Dark Horizons

Chapter three: Forbidden Love

Later that night, Draco finally decided to return to the Slytherin common room to go to bed. He had been thinking about Ginny all the way there, and still he couldn't understand what he had done wrong. He collapsed on the sofa and thought hard over the past half hour.

Ginny... Ginny Weasley... she had become an obsession for him. He had thought of her before, but just as a poor child with no experience in love. But now it was different: he was looking at a beautiful, sixteen year old girl, with an unknown past and facing a difficult future. A lonely girl, with no one to care for her and tend her every need... Ginny... simple, yet loving... Ginny, the only girl who had the ability to make him want to live. But still, he was a Malfoy... a cruel, cold-blooded bastard that had no feelings. He couldn't fall in love with Ginny!

Suddenly, the door burst open and Pansy walked in, looking at Draco as though she hadn't seen him before.

"Oh, you poor thing, what happened to you? I'm sure somebody did something to you. I'm going to kill whoever did this to you. You poor, poor thing... Are you sure you're all right, Draco?"

Draco looked up at her with a lost expression on his face but didn't answer.

"Draco, did you even hear me?"

"No."

Pansy blushed furiously and walked past Draco to the girls' dormitory.

Draco was left alone in the cold common room, on the green sofa.

***

For the next few days, Ginny didn't see or meet Draco at all. At first, she thought that he might be sick because she didn't see any other reason for him to miss Transfiguration, Charms or Potions since he needed big grades to pass the N.E.W.T. - s this year. But now, since she thought better of it, he was a Malfoy, who would give a damn about learning if he could convince his father to blackmail the teachers into giving him big grades to pass the exams! And anyway, she didn't care... or probably she did but wanted to ignore it. Oh God, not even she knew what she was supposed to feel!

***

It was a Friday night when Ginny finally decided to find out what had happened to Draco.

Ginny left the common room that night, with a sense of guilt in her heart. She wanted to see Draco more than anything, and yet she felt horrible, having lied to Ron. She made her way to the dungeons, and started looking for a portrait, a fake mirror, even a mouse hole.

She finally stopped and rested because she had been walking for half an hour when Pansy came down the hallway.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for someone."

"I bet you want to see Draco."

"So what's you're problem?"

"Well, he already has a girlfriend. Not me, although soon it will be me. It's another girl."

"Really Pansy, you obviously had to wake up early in the morning to think of that! Besides, I'd rather see Draco in another girl's arms than with you."

Pansy threw her a mean look. Ginny smiled and left.

***

Large raindrops began to patter down the broken windows of the Riddle house. A dim light emerged from the last room on the second floor, blocked off mostly by a hooded figure standing in the doorway. The figure was staring at a cauldron set in the centre of the room; its contents bubbling rapidly above a small fire. A hand reached out from the armchair next to the cauldron, stirring the violet potion leisurely.

From a brief glance, the room was very untidy. There were books thrown aside, and many papers were lying around, some of them torn out from the books. There was an old diary next to the cauldron, which the Dementor had collected from the last victim's house. There were a lot of pages missing, but the last one was still there. Actually, the pages were all ripped apart for the last entry: "Help..."

***

Draco woke up very early the next morning. There was a blurry figure standing over him. Draco watched it carefully and made out the shape: it was Pansy.

"Good morning, my little Draky," she said.

"Get off me, Pansy!"

Pansy got up and rested in a chair next to Draco's bed. Draco looked around. The other boys were gone. Draco tightened the covers around him and laid his head on the pillow. He didn't have anything on but the trousers from his pyjamas because that was the way he slept, and he didn't want Pansy to see him like that. Actually, he didn't know what he wanted!

"Pansy, could you get out of here? Like, now?"

"But..."

"Get out, Pansy!"

Pansy walked towards the exit as the door slammed to the wall and a few of the boys came in. Pansy crept out and Draco finally got out of bed.

***

Ginny woke up and found the girls' dormitory empty, since all the girls were having breakfast. She got up and dressed in a rush, and made for the Great Hall when all of a sudden, she bumped into something hard. Actually, it was someone...

Ginny looked up and felt her jaw drop: it was Draco. She hadn't seen him for over a week, and from the start she knew that he had been through a rough time. He had blue circles under his eyes, and he looked like he hadn't had a decent meal in a very long time. His tie, once clean and tight was now dangling from side to side around his neck, looking very dirty. His robes were messy and unclean while his hair wasn't too far away. He looked back at her with his grey, tired eyes, the only thing that still managed to remain alive and full of passion.

"Draco, what ever happened to you? I mean... you look awful"

"I thought I should take some time off, so I didn't go to class anymore... I'm getting tired of so much learning and no time off. The Hogsmeade trips are fewer and fewer so I can't unwind!"

"I thought you wanted to have a bright future, not end up like this!"

Draco continued to stare at her but didn't answer. Ginny pulled him down next to her. He put his cold hand on her face and brought her lips closer to his. Ginny whispered,

"Please don't give up..." and leaned forward a bit.

Draco's cold, white lips touched Ginny's warm rose red ones in what could only be a kiss. Ginny ran her fingers through Draco's hair and she felt Draco's hands grab her around the waist, fidgeting with her robes. She grabbed Draco's tie, which fell to the floor and she started undoing the buttons from his shirt.

They turned around, spotting a pair of large yellow eyes that they knew belonged to Mrs. Norris. She was the caretaker's cat, always helping him in his endless battle against the students by patrolling the corridors.

Draco and Ginny got up fast, while Mrs. Norris was studying their every move. She left to find her master, and Draco pulled Ginny into a deserted classroom. Ginny heard Filch's footsteps drawing closer, looking for them. There was a moment of silence and they finally heard Filch and Mrs. Norris leaving, Filch still mumbling something that sounded like, "Those rotten kids got away with it again and I still have to polish the trophies in the Trophy Room.

Ginny turned to Draco, but he walked past her and opened the door. Ginny stopped him and asked,

"Why do you do this? Why are you running away from me?"

"Well, I can't be seen kissing a Weasley, can I? I still have my pride."

He pushed her aside and left hurriedly. She felt a cold breeze touch her warm cheeks and stormed out of the classroom, her eyes slowly filling with tears.

***

Ginny came back in the common room that afternoon feeling sick, and very unhappy because of the last happenings. She collapsed in an armchair and started crying in silence. Just then, Ron, Hermione and Harry came into the common room, talking about Harry's new strategies for the Quidditch match against Hufflepuff. Hermione saw Ginny and raced over to her at once.

"Ginny, why weren't you at dinner?" asked Ron, walking next to her armchair.

Hermione gestured towards Ron telling him to be quiet and took Ginny on her lap. Ginny broke free of Hermione's hug and moved away.

"Ginny, what's wrong with you?" Hermione asked her.

"I'm not a baby! Stop treating me like a two year old! I'm sixteen years old, for goodness sake!"

Hermione stared at her shocked. Tears were running down her checks and she looked as thought Ginny's words had hurt her. She bid them a good night sleep and hurried to the girls' dormitory.

"Ginny, you hurt Hermione's feelings! She was only trying to help!"

"Well, what about my feelings, Ron? What about what I feel?"

Ron threw her a look full of hatred and tried to catch up with Hermione. Harry stood there, next to Ginny and looked at her intently.

"Ginny, what is it? Who upset you?"

Ginny looked at Harry with her brown, warm and gentle eyes but didn't answer. She was fed up with everybody talking to her as thought she was sweet little Ginny, the first year. Harry knelt beside her and started stroking her head. Then he started playing with her hair. Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her down next to him. He grabbed her around the waist and kissed her. Ginny broke free of his unwanted kiss.

From the start Ginny knew it was very different from Draco's kisses. Harry was kissing her without any passion, as though he was doing it against his better judgement. Draco, on the other hand, made Ginny feel as though she was in heaven.

She pushed Harry aside and slapped him hard on the face, with all the power she could muster. Harry staggered, and fell backwards on the floor. His cheek was red and it hurt. He got up and asked furiously,

"Why did you slap me?"

"Why did you kiss me?"

"I thought you would enjoy it..."

"Well, I didn't! Now, you enjoy this! Go kiss your girlfriend and never, ever kiss me again!"

Harry left the common room feeling stupid about his actions.

***

Draco, in the meantime, was sitting on the sofa in the Slytherin common room next to Goyle and Crabbe who were talking about all the food they had eaten over the summer. It was Goyle's turn to tell Crabbe everything about the food contest he entered last year.

Draco, getting bored of all this "food talk" nonsense decided that he should go to the Owlery to send his mum an owl.

He reached the owl's tower very fast, and started writing a letter. He finished it and walked over to his eagle-like owl and patted it on its head.

"Hello, Durham... Ready for another trip home?

Durham stretched his leg out but turned his head away.

"Don't worry; it's not another home baked cookies package."

The owl turned its head back and watched as Draco tied the letter to its leg, then nipped his ear in an affectionate way.

Draco left the Owlery and made for the Great Hall when Pansy's annoying face came before his eyes. That made him more determined in his decision to stay outside. He only hoped that he could get away from her.

He was making for the lake when he bumped into someone. Draco fell and opened his eyes to see...Harry.

"Watch where you're going, Potter!"

"What's you're problem, Malfoy? Afraid I'm gonna shatter you into tiny pieces and mess up your hair?"

"Shut up!"

"Aren't you going to run to your mummy and tell?"

"Watch your mouth you... walking broomstick!"

"Oh, look, I'm trembling."

"You'd better tremble!"

"You're so gullible, Malfoy."

"Oh, look everybody, the skinny apron has spoken..."

Harry went red but continued to yell.

"Don't you mock me!"

"Why not? Just because you're the stupid Harry Potter? Ha!"

"Eat scum, Malfoy!"

"Put an egg in your shoe and beat it!"

"Well why should I?"

"Damn it, just go!"

"I don't want to go."

"Potter, move your fucking arse out of my way! Now!"

Harry turned his back to Draco and left with an air of dignity. Draco stuck out his tongue and walked out of the Entrance Hall.

***

Ginny stood next to the armchair a few minutes after Harry had left, everybody in the common room staring at her. All her life she wanted Harry to kiss her, and now she had slapped him, practically banning him from her forever. She didn't even know why she had slapped him. Why? Was she actually falling in love with Draco or was she still feeling something for Harry, her one true love?

Parvati and Lavender seemed transfixed, since Lavender was on the edge of bursting into tears because she was Harry's girlfriend, and it hurt so much to see him kiss Ginny. Ginny couldn't stand it anymore, so she left the common room in a rush and made for the lake, thinking that a visit at Hagrid's never hurt.

Once outside, she felt a cold breeze ruffle her hair, so she tightened the scarf around her neck and continued to walk. It had started to snow and the fresh fallen snowflakes were now tangled in her fiery red hair. It was weird, but the snow had started to cover the ground very fast. Just then, the misty lake came into view.

Next to the lake she saw a person she knew just too well: Draco. He was lying in the snow, next to a green notebook with the initials "D M" written on it. Ginny drew closer and conveniently enough saw that Draco had dozed off. She picked up the notebook, which was actually a diary. She opened it slowly and read the first page:

Dear Diary,

Today was the worst day ever. I guess I'm not such a lucky boy after all. My father beats me up every day because I don't want to become a Death Eater like him. I want to study the Dark Arts, and not use them for horrible causes or to kill innocent people. My mum can't do anything about this since she's afraid of my father too I can't ask for help with my owl either because dad locked him in his cage. I'm lost...forever...I need help...a loving family. The only thing that I always had was hatred...forbidden love."

Ginny stared at the diary entry transfixed. She always thought of Draco Malfoy as a spoilt boy, with a wealthy family and a rich future. With many friends and no feelings towards the poor. And now, here was his true past, a horrible, dreadful past that followed him in his memory and filled the piece that described the jagged teeth of reality.

Draco opened his eyes and saw his diary in Ginny's hands. Ginny dropped it and froze. Draco got up fast and snatched it up. Ginny tried to explain, but Draco wouldn't listen.

"Draco, I didn't mean to... sorry."

"Ginny, why did you do this? Why...Ginny... why?"

"Draco... I didn't mean to read your diary."

"I never wanted you to read this! Why did you do it?"

"Damn it Draco, I just did! And I don't give a fucking damn about what you think! I hate you! You're such a bastard! I always thought that you loved me, and all you think I'm good for is a little fun!"

She collapsed next to him and started crying. Draco walked next to her and took her into his arms. Ginny opened her eyes and pushed him away.

Ginny turned back so that she was facing him. She moved closer and felt his warm hands touch her cold cheeks. He rested her hair in the snow and saw how nicely it contrasted with the white of the snow.

Draco leaned forward, and bent down kissing Ginny on the mouth. She started undoing the buttons from his coat, while he fumbled with her scarf. Ginny felt that she couldn't breathe anymore, and wanted to push Draco away. And yet, she didn't want to let go of him, as though she was afraid of losing him.

Finally, Draco let go of her and without another word picked up his diary and left. Ginny ran after him, but couldn't catch up. She wanted to ask him why he was playing with her feelings. She finally decided to go to Gryffindor Tower to go to bed when she saw Snape and Dumbledore coming down the marble staircase. She made a run for it to the dungeons and finally stopped, leaning on a wall. If Snape and Dumbledore saw her out of bed at that hour in the night, she was bound to lose more than fifty points from Gryffindor.

Suddenly, a hand dragged her in...