It All Began With Dwarfing Draco

Hissing sounds filled the previously silent room as a giant snake curled around her master’s feet. Her forked tongue licked the stale air while she relayed her information to the man in a dark robe above. He reached out a pale, almost scaly hand to caress the snake’s head and let a smile form on his thin lips. As the large yellow snake eyes closed, the man let his thoughts wonder. His victory was at hand and the knowledge he now possessed may bring it sooner than he had hoped.

"Well done my pet," he said softly before walking to the only window in the dark room. His black eyes scanned the landscape infront of him. The trees were nothing but dead wood and the ground below was almost sand. Only the vast night sky remained alight with life.

"Soon," the man whispered in a distant tone. "Soon this world will be mine and no one, not even Potter or Dumbledore, will be able to stop me." Chuckling cynically, he turned to the snake and gave her her orders. He silently watched the snake slither from the room, listening as her belly ran over the rough floor and the hissing that came from deep in her throat. Turning to the window once more, he stared up at the twinkling stars dusted across the great, dark blanket.

"It won’t be long now."

* * * * *

They walked in silence, the old headmaster and his students, away from the blackened shack. Lucius and Pettigrew hung limply in the air infront them, both still unconscious. Every so often, they would get hit by something or run into a tree. Ron would snicker a little and would cast a glance at Hermione who would only give him a disapproving look in return. As much as she hated the two men, she didn’t want any more violence to take place this night.

"But Hermione," Ron had protested. "It’s not like we’re hurtin’ them all that badly and besides, seeing what they’ve done for a living, it’s about time somebody gave them a little taste of their own medicine."

"Yes but that somebody won’t be you, Ronald Weasley," Hermione sternly replied. Ron had grumbled quietly and grudgingly obeyed for about ten minutes before he started all over again, steering them into tree branches or letting them fall ‘accidentally’. Hermione eventually gave up trying to reason with him and had resorted to glaring angrily.

Slowly, the group made their way through the forest and just as the sun was beginning to rise Hogwarts came into sight.

"Now there’s a sight for sore eyes," Ginny said distantly as her light blue eyes stared lovingly up at the ancient school.

"Sight for sore eyes?" Ron echoed, sarcasm evident in his voice. "It’s been what? A day? You really missed it that much?" His cheeks immediately flushed and he carefully looked over a Dumbledore, afraid of what he might do. The professor only smiled and laughed before clapping a hand on the red faced Weasley’s shoulder and continuing up the hill.

"Well," Ginny replied, giggling slightly. "After being trapped in a stone room, thinking that I would never see Hogwarts again, of course I missed it." Ron nodded mutely and followed Dumbledore. Laughing quietly Harry and Hermione went behind, talking lightly as they went.

"Gin?" Draco gently pulled at her hand, beckoning her to stay behind. Gently, he tucked a lock of her red hair behind her ear.

"What is it?" Ginny asked, somewhat concerned by the look in his eyes. "What’s wrong?"

"Why are you with me?" She took a step back, trying to grasp onto the words he had just spoken.

"Excuse me?"

"Why are you with me?"

"Because I love you," Ginny said without hesitation. "Why are you asking me this when you already know the answer?"

"I don’t understand how you still could after all this." Ginny cupped his cheeks in her hands and looked desperately into his eyes. They were sad and almost fearful.

"Why are you saying this?" she pleaded. Draco took her hands in his and kissed both palms.

"I’ve been thinking," he said quietly. "I don’t want you to be hurt anymore…"

"Draco, no. Don’t…"

"I don’t want you to be put in anymore danger because of me…"

"Please, don’t say this."

"Maybe it would be best if we…" Draco began choking on his own words. No matter how much it made sense in his mind, his heart wouldn’t let him say it. He watched as tears began to form in Ginny’s eyes and it was killing him inside, knowing that he was causing this pain.

"I came to close to losing you tonight," he said shakily while trying to control his voice. "I…"He paused, still unable to say what he thought was for the best.

"Why are you giving up?" Ginny asked. Her voice was small and sounded bewildered, and rightly so. She couldn’t understand why, after all they had been though, he would end it all now.

"I would rather have you safe and not with me than with me and in danger." Ginny shook her head, squeezing her eyes shut as hard as she could and prayed to any god listening that this was a dream. Her prayers weren’t met however.

"I love you Ginny, you know I do. I love you with all my heart and soul. But I also love you enough to let you go, for your safety." It took all of Draco’s restraint not to take her in his arms and tell her he was lying. Rigidly, he kissed her forehead and walked past her towards the castle.

Ginny stood stiff from shock, unable to move. Her chest heaved as she tried to breathe in but her lungs wouldn’t allow it. Tears spilled from her eyes and down her cheeks. Regaining control of her body, she spun around to see Draco slowly moving away. She screamed his name. He halted for a moment, almost looking over his shoulder, before he continued his retreat.

‘It’s better this way,’ he mentally told himself even though it was taking all of his strength just to move his legs.

"Draco!" Ginny screamed again but this time he didn’t even stop. "Draco." Her legs gave out beneath her and she fell to the soft ground below, her tears now uncontrollable as she watched him walk away.