Even Better Than the Real Thing
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Please note, that I do not own the characters Draco Malfoy or Ginny Weasley, or any other magical lingo.
This is a Draco/Ginny romance story.
http://www.lorddave.com/evenbetter
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Chapter 15: Aurora
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"I missed you."
Draco heaved a cough, inwardly glad for the distraction. His hand clapped over his mouth, preventing the sound from echoing in the room. He coughed, trying to clear his throat of the dry sensation that kept bothering him.
"Are you sick?"
"What gave you that idea, Weasley?"
Draco watched her reaction. He caught the hurt look that passed over her face, before she rolled her eyes at him and looked away.
And while she stared off at the cupboards and shelves, Draco took his chance to observe her. Same shabby clothes, despite his presents. She was wearing a pair of black shoes that looked like a cheap imitation of the pair he had given her. Her hair was wild, framing her face unchecked. She looked pale, a bit thin. Just as he was about to look away, a glint of silver caught his attention.
A silver locket.
Something he knew he hadn't sent her.
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"Nice necklace. Present from Potter?"
Confused, Ginny frowned. She looked down to see the locket Hagrid had given her peaking out from under her shirt.
Glancing back up into his searching eyes, she found herself speechless. Ginny felt her cheeks burn. She turned her head away, looking around at the cabinets and shelves lining the walls.
"Draco..."
She managed to whisper his name, pleading with him.
Draco abruptly stood up. He started pacing around the room, observing the stacks of cauldrons in the back of the room, running his hand over the gargoyles in the sinks, glancing at the bottles and jars of potions ingredients along the wall.
"It's alright, Weasley. I'm glad for you. Potter's finally noticing you."
Ginny felt her eyes fill with tears at the hateful tone he was using. He avoided her gaze, but she watched him fiercely as he sauntered around the room.
"It's not from Harry."
"No? Another love interest, perhaps?"
Draco seated himself at Professor Snape's desk. He opened a drawer and rummaged around. He produced a piece of parchment and a quill. Ginny knew what he was doing. He was going to draw.
"No. It's a gift from Hagrid. He's my friend."
"Hagrid? That oaf? Your friend?" Draco paused, dipping his quill in an ink well. He looked up at her, his hand holding the quill poised over the parchment. "He sends you a locket and you wear it?" He arched an eyebrow, waiting for her response.
"Well, of course…"
Ginny's voice trailed off, realizing what he was meant. She heard soft scratches of Draco's quill on parchment.
"I see my presents aren't good enough. Tell me, Weasley. They weren't up to your standards? Or is it simply because I sent them?"
He might as well have slapped her. That was what it felt like. The sting in her cheeks made her eyes water.
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There was really no need to say such a thing. But his chest was burning from an odd sense of betrayal. That locket. You know you can't stake any claim on her, Malfoy. So get over it.
But he couldn't let it drop. Not that easily. Carelessly he scratched the quill on the parchment, trying to decide how best to pick this fight.
"I want to return those things to you, Draco."
He looked up at her.
"What do you mean?"
"I've already told you I can't keep them."
He mulled over what she said. His mind clouded with anger, Draco made a few more blind strokes before dipping the quill again.
"It doesn't matter. Do what you'd like with them. I cannot take them back."
She stood, making a loud scraping noise when she pushed back her chair. She marched toward Snape's desk, toward Draco.
"What is this, Draco? Why are we playing this game? Just take back your gifts, leave my life, and let things go back to the way they were. That way you can get back to your life, which needs all your strength and focus right now."
She stood in front of the desk. He carefully avoided eye contact. Her voice softened.
"You'll do what you want to do, and I'll do what I want. We'll go our separate ways; let our lives continue on their paths. We aren't tied, not bonded."
Resting her hands on the desk, she bent closer.
"Who am I, Draco, who am I to you, anyway?"
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He didn't really have an honest answer for that question. He'd wondered about that himself. Who was she? Some little girl. A Gryffindor. A Weasley. He closed his eyes, acceptance washing over him.
"Nobody. I guess you are nobody to me, Weasley."
He turned the piece of parchment to face her. Her eyes flickered down and a pained expression washed over her face as she examined the paper. Her teary eyes searched his face. It was a fast, rough sketch. Of her. From the day – it seemed ages ago. But he vividly remembered the sunset. And her. The way she was talking, the way she gestured, the way she blushed, and trembled.
"That's what you want, isn't it? To be left alone?" Her gaze was fixed on his lips.
"More than anything." In his head ,he shouted, No! Don't leave me, Virginia…
"Then so be it. I'll not speak to you again. And if I can help it, I'll never even think of you again."
"We've said our goodbyes many times already, Weasley. Think of something new to say."
"I know, Draco. I know. I'm being clingy and sentimental. Not everyone gets to see Draco Malfoy cry. Or comfort him. I realize now I was nobody to you. I'm sorry. I mistook you to be a friend. But you just needed someone to hold your hand – "
"Do shut up, Weasley." He couldn't take much more of this. She really didn't know anything. The ignorant, naïve little girl.
Her eyes searched his face, trying to read any emotion. From years of experience, he was able to disguise the turmoil within as sheer indifference.
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"I'll have your gifts sent back to you." She straightened. Wrapping a lock of hair around a finger, she willed herself not to cry. There was nothing to cry about, really. You're nobody to him. Did you hear that? Are you satisfied now, Gin?
She felt the urge to run. To run away from Draco and hide. An empty sensation consumed her. He was gone. No matter how she felt, or how hard she was willing to try, their friendship would fail. It was hopeless. What they had shared, whatever magic it was, over the Christmas holidays was gone. He was more like himself than before he got the Dark Mark.
She turned her back to him, not wanting to see him, afraid that if she did, she'd break down. Heartache. Worry. Disappointment. She tried convincing herself that this all seemed like a big deal now, but in a few days, a few weeks, she'd be fine. And in a few years, she'd forget this ever happened. A small part of her laughed at how stupid she could be.
Draco pushed past her, storming out of the room. It was a matter of moments before the door slammed behind him. A thick silence stuck in the air.
She collapsed in a seat, mentally cursing Professor Snape for doing this to them. What had he expected? That she and Draco could be friends? That the two of them could continue to open their hearts to each other? Draco didn't need that. He didn't need her. Surely, as close as Professor Snape is to him, he should know that.
She folded her arms on the desk and rested her head. She decided to wait until the potions master returned to dismiss her from her detention. And she was sure she should mention the fact that this punishment was far more severe than a kick in the shin called for.
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U2 – Even Better Than the Real Thing
Foo Fighters – Aurora
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Sorry about the incredibly long delay with writing/posting this chapter. I'm sorry that not much happens in it. But this is the end of the Hogwarts-part of the story. The next chapter will feature Draco's graduation from school. It'll be touchy and a bit sad, and hopefully it'll be up soon. Let me know what you thought of this.
I'm already hording ideas for post-Hogwarts Draco/Ginny.
Thanks for reading. Please review!
--Eclipsed Planet