Summary: A new prophecy has both Harry and Draco training for the ultimate fight. Ginny has many secrets of her own, one involving the newly tattooed Draco. He has hatred and ruthlessness branded into him; will his love for Ginny give him new, more painful scars?
Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize! Everything belongs to Jo and her wonderful friends!
Don't try to explain it,
Can't talk your way from this one.
I, I fell in love, and you,
You wouldn't know a thing about that...
number one fan
18
The Hogwarts Dueling Arena was alive with vicious activity. Blue and green transparent barriers stood erected and shivered while silent spells exploded against them. Bright flames and streaked lightning made sporadic appearances but were quickly extinguished. And standing in the center of it all were three figures, moving rapidly and purposefully.
Harry stood facing Lukas and Emlyn, watching their movements while sustaining his spells. A vivid blue barrier protected Emlyn and Lukas from him, but not for long. He saw an opportunity and whispered his spell. At once, Lukas flew high and backwards, slamming hard against a wall. But before he could fall, Lukas brought the floor up to meet him, and safely returned to the ground. Emlyn, however, was prepared and countered the spell, sending another one back towards Harry. Lukas also countered and Harry quickly traced an Ancient curse to protect him from Emlyn on the ground and conjured up water to douse the flames he knew would erupt around him.
He smiled as the last flames were gone, but looking up he couldn't see anything around him. Darkness enveloped him, and just as quickly he could feel the air around him begin to dissipate. He wasn't enclosed, but Harry could feel his breathing begin to become labored and the blackness become disorienting. For a moment, he couldn't remember where he was, or what he was doing.
His knees turned weak, and his felt himself drop to the floor, wherever it was. Harry was gasping for breath, breathing hard even though he knew it was no use. Harry began to panic, his wand was gone.
Confusion broke over him, he could remember having a wand, but not using it. Why would he be without his wand? Suddenly, a light broke through the darkness. His hands were glowing blue. A rush of energy came back with him as he remembered who he was and what he was doing: fighting Emlyn and Lukas.
His lungs burning painfully, Harry stood up carefully; the weight of the air pushing down on him as he hurried to think of a counter curse, then remembered he didn't need one to escape. He inhaled the breathless air, and with it came the energy around him as he Lifted the spells off of himself. Immediately, the light returned around him and the air became light again.
Harry took a deep breath, grateful to be out of the spell, but as soon as he opened his eyes as bright blue ball of flame whizzed by his ear. He looked around an only saw Emlyn standing across from him.
"NO FAIR!" Emlyn yelled. "Damaris said you aren't allowed to do that anymore, so why don't you try the harder way out instead of making it easy for yourself?" she sneered at him.
"And I told you that I use what I've got and I don't care what you think is easy or not! I had you and Lukas on me today, and I still beat you!" he flung back at her, smirking at the mutinous expression that crossed her face.
"You wouldn't have gotten out if Damaris hadn't showed you your hands again. You couldn't even realize a Confundus Curse if you drowned in it." Emlyn crossed her hands over her chest and glared at him.
"That was NOT a Confundus Curse, Riley. I've been Confunded and it's the easiest thing to get out of. You did something to it to make sure I would fail!"
"So what if I did, I knew you were going to cheat your way out of it anyways!" she yelled, her voice echoing off the vaulted ceiling.
"I've never cheated out of anything in my life!" Harry yelled back.
"I could name a few things," Emlyn said in a softer voice, but Harry still heard her.
"I still beat you fairly though, that's all that matters right now," Harry retorted, knowing that was one of the reasons Emlyn was so pissed off. Lately, however, he couldn't figure out her motives for any of her moods towards him. Every day was different with her, and though it was a bit trying, Harry was secretly happy with the challenge.
"I think some of the Confundus is still stuck on you, you delusional troll," Emlyn flamed. Harry bristled, though he knew it was the reaction she wanted from him.
"Let's try it again, Riley, and I'll still beat you. You have no chance against me anymore." Harry said fiercely.
She moved a step closer to him, her gaze blazing. They were almost face to face, their eyes locked together.
"Are you going to try kissing me again before we start?" Harry smirked at her, and watched as her face turned pink and angry. Emlyn turned away from him, but Harry smiled as he whispered in her ear. "Because if you do, I promise I won't let you go until you're just as distracted as I will be."
Emlyn whipped around so fast Harry barely had time to prepare.
"ERAS'KI MUNASA," she shouted.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM," Harry shouted at the same time. Harry's stag erupted from his hand to face off with Emlyn's version of a Patronus, a large phantom striped tiger.
"I don't kiss failures, especially ones with a murder record as high as yours," Emlyn sneered at him like he was a piece of blowing gum stuck to her shoe. Harry's eyes darkened him as the light left them and Emlyn immediately regretted what she'd said.
"Harry," she started.
"I forgot how disgusting I am to you, thanks for reminding me," he said callously. Emlyn opened her mouth to reply when the main door opened with a bang.
"HARRY! EMLYN!" Professor Morticai shouted from the doorway as she returned with a slightly limping Lukas. "I told you to never face your Patronus's against each other! Retract them and do one hundred repetitions of the each of the Re'sumtusa curses and counter curses before you leave," she looked sternly at them both, almost waiting for a reaction to her punishment. But she continued, "I need to take Lukas to Madame Pomfrey. Harry, you Impacted again with that last Lift, so I want you to practice your Lift with Emlyn again after those reps," she told him. Harry nodded, and Professor Morticai helped Lukas towards the door again.
"Sorry, mate," Harry called after Lukas, who only raised his hand in response. The large door to the Arena closed with a resounding thud, and both Harry and Emlyn were silent for a bit.
"How hard did I Impact that time?" Harry asked her quietly.
"Pretty bad, Lukas wasn't ready though. I knew you were going to screw up so I had just enough time to get a curse up around myself," Emlyn turned and positioned herself away from him.
"Why didn't you get Lukas in one too?" Harry asked, facing her from across the room.
"I told you, he doesn't like it when I protect him unless we are actually fighting. He thinks he can take care of himself, which he can, but he thought getting all the air out of my Confundus would leave you weak… and it did, but that's when you are at your best," she said quietly, not looking at him. "Re'sumtusa hutna'th."
"Hutna'th sumtusa. I'll take that as a compliment." Harry looked angry, but he felt better that she had said that. He felt terrible that he had Impacted on his last Lift. It was something new that they all had to deal with, as Tynan had never Impacted any of her lifts. Professor Morticai speculated that it was because Harry had so much Power to deal with, along with a range of emotions so close to the surface. He didn't have enough attentions to keep track of everything he had to do and would unwillingly and unknowingly release a powerful shock of energy that could do extensive damage. He had hurt both Emlyn and Lukas the first time he did it, and he had to work hard ever since to keep track of all his energy.
"Re'sumtusa hutna'th. I didn't mean what I said before," Emlyn told him, he eyes meeting his. Harry wanted to believe her, but he was never far from her words.
I don't care about failures… I don't care if Voldemort kills you… Can't you see that I don't care
Harry snorted, "Right, I forgot you kiss Malfoy. And he's just as much of a murderer as I am. Hutna'th sumtusa."
"Re'sumtusa runtkala. Who says I kiss Malfoy? He's a little creep and up to something, I can feel it." Immediately Harry forgot to be mean, and was distracted by his suspicions of Draco.
"Runtkala sumtusa. You've noticed it too? I think he's involved with the Death Eaters now," Harry told her. "And they've been very quiet lately; the last known attack was months ago. I think something's up."
"Re'sumtusa, runtkala. Me too, but I haven't seen a Dark Mark on Draco yet. And I've been looking," she said. "Yes, I've been watching him," she told him when she saw his surprised look. "I don't trust him, but I can't figure out if there is something there I should be worried about. Even Lukas can't feel anything around him. Draco's completely closed off. Well… except when he's around your girlfriend," she smirked.
"I already told you not to call Ginny that, we aren't dating. And what do you mean by that?" Harry asked, though it sounded as more of a demand. "Runtkala sumtusa."
"Lukas agrees with my suspicions and he's been watching Draco a bit. But even with Lukas's Aspect, the most he can get on Draco is that he is either a very very good Occlemens, or that he only feels things around Ginny. Re'sumtusa runtkala," she repeated, sending the spell towards Harry.
"Runtkala sumtusa. You and Lukas have been investigating him and you haven't told me?"
"We aren't best friends, Potter. I don't tell you a lot of stuff," Emlyn laughed strangely, sending Harry a look under her lashes that he didn't catch. "And I think there is a lot that you don't tell me, too. Re'sumtusa lunaura."
Harry remembered the tattoo that Ginny said she saw on Draco's arm, and her suspicions that he was leaving the castle. Something about it didn't fit right, but Emlyn obviously didn't trust him, so he kept quiet and changed the subject.
"Lunaura sumtusa. So, if you think he's a Death Eater, why do you still hang out with him?"
Because I know where I stand with Draco, I know who he thinks I am. I don't know how you feel about me at all… she wanted to scream, but instead looked away and continued repeating the curses.
Their repetitions took them a better part of an hour, and afterwards Emlyn let Harry practice his Lifting on her. She had been silent and withdrawn and Harry wondered what she was thinking. But when he began to Lift her Power, her feelings came with it. They were filled with regret and sorrow, along with admiration and yearning, and Harry could tell she made no effort to hide them. Hope bloomed that she felt the latter for him.
:¦:--:¦:--:¦:--:¦:-The nervous anticipation feeling Ginny got in the pit of her stomach whenever she entered the Potions classroom returned in full force when she saw Draco sitting in his new assigned seat by the ingredients cabinet. Lately, he had taken to showing up for class extremely late or not at all, and surprisingly Snape didn't seem to care. But Ginny did, Draco was wreaking havoc on her nerves.
Ever since their kiss turned fight in the locker room, Ginny couldn't even look at Draco without turning a slight pink and feeling nauseous. Heartbreak was all she got from trusting a Slytherin, and Ginny scolded herself for not knowing better. Gullible Ginny must have been an easy target for Draco, whose motives were now clear to her. It made her sick to even think about what she felt for Draco when all that time he was just pretending to like her and preparing to steal her away from Harry.
She had thought they were friends, and besides being hurt she was impressed that Draco spent so long playing along with Ginny to get her to trust him. Ginny sighed audibly; Draco must really hate Harry a lot to put up with befriending a Gryffindor. And he was so convincing. She believed him and she fell in love with him.
What a fool she was.
And seeing him almost every day wasn't helping her forget it. Ginny glanced over at Draco. He was lounging back in his chair waiting for class to start and almost the moment Ginny's eyes rested on him, Draco turned and looked at her. Ginny blushed pink and looked away quickly, cursing the Gods that Draco somehow always managed to catch her looking at him.
He looked tired and angry, and his dark expression did not change when he looked at her. Ginny swallowed, his darkened eyes and hard features would scare anyone, and she wondered what was bringing about this change in him. Usually his appearance was pristine, and Ginny's heart tightened at her memories of teasing him about it and how mad he used to get if his nails or clothes were dirty. And now, sitting back in his chair, his hair swept haphazardly out of his face and his robes unbuttoned, he looked as if he just didn't care anymore. He had been like that for weeks.
Was it because he really did care about hurting her?
No, Ginny decided, Draco was an unfeeling troll and he did not care that she missed him every single day. He didn't care that he was the first person she thought of when she woke up, and the last person to haunt her dreams at night. He didn't care that she was in love him. Well, used to be in love with him, Ginny corrected herself unconvincingly.
He used her to get to Harry, and she would never forgive him for that. Or forgive herself for getting in that position.
She watched out of the corner of her eye as Draco pushed some of his long silver blond hair behind his ear as he leaned over his desk and she caught a glimpse of the tail of his black snake tattoo underneath his ear. It wasn't visible to someone who didn't know to look for it, and Ginny found herself looking for any sign of it whenever she was around him. For some reason, she knew that it held the key to his darkness. Was he the first to get the new Dark Mark? Was he a Death Eater? Did he lie to her?
He always told her the truth, and she had believed him. But the clues he had left were starting a train of thought in her head and she couldn't stop where it was headed.
Draco left the castle on a regular basis; she knew he somehow found a way around the spells in the castle and could come and go as he pleased. Though she didn't know where he would go, she knew he would generally go missing for long hours at night, and that he was still continuing his training.
And he had a tattoo that was dark and sinister.
He was up to something, and he didn't want anyone to know about it, and it was transforming him into someone she didn't recognize.
She frowned, shooting another quick glance his way, somewhat peeved that Draco had decided to show up today. He had rarely been to class since their big fight, and Ginny was happy that he wasn't there to distract her. Although, he distracted her anyways, even if he was there or not.
She wondered why he had chosen today to come to class, since it was a review class.
"Close your mouths and look at the board," Snape commanded, slamming the dungeon door shut, making everyone jump. Except for Draco, Ginny noted. He didn't even move.
"Today, as I promised, is a review for your final later this week. If you have questions, do not ask me. You should have remembered everything I taught you, and if you were stupid enough to forget, then you will fail," Snape growled, looking pointedly at a few students who cringed under his gaze. "I have written the chapters we have covered on the board and you should know everything in them. You may review with your partners, as there is a partner portion of the final."
Ginny's eyes widened, and she immediately knew why Draco was here today. Her partner was gone, he had dropped out of the class in fear of failing and ruining his scores. And Draco's partner had taken sick two days ago and wasn't in class either.
"Weasley," Snape snapped, and her eyes flew to his. "You may work with Mr. Malfoy today, as long as you don't distract him further. You will be taking the final with him also, but I'll be watching you closely, as I know you aren't smart enough to pass without his help." His lip curled, and he whirled away to pick on other students.
Ginny sighed, used to his horrible insults. She knew he picked on her just because she had the best score in the class and was bitter that Draco had relinquished the position to her after the last exam.
She saw the chair next to her move and steeled herself to deal with Draco, but it was no use. The conversations they had since the fight were short and strained and she was not looking forward to spending the whole class reviewing with him. His scent drifted towards her as she felt him sit down next to her and she was lost.
She was silent, mostly because she didn't know what to say. She looked over at Draco and was surprised at his strange expression. It was almost as if he was glad to just be near her. Don't fall for him again, she reminded herself.
"Oh, hello, Head Boy," Ginny addressed Draco over brightly, since the silence was making her more and more uncomfortable.
Draco scowled, "Don't call me that, Ginny." But his eyes lit with her presence. "I need to talk to you," he said in a low voice.
"I'm sorry, sir, we are supposed to be reviewing, and as you have missed most of the classes this semester you have a lot to make up for," Ginny tried to smile, but it came off looking fake and forced.
"You've noticed I wasn't in classes?" Draco smirked at her. Ginny's smile faded, her expression cold.
"Well you had to be here long enough to poison you partner," she said smartly. "What did you use? Yarsbane? Haunts Poison? A Puking Pastile?"
"I would never use a Weasley joke to get back at someone," Draco sneered. "I'm much more creative than that so I can be close to you."
"Don't start this again," she warned him.
"Start what?"
"Your play for whatever you want. Go take out your revenge on Harry some other way, because I will never betray him," she said fiercely.
"Whoa there, Freckles. I'm not trying to do anything, it's just the truth," Draco said a little more harshly than he meant to.
"I'm so sure, because you never lie, right?" Ginny mocked, but her heart fluttered that he used the nickname he gave her when they first became friends.
"What's got you so upset?" Draco asked her, though she was sure he knew what it was.
"You. Pretending that nothing happened. In fact, I like it that way. But what I don't like is having to put up with your stupid comments," Ginny snapped at him. Draco sighed and was silent for a long time before he spoke again.
"Ginny, listen to me. I never…" he stopped at her defensive look.
"You never what? Lied to me? I can prove you did. You never meant to use me? That's also pretty clear. Or maybe you never meant to hurt me? You did that too," Ginny finished for him, tears almost coming to her eyes.
Draco closed his eyes as if he was in pain. When he opened them again, they were back to being dark and haunted. "If you aren't going to listen to what I have to say then fine, I won't waste my time," Draco snapped back. Ginny gulped, it hurt too much to be sitting here with him, and she needed to get away before she said something that she would regret.
"I'm pretty sure there is nothing that you could say that I want to hear right now, Malfoy. You used me, betrayed our friendship, and…" Ginny drew in a shaky breath at Draco turned the full force of his eyes on her. "And…" Ginny was unsure what she wanted to say; only that she was heartbroken and he was the only person who could fix it.
Draco looked at her and wished he could wipe away the tear the slid down her perfect cheek, but he knew she would only see it as an insult.
"And… and…" Ginny paused again. "And PROFESSOR SNAPE!" Ginny yelled, looking directly in Draco's dark eyes that were watching her every move.
"What is it, Miss Weasley, there is no need to shout, though I'm sure I must excuse your manners as you were raised in a barn," Snape said from across the room.
"I'm feeling sick and I need to leave," Ginny said flatly, still staring directly at Draco. Snape's eyes flitted briefly between them, before he answered.
"You may leave, but do not expect me to give any more time devoted to reviewing," Snape growled, then returned his attention to the stressed seventh year in front of him.
"Yes, Professor Snape," Ginny said quietly, and began to pack up her bags, guilt and hurt pouring through her.
She didn't notice Draco's closeness until he whispered in her ear.
"So, my little Damsel in distress, you're getting another stupid male to rescue you from me?" Draco asked her. Ginny didn't answer, but she did not look at him either. "It won't work forever, because you're a brave Gryffindor and you will eventually face me. And then I will tell you the truth, and you will believe me. But until then, you can run," Draco told her, sitting back up and looking at his books.
"You're so arrogant; you think that everything is about you. There is no problem to face, our friendship is over and I don't care what happens to you anymore," Ginny told him.
"If that's true then leave," Draco challenged her. "Or stay here and fight it out with me. I'll make you believe me, Ginny," he promised.
Ginny looked at him, her heart torn in two.
He used me.
He used me to get to Harry.
He doesn't care about me, Ginny reminded herself. But she knew one look in his eyes was all it would take to forget it all.
So without another moment's hesitation, she stood and walked out of the dungeon without looking back at him.
:¦:--:¦:--:¦:--:¦:-
Not a second after class had ended Draco slammed the dungeon door open and was striding back up the long corridor towards the Slytherin dorms. Ginny had walked away from him, and the moment he saw her do it, his heart shattered.
He had truly fucked things up with her and now she didn't care about him at all.
Draco's hands were curled so tightly into fists of anger that his nails were starting to dig painfully into his palms. But all the pain in the world could not match his feelings of being lost and without someone.
He had treasured his friendship with Ginny like nothing else in his life. She was the one unknowingly helping him through his training, she was the one who saved his life, then almost ended it. She was the one person he would never tire of, who he could talk endlessly to, could smile at and tease and be himself with. She was the one person he had ever truly missed when she was away from him, and now that she was gone it was even more painfully obvious to him.
If he had known that kissing her would lead him here, he never would have started the whole thing. Draco admitted to himself that his training got in the way of common sense; it was stupid of him to try to hurt Potter that way. But his self control was gone when it came to Scarhead, and he couldn't wait the projected few days before it was his time to beat Harry into the ground.
Which was coming extremely soon, Draco smiled. Voldemort still would not involve Draco fully in the plans to abduct the Teacher since he was suspicious of Dumbledore finding out any little piece of information. But he knew he was going to get to fight Potter and that Voldemort was bringing out almost all of his Death Eaters for the event. For a quick second, he thought of what he would do if Ginny was hurt during the abduction. A lump formed in his throat, and he went over his plan to inadvertently keep her away from the fighting. He had gotten as far as planning to lock her in a room somewhere, then got to angry that he was thinking about protecting her when she hated him. But, far back in his mind, he knew that he wanted her to be far away from danger, even if it did mean he had to lock her in a room.
If he had just thought a little more about what he was doing with Ginny, he wouldn't be in this position with her; he wouldn't be worrying about her, and missing her so much. He would have her with him all the time and be able to protect her. He would be able to feel normal again. He had felt a fleeting bit of normalcy when he sat next to her today, even if he knew their conversation wasn't going to be progressive. It still felt good to be close to her.
He loved how she smelled, and how his body seemed electrically charged whenever he got near her, and how her smile had the effect of a Jelly Legs curse on him. He needed to be near her, she was his drug of choice and now he lost her forever.
Draco cursed crudely as he rounded a corner out and descended some stairs, his heavy black robes billowing behind him dramatically. Yes, he thought, if he had known that kissing her would result in losing her forever he never would have done it.
Then he laughed to himself, because he knew it wasn't true. He would have given up anything to kiss her like that, just once. But to give her up forever?
"Half Blood," he repeated to the entrance to the Slytherin common room. The passageway did not move. "HALF BLOOD!" he yelled, suddenly more frustrated and angry that nothing was going his way today. Nothing happened again, but to his luck the door opened from the inside and the Slytherin first years exited to leave for their classes. Draco grabbed one by the robes.
"What is the password?" he growled at the smaller boy.
"Evil Red Hair, sir," the boy squeaked. His first year friends behind him snickered. Draco shot them a malicious look, and they all turned and fled.
Draco dismissed the boy, then cursed Blaise into oblivion as he entered the Common room.
The only one in the room was Emlyn, who was studying contentedly in a green leather armchair by the fire.
"Where is Blaise?" Draco's voice boomed through the quiet, but Emlyn did not startle. She merely looked up at him with a knowing smile on her face.
"What did she do now?" Emlyn asked sweetly, closing her book and giving Draco her full attention.
"Why do you always say that? This has nothing to do with a girl. Now, where is Blaise?" he demanded.
"You obviously found out the new password if you're looking for Blaise, and just so you know it wasn't him who thought it up," she told him. Draco glared at her.
"Who did?" he said shortly.
"Me."
"Why?"
"Because I wanted to see what you would do. It took you awhile to figure it out though, all the fun is gone," she shrugged.
"Blaise is the only one who can set the password, and he's not a moron. How did you get him to do it?"
"I just asked," she fluttered her eyelashes at Draco, who rolled his eyes.
"I'm going to curse his …"
"And the fun is back!" Emlyn laughed. "Blaise has made himself scarce, if you must know. I doubt you'll be able to find him today."
"I'll find him, I showed him all the best hiding places in the castles," Draco said, then turned to leave.
"So is that where you disappear to at night?" Emlyn asked him calmly. Draco stopped, but did not turn around.
"I don't disappear anywhere. I have my own rooms, if that's what you mean," he answered lightly, but he felt his heart speed up. If she had noticed, others might have also.
"You know its not."
"Whatever you say," Draco continued towards the door, he did not see Emlyn rise from her chair.
"How have you been getting on with Ginny?"
Draco whipped around so fast, Emlyn thought for a moment he knew what she was going to say.
"She has nothing to do with this," he growled threateningly.
"Sorry, Malfoy. I was just asking as a concerned … friend," she ventured. "You've been in a horrid mood again, and it's pretty obvious to me that it's because of her. And Ginny doesn't look too happy herself. Did you have a row?"
"To say the least," Draco admitted darkly.
"She seems like a pretty great girl, especially when she was willing to give up her social life to protect Harry like that. I don't know what she sees in you because you treat her like owl shit and she still falls all over you," Emlyn told him, a secret smile crossing her face. Draco didn't know, she realized
"I have never treated her badly!" Draco fumed, though his chest tightened because he knew it wasn't true. He had treated her badly a bunch of times, and this was the first time she had not come back to him. "And what do you mean 'give up her social life to protect Harry'?"
"Are you kidding me? You didn't even know? Wow, you are super dense if you didn't figure it out. And you're in love with her!" Emlyn laughed at Draco's darkening face.
"Know what?" Draco asked threateningly, his eyes narrowing.
"I'm not telling you if you cant figure it out on your own!" Emlyn was laughing so hard she had to sit down again on the arm of the chair.
With every tear of mirth she wiped out of her eyes, Draco became angrier and angrier.
"I thought you two were close! I figured she would have told you, it was only one of her biggest secrets!" Emlyn told him through her laughter. Draco approached her, his anger rising uncontrollably with every step.
"Tell me now, or I will make you tell me," he threatened. Immediately, Emlyn stopped laughing and became serious, though a slight smile played about her lips when she warned him back.
"Don't mess with me, Malfoy. You saw what I did to Blaise last week, I won't hesitate to do the same to you," Emlyn told him.
"Then tell me," Draco towered over her impressively, but Emlyn wasn't intimidated. "And we won't have to go through all this. What did Ginny not tell me?" Draco asked Emlyn again, then made the mistake of touching her arm. Emlyn bristled and pushed him away from her.
"I shouldn't be the one to tell you, Malfoy. Don't make me angry." Emlyn smiled as she shot a body bind curse at him, but her grin disappeared quickly when Draco blocked it with a wave of his hand.
"You've already pissed me off, Emlyn. Don't make it worse for yourself." Draco said, then quickly shot a spell at her which she blocked. A still moment where their eyes locked knowingly preceded an eruption of spells and curses flung thoroughout the room. From behind the couch, Draco tried to think of a reason why he was basically revealing his strength to Emlyn when he couldn't remember why exactly they were fighting. He just knew that he was going to find out what she knew about Ginny.
Emlyn was kneeling behind an turned table, also trying to think why this fight was happening, and also trying not to be impressed with the way Draco was fighting. She was restraining all her instincts to grab at the Power that Harry supplied her with endlessly now, but she knew he would feel it and come running. This was as close as she had been to discovering Draco's hidden motives, and she wasn't about to let Harry or Lukas ruin it. Just as she thought about him, Lukas sounded in her head.
What are you doing? he asked her. I can feel you doing something.
Go back to studying, Luka. I'm figuring out what Malfoy is up to.
Be careful! Don't use the Power, whatever you do! Lukas warned her.
Yea, yea. I know. This is almost over, she told him and he was gone.
Peaking over the table, she looked for Malfoy, but couldn't see him. Suddenly she flew sideways and landed hard on her shoulder, Malfoy on top of her pinning her down to the floor.
"Tell me," he threatened, pushing down harder on her injured shoulder.
"Is this how you deal with Ginny? Because I tell you now, this is not very gentlemanly of you and I can see why she hates you," she replied, then kicked up with her legs and clasped them around his middle and forced him down off of her. Draco grabbed her free arm and twisted it around her back so she was forced to flip over onto her stomach. But as soon as he did it, his sleeve pushed back to reveal his snake tattoo. Emlyn smiled knowingly to herself.
"What do you know about Ginny?" Draco asked again.
"Why don't you ask her instead of beating it out of me?" Emlyn said, twisting backwards and bringing her knee up between them forcing Draco out of his hold.
They stood looking at each other, waiting for the other to make the first move.
"You're in love with her," Emlyn breathed. "It's so obvious. So I'll help you out, if you answer a question for me."
"You first," Draco demanded.
"Ginny and Harry have never dated. She was protecting him from his fan club so that he could live a normal life," Emlyn glared at him.
Draco was silent, and Emlyn wondered what he was thinking. The news did not seem to affect him at all, except that his cheek twitched slightly as he stared absentmindedly at her.
Inside, Draco was screaming out his frustrations and happiness and confusion. Ginny never dated Harry, but she lied to him every single day! She was protecting her friend, but why wasn't it okay for him to kiss her ever? A million questions ran through his mind as Draco absorbed the information.
He was so distracted he didn't noticed that Emlyn was staring at the revealed part of his tattoo.
"My turn," she said. "What is that?" she pointed to his arm. Draco quickly forgot Ginny when he realized what she was looking at and pulled down his robes to cover his arm.
"Nothing that concerns you," he sneered at her.
"It concerns me if you're a Death Eater," Emlyn told him.
"Why? Are you Potty's personal guard now? Figures he would have to have a little girl protect him," Draco laughed at her. Emlyn inhaled deeply, trying to control her anger.
"Don't think I haven't figure you out, Emlyn, love. I've spent seven years around that git, and that's enough to notice when another stupid hussy joins his fan club. I originally thought you had it out for that Ravenclaw bloke you are always with, but I guess Scarhead is very persuasive," Draco sneered again.
"At least I was smart enough to figure out that Ginny's not really dating him," Emlyn countered. "Whereas, you just go around destroying things."
"So you are in love with him." Draco looked at her disbelievingly.
"Of course not!" Emlyn exclaimed. "I was put in Slytherin for a reason, don't you think I have some ulterior motives?"
"A spy?"
"Maybe."
"For who?"
"Tell me who you work for."
"I don't work for anyone."
"I'm not stupid. That's some mark you've got there."
"It means nothing."
"Is that why you hide it?"
"It only draws unwanted conclusions. Do your homework before you start throwing accusations you can't back up."
"How do you know I don't have proof?"
"Because there isn't any. I'm not who you think I am. But, I'm not so sure about you. Hanging out with Potter is a pretty obvious offense against Slytherin House."
"Well, aren't you the hypocrite. You're in love with Ginny Weasley, remember? And if my homework is correct, your whole family hates everything Weasley."
Draco was silent.
"But what I don't get is what she would see in a Death Eater like you," Emlyn said.
"What's not to see? I'm handsome, I'm rich, and I'm powerful," Draco smirked at her, hoping to throw her off the subject.
"You forgot conceited," Emlyn corrected him.
"Don't bring her up again, that is my business," he said with finality.
Draco's hand was extended towards her threateningly. Emlyn stood from where she had crouched and extended her opposite hand towards him. They both stared at each other for a long moment.
"This," Draco motioned to the room in shambles, and to his tattoo "means nothing," he told her.
"So, it is true," Emlyn ignored him. "You're in with the Death Eaters."
"That is not even remotely true," Draco said convincingly, but Emlyn continued.
"You're training for something, that's why you were so beat up in December. What are you training for?"
"Ask anyone and they will tell you, Emlyn. It's common knowledge that my father wants me to be a Death Eater, but that stopped when he went to prison last month."
"He got out," she said, skeptical.
"It doesn't matter," Draco countered. "Stay out of my life and stop inventing things. You don't know what you are up against." And with that, Draco strode out of the Common room.
So... a long chapter. Make sure to leave me what you think and I promise I wont wait forever to update again. A good one is next too... Another fight, a new friendship, and a kiss (can you guess who? ;) )
So... HBP was awesome eh! I thought so too, it was def worth the wait! I promise I wont spoil anything on purpose!
And now on to my BFFs! Blue Werewolf Boy (I kinda think Ginny has a habit of boys coming to her rescue, but growing up with six brothers probably makes it hard lol. Thanks for the lovely compliments too! How did you like HBP?) neveralone89 (aah... more G/D conflict. So much fun to write! And I agree, in canon I think Draco's evil till the end. Too bad for us :( ) montequilladecacahuate (Thanks for the compliment! Ron is so cute too! Hope you liked this chapter, I think you'll like the next one especially!) Scarlet blood (Yea, HBP was a big delay, but I loved it anyway! I'm glad you liked the Emlyn and Harry kiss, she needs excuses to kiss him I think. ;) I think we might be in the same time zone! wicked lol. I'm probably wrong though) autumn sprite (thanks for the review and compliment! Yea, Draco's def got the short end of the stick on that one!) Pip08 (I was so excited for the book I got mine at like 12:30am! And I am really going to try not to spoil anything, I would feel horrible!) kitkat (I hope it didn't feel like forever this time too, sorry if it did! Im so glad you like the story and I hope you liked this chapter a lot too!) intricate simplicity (lol it wouldn't be worth it if there wasn't some conflict, eh? Oh, you're going to love the next chapter:D) Alexandria J. Malfoy (lol but they are cute stupid right? ;) I always enjoy hearing what you think! Woot! HBP gets a woot too, I think lol) celestial-gal (The showdown is next, don't tell anyone ;) And I would love any review you left me, but I am honored that its one of your longest!) Aellyr (I hope this chapter helps! Thanks so much for the review and compliments! I hope I keep hearing from you!) Frangipani Chic (I agree that H/E has been neglected, I hope this chapter helped a bit! I just love writing about D/G I get distracted lol. Thanks for the review and compliments too!) kitty (good timing eh! hope you liked this chapter!)
And a big thank you to everyone who reads! I wouldn't forget you!
Anyways, I'm off to write some more for you since we are getting closer to the end! As always, read and review and enjoy the rest of the week! -xxx