Fire and Ice

An Unusual Tone

A second passed, and Ginny fainted.

"What...what?" Draco stuttered, at the sight of his red-headed companion falling to the floor. Half a minute passed. Suddenly, Draco's eyes widened as he remembered his final curse to the youngest Weasley, before the Potions Master found them. The Defisimus Curse. The Fainting Curse. It's delayed effects were perfect for a duel, and clearly, Draco did a good job of it.

Messy orange ringlets spooled over Ginny's freckled face, mixing with blonde and scarlet strands. It was a furious flame, scorching her face alight. Her full lips were slightly parted, and her eyes were still half-open, revealing dark brown eyes, framed by dark lashes, so different to her brother's blonde ones. It irritated Draco that his brain made that realisation; he hated how observant he could be, of the things that don't even matter.

Running his hands through his silky hair, Draco frowned. Blood was sill steadily pouring from his arms, dripping onto the stone floor where Ginny's body lay. A scarlet tear stained her eye lid, and Draco's eyes widened at the sight of it. Suddenly th young woma on the floor looked like the Deus Sanguis, the female Blood Witch he learned about in an old book at Malfoy Manor.

Snorting to himself, he swooped down and adjusted Ginny's body under his muscular arms. Disgusted with himself for lifting the body of a Weasley, Draco grunted and strode forward. He would drop her body discreetly at the Hospital Wing, where Madame Pomfrey would awaken her with some potion or something. The effects of the Defisimus Curse lasted only half an hour, its intention to give the curser time to escape whatever battle he is in.

His arms stung.

Striding forward, Draco resisted the urge to leave her body on the icy floor and continue with his life. However, as Professor Snape had ordered Draco to go to the Hospital Wing, he must do so. He would rather save his ear from a bellowing, thank you.

Footsteps from the opposite end of the corridoor suddenly grew, and Draco flinched inwardly as he heard the voice of the Potions Master. Darting to the left and right, his grey eyes dashed around until he found a door. Sure that the classroom would be empty, Draco raced to a door and whispred alohomora for it to open. Sliding in, Draco locked the door behind him and sighed, facing the empty clasroom before him.

"Severus, you need to understand-"

"No, Headmaster."

Draco frowned. No one interrupted Albus Dumbledore, let alone defy him. The footsteps stopped directly outside the classroom door, and Draco's breath hitched. Silently casting an Invisibility spell over the sleeping figure still in his arms and himself, he waited... And waited. Thankfully, none of the professors decided to enter. Instead, they stayed were they are, less than a meter away from the Slytherin and Griffindoor.

"Severus, look at me."

A shadow passed the light beneath the door.

"Severus, you will do this for me."

Draco's frown deepened. He's never heard the Headmaster talk in such a demanding manner. His tone was usually quite patient, reserved.

"Headmaster..."

"Severus?"

Several mintes passed, but Dumbledoor simply waited for the Potions Master's next words. Draco's ear was very nearly pressed against the door.

"It could ruin everything." Snape's voice was defeated, and more exhausted than Draco has ever heard.

"It could make everything right, Severus."

"But it might not. It won't. It won't work."

Five minutes passed. Every second dragged as the youngest Malfoy impatiently waited for the next words.

"Oh Severus," Dumbledore sighed, sounding a lot less serious. "you've always been so pessimistic. When a man feels the touch of an invisible hand, he could hope it were a Thestral, or a Dementor. You just need more faith in Death!"

And with that note, a pair of footsteps walked away with a bounce.

Suddenly, the invisible body in Draco's arms groaned and Draco froze, as well as Snape's sigh.

The door burst open, and Snape's beady eyes darted through the room. Draco Silenced Ginny silently, and held his breath.

Snape stalked out, locking the door behind him with a curse Draco hadn't heard of. He prayed alohomora would open the door. As Snape's footsteps drifted off, Draco lifted the Invisibility curse of the two students, and un-Silenced Ginny.

Her eyes opened, and fell onto Draco's face. He looked away.

"Where are we?" she asked casually, sitting up.

"An empty classroom."

"Don't be sarcastic, you rat."

"Terribly sorry," Draco replied scathingly, "I didn't realise your mind was so miniscule it can't comprehend sarcasm."

She growled. Literally, growled.

Standing, she brushed her robes out and headed for the door.

Draco didn't stop her. He didn't need to.

"What? What is this?!" she exclaimed, whizzing around to face Draco. He turned away, and rubbed his temples.

"Did you lock this? Wait, of course you didn't. It's locked from the outside..." her voice drifted as she took her wand out and waved it in front of the doorknob.

Draco opened his eyes and turned. "How did you know it was locked from the outside?"

She turned slowly. "I can tell."

"How? How could you know such complex magic?" Draco added a scathing tone to the "you", but he was too curios to add anything else to upset her.

Ginny's mouth curled upto one side in a scowl. "I know a lot of things."

"Well?" he replied impatiently. "Can you open it or not?"

"It's a delay lock curse," she muttered.

"No..." Draco whispered.

She opened her eyes. "Don't concern yourself, you'll only have the honour of my company-" Draco blinked "-for 12 hours. It'll open at night."

Draco settled himself on a cold chair and put his head in his hands.

"Now..."

Draco looked up.

"Care to tell me how we ended up in a locked, empty classroom?"