Saving Each Other

Chapter 2: Brrrr It's Cold In Here

Fall quickly faded into winter and it wasn't long before the students of Hogwarts found that Christmas break was nearly upon them. It had been a relatively warm winter but most of the students still tended to stay inside. It was on one such Friday at breakfast that Dumbledore announced he would be going away for the weekend on urgent business.

"I will be back on Monday. It something urgent comes up before then, please address it to Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore finished, then sat back down.

Harry, Ron and Hermione immediately began discussing what could be so urgent.

"It's obviously got to do with the Order now doesn't it," said Ron.

"Shhhh!" said Hermione with a furtive glance around them. "Don't say that too loud."

"Voldemort must be on the move again if Dumbledore's leaving school for the weekend," said Harry. "But what is it?"

The three friends fell silent as they thought of numerous, horrific possibilities.

Across the Great Hall, Pansy Parkinson turned to her friends sitting at the Slytherin table, a wicked smile forming on her face.

"What?" asked Pansy's friend, Blaise Zabini.

"Dumbledore just gave me that perfect opportunity to execute my plan," said Pansy smiling.

"What plan?" asked Millicent Bulstrode.

"My plan for revenge on Ginny Weasley," said Pansy, her eyes glinting maliciously.

Her friends frowned in confusion.

When Pansy noticed their confusion she said, "Let's go for a walk. I can't explain it in here 'cause someone might overhear." She shot a significant look at Draco Malfoy, further mystifying her friends.

As soon as they had left the Great Hall, Pansy started talking quickly and quietly.

"You know how Draco disappeared at the Halloween dance he was supposed to be at with me, right?" asked Pansy.

Her friends nodded.

"I found out where he went," said Pansy, smiling smugly. She paused and looked around to make sure that they were alone. Then she lowered her voice even further so her friends had to lean in to hear her.

"He went and danced with Ginny Weasley. And he kissed her!" exclaimed Pansy.

Her friends expressions were shocked and their mouths were open in silent screams.

"Oh . .my God," said Blaise, finally recovering.

"I know," saud Pansy with a look of disgust on her face. Then it changed into a smile. "But I have the perfect plan for revenge."

"What?" asked Millicent eagerly.

"Ok, we all know Ginny's in love with Harry, right?" said Pansy.

"Yeah," said Millicent.

"And that Harry doesn't even know she's alive, right" continued Pansy.

"Yeah," said Blaise.

"Well, Saturday morning Ginny Weasley's going to get a note from Harry saying he loves her and to meet him out on the lake at noon," said Pansy.

"That's so mean!" shrieked Millicent. "She'll be heartbroken when she finds out it wasn't from him!"

"Wait," said Blaise, frowning. "How are you going to make sure she doesn't bump into Potter on her way to the lake?"

"I'm going to send Harry a note too, asking him to meet Parvati in the Divination Tower at 11:50," answered Pansy smugly.

"It's perfect," said Blaise, smiling.

"I know," said Pansy. Her eyes took on a more malevolent glint. "Hopefully she'll be just as heartbroken as I was when I found out about the dance."

Ginny woke up on Saturday morning at 10:00 and went down to breakfast with Matti and the rest of her dormmates. When she got back from breakfast she decided to get her homework out of the way early in the weekend. She went up to her dormitory and worked diligently until 11:50 when a school owl swooped in and dropped a letter on top of her books, Ginny pickedup the letter looking at it curiously, wondering who could be writing her from school.

She slit open the envelope and pulled out the letter. Her heart lept. It was from Harry.

Dear Ginny,

I figure it's finally time for me to come clean, it being my last year at Hogwarts and all. I love you. I hope you feel the same. If you do please meet me on the lake at noon.

Harry

Harry loves me? thought Ginny giddily. She reread the letter and looked at her clock.

Only eight minutes to noon! panicked Ginny. She rose quickly and grabbed her cloak as she ran out of the room at a dead run. She flew through the Common Room and out the portrait hole.

I wonder how long it will take her to realize no one's coming, Pansy thought gleefully to herself as she hid behind a clump of bushes on the edge of the lake.

Ginny Weasley had been standing on the frozen lake for over fifteen minutes, her hood over her head, looking around for Harry.

Pansy had never been more elated in her life, watching Ginny Weasley wait for someone who wasn't even coming.

He's already fifteen minutes late, thought Ginny. Face it, he's not coming.

Then something clicked in Ginny's head. The note hadn't come from Harry.

Of course, thought Ginny, her brain working frantically. Harry would have used Hedwig. A school owl brought me the letter. I was just so happy because I thought Harry was in love with me that I didn't put two and two together.

Ginny stamped her foot down hard on the ice in anger and frustration. Instantly her expression changed from anger to fear as the ice gave way underneath her and she fell into the freezing lake.

Pansy's gleeful expression change to one of horror as she watched Ginny Weasley fall through the ice into the freezing lake below.

Oh my God! panicked Pansy. She stood to go and help, then quickly sat back down, her thoughts racing.

They'll know I had something to do with it if I'm around, thought Pansy. Why else would I be hiding by myself in the bushes. I have to get out of here!

Pansy took off at a run, hightailing it for the safety of the castle. If she had looked back she would have seen a lone figure on a broomstick racing to Ginny's rescue.

Perfect day for flying, thought Draco happily as he scanned the clear, cold December skies. He straddled his Nimbus 2020, the latest model, and kicked off the ground hard. He soared into the air leaving the ground far behind.

After he had been practicing Quidditch moves for about half an hour, he decided to take a leisurely flight around the Hogwarts grounds. He flew towards the lake first. As he neared it he saw someone standing out in the middle of it.

Wonder who that is? Malfoy thought idly.

It was then that the figure below fell through the ice. Draco paused in shock. About two seconds later a figure burst out from under the bushes, sprinting as fast as they could towards the castle. The figure that had fallen through that ice was flailing furiously.

Draco plunged towards that lake on his broomstick, mentally urging it to go faster. He pulled to a stop just above the hole in the ice. The person's head had just gone under again, their arms above scrabbling for purchase.

Draco latched onto the arms and pulled while urging the broomstick higher. He finally pulled the shivering figure out of the water and into his arms.

It was Ginny Weasley.

Her lips were blue and she was shivering violently in Draco's arms. He whipped his own cloak off his shoulders and had started to wrap her in it when she opened her eyes.

"M-m-malf-foy?" Ginny asked questioningly through her violently chattering teeth.

"Shhh," said Draco gently and directed his broom towards the castle. "We need the get you inside."

Draco sped towards the castle, but slowed at the sight of cloaked individuals dismounting broomsticks in front of the castle. Draco squinted in the midday light trying to see who it was. Then his eyes widened with recognition as they noticed him and turned towards him.

What the hell? thought Draco numbly.