She knew. There was no way she couldn't see through the promise. She knew how much I loved her or at least I hoped she did. But Ginny had always been a wise girl and knew almost as well as I did that that kind of promise was hard to keep, especially in the circumstances.
The rain soaked earth gave way beneath my boots as I walked through the camp, an ironic change from the blue sky and a home that was bathed in sunlight. It almost made me laugh. Almost.
A few fat drops continued fall from the temperamental clouds above, splashing against the shoulders of my robe and making me cringe when they managed to slip down my neck. I looked at the piece of parchment in my hand, the ink beginning to run down the page and once again read over the information.
Camp Phoenix, Tent #1, Hogwarts.
The letters were written in a flowing script, probably written by one of the remaining teachers or a volunteers quill because surely Potter had not written it. I caught a groan in my throat and look around the grounds I had once related to my educational career. Now, it was littered with tents that stretched from one end of the Hogwarts property to the other. I couldn't help but wonder how many of these men and woman had left their loved ones behind because they owed a favour.
I recognize a few faces as I passed open tents; most carry the same, almost mournful expression was probably on my own. Longbottom, Finnegan, Thomas. Gryffindors trying to fulfill their role as a brave lion. It gave me an eerie feeling. I was a lone serpent caught in the middle of a proud pride. If that didn't put a person on edge alone without the looming threat of the Dark Lord, there had to be something wrong with the person.
A few mud-covered Hufflepuffs I remembered from my seventh year stumbled out from around the corner of one tent. They gave me a cautious glance before finding new energy and hurrying off, no doubt wary of my presence. Had to love the people who still indulge in stereotypes.
Biting back the urge to hiss I carried on.
50, 49, 48, 47...
The tents were passing quicker now as my pace increased. 'Just get to your tent and you can hide out until the Order summons you,' I reasoned.
"So, you've finally decided to grace us with your presence Malfoy…"
Damn. There goes that plan, destroyed by a miserable, ignorant, little-
"Didn't you hear me? I said…"
"I heard you Weasley," I replied through clenched teeth. Why now? I was already in a sore mood and I didn't need him to make it any worse. "Just chose to ignore you, that's all."
Bad play, Draco.
"Ignore me, eh? I would have thought that, oh I don't know, seeing as I am your brother in law that you might give me a few minutes out of your precious time."
"And why would I do that when I already know what the topic of your pre-chosen discussion will be?"
Double bad play. Why did I always let my mouth get the better of my logic?
"Because we are supposed to be family," Ron retorts. To this point I had still not turned to face him, finding that it was my best escape tactic. Not this time apparently.
"Well, as a family member, I request for you to bugger off. I really don't want to hear about how I don't deserve Ginny or how if I hurt her in anyway that I'll be ripped to shreds and then fed to a starved group of flobberworms today, thank you."
My temper had been simmering up until that at that point and all I wanted to do, besides beating Ron into a bloody pulp, was to get out of there as fast as possible. I started to make my retreat when again I was stopped. Ron did always have that annoying element to him, even in Hogwarts.
"I don't know what she sees in you," he said as I walked away. "She should be with Harry right now, not some slime ball who has a way with words."
The comment made my foot stop halfway to the ground. I had made amends with Potter soon after I joined the Order, not that we were best mates or anything but we tolerated each other. But the fact that Ron had the nerve to say that the woman I loved and was married to, belonged to the boy wonder set me off.
I spun on him, grabbing the collar of his robes before he could move out of range. I hadn't heard him get so close but it gave me an advantage that I couldn't refuse.
"You," I said, my voice a quiet threat, "stay away from me. I don't want to mistake you for a Death Eater. So don't get in my way."
It was an empty threat but Ron didn't need to know that. The look in his eyes made the bluff worth while however. There was a mix of terror and sheer fury but the fear took hold over his limbs, making his stumble as a pushed him backwards. I gave him once last steely glare before returning to my prior activity.
"Yeah…well…You best stay out of mine," Ron called out, the defeat in his voice signaling that even he knew how weak the comment was.
35, 34, 33, 32, 31, 30...
Too many blasted tents. I got the strong urge to sprint the last twenty-eight so I could finally find solitude but the proper, strict upbringing that had been drilled into me for seventeen years of my life clearly wouldn't allow that. So was stuck walking.
It took another long, drawn out fifteen minutes till I finally got to my tent. The flap was closed when I came up to it, for good reason I later found out. I slid the thin material aside and felt a smile tug at the corner of my lips. There, in the middle of the tent, Potter was down on one knee and presenting a ring to Granger. The pair looked up at me startled.
"We'll I know now that I have to bring Potter home in one piece as well as myself," I said, trying to control the sarcasm as much as I could. And the truth of it was, I couldn't help but be pleased for the pair.
So, I lied. Go and tell anyone that I uttered that or what is to come and seeing the next morning might be a bit of a stretch for you. Potter and I did a little more than tolerated each other. I didn't lie when I said we weren't best mates. But there was the rare occasion were we'd run into each other at the Leaky Cauldron or The Three Broomsticks and had a conversation over a few drinks. There had been a few occasions were the meeting had planned but those were infrequent. The fact that we could showed a lot about our character…Ginny's words, not mine.
The tear streaked girl gave me a guarded look but eventually smiled and nodded.
"Thank you Draco," she said. "I would really appreciate it."
I smiled at them and backed out of the tent, recognizing my cue. Not two seconds later, a happy 'YES!' sounded, pulling a chuckle from my lips but soon brought on a feeling of emptiness as I remembered my own proposal.
Suddenly, I couldn't take it anymore. I'd been there maybe half an hour and I was already going crazy. I walked up to the entry way of my old school and sunk down onto the steps, dropping my pack at my feet. From the front pocket, I pulled out the stationary Ginny had bought me when I had gone away to Paris for a week. We had been together for a few months and she hadn't wanted to go a day without hearing from me so she had saved up and bought me a handsome set. I had thought it a little silly but took it anyway.
In a snow white box, an unlimited number of blank, tan coloured sheets with silver lining sat with matching envelopes and a hawk feather quill. I found out when I wrote my first letter to her that she had bought herself one much the same but with crimson lining instead of silver.
She had been so giddy when she'd given them to me, saying that I'd better use them well. I don't remember exactly how many letters we exchanged during that week, the count was quite numerous. Many of them still sat in a special box above the fire place at home.
Holding the sheets in my hand now made me smile. No doubt she would be up late every night from now on until I was home safe and sound. There was no sense keeping her in the dark if there wasn't a need.
I pulled out the well used quill and a fresh bottle of ink, feeling some small comfort when I heard the soft pop of the cork releasing the neck of the bottle. Dipping the quill inside, I knocked the excess off (a familiar routine), and pressed it to the paper.
Dear Ginny…
Author's note: I'm fixing up the chapters now that I have time, just to make them a little cleaner and easier to read. I hope you enjoy it! J