Chapter 10 – Control

Draco stared at the floor after the door shut and he heard her footsteps fade. He struggled to figure out the last piece of this, of what he knew was surely the end. They had been so good together and now it was destroyed, all because she was afraid. He understood that feeling all too well, but in her case, it was expected. Some days he still couldn't believe how she got up in the mornings, knowing what had occurred, or how she was even able to stare any boy in the face.

Pansy, Draco had only learned very recently, had been the victim of a similar situation. He had trespassed on her and Millicent Bulstrode in a very private conversation, one that made his insides twist painfully, and he felt disgusted. He had proceeded to drink the images away after hearing the gruesome details his friend had to endure at the hands of a stranger. She was brave, he thought, never letting that part of her past come back and win her own.

While he let the liquor flow in his mouth, tasting ever piece of the bitter liquid as he could muster without gagging, his thoughts turned to something a fellow Slytherin had said the previous night: "She wanted it…I could tell…" Maybe it was that he was half inebriated, but Draco found that sentence made him nervous. He questioned it but the boy had dismissed him with a strange look. If Draco had known what Zabini had really meant, he was sure he would have murdered him on the spot.

He lifted his head, his gray eyes sharp, and he stared at the door again. He listened, hearing a pair of feet shuffle across the floor outside his dorm. He called her name and was rewarded with the doorknob turning to reveal a horrorstruck looking dark-haired girl. She glared at him, her hair done in waves which she pinned back. She leaned against his bedpost. "Did you hear about Blaise?" she asked quietly.

"I heard," he replied.

"He's been called into Dumbledore's office on suspicion of rape." Pansy's eyes narrowed to slits and she turned to Draco. "What's the Weasley girl done?"

"Ginny didn't do anything!" shouted Draco.

"Ginny?"

"That's her name, Pansy."

She stared at him, obviously hurt and said, "Since when have you been on a first name basis with that rodent?"

Draco blinked at her. "You know even she wouldn't make this up."

"How do I know?" Pansy said.

"Because you went through it!" screamed Draco. He watched her face pale and she stood there, wide-eyed. She looked like she was going to punch him. "Pans, I'm sorry," he whispered.

She sniffled, her eyes gleaming suddenly, and she touched a finger to her wrist. "I think about it everyday," she said softly. "How could I not? He came out of nowhere, Draco. He nearly left me to…"

"I know," he nodded and reached for her, pulling her to himself as she cried. This was a stunning picture to anyone who entered in the next few minutes; it was a known fact that Pansy Parkinson was the strongest of the Slytherin girls, and the toughest, by far. She rarely let anything get her down.

"Did he really do what she said?" she whispered anxiously.

"I believe so, yes," Draco admitted.

"This is so unreal," she said and shook her head as she sat on the edge of his bed. "We've known Blaise for years."

"We don't really know anyone. I mean, look at our parents. My father killed hundreds of people without flinching. My mother couldn't possibly love that part of him, could she? You'd be surprised to find out how wrong you are. Mother loved Father despite his horrible addiction to murder, because she knew the real man beneath the mask. She knew Lucius Malfoy for the boy he was when they fell in love. Narcissa wasn't an idiot; she knew the risks for being with him, and for persuading him to have a child."

Pansy listened quietly before asking, "What's going on between you and Ginny Weasley?"

He looked at her, a small smile coming across his cold features. "Do you really want the details of this unnatural relationship?"

"No."

"At least you're honest."

"I hope you won't be foolish," she warned him.

Again, he smiled at her. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Ginny stared at the silver band on her finger. It's a friendship ring – something I'd like to have with you, if you'll let me. She laughed suddenly and then sank into her pillow, crying softly. How could she have been so stupid? He had helped her so much; she owed him a decent friendship, maybe more. But then she had to go and mess that up.

"Ginny?" It was Hermione. The younger girl groaned, lifted her head, and turned it.

"Yes?" Oh, she sounded so bitter.

"Are you all right? You'd been up here for a few hours. Did things go badly with Malfoy?" she asked softly, sitting on the edge of her bed. "You can tell me, I mean, I'd believe you if you did."

Ginny sat up and looked at her incredulously. "You'd believe that I had to break up one of the best friendships I've had all the time I've been back at Hogwarts? Would you also believe that I considered myself in love with that boy? Love, Hermione, do you know what that is? Or do you just feel lust for anyone who'll have you? Harry sure didn't stop to ask you out, even when he saw you reduced to tears by Lavender. You should have been with Ron, you know that! He's loved you for years…"

Hermione's eyes widened. "You really were together? It wasn't just a trick?"

"You don't believe anything unless you can see it for yourself," Ginny spat. "Did you want to see what I did to myself after Blaise?" she asked softly, a ghostly grin falling across her lips. Without waiting for an answer, Ginny pulled at the sleeves of her shirt, rolling them up to expose her wrist, and the shocked look on her dorm mate's face.

"Oh, Ginny," Hermione whispered, touching the lines on her arm. "Ron can…"

"You aren't going to tell him, Hermione," Ginny said quietly rolling down her sleeve. "You won't tell anyone."

"Are you and Malfoy…?" she said, forgetting her question was unanswered.

"I don't know anymore." Ginny said honestly. "We have something that much I know, and after tonight things just kind of fell apart." She pulled her knees up to her chest and stared at the floor. "Maybe it's best if we don't see each other."

"You have to if you said you were in lo…"

"Don't say it," she warned.

"But you just said you think you are."

Ginny pushed the hair away from her eyes. "I didn't want any of this. I just wanted to get through this year, and the next, graduate and become an Auror." She sniffled, knowing full well that she was about to sob more, and turned away from her friend. "I think you should go, please."

As the door shut at the brunette's departure, and the room fell quiet, Ginny decided she'd like a cup of coffee.

Draco had been sleeping very comfortably when he heard the sound of clicking. He stirred and sat up, nearly biting on his own tongue to sop the scream. There, in mid-air, was a candle. "It lights up your face beautifully," muttered a voice. "You look almost innocent."

"You idiot! What are you doing here?" he snapped as he reached over and tugged, pulling the cloak away.

Ginny Weasley smiled at him and all he wanted to do was kiss her. "I'm in the mood for coffee."

He blew out the candle and grabbed her, bringing her mouth down to his softly. "I missed you," he whispered. "What's this about coffee now? It's late."

"I want to go to the Three Broomsticks…"

"It won't let us in…"

"I want to use the cloak and go down into the cellar."

"Oh?" His eyes flashed, and even in the darkness she saw him smile.

"To get the coffee, pervert," she giggled.

He frowned, his cheeks flushing pink as he kissed her once more. "Anything you want," he whispered. "Anything."

"I thought you might say that." Ginny smiled. "You spoil me very much."

"As I should, Weaselette."