Disclaimer: I do not own Draco Malfoy. Or Harry Potter. Don't own much, actually… But yeah, there's a disclaimer for you. I own nada. Nothing. Zilch.
Captain Notal- Thanks for the review! You were my first review! I know Draco is completely OOC, but I figure since the 6th book hasn't come out yet (Will be soon though, YAY!), and he's in 7th year, I can make him have 'changed' or something…There's also another reason, which we'll find out in this chapter. But don't worry, not all the characters will be OOC. That just negates the point of fanfiction. Anyway, glad you liked it.
'thoughts'
"speech"
Things in Italics are sung
This chapter will have a bit more variety in the point of views, I swear! It won't just be Draco this time.
Aranel
Chapter 2
Draco stood at the front door of a house he'd only been to once before. Poised to knock, he began to feel his resolve wavering. Shutting his eyes, willing them to listen, he knocked sharply, before he could turn away.
A girl who looked to be of about 16 years uncurled from the couch, hearing someone knocking at the front door. Placing the book on a small, stained coffee table, she walked slowly towards the door. 'I wonder if it's Harry… No, it wouldn't be. He isn't due here for another week or so.' She opened the door, and started.
It definitely wasn't Harry.
Draco smiled sheepishly at the girl who answered the doorbell.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, incredulous, her hand straying to the wand tucked into a bun in her hair.
Draco was lost for words. He didn't know where to start. "I… uh…I…um…can I come in?"
The girl stared at him; confusion, curiosity, dislike, and distrust were all evident in her eyes.
"Please? Here, take my wand if you want," he said, pulling out his wand.
She reacted quickly, pointing her wand at Draco's chest. "Try anything Malfoy and I'll make you wish you'd never been conceived," she said fiercely.
"Okay, I'm going to give you my wand," he said quietly, hoping she'd believe him. Slowly reaching out towards her, she reached out for it and took it from him. As she did, their fingers brushed, and she jerked back abruptly.
"Come in," she said, placing both wands back into her bun. "That is, if you don't mind sitting on second hand furniture," she said sarcastically. "Actually, you might die from some horrible disease that only the Weasleys have," she added, glaring at him.
"I'll be fine," he said, and followed her inside.
(Ginny's POV) Ginny moved some papers off the couch and stiffly gestured for him to sit. Sitting on an armchair facing it, she fiddled with the wands nervously. 'Why is he here? Why did he have to come when everyone else is out? HAD to be today, when Ron's out getting his apparating license, or he'd be here. He wouldn't have even let Malfoy in the house! What am I doing? I have a feeling that somehow he isn't here to share a cup of tea with me. What could he want?' Composing herself, she looked Malfoy square in the eye, her bright emerald eyes flashing dangerously. "What are you doing here?" she asked again, more forcibly.
"Well, you see, I…How to explain this?" Malfoy asked annoyed, more to himself than to her. "I can't really tell you; how about I show you?" he asked cautiously.
"Are you sure? Harry never liked it when it was used on him," she said, hesitant.
"I'll be fine. It'll be easier than saying it out loud anyway. You'd never believe me if you didn't see it."
Again Ginny was confused. This wasn't the Draco she knew. 'I don't think anyone's seen this side of Draco,' she thought, but dismissed it until she had more time to think on it. "Okay, ready?" Draco nodded and Ginny raised her wand. "Legilimens!"
Draco was in his father's office, being lectured…Voldemort raised his wand and used the Cruciatius curse on him…Pain, terrible pain…I must not cry out, I must not show weakness…Now Draco was in his room, packing…Running away from his father and Voldemort…Cursing Voldemort for stealing his father away…Being chased down the street by Bellatrix and his father…
At this point Ginny broke her concentration, and Draco put his head in his hands.
"Now, do you see?" He asked quietly. "Voldemort has taken over my father. My mother is sick, fatally sick, and father doesn't care. He wouldn't let me help her! Now the sickness is too far into her body for anyone to heal her," he clenched his fists. "I love my mother, so much, she was always there for me when Lucius wasn't. She never hurt me or scolded me; she just made me want to try harder, to make her happy," Draco looked up at her and a tear rolled down his cheek. He roughly wiped it away, ashamed. "Father didn't teach me; he disciplined me. In first year when Potter stopped Voldemort from stealing the Philosopher's Stone from Hogwarts, he used the Cruciatius curse on me. That was just the first time, out of many. Since then I've been under the Imperious curse while at school. He can't do that to me any more at least," he said, looking slightly proud. "I've built an immunity to it. About fourth year. Then I had to keep up the act so father wouldn't find out," he looked at her sadly. "I'm so sorry the trouble I caused you all; I should've run away long ago, but I didn't have anywhere to go. Coming here was a long shot, but I had to try something; I couldn't stay there! Please, you have to believe me," he said. Tears were now streaming down his face unchecked.
Ginny felt terrible. 'All this time he hasn't been acting of his own free will; but of his father's. He doesn't really seem that bad,' she mused, then felt herself reaching out for him. She pulled him into a hug, wanting to comfort him. "I believe you, Draco," she said gently.
He pulled away from her, surprised. "You do?" She nodded. She really did. She could see no lie in his eyes.
"Thank you," he said, smiling crookedly. "You don't know how much this means to me," he sighed in relief, though tears had left stains on his dirty face.
"Draco, you're disgusting!" she laughed, and pulled out a handheld mirror from underneath a stack of magazines. Seeing his reflection, he laughed too. "I guess flying all day does make you a little dirty," he conceded.
Ginny got up and pulled a towel out of a closet. "Here, have a bath. I'll show you where it is."
They headed upstairs, to the 2nd landing, and she pushed open a door. An old fashioned bathtub stood against the far wall (A/N: You know, the ones that had legs? They're awesome!), and left the room, closing the door behind her.
"I'll be downstairs reading," she called as she slid down the banister.
"Hello-o? Anyone home?" Ron walked into the sitting room, where Ginny was sitting, immersed in her book. He waved his hand in front of her face, amused. She looked up, startled, and smiled when she saw who it was. "Ron! How'd it go?" she asked, excited. Ron showed her the license.
"Passed- with flying colours! And how did my baby sister go while I was gone?" he asked, laughing, as she hugged him.
"I survived," she said, laughing with him. "So what did they make you do?"
"Nothing much. I just had to take a written test, on all the apparition safety rules and such- Dad says it's just like muggle driving tests. We don't have them, do we?" He looked to his sister for confirmation.
"Don't think so. So was it hard?"
"Nah. In fact, I reckon even idiots like Malfoy could do it," Ron said, laughing. He didn't notice his sister's frown.
"Thanks for your confidence, Weasley," Malfoy said coming into the room wrapped in a towel, sneering. Ginny glared at him, and the sneer slipped off his face, and he looked apologetic. "Sorry Wea-Ron. Habit," he said, slightly red-faced.
Ron looked from Draco to Ginny and back to Draco. "What!" He yelled, furious.
Silence filled the room. Ginny was scarlet. She knew the situation looked bad, but she didn't know how to explain it to Ron. Ron wasn't as forgiving as she; besides, he and Draco had been enemies from the beginning; He'd been a lot nicer- well, more civilized anyway- to her than to any of her brothers.
"Um…Ron…Draco is here because…well…" she didn't know how to explain it.
"I'm here because I ran away, and the only place I could think of was here. Your sister was kind enough to lend me a towel so I could get rid of traveling grime," Draco said politely. "Now would you mind if I get some clean clothes? I left my trunk with my broomstick outside."
Ginny left the room hurriedly to get his belongings, hoping the room wouldn't blow up from the tension before she returned.
When she did return, she found Ron with his wand pointed at Draco's chest. "I don't believe you. Death Eater lies!" he said loudly. "Alassri Mara!" he yelled, and a stream of red electricity darted towards Draco. Draco couldn't move; the spell not only injured, it held the victim enthralled.
Ginny didn't stop to think; she dropped the trunk and broomstick, and threw herself in front of Draco.
(Ron's POV) "Ginny!" he shouted, and ran to catch her as she fell. He had only gone a few paces, however, when Draco lunged forward and caught her, towel miraculously staying around his waist.
(A/N: I said this was PG and it's going to stay that way. Draco in a towel is drool-worthy enough for me; I'm not going to undress him completely, that's just weird…)
Carrying her over to the couch, Draco laid her down gently, then went to his trunk, took out some clothes, and left the room.
'Oh my goodness! What made Ginny do a stupid thing like that?' he thought, no longer even remotely cheerful. 'She should've just let me hex the arrogant bastard! Why did she protect him?'
He looked down at his sister, and blanched. Blood was seeping through a deep wound in her side.
Beginning to panic, Ron left his sister to go find something to bind the wound, hoping that the blood flow would soon lessen. 'It's my fault if something happens to her.'
He returned to Ginny with an old sheet to find Draco muttering under his breath, his wand pointed at her.
"Draco!" he yelled, and dived at him, knocking them both off their feet.
"What are you doing!" Draco yelled back as he fell. "I was attempting to stop the blood flow, idiot! Not trying to curse her. You've already done that!" Draco aimed his wand at Ron, who had dropped his in the tackle. "Leave me alone. You learn a lot living in a house full of death eaters, one of those is healing! We can't get her to St Mungo's until one your father arrives home. He's the only one who will be able to create a portkey legally; as he works at the ministry. Now leave me alone, or I will make you! Accio wand!" Draco summoned Ron's wand, and gave it back to him. "Here. Now please, be quite, I need to concentrate."
Draco had completely and utterly confused him. 'Bloody hell! What is going on here? First Ginny jumps in front of a curse, to save Malfoy I might add, now Malfoy gives me back my wand just after I'd knocked him off his feet!'
(Draco's POV) Draco looked at Ginny, trying to figure out the best healing spell to use on her. He didn't have a lot of time; she was loosing blood fast. 'What would work the best? I don't even know what she likes! If I knew that then I could use it to help!'
"Music."
Draco spun around, startled, and found Ron behind him.
"Music. She adores music," he said, and Draco smiled, relieved. He hadn't known he was conveying his thoughts aloud, but at least he knew what to do now. He removed his guitar from around his neck, and it regained its normal size. He was glad it was music. The magic he made when playing his guitar was more potent than with any other form of magic he used. Unfortunately, he couldn't use it for a lot of magic; it was restricted mainly to healing and playing other people's emotions.
He settled himself on an arm of the couch, and struck a cord. He didn't know what he was going to play, but he knew it would come. And so it did.
Girl you're my angel
You're my darling angel
Closer than my peeps you are to me, baby
Shorty, you're my angel, you're my darling angel
Girl, you're my friend when I'm in need, lady
Draco felt strange singing this to a girl who once hated him, but it didn't feel wrong. He felt strange singing it; it wasn't exactly a song of healing, but he could see the effects on Ginny. The blood flow had already slowed, and she had relaxed visibly.
Life is one big party when you're still young
But who's gonna have your back when it's all done
It's all good when you're little, you have pure fun
Can't be a fool, son, but what about the long run
Looking back shorty always mention
Said me not giving her much attention
She was there through my incarceration
I wanna show the nation my appreciation
Girl you're my angel
You're my darling angel
Closer than my peeps you are to me, baby
Shorty, you're my angel, you're my darling angel
Girl, you're my friend when I'm in need, lady
The blood flow stopped. Draco was astounded. Even the magic from his music didn't work that quickly, not even for smaller injuries. 'There must be something else at work here, too.'
You're a queen and so you should be treated
Though you never get the loving that you needed
Could've left, but I called and you heeded
Takin' a beatin', mission completed
Mama said that I and I dissed the program
Not the type to mess around with her emotion
But the feeling that I have for you is so strong
Been together so long and this could never be wrong
Girl you're my angel
You're my darling angel
Closer than my peeps you are to me, baby
Shorty, you're my angel, you're my darling angel
Girl, you're my friend when I'm in need, lady
Girl in spite of my behaviour said I'm your saviour
(You must be sent from up above)
And you appear to me so tender, say girl I surrender
(Thanks for giving me your love)
Girl in spite of my behaviour well you are my saviour
(You must be sent from up above)
And you appear to me so tender, well girl I surrender
(Said thanks for giving me your love)
Now life is one big party when you're still young
And who's gonna have your back when it's all done
It's all good when you're little, you have pure fun
Can't be a fool, son, but what about the long run
Looking back shorty always mention
Said me not giving her much attention
She was there through my incarceration
I wanna show the nation my appreciation
Girl you're my angel
You're my darling angel
Closer than my peeps you are to me, baby
Shorty, you're my angel, you're my darling angel
Girl, you're my friend when I'm in need, lady
Girl you're my angel
You're my darling angel
Closer than my peeps you are to me, baby
Shorty, you're my angel, you're my darling angel
Girl, you're my friend when I'm in need, lady
Draco couldn't believe it. All traces of the hex had disappeared, leaving Ginny sleeping peacefully, a soft smile lighting up her features. He sighed in relief, and continued playing, for something to do.
(Ron's POV) 'What in the world just happened? Malfoy's music…Healed Ginny. 'There's no trace of the wound at all!' Ron looked at his sister as she slept. She looked so peaceful. 'Must be having a dream for a change. I'm glad. Those nightmares were tearing her apart.'
Ron turned to Draco. "Uh…Thanks, Malf-Draco," he said gruffly, embarrassed. Draco stopped playing and shook his head. "I didn't do a lot of that. My magic isn't that powerful. Something else must have been aiding the process."
Ron cleared his throat. "So…uh, why are you here?"
"I told you," Draco slumped over his guitar helplessly. "I ran away. I didn't want to be the son of a death eater anymore. I didn't want to be put under the Imperious curse again. I wanted to be me, and for the first time in my life, I am," at this, he sat up again, his eyes cold. "Voldemort has destroyed my father, and now my mother is dying."
Ron's mind reeled. 'Under the Imperious curse? Draco? His mother's dying?'
"I vowed when I left that I would help bring about Voldemort's downfall," Draco continued. "I will too, no matter who I have to work with."
Ron found his voice. "How long were you under the Imperious curse for?"
Draco shrugged. "I think since about our second year. I wasn't aware of it though, until probably half way through third year. During 4th year I through it off though, but I had to keep the act up, to avoid suspicions. I am so sorry Ron, for all the trouble I caused you and your friends. Just please take into consideration the fact that I didn't have a choice."
Ron didn't know whether to believe Draco, after all, he was a death eater's son. And yet, Ginny had jumped to save him, without thought or consideration. He had to trust Ginny's instincts; they had been right on more than one occasion.
"I believe you, Draco," he said, hoping his sister was right. He held out a hand. "Mate."
You like? I hope you do. I had quite a few brainstorms during this chapter, so I hope it paid off. The song Draco sings is called 'Angel' and it's by Shaggy. I don't own it either, no matter how much I kick and scream.
Well, Please R&R!
Aranel