Johnson Normal Johnson 2 5 2003-07-03T09:23:00Z 2003-07-03T09:23:00Z 1 1806 10297 - 85 24 12079 10.2625 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Coeur Corrompu
Chapter Three
Slip inside the eye of your mind
Don't you know you might find
A better place to play
You said that you'd never been
But all the things that you'd see
Are gonna fade away
So I start a revolution from my bed
Cos you said the brains I have went to my head
Step outside the summertime's in bloom
Stand up beside the fireplace
Take that look from off your face
Cos you ain't ever going to burn my heart out
Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger
From where he sat the petite redhead's face was beginning to turn the same colour as her hair. This caused a familiar smile to tug at his lips. Last time he had ever seen Virginia Weasley, was on the last day he ever spent within the walls of Hogwarts. A storm had been brewing in the north and he had been sat in the Great Hall. The walls were decorated in gold and red, a sign that Gryffindor had yet again won as the house with the most points. Ginny, as her friends called her, had been sat with Hermione Granger on the Gryffindor table, far away from himself. Glancing over he had seen the most bored look on the smallest Weasley's face. She had looked far removed from her friends around her, and it had made him laugh. Maybe she wasn't as much part of the dream team as he had thought at the time.
'What are you doing in my house,' said a quiet voice, 'with my cat?'
Draco Malfoy was pulled away from his thoughts by the most timid, yet dangerous, voice he had heard. Shaking away the memories of the past, he composed himself for whatever she was going to throw at him. Running his fingers through the fur of the cat on his knee he smiled slightly.
'I thought I would return your file,' he said motioning to the file laid out on the table. 'As for the cat…what can I say Weasley? I have animal magnetism.'
The moment the words left his mouth he could instantly see a spark of relief in her eyes. Her body relaxed and she muttered a charm sending the files into her open arms. Draco watched as her fingers caressed the spine and her keen eyes searched for signs of tampering. Quickly she had it open and was scanning each page for lost details. Draco had not tampered with the file but wasn't going to tell her that straight away. The look of concentration on her face made him wish he could be the object she took so much time over. Again, he shook himself. This was nothing but loneliness talking.
'Don't worry your little bushy haired head, Weasley. I haven't messed with your little file.' He drawled finally.
'Same old Malfoy, taking things that don't belong to you,' Ginny said spitefully. 'You had no right to come into my house without my consent! Do you know the trouble you put me through?! Do you?! I could have lost my job and…'
Draco swiftly shooed the cat away, and like liquid moved right in front of her. Her constant babbling was beginning to grate on his nerves. It had been a while since he had last socialised and this all in one go was a little much for him. Placing a single finger over her lips he managed to silence her talking. The look of shock at his invasion was enough to draw a small laugh from him.
'Look here, Weasley. I had to see the file in order to know what you knew! I can't exactly cover my tracks without knowing which ones to cover, now can I?' He said softly and calmly. From what he had learnt about Ginny was that she wasn't to be messed with. Slowly his finger moved from her lips to trace the elegant curve of her jaw. 'I also had a little request for you and your… friends.'
From where he was standing he could tell that she was very uncomfortable in her present position. Rubbing his fingers down her neck, he watched them intently. He hadn't been this close to a girl in what seemed like years. Dying had meant making a lot of changes to his life. One of them was caging up the Malfoy in him. The man he had pretended to be for the past 10 months was a loner, who shied away from human affection and lived like a hermit. Draco liked it this way; it meant no-one would get close enough to find out who or what he really was. Now though, he could be Draco Malfoy and not give a damn. The Weasley girl already knew who and what he was and somehow that was making the experience even more worthwhile. He could let out all the spitefulness he had kept bottled up for all this time.
'What sort of request?'
He looked up sharply and withdrew his hand, remembering what business he had coming here in the first place. 'Leave this case alone, Weasley. Let the dead rest in peace.'
'I have one problem with that theory,' Ginny muttered stiffly. 'You're not dead Malfoy.'
'According to the world I am. Draco Malfoy is dead,' he spat, 'and that is the way its going to stay.'
The look on the small woman stood before him, surprised him. Virginia Weasley looked truly shocked by his words. Her jaw had dropped slightly and a frown had creased her forehead. Her eyes portrayed all the questions that were racing through her mind. Draco gazed at her for a minute, his face devoid of any emotion he felt. There was something about her that made him want to tell her everything. Biting back this urge he ploughed on with his plans of intimidation.
'That piece of paper exists for a reason you know. It makes sure I can protect the people who mean most to me, and I'm not going to let anything or one jeopardise that. The man you're looking for is dead. Tell your friends that dare to call themselves Auror's that.' He said firmly, making sure his height over her was visible.
'And why,' she said angrily taking a step forward, 'would I do a thing like that for a scum bag like you?' Her finger dug into his chest.
Instinctively, Draco grabbed her wrist in a tight grip. His fingers dug into the tender skin that lay within his course hand. Looking into her eyes he could see the wince of pain crossing her face and instantly felt guilt. Giving it a final little twist for effect he dropped it, and instantly she held it to her chest. 'Don't,' he began menacingly, 'ever lay a finger on me Weasley. I know more then you could ever perceive.'
'I will do what I want, Malfoy. This is my house and I will not be pushed around by some over grown six year old,' she shouted unsteadily.
Draco growled and grabbed Ginny by the shoulders pushing her roughly backwards into a wall. Making sure he wasn't hurting her too much he smiled at her devilishly. 'I warned you Weasley. Do you know how long its been since I've been…'
He was cut of by a soft whimper that had escaped her lips. Guilt began to fill his body. His intentions had been just to shake her up a bit, let her know who was in control. Now though he couldn't help but feel this was too much for her. After all it wasn't her fault that damned Granger and Weasley were after him. Another idea came into his mind.
'Look Weasley, I'm willing to leave you alone on one condition.'
'What?' Ginny asked softly, her eyes piercing into his own.
'I will help you find me...' Draco said in a far off way, the plan beginning to form in his mind.
'What?!' She repeated surprise laced in her voice.
'You can help prove me innocent,' He said, looking down into her eyes. 'You can help me save those who I love…. Yes…'
'I can't do that…' Ginny began.
'Oh but you can. You're going to have to trust me though,' his voice softened and his face got closer to hers. 'I am innocent Weasley.'
'Innocent of what?'
Draco took his hands away from her shoulders and turned her back to him. The Ministry had been watching him too closely before he had "died". His own paranoia had grown to enormous heights. No longer had he been able to walk the streets of the wizarding world. Instead he had been forced to live in hiding, and even then it hadn't been enough. No, he had had to deal with it himself. It had been the only way to free his Mother from his actions consequences. Making out his will, he had bribed a doctor to help him fake his death. All it took after that was for him to go on a very long broom ride.
'Hello? Earth to Malfoy…?'
Blinking a couple of times he came back down to earth. 'I have to go. I'll be back when I come up with anything that might help you.' Slowly he stepped forward but was instantly stopping by her hand clutching to his arm. Turning he looked at her and saw the fear there. She was scared and he didn't blame her. There was a lot that the file had left out. It was his entire fault for ever thinking that he could be his own man. The shadow of his father made sure that would never happen.
'Why should I trust you?' Ginny said softly.
'Your just going to have to Weasley,' and almost impulsively he leaned down and kissed her softly on the mouth.
***
Glancing down at the small clock on her desk the next day, Ginny sighed. It had been hours since anyone had even entered the office and she had no leads to go on. Draco breaking into her house hadn't helped either. Once he'd left she had made sure the strongest charms she could find where settled on the house. Even this hadn't made her sleep anymore sounder though. When she closed her eyes she'd hear something and all her nerves would stand on end. It was at times like that she wished she was a powerful Auror who could defend herself against people like him. Stifling a yawn she leaned back in the chair and put her feet up on the desk.
Then there had been the kiss.
It had taken her by surprise but something about it felt right. She shook that feeling away instantly. There was no way in hell she was going to admit she enjoyed the experience. At the time her eyes had fluttered close instantly and she had surrendered to the brief yet warm kiss. When her eyes had opened she had been alone.
A sigh escaped her lips and she tapped her foot aimlessly against the wood panelling of the desk. Looking around the family pictures on her desk danced about. She smiled; at least she had her family. Who needed men? Thinking of that subject normally made her mind wander to Harry. The way he smelt, the way he touched her, the places that were sensitive on him, in fact everything to do with him. Now though her mind kept wandering to the brief kiss she had shared with the man who she was helping hunt down.
'Ginny?'
Her head snapped up and she looked at the door. A familiar face peeked round the corner and she felt her stomach flip. 'Hermione and Ron are out, Harry. You might find them at the training area.' She said briskly, pretending to be busy.
'I wasn't looking for them,' Harry said with a wonky smile, stepping into the room.
'Who were you looking for then?' Ginny snapped back trying not to look at him. It was hard to be in the same room with him right now without wanting to tear his throat out.
'Don't be silly Gin,' He said softly as he made his way over to where she sat. 'You never owled back. I was worried about you.'
'Harry you broke up with me!'
'That doesn't mean I stopped caring, you know I had good reasons.' He said in almost a whisper.
'GOOD REASONS?' Ginny jumped out of her chair and stalked open to the main door. 'Get out Harry before I throw you out.'
'No,' He replied crossing his arms across his chest. 'Hermione told me about what happened the other night and I'm concerned for your safety Gin.'
'I'm warning you Harry. If you don't get out of here now…'
'And I've told you. I'm not leaving till we've talked about what's happened. I know I hurt you, but I'm leaving in a couple of days and I can't leave knowing you hate me. Please Gin?'
'Can't you see,' Ginny began to choke back on tears that were beginning to form, 'that I'm busy Harry. I don't need this right now.'
Harry nodded silently, his eyes bearing into her. 'I'll come and see you tomorrow. Maybe then you'll be in a more…friendly mood.'
With that he apparated away leaving Ginny stood alone in the office that seemed too big. Slowly she crumpled, leaning heavily against the wall she dropped to the floor letting the tears take over again.