They all fall down

All of the memories just fall away.

Ginny satisfyingly poked the oversized yellow yolk on her plate. It burst, oozing golden mush down the whites of the fried egg. She never really liked the yolk, just the whites. Of their own accord, her eyes darted to the piece of parchment that an owl had dropped her a few moments ago. After quickly re-reading the note, she sighed heavily, aghast that her parents had managed to make it all the way to Hogwarts in a matter of hours. She was hoping for the apocalypse to yield their arrival. Even if the world had ended, they probably would have still shown up.

Dear Miss Ginervra Weasley,

Both you and Mister Malfoy's parents have been summoned for a meeting in my office at eight-thirty this morning. I'm sure you will both want to make your opinions heard. All lost class periods this morning will be excused.

Have a good morning.

Headmaster Dumbledore

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to smother the panic that rose up inside of her.

Malfoy vs. Weasley. It was going to get ugly.

She could feel his eyes burning holes in her back. He must have received a letter too. Ginny was shocked that it wasn't a howler from her parents.

Ignore him, don't look at him. Ignore him, don't look at him.

It was her mantra. She concentrated on her mangled eggs, frowning. What would her poor mum say to her? She could practically hear a bone-splintering howl breaking glass all the way across the castle. And her brothers; she winced. What if they disowned her? She was sure they loved her, they really did. But would they still love her if they knew what she liked?

"Gin, aren't you listening to us?"

Ginny jumped when a hand was laid on her back; Hermione's cool hand. Even Ron had the presence of mind to realize that Ginny wasn't paying him an ounce of attention.

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine, just great! Um..." she wracked her brain. "So what did you think about that Potions essay, Harry?" She tried to control the hint of hysteria in her voice.

To her relief, the topic was met with distracting grumbles. She faintly heard Ron ranting, "Evil git! How are we supposed to know that fellywog eggs aren't real? That was a right evil trick… it's not even funny the way he wants me to fail…"

She sighed, barely audible. She could sense the change. It wasn't a pleasant feeling, knowing that your life was about to be turned inside-out. She was having enough trouble with that already, and she didn't need outside help. She viciously stabbed at her food.

Take that Malfoy, for ruining my life.

Take that for your splendid body…---what am I saying?

Take this, you prick for ruining my morning!

(He had really done nothing today, but she liked the feeling of laying it on him.)

Damn you! I hate you but I like you; hate you hate you hate you! (Wisely, she returned to her mantra.)

Stupid prick, slick blond hair, asshole… her mind sputtered furiously.

I hate you! Hate you, hate you, hate you--

"…Hate you, hate you, hate you, hate you--"

"Who do you hate Gin?" Harry asked under his breath, peering curiously at her. Oops. She bit down on her lip.

She shyly glanced up to him, and his intense emerald gaze held hers, concern reflected in them. She smiled rather convincingly.

So let's have fun.

"No one, Harry." She brushed up against him, knowing he liked the feel of a girl beside him.

"Is something going on, Gin?" he asked, his eyebrows knit.

"Nah, it's nothing." I'm just about to seal my future with Draco Malfoy, your complete enemy.

She felt Harry scoot closer to her, and he put a friendly arm around her shoulder. She wanted like hell to see Draco's face as he watched the escapade, but she didn't want her eyes to leave Harry's face. She watched him as earnestly as she could manage, and tried to smother the slight feeling of repulsion that was bubbling up inside her. Harry was so just a brother.

"So, did you know that..." He started saying but already her mind was somewhere else. For a moment, she felt extreme distaste spreading from the crown of her head to the balls of her feet. She didn't hate Harry. Really, he was like another brother to her. She looked back at him but the feeling wasn't there anymore. He stopped talking, irritated that she was all of a sudden completely ignoring him, poking at her food again.

She was completely submerged in her thoughts, trapped beneath the ice. It was impossible to feel hatred towards Harry, as thickheaded or ignorant he was. He had a simple charm that had attracted her in the first place. It was the most confusing thing she had ever felt before, this affection and irritation mixed together in her bloodstream. It was completely irrational. But yet, she felt flickers of rage when he put a finger under her jaw, making her look at him, like a child.

"Are you okay? Really okay? Is there something you're not telling me?" He demanded.

She realized his hand was clamped on her arm, a little too tight. She sharply turned her jaw, and wrenched her forearm away from his. She scooted as far against Hermione as she possibly could.

She heard a soft growl. Her eyes darted to his table.

"He's going to be furious," she whispered to herself.

"Ginny—what? Who?"

And she saw him. He was approaching their table, drawing the eyes of all the curious bystanders. His shoulders were tensed, hands curled into fists, ready for a fight. And suddenly, it hit her-- It was his emotions she was suffering from; the roiling rage bubbling inside of her.

Harry shook her lightly, and Ginny cringed away. He doesn't have any idea how much he is worsening the situation! Malfoy was going to make this ugly.

"Get your hands off of me, you prick! How dare you?" she shrieked, slapping at his hands which were floundering, bewildered.

"Don't touch me!" She repeated, grabbing her bag. She could feel the burning rage welling up in her and feel it closing in, he was coming closer. She tried to free herself but each time, Harry kept her down.

"Bloody hell, Harry! Get your filthy hands off of me," she spat at him, managing to conjure a look of hurt on his face. What was wrong with her? Letting him touch her, stain her? She was mad; Ginny shook her head, dispelling these thoughts.

But of course, it was never like Harry to just drop things. Maybe he had good intentions underneath; scared for her. He must have recognized her anxiety, her inability to speak to him.

"Harry please, just..."

"Let go her of Potter now."

Draco sat silently at the Slytherin table, poking his food around, letting the consciousnesses nearby surround him. He soaked in their thoughts. This was so amazing, he thought. He had been taught a little legimens, but this form of prying into the mind was so complex, it made delving into their simple minds quite easy.

Then some less agreeable thoughts floated to the surface of his awareness.

God, I love her, Ginny Weasley, I do. She's so beautiful, and her eyes… She sucks me in with her fantastic energy. How could anyone not love her?

Draco sucked in a breath, feeling outraged. Whoever was pining over the she-Weasley needed to bugger off! He dug into that single person's consciousness, shoving all the others away.

Something must be wrong with her… Ginny isn't responding. She can't tell that I am?

Draco felt this person's intense longing for her, not unlike his own. But it couldn't be shared. Not ever.

The person in question had his body close to hers. Draco sought out his euphoric hormones over the simple exchange of heat, and felt his intense happiness. And then, irritation.

Ginny needs to listen to me. What a bint! Cozies up to me, and then ignores me. Right little whore.

Draco's mouth fell open, and he saw red. This person, whoever he was, was obviously bitter and sour over the fact that she wasn't paying attention to him… anymore. But to call Ginny Weasley, his Ginny Weasley, a whore! The silver spoon that Draco was gripping bent in half, such was his fury.

Whoever this worthless, bastard, son of a bitch was, he was going to pay. In blood.

Draco's eyes jerked to her table, and spotting her vivid hair, next to her sat the jerk in question. And he should have known all along.

Harry Potter.

Draco threw away the damaged silver fork, and nearly felled the bench he was sitting on as he stood.

"Drakie, where are you going?" Pansy Parkinson had her hand on his elbow. She looked up coyly, a slight smile on her lips. Draco had forgotten her very presence, but in fact, she had been chattering away at him the whole morning.

He shook her off, growling, "Bugger off, Parkinson." Her mouth fell open in outrage, but he stormed off in the direction of Potter before he had time to hear her retort.

Ginny saw it all as if somebody had slowed down time a little. Just enough for her to see it all coming.

Harry glanced over his shoulder, and his eyes narrowed as he saw Draco.

"What do you—" Smash! Draco's fist collided with Harry's jaw, sending him reeling.

The Gryffindor table was in uproar, and they all jumped to their feet to call revenge upon Malfoy, whom they all happened to positively loathe. Granger drew her wand, shrieking shrilly at the both of them. Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom both were yelling and trying to egg on Harry.

Harry's features turned murderous, and he sprang up from the bench and lunged at Draco, who kicked him in the gut the moment he had an opening. There was a collective, "Ooh," from the crowd. They had all formed a thick ring around the two boys who were punching and kicking at each other furiously, and the teachers tried to penetrate. But the other tables had all flooded to the area of activity, and further prevented Dumbledore's arrival, no matter how many people he magicked aside.

Ginny froze where she was, and then she stumbled to her feet. She had to violently shove a few choice people out of the way, and she was in the innermost ring of the crowd. She found herself facing the back of Draco, and she tried to restrain him. He blindly shook away, drawing his arm back for another punch.

She caught his hand, and her voice rang out, "Draco, stop!"

The crowd gasped as he relaxed, and took a step back, and spun to face her. His hair was disheveled, and he sported a cut and a bruise on his cheek. His breathing was ragged, and his eyes were guarded.

"Stop," she whispered, and took hold of his clenched hand. It melted in her touch. She felt his sacrifice, and was grateful.

Hermione and Ron had successfully restrained Harry from hexing Draco senseless while his back was turned. The students surrounding them obediently parted for a horde of teachers to come stomping through.

"There is NOTHING to see here, students! Disperse at once!" McGonagal yelled, waving her wand.

There was an outbreak of angry muttering, and the crowd scattered, gathering their things and leaving the great hall.

Dumbledore stood in between the two opposing parties. Hermione, Ron, and Harry all stared incredulously at Ginny, shock and betrayal on their faces. She couldn't look at them. She buried her face in Draco's shoulder, and his arms tightened around her.

"Miss Granger and Mister Weasley, please accompany Harry to the hospital wing. Harry was clutching at his side, and he was dripping blood. Draco made good work of him, Ginny noted with a small amount of satisfaction.

Hermione had to tug Harry away, but he looked back at her and whispered hesitantly, "Ginny?"

She held her eyes to his, feeling safe by Draco, until he gave up and succumbed to Hermione and Ron. As he walked away, his posture was one of defeat.

"Miss Weasley, I would like you to tend to Mister Malfoy until our meeting at eight-thirty. Don't let him... get into trouble, shall we say?" He looked grave, and then gave her a nod of dismissal. Draco whirled, pulling Ginny along with him out of the Hall.

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Draco tried to soothe his rage. How dare Potter harm her? Threatening her sweet innocence? How could he keep his hands on her, and shake her until her teeth rattled? He could see faint bruises on her arms, and it only served to make him more furious. She could hardly keep up with his fast pace as he tried to disappear as quickly as possible into the recesses of Hogwarts.

Ginny tried to keep up, but after dashing up three long staircases, she had had enough. "Okay, enough! We need to talk." She insisted, refusing to walk any further.

He abruptly stopped but and slowly turned back to her, he closed his eyes for a moment, trying to remain calm, trying to put some Malfoy sense in him. Don't get violent now. Breath, deeply...just keep...

"What is your deal?" She said loudly, glaring at him defiantly. "He hadn't really done anything to me! Do you not think I can handle that, a simple irritation that he is?" She all but screamed at him. She rounded on him, and got all up in his face. "I felt your fury, but it was not my own. I would have never reacted like a PRICK!"

His eyes flew open, feeling a little insulted. Maybe an understatement. He pushed her into the stone wall, and laid both of his hands heavily onto her shoulders. He was so close to her, he could see that she had a tiny amount of dark blue veined through her brown eyes. It was alluring and gorgeous, deceptive and absolutely charming. He could read everything here, including her impressive Weasley anger.

He took a moment to collect his thoughts and anger, trying to explain himself in a way that was very non-prick-like. His mouth was suspiciously dry.

"I couldn't just sit there and… watch Potter do that to you." His eyes were suddenly vulnerable, and he let them be, because he knew that was the only way to win her over. It worked with every girl. "What kind of mate would that make me? I can't handle any male laying a hand on you. Potter's a jerk."

Her eyes widened in disbelief. Her anger was threatening to leave her. How could she be so angry? He was jealous. But yet, she still felt outraged.

"You know what you did?" she hissed at him. "I understand that you were jealous," she spat, "But the rest of the school doesn't understand why on earth you would be! Now everybody's talking…" She trailed off, slightly horrified at the truths that were spilling out of her mouth.

"You're not the first guy that I've been with, and I haven't even been with you!" And that was over the line, he growled in his mind.

"You WON'T!" He bellowed, horrified. "YOU WILL ONLY BE WITH ME!

Just has he said ''me'' his lips came crashing down on hers. This was no sweet kiss, hell no. It was a rough kiss, a passionate one, one out of unquenchable thirst. She could do nothing else but close her eyes and respond to him; her body didn't listen to her, it had thoughts of its own. She felt his tongue demanding entrance, her arms twining around his neck as she welded herself to him, she felt one of his legs settling between hers and lift her up, and she opened her mouth for him, he had begged her, begged her with his warm lips. She wrapped her leg around his nimbly, pulling herself even closer. She moaned when his tongue caressed hers, she was getting... getting so turned on. This was wonderful! No one before had ever kissed her like that! This was...

Somebody behind them coughed, and Ginny tried to break away to see who it was. Malfoy had other plans though, trying to capture her mouth again in another kiss. "Mister Malfoy and Miss Weasley!"

Gasping for breath, she tore her mouth away from his and saw professor Snape looking at them. She felt the blood rushing to her face. Draco didn't even bother to stop kissing at her, but then arched his neck down so he could line kisses along her jaw and neck, sucking slightly. It made her shiver, but she was in no way cold. More the opposite. She tried to get out of Draco's grasp but it only made it clutch her harder, and moan softly.

"When you two finish up here, the headmaster is ready to receive you." Then he turned and walked away.

She gulped and he sighed, detaching himself from her, he started to walk away. She heard him say, "Now I need a cold shower!" He had almost slipped around the corner before Ginny shook off her stupor. She started to run after him and yelled,

"Wait for me!"

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Ginny and Draco sat opposite each other in the beautiful, circular room that was the headmaster's office. This was going to be so bad! She avoided the questioning eyes of her parents and the sneers of her… soon-to-be family. Instead, she stared fixedly at the ceiling.

The office was silent. Ginny was playing with her hands nervously, while Draco looked the epitome of poise and calm. When Dumbledore finished explaining there was a long, pregnant silence. The tension of the shock and ill-feeling was so thick, Ginny thought she would suffocate. She held her breath. And it came.

"Is this your idea of a joke, Albus?" Mrs. Weasley began in a quiet, deadly voice.

"No, No, NO, NO!" Narcissa Malfoy screamed, standing up and tossing her silky pale-blond hair over her shoulder. "I WILL NOT HAVE THAT BLOOD-BETRAYING SCUM IN MY FAMILY! AS THE MALFOY HEIR!"

"My fortune is in no way, shape, or form, going to that red-headed wench!" Mr. Malfoy added, standing up proudly next to his wife, who looked like she was about to start pulling her hair out.

His father's words made Draco hiss and bristle, "Mother! Father!"

They looked at him blankly for a moment, and then his mother stumbled towards him and grabbed the front of his robes. "How could you choose her, Draco? Revolting as she is? She probably wouldn't even be a good FUCK!"

Malfoy recoiled, horrified. He glanced at Ginny, a thousand apologies in his eyes.

The elder Weasleys were both standing and yelling at Dumbledore.

"WHY? HOW COULD YOU ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN?"

Dumbledore tried to explain, but trailed away as everybody heard the comment about Ginny having sex with her mate.

Mrs. Weasley positively howled in fury, and she marched up to the tall, willowy blonde and slapped her as hard as she could.

"HOW DARE YOU?! My daughter, my only daughter is not TOUCHING that moronic pond SCUM!"

Lucius Malfoy had a slight smirk on his face at the antics. Unfortunately, Arthur Weasley also saw this, and bubbled in anger at the sight of this. He drew his wand, prompting his enemy to do the same.

At this, Dumbledore stood and placed himself in between the two warring families.

"My daughter is not marrying a Malfoy," Mr. Weasley repeated stubbornly. His wife nodded vigorously beside him.

"There is no choice in the matter, you must understand that!" Dumbledore insisted once again.

"Of course there is a choice! There is always a choice! I cannot allow my only daughter to just... marry him against her will."

"Then he would die, Arthur.," Dumbledore said gravely.

"I don't care! There's going to be one less Malfoy on earth! I'm not letting my baby girl..."

"Shut your mouth, Weasley! I am not allowing her filthy blood into my family. I'd rather Draco marry a muggle!" Lucius insisted.

"My daughter is better than your stupid..."

"Don't finish that!"

"Lucius!" yelled Narcissa.

"Arthur!" yelled Molly.

The two men looked at their wives, aghast.

"I don't like this family too Arthur, but I'm not letting this poor child die because of it! You hear me? I'm no child killer!" said Molly.

Arthur blinked, outraged.

"But Molly!"

"The discussion is closed Arthur! Shut up before I make you!" Molly looked into her husband eyes and saw the unswayable determination in her eyes. He didn't doubt her threats, so he backed down.

Lucius started to laugh but stopped when he looked in the blue eyes of his wife. She didn't have to talk; he knew they were no going to go against it. It was her wish.

"I don't want my son to die. And neither should you," she said simply. The two father glared at the floor, defeated.

The two children looked at their parents, eyes wide.

"Wait, so is this settled? No more shouting, no more arguing?" asked Ginny, incredulous.

"Sweetheart, it's your decision, not ours. I guess it is your choice," Molly told her, patting her daughter's hand.

Ginny blinked and glanced up at Lucius Malfoy who was glaring daggers at her; She looked at Narcissa, who stared back at her level-headedly. The woman may be married to a miserable man, but she would do anything for her son.

She knows what I'm going through!

She bit her lips and looked at Draco who was looking at the floor. This was it. She could escape him; she could say no and let him die! His eyes met hers and again, she saw emotion only she could see. She saw their kiss, so sensual, so full of passion.

Just say no.

Her head started to throb painfully.

Say No Ginny, let him rot in hell!

She was beginning to get dizzy, and her lungs were simply not drawing in enough oxygen.

This is your only chance. Take it! Take it and run away!

She looked back at him. She saw nothing, no more emotions. Where were they? She wanted to see them more. She wanted another kiss. She wanted everything else. She wanted to see him smile for once...

Don't think like that! Take your chance!

"Miss Weasley? A sickle for your thoughts?" ask the headmaster.

Her gaze stayed glued on Draco. Suddenly, she realized. She did have no choice.

"I will be his."

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Ta-da! Thanks to my beta reader!

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