Ginny looked at the cook book, then to her mother, then to Kaida, and to the cook book again. "Erm, so we have to do this by hand?" she asked.
"Well, you're not allowed to use magic, so yes, you do," Molly answered, digging through the cupboards to find a measuring spoon.
"This sucks as... I mean, sucks," Ginny revised as her mother shot her a look and then looked to Kaida who was sitting on the table. Ginny looked to her, too. No swearing in front of the child, Ginny said to herself and gave her a reassuring smile.
Ron walked into the room, and walked back out as soon as he saw Kaida. Ginny rolled her eyes. Her brother was the biggest... guy int he entire world. He wouldn't even be in the same room as this little girl, let alone talk to her about this problem they seemed ot be having.
Kaida had, of course, explained about her brother, Pyron, but didn't say anything baout him not being around any more except the fact that he wasn't. Ginny was beginning to suspect that's why Malfoy hated Ron so much, becuase of his name, although it seemed a silly reason for her.
"Hallo, ladies, we're cooking I see," said Fred, swaggering into the kitchen with George by his side.
"No," Ginny corrected, "WE are cooking, YOU are.. doing nothing at the moment. Shouldn't you be setting up the back tables?"
"Ron ditched us," George said, pretending to be wounded. Kaida flinched at the sound of the name, an almost unnoticable gesture that only Ginny would have picked up. Being a vampire's sacrifice often gave you an accuteness of the senses.
Which reminded her, she had a rave tonight.
"Mom, can't watch Kaida today, got plans with Mione," Ginny said, absentmidedly, washing her hands in the sink.
"That's okay, we'll take the little monkey!" Fred said, picking her up and tickling her. She erupted into a fits of laughter. Giny secretly hoped she ran into her brother, just to talk to him about his descion to let them keep Kaida for the rest of the summer.
"All right, but no using her for experiments on those Weasley Weather Woogles, or whatever you call them!" Molly chastised as the flew the little girl out of the room with their brooms. Molly then turned to Ginny. She had the I'm-your-mother-and-I'm-about-to-pry look on her face.
"You have plans on the last day of summer holidays?" Molly asked. Ginny tried to keep the sigh out of her voice.
"Yeah, I hope it's okay, Mione and I have been planning this for weeks," Ginny lied, guilt not even touching her tone or her expression.
"Oh, it's fine but.. Kaida's become so attached to you, I'm not sure if..."
"Mum, you know that's not the real reason," Ginny chastised. "You just want me home, and don't try to deny it."
"Okay, I won't. I wan toyu home. You will be home before morning, right?"
"Of course, When have I ever not?" Ginny asked. Molly nodded and turned away.
"I... I don't think I need help with these cookies, so why don't you go... get ready or something, okay sweetie?" Ginny nodded and walked solemnly from the room. As soon as seh was out of sight, the bounce in her step returned and she glided up the stairs to her room.
The music was so loud, he could barely hear himself think. But, considering he was surrounded by vampires, he had to think, despite the enormous headache he was creating by doing so. That, and he had to find Ginny, because where there was Ginny, there was Calipso, and where there was Calipso, there was Raven.
Making his way through the crowded room, he found a door ajar a little ways. taking a peek inside, he saw Ginny being fed upon by a brown-haired male vampire, Calipso standing protectively over them, watchful.
He cleared his throat and walked in. Ginny barely noticed him, or at least, she tried not ot, but Calipso stepped forward, btween him and Ginny, as if defending her form a dangerous foe.
"Calm yourself, Calipso, I'm not after Weasley, I'm looking for Raven. You seen him?"
"Of course, I have, time's up, Kamerron," Calipso said, smacking the vampire in the head. Draco smirked. "He's getting someone to feed on, since I won't let him touch Ginny any more. I said time's up, Kamerron!"
The vampire reluctantly released his bite on Ginny's neck and she instictively rubbed the puncture wounds as they healed. She gave Draco a wandering look and stood from the couch.
"I need to talk to you about..."
"Not here, Weasley," Draco warned. "I'm on buisness. Now, when will Raven be back?"
Calipso shrugged. "Beats me. I'll send him to your place in the morning, if you desire."
"If that's the best you can do," Draco drawled and walked out of the room. Ginny followed and grabbed his elbow. He could tell she was feeling a little ligth headed, but she remained up right. Even though she was standing fine, Draco had a sudden urge to put his arms around her and hold her upright...
"Malfoy, stop!" Ginny yelled over the music. "We need to talk, let's find a room or something! Somewhere quiet!"
Draco nodded reluctantly and they found an open bedroom. Ginny closed the door behind her. Draco sat on the bed, and said in a cold drawl, "Let's get this over with."
"Draco, why are you leaving your only little sister with us?" Ginny said. Draco realized she had never called him that... Draco... With her voice, it sounded nice.
He tried to keep the look of bliss off his face and he leaned back on the bed.
"Well, I don't think I want to discuss that with you, Weasley. You aren't my first choice to play headshrinker, babe."
"Don't call me babe. Malfoy, if you don't tell me, I'll never tell Raven to talk to you. Now what's going on?" At the threat, Draco snapped to attention.
"Weasley, I really don't feel comfortable talking about this with you," Draco said, suddenly quiet. Ginny had never seen him like this. She sat on the bed beside him.
"What? What is it?" she asked. Draco sighed.
"Things aren't... great at home," he let out. Ginny only looked at him, puzzledly, but didn't press. "My dad is... under a lot of stress and my mum... well, she doesn't care about Kaida as much as she did when my little brother was alive..."
"Yeah, Kaida mentioned Pyron, but never how he... er... passed..." Ginny couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Draco, even after all he did to her these past years. He wasn't all that bad, really. She scooted closer towards him and put a protective arm around his shoulders. He didn't seem to notice.
"Well, my parents don't know, but me and Kaida do. We were there. I was unconsious and Kaida was awake. I only woke up in time to save her... If I hadn't been so weak, Ron would still be here... My Ron, I mean, not yours."
"I figured as much," Ginny said, leaning closer to his face. "But it wasn't your fault, you know that, it wasn't your fault."
"He was killed by Raven's sister, Neona. He died saving Kaida, so I have to keep her safe. That's why I sent her to you, that's... why..." He trailed off and concentrated on her eyes. They were so gray and lively, like storm clouds, only different, more sadness than a storm.
"Draco..." she sighed. He didn't notice her voice, but as he was about to lean in, the door opened.
"Ginny, what the hell are you doing?"
Ginny looked up, her look of guilt turning to fear, and then to anger.
"I could ask you the same thing, Ron."
"Well, you're not allowed to use magic, so yes, you do," Molly answered, digging through the cupboards to find a measuring spoon.
"This sucks as... I mean, sucks," Ginny revised as her mother shot her a look and then looked to Kaida who was sitting on the table. Ginny looked to her, too. No swearing in front of the child, Ginny said to herself and gave her a reassuring smile.
Ron walked into the room, and walked back out as soon as he saw Kaida. Ginny rolled her eyes. Her brother was the biggest... guy int he entire world. He wouldn't even be in the same room as this little girl, let alone talk to her about this problem they seemed ot be having.
Kaida had, of course, explained about her brother, Pyron, but didn't say anything baout him not being around any more except the fact that he wasn't. Ginny was beginning to suspect that's why Malfoy hated Ron so much, becuase of his name, although it seemed a silly reason for her.
"Hallo, ladies, we're cooking I see," said Fred, swaggering into the kitchen with George by his side.
"No," Ginny corrected, "WE are cooking, YOU are.. doing nothing at the moment. Shouldn't you be setting up the back tables?"
"Ron ditched us," George said, pretending to be wounded. Kaida flinched at the sound of the name, an almost unnoticable gesture that only Ginny would have picked up. Being a vampire's sacrifice often gave you an accuteness of the senses.
Which reminded her, she had a rave tonight.
"Mom, can't watch Kaida today, got plans with Mione," Ginny said, absentmidedly, washing her hands in the sink.
"That's okay, we'll take the little monkey!" Fred said, picking her up and tickling her. She erupted into a fits of laughter. Giny secretly hoped she ran into her brother, just to talk to him about his descion to let them keep Kaida for the rest of the summer.
"All right, but no using her for experiments on those Weasley Weather Woogles, or whatever you call them!" Molly chastised as the flew the little girl out of the room with their brooms. Molly then turned to Ginny. She had the I'm-your-mother-and-I'm-about-to-pry look on her face.
"You have plans on the last day of summer holidays?" Molly asked. Ginny tried to keep the sigh out of her voice.
"Yeah, I hope it's okay, Mione and I have been planning this for weeks," Ginny lied, guilt not even touching her tone or her expression.
"Oh, it's fine but.. Kaida's become so attached to you, I'm not sure if..."
"Mum, you know that's not the real reason," Ginny chastised. "You just want me home, and don't try to deny it."
"Okay, I won't. I wan toyu home. You will be home before morning, right?"
"Of course, When have I ever not?" Ginny asked. Molly nodded and turned away.
"I... I don't think I need help with these cookies, so why don't you go... get ready or something, okay sweetie?" Ginny nodded and walked solemnly from the room. As soon as seh was out of sight, the bounce in her step returned and she glided up the stairs to her room.
The music was so loud, he could barely hear himself think. But, considering he was surrounded by vampires, he had to think, despite the enormous headache he was creating by doing so. That, and he had to find Ginny, because where there was Ginny, there was Calipso, and where there was Calipso, there was Raven.
Making his way through the crowded room, he found a door ajar a little ways. taking a peek inside, he saw Ginny being fed upon by a brown-haired male vampire, Calipso standing protectively over them, watchful.
He cleared his throat and walked in. Ginny barely noticed him, or at least, she tried not ot, but Calipso stepped forward, btween him and Ginny, as if defending her form a dangerous foe.
"Calm yourself, Calipso, I'm not after Weasley, I'm looking for Raven. You seen him?"
"Of course, I have, time's up, Kamerron," Calipso said, smacking the vampire in the head. Draco smirked. "He's getting someone to feed on, since I won't let him touch Ginny any more. I said time's up, Kamerron!"
The vampire reluctantly released his bite on Ginny's neck and she instictively rubbed the puncture wounds as they healed. She gave Draco a wandering look and stood from the couch.
"I need to talk to you about..."
"Not here, Weasley," Draco warned. "I'm on buisness. Now, when will Raven be back?"
Calipso shrugged. "Beats me. I'll send him to your place in the morning, if you desire."
"If that's the best you can do," Draco drawled and walked out of the room. Ginny followed and grabbed his elbow. He could tell she was feeling a little ligth headed, but she remained up right. Even though she was standing fine, Draco had a sudden urge to put his arms around her and hold her upright...
"Malfoy, stop!" Ginny yelled over the music. "We need to talk, let's find a room or something! Somewhere quiet!"
Draco nodded reluctantly and they found an open bedroom. Ginny closed the door behind her. Draco sat on the bed, and said in a cold drawl, "Let's get this over with."
"Draco, why are you leaving your only little sister with us?" Ginny said. Draco realized she had never called him that... Draco... With her voice, it sounded nice.
He tried to keep the look of bliss off his face and he leaned back on the bed.
"Well, I don't think I want to discuss that with you, Weasley. You aren't my first choice to play headshrinker, babe."
"Don't call me babe. Malfoy, if you don't tell me, I'll never tell Raven to talk to you. Now what's going on?" At the threat, Draco snapped to attention.
"Weasley, I really don't feel comfortable talking about this with you," Draco said, suddenly quiet. Ginny had never seen him like this. She sat on the bed beside him.
"What? What is it?" she asked. Draco sighed.
"Things aren't... great at home," he let out. Ginny only looked at him, puzzledly, but didn't press. "My dad is... under a lot of stress and my mum... well, she doesn't care about Kaida as much as she did when my little brother was alive..."
"Yeah, Kaida mentioned Pyron, but never how he... er... passed..." Ginny couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Draco, even after all he did to her these past years. He wasn't all that bad, really. She scooted closer towards him and put a protective arm around his shoulders. He didn't seem to notice.
"Well, my parents don't know, but me and Kaida do. We were there. I was unconsious and Kaida was awake. I only woke up in time to save her... If I hadn't been so weak, Ron would still be here... My Ron, I mean, not yours."
"I figured as much," Ginny said, leaning closer to his face. "But it wasn't your fault, you know that, it wasn't your fault."
"He was killed by Raven's sister, Neona. He died saving Kaida, so I have to keep her safe. That's why I sent her to you, that's... why..." He trailed off and concentrated on her eyes. They were so gray and lively, like storm clouds, only different, more sadness than a storm.
"Draco..." she sighed. He didn't notice her voice, but as he was about to lean in, the door opened.
"Ginny, what the hell are you doing?"
Ginny looked up, her look of guilt turning to fear, and then to anger.
"I could ask you the same thing, Ron."
