Love's Talent
Chapter 20: Contestant's Distress
LunarianPrincess
A talent contest and performing class brings new alliances and blooming romance, but is a sinister force trying to prevent it from being successful?
Pairings: GW/DM; KS/DS; some HP/LL and HG/RW
SDA, I do own Darien Solaro and Kassara Saravati. This is in Ginny's sixth year and some of the characters might seem OOC, but bear with me. Feedback is appreciated, but please try to keep criticism constructive, Thanx in advance
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Last Chapter-------
"I can't…" she broke off and Draco looked at her in surprise, his eyes betraying the horror he felt, "I have to be at Quidditch practice, besides we need to talk about some things, how about you meet me tomorrow evening at the astronomy room, I can't meet you tonight I promised Kasi I'd do something for her," as soon as she had finished her statement she stood and walked out of the practice room.
Now---------------
Ginny walked off the pitch next to Kasi, neither of them said anything. They were tired and sore, but filled with a sense of accomplishment. Ginny's shoulders slumped even as her face was lit up by a smile. Her best friend was similarly contradictory in her appearance, her lovely blonde hair was limp in her pony tail and she had dirt smudges on her perfect complexion, but her eyes shone with triumph.
They trudged up the sweeping stairs at the side entrance to Hogwarts. They quickly stripped, dropping their dirty clothes on their beds. Wrapped in towels, the two of them quickly headed for the deserted bathroom. A short half an hour later they emerged freshly showered and intent on finishing their Halloween costumes, as the dance was only two weeks away.
Finally Kasi was finished with her alterations, together they headed to the common room. It was pretty deserted being a Saturday afternoon. There were only a couple of students in the common room. Ginny waved at Frederica, a first year who had asked for help in some of her classes. Ginny poured the two of them a cup of tea from the pot that sat near the fireplace. Together they grabbed their cups and huddled in the corner giggling and telling stories, as it got later more girls congregated around them. Someone brought the tea pot over and refilled their glasses. Ginny felt eyes on her and looked up uneasily. She glanced around before jade eyes burned into hers, there was a familiar and frightening message in the depths of those eyes. Ginny gave an involuntary shudder, Kasi eyed her suspiciously but Ginny gave a bright smile as she stretched and yawned.
"You know, I'm a little tired, I think I'll head off to bed." She announced. The other girls all said goodnight and wished her sweet dreams, but when Jade gave her a hug before she left she whispered "Dreams are memories we haven't had yet," Ginny gave a startled gasp and nearly ran up the stairs. She sat shivering on her bed, staring out the window at the desolate landscape. When Jade wasn't talking to her specifically she enjoyed the girl's humor and spunk, but when she spoke directly to her it was as if she were a total different person. It was like she was a snake waiting to bite.
She drew off her clothes and bundled up before climbing into bed. She was glad she had already finished her homework that night. She drifted off to sleep slowly.
V I V I V
Her eyelids drifted open to show her a horrible sight. She was tied against a wall, held up by chains as if she were a pagan sacrifice. There were candles lit all around her, and there on the floor in front of her was a crumpled body. The curly sable hair indicated that it was her newest acquaintance. Over Jade's body stood the man who had made her first year hell. He held Jade's charm as if it would ward off Ginny, he took a step towards her when a shout rang out. Voldemort turned to look over his left shoulder and all Ginny saw was a silver entity, Voldemort screamed in pain and brought the fang down into Ginny's heart. Her body flooded with pain and a scream was wrenched from her throat.
V I V I V
Ginny lurched up, breathing rapidly, her cry of terror cut off. She clutched a hand to her heaving chest, relieved to feel no puncture mark. She caught her breath, her eyes adjusting to the nighttime darkness. There was no movement from Kasi's bed and Ginny breathed a sigh of relief knowing her nightmare had not awakened her friend. Pushing her tumbled curls out of her face she slipped from her bed. She sat by the window, pondering the dream. She knew where the place was, it was obviously the Chamber. But Voldemort had appeared as he was now, a grown man, not as he had when she had been in the chamber before. And the charm, what was that significance? Her thoughts drifted as she gazed at the moonlit terrain. She stared at the gardens below her window, wondering if Jade had anything to do with her dream. That girl was a bit odd, it was like she was two different people. And she herself seemed to spark the changing, it was as if Ginny was the catalyst that caused the metamorphosis. Just then her eyes lit on a figure in the garden. It was a boy, with silver hair. She watched as Malfoy quickly navigated the gardens and met with two cloaked figures. She watched breathless as the hoods drew back to reveal a surprising sight.
V I V I V I V I V I V I V I V
He stared into the fire that was roaring in the hearth, his thought flicking through the odd occurrence that had happened in the short time they had been at Hogwarts that year. He had become a different person, he realized that. Without his father's influence he had stopped caring about so many things that had been integral in his life. He no longer hated Ginny simply for being a Weasley, he realized that each person was just that, a person. Now that wasn't going to say that he wanted to hug Potter or anything, but he was acknowledging how little he knew about the people his family hated.
Dare cut his dialogue off and ducked hastily, avoiding the owl that had just flown into the room. The familiar owl landed directly in front of Draco. When Draco grabbed the parchment, the traditional familial crest stared back at him. He looked at it in bemusement, what could his father possibly have to say to him? He looked at Dare questioningly, Dare responded with a shrug. Dare stood and left their room, heading down to the common room in order to give him some privacy.
Draco carefully broke the wax seal and eased the parchment open. He looked at the parchment in confusion. All it said was 1:00 in the rose garden. He wondered what that could mean. He knew which garden his father was talking about, it was the one right outside his door. But what could his father gain by meeting him there, especially since he wasn't supposed to be on school grounds.
He sat staring into the flames, imagining the various scenarios that would prompt his father to send him a message that instructed him to meet with him, on Hogwarts grounds no less. Soon he heard the grandfather clock chime the hour. He glanced up in surprise, he stared at the clock's face before shoving his hand irritably through his soft platinum hair. He stood and stalked into his room. Dare was up, staring blankly at a scroll of parchment, that looked like the beginnings of a Charms essay but in his agitated state Draco couldn't even tease his friend about it. He quickly pulled on black slacks and a black turtleneck, over this he twitched his black cloak lined with green silk. After frowning at Darien's questioning look he stalked out of their room. He slunk through the dungeons, skilled in this aspect of evasion. He crept silently to the stairs, stepping in the places that wouldn't cause the ancient stairs to creak. Finally he was outside, after closing his eyes and letting his mind adjust to the silence and the dark he crept towards the large rose gardens.
He kept in the shadows as he prowled the grounds, he heard many things he wouldn't care to think about. As the giant clock chimed the hour he heard a girl's toneless voice and an odd hissing sound. He walked briskly towards the sound and drew up short when he saw two cloaked and hooded figures. A shock of terror went through Draco, knowing as he did his father's plans for summer, perhaps he intended to accelerate the process. But his shock increased when the hoods were drawn back.
V I V I V I V I V I V
Wow, I have 100 reviews! Thank you so much you guys! Your support was integral in me continuing this fic. My last high school show is over now and graduation is fast approaching, I hope to make my updating a little more regulated so you won't have to wait forever for the next chapter like you have before. Again I just want to say that you guys are the best!
Please write any ideas you have about the story in your review because I love to have feedback! What do you think so far? Should I just get to the climax or would you like to see more of what happens to Ginny and Draco?
This fic seems to be losing interest so I just wanted to know if the readers wanted me to continue... I really appreciate you reading and if you want me to skip to the action I will...in just one chapter…please review