Something More

To no prevail, Virginia attempted to rummage through her mind, desperately searching for a response. In truth, she didn't even know what the hell she was doing. But the girl wasn't about to let him figure that out. No, she was going to make it through Draco Malfoy, the source of unquenchable wrath that currently was sitting upright on the little bed, eyes scintillating with anger. Anger that was primarily directed towards her. Ginny swallowed.

Well, she supposed that spending the rest of her life as a ferret wouldn't be so bad...

...Oh, who the hell was she kidding?

Without any further deliberation, Ginny finally opted for the most blunt approach. "What do you think you're doing?" she retorted, using his own question in order to turn the situation around. Her gaze attentively watched, as the scowl on his face grew more apparent with every second. She was waiting for him to launch at her or something, which, given his sadistic disposition, wasn't exactly a far-fetched possibility.

In fact, she was almost beginning to wonder what was taking him so long. There were the injuries, of coarse. But who was to say that that would prevent Draco Malfoy?

Draco's intense glare suddenly shifted to the wand in her hand---his wand. Slowly, as if directly taken from a scene found in a horror story, an amused sort of smile played on his lips, an action that Ginny found completely unnerving.

"I'd put that down, if I were you," he warned, his voice matter-of-fact.

"What, so you can kill me?"

Draco shifted his position, ignoring the sharp spasm of pain that followed. Ginny noticed the momentary flash of agony that flickered in his eyes, only to vanish just as soon as it had appeared. "No," he drawled, "because you don't know how to use the goddamned thing, and I rather like having my head connected to the rest of my body," the boy seethed.

Eyebrows knitted, Virginia immediately wished for nothing more than to have Draco's wand out of her hands and to never have to see it again. Besides, her palms had become quite clammy, and Ginny was afraid that she might drop the thin piece of carved wood. But...if she allowed Draco to have the upper hand, there was no telling what would happen. "I'll take my chances, then," she replied coolly, trying her best to remain somewhat calm and collected.

"Suit yourself," he sarcastically mumbled under his breath.

"Now," she continued, a slight frown marring her features. "What are you doing here?" Moving the tip of the wand in a thin circular motion (all the while frightened out of her wits), Ginny seemed to firmly stand her ground. "And I want a straight answer out of you, Malfoy."

Ginny swore she could've heard a low growl rumbling in the back of his throat. "Well you're not going to get one!" he rebuked, and before she knew it, Draco was using what little strength he had in his arms and legs to push his body fully off of the bed. Standing himself upright, he began to advance towards the red-haired girl, who was already hastily backing away in the direction of the closed bedroom door.

"Look," she breathed, as Draco roughly grabbed her wrist, jerking her back towards the center of the room, "I don't wish to hurt you!" Virginia could feel her skin twisting under his tight grip; she was definitely going to have a bruise or two the next day. "I-I want to help you," she pleaded, trying to tear her wrist free, only to have his grasp become tighter.

"Bullshit," he spit with utter vehemence. "If you think I'm going to trust you, Weasley, you're sadly mistaken." Ginny quickly glanced at the blood on his shirt before uneasily looking away.

"I don't expect you to trust me," she hurriedly replied, her quiet voice restless. "But I can help you," Virginia slowly persisted. "You're obviously hurt, and you can't very well go back outside in--" using her free hand to gesture towards the window "--that weather!"

Draco's eyes dimmed briefly from exhaustion, his grip unconsciously loosening, as well. Jerking his hand away, he angrily stumbled back towards the bed.

A mixture of anger, pity, and fear had swept over the youngest Weasley, emotion and logic playing a most aggravating game of mental warfare. Draco was obviously dangerous, and yet she felt compelled to help him.

Ginny began to open her mouth, but was interrupted at once by an opening door and two cheerful male voices from below. Two voices that caused the silver-haired teen to lurch his head in the direction of the small wooden door.

"Oy! Ginny!" Fred.

"Hey Gin! We're back, and we've got some Toad Tongues and Lizard Skins!" And George.

Upstairs, Virginia was frantically glancing between the door and Draco's nervous form. "I'll...go take care of them," she quickly stated. "Please, just---stay here."

"I haven't got anywhere else to go," he replied, annoyance evident in his tone, meanwhile idly looking out the window, watching the delicate flakes of snowfall.

Closing the door behind her, Ginny hastily grabbed a warm-colored duster that was hanging from one of the hooks out in the hallway. The little sweater was old and tattered, some of the weavings obviously undone, just like almost everything else her family and her owned. She loosely draped it over her shoulders and pulled the flaps around her front, so as to cover up some of the blood and dirt that had gotten on her shirt.

Ginny had also cleverly taken Malfoy's wand with her, and so she stuffed the thing in one of the pockets, thankful to no longer have it in her hands.

Making her way downstairs, the redhead greeted the two of her brothers with a smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear and nervously fiddling with the loose ends of the duster.

"Hey listen Gin," George began, while unpacking the little shopping bag filled with some of the most disgusting goodies Virginia had ever seen. "I was wondering if you could close tonight? Fred and I want to rummage through our room. Think we might have some supplies we could use for these babies," he smiled, pointing to a package of Lizard Skins in his hand.

"Mr. Banges just got 'em. Imported from some place," Fred interjected; taking a very large bite from a strawberry cream-filled pastry that had been sitting on the counter. "Wicked, eh?" Ginny could just make out what he was saying; his mouth was so stuffed. He was also completely unaware of the nice blob of jelly resting on the tip of his nose.

"Very," the girl answered, and if it hadn't been for the silver-haired menace residing on the floor above her, she would have been giggling at Fred's blatant display of silliness. "Uhm, well why don't you two head over to the Burrow now?" Anything to get them out of the store, particularly as far away as possible from upstairs. "I don't have any trouble closing," she assured.

"Thanks Gin," George smiled, patting his little sister on the back before apparating.

Taking the last bite of his pastry, Fred grinned, the combination of his smile and the blob of jelly on his nose making him look like some creature with hoofs from one of those Muggle Christmas tales. "Later Gin!" And he was gone.

The redhead released a long, deserved sigh of relief before returning to Mr. Zonko's old bedroom upstairs. Draco was still sitting on the bed, seemingly in thought, with his head in his hands. He looked up at the sound of her entrance.

Leaning against the doorframe with her arms folded, she seemed to be concentrating hard on Draco. Irritated, he asked, "What?"

Biting on her bottom lip, she thought for a moment. "You'll need some clothes...and something to eat," Virginia began. "And whether you're willing to admit it or not, you need my help. Because right now you're pretty much helpless, and I don't know very many people here who would be as hospitable to you as I am."

Draco continued to stare at her, his expression cold, wondering where she was going with this.

"So don't pull anymore crap like you did a few minutes ago," she added rather straightforwardly. A pause, then, "Agreed?"

Draco was silent, and somehow the redhead knew that was a 'yes'.