A/N- Thanks bunches to:Trancos (You rock so much! Thanks!) Sam (Oh my god, what an incredible compliment… wow, you really know how to make a wannabe's day! ^_^ Too bad I can't write original fic. Oh well!) a-broken-heart-still-beats (You are so lucky! I wanna live in Scotland!! And I really want a horse!!! ::sigh:: some people have all the luck… ^_~) Draco_lover (Thanks so much!! You're supposed to be confused at this point, I only reveal my fiendish plots at the end) Aelys (^_^ *pleased*) kneh13 (Thanks, here ya go!) fEEdLestEEx (::chortles:: so glad you like!)
Okayyyy… ::cracks fingers and warms up hands:: first crack at actually writing in… five months? Six? Something like that. Anyway, I am back! Enjoy!
Hehehe, guess who makes a little cameo in this one?? ^_^
FIC HERE!
Ch. 8
Ginny yawned and stretched Thursday morning; her eyes felt like they were full of sand. Well, I suppose that's to be expected after a late night… She hadn't gotten back to her room until at least 2 am. She felt her face flush and a silly grin spread across it when she thought of the events of the previous night.
"Well, well, somebody had a busy night last night," one of her roommates teased. "Out until all hours, waking up with that goofy grin… what will everyone think?"
Ginny threw a pillow at her, still glowing. He had been so sweet… nothing really "bad" had happened of course- but he had acted so different than he usually did! He had treated her like a precious, beautiful thing, like a dream made real. It was a bit odd, really; they hadn't kissed for the entire hour they were out there, (though she would have liked to!), and occasionally she had looked at him and seen a very strange expression on his face. If she hadn't known any better, she would think it was almost fear… she snorted to herself. Draco Malfoy, afraid of anything… right.
* * *
As Ginny sat in the Great Hall yawning over her breakfast, she couldn't seem to keep her eyes from periodically straying to the Slytherin table. Draco didn't show up the whole meal- why? Did he just sleep in? I wish I could've, she thought, grinning sleepily.
"Why so happy, Gin?" Ron asked curiously from across the table. "You're usually griping about something over breakfast."
"I do not!" she protested. Ron rolled his eyes and nudged Harry, who was staring rather dazedly at the Ravenclaw table, with his elbow.
"Eh, what?" he asked, sounding rather confused. Ron stifled a chuckle and asked, "Isn't Ginny usually rather grouchy in the morning?"
Harry hedged as Ginny harrumphed indignantly. "I wouldn't say grouchy, exactly… certainly not this smiley, I'd say," he said, a knowing twinkle in his eye. "So, what happened to you last night?" he asked, making Ginny flush and splutter a rather incoherent denial. Ron, confused but getting closer, looked from a red-faced Ginny to a now laughing Harry several times, and seemed to put things together.
"Hey…" he said slowly, "Did you- are- Ginny?" he stopped, looking rather helpless as a deep red flush traveled up his neck and face. He took a deep breath, looked down at his hands, and without looking up, said, "DidyouandHarrydosomethinglastnight'causeifyoudidthatwouldbereallywierdandpleasepleasePLEASEtellmeyoudidn'tdoanythingbad!"
Ginny and Harry both looked at him, flabbergasted for a moment, then burst out laughing. Hermione, who had been watching but keeping her nose out of it, was hard-pressed to keep from following suit as Ron spluttered some more, then realized just how stupid he sounded and grinned sheepishly. After a few minutes, the four of them finally calmed down and got up to go to their first classes of the day.
On her way to Transfiguration, Ginny passed Draco in the hall; she tried to catch his eye, but he wasn't looking her way. She paused a moment after he passed, feeling a slight chill of foreboding. Nonsense, she scolded herself. Even if he had noticed me, he wouldn't have been able to say hello or anything- people would think he was losing it. She shrugged off the nagging feeling of doubt and continued into McGonnagal's classroom.
* * *
Ginny vigorously curried Aestus's coat, biting he lip to hold back angry tears. How could Draco have ignored her like he had all day? He had acted like he couldn't even see her when they went out riding! Maybe he regrets kissing me last night, she thought miserably. Her brushing slowed and finally stopped as she screwed her eyes tightly shut against the pain the thought caused her. Aestus, sensing her distress, brought his head around and nudged her shoulder gently. Ginny, her breath coming sharply against the ache in her chest, crumpled against his warm shoulder and let the tears flow freely.
* * *
[That morning]
Draco paced around his room, fidgeting nervously. Luckily, since he was a prefect, Lucius had gotten him a room of his own, so there was no one else to disturb- and they surely would have been disturbed if someone else did live there! Draco hadn't stopped pacing since he had returned last night; he was one of those people that either needed to do something while they thought or looked like zombies, depending on the emotion involved. He hadn't been able to stop the emotions and thoughts from whirling round his head the whole night long. What is this? I've never felt like this before… What do I do? An emotion like this had control over him, and if there was anything the years with Lucius had taught him, you couldn't let anyone control you. He smiled grimly, with nothing of humor in the expression. After all, how long did he control me with Mother, and vice versa? He resolved to keep himself far away from the entirely too bewitching young woman. For her safety and his.
He avoided Ginny any time he could; he skipped breakfast, instead sneaking into the kitchen and getting some toast and tea. When he walked in the halls, he could sense when she was nearing, and looked away, so he wouldn't have to see her hopeful face. He couldn't avoid her, though, when the time came to exercise Aurea. The pale mare categorically refused to go out without Aestus by her side, so Draco was forced to wait for Ginny before saddling up. He didn't acknowledge her presence at all, though he noticed her angry, hurt expression when he snuck a glance when she wasn't looking at him. A stab of guilt gnawed at his insides, but he quelled it angrily, thinking, It's better for both of us if last night never happens again. If she stays angry at me, neither of us will be tempted. He couldn't help watching her, however, as she groomed her tall mount after the ride. Since he was hidden in the shadows in the back of Aurea's stall, she didn't notice him. He felt his heart wrench when he saw her break down into quiet sobs. I'm sorry, Ginny, he thought at her miserably. I'm sorry…
* * *
A week later, as he was eating breakfast, Draco felt a sharp poke in his side. He jerked slightly, then turned angrily to Blaise, who had just sat down next to him. "What the bloody hell was that for?" he snapped. Blaise returned his death glare easily, his amber eyes snapping with ire.
"What the hell do you think you're doing to the Weaslet?" he demanded sharply.
Draco sputtered, "What are you talking about? She-"
Zabini cut him off sharply with an upraised hand. "Stuff it. I'm not blind, and neither is anyone else." He cut Draco's indignant response off again. "A little bird told me she thought something happened between you two last week. Apparently, Ginny was giddy for a day or two, then cried on Flagstaff and Singer's shoulders for the entire week after."
"So what does that have to do with me?" Draco asked arrogantly, his Sneer™ back in full force. Inside, the guilt he had suppressed was raging again.
Blaise snorted. "You think you're that slick, Malfoy?" he replied disdainfully. "I saw you sneak out last Wednesday night, and I heard you pacing the whole bloody night after you came back." He leaned forward, jabbing a finger into Draco's breastbone as he continued. "Keep treating her like this and you will be sorry."
Draco laughed bitterly. "What could you do to me, Zabini?" That I'm not doing to myself already, he added silently.
The other Slytherin stared at him stonily. "Who said it would be me doing anything?" he asked softly. Draco nearly squirmed under the piercing intensity of those fierce eyes; it was almost like Zabini could look right through him. He looked away uncomfortably, muttering another halfhearted denial. Blaise just watched him a moment longer, then turned away.
* * *
Katie hurried out to the alicorn stables, eager to see her filly after the rainy weekend. As she walked into the dimly lit space, she saw a familiar dark head poking out of her stall. Katie smiled and walked over to her. "Hi, Ruffian!" she said softly. Amara had helped her name the filly; apparently she looked exactly like a very famous Muggle racehorse from the 70's who had died at only 3 years old, unbeaten until she broke her leg in a race. Katie wasn't superstitious, and didn't think the name was ill-omened; rather, she thought it was fitting. Her Ruffian was the fastest of the alicorns except for Aestus, and was only gaining on the big red as she grew older.
When she heard footsteps from the entrance, Katie turned from saddling Ruffian to see a familiar figure in the doorway. She smiled happily, then ran over to the tall young man and threw her arms around him. He chuckled and returned the embrace warmly. He turned her face up to his and smiled down at her before kissing her lightly. Katie sighed slightly and kissed him back, this time a bit more insistently. There was silence in the stable for a few minutes; it was soon broken by a snort from the gray colt stabled next to Ruffian. The pair broke apart, giggling, as Blaise looked at his mount. He shook his head, grinning, as the young gray tossed his head and whinnied at his rider. Kissing Katie lightly again, he walked over to Watcher and gave him a greeting scratch.
"Why'd you call him Watcher, anyway?" she asked curiously. "He's spacier than I am- he doesn't watch anything!"
Blaise smiled at her. "It's really short for Stormwatcher," he said as he grabbed the colt's tack to saddle up quickly. "You should see him when it's thundering out- has to have his head out the back window, watching the clouds." He laughed a bit, then continued. "Sometimes I think he wants to be up there, racing the lightning."
Katie looked at the storm-gray colt, trying to imagine him staring at the sky fixedly. He looked at her for a moment, then was distracted by a half-grown cat winding through his front ankles. He bent his long neck to look at the smaller animal quizzically, then snorted as the kitten batted his nose, claws padded. Katie shook her head and laughed at the rather scatterbrained young horse as Blaise saddled him up.
"Ready?" he asked. She nodded and they both walked their mounts out of the barn to a clear, cold December day.
* * *
Amara sat curled up in a big over-stuffed sofa, staring at the lit fireplace in a little room only she and a select few knew about She sighed sadly and hugged her knees a little tighter. I miss him so much… She knew the first Christmas without a loved one was always the hardest, but it just seemed, since she was away at school and never saw Danny anyway, that he would be there waiting when she got home for the holidays. Just like always. Sometimes she almost forgot, for a second- then the memories and the grief would come crashing in again.
She remembered last Christmas so clearly…
~*~*~*~*~
Amara sighed in absolute contentment; there was a roaring fire in the fireplace, a blizzard howled outside the walls of her home, and her two best friends from school were with her, her family, and her other best friend for Christmas. How could life get any better?
Ginny stretched and got up from her place by the fire. "Mrs. Singer, how old is this piano, anyway?"
Amara's mum smiled back at the other redhead and thought a moment before answering. "Well, it was at least 80 years old when we got it, and 'Mara was only 8 at that point, so it's got to be almost 90 by now."
Ginny's eyes widened respectfully as she turned back to the lovely old instrument. She touched the chipped ivory keys lightly, almost caressingly, then turned back to the older woman with a pleading expression in her hazel eyes. "Could you play something for us? Please?"
Amara and Katie joined in begging shamelessly. "Please, Mum! I haven't heard you play in months!" Amara smiled suddenly. "Play Billy for us! It's my favorite… pleeeaaase?"
Her father chuckled at her wheedling and poked his wife gently. "G'wan with ye, 'Lana."
Amara's mother chuckled and shook her head, then uncurled from her favorite chair and walked over to the obviously lovingly restored piano. She took her place on the bench with obvious pleasure, then murmured to herself, "Let's see if I can still remember this…"
Amara chuckled; her mother always warned everyone that she hadn't seriously played in years, and it was their own fault for making her play if she butchered the song.
Mrs. Singer's fingers rested for a moment on the old keys, then took up a slightly plaintive, jazzy tune. After a short introduction, her voice joined in:
"Some folks like to get away
Take a holiday from the neighborhood
Hop a flight to Miami Beach, or to Hollywood
But I'm takin' a Greyhound
On the Hudson River line
I'm in a New York state of mind.
I've seen all the movie stars
With their fancy cars and their limousines
Been high in the Rockies, under the evergreens.
But I know what I'm needin',
And I don't want to waste more time
I'm in a New York state of mind.
It was so easy, livin' day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times
The Daily News
Comes down to reality,
And it's fine with me, 'cause I play it sly
Don't care if it's Chinatown, or on Riverside
I don't have any reasons
Left them all behind
I'm in a New York State of mind.
I'm just takin' a Greyhound
On the Hudson River line…
Cause I'm in…
I'm in a New York state of mind."
She played the old song flawlessly, with feeling and great enjoyment; it was obviously a family favorite, from the happy smiles on Amara, Danny, and her father's faces. The little group sat quietly for a few moments after she had finished, savoring the warm glow of well-being that had permeated the room. The older woman quietly got up from the piano bench and snuggled back into the sofa next to her husband.
~*~*~*~*~
Amara smiled sadly at the memory; after her mother had served everyone a lovely dinner, Ginny and Katie had pelted her with questions about some of the words of the song. All the Muggles had laughed hysterically about some of the things they took for granted that where so odd and out-of-place in the wizarding world. Greyhounds, the Hudson River; Ginny and Katie knew nothing of either, and barely knew anything about New York City, since not many American wizards lived there. Amara and Danny had teased them mercilessly about their lack of knowledge of Muggle culture for the rest of the time they were there, but the two witches had given as good as they had gotten.
As Amara stared into the fire, she barely noticed the tears trickling down her face. Someone else did, though.
Harry watched Amara a bit worriedly; she had been getting better over the past few weeks, but every now and then, he still got the feeling her pain was as sharp as ever. He walked over to her still form and touched her shoulder lightly, making her jump and gasp.
"Are you all right?" he asked softly, then shook himself and muttered, "Right, and you'd really be crying if you were perfectly fine. Sorry."
Amara wiped her face and managed an unsteady smile at the obviously concerned young man. "I'll be okay, it's just hitting me a bit hard at the moment… Christmas and all, you know," she said quietly, looking down at her hands. Harry sat down next to her and put a soothing arm around her slim shoulders. He didn't say anything; he knew she would get just as much comfort from him just sitting there with her as anything else.
The young redhead sighed and leaned her head against Harry's warm shoulder. He turned a bit to lean more against the arm of the sofa, and placed a soft kiss on Amara's hair as she laid her head on his chest. The two watched the fire dance cheerfully until the tall flames were only embers.
* * *
In the library, all was still- except for a small pool of light in a corner. Nearby, a figure searched the shelves for a certain, well-remembered book. Long, elegant hands trailed along the dusty spines, then stopped. There, half-hidden between two mammoth tomes, there was the one…
In the library, all was still.
A/N- So, first chapter after the evil hiatus is finally out- meh, now that I'm posting it I don't like it quite as much. Anyway, please tell me what you think!! Lurkers, this means you too!
