Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, don't hurt me. Please don't let J.K.R sue me.
(a/n: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, I appreciate it!)
Chapter Twenty-One
Saturday, Dec. 28
Ginevra watched as her friends left, a suspicious look on her face.
They'd all wanted to come up to the Shrieking Shack, and now seconds after arriving, they wanted to leave?
"All right, Draco. What's going on?" she asked, hands on her hips as she narrowed her eyes at him.
"What makes you think something's going on?" he replied, smirking.
"How about the fact that everyone's left when they all wanted to come here?"
"They had a sudden change of mind?" Draco suggested, still smirking at her.
"Yeah, right," Ginevra muttered under her breath.
"Humour me," Draco said.
"Did you hear the one about the gnome and the Hippogriff?" Ginevra asked sarcastically.
Draco stared at Ginevra for a moment, his eyebrow raised in disbelief. Or shock.
"That was extremely lame," he said, shaking his head.
"I know. Will you tell me what's going on now?" Ginevra asked with a huff.
"Nope. It's a surprise."
Ginevra muttered under her breath, kicking at the snow on the ground. She was being childish, but it made her feel a little better.
"Ready?" Draco asked.
She looked up at him, and her breath caught in her throat as she took in his Veelan form.
With his wings spread, the elaborate patterns on his face glowing, and soft snowflakes drifting around him, Draco could have been mistaken for a fallen angel.
He smirked at her as he recognised the lustful look on her face.
"Not here, love," he said with a chuckle, then took her in his arms and rose into the sky. "Hold on tight," Draco murmured in her ear.
Ginevra wrapped herself around Draco's warm body, making sure she kept her arms below his wings.
Draco took in a deep breath, then held Ginevra tighter still and dove towards the ground. She laughed in his ear, and he spun upwards moments before they hit the ground. He flew over Hogsmeade, and they both heard their friends call out to them loudly. Draco grinned at their comments, then headed towards the forest.
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Agnes smiled at her sister-in-law. It was not a pleasant smile. It was a predatory smile, and hinted to the very reason why Agnes was still living and breathing, even after two vampire wars.
"I cannot wait to rip her to shreds," Julianne growled.
"When that day comes, I swear that I will turn a blind eye," Agnes promised.
"A promise I will hold you to, sister of my heart," Jules said, grinning.
Agnes just nodded her head in response, and they both followed Virginia's magical signature quickly.
"I do not like this," Artemis murmured a moment later. "Her signature is too prominent. She is letting us find her."
"Virginia must have thought of a way to get out of her punishment. She would not allow herself to get caught without knowing she had a way to escape the consequences," Agnes murmured.
"Should we call the twins? They may have some Veritaserum," Jules suggested.
"It would not work on one such as her. Virginia is old enough to know how to get past the effects of such a serum," Agnes said, shaking her head.
"We keep going," Artemis said firmly.
She had been hunting Virginia for weeks, and was not about to give up now.
"Very well. We keep going," Agnes said, and they continued faster still.
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Ginevra slipped out of Draco's grasp as he landed, and promptly fell onto the grass. The surrounding trees provided adequate cover from the falling snow, so she was lucky that there was only a slight dew from the cold, rather than centimetres of wet snow.
"Are you all right, Ginevra?" Draco asked, by her side instantly.
"My legs have gone numb," Ginevra said, laughing.
Draco stretched as his wings disappeared into his back. He tapped his wand to Ginevra's legs, then rubbed them slightly.
"Thank you. That feels better," she said, sighing in content.
"You're welcome, love."
Still rubbing her legs, Draco watched as Ginevra lay on her back. She arched slightly to look at the weeping willows surrounding them, providing a curtain from any curious animals.
"Would you like lunch?" he asked after a moment.
Ginevra sat up quickly, looking surprised.
"You brought lunch?"
"Of course. I don't plan on going back for a while," Draco replied, smirking.
"And what makes you think I don't want to go back?" Ginevra asked coyly, laughter in her eyes and tone.
"This," Draco said, lunging forward and kissing her eagerly. "And this," he added, kissing her neck.
He murmured something under his breath, and Ginevra felt her robe and shirt unbutton themselves.
"Where did you learn that spell?" she asked.
"Pansy told it to me, actually," Draco said, reddening slightly.
"That's awkward. It would be like one of my brothers telling me a spell!" Ginevra said, laughing. Then she went quiet, and smirked at Draco.
"What did they tell you?" he asked warily.
"You will see," Ginevra said, grinning as she murmured under her breath.
"What was the spell supposed to do?" Draco asked after a moment.
"Nothing. There was no spell, I just wanted to see how long it would take you to say something!" Ginevra said, laughing as Draco growled at her. "So what did you bring for lunch?" she asked, rebuttoning her shirt and robe.
"I don't know," he admitted, grinning. "The house elves insisted on packing it," Draco added quickly.
"Surprise lunch. My favourite," she drawled.
"Sarcastic much?" Draco said, smirking at her as he made the basket larger.
"Did Dobby make you carry the basket again?" Ginevra asked, laughing when Draco muttered about tea-cosied house elves under his breath.
They talked quietly to each other as they ate, learning and exploring themselves.
Hearing tiny flapping wings, Ginevra looked up to see butterflies flying near a fragrant bush.
"Look," she said, nodding over to them. "They're beautiful creatures," Ginevra murmured, watching as they danced intricately with the wind.
"Watch this," Draco said with a wink.
Ginevra watched as Draco called butterflies down to them, laughing. More arrived with each passing second, enticed by his Veelan call. The butterflies flew around them, their soft wings making light breezes.
A bright blue butterfly landed on her nose, and she smiled at Draco. He cupped the butterfly in his hand gently then released his hold on them, kissing Ginevra as the butterflies flew away.
"Ginevra?" he murmured, pulling away.
She noticed that one of his hands was still cupped closed, and looked at him curiously.
Draco looked at Ginevra, smiling broadly. He took her hand then went on one knee beside her.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?" he asked.
He opened his hand, and the blue butterfly flew away, revealing a silver engagement ring mounted with a blue sapphire and a smaller diamond on either side.
Ginevra smiled and nodded, hugging him tightly.
"Of course I will, Draco! I love you," she whispered then kissed him.
Draco held onto her and kissed her back.
"I love you too, Ginevra," he whispered in her ear as he slipped the ring on her finger.
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Halfway between sleep and rest, Ginevra tried to keep awake by watching her engagement ring shine in the sunlight. The amusement faded after a few minutes, as Draco was asleep and couldn't see it too, so she began to listen to his heartbeat. Holding her breath for a moment, Ginevra timed her heart to beat in time with his, making sure to breathe at his pace.
Listening to their hearts beating in time, Ginevra was surprised when she heard another heart beating. It was too large for any forest animals, and even too large to be a human's heart. Listening intently, Ginevra wondered if the creature was friendly or hostile.
Draco opened an eye as Ginevra sat up, making her movements as quiet as possible.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice low.
"Not sure," she murmured, standing now.
Draco stood beside her, listening.
"Do you hear it?" Ginevra asked, staring in the beating's direction.
"I hear it. It's coming closer," he replied, his voice quiet.
Any response Ginevra would have made was stopped by a creature leaping into the clearing.
Ginevra started when she realised that she recognised the creature.
"Leo-Bestia-Famulus?" she murmured, taking a step forward.
Draco quickly grabbed her arm, pulling her close.
"He doesn't know you," he murmured to her. "You have to fight him."
"Leave then. I don't want to worry over you," she replied, looking at him. Draco nodded, kissed her and left through a nearby gap in the trees.
"You send your woman to fight me? And such a small one at that? It is an insult to me! One so small will be easily killed, and yet I fear that she will not be able to fill this stomach," Leo taunted as Draco left the clearing.
Ginevra's dagger appeared in her hand, and she glared at the manticore.
Insulting her was one thing, but insulting Draco was something else all together...
"Very well, small one. I will fight you. And once you are dead, then your lover will be next," he crooned. His scorpion tail whipped around to the front, and Ginevra barely had time to dodge it. Her dagger glinted in the sunlight, drawing the manticore's attention to it. He laughed, advancing on her.
"You think that you can hurt me with that puny thing, small one?"
With a snarl, Ginevra leapt forward and made a deep cut in the manticore's lion body, making in growl in pain. She crouched low, but was not fast enough to avoid the manticore's sharp talons as he leapt backwards in pain. With a hiss, the manticore aimed his scorpion tail at her. Quicker this time, she moved out of its way and made her way behind the creature. Moving forward quietly as the manticore tried to turn to look for her, Ginevra dodged his tail, jumping forward and slashing at the joint between the lion's back and the beginning of the scorpion tail. The manticore howled in pain as its tail fell off.
Ginevra felt sickened as she watched green blood pour out from the wound, knowing what she had done. The manticore stared at Ginevra as its human head paled.
"I apologise to you, my Queen. I did not know it was you who I fought! Please, forgive me and let me become your faithful servant!" the manticore said, dropping to the ground in a bow. Ginevra stood up properly and looked at the dying manticore before her.
"I accept your apology. You are forgiven, Leo-Bestia-Famulus. Once you are healed, you will be sworn to protect me and my loved ones, even if this action causes your death, is that understood?" Ginevra asked. (Lion-beast-servant.)
"That is understood, my Queen," Leo replied, nodding.
Ginevra carefully picked up the tail of the manticore and held it against the open wound. Resting her hand over the split, she closed her eyes and began to murmur a healing and binding spell under her breath. Blood began moving back into the manticore and the cut flesh repaired itself. The scorpion tail joined on with the lion body and when Ginevra opened her eyes, all that was left was a red scar showing that he had been healed, and that Leo-Bestia-Famulus was now her servant. Even the wound on Leo's shoulder had healed too.
"You are sworn to protect myself, and those I love, Leo-Bestia-Famulus. Now, follow me. I need to find my fiancé," Ginevra said and turned around to go find Draco.
Draco had returned to see the fight, remembering the vision. Despite having Seen it before, Draco wanted to be sure that Ginevra was not hurt by the manticore. Surprising himself, Draco enjoyed watching the vampiress fight the manticore. His heart stopped each time she was hurt, beating again fiercely when she continued to fight. The fight was so much better in person than in the fragmented version of the vision, and he couldn't help but stare at Ginevra - his fiancée - in shock and admiration.
By some amount of willpower, Draco didn't fall to his knees when Ginevra turned to him. She had told him never to bow to her in the vision, and he knew that she wouldn't appreciate it if he did so and she had to repeat herself.
Blood was splattered across her robes, her hair was tousled, and a slight sheen of sweat coated her face and neck, the only skin that he could see. Though her face was scratched, she'd never looked so beautiful.
"Ginevra, love," he murmured.
Draco moved to her, held her in his arms and kissed her deeply, ignoring the manticore beside them. Time passed, how much of it, Draco neither knew nor cared. But then Leo interrupted and Draco reluctantly let go of Ginevra to glare at him. Leo ignored the glare, looking only at Ginevra.
"My Queen. I apologise for interrupting, but it is vital that we leave. A herd of centaurs are heading this way," he informed them.
Ginevra nodded her head and got on the back of Leo. With only a slight hesitation Draco got up behind her and Leo leapt away quickly, arrows narrowly missing them.
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Julianne and Artemis glared at Agnes, not happy with their sister-in-law's decision.
"I am truly sorry, but it is the law of my kind. We cannot kill her," Agnes muttered, not even glancing in Virginia's direction.
She already knew the smug expression Virginia donned at times like these, and Agnes was afraid that if she saw that look, she would break her own laws and dispose of Virginia without a second thought.
"There are no witnesses to prove your accusations, and it is within my immortal right to go travelling if I wish!" Virginia said, the triumphant tone in her voice almost breaking Agnes' resolve.
"The gods' witness your every action and deed," Artemis hissed, making Virginia shrink back against her binds for a moment. "They will judge and punish you accordingly at the end of your time."
Artemis was not in the least satisfied, but she knew that she had to accept her own words. She left Julianne before she hurried Virginia's meeting with the gods'...
"I will wait for my chance to exact revenge on her. I expect you to keep your promise then, sister of mine," Julianne said to Agnes, ignoring Virginia's cries for attention and questions.
"I will be beside you, and I will keep my promise," Agnes said firmly, nodding her head.
"Then that is all I can ask. Please give my greetings to my brother," Jules said.
"Of course. Do the same for Garion. I hope there will be a time when we can dine together once more," Agnes replied.
"As do I. Farewell, sister," Jules said, disappearing back to her husband and their home.
When Julianne was gone, Agnes turned to look at Virginia. She tried her hardest to ignore the victorious look on Virginia's face.
"You know that there is no reason for me to be bound like this, my kin," Virginia crooned. "I have done no wrong, and I do not like being held against my will."
"Very well, kin," Agnes said, hissing the last word like a curse. "But you remember this: I have more power than you do, and I am well aware of your weaknesses. The next time you hurt my family, I will use both against you."
Suddenly, Virginia was alone. The binds around her were gone, as was Agnes. Virginia barely repressed her shiver, and resolved to stay out of Agnes' way for the next century ... or three.
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Tuesday, Dec. 31 / Wednesday, Jan. 1
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
"Don't scream in my ear!"
"I wasn't screaming!"
"Yes, you were!"
"You're screaming now!"
"So you admit to screaming?!"
"How long do you reckon they'll last?" Pansy asked Ginevra, looking over at Fred and George, who were still arguing.
"Depends on how much Butterbeer they've had," Ginevra replied, shrugging.
"Well, those three bottles were full when they arrived," Neville said sleepily.
"Someone needs ter get ye ter bed," Seamus murmured, stroking Neville's shoulders lightly.
"Not tired," Neville replied, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes quickly.
"Oh, I know tha'," Seamus said, his Irish accent thickening.
"I don't think he intends on letting either of us sleep tonight, Nev," Blaise said, smirking.
"Aye, yer right. So ye should both jus' give in an' come ter bed," Seamus said, grinning. Blaise nodded, helping Neville off the couch and following Seamus to their room.
"I don't know if I want to Obliviate myself or not," Pansy mused, shaking her head.
"That's not suggested while under the influence of Butterbeer," Luna said, smiling at them as she wandered out of the room with Colin in tow.
"Do I look like a house-elf to you?" Pansy called, muttering when Luna's laughter was the only response.
"Time for bed, Pans," Greg said, lifting her off the couch and wrapping an arm around her waist.
"Bed is good," Vince added, nuzzling his face into her neck.
"Great, I'm dating Tarzan," Pansy muttered, but allowed herself to be led out of the room.
The others began to leave too, wrapped up in one another. Fred and George stopped their argument long enough to realise that Parvati and Padma weren't impressed, then decided to use their mouths for more recreational purposes instead.
"Are you all right, Ginevra?" Draco murmured when they were alone ten minutes later.
"I think so," she replied. "I don't like making Leo stay outside; it's freezing out there."
"We already offered a room to him, but he wouldn't take it, remember?" Draco reminded her. "I don't think manticores are fond of small spaces, love. It would be like Azkaban to him in here."
"I know, but I still worry. What if one of the centaurs decides that having a manticore so close to the forest is a danger and tries to shoot him?"
"Then we will deal with them. He has pledged his life to serve you, and there's probably some rule in some book somewhere stating that a servant of the Queen cannot be killed without her permission," Draco teased.
"Not funny, Draco," Ginevra muttered.
Shaking her head, she kissed him and followed him to their room.
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Wednesday, Jan. 16
As Ginevra and the others walked around the lake, students scrambled to get out of their way. Some screamed and others looked ready to faint. Leo, the manticore, was the reason for all of the hysterics. Apparently, not everyone believed that a friend of Hagrid's could receive a manticore for Christmas...
"I will take my leave of you, my Queen. I am distressing your subjects again," Leo said, bowing low before leaving in the direction of her rooms.
"I wouldn't have minded if he'd stayed. At least Lavender won't come near us then," Parvati muttered.
Lavender had been very attentive to them since the Christmas holidays had ended, something they were all suspicious of. So far, only Leo was able to make her keep her distance, but even then, she started sending Dean after them. Never Ron, though.
"Maybe Ron will talk to us now," Ginevra said, shrugging.
The others exchanged glances. Ginevra had been talking of Ron more and more often lately, and they weren't sure if that worried them or not.
"We can pass a note on to him, if you want. I don't think Lavender will let you go near him," Parvati said, chewing on her lip.
"Especially not while she's got her hooks, claws, and talons in him," Padma added.
Parvati nudged her twin, glaring at her for being so insensitive. Padma just shrugged in return.
"Don't worry about it. I want to talk to him face to face," Ginevra said, shaking her head. "Thanks for the offer though."
"You're welcome," Parvati replied quickly, nudging Padma when she went to say something rude. Padma agreed with a curt nod, then folded her arms and muttered under her breath.
"I think we need to do some training so Padma can work off her bitchiness," Pansy said, smirking.
"So you're giving me your bitchy crown and title then?" Padma retorted.
"Never. But I can always use more loyal subjects," she replied, ignoring Padma's attempt to pick a fight.
"Do you want to talk to me about it, Padma?" Luna asked quietly, indicating to the door.
"No, I do not want to talk to you about it! I can talk just fine where I am," Padma said, glaring. "I hate that you're putting all of this time and worry into Ronnie-kins," she said to Ginevra, sneering. "He hasn't done anything for you; at least nothing good. He didn't put any of his time and worry into you when you were under Ric's spell. We did. You shouldn't waste your emotions on the likes of him. He doesn't deserve them."
Everyone watched Ginevra and Padma anxiously. Parvati rose out of her seat, taking a step towards them before stopping. Padma had just said what they were all thinking.
"I suppose you're right," Ginevra said, sighing heavily. "I just feel like I'm not making enough effort with Ron. He is still my brother."
"He doesn't act like it," Padma pointed out.
"I know, but doesn't that mean I'll be the better person by acting like his sister?" It seemed like she was asking - almost pleading - for an answer.
"He'll think you're looking down on him, and resent you for it," Padma replied.
"So I'm just supposed to give up, and not even try to fix my relationship with my brother?" Ginevra asked, getting angry now.
"You can try, by all means... But don't just worry about it, and not do anything!" Padma said. "You've been going on about Ron for almost two weeks now, but you still avoid him in class, in the hallways, at the Great Hall. You're not doing anything!"
Ginevra recoiled as if she'd been slapped. Her anger faded almost immediately, and she thought about Padma's words seriously. Realising that Padma was right, Ginevra nodded briefly.
"Sorry," she murmured, suddenly embarrassed.
"Don't apologise," Padma said. "Just do something about it, okay? We don't like to see you tearing yourself to pieces like this," she said, concern in her voice now.
Ginevra nodded again.
"Thanks," she said quietly, smiling at Padma as she left the room.
"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I want to see this," Pansy said, smirking.
"And Her Royal Bitchiness returns," Padma said, bowing mockingly.
"Shut up and hurry," Pansy said, laughing as they went after Ginevra.
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Ginevra eventually found Ron and Lavender in a corridor, their faces pressed against each other. She coughed slightly, and they pulled apart to glare ... or take a breath.
"Hi Ron. Do you mind if I talk to you for a moment?" Ginevra asked, smiling at him. Lavender's eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"What do you want from my Ron-Ron?" she simpered, yet managing a sharp edge to her tone.
"I just want to talk to him," Ginevra replied truthfully.
"It's all right, Lav. I'll be back in a minute," Ron said, untangling himself from Lavender's grip.
"I'll be over here," Lavender called after them, glaring at Ginevra.
"So what do you want?" Ron asked after a moment's silence.
"I was hoping we could talk; try to sort things out," Ginevra replied.
"Sure. But some other time, okay? I have a chess game with Harry," Ron said, grinning.
Ginevra stared after Ron, surprised and somewhat hurt at his dismissal. No matter how much they had both changed in the past few months, she doubted Ron would dismiss her so quickly...
"Ron, what's my favourite colour?" she asked.
It was a simple enough question, one that any Weasley knew the answer to, especially Ron; he had teased her about it often enough.
Ron stopped abruptly, then turned to look at her. His eyes were wide, and they flicked behind Ginevra to look at Lavender.
"R-red," Ron said, flushing.
"Wrong," Ginevra snarled, then jumped, landing directly on the impostor's back. "Who are you?" she hissed, pulling his head back by the hair.
The body beneath her began to change, and Ginevra had to tighten her grip so she wouldn't let go. "Dean?!"
"Ginny? What are you doing to Dean?" Ron yelled, appearing at the other end of the corridor. He ran over and pulled her off Dean quickly. "What is wrong with you? Are you insane?"
"No, he was you," Ginevra replied, then shook her head as she realised how that sounded. "I mean, he was pretending to be you and ... "
"I don't want to hear it, Ginny. You've got no right to go around hurting my friends. Look how pale he is! You've scared him half to death!" Ron said, shaking his head.
"Oh, it was horrible Ron-Ron! Dean didn't even do anything to her, and she just jumped on his back and started hurting him! I was so scared, I couldn't move!" Lavender said, her eyes wide and overly innocent.
"That's not what happened!"
"Enough!" Ron said sternly as he put an arm around Lavender protectively, glowering at Ginevra. "I cannot believe you, Ginny. I thought you might have been better this year," he said, turning his back on her and leading Lavender and Dean away.
Ginevra was still for a moment, then she shook her head quickly, both in disbelief and to get rid of her negative emotions. The pain that Parvati and Padma had so painstakingly removed was burning through her body, and Ginevra could hardly breathe from it. After another moment, she got it under control and turned to smile at her friends.
"You were right. I was stupid to have wasted my time and emotions on him," she said. "Let's go before one of them decides to tell a Professor."
Draco took Ginevra's hand in his own, rubbing the back of her hand reassuringly. He stopped when he noticed that there wasn't a Glamour on her engagement ring. Ginevra followed his gaze and sighed.
"I forgot to put it on. Well, at least he didn't notice it. That means he won't go tell Mum," Ginevra said.
"That's right, look on the bright side of things," Draco muttered.
He wasn't looking forward to telling Arthur and Molly that he had proposed to their daughter. Especially without their permission. Ginevra hadn't wanted him to die an(other) early death, and had agreed to wait until Easter to inform their parents.
Draco was certain that they would get married with or without their blessing, but it would be better for everyone's sake of mind if they did receive it...
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Sunday, Mar. 31
(Easter)
Draco hurried out of Ginevra's rooms, making his movements as quiet as possible. No one heard him leave, and he was grateful for that, hoping to return before they woke up.
"Is everything all right, my King?" Leo asked.
"Fine, Leo. I need to get to Hogsmeade," Draco replied. "I think the carriages will be leaving soon, and I want to try and get back before the others wake up," he said, heading towards the castle.
"You may ride me, if you wish to arrive and return faster, my King," Leo replied.
Draco nodded gratefully and mounted Leo quickly.
The manticore leapt away, heading towards the village of Hogsmeade.
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Lavender woke up, looked at Dean and smirked. Today was the day they would get revenge on Ginny 'Little Miss Perfect' Weasley. The day was looking brighter already. "Wake up, you lousy git! We've got to get ready," she said, shaking him awake.
"Wha'? Lav? Aw, fuck off. We've got the entire day yet," Dean mumbled, rolling over and covering his eyes with his arm.
"And they may already be up! Get up, Dean Michael Thomas, or else I'll make you," Lavender growled.
Dean rolled onto his back to look at her, all trace of sleepiness gone. "Is that a promise, Lav?" he asked, smirking as he thrust his hips forward.
Lavender huffed, hit him and turned away. Dean crawled over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Come on. One shag won't be a waste of time. Who knows, maybe it'll make me do my part better?" he added with a grin as he licked her neck.
Lavender held out for a moment longer, and then turned in his arms, kissing him. "You had better put on the performance of your life, Dean Thomas!" she threatened, pushing him back onto the bed.
Dean grinned, holding her hips as he pulled her towards him. "Oh, I will."
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Ginevra woke up suddenly, feeling cold. She shivered and reached around for the blanket, trying not to
open her eyes.
"Get the blanket for me, Draco?" she'd mumble, moving to snuggle into his warm body. "Draco?"
Ginevra opened her eyes and looked at Draco's side of the bed, which was currently empty. It took a moment for her sleep-riddled brain to realise that Draco wasn't in the bed, and that she couldn't hear him in the bathroom either. "Draco?!" she called.
Ginevra got out of bed quickly and headed to the bathroom, just in case she was wrong. Frowning as she went back into their room, Ginevra looked around for a note of some kind.
Seeing a piece of parchment lying on the desk, she hurried over to look at it. Sighing in relief when she recognised Draco's handwriting, Ginevra read the note, her relief turning to confusion.
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Ginevra,
I hope that I am back before you wake up. If not, then I have left this note.
I have gone out for a while. I will come back as soon is possible.
Don't worry; nothing is wrong.
Sincerely,
Draco.
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"Good morning, my Queen," Bexley said, bowing as he floated into the room.
"Hi Bexley," Ginevra said absent-mindedly, still looking at the parchment in her hands.
"Is something the matter?" he asked, concern in his tone.
"Draco's gone out. Do you know where?" Ginevra asked.
"Unfortunately, I do not know where he has gone, but I did see the manticore leave with the King on his back just this morning," Bexley replied.
Ginevra nodded, feeling safer that Draco was with Leo.
"Thank you, Bexley. Are the others awake, or do I still have time to hide their Easter eggs?" she asked, grinning now.
Bexley chuckled and headed towards the wall.
"I will check for you; one moment," he replied, disappearing through the bricks and stone.
Ginevra changed quickly while Bexley floated through the corridors, returning in a few minutes.
"The coast is clear, my Queen," he said, chuckling again.
Ginevra grinned, took the Easter eggs from their hiding spot and left the room quietly.
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Draco almost felt guilty for what he was doing. He was going to be meeting Arthur and Molly Weasley tomorrow afternoon, as he had agreed with Ginevra, and he was frighteningly nervous about it.
He could practically hear his father telling him that he was a Malfoy; he shouldn't be nervous over something like this.
Pushing his father's words from his mind, Draco entered the wizard's specialised Muggle store, hoping to find something for Arthur.
It was a feeble attempt to get Ginevra's parents approval, but he just hoped that they wouldn't think he was trying to buy them...
Fifteen minutes later, he left the store, a bag in his pocket containing various things he'd never seen before: a rubber duck, a glow-in-the-dark stick (didn't Muggles have any other sources of light?), and a computer drive. It was one of those elek-tricity things that Muggles were always going on about...
Draco sighed heavily. Now he just had to find something for Molly...
He headed over to Leo, who was covered by an invisibility spell, something for which Draco was both grateful and annoyed about. It made talking to the manticore very difficult.
"I don't know what to get her," Draco murmured.
"What about jewellery?" Leo suggested.
"No, I ... What did you say?" Draco asked, turning to stare at the manticore in shock; never mind the few people on the street.
Leo frowned, and went to ask a question, but then Draco dropped to his knees, pain etched on his face.
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Ginevra cradled the eggs in her arms, careful not to drop them. She was sorry that Draco had missed out on the egg hunt, but it did mean that she got more chocolate for herself!
Chuckling to herself, Ginevra opened their bedroom door and put the eggs on the table.
"Ginevra? We're going to the lake, do you want to come?" Pansy called out, knocking on the door.
"All right. Give me a minute to get changed!" she called back.
She hurried to get into suitable clothes, then grabbed her robe from the chair before leaving the room.
"Ready," Ginevra said with a grin, putting the robe on and buttoning it quickly. "Where's Luna?" she asked, not seeing her with the others.
"She doesn't want to go to the lake today. It's going to rain later," Colin said, holding up the umbrella with a grin.
Ginevra just nodded in response, then they left to go to the lake.
Pansy went ahead of them all, eager to see the expanse of water. She wanted to swim, now that it wasn't so cold her tail almost dropped off. Vincent and Gregory hurried after her, hoping she wouldn't dive straight into the water like she had last time.
The others hurried after her, enjoying the sunshine. Ginevra lagged behind, happy to take her time. Her friends were far in front now, and Ginevra smiled as she saw Pansy jump into the lake fully clothed. Again.
She went to hurry past the stone-walled courtyard that was well-known as a place for students to make out, or do more if they were adventurous. She didn't see why anyone would do that when the walls weren't very high, and people could see people's faces if they were tall enough.
Ginevra's heart skipped a beat as she saw platinum blonde hair inside the walled area.
It was Colin Creevey, she told herself, shaking her head.
She repeated it, even as she focused her hearing on the two people inside.
"Won't Ginny know?" a female voice whispered.
"I can handle her," Draco's voice replied.
Draco Malfoy's voice.
Ginevra's heart stopped.
Draco was cheating on her.
All of the pain that had been repressed in the last few months broke free of its hold. Ginevra fell to her knees, clutching her chest. Pain enveloped her entire body and being, and she couldn't even call out.
Suddenly, all of the pain disappeared, and Ginevra looked up. Her eyes burned red, her hair crackled with red lightning, and red waves started to pulse from her body as her Vampiress form forced its way out of her.
Ginevra moved towards the wall. It crumbled as the red waves touched it, and the girl shrieked as the dust cleared and she saw Ginevra properly.
Ginevra ignored the girl, even when she ran past her. She only had eyes for Draco.
Draco Malfoy, her fiancé, who was cheating on her.
Her Vampiress form faded, the shock enough to bring it out of her.
Draco smirked at her.
"Why so surprised?" he drawled, folding his arms across his chest. "You didn't really think that I loved you, did you?" Draco asked, laughing cruelly. "You were a brilliant shag, I'll admit that," he added, looking over her body hungrily. "How about another one for old times' sake?"
With a growl, the Vampiress form returned and any pity or reservations Ginevra might have had disappeared.
Black clouds rolled in, blocking out the sunshine in one fell swoop. Rain started to pour and hail pounded. Students screamed at the sudden change, rushing inside to get warm.
Ginevra ignored them, ignored the hail, ignored the rain.
"Come on, Ginevra. You must have known that I would leave," Draco said, despite his chattering teeth. "I..."
"Silence," she hissed.
He clutched his throat as his voice disappeared.
Ginevra stalked towards him, the red waves pulsing. Lightning struck and thunder rolled, bathing Ginevra in a sudden light in the darkness.
Draco jumped at the sound. The red waves got closer. He remembered the wall and tried to back away.
She growled, cleared the small distance in an easy leap and held Draco up against the wall by his throat.
"You used and cheated on me as if I was nothing," she growled.
Draco's face started to turn red from the lack of oxygen.
"You made a big mistake," Ginevra hissed, smashing him into the wall while still holding his throat.
She let go and Draco crumpled at her feet, blood seeping from his skull.
Ginevra ran.
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Lavender screamed as the wall crumbled behind her. Her Glamour was weak, but Lavender was hoping that Ginny wouldn't even notice her, too caught up in Draco and his betrayal. She was right, and without getting a second glance, Lavender was out of the walled area.
Hurrying to the castle, Lavender shivered as she remembered Ginny's face. Dean would be all right, but only due to the potion that she had spent all of these months preparing.
The Dark Potion enabled Dean to be hurt to any extent possible within a thirty minute time span and then recover immediately. He could even die, and after the thirty minutes were up, he would wake up and be as healthy as he was before taking the potion. Of course, there were side affects. From what Lavender had understood from the old text, by using this potion, Dean had lost five years of his life.
It was something she was willing to risk. Since Lavender knew that Dean wouldn't take the potion if she'd told him, she had neglected to mention this fact. It wasn't like those five years were really necessary, anyway! And no one knew when they were going to die, so why bother worrying over something that might happen fifty, sixty, seventy years later?
Entering the castle, Lavender hurried to find Ron and tell him how it had went. Since Ginny's last meeting with Dean, Ron had been ropable when it came to his sister. Lavender had decided to bring him into the scheme, and he had been extremely helpful in getting ingredients from Snape's cupboard for her.
It seemed that Ron thought Ginny was being influenced by Draco. If Ginny thought that Draco had cheated on her, then she would return to the Gryffindor Tower, forget all about the Slytherins with whom she was currently residing, and return to being his innocent and naive sister...
Lavender snorted at Ron's stupidity, shaking her head.
"Are you satisfied now, Lavender Violet Brown?"
Lavender jumped as the voice came seemingly from nowhere. She glared as Luna stepped out from the shadows.
"What are you going on about?" Lavender sneered.
"I am talking about what you, Ron, and Dean have just done," Luna replied calmly, her white eyes staring straight at Lavender.
"And what do you think you're going to do about it?"
"Nothing; what is done is done. But mark my words. You will pay," Luna said.
Lightning struck, and Lavender jumped as thunder followed it closely. She hadn't even noticed the darkness.
"How will I pay?" Lavender asked, trying not to let her fear into her voice.
When she didn't get a reply, she looked to where Luna had just been. She was gone.
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Draco clutched his chest, unimaginable pain tearing through his heart and body.
"Have to ... get to ... Hogwarts," he said between clenched teeth. "Ginevra's hurting," he said, looking at Leo.
Leo nodded and hurried to a side alley, becoming visible. Draco forced himself to stand and, ignoring the people who were starting to come over, he went into the side alley, climbing onto Leo's back.
He could only hold on tightly as Leo leapt from the alley, almost as high as the buildings, and hurried back to Hogwarts.
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She had killed Draco. He had cheated on her, and she had killed him.
Tears streaming down her face, Ginevra ran into the Forbidden Forest. She cried out in grief and anger, then leapt deeper into the Forest than she'd ever gone before. She heard Grawp and Hagrid somewhere further back in the Forest.
Draco was dead.
She kept running.
Coming to a clearing Ginevra stopped suddenly and collapsed.
She had killed him.
As before, her body started to pulse red waves. Her conflicted emotions caused the waves to darken. They became a blood-red colour as lightning flowed around her shaking form. Lightning cracked and thunder pierced the darkness. The waves became larger with each tear that fell from Ginevra's eyes.
Soon, they had become so dark that Ginevra herself couldn't be seen and with a loud cry of anguish, a large wave emitted from her. The red wave flew through the Forbidden Forest, lightning following it.
Everyone in both the Forest and Hogwarts stopped as the wave passed through them. Almost as if pulled by an unseen hand, they all walked to the clearing, human, animal and beast alike.
Ginevra cried out her pain and tears as lightning continued to flash around her, and the thunder crashed and rolled around the clearing.
She had killed Draco.
Some flinched when they saw that the lightning and thunder was coming from Ginevra somehow.
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As Draco felt another jolt of pain go through him, he urged the manticore to go faster. Giving a small grunt, Leo put on an extra burst of speed, running faster still.
As they neared the Forbidden Forest, a large red wave poured out from the trees. Lightning crackled throughout the Forest, bathing everything and everyone in an eerie red light.
Leo and Draco were pulled into the Forest with the others. As everyone somehow managed to enter the clearing, Draco saw Ginevra sobbing in the centre. Lightning cracked again, thunder rolled, both bursting out of her.
More tears fell from her eyes and Draco clenched his fists, wanting to kill whoever had made his own cry.
"Ginevra!" he called, moving to her. She looked up at him, her eyes red. "Ginevra, why are you doing this?"
Despite having Seen this so many times, he still had no idea why it happened.
Ginevra glared at him, hissed and scratched his face. He staggered back, holding his hand to his face as blood seeped from the wounds.
Draco was dead.
"Ginevra! It was not your love!" Leo called. "I swear it on the word that binds me to you!"
Ginevra hissed, her fangs extending.
Draco looked at Leo, wondering what he knew. His attention quickly returned to Ginevra as she stood up and hissed a spell loudly.
"What the fuck is she doing to me?!" Lavender screamed, her voice going hysterical.
Draco stared in shock and resounding anger as lightning wrapped around Lavender's body, lifting her into the air. Ginevra yelled another spell and Draco watched as Ron was lifted into the air too. Another spell, and movement beside Draco made him quickly turn and he saw Dean uselessly trying to fight the lightning that was lifting him up as well.
"You wish to break me?" Draco heard Ginevra ask quietly, and despite the thunder and lightning her voice was perfectly audible. "You wish to break that which is not yours to break?" Ginevra yelled at the three struggling in the air.
The lightning tightened around their bodies, almost cutting through their skin.
"You think that I would not find out that it was not my own? You thought that I would not discover who did this?!" Ginevra cried, the lightning tightening again.
Draco watched as they started to gasp for breath, holding in their screams of pain as the lightning bit into their skin.
"Put us down, you fucking bitch!" Dean yelled angrily, the lightning cutting him open.
"Te nequam meretrix!" Ron yelled. (You worthless whore!)
Draco snarled angrily, wishing that he could help Ginevra punish them...
"You chose this path, Ronald," Ginevra whispered.
Lavender screamed as the lightning dug into her flesh.
Their blood ran down their bodies and onto the forest floor.
Across the clearing, Draco saw that McGonagall and Dumbledore were whispering to each other, Albus shaking his head at a question she was asking.
Draco shook his head as he saw Luna standing nearby, holding an umbrella open above herself and Colin.
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"Can't you do something, Albus?" Minerva asked, not too keen to see students killed in front of her.
"No, she is too powerful. Besides, Vampire magic is far older than anything we know. If I try to stop it then we will all die. Even if I try to intervene then the result will be catastrophic," Albus said, shaking his head. "I must say, Miss Lovegood had the right idea," he murmured, looking at Luna and her umbrella.
Minerva just shook her head, and returned to watching the three students hanging in the air. Blood was dripping from them now...
"You chose to insult me, and now you will pay!" Ginevra yelled at Lavender, Ron and Dean.
The lightning tightened a final time, burning and cutting through their skin, muscles, bones and very souls. They screamed; a sound that would haunt the nightmares of every single person who heard it.
Suddenly, the lightning disappeared and Lavender, Dean, and Ron dropped to the ground, shivering and red welt marks covering their bodies.
The pull that Ginevra had held on them all faded immediately. Most ran away from the clearing, humans and beasts alike.
Draco barely realised that the red wave was returning back from Hogwarts and the surrounding forest until it hit Ginevra in the chest with its full force. He cried out as she fell to the ground and hurried to her side, Leo beside him.
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Draco looked down at Ginevra, fear grabbing his heart.
Speak, let me know you're all right, he willed, holding her hand. Draco almost sighed in relief when Ginevra opened her eyes and looked at him.
"I take back that what I have caused to my own, three-fold," he heard her whisper.
A red glow surrounded them, and he watched in horror as even more cuts appeared on Ginevra's face, larger and deeper than his few. Her eyes closed and Draco held her close to his body.
"My King, you must let go of her now. She needs to be taken back to the castle to be healed," Leo said quietly.
"I'll carry her," Draco said defensively, lifting Ginevra up as he stood.
He wouldn't let his mind linger on how limp she felt...
Draco passed Lavender, Ron and Dean and saw Madam Pomfrey beside them, muttering to herself. He clutched Ginevra tightly, sorely tempted to hex them.
"Draco! Is Ginevra all right?" Neville asked, rushing over with Blaise, Seamus and the others beside him.
"I... I don't know..." Draco said quietly, looking down at her.
"Ah, Miss Lovegood. I believe your umbrella will no longer be needed now that the rain has ceased," Albus said, smiling at her.
When Ginevra had crumpled, the clouds and rain disappeared. Now the sun was shining brightly, mocking them.
"It is actually a parasol," Luna replied. "And it is not for me to use," she added, turning to offer the parasol to the newcomers.
"My gratitude, Lady," Xavier said with a slight bow.
He guided Agnes beneath the parasol, before moving beneath its shade gratefully. They walked over to Draco and Ginevra.
"Mr. Malfoy, if you would please relinquish your hold on Ginevra, we will be able to take her to a place where she can be healed," Xavier said. "She needs more magic to be healed than anyone here can provide," he added.
"I'm coming with her," Draco said firmly.
"I am sorry, but that is not possible," Xavier said, sounding regretful.
Draco went to argue, but Agnes started talking before he could say anything.
"The healing process usually takes a week to complete. As Ginevra has exerted all of her power and emotions in this one day, we do not know how long it will take to heal her," Agnes said. "We cannot have you in the mansion for an unknown time period; we can only protect you for seven days," she added.
"Then I'll come now and stay for a week," Draco said.
"Seven days of your entire life," Xavier corrected.
Agnes rested a hand on Xavier's arm, whispering to him in a low rush of words that not even Draco heard.
"It has never been done before, but our laws will permit it," Xavier replied.
"We will contact you on the final day of Ginevra's healing," Agnes said to Draco, smiling.
"You need to let go now, Draco. If we do not get her to where she can be healed, then she may not make it," Xavier said, handing the parasol back to Luna absent-mindedly.
As the sun's rays hit Xavier and Agnes, they both hissed. Their skin turned red and their eyes flashed red in pain.
Luna hurried to hold the parasol above them, Colin moving her hand slightly so that it was shielding them completely.
"Thank you, Lady. Thank you, Apollo," Agnes said, shaking slightly as she reached over to release Draco's hold on Ginevra gently. "I promise that she will be safe, and we will contact you. I do not break my promises," she said.
Everything in Draco believed her, but he was still reluctant to pass Ginevra over to Xavier.
As soon as Ginevra was in Xavier's arms, he disappeared.
"I will take hold of the parasol for a moment, if you do not object, Lady," Agnes said to Luna with a smile.
"Of course not. Be gentle, they may be useful later," Luna replied.
"It may not be up to me to decide," Agnes replied, then took the parasol and headed over to where Madam Pomfrey was still attempting to heal Ron, Lavender and Dean.
"I need help with these three," Madam Pomfrey called out, not realising that Agnes was behind her.
"I will be taking them with me, Poppy," Agnes said.
"They are students here!" Madam Pomfrey protested, even as she stood up and stepped away from them.
"They are no longer students, nor human, until it has been deemed so by the one they are now owned by," Agnes replied.
It worried her that Ginevra had used the spell, let alone known about it... But for now, she had to deal with three children who had insulted her daughter. And one of them her sibling, Agnes thought sadly, shaking her head. It would take even more of her willpower not to harm them. It had been hard enough not to harm Virginia when she had the chance...
Touching each of the three children gently, Agnes stood once more and disappeared. By the time the parasol hit the ground, Dean, Ron, and Lavender had faded out of the clearing.
The only evidence they had been there was their blood on the floor, and their imprints in the wet grass. Both would disappear by the end of the day.
"I realise that this may be difficult for you, but you should all return to the castle," Albus said, sighing wearily.
Draco and the others left without a word.
The Professors who had stayed behind went over to Albus, all of them with questions, none that he could answer.
"What just happened?" Lupin asked.
"I am not sure. We will find out on Ginevra's return, I suspect," Albus replied.
"What do we do?" Minerva asked.
"Nothing. Our part is over now," he answered.
His response stilled any other questions, and they headed back to the castle silently.
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Xavier placed Ginevra on the bed. He covered her with the blanket, then turned to help Agnes as she arrived with the other three.
"Do you know how she knew the spell?" Agnes asked as they put Ron, Lavender and Dean on separate beds.
"I had forgotten the spell myself," Xavier said. "It is far too old for even some of the eldest Elders to remember."
"I know. That worries me," Agnes replied, looking over at Ginevra with a slight frown. "You checked her for soul possession, of course?"
"Of course. She was being possessed by Lily Potter, but that soul has now moved on," he replied.
"She is sensitive to possession then. We may need to do a regular check," she said, sighing.
"We will need to heal before attempting it," Xavier said, regarding his red arms with annoyance.
Agnes agreed, and left the room with her husband.
Ginevra lay in the bed, not moving in the darkness of her mind.
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(a/n: thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed the chapter!)