SORRY THIS ONE TOOK SO LONG!
And on with the action! Yes, you're probably right, I will do something with Harry this chapter.
So now onto the Draco && Ginny! (And perhaps a little bit of Ron and Hermione?)
Oh, and as for my being American or not.. guess! I'll be very amused to see what you think my nationality is.
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Finally, with a rather sad sigh, Draco detached himself from Ginny, giving a small wave and disappearing into Snape's class. Ginny, with a sad sigh of her own, walked slowly to Transfiguration, aware that McGonagall would most definitely rail her as soon as she entered the classroom. She didn't mind it, though. At least she was back on good terms with Draco..
The Great Hall was rumbling as the students talked, waiting for Dumbledore to make an announcement. All of the teachers were sitting tensely, silently watching the students. The roar of conversations stopped suddenly as Dumbledore approached the front of the room, his white beard swinging gently from side to side with his steps. His usually merry, twinkling eyes were somber, glowing darkly in the candlelight. At the gloomy mood that he brought, the whole hall tensed up, waiting anxiously for Dumbledore to tell them the obviously pressing news. He slowly stopped in the front of the room, clasping his hands in front of him and looking amoungst the students with a tainted serenity.
"I have an announcement for you all.." he said slowly, his gaze resting on Ginny. "..regarding Harry Potter." There was a collective murmur, everyone still watching Dumbledore attentively. He regarded the hall again for a moment, then continued on, somberly.
"Many of you have heard about Harry's recent.. fall into infamy. I'd first like to tell you what actually happened. I know how warped a thing can become once it has traveled throughout Hogwarts." Ginny held her breath, looking down at her empty plate.
"Now, I will not indulge into the specifics, but Harry used one of the Unforgivable curses against another student, for which I put him into custody in my office." Ginny uncrossed her fingers, sharing a look with Draco as Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"I wish to assure you that Hogwarts is one of the safest places you could be at this moment.." This statement, instead of reassuring, put the whole hall into nervous jitters. What could have happened with Harry? "But, it is everyone's right to know.. Harry Potter has escaped and is now somewhere inside Hogwarts." There was an explosion of shouts, rapid conversation, and even a few screams. Ginny's face went white; Harry, escaped? And what would be the dominating thing on his one track mind?
Me. And Draco.. She knew that everyone was looking around the castle hall, as if hoping to catch a sight of Harry crawling on a windowsill like a pesky spider. She could knew Ron was looking at her, Draco, too, but Ginny kept her head down, trying to blink away the feeling of falling into helplessness. Dumbledore walked slowly to his seat, sitting down heavily and watching all of the students whisper nervously to each other. Ginny was sure she could slowly feel the stares of others.. Turning their burning gazes on her back, searing her skin with their hungry looks..
Ginny stood up, nearly tripping over the bench on her way out of the Great Hall, away from everyone's penetrating eyes. She knew that they were all watching her run out of the Great Hall, but all she could think of was escape, far, far away from them. She didn't know where she was going, couldn't see because of the tears that she hadn't even noticed. She found herself at the Quidditch pitch, shivering in her thin uniform. Then she realized that she was out of the castle.. out of safety, and in the dark of night, in the middle of a wide field. She had even left her wand in her dormitory..
So, teeth chattering, she knelt on the ground, scared to death, scared of death.. scared, cold, and rather lost. She could make out shadows in the inky black around her.. or was it just a trick of the moonlight? The snow was numbing her legs, but Ginny didn't have the strength to stand up. She was slowly growing numb all over, and her teeth were chattering violently. Suddenly she heard crunching steps behind her. Heavy, crunching steps, growing louder and closer with every footfall. Then they stopped, and she could hear haggard breathing behind her. She tried to force herself to stand up, to run, to do something, but was utterly helpless as the person picked her up, a hand over her mouth. He (for it was most definitely a he) dragged Ginny backwards, away from the castle. Or at least, Ginny was quite sure it was away.. She still couldn't tell in the dark.
Slowly, Ginny felt the blood running through her legs. They were burning, actually, but it was better than numb. She heard creaking and snapping, like an old tree in the wind. Except that there was no wind. Which could only mean..
The Whomping Willow? But.. didn't Ron say something about that leading.. To the Shrieking Shack. So this mysterious stranger was taking her to the Shrieking Shack? But why? The creaking stopped suddenly, and Ginny was dragged right into the trunk of the Whomping Willow, which had been frozen, it's leaves quivering. Then they were inside, and after being dragged up some steps, through cold, silent rooms, she was dumped onto a soft, comfortable bed. She looked up, right into the face of her captor, and had a sudden instinct to run.
"Harry.. what..?" He put a cold finger on her lips, then with a small smile, disappeared, an obvious click of the lock reverberating through the walls as he closed the door. Ginny tried to move, but felt an icy metal shackle on her ankle, and laid back down with a sharp sigh. At first she looking around the room, at the flickering candles, the dark tables, the window with moonlight streaming through it. But then the flickering candles began to cast shadows, shadows that crept into her mind and haunted her senseless..
She squeezed her eyes shut up, trying to conjure up an image of something familiar, anything to block out the dark shadows. A thought, of Draco leaning on her shoulder as she rushed him towards the dormitories.. As Blaise Zabini gave her a grin when she had been in McGonagall's office.. Emmy giving her a blank stare as she stared dreamily at Snape..
Then Harry loomed over her, his face dark, his eyes smouldering, a wicked grin on his face as he raised his wand slowly.. Ginny's eyes swept open, her breaths coming heavily. She heaved a sigh which caught in her throat as the door clicked open, revealing a smiling Harry.
He walked slowly towards her, raising his wand and muttering "Silencio."
What could he be planning? Ginny thought worriedly as he sat down next to her and started stroking her hand.. Softly, softly.. coyly, almost sweetly.
What's happening to me? What is he doing? What is he planning?
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Again, sorry it took so long! I promise, you wont have to wait long for the next chapter.
No, not long at all.
