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Chapter 20
Colin arrived back at Hogwarts with a group of fifth year Gryffindors. As he stepped out of the carriage, he waved his housemates on, declining their invitation to head to the common room for a game of Exploding Snap. Blaise had ridden in a separate carriage with the understanding that they would meet up in the Astronomy Tower.
As Colin entered the doors of the castle and weaved his way through the corridors and shifting staircases he reflected on the events of the afternoon. Running a hand through his blonde hair absently, deep in thought, Colin didn't notice Pansy Parkinson headed his way.
"Thanks so much for this afternoon Creevy. How ever, shall I thank you," Pansy asked, fluttering her eyelashes, flirtatiously.
"Save it Parkinson. I didn't do it for you," he returned curtly.
"Nonetheless, you did," Pansy cooed, kissing him on his cheek. Before turning to walk away she hissed in his ear, "I just wanted you to know that you and our friend should be careful. I heard something disturbing on my carriage ride home."
Colin's face screwed up as he raised his hand to wipe his cheek where Pansy's lips had been. He had feared when Blaise had jumped in Hogsmeade that someone had heard or seen their exchange.
Despite Colin's feelings for Blaise, he was keenly aware of the danger both boys would be in if their relationship was made public. Blaise came from a legacy of pureblood wizards. Although, no connection had been made between Blaise's parents and the Death Eaters, Colin had no doubt that they would strongly disapprove of any relationship between Blaise and another wizard, much less one from muggle parentage.
Colin continued to think over the implications of the revelation of his relationship with Blaise to the school body as he headed up the flight of steps that led to the Astronomy Tower when he stopped suddenly hearing voices.
"Now we know why Pansy was shagging half of Slytherin House. And to think we actually pitied you for having such a tart as a girlfriend. Now we know; you just weren't man enough to give her what she needs. Then again, maybe it's she that wasn't man enough for you," a voice snarled. Colin could see the snicker on the unseen speaker's face.
"I wouldn't throw around such accusations if I were you. You have no idea what I'm capable of."
"No Zabini, it's obvious that Creevy knows you much better than I. You might want to watch the empty threats. We both know that your family connections won't buy you anything in this situation. If your parents were to find out about your boyfriend, they would disown you and strike you down with Creevy and his entire family to show their allegiance to the Dark Lord."
All color left Colin's face as his blue eyes grew wide. Blaise's family was associated with He Who Must Not Be Named, which meant that Blaise was undoubtedly expected to receive his Dark Mark by the completion of term. Colin swiftly turned to flee back down the steps.
Colin ran throughout the corridors, his robes billowing behind him as he weaved in and out of students. As he rounded the corner that would lead him up to the Gryffindor common room, Colin felt his stomach retching as if he were going to be ill.
As Ron, Harry, and Hermione exited the carriages and trotted up to the main door, Hermione looked up at the castle and asked, "Ron, is that Fred or George? What is he doing here?"
As Ron squinted he saw that indeed one of his elder brothers was standing in the doorway to Hogwarts, talking intently with his younger sister's best friend. As Ron sped up, Liane turned back into the school and George headed down the path undoubtedly to catch a carriage back into Hogsmeade.
"George! What are you doing here? Did you talk to Dumbledore? What did he say," Ron prattled on in surprise at seeing his elder brother on school grounds.
"Slow down mate. I'm here about Ginny of course. No, I didn't talk to Dumbledore. I talked to that old witch McGonagall and she said a whole lot of nothing. She seems to be under the impression that Ginny will be tucked in her bed in Gryffindor tower safe and sound by curfew tonight."
"But," Ron tried to interject.
"I know mate, but they're not going to do much of anything. She said they would check the Floo network to see if they can track down where they went, but she isn't concerned. Look, I need to get back and let Fred know what's going on. Floo me later."
As George ran down the path, Ron turned back to his friends, "But, she's with Malfoy, sure McGonagall knows what danger she's in," Ron asked, his face showing plainly his amazement that his head of house did not take his sister's abduction seriously.
"Honestly Ron, I know Draco's a creep but do you honestly think he'd hurt Ginny," Hermione asked, her hands on her hips as she looked at Ron.
As Ron's face fell, his mouth agape at Hermione's question, Harry interjected. "I don't know mate, she has a point. I don't like Malfoy any more than you do, but after seeing Ginny with him for the past couple of weeks, I'm not so sure I believe he'd hurt her either."
"What the bloody hell do you think you were doing," Ginny shrieked as Draco pulled her by the hand down the corrider away from the Room of Requirement.
Draco spun slowly, cocked his neck to the side as he lowered his face close to Ginny's, "I will ask you again to kindly lower your voice. I do not wish to discuss my business in the corridors for everyone to hear," he hissed, his expression showing the severity of his warning despite the hushed tone.
Ginny snatched her hand from Draco's and flipped her hair indignantly over her shoulder. Lifting her chin and narrowing her eyes to meet Draco's, she bellowed, "Draco Malfoy, I could care less if the entire school knows about us. You will not order me about like some little girl."
"Lover's spat," Adrian Long called as he approached Draco and Ginny from the opposite end of the corridor.
Draco spun swiftly away from Ginny and approached the sixth year Slytherin. "Term has not ended yet Long. I know you think that you are the up and coming head of Slytherin, but until I have left, be sure to remember the order of things."
"I- I- was just joking," the younger boy stammered, obviously rethinking the intelligence of making fun of Draco.
"See that the next time you choose to tell me a joke, you make it funny," Draco sneered, effectively dismissing the boy by turning his back on him.
Ginny and Draco continued back to the Slytherin Dormitories in silence. As they swept across the common room and up the steps to Draco's room, Ginny felt conscious of the many pairs of eyes boring a hole in her back. As they entered the room Draco pulled off his robe before tossing it in the corner out of anger.
"Just what are you trying to prove?"
"What do you mean," Ginny responded, "Just because I'm not afraid of what the school thinks about my personal relationships, you think I'm out to prove something?"
"I told you before, not to confuse my desire to be discreet with fear. I could care less with what any of these fools think about my private affairs. I am concerned about the ramifications that might occur when others might find out?"
"So you're afraid of your father? Is that it?"
"No, I'm not afraid of my father. Yes I am aware of what he might do if he found out that I was fraternizing with a Weasley," Draco sighed exasperatedly. "Ginny, my life boils down to actions and consequences. I examine the possible consequences of all actions that are presented before me, and determine whether the possible outcome is worth it or not. I don't think that announcing to the school that we have taken to snogging every private moment we get is worth risking your personal safety nor mine."
Ginny looked up at Draco and carefully evaluated his words. She hadn't considered honestly what Lucius might do if he found out that she and Draco had become somewhat involved. She knew that he wouldn't be happy, just as she knew her own family would be resistant. As Ginny processed the revelation that her involvement with Draco could put her in very will danger she sank down on Draco's bed.
"That's the problem with you bloody Gryffindors. You charge off based upon emotion, ready to prove to the world that you fear nothing, but you think nothing of the consequences," Draco stated, with more condescension in his voice than intended, before sitting next to Ginny on the bed.
Taking her chin in his hand and turning her to face him, Draco smoothed back Ginny's hair before continuing, "Honestly Ginny, I don't even what it is that we have. I don't think it would be wise to charge off telling the world, before we understand what is going on. After all, we wouldn't have ever spent time together had it not been for your detentions, and those will be up at the beginning of next week."
"You're right Draco. I mean, sure the snogging was great, but we're not likely to end up 'Happily Ever After,'" Ginny replied coldly.
"Gin, don't get like that. I didn't mean it the way it sounded," Draco interjected, putting his arm across Gin's shoulder, pulling her in to tuck her head beneath his chin. "I really enjoy spending time with you Gin. Not because of the snogging, but because of you."
"So you're trying to say the snogging wasn't great," Ginny asked sarcastically a small smirk forming at her lips.
Draco smiled and pulled Ginny in close to her, tilting her chin up with his hand. "If that's what I was saying, I wouldn't have tried to get you alone in the Room of Requirement this afternoon," Draco's lips brushed Ginny's as he breathed his reply before kissing her.
As Ginny accepted Draco's tongue inside of her mouth and felt his hands wind into her hair, she processed his last statement and broke their kiss.
"What the," Draco asked as he tried to pull Ginny back into his embrace.
Standing up, Ginny looked Draco in the eye, "And just what did you think you were doing, snooping around, finding the room, and taking me there. Hermione probably thinks I've gone off and shown you our…" Ginny's voice trailed off.
Draco leaned back on the bed, his expression indignant, "As far as I'm aware, the only area of this school that is off limits to me are another houses Common Room."
"You knew I didn't want you to know where it was. I told you as much the first time I brought you there."
"In that case, perhaps you should have never brought me there," Draco responded smirking. "It kind of defeats the purpose of a secret, if you tell someone everything they need to know to uncover the secret. What are you Gryff's doing in there anyways?"
"N-nothing," Ginny stammered lowering her eyes to avoid Draco's.
As the uncomfortable silence grew between Draco and Ginny, Crabbe and Goyle burst into the room.
"Way to go Malfoy," Crabbe called.
"Yeah, Bloody Brilliant," Goyle added clapping Draco on the back, both boys completely oblivious to the tension that was in the room.
"Potter was in the corridor outside of the Great Hall telling that Weasel about how you've been snogging his sister. You should have seen it," Goyle continued hurriedly.
Draco listened and fought a smirk from forming at his lips as he caught a glance of Ginny out of the corner of his eye. "Well, I suppose I should give Weasley something to really get upset about then. If you'll excuse us," Draco responded, standing to pull Ginny by the waist into him. "Three more days," was all he hissed in her ear when he felt her trying to pull away from him.
As Crabbe and Goyle made their apologies for interrupting Draco, apparently they hadn't even noticed Ginny was in the room until Draco had drawn their attention to her, Ginny questioned her rationale for ever inviting Draco to the Room of Requirement and starting this insanity.
No author notes really, other than I hope you're still enjoying, and please click review!!!!
chocl8chps: jumping up and down I'm glad you like the story. I love your nick! I hope the update was fast enough for you!
RomanceFaerie16: smile I'm glad you're enjoying it, here's your update!
becky d: I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. Thanks for the review, and here's your update!
Big Bird: you know I sat there trying to see what I put in the story about what is it that Draco wants from Ginny. And I've typed, and deleted about 10 times trying to decide whether I was going to address it or not, and I've decided I'm not :) Glad you're enjoying it, and thanks for the review!
Social-flutterby: no frowning of a lifetime. I did at least one of the R's but I can't remember if I left a review, but I will, I promise!!!!!! Hehehe, I like the fic, waiting for the next update.
ForbidenMaggiks: glad you liked the chapter! Now I'm going to have to throttle you good if you don't stop apologizing for sending me something that is clearly you doing me a favor :) Honestly, I'm looking forward to seeing it, but it's no rush. Now that's the last that I want to hear on that (except of course when I open up my email and there it is :)) Ah yes, mother's day, my mom's passed on, but I'm glad you said something, I'll go put some flowers on her grave I suppose. But I should have a good time with my daughter tomorrow, so it'll be a good day!
Karen McCoy: :) yay, I like meanie Draco. Actually I really don't, but I like what his character adds to the universe, and I don't want to change it too much. So I'm always happy when someone tells me he's still a lil bastid :) Thanks for the review.
BigRed-2006: hehehe, it had actually been like a week, you just found the story at a good time, but I'm glad it was a swift update for you! Hope you enjoy the new chap.