PROTECTION ♞ h.p.

8. Fears Within

Harry and Ron sat on the picnic table, their feet resting on the bench below. With their elbows propped on their knees, they stared out at the pond in silence.

"So," Ron said finally, not bothering to look over.

"So," Harry echoed.

"You and Ginny, huh?"

Harry looked over at Ron's profile for a second before dropping his gaze to the ground.

"Yeah," he said, running a hand through his hair. "Me and Ginny."

Ron was silent for a few more seconds before he sighed. "Malfoy's not going to like that."

"I know," Harry replied softly.

~..~..~..~..~..~

Ginny's eyes flew open.

Rising up on her elbows, she glanced around in confusion, unsure of where she was. Her body relaxed as her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she recognized the familiar surroundings of her room.

The feeling of relief was short lived, her tension returning full force with the realization that she was alone.

How did I get up here?

Ginny started to sit up but froze when a shadow glided past the window, temporarily blocking the moonlight.

Looking around for the source, she gasped when an ominous black figure materialized in front of her.

Instinctively, Ginny moved as it approached, rolling toward the far side of the bed to get away. A hand grabbed the back of her dress, jerking her back to the center. She began to scream but a hand clamped over her mouth, muffling the sound. Her struggles were futile as her head was shoved back down onto the mattress.

Whimpering as she struggled, Ginny twisted and arched her back as she tried to rip the hand away from her face. She froze, her heart pounding against her ribs when she felt a wand pressing against her throat.

"I'll have to remember you're a light sleeper," Malfoy purred as he came into focus above her. Smirking, he watched her eyes widen in horror as he kneeled next to her.

Ginny snatched her hands away from his arm, fisting them into the sheets instead. Slowly, he trailed his wand down her neck. She squeezed her eyes shut as he traced the spot where his mark had been.

"I see he got rid of that for you," he mused. "Impressive. Want me to put it back?"

Ginny opened her eyes and glared at him, but he just continued to smirk.

"No? No matter," he said softly as he leaned over her. "What I need is still here anyway," he whispered as he replaced the tip of his wand with his fingers, caressing her throat gently.

The feel of his fingers upon her sent shivers down her spine. In response, Ginny bit down hard on the hand covering her mouth, digging her teeth into his skin until she tasted blood.

Malfoy ripped his hand away with a curse.

Ginny screamed Harry's name as loud as she could, but received only a sharp slap across the face in response. Her head snapped to the side and she squeezed her eyes shut for a second before glaring back up at him. When she opened her mouth to scream again, Malfoy shoved his wand back against her throat, pressing it into her skin.

"Scream all you want, Ginny," he taunted, increasing the pressure of his wand tip on her neck until she grimaced. "No one can hear you. But on second thought," he reconsidered after a brief pause, "your bellowing would annoy me... and I don't think you'd like that."