The Redemption of Draco Malfoy

Chapter 9: Too Late? Or is It?

Now, somehow, Draco was going to have to tell Ginny that she was in danger. But how?

They had agreed that they would stay apart for the next two months. Ginny had decided to brew the contact poisons and plant them in Sensara's. She did not want to be affiliated with Draco in any way, shape, or form--for then she would have a motive for killing Lucius. And she didn't want Draco in on any part of this, or else he would be found out and sent to Azkaban.

When Draco tried to catch her eye in the Great Hall, she'd turn away and pretend she didn't notice. He didn't dare owl her (his eagle owl was too distinctive--and notes were solid evidence, besides). He tried finding her between classes, but it seemed she had taken seriously her responsibility of avoiding him.

Three weeks went by quickly. It was Hogsmeade time again. He still had one chance to warn her. He had to do it in Hogsmeade. If anyone saw him talking to her--hell, he didn't care. Losing Ginny would be worse than the Cruciatus curse.

From his hiding place in the alley, Draco saw Harry making his way up High Street in Hogsmeade, toward the Shrieking Shack. Ginny hadn't come by yet. Good. There was still time to warn her.

Then he heard her coming. He'd become very familiar with the sound of her footsteps. He reached out, grabbed a hold of her cloak, and pulled her into the alley with him.

"Draco?"

"Shhh...Ginny, don't go up there to meet him. Please!"

"Draco, you aren't jealous, are you? Because I swear, I don't love him, only you..." She kissed him tenderly on the lips.

He looked into her eyes. Surely she could see that he was telling the truth if he did that. Or could she? "Ginny...it's just not safe. Please...trust me." His body was starting to shiver with fear. How could he make her believe him without letting her know that he had been, well, a slimy git?"

"Draco! What is going to happen?" Her eyes narrowed; her fingers were digging sharply into his shoulders. (And to think that he'd actually been turned on by her long nails!)

For the first time this year, Draco realized that he was not the one in control of this relationship. She was. She had been for a long time. He had given himself to her, not to suit his father, but of his own free will. And so he told her what she wanted to know.

"Ginny, my father...well, he's going to ambush Harry...he's wanted this for a long time..."

Ginny released his shoulders and took a step backward. "Draco! You told him where Harry was going to be, didn't you?"

Draco looked at the ground sullenly and nodded. "I didn't mean to, though. I didn't want to do anything that would hurt you...but..."

"But it's okay to hurt Harry?"

"No!" he gasped. "If he were hurt, you would be too! Come on, Gin, you've had almost four years of Defense Against the Dark Arts. You know that people have ways of ferreting out information like that! Well, my father isn't above using some of those methods."

Ginny snorted. "When, exactly, did you tell him Harry would be there?"

"Quarter past twelve."

"Ah." Ginny smiled. "There's still time to warn him, then." And she dashed out of the alley, and up the street in the direction of the Shrieking Shack. What a Gryffindor she was. Draco stood still, gaping at her, for a minute before running after her. There was time, but not much.

He had plans for Ginny. He couldn't let his father get his hands on her.