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Envy and Manipulations	By : rrabbit Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Ginny Views: 8376 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters from it.... therefore I do not receive any payment for this writing.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
I'm laying on Draco's comfortable dorm bed while he sits between my legs with his back to me. He's reading from a large text about blood magic and he won't tell me why he was reading it. He shushes me every time I ask, so I've officially given up and I've been content with rubbing his back and shoulders for the past half hour.

I like being close to him. He makes me feel safe.

It's been two days since the whole world turned on it's side and he's been my only source of comfort in this scary and unstable situation. I scoot even closer to him with my feet on either side of his body as I think about how sweet he has been to me. I wrap my arms around his chest and I sigh when I feel his heart beat against my hand. I love him. With that girlish thought, I lay my head on his shoulder blade and listen to his breathing while I close my eyes.

"Why did you stop?" he questions in a deep voice as he turns the page. "That felt good."

I kiss the back of his neck and sit up straight, running my hands along his arms and up to his shoulders where I start to massage his muscles again. He puts his hand on my bare ankle and squeezes every once and a while as I lay back against his pillows with a sigh.

I'm too nervous about my family and about my future to be comfortable... so I just start biting my nails with Draco cradled between my legs.

A place where I find him most comfortable, actually.

He's wearing an old blue t-shirt from some summer quidditch team he was on, and I use my free hand to trace the yellow letters printed on his back.M... A... L... F...O...

"Do you want to talk about anything?" he asks gently as he taps his fingers against my foot. I trace the Y with my pointer finger before pulling away. "You seem restless."

Of course I am. He knows this.

"Are they ever going to let us send out owls?" I ask softly, running my fingers down his spine gently because I love touching him.

It makes him arch his back and I smile before he settles down again to answer me.

"No," he says like he knew for sure and I furrow my brows. "All letters are going to be read before being sent out to the appropriate channels."

"What?" I hiss as I sit up straight. Draco itches the back of his neck, not even bothering to look away from that stupid book.

"They told me during my evaluation," he says as he turns a page. "Everything is censored now," he says with a sigh. "So I would suggest not even bothering to send out that letter you have stuffed in your bag." I open my mouth to snap about that, but he continues speaking. "Getting mad about it won't change it. Save your breath," he says and I narrow my eyes.

I make a face as I glance at my bag that's thrown on his writing desk. I had written a letter to my parents yesterday, telling them everything about what's been happening at the school and wanting to know if they were okay. I just couldn't find an owl to send it out. When I went to the owlery, the doors were locked and the owls were gone... That's when I ran into Neville.

I glance at the uniform hanging on the back of the bathroom door as Draco's hand goes back to squeezing my ankle. He got a new one after his evaluation. I haven't seen it on him yet, but it looks ominous. It's all black; black shoes, black pants, black shirt, black tie, black jacket. Everything looks so dark and tailored and more military... that thought makes me shudder and I glare at the silver buttons on the jacket because they have small dark mark symbols etched into them.

"What will the girl's uniforms look like?" I ask seriously, ignoring the owl comment because Draco doesn't answer my questions in any satisfying way.

"I don't know," he says and then he cracks his neck.

He told me that his uniform would be different than a majority of the student body because he was head boy. The prefects would be the same as well... That's about all he told me about the evaluations... he said that they went as he expected and that I didn't have to worry about anything. All I worry about now is how he never tells me bloody anything.

"Babe," I say as I rub his back again. He's been so short with me today and I don't want him to blow off another one of my questions. "Can I ask you something?"

"You can ask me anything," he says gently as he squeezes my foot again.

"Will you actually answer?" I ask as I sit up again and wrap my arms around his torso. After a few moments, he sighs heavily and he closes the book. I'm thankful when he puts it on the nightstand and he finally turns his body towards mine, giving me his full attention so I'm not left staring at the back of his head.

"I've been distracted today," he says as he hooks his hands under my knees and he jerks quickly. I gasp as he pulls me down the bed. He settles his hips in between my legs and he brushes some hair away from my face as he rests on top of me. "I'm sorry," he adds. "What did you want to ask me?"

I bite my lip as I look over his face. His handsome perfect face. "I talked to Neville today," I say and his jaw tightens. I ignore it. "He said that they were going to move his parents from St. Mungo's and place them in a camp somewhere. They're doing that to all mental health patients at the hospital. Is that true?"

"When did you find the time to talk to him?" he asks levelly.

I narrow my eyes. He only said that because he's suspicious as to how I got away from my baby-sitters without being noticed.

"I'm sorry," he says once he notices my hateful glare. "Ask what you wanted," he adds, but I can tell he's not happy about it.

"Could you..." I lick my lips. "I mean, Neville said that for his evaluation they decided to send him away for re-eduction... What does that mean?"

"I honestly don't know," he says and I believe him. "I would tell you if I did," he adds and I nod my head.

"Could you help him leave?" I whisper and Draco furrows his brows. "I mean, through that opening in your common room. He's worried about what they're going to do to him and he wants to help his parents before they move them to that camp. His Grandmother is too old to do anything."

Draco stares at me and doesn't say anything for a long time.

I remember my talk with Neville and how worried he was as Draco mulls over my request.

I was trying to send out that letter to my parents and I was outside of the owlery door, cussing and trying to open up the door.

"Fucking open," I hissed as I tried to pry open the doors. I put the letter I intended to send my parents in between my teeth as I used both hands to pull on the large handle with all my might. "Damn," I snapped because it was starting to hurt my arms. I let go of the handle and I glared at the wooden door with a scowl on my face.

I didn't understand why it wasn't opening for me. The owerly was always open to students at all times during the day. It just didn't make sense to me at the time.

I took out my wand and attempt to unlock it, but of course that didn't work either. I tried pulling the large metal handle again, only to end up cussing some more and kicking it with my foot. No owls have been coming to breakfast because of the evaluations and I had thought they were all waiting in here, but the damn thing wouldn't let me in.

Did it ever actually have a door?

"Why won't you open?" I said to it with a frown on my face, not being as well informed as Draco on the owl censorship.

"It's locked," someone said from behind me and I jumped with my hand on my heart. I turned to see Neville standing there, with a solemn look on his boy like face.

"Obviously," I retorted bitterly as I glared at the door again. "But why is it locked? I have a letter I need to send."

"I don't know," he said gently. "I'm sure it's Umbridge's idea."

"Umbridge," I said in disgust as I remembered that foul woman. It sent an immediate chill down my spine and I knew nothing good would come from her being anywhere near our school. "Is she here?"

"Yeah, she is," he said and then he rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably. It made me uneasy to see Neville so pale and shook up. With good reason, I found. "She was there for my evaluation," he said softly.

I had forgotten that his evaluation took place already to be honest. The seventh year boys had their evaluations first and it made me think of Draco. I always think of Draco and I felt a bit guilty about it because Neville was obviously troubled.

"How did it go?" I asked softly. I took a step towards him him just in case he needed a hug or something... but then I remembered the shock I got when Harry touched me, and I stepped back again.

He shrugs.

"What was it like?" I asked gently because he looked so tired now and so worn out. "Was it horrible?" I asked nervously.

"It was uncomfortable," he admitted and then he furrowed his brows. "They ask if you'll swear your allegiance to the Dark Lord," he said and I clenched my jaw.

"What did you do?" I asked carefully. I could feel it then, that uncomfortable pool in the pit of my stomach that made my insides freeze and hurt. I hated the feeling and I remember wishing that school was as carefree as it used to be in years past. But, of course, being so close to Harry Potter made that ideal nearly impossible.

"I said no," he replied with a shaky voice. "They gave me my papers," he said and then he gave me a troubled look. "I have to go for that 're-education' thing they were talking about."

I bit my lip. "Did they say what that was all about?"

He shook his head.

"Does anyone knows that that means? What do they do when they reeducate you?" I asked and he shrugged.

No one knows anything and the people that do... like Draco... don't bother sharing their knowledge I was finding out.

"I have no idea..." he trailed off and then he looked at me. "They're moving my parents," he said seriously and I remember frowning.

"What?"

"They told me that my parents have become a burden on the St. Mungo's staff. Everyone in the mental health wing is getting transferred.".

"To where?" I questioned.

Neville has always been such a sweet, and sometimes silly, boy. I often forget what happened to his parents. Bellatrix Lestrange is free now, out in the word to ruin families and make more decent and hard working people go mad with her wand. I wanted to hug him then, but I held back because I don't want to burn.

"I don't know. They said some sort of camp," he said and then his eyes snapped to mine. "I'm afraid they might kill them."

He let that hang in the air and I stared at him for a long time before he spoke again.

"I have to leave before they send me away," he said narrowly. "I have to get to my parents... to my grandmother... and make sure they're all safe."

"I know a way you can leave," I whispered as I thought of Draco.

I looked down the stairs and saw Pansy there, she was probably looking for me and I sighed tiredly.

He looked puzzled by my comment. "What?"

I took a step closer to him and I gripped his forearm to show how serious I was. Burning be damned "I know how Harry got out," I told him quietly so no one would hear. "I'll keep you informed," I told him before running off to Pansy before she saw me with Neville and questioned me.

I shake out of the memory and I look back at Draco. Why hasn't he said anything?

"Draco?" I saw as I bring my hand up to his face, running my knuckles over his cheek. "Will you help?"

He's silent again for another long moment but when he finally answers again, it makes my heart stop.

"No."

Perhaps I heard wrong.

"What?" I say gently and I blink a few times as he sits up on his knees and climbs off the bed.

"I said no," he says as he goes over to his desk and starts removing his watch.

I'm a little stunned and I get on my knees so I can get a better look at him. "Why not?"

"Because I said so," he says sharply.

I suppose he is actually saying no to me and I narrow my eyes.

"That's not a good enough answer. Why not help him? They might kill his parents and who knows what they're going to do during that re-education thing."

"I owe nothing to Neville Longbottom, Ginny. What has he ever done for me?" he asks as he turns around and crosses his arms. I'm a little baffled, to be honest.

"What?" I say again, not sure what to say. "What do you mean 'what has he done for me?'" I ask as I stand from the bed. "They might kill his parents."

"Don't be thick," he says and I raise my brows. "They won't kill his parents. You're all being so bloody dramatic about this whole thing."

"Of course we're being dramatic," I say with narrowed eyes. "It's the Dark Lord, Draco. He'll preform genocide on a whole race if he wants."

"Haven't I done enough for you?" he asks and I retract like he had hit me as he levels me with a glare. "I helped Potter and his stupid friends escape the castle for you. They would have my head if they knew I took any part in that."

"This isn't about doing anything for me," I say and he raises one eyebrow. "This is about doing what's right."

"I only do things that benefit me, Ginny," he says coldly and I open and close my mouth a few times before snapping it shut.

I don't know what to say to that.

"Now," he says, thinking he's won this conversation. "I am tired and I would like to go to bed."

I give him a hateful look as he goes to turn off his light and I stomp towards the writing desk to retrieve my bag. I'm not sleeping with him tonight.

"What are you doing?" he asks with a tired sigh and I glare at him.

"I'm going to my room," I tell him hotly and he narrows his eyes.

"Put the bag down," he says. "You aren't going anywhere."

"Well, I'm getting no benefit from staying here," I tell him, throwing it back in his face. "So I'm leaving."

I go to walk to the door, but he steps in front of me with a hard glare in his eyes.

"You are staying," he says and then he looks me over. "It's never good to go to bed angry," he adds a little softer and I furrow my brows.

"Move."

"No," he challenges. "Are you going to run away every time I say something you don't like?"

Jerk.

"Why won't you help Neville?" I ask seriously as I stare at his throat. "You are in the position to help, why not do it?"

"If he leaves the castle, they will find him," he says seriously. He takes my hand and he brings it up to his lips. I try to pull away, but he holds me firmly in place. "If he was selected for re-educaton, they would have put a tracker on him. He wouldn't have made it far and they would have killed him," he admits as he kisses my fingers. "He's safer here, he's safer going through the re-education training and coming back to the school. They won't kill his parents," he says gently as he moves his lips over my palm. "Killing the disabled is too much of a hateful PR move and the Dark Lord is trying to revamp his image."

"How do you know that?" I ask with a worried frown and he kisses my wrist.

"I know things, sweetheart," he whispers and then he pulls back from my hand. He licks his lips before bending down to kiss me. "Stay?" he asks as he takes the bag off of my shoulder. "Cuddle?" he suggests trying to win me over with a sly smirk. I look up at him with a confused tilt of my head.

I never know what to believe when I talk to him. He just jumbles things around in my mind and when he kisses me or touches me in any way... forget it...

"You're telling the truth?" I ask as I think of how broken Neville looked outside of the owlery.

"Always," he says and its a lie, but I don't press it because I want to believe him.

"Why didn't you just say that first," I scoff. "Instead of having me go through this whole fight."

"Come here," he says as he takes me by the arm, ignoring my question in that infuriating way that he does.. "Let's go to bed."

I stand in my spot for a while, just staring at him as he lets my bag drop to the floor.

"Ginny," he says softly as he takes a step closer to me and he runs his hand up my side. "Come to bed," he says gently.

I stare at him for a while until he bends down and places a soft kiss at the corner of my mouth.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" I press and he sighs as he pulls back, squeezing my arm.

"What can we do right now?" he asks with a sharp brow raised. "If he leaves, they find him and kill him. Simple as that. Do you want that?"

"No," I say. Of course I don't want that. It was a stupid question to ask.

"Good," he says as he pulls me towards the bed. "Let's go to sleep then."

I hold my ground for a few more stubborn moments before he shoots me a look.

I sigh.

Draco's passageway was my only game plan and now I'm stuck with nothing. I'll have to talk to Neville tomorrow, perhaps we could figure this all out together.

"Gin," he snaps and I look at him.

Fine.

I shake my head, but follow him to the bed anyways, crawling under the covers as he pulls them back for me. He turns off the light and rests beside me, but I'm still slightly confused and angry with him so I turn my back and frown. He rolls over after a few moments and puts his hand on my hip as I try to think of a way to help Neville.

Draco was right. If they put trackers on the kids who have to leave for the new education thing, then Neville is as good as dead if he gets out and then he might tell him who helped him and Draco would be dead too.

It hurts my brain.

I bring a hand up to my forehead and I try to smooth out my worry as I massage my temple. Draco grabs my hand.

"Do you want a sleeping potion to help you relax?" he asks as he brings my hand down and intertwines it with his own. I don't say anything and he sits up. "I'll get you one anyways," he retorts as he reaches under his bed and he pulls out a leather potions kit. He taps my shoulder and when I turn on my back he hands me a potions vial. "Drink the whole thing," he says as I sit up and uncork it.

I've been so nervous with worry that I've barely slept in days and I bring the potion up to my lips and take it down in one gulp.

Draco takes the vial from me and puts it in the case, snapping it shut with a flick of his fingers. I instantly feel drowsy as I lay back against the pillows while Draco puts his case back under the bed.

"This works well," I say groggily as I close my eyes. I'm already at ease and ready for sleep. "Come here," I whisper as I pull his body towards mine. I want to cuddle up against him and fall asleep. He's always so warm. "I want to touch you," I whisper, feeling almost drunk as I tuck myself against him and I kiss his shoulder.

"You can touch me anytime," he says and I laugh because I can practically feel his smirk.

I place my hand at the hem of his shirt and move up until it's resting on the smooth skin of his stomach. He inhales deeply but I ignore it as I start to drift off, with his warm body against mine.

Sleeping wasn't as peaceful as I had hoped.

I fall into a fitful sleep with horrid dreams about snakes and chambers and blood.

The chamber of secrets had always been a place in my nightmares and I was right back at the center of it again, laying on the ground like I did when I was eleven, staring up at Tom as the Basilisk slithered around us. It smells damp and it feels cold... and so close to being real that I can feel my heart skipping a few beats.

"Blood is important," Tom says. He walks around me with his handsome face set in a pleased smile as he drains the life out of me. "Blood is the most important thing in our world. Did you know that, Ginny?"

I didn't answer. I couldn't. I just looked away from him and tried not to let the headache take me over.

The basilisk moves past us, by the far wall, and I clench my eyes shut quickly. Looking at it made it real, and when it was real, it made me scream.

"I've always felt dirty," Tom pulls me back to the conversation.

He said that softly, like he didn't want me to hear him. I glance at him again through the haze of tears that were threatening to fall as he traces the veins on his pale wrist. He glances at me and then he quickly kneels beside me, running his fingers over my temple and cheek, tracing the thin blue lines down my neck like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.

His fingers are like ice and they make shiver.

"Your blood is so clean," he says like a madman as he bends down and puts his face against my neck. He inhales and I let a sob escape. "I could drink your blood like wine," he adds darkly and I try to pull away from him, but I'm too weak.

I'm always too weak and he is always so strong.

"Stop," I manage to choke out. I don't know what I want him to stop, really. I just want him to go away.

"I will never stop," he says levelly as he sits back on his knees. "It's not in my nature. You would do well to remember that."

Another quiet sob escapes my throat. He moves until he's hovering above me, with his black eyes taking me in critically.

"You're a powerful witch," he says, eyeing me again as he slowly sucks the life from my body. "Look at you, just eleven years old and your force is strong enough to bring me back. I think I chose you well," he says and then he takes my hand and starts tracing the blue veins webbing under my skin. "And your blood," he mentions gently with he brings my hand up to his lips.

They felt cold and I tried to pull away, but he jerked me back.

I whimpered.

"It's curse breaking blood, did you know that? You're special, Ginny," he says before moving his lips to my wrist, speaking against my skin softly. His breath felt like a chilly winter wind and I just wanted to die. "You're different and I have you all to myself," he says gently before sinking his teeth into the tender flesh of my wrist.

I scream and arch my back. His bite isn't as cold as the rest of him is. In fact, the pain burns hot and I try to get away, but he holds me firmly down with his knees on my thighs. My heart beat is racing so fast I think I might pass out and I start calling for my Mom like a little child. Whimpering and crying and begging for my mother to come and save me from all of this.

It was an empty prayer. I knew that. My Mother couldn't reach me here in the Chamber. No one could.

I keep calling for her anyways and it makes him laugh.

He smiles darkly against my wrist before biting down again and sucking more blood. When he finally pulls back, he inhales deeply like it was his first breath ever, and then looks right at me. My blood is dribbling down his chin; he looks like a vampire. His coloring changed, it turned less waxy and more human. Less like a ghost and more like a man. Even his cheeks were a little bit flushed and when he smiled, he had my blood coating his teeth giving him an all together frightening appearance. I couldn't help the deep and intense scream that broke from me, echoing off the walls and vibrating my ear drums.

The giant snake hissed somewhere in the distance, but I didn't care.

I would do anything to look into the snake's eyes now.

Tom quickly clamped his ice cold hand over my mouth and glared down at me with onyx eyes. "No one can hear you," he said in a menacing hiss, his breath now warm on my face. He was turning more real. "No one knows where you are." he flicks a glance down my body and then he looks me in the eyes. "It's a shame you aren't older," he says with a frown. "My teenage body is very excited by blood," he says and I didn't know what he meant so I just cried. "But now my young little friend," he says as he removes his hand and leans towards me. "You sleep," he says before planting a harsh kiss against my quivering lips.

It left blood on me. My blood.

It was my first kiss.

And it was with him.

This all felt so real... the feelings... the smells... the coldness in Tom's hands... The pain...

I bolt upright in my safe bed, back to reality once more. When I realize it was just a dream, I put my hand over my eyes and try to shake it off. It was just a dream... it can't hurt me... I'm sweating now, so I push my bangs from my eyes as I try to calm myself down. I do have a headache. A really terrible piercing headache and I bring my hand up to my temples as I try to rub it out.

Eventually the pain dies to a minor ache and I reach for Draco in the darkness, but he's not on his side of the bed. Still shook up from the dream, I quickly jump for the light and I click it on.

I find Draco sitting in the chair by his writing desk, looking right at me with darkened eyes.

When we make eye contact, he raises an eyebrow. "Bad dream?" he asks as he stands from the chair.

Was he just sitting there in the dark, staring at me as I slept? I nod my head and pull the covers further up my chest as he starts walking towards me. I notice he has his wand in his hand and I frown at it as he puts it down on the night stand. "What were you doing up?" I ask in a voice thick with sleep as he crawls into bed beside me.

"I couldn't sleep," he says as he turns off the lights and pulls me towards. "Go back to sleep," he says, adding a kiss to the top of my head.

"Why were you sitting in the dark?" I ask with a yawn... but the sleeping potion overtakes me again before I get an answer and the last thing I feel before drifting off into sleep is Draco gently caressing my arm.

I go right back to where my dream left off, only this time I was more lucid and outside of my little body. I was standing off to the side, by the large statue of a snake as Tom walked around my smaller form, taunting and teasing and hurting.

I gasp when I feel someone grip my hair tightly in their hands and I almost scream until I hear Draco's voice.

"He's envious of you," he says as he jerks my head to the side so he can suck on my neck.

"He's killing me," I whisper as I watch Tom hover over my eleven year old form as Draco and I stand in the shadows. He still has my blood dripping from his lips and he knows how much he's scaring me. That's why he's doing it. Tom thrived on fear.

"Dark magic lingers, little Ginny," Tom says as Draco reaches in between my legs, hiking up my sleep shirt. "And you had enough even before I came into the picture."

"That's not true," I whisper as Draco works his fingers against my body and my little girl self cries on the damp stones.

"Is it not?" Draco asks against my neck. The basilisk slithers behind us and I try to wake myself up because this dream is going to hell fast. I try to turn around, but he holds me firmly against him, with my back against his chest.

"No," I say as I shake my head. Draco jerks my head back by my hair until I'm looking at him. His silver eyes look dark; this is the most vivid dream I've ever had... and my scalp hurts from the way he's pulling my head.

It feels real.

I'm thinking real thoughts.

I hate this.

"No?" he says gently and then he bends down to kiss me viciously with his teeth biting my lower lip painfully hard.

"That hurts," I whisper when he pulls back to breathe and I hitch my breath when his fingers slip inside me.

This feels way too real.

I try to pull his hand away and cross my legs as I look towards Tom and little me over by the door. Tom's still circling my body, saying terrible things to me as Draco works his fingers.

"You're ready," Draco whispers against my ear. "Get on your knees."

"No, I..." I trail off and bite my lip. This is the worst time possible to have a sex dream.

"Don't think," he says as he pulls my shirt over my head. He throws it on the ground and starts pushing me down until I'm on my hands and knees. "Just feel."

I close my eyes to get away from the image before me and I hold my breath as Draco lowers my knickers.

Tom starts telling me a story, about a serpent and a queen and a curse and a boat and I try to block it out as Draco puts his hand on my neck and positions himself behind me.

"…...The king, thinking his new Queen was a dark witch, snapped her wand and banished her to the sea. On a small boat, where she was sure to die, the Queen spent days alone in the middle of the ocean adding more water to it with her tears. On the seventh day, thirsty and hungry, the youngest sister was near death when Dark wizard found her and disguised himself as a serpent once more, appearing on her small boat."

Tom carries on telling that horrid story and I try to block him out.

Draco kisses my shoulder, pulling me away from it and he unhooks my bra.

He pounds into me from behind, and I don't want to watch anymore of the bad dream, so I rest on my forearms and put my head down as I focus on the way Draco feels inside of me. I feel him grab my breasts as he leans more on my back. He's ruthless in his movements and it's almost painful as I put my forehead down on my forearms and pray that it'll be over soon. It feels good, don't get me wrong, but it's almost too intense, too hard for me.

The noises aren't pleasant either. Draco's body smacking against my own are playing against Tom's silky voice in the background. The snake hisses somewhere to the left again and I clench my jaw. It's not sexy.

"When the seventh moon is in the second house.." Tom says as he twirls my hair around one of his long pale fingers. I try to block his voice out again.

"You don't love him, do you?" I hear Draco ask me in a breathless voice as he drills into me.

"Who?" I whisper with a moan as the friction starts to build in between my legs.

He twists his hand in my hair again and pulls my head up. "Him," he says as he sucks on my ear.

I look at Tom as he kneels over my smaller body, and I clench my eyes shut as I shake my head.

This is a fucked up dream.

This is even worse than the corpse dinner or the bloody hands nightmares I always have. This one feels too real.

"I can't hear you," he says, punctuating each word by a hard thrust. I inhale a sharp breath and bite my hand.

"I don't love him," I whisper into my skin. I feel my legs shaking. "No one has ever loved him.

"You love me?" Draco asks against my ear.

I don't say anything... I can't say anything. It all feels too real and too much.

I make a whimpering like noise in the back of my throat when he bites down on my shoulder.

He doesn't let up.

"That hurts," I whimper. He bites down a little harder and I feel my eyes swell up as he bites a little harder. "Please, Draco. It hurts."

He grips my hips so hard it burns.

"Draco," I say again, and he must have heard me this time, because he loosens his grip and he kisses my shoulder softly. "Thank you," I whisper in relief as he puts his hand on my back, running his fingers up my spine.

"Come here," he whispers as he slips out of me and he maneuvers me until I'm on my back, laying against the cold concrete. It hurts. He settles back inside of me as he puts his hand up to rest by the side of my head. He sighs gently and starts rolling his hips. "I love the way you feel," he says with a smile and I bring my hand up, cupping his cheek. "You love me?" he asks again and I nod my head, feeling tears leak from the corner of my eyes.

He kisses them away.

"I love you," I tell him gently and he smiles before wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close.

I hear the snake slithering again, getting closer and closer to us.

Draco kisses me once more before I see the large beast from the corner of my eyes.

Then everything goes black.

I wake early. My body is sore and I rub my eyes as I sit up. It's still dark outside and I glance at Draco as he slumbers beside me with his arm thrown over his face.

What a weird, terrible dream.

I stumble out of bed and head towards the bathroom, noticing the uncomfortable ache between my legs. It was just a dream, right? Perhaps my body is feeling it's side effects. I take a quick shower because I feel odd and as I'm washing my body, I notice the red marks on my shoulder. Upon closer inspection I find that they're bite marks and I furrow my brows as I look down at my hips. There are bruises there already from Draco's fingers.

Oh. Damn.

I guess that part wasn't a dream and I feel weird with it as I shampoo my hair with an uncomfortable feeling in my stomach.

All the things that were said... did he see what I was seeing? Was he having the same dream as me? That's stupid... that's impossible. There is no way that Draco had been stuck with me in the chamber of secrets with a young Dark Lord.

What the hell?

We did have sex, apparently. I was just dreaming during it. I wonder if Draco noticed... I touch the bite mark on my shoulder and hiss. I can't believe that didn't wake me.. it really hurts!

God, what if I said something embarrassing?

What if I did something embarrassing?

Do people have sleep sex like some people sleep walk?

Fuck me.

After getting clean, I step out of his small shower and use one of his blue towels to dry off. I forgot to bring clothes into the bathroom with me. I sigh as I wrap the towel around my body and leave the bathroom with my hair hanging on my shoulders, dripping water down my body. It's chilly in the morning and I shiver a bit as I close the door behind me. The sun is just now staring to shine, and I squint my eyes against it as I walk over to the writing desk so I can pull some clean clothes from my bag.

As I'm pulling out a clean shirt, a book falls out and lands on the floor with thump.

It's that children's book I had taken from Daphne's house. I eye it for a few moments and then with a curious tilt of my head, I pick it up.

Why did I want this?

I think of the story I read in my therapists office... That horrid children's story with creepy illustrations... the same story Tom was saying to me in the chamber in my fucked up dream...

Oh, right.

With purpose, I sit down and start flicking through it, trying to find that story.

The Tale of the Serpent and the Queen

I furrow my brows when I find the title page and I start scanning it for one line in particular. I hear Draco rustle behind me as I flip through the pages.

"What are you doing up so early?" I hear him say in a voice thick with sleep.

"Couldn't sleep," I answer with a shrug as I turn the page.

The floor boards creek when he stands and I hear him walk towards the bathroom. I ignore him when he comes back out as I bury my nose in the book.

"How long have you been awake?" Draco asks with a yawn as he walks towards me and he moves wet hair away from my neck. "You smell nice," he adds he bends down and kisses my neck.

I wince because it's so close to the bite mark.

"I haven't been awake that long," I admit as I lean back in the chair, liking the feel of his warm hands on my arms in the cold morning chill.

"Oh," he says and then he pauses for a moment. "Oh, babe," he says in sympathy like he felt sorry for me and when I glance at him in question, he bends down and kisses the angry looking bite mark on my shoulder. "I didn't realize I was being so rough with you last night."

"It's okay," I whisper and then I sigh as I bring my hand up to his cheek. "I was dreaming when we were... you know," I say with a blush as he kisses my shoulder. "It was weird... I never really woke up. I was still stuck in a dream."

"Hopefully a good dream," he says with a smirk against my skin. "Judging by the way you were moaning my name, I suppose that is the truth."

"I wasn't moaning your name," I scoff. He puts his hands on either side of me on the writing desk as he presses his lips against the top of my head.

"Of course you were," he says with a smirk as he brings his knuckles up to run up and down my bare arm.

He's being very loving today.

"What else would you be moaning about?" he asks and I can practically feel him smile as I go back to the book. "Aren't we a little old for fairy tales, Gin?" he asks when he notices what's in front of me.

"Did you say this to me once?" I ask as I find the line. It's the same one Tom had said to me in the chamber in my dream.

He leans down so his cheek is placed against my own and his eyes quickly scan the page. "When the seventh moon is in the second house..." he trails off. "Probably," he answers with a shrug. "Why?"

"It's just... why did you say it?" I ask as I look at the illustrations of this horrid children's story.

He shrugs again. "It's a saying," he says like I was stupid. "It means everything is aligning perfectly."

"Really?" I say as I bite my lip. His clever fingers start to work their way to the knot in the towel I'm wearing, but I ignore it. "I've never heard it before."

"There's probably a lot you don't know," he says as he removes the towel. I try to cover myself, but he pushes my hands away and forces me to stand up. He kicks the chair out of the way and before I get a chance to respond, he bends me over.

"What are you doing?" I ask even though I know perfectly well what he's doing.

"I don't know what it is," he says as he runs his fingers down my back. "But everything about you has been turning me on lately," he says and I face forward with my chin resting on my forearms as I wait for another ride.

I glance down at the book as Draco starts to caress me and kiss my back, and I furrow my brows at that last sentence again.

When the seventh moon is the second house, a powerful union between the two families will set the world on fire...

I make a face, but when Draco enters me again, I crunch up the page in my hand so tightly that it rips.

I hold my arm and bend my elbow as I try not to cry. The old woman puts a cotton ball on my wound after removing the syringe and she walks off with a vial of my blood. Why do they need that? Where is she taking it?

Why? Why? Why? All I have are questions and it's starting to piss me off.

"Miss Givevra Molly Weasley," Dolores Umbridge reads out my name slowly like she was tasting it and I slink further down into my chair and let the cotton ball fall to the ground. "Are you ready for your evaluation?" she asks sharply as she looks up from her papers.

I gulp and nervously nod my head as I look at the table I'm currently sitting in front of. Umbridge, that Izador Rookwood character, Snape, and Lucius Malfoy are all sitting across from me with matching looks of indifference on their faces as I try not to break down and cry in front of them. I'm so nervous and the fact that Umbridge is currently holding my wand and studying it does not make me feel any easier...

"Why did you take my blood?" I ask in a whisper and she gives me a fake smile.

"To test it of course," she says sweetly like I was stupid. "Now let's see here..." she goes back to the paper in front of her and props it up to see better. "Age Sixteen, school year... sixth." Umbridge says with her fuzzy pink cardigan looking ridiculous next to the three men in black who are part of the new 'Department of Education'.

I flick a glance at my boyfriend's father, but he's steadily reading a piece of paper in front of him with a pair of glasses perched on the bridge of his sharp nose. I start playing with the bracelet his son gave me, trying to find some peace.

"Well, it looks like you have been doing fairly well in academics," she says as she flicks her eyes to paper in front of her once more. "Steady O's in most of your classes."

"She's fifth in her year," that Rookwood fellow points out and when he dark eyes find mine, I nervously look away.

"Indeed, and she's been on her house Quidditch team for two years." Umbridge says as she turns to another page. "Weasley," she says the name like she was pondering it's meaning. "Daughter of Arthur Weasley, currently in Azkaban for participating in a fight against the empire with the traitorous Order of the Phoenix."

I sit up straight when I hear that... Azakaban? My father is in Azkaban?

That makes my heart drop.

"And Molly Weasley," she says as she ticks her tongue. "Also in Azkaban for resisting questioning when officials were sent to her home. They had to break in to get her out."

"My home?" I say weakly and they all look up from their papers to stare at me. I lick my dry lips. "But, how did they get past the wards?"

"Nevermind that," Umbridge says as I bring a hand up so I can chew on my nails.

That freaking piece of paper! Draco said he gave it back... that's the only way they could have gotten my mother...Unless she let them in... but that doesn't make any sense. Umbridge said they had to break in. I pull my fingers from my mouth and start scratching my nails down my thighs so hard I think I might break through the denim.

"Sister to Charles Weasley, currently in Azkaban for treason. William Weasley, currently in Azkaban for treason. Fred Weasley and George Weasley, currently on a watch list for traitorous activity... at large," she adds, pausing for a moment before continuing. "Percy Weasley, arrested and in Azkaban for aiding the rebels in the fight at the Ministry of Magic. And lastly, Ronald Weasley, currently on the run with public enemy number one and wanted for treason against the state."

That's my entire family.

I can't even swallow that information properly.

I find my hands shaking and I look at Mr. Malfoy again. He's looking at me now, his silver eyes cold and unfeeling. I feel like I've been punched in the gut and I try to be optimistic. At least they aren't dead... that's a good thing to know.

Any news is better than no news, right?

No, not fucking right, but what else do I have to go off of?

"Tell me, Miss Weasley," Umbridge says in her sugary sweet voice as she folds her pudgy hands over the table. "Are you to be trusted?"

I don't say anything. I just swallow the lump in my throat and stare down at my hands.

"The Weasley's are a very old pureblooded family," Izador Rookwood says in his deep voice. "They're a powerful clan."

"Obviously full of blood traitors," Umbridge says as she motions to the folder in front of her and then to me. "I suggest we send her to Azkaban with the rest of her family and enroll her in the re-education program."

That doesn't sound good at all and I snap my eyes to them in a panic.

"What?" I say stupidly and Mr. Malfoy sighs as he takes off his glasses and folds them in his breast pocket.

"I don't think that will be necessary," he says and the others glance at him. "It would be a shame to waste her mind when there are only so many pure lines left."

Waste her mind?

What does that mean?

"Agreed," Rookwood says as his dark eyes take me in again. I look at Snape pleadingly.

He was a member of the Order. Is he really so evil?

"Miss Weasley," Snape says in his derisive voice. "Do you know where Harry Potter is?" he asks and I shake my head. I honestly don't, so it's not a lie. "Do you know how he left the castle?"

I shake my head again and look at my lap.

I have that golden compact in my pocket, I've taken to carrying it with me at all times, but right about now I wish it was safely tucked away in my trunk because it starts vibrating. I panic and look at them with wide eyes as it buzzes loudly, echoing off the high ceiling. Izador Rookwood raises a dark eyebrow.

"Do you need to get that?" he asks.

Hermione is calling me. Hermione, or my brother, or Harry. Oh my god, if these people knew. I quickly shake my head and pull it out of my pocket with shaking hands so I can turn it off. It falls from my grip and lands against the floor in my nervousness. It's still vibrating and making noise as my cheeks feel so

hot I fear I might catch on fire. I quickly fumble around and pick it up, pressing the button on the side to turn it off as they all stare at me.

I sigh in relief when I finally get it to shut up and when I look at them again, Umbridge has a distasteful look on her face and she makes a 'uh huh' sound before writing something down on the sheet in front of her.

I don't even want to know what she has to say about that.

"Do you have that under control?" Snape asks coldly and I nod my head as I stuff it back into my pocket and pray that the don't try to call again while I'm in here. "Good, now, as I was saying, do you have any information pertaining to the whereabouts and possible plans of Harry James Potter? We know how closely affiliated your family is with him."

"I don't know anything," I say in a mousy voice. I wish I was brave. I wish I was powerful and strong but I'm not so I just sound ridiculous and weak.

No one says anything for a while and I focus on the lump in my pocket. I hope they were able to leave me a message. I want to know how they are...

Then I feel it, softly at first and then more pronounced. It's the tingling feeling that Draco told me to watch out for for when someone was digging in my mind. I throw up the best shield I can and then I start thinking of a random memory to throw them off. If they knew that I had a compact that the three most wanted people in England used to communicate with me, I would probably be dead.

The first memory that comes to my mind is the fight Draco and I had gotten into with Ron and Harry in the hallway before dinner. Where curses were thrown and names were called and I ended up leaving with Draco, angry with Ron for his accusation of loyalty.

The presence leaves, and I snap my head up to the people at the table. They all still look passively annoyed, but Rookwood. His dark eyes look pleased and when I make eye contact with him, he smiles a little.

"I vote that she stays and takes the test," he says seriously. "We need more pureblooded girls and her line is quite unblemished despite the blood traitor activity of her family. She is still young and can be persuaded otherwise, I am sure."

"Good?" Umbridge seethes. She never really liked me and I'm sure she wants me out. "Her whole family is a pack of blood traitors and so is she."

"She is a hardly a blood traitor," Lucius Malfoy says with an eye roll. "In fact, I know she's the opposite. She has been staying at my Manor for a majority of the summer. My wife has taken her under her wing, shall we say."

Snape snaps his eyes to Malfoy, but doesn't say anything. He was in on the Order meetings. He knew that was a lie.

Why was he lying anyways?

Snape looks at me. "Miss Weasley, are you loyal to our Lord?" he asks, leveling me with calculating eyes.

I swallow the lump in my throat, unable to answer either way even though my mind is yelling at me to say no, to stand up and to declare my allegiance with Harry and the Order... but I'm not nearly as brave as I would like to pretend.

"Umm..."

That's all I say. I'm an idiot. I really am.

"She has already attempted to aid the Dark Lord her first year here," Lucius Malfoy breaks the silence as he holds up a page from the folder. I furrow my brows as they all turn to that page. The Chamber of Secrets, page five apparently. "She is dating my son and we all know where my allegiance falls," Lucius adds as he closes his folder and pushes it forward like dating Draco solved all the problems in the world. "She stays."

"She didn't answer the question," Umbridge says with a vicious snarl on her fat face. She glares at me. "Are you loyal to the dark lord? Do you renounce your family and your blood traitor ways for the betterment of our nation and the longevity of our empire!"

I might faint.

"Do you!"

"I..."

I was going to say no... but someone cut me off before I could.

"I think we're missing one key set of information here," Rookwood says as he pulls out a yellow piece of paper from his folder and I snap my mouth shut.

Crisis avoided, hopefully.

He hands it to Malfoy, who reads it and then he passes it to Snape who glances at it dismissively before handing it to Umbridge. She grabs it with her pudgy fingers and holds onto it with a death grip. I crane my neck, trying to see what it says. Why is that a key set of information? I'm not nearly so interesting... Umbridge's cheeks turn pink as her beady eyes run furiously back and forth over the page.

When she's finished reading it, she's gripping the paper so hard it tears.

There's a very long and very awkward amount of silence that falls through the hall, and then all three of them look at me.

I look at my knees.

I'm such a coward sometimes.

"Well, that settles that then," Umbridge says bitterly. "Odette!" she calls and the old woman with a hunched back comes into the room, wearing a purple cloak that shimmers oddly in the candle light. She was the one who took my blood at the beginning and I slide away from her. "Please take miss Weasley to take the test and have her fitted for a new uniform."

The old woman nods and walks towards me, but now I need to know what was on that yellow sheet of paper.

"What?" Is all I get out as I'm pulled from my seat. "Wait, what did that paper say?" I ask after clearing my throat.

"What do you think, Severus?" Umbrdige asks coldly and Snape eyes me for a few moments before nodding his head.

"It seems, Miss Weasley, that one of the prefects from your grade, Miss Felicia Hart," I nod my head. I know her. She's a quiet muggle born in my class that rarely says two words. "Has failed her evaluation."

How could she possibly fail? She is first in our year?

And that has nothing to do with my question!

"And considering your academic achievements, I would say it is quite prudent to offer you the post," he says and I bite my nails again. Lucius raises his eyebrows at it, so I quickly put my hand down. "But, you will have to complete your testing first to make sure."

I don't say anything, I don't move, and I barely breath until that old woman named Odette starts pulling me again.

"Follow me, dear," she says as she pulls me out of my seat. I look at the table of people once more with my mouth hanging open. I really don't know what to say and when my eyes slide to that Rookwood fellow, he raises his brows and smiles.

I don't like him.

I follow Odette to another room like a zombie. Ten other girls from my grade are already seated, looking nervous and shaken like me.

I see Luna towards the back and I give her a sad smile before Odette pushes my shoulder.

What a pushy bitch.

"Take a seat. We'll start your test in a moment," she says as she hands me my wand. I get stuck sitting at one of the desks in the front and I try not to cry like a baby.

There's a blank piece of parchment before me and a quill in an ancient looking inkwell in the right hand corner.

"Test," I say flatly and she nods her head.

We have to sit in complete silence as the time clicks slowly by. I twist in my seat and try to spot Luna again, but I can't seem to get her attention. She's too busy scribbling something down on the desk to look up and I glare at her before facing the front of the room again. The room fills up with more girls from my grade and when Ivy Parkinson comes, she spots me and takes a seat right by mine.

"How did it go?" she whispers only to get shushed by Odette and the other old woman in the room.

I don't say anything, I just sit forward and grip the quill in my fingers so hard it hurts.

When every girl from my grade is settled in the room, Odette locks the door and glances at the clock.

"You will have two hours to take the written exam," she says in a hoarse voice. "Starting... now," she says and I glance down at the empty sheet of paper in front of me.

A charms question pops up, and I look at Odette before picking up the quill and writing down the answer.

I have no idea what would happen if someone scored badly on this test, so I actually put my all into it, trying to do my best.

I know I don't want that re-education crap.

It takes me two hours to finish the written exam and then another hour of wand work. By the end of it I'm such a nervous wreck, worried about everything... my family... Harry... the wizarding world in general... that I'm shaking and pale by the time Odette collects our tests.

"You'll get your grades and your new class schedule by tomorrow," she says as she takes a clip board from the front desk. "Now, when I call your name. I want you to come forward to receive your new uniforms. You'll be sorted together with your new roommates," she says as she flicks her eyes around the room. "And you will receive a map of your new dorms where you'll be staying."

"Now," she says as she looks at the list. "I need these girls to follow me into the adjacent room," she says and I start chewing on my nails against like a dolt. "Astoria Greengrass, Ivy Parkinson, Helen Macnair, Luna Lovegood, Romilda Vane, Ginevra Weasley..." My ears perk up when I hear my name and I stand from my seat with my wand gripped in my hand as she lists off a few more names.

I follow the other girls towards Odette and once we're all gathered she makes us follow her into a different room. I grab Luna right away and hang towards the back.

"Are you okay?" I whisper as I hook her arm in my own. I noticed one thing about my new dorm mates... we're all purebloods.

"I'm fine," she says and she blinks a few times. Even Luna in all her dazed off dreaminess must realize the seriousness of this situation.

"They told me that my whole family was in Azkaban," I say as I try to blink back tears. "Do you think they're going to hurt them?" I question in a small voice.

"I don't know," she says, suddenly serious. "My father is there too, for printing negative things about the new regime. But Theo says... "

"Ginevra Weasley," my name is called again and I snap my eyes towards Odette. "Please come here for your measurements."

I nod my head and squeeze Luna's arm before walking towards that horrid woman.

She measured me and pulled out a newly folded uniform from a rather large cabinet along the wall and made me change into it behind a changing screen. There's a mirror back here and I glance at my tired looking expression before pealing out of my clothes and carefully folding them on one of the wooden chairs, careful to protect the golden compact.

The uniform is similar to Draco's. All black. I shimmy into black tights and pull on a black pencil skirt over them. After I zip that up, I button up the black shirt and then slide the black jumper over my chest. Then I put on the black tie. The shoes she handed me are a modest size two inch heel and I slip them on my feet and buckle them slowly. I feel like this is the outfit I'm meant to die in. It's depressing. There are silver studs along the shoulders of the jumper with the Dark Mark etched into them and when I look at myself in the mirror, I almost start crying.

Traitor.

Odette walks around the curtain until she's standing right behind me, eyeing my reflection in the mirror.

"Your uniform might change a little bit if you make prefect after we review your test," she says as she pulls hair behind my shoulders to get a better look. "You'll get a jacket if you qualify."

"Oh," is all I say stupidly. I look at myself in the mirror again.

I look like a traitor.

I want to run away, but with my whole family in jail... where is there to run to?

I should have fucking gone with Harry.

She puts a cobalt blue arm band around my upper arm and I give it an odd look as she secures it with magic. "What is that?" I ask with a dry throat.

"Blood status bands, dear," she says and I glare at it.

Blood status bands, like the blood status ribbons we had to wear at Folk Hills... as blue as our blood.

I feel like I'm going to be sick.

"Now," she says as she fills out some form from her clipboard as I stare at myself in the mirror, fingering the silver buttons on my shoulders. "Here is a copy of your new dorm room," she says a she hands me a map. I look it over dismissively, not really seeing anything as I focus on this stupid uniform. "You'll move in by the end of the night."

I feel dirty in it.

I want to take it off.

"It looks like your parents Gringotts account has been frozen and turned over to the state," she says and I snap my eyes towards hers.

"What?" I say as she continues to fill out the form.

"You're going to have to be apart of our work study program to afford your uniform and schooling," she says and I look at her like an idiot. "Mrs. Umbridge is the head of the girls wing," she adds. "You'll work under her in a building outside of the castle on your down time. I'll have Carrie show you the building after this... We'll also have to put a tracker on your ankle because you'll be outside of the castle."

A tracker? Like Neville? What if I find a way to leave or to save my parents? They'll always be able to find me!

"But..." I trail off. Hogwarts never had tuition and this uniform can't cost this much. I have my own money... I can save myself from this. "Wait, what?" I say as I pull on the sweater uncomfortably. I don't want to be under that woman in any odd building off the grounds. She hates me! "What does work study mean?"

"It means," she says as she flicks her cold eyes to mine. "That you'll have to work so you can stay in school. We're building an empire and the Dark Lord must stimulate the economy. The information will be sent to you later, once your classes are scheduled."

"Wait," I say as I shake my head. "Wait, I have money," I say as I take a step forward and I put my hand on my chest so I can seem genuine. "How much will it cost?"

"I told you that your parents account is frozen..."

"I have my own account," I tell her sharply. "That's not frozen, is it?" I ask in a panic and she furrows her brows at me.

"Only traitors to the nation..."

"So I have my money still. I can pay for this. I don't need to be sent with Umbridge or anywhere off the grounds. I can pay this," I tell her as I take her quill and I start writing my account number down on the paper. "I can afford this," I say with my hands shaking as I write out every number carefully. "I have money," I admit again.

"Well," she says sharply as she takes the form away from me. "We'll see then. We'll get back to you," she says.

I sigh and nod my head.

I'm dismissed after that, and I gather all my old clothes in my hands before leaving the room. I see Luna getting measured on my way out and I wait outside in the hallway for her to come out so we can talk.

I send a look around, and when I realize that I'm alone, I put my pile of clothes on the ground and I dig through my jeans until I find that compact. Maybe they left me a message. I carefully open it, and I see Hermione's frozen face covered in ash. I hesitate a second and look over my shoulder before tapping the mirror.

It instantly comes to life.

"Ginny," the recording is breathless and she looks like she's on the verge of tears. "We went to the Burrow, but it had been torn down. We have no idea what happened to your parents..." I sigh sadly when I realize I know more than they do. "Everything is gone," she says and I feel my eyes welling up with tears as I think of my childhood home. "It looks like it's been burnt to the ground. I can't tell you what happened or how the Death Eaters got past your wards, but I thought you should know. Ginny, have Draco help you leave the castle. You must-"

Someone snaps the compact shut from behind me, and I gasp in surprise as Draco glares down at me.

"If anyone else heard that, you would be dead," he says coldly. He takes the compact away from me and places it in his pocket. "Use your head, Ginny," he says when I finally face him.

When he sees my tear stained face he furrows his brows.

"How did it go?" he asks as I lean against the wall and I put my hand on my forehead. "You're sad?" he says as he eyes me. "It is a little intense," he adds and I nod my head.

"My home is gone," I say in a sad whisper. "Did you hear what Hemione said? She said it was burned to the ground. My whole family is in Azkaban right now," I say with a sob and he pulls me to him, tucking my head under his chin.

"Why didn't they make you a prefect?" he snaps as he looks over my uniform.

"They said I had to take the test first," I admit in a whisper against his chest. "But I don't understand. Felicia is first in our grade. How could she fail her evaluation?" I think out loud.

"She's a mudblood," Draco says like it was known. "She wasn't going to pass anyways."

I shoot him a look as I pull back. "Why do you say things like that?" I ask and he raises an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Why do you say words like mudblood?"

He doesn't answer, he just stares at me and I notice that he's wearing his new uniform as well, with a leather strap across his chest that holds his wand. He looks so official... so intimidating. The only color on him is the blue armband declaring his blood status.

"Let's go to my room," he says as he brushes his fingers over my neck.

"No, I..." I trail off. I really don't want to go back to my room honestly since they assigned me a new one.

"You what?" he asks flatly as his sharp eyes take me in.

My lower lip starts to tremble.

"What are you doing?" he snaps and I bring my hand up to wipe away tears.

"My parents," is all I get out and he sighs loudly before pulling me to him and tucking me against his chest again.

"It's alright," he says gently. The silver buttons press into my ears and it hurts.

"No it's not, it's probably my fault! I should have found that stupid password. And... and they said I'd have to be a part of a stupid work study program. I don't want to be under Umbrdige. They said I would have to work for her in a building outside of the castle."

"That's foolish." he says with an eye roll and I glare at him through my tears.

"My parents are in Azkaban and he took whatever small amount was in their gringotts account!" I scream and he flinches before looking around the hallway to make sure others aren't listening.

"I'll pay for it," he scoffs at me after he's sure no one is listening. "Why are you letting this bother you? You know I wouldn't let you do that stupid work study thing."

My family is in Azkaban... and he's asking me that question.

"I gave them my account number," I say with my lower lip trembling. "I told them I would pay for it..."

"Don't be stupid," he says and I start sobbing.

I feel nervous and my stomach is turning in knots and I have no idea what I should do with myself.

"Don't cry," he says, pulling me to him again and kissing the top of my head. "I know how you must feel right now," he says against my hair as I pull him to me. I hope everyone is okay.. .I hope they're being treated well and I clench my eyes shut, letting more tears fall because I know that's probably not happening. "Let me take care of things," he says in a whisper. "As long as you're with me, things will be okay." he says. "I told you this, Gin. Don't be silly."

He pulls me back and puts his hands on my face, looking deeply into my eyes.

"Right?" he says as he studies my face.

I know I look horrid right now. There's snot dripping from my nose and over my lips, but I don't care.

"Gin," he says as he reaches into his pocket and he pulls out a handkerchief. He hands it to me and I step back so I can wipe off my face. "You believe me?" he asks as I try not to throw up. "That you're fine as long as you're mine?"

"Yeah..." I whisper in a hoarse voice because I don't know what else to say.

"I can't hear you," he says gently, putting his hand on my my arm.

I look at his uniform jacket, with the silver buttons. The dark mark is there, mocking me.

"Yes," I say, glancing up at him and letting one more tear slip. "Yes, I believe you."

"Good," he says, giving me a pleased smile. "Come," he says as he takes my hand and starts leading me towards his room.

"Draco," I say as we walk. "Could you help my parents?"

I'm tired of hearing people tell me Draco's a man of influence. I would really like him to live up to that.

"I can't do much right now, babe," he says when we reach his room and he opens the door for me. "I don't want you to think on it too much," he says as he walks me towards his bed. "There's nothing we can do."

"But Draco..." I start crying again.

I feel like an idiot. A useless idiot, but I don't know what else to do.

"Lay down," he says as he starts unbuttoning his jacket. "Do as I say," he says sharply and I nod my head.

I slip off my shoes and crawl in the bed. Draco puts his jacket over the back of his chair and crawls in behind me.

"You never have to worry," he says as he wraps his arms around me. "Just do as I say. Always do what I say and things will turn out fine."

He waits for me to calm down and stop crying and once the pain in my chest starts to fade I take a short nap. After dinner, he takes my trunk and helps me carry it to my new dorm room where all my roommates are already settled on their claimed beds.

He puts my things down by the only empty bed left in the room and the other girls leave as he shoots them a look. Even Romilda and Luna follow suit and I sigh tiredly before walking over to the window and crossing my arms.

There are bars on the windows.

It worries me and I try not to cry again as I look out at the sky.

It's impossibly sunny considering this is one of the worst days of my life.

"It's a lovely day," Draco pulls the thought from my mind as he walks up behind me and places his hand on the window frame, caging me against it.

I see my reflection in the glass, behind the bars with Draco's lips against my hair. I let a few more tears slip as he kisses my temple.

"I'll call on you later," he says as he squeezes my hip. "Stay here with your new room mates for the night," he says gently and I nod my head because there's no point in saying anything else. "I'll see you later," he says as then he tilts my chin towards his so he can place a kiss against my lips.

"Bye," I say softly and he stares at me for a few moments before he walks off.

Once he leaves, I realize a moment too late that he took the golden compact with him.

Things had changed at Hogwarts completely. When Rookwood said that there would be no houses dividing the students of hogwarts, that had been a lie. Now we're divided by gender and blood status. We no longer have co-ed dorms. Instead, all the pureblooded girls of all ages are placed in the tower and the boys are down in the slytherin dungeons. Half bloods girls are in the hufflepuff dorms and half blood boys are in ravenclaw... Muggle borns... They're in an odd building by the forbidden forest that was built just to house them.

I have no idea what it looks like on the inside, but I hear that it's disgusting there.

I wouldn't know though, I don't have any classes with muggle borns. I have no idea what classes they're taking or what they're learning about.

It makes me sad to think of it and everything makes me sad so I have to choose my poison wisely or I fear one day I will never wake up from my depression.

I'm sitting in our Magical Genetics class with Ivy Parkinson. She's one of my new roommates and she's taken to being my shadow now more than ever.

That's another thing, all the classes are changed as well with darker subjects. Boys and girls are separate again and I have no idea what the benefit of that is.

"Now," Carrow, one of the newly appointed professors points his wand at the chalk board where a DNA strand is drawn with yellow chalk. "Magic is not something you can just take," he says as he points to a significant strand highlighted in green chalk. "It's in our DNA. Some stronger than others," he adds as he looks around the room.

I put my chin in my hands and try to pay attention.

We're learning about the female witches anatomy and genetic make up and how certain curses and potions can effect the magical balance within. I'm trying to pay attention because I've heard rumors that the Carrows use unforgivables as punishments for wayward students. It seems so improbable, but in this new world, I would not doubt it.

"You can't change the magic in a person's DNA, but you can manipulate it," he says as he walks around the classroom to make sure people are taking notes. I quickly put my quill to paper as he passes.

"Magic is a recessive gene," he says as he taps Astoria's desk with his long fingers. "That is why we must keep the blood lines pure. The more pure the blood line, the stronger the magic in the DNA," he says, pointing to the strand on the board once more. "But different curses can manipulate it. For instance, the Boligarious Curse will snap the spinal chord and paralyze it's victim beyond magical repair, but the Magic within the body needs to be balanced, and while that wizard or witch may be confined to a wheel chair or walking charms..."

Draco's grandfather...

"Other magical senses will be heightened, as is the case with all curses besides the three unforgivables. Many magical people who have fallen victim to that curse are very successful in mind reading and wandless magic. That is why it is a curse rarely used. The magic actually has some benefits. But you must remember that all magic has a balance."

I write all that down as I think of Draco and his family.

"Blood curses run even deeper," he says and I write that down as well as he walks about the room again. "It can take generations to manifest itself in a person. In 1593 a wizard by the name of Francis Duddley cursed the Galey family line so that every first son born would parish by the time he reached eleven. It took three hundred years for the magic to balance itself out. In 1854 the curse was broken by a descendant of the Galey family: Edmund the Heretic."

A few girls gasp at the name. We all know him from history. He was called the Heretic because he roused a group of witches and wizards to go through small towns and burn churches through out Europe. They would do it on Sunday mornings... when the whole congregation was still inside. He killed thousands of muggles...

He walks by Luna's desk by the front and he looks down at her notes.

He makes a face and snaps the paper away from her. Showing her doodle of a horse to the whole class. "This is not note taking," he says hatefully and Luna blushes red. "I don't recall talking about ways to draw a fucking horse," he says and I cover my mouth with my hand because I have neverheard a professor cuss in a classroom, or anywhere else for that matter.

I guess he was in Azkaban for seventeen years... and a little rough around the edges.

Not that that makes it any better.

He glares at Luna.

"Go to the office," he says coldly and she nods her head quickly before gathering all of her things and running out of the room.

God, I hope she's okay.

"Now, back on track," he says as he tears up the picture and throws it in the rubbish bin. "Where was I... oh, right..." He starts walking again, like he didn't just cuss in front of all of us and send one of his students running. "We all know him, of course. He went on to become one of the greatest Dark Wizards of all time, second only to our Great Lord."

I try not to gag on those words.

"The curse from centuries ago came around full circle in Edmund the Heretic, making him a very powerful wizard. Even his blood had special magical components that he used in many ground breaking potions..."

The speaker beeps and Carrow falls silent as a voice echoes over the loud speaker.

It's not Snape... it's a woman.

"Will all pureblooded girls sixteen and older please report to the Great Hall. Thank you."

It beeps again and we all look at each other.

That's everyone in this freaking class and Carrow sighs.

"We'll continue this next time," he says as we all start gathering our things.

When we get to the hall, Ivy flanks herself beside me with Astoria on the other side. They're like boring more bitchy versions of their older sisters and I sigh as they start talking to each other... around me of course.

"What do you think they want?" I ask Ivy once we walk into the great hall after she's done telling Astoria about what she wants for her birthday. They should be a little more worried about this... but I find that they're never worried about anything. Their family isn't in danger of being executed, their boyfriends don't follow their every move, and they actually like these new uniforms.

It makes me want to jump off a cliff.

Every pureblooded girl above the age of fifteen had been summoned to the hall and I cross my arms as we walks towards Pansy and Daphne. I like them much better than the girls my age.

"Hey Gin," Daphne grins at me.

I don't think I've smiled in a week.

"Why are you always looking so depressed?" she asks as she hugs me.

I push her back.

"Daphne, shut up," Pansy snaps and then she looks at me. She knows why I'm always depressed.

Before she can say anything else, a tall woman with yellow hair stands up on the teacher's stage and puts her wand to her neck so it will echo over the hall.

"Ladies, I know you're all wondering why you're here."

"Oh, very much indeed," Daphne says with a smile. She gets glared at, but it doesn't seem to bother her.

"Now, you have all been excelling in your classes from which we are all proud," she says as she looks at all of us. I glance at Pansy, but she's watching the woman closely with her eyes narrowed slightly.

"And you all should know the importance of pureblooded girls in our society," she says and I look at my shoes when her cold eyes flick to mine. "In fact, the pureblooded woman is the most important part of our society," she says and I roll my eyes. "Without pureblooded girls, there would be no pureblooded boys to fight for our cause."

I swallow hard and clench my jaw shut tight.

"We have a very important job," she says as she starts pacing in front of us. "That Dark Lord has made it known that he expects great unions from all the major houses." I don't know what that means but it's just another long thing to add to the list of bullshit I have to worry about. "And as an added bonus, the families of such unions will receive money and tax breaks for every child born. Now, you are all so young," she says as she looks around. "But we are a dying race and soon you will be called upon to do your duty to our world."

"Will they be arranged?" Someone blurts out. I look over in surprise at Hannah Abbot, her strawberry blonde hair wild around her face.

"Yes... they will..."

The woman doesn't finish that sentence because the hall erupts with voices from every unhappy girl in the room.

"I have a boyfriend!" someone ends up shouting from the back.

"It does not matter," She yells over the crowd. "You will be chosen on intelligence and genetics that fit each profile to perfection," she says and I furrow my brows. "There aren't many of us purebloods left, we must make sure that the lines stay clean and mutation free."

Ew.

"Now, you will form three single file lines in front of the tables over here," she says, motioning to the tables where three girls are sitting in front of stacks of folders. "You'll be handed a folder full of your potential suitors and you can chose to meet the ones whom you seem fit."

More roars from the crowd. Draco has influence, right? He might be in my folder and obviously I could just chose him until this all blows over.

If it ever does.

I hope to god Harry comes through for us all.

"The Dark Lord is not heartless," she says and I actually let out a laugh. Pansy shoot me a look but I ignore it. "He knows the fantasies of young girls are important so he will make it easier for everyone. You have the choice over who you pick. If you have not chosen a proper suitor by your twentieth birthday, you will have one chosen for you, but rest assured you will have many promising prospects."

After another short speech on the importance of blood status, we divide into three lines. Since my last name is at the end of the alphabet, I'm in the third line by Romilda Vane, who has jumped straight into this whole pureblooded crap ever since she got that blue armband.

"Who do you think will be in your folder?" she asks in excitement as she curls on her toes. "Oh, I hope I get someone good... someone famous!" she says with a squeal and I glare at her. "Of course, Draco is probably number one on your list," she adds as she twirls a dark curl around her finger thoughtfully. "I'm sure that's a union that most people would like to see, despite the blood traitor status of your family."

"Shut up," I snap and she looks at me in surprise. "What about Harry?" I hiss. I feel like I should remind her she had a hopeless crush on him last year. "He is still out there, still fighting for our freedom."

"Not our freedom," she says as she taps her armband. "We have more freedom now in our rightful place than what we ever had before."

I sneer at her.

"Rightful place?" I hiss and she nods her head.

Then it hits me, why a girl like Romilda would like this... why she would accept it when she was just as much a Gryffindor as I am... It made her feel special... It made her feel good to be on the top of the blood ladder.

"What about Felicia?" I whisper. Felicia was her best friend in our house... the quiet, fiercely smart muggle born.

"What about her?" she asks and I make a face.

"Do you know how she is or what she's doing in that weird building by the forest?" I ask as our line moves forward. "I thought she was your best friend."

"Well... I can't help it if my magic is more powerful than hers," she says, obviously learning that from our class with Carrow. "We have to accept our different roles in society, Ginny, or the whole thing will crumble."

"You're not more powerful than she is. You can't even do a proper heating charm," I seethe. All my anger and resentment is pouring out of me now. All towards Romlida Vane because she's here and she's weak with her wand and it's easy. I realize I'm no better than anyone in this room, but I don't care. "You're stupid and fickle," I say through clenched teeth. "And an incompetent witch if there ever was one and you deserve to be in that muggle born building in by the forest!"

I shouted that last part and everything went silent as everyone stopped what they were doing to look at me. Romilda's face nearly turned purple in embarrassment and when I found Pansy's eyes, she was giving me a proud look, like she was pleased by what I had said. I was too pissed off to care and when I realized we were by the table, I stepped ahead of Romilda and looked at the mousey woman who had her jaw slightly open in surprise as she stared at me.

"My name is Weasley," I tell her hotly as the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end because I know everyone is staring at me still. "Give me my damn folder," I say and someone laughs. It sounds like Daphne and ignore it as the girl looks down at her name sheet so she can see where my folder is located.

"Weasley," she repeats in a small voice and I jerk my head up and down. "Weasley...Weasley... Oh, it looks like you don't have a folder."

Thank God. I nearly sigh in relief until she keeps on talking.

"It looks like you are a special request," she says, looking over the paper with bug like eyes.

"What?" I state dryly as I put my palms flat on the table.

"Yes, a special request. It says I'm to send you to Mr. Rookwood's office."

"What?" I say again because I can't say anything else. "What does special request mean?"

"It means," she says uncomfortably. I can hear girls giggling behind me as they look through their folders and I narrow my eyes. "That someone put in a special request to have you."

"Who did?' I question harshly and she flinches.

"You have to meet with Mr. Rookwood," she says. "His office is on the third floor by the head master's suite."

I'm too angry to bother with anyone else and I stomp all the way to his office, ignoring everything around me as I pound on his door. It opens a few moments later and he smiles at me.

"Who requested me?" I ask before I even sit down and Rookwood raises his eyebrows as he looks me over.

"Please, Mrs. Weasley," he says. "Take a seat."

I clench my jaw and walks towards the chair, letting my bag thump to the floor as I sit in the leather chair.

"Well?" I say. I'm tired, tired and pissed and over it all and I don't care to be a coward anymore. "Who is it?"

"I'm sorry," he says as he takes a seat behind his desk and he puts his hands on the table. "Let's try this again. You are a student," he says motioning to me. "And I'm the authoritative adult in this situation. Let's show a little more respect, shall we?"

I swallow hard and nod my head. He is a Death Eater, after all. I don't want to do something that would get me in trouble... or anyone else that I love.

"Good," he says pleasantly as he folds his hands together on the desk. "Now, you and I have to talk."

"Okay," I say uncomfortably as I pull the sweater sleeves over my hands and I cross my arms.

"The blood sample we took from you for your evaluation possessed very potent magical capabilities," he says and I frown. "It was quite a find," he adds.

I don't say anything, I just stare at him as he stares at me.

It gets weird so I look away.

"Now, let's talk about your marriage contract," he says and my heart jumps to my throat. "You, Miss Weasley, are one very lucky girl."

"What?" I whisper, my anger and courage is gone as I uncross my arms. The way he's looking at me doesn't make me feel very lucky.

He pulls a piece of parchment from a suitcase by his chair and he looks it over with his sharp eyes as my stomach ties itself in knots.

"You will never want for anything," he says as his eyes scan the paper. "All that will be required from you will be a monthly blood donation and the eventual development of pureblooded offspring."

Offspring.

I'm going to vomit.

I bring my hand up to my mouth as he continues.

"You will not have a demanding head of house," he says and the way he said 'head of house' really makes me want to barf. "You are allowed to finish your schooling and when you turn seventeen you shall receive a weekly allowance from your benefactor's estate." I lean forward a bit. I really do think I'm going to lose my lunch. "After you graduate, the bonding ritual will be completed and you will then be moved to a secluded estate in Wales where you will be well protected.

Well protected... secluded... what?

"Your free time will be used as you see fit and the only duties involving your husband will be in the marital bed." I gag a little and he pauses before continuing. "There will be no other requirement of you."

I swallow the bile in my throat. He actually said marital bed...

"Now, I know you are a young girl and most young girls have a certain romanticized idea pertaining to marriage and bonding. I will let you know that your benefactor does not expect you to love him, nor does he expect you to have any kind of relationship outside of what is required of you. But he does expect your respect. He will be your head of house and he will expect your obedience. He is a very busy, very important, and very powerful wizard. He cannot be troubled with the fantasies or dramas of a little girl."

"But," I lick my dry lips as I bring my hand down. "But the woman in the great hall said we could choose our suitor. She said we had choices..." I blink back tears. "This is not fair."

"Yours is a special circumstance," he says and then his eyes soften for a millisecond when he realizes I'm going to start crying. So he's not totally heartless. "Many young woman would kill to be in your shoes," he adds like that would help and I furrow my brows.

"Who is it?" I ask carefully and he shakes his head.

"That's classified information," he says and I make a face. "Information that will be revealed to you upon your graduation. It is safer for everyone if no one knows for the time being."

Maybe it is Draco... maybe in some twist of fate he was able to work this out. He does have a lot of money, he could buy this special request ridiculousness. If this is his idea of a joke, I'm going to kill him.

"Is he..." I try to think of a good way to word this. "Is he like... is he around my age?" I sound so impossibly young and it's disgusting to me, but perhaps it will soften Rookwood up a bit.

Rookwood eyes me for a few long moments before glancing down at his papers. "Your benefactor is very old," he says and my heart drops again as I hang my head. "But do not let that bother you," he says as I start sniffing because I'm crying full force now and my breathing is getting heavier "I believe you will be surprised by what you find waiting for you on your wedding night."

"I have a boyfriend," I say quickly in a last ditch attempt to stop all of this craziness.

"I would suggest breaking up with him sooner rather than later then," he says like it was unimportant and I start seeing black little dots in front of my eyes.

I might have a panic attack.

I dig into my bag to take out my anti-panic pills. They're almost all gone and I take two of them as Rookwood eyes me critically.

"Can I say no?" I ask in a shaky voice after I swallow the pills.

He looks me square in the eyes. "You can not say no to this man," he says seriously, tapping his finger against the paper. After a few moments, he sits back with a sigh. "I would suggest focusing on your class work and keeping a relatively low profile," he says gently. "A positive, low profile," he adds. "Trust me on this," he says darkly. "You do not want to disappoint this person," he says, tapping the paper again and it sends a chill down my spine. "You may go now," he says lightly and I just sit there for a few moments, staring at him like a fool.

"Do you have any other questions?" he asks because I haven't moved yet and I shake my head. "Okay, well, goodbye then, Miss Weasley."

"Yeah," I say as I pick up my bag and start walking towards the door.

"Oh, and Ginevra," he says when I reach the door and I look over my shoulder reluctantly.

"Yes?"

"The monthly blood donations will start in two weeks."

"It's not really a donation if I don't have a choice, is it?" I mutter but before he can answer, I leave.

Classes are over for the day, and I walk straight towards Draco's room so I can talk to him. I have to leave this fucking castle. I say his password and find him at his writing desk, composing a letter.

"I have to leave," I say as I drop my bag and tug on my hair. "I have to leave this castle."

"What are you talking about?" he says with a sigh, never once looking up from his writing.

"All the pureblooded girls had to go to the great hall to get information on suitors," I say quickly to his back because he won't fucking turn around. "And I didn't get a folder, they told me I was a special request and they sent me to Rookwood's office."

I inhale deeply. He keeps writing.

"He told me that I have to marry this random person I don't even know when I graduate," I say breathlessly because I'm panicking. "He wouldn't tell me who it is. He says its classified information, but he's old and powerful and I have to give him babies and blood and he actually said something about duties in the marital bed! They expect me to sleep with this creepy random old man!"

"That's not going to happen," Draco scoffs and I stomp over to him and grab his damn quill. He gives me an irritated look and snatches it right back.

"He said it would," I say in exasperation. "He said it didn't matter if I wanted it or not. That it didn't matter if I had a boyfriend. I would have to do it!"

"Stop shouting at me," he snaps as he goes back to his letter and I grip his shoulder and push him so he'll be forced to look at me.

He narrows his eyes in annoyance.

"This is serious, Draco!" I yell as I stomp my foot. "I don't want to marry an old Death Eater!"

"You won't be marrying anyone," he says as he carefully sets his quill on the table and he stands up so he's towering over me.

"But, he said-"

"I don't give a fuck what he said," he snaps nastily and I raise my brows at it. "You aren't marring anyone else. You can't marry anyone because you're already married."

I snap my mouth shut.

"What?"

I'm positive I heard that wrong.

"You can't get married when you graduate," he says a little more gently as he brings a hand up to brush hair away from my face. "It's impossible for you to be bonded to anyone else because you're already bonded... You're already married to me."

I stare at him for a insanely long amount of time and after all of that the only thing I can come up with to say is: "Uh, what?"

Uh, what.

That pretty much sums up my whole fucking year so far.
- 9
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- 11
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Envy and Manipulations