Title: Being Nice Doesn't Always Pay Off…
Author: Cactuskitty
Chapter: Eighteen
Summary: Ginny gets angry with a friend and decides that it's time for
her to change. In this chapter, what happens after the kiss.
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Harry Potter book series, they belong to J. K. Rowling, or anything else you recognize, so please don't sue. All I own is the little plot there is, Hillary, Tibby, Ryan, and anyone else you don't recognize… But that's not much to brag about.
The Future of this story: Will it have a happy ending? Will Draco ever see Virginia as more than a slab of meat? What about Ryan? If you really want to know then please keep reading and reviewing because even my beta doesn't know what's happening. I like to keep my small plot in the locked box I like to call my brain. However, if it's really killing you then please e-mail me at the address on my bio and I'll see what I can do for you.
Chapter Eighteen: New
My
normal hesitation is gone, And I really gravitate to your will
Are you here to fetch me out?
'Cause I've never had this taste in my mouth
You're not old, And you're not familiar
Recently discovered and I'm learning about you
New, you're so new
You, you're new
And you're consuming me violently
And your reverence shamelessly tempting me
Who sent this maniac? 'Cause I never had this taste in the past
You're different, you're different from the former
Like a fresh battery I'm energized by you
-New
By No Doubt
"Well?" Virginia inquired with a straight face as she closed her book and smirked, as the boy in front of her looked both ways before leaning over and planting what started as a light peck on her lips. He took a seat across the table.
"I hated it and it wasn't even science fiction." He sneered tossing the book aside and silently picked up the book she silently passed to him causing Ginny to smirk.
"Well, I knew you would—you don't like anything—but what did you think of his writing style?" She watched as he pretended to think about it while he pocketed the book. She loved it when he did that, and that small bit of information would always be withheld. No, Malfoy would never get the satisfaction of knowing that his actions made her swoon just like every other girl at Hogwarts, or the fact that she enjoyed kissing him almost as much as chocolate. Not on his life—even after everything they had been through.
It had been exactly four months since their encounter in that freezing cold classroom, and exactly four months since Harry was in the hospital. They were not going steady, still following the unmentioned rules that there were no rules. Draco was still in it mainly for vengeance against Potter, and Virginia was still noting his every move for her own reference. Therefore, nothing had changed except the fact that they were a lot friendlier in certain areas and the small underlining fact that they didn't exactly hate being in each other's presence. However, both would rather die than let the other know.
Virginia never even thought of making a petition of love or a move to make them official, she was just content staying in the unknowing. She assumed Malfoy was as well. That way he could still mess around with all the girls he wanted and Virginia could still keep to herself. He still teased her as much as he had the beginning of his fifth year and she was just as cold. Virginia didn't really know if the feelings she harbored for Malfoy were deeper then she let on, she couldn't tell. Everything she was feeling was new.
She did not like him the same way she had loved Ryan all those months ago. She was not willing to shape to Malfoy's image of an ideal girl, but more as an image of himself. The weakness she felt in his presence was entirely different. With Ryan she had always felt as if she was lacking as a girlfriend and was very self-conscious about the entire thing, making her more quiet and shy. When she was with Draco she felt the complete opposite. He made her feel everything except timidity.
Their relationship was not one of those where she would blush after he kissed her or giggle shyly when he held her hand. She was completely closed off from Ryan, but Malfoy had managed to wrangle out all of her deepest and darkest secrets. Malfoy was experienced, comfortable, cold, and withdrawn. His most redeeming quality was the fact that he knew he was cool—that was what made him so confident. He was also an asshole and insecure among other things. She had been unwillingly wrangled, caught, and tied. She couldn't leave him if she wanted to. Ginny loved the fact that he made her feel worthless, because it told her where she needed to improve. The original reason she had hated him was because he made her weak, but she was beginning to find that she loved the pain. She loved being on top, and that was the one thing that he would never let her do. That was why she bothered with him—Draco Malfoy was going to help her be the best.
"The writing style?" He asked teasingly as though she was speaking in foreign tongue.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "Yes, it's my favorite part of the book—that's why I take so long to read. The author's style is the most important part of the book. The placement of words is part of the beauty of writing." Malfoy groaned and she kicked him before continuing, "Think of writing a book like painting a portrait. The words are the paint. Now the artist needs the correct tools, canvas, and vision too make a good painting. However everything really comes down to the paint, whether the colors blend well or if the perspective is correct. Every stroke takes time and precision, but in the end it is always the paint that makes the painting beautiful." She said thoughtfully before returning her eyes to her book.
Draco blinked at her insight, before sneering, "Then I'm sure that this author was more of a Claude than a Picasso, because that book was longer than hell and there were about as many characters as there were tiny dots." Ginny groaned at his dry humor.
"Fine, so you don't like Stephen King, but did you at least find it entertaining?" it was then her turn to smirk because Draco didn't answer, which meant yes. Instead, few minutes later he turned to her with a question of his own.
"Hey weasel, I have a proposition to make you." Ginny looked up to see that he had closed his book and was now leaning in so that their conversation could be more private, "Since you've already fallen for my good looks—"
"I have not, stop being a bastard. No one has fallen for your looks except for your broken mirror." She groaned going back to her book. Everything was so good between them, why did he have to ruin it by trying to classify them?
Draco ignored her sarcasm; "I have decided that it's time that we took things to the next level."
Ginny sighed, closing her book, here it comes, "Sorry Malfoy, I'm not going to sleep with you, so you're going to have to continue being a wanker." Draco laughed.
"Nobody said anything about knocking boots weasel, but if sex is what you want there's always time for some." Draco smirked, "What I was gong to say before you so rudely called me your brother is something that could change the rest of your life—much bigger than you and I having sex. Actually it's much bigger than most would imagine." Draco ignored her vulgar reply about how 'all guys say they're big,' as he took her hand an waited until she was listening, "I was going to ask you Virginia your feelings on the Dark Lord, being that you have served him before. How you would feel about doing it again?"
Virginia's heart stopped as the memories of Tom Riddle flooded through her mind. Good ole Tom, he had wrenched out her secrets, possessed her body, and nearly drove her to insanity. What did she have to say about serving him? How could she reply to the vulgar offer of inconceivable power? Her speech had become inept, and it was as if Draco sensed how uncomfortable she had become as he gently ran his hand down her cheek as he rose from his seat.
"You don't have to answer right now pet, just remember that the offer is always open. And realize what a tremendous honor this offer is. Your potential has been realized—I know it's there, and if you work in the right direction soon the entire world can realize it. Think of that while you make your decision. Take your time, I'm not going to ask you again, so don't feel pressured. Just remember, we are the paint." Draco lightly kissed her numb lips, reminding her how to breath, before he picked up his book and began to leave the library.
"Malfoy, wait." She managed to say before he disappeared behind the bookcase that kept their table hidden and stopped, "What happens if I say no?"
His face was empty as he turned around, a true businessman, "Then in the end you will have no protection from his wrath, but you never did in the first place. Things just might be a bit easier…"
"Like what?" she questioned, regaining her composure.
"Like no longer having tattered robes or worrying when you hear of death eater attacks. You would be joining the winning side." He replied without a blink of an eye, he looked tired as though he had done this many times before. Ginny looked pensive, so Draco approached her from behind and coldly whispered in her ear, "I already told you, you don't need to decide now, just know the offer is open. All you need to do is comply and see what the Dark Lord has in mind for you."
"Yes, I know…" she chewed her tongue thoughtfully while he massaged her shoulders, causing her to sigh, "This time remember to try and see this book though the author's perspective, while you read. You never can never really understand a book unless you try to see it from the author's prospective. How did he choose the colors of the paint so that they would blend that way, why did he stroke in that direction? You can never really know what the writer intended for the book to mean until you read between the lines."
Draco smirked as he stopped rubbing her shoulders and leaned in to kiss her again before leaving Virginia Weasley alone, perplexed with her thoughts.
* * *
"Uncle, you can't do this to me! How much longer do I have to train that infernal prat! He's thick and headstrong! He doesn't listen to anyone, let alone me! What he needs is a swift kick in the ass, not training!" Ryan Nightingale yelled in angst.
"Ryan, my boy, I know this is frustrating, but bare with it just a little long. He's been dealt some pretty bad cards in the past." His uncle pleaded rubbing the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.
"Bad cards? Bad cards! Try being dead for fuck's sake! No friends, no parents, no Ginny... God no one even knows I'm alive other than you and that ass! Did you ever take the time to think how I'd feel about being killed off?" Ryan spat flipping over the table in front of him, "Yes, I know! You must do what's best for society, that's easy for you to say. You like being a hero! Same as Potter! The two of you are in cahoots! Both of you! Complete and utter fools!"
Dumbledore sat there placidly in his seat, accepting the lecture that he knew had been eating away at his nephew from the moment he had heard of this plan. He had seen the light disappear from his nephew's eyes as he learned that soon he would be nothing but statistic and a gravestone to the world. A dirty little secret, but Dumbledore also knew that he was the only one capable of fulfilling the position. Ryan was a prodigy, brilliant, deadly, and powerful, gifted with a strength that most wizards only dream of. However, no one could ever know of his strength or of whom he was related. He was hidden from society for years. Taking private lessons at home, dueling magic training from the best, until he was sent to Beaubaxton Wizarding School in France. Far from Hogwarts, but it still had enough of a connection that Dumbledore could check on him. He had the life that Harry would have if kept in the wizarding world—scratch the infamous title. Ryan Nightingale had the strength to wipe out Voldermort alone, yet that would not be his role in the game. He was the protector, the most difficult and lonely job. Dumbledore pitied him for it.
Ryan had always accepted his fate ever since he was a young boy, never growing attached to anyone, always clinging to the shadows. He knew his future and lived to prepare for it, that was until he met Virginia Weasley. She was like him. She had no life of her own, giving until it hurt, quiet, reserved, and forgotten. She spoke to others but never made a deep connection, she was sad and for the first time in his life he truly cared about someone.
He first met Ginny in the library of Hogwarts, letting people copy her homework, he did not speak to her, but he observed from the back table. This was just after the opening banquet during his fifth year. He saw her many more times in the library, every time she did as they asked, not daring to question their requests in fear that she would be rejected. In fear that she would have to be independent, that she would be left completely and utterly alone. What he had been his entire life.
Ryan had approached her while she was busy sulking about her sore feet at the Yule Ball and they made an instant connection. After that they met often in different places, talking, joking—things that were all new to him. Things that he realized had been missing from his life. He had always conformed silently, agreeing to the oppression, the same as her. They were the same, so he protected her from the coldness of teenaged girls. When he was around they bothered her less, therefore he was around a lot. He gave her the title of his girlfriend the first week of in February and they shared their first kiss two weeks later. By then the girls didn't bother her at all, it was just the two of them—the protector and his chosen defendant. And they were happy until summer came and Harry went through he portkey, changing his entire life.
His uncle had called him into his office the second Potter had disappeared, and he was severely punished. After all Potter was the entire reason he had been allowed to come to Hogwarts. He had protected him the entire year, where was his mind when the boy disappeared, his uncle wanted to know. Dumbledore tried to never yell, and that was the reason his talks were so affective. He was to be sent to a secret location in the mountains of Asia for special training during the summer, and his relationship with Ginny Weasley had to be terminated by the start of the next school year, or else. Ryan was planning to do it three weeks after he started training, however the training was rigorous and soon her cheery heartfelt letters were the only things in the world he had to look forward to. How could he slice the jugular of the only person he had every really felt love for? So he waited until he had no other choice, deciding to make it sound like he found someone else. He would hurt them both, but hopefully she would find it easier to get over a cheater. It was the easiest way. He would protect her like always.
He had been dead for just over five months, it was March now, and if everything he had been hearing from Potter was true she was already screwing a death eater, but Ryan refused to listen. Ginny was not that type of girl. She was flighty, innocent, and naïve whether she changed or not. That was the memory he had of her and the memory he would keep forever more. With her long bright red hair and thrift store jumper, blushing furiously every time he touched her—untainted and completely pure. She was not the bleeding, cold, corrupted girl he met in the hallway that he let stupefy him. That was someone else—not his Virginia. Not the Virginia that broke him, the Virginia he ached for everyday and especially the night. She was still preserved in his memory, and there she would stay until he could have her again.
She was the only person he would ever really love and she was the only person who would ever really hurt him. Ginny let him walk because she knew what was best for them both and Dumbledore pitied him. He pitied this dirty little secret, their best-kept secret, and their trump card—never his nephew.
"I'm sorry Ryan. I'm so sorry." Dumbledore said tears rolling down his face as he stared into the cold lifeless eyes of his nephew and the Order's top-secret weapon. The weapon they had long forgotten was human.
A/N: This is where I start bringing out the angst, be prepared. Humor is just a defense mechanism, be warned. This was never meant to be a funny fic. Yes, their comebacks are entertaining, but that's not what the story's about. It's about coming to terms with yourself and accepting whomever it is you find inside you. That is why it's classified under angst. It's all about pain, but that doesn't mean there won't be a happy ending. Or will there be?
Remember to review and make it a long one. I love long reviews, especially since I wrote this chapter four different times with four alternative beginnings and endings. I think I deserve a long review, don't you? Well tell me about it when you hit the little [Go] button and write to me.
Thanks to all my previous reviewers and my beta Mists of Avalon.
