Cold

Chapter Two

(Draco Malfoy)

It hadn't been ten minutes after I had sat down when the young woman burst into my compartment, inconsolable. Even more shock fell upon me when I realized who this young woman was. The red hair... the freckles.... It was Ginny Weasley, of course, known as the Weaslette to the Slytherins. Still, even though she was a Gryffindor, a Weasley no less, I still had this urge to ask her what was wrong.

I kept my lips sealed, however. I didn't need to put my reputation on the line to cure some curiosity, or her stupid feelings. But as I saw her crying there, I felt like I was seeing myself, the person that was deep inside of me. Crying... something I hadn't done in a long time... something I had wanted to do. Her sobbing slowed to an end and she began to mutter to herself. I bit my lip and continued to watch her in silence. Finally, she wiped away her tears and looked up. A gasp escaped her lips.

"M-m-MALFOY?! I... uh... wasn't crying!" She yelled quickly.

"Can it, Weaslette, I've been here the whole time."

"Oh... damn..." she looked down.

"What's your problem anyway? Aren't you happy?" I said wistfully, but recovered. "I mean- it's not like I CARE or anything- just... curious. Hell, you've got tons of friends and... stuff..." I had already said too much.

"Uh..." Ginny blushed slightly, shook her head and snapped, "Like I'd tell YOU."

I sighed. "Fair enough. Guess I'll just have to... ask... your brother..."

"NO!" she yelled quickly, catching me off guard. "Please, don't!" She grabbed my shirt, clutching it tightly. "I'll do... anything!" Her emerald eyes shined in desperation, and I merely stared down at her with an eyebrow raised.

"Sheesh, Weasley, calm down. I won't tell. God..." I grasped her wrist and threw her to the floor. "You're too emotional, ya' know that?"

She was silent. "...Sorry."

"Whatever," I growled when the train pulled to a stop. "Well, it was nice riding with you Weasley, but I'm afraid I must take my leave before anybody sees me."

"Oh, how flattering," Ginny spat before I slammed the door shut behind me.

"Well, now I feel better," I grinned to myself, though on the inside, I still felt like I was dying.

"Oh, Draaaaacoooo," came a moaning voice from behind.

"Shit. As if things couldn't get any WORSE," I thought.

(Ginny Weasley)

"As if things couldn't get any WORSE," I growled, standing up and desperately trying to make myself look like I hadn't been on the floor crying for an hour.

I had to cake on quite a bit of makeup to look normal, but my eyes were still red. I figured I could lie and say I was asleep. At least Ron would believe me. I pulled a red ribbon out of the pocket of my robes and tied my auburn curls behind my head. I hated the fact that it was curly, but now, I couldn't change it, so I dealt with it.

Some boys seemed to like it though, not that I cared. No matter how much I wanted a boyfriend, no matter how much I wanted to get over Harry, I couldn't. I loved Harry because, not only was he handsome and kind-hearted, but he understood me- what I'd been through, far more than anyone else ever would. At least that's what I thought. Maybe it was just me and my childish mind...

I pulled my robes tighter around me and raced out of the train, not really caring that it wasn't cold outside at all- I was. I just didn't want to be seen by anyone, especially my "friends" and family. I grabbed a seat in the nearest carriage, carried by the Thestrals that I could see, but I didn't let anyone know that. I didn't let anyone know much of anything about my life. I just walked through school, smiling and saying hello and pretending to make friends and like boys and everything a sixteen year old girl would do. But it wasn't the real me.... The real me would scare people... kill people... like in my dreams...

"Ginny! THERE you are! What's up, girlfriend?!" a girl with bleach blonde hair yelled, catching up with me.

I cringed before turning around and smiling. "Hey. I'm good. How 'bout you Kristy?"

"Oh, I'm soooo, like, great! The guys here just seem to get cuter and cuter!"

I rolled my eyes. "Will you please stop talking?" I muttered.

"What?! Ginny!"

I gasped. I hadn't meant to say such a thing, well I wanted to, but not out loud. The girl scoffed, flipped her hair, and stomped off. Well, now that THAT was taken care of.... I moved up the staircases, not bothering with the normal introduction and feast. I wasn't hungry. I was never anything. Just cold.

(Draco Malfoy)

Well, at least I had managed to distract myself from the horrible night I had had last night. My dazed nature had made Pansy storm off in a rage, and I definitely WASN'T complaining. I was stuck in thought over the Weaslette. It was strange. I hadn't realized it was her at first. Her hair had taken a curly form, every ringlet perfect, and her freckles had blended together, giving her almost natural make-up. Her lips were no longer the chapped pink that they were the many years before, but a deep cherry red. Her body had grown a lot over the summer, and it was good to her... veeeerrry good. Her uniform was getting a bit... tight. Suddenly, at realization of these thoughts, I mentally slapped myself and shook the flush out of my face.

"What the hell are you thinking, Draco?!" I screamed in my mind.

"Well," I reasoned on the inside, "she may be a Weasley, but she's still pretty. Any man can appreciate beauty, can they not?"

I decided to just forget about it, but I couldn't forget her crying for some reason. Perhaps it was the impact it had made on my soul, the feelings that tore me up inside belonging to someone else? No, it was probably some boy. There was no way that stupid weasel could have troubles as I did. I held the Dark Mark. My father abused me. Her family loved her conditionally and always gave her attention.

"So not fair," I whispered.

And it wasn't. Why did she get a happy life with loving caring family and friends? Why did I have to stand in the shadows and pretend everything was okay? Why could she cry when I couldn't? Why did I have to work for Voldemort?! The Dark Mark burned on my arm and I bit my lip, wincing against the pain.

"And why... isn't SHE happy?" I thought softly.

The feast was beginning. I wasn't hungry. I didn't even stay to taunt Potter and Granger and Weasley. Suddenly, I didn't want to. Why taunt someone who has what you want? It could ruin the chances of you ever getting it. But I was quite sure that had already happened.

I would never... have what they had...

(A/N: Yay! Another good chapter in my opinion. I was surprised since I've been working my butt off lately. School's a bitch, ya' know? ::sigh:: Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter and please review!)