As Thou Being Mine
Chapter 6: Thoughtful
Author's jibberish: Draco killed a baby! Agh!! Ok, I know that was absolutely horrid of me, but I thought about it and said, "There are a lot of stories with Death-eaters killing Ministry officials. Let's do something different…" It made me kinda depressed for a while, but it's ok so long as Draco learned his lesson, right?
Tonight, I left for home. I'm on the train right now on this very moment.
Are all promises meant to be kept? I've had this habit of breaking them all because none of them were important. I just agreed to the terms so the person would just shut up. I have made promises to many girls, agreeing to see them again and such nonsense. I often break my promises without care. But this girl…
This time I didn't make a promise to her because I know I'd break it. This time, it was different…
Draco shut his trunk and locked it close. He mentally checked off items in his head: underwear, pants, shirts, robes, socks, shoes, textbooks, pocketbooks, wand…He tied his cloak tighter around his neck. He pulled up his trunk on its side and moved it towards the door. He checked the grandfather clock, ticking near the bathroom door. The carriage would pick him up at 7:30. It was now 7:15.
Ginny entered Gryffindor Tower, facing low to the floor. The Fat Lady even asked her to repeat the password 3 times. Then the portrait lectured her about speaking up, which Ginny ignored, and she dragged herself into the common room.
People were running around, beginning to pack. Hermione, Harry, and Ron were some of the few staying for the holidays. Many were going home, like Draco. But unlike them, he would be leaving tonight.
Harry and Hermione sat on the couch, napping, while Ron and Seamus were playing chess. Ginny put her robes down and untied the one she was wearing.
" 'Lo Gin," Ron greeted, not looking up.
"Hello."
"Where have you been?"
"Walking." Ginny took a seat on the chair closest to the fire. After she left Draco's room, she was walking around the castle. At times, she wanted to cry, because she did not know what was to come. They were still cordial to each other; she used the word 'friendly.' Of course, that word's root is 'friend.' Is that what she was to him? Draco did tell her some dark secrets; did that mean he trusted her or did he just need to release all that weight on his shoulders? And if they were friends, will they continue to be once he comes back? Out of all the questions streaming through her head, one stood out among the rest: What will happen once he returns?
Ginny couldn't wait for an answer. She had to know now. So, she ran out of the common room, leaving a very bewildered Ron and Seamus.
Draco tucked his hands into his pockets. He stood alone, and the grand doors, with his trunk beside him as he waited for the carriage. He was beginning to dread the upcoming Christmas. He could see it now:
On Christmas morn, Draco would go downstairs for breakfast. He would sit on his father's right side while his mother would sit across. They would eat in proper silence. Then Mother would ask about school, Pansy, grades, Pansy, Quidditch, Pansy…as much as he loved his mother, she didn't have a clue on how annoying Parkinson's girl really was. Their day would be separated from each other, as usual, until late afternoon when they attend the Ministry's Christmas Gala. Draco, this year, will be standing among his father's associates, along with Crabbe and Goyle. And a few days before school returns, the Dark Lord will contact him…
He turned as he heard running footsteps, originating from inside the castle. He saw a figure, dressed in her grey vest and skirt. Her red hair gave away who she was.
Ginny stopped in front of Draco and suddenly bent over, panting, trying to catch her breath. Her freckles had disappeared, and her face had turned rosy due to her running.
Draco looked down to her. "What?" he asked, although it sounded harsher than it should have been.
After her breathing calmed, she looked up and spoke. "Draco…I…the deal is off."
"What deal?"
"That you help my reading and no one knows about your feelings towards…" Ginny frowned, "work."
Draco almost smirked. "So you caved?" He was free. Now, if only he could suppress this sense of dread in his stomach…
"Because of…circumstance."
"Pity for me?"
She shook her head.
Snow began to descend softly from the sky.
The carriage pulled up in front of Draco. "I told you that you're a terrible liar." He hauled the trunk into the carriage.
"It's just that I want to be able to see you after Christmas. You know, minus obligations."
That made Draco freeze. "What?" he said, turning to her. "You still want to talk to me after everything you know? Any normal person would have run to save their life…" he almost snickered. "You're an idiot."
Ginny sighed. "All I know is that I like spending time with you. It was…nice."
This made Draco panic…as much as a Malfoy could. She wanted to spend time with him and the more insane part was that he did too. "I don't know." He watched Ginny's eyes fall. "You want me to make a bargain of some sort? Because I--."
"No bargain, then," Ginny said. "No strings attached. When you return, I'll talk to you. If you refuse to see me again, tell me then. Alright?"
Draco narrowed his eyes. It sounded as if she was setting herself up. "I don't have to make any promises to you; it's not like we're lovers or anything."
She smiled and the look she gave him wavered his defenses. "No promises; it's just two people, where one just wants the other's company."
It was very out of character for Draco. He reached out and touched her cheek. He used his thumb to gently brush away the snowflakes from her eyelashes. Ginny immediately warmed under Draco's touch. And the way he looked at her…What was he thinking? Would he hit her? Laugh? Kiss her, maybe?
As quickly as he touched her, he pulled back and retreated into the carriage. It rode off towards the Hogmeade station and he took one last glance at her before turning away.
Draco's train ride was tedious. Being alone gave him a chance to think about the future. Where will he be in one year from now? Will he be like his father with riches and power to set him for life? Or will he be in Azkaban, wasting away at the mercy of the dementors? Did Red fit anywhere there? Draco shook his head. That was a strange thought…
He was picked up and taken straight to the mansion. When he arrived, a house-elf wearing a faded pink pillowcase took his trunk. "Hello, Young Master. Your father is waiting for you in his upper study. Tis urgent, young Sir."
Draco nodded. He headed up the stairs and stood before the first door on the right. He knocked gently until his father gave him permission to enter.
The room was dimly lit, with only the fireplace giving light to the room. Lucius Malfoy sneered, sitting in his chair behind the mahogany desk, skimming through sheets of paper on his desk. An angry vein seemed to pop out of his forehead, along the hairline of his snow white long hair. Draco could sense something was wrong.
Lucius looked up. "Ah Draco. Welcome home." He held out his hand, signaling his son to sit on a chair in front of the desk. "How has school been?"
"Easy," Draco told him. "I just finished the practice NEWT's today."
"See what happens when you apply yourself. Your studies are getting better I take it," Lucius folded the paper on its creases. "Any other things that are interesting?"
Draco thought for a few moments. A sudden image of a certain red-head girl came to mind. He swallowed. "No, other than my upcoming Quidditch game against Ravenclaw, that's all."
"I see," Lucius stood up from his desk and settled in front of Draco, leaning against his desk. "Studies, Quidditch…is there anything else occupying your time?"
Alright, something was definitely wrong and Draco could feel it. "Head boy duties, but that--."
Lucius then threw a piece of folded parchment on Draco's lap.
Confused, Draco turned to his father. His father's lip twitched, as if trying to suppress anger. Slowly and thoughtfully, he unfolded the paper before him and began to read. Draco's jaw clenched, holding back the boiling emotions inside him.
Dear Mr. Malfoy,
I am a student at Hogwarts and I bear news about your son, Draco Malfoy. The news I have will come as a shock, as it did for me, for I am in the same house as Draco and have been thought to share the same virtues.
Draco has been spotted more than once in the company of Arthur Weasley's daughter. The first time I was a witness to it was about a month ago when they were engaging in a snowball fight. Soon, it was followed by her visits to his Head Boy chambers. She would go there after dinner and not come out until two or three hours later.
I would not fib or tell lies to you, Sir, as I have the utmost respect for you. I am an individual who is concerned about Draco's choices. Enclosed are pictures as proof of what I claim. I am hoping that by telling you will help Draco keep his ethics and priorities.
Thank you for your time,
Anonymous
Anonymous my ass, Draco sneered. He knew Pansy's writing anywhere. "This person is an idiot."
"Really?" Lucius slammed his hand down on his desk and spread 3 shots across the edge: Draco and Ginny in the snow, Draco and Ginny in the library, and the two of them right outside his room. "I thought I raised you better," Lucius growled.
Draco was silent. He couldn't say anything.
"I am quite relieved that our master hasn't found out. If he did…" Lucius tisked. "So much dishonor…"
Draco just stared at the pictures, especially the one with him smirking at her in front of his room. Oh, this did not look good.
"I have worked very hard to give you a good life," Lucius hissed. "If you mess this life up for cheap sex-capades, you will pay dearly…along with your friend."
He must be joking! Sex with Little Red? Not that the idea never crossed Draco; especially around the time she slept in his bed. When she turned over to her side her skirt rode up her leg slightly, revealing her creamy thighs…Needless to say, Draco would never really have sex with her!
Lucius had just threatened Draco's well-being…and Ginny's as well. All she wanted was a person to help her understand Shakespeare. She truly was innocent.
"You do not need distractions, especially now," Lucius collected the photos, snatched the letter from him and locked them in his desk. "Our Dark Lord will be coming soon with a mission. If you do not get rid of your unnecessary distractions, mark my words, I will in my own way."
Draco stood from his chair and stared at his father. He used to look up to Lucius, figuratively and literally. Now, they were almost at equal height and all Draco saw was a hypocritical insane man's lackey…he refused to fall at his father's level. Yet, his father's groveling gave his name respect and power…and his family's fortune contributed to it all, as well. Lucius Malfoy, who Draco once thought of as a god, was making threats. And the most frightening concept was that they were not idle.
Draco left the study.
Draco sat up against his headboard, the silk black sheets draped over his lap. He was already dressed for bed: satin pajama bottoms. Tonight, it was dark violet. His hair was tousled, not slicked back in his usual fashion. And no one knew he wore thin, silver reading glasses. He refused to wear reading glasses during class and would only wear them in private in his own quarters…unless Ginny stopped by. He didn't wear them with anyone around, besides his family. The last thing he wanted was to be compared to that damn Potter…
He looked up from his book as his door opened. A woman stood at the doorway, wearing a dark burgundy robe and matching slippers. Her long platinum hair was draped over her left, shoulder, gathered in a black ribbon. He returned to his book.
Narcissa Malfoy took the liberty to sit at the edge of his bed, close to him. She didn't smile or show pity when she said "Your father told me about the letter."
"Did he now?" Draco kept his eyes on the pages in front of him.
Narcissa placed her hand over his forearm, her fingers grazing over the Dark Mark. "Aren't you happy, Draco?" The way she looked at him was as if this unfortunate incident was her fault.
"What's wrong, Mother?" It all puzzled him.
"It's just…by following your father's path, you'll live very comfortably. Don't you want that?"
Did she have any idea what Death-eaters really do?
"Draco, Darling, I just want you to be proud of who you are: a Malfoy. We are deemed important in the wizarding world," Narcissa explained. "And your father has provided for us so we can be happy. I hope you will do the same for your family as well."
My family? Draco pondered. "Mother, I'm only 17--."
"And there will be a time when an heir must be established," she said. "And from what I hear, Parkinson's girl is not a suitable woman to bear your child. At least, not in your view."
Was this the version of 'the talk'? "Very funny Mother."
She smirked, something he hadn't seen in a while. "You didin't answer me, Darling. Are you happy?"
"I serve
for my master's mission to better my own life," Draco
said. "Why shouldn't I be?"
Narcissa
frowned. "Don't get smart with me. You may be a man already but I am your
mother." She looked down at his lap to see the book he was paying his attention
to. She lifted it so the spine was in her vision. "Nice
choice, Darling. 'Two houses, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona
where we lay our scene…' It's…fitting, don't you agree?"
Draco narrowed his eyes and slammed the book shut. "Mother, don't you dare--."
"I didn't say anything," she said. "Do you remember the first time I read this book to you?" When he remained silent, she continued. "You were six, I believe. You found it and demanded me to read it. You were incredibly fixated with this story; I never understood why. It was about the love of two teenagers; why on earth would it matter to a 6 year old child? I never understood your obsession for this story. Until…"
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Until…?" he was nervous to hear her finish the sentence.
She looked at him, her ice-blue eyes into his steel ones. "Until you were displayed with a choice." She stood and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Draco, I think you should make a wise choice: for your well-being." She turned and walked away.
"Goodnight, Mother," he called as she opened the door to exit.
She smiled softly; something else he hasn't seen in a while. "Goodnight, Darling." She closed the door behind her.
Draco opened up his book again. He couldn't help but pity the woman. As much as he loved her, there were somethings she wasn't meant to know. It would break her heart.
I fear too early, for my mind misgives
Some consequence yet hanging in the stars
Shall bitterly begin its fearful date
With this night's revels, and expires the term
Of a despised life closed in my breast
By some vile forfeit of untimely death.
A stray blond bang fell in front of Draco's glasses. He quickly swept it aside.
Ginny's face was burned in his mind.
…~*to be continued*~…
Author's jibberish (again): I know Narcissa was OOC, because I remember a description of her in GoF (during the Quidditch Tournament). She seemed really smug and stuff but for this fic, I softened the character. In a sense, Draco's harshness is due to Lucius while his humanity is due to Narcissa. Ok, I'm done talking. I'll just go back to typing the story now… -_-
Oh yeah, thanks to Shakespeare again…