Chapter 13

Ginny shared her compartment on the Hogwarts Express with Luna and Neville. It was hard to believe the were going back

"So you're parents let you come back then?" Neville asked.

"Yes, though Mum nearly had a cow. She didn't want me to come." Ginny told them.

"Why not?" asked Luna.

"She doesn't think it's safe."

"You can hardly blame her, Ginny. I mean, with Snape being Headmaster and all." Neville put in.

"That's mad. Hogwarts is just as safe as anywhere now." Luna argued. "And I'm sure they've got a watch on her home, seeing as Harry's like family to them."

"That reminds me," Neville said, changing the subject, "Where is Harry? And Ron and Hermione. I haven't seen them."

"Dunno." She said. "Can we talk about this later?"

They other two nodded and fell silent.

The silence became unbearable and Ginny stood. "I'm going to see if I can find the trolly. I'll be back in a little while." She opened the door and walked out into the hall, pulling the door behind her.

As she was walking towards the end of the compartment, she realized that the train was oddly deserted. Parents must not want their kids going back.

A hand closed around her arm and she was pulled into a compartment. The strong arms closed around her and she was suddenly being kissed. She was shocked, unable to move. Then she was regained control of her mind and began to struggle.

The arms released her and Ginny looked up into the stormy gray eyes of Draco Malfoy. "Hey," Draco said quietly, looking into her eyes.

"Draco... hi." She stammered. "W-why did you do that?"

"I didn't think you would be back this year." He said, his hand slowly running through her hair. "I thought your parents would keep you home."

"I- Mum wanted to but my dad convinced her to let me come back."

"I'm glad you came back." Draco confessed.

"Draco, why didn't answer me." She said, "Why did you kiss me?"

He walked to the window and leaned against it. Ginny turned and pulled the blinds down on the compartment door. Draco turned when he heard the lock on the door turn.

"Draco, answer me." she said.

He looked back at her. "I- I don't know. I've been thinking about you all summer. I haven't been able to get you out of my head."

"Draco, I-"

"No," he silenced her, "You've gotten into my head Ginevra. I haven't been able to think straight. I even went so far as to risk sending you a rose from our estates' garden."

Her eyes grew wide. "The rose. I- It was from you?"

"Of course. Who did you-." his eyes flashed with something terrible. "Potter?" he spat. "You thought the rose was from Potter?"

"Well- I..."

For the first time, Ginny saw something akin to murder flash in Draco's eyes. His hands balled into fists and she could see his chest rising in anger.

"It's beautiful." she whispered.

Draco blinked. "What?"

"The rose," she said. "It's beautiful. It hasn't died yet either."

"I know." he said, calming down. "I enchanted it. It'll never die."

"I love it. I brought it with me." she said, reaching into her robe and pulling out the beautiful white rose.

"You carry it?"

She nodded.

"Because you thought it was from him?" Draco asked coldly.

Ginny shook her head. "No. It reminds me that, even now, there is some beauty in the world."

"That's ridiculous." he said. "There is no beauty in the world. It is nothing but death and desperation."

She looked at him mournfully. "Is there nothing you would call beautiful? Are you truly so lost that you can see no beauty in anything?"

Draco stepped closer, his hand gently touching her face. "There is one thing that I could call beautiful, Ginevra."

Ginny's breathing faltered. "Draco-"

The sentence died in her mouth as he kissed her. His right hand was at the small of her back, pressing her closer, while his left hand wove into her hair.

Ginny sighed into his mouth, relishing the oblivion his kiss created. The feel of his cool lips on hers erased the sorrow that had grown in her for so long. Her arms lifted slowly to wrap around his neck as she kissed him back. This is nice. She thought. It feels so good to let go of everything.

Draco released her suddenly and stepped back. "I- uh, I apologize." he said.

She stared at him, trying to process what had happened.

"I should not have done that."

"Then why did you?" she asked.

Draco stared at her. "I don't know." he said, then he laughed harshly. "Seems to be that way a lot lately."

"What are you talking about?" she asked him.

"Everything I thought I knew. It's all changing. And it all started because of you."

"How is it my fault?"

His eyes changed to a hard steel gray. He pulled up his sleeve. "You see this, Ginevra?" he said, pointing to the Mark on his forearm, "This was my destiny! I was raised to want this, bred to be worthy of this! And you, you come along and I don't want it anymore. I don't want any of this!"

Ginny's eyes were wide. Her heart was beating furiously in her chest. She could not speak.

"And what's worse," Draco continued, "is that you don't even realize what you've done. All you care about it being with Potter. That insufferable prat!"

She sat down hard. What's going on? What is he saying?

Draco sighed, exasperated, and stormed out of the compartment.

She watched him leave, unable to say a word.

"Hey, Ginny." Neville said. "Did you find the trolly?"

She looked up suddenly. "Hmm?"

"You've been really out of it since you got back. You okay?" Neville asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine Neville. Just a little distracted with everything that's been happening lately."

Neville nodded. "I understand. It must be hard. Having Harry break up with you and then take off like."

"What was that, Longbottom?" Came a cold voice near the door.

Ginny, Neville and Luna all looked to the door to see Draco Malfoy staring back at them. His expression was as cold as his eyes.

"Oh, hello Draco." Luna greeted him with a smile.

Draco spared a glance in her direction before turning away. His cold grey eyes skated over Ginny before coming back to Neville. "Well, Longbottom? What is it you were saying?"

"It's none of your business, Malfoy!" said Neville.

"You might do well to remember, Longbottom, that I am a prefect."

"So what. You think you can threaten to take away a few lousy house points and I'll tell you what you want to know? Go for it, Malfoy. But you'll get no information from me that you can take back to your Death Eater family!"

Everyone in the compartment had fallen silent. Neville had never been so outspoken before. And never to Malfoy. He wouldn't so much as look at the blonde Slytherin since he was put in a leg-lock his first year.

"Don't talk about my family, Longbottom! You've got no right."

"I've just as much right as you do, Malfoy. My blood's as pure as yours." Neville shot back.

Draco turned and walked away without another word and Ginny's eyes followed his fleeting back.

Draco walked back to his compartment near the end of the train. He took a seat next to Blaise Zabini, his fellow Slytherin. Crabbe, Goyle and Parkinson were all off tormenting first years.

"Enjoy your stroll, Draco?"

"Yeah, sure." Draco said, looking out the window at the rolling hills passing by.

"So what is it that put that look of disgust on your face?"

"Longbottom." he answered, turning to the other Slytherin. "Just passed him in a compartment with Looney Lovegood and the Weasley girl. He said something about Potter being gone."

"So it's true then? Potter won't be returning this year?"

"Looks that way."

"Can't blame him, can you?" Zabini laughed. "Being hunted by Death Eaters is reason enough not to come out in public."

"No kidding. Speaking of Death Eaters, what are you doing running around with known Death Eaters?"

"Just because I won't take the Mark, doesn't mean I'm against what it stands for." Blaise explained. "But if all this falls through, not having that Mark will save me from a lifetime in Azkaban."

Draco nodded and turned away. So Potter left, did he? Is that why she kissed me back? Because she's not dating Potter anymore? He wanted to ask her. He wanted to know why. More than anything, though, he wanted her.