley. I¡¦ve suffered too much and with my father tracking me down like this, he wouldn¡¦t be pleased at all to find me associating with a Weasley.¡¦ He turned his head slightly and caught Virginia ¡¦s hurt expression. ¡¥I will be retreating from Snape¡¦s project and anything associated with you.¡¦
Virginia dropped to the soaking grass, her eyes casted down.
¡¥I don¡¦t need someone to care about me Weasley.¡¦ Draco said coldly, ¡¥especially not from someone who makes herself known from the Dark Mark, that very mark that has been my invisible scar for all these years.¡¦
Virginia ¡¦s heart started to sink as Draco walked past her. It seemed like forever as the rain hit on her skin, soaking her to the bone. She was cold, so very cold¡K everything seemed so strange, so unfamiliar¡K
Why did this have to happen? It wasn¡¦t even her fault! Was it because of the Dark Mark? Was it because she was a Weasley?
Virginia crawled to the edge of the lake and stared at her reflection. Red hair¡K loads of freckles¡K was this a Weasley?
¡¥Why?¡¦ Virginia ¡¦s voice trembled. Why does she get this kind of repay when she finally starts to realize that she does have feelings, does have a temper that can make her roar!
That she had a smile from the bottom of her heart¡K
A sudden breeze sweep through the water as the rain continued to beat down. Virginia blinked as Draco¡¦s smiling face came into vision.
¡¥Draco¡K¡¦ she whispered, reaching down.
Without warning she fell into the deep lake with a huge splash, sinking into the cold lake.
She was tired, very tired.
I just want someone that can really understand me, is that so wrong? She thought, reaching out in the water before her world went dark once again.
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¡¥Dear Gods! Mr. Bradley! What are you ¡K¡¦ Virginia could hear Madame Promfey¡¦s shocked voice but as if she was wearing earplugs. Her vision was blurry and something hot was sliding down her cheeks.
Were they tears?
¡¥Madame Pomfey, I found Ginny by the lake, soaking wet. She fell into the lake.¡¦ She heard Adrian ¡¦s low voice reply.
¡¥For Merlin¡¦s sake put her down!¡¦ Madame Promfey cried.
¡¥But she¡¦s soaking wet!¡¦ Adrian protested.
¡¥I will help her clean up!¡¦ she could feel a cold hand touch her forehead. ¡¥Dear Merlin¡¦s she¡¦s burning! Quick Bradley put her down! I need to get her some wet towels and a potion to get that fever off her.¡¦
Virginia felt herself being set down onto a cold bed. She shivered violently as she felt another hand touch her forehead. She opened her eyes in surprise when she felt lips touching her smooth skin but couldn¡¦t make out a figure because her eyes were blurry with tears. A soft hand touched her cheek and wiped away the tears but they couldn¡¦t stop the new tears that welled up around her brown eyes, threatening to travel down once again.
¡¥You¡¦ll be alright¡K¡¦ Adrian ¡¦s voice said softly against her ear. ¡¥you¡¦ll be fine¡K¡¦
She closed her eyes once again, welcoming the darkness to engulf her world.
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¡¥She¡¦s been lying here for three days, not eating, not drinking, hell knows if she¡¦s breathing!¡¦
A roaring voice caused Virginia to open her eyes. She blinked several times trying to adjust the sunlight that was streaming down into her eyes.
¡¥Come now Ron! You have to trust Madame Pomfrey! She had a fever and she needs rest!¡¦ Hermione cried.
Virginia kept her back to them, not wanting to face her brother and his girlfriend yet.
¡¥Calm down Ron, it¡¦s notlike she¡¦ll die of a fever.¡¦ Harry said dryly, patting his friends shoulder.
Ron sighed. ¡¥I don¡¦t know, I guess I¡¦ve not been understanding enough.¡¦
Just then the door opened and in came Charlie, Lesley and Adrian.
Hermione gave them a smile. ¡¥Here to visit Ginny?¡¦
Virginia clutched her fists, wanting to shut out the voices.
Ron stood up and walked towards Adrian , holding out his hand. ¡¥I can¡¦t thank you enough for taking my sister back to the hospital wing, she might have drowned if it weren¡¦t for you.¡¦
Adrian smiled and shook his hand. ¡¥I wouldn¡¦t want to see Ginny die either, lucky I was around.¡¦
¡¥Why you were around,¡¦ Charlie winked, ¡¥I do not want to know.¡¦
They all laughed, which irritated Virginia . She closed her eyes tightly, unconsciously leaning her heard further into the pillow.
¡¥How is it going Lesley?¡¦ Hermione suddenly asked softly as if someone was eavesdropping.
Lesley looked away, shaking her head. ¡¥I can¡¦t do anything, Fudge is insisting it.¡¦
Ron clutched his fists. ¡¥How could he do that? I wasn¡¦t even Ginny who did it.¡¦
Charlie exhaled loudly. ¡¥We aren¡¦t sure of that either. To be honest it was a miracle that Ginny didn¡¦t react to the Veritaserum, Fudge is convinced that Ginny knows something awfully wicked and refuses her participation in the production. Claims to be for the sake of the safety of the wizarding and muggle community.¡¦
Lesley snorted. ¡¥More like saving his own ass.¡¦
Charlie raised his fingers to her lips. ¡¥Language Lesley.¡¦
Lesley pursed her lips. ¡¥But it¡¦s true! He¡¦s practically forcing us to heed to his ways! Why should we remove Ginny when she¡¦s the best and the only one suitable for this role?¡¦
¡¥Lesley ¡V ¡¥
¡¥He¡¦s being totally barbaric!¡¦ Lesley declared, biting her trembling lips. ¡¥Do you know how hard Ginny has tried for these few years? I¡¦ve watched her improve, watched her grow! I¡¦ve never seen her really smile ever since I met her! She looked so lost, unnoticed, unbelonged! I wanted her to feel wanted, to feel that something needs her to complete, something that cannot do without her! I gave her the chance and she has held on to it well! I just wanted her to feel a sense of achievement, to make her smile like everybody else, and she did. Why do they have to take all this away from her? Why did they have to give her hope, and then destroy it all over again?¡¦
¡¥Lesley¡K¡¦ Hermione bit her lips too, trying not to cry. It was true, they never really paid real attention to her. She had so many brothers before her, who would take notice of a small little girl who was always shadowed by her brothers?
Adrian lowered his icy blue eyes, silent as always while the others just looked as guilty as ever.
¡¥Thank you Lesley.¡¦ Virginia said softly, startling everyone. She didn¡¦t turn around and still kept her back facing them. ¡¥Thank you for giving me the chance, but no one destroyed it. I destroyed it myself. I¡¦m sorry¡K¡¦
¡¥Ginny ¡V ¡¥ Lesley cried.
¡¥I won¡¦t make you in a difficult situation,¡¦ Virginia continued softly, ¡¥I¡¦m willing to give up my role if this is what they want.¡¦
¡¥Ginny¡K are you sure?¡¦ Charlie asked.
Virginia gave a slight nod. ¡¥I¡¦m sure.¡¦
Hot tears streamed down her cheeks, wetting the pillow underneath. The others looked at her back silently, not knowing what to say.
There was no need to cry anymore, because everything was back to where it began.
Her tears were going to dry up very soon.
End of Chapter 23
A/N: Be kind and review! Email me at virginialo@wildimagination.net if you got any questions! You can also leave any messages on my site's message board: http://pub92.ezboard.com/bwildimaginationworks
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