Trademark smirks and Temperamental redheads

Chapter 17 - Letting go; Moving on (Fifth Year)

Ginny walked through the library and spotted Draco's silvery hair at the back of the room. She made her way over quietly, sitting across the table from him.

"Hey," she said quietly. He froze for a moment, before looking up at her.

"Virginia," he acknowledged.

"I've been looking for you all morning," she said, expression questioning.

"I was studying," he replied, gesturing at the open textbooks in front of him.

"We haven't seen each other in a week," she added, hoping for a reaction.

"I've been busy," he said; head down, writing rapidly on a piece of parchment with his elegant, loopy handwriting.

"It seems like you've been avoiding me," she stated, closing his textbook with a snap. He looked up in annoyance.

"I was reading that," he said testily.

"Answer my question," she replied.

"You didn't ask one," he muttered, leaning back in his chair and looking at her.

"Are you avoiding me?"

"No."

"Is something wrong?"

"No."

"It's your father isn't it? Is Tom involved?"

"Virginia, do you understand what 'no' means? I'm fine, nothing's wrong and my father is not involved in anything. Now I really need to get back to study-"

"Are they planning to attack the school?" Ginny interrupted, completely ignoring what he said. He took a deep breath.

"Yes they're planning to attack the school," Malfoy replied sharply. Ginny gasped. "Because these people get their kicks out of using a whole bunch of useless students as target practice. Because they'd rather waste their time attacking Hogwarts, instead of gathering forces of Dark creatures together to form a powerful army against the wizarding world. I mean, what more could they ask for than to get Dumbledore mad by hurting his beloved pupils? Who wouldn't want the greatest wizard of all time after their heads?" he said acidly.

"Oh," she replied sheepishly. "So er, Hogwarts is safe then," she continued, somewhat relieved. Malfoy stared at her with a raised eyebrow. "But why are you avoiding me then?"

"Virginia, I haven't been avoiding you. Incase you haven't noticed, I have O.W.L.s next week. I can't be attached to you all the time Virginia. You have friends, get them to entertain you for a while," he said, sounding like he was trying to explain Transfiguration to a five-year-old child.

Draco pleaded silently that Ginny would accept his excuse and leave. He had been purposely avoiding her all week, not wanting her to notice anything wrong with him. He liked being back together with her too much to spoil it by telling her about the Death Eater initiation. The last thing he needed was another blazing row with her while under the pressure of the O.W.L.s next week.

"You know, I'd rather you ignore me than lie to me," she said pointedly.

"Fine then, go away," he replied evenly.

"I knew it! You are lying to me!" she cried triumphantly, jumping up. She sank back into her chair when Madame Pince glared at her.

Draco sighed. He looked back at Ginny's expectant face and shook his head slightly. He got up and took Ginny's hand, leading her out of the library and up to the Astronomy Tower.

"Tell me what's wrong Malfoy," Ginny began as soon as Draco had closed the door.

"It's nothing, you really don't have to worry about it," Draco tried.

"Is it the Death Eaters? Is Tom expecting you to do something for him?" she asked in concern. When he didn't reply, she continued angrily.

"You don't have to join the Death Eaters Malfoy!" Ginny exclaimed, feeling her anger rising.

"And what will I do if I don't? Leave my father and my family behind? Even if I do, where will I go? Your brothers hate me, and your parents too. In fact, just about bloody everyone hates me. I have no place to go. We've had this conversation before Virginia; you know we'll never agree with each other. Just leave it," he said, wanting for her to relent.

"I could think of a plan with you if only I knew what it was you're up against. Why won't you open yourself up to me?" she asked, exasperated.

"Because the last time I did that you ran away from me screaming 'I hate you'," he replied sharply.

"I was shocked by what you told me. I don't think it's too much to ask, for a little time to absorb it all. I'm ready now and I can help you. You told the Trio off for treating me like a child and not trusting me enough to tell me their secrets, but now it's you who is treating me like a child. Listen to you, trying to brush me off by saying that I'm too innocent and naïve, that I don't know what evil is. Need I remind you, I know Tom better than anyone apart from Harry? I've faced him and I have a part of his soul inside of me, don't tell me that I don't know what evil is, because believe me,I've seen enough of it," Ginny replied heatedly.

"Fine, so what great plan do you think you can come up with?" he demanded in frustration. He paused for a moment, "I am not treating you like a child Virginia, I'm trying to explain to you why there is nothing that can be done," he told her tiredly.

"We could go to Dumbledore, he'd know what to do."

"He may be a great wizard Virginia, but he is only human. Otherwise why do you think Potter and his gang don't go running off to him every time they sense trouble brewing? He can't help me, just like you can't help me," he said.

She looked at him for a long time, anguish and resentment present in her features. When he didn't look away, she turned to look out on the school grounds, taking a deep breath.

"I think we need some time apart," she said slowly.

"How long? A month? Two months? This problem isn't going to be solved by us spending time away from each other Virginia," he replied.

"A year," she stated.

"What?!" he exclaimed in alarm. "Do you honestly think we can avoid each other for a whole year in this school? I know Hogwarts is quit e a large castle, but unless you're planning to spend a year closed up in your common room or something..." he left the sentence hanging.

"I got the scholarship to go to Beauxbatons, Professor McGonagall told me this morning," she said quietly. She had been searching for Malfoy that morning to discuss the exchange program with him. When Professor McGonagall had told her, she had nearly keeled over in a dead faint. The first person she had thought of to share the wonderful news with was Malfoy, although she hadn't really planned to accept the offer. After all, her parents would never agree to her travelling so far away for a whole year. But now her mind was made up, she would accept the offer. She had to get away from all this, from Malfoy and Harry and Tom. Most of all, she needed to escape from herself, it was time for a fresh start.

She looked up at Malfoy to find him staring at her in cold fury.

"I suppose you just 'forgot' to tell me about this? You had two months to mention it to me," he said coldly.

"I really didn't think I would get it, do you know how many people wanted to go?" she replied.

"That's beside the point," he said with an impatient wave of his hand. "I would have thought that going halfway across the continent, to go to a completely foreign school, would be worth discussing with me first," he said icily.

"This isn't about you Malfoy. This is about me and my dreams," she replied.

"Oh and so what I think doesn't matter?" he demanded. Ginny ignored his question.

"I want to change, to be different, and the only way I can do that is to leave this place. To start over a new leaf, I want a fresh start so I can do everything differently," she explained.

"Virginia, you don't have to go to different country to do that. In fact, why do you think you need to change at all? What can I do to make you believe? You are someone now, don't you see? Look at all the people around you, they see you as a unique person, not another Weasley, not a shadow and not just an ordinary girl," he said, feeling exasperated.

"Yes but they know me for all the wrong reasons Malfoy! They know me as a tarnished identity. As the girl whose soul was captured by the Dark Lord, the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets and endangered all their lives. Do you know that at the beginning of every year I get first years coming up to me asking for my autograph? They stare at me open mouthed and wide eyed, both in fear and awe of me. Is this the person I want to be known as for the rest of my life? The 'poor' girl who fell into the Dark Lord's trap? Or the girl who chose Draco Malfoy over Harry Potter?"

Draco tensed at this, nodding his head in silent realization. "So this is what it's all about. You regret choosing me. Then go back to your beloved Potter! And spare me these feeble and pathetic excuses. I'm sorry I've 'tarnished' your image Virginia; you should have said something to me when I was pouring my soul out to you," he said, eyes flashing with anger. Why did it all have to come back to Potter? Always, he could not escape the shadow of the boy-who-lived.

"No, that isn't what it's all about. Listen to yourself, every time Harry is mentioned you automatically go into a rage. How can you demand that I trust you when you can't even return my trust?" Ginny demanded, staring into his eyes. Draco took a deep breath before speaking, trying to calm his temper.

"Don't go," he said, his tone sounding suspiciously like pleading to his ears. He returned Ginny's gaze.

"I-I have to. Or I'll spend the rest of my life regretting this moment. I'm sorry," she said, looking away from his intense gaze.

He stood there looking at her face, waiting for her to change her mind. After an eternity, he finally looked away from her. His hands were bunched into fists at his sides, as he clenched his jaw tightly. He turned around and walked away from her, ignoring her calls. He never looked back; never saw the red-haired girl behind him shedding silent tears.

~~~

Ginny looked around at her room from the doorway. "Goodbye," she whispered quietly, before closing the door. She made her way down the stairs of The Burrow to the living room, where her family was waiting along with Harry and Hermione. They all came forward to hug her one by one; her mother especially, had tears in her eyes.

"Are you sure you'll be alright Ginny? There's still time if you change your mind," the older woman pleaded.

"I'll be fine Mum, I'll write often, I promise," Ginny assured her. Her father gave her shoulder a tight squeeze and smiled at her encouragingly.

The twins handed her a dark blue bag marked 'Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes' in flashing scarlet and gold writing. "Do some advertising for us won't you little sis'?" George said with a wink. She laughed and hugged both of them hard.

"Gee, no need to worry about her Mum. This one has a grip of death!" Fred remarked as she let go.

As she moved to hug Percy, he said quite innocently. "Be sure to behave yourself Ginny. We wouldn't want to set a bad impression on the French would we?" Ginny rolled her eyes. The Trio came toward her, each holding a gift in their hands.

"Here, the three of us saved up and bought you this," said Ron, handing her a broomstick with a silver ribbon tied to its handle. She turned the handle over and read the inscription. 'Nimbus 2000' it read proudly in gold writing. "I know it's not as good as a Firebolt," Ron added quickly. Her eyes lighted up as she threw her arms around Ron. He patted her shoulder awkwardly, cheeks turning a bright pink. "Er, glad you like it."

"Ginny, I thought it'd be appropriate for you to know more about Beauxbatons before you got there so I got you this," said Hermione as she handed her a boxy package. "It's a history of Beauxbatons," she added. Ginny smiled and hugged her.

"Er, Ginny, can I talk to you for a moment? In private," Harry whispered in her ear. They moved into the kitchen, as her family busied themselves packing her trunk into her dad's Ford Anglia. Molly Weasley was running around the place, inspecting her foot-long checklist.

"I know there's nothing I can say to hold you back," at this, his expression was slightly sad as he looked into her eyes. "I'm going to miss you a lot Ginny, take care of yourself. Remember to write us often," he paused as Ginny nodded her head. He reached into his pocket and produced a small box, handing it to her. "It's a little something I've been working on, made all the charms myself," he added, waiting for her reaction as Ginny opened the box. She took out a silver charm bracelet that tinkled slightly as she moved it around. She counted the charms, seven in all.

"It's wonderful," she said, giving him a genuine smile. "Can you put it on for me?" she asked, as she handed him the bracelet and offered her right wrist.

"I won't tell you what the charms are just yet, you can have fun finding them out for yourself," Harry said, as he fastened the clip and dropped his hands.

"Come on Ginny! We have to get going," shouted her dad from the front yard. Bill and Charlie both came forward and hauled her onto their shoulders, parading her toward the front door. She laughed and held tightly onto her two eldest brothers. The two of them had came into her room that morning and handed her a sackful of coins, telling her it was her pocket money for the year.

"How will you be getting there?" asked Hermione curiously as they stood in the yard waiting for her father to check the car.

"Oh we're going to Diagon Alley first to meet up with the other students going on the exchange. Then we're going to the Ministry and taking a portkey there. The location of Beauxbatons is still highly protected, they seem really cautious about it," Ginny explained.

Before she could get into the car, Ron came up to her slowly as if debating with himself over something. "Er, Ginny do you want me to pass on anything to Malfoy for you?" he asked quickly, grimacing as he finished his sentence. Ginny smiled, knowing what it had cost him to say that.

"Thanks Ron, just promise me you'll try and be nice to him," Ginny replied. Ron grumbled at this but nodded his head, helping her into the car as he closed the door.

Inside the car, she waved to everyone standing on the front porch. She took a long look at the wonky house that she had called home all her life, as her dad backed the car out of their tumbledown garage.

Letting out a short breath, she turned her attention to the charm bracelet on her wrist as her dad drove the Anglia away from The Burrow. There was: a snake, a lion, a broomstick, a quaffle, a wand, an owl, and a stag. The stag was slightly larger than the other charms and reigned over them all. Ginny watched with interest as the snake rose out of its coils and flashed its tongue at the lion, who reared up on its hind legs, its mouth open in a roar. She was distracted from the show as her owl screeched inside its cage. Ginny scrolled down the window and opened the cage, allowing her owl to fly out beside the car, its snow-white wings glistening in the sunlight.