Chapter 12: Only Once
"Draco!" Ginny yelled out to the pale boy running down the hallway, before turning her attention to a surprised Harry, an intense glare on her face. "You!" she accused, pushing him back, "You. . .you and you're. . .you fucking bastard!"
"Ms. Weasley that is not. . ." Ginny heard Professor McGonagall scold the in the background, but it was quickly drowned out by the anger coursing through her. And as more cries came from the room, several from her brother and the bushy haired genius beside him, the more anger rose within her, till even her cheeks were the same shade as her very hair.
"STOP IT ALL OF YOU!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, shocking even the Professor into silence. "If I ever hear or witness anyone being rude or a bitch to Draco. . ." she eyed Harry ominously, ". . .expect me to be the last fucking thing you'll ever see." And that she stormed off in a fury, searching for the boy in a seemingly strange new world.
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Draco Malfoy ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He didn't care where he was, or where he was going, or even if his legs felt like they were going to collapse into jelly. All he could see was green eyes piercing at him with intense hatred. "A hatred for me. . ." he whispered to himself, as tears fell down upon his pale cheeks.
"Well look what we have here," seethed a younger Draco, as his gaze fell upon a group of three, "A Pothead, a Weasel and a Mudblood."
"Why don't you just leave us alone..." the redhead shot back, anger visibly present in his tone, ". . .bouncing Ferret."
"Funny Weasley," the Slytherin replied smoothly, "Very funny. I'm so glad you're actually gaining some form of brain cells from your Mudblood girlfriend over there. I mean, after all, sucking face all the time has to give you something more than just a bunch of hickeys." He grinned sadistically as the redhead's face became livid and the girl behind him chocked back a sob. "Pity really," he turned to the silent boy with emerald eyes, "You're friends are but sad, pitiful human beings who are just wasting the air. And you're becoming one of them. Should have chosen a better group of people to. . .associate. . .with."
He turned his back to the trio, smirking in victory, until a whisper stopped him cold. "I hate you. . ."
"I hate you. . ." The very words rang into his ear. Draco stopped in his path, and fell to his knees, tears falling down his already puffed eyes. "Did I really do that?" he asked himself, "Did I really. . .hurt those people. . .to the point of hatred?"
He looked around him. . .at the darkened lights; the faded pictures of people clad in dark robes with sneers, and finally at the jade sign that wove itself into the walls. "Slytherin Chambers," he said, mouthing every syllable with care. "This is where I belong. . ."
"Yes, Draco," a cold voice said, its tone chilling Draco still, "This is where you belong...my follower. . .my beloved death eater. . ."
Draco's eyes widened in horror, as he wiped away the fallen tears on his face, "Who. . .who said that?" His eyes fell upon a portrait of a hooded figure with an emerald snake wrapped around its neck. . .its crimson eyes watching him like a predator.
"Oh but Draco," it seemed to hiss at him, "How can anyone forget their master?"
"No. . ." Draco whispered, closing his eyes as a pain shot within him, "No. . .please. . .just leave me alone. . .I don't want to be hurt anymore..."
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"Thirty minutes and still can't find him. . ."
Ginny hurriedly looked from one corridor to another, searching for the boy with silver eyes and pale skin to match. In finding no one, she shook her head in frustration. "Dammit. . .maybe I should get some serious help. . .like a whole armada fleet"
"Ms. Weasley, someone better find him, and my dear, if you value your health, that someone better be you. . ."
A chill ran up Ginny's spine as her memory gladly replayed Professor Snape's last words to her. "Why I ever went to the grease ball in the first place is a mystery in itself!" she thought to herself, determined more than ever to find the Slytherin. . .soon and fast.
"Hey Virginia!" she heard a cry from down the halls.
"Oh God. . .why of all times. . ." she sighed in exasperation, before turning around. . .a big, fat, fake smile upon her lips. "Why hello Marissa, good to see you now."
Marissa. . .or the 'conceited-snot-nose-brat' to many, including the redhead, was one who you wanted to meet once, and take a lifetime to repair the damage of that said meeting. True, she was one of Hogwart's beauties, and probably one of the few who could match it with intellect. . .but there was something about her that ticked people off more than anything else.
"Oh darling I just heard about your little situation with Malfoy. I give my sympathies really. I mean, why should Professor Dumbledore ever give such a difficult task to you, little Weasley when, I am available?" She batted her eyelashes ever so carefully, her sugary coated smile widening. "Oh, maybe I should be the one to find the young Heir for you, since you seem to be. . .incapable at the moment."
"Oh. . ." Ginny thought as her fists clenched subconsciously, "I am going to punch her right in the fucking jaw. . ." Suddenly, something silver caught her eye, "Yea. . .right after I find Draco, sort out the mess with Professor McGonagall and make sure my ass is saved from all dangers."
Giving the best, forced smile anyone could ever manage, Ginny replied sweetly, "Oh, it's alright Marissa dear. Though I would absolutely (gag) love your help, right now it is my responsibility. And as much as I would also love (double gag) to hand over the task to someone as *capable* as you, I would also l-o-v-e to learn from my own mistakes, including this one," she began to head towards the side, away from the monster, "So yes, now I must be going. . .ta ta!"
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Once Ginny was safe from the horror that was Marissa, she found herself wandering the fields of Hogwarts, passing many of the trees, including one in particular. She took a side detour towards it, and settled herself upon its shade. "Hm," she mumbled to herself, feeling sleep overtake her, "I wonder when was the last time I sat here." She felt her fingers run over the bark of the wood, until she felt a particular carving. Looking up, she spotted –G.W. and R.W. where here-. With a longing smile, she touched each letter, remembering the first time she came to this exact spot.
"Hey Gin, what's wrong?" asked a Ron of twelve, his cheeks a little hot from the weather. He sat down near his sister, who had the sourest look on her face.
"Nothing Ron," she pouted even more, turning away from him, "Or I suppose that's Mr. Second Year to you." She felt herself heat up in anger when her brother emitted a laugh. "And what is so funny?"
"You, sis," he replied, poking her nose gently for the first time in years, "You know I'm still your big bro, even if I am, 'Mr. Second Year' now." He cradled her hand in his own, before lift it up to the sun's light. "You see this," he said, pointing to a lone freckle that touched her skin, "This symbolizes you are a Weasley. And Weasleys stick together, no matter what."
"Well Ron. . ." she spoke out, her soft whisper carried by the wind, "Are you still my big bro. . .even to this day?" Hearing nothing but the sweet sounds of a crisp day, she stood up from the tree and headed towards the one place she never looked. . .the lake.
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Now if anyone knew of Draco Malfoy before, they would have never believed it when someone were to say the Draco Malfoy they knew and loved –or hated- was sitting quietly near the lake, knees towards his chest, and arms around it for warmth. No, they would probably tell them to buzz off, go wash their brain out and then gouge their eyes to make sure the image was far from their minds. But, as Ginny spotted the pale boy by the willow tree right near the edge of Hogwart's one and only lake, sea monsters and all, she knew something in the universe was going to explode. . .and then hit earth into an oblivion.
"Now, if I were a sixth year, with gray tinted eyes. . .green robes. . .and dragon hide boots, where would I be?" she asked in a playful manner, hoping that it would lighten the mood.
"He would be sitting by a lake, wallowing in misery," was the reply, as the boy that would come to be the Malfoy Heir turned around, his eyes meeting hers. "Hello Gin, come to take Draco back?" he questioned, speaking his own name with a cold type of bitterness.
Taken aback, but not to the point of rendering speechless, Ginny replied, "Not if he isn't ready to." She gave him a comforting smile, while touching his shoulder gently, "And only until he is, will Ginny take him back."
He smiled in return, albeit a sad one, before averting his eyes towards the lake. "It's nice. . .isn't it," he spoke, his voice soft. "But. . ." his eyes spotted the tentacles of a giant squid rush out of the water and back in, "Deadly at the same time."
"I suppose," Ginny replied, not entirely sure of how to respond. She herself never really thought much about the lake; despite crossing it's waters once as a first year.
"Gin," Draco began, hesitant this time, "Can you tell me. . .what I was like before? You know. . .before the accident?"
"Draco!" Ginny yelled out to the pale boy running down the hallway, before turning her attention to a surprised Harry, an intense glare on her face. "You!" she accused, pushing him back, "You. . .you and you're. . .you fucking bastard!"
"Ms. Weasley that is not. . ." Ginny heard Professor McGonagall scold the in the background, but it was quickly drowned out by the anger coursing through her. And as more cries came from the room, several from her brother and the bushy haired genius beside him, the more anger rose within her, till even her cheeks were the same shade as her very hair.
"STOP IT ALL OF YOU!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, shocking even the Professor into silence. "If I ever hear or witness anyone being rude or a bitch to Draco. . ." she eyed Harry ominously, ". . .expect me to be the last fucking thing you'll ever see." And that she stormed off in a fury, searching for the boy in a seemingly strange new world.
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Draco Malfoy ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He didn't care where he was, or where he was going, or even if his legs felt like they were going to collapse into jelly. All he could see was green eyes piercing at him with intense hatred. "A hatred for me. . ." he whispered to himself, as tears fell down upon his pale cheeks.
"Well look what we have here," seethed a younger Draco, as his gaze fell upon a group of three, "A Pothead, a Weasel and a Mudblood."
"Why don't you just leave us alone..." the redhead shot back, anger visibly present in his tone, ". . .bouncing Ferret."
"Funny Weasley," the Slytherin replied smoothly, "Very funny. I'm so glad you're actually gaining some form of brain cells from your Mudblood girlfriend over there. I mean, after all, sucking face all the time has to give you something more than just a bunch of hickeys." He grinned sadistically as the redhead's face became livid and the girl behind him chocked back a sob. "Pity really," he turned to the silent boy with emerald eyes, "You're friends are but sad, pitiful human beings who are just wasting the air. And you're becoming one of them. Should have chosen a better group of people to. . .associate. . .with."
He turned his back to the trio, smirking in victory, until a whisper stopped him cold. "I hate you. . ."
"I hate you. . ." The very words rang into his ear. Draco stopped in his path, and fell to his knees, tears falling down his already puffed eyes. "Did I really do that?" he asked himself, "Did I really. . .hurt those people. . .to the point of hatred?"
He looked around him. . .at the darkened lights; the faded pictures of people clad in dark robes with sneers, and finally at the jade sign that wove itself into the walls. "Slytherin Chambers," he said, mouthing every syllable with care. "This is where I belong. . ."
"Yes, Draco," a cold voice said, its tone chilling Draco still, "This is where you belong...my follower. . .my beloved death eater. . ."
Draco's eyes widened in horror, as he wiped away the fallen tears on his face, "Who. . .who said that?" His eyes fell upon a portrait of a hooded figure with an emerald snake wrapped around its neck. . .its crimson eyes watching him like a predator.
"Oh but Draco," it seemed to hiss at him, "How can anyone forget their master?"
"No. . ." Draco whispered, closing his eyes as a pain shot within him, "No. . .please. . .just leave me alone. . .I don't want to be hurt anymore..."
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"Thirty minutes and still can't find him. . ."
Ginny hurriedly looked from one corridor to another, searching for the boy with silver eyes and pale skin to match. In finding no one, she shook her head in frustration. "Dammit. . .maybe I should get some serious help. . .like a whole armada fleet"
"Ms. Weasley, someone better find him, and my dear, if you value your health, that someone better be you. . ."
A chill ran up Ginny's spine as her memory gladly replayed Professor Snape's last words to her. "Why I ever went to the grease ball in the first place is a mystery in itself!" she thought to herself, determined more than ever to find the Slytherin. . .soon and fast.
"Hey Virginia!" she heard a cry from down the halls.
"Oh God. . .why of all times. . ." she sighed in exasperation, before turning around. . .a big, fat, fake smile upon her lips. "Why hello Marissa, good to see you now."
Marissa. . .or the 'conceited-snot-nose-brat' to many, including the redhead, was one who you wanted to meet once, and take a lifetime to repair the damage of that said meeting. True, she was one of Hogwart's beauties, and probably one of the few who could match it with intellect. . .but there was something about her that ticked people off more than anything else.
"Oh darling I just heard about your little situation with Malfoy. I give my sympathies really. I mean, why should Professor Dumbledore ever give such a difficult task to you, little Weasley when, I am available?" She batted her eyelashes ever so carefully, her sugary coated smile widening. "Oh, maybe I should be the one to find the young Heir for you, since you seem to be. . .incapable at the moment."
"Oh. . ." Ginny thought as her fists clenched subconsciously, "I am going to punch her right in the fucking jaw. . ." Suddenly, something silver caught her eye, "Yea. . .right after I find Draco, sort out the mess with Professor McGonagall and make sure my ass is saved from all dangers."
Giving the best, forced smile anyone could ever manage, Ginny replied sweetly, "Oh, it's alright Marissa dear. Though I would absolutely (gag) love your help, right now it is my responsibility. And as much as I would also love (double gag) to hand over the task to someone as *capable* as you, I would also l-o-v-e to learn from my own mistakes, including this one," she began to head towards the side, away from the monster, "So yes, now I must be going. . .ta ta!"
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Once Ginny was safe from the horror that was Marissa, she found herself wandering the fields of Hogwarts, passing many of the trees, including one in particular. She took a side detour towards it, and settled herself upon its shade. "Hm," she mumbled to herself, feeling sleep overtake her, "I wonder when was the last time I sat here." She felt her fingers run over the bark of the wood, until she felt a particular carving. Looking up, she spotted –G.W. and R.W. where here-. With a longing smile, she touched each letter, remembering the first time she came to this exact spot.
"Hey Gin, what's wrong?" asked a Ron of twelve, his cheeks a little hot from the weather. He sat down near his sister, who had the sourest look on her face.
"Nothing Ron," she pouted even more, turning away from him, "Or I suppose that's Mr. Second Year to you." She felt herself heat up in anger when her brother emitted a laugh. "And what is so funny?"
"You, sis," he replied, poking her nose gently for the first time in years, "You know I'm still your big bro, even if I am, 'Mr. Second Year' now." He cradled her hand in his own, before lift it up to the sun's light. "You see this," he said, pointing to a lone freckle that touched her skin, "This symbolizes you are a Weasley. And Weasleys stick together, no matter what."
"Well Ron. . ." she spoke out, her soft whisper carried by the wind, "Are you still my big bro. . .even to this day?" Hearing nothing but the sweet sounds of a crisp day, she stood up from the tree and headed towards the one place she never looked. . .the lake.
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Now if anyone knew of Draco Malfoy before, they would have never believed it when someone were to say the Draco Malfoy they knew and loved –or hated- was sitting quietly near the lake, knees towards his chest, and arms around it for warmth. No, they would probably tell them to buzz off, go wash their brain out and then gouge their eyes to make sure the image was far from their minds. But, as Ginny spotted the pale boy by the willow tree right near the edge of Hogwart's one and only lake, sea monsters and all, she knew something in the universe was going to explode. . .and then hit earth into an oblivion.
"Now, if I were a sixth year, with gray tinted eyes. . .green robes. . .and dragon hide boots, where would I be?" she asked in a playful manner, hoping that it would lighten the mood.
"He would be sitting by a lake, wallowing in misery," was the reply, as the boy that would come to be the Malfoy Heir turned around, his eyes meeting hers. "Hello Gin, come to take Draco back?" he questioned, speaking his own name with a cold type of bitterness.
Taken aback, but not to the point of rendering speechless, Ginny replied, "Not if he isn't ready to." She gave him a comforting smile, while touching his shoulder gently, "And only until he is, will Ginny take him back."
He smiled in return, albeit a sad one, before averting his eyes towards the lake. "It's nice. . .isn't it," he spoke, his voice soft. "But. . ." his eyes spotted the tentacles of a giant squid rush out of the water and back in, "Deadly at the same time."
"I suppose," Ginny replied, not entirely sure of how to respond. She herself never really thought much about the lake; despite crossing it's waters once as a first year.
"Gin," Draco began, hesitant this time, "Can you tell me. . .what I was like before? You know. . .before the accident?"