Love's Talent
Chapter 21: Contestant's Withhold
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-------
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.
Now---------------
Jade's deep chestnut hair spilled out from her hood. Her jade eyes were wide and blank. Draco suppressed his surprise and faced the two figures emotionlessly. He affected an unconcerned posture and hooded his eyes, trying to conceal the fact that his mind was racing
"It is good to see you again, son," Lucius's sickeningly sweet sentiment was tempered by his haunted face and terrifyingly inhuman eyes. He slowly surveyed his father's appearance. He looked haggard and his clothes were rumpled and stained. Draco almost laughed at the incongruous memory he had of his father as a child, an impeccably dressed man who cared more for appearances than family. Draco tilted his head in response to the statement. "Now, to get to the point, no doubt you are wondering why your friend's sister is here," Draco said nothing, impassively he adjusted the watch on his wrist, projecting an air of impatience.
"Is that all we're here for," Draco's droll voice seemed to amuse his father, as his maniacal smile grew wider. Draco felt a frisson of fear trickle down his spine.
"Partly, you see your friend's sister has become an integral part of Voldemort's return, without her none of this would be possible. But we are also here to ensure your cooperation, the death eaters figured you would be more agreeable if we could offer some sort of protection for those who are close to you. Darien Solaro is a close friend and his sister is close to you as well so we figure the two of you would do anything to ensure her safety, not to mention that Jade has become ingrained with your friends at school, and could ruin everything on that front, she also knows of the women in your life though she would not reveal it to me, Voldemort is in a position to remove all opposition so I would advise not interfering in my plans, son," the last was said as a threat though it was a veiled one. Draco actually felt his heart drop as he thought about Kasi and Ginny if anything happened to them because they associated with him and he was the reason they got hurt Dare would never forgive him, let alone the fact that he could never forgive himself.
"Let me get this straight, Jade pretends to have knowledge about a girl I, a Malfoy, apparently care for, was she not informed that Malfoy's have no feelings," he said this evenly, meeting his fathers gaze squarely.
"Son, a good bed warmer is something you should keep around, you never know when they come in handy," Draco almost breathed a sigh of relief, his father figured this mysterious girl was only a dalliance not a friendship. As he thought this a strange thing struck him, he actually cared, he was worried that his association with Ginny could hurt her, and it wasn't a selfish feeling either. He actually cared for the girl, what a horrible time to realize this.
"That is true, very well, I do not currently see a reason to interfere," with this enigmatic statement he turned on his heel and strode quickly away from his father. His mind was racing, struggling to find a way for him to make sure that Ginny wouldn't be harmed as a result of his father's crackpot schemes. He hurried back to his rooms and gratefully noted that Darien had gone to sleep already.
Draco stared blankly out the window as the sun came up, he had come up with a plan. It all hinged on his ability to conceal his feelings, which were just beginning to surface, so he figured it would be relatively easy. He would just fool Ginny into believing that he had been toying with her, he just hoped that she wouldn't castrate him, as he now knew the true extent and force of her temper. He also counted on his ability to suppress and hide any remnant emotions caused by her. Little did he know how much he was underestimating everyone involved.
I V O V I
Ginny stared blankly at the ceiling, she had just witnessed a very disturbing site, and she didn't know if what she had seen was real or the imaginings of an overstressed imagination. Her mind kept playing images of Malfoy and jade and his father, she didn't have very many memories of Jade but those of his father were not particularly good, and if he was involved she didn't know what to do.
Her first instinct was to ignore them all, but then her newfound trust in Malfoy prevailed, she would find out what had happened the previous night. She stood and went back to bed, curling up in the now cool sheets she was determined to find out the truth about the new girl and her reason for being seen with Draco's father.
Ginny opened her eyes, shocked to find she had actually fallen asleep. The sun shone brightly through the open curtains and Ginny looked at them confused, hadn't she closed them before she had returned to her bed. Then it hit her, the SUN, she had slept in what time was it?
I V O V I
Ginny was not surprised that throughout the day, though she had many classes with Jade and Draco she did not get a chance to talk to them at all. It seemed that they walked in together right before the beginning of class and disappeared before she could get to them at the end of class. Finally, forgetting about her confusion and distrust she went to dinner. After dinner she went to the room and was surprised to find Draco alone there, he just looked at her started the music and motioned for her to start with him.
Ginny felt uncomfortable as they began to dance, but soon she fell into the familiar rhythm of the movements. She noticed that throughout his instruction Draco seemed preoccupied, and she made up her mind. She knew that what she was going to say would probably hurt him, but she had to be honest if she wanted to continue being his friend.
"What do you really KNOW about Jade? I mean, she's been acting very oddly, I don't think she likes me," Ginny asked after he had taught her the last steps of the dance. She looked up at him, glad she had decided to trust him. Her spirits dropped as she saw him go rigid and look at her in shock.
"You're just being paranoid, I told you, you have no reason to be jealous of my relationship with her," he answered painfully. He looked beyond her and saw Jade looking on menacingly from the doorway. His resolve hardened, and he did not retract his statement.
"Is that what you think, that I'm just a paranoid, jealous girl?" Ginny demanded breathlessly. Her eyes were haunted and filled with hurt, Draco ached to reassure her that wasn't what he thought but he must protect her.
"Well, you don't seem to trust me, so am I to trust you now, how do I know that if I don't agree with you that you won't tell somebody about Crup?" he shouted accusingly, a sneer in place on his flawless features. Ginny gasped as he yelled this at her, tears flooding her eyes.
"Malfoy, no matter how angry or hurt I was I would never tell anybody, that is your business and yours alone, besides I would never betray a friend's confidence," she responded softly. She looked at him searchingly before leaving the room. He watched her leave with regret and pain. He hardened his resolve to keep her safe and regretfully left the room, knowing she would not return.
I V O V I
Okay, I know I haven't updated in ages and I'm really sorry, there really is no excuse, I should never have let this go so long because now I'm having a hard time finding inspiration for it. Sorry this chap was so short, I'm just trying to find a way to bring it to the climax soon, so please suggest anything you think would make the story better by reviewing!
And thank you to all of you who review…you really keep me going