A/N: Just to let everyone know, I started this fic about a year ago, and it has seven chapters already complete. Sorry it's taken me so long to post, but I'd lost the disk it was on. It's found now, and I'll be posting rather quickly. Hopefully I can pick up where I left off on the uncompleted chapter 8, and hopefully by now I'm a better author. Okay, well, read on then! Blessed be, Chero.
Among Other Things
Chapter 4: Voices In My Head
Ginny sighed as she rolled up her parchment for potions. It was her least favorite class, and she was barely passing. Not because she didn't get the answers right, but because she was Gryffindor, and Snape hates those.
She got up from her place in the library, and opened the door, only to bump into the one person she wished she didn't have to see right now.
"Draco, get out of my way. Please," she ground out through clenched teeth.
He looked slightly surprised for a moment, and then his sneer was put back into place. "Well, little Weasel *does* seem to be growing a backbone," he started with a bemused tone. "But she had better watch how she talks to me, if she doesn't wish to get into something she doesn't want to." he finished, the last bit of the sentence was whispered with silky menace in her ear.
She shivered at the feel of his warm breath on her ear, and started at the fluttering in her tummy. She shook it off, glared at him, and replied, "Sod off, wanker." She stalked off, her small hands clenching into fists and unclenching in anger.
'Merlin's beard, what is happening to me?!' she thought, panicked. 'I got turned....... I can't even think it! I'm going bloody insane! Send me to the nuthouse about now!' "Argh!" she fumed.
"Well, is the little Weasel angry about something?" came the most unwelcome voice.
"Draco, what are you doing here?" she asked through her clenched teeth.
"Ah, so it's not Malfoy anymore?" he asked with mock surprise. "I think I liked hearing my name coming from your lips," he leered, thinking at the same time, 'Even if you are a Mudblood-lover', and reveling in the fact that his suspicions were right. She had blinked, blushed a most brilliant red, and looked down.
'She wants me. Well, not surprising. Just something else to tease the pretty on- Wait, since when has she been pretty? St. Mungo's here I come.....'
He started out of his thoughts as he saw her hand waving in front of his face, a slightly annoyed, slightly amused expression on her face.
Her breath caught in her throat as his now clear, blue grey eyes met her amber ones. A shiver went down her spine, and she backed away.
It hit her then, pounding words. Her hands flew to her head, and she collapsed, and would have fallen on the floor if Draco hadn't caught her in time, paling at the sight before him.
Words rang through her head "NO CHOICE, NO CHOICE, IT'S BEEN MADE ALREADY, NO CHOICE NOW!!! YOU HAVE CHOSEN, YOU HAVE CHOSEN!!!" was pounding into her head, to a level that was excruciating.
She barely felt her knees buckle, or the strong arms that now carried her. All she was aware of was the screaming in her head, and the tears that were streaming down her cheeks.
Draco was more confused that anything else. He ran, actually ran, to Mme. Pomfrey's, making sure he didn't drop his load on the way.
Poppy didn't ask him many questions, just asked what seemed to be wrong. By this time, Ginny had not totally lost conciousness, but was nearly squeezing Draco's forearm to death.
The healer led him quickly to a bed, and, using a contraption with a small straw-like thing at the end, poured some painkiller into Ginny's system.
Draco stayed in the background, troubled at the fact that he found himself incredibly concerned about the girl's well-being.
Ginny opened her eyes, feeling the pain begin to ebb, and the voice begin to fade. "Poppy?" she asked faintly.
A grey-black mist was swirling about her eyes, but she could just barely make out the healer's voice and shape.
She prayed the voice woudn't come back, and thought about what it might mean. 'I've already made my choice? Does it mean.... no, it couldn't......'
She moaned and thumped her head back into her pillow over and over until Mme. Pomfrey made her stop.
Ginny took time to look around the familiar room and her eyes came to rest on Draco, looking rather nervous.
"Did you carry me here?" she asked him.
He looked up, his expression unguarded but for a mere moment, and then his face twisted into it's usual sneer. "No, you floated. How else did you expect you got here? We were talking and then you acted as if your head was imploding. What else was I supposed to do?"
By that time, his sarcastic voice was laced with a tinge of pleading, that only she recognized. She nodded, and replied, "Well, thank you anyways."
Poppy watched the exchange, and then asked Ginny, "What happened? What did you see?"
Ginny shrugged, and replied, "It was what I heard. Said my choice had been made, or some such thing. Bloody well hurt! If it wanted it's message across, it could have done it in a lower tone."
Draco listened with interest, wondering what on earth they were talking about. 'She has voices in her head? Well, doesn't that beat all!' he thought amusedly.
"I very well think you have The Sight Ginny. Didn't your Grandmother have it?" Poppy asked.
Ginny nodded, "Yes, she did. But how come Mum doesn't have it? Or any of my hoard of brothers?"
Poppy shook her head. "Don't know dearie, but you should rest for now. I really think you should just try and meditate on it. I'll consult with the Headmaster about it."
Ginny tipped her head in thought. "Could I, by chance, go back to my rooms? I'd be more comfortable in my own bed."
Poppy bit back the refusal, and sighed, "Yes, you may. Mr. Malfoy!"
Draco's head shot up at being addressed. "Yes?"
"Do you think you could walk Ms. Weasley to her common room?"
Draco sighed, wondered why the fates hated him so, and nodded.
Ginny got up, and he took her hand, placing it at his elbow. But Ginny had a better idea of keeping balance. That, and she wanted to get the last hand in, still.
She wrapped her arm around his waist, and plopped his arm over her shoulder. Poppy was chuckling, and said her good-byes, and Ginny had to practically drag Draco out.
He was stiff as a board, and, noticing this, she spat, "Relax, would you? I don't bite, for heaven's sake!"
Draco chuckled a bit at that, but let himself relax. He found he quite liked the feel of her pressing against him, but he shook it off as quickly as possible. 'This is a Weasley, this is a Weasley' was the mantra going through his head.
"So," he started in a casual tone, "what choice was already made?"
Ginny stopped dead in her tracks, and blanched.
"What?" he asked, "What's wrong?"
Ginny started to shake a bit, but quickly got ahold of herself. 'No... it couldn't....' she sighed. 'Oh well, might as well start getting used to it. It keeps happening around him. I suppose that he's it. Fate is cruel.'
I'll leave it there. Sorry if it isn't up to par with the last chapters, but I have a severe case of writer's block, again. Plus, I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open. Anyhow, I'll write the next chap ASAP. And any ideas for the next chap would be welcome!