Chapter Nine: My Escape In You
Draco made a small noise and buried his head underneath his pillows upon hearing his door swing open again.
"Get up Mr. Malfoy."
Draco made no attempt to do so — the only movement he made was from his chest, which rose and fell with his heavy breathing.
Snape scowled at the scene before him. He had been around Draco long enough to know he'd try something like this. It didn't surprise him at all to see Draco spread across his bed, sheets tangled around his limbs, with empty liquor bottles surrounding him.
The scene vaguely reminded him of Lucius — a thought in which he quickly shook out of his head. There was no denying it though; Draco was growing up to look more and more like his father.
Snape held his wand out and uttered a spell, sending a stream of cold, ice water towards Draco. He felt almost sorry for the boy as Draco spat out a string of colorful words, most of which Snape had never even heard of.
Draco snapped his head around to glare at Snape. The look of pure murder on his face made him look even more like Lucius.
"Rough night?" asked Snape airly. He dug inside his robes and held out a tiny red bottle to Draco, who eyed it suspiciously. "It's the remedy for the Pectoralis potion, and this," he added as he held out a blue vial, "is a sobering tonic, brewed just the other night."
"Had a bit of a drink yourself?" inquired Draco, as he chugged one concoction after the other.
"Unlike you, Mr. Malfoy," said Snape a-matter-of-factly, "I know my limits."
"I know my limits," replied Draco, wiping the sides of his mouth off with his wrist. "It just wasn't my first priority then."
"Of course," said Snape. He took a moment to inspect the seat beside him before finally sitting down. "You left in quite a hurry yesterday."
"I had plans," Draco answered simply.
"I can see that," said Snape, eyeing the empty bottles scattered about. Draco followed the Professor's gaze and moaned at his patheticness. He sank back into his bed and held his head in his hands.
"The room is spinning," Draco murmured.
"Yes, that's what happens when you take them as fast as you did," replied Snape irritably. He fixed Draco a piercing look and folded his arms. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
Draco lifted his head up and blinked at the man. Did he? He thought back to his stay in the Infirmary. The main reason he tolerated Pomphrey's constant badgering was to able to talk to Snape.
Tell him about your dreams! screamed the voice in his head.
Draco frowned. Now that he had the chance to speak to the man, he found himself not wanting to say anything.
Tell him!
Snape gave Draco an impatient look. Draco sighed in defeat.
"Not a thing."
* * *
"Come on, Ginny," Minora pleaded. She pressed her ear against the wooden door of the Prefects bathroom, in hopes to get a reply from her friend.
Nothing.
"Ginny!" Minora shouted, irritation creeping through her skin. "You can't hide away forever, Gin!" No response. She sighed. "Ginny, please. Just — just come to Hogsmeade with me, huh? Come on, it's nice and cool outside. You know how much you love autumn. We'll get some of that candy you like so much — the ones that turn your hair blonde. And butterbeer! Remember butterbeer? Please Gin — "
Suddenly — and to Minora's great surprise — the door opened, and a freshly groomed Ginny stepped out.
"Finally," Minora said in relief. But the emotionless look on Ginny's face still worried her.
"I'm only coming so you'll stop nagging me," said Ginny bluntly, and began to walk towards the main Entrance Hall, a disappointed-looking Minora following in tow.
* * *
"Penny for your thoughts," said Hermione gently, as she and Ron enjoyed a freshly brewed kettle of tea on a couch in their flat.
"A what?" asked Ron, making a face at the foreign word.
Hermione giggled — how easy it was to forget Ron's deprivation of Muggle-related things.
"A penny — Muggle money," she explained, and took a sip of her hot tea and she made herself comfortable against Ron's chest.
"Oh," replied Ron, and asked, "and what's the value of a — a penny?"
"Well — not much," said Hermione, and racked her brain for a better way to explain it. No such luck.
"So my thoughts aren't worth much?" asked Ron, sounding indignant.
Hermione giggled again, and gave him a playful jab at the ribs with her elbow.
"It's just a phrase," she told him, and squeezed his hand reassuringly. "I'm just wondering what you're thinking about."
"Oh," Ron said again, and relaxed. "Malfoy."
Hermione choked on her tea. "W-what? You're thinking about Malfoy?"
Ron nodded, his chestnut eyes darkening. Hermione glanced up at him warily.
"I think he might like Ginny," said Ron slowly.
Hermione nearly covered herself in tea as she laughed hysterically.
"Malfoy, liking someone? And Ginny, of all people? Wha makes you think a thing like that?"
"I can just tell," Ron explained, and shifted around underneath her.
"You can just tell," Hermione repeated, and shook her bushy head in doubt. "Ron, it took you years to figure out there was something going on between us — suddenly you're Dr. Love?"
Ron frowned. "I was young," he said defensively. "I didn't know any better."
"And now you do?"
"Well I won you, didn't I?" countered Ron.
"Yeah — but from who? Neville?" Hermione quipped.
"Yeah, well — Neville'd been working out," pouted Ron. Hermione chuckled and planted a soft kiss on Ron's freckled cheek. She frowned at Ron's troubled expression, and forced herself to be more serious about it.
"You really think he might have something for Gin?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah," said Ron, "I really do."
"I'm surprised you're not barging through his flat to knock him around and tell him to stay away from Ginny," giggled Hermione, and her eyes widened at Ron's guilty look. "Ron, you didn't!"
"Not to knock him around," defended Ron. "Just to talk to him. I thought he was the reason that Ginny was like that."
Hermione glared. "When?"
"That one day when we were at Hogwarts."
"I can't believe you," said Hermione. "I thought you just went somewhere to cool off!"
Ron shrugged. "You know me. I just went over to ask what happened to Gin, that's all."
Hermione sighed in exasperation. "And what did he say?"
"Said it wasn't him," sighed Ron. "Said it was Harry. The prat was completely drunk but he was hitting it pretty close."
"Drunk?" pondered Hermione. "What for?"
"Hell if I know," muttered Ron, screwing up his nose upon remembering the intense smell of alcohol in Draco's flat.
"And he told you the reason for Ginny's behavior is Harry?"
"Yeah."
"And you believed him?"
"Well — you have to admit, it's not like it hasn't happened before," argued Ron.
Hermione frowned. She remembered only too well of Ron and Harry's rows when Harry and Ginny had broken up. She always had the feeling that Ron had never really forgiven Harry for hurting Ginny.
"You're not still upset about that, are you?"
Ron sighed. "No. I'm just saying that Malfoy might not be all that wrong. Didn't Harry speak with her earlier that day?"
"Well — yeah, but — "
"See," said Ron, "it could've been him."
"But Ron — Harry?"
"The man's not perfect Hermione," scowled Ron.
Hermione winced. "I know that — "
"He's hurt her before — "
"Ron," said Hermione loudly, sensing another rant coming. She took hold of Ron's face and forced him to lock eyes with her. "I know," she said gently, and kissed him softly.
Ron sighed. "Sorry — I guess I'm not completely over it."
"Oh, I doubt any of us really are," said Hermione, nestling herself against his chest again. "So you were saying?" asked Hermione, wanting to get Ron's mind off of Harry. "Malfoy and Ginny?"
"Crazy, isn't it?" chuckled Ron softly. "When I realized, I was ready to explode. Of have him explode." He paused. "'Course, he had me at wand point so I couldn't really — "
"Wand point?" asked Hermione, worry clear in her tone.
"Ah — well, we had a few words. One thing led to another — " Ron shook his head. "But that's beside the point."
"And your point is, that from that little encounter you were able to tell Malfoy had feelings for your sister?" asked Hermione doubtfully.
"It's hard to explain, but the way he said her name," said Ron, as his red brows furrowed. "The look on his face."
"He was drunk."
"Even still," said Ron, who began to get irritated with the fact that he couldn't explain it any better. "I know Malfoy — as much as I hate to admit it — and I know the look on his face when he's trying to hide his emotions. Even though he was drunk, he had that look."
"I don't know Ron..."
"I can't really explain it," said Ron, frowning. "Just believe me when I say I know that look."
"But how can you be so sure?" pressed Hermione.
At this, Ron smiled. He kissed Hermione's forehead lightly and whispered, "I had that look not so long ago."
* * *
"Ginny — honey, you look terrible."
Ginny's scowl deepened. "Gee, thanks," she said in a monotone.
"Er — we'll just have the usual, Madam Rosmerta," Minora chuckled uneasily, and proceeded to drag Ginny to a booth in the back before Rosmerta could question them.
"Well this has been fun," said Ginny grouchily.
"Ginny, I'm trying," pleaded Minora, "the least you could do is try too."
Ginny frowned guiltily. She knew what a prat she was being, and sighed.
"I'm sorry, Min," Ginny said, placing her head into her palms. "I've been feeling really out of it lately."
"I noticed," said Minora lightly, and offered Ginny a smile. "I'm your best friend, Gin. You're supposed to talk to me about your problems — that's what I'm here for." She placed her hand on Ginny's shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. "Use me."
Ginny lifted her head slowly and was met with Minora's pleading blue eyes.
"It's nothing, really — "
"Bullocks," said Minora stubbornly, and took a firm hold of Ginny's hands. "You've been having waking up every night, screaming and crying." Her expression darkened. "Are you dreaming about him again?"
Ginny winced. Minora was probably the only person who knew that Ginny dreamt of Tom. She nodded slowly.
"Ginny!" Minora whispered breathlessly, and looked panicked. "If you're dreaming about the Chamber again, you've got to — "
"I'm fine, Min — "
"You are not fine," Minora said firmly. "Something's happening to you, Ginny, and it's not normal."
Ginny scowled and pried Minora's hands off of her's. "Like you care," she said, sounding very irked.
Minora stared at Ginny bewilderedly. "Ginny, of course I care."
"No you don't," said Ginny with conviction. "No one does."
Minora goggled at the redhead. "Ginny, what are you saying — "
"I can take care of myself," Ginny said. She stood up and glared at Minora. "I don't need you — I don't need anyone." She stomped off just as Rosmerta arrived with their butterbeers. She left the Three Broomsticks and wandered around aimlessly, the scowl on her face deepening.
Something has to be terribly wrong before they start to care about her, she thought. Well that's fine. She didn't need them. Better to be alone than to deal with them, right?
She bit her lip. She knew she was wrong, and she mentally cursed herself for being so stupid. Minora was only being a friend, and Ginny — being the prat she is — had thrown it in her face. She knew she had to apologize, and turned to head back towards the Three Broomsticks.
That was probably the first time she had taken a look at her surroundings.
She choked on her breath as her eyes took it all in. She was in a narrow alley, surrounded by towering shops that smelled of mold and decay. Sunlight seemed to be foreign to the alley, as the only light was provided from shop signs, magicked to glow advertisements. The alley itself was busy — wizards and goblins rushed past to enter the shops, all leaving with rather suspicious looking packages.
Ginny swallowed hard. She had somehow wandered into Knockturn Alley.
She felt her limbs weaken as her mother's words echoed through her mind.
"Knockturn Alley's a bad place — full of the worst kind of wizards and creatures, selling the Dark Arts like they were candy."
Ginny gasped in fright as a grumpy old witch rushed past her, inadvertently knocking her against a wall.
"Watch it!" the witch barked, and hurried on her way.
Ginny stood frozen against the wall, her heart beating like a hummingbird's wings. She wanted nothing more than to be invisible as people passing by gave her suspicious looks. Her bright red hair stood out so plainly against the alley's blackness.
"Hey baby," simpered a wizard, donned in violet robes as he made he way towards her. Ginny's nose wrinkled upon smelling the strong odor of alcohol in his breath. "What's the matter?" he asked, grinning wide enough for Ginny to see he was missing a tooth. "Lost?"
Ginny went flat against the wall as he moved closer to her. "N-no," Ginny replied, trying her best not to look frightened. Her body quivered as she felt his cold hands graze her chin, and bit her lip in anxiety of what would happen next.
She saw a flash of silver behind the man, and suddenly he was pulled off of her. Her eyes widened upon seeing Draco Malfoy with his back to her as he held the man against the wall opposite her by the collars.
"Franco," said Draco, and though Ginny could not see his face, she highly suspected he was sneering. "That's not how to treat a lady."
"Like you know any better," growled Franco, and tried to pry Draco's grip off of him. But Draco had quite the grip. He chuckled.
"You flatter me, Franco," said Draco, and raised Franco a few feet above the ground, leaving his feet dangling helplessly. "Now apologize to her."
Ginny's eyes — if possible — widened even more as Franco choked out a weak, "S-sorry!"
Draco shrugged and let go of Franco, sending him crumpling to the ground. "Good enough. Now shoo."
Franco sent Draco a murderous look and stalked off, leaving an amused Draco and a startled Ginny.
Draco turned to Ginny, and bent down to retrieve a package he had probably dropped earlier. "What brings you here?" he asked her, smiling faintly.
Ginny swallowed. "I got lost," she muttered.
Draco grinned. "You best be on your way then. Don't want anyone to worry now, do you?"
Ginny scowled. "They wouldn't care."
Draco's brows raised a few centimeters. He looked at Ginny curiously, but her avoidance of his eyes made it clear to him that she did not want to talk about it.
"Even still," he said, placing his hands in his pockets with the package in his arm. "You shouldn't be in here."
"I don't even know how I got in here," Ginny admitted.
"I figured," said Draco and started off down the alley, motioning Ginny to follow him. "Come on, then."
Impulsively, Ginny jogged after him, making sure to stick close so she wouldn't get lost again.
"I tell you," said Draco, "it's a good thing I came here when I did. Otherwise Franco'd've taken care of you."
Ginny gulped upon hearing 'taken care of you'. "What were you doing here anyway? Seems like a rotten place."
Draco grinned. "Diagon Alley doesn't exactly have the best liquor," he said, and Ginny's eyes trailed to the package in his arms.
"You drink?" Ginny asked, frowing slightly.
"Oh yes," said Draco rather cheerfully. "I abhor smoking and doing drugs, so drinking's my only escape."
"What're you trying to escape from?" Ginny inquired. She'd always wondered what would push a person like Draco Malfoy to drink.
"Stuff," Draco answered simply, and turned a corner. Ginny blinked at the sudden sunlight and was welcomed by the relaxing view of Diagon Alley.
"There you go," Draco said, and waited for Ginny to walk away.
She didn't.
"What kind of stuff?" asked Ginny, and Draco's eyes widened slightly.
"Don't you want to find your friends?"
"No," said Ginny simply.
Draco's brows furrowed in puzzlement. "Why not?"
"Reasons."
"Like?"
"Stuff."
Draco chuckled. "Alright then," he said, "I tell, and you tell. Deal?"
"Deal," nodded Ginny, and Draco smiled.
"Come on," he said, and started off down a gravel road.
"Where are we going?" asked Ginny, and jogged after him.
"I know a place," he said simply and offered her a mischievous grin. Ginny looked at him with uncertainty but followed him anyway.
* * *
"I don't know, Headmaster," said Snape, as he rubbed the back of his neck uneasily. "Isn't waiting a bit risky?"
"And what do you suggest we do?" asked Dumbledore. He smiled at Fawkes, who had just nestled itself on Dumbledore's lap.
"Surely you must have an idea of who it might be," said Snape.
"An inkling, yes," said Dumbldore, nodding slightly. "But without enough certainty to act upon."
"Who do you think it is, then?" Snape's eyes darkened upon the look Dumbledore had given him. "Potter? You think it's Potter?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "You say his name as if it were filth. You're truly one for grudges, aren't you?"
Snape scowled. "Everything happens to that boy."
"Yes," said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "But he is not the one I am thinking of."
Snape raised a brow at the older man. "Who is he then?"
Dumbledore smiled, his blue eyes twinkling beneath the half-moon spectacles. He leaned back against his chair to look up at his office's ceiling.
"Not 'he', Severus — She."
* * *
"Wow."
Ginny's mouth hung open upon laying eyes on the sight before her. Draco had taken her to a large clearing deep into the forest, where the grass looked soft enough to sleep on and the trees' leaves had not completely fallen off.
"Where did you find this place?" Ginny asked, and followed Draco towards a large tree.
"Sixth year," he said, and sat against the tree. "Took a wrong turn one Hogsmeade trip and winded up here. Been coming here since then."
"It's beautiful," Ginny said, eyes still scanning the place.
"And relaxing," said Draco, and rested on the grass with his head propped up by his folded arms. Ginny shifted uncomfortably. Draco's shirt wasn't fully buttoned, and Ginny had a clear view of his midriff. He apparently had quite the six-pack.
She felt her face heat up and quickly turned her head away.
"So tell me," she head, trying to rid her mind of the image of Draco's abs. "What are you trying to escape?"
"Dreams," Draco answered, his gray eyes tracing the sky. "My past. Some really crappy stuff."
"Dreams?" Ginny said softly, her honey-brown eyes dropping to the grass in front of her. "What are you dreaming of?"
"I don't really know," answered Draco truthfully. "It doesn't really make sense."
"Why did you kill your father?" Ginny asked suddenly, and Draco looked at her.
"Huh?"
"I'd always wanted to know," said Ginny, "I figured now was a good as time as any to ask."
Draco pursed his lips thoughtfully, and directed his gaze back up to the sky. "The Ministry asked me to."
"The Ministry asked you to kill your own father?"
"Well, my father wasn't exactly your ordinary father," said Draco.
"So, what? You just killed him?"
"No, I refused to at first. Honestly, I think I was scared to. I mean, my father had beaten me enough to know that he was a heck of a lot stronger than I was. The Ministry said they'd allow me to use Dark Arts, and not have it used against me. I knew plenty of curses, sure — but nothing drastic enough to kill someone like Lucius Malfoy."
"So, why did you do it?"
"Snape convinced me to. The Ministry needed Lucius Malfoy dead, and I was their only shot. I was the only one father let his guard down on — mostly because he knew I wouldn't dare do anything to cross him, nor could I." He sighed. "That was probably his only mistake. He underestimated his enemies. He didn't even think that they would use his own son against him."
"How did you do it if you didn't know enough Dark magic?"
"Research. And lessons. Believe it or not, but Dumbledore actually knows a lot of Dark magic."
"Dumbledore allowed you to use Dark magic to kill your father? He agreed to it?"
"Hell no. He was the most against it. I was supposed to kill him by force, since no one on the good side knew any Dark magic, and the only one who did — Dumbedore — wouldn't teach me. He came up to me one night and offered to teach me other kinds of magic. Old, ancient magic. I was too weak to know anything serious, so he taught me a simple, burning spell. It sets anything — or anyone, in this case — on fire, and the fire would never end. Nothing would put it out until the person you directed it to, is dead. No counter curse or fire extinguishing spell would work. It'll just keep burning and burning."
"Why did Dumbledore do that? I thought he was against killing your father?"
"Oh he was. The Ministry damn near pissed him off with it. He thought they were cruel and irresponsible for sending a young boy off to kill his own father — and using his own hands too. He had tried to convince me that I didn't have to do it. But he knew as much as I did that it was the only way. So he taught me the spell."
"But — he was your father."
"Only biologically," said Draco. "I mean, sure he gave me everything I wanted, but that was probably it. He never really did anything to classify him as a 'father'."
Ginny frowned. "I'm sorry."
Draco chuckled. "Yeah, so'm I." He turned his head to her with a small grin. "And now it's your turn."
"What was the question?" Ginny asked in embarrassment.
"Why didn't you want to find your friends?"
"Oh." She sighed. "I don't know. I just don't want to deal with them right now. Always asking me what's wrong, pretending like they care."
Draco raised a brow. "They don't care?"
"Oh I'm sure they do," answered Ginny. She sighed again. "I don't know — it just always seems to me that they only show they care when something's wrong. Or when you're in trouble." Her eyes darkened.
"Ah," Draco said knowingly. "This all goes back to Potter, doesn't it?"
"I don't mean to be so angry with him," Ginny admitted. "He's a sweet guy really — "
Draco gagged.
" — but he just drives me insane! We dated for a while, did you know that?"
"Kind of," Draco shrugged. He had heard a little about it during his seventh year, but then he didn't really care.
"Well we did. And I couldn't've been happier. I'd been obsessiving over the guy since I was 10, when I first saw him! But those few months ended up being one of the worst I'd ever had. I'm sure he didn't mean to, but he was always pushing me away. I don't know, maybe he had gotten used to always being with only Hermione and Ron." She shook her head. "He'd never tell me anything. I end up losing sleep worrying about him, knowing there's something he's keeping from me." She sniffed, feeling all the pain rushing back to her. "He kept to himself, too. Hardly showed me any kind of affection. Herminone told me he was just afraid of hurting me." She chuckled dryly. "They didn't even realize he was already hurting me by doing that. Kind of ironic, really." She scowled. "Only when something's wrong with me or I'm in trouble does he ever show he cares. I feel like I have to die first before he'll ever tell me how he really feels!"
Draco frowned. He had no idea Harry was that much of a git.
"Why are you telling me this?" he asked.
"I guess you're the only one I can tell," Ginny admitted. "And you did ask," she added lightly.
Draco laughed. "I guess I did."
"Sorry — is it annoying you?"
"Heck no," said Draco. "There's nothing better than a good Potter-bashing."
"It's kind of odd that out of everyone, you're the only one I can talk to about this," Ginny said thoughtfully, watching as the sunlight began to fade and darkness took it's place.
"It is," agreed Draco. "I guess it works both ways, seeing as I'd never told anyone about that either."
Ginny laughed. "It's funny how we barely even said a word to each other for the six years we were in the same school. And now, all of a sudden, I'm telling you something I've never been able to tell anyone before."
Draco grinned. "Who knew fate had such a sense of humor?"
Ginny smiled, feeling an odd serenity overwhelm her. The two sat in silence, watching as the stars began to brighten, filling the dark void above them.
----------
Chapter Ten; The plot thickens as emotions are questioned and a kidnapping occurs! *cue suspenseful music*
The whole "a penny for your thoughts" thing was inspired by another fic, though I'm afraid to say I've forgotten the title. ^^; If anyone knows, please tell me so I can give credit where it's due.
This chapter turned out to be longer than I had originally planned. o_o; Hopefully it cleared up some things. Also, I don't think ff.net allows you to put url addresses because it's not showing up. XP Try got-me.net/draco (just add in all the www stuff). ^^; And thank you, once again to my wonderful reviewers!
Wolviesrogue, Joya, HedwigOwl, Robyn Maddison, Elle Deni Minaty, and Kasumi ~ thank you for helping me reach double digits!
Draco made a small noise and buried his head underneath his pillows upon hearing his door swing open again.
"Get up Mr. Malfoy."
Draco made no attempt to do so — the only movement he made was from his chest, which rose and fell with his heavy breathing.
Snape scowled at the scene before him. He had been around Draco long enough to know he'd try something like this. It didn't surprise him at all to see Draco spread across his bed, sheets tangled around his limbs, with empty liquor bottles surrounding him.
The scene vaguely reminded him of Lucius — a thought in which he quickly shook out of his head. There was no denying it though; Draco was growing up to look more and more like his father.
Snape held his wand out and uttered a spell, sending a stream of cold, ice water towards Draco. He felt almost sorry for the boy as Draco spat out a string of colorful words, most of which Snape had never even heard of.
Draco snapped his head around to glare at Snape. The look of pure murder on his face made him look even more like Lucius.
"Rough night?" asked Snape airly. He dug inside his robes and held out a tiny red bottle to Draco, who eyed it suspiciously. "It's the remedy for the Pectoralis potion, and this," he added as he held out a blue vial, "is a sobering tonic, brewed just the other night."
"Had a bit of a drink yourself?" inquired Draco, as he chugged one concoction after the other.
"Unlike you, Mr. Malfoy," said Snape a-matter-of-factly, "I know my limits."
"I know my limits," replied Draco, wiping the sides of his mouth off with his wrist. "It just wasn't my first priority then."
"Of course," said Snape. He took a moment to inspect the seat beside him before finally sitting down. "You left in quite a hurry yesterday."
"I had plans," Draco answered simply.
"I can see that," said Snape, eyeing the empty bottles scattered about. Draco followed the Professor's gaze and moaned at his patheticness. He sank back into his bed and held his head in his hands.
"The room is spinning," Draco murmured.
"Yes, that's what happens when you take them as fast as you did," replied Snape irritably. He fixed Draco a piercing look and folded his arms. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
Draco lifted his head up and blinked at the man. Did he? He thought back to his stay in the Infirmary. The main reason he tolerated Pomphrey's constant badgering was to able to talk to Snape.
Tell him about your dreams! screamed the voice in his head.
Draco frowned. Now that he had the chance to speak to the man, he found himself not wanting to say anything.
Tell him!
Snape gave Draco an impatient look. Draco sighed in defeat.
"Not a thing."
"Come on, Ginny," Minora pleaded. She pressed her ear against the wooden door of the Prefects bathroom, in hopes to get a reply from her friend.
Nothing.
"Ginny!" Minora shouted, irritation creeping through her skin. "You can't hide away forever, Gin!" No response. She sighed. "Ginny, please. Just — just come to Hogsmeade with me, huh? Come on, it's nice and cool outside. You know how much you love autumn. We'll get some of that candy you like so much — the ones that turn your hair blonde. And butterbeer! Remember butterbeer? Please Gin — "
Suddenly — and to Minora's great surprise — the door opened, and a freshly groomed Ginny stepped out.
"Finally," Minora said in relief. But the emotionless look on Ginny's face still worried her.
"I'm only coming so you'll stop nagging me," said Ginny bluntly, and began to walk towards the main Entrance Hall, a disappointed-looking Minora following in tow.
"Penny for your thoughts," said Hermione gently, as she and Ron enjoyed a freshly brewed kettle of tea on a couch in their flat.
"A what?" asked Ron, making a face at the foreign word.
Hermione giggled — how easy it was to forget Ron's deprivation of Muggle-related things.
"A penny — Muggle money," she explained, and took a sip of her hot tea and she made herself comfortable against Ron's chest.
"Oh," replied Ron, and asked, "and what's the value of a — a penny?"
"Well — not much," said Hermione, and racked her brain for a better way to explain it. No such luck.
"So my thoughts aren't worth much?" asked Ron, sounding indignant.
Hermione giggled again, and gave him a playful jab at the ribs with her elbow.
"It's just a phrase," she told him, and squeezed his hand reassuringly. "I'm just wondering what you're thinking about."
"Oh," Ron said again, and relaxed. "Malfoy."
Hermione choked on her tea. "W-what? You're thinking about Malfoy?"
Ron nodded, his chestnut eyes darkening. Hermione glanced up at him warily.
"I think he might like Ginny," said Ron slowly.
Hermione nearly covered herself in tea as she laughed hysterically.
"Malfoy, liking someone? And Ginny, of all people? Wha makes you think a thing like that?"
"I can just tell," Ron explained, and shifted around underneath her.
"You can just tell," Hermione repeated, and shook her bushy head in doubt. "Ron, it took you years to figure out there was something going on between us — suddenly you're Dr. Love?"
Ron frowned. "I was young," he said defensively. "I didn't know any better."
"And now you do?"
"Well I won you, didn't I?" countered Ron.
"Yeah — but from who? Neville?" Hermione quipped.
"Yeah, well — Neville'd been working out," pouted Ron. Hermione chuckled and planted a soft kiss on Ron's freckled cheek. She frowned at Ron's troubled expression, and forced herself to be more serious about it.
"You really think he might have something for Gin?" asked Hermione.
"Yeah," said Ron, "I really do."
"I'm surprised you're not barging through his flat to knock him around and tell him to stay away from Ginny," giggled Hermione, and her eyes widened at Ron's guilty look. "Ron, you didn't!"
"Not to knock him around," defended Ron. "Just to talk to him. I thought he was the reason that Ginny was like that."
Hermione glared. "When?"
"That one day when we were at Hogwarts."
"I can't believe you," said Hermione. "I thought you just went somewhere to cool off!"
Ron shrugged. "You know me. I just went over to ask what happened to Gin, that's all."
Hermione sighed in exasperation. "And what did he say?"
"Said it wasn't him," sighed Ron. "Said it was Harry. The prat was completely drunk but he was hitting it pretty close."
"Drunk?" pondered Hermione. "What for?"
"Hell if I know," muttered Ron, screwing up his nose upon remembering the intense smell of alcohol in Draco's flat.
"And he told you the reason for Ginny's behavior is Harry?"
"Yeah."
"And you believed him?"
"Well — you have to admit, it's not like it hasn't happened before," argued Ron.
Hermione frowned. She remembered only too well of Ron and Harry's rows when Harry and Ginny had broken up. She always had the feeling that Ron had never really forgiven Harry for hurting Ginny.
"You're not still upset about that, are you?"
Ron sighed. "No. I'm just saying that Malfoy might not be all that wrong. Didn't Harry speak with her earlier that day?"
"Well — yeah, but — "
"See," said Ron, "it could've been him."
"But Ron — Harry?"
"The man's not perfect Hermione," scowled Ron.
Hermione winced. "I know that — "
"He's hurt her before — "
"Ron," said Hermione loudly, sensing another rant coming. She took hold of Ron's face and forced him to lock eyes with her. "I know," she said gently, and kissed him softly.
Ron sighed. "Sorry — I guess I'm not completely over it."
"Oh, I doubt any of us really are," said Hermione, nestling herself against his chest again. "So you were saying?" asked Hermione, wanting to get Ron's mind off of Harry. "Malfoy and Ginny?"
"Crazy, isn't it?" chuckled Ron softly. "When I realized, I was ready to explode. Of have him explode." He paused. "'Course, he had me at wand point so I couldn't really — "
"Wand point?" asked Hermione, worry clear in her tone.
"Ah — well, we had a few words. One thing led to another — " Ron shook his head. "But that's beside the point."
"And your point is, that from that little encounter you were able to tell Malfoy had feelings for your sister?" asked Hermione doubtfully.
"It's hard to explain, but the way he said her name," said Ron, as his red brows furrowed. "The look on his face."
"He was drunk."
"Even still," said Ron, who began to get irritated with the fact that he couldn't explain it any better. "I know Malfoy — as much as I hate to admit it — and I know the look on his face when he's trying to hide his emotions. Even though he was drunk, he had that look."
"I don't know Ron..."
"I can't really explain it," said Ron, frowning. "Just believe me when I say I know that look."
"But how can you be so sure?" pressed Hermione.
At this, Ron smiled. He kissed Hermione's forehead lightly and whispered, "I had that look not so long ago."
"Ginny — honey, you look terrible."
Ginny's scowl deepened. "Gee, thanks," she said in a monotone.
"Er — we'll just have the usual, Madam Rosmerta," Minora chuckled uneasily, and proceeded to drag Ginny to a booth in the back before Rosmerta could question them.
"Well this has been fun," said Ginny grouchily.
"Ginny, I'm trying," pleaded Minora, "the least you could do is try too."
Ginny frowned guiltily. She knew what a prat she was being, and sighed.
"I'm sorry, Min," Ginny said, placing her head into her palms. "I've been feeling really out of it lately."
"I noticed," said Minora lightly, and offered Ginny a smile. "I'm your best friend, Gin. You're supposed to talk to me about your problems — that's what I'm here for." She placed her hand on Ginny's shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. "Use me."
Ginny lifted her head slowly and was met with Minora's pleading blue eyes.
"It's nothing, really — "
"Bullocks," said Minora stubbornly, and took a firm hold of Ginny's hands. "You've been having waking up every night, screaming and crying." Her expression darkened. "Are you dreaming about him again?"
Ginny winced. Minora was probably the only person who knew that Ginny dreamt of Tom. She nodded slowly.
"Ginny!" Minora whispered breathlessly, and looked panicked. "If you're dreaming about the Chamber again, you've got to — "
"I'm fine, Min — "
"You are not fine," Minora said firmly. "Something's happening to you, Ginny, and it's not normal."
Ginny scowled and pried Minora's hands off of her's. "Like you care," she said, sounding very irked.
Minora stared at Ginny bewilderedly. "Ginny, of course I care."
"No you don't," said Ginny with conviction. "No one does."
Minora goggled at the redhead. "Ginny, what are you saying — "
"I can take care of myself," Ginny said. She stood up and glared at Minora. "I don't need you — I don't need anyone." She stomped off just as Rosmerta arrived with their butterbeers. She left the Three Broomsticks and wandered around aimlessly, the scowl on her face deepening.
Something has to be terribly wrong before they start to care about her, she thought. Well that's fine. She didn't need them. Better to be alone than to deal with them, right?
She bit her lip. She knew she was wrong, and she mentally cursed herself for being so stupid. Minora was only being a friend, and Ginny — being the prat she is — had thrown it in her face. She knew she had to apologize, and turned to head back towards the Three Broomsticks.
That was probably the first time she had taken a look at her surroundings.
She choked on her breath as her eyes took it all in. She was in a narrow alley, surrounded by towering shops that smelled of mold and decay. Sunlight seemed to be foreign to the alley, as the only light was provided from shop signs, magicked to glow advertisements. The alley itself was busy — wizards and goblins rushed past to enter the shops, all leaving with rather suspicious looking packages.
Ginny swallowed hard. She had somehow wandered into Knockturn Alley.
She felt her limbs weaken as her mother's words echoed through her mind.
"Knockturn Alley's a bad place — full of the worst kind of wizards and creatures, selling the Dark Arts like they were candy."
Ginny gasped in fright as a grumpy old witch rushed past her, inadvertently knocking her against a wall.
"Watch it!" the witch barked, and hurried on her way.
Ginny stood frozen against the wall, her heart beating like a hummingbird's wings. She wanted nothing more than to be invisible as people passing by gave her suspicious looks. Her bright red hair stood out so plainly against the alley's blackness.
"Hey baby," simpered a wizard, donned in violet robes as he made he way towards her. Ginny's nose wrinkled upon smelling the strong odor of alcohol in his breath. "What's the matter?" he asked, grinning wide enough for Ginny to see he was missing a tooth. "Lost?"
Ginny went flat against the wall as he moved closer to her. "N-no," Ginny replied, trying her best not to look frightened. Her body quivered as she felt his cold hands graze her chin, and bit her lip in anxiety of what would happen next.
She saw a flash of silver behind the man, and suddenly he was pulled off of her. Her eyes widened upon seeing Draco Malfoy with his back to her as he held the man against the wall opposite her by the collars.
"Franco," said Draco, and though Ginny could not see his face, she highly suspected he was sneering. "That's not how to treat a lady."
"Like you know any better," growled Franco, and tried to pry Draco's grip off of him. But Draco had quite the grip. He chuckled.
"You flatter me, Franco," said Draco, and raised Franco a few feet above the ground, leaving his feet dangling helplessly. "Now apologize to her."
Ginny's eyes — if possible — widened even more as Franco choked out a weak, "S-sorry!"
Draco shrugged and let go of Franco, sending him crumpling to the ground. "Good enough. Now shoo."
Franco sent Draco a murderous look and stalked off, leaving an amused Draco and a startled Ginny.
Draco turned to Ginny, and bent down to retrieve a package he had probably dropped earlier. "What brings you here?" he asked her, smiling faintly.
Ginny swallowed. "I got lost," she muttered.
Draco grinned. "You best be on your way then. Don't want anyone to worry now, do you?"
Ginny scowled. "They wouldn't care."
Draco's brows raised a few centimeters. He looked at Ginny curiously, but her avoidance of his eyes made it clear to him that she did not want to talk about it.
"Even still," he said, placing his hands in his pockets with the package in his arm. "You shouldn't be in here."
"I don't even know how I got in here," Ginny admitted.
"I figured," said Draco and started off down the alley, motioning Ginny to follow him. "Come on, then."
Impulsively, Ginny jogged after him, making sure to stick close so she wouldn't get lost again.
"I tell you," said Draco, "it's a good thing I came here when I did. Otherwise Franco'd've taken care of you."
Ginny gulped upon hearing 'taken care of you'. "What were you doing here anyway? Seems like a rotten place."
Draco grinned. "Diagon Alley doesn't exactly have the best liquor," he said, and Ginny's eyes trailed to the package in his arms.
"You drink?" Ginny asked, frowing slightly.
"Oh yes," said Draco rather cheerfully. "I abhor smoking and doing drugs, so drinking's my only escape."
"What're you trying to escape from?" Ginny inquired. She'd always wondered what would push a person like Draco Malfoy to drink.
"Stuff," Draco answered simply, and turned a corner. Ginny blinked at the sudden sunlight and was welcomed by the relaxing view of Diagon Alley.
"There you go," Draco said, and waited for Ginny to walk away.
She didn't.
"What kind of stuff?" asked Ginny, and Draco's eyes widened slightly.
"Don't you want to find your friends?"
"No," said Ginny simply.
Draco's brows furrowed in puzzlement. "Why not?"
"Reasons."
"Like?"
"Stuff."
Draco chuckled. "Alright then," he said, "I tell, and you tell. Deal?"
"Deal," nodded Ginny, and Draco smiled.
"Come on," he said, and started off down a gravel road.
"Where are we going?" asked Ginny, and jogged after him.
"I know a place," he said simply and offered her a mischievous grin. Ginny looked at him with uncertainty but followed him anyway.
"I don't know, Headmaster," said Snape, as he rubbed the back of his neck uneasily. "Isn't waiting a bit risky?"
"And what do you suggest we do?" asked Dumbledore. He smiled at Fawkes, who had just nestled itself on Dumbledore's lap.
"Surely you must have an idea of who it might be," said Snape.
"An inkling, yes," said Dumbldore, nodding slightly. "But without enough certainty to act upon."
"Who do you think it is, then?" Snape's eyes darkened upon the look Dumbledore had given him. "Potter? You think it's Potter?"
Dumbledore chuckled. "You say his name as if it were filth. You're truly one for grudges, aren't you?"
Snape scowled. "Everything happens to that boy."
"Yes," said Dumbledore thoughtfully. "But he is not the one I am thinking of."
Snape raised a brow at the older man. "Who is he then?"
Dumbledore smiled, his blue eyes twinkling beneath the half-moon spectacles. He leaned back against his chair to look up at his office's ceiling.
"Not 'he', Severus — She."
"Wow."
Ginny's mouth hung open upon laying eyes on the sight before her. Draco had taken her to a large clearing deep into the forest, where the grass looked soft enough to sleep on and the trees' leaves had not completely fallen off.
"Where did you find this place?" Ginny asked, and followed Draco towards a large tree.
"Sixth year," he said, and sat against the tree. "Took a wrong turn one Hogsmeade trip and winded up here. Been coming here since then."
"It's beautiful," Ginny said, eyes still scanning the place.
"And relaxing," said Draco, and rested on the grass with his head propped up by his folded arms. Ginny shifted uncomfortably. Draco's shirt wasn't fully buttoned, and Ginny had a clear view of his midriff. He apparently had quite the six-pack.
She felt her face heat up and quickly turned her head away.
"So tell me," she head, trying to rid her mind of the image of Draco's abs. "What are you trying to escape?"
"Dreams," Draco answered, his gray eyes tracing the sky. "My past. Some really crappy stuff."
"Dreams?" Ginny said softly, her honey-brown eyes dropping to the grass in front of her. "What are you dreaming of?"
"I don't really know," answered Draco truthfully. "It doesn't really make sense."
"Why did you kill your father?" Ginny asked suddenly, and Draco looked at her.
"Huh?"
"I'd always wanted to know," said Ginny, "I figured now was a good as time as any to ask."
Draco pursed his lips thoughtfully, and directed his gaze back up to the sky. "The Ministry asked me to."
"The Ministry asked you to kill your own father?"
"Well, my father wasn't exactly your ordinary father," said Draco.
"So, what? You just killed him?"
"No, I refused to at first. Honestly, I think I was scared to. I mean, my father had beaten me enough to know that he was a heck of a lot stronger than I was. The Ministry said they'd allow me to use Dark Arts, and not have it used against me. I knew plenty of curses, sure — but nothing drastic enough to kill someone like Lucius Malfoy."
"So, why did you do it?"
"Snape convinced me to. The Ministry needed Lucius Malfoy dead, and I was their only shot. I was the only one father let his guard down on — mostly because he knew I wouldn't dare do anything to cross him, nor could I." He sighed. "That was probably his only mistake. He underestimated his enemies. He didn't even think that they would use his own son against him."
"How did you do it if you didn't know enough Dark magic?"
"Research. And lessons. Believe it or not, but Dumbledore actually knows a lot of Dark magic."
"Dumbledore allowed you to use Dark magic to kill your father? He agreed to it?"
"Hell no. He was the most against it. I was supposed to kill him by force, since no one on the good side knew any Dark magic, and the only one who did — Dumbedore — wouldn't teach me. He came up to me one night and offered to teach me other kinds of magic. Old, ancient magic. I was too weak to know anything serious, so he taught me a simple, burning spell. It sets anything — or anyone, in this case — on fire, and the fire would never end. Nothing would put it out until the person you directed it to, is dead. No counter curse or fire extinguishing spell would work. It'll just keep burning and burning."
"Why did Dumbledore do that? I thought he was against killing your father?"
"Oh he was. The Ministry damn near pissed him off with it. He thought they were cruel and irresponsible for sending a young boy off to kill his own father — and using his own hands too. He had tried to convince me that I didn't have to do it. But he knew as much as I did that it was the only way. So he taught me the spell."
"But — he was your father."
"Only biologically," said Draco. "I mean, sure he gave me everything I wanted, but that was probably it. He never really did anything to classify him as a 'father'."
Ginny frowned. "I'm sorry."
Draco chuckled. "Yeah, so'm I." He turned his head to her with a small grin. "And now it's your turn."
"What was the question?" Ginny asked in embarrassment.
"Why didn't you want to find your friends?"
"Oh." She sighed. "I don't know. I just don't want to deal with them right now. Always asking me what's wrong, pretending like they care."
Draco raised a brow. "They don't care?"
"Oh I'm sure they do," answered Ginny. She sighed again. "I don't know — it just always seems to me that they only show they care when something's wrong. Or when you're in trouble." Her eyes darkened.
"Ah," Draco said knowingly. "This all goes back to Potter, doesn't it?"
"I don't mean to be so angry with him," Ginny admitted. "He's a sweet guy really — "
Draco gagged.
" — but he just drives me insane! We dated for a while, did you know that?"
"Kind of," Draco shrugged. He had heard a little about it during his seventh year, but then he didn't really care.
"Well we did. And I couldn't've been happier. I'd been obsessiving over the guy since I was 10, when I first saw him! But those few months ended up being one of the worst I'd ever had. I'm sure he didn't mean to, but he was always pushing me away. I don't know, maybe he had gotten used to always being with only Hermione and Ron." She shook her head. "He'd never tell me anything. I end up losing sleep worrying about him, knowing there's something he's keeping from me." She sniffed, feeling all the pain rushing back to her. "He kept to himself, too. Hardly showed me any kind of affection. Herminone told me he was just afraid of hurting me." She chuckled dryly. "They didn't even realize he was already hurting me by doing that. Kind of ironic, really." She scowled. "Only when something's wrong with me or I'm in trouble does he ever show he cares. I feel like I have to die first before he'll ever tell me how he really feels!"
Draco frowned. He had no idea Harry was that much of a git.
"Why are you telling me this?" he asked.
"I guess you're the only one I can tell," Ginny admitted. "And you did ask," she added lightly.
Draco laughed. "I guess I did."
"Sorry — is it annoying you?"
"Heck no," said Draco. "There's nothing better than a good Potter-bashing."
"It's kind of odd that out of everyone, you're the only one I can talk to about this," Ginny said thoughtfully, watching as the sunlight began to fade and darkness took it's place.
"It is," agreed Draco. "I guess it works both ways, seeing as I'd never told anyone about that either."
Ginny laughed. "It's funny how we barely even said a word to each other for the six years we were in the same school. And now, all of a sudden, I'm telling you something I've never been able to tell anyone before."
Draco grinned. "Who knew fate had such a sense of humor?"
Ginny smiled, feeling an odd serenity overwhelm her. The two sat in silence, watching as the stars began to brighten, filling the dark void above them.
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Chapter Ten; The plot thickens as emotions are questioned and a kidnapping occurs! *cue suspenseful music*
The whole "a penny for your thoughts" thing was inspired by another fic, though I'm afraid to say I've forgotten the title. ^^; If anyone knows, please tell me so I can give credit where it's due.
This chapter turned out to be longer than I had originally planned. o_o; Hopefully it cleared up some things. Also, I don't think ff.net allows you to put url addresses because it's not showing up. XP Try got-me.net/draco (just add in all the www stuff). ^^; And thank you, once again to my wonderful reviewers!
Wolviesrogue, Joya, HedwigOwl, Robyn Maddison, Elle Deni Minaty, and Kasumi ~ thank you for helping me reach double digits!