A/N: This is dedicated to my beta ANNIE! And everyone thank you soo much for your reviews!
Ginny sat sucking her quill for a minute and then spat ink out.
"Augh!" she exclaimed as her mouth was blue.
Raucous laughter erupted from the teacher's desk at the head of the room.
"I don't see what's so funny." Ginny muttered darkly, wiping her mouth on the back of her sleeve. She pulled her tongue out and tried to look at its current state.
This only made the observer burst into louder and heartier peals of laughter. Ginny looked up mutinously at the face of whom else? Draco Malfoy. He would be invigilating tonight's detention.
"I need to go wash my mouth." Said Ginny dully, staring at Malfoy.
"You're not allowed to leave detention." He said smirking.
Ginny rolled her eyes as Malfoy leaned back and propped his feet up on the desk. He then examined a peace of parchment and scratched something onto it.
Ginny stared at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Be back in five minutes." He said not looking up at her.
Ginny smiled and left.
By the time she got back Malfoy was standing over her desk staring at her transfiguration essay.
"It's not fair." He said promptly when he saw her inquiring look. He crossed his hands in front of his chest. "McGonagoll taught us much harder stuff when we were in her year. And we had to do the same essay except it had to be TWO rolls of parchment not one."
He sulkily sat on her desk and started going through her file in which she kept all her previous class tests and pop quizzes.
"I would've given you a D on this." He said staring at her potions essay in which had gotten Ginny a hard-earned A (acceptable.)
(A/N: I'm pretty sure most of you have read OOTP in which grading standards are explained but ill explain them just incase. First there's O for outstanding then E for exceeds expectations then a for acceptable then P for poor and d for dreadful and then T for troll.)
Ginny turned slightly red and tried to grab the folder from him. "That's private." She said hotly as Malfoy pulled it out of her reach and flipped through the papers.
He rolled his eyes. "I'd hate to think what you'd call your diary-if you had one."
"None of your business." Ginny snapped and tried to take the folder away again but he stood up and sat down at the desk behind her.
His lips quirked into a small smile. " It turns out you're not that bad in studies." He said appreciatively turning to another paper. "But you must work on your Potions area if you want to become Head Girl." He added handing her the folder once he was done.
Ginny excelled a breath. "Could I really become Head Girl?" she asked.
Draco gave an elegant shrug. "It's possible but only if you work on potions. So far your average is an A but you'll need to work harder of you want to keep up this term."
Ginny twiddled with her folder before suddenly asking. "C-could you help me? I mean tutor me or-or something?" she asked suddenly. Draco looked up at her.
"Why don't you ask professor Snape for remedial potions? He gives extra lessons to Potter." Said Draco.
Ginny stared at him quizzically. "No he doesn't. I tried asking him in fourth year but he refused and said he had better things to do."
Draco stared at her. "He gave them to Potter last year."
Ginny looked at Draco hard for a few minutes. "He didn't otherwise I would know Draco." Said Ginny. "I would've heard Harry complaining about it or-or something."
It then hit Ginny that maybe it had something to do with The Order. She clapped a hand over her mouth suddenly.
"What?" asked Draco suddenly looking alarmed "Are you sure?"
Ginny shook her head and removed her hand from her mouth. "I just remembered. You're right, Professor Snape DID give him remedial potions. But-but-uh-well-it was because Harry-um-" she tried to find a plausible excuse. "-because Harry was failing." She ended. "His average was somewhere between a D and T and my average is an A so…" she trailed off.
"Ha! Potters average is a T?" asked Draco gleefully.
"Don't go rubbing it in." said Ginny in what she hoped was a warning voice, She expelled a breathe of relief before sitting down.
"O.K." said Draco suddenly.
"O.K. what?" asked Ginny trying to calm herself down.
"O.K. I'll help you in potions. What time and day?" he asked.
"um…" Ginny trailed off. "We'll have to make sure it doesn't clash with our quidditch practices."
"Or my Head Boy duties." Draco added swiftly. "How about…. the day after Halloween?"
Ginny thought a moment. "O.k." she said nodding. "Sounds good."
She then went back to her work and she felt Draco stand up behind her and go back to sit at the front desk. She looked up to see him staring lazily at her and she turned back to her work quickly with a small blush.
She could feel his eyes on her, still and shifted so that her hair fell over her face. She tried to hide her lower face in the collar of her robe but she suddenly heard him chuckle. She then felt a small object hit her head. 'Probably a knut or something." Ginny thought looking up but she found a Bertie Botts every flavor brown colored bean staring at her.
"I hate the brown ones." Draco explained reaching for another bean inside the plastic package and popping it into his mouth. He then threw another brown bean at Ginny and it hit her squarely between the eyes.
"You know I'm not going to bore a whole into your head." He said looking at her that way again.
Ginny promptly felt like covering her face but stopped the impulse.
"It's not that." She said as Draco threw a yellow bean into the air and caught it in his mouth. "It's-It's-" he looked at her again in the same way. She shuddered. "Stop looking at me like that." She said lowering her eyes. "I don't know why but it's sort of creepy. As if you're trying to-to read my soul or something.' She felt his hand on her shoulder suddenly as he offered her a bean but she moved it away refusing. "And I don't like people reading my soul." She said promptly.
"You're paranoid." He said and Ginny looked up at him.
"Is that really a bad thing? Especially during these times with you-know-who running amuck?"
Draco moved and sat on her desk. He popped a red bean into his mouth before proceeding. "I suppose not." He said and made a face. "ugh!" he spit the red bean out behind him. "Chili." He explained.
Ginny gave him a small grin and reached for a bean. "Why don't you like the brown ones?" she asked popping a pink one in her mouth.
Draco shrugged. "Haven't you noticed how all brown beans end up with a foul flavor?" he asked. "Light brown is boot polish, dark brown is chocolate-"
Ginny cut him off. "You don't like chocolate?" she asked amazed.
Draco shook his head. "It reminds me of rat droppings." He said.
Ginny had to stifle a giggle. "Oh and then there's that bean with yellow and brown swirls-" he shuddered. "-vomit flavored, oh and golden brown is earwax-"
Ginny stared at him amazed. "You've practically memorized the different browns in Berties beans AND their flavors."
Draco shrugged nonchalantly. "One must if he doesn't want to have his taste buds have revolting experiences."
"How did you learn their flavors and shades?" asked Ginny.
"My father and Mr. Bott are acquaintances. My father needless to say helped him out of quite a few messes when he first started his business." Said Draco giving her a small smile.
Ginny stared at her watch. "My detentions up!" she exclaimed. She put her things inside her bag and pulled it over her shoulder. Turning to Draco she smiled.
"You know considering I didn't get a chance to talk to you for the past week it was fun having detention with you again."
"Not with." He corrected. "I just invigilated it."
"Are you going to supervise anymore of them?" Ginny asked.
Draco shrugged. "I'll try pulling a few strings." He said winking. Ginny rolled her eyes but then laid a hand on his arm.
"But I'm serious." She said staring up at him with brown eyes. "I've found a very good friend in you."
Draco grabbed her hand reassuringly. "And I in you." He said bowing his head.
"Well I've got to go." She said finally. "See you some other time."
And with that Ginny turned and left the room. Draco stared at the door for a few minutes before standing up to also leave.
* * *
Ginny dropped onto her bed and closed her eyes. She groaned.
"I can't believe I have a crush on Draco Malfoy." She whispered and turned her face towards her pillow trying to hide her face.
* * *
"My Lord tomorrows a full moon." Muttered a hooded figure.
"Prepare the caldron." Lord Voldemort snapped. "Do you have the right supplies."
The man nodded. "We'll know who she is by tomorrow night."
A smile crept across Voldemort's lips and his eyes gleamed red.
* * *
"Well you seem happy." Said Hermione staring at Ginny who was humming to herself.
"You've been in a good mood all day." Ron pointed out as his knight attacked Harry's pawn.
"Today's my last day of detention." Ginny said happily as she stuck her potions paper inside her folder. "And I actually got an E in my potions essay."
"What?" asked Harry turning his gaze on her. "I thought you were terrible at potions."
"I've been studying extra hard." Ginny said hastily as Harry moved his rook. "Which reminds me Harry, Dra-er-Malfoy and I were talking and he told me you took remedial potions….but you don't….and he insisted you did…what's up? What does Professor Snape-" Ginny suddenly stared at Hermione whose eyebrows were raised.
"What?" she asked Hermione.
Hermione stared at her suspiciously but shook her head mouthing 'Later'. Ginny turned her attention to Harry who suddenly seemed nervous.
"Well-ah-what did you tell him?" asked Harry.
"Oh well I'm not stupid. I decided it must've been something to do with The Order so I told him that he was right. Anyway…what did you do in Professor Snape's office?" she asked interestedly.
"Um-" Harry stuttered.
"I want the truth." Said Ginny. "It's not as if I'm going to tell anyone. I don't have anyone to tell come to think of it." Said Ginny admittedly and stared at Harry who seemed to have wavered.
"We-ell." He said and then strengthened his resolve. "Professor Snape gave me Occlumency lessons last year. But now I don't need them."
"What?" Ginny asked. "Why did you take them?"
"So Voldemort won't posses me." Said Harry giving a hallow laugh.
"That's not funny." Said Hermione sternly. She then turned to Ginny. "It's basically so Harry won't have any odd dreams about you-know-who."
Ginny suddenly felt her spirits soaring. She couldn't believe there was actually a way to end the dreams. She grabbed Harry's arm tightly.
"Harry-" she managed to rasp out. "Harry you have to let me take lessons. You NEED to arrange lessons for me."
Harry looked at her confused and tried to pull his arm away. "Ginny I don't understand. Why do you want to take lessons?"
"Harry please. I-I-need these lessons…please."
Harry stared at her alarmed. A sort of wild, desperate look filled her eyes as she pleaded.
"Why?" asked Harry blankly.
"Harry-" Ginny croaked. " I've been having dreams about you-know-who murdering people."
Hermione snapped her book shut. "I knew it!" she said. "I knew something was up. You were always screaming and mumbling in your sleep. But are you sure these are real dreams…I mean they could just be nightmares."
Ginny stared at Hermione with a hallow look. "I saw him murder the Perkins's." Ginny said tonelessly. "He performed the crucaitus curse on them for a full hour and burned their youngest child alive before killing the others." Ginny swallowed.
"But you never read these reports in the daily prophet." Hermione said. "How'd you know?"
Ginny gave a cold laugh. "Hermione I don't read them because I don't need to read them."
She felt Harry's hand grab her shoulder reassuringly. "You should've told me before." He whispered hoarsely. "We could've done something."
Ginny shrugged. "I-I-never thought of it. I didn't know there was a way to stop it."
"Do you see these-these visions when they happen or before they happen?" Harry asked.
"When. I see them when they actually happen."
"Ginny." Said Hermione in an unnaturally high voice. "Ginny, it's time for your detention. I'll walk you there."
Standing up Ginny nodded and followed Ginny out.
"Ginny." Hermione hissed as they walked. "How long has this been going on?"
Ginny shrugged. "I had them after the chamber incident but they came back full force-"
"Not this." Said Hermione. "I mean you and-and Malfoy."
Ginny stopped dead in her tracks. "What do you mean me and Malfoy?" she asked paling slightly.
"Ginny, Harry and Ron might not have noticed but you were –talking- to Malfoy? You don't talk to him. You either argue with him or scream at him. Since when have you started talking to Malfoy?"
Ginny felt herself blush. "Hermione please-we-I mean even after two months worth of detention together you think we'd still be at each others throats?"
Hermione stared at her.
"We're just friends now." Said Ginny. "And-to tell you the truth I couldn't ask for a better friend."
"Ginny don't go telling him anything."
"I won't." said Ginny swiftly. "I' m not stupid."
"You certainly look the part though." Came a drawling voice from the detention room. Ginny looked up at grinned.
"You're invigilating my last detention?" she asked.
"No." said Draco rolling his eyes. "I'm just here because I feel like it."
Ginny laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised as you have nothing better to do. What's the matter? Pansy Parkinson too busy tonight?"
Dracos face broke out into a small smile. "Actually no. I was too busy tonight." He said smiling ruefully.
"Doing what?" Ginny asked.
"Invigilating your detention what does it look like?" he asked teasingly. He grabbed her hand and brought her into the doorway.
Hermione stared at their linked hands.
"Granger we'd appreciate it-" said Draco staring at her. "-if you didn't tell Pothead and Weasel boy-uufff-" Ginny had elbowed him.
"You're acting as if we're going out." She said as Draco massaged his stomach. "And so called Pothead is my friend and Weasel boy is my brother." Said Ginny in a scolding tone.
"Malfoy if you hurt her-" Hermione began.
"Oh come off it you say that as if we're going out. What did Virginia tell you?" asked Draco chuckling. "My father would have a fit!"
Ginny stared hurt.
"Not that I don't think you'd be worth it-" he said hastily and patted her head.
Hermione then said with tight lips. "Malfoy I'll talk to you later about this at the end of the week when we sum up house points." She turned and left.
Draco pulled Ginny into the room and stared at her. "You told Granger?" he asked.
Ginny suddenly felt very hurt. "So what if I told her?" she challenged.
He raked a hand through his hair nervously. "If anything got out-oh the gossip mill would have a field day! A Malfoy associating with a Weasley-and then Pansy would probably go into a jealous fit oh and questions from the Slytherins…"
Ginny's eyes flashed. "So what? We're JUST friends Draco. It's not as if something is actually going on between us."
"But this could be blown out of proportion by everyone-" he began.
"So?" Ginny challenged again. Her eyes narrowed. "I see. You'd rather keep your reputation than risk being friends with me."
"If that was true then I wouldn't be standing here." He said stoutly.
"Oh?" Ginny asked in an odd voice.
"Look-" he began "-my father would never-"
"Why is it always your father?" Ginny asked shrilly. "Your father this, your father that! I mean what about my parents?"
"What about them?" Draco asked coldly and both knew now that they weren't arguing anymore about just being friends. No the argument had stemmed into something bigger. Something much, much bigger and at the end of the argument Ginny could see a ray of light. Maybe now, maybe after two whole months… "They'll support you in every choice you make." He sniped nastily.
"How would you know?" Ginny cut in.
"Because they are the very loving, ever perfect parents right out of those wizarding wireless sitcoms." He snapped bitterly.
"Oh yes Ginny Weasley the girl with the perfect life." Ginny said rolling her eyes. She then jabbed her pointer finger into Draco's chest. "Well let me give you some news." She hissed. "I'm not the girl with a perfect life!"
"I bet." He muttered sarcastically.
"Would you like to be controlled by you- know- who at the age of eleven?" she snapped her eyes alive with fire. And then it happened.
An unearthly glow surrounded her and her hair whipped around as a non-existent wind blew. Draco's eyes widened in surprise.
Ginny seemed to be unaware of the white misty glow surrounding.
"And would you like to have dreams about - about him MURDERING people?" she ranted on. "Would you like to know exactly how Kingsley Shacklebolt was murdered?" she challenged. "Because the Daily Prophet didn't even tell half of it!"
White light spilled out from her eyes and she rose a few feet of the ground. By now Ginny realized what was going on and was staring at herself.
"What's going on?" Draco demanded. Ginny just stared at her glowing hands and a look of pain suddenly took on her features. She arched her back in pain and let out a blood-curdling scream.
The door burst open with Harry in the middle and Ron and Hermione flanking him on both sides. All three had their wands out and suddenly lowered them when they saw Ginny. She writhed in agony suspended in midair as the unearthly glow became brighter and brighter. Ron had to shield his eyes as the glow became ever brighter.
Harry was the first to regain his senses. His stomach lurched as her robes from just beneath her waist down became stained in blood. She held her stomach in pain and let out another scream.
"Stupefy!" Harry yelled and pointed his wand at Ginny. And then it was over. The unearthly light left her as she fell to the ground with a small thump. Draco being closest to her ran over and covered her with his cloak.
"Ginny!" he exclaimed and shook her shoulders lightly.
"She's out cold." Harry muttered.
Draco narrowed his eyes at Harry. "Potter what just happened?"
Harry chose not to reply. He knelt down in front of Ginny and checked her pulse.
He then felt the wind knock out of him as Draco lunged towards him and pinned him to the opposite wall.
"Potter I'm asking you what just happened!" Draco snarled. "She-" he motioned towards Ginny. "-just looked like she had some kind of-of the gods know what seizure!" he snarled. "I want to know what's going on with her!"
"You mean you don't know?" Harry asked disbelievingly.
"Know what?" he snarled breathing heavily. He then sucked in a breath as he understood and let Harry go. "She's-she's-"
"Don't play dumb Malfoy." Ron finally snarled. "WE know you know. Which is why we came here the moment Hermione told us."
Draco shot a look at Hermione.
"I didn't know." He said scowling. "And from the looks of it Ginny didn't know either."
"Quit playing dumb! We know that Voldemort knows." Harry said stoutly. "-and he's assigned someone to-to-get her to come over to his side."
Dracos lip curled up. "You mean seduce her?" he asked wryly.
"That's not the point. " Hermione said hotly.
"Yes." Snarled Ron. "The point is that my sister needs medical attention and all you three can think about is debating over whether she is or isn't it."
Draco cast a glance towards Ginny. Her skin was pale as the unearthly glow receded and disappeared. Ron picked her up gently and they followed him to the hospital wing.
* * *
"You two should go get some sleep." Said Harry wearily to Ron and Hermione.
Draco sat in the back of the room staring intently at Ginny as the three debated.
"We're alright really." Said Hermione who had bags under her eyes.
"Yea we're f-f-fine." Ron yawned.
"Listen it's been a whole day and you two didn't get any sleep last night either." Harry insisted. "I'll stay here in your places."
Ron stared uncertainly.
"She probably won't be up for awhile." Harry said convincingly. Ron considered this before finally agreeing and dragging Hermione away with him.
Harry sat down beside Ginny's bed and got out his Care of magical creatures drawing and textbook. He then began to work silently. Chancing a look at Draco he saw that he was still staring intently at Ginny. Draco started suddenly and scooted his chair over to the bedside.
Harry looked to see Ginny's eyes fluttering open.
"My head hurts." She mumbled and screwed her eyes shut.
Draco smoothed back the hair from her forehead. "Well it should, considering all that magic you let loose."
."What?" Ginny asked opening her eyes and staring at him. She then stared at Harry.
"Are you all right?" Harry asked nervously. Ginny just stared at him as if daring him not to tell her what was going on. Harry took in a deep breath. "I guess since Ron isn't here I should be the one to tell you this." He said quietly. "Do you remember that prophecy that was knocked over by Bellatrix Lestrange in the department of mysteries? The one talking about the solstice?"
Ginnys eyebrows creased and then her eyes widened as she remembered.
Flashback
Ginny stood rooted to the spot and watched as Bellatrix Lestrange aimed her wand at Harry.
"STUPEF-" she began
"NO!"
A jet of red light had shot from the end of Bellatrix Lestrange's wand, but Malfoy had deflected it. His spell caused hers to hit the shelf a foot to the left of Harry and several of the glass orbs there shattered.
Two figures, pearly white as ghosts, fluid as smoke, unfurled themselves from the fragments of broken glass upon the floor and each began to speak. Their voices vied with each other, so that only fragments of what they were saying could be heard over Malfoy and Bellatrix's shouts.
'….at the solstice will come a new…."said the figure of an old, bearded man.
"DO NOT ATTACK WE NEED THE PROPHECY!"
"He dared-he dares-" shrieked Bellatrix incoherently. "-he stands there-filthy half-blood-"
"WAIT UNTIL WE"VE GOT THE PROPHECY!" bawled Malfoy.
"….and none will come after…" said the figure of a young woman. The two figures that had burst from the shattered sphere had melted into thin air.
End of flashback.
"Yes." Said Ginny looking down at her hands. The area underneath her stomach twinged witrh slight pain and she winced and looked down at her hands. "There were two." She added.
Harry nodded swallowing. "Well one was about you." He said.
Ginny looked up. "What?" she asked.
Harry nodded.
"At the solstice will come a new. Second of three called forth from the power of mankind's cry. Seventh in line of power and purity within her-Aradia shall come forth again to aid her pupils." Harry said loudly and clearly.
"A-Aradia?" Ginny asked confused.
"Daughter of the goddess Diana, mother of all witches." Said Draco.
"I know that." Ginny snapped. "B-but-wasn't Rowena Ravenclaw the last?"
Harry shook his head.
Draco sighed. "When Diana gave birth to Aradia mortal times were harsh. Slaves would kill their masters to escape from slavery. One day Diana turned to her daughter and said.
'Tis true indeed that thou a spirit art,
But thou wert born but to become again
A mortal; thou must go to earth below
To be a teacher unto women and men
Who fain would study witchcraft in thy school
Full oft imprisonment; yet with it all
Ye have a soul, and for your sufferings
Ye shall be happy in the other world,
But ill the fate of all who do ye wrong!"
Draco proceeded.
"Aradia was reborn as a mortal." He explained.
"As Rowena Ravenclaw." Harry added staring at Draco murderously. "I think I'll take over from here Malfoy." He snarled.
Draco just tipped his head towards Harry and kept quiet.
"And Rowena Ravenclaw helped build this school." Harry said motioning to his surroundings. "She was known as the first to teach mankind. She gave Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin the idea to build a school. She use to teach young girls in her village about witchcraft. Hogwarts was the first school ever built." Harry ended and exhaled loudly.
"Glad to see you finally read Hogwarts a History." Draco snapped.
"Now is not the time Malfoy." Harry muttered as Ginny tightened her hand around Draco's arm. Draco stared at her but kept quiet. Harry calmed down and proceeded. "Anyway Aradia is said to come back three times. The first time to teach mankind. The second time to aid mankind and the third time to protect mankind during a great war of the gods." He said counting it off on his fingers. "And you're second."
"What?" Ginny asked her brows furrowing.
Harry nodded. "You're to help us when we need help. Though it's a long way till we get there. Your powers weren't supposed to show themselves yet. And-" he added. "-they seem to have become dormant again."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked slowly.
Harry reasoned. "You were born with Aradia's power. With her soul." He said. "And it's been inside you ever since you were born. Lying dormant even during the chamber of secrets fiasco although they are what kept you alive." He added. "Without them you would've died in the chamber of secrets. But last night-for some reason they were unleashed and after being unleashed once-they've suddenly gone back to sleeping. And judging from the way your body reacted to your powers coming out…. we all think that something must have forced them out."
Ginny's eyes widened. "You mean that wasn't supposed to happen."
Harry shook his head. "Not until you get a bit older."
Ginny's eyebrows suddenly snapped together. "How long have you known this?"
Harry suddenly found the floor extremely interesting.
He muttered something and Ginny leaned closer.
"What?" she asked vehemently. "I can't hear."
"We found out last year." He said in a small voice. "During the summer of fifth year after the whole department of mysteries battle."
"You-you-" Ginny sputtered and it suddenly all clicked together. "HE knows." She stated. "You-know-who knows and he's after me and that's why Ron's been so overprotective? He doesn't want me to mix with the wrong crowd incase that influences my decision…..oh LORD."
Harry nodded. "That's why Hermione was so…. apprehensive about you and Draco. It didn't take us all but ten minutes of prodding to find out why she seemed worried and nervous."
Ginny groaned and fell back into her pillows. She wearily looked at Draco.
"Cheer up." He said and patted her arm. "How many witches do you now who can say that they're the reincarnation of Aradia?"
Ginny sighed at his pitiful attempt of a joke.
"Is that why you-" she began looking at Draco but he grasped her hand knowing the question before it was said.
"No. I am not apart of the Dark Lords plans." he said firmly. " Plus he doesn't know. Not yet." He added. "All he knows is that there is someone who has the powers of Aradia and that someone is in your year. But what happened tonight….the Dark Lord performed a ritual as it was the full moon. He forced your powers out and made sure that each Ravenclaw sixth year was under the surveillance of a deatheaters son. He'd never think of looking for Rowena's heir in Gryffindor."
Something clicked in Drac'os mind. "…That's how you found out about her …from the sorting hat didn't you?" He asked arching an eyebrow towards Harry. "And the sorting hat knew-she was put into Gryffindor for protection…my oh my what have you Gryffies been planning?"
Harry stared angrily at Draco. "And I suppose you tipped them off about Ginny?" he asked through gritted teeth.
Draco held his gaze with Harry's. "Incase you haven't noticed Potter." He drawled. "I'm a seventh year. So it would look a bit odd for me to associate with a sixth year Ravenclaw. They think the heir is in Ravenclaw not Gryffindor. DO I have to spell it out for you?"
"So last night-you-you came of your own choice?" Ginny asked looking up at Draco with hopeful eyes.
Draco nodded.
"Why?" she questioned. Draco ran his thumb over the back of her hand. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back.
Ginny felt that dizzying feeling of safeness overwhelm her.
Draco opened his eyes and stared hard jawed, at Harry with a look of determination.
"They can't know." He said staring at Harry.
"They can't." Harry agreed slipping his right hand into his robe pocket.
Draco leaned over Ginny's bed and grabbed Harry by both shoulders. "If anything ever happens to her I swear I'll come after your blood Potter."
"If anything does happen to her." Harry said with a slight tremor in his voice. "You won't do anything."
"Wanna bet?" Draco asked raising an eyebrow.
"It's a bet but I'll win because you won't even remember your oath." He said drawing his wand out.
Ginny suddenly realized what was going to happen.
"No!" she exclaimed and sat up between the two.
Harry looked at Ginny startled.
"Harry-no-you-you can't. " Ginny said looking at him desperately.
He sighed. "I have to Ginny. Malfoy knows-he might-"
"He'd never tell." Ginny replied vehemently.
Draco shook his head. "It's too risky. What if by some chance Voldemort reads my mind? What if one day I'm placed under a truth serum and word gets out? What if-" he leaned close to her so that his blonde bangs brushed against her forehead. "-What if I in a fit of rage actually tell my father? See I don't even trust myself with this secret." he shook his head. "I'm too close to the Dark Lords faction to be trusted at all."
"But-but- what will happen after Harry obliviates you?" Ginny asked her voice trembling.
"We'll live our lives the way we've been living them for the past five or six years at Hogwarts." His breath was hot on her lips as he held her gaze. "I won't even remember that Virginia Weasley has a good right hook." He said placing a finger under her chin.
A tear trailed down Ginnys cheek. "Stop joking." She murmured.
"I'm not joking." He whispered and Ginny didn't think twice before stooping and planting a small kiss on his lips.
Draco seemed stunned as she pulled back and sat up straight.
"I-I have a confession to make." She said through her tears. "I've had a crush on you for the past month or so."
Draco came close and buried his head in her hair. "And I've fallen in love with you during this past month or so." He murmured. "But we can't all have what we want."
He squeezed her waist before saying tightly. "I-I don't know what I'll do during the near future or what I'll become." He admitted. "And I want to-to apologize ahead of time for any pain I might cause you or any of your family members."
Ginny shook her head trying to hold her tears back. "You-you'll never cause me pain intentionally." She said caressing his cheek. "I just know it."
His grip tightened over her waist and he whispered hopefully. "And-and maybe-one day when this is all over. When the wars been fought and won-you will bring my memory back with your powers won't you? "
Ginny gave a watery smile and moved a stray lock of hair away from his eyes. "I will. That's a promise."
It was a fake promise. They both knew it. It was false hope but false hope was all Ginny had at the moment and Draco gave it to her willingly. False hope would help her get through the rough times to come.
He hugged her hard one last time and Ginny inhaled his scent before he let her go.
Ginny wiped her tears away. She knew she'd never see this side of Draco again. The small beams of hope that surrounded him would be blocked by the darkness that he'd surround himself in. That he'd let himself fall into. The darkness that she'd been pulling him out of step by step….
She stared at his eyes that now twinkled with something like affection at her and knew this was the last time that she'd ever see them twinkle. Along with his memory this Draco-the one sitting before her would also be forgotten and lost.
In a last ditch attempt she began . "But strong enough wizards can break the memory spell." She blurted out.
Draco looped a strand of hair behind her ear. "That's why I'm expecting you to break it." He whispered.
She pushed his hand away frustrated. "Stop it! We both know it'll never happen and what if Voldemort breaks the memory charm?"
"You're right." Said Harry tonelessly. "He's better off dead."
"No!" Ginny shrieked and grabbed Harry's wand. She took a deep breath and looked at Draco. Harry took his wand back from her gently.
"There's got to be some other way." She pleaded. "You-you can hide! Dumbledore! He will find a way."
Harry looked at Ginny oddly before turning to Draco.
Draco nodded slightly.
"Obliviate!" Harry muttered and Ginny closed her eyes. When she opened them she saw Draco's blank face. His eyes seemed unfocused and then they suddenly focused onto Ginny and Harry, they narrowed into two slits and Ginny who'd been on the receiving end of those glares so often suddenly found it hard to cope with.
Those twinkling eyes were gone and in front of her stood Draco's mask. The Draco that she'd known for almost all her life.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked and looked around. "Better yet what am I doing here?" he said and fixed his eyes on Harry. He shifted his glance to Ginny and a malicious smile formed on his lips. "My-my-Potty your girlfriend fell off her broom? As they say like boyfriend like girlfriend."
He stood up to leave.
"You should know. You pushed her off her broom." Harry replied angrily.
Draco turned and malice was filled in his eyes. "Excuse me for trying to do the world a favor. Lord knows that the Weasleys are overpopulating it." he said smirking. With a swish of his cloak he left the infirmary.
Ginny couldn't hold it much longer. She met Harry halfway in a hug. She sobbed into his shoulder not caring if she was being loud. Her back heaved up and down from the effort.
'I'm just going to cry this once.' She thought to herself. 'And then I'll never ever cry for him again.' But as she cried she found that she wasn't just crying for Draco. Np, she cried for Harry who'd lived such a hard life without any parents. She cried for Lucious Malfoy who'd been lead astray during her absence. She cried for every deatheater there was and lastly cried for Tom Riddle who'd been such a promising pupil but had abused the gifts that Diana had bestowed on him. She cried for the poor orphan whose father had abandoned him and then cried for the man he had become because he was nothing more then a pawn of the gods whose ill fate had been decided.
An hour or so later Harry suddenly realized that her sobs had subsided. She was leaning into him with her weight sagging against him. Tipping his shoulder upwards so that he could crane his neck and get a look at her face he saw that she was asleep. Gently Harry laid her down into bed and pulled the covers up. He found himself thinking that never a face could look as angelic as her tear streaked one.
* * *
Draco walked into his dorm with a scowl on his face. He sat down in front of his desk and pulled out a quill. He had an essay he needed to complete. He stared at it as he idly twirled it around his fingers.
'Strange.' Draco thought to himself. 'I don't remember ever getting an ostrich quill.'
A/N: Wow im already to this part…..are things going a bit tooo fast? Should I slow down?......Anyway on with the thank yous!
Madison27: I hope this chapter answered ur question.
Armadrieclya: Was this chapter long enough for you??
Kabniel: Dracos 'man-sluttness' as you call it wont be questioned for a loonnggg time. It might just come up in the sequeal…anyway his 'slutness' isn't imp. For the moment.
Iris: Im sorry I haven't been writing as fast as I can…or updating as fast as I can for that matter.
karlin88: Funny? Hmmmm im not so good at comedy but if you say its funny…..it must be funny bcoz the reader is always right :p….i sound like a shop owner.
Bunny / Sailor Moon: Im glad you like the story. I hope this chappie was long enough for you.
bego2223: Sorry for not updating soon. Its been awhile hasn't it?
alyssa-farrell: I wouldn't mind having Draco locked in a room with me for hours either. **devlish grin**
CarlySue: I know what you mean but that was a sort of screw up by ff.net…they seem to hate word docs…so I had to replace the file with text file….its fixed now isn't it?
moonlightandroses: Thanks! Im glad you like the story so far.
SilverDragonsFlame: I took a long time to update. SORRY!
Amanda Mancini: So howdy do on this chapter? Was it developed enough? Is it going too fast?
8
Ginny sat sucking her quill for a minute and then spat ink out.
"Augh!" she exclaimed as her mouth was blue.
Raucous laughter erupted from the teacher's desk at the head of the room.
"I don't see what's so funny." Ginny muttered darkly, wiping her mouth on the back of her sleeve. She pulled her tongue out and tried to look at its current state.
This only made the observer burst into louder and heartier peals of laughter. Ginny looked up mutinously at the face of whom else? Draco Malfoy. He would be invigilating tonight's detention.
"I need to go wash my mouth." Said Ginny dully, staring at Malfoy.
"You're not allowed to leave detention." He said smirking.
Ginny rolled her eyes as Malfoy leaned back and propped his feet up on the desk. He then examined a peace of parchment and scratched something onto it.
Ginny stared at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Be back in five minutes." He said not looking up at her.
Ginny smiled and left.
By the time she got back Malfoy was standing over her desk staring at her transfiguration essay.
"It's not fair." He said promptly when he saw her inquiring look. He crossed his hands in front of his chest. "McGonagoll taught us much harder stuff when we were in her year. And we had to do the same essay except it had to be TWO rolls of parchment not one."
He sulkily sat on her desk and started going through her file in which she kept all her previous class tests and pop quizzes.
"I would've given you a D on this." He said staring at her potions essay in which had gotten Ginny a hard-earned A (acceptable.)
(A/N: I'm pretty sure most of you have read OOTP in which grading standards are explained but ill explain them just incase. First there's O for outstanding then E for exceeds expectations then a for acceptable then P for poor and d for dreadful and then T for troll.)
Ginny turned slightly red and tried to grab the folder from him. "That's private." She said hotly as Malfoy pulled it out of her reach and flipped through the papers.
He rolled his eyes. "I'd hate to think what you'd call your diary-if you had one."
"None of your business." Ginny snapped and tried to take the folder away again but he stood up and sat down at the desk behind her.
His lips quirked into a small smile. " It turns out you're not that bad in studies." He said appreciatively turning to another paper. "But you must work on your Potions area if you want to become Head Girl." He added handing her the folder once he was done.
Ginny excelled a breath. "Could I really become Head Girl?" she asked.
Draco gave an elegant shrug. "It's possible but only if you work on potions. So far your average is an A but you'll need to work harder of you want to keep up this term."
Ginny twiddled with her folder before suddenly asking. "C-could you help me? I mean tutor me or-or something?" she asked suddenly. Draco looked up at her.
"Why don't you ask professor Snape for remedial potions? He gives extra lessons to Potter." Said Draco.
Ginny stared at him quizzically. "No he doesn't. I tried asking him in fourth year but he refused and said he had better things to do."
Draco stared at her. "He gave them to Potter last year."
Ginny looked at Draco hard for a few minutes. "He didn't otherwise I would know Draco." Said Ginny. "I would've heard Harry complaining about it or-or something."
It then hit Ginny that maybe it had something to do with The Order. She clapped a hand over her mouth suddenly.
"What?" asked Draco suddenly looking alarmed "Are you sure?"
Ginny shook her head and removed her hand from her mouth. "I just remembered. You're right, Professor Snape DID give him remedial potions. But-but-uh-well-it was because Harry-um-" she tried to find a plausible excuse. "-because Harry was failing." She ended. "His average was somewhere between a D and T and my average is an A so…" she trailed off.
"Ha! Potters average is a T?" asked Draco gleefully.
"Don't go rubbing it in." said Ginny in what she hoped was a warning voice, She expelled a breathe of relief before sitting down.
"O.K." said Draco suddenly.
"O.K. what?" asked Ginny trying to calm herself down.
"O.K. I'll help you in potions. What time and day?" he asked.
"um…" Ginny trailed off. "We'll have to make sure it doesn't clash with our quidditch practices."
"Or my Head Boy duties." Draco added swiftly. "How about…. the day after Halloween?"
Ginny thought a moment. "O.k." she said nodding. "Sounds good."
She then went back to her work and she felt Draco stand up behind her and go back to sit at the front desk. She looked up to see him staring lazily at her and she turned back to her work quickly with a small blush.
She could feel his eyes on her, still and shifted so that her hair fell over her face. She tried to hide her lower face in the collar of her robe but she suddenly heard him chuckle. She then felt a small object hit her head. 'Probably a knut or something." Ginny thought looking up but she found a Bertie Botts every flavor brown colored bean staring at her.
"I hate the brown ones." Draco explained reaching for another bean inside the plastic package and popping it into his mouth. He then threw another brown bean at Ginny and it hit her squarely between the eyes.
"You know I'm not going to bore a whole into your head." He said looking at her that way again.
Ginny promptly felt like covering her face but stopped the impulse.
"It's not that." She said as Draco threw a yellow bean into the air and caught it in his mouth. "It's-It's-" he looked at her again in the same way. She shuddered. "Stop looking at me like that." She said lowering her eyes. "I don't know why but it's sort of creepy. As if you're trying to-to read my soul or something.' She felt his hand on her shoulder suddenly as he offered her a bean but she moved it away refusing. "And I don't like people reading my soul." She said promptly.
"You're paranoid." He said and Ginny looked up at him.
"Is that really a bad thing? Especially during these times with you-know-who running amuck?"
Draco moved and sat on her desk. He popped a red bean into his mouth before proceeding. "I suppose not." He said and made a face. "ugh!" he spit the red bean out behind him. "Chili." He explained.
Ginny gave him a small grin and reached for a bean. "Why don't you like the brown ones?" she asked popping a pink one in her mouth.
Draco shrugged. "Haven't you noticed how all brown beans end up with a foul flavor?" he asked. "Light brown is boot polish, dark brown is chocolate-"
Ginny cut him off. "You don't like chocolate?" she asked amazed.
Draco shook his head. "It reminds me of rat droppings." He said.
Ginny had to stifle a giggle. "Oh and then there's that bean with yellow and brown swirls-" he shuddered. "-vomit flavored, oh and golden brown is earwax-"
Ginny stared at him amazed. "You've practically memorized the different browns in Berties beans AND their flavors."
Draco shrugged nonchalantly. "One must if he doesn't want to have his taste buds have revolting experiences."
"How did you learn their flavors and shades?" asked Ginny.
"My father and Mr. Bott are acquaintances. My father needless to say helped him out of quite a few messes when he first started his business." Said Draco giving her a small smile.
Ginny stared at her watch. "My detentions up!" she exclaimed. She put her things inside her bag and pulled it over her shoulder. Turning to Draco she smiled.
"You know considering I didn't get a chance to talk to you for the past week it was fun having detention with you again."
"Not with." He corrected. "I just invigilated it."
"Are you going to supervise anymore of them?" Ginny asked.
Draco shrugged. "I'll try pulling a few strings." He said winking. Ginny rolled her eyes but then laid a hand on his arm.
"But I'm serious." She said staring up at him with brown eyes. "I've found a very good friend in you."
Draco grabbed her hand reassuringly. "And I in you." He said bowing his head.
"Well I've got to go." She said finally. "See you some other time."
And with that Ginny turned and left the room. Draco stared at the door for a few minutes before standing up to also leave.
* * *
Ginny dropped onto her bed and closed her eyes. She groaned.
"I can't believe I have a crush on Draco Malfoy." She whispered and turned her face towards her pillow trying to hide her face.
* * *
"My Lord tomorrows a full moon." Muttered a hooded figure.
"Prepare the caldron." Lord Voldemort snapped. "Do you have the right supplies."
The man nodded. "We'll know who she is by tomorrow night."
A smile crept across Voldemort's lips and his eyes gleamed red.
* * *
"Well you seem happy." Said Hermione staring at Ginny who was humming to herself.
"You've been in a good mood all day." Ron pointed out as his knight attacked Harry's pawn.
"Today's my last day of detention." Ginny said happily as she stuck her potions paper inside her folder. "And I actually got an E in my potions essay."
"What?" asked Harry turning his gaze on her. "I thought you were terrible at potions."
"I've been studying extra hard." Ginny said hastily as Harry moved his rook. "Which reminds me Harry, Dra-er-Malfoy and I were talking and he told me you took remedial potions….but you don't….and he insisted you did…what's up? What does Professor Snape-" Ginny suddenly stared at Hermione whose eyebrows were raised.
"What?" she asked Hermione.
Hermione stared at her suspiciously but shook her head mouthing 'Later'. Ginny turned her attention to Harry who suddenly seemed nervous.
"Well-ah-what did you tell him?" asked Harry.
"Oh well I'm not stupid. I decided it must've been something to do with The Order so I told him that he was right. Anyway…what did you do in Professor Snape's office?" she asked interestedly.
"Um-" Harry stuttered.
"I want the truth." Said Ginny. "It's not as if I'm going to tell anyone. I don't have anyone to tell come to think of it." Said Ginny admittedly and stared at Harry who seemed to have wavered.
"We-ell." He said and then strengthened his resolve. "Professor Snape gave me Occlumency lessons last year. But now I don't need them."
"What?" Ginny asked. "Why did you take them?"
"So Voldemort won't posses me." Said Harry giving a hallow laugh.
"That's not funny." Said Hermione sternly. She then turned to Ginny. "It's basically so Harry won't have any odd dreams about you-know-who."
Ginny suddenly felt her spirits soaring. She couldn't believe there was actually a way to end the dreams. She grabbed Harry's arm tightly.
"Harry-" she managed to rasp out. "Harry you have to let me take lessons. You NEED to arrange lessons for me."
Harry looked at her confused and tried to pull his arm away. "Ginny I don't understand. Why do you want to take lessons?"
"Harry please. I-I-need these lessons…please."
Harry stared at her alarmed. A sort of wild, desperate look filled her eyes as she pleaded.
"Why?" asked Harry blankly.
"Harry-" Ginny croaked. " I've been having dreams about you-know-who murdering people."
Hermione snapped her book shut. "I knew it!" she said. "I knew something was up. You were always screaming and mumbling in your sleep. But are you sure these are real dreams…I mean they could just be nightmares."
Ginny stared at Hermione with a hallow look. "I saw him murder the Perkins's." Ginny said tonelessly. "He performed the crucaitus curse on them for a full hour and burned their youngest child alive before killing the others." Ginny swallowed.
"But you never read these reports in the daily prophet." Hermione said. "How'd you know?"
Ginny gave a cold laugh. "Hermione I don't read them because I don't need to read them."
She felt Harry's hand grab her shoulder reassuringly. "You should've told me before." He whispered hoarsely. "We could've done something."
Ginny shrugged. "I-I-never thought of it. I didn't know there was a way to stop it."
"Do you see these-these visions when they happen or before they happen?" Harry asked.
"When. I see them when they actually happen."
"Ginny." Said Hermione in an unnaturally high voice. "Ginny, it's time for your detention. I'll walk you there."
Standing up Ginny nodded and followed Ginny out.
"Ginny." Hermione hissed as they walked. "How long has this been going on?"
Ginny shrugged. "I had them after the chamber incident but they came back full force-"
"Not this." Said Hermione. "I mean you and-and Malfoy."
Ginny stopped dead in her tracks. "What do you mean me and Malfoy?" she asked paling slightly.
"Ginny, Harry and Ron might not have noticed but you were –talking- to Malfoy? You don't talk to him. You either argue with him or scream at him. Since when have you started talking to Malfoy?"
Ginny felt herself blush. "Hermione please-we-I mean even after two months worth of detention together you think we'd still be at each others throats?"
Hermione stared at her.
"We're just friends now." Said Ginny. "And-to tell you the truth I couldn't ask for a better friend."
"Ginny don't go telling him anything."
"I won't." said Ginny swiftly. "I' m not stupid."
"You certainly look the part though." Came a drawling voice from the detention room. Ginny looked up at grinned.
"You're invigilating my last detention?" she asked.
"No." said Draco rolling his eyes. "I'm just here because I feel like it."
Ginny laughed. "I wouldn't be surprised as you have nothing better to do. What's the matter? Pansy Parkinson too busy tonight?"
Dracos face broke out into a small smile. "Actually no. I was too busy tonight." He said smiling ruefully.
"Doing what?" Ginny asked.
"Invigilating your detention what does it look like?" he asked teasingly. He grabbed her hand and brought her into the doorway.
Hermione stared at their linked hands.
"Granger we'd appreciate it-" said Draco staring at her. "-if you didn't tell Pothead and Weasel boy-uufff-" Ginny had elbowed him.
"You're acting as if we're going out." She said as Draco massaged his stomach. "And so called Pothead is my friend and Weasel boy is my brother." Said Ginny in a scolding tone.
"Malfoy if you hurt her-" Hermione began.
"Oh come off it you say that as if we're going out. What did Virginia tell you?" asked Draco chuckling. "My father would have a fit!"
Ginny stared hurt.
"Not that I don't think you'd be worth it-" he said hastily and patted her head.
Hermione then said with tight lips. "Malfoy I'll talk to you later about this at the end of the week when we sum up house points." She turned and left.
Draco pulled Ginny into the room and stared at her. "You told Granger?" he asked.
Ginny suddenly felt very hurt. "So what if I told her?" she challenged.
He raked a hand through his hair nervously. "If anything got out-oh the gossip mill would have a field day! A Malfoy associating with a Weasley-and then Pansy would probably go into a jealous fit oh and questions from the Slytherins…"
Ginny's eyes flashed. "So what? We're JUST friends Draco. It's not as if something is actually going on between us."
"But this could be blown out of proportion by everyone-" he began.
"So?" Ginny challenged again. Her eyes narrowed. "I see. You'd rather keep your reputation than risk being friends with me."
"If that was true then I wouldn't be standing here." He said stoutly.
"Oh?" Ginny asked in an odd voice.
"Look-" he began "-my father would never-"
"Why is it always your father?" Ginny asked shrilly. "Your father this, your father that! I mean what about my parents?"
"What about them?" Draco asked coldly and both knew now that they weren't arguing anymore about just being friends. No the argument had stemmed into something bigger. Something much, much bigger and at the end of the argument Ginny could see a ray of light. Maybe now, maybe after two whole months… "They'll support you in every choice you make." He sniped nastily.
"How would you know?" Ginny cut in.
"Because they are the very loving, ever perfect parents right out of those wizarding wireless sitcoms." He snapped bitterly.
"Oh yes Ginny Weasley the girl with the perfect life." Ginny said rolling her eyes. She then jabbed her pointer finger into Draco's chest. "Well let me give you some news." She hissed. "I'm not the girl with a perfect life!"
"I bet." He muttered sarcastically.
"Would you like to be controlled by you- know- who at the age of eleven?" she snapped her eyes alive with fire. And then it happened.
An unearthly glow surrounded her and her hair whipped around as a non-existent wind blew. Draco's eyes widened in surprise.
Ginny seemed to be unaware of the white misty glow surrounding.
"And would you like to have dreams about - about him MURDERING people?" she ranted on. "Would you like to know exactly how Kingsley Shacklebolt was murdered?" she challenged. "Because the Daily Prophet didn't even tell half of it!"
White light spilled out from her eyes and she rose a few feet of the ground. By now Ginny realized what was going on and was staring at herself.
"What's going on?" Draco demanded. Ginny just stared at her glowing hands and a look of pain suddenly took on her features. She arched her back in pain and let out a blood-curdling scream.
The door burst open with Harry in the middle and Ron and Hermione flanking him on both sides. All three had their wands out and suddenly lowered them when they saw Ginny. She writhed in agony suspended in midair as the unearthly glow became brighter and brighter. Ron had to shield his eyes as the glow became ever brighter.
Harry was the first to regain his senses. His stomach lurched as her robes from just beneath her waist down became stained in blood. She held her stomach in pain and let out another scream.
"Stupefy!" Harry yelled and pointed his wand at Ginny. And then it was over. The unearthly light left her as she fell to the ground with a small thump. Draco being closest to her ran over and covered her with his cloak.
"Ginny!" he exclaimed and shook her shoulders lightly.
"She's out cold." Harry muttered.
Draco narrowed his eyes at Harry. "Potter what just happened?"
Harry chose not to reply. He knelt down in front of Ginny and checked her pulse.
He then felt the wind knock out of him as Draco lunged towards him and pinned him to the opposite wall.
"Potter I'm asking you what just happened!" Draco snarled. "She-" he motioned towards Ginny. "-just looked like she had some kind of-of the gods know what seizure!" he snarled. "I want to know what's going on with her!"
"You mean you don't know?" Harry asked disbelievingly.
"Know what?" he snarled breathing heavily. He then sucked in a breath as he understood and let Harry go. "She's-she's-"
"Don't play dumb Malfoy." Ron finally snarled. "WE know you know. Which is why we came here the moment Hermione told us."
Draco shot a look at Hermione.
"I didn't know." He said scowling. "And from the looks of it Ginny didn't know either."
"Quit playing dumb! We know that Voldemort knows." Harry said stoutly. "-and he's assigned someone to-to-get her to come over to his side."
Dracos lip curled up. "You mean seduce her?" he asked wryly.
"That's not the point. " Hermione said hotly.
"Yes." Snarled Ron. "The point is that my sister needs medical attention and all you three can think about is debating over whether she is or isn't it."
Draco cast a glance towards Ginny. Her skin was pale as the unearthly glow receded and disappeared. Ron picked her up gently and they followed him to the hospital wing.
* * *
"You two should go get some sleep." Said Harry wearily to Ron and Hermione.
Draco sat in the back of the room staring intently at Ginny as the three debated.
"We're alright really." Said Hermione who had bags under her eyes.
"Yea we're f-f-fine." Ron yawned.
"Listen it's been a whole day and you two didn't get any sleep last night either." Harry insisted. "I'll stay here in your places."
Ron stared uncertainly.
"She probably won't be up for awhile." Harry said convincingly. Ron considered this before finally agreeing and dragging Hermione away with him.
Harry sat down beside Ginny's bed and got out his Care of magical creatures drawing and textbook. He then began to work silently. Chancing a look at Draco he saw that he was still staring intently at Ginny. Draco started suddenly and scooted his chair over to the bedside.
Harry looked to see Ginny's eyes fluttering open.
"My head hurts." She mumbled and screwed her eyes shut.
Draco smoothed back the hair from her forehead. "Well it should, considering all that magic you let loose."
."What?" Ginny asked opening her eyes and staring at him. She then stared at Harry.
"Are you all right?" Harry asked nervously. Ginny just stared at him as if daring him not to tell her what was going on. Harry took in a deep breath. "I guess since Ron isn't here I should be the one to tell you this." He said quietly. "Do you remember that prophecy that was knocked over by Bellatrix Lestrange in the department of mysteries? The one talking about the solstice?"
Ginnys eyebrows creased and then her eyes widened as she remembered.
Flashback
Ginny stood rooted to the spot and watched as Bellatrix Lestrange aimed her wand at Harry.
"STUPEF-" she began
"NO!"
A jet of red light had shot from the end of Bellatrix Lestrange's wand, but Malfoy had deflected it. His spell caused hers to hit the shelf a foot to the left of Harry and several of the glass orbs there shattered.
Two figures, pearly white as ghosts, fluid as smoke, unfurled themselves from the fragments of broken glass upon the floor and each began to speak. Their voices vied with each other, so that only fragments of what they were saying could be heard over Malfoy and Bellatrix's shouts.
'….at the solstice will come a new…."said the figure of an old, bearded man.
"DO NOT ATTACK WE NEED THE PROPHECY!"
"He dared-he dares-" shrieked Bellatrix incoherently. "-he stands there-filthy half-blood-"
"WAIT UNTIL WE"VE GOT THE PROPHECY!" bawled Malfoy.
"….and none will come after…" said the figure of a young woman. The two figures that had burst from the shattered sphere had melted into thin air.
End of flashback.
"Yes." Said Ginny looking down at her hands. The area underneath her stomach twinged witrh slight pain and she winced and looked down at her hands. "There were two." She added.
Harry nodded swallowing. "Well one was about you." He said.
Ginny looked up. "What?" she asked.
Harry nodded.
"At the solstice will come a new. Second of three called forth from the power of mankind's cry. Seventh in line of power and purity within her-Aradia shall come forth again to aid her pupils." Harry said loudly and clearly.
"A-Aradia?" Ginny asked confused.
"Daughter of the goddess Diana, mother of all witches." Said Draco.
"I know that." Ginny snapped. "B-but-wasn't Rowena Ravenclaw the last?"
Harry shook his head.
Draco sighed. "When Diana gave birth to Aradia mortal times were harsh. Slaves would kill their masters to escape from slavery. One day Diana turned to her daughter and said.
'Tis true indeed that thou a spirit art,
But thou wert born but to become again
A mortal; thou must go to earth below
To be a teacher unto women and men
Who fain would study witchcraft in thy school
Full oft imprisonment; yet with it all
Ye have a soul, and for your sufferings
Ye shall be happy in the other world,
But ill the fate of all who do ye wrong!"
Draco proceeded.
"Aradia was reborn as a mortal." He explained.
"As Rowena Ravenclaw." Harry added staring at Draco murderously. "I think I'll take over from here Malfoy." He snarled.
Draco just tipped his head towards Harry and kept quiet.
"And Rowena Ravenclaw helped build this school." Harry said motioning to his surroundings. "She was known as the first to teach mankind. She gave Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff and Salazar Slytherin the idea to build a school. She use to teach young girls in her village about witchcraft. Hogwarts was the first school ever built." Harry ended and exhaled loudly.
"Glad to see you finally read Hogwarts a History." Draco snapped.
"Now is not the time Malfoy." Harry muttered as Ginny tightened her hand around Draco's arm. Draco stared at her but kept quiet. Harry calmed down and proceeded. "Anyway Aradia is said to come back three times. The first time to teach mankind. The second time to aid mankind and the third time to protect mankind during a great war of the gods." He said counting it off on his fingers. "And you're second."
"What?" Ginny asked her brows furrowing.
Harry nodded. "You're to help us when we need help. Though it's a long way till we get there. Your powers weren't supposed to show themselves yet. And-" he added. "-they seem to have become dormant again."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked slowly.
Harry reasoned. "You were born with Aradia's power. With her soul." He said. "And it's been inside you ever since you were born. Lying dormant even during the chamber of secrets fiasco although they are what kept you alive." He added. "Without them you would've died in the chamber of secrets. But last night-for some reason they were unleashed and after being unleashed once-they've suddenly gone back to sleeping. And judging from the way your body reacted to your powers coming out…. we all think that something must have forced them out."
Ginny's eyes widened. "You mean that wasn't supposed to happen."
Harry shook his head. "Not until you get a bit older."
Ginny's eyebrows suddenly snapped together. "How long have you known this?"
Harry suddenly found the floor extremely interesting.
He muttered something and Ginny leaned closer.
"What?" she asked vehemently. "I can't hear."
"We found out last year." He said in a small voice. "During the summer of fifth year after the whole department of mysteries battle."
"You-you-" Ginny sputtered and it suddenly all clicked together. "HE knows." She stated. "You-know-who knows and he's after me and that's why Ron's been so overprotective? He doesn't want me to mix with the wrong crowd incase that influences my decision…..oh LORD."
Harry nodded. "That's why Hermione was so…. apprehensive about you and Draco. It didn't take us all but ten minutes of prodding to find out why she seemed worried and nervous."
Ginny groaned and fell back into her pillows. She wearily looked at Draco.
"Cheer up." He said and patted her arm. "How many witches do you now who can say that they're the reincarnation of Aradia?"
Ginny sighed at his pitiful attempt of a joke.
"Is that why you-" she began looking at Draco but he grasped her hand knowing the question before it was said.
"No. I am not apart of the Dark Lords plans." he said firmly. " Plus he doesn't know. Not yet." He added. "All he knows is that there is someone who has the powers of Aradia and that someone is in your year. But what happened tonight….the Dark Lord performed a ritual as it was the full moon. He forced your powers out and made sure that each Ravenclaw sixth year was under the surveillance of a deatheaters son. He'd never think of looking for Rowena's heir in Gryffindor."
Something clicked in Drac'os mind. "…That's how you found out about her …from the sorting hat didn't you?" He asked arching an eyebrow towards Harry. "And the sorting hat knew-she was put into Gryffindor for protection…my oh my what have you Gryffies been planning?"
Harry stared angrily at Draco. "And I suppose you tipped them off about Ginny?" he asked through gritted teeth.
Draco held his gaze with Harry's. "Incase you haven't noticed Potter." He drawled. "I'm a seventh year. So it would look a bit odd for me to associate with a sixth year Ravenclaw. They think the heir is in Ravenclaw not Gryffindor. DO I have to spell it out for you?"
"So last night-you-you came of your own choice?" Ginny asked looking up at Draco with hopeful eyes.
Draco nodded.
"Why?" she questioned. Draco ran his thumb over the back of her hand. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back.
Ginny felt that dizzying feeling of safeness overwhelm her.
Draco opened his eyes and stared hard jawed, at Harry with a look of determination.
"They can't know." He said staring at Harry.
"They can't." Harry agreed slipping his right hand into his robe pocket.
Draco leaned over Ginny's bed and grabbed Harry by both shoulders. "If anything ever happens to her I swear I'll come after your blood Potter."
"If anything does happen to her." Harry said with a slight tremor in his voice. "You won't do anything."
"Wanna bet?" Draco asked raising an eyebrow.
"It's a bet but I'll win because you won't even remember your oath." He said drawing his wand out.
Ginny suddenly realized what was going to happen.
"No!" she exclaimed and sat up between the two.
Harry looked at Ginny startled.
"Harry-no-you-you can't. " Ginny said looking at him desperately.
He sighed. "I have to Ginny. Malfoy knows-he might-"
"He'd never tell." Ginny replied vehemently.
Draco shook his head. "It's too risky. What if by some chance Voldemort reads my mind? What if one day I'm placed under a truth serum and word gets out? What if-" he leaned close to her so that his blonde bangs brushed against her forehead. "-What if I in a fit of rage actually tell my father? See I don't even trust myself with this secret." he shook his head. "I'm too close to the Dark Lords faction to be trusted at all."
"But-but- what will happen after Harry obliviates you?" Ginny asked her voice trembling.
"We'll live our lives the way we've been living them for the past five or six years at Hogwarts." His breath was hot on her lips as he held her gaze. "I won't even remember that Virginia Weasley has a good right hook." He said placing a finger under her chin.
A tear trailed down Ginnys cheek. "Stop joking." She murmured.
"I'm not joking." He whispered and Ginny didn't think twice before stooping and planting a small kiss on his lips.
Draco seemed stunned as she pulled back and sat up straight.
"I-I have a confession to make." She said through her tears. "I've had a crush on you for the past month or so."
Draco came close and buried his head in her hair. "And I've fallen in love with you during this past month or so." He murmured. "But we can't all have what we want."
He squeezed her waist before saying tightly. "I-I don't know what I'll do during the near future or what I'll become." He admitted. "And I want to-to apologize ahead of time for any pain I might cause you or any of your family members."
Ginny shook her head trying to hold her tears back. "You-you'll never cause me pain intentionally." She said caressing his cheek. "I just know it."
His grip tightened over her waist and he whispered hopefully. "And-and maybe-one day when this is all over. When the wars been fought and won-you will bring my memory back with your powers won't you? "
Ginny gave a watery smile and moved a stray lock of hair away from his eyes. "I will. That's a promise."
It was a fake promise. They both knew it. It was false hope but false hope was all Ginny had at the moment and Draco gave it to her willingly. False hope would help her get through the rough times to come.
He hugged her hard one last time and Ginny inhaled his scent before he let her go.
Ginny wiped her tears away. She knew she'd never see this side of Draco again. The small beams of hope that surrounded him would be blocked by the darkness that he'd surround himself in. That he'd let himself fall into. The darkness that she'd been pulling him out of step by step….
She stared at his eyes that now twinkled with something like affection at her and knew this was the last time that she'd ever see them twinkle. Along with his memory this Draco-the one sitting before her would also be forgotten and lost.
In a last ditch attempt she began . "But strong enough wizards can break the memory spell." She blurted out.
Draco looped a strand of hair behind her ear. "That's why I'm expecting you to break it." He whispered.
She pushed his hand away frustrated. "Stop it! We both know it'll never happen and what if Voldemort breaks the memory charm?"
"You're right." Said Harry tonelessly. "He's better off dead."
"No!" Ginny shrieked and grabbed Harry's wand. She took a deep breath and looked at Draco. Harry took his wand back from her gently.
"There's got to be some other way." She pleaded. "You-you can hide! Dumbledore! He will find a way."
Harry looked at Ginny oddly before turning to Draco.
Draco nodded slightly.
"Obliviate!" Harry muttered and Ginny closed her eyes. When she opened them she saw Draco's blank face. His eyes seemed unfocused and then they suddenly focused onto Ginny and Harry, they narrowed into two slits and Ginny who'd been on the receiving end of those glares so often suddenly found it hard to cope with.
Those twinkling eyes were gone and in front of her stood Draco's mask. The Draco that she'd known for almost all her life.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked and looked around. "Better yet what am I doing here?" he said and fixed his eyes on Harry. He shifted his glance to Ginny and a malicious smile formed on his lips. "My-my-Potty your girlfriend fell off her broom? As they say like boyfriend like girlfriend."
He stood up to leave.
"You should know. You pushed her off her broom." Harry replied angrily.
Draco turned and malice was filled in his eyes. "Excuse me for trying to do the world a favor. Lord knows that the Weasleys are overpopulating it." he said smirking. With a swish of his cloak he left the infirmary.
Ginny couldn't hold it much longer. She met Harry halfway in a hug. She sobbed into his shoulder not caring if she was being loud. Her back heaved up and down from the effort.
'I'm just going to cry this once.' She thought to herself. 'And then I'll never ever cry for him again.' But as she cried she found that she wasn't just crying for Draco. Np, she cried for Harry who'd lived such a hard life without any parents. She cried for Lucious Malfoy who'd been lead astray during her absence. She cried for every deatheater there was and lastly cried for Tom Riddle who'd been such a promising pupil but had abused the gifts that Diana had bestowed on him. She cried for the poor orphan whose father had abandoned him and then cried for the man he had become because he was nothing more then a pawn of the gods whose ill fate had been decided.
An hour or so later Harry suddenly realized that her sobs had subsided. She was leaning into him with her weight sagging against him. Tipping his shoulder upwards so that he could crane his neck and get a look at her face he saw that she was asleep. Gently Harry laid her down into bed and pulled the covers up. He found himself thinking that never a face could look as angelic as her tear streaked one.
* * *
Draco walked into his dorm with a scowl on his face. He sat down in front of his desk and pulled out a quill. He had an essay he needed to complete. He stared at it as he idly twirled it around his fingers.
'Strange.' Draco thought to himself. 'I don't remember ever getting an ostrich quill.'
A/N: Wow im already to this part…..are things going a bit tooo fast? Should I slow down?......Anyway on with the thank yous!
Madison27: I hope this chapter answered ur question.
Armadrieclya: Was this chapter long enough for you??
Kabniel: Dracos 'man-sluttness' as you call it wont be questioned for a loonnggg time. It might just come up in the sequeal…anyway his 'slutness' isn't imp. For the moment.
Iris: Im sorry I haven't been writing as fast as I can…or updating as fast as I can for that matter.
karlin88: Funny? Hmmmm im not so good at comedy but if you say its funny…..it must be funny bcoz the reader is always right :p….i sound like a shop owner.
Bunny / Sailor Moon: Im glad you like the story. I hope this chappie was long enough for you.
bego2223: Sorry for not updating soon. Its been awhile hasn't it?
alyssa-farrell: I wouldn't mind having Draco locked in a room with me for hours either. **devlish grin**
CarlySue: I know what you mean but that was a sort of screw up by ff.net…they seem to hate word docs…so I had to replace the file with text file….its fixed now isn't it?
moonlightandroses: Thanks! Im glad you like the story so far.
SilverDragonsFlame: I took a long time to update. SORRY!
Amanda Mancini: So howdy do on this chapter? Was it developed enough? Is it going too fast?
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