Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot, everything else is JKR's.
A Little Late, But Right on Time
Chapter 1
A Face in the Prophet
Ginny Weasley sat at her breakfast bar, a cup of coffee in one hand, and the Daily Prophet in the other. It was a cool November day, and a bitter breeze blew in through an open window. The bare trees shook in the frosty air, and a few brave passerby bundled in cloaks, strolled down the narrow avenue. Ginny scanned the paper without much interest, pausing only when a picture caught her eye. A man she hadn't seen in over 4 years stared back at her from the snapshot. She smoothed out a crinkle and read:
Death Eater Convicted
Draco Malfoy, 26, appeared yesterday before the wizard high court to be tried as a death eater. He was convicted on accounts of passing information to Voldemort, and treason against the Ministry of Magic. He will be kissed today at 10 o'clock.
Ginny dropped the paper in shock, quickly glanced down at her wrist watch, and with a deafening crack, apparated away from her apartment overlooking Vertik Alley. She appeared before a set of large wood doors. They were stained from weather and a tarnished silver doorknocker hung by no visible means. A chilling flurry of sleet caught Ginny in the face, making her shiver. She grasped the metal snake's head and knocked. She heard the gong-like noise reverberate through the empty stone halls, followed by the pattering of footsteps. The large doors slowly creaked open to reveal a small house elf decked from head to toe in what appeared to be tinsel.
"Can Honky help the young miss with anything?" Asked the elf. She beckoned Ginny into the entrance, lit by a large candelabra. "Perhaps some tea or a spot of breakfast?" Honky asked as she used her wand to dry Ginny off. Gin smiled as she looked at the elf's wand. That Hermione and her spew, er sorry, S.P.E.W. had changed elf rights dramatically.
"Can you please tell me where Dra…Mr. Malfoy is?" She glanced around as if expecting to see him. The elf's eyebrows furrowed and she frowned. Ginny could see she was having trouble what to say. When she finally spoke, it was short, and explained little more than nothing.
"Mr. Malfoy is unavailable for an extended period of time. Thank you for visiting, I'm sure he will be most pleased. Good-day!" With those departing words, Ginny Weasley was practically thrown bodily out the door, shortly followed by her flying purse and coat. The bang of the door closing punctuated this most enlightening meeting. Although Draco's house elf said he was out, Ginny knew better. Draco really was going to receive the kiss.
Many miles away, in a small dark cell, in a smelly dank building, on a cold wet rock, in a rough stormy sea, sat a man that none could recognize as Draco Malfoy, save one. His normally flawless platinum hair was dirty and hung in limp strings to his chin. His expensive silk shirt hung in tatters from his gaunt shoulders, and his pants were shredded up to his knees. He was a worn man with a little less than 2 hours to live, and a little more than half a life's mistakes on which to reflect. Starting with his biggest, leaving the woman he loved.
What had he known? He was young, only 22 and having been recruited by Voldemort, he had little choice in the matter of when he left for the battlefield. When one entered the service of Lord Voldemort, they were in it for life. Until the last breath if that's what it took, and many times it did. He remembered the day he shipped out as if it were only yesterday.
It was the 25th of October, the day that would change his future forever and the minute that he had made the biggest mistake of his life. The day was much like this one, cold and dark, with an irrepressible sense of foreboding lurking right around the corner. Draco woke on his back, staring at the bright white of his ceiling. He turned over and looked at the person next to him, and never had he seen something so lovely. Her hair rippled in light waves down her back, and her lips curled into a smile as she unconsciously tugged on the hem of Draco's old shirt she was wearing. He lay there enthralled by what he saw until she opened her eyes. She blinked once, twice, then sat up and looked at him.
"I thought you would be gone by now, it's almost 8 isn't it?" She asked, her voice cracking from disuse.
"I wanted to say goodbye." Draco replied, also sitting up and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.
"We said goodbye last night didn't we? As I remember it was a very long goodbye too." She smirked at him mischievously, but then her smile faded as she remembered the occasion. "You really are leaving, aren't you?"
"Yeah, I guess I am." Draco confirmed as if it had only dawned on him that he really was. "I love you, you know that don't you?" He looked at her worriedly.
"I know, I, I love you too." She choked out and then threw herself at Draco in an embrace. Draco held her until her sobs quieted, rocking her back and forth in a steady reassuring rhythm. He let go and looked into her tear filled eyes.
"I'll be back as soon as I can, and I'll write you whenever I have the chance. If…" he faltered. "If I don't make it, I want you to find someone else. If anyone deserves it, it's you. Take care of yourself, I want you in one piece when, if I come back." He attempted a half-hearted grin, which turned into a grimace. Draco stood up and walked a little ways away from the bed. He twinkled his fingers in a wave and pulled his wand out of his coat pocket. Draco looked towards the person sitting on the bed, her feet hanging off the edge. "I love you." He mouthed and he apparated away.
"I love you too…Draco." Said Ginny Weasley to the empty room.
Author's Note: There you go folks. Just a little plot bunny I thought of. Tell me what you think, and if I should continue. Story inspired by "Hero" by Chad Kroeger. Please feel free to leave ideas for this story or others.
XOXO
SlaptheWhiteFerret
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