Title: The Myth of Innocence
Author: Catalina Royce
Disclaimer: These stories are based on characters and situations created
and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books,
Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made
and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Rating: R
The whispers followed her everywhere. She took them all and cherished them, exchanging derisive glances with Blaise. He was worried about her, she knew, but he wouldn't help her. It seemed that secretly, he treasured the rumours as much as she did. It was only when the most ridiculous found their way to his ears that he snapped.
"I heard she was pregnant with his baby."
Virginia and Blaise, who had been cavorting, laughing and feeding each other in a corner, were separated by their reactions, like a queen whose adviser turned against her. The younger of them laughed silkily and sent the 3rd year Hufflepuffs a heated glance. The elder wheeled around, shouting out, "Oh, for Merlin's sake! Don't you have anything to do but talk about things that could not possibly be true?"
A bold Hufflepuff shot back with, "Why don't you give us truth, then?"
Blaise grabbed Virginia's hand and stalked away from them, casting a "riscuscaput" jinx on the boy. Virginia smiled, knowing the boy's friends wouldn't yet know how to counter-act the curse. They'd have to go to the infirmary or their prefects for help. Blaise pulled her backwards into an empty classroom, and as the door closed, she caught a flash of short red hair. "Ron's outside," she whispered. "Want to give him a performance?"
"No, dammit, I don't! I'm sick of these rumours, Virginia. I know you hate your image from before this 'miraculous change', but I'm not going to be your pawn in getting revenge on your brother!" His anger was bubbling over. He'd noticed how she was laughing whenever they spoke about her. She'd get a reputation because of this. And he hadn't yet forgotten about her Death Eater plan.
Virginia froze in mid step, her face closing over. "If that is what you think I do, then I believe our...arrangement has come to a natural conclusion." She stalked over to the door, pausing just before she flung it open. "And you know nothing about my 'miraculous change'."
She blasted the door open, knowing there would be no letter from the Accidental Magic Department. She was in Hogwarts. Hogwarts did not answer to that department.
Everyone tried to get out of her path as she stormed her way down the hall. She barged into a first year, hair swirling behind her as she shot him a glare of fury. He huddled into the wall, as others stopped to comfort him. She knew where she was going. Despite being a creature of habit, she felt the need to go not to Salazar's Chambers, but instead outside. Fresh air was scarce in the Slytherin common room.
The temperature outside was chilly at best. She rubbed her bare arms, shivering. The obvious warmth of her robes was no opponent for the brittle wind that whipped her hair around her face and slapped her cheeks red.
The trees in the Forbidden Forest were groaning their protest, leaves shaking and falling with the weight of Autumn. Virginia watched silently as they fought long and hard to keep their accessories. She resisted the urge to grin every time a tree lost the fight.
She was lonely. The truth hit her quite suddenly. Was this what Ginny had been feeling? This nagging feeling inside her stomach, telling her that no one cared about her? But Ginny hadn't had anyone. Virginia did. She had Blaise – although she was still furious with him. How dare he assume that she'd just said "Dammit, I want to be bad!" and went about doing it? This was her. She wasn't Ginny. Of course, she wouldn't tell Blaise about Ginny – Ginny was sleeping. She'd given up on life. She needed protection from the outside world.
There was a snap of a twig behind her, and a strong hand clamped down on her nape. She gasped in pain and there was a masculine chuckle from behind her. Virginia tried to raise herself on her toes to stop the pressure, but it didn't work, only seeming to amuse the attacker more. Virginia winced and placed a hand on her assailant's, trying to unwrap his. The man leaned down and whispered in her ear.
"Easy, Virginia. You don't want to get hurt, now, do you?" Virginia spat, knowing that voice. It was Malfoy. The hand tightened, and Malfoy tsked her. "Where ever are you manners? I thought that thing you call mother would have at least taught you the basic rules of etiquette."
Black spots were dancing in front of her eyes. There was a slight red tinge at the side of her vision. She felt like she was dying. Worse yet, Ginny was rousing herself to protect Virginia. No. I'm fine. Sleep, Ginny. I'll protect us.
Without a word, Ginny left and slept again.
Dear Lord, his mouth was close. So close she could feel the warm breath on the side of her neck. She shivered, and relaxed into him.
Arrogant satisfaction was pouring out from him in waves. He kissed the side of her neck, and Virginia grinned breathlessly. She'd told Ginny that she'd protect the two of them – that included their pride. She shivered again, but nonetheless pushed two fingers into Draco's eyes. He cried out and reeled back, letting go of her in the process. Much as she loved his hands – thin, elegant, graceful – she disliked being an object of unwanted attention. Especially of the painful kind.
She whirled around to face him, smirking confidently. "I don't take well to being threatened, Mister Malfoy. As I'm sure you just found out, I can certainly take care of myself. A future Death Eater must know how, after all."
He glared and lunged at her, taking her arm into his hands. The grip was tight, and she knew that, despite her bravado, he was stronger than her. More pressure and her arm would snap. Virginia blinked twice, gold spots dancing in front of her eyes this time. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe properly. It was hard. Pain kept intruding in on her concentration.
She was learning her lesson. Yes, she was. She must remember in future, Virginia thought as she fought for air against the need to throw up, never to be alone in the same room as Draco Malfoy.
Draco smiled in satisfaction, looking down at the gasping, panting little bitch in his arms. She was in pain. Good. There was no way he was going to let some little girl ruin everything he and Blaise had worked for. The small band of renegades he and Blaise headed needed their protection. And just because Blaise was infatuated with her did not mean that Draco would allow Blaise to risk everyone's lives."Listen to me, Virginia Arnica Weasley. You will leave Blaise alone. You will not contact him in anyway; shape or form, and I will leave you alone. After a month, I will nominate you for a position in the Death Eaters. When you are initiated, all contact will be lost. Do you understand me?"
"Yes," she whispered quietly, eyes flying open at his words. He could see that they were dark with pain, their chocolate brown depths begging to be let go. Silent words were floating to him. Everything she wanted was expressed in her eyes. She'd do anything at this moment; anything to stop the pain.
And he let her go, satisfied with her answer. "Good. You may continue in the Slytherin quarter's, but you will not be in Blaise's bed." He sealed the bargain with a simple kiss. It was over in seconds, and he walked off, the picture of relaxation.
"I'll kill them both." At this statement, Hermione grabbed Ron's arms, staring worriedly at the departing figures of Ginny and Draco. A picture was worth a thousand words, after all, and what they had just seen was proof enough that Ginny wasn't so innocent anymore. She'd dated before, of course. But never someone so...Slytherin.
"Ron, please. Perhaps there's a reason for it."
His face lost none of the colour, and his ears turned even redder – if that was possible. "Oh, of course," he snarled sarcastically, "he just happened to trip and his lips just happened to fall on my baby sister's neck." Hermione, realising that her tactic wasn't working, promptly suggested rationale.
"Perhaps you should ask her…before you kill her. So there won't be any mistakes. Like Harry and the Goblet incident." She smiled as she spoke, and pushed her bushy hair off her face. Ron was still tender about having betrayed Harry so easily. This gentle reminder calmed him down somewhat, leaving Hermione to ponder the real reason for – as it would later be termed – the 'Draco Ginny Embrace.'
A now calmed Ron smiled and impulsively gave Hermione a peck on the cheek. "Thanks, 'Mione. I could have made a huge mistake by going after her. I'm starving; lets go get some food."
As Ron started off down the path – bothering to wait for her was of course beyond his skills – Hermione briefly caressed her cheek, a wistful smile on her face. Her eyes shone with a brief spark of hope, before cold logic doused it. Ron liked pretty girls, pure and simple.
Besides, 'Just Friends' was good enough for her.
It would have to be.
Author's Note: Yes, you can see the hint of a Ron Hermione romance blossoming, although I'm still not sure as to whether or not to persue it. If you'd like to leave me a review with your thoughts on it, I'll be sure to take them into consideration.
Translations
caput -itis n. [the head]; meton. , [a living individual], esp. of human beings, [a person]; also [a person's life, existence];
riscus -i m. [a box , trunk].