Cold

Chapter Thirteen

(Ginny Weasley)

"'Lo, Ginny," Harry said casually, his voice teetering on rage. "Might I ask you a few questions?"

I bit my lip and tried to keep calm. I couldn't let them know about Draco or I would never get to spend Christmas with him. I wouldn't let that happen. If I couldn't see him for two weeks I was almost positive I would go completely insane. I let out a deep but quiet breath and put on a neutral look.

"Sure."

"Okay, question one: Why the hell do you have my Invisibility Cloak?!" Harry's eyes were blazing, even in the dark.

"I was hungry. I wanted to get out and grab a bite to eat and this was the only way."

"Ginny, I KNOW that's not what you did! If that was all, you would have asked!"

He was right. I would have asked. Damn him for knowing me so well!

"Okay," I murmured, "Maybe I didn't want you guys asking me to bring stuff back for you."

Ron and Harry gave me the same dubious looks. My fingernails dug into the robe in my arms. At the thought of not being able to see Draco, I was already on the verge of crying.

"I... I'm sorry," was all I could utter, holding out the robe to Harry, "I... I needed it for something. Something important."

Harry's look changed to suspicion. "What, exactly, was so important that you had to STEAL my robe?"

"I can't tell you," I said, looking away.

Ron stepped forward, grabbing my chin, forcing me to look at him. I could see the red of his hair and face, and most of all, his ears. He was extremely angry.

"I have a question," Ron's voice quivered, making the tears well up in my eyes, "WHY THE HELL WERE YOU OUT ANYWAY?!"

"Ron, be quiet," Harry shushed, grabbing his shoulder.

I clenched my fists and stared him down. "Here's one from me. Since when was everything I do YOUR business anyway?!"

Ron looked shocked. "Ginny!"

"Why is it that in the dark of night, you or Harry or Hermione can sneak out and do WHATEVER you please without any questions, but when I go somewhere I'm a fucking criminal?!"

Ron's face went white. Harry just gawked at me for what seemed like minutes. Then the fire sparked up suddenly.

"Harry? Ron? GINNY?" Hermione's voice called out.

The three of us turned. Hermione was standing at the bottom of the girls' staircase, rubbing her eye with one hand, wand in the other. She was wearing light blue, silky pajamas, and her hair was braided and swung over her shoulder.

"What's all the noise about?" she asked in that grown-up manner she always used.

"It's nothing, Herms-"

"Ginny snuck out," Ron interrupted angrily.

"With MY Invisibility Cloak," Harry finished.

"You stole his cloak, Ginny?" Hermione asked, aghast.

"I didn't STEAL it, Hermione. I was going to return it!" I growled. Why didn't anyone trust me? Of course... I HAD had it since going out to the Quidditch pitch to meet Draco... but that was still no reason not to trust me!

"Whatever did you need it for?" Hermione asked, "It's so unlike you to go places without telling us."

"Yeah, that's what you think," I thought darkly.

"Look, I just needed it for some private business that needed to be taken care of," I said quickly.

Hermione gave me a quizzical look, then looked at Harry and Ron. "And you two are awake because?"

"Well, uh..." Harry went silent, scratching the back of his head.

"You weren't planning anything without me knowing, were you?" Hermione said, crossing her arms.

"Eh heh," was all that Ron squeaked.

"Alright, sit down," Hermione said, "We're going to sort this out."

(Severus Snape)

Dear Narcissa,

I know that Draco and Ginny shall be spending Christmas with you this year. With the threat of Death Eaters and the various, sudden attacks against them, I just wanted to write and tell you that I am only a fireplace away. I know how to deal with Death Eaters better than most think I am, and I think it be best that I come by at night and teach Draco, and perhaps Ginny as well, some spells that will help ward off these Death Eaters and, if they're good, which they usually are, maybe a few they would enjoy doing and could show off to their friends. All I ask is for your permission. I'll apparate there nightly and teach them, then be on my way. I could also try and seal your doors from Death Eaters as well-however I am not positive that it will work on one of great power. Please get back to me about this as soon as possible, and I'll see you soon.

Severus Snape

"Yeah, that sounds about right," I said, rolling up the parchment and trying a black ribbon around it.

One of Hogwarts's barn owls took the letter off into the night. I watched it go, deep in thought. It was pretty dangerous, Ginny shacking up at Draco's, and they knew that, and yet they still wanted to spend holidays together. It almost made me smile.

"Perhaps he's found that one that understands him," I muttered.

(Ginny Weasley)

"Alright," Hermione said, staring all of us down like a mother in front of her three troublesome children-come to think of it, she had kinda taken that role when she joined the trio, "Harry, you first."

Harry went silent and stared down at his hands which were clutching a bloody handkerchief. My eyes went wide at the site of it and the stains on his fingers. Hermione seemed to notice as well, but said nothing, waiting for his explanation.

"You see..." he muttered, "I had this dream..."

Hermione bit her lip, showing her nerves, but shook it off, "And?"

"I was seeing what Voldemort sees again..."

Ron piped up, "Yeah, he was rolling all over the bed and hissing and shit. It was bloody fearsome."

"He was talking about... the 'three who bleed'."

My breath caught in my throat, and I felt everything shut down momentarily.

"Go on," Hermione pushed.

"Well, I figured out a couple of things about it. He was talking to Lucius Malfoy, you see."

I felt the urge to scream, but held back and listened, pretending to be nonchalant.

"Uh-huh..."

"I found out that... I'm... one of the three who bleed."

"WHAT?!" Hermione gasped.

"I'm not through, unfortunately. I think Malfoy is one too-they talked a lot about him."

"Yeah! Harry says that Lucius was pissed cause Malfoy wouldn't become a Death Eater!" Ron added.

"Really," Hermione said, looking contemplative.

"Yeah, and," Harry gulped. "I was going to go warn him."

"Warn him?" Hermione questioned.

I was completely engulfed in the conversation now, feeling my heart hammer against my ribcage like it was trying to escape.

"Yeah... Lucius... he's going to kill him if he doesn't join the Death Eaters. Voldemort told him so."

"Why?" Hermione asked, eyes fiery.

"Because he's been hanging out with a woman-she's supposed to be the other one that bleeds. I don't know who it is, but Voldemort said that if the three of us get together, we could make some of the most powerful magic ever. I think the 'three who bleed' can defeat Voldemort!" Harry replied.

"The woman is me!" I thought desperately, eyes wide, "But I can't let them know that! I'll never get to see Draco again! I have to tell him all this!"

"So you were going to get your Invisibility Cloak, find Draco Malfoy, tell him all this, and expect him to believe you?" Hermione raised an eyebrow, "You're not exactly the person he'd want to hear that from."

"It would explain the attack at the Quidditch game," Harry argued, "And how else would I know he refused to be a Death Eater. Besides, he's not like he used to be-haven't you noticed? He hasn't taunted us all year, not once, and rumor has it that he doesn't speak to many people. They say he shuts himself away in his room most of the time."

"You have a lot of good points, Harry, but I'm still doubtful he'd believe it. He might go into denial, you know," Hermione said.

"I guess you're right there," Harry sighed.

"You'll never outsmart 'Mione," Ron replied, just as hopeless.

I couldn't believe what was happening. I felt my breath coming in short bursts, and I tried to quiet them, but my nerves gave in and a sharp pain blasted throughout my soul.

"Ginny?" Ron asked worriedly, "You okay?"

I felt nauseous and confused as I grasped my chest, gasping for air.

"GINNY?" Ron's voice rose in concern, "What's wrong? GINNY?!"

"I--I'm fine," I replied gruffly.

"You're having a panic attack!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I'M FINE!" I yelped, feeling my voice crack.

"Ginny, you have to calm down!" Hermione said quickly.

"L-look," I dropped the cloak in Harry's lap, standing quickly, "I-I need to go t-to bed-get ready for to-tomorrow. It-It's a long trip!"

I raced up the stairs and quickly found my bedroom, jumping into bed and closing the curtains around me. My heart was pummeling against my chest and everything was blurry and sickening. Thank God there were no bright lights for even dim ones sent pricks of pain in my head. I pulled my sheets around me, quaking, and shut my eyes tight.

"Stay calm, Gin. You can tell him tomorrow. He'll be okay," I thought, "He'll be... okay..."

Darkness.

-

"Ginny, GINNY! Get up! You have to get ready to go!" One of my roommates said.

I groaned, my head aching. I kicked my legs over the bed and grabbed my trunk, dragging it toward me. After changing my clothes, I used magic to make it float behind me and down the stairs, paying feeble attention to anything going on around me. I felt on the verge of vomiting, but closed my eyes and managed to smile, looking forward to the holidays that lay before me. I was out of the common room before the others saw me.

(Draco Malfoy)

I scanned the crowd as my trunk was being loaded up onto the train. It was so nice that they were transporting students home. Some parents-my mother for example-were too busy to come get their children before holidays. I caught sight of Ginny and raised my eyebrows. She didn't look as bright and cheery as I usually saw. Her eyes didn't have that sparkle that they usually had. I wanted to approach her, but I wouldn't dare while we were surrounded by our peers. I would wait to talk to her until she joined me in my compartment. I was one of the last stops-we had plenty of time. I boarded the train and locked myself in the specified car we were to meet in. I closed the shades so no one would see me and leaned against the wall, kicking my feet up on the bench, and napped.

(Ginny Weasley)

I walked throughout the cars, looking for a place to sit until I was to go see Draco. No one seemed to notice me very much. I brushed some hair behind my ear, but still found discomfort because it was sticking to my neck. Soon enough, I had stumbled upon the car that held the teacher chaperones. I glanced through the compartments, looking for Snape, but it didn't seem he was there. Then, however, I brightened, seeing his black robe swish into the very back car. I quickly moved to the back and looked in the window. He was sitting alone, reading. I slowly slid open the door and stepped in. He looked up and rose his eyebrows, surprised to see me.

"Um," I said, "There was nowhere to sit. I can't go sit with Draco until Ron and the others leave."

"Close the door behind you then," Snape replied curtly, making me smile.

I slid the door shut and locked it, then took my seat across from him.

"Have you been running?" Snape asked, not looking up from his book.

"No," I replied, pulling my hair over my shoulder to cool my neck, "Why?"

"You're quite flushed," he replied, "Are you feeling alright?"

"Oh, yeah!" I said, smiling, "Fine!"

--Though I was feeling no better.

"Okay," Snape replied, dubious.

After a few minutes of silence as the train took off, I stared around the compartment. It was no different than the one that Ron and the others sat in except the smell. Snape smelled strongly of potions and parchment. It wasn't a bad smell; it kind of made me comfortable. Perhaps I had become so used to the scent that I relaxed when I was around it. It wasn't like Harry's smell, which made me nervous. Harry smelled of soap--and Hermione's perfume. I sighed.

"What are you thinking about, may I ask? You seem sad," Snape said out of the blue.

"Harry," I replied simply, "I was thinking about Harry."

"Even though you've given up on him, you'll never forget that feeling, huh?" Snape replied wistfully.

I blinked, surprised, and turned my focus from the window to him, "How do you know?"

Snape marked and closed his book, allowing me to see that it was Hogwarts: A History. I raised my eyebrows. The book only reminded me of Hermione-it was strange to see him reading it.

"Well," Snape sighed, placing the book beside him, "I suppose I've had the same feeling. That longing, but knowing you'll never have a person... but you're just so close that you can feel it?"

"That exactly how I felt!" I exclaimed. I hadn't even thought Snape had ever been in a relationship!

Snape gave me a sad smile, "Hurts, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," I said, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

"You're not too young to feel true love," Snape said, turning to look out the window.

"You think so? Everyone always tells me that it's hormones," I sighed.

"I was about your age when I found what I thought would be my soul mate. The case is quite similar to yours actually, more than you know."

"What happened?" I asked, intrigued.

"She married," Snape replied softly, "But she was happy, so I watched her walk down the aisle and merely went insane." He smiled.

"You're not insane for loving someone," I said sympathetically.

"I was. I realized how insane I was... after she died."

I gasped. "SHE DIED?!"

"Yeah... a long time ago."

There was a silence between us for a moment. I stared sadly at my lap. Would I long for Harry until he died? No... I didn't love him anymore, but there was still something missing, something I desperately needed. I hoped I would find it soon.

"Snape?" I asked, watching as we approached the Burrow.

"Yeah?"

"What was the girl's name?"

"Ah, that is where our similarities come even closer," Snape said, grinning to himself.

"...Well?"

"Her name..." Snape chuckled slightly, "was Lily Evans."