Chapter Six:
'Blood is an important part. This child will have either dark or pure blood and it is not for you to decide which.'
Ginny remembered Tom's words. Somehow, they made sense. But something about him lately was very off. Why would he divulge this information to her...? There had to be more to this ever growing puzzle.
"His being here is really shaking you up, isn't it?" Draco asked the next afternoon as they lounged outside by the lake. He was on the ground, leaning back on his elbows. The green jeweled pendant swung as he shifted. Today he was wearing a pair of beige baggy pants and a navy blue shirt. He'd gotten somewhat used to the Muggle look, though he still had his robes on.
Ginny was leaning with her back against the giant oak tree. She wore a dark green tank top and jeans that were dangerously low on her hips. She pulled her hair back into a messy bun. She was staring at her hands.
"Why did you do this?" She spoke softly, but even through the rustle of leaves from the wind, he heard her. He turned his head and blinked.
"What?"
"Why did you change?"
Silence followed her final question and Draco ran his hand through his hair. He took off his glasses and perched them atop his head; his hair fell in pretty windswept blonde wisps down to his eyes. His eyes shimmered as he stared at the water. Ginny wanted to tell him how beautiful he was at that very moment
"My father hit my mother...all the time, when I was little. He called her useless, pathetic and a whore. She slept around a lot before she married my father. I'd watch from the closet where she told me to stay. I watched the blood trickle down her mouth as he finally hit her one last time. But she never cried," His eyes never left the lake but his tone was that of a scared little boy. Slowly he had begun to take his shirt off. She wanted to be sick as she saw all the scars on his back. His pale perfect back was tarnished.
"Then when I was fourteen...he came after me. I can't remember why he was angry, all I felt was that whip slashing and cutting me. You have no idea what that type of pain can do to someone, it could damage them physically as well as emotionally. From then on, I refused to feel anything for anyone...I didn't want to end up as cruel and vindictive as him. But ever since that other night, I couldn't keep myself away from you. I felt obligated to protect you."
"So, it never had anything to do with your fifth year?"
"It did...but it wasn't a big part of it. I was against him long before that."
She wanted to reach out to touch him, to comfort him. He'd done so much for her already...what could she do for him? Once she looked up again, he was close enough for her to touch. His breath was warm as it caressed her cheeks. She sucked in a sigh and closed her eyes. Slowly his hand swept her stomach and he touched her cheek.
"You've done so much for me. What can I do for you?"
Suddenly arms locked around Ginny's back and pulled her forward. He nestled his cheek on her shoulder. She felt his body tremble. Her hands were tight on his knees and her eyes widened as she felt a single tear drip onto her skin. She pulled away from him and just stared. He was shaking and he looked so frightened.
"Help me forget...please. I don't want to be like him." Something about the air just then had made her look up. She made a tiny noise like a hiss and shut her eyes. Draco lifted his head and glared. Once he put his glasses back on, his lips drew back to expose his teeth in a snarl. He stood only a few feet away, looking rather tense about something.
"Is that mine?" He asked, his voice shaky as he locked eyes with Ginny.
"It's rather hard to explain." Ginny murmured, looking at her feet.
"I have time, seeing as I just recently acquired this information. Calm down Mr. Malfoy. You know damn well what happened." Draco's hand quivered as he held onto one of his newly lit cigarettes.
"Well, it seems that this child is half yours and half Tom's." She found it odd how calmly she was when talking about this. Usually Tom made her lungs crave air, she couldn't breathe when she talked of him other times.
"I see. How did you know you were...?"
"Madam Pomfrey told me."
"And how did he come in to all this?" Snape pointed a slender pale finger at Draco, who stiffened but stuck the cigarette back in his mouth.
"I asked him to...father the baby." Something made the Potion Masters lip curl slightly as he glared menacingly at Malfoy.
"He's not the rightful one."
"This isn't right either. I shouldn't be pregnant with your child."
"This child is demon spawn. And you're right...this shouldn't have happened to you. But since it has, you have to deal with it. If you'd let me...I'd like to help. Of course, other's knowledge of this would be non existent."
Silence followed this. This was a particularly tense subject already and he was just making it worse. This was an accidental pregnancy. It wasn't supposed to happen. They all knew that. All she wanted now was to curl up against Draco and feel safe. She didn't need her rapist as a father...she didn't want him.
She wanted Draco.