Fire and Ice

A Girl He Once Knew

Sitting on his cold, hard bed, Draco put his head in his hands and growled.

How can he pretend to spy for the Dark Lord?

How can be bear be under his father's "command"?

How can he see Ginny with his father watching his every move?

Unquestionably, he would find a way. He had to. It wasn't as if he could just not see her. He needed her, just as much as he needed oxygen, just as much as he needed his wand.

Toying the magical wooden stick between his fingers, a plan began to form in his mind. A crazy, stupid plan, but a plan nonetheless.

***

"Miss Weasley!"

Ginny turned, slowly, to face the one professor who still intimidates her in Hogwarts.

"Professor Snape," she replied, in what she hoped was a cool, unsuspicious voice.

"Why are you in the Slytherin wing?" his cold voice echoed through the dungeons, through her chest.

"I was looking for something I dropped..." her voice faltered as the beginning of her lie stumbled through her lips. Snape hissed lightly as she turned to face him, tears streaming down her face.

A thousand punishments flew through Snape's mind, but the desolate look in Ginny's eyes reminded him of a red-headed girl he once knew, who looked at him in those same, tear-stained eyes, looking for the boy she loved when she thought she had nothing else.

"Well, you better hurry and find it then, curfew is in less than an hour," Snape said shortly, betraying no emotion.

Staring at her Potions Master through frozen, shocked eyes, Ginny raced away.

"Thank you," she whispered, before she turned a corner, her flame-hair disappearing behind her.

Even though she couldn't see him, Snape nodded.

***

Staring at his mirror, Draco's brows furrowed as he tried again, his wand swinging in front of him angrily.

"Rucio. Rucio. Rucio. Rucio, damn it!"

Finally, after endless tries, Draco succeeded. He huffed quietly in relief, and continued.