CHAPTER 3
Prof. Malfoy watched unenthusiastically. He muttered under his breath in annoyance, "How did I manage to get stuck with surpervising the Seventh year's Pub Crawl?"
Virginia Weasley was amongst them all. The centre, as always, of attention, whirling happily from person to person. Chating animatly with one person or another about the weekend, holidays, Quidditch or the lastest fashion.
Draco couldn't help but admit she was a fantastic actor. He almost believed she was happy and healthy again, possibly even in her right mind.
Virginia wandered over to Prof. Malfoy. "So Prof. do you like my new cloak?" she asked sweetly.
Draco looked at Virginia and wished for an instant no one else was there. She look absolutely ravishing. She had a tight, deep blue Velvet dress on that had splits up to mid thigh and was very low cut, coming to a neat V in the front and a black cloak. Her red hair was flowing freely down her back while the hood was down. "That looks nice, Virginia," Prof. Malfoy said politely.
Virginia laughed and smiled. Nothing could go wrong with this night, absolutely nothing.
Draco held back the usual sarcastic comment that immediatly jumps to mind. He wouldn't say anything to change Virginia mood that day.
She was actually happy for the first time since, well. He would not do anything at all to change her mood. He couldn't bare the thought of being the cause of her ill humour.
Virginia waved one final time before disappearing through the doors of Hogwarts
"You better stay away from my girl, Malfoy," Someone growled from behind him.
Draco spun on his heel and the mask of a Professor came over his features, "Why if it isn't Harry Potter, shouldn't you be at home watching over your daughter, your adopted daughter. Poor Potter couldn't even have a kid of his own."
Something in Harry's face snapped and Draco could see he had hit just the right point, rubbed salt into the right wound.
"Stay away from Virginia. Do not go any where near her understand Malfoy. And do not mention my daughter around her." Harry stalked out the doors of Hogwarts leaving Draco alone again, to contemplate on the night thus far.
***
Nothing I mean nothing could ruin this night for me. Not even Harry.
I couldn't believe he was actually letting me see my baby, my Alantra. I've missed her so much.
I have to admit I hated the bastard when he said she wasn't his. When he said he had to adopt her to make her his own, take her completly away from me.
I don't care anymore nothing can ruin this night for me. I'm going to see her. I didn't think I would ever see her again.
Harry always threatened, always said he'd hurt her if I didn't do what he said and after the other night, well I'm surprised he hasn't hurt her.
Maybe that's why he hates me so much. The year he left Hogwarts I had to make him adopt our baby. I wasn't about to let him leave her on the streets.
I can't hold in the excitement and I let out an exhaulted squeak before running all the way to Hogsmeade.
I stop walking just before Cormak's Inn. Harry had mentioned he would be staying there. I walk into the Lobby and find myself immediatly picked up from behind and carried up the stairs.
I jump slightly when a door in the way is kicked open.
I'm dropped heavily on a bed and I look up to see my kid napper, Harry standing there with a roagish look on his face.
I hate that look. It's reminds me to much of the old Harry, the Harry I loved.
Harry leans over and places a demanding kiss on my lips.
"Harry, please, no. Can I see Alantra please?" I ask timidly, worried about his usual short temper.
"You'll see her after I'm done. First things first."
Again Harry repeats this disgusting act. He strips me roughly not even leaving me the dignity to do it myself. I hate it, I loathe it. I can't help but wish the prick would die in his sleep and some how I would get my baby back.
He strips off his own clothes and pushes me forcefully back against the bed.
He's not loving or even kind this time. He pushes me around until he finds a position where he's enjoying it.
I don't even pretend to enjoy it this time but I won't squirm away. I won't run when I risk the chance of seeing my daughter again.
He eventually finishes.
He stands up and looks down at me in disgust. "And you think after that preformance I'll let you see my daughter?"
I hate the way he says that, 'my daughter'. She's not his daughter. He doesn't love her like I do. I hate more that anything else in the world for an instant. I stand up in anger. "You let me see 'my' daughter or I'll tell Dumbledore every thing," I stupidly yell.
"Crucio," Harry mutters and aims his wand at me.
I scream. Everything appears in slow motion. I watch the world slowly revolve and eventually just turn into the floor.
The pain is more than pain. I would scream and never stop if I could. Not even Harry deserves this. I wish I was dead. I wish it would stop. Every part of my feels assulted. I can't do anything. Every part of my body screams for Salvation.
Harry smirks. He moves his wand slightly and it's no longer pointing at me.
Had it been someone else I would of said thankyou. Gawd, even if it was Tom I would of said thankyou.
Harry laughs happily. "You say anything to Dumbledore and she dies. I'll tell everyone what a slut you are, having a child in your sixth year, at the start of your sixth year no less. I'm sure everyone will like you after that."
I HATE HIM. How dare he think that I even care what thay all think of me. All I want to do is see my daughter. "Please Harry?" I wimper.
He ignores me while he dresses. He slowly pulls his boxers up over his legs and smiles at me lustily before he pulls them on all the way. He pulls on the rest of his clothes with the same fluid movement and rude smirks.
"Please, Harry. I need to see her," I winper again and add a fake shiver of fear.
I know he likes this. He loves the power he holds over me. He loves the way he can instill such fear in me. He enjoys watching me snimper quietly, not so loud as to annoy him but loud enough for him to hear me. I hate him for it.
He smiles an almost loving smile and nods his head.
I slowly stand. I walk around the room collecting all of my clothing and slowly dress.
Harry watches every action that I do. Every slight movement of hand. I shiver under his watchful gaze. Her leers suggestivily at every item of apparal I pick up and almost sighs in sadness as I put it on.
When I'm dressed he grabs my arm roughly and pulls me along behind him. He walks out the door and slams it tempermentally behind him.
He pushes me towards a door slightly down the hall from our own. I open the door tentatively, fearful that he's lied again and nothing waits me but a cold, barren room.
Alantra's sitting on the bed playing with her dolls. She smiles innocently at the game and tenderly raises each doll up into the air without the aid of hand. She's definetly my daughter.
"Hey baby," I mutter in a somewhat worried tone.
I hope she remembers me. Last time she'd looked at me mutly for half an hour before I reminded her I was her mother.
Her dolls drop from the air at the sound of my voice. I feel terribly guilty that I might of frightened her. "Mama?" she askes fearfully, as if worried I'm a dream.
She pinches herself and smiles when she discovers it's all real. She jumps off the bed and runs towards attactching herself to my leg.
"Mama," She squeals in delight. She holds onto my leg as if its her life line, her only link to reality.
My insides scream exhualtantly. This Harry couldn't take from me. "Yeah, Aly, it's mama," I say simply as I sweep her up into my arms. I would and will do anything and everything for one single moment like this.
***
Draco watched Virginia Weasley the whole lesson of DaDA. Not so obviously that the other students would realise he was doing it but obvious enough for Virginia to realise.
He watched as Virginia stared slightly angerly at her fellow Gryffindors make spit of what a pitiful and unneeded class this is now.
He watched her bite her bottom lip in thought and smile sweetly when the answer was found in the managery that was her mind.
Unlike her fellow classmates, both Slytherin and Gryffindor alike, she watched not the clock but the highly detailed notes he had put on the board that morning.
He himself glanced up at the clock to see the time was but two minutes from twelve. The students needed to be dismissed for lunch.
"Class," he stood up to his full height and gazed meningcinly at the class, "This work had better be completed a week from today but for now you are all dismissed."
He watched as all the students stood up and almost at once were out of the classroom. All that was except Virginia.
She was still sitting at her desk writing furiously and stopping only every other moment for thought. Her hair had come out of its pony and was falling down her back and her pen drummed the desk in a steady tune while she thought. She hadn't heard him at all, she was that engrossed in her work and Prof. Malfoy had to wonder what was so exciting about drawing pictures of the Dark Mark.
He slowly walked over to stand behind her and read over her shoulder. She had a detailed essay on possible counter curses for the Crucio curse.
"Virginia as intelligent and amazing as you counter curses are the aren't quite drawings of a dark mark." Prof Malfoy muttered moodily.
Virginia looked up at Prof Malfoy, "I'm ever so sorry Prof," she muttered sarcastically, "But I thought possible counter-curses for Crucio would be a much better way to waste my time. Anyway my pictures is under my scroll."
Prof Malfoy nodded and moved the scroll to fing not only a picture of the Dark Mark but a photograph of a small girl possibly one or two years old. She had messy red hair, which reminded him of Virginia but her startling, fierce green eyes reminded him of someone else completly, Harry Potter.
He picked up the photo and looked at it more closely. He remembered seeing Potter's kid at the start of the year and this photo was almost the identical of that child, but why would Virginia have a photo of Harry's kid?
Virginia's head was back down again writing detailed notes and idea's.
"Ginger, who's this?"
"Oh that's Aly, my daughter," She said without thinking. She stopped writing and looked up at Draco. "Um, what I mean to say is, um, that's, not my daughter," she muttered through her teeth knowing it sounded utterly unbelievable.
Draco picked up Virginia's parchment and moved it to another desk. He turned and sat on the desk infront of her. "Ginny, since when do you have a daughter?""
Ginny looked around the room hoping that someone would come running through the door and stop her from saying anything else stupid.
***
I can't believe I told him. I've kept this secret for over a year, Fuck what if Harry blames me and hurts my baby, my Alantra.
I hope someone comes running into the room for some reason so I don't have to say anything else, don't have to put Aly at risk.
No one comes and I know that I must say something or risk everything I've worked so hard to protect.
"Fuck, Draco, just pretend I never said anything."
Draco is well Draco, I see the Draco I knew in my fifth year, the one that nursed me back from insanity, the one despite everything I choose Fucking Harry Potter over.
He looks at me with pity, not the disgust I expected to see. "So she really is Potter's kid," he thinks aloud, more talking to himself than me. I can't believe that's all he has to say.
"Yeah, wait no she isn't, she's my baby cousin?" I lie pathetically. I look up into his cold steel eyes and know that he doesn't believe me at all.
"Gin, How could you have a kid?" He asks lamely looking at me not the way I expected. He doesn't look repulsed or disgusted or angry or even slightly disappointed.
I know there no way around this discussion so I look away from his eyes into the corner of the room and start talking quickly. "Well I started going out with Harry in my fourth year, right after Voldemort, and then we were screwing around all through my fifth and I got preggers at the end of my fifth, I had Alantra halfway through my sixth and made Harry adopt her."
Draco looked at me as if I had told him nothing. "And... Why wasn't the fabled hero Harry Potter here the other day?"
"He was," I mutter sadly under my breath and I can see Draco flare with anger.
"You mean that prick, the father of your kid was the one to..." He stopped as if lost for words.
I just nod sadly. "Please don't say anything, Aly lives with him and he said he'd hurt her if I told."
Draco looked angry, "Doesn't your brother know or even your parents know?"
I can't even look at him any more. It seems I was right, he's angry and now he hates me. "No, Harry out a spell on me so they couldn't see I was preggers and he use to hit me and tell me he'd kill me if I told anyone about Aly," I can feel my eyes fill with unshed tears as I mention this, "And then when Aly was born he said he'd kill her if I told. It was always about his reputation." The tears are streaming down my face now and I can't hold them back. All the times I'd made sure I hadn't cried around Harry came bearing down and all the unshed tears fell.
Draco pulled me out of the chair and into his arms. I bawl like a child into his chest. Even as I wimper I feel the tears in my eyes dry up as I know I must again put on the mask of perfection, ever here with my closest friend.
I pull away from him slowly. Unwilling to leave the calming embrace, a loving embrace like one I had not felt for quite a while. "Draco don't tell anyone, please. If Harry finds out I told you he'll hurt Aly."
Draco looks aorund the room in thought. His eyes take on the dazed look of heavy thinking and I fear he's going to cause trouble, "I can't promise you that Ginger but I promise to get your daughter back."
I swear and look at him angrily, pissed off that he's promising something he can't provide. I look up into his eyes and I see the intent look of one who will swear their entire life on that statement. Pure fierce determination. "Yes Dray and I believe you."
I look at Dray more intensily and for an instant I see a spark of something else in those cold storm cloud eyes.
I think you love me.
Prof. Malfoy watched unenthusiastically. He muttered under his breath in annoyance, "How did I manage to get stuck with surpervising the Seventh year's Pub Crawl?"
Virginia Weasley was amongst them all. The centre, as always, of attention, whirling happily from person to person. Chating animatly with one person or another about the weekend, holidays, Quidditch or the lastest fashion.
Draco couldn't help but admit she was a fantastic actor. He almost believed she was happy and healthy again, possibly even in her right mind.
Virginia wandered over to Prof. Malfoy. "So Prof. do you like my new cloak?" she asked sweetly.
Draco looked at Virginia and wished for an instant no one else was there. She look absolutely ravishing. She had a tight, deep blue Velvet dress on that had splits up to mid thigh and was very low cut, coming to a neat V in the front and a black cloak. Her red hair was flowing freely down her back while the hood was down. "That looks nice, Virginia," Prof. Malfoy said politely.
Virginia laughed and smiled. Nothing could go wrong with this night, absolutely nothing.
Draco held back the usual sarcastic comment that immediatly jumps to mind. He wouldn't say anything to change Virginia mood that day.
She was actually happy for the first time since, well. He would not do anything at all to change her mood. He couldn't bare the thought of being the cause of her ill humour.
Virginia waved one final time before disappearing through the doors of Hogwarts
"You better stay away from my girl, Malfoy," Someone growled from behind him.
Draco spun on his heel and the mask of a Professor came over his features, "Why if it isn't Harry Potter, shouldn't you be at home watching over your daughter, your adopted daughter. Poor Potter couldn't even have a kid of his own."
Something in Harry's face snapped and Draco could see he had hit just the right point, rubbed salt into the right wound.
"Stay away from Virginia. Do not go any where near her understand Malfoy. And do not mention my daughter around her." Harry stalked out the doors of Hogwarts leaving Draco alone again, to contemplate on the night thus far.
***
Nothing I mean nothing could ruin this night for me. Not even Harry.
I couldn't believe he was actually letting me see my baby, my Alantra. I've missed her so much.
I have to admit I hated the bastard when he said she wasn't his. When he said he had to adopt her to make her his own, take her completly away from me.
I don't care anymore nothing can ruin this night for me. I'm going to see her. I didn't think I would ever see her again.
Harry always threatened, always said he'd hurt her if I didn't do what he said and after the other night, well I'm surprised he hasn't hurt her.
Maybe that's why he hates me so much. The year he left Hogwarts I had to make him adopt our baby. I wasn't about to let him leave her on the streets.
I can't hold in the excitement and I let out an exhaulted squeak before running all the way to Hogsmeade.
I stop walking just before Cormak's Inn. Harry had mentioned he would be staying there. I walk into the Lobby and find myself immediatly picked up from behind and carried up the stairs.
I jump slightly when a door in the way is kicked open.
I'm dropped heavily on a bed and I look up to see my kid napper, Harry standing there with a roagish look on his face.
I hate that look. It's reminds me to much of the old Harry, the Harry I loved.
Harry leans over and places a demanding kiss on my lips.
"Harry, please, no. Can I see Alantra please?" I ask timidly, worried about his usual short temper.
"You'll see her after I'm done. First things first."
Again Harry repeats this disgusting act. He strips me roughly not even leaving me the dignity to do it myself. I hate it, I loathe it. I can't help but wish the prick would die in his sleep and some how I would get my baby back.
He strips off his own clothes and pushes me forcefully back against the bed.
He's not loving or even kind this time. He pushes me around until he finds a position where he's enjoying it.
I don't even pretend to enjoy it this time but I won't squirm away. I won't run when I risk the chance of seeing my daughter again.
He eventually finishes.
He stands up and looks down at me in disgust. "And you think after that preformance I'll let you see my daughter?"
I hate the way he says that, 'my daughter'. She's not his daughter. He doesn't love her like I do. I hate more that anything else in the world for an instant. I stand up in anger. "You let me see 'my' daughter or I'll tell Dumbledore every thing," I stupidly yell.
"Crucio," Harry mutters and aims his wand at me.
I scream. Everything appears in slow motion. I watch the world slowly revolve and eventually just turn into the floor.
The pain is more than pain. I would scream and never stop if I could. Not even Harry deserves this. I wish I was dead. I wish it would stop. Every part of my feels assulted. I can't do anything. Every part of my body screams for Salvation.
Harry smirks. He moves his wand slightly and it's no longer pointing at me.
Had it been someone else I would of said thankyou. Gawd, even if it was Tom I would of said thankyou.
Harry laughs happily. "You say anything to Dumbledore and she dies. I'll tell everyone what a slut you are, having a child in your sixth year, at the start of your sixth year no less. I'm sure everyone will like you after that."
I HATE HIM. How dare he think that I even care what thay all think of me. All I want to do is see my daughter. "Please Harry?" I wimper.
He ignores me while he dresses. He slowly pulls his boxers up over his legs and smiles at me lustily before he pulls them on all the way. He pulls on the rest of his clothes with the same fluid movement and rude smirks.
"Please, Harry. I need to see her," I winper again and add a fake shiver of fear.
I know he likes this. He loves the power he holds over me. He loves the way he can instill such fear in me. He enjoys watching me snimper quietly, not so loud as to annoy him but loud enough for him to hear me. I hate him for it.
He smiles an almost loving smile and nods his head.
I slowly stand. I walk around the room collecting all of my clothing and slowly dress.
Harry watches every action that I do. Every slight movement of hand. I shiver under his watchful gaze. Her leers suggestivily at every item of apparal I pick up and almost sighs in sadness as I put it on.
When I'm dressed he grabs my arm roughly and pulls me along behind him. He walks out the door and slams it tempermentally behind him.
He pushes me towards a door slightly down the hall from our own. I open the door tentatively, fearful that he's lied again and nothing waits me but a cold, barren room.
Alantra's sitting on the bed playing with her dolls. She smiles innocently at the game and tenderly raises each doll up into the air without the aid of hand. She's definetly my daughter.
"Hey baby," I mutter in a somewhat worried tone.
I hope she remembers me. Last time she'd looked at me mutly for half an hour before I reminded her I was her mother.
Her dolls drop from the air at the sound of my voice. I feel terribly guilty that I might of frightened her. "Mama?" she askes fearfully, as if worried I'm a dream.
She pinches herself and smiles when she discovers it's all real. She jumps off the bed and runs towards attactching herself to my leg.
"Mama," She squeals in delight. She holds onto my leg as if its her life line, her only link to reality.
My insides scream exhualtantly. This Harry couldn't take from me. "Yeah, Aly, it's mama," I say simply as I sweep her up into my arms. I would and will do anything and everything for one single moment like this.
***
Draco watched Virginia Weasley the whole lesson of DaDA. Not so obviously that the other students would realise he was doing it but obvious enough for Virginia to realise.
He watched as Virginia stared slightly angerly at her fellow Gryffindors make spit of what a pitiful and unneeded class this is now.
He watched her bite her bottom lip in thought and smile sweetly when the answer was found in the managery that was her mind.
Unlike her fellow classmates, both Slytherin and Gryffindor alike, she watched not the clock but the highly detailed notes he had put on the board that morning.
He himself glanced up at the clock to see the time was but two minutes from twelve. The students needed to be dismissed for lunch.
"Class," he stood up to his full height and gazed meningcinly at the class, "This work had better be completed a week from today but for now you are all dismissed."
He watched as all the students stood up and almost at once were out of the classroom. All that was except Virginia.
She was still sitting at her desk writing furiously and stopping only every other moment for thought. Her hair had come out of its pony and was falling down her back and her pen drummed the desk in a steady tune while she thought. She hadn't heard him at all, she was that engrossed in her work and Prof. Malfoy had to wonder what was so exciting about drawing pictures of the Dark Mark.
He slowly walked over to stand behind her and read over her shoulder. She had a detailed essay on possible counter curses for the Crucio curse.
"Virginia as intelligent and amazing as you counter curses are the aren't quite drawings of a dark mark." Prof Malfoy muttered moodily.
Virginia looked up at Prof Malfoy, "I'm ever so sorry Prof," she muttered sarcastically, "But I thought possible counter-curses for Crucio would be a much better way to waste my time. Anyway my pictures is under my scroll."
Prof Malfoy nodded and moved the scroll to fing not only a picture of the Dark Mark but a photograph of a small girl possibly one or two years old. She had messy red hair, which reminded him of Virginia but her startling, fierce green eyes reminded him of someone else completly, Harry Potter.
He picked up the photo and looked at it more closely. He remembered seeing Potter's kid at the start of the year and this photo was almost the identical of that child, but why would Virginia have a photo of Harry's kid?
Virginia's head was back down again writing detailed notes and idea's.
"Ginger, who's this?"
"Oh that's Aly, my daughter," She said without thinking. She stopped writing and looked up at Draco. "Um, what I mean to say is, um, that's, not my daughter," she muttered through her teeth knowing it sounded utterly unbelievable.
Draco picked up Virginia's parchment and moved it to another desk. He turned and sat on the desk infront of her. "Ginny, since when do you have a daughter?""
Ginny looked around the room hoping that someone would come running through the door and stop her from saying anything else stupid.
***
I can't believe I told him. I've kept this secret for over a year, Fuck what if Harry blames me and hurts my baby, my Alantra.
I hope someone comes running into the room for some reason so I don't have to say anything else, don't have to put Aly at risk.
No one comes and I know that I must say something or risk everything I've worked so hard to protect.
"Fuck, Draco, just pretend I never said anything."
Draco is well Draco, I see the Draco I knew in my fifth year, the one that nursed me back from insanity, the one despite everything I choose Fucking Harry Potter over.
He looks at me with pity, not the disgust I expected to see. "So she really is Potter's kid," he thinks aloud, more talking to himself than me. I can't believe that's all he has to say.
"Yeah, wait no she isn't, she's my baby cousin?" I lie pathetically. I look up into his cold steel eyes and know that he doesn't believe me at all.
"Gin, How could you have a kid?" He asks lamely looking at me not the way I expected. He doesn't look repulsed or disgusted or angry or even slightly disappointed.
I know there no way around this discussion so I look away from his eyes into the corner of the room and start talking quickly. "Well I started going out with Harry in my fourth year, right after Voldemort, and then we were screwing around all through my fifth and I got preggers at the end of my fifth, I had Alantra halfway through my sixth and made Harry adopt her."
Draco looked at me as if I had told him nothing. "And... Why wasn't the fabled hero Harry Potter here the other day?"
"He was," I mutter sadly under my breath and I can see Draco flare with anger.
"You mean that prick, the father of your kid was the one to..." He stopped as if lost for words.
I just nod sadly. "Please don't say anything, Aly lives with him and he said he'd hurt her if I told."
Draco looked angry, "Doesn't your brother know or even your parents know?"
I can't even look at him any more. It seems I was right, he's angry and now he hates me. "No, Harry out a spell on me so they couldn't see I was preggers and he use to hit me and tell me he'd kill me if I told anyone about Aly," I can feel my eyes fill with unshed tears as I mention this, "And then when Aly was born he said he'd kill her if I told. It was always about his reputation." The tears are streaming down my face now and I can't hold them back. All the times I'd made sure I hadn't cried around Harry came bearing down and all the unshed tears fell.
Draco pulled me out of the chair and into his arms. I bawl like a child into his chest. Even as I wimper I feel the tears in my eyes dry up as I know I must again put on the mask of perfection, ever here with my closest friend.
I pull away from him slowly. Unwilling to leave the calming embrace, a loving embrace like one I had not felt for quite a while. "Draco don't tell anyone, please. If Harry finds out I told you he'll hurt Aly."
Draco looks aorund the room in thought. His eyes take on the dazed look of heavy thinking and I fear he's going to cause trouble, "I can't promise you that Ginger but I promise to get your daughter back."
I swear and look at him angrily, pissed off that he's promising something he can't provide. I look up into his eyes and I see the intent look of one who will swear their entire life on that statement. Pure fierce determination. "Yes Dray and I believe you."
I look at Dray more intensily and for an instant I see a spark of something else in those cold storm cloud eyes.
I think you love me.