A/N: So sorry it's been so long. There's just been so much going on, and this chapter was hard to write for some reason. I think I ended up changing it a couple times, so I hope you like the one I decided to go with! Thanks for sticking with me. Please review! Reviews make me happy, so the more I get, the more inspired I might be to update sooner! ;)
Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to JKR, and that is that.
Keep the Faith
Chapter 11
When Draco opened his eyes early then next morning and saw Ginny Weasley's face right in front of him, a thousand thoughts flooded his mind all at once. She was in bed with him. He had slept with her. His father was out of Azkaban. He could leave, and go into hiding for the rest of his life.
Just the though of it made his stomach twist. The preparations had felt like they would never come to and end, but then Draco had put his plan into action, Ginny had been put into the picture, and this is where he'd ended up. It felt strange to know that it was all going to be over soon, and that he would have to start over.
Draco focused back to Ginny's sleeping form. He forced himself to relax, and watched her.
She was so close to him that he had to restrain himself from moving even closer so that he could touch her. When he looked at her, he remembered everything from the night before, though his memories were somewhat distorted from the desire and strange behaviour that it had brought out of him. The sky outside was dark, but dawn was drawing near, and he knew that he had to leave.
Draco watched Ginny for a few minutes, unable to tear his eyes from her face. He felt… strange. Like a fist had grabbed around his heart to stop him from moving away from her. Draco drew in a breath, and he gently reached out to move a lock of hair away from her face, surprising himself when he lingered there, not wanting to stop touching her. He glided his fingers lightly down her cheek, and dropped his hand.
It was killing him to know that he was going to hurt her.
But he had to leave. His father's message would have gotten across to him by now. Ever since he'd been here, he'd wanted to leave as soon as the opportunity arrived, but now he did not feel that rush. It was completely necessary, of course, as he couldn't stay in hiding here forever, but he found that he did not want to leave.
Slowly, so as not to wake her, Draco removed himself from the bed, only fully realizing in that moment that he was in fact stark naked, and remembered that she was also. His eyes raked over her covered form, feeling his throat go dry. He sought out his pants, and pulled them on quickly, and picked up the rest of his clothes. In two strides he was at the window, closing the blinds. Hopefully she would sleep in, and maybe he could even leave before she woke up. It would make it easier on him. That would at least prevent the need to say goodbye. Even to him it seemed rather heartless, but what else could he do?
Draco made his way to the door, but faltered for a moment, and he turned back to watch her. She was someone he had hated, without really knowing her. He still didn't really know her. But now there she was, having willingly spent the night with him. And all he wanted was to stay.
This feeling was short-lived, however, and Draco forced himself to look away, resolving never to think of her again. He applied what he'd learned all his life: to suppress his emotions; to have control. There was nothing he could do to make it better. All he could do was forget.
(((KTF)))
Hours later, the late morning sun was rising in the cloudy sky, bathing the house in patches of sunlight. There was one room, however, that had remained enclosed in darkness, and inside it, one person that slept on, completely unaware.
Ginny groaned as she stirred. Opening her eyes briefly, she took in her surroundings. The window was shaded, which was unusual since she always left it open, but the brightness of day invaded the room from the edges of the window.
Ginny closed her eyes again. She felt groggy and exhausted. Blearily she looked at the clock.
11:34 am.
Ginny rubbed her eyes and looked again, squinting. That couldn't be right. She rarely slept past eight in the morning. She shivered, snuggling further into the heavy quilted blanket. Whatever time of the day it was, it was cold.
She looked sideways, furrowing her brow as though she was attempting to find something that wasn't there. It felt like something was missing – something big and important, the cause for her rather uncharacteristic behaviour of sleeping in and shutting the blinds.
When she looked around and saw her clothes flung ruthlessly on the floor, it all came back to her.
Hands were all over her bare skin, on her stomach, down to her thigh, up into her hair. His hot, sweaty body was on top of her, and her own hands were entangled in his hair, holding his face down to hers so she could kiss him.
Oh my god, Ginny thought, paralyzed as it all came back to her in a torrent of memories.
Had she actually slept with him? That would explain why she felt so exhausted. Ginny grimaced and peered under the covers. Yup – she was definitely naked. Draco Malfoy had seen her naked – had touched her naked body. Cringing, she covered her face with her hands, trying to block out the memories.
Well, he wasn't here now, was he? Ginny hugged her stomach at the horrible sick feeling of betrayal. Obviously it had not been that big of a deal to him.
She felt a sudden panic rush through her. Had he left for good? Did Draco already leave with his family into hiding? Without even telling her?
Oh Merlin. What had she been thinking? Sure last night had felt good – rather frantic and rushed, if she remembered correctly, but definitely good. But now it just seemed like one big mistake.
Ginny realised with a sudden cinch in her gut, that although her body had guided her, and it had been what she'd wanted, she was sure that the only reason she'd done it was because it was perhaps the only way to be close to Draco before he left. If she had been thinking straight, she would have been smart enough to tell herself to stop … maybe. Ginny groaned at the memory of the pleasure that even the smallest touch, the lightest kiss, made her feel. However, Ginny thought, narrowing her eyes, it was him that initiated it – him that kissed me like that. Was he just taking advantage because he was about to leave?
Ginny felt like she wanted to crawl into a dark hole and never emerge. She had given herself to him – and then he didn't even bother to stay until she woke up. What does he think I am? Some sort of scarlet woman?
And as though the poison of thought was eating away at her happiness, Ginny suddenly thought of Harry. His face appeared in her mind – his characteristic green eyes burned into her, judging her.
Truthfully enough, Ginny hadn't really thought of Harry in a long time. Even though he had abandoned her and hurt her, Ginny had thought that she still loved him. She'd never really given up on him, but all of that determination seemed to wash away when she was with Draco. Why had she suddenly forgotten about Harry?
Ginny felt like she'd betrayed him. She'd slept with the enemy – Harry's nemesis. Their feud was stronger even than that of the Weasleys and Malfoys – on the verge of mortal hatred, if she could put a name to it. Draco had done horrible things to Harry. Though she found it hard to believe now, she knew it was true, and vice versa.
Ginny groaned as she rolled out of bed and headed to the shower.
She showered quickly, and by the time that Ginny made her way downstairs, she noticed the icy touch of the floors and the chill in the air, and when she reached the bottom, it was clear right away why it was so cold.
The front door to the house stood wide open, letting in the cold bitter wind. Ginny could see little flakes of snow swirling around in the air outside.
Ginny froze in fear. What had happened? Suddenly wary for intruders, she stepped lightly toward the open door. She crossed the threshold and into the open air. The ground was lightly covered in snow, but no footsteps marred the front walk.
Ginny's heart stopped, before starting up again at a double pace. What did he mean by it? Had Draco left the door open on purpose? He'd wanted to leave, it seemed, so did he just walk out the front door? Did somebody let him out? Did he use magic?
Ginny hugged her arms around herself at the thought of what would likely occur if that did happen.
But did he leave so soon because of her?
Ginny frowned. Something just wasn't right.
Ginny felt oddly betrayed, not because he was gone, but because he had left her without saying anything. With the door to the house wide open, anyone would have been able to enter and hurt her. Draco knew that if he did magic, Death Eaters would trace him back to this house, where she thought she was safe. She found it difficult to think that he would willingly jeopardize her safety.
Had he just left her to figure things out for herself, then? Was she supposed to leave just like he had? She could apparate home, Ginny thought, the shock suddenly hitting her. She could apparate right off this doorstep right here and right now.
Ginny closed her eyes. She could do it. Right now. Apparate. After ten long seconds of waiting, Ginny sighed and opened her eyes.
(((KTF)))
"Were you there? Did you see him? Did you talk to him?" Draco was in Snape's house. It was the only place he could think of; the only man who would tell him anything.
"Yes, Draco, but-"
"You bastard, you could have helped him!" Draco closed his eyes and ran a hand through his already mussed up hair. He turned back to Snape, and spoke more calmly than he felt, "Was he going back to the Dark Lord?"
Snape, who was taller than Draco himself, watched the boy calmly. "I don't know."
Fuck!
Draco hit the brick wall and paced around the dark living room. Severus watched the boy carefully, assessing the situation.
"Draco, sit down."
"No, damn it!" He scowled and gripped his hands in his hair. "What the fuck am I supposed to do?"
"Sit down, and we'll discuss your options."
"No!" Draco yelled. "You don't understand! There are no options for me. None! My father is dead!" The truth reverberated through the silence, hitting him like a sledgehammer. When he continued, he spoke with an icy derision. "Voldemort has taken over my life. He has killed my father, held my mother prisoner, taken over my goddamn manor! He's brainwashed all my friends, killed anyone that's ever disobeyed him! He will kill me as soon as he knows where I am."
"I understand you're distressed, Draco, but - "
"Damn you, Severus." Draco advanced towards him. "Do you know what I did this morning? I went home! I even went in the grounds."
Snape narrowed his eyes. "What in Merlin's name were you thinking? You've never been thick, Draco. You know they have put endless charms on that place. It's a miracle you're not dead already."
"What do you know about it?" Draco snapped.
The two men glared at each other.
"I wanted to kill him," Draco stated. "I didn't care if he killed me. But then I realized he would kill my mother too. What am I supposed to do? I can't leave without her. I can't even get her out of there without getting killed."
"Draco, you're not the only one whose life is ruined by the Dark Lord. You can't do anything about that."
"So what?" Draco yelled. "You just want me to give up?"
"That's not what I said. But you're not helping that with those stupid stunts you've pulled today. Doing magic! Practically walking right up to the Dark Lord!"
"I've had enough!" Draco turned and stalked to the door. "I have to get out of here," he muttered hysterically.
"Where are you going?" Severus demanded. "The more magic you do, the easier it is for them to find you," he warned.
"Then let them find me!" Draco stalked out of the house, and into the yard, and disapparated with a pop, as his old potions teacher and confidant watched him from the door.
Foolish boy. What the hell is he doing? Severus turned around and grabbed his heavy black cloak. He would have to go deal with this.
(((KTF)))
After a day of inner turmoil and trying to formulate a plan, Ginny sat down in front of the television and watched mindlessly while contemplating what to do. The six o'clock news turned on, and Ginny bleakly turned up the volume once again. A muggle stood in the television, talking loudly and gesticulating.
"Good evening, everyone, this is Stanley Bobbins, reporting live with the six o'clock news. There has been a dangerous fire in London early this morning, where no less than ten houses were burnt down. There were six reported fatalities, and many more injured – we'll have the exact number to tell you soon. Authorities have concluded it to be the work of a gang, as there was found to be the symbol of a skull with a serpent coming out of its mouth burnt black onto the front door of what seems to be the house where the fire originated…
Voldemort's work, Ginny glowered at the television. How could the muggles be so oblivious?
"…there was a very dangerous bar fight in the Blue Moon down on Main Street not too long ago, and we'll show you a video of the scene shortly. A drunken customer began picking a fight with the bartender's brother, and another table of customers, causing quite a ruckus. The police were called down, but the man was gone before they got there. We have footage of the end of the fight. Let's just say that neither party got out unharmed…
"…Next, Stephen Hopkins and his two daughters, aged seven and five, are celebrating Christmas by ice skating… a great idea! Everyone, go pick up your ice skates, or rent a pair, and head to the pond for Christmas Eve tomorrow. There will be carollers, hot chocolate stands…"
Ginny hugged her knees to her chest and sighed. How could she have forgotten? Christmas Eve was tomorrow.
Ginny wondered what they were all doing – and who would be there to celebrate. Would she go back?
Draco had been gone for most of the day. What were the chances of him coming back at all? She felt a sinking feeling in her chest. He wouldn't come back. For all she knew, he was out of the country, safe and sound with his mum and dad.
Ginny felt her eyes well up with unshed tears as she thought of him. Why was she letting it make her so miserable?
What would happen if she did go home? Would she be sent back to school? Even though she hadn't been as safe as anyone had thought when they'd put her there the first time? Would they keep her locked in the house, unable to help anyone? Like Sirius had been three years ago? Would they even let her sit in on meetings?
Mum will go mad when I see her. She'll want to coddle me and she'll want to kill Draco.
The surge of homesickness hit her suddenly. She felt the need to see her family – to be in anyone's company, really. They were probably expecting her, anyway.
She'd go home later tonight, if she heard nothing.
Ginny curled up and turned her attention back to the news.
"... next, we'll be talking about the danger of bar fights, and what to do in those situations. Here is a short video, taken by a customer"-
Ginny, who had been staring at the newsman subconsciously, perked up the moment he showed the video.
She recognized him instantly, even from across the dark smoky room where the man with the video recorder had been sitting. The characteristic blonde hair could not have been anyone else, and she recognized his frame; the tall, lithe body, muscular though not bulky that loomed over the scene. The video showed the results of what seemed to be a violent fight. Draco seemed to be yelling at someone before turning around and walking out of the bar. Ginny winced as she caught a glimpse of his face. The video paused, and an unclear close up of his face was blown up on the screen as the news man informed the viewers where to report any sightings of him.
Ginny sat immobilized. That small glimpse of Draco brought along a strange mix of emotions and questions. Panic, for one, filled her lungs. Where was he now? Why had he been drinking, and fighting, in a muggle bar? Why wasn't he with his family? Why wasn't he out of the country?
Ginny could picture the bar in her mind. They had passed it at one point on the way to meet Arthur. Ginny knew she was crazy, but she jumped out of her seat, found a coat and hat, and walked out the door and into the cold, snowy night.
Something was not right, and Ginny was going to find out what it was.
(((KTF)))
Ginny pushed the door open and walked out of the blistering cold and into the warm glow of the bar. The door blew shut, and Ginny suddenly felt claustrophobic with the stuffy atmosphere and the row of inquisitive looks from the dark figures sitting all around. Soft jukebox music played in the background, and the sound of glasses clinking from behind the counter could be heard over the murmur of speech.
Ginny walked up to the bar and sat down tentatively on a stool. She eyed a sketchy looking man of about thirty with a dirty five o'clock shadow that sat two seats away. He had a scotch glass in his hand as he turned to her. "Can I buy you something, sweetheart?" he said, eyeing her up and down.
Ginny suppressed a shiver, and replied, "No." She turned away and tried to keep her eyes averted from the people around her.
"Um, excuse me." Ginny addressed the barman tentatively. He gave her a bored look, and raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"I'm looking for a man that was here…" Ginny started, unsure of how to proceed. She hadn't really thought this through, and now she felt kind of ridiculous. "He's tall, blonde, grey eyes, probably really drunk… aggressive."
Ginny cringed as she looked up at the harsh face of the barman shaking his head and giving her a look of disbelief. She gave him a nervous smile.
The barman paused in his cleaning and looked at her clearly. He narrowed his eyes. "That bloke who practically tore the place apart not two hours ago?" he scoffed, and scowled at her. "If you're friends with him, missus, I'm going to have to ask you to leave, or I'll call the cops."
"The cops?" Ginny scrounged through her brain for the word.
The barman mistook her confusion, sighed exasperatedly, and said, "They've been looking for him all day, been trying to find out who he is. I'm sure they'd love to have you in custody for questioning." He scowled at her and went back to his business.
"You don't mean… death eaters?" Ginny asked in a hushed whisper, confused as to why a muggle would know they were after him. "Do you?"
The barman looked at her like she was off her rocker, and said, "What the bloody hell are you on about?"
Ginny sighed in relief. "I just need to find him," Ginny explained, though she knew it was pointless from the glare she received.
"Well I can't help you there."
"But I" – Ginny was cut off by his sharp look, and got up, swearing. She shot him a dirty look. "Well thanks for nothing." She mumbled as she walked back out the door.
Disgruntled by the short visit, Ginny walked away quickly down a deserted street. Where is he? The wind had picked up, and it was snowing harder. Ginny stopped in the middle of the street, and shivered, tugging her hat further down on her ears. She took a deep breath, and felt the icy air fill her lungs.
Who was she kidding? She could hardly see twenty metres in front of her, how on earth would she find Draco in this weather? Ginny decided that she would go back to the house. For all she knew, he could have gone back too. Ginny shook her head. She knew it was wishful thinking.
"Miss! Hey Miss!"
Ginny jumped and looked behind her at the voice and saw the man from the bar that had wanted to buy her a drink. A jolt of fear went down her spine, and Ginny wished that she had her wand.
She started walking again, pretending not to hear him.
He followed her, calling out, "Miss!"
Ginny suddenly jumped as he grabbed her by the shoulder. When had he gotten so close?
"What?" she snapped at him, turning around.
"Well, I overheard you asking about that man who came in earlier." He said as his eyes raked up and down her form. Creep, Ginny thought. She narrowed her eyes.
"Yeah, so?"
"You're just looking for him?" When he awaited her response, Ginny nodded. "I'll help you look then," he said with a sickly sweet tone that didn't fool her.
Ginny's inner conscience was telling her to run far, far away. "No, thank you." Ginny turned away from the man and started walking fast away from him.
Not ten seconds later, he was at her side.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
Ginny felt her cheeks go hot in her anger. "Leave me alone."
"Ah, defensive? You sleeping with him?"
Ginny made a noise of disbelief, looking around worriedly for an escape. How the hell was she going to get out of this?
"Get away from me," she said, while patting her pockets to see whether she had anything sharp on her. She was seriously starting to get worried. Oh my god, I'm going to die.
"What are you doing with scum like that? There's no way a guy like that could satisfy a pretty girl like you."
He grabbed onto her arm. She wrenched it out of his grip, stopping.
"What the fuck do you want?"
Suddenly the man put his arm around her shoulders in a vice grip. "Nothing. I'm just to help you find him."
Trying to get out of his grasp, Ginny stammered, "Why on earth would you want to help me?"
Ginny's mind was going haywire. All she could think of was that she needed to get away from him.
With a flash of heart-racing impulse, Ginny suddenly stomped on his foot, and elbowed him as hard as she could in the stomach. It worked! His arm loosened, and she ran out from under him.
I want to go somewhere safe, Ginny thought, and she closed her eyes and apparated.
The uncomfortable feeling of apparition only lasted a moment, and the sound of the wind disappeared. Ginny opened her eyes experimentally. She was in an enclosed alley.
Ginny looked around quickly to make sure that the creepy man had gone.
She almost screamed when she saw him.
He was sitting down against a brick wall, with a bottle of firewhiskey in his hand beside him.
"Draco," Ginny breathed, and ran to him. "What are you doing here?"
He looked up at her belatedly, and his eyebrows rose, obviously surprised to see her there. "You're here," he stated suddenly. "How did you find me?" he narrowed his eyes, and got to his feet.
"I – well, I don't really know actually…" she trailed off into silence when she saw his face up close. His hair was a mess, and his face was smeared with blood. He had a cut in his brow, and another on his bottom lip. His eyes were dark, as though he'd been socked in both eyes, and one of his cheekbones was swollen. He also reeked of alcohol.
Ginny tried to stop herself from getting too upset. That would not help anything. She reached out to touch his face. "What happened to you, Draco? Why did you do this?"
Draco took her hand with his, pushed it down, and ignored her question. "Why are you here?" he asked, moving even closer to her.
"I saw you on that bloody television, and I was worried, so I went to the bar you were at, but no one could tell me where you went, and then this really scary man from the bar followed me, and wouldn't leave me alone, so I disapparated, and wound up here!" Ginny told him in one breath, trying to dismiss the topic. She tried to ask about him again, "But, what about - ?"
The question lingered unsaid in the air as Ginny was cut off by the look of anger on his face. It was scary, especially with his current appearance. Ginny froze when he looked at her, enraged.
Draco grabbed her by the shoulders. "What the hell were you thinking? Men like that are creeps, and rapists, and for Merlin's sake you don't even have your bloody wand! I didn't keep you safe all that time, just to have you killed or raped by a muggle, Weasley!"
"Well, that didn't seem to matter to you this morning, did it? You left me wandless and the door to the house was wide open. Anyone could have come in! And you'd obviously done magic to get out. I was afraid that some Death Eaters were going to come and kill me!" Ginny looked at him in disbelief. Why did he care now, when he so obviously didn't before? "Wait, what did you mean? …you were keeping me safe all that time?"
He turned away. "Forget it."
Ginny reached up to touch his shoulder, thinking that he was calmer now, but she recoiled when he turned around abruptly and faced her.
"Why the hell do you despise him so much, huh?" Draco yelled at Ginny, his eyes searching her for an answer.
Ginny stared up at Draco's angry face. She took a step back from him, and touched the cold brick wall. She could feel the cold rough surface through her jacket, and shivered, hugging her arms around her stomach, and warily watching the frosty puffs of air of his unsteady breathing.
Draco closed in on her with his hands on the wall on either side of her head, trapping her in. "Well?" he prompted, and he bent down slightly to her level so he could look as her directly. "Why the hell do you hate him so much?"
Draco's face was so close to hers that she could smell the alcohol on him. Ginny observed him closely. He was serious. She saw it in his eyes, the desperation, even past the drunkenness. He wanted a real answer.
Ginny knew exactly who he was referring to, but fear of him and of the subject took over. Ginny's eyes were glued to his and she stammered, "Hate who?"
Draco grasped Ginny's shoulders more tightly than he probably realised. His silver eyes bore into hers, pleading. "You know damn well who I'm talking about, Weasley." He told her, lowering his voice. "My father."
"Get off me," Ginny glared up at him. She struggled to push him off, but he refused to budge. "You're hurting me," she told him indignantly.
After a moment of recognition and realization, Draco looked at her blearily in surprise and he dropped his hands to his sides immediately, looking uncomfortable. It looked for a moment that he was trying to say something, but gave up and looked back at her expectantly.
"Do you really want to know what it is?" Ginny yelled, her voice echoing in the dark tunnel. Draco stared at her motionless. "Do you really want to know? Then fine! Your father is responsible for almost causing my death six years ago! Okay, Draco? Does that satisfy you? He slipped me that wretched diary of Tom Riddle's, and I was possessed throughout the year. I made horrible things happen, you know. I would blank out for a few hours, and then I would come back to myself with chicken blood all over my hands and clothes. Tom Riddle wanted to kill me! He tried, and would have succeeded if not for Harry and Ron. A couple more hours and I would have been gone for good! And it's all Lucius Malfoy's fault."
"That was you?" Draco's face was emotionless. "With the chamber? You were doing those things?"
"No!" Ginny cried, wondering how this had gotten so out of control. Why was he making her go through this? Tears sprang to her eyes. "I was possessed by Voldemort, you prat! I didn't realise I was doing anything!" Ginny cut off, catching her ragged breath, and glaring through the tears at a spot on the ground about two metres away.
Draco suddenly softened. He looked sad all of the sudden, and defeated. He moved a step closer, and touched his hand to her hair. The motion made Ginny look up.
Ginny didn't know what he was thinking, but she was confused by the mask of emotion of his face. His eyes were pleading with her again.
"He's gone," he told her, his voice breaking. "He's dead."
It took Ginny a while to sink in the wretched, tortured tone and the tears in his eyes, but when she did, she understood his strange behaviour. She felt horrible.
"Draco, I'm so sorry," she told him, and brushed the wet hair off his face. His skin was freezing.
Ginny's heart broke for him. She wanted to comfort him, but she'd just made an arse out of herself. She didn't know what he was thinking.
Draco suddenly sobered up, and moved away from her, sticking out his wand before she even heard anything. Ginny was still staring at his wand, and jumped when she heard a voice say, "This must be loverboy then, yeah? Why'd you run away, honey, I was just trying to help."
Ginny gasped, and looked into the face of the same man she'd been trying to escape from. Ginny leaned into Draco, officially freaked out. How did he find them?
Draco moved her gently behind him with his arm, shielding her. Ginny whispered, "What are you doing? Be careful! This guy is just a muggle. A scary one, admittedly, but -"
"Ginny, be quiet," he whispered back, so the guy couldn't hear her. "He is not a muggle. And he followed you here. Probably put a tracking charm on you too."
Ginny looked at the man, who was staring at her smugly.
Draco took a bold step forward. "What the hell do you want?" he yelled, and Ginny wondered if he realised how loud he was being. "Come to get me then? You're no match for me. I'd advise you to leave, actually, because I have a lot of anger toward you lot."
Ginny looked into Draco's face to see what he was thinking, and was shocked by the look of maddening anger on his face. He was dead serious, she knew.
The man smirked and Ginny watched as he reached into his back pocket.
"So you heard the news, eh? Poor ol' Lucius finally got what he deserved?" he said in a taunting voice. "Like you will soon enough?"
Ginny gasped, and immediately covered her hands with her mouth. This man was a Death Eater? Fear trickled down her spine.
"If I ever go down, Lloyd, I'll take you with me, you bastard. I'll take the whole lot of you with me," Draco scowled dangerously, and readjusted his wand aim.
"Draco," Ginny whispered, stepping forward, and taking his free hand with both of hers. "Stop it. Are you trying to get us both killed?"
Draco took that moment to look at her, as though he just remembered she was there, but Ginny was too preoccupied with the supposed Death Eater to notice the confliction of his face. She watched as he pulled out his wand, but instead of aiming it at them, he proceeded to tug up his left sleeve, revealing the dark mark, and touched his wand into the center of it.
Draco suddenly yelled out in pain.
Omigod!
Thinking fast, Ginny held tightly onto him, and closed her eyes, concentrating on her destination. With a pop, they disapparated.
If she'd kept her eyes open a second longer, she would have seen the black figures appearing out of smoke.
The two figures appeared on the doorstep to the house. Ginny was in a daze. If they had been there just one more second, they would likely be dead. Ginny found herself being ushered inside by Draco. He locked the door, and stumbled inside the house, telling her not to worry because if the door was locked, no one can get in. He left her by the door.
After staring after him for about a minute, digesting all that happened, Ginny shoved off her coat and hat, threw them down, and went after him.
Draco had gone up to his room, and Ginny marched up the stairs and barged into his room without knocking. She immediately regretted doing so, as he was standing in the middle of the room with his shirt off, having just stripped off his wet clothes. Ginny watched him, completely at a loss for what to say.
Draco turned toward her, and watched her back. He shrugged and motioned for her to come inside.
Ginny made her way to his bed, and sat down on it. "Draco?" she asked. "Why did you do it?"
Draco sighed and sat down beside Ginny. "Which part?"
"Why did you… why did you leave me? And with the door open?"
"I don't know," Draco covered his eyes with the palms of his hands. "I was upset. My plan is in pieces and I'm going to die. It slipped my mind. I shouldn't have left you in danger like that."
"You're only going to die, if you keep acting as stupid as you did out there, Draco. You're going to get yourself killed. You're drunk out of your mind… did you really think you could take them all on? Well if you do, you're bloody mad. I don't want you to die, and I certainly don't want to die," Ginny looked at him. "And I had somehow believed that you don't want me to die either, considering that you slept with me, but I guess I was mistaken. You were just taking advantage of the situation last night. I get it."
Draco looked so forlorn and ashamed, as he realised what she said.
"Of course I – of course I ca-" he cut off, looking more upset than before. "I didn't really-, I mean, I didn't really think about it. I figured that you would leave for sure within hours of-, It didn't really occur to me - ," Draco cut off and swore, burying his head in his hands.
Ginny continued, unable to hold in the feelings any longer. "You didn't expect to be back at all. It probably seemed like an easy thing to do at the time, didn't it? It's perfect, isn't it? Vulnerable girl, just basically admitted she fancied you, you'd never have to see her again."
"Stop it! Stop it Ginny," he pleaded. "I woke up this morning and I didn't want to leave you. It was just easier not saying goodbye. I shouldn't have just – look, I didn't want you in danger. I just…"
Draco shut his eyes tightly, seemingly unable to speak.
Ginny got up and went to the doorway of the room. She was about to storm out, but after a split second of inner dispute, Ginny sighed, and looked back. Was she being unreasonable? He had just lost his father. He was allowed to be reckless and inconsiderate. She should be helping him, not making it worse.
"What?" Draco asked her, narrowing his eyes. "Aren't you done?"
Ginny took a death breath and walked back into the room. She went straight to the bathroom and soaked a cloth in warm water.
Draco hadn't moved an inch, but as she approached, Ginny saw that he had tears in his eyes. She went to his side. "Draco, come on, let's get you in bed."
Ginny helped him get under the covers, and sat down on the edge of his bed. She started to wipe his brow, cleaning the blood away. "I'm sorry, Draco," she told him quietly. "I shouldn't have said any of that. I know that I would be really upset if my own father died. You're not a bad person, okay? I know you didn't mean to put me in danger."
"Yes I am."
"No, you're not." Ginny sighed as she put down the cloth after wiping a last bit of dried blood from his lip. "Look, Draco, get some sleep, okay? We'll talk tomorrow, when you're sober."
Ginny ran a hand over his hair, and stood up. Draco watched her, and grabbed her hand gently, before she could walk out of reach. Ginny looked down at him in question.
His eyes bore into hers, showing her his sadness, and vulnerability. He was silently asking her to stay.
Ginny hesitated for a moment, and then shook her head. She took her hand away and said, "Good night, Draco," before walking out the door.