Disclaimer: JK Rowling

 

Chapter Seven

 

Ginny stood on the sidewalk for a long time. People rushed by, ignoring her. But she was sure she looked pretty stupid, standing with her arms crossed and staring almost longingly at the corner where Draco had disappeared.

    He’d really left her. She wasn’t sure what possessed her to suggest they go their own way – after all, she didn’t mean it. But she’d been so angry with him, the words had just left her lips before she could even think. And as she tried to take them back, he had agreed with her and left.

    What am I going to do now? she thought.

    Then she felt mad at herself for acting like a child. She wasn’t two years old – she could make it by herself without Draco. It wasn’t like he had helped her much anyway – he’d just been ill company.

    She took a deep, shuddering breath and began to walk the opposite way Draco had left.

    Think, she commanded herself. The best way to get her mind off things was to try and find a wizard library and proceed to clear her name.

    She crossed her arms and ducked her head, not wanting anyone to see and recognize her. There was a sense of insecurity in the pit of her stomach, and she knew it was because she was on her own. God, why didn’t she feel safe without Draco? He hadn’t been keeping her safe! He’d just been there.

    I’m such an idiot, she thought. I shouldn’t have said anything. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. I didn’t want to separate.

    It was partially his fault, too, because he’d made her so angry! Just thinking about it made her blood boil, but she also felt a longing deep inside her.

    “Misery loves company,” she muttered under her breath. “That’s the only reason I want him here.”

    “Ginny!”

    At first, her heart leapt into her throat, thinking it was Draco. But before she even turned her head to see, she knew it wasn’t. He wouldn’t call her by her first name. And his voice wasn’t so high pitched.

    She glanced to her right and nearly groaned. Pulling alongside her on the curb was Kyle. Hadn’t he left the city yet?

    “Hi!” he called, pulling to a stop beside her. She felt it would be very impolite to keep walking, so she stopped, too.

    “Kyle,” she said, keeping her voice neutral. “I thought you had to get home.”

    “Well, I did,” he said quickly. “But I couldn’t get you off my mind. I started to drive home, and all I could think about was our kiss.” Kiss? Ginny’s mind screamed. “So I drove back and I’m so glad I found you! Where’s Draco?”

    “He, um . . .” she trailed off. “He went to the bathroom in a store back there,” she finally answered.

    “Oh. Why don’t you sit in the car and wait with me?”

    That was the last thing on earth Ginny wanted to do. She forced a smile. “Thanks, but I’d rather walk. I need to stretch my legs.”

    “Aw, c’mon,” he pleaded. “Just for a few minutes. There’s something else I want to tell you and I don’t like talking through the window.”

    The smarter part of Ginny hesitated. She really didn’t want to listen to him anymore. After all, he was part of the reason why Ginny wasn’t with Draco anymore. And if she sat too long, he’d realize that Draco wasn’t really in the bathroom.

    “Just for a minute or two,” she relented, opening the passenger door. “I promised Draco I’d meet him back in the front of the store.”

    Kyle grinned. “No problem.”

    A heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach, Ginny sat down. She had just managed to shut the door when Kyle suddenly pressed his foot down on the gas and the car lurched forward.

    Ginny gasped, too stunned to react at first. But as they tore down the street, she realized what a big mistake she’d made.

    “Kyle!” she shrieked, gripping the armrest. “What are you doing?”

    “Just going for a ride,” he replied nonchalantly. Ginny knew they were well above the speed limit because he was beginning to calmly pass cars as if it were the normal thing to do.

    Ginny let out a cry of disbelief and looked out the windshield. They were coming to a stop light – good. She could jump out when they were stopped and –

    Without warning, Kyle jerked the wheel and they turned sharply to the right, making a U turn. Ginny screamed and fell against the door. She hadn’t bothered to put her seatbelt on because she didn’t want to be even more trapped into the car and felt like she was flapping around like a lifeless doll.

    Kyle had changed directions and gone into the opposite lane. Now they were heading back they way they’d came – the direction Draco had gone.

    “I don’t like red lights,” he said, glancing at her with a grin. “Do you?”

    “You’re going to kill us!” Ginny cried, watching as the speed crept higher and higher.

    Suddenly, Kyle’s happy mood vanished. He looked sad. “You’re not having fun?”

    Ginny just gaped at him, breathing hard.

    And then he became angry. “You weren’t ever going to call me, were you?” he screamed, his outburst causing her to jump. When she didn’t reply instantly, he yelled, “Were you?!”

    It was then Ginny knew there was something very wrong with Kyle’s head.

    “I-I was,” she sputtered, lying. “Of course I was going to call you, Kyle –”

    “I give you and your brother a ride and you don’t even want to call me?” he shouted, not listening to her. “It was the least you could do, Ginny! I like you a lot and you weren’t going to call me. You never wanted to see me again, did you?”

    Ginny’s heart pounded in slow, hard thuds. She could feel it in her throat and swallowed. The fear was almost as terrible as it had been when the Cell Bus had been sinking.

    And then it struck her. She had her wand! She could use her wand to disable the car’s engine!

    Oh, of all things, she thought, reaching into her pocket for her wand. I’m such an idiot! I should’ve thought of it the minute he started to drive!

    Kyle kept his eyes on the road, his jaw clenched. He didn’t notice as she pulled out her wand. Her mind raced for a perfect spell – she couldn’t stun him, because then there wouldn’t be anyone to drive. She had to do something to the car without causing the engine to blow up. Finally, she settled on causing the wheel to lock in place so he’d have to stop or else they’d crash.

    She raised her wand and opened her mouth to say the words.

    Out of nowhere, Kyle snatched the wand right out of her hand. He didn’t even bother to turn his head from the road and rolled down his window. Ginny stared in shock, too petrified to do anything, as he dropped it right out the window, and with it, her hope.

    She turned in her seat to see where it fell. It rolled in the middle of the street, and Ginny prayed that no one would run over it. Oh, God, why hadn’t she been quick enough to grab it back? Why did she have to freeze up when she needed to react?

    She looked out Kyle’s window at the sidewalk, hoping that maybe she could scream for help. And to her immense relief, she saw the familiar silver hair of Draco.

    Kyle’s window was still down. Ginny didn’t even think – she leaned over him and stuck her head as far out as she could. Kyle swerved, cursing loudly.

    “Draco!” she screamed, losing her head completely and calling him by his first name. “Draco, help – !”

    Kyle’s shot out his fist and his knuckles caught her under her chin, causing her head to snap back. The force was so great she fell back into her seat, the back of her head slamming into her window. She sat there stunned for a moment, trying to catch her breath.

    Then she twisted around to see if Draco had seen her. A few people were staring at the car in surprise, but no had attempted to do anything. Her eyes searched frantically, but she didn’t see Draco. He had disappeared into the crowd and was not coming after them.

    Dread spread through her body, making her feel numb. Had she really expected Draco to run after the car? He probably didn’t even care. They were even – he’d saved her life, she’d saved his. He didn’t owe her anything.

    Beside her, Kyle had started to shout again.

 

Draco had heard Ginny calling for him. He had only managed to get a glimpse of her hair before she ducked back into the car, and then had seen Kyle driving. Immediately he felt annoyed and angry – she would rather spend time with a Muggle than him? But then, who could blame her. Draco hadn’t exactly been nice to her, had he?

    He stared sourly at the car speeding down the road away from him. Her voice echoed in his head. Draco, help . . . !

    “Help?” he muttered.

    Then he saw her wand in the road.

    He wasn’t sure how he could tell it was hers from such a distance. But he knew it was a wand. “Accio wand!” he whispered, keeping his own wand low. It flew off the street into his waiting hand. People glanced curiously at him, but he ignored them.

    She needs help, he thought, once more staring off into the direction the car had left. It had turned a corner and was gone.

    What should he do? Should he go and help her? He didn’t need to. After all, she wasn’t his concern. It didn’t matter. They were even – he owed her absolutely nothing.

    But somehow he found himself sprinting down the sidewalk. I’ll never catch up with the car, he thought. It was going too fast.

    He didn’t stop running.

 

Ginny didn’t realize she was crying until hot tears poured down her cheeks. She wiped them away and tried to think. Kyle was mad – that much was clear. He had finally stopped yelling about how she didn’t appreciate him, about how she had led him on and then never planned on seeing him again (as if they’d known each other for weeks), but was now muttering to himself.

    They came to another stoplight, but this time Kyle didn’t turn around. He stopped the car, and kept talking under his breath.

    Ginny didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the door handle and yanked it.

    The door didn’t open.

    She jerked it again, and pushed her whole body against the door. “Open!” she cried, more tears falling down her cheeks.

    Kyle reached over and grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled hard. Ginny shrieked and her hands flew up to try and make him release his grip, her head tilted backwards.

    “You think I’m stupid, Ginny?” he whispered harshly, ignoring her nails raking across the back of his hand. “I put the child lock on so you couldn’t get out from the inside.”

    “Let go,” she pleaded, hating how whiny she sounded. But she couldn’t help it – she was terrified. Kyle had her at his mercy and could do whatever he wanted with her. Without her wand she was powerless.

    He laughed shortly and pushed her head forward before dropping her hair. His shove caused her forehead to smack into her window, and it hurt. She put a hand to it and closed her eyes, trying to stop the tears from leaking out.

    And then the door opened. She could feel it.

    Ginny opened her eyes and gaped up at Draco. He reached in and grabbed her upper arms, pulling her out. Ginny gratefully gripped the front of his robes and started to scramble up.

    Kyle reached up and grabbed the back collar of her jumpsuit. He pulled it so hard it began to choke her and she released Draco to try and pull some of the tightness out so she could breath.

    The light turned green. People began honking when Kyle didn’t move. No one seemed bothered that there was a struggle going on.

    Draco let go of Ginny’s arms and tried to pry Kyle’s hands off her jumpsuit. But he had a strong hold and wouldn’t let go.

    Ginny was making short choking sounds as she tried to get air into her lungs. Draco gave up and reached for his wand and shouted, “Scorchrio!”

    Kyle shrieked and let go. He leaned back in his seat and stared down at his hands, the skin turning a black charred color before his eyes.

    Ginny coughed and sputtered as Draco helped her the rest of the way out of the car. He supported her and they ran to the sidewalk, hurrying away from Kyle’s car. Even though Ginny’s throat was still aching and her scalp was still burning, she couldn’t help but notice how nice it was to have Draco’s arm firmly around her shoulders.

 

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