This chapter is dedicated to my wonderful beta Amanda aka Dorthey Star. Not only does she do amazing, fast work, but she puts up with me on AIM. Any mistakes you see are mine and not hers.
Chapter Two
Ginny stayed in the library over the next few days and took her meals in her room. She wondered if it angered Draco that she stopped showing up for meals, but he never made an effort to get her, and she wasn't one to say otherwise.
She didn't know how long she stayed in the dining room the night Draco attacked her. The candles had burnt out and Flipsy found her on the ground with her knees to her chest, hugging herself. It was what she did when she spent her time in the cell. Once her cell mate was gone and there was no one to comfort her in a time of need, she took to comforting herself the best way she knew how. It was a brief reminder of how her mother used to hug her as a small child when she was scared of a thunderstorm, or how her brothers would greet her after they came back from Hogwarts. Even her father would be the first to give her a hug when he came home from work, saying he couldn't give anyone else one until his little girl had her fill.
Flipsy had convinced her to wipe her tears and follow her to her bedroom where a steaming bath waited for her. But instead of seeking relaxation, she wanted to clean the filth off of her from Draco's touch. She hated the man, but the shock wore off. What else did she expect from a Death Eater? She knew that she should count herself lucky that she hadn't been raped, by him or any of the Death Eaters. She would hear women's screams during the night before they turned into quiet sobs. After awhile, they just stopped resisting and took it in silence. But every time a Death Eater approached her cell door and eyed her, they wouldn't get as far as unbuckling their pants before Crabbe and Goyle would step in and tell them to take it somewhere else.
Being protected by those two just added to the nausea she already felt.
Flipsy had managed to get her out of bed and to shower the next morning, and once she was led down to the library (after she was assured that Draco was out of the manor) she found it easy to lose herself in a world of fiction. In one day she read classics such as Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. By day two she found Draco had an appreciation for Chaucer, but quit her reading for the day when she reached the Wife of Bath's tale of how a knight raped a woman and yet managed to find love in the end with a woman who turned beautiful and faithful. She despised the whole idea behind it.
On the third day she returned to the library, and looking for a challenge to absorb her, she picked Paradise Lost. She was served tea by Flipsy after a light breakfast of fruit and yogurt.
"Is Miss enjoying her book?" Flipsy asked with a small smile.
Ginny smiled at the house-elf. She had grown found of her. "Yes, thank you, though I'm started to grow bored of reading. Is there anything else to do here?"
Flipsy nodded. "Oh yes, Miss. There is the piano and archery range…oh, but Miss can not go out…Oh! There is an indoor garden where flowers bloom all year long and-"
"Didn't you mention something about a secret passage-way?"
Flipsy nodded. "Yes, Miss, it is of most secret."
"Could you show me it?"
The house-elf paused. "Flipsy is not sure, Miss. Master never said anything about it."
"Well, if he never mentioned it, then I'm sure he won't mind," Ginny said. "I mean, if he was so against it, surely he would have added that in with places not to go."
Flipsy stared at her hands in concentration. "I'm not sure, Miss…most of the house-elves don't even know about it. It's so well hidden next to Mistress' portrait and-"
Ginny sat up straight. "You mean Narcissa Malfoy?"
Flipsy looked up with wide eyes. "Flipsy did not mean to say that! No, Master won't be happy!" She frantically looked around before she grabbed a small vase next to Ginny and bashed her head into it.
Ginny got to her feet. "Are you okay?"
Flipsy swayed. "Flipsy had to punish herself, Miss."
"But you didn't tell me on purpose," Ginny said as she watched her stumble
"It doesn't matter," Flipsy said. "Master always says that when in doubt, a house-elf should be punished."
"That's horrible!" Ginny exclaimed. "Well, I forbid you to hurt yourself for now on!"
Flipsy looked like she wanted to argue, but she nodded and vanished with a pop. Shaking her head, Ginny left the room and set off in search for a picture of Draco's late mother.
She went down the corridor, and took two rights past the drawing room. Random portraits of centuries' worth of Malfoys were hung on the walls, but none of them were of the blonde haired beauty she remembered from the Quidditch World Cup.
She took a left down a darker corridor; her footsteps echoed on the floor as she walked on. The lights were dimmed and there were no windows. She walked up a small flight of stairs, only five steps, and came to a dead end with an empty frame.
Ginny swore under her breath. She turned to leave when someone asked, "And what do you think you're doing here?"
Ginny spun around and stared right into the portrait of Narcissa Malfoy. "What? But where did you…?"
"I was in my other portrait," Narcissa said, "but then I heard footsteps, and my dear Draco never comes to visit me."
Ginny wrinkled her nose at Draco's name. "No, I suppose he wouldn't have the heart to, would he?"
Narcissa stared at Ginny. "You never answered my question. What are you doing here?"
"Trying to find a secret passageway," Ginny said. She put her hand along the wall. "Is there a password? Or do you pull something?"
"I asked what are you doing in Malfoy Manor?"
Ginny stopped what she was doing. "I'm not quite sure," she said with a serious tone. "You should ask your son that."
Narcissa let out a harsh laugh that made Ginny's blood turn cold. "Silly girl, didn't I say he never visits me? I don't even believe he went to my funeral."
Ginny gaped at her. "But you're his mother!"
"Yes, well, I'm quite sure he thinks it's his fault that I'm dead."
Ginny thought hard, trying to remember how she did indeed die. She remembered Harry saying something about it before the end of the war, how there was a mishap…
"I was murdered," Narcissa said before Ginny could ask. "By the Dark Lord himself."
"But why?" Ginny whispered. "Harry said something about a mistake. I remember now."
Narcissa examined her nails. "And why should I tell you that?"
Curiosity filled her body. "Because," Ginny said, "because if you do, I'll get Malfoy to visit you!"
Narcissa narrowed her eyes. "Like he would listen to filth like you."
"I'll get him to," Ginny said, ignoring her comment, "if you tell me what happened. And where the passageway is."
The two stared each other down, neither saying a word, when Narcissa sighed. "Might as well," Narcissa said. "Maybe he can inform me why a blood traitor is in our house."
"Yes, yes, I'm horrible and poor and a disgrace," Ginny said. "Get on with it already."
Narcissa frowned at her. "I was covering for my son," she said. "If I didn't, then he would have been murdered himself."
"What were you covering?"
"He disappeared from his post," she said. "He was set to spy on a member of the Order of the Phoenix, and when I went to check up on him later, he and the member were gone."
"So why…?"
"Why was I killed instead?" Narcissa asked. "I told the Dark Lord that I switched posts with Draco, and it was I who left and lost valuable information." She paused. "I'd die for him again if I could."
Ginny stared at the blonde beauty in awe. She blinked away tears in her eyes, wondering if her mother had tried to protect her brothers before they were murdered.
Narcissa rolled her eyes. "Oh, don't go all soft on me now. Do you want to know where the secret passageway is or not?"
"Oh!" Ginny said, startled. She almost forgot about why she was there in the first place. "Yes, please."
"On my left," she said, pointing, "on the wall, there's a stone that sticks out slightly more than the rest. Push that."
Ginny stepped to her right and scanned the wall with her hand, finding the stone eye level to her. She stopped for a moment, glancing at Narcissa's portrait, before she pushed.
The stone wall groaned before it moved inward; a space big enough for a door shifted and hung open, giving Ginny entrance to a stone passage lit with lanterns. She murmured her thanks before she stepped inside the passageway; the stone wall slid shut behind her. The ceilings were low and the passage was narrow; there were spider webs collecting on the lanterns. Ginny's footsteps echoed as she walked on, wondering where she would end up.
She had been walking for about five minutes, the passage taking her left and right, when a black door appeared on the left hand side. Curious, Ginny opened it up and stared at a tapestry of the Slytherin Snake. She walked into it, and pushing it out of her way, she found herself in the back corner of the library. Amazed, and wondering why she never thought to look behind the tapestry before, she walked back into the passageway, closed the door, and moved on.
Along the way she found several more doors that lead to more rooms. At one point the passageway broke off into a separate one, which Ginny found lead to a pool that she didn't know existed. She had to double back to return to the main passageway, and continued on her way.
More time had passed, and her feet started to grow tired. She thought of just leaving through one of the doors, but she hadn't seen one since she climbed a set of stairs and she wanted to know where the passage ended. She continued to walk when up ahead she saw a dead end and a brick sticking out to push in the middle of the wall.
Anxious, she ran the rest of the way and stopped right before the wall. She went to push the brick when she heard a voice on the other side.
"It's none of your business why she's here, Pansy."
Ginny froze--it was Draco's voice. He was home already? She pressed her ear up against the brick wall. What room was he in? She waited for Pansy's response, but she heard no voice.
She heard Draco sigh. "I don't know where she is now--she's hiding from me. Serves her right; she's been as difficult as expected."
Ginny narrowed her eyes. It was he who was being difficult. She strained to hear a female voice but heard nothing--he must have been talking over Floo Powder.
"Look, Pansy, will you just leave me alone? You know you're not supposed to Floo me in my study in the first place."
Ginny's heart raced. It was his study that the passageway led to, a room she was forbidden to enter. Promising to come back again, she went down the passage, anxious to leave before Draco caught her.
She reached the door to the library, and, closing it behind her, she slipped through the tapestry and reached the nearest aisle of books.
"What are you doing here?"
Ginny let out a yelp and turned around--Draco walked towards her from the next aisle. She forced herself not to look at the tapestry and grabbed a book. "Just looking," she said as she held up the book as proof
Ginny watched his eyes flicker from her face to the tapestry, and back to her. She clutched the book, barely daring to breathe.
"Is this where you've been hiding?"
"Um," Ginny said, not sure if he meant the passageway or the library, "why do you want do know?"
Draco raised an eyebrow at her. "This is my house, Weasley. I have a right to know if you've taken vacancy in my library."
Ginny let out a long breath. "Oh, that," she said. "Yes, I like it here. Is that a problem?"
"Watch your tongue, Weasley," Draco said, narrowing his eyes. "You don't want me to repeat what happened last time"
Ginny's face fell, remembering how he pushed himself onto her. She glanced down at her feet, her face red. "No, I don't," she said.
A silence occurred between the two. Ginny played with the book in her hand, not even glancing at the title. She held her breath, wishing for him to go away, to leave her in her solitude.
"I hear Flipsy told you about the secret room."
Ginny looked up and dropped the book. "What-what secret room?" She was caught. Barely three days in Malfoy Manor, and she just had to get into something that was none of her business. If only she hadn't snooped--now he'd send her back to the prison.
"The garden of course," Draco said, crossing his arms over his chest. He raised an eyebrow at her. "Is something wrong, Weasley? You're all…twitchy."
Ginny stilled her beating heart. "No, I--I just didn't know that room was a secret. That's all."
Draco uncrossed his arms and shrugged. "It's not anymore. It was when it was built--my mother had it made, but kept it secret from my father." He scrunched his nose. "He hated flowers and such things."
Ginny's eyes widened at the mention of his mother. "Your mother--she's-"
"Dead, Weasley. Just like yours."
Ginny stopped. She had meant to say that his mother was in the hallway, and had hoped to persuade him to visit like she promised her, but had stopped at the mention of her mother. That was it. He pushed her last night like she was nothing but garbage, he dug his….his thing into her like she was a hooker, and now he mentions her dead mother like she was no one special.
Furious, Ginny raised her hand to smack his cheek in hope to hit some manners into him.
Draco quickly caught her before she could touch his porcelain skin. Her cheeks reddened with fury as he squeezed her hand. She was caught, and she didn't care anymore. A moment ago she feared he would throw her back in the prison, and now she welcomed his threats.
He stared at her, challenging her. His eyes were like a cloudy sky with a hint of rain. "Come on," he spat, walking away and dragging her with him.
Now she felt fear. "Wait--Malfoy--what the," she sputtered, trying to form words as they left the library. Where was he taking her?
Wild ideas were forming in her head as they walked down the hallway. He was going to torture her. Knowing him, he had a room full of devices for pain, and because she just couldn't behave he was going to make sure she was punished. He would install in her mind just what would happen if she didn't treat him nicely. Or maybe he did know she went into the secret passageway and found his study and was using pain as a device to make sure she stayed away from it.
But if the war taught her one thing, it was to fight for her life. She frantically pulled her arm, trying to get out of his grasp, but he only held on tighter. She looked around, trying to find something to hit him with, but the few vases they walked by were out of reach, and they were walking too fast to grab it.
She was about to take a wild lunge for his hair, hoping to rip some out and cause him to let go of her, when they stopped in front of a large painting of a woman in a white dress, standing in the middle of a field. Ginny took a quick breath, not even noticing that she wasn't breathing.
Draco didn't look at her, but his face was solid, showing no expression, only his lips were in a slight frown. "Cachetteen jardin," he spoke to the painting.
Ginny watched the woman's hair and dress move with a gust of wind before there was a popping sound, and the picture frame moved forward, revealing a large hole.
Draco cocked his head towards it. "Well, don't just stand there." He released her hand and nudged her towards the entrance.
Ginny knew her eyes were popping out as she stared into the dark hole, wondering what was waiting for her on the other said. She opened her mouth to argue, but Draco only pushed her closer. "Get in, Weasley, or no dinner for a week. Don't make me use my wand."
She could see no way out of it. Summoning her Gryffindor bravery, she crawled into the hole. It was padded and easy to move through, but with no lighting her moves were slow. She sped up when she heard Draco climb in behind her. Maybe if she got to the room quickly enough, she would have time to find something to defend herself with against him.
Just as her pace quickened, part of the tunnel lit up. She halted as she looked at the lights. They seemed to be small speckles, dozens of them, moving throughout the tunnel walls and ceiling, guiding the way to the other end. Ginny picked up her hand and, with caution, poked a light near her head. It flew away at her touch. "What the-"
Draco bumped into her from behind. "Dammit, Weasley!" he yelled. "If this tunnel wasn't crowded enough…stop playing with the faeries and keep on moving."
Faeries? What were faeries doing in a tunnel? Ginny continued on, calling Draco a few names that she didn't bother to keep under a whisper. As they moved on, the faerie lights increased. Her heart couldn't help but lighten as she saw them all. What horrible doom was waiting for her when faeries were involved?
The tunnel was completely lit now to where she could see ivory on the sides of the wall. She blinked her eyes when she looked ahead and saw something green. She moved faster. It couldn't be…
Ginny let out a gasp when the tunnel ended in to a room. She climbed out and stood up, her head moving in all directions. There was a willow tree with a small pond, roses, tulips, and daffodils. There were pansies and exotic flowers with colors so bright they seemed to be off a postcard. Among a patch of lilies there stood a wooden bench, next to a fountain where water squirted out of a carved rose.
She spun around, taking it all in, until she felt dizzy. She looked at Draco in shock, almost forgetting he was there. "It's a garden."
"Clearly," he said. He dug his hands into his pockets, his back stiffened.
"Why would you show me this? You hate me." She studied his face, and though it appeared expressionless, she saw a glimpse of guilt in his eyes. "Is this for that one night-"
"I'm not apologizing," he snapped. "Don't start thinking I feel bad or anything, Weasley. Let's just get one thing clear. What I did and said-I meant it all. But I've already been through one war--I refuse to go through another one in my own home."
"Then why did you bring me here to live with you? What, did you think that we would just get along?"
Draco's eyes narrowed. "Will you just be quiet for once? Merlin, I try to get you out of that drafted library and I get jumped on."
The library. It all made sense. He was afraid that the more time she spent in the library, she would one day discover what was behind the Slytherin banner and where it led to. "So you want me to come here instead of the library," she said slowly.
Draco ran a hand over his face. "Weasley, you've giving me a headache. Do whatever you want. I'd just thought you'd like to know there's more than that damn room." He pressed his fingertips to his temples. "I need a bloody drink. Let's go."
"Wait, I want to stay here."
Draco let out a cold laugh. "If you think you can live your life here hiding from me, you've got another thing coming. You're joining me for a brandy. Now."
The thought of joining Draco for anything seemed revolting, but one glance at his face which clearly said You-Don't-Have-A-Choice, sent her back to the tunnel.
He led them to a room near the drawing room with a fireplace, a pool table, a thirteen foot bar, a chess board and several leather armchairs. Draco didn't say a word as he took out two glasses and filled them with brandy. He handed one to her and then took a rather large sip out of his.
Ginny sipped hers and grimaced at the taste.
"What's the matter?" Draco asked as he stood by the fireplace, which a house-elf lit. "Don't like brandy?"
Ginny scrunched her nose as she took another sip. "Harry liked it--I always thought it was horrible."
Draco's jaw clenched at Harry's name. "Stupid Potter," he muttered before draining the glass in one gulp. He walked back to the bar and filled his glass again. He took another hefty sip before he sat down in a chair across from Ginny.
Ginny sat with her feet tucked under her. She set her drink on the table, not wanting to drink anymore, when Draco fixed a glare on her, ordering her to drink up without saying a word. With a sigh, Ginny grabbed the drink, pinched her nose, and took a gulp.
Draco smirked as Ginny squirmed in her seat. "It's not that bad," he said.
Ginny shook her head. "It is if you've gotten sick off this before."
Draco took a drink. "Malfoys aren't foolish enough to drink until they're sick."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "It's not like I did it on purpose, Malfoy. Harry wanted to play a Muggle drinking game."
Draco clenched his hand around his drink. "Potter, Potter, Potter," he snarled. "Is that all you ever talk about?"
"I was just making conversation," Ginny said, glaring at him. "You don't need to be a brat about it."
Draco set his drink on the table and stared at her until Ginny shifted in discomfort. She tried to look everywhere but his gray eyes.
"Drink."
Ginny looked at him. "What?"
"I said drink," he said as he leaned back in his chair. "You love drinking games so much--every time you insult me, you drink."
Ginny's mouth dropped open. "You can't do that!"
"Make that two drinks for telling me what I can and can not do," Draco said with a wide grin.
Ginny stared at him, dumbfounded. She didn't move, and neither did he, though he continued to stare at her with a large smile. Reluctantly, Ginny took two tiny sips from her drink.
Draco shook his head. "I didn't say sip at it, now did I?"
Ginny glared at him and drank too bigger drinks, coughing as the warm liquid went down her throat.
Within the next hour, Ginny had already gone through insulting Draco several more times and draining her glass. Draco poured her a second on; he was on his fourth.
"You know," Ginny said, her tongue loose from the brandy. "The more I drink the more I'm going to insult you. I can't help but show my real feelings when I drink."
Draco's cheeks were tinted pink. "You can't help that when you're sober, Weasley."
Ginny laughed, her head light. "What can I say? You're a bastard--oh crap," Ginny said, as she drank a big gulp for the insult. She looked up at Draco. "How come you're not drunk yet? You've had more than I have."
"You haven't touched booze in quite some time--your tolerance is gone to shit," he said as he took another drink, spilling a bit on his shirt.
Ginny clapped her hands. "We should play a drinking game! That will get you drunk! I know a really good one-"
"Absolutely not, Weasley."
"Look, Malfoy. I'm not going to be the only one making a fool out of myself here. It's a simple game-"
"I'm not playing suites."
Ginny paused, her hands frozen in air. "What did you say?" she asked. "How did you know that's what I wanted to play?"
Draco shrugged his shoulders. "Lucky guess," he said as he drained his drink.
Ginny cocked her head to the side. "Since when do you know Muggle drinking games?"
"Pansy dated a half-blood before the war," he said. "I've hated her ever since for it."
Ginny snorted. "There's nothing wrong with half-bloods. Harry was one!"
"Will you shut up already about Potter?" Draco snarled. "I don't want to hear it!"
Ginny set down her drink, spilling the amber liquid onto the table. "I can talk about him if I want, thank you very much!"
"Drink!" he yelled.
"No!" Ginny yelled back. "I'm already sloshed because of you! Why are you getting me drunk anyways, huh? So you can take advantage of me?"
"Why would I want something that Potter's already had?"
Ginny's face turned red but she remained silent.
Draco laughed. "What, you and Potter never did the dirty deed?"
Ginny glared at him. "No, we didn't, not that it's any of your business."
"Poor Potter--died a virgin.'
Ginny stood up quickly, advancing on him. "Don't you dare talk about him that way!" she yelled. "He died trying to make my life better!"
Draco smirked as he stood up, glaring down at her. "And look now who's doing that for you now."
Ginny shook her head. "I'm no better off here than I was at prison! I'd rather be back there where I didn't have to suffer with you everyday!"
Draco dropped his smirk. "You ungrateful little brat," he snapped. "You should be thankful I got you out of that shit hole before you were raped!"
"Why did you? So you could want to have me for yourself?"
Draco clutched the empty brandy glass in his hand. "I haven't done anything to you!"
Ginny trembled, but stood her ground. "I felt how you responded to me in the dining room. You're just waiting for the perfect moment. What's the matter, Malfoy? Can't nail a girl unless she's too drunk to say no?"
Draco chucked the glass against the wall, sending shards everywhere. "Get out!" he yelled.
Ginny shook her head. "You're not denying it--is that why you brought me here? Is it?"
"Get out!"
Ginny looked at the wand he now had in his hand and had enough sense to scatter. She stopped right outside the door and leaned against the hallway wall, listening to Draco breaking more glasses. She trembled as she heard him scream with anger--she didn't want to imagine what he would do if he found her waiting for him, but she refused to let him off so easily. She hit something that even Draco couldn't weasel his way out of and she wasn't about to give up until she got some answers.
A half hour passed before she sank to the floor in a sitting position, the brandy from earlier making her sleepy. Draco had stopped making noise, but he wasn't coming out, either. She blinked her heavy eyes as she let out a yawn.
She heard footsteps pause right next to her, but she was suddenly too sleepy to open her eyes. Soon she was picked up from the ground and nestled into something warm and strong.
"Stupid Weasley."
Ginny could only manage to frown at Draco's words as she nestled into his arms. She felt him start to walk; her head swayed with his footsteps. Next thing she knew, she was being settled into her warm bed.
The last thing she felt before she fell asleep were a pair of staring eyes.
~*~
Ginny walked down the grand staircase the next morning, thankful that it was a workday for Draco. Her head hurt a little from the brandy she had the night before, and every time she closed her eyes she would see the image of Draco's angry face. She had little remembrance of how she got to bed--all she remembered was floating into something strong. She shook her head, planning on never being in the same room with Draco again.
She stood in the entrance hallway, fidgeting in her light green summer dress, deciding on what to do for the day. She headed for the drawing room, intending on playing the piano and brushing up on her skills and was halfway into the room when she paused.
She wasn't alone.
She saw him out of the corner of her eye; her frozen body wouldn't move. Draco rustled his newspaper he was reading. "About time you woke up," he said casually.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked, not looking at him.
Draco folded his newspaper. "Well I live here, don't I?"
"I mean," Ginny said, "shouldn't you be working?"
Draco shrugged and poured a cup of tea. "I took some time off. I'll be home for the next few weeks." He pointed at the chair next to him. "Sit."
Ginny stiffened but sat down, refusing to look him in the eye. "I'm not a dog, you know."
She watched Draco pour her a cup of tea. "Watch it, Weasley. Do you want me to get out the brandy again?"
"I'd rather not be around you when you drink, thank you very much."
Silence filled the room, and Ginny couldn't help but look up from Draco's hands on the table to his face. He was staring at the teapot as if it insulted him instead of her.
"That," Draco said finally, still not looking at her. "was a mistake. Clearly you can't handle your liquor and didn't mean the things you said."
Ginny frowned. 'The things I said? Malfoy, I didn't-"
"You egged me on," Draco snapped, looking at her. "If you didn't say anything about me wanting to take advantage of you I wouldn't have-"
"Acted like a five year old having a tantrum?"
Draco's eyes narrowed at her. "That's what you get for not obeying me. Don't you understand that your life is in my hands?"
Ginny crossed her arms over her chest. "I'll never obey you, Malfoy. I think we'd both be better off if you let me go."
Draco let out a harsh laugh that reminded her of Narcissa's. "I'm never letting you go, Weasley," he hissed. "This is your home now. I'd suggest that you learn to close your mouth if you ever want to live peacefully."
Ginny glared at him. She refused to give in. "This house is big enough for the both of us. Why don't be just live in separate wings and shifts? I'm sure we can arrange it where you never have to see me again."
"Which reminds me," Draco said as he leaned back in his seat. "Your privileges are cut off. You're to stay where I can see you at all times unless I give you permission otherwise."
Ginny's mouth dropped open. "You're joking."
"I assure you I'm not," Draco said, his tone now calm and controlled. "What, do you think you can fight with me and then hide in the library all day? You should be thankful that I'm allowing you a separate room to sleep in."
Ginny stared at him in shock, not knowing what to say. That was her plan, after all. She knew she could survive living with him if she could just avoid him at all costs, him and his drinking.
Draco learned up and picked up his tea, taking a sip. "I suggest you learn to keep quiet if you have nothing to say, Weasley. I'm sick of being treated with disrespect."
"You want my respect?" Ginny finally said. "You have to earn it first."
Draco looked at her over the brim of his cup. "I'll do what I wish," he said as he drained the tea and set the cup on the coffee table. "Today I have to go to Knockturn Alley to do some business. You're to accompany me."
Ginny's spirits rose, and she hated herself for it. "I get to leave this place?" she asked, her voice too eager.
"It's not a field trip, Weasley," Draco said as he stood up. "I'm only bringing you with because I don't trust you enough to leave you alone anymore." He walked away from her and was halfway out the room when he stopped. "Well? Come on now, I can't wait for you all day."
Ginny sighed and followed him out of the room. "When I leave a room, you follow," Draco said as they walked down the hall, "unless I say otherwise. Merlin only knows I don't want you in the bathroom with me."
"Thank the gods," Ginny muttered.
Draco walked to a closet by the front door and pulled out a black and forest green cloak. "Put this on," he said, handing her the green one, then put the black one on himself. "And keep the hood up at all times."
Ginny slipped the breezy cloak on and pulled the hood up, tucking her hair beneath it. "Why the hood?" she couldn't help but ask.
Draco fastened the cloak. "The last remaining Weasley would be a great prize to any Death Eater," Draco said. "And I don't like to share what's mine."
Ginny glared at him. "How are we getting there?"
"Apparating," he said as he pulled out his wand and tapped the front door. "I don't trust you with Floo Powder--you'd probably run off the second you got out of the fireplace."
Ginny swore. That was her plan. After Draco tapped the door a few more times, it swung open and she followed outside. The air was crisp warm with a cool breeze; autumn was approaching. Ginny stood for a moment on the front porch, extending her arms outward, soaking up all the sunlight she missed so much.
"Weasley!" Draco yelled.
Reluctantly, Ginny followed him down the stone path she took before. She glanced around as she and Draco walked along, making sure there was at least a few feet space between them. The grounds were different in the day light. The acres were rolling green hills with trees placed along the trail and, as far as Ginny could see, around the fence, blocking the outside view. Rose bushes and other flowers were planted amongst the evergreen trees. Ginny titled her head up to look at the bright blue sky, making her hood fall back. She couldn't help but smile at watching a bird fly--she hasn't seen one in what seemed forever.
Before she knew it, they reached the gate with the large M, and once they were on the other side of it, Draco turned around. He took one look at her and rolled his eyes. "Your hood, Weasley," he said as he reached down and yanked it up.
His hand brushed against her cheek, making Ginny jump. Suddenly, a vision crossed before her eyes, one of a man touching her face before kissing her.
Ginny's face grew bright red at what she saw, her mind racing at the vision. Draco frowned at her as he tucked her hair away. "What's wrong with you?"
"N-nothing," Ginny said, unable to look him in the eyes. "I just remembered…something." Remembered or forgotten? Ginny thought to herself hard, trying to trace in her web of thoughts where such an image would come from.
Draco stared at her before he shrugged his shoulders. He grabbed her arm, and without a warning, he Disapparated.
They appeared at the end of Knockturn Alley, Draco still clutching her arm. "We're here," he said before glancing at her hood again. "Follow me, and don't talk to anyone," he said as he set off. "And I suggest not running away--there are people here worse than me."
Ginny nodded, staying so close to him she could feel the heat from his body. They entered the dark alley that was busier with more people then she would have thought. Of course, since the dark side won the war, Ginny figured people wouldn't be as afraid to show their support for dark magic.
They weaved in and out of people, a few who glanced up at Draco and backed away from him. Draco, she noticed, seemed to walk with an air of authority down the alleyway, talking to no one and walking with his head high. A few people glanced at Ginny curiously, but she walked with her head down and her eyes on Draco's feet.
They walked further down the alley, and stopped in an empty area. Draco turned around and said, "I'm going into this shop. I want you to stay out here. Don't move, and don't talk to anyone."
Ginny nodded and watched Draco slip into a door. Ginny crouched by the window, peering in to see where he had gone into. She saw a collection of items and spotted Draco's blonde head. She stood on her tip-toes, trying to see what he was doing, when a raspy voice made her jump.
"What's a pretty thing like you doing 'ere?"
Ginny whipped around and came face to face with a toothless, greasy old wizard. His eyes widened. "My, you are pretty! And all by yourself."
Ginny sucked up her Gryffindor courage. "I'm here with someone."
The old wizard looked around her. "I don't see no one," he said, looking back at her. "You're 'ere by your lonesome."
Ginny shook her head. "No," she said. She thought of how people reacted in fear when Draco walked down the alley. "I'm here with Malfoy!"
The old wizard's face dropped. "Malfoy, eh?" he said as he inched closer. "Never did like that brat much. His dead father conned me out of my fortune."
"I mean, I'm not with him," she said, shaking her head so fast a lock of her hair fell free. "I'm with my brothers!"
The old wizard slid a dirty finger through her red hair, curling it around the tip and yanked it down, causing Ginny to gasp. "I do like me a red head," the wizard said, stepping so close Ginny could smell his foul breath. "What did you say your name was again?" He grabbed her arm, and a scream bellowed up in Ginny's throat.
There was a slam of a door and Ginny was pressed up against someone, their arm around her, protecting her. "Step away, you filth!" she heard Draco yell.
Ginny looked up as far as she could; her head was pressed into his chest. Draco's face was furious and staring at the old wizard.
The old wizard cowered. "Mr. Malfoy," he said, bowing, "So-so sorry. Didn't know this 'ere lady was yours."
Draco pointed his wand at him, and with one look, the old man went running away. Draco stood there with his chest heaving, still clutching Ginny. He lowered his wand and looked down at her.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Ginny tried to move. "Can't…breathe…"
Draco let her go and jumped away as if he was burned. Ginny took a breath of air as she looked up at Draco. "You didn't need to come to my rescue like that," she said as she pushed her hair back behind her ear. "I was handling it just fine."
Draco snorted. "So you knew that man is known for kidnapping women and selling them in the sex market?"
Ginny paused, her eyes widening. "Apparently not," Draco said. He sighed and held a hand out. "Well, come on. Now I have to hold your hand or else who knows who is going to try to pick you up next."
Ginny's face burned and thought of refusing, when she looked to her side and swore she saw a hag walk by. Too quickly did she grab Draco's hand and kept close as he led them farther down the alley.
Her hand grew warm under his, and Ginny couldn't help but fidget as they walked on. "Will you keep still?" Draco hissed as they passed a group of old women eyeing a tray of fingers and toes.
"This is weird!" she whispered back. "I'm holding hands with a bloody Malfoy."
"Yes, yes, and I'm sure your whole family is turning in their graves."
Ginny shot him a glare. "Yours too," she hissed back.
Draco squeezed her hand hard. "We're here--keep quiet," he said as they walked into an empty store. There were tables of jewelry under glass cases, cursed hats and cloaks. Draco let go of her hand once they were inside.
"Good morning, Mr. Malfoy," an older woman with a tight gray bun said before bowing. She glanced at Ginny. "Ah! And who is your friend?"
"That's none of your concern," Draco said, pulling on Ginny's arm and keeping her close.
The woman stared at Ginny before she bowed again. "My apologies, Mr. Malfoy. Please, what do I owe of this pleasure?"
Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box. "This is my mother's," he said as he pushed the box along the counter to the woman's hand. "I want you to check for any curses--Merlin only knows what that woman left me to find."
Ginny froze at the thought of Narcissa. She had completely forgotten about her meeting with her, and the promise she made to have Draco visit her. Now, standing here with him, she had no idea how she was going to accomplish that.
The woman opened the box from her end and peered in without taking off the lid. Ginny glanced at Draco before standing up on her toes and craning her head, hoping to steal a peak.
The woman eyed Ginny looking at her and shut the box. "I'll have this ready for you in a week or two, Sir," she said, still staring at Ginny. Ginny couldn't help but glare back at her.
Draco turned to Ginny and rolled his eyes. "Come on," he said, grabbing her arm and leading her out of the store.
He continued to hold onto her as they walked down the alley heading towards the end of it that met Diagon Alley. Ginny tried to squirm out of his grasp, but his hold was too strong.
"Stop that or I'll hold your hand again," Draco growled. Ginny immediately obeyed.
"So…" Ginny said as they walked. "You said that was your mother's?"
"What's it to you?"
"Well," Ginny said, "why didn't you ask her herself if it was cursed?"
Draco stopped them both. "My mother's dead, Weasley. You know that."
Ginny squirmed as Draco stared down at her. "It's just," she paused, not wanting to go on, "I think if you want to go see her portrait, she would be really happy and-"
She stopped at the look on Draco's face. His eyes grew wide and his lips thin. "You've been talking to my mother?" He said each word slowly, as if it took effort to talk.
Ginny gulped. "Not on purpose. I-I got lost one day and she, uh, she helped me find my way back."
Draco continued to stare. He opened his mouth, shut it, and then shook his head. "It doesn't matter anymore. You're forbidden to talk to her ever again."
Ginny was too shocked to even argue. "You didn't yell," she said in awe.
Draco grabbed her arm, tighter than necessary, and dragged her along side of him. "That can be easily arranged."
Ginny stared at him, leaving him to guide their walking. She knew he saw her out of the corner of his eye, but he didn't glance at her until they were at the edge of the alley. Only then when he looked at her did she realize what an effort he just put in to not fight, and wondered if she would ever be able to do the same.
~*~
Super quick update! And I'm already halfway done with chapter three! Once school starts next week updates would be as quick, so I figured I'd try to get as much done now while I can.
Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed so far! I really appreciate it.
Oh! Ever find yourself watching a movie and you come across an actor who is blonde, bad ass, and you think to yourself "That is so Draco!"? Everyone--go rent The Covenant! The movie itself isn't too bad (has to do with magic), but one of the main characters is BLONDE, HOT, BAD ASS, AND DRACO ALL AROUND! And he mentions Harry Potter as well! So go--rent rent! Trust me, you will fall in love (and you get to see his butt!)
Liz21