Dragon's Rekindler

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

“So...Ginny,” Parvati Patil was asking her, “who do you think is cute besides Harry, Seamus, and Justin?”

Ginny was sitting in one of the overstuffed Gryffindor armchairs facing away from the rest of the common room. She nervously looked down and twiddled her thumbs before biting her lower lip and answering.

“Promise not to say anything?” Ginny enquired of Parvati, who nodded her head quickly---clearly loving every moment of the gossip filled conversation.

Ginny quietly and quickly muttered out, “Draco Malfoy,” under her breath.

Parvati at first was expecting someone like Neville, or even Colin, but never had she thought a Gryffindor would like a Slytherin. Parvati’s mouth gaped open in surprise a few moments after the shock wore down.

“Ginny! You can’t possibly like him! He’s such an insufferable git,” Parvati then smiled and continued, “never mind. Your right...unfortunately! But he is pretty good looking.”

A cough broke the girls’ conversation with a glass shattering effect. Both girls failed to realize that Ron was standing right next to them...and had heard every word.

“Ginny! What the hell are you thinking? Malfoy? What’s wrong with you?” Ron screamed at his sister, red in the face from his anger towards Ginny.

Ginny was increasingly worried about how Ron had taken her comment so out of hand and decided to speak up, hoping it would calm him down a bit, “Ron, please...”

Ginny was eyeing the common room nervously, hoping no one heard whatever was being discussed. Luckily the only people in there were Hermione, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Parvati, Neville, and Dean, the last minute stragglers at 11:50 p.m.

Neville, Dean, Harry, and Parvati quickly fled the scene that Ron was unfolding. They didn’t want to embarrass Ginny with their presence, especially since the conversation between her and Ron had started out so personal. Hermione was watching Ron with her McGonagall look, and folded her arms across her chest. With a final disapproving glance shot at Ron, Hermione too decided it would be best for herself not to get involved. Hermione gave a supportive smile to Ginny, for she knew first-hand, that duking it out with Ron Weasley was definitely no picnic.

“So...” was all Ron could find himself to say without completely losing control of his temper.

“Ron, I never said I liked Draco! All I said was that he’s cute! Honest!” Ginny quickly answered Ron’s vague question.

“Ginny, before you go making decisions to get together with a guy,” Ron paused and gave Ginny a patronizing look, “I think it would be best for you to consult me first. I don’t know what’s gotten into you! Maybe you need to go to St. Mungos?” Ron added semi-sarcastically.

Ginny could feel her ears burning up with embarrassment, shock, and anger. Her hot spring of tears, threatening to pour out of her blue-green eyes not helping matters at all.

“Ron, you stupid git! Don’t tell me who I can and can’t see!” Ginny pushed past Ron’s tall frame, leaving him somewhat surprised at her outburst.

Ginny ran out of the common room, through the portrait hole, and found herself racing down the many flights of stairs towards the front entrance doors. As she was racing through the low lit, torch-lighted halls, she quickly opened the grand doors as quietly as she could and exited the school.

Running to the lake, Ginny ran until she found her favorite tree---an old oak tree, that was probably as old as Dumbledore himself.

It was spring time, so the leaves were just now taking full bloom in their vivid yellow, greenish tints.

Ginny saw this with her wand’s light pointed at them.

Relaxation finally came to Ginny, as she was soon returning to her natural breathing pattern; The running had taken a lot out of her (hey, it was many flights of stairs after all!).

After her brain started to function properly again, Ginny realized what she had just done...snuck out.

She was one to follow the rules, especially after her first year with petrifying students and generally being a danger to the school. Horrified at what she did, she quickly ran back into the school, leaving her precious tree behind.

While running up a flight of stairs, Ginny had forgotten due to her anxiety, the trick step that Neville and usually first years got stuck in. Ginny was now frantic like a fox in a trap set by the hunter. Her leg stung from the uncomfortable position she was now forced to hover in.

Ginny swore quietly, and winced in pain as she tried to free herself, only to sink her leg in a little further. Suddenly, a wand light flashed in her direction. Ginny couldn’t see who was flashing the light on her, but she prayed it wasn’t Filch, On second thought---Filch is a squib. What was I worried about? Ginny privately thought, trying to comfort herself. She hoped it wasn’t any of her professors, especially certain ones that would gladly deduct one hundred points in a heart beat. Luck was in her favor that night however, for a student it just happened to be.

“Weasley?” came a drawling, amused voice.

Ginny didn’t doubt who that voice belonged to, and she definitely didn’t want Draco Malfoy to take advantage of her predicament. She chose to stay quiet and pretend to not hear his voice. Even though she thought Draco was very good-looking, it still didn’t null the feeling of being terrified for her life in his presence.

Draco’s wand light was still on Ginny’s blazing red wavy hair. Only then did Ginny realize what she was wearing---a very revealing green tank top, and black pajama shorts. She quickly crossed her arms when Draco started to walk over to her.

“Weasley, why didn’t you answer me when I called?”

Ginny refused to acknowledge his presence, and continued to ignore him, hoping he’d go away or at least help her out of the step.

“What’s the matter Weasley? Stuck? Well I always knew you Weasley’s,” Draco spoke it with a detectable disdain, “had chronic memory loss problems, but I didn’t know you would have the same problems as your git brother has, “ Draco said to her with his traditional half sneer/smile.

“Malfoy, are you done abusing my family name yet? I don’t have the time to listen to your crap,” Ginny said to him, very annoyed.

Draco sat down on the step above Ginny, and spoke in a low voice that would turn most girls on, “Well, let me remind you of something...you are stuck in this step until someone helps you out. So, learn to listen and not talk back so much. Besides, I believe I’m the only one who can help you out right now?” Draco smirked.

Ginny frowned upon realizing that he was absolutely correct, and then asked him, “How come you’re out here this late?”

“Why are you?” Draco retorted.

“I asked you first,” Ginny said.

“If I tell you, you will have to tell me why you’re out here as well,” Draco said confidently.

“Go on then,” Ginny pushed him on to speak.

Draco’s real reason to being out there was a very personal secret, and one not to be shared with anyone, so he decided to skirt around the real reason he was out there.

“First of all, I’m Head Boy. It’s quite alright for me to be out right now. And second, I was taking a walk,” Draco answered, hoping Ginny wouldn’t ask him why he was taking a walk.

Ginny shot him a dubious look when he mentioned taking a stroll, but decided not to comment.

“I got in a fight with Ron over guys,” Ginny answered quickly.

Draco smirked and asked, “What now? Weasley was fighting over a boy with you? I always suspected...” Ginny furrowed her brow and answered back.

“No! I meant to say that he’s trying to tell me who I can and can’t go out with,” she finished.

Draco sobered down and smiled, “Well, did you tell him off?”

“Yeah,” Ginny answered.

“Good for you. About time you showed him you’re not just a Weasley, that you’re Virginia,” Draco said with a hint of pride, as if he himself had just personally told off his rival instead of Ginny.

Ginny couldn’t help but smile a little at Draco’s compliment, but she caught herself when she remembered just who she was talking to. Draco caught her rapid change of facial expressions, and asked her with a bemused smile, “So, why did you stop smiling?”

Ginny bit her bottom lip nervously, and asked Draco, “You’re not going to tell anyone I snuck out are you?”

“We’ll see about that, won’t we?” Draco answered with a mischievous glint in his gray eyes.

“What do you mean? Do you want something in return for your silence?” Ginny quickly asked him, she was increasingly becoming wary of Draco with every look he gave her.

“Well, I wouldn’t say no to a Mai Tai, but considering you probably don’t carry a travel size bar with you---I’ll just settle for a kiss...on the lips mind you,” Draco smiled at Ginny deviously.

Ginny shot a disgusted look to Draco, but really was excited to give a guy as good looking as Draco a kiss.

Pretending to give in reluctantly, Ginny asked Draco, “Only if you promise to take me out of this step.”

Draco considered the deal for a second, and shrugged. He told Ginny to uncross her arms so that he could pull her up by the hands.

This time she reluctantly agreed with Draco. He couldn’t help but gape at Ginny’s perfect body. Ginny of course, would disagree heartily, saying her arse was too big, her legs to long, and her abs too muscled up.

Draco smiled and raised her out of the trick step, pretending that he lost his balance, he leaned forward carefully and lay down on top of a frightened Ginny.

Her blue-green eyes were wide in surprise and fright, like a deer with car’s headlights flashing on it.

“What the hell Draco?...” Ginny didn’t get a chance to talk because Draco was determined to get his end of the deal---a kiss.

His mouth gently covered hers, Ginny’s lips didn’t part at first, but slowly she gave in to temptation.

Draco gently pushed Ginny into his embrace, placing his hands under her head to protect it from the cold stone floor where they lay. His hands weaved through her thick red wavy hair, and he pushed his weight off of her body.

She finally gave into his urges, and joined him in their kiss. Her hands were weaving through his fine silvery blond hair, that fell through her fingers like sand.

Just as she was getting really into the kiss, Draco pulled away smiling. Ginny’s disappointment was evident on her flushed face. She longed to taste Draco again, he tasted like rich chocolate, mixed with butterbeer. She longed for him to hold her again, his strong arms rescuing her from the stone, and she wanted to smell him again. His scent was of pine trees and strangely enough...water.

Draco helped her up, and brushed a piece of her fiery hair behind her silver earring clad ears.

Ginny sadly watched Draco walk away without a word, into the shadows and disappearing into the dark. Ginny was taken aback by Draco’s gentle, yet remarkable kiss.

Ginny shook her head and made a promise to herself to be nicer to Draco from now on. Only one problem was nagging at the back of Ginny’s mind. The problem was Ginny’s sensible portion of her brain, telling her to be wary of Draco. That, he might tell on her---deal or not.

After all, he was a Slytherin, and Ginny just wasn’t sure if she could trust him completely yet.

She quietly walked through the many halls and only once almost got caught by Mrs. Norris. Ginny reached the portrait, climbed in, and made way up to her dorm.

* * * *

The next morning at breakfast, Ginny was apprehensive about Draco’s promise/deal.

She fully expected to get in trouble that morning while walking into the Great Hall. To her amazement and utter relief, not a single teacher made their way to Ginny.

Ginny chanced a glance in Draco’s usual seat at his table. He wasn’t there. Ginny’s fear returned at full swing. She wondered if maybe he was telling on her right now, at that very moment.

She quickly grabbed a piece of toast, and ran out of the Great Hall.

Ginny ran to her oak, settled down on its humongous brown roots like a seat.

Calming down, with the soothing sounds of birds chirping gaily, wind rustling through the leaves, and a soft scent emitted form the oak’s old bark. Ginny finally relaxed.

Taking one last whiff of air from around her, Ginny walked back into the school and to her first class.

* * * *

A week passed, and still Ginny had not gotten into trouble.

She decided by dinner time on Friday that she wanted to say thanks to Draco and maybe, just maybe tell him which guy she was fighting about with Ron.

Ginny was looking around the Slytherin table for any sign of Draco. Not finding him, she decided to look for him outside, and maybe getting a good walk to burn off the calories from dinner at the same time.

She walked on through the afternoon and finally came back to walk around the lake again. What she saw shocked her, and her heart broke into a thousand pieces---no, make that one hundred thousand.

* * * *

Draco and Pansy held hands, while walking around Hogwarts’ enormous lake. The sun was setting behind the vast amount of trees in the forbidden forest. The couple came to a stop near a tree overlooking the best view of the sunset.

The sun emitted red, orange, purple, blue, pink, and yellow rays of light, refracted off of a mountain top’s peak.

They stood silently by the willow tree, enjoying each other’s company. Draco quietly reached into his back pocket with his free hand, and pulled out a black velvet jewelry box.

He gradually kneeled in front of Pansy, her hunter green robes billowing in the gentle wind against Draco’s face.

She let out a gasp of surprise upon seeing him on the ground, but when she saw the black box in his hands, her eyes watered up into tears of happiness. “Draco...” she whispered quietly, her smile never once left her face.

“Pansy Parkinson. I remember loving you from the day we first met. I no longer love you...but us. We were meant to be with one another forever. Will you take my hand in marriage?” Draco asked her with his gentle gray eyes never once leaving her face. He was altogether calm, the faint aroma of leaves surrounding the two had left them in a state of temporary bliss and tranquility.

Pansy’s face, lit up with happiness and her teary eyes gave way to the flood of emotions she kept inside. She too knelt down on the dewy grass, in front of Draco, and spoke happily, “Of course, Draco. I love you too.”

And the two lovers looked into each other’s eyes. Two blue, two gray. One heart, shared between them both. Draco lifted Pansy’s chin with his finger, and leaned forward to bring them closer.

They kissed one long kiss, that took Pansy’s breath away. They were so taken into their own world, that they failed to notice an upset Gryffindor watching them enviously. The girl never got a chance to tell Draco how she felt for him. Slytherin, or no Slytherin. She didn’t care, so long as Draco cared for her too. Ginny Weasley sighed deeply and pitied herself. Now I’ll never know whether or not Draco likes me back.

Ginny quickly walked back to the castle, evading Draco and Pansy’s private, special moment in their lives.

* * * *

~Two years after graduating from Hogwarts, Draco and Pansy are happily married. Pansy is delivering her first baby, she is very weak from giving birth to the child, a little girl. No one knows for sure, if Pansy will make it through the night.~

“Pansy, honey. Keep your eyes open and listen to me!” Draco cried to his unconscious wife.

“I love you! Our daughter...and I need you! Please! Stay with us! I’ll even let you name her whatever you wish! I promise!” Draco was on the verge of tears that he didn’t know how to cope with. He’d never experienced someone he loved dying, and it was foreign to him. His own father had died before Voldemort had finally been destroyed by a seventeen year old Harry Potter. Draco had never cared for his father, a man who scorned love, and felt it to be weakness.

Draco’s hand was in Pansy’s sweating, cold one. Suddenly, Pansy’s grip tightened onto Draco’s and she spoke softly, “Draco, I’m not going to be here for much longer,” Draco was about to contradict Pansy’s pessimism but she hushed him with her finger on his trembling lips, “I love you,” Pansy paused and then continued, “I want you to take care of yourself and our little daughter named...Selena,” again Pansy paused, this time to gasp in a fresh breath of air...her last breath of air, as she spoke her last words, “I love you...”

Pansy’s eyes remained open, but her hand lost its grip, and her blue eyes were now lifeless, lost, and empty.

Draco’s sadness was so extreme, that crying seemed insufficient for releasing his anger, frustration, and the feeling of deep loneliness. Instead, he balled up his free hand tightly, stifled his racking sobs---only to be heard inside his heart. Blinking back the flood of tears threatening to escape his solemn eyes.

“I love you too Pansy...I really do...” Draco whispered into her now deaf ears.

He gently closed her eyelids, that were now continuously getting glazed over.

Draco could now make out the incessant cries of Selena. In a fit of anger, rage, confusion, and sadness, Draco lifted a pacifier off a side table. He threw it at Selena, the poor helpless newborn. The pacifier thankfully hit a spot above her head, but could have easily hurt her, had it actually landed on her.

The noise of an object hitting the wall above her, Selena started up into a more horrendously loud fit of cries than before. It was if she could sense her mum’s death, and in her own way---was mourning with her father.

Draco’s eyes narrowed into slits as he stared at his newborn daughter.

“I hate you! You’re the reason she’s dead, did you know!? You bloody waste of life!” Draco’s every word was laced with anger and frustration.

The next morning the medi-wizards ruled the cause of death: Excessive blood loss during childbirth. Draco could barely hold Selena, without receiving tempting thoughts to drop her helpless figure on the hard, cold, marble floor.