The Redemption of Draco Malfoy

Chapter 5: Of Love...and Hate

Draco met Ginny in Hogsmeade, not once, but several times. They found a meeting place near the Owlery and also continued to meet each other at the rusty bench in the dungeons.

Each time, before he met her, he would ask himself: is tonight the night? Can I ask her about Harry tonight? Always, it seemed, he came to the conclusion that she still didn't trust him completely. So he let his mission wait and talked about little things instead.

It was, Draco thought, not an unpleasant mission that his father had given him. He tried not to kiss her too much--though his body wanted him to, in fact begged him to do much more--because he was afraid of bonding with her too much. She was just a tool, he told himself. Just a steppingstone on his path to power. But still, he enjoyed being with her.

They often did their homework side by side (being in separate years, they had different assignments). Draco discovered that Ginny was terribly clever at inventing predictions for Divination, and often found himself asking her for help. Since he helped her with Potions and DADA, he thought it was a fair trade.

Draco did worry for a few days that Crabbe's and Goyle's grades would fall, now that he wasn't helping them. But Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode took over as tutors for the rock-heads (as he fondly thought of them). Crabbe and Goyle weren't disappointed with this arrangement at all. He often saw them in the Slytherin common room with the girls, doing a lot more than homework. Draco was glad that Pansy's affections were being diverted away from him.

Of course, homework was not Draco's favorite pastime; nor was it Ginny's. Often, they would break away from their studies and chat about life. Ginny was just as interested in Slytherin house traditions as Draco was in Gryffindor's.

Often, the conversation centered around their families and life at home. At times like these, Draco tried to keep Ginny talking about life at the Burrow. He desperately avoided talking about his father. He would much rather hear about Molly (who sounded like she was a great mum) and Arthur (who was always good for a few laughs).

One day, however, when they were cuddled up in a thicket behind the Three Broomsticks, Ginny looked at him gently and said, "Draco?"

"Hmm?"

"You always say that we have to be secretive because of your father. Is he really that bad?"

Draco stood up suddenly. "I don't know if I can talk about this, Ginny."

Ginny stood up and took his hand. "Come on, Draco. Spit it out. My mum always says that problems don't look so bad if they're given a bit of fresh air."

Draco sighed and sat down again. "All right, Ginny. It's just...well, hard. You must understand that I don't tell anyone about this. Even my mother."

Ginny said nothing but put her arm around his shoulders. He turned to face her and drew her closer, kissing her desperately, as if to draw strength from her. He would tell her this. If he did, she would trust him. Completely.

He pulled away from her reluctantly and began, "You know the sort of associations my father has." Ginny nodded mutely. "You can guess, then, what sort of things he's willing to do to get what he wants."

Ginny grimaced. "Sort of. At least, I can guess."

Draco looked her straight in the eyes. "When I was nine years old I disobeyed my father. I said no, right to his face." Ginny nodded, no doubt thinking of a time when she had done the same to her father. Draco continued, "He put the Cruciatus curse on me." He heard her gasp, felt her shudder.

"It was only for two or three seconds, but it was enough. Ever since then, if I threaten to disobey, he tells me that next time--next time it won't be so short."

Ginny was in tears. I have got to teach that girl to be less emotional, Draco thought. "Didn't your mother ever try to stop him?" she asked.

Draco grimaced. "Come on, Ginny. My family's not like that. First of all, he told me not to tell mum...and you know the punishment for disobedience! Yes, mum might have tried to stop him. Not that she's a goody two-shoes herself, but I don't think any mother would want to see her child suffer."

He paused, trying to decide if he really ought to say what came next. Yes, he did. She should know how Dark wizards operated.

"But even if she had known, I'm not sure she would have done anything. My mother's awfully scared of my father as well." Ginny's eyes widened in understanding. "You mean--"

He nodded. He'd never witnessed his father abusing his mother, but he knew it happened. It was, thought Draco, rather a despicable thing to do. A husband and wife should be partners. Even if they were ruthlessly ambitious and could trust no one else, they should be able to trust each other.

He looked up once more and saw a steely glint in Ginny's eyes. "I have GOT to get you away from that man," she said determinedly. "I ought to get her away too," she added softly.

Draco had his first ally.

"It's what I want, more than anything," he admitted truthfully. "What would you do to help me?"

"Anything," she said quietly.

"Really?"

"Yes. Anything."

He saw the look in her eyes. She meant it. Excellent. She really was his to command. The Dark Lord would be pleased with her. Intelligent...and yet loyal and subservient.

After a few moments of regarding her quietly, he spoke up again. "Ginny?"

"Yes?"

"You would never let anyone harm your child, would you?"

Her eyes widened; her nostrils flared. "Are you kidding? I'd hex him into kingdom come!"

"Ah. Good." It was what he needed to hear, for some reason. He pulled her towards him and began kissing her passionately. She was kissing him back just as eagerly. His hands explored her body in places he'd never dared touch before and he knew, from the noises that she was making, that she was enjoying herself as much as he was.

He was on top of her now, still kissing her, pressing his body against hers. They were still clothed, but he wished they weren't...

Draco, what are you doing? He asked himself. Get control of yourself.

He pulled himself off her with a groan and sat up. "Ginny, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...I mean, I really don't think we're ready for that sort of relationship yet."

Ginny smiled at him flirtatiously. "Sadly, you're probably right." She reached up and smoothed his hair back into place. "Besides, it's getting rather late."

Draco looked around, saw the sun just above the horizon, and leaped up. "Oh no! We need to leave separately--I'll go first--"

Ginny grinned. "I'll go first. You need some time to cool off."

Draco glanced down at the lower half of his body and blushed. "Umm...yeah. You better go first."

As he walked home alone, he tried to sort out what he had done that day. He had won her over, but at what cost? He wanted to bring her to the Dark Lord. He wanted to marry her off to a Death Eater to invigorate the bloodlines. He had always intended that Death Eater to be someone else.

And yet, he told himself, Virginia Malfoy was a very nice name.

Merlin, what had he gotten himself into?