Chapter 10
Draco made his way through the large Oak front doors of Malfoy Manor, a grin affixed to his pointed face. He had considered the evenings events to be quite wonderful. He hadn't seen Ginevra in so long, and she had been absolutely breathtaking. Potter had been so angry that Draco wouldn't have been surprised if he had begun breathing fire. He walked down the main hall passed the living area, but before he made it to the stairwell, the low voice of his father stopped him.
"Draco."
Draco halted, hesitating just for the slightest minute. He knew his father approved of very few of his 'extracurricular' activities, but he seemed especially disproving of his most recent adventures. Resigned to a lecture that was sure to come, Draco walked stiffly back towards the living area.
Lucius stood eyeing the flames in the fireplace, mouth set in a thin line, eyes hardened.
Draco cleared his throat to announce his presence in the doorway. Lucius did not look up, but lifted a hand and beckoned him to come in. As Draco made his way in, Lucius turned around and eyed him.
"Sit." he commanded.
Draco sat on the large leather armchair, trying not to reveal any of his delight or satisfaction from the night's events.
"Am I correct," Lucius began, folding his arms behind his back and stepping towards Draco, "in assuming that you were off on another one of your... unapproved, ill-advised adventures?"
Draco merely shrugged in response, avoiding his father's gaze.
"Am I also correct," Lucius continued, "that you were once again, assuming your Animagus form, your gift from the Dark Lord, the gift that is only to be used for his purposes, his mission, and his orders, during this excursion?"
Draco picked at a small rip in the leather of the armchair. He shrugged again.
"Have I not told you," Lucius voice became much lower and more dangerous, "that should you be caught using the gifts the Dark Lord had bestowed upon you for your own recreation, that the consequences of your actions would mean death and dismemberment for you?"
"It wasn't recreation." Draco said evenly.
He was suddenly being roughly pulled to his feet by his father's iron grip on the collar of his robes.
"You were spying on the blood-traitor brat again, weren't you?!" He spat.
"She's not a blood-traitor brat," Draco spat back, "not for long anyway. Besides, she's mine, the Dark Lord promised her to me. I have a right to see her whenever I please!"
"She's not yours yet, boy! The Dark Lord promised her to you only after you help him take over the ministry-"
"Which is all going according to plan, Father," he said lazily, "You worry too much."
"Do I?" Lucius tightened his grip on Draco's robes. "Do you not think it is difficult to hide my thoughts from the Dark Lord? Knowing that you risk this family in your Animagus form? It's sickening. You could be found out at any time."
"I won't."
"No. You won't. I won't allow this a moment longer." He lowered Draco to the ground and released his grip on him, walking away from him, hands clasped behind his back in thought.
Draco straightened out his collar where his father had gripped him.
"It doesn't matter anyways, Father. She's going to Hogwarts. It will be impossible for me to reach her there. I assure you, my sole focus will be on helping the Dark Lord take over the Ministry of Magic."
"Well, thank the gods for that," Lucius sighed in exasperation, not even bothering to hide his exasperation, "But you have still disobeyed the Dark Lord, Draco. You have disobeyed me. Such behavior cannot go on without consequence."
Lucius turned to face his son, anger set in his features.
"On your knees, boy. Now."
"But Father, I didn't..."
Draco knew it was useless to argue but he couldn't help but feel the situation entirely unfair. Lord Voldemort had as much as told him that Ginevra was his, and what right did his father have to dictate when he could see her? Nevertheless, he halted his speech and clenched his jaw.
"Knees. Now!" Lucius shouted.
With a grimace, Draco knelt on his knees, dropping his cloak and unbuttoning his shirt. He tried to clear his mind, to prepare himself for the pain.
Lucius grabbed his switch from the desk drawer and walked calmly over to him.
"The Dark Lord is somewhat averse to using more ancient methods of pain, preferring to use his wand upon his victims. However, I find a certain amount of satisfaction in resorting to more simple methods of inflicting punishment. Still, the message seems to get across all the same, don't you think, Draco? I'd say ten lashings should do the trick."
Draco clenched his teeth.
"Yes, father."
The first crack came down on Draco's back, and though his entire body flinched, he did not utter a sound.
The second crack came down harder than the first. With great effort, Draco willed himself to ignore the pain. He closed his mind to what was happening to him, only allowing in a few precious thoughts. Soon, more cracks had filled the air. Blood was dripping down his back onto the cold floor, but the only thoughts flowing through Draco's mind were of sweet-smelling red hair, and soft skin under his hands.
X
Ginny was nervously fidgeting her hands in her lap.
She sat in the train compartment of the Hogwarts express with Ron, Hermione and Harry, who were sitting and chatting light-heartedly.
The trio had only one term left at Hogwarts, and with the exception of the encounter with Draco Malfoy, Voldemort and his Death Eaters seemed to be in hiding for the time being. Ginny was glad to think that Ron, Hermione and Harry could perhaps for once go through an entire school year without a near-death experience, and just enjoy being teenagers. She knew that Harry and Dumbledore had managed to get rid of all the Horcruxes, and that all that was left was to rid the Dark Lord himself. Perhaps it was for this very reason- Voldemort being aware of his own vulnerability- that they were in a virtual radio-silence from the Dark side as of late.
Though, they all were smart enough to know that the peaceful time was only a temporary respite. Temporary though it was, it didn't stop the trio from feeling cheerful and eager for their last days at Hogwarts. They smiled and laughed with each other as the train rumbled along, eating sandwiches and chocolate frogs, and talking cheerfully about the future. It warmed Ginny's heart.
Ginny, on the other hand, was just trying to keep it together.
She tried to focus on the fact that she would only be in school for one term and would be graduating with her NEWTS. She tried to remember that this should be a happy and exciting time, but she couldn't help the overwhelming anxiousness she felt. She was going back to the castle where Tom had tormented her. Back to where she had set the Basilisk loose on innocent students. Back to where -
Stop. It's just a school. It's just a school, and Tom is gone.
And yet she worried. She worried what the other students would think about her sudden arrival. What they would say about why she left. Kids could be so cruel. She remembered how poorly Harry was treated during her first year. She vividly remembered the whispers as he passed in the halls, the cruel rumors, and how the students who had once been admiring of him turned so quickly against him. Her imagination began to assault her with whispers of gossiping students...
"I heard she left because she tried to kill half a dozen students..."
"She's been in Azkaban this whole time, didn't you hear? Only just released..."
"Well, I heard she lost her mind and she's been locked in Saint Mungos this whole time."
"She singlehandedly got Draco Malfoy kicked out of Hogwarts. Said he attacked her."
"She was probably asking for it."
"She's probably insane."
"Ginevra..."
Draco's voice whispered to her, joining the fray of the imaginary students.
The voices were getting louder, overlapping and whispering horrible things to her. Ginny squeezed her eyes shut, and covered her ears with her hands, taking deep breaths in and out.
"She looks like a filthy whore to me."
"Look at her, she's asking for it..."
"-not normal..."
"-went crazy..."
"Whore!"
"Ginevra!"
No, no, NO!
"Are you alright?"
Ginny jumped at the sound of Harry's voice. He was sitting next to her, a light hand on her shoulder, green eyes looking at her closely. They were all still in the train compartment, but all the cheerful chatter had stopped. She looked around and realized that all three occupants of the compartment were staring at her expectantly with varying degrees of worry. Feeling immediately mortified, she cleared her throat.
"S-sorry, I think I... must have dozed off a bit there." She looked towards Ron and Hermione, hoping her face was showing them some semblance of reassurance. They both nodded to her as if accepting her explanation. Harry stayed close but removed the hand from her shoulder, sitting back more comfortably.
Still slightly flustered, and feeling Harry's eyes still on her, she looked down at her hands. She had clenched the fabric of her skirt so tightly that it had bunched into one giant ball, her knuckles white.
Turning red with embarrassment, she released her death grip and began smoothing her skirt back down over her legs.
Hermione moved to where she sat and put a comforting arm around her.
"It's alright to be nervous, it's been a long time."
Ginny coughed.
"Er, yes, it has. Been a long time, I mean." She looked back down to her lap, resuming her nervous fidgeting.
Hermione gave her a loving squeeze.
"Harry and Ron spoke to all the Gryffindors about you coming back, Ginny. Told them to give you space and not to pester you about why you were gone. I think you'll find they will be very welcoming, everyone seemed to be glad to have you coming back. We're going to have a lovely time, you'll see."
"Right. Yeah. Okay."
"It's going to be fine."
Ginny prayed Hermione was right.
X
Ron and Hermione led the pack of students towards the castle, hand in hand and seemingly oblivious to the crowd behind them. Harry was following close behind them, and began chatting with a few fellow Gryffindors Ginny recognized.
Ginny hesitantly approached the entrance to the castle, slowing her steps and purposely staying towards the back of the student body. Her legs felt like lead. She felt her chest tighten, and her heart began pounding in her ears. The urge to flee, to run away, began to crawl across her skin, and she gripped her hands in such tight fists that her nails dug into her palms.
I can't do this. I can't do this. I can't-
"Hey."
Harry was at her side, peering at her face.
"Ginny?" He said, eyes searching hers carefully. "Are you okay?"
Ginny shook her head at him.
"I-I think I made a mistake," she said, not even trying to hide the tremble in her voice, "I can't go in there. I can't do this."
To her complete disbelief, Harry laughed, his green eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Are you kidding me, Ginny?" He said good-naturedly, "I saw you kick Draco Malfoy's ass while you were completely unarmed. I think you can handle this."
"But what if I can't pass any of my NEWTS? What if I'm too far behind because I was home-schooled?"
"Well, first of all," Harry said, cocking his head to the side, "Bill said you're brilliant, and that you were ahead in all of your studies. I believe him, don't you? He wouldn't let you come here if he didn't think you could handle it."
"Maybe..." she trailed off, shuffling her feet, "But, what about the people, Harry? I've not been around so many people. The last few years it's just been Bill and I and... I'm not used to it."
"Just stick close to Ron and I. We'll make sure you don't get swarmed. Besides, you'll get to share a dorm with Hermione, and she'll make sure you have some space."
"But..."
Ginny felt slightly guilty admitting her biggest fear, as she feared such an admission would make her seem selfish and shallow. But she worried about it none the less.
"What if they say horrible things about me?"
Harry's eyes only showed understanding, and she saw no judgment there.
"Damn what they say, Ginny, kids here can be awful to each other. You put a bunch of teenagers together, and there is always bound to be drama and foul talk. But don't worry about that, alright? Most of the gossip around here is all lies. Besides, who could say a horrible thing about you, Ginny?"
"You know what I mean, Harry!" Ginny scolded.
"Well," Harry sighed, "the kids here can be brutal, and gossip is inevitable. But you know what? They say horrible things about me all the time. When you were here during my second year, I was the heir of Slytherin, remember? Oh, that was only the beginning, Gin. Every year seemed to get worse! Later I was a cheat, then I was brain-damaged, then I was a liar, trying to overthrow the ministry... I mean, the list goes on and on. But I tell you what, anytime I hear something even remotely negative being said about you, I'll start a new rumor about myself to keep everybody occupied."
"Oh no, don't!" She pleaded.
"I will." He grinned. "I'm so used to it; you have no idea."
Ginny smiled in spite of herself.
"How could someone say a bad thing about you, Harry Potter? You're far too nice."
Harry put his hands in his pockets and gave an adorable blush.
"Maybe," he shrugged, "but I'm also a brain-damaged, attention seeking lunatic, remember?"
He stuck out a hand to her, but she held still.
"Come on," he said kindly. "Remember what Bill said? You can do this. And this time, you aren't alone. I'll be with you every step of the way."
Ginny eyed his hand apprehensively.
She took a deep breath and reached for it.
X
Bill paced nervously in front of his desk.
The Order meeting was due to start in ten minutes, and he was having difficulties calming the storm of worries in his mind. Ginny had been at Hogwarts for a week, the longest she had been without him in years. He found himself worrying over frivolous details like a mother hen and felt a surge of affection for his mother and all she must have worried over the years for her seven children.
Ron had sent him almost daily owls detailing how his sister was doing, but Bill had yet to hear from Ginny herself.
Was she scared? Overwhelmed?
He reminded himself that she had a great support system with Ron, Harry and Hermione almost constantly by her side, and that calmed his nerves. And speaking of Harry...
He needed to talk to the boy. He could no longer ignore what he had seen in that grove when Draco Malfoy had put his hands on Ginny. It was more than just brotherly protection that had seethed within the anger in Harry's face... Ron had said that Harry had hardly left her side since they had arrived to Hogwarts. And while Bill could appreciate that Ron was grateful for this, since it afforded him ample time to get Hermione alone, he was now more determined than ever to find out Harry's exact intentions towards his sister.
X
Naz,
It's so bloody cold here, my hands are shaking as I write this.
I miss being warm. I miss the hot sun. I even miss the bloody sand! I made it to my school safely, though it was terrifying to say the least. How is your family? I know it must be an adjustment for your father not having Bill around. Bill is stuck at a desk job for the time being and I know he hates just about every second of it. Though, in his last letter, he had met a disgustingly beautiful French witch and they are going out for the fourth time this week. Ugh!
I miss my best friend dearly. How are you? Tell me everything. I hope my letter finds you well, and that you are off exploring or finding another curse to break. Please don't worry too much about me. Between my brother, Harry and Hermione, I've got an entourage around me almost every second. Everyone here has been decent for the most part, but there are still some stupid rumors going around. Mostly about me being a scarlet woman or devil-woman, I can't keep track. Write me soon and send me some baklava and some sunshine if it's not too much trouble. Keep the sand, though.
Suffering through another great adventure,
Ginny
X
Bill,
I did it! I survived my first week with life and limb intact. You were right, I wasn't too far behind at all in my studies... I might give Hermione a run for her money. I know I'll at least beat Ron in every subject, the lazy tosser.
I miss you something fierce. Also, has it always been so bloody cold here? I've never been more chilled to the bone in my life! I'm getting docked points for poor penmanship because I have to write with mittens on so my hands. You'll be happy to know that thanks to my appointed entourage I haven't been late to a single class. The Gryffindors have been very welcoming at having me back, I'm glad to say. As for the rest of the school, I'm pretty sure they are evenly divided that I either escaped a mental institution or that I broke out of Azkaban.
I'm sorry you are stuck at a desk job for now, just as sorry as I am that I'm stuck here. You've no idea how badly I want to be back with you in Egypt. I hope we can go back to visit sometime. I wrote to Naz, I hope he and Dr. Muthusamy are well.
So, tell me more about this mysterious French witch that has been hanging around Gringotts! Fred and George mentioned you had several... appointments with her. Do tell, dear brother, I need details!
All my love,
Ginny
X
Ginny scurried up to the Owlery in the chill morning air. She had left Gryffindor tower alone for the first time since her arrival. This was to be her very first excursion alone since her arrival, and she had planned carefully, counting on leaving early enough in the morning that she was unlikely to see any fellow students. Clutching her letters in her hand, she wrapped her arms around herself as she walked. On top of her school robes, she wore a heavy cloak, mittens and hat. She sadly was beginning to wonder if her body would ever get reacclimated to the cooler climate after returning from living in Egypt.
Slipping a bit on the icy staircase, she made her way to the tower, searching for Pig. He zoomed by in a ball of flying feathers before she managed to get him settled enough to take her letters.
"Pig, give this to Bill first," she coaxed lovingly, "then deliver Naz his letter. Make sure you give him all my love when you see him. And if he doesn't send any sweets, start pecking his fingers."
With a hoot that was more of a squeak, Pig zoomed out the window with her letters.
Ginny hurried back to the dormitory, anxious to sit next to the fire and warm up. She scrambled through the portrait hole, feeling somewhat elated. Her first solitary excursion had been a success! As she found a comfortable leather chair, she curled up into it with a smile. She couldn't wait to hear back from Naz and Bill.
X
Harry Potter found himself in an increasingly uncomfortable situation.
First off, Pansy Parkinson had spoken to him, actually spoken to him, which in and of itself was uncomfortable and strange. She had cornered him before class had started, moving away from the Slytherins so they were out of earshot. When she opened her mouth, he expected an insult, a hex, or perhaps a forked tongue, but none of those things came out.
"Potter," she said smoothly, blinking at him, her pug-like face a mask of innocence, "may I have a word with you after class?"
"Er, sorry?" he said, not bothering to hide his confusion.
"A word. After class." she lowered her voice and raised her eyebrows. "In private?"
Feeling decidedly on edge, and even with warning bells going off in his head, he found himself nodding.
"Er, okay." He said hesitantly. "But it will have to be quick, I have somewhere I need to be after class."
Pansy smiled, and it did nothing to ease his discomfort.
"Of course, Potter, of course. After class, then."
She left and went to sit back with the Slytherins. Ron leaned over to him.
"What the bloody hell was that about?" He whispered.
"No idea." Harry said nervously.
X
After class, he found himself alone in the room with Pansy, desperately wishing he were anywhere else. He glanced up at the clock. Ginny got out of class in five minutes, and he was to meet her and walk her to the dorm before dinner. Not that she asked him to, but he did it anyway. Neither he nor Ron liked the idea of Ginny walking down the corridors alone, and rather than be annoyed at being 'babysat,' she had seemed very grateful for the company. The halls were filled with whispers and stares of students from the other houses wherever she went, so Ron and Harry had taken turns escorting Ginny from class to class.
Ron had left the moment the bell rang to go and get Hermione from her Ancient Runes class, leaving Harry to pick up Ginny, and here he was, stuck with Pansy Parkinson.
Pansy was giving him a sickly-sweet smile and Harry cleared his throat nervously.
"So, er, what did you need, Pansy? I've only got a minute, I need to-"
"Oh, I won't keep you Potter," she interrupted, "I just wanted a quick chat."
"Okay..."
"Well, you see, there's a Hogsmeade weekend coming up, and I thought maybe you'd fancy going with me."
Harry was suddenly grateful he wasn't eating or drinking anything at this precise moment, because had he been eating, he would have choked, and had he been drinking, he would have spat the liquid out all over Pansy's squashed face.
"What?" he said stupidly, thinking surely there was something wrong with his hearing.
"I said, do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me?" She batted her eyelashes.
Harry gulped. Was this a joke?
"Well, uh, Pansy, I'm flattered," he lied, "but I'm just not interested. Sorry."
"Oh..."
Pansy's eyes widened in understanding, but something dark and malicious glittered within them. She smiled again, and leaned forward conspiratorially.
"It's because of her, isn't it?" she said in a low voice, "The Weasley girl?"
Oh gods, was he that pathetically obvious?
"It's... well, I er..." Harry stumbled around on his words, but Pansy just nodded at him.
"It is, I get it." Pansy's eyes darkened, "But there's something you should know about her. You see, girls like Weasley, what I mean to say is, girls who've been through what she's been through, it breaks them. It destroys them. Girls like Weasley are damaged goods-"
"She isn't damaged goods!" Harry retorted hotly.
But Pansy seemed to ignore him, her face full of mock sympathy.
"Oh, Potter," she simpered, as if explaining something to a toddler, "when a girl is violated like she was, they are never quite the same. They are frightened and adverse to anything... well, intimate. Haven't you noticed how she doesn't like to be touched? How she covers herself in heavy clothes? How she flinches when anyone comes near her? You could never hope to be close to her that way. She's broken beyond repair-"
"She is not!" Harry shouted, "You don't know anything about her, or what she's been through. She's not broken or any of that rubbish you're spouting, Parkinson. She's perfect the way she is."
Pansy only smiled. "Maybe. Well, I've taken enough of your time. See you around, Potter."
Seething in anger, Harry watched Pansy saunter out of the classroom. He glanced up at the clock, before swearing loudly and bolting out the door at full speed.
X
Ginny glanced out the door of her classroom. Class had ended five minutes ago, and Harry was nowhere in sight. She had just finished Muggle Studies, a requirement for Healer Training, and Harry normally met her after class. But at the moment, he was nowhere to be found.
Ginny bit her lip nervously.
So, what if Harry wasn't here? She was perfectly capable of walking to Gryffindor Tower on her own.
But the truth was, it had been much easier to navigate the crowded hallways and steer clear of the stares and whispers when she had Ron, Hermione or Harry at arm's reach. Maybe she had been too coddled and was too reliant on their help now. Maybe having their help had done more harm than good?
Sighing, Ginny looked apprehensively down the corridor, which was currently empty. She took a deep breath and began walking down the hall. She felt her skin crawl with tension, and she willed the feeling away as she quickened her steps.
Don't be stupid, Ginny. Any idiot can walk down a hallway without panicking.
She turned the corner, beginning to feel slightly more confident.
See? It's fine. Everything is fine.
As she came around the second corner to head towards the main staircase, all confidence within her froze and what she saw caused her heart to plummet to her feet.
Standing at the end of the hallway was Blaise Zabini, dark and tall. The one Slytherin who was almost as much of an arsehole as Draco Malfoy.
Almost.
She was frozen mid step. Blaise locked eyes with her.
"Well, hello there, red." Blaise said smoothly, moving towards her.
Ginny didn't know what he wanted, nor did she care to find out. All she knew that Zabini and Malfoy had been best of friends, and therefore she had no interest in being on the same planet as Zabini, let alone stuck in a corridor with him.
Ginny had jumped at the sound of his voice, quickly turning on her heel to escape the other direction. But at the other end of the hall stood two more Slytherins, their hulking figures vaguely familiar to her.
Draco's old cronies.
She whipped back around to Zabini, trying to mask any fear she felt at being flanked by the Slytherins.
Gods, she had the worst luck in the universe!
She reached down to feel for her wand, but her bulky cloak was hindering the effort.
"Easy, Weasley," Blaise said, holding up empty, placating hands, "no need to draw your wand, I'm just here to talk."
Ginny suppressed a panicked laugh.
"Like I'm stupid enough to buy that!" Ginny spat, finally finding her wand and holding it out in front of her, "I'd be more comfortable armed if it's all the same to you."
Blaise chuckled, shrugging and holding both of his hands up innocently.
"Of course, I understand. But as you can see, I am unarmed at the moment, so I would very much like to keep all my bits intact-"
"What do you want?" Ginny interrupted, sounding much more fierce than she felt.
Blaise raised a dark eyebrow, smirking. He took a few steps towards her.
"Draco asked me to keep an eye on you-"
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me-"
"And to tell you-"
"Stop! I don't want to hear it, Zabini!" She yelled, still pointing her wand at his chest.
"-To stay away from Potter."
She nearly dropped her wand.
"What?" she asked.
Blaise stepped forward to her, she didn't move and he was only feet away from her now.
"He gave very strict instructions. He wants you to stay away from Potter."
"Well," Ginny scoffed defiantly, "I don't really give a rat's arse what that psychopath wants!"
Blaise held up a scolding finger to her.
"You forget yourself, Weasley. You belong to him."
"I don't belong to anyone!" She retorted hotly, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks, "And as for Draco , he belongs in a locked ward at Saint Mungos!"
"I wouldn't be so sure, love. You see, someday soon you will find that the Dark Lord has all the power. When that day comes, you will find yourself to be a lucky girl indeed should you find favor with someone like Draco. Submitting yourself to him may just save you and your family from a terrible fate. Just think about that. You'd want to help your family, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you do anything to ensure their safety?"
Ginny opened her mouth to retort but someone beat her to it.
"She won't need to."
Ron came around the corner, jaw set and wand pointing straight at Zabini.
"You're wrong, Zabini," Ron continued hotly, "Her family would rather take their chances on this... 'terrible fate,' you speak of a hundred times over before we would let her go with the likes of Draco fucking Malfoy, or any other disgusting Death Eater."
Ron seemed to contemplate something and lowered his wand just slightly with a wicked smile.
"Actually, Zabini, now that I think about it, she kicked Malfoy's royal arse last time she saw him. Smashed him right in the bollocks. Maybe I ought to let her do the same to you?"
Blaise's eyes widened, turning away from the pair and backing up.
"Well," Ginny said, raising an eyebrow and grinning, "how about it, Zabini? Do you want a swift kick to the wand and gobstones?"
Blaise narrowed his eyes at her.
"No need to maim the messenger, Weasley." He gestured towards the two hulking Slytherins with a nod of his head. "We were just leaving, weren't we?"
Following after Blaise, the three Slytherins quickly left the corridor, and Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. Ron was at her side in an instant.
"You alright? What did that bloody idiot say? God, I hate the lot of them! Can't turn your back for a second...And where's Harry?"
"I don't know, but I'm fine, Ron! Really!" Ginny said. "It was just Zabini being stupid. Said he was passing along 'messages' from Draco."
Ron's face paled slightly. Ginny put a reassuring hand on his arm and smiled.
"It was nothing, Ron. Typical stalker stuff. And actually, if I'm honest, he must have been having a bad day or something because it was a bit under-whelming. Definitely not his best work."
She paused and thought for a moment before the corner of her lip twitched.
"Maybe his balls still hurt."
Ron chuckled and put an arm around her shoulders, leading her down the hall.
"Well, good to know Malfoy is losing his touch, I suppose. Honestly, is he so bored that he has nothing better to do besides send his cronies over to ruin our perfectly lovely evening?"
"I'm not sure which thought is more worrisome," Ginny giggled nervously, "That Draco Malfoy is bored or that he's busy... What do they have the youngest Death Eaters do anyway? Arrange the seating assignments for their luncheons? Go on a coffee run?"
"Pick up the dry-cleaning?" Ron supplied.
"Drown puppies?"
"Dismember house-elves?"
"Reserve dungeons for their monthly orgy?"
"Ginny!"
"Yes, Ron?"
"I'm here!"
Harry came sprinting around the corner at full speed, stopping to put his hands on his knees and breathing like he had just completed a marathon.
"Sorry," he panted, looking up at Ginny and Ron, "I got held up, you wouldn't believe... Pansy Parkinson... weirdest thing."
Ginny's eyes must have betrayed the puzzle piece that clicked together in her head. She looked over at Ron and he seemed to have come to the same conclusion. Harry looked to both their faces worriedly.
"Er, did something happen?"
X
Later at dinner, Ron filled in Harry and Hermione on what had transpired in the corridor with Blaise, while Ginny picked moodily at her food. Her earlier gumption and fire had worn off, leaving her annoyed and perturbed that Draco Malfoy had felt the need to send Zabini to warn her away from Harry.
Even more disturbing, was that the more she thought about Zabini's words, the more worried she became about them. Sure, she wasn't at all surprised that Draco had told her to stay away from Harry, because he was a jealous lunatic... But Blaise's words about Voldemort taking power, and what she would possibly be faced with in order to keep her family safe... those words were haunting her.
"So, Harry," Hermione sighed in exasperation. "I guess that explains why Pansy Parkinson suddenly felt the need to corner you after class. Malfoy clearly still has influence on the Slytherins here. It's disgusting, I swear that git is omnipresent."
"What does he mean to do though?" Ron asked through a mouthful of potatoes. "Besides be the usual arsehole I mean?"
"He's just going to do what he does best, Ron!" Ginny snapped, spearing her potato and wishing it was Draco's face. "He's just going to use Blaise and Pansy to mess with my head and make my life miserable... and try to get a rise out you three."
Ginny threw her silverware down on the table, suddenly losing her appetite. She didn't care that she looked like a child with her arms folded crossly in front of her and a scowl on her face. Stupid Draco Malfoy was trying to mess with her head, and bugger it all, it was working.
"Well, Ginny," Hermione started gently, "it will be hard for the Slytherins to harass us if we steer clear of them. Maybe we could even get special permission to switch around some of your classes? I'm sure Dumbledore wouldn't hesitate to help us with that, he knows how horrible Draco has been to you."
Ginny said nothing. She would like to stay away from the Slytherins as much as possible, and it would make her feel better with Dumbledore involved. But her thoughts were echoing Hermione's words; Draco Malfoy seemed somehow to be omnipresent, seemingly always knowing where she was and what she was doing. She only seemed to manage to avoid him for brief periods of time.
Except Egypt.
Gods she missed that beautiful place...
A hand on her arm brought her back to present company.
Harry was smiling warmly at her.
"Fancy going for a fly?"
Ginny's heart leapt within her. It felt like ages since she had flown.
"Merlin, yes!"
Harry held out a hand and helped her up from the table. Ron mumbled something about going to the library to study with Hermione, but Ginny noted the flush in Hermione's cheeks as they left.
X
Harry and Ginny sat calmly atop their broomsticks after their fly. They hovered above the Forbidden Forest, watching the last bits of sunlight disappear of the mountains.
Harry always loved a good fly to clear his head. He loved the cold air whipping his hair around, the pull of gravity on his insides when he went into a dive, and the thrill of exhilarating speed.
Thoughts of flying vanished when he realized Ginny was staring at him.
Her dark brown eyes were observing him closely. He looked back at her, and when their eyes met his heart did a funny little flutter.
At dinner, he could tell that she had been just as bothered by Blaise's words as he was by Pansy's... and he had to keep reminding himself that they were just trying to get under their skin. Going for a fly had been an ideal way to get rid of those nasty words and judging by Ginny's smiling face as they had flown over the lake together, she had felt the same.
But the thoughts flitted in and out of his head again as he looked at her.
Damaged goods? What rubbish.
Ginny wasn't broken or crazy, she was just perfect... She was Ginny.
He also thought of how when he had held out his hand to her, and she had taken it, or when he had put a friendly arm around her, how neither of those instances had she flinched or pulled away from him...
Yes, Pansy was just an evil cow. Ginny was stunning! And brave, and kind and-
"Why are you doing this?" She suddenly asked him.
He raised his eyebrows.
"Why am I flying?"
"No, why are you doing this?" She said, gesturing between the two of them.
He just looked at her, unsure how to respond.
"Harry," she sighed in exasperation, "Why are you being so nice to me?"
For a moment, Harry didn't know what to say. He had never really stopped and asked himself why... he just knew that he wanted to. Ever since he had seen her at the Burrow, he wanted to be around her. All the time. To hear her talk, to see her smile, to hear her laugh, to make sure no one would hurt her... And when she wasn't there, he thought about her. And when he thought about her, he wanted to be with her. He didn't ever want to be without her.
"I-I..."
Harry couldn't seem to articulate an appropriate answer, and to his horror Ginny seemed to have taken this the wrong way. Her eyes hardened and her words became sharp.
"Look, Harry, I know that you tend to take a lot of responsibility when bad things happen, but I'm not really interested in being a charity project to make you feel better about yourself."
"I-" Harry started, before realizing what she had said, "Whoa, wait, what?"
"I get it, Harry." Ginny said stiffly. "You feel bad about what happened to me at Diagon Alley, and then what happened to me in the chamber, and now you feel like it's your duty to be my friend and keep me safe, but I'm telling you, it's not necessary and I want you to stop. I've got Ron to look out for me, so I don't need to be this project for you-"
"Ginny!" Harry interrupted loudly.
He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. Ginny looked at him with raised eyebrows.
"Look, Ginny, I'm sorry but you've got it all wrong!"
He tried to give her a pleading look, hoping she would take pity on him and not just fly off before he could finish talking, like he knew she was tempted to do.
"I don't think you're a project or a charity case, or anything like that at all! I think you are incredible, to be honest. And the reason why I'm helping you and spending time with you isn't any guilt I'm feeling, it's because I really want to. I really like being around you. I just... after everything that's happened, I just feel like we're... connected somehow. We've both seen a great bit of evil and darkness, we've both had horrible things happen to us, and I just want to help you, that's all."
Actually, that's not all, he thought as he looked at her and she stared intently right back at him.
I don't want to spend another minute without you, and lately I've been fantasizing about what your kisses would taste like...
Blimey he was getting ahead of himself.
He had the horrid feeling that suddenly declaring his fancy for her was going to send her running in the opposite direction, and he couldn't bear the thought. He reigned in his thoughts and passions and strove to speak rationally.
"Ginny, I would really like to be your friend, if you'll let me."
Ginny's brown eyes sparkled at him, and she spent a long moment searching his face before she answered.
"Alright."
She smiled at him, and Harry's insides felt like melted butter.
"But, Harry, you're a bit of an idiot because I had already considered you my friend, but I suppose this makes it official."
"That I'm an idiot?" He teased.
"That you're my friend." She chuckled and eyed him closely again.
"Is there something else, Harry?"
Harry gulped. There were a couple things on the 'something else' list of his, none of which he felt would go over well if he were to bring them up now. For now, being her friend seemed like one of the most wonderful things in the world, even though he would be lying if he said he didn't want more. Much more.
"Actually, Ginny," he smiled, an idea springing to mind, "there is one other thing."
"Oh?" She said.
"Yes. You see, I propose we become not just friends, but a team."
"A team?"
"Yes."
"Alright," she said slowly, "what do you mean a team?"
Harry lazily began circling Ginny on his broom.
"Well, I can't help but notice that both of us are being pursued by evil pale-faced bastards."
"This, is unfortunately true." She said wryly.
"But I also can't help but notice how talented you've become in Defense, both armed and unarmed."
Ginny only blushed and smiled.
"So, I propose we become a team. I'll help you, you help me. You've got my back, I've got yours. Between the two of us, Draco Malfoy and Voldemort won't stand a chance of getting to us. Sound like a fair deal?"
Ginny bit her lip for a moment, but Harry could tell she was hiding a grin.
"Well, if it means putting a stop to any and all pale-faced bastards, then it's a deal."
Ginny held her hand out to seal the deal, and when Harry felt his palm on hers, his insides once again turned into that lovely melting goop.
"So, what should our team name be?" Ginny asked with a wide grin.
"Ah, Gin," Harry whined, "don't ruin a good thing."
Ginny just laughed, but it was music to his ears.
X