Chapter Nine- Guilty Confessions
"This masque is going to be the highlight of the year," Lucy predicted walking into the dormitory. She threw a heap of bags on her bed and turned to her roommates.
"I am so tired! Lucy, you dragged us all around the village today. Do you think we could rest just a bit," Naomi feigned and collapsed onto her bed. Daveigh and Ashley both followed dramatically. Lucy laughed at her friends and began to dance around the room, holding up part of her costume to herself and admiring the reflection.
"No seriously you guys, our costumes are going to be the best ones there," Lucy continued, "I mean we didn't even see anyone from Hogwarts in that new shop! Unless they went in before we did. Anyways, I feel good about what I got. I ought to attract some attention." She went to the trunk at the end of her bed and carefully placed the costume inside.
Naomi began to unpack her purchases and put them away. Soon, the others followed suit and with a flash they were all done. Ginny suddenly walked into the room looking very bright eyed at her friends.
"Well look what the cat drug in," Ashley commented, "Someone had a good day I imagine."
"Yeah Gin," Lucy teased, "we didn't see you all day. Did you have that much fun with Dean?"
Ginny blushed and walked over to her bed. She didn't know quite what to say to her friends, but to keep the farce going would include fast thinking and great acting on her part.
"Oh my goodness, I had such a great time," Ginny said energetically, "we went all over Hogsmeade, I even found a great costume. I'd show you but then it would spoil the surprise. So….anything interesting happen to you ladies today?"
"Nothing special, although we did get a glimpse of Luna's cousin today," said Ashley, "you know come to think of it, Daveigh he was looking at you a great deal."
All four girls turned to Daveigh who tried to pretend she was pre-occupied by a book.
"I have no idea what you mean. He is such a jerk. I swear, he's so much like Malfoy, you'd think they were brothers! How that is related to Luna is a mystery to me," she said avoiding the subject of Geoff staring.
"No kidding, he seems so sexy and smooth," Lucy dreamily said, "now I wouldn't mind being stared at with eyes like his. They remind me of cool ice that just melts down your back or something."
"Ooh, now who's making me feel hot," Ginny laughed, "so Naomi, you haven't said much, did you have a good time today?"
Naomi shrugged her shoulders and instead walked out of the room. Ginny turned to her roommates who gave her looks of 'I have no idea what's wrong with her.'
'I hope this doesn't have to do with Dean and me,' Ginny thought to herself.
At dinner that evening Ginny tried again to engage Naomi who continued to ignore her. Ginny instead thought to leave well enough alone.
'It'll all be worth it once the ball arrives,' Ginny contemplated. She also noticed that Malfoy hadn't looked her way the entire evening. Feeling defeated she trudged up to her dorm and despite Daveigh's insistence that she study for an exam they had in History of Magic that Monday, the best thing for her was to sleep.
Ginny grateful for the quiet put on a pair of her favorite pajamas and curled up into her bed. Pulling the curtain shut that hung around her bed, Ginny finally laid in between her soft covers that smelled like home.
'How did I get myself into this,' Ginny thought, 'I'm afraid this situation will get out of hand and I'll not only lose my friend, but Draco too. I'll just have to tell Dean the deal is off and figure out some other way to get close to Draco.'
Turning over on her side and drawing the covers up over her head she drifted off to sleep.
dream
She continued down the dark hallway keeping her footsteps light as she guided her way towards the door. Her wand, held tightly in her right hand, was pointed out in front; ready for whatever would block her path. Ginny continued on and listened cautiously for the littlest noise that would hint that she wasn't alone. Finally she reached the door, and breathing a sigh of relief she hit the button that would allow her entrance into the room.
She walked in and proceeded to the bookshelf and grabbed the book which kept the key hidden. Taking the key within her palms she glanced at it.
Ginny scrutinized the detail of the key; it was a large skeleton key, gold, and contained an interesting swirl design on the handle end. The edge that would usually fit into a keyhole was odder than any key she'd seen before. Instead of the natural jagged pattern, she noticed that it was rounded half-moon shapes, small crescents that were connected together.
'This is odd. I can't imagine what this would go to,' she thought. Ginny took the time to explore more of the room. She wandered over to the bookshelf and peered at the books. After searching through most of the books on the shelf, she saw that none had titles on the band, or on the cover.
"How would I know what book the key is hidden behind?" she said aloud to herself. Suddenly, the sound she dreaded erupted from behind the door.
"He's here," she whispered, "I've got to get out!"
She decided not to waste time and quickly put a charm on the key. It was one she never used before in her classes or at school for that matter, but for some reason she knew exactly how to perform it. The key in her hand warmed slowly, and she started to feel the familiar pull through her belly button and she closed her eyes tightly. Just as the door to the room slammed open, she disappeared. Ginny opened her eyes and continued tunneling through a portal which suddenly came to an end. Where she ended up was the last place she expected...
She was…..
Right where she started…outside the door to the room she just left. She could hear the intruder inside rummaging through things. Using her instincts, she turned the opposite way and began to run quickly down the hall. She ran for a while, finding her way through the dark musty hallway which seemed to have no end. Suddenly she stumbled upon a staircase.
'This is where it begins,' she thought, 'if I can find where I started, perhaps I'll know where I am.' Ginny slowly climbed the staircase, feeling the wall around her. She noticed this wall was made of smooth bricks which felt wet to the touch. The staircase continued to spiral around her and after a while, she started getting tired.
"I have to keep going before he gives up and comes up after me," she thought and tried not to panic. Her insistence at escaping kept her going until she finally reached the top. A great door stood between her and her freedom. Ginny tried the door in front of her and found it locked.
"Ok, let's try 'Alohomora," she said. That didn't work either. Instead she began to panic and pulled on the door knob. "Please please open, I need to get out..." she whined willing the door to open.
"Wait!" she exclaimed, "I wonder…." She decided to try the mysterious key that she still didn't know the function of. Taking it out she looked at it and then compared it to the keyhole of the door.
They were incredibly different. The keyhole was small, but the key in her hand was so much bigger.
'Can this get any worse,' Ginny thought. For some reason though, she felt this wasn't the end and decided to try her luck. She took the key and started to insert it in the hole. The key began to glow and grow warm in her hand. It became unbearably hot but still she didn't let go. Suddenly, the key began to take the shape of the keyhole and slid miraculously into it. Ginny leapt with joy and turned the key. The door sprung open and she quickly took the key out of the lock and went into the room, shutting the door and locking it behind her. All of a sudden the key became cold and resumed its old shape.
Ginny looked bemused at where she was. "I can't believe it," she said out loud.
She continued to feel warmth all over her body as he leaned over her.
"Are you sure about this," he said peering deep into her brown eyes.
She nodded, "yes Draco…..please make love to me…"
Draco leaned in and began to kiss her. Her heart beat uncontrollably as his tongue drifted over her lips, trying to pry them open. Ginny kept them tightly shut. He laughed within the kiss and continued to explore her mouth with his experienced lips, pressing his body into hers. Ginny felt the heat of his body pressing against her and was afraid of the way he felt but was eager and curious to move on.
Draco turned over to the side bringing them parallel to each other, keeping the kissing intact. Ginny felt herself slipping into oblivion unaware of what happened; she just concentrated on the feel of his glorious mouth on hers but continued to keep her mouth closed shut.
She began to feel him reaching under her blouse, and he snuck his hand beneath her cotton bra. He began to caress her breasts…at this action Ginny gasped which forced her mouth open. He took this opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth, drinking in the soft warm taste within. Ginny tried to pull away at his intrusion but began to slip back under his spell. With the assault he performed on her breasts and her mouth, all she could think of was the wonderful feeling that overtook her. She began to moan deeply which made Draco continue the ministrations upon her body.
Each time he did this, Ginny sucked her breath in and let out one moan. Draco stopped kissing Ginny and paid close attention to the action he performed. They lay side by side, pulled close to each other, her shirt hung off her shoulders, buttons undone and both breasts stuck out pressed close to him.
'When did he do that,' Ginny brought her thoughts to her undone buttons. All reason aside, she continued to allow him access to her breasts.
Draco stared into Ginny's pale and beautiful face. He stopped abruptly and turned Ginny onto her back and got on top of her. He looked into her eyes which pleaded for him to continue.
"You saucy little minx," he teased, "Tell me what you want me to do." He kept his hands on either side of her, using his muscles to hold himself over her quivering body. Ginny's breath came out in short pants, lips bruised from kissing.
There were so many things she wanted him to do, she couldn't think of what next. All she knew was that he stopped and she wanted more...more of his hands on her body.
"Don't stop…," she suddenly said with surprise.
Draco smirked at the surprise on her face.
He stopped and drew his hand beneath her short pleated skirt. Instead of pulling it up, he slipped his hands underneath it. She blushed at the thought of Draco touching her.
Ginny slipped deep into ecstasy, and she began to shake uncontrollably, toes burying themselves deep into the bed. Draco's forehead perspired; he was whispering things Ginny never dreamed she would hear anyone say...
Suddenly she felt the earth move beneath her, her mind drifted into oblivion like she's never known before; all she knew was that the man she loved was making her feel unbelievable. Ginny called out Draco's name, shouted it louder than she ever did, letting the world know he made his mark on her.
Ginny sat up in bed. She looked around her, trying to adjust her eyes to the environment around her. She sat in a cold sweat; hand over her mouth at what just happened.
'He….he was right here, I swear it,' Ginny thought. Seeing that no one lay with her, she pulled back the curtain on her bed. Sunlight streamed into her eyes, and Ginny squinted at it. She took at the other four beds in her dorm, all were empty. She sighed with relief.
"What if I called out his name," she said out loud and slid out of bed.
"Oh!" Ginny blushed and found a pair of knickers on the floor next to her bed.
"I hope Daveigh didn't see these," Ginny snatched them up and left the room quickly to prepare for breakfast.
"You say you saw the key this time," Daveigh questioned and pulled out a small notebook. The two girls sat in their favorite corner in the common room that evening.
"What's that for," Ginny said pointing to the notebook.
"Oh, well…I know you will probably find this silly, but I have been writing down every detail you've told me about your dreams," Daveigh said, "This is the first time you described what the key looks like. And I find it fascinating that it assumed the shape of the lock that it needed to fit in." She began to write this explanation quickly in her notebook, glasses falling down her nose.
"Dava, this is ridiculous," Ginny responded, "I mean I still have no idea what this dream has to do with. All I know is that this stupid imprint is still in my hand, and I have to wear gloves! I mean do you know how it feels having to come up with an excuse to tell my brother why I wear them everyday. This is so frustrating. And these dreams….they become more and more mysterious! First, I see an old woman getting the key and then disappearing. Then I am the old woman and I get the key and disappear. Next I am outside the door, and I get cursed by the nameless and faceless man in my dreams and find myself with Malfoy in the sixth floor corridor sleepwalking. I have nightmares about the stupid dream not only at night, but during the day which causes me to drop everything I am doing. And then last night the puzzle continues, nothing new happens but me escaping out from where I came from and I see the key and use it to unlock a door which leads to god knows where. Dava, I don't know what to do. I mean I can't go to Professor McGonagall with this. You're the only one who knows about this, and Draco probably thinks I'm odd after he found me sleepwalking."
Ginny rested her hands over her eyes. Daveigh walked over to her friend and gave her a hug.
"You're really having a tough time with this. I'm so sorry Gin; I am doing the best I can. The one time I get into the restricted section, I don't find anything that can help. So now we're back to square one." She went back to her notebook and began to read the details of Ginny's past dreams.
"Wait! Ginny…..there is one connection we haven't considered through all of your dreams," Daveigh said excitedly, "but it's not what I think you want to hear right now. Not with you and Dean dating….." She looked over at the 6th year boy deep in conversation with Neville and Harry near the fireplace.
"Ginny…I think you need to talk to Malfoy again. For some reason, I feel like it begins and ends with him." Ginny looked madly at her friends observation but let her continue.
"I mean, the first time you have this dream, you thought about Malfoy before hand. All the other times, was he on your mind?" Ginny nodded.
"Now, last night, did you think or dream about him again?" Daveigh asked on the edge of her seat.
"Yes," Ginny said but this time blushed when she recalled the events in her dream last night.
Daveigh said nothing at her friends red face and wrote this in her journal.
"There's one more thing you should know Gin," Daveigh said bracing herself for the explosion she was about to expect, "I…I kind of mentioned things to Harry." Daveigh closed her eyes and cringed at the expected eruption. When nothing happened, she opened one eye. Instead she saw Ginny's mouth wide open in an "oh" shape.
"Now Gin, I know what you must be thinking, but he would understand these dreams you've been having. I mean, he's dreamt about you-know-who, and then traveling through the department of mysteries last year, and the thing with your dad almost dying, I thought he'd be the perfect person to consult."
"So that's why he's been asking me those weird questions," Ginny said, "I thought the whole time he was being knocked in the head too much by bludgers. I was going to suggest a visit to Madame Pomfrey but….I think I'm the one who needs it."
"Come on Ginny, its not as bad as you think. I made him promise not to tell Ron or Hermione. And as you know, he's kept that promise else your brother would be reacting irrationally if he did know. But right now, and Harry agrees, you need to talk to Dumbledore."
Ginny scoffed at this. "Dava, I am not going to Dumbledore. He has too much on his plate to worry about something silly like this."
Daveigh looked worriedly at her friend. "Gin, you should think about this. Harry agrees what didn't work with him last year; perhaps you-know-who is trying to work through you. Maybe that key is to a weapon of some sort; Harry said it could be something worse than death itself. Remember Tom Riddle and the diary."
"How could I forget that," Ginny murmured to herself and tried not to drudge up the old memories from her first year.
"Anyway, just think about it. It could be important…….On a lighter note, are you finally going to tell me about you and Dean?"
Ginny looked over at her friend. She couldn't believe how fast she could change subjects.
"Not again! Daveigh, I promise after the ball you will know everything." Ginny then thought to herself, 'I guess the plan is back on.' After the dream she had about Malfoy the night before, she wanted to see if perhaps he was as skilled with his hands and mouth in real life. 'Wait I already know…' she reflected.
"Gin, do you know anything about Luna's cousin," Daveigh asked.
Ginny looked at her friend with surprise.
"Well…..from what Luna told me, he is the only person in her family ever sorted into Slytherin," Ginny mentioned, "and he is a troublemaker. I heard that he slept this way through most of the Ravenclaw girls, except for Cho and Luna of course. He dated Padma Patil last year…..but I guess he didn't get far with her."
Daveigh looked shocked at the details Ginny shared with her. Ginny suddenly said to Daveigh, "But….I mean some are rumors of course, I mean the Slytherin thing is true, and he did date Padma, but the other thing, I have no idea."
"Well….I was just curious, it's no big deal. Not that I'm interested in him or anything," Daveigh said nonchalantly. She brought her attention to the History of Magic textbook. "Now what do you say to some studying now Gin!"
Ginny groaned, "Come on Dava!" Ginny protested but finally gave in to her friend.
'A little bit of studying never hurt anything,' Ginny thought, trying to concentrate on reading, her mind full of visions of Draco's form towering over her……
I will find you.