Disclaimer: Not mine.
I think perhaps instead of doing this how I have been doing it, one chapter from Draco's PoV and one from Ginny's, I'm going to put it together and make the chapters longer. I've not figured out how I'm going to do the PoV, but here goes. The longest chapter ever!
Ginny's PoV
It was the first time all year I'd gotten a letter. I still hadn't received a reply from either Mum or Charlie, so imagine my surprise when I got a Howler on that bright October morning. It was a little under a week until Halloween, and I was excited. Neville was talking about something that was vaguely interesting when the owl post came. I turned my eyes upward out of habit, and a tawny owl carrying a bright red envelope landed on the table in front of me. I looked at it quizzically for a moment before it dropped the letter in front of me and flew off. I took the letter and held it between my fingers for a moment, looking to Neville for his reaction. He was leaning away from me, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly agape.
"How much you want to bet this is going to be very bad?" I asked. The words were no sooner out of my mouth before the Howler sprung out of my hand and into the air, opening itself up and preparing to berate me.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley!" I recognized the voice immediately as Ron's, and I wondered what in Merlin's name would make Ron want to send me a Howler. "What the bloody hell do you think you're doing prancing around like a slag, kissing Draco Malfoy? What do you think Mum would know if she heard about it? He's a fucking Death Eater for Merlin's sake! You know what he caused last year, don't you? Of course you do, you were there when Harry explained it all to us! Have you lost your mind? I don't ever want to hear anything more about you with Malfoy, or I'm personally going to come back to Hogwarts and kick both your asses!"
The letter dissolved into flames, and I found myself wiping tears from my face that I didn't ever remember crying. The look of shock that had plastered itself onto my face from the moment the letter came wouldn't seem to go away, and I just sat there, mute, until I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Draco looking down at me, his eyes holding something akin to pity. There is nothing in the world that I hate more than having someone pity me. I couldn't help it; I got up out of my seat and ran from the hall.
How dare Ron call me a slag! He'd kissed Lavender last year, I reasoned. So what if Draco wasn't exactly the kind of guy that I could take home and introduce to my parents? Ron hadn't complained when I'd kissed Harry last year; perhaps that was it. Did Ron think that I should sit around and wait idly for Harry to come back to me? Was he really that dense? Draco had been kind to me; sure, we hadn't spoken of the kisses we'd shared that night, and they hadn't been repeated, but he was my friend. I had a right to choose to be friends with whoever I chose. It just didn't seem fair that Ron was gone and still ruining my friendships. I sighed and looked around, trying to see where my feet had automatically taken me. I found myself in the corridor in front of the Room of Requirement. How many countless hours had I spend in this room last spring, writing and thinking? I opened the door and walked inside, happy that the room was exactly the same as I'd left it. There were a number of cozy couches and a roaring fire, and the extra copy of my journal. It was enchanted to be exactly like the journal I used normally, and it contained all my other journal entries. The entries I wrote in the duplicate journal even showed up in my normal journal. This room was my haven, the one place I could go to be alone.
Draco's PoV
How dare her brother, upsetting her like that? The bastard had the nerve to be all over the Brown girl at every opportunity and the Mudblood, and he actually had the audacity to call his own sister a slag? It made me want to scream. I didn't have a sister of my own, but I know if I had I would never call her such a vulgar name. Weasel needed to learn some manners, and I would be the one to teach him. But first, I had to find and comfort Ginny. No woman should ever be exposed to the horror of being called a name just because of someone's misconceptions. Women are something to be cherished and loved, not to be belittled.
Of course I knew where she was going as soon as she turned into that corridor. I'd been to that room hundreds of times during the previous year, though it was for a different reason than what hers. I crept up to the door and quietly opened it. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to bother her, but I knew she shouldn't be left alone in her state. Women shouldn't be forced to bear their burdens alone; they needed to have a man to share in their sorrows and triumphs with. I stopped myself before I walked through the door. Was I actually thinking like this? Was I considering being Ginevra's partner? I shook my head. We'd only shared a few kisses and a friendship, and nothing had been mentioned of the kisses since the night they'd happened. There was no way that someone as independent and self-willed as Ginevra would need anyone, let alone me. After all, wasn't I everything she hated? I was a Malfoy, my father had almost killed her when she was eleven… could it be possible that she'd gotten over those things in such a way that she would want to pursue a relationship with me? I walked through the door and stood motionless until I saw her. The room was filled with couches and chairs, and bookshelves crammed with books. She was thrown out on one of the couches, a quill in her hand and her journal open under it. She was scribbling furiously, so I decided not to bother her for a few minutes. I ran my finger along the titles on the bookshelf nearest me, but I didn't recognize any of the authors. Dickenson, Keats, Hugo… who were these people? I took one off the shelf and thumbed through it. I read a few lines then put it back, turning my attention back to Ginevra.
"What is this place?" I asked. I walked over and sat down in the chair nearest to the sofa where she was stretched out, looking to her for the answer to my question.
Ginny's PoV
27th October
Who the hell told Ron that Draco and I kissed? Who the hell knew? Okay, I suppose anyone who was in the common room at that time saw us kiss, but who would be stupid enough to tell Ron? He's a right prat, and I can't wait until I see him next. I'm going to give him a piece of my mind, and I might just hex him for good measure. The nerve of him…
I'm not sure if I want to go home for Christmas. I know that's still two months away, but if Ron is going to be there, I'm not sure I can take it. His snide little comments will drive me to do something I'll regret later, and I don't want to upset Mum. I'm not sure if I could handle Hermione's take on this either, because I'm sure I'll be getting a letter from her any day now. Ron couldn't keep his big gob shut to save his life, though I'm torn on whether or not he's told Harry. Bloody gits, the whole lot of them. I'm just going to stay in the castle for Christmas; I might even be able to convince McGonagall to give me some work for extra credit for Transfiguration to keep my mind occupied. Anything is better than having to be lectured all holiday.
I don't really know what to think about the whole Draco thing. I mean, he hasn't' mentioned anything about the whole kissing thing since it happened, but he also hasn't acted weird around me. Was that all he needed, a kiss? Was that enough to tell him that he doesn't like me? I know I haven't kissed anyone in awhile, but could I have been that far below his skill level that I blew all chance of us ever being a couple? When the hell did my feelings for him change? I distinctly remember feeling nothing but protectiveness for him when the school year began. I hated that all those stupid people were talking bad about him and wanted to protect him. Do I have a crush on him? Why does my heart never let my mind in on these little details? This is all happening so fast, I feel like I don't have any control over the situation. I almost hate to say it, but the speed with which the relationship is developing is comparable to how fast Harry's and my relationship developed. Now that is a scary thought; Draco and Harry are similar. I think I'm never going to think about that again.
"What is this place?" I looked up at the sound of Draco's voice, and I followed his path to the chair next to me with my eyes. Honestly, what was wrong with me? Why couldn't I concentrate anymore on anything except how exquisite he looked, or how his lips looked perfectly like they wanted to be kissed? Could Ron be right? Was I losing my mind?
I sat up on the sofa, hugging my knees to my chest. I had never felt this way so fast about anyone, not even Harry. I shuddered; it made me uncomfortable to think about Harry and Draco in the same thought. In fact, it was becoming increasingly annoying to think of Harry in any context. I looked up at Draco, and for a moment I was lost in the mercurial depths of his eyes.
"What do you want from me?" I whispered, hugging my legs even tighter to myself.
Draco's PoV
"What do you want from me?" I heard her words, but for a second I didn't comprehend them. What did I want from her? I couldn't answer that question. I wanted her friendship, I wanted her love. Wait a minute, when did that thought slip into my brain? I shouldn't be thinking of such things; as a Malfoy, I was destined to love a powerful, rich witch. I shouldn't be concerning myself with earning the love of a penniless little Weasley. Mother would have liked her, I thought. Mother always did like girls who had a bit of fire about them, who had a spine and weren't afraid to stand up to something they thought was wrong. I shook my head, willing my mind to change its course of thought.
"I don't know." I finally admitted. "I mean, I do, but I'm not sure how the hell these kinds of thoughts got into my brain. Something strange is going on, and I can't explain it. I want to take care of you and protect you and keep you from those stupid brothers of yours." It took me a second to realize that I was speaking out loud, but when I did I clasped my hand over my mouth. Never had I said anything like that to anyone, ever. I saw her eyes go wide and I could feel a slight heat radiating from my face. That is one thing I am proud to say; Malfoys do not blush. Heat can rise in our faces from time to time, but we never blush.
I saw Ginevra's eyes go wide for a second before her face settled in a pretty pink colour. It was obvious that she was blushing, and she was looking at me as if I'd just handed her a precious jewel. She leaned forward from where she was sitting and took both my hands in hers. She was positively beaming, and it made me sort of nervous. For some reason I thought she might hit me, so I closed my eyes and braced myself for the blow. What I did not expect was for her to throw herself forward into my arms and hug me.
"You want a relationship?" She whispered. The tone of her voice betrayed that she didn't quite believe what she was hearing, so I wrapped my arms around her and held her still for a moment. After she'd calmed a bit, I pulled back from her and nodded. Her face cracked into a smile and she leaned forward and kissed me quickly, before picking up one of the pillows on the couch and bopping me on the head with it.
"Took you long enough!" She said, bopping me again. She laughed, and I brought my hands up to block her attacks. I felt around behind me and found a pillow, and I in turn hit her with it. By this time, it had escalated into an all-out pillow war. I had never done this before, but it felt good. It was nice to be able to goof off and have fun with a person without having to worry about preserving your dignity and doing good by the family name.
"What says you we skive off class today and I'll teach you who all these authors are?" Ginevra asked, smiling deviously.
"Sounds good, but you made me miss breakfast. You're going to have to make it up to me somehow." I wiggled my eyebrows suggestively at her, but she just laughed.
"We'll sneak down to the kitchens later and get the house elves to give us something to eat." She said quickly.
"You know where the kitchens are?" I asked. In all my years of searching the school, I'd never found the kitchens. She laughed and whacked me in the arm. It didn't really hurt, but I rubbed my arm anyway.
"Of course I know where the kitchens are!" She said. "You seem to forget who my brothers were. They knew this school inside and out, and they kindly passed their knowledge on to their little sister. Come on, I'll show you."
With that, she took my hand, and we walked out of the room into the hallway.
Third person PoV, a few hours later
"You know what is happening, don't you?" Severus Snape sat in Minerva McGonagall's office with his feet up on desk, glaring at her. She glared at him over her spectacles at him, and he took his feet down off her desk and considered her words.
"Of course I know what's happening. Wasn't I the very one who told you this would happen when you sent your correspondence on September first?" Snape's tone was condescending. Really, did she think he was daft? He knew his own godson, and knew the in-depth story of the previous circle of time. He knew that the circle was already beginning to crack, and this was just necessary to completely break the cycle.
"What are we going to do about this?" McGonagall asked impatiently. "We cannot simply allow them to go through with this to see if our theory is true."
"We have no choice." Severus replied. "If we figure out that Miss Lovegood's observations are correct and that their auras are perfectly meshed, then that will prove that they are soul mates and that soul mates actually exist, and it is not simply a fluke. Since you informed me that Mister Malfoy and Miss Weasley were observed attached at the lips in the common room, and that Miss Lovegood saw their auras combine at that moment, then they will not be able to be separated forcibly for the rest of their lives! Can you imagine what kind of power those two are going to have when finally do consummate their relationship?" Severus said the word consummate like most people said the world disembowel. "I know my godson has immense magical powers, and from what you told me, so does Miss Weasley. When their power combines…" Severus's voice trailed off. He looked at Minerva expectantly. "They would be a vital asset to the Light."
"Very well." Minerva agreed irritably. "I still do not like the idea of students being given free reigns to do whatever their hormones demand of them, just like I did not like the idea of combining all the houses in a common dormitory, but I suppose it can be allowed for the sake of this experiment. But so help me, Severus, if you're wrong…" She glared at him haughtily.
"Don't worry, Minerva, I'm not." Severus smiled tightly. "We need Miss Brown to go to her orb again as well. I know she was disturbed by what she originally saw, but convince her that she must not interfere. You mentioned that Miss Weasley received a Howler when her brother found out of her relationship with Mister Malfoy. I urge you to find out who is leaking information on Ginevra's doings to her brother, and make sure it does not happen again. We do not need that cretin to interfere and possibly do damage to this delicate relationship." Severus stood up.
"How exactly am I supposed to convince Miss Brown not to try and interfere with the relationship when she knows what is going to happen? Though she does not know everything, I fear more and more each day that she will figure this out and tell someone, then there will be no way we'll be able to finish this and know once and for all!" McGonagall said exasperatedly.
"We have not had a documented case of soul mates since Lily and James Potter, and they were murdered before we could ever discover anything about their bond or powers. The only thing we know is that their residual power was enough to protect young Potter from his demise. If our hypotheses were correct, if Lily would have just stood aside and let the Dark Lord try to kill the young Potter, the curse would have rebounded anyway, and she would have been able to revive the elder Potter's life. " Severus spat these words out, as if there was some bitter memory invoked by the thought of the two of them together. "We already know the circle of time has been cracked, because Miss Weasley is not with Potter. We need to break the circle so that there is at least a possibility that we can win this time. I do not believe we can do it without Miss Weasley and Mister Malfoy."
"Are you sure, Severus, that you aren't so adamant about the two of them being together because you do not wish Mister Malfoy to suffer your fate? We know which part he plays, your part, and we know which part Miss Weasley plays, that of Lily Evans. Is it possible that you only wish this union because it will be a chance for you to live vicariously though your godson?" Minerva's words were soft, but with each word, Severus's features hardened.
"You know that is not the case, Minerva!" Severus nearly screamed, slamming his fist down on the desk in front of him. "We need them if we're going to win this damn war!" His face had started to turn red from the exertion of convincing her, and he turned on his heel and marched to the door. The door opened with a crash and shut with a slam, and Minerva slumped against her desk, her eyeglasses in one hand and her other hand on her forehead.
"There's going to be hell to pay if he's wrong, and young Mister Potter will not want to give her up without a fight." She murmured, before replacing her glasses and turning to the papers on her desk.
A.N.: So this chapter is the longest chapter so far. Please don't think that I'm rushing Draco and Ginny's relationship; it's the whole soul mates thing that's pushing them to be together. There are a few revelations in this chapter, and a few things that aren't said but are implied, but you'll find out later. Also, let me know what you think of the switching PoVs during the chapter. I know I can't tell this entire story in one PoV, and I had been writing each chapter as a different PoV, but I tried combining them and labeling when it swiches in this chapter. As always, review, and happy reading!