In the Bleak Midwinter

Chapter Four: Give My Heart

Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Harry arrived for breakfast in the Great Hall on Christmas morning to find it surprisingly empty of students. There were only three House tables left in the room, with the Hufflepuff table pushed up against the wall.

"Students," Dumbledore announced from his position at the high table, "seeing as there are only two Hufflepuff students remaining, their places have been moved to the Gryffindor table."

"Oh, this should be interesting," Hermione said, looking apprehensively over to the Gryffindor table, where two Hufflepuffs were taking their seats.

"What's interesting about Hufflepuffs?" Ron asked her, seeming doubtful.

"Well, we'll be able to chat with them, won't we? And rarely do we get to spend time in close interaction with other House members--besides in class, that is, when all we're doing is schoolwork anyhow," Hermione explained.

"Since when is schoolwork unimportant to you?" Ron threw at her.

"I never said it was unimportant! But you don't learn much about a person when you're doing Transfiguration with them, do you? I suppose Dumbledore's just trying to promote Inter-House relationships now."

Ginny's ears perked up at 'Inter-House relationships', but she lost interest when she realized it was just another debate between Ron and Hermione. Instead, she glanced over at Harry, who had come to walk next to her.

He bent over to say something in Ginny's ear. "They need to stop fooling themselves and get together," Harry told her, half-laughing, indicating Ron and Hermione.

She grinned at him, nodding. "Yeah," she murmured, "yeah, they do."

They reached the Gryffindor table at that moment and Harry took a seat across the table from Ginny. But she felt an immediate rush of gratitude for all his comfort the night before, and decided to thank him profusely later for it--especially for the part where he didn't tell Ron anything.

Ginny had seated herself between the two Hufflepuff students--one tall, blond boy whom she remembered as Zacharias Smith and a shorter girl in Ron's year named Hannah Abbot, both from the DA. Zacharias was picking away at his food, purposefully ignoring the Gryffindors, while Hannah Abbot immediately struck up a conversation with Hermione.

"So," Ginny began, unable to stand the silence between she and Smith after a few awkward minutes had passed. "how have you been?"

Zacharias turned to stare at her in surprise. "Me?" he asked, obviously taken aback.

Ginny rolled her eyes, suddenly remembering how aggravating this Hufflepuff had been. "No, the other person I'm looking straight in the eye."

She expected him to explode, or at least defend his dignity. But instead, to her amazement, he burst out laughing. "You are the sarcastic Weasley, aren't you?"

She shrugged. "What is that supposed to mean?"

His expression turned serious, and he studied her face closely. Ginny could feel him assessing her, and she wondered what he was thinking. Finally, ignoring her questions, he said, "You're good at Defense Against the Dark Arts. I remember from a couple years ago."

"I've had a bit of practice."

He cocked his head, confused. He obviously didn't know that she was referring to her first year at Hogwarts.

Ginny retreated briefly into her own mind, and wondered whether Tom Riddle--she shuddered at the name--really had given her the practice she needed to improve so greatly. A shadow of doubt flashed through her mind.

Perhaps, she thought, it wasn't practice that he gave me. After all, did I fight back? She scolded herself numbly. No. Not nearly hard enough, anyhow. He took me over--controlled me--fed off my secrets and my soul. Perhaps, she mused, it wasn't practice he gave me. It was a taste of his power, a wisp of complete brilliance, which is left behind in my soul today.

Yes, she thought bitterly, there is a bit of his triumph left in me.

"Um... Weasley?" Zacharias said sharply, and Ginny snapped to attention. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head, clearing it of the shattered thoughts and horrors left behind from that torturous year. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine..."

He stared at her, concern and curiosity shaping his features. Ginny looked away, avoiding his interested stare. She felt a little defensive of herself, and a sudden unjustifiable annoyance toward the Hufflepuff descended upon her. After all, what business was this of his?

Fortunately, he changed the subject. "So, how are all your classes going?"

"Fine," she lied, still shaken up.

"Really?" he seemed almost admiring. "I'm doing horribly in Potions--then again, all the Hufflepuffs are; Snape's not too fond of us."

Loosening up a little, and feeling slightly guilty from her unexplained anger, Ginny answered truthfully. "Actually, I'm failing Transfiguration and Charms." He quirked an eyebrow in surprise.

He's kind of cute when he does that, a voice said in Ginny's head, but she immediately cast it aside. What was she becoming, some sort of fall-for-anyone girl? More confused thoughts on Draco entered her mind, but she threw those out as well.

"How can you fail those? They're my easiest classes," he said, a little arrogantly.

"Well, I'm top of my class in Potions," Ginny replied.

Surprise swept through his pride. "Really? A Gryffindor?"

"For some reason..." Ginny didn't know how to explain herself. "I'm not a logical person," she said finally. "I don't like Transfiguration for that reason, so I don't do the work. Potions, on the other hand... Potions is brilliantly illogical. And because I do well and stay pretty quiet in class, Snape let's me get by."

Zacharias marveled at her. "You manage to be quiet in that class? How?"

Ginny chuckled at his obvious disbelief. "Fred and George seem to have affected me more than I knew. You see, I may not like the slimy git, but I can be manipulative when I try."

"Manipulative?" he repeated sarcastically. "Try melodramatic."

Ginny snickered again, feeling good for the first time in days. After all the gift giving, and a nice meal, and this cheery chat, she was starting to feel comfort once again.

But then the tables were cleared and then chatter began to die away as people rose to go up to their dormitories.

"Nice talking to you," Ginny told Zacharias, rising from her seat. "See you around."

"Yeah," he said, standing up as well. She turned to leave, but he stopped her. "Weasley? Would you mind helping me in Potions, one of these days?"

She stared at him, surprised. "What?"

He seemed a little embarrassed to be asking her for help. "You know, tutoring. Just some weekday evening in the library..."

She shrugged, but smiled at him. "That wouldn't be a problem. You can help me with Transfiguration as well."

He grinned back at her genuinely. "It's a deal--five o'clock Wednesday good for you?"

"Yeah, fine," Ginny replied, before waving to him and stalking after Ron, Harry, and Hermione.

~*~

Ginny tied the last bow around the package with a flourish, grinning. I would be interesting to see Draco's reaction as she presented him with this gift. Would he mock her? Laugh at her? Throw it away? Or would he be grateful? The idea of Draco Malfoy being grateful to her, Ginevra Weasley, was ludicrous, and yet, after that night, anything seemed possible.

Sneaking out of her empty dormitory, Ginny crept across the silent common room and slipped out the portrait hole. The Fat Lady looked curious and a little disapproving, but she said nothing to Ginny's retreating back.

The dungeons were freezing cold, and Ginny had to force herself to keep walking. It seemed like ages that she wandered, wondering how stupid she had been to go down there anyhow.

After all, she was a Gryffindor; she had no idea where the Slytherin common room was. She thought she would have at least come across something by now--something entrance-like--but she had had no luck.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps up ahead. It could have been a teacher, but she took the risk, and hurried around the corner to meet whomever lay beyond.

It was Blaise Zabini, the tall, dark, and handsome Slytherin whom Ginny had seen in the glass figure of Hogwarts earlier that day. He was, apparently, a prefect, and patrolling the halls for students out of bed.

"What have we here?" he said softly, but to Ginny's surprise, he didn't sound sneering. He was, in fact, smiling slightly, with a glint in his eyes and curiosity in his tone.

What is happening to all the Slytherins these days? Ginny thought wildly before replying, "I'm looking for the Slytherin common room."

"And yet," Blaise observed, "you are not a Slytherin."

"Good on you for that one," Ginny said sarcastically.

"Weasley, isn't it?" Blaise asked suddenly, taking a step closer and looking somewhat frightening.

Ginny, feeling very tired by that time, answered, "The one and only."

"Actually, I've heard that there are millions of you."

Ginny, feeling a malicious statement about her family coming on, stood up straighter to show that she could take it. When Blaise said nothing, she stared at him, surprised and amazed.

"Feeling under the weather, Weasley?" he asked suddenly.

Taken completely off guard by his abrupt question, Ginny was surprised into a quick and truthful answer. "How did you know?"

Blaise raised his eyebrows. "Anyone who looks twice at you could see that much."

Angry with herself for her last answer, Ginny shot at him, "You've been looking twice at me?"

Blaise was now standing quite close, and looking very deeply into Ginny's eyes. She registered dully that his eyes were a warm sort of brown, with green shooting off from the pupils.

Finally, after a long silence, he replied, "Perhaps."

Ginny stepped backwards and looked at the floor. What is that obvious? The nightmares had been plaguing her for a few days now, but she hadn't known that something was so visibly wrong. Sure, the lack of sleep made her look a bit too pale, and she had lost some weight. But no Slytherin should know or care...

"The common room," he said quietly, but Ginny didn't look up, "is down the hall and to the left. The password is 'brimstone'. Say it and the wall will open."

"Thanks," Ginny mumbled, rushing past him feeling a little afraid and very confused.

~*~

"Brimstone!" Ginny said loudly, and just as Blaise had promised, the door slid open. The common room that lay beyond was green, black, cold, dark, and apparently empty.

Great, Ginny thought. Lovely plan, Gin. You can really give him a gift when he isn't here!

But then Draco staggered over from the corner, looking very shaken to see her standing there.

"Welcome," he said finally, though still sounding shocked, "to our humble abode."

"I don't think 'humble' is the correct word to use when describing anything of a Slytherin's," Ginny replied, but her voice was all sarcasm and no real malice. She stepped into the common room determinedly, clutching the package tightly. Draco made no move to stop her.

"How'd you get here?" Draco demanded softly. Well, at least he hasn't thrown me out yet.

"Blaise told me where it was."

"Zabini did?" If it was possible, he seemed even more surprised. "And he told you the password?"

"Yes."

"Why?!" Draco was always perfectly collected, and seeing him so amazed was an interesting sight for Ginny. She liked it; it made him seem more human.

Standing tall, Ginny stepped toward him. He did not move. "I was looking for you."

He raised an eyebrow, but did not step away or yell at her.

Being this close to him again sent shivers down Ginny's spine. She remembered that night, when she and Draco unknowingly created an odd bond that Ginny couldn't seem to break. All the memories of Draco's unkind words in the years before were not enough to make Ginny want to leave the common room. In fact, they just made her want to stay, and uncover the true meaning as to why Draco had changed so drastically.

His platinum hair hung feather-light to the tops of his ears. His eyes were bright with confusion and what looked like... Hope? His skin was milky white. Ginny felt a sudden longing to brush her fingers against it, and find out if it was as soft as it looked--

"Well?" Draco asked quietly, startling Ginny out of her reverie.

"Er..." Ginny abruptly felt a bit foolish and very crazy. "Happy Christmas."

His hands were limp with surprise and he had no choice but to accept the package thrust at him as Ginny spun on her heels and hurried from the common room, before she could do anything stupid.

~*~

Draco stared numbly at the package in his hands for a few moments before another person entered the common room. Footsteps approached him, and he felt an insane hope in his chest that perhaps the little Weasley had come back...but no, Draco realized as he looked up, it was just Blaise Zabini.

"Well, aren't you going to open it?" the young man pressed, grinning wryly at Draco. "She went to all that trouble just to wrap it nicely for you--"

"Zabini," Draco said, softly but sternly, "go to bed."

The Slytherin stood still defiantly, but when Draco shot him a commanding glare, Blaise stalked proudly up to his rooms, muttering something under his breath.

Draco was left alone with his gift. Slowly, he sat down before the fire and began to peel back the paper, savoring every moment of suspense.

Finally, when the gift lay open on his lap, he let out a low chuckle.

It was his cloak, the same thick black cloak that he had given to his mystery visitor that night on the tower.

The mystery visitor that turned out to be Ginny.

But you can't say that you regret it, can you? Draco thought to himself, and he realized that the question was true. He was not disappointed; in fact, he felt an odd sort of pleasure and, dare he say it, happiness.

Casting those deep, almost frightening thoughts aside, he turned his attention instead to the note sticking out of the pocket. Peeling it open, he read a short message in tiny, neat handwriting.

Dear Draco,

Thank you for...everything. I hope you have a happy Christmas and enjoy your holidays.

Sincerely,

Ginny Weasley

P.S. Check the pocket. The character on the necklace is an old wizarding rune. I'm not sure exactly what it means.

Hands shaking slightly, Draco pulled from the pocket a long black string tied in a loop. Dangling from the end was a sterling silver rune, which glinted in the firelight.

Draco nearly dropped it in surprise as he recognized the symbol. He wasn't in Advanced Ancient Runes for nothing; it was one of his best subjects.

And he was good enough to know that this character was the symbol for love.

~*~