Chapter 12
Ginny scowled at her dormroom wall. One step forward, two back, she thought gloomily. Harry had been dreadful at Quiddich practice. He'd driven them all hard for three straight hours, and when they'd finally been let go, everyone so tired they could hardly stand, he'd stayed behind and kept going. Bloody boy, she thought grumpily.
Ron had given her a questioning look as they'd headed for the locker rooms, and she'd glared back at him. Her normally thick older brother had then gotten this 'ahah' look on his face, and turned around and headed back toward the pitch. Ginny had silently wished him luck, she'd probably find his dead body sometime in the next few days. She, meanwhile, had come back to the dorm, nearly drowned in the shower, and was considering forgetting homework for the night and just passing out.
Cara came skipping into the room, looking quite a bit more cheerful than she had that morning. "How was practice?" she asked cheerfully. Ginny gave a weak moan. Cara stopped and looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "That good?" she asked.
"Bloody Potter, bloody idiot, stupid boy, dumbass who thinks he can just walk away…" Ginny mumbled back.
"Hmm," Cara said, sauntering over to drop down on Ginny's bed, stretching out next to her. Normally, Ginny would have prodded her off, but she was too tired. "Harry worked you guys really hard, huh? Any particular reason?" Her friend's voice was a leeetle too hopeful.
"… empty classroom…" Ginny mumbled again.
Cara nudged her gently. "Wanna talk about it?" she asked quietly.
Ginny sighed. Did she want to talk about it? For a moment, she let herself get sucked back into the memory of that… kiss? Merlin, the second he'd put his hands on her, she'd felt like her entire body was going up in flames. She'd wanted, no, needed to get her hands on him, to get as close as possible. It had been unlike anything else she'd ever felt with any other boy. It had been exhilarating and terrifying at the same time, and she had no clue how Harry had been able to pull himself away from it. When he'd lifted her up and pressed her against the wall, and started rubbing against her… she shuddered.
Cara reached down and laced her fingers with Ginny's. "Anything you want to know?" her friend asked, sounding very serious. Ginny gave her hand an appreciative squeeze. Cara always seemed to know when someone was wrong.
"Is it always that intense?" Ginny finally asked.
"Just how far did you go?" Cara asked, surprise in her voice.
Ginny coughed lightly. "Ah, not that far, really, I mean…" she fumbled a bit, embarrassed. "All our clothes were still on."
Cara snorted lightly. "There's an awful lot you can do with your clothes still on," she said. "Anyway. Intense? It always is with me and Draco. It's like… It's like the two halves of coming together and making one whole," she said thoughtfully. "It's always… right, I guess. I mean, sometimes it's soft, sometimes it's wild, sometimes it's in between. But it's always… right."
Ginny lay and thought about it. Right…. It was always right… "Thanks," she said, squeezing Cara's hand again. "Now get out of my bed, wench, so I can get some sorely needed sleep. After this afternoon, I'm clearly going to need all the strength I can get."
Cara chuckled and slid off the bed. "Are you referring to quiddich, or to the 'empty classroom'?" she asked, a teasing leer in her voice.
Ginny laughed, then groaned and rolled over. "Shut up," she said, voice muffled by the fact that her face was pressed into her pillow.
She was patted affectionately on the butt. "Sweet dreams," Cara said. Ginny sighed as she heard the door close. Sweet? She didn't know about that. But she had the feeling that they would be good.
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Cara wandered back downstairs and glanced about the common room. She had a 'date' to meet Draco in a little bit, in the astronomy tower. She gave a little shiver, thinking about it. Intense? Yeah, that was one way to put it, Gin, she thought with a smug smile. Frankly, she couldn't wait to get her hands on her boy again.
Her eye was caught by Ginny's brother, Ron, sitting sprawled in a chair by the fire, looking very tired. Hermione was sitting next to him on the arm of the chair, frowning down into the fire. The Head Girl looked up and spotted Cara, and tilted her head in invitation.
Cara strolled over and plopped down on a nearby couch. "How's Ginny?" Hermione asked. Ron rolled his head around to look at Cara.
"Beat," she said, shrugging. "She's already in bed."
"Bloody Potter," Ron grumbled. "Practice was a nightmare. He does that again, I'll give him detention." Hermione snorted at that.
"Sure you will," she said dryly. She shook her head and looked back at Cara. "Any idea what set Harry off?" she asked, clearly suspecting something by the lift of her eyebrows.
Ron frowned and mumbled something, but Cara ignored him. She gave Hermione a delicate lift of her eyebrows. "She mentioned something about an 'empty classroom'," she said with a satisfied smile.
Hermione grinned and opened her mouth, but Ron beat her too it. He actually sat up, looking dark. "Harry and Ginny? In an empty classroom?" Uh-oh, Cara thought. "Bloody Potter…" he growled, making as if to stand.
Hermione reached down and gave him a gentle shove back into the chair. "Sit down, Ron," she said. She looked down at her fellow Head, and Cara settled back to watch. She rather enjoyed observing these two couples.
"But 'Mione," Ron started, still looking angry.
Hermione shook her head at him. "No," she said firmly. "You stay out of it. Ginny knows exactly what she's doing," she said. "And it's between her and Harry if anything comes of it. YOU," she poked him in the chest, "do not get a say." Ron opened his mouth again, and Hermione immediately covered it with her hand. "Nope. Don't even try," she informed him. "Besides, you've been hoping they got together since fifth year."
Ron mumbled something from under her hand, and Cara didn't have a clue what it was, but apparently Hermione did. The Head Girl grinned. "Yes, well, try not to think about that part. It'll happen eventually, you know. You might as well get used to it."
Ron mumbled something again, one eyebrow going up this time, and Hermione's smile turned playful. "No, I don't believe I will," she said coyly. Oho, Cara thought with a grin.
Ron mumbled something again, looking up at Hermione, who shook her head with another smile. Then she jerked a bit, and her eyes went wide as she dropped her hand. Cara resisted the urge to chatter, 'what, what?', as she seemed to have currently been forgotten.
Ron was rather red, but was smiling a bit smugly. "Right then, I'm off to bed," he said, heaving himself up out of the chair. Hermione just sat and stared up at him. Ron nodded at Cara. "Night," he said. Then he turned to Hermione. Quickly, he leaned down and scooped the other girl up in his arms, making her gasp and clutch at him in surprise, before setting her down in his empty seat. "Night," he said again, and disappeared up the stairs.
Cara watched him go, admiring the back side of him, in a purely aesthetic way, of course, before looking back at Hermione. She grinned and raised an eyebrow. "Well?" she asked.
Hermione was blushing like mad, and her eyes were sparkling. "He kissed the inside of my hand," she said.
Cara's grin got bigger. "Excellent," she said.
$$$$$$$$$$
Harry had the dormroom all to himself, and the curtains drawn about his bed. He'd finally pulled out the package that Malfoy had given him that morning. He stared at the plain brown wrapping a long moment, wondering.
Finally he sighed. He was really too tired to string this out that long. Just open it and get it over with, he told himself.
Ripping open the package, he found a sheaf of loose papers, two slim books, and a small box the size of one of Dudley's videotapes. He started with the papers, since they were on top. There was a short, scrawled note on the top of the pile.
Potter,
Thought you would need these.
Harry's lips twisted in a semblance of a smile. Malfoy, a man of few words, he thought, and then turned his attention to the papers. He studied the top one. It almost looked like… a spell? He skimmed a few more pages. They all looked like spells. Ones he wasn't familiar with, but unless he missed his mark, they were all Dark Magic. He read another sheet and shuddered. Really Dark Magic.
They were in various hands, in various states of completion. Harry tapped the sheaf thoughtfully. He'd make copies and send Hedwig with the rest to Dumbledore, he finally decided. As much as he preferred to keep things to himself, this was something that might help the aurors and all the other people who were out fighting Death Eaters at the moment. As for his own copies, he could give a set to Hermione to see what she made of them. It would give her a way to help without putting her front and center, he thought. Setting the stack aside, Harry reached for the books.
The two slim volumes were plain and leather-covered. Harry flipped one open and found it was a type of journal. Skimming through the pages, he quickly realized that this was a journal about… HIM. He read a few entries with raised eyebrows. Apparently Lucius had been keeping tabs on him, right up until the end of fourth year and Voldemort's return.
His eye wandered over a few of the entries from his second year, and he scowled as he saw Ginny's name come up. He'd known if was the elder Malfoy who'd given Ginny the diary. And now here it was in print, gloatingly describing what had happened at Hogwarts.
Harry shut the book with a snap and tossed it aside. It was something he was glad wasn't in someone else's possession, but it wasn't something that would help him all that much with what lay ahead. He picked up the other book, and flipped to the title page. This book appeared to be another journal, this time filled with notes about… rejuvenation spells? Harry thought curiously. He flipped some more.
Interesting, he thought, finally setting the book aside. Apparently Lucius had been the one to do all the research on bringing Voldemort back. Wormtail had just been the patsy who did it. Harry thought of the scene in the graveyard. Perhaps in an effort to make up for his defection all those years ago? he wondered.
Finally, Harry turned to the box. It was a plain, wooden box, nothing special, nothing fancy. There was another short note attached to the top, in Draco's hand.
He liked souvenirs.
Harry turned it over in his hands curiously, and heard something rattle a bit as he did. On the bottom he spied a small label, as if to set it apart from others like it. He peered closer.
Potter, it read. Harry stared in shock. Potter… his hands trembled a bit as he set the box back down. He didn't know if he wanted to open it.
There was a thump at the door, and then the sound of feet and muttering. Harry jerked as his curtains were pulled open and Ron's head appeared in the opening. "Oi, what's all this?" his friend asked curiously.
Harry stared at the box, almost as if he hoped it would open itself. "From Malfoy," he finally said.
Ron scowled. "That slimy git?" he said, and helped himself to the end of the bed, leaning back against the bedpost. He glanced down at the books and papers. "What'd he give you, and better, why?"
Harry's first inclination was to tell Ron to butt out, it didn't concern him, but then he caught himself. He'd promised that he'd tell them whatever he could, as long as it didn't endanger them. And he didn't think these would. "He got them out of his father's secret room at Malfoy Manor," he said. He nodded at the papers. "Those are spells, ones I don't know. I figured I'd send Dumbledore a set and then let 'Mione look at them." He nodded at the books. "The bottom one is notes on me. Apparently Lucius was a fan." Both he and Ron snorted. "Top one is notes on how to bring good old Voldemort back to life."
"Bloody hell," Ron murmured. "And the box?"
Harry blew out a breath. "Haven't opened it yet," he said.
Ron picked it up and like Harry had, turned it about in his hands. "It says, 'Potter' on it," his friend said, giving Harry a keen glance.
Harry nodded. "Yeah," he said, feeling the muscles in the back of his neck draw tensely together.
Ron held out the box. "Never know until you open it," he said.
Harry met his friend's eyes, suddenly profoundly glad that Ron had come in and helped himself to the end of his bed. "Yeah," he said, taking it. Bracing himself, Harry flicked the small brass latch and opened the lid.
Ron leaned over a bit and the two of them stared down into the box. "Aren't those…" Ron started.
Harry swallowed. "Yeah," he said yet again, voice tight, reaching down and picking up what looked like a framed wedding photo. The frame was still intact, undamaged. The picture inside was a muggle one, oddly enough. The man and woman were caught as they leaned close, dressed in muggle wedding clothes, and blissfully kissed.
"Souvenirs," Ron muttered. "Sick bastard." Harry was a second behind, but realized a moment later what his friend was referring to. A wave of hate swept over him and he had to put the photo down carefully. Lucius had been there, that night. Had stolen his little mementos and had disappeared into the night after his Master had fallen.
"You all right?" Ron asked, breaking through Harry's haze. Harry tried to reel in the fury, and looked at his friend.
"No," he said tightly. Ron gave a sharp nod, and looked back down at the box.
"Fuck," his friend said, sounding sickened. Harry looked down as well, afraid of what was there.
From the bottom of the shallow box, two golden rings gleamed. One larger and thicker, the other smaller and more delicate. A gold locket lay next to them, the chain snapped as if it had been torn from the woman's neck.
Harry didn't touch them, didn't move, but instead felt the rage start to build inside him. Lucius had been there… had watched his parents fall, watched Voldemort be vanquished, and before he'd run with his tail between his legs, he'd stripped the rings from his parents fingers, and ripped the necklace from his mother's neck. It was a black, black rolling mass of emotion that was growing in the back of Harry's throat, something so dark and bitter that it was going to come spewing out…
"Aquas!" Harry heard and then there was the splash of cold water against his leg, jarring his vision into clearing. Ron was sitting up on his knees, looking pale and rather tense, wand in hand.
"Merlin, Harry," his friend said. "I dunno what you just did, but you lit the bedclothes on fire."
Harry looked down and sure enough, there was a scorched part of the covers right by his leg. "Shit," he muttered. He'd lost control for a minute there. He could have hurt Ron, hurt himself. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to set it aside until he could get to the Room of Requirement and work it out. He opened them again and looked at Ron. "Thanks," he said.
Ron nodded jerkily and shoved his wand back in his pocket. "You ok?" he asked, eyes serious.
Harry gave a sharp laugh. "No," he said and then pulled out his own wand and made two copies of the papers. "Give these to Hermione, will you?" he said, holding out one set. "I'm going to go have Hedwig deliver these."
Ron frowned, eyes still worried. "You should take them yourself," he said, even as he took the papers.
Harry gave a harsh laugh. "Yes, that's exactly what I should do," he said. "I should really go see Dumbledore when I'm in the mood to destroy something." He grasped for some more control, and picked up the rest of the papers and the two books. Carefully, he closed the lid on the softly gleaming gold, and set it with the rest. The photograph, he pulled his curtains back and set on the nightstand by his bed.
"Give those to Hermione, will you?" he asked again, knowing he sounded curt but not really able to do anything about it. "Tell her I'll talk to her about them tomorrow. Later." He put the rest of the items in his trunk and locked it. Harry picked up the last set of copies. "I'm going to take these now," he said. "And maybe take a walk."
Ron got up as well, face serious. "Right," he said. As Harry started for the door, Ron reached out and gripped his shoulder, squeezing hard. Harry paused a moment, feeling some of the overwhelming rage fade a bit at his friend's attempt at comfort. He reached up and gave Ron's hand a sharp rap with the rolled up papers, as a kind of thanks, and then kept going for the door.
The halls were dark and silent and Harry went straight to the owlry. He needed to get these papers gone and go blast some dummies in the Room before he lost control again.
$$$$$$$$$$
Ginny was awakened by someone shaking her shoulder. "No," she moaned, still half asleep.
"Ginny!" a familiar voice hissed. "Wake up. It's Hermione."
For Hermione, Ginny made an effort to wake up. Sort of. At least she didn't start throwing hexes, which she would have done had it been her brother.
"Whazzamatter?" she mumbled, blinking blearily.
Hermione's face was tense and worried in the dark room. How late was it? Ginny wondered. Late enough that the rest of the room was asleep, at least. "It's Harry," the Head Girl said, and that was enough to make Ginny wake up the rest of the way.
"What? What's wrong?" she asked, pushing her hair back and forcing herself to sit.
Hermione bit her lip. "He got a package today, from Malfoy," she started. "There were some things in it that Draco's father apparently had… there was a box. With," Hermione paused and swallowed, eyes looking rather bright. "With souvenirs from that night."
"That night?" Ginny said, not understanding. "What night… Oh!" Her hand flew up to cover the gasp. "No!"
Hermione nodded. "Yes," she said, voice wobbling a bit. "Harry went off in a very, very black mood, Ron says, and he hasn't come back yet."
Ginny wanted to cry, too, but swallowed hard and put it aside for the moment. "I'll go downstairs and wait for him," she said.
Hermione sniffled. "That's what I thought," she said. "I'll make Ron go to bed. I thought you should be the one to see him first. You'll be able to make him feel better, I think."
"You aren't…" Ginny started, but Hermione shook her head.
"I'll see him in the morning, when I'm not going to cry all over him," she said. "And he'll be more ready for Ron then, too."
Ginny scrambled up, and grabbed a blanket and pillow from her bed. She didn't know how long it would be. "Thank you, Hemione," she said as they started for the door.
Her friend squeezed her arm. "I love him, too," was all she said.
$$$$$$$$$$
AN: Honestly, I could just keep going and going and there'd be no end to this chapter! I guess I'll cut it there and make you all beg for the rest. What WILL happen when Harry comes back? (bwahahahaha)
hplovah – Ok, the Draco/parents/helping Harry thing… Draco's father was killed in the first story, "Hidden Intents". I realize that the last chapter might have been a bit confusing. What you were supposed to get was that Draco is now the head of the Malfoys, now that he's of age. The Manor and it's protection spells became keyed to him on his 17th birthday, and he had to reset them if he wanted anyone but himself to be able to get in. Hence the comment about his mother (see the second story, "Undercurrents" for that bit of history). The helping Harry thing… They're not buddies, but Draco owes Harry, and he's not evil anymore.
Crookshankx, MrsSakuraPotter - You know, I'm really amazed at how many people are commenting on Draco. It's a real compliment to me, that you all still like him. I prefer him as a non-evil character myself, but feel that the stories where he gets buddy-buddy with Harry & Co. are just too far out of character. Thank you!
Shahrezad1 – Impervious? Hah! Not by a long shot. Poor Harry… and to answer your previous question, I'd be most flattered to be one of your quotes. (blushing)
Hawkeye – What IS Harry going to do? heh heh heh…
Child-of-scorpio – I'm still waiting on that big review… (big toothy grin)
Barbelibou – Ahh! Not the flying monkeys… As for Ginny figuring it out, patience, my dear. We'll get to that…
Ferggirl99 – Ron's getting to it… he's a bit dense, you know…
MetroDweller, elijah'stheone, mary-v, lozzie, Caitlin Cat, lluvatar, cherryblossom08, Moonglaze, Liz, jessy, obsessed87, sugarbaby, MusicMonkey88 – Thank you all so much for your reviews! This chapter got written just because people were so eager for more… You guys keep feeding the ego, and I'll keep posting. Lol.