Drinny FF
Chapter 18
My heart pounded as I descended the cold, dimly lit steps leading to the dungeons. The flickering torches cast long, eerie shadows on the stone walls, and the silence around me was unnerving. But I was determined. I needed to apologize to Draco Malfoy.
As I wandered deeper into the maze of corridors, I felt more and more out of place. The dungeons were deserted, and the oppressive stillness weighed on me. Just as I was about to turn a corner, a low, rough voice stopped me in my tracks.
Crabbe: Well, well, well...
Goyle: Look what we have here.
My stomach twisted as I recognized the voices. They stepped out of the shadows, blocking my path with cruel smirks on their faces.
Goyle: What's a little Gryffindor like you doing down here all alone?
I tried to stand my ground, but fear surged through my body.
Ginny: Move.
My voice sounded firmer than I felt inside. I attempted to walk past them, but Crabbe shoved me back against the cold wall.
Crabbe: You're not going anywhere.
His heavy hand pressed my shoulder. Panic began to rise in my chest. My heart raced, my breath shallow and quick. I tried to push past the two of them, but they were too strong. Goyle's hand reached out, brushing my hair away from my face in a gesture that made my skin crawl.
Ginny: Stop it.
My voice, barely audible as panic surged through my entire body.
Suddenly, in a burst of adrenaline, my knee connected with Crabbe's groin. He howled in pain and loosened his grip just enough for me to break free. I darted past them, running as fast as I could down the corridor, my footsteps echoing in the narrow space.
My mind was racing, but my body was moving on instinct. I didn't stop running until I was sure I was far enough away. Only then did I collapse against a wall, gasping for air, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. As the panic attack overwhelmed me, my breaths came out in sharp, shallow gasps, and I felt like I was drowning in the very air I was trying to breathe. My vision blurred, and chest tightened painfully. I clutched at my chest, trying to calm myself down, but it was no use. The fear, the shock-it was all too much.
Alone in the darkness, I curled up against the wall, knees drawn to my chest as I rocked back and forth, tears spilling down my cheeks. The dungeon seemed to close in around me, the walls pressing in, suffocating me.
All I could think about was how close Draco's private quarters were. I, shakily, stood up, breathing ragged. As I searched endlessly, the panic surging through my veins, I found myself lost. I slid down a wall and stayed there for what felt like hours, trying to pull myself together. I knew I had to get out of the dungeons, away from this horrible place, but my body wouldn't listen. Every time I tried to stand, my legs gave out beneath me.
It wasn't until the distant sound of footsteps approached that my body tensed up even more, if possible. But the footsteps were calm, measured-nothing like the heavy, menacing steps of Crabbe or Goyle.
So, I prayed it wasn't them coming back.
