1A/N: It's Back, my computer is back and I lost nothing I'm so happy! This Chappie is Betad by NATALIE! So any grammatical errors are her fault! Not Mine! I win.
Disclaimer: Nothing i own nothing.
Chapter 18
Ginny had, had the most interesting day. Gabrielle had been in a great mood while Blaise hadn't been seen since breakfast. Whether guilt or shame were the reason for absence no one knew but he hadn't been seen, and to top that off, as if the day couldn't get any better, Pansy had made a snide comment passing Gabrielle in the halls and Gabrielle had hit her. It was great.
Pansy had a black eye. Gabrielle was happier and she was seeing Draco that night. Life was good.
Ginny sat in the corner of the library reading a magazine. The events of that morning playing in her head. The look on Blaise's face was priceless too bad Colin had been late to breakfast or that moment would have been captured forever.
Note to self buy Colin an alarm clock, she thought to herself, turning the page. As if reading her mind Colin entered the library and approached her, he looked nervous and slightly shaky. He slid in across from her, and looked at her lacing, his finger he rested them on the table looking very professional, if you could ignore the flashy eyes and shallow breathing.
"Gin, how much do you like your brother?"
"Depends on the day of the week and what he did. . ." Ginny looked at Colin and her face became serious. "What did he do?"
Colin ignored her question and continued with his own, "And how much do you love luna?"
"Like a sister more if possible, why?"
"Because. . .well. . . they're back together, I don't know why and I don't know how, all I know is they're acting like it never happened and she looks really happy and I need you to tell Gabrielle to return the favour and go back to her normal hatred of Ron and not the atomic one she's had lately."
Ginny sat and watched Colin's lips move and listened to what he was saying but couldn't process it. Finally she spoke, "Well, as long as Luna's happy and Ron never does anything like that again I guess I can try to be happy for them. I mean I'm happy Luna is no longer miserable." she said quickly.
Colin relaxed in his seat, "Good." he said with a breath, then he tensed back. "Are you gonna tell Gabrielle or should I?"
There was a click of heels, "Tell Gabrielle what?" The voice made them jump, Gabrielle flicked her ebony mane over her shoulder and slid into the empty seat at the table. She had a large leather bound book in her hands and she opened it. Ginny caught a glimpse of the title ' loopholes in ancient and modern wizarding law.' "Gabrielle, what are you doing with that?" she asked.
"Reading, Gin. It's what you do with book." she said as though it was obvious.
"I know that but why that book."
"I thought I made myself perfectly clear. I'm not marrying someone who doesn't trust me, so I'm calling it off. I just don't know how to, hence the book. . .now tell me what?"
Ginny pushed back her arguments on Gabrielle breaking her engagement and focused at the task at hand, "Um, well you know luna right?"
Gabrielle nodded, "Pumpkin seeds? Yes." Gabrielle had called Luna Pumpkin seeds since first year. No one, not even Gabrielle knew why, but she did.
"Well, she and my brother, the one you have recently taken to calling Satan's demon seed. . .are. . .well. . . back together."
Gabrielle looked at Ginny and blinked, "Is she happy?"
Ginny nodded.
"How happy?" she said trying to find a loophole.
"Ecstatic." Colin answered.
Gabrielle nodded slowly letting the information absorb into her mind, "Dammit," she muttered then shrugged, "Ok as long as she's happy I won't openly hate your brother for ruining my life."
Ginny and Colin looked openly relieved to hear that and Gabrielle went back to searching the wizarding law. Ginny went back to reading and Colin simply sat and watched Ginny before talking again.
"Gin? You haven't told anyone have you?"
"Told who what?"
"You know. . . about me."
"No, all the people I'd tell already know." Colin nodded but that didn't seem to ease his pain. Ginny opened her mouth her mouth to ask him what was wrong when the library door swung open and Draco stormed in, he scanned the room for the only person not to raise there head at his entrance.
He made his way over to there table and stood over Gabrielle who acted as if he weren't hovering until he spoke, " Gabrielle, you need to come now."
She looked up at him and tilted her head as though analyzing him, "Why?" she said as though it was a deep philosophical question.
He looked at the other occupants of the table and back at Gabrielle, "Because Professor Snape needs to see you, now come." he said through gritted teeth.
"Why would Snape need me I don't have him today?"
Draco lowered his voice and his head, but Ginny and Colin could still here, "It's about Blaise." he said quietly.
Gabrielle began to laugh it was a loud mirthful laugh, "Now Draco that's no way to get me to go anywhere."
Draco let out a breath, "Gabrielle, please you have to come with me, it's important." he was pleading now, which wasn't something a Malfoy did easily obviously this was urgent but Gabrielle wouldn't budge.
Gabrielle's smile vanished and she simply looked at Draco, "Draco, you see this book I'm reading," she showed the cover. "This books means I'll never have to think or care about him again, and I love the thought of that."
She turned back to her book and carried on looking through it. Draco let out a breath, "Gabrielle," he said in a low voice. "Don't make me carry out of this library." he spoke through gritted teeth.
She looked at him, "You wouldn't dare." she challenged in a growl.
He raised am eyebrow, "Wouldn't I?"
Neither of them were smiling, they simply stared each trying to read the other. Before Draco bent down and lifted Gabrielle out of her chair. "Draco Malfoy put me down right now !" She screamed, but Draco ignored her. Positioning her over his shoulder, he gave Ginny and Colin a small nod and left the library, a frustrated Gabrielle over one shoulder.
Ginny and Colin stared at the door long after they were gone before turning back to each other. Colin was the one to break the silence. "So," he began. "How 'bout them reggae boys sure can play quidditch?"
Ginny laughed.
The day seemed to drag on, Gabrielle hadn't returned from her meeting with Snape and dinner had just ended. Neither her, Draco, Blaise or Snape had been at dinner. Ginny was beginning to get worried. She exited the great hall with Colin at her side, she had been able to sit opposite a smiling Luna at dinner. Which was great because smiling wasn't something Luna had done in a while. They had talked as if nothing had happened and Ginny wasn't going to darken the mood with questions. She figured Luna would tell her in due time.
She and Colin made their way to the Gryffindor Common room and sat next to each other in the large couch in front of the fire. Colin was suppose to be helping Ginny with Divination but always seemed to be getting distracted by ... something.
Finally, when he had trailed off in the middle of explain pyromistry the power of divining with fire, Ginny asked him, "What's up with you Colin?"
Colin looked down at Ginny who's head had been resting in his lap, "Huh? What do you mean?"
"Well you've been off today, stopping in the middle of sentences, freezing in the middle of the corridor, asking if I told anyone when you know I didn't ...what's wrong?"
Colin looked away and out the window across from him, for awhile before letting out as sigh and closing his eyes letting his head drop. "Something..happened." he said.
Ginny stared up at him not comprehending what exactly he was on about.
"A few das ago, I was walking around the castle. Letting my mind wonder, you know? Letting my feet guide me when someone calls my name. So I turn and it's... well." he trailed off.
"Its?" Ginny prompted.
"Xander."
"Cummings? You mean Xander Cummings, The Slytherin Seventh year, that Xander?" She asked and Colin nodded. "Since when is he just Xander?"
"Well, I turned around and he walked up to me. Asked me what I was doing down there so late. I told him I wasn't doing anything. Then we talked and one thing led to another and..."Colin trailed off and Ginny's eyes widened and she sat up suddenly staring at Colin.
"Colin !" The common room went silent and stared at the two sixth years Colin flushed slightly under the attention and looked away from him. She swung her legs off of the couch and stood up before taking Colin's hand and pulling him too. She led him out of the common room and down the hall. She had taken him clear across the castle by the time she finally stopped and looked at him.
"Col, you had sex... with a slytherin." She finally hissed at him.
Colin looked away, "You say that like it's a bad thing."
Ginny looked at him, "It's not, it's just unexpected. . .from you."
"Me? No sleeping with a hufflepuff is unexpected from me. Slytherins are not expected from you."
Ginny said nothing but put the subject back onto Colin's love life, "But how did he know you were. . .you."
"I don't know that's why I asked you this morning if you had told anyone."
"Well I haven't, maybe he just figured it out."
"Maybe." They remained in the deserted classroom talking about Colin's new experience with a Slytherin losing track of time. It was almost midnight before Ginny looked at her watch.
"Shit," she muttered. "Col, I'm happy for you but I have to meet. . . someone."
"I understand, go Gin. I'll talk to you later."
"Bye Colin." with that she left the room heading for the Astronomy Tower.
It was almost completely deserted when she got there as she had expected, she made her way to the balcony, where a dark figure was hunched over the ledge. He didn't look up when she entered, but only acknowledged her presence when she ran a light hand up his back. She felt the slight shiver that ran through him, before he turned to look at her.
"What happened this morning?" she asked quietly looking down into his grey eyes.
He shook his head, "Nothing." He stood up and did something that Ginny wasn't expecting, he pulled her into a hug. Ginny embraced him none the less, as that's what he obviously needed. His chin resting on the top of her head. She hugged him tight.
"Draco, what's wrong?" she asked again after awhile in silence.
She heard him take a deep breath before releasing her slightly and looking down at her, she heard him swallow, "She's gone." he whispered.
"What? Who's gone?" Ginny was confused
"Blaise's mum, she died yesterday." Draco pulled away from her turning back to the astronomy tower railing. "She was like a mother to me. . .definitely better than my mum ever was." Ginny watched him before approaching him. Her hands encircled his waist, she rested her head against his back.
"You know, she and Gabrielle's mum basically raised me. I'd go to Gabrielle's for Christmas and Blaise's for summer," He turned to face her and held her next to him. He continued to talk and Ginny let him. That's all he needed at the moment, to talk.
(earlier in the day)
Gabrielle took deep steadying breath as she walked down the cold damp hall, it was lined of with different portraits concealing different slytherin dorms. She made her way to the second to last one. She stood looking at the centaur who stared back. "Coming in?" he asked finally.
She nodded and gave the password. The portrait swung open silently and she entered. Darkness greeted her but she didn't mind she knew where everything was in that room anyway. She made her way over to the bed the curtains were drawn on all sides except one. Gabrielle walked quietly to that side and stood.
Blaise was sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. He wasn't making any sound or moving, just sitting. Gabrielle took a step closer with this, Blaise slowly shifted his gaze from his hands to the floor. Up her legs, her stomach to her face. Her eyes were wet but she wasn't crying at the moment.
Blaise opened his mouth but she stopped him, "It's ok, this isn't about us." She walked closer to him and sank onto the bed next to him, "Come here." he obliged and Gabrielle hugged him. He held onto her as though he would fall off the earth if he let go. She felt her shirt dampen slightly and hushed him, she knew he was crying. "It's ok, I'm not going anywhere until your ok." she whispered.
They sat in silence in the darkness of Blaise's room. Sitting up had become uncomfortable and now they both lay on his bed facing each other, they had simply been looking at each other but Blaise's eye had begun to drop, Gabrielle ran her hand down his cheek, "Go to sleep Blaise, I'll be here when you wake up."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
Gabrielle let out a small laugh, "Of course I'm sure, why?"
He looked at her, "Because I push everyone close to me away,. Everyone I love leaves me. That dog, I had left, My mum left me... you left me." Gabrielle looked away.
"Gabrielle, I'm sorry for what I did, I was jackass, I was jealous of nothing, I see that now. I just don't want to spend the rest of my life without you." Gabrielle nodded tears threatening to pour from her eyes. Blaise's stomach made a noise and she looked back at him.
"Um, I'm going to go get you something to eat," she got up slipping into her shoes she turned back to him, "Get some sleep. . .I'll be here when you wake up." with that she made her way across the dark room and out into the corridor.
As the portrait shut behind her, she sunk down the nearest wall, put her head to her knees and cried. Tears of joy, sadness and anger poured from her eyes. She was happy Blaise loved her and apologized, Sad that his mother had died and pissed that it took someone's death to make him realize this and, also angry at herself for being happy when she should have been sad.
Draco sat on the cool floor of the astronomy tower, his back against the wall. Ginny sat in between his legs her back against his chest. They had been sitting like that for awhile, Draco had also been talking for awhile but Ginny didn't mind she was glad to listen. She turned in his embrace drawing her knees underneath her, she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You really miss her,"she said.
Draco nodded, "Yeah, but no one as much as Blaise, he hasn't moved from his bed since this morning when he found out. I mean I bet he hasn't even lit a lamp."
Ginny nodded, "That's why you came to get Gabrielle."
"Yeah, no matter what she says or what they do to each other. They love each other and we all know it."
Ginny smiled, "Yeah. You're right."
"As usual." Draco commented.
Ginny laughed, "You're wonderful, you know that right?"
"Yes I did."
"Good."
"Why are you just noticing this quite apparent fact?"
Ginny smiled, "Most people 'care' so much, but when it gets to the big stuff like this pull a great disappearing act. But your different, you go the extra mile for you friends."
"Gabrielle and Blaise aren't my friends. They're family. . .but I'd do it for you to and your not family. . .your special."
Ginny smiled, "Right now, I'm the envy of possibly every girl in this school. . .and none of them know it, damn."
Draco smiled.
She sighed in a fake dreamy way, "To be special to Draco Malfoy. . .I can die happy my life's goal has been realized and fulfilled."
Draco let a chuckle escape.
"Perfect." Ginny commented but any further talking was soon forgotten. She kissed him and let herself be kissed in return. Soon she was lying against the cool stone floor of the tower, Draco lying on top of her, there lips were pressed against each others.
Ginny's hands were around his neck and soon his lips traveled down her throat. They were both caught up in each other. Draco's hands wrinkled Ginny's robes as Ginny's fingers worked nimbly against his buttons. She pushed him and rolled back on top of him, he opened his mouth to say something but Ginny covered his mouth lightly, "No, no, you have no choice in this matter. I'm here to cheer you up."
He opened his mouth to argue again and Ginny silenced him with a kiss, "Shush, I'm okay with it and by the time I'm done, you will be too." with that she finished unbuttoning his shirt and placed a light kiss on his chest. Her hands slipping below his waist to slightly grope his crotch this earned a satisfactory hiss from Draco.
The reggae boys and the jamaican football team, not a quidditch team the statement about themplaying qudditch is suppose to be wrong as it suppose and usually does effectively change a topic of conversation. it is usually "So how 'bout them reggae boys sure can play cricket ?' according to Nixen (it's her saying) but i change it for Harry Potter.
There in ends chappie 18. I'm evil i know. But i have another story on the way so you'll forgive me. Love you all. I really do.
