The importance of Being Virginia

Chapter SIX


She'll let you in her house
If you come knocking late at night
She'll let you in her mouth
If the words you say are right
If you pay the price
She'll let you deep inside
But there's a secret garden she hides

She'll let you in her car
to go drivin' round
She'll let you into the parts of herself
That'll bring you down
She'll let you in her heart
If you got a hammer and a vise
But into the secret garden, don't think twice

You've gone a million miles
How far'd you get
To that place where you can't remember
And you can't forget

She'll lead you down a path
There'll be tenderness in the air
She'll let you come just far enough
So you'll know she's really there
She'll look at you and smile
And her eyes will say
She's got a secret garden
Where everything you want
Where everything you need
Will always stay
A million miles away
-Secret Garden by Bruce Springsteen-



Harry felt her thighs tighten around him and her body stiffen, the feel of her coming, as it always did, brought him to completion. He collapsed on top of her. He relished these precious moments of closeness, before she pushed him off, like she always did. They'd been together for months, and they were about to graduate. In just one month, he'd go off to be an auror. He didn't even know what she was going to do after school. She probably wouldn't even tell him, she'd just leave and he'd never see her again. Despite his hopes, they'd gotten no closer in the past year. The only time that she was with him was when they were having sex, the rest of the time she was with Draco. But he treasured this part of her that no one else had, and loved her more than ever before. But every time she left him, every time she pushed him away when he tried to hold her, she made a little crack in his heart. It wouldn't be long before she broke it.

She pushed him lightly off of her, giving him a small kiss. "Alright, off with you. I need to get some sleep."

He asked, because he couldn't stop himself, even though he knew the answer," Can I stay?"

"Harry you know I don't like sleeping with people, I like my space, and I'd never be able to fall asleep."

"I'll stay on my side of the bed, you won't even know I'm here. I just don't feel like walking all the way to my room. You wore me out." He smiled, hoping to convince her.

Oh hell, it wouldn't kill her to let him stay. She was certainly excused enough not to want to have to walk even the relatively short distance to the boys dorms. It wouldn't be fair to make him do something that she wouldn't. "Alright just try not to kick me accidentally in the middle of the night, or anything. And I don't suggest trying to talk to me in the morning. I'm just not fit for company until I've had my shower. Well..goodnight," she said turning over on her side and closing her eyes.

"Night." He smiled and closed his eyes. Maybe all hope wasn't lost. He wasn't holding her, but at least they'd wake up together. He could think of nothing more beautiful, than seeing her face when he woke up.



Harry blinked open bleary eyes, he hadn't gotten very much sleep last night. Ginny had hogged the covers and whenever he'd tried to snuggle against her for body heat, she'd pushed him away. Even in her sleep, she'd pushed him away. He looked around the empty room. There was no note, she was just gone. He felt anger rising in him. He halfheartedly checked the bathroom, but he knew it would be empty. She hadn't even left him a note, it was like he didn't even exist. He dressed and stalked quickly out of the room. It was time that they had a talk. He was sick of this pretending. It was Saturday, so he had no idea where she might be. He heard a sound and whirled around, but didn't see anything in the darkened hall. Shrugging his shoulders he forgot about it and made his way down to the common room, and then up to his room. He searched through his trunk for his map, and when he saw her little dot, he became even angrier. There she was, Virginia Weasley, and who was right next to her? Draco Malfoy of course. Draco who she talked with, and laughed with, and shared things with. He tossed the map back onto his bed and made his way out toward the lake.

When he found them, they were sitting under a tree, having a picnic. He watched as she stole a grape from his plate, popping it into her mouth. She leaned over, pointing at something in his book. He said something to her, and she laughed. She laughed, and it was beautiful, she was beautiful. That was what he wanted. He wanted to study together, and go on picnics. He wanted to make her laugh, not moan. But how could he give that to her when she was getting it was someone else. It was as if each of them were some sick pseudo boyfriend. He got one half and Draco got the other. But he wanted it all, and it was Draco's fault he wasn’t getting it. Well he intended to something about it. First he had to tell Virginia how he felt. Maybe if she knew what he wanted, she would want it too.

Draco watched as she threw back her head and laughed. The sun was shining on her hair and it looked like fire spilling down her back. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks were flushed, and she was sitting very close to him. It was hard enough keeping his hormones in check, without her leaning over his shoulder to point to something in the book and brushing her breasts lightly against his back. And then there had been the popsicle. It had made all kinds of inappropriate thoughts run through his head. And when she laughed, she was devastating. And she laughed quite a lot around him. Damn his brilliant sense of humor. He looked away from her, desperate for a distraction. His eyebrows rose in surprise, as he saw Potter stalking toward them, looking very unhappy. While Potter wouldn't have been his first choice, he would do as a distraction. In fact he'd been looking for an excuse to kick Potter's ass all year. If the look Potter was giving him was any indication, he might just get his chance.

Virginia followed his gaze and frowned slightly when she saw Harry. She enjoyed the time she spent alone with Draco, and didn't like being interrupted. Whatever he wanted had better be important.

Harry came to stand by her, trying his best to ignore Draco. "Can we talk?"

"About what?"

"It's private," he spat out through gritted teeth.

Her frown deepened at his tone."Alright." She got up and walked a few yards away. "What's wrong with you," she asked turning to face him," why are you so upset?"

"Why the hell did you just leave this morning? You could have woken me up, or at least left me a fucking note."

She stared at him in shock for a few seconds, but anger was slowly creeping into her. She couldn't believe he was so angry, and over something so trivial. "A note? Why would I leave you a note? You're not my keeper."

"Then what am I? What the fuck am I? Am I nothing?" He grabbed her arms, shaking her slightly. "Am I just a fuck? Is that all I am to you?"

"Harry, I.. I thought we..."she trailed off. She didn't know what to say to him. She couldn't believe she'd never seen it. "I told you in the beginning, what I wanted. You said you wanted it too."

"Well sorry, not all of us can just turn our emotions off when their inconvenient. Not all of us can be as unfeeling and uncaring as you," he said voice rising, as he gripped her arms harder.

Suddenly her arms were free, and she was staring down at Harry, who was sprawled on the ground.

"Don't you ever lay a hand on her again, Potter." Draco drew in a breath, trying to calm himself. But the rage he'd felt when he'd seen Potter grab her refused to calm.

Virginia didn't even look at him, she was just standing, staring at Potter. "I never meant to hurt you Harry. I do care for you, you know I do. You're my friend and..."

Harry stood up quickly, interrupting her. "I'm your friend? I'm not your friend. Malfoy's your friend. It's him you spend time with, him you laugh with, go on fucking picnics with. I'm just someone you use to satisfy your dirty little desires. I wondered, why you chose me and not Draco. But it's because I look like him isn't it." She flinched, and she looked like she was about to cry, but his anger override his guilt, and he stepped toward her. "Do you pretend that I'm him? When you're running your fingers through my hair, do you pretend it's his? Do you close your eyes and pretend it's him pounding into you? You make me sick."

A tear ran down her cheek and it made him feel good. He wanted her to hurt, like he was hurting. Wanted to make her feel something, anything.

Suddenly, pain exploded in his cheek, and he fell to the ground. He looked up to find Draco leaning over him, getting ready to deliver another blow. He swept his leg out and tripped the other boy, springing on top of him and pummeling him with his fists. He had so much anger inside him. Anger at Ginny, anger at Draco, anger at himself.

She watched them rolling on the ground, and for a moment she did nothing. She couldn't believe he'd said those things to her. She couldn't believe he'd been so mean. She hadn't ever expected him, of all people to try to hurt her. She was just about to stop the fight, when Ron came running up to her side.

He looked down at the two boys. "Ginny what's going on? Why are you crying?"

She just shook her head, refusing to answer.

He frowned at her and then took out his wand pointing it at Draco and Harry, "Separato." They flew apart about ten feet. Draco had a busted lip and a cut over his eyebrow, and Harry's eye was already swelling closed; but both looked ready to jump right back in. "Hold it you two, don't even think about it," Ron said, coming to stand between them. "What the hell is going on?"

"What's going on is your stupid git friend, was shaking your sister. And he made her cry." Draco's fists curled and he looked ready to hit Harry again.

"Harry is that true?" Ron turned to Harry, who was looking miserable. Harry didn't answer. Ron's gaze narrowed, and his voice sharpened. " What the hell is going on with you two? Lavender said she saw you leaving Ginny's room this morning. Are you involved with my sister?"

"Involved?" Harry let out a laugh that was just this side of hysterical. "No we're not involved. We're just fucking. Isn't that right Ginny. We've just been fucking for almost a year, but we're not involved."

"You bastard," Ron said, stepping forward. "How dare you use my sister?"

"Me use her? I'd direct your indignation in the other direction. It's her that's been using me. It's her that..that made me fall in love with her, and then broke my heart." The tears that had started to run down his friends face, stopped Ron is his tracks. "It's her that's been carving away tiny pieces of my heart all year. It's her that's left me like this. Left me heartless."

"Harry, I'm sorry.." she started to say, but Harry interrupted her.

"Don't talk to me, Ginny. Just don't talk to me." His voice broke and he left them, walking quickly toward the castle.

"Ginny what the hell is going on?" Ron felt torn, Ginny was his sister, but Harry was his best friend, and they were both hurting.

"You can yell at me later, just not right now. I can't handle it right now." She sank down against the tree, putting her head against her knees. "Just go be with Harry. He needs you."

"Ginny I.."

"Just go. I'll be fine."

Ron turned to look at Draco. "Don't worry Weasley, I'll take care of her."

With one last helpless look at his sister, Ron turned and ran back toward the castle.

Draco kneeled down in front of her, lightly stroking her hair. "Virginia, look at me."

She did, and the tears on her face and the hurt in her eyes, made his gut twist. He hated to see her like this. He brushed her hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear. "This isn't your fault. You can't control other people's feelings for you. You told him in the beginning what you wanted. You didn't lie to him, or lead him on. He's just upset right now. He didn't mean the things he said."

"Yes he did, Draco, he meant them. And I can't stand that I hurt him. He's had so much pain in his life, and he's always been great to me. How could I hurt him like that? How could I not have noticed he was falling for me? He's not very good at hiding his emotions, I just saw what I wanted to see. He's right. I used him."

"No you didn't. I know you and you would never do that. He wanted something that you couldn't give him. And that's not anybody's fault."

"I know. I know. It just hurts to see him hurting." She bit her lip, trying to hold back more tears.

"Come here," he said holding out his arms.

She slid slowly into them, letting the tears free. He felt them, wet against his neck. He hugged her tighter, and she felt so right in his arms. He just wanted to kiss her, and make her forget all about Potter. He wanted to make her smile again. It took all of his willpower to stop himself. They could never be together like that. He wouldn't risk losing her, she was too important to him. Potter had loved her and now he hated her. Draco couldn't bear it if he hated her, or if she hated him. He'd been thinking about trying to change their friendship, into something more, now he was glad he hadn't. Sex complicated things, and sometimes ruined them. He needed her, and he wouldn't risk losing her for anything. They would just stay friends. He'd have to content himself with that.


AN: This is the last chapter taking place at Hogwarts. It’s on to the big scary adult world.