A Pianist's Unknown Depth

Notes fluttered and wound themselves around Ginny as she walked through a little used corridor towards the library. The music called to her and bade she find its maker. Since she didn't really want to spend her entire weekend studying, she decided to follow the intoxicating sound back to its source.

The music took her up a flight of stairs and down two separate corridors before she found a sort of study that was mostly abandoned. The door was cracked open, admitting her entrance. She paused, looking up and down the corridor to make sure she wasn't being followed or watched, and took a second to breathe. In that moment, the music changed, going from a soft, compelling melody to a quick, playful harmony. It was almost mischievous, but it called to Ginny even more than that which came before.

Without resisting, she poked her head into the room, eyes widening in surprise when she found the magician casting spells with the piano. Dear Merlin, is that Malfoy? she wondered, knowing as soon as she saw him that it was so. He was bent over the keys; head down, with his hair obscuring gray eyes that must have been closed. His fair hands flew over the keys, seeming to have a mind of their own as they raced back and forth in the charming harmony.

Ginny backed up, the thought of leaving strong in her mind. Why should she stay and watch the bastard? If he saw her, he would stop and taunt her, maybe even make her cry. He'd done it more than once, and Ginny didn't really feel like becoming a masochist. But the music called to her, making her forget about the ferret that liked hurting her. The notes were too pure and graceful to come from someone so nasty. It teased her into entering, coaxed her to look back into the room and stay a moment longer.

The music portrayed the musician, matching him completely. His face changed as the music did, features moving in accordance with the notes. If this Malfoy matched the music, Ginny would have loved to know him, just as she felt she knew this music.

Again the music changed, it slowed down to a pulse, its notes going from a cheery amusement to a deep sadness. His lips replaced a soft smirk with a sad pout, eyebrows relaxing. Tears formed and Ginny brought a hand up to wipe them away. She hadn't realized that she had stepped completely into the room until now. Malfoy played on though, not noticing her entrance.

Standing in the middle of the room, she felt open, vulnerable. The music affected her soul. It wrapped around her, meshing with her system and becoming permanent. It wasn't just affecting her now, it was a part of her, and she knew that this unique music was meant for her. Knew that she would only hear it played by this man.

And she realized that perhaps the boy who bullied and teased her family and herself was not the man sitting in front of a piano, releasing his heart and soul into the music with his eyes closed.

Perhaps there was depth to Draco Malfoy after all.