Ginny walked along the halls of Hogwarts, clutching her books protectively. On the outside, she was wearing a frown, but inside she was gleaming. Rumours had been going on for sometime about the incident with Harry. Frighteningly, most of them were true, but Ginny, Draco and even Ron denied them vehemently. Ginny let a smile escape as she sped up to reach the outside of the Hogwarts compound. She relished in the feel of sunlight on her pale skin and walked toward the lake to do some homework. She pulled out her worn scrolls and started on her assignment. It was for Potions, and lately Snape had been giving Ginny more and more extra work to do; Ginny figured it was most likely because of the rumours floating around about her and Draco.
Patsy Parkinson walked out with a group of Slytherin girls in tow. She harumphed when she saw the figure of the pale redhead. Pointing a jealous finger, the other girls took notice too. Instantly a horrid idea formed in the dark crevices of Patsy's mind. She whispered to the other girls to do her bidding. They agreed and started to stalk toward the Weasley girl.
"Hey, Weasle!" Ginny glanced up from her work to see a group of menacinglooking Slytherin girls gathered over her. They blocked out the sun that Ginny had been cherishing this day, and she resented that a bit. "Would you mind moving over a bit? You're blocking out the sun." Ginny retorted, and smiled genially. She then continued work on her Potions assignment. The girls were taken a bit off-guard, but it only made them angry. A swift foot connected with Ginny's face, and she never saw it coming.
Ginny stood up and brush off the dirt that had gotten on her robes, only to meet with another kick- this time to the stomach. Ginny coughed, and as a third kick came to her head again, everything went black. The last thing Ginny remembered was a strangled cry, "Draco!" And then she was lost in the dark. The Slytherin girls walked off, back to their 'leader'. Patsy smiled and laughed as the unconscious girl lay on the ground, her scrolls long drowned in the lake. A sudden thought struck Patsy's mind, and she started to seethe with anger again. Ginny had cried out Draco's name. Everyone knew that Patsy was the on favored to Draco. Patsy dismissed her cronies and they walked off to do their own things. They were not the least bit curious as to what Patsy wanted to do; in fact, they really didn't want to know.
Patsy walked up to Ginny, and loved the sight of her helpless. She bent down and picked the limp head up. "You think you're good for him, don't you? You think you two will be great together. Well, he doesn't want you!" She shouted, and she slapped Ginny's unblemished face. Her anger swelled. Patsy truly hated this girl. Patsy thought back to why she hated her so much.
It was a few weeks earlier, and Patsy had been sneaking around Hogwarts, after fnding that Draco was not in his bed. She looked every where, and finally thought of the idea to look in the observatory tower. Climbing up, she heard voices, and peeked over to see the persons they belonged to. There was Ginny and her Draco. Ginny smiled and and he grabbed her in his arms and held her tightly.
"I love you Draco." Ginny said plainly. Draco looked to the stars and replied back.
"I love you too..." And he kissed her sweetly on her forehead. Patsy felt the tears swelling up. She ran to hide as they spilled onto her cheeks. Draco and Ginny walked down the steps, and Draco ushered Ginny to her room, wishing her goodnight. As soon as the girl left, Draco turned to Patsy's hiding position. She walked into the starlight as he stared at her discriminately. "Draco..." She sobbed, and tried to gain her composure as quickly as she could. "Draco, I am going to tell Lucius, and the Slytherins. I'm going to tell everyone unless you st-" She was cut off as the blond boy grabbed her by her neck, and pushed her against the wall.
"If you tell anyone, I will kill you." He looked staright into her eyes as he said this, and Patsy knew he meant it. She felt the tears coming again as he let her go and walked out of the tower himself. She slid to the floor, and cried there for hours. She had truly loved Draco all the years she had known him, and had waited patiently for him to return her feelings, and then this girl came along...
Patsy came back to the present and a mad look came into her eyes. She screamed at Ginny, "I want you to DIE!" She picked up Ginny's slender body and looked at the cool lake water. She smirked as she plopped the limp body into the water. She stood up and ran into the school.
Draco had just been let out of Transfigurations when he heard a voice say, "I want you to die!". He looked around to see a frantic looking Patsy running into the school. She bumped into students and didn't even take notice of Draco. He was grateful, but it was suspicious at the same time. He decided to go to where she came from, he was worried about what she'd been up to. He walked out to a sunny day and birds singing. But something still wasn't right. He wondered around until he came to the lake. He was about to look into the clear water when he heard Ron Weasley talking rather loudly to the mudblood. "Gin was supposed to meet me after class, have you seen her Herm?" Draco's eyes widened and he looked into the water. Ginny was barely visible, but her red hair was drifting down quickly.
"Draco? Are you going for a swim?" A Slytherin girl asked as he threw off his robes and hopped into the water. Everyone started talking about how weird he was. Ron and Hermione were staring at the spectacle, wishing Harry were here to see it. Suddenly, Draco popped up with Ginny in his arms. He climbed out and lay her down, his face obviously frantic.
"GINNY!" He screamed, pushing down on her chest. Ron and Hermione ran up as Draco placed his lips on Ginny's cold ones. He gave her his breath, and continued doing CPR until she finally coughed up the water that had been in her lungs. Not caring who was there. Draco grabbed her tiny body and hugged her tightly. Ginny hugged back, confused but happy to be with him. Ron and Hermione, as well as anyone else that had been outside just stared. More numbers came as word spread around about what had just happened. Draco picked up Ginny as Madame Pomfrey came. He handed her over to the older, who smiled her thanks.
Patsy walked up cautiously, not wanting to direct any attention to herself. Draco, however, saw her immediately and glared at her. Patsy started to back away as Draco screamed angerly at her, "Patsy, if you ever hurt her again, I promise, I PROMISE..." He walked up to be next to her as he said simply, "you will die." Draco then walked to be with Ginny as she healed fully with the nurse. Everyone just stared as Patsy, scared, fell to the ground and started crying. Ron and Hermione ran after Draco's form to be with the tortured girl.
Draco was standing by Ginny as she slept. Madame Pomfrey had performed a sleeping spell so Ginny could regain her strength. Ron and Hermione walked in and Ron looked at his sister, and then Draco. Ron and Draco had sort of a straing contest for a bit before Ron spoke up.
"What do you want with my sister?" Draco looked at Ron curiously, as Hermione buried herself in her book, not wanting to get involved. Draco answered, suave as ever, "I have no idea what you mean." He smiled at Ron as he looked at the frail girl in the bed. Ron glared at Draco when he noticed something strange. He saw that Draco's face had gotten softer. He didn't see any malice or anger in it at all. Ron then noticed something rather odd. He blushed as he shouted at the blond boy, "You never put your clothes back on, idiot!" And indeed, Draco was standing shirtless and dripping in the infirmary. Ron thought that Madame Pomfrey hadn't minded, because surely she noticed. "Perverted old broad..." he muttered.
Draco laughed heartily and placed his hand on Ron's flaming red hair. "Hey, you're right! Thanks, Weasle!" He laughed still as he walked out to retrieve his clothes. Ron stared arther dumbfounded as Hermuione snickered and replayed the scene in her mind, still hidden in her book.
The next day was a very odd day for Draco and Ginny. Everyone in the school had figured out that there was something going on between the two, and they were constantly hounded with questions. That weekend was the weekend they went to Hogsmeade, but this was the first time Ginny dreaded it. She had received a letter from a local newpaper that they wanted to interview her. She declined, but she knew she'd be found eventually. She sighed and walked into Potions class, to a crowd of gawking students. She winced and sat down in her seat. Blushing girls bombarded her with questions that were arther embarassing. Some of them were questions even Ginny didn't know the answer to. "Well, I'm sure everyone is interested in the latest happenings at this school, but lets keep it out of MY classroom." Snape looked angrier at Ginny than he had ever looked. She sunk down into her seat, and prepared herself for the worst Potions class ever. Meanwhile, Draco was getting shunned by any and all peers. While the girls found Draco attractive and wanted to know more about him, the boys were simply pissed that Ginyn had been snatched up by someone as seemingly horrid as Draco. The Slytherins thought that he was a traitor, and constantly bugged him about it. Truth be told, he really didn't care if he had friends or not, but it was quite annoying. He had received a Howler from his father that morning at breakfast, but he wasn't surprised. His father had Slytherins spying on Draco ever since he had arrived, so he knew Lucius would find out almost immediately about Ginny, if it ever becamse public knowledge. His father threatened him with money, violence and even tried to bribe him at one point. Draco wrote back punctually and his letter simply said this:
Father,
I know you may not support my decisions, but that is moot point to me. I don't care about inheritance or any of the like. You may hurt me and abuse me all you want, but my decision stays. I will protect and love Ginny for the rest of my life. I am not afraid of you, or your base threats.
Sincerely,
Draco
Draco knew he was in for it as soon as his father received the letter. He didn't care anymore though. That man had put him through so much in his life, and now he wanted to take away the only thing in this world that mattered to Draco. He closed his eyes and smiled, this year was going to be fun indeed.
The Hogsmeade weekend came quicker than anyone realized, and Draco and Ginny made plans to meet at her twin brothers' shop. Ginny took a long time to get ready, as this would techinically be her first date with Draco. Hermione, always acting like the big sister, helped her get ready. Ginny stood in the mirror and gave an approving nod at the medium length emerald green dress and simple black heels. The green contrasted so beautifully against her skin and hair. She was really excited, and forgot almost completely about all the annoyances her and Draco had encountered.
Draco waited by Fred and George's shop and shuffled his feet anxiously. He had worn some nice slacks and a blue dress shirt. He had never told Ginny about the letter he had received from his father, or the letter he sent back. He had not yet gotten a reply, which was rather suspicious. All thoughts were lost though, when he saw Ginny walking toward him. He noticed the other boys from the school staring too, and smirked and he grabbed her by the waist. Ginny giggled excitedly and noticed the newpaper reporter that had mailed her earlier that week. He seemed satisfied with that picture, and Ginny was anxious for it to appear, but happy that at least she wouldn't have to do that interview tonight.
Draco's grasp got tighter before he relinquished her hips, only to grasp her hand just as tightly. Ginny looked at his tawt face, worried. He was looking into a dark alley, and Ginny wondered what he was seeing. He started to walk in the opposite directiong, saying simply, "Be quiet, and walk quickly with me." She nodded dumbly and tried to hurry her steps. Draco walked her around many parts of Hogsmeade. They went in and out of alleys, stores and through the large crowds. Ginny started to feel that someone was pursuing them, and realized that Draco was trying to retreat from it. She cursed her heels as they ran to a remote part of the town. A few wizards and witches were scattered here and there, but it was pretty much deserted. Draco breathed heavily, as they had run for a long time, and Ginny gasped as she saw the figure of Lucius Malfoy loom toward them. She scooted back, she had always been afraid of this man.
Draco stood up straight and glared at his father. "What do you want?" He asked, his voice simply manacing. Lucius smiled and replied, "You know what I want, Son." Draco glared and his father started to stalk closer toward the two. Draco ran to stand in front of Ginny, and pulled his wand out. Ginny stood up to help, but Draco's hand shot behind him to signal for her not to help. She hestitantly placed her wand back in her purse and watched the spectacle unfold.
"C'mon, Son, you know she's not right for you." Lucius said, genially.
"Who says!" Draco shot back, "you!" Lucius winced as the disrespect hit him. His face started to look less genial.
"Well, yes, I do say. Draco, you need to find someone from a good bloodline. This little Weasle isn't worthy of you. Our family is very old and very distinguished. "
"I don't care about that shit!" Draco shouted. Lucius let his facade fall away and looked at Ginny.
"You little slut!" He pulled out his wand and shot a blast of green energy at the girl. Draco created a shield using his own wand and looked angerly at Lucius. He lunged forward, "You bastard!" he shouted, as he ounched the man. Lucius was not used to physical attacks, he had always relied on magic, so he stumbled backward, confused. Draco had never hit him, either. He knew that this would be a futile fight.
"You're not my son anymore." He said simply. Draco smiled.
"Who said I ever wanted to be?" Lucius smiled back, and walked away. Draco just stared at his retreating figure. Draco was never really a son to Lucius, he was just a tool to use for his own schemes. Lucius would always make another chils with his mother, and write Draco out of every family tree and try to erase him from the fam,ily's memory forever. Draco looked at Ginny and realized that he couldn't be happier with that. He hugged her as she ran up to him, looking at the stars above. He suddenly got an idea, "Hey, Ginevra, come here." Ginny blushed at the use of her full name and followed Draco faithfully.
Draco led Ginny to the top of an old abandoned store. He sat with Ginny and they stared at the stars together. Ginny smiled and grabbed Draco's hand. He smiled back, and squeezed her hand. Eventually they laid down. It was in the dark side of Hogsmeade, mostly because it was full of empty stores, so Ginny and Draco kissed. That night, Ginny gave herself to Draco, under the stars. She stared at them afterward, while Draco slept in bliss. She closed her eyes and thought about their first kiss, under these same stars.
End Starplay
a/n: so, how'd you like it? I tried to make this chapter the longest so I could finish the story for real! It's two hours of writing, so please review and it will all be worth it! Thanks for reading! 3