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.
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Chapter 17: Clocks
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She checked her watch. It was almost 6:30. Ginny looked at herself once more in the mirror in her dorm room. She licked her lips, smiling at the beautiful dress robes she was wearing. The robes Draco Malfoy had given her ages ago for Christmas. Underneath, she wore a modest blue dress, also part of the Christmas package. Shoes. Earrings. A necklace. And a bracelet. She was decked out, really.
She turned back to her bed. The silver chest was open, still full of parcels. She closed the box and set it inside her trunk. Heaving a deep sigh, and taking one more quick glance in the mirror, she headed for the door. It was time.
Ginny opened the door, instantly assaulted by the loud music coming from the Common Room. The year was over, and the Feast would commence in about half an hour. She wanted to find Ron and talk with him, before they all had to head down to the Great Hall.
She walked down the stairs, the familiar voices of her fellow students competing with the music. And the lights and colors in the room nearly blinded her. Festivities, indeed. There were flashing banners, congratulating seventh years on completion of their studies. As a joke, someone suspended spellbooks and texts in the air above everyone's heads, mimicking the slender white candles normally suspended in the Great Hall. She smirked, imagining that it was, originally, a concept by Fred and George.
She heard a collective gasp come from the corner behind her. Ginny turned to find her roommates, all open-mouthed and staring.
"You look wonderful, Ginny!"
"She'd better, she sure took her time!"
"I think she's beautiful."
They smiled at her, and pointed toward the fireplace, where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were talking with Neville, Seamus, and Dean. Ginny grinned at her roommates, and thanked them. She wandered across the room, trying to catch Ron's eye. And when she did, she felt herself blush.
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He checked his watch. It was nearly 6:30. Draco looked at himself in the mirror in his private dorm room. He licked his lips, smoothing his black dress robes down. He ran his hands, nervously, through his hair, idly wondering if this were all really happening.
He was shaking. He felt nauseated. And strangest of all, he wanted to cry. Maybe it was just the headache. It'd been lingering for a while. He shrugged it off, as he turned look around his room. It was quite nice having a room to himself this year. He'd convinced his father to pay for it. It was well worth it, he thought, allowing him to stay up late, sometimes even all night; allowing him to talk to himself, yell if necessary; allowing him to bring down girls, whenever he cared to.
He smirked. And he knew they never helped him feel better. They always made him feel worse. Guilty. Sad. And lost. But he didn't care. If he wasn't allowed to live his life by his rules, he'd live his life by no rules. Reckless abandon. The very thought made him sick to his stomach.
Draco wondered when he stopped caring. Well, he thought, he had a pretty good idea when. But really, the question was why. Why did he stop caring? For some reason, in response to this question, his mind went to Virginia Weasley. He shook his head. Thinking of her always gave him a headache.
He trudged to the door of his room, walking down the corridor to the stairs. He climbed the stairs to the Common Room slowly, listening to the blaring music and loud voices.
Draco stretched his face into his practiced smirk, and searched the room for Pansy. She'd been more than willing to be his date for the evening, and he figured he'd only need her at his side to appear "normal". Little else would matter.
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Ginny noticed that his expression was caught between amazement and anger. She looked around; they were standing outside of the portrait hole. The hall was empty for now. She looked back to Ron, who sputtered a moment, looking her over, and then he hugged her, sputtered some more, and finally opened his mouth to say something meaningful.
"Gin, where in the hell did you get these things?!"
"Ron – "
"I'm wearing my ancient dress robes Mum bought me…they don't even fit! It's my graduation! Why do you get new stuff?"
"Ron – "
"And diamond earrings?!"
"Ron! It's not from Mum."
It took a few more sputters
before he seemed to realize what she said.
"Dad? Percy? Bill?"
"No, Ron. Nobody from our family. They'd have sent you something special instead. It is your graduation, I'm glad you noticed. Because, in case you don't realize, it means you'll be leaving."
He looked a bit confused at the sudden shift in conversation. He scratched the back of his head.
"Well, yeah, I realize – "
"You'll be leaving Hogwarts, Ron."
"Gin, I know that – "
She didn't let him finish his thought as she wrapped her arms around his waist, cuddling close. Ginny felt tears prick her eyes.
"Ronald Weasley, you'll be leaving me."
"Aww, Gin." He held her close, patting her head. "I'll be alright out there. I'm a big boy!"
She grinned into his chest.
"That's not what I was worried about. I was more concerned with me. What'll happen to me?"
He pushed Ginny away gently, gave her a deep, measuring look. The portrait hole opened behind them, a few students trickling out. Harry and Hermione came out, and stood beside Ron and Ginny.
"Gin – you'll be fine. More importantly, you'll be safe here at Hogwarts." Ginny wanted to disagree, recalling the events from her first year. She glanced at Harry who gave her a sympathetic smile. Hermione took her hand, and the four of them walked to the Great Hall.
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"Well, well. Just look at the little redhead," Pansy simpered. Draco's ears perked at the word 'red'. Millicent and Blaise turned to look.
"Oh Merlin! Where do you suppose she got that emsemble?"
"Better question is how."
"A dumpster from the looks of it, because those robes are last year's fashion!"
Draco sneered at Pansy. Showed what she knew. True, he did buy those robes last year, but they were classic. Never go out of style. He knew, because he had taken notes when he used to go shopping with his mother, a true fashionista.
Avoiding looking at Weasley, Draco set his arms on the table, leaning a little away from Pansy and her overpowering perfume.
"So, you'll be taking over the family publishing business then, Goyle?"
"Well, not taking over – "
"I see. Just helping, perhaps?"
Goyle's face fell at the condescending way Draco was describing his future. Draco cringed inside. He couldn't stop himself from acting like this. He couldn't stop.
"How about you, Crabbe?"
"My father's setting me up to work with – "
"Your father?" The Death Eater?
"Yes, you've met him before. He's got a connection with an import company…"
Crabbe's voice trailed off as Draco's eyebrows rose.
"Well, what about you, Draco?" Pansy pawed his arm, thinking she was being cute. "What are you doing, post-grad?"
"Nothing. What should I do?"
Pansy looked indignant. She frowned at him, clearly angry, but not wanting to say why.
Let me guess, he thought. You wanted me to say that I plan on getting the best job in the world, sweep you off your feet and marry you, have a million kids, and live happily bloody ever after.
A sick thought crossed his mind. That was nearly exactly what he wanted. Substituting Pansy with a little Virginia Weasley.
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Entering the Great Hall, she saw that the four long tables were nearly filled. Ron, Harry, and Hermione walked to the Gryffindor table, greeting their friends and waving to others at other tables. Ginny followed in their wake, invisible to everyone else, a ghost or a shadow.
She caught Ron scanning the Slytherin table, shooting daggers in their direction. She followed his eyes to see him glaring at Draco Malfoy. Or rather, the back of Draco Malfoy's head. He was faced away from the Gryffindor table, surrounded by his "friends", all of which looked angry or depressed.
She felt an odd jealous chill as she watched Pansy run her hand up and down Draco's arm.
Ginny turned her head away, taking the empty seat next to Ron. She grinned up at him, and he ruffled her hair. He noticed the sad look that crossed her face, and stuck his tongue out and crossed his eyes.
"Come on, Gin, think about it. You'll be the only Weasley in school! That'll be a first! Well, I guess Bill had a couple years before Charlie started…"
"It's like the beginning of a new era!"
"I can just imagine. Peace and quiet at last!" Hermione smirked. She grinned at Ron, who pretended to glare at her. Harry laughed. Ginny sighed. She'd miss them so much.
It was only a few minutes more before Dumbledore stood and made his parting remarks. The food appeared on the tables. Everyone resumed their conversations, for some their last at their house tables, and tucked it.
Ginny moved slowly, not wanting the meal to ever end. She looked at Ron several times, wanting to say something, but not finding the words. She was considering telling Ron about Malfoy, but reconsidered.
Hermione was filling the boys in on the details of her plans following graduation this evening. She'd be off to more schooling, to achieve a higher degree in Arithmacy. Ron made a show of groaning and rolling his eyes.
"Only our 'Mione would want more school."
Ginny laughed, though she felt the tears starting to form in her eyes again. Actually picturing Hermione off studying in a research lab, and not reading a book during breakfast, was a bit disconcerting.
The boys talked enthusiastically about their plans. They were going to start a Quidditch supplies shop. They weren't sure where. They weren't sure how. All they knew was they had Harry's savings and Ron's expertise. Ginny smiled, knowing full well that Percy would end up being their bookkeeper, and Fred and George their managing advisors. They'd be fine.
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When the meal was over, their plates wiped clean, Dumbledore stood again, and made a few more announcements. He proclaimed the house with the most points – Gryffindor, not surprisingly – and then proceeded to give out the Quidditch Cup. He announced the Head Boy and Head Girl for next year. And he finally said a few parting words directed to his graduating students.
"I know the path you all will travel is difficult. Obstacles are arising every day, a new. But plod on, my students." The Headmaster caught Draco's eyes and held them as he said, "I am here for any of you who need me. You know where to find me," he added with a smile.
"Congratulations are in order! And farewell to our graduating seventh year students!"
Everyone stood, excited, at tossed their hats in the air. Draco stood, after Pansy tugged on his robes. He had taken off his hat at the beginning of dinner. He disliked wearing it. He threw it up in the air, silently pleased to be rid of it.
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Ron was too busy with Harry and Hermione to notice Ginny slip away. For once she was thankful she was forgotten. She walked outside, down the front steps, feeling a bit stuffy in the warm summer night. She tugged on a lock of her hair, trying to remember which way she wanted to go. She shrugged as she headed towards the cliffs.
There was a silent wind blowing warm scented air up from the cliffs. As she approached, she listened carefully for any other footfalls. She heard nothing. Turning back, she could see the castle in the distance, looking like a small miniature, lit up from within. The dark, moonless sky offered little light, so she muttered Lumos and her wand allowed her to find her way.
When she reached the cliffs, she realized with a sinking feeling, that she had no clue exactly where the device was located. Should she go left? Right? She took a few paces left, and felt compelled to go the other way. Right. She stumbled along, her hair whipping about from the sharp winds blowing up off the lake.
This was no use. She'd never find it. She didn't even know what the markers looked like –
"Weasley? What are you doing here?"
Ginny recognized the cold sneer in the voice behind her. She turned to see two figures silhouetted in the starlight. She knew one of them was Draco. But the other?
"Malfoy – I was looking for you…"
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U2 – Even Better Than the Real Thing
Coldplay – Clocks
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A/N:
Here we go. Graduation. He's free. And gone. One final chapter before we fast forward a bit. Wondering who the other person with him is? Pansy? I won't say a thing. I'm mean, I know! Hehe. Stay tuned, more soon. Please please please review!
-Eclipsed Planet