Author: RavenEcho
Summary: Ginny hurts. And no one knows. It's not easy being a number. Her number is zero, because that's how many people understand her…probably a Draco/Ginny waiting to happen. Some Ginny/Remus.
Disclaimer: If I owned this stuff, would I really be on this computer typing away right now? No… I would be eating some rich-people-food in my gigantic English manor…
Touch Me
Chapter 13: A Secret Meeting: Part 1
It was 11:50 when Draco eased out of bed into his dark room. He'd been lying awake in bed for at least an hour, waiting until all the Slytherins were quiet in their beds. He didn't want to be discovered while he was going to meet a former Gryffindor- that would not improve his reputation any in the Slytherin house, where reputation was everything.
The halls were quiet; it seemed that Draco was the only one awake at this hour. Even so, he padded across the stone floors as silently as any Death Eater's son, quieter even, having been trained by the best: Lucius Malfoy. Draco climbed the stairs and turned right, heading towards the Entrance Hall. None of the lanterns were lit, as they usually were on feast nights or at any balls. The moon light was shining through the lofty windows, that were perched just above the tall doors, and it created an eerie mix of pale light and shadows. The creepy lighting might have spooked another person, but Draco looked upon it with a blank face. He thrived in the darkness: Slytherins tended to.
Draco slipped noiselessly out through the castle doors and into the chill night. He pulled up his hood to hide his easily recognizable white-blond hair and furtively began to make his way across the grounds towards the Whomping Willow, merely a moving ink blot against the dark sky. A couple of yard away from the tree, Draco was stopped by a voice. He couldn't see whoever had spoken.
"Malfoy," the voice called quietly, yet surely. "Don't come further or the Willow will begin thrashing."
Draco halted immediately, eyes darting around to spot the source of the voice. As he searched, a figure appeared through the darkness. After a moment, Draco recognized it as Lupin: he hadn't changed much since his days as Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
Draco nodded politely to the man, murmuring, "Lupin."
"Remus, please," the man said kindly.
Draco properly replied, "Then you must call me Draco."
Remus nodded before turning away slightly. "We need to retreat to a more private place to meet," he explained as he picked up a stick from the ground. "It would not be seemly for either of us to be found here."
Draco nodded his acquiesce, staring at the man. Just what was he planning on doing with that stick, anyway?
Seconds later, Draco found out as Remus stuck the branch out and prodded a gnarly knot at the base of the Whomping Willow. Immediately, the branches, which had been quivering slightly, froze in place. Remus dropped the stick and silently motioned for Draco to join him in climbing into the base of the tree and down a tunnel. Draco did so mutely, shocked by the revelation that the Whomping Willow was a hiding spot for something much more significant.
"The Shrieking Shack," Remus clarified when they reached the first room, which contained a couple of ripped and beat-up chairs and a fireplace. "Here, sit down," the werewolf gestured to a chair, waiting for Draco to sit down before sitting down himself.
For a few minutes there was an awkward silence as Lupin started a fire in the grate with his wand.
Eventually, Remus tried to strike up the conversation. "So," he sighed. "You're worried about my Ginny. I suppose first I should explain our relationship." He paused, and started again when Draco gave a small nod. "It's… difficult."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know, shortish chapter, but I'm planning on having another update sometime this week, so there! Sorry for the delay… not as bad as for my other story ("These Stone Walls"), but I did still kind of leave you guys hanging. Well, I should be back soon! Review, review, review! I'll update faster if you do, I promise!
REVIEW RESPONSES: Thanks to: EternalEcho, dakangl, next (there should be more of a Ginny focus not in the next chapter, but the one after that…)