A/N: don't own don't sue
The lyrics at the beginning are from 'All These Things That I've Done' by The Killers
In the middle are; 'Shadow' by Ashlee Simpson, 'Our Lady of Sorrow' by My Chemical Romance, 'Pretty Suicide' by NY Loose, 'Lies' by Evanescence and 'Learn To Fly' by Foo Fighters
I know the excessive lyrics are boring to sit and read through but each one is important to help the fic along so please be patient ((pleads)) thanks to all reviews hope its good enough for you
Chapter Four – All These Things That I've Done
When there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
You know, you know – no you don't, you don't
I wanna shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand
Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no
Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain't changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the backburner
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Over and out, last call for sin
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done
"So you didn't catch who tried to take it?"
Draco cocked his head to the side for a moment as if contemplating then he nodded at his boss who was glaring at both himself and Ginny from across his desk. The room was dark as a result of being underground with the rest of the facility Draco and Ginny seemed to work for. Ginny herself had her feet on the edge of the desk and was using the position to push her chair onto its back legs as she swung backwards and forwards.
The pair were still in their fighting gear and Ginny was definitely wishing she could just take a shower; her hair was lank and hanging in a loose ponytail at the crown of her head. Her face was encrusted with dried sweat and her body felt itchy from old perspiration too; she just wanted to get the hell out of there.
"And what do you expect me to tell Kramer?"
Draco shrugged his shoulders slightly, his gaze fixed on the aging man before him who was puffing heavily on a cigarette and loosened his tie as he watched the pair, sweat beading his forehead.
"Look we lost the fucking girl big deal, we'll find her again. But right now I just want to go home and have a shower not sit here listening to you tell us what we already know. Now can we please leave?"
Draco raised his eyebrows at Ginny who had risen to her feet as she spoke before looking back their boss whose cigarette had fallen from his lips and was steadily burning into his shirt.
"Yes, you can… leave…"
Ginny gave him a beaming smile and was gone before he could blink leaving Draco staring after her before climbing to his feet and heading out of the office.
He caught up with Ginny just as she was marching into one of the rooms reserved for agents to change in. knocking as he walked in he could hear the pounding of water as she turned the shower on and he marched into the adjoining bathroom.
"Don't you ever knock?"
Ignoring the fact she was snarling at him while clad in only a tiny white towel Draco slammed the door shut behind him; why was he angry? For some reason he couldn't fathom he was furious with her, the sight of her body glistening with sweat from the steam and her waterfall of molten lava hair spilling over her shoulders was only making it worse.
"I did knock."
His voice held a low dangerous edge but she didn't care.
"Well you didn't knock hard enough then!"
Draco narrowed his eyes to slits as he glared at her, one hand was curled protectively around the knot holding her towel up the other was planted on her hip which had just been swung furiously out to one side.
"What the hell was that?"
Ginny shrugged her shoulders and held her ground even as he advanced on her.
"What was what?"
His eyes were fixed on her, something flickering at the back of them as he took another step towards her.
"You've never spoken to him like that before; I think you gave him a coronary."
Ginny couldn't suppress a rather cold smirk as she caught the hint of pride creeping into his voice.
"Well I'm pissed off; we did what we were assigned to and we still ended up getting bollocked! If whoever she was is that important they should get someone better to do it properly."
Silence greeted her words as her blazing eyes met his for a brief moment.
"Someone better, Crys…" Ginny glanced down at her bare feet as he spoke, her toes curled in angrily. "Crys, we are the best."
To anyone else it didn't look as though she had heard him but his sharp eyes saw her freeze, goosebumps crawling along her bare flesh even as she halted her angry quivering as he approached her. The heat from her furious body melding with his own in the fraction of air between them as he finally reached her from across the room.
"Same old Malfoy."
The adrenaline that had been pounding through her veins all night had seeped away leaving her exhausted and still in shock over how she had handled herself. The terror she should have felt before was now trickling slowly around her body.
"I mean you're fine you've been like this all your life this is just another day for you but I can't do this, I… I just can't I'm not strong enough or mature enough to handle something like this! I need to get out; right now I need to stop it I was stupid to think I could handle this I mean secret agent?! Not bloody likely…"
Ginny froze halfway across the room suddenly realising she was pacing and Draco's hand was gripping her arm, shaking her slightly as he eyed her in confusion.
"What are you talking about, Crys? Stop what? You've never once regretted joining up since we started."
His grip had loosened slightly but only enough for the blood to begin flowing back to her hand as her other one crept back up her side to clutch reflexively at the knot of her towel once again. Neither of them noticed that the room was filled with steam so thick it looked more like smoke.
"People change, Draco."
He finally dropped his hand from her arm but she still didn't move, her eyes locked on his as though scared of what he would say next. And in part she was; she couldn't remember what she had said, what if she had let slip who she really was? Despite the events of the night and the recent revelations of Crystianna's secret life she didn't really want to quit yet, all in all she was having too much fun.
"Not people like us, Crys."
Silence filled the room around the steam until a loud banging and a babble of cheery voices crowded in as well.
"Crys you are THE MAN!"
Ginny blinked rapidly and fought back the blushing curling up and staining her cheeks as a handsome boy with ruffled ebony locks draped an arm around her bare shoulders and kissed her cheek with a loud smacking noise.
"I can't believe you said that to Crayson, oh my god you are goddamn amazing girl!"
A tall pretty girl propped her arm up on Draco's shoulder as she spoke, her face beaming as she surveyed Ginny. Ginny was dumbstruck, she couldn't seem to move her mouth never mind arrange words to come out if she managed it. She was still staring at Draco with her muddled mind turning over on itself as she tried valiantly to remember it wasn't her he was looking at that way; it was Crystianna.
The couple that had spoken and the other three people in the room looked from Ginny to Draco then back again, the tension in the air definitely noticeable now.
"Riiiiiight."
The boy with dark hair rolled his eyes at the two and dragged the girl away, the others in the room following them with knowing looks in their eyes as they shot a last smug glance at the pair still in the room.
"Draco I…"
Draco edged in closer to her again, his eyes flickering for the briefest of seconds to her lips slightly red from where she had been nervously gnawing on them.
"Yes?"
Her breath was catching in her throat as she took a hurried step backwards away from him and his intoxicating scent.
"…I need to take my shower."
Draco smirked in amusement at her flushed face before heading for the door, saluting her mockingly before swinging it closed behind him leaving her to drop unsteadily onto the edge of the bath.
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"So how is it going?"
Ginny gaped at the mirror image of herself resting amongst the merrily burning logs of the fire in her room at the college.
"How is it going?!"
Crystianna raised one perfectly plucked eyebrow as Ginny repeated her question incredulously.
"Well besides the fact that you 'omitted certain details' it's going fine."
Crystianna didn't look the slightest bit bashful about Ginny's anger as she gazed up at her with cool eyes.
"I knew if I told you about my being an agent you wouldn't take the job."
Ginny spluttered indignantly before calming herself down enough to speak although her eyes were still throwing out angry sparks.
"You're damn right I wouldn't have, you tricked me."
Crystianna nodded thoughtfully before tilting her head slightly to the side so her hair fell over one eye as she eyed Ginny curiously.
"Now I've gotten used to it I quite like your hair like that, I may have mine that way when I return." Ginny blinked furiously at her with her mouth open. "But anyway, besides my 'omitting of certain facts' are you having fun?"
Ginny narrowed her eyes at Crystianna, who was looking smug, and nodded reluctantly.
"Good. Its nice to know my life hasn't lost its edge in my absence."
Ginny rolled her eyes before hurriedly spinning around and shielding the fire with her back when she heard a voice right outside her door.
"Crys darling, we're having a karaoke night without the karaoke machine."
Ginny glared into the fire where the real Crystianna winked before disappearing with a flash of red hair.
"Err, Crys? Why are you just stood staring at the fire? Have you taken your medication?"
Ginny shot him a dirty look knowing full well he was teasing her as she watched Vanessa, Elijah and another couple traipse in after Draco carrying huge piles of snack food and boxes and boxes of the tiny glass cubes that contained every Muggle and Wizarding film ever made.
"Shut up Malfoy, and what do you plan on singing?"
The mental image of Draco Malfoy prancing about singing a Boyzone song brought laughter bubbling to her mouth and she fought hard against the onslaught of giggles that threatened to spill over.
He shot her a dirty look as he dumped everything on the low mahogany coffee table in the centre of her room, everyone else flopping down on her huge bed which fit them all quite comfortably.
"OK all the songs we have tuned into the Music Pipe are written down on here and one tap of the Beater will bring whichever one it feels you ought to sing right to the top."
Ginny raised an eyebrow at Draco, already feeling herself become quite excited at the prospect of singing even in front of these almost strangers.
"Yes yes Draco we know how it works. Who goes first?"
The group looked at each other before coming to a unanimous conclusion; they tossed their wands into a spare hat lying nearby and shook it up, shooting a streak of water out of it somehow in the process. Ringing a nearby bell a house elf appeared and closed his eyes, drawing out the other girl's wand.
Ginny vaguely remembered being told she was called Liliana as she got gracefully to her feet and grabbed the Beater from its stand which had been placed on the coffee table with the Music Pipe. The extremely short stubby black stick briefly glowed in her hand as she tapped a tall wide multicoloured tube with holes in varying places of different sizes which emitted a loud high pitched musical note before belching out a puff of green smoke which formed into a set of words Ginny couldn't read backwards.
Seconds later music filled the room magically and the girl sat cross-legged on the huge black and white chequered bean bag besides the coffee table.
"I was six years old
When my parents went away
I was stuck inside a broken life
I couldn't wish away
She was beautiful
She had everything and more
And my escape was hiding out and running for the door
Somebody listen please
It used to be so hard being me
Living in the shadow
Of someone else's dream
Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch felt cold to me
Living in a nightmare
A never-ending sleep
But now that I am wide awake
My chains are finally free
Don't feel sorry for me
All the days collided
One less perfect than the next
I was stuck inside someone else's life and always second best
Oh, I love you now 'cause now I realize
That it's safe outside to come alive in my identity
So if you're listening
There's so much more to me you haven't seen
Living in the shadow
Of someone else's dream
Trying to find a hand to hold but every touch felt cold to me
Living in a nightmare
A never-ending sleep
But now that I am wide awake
Then I can finally see
Don't feel sorry for me-
Mother, sister, father, sister, mother
Everything's cool now
Mother, sister, father, sister, mother
Everything's cool now
Oh, my life is good
I've got more than anyone should
Oh, my life is good
And the past is in the past
Ginny very nearly fell off the bed when she realised what it was the girl was singing; Ashlee Simpson? Had the great pure bloods ever even heard any Muggle music never mind sing it? Deciding to just go with it she sat back against the mountains of pillows as the house elf returned to choose the next singer; Elijah.
Swaggering over he pressed the Beater against the Music Pipe which performed the act identical to before that selected a suitable song.
"We could be perfect one last night
And look like star-crossed lovers when we fight
And we can settle this affair
If you would shed your yellow take my hand
And then we'll solve the mystery of laceration gravity
This riddle of revenge please understand it has to be this way and
Stand up fucking tall
Don't let them see your back
Take my fucking hand
And never be afraid again
We've only got once chance to put this at in end
And cross the patron saint of switchblade fights
You said we're not celebrities, we spark and fade, they die by threes
I'll make you understand and you can trade me for an apparition
Stand up fucking tall
Don't let them see your back
Take my fucking hand
And never be afraid again
Trust, you said
Who put the words in your head
Oh how wrong we were to think
That immortality meant never dying
Ginny cocked her head to the side as she watched the boy sing, could those lyrics relate something to him? The Musical Pipe had chosen that song in particular and it was made along the same lines as the Sorting Hat; to only find the truth.
She was distracted by Vanessa approaching the table and tapping the Music Pipe, seconds later the music filling the room and she sighed as she recognised the lyrics, her lips moving silently to match each word with Vanessa's.
"She was such a pretty suicide
Oh, what a beautiful mess
She was such a pretty suicide
Right now she looks her best
Over 50 story fall to stardom
She found her fame top of a car
50 stories she could have told
How life pushed her a little too far
And she was such a pretty suicide
Oh, what beautiful mess
She was such a pretty suicide
Snap a photo so you don't forget it
Now I often stop and wonder
How on earth she could have done it
Twisted up yet all fixed up
And how I wish I could have held her
And life can be so cruel
To such a pretty girl
She's made it all so clear
Out the window with all her fear
Ya know, she was such a pretty suicide
Oh, what a beautiful mess now
She was such a pretty suicide
Oh, what a beautiful mess now."
Ginny saw the briefest glitter of tears in Vanessa's eyes as she finished the song an she swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, rubbing at her own burning eyes in time to see Liliana's partner begin his song.
"Overbearing panic attack entrenching my veins
In an hour, I'll be okay
I pray this pain will go away permanently someday
I'VE seen more than
I should have to
I'VE seen this on my own
This song is a poem to myself
It helps me to live
In case of fire, BREAK the glass
And move on into your own, your own
Reoccurring drowning effect entrenching my brain
I hope you'll be ok someday,
So I can say that you moved on in the right way
WE'VE seen this and
WE'VE breathed this and
WE'VE lived this on our own
This song is a poem to myself
It helps me to live
In case of fire, BREAK the glass
And move on into your own
This song is a poem to myself
It helps me to live
In case of fire, BREAK the glass
And move on into your own, your own
BREAK
This song is a poem to myself
It helps me to live
In case of fire, BREAK the glass
And move on into your own."
Ginny could hear Draco singing along to the song besides her and before she realised what she was doing her hand had crept into his and was squeezing it comfortingly. She sighed when she was told it was her turn and she climbed to her feet, tapping the Beater against the Music Pipe and feeling it vibrating slightly in her hand as the Music Pipe made its decision.
She stared at the words; yeah right like that was what was going through her head?! She shifted uneasily from foot to foot before realising everyone in the room was watching her expectantly with curious looks on their faces. She took a deep breath.
"Bound at every limb by my shackles of fear
Sealed with lies through so many tears
Lost from within, pursuing the end
I fight for the chance to be lied to again
You will never be strong enough
You will never be good enough
You were never conceived in love
You will not rise above
But through my tears breaks a blinding light
Birthing a dawn to this endless night
Arms outstretched, awaiting me
An open embrace upon a bleeding tree
Rest in me and I'll comfort you
I have lived and I died for you
Abide in me and I vow to you
I will never forsake you
They'll never see
I'll never be
I'll struggle on and on to feed this hunger
Burning deep inside of me
Rest in me and I'll comfort you
I have lived and I died for you
Abide in me and I vow to you
I will never forsake you."
Silence greeted the end of her song as she sauntered over to drop back onto her bed even Draco was gaping at her as the words of her turn sank in. she coughed discretely and nudged Draco who almost fell off the bed before catching his balance and stalking over to take his turn.
"Run and tell all of the angels
This could take all night
Think I need a devil to help me
Get things right
Hook me up a new revolution
Cos this one is a lie
We sat around laughing
And watch the last one die
I'm looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something help me burn out bright
I'm looking for complications
Looking cos I'm tired of lying
Make my way back home
When I learn to fly (high)Think I'm done nursing the patience
I can wait one night
I'd give it all away
If you give me one last try
We live happily ever trapped
If you just save my life
Run and tell the angels
That everything is all right
I'm looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something help me burn out bright
Fly along with me
I can't quite make it alone
Try to make this life my own."
His words echoed around the room and Ginny felt tears once more sting her eyes, she shook her head slightly to clear it as Draco smirked at her and flopped onto the bed besides her. His weight pulled the bed down and she slid along the silky sheets, slamming against him with one leg thrown over his.
"Nice song."
She gulped as she watched him watch and quickly moved over to where the rest of the group where already digging into the snacks and flicking through the films looking for one they could all agree on.
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Nickel – I'm glad you liked it and I hope this one isn't too boring and droning for you
im no muggle – thank you and I hope this doesn't make it boring
Uniquely-Defined – sorry it took so long I had exams at college so I was doing nothing but studying although I'm still fairly sure I've failed my Law and General Studies lol, anyway hope you enjoy it
Teige Tegan – I can't walk in stilettos never mind run so I dunno how she manages but there we go. Sorry if that sentence made no sense at all but it was only a description of the clothes anyway so it wasn't a big loss. Hope this is better and not too boring
Dark Angels – here's your update hope this one is half as good for you
sproxkkk – thanks very much well here's the update hope this one is alright for you
Chantal J – here's your update hope it's alright