Drinny FF

Chapter 28

The winds had shifted. I could feel it in the cold, sharp air as I stood by the window of the Slytherin common room, staring out over the darkened grounds of Hogwarts. The once comforting murmur of the castle was gone, replaced by an eerie silence that hung heavy in the stone walls. Everyone knew what was coming; the whispers had been spreading for weeks.

The war had arrived.

It started slowly at first—rumours of increased Death Eater activity, sightings of dark figures near the Forbidden Forest. Then, the attacks on the Ministry became more frequent, more brutal. The wizarding world was fracturing, and now, even Hogwarts, the safest place I had ever known, felt fragile, like it could crumble at any moment.

I turned away from the window, my jaw clenched. It had all seemed so far away before. But now, with every passing day, the tension in the school grew unbearable. The students were divided—Slytherins whispering among themselves, Gryffindors glaring at them across the hallways. And then there was Ginny.

My heart tightened at the thought of her. The past few days had been a whirlwind of emotions. Ever since I'd asked her to be my girlfriend, things had changed between us. It wasn't just sneaking around anymore, stealing kisses in hidden corridors. It was real. But as real as our relationship felt, the world around us was crumbling. And I knew it was only a matter of time before everything came crashing down.

A knock on the door broke through my thoughts, and Blaise Zabini entered the room, looking unusually somber.

Blaise: They're here.

I stiffened.

Draco: Who?

Blaise: The Order. And… well, others. Some of the professors are preparing us. Something's happening tonight.

My blood ran cold.

Draco: Where's Ginny?

The question left my lips before I could stop myself, and Blaise raised an eyebrow.

Blaise: In the Gryffindor common room, I assume. You know what this means, right?

Blaise crossed his arms.

I nodded. The war wasn't something I could hide from anymore. It had arrived, and it was tearing them all apart. But Ginny—I had to see her. Before anything else happened, I had to make sure she was safe.

Without another word, I pushed past Blaise and out into the hallway. The corridors were unusually quiet, and the few students that were left walked hurriedly, their faces pale with fear. I could hear distant murmurs, the faint hum of magic as professors prepared for what was to come. But I wasn't thinking about that. I was only thinking about her.

I reached the entrance to Gryffindor Tower just as the Fat Lady's portrait swung open, revealing Ginny stepping out. She froze when she saw me, her face lighting up with a mixture of surprise and relief. Her red hair was wild, and there was a determined look in her eyes, but when she saw me, her expression softened.

Ginny: Draco.

She whispered, rushing to him.

I pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly. For a moment, everything else disappeared—the war, the fear, the uncertainty. It was just the two of us, wrapped in each other's warmth, trying to hold on to the one thing that felt right.

Draco: I heard.

My voice was low as I pulled back slightly, my eyes searching hers.

Draco: Something's happening tonight, isn't it?

Ginny nodded, her lips pressed into a tight line.

Ginny: The Order's preparing for an attack. They think Voldemort's forces will try to take the castle.

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. I had known this was coming. We all had. But hearing it from her made it feel so much more real.

Draco: Ginny… you need to stay safe. You can't—

Ginny: I'm not hiding. I'm fighting, Draco. This is my home, and I'm not going to stand by and watch it fall. Not when I can do something.

My chest tightened. Of course, she would fight. Ginny Weasley was never one to back down, never one to be afraid. But the thought of her out there, in the middle of the battle, terrified me more than anything.

Draco: I know. I just… I don't want to lose you.

Ginny cupped my face, her eyes softening as she looked at me.

Ginny: You won't lose me. We'll fight, and we'll make it through. Together.

I nodded, but a dark part of me wondered if it was that simple. I had been raised in a family tied to the Dark Lord, groomed for a life that Ginny would fight against. The war wasn't just something happening outside—it was something pulling us in two different directions. And no matter how much I wanted to stay with her, there were forces at play that neither of us could control.

Ginny: We should go.

She stepped back and took my hand.

Ginny: The others are gathering.

I followed her, my mind racing. As we walked through the halls, side by side, the tension grew heavier. The castle was alive with whispered spells and hurried footsteps, students and professors preparing for what was coming. We reached the Great Hall, where members of the Order of the Phoenix were already gathered, along with students from every house.

My eyes flickered to the Slytherin table, where several of my housemates stood, uncertain. Blaise caught my eye and nodded, but I could see the fear in their faces. They were caught between loyalty to their families and the desire to survive. I understood that better than anyone.

As the doors to the castle creaked open, revealing the dark night outside, Ginny squeezed my hand one last time, giving me a determined look.

Ginny: Whatever happens, we'll find each other.

I nodded, though the knot in my stomach tightened.

Draco: I'll find you.

I promised her, my voice thick with emotion.