Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter Characters. Some objects or situations may seem familiar. I only own the plot of this story. =)
Author Note: The song in this chapter is called 'Falling Slowly' from 'Once' the Movie. I wanted to put the song 'No Boundaries' which is American Idol 2009's song. Hehe.
"Speaking"
'Thinking'
Emphasis/Shouting
Time past
The Bench By The Lake – Chapter Three
They have been sitting next to each other at the bench for the rest of the afternoon, shoulder to shoulder.
Draco thought of what happened a few hours ago. He didn't know what happened at that moment when he put his arms around her.
He knew the verse of song that she sang. It was from a muggle movie called "Once". Ginny felt so torn apart and not good enough.
He didn't expect her to feel that much pain – especially when she is a Weasley. Draco always envied the Weasleys. They are a big, warm and loving family with so much excitement going on in their house. While at his house, it's so quiet and cold. Draco glanced at Ginny.
He studied the girl who sat beside him. She was looking at autumn leaves falling into the lake.
Ginny looked like a little girl too small for her school robes. Her eyes were still a little red from crying. He realised that her eyes were a shade of brown and a hint of gold. However, they showed emptiness.
"Thank you, Draco." Draco realised those pair of eyes are now staring back at him.
Draco looked away and nodded his head. Ginny gave him a little smile.
Ginny always felt better at the bench. She was glad that Draco was there to listen to her and comfort her even though he seems so out of character. Grinning, Ginny decided to lighten up the mood.
"I didn't expect you to stay with me. You're so out of character, Malfoy." Ginny giggled as she teased Draco.
Draco clenched his jaw. Apparently Draco thought that she was insulting him.
"Relax, Draco. If it makes you feel better, you are a better friend than Harry Potter. I don't think he will be able to sit here and stay awake for that long. Thanks again, Draco." Ginny smiled at him again.
Draco smirked. 'At least someone recognise that everything does not revolve around Potter. Take that Pot Head! HA!' Draco did a mini victory dance in his head. He heard giggling and realised Ginny was laughing at him.
Draco felt awkward because he showing a side of himself that nobody saw.
"This may sound so weird for me to say but you looked cute when you make those funny faces while thinking." Ginny said while still giggling.
Draco was shocked at what she said.
"Malfoys do not make funny faces but Weasleys do! One fine example will be your brother. He seems to be obsessed with Granger. He always has a love sick puppy face look during potion classes. Every time I see him drooling at her, I think I'm going to puke into my potion." Draco shudder at that thought.
Ginny started to laugh loudly.
Draco stared at her till she finally stops laughing. "You have a serious problem, I should send you to St. Mungo's for insanity if you keep laughing like that."
Ginny slaps his arm playfully. "Ouch! I'll make sure they tie you up too!" Draco points at Ginny.
They ended up laughing at each other. Finally they have stopped laughing.
"What happened to you?" Draco suddenly asked in a serious voice.
"Huh? Did something happen to me?" Ginny acted confused, half knowing what Draco was asking.
"Don't play dumb with me. You don't tell me that I wasted my three hours of my time for nothing?" Draco continued with his speech of the importance of his time.
"Ok, fine! Shut up already! I surrender!" Ginny threw up her hands in defeat.
"Draco Malfoy: 1, Ginny Weasley: 0" Draco said proudly with a smirk.
"Humph!"
Draco smirked more.
(Long pause of silence)
"Well?" Draco asked.
"I..." Ginny began. "It's not easy for me to tell anyone, I never told anybody before." She admitted. She looked at Draco, searching for something in his eyes to tell her that it's alright to trust him.
Draco looked at her eyes and knew what she meant. 'Who will trust a Slytherin and much worse, a Malfoy.'
"I'm the big bad Slytherin that will blackmail this information right? I think it's time for me to leave. Bye, Weasley."
Draco stood up and wanted to leave but Ginny tugged at his sleeve. "I'll tell you."
There was a slight pause before Draco turned to Ginny asked, "But why?"
She made eye contact with him and said "Your eyes reflect who you truly are. I trust you."
Hours Later
Draco and Ginny were sitting at a small table in the school kitchens. They missed dinner and had no other choice but to eat there.
Ginny have discovered that both of them like potatoes and asked the house elves to get all potato related food that was in the kitchen. They came with plates of French fries, whipped potato, potato salad and etc.
They ate in silence – it was not awkward but it was not comfortable either.
Ginny was poking the whipped potatoes with her spoon. 'In a few hours time, I'm going back to hell again.'
Draco was staring at Ginny again. After she told him about her story, to her it was a nightmare that she could not wake up from. Draco finally knew what really happened to her. It was understandable that she is felt so depress and upset.
'I wonder if she is alright. She has spoken since the start of dinner.' Draco thought. You must be wondering why Draco is not freaking out when starting to show his emotions. Ginny was able to see through his 'mask' and he decided to give up being someone he is not in front of her.
"Ginny?"
"Hmm?" Ginny still poking and staring at her whipped potatoes, day dreaming.
"Are you ok?"
"Uh-huh."
"Are you sure?" Draco said, unsure if she heard him.
"Uh-huh." Draco raised one eyebrow and smirked. 'Maybe this will make her snap out of it.'
"Do you adore Professor Snape?"
"Uh-huh." Draco was amused at her reply.
"Did you know that Harry Potter is gay?"
"Uh-huh... Wait. WHAT?!" Ginny snapped out of her day dream and realised what Draco said.
"Is it true?! Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god..." Ginny was freaking out with the thought that her previous crush is gay.
"You are so gullible, Ginny." Draco chucked at her reaction.
Ginny realised that Draco was making fun of her and glared. "You are so evil, Malfoy."
"That's what everybody says." Draco relaxed into the chair, crossing his arms and sigh. 'That's what everyone expects and wants me to be anyways.'
Ginny pushed away her plate and rest her face on her hand, looking at Draco.
"I still can see that you're still you. You're both the guy who listened to my problems as well as the guy who is sarcastic and mischievous." Ginny said.
Draco knew Ginny was right. He didn't have to be that sarcastic snob 24/7.
'But who I am?' Draco thought.
"After so long with this 'mask', I don't know who I am anymore." Draco admitted.
"That's makes two of us." Ginny pointed out. "Malfoy and Weasley in the same boat." Draco gave Ginny a slight smile.
Talking about being in the same boat, he thought of something and smiled.
"Wait here."
Ginny watched curiously as Draco went out the kitchens. After a few moments, he ran back with his guitar.
"You play the guitar? Where did you get this? I didn't know you like music." Ginny said, obviously astonished that Draco has a guitar.
"Yes. My room is just near the kitchens. You never asked." Draco answered to Ginny's questions accordingly. Ginny rolled her eyes at his last statement.
Draco sat on the chair with his guitar and started to strum his guitar. Music began to fill the kitchens and some of the elves were watching them.
The chords sound familiar to Ginny but she doesn't seem to remember the song. Then Draco began to sing.
"Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won"
Ginny realised the song and was shocked because Draco knew this muggle song.
'Draco Malfoy, you are more than what you seem.' Ginny thought.
Draco smiled at her and encouraged her to sing with him.
"Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along"
Draco ended the song with the final chord. Ginny clapped and compliment his guitar skills. This was the first time Draco played his guitar in front of someone but he was glad it was someone who really appreciated it.
"Do you know what do the two verses mean?" Draco asked Ginny who was deep in thought.
Ginny grasp and realised what Draco meant. She began singing softly
"Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You've made it now"
"You're saying that we've still got time and we have a choice, to discover and be who we are." Ginny looked into Draco eyes, hoping that she got it right.
"Ah, and I thought all Weasleys are dumb. Luckily, you're not. I was afraid that you will take it as a love song since the song was originally so."
"A song can be interpreted in many ways, Draco. And I know it's quite impossible for you to be in love with me. That will be the joke of the century!" Ginny laughed loudly for quite a while.
Draco rolls his eyes at her laughing.
"Stop laughing already or I'll reserve a room for you at the hospital."
"Shut up with whole St. Mungo's thing."Ginny said with her tongue sticking out at him after she have calmed down.
It was around 10pm and both of them felt sleepy.
"Hmm..." Sleepy Ginny said.
"Yes, Ginny?" Draco said in a bored voice.
"Are we friends? Enemies? What?" Ginny asked.
"I must admit that we are kind of like friends. I never really have friends before. If being a friend means being a listener, joking around with one another and being comfortable around each other, I guess we are."
She held out her hand and said "Friends?"
Draco smiled, held her hand and shook it. "Friends." Ginny grinned.
Both of them walked out of the kitchen with Draco teasing Ginny's lack friends while Ginny teasing about his choice of company in Slytherin.
That night, they became friends and discover more of themselves.
To be continued...
I think this is a horrible chapter. HAHA! Anyway, thanks for reading!
Love,
Angela