~*~
We could've had it all. Rolling in the Deep.
You had my heart inside of your hands. And you played it to the beat.
The introduction of skyscrapers to Wizarding London was still a new concept that most couldn't grasp. They did not prefer to be too high in the sky -- it was harder to cloak buildings that expanded too far. Yet, with the need to modernize and fit in more with the Muggle's dealings, the magical folk decided to integrate it into society. Some of the main attractions were the luxurious hotels that the wizards and witches of higher standing could freely enjoy when they had the chance. It was an excellent source of income that, at the very least, stimulated the economy's movements of Galleons and provided more jobs.
Ginny stared up towards the towering building, oddly reminded of the Burrow for a few moments. Hanging onto the alley of the building, she listened in toward a couple of witches that stood together gossiping, her wand at ready. From what she mostly caught during the day of eavesdropping around Diagon Alley, Draco Malfoy was currently staying at the Enchanted Skyline, a hotel that welcomed both wealthy Magical and Muggle folk alike. It wasn't hard to find Enchanted Skyline, one of the biggest buildings in London; what was hard was going inside. Ginny listened with a sinking heart of how secured the building was, nearly impossible to get into unless invited or a hotel inhabitant. With Draco Malfoy's return to the Wizarding world, the chance of being inside was impossible, with Aurors securing the premises constantly. Because of this, Ginny knew that her means would have to be drastic.
"You'd think he would appreciate this color green. It looks nearly like the Slytherin colors." Pansy Parkinson scuffed in distaste as her slender hands brushed down the front of her dress. It clung to her body in a sinuous manner, the area from the top of the collarbone down to her navel exposed in a sheer split right down the middle. A black shawl adorned her shoulders. She stood next to the Greengrass sisters, Astoria and Daphne, who glanced into a hand-held mirror, each checking their makeup.
"You're still as dense as ever, aren't you, Parkinson? Draco has told us countless times he does not want to be reminded of the past. That includes Hogwarts." Daphne, the elder sister, shimmered in her blue, glittering dress. Her blond hair was tied up in a loose bun, and the red lipstick on her lips was fierce and provocative.
"He has very good reason for not wanting to remember. Did you see the look on Potter's face in the Prophet? I wouldn't be surprised if he has his little whore and runts locked up out of paranoia." Astoria giggled as well, reapplying her pink lip gloss onto her full lips. At the younger sister's words, all three women began to laugh with amusement.
"You two go ahead inside. I'm going to the nearest Apparation point to change clothes." Pansy sighed wistfully. The sisters moved ahead of Parkinson as she turned away from the entrance to Enchanted Skyline and walked towards the alley where Ginny hid in the shadows.
I can't believe I'm going to do this. Everything about this plan is absolutely mad. I'm sure I can just simply turn around and perhaps reconsider my options with Colleen -- Ginny’s wand hand was out in an instant; Pansy's eyes had locked onto her and she moved with deliberation. "Stupefy!" Ginny's movement was faster, Stunning the surprised witch back against the wall of the darkened alleyway. "Well... I suppose I may as well continue," Ginny told herself, trying to will herself to remove Pansy of her clothing and take a lock of her dark hair. The ruby-colored bottle of Polyjuice was pulled from her robes then, lifted into the air before Ginny so she could add the final ingredient to the mixture.
The Polyjuice glowed with the indication that it was ready after a few moments. Ginny quickened her haste with putting on Pansy's dress, which was a little too small on her curvaceous form. Removing the woman's jewelry and shoes required effort, but once it was completed, she placed her own robe to cover Pansy's body. Casting a Glamour charm to camouflage Parkinson within the shadows, Ginny wished herself luck and downed the potion before she lost her nerve once more. Though the transformation was indeed painful, it was nothing compared to the bundle of nerves that tightened specifically in her chest. That morning's chest pain radiated through Ginny, a wave of anxiousness washing over her.
"For my sanity," Ginny, in Pansy's voice and stature, told herself. Wrapping the black shawl around her shoulders, and in her haughtiest attitude, she made her way to the entrance of Enchanted Skyline.
"Oi, Parkinson. Weren't you supposed to change out of that hideous dress?"
By the time Ginny reached the penthouse of the Enchanted Skyline, Daphne and Astoria had already flanked Draco Malfoy's left and right with their ripe, exposed bodies. Giggling and filled with wine, the witches covered the callous playboy with their affection, each taking turns kissing his lips and sipping on their wine glasses. This is what he has been doing with his time since his return, Ginny couldn't help but think, her eyes extremely focused onto the aloof smirk on Malfoy's bemused face. Her heartbeat thrummed against her chest, every instinct inside of her telling her to run. What she considered doing was madness, pure lunacy, and it wasn't too late to run away now and forget that she was ever going to do this…
"Parkinson. Yoo hoo. Are you sure you're in the right room?" Astoria snapped her fingers towards Ginny, who had been standing in silence for a full minute now, eyes locked on Draco. "We agreed to share him for today, remember? Do not tell me that you're jealous."
"I --" Ginny cleared her throat then. Tossing her hair over one shoulder, she gave Draco her most smoldering expression. She tried to match the arrogance of the Greengrasses in the room with them. The electric static of magic charged between their presences caused Ginny's skin to ghost over with goose bumps. She prayed that the raise of Draco's eyebrow didn't announce suspicion. "I figured that it wasn't going to stay on for long anyway. Why would I want to waste any minute away from Draco?" I can't believe I'm going to do this. I can't believe I'm going to…
"That's the spirit, Parkinson. Now join us." Daphne giggled once more.
"Yes, Parkinson. Join us." Draco's voice was a lazy drawl, gratification laced through each word.
Ginny gulped silently as she brought Pansy's fingers carefully to the back of the dress and removed it in one, smooth drop from her body. It’s not my body; it'll be alright. He won't be able to tell that it’s me at all with the Polyjuice… Ginny's mind raced with thought as she kicked off her heels and walked with a sensual swirl of her hips to the bed. Though the other women purred and crawled over Draco, that didn't stop him from lifting his hand out towards her, his expression a questioning one. It nearly tore at Ginny's heart to do this, but she felt herself being led into the fray of bodies, eyes locked on Draco the entire time.
It was only in the extreme heat of the moment when Ginny realized that she felt her heart for the first time since Draco arrived back into London.
The view from Enchanted Skyline's highest balcony was incredible. Ginny's gaze upon the city was watery, however. Inside of her body, a maelstrom of sentiment wracked at every piece of her. She never participated in something so utterly sensual and sinister all at once. However, from the moment her body was reminded of Draco's touch, everything unlocked itself. Ten years of want, desire, happiness, and love all flowing out in between each kiss shared between them. Each touch of pleasure sparked the yearning within Ginny until she nearly wept in front of Astoria and Daphne. How did she live for ten years without him in her life?
Her question was answered with a wand pointed in the back of her head.
"How Gryffindor of you, Weasley." Draco's voice was no longer the lazy, casual playboy drawl he adopted in the bedroom. An air of danger hung around every word he spoke toward her, his other hand reaching out towards her currently black locks of hair and grasping onto it in rage. "The old-fashioned Polyjuice trick. Turn into an invited guest of the hotel and infiltrate Draco Malfoy's room in order to exact even more revenge towards his evil arse. Oh, but not before fucking him senseless, I suppose? Did you enjoy yourself?"
"You have it all wrong, as usual, Malfoy." Ginny felt the change of her body before she could even protest. The hair he grasped onto turned a brilliant crimson underneath his fingertips. Her body curved more underneath the bathrobe she had placed around her nakedness after the act. Freckles splotched her skin, and the black of her eyes illuminated into the warm chocolate that was naturally Ginny's. There was no point in pretending that she was Pansy any longer. "I should be the upset one here. I actually had to touch you --" Ginny felt her body being uplifted, dangling halfway over the edge of the balcony and staring into the streets below. Vertigo struck her, and she would've screamed if fright hadn't stolen her breath away.
"Careful what you say, Weasley -- or should I call you Potter now? There are several things about this situation that would end with you in a world of trouble. Breaking and entering, for one. Two, I'm sure Polyjuice Potion is highly rare and considered illegal. Where did you even get one of those vials? Sleeping with the devilish Draco Malfoy when you are married to his mortal enemy, Harry Potter, is three. My, my Weasley, the list just goes on and on and on." Draco snarled while holding onto the flailing Ginny, lifting her from his torment and back onto the ground. His head spun slightly when she clung to him, feeling the vicious static of her heart. It matched his, to his surprise.
"I had to do this; I needed to talk to you, Malfoy." Ginny finally broke through the frozen state of fear, clinging to Draco's waist with desperation. "How did you know it was me? You knew the entire time, didn’t you?"
"From the moment you walked into the room. You're a damn fool if you didn't think I felt you before I saw you, Weasley." Draco hesitated for a moment, before clamping onto Ginny's hands and wrenching them from his form. "There is nothing for us to talk about. You had me banished from magic for ten years, Weasley. You're bloody lucky I didn't toss you over the railing the moment you sashayed into my room. I couldn't help but take the shag, however…"
"That's shite and you know it. I'm going to make this quick, because I don't want to remain in the presence of you and your tarts any longer than necessary." Ginny felt the pain of Draco's words threaten to settle in. If she had kept her earlier apathy, it wouldn't have affected her as strongly as it did now. However, he confirmed he was the key to her curse since the moment she laid eyes on him. Everything felt raw and real and vibrant, and Ginny wanted that feeling to stay. "Ten years ago, you did something to me. I don't know what it was, and I don't know how you did it. It’s killing us, however --"
"Us, Weasley? You proved that there was never an us in the first place. I didn't have to do anything to you when you took everything from me." Draco's eyes looked menacing, his hand clenching around his wand in pure hatred.
"You don't understand, Malfoy. How could I deny that what you did was harmful towards the Order's cause? How would I face my family knowing that you killed Dumbledore and I allowed for you, for the Death Eaters and Voldemort, to win? You lied to me when you said that you were good, Draco Malfoy, and that day in court you did something to me that has tormented me for all of these years." Ginny felt her own rage respond to the accusation. Their magic engulfed their senses, being together chained them un-wantonly.
"Did you ever stop to think that maybe it was karma, Weasley? Of course not. You are as stupid as your family is poor. Not once did you even think that perhaps it wasn't I that made the final blow against Dumbledore?"
"But that's impossible; it was your task --" Ginny started, her eyes widening. Yet, Draco was on her in a heartbeat, his hands clenching to her shoulders, his face twisted in malice.
"Did it ever occur to your idiotic brain that I couldn't do it? That I remembered the promise I made to you? What I felt for you? That it was enough to make me hesitate and that the other Death Eaters took note of it? That I risked my life, my family's life, and the Dark Lord's wrath for that one moment of hesitation? That Severus Snape, the Gods bless his bloody soul, had to do the Killing Curse for me because I was too damn weak with feelings for you to complete what was required of me?" Draco was nearly yelling now, shaking Ginny back and forth as the confession he wanted to give to her those years ago in the courtroom left him in a wind now. Funny. He wanted to keep it all from her, but the look in her eyes provoked him once more. It was the same look she gave to him at the Ministry when they were teenagers -- the one that blamed him for being the monster he could never truly be.
"Draco…" Ginny's entire face was pale white, stricken with pain. "Draco, I didn't - -"
"Get out." Draco heard the stirring of the Greengrass sisters from within the bedroom, and he released the redhead from his grasp by tossing her towards the door to the penthouse. "I don't want to hear anything you have to say. Leave."
"Draco, please. There's something wrong with us. I know if I feel it, you must feel it too. Draco, we're in danger if we don't --"
"Get out!" His wand turned onto Ginny then, his anger so strong that the magic pushed from out of him in a wordless incantation. Her mouth seized shut, as though she had been Silenced, and she clasped onto her face with surprise. "Don't you ever say my name again. Don't ever come near me again. I never want to see your face ever again, Potter. Out. Out! "
Ginny ran. Ignoring the questioning looks of the Greengrass sisters and ignoring the fact that she left a Stunned Pansy in the alleyway, she ran all the way through the hotel and the Apparation point, her eyes forming an endless stream of tears.
"Run away with me. We'll go to the Order. They'll keep you safe." Ginny didn't appreciate the way Draco shook his head drastically, so she clamped her hands around each side of his cheeks. He couldn't run from her -- his body was trapped in the hospital bed of the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts. Ginny's words were in a low hush, quickly coming out of her because she couldn't stay long. She wasn't supposed to be around Draco Malfoy after Harry cast that evil curse on him. Yet, she couldn't keep away from him after knowing how close he was to death. Sectumsepra was something that Ginny knew in her heart she would never forgive Harry for. Ever.
"The Order of the Phoenix wants my father dead. They want my whole family dead, especially for what he did to you, Ginny. They'd hex me and lock me up the moment they even see you with me." Draco stood firm to his refusal. He couldn't risk both the Death Eaters and the Order members suspecting Ginny of any odd activity. Though she desperately wanted to assist him, and Draco wished with all of the magic in him that it was that simple, he couldn't allow for any harm to come to her.
"I don't care! Do you hear me, Draco? I don't care what they think they can do. You had nothing to do with your father, and even now, you're only doing this to keep your mother alive. If we can just tell the Order what's happening --"
"You swore to me, Ginny. You swore you wouldn't tell anyone else about this. Don't you back out on me now because Potter tried to save the day by nearly killing me." Draco spoke in a snarl, which frightened Ginny. He felt guilty in the way her teary eyes widened, staring at him as though he were a stranger. He knew that this would hurt her, but not as much as it would if she were to involve herself more than necessary. "I should have never told you this, Ginny. I knew the secret was too much for you…"
"No! Please, Draco. No. I just don't want this to happen anymore. If Harry and the others knew how good you were, they wouldn't ever do this to you again." Ginny slumped against Draco's chest, almost forgetting where the source of his pain was. She wept, wrapping her arms around him as best as she could. "I thought I was going to lose you today. I thought Harry killed you. I can't stand to know what will happen if You-Know-Who found out you don’t want to kill Dumbledore. I want to protect you."
"Then do as I say, Ginny. Keep this secret. My fate has already been sealed, but that doesn't mean you have to foolishly throw yourself into the fire with me. Get that Gryffindor bravery bullshite out of your head -- I need you, alive and well. That is enough for me." He kissed her, reaching his hand out to gently pull her to him so that their lips would mingle in a bittersweet embrace. "Take Potter's Invisibility Cloak and go. When I am better, I will come back to you, Ginny. I love you --"
Sweat marred his brow as Draco shot up from between the snuggled bodies of the Greengrass sisters and into the darkness. Staring ahead of him, he took a deep breath while reaching out to clasp the pack of cigarettes, resting on the nightstand beside him, with his left hand. The right hand resting on his chest did nothing to soothe the gaping hole he couldn't fill within his soul. Emptiness echoed through him like a plague, and even the warm bodies of the sisters did nothing to rid him of the coldness.
Within the darkness, Draco Malfoy swore he heard the strangled sounds of a woman's sobbing.
Author notes: A/N: I happened to hear the remix of this song the other day with Childish Gambino. For some reason, when I read this story, I think it meshes better to that tune. Anyway, read, review, and rate if you like! :D
Leave a Review