Title: War What Is It Good For
Author: Karnikiss
E-mail address: freakydeek766@hotmail.com
Rating: R
Category: Angst, Drama, Romance
Disclaimer: You think if I owned any of this I would be posting it here instead of publishing it where I could actually make some form of money?! All I own is the plot and random characters.
A/N: ***I should wait for posting this one but I can't help myself. A lot of things happen in this one. You'll understand what I mean. Sorry about the last chapter being a tad bit confusing. To me it isn't and I'm the writer along with the beta reader. So you understand. Hopefully this one isn't too bad...***
Ginny was more than aware of her entire body trembling and the tingles as well. He hadn't even kissed her, and she was feeling tingling. She felt as if she should be thanking him for that. Then again she is horrified at this moment. This is the closest she's been to a man in the past year, and the closest she's ever been to Draco.
Not thinking about what this could mean and what it would change she slid her arms up his chest and encircled his neck. Draco's body felt hard and warm as she stepped closer. His hands released her arms completely to take possession of her hips. Slowly he pulled her closer still keeping his mouth just a breath away from hers.
He wanted to ask her if she was ready for this. If she could feel the things he was, and he was simply holding her. He knew better than that though. Talking would ruin it and right now that was the last thing he wanted to. Taking one last glance at her beautiful face he shut his eyes and went to close the distance.
Too late...because she was gone. His eyes snapped opened in panic. A split second he thought that maybe it had just been a dream. After sleeping with Jocelyn he has had a few featuring the redhead. He could still smell her on his clothes and feel where her fingers had ran through the short fine hair on the nape of his neck.
"Weasley?" he called just finding his voice. "This isn't funny." No sound replied to his statement. No, it wasn't funny, and he certainly wasn't laughing when silence enveloped him and the camp.
"Weasley?" he tried again this time a bit louder. Still he got nothing back.
"Dammit Virginia I'm too tired to play your damn games." He tried to pretend that he was upset at her and not scared. Turning around slowly he couldn't see anything unusual. Then an all too familiar owl swooped down and landed on his shoulder. He fought the urge to wrap his hands around it's neck and pop it's eyes out.
"What do you want?" Draco hissed. The owl held it's leg out displaying the letter Draco was hesitant to take. "I swear to god..." The owl took off as soon as his objective was done. His eyes flew across the parchment before he allowed it to fall to the floor.
"Virginia!" he yelled this time not worried about waking anyone. "This isn't funny!" And it most certainly wasn't. "Fuck," he swore to himself and made his way to her tent. "Virginia," he hollered again waking a sleeping Casey.
"Draco," the blonde whined sitting up. "You don't need to scream. She's not here."
"I know." He clenched his jaw along with his fists. "My father has her." Casey jumped up quickly and ran over to him.
"What?! How in the hell could that have happened? She was with you."
"I know and we were," he stopped. He couldn't tell the young woman he almost kissed her. Then again he felt like he could tell her anything. Plopping down on Ginny's bed he covered his face with his hands. He felt the blonde's hand on his back and was strangely comforted by the unfamiliar gesture.
"I was about to kiss her Case. She was in my arms and everything, but she just went and disappeared. And now that my father has her." He shivered not able to continue his thought. This wasn't how she dies, right?
"Jocelyn," he said quickly snapping his head up. Casey grimaced immediately, but he ignored it. "Come on," he ordered grabbing her hand and yanking her to the seer's tent.
"How does she have anything to do with your father taking Ginny?" He just shook his head not telling her anything.
"Jocelyn," he cried fumbling in the dark still gripping onto Casey's hand. Right now he feels as if he needs that support. "Ouch, dammit! Jocelyn!" Finally he made out some stirring and then his name was croaked before the room was illuminated.
"Draco? Not that I'm not happy to see you, but it's early in the morning and you brought her." She gestured to Casey. "I don't do that kind of thing." His face set in a tight serious yet pained expression.
"I need your help. Ginny is gone, and my father has her."
"Oh." She sat up even more sitting on top of her legs. "And you want to know if I saw it?" He shook his head.
"I want to know if this is where she dies. Does my father kill her?"
"Draco," she said softly and ran a hand through her red hair. "Even if I tell you everything I saw in detail about that vision it's not going to change anything. What happens is meant to be. Ginny is meant to die for you. It can't get more black and white."
"I don't want it to be black and white. I want it to be bullshit." Draco wasn't paying attention to the paling woman beside him that was squeezing the life and blood from his hand.
"I'm sorry but there's nothing that can be done about that." She sighed softly and shook her head suddenly staring down at the blanket. "But it's not going to happen tonight."
"What does that mean? That he's not going to kill her tonight? That he could do it tomorrow, or whenever he gets around to it. Dammit tell me what you know!"
"I'm trying! I can't just come out and say what I saw. Dumbledore told me not to." Draco felt his heart jump to his ears as the blood rushed into them.
"Dumbledore?! Why in the fuck aren't you supposed to tell me?"
"Because you'll try and change it!" she yelled. "You'll try and change it and ruin everything that is supposed to happen afterwards."
"Oh god no," he mocked with venom lacing his sarcasm. "Does that mean I won't get to marry some submissive little witch and live in the manor with our three point five fucking children?! Do you think I want that shit?"
"Yes," Jocelyn answered matter-of-factly. "I think that's exactly what you want minus the submissive wife. And you know what I really think?" She didn't give him a chance to answer. "I think you want Weasley." Draco glared at her without saying a word. The two silently stared the other down while Casey cried quietly clinging to Draco's hand.
"Are you quite done yet? Because I have to go and find my second?"
"I told you what I could. It's not her time yet."
"But it is yours. Prepare to leave as soon as I get her back here." Jocelyn's tears were lost on the two as he led them back out and into his own tent. He has more than a few necessary words to say to Dumbledore.
"Sir," Draco barked as he set foot inside the old wizard's office. Surprisingly this late at night the man was still awake.
"I know already Draco, and it's being taken care of. She'll be back soon enough."
"Tell me where she is, and I'll go get her. She is mine." Dumbledore turned so that he was no longer showing the two his back.
"Harry is already working on it." Draco couldn't help but take a step back. Even when this deals with him personally they send the perfect fuckin hero.
"Potter?! Sir, she's my responsibility." Dumbledore smiled sadly and gestured to the pale trembling girl to have a seat. She looked grateful and sat still grasping onto Draco's hand.
"I completely understand where you are coming from Draco, but Ms. Weasley is no one's responsibility. I knew you were too emotionally concerned and sent in someone that wasn't."
"What?! You don't think Potter is? They're friends!" The man nodded and placed his hands palms down on the desk and leaned forward on them. He's never seen this young man in front of him seem so emotional. Draco Malfoy has always seemed so closed off.
"But what are you and Virginia?"
"Partners." Draco was missing what Dumbledore was trying to get at.
"If that is all then you can go now. Virginia will back soon enough and unharmed." Draco had to bite down on his tongue to stop the obscenities before they left his mouth.
"Why won't you let Jocelyn tell me? Why can't I know so I can save Weasley?"
"You can't mess with fate Draco. Things are meant to happen for a reason."
"But sir," he said with a heavy voice. "This is ridiculous if I could save her. The less lives that are taken away the better." He paused and leaned forward across the desk like his commander. "Isn't she an innocent like all the others? She has a lot more to live for than me."
"What are you saying?"
"That I don't want her to die to save my pathetic life. She has family and friends and quite frankly I have nothing. It would be a waste."
"No human life is a waste." Draco begged to differ on that one. There is a lot of people he thinks are a waste of space. Probably a fluke of nature that weren't mean to be conceived.
"Sir with all due respect I understand your reasoning even though I don't agree with it. The thing is I don't appreciate you going over my head with everything. When do I get a word in on anything that involves me? First you just release Bentley even though you knew it would end up like this. Then the damn seer's vision and let's not forget you sending damn Potter in to save Virginia!"
"You're too emotionally involved with all of those Draco. You wanted to kill Bentley because of what he had done right under your nose and took advantage of Ginny. I already explained the importance of fate, and Harry is better at going in there without blinding emotions." Draco scoffed.
"That's not true at all! If Granger was taken he'd go in there with guns blazing with or without your permission. You know what too? I think you would let him as well!" Dumbledore nodded his head at Casey.
"That's enough for tonight. I'll see you in the morning after everything has already calmed down. Night Casey." Casey stood and tugged on Draco's hand.
"Night sir." Draco wasn't having it though. He's not about to be put out like some dog. This isn't how it was supposed to go.
"Albus I'm not finished!" He looked pointedly at the blonde man before nodding once more.
"But I am. Go home Draco. She might already be there."
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Draco was pacing outside Ginny's tent with a sobbing Casey. They've been waiting hours for Harry to come back with his redhead. Jocelyn is off to the side not yet removed. She's been granted permission to stay until tomorrow morning. Draco would agree with anything if that meant she was as far away from him as possible.
"Casey please," he whispered not looking at her. "Stop crying."
"I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I can't help it. Ginny is all I have." He sighed deeply and squeezing his eyes shut tightly he shook his head. Grasping his sanity he moved next to her and knelt down in front of the blonde.
"You know that's not true. First off I'm not about to let anything happen to her. If I have any say in the matter it'll be a promise." He reached out and took her small hands into his own and squeezed them reassuringly. "And if I can't come through then you have me. I know I can't be a sister to you like Ginny is, but I could try being a brother. Seeing that I'm an only child I might be rusty, but you could help. Besides I'd spoil my little sister rotten." She smiled weakly down at him and hiccuped.
"You are sweet Draco."
"Shh," he whispered pretending to look around in fear of someone eavesdropping. "I don't want that to get out."
They were quiet for a few minutes with him back on his feet and Casey hugging herself tightly. She watched him wondering what he was thinking exactly. It looked as if his mind was working a mile a minute. She wasn't the person if there was ever a one to get inside that he would allow. His head seemed like a good enough place to start to worm your way into others. Hadn't that been how Ginny did it?
"Do you love her?" Draco nearly tripped over his own two feet at the sudden question. He turned his head only slightly as he eyed her.
"What was that?"
"I asked if you love her. Ginny that is...do you?"
"What kind of question is that? She's my second. Our relationship is purely professional."
"Right," she muttered sarcastically. "Just like it is for Harry and Hermione. Then why did you almost kiss her?" He winced and studied the ground. That was him that went and shared it with her. He could have groaned out loud and rammed his head through a brick wall. Damn it, he thought bitterly. This is why I don't let my guard down. Things always come back and bite me on the ass!
"Nothing is going to happen between us Casey. So you can stop the romantic daydreams, okay? I'm not going to allow anything to happen to her, but I'm not going to drop to my knees and pronounce my undying love." He snorted. "I'd sooner let Bentley shag me from behind."
The subject was dropped directly after that. The two went back to waiting in silence while Jocelyn was thinking a lot harder than she was most likely used to. After all it doesn't take a lot of brain power to see something and then recall it. It's as if they are her own memories. Simple child's play really.
Of course Casey could have pretended that their conversation hadn't even happened when Harry walked into the camp. In his arms he held an unconscious Ginny. Draco nearly ran to them and tried to take Ginny from his arms. Harry, for some reason, didn't seem like he favored the idea.
"Let me have her Potter," Draco hissed for only the other wizard to hear. Harry sighed deeply but slid Ginny into Draco's outstretched arms.
"What no thanks," he called out sarcastically as Draco presented him with his back. The blonde made his way swiftly back towards his tent. Casey was trailing behind and even further back Jocelyn was there as well.
Once inside the tent he placed her down gently on his bed and grabbed his wand quickly. On her face she has a few visible injuries. He could only mutter underneath his breath at Potter's stupidity for not healing her. Then when he held his wand over them he couldn't focus enough to remember the words. He looked over at Casey with a face that spoke more than words needed.
"Here," she said softly and took it from his offering hand. Waving it slowly over her face and whispering the words softly they disappeared as if they had never been present. Faintly she could hear Draco's sigh of relief.
"She'd be proud," he said softly taking his wand back. She shook her head suddenly embarrassed at his praise.
"It wasn't anything." He nodded all the same and sat down on the bed beside her. Casey watched him closely and knew the conversation they just had outside hadn't been the truth. His hand went to her hair and smoothed it back in gentle motions. Casey shook her head and walked back out dragging Jocelyn with her to allow them privacy.
"Hey," he whispered softly and dropped a kiss onto her forehead. "This is a reason I don't want to get involved. My father will take away whatever I care about. I'm sorry Gin," he whispered and bowed his head.
He swallowed audibly and took one of her hands into his. Squeezing it gently he thought about what might have happened to her if Harry hadn't saved her. His father could have done things so horrid to her it would make Harry's deeds seem like a Sunday picnic. He can't allow that to happen. It would entirely be his fault if it did.
"We just have to wait," he whispered. "We're going to have to wait until the war is over." He sighed deeply hating the tight feeling in his chest. "I really wanted to kiss you too Ginny. Things would be different if I wasn't a damn Malfoy." Shifting his eyes to her face again his chest tightened even more. It was making it difficult to breathe. "We'll just have to wait. After the war Gin. You're not going to die. After the war," he repeated and lied down beside her. Draping an arm around her waist he shut his eyes and drifted off to sleep finally. The fragrance of her hair along with the softness of her body lured him into a long needed rest.
But what about Jocelyn's vision?
***Okay so what did you think? I'm not going to post the next chapter until I start getting some reviews. I know you people are reading this. Well I hope you are. Anyway after this things are going to start to go down...as in the story's events. There is a reason Jocelyn hasn't left yet but you'll just have to wait for that one. And Casey isn't going to stay alone for too long. See that is making me want to write it all the more faster! *Sigh* Okay so please R/R!!! Thanks Karnikiss.***