Chapter 25

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These problems may cause pain, may cause suffering, but it would just bring your Realities closer to each other. These obstacles would strengthen their bond. These problems would make them find a solution. In order to find a solution, they must meet more often. And when they meet more often, feelings and emotions change, they grow stronger. Maybe in time while they are searching for the answers, his Reality would see the light. In time, the time spent with each other would lead them to fusing with you.

Though, I also know the other reason that troubles both of you.

Once your Realities realize that they are Soulmates, bound together throughout time, once they have fused with you, more problems would arise. It would be difficult for his Reality to accept that your Reality is his Soulmate on the count of the past. It would be more difficult because as his former love was just his love, you are his Soulmate. There is a great difference between the Love and the Soulmate. The Love would only last for a time, for one lifetime. A Soulmate lasts throughout the ages and eternity. Your souls are immortal. Even if your physical lives are over for the count, still you Souls will continue to find each other and stay bound to each other. It wouldn't matter if there is no physical image, what would matter is the Soul.

*           *           *

It wouldn't hurt to look.

            She gently clutched her robe and tiptoed across the carpet to the room. She laid a hand on the doorknob and turned it silently, hoping not to disturb the occupant of the room. The door swung open without a sound. She peeked in and smiled to herself as she saw wisps of blond hair sticking out of the covers. She closed the door and quickly flew down the stairs as quietly as she could to make breakfast.

            What she didn't know was that Draco was already awake. He was already awake even before she herself had woken up.

            He felt as if he hadn't slept a wink, but he must have because his body felt the refreshing aftermath of a good sleep.

            He remembered everything clearly. He didn't doubt his decision in telling her about his past and everything else she had wanted to know. If she could help him then telling her would not be in vain. He had her to look after him in the meantime…

            In the meantime?

            In the meantime before he finally found her…or at least he was sure that Ginny was really the fire in the darkness.

            He didn't want to get hurt, wishing to believe that it really is her because he really needed someone to fill the void in him. He had written in his journal: Second chances were hard to come by because people nowadays were so untrusting, especially when they had their hearts broken once or twice.

            A female heart is such a fragile thing.

            The frightening was is that he didn't realize it until now that he wasn't only talking about Ginny; he was referring indirectly to himself. It was hard for him to love again because of what happened, he felt as if he could never trust anyone. There couldn't be love if there isn't trust. His heart was a fragile thing.

            Who didn't want to risk losing what was left of him. If he lost everything, what would be left? Who would be able to repair his soul? Who would be the one to reawaken him?

            It would be impossible for such a person to exist…

*                                                           *                                                           *

            Shuffling of feet caught her attention as she as cooking breakfast. It had almost been an hour when she had woken up and peeked in on her sleeping guest. During that time, she had been cooking their meal for the morning.

            Now that her guest was awake, or half-awake and probably grouchy, she guessed that there wouldn't be much conversation at the table.

            Such was her life.

            "Good Morning," she greeted him just as she heard him sit down noisily.

            Draco was supporting his head with both hands as he mumbled something unintelligible in response to her greeting.

            This was unacceptable. He should have greeted her with more gusto, but what did he just do? But the, so what? Why should he be like all other cheerful people in the morning?

            Such was his nature.

            *                                                           *                                                           *

            Valerie eyed the phone in Harry's office. She wanted so much to call someone, but she was afraid that Harry might ask her who she was talking to. All Ministry phones were capable of detecting conversations and the people talking, capable of identifying a conversation that did not do any good for them.

            What if she asked Harry if she could make a call to Ginny?

            It wouldn't hurt right?
            Besides, she missed the girl.

            She reached for the phone and dialed the number.

            *                                                           *                                                           *

            It was well over two hours since breakfast and she was glad to see that Draco was talking to her, though most words were cut short and abrupt, sometimes devoid of emotion. Well, she couldn't complain. It must've been hard for him to tell her his story. She knew that no Malfoy would ever do that.

            They were both in the living room, Draco on the sofa and just beside the phone. She was sitting on an armchair which was just opposite of him and was leafing through a muggle magazine. She occasional looked at her guest. His legs were crossed in the male custom and one arm was draped across his stomach. The other hand was up as he played with his hair lazily.

            Whenever she checked him, he was still in the same position, except maybe his active hand was doing something else. Sometimes he had his head propped in that hand or it served cover for his eyes as he took ten-minute naps.

            Then, the phone rang.

            "I'll get it," she stood up and tossed her magazine just behind her on the chair.

            Draco motioned for her to sit down.

            She shrugged as she went back to her newspaper, tucking one leg under her, as was her fashion whenever she read. She could see Draco from the top of the magazine waiting for the phone to ring again before he picked it up. His hand seemed to hang from his wrist, his fingers looking more slender and pale against the little sunlight that streamed in from the curtains.

            The phone rang and Draco slowly let his hand grip the receiver, putting it to his ear and lips, taking a breath through partially open lips.
            "Good Morning," his voice made of ice and air. "This is Virginia Weasley's residence, may I know whose calling?"

            Ginny made a face as she heard the way he greeted the person on the other end of the line. He almost sounded like those butlers on television. She suppressed a giggle as she waited for Draco to give the phone to her, but he didn't.

            "Draco?" she frowned as she saw the expression on his face.

            His expression was haunted and disbelief as his fingers tightened on the phone, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. Then, his fingers loosened, as if against their will to let the phone slip from his grasp and fall to his lap. He jerked away from the phone as if it was burning him.

            *                                                           *                                                           *

            Valerie clamped her mouth shut to suppress the scream that was building up in her throat. She heard his voice!

            What was he doing in her house?
            Her doubt in their relationship was turning into confirmed suspicion.

            Draco Malfoy and Virginia Weasley.

            Who would have guessed?

            *                                                           *                                                           *

            Ginny snatched the dangling phone, which were inches from the carpet.

            "Hello," she rather breathlessly into the phone.

            "Oh, Valerie! It's so wonderful to hear from you…Really? Harry isn't in the office at the moment? Oh, so you're calling me because you're bored…so the only reasons why you call me is because you want to go on a shopping spree and because of boredom, oh I am so flattered! Huh? Oh, Harry's there already? Alright, I wont delay your lessons, say 'Hi' to Harry for me."

            She hung the phone up and stared at Draco.

            He was looking at her, a thin film of sweat lining his face as he stared at her. His chest was heaving. His eyes were almost a silvery color, almost as if shooting sparks.

            "Draco, what's wrong?" she stepped towards him.

            "Do you know whom you were talking to!" he hissed at her as he struggled to sit upright.

            "Yes, I know very well whom I was talking to," she said gently as she took a seat beside him. "Would you happen to know?"

            Draco chose not to say anything.

            "That was Valerie Dainne Cloephyst, you met her at the party that evening. She's Harry's protégé." She explained. "She wanted to congratulate you that evening for playing well,"

            Instead of calming down, Draco seemed all the more agitated. He got to his feet and started tugging at his hair; it wasn't hard enough to hurt him.

            "Ginny, do you remember anything at all what I have told you? I don't know for sure if Callysta really is dead or alive. That girl, you claim is Valerie Dainne Cloephyst bore an uncanny resemblance to Callysta! When I answered that phone, I knew that voice! It was so haunting!"

            Ginny put a finger to her lips, gesturing for him to be silent for a moment. To her surprise, he did keep quiet but she could see that he wasn't at all calm. "Alright, you don't know for certain if Callysta is Valerie…I wouldn't know because I've never known Callysta…"

            "You don't need to know her! You just have too look at that woman! Why do you think I was acting so strangely that night at the party? Didn't you see how she stood leeringly at me? It was a shock to see Callysta standing before me, she looked almost triumphant for no reason at all," Draco broke from his silence and threw his arms around himself. "Do you see how much this my memory, my past is hurting me? Tell me I'm not crazy, tell me I'm not hallucinating," he pleaded with her as his knees gave out.            

            "Draco, you're not crazy nor are you hallucinating. But I find it very strange that Callysta would be alive and be Valerie. Valerie doesn't seem like the sort to do any harm…Draco, get a hold of yourself!"

            For a person on his knees, he moved pretty fast! He was clutching her skirt like a little boy that needed attention badly. "Draco, if you keep this up this wont do anything to solve you problem!"

            He stopped pulling her skirt, but this time he groggily stood up and started lumbering towards the kitchen.

            She sighed and shook out her skirt. She shook her head. She really wanted to help him but if he kept acting like an insane person, then there was no use in it at all!

            She looked up from her skirt as she heard a crash in the kitchen.

            Her heart jumped a mile as she heard another crash from inside. She ran towards the kitchen, pausing to catch her breath just at the entrance. Her eyes widened as she saw Draco break another plate.

            "Draco, no!" she shouted as she skidded to a halt before him.

            He had another plate in his hand, probably his fourth one. His eyes were dark silver, an insane little smile lighting up his face as he got ready to smash another poor plate.

            Ginny fell to the floor beside him and grabbed the plate from his hand. "Draco, listen to me, snap out of it you stupid idiot!" she shook him by the shoulders, his head lolling on his shoulders.

            Her breath caught in her throat as he looked at her in this crazed manner.

            A strangled cry came out of her.

            He was reaching for her.

            She put up a hand to shield herself.

            His hand was on her neck.

            Her hand tensed and let loose.

            A searing mark was on his face.

            *                                                           *                                                           *

            Valerie put back the phone calmly.

            Harry wasn't here; she just made up that lie so she could get out of talking to Ginny Weasley.

            Yes, Ginny Weasley.

            Who'd ever think that Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley were together.

            If everyone knew about this, it would forever leave an indelible mark on the Malfoy name.

            Now was the time to act.

            She didn't care if anymore.

            The end justifies the means.

            *                                                           *                                                           *

            Oh god, Draco! I just want you to understand. Understand that if you don't it together, you'll end up losing to your memory. A mere memory! But what did she know? All she could do was listen to him and help him in what little ways she could do. She wasn't the one with the memory. She wasn't the one who lived a lie.

            How could she ever understand?

           

            It was all hazy.

            He couldn't really grasp anything. His mind was a blur and his body felt numb, paralyzed.

            When he saw this light, he tried running towards it, to get a sense of reality back into his being. But as soon as he thought he was touching it, it would further float away from him, teasing and mocking him.

            What was it really?

            He just needed someone to hold him, tell him it was all right, that she would take care of him. Tell him not to be frightened.

            How long would it be until she came?

            *                                                           *                                                           *

            Whispers and murmurs could be heard from the walls.

            The tricking of water down the corners were loud.

            The darkness in the room clothed her.

            She had been his darkness. She had pulled him from the light into the darkness. Though this darkness wasn't complete. It wasn't complete because he hadn't joined them. His darkness would be all the more complete and satisfying if he revelled in it. It would be all the more pleasurable and not full of pain and suffering as how he was experiencing it now.

            Poor, sad creature.

            If only you had accepted in the beginning.

            Then misery wouldn't be beside you.

            But then, Ginny Weasley, I can see has been keeping you in the light or at least trying to pull you back in the light or retain a small part of yourself in it.

            But no. I can't have this happening.

            It would destroy all my plans.

            I have to have you in the darkness.

            To bring us all back together, to rule all of us, to make us supreme rulers of this world.

            How to make you part of us, it has been my life long dream.

            But, it wasn't my plan to have Ginny Weasley there.

            *                                                           *                                                           *

            Oh gosh! Here it comes! Here it comes! She crossed her fingers as she felt that hurtling feeling through herself. It's going to happen again. We'll be seeing them again!

            He chose not to say anything, but he could feel it too. It was going to happen again. Maybe this time, they'd finally be one. Knowing all the things that they've been through in this Realm and in Reality, this should be the time when they would be One Entity…One Being.

            *                                                           *                                                           *

            Their bodies exploded through a multitude of colors that seemed all too familiar to them. Then after the blinding and warm colors, there was the cold darkness that settled about them. They felt the dark cover them like it was their own skin. It knew them as they knew it.

            And then, they were flying towards each other, across time, across darkness and across the thing, which we call Forever.

            Blue Ice melded with Amber Fire

            They were soaring. They were tiny. They saw their time together both in Reality and in the Realm surround them as they flew. The moments they saw were infused into their mind and into their soul.

            Then all was black again.

            *                                                           *                                                           *

            They felt their bodies turning inside out as they saw their Realities hurtling through memory after memory after memory.

            Twisting and hurting…it was almost pleasing.

            Then, light.

            *                                                           *                                                           *

            They opened their eyes, to discover themselves in darkness, but a quiet shimmer was upon them.

            She blinked her eyes at the man before her.

            He shook his head as he tried to focus on the woman before him.

            Draco…

            Ginny…

            Silence.

            Then, all the memories came flooding into them, almost pounding against them like an avalanche against the mountain and hurtling towards a defenseless village.

            "Draco, do you realize this…realize all of it?"

            He looked at her, a smile lighting his face. "Yes, we're Soulmates."

            They rushed to each other, trapping each other in another's embrace. The knowledge they had of each other was overwhelmingly beautiful and astounding.

            Then, they could hear and all to familiar voice in the Soulmate Realm.

            "Oh gods, not now." He muttered into her hair.

            She laughed. "If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have gotten this far,"

           

            Yes, you're absolutely right, my dear. I see that everything has gone according to plan. It must be so wonderful that you two have finally gotten what you wanted. I wish I could cry, but it would be a waste of time. Now that you two are finally complete, both Reality and Realm. It please me so! You are no longer separated by that confounded barrier…I don't know what to say. I'm just so overjoyed with both of you.

            She smiled and hugged her lover closer to her. She knew that everything was just as it should be. She knew that they'd be able to be like this anytime they wanted to.

            "It just seems to good to be true," he muttered as he continued to hold her. "Aren't there any complications to this?"

            She punched his arm. "Don't say that! Why are you ruining this?"

            He shrugged and gave her a sad smile. "I just want to make sure that our happiness isn't a lie. I know that not all things are perfect and will remain joyful. I want to be prepared for it. I might as well know now so I can protect both of us from it,"

            She sighed. "As much as I love you for having the need to know all and to protect me, sometimes it wouldn't hurt just to lighten up you know"

            Apollo chuckled, and then his voice took on a serious tone. I'm afraid he's right. Though you two are Soulmates, complications will arise just as he had mentioned. Yes, you are forever bound and will forever love each other even though walls are raised between you. Yes, you can enter this Realm as much times as you want all throughout time, but…there are some cases when one cannot be found.

            "What do you mean?" she demanded of the God.

            It's not right for one to be missing. When Soulmates are brought here, it's always together. There is no need for both of you to be close together to get here, just by minds or when you think about each other deeply is when you will be brought here.

            But then…

            When one is missing, it means something is tormenting his or her soul. Usual, that torment is cause by nihilism or denial. I've seen many Soulmates go through this stage. If one is in denial, it's because of the disbelief. Denial and nihilism cannot be separated at most times.

            And so, I've seen a pair with one missing, their part of the Realm a distortion.

            But, they always manage to get back together; they manage to fix the problem. How to fix it depends on the Soulmates. Even till this life is over and they wait for their next life, they're still working on it, relentless in pursuing the dream.

            I do not wish to tell you this, but I can already sense something malevolent and malicious heading your way.

            He started at her, his heart beating wildly.

            Denial…Disbelief…

            Why would these things block them?

            Oh gods…Callysta!

           

            "No, Draco! No! Don't this to us! Don't do it!" she shrieked as sobs rocked her body. But it was too late. She saw the look on his face. She saw him hurtling away from her into the darkness, a pinpoint of light opening in the distance and closing.

            He was gone.

            Go! Go before it's too late. Go to him. Do not wait any further. Quickly, you must follow him! You must follow him! 

            And then, she was chasing him, the darkness sliding off her body as she entered the light.

            *                                                           *                                                           *