Author's note: it has been noted that my grammar's not perfect, but please
be patient because it's being worked on..... Also please bear in mind that
I'm Dutch.
But thank you all for the fact that you think that my story's making up for that fact ;)
Enjoy the story!
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Chapter 14 Alone in the Dark of Night
Life in Malfoy Manor passed by slow.
Very slow.
The days were long, the hours seeming to stretch out meaningless before her.
Ginny was sitting in the rosarium, blossoms surrounding her at every angle, the air heavy with the heady perfume of the flowers.
Draco had left her here for the day as he had to go with his father to take care of some business which he had not wanted to tell her anything about.
Feeling sleepy, Ginny reached out, caressing the silky petals of one blood red bloom hanging above her head, enjoying the texture against her skin.
Then suddenly, the light air seemed to become heavy, like a blanket suffocating her....
The light dimmed, the sky darkened and the wind picked up, howling around her, tugging at her hair and skirt.
The blooms began to shrivel up, dying befor her eyes, falling to the ground, crumbling to dust, leaving the world around her dead and empty.
All life in the rosarium seemed to speed towards it's end, it's demise.
The grass on which she sat turned brown, crispy, then grey....
She tried to stand, but found she could not move, the feeling of deadness was weighing her down.
She seemed to be frozen in place amongst the dying plants, the raging sky and the dusty earth as peacefulness crumbled about her.
"What's going on?" Her voice sounded shrill in the howling wind.
A young woman was approaching over the dead grass, her face hidden behind a shawl, her hair fanning out behind her, forming a dark beacon against the light blue sky.
"Who are you?" This time, Ginny's voice was all but lost in the onslaught of the elements.
The woman came closer, kneeling before her on the grass.
As the girl's hand reached out cupping Ginny's cheek, a feeling of emptiness washed over her senses.
"Ssshh...." The hissing sounded strange being heard above the thundering of the wind.
The dark eyes above the shawl searched hers, for what Ginny did not know. Feeling as if they were boring into her soul, she tried to free her chin from the strong fingers holding it.
The effort however, was in vain.
"It is as I thought." Though the girl's voice was soft, the thundering of the elements seemed to disappear into the background as she spoke. "You are a pure darkness. You can shine the light-"
"Please.... I don't understand...." Ginny did not know if it was at all wise to interrupt, but she was afraid of the dark eyes before her.
Dark orbs showing no life, no happiness, no love....
Just emptiness..... loneliness..... desperation...... pain.....
A vortex created by emotions so heavy.... yet so empty.....
"Bear in mind my girl, that if you want to find your true desire.... you will have to find the real meaning of desire first. Most people do not realize what they TRULY want.... untill they can no longer have it."
"What?" Ginny gasped, desperately trying to keep breathing while the vortex of emotions tried to draw her under.
"Your desire my dear, is not something that can be weighed or measured or seen. It can only be found within your own heart, your own mind. But time will teach you that what you desire is in fact the same thing as that what you will be unable to have....."
The young woman let go of her chin, rearranging her shawl so her eyes were hidden from Ginny's gaze....
"Bear in mind my dear..... Realization often time comes too late...."
She walked away over the dead grass leaving Ginny in the vortex of emotions and elements, her thoughts in disarray....
Too late.... too late....
The wind seemed to howl the words at her, laughing at her.
You will be too late.... too late.... too late.....
Gasping, Ginny sat up, looking into the cold grey eyes of Narcissa Malfoy.
"Cup of tea my dear?" Narcissa's voice was flat, as if she had not just seen Ginny wake from a nightmare and they had just sat there, drinking tea all afternoon.
"Yes...." Was all Ginny could manage to answer.
For she could still hear the mocking laughter in the wind howling outside....
Too late.... too late....
They were in the sittingroom, not the rosarium. How could she have even been there? It was probably covered in snow right now.
Sitting up straighter, Ginny studied Narcissa who was pooring tea from a silver teapot into a fragile cup made of fine china.
Her eyes bore a resemblance to the eyes that had bored into hers, not in colouring, but in the lifelessness they seemed to emit.
Taking the cup from Narcissa Ginny opened her mouth to ask the question, but Narcissa was ahead of her, cutting her off.
"I would not ask that question if I were you. The answer is for you to decide.... and my knowledge of dreams is not great. I cannot help you."
"You watched me while I slept." Ginny's voice was accusing.
Smiling wryly, Narcissa said "Of course" and took a sip of her tea. "After all, you are the mistress of my son. I am merely interested in you and your designs..... your wants... your desire."
She drank the rest of her tea and got up.
"Excuse me my dear, I must go see to the arrangements of dinner. And of course the party next week." Her grey eyes glittered. "Your parents will be arriving then-"
Sipping her tea, Ginny stared at Narcissa's retreating back narrow eyed....
She knew something.... but what?
As she looked down, she saw a blood red rose lying next to her cup.......
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It had been two whole days and still Draco had not returned to Malfoy Manor.
Ginny was beginning to feel decidedly bored, even with the mystery of the rose and her dream of that dark girl to think about. Which was the reason she was in fact walking through Malfoy Manor aimless right then, enjoying the magnificence of it's interior, the air of riches it seemed to emit.
The splendor of the manor could entertain her for hours on end as she went from room to room, memorising the decor of each.
Now however, it seemed as though she was getting used to the beauty, the wealth....
She began to miss the sound of laughter, the company of others.
Loneliness was getting to her, breaking down her defences.
When would Draco be coming back to her?
Looking around she found she had somehow wandered into an older part of the Manor.
The air was thick with dust, even though the furniture bore no obvious signs of it and somehow her surroundings seemed to breath an ancient air.
An air of long forgotten darkness.
She was in a long, stately room and as she looked up, she saw Lucius and Narcissa looking down on her from the canvas of a painting.
They looked younger; Narcissa's eyes seemed to shine with life as she looked at Lucius who was grinning roguishly back at her.
They looked so much like the people she knew and yet so different.
So happy.
So alive.
She smiled as they waved at her and walked further down the hall, past generations of Malfoys who all bore resemblances to each other.
On the far end of the room there was one last painting, covered with a large curtain, probably to preserve it better since it was so old.
Carefully, Ginny drew away the curtain, then looked up at the painting..... and gasped....
There hung the young girl she had seen in her dream!
The dark eyes of the canvas seemed to emit the same soullessness as the girl from her dream had, the hair shone just as beautiful and dark.
On the bottom of the painting there was a small plaque that read 'Deneb and Alaster Malfoy, first generation at Malfoy Manor'.
Alaster?
Looking up again Ginny saw the man standing behind the girl, Deneb, for the first time.
His light coloured hair and grey eyes seemed to have been passed along to all the other Malfoys for as far as Ginny could tell.
He was looking down on Deneb's seated form with a loving smile on his face, his eyes seemed to shine brighter than the sun.
But why was she dreaming of someone she had never seen before, someone she had not even known existed?
As she looked at Deneb again, she noted that her eyes had settled on Ginny, unmoving, unblinking.
Just studying her.
A chill went through her as she backed away from the painting, away from the haunting dark eyes of the girl....
But the eyes followed her and on impulse, Ginny turned and ran.
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Draco stood across from his father who was seated behind his desk in his study.
He wondered what the man wanted from him, why he had taken him along on his business travels for the last few days and why he had now taken him to his study to 'discuss business'.
What business would his father have with him?
"Son." Lucius voice was coldly formal, "This mistress of yours is really something...."
Draco smiled, a hint of pride toning his expression. Yes, Ginny was certainly precious.
"However, she is a Weasley and her family will not allow her to further conduct any enterprises with our family."
Draco's jaw locked as he looked into his father maliciously glinting eyes. The old bastard was probably going to suggest he let her go.
"The simple solution to your problem son, would be to simply undo the fact that she is a Weasley - by marrying her."
"And what father, made you think I have any interest in maintaining the girl." Draco saw his error as he watched his father's smirk widen.
"That son, is very obvious. You are enjoying her company and attentions. All you need to do is simply lure her deeper and make her binding to you a permanent one. Shackle the girl to darkness while you still can - BUT... do NOT let her lure out your emotions, your affections. Remember son, NOTHING is worth it. Emotions only give birth to pain and suffering. To weakness. The only way to protect your woman is not to show any affection towards her. Your mother never saw this, she just thought she lost me -"
"She did!" Draco bitterly interrupted his father who looked at him with something almost akin to pity.
"Then answer me this boy - What does the Dark Lord do with a weakness?"
Draco looked at his father, a man he had thought devoid of emotion, of care. A man who had just rissen in his esteem "He gets rid of it."
Lucius just inclined his head, "He gets rid of it. And my wife and son should be above such danger."
"So you do feel?" Draco studied his father, his expression, but found no hint of emotion showing through the mask he had known most of his life.
"No..." Lucius looked at his son, a son he had been proud of, he had tried to protect in spite of all danger. "Somewhere along the line I have lost myself, my beliefs.... my heart. There's nothing left of who I was. And I can do nothing to regain any of my emotion, my feeling.... it's too dangerous, for you and your mother - and for me too."
Draco saw his father was looking at him as if he was expecting something from his son. "I will marry the girl father... and I will not fall in love with her."
It would be easy.... Draco Malfoy no longer had any emotions after all.
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Standing in front of his bed, Draco watched Ginny as she slept.
Her chest rose and fell in tune with her breath, her beautiful face once again peaceful, devoid of any worry her day might have brought her.
She shifted in her sleep, one long leg appeared above the covers.
"What are you doing to me?" Draco whispered the words to the silent room. "What is it about you that I am holding onto?"
His mistress did not answer him of course, adrift as she was in a peaceful slumber.
Carefully, Draco undressed himself completely, then sat on the end of his bed, watching the woman who lay there sleeping.
Her hair was spread out on the pillows, one hand above her head, one holding on to the covers.
Slowly, he crawled over the bed towards her, closer and closer, a shadow advancing in the night on an unsuspecting prey.
Softly, he carressed her leg, the smooth skin feeling like silk beneath his fingers.
She shifted in her sleep, mumbled, but did not wake.
Gently, he lifted the covers away from her, staring at the magnificent picture she presented.
Innocence and darkness....
He groaned, what had he gotten himself into? She was far too dangerous, to untamed to dally with....
She might become his only weakness.
Unable to stop himself, he kissed her forehead, then the bridge of her nose.
She shivered, with cold or satisfaction he did not know.
Not willing to wake her, he carefully lay down beside her, drawing her into his arms.
She snuggled further into his warmth as he drew the covers over them.
Her hair a pillow for his cheek, he felt himself drift of into slumber.
In the shadows of the room, the girl from Ginny's dreams stood watching them sleep.
"It has been done." Her voice was but a whisper in the shadows. "Now all I can do is wait and hope for the best. To guide the girl best I can."
She made no sound when she turned around and left.
In the dark room, Ginny's breathing became uneven, she moved in her sleep.
Once again the girl of snakes was possessed in the darkness.
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End of Chapter 14: Will Draco marry Ginny for his own purposes? And what about Deneb, what is her story? Yes.... more will become clear in the next chapter.....
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine, nor did I write it. Deneb and Alaster Malfoy are mine though and so is the darkness.... and this story.
I want to thank SatansFlower, Serenade of the Sea, Chas (aka Aricos) and my anonymous beta-reader who wishes to remain anonymous and therefor shall be anonymous for beta-reading!
I also wanna thank Aricos for helping me with some of the poems :)
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I want to thank the following people for reviewing:
Silver spoon: My spelling's getting worked on, but bear in mind I'm doing the best I can: I can only write perfect grammar in the Dutch language after all.... I know it might seem a bit slow right now, which is half a matter of taste and half of truth. Because I need to make a psychological line-up of the characters involved in order for you to make a correct deduction of events, it is necessairy to make their thoughts clear as well. These psychological events can best be outlined in their thoughts and thus these thoughts have to be communicated to you in some way. The story's going to speed up soon though. And the one-liners are not always metaphors, but mostly just sentences that also have a literal meaning. It's okay if you don't get it, if you do it just gives another depth to your reading....
Dukerbrown: You now know who the girl is hihi, her story will follow soon after too. And about Draco and Ginny falling in love... you'll just have to wait and see if it happens ;)
waterfairy-rose: Yes, her parents both most definately care for Ginny. Just remember that what has been made clear about them before is only from Ginny's view. And yes, Lucius is most definately going to get annoying.... I don't think either that Ginny's family will go so far as to break with her if she's really in love.... But they WILL try to protect her at all cost. You see Narcissa that way too?! Hihi, we have something in common then. I can say anything about her and Molly together yet though.... And yeah hihi, I've put a lot of thought in Draco's mind this and Draco's mind that. I always like to figure out a character psyche. And as you see you were right about the person from the past. I'll make some time to read your fic too ;)
Bladefanatic: Hihi, you had trouble getting on too? That's always so frustrating! I'm happy you wanted to read my fic though hihi. Ginny giving Draco a run for his money? Might happen ;)
Blood57: Thanks for the compliment! Hannah Abbott hmn? It's a funny suggestion hihi, that actually had me in stitches.... And yes, the darkness is essential.
SamiJo: Ah yes, the sadness.... It's going to have even more sadness in the future... Just of a different kind.
Noelle: Thank you so much! I'm trying to update as soon as possible, but as I reread the whole story every time I add to it and it's getting longer, plus the fact that I'm making the chapters longer.... But well, I try to update as soon as possible ;)
TomFeltons4ever: Thank you! And now you know who's watching.... you just don't know yet what it's all about *does a little dance* I know; I'm so mean.... one question answered only brings out more questions ;)
ash: *looks around, can't find serious side of ash either* Do you even have a serious side ;) Well, you're right about the me playing a game part and as you see your questions were aswered although totaly coïncidental. Thanks for reviewing!
mz-duCkiee: Hihi, well they're just really quiet at dinner and that last chapter was just totaly on their thoughts.... I've gotta say I hadn't even noticed that there was no dialogue though LOL, I was just so going up in emotions and thoughts..... But the next chapters WILL have dialogue.... Thanks hihi!
Gothic Retaliation: Yes, we have one of those little spider poems as well.... The spider Sebastian.... it didn't go well with him.... Oh well anyhow, it's not gonna be a weird serial killer so you don't have to be scared.... much ;)
blackrose: Yes, Narcissa's story is a sad one. I can't say anything about it yet though....
dragonsprincess: Yes, cafeïne does weird things to you.... Ginny's savior, you think she needs one then? Thanks for reviewing!
Laura: Thank you! For a minute there I thought I was reviewing myself hihi, since my name's Laura too ;)
xangelcrisisx: Thank you! I did ;)
Sammy Rettop Malfoy: Thanks! Good you don't think that hihi, 'cause it's not really true; I just like to pretend I am a bitch ;) So you think he's controlling his wife too? Yeah, that always struck me as a must, she seems so perfect for that role....
Riauna: Hihi, now you know who was watching them. But as for if Draco's going to open up.... I'm going to leave that hanging for now. And yeah, I feel a bit sorry for Narcissa too, but it can't be helped, it's just her way in this story....
Emily.Hart: Yeah, it's not likely her parents can do much, but I'm sure that if it comes to that, they will try. I just don't think they have it in them just to give up on their daughter.
thehpgirl90: They have house-elfs yeah, no maids. But you already know who's watching now, so it doesn't really matter. Thanks for the compliment by the way! I worked hard on those moments and rendezvous, my sister tells me I was even talking to myself at one point ;)
Viktoria: Well, what they are going or not going to find out I cannot tell yet, but as for the POV's, yes, it switches from Ginny to Narcissa. It's like their thoughts mix you see, since they are thinking on the same subject. Only their emotions are different, as is their experience. The last POV is from the person watching them from afar. As you can now read, Ginny is dreaming about this person too.
HeatherM: Thanks for all the compliments! *blushes* It took a lot of thinking and measuring to fit all the characters in with their story and to see into their characters. I so to say had to make a psychological x-ray of them, like feeling their feelings and understanding their view of the world....
Marisa: Hihi, yeah Draco's still cute, I dunno how it happened ;) Thanks hihi, I'll probably be writing some other fluffy stories later on too though, just to keep my subjects varying. If you tell me your username I'll read this story you and your friend are writing too..... And no, I don't have a boyfriend ;) Just imagine myself away hihi, try it sometime and you'll know what I mean. If you're from Germany we're practically neighbours hihi, since I'm from the Netherlands... But I'm still famous in foreign countries! ;)
Kaos: Hihi, yeah I was going for the poetic type of drama, not the sort of soapy 'dear me, I'm patheric'-kind of story. Your right about the fact that there's not much dialogue, but that's because I need to make a psychological line-up of the characters involved in order for you to make a correct deduction of events, it is necessairy to make their thoughts clear as well. These psychological events can best be outlined in their thoughts and thus these thoughts have to be communicated to you in some way. The story's going to speed up soon though and it'll have more dialogue in the future since we're nearing the heart of the story. It's also a matter of taste if you like my writingstyle or not :)
Jeru: Thank you! I love delving into the characters minds like that. Are you Spanish per chance? My dad's too you know....
Aya: Thanks for reviewing! I'll do my best :)
songelf88 and G.H.S. the warg: So it's to dark but you like it anyway? I'm updating as you see and maybe one of my less dark story's I'll upload in the future will be more to your taste. Still I'm flattered that you love/hate it hihi.
Amber: Yes, Gin's innocent but not so naïve she thinks Draco harmless, she just wants to take the best shot she has at taking control of her own situation, because as things stand she's just being dragged along by the events. Thanks for reviewing (again hihi, you are beginning to be a known reviewer with me) ;)
Purple Haze: Thank you! I'll try very hard to keep this up!
Felicity: Hihi, some love my writingstyle, some think it's slow. But it's mine, so I can't do anything but to keep doing it ;) Thank you!
Tara-Yo: Hihi, can't tell you that yet, but it will all become clear in the end :)
Ohepelss Oramtnci: *holds page closer* Can you see it now?
Katrina: Thanks hihi, but what do you mean by forced? (Not offended, just curious). Thanks for the tip anyway, I'll go and see what it's about.
SatansFlower: I'll try! Thank for the compliment ;)
red-rose: *hands new piece of fanfic* Chocolate? Oh yeah, that's so yummy.... I can't have it though, I'm allergic. Sometimes I take a bit anyway though ;) I read the story by the way and reviewed it too, I didn't get all of it, but it was fun hihi...
LadyBrannon: Hihi, well now you know. Have you updated chapter18 already? My review history keeps indicating that you have, but I can't find the chapter.... Just wondering, since I wanna read it when it gets out.
Asteria: *looks at herself* I think I'm mortal, but I can't tell for sure. I won't jump of the balkony to check though, so well just have to sit out the rest of my life to see ;) Thank you for your great compliments!
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They make me so happy,
Yeah, reviews make me want to sing.
And my happiness about this,
Will more chapters bring.
(So it'll make you happy too *wink wink*)
Please Review!
I
I
V
But thank you all for the fact that you think that my story's making up for that fact ;)
Enjoy the story!
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Chapter 14 Alone in the Dark of Night
Life in Malfoy Manor passed by slow.
Very slow.
The days were long, the hours seeming to stretch out meaningless before her.
Ginny was sitting in the rosarium, blossoms surrounding her at every angle, the air heavy with the heady perfume of the flowers.
Draco had left her here for the day as he had to go with his father to take care of some business which he had not wanted to tell her anything about.
Feeling sleepy, Ginny reached out, caressing the silky petals of one blood red bloom hanging above her head, enjoying the texture against her skin.
Then suddenly, the light air seemed to become heavy, like a blanket suffocating her....
The light dimmed, the sky darkened and the wind picked up, howling around her, tugging at her hair and skirt.
The blooms began to shrivel up, dying befor her eyes, falling to the ground, crumbling to dust, leaving the world around her dead and empty.
All life in the rosarium seemed to speed towards it's end, it's demise.
The grass on which she sat turned brown, crispy, then grey....
She tried to stand, but found she could not move, the feeling of deadness was weighing her down.
She seemed to be frozen in place amongst the dying plants, the raging sky and the dusty earth as peacefulness crumbled about her.
"What's going on?" Her voice sounded shrill in the howling wind.
A young woman was approaching over the dead grass, her face hidden behind a shawl, her hair fanning out behind her, forming a dark beacon against the light blue sky.
"Who are you?" This time, Ginny's voice was all but lost in the onslaught of the elements.
The woman came closer, kneeling before her on the grass.
As the girl's hand reached out cupping Ginny's cheek, a feeling of emptiness washed over her senses.
"Ssshh...." The hissing sounded strange being heard above the thundering of the wind.
The dark eyes above the shawl searched hers, for what Ginny did not know. Feeling as if they were boring into her soul, she tried to free her chin from the strong fingers holding it.
The effort however, was in vain.
"It is as I thought." Though the girl's voice was soft, the thundering of the elements seemed to disappear into the background as she spoke. "You are a pure darkness. You can shine the light-"
"Please.... I don't understand...." Ginny did not know if it was at all wise to interrupt, but she was afraid of the dark eyes before her.
Dark orbs showing no life, no happiness, no love....
Just emptiness..... loneliness..... desperation...... pain.....
A vortex created by emotions so heavy.... yet so empty.....
"Bear in mind my girl, that if you want to find your true desire.... you will have to find the real meaning of desire first. Most people do not realize what they TRULY want.... untill they can no longer have it."
"What?" Ginny gasped, desperately trying to keep breathing while the vortex of emotions tried to draw her under.
"Your desire my dear, is not something that can be weighed or measured or seen. It can only be found within your own heart, your own mind. But time will teach you that what you desire is in fact the same thing as that what you will be unable to have....."
The young woman let go of her chin, rearranging her shawl so her eyes were hidden from Ginny's gaze....
"Bear in mind my dear..... Realization often time comes too late...."
She walked away over the dead grass leaving Ginny in the vortex of emotions and elements, her thoughts in disarray....
Too late.... too late....
The wind seemed to howl the words at her, laughing at her.
You will be too late.... too late.... too late.....
Gasping, Ginny sat up, looking into the cold grey eyes of Narcissa Malfoy.
"Cup of tea my dear?" Narcissa's voice was flat, as if she had not just seen Ginny wake from a nightmare and they had just sat there, drinking tea all afternoon.
"Yes...." Was all Ginny could manage to answer.
For she could still hear the mocking laughter in the wind howling outside....
Too late.... too late....
They were in the sittingroom, not the rosarium. How could she have even been there? It was probably covered in snow right now.
Sitting up straighter, Ginny studied Narcissa who was pooring tea from a silver teapot into a fragile cup made of fine china.
Her eyes bore a resemblance to the eyes that had bored into hers, not in colouring, but in the lifelessness they seemed to emit.
Taking the cup from Narcissa Ginny opened her mouth to ask the question, but Narcissa was ahead of her, cutting her off.
"I would not ask that question if I were you. The answer is for you to decide.... and my knowledge of dreams is not great. I cannot help you."
"You watched me while I slept." Ginny's voice was accusing.
Smiling wryly, Narcissa said "Of course" and took a sip of her tea. "After all, you are the mistress of my son. I am merely interested in you and your designs..... your wants... your desire."
She drank the rest of her tea and got up.
"Excuse me my dear, I must go see to the arrangements of dinner. And of course the party next week." Her grey eyes glittered. "Your parents will be arriving then-"
Sipping her tea, Ginny stared at Narcissa's retreating back narrow eyed....
She knew something.... but what?
As she looked down, she saw a blood red rose lying next to her cup.......
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It had been two whole days and still Draco had not returned to Malfoy Manor.
Ginny was beginning to feel decidedly bored, even with the mystery of the rose and her dream of that dark girl to think about. Which was the reason she was in fact walking through Malfoy Manor aimless right then, enjoying the magnificence of it's interior, the air of riches it seemed to emit.
The splendor of the manor could entertain her for hours on end as she went from room to room, memorising the decor of each.
Now however, it seemed as though she was getting used to the beauty, the wealth....
She began to miss the sound of laughter, the company of others.
Loneliness was getting to her, breaking down her defences.
When would Draco be coming back to her?
Looking around she found she had somehow wandered into an older part of the Manor.
The air was thick with dust, even though the furniture bore no obvious signs of it and somehow her surroundings seemed to breath an ancient air.
An air of long forgotten darkness.
She was in a long, stately room and as she looked up, she saw Lucius and Narcissa looking down on her from the canvas of a painting.
They looked younger; Narcissa's eyes seemed to shine with life as she looked at Lucius who was grinning roguishly back at her.
They looked so much like the people she knew and yet so different.
So happy.
So alive.
She smiled as they waved at her and walked further down the hall, past generations of Malfoys who all bore resemblances to each other.
On the far end of the room there was one last painting, covered with a large curtain, probably to preserve it better since it was so old.
Carefully, Ginny drew away the curtain, then looked up at the painting..... and gasped....
There hung the young girl she had seen in her dream!
The dark eyes of the canvas seemed to emit the same soullessness as the girl from her dream had, the hair shone just as beautiful and dark.
On the bottom of the painting there was a small plaque that read 'Deneb and Alaster Malfoy, first generation at Malfoy Manor'.
Alaster?
Looking up again Ginny saw the man standing behind the girl, Deneb, for the first time.
His light coloured hair and grey eyes seemed to have been passed along to all the other Malfoys for as far as Ginny could tell.
He was looking down on Deneb's seated form with a loving smile on his face, his eyes seemed to shine brighter than the sun.
But why was she dreaming of someone she had never seen before, someone she had not even known existed?
As she looked at Deneb again, she noted that her eyes had settled on Ginny, unmoving, unblinking.
Just studying her.
A chill went through her as she backed away from the painting, away from the haunting dark eyes of the girl....
But the eyes followed her and on impulse, Ginny turned and ran.
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Draco stood across from his father who was seated behind his desk in his study.
He wondered what the man wanted from him, why he had taken him along on his business travels for the last few days and why he had now taken him to his study to 'discuss business'.
What business would his father have with him?
"Son." Lucius voice was coldly formal, "This mistress of yours is really something...."
Draco smiled, a hint of pride toning his expression. Yes, Ginny was certainly precious.
"However, she is a Weasley and her family will not allow her to further conduct any enterprises with our family."
Draco's jaw locked as he looked into his father maliciously glinting eyes. The old bastard was probably going to suggest he let her go.
"The simple solution to your problem son, would be to simply undo the fact that she is a Weasley - by marrying her."
"And what father, made you think I have any interest in maintaining the girl." Draco saw his error as he watched his father's smirk widen.
"That son, is very obvious. You are enjoying her company and attentions. All you need to do is simply lure her deeper and make her binding to you a permanent one. Shackle the girl to darkness while you still can - BUT... do NOT let her lure out your emotions, your affections. Remember son, NOTHING is worth it. Emotions only give birth to pain and suffering. To weakness. The only way to protect your woman is not to show any affection towards her. Your mother never saw this, she just thought she lost me -"
"She did!" Draco bitterly interrupted his father who looked at him with something almost akin to pity.
"Then answer me this boy - What does the Dark Lord do with a weakness?"
Draco looked at his father, a man he had thought devoid of emotion, of care. A man who had just rissen in his esteem "He gets rid of it."
Lucius just inclined his head, "He gets rid of it. And my wife and son should be above such danger."
"So you do feel?" Draco studied his father, his expression, but found no hint of emotion showing through the mask he had known most of his life.
"No..." Lucius looked at his son, a son he had been proud of, he had tried to protect in spite of all danger. "Somewhere along the line I have lost myself, my beliefs.... my heart. There's nothing left of who I was. And I can do nothing to regain any of my emotion, my feeling.... it's too dangerous, for you and your mother - and for me too."
Draco saw his father was looking at him as if he was expecting something from his son. "I will marry the girl father... and I will not fall in love with her."
It would be easy.... Draco Malfoy no longer had any emotions after all.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Standing in front of his bed, Draco watched Ginny as she slept.
Her chest rose and fell in tune with her breath, her beautiful face once again peaceful, devoid of any worry her day might have brought her.
She shifted in her sleep, one long leg appeared above the covers.
"What are you doing to me?" Draco whispered the words to the silent room. "What is it about you that I am holding onto?"
His mistress did not answer him of course, adrift as she was in a peaceful slumber.
Carefully, Draco undressed himself completely, then sat on the end of his bed, watching the woman who lay there sleeping.
Her hair was spread out on the pillows, one hand above her head, one holding on to the covers.
Slowly, he crawled over the bed towards her, closer and closer, a shadow advancing in the night on an unsuspecting prey.
Softly, he carressed her leg, the smooth skin feeling like silk beneath his fingers.
She shifted in her sleep, mumbled, but did not wake.
Gently, he lifted the covers away from her, staring at the magnificent picture she presented.
Innocence and darkness....
He groaned, what had he gotten himself into? She was far too dangerous, to untamed to dally with....
She might become his only weakness.
Unable to stop himself, he kissed her forehead, then the bridge of her nose.
She shivered, with cold or satisfaction he did not know.
Not willing to wake her, he carefully lay down beside her, drawing her into his arms.
She snuggled further into his warmth as he drew the covers over them.
Her hair a pillow for his cheek, he felt himself drift of into slumber.
In the shadows of the room, the girl from Ginny's dreams stood watching them sleep.
"It has been done." Her voice was but a whisper in the shadows. "Now all I can do is wait and hope for the best. To guide the girl best I can."
She made no sound when she turned around and left.
In the dark room, Ginny's breathing became uneven, she moved in her sleep.
Once again the girl of snakes was possessed in the darkness.
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End of Chapter 14: Will Draco marry Ginny for his own purposes? And what about Deneb, what is her story? Yes.... more will become clear in the next chapter.....
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine, nor did I write it. Deneb and Alaster Malfoy are mine though and so is the darkness.... and this story.
I want to thank SatansFlower, Serenade of the Sea, Chas (aka Aricos) and my anonymous beta-reader who wishes to remain anonymous and therefor shall be anonymous for beta-reading!
I also wanna thank Aricos for helping me with some of the poems :)
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I want to thank the following people for reviewing:
Silver spoon: My spelling's getting worked on, but bear in mind I'm doing the best I can: I can only write perfect grammar in the Dutch language after all.... I know it might seem a bit slow right now, which is half a matter of taste and half of truth. Because I need to make a psychological line-up of the characters involved in order for you to make a correct deduction of events, it is necessairy to make their thoughts clear as well. These psychological events can best be outlined in their thoughts and thus these thoughts have to be communicated to you in some way. The story's going to speed up soon though. And the one-liners are not always metaphors, but mostly just sentences that also have a literal meaning. It's okay if you don't get it, if you do it just gives another depth to your reading....
Dukerbrown: You now know who the girl is hihi, her story will follow soon after too. And about Draco and Ginny falling in love... you'll just have to wait and see if it happens ;)
waterfairy-rose: Yes, her parents both most definately care for Ginny. Just remember that what has been made clear about them before is only from Ginny's view. And yes, Lucius is most definately going to get annoying.... I don't think either that Ginny's family will go so far as to break with her if she's really in love.... But they WILL try to protect her at all cost. You see Narcissa that way too?! Hihi, we have something in common then. I can say anything about her and Molly together yet though.... And yeah hihi, I've put a lot of thought in Draco's mind this and Draco's mind that. I always like to figure out a character psyche. And as you see you were right about the person from the past. I'll make some time to read your fic too ;)
Bladefanatic: Hihi, you had trouble getting on too? That's always so frustrating! I'm happy you wanted to read my fic though hihi. Ginny giving Draco a run for his money? Might happen ;)
Blood57: Thanks for the compliment! Hannah Abbott hmn? It's a funny suggestion hihi, that actually had me in stitches.... And yes, the darkness is essential.
SamiJo: Ah yes, the sadness.... It's going to have even more sadness in the future... Just of a different kind.
Noelle: Thank you so much! I'm trying to update as soon as possible, but as I reread the whole story every time I add to it and it's getting longer, plus the fact that I'm making the chapters longer.... But well, I try to update as soon as possible ;)
TomFeltons4ever: Thank you! And now you know who's watching.... you just don't know yet what it's all about *does a little dance* I know; I'm so mean.... one question answered only brings out more questions ;)
ash: *looks around, can't find serious side of ash either* Do you even have a serious side ;) Well, you're right about the me playing a game part and as you see your questions were aswered although totaly coïncidental. Thanks for reviewing!
mz-duCkiee: Hihi, well they're just really quiet at dinner and that last chapter was just totaly on their thoughts.... I've gotta say I hadn't even noticed that there was no dialogue though LOL, I was just so going up in emotions and thoughts..... But the next chapters WILL have dialogue.... Thanks hihi!
Gothic Retaliation: Yes, we have one of those little spider poems as well.... The spider Sebastian.... it didn't go well with him.... Oh well anyhow, it's not gonna be a weird serial killer so you don't have to be scared.... much ;)
blackrose: Yes, Narcissa's story is a sad one. I can't say anything about it yet though....
dragonsprincess: Yes, cafeïne does weird things to you.... Ginny's savior, you think she needs one then? Thanks for reviewing!
Laura: Thank you! For a minute there I thought I was reviewing myself hihi, since my name's Laura too ;)
xangelcrisisx: Thank you! I did ;)
Sammy Rettop Malfoy: Thanks! Good you don't think that hihi, 'cause it's not really true; I just like to pretend I am a bitch ;) So you think he's controlling his wife too? Yeah, that always struck me as a must, she seems so perfect for that role....
Riauna: Hihi, now you know who was watching them. But as for if Draco's going to open up.... I'm going to leave that hanging for now. And yeah, I feel a bit sorry for Narcissa too, but it can't be helped, it's just her way in this story....
Emily.Hart: Yeah, it's not likely her parents can do much, but I'm sure that if it comes to that, they will try. I just don't think they have it in them just to give up on their daughter.
thehpgirl90: They have house-elfs yeah, no maids. But you already know who's watching now, so it doesn't really matter. Thanks for the compliment by the way! I worked hard on those moments and rendezvous, my sister tells me I was even talking to myself at one point ;)
Viktoria: Well, what they are going or not going to find out I cannot tell yet, but as for the POV's, yes, it switches from Ginny to Narcissa. It's like their thoughts mix you see, since they are thinking on the same subject. Only their emotions are different, as is their experience. The last POV is from the person watching them from afar. As you can now read, Ginny is dreaming about this person too.
HeatherM: Thanks for all the compliments! *blushes* It took a lot of thinking and measuring to fit all the characters in with their story and to see into their characters. I so to say had to make a psychological x-ray of them, like feeling their feelings and understanding their view of the world....
Marisa: Hihi, yeah Draco's still cute, I dunno how it happened ;) Thanks hihi, I'll probably be writing some other fluffy stories later on too though, just to keep my subjects varying. If you tell me your username I'll read this story you and your friend are writing too..... And no, I don't have a boyfriend ;) Just imagine myself away hihi, try it sometime and you'll know what I mean. If you're from Germany we're practically neighbours hihi, since I'm from the Netherlands... But I'm still famous in foreign countries! ;)
Kaos: Hihi, yeah I was going for the poetic type of drama, not the sort of soapy 'dear me, I'm patheric'-kind of story. Your right about the fact that there's not much dialogue, but that's because I need to make a psychological line-up of the characters involved in order for you to make a correct deduction of events, it is necessairy to make their thoughts clear as well. These psychological events can best be outlined in their thoughts and thus these thoughts have to be communicated to you in some way. The story's going to speed up soon though and it'll have more dialogue in the future since we're nearing the heart of the story. It's also a matter of taste if you like my writingstyle or not :)
Jeru: Thank you! I love delving into the characters minds like that. Are you Spanish per chance? My dad's too you know....
Aya: Thanks for reviewing! I'll do my best :)
songelf88 and G.H.S. the warg: So it's to dark but you like it anyway? I'm updating as you see and maybe one of my less dark story's I'll upload in the future will be more to your taste. Still I'm flattered that you love/hate it hihi.
Amber: Yes, Gin's innocent but not so naïve she thinks Draco harmless, she just wants to take the best shot she has at taking control of her own situation, because as things stand she's just being dragged along by the events. Thanks for reviewing (again hihi, you are beginning to be a known reviewer with me) ;)
Purple Haze: Thank you! I'll try very hard to keep this up!
Felicity: Hihi, some love my writingstyle, some think it's slow. But it's mine, so I can't do anything but to keep doing it ;) Thank you!
Tara-Yo: Hihi, can't tell you that yet, but it will all become clear in the end :)
Ohepelss Oramtnci: *holds page closer* Can you see it now?
Katrina: Thanks hihi, but what do you mean by forced? (Not offended, just curious). Thanks for the tip anyway, I'll go and see what it's about.
SatansFlower: I'll try! Thank for the compliment ;)
red-rose: *hands new piece of fanfic* Chocolate? Oh yeah, that's so yummy.... I can't have it though, I'm allergic. Sometimes I take a bit anyway though ;) I read the story by the way and reviewed it too, I didn't get all of it, but it was fun hihi...
LadyBrannon: Hihi, well now you know. Have you updated chapter18 already? My review history keeps indicating that you have, but I can't find the chapter.... Just wondering, since I wanna read it when it gets out.
Asteria: *looks at herself* I think I'm mortal, but I can't tell for sure. I won't jump of the balkony to check though, so well just have to sit out the rest of my life to see ;) Thank you for your great compliments!
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They make me so happy,
Yeah, reviews make me want to sing.
And my happiness about this,
Will more chapters bring.
(So it'll make you happy too *wink wink*)
Please Review!
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