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Coeur Corrompu
Chapter Eleven
And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
And sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight
And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
The Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
There were those moments in life where realisation dawned on the mind, creating a whirlwind of sick filled emotions, and at this precise moment it was the exact feeling Ginny had running through her body.
Virginia. Her mother had thought the name beautiful when Ginny had been born. She had never considered that her daughter wouldn't like it. In fact it seemed too long, Ginny had considered mournfully. Why couldn't she have been named something more normal like Sarah or Laura? Once she had even thought of looking up its meaning, to see if it made the name any more appealing. All that had revealed was that it was the feminine form of the Roman family name Virginias which was possibly derived from Latin Virgo "maid, virgin". That was unsettling enough, and in her teenage years she considered her name to make her fated never to have sex. The other disturbing thing was that according to legend, she was a Roman woman killed by her father so as to keep her a virgin. Why would anyone bestow upon their child that meaning?!
At this present moment in time though, it was her name that was bringing forward this terrible realisation. No one called her Virginia unless they didn't know her, or she'd done something wrong. People like bank managers and people phoning up to advertise double glazing, where the sort who called her by her full name. Draco never had. He'd call her "Weasley" or, one that one occasion, "Ginny". Never before had he uttered her full name.
Who ever this person was she had her arms wrapped round though, he had called her Virginia. That was enough for her to begin to suspect foul play was at work. It didn't exactly take the sharpest mind in the world to piece together the evidence that was at hand. The fire across the road, the green flash, petrol, her name - it all radiated wizardry.
The grip around her waist tightened slightly and Ginny closed her eyes and bit her tongue to curb the urge to shudder. Nerves were the last thing she needed right now. If this was Draco then she was in serious bother. If this wasn't Draco, then she was still in serious bother. In fact she was probably in more trouble. Why would anyone disguise themselves as Draco, unless they wanted to lull her into a false sense of security?
Pushing away slightly, Ginny took a step back and stared at the man that stood before her. Everything looked so perfect, from the cold icy glare to the way his hair fell in front of his face. There was something wrong though. Those eyes…they looked wrong in his face.
'What are you doing here?' she said coldly without a single emotion portrayed on her face. 'I thought I told you I never wanted to see you again.'
'You're in trouble, I need to take you somewhere else…safer,' the Draco look alike said in what sounded exactly like Draco's drawl.
It was convincing. It was too convincing in fact, Ginny considered. Too perfect a replica of Draco, that it couldn't possibly be him. She evaluated her options. This man had obviously used Polyjuice Potion, which would mean having something from Draco's person. This meant that at some point they would have had to have either had him give it to them, or had taken it forcefully. That meant it was either the Ministry or the Death Eaters - neither of which held much joy after what she had heard from Draco. They wanted his blood spilt.
The next factor to take into account was to assume the worse and that they had captured him. But why then would they want Ginny? No, she concluded, they hadn't got him. They were going to use her as bait.
'No.' she said simply and firmly. 'I'm not going anywhere with a scumbag like you Malfoy. Even if I am in danger, I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you.'
'That's not what you were saying earlier,' mock Draco taunted with a leer. 'In fact I think you wanted a bit of this "scumbag", hey Virginia?'
Ginny fought to keep the look of shock off her face. Ron had always taught her when they were young, that any show of emotion other then confusion would show Mum that they'd stolen the cookies. It still applied now, even though the stakes were bigger then cookies.
How did this person know that? She had been certain she had strong enough charms up to deter bugs…then again it hadn't been enough to keep Draco out of her home. She took another step back and nervously crossed her arms across her chest. He was bluffing, she tried to convince herself. 'In your sick twisted fantasy Malfoy! I wouldn't touch you with a barge pole!'
Draco leered at her even more, with a cynical chuckle. 'The Death Eaters are on to your involvement in my case. They know I've been coming here to get information from you.'
'Then they don't know much do they?' she said casually and walked through into the kitchen. She needed something to defend herself with, and her wand would be too obvious a thing in these circumstances.
'They know enough. They killed the old woman across the road.'
Ginny stopped by a counter and grabbed herself a mug with a visibly shaking hand. She knew she couldn't keep up this charade for much longer. Her stomach felt like it was about to explode within her, and it was taking all her efforts not to just be sick there and then. She had never thought herself to be a strong woman, and now was the moment of truth.
'I know,' she whispered.
'Then you know that it's a threat to you.' Replied the ice cold voice.
Taking the bottle of orange juice from her left, she poured herself a drink. 'I'm not stupid Malfoy.' She was telling the truth and she had de'ja vu of a previous time in the kitchen with the real Draco.
'I know that Virginia,' Draco purred, 'That's why I have to get you to safety. I need you.'
He was stood directly behind her now, his face next to her ear, his voice a husky whisper. It made her shudder with a mix of fear and memory. It sounded so much like Draco that it made her wants to turn round and kiss him. She wanted to hold him tight and make everything alright. It wasn't the man she was thinking of though.
'And I need you as much as I need a hole in the head Malfoy.' Ginny turned to face him. 'Now…won't you get the message? Sod off!'
The mock up Draco brought a hand up to her face, and stroked her cheek gently, making her look away in repulsion. The smallest of feline smiles was spread across his face. 'I'll make it worth your while if you come away with me,' he whispered before crashing his lips down on hers.
Ginny's eyes flew wide in shock, and her hands immediately betrayed her cool and began to struggle away from him. His grip on her head tightened though, making her panic like there was no tomorrow. She couldn't handle this. No one was going to come in and save her like she hoped. For once in her life she would have to have hope in her own strength. It was happening though.
Bringing her hand up, she brought her nails down across the side of his cheek, like a cats claws. Immediately he pulled away and spat to the side. His hand went up to the mounds of flesh that were rising up. A dribble of blood spouted from where her nails had struck, and made its way slowly down the side of his face.
'You little…' he managed to say before Ginny's instinct to survive kicked in, and she kneed him hard between the legs.
The man doubled over in pain. Ginny's mind raced as she thought of what to do now. Running sounded sensible she thought as she pushed him hard and ran as fast as she could to the front door. If she could get outside, she would be safe. There was no possible way he would come after her in a crowd of Muggles; it would bring up too many problems even if he did catch her.
Her fingers clasped round the door handle as she pushed at it to open. Nothing happened, causing her to curse loudly. He would be back in a matter of moments, which meant she had to escape. Pulling her wand out she flicked it at the door handle and muttered the spell. Again she tried to push the handle down and again all she got was the rattling of nothing.
That settled it for her. Whoever this man was, he worked for the Death Eaters and she didn't know which could be worse. The Ministry would probably take her job away for consorting with the enemy. She would be a disgrace to her family and they would hold her for questioning. It could even lead to a short term in a more humane prison. The Death eaters though, well they would torture her for information. Mark her with a hot iron and then most possibly have her killed - or worse.
Turning, she could hear that the intruder was making his way towards her. Quickly she darted forward and tried to clamber up the steps. Suddenly though, something clamped round her ankle and she was thrown forward. Her chin thunked against the step in front of her, and hands clasped at the railing to the side of her. Daring a look back, she saw the man leering and trying to pull her back down the stairs.
Hanging onto the railing for dear life, Ginny tried to kick away his grip. It seemed to tighten though and it sent her down another step, hitting her head heard against another step. She cried out in pain and kicked him hard.
This seemed to do the trick and soon she was able to scramble up the remaining steps. Her heart was thundering in her chest, making breathing difficult and her head clouded. She wanted to scream out, but part of her brain informed her that it wouldn't do much help. This same part of her brain urged her to get a door in between her and the main risk.
Quickly she ran into her bedroom and slammed the door closed. Pulling out her wand she looked around. There was no way she could escape from here and apparating was out of the question, since Ron had reinforced her curses and charms after Draco's last visit.
'Think Ginny! Think!' she whispered to herself as her mind raced quickly. 'What would Draco do…probably kill the bastard…'
She put a simple locking charm on the door and then moved to improvising. This man obviously knew dark magic, which Ginny had only dabbled in to help some cases. Pointing her wand shakily at the bed, she used all her strength to slam it up against the door. Having got that worked out, she prepared herself to dual.
The door began to scream in silent creaks and bangs as it had magic thrown at it to open. Ginny closed her eyes and winced. The knock to the head was killing her and there was a bit of blood trickling from her nose. She felt dishevelled and scared beyond belief. All she could think about though was what would happen if they got to Draco. Would they kill him?
'Open this door and maybe I won't hurt you as much as I should for that stunt in the kitchen!' came the cry from outside the door.
She remained silent and tried not to cry. This was a nightmare, but she should have expected it really. It was everything you got for associating yourself with a Malfoy fugitive, she reprimanded herself.
Suddenly though she heard a choked shriek and a loud thud as something hit the floor. A frown creased her forehead and she moved over to the door, placing her ear against the smooth pine wood to get a better listening point. There was a gentle knock at the door.
'Weasley…?' Draco said quietly.
***
It had only been yesterday since Draco had sworn that he wouldn't ever go to Ginny again. Now though he found himself stood outside her bedroom door, a dead body laid out by his feet. A dead body that was slowly drying up from his own familiar form to that of someone completely different. A dead body whose eyes were glazed over, and who wore a look of complete shock. Well, he considered, they should have known he wasn't likely to just let them take her without a bit of a fight.
He knocked gently on the door again, all sorts of images running through his mind. Most of them involved her body battered and broken, laid out on the floor lifelessly. It tugged sharply at his emotions making him angry. The thought of anyone doing that to something so innocent had made him do more damage to the man then he possibly should have.
'Weasley…Ginny? He amended shakily. If she was in there, then barging in would probably provoke her to fight back. She probably hated him as it was, and he didn't want to have to restrain her.
A little noise came from the other side of the door, making him smile slightly in relief. She was there, listening to him, probably wondering whether it was him or another clone looking to chain her up. Then again, even if she knew it was him, was she likely to open the door? He doubted it. Not after the kiss and the fact he had probably led that rat into her home.
'Who is it?' she whispered in the tone that someone would casually ask someone at the door.
'Me,' he stated simply. 'Your favourite bouncing ferret…'
Draco hoped that by using familiarity with his own past, she might believe it was him. It hadn't been nice being a ferret but she had probably laughed like all the others. In fact she probably was laughing now at the mental image of him bouncing about in a different form. That little trick by a supposed Moody had taught him a lot about being an Auror. Tact was never of the essence.
'How do I know its you, you and not some other you that isn't you at all?' she said hesitantly through the door.
A smile curled his lips in a feline manner. 'I can't prove anything to you.'
He waited a couple of minutes in silence and listened. Then slowly something was moved away from the door, a spell was quickly uttered and she opened the door a fraction, so she could look at him. Draco arched one eyebrow at her and watched her eyes dart about everywhere until they landed on the dead man by his feet.
'You…you…kill…?' she managed to say through her obvious agitation. Draco nodded. 'But…I mean…you…killed a man.'
'It's not the first time and no doubt it won't be the last.' He said coldly as he continued to gaze at her face. She looked a wreck, and he felt an urge just to kick the man again out of principle. He had hurt a woman that had become very close to Draco, even though he would never admit it to her. Anyone touching her made him want to kick their heads in, if not more.
Reaching out he touched her face lightly, but she with drew sharply. 'You're hurt,' he coaxed gently. 'Let me see.'
Watching her, he saw the effect his words had one her. She looked up at him and seemed to search for something on him that would make him real. Eventually, she put her hand out palm up. 'Give me your wand,' she commanded in a voice of authority.
Draco considered whether or not he should give her his only means of magical defence. She looked desperate though, like she wanted him to be who he was but wasn't willing to take any chances. Extending his hand, he gently placed his wand into her palm and looked back up at her.
She threw it behind her and let the door open fully, so she was stood in front of him. His eyes travelled down her, taking in her entire state. Her nose was bloodied, she had a cut on her forehead and a lump was forming there too. Clothes wise she wasn't doing too badly. The bottom of her skirt was ripped from where he suspected she had snagged it on the stairs. Her hair was sticking out every which way from under a ridiculous black woolly hat. Her head was held down in what, he thought unbelievably, embarrassed.
Reaching up, he pulled the woolly hat off her head and threw it to the side. 'Why in Merlin's name are you wearing such a ridiculous hat Weasley?' he questioned in an unusually amiable tone.
'Had a spot,' she grumbled.
He smiled slightly again. It was surreal how this girl operated in everyday life. You wouldn't believe her to be a witch if you met her out on the street. She seemed to bumble on from one thing to the next, with too much thought on the past and other people then on herself.
Gently he drew her into his arms and held her tightly against him. 'I think its time I got you out of here,' he said into her hair as she began to sob uncontrollably into his chest.