Chapter Three – A Different Choice
Ginny sat up slowly, putting a hand to her head. Her head was pounding. The other hand was on the floor. Ginny felt a cool surface beneath her hand. Her vision was blurry and she felt nausea in her stomach. After a few minutes she realized where she was.
She was in the first floor girl's bathroom.
Again.
"Tom," she whispered, trying to stay calm. Which was hard considering she was furious.
Yes, Ginerva...
"What did you have me do?" she asked politely, as if they were talking about the weather.
I can tell you're upset, Ginerva. You are doing a much better job of controlling it this time...
"Please, Tom. You have to tell me. Otherwise, how will I defend myself?" Ginny asked, her fists clenched.
You will find out soon enough...
"Tom," Ginny said again, her voice slightly raised.
So long for now...
Ginny sighed, knowing she wasn't going to get any answers from him tonight. She checked her pocket watch. It was past midnight. She had to be careful. If she was caught out of bed this late, she was sure to get detention.
She hoisted herself off the cold tile floor. What had she done? She looked both ways before she exited the bathroom. She headed up towards the dormitory quietly. She was almost there when she heard "Weasley!"
It was Professor Snape. "What in Merlin's name are you doing out of bed?" he barked.
Ginny turned around slowly and stared at him. "Nothing, sir," she said smoothly.
"It's past midnight, Weasley. You have no right to be out of bed," he sneered.
"Then it's a good thing I'm almost at my dormitory," she said pleasantly.
Professor Snape looked down the hallway and saw she was telling the truth. "Ten points from Gryffindor," he said, turning quickly on his heels and walking down the hall.
Ginny ran down the hall and gave the password to the fat lady as quickly as could. When she entered the common room, she was surprised to find Ron and Hermione still up. She then realized they were snogging on the couch. Hoping that they wouldn't see her, she quietly started towards her dorm room.
"Ginny?" Hermione asked, sitting up quickly.
Ginny just grinned sheepishly, walked faster.
"What were you doing out so late?" Ron demanded.
"Nothing, I feel asleep in the library, that's all," Ginny said innocently.
"You really are concentrating on your school work, aren't you, Ginny?" Hermione said proudly, as if it was all because of her.
Ginny nodded, and ran up the stairs. She quickly changed into her pyjamas and laid down on her bed. She needed to think.
What had he made her do?
Did she hurt someone? Kill someone? She was desperate to know what had happened. Yet she knew she had to be patient and wait.
-----
Ginny knew something had happened the moment she stepped into the Great Hall. The atmosphere was electric. The only space Ginny could find to sit was down by the teacher's end of the table.
She sat down next to Colin Creavy who was talking wildly with his brother Dennis. "What's going on?" Ginny asked Colin.
Colin looked at her, terrified. "Mrs. Norris was killed last night," he said weakly.
Ginny took a moment to compose herself. At least, now she knew what Tom had made her do while he possessed her body.
"What if the chamber is opened again?" Colin whispered.
"It doesn't matter if it is opened," Ginny said gently. "The creature that lived there was destroyed."
"What if whoever killed Mrs. Norris goes after the other students that were petrified?" Dennis asked, looking at Colin with wide eyes.
Ginny looked up at the teacher's table and found Professor Dumbledore staring at her. Ginny smiled what she hoped was an innocent looking smiled and started eating breakfast.
-----
Draco hadn't spoken a word to her for five days, which was a record. On that fifth day, Ginny decided it was time to make a decision.
It would be nice to have someone to share everything with, Ginny thought. Someone who was a living breathing person, not just a memory. But then again, Draco had a great deal of power over her. He knew her secret. She thought about that one day where she broke down and told him.
Ginny was sobbing uncontrollably by the lagoon. It was the winter of her fourth year. Her father had been almost killed by the Dark Lord. Tom had promised to try to spare her family. Another promise he had broken.
"Weasley?" a voice sneered. It was Draco.
Ginny quickly wiped away her tears, not wanting to look weak. It was too late, he had already seen them.
Draco was alone, which was odd. He usually had an entroage surrounding him. He sat down next to her. "Are you allright, Weasley?"
Maybe it was because someone had cared enough to ask how she was doing that she told him. "No. No, I'm not allright. Tom promised me my family wouldn't be hurt," she said softly, bringing her knees to her chest.
Draco's eyes widened. "Did you say Tom?" he asked.
Ginny nodded. "He's with me all the time Draco, ever since first year," she said softly.
"The Dark Lord?" Draco said with awe.
Ginny's tears had stopped. She looked straight at Draco and said, "We're on the same side."
He didn't demand payment to keep quiet until her fifth year. Ginny shuddered, remembering the first time, how rough he had been, even though he knew it was her first time.
Ginny had purposely never went into an emotional relationship with anyone. She knew what someday, all pretenses would be dropped, and she would be known to the world as a Dark Wizard. So what was the point of being with someone?
It might be different with Draco, she told herself. They were fighting for the same things, the same master. They might work well together.
Ginny was glad it was a Saturday. She didn't have to bore herself with lectures today. She strode outside, wondering where she could find Draco.
She found him easily enough. He was having a snog with Pansy Parkinson by the lagoon. Ginny tried not to feel hurt when she saw that. There is no reason for him not to snog her, she told herself.
"Oi!" she called to him, "Malfoy!" She saw Draco look up, and do a double take when he saw that it was Ginny who called him.
He stood up, leaving Pansy laying on the grass. She got up, dusted her robe off, and walked off, giving Ginny a dirty look.
They were alone. Ginny motioned him to walk with her. When they were far away from the other students, she started. "I thought about your proposition, Malfoy."
He raised an eyebrow. "And..."
"I'm willing to explore a relationship with you," she said simply.
Draco stopped walking. "Really?" he asked, surprised.
Ginny nodded. "Really," she said, giving him a slight smile.
Draco looked around, solidifying that no one could see them, and gently took her hand. "I will make you happy," he said softly.
"I think it will be very important that we don't let anyone, and I mean anyone know of this," Ginny said.
Draco put his arms around her waist. "You're right. No will know but us," he said.
"Good," Ginny said.
Draco then lowered her head and kissed her. It was soft kiss at first, but after a few moments, the kiss intensified. Ginny was much shorter than Draco, and her neck was beginning to ache from kissing him.
Breaking the kiss, Draco slowly sat down on the ground, taking Ginny with him. He laid her down, and gingerly put his weight on top of hers. Ginny had been sleeping with him for over a year now, and she had never seen him so gentle.
He brushed aside some hair that had fallen in her face. "You're beautiful, Weasley," he said.
"You tell me that every time we're together," she said.
"It's true, Weasley," he said, lowering his face to kiss her. They stayed there for almost an hour, just kissing. For Ginny, being this close to Draco for this long was more intimate than sex.
They stood up hastily when they heard voices. Hoping no one had seen them together, Ginny said loudly, "Stay the fuck away from me, Malfoy!"
"Watch your tone, Weasley," he growled, having picked up what she was trying to do.
Harry, Ron and Hermione rushed over to them, wands out.
"Leave my sister alone, you prat," Ron said furiously.
"It's fine, Ron," Ginny muttered. "I can handle myself."
Ron looked at Malfoy, his hatred evident. "You leave her the fuck alone, Malfoy, or you'll answer to me," Ron said harshly.
"I'm going to the common room," Ginny announced.
As she brushed past Malfoy, he whispered "Tonight. Same time, same place."
Ginny sat up slowly, putting a hand to her head. Her head was pounding. The other hand was on the floor. Ginny felt a cool surface beneath her hand. Her vision was blurry and she felt nausea in her stomach. After a few minutes she realized where she was.
She was in the first floor girl's bathroom.
Again.
"Tom," she whispered, trying to stay calm. Which was hard considering she was furious.
Yes, Ginerva...
"What did you have me do?" she asked politely, as if they were talking about the weather.
I can tell you're upset, Ginerva. You are doing a much better job of controlling it this time...
"Please, Tom. You have to tell me. Otherwise, how will I defend myself?" Ginny asked, her fists clenched.
You will find out soon enough...
"Tom," Ginny said again, her voice slightly raised.
So long for now...
Ginny sighed, knowing she wasn't going to get any answers from him tonight. She checked her pocket watch. It was past midnight. She had to be careful. If she was caught out of bed this late, she was sure to get detention.
She hoisted herself off the cold tile floor. What had she done? She looked both ways before she exited the bathroom. She headed up towards the dormitory quietly. She was almost there when she heard "Weasley!"
It was Professor Snape. "What in Merlin's name are you doing out of bed?" he barked.
Ginny turned around slowly and stared at him. "Nothing, sir," she said smoothly.
"It's past midnight, Weasley. You have no right to be out of bed," he sneered.
"Then it's a good thing I'm almost at my dormitory," she said pleasantly.
Professor Snape looked down the hallway and saw she was telling the truth. "Ten points from Gryffindor," he said, turning quickly on his heels and walking down the hall.
Ginny ran down the hall and gave the password to the fat lady as quickly as could. When she entered the common room, she was surprised to find Ron and Hermione still up. She then realized they were snogging on the couch. Hoping that they wouldn't see her, she quietly started towards her dorm room.
"Ginny?" Hermione asked, sitting up quickly.
Ginny just grinned sheepishly, walked faster.
"What were you doing out so late?" Ron demanded.
"Nothing, I feel asleep in the library, that's all," Ginny said innocently.
"You really are concentrating on your school work, aren't you, Ginny?" Hermione said proudly, as if it was all because of her.
Ginny nodded, and ran up the stairs. She quickly changed into her pyjamas and laid down on her bed. She needed to think.
What had he made her do?
Did she hurt someone? Kill someone? She was desperate to know what had happened. Yet she knew she had to be patient and wait.
-----
Ginny knew something had happened the moment she stepped into the Great Hall. The atmosphere was electric. The only space Ginny could find to sit was down by the teacher's end of the table.
She sat down next to Colin Creavy who was talking wildly with his brother Dennis. "What's going on?" Ginny asked Colin.
Colin looked at her, terrified. "Mrs. Norris was killed last night," he said weakly.
Ginny took a moment to compose herself. At least, now she knew what Tom had made her do while he possessed her body.
"What if the chamber is opened again?" Colin whispered.
"It doesn't matter if it is opened," Ginny said gently. "The creature that lived there was destroyed."
"What if whoever killed Mrs. Norris goes after the other students that were petrified?" Dennis asked, looking at Colin with wide eyes.
Ginny looked up at the teacher's table and found Professor Dumbledore staring at her. Ginny smiled what she hoped was an innocent looking smiled and started eating breakfast.
-----
Draco hadn't spoken a word to her for five days, which was a record. On that fifth day, Ginny decided it was time to make a decision.
It would be nice to have someone to share everything with, Ginny thought. Someone who was a living breathing person, not just a memory. But then again, Draco had a great deal of power over her. He knew her secret. She thought about that one day where she broke down and told him.
Ginny was sobbing uncontrollably by the lagoon. It was the winter of her fourth year. Her father had been almost killed by the Dark Lord. Tom had promised to try to spare her family. Another promise he had broken.
"Weasley?" a voice sneered. It was Draco.
Ginny quickly wiped away her tears, not wanting to look weak. It was too late, he had already seen them.
Draco was alone, which was odd. He usually had an entroage surrounding him. He sat down next to her. "Are you allright, Weasley?"
Maybe it was because someone had cared enough to ask how she was doing that she told him. "No. No, I'm not allright. Tom promised me my family wouldn't be hurt," she said softly, bringing her knees to her chest.
Draco's eyes widened. "Did you say Tom?" he asked.
Ginny nodded. "He's with me all the time Draco, ever since first year," she said softly.
"The Dark Lord?" Draco said with awe.
Ginny's tears had stopped. She looked straight at Draco and said, "We're on the same side."
He didn't demand payment to keep quiet until her fifth year. Ginny shuddered, remembering the first time, how rough he had been, even though he knew it was her first time.
Ginny had purposely never went into an emotional relationship with anyone. She knew what someday, all pretenses would be dropped, and she would be known to the world as a Dark Wizard. So what was the point of being with someone?
It might be different with Draco, she told herself. They were fighting for the same things, the same master. They might work well together.
Ginny was glad it was a Saturday. She didn't have to bore herself with lectures today. She strode outside, wondering where she could find Draco.
She found him easily enough. He was having a snog with Pansy Parkinson by the lagoon. Ginny tried not to feel hurt when she saw that. There is no reason for him not to snog her, she told herself.
"Oi!" she called to him, "Malfoy!" She saw Draco look up, and do a double take when he saw that it was Ginny who called him.
He stood up, leaving Pansy laying on the grass. She got up, dusted her robe off, and walked off, giving Ginny a dirty look.
They were alone. Ginny motioned him to walk with her. When they were far away from the other students, she started. "I thought about your proposition, Malfoy."
He raised an eyebrow. "And..."
"I'm willing to explore a relationship with you," she said simply.
Draco stopped walking. "Really?" he asked, surprised.
Ginny nodded. "Really," she said, giving him a slight smile.
Draco looked around, solidifying that no one could see them, and gently took her hand. "I will make you happy," he said softly.
"I think it will be very important that we don't let anyone, and I mean anyone know of this," Ginny said.
Draco put his arms around her waist. "You're right. No will know but us," he said.
"Good," Ginny said.
Draco then lowered her head and kissed her. It was soft kiss at first, but after a few moments, the kiss intensified. Ginny was much shorter than Draco, and her neck was beginning to ache from kissing him.
Breaking the kiss, Draco slowly sat down on the ground, taking Ginny with him. He laid her down, and gingerly put his weight on top of hers. Ginny had been sleeping with him for over a year now, and she had never seen him so gentle.
He brushed aside some hair that had fallen in her face. "You're beautiful, Weasley," he said.
"You tell me that every time we're together," she said.
"It's true, Weasley," he said, lowering his face to kiss her. They stayed there for almost an hour, just kissing. For Ginny, being this close to Draco for this long was more intimate than sex.
They stood up hastily when they heard voices. Hoping no one had seen them together, Ginny said loudly, "Stay the fuck away from me, Malfoy!"
"Watch your tone, Weasley," he growled, having picked up what she was trying to do.
Harry, Ron and Hermione rushed over to them, wands out.
"Leave my sister alone, you prat," Ron said furiously.
"It's fine, Ron," Ginny muttered. "I can handle myself."
Ron looked at Malfoy, his hatred evident. "You leave her the fuck alone, Malfoy, or you'll answer to me," Ron said harshly.
"I'm going to the common room," Ginny announced.
As she brushed past Malfoy, he whispered "Tonight. Same time, same place."