Call to Destiny

Chapter 25

Too Much

The events of the previous night were still clear in her mind when Ginny woke up. She was lying on her side in Draco's bed, his arm draped over her possessively. A light blanket was bunched up at her feet, having been discarded during the night. There was sunlight filtering through the windows, but she wasn't worried. It was Saturday, so she could stay as long as she liked. If Ron came looking for her, then he was just out of luck.

She smiled, surprised at her good mood.

Well, it wasn't that surprising really. Draco was, in an odd way, showing that he cared about her. Not love, not a by a long shot, but it still made her heart melt. Maybe someday, though...

She'd stayed with him for the past two nights. While she knew what Cassie was probably thinking, nothing like that had happened. Sure, they'd snogged and Draco had made a few non-too subtle remarks about certain things, but nothing had happened. Alarming as it was, Ginny was starting to want things to happen.

Funny, she'd always thought of herself as a wait-until-marriage kind of girl. Then again, that was when she was infatuated with Harry and there wasn't a war going on in which she would probably die.

She shook her head, trying to shake the thoughts out of her head.

" 'Morning," a raspy voice whispered in her ear.

Ginny turned around as Draco cleared his throat.

" 'Morning," she said smiling.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you a bright ray of sunshine this morning."

Ginny propped her head up on her elbow, scowling at him.

"Thank you for ruining my good mood."

"You're welcome," Draco answered flipping over onto his back.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Why do I put up with you?"

"Just think how boring your life would be without me," he answered with a smirk.

She opened her mouth to retort, but realized that he was right. She tried to imagine her sixth year without Draco, and a very bleak picture greeted her.

She smiled. "It would."

Draco seemed surprised that she agreed with him. "It would?"

She shook her head. "What time is it?"

"You have somewhere to be?"

The skepticism on his face made her sneer.

"Maybe I do," she huffed.

Draco's expression didn't change a bit.

Ginny sat up, glaring at him. "You know what? I think I'll go."

Laughing, Draco sat up. "Bloody hell, you do take offense don't you?"

In a very mature move, she stuck her tongue out at him.

Draco raised one blond eyebrow.

Ginny narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't think I like you anymore."

Draco's second eyebrow joined the first.

"I thought you didn't like me to begin with."

The redhead crossed her arms over her chest in perfect imitation of a little kid. "Really? Why on earth would I not like you?"

"You are not going to fool me into insulting myself, Red."

With an over-exaggerated sigh, she leaned back against the headboard.

"Apparently my genius exceeds your puny little brain," she sighed, not having the slightest clue what she was raving about.

"What in Salazar's name are you on about?"

Ginny cocked her head to the side with, what she hoped, was a contemplative look on her face. "You know, I have absolutely no idea."

"That was not in the least bit funny," Draco stated. Ginny thought about sticking her tongue out at him again, but decided against it when she saw that he was fighting back a grin.

"Ha!" she exclaimed, pointing at him. "You're a filthy liar, Draco Malfoy! I can see you trying not to smile!"

Draco shook his head sadly, as though mourning the loss of her sanity, and went to get up.

"Hey, where are you going?" Ginny demanded.

Draco didn't answer and kept walking towards the door.

"Hey! I'm not done talking to you!"

He walked out of the room.

"Draco! I'm talking to you! Don't you dare walk away from me when I'm talking to you!"

She scrambled out of bed and ran out after him, an overly dramatic look of astonishment on her face.

Draco was standing at the window, the original escape window, and untying a letter from a fierce black owl's leg.

Ginny sobered instantly.

"Draco?"

He looked back at her, amused. "Back to normal?"

"What's going on? Who's that from?"

"David. He wrote me a couple days ago about going to meet with Dumbledore."

Ginny nodded. "Sage wrote me, too. Is everything okay?"

Draco made his way over to her, and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"You worry entirely too much," he muttered, kissing the top of her head.

Ginny fought the weak knees that assaulted her, and looked up at him, brow furrowed. "What's the letter say?"

In answer, he pulled her down onto the couch and unfurled the letter.

Hey,

Well, the meeting was tonight, and I have to say that your headmaster is fucking creepy. With the hair and the all-knowing twinkling eyes...fuck, it was creepy.

Basically, here's the story.

He knows about the Warriors, and he knows that things are about to get heated soon. Once things do, he said we won't be spread out like this. He didn't explain anything else. He just gave us these weird gold coins, they're a little bit bigger than a quarter, I guess. Galleons? Is that what you guys use over there? 'Cause I think that's what it is. But, he said that if we need to contact you guys, or anyone else, to just hold it and think of the person we're trying to contact. How the fuck that's supposed to help I don't know.

But that's what the old guy said.

Yeah, you were right dude, he's off his rocker.

- David

"Dumbledore is not off his rocker!" Ginny exclaimed.

Draco raised an eyebrow at her. "That's all you have to say?"

She scowled.

"No, but really. You shouldn't be so judgmental." She ignored the pointed look he gave her, "The Galleons are bit weird, though. At first I thought they were gonna be like the D.A. coins Hermione made, but..."

"D.A.?" Draco asked questioningly.

"Dumbledore's Army," she explained. "Remember, your fifth year, the secret club, you helped Umbridge sniff them out?"

Draco grimaced. "Not one of my prouder moments."

Ginny grinned, a devious idea formed in her mind.

"And remember, that same year in May. When you and the rest of her minions were keeping us locked up and I cast my amazing Bat-Boogey Hex on you?"

Draco sniffed in disdain. "I was never anyone's minion, Red. I was simply trying to further my place with a powerful figure."

Ginny snorted, a bit miffed that he'd completely ignored what she said about her unparalleled Bat-Boogey Hex. Draco glared at her. She shot him a brilliant smile, before being interrupted by a yawn.

"Still asleep?" he asked, looking slightly amused.

"Nope."

She turned around and craned her neck for a better view of the clock behind them. Seeing the time, she swore.

"What's wrong?"

Ginny turned back around to face him, an apologetic look on her face. "It's almost noon. I really ought to go, or else Ron's going to start looking for me soon."

Although she'd love to tell her paranoid brother to go to hell, she knew she couldn't. Confronting an angry Ron was really not something she wanted to mar the day's insofar perfection with.

Draco nodded and stood up, offering her a hand. Smiling, Ginny took it. He pulled her up with too much force and her momentum caused her to collide with his chest.

"Hey, not fair," she muttered.

Draco smirked. "Perfectly fair."

He lowered his head slightly, their lips brushing in a soft kiss. Ginny sighed, feeling happier than she had in a long time. Draco pulled away, but she snaked her arms around his neck, pulling his lips back onto hers. His arms wound around her waist, drawing her even closer. All she could think of in that moment was Draco; his lips on hers, his arms holding her, the rise and fall of his chest, the small movements his hands were making on her back, the slight scent of mint that emanated from him. Maybe she wasn't just a plaything to him; maybe this was the real thing.

He pulled away, despite her sounds of protest.

"As much as I'm enjoying this," he said smirking. "I would really rather Weasel King not try to kill me today."

"Big bad Draco scared?" she asked, laughing.

Draco raised his eyebrows. "For one, never call me that again. And the only reason I don't want Weasel King trying to murder me is because you actually like the prat and would never stop nagging me if I, ahem, accidentally sent him to Timbuktu."

Ginny grinned and pulled away.

She looked around for her things, then realized she didn't have anything with her. They'd come from the cemetery, after all.

"I guess I'm gonna go then."

Draco stepped towards her and kissed her briefly once more. Nodding, he stepped back. "See you."

She nodded, feeling awkward. They were parting, and on good terms. When had that last happened? She resisted the urge to shake her head. Things were so different lately that it was unnerving. Turning on her heel, she left before things could get any stranger.

~

Ginny entered her and Cassie's common room, still unable to shake the weird feeling that had come over her.

Oddly enough, Cassie wasn't sitting on the couch as she usually was. She peered into the bedroom. The Wicca wasn't in there either. She made her way towards the bathroom, not sure exactly why she was so desperate to find Cassie. The bathroom was empty. Messy, too, she noted with a grimace. Cleaning up every once and while might not be such a bad idea.

"Whatchya doin'?"

Ginny jumped and turned around. "Cassie!"

Cassie looked rather confused. "That's....me."

Ginny shook her head. "I'm sorry; you just surprised me. I didn't see you, and I-"

"It's fine," Cassie laughed. Her eyes suddenly sparkled. "So...anything I should know about?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "No, and I'm not just saying that."

Cassie laughed again. "Aw, Draco has morals!"

The two started giggling, the situation seeming much funnier than it actually was. A sudden loud banging cut them off abruptly.

"What the-" Cassie looked at Ginny, bewildered.

The latter shrugged and the two made their way towards the exit, where the banging was coming from.

"Ginny!" Ron's voice bellowed from outside. "Open up!"

Her heart dropped into her stomach.

He knew.

Ron knew about her. About her and Draco.

She turned towards Cassie, who must have been thinking along the same lines. Her face was white as chalk.

Deciding to try and be the brave Gryffindor that she (supposedly) was, Ginny strode toward the portrait hole. A few steps from it, she stopped. Oh sweet Merlin! He knew!

"Ginny!"

She looked back towards Cassie. The Wicca nodded, swallowing visibly.

Taking a deep breath, Ginny swung open the portrait.

A rather exhausted looking Trio greeted her sight. None of them looked angry, oddly enough.

"Finally," Ron grumbled.

Ginny looked from face to face, confused.

"Mind if we come in?" Hermione asked.

"Um, yeah. I mean- go ahead."

They climbed through, more like one single unit than three individual people, looking world weary. A twinge of guilt shot through Ginny. She resented them so much sometimes, but really she was just acting childish. They were too good of friends to have room for anyone else, not to mention that they were in the thick of possibly the most important war in wizarding history.

She looked up to see Cassie, some color returned to her cheeks, looking utterly bewildered. She shrugged.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked. The moment the words left her mouth she realized she didn't want to know.

Ron looked straight at her, gaze unwavering. She swallowed. There'd only been one time when she'd seen him like that -- two years ago, her fourth year, when their dad had been bitten by Nagini.

"The twin's shop was attacked."

The blow wasn't as bad as she'd been expecting -- oh, her knees felt weak and something was suddenly partially blocking her throat, but none of the utter helplessness she usually felt when confronted with bad news.

She swallowed, trying the force the lump in her throat to dissipate. "Are they alright?"

"They're in St. Mungo's." Ron's face was emotionless. "Mum and Dad said to get you."

~

Ron, Ginny, Harry and Hermione stumbled out of the Floo into St. Mungo's reception. Bill and Charlie stood not too far away, obviously waiting for them.

Ginny rushed up to her brothers and hugged them fiercely. "Where is everyone?"

"Upstairs," Charlie answered with a tight smile. "You alright?"

She shrugged, mouth set in a grim line. "I dunno."

They made their way up to the fourth floor of the hospital in silence. Charlie was in front, Ginny on his heels, Bill behind her, and the Trio following solemnly behind them.

The scene on the fourth floor was heartwrenching. Molly Weasley sat slumped in a chair, dabbing uselessly at her eyes with a handkerchief.

"I told them, I told them. Now look! Oh, my boys!"

"Mum," Ginny muttered and rushed over to her mother, crouching down beside her chair.

"Ginny, oh dear. You should be at school -- " Molly looked at her, eyes not really focused on her.

The younger witch shook her head. "No, I should be here."

Molly nodded, still seeming not to see her, until a fresh flood of tears overtook her. "I had a feeling and I told them, but did they listen to me? Of course not, I'm only their mother and now -- "

She looked passed her daughter and saw Harry and Hermione, both looking awkward.

"Oh dears, you're here, too?" she nodded absently to herself. "Yes, yes. You're almost family..."

Tears rolled freely down her cheeks again and Ginny felt tears welling up behind her own eyes.

"Mum, they'll be fine," she said without much conviction. "It's Fred and George, they've always been fine."

Molly wrapped her arms around her daughter and sobbed. Ginny had to bite her lip to keep from crying as well.

Mother and daughter sat like that for some time, until Ginny felt a warm, comforting hand on her back.

"Molly, Ginny." It was her dad. "They're letting us in to see them."

Sniffling, Molly looked up at her husband and nodded. Ginny got to her feet, wincing as she felt the blood rush back to her legs. She helped her mother up and they made their way down the hall to the ward, six Weasleys plus Harry and Hermione.

Ginny stepped aside and let her parents go in first.

The anguished sobs of Molly Weasley could be heard in the hallway.

"My boys!"

Tears pooled in her eyes. Oh sweet Merlin, it couldn't be. It was Fred and George! It just couldn't be...

She took a deep breath and walked in.

There were two beds, both stark white with all sorts of magical healing apparatuses surrounding them. Her parents stood in the space between the two beds, Molly sobbing unrestrainedly into her husband's shoulder.

Ginny took another step forward, then another, until she could see the two forms in the beds. A small gasp escaped her throat.

Fred and George were practically unrecognizable. Their heads were wrapped in white gauze, letting the imagination roam wild trying to imagine what wounds were underneath. She could see their arms as well; purple with bruises and sprinkled with scratches and cuts. Both were comatose.

Spinning on her heel, she fled the room.

She leaned on the wall outside, taking deep breaths, trying to remember just what the Wildcat had said about trying to calm oneself in a dire situation.

It was too much, it really was.

First Draco, now this. It seemed that she could never be sure that her loved ones were safe. But then again, this was war and what was war all about if not that?

"Ginny?"

She looked up at Bill's concerned face.

"What happened?" she asked.

Bill took her hand and motioned towards the lobby. She nodded and followed him. After a few moments silence, he spoke.

"It was only a couple of hours ago. They're not sure what caused it, but they think it was a combined attack of demons and Death Eaters. The shop is in splinters, so are the ones next to it."

He stopped to take a breath.

"They don't know how the twins will be. They're not even sure what happened to them."

"They're not -- " Ginny whispered, horrified.

"Dead?" Bill asked, his face grim. "No, but they were close. They're still bad enough."

Ginny hugged her brother fiercely, needing the solid comfort and reassurance that big brothers offered. He hugged her back.

"Bill?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm scared."

"Me, too."

~

They were sitting in the lobby on the ground floor, nursing cups of hot cocoa when the commotion started.

Ron and Harry had just left in search of food when a large group of Healers in lime green robes as well as several Ministry officials rushed passed them, all seeming to be guarding the stretcher in the middle. Ginny looked over at her brothers, confusion etched onto her face. Charlie shrugged. She fell back into her seat, guessing that some celebrity probably caught the Dragon Pox.

Her apathy didn't last long however. Just a few minutes later, another group of Healers quickly made their way down the hall in the direction the stretcher had been headed. The group itself wouldn't have attracted her attention, if not for the whispered words of their conversation that floated over to her.

"Tragic...yes....it's uncertain...good riddance...ashes, in ashes...Malfoy..."

She sat bolt upright and grabbed the arm of the person sitting to her left, who happened to be Hermione.

"Did they just say Malfoy?"

Hermione looked at her, surprised. "I think so, why?"

"That stretcher, and they said something about ashes. What's going on?"

Her heart was racing. Draco- had something happened to him? No, no. Now that would really be too much. Oh sweet Circe, he had to be okay.

"Ginny -- is everything alright?"

The redhead looked up at her friend. Hermione's brow was furrowed in concern.

"You've been a bit...off. Ever since summer. Did something happen?"

The complete sincerity in Hermione's voice and eyes made the forced laugh that came out of Ginny's mouth feel as though it were ripping through her throat and proceeding to rip at her heart.

"I was at a convention of bookworms, Hermione. What in Merlin's name could have happened?"

Sweet Merlin, has she actually wanted this once? She had wanted secrets and sneaking and lying and the whole mess she was currently in. No wonder it was said to be careful what you wish for.

Hermione didn't look convinced. "Well, if there's anything you need, you can always talk to me."

Ginny nodded. "Yeah, I know."

She felt hollow.

" 'Mione! Ginny! Look at this!"

Ron and Harry ran up to them, both looking stunned.

"Here."

Harry handed Hermione a copy of the Evening Prophet.

"LUCIUS MALFOY DEAD"

Ginny's eyes widened.

She'd never particularly... liked Lucius Malfoy, especially after the debacle in her first year, but....poor Draco. She didn't know much about the relationship between father and son, but she did know that Draco revered his father, and now...

Her eyes scanned the article.

Early this evening, it is reported that a demonic attack on Malfoy Manor...the Malfoy estate was left in shambles...Lucius Malfoy, rumored to have been in Latvia, was found dead among the wreckage...cause of death as yet undetermined, waiting to hear from St. Mungo's...no news of Narcissa Malfoy...Draco Malfoy, 17, current Head Boy at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry...

"Poor Malfoy," Hermione whispered.

Ginny looked up at her in surprise.

"Poor Malfoy?" Ron asked, incredulously.

An angry fire lit in Hermione's eyes.

"For god's sake, Ron! His father is dead!"

"Am I interrupting something?"

The four of them turned their attention to Charlie, who seemed a bit surprised.

"No, you're not," Hermione stated acidly.

She got to her feet, Ginny following in her lead.

"We're leaving?" the redheaded witch asked.

Charlie nodded, solemnly. "Mum and Dad are staying a bit longer, but we should all probably head back, it's already past eight."

~

When the four teenagers stumbled out of the Floo and into Dumbledore's office, an unusual scene greeted them.

The Headmaster was sitting at his desk, surveying them. On the other side of the desk, stood Draco Malfoy. A much paler Draco Malfoy than Ginny remembered seeing that morning.

It took almost all of her self-control not to run up and throw her arms around him.

"We'll be going, Professor," Harry muttered and made for the exit.

Ron and Hermione followed. Ginny hesitated, but followed after her brother.

"Ah, Miss Weasley. If you would," Dumbledore motioned to her.

The Trio threw some questioning glances at the old professor, who simply smiled and waved them to the door.

Walking up to Professor Dumbledore's desk, she kept her gaze on one of the silver trinkets behind him. She could feel Draco's gaze on her and couldn't bring herself to look at him.

She heard the door close with a click.

"Now," Dumbledore began. "We have a matter of some importance to discuss."

Ginny's eyes moved to the old professor, a question formed on her lips, but Draco beat her to it.

"What about?" he drawled.

"The Warriors."

Ginny bit her lip, not trusting herself to say anything. Well, anything useful.

"I understand that your circumstances are grave." He looked from her to Draco, blue eyes serious. "But in no case must you abandon your duties as Warriors."

"What duties?" Draco spat. "There's nothing we can do. There's no possible way for us to get news or leads. And even if we could do something, we happen to be missing eight people. We can't stop anything."

Ginny's heart clenched painfully. Demons had killed his father, something they should have been able to prevent. But they hadn't.

Dumbledore nodded. "It is a historical fact that once the Warriors are brought together, wars come to a halting stop, taking the lives of all the Warriors with it. We need more time, and I'd rather the Warriors live through the first year of war.

"As for the events of tonight, I am sincerely aggrieved for your loss, Draco, but there was nothing anyone could have done. We couldn't have prevented it."

Draco's eyes were like ice, frozen.

"No. You knew what was going to happen and you let him die because it would be to your own damned advantage."

Ginny shrank back, eyes wide in astonishment. She'd thought she'd seen the worst of Draco's anger, but this was a completely different type of anger. His eyes were closed off and frozen, as was his body language. His voice, however, though carefully controlled, was letting through all the emotions his face had hidden. Grief, hurt, anger, but most of all, betrayal.

Dumbledore did not say a word in contradiction, but simply looked at Draco, old blue eyes saddened.

Spinning on his heel, Draco stormed out of the office.

Ginny's eyes flicked between the empty doorway and Dumbledore. He seemed so old in the moment after Draco left. Almost as though the weight of world was on his shoulders and had been for a long time. He looked frail, tired, and sad.

Her gaze returned to the door, and, making her decision, she ran out of the office.

She ran down the halls, the fourth floor alcove as her destination.

She got there as the suit of armor stepped back in place, Draco's white hair just visible behind it. She hurriedly shook the suit of armor's hand and whispered the password.

"Draco!" she called as she entered the passageway. A single torch lit the tunnel, Draco's dark shadow at the other end.

"Go away, Ginny." There was no anger in his voice, nothing aside from weariness.

She jogged towards him. "No."

He turned towards her silently, his face eerily cast in shadows.

"Please," he said.

Ginny's heart felt as though an iron fist had suddenly squeezed it. She threw her arms around him, eyes prickling with tears. Tears for her brothers, for his loss, for all the pain they had yet to endure.

It took a moment, but soon enough his arms wound around her tightly, almost squeezing the breath out of her. He buried his face in her hair and shook. She couldn't tell if he was crying or not, but the raw emotion in him was almost too much to bear. She held him tightly, not minding the vice like grip with which he held her or the fading torch light.

They stood, wrapped in each other's arms for she didn't know how long, before he pulled away. His face was still cast in shadow, but she could tell that he was searching her face for something. She almost asked what it was, but he kissed her, shaking all thought from her mind.

The kiss wasn't soft, or tender, or passionate. It was full of desperation and need. She returned it with just as much emotion, the grief of the day translated all into that one kiss.

"Bloody hell, Gin," he muttered against her lips. "I want you..."

She paused for just a moment, her mind racing. Could she? Should she? Was she ready? She realized suddenly, that the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

"I want..." she trailed off, uncertain of how to put her emotions into words.

Draco pulled away enough to see her face. He seemed to understand what she was trying to say.

"Are you sure?" he asked, a note of something else hidden in his voice.

She nodded.

"You won't...regret it later?"

She paused a moment before answering. "I...can't make any promises."

Draco nodded, understanding the absolute truth in her answer.

He lowered his lips to hers, the kiss tender this time. He picked her up, bridal style, and carried her into the dormitory, kicking the door closed behind them.