Chapter Eight – A Choice
Lord Voldemort's eyes seemed to search the room. Ginny felt them lock on her face. She looked up and met his gaze. Her heart seemed to be beating wildly. This was the first time she had actually seen him in person. She hadn't realized how red his eyes were.
Draco seemed to notice the connection, and took her hand. Lord Voldemort looked away first.
"Tonight we induct a new member into our brotherhood!" Lord Voldemort cried. "Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius. You have proved yourself worthy. Step forward and receive the Mark."
Draco threw back his shoulders and walked towards the Dark Lord. He knelt before Lord Voldemort.
"Show your left arm," Lord Voldemort instructed. Draco complied.
The Dark Lord took out his wand and pointed it to Draco's forearm. "Morsmorde," he whispered.
Ginny had to stop herself from crying out. It was obvious that Draco was in an extreme amount of pain, but was trying to mask it. Draco clenched his right fist, and pounded his leg. No sound escaped his lips.
Lord Voldemort looked at Draco with respect. Draco bent down further and kissed the hem of the Dark Lord's robe. "Thank you, my Lord," he said softly.
Draco rejoined Ginny and his parents. His parents embraced him. Ginny had never seen him look so happy.
Lucius Malfoy turned and looked at Ginny. "It is time for you to leave. We have work to do," he said, almost kindly.
Draco took Ginny in his arms. Ginny touched his cheek, not wanting to show any more affection in front of Tom. "Thank you for being here," Draco whispered in her ear.
Ginny nodded as Lucius Malfoy gave her a small notebook. "Here is your Portkey," he told her.
A moment later, Ginny felt the familiar tugging on her navel. She found herself outside of the girl's bathroom on the first floor. She quickly hid her robe in the bathroom. Muttering the counter-curse, she watched her hair turn back to its normal color.
----
"Gin! Hey, Ginny!" Harry cried. They had just finished quidditch practice. Ginny was heading back to the castle by herself. She turned and looked back at Harry.
"Hello, Harry," she said. She was tired. She and Draco stayed up together most of the night, talking about his first Death Eater meeting. Ginny wanted nothing more than to go back to her dormitory and go to sleep.
Harry ran his hand through his hair, and looked down at Ginny. "Can we talk for a second?" he asked quietly.
Ginny sighed. She supposed she should talk to him. She was so tired though.
She smiled brightly at him. "Of course. What's on your mind?"
He took her arm and walked her off the path she had been on. They walked for almost five minutes in silence. Finally he stopped and dropped her arm. Harry's mouth started to open, but then closed.
"Harry? Are you all right?" Ginny asked, concerned. Harry really didn't look well.
"I'm fine," he said quickly. "Ginny..." He trailed off.
Ginny was starting to get scared. What if Harry knew something? What if he knew she was against him? She was just about to open her mouth to say something when he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her violently on the lips.
She was in too much shock to respond. Finally her brain told her what to do and she pushed Harry off of her.
"What are you doing?" she cried.
Harry didn't look deterred in the slightest. "Ginny...I thought you knew how I felt about you," he said softly.
"We're friends," she told him.
"I want to be more than friends, Gin. I need you. If I'm going to get through this, I need you by my side," he said earnestly, taking her hand.
"I don't know..." she said warily.
"Then don't answer me tonight," Harry said. "Take a day or two and think about it. Please Gin?" he said with a lopsided grin. He then gave her another quick kiss on the lips, turned and trotted back to the castle.
Ginny nodded to herself. She was still in shock that he kissed her. Ginny remembered her first year at Hogwarts. What she would have given to hear those words then!
She was able to recognize the irony. Both Draco and Harry asked her out by giving her a few days to think about it. The more she thought about it, the more she realized she should start dating him. He might tell her secrets, things he hadn't told anyone else.
"Tom?" she whispered.
Yes...
"Harry Potter wants to date me," she said quickly, chewing on her lower lip.
You must...
"Well-"she started.
You will try to get into the heart of Potter. There could be a wealth of knowledge to be learned...
Ginny didn't answer.
You, of course, will need to stop seeing the Malfoy boy...
"He'll tell on me," Ginny said quickly, reverting to her old excuse.
Then he and I will have a talk...
Good-bye...
"Tom!" she cried. There was so much more she needed to know. Why was he leaving her in a clutch like this all the time? What did he mean about talking to Draco? Ginny gently rubbed her temples. Too much was going on.
"Tom!" she cried again. There was no answer. Ginny stamped her foot to the ground and headed towards the castle.
----
The next morning, Ginny woke up early and started walking up and down the hallway that led to the Slytherin common room. She wanted to talk to Draco before breakfast.
She finally heard his voice coming out of the dungeon. She started walking very slowly towards the Great Hall. She wanted him to catch up to her easily.
"What are you doing here, Weasley?" Draco barked.
Ginny turned quickly. Draco was standing next to Theodore Nott. She hated Nott. He always seemed to eye her up and down every time he saw her.
This time was no different. Even Draco noticed Nott leering at her. "I'll meet you at breakfast, Ted," Draco said easily. "Weasel Queen and I are going to have a little chat."
Nott walked down the hallway, leaving Ginny and Draco on their own. Draco took her hand and led her down the hallway that went to the Potions classroom.
"Why are you here?" Draco asked quickly, when he knew they were alone. "What's wrong?"
"Something happened last night," Ginny said softly.
Draco's eye burrowed. "Did anyone touch you?" he said menacingly. Ginny had never seen him look so furious.
Ginny shook her head, unsure why he jumped to that conclusion. Draco let go of the breath he had been holding.
"Harry told me that he has feelings for me last night," Ginny told him. Draco didn't flinch.
"He's wanted you for the last year," Draco shrugged. "I thought everyone knew. Hells, Ginny, I thought you knew."
"Really?" Ginny asked, surprised. "I had no idea."
"I hate the way he looks at you, but what can you do?" Draco asked, putting his arms around her.
"Well...The Dark Lord thinks I should be with him," Ginny said quickly.
Draco looked at her like she had slapped him in the face. "What?" he whispered.
"I have to start dating him, Draco. I can't disobey the Dark Lord," Ginny pleaded, hoping he could understand.
"I don't want him touching you!" Draco barked.
Ginny looked around nervously. "Keep your voice down!" she hissed. Draco dragged her into an unused classroom.
"What am I supposed to do Draco?" Ginny cried, hands on her hips. "Tell the Dark Lord that I won't do what he asked?"
Draco ran his hands through his hair. He had let his hair grow longer. He looked so incredibly handsome.
Draco shook his head. "That would be suicide," he said softly, stroking her cheek.
"That you for understanding," Ginny said.
Draco kissed her fiercely. "I don't want you sleeping with him, understand?"
Ginny nodded earnestly. "Don't worry," she said, trying to smile. "Only a little snogging, I promise."
She could tell he was trying to accept this for her sake. It still amazed her that someone as selfish as Draco could always look out for her first.
"I want to be with you tonight," Draco said, hugging her tightly.
"You will be," Ginny told him. They kissed slowly, taking their time exploring.
"I better get to the Great Hall," Draco said finally after a few minutes. Ginny nodded in agreement. He turned quickly and left.
Ginny put her hand to her stomach, not understanding the feeling there. Her breath quickened. Then it hit her like a thousand bricks.
Ginny was in love with Draco Malfoy.
Lord Voldemort's eyes seemed to search the room. Ginny felt them lock on her face. She looked up and met his gaze. Her heart seemed to be beating wildly. This was the first time she had actually seen him in person. She hadn't realized how red his eyes were.
Draco seemed to notice the connection, and took her hand. Lord Voldemort looked away first.
"Tonight we induct a new member into our brotherhood!" Lord Voldemort cried. "Draco Malfoy, son of Lucius. You have proved yourself worthy. Step forward and receive the Mark."
Draco threw back his shoulders and walked towards the Dark Lord. He knelt before Lord Voldemort.
"Show your left arm," Lord Voldemort instructed. Draco complied.
The Dark Lord took out his wand and pointed it to Draco's forearm. "Morsmorde," he whispered.
Ginny had to stop herself from crying out. It was obvious that Draco was in an extreme amount of pain, but was trying to mask it. Draco clenched his right fist, and pounded his leg. No sound escaped his lips.
Lord Voldemort looked at Draco with respect. Draco bent down further and kissed the hem of the Dark Lord's robe. "Thank you, my Lord," he said softly.
Draco rejoined Ginny and his parents. His parents embraced him. Ginny had never seen him look so happy.
Lucius Malfoy turned and looked at Ginny. "It is time for you to leave. We have work to do," he said, almost kindly.
Draco took Ginny in his arms. Ginny touched his cheek, not wanting to show any more affection in front of Tom. "Thank you for being here," Draco whispered in her ear.
Ginny nodded as Lucius Malfoy gave her a small notebook. "Here is your Portkey," he told her.
A moment later, Ginny felt the familiar tugging on her navel. She found herself outside of the girl's bathroom on the first floor. She quickly hid her robe in the bathroom. Muttering the counter-curse, she watched her hair turn back to its normal color.
----
"Gin! Hey, Ginny!" Harry cried. They had just finished quidditch practice. Ginny was heading back to the castle by herself. She turned and looked back at Harry.
"Hello, Harry," she said. She was tired. She and Draco stayed up together most of the night, talking about his first Death Eater meeting. Ginny wanted nothing more than to go back to her dormitory and go to sleep.
Harry ran his hand through his hair, and looked down at Ginny. "Can we talk for a second?" he asked quietly.
Ginny sighed. She supposed she should talk to him. She was so tired though.
She smiled brightly at him. "Of course. What's on your mind?"
He took her arm and walked her off the path she had been on. They walked for almost five minutes in silence. Finally he stopped and dropped her arm. Harry's mouth started to open, but then closed.
"Harry? Are you all right?" Ginny asked, concerned. Harry really didn't look well.
"I'm fine," he said quickly. "Ginny..." He trailed off.
Ginny was starting to get scared. What if Harry knew something? What if he knew she was against him? She was just about to open her mouth to say something when he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her violently on the lips.
She was in too much shock to respond. Finally her brain told her what to do and she pushed Harry off of her.
"What are you doing?" she cried.
Harry didn't look deterred in the slightest. "Ginny...I thought you knew how I felt about you," he said softly.
"We're friends," she told him.
"I want to be more than friends, Gin. I need you. If I'm going to get through this, I need you by my side," he said earnestly, taking her hand.
"I don't know..." she said warily.
"Then don't answer me tonight," Harry said. "Take a day or two and think about it. Please Gin?" he said with a lopsided grin. He then gave her another quick kiss on the lips, turned and trotted back to the castle.
Ginny nodded to herself. She was still in shock that he kissed her. Ginny remembered her first year at Hogwarts. What she would have given to hear those words then!
She was able to recognize the irony. Both Draco and Harry asked her out by giving her a few days to think about it. The more she thought about it, the more she realized she should start dating him. He might tell her secrets, things he hadn't told anyone else.
"Tom?" she whispered.
Yes...
"Harry Potter wants to date me," she said quickly, chewing on her lower lip.
You must...
"Well-"she started.
You will try to get into the heart of Potter. There could be a wealth of knowledge to be learned...
Ginny didn't answer.
You, of course, will need to stop seeing the Malfoy boy...
"He'll tell on me," Ginny said quickly, reverting to her old excuse.
Then he and I will have a talk...
Good-bye...
"Tom!" she cried. There was so much more she needed to know. Why was he leaving her in a clutch like this all the time? What did he mean about talking to Draco? Ginny gently rubbed her temples. Too much was going on.
"Tom!" she cried again. There was no answer. Ginny stamped her foot to the ground and headed towards the castle.
----
The next morning, Ginny woke up early and started walking up and down the hallway that led to the Slytherin common room. She wanted to talk to Draco before breakfast.
She finally heard his voice coming out of the dungeon. She started walking very slowly towards the Great Hall. She wanted him to catch up to her easily.
"What are you doing here, Weasley?" Draco barked.
Ginny turned quickly. Draco was standing next to Theodore Nott. She hated Nott. He always seemed to eye her up and down every time he saw her.
This time was no different. Even Draco noticed Nott leering at her. "I'll meet you at breakfast, Ted," Draco said easily. "Weasel Queen and I are going to have a little chat."
Nott walked down the hallway, leaving Ginny and Draco on their own. Draco took her hand and led her down the hallway that went to the Potions classroom.
"Why are you here?" Draco asked quickly, when he knew they were alone. "What's wrong?"
"Something happened last night," Ginny said softly.
Draco's eye burrowed. "Did anyone touch you?" he said menacingly. Ginny had never seen him look so furious.
Ginny shook her head, unsure why he jumped to that conclusion. Draco let go of the breath he had been holding.
"Harry told me that he has feelings for me last night," Ginny told him. Draco didn't flinch.
"He's wanted you for the last year," Draco shrugged. "I thought everyone knew. Hells, Ginny, I thought you knew."
"Really?" Ginny asked, surprised. "I had no idea."
"I hate the way he looks at you, but what can you do?" Draco asked, putting his arms around her.
"Well...The Dark Lord thinks I should be with him," Ginny said quickly.
Draco looked at her like she had slapped him in the face. "What?" he whispered.
"I have to start dating him, Draco. I can't disobey the Dark Lord," Ginny pleaded, hoping he could understand.
"I don't want him touching you!" Draco barked.
Ginny looked around nervously. "Keep your voice down!" she hissed. Draco dragged her into an unused classroom.
"What am I supposed to do Draco?" Ginny cried, hands on her hips. "Tell the Dark Lord that I won't do what he asked?"
Draco ran his hands through his hair. He had let his hair grow longer. He looked so incredibly handsome.
Draco shook his head. "That would be suicide," he said softly, stroking her cheek.
"That you for understanding," Ginny said.
Draco kissed her fiercely. "I don't want you sleeping with him, understand?"
Ginny nodded earnestly. "Don't worry," she said, trying to smile. "Only a little snogging, I promise."
She could tell he was trying to accept this for her sake. It still amazed her that someone as selfish as Draco could always look out for her first.
"I want to be with you tonight," Draco said, hugging her tightly.
"You will be," Ginny told him. They kissed slowly, taking their time exploring.
"I better get to the Great Hall," Draco said finally after a few minutes. Ginny nodded in agreement. He turned quickly and left.
Ginny put her hand to her stomach, not understanding the feeling there. Her breath quickened. Then it hit her like a thousand bricks.
Ginny was in love with Draco Malfoy.