Chapter Ten:
(A/N. Hey everyone. I'm back from England but I just thought I'd let you know on what the deal is with the sequel. My laptop just got stolen so, well, my story is gone. It's going to take some time to get the story rewritten. So please be patient and I'm very sorry for the delay. Not my fault though. Love, the author.)
Draco moaned as he opened his eyes. He had managed to flip over as he fell and land on his side instead of his back. He closed his eyes as dust and pieces of wood continued to rain down on him. Slowly silence filled the air and Draco sat up, knowing that the bruise on his side was his only injury. He looked over and saw Virginia sprawled on the floor. He stood up and walked over to her.
"Weasley." He said but she didn't move. He brushed the hair from her face and saw that she was breathing and he let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Come on, Virginia, get up." He muttered. She stirred and groaned loudly, clutching her left arm to her chest. She opened her eyes and chocked back a sob. He looked down and saw that her forearm was swollen. She must have landed on it and broken it. He ran a hand over her legs and saw her wince as he gingerly touched her right ankle. "Can you move it?" He asked and the ankle moved slightly.
"Yes, but it hurts." She said. He sighed; she must have sprained it then. He reached instinctively for his wand and then realized that Snape had both their wands. He cursed and looked around, grabbing a long piece of wood. He pulled off his silk shirt and started to cut it into strips using his teeth and a nail he had found among the debris. Using his supplies he crudely bandaged Virginia's hurt arm. Then he remembered that one of the items on his half of the list was Aconite Balm which had pain-numbing properties. He pulled it out of his pocket and opened the jar. He quickly applied it to her arm and then carefully removed her shoe and sock and smeared it on her ankle. He sat near her head and gently brushed her hair. Slowly her sobs subsided as the balm took effect and she looked up at him.
"Thank you." She whispered, Draco was about to respond when he heard a strange sound. He frowned, straining to hear.
"Did you hear that?" He demanded. She sat up and listened too. The sound came again.
"It sounds like…"Virginia said and he looked back at her noticing the fear in her eyes. "A roar."
"I don't have a gen what's making that sound but I'm not sticking around to find out. Let's leg it." Draco said, and without another word he scooped Virginia up in his arms.
"Put me down! I can walk!" She protested weakly. Draco snorted and started walking away from the large hole they had fallen through.
"Not bleeding likely." He answered. The hallway they had landed in was dark and damp and Draco would bet the Malfoy fortune that they were under the lake. There was no light since the torch had gone out when they had fallen but luckily, the light from the torches he had lit earlier on cast enough illumination down below for Draco to see by.
"I don't think this place has been used since Hogwarts' founders were here." Draco mused out loud. Virginia stiffened in his arms and he frowned down at her, but her face was turned away. He left her alone, knowing how irritating it was when people pried. The roar came again, from closer now and Draco looked at the walls hoping to find a stairway to escape this strange hallway. A few agonizing minutes later, he saw a door up ahead. He approached it and opened the door awkwardly, still holding Virginia's slender form.
"Blast it." Draco cursed. The door led into a small, narrow closet, not a stairwell as Draco had hoped. The roar that resounded through the circular hall was much closer now. Draco glanced down into the dark but saw nothing but stone walls. "Looks like we're going to have to hide in here." Draco muttered as he set Virginia down and pushed them both inside, shutting the door behind them and locking it. The two lithe forms were now extremely close and compressed against the walls and each other.
"Draco…"Virginia began but Draco quickly repositioned himself and clasped a hand over her mouth. His other arm was around her slender waist holding them both upright and still. Virginia's unharmed hand was holding his upper arm and the other lay limply to her side, her weight resting on her uninjured leg. He pulled his hand back and put a finger to his lips. He cocked his head to the side and could hear heavy footsteps slowly coming closer. He heard Virginia gulp and subconsciously pulled her closer. They were now so close that their foreheads were almost touching. Draco could feel Virginia's warm breath on his lips. The little light that came in through the door allowed Draco to see Virginia with his excellent night vision. Long, curling lashes cascading on smooth skin. Adorable freckles dotted her nose and cheekbones. Honey-brown eyes and tantalizing, pink lips…Draco started to lean closer, wanting to taste her perfectly sculpted lips, when a loud snort startled them both. The monster was right outside of the door. Unbearable moments later, the beast moved on and soon the footsteps could no longer be heard.
"I think it's gone." Virginia whispered her voice hoarse. Draco nodded and reached over, opening the door carefully and peering out. He went back and picked up his companion trying to ignore the way the firelight from the torches above made her look like a goddess of fire. He followed the monster's path, his footsteps completely inaudible. A few minutes later, Draco discovered a large iron door. He opened it and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it lead to a spiralling staircase. He went in and closed the door behind him, dropping them into complete darkness. He waited until his eyes adjusted then started ti climb, hoping to leave the strange thoughts he had in that closet down below.
Ginny stared up at Draco, her head resting on his bare chest. A while back when he had bandaged her arm she had been most embarrassed to find that her eyes kept falling to his perfect, pale skin and his taut muscles. She sighed heavily. What had happened in that closet? What had she been thinking? Draco was a Slytherin and it was not only the invisible barrier between their very different houses that separated them. Their families were bitter enemies, and the Malfoys were dark wizards bred for destruction. Even so, Ginny had gotten lost in Draco's clear silver-blue eyes and nothing in the whole world had mattered but to feel his lips on hers. She looked away, unable to bear Draco's cold expression any longer. He didn't even look at her. Ginny closed her eyes and stared to doze off to Draco's rhythmic steps.
"There's a door up ahead." Draco said, jerking Ginny awake. She turned her head and saw nothing but darkness but she guessed that they must have reached a landing. She wondered at Draco's ability to see in the dark but made no comments. Draco set Ginny down and she leaned on the wall as he walked away. She heard the whining of an old door being forced open on its rusted hinges, and then soft light spilled into the landing. Draco came back and pulled her up again and Ginny marvelled silently at the strength in his lightly sculpted muscles.
"Where does the door lead?" She asked. He glanced down at her briefly before turning his attention forward again.
"Outside. I'm not sure where."
"You can leave me here and go get help." She said softly noticing the sweat building up on his smooth skin, and trying not to notice how it made his muscles glisten.
"I'm not leaving…I'm fine." He said curtly and she sighed. They finally arrived before the large doors that led into the school and Draco opened them, maneuvering her body so he could. He carried her up the marble steps and Ginny realized he was taking her to the infirmary.
"Shouldn't we check in with Snape or Dumbledore first?"
"I'll do it later. I'm taking you to the infirmary first." Draco replied simply. Madame Pompfrey fussed over Ginny's wrist and ankle as soon as Draco set her down on a bed. Ginny started to explain what had happened but Madame Pompfrey said there would be time for that later and bustled away. Ginny turned to thank Draco for all his help but found that he had left without a word. Feeling lost and immensely tired, she lay back into the pillows and fell asleep.