Malfoy was both mentally and physically drained. Why, he thought in his head, why must this happen to him now...?

A flash of something glittering in the sun made him turn his head. Malfoy sighed. it was just that Weasley girl's hair catching in the light. Odd he thought, her hair looked like it was on fire. Shaking his head slightly he looked away.

Two large figures were moving around the court yard. Malfoy did not want to be pestered with Crabbe and Goyle's troll witted remarks about what he was going to do for the Dark Lord, and as he thought this an heavier feeling plummeted in his stomach. Hoping that Crabbe and Goyle hadn't seen him he walked off quickly around a corner when--

"Ouch!" said an angry voice, that Malfoy recognised with no difficulty.
Malfoy was momentarily disarmed in shock as he had not really expected to see anyone behind here. This was his spot to be alone.
"What are you doing here Weasel" he threatened firmly putting his sneer in place but not fast enough for Ginny to noitce his look of shock and... was it fear? she thought wonderingly...

Malfoy heard Goyle's slow voice "Wonder where Malfoy got off too."
Crab merely grunted.
Goyle continued,"Do you think he's really going to do it?"
Crabbe paused, "He doesn't have much choice but I reckon he's scared..."
Malfoy looking more angry then Ginny had ever seen him put a hand over her mouth and held her tightly by the shoulder with his other hand, as Goyle and Crabbe's shadows passed their view.
She was breathing fast and was very conscious of his body being close to hers, though what that has to do with anything, she told herself fiercly.

When they Crabbe and Goyle had finally gone Malfoy released her.
Ginny didn't dare look up at his face. But curiousity got the better of her. He didn't look very Malfoy like she thought. His pale blonde hair glinting in the sun, his gray eyes that were normally so cold and mocking now only showing tiredness. She had not seen Malfoy this close since she had performed the bat bogey hex on him in Umbridge's office. He was a selfish idiot she thought, as she stared into the handsome face above her. She noticed there were dark circles under his eyes and because he was frowning (something she had never seen him do) he looked even less like the Malfoy she knew.

Malfoy looked down at her. His expression was hard to read. Ginny could not help wondering what Draco was going to do or why Crabbe thought he was scared to do it, but she was intrigued all the same.
Malfoy looked at her Ginny for a moment. She didn't know what they were talking about he reassured himself. She couldn't know. The light was dancing in her eyes. They were a nice colour Draco thought, a chestnut brown that right now looked like golds had woven through them. He gave his head a mental shake wondering why he was thinking of a Weasley like that. She was after all just another ones of those poor blood traitors like his father said.

Malfoy looked at Ginny fixing his sneer he always saved for the Weasleys, "What are you staring at Weasel?"
Ginny flared up again, "Nothing" and with that she stalked off. Seeing her angry didn't make Draco feel as satisfied though as what it used to. He gave himself another mental shake. Today really was a very bad day he thought gloomily...

I'm thinking we should carry on the story. Like each person posts their new part to the story from where the last post left off. What do you think?

Oh and to clear things up. It is during HBP wher Draco is given the task to kill DD. Ginny has no romantic feelings for Harry.

MODNOTE: Moved this to the Round Robin forum.

If I could think of something to add on, I would - but it's been ages since my last RR and I for the life of me cannot think of a thing. Good luck though!

-Nilla

No problem I just hope we can keep this one going.

Ooh c'mon guys lets get this started. I'm going to carry on since i'm in a real writing mood right now.


Malfoy sat up in his bed. He felt even less rested then what he did before he went to sleep. The heavy weight in his stomach seamed to clench horribly. How could he ever have thought he could do this.

Getting dressed slowly he kept wondering what would happen to him. He had felt so proud of himself when the Dark Lord had chosen him to be a death eater. So honoured that he was given the chance to kill Dumbledore but then he heard his mother talking to Bellatrix his Aunt.

Draco had been wondering past his mother's room absently when he heard her voice coming in despearte sobs.
"He is my only son Bella! I know the Dark Lord is doing this just to punish Lucius. He knows Draco cannot kill Dumbldore. The Drak Lord himself canot kill him."
There was a pause and then he had heard his Aunt say "The Dark Lord knows what he is doing. You should be proud of sacrificing your son. It is your husband's fault this has happened".

Draco had left quickly too angry for words. But now it had sunk in. The Dark Lord had always feared Dumbledore and now he was using Draco as a sacrifice to punish his father. Draco punched the wall angrily. He was in a horrible situation. It was either kill or be killed...

Slowly he entered the great hall. He sat down away from his friends not wanting to talk. Draco looked down at the food, and decided he was not hungry. Looking around his gray eyes, rested on Ginny Weasley. She was talking happily with a fellow fifth year next to her. She stared at him and waved smiling. Draco was shocked but then realised she wasn't smiling at waving at him, as a fifth year Gryffindor girl walked past from behind him.
Deciding he would skip breakfast he stood up and left the Great Hall.
****

Ginny had noticed Draco come in the Great Hall. He looked different. Possibly because his hair wasn't sleeked back like normal. it was falling softly round his face (she thought he didn't look half bad either). She watched as he stared at his food and then looking past him she saw her friend. Happily she waved smiling. She looked back at Malfoy who had stood up and was heading out the door. It wasn't like him to be alone she thought. Curiosity getting the best of her she stood up and followed.

She saw his pale blonde hair walking slowly round the corner. he looked agitated. Intrigued she followed, all the time keeping her distance so he wouldn't notice. She had been following him for some time now. She turned round the corner and he had gone. Walking forward a bit she wondered where he could have dissappeared to when she felt something grab her arm and pull her irresistebly into a room. Turning around she saw Draco Malfoy. He had no trace of mockery in his face. Cold fury was etched into his expression.

"What the hell do you think you are doing following me!" He snarled. Coming closer to her with each step.
"I was just walking", she said unconvincingly.
He glared at her furiously. But just as he was about to say something the door handle began to turn.
Grabbing her roughly he pulled her to the ground with him underneath an ugly old desk. He was practically lying on top of her. She could feel his heart beating furiously against her chest. But he was not looking at her. He was watching the door slowly being opened. Ginny gasped and Malfoy pinning her to the ground glared at her threatningly. His eyes clearly told her that if she said anything he would curse her right then and there.
Feet shuffled into the room, a cat meowed and a wheezy cough rung round their ears.
"Where are they my sweet" said the horrible voice that was unmistakbly Filch.
The cat meowed again. And to Ginny and Draco's horror walked towards the desk. They could see Filch's feet looking around. Hear him sniffing as if trying to sniff out who could be in there.
Breathing hard Ginny looked at Draco. She was uncomfortably aware of him being on top of her and although the moments was one of terror she couldn;t help feeling little flutters in her stomach as she felt his body against hers.
Filch turned away, "Looks like they escaped my sweet. No matter we'll catch them next time".
Filch and Mrs Norris left the room and the door sut behind them with a snap.

Draco slid of Ginny and crawled out from under the desk. Ginny followed him feeling slightly flushed. She stared up at him confused. He had done nothing to her.

Draco looked at her for a moment. His eyes raking her body up and down (Ginny felt herself blush). "Did I hurt you" he said.
Surprised Ginny looked at him. She had been rubbing her arm where he had grabbed her. She knew it would bruise but she was too surpirsed at his tone of voice to say anything. he didn't say it mockingly or angry, it was almost gentle.

Draco simply said "You should go".

Feeling very confused Ginny stood up and walked to the door. Looking back as she shut it, she saw Draco slump to the ground, his hands over his eyes.
What was wrong with him she thought. He didn't even once call her "weasel".

*****

Draco pulled his hands away as the door shut with a click. He was angry with himself. Angry for being so soft. He had been meaning to hurt the little Weasley and yet as he looked into her face he couldn't do it. Then Filch had come in and he had pulled her down with him. He had felt her heart beating. Her chest rising and falling with each breath. Her hair tickling his hands, her innocent eyes staring up at him. All he had wanted was to take her in his arms and kiss her. But he couldn't do that....it just wasn't allowed.

"What is wrong with me" Draco said quietly to himself.

Standing up with a sigh he left the room.

no one wants to do this?

The youth sighed again, deeply, as he let his feverish hands run through his hair. Hands that still remembered the texture of her silken locks as they had brushed, so lightly, against his fingers moment before... What the hell was wrong with him?

What wasn't wrong with him?

The Draco Malfoy he had thought himself to be for the past seventeen years would never have dreamt of the past week's events. It was absurd that he should have to be a petty pawn in the stupid mind games between the so-called Dark Lord and his Father. It was absurd that he should have to hide from his goons and fear the looks of his housemates. Him? The Slytherin Prince? Afraid? Hiding? Not likely! Absurd! But this was the truth. This was the reality. And now, this. This, this thing he had for the littlest Weasley. A joke of the cruellest kind. A Malfoy infatuated with a Weasley! The real Draco Malfoy couldn't have cared less for a Weasley.

"What is wrong with me?" he wondered again, lifting his head to see where his rambling thoughts had brought him. In his troubled state, his feet had acquired a mind of their own and had led him to the place he both hated and needed.

"Oh, oh? Could it be? Draaaaaaay-co! You've come to see me again?"
Draco sighed. How had he come to this? But he couldn't go anywhere else. Not back to his common room, certainly. At least nobody would find him here. who would think to look for him here, on the second flooring, hiding in an abandonned girls bathroom?

***

What was wrong with her? Following her brother bestfriend's enemy alone and on a silly sudden impulse? And now what would she do? She couldn't go back to the Hall or to her common room. She could tell that she was still blushing fiercely (as Weasleys are prone to do) and she knew her friends would want to know where she had gone and what had happened to put her in such a state. She hated being a Weasley sometimes. It was impossible to hide one's emotions.

She needed time and space to gather her thoughts. Right. Where was she? The second floor. That left... Not many options.

With a resigned sigh, Ginny Weasley headed towards Myrtle's bathroom.

Sorry, my brain is not functionning properly :S.

Oooh Yay. Thanks Chuya for taking this up

Ginny pushed open the door when voices drifted to her ears.

"What do you want me to do Mrytle, say no?" Draco gave a cold mocking laugh.

Myrtle didn't say anything for a moment. Draco knew she didn't really care if she died. But she was a sympathetic listener all the same. She seemed to have created the delusion that he would be with her if he died. She had been pushing him to refuse to do Voldemort's work but Draco knew that meant death. He may talk to Myrtle about his personal problems but he was not about to go kill himself for her.

"I don't think so Myrtle. To say no to him is to give yourself a death sentence."

"I don't like to see you so distressed Draco. I could help you".

"No one can help me."

Ginny watched as Draco paced up and down the toilet. Frustration and worry etched into his face. He suddenly did something very strange and grasped his left arm in pain.

"Does it still hurt Draco?"

"It's nothing" Draco said impatiently.

Ginny sneezed. Cursing herself for sneezing she braced herself for the inevitable encounter.

"Who's that?" Draco said worried

Myrtle dissappeared into her toilet with a loud splash.

Ginny heard his footsteps come closer and saw his gray eyes widen in astonishment as he looked at her.
"You" he said surprised. "What are you doing here? Do you enjoy following me Weasley?"

"I should be asking you what you are doing here Malfoy. This is a girl's bathroom if you havn't noticed." Ginny said flaring up.

Draco opened and shut his mouth, clearly at a loss what to say.

"What were you doing anyway" Ginny said looking around to see where Myrtle went.

"That's none of your buisness" Draco said looking at her piercingly. Had she heard anything, he wondered. "How long had you been eavesdropping Weasley?"

"What are you talking about, I just came in here" Ginny lied.

Draco glared at her. Trust the weaslette to come in when he wanted to be alone. Just when he didn't want to think about the tiresome girl, she seemed to pop up in front of him. It was a cruel joke, he thought, for him a Malfoy to have any sort of feeling for a Weasley. ###### her smiles and ###### her laughter, Draco thought savagely. He stared into her expressive eyes, which seemed to show every thought in her mind. He felt himself succumbing to her charm. What is wrong with me, Draco thought furiously. I can't even think straight when the ###### girl is around.

Ginny looked at Draco curiously. She had managed to calm herself down from their last encounter but looking at him again brang back all the thoughts of confusion and desire. There was something about him that attracted her. She couldn't quite place it. She was a little scared of him (though she would never admit it) and found him to be so unreadable. Whether it was his cold mocking manner or his rare gentleness. She could never understand him. Right now he was looking at her in such a piercing way she felt like she was being X-rayed. She remembered Harry saying something about how Snape used occulemency on him and that it gave him the ability to read minds, but eye contact was very important. Right now she felt like he was reading her mind and promptly broke eye contact.

Draco continued to look at her. So she had only heard that much, he thought. Well she wouldn;t have much clue what he was tlaking about, he figured. It was likely she would think it was his Father he was talking about. Draco decided she was no threat.

"Well if you don't mind Weasley, I would like to leave." Draco said.

Ginny jumped slightly. She had been so lost in her thoughts she forgot she had been standing in front of the door. "Sorry" she said truthfully and moved slightly so he could pass her.

But something strange was happening to him. He went more pale then usual and once again clutched a hand to his arm, his face looked pained and then quite suddenly collapsed to the ground at Ginny's feet.

Shocked Ginny did no more then stare. Coming to her senses she sat down on the floor next to him to check he was ok. He had looked terribly unwell, maybe he was hurt. She had noticed him slutching his arm. Gently she pulled back the sleeve expecting to see some cut or something but nothing prepared her for what she saw. The Dark Mark was etched into his skin. An ugly tatoo of the black skull with the snake protruding out of its mouth.
She quickly let go of his arm and looked at him. It all made sense to her now. Draco's mission he was too afraid to do, was given to him by Voldemort. He had to do it for fear of death. His appearance and the haunted look in his eyes all made sense to her as she realised Draco Malfoy was a Death Eater.

What was she supposed to do now? She wondered.

*****

Draco awoke in the hospital wing. He still felt a bit weak and sat up very dizzily to see Madame Pomfrey hovering around his bed.

"Ahh your awake. You ought to be more careful Mr Malfoy."
"How did I get up here?" Draco asked slowly.
"Ginny Weasley brang you here." Madame Pomfrey said giving him a drink.

Draco frowned. he remembered being in Mrytle's bathroom about to leave and then he couldn't remember anymore.

"Miss Weasley tells me you collapsed down the hallway". Madame Pomfrey looked at Draco sternly. "I've examined you and you don't seem to have any serious illness. As far as I can see all you need is some proper food and a good night's sleep. Have you been eating and sleeping well?"

Draco shrugged.

"Well I suggest you stay here a little longer and get some rest."
"I'm fine" Draco said standing up a little weakly. "No really, I need to get back to class".

Draco staggered out of the Hospitak wing. But with no intention of going to class. He was going to find that Weaslay and find out what happened.

Draco had spent what seemed to be ages looking for her, in the library, in the hallways, everywhere. The fact that he had been limping all the while did not help to alleviate his growing temper. Where was the damned witch? He had wanted to bore a hole into the wall with his penetrating glare. The Weasel had probably returned to her Gryffindor den.

When the concrete refused to succumb to the heat of his gaze, Draco looked out of the window. That was when he saw her, a solitary blur in the distance, anonymous but for the fiery mane which betrayed her identity.

Ginny Weasley hated confusion. Even as child, she had always wanted to be in control of a situation. The incidents of her first year had only strenghtened her need for order in her life. She wanted clarity in her world, simple priorities. A sense of good and evil and of knowing one's place in the world. She didn't like shades of grey.

But the world didn't quite agree with her vision of things, and many a time Ginevra found herself retreating into her own little world, contemplating about the events or ideas that troubled her. She needed quiet for this, and so she came to the Quidditch pitch.

Her source of confusion was Draco Malfoy, and as far as she was concerned he was a very complex gradient of shades of grey. One second he would be grabbing her roughly or insulting her, and the next he would be gentle, asking if she was alright, as though he wasn't inhuman after all. Part of the confusion also lay in the mixed emotions she felt towards him. She couldn't deny that she was attracted to him. There was something about him, the same something that had made her follow him earlier. It made her want to reach out and remove the cold mask of defiance he showed the world, to find out who the real Draco Malfoy was...

But her musings were cut short when the object of her confusion suddenly materialised on the ground below her. Stunned, she landed besides him, wondering what in the world he was doing out of the hospital wing.

"Weasley" Draco said sharply. His voice cut through the air like ice.

"Malfoy" Ginny responded slighty guarded. His expression was as usual unreadable but something about the aura surrounding him told her to be on guard.

"Why did you do it?" He demanded coming closer to her.

Ginny stepped back but tried to keep her expression neutral. "You fainted. I couldn't just leave you there."

"Is that all?" Draco asked inches away from her.

Ginny breathed in quickly. He knows, she thought to herself. He knows I saw the mark. "What else would there be?" Ginny asked not able to keep the frightened squeak out of her voice.

"I don't know Weasley. You tell me." Draco said in a dangerously soft voice as he stared into her eyes.

Ginny realised there was no point in trying to hide it. She knew he was a Death Eater and he was going to find out sooner or later that she knew.

She lowered her eyes slightly and took a deep breath. "I saw the mark..."

Draco just stared at her. "And you still helped me?"

Ginny looked at him. There was an odd expression in his grey eyes. They seemed confused almost vulnerable.

"You needed help" Ginny said simply.

Draco let out a sigh. "I don't undertsand you."

Ginny frowned. "What?"

"You're not like the rest of them." Draco said softly.

Ginny stared at him. "Maybe it's because I know that even though you are a Death Eater, it isn't who you really are. I've seen you Draco Malfoy. You may be heartless, and cruel. But you are not evil..."

Draco moved forward, "I wish you were right."

Ginny put out a hand, "Draco" She said softly as she touched his shoulder.

He loked down at her seriously. "Dream all you want Weasley on who you think I am. I won't break any of your delusions. I know I don't need to tell you not to tell anyone."

Ginny watched as he walked away. The sun dying behind his back as he left her standing alone on the Quidittch Pitch.

*********
That night Draco and Snape had fled the school. Everyone knew Draco was a death eater and had tried to kill Dumbledore. Even though Ginny knew he had attempted murder. She could not erase the pleading look in his eyes. He wanted her to see the real him before he lost himself to the darkness. He had shown who he was; a boy lost in the traps of fate and orders. Despite his cutting words and cold dismissal of her help, she had seen what was really in his heart when she looked in those grey eyes. So unreadable and yet telling their own secret tales. Ginny loved his eyes. It would be five years until she would see them again.

************

"Are you coming to the party Ginny?" Hermione asked quietly.

Ginny sighed and pulled her eyes from the frosted window, "Do you think it will ever stop Hermione?"

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked putting on her coat.

"This war. Harry defeated Voldemort three years ago. But we are still fighting. Will it ever stop?" Ginny said frustrated.

Hermione put a hand on Ginny's shoulder. "It's been hard on us all Ginny. Someday there will be peace. For now we can only do what we can to stop these rebels. It was never going to be easy."

"I just wish things would be how they were. But nothing will ever be the same."

"I think you need to get out Ginny. No more of this moping around. It's been six months since you and Charles broke up. I think you need a little change of scenery."

Ginny looked at Hermione, "They are all the same Hermione."

"Oh come on. It will be fun." Hermione pleaded.

Ginny sighed. "Fine."

Hermione smiled, "I knew you'd come round."

*********

Ok so now it's differnet but hey now it's a free for all. Write it however you like. However you want Draco to turn out is up to whoever writes that part first. I'm leaving it all to you.

The five years had seen Hermione Granger develop into the ambitious and successful witch her entourage had always known her to be. An essential asset to Harry Potter during the search for the Horcruxes, she had been accredited for the discovery of the last remaining soul-piece belonging to the man turned monster Voldemort. Her feats during the final confrontation at the Battle for Hogwarts earned her the respect of every witch and wizard in Britain.

Never one to rest on her laurels however, Hermione had been the one to sound the alarm shortly after what many, including the Minister, had believed to be the end of the war, warning that while their leader had been vanquished the more faithful and courageous of his followers could still resume violence. With these priorities in mind Aurors of the celebrated Order of the Phoenix were able to prevent a number of isolated attacks by the remaining rebels. The first three years had proven to be anything but glorious. In order to track the movements of underground Death Eater groups and to prevent any further violence, the Order and the Ministry had had to work together to strengthen security by instoring curfews and other restrictive measures. These had been difficult times, but the situation had greatly improved since. The most active of the rebels had been caught, and normal life could resume.

But what of Ginny Weasley, the fiery witch who had been at Harry Potter's side at the now long forgotten episode of the Department of Mysteries, what of her? Quoting her favourite muggle poet, she would answer that the five years that had past, the five summers, had had the length of five long winters... Ginny Weasley was frozen, her life-spark numbed into apathy.

All those deaths, the loss, the seemingly pointless battles, the never ending struggles... Perhaps these were to blame?

Of course she had fought at the Battle of Hogwarts. Of course she had been there. She had fought well, too. She had been there... Physically at least. But her heart hadn't been in it. Everything had changed at the end of her fifth year... Everything around her, the stability she had cherished, the routine, crumbling before her unbelieving eyes. Her family, her friends, her life. Everything. And everything within her too.

Only one small element of her past had remained. Nothing large, nothing definable. A recurring image. A flash of colour. A shade of grey she would never forget. Eyes that would haunt her waking and sleeping dreams. A chronic ailment. And a question.

Where? Where was the man to whom those eyes belonged?

A troublesome question, and so a question left buried under layers of less pressing so less troubling concerns. And so Ginny Weasley, like everyone else, or at the very least those who could forget their grief and loss, had drifted back into her beloved routine. Except she was still frozen, on the inside, and judging by Hermione's concern, it showed.

Perhaps a little change would do her good.

Omg.. I love your idea for a round robin, and I'd like to join in on the next one if that would be ok . Im sorta new here, but I've posted some art, and am attempting to have my story put on portkey. (wish me luck)
Well i hope that i can be of help with the round robin.

Seana
Fire and Ice Forever!

Dude, you can carry this one on if you like. Or we could just start a new one.