Hah, there's going to be some plot in this one…cough
Chapter Eleven – Burning
"Who would do such a thing, Professor?" Came Ron's voice in between sobs.
Professor Dumbledore had not realized it was a rhetorical question and replied with an unusual bluntness. "Lucius Malfoy."
Ginny sat statue-like, showing no reaction to the tragic news. Her mind was swimming and she could faintly hear Ron's soft sobs on her right.
Abruptly, she stands up and storms from the office. Feeling slightly claustrophobic, she ran down the stairs and into the corridor. Ginny walked in the hallway for about two meters when the gravity of the situation hit her full force. Falling to her knees, she felt a hurt swelling in her chest. The dormant hole in her breast, the one that burned for days after the Harry and Logan situations, began to eat at her. Ginny wrapped her arms around her middle and began gasping for air.
After hyperventilating for a few moments, Ginny cried out and began to sob uncontrollably. Her brother, Bill, was dead.
Draco walked down the hallway, still smirking at the memory of Ginny punching Harry. He laughed and shook his head. She's really something that one is. He turned down a familiar corridor, the one where Dumbledore's office was, and heard a loud yet strangled sound coming from a heap on the floor. Confused, Draco looked closer at the lump and saw a mass of fiery red hair. He was thoroughly shocked to see Ginny Weasley on the floor, crying as if her heart depended on it.
Draco knelt down next to her. "G-Ginny?" He still felt awkward calling her by her first name. "What's wrong?"
The face Draco saw was not one that he recognized. This Ginny Weasley before him, the one with the dead eyes and the tear-stained skin, was not the same Ginny he talked to outside, the one with a spark in her eye and not a worry on her face.
In that moment, Ginny's eyes came to life. The emotion Draco identified was one of hatred, loathing. Ginny pushed Draco so that he landed on his back. She stood up the same time that he did, exasperation written all over his face.
"Ginny, what are you doing?"
Ginny came towards him and started pounding her fists against his chest. He tried to restrain her by holding her shoulders but it was no use. She was screaming at him as well, and he picked up a few words, such as 'father,' 'killed,' and 'Bill.'
Eventually, Ginny crumbled and just collapsed onto Draco, sobbing even more hysterically, and yelling out the occasional unintelligible phrase. Draco, not knowing what to do, wrapped his arms around the girl and sat them both on the ground.
Draco felt an odd, unfamiliar feeling swarming inside. He identified it as concern for Ginny and was a little surprised at the thought. Occasionally, Ginny would make a feeble attempt to hit him again, but her fists barely reached him. He didn't know how long he sat there with her in his arms, but he didn't know what he would do if someone found them like that.
Making a quick decision, Draco picked her up bride-style and carried her towards the dungeons. He came to a painting of a raging sea with a fierce dragon flying overhead and said the password that gained him entry to his Head Boy Dormitory. He quickly checked his surroundings and walked inside. Once in the room, he deposited Ginny on the couch in front of the fireplace. Draco sighed. What happened to you, Ginny? He had never known someone who could fall apart like that. Sighing again, Draco got out a quill and parchment and scratched a quick note.
Blaise—
Something's up with Ginny. I brought her to my Dormitory. Come here as soon as you get this.
--Draco
The Slytherin boy rolled up the letter and sprinted out of the room, in the direction of the Owlery. He sent off the letter with the first owl he found and quickly ran back to his room. Outside the painting, Draco decided to wait for Blaise there and catch his breath. He put his hands on his knees and hunched over slightly to regain composure. After waiting for a few minutes, he heard footsteps rushing towards him. Draco looked up and saw Blaise rushing down the hallway.
"Draco, what happened? What's going on?" Blaise asked, concern etched on his features.
Draco shook his head. "I wish I could tell you. I found her crying, she went ballistic on me, she cried some more, and I brought her back here." Blaise raised his eyebrows at him and Draco just shrugged. "It seemed like the right thing to do."
Blaise sighed and said the password to get into Draco's room. Ginny looked up at the sound of somebody entering and immediately ran over to Blaise, a new wave of tears beginning to surface. Blaise clutched her in his arms and stroked her hair. Draco stood there awkwardly while Blaise comforted Ginny.
After a long while, Ginny settled down. Blaise brought her over to the couch and laid her down for she had fallen asleep hanging in his arms. He walked past Draco and into the latter's bedroom. Draco hurried in after him and shut the door.
Blaise ran a hand through his hair. "She's a mess. And you're saying you have no idea what's wrong with her?"
Draco furrowed his brow in concentration. "Actually, she sort of did. When she initially saw me she started hitting me and saying things like 'father,' 'killed,' and 'Bill.'" Blaise's eyes widened in horror. "What? Do you know what that means?"
"Draco, I know this is going to sound a bit far-fetched, or maybe not at all, but," Blaise sighed, "Ginny has a brother named Bill. My guess is that . . . your father . . . killed him." Blaise looked at Draco's face to judge is reaction.
Draco's face took on a look of shock as Blaise's had earlier. "Blaise I think you're right." Draco's shock quickly turned to anger and he pounded his fist on the wall as he had done many times before. "What am I supposed to do now? How can I even think of being a . . . a friend to her after what my father did? Why her, Blaise? Why did all these things happen to her? It's not fair, not in the least. I hated my father before, but now, I can't even describe it! The only thing that that girl has gone through this year is pain, and I feel like I can't help her. What did she do to deserve this?!" After Draco was done with his tirade, he drew in deep breaths and looked shocked once again at all the things he just said. He looked up at Blaise, who had a small grin on his face. "With all that's going on all you can do is smile?" Draco asked incredulously. "What are you playing at?"
Blaise chortled lightly. "Draco, my friend, I didn't know you felt so strongly about darling Weaselette."
Draco groaned in annoyance, plopped down on his bed, and put his head in his hands. "Now is not the time, Blaise."
"Oh I think it is, Draco," Blaise's tone taking on seriousness, "for someone who has hated that girl all these years of school, you seem pretty pent up on doing things like defending her and making sure she's okay."
"I don't understand what you're trying to say. She's a Weasley-"
"Enough! Enough of this Weasley-Malfoy nonsense! It's blatantly obvious that you care about her, so stop trying to hide it with your damn prejudice."
Draco sighed. "Blaise, that's not the point. Okay, I admit that I care about her," Blaise raised his eyebrows again. "Don't give me that, you know you just trapped me." Blaise grinned and shrugged. "Anyway, how can I even get close to somebody without my father using them to hurt me?"
"Ah, so you want to get close to her, then?" Blaise smirked.
Draco shot him a glare, and then sighed in defeat. "Okay, I'll admit that I'm attracted to her, and I guess I like her personality," he said, rolling his eyes, and then smiling. "Especially when she punched Potter in the face," he chuckled.
"Don't change the subject. Now, about getting you two together…" Blaise put on a face of mock concentration. "Oh, I know. Next weekend there's a Hogsmeade visit, so why don't you ask her? I'm going with Catherine-"
"Catherine? The Ravenclaw?" Draco asked.
"Yes. Now I'll continue, if you don't mind. Okay, I'll be with Catherine so it won't be too awkward." Blaise's eyes were glittering like a child on Christmas morning.
"Oh, that sounds bloody spectacular, Blaise!" Draco exclaimed with sarcasm. "Just one problem, in case you forgot, my father killed her brother. She doesn't want to come near me," Draco stood up and started pacing.
"You're right, Dray, that is a problem," Blaise took a few moments to come up with a solution. "I got it. Ginny, Catherine, and I will head into Hogsmeade and we'll meet up with you at the Hog's Head because they're not as crowded. Of course, Ginny won't know that you're there. It'll be a nice double-date type of thing." Blaise smiled, full of pride at his plan.
"Another problem: what if she starts flipping out at me in there?" Draco asked with a bit of concern.
"Don't worry. I'll talk to her this week, you know, give you a good image."
Draco looked skeptical, but then nodded in approval. "Fine. Now, I don't know about you, but I think she should return to Gryffindor. Her brother's probably looking for her."
With that, Blaise stood and headed to the Common Room Draco shared with Hermione. Blaise jumped when he say Hermione sitting on one of the couches comforting Ron while looking curiously at Ginny's sleeping form. Hermione looked up when Blaise walked in. As her mouth opened to ask a question, Blaise held up his hand and she stopped. He gave her a look telling her that he'd explain later. Hermione nodded and returned her attention to Ron. Blaise walked over to Ginny and gently shook her awake. Ginny mumbled incoherently and sat up.
"Ginny, I'm going to take you back to your House," Blaise told her gently.
Ginny nodded sleepily and Blaise bent down to scoop her up. He carried her the same way Draco had before. Blaise turned to Draco's room, where the Head Boy was standing in the doorway. Blaise cocked his head and Draco followed Blaise and Ginny out the door. Feeling sufficiently uncomfortable, Draco kept a short distance between them.
Ginny finally woke up fully and started fussing. "Blaise, put me down," she demanded.
The dark-haired boy nodded, and put Ginny on the floor. From her spot on the ground, Ginny glared up at him. Without another word, Ginny stood, brushed herself off and left.
Blaise looked at Draco in confusion and Draco shrugged. They huddled together and started whispering. "Do you think she's mad at me because I brought you along?" Blaise asked.
Draco nodded. "That sounds about right. What should we do?"
It was Blaise's turn to shrug. "I don't know." They stopped their hushed conversation and looked in the direction that Ginny had left in. At the end of the corridor, she was slumped against the wall, her shoulders shaking violently with sobs once again.
Blaise made to go to her, and Draco stopped him. "I think I should straighten this out with her myself." Blaise nodded and Draco continued down the hallway. Draco approached Ginny cautiously and he put his hand on her shoulder. She jumped at his touch and looked up at him. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her hair was a mess. To Draco, she still looked nothing less than beautiful. She shrugged out of his light grip and turned away. "Ginny, please," he pleaded softly, "just hear me out."
Ginny composed herself. "What could you possibly say to make me feel better?"
Draco drew in a deep breath. "Ginny, do you honestly think I'm happy? Do you think I take pride in being a Malfoy? Every time my father does something, people like to me like I'm just as guilty." Draco sighed, and then continued, "Last summer, my father took me on a Death Eater mission. Father wanted me to be initiated early so I could off my Dark Mark to the other Slytherins. We went to a Muggle home just outside of Wiltshire, where I live. The family consisted of a mother, father, a teenage girl, and a young boy. My father told me that I was to rape, torture, and kill the teenage girl." Ginny gasped. "At first, I stood aside as my father and some other Death Eaters tortured the little boy in front of his parents and sister, and then kill him. Next, they killed the parents. All that was left was the girl, and she was supposed to be 'my prize' as my father would call it," he laughed mirthlessly. "I refused to do such things. You see, when I was younger I thought the power of being a Death Eater would be exhilarating. But last summer alone, I saw enough rape, torture, and murder to last me a lifetime. When I turned down the task, my father did it himself and I was forced to stand there and do nothing for the poor girl. When we returned to the Manor, I had to endure the worst Crucio of my life. I had never seen my father that vengeful. He locked me in my room until school started back up. I never want to be like him. I could never handle a life like that, and I hate sounding so weak." He looked up at Ginny and saw that she had fresh tears in her eyes. He realized that they were tears for him, not for her brother.
"Draco, I-I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have judged you." She hastily wiped the tears from her eyes. Her tone became fierce, "and you listen to me right now. You are not weak. It takes a lot to stand up to your family, especially someone like your father."
Draco attempted a smile, but it looked more like a grimace. "Thanks, Ginny. That's all I needed to hear. And you do not know how sorry I am for your loss. I hate my father even more than I did this summer."
Ginny nodded and sniffled a bit. "I appreciate your sympathy, it means a lot." She looked up at him and threw her arms around him, embracing him tightly. He hugged her back fervently. Draco felt like a weight had been lifted after sharing all of that with her. There was still more he wanted to tell, like how much he cared about her, but that would have to wait.
At the other end of the hallway, Blaise smiled at the sight before him. Chuckling, he walked back down to the dungeons.
Who would've thought…
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A/N: woo. so basically, this was written during algebra, spanish and biology today. oh and i guess there's not really much plot in it but whatevs.
catnipob-yes, you're catherine. i made her from ravenclaw instead, i hope you don't mind. you'll be in the next chapter a bit and i hope i do your character justice!