Chapter Four-Harmful Home
Draco had left the table after dinner and was heading towards his bedroom. He shut the door behind him and threw his cloak on the bed. "You might want to watch where you throw things, Draco." Lucius' voice said. Draco looked up, startled. His father got up from his bed and walked over to him. "How was your fencing lesson with little Miss Weasley?" He drawled, a slight smile on his lips.
Draco quickly changed his expression to indifference and shrugged, saying, "You were right, Weasleys are awful swordsmen."
"But excellent kissers, am I right Draco?" Draco didn't say anything but his stony expression was enough to confirm what his father already knew to be true. His father smiled and said, "You heard Avery and my conversation did you not?"
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes Father."
"And so you are going along with it perfectly, not even asking whether you had to or not. I must say I'm proud of your initiative."
Draco furrowed his brow, what was his father talking about? "How am I going along with it perfectly?"
"You know what we were talking about, don't play stupid just for more praise, boy. Ensure that she tells you about the Order, we can get rid of her afterwards, just like her brother." He said. "Have a good evening." His father opened the door and strode out of the room.
Draco looked after him and tried to remember everything Avery and his father had talked about. They had mentioned the attack, and something about finding out about the Order of the Phoenix, whatever that was, and getting rid of Ron. He swore to himself. His father thought he was only interested in Ginny to find out about the Order, and his father probably had something to do with Ron's sudden departure. The Imperius curse, that was why he was acting so odd. He thought quickly, he couldn't just tell Ginny. Not because it would ruin his father's plan but because he couldn't bear it if she never spoke to him again. He would just dodge the subject when his father brought it up, if he asked he'd just make some excuse about her not trusting him enough yet. Somehow he hoped that she did trust him, regardless.
A few days had gone by, and Draco had not mentioned the Order to Ginny even once. Each night his father would wait expectantly in his room to hear news and always his answer was, "She doesn't trust me enough yet."
One evening Draco was sitting in his room, flipping through a spell book when his door slammed open. His eyes snapped up to see Ginny walk in, furious tears were streaming down her cheeks. "What's wrong?" he asked, walking over to her as he through the book aside.
"Look! I've written to Ron three or four times now and he never answers, just sends them back, look he didn't even open them!" She said, handing Draco one of the many letters.
"What owl did you use?"
"That awful eagle owl."
Draco couldn't see why Ron would ignore her like this, maybe it was Famine's fault. "Maybe Famine couldn't find them, you know since that mud- ,er, Granger lives with muggles." He said.
"I suppose... should I just stop writing him? I mean either the bird can't find him or he's ignoring me."
"I don't want to give advice on this."
Ginny nodded and sat on his bed, she wiped a tear away with the back of her hand and said, "Do you think the letters even made it to him?"
"I don't know." Draco sat next to her on the bed and said, "I don't think Ron would just ignore you like that."
"But he left, and I never thought he'd do that either."
Draco stayed silent. He knew that his father had something to do with this; maybe he was blocking the letters. Ginny got up and walked towards the door to leave. "Hey," he caught her hand. "Don't worry about it. Goodnight." He gave her a light kiss on the cheek and she smiled slightly. "Goodnight, Draco." He looked back down at the letter once she had shut the door. Curious he tore it open and read.
Ron,
Why aren't you answering me? I've sent several letters and you keep sending them back, not even opening them. You know, I don't care anymore. Everyone's dead except you, but with how you're acting, you're dead to me as well. Best hope I don't see you on the train, I swear if you haven't written by then, I'll never speak to you again.
The only family you've got left, Gin
Draco shook his head. How could everything have gotten so off track in just a few weeks?
Ginny woke up the next day and was getting ready to go to breakfast. She opened the wardrobe, thinking jeans and a tee-shirt, but all that was in the wardrobe was a black halter top and short black skirt. She tried closing and opening the doors six times, always ending up with the same outfit. She vaguely wondered if they were doing something today and she was expected to wear this or if Draco was trying to get her to dress up for him.
Thinking she was quite clever, she opened her trunk but realized that was empty as well. Sighing she changed into the outfit and ran a brush through her hair. She caught a glimpse of a tiny gray owl heading for the window a few floors below her. She slipped into a pair of heels and headed down to breakfast.
Lucius Malfoy grinned to himself as he saw Ginny come downstairs. He had purposely tampered with her wardrobe, hoping to make his son more than enthusiastic about his task. He glanced at his son and was pleased to see his eyes looking Ginny up and down. Ginny sat down next to Draco and he whispered something that she smiled at.
Draco was absolutely stunned. Ginny smiled at him when he mentioned having another fencing lesson and he grinned back. He took her hand and stroked it with his fingers. Ginny then said, "I'm going to need that to eat, you know."
"Guess you'll have to go hungry."
"No one makes me go hungry." She said taking her hand back and piling some eggs on her plate. Draco went back to his own eggs and felt his father's eyes on him. He looked up and saw his father looking at him approvingly. So he still thinks I'm faking does he, what an absolute nutter. He thought, turning back to his food. What was he going to do if Ginny did tell him about the Order? Lie he supposed, he knew that she probably cared about the Order considering her family was killed just for being in it. She'd hate me if I helped to bring it down.
A brown barn owl swooped in through the window and dropped an envelope in his outstretched hand and took the other to Ginny. It was their Hogwarts letters. He ripped the seal open, he had suddenly gone cold; in here were his test results. Ginny seemed to have remembered this and turned to him, "How'd you score?" she asked.
"No idea, you tell me." He said, handing her the letter he hadn't read. Ginny took it and unfolded it.
"I can't believe that you failed everything, Draco." She said shocked.
"What?! Give me that!" He had gone white and his father chocked on his food.
She laughed and said, "Just joking."
"Not funny." He said, getting control of himself.
"Sorry." She said, not the least bit fazed by Mr. Malfoy's death glare. She read off of the parchment while everyone listened rapt with attention. "Mr. Malfoy, we congratulate you on your test results and hope you continue with your education at Hogwarts this September. We are pleased to say you had the second highest test average out of your entire year. Wow, that's great Draco." She said, looking at him with a look of awe on her face.
Draco smiled back at her; she was probably the first person to ever congratulate him on his grades like that. But his smile vanished when his father rose to his feet. "Second to whom?" He demanded.
Ginny blanched at his tone. Draco, knowing what was coming stood up to face his father. His mother had looked away and Ginny sat there, shocked, when his father hit him an awful blow with his staff. Draco grimaced and turned away, his forehead bleeding badly. "What did you do that for?" Ginny shouted, standing up. "His grades are fine!"
Lucius suddenly raised his staff to strike her, but Draco moved in front of her. This blow hurt his whole body. He crumbled to his knees and looked up to see his father grab Ginny by her throat. "Never speak against me again. Do you understand?" He said coldly. Her face was turning blue, he was chocking her.
"Let go of her." Draco hissed, getting to his feet.
His father released her and Ginny put a hand to her throat. She bit her lip when he smashed the staff into Draco's back. Draco caught a chair to steady his self and heard his father say, "Don't you stand against me ever again, boy."
He swept away from the room and Narcissa immediately moved over to where they were. She held her son's chin and said, "Let me see." Draco shut his eyes and then turned so she could see him.
Ginny held a hand to her mouth and said in barely more than a whisper, "Draco I'm so sorry."
He tried to smile and said, "Don't be. You're the first person to not give me a hard time about my grades."
Narcissa snapped her fingers, summoning a house-elf and said to her son, "Go on and sit down." Ginny watched with tears in her eyes as the house-elf tried to fix his bruises and cuts without magic. Narcissa explained that Lucius didn't allow magic to heal the beatings aftermath, as even more of a punishment.
When the elf was about to move his shirt up to see his back he said swiftly, "No."
"B-but Master, Zippy must fix your back." The house-elf squeaked.
"No, I don't want Ginny to see that." He looked pointedly at his mother, who led Ginny to the other room. Once Ginny had left the room, Draco pulled the shirt up so the elf could attempt to fix the new slash across his back. He was glad she hadn't seen it. He hated to see it when he changed, there were long uneven slashes running from his neck to his waist, each with various colors depending on how hard he had been hit. After each beating they would be cut open again and burn like mad. The house-elf finished and he pulled his shirt back down. His mother came back in with a tear streaked Ginny. He frowned and walked up to Ginny, turning her to face him. "I said don't be sorry." He whispered.
She stifled a sob and he wiped a tear off her cheek with his thumb. "Well, I suggest you two stay away from the Manor for today. I don't want your father anymore angry than he already is." She picked up their letters and handed them to Draco saying, "They are good grades, dear."
Draco nodded and said, "We'll just be going." He went over to the fireplace and threw in some floo powder. Ginny noticed that Draco waited till his mother had gone before letting her inside. "Go to Diagon Alley, I'll come after." Ginny said 'Diagon Alley' and spun away in a series of green flames.
She came out in Flourish and Blotts and turned to the fireplace again. Draco stumbled out and she caught his arm so he wouldn't fall over. "Are you alright?" she asked, as he straightened himself.
"Yeah, thanks. Hitting the floor wouldn't have been all too pleasant."
"Draco?" she asked, quietly.
"Yes?"
"Why did you wait for your mum to leave before we did?"
"My father knows when he's being lied to. If she doesn't tell us or hear us then she's not lying to him and he won't hurt her." He said, looking away from her.
"I'm s-"
Draco put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Don't. Let's just forget it, okay?" Ginny nodded and he pulled out their Hogwarts letters. "What's first?"
"Gringott's" They went to the bank and got their money for books. Draco watched Ginny walk inside her family's vault. There was gold all around the room, in small mounds. He didn't realize why she was so upset; she wouldn't have any problem buying school supplies this year. Ginny bit her lip and remembered the thousand galleons that Harry had given the twins for their joke shop. Here it all was. She smiled sadly and scooped some into her leather pouch.
"You okay?" Draco asked her.
"Yeah." They went and got his money next and then went down the street to get their books at Flourish and Blotts. Ginny was holding both Draco's and her books, so he wouldn't have to, and Draco was checking the list again.
"Hey Ginny."
Ginny looked up and smiled, "Hey Seamus."
"What are you doing with Malfoy?" He asked, trying to see if she needed any help.
"Buying books." She said. Ginny noticed that Draco's eyes were narrowed at her brother's friend.
"Need any help?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"No thanks. See you later."
"Definitely." He said, giving Draco a calculating glance before leaving.
"What," Draco began, "Is it with all of you Gryfindors uniting against the common enemy?"
"You're not the common enemy, Draco." Ginny said, "They just don't know it."
"Well who does know it?" he asked exasperatedly.
"I know it." She said, giving him a kiss. Draco took the pile of books from her arms and set them on the table. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her closer to himself. Draco kissed her and she responded immediately. She put a hand on his face and the other holding his shoulder. He walked her into the back of the bookshelf and she took a sharp intake of breath.
"Did I hurt you?" he asked concerned.
"Just stood on my foot, that's all." She slipped out of her shoes and put her feet on top of his. He grinned and kissed her again.
"Ginny? Malfoy!?" Ginny's eyes snapped open, as did Draco's.
"Bloody Gryfindors." Draco muttered.
"Neville, listen-" Ginny began, Draco letting go of her.
"Y-your brother is going to kill you, both of you." He added.
"He's not going to kill anyone if no one tells him, Neville." Ginny said.
"He'll cut me to pieces if I don't tell him, besides... it's, its Malfoy!"
"Listen up Longbottom-"
"Draco, don't." Ginny caught onto his robes and he stayed where he was. But that didn't prevent him from shooting daggers at Neville. Ginny let go of him and walked over to Neville. He was almost eight inches taller than her without her shoes on. Draco watched as she started talking to him, trying to convince him not to tell Ron.
"I don't know, I mean, Malfoy?"
"He's saved my neck a load of times just in the past few days. Just trust my judgment on this alright?"
"Fine, but if Ron does find out, I knew nothing about this." He said.
"Thank you, Neville." Ginny hugged him and he left.
Draco walked back over to her and said, "Are you sure he won't tell?"
"Positive. Whether he's forgetful or not, Neville doesn't lie."
"You sure, cause I could threaten to disembowel him."
"Now that wouldn't match up to my saying how sweet you are would it?"
"Probably not." Draco played with her hair and said, "How about we pay for these books and fine somewhere more private?"
"Sounds good to me." They purchased the books and had no sooner gotten to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch, when it began to pour. Draco snapped his fingers and Nellie appeared next to them with a crack.
"Yes Master?"
"Take these back to the Manor, please." He said, giving her the stack of books. Nellie's eyes widened when he said please but she merely disappeared with a second crack.
"Uh oh, Seamus is here." Ginny said, holding his arm.
"Great. Who'll we run into next? Pothead you think?" He swore when Seamus started walking towards them. "Where do you want to go?"
"Want to rough Muggle London?" she suggested.
"That'd be great." Draco put an arm around her shoulders and led her outside. It was raining worse than they thought and they dashed across the street. He could tell that Ginny was ice cold. Water was streaking down her bare back and shoulders. "Come on." He pulled her into a coffee shop. It was all warm and the coffee smell made him ache with hunger. "Drat!"
"What?" she asked, pushing her wet curls off of her face.
"I don't have any muggle money."
"Not a problem." She said, reaching into her money pouch.
"You have some?"
"No."
"Then how is this not a problem?"
Ginny grinned and pulled out a galleon. She walked up to the counter and said to the cashier, "Two coffees and a slice of apple pie."
"Pumpkin." Draco said from behind her shoulder.
"A slice of apple pie and a slice of pumpkin." She said, correcting herself.
The young man at the counter seemed to be a few good years older than Ginny and Draco, but it didn't intimidate her at all. He gave Draco's robes a funny look and Draco asked, "What can't you tell that it's raining?" He scowled and repeated her order before he came back with two steaming coffees and two slices of pie.
Ginny put the galleon on the counter and looked him in the eye. He looked down at it and hurriedly scooped it into his own pocket. Ginny smiled and gave Draco his pie and coffee. "Let's go get a seat."
They ate their pie and drank their coffee while having a nice discussion about how crafty Ginny was. "I mean, you made him think he could just go out and spend that."
"Yeah." Ginny said quietly as if she was going to be scolded.
"It was brilliant!With that cunning why aren't you in Slytherien?" She flashed him a smile and took a sip of coffee. They left the coffee shop and were pleased to see that the rain wasn't pouring quite so hard. "So what do you want to do now? Go back and get told off by another of your brother's friends, because I'll resent that if you say yes."
Ginny smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Anything you want."
"Anything?"
"Well maybe not anything." Draco laughed and kissed her. Ginny thought how cute he looked with the gel out of his hair; it was just in front of his face like everyone else's. She liked the sound of his laugh too. They didn't care that some people were stopping to stare at them, that mothers would click their tongues with disapproval. They just kissed each other like they were the only two there, instead of just a few in a crowded street.
They flooed home a little after seven-thirty. Ginny kissed him goodnight and headed up to her room on the third floor while Draco made his way to the kitchens to get the books from Nellie. Just as he was heading down the cellar steps that led to the kitchen a hand came out of no where and gripped his shoulder. Draco took a step back and saw Lucius' cold face staring at him. "What did you learn?" he hissed.
"She, she didn't want to tell me." Draco lied. He was as scared as he had been that morning.
"You know, boy, I was willing to overlook your stupidity at taking her beating for her, but perhaps you are cleverer than I had thought. I had hoped she would feel in debt to you for protecting her like that but apparently this was too much to hope for. I want to know everything about that Order tomorrow, and you will tell me or their will be severe consequences, do you understand, boy?"
"Yes Father."
"Good, now go to bed." Draco nodded and left the kitchen without even taking the books. He headed straight to his room and shut the door behind him. Draco slumped to the floor, with his hands on his face. What am I going to do?
Ginny walked into her bedroom. She shut the door and had just slipped out of her shoes when someone grabbed her out of the shadows. He threw her on the bed and pulled the black sheets over her head, suffocating her. Ginny screamed and he pressed her against the mattress, pulling the blanket tighter and tighter over her face. He pummeled her stomach and she gasped in pain. He stopped hurting her and the blanket loosened so she could breathe. Ginny gasped for air and lay in the bed long enough to get her bearings. When she pushed the blanket off she saw the shimmering green words that were written on her mirror.
Consider this a warning
Draco had left the table after dinner and was heading towards his bedroom. He shut the door behind him and threw his cloak on the bed. "You might want to watch where you throw things, Draco." Lucius' voice said. Draco looked up, startled. His father got up from his bed and walked over to him. "How was your fencing lesson with little Miss Weasley?" He drawled, a slight smile on his lips.
Draco quickly changed his expression to indifference and shrugged, saying, "You were right, Weasleys are awful swordsmen."
"But excellent kissers, am I right Draco?" Draco didn't say anything but his stony expression was enough to confirm what his father already knew to be true. His father smiled and said, "You heard Avery and my conversation did you not?"
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes Father."
"And so you are going along with it perfectly, not even asking whether you had to or not. I must say I'm proud of your initiative."
Draco furrowed his brow, what was his father talking about? "How am I going along with it perfectly?"
"You know what we were talking about, don't play stupid just for more praise, boy. Ensure that she tells you about the Order, we can get rid of her afterwards, just like her brother." He said. "Have a good evening." His father opened the door and strode out of the room.
Draco looked after him and tried to remember everything Avery and his father had talked about. They had mentioned the attack, and something about finding out about the Order of the Phoenix, whatever that was, and getting rid of Ron. He swore to himself. His father thought he was only interested in Ginny to find out about the Order, and his father probably had something to do with Ron's sudden departure. The Imperius curse, that was why he was acting so odd. He thought quickly, he couldn't just tell Ginny. Not because it would ruin his father's plan but because he couldn't bear it if she never spoke to him again. He would just dodge the subject when his father brought it up, if he asked he'd just make some excuse about her not trusting him enough yet. Somehow he hoped that she did trust him, regardless.
A few days had gone by, and Draco had not mentioned the Order to Ginny even once. Each night his father would wait expectantly in his room to hear news and always his answer was, "She doesn't trust me enough yet."
One evening Draco was sitting in his room, flipping through a spell book when his door slammed open. His eyes snapped up to see Ginny walk in, furious tears were streaming down her cheeks. "What's wrong?" he asked, walking over to her as he through the book aside.
"Look! I've written to Ron three or four times now and he never answers, just sends them back, look he didn't even open them!" She said, handing Draco one of the many letters.
"What owl did you use?"
"That awful eagle owl."
Draco couldn't see why Ron would ignore her like this, maybe it was Famine's fault. "Maybe Famine couldn't find them, you know since that mud- ,er, Granger lives with muggles." He said.
"I suppose... should I just stop writing him? I mean either the bird can't find him or he's ignoring me."
"I don't want to give advice on this."
Ginny nodded and sat on his bed, she wiped a tear away with the back of her hand and said, "Do you think the letters even made it to him?"
"I don't know." Draco sat next to her on the bed and said, "I don't think Ron would just ignore you like that."
"But he left, and I never thought he'd do that either."
Draco stayed silent. He knew that his father had something to do with this; maybe he was blocking the letters. Ginny got up and walked towards the door to leave. "Hey," he caught her hand. "Don't worry about it. Goodnight." He gave her a light kiss on the cheek and she smiled slightly. "Goodnight, Draco." He looked back down at the letter once she had shut the door. Curious he tore it open and read.
Ron,
Why aren't you answering me? I've sent several letters and you keep sending them back, not even opening them. You know, I don't care anymore. Everyone's dead except you, but with how you're acting, you're dead to me as well. Best hope I don't see you on the train, I swear if you haven't written by then, I'll never speak to you again.
The only family you've got left, Gin
Draco shook his head. How could everything have gotten so off track in just a few weeks?
Ginny woke up the next day and was getting ready to go to breakfast. She opened the wardrobe, thinking jeans and a tee-shirt, but all that was in the wardrobe was a black halter top and short black skirt. She tried closing and opening the doors six times, always ending up with the same outfit. She vaguely wondered if they were doing something today and she was expected to wear this or if Draco was trying to get her to dress up for him.
Thinking she was quite clever, she opened her trunk but realized that was empty as well. Sighing she changed into the outfit and ran a brush through her hair. She caught a glimpse of a tiny gray owl heading for the window a few floors below her. She slipped into a pair of heels and headed down to breakfast.
Lucius Malfoy grinned to himself as he saw Ginny come downstairs. He had purposely tampered with her wardrobe, hoping to make his son more than enthusiastic about his task. He glanced at his son and was pleased to see his eyes looking Ginny up and down. Ginny sat down next to Draco and he whispered something that she smiled at.
Draco was absolutely stunned. Ginny smiled at him when he mentioned having another fencing lesson and he grinned back. He took her hand and stroked it with his fingers. Ginny then said, "I'm going to need that to eat, you know."
"Guess you'll have to go hungry."
"No one makes me go hungry." She said taking her hand back and piling some eggs on her plate. Draco went back to his own eggs and felt his father's eyes on him. He looked up and saw his father looking at him approvingly. So he still thinks I'm faking does he, what an absolute nutter. He thought, turning back to his food. What was he going to do if Ginny did tell him about the Order? Lie he supposed, he knew that she probably cared about the Order considering her family was killed just for being in it. She'd hate me if I helped to bring it down.
A brown barn owl swooped in through the window and dropped an envelope in his outstretched hand and took the other to Ginny. It was their Hogwarts letters. He ripped the seal open, he had suddenly gone cold; in here were his test results. Ginny seemed to have remembered this and turned to him, "How'd you score?" she asked.
"No idea, you tell me." He said, handing her the letter he hadn't read. Ginny took it and unfolded it.
"I can't believe that you failed everything, Draco." She said shocked.
"What?! Give me that!" He had gone white and his father chocked on his food.
She laughed and said, "Just joking."
"Not funny." He said, getting control of himself.
"Sorry." She said, not the least bit fazed by Mr. Malfoy's death glare. She read off of the parchment while everyone listened rapt with attention. "Mr. Malfoy, we congratulate you on your test results and hope you continue with your education at Hogwarts this September. We are pleased to say you had the second highest test average out of your entire year. Wow, that's great Draco." She said, looking at him with a look of awe on her face.
Draco smiled back at her; she was probably the first person to ever congratulate him on his grades like that. But his smile vanished when his father rose to his feet. "Second to whom?" He demanded.
Ginny blanched at his tone. Draco, knowing what was coming stood up to face his father. His mother had looked away and Ginny sat there, shocked, when his father hit him an awful blow with his staff. Draco grimaced and turned away, his forehead bleeding badly. "What did you do that for?" Ginny shouted, standing up. "His grades are fine!"
Lucius suddenly raised his staff to strike her, but Draco moved in front of her. This blow hurt his whole body. He crumbled to his knees and looked up to see his father grab Ginny by her throat. "Never speak against me again. Do you understand?" He said coldly. Her face was turning blue, he was chocking her.
"Let go of her." Draco hissed, getting to his feet.
His father released her and Ginny put a hand to her throat. She bit her lip when he smashed the staff into Draco's back. Draco caught a chair to steady his self and heard his father say, "Don't you stand against me ever again, boy."
He swept away from the room and Narcissa immediately moved over to where they were. She held her son's chin and said, "Let me see." Draco shut his eyes and then turned so she could see him.
Ginny held a hand to her mouth and said in barely more than a whisper, "Draco I'm so sorry."
He tried to smile and said, "Don't be. You're the first person to not give me a hard time about my grades."
Narcissa snapped her fingers, summoning a house-elf and said to her son, "Go on and sit down." Ginny watched with tears in her eyes as the house-elf tried to fix his bruises and cuts without magic. Narcissa explained that Lucius didn't allow magic to heal the beatings aftermath, as even more of a punishment.
When the elf was about to move his shirt up to see his back he said swiftly, "No."
"B-but Master, Zippy must fix your back." The house-elf squeaked.
"No, I don't want Ginny to see that." He looked pointedly at his mother, who led Ginny to the other room. Once Ginny had left the room, Draco pulled the shirt up so the elf could attempt to fix the new slash across his back. He was glad she hadn't seen it. He hated to see it when he changed, there were long uneven slashes running from his neck to his waist, each with various colors depending on how hard he had been hit. After each beating they would be cut open again and burn like mad. The house-elf finished and he pulled his shirt back down. His mother came back in with a tear streaked Ginny. He frowned and walked up to Ginny, turning her to face him. "I said don't be sorry." He whispered.
She stifled a sob and he wiped a tear off her cheek with his thumb. "Well, I suggest you two stay away from the Manor for today. I don't want your father anymore angry than he already is." She picked up their letters and handed them to Draco saying, "They are good grades, dear."
Draco nodded and said, "We'll just be going." He went over to the fireplace and threw in some floo powder. Ginny noticed that Draco waited till his mother had gone before letting her inside. "Go to Diagon Alley, I'll come after." Ginny said 'Diagon Alley' and spun away in a series of green flames.
She came out in Flourish and Blotts and turned to the fireplace again. Draco stumbled out and she caught his arm so he wouldn't fall over. "Are you alright?" she asked, as he straightened himself.
"Yeah, thanks. Hitting the floor wouldn't have been all too pleasant."
"Draco?" she asked, quietly.
"Yes?"
"Why did you wait for your mum to leave before we did?"
"My father knows when he's being lied to. If she doesn't tell us or hear us then she's not lying to him and he won't hurt her." He said, looking away from her.
"I'm s-"
Draco put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Don't. Let's just forget it, okay?" Ginny nodded and he pulled out their Hogwarts letters. "What's first?"
"Gringott's" They went to the bank and got their money for books. Draco watched Ginny walk inside her family's vault. There was gold all around the room, in small mounds. He didn't realize why she was so upset; she wouldn't have any problem buying school supplies this year. Ginny bit her lip and remembered the thousand galleons that Harry had given the twins for their joke shop. Here it all was. She smiled sadly and scooped some into her leather pouch.
"You okay?" Draco asked her.
"Yeah." They went and got his money next and then went down the street to get their books at Flourish and Blotts. Ginny was holding both Draco's and her books, so he wouldn't have to, and Draco was checking the list again.
"Hey Ginny."
Ginny looked up and smiled, "Hey Seamus."
"What are you doing with Malfoy?" He asked, trying to see if she needed any help.
"Buying books." She said. Ginny noticed that Draco's eyes were narrowed at her brother's friend.
"Need any help?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"No thanks. See you later."
"Definitely." He said, giving Draco a calculating glance before leaving.
"What," Draco began, "Is it with all of you Gryfindors uniting against the common enemy?"
"You're not the common enemy, Draco." Ginny said, "They just don't know it."
"Well who does know it?" he asked exasperatedly.
"I know it." She said, giving him a kiss. Draco took the pile of books from her arms and set them on the table. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her closer to himself. Draco kissed her and she responded immediately. She put a hand on his face and the other holding his shoulder. He walked her into the back of the bookshelf and she took a sharp intake of breath.
"Did I hurt you?" he asked concerned.
"Just stood on my foot, that's all." She slipped out of her shoes and put her feet on top of his. He grinned and kissed her again.
"Ginny? Malfoy!?" Ginny's eyes snapped open, as did Draco's.
"Bloody Gryfindors." Draco muttered.
"Neville, listen-" Ginny began, Draco letting go of her.
"Y-your brother is going to kill you, both of you." He added.
"He's not going to kill anyone if no one tells him, Neville." Ginny said.
"He'll cut me to pieces if I don't tell him, besides... it's, its Malfoy!"
"Listen up Longbottom-"
"Draco, don't." Ginny caught onto his robes and he stayed where he was. But that didn't prevent him from shooting daggers at Neville. Ginny let go of him and walked over to Neville. He was almost eight inches taller than her without her shoes on. Draco watched as she started talking to him, trying to convince him not to tell Ron.
"I don't know, I mean, Malfoy?"
"He's saved my neck a load of times just in the past few days. Just trust my judgment on this alright?"
"Fine, but if Ron does find out, I knew nothing about this." He said.
"Thank you, Neville." Ginny hugged him and he left.
Draco walked back over to her and said, "Are you sure he won't tell?"
"Positive. Whether he's forgetful or not, Neville doesn't lie."
"You sure, cause I could threaten to disembowel him."
"Now that wouldn't match up to my saying how sweet you are would it?"
"Probably not." Draco played with her hair and said, "How about we pay for these books and fine somewhere more private?"
"Sounds good to me." They purchased the books and had no sooner gotten to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch, when it began to pour. Draco snapped his fingers and Nellie appeared next to them with a crack.
"Yes Master?"
"Take these back to the Manor, please." He said, giving her the stack of books. Nellie's eyes widened when he said please but she merely disappeared with a second crack.
"Uh oh, Seamus is here." Ginny said, holding his arm.
"Great. Who'll we run into next? Pothead you think?" He swore when Seamus started walking towards them. "Where do you want to go?"
"Want to rough Muggle London?" she suggested.
"That'd be great." Draco put an arm around her shoulders and led her outside. It was raining worse than they thought and they dashed across the street. He could tell that Ginny was ice cold. Water was streaking down her bare back and shoulders. "Come on." He pulled her into a coffee shop. It was all warm and the coffee smell made him ache with hunger. "Drat!"
"What?" she asked, pushing her wet curls off of her face.
"I don't have any muggle money."
"Not a problem." She said, reaching into her money pouch.
"You have some?"
"No."
"Then how is this not a problem?"
Ginny grinned and pulled out a galleon. She walked up to the counter and said to the cashier, "Two coffees and a slice of apple pie."
"Pumpkin." Draco said from behind her shoulder.
"A slice of apple pie and a slice of pumpkin." She said, correcting herself.
The young man at the counter seemed to be a few good years older than Ginny and Draco, but it didn't intimidate her at all. He gave Draco's robes a funny look and Draco asked, "What can't you tell that it's raining?" He scowled and repeated her order before he came back with two steaming coffees and two slices of pie.
Ginny put the galleon on the counter and looked him in the eye. He looked down at it and hurriedly scooped it into his own pocket. Ginny smiled and gave Draco his pie and coffee. "Let's go get a seat."
They ate their pie and drank their coffee while having a nice discussion about how crafty Ginny was. "I mean, you made him think he could just go out and spend that."
"Yeah." Ginny said quietly as if she was going to be scolded.
"It was brilliant!With that cunning why aren't you in Slytherien?" She flashed him a smile and took a sip of coffee. They left the coffee shop and were pleased to see that the rain wasn't pouring quite so hard. "So what do you want to do now? Go back and get told off by another of your brother's friends, because I'll resent that if you say yes."
Ginny smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Anything you want."
"Anything?"
"Well maybe not anything." Draco laughed and kissed her. Ginny thought how cute he looked with the gel out of his hair; it was just in front of his face like everyone else's. She liked the sound of his laugh too. They didn't care that some people were stopping to stare at them, that mothers would click their tongues with disapproval. They just kissed each other like they were the only two there, instead of just a few in a crowded street.
They flooed home a little after seven-thirty. Ginny kissed him goodnight and headed up to her room on the third floor while Draco made his way to the kitchens to get the books from Nellie. Just as he was heading down the cellar steps that led to the kitchen a hand came out of no where and gripped his shoulder. Draco took a step back and saw Lucius' cold face staring at him. "What did you learn?" he hissed.
"She, she didn't want to tell me." Draco lied. He was as scared as he had been that morning.
"You know, boy, I was willing to overlook your stupidity at taking her beating for her, but perhaps you are cleverer than I had thought. I had hoped she would feel in debt to you for protecting her like that but apparently this was too much to hope for. I want to know everything about that Order tomorrow, and you will tell me or their will be severe consequences, do you understand, boy?"
"Yes Father."
"Good, now go to bed." Draco nodded and left the kitchen without even taking the books. He headed straight to his room and shut the door behind him. Draco slumped to the floor, with his hands on his face. What am I going to do?
Ginny walked into her bedroom. She shut the door and had just slipped out of her shoes when someone grabbed her out of the shadows. He threw her on the bed and pulled the black sheets over her head, suffocating her. Ginny screamed and he pressed her against the mattress, pulling the blanket tighter and tighter over her face. He pummeled her stomach and she gasped in pain. He stopped hurting her and the blanket loosened so she could breathe. Ginny gasped for air and lay in the bed long enough to get her bearings. When she pushed the blanket off she saw the shimmering green words that were written on her mirror.
Consider this a warning