Her captor dragged her along down the corridor, finally shoving her into an abandoned classroom. He pushed her roughly to the stone floor and quickly locked the door behind him. Ginny stood and brushed herself off, turning around to face the person who had taken her. When they stepped into the light, she struggled for words.
"Harry..." She whispered in shock. Harry Potter stood before her in the blackest of robes and a hood. The look on his face was murderous and Ginny shivered. He stepped closer and raised a rough hand to her cheek, stroking small circles as she closed her eyes in disgust.
"Don't look so repulsed, Ginny. Screwing around with Malfoy... I thought you had higher standards than that. That is repulsive." Harry sneered. Ginny's eyes snapped open and she glared at him
"We're not screwing around, Harry. He was helping me study for the potions exam, that's all." Harry laughed when realization suddenly hit him. Malfoy was the reason for Ginny's strange behavior and all her vanishing.
"Alone, in the room of requirement, and all you were doing was studying for the Potions final. I don't believe it. He's the reason you've been disappearing, being late for curfew, and avoiding spending time with me. Is the rest of the world just not good enough for you, Gin? The only person worth your time is Malfoy?!" Harry yelled. Ginny backed up until she felt the cold wall behind her.
"It's not like that, Harry! Draco and I were just studying! The reason I was avoiding you was because you screwed up with me when you started gallivanting around with Lavender! Now you're coming crawling back to me because Lavender's found someone new!" She had barely finished her sentence when Harry's palm met her cheek. Her head snapped to the side from the force and a metallic taste entered her senses.
"You're a coward." Ginny spoke in a low voice. Harry just pressed himself against her, his hard body trapping her adjacent to the wall. He leaned in to her so his mouth was by her ear, then he nipped at her lobe and sniggered when she tensed.
"It would make everything easier if you would just relax." He whispered. His breath was hot. It irritated her neck and made her writhe for freedom even more.
"Don't do this. Please let me go."
Fear was pulsing through her veins. She had to get out of here; she had to get away from Harry. The conversation that she and Draco had the night before started to replay in her mind.
"If he touches you..." Draco started, but Ginny had placed her lips over his to calm him..
"He won't. It's Harry. He screwed up, then he got screwed over and now wants to come back to me... but he won't touch me." She had made sure he was assured and snuggled closer to him.
Now here she was, being shoved against a wall by Harry. Not the boy-who- lived, but the boy-who-wanted-revenge. She had just been with Draco not fifteen minutes ago. Why didn't she stay longer? She was scared for herself, but wasn't sure what to be scared of. Was he going to rape her? Was he going to kill her? Shaking the thoughts from her head, she concentrated on what he was doing to her so maybe she would be able to see a window of opportunity.
"I told you that if I couldn't have you, no one could." Concentrating didn't last too long as Ginny squirmed, trying to free herself.
"Harry, get off of me." She cried.
"No." He could sense her fear and laughed.
"Harry, please!" She pleaded, raising her voice.
"How could you lower yourself to Malfoy's level?" He asked incredulously.
"I..." She was cut off by Harry forcing his lips on hers. Ginny was far beyond unwilling and struggled beneath him. His calloused –they were rough due to seven years of quidditch- hands ripped at her shirt until it came off in different pieces.
Harry let his lips linger on hers for a while. Then he began to place rough kisses down her jaw line and to her neck where he bit down. Hard. Ginny let out a loud cry of pain and she felt Harry's victorious smirk on her collarbone. His hands were now roaming her stomach and back, scraping along the flawless skin. She was repulsed to feel his lips and hands in places where they didn't belong and were certainly not wanted. Mustering up all her courage, Ginny kicked Harry in the shin as hard as she could and he let go of her. She quickly made her way to the door, but he was too fast. He launched himself at her and they were slammed into the next wall.
"Where were you going so late at night in nothing but a bra and your skirt? If someone were to catch you, their first thoughts wouldn't be of you being in a situation like this, it would be more along the lines of who were you with and what were you doing together?" Harry laughed hoarsely. He kissed the nape of her neck and let his hands grip her waist ruthlessly; she let out another loud cry.
"It's really too bad no one's around this late at night. I could do whatever I wanted to you." He spun her around so she was now facing him. A livid red handprint stained her face and he leaned forward and pressed his lips against it. Ginny used her arms to shove him away, but he backhanded her and she landed headfirst to the ground with a sickening thud. She began to cry, letting little whimpers escape. This had to stop now. Harry turned his back and she reached for her wand that was in the pile of her torn shirt. She pushed herself into a sitting position and calmly pointed the wand at Harry. When he turned around he saw the wand and smiled mordantly.
"Silly Ginny, we both know you wouldn't do anything." He mocked, only making her anger stronger.
"Stupefy!" She yelled, putting as much force into it as she could. Her eyes never left Harry as he fell to the ground. Tears of anger rolled down her bruised cheeks and she forced herself to stand. Taking one last enraged look at Harry, she slammed open the door and walked into the dark, empty hall.
"Lumos." She whispered lazily. A bright light emitted from the end of her wand and she navigated her way down the long corridor to the stairs.
Once safely in Gryffindor Tower, she headed up to her room and sat quietly on the edge of her bed. She removed her shoes and skirt, pulling on a large t-shirt that Charlie had sent her from Romania; it had a Norwegian Ridgeback on the front. Her bed welcomed her warmly as she slipped under the goose down comforter. What was with Harry? He would surely tell Ron and Hermione that she had been alone with Malfoy. And for his own sadistic pleasure, he would probably add the words "screwing around" in there as well. She had never been so scared in her life.
Of course she knew that someone was bound to have suspicions and find out about them eventually, but it seemed to be happening too soon. They were going on their fourth week as of tomorrow... it was barely a month. She sighed and buried her face in her pillow, wanting it all to be a dream.
The next morning was regular Saturday routine. Hermione annoyed Ginny out of bed and she stormed over to her armoire and changed into pants and a small t-shirt. She barely took time to run brush through her hair and brush her teeth before she was out the door, not even stopping to look at herself in the mirror. Thank Merlin that Colin was just walking out of his dorm. Now she wouldn't have to walk down to breakfast by herself.
"Colin! Hey!" She nearly jumped him for having such great timing.
"Good Gods, Ginny, what happened to your face?" Ginny's eyes widened in terror as Colin moved his hand to her swollen cheek, the one that Harry had backhanded just hours before.
"Late last night I was on my way back from the library and it was dark, I couldn't see where I was going and tripped, falling kinda hard into the wall." She replied, hoping it was a good enough lie.
"Do you need to go to see the nurse?" Colin asked, obviously very concerned.
"It's just a bruise. I didn't knock out teeth. I think I'll be fine, Col." She kissed his cheek and they headed down to breakfast together.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were already sitting down when they got there. They kept talking, except for Harry who looked up and glared at Ginny. She compelled herself to ignore it and just sat down with Colin.
"So, do you need any more help with Potions, Gin? I could help if you want." Colin offered between spoonfuls of his oatmeal. Ginny laughed and shook her head.
"Thanks, Colin. But I think I'm pretty prepared for it." He smiled and she took another bite from her plate of fruit. Looking across the hall, she noticed Draco staring at her with a hurry-up-so-we-can-go look.
Draco looked at the Gryffindor table and noticed how Ginny had distanced herself from Harry. He noted that she looked beautiful today, with her hair down, tumbling a little past her shoulders and her casual clothes. He couldn't wait to see her. Thank Merlin today was Saturday. They could sneak off and go anywhere to their liking.
Draco had taken the liberty of asking Dumbledore if he and a companion could go to Hogsmeade for an hour or two so he could collect a present for his mother's birthday. Dumbledore had approved, mainly because he was head boy and very trustworthy, and had given him two hours maximum. Naturally, Draco was going to ask Ginny to accompany him. He shot her a pleading look to hurry up and she just smiled angelically, stabbing a strawberry with her fork and slowly raising it to her mouth.
Someone was in a devilish mood today.
Ginny smiled sweetly and finished her fruit, sending playful looks to Draco and engaging in conversation with Colin. Draco was obviously in a hurry, but she wanted to take her time... especially after last night's occurrences. She didn't want to give Harry a reason to tell her brother, which he obviously hadn't yet because Ron was just rambling on and on about quidditch. She watched as Draco stood to leave, knowing he would be waiting around the corner as long as it took for her to finish her breakfast.
"Well, Colin, it's been a pleasure, as always, eating breakfast with you. I'll see you later." Colin nodded, his mouth full of waffle, and waved to her.
Ginny took her time walking out of the Great Hall, and there was Draco; he stood just around the door waiting for her. He opened his mouth to greet her when his eyes fell on the apparently large bruise on her cheek.
"What happened?!" He cried. Ginny shushed him. She took him by the hand and ran outside to the willow tree by the lake.
"You can't pretend like you care about me when hundreds of students are just around a corner, Draco."
"Does this have something to do with... Potter! Did he do this to you?!"
"Draco, calm down."
"I will do no such thing! You have a bruise the size of a fist on your cheek and I want to know why it's there, Ginny! What the hell happened."
"I'm not going to tell you what happened until you calm down!" Ginny had raised her tone so it matched his. Draco took a long deep breath and then exhaled. He touched her bruise with his index and middle fingers and she recoiled. But when she turned her head, Draco got a good look at her neck and saw purple marks in the shape of teeth.
"Harry. Harry did it." She whispered to him.
"I'll kill him. I'll kill him!" Draco bellowed, storming out from behind the tree. Ginny's reflexes kicked in and she grabbed his wrist and pulled him back around. After a few minutes of letting Draco cool down, Ginny began to absentmindedly play with his ring. It was silver and had a dragon engraved on it. There were emeralds aligned to either side of the beast and they shone brightly in the sunlight.
"Draco... don't do anything. When everything about us is out in the open, then you can go after Harry. But he knows about us and he's sitting on it, keeping it away from my brother. I don't want to give him a reason to tell him. Let's just spend today together like we were going to." Her soft brown eyes were pleading and Draco dropped his fury.
"Dumbledore gave me permission to bring a 'companion' with me to Hogsmeade to buy my mother a birthday present and maybe get some things for Christmas. Would you like to join me? We can leave right now." Ginny smiled and hugged him.
"I'd love to go." He grinned at her and led the way.
The streets were filled with holiday shoppers and crazed mothers trying to keep up with their children. Stores were decorated with Christmas things and the displays seemed to be extra-luring. Madam Malkin's caught Ginny's eye.
She released Draco's hand and wandered to the window of the store. A brilliant crimson dress hung on a manikin in the display and Ginny gaped at it. It was fitted in the bodice like a corset and then flowed straight down to the floor.
Draco saw this store as the perfect opportunity to get Ginny's Christmas present. He could just watch her closely and see what she adored the most. It was foolproof.
"Let's." Was all Draco said as he took her hand and walked her into the store. The dress was beautiful, but what had really caught Ginny's eye when she walked into the store was the jewelry display at the far wall. She strolled over to the cases and stared in awe. The jewels that were embedded in the necklaces and rings were gorgeous.
Of all the dazzling jewelry that lined the wall, Draco watched as Ginny gazed at a simple platinum chain. Something so simple would surely be elegant on a goddess like the one that was standing before him.
"I think I'll get something for my mother while we're here. Feel free to take your time, Gin. I might be a while... my mother is a very finicky woman." Ginny giggled and watched as Draco stepped over to where the bracelets were.
She meandered aimlessly through the store and found it was filled with nothing but the most gorgeous gowns; she just had to try on that one in the window.
"Draco?"
"Yes, love?"
"Would you mind if I tried on that gown in the window?"
"Of course not, love. Take your time."
She let out a squeal of delight and hurried to the counter, giving Draco the perfect opportunity to make his move. He took the box with the simple platinum chain and put it under the box with a sapphire bracelet he had just chosen for his mother. He laughed to himself as he saw a lady leading Ginny and the dress back to a dressing room. He placed the two boxes on the counter and a lady in her mid-fifties appeared.
"Can I help you, young man?" Her voice was smooth.
"I just need to purchase these."
"Ah, the necklace is very beautiful but it is plain in comparison to the bracelet. Maybe you want something a little more chic?" She asked.
"No, that is what I want."
"If you're sure then..."
Draco nodded and waited for the price, hoping Ginny would take just a few more minutes while he finished his purchase.
"That will be one hundred and thirty nine galleons, seventeen sickles, and twenty eight knuts. How will you be paying?"
Draco was unaffected by the price since it would be charged to his family's account anyway. He just smiled at her.
"Please charge it to the Malfoy account at Gringotts."
The plump woman nodded and wrapped the boxes, placing them into an amethyst gift bag, and handed it over to Draco.
"Thank you and have a nice day."
"You as well." He replied, making his way to the back of the store. Ginny poked her head out from behind a curtain, covering the rest of her body, and smiled.
"Wanna see?" She taunted. Draco laughed at her floating head and nodded.
"Of course I want to see."
Ginny let the curtain drop and stepped out from behind it. Draco's mouth opened in wonder as he looked her up and down. The dress surpassed the one that she had worn to the Masquerade Ball that night they met. It was more fitted and there was just something about the way the crimson looked against her deliciously freckled skin.
"What do you think?"
Draco was speechless.
"Draco?"
His eyes refocused on hers and she giggled.
"If I could take you to the Yule Ball, I would demand that you wore that dress. It's breathtaking. As a matter of fact... I'm going to buy it for you and you'll wear it to the ball."
Ginny's eyes widened and she made to protest.
"But Draco I..."
"You what? You look stunning."
There was no use in arguing with him. She knew that. After taking the dress to the front and paying for it, Ginny and Draco headed out of the store hand in hand and walked to Three Broomsticks.
They were seated in a secluded corner where no one was going to bother them.
"What can I get you two?" An attractive woman with dark hair and piercing eyes asked.
"Um, I'll just have a butterbeer, please." Ginny spoke.
"The same for me, please." Draco told her.
"That's Madam Rosmerta. Ron used to think she was the prettiest woman in the world." Ginny stated as-a-matter-of-factly.
"She is rather attractive." Draco agreed, getting a slap on the arm from Ginny in response.
"Now, what I really want to know..."
"Last night?"
Draco nodded and took Ginny's hands from across the table and placed them gently in his own in an effort of comfort. Ginny let out a deep sigh.
"Alright. After I left you, Harry pulled me into an abandoned classroom and started harassing me with accusations and questions. He said he knew about us now. He said that he was disgusted with me for lowering myself to the likes of you. When he saw how it didn't affect me, verbal assault wasn't enough for him anymore."
Madam Rosmerta came by with the drinks and Draco handed her the money quickly, eager for Ginny to finish the story.
"Then it got to the point where he was pressed up against me, kissing me and biting me hard. His hands roamed all over me and tore at my shirt. When I tried to get away, he hit me. At one point, he backhanded me and I fell to the floor. Before he could do anything else, I had my wand in my hand and he was lying cold on the ground."
She looked back at Draco who was clearly trying to keep himself calm.
"I'd kill him."
"And then you'd go to Azkaban. I don't want you going to prison for me."
"I'd go anywhere for you... including that hellish place."
"But if you ended up killing him, you'd be no better than your father."
Her words were hushed, but they hit him like a blow to the stomach.
"I'll never be like him. I swear to you that I will never be like him."
Ginny could just nod and sipped the last of her butterbeer. It had turned awkward. Draco looked at his watch and noticed that time was short.
"Come on. Let's get back."
"Alright."
They stepped out of the door and saw the snow falling. It was going to be a cold return to school, nevertheless, Draco took Ginny's hand and began to walk.
Her words ran through his body and he stopped dead in the middle of the street, turning to look into her chocolate eyes.
"Ginny?"
"Mm?"
"I love you."
"Harry..." She whispered in shock. Harry Potter stood before her in the blackest of robes and a hood. The look on his face was murderous and Ginny shivered. He stepped closer and raised a rough hand to her cheek, stroking small circles as she closed her eyes in disgust.
"Don't look so repulsed, Ginny. Screwing around with Malfoy... I thought you had higher standards than that. That is repulsive." Harry sneered. Ginny's eyes snapped open and she glared at him
"We're not screwing around, Harry. He was helping me study for the potions exam, that's all." Harry laughed when realization suddenly hit him. Malfoy was the reason for Ginny's strange behavior and all her vanishing.
"Alone, in the room of requirement, and all you were doing was studying for the Potions final. I don't believe it. He's the reason you've been disappearing, being late for curfew, and avoiding spending time with me. Is the rest of the world just not good enough for you, Gin? The only person worth your time is Malfoy?!" Harry yelled. Ginny backed up until she felt the cold wall behind her.
"It's not like that, Harry! Draco and I were just studying! The reason I was avoiding you was because you screwed up with me when you started gallivanting around with Lavender! Now you're coming crawling back to me because Lavender's found someone new!" She had barely finished her sentence when Harry's palm met her cheek. Her head snapped to the side from the force and a metallic taste entered her senses.
"You're a coward." Ginny spoke in a low voice. Harry just pressed himself against her, his hard body trapping her adjacent to the wall. He leaned in to her so his mouth was by her ear, then he nipped at her lobe and sniggered when she tensed.
"It would make everything easier if you would just relax." He whispered. His breath was hot. It irritated her neck and made her writhe for freedom even more.
"Don't do this. Please let me go."
Fear was pulsing through her veins. She had to get out of here; she had to get away from Harry. The conversation that she and Draco had the night before started to replay in her mind.
"If he touches you..." Draco started, but Ginny had placed her lips over his to calm him..
"He won't. It's Harry. He screwed up, then he got screwed over and now wants to come back to me... but he won't touch me." She had made sure he was assured and snuggled closer to him.
Now here she was, being shoved against a wall by Harry. Not the boy-who- lived, but the boy-who-wanted-revenge. She had just been with Draco not fifteen minutes ago. Why didn't she stay longer? She was scared for herself, but wasn't sure what to be scared of. Was he going to rape her? Was he going to kill her? Shaking the thoughts from her head, she concentrated on what he was doing to her so maybe she would be able to see a window of opportunity.
"I told you that if I couldn't have you, no one could." Concentrating didn't last too long as Ginny squirmed, trying to free herself.
"Harry, get off of me." She cried.
"No." He could sense her fear and laughed.
"Harry, please!" She pleaded, raising her voice.
"How could you lower yourself to Malfoy's level?" He asked incredulously.
"I..." She was cut off by Harry forcing his lips on hers. Ginny was far beyond unwilling and struggled beneath him. His calloused –they were rough due to seven years of quidditch- hands ripped at her shirt until it came off in different pieces.
Harry let his lips linger on hers for a while. Then he began to place rough kisses down her jaw line and to her neck where he bit down. Hard. Ginny let out a loud cry of pain and she felt Harry's victorious smirk on her collarbone. His hands were now roaming her stomach and back, scraping along the flawless skin. She was repulsed to feel his lips and hands in places where they didn't belong and were certainly not wanted. Mustering up all her courage, Ginny kicked Harry in the shin as hard as she could and he let go of her. She quickly made her way to the door, but he was too fast. He launched himself at her and they were slammed into the next wall.
"Where were you going so late at night in nothing but a bra and your skirt? If someone were to catch you, their first thoughts wouldn't be of you being in a situation like this, it would be more along the lines of who were you with and what were you doing together?" Harry laughed hoarsely. He kissed the nape of her neck and let his hands grip her waist ruthlessly; she let out another loud cry.
"It's really too bad no one's around this late at night. I could do whatever I wanted to you." He spun her around so she was now facing him. A livid red handprint stained her face and he leaned forward and pressed his lips against it. Ginny used her arms to shove him away, but he backhanded her and she landed headfirst to the ground with a sickening thud. She began to cry, letting little whimpers escape. This had to stop now. Harry turned his back and she reached for her wand that was in the pile of her torn shirt. She pushed herself into a sitting position and calmly pointed the wand at Harry. When he turned around he saw the wand and smiled mordantly.
"Silly Ginny, we both know you wouldn't do anything." He mocked, only making her anger stronger.
"Stupefy!" She yelled, putting as much force into it as she could. Her eyes never left Harry as he fell to the ground. Tears of anger rolled down her bruised cheeks and she forced herself to stand. Taking one last enraged look at Harry, she slammed open the door and walked into the dark, empty hall.
"Lumos." She whispered lazily. A bright light emitted from the end of her wand and she navigated her way down the long corridor to the stairs.
Once safely in Gryffindor Tower, she headed up to her room and sat quietly on the edge of her bed. She removed her shoes and skirt, pulling on a large t-shirt that Charlie had sent her from Romania; it had a Norwegian Ridgeback on the front. Her bed welcomed her warmly as she slipped under the goose down comforter. What was with Harry? He would surely tell Ron and Hermione that she had been alone with Malfoy. And for his own sadistic pleasure, he would probably add the words "screwing around" in there as well. She had never been so scared in her life.
Of course she knew that someone was bound to have suspicions and find out about them eventually, but it seemed to be happening too soon. They were going on their fourth week as of tomorrow... it was barely a month. She sighed and buried her face in her pillow, wanting it all to be a dream.
The next morning was regular Saturday routine. Hermione annoyed Ginny out of bed and she stormed over to her armoire and changed into pants and a small t-shirt. She barely took time to run brush through her hair and brush her teeth before she was out the door, not even stopping to look at herself in the mirror. Thank Merlin that Colin was just walking out of his dorm. Now she wouldn't have to walk down to breakfast by herself.
"Colin! Hey!" She nearly jumped him for having such great timing.
"Good Gods, Ginny, what happened to your face?" Ginny's eyes widened in terror as Colin moved his hand to her swollen cheek, the one that Harry had backhanded just hours before.
"Late last night I was on my way back from the library and it was dark, I couldn't see where I was going and tripped, falling kinda hard into the wall." She replied, hoping it was a good enough lie.
"Do you need to go to see the nurse?" Colin asked, obviously very concerned.
"It's just a bruise. I didn't knock out teeth. I think I'll be fine, Col." She kissed his cheek and they headed down to breakfast together.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were already sitting down when they got there. They kept talking, except for Harry who looked up and glared at Ginny. She compelled herself to ignore it and just sat down with Colin.
"So, do you need any more help with Potions, Gin? I could help if you want." Colin offered between spoonfuls of his oatmeal. Ginny laughed and shook her head.
"Thanks, Colin. But I think I'm pretty prepared for it." He smiled and she took another bite from her plate of fruit. Looking across the hall, she noticed Draco staring at her with a hurry-up-so-we-can-go look.
Draco looked at the Gryffindor table and noticed how Ginny had distanced herself from Harry. He noted that she looked beautiful today, with her hair down, tumbling a little past her shoulders and her casual clothes. He couldn't wait to see her. Thank Merlin today was Saturday. They could sneak off and go anywhere to their liking.
Draco had taken the liberty of asking Dumbledore if he and a companion could go to Hogsmeade for an hour or two so he could collect a present for his mother's birthday. Dumbledore had approved, mainly because he was head boy and very trustworthy, and had given him two hours maximum. Naturally, Draco was going to ask Ginny to accompany him. He shot her a pleading look to hurry up and she just smiled angelically, stabbing a strawberry with her fork and slowly raising it to her mouth.
Someone was in a devilish mood today.
Ginny smiled sweetly and finished her fruit, sending playful looks to Draco and engaging in conversation with Colin. Draco was obviously in a hurry, but she wanted to take her time... especially after last night's occurrences. She didn't want to give Harry a reason to tell her brother, which he obviously hadn't yet because Ron was just rambling on and on about quidditch. She watched as Draco stood to leave, knowing he would be waiting around the corner as long as it took for her to finish her breakfast.
"Well, Colin, it's been a pleasure, as always, eating breakfast with you. I'll see you later." Colin nodded, his mouth full of waffle, and waved to her.
Ginny took her time walking out of the Great Hall, and there was Draco; he stood just around the door waiting for her. He opened his mouth to greet her when his eyes fell on the apparently large bruise on her cheek.
"What happened?!" He cried. Ginny shushed him. She took him by the hand and ran outside to the willow tree by the lake.
"You can't pretend like you care about me when hundreds of students are just around a corner, Draco."
"Does this have something to do with... Potter! Did he do this to you?!"
"Draco, calm down."
"I will do no such thing! You have a bruise the size of a fist on your cheek and I want to know why it's there, Ginny! What the hell happened."
"I'm not going to tell you what happened until you calm down!" Ginny had raised her tone so it matched his. Draco took a long deep breath and then exhaled. He touched her bruise with his index and middle fingers and she recoiled. But when she turned her head, Draco got a good look at her neck and saw purple marks in the shape of teeth.
"Harry. Harry did it." She whispered to him.
"I'll kill him. I'll kill him!" Draco bellowed, storming out from behind the tree. Ginny's reflexes kicked in and she grabbed his wrist and pulled him back around. After a few minutes of letting Draco cool down, Ginny began to absentmindedly play with his ring. It was silver and had a dragon engraved on it. There were emeralds aligned to either side of the beast and they shone brightly in the sunlight.
"Draco... don't do anything. When everything about us is out in the open, then you can go after Harry. But he knows about us and he's sitting on it, keeping it away from my brother. I don't want to give him a reason to tell him. Let's just spend today together like we were going to." Her soft brown eyes were pleading and Draco dropped his fury.
"Dumbledore gave me permission to bring a 'companion' with me to Hogsmeade to buy my mother a birthday present and maybe get some things for Christmas. Would you like to join me? We can leave right now." Ginny smiled and hugged him.
"I'd love to go." He grinned at her and led the way.
The streets were filled with holiday shoppers and crazed mothers trying to keep up with their children. Stores were decorated with Christmas things and the displays seemed to be extra-luring. Madam Malkin's caught Ginny's eye.
She released Draco's hand and wandered to the window of the store. A brilliant crimson dress hung on a manikin in the display and Ginny gaped at it. It was fitted in the bodice like a corset and then flowed straight down to the floor.
Draco saw this store as the perfect opportunity to get Ginny's Christmas present. He could just watch her closely and see what she adored the most. It was foolproof.
"Let's." Was all Draco said as he took her hand and walked her into the store. The dress was beautiful, but what had really caught Ginny's eye when she walked into the store was the jewelry display at the far wall. She strolled over to the cases and stared in awe. The jewels that were embedded in the necklaces and rings were gorgeous.
Of all the dazzling jewelry that lined the wall, Draco watched as Ginny gazed at a simple platinum chain. Something so simple would surely be elegant on a goddess like the one that was standing before him.
"I think I'll get something for my mother while we're here. Feel free to take your time, Gin. I might be a while... my mother is a very finicky woman." Ginny giggled and watched as Draco stepped over to where the bracelets were.
She meandered aimlessly through the store and found it was filled with nothing but the most gorgeous gowns; she just had to try on that one in the window.
"Draco?"
"Yes, love?"
"Would you mind if I tried on that gown in the window?"
"Of course not, love. Take your time."
She let out a squeal of delight and hurried to the counter, giving Draco the perfect opportunity to make his move. He took the box with the simple platinum chain and put it under the box with a sapphire bracelet he had just chosen for his mother. He laughed to himself as he saw a lady leading Ginny and the dress back to a dressing room. He placed the two boxes on the counter and a lady in her mid-fifties appeared.
"Can I help you, young man?" Her voice was smooth.
"I just need to purchase these."
"Ah, the necklace is very beautiful but it is plain in comparison to the bracelet. Maybe you want something a little more chic?" She asked.
"No, that is what I want."
"If you're sure then..."
Draco nodded and waited for the price, hoping Ginny would take just a few more minutes while he finished his purchase.
"That will be one hundred and thirty nine galleons, seventeen sickles, and twenty eight knuts. How will you be paying?"
Draco was unaffected by the price since it would be charged to his family's account anyway. He just smiled at her.
"Please charge it to the Malfoy account at Gringotts."
The plump woman nodded and wrapped the boxes, placing them into an amethyst gift bag, and handed it over to Draco.
"Thank you and have a nice day."
"You as well." He replied, making his way to the back of the store. Ginny poked her head out from behind a curtain, covering the rest of her body, and smiled.
"Wanna see?" She taunted. Draco laughed at her floating head and nodded.
"Of course I want to see."
Ginny let the curtain drop and stepped out from behind it. Draco's mouth opened in wonder as he looked her up and down. The dress surpassed the one that she had worn to the Masquerade Ball that night they met. It was more fitted and there was just something about the way the crimson looked against her deliciously freckled skin.
"What do you think?"
Draco was speechless.
"Draco?"
His eyes refocused on hers and she giggled.
"If I could take you to the Yule Ball, I would demand that you wore that dress. It's breathtaking. As a matter of fact... I'm going to buy it for you and you'll wear it to the ball."
Ginny's eyes widened and she made to protest.
"But Draco I..."
"You what? You look stunning."
There was no use in arguing with him. She knew that. After taking the dress to the front and paying for it, Ginny and Draco headed out of the store hand in hand and walked to Three Broomsticks.
They were seated in a secluded corner where no one was going to bother them.
"What can I get you two?" An attractive woman with dark hair and piercing eyes asked.
"Um, I'll just have a butterbeer, please." Ginny spoke.
"The same for me, please." Draco told her.
"That's Madam Rosmerta. Ron used to think she was the prettiest woman in the world." Ginny stated as-a-matter-of-factly.
"She is rather attractive." Draco agreed, getting a slap on the arm from Ginny in response.
"Now, what I really want to know..."
"Last night?"
Draco nodded and took Ginny's hands from across the table and placed them gently in his own in an effort of comfort. Ginny let out a deep sigh.
"Alright. After I left you, Harry pulled me into an abandoned classroom and started harassing me with accusations and questions. He said he knew about us now. He said that he was disgusted with me for lowering myself to the likes of you. When he saw how it didn't affect me, verbal assault wasn't enough for him anymore."
Madam Rosmerta came by with the drinks and Draco handed her the money quickly, eager for Ginny to finish the story.
"Then it got to the point where he was pressed up against me, kissing me and biting me hard. His hands roamed all over me and tore at my shirt. When I tried to get away, he hit me. At one point, he backhanded me and I fell to the floor. Before he could do anything else, I had my wand in my hand and he was lying cold on the ground."
She looked back at Draco who was clearly trying to keep himself calm.
"I'd kill him."
"And then you'd go to Azkaban. I don't want you going to prison for me."
"I'd go anywhere for you... including that hellish place."
"But if you ended up killing him, you'd be no better than your father."
Her words were hushed, but they hit him like a blow to the stomach.
"I'll never be like him. I swear to you that I will never be like him."
Ginny could just nod and sipped the last of her butterbeer. It had turned awkward. Draco looked at his watch and noticed that time was short.
"Come on. Let's get back."
"Alright."
They stepped out of the door and saw the snow falling. It was going to be a cold return to school, nevertheless, Draco took Ginny's hand and began to walk.
Her words ran through his body and he stopped dead in the middle of the street, turning to look into her chocolate eyes.
"Ginny?"
"Mm?"
"I love you."