Darkness

Darkness

Ginny Weasley walked cautiously through the dark corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It was past midnight and Ginny was pretty sure that she was the only student still awake and wandering the school.

It was mid-November and an icy breeze swept its way into the castle through hundreds of tiny cracks in the ancient stonewalls and from gaps under the medieval oak wood doors. Ginny pulled her thick black cloak around her tightly as she walked, careful not to drop the pile of books she cradled in her arms. She had been up late in the library, studying for her Charms test, due to take place the next morning.

Ginny was a 6^th year now, and had been made a Gryffindor prefect last year. Her brother, Ron, was a prefect also (much to his disgust), but he had taken the post in order to gain access all areas to the castle after dark. Ron's best friend Harry Potter, the famous boy who lived, had declined the honour of being made a prefect, overly content with being made captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team in his 6^th year. Ron's other best friend, and now girlfriend, Hermione Granger, was Head Girl much to her delight. All in all, the trio had done rather well for themselves in their 7^th and final year at Hogwarts.

A sleek breeze crossed over Ginny's neck, almost like a seductive touch, making her shiver and turn abruptly around, dropping all her books in the process. There was no one there. She gathered up her books and kept walking toward the common room.

Ginny, now 16 years old had changed considerably from the timid girl she had once been. This was unsurprising when the events of her first year were considered. She had come into possession of a diary before even starting her first year, a diary that had belonged to Tom Riddle, also known as the dark Lord Voldemort. The diary had contained the memory of Voldemort, and throughout the year, had progressively attempted to remove her soul. Little by little Ginny had emptied herself into the diary, and little by little, the dark lord had gained strength from her. If it hadn't been for Harry, Ginny would be dead now.

Ginny had always carried a torch for Harry, and the events of her first year had done nothing but increase her admiration for him. As the years had gone by though, Ginny had grown up, and Harry had become a friend to her, almost like another brother (and god knows she had enough of them to know what she felt towards a brother!). Friendship is the greatest gift anyone can give, and Ginny was glad to have it.

Ginny had the trademark Weasley flame red hair, which she kept long, her elaborate, sleek curls hanging softly down her back. She was thin and fairly tall, just like Ron, but she still appeared petite. Her face was heart shaped, pronouncing her cheekbones and emphasising her olive green eyes. She really was beautiful, with ivory skin to set of her hair ever more violently.

Ginny walked faster, an uneasy feeling settling in her stomach. She didn't like being out alone at night, even within the safe walls of the castle, but then again why should she. If anyone knew the dangers of the castle, it was Ginny. She felt something move past her side, making her jump for the second time that night. This time however, she kept her cool. She was no longer afraid of shadows and Filch's cat. There were far worse things in this world than a few harmless ghosts. That's what she had felt. Ghosts.

There it was again. The breeze touched her cheek, and this time was emphasised by the sound of something moving past her, and up the stairs on her left. Ginny took a deep breath. She wasn't going to be intimidated by anything, not again. She turned and walked slowly up the stairs to the Astronomy Tower, arms still wrapped around her, protecting her from the cold.

As she reached the top step she put her books down and placed both hands on the rusty iron door handle, shaped like a rouse-knot in a thick strand of rope. She twisted the handle, and pushed the door inwards to reveal the circular room. No one could be seen in the room.

Ginny stepped inside, only a few paces, before the door behind her slammed shut by the hand of a figure almost completely cloaked in darkness. She involuntarily gasped and leapt around at the sound.

"Who's there?" she demanded.

No answer.

"Quit playing games," she said, almost angrily, but a hint of the old coy Ginny was still in there.

"No-one you need worry about," a cold and familiar voice said, barely above a whisper. The figure still did not step out of the shadows.

"What are you doing up here?" Ginny asked cautiously, not entirely sure she wanted to know the answer.

"Waiting for you."

Ginny shivered, she definitely didn't want to hear that.

At this point the figure came into the light. He was tall, at least a head above Ginny. His eyes were piercing blue, far brighter than Ginny had ever seen them before, and his toxic blonde hair let a few strands hand casually over his face.

"Malfoy?" Ginny said disbelievingly.

"Clever Girl," Draco Malfoy said simply as he made his way towards her. Malfoy was threatening at the best of times, but there was something different about him tonight.

Ginny moved away from him, carefully edging round to the door. Before she made it there though, he made a drastic move, forcing her to change direction. She continued to back away from him, but he kept closing in on her. She suddenly bumped into a stonewall behind her, and he had her trapped. There was definitely something different about him, but she couldn't pick out what it was.

"Get out of my way," Ginny said, forcing a calm tone into her voice.

He made no such move.

"I mean it Malfoy, now get out of my way," she said hotly, pushing him aside.

He pushed her back forcefully. His hands gripped her shoulders, pinning her against the wall. She struggled against his grip, and he pushed her even harder against the wall. His body was right up against hers, making it impossible for her to move an inch.

He brought his mouth down so close to hers that they were almost touching. But not quite. He released his grip of her, but remained standing over her. The door looked inviting at the edge of her gaze. Then he whispered softly in her ear,

"If you really wanted to, you could get by me."

Ginny knew this to be true, yet she stood still, making no move against him. She allowed herself to be pushed against the cold wall, allowed him to breathe heavily onto her face. Why couldn't she get away from him? There was something in his eyes, she noticed. Something keeping her from making a move against him.

This wasn't the same Draco Malfoy that she knew.

He shifted his weight, moving in closer to her when she didn't answer his challenge. He kissed her on the lips, gently, pulling away quickly before giving another. She closed her eyes. All her resolve collapsed, and she melted into his embrace, and felt his arms slide over her back and under her shirt.

What was she doing? She didn't want to do this?

His kisses moved away from her mouth and onto her neck as he slipped her cloak off her shoulders. His hands slid down to her waist and she leaned into him, her arms now around his neck as he continued to kiss hers.

Her heart was beating fast. The room seemed to spin. She was lost in him. The voice in the back of her mind was becoming more and more distant. She struggled to keep hold of it. This was wrong. She couldn't let it happen. Something wasn't right here? Her heat was pounding in her chest, why couldn't she feel his? With every ounce of self-control she had left, she pushed him off of her.

Draco stumbled backwards. Ginny was strong, but not as strong as him. He came back at her, forcing her against the wall once again. This time she did get out of his grip. Draco wasn't sure how, it was as if she just slipped out. She was behind him.

"Stop," she told him, hatred spiking her voice.

"Make me," he replied, the familiar cruel edge back in his voice. It had never threatened her before, but right now, she knew he meant it. Before she even saw it happen, a fist flung at her head, knocking her off balance.

Draco pushed her onto the floor. He straddled her, pinning her legs down, and then he got hold of her wrists. She couldn't move. She could feel the pressure of his knees digging painfully into her thighs.

Ginny struggled against him, and he just pushed down harder on her, obviously enjoying having her squirm underneath him. He was cold.

"Why do you think you can resist me?" he asked her, an impatient tone in his voice.

Ginny remained silent, she wasn't going to give him the pleasure of thinking he could control her.

"You and me," Draco continued, un-fazed by her silence, "we may not be the most likely couple, in fact we're about as un-likely as it gets, but I want you, and you want me, so what's the problem?"

"Your crazy!" Ginny spat at him, his face only inches away from hers.

The fighting started up again, but it was a very one-sided battle. Draco pushed his knees into her thighs harder, keeping her legs spread apart while he lay on top of her. He was holding her down so tight; there was no way she could move.

"Just give in," he said softly to her, his lips by her ear.

"No," Ginny whimpered, tears stinging behind her eyes. All her strength was gone, she couldn't fight any more, and she just wanted to leave. This was too much for her.

"Why?" Draco pushed. He wasn't letting her go, not ever.

Draco looked at Ginny properly. She had turned her head onto its side so that her cheek was on the floor. She couldn't bear to look at him. There were tears behind her eyes. What was he doing to her? This wasn't how things were meant to go, not yet. He released her wrists. They were red where he had been gripping them.

He didn't stop sitting on her though. If he let her up, she'd run, and he wasn't finished with her. He waited for her to answer his question.

Ginny looked up at Draco. Was he really expecting her to answer him? The question was so unbelievable, but he obviously took it seriously. Should she make up some lie? No, he'd be able to tell, especially if what she suspected about him was true.

"I can read your mind," he said quietly, "but you already know that don't you?" he continued. Ginny was shell-shocked. The whole event that was going on around her was so unreal, so completely absurd.

Draco got up and held out a hand to her. She took it cautiously and rose to her feet.

"I'm sorry" Draco said honestly. "I didn't mean to hurt you, I just.... I didn't want you to leave."

"Why?" Ginny asked, genuinely curious, but also stalling for time. If only she had paid more attention in Defence Against the Dark Arts, then maybe she would have some idea what to do next.

Draco took hold of her chin, lifter her face, forcing her to gaze into his eyes. They were so deep. Ginny could feel herself sliding into his gaze. He was hypnotising her. Unfortunately, she realised this a moment too late.

He took the opportunity to force a deep kiss on her lips, gripping her shoulders tightly. He pulled away slowly.

Ginny had lost herself in him completely. A cruel smirk crossed his lips, and he moved to whisper once more in her ear.

"You belong to me."

With that final statement he sunk his inhumanly long canine teeth into her neck, and Ginny felt her life slip away, with every beat of her heart.

~~~ooOOoo~~~

Ginny woke up suddenly, gasping for breath. To her surprise she found herself in her own bed. Relief flooded over her, had it all been a dream? The relief disappeared when she spotted a figure in the corner of the room, sitting in the shadows, out of daylight.

Ginny's hand automatically moved to her neck. There were two puncture wounds scarring her skin. What had happened last night, after she passed out?

No, Ginny corrected herself. She hadn't passed out. He had done something to her.

Hypnosis.

Draco was facing away from her, looking out at the early morning sunlight that was slowing inching its way through the open window. Did he know she had woken up? Ginny looked around the room slowly, moving as little as possible.

Everything was where it should be, not a thing out of place.

"Good morning" said a neutral, but familiar voice from the corner of the room.

She kept silent. What was she meant to say to that?

"Did you sleep well?" he asked in the same calm voice.

Ginny remained silent once more. Her head was spinning with confusion. This couldn't be happening. A vampire was seducing her!

Draco rose out of the large chair and made his way over to the bed, carefully avoiding contact with the sunlight. He sat down next to where Ginny was laying. She didn't move until she felt something cold brush her cheek. She jerked away, sitting up in the process, still not looking at Draco.

He reached out once again, but this time she saw him coming. She was shocked to find herself paralysed on the spot, unable to move out of his reach. He took her chin between his thumb and first finger, and gently twisted her head round to face him.

She found herself staring into his unusually bright eyes. The eyes that were usually an icy, bluish grey were now most definitely a pale, yet astoundingly bright blue.

"What did you do to me?" she asked quietly, finally finding her voice.

"I freed you" he replied calmly, running his icy fingers up and down her bare arm. It was the same touch she had felt in the corridor last night. Had that been him too? Why hadn't she seen him?

Ginny wasn't in the mood for any explanation that involved her thinking metaphorically or objectively; she just wanted simple facts, so that she could sort this mess out in her mind.

"Really, I think you bit me" she said coldly, anger obviously showing in her eyes.

To her surprise, she thought she caught a glimpse of hurt in those brilliant eyes, but it disappeared just as quickly as it arrived, so she couldn't be sure.

"Please," she said gently, "I have to know what's going on. Just explain it all to me."

Draco stared at her face for several moments before he spoke up

"Last night, after dinner," he began, "I was walking through the school when someone grabbed me from behind and pulled me into one of the classrooms. I was surprised, and by the time I realised what was happening it was too late."

"A vampire? You were attacked by a vampire last night?" Ginny asked, making sure she was getting his story right.

"Yeah," said Draco with a small laugh.

Ginny glared at him, this wasn't a laughing matter. It was deadly serious, literally!

Draco swallowed the laugh and continued.

"The thing just bit me. I tried to fight it off, but well, it was too strong and it caught me off guard. It said to me that I had to feed immediately, or I would die when the sun rose.

I was panic stricken, then, to my delight, the one person I really wanted walked straight past the classroom."

At this moment he slipped his hand underneath the covers Ginny was clinging to, and stroked her bare leg. Ginny remained paralysed, unable to move away from his probing touch. The thought crossed her mind to look down at herself.

She was completely naked, covered only by the blanket that Draco had now infiltrated. Had he undressed her? He must have. Ginny felt sick at the thought. What else had he done to her while she was asleep? Dead to the touch.

"Why me?" Ginny asked quietly, a sob rising in her throat. "I'm a Gryffindor. You hate Gryffindors, especially Weasley's."

"You're different," he said calmly, not removing his hand from her thigh. "You have a spark, an edge. You have potential to be great. You've got the necessary blood; all you need is the right instructor. Had you been born to different parents, proper wizards, not Muggle-lovers like the Weasley's, then you would be one of the greatest."

Ginny felt anger inside her at the insult of her parents, yet still, the paralyses kept her in place.

"Besides," Draco continued, "You're beautiful, and I like to own beautiful things."

He gently slid his hand off of her body and starred deeper into her eyes, as if claiming her soul.

"Lie down," he said softly to her.

Ginny felt her body act against her will. She slid down the bed until she was lying flat on her back, arm at her sides. She was very aware of Draco's presence next to her, hunger filled his eyes.

He leaned over her, stroking her flame red hair as he lay down tantalisingly close next to her. He brought his lips down to her ear, his chin brushing lightly on her bare neck.

"I'm going to give you a choice, a choice I never had."