O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O
Ginny and Ron stepped back into the castle feeling more tired and frazzled than returning from a holiday vacation should ever have a right to feel like. But after putting up with their parents, with Percy, and then the opposing opinions they each had on Ginny's life, it was understandable that the two youngest Weasley children were a little less than happy.
As soon as they entered the Gryffindor common room a loud, cacophonic greeting welcomed them back. Hermione immediately ran to Ron, dressed in her very own Weasley sweater emblazoned with a large 'H', and gave him a sweet kiss. Ginny's lip drew up in a disgusted sneer as she dropped her bag and gave Harry a quick hug.
"I can't believe someone actually wants to kiss my brother... and I can't believe that person is someone as smart as Hermione," she said. Harry laughed before turning to look at the couple again.
"Well, it's official since she has her sweater. Your mum has been itching to give one to her for ages," he said. Ginny turned to look at the lavender colored sweater that had the girl's first initial somehow weaved through in a nice, bright white. It was funny how her mother could knit some of the most atrociously clashing pieces of clothing. Last year, Ginny had received a pink abomination. This year had been much better for everyone involved... a simple cream color for her. Her brothers and Harry had all received the traditional Gryffindor maroon and gold.
"And what better way to initiate than to give her the ugliest one available," Ginny snickered. That amount of purple on Hermione was nearly as sick-making as her pink had been.
"Yes, well, we've all had one..." Harry said, remembering his own disasters.
"How were your holidays, Harry?" Ginny asked. Harry sighed.
"Oh, they could have been worse. I could have been stuck at the Dursleys... I'd rather have been at the Burrow with you lot, though," he said. Ginny smiled.
"Yes, well... you missed a right mess. Mum and Dad pretty much fought the entire time over me being involved with Draco. Percy came home. Not to apologize, mind you, but to 'be near family during difficult times'. It's as much of an apology as we're all going to get, I'm afraid. So, Mum and Dad fought over that as well..." she said, then turned to Harry with tired look. "I'd have much preferred to be at Grimmwauld Place instead..." Harry grinned.
"Yes, well, you'd think differently if you were being trained and grilled in all the old magics all break long," he said. Ginny shook her head.
"No. I wouldn't. I'd have loved it," she said. Then she leaned closer to Harry so she could speak softly. "Did Dumbledore tell you that he wants to get the Order together later this week?" Harry nodded.
"He thought it would be wise to tell me since he would like me to organize at DA meeting before it. I'm sure he wants to know how well everyone does..." he said back. Ginny couldn't help that little tingle of excitement.
"When do you think that will be?" she asked. Harry shrugged as he went to sit down in front of the fireplace.
"I don't know. I figured I'd let everyone settle back in before starting it up," he said. Ginny sighed.
"Probably a good idea," she said. With a smile at Harry she picked up her bag. "I'd better go unpack... I still have to finish a paper for Herbology."
"Who have they gotten to... well... replace Professor Sprout?" Harry asked, sadness darkening his green eyes.
"Actually, Professor Hooch has been stepping in, between her flying lessons. She actually knows quite a bit about plants," Ginny said.
"That's good. I was hoping they wouldn't set Snape on you," he said. Ginny smiled, internally warring with herself on whether or not to bring up his coming sessions with the disgruntled professor... and Draco. Instead she settled for a 'goodnight' as Hedwig nearly floated into the room and dropped a message into Harry's hands. She had a message of her own to send before it got too late...
O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O
The next morning...
He was dreaming again. And he knew it...
Ginny was standing at the front door, a loving smile on her face. She left the door open for him and went further into the house. A small child sat playing on the floor in front of the fireplace and she knelt down next to him. The child stood and held out his arms to be held and Ginny picked him up. She said something, but he could not hear it. When Ginny turned back to him, the child held out his arms for him to hold. But rather than take the child in his arms he held out his wand. Ginny's eyes reflected surprise, horror and fear back at him. Her own wand was pointed at him as she shielded the child from him. Again, she was saying something that he could not hear – but it was interrupted by a green flash of light that clouded his vision. When it cleared, she was laying on the floor, the child screaming at her side where he had fallen. His pale hand rose once more...
Draco sat up straight in the chair he had fallen asleep in. Two first years looked over at him with wide eyes. Looking down at himself, he saw Defense Against the Dark Arts books in his lap and his papers strewn about the floor. He'd gotten up early to organize his essay that was due. A lot of good that did... With a sigh, he collected all the things together and immediately left the common room.
The dream had clearly been of the future. He had been shown the murderer of his future family... and it was him. He was pretty sure he'd dreamed again because of that damned owl she'd sent him last night. She'd wanted to see him... he'd left the note unanswered. She was probably furious with him now, but how would he explain it? He didn't know how to explain it to himself. Rather than dwell on that, he knew he needed to see Severus. Maybe he could shed light on the troublesome interruptions of a good night sleep.
A flash of red in the hallway ahead of him caused Draco to freeze. The thought of Ginny... he could feel the bile rise in his throat and knew that he couldn't see her yet. It was still early afternoon and the chances of running into her were quite high. He couldn't see her knowing that in his dream – in his own mind and imagination – he had killed her...
Without another thought, Draco turned on his heel and headed in the direction of his private room. He could stay there until class... he'd have to wait to see Severus after dinner. And that was probably better, as well. The Potions professor wasn't all that pleased with him at the moment. Severus had made the suggestion to "kill" Draco in order to find out the purpose behind it. But Draco had refused. Severus had argued that he would be safer as 'dead' as he would be anywhere else. They had argued over this throughout the holidays and still, Draco refused. He didn't see what good being 'dead' would accomplish other than unearthing his father's motives. And Draco really didn't give a damn about his father's motives.
All in all, he'd had a productive holiday season. He'd successfully pissed off two of the only people that truly cared about him. With a growl, Draco stormed into this room and carelessly threw his books onto his bed.
O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O
Ginny could swear that she'd caught a glimpse of the platinum head she'd pretty much taken to stalking the Slytherin halls to see. With a sigh, she hefted her bag higher over her shoulder and started in the direction of the class she was sure she was going to be late to as a result of her penchance for detour.
Draco was avoiding her. And he was going out of his way to do it. That much, Ginny was absolutely sure about. She clutched her books tighter to her as she and Luna made their way through the corridors to Charms. Surely he couldn't still be angry about her dancing with Harry at the ball... Ginny rolled her eyes. Scratch that. He could still be in a snit about it. He did tend to cling to his anger longer than most, just for the sake of being a scowling Slytherin.
With a disparaging shake of her head, she quickened her pace to stay with Luna. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught another blond head. This one was Colin Creevey's and he had stopped to say something to Blaise Zabini. The latter raised dark eyes to lock gazes with Ginny.
It wasn't the fact that Blaise Zabini was outright staring at her that sent an icy chill over her. It was the fact that the Slytherin looked to be having an in depth conversation with one of the Gryffindors that his House loved to rag on the most. And this was the boy who had sworn to Voldemort to kill Draco...
It was when Colin turned his head to see what had so transfixed his conversation partner that Ginny dropped her gaze and quickened her step even more.
"Look at that Ginny... no Slytherins... I wouldn't call the ones they left behind anything other than nuisances. All the power has left the school..."
Colin's words to her at the ball rang through her mind. She still couldn't figure out if he'd been relieved by that fact, or saddened by it. But now, seeing him talking to one of the 'nuisances', she had to think a little harder on it. It would probably do better for her to talk to Draco about it. Or even Harry...
When she threw a quick look over her shoulder, Zabini had dropped his gaze and it was now Colin who was openly staring at her. With forced happiness, she waved to him with a smile. It took a second for him to draw back from wherever his mind had taken him, but he smiled and waved back to her.
O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O
After dinner; the dungeons...
He really wished that Professor Snape hadn't demanded their first lesson be tonight. Harry waved his wand in front of him in what was nearly a subconscious movement as he walked into the empty Potions room. Swish, flick. Swish, flick. Hermione still ragged on him about his technique... You'd think that after seven years, she would find something else to harp on about. So, Harry tried to perfect it. It had become something of a habit now when he had a spare moment to himself. But he could be thankful for it, since he didn't rub his scar nearly as much anymore. Swish, flick... And anything that could keep his mind off the fact that he was about to be secluded in a dark dungeon with one of his least favorite people was always a good thing. Harry needed to thank Hermione later... Swish, flick. Swish, flick...
"What are you doing, Potter?" Draco's voice called out, amusement and curiosity mixing in a way to make it sound nearly insulting. Harry spun around, eyes wide and wand at the ready, to find Draco lounging in the shadows of the Potions room. There was a smirk on his face as he looked at Harry. "Here for Remedial Potions, perhaps?"
"Why are you here?" Harry asked, dropping his wand down only slightly. Draco let his feet drop from Snape's desk and sat up straight.
"Would you believe a detention from Snape?" he asked. Harry looked at him skeptically and Draco just raised an eyebrow.
"No? How about extra credit for Potions?" he asked as the dark-haired boy remained quiet. Harry shifted on his feet.
"Come on, Malfoy. What are you up to?" he asked, getting visibly frustrated with the other boy's refusal to be serious. Draco shrugged and leaned back in Snape's chair once more.
"Why does it matter? You're never going to believe what I tell you anyway," he said. Harry glowered – more for the reason that Malfoy was probably right. When had he ever believed any of Draco Malfoy's posturing? Harry's response was interrupted as the Potions door slammed open and Snape entered the room.
"Ah, Potter. I see Mr. Malfoy has been enlightening you to the change of plans..." he said. When he reached the desk, he looked down his nose at Draco, who sighed and stood from the chair. Harry watched the scene with a frown before he locked eyes with Snape.
"Change of plans? What change of plans?" he asked. Snape looked to Draco out of the corner of his eyes.
"I suppose all this time you have been exchanging pleasantries?" he asked sarcastically. Draco just shrugged and smirked.
"Excuse me, Professor... but why is he here?" Harry asked. Snape leaned forward to look at him.
"He is here to help instruct you," he told him. Harry looked disgusted.
"There is nothing I want to learn from him," he said. Draco just sneered in response before Snape rose quickly and snapped his hands down on his desk.
"In your arrogance, Potter, you forget that you are standing in front of two wizards who have been immersed in Dark Magic since they were born. How very Gryffindor of you to forget that you will have to know and quite possibly use that very Dark Magic to defeat the strongest Dark Wizard that our time has known," the Potions professor said with as much malice he could inject into his voice. "Who better to teach you that two Slytherins you distrust the most?"
"Who better to teach me? What the bloody hell are you on about?" Harry exclaimed. Both Snape and Draco looked at him, causing him to stammer at his Ron-like way of approaching this scenario. He looked suitably chastened. "... to borrow a phrase..." Snape glowered as he sat down.
"Weasley's brutish behavior seems to be rubbing off," he said distastefully. Harry glowered in return.
"You are here to teach me... leave my friends out of it," he growled. Having never seen the Potions professor amused, Harry did not recognize the look on the man's face.
"So you've decided that we will teach you now? How very magnanimous of you, Potter..." Snape drawled. Draco snickered slightly causing Harry to turn a murderous look on him. Snape sat back in his seat and opened the textbook he had laid in front of him.
"Perhaps you two should take out some of that... animosity... May I suggest a duel?" Snape prompted with that same tone he'd used during the two boys' second year dueling club confrontation. Draco straightened his robes as he stepped away from the desk.
"Excellent suggestion. Perhaps I can teach Potter a few things just by handing him his arse," he said smugly.
"I don't like you," Harry growled as he gripped his wand. Draco held a hand to his chest, the other taking his wand out.
"My heart is breaking, Potter. I've had this... thing... for you since first year, see..." the blond drawled sarcastically. Snape slammed his text closed with a loud snap.
"Cease your juvenile bickering. The quicker Potter learns what he needs, Draco, the quicker he is out of your hair," he said. Draco straightened his shoulders.
"Let's get to it, then. I have people to see..." he said, smirking when he saw Harry's jaw clench.
O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O
It was much later, with many hexes and jinxes between the two and foul-mouthed curses from Draco, that Severus decided to call a halt to the lessons. Each boy had sweat at their temples, their sleeves rolled up, ties off, and disgruntled looks on their faces. Severus closed the book he'd been looking at.
"Well, I must say I really enjoyed that. Particularly the hex where Draco had you flying upside down around the room, Potter," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. Harry scowled.
"So we were mainly here for your entertainment, then?" he asked with bite. Severus let out a breath and looked to Draco, who just shrugged and put his wand away.
"Potter, do you know why I let the two of you carry on for as long as you did?" Severus asked. Potter shook his head. When the Potions professor looked back to Draco, the blond looked curious but shook his head as well.
"I figured that with all the animosity between you two that eventually one of you would pull out the big weapons. Neither of you did," he said. Draco and Harry looked at each other quickly, then back at Severus. "You know what that tells me?"
"No, sir," Draco answered.
"It tells me that the two of you are actually able to work together without killing one another," he said, a smirk on his face. Harry frowned.
"That's what this was all about? A test to see if Malfoy and I could co-exist?" he asked testily. Severus frowned down his nose at him.
"No, Potter. It was to see if the two of you were mature enough to do what needs to be done," he said. "But I seem to be seriously overestimating your ability to do so..." Draco let out a sigh as he found a seat at one of the potions stations.
"Perhaps everyone's been overestimating his abilities in general," he drawled. Severus shot him a look and he quieted.
"I don't care if you like one another. I don't care whether you work together or not. I certainly don't care if you learn from each other," he said. Draco rolled his eyes.
"Was this a lesson in futility as well, then?" he asked. Severus' jaw tightened as he stared at his favorite pupil. Whatever scathing remark he was thinking of releasing was interrupted by Harry.
"It wasn't futile if we did what we had to do," he said thoughtfully. "Which we did..." Severus lifted an eyebrow.
"And that, as they say, is that. Lesson one," he said, sitting back in his chair. "Move along then, Potter. I'm not going to give you a pass for after curfew..." Harry glared, but gathered his things. It obviously bothered him to have learned something from Severus Snape. Draco couldn't help but smirk.
"Being a Slytherin, I would have hoped you'd caught on to that lesson before a bloody Gryffindor," Severus said, watching as Harry walked to the door. Draco shrugged lazily.
"Who said I didn't?" he asked. Severus just shook his head and went back to his reading.
After Potter had cleared out, Draco stood and crossed the room to where the dark-haired man sat. He rubbed his shoulder from where his decidedly life-long nemesis had run him into a wall with a particularly nasty hex. If there was any time to discuss a personal issue with his prickly Head of House, now was it.
"Professor..." Draco started. Then he caught himself. He wasn't exactly sure how he wanted to approach this with his mentor. Severus looked up from his text. He had never seen Draco so unsure of his actions.
"What is it, Draco?" he asked, a slight tone of annoyance in his voice to cover the concern. The blond boy took a hesitant step and then another closer to the Potions professor's desk. Severus, knowing it wasn't wise to push Draco, stayed silent and waited for him to speak.
When Draco finally stood next to the desk, he took a deep breath.
"I have a question to ask you," he said. Severus raised a dark brow.
"I had anticipated as much, Mr. Malfoy..." he said. Draco frowned but didn't seem to look at his professor. Draco's mouth opened to speak, and then shut again. Finally, it seemed as if he'd gotten a hold of his courage.
"I've been having dreams, sir," he said so softly that Severus had to strain to hear.
"Dreams? Of what?" he asked. Draco's mouth opened and closed again, and he looked away.
"I don't wish to say..." he said. Severus frowned.
"Then how, exactly, do you expect me to be of assistance?" he inquired, sitting forward slightly to set a glare on his pupil. Draco returned the look and a glaring contest commenced until Draco, frustrated, slammed his fist onto the desk.
"Bloody hell..." he growled before turning to look at Severus. "I've been dreaming about Ginny, if you must know." Severus rolled his eyes.
"I don't think those dreams are meant to be spoken of in polite company," he drawled. Draco leveled him a glare.
"I wouldn't bother telling you about those dreams," he said sarcastically. Then, he sobered. "Ginny dies..." Severus let out a sigh as he stood and closed his textbook.
"Spare me your lovelorn teenage dramatics," he said. Draco slammed his hands down on the desk.
"They are not simple dramatics..." he yelled. Then he sobered. "I am the one who kills her... and our child..." The last was said on a bit of air. Severus' eyes went wide as he looked at the blond, but he covered it quickly.
"How many times have you had this dream?" he asked. Draco sighed.
"Only a few times. And they are slightly different each time," he said.
"Have you... felt... anything during these dreams? Like strong emotions or heavy magic?" Severus prodded.
"Not that I can remember," Draco answered.
"Do you remember feeling anyone else nearby, or feeling as if it wasn't really you?"
"Are you asking me if I felt like I was possessed?" Draco asked. Severus nodded tightly.
"I am," he said. Draco's brow furrowed as he thought back to that horrible dream.
"No. I did not feel possessed, or as if I were under the Imperious. I did not feel like myself, but I don't remember feeling anything influencing me," he said. Severus sat back down in his chair and thought about the significance of what his student had just told him. It took a Slytherin to recognize the signs of worry on another Slytherin, but Draco kept still as he watched his professor. Then, Severus turned back to Draco with a subtle shake of his head to focus his thoughts.
"You'd best be off to bed, Draco. These little sojourns will not excuse you in any of my classes," he said.
"But sir..." Draco started, frustration mounting at the lack of answers. Severus held up his hand.
"I will have to think over this, Draco. I will discuss my findings with you when I have something to share," he said. Draco's jaw tightened, but he gave his Head of House a stiff nod before going to gather his things. Severus watched as the blond boy left his classroom. He wasn't completely sure that Draco's dreams were anything more than dreams. But it still warranted careful research.
Severus picked up his wand and stood to approach a set of shelves that held many dangerous looking Potions ingredients. With a muttered spell of his own creation, Severus had the shelves pull apart to reveal and extensive collection of dark bound books. After choosing one, he went back to his desk and settled down to find out what the wizarding world could fear next...
O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O
Draco sat in his room, staring at the fire in the fireplace. It had been a long day and no answers to his many questions had been given. He couldn't decide if he was angry, disappointed or frustrated. Rather than try to sort it out, he figured that he was a little bit of all three.
It was well past curfew, so when he heard the portrait door to his room open, he could only suspect it to be Severus with news. To say he was surprised to see her would have been a slight understatement. And to say he'd missed her over the holidays and throughout the painfully long day was also a slight understatement. Ginny Weasley, even a frowning Ginny Weasley, was a sight to lift a morose heart. But rather than let it affect him, he kept his elbows on his knees and a curious expression on his face until she stood in front of him.
"Why have you bee avoiding me, Draco?" she demanded, hands on hips. Draco let out a sigh as he leaned back in his chair.
"I haven't been avoiding you," he said. "I've been busy..." Ginny tilted her head to one side, her brown eyes narrowing.
"That's bollocks and you know it," she said. "Every time I see you in the hallways, you run in the other direction. At meals, you sit so I can't see you. You've spent more time in your common room than you have during your entire time at Hogwarts. A common room that I can't get into, mind you."
"Ginny..." Draco started, rubbing a hand over his face.
"You know, if you really wanted to hide yourself away, all you had to do was change your password to your room. Then you'd never have to see me," she said, hurt evident in her voice. Draco sat up quickly and reached out to take her hand. Instinctively, he knew that she was wondering if this was how he ended all of his past 'dealings'.
"Ginny... it's not that I don't want to see you. It's just..." he said, dropping her hand and sitting back in the chair again.
"... that you don't want to see me..." she finished with a sad smile. "Your logic is escaping me, Draco." Draco stood with a frustrated growl and began to pace.
"It's escaping me too, Gin. I can't bloody explain it. I want to be with you, I want to see you. But right now is not a good time," he said. Ginny purposely stood in his pacing path and put a hand on his arm.
"I love you, Draco. Don't push me away again," she pleaded. Draco stood straight, wondering what it was he was really trying to accomplish. When he came up with nothing, he gave up the fight and dragged Ginny into his arms. Her arms wound around his waist and held on tight. After a moment, Draco tipped up her chin and placed a soft kiss on her lips. Stepping back, he smiled at her.
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice heavy with an emotion he probably would never verbalize. With a long finger, he reached out and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear before trailing that same finger down along her jaw. His other hand tugged on her hand as he led them back to his chair. He sat and pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist to keep her there. Ginny smiled. She wasn't going anywhere.
"You're being uncharacteristically mushy tonight," she commented with a chuckle as she crossed her legs where they dangled over the chair's arm. "And I do believe there was an apology in there as well..." When she looked up into Draco's face, he was looking down his nose at her.
"Malfoy's don't do mushy and they certainly don't do apologies," he said. Ginny giggled.
"Then what would a Malfoy call what just happened?" she asked.
"That would be called an affirmation of slightly misguided actions," he said. Ginny's face twisted.
"Bugger that... I like 'apology' better," she said. Draco shrugged.
"You would," he said back. Ginny grinned.
"And the mushy?"
"An anomaly. Won't happen again." Ginny swung her legs around and shifted so that she was straddling Draco.
"What if I like the mushy?" she asked, resting her arms on his shoulders. One of his eyebrows lifted.
"Then you'll appreciate it more if it stays a bloody anomaly," he said. Ginny laughed before she leaned into kiss him. When she pulled back, her face was serious.
"You know, I thought you weren't speaking to me because of Harry," she told him truthfully. Draco tensed at the mention of the name, but he didn't say anything. Ginny's hands played with the collar of his shirt as her eyes dropped from his face.
"You didn't come to find me after the Ball..." Draco let out a breath. He was playing with the idea of telling her what Severus' plan had been, just to get her opinion on the thing. But replaying the whole forest confrontation in his head reminded him of the fact that Ginny would take a liking to the dangerous, daft plan. And he only needed one person badgering him about going through with it...
"I had things I had to take care of," he said instead. Ginny frowned. It was his standard answer to things he didn't want to be specific about. It worried her.
"Nothing dangerous, I hope," she said. Draco chuckled as he ran his hands down to her hips.
"Dangerous... as in bursting in on a Death Eater gathering sort of dangerous?" he asked. Ginny blushed.
"Well... yes..." she said. Draco leaned up to press his lips to her cheek. Ginny closed her eyes and leaned into the caress, relishing the quiet, lighthearted moment. Obviously, he was no longer concerned about Harry...
"About Potter..." he said suddenly, almost as if reading her mind. "I don't like you dancing with him." Ginny sat back, ready to fight back, but he set a finger against her lips to quiet her.
"I don't like you dealing with him at all, for reasons that are my own. But I know that he is your friend and that cutting him from your life would be like cutting out one of your millions of brothers..." he said, resigned. Ginny smiled at him, happy that he'd made the connection to what Harry truly was in her life. And in her happiness, she gave him a sweet kiss.
"Thank you," she said. Draco nodded.
"That doesn't mean I won't be... unhappy about it or that I won't pound his face in should he be an arse..." he said. Ginny laughed.
"I wouldn't expect any more of you," she told him. She stood up and straightened her robes. "I'd best get back to Gryffindor. I have Quidditch practice before classes tomorrow... Ron booked the pitch for the earliest time possible." Draco smirked.
"You'd best practice all you can before you meet up with Slytherin again," he said. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Awfully confident, aren't you?" she asked. Draco's smirk just widened.
"I'm a Malfoy. Confidence is natural me... just as Quidditch is," he said. Ginny just laughed.
"Well see about that," she said before blowing him a kiss and heading out the portrait door.
O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O+O
The next weekend...
It was a cold day, but the sun had finally come out of hiding. It was a welcome sight to everyone on the day of the Gryffindor/Ravenclaw Quidditch match. The postponed game before the holidays was now being played and the excitement could barely be contained. Each team was ready to go, despite the lack of practice over the holidays, and happily walked out onto the pitch.
Ginny threw a quick smile up to the Slytherin stands to where she knew Draco would be watching. She's promised him a Gryffindor/Slytherin final, and since she was Chaser today she would have a lot more to say about it. Harry looked nervous as he stood next to her.
"Buck up, Harry. You'll smoke them before I get a chance to get a Quaffle through the ring," she said, elbowing him in the side. Harry swallowed hard and then smiled over at her.
"Just a bit nervous seeing as it's my first game this year," he said. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Harry, you've played since your first year. If anyone were a natural at the game, it'd be you. You've no reason to be nervous," she said. Harry shrugged, but gave her another stellar smile before going with Ron to meet the Ravenclaw captain.
Draco watched all the pre-match formalities with a practiced disinterest. For him, a sixth-year Seeker, the match didn't begin in earnest until the Snitch was flitting around waiting to be caught. Although, this match, he may actually take more interest in the workings of the Chasers... though he wouldn't say such a thing to Blaise, who was at his side, or to Ginny, who was just mounting her broom.
With a sharp whistle and a toss of the Quaffle, the game was underway. Cheers went around the pitch in a deafening wave as the Ravenclaw Chasers took the first possession. The two new Gryffindor Beaters, a couple of 5th years that Draco was unable to name, quickly went after the Chasers, batting the Bludgers in their way at every turn. One hit in particular took one Chaser by surprise and caused her to fumble the Quaffle. The Gryffindor Chasers took charge, stole the ball-like object away and quickly made their way down to the other end of the pitch.
The game continued on for another twenty minutes without incident. Gryffindor was up 80 to 60, but Ravenclaw wasn't giving up the goals without a fight. The red and gold team was making their way back down to the other end of the pitch when their redheaded Chaser stopped suddenly and her broom swayed slightly back and forth. Draco watched, wondering what kind of play it could be. He could come up with nothing, and a chill ran over Draco as he continued to look at her.
Something was wrong… Ginny was no longer flying aggressively, nor planning to do so, from the looks of it. In fact, she was no longer flying at all. She was just sitting on her broom as if there wasn't a fierce Quidditch match going on in front of her. Draco gripped the railing of the Slytherin stands, his eyes locked on the redhead.
Potter was yelling at Ginny to get moving, but she seemed to not hear him at all. Katie Bell passed the Quaffle to the seemingly waiting redhead, but it only bounced off of her back. With the force of the blow, it was by sheer luck that Ginny had managed to stay on her broom. Draco willed her to move, to do anything but hover in mid-air aimlessly. It was only a matter of time before a Bludger sent her crashing to the ground.
In a matter of seconds Draco wished his thoughts back as Ginny suddenly gripped her head as if in pain. Her broom started to sway out of control and it seemed as if she couldn't hear anything anyone was screaming at her. The Weasel and Potter immediately made their way to where Ginny was struggling as Madame Hooch called a halt to the game. Before her brother could reach her, Ginny suddenly calmed. Then, she shrieked for her brother to help her before she suddenly disappeared.
"NO!" It took a second for Draco to register that it had been he who had yelled. He had to struggle with both Blaise and Severus as they held him back from leaping over the stand's railings. There was silence as the entire pitch watched Ginny Weasley's empty broom plummet to the ground.
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There was a mad cackle that echoed throughout the room. A redheaded figure lay prone in the middle of the floor as a black robed figure stalked around it. A slim, pale hand reached out and stroked Ginny Weasley's cheek.
"Who would have guessed that my little experiment would have worked so well? And who would have guessed that my darling nephew could love you so much?" Bellatrix Lestrange's voice floated over the unconscious girl. A noise alerted the woman to another presence.
"What have you dragged in now, Mistress Lestrange?" a dignified male voice asked. A smile that could never be classified as a smile crossed Bellatrix's face.
"Well, well, well, Mr. Warrington..." she said. "Come to see my prize?" Warrington frowned down at the form of Ginny Weasley.
"A prize for what?" he asked. Bellatrix sneered.
"My hard work," she said. Warrington stood straight.
"Well, then, I'll make sure the Dark Lord knows," he said. Bellatrix turned to look at him with a smirk.
"He already does, my boy. He already does..." she said with a chuckle.
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