Chapter Twelve- Electric
Ginny stood in front of the great door pulling at the door knob. 'Why do I feel like I've been here before,' she quickly thought and kept trying to pry it open.
She listened very carefully to the sounds around her. If she heard one creak of noise on the staircase behind her, she would know that the intruder was closing in on her. Ginny quickly tried 'Alohomora' with her wand and found that she was still locked out.
'Why is it that there are more locked doors than unlocked ones?' she asked herself. Ginny slowly slid to the floor and pulled out the key which started it all. She examined it again looking for any clues to what its purpose was. Ginny began to vaguely remember the last time she was at this point. She stood up quickly with alarm and with instinct, fit the key into the lock in front of her. It easily slid into the small keyhole, and she turned the knob.
"I can't believe it," she said out loud. Ginny stood in her dormitory. The mysterious door from the other side was really a floor-length mirror she and her dorm mates shared and looked into each day. Ginny looked behind her: the stairwell remained dark with no sound of noise coming from beyond. She turned back to the room she slept in every night and walked around, looking to see if anything was different and out of place. She drew her fingers across each bed post, looking to see if the initials she and her dorm mates carved into the beds were there. Sure enough, she saw the initials D.P. carved into the bedpost on Daveigh's bed.
Ginny sat down on the bed and looked with confusion all around her.
'Why is this passageway in my room? How could any of us not have noticed it in five years?' Among the silence, she pondered this thought. Ginny looked towards the door and stared at it with confusion. She slowly walked over to the mirrored door and quickly shut it.
She began to closely examine the frame of the mirror. Yes, she looked in it everyday just like the rest of her friends, but the frame didn't seem out of the ordinary: it was copper in color, with carved vines and flowers which ran all along the frame. Ginny ran her fingers over the detail, pressing the middle of each flower, wondering if perhaps doing so would open the door. After a few minutes, she gave up after searching every flower. Ginny defeated fell onto Daveigh's bed and glanced over at her friend's dressing table. A book lay open, and Ginny curiously turned it over to read the title:
'The Secret Key' Olivia Locke.
"Olivia, Olivia, why does that name ring a bell?" she said out loud to herself. All of a sudden she heard a noise from the other side of the mirror.
Ginny tip-toed quietly over to the mirrored door- It was the intruder! Ginny pressed her body against the mirror, hoping to keep him from coming through. She was able to hold the door closed with the continued pounding on the other side, but soon she began to lose her strength. Her body began to slowly sink downward to the floor, weary. As she sat with her back pressed against the door, the room around her began to sway in front of her eyes then became dark...
Draco ran straight out of the great hall, made his way through the entrance hall and up the marble stairs. He suddenly stopped himself.
'What am I doing,' he thought catching his breath.
When it came to Ginny Weasley, nothing made any sense. From the first moment he happened to really look at her was when he stood outside of the Great Hall those months ago- he never thought he'd be chasing after her like a crazed lunatic. He had one chance encounter with her one night, after the muggle-lover screamed through the school. Memories of her soft lips and body pressed against him filled his mind, and heat rushed through his body.
Draco snapped out of his fantasy and looked around. He glanced up at the various moving staircases overhead. 'Where should I start?' he thought.
It was necessary that he locate her, and quickly. From the moment he noticed her missing from the ball, he had gotten a sick feeling in his stomach. Draco instinctively drew his hand to the necklace his mum had given him years ago. It was a small key, an odd trinket that his mom insisted he wear. He felt a bit of comfort holding on to the memory of when he first received it. After a bit, he decided to continue to search for Ginny. When he reached the 6th floor, he stopped.
'Perhaps she's here,' he thought and walked down the dark hallway. The candle decorations from the ball drifted by and remained lit which created dancing shadows as he made his way slowly past the unused classrooms.
The only sound came from his rapid breathing from running up six flights of stairs. Draco drew his wand out and prepared to use it as a precaution. He passed the empty classrooms and closets looking for light, a sign of movement or sound, anything that could give away her location. For some reason he felt that she was around here somewhere- it had something to do with the last time he encountered her alone. Draco soon came close to the end of the hallway and reached the door he had found Ginny in front of the last time.
Unfortunately for him, the way was clear. Draco was about to turn around and give up when he heard a thump from inside the room. He immediately tried the doorknob, and to his surprise it opened easily. Draco slid into the dark unused classroom, quickly lighting his wand.
"Lumos."
He started towards the front of the classroom, shining the wand light around himself, watching his every step. He reached the front of the classroom and shined the tip around the perimeter, and came to a section of the wall where a large tapestry hung. He drew the light over it, and continued moving it downward to the floor. Lying in front of the tapestry was Ginny Weasley.
"I-I had a great time with you," Daveigh stammered. She and Geoff were the last few people remaining in the great hall, and Filch was making idle threats to those who were left.
Geoff replied, "I think we better say goodnight elsewhere before Filch decides to give us detention."
The pair made their way out of the great hall quickly, and wandered over to the marble staircase. Daveigh shuffled her feet around, waiting for one of them to say something.
"Well I had a great time too," Geoff said, "Has anyone ever told you that you have the most amazing eyes I've ever seen."
Daveigh's cheeks turned deep red at this compliment. Geoff began to lean in closely, and as he did this Daveigh closed her eyes and held her breath. Her heart hammered against her chest as Geoff's lips descended onto hers. This was her second kiss ever- it felt more passionate than the first one he gave her earlier after the mask reveal. Geoff's tongue slipped into Daveigh's open lips and began to caress the inside of her mouth. She tasted like buttered rum, and he continued to peruse the inside of her mouth. Behind them someone cleared their throat and the two broke apart quickly. Blaise Zabini stood there linked arm in arm with Pansy Parkinson, looking very much amused at the situation.
"Looks like Lovegood's snagged a new lady," Blaise commented to Pansy. Pansy's eyes took in the pair which was looking everywhere but at each other. Geoff looked livid at the interruption.
"So Pansy, looks like you didn't make out too bad tonight. I imagine you were the one who started that rumor about Weasley and Thomas in the first place. Too bad it backfired on you tonight, Thomas is with someone new, and I think Draco decided to pursue Weasley," Geoff lashed out.
Pansy's face became red with anger, and she was about to respond when Daveigh interrupted.
"Geoff, I better go," Daveigh turned and began to make her way upstairs. Geoff threw Pansy a look of 'contempt, and rushed to catch up with the self-conscious Gryffindor.
"Daveigh- I'm sorry about that, I didn't want our night to end like this. But if you like, we could meet tomorrow. In the library, after lunch?"
Daveigh nodded and Geoff leaned in and kissed her again which left Daveigh light as a feather. "Till tomorrow…" he finished and made his way down the stairs. Daveigh leaned against the wall of the staircase and breathed a sigh. 'What an amazing night! I can't wait to see him tomorrow…..' She turned to continue up the stairs when she heard talking below her.
Curious, she tip-toed down the stairs and peered around the corner. Near the entrance to the dungeon, she espied Geoff, Pansy, and Blaise standing at the entrance.
"When did you become interested in little miss know it all?" Pansy asked. Daveigh began to fume but waited to see how Geoff would respond.
"I didn't know you liked girls who wore coke-bottle glasses," Blaise retorted. He drew his arm around Pansy and whispered in her ear. Geoff stood there, his face expressionless. After a while he replied.
"Just another conquest to me," he replied to the couple, "You should've seen how I had her eating out of my hand by the end of the night." Pansy giggled when Blaise nuzzled her neck with his nose. "Ugh, will you two get a room." Geoff said and continued down into the dungeons with the couple trailing behind him.
Daveigh remained on the staircase staring at the empty space. Her heart felt like it was breaking into little pieces, and tears began to roll down her cheeks. She drew off her twin peaks, and sat down on the staircase.
"So I'm just another conquest, huh Geoff," Daveigh muttered underneath her breath, "we'll just have to see about that."
She wiped her eyes, took a deep breath and marched up the steps, determination in her eyes.
Ginny slowly opened her eyes and tried to sit up. She could hear voices around her but she couldn't tell who they belonged to. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light as she glanced up at the ceiling. She now knew who the voice belonged to.
"I came as soon as I heard how is she?" Ron asked with alarm. Madame Pomfrey who was stacking bottles of rejuvenating potions in a cabinet, gave him a look at the noise he was making.
"Mr. Weasley remember this is a hospital, please lower your voice." She glanced over at Hermione who had a hand placed on Ron's shoulder to calm him down. Harry stood further in the background near the door.
"Please Madame Pomfrey, is my sister going to be ok?"
Madame Pomfrey looked at the trio and finally answered, "She'll be fine Mr. Weasley, and she collapsed in a classroom on the 6th floor." Hermione drew in a sharp breath. Madame Pomfrey gave a look to her, and continued on, "as of now she is still asleep, nothing else seems to be wrong with her. When she first arrived here, her dreams made her restless and she kept talking in her sleep, so I administered a dreamless sleep potion. If it weren't for Mr. Malfoy, I'm not sure how long it would've been before anyone found her."
Ron sat down on one of the beds after hearing Malfoy's name. Hermione glanced at Harry with confusion, and he shrugged his shoulders over this.
"She needs her rest now, you three may stay for a bit, but I will call you again when she awakens. Please remain as quiet as possible." Madame Pomfrey sauntered over to her office.
"Malfoy?" Ron said becoming angry, "I bet he's what made her collapse. Oh when I get my hands on him." The tone of his voice escalated with each syllable. Suddenly, a new voice entered the conversation.
"You'll do what Weasley," Draco asked retreating from behind the curtain around Ginny's bed. He walked slowly over to Ron whose face was filled with disbelief.
"I'll pound your face in. What the bloody hell did you do to my sister," Ron jumped up. Hermione and Harry both stood up to hold Ron back but the fiery red-head walked up to Malfoy.
"Ron, shhh! You'll get yourself kicked out, think of Ginny," Hermione said.
"You better listen to your mudblood girlfriend Weasley," Draco teased, "or are you afraid of a challenge." Draco took out his wand, Ron doing the same. The two stood staring into each others eyes, waiting for each other to make the first move. Hermione stood angrily looking on. "Are you going to do anything?" she asked Harry. Harry looking slightly amused shook his head and sat back down on the bed.
"Unbelieveable!" Hermione whispered and joined Harry. A clock ticked as the seconds rolled by. Neither Draco nor Ron made a move. Actually they both looked pretty ridiculous. Draco was still in his costume from the ball, and Ron's hair stood on top of his head-obviously he'd been fast asleep when he got the news about his sister.
This was the scene Ginny first saw when she finally was able to get out of bed. After hearing the argument commence, she gathered her strength and quickly drew the curtain away from her.
At the sound of the curtain moving, Draco turned and just as that happened, Ron yelled, "Expelliarmus." Draco's body flew into the air and he hit the wall with a loud thump.
"What is going-" Madame Pomfrey exclaimed and quickly walked out of her office. She gasped at the scene in front of her. "Mr. Weasley, I am ashamed at your conduct. Mr. Potter, please get Professor McGonagall at once."
Madam Pomfrey leaned over Draco, who seemed to be knocked out. She drew a small bottle from beneath her robe, opened it, and waved it underneath his nose. Draco woke up with a start, "What is that disgusting smell?"
Madam Pomfrey checked over her new patient once more, "Mr. Malfoy how many fingers am I holding up?"
"Three," he answered.
Madame Pomfrey turned to Ron who still had a surprised look on his face. "When you decide to snap out of wherever you are at Mr. Weasley, since you caused this fiasco, you can help me get Mr. Malfoy on the bed."
Ron shook his head and leaned over to help Draco up. Draco stared disgusted at this concept, "I don't want your filthy hands touching me."
"Mr. Malfoy, that's enough, I need to check you over just to make sure nothing is broken." She ignored his protests, and Ron helped Draco onto the bed. Madame Pomfrey withdrew a weird shaped wand (it was curved slightly) and began to draw it over Draco from head to toe. A weird red light emitted from it, and as it passed over each part, it left a glowing spot on his skin. After her check-up, she clucked at this and said, "You are very lucky that Mr. Weasley didn't hit you with anything stronger, you didn't break anything thank goodness. Now just lay back for now, you Mr. Weasley come with me to my office until Professor McGonagall arrives."
Madame Pomfrey walked back with Ron trailing behind her. Ginny and Hermione stood staring at the Slytherin boy. Draco stared back, "is there something I could do for you?"
Ginny looked embarrassed and turned to walk slowly back to her bed.
"Not you, the mudblood," Draco said. Hermione glared at Malfoy.
"Don't push it Malfoy, Ron may not have hit you hard enough with his spell, but if you recall I can pack quite a punch," Hermione threatened. She gave Ginny's arm a squeeze and then went into the direction of Pomfrey's office.
"Are you ok?" Ginny asked. She walked closer to the bed and sat down at the end of it.
"I've gotten hit with bludgers worse than that," Draco commented. He sat up and stared at Ginny. She looked down at her hands, unable to say anything. Finally after a few minutes Ginny spoke up.
"What happened tonight?" She glimpsed at Malfoy. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.
"I'm not sure. I honestly don't know what's going on; I could ask you the same thing." He waited for her answer but didn't expect the response he wanted.
"Listen Malfoy, you've been beating this question around the bush. I asked you the same thing in the library that day months ago," Ginny answered her face coloring slightly, "but you chose to ignore it then. I've been having these weird dreams, and then I find myself sleep walking! Each time this had happened, you've always been nearby when I've woken up." After her speech, Ginny crossed her arms and waited for his response. When he still didn't respond, she continued, "Should I assume then that maybe you attacked me?"
Draco's face grew stricken at that thought but it quickly went away in a flash. "Could you close the curtain?" Ginny gave him an incredulous look but carried out his request. She drew the curtain around his bed. When she sat back down at the edge of it, Draco quickly leaned forward, and kissed Ginny. Ginny pulled away quickly.
"What makes you think--" she started.
Draco pulled her in again and this time put his arms around her. Ginny tried to pull back again but quickly became engrossed in this kiss. It felt better than the first time it happened on the 6th floor. She let him guide his tongue into her mouth and taste her, his hands retreated from around her and began to rub down her back, and he reached down her dressing gown and tried to pull it up. At this action, Ginny pulled away. Draco's eyes were still closed.
"Well are you done now?" He said with an amused look on his face. Ginny stared into his silver-blue eyes confused. Her eyes drew over his form, and a glimmer from around his neck caught her eye. Without asking, she pulled the chain out from underneath his shirt. She gasped when she saw the key which hung from the end of it. Draco looked into her chocolate brown eyes, "Do you like it?" he asked huskily.
Ginny nodded her head. "May I get a closer look?" Draco drew the chain off his neck and placed the key into her hand. When this happened, a jolt of electricity shot between the two, and at this they both pulled away. Ginny examined the key closely, she felt power emanating from it. She looked up at Draco who had a look of disbelief on his face.
"What's wrong," she asked.
"It's nothing. I mean it's nothing important," He said, pushing a distant memory back into its recesses. He held his hand out and Ginny placed the key back into his palm.
Suddenly, a door opened and the two pulled away from each other. McGonagall shuffled into the room with Harry behind her. She walked into Madame Pomfrey's office and closed the door behind her. The three could hear yelling coming from within. Harry looked around the room, finally spying the curtain; he wandered over to the bed. Drawing back the curtain he was surprised to find Ginny and Malfoy together.
"Are you feeling all right Gin," Harry asked. He ignored Malfoy and helped Ginny to stand. "You know you really shouldn't be out of bed." He led her back over to her bed just across from Malfoy's.
Ginny turned back to look at Draco who placed the necklace back on his neck. His eyes stared deep into hers, but this time she felt them deeper in her soul, as if he could see what she was thinking. Clearing her mind she gave her attention to Harry.
"Thanks Harry, did you have a nice time with Luna?"
"Ummm, yes I did." Harry said looking embarrassed, "Gin, if you need anyone to talk to, you can depend on me you know, I mean since I know what's sort of going on." He hinted referring to the confession Daveigh made to him about Ginny's dreams.
Ginny nodded her head and lay down. She gave Harry a wan smile and closed her eyes to drift into a peaceful sleep.
Malfoy watched the red-head and Potter talk quietly. He had felt the jolt of electricity pulse between them when they both touched that key, but he didn't want to think about it. His mother mentioned the history of that key, but she also recalled the story had been legend, and it was more of an heirloom keepsake than anything magical. After that brief episode tonight, Draco doubted it. He pulled the key out and examined it. After closer inspection, he found something never seen before. A small inscription of some sort was on there- two letters, O.L.
Shrugging his shoulders, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but chocolate brown eyes, and red hair the color of embers kept invading his thoughts.