Chain Reaction
A/N: This is Draco/Ginny and Tom/Ginny. I think that Tom is really what would bring Draco and Ginny together; Draco would become a sort-of substitute for him. Yeah, I'm crazy, I know. Anyways, this is present-tense and disjoined…and some of it takes place in the near future(?). You'll understand when you read it.
Chain Reaction
Two days later, midnight, The Leaky Cauldron
She finishes her second bottle of Firewhiskey and sets it down on the table. She's drunk now and the feeling scares her; she's not in control of her thoughts anymore and his green eyes dance before her… But, suddenly, she blinks and they vanish, leaving her alone again in the dark, musty pub.
"Excuse me? One more bottle, please?"
xxxx
Earlier that morning, Gryffindor common room
Harry is whispering in Parstletongue again; he's saying, "Sirius, Sirius, Sirius" over and over, but all she hears is, "Tom, Tom, Tom".
"Ginny," Harry hisses in the snake language, not knowing that she is listening. She vanishes.
xxxx
Tomorrow, late night, Room of Requirement
Her robes are neatly folded and under the bed; his are in a pile by the door and he makes no move to change this. Her lip is bleeding, her hair is wet, and she aches in very uncomfortable and unmentionable places. She's never looked so beautiful. And she smiles as Draco's gray eyes slowly become green as he lies on the bed next to her…
"Tom," she whispers, nearly delirious from happiness.
"Pansy," he hisses, twirling a lock of red hair between his fingers. Neither one notices.
xxxx
Yesterday, early morning, Great Hall
Hermione's eyes crinkle in worry as she watches Ginny pick at her breakfast. The girl's getting thinner and she always has dark circles under her eyes now; Hermione wonders what's wrong.
"Ginny, are you okay?" she asks nervously.
"Fine," Ginny replies with a radiant smile; "just a little tired, that's all."
Hermione barely notices the darkness lurking beneath Ginny's façade.
xxxx
Today, midnight, the dungeons
She's surprised how attached she's becoming to Draco now; if she concentrates hard enough, she can sometimes see some of Tom's mannerisms and actions in him…
"It's late," he states in a hoarse voice. "Aren't you tired?..."
"No," she whispers, yawning. "Stay longer?"
He leaves.
xxxx
Three days ago, the kitchens
It pains him to see her like this. Her dark eyes, her thin frame, the tears that stain her robes and turn her cheeks red; he wonders if she'll ever stop crying.
She must have been crying forever.
xxxx
Infinity, Slytherin common room
Tom is like a vampire, sucking out her life and stealing her soul. And Draco knows that she will never be his, not completely. She will always cling to a vestige of what once was, her brown eyes unfocused and her red hair disheveled. Her skin is pale, and no one but Draco sees how alarmingly quickly she is disappearing. He knows that there is nothing he can do; she would only push him away. So, he walks away again and again.
She knows that he will always come back.
xxxx
The beginning, 12:07, The Leaky Cauldron
She downs her fourth bottle of Firewhiskey and collapses. She knows in a deep crevice of her mind that school officials will be looking for her tomorrow, but she really doesn't care. For now, Tom-and Draco-are waiting.
[End]