Ashes By Now

Ginny fell back down with a groan, her hand raising to comfort her head. It came away with sticky, wet blood.

“Crap,” she said with feeling. Molly looked at her oddly. “You'll need to get cleaned up.”

“I can’t believe you hit her,” Harry said, sounding scandalized. Draco looked down at the floor and Ginny rolled her eyes.

“It wasn’t Malfoy’s fault,” she said softly, trying to fend the headache that was creeping upon her, “He was asleep and didn’t know he was hitting me.” Or atleast she hoped that was what happened. He gave her a small smile to reassure her and nodded. An uncomfortable silence settled in the room and Ginny finally broke it.

“Well, now that that’s settled, I need some help into the bathroom, I’m a complete mess.”

She shifted her gaze to Draco, “As for you,” she said squarely, “We’re getting you an alarm clock.”

She sat up again and was happy when the earth stopped tilting and settled.

“Let me help you,” Draco said, scooping her from the bed and carrying her into the bathroom. He sat her on the toilet lid and ran her bath.

“I’ll send your mum with your bathrobe,” Draco said, preparing to leave. Ginny nodded, and wished she hadn’t. She stood to undress as he reached for the doorknob and she said quietly, “Draco.” He turned to find her struggling with the buttons to her pants. He batted her hands out of the way and said, “I’ll get it.” He made quick work of the buttons, and pulled the zipper down. “Turn around and I’ll unbutton your shirt.”

Ginny’s breath caught in her throat. She turned slowly and he quickly undid the buttons. She pressed the shirt to herself as he unbuttoned her shirt and when he was finished she turned to face him.

He didn’t apologize, she didn’t expect him too. He did lean down, and press his cheek to the side he hit her on. He looked into her eyes and was about to....he was only a fraction of a breath away ...

“Hey Malfoy!” Harry called through the door, “Molly wants us to run an errand." Draco pulled away and gave her a smirk.

“Later Ginny,” he said softly.

“Thanks Malfoy,” she responded. With a nod he was out the door.

“Harry Potter, the-boy-who-has-indescribably-bad-timing,” she said softly. Shedding her clothes she climbed into the tub and sunk her head into the water. It came away slightly pink. Her mother didn’t bring her her robe so she donned a fluffy pink towel and made a mad dash to her room.

Ginny walked slowly down the stairs in a new pair of shorts and a baggy t-shirt. It said “RPIT rrrrocks,” with a frog on the front, and Anita Blake, Preternatural Pied Piper on the back. Ginny sat down at the breakfast table, glad that they had waited for her before eating. Ginny passed the eggs away without taking any. “I just want toast,” she said. She looked at Draco as she took her first bit. “Yep,” she said with a mysterious smile, “toast. Buttered toast.” Molly’s eyes twinkled down at her coffee, now if only she would hear from Arthur she would be completely happy.

***********************

"Come on Draco, please!" Ginny said breathlessly. Draco smirked,

"Ginny," he said slowly, "I don't think we should"

Pleeeeeeeeease!" Ginny asked, grinning and breathing heavily.

"I don't know," Draco stated...Ginny's grin fell...and he smiled.

"OK, why not...you'll be the best dancer at Bill's wedding,"Draco said calmly. Truth be told, she wasn't half bad now. Ginny stepped forward, giving Draco her right hand, her left coming to his shoulder.

"Ok, follow my lead," he said smugly, and began to twirl her about the backyard. Ginny giggled.Then trod on his toe.

"Ouch Gin!" the blonde boy protested," Focus please, or I won't be able to walk."

"Sorry," Ginny mumbled, as Harry came from the house. He watched Ginny for a moment, before saying, "Are you still at that?"

"Yes, I don't know why Bill is requesting this specific dance," Ginny grumbled. "You'd think he'd figure out that no one knows how to do the tango anymore."

"Malfoy seems to be doing quite well," Harry remarked. Ginny trod on his toe again.

"Ouch!" Draco muttered," Potter, get lost, you're distracting the student."

They ignored him,"Face it Harry, Malfoy's a freak of nature"

"I resent that!" Draco said," There is nothing remotely wrong with me."

"Oh, you mean other than a swelled head," Harry asked.

"I do not have a...hey! I resent that too," Draco cried, twirling Ginny, before dipping her.

He looked into her beautiful eyes and...Harry cleared his throat.

"You two have been standing like that for five minutes," Harry remarked.

"Oh," was all Ginny said.

"That's how you're supposed to do it," remarked Draco. Ginny straigtened up, and cleared her throat.

"Hey Malfoy," she said evilly," Harry needs to learn how to dance too."

"What!" they barked together.

"I am not dancing with Potter," Draco snapped.

"What about me!" Harry protested, "I'm not dancing with him!" he said, flinging an accusing finger at the blonde boy. Draco sniffed.

"Fine," Ginny said sadly, "Hmmm, i wonder if Neville will want to go to the wedding with me"

"That's not fair, Neville doesn't have to dance with Malfoy!"

"I danced with Malfoy, hes actually quite good."

Harry sniffed, "I hate you both!"

"Ditto." Ginny then watched Draco lead a stumbling Harry through the Tango.

"Ouch!...Potter!...you poof, can't you do anything?" Draco yelped everytime Harry trod over his feet. Personally, Ginny thought he was doing it on purpose...she suspected that Draco thought so too, when at the end of the dance he dipped Harry, then kissed him. Harry yelped like he was burned and Draco dropped him uncerimoniously on the ground. Then chuckling to himself he walked off. Neither of the two remaninig saw him wipe furiously at his mouth as he turned the corner of the house.

"Now THAT is how its supposed to be done!" Ginny said clapping.

"Bleah!" Harry said, and ran inside to find a tooth brush and some mouthwash.

(Dream-Draco)

Running, yes, running was good. So he ran, and ran….smacked into a tree, and ran some more. Yes, life certainly was interesting, running for the preservation of one’s self. What was he running for? Well, he didn’t really know, but he did know who he was running to. He ran into a clearing where the beautiful auburn girl was standing. “Come on!” he said, grabbing her and attempting to pull her away watched in disbelief as she easily pulled away. “We have to get out of here,” he said, and pulled on her once more. She stayed rooted to her spot.

“I cannot leave,” she said, “I…owe…him…my…allegiance,” the words came, like they were forced out, and surely they were.

Draco thought to himself, this is a weird dream. He gripped Ginny’s waist, “Help me, help me destroy him, please.”

“You can’t destroy him,” she said sadly, and pulling a six inch dagger from her robes as Draco’s eyes widened. She took two steps forward, pressed the cool steel to his flesh, and pulled down.

“Why!?” Draco croaked as the blood ran from his throat.

“Because I can’t fight him.”

(End of Dream)

Draco awoke covered in sweat, clutching his pale, delicate throat. It had been so real he swore he could still feel the blade pressed to his throat. He tiptoed to her room and opened the door quietly, standing there watching her sleep. She tossed and turned before flinging something away from her body. It landed with a heavy thwack in the wooden floor and Draco swallowed in horror. It was the blade from his dream. She turned and looked at him slowly…like a victim in a horror movie…not that Draco had ever snuck out to see one (cough Jason X cough) and looked at him wide eyed.

“Your blood is on my hands,” she moaned softly in despair. Then she rocked back and forth in the bed.

“Your blood (back) is on (forward) my hands,” she buried her face in her knees and cried. “I never want that to happen!” Neither do I, Draco thought.

“Ginny, what’s happening?” he asked, none of the fear he felt in his voice. She tried twice before she could call words.

“Tom…its Tom, he…oh my god! I thought,” she flung her covers over her head and cried.

Draco thought about wrapping his arms around her and reassuring her. Instead he left. He closed the door and hid under his own covers. Draco Malfoy was not cowardly, but he was afraid, and nothing took away the sting of fear like hiding under your blankets and praying to hell for all your ass is worth that the monsters will go away.