[A/N- Sorry for the delay, guys! The last two days have been just amazing for me. Tuesday, I went to an Incubus concert and Wednesday I saw Aerosmith. I'm telling you, if you ever get the opportunity to go to a concert, take it! Seeing a band play live and experiencing the music feels so good. Then last night, I was going to write this, but I got all caught up in the baseball game (go Yankees!).
Check out the Live Journal, link's in my profile.
wipd cream- good luck in your new place!
Thanks to Sailor Mars, Tigereyes, Eve Granger, and any reviewers I may have missed!!]
The first weekend of October had started out stressful for Draco. Narcissa had finally written him back, and wanted to meet with him in a private room in Three Broomsticks. He had met his mother there, and his worst fears had been confirmed. Two black eyes sat dramatically upon her pretty face. There was very little she could tell him about the Death Eaters, but he knew he had to fear for her safety.
That night, he had gone to meet Ginny, and had only planned on telling her exactly what his mother had told him. She was the only one in the castle he knew he could trust. He hadn't expected, however, on leaving without his heart.
She knew exactly what to say to him, and he found that he could speak just as freely as her. They understood each other, and all the pain they had gone through. That kiss, there in the dark classroom where they had secretly met, connected Draco to her in a way he didn't really understand.
Weeks started to fly by for Draco, who was used to counting the days. Nearly every night, he would meet with her, and they would share whatever information they had found. With great pleasure, he had learned all about the DA, and all they were doing to defeat Umbridge. In public, Draco sucked up to the woman all he could without vomiting. It made him sick, the way she kept a tight grip on freedom. But, he knew it would get back to Lucius if he wasn't a sycophant.
Some nights, they would just skip the conversation altogether and start kissing. Draco got to know every plane of her beautiful mouth. Their physical connection was undeniable. Often, Draco would sit distracted in class, imagining him touching her once again. There was urgency in the way they would kiss, and he knew she felt it too.
Whenever they were together, either in the deserted classroom, the Owlrey, or the Astronomy Tower, they were one. Once they left each other, they were in two separate worlds again, and on two separate sides. It was the way things had to be done. Going public would be suicide for both of them. Lucius, of course, would waste no time and would kill Draco for even laying eyes on the blood traitor. The Weasleys would disown their daughter for yet again giving away her heart to the first person who would take it. They never spoke it out loud, but Draco knew that she felt it too- what they had was real.
The first Quiddich match of the season was drawing nearer and nearer, and it would be Slytherin vs. Gryffindor. Every night, Draco practiced, either going down to the pitch or going over plays in his head. Whatever chance he got, he would say something snide to Ron Weasley. He knew that the slightest pressure would break his spirit. Draco may have been falling desperately for his little sister, but he loathed Ron more than ever.
The morning of the match, Draco went into the Great Hall planning on throwing one more comment at Potter and Weasley before the game. The night before, he had been up late with Montague, writing a cute little song dedicated to Ron. Weasley, Potter, and Granger were sitting together, as usual. Luckily, Ginny wasn't with them when he arrived. He still wasn't sure if he could do it in front of her.
A smirk on his face, Draco began his march over to the table. He glanced over to the Ravenclaw table for a second, and stopped dead in his tracks.
There she was, looking just as beautiful as ever, even in red and gold. She was seated next to a handsome boy with dark brown hair and blue eyes, chatting cheerily. Drifting his gaze downward, Draco felt his stomach plummet. Her hand was entwined with the boy's, just hanging there innocently below the table.
An explosion of feelings surfaced inside Draco. I should have known better, she's just a whore! he thought to himself. Running a hand through his slicked back hair, he began to think, how could she do this to me? How?
Anger surged through Draco's blood. He wanted nothing more than to hurt her, just like she had hurt him. He went over to his own table and sat next to Pansy. Without saying a word, he put his arm around her and held her close.
"Oh! Draco!" she squealed, stunned and pleased. She began to talk, but Draco wasn't listening. His eyes were boring into Ginny, willing her to feel the pain that he was feeling. He watched as she stood up and planted a kiss on the boy's cheek, making Draco even angrier. She looked up, and they met eyes for a moment. Hurt flashed across her face that had been happy just moments before. That's right, Draco thought. No Weasley will hurt a Malfoy.
Still looking crushed, Ginny made her way towards her own table. Go back to where you belong, Gryffindor trash. "Good luck, Ron! Good luck, Harry!" she said loudly. Bending down, she embraced Potter and he hugged her back, looking puzzled. She pranced out of the Hall, giving just one brief glance back at the Slytherin table, a smug look on her face.
He hadn't thought it could be possible, but Draco was angrier than ever. He wanted nothing more than to kick Potter's ass to the ground at the game today.
Standing up abruptly, Draco ignored the squeal Pansy gave as she tipped over and made his way to the pitch. He changed into his robes in silence, his jaw locked. This would be the day that he would finally beat the Gryffindors.
Draco hated himself for believing that what he had with Ginny was real. It was just a brief fling, just a way for the both of them to relieve the little physical tension between them. He was beginning to think that she was just using him to get information. She probably believed he was on the side of the Dark Lord. He had spilled his soul for her, been completely honest with her, and she turned around and ran off with every other boy in the school- and worst of all, with Potter. How could he have been so stupid to believe that she actually had faith in him?
Though he tried to write it off, it was more apparent to Draco than ever that he really cared about her.
The game went on, and Draco felt just about ready to kill. He, along with the other Slytherins, sang 'Weasley is our King' over and over, and their plan was successful. Weasley made a terrible debut as a Keeper. But, as always, Potter was on top of his game, always just ahead of Draco. There were several times when either one of them just missed the snitch by an inch. Then, they both saw it, down at the Slytherin end.
Draco sped towards the snitch with all his strength, wanting nothing more than to beat Potter. He drew closer and closer, with Potter right next to him. They both extended their arms at the same moment.... Draco could feel a tiny wing on the tips of his fingers...
Potter's hand closed around the snitch and he flew upward. Frustration filled Draco as he flew towards the ground. "Fuck! Goddamn!" he shouted as he dismounted, not caring if he got in trouble anymore. All summer, he had been practicing every chance he got, wanting to finally give Potter a run for his money, and he had blown it again. He had been so close, he could feel it, and Potter was the hero for the millionth time.
Looking up, Draco witnessed with sick pleasure Potter getting hit by a Bludger. Of course, he was fine, as always. The Gryffindor team celebrated loudly on the ground.
All the events of the day began to build up inside Draco. The day had been worse than any he had encountered at the Malfoy Manor, and there had been many terrible ones. The only girl he had ever genuinely cared for had carelessly run off with other guys.... Potter had beaten him once again....
It became too much for him to handle. Draco needed to do something, or he felt he might explode. Quickly, he walked over to Potter, with Crabbe and Goyle behind him.
The words coming out of Draco's mouth were all harsh, and mostly aimed at Weasley. At first, Potter brushed him off, being the noble boy he was. But, Draco noticed, the Weasleys were all growing red and looking aggressive. Good, he thought. He wanted nothing more than to hurt them all.
"You like the Weasleys, don't you, Potter? Spend the holidays there and everything, don't you? Can't see how you stand the stink, but I suppose when you've been dragged up by Muggles even the Weasleys' hovel smells okay." The two twins were only being held back by the rest of their team. Draco knew that the next words would make them snap, and so he chose them carefully.
He laughed loudly, and then lowered his voice to a deadly whisper. "Or perhaps, you can remember what your mother's house stank like, Potter, and Weasley's pigsty reminds you of it...."
In a split second, George Weasley and Potter both ran towards him. Both launched themselves onto him, punching him everywhere. Draco managed to get a good swipe at the twin's lip before being knocked to the ground.
It was over just as soon as it started, with Potter and the Weasley being dragged away. Pain was blossoming in Draco's stomach, blood was running freely out of nose, and he couldn't move due to the many hits he had taken to the crotch. It hurt like hell, but Draco didn't care. He knew that he would be taken to the hospital wing to rest, while Potter and the Weasley would be punished.
Sure enough, he heard Madam Hooch screaming at them to go to McGonagall's office. The students in the stand were all on their feet, trying to figure out what had happened. Montague helped Draco to his feet, and limping, Draco started towards the castle. He gave one last look to the Gryffindor stand, searching for her.
She was standing there next to Granger, who looked like she was about to have a heart attack. Ginny just stood there, emotionless. They met eyes and her expression changed into one of severe disappointment. It wasn't the anger he had expected, or even tears of sadness. Slowly, she shook her head back and forth, as if saying, what have you done?
An unfamiliar feeling overtook Draco as he made his way to the hospital wing. He was beginning to regret having hurt Potter, all because of the way she had looked at him.
[A/N- Update soon, I promise! Words spoken by Draco during the fight are, of course, copyright JKR. I'm trying to avoid using her words exactly, but I think it was necessary for that scene. Review por favor!!]