Journey of Time

Disclaimer: I own not HP or anything associated with HP that's not of my own creation. Some characters are mine, all mine, muwahahaha…er, um, and yes the plot is mine, out of my head. So no suing, not that you'd get much from me anyway…

A/N: AHHHH! It's been forever and a day since I updated this story. My Journey!Muse had left me in the dust and I had other inspirations but I do want to finish this one. The plot's all there but every time I'd start chapter 8 my Muse would laugh at me, stick out his tongue, pull down his kilt and moon me, a la Braveheart. So I decided to change my approach. And vola! A chapter that moves the plot along nicely I think. So enough of my yip yapping, go ahead and read! And I apologize for the time it took to get it out, but Muses are fickle…and sometimes mean…*rubs spot on head that Journey!Muse just whacked*

Chapter 8

            The wind whispered through the trees, cutting into the calm silence that enveloped the hilltop. The sun sank low in the horizon, touching every blade of grass with a faint golden glow. The sky turned colors; the lake reflected the blues, rose, orange and yellow of the sunset. It was breathtaking, a scene unmarred by modern man. Ginny was too distracted by her thoughts to appreciate it.

            The soft rustle of footsteps behind her alerted her attention but she did not turn. Her arms were wrapped around her knees, her gaze faded off toward the horizon. Yet she was not so lost in thought that she failed to recognize she was no longer alone.

            Whoever was behind her remained silent for several unending moments. Still, Ginny did not turn. Her mind was running over all the reasons it was wrong for her to be here and how hopeless the situation seemed in getting back to normal time. Three days had passed and there was still no sign of the spell ending.

            "Come inside, Ginny. Night will be upon us soon and the fields grow cold without the sun."

            Ginny closed her eyes, fighting back the threatening tears. Damien. He was only looking out for her but his voice tore through her heart like a knife. He was the reason she came back, yet she couldn't have him now. Fate had sent her to her own personal Hell.

            No, Kiandra had, with her bleeding Tarot cards, Ginny thought bitterly. Holding onto that resentment to dam the tears she looked up over her shoulder at him.

            Damien was watching the tail end of the sunset. His hands rested lightly on his hips, his silver-blond hair catching the last remnants of the golden rays, giving him an almost angelic halo. Remembering the feel of his lips on hers she had to turn away, the memory sending a searing pain through her head. The journey was for naught; she couldn't be with Damien now.

            "A few more minutes, Damien." She heard herself reply quietly, her voice hollow in her own ears. The past few days she hadn't seen much of him, his family or Malfoy, preferring to stay in her room and pout.

            Ginny heard his movement beside her as he sat close to her. Neither spoke, letting the silence draw out. "You are unhappy." It wasn't a question or a statement. It seemed to be more of a prompt to get her talking.

            Taking a deep breath, Ginny kept her eyes on the lake as she spoke. "It just…" She wracked her brain for words to describe what she was feeling. Shrugging helplessly, she half laughed, half sighed. "Everything is different than I expected. I wonder if it was the right thing to do. Coming back."

            Realizing she revealed more than she originally intended with those few words, she snuck a side-ways glance at him. He was watching her so intently she couldn't tear her eyes away from his. Unlike Malfoy, Damien's eyes revealed much of what he was thinking; his internal struggle showed blatantly on his face.

            "Ginny," Damien began, faltered, then started again. "Ginny, I did not expect you to come back." His voice was quiet yet strained as he tired to keep emotion from his words. "Had I known," here he faltered again, shrugging. "Things could possibly be different. But they are not. I am happy with Eleanor. My life is good." He paused, searching her face with his eyes. She had a light smile; glad that he was happy and knowing that was all that should matter to her. But that selfish part of her still cried out, 'unfair'! It prevented her from totally accepting his words. He continued a little more brightly, encouraged by her smile. "I am glad you are back, however. I've thought of you often. Sometimes…" He trailed off, letting his gaze travel back toward the sun, which had all but disappeared in the sky. Ginny decided not to press. He would tell her if he wanted to.

            After a few minute, silent pause, Damien did look back at her, his expression curious. "You have not seen much of Draco these past few days. You two are not close?" A smile was playing on the edges of his mouth but he did not dare grin until he found out her stance on the boy.

            Ginny wrinkled her nose and glared at nothing in particular. "Yea, that's been the highlight of the trip, not having to be close to him." She replied. Going over his words in her head she looked back to him sharply, her head inclined in inquiry. "Why?" She asked suspiciously. "Have you been talking to him?" Ginny was suddenly horrified at the thought of Damien being corrupted by Malfoy and his impossible attitude.

            Damien laughed at her expression. He had changed in ten years; he was much more ready to laugh and a lot less scrutinizing and suspicious of strangers. The Damien she knew would not have let his amusement show quite so much. She appreciated how he looked when he was happy. It softened his sharper features and made her want to laugh along with him. However, she only smiled.

            "Yes, Draco and I have talked a lot these past few days." Ginny felt her eyes widen but she kept her mouth shut. A deep sense of foreboding crept into her stomach. Malfoy could not be up to any good. She hoped Damien could see through any scheme that Malfoy was concocting. "He is an interesting young man. I am surprised you two do not get along better."

            Ginny made another face. "He's horrible, Damien. Don't let him fool you. He could probably charm a lion out of its fur but he's all evil. He's done nothing but torment me and my family for the past seven years,"

            Damien chuckled again. "He is very sly, that much is apparent and I can tell. But to tell the truth, he's very polite and seems to be just curious. He was asking me about this century and what I knew about how you two came back here. Unfortunately, I did not have much information for him. But he did perk up when I showed him the Practice room. He is very interested in swords. He told me his father taught him much about fencing. He did not seem to like his father much, however." Damien frowned at this thought, contemplating whatever it was Draco might have said to him. "Have you talked to him about this torment? Maybe he doesn't realize-"

            "Oh no, Damien DeSpencer!" Ginny stood, crushing her fists on her hips and glaring down at him in semi-anger. "Do not defend Malfoy, especially not to me. You're falling under his 'woe is me' spell. He has everything in the world he could possibly want and he knows very much how little we appreciate being tormented."

            Damien stood as well, his tall frame towering over her smaller one. He was close, so close she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheeks. "I think," he spoke quietly, barely above a whisper. "That you have already made up your mind about him without knowing him. He is a much different person than you think, Ginny. Maybe he does not have 'everything'. And maybe, he is not your enemy." Raising an eyebrow during the last of his words, he watched her face turn from anger to confusion and finally to contemplation. Turning on his heel, he left her on the hill, alone. Ginny watched his retreating back fade into the shadows and mist that was quickly rising from the cooling earth.

            Shaking her head to free herself from the thoughts rising up, she narrowed her eyes, turning her face to the sky. What did he know of Malfoy anyway? He'd only known him for three days. Ginny had known him for six years. Or had she? When was the last time she'd had a real conversation with him? Never. Not that he gave much of an opportunity, always sneering and teasing when any Gryffindor was close by. No, Malfoy was indeed a prejudice bastard, just like she had always thought. And not even Damien Despencer would be able to change her mind about him.

* * * *

            Ginny was awoken the next morning by loud shouts and laughter. Rubbing her eyes she saw the dress hanging by the fireplace and the steaming was basin by the window, just as it had been every morning since she'd come back. Getting ready in a rush, she slipped out of her room and heading the direction all the noise seemed to be coming from. She was rushing so fast that she practically passed by the room, stopping herself and backtracking, peering around the doorframe.

            It was the Practice room, the room she first saw Damien and his father practicing their sword play with Isabel. Now, Damien had a new partner. Ginny practically choked on air as she realized Damien was sparring with none other than Draco Malfoy. Eleanor and the children were in a corner, watching the two men with rapt enthusiasm. The laughter and cheers were coming from them.

            Ginny let her eyes trail from the family to the two men. The clang of metal against metal was loud in here and so rapid it made almost one continuous sound. Damien was smiling, his eye alight with physical exertion. Malfoy's face was one of concentration but enjoyment, as though he were having the time of his life. Ginny scrutinized him closer, amazed at what a difference there was in him from the last time she saw him four days ago. He seemed much less tense and rigid, an almost relaxed set to his shoulders and face. His quick movements were unmatched by any she had seen before, even Harry's lightening Seeker reflexes couldn't compare. His concentration was unparalleled, as if he wanted to do well in this playful fight to prove something to someone. She wondered briefly what was going on behind those intense, sliver eyes.

            The likeness between the two men was astounding, even from a distance. Damien's hair was longer, pulled back into a low ponytail; but still wisps of his baby-fine hair fell loose and into his eyes, similar to Malfoy's shorter hair that he couldn't keep from his forehead. Mercury silver eyes met mercury silver eyes, both with just a hint of blue that gave them infinite depth. Their builds were similar; though Malfoy was much more thin where Damien had more muscle that came with maturity. They could just as easily be father and son, or brothers, rather than great- great- great-, etc. Uncle and Nephew.

            The glint of metal continued as the early morning sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows, catching hints of purples and reds to flash from the blades as they attacked each other with fury. Finally, Damien made a bold move, disarming Malfoy and pushing the blunted tip toward the younger man's chest. Ginny thought for sure that Malfoy would be angry, yell, or lash out at Damien. Being defeated was one thing Ginny knew Malfoys did not take to lightly.

            To her surprise he merely paused, looking over at his fallen sword and back to Damien. "I nearly had you." His expression was one of amusement, the tone of his voice light with good-natured banter. Damien answered with a laugh, withdrew his sword and held out his hand. Draco immediately took it and they shook firmly.

            "Good show, Draco. You are getting better." Damien conceded with a small nod. "But you never 'had' me." He chuckled and Draco joined in.

            Ginny gaped openly at the exchange. Draco was laughing about his loss and allowing Damien to contradict him. Remembering the ends of many Quidditch games when Draco stormed from the field after being beaten by Gryffindor and the tantrums he threw when someone tried to cheer him up, Ginny was in shock at this nonchalant, carefree attitude. It was then she realized Draco was staring back at her. Trying to regain some semblance of composure, she stepped into the room fully and put on the most pleasant smile she could muster.

            Damien's children were surrounding him, congratulating him on his victory. The eldest was trying to get Draco's attention but he wouldn't take his eyes from Ginny's. Damien followed his gaze and smiled brightly at Ginny. "Good morning," He greeted with a half bow.

            The children grew silent and looked at Ginny apprehensively. She was sure they didn't know what to make of her, she hadn't been around much in the past few days. Odd how they were comfortable around Draco; he must have been more active than she in the past few days. Eleanor approached, picking up Anne and ushering the boys toward the door. She smiled uncertainly at Ginny as she walked past, most likely suspicious that Ginny was going to try and lure her husband away. Ginny stood perfectly still, not sure exactly what she should do. She could still feel Draco's eyes burning into her but she refused to look at him again. The way he was now unbalanced her, caught her off guard and made thoughts tug on the edges of her mind. She didn't want to fully form those thoughts; they scared her.

            Damien began cleaning up, rescuing Draco's fallen sword and putting it near his own on the long wooden table by the door. "I need someone to check on the horses in the stable. Bandits were seen on the road a few days ago and I want to make sure everything is locked up tight. My stable boy is in town on errands, do you think you two could be of assistance?" Damien asked politely, not hiding his alterative motive very well.

            Ginny opened her mouth to protest when Draco's voice from behind her cut her off. "Certainly," he responded, gently taking Ginny's upper arm. "We will report back immediately." He nodded toward Damien before leading Ginny from the Practice room.

            Once they were outside the castle doors, Ginny jerked her arm from his grasp. "What are you up to, Draco?" She asked, her voice less severe than she wanted. She felt herself starting to believe Damien's words and her hatred loosening against her will. He let her go without resistance.

            "I'm going to help Damien out. I thought you'd like to as well, as he was the reason you came back here." Draco walked past her toward the stables, the wind picking up his hair and swirling it around his head. Ginny felt a few loose curls of her own blow across her cheek but she didn't stop to fix them, plowing ahead to catch up with him.

            "Why are you acting this way?" She finally caught up with him, falling in step beside him. She had to take two steps for each of his long strides but she was used to it by now.

            "Whatever are you talking about?" Draco replied, not looking at her. Unconsciously he slowed his pace to help her keep up with him. She tried to read his face but he kept it blank, giving away nothing.

            "Don't play ignorant with me, Malfoy. I know you all too well," She could feel the anger swirl up from inside her. It was ready to be unleashed, though it wasn't all about him. She knew that most of the anger was at herself for wanting so badly to come back and having the situation turn out so horribly. But Draco was in the way, in the middle of the path of her fury, and was about to get it full force.

            "Do you now, Weasley? And just what do you know about me?" Draco stopped walking and faced her, ready for her attacks. He cocked his head to the side waiting for her answer. His silver eyes flashed with impatience when she didn't answer right away. "Exactly. You know what your brother tells you. Your brother is an infuriating git who likes to get on my nerves, as well as his attention seeking best friend, Potter. I find most people in Gryffindor to be extremely irritating and loathsome, simply because they suck up to Professors and they fail to show spine, though they claim to be brave. Slytherins are pigeon-holed into being ruthless, mean-spirited and evil despite the fact that we can think for ourselves and have opinions that differ from our parents." Taking a deep breath, the rage that gleamed from his eyes lessened. Looking out toward the stables where the sun was rising, his eyes seemed to study the baby blue sky before he turned back to her. He contemplated her face, her silence, her expression, before continuing in a much softer tone.

            "When's the last time you had a conversation with me, Ginny? With any Slytherin?" Draco asked, dead serious. Ginny had asked herself that very question last night.

            "Never," She breathed, frowning slightly. Why did he have to have a valid point? She wanted with all her heart to hate him as she always had, hate his sneering, conniving, smug self but now, as she looked up at him, she realized that she never really knew him. He was completely right in everything he said.

            "I'm not saying I'm a good person." Draco continued, suddenly unable to meet her eye. He looked over her head toward the castle behind her, suddenly finding it more fascinating than anything else in his line of vision. "I've done and said horrible things. I still do, from time to time. There's bitterness inside of me. Hatefulness. And sometimes I think it's better if I don't allow myself to get close to anyone…" His voice trailed off as his thoughts consumed him. Was that a hint of pink tinged on his cheeks? Was Draco blushing? It could be the cool breeze, she corrected herself mentally but there was a nagging voice telling her that he was revealing more to her than he'd ever revealed to anyone. But why?

            He finally looked back down at her, his cool gaze meeting hers. His mask was back in place, revealing nothing. "We should check on the horses." His voice was smooth as silk and cool as steel. Whatever he'd been confessing was gone. He turned and continued on his way toward the stable, not looking back to see if she was coming along. Ginny watched his retreating back a moment, her thoughts in a sudden tornado. Draco Malfoy not all that bad? Was she insane to think this? She felt sympathy creep in but she knew that he would despise any sort of pity being felt for him. Deciding now was not the time to contemplate the essence of Draco Malfoy she hurried to catch up with him.

* * * *

            Ginny was growing worried. A week had passed, yet still she and Draco were still in the past. As much as she loved being around Damien and had warmed to Eleanor and the children, she was anxious to get back to her friends and family. Yet she still didn't know how to break the spell and there was no sign of Kiandra or any gypsies in the area. Damien sent scouts to search but so far they had returned nothing.

            Draco was actually beginning to grow on her. He was still an obstinate prat most of the time but she learned to deal with his faults and enjoy his wry sense of humor and discover he had a personality of more than a newt. He spent most of his time practicing swordplay with Damien, or shooting with bow and arrows as Damien taught him. Damien also began to take him and his eldest son hunting in the woods beyond the lake. Draco seemed to look up to Damien and almost…cling to him, as much as a Malfoy could cling to another human. Which wasn't much.

            Ginny sat in the garden on a bench, pondering as she did everyday about how to get back home. She had no new thoughts, no new theories. Trying to recall exactly when she left back to her own century the first time, she was so swept up in images she didn't notice she was no longer alone until someone sat next to her, very close.

            "It's raining," His breath was warm on her ear, his voice sending little shivers down her spine; from surprise or something else, she wasn't sure. Ginny hadn't noticed it was raining before, but Draco was indeed right; a slight drizzle was falling, and she was already quite damp.

            "Oh," She attempted to move away from him but the bench was too small to move more than an inch. His closeness was making her nervous for some reason she couldn't quite put her thumb on. "I didn't notice." She replied lamely, trying to look at him without meeting his eyes.

            "Obviously." He replied dryly, flinging the cloak he brought out for her around her shoulders. "What's got you so caught up in thought that you didn't even notice you were getting soaked?"

            Ginny debated with herself a moment, wondering if she should worry him. Sighing lightly, she finally met his gaze, surprised by the intensity and emotion she found there. "I'm worried about getting back." She replied simply, trying to keep her expression neutral. Draco nodded, sucking on his top lip as he considered her words.

            "How'd it happen last time?" He echoed her previous thoughts.

Ginny frowned but kept her eyes on his face. "I don't know. There was a battle and Damien almost died. We told each other-" She cut herself off, suddenly embarrassed. She realized she didn't want to tell Draco exactly what she and Damien had said before she left. She turned her eyes back to the garden. "Uh, stuff, then I faded back to Hogwarts." She ended quickly, shrugging with an exasperated sigh. "I don't know how that helps us now."

In her peripheral vision she could see him still looking at her. They sat in silence, listening to the patter of light rain falling on the leaves and ground around them. "It doesn't," He finally said rather bluntly. "We might have to face the fact that we're stuck here-"

"What?!" Ginny exclaimed, cutting him off. Her eyes bulged with indigence as she rounded on him. "I refuse to believe that! I don't want to be stuck in the fifteenth century. I want to go home and see my family." She exclaimed, instantly upset that he would suggest they had no hope.

He was indifferent to her anger, merely looking at her with passive interest. "Well, I have the opposite problem. I prefer my family here to my family in the future. If I go back," Draco drew out the last word before pausing, studying her eyes. "I'll have to deal with Lucius again. After being here," Draco's eyes flipped toward the castle before meeting hers again. "I don't know that I want that." He finished, his tone even, his face steeled, but his eyes giving away his unhappiness.

Ginny wasn't sure what she was doing or why she was doing. Instinct took over and she raised one hand to his cheek, brushing over the smooth plane with the back of her hand. It was meant to be comforting but in all truthfulness she expected him to pull away. He didn't. He closed his eyes briefly before catching her hand in his. He brought her fingertips to his lips, kissing them gently, more gently than Ginny ever anticipated Draco to be. Rivulets of water were beginning to run from his hair down his face, dripping steadily from his chin. His eyes burned with such intense passion that it scared her for the shortest second before she realized she wanted this. She wanted him. These past few days had changed Draco or merely changed her opinion of him; either way she knew she was falling for him, whether she wanted to or not.

"Draco-" She began but her words were cut off and her breath taken away by his lips meeting hers, first gently, than with more passion and fire, heating both up despite the rain that began falling faster. She felt one hand on her cheek, the other in her hair, pulling her closer to him. The intensity of the kiss left her dizzy, the overwhelming emotion took her breath away. The moment seemed to last forever, the two of them suspended in time, drinking in what they needed from each other, letting their passion become unleashed.

And just as quickly as it started, it ended. He pulled back a bit before resting his lips on her forehead and holding her close in a semi-hug. "I don't want to hurt you." He said quietly, his voice catching with unfamiliar emotion.

"You can't," she replied simply, pulling back to look up at him. "I won't let you," She said lightly, teasing him with a playful smile. He smiled back; her surprise was still there, but lessened. She was used to being thrown for a loop by him by now.

"Ginny! Draco! Inside at once!" Damien's voice was far off but the alarm in it was evident even from afar. They jumped up simultaneously and turned toward the castle where Damien was waving them toward the front door. Taking Ginny's elbow, Draco led her quickly in Damien's direction at a half-jog.

"What is it?" Ginny asked breathlessly when they approached. Damien's face was strained, worry lines invading his usually smooth exterior. He looked over her shoulder, off in the distance.

"I'm sorry, Ginny, but we're all in grave danger." Damien's voice was more serious than she'd ever heard it. Concerned, she looked over her shoulder up at Draco who was also wearing a serious expression. He met her eyes and shook his head. "We have to move. NOW!" Damien grabbed her arm, pulling them inside the castle and out of the rain.