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Coeur Corrompu
Chapter Twelve
If this gets ugly, I swear, this ain't our last chance
The vultures that circled, my head, are flying alongside
The worlds turning
I let somebody get under my skin
Long distance losing is all that I'd seen
Now there's a river
Now there's a river
Nothing can save me
My resolve betrayed me
Here come the hurricanes
I'm burning to get there, the middle of nowhere
Storm warning's flicker while-
The worlds turning…
Turin Brake - Long Distance
Draco leant heavily against the rough wooden worktop of his small kitchen and gazed out of the window. The weather had changed a lot since they had left the dangers of London, and now it seemed even more threatening, but safer then ever before. It swept in long elegant strokes along the contours of the fields that lay just beyond his window, sweeping up the long grass into frenzy. Darkness was settling among the hillocks, showing night would soon be upon them. And all Draco could do was watch in silence as the rain thudded against the rickety roof of the house.
They had left London as soon as they possibly could, because to have stayed would have been more dangerous. At least that's what Draco was trying to convince himself. Whether it was safer to have her with him or without him was still under questioning. Never the less though, it had been done and there was nothing that could change the events that had occurred.
She had packed her bag in silence, he remembered. Her hands gathering everything she would need for a couple of weeks away. He hadn't the heart to tell her that it might longer and they do say that ignorance is bliss. Not once did she look up at him or tell him what was on her mind. Then again there could only have been one thing on her mind then. Questions. Dangerous questions that he was unwilling to answer her.
Once she had packed, she had turned away from him and removed her clothing, except underwear. It had shocked him at how open she was being, but then realised that she was scared to be left alone even for a couple of minutes. He had allowed his eyes to roam her body seeking out further bruising. There had been a couple of bruises around her ankle, and up her legs. They were the marks where strong fingers had gripped at her sensitive skin. It had made him shudder at the time at the familiar sense of anger that had flittered through his being.
Then something unexpected happened. She had turned to face him, and he blushed at the look on her face. It wasn't anger at him watching her half naked body though, it was confusion. She was looking at him with her eyebrows furrowed in thought and her teeth biting the bottom of her lip. Draco had turned slowly away to save her decency and listened as she continued to change into clean clothing.
Before they left she had quickly written a note to her family. He hadn't asked to read it even though he should. It would have been wrong for them to know what she knew and put the entire family in danger. Even as much as he hated Ron Weasley and his brothers, he didn't want to hurt Ginny, which it undoubtedly would. Ginny had sat there at the small kitchen, her fingers rubbing the fur behind Honey's ears, and had written possibly the hardest note she ever would write. She knew she was saying a long goodbye to her life for a short period of time, and even though she said nothing, he knew she was in pain.
In all honesty it was hurting him so much more then it ever would her. He was ripping away from her everything he had ever wanted, and forcing her to live his life. A tiny part of him laughed at the irony of it all and told him that she deserved everything she got just for being a Weasley. Another part though felt shame at the part he would always have and could never control. It would always be there driving him the path he should of taken, but never did.
Grabbing her hand, her suitcase and the cat basket, Draco had managed to disapparate them to Waterloo Station. It had been draining and by the time he had got there he had been exhausted both physically and magically. Quite a bit of time would have to pass before he used magic again; the killing curse had ensured that for him. Then, just when he felt he might collapse, Ginny's hand tightened round his warning him of the danger again.
Purchasing two tickets, they had quickly made their way onto the muggle train and sat down amongst the non-magical folk around them.
It was the safest way for them to travel. No one would dare attack them there in front of all the Muggles. It also made tracking difficult as no magic would be used throughout the journey. Draco had planned to change trains and tracks more then a couple of times. This way anyone who was initially following them wouldn't be able to keep up. Not many magicians knew how to use the Muggle rail tracks. Then again not many of the Muggles did either.
Eventually after all the silence and all the travelling, they reached the stop Draco knew he would regret eventually. He was home in the truest sense of the word, and never before had he showed it to anyone from his past. Ginny would be the first magician (that would survive) to step within his house and home. It had taken him a long time to set it up, so bringing her to it was jeopardising its safety.
With those thoughts in mind, he had apparated them all back to his little house in the middle of the North York moor's.
Now he was alone again. Having spent an hour just watching Ginny watch him, he had grown tired and mildly bored. He knew she was still in shock, but did she have to be so deadly silent? Did she have to look at him with those big brown eyes? What was he even thinking for bringing a Weasley into his home? He despaired as he stared out the window as the scenery unfolded with the caress of the wind. If he were in love then it would have been the perfect opportunity to woe. He wasn't though and because of that he knew he wouldn't be able to get anything out of her staying except the company.
'Draco…?'
He turned and let his gaze land on Ginny, who was stood at the door. Her arms were wrapped around herself, her hair tied back into a rough bun and tiredness reflecting her pain on her face. Draco reprimanded himself for seeing her as an object again, but didn't speak a word. It wasn't that he didn't want to, it was more that he couldn't. There was nothing he could ever say that would make it all go away.
'Draco…where are we?' she asked slowly with a touch of caution. He smiled inwardly. At least she didn't trust him as far as she could throw him.
'We're in my kitchen,' he said smoothly and turned away from her. He reached over to the kettle and filled it from the sink. Ginny was angry and confused, and he didn't want to feel anything toward her that wasn't slight concern. He didn't want to feel that he had to touch her. It only made his head more mixed up, which wasn't helping anyone.
'Why did you kill him?' she questioned in a quiet little voice.
'I'm making some coffee, would you like some?' he said in a bored tone, ignoring her pleas for information. Ignorance is bliss, he reminded himself.
'Who's after you?' Her hand was on his now, gently linking her fingers in with his. The voice she was using was as smooth as honey and equally as sweet. She was breaking every rule in the book. It was supposed to be him who used his powers of sex over her, not the other way round.
'I'll take that as a yes then. Best not to have too much before you sleep though.' He muttered, pulling his hand away from hers and getting a couple of cups. Placing them down onto the counter, he went about making some black coffee. He needed something strong, and alcohol was defiantly a stupid idea. 'It'll stop you sleeping.'
'Why won't you look at me…?' she said in a whisper, hurt lacing each word.
Draco turned and gazed at her. 'I am looking at you.' he whispered in a soft cutting tone. He was angry at her for being so easily softened towards him. Why hadn't she just hated him? It would have been a hell of a lot more easier! Then he realised that he didn't hate her, and that was the problem.
She was shivering at the force of his words and his glare. Draco realised that he commanded a lot of power, but he didn't mean to use it towards her. This was why he shouldn't have brought here, it mixed everything up. His desire to protect her was becoming more then his own desire to protect himself. Turning away again, he continued to pour the water out into the mugs. Best to concentrate on the coffee.
'Go sit down Weasley. I'm not in the mood for your questions.' He said nastily.
***
Ginny stared at Draco's moving form as he continued to ignore her. Why was he being such a toad? Had he forgotten everything she had been though just because of him? She doubted it somehow, but kept in mind that she was probably just another tool of his. He was using her to get the information and help he needed. He didn't care for her in any other way. Not the way she felt towards him, which was sure.
Spinning quickly she ran out of the room and along the long passageway. She desperately didn't want him to see her cry again. It was degrading to have to be comforted by someone who felt nothing more then pity for you. The lump was building up in her throat and her body was shaking as she opened a door to her left and looked inside.
Draco had not offered her a guided tour when they had arrived. He had merely commanded her to sit in a rocking chair by a small roaring fire and taken her bags away. She had not argued the room was comfortingly small and crowded with books. It smelt of coffee mixed with the smell she associated with Draco. It was a gentle room, and she could imagine him in it, reading books with a mug of coffee. Her eyes had taken in everything and when he eventually returned, he had just sat down in a chair and watched her. The chair obviously wasn't the one he usually sat in though. There was no wear on it, which showed it was just in case he had a visitor.
Eventually though, he had grown tired of watching her. He had fidgeted restlessly within his chair, making her withdraw her gaze. Why would a Malfoy want to watch her anyway? She knew exactly why though. Weasley's were the splatter of mud underneath the Malfoy boot. They were unworthy of anything more then a mere insult. They were the laughing stock of the Ministry, with her nutty father and her bad tempered brothers. At least that's the way Draco saw it. He never had liked her family in any small way.
The only time he had ever shown concern and maybe affection was when he held her after the attack. It had seemed so genuine. So completely perfect. It was all false hope though.
The door she had just open had been into a small bathroom. It was of little help to her, but she marked it in her memory anyway. Quickly she closed the door and made her way slowly up an old set of creaky stairs. They were the sort of stairs that were always used in Muggle horror films. Ginny half expected for something to suddenly attack her at the top. Nothing did though, and she was vaguely disappointed.
Looking around, there were three doors. One would have to be another bathroom, the other her bedroom and the last Draco's. Curiosity seeped into her at the thought of rummaging round his bedroom. She wanted to see how he lived in the Muggle world. It was something she would have to curb though. He would get so angry if she even touched the doorknob, let alone walked in and ran her fingers among his belongings. No, she would have to leave that as an unknown area.
Moving to the right, she placed her hand around the round gold globe. Turning it, she heard the latch slip back and let the door slip away from her exposing the room. And what a room it was. It took her breath away at first. The walls were a pale purple that seemed to deepen towards the bottom of the wall. It had a window facing out onto the rolling country side opposite a huge bed. Walking over, she placed her hands on the quilt. It was feather soft to the touch. She looked around and saw that Draco had unpacked all her belongings.
The picture's she'd packed were neatly displayed on a beautiful, grand dressing table. She walked over and sat down on the little plush stool that had been placed in front if it. The mirror in front of her was old and framed by swirls of mahogany wood. The swirls reached down and merged into the main dressing table. A slight smile curled her lips as she ran her fingers over the smooth wood. Her eyes flickered to the surface and she saw that he had placed all her beauty products to one side neatly, with the largest photo on the other side.
Standing up again she walked over to the wardrobe and pulled open the doors. Inside all her clothes had been hanged and she suspected an ironing charm had been put on a few of them. A light scent of perfume filled the room, making her feel warm and fuzzy. Draco had put freshly cut flowers in the window and next to the bed. There was also a couple of books there too, which looked like Muggle fiction.
Suddenly though she felt very embarrassed. If Draco had unpacked all her things and taken his time making her room perfect, then he must have seen her underwear. That was embarrassing because Ginny had packed all her sturdy, comfortable granny knickers and bras. They weren't in the slightest bit exciting or sexy. They were reliable and efficient for everyday use. She wasn't intending on Draco ever seeing them! A blush rose across her cheeks.
'I'm sorry.'
She didn't need to turn round because she knew that it would only make her want to wrap her arms round him. Instead she plucked one of the flowers from the vase and smelt it deeply. It was the room that was made from dreams and Draco had given it to her. What she didn't understand was why? Maybe it was guilt.
'I said I'm sorry Weasley.' Draco said again in an annoyed tone.
'Ginny,' she whispered and turned to face him. 'My name is Ginny.'
He cocked his head to the side and gazed at her, his eyes looking up and down her body in the same way they had earlier. It made her dizzy to think of how she'd felt then. How much she wanted him just to be a bastard and take advantage. But he hadn't. Instead he had turned away and never caught the hurt look on her face. 'That hadn't passed my attention,' he said with a slight smile.
'I'm not my brother you know. You don't need to call me by my second name. I am my own person,' she said defiantly.
'That also had not escaped my attention.'
She watched him cautiously. Draco would have to be handled with care if she was ever going to find out what was happening. It was vital that she knew what to expect and whether the man she was sharing a house with was trustworthy.
'Do you forgive me, Ginny?' he emphasised her name nastily.
'No,' she said simply. 'I don't think I ever will either. I hate you.'
Draco nodded slowly and walked towards her with a predatory smile. 'Well if you hate me so much Ginny, why don't you just leave. Get yourself a stab in the back. Another dead neighbour perhaps. That would be awfully careless of you though wouldn't it?'
Her eyes remained stony cold. The game had come back into play again - the truce was over. This was where they went back to being bitter enemies who hated each other. Yet even though he was saying all those things, she couldn't help but feel he was making her feel angry on purpose.
'Shut up Malfoy,' she whispered as he finally came to a stand still in front of her. 'Or I'll make sure you can never speak again.'
'Hmmm.' Draco smiled slightly at her. 'Well if you did that you'd never get to know the truth, will you?'
'As stupid as you are Malfoy, I'm sure you know your alphabet well enough to point out the letters for me.' Ginny smiled snidely and wondered why they always resorted to offending one another in the end.
'Oh! You mean you're not going to tie me up while you're at it. I have to say Weasley, I'm very disappointed in your lack of…imagination.' The famous smirk came back and she couldn't help but grin widely.
'In your dreams,' she whispered.
Draco nodded. 'Probably.'
'Tell me your secrets?'
'Maybe.'
.