This one is for Kitsune Sohma! The winner of last chapter's contest! This chapter is inspired by and dedicated to her! Although I did take some artistic freedom with it. So, Kitsune, It's not exactly what you asked for but I'm hoping it will suffice. :-) Thanks to all y'all who caught the quote and reviewed, you guys are awesome!
And now, without further ramblings...onto the chapter!
After last week's Blaise debacle, things had been increasingly awkward between Draco and Ginny. They mainly avoided each other's presence, staying in their rooms except during mealtimes when they would eat in silence, casting undetected questioning glances at one another with discreet timing.
Eventually, one morning at breakfast, Draco put down his paper abruptly and turned to address Ginny.
"I'm planning on heading over to Diagon Alley today," he said clumsily, "I was thinking maybe you would want to come with me and we could get you some things to make you more comfortable here, and what not."
"Like what?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Oh, I don't know…" Draco said, obviously thinking shopping should be a woman's forte', "Like robes, and stuff."
"What's wrong with the robes I have now?" Ginny asked, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Nothing," Draco defended, "I just thought you might like some more robes, you know, for dress occasions and such."
"Alright," Ginny agreed, "let me just grab my bag and I'll be ready."
"I'll be waiting at the apparation port," Draco added.
A minute later and Draco had apparated the two to the middle of Diagon Alley.
"There's Twilfitt and Tatting's why don't you head in and I'll meet up with you in a moment," Draco suggested, "I've got some business to attend to first."
Ginny nodded and headed for the strange shop as Draco took off in the direction of Obscurus Books.
About ten minutes later Draco walked in on a hysterical Ginny covered from head to toe in huge poofy yellow lace.
"Where have you been!" she screamed, "Quick, let's run before she gets back."
"Hello Callidora," Draco said with a grin at the woman coming up from behind Ginny, carrying an armful of dress robes.
"Draco!" the woman exclaimed kissing him on the cheek, "How can I ever repay you for sending me such a beauty to dress?"
Ginny rolled her eyes and sent a silent plea to Draco to get her out of here.
"I know," he replied, smirking evilly, "She's quite exquisite, isn't she? Let's see if we can't find something here to match her beauty."
Callidora beamed delightedly and proceeded to dress Ginny up in the most horrendous robes known to man as Draco sat and watched amusedly.
He had just finished complimenting Callidora on the hideous turquoise piece of saran wrap she had wrapped around Ginny at the moment when Ginny had a bright suggestion.
"You know, Callidora, it just simply isn't fair that I'm getting to try on all these masterpieces while Draco only gets to watch. Can't you see if you can find anything for him to try on?"
Draco looked on in horror as Callidora decided that this was a most brilliant idea and called for her newest assistant—Cemal.
Ginny almost choked to death on her own laughter as a flaming young man came out dressed in one of the most fashionable light pink suits she had ever seen.
"Cemal," Callidora suggested, "Can't you see if we have anything left in stock for a man of Mr. Malfoy's stature?"
"Oh!" Cemal said brightly, "I know just the thing."
With a wave of his wand, Draco was now covered from head to toe in dark maroon dress robes with ancient lace trim and the cap and feather to match.
About five minutes more of both Draco and Ginny's torture, to Cemal and Callidora's dismay they ran out of robes.
"Be back in a jiff," Cemal said, as they went back into the stores, "With more fabulous robes!"
"Remind me again why you weren't in Slytherin," Draco said sarcastically, transforming Ginny and himself back into their normal clothes.
"It's the hair," she said simply, "Come on, we have to get out of here, with each robe change another piece of me dies."
"You're dying? At least you don't have to worry about your dresser falling for you," Draco exclaimed.
"Yoo-hoo," a voice shouted from the back, "Dracie darling I've found just the thing!"
"Bailing…now," Draco said grabbing Ginny by the arm and pulling her out into the crowded street.
"Freedom!" Ginny screamed walking out into the bright sunlight.
Draco resisted the urge to kiss the ground, "Finally," he said relieved.
Just then two mops of gleaming red surfaced above the crowd.
"Fred, George!" Ginny exclaimed excitedly, seeing her brothers walking hurriedly towards her in the street.
"Ginny! Hi!" Fred said happily.
"How are you?" George asked as both the twins slid their arms through Draco and Ginny's arms so that they were all walking together.
"Beautiful day for a stroll, isn't it," Fred exclaimed.
"Where are you going?" Ginny asked breathlessly, struggling to keep up with them.
"Better question," Draco said, arching his eyebrows, "Why are we going there so fast?"
"Exercise," Fred replied cheerfully, "I hear it's…um…good for you!"
"Fast-walking," George chimed in, glancing over his shoulder anxiously, "It, um, helps your heart, and, uh, releases endorphins, which make you happy and um…."
"And, um, it helps with digestion and… " Fred said trying to cover for his twin, while glancing hastily behind him.
-BANG-CRASH-BOOM-THUD-"and…RUN!" both twins shouted simultaneously.
Fred and George took off sprinting with Draco and Ginny following confusedly behind. They immediately dived into the nearest side alleyway. Fred and George hid behind a small dumpster as Draco tried to follow after, pulling Ginny along behind him.
"There's not enough room for the four of us!" George exclaimed.
"Just stand out there, they're not looking for you!" Fred added.
"Who?" Ginny asked frustratedly.
"In case you three haven't noticed, Ginny kind of has BRIGHT RED HAIR, it might attract the attention of some one looking for, oh I don't know, redheads!" Draco said sarcastically.
The twins scratched their own fiery heads.
"Well, hide her then!" Fred exclaimed.
"Quickly, there's not enough room!" George shouted.
Draco abruptly grabbed Ginny and dragged her out far in front of the dumpster. She pulled her hair to the side and hid it with her hands as he put his hands on the wall to either side of her head and hid her with his body.
A big uproar was sounding in the street and Ginny's eyes clouded with fear as she heard men running past them harshly shouting out search orders.
The last words Ginny heard were a deep, "Quick, this way," before she realized how close Draco was, and had trouble concentrating on anything else. Draco gave a small smile at how uncomfortable he was making her feel. Ginny found herself subconsciously tilting her head up a little as Draco came closer and closer. His lips inches from hers—centimeters—and….
"Well that was close," the twins said popping out from behind the dumpster and breaking the spell.
Ginny let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"Extremely," Draco replied, his eyes never leaving Ginny's. He reluctantly took a step back and turned to the twins.
"Well, what are we waiting around here for?" Fred asked.
"Let's get out of here," George said.
"Brilliant idea," Draco said sarcastically, "And where do you suggest we go?"
"Why don't we just apparate back to your place?" Fred asked.
"Genius, Fred," George said, pulling out his wand.
"Apparate, Apparate!" Ginny screamed, "Why didn't we apparate like 10 minutes ago! I assumed you didn't have your wands! I can't believe this!"
"Oh," Fred said, staring dully at the piece of mahogany in his hand.
"Well," George said in their defense, "It is kind of hard to think and run at the same time."
"Besides, if we had apparated we wouldn't have been able to glimpse our marvelous work," Fred added with a wink.
"And," Draco said with a conspiratorial smile, "Truth be told, if they hadn't have bumped into us and saved us, we would have headed right into that mess."
"Exactly," Fred and George said at once.
"Urgh!" Ginny huffed defeatedly, "I'm surrounded by idiots!"
She then disappeared with a flash of blue with Draco, laughingly, and Fred and George, sheepishly, following.
Malfoy Mansion—half a second later.
"Oh, come on, sis," Fred said enveloping Ginny up in to a hug.
"Don't be angry, you've always been our favorite sister," George said getting in on the bear hug.
"Oh, don't give me that, I'm your only sister," Ginny said laughingly pushing them off of her.
"You're forgetting about Percy," George said with a grin.
"Oh, fine, you two," Ginny said breaking down, "But what was with that stunt back there?"
"Oh, that," Fred said beaming sheepishly.
"Well," George started, "Did you know that there was a wizard mafia?"
"No!" Ginny replied bewilderedly as Draco calmly replied, "Yes."
The three Weasleys turned and stared at Draco.
"What? Blaise is Italian after all," Draco said. (A/N: In my book at least..hehe!)
Ginny just shook her head and the twins continued.
"Well anyways," George said, "Back to your no….well neither did we."
"Until just a few moments ago," Fred finished.
"Something tells me…" Ginny started.
"The less you know, the safer you'll be?" George concluded.
"Most definitely," Fred agreed.
"…Now, about the care and treatment of our littlest sister," Fred and George said, rounding on Malfoy.
"No worries here," Draco said raising up his hands and smiling.
After some long discussions, grueling question sessions, and prank story swaps the Weasleys had officially accepted Draco as one of their own.
The newlywed Malfoys waved goodbye as the twins apparated back to their now-safe home.
"I'm beat," Ginny declared, once they were alone. She yawned and stretched as her eyelids started to droop.
"It's only eleven," Draco said, glancing at the clock.
"That's nice," Ginny said half-asleep dragging her feet towards the staircase.
"You are so ridiculous," Draco said smiling, as she stumbled up the staircase.
He picked her up and carried her the rest of the way up the stairs. She fell asleep in his arms before he could even reach her bed.
He set her down and arranged the bedcovers around her.
"Mmm," she said stirring in her sleep.
"Shhh," Draco replied, kissing her forehead softly, "Goodnight Ginny."
"Goodnight Draco," she whispered at his retreating figure before drifting off….
She was sitting in a large silver building. An endless sea of deathly gray chairs surrounded her on all sides. A robotic sounding voice called out, "Flight 815 has been cancelled due to extreme weather conditions. Flight 815 has been cancelled."
Ginny saw a brief glimpse of a memory and concentrated with all her might till she realized where she was-- some muggle building called an airport or something of the sort. Ginny remembered her father bringing her here as a special treat when she was very young. She recalled being fascinated by the large silver birds and their majestic sheen.
A flash and the once empty airport was now bustling loudly with people.
"I'm sorry, miss," a woman randomly addressed Ginny, "But your flight has been cancelled, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"What flight?" Ginny asked confusedly. The woman gave her a strange look and pointed up. Sure enough, A large 815 was swinging above Ginny's head.
"Oh, thank you," Ginny replied.
"I wouldn't be thanking me just yet," the woman said her fake smiling flickering.
"Excuse me?" Ginny asked.
Another flicker and the people quickly faded out and she was left completely alone. A desolate baggage cart rolled slowly by, powered by nothing at all. It squeaked closer by Ginny. Squeak—Squeak—Squeak—Squeak—Squeak—and Flash.
She now found herself rolling through the empty airport on this runaway baggage cart. She started to panic as the cart rolled faster and faster and faster and then—
The cart deposited her and the rest of it's contents right in the middle of one of those moving sidewalk only, instead of moving across with the sidewalk, Ginny found herself sinking into it. She gave a muted scream of terror as the baggage toppled on top of her, sealing her fate. She was drowning in baggage, sinking deeper and deeper by the second panic overtaking her every movement. She struggled to free herself as the gleam of the silver paneled walls caught her eye. Only, instead of seeing her own peril reflected in it's mirror-like sheen, Ginny saw Voldemort's pale figure. A glimmer in his blood-red eyes and the overhead sprinklers came on. Only instead of water they covered everything with a thick layer of crimson blood, Ginny's blood. She felt her body weaken with every passing second as Voldemort's laughing face reflected in every single panel.
His deranged laughter reverberated off of every wall, echoing harshly in Ginny's ears. She could feel herself slipping out of consciousness as one last glance revealed Voldemort slowly growing a mop of red hair, his blood red slits softened into Ginny's own large brown eyes but the laughter never changed.
Ginny opened her mouth to scream but nothing would come out. The last thing she saw was Draco coming from nowhere to her rescue. She woke up in his arms, her head against his chest. She looked up into his caring eyes before glancing frantically around for a sign of Voldemort.
"It's okay," Draco soothed, "He's gone."
Ginny buried her face into his chest with a sigh of relief.
"You're safe," Draco said as she watched in horror as his beautiful blonde hair turned ashen black his silver eyes turned into a cruel black, the face that always haunted Ginny's nightmares, the face of Tom Riddle.
"For now," he hissed menacingly, grabbing at her neck with his cold heartless hands.
Ginny awoke, screaming bloody murder, and instinctively grabbed the wrist of a hand, seemingly trying to wring her neck.
At the sounds of her hysterical shrieks and deadly battle, Draco came running into the room. He, having left his wand in the bedroom, tackled the intruder to the ground as Ginny looked on in fear. The intruder hit Draco hard in the left eye and used his temporary blindness to escape, apparating quickly away.
Once Draco realized any further efforts were futile, he hurried to Ginny's aid.
"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.
She nervously tucked the gold chain of her necklace back under her shirt.
"Yes, I think so," She answered breathlessly, "Who was that guy? And how did he get in here? Don't you have apparation laws and protection charms set up?
"Of course I do," Draco said, his eyes meeting Ginny's as they shared a brief flicker of fear, "Whoever that was, he's no amateur, and I'd be willing to bet he's not going to stop till he gets what he was here for."
"My life?" Ginny said, more of a statement than a question.
"We'll catch him," Draco assured her, "I promise."
Ginny pulled her knees up to her chest, her countenance clouding over in fear.
"Here, come with me," Draco said, picking up her small, shaking figure, "You can stay in my room tonight."
He set her down in the chair near his desk and conjured a glass of hot chocolate for her nerves and an icepack for his throbbing eye. He lit the fire and they spent the rest of the night casting protection charms and wondering about the intruder.
Draco eventually lay her exhausted frame down beside him on the bed as they finally settled in for the night.
"Draco?" Ginny asked, poking him repeatedly in the arm, "Draco, are you awake Draco?"
"No," he murmured, turning over.
Ginny graced him with a small grin. "Thank you, for everything," she said quietly, "Goodnight Draco."
Draco gave a rare, true smile, "Goodnight…Princess."
I know what you're thinking….she did not just throw a rushed, badly-done plot-mover in there with the rest of that fluff. Oh, but I did!
:-D
Sorry, I know the ending was kind of rushed, I've just been writing this for so long that when I finally got to the end I just had to roll it right out. I'll expound on the whole intruder thing next chapter in which there will be—Blaise! So, review to inspire me to write it faster!
You are my inspiration! Review!