Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Chapter 7

I woke up to unfamiliar surroundings. Waking up is a wonderful moment; that single second when you don't know anything except for the fact that it's a new day. Maybe a chance to start again. But there were no chances for me. It seemed as if life or destiny or fate or whatever you wanted to call it—had already decided my life. How could I fight something so strong?

Soon enough, that moment passed by, and reality started to sink in, weighing me down. That was case with me that morning, and I suddenly wished I were still sleeping, just so I didn't have to face the world. Eventually, I managed to get myself out of bed—Draco's bed, and hurriedly got dressed. And then, I sat. Sat on a chair by his desk and waited for something to happen because I certainly wasn't going to do anything. I waited because I felt lost, and I needed time to think.

Where was my life going from now?

' Ah—still in here, Virginia?' A voice interrupted my silence, and I looked up abruptly. Draco peered at me for a moment, waiting for my answer.

' Ye—I-I was about to leave.' I stammered, wringing my hands together and getting up slowly. And as I made my way towards the door, he followed me out, always a step behind me. Thankfully, there was no one in the Slytherin common room—perhaps courtesy of Draco—and when I reached the portrait hole, I found him blocking my way, gray eyes piercingly sharp and almost…amused.

' I'll be going now.' I prompted, waiting for him to move. He only smiled slightly.

' Feel free to come back any time you want, Virginia.' His finger tipped my chin upward, and leaning down, he placed a small kiss on my lips.

Fire.

I heard a swift swoosh and he was gone. Grasping the walls, I wobbled out, knees shaking from, well—him.

As the portrait slammed shut, I felt cold and angry. The bastard was challenging me—challenging me to face the world, and then making fun of me because he thought I would run back to him. I would prove him wrong. Looking around warily, I wrapped my cloak around me and made my way out of the dungeons into the upper halls that led to Gryffindor Tower. It was time to go back.

It was either that, or Draco.

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The décor of the Gryffindor Tower especially was not welcoming. Everything was black, and the usual splendor of bright crimson and rich gold was absent. There wasn't a single symbol to represent Harry Potter anywhere—no picture, no writing—yet the whole tower whispered to you these words: He is dead…

I felt small and slighted in my surroundings, and already I felt the lump in my throat grow larger as the flashes of his death rang through me.

' What're you doing here?' I whirled around and saw a Gryffindor girl glaring at me, half in hate, half in fear. Her deep blue eyes seemed haunted.

' Go away.' She said softly, but I didn't overlook the dangerous tone of voice. I did not move.

' Go!' Her shrill scream echoed through the room. Footsteps came—many of them. I looked and saw familiar faces, oh! And among them, the trio, with one of them missing. The group halted before us, and the girl in front of me now sobbed helplessly, shoulders heaving up and down as she collapsed to the floor. Students rushed to her, comforting her.

But no one comforted me. They gawked at me, all of them wary of me, suspicious and full of anger. Anger that shouldn't have been directed towards me! Weaving through the small crowd, I found Ron, and grabbed his arm.

' Ron—' He turned around, looking tired yet his face set in stone.

' Help me.' I whispered to him, clinging to him. He would help me—he was my brother. My brother.

' You should go.' He said firmly, trying to wrench away from my grip. My face grew blank. My brother.

' Ron, not you too!' I cried exasperatedly, feeling so tired of this. But he remained stoic and, I suppose, convinced of what he had heard.

' Everyone saw you there, Ginny.' He said. ' Standing over my best friend, his blood splattered all over your robes.' His tone was bitter now, and his blue eyes were full of spite that was directed towards me. Where had the caring, bigoted, often times overprotective brother of mine gone to?

I suppose he didn't know he was clawing at my heart with those words he spoke.

It was more than I could take. I could take the leering accusations of all of the world—what did they know about me? But my own brother? My own family. Tears were flowing rapidly onto my cheeks as I stared into his face, waiting for some flicker of emotion. What did I have left if I didn't have my family?

' You think I killed him, Ron?' I asked softly, clenching my fists. He hung his head and let out a sigh.

' I know what I saw, Ginny.' He said. Unexplainable rage and anger coursed through my veins, and with every fiber of my being, I hated my life and everything it stood for. All I wanted to do was to scream and to disappear.

I pushed past the people, trying to avoid their hurtful gazes that cut into me like sharp knives, ignoring the comments they threw at me, trying to block out the sound of their tears and trying so desperately to run away again.

Glaring; suspicion.

I wished that all of them were dead so that they would learn—so that I would get my revenge. The sight in front of me was dark and inside, I burned with fiery passion—hatred. And for once, I felt that I did not deserve this. I didn't deserve any of it.

I did not even run down the stairs. I walked down slowly, peeling off the heavy black robe that bore the Gryffindor crest. In my eyes there was determination as the warm brown turned steely.

In my heart there was a devil that was laughing, because he was so close to victory.

All because of foolish hatred.

I tried so hard to stop the tears at least until I came to him. I succeeded. When he saw me, he could only sense a kind of calm anger inside of me. Calm, but powerful anger. He didn't know I was writhing with pain inside because of how unfair things were.

I expected him to smile and tell me that he knew I would be back. But his face was blank, and suddenly, he pulled me into his arms, into a tight hug.

' Tell me what happened, Virginia.' He whispered. I let it all loose, crying, sobbing, yelling, screaming because everything was going so wrong.

' I hate my life, Draco.' I choked out. ' I hate everyone and I hate this world, and nothing ever goes right for me. Harry Potter wasn't supposed to die—I wasn't supposed to be accused. All of what I had up until a few days ago is gone.' I looked up at him. ' I have nothing.' But he didn't despair with me. He suddenly pulled away from me, eyes wide and clear.

' You have everything, Virginia.' He said. ' Life is too short to meddle with silly things like being accepted into society. Carpe Diem, Virginia, Carpe Diem. If you don't live life now, you're going to let it all fly out the window. You have me, you have the dark lord. You have power, and you have anger and hatred. You were a good little girl, and look what they repay you with! Accusations. They are all idiots, the lot of them. Join us, and we will treat you with the respect that you desire. You will bask in glory and honour for the rest of your life. This is about revenge, Virginia.' There was a manic glint in his eyes as he grabbed my wrists forcefully, his voice slowly rising in volume. I hesitated, and my brown eyes that had been fiery only moments before, shrank at his proposition. I had known it would come to this if I came back to him. The thought still intimidated me.

So I kissed him. Kissed him fiercely as I had never done before. It was a battle between our lips, our tongues—who could leave the other lying breathless on the floor. My hands were wrapped tightly around his neck as I struggled to take the kiss to another level. I heard him chuckle softly, and his words rang in my head.

Carpe diem.

And while I came up for a breath, all that mattered to be was this. Feeling powerful, feeling passion and lust.

Carpe diem, carpe diem, carpe diem…

' Yes.' I said suddenly. He stopped caressing me and looked up, eyes wide, lips slightly swollen, hair disheveled. There was silence, and even I was quite appalled at what I had just said. But then again, what reason did I have not go join him now? I had nothing. I was bitter, angry, and wanted revenge for those foolish people who had never given me any second glances. He was right, in all that he had told me.

Draco quickly regained his composure. He straightened up and smirked, eyes glittering with delight.

' I knew you'd see it my way.'

To Be Continued…

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