Clarity
I worry, I weigh three times my body
I worry, I throw my fear around
But this morning, there's a calm I can't explain
The rock candy's melted, only diamonds now remain
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
By the time I recognize this moment
This moment will be gone
But I will bend the light, pretend that it somehow lingered on
Well all I got's
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
And I will wait to find
If this will last forever
And I will wait to find
If this will last forever
And I will pay no mind
That it won't and it won't because it can't
Because it just can't
It just can't
It's not supposed to
Was there a second of time that I looked around?
Did I sail through or drop my anchor down
Was anything enough to kiss the ground?
And say I'm here now and she's here now
So much wasted in the afternoon
So much sacred in the month of June
How bout you
And I will wait to find
If this will last forever
And I will pay no mind
When it won't and it won't
Because it won't
And I will waste no time
Worried 'bout no rainy weather
And I will waste no time
Remaining in our lives together
- John Mayer
Whatever plan she could have come have come up with though would have been no use, for Draco was absent for a few days. She wondered if it was because of his mother. She hoped that for his sake, his mother was all right. Well as all right as you could be in such a catatonic state.
She could barely comprehend how much it hurt for him to see his mother in such a state. His mother was after all the only person Draco had ever loved so unconditionally. So for a while Ginny's grudge against Draco faded, only to be replaced by genuine concern and worry for his welfare.
One hour more to get home. One hour. One hour. Ron sat at his desk watching the clock on his wall. It was an hour to twelve and that was when this boring night shift ended. Tonight, he had to stay in the office and do some paperwork - the worst nightmare of every Auror.
He sighed, thanking the powers that were for the fact that he was free tomorrow. He sighed wearily once again.
"Done with the sighing, Weasley?" His supervisor Kingsley joked, stepping into his office. Ron grinned at him.
"Please say you've come to tell me that I can go home now." He joked. Kingsley shook his head with mock sadness.
"Sorry, Weasley, got an errand for you." Ron made a face but anything to get himself out of this stifling office.
"Dumbledore found some dark magic weapons of sort in a paticular passageway at Hogwarts. He wants us to collect it. He says it'll be with Professor Malfoy-"
"Malfoy?! Maybe you should send someone else." Kingsley shook his head bemused.
"Take another Auror if you want, but it's very simple. Just get the things and come back. That's that." Ron nodded, knowing there was no way he could wiggle himself out of this one. He could not even visit Ginny as she would not be awake at this time of the night, well she was not supposed to be awake anyway.
That was how Ron and Joe, the other Auror, ended up in Hogwart's staff room, stepping out of the fireplace, dusting themselves. There was no sign of Malfoy or any other professors so they decided to wait a bit. They sat on a wooden bench at the end.
It was then Ron thought he saw something across the room that he recognized. It was on Malfoy's desk and it stood out in the room because of its color.
What his sister had always distinguished as spicy, chilli red, a harsher red than rose red; it was the red of classic lipsticks, rarely found in nature.
His sister had always been proud of her ability to wear chilli red, despite her flaming orange hair, noting each time she wore a particular shawl around her neck that it was a colour most people did not dare to wear.
"Joe." Ron said, every muscle tense, as he stared at the increasingly familiar object on Malfoy's desk.
"Yes."
"Do you see that red cloth?"
"Yes."
"Can you go and get it for me?"
When Joe turned to look at him, he said, "I think it's my sister's."
As Joe stood to retrieve it, Draco himself entered the room from behind where Ron sat. He had come straight from Dumbledore's office, where he had flooded in from St. Mungo's.
Dumbledore had told him about the Dark Arts equipment that the Aurors were coming to collect.
Draco tapped Ron on the shoulder just as he realized what Joe was doing. They stared at each other, one cold, blank, mask-like, and the other red with bristling anger.
"Why do you have my sister's scarf?"
Draco stumbled, knowing that if he spoke the truth, Ginny would be in hot soup. That was the last thing he wanted for her. Shoving thoughts about the promise he had made to himself upon seeing his mother's condition that day, Draco spoke, lying through his teeth.
"She must have left it when she came to my office to see me."
Ron stood and faced him. He was clear eyed and driving fast towards the worst news possible. "Why do you have my sister's scarf?" His nostrils flared with anger as he glared at Malfoy.
"Hello." Draco nodded politely at the other Auror.
Joe held the incriminating scarf in his hand. Ron grabbed it away, his voice growing angry.
"Why do you have my sister's scarf?"
And then it happened. Arching over Ron like a rainbow – prisma color understanding. The way it happened in the Auror cases where Ron was the first person to figure out the missing link between the perpetrator and the victim.
"I think we should go." Joe put his hand on Ron's shoulder to guide him. He shook it off, trembling with anger.
He shot Malfoy a death glare before walking out, not even bothering to collect the things he had come for.
Draco watched them leave, before sitting slumped in his chair, staring at the spot on his desk where the scarf had been. He had taken it by mistaken that night by the lake when they went for that impromptu swim. He had not realised it was hers till the very next day, upon which he had conveniently forgotten to return it to her.
How careless he had been, leaving it there. How was he supposed to know that her brother would come strutting into the staff room and see it? Draco swore aloud, knowing that nobody else would be around at this time of the night. He closed his eyes, resting his forehead on his palm. It was not worth it, all this conflict, and all these emotions just to love and be loved.
He had survived all this while without it so why could he not continue doing so? Yes, he had been a cold heartless bastard during those times but he was still as unhappy as he had been before. Or was he? In his mind's eye he sought her face, laughing, talking, or blushing prettily when he stood near to her. A smile tugged at the ends of his lips- perhaps not so unhappy.
'Line up, Draco' He snapped at himself. He had to get a grip.
He remembered the futile promise he had made to himself, when his mother had been diagnosed.
He vowed never to fall in love, never to love. He would keep that promise. If anything her annoying brother's presence only emphasized this. They were from two fundamentally different worlds, no matter how much he could mellow down or change, they were just not meant to be.
Ginny ate her breakfast laughing and talking to Luna and Colin, blissfully ignorant of the events that had transpired the previous night.
That is until the owl post arrived.
"Wow, Gin, you've got a lot of owls today eh?" Ginny looked up at Colin's comment as several familiar looking owls swooped down dropping letters on her lap. A prickle of unease filled her as she picked them up. Ignoring Luna and Colin's inquisitive glances, she proceeded to open them one by one.
The first was from Harry:
Dear Ginny,
How is school? It took me a while to reply to your previous letter. In fact, I just got back from my two week long training at Bulgaria with none other than Victor Krum himself. He still can't believe Hermione ditched him for Ron but I told him to get over it, and set him up on a date with Taylor's friend.
Taylor was annoying me to no end. She purposely kept flirting with all the Bulgarian players, in front of me. We're all right though as we will be. Am getting off point here.
The reason for this urgent letter is because your dense, git of a brother (And unfortunately my best friend as well) Ron seems to have come up with the strangest idea that you and Malfoy have a thing going on-
Ginny dropped the letter, not bothering to stifle her gasp as she looked up instinctively at the Grand table, which was devoid of Draco's presence. Suddenly she knew what all the other letters must be about. How could Ron know? Ginny was flabbergasted.
"What is it, Gin?" Luna broke into her thoughts. Ginny pushed Harry's letter across the table towards her. Luna and Colin began to read the letter while Ginny read the others.
The one from Bill read:
Dear Gin,
Please tell me Ron was absolutely smashed when he sent me that letter about you and Malfoy dating. How are you? Fleur's fine. She wants to get married next year.
And he proceeded to talk about Fleur, the upcoming wedding and his job at Gringotts.
Charlie's was along the same lines. Percy's just warned her to stay away from Malfoy because the boy was obviously mad enough to feed her stupid brother Ron rubbish that he would, in his ignorant anger, lap up.
Fred congratulated her about creating quite a stir in the family without their help and waking them all up at this ungodly hour to confirm Ron's mad piece of news.
George wanted to know whether there was a difference between snogging a professor and a student, not that Ginny would know.
Ron might as well have written a Howler.
He wrote in block letters through out his whole letter.
HOW CAN YOU DO WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING WITH A MALFOY!!!! HE IS A SLIMY GIT WHO HAPPENS TO BE YOUR PROFESSOR AS WELL! I HAVE NOT TOLD MUM AND DAD. IF THEY FIND OUT THEY WILL HAVE A HEART ATTACK, NO THANKS TO YOU! DON'T YOU DARE DENY THIS!! HOW COME YOUR RED SCARF WAS ON HIS DESK??
RON
"What am I going to do?" Ginny sighed wearily. Luna looked at her sympathetically and a tad appalled while Colin was trying very hard not to laugh. The two girls shot him dirty looks.
"I'm sorry but gosh, Gin, your brothers are hilarious especially Fred and George."
"Now is not the time, Colin." Luna snapped, obviously worried for her friend.
Colin shrank back.
"Well, at least all of them trust your word more than Ron's." Colin stated, trying to reinstate himself.
"How come there was no letter from Hermione?" Luna asked, curious.
Ginny who had been reading the rest of Harry's letter looked up, "She and Ron are not speaking to each other. They had their first major fight as a couple." She explained.
Ginny stood up abruptly.
"Where are you going?" Luna asked, fearing the answer.
"To speak to Draco," Ginny grabbed the letters.
"I don't think that's such a good idea." Luna stood up, bent on persuading her friend to maintain as little contact with Malfoy.
"I agree with Luna." Colin was standing up as well, stuffing a piece of bacon in his mouth. Luna shot him a disgusted look. He gave her a 'a boy has to have his breakfast you know' look. Luna rolled her eyes at him before turning her attention back to her friend who was already walking towards the hallway. Luna ran after her, Colin at her heels.
"Ginny, don't." She skidded to a halt in front of Ginny who looked as if her mind had been set and nothing could change it.
"I have to talk to him. He knows something about this. I'm sure. I mean, at least I have to know how my scarf ended up on his table." Luna seeing her friend's determination, nodded and stepped out of her way.
"Are you sure she's doing the right thing?" Colin asked as they watched Ginny hurry down the corridor towards the dungeons.
"I don't know." Luna murmured, clueless. It seemed as if things had taken an unexpected twist with her brother finding out about it.
"Draco…" Ginny trailed off as she flung open his room door. He was standing by the window, his back facing towards her.
He turned around slowly to face her.
"You should not have come." He spoke, quietly. She could not see his face contorted with pain and anguish as he stood, concealed by the shadows, as he had been all his life.
"I had to. My brothers know." She took a step towards him, tilting her head up to see his face.
In those oceans grey eyes that she loved were turbulence, a sign of an internal war being waged. It tore her heart to see the familiar pained look on his chiseled face and know that she was the cause of it.
" I know." He murmured, stepping out of the shadows towards her. He could not stay away from her. Just seeing her, her small perfectly formed lips, her translucent as porcelain complexion and those waif like eyes - large, soulful and velvety brown surrounded by widely thick eyelashes, eyes that had cured a man as hard and cynical as himself of all callousness.
"They are against it. Against us." She looked down at the stone floor, biting her lip.
He wished she would not do that. It drove him nuts. In a nice way. Unbelievable. He was attracted to a Weasley.
She was so unlike the rest of her family, that it did not seem strange though. She had a worldly-wise air, a dark edge, from some sort of experience she must have had. He wondered what it was. As much as she knew about him, there was little he knew about her. He vowed to change that.
Wait a moment. He was supposed to be ending this madness, but he could not. He wanted it, needed it.
He reached down to clasp her small hands in his smooth, huge ones.
"It's not as if we're dating or something.." He put his hands on her wrist bones, sliding his fingers slowly up her arms to the elbows under her loose cuffs.
His touch was like heat to her skin, but she felt comfortable with it, as if he had been touching her all her life.
"But we have much more than that." Her words rang true. He had to agree, nodding.
He muttered her name and pressed his palms against her, as though he meant to deliver the full force of himself through her skin.
"Much more." He echoed, removing his hands from her arms.
He tucked one finger inside the collar of her blouse, opening the top button with the gesture.
Ginny sighed softly as he leaned in close to her to fit his mouth to the shallow place at the bottom of her throat.
She felt her body transform itself, become liquid, open itself up, wanting nothing more than more. An absolute stillness followed.
It was a long kiss, if such a touch could be called a kiss. Ginny loved the sensation his lips caused against her skin, one that was to be savoured.
She touched the back of Draco's neck and felt the fine hairs that twirled in a comma there.
He removed his mouth from her throat and pressed his forehead to hers, echoing her earlier sigh, as if only this particular embrace could give him ease.
There was something different this time as well. There was no more light-hearted teasing, but a casual and comfortable intimacy, like a well used blanket.
"What do we do?" She finally broke the silence.
"We have to deny it." He moved away from her.
Seeing the wariness in her eyes and the sudden tensing of her slender shoulders, he back-pedalled.
"Till you're a student in this school, at least." He reassured her,
She strained up to kiss him, squarely on his lips.
"I could not have created this." Draco whispered, as they broke apart, with no notable regret in his voice.
"Your fault as much as mine."
"How? When?" Draco sounded bewildered and overwhelmed.
"Love comes softly."
"Do you have an answer for everything?"
"I wish I did." She laughed, her eyes sparkling beautifully.
"Go before your absence is noted." After another ferverent kiss, she left.
It seemed that their affair had moved into a whole other level. Whether they had wanted it or not. It probably would not have happened so soon, if not for her brother's divine intervention, so to speak.
For to forbid someone of something, especially love, was to drive him or her even more towards it.
A'N: Am glad you guys liked that chapter.. Was worried that it was too fluffy etc.
Am also glad you found it funny.. I guess it is a tad humorous.
Since you liked me talking about my love life here goes – it is at a stand still at the moment..Actually the guy I was absolutely besotted with, not the older one, broke my heart into a million hundred pieces. It seems he has been making fun of me behind my back – I found out when he bitched about me online to my friend…Such a twit right? He suspected I liked him and he's obviously not mature enough to handle it so he did the kindergarten act i.e making fun of me. I was soo crushed when I found out..
and by the way i am eighteen..you mean my writing is soo immature that u think i'm 14?? Am insulted..
The worst part is that I still fancy him. Am I stupid or what? Sigh, I just feel even sorrier for him. To feel so unconditionally for someone, has to be love right? Sighs.
And there
The spacing in between the song is cos I copy it straight from the lyrics website and it come out that way no matter how I try to change it..Sorry, ma'am..lol
What dance are you confused about?
A 'almost did it right there' scene coming up just for you in the soon to come chappies..
My rating is changed to PG13..thanks for the tip
Never heard of Charlaine Harris? Why did you mention her?
Am glad that my writing does not tire you..
Another sneakie peekie BOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
He nudged at Luna who was poring over the seating arrangements one last time before submission. She looked up, taking in the pair making their way towards them with piqued interest and curiosity. Now that even she had not seen coming. Their friendly camadrie with each other seemed to have set the Hall abuzz
