Secret Love

Secret Love IV: Every Beginning Has an End

Ginny's sleep that night was filled with troubled dreams, terrible nightmares replaying the night's horrible events. She had walked into the common room earlier, planning on spending some much needed alone time with Harry, her boyfriend. She had never heard him go to bed, and thought that everyone else would be asleep by now. Apparently, she had been wrong. Instead of finding Harry alone in the common room, she found him in a chair by the fireplace, with that American girl Laine Parrish on his lap! They had been kissing, and as soon as she saw it, she ran from the room.

She sat on the edge of her bed the next morning, wondering if the ache in her chest was really her heart breaking. She opened her fist, which had been clamped around a small bottle, and looked at it. Her hands shook as she slipped it carefully into the pocket of her robe.

"It will all be over as soon as you use this," she said to herself, her voice quaking. She took a deep breath and stood up. She was going to do it tonight, and nothing would stop her. "Laine's going to be sorry for what she did, and I'm going to make sure of it"

Harry awoke the next morning to Ron's smiling face hovering over him.

"Harry! Wake up, or you'll miss breakfast!" Ron shook him hard, and Harry jolted upright. As soon as he was completely awake, guilt ripped through his stomach like a knife. He couldn't go to breakfast today! In fact, he couldn't go to class either. Harry couldn't bear to see Ginny's lovely, defeated face. It would hurt too bad.

"I'm not feeling too good, Ron," Harry said. "I think I'll stay in bed this morning."

"Are you sure, Harry? We've got Potions first thing, and Snape'll be furious if you miss it!" Ron replied, worried. Harry felt even worse, seeing his best friend look concerned about him after what he did.

"Yeah, you go ahead. If anyone asks about me, just say you haven't seen me, ok?"

"Alright," Ron said, "hope you feel better." He turned and left, looking back at Harry before shutting the door.

Now Harry was alone. He had no one with him, in more ways than one.

Laine walked the corridors quickly, taking in all the details around her. She had only been at Hogwarts for two days, but she had started to learn her way around. She no longer needed an escort to go to the bathroom, and this made what she was about to do so much easier.

Her sharp heels clicked cheerfully, echoing through the halls as she neared the great slab of stone that she knew contained the hidden door to the Slytherin common room. Laine quietly stepped into the shadows and waited. Finally, after about fifteen minutes, the stone slid open and a few Slytherin girls came out, giggling over some private joke.

Laine sighed and leaned against the wall. Had she missed him already? She was about to give up and head towards the Great Hall for breakfast when the door at last opened up again. Draco Malfoy and his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, stepped into the hall. Laine's breath caught in her throat; she had never seen Draco up close and his stunningly good looks bewitched her.

All at once, she snapped to attention and gently reached out to touch Draco's arm lightly. He spun around and his eyes widened as he took in Laine's long, lavish brown hair and her slim curvy figure. Laine, for the first time in her life, blushed a little at the look of approval in his eyes.

"Crabbe, Goyle, you two go ahead and wait for me in the Hall. I'll catch up to you in a little while," he said slowly, never taking his eyes off of Laine.

As the two bulky forms faded out of sight, Drao turned back to Laine. He looked her up and down a few times before actually speaking to her.

"So, you're the new girl from America, are you?" Laine could only nod; her mouth had gone quite dry and her tongue felt thick and heavy.

"What's wrong with me?" she thought to herself. Guys had never had this kind of effect on her before. Usually they were the ones drooling over her. Finally, she said "Yes, I'm Laine Parrish. I've seen you around, but I don't think we've really met." What was that?!? That was quite possibly the least enticing line she'd ever said.

"No, I suppose not," Draco said, obviously noticing the sweet awkwardness of the moment. He seemed to be pleased by it. Laine thought about it for a second and decided that maybe she should play up this innocent role. It seemed to be working.

"Well it's nice to meet you, Draco," she said, feeling her blood rush into her cheeks. She extended her hand delicately and Draco took it carefully. Laine felt an immediate warmth that spread from her fingertips to her palms. She looked up into his eyes, which were a clear, icy blue, and found it hard to look away.

They stood like that for a few seconds, and, as though they were completely detached from what she was doing, she tilted her head up slowly and allowed Draco to kiss her gently.

Laine experienced an indescribable feeling through her whole body. Every nerve in her body combusted, her vision swam behind her eyelids, and her knees began to collapse under her weight. She realized at once that this was meant to be. She was in love with Draco Malfoy.

Ginny shook throughout breakfast. She kept reaching under the table to feel if the tiny bottle was still in her pocket. The small bottle that looked so innocent on the outside, but on the inside contained poison so strong that one little sip from it would end the life of the drinker instantly. She didn't really want to do this. She didn't want to die. But what else did she have to live for? Now that Harry's love for her is gone, there's nothing left for her. She wished someone would wake her up from this nightmare, but no one ever would.

Laine and Draco had managed to pull their lips apart just long enough to find an abandoned classroom. As they quietly pushed the door open, they heard a loud moan of pleasure from inside the classroom. Apparently this room wasn't abandoned after all. Oliver Wood (the new Quidditch coach) had his girlfriend Maddie pinned underneath him, strewn across a few desks that had been pushed together. Maddie's arms were clamped around Oliver's neck; his were resting on her waist as he kissed her neck again and again. They didn't even notice the two people enter the room, so Draco slowly pulled the door closed and pulled Laine to the next door.

This one was empty, and they stepped in and shut the door behind them.

"Laine, I've never met anyone like you before," Draco said breathlessly, between kisses.

Laine didn't know what to say, so she sighed her sweetest "kiss me" sigh and pressed her small frame against his. He responded by wrapping his arms tightly around her waist and lifting her chin so that she was looking up into his eyes. He leaned down and kissed her. She didn't know why it happened, and she didn't get how it could have, but she did know one thing. She wanted to be with Draco until her dying day.