Well, This Will Have To Do

2

"She was just an innocent victim"

"So were we once."

~Spike and Angel on "Angel"

"Sometimes the answer is to hold onto what love has given you,

Sometimes the only answer is to let it go"

Ever since Malfoy called me tainted I couldn't let go of the memories that forced themselves to the front of my mind. They reenacted themselves over and over in my mind and I tossed and turned about in bed. Everyone thought I was fine the day Harry pulled me out of the chamber, but I wasn't; don't know if I ever will be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Tom, I don't want to go again, it was horrible last time."

"Come my dear Ginny, don't be afraid. You said you wanted to take away my pain, you must relive my memories to do that."

"But I can't take anymore, I just can't. The children at the orphanage, they were so cruel to you."

"Yes, but I'm not a little boy anymore Ginny," he said cupping her pale chin in his hand.

"I'm still a kid, everyone just calls me 'Ron's little sister.' I'm tired of having a title. Why can't I just be Ginny? Will Ginny ever just be enough for anyone Tom?" The small red-haired girl tried to hide tears from the older boy, but he saw.

"My Ginny, you'll always be too good for others, they'll never be enough for you," he said slyly pulling her into his arms.

"I don't think so Tom; you just want me to think that."

"No, I do mean it sweet. I'm not even good enough for you Ginny."

"Don't say that Tom," she said pushing his black hair away from his face.

"Be mine Ginny, forever, promise me."

"You don't want me Tom, I'm just a silly stupid girl," she said trying to pull away from him.

"No Ginny, you're so much more."

You're so much more; that's the line that got me back to the Chamber every time. The one that made me give into his every need. Want to know why I was so obsessed with Harry? He reminded me of Tom, the same midnight black hair and wide green eyes. I did promise him, over and over, but I didn't know he could bind me to it, to that simple promise.

Now as I lie here it hurts to think of Harry and then of Tom. I don't know if I could ever kiss Harry; would it remind me of kissing Tom? Of pressing his ghostly substance lips to mine? I was so young, I didn't know any better! And there was something about him, I couldn't refuse.

I remember when I woke up and found Harry in the chamber, looking at me. Sweet charming Harry; gosh he was gorgeous. I was so weak all I wanted to do was call out to Tom, tell him to take away the pain. But it was Harry who was there; who held me in his arms and made sure I was alright. I guess I've always felt attached to Harry after he saved me, I felt like I owed him.

Rolling back over I tried to get back to sleep with the soft lullaby of my roommate's heavy breathing. But I couldn't; how could I? Harry and Malfoy kept playing a muggle tennis match in my head. Tainted-beautiful-Weasley-Ginny-Tainted....

Damn Malfoy, his stupid stuck-up voice just wouldn't leave me alone! His stupid slicked-back blonde hair and his pale complexion. He stupid trademark smirk and those betraying grey eyes. Come on Ginny, just think of Harry.

Harry; my Harry. With his unruly black hair just calling my hands to it, and his beautiful green emotional eyes. Harry's great body from Quidditch and his sensitive manner. There was no one like Harry, but then again, there was no one like Malfoy either.

I rolled over again, I wouldn't sleep tonight.

"Ginny...." He called.

"No, please, I put you behind me," she begged.

"I'm not someone you can erase Ginny, you're mine, remember?"

"No, I'm Harry's now."

"Potter's? Well, this is certainly interesting. All these years after rescuing poor Ginny from the chamber."

"I wasn't supposed to tell you that Tom, how'd you make me? And you leave Harry alone!"

"I could promise you to leave Potter alone, but I couldn't promise he'd leave me alone, so therefore, what's the point? As for your first question sweet, you're mine, I can make you do anything."

"No you can't" the older woman shouted again. She wasn't a little girl anymore, she was Ginny now, not 'Ron's little sister.'

His harsh laugh pierced the dark silence. Ginny couldn't see him, but she could feel his presence surround her.

"You'll always be mine Ginny. You can say your Potter's, but let him know I already have you. It seems that I take everything of Potter's doesn't it?"

"Shut up!"

"You miss me don't you Ginny? Harry simply reminds you of me and you're drawn to him in my absence. But I'm back sweet, and you're mine again."

"Harry is nothing like you!"

"That's not what you said six years ago."

"Six years ago I was nothing but a child Tom! I've grown up, I won't let you win."

"My darling Ginny," the girl shivered as she felt his fingers slide through her red curls. "You could be very useful to me you know. Especially now that Potter fancies you; this could be very beneficial indeed...."

"I won't fall asleep again," I whispered shooting up suddenly from my dream. "He's back."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Ginny?" Ron called when he spotted me on the couch in the Gryffindor common room. "Can I talk to you?"

"You're already talking; besides, when you start you're impossible to shut up," I sighed tucking away my parchment and setting down my quill.

"Something...different has been going on with you and Harry lately. Everything alright, anything you need to tell me?" I spotted Harry coming down the steps over Ron's shoulder and he quickly paused mid-step.

"Like what?" I asked innocently.

"Well, Gin, I knew you used to fancy Harry, but I almost thought you'd grown out of it," he said crouching down by me.

"What if I didn't?"

"Harry's great, Gin, but you have to realize that he may never like you. I just don't want you to get hurt."

I nearly laughed at his words. "Don't worry, Ron," I smirked. "I'm a big girl now, I'm perfectly cable of taking care of myself."

"And if you're ever worried about her, I'll be watching over her too," Harry said startling Ron. "Perhaps, Ron, I may have grown to like your sister and just left you in the dark."

"Harry, mate, what are you on about?"

"Ginny and I have been going out for a few weeks now. We wanted to tell you, but we thought you might do something like..."

"Are you fucking my sister, Potter? I'm going to gouge your brain out with Malfoy's wand!" Ron screeched attracting attention from the dorms.

"Like that," Harry finished cutting off Ron's rant.

"Ronald Weasley, stop that!" I screeched. "You're overreacting. Harry's your best friend and I'm your sister, you have no right to talk like that."

"I'll talk however the bloody hell I want!" Ron walked over to Harry. "If you've done anything to my sister, so help me Harry...."

"Ron, we haven't done anything," Harry insisted a bit embarrassed now.

"Can't believe you didn't catch on sooner!" Parvati squealed from the staircase. "I've known for weeks."

"Well, who else bloody knew?" Ron asked. Nearly every hand in the room rose, except for Hermione's. "How come I didn't see it?"

"Ron, when it comes to that department you're pretty oblivious," I said trying to stifle a giggle.

"Am not," he insisted sulking.

"You and Hermione both are," Harry said. "Who here agrees with me?" Again every hand went up, but Ron and Hermione's."

"What's that suppose to mean, Harry?" Hermione asked folding her arm's across her chest. The room burst out laughing and many people excused themselves back to their room including Harry and me. But later when I came back down into the common room Hermione and Ron were asleep together on the couch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Malfoy," I screeched gathering my books off the ground. "Watch where you're going!"

"Sorry, Weasel, in certain cultures people are taught to move out of the way of royalty," he smirked brushing himself off.

"You're conceited," I insisted standing up.

"And you're boring, Virginia," Malfoy yawned.

"Am not!" I screeched offended. Boring, please...okay, maybe every once in awhile. I just like to play it safe, I thought. I had been hurrying back from the library to try to make it before curfew, but thanks to Malfoy, that wasn't going to be impossible.

"So, little Weasel, what are you doing out in the corridors this time of night?" he smirked.

"Looking for bouncing ferrets, ohh look, I found one," I smiled. Take that one, Malfoy.

"Funny, Virginia, but you see, I really do bounce," he said leering close to me.

"Oh gosh, didn't need to know that!" I screeched at the mental image building. Ginny, I mentally stopped myself, don't let your eyes wander there.

"You shouldn't have brought it up. But let me add amazing to that," he smiled satisfied.

"Well, Parkinson would probably be the only one to vouch for that huh?" I smirked.

"As of yet, not that it's your business, no one knows."

"Well, it will probably stay that way," I smirked. "Goodnight, Mr. Malfoy," I said tantalizingly.

"I saw the Weasel sending Potter daggers at dinner, I take it he found out," he said as I started to walk away. "So now you're committed to Wonder Boy. Pity, say goodbye to your fun, not that you had any in the first place."

"You really think I'm that dull Malfoy?" I asked spinning back around.

"Yes, unless you could prove me otherwise," he said stepping closer.

"And how do I do that?" I asked bitterly glaring at him.

"Sure you're not in Slytherin?" he asked raising one eyebrow.

"I'm positive, I can't do that," I said smirking at his raised eyebrow. "Now, how to I prove to you I'm not boring?"

Draco Malfoy flashed a huge satisfied smile before bending down close to me and pressing his lips to mine. The kiss was searing, needy, everything Malfoy. I should have been pulling back from this poisonous kiss that he was leading, but I wasn't. Perhaps this kiss only satisfied me because I had never been kissed before, or perhaps because I was accepting my challenge. Malfoy snaked his hand behind my head and tangled it in my hair. It's hard to express the emotions flying through me. The kiss was death; dangerous and applied with pressure, but I lived off it.

When every last bit of air had been scratched from my lungs and they burned for oxygen I pulled back from him. He was gasping for breathe as well and I just stared into his blue-grey eyes.

"Nope, still boring," he said and turned on his heel. Before stomping away towards the dungeons he called back to me. "Don't worry," he said, "I won't tell Potter."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh gosh Ginny! What in the world have you done? Harry was supposed to be the one, your first kiss. And you think he'll actually forgive you after kissing his enemy! Please, Harry is sweet, but you can't expect anyone to forgive something like that! And the worst part is that you enjoyed it.

I was pacing in front of her bed, Emily staring at my moving shadow through the bed hangings.

"Should I even ask?" she questioned.

No, don't ask. It's bad enough to think about let alone relive it. Ginny, you're insane. Kissing Malfoy, what were you thinking!? You should have just said, 'yup Malfoy, I'm boring.' See, simple! But no, you had to go and prove yourself. Stupid, stupid....

"Earth to Ginny? Am I talking to myself here?" Emily asked pulling back the hangings.

"Nothing's wrong," I said quickly. "Why would something be wrong? I'm perfectly fine, just a bit nervous about my Transfiguration essay due tomorrow; it's a lot of our grade you know?"

"Whatever, Gin," she sighed heading back to her bed and crawling in. "When you feel like talking you know where to find me."

"Ginny, what's wrong?" Harry Potter asked surveying me fidgeting at breakfast.

"Nothing, Harry," I smiled.

"Where do you figure Ron and Hermione are?" he asked noticing the absence of his friends.

"If they're smart they probably finally found a closet to release all that tension between them out in," I smirked.

Harry dropped his toast and stood up, heaving his backpack onto his shoulder. "I'm suddenly not very hungry anymore," he said and left out the doors.

A beautiful brown hawk soared onto the table in front of me an envelope in his talons. I grabbed the envelope, and after watching the creature soar off, opened it carefully.

Astronomy Tower

After midnight

Be there

Ohh Ginny, my mind groaned, you are so screwed.

"Ginny, where are you sneaking off too so late?" Emily asked from her bed.

"Probably going to sneak into Harry's dorm," Jasmine said smugly.

"I have a book I have to run back to the library," I said ashamed that I couldn't even make it out the door.

"Then why don't you have a book with you?" Emily said and then burst out laughing. I buried my face in my hands and groaned at my stupidity. "Don't worry, Gin," Emily said seeing my motion. "Go on, we never saw anything."

"Thank you," I said rolling my eyes and going quickly out the door. The common room was dark and empty and I promised I'd thank the big man later. The fat lady was snoozing when I exited the portrait hole and I snuck away quietly down the dark corridors.

Making my way up the dark steps to the Astronomy Tower I tried to reason with my mind to turn my feet back around. Why am I even doing this? I should just ignore Malfoy and get on with life.

"About time, I was starting to get bored," a chilling voice greeted me when I stumbled into the room.

"Malfoy," I said icily seeing his dark figure by the window. The moonlight cast an eerie shadow on his body causing his blonde hair to look white and his pale complexion ghostly.

"I didn't think you were going to show," he said still looking out the window, his back to me.

"Well, we all surprise ourselves," I said crossing my arms across my chest. "What do you want, Malfoy?"

He crossed from the window to right in front of me in one swift movement. I breathed in heavy trying to not think about how close I was standing to him.

"Tell me, Weasley," he said taking a strand of my hair in between his fingers. "Why are you going out with Potter when you hardly know him?"

"My relationship is none of your damn business, Malfoy," I spat at him clenching my fists together to hold back from striking him.

"You can't answer the question can you?" He smirked and released my hair letting it fall into my face so I had to reach up and brush it away.

"I just see no reason to tell you about my relationship with Harry," I said glaring daggers at him. You're treading on dangerous waters, Malfoy.

"Is that why you kissed me, because it's going so well?" Damn him and his smugness.

"Fuck off, Malfoy," I spat trying not to raise my voice. "So maybe I don't know Harry that great," I said realizing it myself. "But I know he's not a total ass like you."

"Ouch," he said mimicking hurt. "That hurt's, little Weasel."

"You'd have to have feelings for that to hurt, Malfoy."

"Well, aren't we on a winning streak tonight?" he said rolling his eyes and making his way back over to the window. "So, why are you going out with Potter? I admit the name is catchy; Ginny Potter," he drawled. "But he didn't even know you existed."

"Everyone deserves a chance," I said. "Besides, you didn't know I existed."

"But you're not dating me," he pointed out.

"Thank god," I said rolling my eyes at his ego. "Listen, it's not like we're doing anything. This simply gives us a better chance to know each other. Not that you care about knowing the girl's you screw," I said smirking.

"Just be careful, I hear Potter breaks down very easily," he said from the window ignoring my comment.

"There's nothing wrong with Harry, you're just jealous."

"What would there to be jealous about, little Ginny? That he got you; like I care." He turned to me and came back over to stand in front of me. "I can have any girl I want; I don't need to be Potter."

"You're wrong," I insisted standing tall in front of him. "You'll never have me."

"I said any girl I want, Weasel. Besides are you so sure about that? I always get what I want." he asked looking down at me. He reached down again and placed his lips on mine. Immediately the fire returned to my body, flowing through my veins and increasing my heartbeat. I pulled back quickly though, I won't let you win, Malfoy.

"Nice try, Malfoy," I said turning to go back down the steps.

"Wait," he called after me. I turned back around raising my eyebrows at him.

"What is it, Malfoy?" I asked bitterly wanting to return to my room.

"Have you...kissed Potter?" he asked curiously. My eyes widened knowing that he already knew I hadn't.

"No," I said.

"So you just fucked him then, nothing else involved?"

"Oh, Malfoy, you're an absolute ass!" I screeched in a low voice as not to attract Filch.

"Remember, Weasel," he said stopping in my ear as he went to go out the door. "Always screw them the other direction." With a smirk on his face Draco Malfoy fled down the Astronomy Tower steps.

"That makes no sense, you ignorant bastard," I called after him.

"Think about it," he called back up to me before I heard the tower door shut.

"I don't want to think about," I whispered furiously placing myself by the window. Always screw them the other direction. Oh shit, damn you for making me think about it, Malfoy! I tried to wash the thought mentally from my mind as I made my way to the Gryffindor tower for a night of disturbing dreams.