Taken

Chapter 2: Oblivion

So forgive me if I come by something better

If my words push you away

If I seem surprised to see you

Lying here, in front of me

Just consider what you're asking

And give me a little time

Cause I'm still havin' trouble breathing

Cause up to now, I've never seen you cry

8stops7 - Question Everything

Ginny glanced across the Great Hall at the Slytherin table. Draco was sitting in his usual seat, but he was carefully keeping his eyes from the Gryffindor table, arguing with Blaise Zabini under his breath. Ginny frowned, stabbing her vegetables viciously with her fork. Hermione gave her a questioning look, but she ignored her, standing and heading towards the door.

At the movement from the other side of the room, Draco looked up, silver eyes following Ginny's path to the doors. Blaise elbowed him sharply, motioning him to follow.

"I don't chase," he said stiffly, locking his eyes on his plate. She would wait for him. He said he would meet her after supper, and he would meet her after supper.

"...She won't, you know," Blaise said matter-of-factly. Draco blinked.

"Won't what?"

"Won't wait. I know girls like her. She'll give you a couple minutes, but then she'll leave. And then, you're fucked." Blaise glanced towards his friend, but the blonde was already gone, stalking out of the Great Hall.

Across the room, Ron and Harry stood in unison, but Hermione pulled them back down, scolding them both. Blaise chuckled, mentally applauding the girl. She had guts to stand up to the Weasley temper and the Potter stupidity. And now, maybe Draco could confess his feelings.

********

Fat chance that would happen anytime soon. Currently, Ginny and Draco were glaring at each other from opposite sides of the hallway, arms crossed as they leaned against the walls.

"What the hell is your problem, Ginny?" Draco finally spoke up, wishing he hadn't when he saw her expression.

"My problem? My problem? What the hell is your problem? You didn't even spare me a glance at supper. Then I meet you like you asked, and you just give me shit." Draco opened his mouth to defend himself, but Ginny held up her hand, cutting him off. "I don't want to hear your excuse. I'm going to turn around, go upstairs, and go to bed. And I don't want to hear a word from you."

"Well, tough shit, because we're still going on that walk." It exploded from Draco's mouth before he could stop it, and he strode across the hall, cornering Ginny. "Did you bring your cloak like I asked?" Ginny mutely held up the garment and Draco nodded, stepping back. Relieving her momentarily of the cloth, he draped it across her shoulders, fastening it, almost tenderly, under her chin. Shrugging on his own cloak, he offered her a hand, which she hesitantly took, and he whisked her outside, leading her down towards the lake.

"...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten upset over something as stupid as you not looking at me." Ginny sighed, leaning her head against Draco's arm.

"Forget about it. I shouldn't have ignored you. ...Something Zabini said had gotten to me is all." That was his way of apologizing. Ginny knew that. She smiled, squeezing his hand gently. They continued down to the lake in silence, stopping when they reached the shore.

"Gin?" Draco started, pausing when she glanced up at him curiously.

"...Draco, are you all right?"

"No," he grunted, dropping her hand. Ginny watched him as he paced a few steps away.

"...Anything I can do to help?" she asked rather timidly, tilting her head when he turned back. He watched her quietly, and then returned to her side, drawing her into a kiss. She squeaked briefly in surprise, and he took the opportunity to deepen the embrace.

Ginny's hands moved up to rest on either side of his neck, while he held her close, one hand on the small of her back and the other on the back of her head.

He was intoxicating, and likewise intoxicated. His lips roamed down her neck, tasting and nibbling gently at the skin they came in contact with. Groaning, he arched uncontrollably against her, holding her tighter. Ginny gasped at his fingers fumbled blindly with her robes, finally just giving up and kissing her harder.

Wait. What was he doing? Breathing labored, he forced himself away, staring into Ginny's eyes as she watched him, a hint of fear hiding behind her gaze. She brought a hand up to brush a strand of hair back from his face, allowing it to linger momentarily on his cheek. He sucked in a breath, shivers running down his spine.

"What the hell are you doing to me?" he whispered, silver gray eyes locked with Ginny's chocolate brown.

"Doing to you?" she replied just as quietly, gazing at him in an almost wonder. "What are you doing to me? ...All I want is to be close to you. To feel you against me." Her arms snaked downwards, hands gripping his waist and pulling him closer. Draco hissed, closing his eyes and resting his forehead against hers as he gasped for breath. This was torture.

"You are fucking killing me," he choked out. Ginny smirked, wiggling her hips slightly. Another hiss slid from Draco's throat. "Bitch," he mumbled before pulling her into another searing kiss. While it wasn't nearly as long as the first, it contained nearly twice the passion, hands roaming more freely than before and mouths biting and bruising.

Again, this wasn't why Draco had asked her down here. Well, in the beginning it had been, but after Blaise had screwed up his brain, he actually wanted to talk. For once.

"Wait," he mumbled through the kiss, mentally kicking himself in the head when Ginny pulled away.

"What?" He forced himself back, trying to control his urges for at least a minute.

"...I need to talk to you," he replied when his brain had begun functioning again. Ginny's jaw dropped and she took a step backwards.

"Are you bullshitting me?" she asked in a voice that was clearly headed towards that high-pitched, freaking out tone. Before it could get there, Draco jumped back in, hands comfortingly on her shoulders.

"Listen to me, would you? ...I don't believe in love. We both know that." Ginny nodded, keeping her mouth closed as she waited for Draco to explain. But his mind had gone suddenly blank. Everything he wanted to tell her was gone, replaced with a picture of an older Ginny and himself, exactly how his father and mother had been like. So cold. They never loved each other. It was a well-known fact that he had at least three mistresses, and she had never been very reserved. ...He didn't want to be like his father. Never would he be like Lucius Malfoy.

"...You deserve love," he heard himself say, not only shocking Ginny with the statement. It was true, though. She would never survive in a place without any love like Malfoy Manor. It would eat her alive.

"...What do you mean?" she asked quietly, not exactly wanting to hear the answer. No, she certainly didn't love Draco Malfoy. But she was happy with him. She felt safe with him, no matter how ironic. As he searched her eyes, she mentally begged him not to say what she expected him to.

"...Go back to Potter," he commanded lowly, looking away so he wouldn't have to see the hurt in her eyes. She stared at him blankly for a moment, shaking her head.

"I don't want him."

"Don't make me say it again, Ginny. Just go, because if you don't, I won't let you." Ginny paused, taking a step closer.

"I won't leave." Draco growled, eyes hard as he finally looked up. He roughly grabbed Ginny by her upper arms, shaking her sharply.

"Don't you fucking dare, Ginny. Don't you dare make me let you stay." She stared at him open mouthed, quivering as he shook her again. "Go inside. Go the fuck inside and stay away from me." He shoved her away from him and turned around, ignoring the dry sob that followed him as he stalked towards the Forbidden Forest. He couldn't care. He wouldn't. He wouldn't let himself. Not even for her.

Ginny stared after him without a word, tears streaking her cheeks. Another sob escaped despite her efforts to contain it. Slowly, she slid to the ground, one hand moving up to cover her mouth. A third sob, followed by a fourth, until they were right on top of each other, pouring out in waves. She curled forward into a ball, crying violently into her knees. Someone yelled behind her, but she didn't hear it.

Ron and Harry finally escaped from Hermione's wrath and the former was running to his sister's side, kneeling next to her. Ginny didn't even see him, when he pulled her up by the shoulders, tugging her close. She clutched his robes tightly, her knuckles turning white. His arms wrapped around her securely, and he looked up at Harry, at a loss as to what he should do. Harry frowned, watching Draco stalk away. This didn't seem right... None of it.

********

Draco frowned darkly as he sat in the armchair in the corner of the common room. His eyes were locked blankly on a pendant that was spread out on the table in front of him. Ginny had given it to him for his birthday in October. A silver dragon with glowing red eyes that bore into his soul. It was twisted into a knot around the black silk thread that held it, peering over its own back to glare at him accusingly. With a growl, he pushed it off the table, turning angrily towards the window.

"So. I heard you fucked it up," a voice sounded from next to Draco's chair, shaking him from his thoughts. Blaise stood next to his chair, the dragon pendant in his hand. He examined it carefully before giving Draco a meaningful look. "So was it bullshit, or did you actually break the poor girl's heart?" Draco watched him dully for a moment, and then shook his head, turning back to the window. Blaise whistled lowly, shaking the dragon around in his hand.

"Just... Go away, Zabini," Draco mumbled, closing his eyes and slumping down in his seat. Blaise arched an eyebrow, sitting in front of Draco on the edge of the table.

"You don't want me to leave. You want to spill. So get talking." Draco frowned at Blaise, shaking his head again.

"I'd much rather not," he replied in a monotone voice, blinking as Blaise shoved him roughly.

"Fess up, Malfoy. As much as I'd rather not admit it, I had a talk with Granger, who had a talk with Weasley, who had a talk with his sister. She told me everything. ...What the hell happened? You were going to tell her how much you care, not break her heart."

"...Just sod off, Zabini. You don't understand, alright?" Draco pushed himself up, stalking off to his dorm. Blaise frowned, glancing down at the dragon pendant in his head. Sighing, he pocketed it, disappearing from the common room to find Hermione Granger.

********

"That son of a bitch. I will kick his Slytherin arse. ...I knew he was trouble. I knew she shouldn't have trusted him. I knew he would do something." Ron raged as he paced the nearly empty classroom, rumbling savagely about how exactly he would punish Draco. Hermione sighed, glancing at Harry before pushing herself to her feet.

"Ron, calm down. Please. Just have a seat and cool off." The redhead very nearly growled at her when he passed, ignoring her request. Frowning at the obvious brush off, Hermione moved in front of him, placing a hand on either shoulder. "Ron, please. You aren't helping anyone pacing around like this. I know you're angry at Malfoy, but we need to think about Ginny." Ron frowned darkly, but stopped his pacing, gathering Hermione up in his arms. He nuzzled softly at her neck as he rested his head on her shoulder, sighing quietly. Harry politely turned his head as they began conversing. Hermione tenderly ran her fingers through his hair as she whispered soothingly in his ear. His arms wrapped around her waist and her lips found his forehead as he answered, voicing his obvious disgust for Draco Malfoy and involving quite a few swear words that caused Hermione to scold him gently.

"Isn't this precious?" Blaise spoke up from the doorway, moving in when they looked up. Ron turned red, clenching his fists and starting over to him. Hermione grabbed his arm, pushing him back from Blaise.

"Ron, stop it. Calm down. It's okay."

"It's not fucking okay!" Ron yelled, ignoring Hermione's scandalous glare. "They probably planned this all together. They knew the whole time what they were going to do to Ginny." Blaise rolled his eyes, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorframe.

"Don't flatter yourself, Weasley. I didn't come here to talk to you." He nodded towards Hermione, and Ron turned even redder, starting for Blaise again. Hermione held him back as best she could, shooting Blaise a short glare.

"Ron, don't. I'll talk to you in a minute, Zabini." With surprising strength, Hermione forced Ron back into the corner, holding his face close to hers so he couldn't look away.

Harry regarded Blaise skeptically. They watched each other in semi-polite silence, before Blaise pulled a face at Ron and Hermione. Harry gave a snort of laughter and Blaise smirked, waiting for the two to finish their 'discussion.'

"This is bullshit, Hermione," Ron mumbled, trying to twist from her grasp. She held tightly, though, raking her fingers into his hair.

"Don't you swear at me, Ronald Weasley," she growled, looking him right in the eye. "And this isn't... isn't bad." Ron smirked. "He came to talk to me yesterday and told me some pretty interesting facts about Malfoy and Ginny. So stop being a prat." He rumbled quietly, and Hermione kissed him softly on the corner of his mouth. He grunted as she frowned at him. "Can I let go of you now?"

"...No," he replied, dipping in to kiss her roughly. She squeaked, allowing him to pin her against the wall as he nibbled at her neck.

Harry looked away from the couple, but Blaise only tilted his head and cleared his throat.

"If we could kindly get this over with, I'd rather not watch you snog all day." Ron glared sharply at Blaise, stealing one more kiss before the two made their way back to the others. The redhead kept his arms securely around Hermione, but she didn't seem to mind, reaching up behind her to rest a hand on his neck as she regarded Blaise.

"So?"

"So," he smirked. "I found Malfoy in the common room staring at this." He held up the dragon pendant, and Ron snatched it from his hand.

"...Where did he get it?" he asked quietly, letting Hermione and Harry examine it.

"Ginny gave it to him for his birthday in October. Why?" Hermione peered over her shoulder at Ron as he reached for the pendant again, running the tips of his finger over the delicate scales.

"...It's an heirloom. It goes to the oldest girl for her to give to her...fiancé, you could say. Then he gives it to their oldest daughter when she turns fifteen. You get the picture. ...Jesus. Why the hell would she just give it away? To Malfoy?"

"...Guess she really cared about him..." Hermione murmured, leaning back into Ron's grasp as he held her tighter.

"...Shit. Son of a bitch."

"Ron, don't swear," Hermione scolded mildly, twining her fingers with his. He grunted quietly, nuzzling into her neck.

"I can't believe she did this. Without telling anyone. ...She's only sixteen."

"I wonder if Malfoy knows. About the whole pendant process," Harry finally spoke up, glancing towards Blaise.

"It's doubtful. If he had, I don't think he would have changed his mind." Ron glanced up.

"What? Changed his mind about what?" Blaise smirked, giving a quiet snort of laughter.

"He was going to tell her that he loved her." Ron and Harry's jaws dropped. Hermione only smiled.

"How sweet," she cooed, cuddling up against Ron. He looked at her as if she had grown another head.

"...I can't believe this."

"Well you don't have anything to worry about anymore. Unless something heavy happens, he won't budge. No matter how much he cares." Blaise's eyes suddenly lit up and he smirked, turning his gaze to Harry. "Something heavy, though... Might be doable." Harry squirmed.

"No. Definitely not. He doesn't deserve her."

"Oh, and you do? Just because you're the Great fucking Harry Potter?" Harry lowered his eyes, and Ron tried to twist from Hermione's grasp, ready to punch Blaise in the face.

"...I don't deserve her either," Harry said in a small voice, looking years older as he sighed. Ron stopped his struggles, watching his friend carefully. "...She deserves to be happy. And if he makes her happy...then there's nothing we can do about it." Blaise nodded, holding his hand out for the pendant that Ron still held.

"I'll return this to Malfoy and make sure he wears it to Hogsmeade this weekend. Get Ginny to the Three Broomsticks, and I'll do the rest." Blaise suavely - and to get on Ron's nerves - bent and kissed the top of Hermione's hand before disappearing out the door.

"...Bullshit," Harry muttered, kicking at the desk before stalking out of the classroom.

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