The Red Moon series
Phase Four: Scarlet Thread
---
Blaise was making his way to the Great Hall when a certain red head stepped in his way, stopping his progress,
"What do you want Weasley?" Blaise hissed, crossing his arms over his chest and looked down his nose at her,
"I- I-" she took a deep breath then tried again, eyes narrowed in determination, "I want to know where Malfoy is."
"Probably in the Great Hall," Blaise shrugged,
"He's not and he didn't show up for last night's session," Ginny said then placed her hands on her hips, "And I won't let you pass until you tell me where he is."
"I haven't seen him since yesterday at lunch. He didn't go to afternoon classes. For all I know, he's probably laying in the middle of the Quidditch pitch, dead as a doorknob because he fell off his broom flying and snapped his neck," Blaise replied before pushing past her, "Why are you asking me anyways? Try Goyle and Crabbe, they follow him everywhere."
"I already have," Ginny said before sighing heavily, arms dropping to her sides, "And I'm asking you because I know you worry about him to."
"Why are you worried about him?" Blaise asked,
"Because I tried to help him two nights ago but he refused and suddenly he's disappeared and- I don't know," she sighed again, her posture slouching.
Blaise looked around them and saw several students walk by whispering. A Slytherin talking to a Gryffindor? That was almost blasphemous. He looked back at Ginny then took a step forward,
"Well, well Weasley. Never thought you'd have the guts to go interrogating Slytherins," Blaise stated as he began to circle her, "I'm telling you now, whatever ideas you have in your head having to do with Malfoy, get rid of them now. C'mon, a Slytherin and a Gryffindor? Are you mad?"
"I'm just trying to help him out. He is helping me out by tutoring me," Ginny defended,
"Well, if you're looking for someone to help, you could always help me," Blaise suggested as he stepped forward.
Ginny stepped back and somehow, she found herself against the corridor wall. Blaise put his hands on he wall on both sides of her head and leaned his head in. Ginny shut her eyes tightly as she searched her robes for her wand. However, she stopped when she heard Blaise's voice in her ear,
"It's been as sunny as summer these past two days. He's protected from it by his magic as a wizard, but magic does have its limits," Blaise whispered. He heard Ginny release a breath of relief, "Next time, don't approach me in public, Weasley, you don't want both our reputations questioned and a fight to break out between our Houses, do you?" She shook her head negatively, "Good."
With that, Blaise straightened up, glared at anyone passing by to stop their whispering. Then with one last look at Ginny, he continued on his way to the Great Hall, leaving Ginny confounded. For the second time she had had Blaise act kind towards her and for the second time, she was finding another person who wasn't completely like what they seemed.
---
Draco pulled the curtains shut violently, "Damn sun. I've never been a morning person, but this is starting to get annoying."
Suddenly, a familiar weakness filled his chest as his head began to pound steadily. Hand clutching the green shirt cloaking his chest, Draco slumped slightly against the wall for a moment. A few deep breaths after, his hand dropped to his side and he headed for his common room, stumbling through the doorway.
He walked across the room to the desk and opened the small black box sitting on top. Inside were vials of the red potion Snape had brewed for him and a single row of vials containing a blue potion. He reached for one of the blue potions, uncorked it and downed it immediately, replacing the empty vial as he waited for it to take affect. Slowly, the pounding in his head ceased and he let out a breath of relief.
He knew his limits, yet he had to look out the window that morning. He had to see how it was outside, but he wasn't prepared for the immense amount of sunlight. The past two days had been extremely sunny for autumn and Draco couldn't handle it, his magic unable to protect him to that degree. It felt like those unbearable summer days when Draco had to lock himself up in the mansion or risk perishing in the bright sunlight.
Once the headache, which came from excessive sun exposure, disappeared altogether, Draco put a palm down on the table, leaning against it. The weakness was still there, but he knew it wasn't from the sun. He gazed loathingly at the red vials and tentatively took one. He had to try something, he felt weak enough to collapse on his common room floor! Uncorking it, he slowly brought the vial to his lips. After a three-count, he tipped the vial's contents completely into his mouth and swallowed hard. He waited and counted the seconds before his body would reject it.
Twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine-
The vial dropped from his hand that had gone limp. He wrapped his arms around his stomach as he felt the familiar feeling of his stomach crumpling itself into a ball and turning over. His torso lurched forward slightly and a hand went to his mouth, but he stopped whatever that wanted to come out from doing so. It happened again and he stopped it once more.
Letting out a frustrated growl, he grabbed the black box and flung it across the room. It hit the mantle of the empty fireplace and fell to the ground. The vials had spilt out of the box when it hit the mantle and now lay broken on the floor, the solutions pooling into a huge mess before the fireplace.
Draco felt the feeling of the potion wanting to leave his body, but he held it in again as he stumbled towards the sitting area. He let his body fall onto one of the couches, his head hanging over the side and finally, he let his body cough up the potion. Once again, he felt as if he were watching his blood being coughed up. When the last drop of the potion had been purged out of him, he lay on the couch, stomach down and was breathing deeply. The weakness had returned; had it ever left? He closed his eyes as strands of his hair fell carelessly over his forehead. Slowly, he felt sleep overtake him; he was too weak to stay awake.
---
When dinnertime came around, Ginny felt the anxiety ebb at her resolve. Blaise had tried to dissuade her worries, and she appreciated it, but it didn't work. She found herself searching the halls between classrooms and perking her ears to every conversation around her listening for anything that could be connected to Draco. She wasn't sure what brought on her constant worry; she never gave a damn about him before, so why start now? During the day, she had begun to attribute her concern for him after he had taken care of her, but she realized it didn't start then. If she was being honest, the connection she felt with Draco began when they started the tutoring sessions. They were hardly friends, barely acquaintances; however, she began to anticipate their squabbles and fights. After the first few nights, things would seem off if she didn't get into some kind of row with the Slytherin.
She began to realize that he added challenge and excitement to her otherwise dull school days. The night he saved her from a poisonous death, she realized there were two sides of him and she found herself compelled to get to know both sides. Then, she was reminded of what fear was like the night she found him coughing up the potion. He had pushed his pride aside to ask for her help and when he told his story, she had listened. The fear she remembered was not of learning what Draco was; the fear was for his well-being and his survival. That was the reason why on that night, her willingness to give Draco her blood was an easy decision. By the end of the day, all the pieces were falling into place and she finally realized that Draco Malfoy was beginning to mean something to her.
When she entered the Great Hall, she purposely walked along the length of the Slytherin table under the guise that she was stopping to talk to friends in Hufflepuff, whose table was adjacent to Slytherin. As she was talking to one of her classmates, her ears perked up when she heard Draco's name,
"Malfoy's not here again," Crabbe's voice noted,
"He's right there," Goyle's voice replied,
"Malfoy's not Asian, you dunderhead," Blaise's voice snorted,
"He hasn't been around lately," Goyle realized, "He doesn't even sit with us in class,"
"Maybe Malfoy's dead?" Crabbe suggested,
"Will you two shut up? Malfoy's not dead," Blaise retorted,
"How would you know Zabini? He hasn't been eating, I'm stupid, not deaf!" Goyle said,
"You mean you're not blind!" Blaise sighed exasperatedly, "Malfoy's fine. If he heard you two idiots planning his funeral he'd send you both to the bottom of the lake."
The conversation continued amongst the Slytherin Boys, however Ginny had stopped listening and focused on something Goyle had said: he hasn't been eating.
Ginny said her goodbyes to her friend and bolted over to the Gryffindor table but the person she was looking for had already finished dinner and left.
Anxiously, Ginny headed to the third floor corridor. As a prefect, she had to memorize the Head Boy and Girl's nightly routine in case of emergency. Once she found no luck on the third floor, she began to head to the fourth floor, however, she spotted her target just turning the corner at the top of the stairs,
"HERMIONE!"
A head of wild curls appeared from around the corner, "Ginny?"
Ginny sprinted the rest of the steps up, scared that the stairs would randomly decide to change on her. As she caught her breath, Hermione asked her if there was a problem,
"No, yes. I need to know where Malfoy's room is,"
Hermione raised a curious eyebrow, "Why?"
"Has Ron told you that Malfoy tutors me in potions?"
"Yes, he's not very happy about it. Whenever we ask him about it he just says that you're being tutored by a giant spider because that's more pleasant than you being tutored by Malfoy," Hermione laughed slightly,
"Yes well, Snape said he wants me to have a potion done for tomorrow morning, but Malfoy didn't show up last night and I need him to help me," Ginny explained, shocked at how easily the lie rolled off her lips,
"Well Ginny, I could always help you," Hermione offered, "I'm not Malfoy, but I'm just as good as he is at Potions."
Ginny thought fast to counter this small obstacle, "I would love to have you help me Mione, but at night Snape puts up wards in his classroom so no one can get at his storage. The wards only let Malfoy and me get through and it'd be hard for you to help me if you can't even be there with me."
"I can stand in the hallway while you -"
"The wards are soundproof, I wouldn't hear any of your instructions. Never mind that now, can you please just tell me where his room is? I don't know how long it'll take me to make the potion," Ginny rushed but was not faking her anxiety or her pressure for time.
"Okay, okay, on the fifth floor like mine is," Hermione explained, "But the entrance to his is behind that tapestry of the Bloody Baron. I'm not sure how to get the wall behind it to open, but maybe if you hit it or something he'll hear the noise and come out ready to kill?"
"Thanks!" Ginny called behind her as she bolted for the fifth floor.
---
With little trouble, Ginny was able to find the tapestry of the Bloody Baron (pre-ghost and pre-bloody). For lack of reason, she pulled up one side of the tapestry and began yelling at the stones beneath, calling Draco's name. Nothing. She took out her wand and began casting various spells and charms, but still nothing happened. Releasing the part of the tapestry she held up, she sighed in frustration. She was so close yet so far.
She stared up at the tapestry, if only she had the password. Hermione didn't even know it, but who else -
"Zabini!" She turned on her heel and began to run back to the Great Hall.
On her way down the steps leading to the second floor, she ran into somebody but before she could fall back onto the stairs, a hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her straight up. She looked up to find Blaise holding her arm,
"You really don't watch where you're going, do you?" Blaise snapped,
"I need his password Zabini, please," Ginny pleaded with him as he let go of her wrist,
"I don't know what you're talking about," Blaise sneered as he turned around and began to head down the stairs,
"You're worried about him to, aren't you?" Ginny asked, her voice a whisper even though no one was around,
"Now I know you're mad, Weasley,"
"I'm not crazy! You were going to check up on him, weren't you? Otherwise you don't have any other reason to be going up here," Ginny pointed out, "Zabini, if you're as concerned for Draco as I think you are, you'll tell me his password."
"Why should I give you his password?" he demanded,
"Because maybe you're not the only one worried about him!" Ginny blurted out. She looked away immediately, feeling her face burn. She hadn't meant to admit that, after all, she hadn't even admitted it completely to herself yet. However, in all her anxiousness to get the password and Blaise's persistent stubbornness to withhold it, she had a slip of the tongue.
"Nike."
Ginny's head snapped towards Blaise in confusion,
"The password, it's Nike," he chuckled as he continued down the stairs,
"Where are you going? Aren't you going to check up on Malfoy?"
"It seems that he doesn't need me to make sure he stays alive," Blaise called over his shoulder before he disappeared down the stairs.
Unsure of what Blaise was referring to, Ginny turned back up the stairs and returned to the fifth floor.
---
Upon arrival, she lifted up the tapestry, "Nike!"
Immediately, the stones rearranged themselves and an opening appeared. Peering through, Ginny was in awe as she saw a dimly lit common room. Stepping through, the entrance closed behind her. She looked around the common room. She saw the desk in the corner, the small window to one side, a door opposite to her and the fireplace, a small fire burning. Unsure of what to do, she began to head towards the door. Her progress stopped when she heard a noise from the sitting area. She looked over and saw some movement on one of the couches.
Tentatively, Ginny approached and finally found Draco. He was lying on his stomach with his head and his right arm flung over the side of the couch.
"Malfoy?"
Draco titled his head slightly then let it drop back to where it had been, "I don't have the strength to yell at you right now Weasley, so just leave."
"Malfoy, are you okay?" She walked around the couch and stood at his side,
"You don't bloody listen, do you?" His voice was a low growl, "Leave."
She looked around the sitting area and saw the pools of potion and the broken shards. She gasped, "Is that the potion Snape brewed for you?"
"Merlin's ghost you are the nosiest person I have had the misfortune to have in my life!" Draco muttered bitterly,
"That's why you haven't been around, isn't it? You haven't had any nourishment for a month and now you're just too weak. I'm right, aren't I!?" She demanded,
"Sod off Weasley!" Draco countered, the command seeming unthreateningly without his strength behind it.
"Why don't you just take blood?" Ginny asked quietly,
"Because I don't need -"
"Stop being a stubborn prat Malfoy! I understand it's hard for you to deal with the fact that you're a vampire now, but either accept it and take blood or deny it and let yourself waste away!" Ginny exclaimed,
"It's not that easy to just take blood Weasley, but perhaps that's just too complicated for you to understand," Draco retorted,
"Why, because you need to find someone? Or because you need to find a way to do it without someone outing you to Dumbledore? Is that it? Did you swear you wouldn't bite anyone as long as you were allowed to return to Hogwarts?"
Draco remained silent; he was surprised at how well Ginny had figured it all out. So, he thought, she's not just book smart.
"Weasley -"
"My offer is still on the table, Malfoy."
He turned onto his back, leaning back on his elbows for support as he looked at her in surprise, "What are you going on about now?"
"The other night Malfoy, I'll still let you take my blood," Ginny said, fighting the tremble in her body,
"It's not that simple,"
"Are you scared to take my blood now because you like how it tastes?" Ginny repeated her question from that night.
Draco hadn't answered it the last time, but this time he did, "Yes," he breathed,
"W-why?" She inquired, feeling her fear overtaking her previous courage,
"Because I'm scared that once I take your blood, I won't be able to stop - that I'll keep coming back for more," Draco admitted in a casual tone as if he wasn't scared at all,
"Then keep coming back," Ginny said quietly as she removed her robe and sweater and draped them across the adjacent armchair. Silently, Draco watched as she undid the top two buttons of her school shirt to completely expose her neck. Slowly, Ginny stepped towards him and sat down on the edge of the couch.
With all his strength, Draco pushed himself up and found himself looking down into her eyes. Even sitting down, he was taller than her. His right hand came up and held the back of her neck, he left hand came to the small of her back and pulled her closer to him. He felt her slightly shaking beneath his hands,
"You're scared," he stated, "you can still leave Weasley. If you get up and leave, we can go on with life and pretend this never happened."
"If I get up and leave, you may not be able to go on living," she said, concern lining her words,
"And you're willing to let me bite you to keep me alive?" She nodded slowly, "are you sure?"
She nodded as she raised her right hand, brought it to the back of his head and pulled it down to the right side of her neck. She closed her eyes as her hand dropped to her side.
"Thank you," he breathed into her skin before he bared his fangs and pierced her ivory skin.
By instinct, Ginny's right hand clenched the arm that was holding her waist and her left arm wrapped around his back and grabbed at his right shoulder from behind. Her head lolled back as she felt him begin to suck. Her shaking had stopped, but her breaths became deep. His hold on her tightened but it didn't hurt her, instead, Ginny felt protected. He held her body captive against his own body as he feasted on her blood.
When Draco had his fill, he pulled his head away from her neck and absent-mindedly leaned his cheek against the side of her head. Ginny was leaning her forehead against his shoulder and still holding onto him tightly. She was scared that if she loosened her grip, she would surely fall to the floor - she felt weaker.
After a silent moment that seemed to stretch across eternity, Draco spoke, "Are you okay?"
Ginny nodded against his shoulder. Suddenly, she pushed herself from Draco and stood up, avoiding his eyes,
"I should go," she murmured as she pulled on her sweater and threw her arms into the sleeves of her robe.
"Weasley," Draco said quietly as he grabbed her wrist before she could walk away, "Do you regret it?"
"No," she said steadily. She was thankful her back was to him, that way he wouldn't see her tears as she walked away.
When the entrance closed behind her, she leaned back against the stones, the tapestry draping around her. She took deep breaths to calm herself and to stop the tears. She didn't know why she was crying and she didn't understand any of the feelings roaming inside her. She had felt this way before, she realized as she wiped away her tears with the back of her sleeve. This cold feeling was familiar, the hollowness an old friend- she was feeling lonely. Somehow, when she was just sitting there in the circle of Draco's arms, she was reminded of just how lonely she was. What frightened her was the fact that she was beginning to want Draco to fill the void.
She felt the stones behind her begin to rearrange themselves and without thought, she ran away before the entrance had appeared.
---
Ginny stood before a mirror in the Prefects' bathroom. She had showered and washed away any blood that may have spilt. She tilted her head as she examined herself in the reflecting glass.
"I don't look different," she said quietly to herself.
Gingerly, she tilted her head to the left to expose her neck better in the mirror. Tentatively, she ran her forefinger over the two small bite marks on her neck. She began trying to adjust the collar of her white shirt to hide the marks. She struggled with the collar for a few minutes, but nothing short of flipping her collar up would hide the marks. She sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair and pulled pieces of her soaked hair over her shoulders. It hid the marks well, but it'd be difficult to make sure her hair was constantly covering it. Frustrated, she pulled her hair back, twisted it up and clipped it back. Pulling out her wand, she pointed to her neck and conjured bandages that wrapped around her neck snugly.
"That'll- that'll have to do," she whispered, "What happened Ginny?" She asked her reflection. Surprised, a lie spilt from her lips easily, "I slipped while I was showering and nicked my neck on a tap. I bruised other parts of my body, but my neck was the only one that had skin broken." She looked at her reflection again. It was probably a weak and transparent lie, but it would have to suffice until the marks healed. The next time Draco bites her, she'd have to come up with something better, but she'd cross that bridge when it came. And it would come because she opened that door for him.
---
Blaise walked through the entrance into the Head Boy's common room. He found Draco sitting in an armchair before the fireplace once again. Elbows resting on the armrests, hands folded in his laps, his head slightly titled towards the ceiling, he sat with closed eyes and steady breathing.
"Sleeping or thinking?" Blaise asked as he sat on the couch just hours ago Draco had collapsed on.
"Both. Go away Zabini," Draco muttered, nothing but his lips moving,
"Hmm- you're looking healthier Malfoy," Blaise commented,
"A few days away from the sun does a vampire well," Draco replied in the same mutter,
"A few days in the dark- or human blood?"
Draco remained silent for a moment before opening his eyes and answering, "I don't know what you're going on about,"
"You were never skilled in cleaning spells," Blaise stated as he took out his wand and cleaned up the pool of collected potions and shattered glass before the fireplace. Then, Blaise stood up, took the few steps to Draco's side and pointed the wand at his collar, "You've never been a sloppy eater. But I suppose we're all a little messy when we first start learning to eat." He said another cleaning spell and the red spot that his wand was pointing at disappeared in a few seconds. He pocketed the wand and began to leave, "Was it worth it?"
Silence.
"The temptation's only going to get worst Draco," Blaise said seriously as he stood by the entrance, pausing before activating it, "It's not right to make her your portable kitchen."
"I know that," Draco said through gritted teeth,
"Really? You could've fooled me." With that, Blaise exited the common room and left Draco with his thoughts.
