Dragon's Rekindler

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~Two months later. It is now the beginning of October~

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Virginia was now used to every little detail in her new life. She awaited Draco’s presence for all the meals, and she liked having tea with him in the afternoons.

They usually talked about Hogwarts---but were careful not to mention their past kiss on the stair landing.

Even though they were never enemies, they were never actually friends either. Virginia and Draco, within the past two months had developed a friendly relationship---but still weren’t close enough to call each other a friend.

On one memorable occasion, they started talking about the second Voldemort war during their time at Hogwarts. Draco had told Virginia of his mother’s death, of how it hadn’t effected him one bit.

When Virginia asked Draco why her death didn’t bother him, all he said before turning his face in the other direction was, “Pansy...”

Virginia knew how Pansy died---thanks to the Daily Prophet’s obituary. She felt bad for Draco, but at the same time didn’t care for Pansy, for they had never been friends nor talked to each other.

Virginia sat there in the sunroom with Draco---silently. After she couldn’t deal with the silence any longer, she made up an excuse to check on Selena. Virginia left him to his brooding.

As she walked out of the sunroom, she passed by the library. This room bothered her to no end. Especially since Draco had forbidden anyone or anything to go inside it. This just enticed Virginia all the more...a forbidden room! She really wanted to find out just why this was.

One day, after putting Selena down for a nap, and knowing for a fact that Draco had to conduct business outside of the house in London---Virginia knew this was a perfect opportunity.

She quietly closed Selena’s door shut. Virginia then cautiously walked to the corridor that held the library. Walking along the corridor, which was dimly lit, and had a few small ‘gothic style’ windows allowing a small amount of light in, Virginia started to shiver. This corridor was cold, much colder than even the sunroom. Finally after walking for a short amount of time, Virginia came upon the wooden Mahogany doors.

She turned the handle. It was surprisingly unlocked.

Charming the candles to light up the room, which was surprisingly warmer than the corridor, Virginia knew automatically why this room was forbidden to her.

There were countless drawings, paintings, and sketches laying all around the floor, walls, and desk. Virginia’s curiosity arose, and she walked over to the desk. She picked up the drawing in her hands. As soon as she got a clear look at it, she quickly dropped it back on to the desk, her hands were shaking.

Virginia’s frantic brain searched for an explanation. The drawing was of her. And what a drawing it was! It depicted Virginia leaning over a rose bush, sniffing a rose through her delicate fingers. The signature at the bottom left no doubt in Virginia’s mind of who had drawn this...Draco Malfoy had.

She continued to stand there, looking over the drawing lay in front of her. She could tell that Draco had spent quite a deal of time perfecting it. There were erase marks near her hair mostly. Although the rest of the drawing was perfect. Even down to every little wrinkle in her eyes when she smiled, which was what she was doing in the drawing.

Virginia was so engrossed with the picture, that when a sudden ‘POP’ sound came from behind, she failed to notice.

“You! What the hell?” came Draco’s shocked voice as he noticed the drawing Virginia was so taken with. He pushed her aside angrily and flipped the drawing over.

Virginia spun around---her eyes betrayed her fear, for she was scared of what Draco would do to her now. Perhaps fired? Or even a loss of possible friendship? Virginia felt damned either way.

“I’m sorry Draco. I just had to see what was in here,” she apologized to a fuming, and clearly embarrassed Draco Malfoy.

“Virginia, what part of ‘don’t ever go in the library’ didn’t you understand?” he spoke angrily, but not raising his voice an octave. He didn’t need to. Just his glare was enough to frighten anyone. Except Virginia Weasley.

Virginia wasn’t about to let Draco win all the way though. “Well what the hell are you doing...drawing pictures of me!?” she cried, feeling scandalized that Draco actually drew her quite correctly---as if he stared enough at her to memorize every last detail of her body.

Draco had the grace to look down in shame, but chose not to answer. He would never admit to Virginia that he was starting to fall for her.

“Well?” Virginia repeated.

“Nothing. No reason, except that I love to draw...alright? Its not like you don’t draw,” he brought up.

Virginia didn’t appear satisfied with his explanation, but decided against mentioning it again. It was just as embarrassing to her, as it was for Draco to know that she had found the drawings.

“So why did you come back home?” Virginia asked him, hoping to change the subject.

“I forgot my cloak,” Draco answered while pointing out a black cloak laid out over his chair.

Virginia then realized she had referred to Malfoy Manor as her home. Damn, I really need to get out of here more often! I’ve started to think of this place as home!

An awkward silence fell over the two, as Draco stood calmly behind the chair, and Virginia was ringing her hands together nervously. Virginia felt that she needed to get out of there, away from Draco.

“I need to go back and check on Selena,” was all she could come up with in such a short amount of time. She half ran, half walked out the door. Draco followed her departure with sad eyes.

Then again, that conversation wasn’t going anywhere. Draco picked up the drawing and magicked it to the wall directly in front of his desk. Giving his drawing one more glance, Draco threw his cloak over his shoulders. He disapparated, going back to London.

* * * *

For a week, Draco didn’t request Virginia’s presence in the sunroom. Virginia avoided his gaze, even as Draco continued to look at her, thinking she didn’t notice. She would blush under his gaze now, making him feel happy about doing that to her.

Draco himself didn’t want to admit his feelings for her, of course, for she was a Weasley.

One day, after Draco couldn’t take the silence anymore, he sent Bransworth for Virginia---this time they met in the library. He decided to be quite frank with an already terrified Virginia.

He looked her in the eye and she did also. Then they both looked away, and Virginia failed to realize just how close Draco was walking towards her.

“You love me,” Draco spoke, his tone suggesting that he already knew she did, and he was just confirming it.

Virginia turned her face back to see his---a mere foot away, and spoke in a quiet whisper, feeling damned again for having to lie, “No”.

Draco seriously doubted she was telling the truth. It was written all over her pained face.

Virginia, herself not wanting Draco to know her deepest feelings, made for the door. Making up an excuse she spoke, “I must check on Selena”.

Draco had never felt so frustrated in all his life. His daughter was making everything impossible. But, just as he started to lose all hope of Virginia acknowledging her love to him, she opened the door a crack. She stuck her head through the door and surprising herself even, she walked over to Draco. Sticking a hand out to Draco, she said, “We should just be friends”. Draco took her hand, not shaking, just holding it. She quickly wrestled her hand from his and left the room once more.

* * * *

~October 30th: A couple hours after dinner~

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Over the last few weeks, Draco and Virginia found themselves to be ignoring each other. Both of them dared not reveal how they really felt, so the only other option was to forget it ever happened.

The option for a friendship between Draco and Virginia was still open, however that would mean communication was needed. And both didn’t want to risk it.

Virginia had been spending time with Selena drawing pictures of black cats, pumpkins, and ghosts...Muggle traditional representations for the spirit of Halloween. She also told Selena Halloween stories from her past years as a student in Hogwarts, deliberately failing to mention her first year’s Halloween (she was possessed). That was still a painful (mentally) memory in Virginia’s opinion. Selena, after being told of playing in the leaves, carving pumpkins, and eating homemade berry cupcakes (picked from the gardens in the Weasley’s burrow home), wanted in on all the fun that Virginia once had.

Virginia herself couldn’t help but feel excited about Halloween. Wanting to surprise Selena, Virginia decided to go and get the supplies she needed, without anyone knowing what she was doing.

When Virginia first arrived at Malfoy Manor (in August), she noticed a forest in the far regions of the vast grounds. Knowing for a fact that berries, leaves, and other Halloweenish craft ideas could be found in forests, Virginia walked into the dark, somewhat murky smelling foliage. Virginia could hear owls hooting, nocturnal animals scurrying along through the bushes, and she saw the occasional squirrel gather a few nuts from the ground. She could hear her feet crunch on leaves, the leaves were a brilliant yellow and obviously dying---falling off the trees with every gust of wind. It smelled of autumn---leaves, and a mixture of dirt and water, a somewhat summer smell, but stronger.

She walked on and on, throughout the forest. She finally caught site of berry bushes to her right.

Stooping down to the ground on her knees, she picked blue berries and ripe raspberries form the bushes. Noticing that the bushes appeared more fruitful deeper into the forest, Virginia increased the light intensity of her lumos spell, and the light led her to a path made of loose flat stones.

Obviously the stones once led people to somewhere, Virginia reasoned.

Going with what she thought right, she started to follow the ancient stone path. In some places, the stones were so unleveled that she had to walk looking down at her feet, instead of ahead of herself. This proved to be a major fault of Virginia’s as she soon found out.

She soon heard a growl, deep and resonating, as if coming from a monster. She wasn’t far off in her assumptions, because suddenly, the growling increased and a deep, echoing rumble could be heard.

The ‘monster’ opened its mouth, which as far a Virginia knew, or could see with her limited light, a mere ten feet apart from each other was the creature. Its breath was caught by Virginia’s senses. It smelled of Iron...in other words, blood.

The creature expelled a small, but destructive amount of fire towards the bushes near it. The bushes nearest the monster caught on fire quickly. Before it could spread, Virginia called out the spell to extinguish flames. In the one second that Virginia took to eliminate the fire, her lumos spell went out. That was when Virginia took notice of the monster---which was now approaching her, and now was five feet away.

It was indeed a dragon. A dragon in Malfoy’s forest? Virginia pondered. Too scared to run, Virginia froze on the spot. Her legs would not carry her anywhere to safety. The only thing Virginia noticed was an ancient castle, in ruins, but still standing, behind the Welsh Green dragon. The stone was clearly aging into a black color with the years; Ivy vines grew up the side of the stone building. No doubt about it, this part of the woods was being guarded by the dragon.

Unfortunately, Virginia had stumbled upon this secret layout in the woods. Returning to her senses as the dragon reared on its clawed back legs, and looking as if he would start breathing fire again. The gray, thick, curvy smoke was coming out of his nostrils, which were flaring open and closed rapidly.

Virginia knew that, by having Charlie Weasley as a brother, to stay very still around dragons; That they became aggravated easily, and its best to try singing to it---especially if you’re a virgin, as in Virginia’s case.

The first song that came to mind was one her mother sang to her as a child, called Suo Gan. It was an old Welsh lullaby.

Virginia sang as loud and clear as she could get her shaky, scared self to allow. Even though she’d been to Charlie’s dragon reserves after getting out of Hogwarts, she was still scared of how ferocious they could become in a matter of seconds.

[Singing]

The dragon started to sway, closing its red eyes, and the smoke started to come out in soft puffs of smoke, whereas it used to be angry puffs.

Virginia had finished singing the song and continued to sing it repeatedly, over and over again. Finally, the dragon sat down on its enormous haunches---eyeing Virginia sleepily, it opened its mouth and let out an enormous yawn. Virginia was surprised that the dragon would actually yield to her singing. She stood, in front of the now docile sleeping dragon, still in shock. So gone, she was, that when a beautiful Lipizzaner horse came galloping into the clearing where she stood by the dragon, she failed to realized who was astride it.

The moon shone through the parting clouds, allowing Virginia to see who rode the Lipizzaner.

Virginia’s eyes widened upon seeing a familiar face, and she ran to him. Draco had already dismounted, and he was now walking over to Virginia. He took in the site of a dragon and then looked back at the frightened Virginia. His arms opened up to her, and allowed her to get deep into his embrace. Crying freely now---the shock was over, Virginia had a death grip on the back of his white collar.

“Ginny,” Virginia started upon hearing him speak her nickname, the name Selena and her close family and friends used. Draco was rubbing her back in small circles to calm her down and his other hand held her trembling head pushed onto his muscular chest. He could feel her sobs---first racking, then they tuned down to shudders.

Draco could feel Virginia’s wet tears soak through his white linen shirt. Draco tried again to speak to her, he whispered in her ear, “Ginny,” she stopped shuddering to look up at him, as far as her neck could go---she would not let go of his neck collar, “Why did you go into the forest? Didn’t you know they’re dangerous, especially at night? What were you thinking?” he asked again.

“I wa--was,” Virginia’s voice cracked, “looking for berries, leaves, and pumpkins for Selena’s first Halloween.”

Draco’s eyes became a good deal of a colder shade when Selena was mentioned.

“Are you crazy? That’s was house elves are bloody for!” he said to a trembling Virginia.

“And I never want you to do something this stupid again!” he said to her, this time with his eyes softening back to their original gray-blue color.

Virginia took no notice of the concern in his eyes and spoke, “Draco! You call what I did stupid? When you have a bloody awful dragon in your backyard? How was I to know?” she retorted angrily, and let go of his neck.

She retreated a few steps away form him and crossed her arms---waiting for an explanation.

The Lipizzaner was stomping its hooves impatiently. Draco walked back towards Virginia, he grabbed her around the waist and before her struggles could even begin---Draco picked her up and threw her onto the horse’s bare white back. Draco swung himself over the horse as well, in front of Virginia.

“Grab on,” was all he said as he kicked the sides of the horse and it took off at a soft, rhythmatic canter (A/N: The canter is a fast paced gait that is very smooth and it also hurts your arse less than the other gaits. You don’t rise much from the saddle, and it is generally comfortable).

Virginia could feel the powerful muscles of the horse beneath her. Its flanks were warm and soft, the white hairs were attaching themselves to Virginia’s green robes. She knew she’d have a helluva time getting rid of the hairs, but she didn’t mind right now. All she was worrying about right now was whether or not the dragon might awaken at any minute---apparently Draco was thinking along the same lines.

Virginia wrapped her arms tightly around Draco’s slim waist, burying her face into his silver-white locks. She took in his scent---the same as six years ago---and she calmed down, letting Draco take charge.

As they continued to canter along the Malfoy grounds, Virginia molded her body to Draco’s back---trying to get as much comfort from his body as possible. Draco also tried to get comfortable on his horse---it was bareback, so of course he would hurt more than Virginia at the end of the ride.

Draco groaned in pain for obvious reasons; Virginia heard him and realized where his pain was coming from. Hey, it was easy for her to know something like this when you have six brothers.

She whispered in his ear while smiling, “That’s gunna hurt for awhile isn’t it? I myself am pretty comfortable. Then again...I don’t have the same problems,” and she said it as if it were a joke, “as you do”.

He grimaced and looked back at her, their noses were touching, from being so close to each other to begin with.

“I wouldn’t be hurting so bad if I hadn’t been in a rush to save your life!” he shouted back at her. He had turned back around to look forward. He was mad that he had forgotten the saddle, that would have solved a lot of problems. But when he noticed she wasn’t in the manor, he became worried and went to the stable to fetch his horse and ride out looking for her. He, like the Marauders had a map similar to theirs...he of course had no idea about Harry’s map. This map allowed Lucius to find Draco whenever he wanted to punish him for something.

Draco felt Virginia’s grasp around his waist tighten, and he actually found that he like it.

“You...you, tried to save my life?” She asked in a little voice.

“Yes, only you got my dragon to sleep before I got there. A true miracle you’re still alive, really,” he answered back.

“But...if it’s your dragon,” and she stopped to think, “then why are we running away from it? Can’t you control your own dragon?” she couldn’t help adding smugly.

“It doesn’t know you. It wouldn’t have listened to me if a virgin was present---you would have been its dinner. You are a virgin right?” he asked, his own voice sounded smug.

“Why would I tell you that?” she asked angrily. Then she asked, “Why do you have a dragon to begin with? Aren’t they illegal?”

“I don’t know why its there. But I think its guarding that old castle behind it. I also know that the dragon has been in our family for all of my life and before, perhaps. It’s perfectly legal to own a dragon if you make the land it lives on unplottable,” Draco answered her truthfully. The laws to own dragons had changed after the fall of Voldemort. So she couldn’t say everything on her mind, so he settled with, “How did you know I was there by the dragon?”

“I heard your singing from the stables. Did you ever realize how beautiful your voice is?” he added for good measure---he was getting quite fond of Virginia’s grip on him, her hands kept getting lower and tighter on him as they continued to ride and became calmer.

Silence fell upon them, it was a welcomed silence, that let them both think about their previous relationship to each other.

Draco thought about the offer Virginia made him in the library; Virginia thought of Draco from six years ago, and how her heart was now completely mended---ready to give to Draco again.

She was only worried about Selena though, and how Draco treated her---would he treat her the same way as Selena? She was so engrossed with her thoughts that she didn’t realize how low her hands had gotten on Draco’s waist line, until she heard him gasp.

She looked around his shoulder and saw where her hand had gone---beyond his belt buckle!

“Oh. My. God! I’m so sorry Draco!” she stammered embarrassedly, her ears were burning red. Draco was embarrassed too, but hid it well.

“It’s alright,” he said, smiling about where she had touched him---he was also smiling about being right. Virginia definitely was a virgin! Otherwise, she would not have reacted that badly when she touched me down there, he thought.

Virginia’s hands were now strictly on his shoulders, which wasn’t a really good place to put them, for she was now ready to bounce off the back of the horse.

“Ginny, you have to,” he said to her. She nodded, understanding, and again, carefully this time, placed her arms around his waist. Since she wasn’t holding so tightly, she had to push her body against his---which wasn’t as bad as touching him---down there---but now it was like switched roles.

* * * *

~Tea time: October 31st~

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“Draco?” Virginia asked him, after they had sat down for tea.

“Hmm?” he replied, looking up from spooning two teaspoons of sugar into his tea.

Virginia started to doubt whether she should say what was on her mind. But she reminded herself to be brave and just ask it.

“Why do you hate Selena so much? What has she done to deserve your hatred?”

Draco had not anticipated this type of question and if possible, paled to an almost whiter shade of white than he normally was. He looked at Virginia and asked, “Do you honestly think I’d tell you?”

Virginia looked downcast at his statement, she looked at her tea cup.

Draco shook his head and sat down in front of her. “Never mind. You did. I see... Well, I guess I might as well, seeing as how you’re not the type to go around gossiping. Still want me to tell you?” he asked.

Virginia looked up at him now, hope in her eyes, that startled Draco. She nodded.

“I guess I’d better start from the beginning, yeah?” Virginia nodded again.

“Alright. Let’s see...”

[Draco goes into story mode. He is looking at Virginia sometimes, but at others his eyes wander to the tea cup and he stares intently at it, expecting it to tell him he was doing something wrong here---telling a Weasley his deepest secrets.]

“My father and mother, and Pansy’s were both death eaters, as you probably knew already. Before Voldemort killed my father and mother, our parents had decided our future for us...as in marriage. I, nor Pansy could get out of it, unless one of us were to die. We decided to play along once we found out, which was---do you remember the time when I picked you up from that trick step? I was out at Hogsmeade with my father. Lucius was telling me about the arranged marriage he planned out with Mr. Parkinson. I was distraught, and didn’t want to go back to my common room---knowing I’d be the one telling Pansy of our future marriage. It was terrible when I finally did tell her. She was dating Marcus Flint, they were going to get married. She had no say in it any more than I did, so we played along. Just in case one of our fathers were ever watching us, I came up with a plan with Pansy---which took a week of planning. The plan was to fake a proposal of love. The only reason our parents wanted us wed was for the ‘eventual’ Voldemort servant children born from us. Voldemort, you see had little evil family trees planned out for all of his stooges---such as my father. Even after Lucius and my mother were Avada Kedavra’ed, Pansy and I had forged a relationship that had love in it for each other, but no. We were not in love. Once Pansy became pregnant, we were starting to become like a real family---we were starting over with a child, that we should have raised together! When Pansy came to her final stages---nine months pregnant, she started to deliver and have contractions on the bed. It was a nightmare. All that blood! God! I sat next to her, speaking into her ear until finally I saw a little head come out, the fingers, then toes. It was then that I realized Pansy was, was...” Draco paused from his story and stared at a spot on the wall, above Virginia’s head, “dying,” he finished, and started up again, “her hands were cold, clammy, sweating, and lost all of their color. You know what her last words to me were?” Virginia shook her head sadly, tears were in her eyes at seeing Draco so sad, “She said...’I love you’,” he answered. Draco looked now upon Virginia’s sad face and asked, “Are you O.K.?” Virginia looked up to see the face of Draco Malfoy.

His eyes were surprisingly loving and Virginia didn’t want to look away. But she did.

“You never exactly told me why you hate Selena so much. If anything...you should be babying her, spoiling her rotten for not having a mother. Not hurting her by talking forcefully, and generally being an arse to her!” Virginia told him, feeling the need to defend her precious little friend.

“I don’t like Selena because, one, she reminds me of Pansy. Two, she reminds me of what Voldemort might have made her become, had Voldemort still been around. And three, she reminds me of my cursed father that was at fault for everything bad that ever happened to me,” Draco answered, still looking at Virginia.

She slowly raised her eyes and met his. What as it that Draco saw in them? Understanding. But he was clearly not forgiven yet for hating Selena. For he still did. And it would take more than talking to Virginia, to rid the hate festered up in his heart since the minute she was born.