All Harry Potter Characters don't belong to me.
The Source - Chapter Twenty-Three
"Speaking"
<Thinking>
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Draco was looking at a map Ginny had given him while walking down the hall. He looked down at the paper and then looked up again.
<It should be around this corner,> he turned around the corner and true to the map there was a small stairway. He put the map in his pocket and walked up the small dusty stairway. At the top there was a door and he opened it.
The room was bright compared to the small dark stairway. There was a large floor to ceiling window, which allowed the moonlight to shine through and light up the whole room. Ginny was sitting in front of the window on a rug hugging her knees. She turned her head around and looked at Draco.
"You're late," she said.
Draco walked into the room and sat down next Ginny.
"Is it really necessary to meet here?" he asked
"Of course it is," she said. "You have a girlfriend now; you must want some privacy in your own room. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to all of a sudden barge in. Meeting here is more suitable."
"But it's so cold and dirty in here," Draco complained.
Ginny smiled at him and grabbed something that was in her bag. It was the scarf she gave him for Christmas. Ginny leaned closer to Draco and wrapped it around his neck.
"I knew you'd stop using it after you got back to Hogwarts, so I took it from your room this afternoon so you could use it now."
Ginny sat back in her original position and grabbed a thin blanket to wrap around herself. She then handed Draco his medicine. Draco took the bottle and drank it.
"I was actually wondering, Weasley, how many Holy Passages do you know of anyway?" Draco asked. Ginny smiled.
"Why? Do you want to see them?" she said while looking at him.
"Yeah, and why can't we meet in one of them rooms instead of up here? The Passage of War was interesting enough," Draco said enthusiastically. Ginny shook her head.
"They're legendary passages, Malfoy. They can't be used hastily just for us to meet so I can give you your medicine. If you really don't like it here you can go pick up your medicine at the hospital wing," she said. Draco sighed.
"Fine, here will be fine then." he sulked. Ginny could tell he wasn't happy about it and giggled at his childish behaviour. Draco looked up at her.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
Ginny controlled her giggling. "Nothing," she said.
Draco looked at her sceptically and then she suddenly stood up, so Draco stood to.
"Come with me, Malfoy," she said and then ran out of the door.
Draco ran after Ginny, trying to catch up. Twisting and turning they went down the hall until she stopped.
Ginny smiled up at Draco and then tapped a rhythm on the wall. Every tap on the stones emitted a clear chiming sound. After she had stopped, bright fairy lights appeared to form a rectangular shape and Ginny stepped through. Draco followed.
The room they were in was large and bright. The ceiling was dome shaped and had lovely patterns painted on it.
"Welcome to the Passage of Music," Ginny said cheerfully.
Draco observed his surroundings and saw instruments all around the room. There were harps, horns, drums, flutes, chimes, xylophones, violins, cellos and many more. Some instruments he didn't even know the names of. Ginny took Draco's hand and took him to the middle of the room.
She stood him in front of a very large object covered by a velvet cloth. She then pulled the cloth off to reveal a shiny, black grand piano. Draco was speechless as he circled the piano while running a hand over it.
"Can you play something for me?" Ginny asked.
Draco stopped examining the piano and looked Ginny in the eyes. He nodded and lifted the lid of the body on the piano. He took Ginny's hand and led her to where the seat was. He sat her down next to him and positioned himself to begin playing.
Ginny watched as Draco's fingers glided over the keys so naturally. The piece he played was radiant and entrancing, causing Ginny to close her eyes and feel the music. Draco took the opportunity to reach behind Ginny and played the keys on the other end. Ginny giggled at his mischievousness and Draco smiled. The piece ended and Draco sighed in content.
"That was beautiful," Ginny said.
"I almost forgot how good it felt to play," Draco said sadly. Ginny saw his saddening look and thought of an idea to cheer him up.
"How about a duet then," she said happily. Draco looked at her and raised his eyebrow sceptically.
"What can you play?" he asked.
Ginny smiled and got up. She went over to a bench and picked up a violin.
"Anything you can," she replied while holding the violin in a position ready to begin.
Draco smiled and began a piece composed for duets. Ginny knew this piece and was soon joining in.
They played song after song, sometimes even funny little pieces, like tunes from wizard nursery rhymes; they even had a competition to see who could do scales quicker. Time flew by very quickly and they were both getting tired. Draco was pulling the cloth over the grand piano while Ginny was putting the violin back on the bench.
They stepped out of the room and the fairy light door turned back into the stonewall.
"Why did it look like you hadn't played the piano in years?" Ginny said while they were walking down the hall. Draco put his hands in his pocket.
"Because I really haven't played in years," he replied.
"Why?" Ginny asked. Draco sighed.
"I guess the challenge was lost. But you have given that back to me tonight," he said and then smiled at Ginny.
Ginny also smiled back. They walked in silence until they reached the main staircase where they stopped.
"I have to go back up now," Ginny said pointing to the staircase leading to the towers.
"I have to go down," Draco said gesturing to the dungeons.
"Goodnight, Malfoy," she said and then turned to go up the stairs.
"Goodnight, Weasley," Draco said quietly and walked back to his room.
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Draco stepped into his room and immediately felt someone was in there. He walked quietly, deeper into his room and saw Felicity rummaging through the drawer at his desk. She must have heard him enter because she quickly closed the drawer and smiled at him.
Felicity stood up straight and walked away from the desk to sit on his bed.
"So where have you been?" she asked
"I was patrolling the halls," Draco answered as he walked towards his desk. "How did you get in here anyway?" he asked while he quickly scanned his desk and the rest of his room to see if there were any changes.
"I have my ways of finding out the password. Why? Don't you want me in here?" She was feigning hurt and then pouted her lips.
"You're right, I don't," he said coldly. Felicity was shocked at his response.
"W-why?" she asked.
Draco walked over to where she was sitting on his bed and took her hands so he could lift her up. He didn't like her sitting on his bed so he placed her into a chair.
"Because I don't like people going through my things," he answered her.
"Oh, Draco, I'm sorry," Felicity apologised. "I promise I won't come in here again unless you want me to, alright?" she pleaded. Draco sighed.
"Alright," he said and then went over to his desk to do some homework.
Felicity had been sitting in his room for 20 minutes now as Draco sat at his desk doing his homework. She was getting bored, so she went over to his desk and hugged his neck from behind. She had her lips close to his ear and whispered into it.
"Would you like me to stay tonight, Draco?" she asked seductively. Draco laughed. He turned around in his chair and removed Felicity's hands from his neck.
"I don't think that is necessary," Draco said nonchalantly.
Felicity frowned.
"It was good while it lasted, Lateris," Draco answered her look. "But you know how the game is. It's all just for the thrill of the moment, but that moment has finished now, so I think it's time for us to end." Felicity got angry.
"What do you mean; it was just for the thrill of the moment?" she yelled. Draco smirked at her.
"You don't seriously expect me to believe, that you really like me just from meeting me once, do you? You hardly know me, Lateris. Being a couple for a few days was fun but you can't expect me to go steady with you."
Felicity remained silent for a while and then breathed in a deep breath to hold in her anger. She knew that if she whined, it would just put him off even more. No, she would find another way to get him.
"Fine, Malfoy, then it ends. But I can tell you now, that I won't be giving up so easily. You will be mine, one way or another." She then flicked her hair and walked out of the room.
Draco shook his head in disgust.
<Like I would ever be yours,> he thought.
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Draco and Harry were sitting in the empty classroom where they were supposed to have class but because Sirius had not arrived yet they were just doing nothing.
"Hey, Malfoy?" Harry said.
"Yeah," Draco answered.
"What do you get a girl for a birthday present?"
Draco looked at Harry weirdly.
"Why are you asking me?" Harry sighed.
"It's Ginny's birthday next week and I have no idea what to give her? Maybe you could help me out."
<It's Weasley's birthday next week? She never told me. Maybe I should get her something too? What should I get her? What does she like?>
"Malfoy, are you still here?" Harry said while giving Draco a push.
Draco stopped thinking and looked at Harry.
"Huh, oh yeah, I'm here."
"Well then? What do I get her?" Harry asked urgently.
"I don't know. Why don't you go ask her brother or one of your other friends?"
"I can't, they can't think of anything either." Draco sighed.
"What does she like then?"
"I have no idea."
Draco frowned. <And she used to like you, too.>
"Well then, do you know anything about her at all that could give you a clue as to what she might like?" Draco asked.
Harry thought for a while, a long while and still nothing.
"What is she good at then?" Draco asked exasperatedly.
"Well, she is training to be a Healer," Harry answered.
"Then get her something to do with Healers," Draco stated.
Harry thought about it for a while and then nodded.
"Thanks, Malfoy. I think I know what I'll get her now."
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Draco didn't tell Ginny about him breaking up with Felicity because he thought she probably knew about it already, and plus he didn't see it as anything important enough to talk about. So now since he was single again Ginny was safe to come to his room.
Ginny was sitting on the floor with her books around her and Draco was sitting on his bed with his books around him too. He was getting tired of studying so he leaned back onto his pillows to relax.
"I heard your birthday is coming up soon," Draco said casually. Ginny kept reading her book while she answered Draco.
"From Harry I presume," she said carelessly.
"Yeah, he asked me about what present he should get you."
"Really," she said in the same careless tone. Draco frowned at her lack of emotion.
"Yeah, I suggested lingerie," he said trying to get a different reaction from her, and it worked because Ginny giggled.
"Yeah right, Malfoy, I already know what Harry's getting me," she turned her head so she could look at Draco. "Your suggestion of something to do with Healers helped him a lot to decide." Draco sat back up.
"So you know what you're getting for your birthday already?"
Ginny nodded her head.
"Where's the fun in that?" Draco asked. Ginny sighed.
"Well that's the price to pay to be the Source," she said sadly. There was a brief silence before Draco spoke again.
"Well at least this way you can hint to them that you don't like what they're getting you before they give it to you. Then they can change it to something else," Draco suggested. Ginny smiled sadly.
"What I want isn't easy to get," she said softly.
"Really?" Draco said. "Tell me. I bet you I could get it," he said boastfully. Ginny raised her eyebrow at him.
"Are you proposing a bet, Malfoy?" she said, grinning. Draco smirked.
"Yes, I am."
"What's the wager then?" she asked. Draco was very interested now.
"Simple, if I can get you what you want for your birthday, then you show me one of the other Holy Passages," he said.
"And if you can't?" Ginny asked.
"Impossible," Draco said confidently.
"But just in case," she said smiling.
"Alright, if I can't then I'll do anything you want." Ginny thought about it for a while and then nodded her head.
"Alright, it's a deal then Malfoy."
She extended her hand out and Draco shook it.
"Good, now what is it that you want for your birthday, Weasley?" Draco asked. Ginny smiled evilly.
"A fairy tale." Draco's eyes went wide.
"What? But I hardly know what that is, so how am I supposed to get it?" he yelled. Ginny just smiled.
"That's up to you to figure out." And then she picked up her books and left.
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Ginny left Draco's room and took her shrunken invisibility cloak out of her bag. She enlarged it back to its normal size and covered herself with it. Ginny was making her way to her office to meet Felicity Lateris.
Felicity was sitting in a chair at the Source's desk waiting for the Source to arrive. She had come here a while ago to get a report on Draco, and now she wanted some more information. The Source entered the room from a secret door behind the desk and emerged from the shadows to meet Felicity.
Ginny, wearing her disguise, sat down and looked Felicity in the eyes.
"How can I help you, Lateris?" Ginny said in her deep gruff voice.
"I want to know everything about Draco Malfoy," Felicity said with a hint of anger.
Ginny leaned back into her chair and looked at Felicity coldly.
"What do you mean by everything, Lateris? You have to be a bit more specific," Ginny said casually. Felicity leaned forward onto the desk and glared at Ginny.
"I mean, I want to know all his weaknesses and what he loves the most. I know he has a secret vault in his room and I want to know where it is and what the combination is. There is also a secret passage to go to his room and I want to know where it is and how to use it. I want to know who likes him now and if he likes anyone in return. I need to know what type of girl he likes, how many girlfriends he has had and also who they were." Felicity finished, and then took a deep breath. Ginny smirked.
"This much information will cost you a lot. Is it worth it, just because he broke up with you?" she asked. Felicity glared at Ginny.
"That is none of your business. Now tell me how much it will cost and when I can have the information," Felicity growled out. Ginny just sighed.
"I can't give you this information," she said.
"What!" Felicity yelled. "You said that you could tell me anything I wanted to know, about anyone in Hogwarts. And now you tell me you can't give me the information I want. Why?"
"Because Draco Malfoy has paid me to keep his information private," Ginny lied.
"I'll pay you double if you give me the information," Felicity shouted. Ginny shook her head.
"A deal is a deal. Plus I don't think you can afford it."
"How do you know what I can or can't afford?" Felicity yelled. Ginny laughed at her.
"You're not really that stupid are you, Lateris? Open your eyes and look at whom you are speaking to. I know exactly how much you have in that little vault at Gringotts and trust me, it isn't enough." Felicity growled and then stomped her foot.
"Thanks for nothing, you sorry excuse for a Source," she said and then left the room.
Once Felicity had gone Ginny locked the door with a charm and removed her disguise. She then let her head fall onto the table and groaned in frustration.
"I can't believe I gave up a deal that was worth galleons, just so I could save Malfoy's ass," Ginny mumbled to herself disapprovingly, but then smiled.
She managed to lift her head up again and took out a little notebook. She flipped to the middle of the book and found her last entry.
Lisa Hutchins, Sixth year Ravenclaw - Two weeks
Ginny picked up a quill and added another entry.
Felicity Lateris (transfer student), Seventh Year Slytherin - One week
Ginny closed the little notebook and sighed.
<When will he stop playing around and commit to someone seriously?>
End of Chapter Twenty-Three. Thanks for reading and I Hope you Review.
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