Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Sunshine and Shadows	By : gotsnape Category: Harry Potter > General > General Views: 3105 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 6
- 7
- 8
Sunshine and Shadows Chapter 7- Cathedral Windows
The earlier WARNINGS I have posted will come into play with this
chapter. We will experience the horrible crime that was committed
upon Ginny. This has been incredibly difficult to write. Rape
is a heinous crime, but the rape of a child is beyond forgiveness by mortals.
I know my heart holds no compassion or pity for those who would dare touch
a child. They are predators. Wild and ruthless beasts that
have no use in society and should be killed as soon as they are found guilty
of their crimes. I make no apology for my view. I am a woman
and a mother. It is as simple as that. You violate a child,
you die. End of story. End of threat to other innocent lives.
NO HBP SPOILERS!NO HBP SPOILERS!NO HBP SPOILERS!NO HBP SPOILERS!NO
HBP SPOILERS!

This story will continue despite what we have learned in Half Blood
Prince. I will not refer to the last book in any way. If you
haven't read book 6, you won't be getting any spoilers here.
This chapter is dedicated, much belatedly, to RunWild, who correctly
identified the source for my chapter titles as names of quilts. Even the
story title is a style of quilt popular with the Amish. Sunshine and Shadows,
light and dark, they both make up our lives. Each is necessary for the
other to exist just as one defines the other.
This particular chapter name is one of my favorite quilts. It is
produced by stitching together cunningly folded 8 inch squares, each square
completing a �window�. The �window� can be filled with any color or design
of fabric. The effect is striking. It requires no batting because the material
used is folded so many times it becomes quite thick. Also, the back of
the quilt is very nice and you wouldn't want to hide all of that stitch
work. I started work on a Cathedral Window quilt during my first pregnancy.
That child is now eleven years old and the piece is not yet finished. It
is not that the quilt is difficult to make, it just takes up a great deal
of time and space. I hope to have it finished one day.
Now, the disclaimer. If you think I came up with the HP world, you
need serious medical attention. I did not make up the characters, however,
I did come up with this plot on my own.
*low growl of vicious Plot Bunny heard here*
Ok, so it was HIS idea. I just got the job of writing it because
he is too short to reach the keyboard.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco sloshed his way along the chill corridor, magical torches flaring
in their sconces with his approach. The dripping Slytherin mentally checked
off items of necessity as he peeled the sodden shirt, which was feeling
like a shroud of ice, from his upper body. He entered the bed chambers
Snape had long ago set aside for his use, casting the shirt, quickly followed
by the remainder of his clothing, to the floor. A blaze had sprang up,
crackling in the fireplace, with his entrance. Locating a tin of Floo Powder,
Draco tossed a handful of the stuff into the flames then knelt naked on
the hearth.
�Draco Malfoy�s flat, Bognor Regis.�
The beach side sitting room, tinted in shades of lime by the magic powder,
appeared in the fireplace. �Fetcher!� Draco commanded.
The stoic elf appeared immediately at his Master's call and Draco wasted
no time in reaching through the flames, grabbing the startled creature
by his knotted tea towel and pulling him into the chamber.
Fetcher squealed with indignation. "I is not liking Floo travel,
Master
Draco! No, I is not!"
The wizard interrupted the irritated House Elf. "Has anyone attempted
the wards tonight?"
Fetcher answered through a scowl as he brushed soot and ash from his
formally immaculate drapery. "Three times, Young Master."
One cinder smoked sadly on the tattered Y-fronts topping the elf's head.
Draco casually snuffed it out with his thumb.
"Who?"
"Masters Goyle and Crabbe." Fetcher replied, his tone once more
filled with stiff formality, then he added. "Your Honorable Father."
"Figures." Draco murmured, resting his forearms on his thighs
allowing his hands to dangle between bent knees.
Fetcher glanced briefly around the dimly lit chamber then nodded, a
small crease of concern on his brow. "Snape Manor. We is being
at Snape Manor. Pardon my boldness, sir, but is we being in danger?"
"We?" The naked wizard responded with derision. "Who gave
you permission to worry about your personal safety?" He nudged the
elf with rough fondness. Fetcher toppled to the hearth with a squeak.
"Not danger, you worry wart. Simply hiding in plain sight for a bit."
Fetcher picked him self up from the warm brick and for the first time
noticed Draco's appearance. His eyes bulged even wider than normal
then his brows snapped together as if pulled by a purse string. "What happened
to you'se face?" Fetcher howled. "Who has been attacking the Young
Master, damaging his face, drawing his blood?" Draco suppressed a
grin as Fetcher's fingers curved into wicked claws, his green eyes darting
about the shadowy chamber in hopes of discovering the culprit.
"Nothing. Just a few scratches I picked up at the party.
I can heal them later. What I want you to..." He was cut off
by another outraged shriek.
"You is naked! And wet! Young Master is not to be sitting around
a drafty manor without his clothes!" He chastised his blond charge.
Draco was instantly wearing a maroon brocade lounging robe and thick carpet
slippers. "Oh, terrible night! Young Master attacked, left
wounded and naked. I is being a bad House Elf to let this happen
to the Young Master." Tears rolling down his lumpy face, Fetcher
pulled mournfully at his ears.
"You are not at fault and so will not be punishing yourself, is that
clear?" Draco informed the grieving elf firmly. With a sniff,
Fetcher nodded, firming his upper lip.
"You'se Lady Mother would be having Fetcher slam his toes in the pocket
door. " He whispered hopefully.
Draco rose to his full, elf intimidating height. "Yes, and Mother
would be even more put out that you neglected to dry my hair."
The Elf flicked his twig like fingers and Draco experienced a familiar
wafting of air about his head along with a reprimanding sting at his ear
lobe.
The wizard had the grace to color at the loving discipline and he gave
his long time servant a rueful grin. "Point taken. You might
as well join the other Elves in the service area. I am quite sure
Leo knows you are here by now."
"What about Young Master's things at the beach house?" Fetcher
squeaked sharply, causing Draco to wince.
"They are of no matter." Draco responded negligently tightening
the belt of his robe. "I have several articles of clothing stored
here for my use."
Fetcher twisted the hem of his tea towel, his bare toes curling and
uncurling with barely suppressed anxiety. Slowly he gazed up at his
master, his eyes filled with worry. "Is you'se in some sorts of trouble,
Young Master?"
'Young Master' sighed loudly but crouched again until he was eye level
with the House Elf. "No, I am not in any trouble. I just needed
to get away from...everything for a bit. I wanted some place quiet.
You should be glad I brought you along instead of fretting about like some
old spinster aunt."
"Oh, Fetcher is ever so glad that Young Master is bringing him to Snape
Manor!" The elf replied hastily, patting Draco's brocade covered
knee. "I is just not wanting Young Master to be troubled or hurt."
"Well, I am neither, so hush! Get on to the kitchens and inform
Leo that a lady's maid will be required for our other guest."
Fetcher's eyes narrowed in suspicion but instantly expanded to innocent
balls with Draco's glower. "Never you mind." The blonde wizard
growled as he rose.
"Yes, Master Draco, Sir." Fetcher replied just before vanishing
with a small pop.
Retiring to the bathroom, Draco examined the rough furrows left on his
cheek by Ginny's nails. His fingers and the back of his hand were
stinging as well. He cleaned the wounds and deftly applied a healing
charm. As the gashes faded he checked the condition of his teeth.
Straight and maddeningly white, as always. Cupping his hand before
his mouth, Draco huffed. With a grimace of disgust he reached for
a toothbrush.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Ginny hugged the thick fabric to her chest as the sounds of Draco�s
exit faded from the air. Dropping the towel, she sighed convulsively
as the buttery warmth of the robe settled over her body, the weight of
the garment causing her painfully exhausted shoulders to slump. She
retrieved the towel and wrapped it about her dripping hair, pulling it
taut over her ears, allowing the excess to hang down her back.
Fog obscured the vanity mirror so Ginny fisted the cuff of her robe
and swiped at the glass. The makeup applied by Goyle's Elves had
melted like spun sugar leaving her face with a bruised, muddy appearance.
Switching on the tap, Ginny cast about for a suitable cloth.
"Try the little drawer just to your right, dear." Said a sympathetic
voice.
Inwardly Ginny winced. All she needed right now was a chatty vanity
glass. "Thank you." She responded politely, because that was how
she had been raised.
"There will be an extensive selection of cleansers and moisturizers
located in the area below the basin." The mirror informed Ginny.
The witch simply nodded, not wanting to encourage the seemingly friendly
glass. Her mind was too filled by the events of the night for conversation.
She scrubbed until all traces of makeup had been removed before carefully
assessing her reflection. Her nose was red as a harvest apple and
the swelling about her bloodshot eyes gave her the appearance of someone
who had just come off one hell of a weekend bender. With the white
towel bound tightly over her forehead and ears she resembled a hung over
nun, Ginny observed wryly. The thoughts in her brain were as contradictory
as her appearance. Placing her trust, her very life, into the hands
of Draco Malfoy was not something that she would have previously considered
as healthy. He had always been a right prat while she had known him
at Hogwarts, forever flaunting his wealth and physical beauty. The
Draco Malfoy of years past had been a person worth avoiding, unless you
were a sucker for punishment or very handy with a wand.
Sounds like me on both points, Ginny mused as she dug through the small
drawers and shelves of the vanity. Giving up her search as fruitless,
she addressed the mirror. "Will you tell me where I can find a comb
or a brush, please?"
"No need for that, my dear." The mirror replied in its calm voice.
"Your lady's maid awaits you in the bed chamber."
Ginny's eyes flashed to the door reflected in the silver glass.
"Oh." She whispered in trepidation.
"You are safe here, child." The mirror hastened to reassure her.
"The Master's wards are strong and no one dares come here save at his behest."
Once more, Ginny could only nod in silent acceptance.
"Now," The mirror continued. "Take your ease. Do remember to come back
to brush and floss before retiring for the night."
"I will, and thank you."
Her hand trembled at bit as she reached for the knob. Trust
Draco! Remembering Professor Snape's voice, she forced her self
to calm.
A tiny figure wrapped in a green tea towel was waiting politely in the
center of the bedroom as the witch entered. Pinching the hem of her
garment the creature bobbed a polite curtsey. A bow of tattered lace
had been Spell-O-Taped between her ears and a battered pouch was hanging
from one narrow shoulder. "I is being Nala, Miss." The Elf
informed Ginny in a squeaky, breathless voice. "Leo is saying that
you'se is needing a proper Lady's Maid." The little House Elf peered
up at Ginny with bulging blue eyes that shimmered with excitement, her
joy with the assignment written large on her lumpy gray face.
Drawing in a steadying breath, the young witch gave the tiny creature
a smile. "Yes, I would appreciate your help. My hair could
use a bit of a comb out."
"Oh yes! At once, Miss!" Nala trilled in glee. Skipping
to her new Mistress, the Elf took Ginny by the hand and led her to a welcoming
cluster of furniture placed inside the merry glow cast by the fireplace.
After seeing her charge comfortably seated on the sofa Nala rooted around
in her pouch and pulled out a length of ivory cotton and lace. "You
is wanting to put this on, Miss."
Ginny accepted the night gown and blushing slightly, shrugged the heavy
velvet robe from her shoulders. She kept the thing belted at her
waist until the gown was over her head and yanked down to cover her breasts.
Standing, she released the belt and allowed the soft gown to flow to her
toes. Nala dismissed the robe with a snap of her fingers and then
handed Ginny a heavy balloon shaped goblet filled nearly to the brim with
a glittering amber liquid. "Young Master Malfoy says you is to be
drinking this before he returns or he will be beating you'es butt."
The elf informed the witch. "But I is willing to takes the beating
for Young Miss if you'se is preferring."
Ginny shook her head. "No, that won't really be necessary."
Nala's shoulders relaxed visibly as she brightened once more. "You is
ready for Nala to begin on you'se hair, Miss?"
"Yes, please." Ginny replied, leaning back on the arm rest and
pulling the damp towel from her head. Bending her knees, Ginny tucked
her toes into the gown while Nala wrestled a chair closer to the sofa.
The Elf climbed into the seat and began running her fingers through the
copper spill of hair, humming delightedly under her breath.
Raising the goblet to her face, Ginny inhaled deeply, allowing the mellow
aroma of currents and wood smoke to fill her head. The scent alone
was enough to cause the tense muscles of her face and neck to relax and
in gratitude, she took a deep draught of the stuff. Her tongue became
immediately numb then just as quickly, burst into flames. Her eyes
watered as she forced the liquid heat down her throat. The air left
her body like a dragon's breath and Ginny felt her lungs seize up.
With a loud wheeze, she attempted to re-inflate her chest and felt Nala's
bony hand banging her roughly between her shoulder blades.
"Is best you'se be drinking in sips, I is thinking, Miss." The
Elf informed knowledgeably.
"Hmmm....yes." Ginny managed as her eyes uncrossed. "I thought
brandy was supposed to taste good." She coughed, wiping at her streaming
eyes. "You'd think these rich tossers would know good liquor from
bad."
"In small sips, Miss. Will be making you'se warm as toast in a
bits." Nala finally worked the larger snarls from Ginny's hair and
had produced a wide toothed comb. "You is laying back now so's Nala
can be drying and combing you'se hair. Such lovely hair, Miss.
Nala is wishing House Elves had lovely hair. Not that Nala is complaining.
No, no. Nala is being a good House Elf. House Elves is not
meant to have lovely hair as is right and proper."
Ginny settled into the sofa and let the House Elf's squeaky whispers
wash over her. Nala was correct, the brandy was much tastier
when taken in small sips. The witch found that the liquor flowed
smoothly over her tongue now and she rolled it about her mouth, absorbing
the mingled flavors of fruit and smoke. Deep in her belly a delightful
fire was now rising, sending its pleasant warmth to every corner of her
body.
Mum will be howling right about now, Ginny reflected.
Guilt rushed in as she imagined her mother's fright while she sat here,
being tended like a Pureblood lady, sipping Snape's brandy. Would
the Potions Master have informed her family of the current situation or
would he have deemed it wiser to allow them to believe their daughter to
be in true danger? They had been through so much because of their
youngest child, the horrible events of her first year with the accompanying
recovery, the fiasco at the Ministry of Magic, her tardiness last night.
Would they initially view her absence tonight as an act of rebellion before
reality hit them?
Another sip from the wide glass increased the temperature in the witch's
belly and she allowed the alcohol to soothe her troubled mind and spirit.
Crapper's potion had kept her brain alert, but she could now feel the effects
fading. For this, Ginny was grateful. Nala had left off her murmured
commentary on Ginny's rich, copper hair and was now humming softly under
her breath. It was a restful tune in spite of its high, squeaky sound.
Like the singing of mice, the woman noted as her eyes began to drift shut.
For long moments there was only the popping of the fire and the gentle
lullaby.
"Ooo!" Nala's humming broke off. "Young Miss's glass is
empty. I is filling it again" Plucking the container from Ginny's
fingers the Elf jumped from her perch and scampered to the sideboard.
"Master Malfoy is saying that you is to be drinking it all." She
returned to the sofa holding the now brimming glass cautiously. "Here
you is, Young Miss." Nala chirped with pride.
Ginny eyed the filled bell warily. "He said I was to drink it
all?" She demanded.
"Oh yes." Nala replied, her long ears flapping as she nodded with
vigor. "Or he is going to be-"
"Yes, beating my butt." Ginny finished, accepting the drink and
taking another sip. It really was rather tasty and the relaxation
spreading through her system felt so very good. Severus had said
she was to trust Draco.
There was a light rapping at the chamber door and Nala hastened to answer.
Before reaching for the knob the elf smoothed her tea towel and checked
the security of her bow. Assured she looked the part of a proper
lady's maid, the tiny creature opened the door and dipped in a curtsy.
"Yes?" She inquired of the young wizard standing just inside the
half circle of firelight cast by the open door.
Draco frowned down at the minute attendant as she stared back with an
expression of schooled decorum. "Stand aside Nala, I wish to speak
with Miss Weasley."
Nala bobbed another curtsey. "You is waiting out there while Nala
inquires if Young Miss is receiving you'se." Thus said, she closed
the door sharply and hurried back to Ginny's couch. "It is the Young
Master Malfoy, Miss. Is you receiving guests tonight?" She
asked importantly.
Ginny struggled to keep her mouth pressed into a tight line, but the
brandy smoldering in her system and little Nala's endearingly formal stance
nearly cost the witch the battle. Turning her face to hide twitching
lips, Ginny stated as calmly as possible, "Yes Nala, bid him enter."
With an excited trill, the Elf dashed once more to the door, pausing
to repeat the perfecting of her appearance, and released the latch.
Making another curtsey, she stepped to the side. "Young Miss is seeing
you now, sir."
Draco entered the chamber, a scowl firmly entrenched upon his brow.
He glowered at the giddy House Elf as she scampered to a chair and indicated
that he should sit. He had just taken his ease when Nala summoned
a soft ottoman, nearly snatching the wizard from his chair by his ankles,
and placed the cushion beneath his feet. A muffled snort of laughter
pulled the pewter blast of his gaze from the fawning Elf to the vision
of garnet and white curled upon the sofa.
Ginny's hair tumbled over her shoulders in a flaming river and enclosed
her small, pinched face in a glowing frame of curling wisps. It turned
the fire's gleam back upon it self causing the wizard to believe the gleaming
tresses could even rival the flames in their heat. Her brown eyes
were now downcast, seemingly intent on the contents of her cup, but Draco
detected the faintest quirk hovering about her lips, at his expense, no
doubt. The gown she wore was a pristine white, save where it glowed
with a warm reflection of the fire's hue. He noted that the skin
on her face was blotchy while the area surrounding her eyes was puffy and
tight. Well, she had been through one hell of an evening and Draco
found himself pleased simply be able to view her alive and whole.
Nala, her ministrations to the wizard complete had scampered once more
to her Lady's side where she stood on tiptoe and whispered to Ginny behind
one skinny hand.
The witch looked up and caught Draco's sterling gaze. She cleared
her throat before asking softly, "Would you care for a drink, Draco?"
"That would be most pleasant, thank you." He replied, pushing
him self up higher in his seat.
Nala squeaked with joy and dashed to the sideboard. As she carefully
transported the filled glass to his hand, Draco inclined his head in Ginny's
direction. "You are feeling somewhat improved?" He grimaced
at his cool, sequestered tone and tried again. "How are you feeling,
Ginny?"
With a slight shrug, she replied. "Ok... I guess. I am not
hurt anywhere." She glanced at the dancing flames unable to hold
his penetrating gaze. "I am still a bit frightened." She heard
him shift in his chair and looked once more in his direction. "Not
of you, really. Just this whole...mess. My folks are going
to be terrified. I just wish I could let them know that I am all
right."
Draco rolled the belly of the glass between his palms, warming its contents
and giving his body something to do besides shuffle about in his chair
like a guilty first year. "Severus may choose to inform them of your
safety, while leaving out the more- distasteful events of your evening."
He took a long pull of his drink, swirling the liquid about his mouth before
swallowing. Ginny observed in amazement that Draco didn't collapse
into a coughing fit. Obliviously he had been drinking the potent
brew for some time to become so accustomed to its searing heat.
Nala returned to her perch behind the witch and began to once more pull
her comb through the shining mane on Ginny's head. With a gentle
shrug the woman leaned away from the Elf. "That will be all, Nala."
She said softly.
"Yes Miss." The Elf replied. She gathered her tools and
vanished. Ginny sipped her brandy and peeked at Draco through her
lashes.
"You healed your face." She noted then frowned at the stupidity
of stating the obvious.
"Yes." Draco responded, attending faithfully to the drink in his
hands. The silence lingered like smoke over a battlefield, the haze
being the sole reminder of prior violence. The quiet pair sipped
their brandy, each wondering how to cleave the mist that surrounded them
and separated them from each other.
Ginny was the first to speak. "Your father said that I was a gift
for you. That you had asked for me... Crabbe and Goyle said..."
The wizard sighed and raked a hand through the white spill of his hair.
"I am sorry." He stated with some heat.
Ginny's mouth fell wide and then she gulped. "What?"
Setting his drink aside, Draco placed his slippered feet on the floor
and propped his elbows on his knees. He rubbed his cheeks wearily.
"I am sorry. This is all my fault. If I had not paid you so
much attention, had not come to see you today, THIS," he made a sweeping
gesture in her direction. "would not have happened to you."
"Then, it was true? What they said?" Ginny's voice cracked
as it increased in volume. "You TOLD them to kidnap me?"
"No, well not in so many words." Draco growled. "I just planted
the idea. How was I to know they would take me seriously?"
The witch felt her anger returning, flaring up anew and finding a target
close at hand. Rising to her feet she stomped to where Draco waited,
his silver eyes narrowing at her approach.
"What did you say to those cretins?" She demanded, planting her
self squarely in front of the seated wizard.
"When I left you today at the shop, I led them to believe we had shagged,
all right?" He stood, towering over her. "I stupidly hinted
that I would enjoy having you around when-" He bit off his sentence
as her face flashed red.
"Pansy was on the rag." Ginny finished for him, the hurt caused
by his words filling her cinnamon eyes.
Startled by her knowledge, Draco flinched. "Yes." He whispered.
Lifting a hand, he tenderly stroked her cheek, capturing a tear as it spilled
from her lashes. " I just wanted to get them away from you. I did
not think they would take me seriously. I did not think those two
would really try something like this. I just did not think."
Cupping his fingers about the back of her head, he pressed her face to
his chest. He wrapped his other arm gently about her waist and held
her lightly. "I am just so very sorry, Ginny."
She wanted to be angry! She wanted to rail and scream at him for
the terror she had endured. She wanted to make him hurt like she
had hurt, to feel alone and betrayed. Yet, she twisted her fingers into
the folds of his dressing gown, inhaling the dark scent of his body.
The tender way he held her now soothed her prior fear and the genuine regret
in his voice caused her anger to drift away like mist. It had always been
this way between the two of them, Ginny mused. Through all of the
hexing, curses and jinxes, there had always been, for them, a level of
trust that had never been spoken but always recognized. Others at
the magical school had never understood the pleasure, the pure joy, that
spell slinging brought to the seemingly bitter combatants. With each hex,
their bond of trust had grown stronger, each one knowing and believing
that the one would never willingly do the other harm.
Scrubbing her nose against the fabric covered chest, she murmured. "S'kay.
I forgive you. You made a mistake. You didn't mean it."
Draco pulled far enough away that he had a clear view of her face.
What he found there caused his heart to stop briefly before pounding into
life once more. Her tiny, pinched features were relaxed and soft,
her chocolate eyes filled with sweet forgiveness. Her lips spread
in a wobbly smile. "Though if I had my wand, YOU would be the one
on the rag! What a filthy thing to say. You have no idea of what
it is like when-"
He silenced her with a chaste kiss before breathing over her lips.
"Thank you."
She blinked stupidly for a moment then whirled away with a small giggle.
Staggering to her lounge, she retrieved her brandy from the side table
and poured a generous amount down her throat.
Draco advanced, his hand raised in warning. "Hey, take it easy
with that stuff. Not only is it powerful, it is very expensive."
He plucked the glass from her fingers, examining the level of the contents.
"You have imbibed only have a snifter and you are already tipsy."
"Oh," Ginny breathed, plopping her head down upon a convenient pillow.
"That is my second helping. Nala said you wanted me to drink it all."
"Not the whole bloody bottle!" Draco exclaimed as he strode to
the side board and grasping the bottle, held it up to the light. "You were
supposed to relax. Not melt."
Closing her eyes, Ginny sighed. "I am relaxed. I am very relaxed
and warm. Come sit down and talk to me." She patted the sofa cushion.
Cautiously Draco approached the reclining witch. "Ginny, what
was the potion you were given tonight? You said earlier that it was
a calming potion."
"Yes, Crapper made it." The witch responded dreamily. "She said
it would keep my fears away. Sharpen my mind. Help me to remember.
But I don't want to remember."
Draco perched on the edge of the sofa near the curve of her waist.
"I have never heard of a calming potion with those particular properties."
He murmured, his gaze traveling over Ginny's relaxed face, down the curve
of her throat to where it vanished beneath the frothy white of her gown
collar.
Ginny frowned, but did not open her eyes. "It didn't really work
like she said. I was still very scared. Especially when your
father showed up."
Draco froze. "My father? He was with you...before?"
"Yes, he watched."
He turned and gripped her gently by the shoulders. Her eyes popped
open and she took in his worried countenance.
"He watched?" Draco prodded softly.
Ginny averted her eyes, shame returning to cover her with its filthy
memory. She nodded mutely.
"He watched what, Ginny?" His voice was rough with trepidation.
"What did he see?"
"Everything!" She hissed, looking at him fully. "He saw
every damn part of me! The House Elves had to 'prepare'," She sneered
the word. "me for you and he sat there and watched the whole. Damn. Thing."
Draco strained against the tightness that gathered in his throat.
His next words were growled. "Did he touch you?"
"Yes."
Draco threw himself for the sofa with an anguished howl. "NOOOOOO!
Oh gods! No!"
Ginny lay frozen in confused fear for a second before his meaning set
in. She rose and quickly crossed to where the tormented wizard paced
angrily before the fire. Touching his arm she spoke over his ranting.
"No, Draco! I don't mean touched me like 'that'. I mean, he
touched me with his hand. He ran it over my arm and my leg. That's
all." He ceased his furious cursing and looked at her, his face lighting
up with hope. "Well, he did touch my breast, but that's all.
Really." When his face darkened again, she trembled. "I didn't
mean to make you think he raped me. I am sorry. I didn't think..."
When he smiled softly, she relaxed. "So, we're even. People
screw up, ok?"
Placing his hands on her slender arms, Draco rubbed down their length
before reaching her hands. "That is all? He did no more?"
Leaning forward, he peered into her face, seeking the truth in her eyes.
"He hit me." Ginny squeaked in a tiny voice and watched as the
muscles in his jaws clenched.
"He will never touch you again, Ginny. I promise. Should
he ever seek to do you harm, I will kill him." Ginny's mouth opened
in a small O of horrified belief before she closed it quickly.
"But why? I mean he is your dad. I am nothing to you."
"Shut up, Ginny, before you say something really stupid." Draco
informed her roughly, the look in his eyes was one of hardened steel.
She studied his expression, the tightness in his cheeks, the hard line
of his mouth, but most of all, the determination that flashed like summer
lightening in the stormy darkness of his eyes. Her heart stopped
briefly before pounding into life once more.
"You like me." She whispered in shock.
He recoiled slightly before covering himself once more in Pureblood
smugness. "You see, you did say something stupid. Do not say
I did not warn you." He released her fingers and returned to his
drink where he helped himself to a large mouthful of scalding courage.
Ginny advanced on his rear, and flanked him when he would have retreated
to the door.
"Oh no, mister. You are not leaving just yet. Tell me the
truth, if you are wizard enough. You like me, don't you?"
Draco glared hard at the tiny red-head but she met his gaze unflinchingly.
Huffing into his cup, he took another pull, never releasing her eyes.
He swallowed. "Yes. Are you happy? I LIKE you."
Somehow he managed to spit the admission out like poison.
Ginny's brow crinkled and her lips were pulled down like a strained
bow. He could see her chin quivering even in the dim light.
She shook her head. "Does it make you happy?" She inquired
in a strained whisper.
He managed to place his snifter upon the table without shattering the
piece. Gathering her into his arms he held her tightly and was rewarded
by the feel of her arms sliding around him, pulling him close. "Ginny,"
He muttered against her hair. "It is tearing me to pieces."
They held on to one another as the fire continued its merry burning,
charring away the dried fuel in the grate, but leaving the sweet odor of
its existence. Draco softly stroked the witch's hair where it tumbled
down her back, occasionally letting tiny kisses rain down on her crown.
He could feel her hands as they moved slowly over his back, her fingers
pressing into the skin through the heavy fabric, as if she were studying
the contours of his frame, memorizing him by touch alone.
The chiming of the mantle clock alerted them to the lateness, or the
earliness of the hour and they slowly pulled apart. Draco caressed
the curve of her cheek and Ginny leaned into his touch, her eyes drifting
slowly closed.
"You are tired, baby." Draco informed her in a whisper.
"Get into bed. We will talk more in the morning." Ginny shook
her head.
"I don't want to be alone just yet. Don't leave me, please."
She pleaded with her voice and her sweet, melting brown eyes.
"Ginny, you need to sleep. Hell, I need to sleep."
"So, sleep here!" She insisted, her words becoming high and panicky.
Sighing, he looked around the chamber, his eyes attempting to avoid
the four-poster. "Ok, I can enlarge the sofa. I will sleep
there and you can have the bed."
Ginny nodded eagerly and slipped from his hands. "I, uh, well...I
have to pop into the loo. Brush my teeth and all. You will
be here when I get back, right?" He heard the fear of abandonment
in her voice.
"I will be here." He assured her and watched as she made her way
to the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
With a muttered curse that would have made Voldemort proud, Draco raked
his hands over his scalp, digging his fingers deeply into the silver flow.
He released a groan and with a resigned sigh, summoned Fetcher.
Ginny returned to find Draco crouched over the fire. He was poking
up the blaze with a long metal rod and adding logs to the grate.
The room would remain warm until daylight. She quickly climbed onto
the high bed and scrambled into the middle of the mattress. Pulling
the covers to her chin she snuggled down into the softness. "Good
night, Draco." She called over her shoulder.
Draco stood with his back to the fire, his magnified sleeping cot before
him,
but his mind was on the witch currently swaddled in moss green satin.
Her gently whispered 'good night' hung on the air and he could feel himself
react as if she had actually breathed the words upon his skin.
"Good night, Ginny." Tucking his wand under the pillow provided
by Fetcher, Draco stretched out upon his bed, tucked his hands behind his
head and stared at the wavering shadows cast by the flames, dance across
the ceiling.
***************************************************************************************

A discordant squeaking woke Draco only a few hours later. He sleepily
eyed the pearlescent magentas and blues of the advancing dawn as his sluggish
brain attempted to pinpoint the source of his waking. The disturbing
creak came once more, this time accompanied by the hurried static of flailing
limbs over cotton. 'I know that sound,' Draco mourned, levering him
self up to peer over the back of his transformed couch. Ginny Weasley,
painted a golden peach by the morning's watery light, twisted and turned
slowly upon the large bed. Her movements had displaced the duvet
along with the top sheet. Nala's bag had obviously not included knickers.
Her night gown was riding up her thighs and the wizard hastily averted
his eyes as she bent both knees and pressed her heels hard into the mattress
as if in attempt to dislodge a phantom attacker.
"Please don't!" The tormented witch whimpered, her voice high
and childlike. "It hurts!"
"Bloody hell, no!" The wizard growled, his stomach rolling with
sick fear. He rose and moved quickly to Ginny's bed side, his hand
already outstretched to shake her into wakefulness.
"I want my mum." Tears were squeezed from behind her tightly clenched
eyes as she sobbed the words in a pained whisper.
Draco hesitated, his fingers hanging over Ginny's twitching shoulder.
An idea was rising up in his mind, a purpose even more damning than the
one that had brought her to this place with him. He had the training.
He had the skill. Yet..., did he have the right to... Even
as he recoiled from the possible consequence his actions could have on
his tenuous relationship with the red haired witch, he summoned his wand
with a bitter tasting "Accio!"
The slender rod impacted his open palm with a stinging slap. A
minuscule tic along his jaw belied the blond's seemingly cold facade as
he braced himself on the heavy wooden pillar supporting one corner of the
bed. Through clenched teeth, Draco uttered the spell that could possibly
damn him for the remainder of his life, if not for all eternity.
"Legilimens!"
A nauseating swirl of sound and images assaulted the questing wizard
as he connected with Ginny's sub conscience. His father slugging
it out ungracefully with the lanky Arthur Weasley, teasing laughter and
a young girl's crying as she pulled the red drapes around her bed.
A worn leather book, a shabby quill, looping girlish penmanship left being
by a tiny, freckled hand. Words, wet, yet black as old blood, rising
up on a yellowed page.
Hello Ginny Weasley. My name is Tom.
The freckled hands reappeared, this time wrapped around the neck of
a limp rooster. More words, this time painted one stone in vivid,
blood red.
Her skeleton will lie in the chamber forever.
There was a sibilant hissing, like steam escaping from a leaking pipe
and then Draco was running along a dank corridor. Water dripped from
the low ceiling and oozed in thick rivers of green down the moss covered
walls. Ahead was a weak gleam of light. The wet air seeped
easily through the thin jumper covering his upper body and Draco glanced
down to see small feet clad in worn, sensible leather oxfords splashing
awkwardly through puddles and tripping over broken stones.
Then he was screaming.
His body was being torn apart! A grinding, scalding pain filled
his lower belly while the suffocating weight of his attacker pressed down
on him, pushing his tender back repeatedly into the unforgiving stone.
Cruel fingers dug at his scalp and pinched at the small buds of flesh on
his chest. Attempts to break free were futile as the hands that battered
upon the black clad monster were small and freckled.
You said you loved me, Ginny. I have been alone for so long.
Draco shrieked as teeth sank into the juncture of his shoulder and neck
and the searing agony in his lower regions exploded as his attacker increased
his movements.
You are mine! We will be together, forever. My little
Ginny-girl! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...
The horrible sound of completion faded away and the pressing weight
was lifted. Though tears blurred his vision, Draco could make out
the face of the assailant as he pulled free of the small, cringing body
below him. Eyes of startling, icy blue were set in a face of breathtaking
perfection. The cheeks were high and well formed, blending into a jaw that
most would call aristocratic and fine. Black hair, sweaty and tangled
from his exertions fell over the pale, flawless brow and a smile of satisfied
cruelty curled the sweetly pinked lips that were now tinged darker by the
blood of his hysterically sobbing victim. Around this terrifyingly lovely
form there hovered a thin, blue nimbus of light.
Are you hurting? What is you pain to me? Have you any
idea what I have endured these many years? Here, alone. But
no more. You will be with me always.
A cold hand stroked the snarled, crimson hair from Draco's face.
Shhh. Don't cry, Ginny-girl. Your pain will soon end.
You will be rewarded for you love to me. Just think, my sweet child,
you go to your death with the precious knowledge that your soul will live
on in me, Lord Voldemort!
And then he was alone, his aching body racked with tormented sobbing.
Tears of pain and shame scalded the abused skin of his face as water lapped
about his waist. A pleated plaid skirt floated sadly around his body
as hands frantically scrubbed at the burning flesh between his thighs.
A tiny fist appeared above the water, the fingers curled about the dripping
remains of their knickers, the white cotton smeared pink with their blood.
With a howl of anguish, the under things were flung away to land with a
loud plop in the middle of the black tarn. They floated there
for a moment before sinking beneath the reflected frown of Salazar Slytherin.
Filthy! Stupid, stupid, stupid! Filthy...
He heard himself mutter the words as the hands vanished into the water
and began to tear and claw at the tender skin of their thighs and vagina.
The hysterical scrubbing and scouring only served to increase their physical
pain, giving their emotional anguish some breathing room.
Filthy, stupid little girl!
The only sounds in the vast chamber was their quiet, sobbing self-flagellation
and the splashing of the oily water as they attempted to wash away the
culpability and the shame. A loud, sucking hiss pulled tear-filled
eyes up. A massive, scaled back rose from the center of the pool
causing the water to fold and rise in a wave that washed over their face,
pushing them back hard against the stone shore. The huge body continued
its ascent even as it dove deep into the inky depths, water sheeting from
its slick, gleaming scales. The image filled their vision as they
scuttled backwards, away form the danger.
I see you have met my lovely pet. Quite impressive, wouldn't
you agree? And effective.
Curling into a tight ball, they tried to hide from the one who approached,
his boots clicking softly over the moss speckled floor.
How sweet! You have bathed for me? My precious Ginny-girl.
Is it any wonder I love you so?
Hands, cruel and hard gripped their shoulders.
Come and show me how much you love me in return.
"NOOOOOOOO!"
Draco wrenched himself free of the spell, staggering and falling heavily
to the carpet. Choking on his sobs, his back arched in agony as he
dry heaved repeatedly. Blinded by his tears, his only thought was
to escape the room, leave before Ginny woke and found out what he had seen,
what he had witnessed of her assault, her...
Rape.
Hateful, hate filled word.
His hope of revenge had failed. He had failed her. It had
not been a man who had taken her sweet innocence, but a true monster.
Crawling weakly away from the bed, Draco fought to keep back his heartbroken
cries, but they leaked from his lips as swiftly as the tears fell from
his eyes. "She was a baby, damn him! A baby!" He jerked
him self to full alert when he felt a gentle hand pressing down on his
head, stroking the tangled, blond strands from his face. Draco sat
back on his heels, raking his hands over his eyes, swiping the sleeve of
his robe across his dripping nose before looking up into the tired, tormented
visage of the Potions Master.
The dark wizard sighed heavily then looked at the young witch that still
slept, tossing upon the bed. "And now you know."
*********************************************************************************************
I can't write any more just now. It has been horrible for me.
I had to put in this portion to bring the story to its climax, as it were.
There is still a good bit more to go, but hopefully the worst part is over.
I only hope I don't loose any readers because some feel I have slipped
into gratuitous violence. Please don't think that of me! The
next chapter will be much easier. We will learn of Severus' history
with Ginny and just why Draco feels it is required of him to marry Pansy.
- 6
- 7
- 8
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Sunshine and Shadows