Chapter 25
"Madame Pomfrey, where's Draco?"
"Oh, I let him go dear. Professor McGonagall decided he was well enough to go back to his dormitory." Madame Pomfrey smiled warmly at Ginny before bustling away to tidy up her office. Ginny sighed; she decided she would go to dinner and then go find Draco, seeing as her brothers and friends would be worried if she didn't show up when she said she would.
She made her way back to the Great Hall, where she found everyone sitting together and, by the looks of it, having a fabulous time. Fred and George were telling Charlie about all the pranks they had pulled that year; Charlie was laughing heartily along with everyone else, who enjoyed remembering it all. Ginny watched them for a moment; it was hard to believe her fifth year at Hogwarts was almost over. Fred and George would be graduating soon. After the events of the past three days, she felt so much closer to her brothers (Harry included, as she considered him just as much her brother as Percy or Ron). She smirked as Fred spotted her and waved her over, nearly knocking over a first year that had been walking past him.
"Have a good chat with Draco, little one?" Charlie asked rather cheerfully as Ginny sat down between him and Ron. On the left side of the table were Ron, Ginny, Charlie, and Harry. On the other side were Hermione, Fred, George, and Zi.
"No, he wasn't in the Hospital Wing. I didn't want to worry you all by being late, so I'm going to go find him after dinner." Ginny smiled; her life had done a complete 180 twice in the past three days. It was strange to think that now she was going out of her way not to worry her brothers and they were going out of their way to tolerate, if not be nice to Draco.
"D'you remember the time when Fred and George charmed Mum's casserole to chase Percy around the house?" Everyone burst out laughing at Ron's words.
"I have to say, that was one of our most brilliant schemes," Fred declared when he had recomposed himself.
"Yeah, but that's nothing compared to when Ginny made the flour explode on Bill's head after he yelled at her," Charlie said with a cheeky smile.
"What?!" Zi, Hermione, and Harry looked at the five Weasley siblings, utterly confused.
Between laughing, Charlie managed to explain. "Ginny was like ... three and Bill ... yelled at her ... so she made the flour ... explode on him!"
The conversations continued similarly for the rest of dinner. A few minutes later, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, Oliver Wood, and Katie Bell joined the already large group. Ginny, Charlie, and Ron couldn't pass up the opportunity to share a few embarrassing baby stories about the twins with their girlfriends, but did keep it to a minimum. In the middle of dessert, Harry, Fred, George, Charlie, and Ron had to simultaneously 'be somewhere'. They, of course, thought they were so clever for being able to slip away without being questioned, but Ginny knew exactly what was going on. She had resigned herself to the fact that they had certain ... 'brotherly duties', which they would fulfill, with or without her consent.
Just Outside the Great Hall
"Ah! Mr. Malfoy, we'd like a word with you." Without listening for his answer, Fred grabbed one of Draco's arms and, with help from his twin, dragged him into a spare classroom. Draco looked at the five men in front of him, trying to fight down the growing sense of foreboding.
"Don't look so scared, Draco. D'you honestly think I'd let these imbeciles beat you up again?" Charlie chuckled dismissively. "Ginny would kill me."
"But, we do need to speak with you," Harry said as his expression darkened.
"About Ginny," Ron clarified, looking perturbed.
"Okay, so if you make her cry," George began.
"Or hurt her in any way," Fred continued.
"We reserve the right to employ such methods as decapitation," Charlie said as his eyes narrowed.
"Strangulation," Harry offered.
"Execution," George suggested.
"Asphyxiation," Fred interjected, looking uncharacteristically serious.
"And our personal favorite, castration." Draco swallowed hard at Ron's statement.
"Keep that in mind," Charlie said with a cheeky smile. Draco chuckled weakly while simultaneously loosening his tie. Fred, George, Ron, Charlie, and Harry shot him serious glances before leaving.
Draco took a deep breath as he sank into one of the desks. He shook his head, chuckling. They must really love her, he thought.
Great Hall, Gryffindor Table
"You weren't too hard on him, were you?"
"What are you talking about Gin?"
"Don't play stupid with me, Ron. I'm not mad, just assure me you didn't cause any bodily harm," Ginny said calmly while finishing off her pumpkin juice.
"Emotional damage, yes, bodily harm ... no," Fred, said, almost regretfully. Ginny sighed exasperatedly and rolled her eyes.
"I'll see you all later," Ginny said as she got up from the table. She blew them all a kiss before leaving the Great Hall.
The Music Wing
Ginny leaned up against the doorframe, smiling, as she watched him. She was surprised, to say the least, to hear the perfect melody that was coming from the violin in his hands. She recognized it as an old Italian love song, or the beginning bars of it. She sat down at the piano and started to accompany. Draco skipped a few notes in surprise, but continued, smiling. Perfectly on cue, Draco started to sing.
Caro mio ben,
credimi almen,
senza di te
languisce il cor,
caro mio ben,
senza di te
languisce il cor.
Il tuo fedel
so spira ognor.
Cessa, crudel,
tanto rigor!
Cessa, crudel,
tanto rigor,
tanto rigor!
Caro mio ben
credimi almen,
senza di te
languisce il cor,
Caro mio ben
credimi almen,
senza di te
languisce il cor.
Draco beamed as he and Ginny finished up the final bars of the song. Ginny smiled back at him. "I never knew you could play."
He shrugged. "Only Mum and I know. She used to play, so she taught me." Draco set down the violin and, getting up, walked over and sat down next to Ginny on the piano bench. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.
"I told you you'd show me up." Draco laughed and shook his head. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, just taking in each other's presence. Ginny was the first to speak, "I'm sorry about my brothers."
"Don't be sorry, they just love you."
"I don't want you to go back there this summer." Draco pulled back a bit; he was surprised at how fast Ginny's demeanor had changed. Now, she was looking at him with a worried expression, contrary to the contented smile from a few seconds ago.
"What are you talking about, Ginny?" She sniffled slightly.
"Your house ... Malfoy Manor ... with him," Ginny's voice cracked so she stopped talking.
"Ginny where's this coming from?"
"What do you mean?!" Ginny pulled away from Draco and stood up. "You come back after Christmas beaten to a bloody pulp. And now you're going to go back to that?! What am I supposed to say?! I'd love it if you could come back next year alive and with all your limbs!" By now, Ginny was crying freely; tears were streaking down her face and her voice was cracking regularly, but she didn't care.
"Ginny, come on, it's okay. Shh." Draco stood up and tried to hug Ginny, but she pushed him away.
"NO! Draco, listen to me! I can't let you go back there! I just can't! I ... you can't ... please, Draco." Ginny sank to the ground, crying. She didn't want to think about what would happen if Draco went back to the Manor. She had a sneaking suspicion that word about her and Draco's relationship had gotten out. Meaning Lucius would show no mercy towards his son.
"Ginny," Draco said softly as he sat down next to her, wrapping his arms around her. "I have to go."
"No, no you don't."
"Shh, Ginny listen. I have to go back. I'm the only thing stopping that bastard from hurting Mum." Ginny shook her head but didn't say anything. "Ginny, it's going to be okay. I promise I'll come back alive and with all my limbs." Draco chuckled and a few seconds later he heard Ginny giggle against his chest. In a matter of moments, they found themselves in a fit of laughter.
"It's not funny," Ginny said between laughs as she smacked Draco playfully.
"No, it's not," Draco, said, but he still smiled. "Ginny, everything's going to be fine. I promise. He's not going to hurt me; more importantly he's not going to hurt Mum." He sighed as he buried his head in Ginny's fiery locks.
"Just try and stay out of his way."
"You sound just like my Mum."
"Yeah well, your Mum's a smart woman." Draco chuckled and Ginny smiled in spite of herself. They spent the rest of the night talking about everything and nothing, along with a few other things. An hour after curfew, both made it back to their respective dormitories without getting caught.
Slytherin Boys' Dormitory
"Draco? That you?"
"Yeah." It was well past midnight and Draco was sitting on the window seat in his dormitory, looking up at the night sky. He heard Blaise push back the curtains on his bed and crawl out of it. A few moments later, he appeared next to Draco, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"How come you're still up?" he asked groggily as he sat down next to Draco.
"Couldn't sleep ... I was thinking."
"About?"
"Lucius. Voldemort. Death Eaters. Mum," Draco responded glumly. He and Blaise were best friends, so he felt no need to sugar coat anything. Especially considering Blaise was in much the same situation as Draco himself.
"Well, yeah, but what's got you up? I mean its not like those things aren't ever not there." Draco smirked.
"That's true. He wants me to be a Death Eater."
"Lucius too? I thought Derek was the only one." Derek was Blaise's father; Blaise, like Draco, had refrained from calling him 'father' for some time now.
"No, Lucius too. Although I can't say I'm surprised. You're not going to ... are you?" Blaise laughed and clapped Draco on the back.
"You're not seriously asking me that question? I'd die before I'd join the likes of Derek. I'm not my father and I refuse to follow in his footsteps."
Draco chuckled. "I know ... just making sure you hadn't changed your mind." A few moments of comfortable silence passed between the two friends, before Draco started to feel guilty for all the things he had kept from Blaise this past year.
"You ready to tell me yet?"
"Sorry?"
"Draco, I know you. We've been friends since before either of us can remember. I know that you've been hiding things from me this year. So I'm asking if you're ready to tell me yet." Blaise flashed Draco a warm, knowing smile.
"Yeah, I suppose I am." But Draco didn't continue, so Blaise felt the need to strike up the conversation on his own.
"Well I know about Lucius, and what happened over Christmas. And I know the only reason you're staying is to protect your Mum. I know how much you hate this coming war and are afraid what the other Slytherins will do to you if you join Dumbledore, not to mention Lucius. I know that you've become rather partial to Muggle inventions, partly to spite your father and partly because you find them rather fascinating. I know that you're afraid that I'm going to turn against you and end up joining Voldemort. Which is not going to happen." Blaise took a deep breath and ran a hand through his ebony-colored hair. "I know that you're about driving yourself crazy trying to figure out how to protect your Mum and whoever the girl is from Lucius. But the one thing I do not know is; who is this girl?"
Draco blinked several times, taking in everything his friend had just said to him. "Know an awful lot don't you?" Blaise chuckled and nodded. "What scares me the most is the fact that everything you just said is entirely true."
"I am brilliant, aren't I?" Blaise examined his nails pompously. "But seriously, Draco. Who is she?"
"You've got to promise me you won't flip out."
"That bad, eh?"
"Blaise," Draco said warningly.
"Alright, alright, don't get your knickers in a knot. Of course I promise."
"It's ... Ginny Weasley." Blaise's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. Draco chuckled. "Don't look so happy."
"No ... I just ... with ... the rivalries ..." he opened his mouth to say something else, but promptly shut it, being unable to find the words.
"I know. But she's ... bloody hell; she's the best thing that's ever happened to me." Draco smiled before continuing, "I know it's unconventional; not only Gryffindor and Slytherin, but Weasley and Malfoy. And Lucius would probably kill me if he found out, I mean that quite literally. But it doesn't really matter. I ... I love her, Blaise, truly I do."
Blaise chuckled weakly. "Wow. Okay that was totally not what I expected to hear."
"Yeah, well when have you ever gotten what you expected in this life, mate?" Blaise and Draco exchanged a knowing smirk. "But you're not like ... going to flip out on me?"
"Hey, I'm a man of my word. But no, I'm not going to flip out. I think it's ... good. I mean, you're obviously happier. And you haven't hexed anyone unnecessarily lately, so that's definitely a plus for the Weasel."
"Blaise."
"Sorry! Ginny! I'm just so used to you being ... you know, your old prejudiced self. You've done a bloody right job of hiding it from me. Here I thought it was Chang or someone."
"Just because you have a thing for Zi doesn't mean I do," Draco said with a smirk. "For the record, Ginny and I got together just after Halloween."
"Who said I had a thing for Zi? And what's with you calling her Zi? Wait ... Halloween?! Bloody hell, you have been keeping this longer than I thought."
"You've had a thing for Zi since second year, her first year. I call her Zi because we have an understanding, her being Ginny's best friend and my being Ginny's boyfriend, after all. And yes, since Halloween. Trust me, it wasn't a picnic keeping this from you all that time." Draco ran a hand through his blonde locks, smirking.
"I don't have a thing for her! I guess it's understandable that you have an understanding. And again, wow."
"You do have a thing for her and you know it! Although, if you'd like to see her, I'm sure Ginny and I could think of something."
"Alright, fine. I have a teensy, itty, bitty thing for her. If you can even call it a thing, considering how small it is." Draco laughed as he saw Blaise start to blush.
"Hey, I don't blame you. She's hot."
"Yeah, and so is Ginny."
"I could give you some kind of jealous boyfriend warning here. But considering the fact that Ginny finds you ... shall we say, less than attractive, I don't think I really need to." Draco smirked at his friend's less than becoming reaction.
"Does Zi think that too?! I'm right attractive! I don't know what she's talking about!"
"Whoa, chill out Blaise. It's just that you remind her of Tom Riddle. Not exactly a pleasant memory, eh? Part of the reason she doesn't find Pothead as attractive as she used to. Zi, on the other hand, has different opinions."
"Really? Do you talk to her? Has she said anything about me?"
"You couldn't even call it a thing, considering how small it is, eh? No, I don't talk to her. I didn't say we liked each other, I just said we had an understanding. We aren't at each other's throats on the rare occasion that we find ourselves in each other's company. Ginny may have mentioned that Zi was rather partial to raven-haired Slytherins." Draco inspected his fingernails, smirking. "Not that you care."
"No, no of course not." Blaise chuckled, happy that the air between Draco and him and been cleared. "We should go to bed, it's late."
"Whatever you say, Mum."
"Ah, shut up you great git." Blaise smacked Draco upside the head as the two friends climbed off the window seat and into their respective beds. "We're going to get them both out of there, Draco."
"I know Blaise." Draco knew instantly that Blaise was referring to Narcissa and Bethany. "Remember that pact we made in third year, after we discovered our true family legacy?" Draco asked with a smirk.
"You mean the one where we swore we were going to make sure our mothers made it out of the war, but our fathers didn't? Of course I remember, we signed in blood. I've still got the ruddy thing in the bottom of my chest." A few moments later, Blaise and Draco drifted off to a rare, peaceful slumber.
A/N: Yay! I'm so so flattered and impressed with the fact that all you loverly reviewers cranked out 11 reviews in only 24 hours! You have no idea how much of the happy that makes me. Alrighty, in regards to the song; we are playing that song at my Band Concert tomorrow night and having a guy from the Men's Choir sing it. Every time we've played it in class, our teacher (who has this amazing voice) sang it. It's so beautiful you can't even imagine! So that's why it's there. This was really long (it wasn't supposed to be nearly this long) so I hope you're all as happy with it as I am! The next chapter is neither written nor beta'd so it will probably be a while before my next update (especially considering I'll be gone from 6 AM until 10 PM tomorrow, eek!). Please review! Hugs and kisses to all my loverly reviewers! OH MY GOD! I'M AT 204 REVIEWS AND I LOVE YOU ALL SO SO SO MUCH!
I've decided that I'm not going to ask you how this chapter was at the end of every reviewy answery thingy. Because it's starting to annoy me. So as a blanket statement: How was this chapter? Please review!
Beckysue2: HAHA! No, not any of those. And as long as I get Oliver Wood you can have Draco in drag for all I care! LMAO! I'm glad you liked it.
MasterHarperMenolly: LOL, nope not any of those. So I'm glad you're happy. I'm amazed at how fast those 10 reviews came in!!
Fieryred20: LOL, thanks so much. I kind of wasn't sure about it. You're welcome to use anything you like ... just ask first please!
Paintedsecrets: LOL, no, it's neither of them! LMAO! A Christmas tree in the elevator? That is awesome! Haha, yes I'm happy too. I can't wait for the sequel because you will actually get to see how they act around each other! Yay! No, no, no. I'm going to finish "Days" by this weekend and I will have the first chapter of "In My Life" out to my beta before I go to school on Monday, I PROMISE! Dude ... the brainwave. LOL ... the mint was yummy! Hope you had fun at your dancing and I'm really glad you liked Chapter 23!
Cinnamon Angel: OMG! I'm so glad you like it! Mwaha! My evil plan has worked! To suck people into the story and deprive them of their dinner! Mwahaha! I'm so so flattered! And I'm all the more of the happy with this fast update for you! Hope you liked it!
Krystal1989: Yay! I know ... the brothers are adorable! Hope this was a fast enough update for ya, LOL!
Annabeave: LOL, yes much of the happy. I'm flattered. Yes, Draco/Ginny fluff is in the works as we speak. No, of course Lucius isn't the one that's going to die. It's going to be a good character and I don't think Lucius is going to die at any point in my fic! Thanks a bunch!
HarryPotterFan670: Merci, Merci, Merci! No ... not so much of the correct guessing there, sorry!
Hoppers: Hey, don't worry about it. I know what you mean; my teachers are homicidal with the amount of homework they have been giving! Thanks a bunch!
Cherdy the somthingorother: (hehe sorry, too much of a lazy ass to look it up!) Nope, neither of those. I'm glad you liked it ... I wasn't so sure. Gratci!
Silverone: (for Chapter 8) I know ... she's supposed to be closer to Bill, but I'm not a canon freak, so I took a Creative License.
Heart Broken Devil: Hey, thanks I'm so flattered! Tell her mucho mucho thanko for recommending my fic! I'm glad this came quickly for you!
Debby: Yeah, shove it, lady! Haha, I'm just kidding. You know I love you ... deep down ... deep, deep down! LMAO! Luvs!
Wockygal: No, there's no suicide in this fic ... mainly because there's no one that's a big enough coward to commit suicide. I'm so absolutely flattered and I hope you liked this chapter!
FleurDonohue15: Haha, don't go crazy ... because here it is!! But, merci, merci, merci!
CoolMilena: I'm so glad you liked it! Mucho thanko!
Luna Gypsy: LOL, I know. The part about decapitation .... castration is one of my favorite parts in the whole story! Haha ... it will actually be answered relatively soon. Chapter 26 is halfway done and then 27 is the last one! tear
IN REGARDS TO THE DEAD PERSON (yeah, just for you Fiona!) Y'ALL NEED TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX! (a few of you are close, but I'll say no more!)