Matters of Blood and Connection

Chapter 5: Stop Counting Days

Her fingers trembled rather violently through her hair as she stepped into view. A slow and horrible silence overcame the Great Hall as Ginny stared around at everyone. No one seemed very eager to come and talk to her. In fact, most of her house distanced themselves from her completely. Somehow it didn't bother her that she had nearly half the large table to herself.

She watched as the rest of the students filed in until she found who she was looking for. He had just entered, and as Ginny stood to go over to him, he reached behind his back to pull someone forward. Daphne Greengrass looked rather smug as she leaned over, her eyes locking with Ginny's just before she kissed Draco's cheek softly.

His gray eyes widened slightly as he too caught sight of the redhead staring at them. He muttered something to Daphne, which made her eyes narrow. As Draco headed towards Ginny, Daphne walked to the Slytherin table.

"Hello," he mumbled, brushing a hand through his blond hair.

"You and Daphne look comfortable," said Ginny. She picked up a piece of toast but didn't bite into it. "I just hope you don't hurt her too badly when you let her know you're using her."

Draco reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her up to face him. His eyes were dark and stormy. "What's wrong with you? All we did was kiss!" he said angrily. "Why are you making it into something more?"

Ginny blinked at him and idly wondered about throwing her glass of orange juice in his face. "Because I felt something else beneath the kiss, and if you didn't, then why did things almost go too far?"

"Too far?" He laughed. "If you hadn't realized, you're a bloody Weasley, and I have a reputation to uphold."

"Yeah, world's biggest bastard," said Ginny harshly.

"Watch who you're talking to, Weasley," Draco snapped. "Wouldn't want Potter finding out you want to fuck me just after you two broke it off, would you?"

Ginny stared at him, her mouth quivering. "That's ridiculous and you know it."

He smiled at her then and gently touched a strand of her hair. "You're not my charity case anymore, Red, and I'm sorry you got the feeling I cared for you, because I don't. I don't care for loud-mouthed dirt, no matter how good a kisser you were."

Ginny closed her eyes as his words penetrated her brain and she shook her head. "Don't you stand there and lie to me. I know you felt something, damn it!"

"Maybe you should get your ears checked then, Red."

"Excuse me?"

He smirked. "Did you ever hear me say I wanted to be anything with you? Maybe you heard what your pathetic delusional mind wanted to, because you're so lonely that you need someone, even a Slytherin, to fill the void."

He had left her standing there, completely humiliated, but for once she didn't run. Instead, she took a breath and sat back down to enjoy the rest of her breakfast.

_____________________________

It was past noon when he discovered her by the lake, shredding a piece of parchment with her fingers. He swallowed as he caught a glimpse of his name - a letter she had started to him - and he suddenly wanted to vanish. He hadn't meant anything he said to her this morning, but she had just gotten him so riled that he had to say something to make her stop looking at him like she was.

Like he would have agreed to do anything she asked.

He was about to turn around when he heard her clear her throat.

"If you're looking for another fight I have no more energy," she said softly.

"No, I just-" He cursed silently as she slowly looked at him with puffy brown eyes. There were still tear streaks down her cheeks. He sighed and fell down beside her. "I didn't mean what I said to you in there."

"Which part?" Ginny asked bitterly. "About how I'm pathetic, lonely, needy or how you would never want to be seen with me because of your precious reputation?"

He ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"How long did it take you to come up with that lie? That's what you do, isn't it, Draco? You lie, cheat, scheme, backstab. You're just as Slytherin as your dear father, except that you don't kill people."

Draco winced but said nothing.

Ginny turned to him, her eyes holding doubt, and she bit her lip. "Why are you with her?"

"She was around when I needed comfort."

Ginny muttered something about the pot calling the kettle black, and Draco couldn't help but smile. She remembered what he had said, and further more, she had used it against him.

"All right, I deserved that."

Ginny glared. "That doesn't mean I forgive you for hurting me."

He sighed and reached for her. She let his hands travel through her hair before he pulled her closer and whispered, "Please believe that I'm sorry."

She nestled against him and muttered, "Things are going to change."

He knew that. Of course, he knew that. He wasn't an idiot. "I know," he said.

Ginny looked at him calmly before pulling away. She looked at the ground and watched the parchment she had just ripped up being taken by the wind. It fell into the lake, and then seemed to disappear.

"I need to change some things in my life right now," she told him gently. "If I want to do that I can't have you distracting me."

He blinked as she stood up, leaving him alone as the sky grew dark and the rain began to fall. An expression of deep confusion lined his face. He titled his head back and let the water slide down his cheeks and onto his already soaked robes. Draco was so engrossed in feeling like the world's biggest bastard that he didn't hear the footsteps behind him.

"I don't think you can trust her," Pansy said quietly as she sat next to him. "I could make you forget her."

He stared at her with wide gray eyes. "Haven't you done enough?"

She was close enough for Draco to feel very uncomfortable. He placed a hand on her shoulder and shoved hard. He had barely been glancing at her when she pressed against him, so when he heard a dull thud he thought nothing of it. He stood abruptly and jumped a little when a flash of lightning shot across the sky. It lit up the lake, the ground, the giant tree, and the girl lying in the mud with blood trickling down her temple.