Chapter Twenty-Three:

(A/N. Well it started snowing here today and it inspired me. So yay snow. Everyone do a snow dance so we can get a blizzard and they can close school. LOL. Read and review.)

The weeks melted past and soon fall ushered in the cold winter. Draco awoke one morning to find that gentle snowflakes were falling from the sky, quickly accumulating on the ground. November had come. Draco snarled at the window and dressed in a black turtleneck and some grey slacks. He pulled his black coat on over his clothes and ran a hand through his sleep tussled hair. He glanced in the mirror and gave a satisfied nod before exiting the dormitory. By the time he had finished breakfast, the snow had amassed to more than a foot of snow. Draco walked outside glaring at the people who were playing in the snow, as happy as ever.

"Isn't this great? First snow!" A voice called. Draco sighed, why on earth did they get so overjoyed. Every year it was the same thing, as if these idiots had never seen snow.

"Look! I made a snow angel!" The red cheeked students running around in the snow irritated him more than he could say. He snarled at a couple of students frolicking through a particularly deep patch; laughter and warmth radiating from the large masses gathered outside. Draco could have sworn the whole school was outside. His bad mood had increased steadily since he had awoken and he was so caught up in his silent tirade on the cons of snow that he didn't notice that anyone was following him. He didn't even see the snowball until it had smacked him in the back of his head.

The puddles in the cave had turned to ice as the Ice Queen swept in the hail and the snow along with the cold November month. Any man would have been shivering from the cold, holding their arms against their body and clutching their cloak tighter around their body. However, Lucius Malfoy was not any man. Like so many in the Malfoy line, his father had taught him that he should never show any weakness. Admitting to the cold was of course one such a weakness. Therefore, instead, Lucius stood straight his face expressionless.

"Master Malfoy?" A timid voice said. Lucius turned toward the voice his face hidden by the hooded cloak he wore.

"Yes?" He demanded. Although the owner of the voice also wore a cloak like his, Lucius knew who his under the black cloth. Peter Pettigrew.

"The Master sent me with a message." Peter continued, his voice trembling almost as much as his small frame. The coward.

"Well? What is it?" Lucius snapped when the man failed to elaborate further. Peter trembled again.

"He said, 'It is time.'" The man repeated, straightening as he reiterated Voldemort's message. Lucius smiled in the shadows of the cave.

"Excellent. Have the others been informed?" He asked. The man's gulp was audible in the small cave.

"Yes, they are awaiting your command." He squeaked. Lucius made a small gesture of dismissal not bothering to see if the coward left. He turned toward the ebony crystal and placed one hand on the tattoo on his left forearm. Instantly he was aware of four other minds, connected to his mind through the mark.

"Brothers, let us begin." He said, knowing that they would hear him, and obey. He pulled his fingers back and dropped them into his pocket, pulling out his wand and a bag of herbs. The herbs he sprinkled around the protective circle around the crystal then he stood to the north point of the crystal. He raised his wand so that it was level with the crystal. A black tendril slithered out of his wand and connected to the stone. He could see the power beginning to fill it. Light flickered inside it and Lucius's eyes responded. "Suscitate Crystalla." He screamed and there was a blinding flash. Lucius smiled. It would take a few minutes but when the crystals were fully awakened they would connect together. Then, all hell would break loose.

Ginny giggled as she stalked behind Draco watching him glare and snarl at the students gathered around outside, playing in the soft snow. She grabbed a handful of snow and compressed it into a tight ball. She tested the weight before speeding up until she was in range. Then she threw her hand back and tossed the snowball. It hit her target right in the back of his head. Several people had been watching her progress across the courtyard and when the snowball connected with Draco Malfoy's head, they burst into laughter. Their laughter drew the attention of everyone else and soon everyone was laughing. That is until; Draco turned around and glared at them; his eyes blazing with a cold fire. The sight was enough to silence all the laughter in the courtyard. Ginny gulped, bracing herself for the explosion that was sure to follow. She watched as Draco's molten silver eyes found her amongst the crowds and saw the snow that clung to her ratty gloves. Then to her complete and utter shock, she saw the corners of Draco's mouth twitch. The whole crowd stared as Draco broke the heavy silence by giving out a loud guffaw. It wasn't a evil snigger at someone else's expense. It was a real laugh, or as real a laugh as Draco Malfoy would ever give. Ginny shook her head in disbelief. As the tension disappeared everyone went back to enjoying the snow and Draco soon stopped laughing.

"Oh, Ginny. I'm going to get you back for that one." Draco said carefully wiping the back of his head with his clearly expensive gloves. Ginny grinned slyly.

"Really? Well, you'll have to catch me first." She said and raced away, her feet kicking up the snow as she ran. She grinned as she ran. After a few minutes she slowed and turned around. Draco was still chasing her, her eyes widened as she saw the stump that he surely wouldn't see. Before she could call out a warning, her tripped and fell. His laughter cut through the air and she grinned, the laughter as contagious as any virus.

The snow clung to his pale hair and Draco brushed it             away enjoying the cool snow on his flushed skin. He had to hand it to Virginia, the girl could not only throw, she could run. He panted softly and slowly stood up, clutching his side as he gazed down at the sloping hill just behind him.

"What's the matter, old man? Did I tire you out already?" Virginia called. Draco glared at her.

"I told you I'd get my revenge." He called to her his eyes twinkling with delight and amusement.

"You've done a great job with that!" She called back. Draco growled, sending the younger girl into a new fit of laughter.

"Weasley! That wasn't even funny!" He barked. Virginia was still laughing loudly and Draco took advantage of her distraction to make a snowball and chuck it at her. She stopped laughing and stared at him, an expression of mock disbelief on her face.

"Mr. Malfoy! How dare you!" She cried indignantly. She ran over and tackled him teasingly. Draco tried to steady them but he could not and so, they tumbled down the hill together. They clung to each other and finally rolled to the bottom. Virginia was giggling, her cheeks were pink, and she had snow all in her dark hair. He reached up and pushed a strand away from her face.

"Ginny." He said, his voice husky. He didn't want to call her Virginia anymore, it was so impersonal. He wanted to be more than an acquaintance…

"Draco?" She stopped laughing and looked down at him. The world seemed to slow until it stopped. All that existed was them, and the soft snow around them. One of his hands found her slender waist the other snaked up and cupped her small neck. He leaned up and brushed his lips against her, revealing in their softness. He deepened the kiss, flicking his tongue against her closed lips. Slowly, he pulled away and gazed into her chocolate eyes. He saw pleasure turn to fear and she scrambled away. He watched, helpless as she loped back up the hill and away from him. Draco sighed and dropped his head back into the snow, wondering what had gone wrong. After a few moments, he pulled himself up and dusted the snow off of his clothes. He began the slow accent up the hill, running a hand through his hair. Suddenly, he froze. The low, ever-present, tingling feeling that always came to Draco was gone. The feeling that came from being inside the barriers that protected Hogwarts. Somehow, the barriers had fallen.

"Ginny." Draco whispered, dread filling his beautiful voice. With that he took of, his long strides eating up the ground.