Chapter 14: Find It
The castle was even darker than she expected, Ginny decided as she walked up the stone steps, a soft thud resonating with each move. It was nearly midnight –way past curfew- and the darkness of the night was already seeping into the corridors of the quiet castle. Ginny felt goosebumps underneath her thick Weasley sweater, as she wrapped her arms tighter to keep the cold out. "Why the Headmaster wanted to see me at such a late time is beyond me…" Ginny muttered, her thoughts drifting back to the note that proclaimed such an urgency that required her to get up in a hurry. She nearly stumbled on an exhausted Draco, who had fallen asleep on the Gryffindor couch after flying around the Quidditch pitch for several hours. The thought of Draco hovering above the ground in caution brought a smile to her face. Never had she expected to see the Slytherin Seeker being cautious about anything that involved flying. "But I have to admit," she spoke to herself again, "He can still kick my ass in flying."
Suddenly, Ginny found herself trapped, as the stairway she was currently walking down shifted positions. She watched in apprehension as her only way to the Headmaster's office was now disappearing from sight. "Damn magical stairs!" she cursed, while struggling to keep balance, "Why must fate torture me!?"
"Because you are a butt," a voice taunted in her head, "Is there any other reason?"
"Even my own conscience is out to get me," Ginny grumbled, before her body was flung against the rail of the stairs. Rubbing her now sore back, the redhead stood up and looked to where the stairs stopped. Seeing that trying to determine where she was wasn't getting anywhere, she began moving down quickly. "Please don't move, please don't move," she prayed, "Please don't…aw shit it's moving again." With all her skill and might, she jumped onto the platform, and watched as the stairway yet again shifted to another place. "I hate stairs."
When Ginny was in safe territory –i.e. away from the stairs of death- she decided to sit and take a breather. Not wanting to ruin her clean clothes with all the dust cluttered on the floor, she spotted a random classroom and cautiously opened the door.
Darkness. That's all Ginny's eyes could make out as she walked through the door. Squinting her eyes, she tried to find a source of light, before remember she was a wizard and creating a fire was something wizards could do. So in muttering a quick spell, a light was ignited and the room illuminated from its glow. The room was creepier in the light than dark Ginny decided, as she began exploring. Strange maps and faded paintings of dark looking wizards were pinned upon the walls, as several more papers and broken glass were cluttered upon desks. "Whose classroom is this?" she thought, scared to touch anything and have it bite back. Suddenly a wisp of light blond caught her eye. "Draco?" was the first thought that came in her mind, but quickly discarded it. To her knowledge, the Slytherin was still back in the Gryffindor common room, sleeping away the night. But in being the curious Gryffindor she was, Ginny decided to check it out. It might've been a first year gone astray or something like that.
But the sight that met her there was shocking, to say the least. There, tied up and blindfolded, was no other than Draco Malfoy. "Holy shit," Ginny panicked as she shook Draco awake while trying to untie the binds. "Draco who did this to you?!" she screamed louder, causing Draco to groggily open his eyes, before widening them in fear.
"Ginny you have to leave!!" he pleaded, pushing her away from him, "Run now before he comes back…"
"Draco, what are you talking about??"
"Oh but me of course," said a colder voice from behind. Ginny felt a cold chill course through her as cold hands touched her skin, snaking around her neck. "Hello there, Ginny Weasley."
"Oh my God…" Ginny whispered, too afraid to move and face death.
"No please leave her alone!" Draco pleaded, now moving past Ginny to the cloaked figure behind her. He fell down on his knees; hot tears poured down his cheeks, "PLEASE!!"
"Oh but Draco," the voice replied, as the snake like fingers left their place around Ginny's neck and moved towards the quivering boy at his feet, "I thought this is what you wanted…"
"Draco…" Ginny stuttered, "What…"
"Oh you didn't know?" the coldness taunted, as it grabbed hold of Draco's chin, digging sharp talons in his skin, "Well my little deatheater here didn't want to let the love of his life be destroyed along with everyone else. Such a…sweet story really." Venom seemed to drip from each word, causing Ginny to shudder in fear.
"I am not your deatheater!" Draco bit back, though fear was eminent in his voice, "Ginny!" he yelled to the frozen redhead, "Run now!"
Ginny bit back a scream as the cloaked figure slapped Draco down, the silver haired boy now unconscious and bleeding. "No…no…Draco…" she cried, tears raking her body. She struggled to move away, and help him, but was suddenly pushed back as several hands grabbed at her. The cold hands were now upon her, snaking…chocking. Suddenly a burst of darkness crawled under her veins, as a burning fire marred into her skin. And then…absolute darkness.
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Ginny woke up with a start, as cold sweat trailed down her forehead. She quickly looked around her, relieved to find that she was no longer in the dark classroom, but in the Gryffindor common room. A slight rustling of blankets signaled Draco was also present, safe and intact. Ginny sighed in relief; it was all just a sick nightmare.
After another hour of endless tossing and turning, Ginny gave up on getting back to sleep. Frustrated, she rubbed her temples, trying to release the nightmare from plaguing her thoughts. "What was that…" she wondered after a while, knowing very well something as terrifying as that wasn't just about to disappear from her memory. She looked to the sleeping boy on the other couch, wondering what he was dreaming. "I hope it's better than mine…" she whispered, before settling herself on the couch and willing for sleep to come.
Little did she know his dreams were not far from her own…filled with darkness…evils face…and a cold snake wrapping around its victim.
---Ooh. Scary. Anyways, thank you all for your reviews. I know this story is taking a strange new path, but I do have a reason for it! Until the next chapter, adieu!