Disclaimer: Don't own anything but Lori, who, unfortunately, has returned from her absence of two chapters. Mary Sue she isn't, because I hate her (how is it that I hate a character I made up?).
A/N: First off, I would like to thank my best friend Ashley for being my beta reader and saying such nice things about it…then becoming insanely obsessed and hounding me to finish chapters…just kidding, Ash. You're the best! ;) I also want to sincerely thank all the people that have reviewed; I really appreciate it. By the way, the jade information is true (well, I'm not sure about the actual powers of jade) but the information I gathered from various resources. Warning: This chapter is going to be super long. The end of this was written at around 1:00 AM and I was extremely tired, but I really feel like I poured my heart out into the last scenes of the chapter. It may be my incredibly sleep-deprived mind talking here, but I really do love the end of the chapter, and hope you do too. Well, please R&R, as always.
Love, Lindsay
Chapter Seven: More Than Nothing, Less Than Everything
In Burma and Tibet, jade is considered a mystical charm. When worn, the stone will strengthen weak hearts and deflect lightning. When thrown into water, it causes mist, rain, and snow. If poison is poured into a cup made of jade, the cup will crack. Lucius decided to test these theories himself, bringing a jade cup and a vial of lethal poison to his office. He cared nothing for the supernatural precipitation, and only for the powers that would help him. Carefully opening the vial of poison, Lucius steadily drained the container into the goblet. He placed the vial back on the desk and patiently waited for the cup to crack. Seconds passed slowly, and Lucius became agitated. He let out a grunt of frustration and proceeded to bang his fist on the table, accidentally crushing the vial and shattering it to pieces. Bits of glass embedded themselves into Lucius's pale skin and stained it crimson. He cursed softly and reached for his wand, but found it was not in the place he had set it down.
"Looking for this, Lucius?" a silky voice purred, holding a thin and gleaming wand.
Lucius blanched. "My Lord," he whispered, standing and bowing. "Pardon my questions, but what are you doing here?"
"I'm here on a cheerful notion, Lucius, do not be frightened. Our plan seems to be working. Our friend Mr. Potter has been sent to St. Mungo's under the advisory of some very easily manipulated teachers." Voldemort tutted. "Lucius, you have been most faithful these past few months. Your son, however…" Voldemort placed Lucius's wand on the desk and strode over to the bookshelf that housed portraits of the Malfoy family. "I fear your son has not the heart for the Death Eaters."
"Draco was raised perfectly well for a Death Eater. We made sure he had the mindset," Lucius argued.
"You cannot alter someone's personality without the use of potions, Lucius. Your son has been most cooperative for this mission, but I doubt his loyalty in the future. He will betray the Death Eaters, I am sure, and he will fall. It is best we dispose of him now, than face the risks later on."
"But My Lord, he was supposed to be inducted on his eighteenth birthday. I'm sure that once he is inducted that he will realize that this is the life he was destined for –"
Voldemort held up his hand to silence Lucius. "No further, Lucius. I have decided. After the mission is completed, he is to be disposed of. I advise you to heed my word." Voldemort swept out of the room, leaving a stunned Lucius standing behind his desk.
Lucius sat at his desk, folded his hands, and stared out the window, a feeling similar to rueful on his face. Realizing his expression, he erased the emotion. Two seconds later, the cup cracked.
* * *
Weeks passed with no sign of Harry's return. Almost every day, Ron and Hermione harassed Dumbledore with probing questions of Harry's stay and possible recovery at St. Mungo's Hospital. They had hoped for solid answers, but Dumbledore merely looked thoughtful for a moment, and gave such vague answers that left Ron confused and Hermione perturbed. People began asking intrusive inquiries of Harry's strange disappearance. Some recall seeing the ambulance St. Mungo's sent for him, and others were in the vicinity to hear Harry's shouts as he was dragged away. Rumors went flying, speculations were made. None of them reflected the truth, but Hermione and Ron neglected to tell everyone the reality of the situation, for they didn't know themselves. Many people came to them to see what really happened, but when they told them that they didn't know, disgruntled looks and accusations of lying came flying back in return. This left Ron and Hermione very vexed, causing them to shut out the questions people had and begin to ignore them.
One morning in late November during breakfast, Dumbledore made a surprising announcement. "Few of you remember the Yule Ball about three years ago, when two other schools joined us for a dance that was quite successful. This year, however, we will be holding a ball for the winter holidays, the Saturday night before you all return home for the holidays. Attendance is, of course, optional, but I expect most of you will show for the ball. Dress robes are required, as indicated on your beginning of the year lists."
Ron's mouth dropped open. Another ball? He remembered the one back in his fourth year, and how much he hated it. He had gone with Padma Patil, a Ravenclaw, who had more or less ignored the entire night. Hermione had gone with Viktor Krum. Ron frowned at the though, remembering how angry he had gotten, and the fight that ensued. Hermione glanced at Ron, grinning. She, too, was remembering the fight, and the unacknowledged jealousy Ron felt. Neither of them had ever mentioned the fight again, and they were both thinking of it that moment.
Ginny, upon hearing this news, grinned widely. "Lori! The dress robes; this is what they were for!" she exclaimed excitedly.
Lori was busy chewing on her piece of bacon, but spoke anyway, spitting bits of bacon at Ginny. "Ooh, this will be so much fun! We get to get all dressed up. Who do you think you'll go with?"
Ginny frowned. She hadn't thought of the date aspect of the ball, only the fun of dancing and the dress robes. "I'm not sure; I hadn't thought about it. You'll be going with Seamus, then?"
Lori smiled a little. "I suppose, yea. You know, Gin, he's really such a sweet guy. I'm really so happy that we're dating." Lori had a tendency of bragging at times, and Ginny just blocked her out when she did so.
"Uh-huh," Ginny mumbled, not paying attention. She was too busy thinking of her dress robes. She had yet to show anyone, and was really excited to finally get to show them off. She remembered how thrilled she had been when she and her mother went shopping in Madam Malkin's for her robes and got to spend a bit more time in there than usual. They had sifted through racks and racks of shocking pinks and pale turquoise before Ginny discovered the most perfect dress robe for her. It fit perfectly, hugging her in all the right places but leaving most for the mind to imagine. She couldn't wait for the chance to flaunt it.
Ginny and Lori sped from the Great Hall, giggling, to head up to their common room. Ginny stopped on the stairs and told Lori, breathlessly, to go on because she had forgotten her History of Magic book back at the table. She went to retrieve it, and on her way, overheard a familiar, drawling voice.
"Another ball," Draco sighed. "I suppose Pansy'll want to go with me again. Not that I like her, no, I rather can't stand her. She's a bit on the burly side, don't you think?" Draco said to his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle. "Well, I'll bring her anyway. There aren't any suitable girls in this school anyway."
Obviously, Ginny couldn't care in the least. However, she did feel that familiar feeling in her stomach again, that odd feeling she felt after she had that dream…Stop it, Ginny scolded herself. She shook her head and continued up the stairs to meet Lori at the landing.
Lori hunted around in her closet for a while before pulling out deep vermilion dress robes. They draped loosely around the bottom, and would make that twirly effect most girls left when they spun around in a circle. Small roses imprinted in satin were faintly pressed among the folds of the scarlet material. Ginny oohed and aahed at Lori's robes, admiration agleam in her eyes.
"Come then, let's see yours," Lori said, stuffing her robes back into her closet.
Ginny refused. "No, I told you I wasn't going to show anyone until we need them. Remember, I told you way back when the year started."
"Aw, Gin," Lori whined. Yet Ginny stood firmly on her decision.
Weeks flew by and before any of the students knew it, it was the Monday before the ball. Seamus and Lori had come to an unspoken agreement to go with each other, and Ron had asked Hermione (rather shyly and awkwardly) if she wanted to go with him. The conversation went something along the lines of:
"Hermione…ball…go…me?" Ron had asked, not quite finding the right words to say.
"What?" she had replied, looking up from one of her numerous thick books.
"Ball…me…" Ron was paling, but Hermione got the hint.
She smiled slightly at Ron's embarrassment, and had replied, "Yes, I'll go with you."
They claimed they were going just as friends, but everyone knew otherwise. Ginny caught the glances they gave each other when the other wasn't looking. It was all too obvious, even if Ron and Hermione themselves didn't realize it. Ginny was ecstatic that Ron and Hermione liked each other – Hermione was the perfect girl for Ron, she figured, even if they did bicker all the time.
Colin asked Ginny if she wanted to go with him only two weeks before the ball. She had gotten very nervous before then, hoping that a boy would ask her. Truth be told, Neville was eyeing her, as was a boy from Hufflepuff that was nice, but a little on the dorky side. She had nothing against him – no, he was nice enough – she just wanted the night to be perfect. However, when Colin finally asked her, she was desperate enough to say yes. They clarified it to each other that they would be going as friends only. Colin had a major crush on a girl from Ravenclaw named Mandy Brocklehurst, a girl in seventh year. She had no idea he existed, but he worshiped the ground she walked on.
Harry was still not back from the hospital. He had been there for over a month and a half, with no sign of returning. Dumbledore had not given any information to Hermione and Ron, and would not speak of it at all. They had nearly given up on further inquiries, but were so worried about their friend (even Ron, who seemed to have gotten over the punch) that they persisted. Hermione was quite upset that Harry would miss the ball, but she was keeping up hope.
The night of the ball, the girls all disappeared from sight and locked themselves up in their dormitories to get ready. The boys lounged around until ten minutes before they had to be down in the Great Hall, unwilling to get dressed up. Ron had finally gotten new dress robes, also – after his horrifying night in frayed velvet and a mockery of a frock, he insisted on new ones. Ron, in his dormitory with Neville and Seamus, surveyed himself in the mirror. He patted the front of his robes down, which oddly kept puffing out and making him little like he had a little belly.
"Stupid – thing…" Ron muttered, fiercely flattening the front of his robes. Seamus and Neville could only laugh heartily at him, until he became so angry that he shouted. Seamus then suggested he use a Relaxing Charm to loosen the material. Ron apologetically thanked Seamus, and tapped his robes with his wand, finally making it stay down.
The boys headed downstairs to meet Hermione and the rest of the girls in the common room. On arriving there, the guys separated to be with their dates, appreciating how lovely the girls looked. Ron looked especially pleased with Hermione, who once again startled everyone with her new shimmering gold robes, and sleekly braided hair. Now using makeup, she looked prettier than ever. She smiled broadly at Ron and complimented, while he remained too stunned by Hermione's radiance that he could only mutter, "Pretty" incoherently. Hermione accepted the compliment nonetheless, and took Ron by the arm to drag him downstairs.
Ron, Hermione, Seamus, Neville, Lori, and a girl named Natalie MacDonald who had accepted Neville's invitation to the ball, all went to the Great Hall together. Ginny and Colin had gone early. When the six of them arrived, Ron and Hermione instantly went to look for Ginny. Lori had told them how amazing she looked, and they both wanted to see for themselves. The Great Hall was so jam-packed that after ten minutes of searching, they nearly gave up – until, Hermione spotted a bit of curly red hair by the punch bowl.
She had been clever to keep her robes a secret until then, because Ginny looked absolutely gorgeous. Robes of emerald green with an empire-waist and gold-trimmed sleeves suited her body, clinging to her chest and stomach; it gradually flowed down into a virtual sea of verdant waves, the occasional gold embellishment emphasizing the beauty of the attire. Her mass of vibrantly carmine curls hung in flawless spirals, the two sides fastened together with an elegant clip. Chestnut eyes sparkled under long lashes, her lips curved into a lustrous smile, displaying a set of perfectly white teeth. Ginny had never looked so beautiful.
Ron, shocked once again, pulled Hermione over to her. "Gin," he said, a look of shock on his face, "you look…uh, good."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You look amazing, Ginny. Absolutely stunning." Hermione smiled warmly, confirming her compliment.
Ginny grinned even wider. "Thank you. You look wonderful as well; your robes are so beautiful. Ron, you look nice too." She winked at Hermione.
"Gee thanks, Gin," he replied sarcastically.
The band that was set on a conjured stage in the front of the Hall struck up a fast tempo song. "Oh, Ron, let's dance!" Hermione said excitedly, grabbing his arm. Ron looked apprehensive, and tried to run but Hermione wouldn't let go. "We're dancing," she said more firmly, and the look on her face made Ron submit to her will.
Ginny laughed heartily at the pair of them before turning back to Colin, to whom she was speaking before Ron and Hermione came to flatter her. Colin had seemed nervous all night, speaking in only short sentences and murmured replies. His eyes were darting around the Great Hall, searching for his crush, Mandy. Ginny didn't mind that Colin didn't like her, she just wished that he would pay a bit more attention to her.
She danced only once with him, a short and slow waltz that ended quickly when Colin spotted Mandy at the other end of the Hall. He excused himself abruptly and left Ginny standing alone on the dance floor, surrounding by dozens of happy couples. A feeling of sadness washed over her, and she felt the need to go outside and be alone.
Ginny picked up her robes so they wouldn't scrape against the wet cement outside. Conjured statues, bushes, and benches were placed around the front lawn for a bit of scenery. Ginny wandered around for a little while before she sat on a bench and began to cry softly. Her heart felt heavy, though she felt beautiful. She did not like Colin that way at all; to her, he was merely a friend, a friend that had left her in search of another girl. Ginny felt unloved and unwanted, alone and depressed, which only deepened her sobs until she felt she couldn't breathe.
Draco saw her rush out of the Great Hall, a look of pain on her face. Tears were welled up in her once-sparkling eyes, and he felt her emotion. It was the first time he'd ever empathized with someone, and it had to be her. Ginny Weasley, the girl he couldn't get out of his head for some strange reason, was haunting him. Now, looking angelic in her satiny dress robes, she smeared her image with tears and running mascara. He left Pansy, who's Pepto-Bismol pink robes were making him queasy (quite the opposite of Pepto-Bismol in the first place; perhaps it was the combination of Pansy and the medicated syrup that made him feel so nauseous), to search for Ginny outside.
Draco didn't know what he was going to say once he found her. He was looking for her on whim, thinking only of the present and nothing of the future, or for that matter, the past. All was forgotten in terms of past relations of malevolence and even, at times, violence, and all he could think of was drying the tears that ran down the face of one who should never cry. Draco peered through the heavy-leafed bushes until he saw her, shoulders lurching with every gasping sob.
"Ginny?" he said softly, the name unfamiliar on his tongue. He realized he had never spoken her name aloud, and it all startled him so, also making Ginny jump and wheel around from her place on the bench.
"What – do you want, Malfoy?" she asked, trying to lace hate with her words, but failing. The informality spoken with his surname made him want to have her say his first name, for the second time, aloud.
"What's the matter?" he said, stepping closer and taking a seat on the bench.
Ginny merely stared, wondering why on earth Draco Malfoy was being so nice to her. The moon shone down in eerie rays of silver light, highlighting his sleek hair and defined face. She took in his unearthly appearance in the moonlight, and attempted to say something. A faint gurgle came from the back of her throat.
Draco pushed on. "Why are you crying?" he asked, voice softer still. He was trying to get her to trust him, to make her see that some part of him was shining through, perhaps reflected off the moonlight, shining vestiges of glory that could only be reached when light emphasized his features and empathy reigned his usually nonexistent emotions.
Ginny looked into his silvery eyes, trying to see past the tough exterior always thrust before her. A startling moment after looking deep into his eyes did she plunge straight into his heart and feel his compassion for her, knowing that he was exposing himself to her in his truest form. She took this truth in piece by piece and realized it was one of those rare moments that comes once in a lifetime, and she planned to live through it to the fullest.
"I'm alone," she said finally, her voice breaking. "Colin has run off to Mandy, Hermione has got Ron. Seamus and Lori are together. Even Neville is with someone. I don't understand, Draco," she said, making sure Draco heard his first name, "I don't understand why I am so unlikable romantically."
"You're not," he said, running with his emotions. A new person was coming through and he didn't quite comprehend what was happening to him. He was so in awe of her beauty and despondency that he didn't even care. He raised his hand to run through her silky hair, feeling the softness under his fingertips. Ginny leaned into his hand.
"How am I not?"
"You're beautiful, Ginny, and loved. You can't see it, and I don't know why." Draco let out a breath of air, watching Ginny's eyes close while a single and final tear slipped down her face, towards her lips.
Draco looked at Ginny's lips with admiration and wondered briefly what it would be like to kiss them. Ginny's eyes fluttered open, seeing Draco stare beneath her eyes and at her lips. She leaned closer to Draco, arm raising to rest on the back she once avoided touching. The space between them minimized before it shut completely, a kiss replacing its existence. Their lips touched delicately, an unnatural moment binding the two of them together. Once enemies, now locked together in an explosion of understanding, became much more than that. Ginny had felt alone that night, but found unlikely companionship in an adversary predetermined for her. Draco, seemingly apathetic and cruel, discovered the true feeling of compassion, love, and sympathy…all sorts of fulfilling emotions that made his once empty heart feel whole. The kiss would change them forever; going back was impossible and unthinkable. It cemented them in an indelible way; they were Draco and Ginny, one simple kiss that changed it all.