After no less than four months, I have updated. I'm thoroughly disgusted with myself. Well... Actually, I'm quite proud! I'm in my groove again! waves flags YEAH!

Disclaimer: Why do you even ask? Why? RUB SALT IN MY WOUND, WHY DON'T YA!!!! AAAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Void.

Darkness.

It loomed all around her, empty and ominous.

"Hello?" Her voice rang into the abyss, finding noting to echo off of. "Is someone there?"

No answer, only blackness. Now Fear began to surface and Terror sunk its claws into her mercilessly, making her feel like a small child lost and afraid.

"Someone! Please! Anyone!"

She was panicking. There was no one to hear her, no one to answer. She had never felt so hopelessly empty, so alone.

"I'm here." The voice was slick and smooth and so horribly familiar.

A shiver went up her spine, and she felt Dread ripping at the pit of her stomach.

"I'm here." It said again, chillingly, mockingly.

"No." Her voice quivered. "No! I don't want you here!" Now she was screaming. "Go away! I don't want you!"

The darkness seemed to be speaking, now; the voice surrounded her.

"Liar."

Ginny Weasley awoke with a start. She was soaked with sweat, breathing hard. She could shill feel the terror; that ache in her gut was still there.

She pulled herself into a sitting position, hearing the rustle of fabric as she buried her head in the knees. Stifling a sob, she tried to collect her thoughts.

She was sitting on a couch in a large, darkened classroom.

And she was alone.

For once, Draco Malfoy was actually relaxed. He was the only student in the library today, which was, probably, a result of him being there at all. And he was quite proud of it, too.

Nestled in a leather chair, basking in the sun coming from a nearby window, the Serpent Prince flipped lazily through a copy of Romeo and Juliet. He wasn't really reading it, but he was distantly wondering why said couple were conversing about pilgrims and shrines.

Slipping past a film of ennui, a thought surfaced.

'I wonder if she'll come.'

This same question was, in fact, on Ginny's mind as well. However, her thoughts were more along the lines of what, oh what, did Malfoy plan to do to her.

She glanced again at the crumpled note in her fist. It wasn't signed, but she knew who it was from. The graceful, refined lettering, the ink tinted silver, the expensive parchment, they all pointed to Ginny's blond- haired tormentor as the author.

"Come to the library after classes." Hardly an eloquent message, but purely Malfoy.

Of course she would go, that wasn't really a question. She didn't need to be put on Malfoy's torture list. Though, she suspected, it was a little late for that.

'Malfoy, what, oh what, are you planning.'

Looking up from Astronomy: Light of the Heavens ("Draco, the serpent constellation..." Hardly coincidental, and a little funny.), the aforementioned constellation regarded the tiny redhead peeking nervously around the library. He could almost hear her thoughts.

'No one's here... He's not here! I don't see him! He didn't show! He... AHH!'

She screamed when she turned around, finally seeing him.

Draco wondered why all Weasleys were as jumpy as rabbits. Multiplied like them, too. Hmm, that was funny. Too bad he hadn't said it out loud.

"Come now Weasley, I'm not that scary." He said in a voice that reminded her of a fox in the stories she had read as a child.

Like the heroine in those stories, Ginny couldn't seem to make her body move.

"Come sit down. Don't worry, I don't bite."

'Come into my lair, little rabbit. Don't worry, I'm a vegetarian.'

Mechanically, Ginny pulled out the chair across from him, unable to brake away under his mesmerizing gaze.

She looked around the library anxiously, but it seemed to be completely empty. The magnitude of this situation suddenly struck her. She was alone, in an empty room, with Draco Malfoy. This was very, very bad.

Where was Madame Pince? Normally, Ginny would love her absence but... Didn't that woman know not to leave students (well, Malfoy at least) unguarded! What if he decided to practice some Dark Arts on her! Not that he actually would.

She thought.

She turned back to Malfoy, trying desperately not to look terrified.

Draco was enjoying this immensely. Weasley was really squirming, now. It was all he could do to keep from clapping his hands in glee.

Did that make him demented?

Probably.

He could here Blaise's voice in his head.

"You have some sort of complex, you know that?"

That was probably true, too. He'd have to look into it.

In the meantime, he'd watch Weasley play with a button on her robe. After all, he wasn't going to start the conversation.

Let her sweat.

Ginny was getting more nervous by the second. Why didn't he say anything? He just... sat there, staring at her with those hypnotic gray eyes, obviously enjoying himself.

"So, uhh," Ginny started. "You, umm, you wanted to see me?"

That sounded stupid, like he was her boss or her king or something.

Draco loved it.

Malfoy's eyes lit up.

"Oh, yes. I did."

Ginny broke eye contact, hoping she would regain her natural thought process.

"Now tell me, little Weasel," He reached for a copy of Romeo and Juliet. "What does that say?"

Ginny eyed him warily, slowly taking the book from his hand. He was putting her in her comfort zone before he dashed her to bits, she knew it!

"'Alas, that love, so gentle in his view is muffled still, should without eyes see pathway to his will! Where shall we dine? O me! What fray was....'"

Malfoy cut her off.

"Yeah, yeah right." He pointed to line eight. "What does that mean?"

Ginny stared at him. No way he asked her here just to... No way.

"I'm, umm, I'm pretty sure he's just asking were they're eating dinner."

Malfoy blinked at her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, pretty...."

This was so weird.

Okay, Shakespeare was random. Why was he being forced to play some random, muggle, IDIOT?

Weasley was still staring at him. Oh, yes. This would be fun.

"All right, here's the thing, Weasley." He spoke so suddenly that it startled her. "I don't want to look like an idiot up there. Now, I think you owe me. Why?" The question never made it out of her lips. "Well, I healed your hand, for one. I told Sinclair you went to Madame Pomfrey. I also told you teachers. Now, as you well know, I don't usually do charity work. You owe me."

Ginny couldn't believe her ears.

"So... you want me to tutor you in Shakespeare?"

He shrugged.

"It has been pointed out that I have an overdeveloped sense of pride. Also vengeance." He added pointedly.

"Umm....."

'Don't do it Ginny! Bad! Bad Ginny! Remember the fox! This is Malfoy! Think of motives! No, Ginny, NO!"

"Okay." She whispered weakly.

Malfoy grinned evilly as he shook her hand.

"Perfect."

Whoa. Is it just me or is my Draco, like, sadistic. No? Not me? Oh. Didn't think so. So what did you think? Too short? Too angsty? Too wordy? Tell me! It really won't make a difference but... reviews are my strength!

This is getting quite angsty... It's like I have the Angst!Bunny and the Fluff!Bunny ripping at either side of my muse.

Reviews me likey.