Alright, here's the next chapter! I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for all of the many reviews, they really mean so much for me. Sorry if I use stuff out of Order of the Pheonix, it's just that it made me think of how to get this story to work because of things that happen in that one. J I will be revising all of my chapters and adding songs. Hope you all like! (I don't own Harry Potter or Nickelback)
I Love You Too Much To Let You Go
By: Aly
Hero
Now that the world isn't ending, it's love that I'm sending to you.
It isn't the love of a hero, and that's why I fear it won't do.
And they say that a hero will save us.
I'm not gonna stand here and wait.
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles,
Watch as they all fly away.
~~~~~*~~~~~
As they apparated out of her flat and into the house that used to be Sirius', she was shocked at how much it had changed. It wasn't dark, there weren't disgusting creatures you had to watch out for around every corner, and the pictures on the wall were either gone or not yelling. It was quite a transformation from how she remembered it. Faces of old friends and family stared at her. Her mother's eyes showed the shock at seeing her only daughter, tears were also present. She had apparently been crying for awhile. Ron looked over and his eyebrows shot up as his mouth dropped when he saw Draco.
"Bloody hell." He muttered.
Ginny resisted smirking at him. This wasn't the place or the time.
As the three of them sat down Remus walked up in front of all the people. "Seeing as Dumbledore couldn't be here, I'll take over for tonight." No one made any disagreeing comments so he continued. "You all know why it is we're here today. We've had the first real attack in seven years since Voldemort surrendered." He said the last word very sarcastically as his eyes swept over the audience and stopped at Draco, "And we have lost a member of our order."
There were sniffles in the crowd and Ginny noticed Luna Lovegood was sobbing softly.
"These have been hard times," Remus started again. "We've lost and gained many people and it can feel at times as if all of our attempts have been for nothing. We all knew the risks when we joined in this fight, but we will conquer."
He continued to speak, as did others. They discussed plans on how to get better sources of information and stronger attack uses.
Draco stood up and looked around at everyone. "He-who-must-not-be-named has been rallying his forces just as we have been. He's getting young, naive wizards from places like Durmstrang. They're vulnerable and looking for adventure. They've also been raised to think in a way that the Dark Lord would want them to be."
"Like you?" Ron blurted out.
Draco looked at him coldly. "Yes, like me. Except for I was able to see the fault in that mindset, with the help of others."
"Do you think we could get some of them to give us inside information?" Harry asked.
Thinking for a moment, Draco shook his head. "It's a possibility, but most of them wouldn't be willing to cross the Dark Lord for an outsider unless they were properly rewarded."
"Then why even bring them up?" Ron asked, aggravated. "We can't bribe them. We don't have the resources."
"Because they would discuss everything they knew with a fellow death eater."
Remus raised an eyebrow. "We've already lost Severus. We have no one on the inside."
"But wouldn't it be helpful if we did?" Draco asked.
"What are you suggesting, young Malfoy?" A voice Ginny didn't recognize asked.
"My mother was most likely killed because I'm taking to long to get the deathmark I've been expected to have by now. It was a warning because if I don't act soon, I'll be next."
"What are you getting at?" Tonks asked him.
"Only that I do what my father wants." He stated.
Everyone looked at him suspiciously, especially Ron.
"I knew he hadn't changed." He muttered.
"Explain to them what you mean to do Draco," Moody stated. "I don't think that some of the people understand."
"We need someone on the inside to know what's going on. Someone who has nothing to lose, because it would be dangerous. Someone they wouldn't be suspicious of." He took a breath. "I think I should go in and find out all that I can. It would be beneficial for everyone."
Ginny resisted the urge to say that he had her to lose, but then she remembered that they were taking a break from each other…or were going to be taking a break from each other.
"I think it's a good plan." Harry told everyone. "The only one we really have at the moment."
"You actually trust him?" Ron exclaimed. "He could end up telling them everything about us. He could have us all killed."
"I trust him with my life."
Ron was shocked and left dumbfounded.
"It was hard for me to accept him when he became my boss, but he really has changed Ron."
Remus coughed politely and they went back to Order business and Percy told everyone the Ministry's take on things. Even though he spoke of his total support in Cornelius Fudge and that he had matters in control, people kept speaking against him. And who could blame them? Fudge hadn't done one bit of good since becoming Minister.
"If he actually cared about winning this war you'd think he'd be a bit more helpful." Seamus Finnigan muttered.
"He's doing as much as he can. The Minister is a very difficult position." Percy predictably came to Fudge's defense.
"Any blundering idiot off the street could do a better job then Fudge does." Fred said.
"I could be a better Minister then Fudge." Draco commented, laughing.
George joined the group of bantering. "Only because all the girls would follow your every whim."
The twins continued to mock Draco until the meeting was pulled to a close; all in agreement that Draco would get information from the other side.
Ginny walked over to her mother, fire in her eyes. "You didn't let them tell me about this."
"Ginny dear," her m other started, "be reasonable. How could I let my little girl be a part of this? I couldn't lose you."
"I'm not your little girl anymore mother. I want to help and the order needs as much help as possible."
"Arthur, speak some sense into your daughter. This is complete madness."
"Mum, aren't you a member of this madness yourself?" She turned toward her father. "Da, He-who-must-not-be-named needs to be defeated. Even though I live in a different type of world, I'm still a member of this one and I need to be a part of the fight."
He was quiet for a moment and then nodded. "She has got a point. We need all the witches and wizards we can get."
"But Arthur! She could be killed!"
Fred overheard that part of the conversation and grinned. "That's half the fun of it."
~~~~~*~~~~~
Ginny had decided to walk home, seeing as she had a few things to think over. Just so that she wouldn't be along, and because he wanted to, Draco accompanied her. They walked side by side for a moment, shoulders barely touching but not holding hands or speaking.
Finally Ginny couldn't take the silence any longer. She stopped and turned toward him. "Draco did you mean what you said earlier? About us not seeing each other anymore?"
He looked at the ground and then back up at her, "There really isn't any other option I see right now."
"Why?"
"Ginny, just being with you right now puts you in danger. If anyone were to see us together you could be—"he couldn't finish the sentence and then ran a hand softly over her cheek and then tilted her chin upward. "I don't want to lose you."
She was vulnerable, but didn't want to end up getting her. She looked away and humphed sarcastically, "I thought you didn't have anything to lose."
Draco groaned, "Ginny, don't twist it like that."
"How am I supposed to take it Draco? One minute you're telling me you want to be with me, and then the next you're pushing me away and joining Voldemort." She ran a hand through her hair. "You confuse me."
He hit a nearby wall in frustration, "You think I'm not confused? I want to be with you, Gin. I've never wanted to be with someone as much as I want to be with you."
"Then—"
But he cut her off, "And because of that I have to make a sacrifice for your safety."
"My safety." She shook her head in disgust. "Draco, you aren't the only one in this relationship. I want to be involved with you, I want to be in a relationship. If I can't do that with you then maybe I'll just have to find someone else." It was low and she knew it, but she wanted him. She felt like she needed him and wasn't sure why yet.
"Ginny…" he pleaded.
"Draco, I can take care of myself. I had people taking care of me my entire life and I'm sick of it. I don't want you to worry about me." I want you to love me.
"I've never had to worry about anyone but myself until now. I like worry about you." He pulled her in protectively and kissed her forehead and then her cheek and then her mouth. Right as she started to kiss him back he pulled away and kissed her right under the ear. "I like a lot of things when I'm around you."
"Then stay." She wrapped her arms around his neck and started to pull him even closer.
"Don't tempt me, Gin."
She smiled wickedly and kissed him, running her hands through his hair at the nape of his neck. He kissed her back and started rubbing her back. Ginny sighed and just melted into him.
After a few minutes they broke a part, breathing heavily.
"Take me somewhere." Ginny whispered.
He still wasn't sure that he was making a smart decision by staying here.
"We can go to your house. I'll make you dinner or something." She continued as she ran hand through his now tousled hair.
"It's after one in the morning," he laughed, "No one wants dinner at one in the morning."
"Well then, I'll make you breakfast."
His eyes shot up in surprise. "Are you...?"
She only laughed a bit and then replied. "No I'm not offering to sleep with you, but I also don't want you to be alone. You need someone to be with you."
"I'll be fine Ginny."
"No you won't. Draco, you're mother was just killed. You've just practically signed your life way to your father and his band of merry men."
He looked at her coldly and drew away, "Don't you think I know that?"
"Draco," she sighed, "I just don't want you to be alone."
"I've been alone my whole life. I think I can handle it now."
She made a sound of exasperation and looked at him. "You're doing it again. Pushing me away. I don't know what you want with me!"
"Well I don't know what you want either, so I guess that makes us even."
"I've told you that I want to be with you and that I want our relationship to go further. What else can I say to make you believe me?"
"Well I've told you that I want to be with you too, I just can't see how that's going to be possible." He looked completely anguished, but Ginny didn't feel like making things easy for him.
"Draco, give us a chance." She grabbed both of his hands and looked him in the eye. "I know that things are moving quickly and everything is confusing, but I've never felt like this with anyone before."
"I haven't either Gin, and that makes the risks even bigger and harder to take."
"But it will be worth it. I really think it will be."
They were nearing her flat now.
"I'll have to think about it." He looked her straight in the eyes, the emotion in them making the color a soft molten silver. "Will you give me a few days?"
"Dinner on Sunday. If you're there we'll discuss what's going on. If you're not…" She trailed off and smiled softly. "If you're not I'll understand."
He kissed her cheek. "Goodbye Virginia."
That was the first time he had ever called her that, and he had to say it when he was saying goodbye. Maybe for forever.
Draco turned and started to walk away, but she grabbed his arm. "Where are you going?" She knew she shouldn't ask, but she had to know.
He looked at her in all seriousness and smiled bitterly. "To tell my father that I'm finally ready for my deathmark."
~~~~~*~~~~~
Draco walked into his fathers house and pushed open the doors of the study.
Lucius turned and smirked. "Ah. I thought you'd be here after you received my message."
"Oh is that what that was?" He smirked.
"You were too attached. I've warned you before what feelings can do for a person."
"Yes you have. I don't consider myself weak, however."
"Good. I don't consider you weak either. Just stupid at times."
Draco took a moment to gather his emotions. "I take it you're referring to my not getting the darkmark before now."
"Of course."
"I didn't see a point."
Lucius raised his eyebrow.
"The Dark Lord was under very close supervision, there wasn't really much that I felt I could do for our cause. I realize now that I was wrong. I'm ready."
"Ready." Lucius barked a laugh. "You think you're ready for what?"
This wasn't at all what he had expected. He had thought his father would be jumping for joy at this choice. Obviously it was going to take more convincing.
"Father, I'm sorry it took so long."
"You went around whoring for seven years and I had to kill my wife in order to get you crawling back to your duty."
"Like you gave a damn about my mother anyway."
Lucius smiled sardonically, "Temper, temper."
"Father I'm here to tell you I want to join the Dark Lord."
"Good. I'll call a meeting."
~~~~~*~~~~~
Ginny was going to go crazy. It was Sunday and she hadn't spoken to Draco in ages and now was the day of reckoning. She wanted to owl him and see if he was coming, but she had her pride. Instead, she'd talk to Harry.
The phone rang but finally he answered. "Hello?"
"Harry! Hi it's Ginny."
"'Ello Gin. What's the occasion?"
"No occasion really, I just realized I hadn't talked to you for a while now." She twiddled her hair and tried to sound nonchalant. "How are things at work?"
"Good."
"Just…good?"
"Yeah. Not much progress, well some because of Draco, but—"
She cut him off. "Draco? What's he up to now a days?"
"The normal I guess." She could almost picture him start to grin. "What's going on between you two?"
"At the moment nothing." It was true, and that's what made it so aggravating.
"Well, I suppose I should go. Have to get ready for the family dinner tonight?"
"Oh good. You're coming. Mum asked me to check up on you." So it was a lie, but oh well. "Are you brining anyone this time? You know how Mum enjoys it when you bring dates."
"Me bring a date so Fred and George can heckle them? Heavens no."
Ginny laughed. "A friend then?"
"No. I'm coming alone as usual."
"Ah. Well…I guess I'll see you then."
She was about to hang up when Harry spoke again. "Ginny, is there another reason why you called?"
"What? Of course not."
"Uh huh. Draco's miserable as well if it makes you feel any better."
She made a noncommittal sound, but it was mostly made out of frustration. "Well he shouldn't be seeing as he's the one who got himself into this mess." Somehow she felt a little better though, knowing he was as miserable as she was. That was unless Harry was lying to make her feel better…
"I'd better go as well. See you at dinner."
"See you, Gin."
~~~~~*~~~~~
The Weasley family sat around their dinner table laughing at jokes and past memories. Ginny was the only one who seemed to not be having any fun.
"Is there something wrong Ginny dear?" Her mother asked quietly.
Yes there's something wrong. She wanted to scream. Draco's not here. I'm not good enough for him to want to risk everything for me…not that I expected any better. Stupid git. "I'm just feeling a little sick."
"Oh, well have some chocolate."
"No thank you. I think I'll just head on home. It's getting late anyway."
"Late?" Fred asked, surprised. "It's only ten. You usually stay till at least midnight."
"Well, I have a show tomorrow. I need to be rested."
"More like she needs her beauty sleep." Ron teased.
"Like that'll help." George joked, making all the brothers laugh.
Molly shot them all a look. "You
all shut up and be nice to your sister."
"Awww mum" They all whined.
Ginny would normally smile, and tried but it wasn't the same. "It's fine. I'll just head home." She hugged her mum and then tried again to give her a real smile. "I'll see you all later."
Then went a head and apparated to her bedroom where, she fell asleep sobbing into her pillow.
~~~~~*~~~~~
Harry sat in his office trying to contemplate his most recent call from Ginny. She had asked him out on a date, a real date. They'd never gone on a real date and he wasn't sure why he had even accepted. All he knew was that Ginny had insisted that this was just what they both needed and was going to be picking him up here in, he looked at his watch, five minutes. Five minutes?! He rushed and put on a cloak and then tried to brush his hair.
Draco walked in and laughed. "Hot date, Potter?"
"Not exactly. Being taken out by one of my friends sisters." He still wasn't sure whether or not he could and should tell Draco Ginny was his date.
"Oh you poor lad. Oliver Wood's pretty good looking. Hoping it isn't a Thomas though. No offence but his sister is pretty sore on the eyes."
Ginny walked into the office, pretending not to have heard any of that. "Ready to go, sweetheart?"
Draco looked at her and almost had a heart attack. Her hair was curled, her make up was done, she was wearing trousers for heaven sakes along with a very revealing tank top.
Harry raised his eye at the sweetheart, but didn't say anything. "Yeah, just let me finish some things up."
He left the room and Draco glared at Ginny. "Didn't take you too long to find a replacement."
"You're the one that decided not to come to dinner." She shot back at him. "I told you I'd find someone else."
"Harry?!" He all but screamed.
"What's wrong with Harry." She smirked. "After all I've had a crush on him since his first year."
Harry walked back in the room and looked at two of his good friends glaring at each other. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
"By the way Ginny," Draco said sweetly, "Have you seen my new tattoo?"
Her eyes almost went blank, but anyone who knew her well could see the fear and shock until she shook her head and smiled slightly. "No I don't think I have."
"Well then…" Draco started to raise his shirt sleeve.
"Draco I don't—" Harry started to put in, but it was too late. The deathmark was blatant on Draco's flesh.
Ginny closed her eyes and swallowed to fight back tears. "It's…fascinating. I've never seen anything like it."
"No." He stated. "You wouldn't have." He now regretted showing it to her, he was just so frustrated. Why is she doing this to me? He thought to himself.
He just had to show it to me didn't he…well I'll show him. She walked up to Harry and pulled his head down toward her and kissed him full on the mouth.
Draco growled and stormed out of the room as Harry pulled away.
"Ginny, I like you as a sister and all, but do you have to use me as revenge?"
All she wanted to do was cry. "I'm sorry Harry, I don't know what came over me. It's just…" Tears were going to come, but she knew she could handle this. "Sorry about all of this. Consider our date cancelled."
"You don't have to do that Ginny…"
"Yes. Yes I do."
And she walked out of the room and tried to find Draco. He was in his office, throwing his only flower pot and then magicing it back together.
"Does it help?" She asked softly.
He looked at her, his eyes void of all emotion. "Does what help what?"
"Throwing things. Does it help whatever it is that's bothering you?"
"No."
"Oh."
They were silent for a moment when Draco couldn't stand it anymore.
"Don't you have a date to go on?"
"Draco," She walked to him and put a hand on his arm, the one with the deathmark. He winced with pain, but she took it that he didn't want her touching him and backed away. "I'm sorry," was all she whispered as she backed out of his office, and out of his life.
~~~~~*~~~~~
Someone told me love would all save us.
But how can that be, look what love gave us.
A world of killing, and blood spilling,
That world never came.
And they say that a hero will save us.
I'm not gonna stand here and wait.
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles,
Watch as they all fly away.
~~~~~*~~~~~
So what do you all think?? This isn't the end, don't worry. Things will turn out all right in the end. Just don't all hate me! More is on it's way. As to my thank you's to all my wonderful reviewers:
Tinga: I'm glad you like it!!! Hope this chapter is up to your satisfaction.
Eveningstar5: I know he's a different kind of Draco, but hopefully you like him. I love theater, so it had to be in there somewhere. J
Hplova4eva: Here's your next chapter! =D Thank you for liking me story. That means so much to me!
TheAngelOfCrimsonTears: Yay!! Thank you for your reviews and for adding me to your favorites!!!!
NavyGirl14: Ooh thank you! It means so much to me that you like my writing and my characters, seeing as they both take so much out of me. Thank you!!!
Hurdlingbaybe06: Acting and theatre rock!! I'm into musicals much more then I should be. J Glad you like the story and hope you like this chapter!!
