oh my Señorita!! You are much too fast(well actually, I've been out all day so that could be why...) But anyway, these last two chapters were great!

, YAYAYAY

Awwwww Draco, don't rip her heart out TWICE!!!!!! You know you love her, you said it before!!! Love it Maxie!!! It's sooooooooo good. It's like eating a hot bowl of hearty soup on a cold, snowy day.

Draco + Ginny = MUST HAPPEN.

Aww, DeeLee, I'm sowwee. Pleasebehappy. PLEASE.
*gives you a cute, little .. kitten?*
Teehee, we sort of posted at the same time, luff. =DD
Change can be good. She might fall for Harry.
Cryworthy? *adds word to CK dictionary* =p
LOL! That was funny. But... YES! If you can think of somebody the same way you think of Draco, you probably are in mega-love. =DD
Yes, but mefeelbad for him. =[

<3 x 4102384120
Thanks a big bunch, lufflie. <333
*kills him off* There you go, sweetie. ^___________^
Ooops. I already did it, sorry! -very casual shrug-


That he told her he loved her, you mean? Nope, that happened -- if that is what you're talking about. xDD
Ginny: I don't. *hisses*

=O
Ginny: Umm, no - then he'll be pulp, not goody-goody.
Agreed. I could never have put it that way... but then, YOU broke her. It's evil, the things writers do.. and yet, it's necessary for the steam and momentum in a story. =/
Draco: *eyes the whip* I thought you loved me.
YUSH! I totally imagined it when I wrote it... and really, he would look SO hot in a white tee + jeans. And his hair!
Oooh, I see we have a new donkey siggie in the house, DeeLeerina. Let's throw a party to celebrate that!
Me BAD!fast? =[ -feels bad-

But thankyou, myYAYAYAY! Iwubyou.<3
Draco: Why must you remind me? =/
Thank you LOADS, luff. Eating a hot bowl of ... That is kind of.. poetic. I like it! =DD THANKYOUTHANKYOU! <3


&& yush, Draco + Ginny = OTP!

Did you eat mine too, Dee?



Love,
~~Jay~~

She might have, don't you think?

xDD



* * * Alright, new chapter coming upppp.
Super-important note: I love y'all. <3

No, no, you are not BAD!! Your fastness is just too hard for me to comprehend!

Of course, my Señorita!! Iwubyoutoo. <3

Yes, I ate every single one of 'em! Hehehehehehehe.

YAYAYAYAY New chappie!
-Impatiently waits patiently-

Aww. You still love me, don't you? =[
YAY, you do! Now we can TAKE OVER THE WORLD! MWAHAHAHA! I mean... *brings out Y&S convertible*

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gryffindoll

Yes, I ate every single one of 'em! Hehehehehehehe.

WHAT? But then how are we gonna lure people here Dee?


Can't wait for the new chapter!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
~~Jay~~

*hurries up with the proof-readie stuff*

Of course I do!!♥ iwubyou!!

Chapter # 17
The Tree of Solutions
“There is nothing in the universe we can be certain is stationary.”

It was as unbearable as it was shocking, and Ginny felt her emotions rise in a wave of ice that benumbed her. She had thought, honestly thought, that he had changed - or perhaps she had simply begun to believe that she could change him, kill the weeds in favour of the roses.

He fooled you a second time, a voice of fury hollered in her head. He fooled you a second time, you should be ashamed! Anger built up in a raging, clouding storm, and she realized - or so it seemed to her - what he wanted from her: not love, but snogs; not companionship, but fun. The thought aggravated her, made her want to punch her fist into the nearest wall - or perhaps ruin his pretty face.

She held the door open and stood in the semi-elegant doorway, the doorway that ended where the beginnings of a narrow, though well-lit, corridor sprung up. “Mafoy,” she called, her tones harsher than she had imagined they could ever be.

Mid-step, he paused. “What do you want now, Weasley?” he asked coolly. His old intonation was back, the cold drawl that she despised – the cold drawl she had, at one point, become infatuated with.

She crossed her arms against her chest and glared at him. “I think we should visit Haudrey,” she said coldly. “I want to go back to Hogwarts right now.”

Face impassive, Malfoy nodded - the lack of visible emotion angered her further - and, holding open the main door, motioned for her to lead the way. For a moment, she hesitated, ready to let him know she could open doors for herself, and then a sudden hatred for conversation with him made her stay silent, walk out into the lane without a word. Malfoy followed suit, his mind spiraling with thoughts he did not want.

What had happened? Less than twenty-four ago, he had been scared – terrified – that she might die, had drained his own self of energy that she might live. Now he felt nothing, nothing but a pressing, hollow sort of emptiness. He had not kissed her a few minutes ago because he had realized how useless a relationship with her was. It could never work out – dating her meant he would be disowned by his family, become an open enemy of the Dark Lord (she would never accept him otherwise, would she?), even lose his friends. And what would he get in return? Her family, her friends already hated him -- they would never accept him as one of their own, either.

Too many hurdles, this he knew. He was not ready to – or perhaps, maybe definitely, he was afraid that he might not be able to – face all of them at once. He knew beyond doubt that he was handsome, that he could get any girl, any time he wanted. It would be folly to throw away a good, rich life – throw away, in fact, each and everything he had – for the sake of a pretty girl he had hated nearly all his life. He gave himself these arguments, somehow managed to satisfy himself with them. But was he satisfied?

Yes, he was, he told himself. He did not care for her – the spark between them had been momentary, not love, but infatuation. Could happen to any guy when there’s only one girl around, and she’s pretty, too. Yes, that was it.

“Ouch.”

Draco staggered backwards as a fist hit him, hard, in the face. It was not well-aimed and grazed only the side of his jawbone, but it hurt nevertheless. He blinked in surprise - and realized Ginny Weasley was standing in front of him, a most murderous look on her face.

“Weasley, if you do that again I will kick your –”

“What do you think I am, a dummy?” she spat at him, before he could go on. “Here I am, constantly calling your name, and you’re not even bothering to reply. You know what? I don’t want to talk to you either, Malfoy, but we have to do that until we get back to Hogwarts, there’s no other way out, and you know it. Then what the HECK is wrong with your pea-sized, rather non-existent brain, Malfoy?”

He raised an eyebrow, more to hide his surprise at the fact that he had zoned out so badly, than anything else. “I was thinking, blood-traitor,” he told her coldly. “Which proves that I, unlike you, do possess a brain. Which, unlike yours - that is, if you ever had one in times unknown - functions. Now, what were you saying?”

Ginny swore loudly. “You git,” she said, through gritted teeth. “I don’t know which rock you’ve been living under, but we’re standing at Haudrey Humphey’s door and, if you can at least look like you’re mentally present here, I’m going to knock.”

My, had he zoned out! Draco looked up and realized she was right - no wonder she looked so murderous. “Go ahead, Weasley,” he said curtly. Ginny ignored him, reached up to the brass knuckle borne by the entrance, and knocked twice. There was the sound of a gong going off, the wail of what seemed like a loud-mouthed, very angry bird, then the door swung open of its own accord. A low, mysterious voice, reminiscent of Professor Trelawney, floated out into the open:

“Come in, dears, come in.”

“Sexy voice, no?” Draco grinned, rather infuriatingly and, throwing him her most contemptuous glance, Ginny haughtily swept inside the place. With a smirk, he followed, and the door shut behind them with a rustle, a reminder of fresh leaves or, perhaps, pure silk, woven with tassels of precious, light metals.

For a moment, all was dark, and then a bright light appeared in the middle of the room, so sudden Draco raised a hand to shield his eyes from its luminosity. It took him a moment, indeed, to realize that it was actually a lamp, held high by a woman whom he could not precisely make out.

She motioned for them to follow her, and they were led in silence to a circular chamber whose curved walls bore tall windows that bathed the room in light – a striking contrast to the room they had been led through.

He saw her properly for the first time now, slender and young, if not beautiful, her complexion honey-brown, her movements graceful as she blew out the lamp. She bore no resemblance to his once-Divination professor – ah yes, he had been dreading that – but there was something powerful in her eyes, something that seemed to see right through any person she beheld.

“Sorry for the dark,” she said and, to their surprise, her voice was not the dreamy one they had heard at the door. It was, in fact, rather frank, an honest and open kind. “People always come to light through darkness, you know. Thought I would show a practical demonstration to visitors.”

“Ingenious,” Draco said, rather dryly. “Thought I would tell you, we were sent over by Bowman.” As Haudrey’s look turned quizzical – it was not often her neighbor referred people to her, he usually had the solution to their problems himself – Draco gave her a quick explanation of their difficulty. The young woman’s eyes grew wide with surprise as he mentioned the time-turner – about the working of which she asked several questions – but she nodded and he could tell, clearly tell, that she would not let the secret out.

“You’re in a sticky situation, are you two not?” she asked brightly, motioning towards a scatter of seats in the corner. Draco shook his head - in answer, not to her question, but to her offer - but Ginny took a seat, more to oppose his action than anything else. Haudrey’s eyes lingered on her, then she turned to Draco once more. “Well, Mr. Malfoy, the only solution, it seems, is to take a leaf.”

Draco blinked. “Take a leaf?”

“Oh, but you’re ignorant,” she twittered delightedly, pleased that he did not know. “Take a leaf, you know. From the Tree of Solutions.”

He raised an eyebrow. Why was she trying to jest? “That’s a legend,” he said dryly. “The Tree of Solutions doesn’t exist.”

She clapped her hands and let out a merry laugh. “Oh, but I should have known!” she said. When he raised an eyebrow, she laughed again. “My good friend Reed Trelawney prophesized that the Tree of Solutions would wither before the century dies, to live on only as a legend. Of course –” here, she became serious – “We treated his words as a joke, but it seems the prophecy does bear some truth. Ah, the Tree of Solutions.” She looked up suddenly, rather sharply. “You know how it works, young man?”

“Indeed,” Draco said smoothly. “A leaf, a single leaf, from the tree can solve any problem in the world. After all I’ve come through, that sounds so easy, it’s hard to believe it’s true.”

Haudrey frowned. “It sounds easy, yes,” she said. “But it’s not so easy, you know, or else every woman and man around the globe would have been sticking to the Tree for a leaf, and it might have died several centuries ago. No.” She shook her head, pointed a finger at him, and then she sat down, her shawls wrapped around her.

“Centuries before the Human arrived into Civilization," and now her voice was soft, almost the same they had heard herald them at the door. "The Elves ruled the Old World, and they wielded magic stronger than the seas and the winds, than the essences of earthen powers. It was in this time, Mr. Malfoy, that Layan the Elf-Lady forged the Tree of Solutions from four, invincible elements - the air of the seas, the fire of his sword, the water of the sweet rivers, and the soil of the farms. The Time of the Elves passed and, for long, the Tree of Solutions remained a secret. But when the Time of Wizardkind rose, the Tree was re-discovered, and people flocked to it agai -"

"Lady," Draco's voice was curt. "I know you think that sounds highly mystical, but it's not the answer to our problems and -"

"Listen," Haudrey hissed and Draco fell silent with a "sheesh." "It is said," the lady continued, with a little glare. "That a leaf from the Tree can cure any difficulty, but it is upon the one who plucks it to figure out how to use the leaf. You see,” and now her tones were back to normal, even chirpy, and she had - for the first time - Ginny’s complete attention. “The Tree of Solutions can not grow new leaves. But each time a leaf is plucked, and the person who plucks it can not figure out – within twenty-four hours – how to use it, its powers vanish and two new leaves sprout upon the Tree. That’s how it’s alive, you know, silly boy.” She tittered, and fell silent.

“Use a leaf?” Ginny asked, eyebrow raised, clear doubt in her tones. “That sounds a little far-fetched, Humphey.”

Haudrey’s expression soured. She rose from her own seat, walked over to a window, her back to Ginny. Then, without turning around, she said in soft, rather dangerous tones – tones that made Draco realize what a huge misfortune it would be to have her as an enemy, tones that made Draco realize that there was more to this woman than met the eye, scores of secrets perhaps even Bowman did not know – “You think I lie, do you?”

“No.” Ginny stood up too, went over to her, and placed a silent hand on the young woman’s shoulders. “But I do think that sounds pretty far-fetched. The kind of stuff legends are made of.”

Haudrey laughed suddenly. It was bright, infectious laughter, the kind that can win instant reliability. “Ah, but it is a legend!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands. “In your time, the Tree of Solutions is a legend!” Pleased by her own wit, she turned to face both of them again. “When Layan forged the Tree, people misused it and, before she Passed On, the Elf-Lady raised complications that hindered the majority of those who strove to reach the Tree. With the passage of time, the people who attempted to reach the Tree of Solutions dwindled to near nothingness, and the complications grew easier. But when the Tree was re-discovered - less than, indeed, two centuries ago - men and women began to flock to it again. But they - we - have not the Wisdom of the Elves, and even the reduced hindrances troubled them, and so the Tree remains."

"Hindrances?" Ginny queried. In the cosy interiors of the Gryffindor common room, legends were a far-off almost-non-reality - to be discussed, but barely believed; to be narrated, but never important - but, seated in the house of a lore-mistress in the mid of the Medieval Ages, they seemed to come dangerously alive, a thick, vaporous sort of haze that was as near as it was far-off.

"There are obstacles to the Tree, riddles that have to be solved," Haudrey answered gently. "Hundreds of people try to reach the Tree everyday. Only a dozen of them manage to solve the riddles, and only one or two of that dozen, to use the leaf - 'tis lack of common sense, I must say. In fact, I would go as far as to say the majority of the humans I deal with, on an everyday basis, are woefully deprived of it - I might as well talk to the wall, or to a stray donkey!”

Draco sighed. Haudrey Humphey was an enigma in herself, and he was not sure if he liked every, new aspect of her. “What kind of riddles?” he inquired.

“I can’t know, can I?” she more asked than answered, with a roll of her eyes. “Never tried to take a leaf, have I? Know lots of people who’ve tried and failed, but they don’t want to talk about it, now, do they?” She shook her head, picked up the lamp she had set down, earlier, and pointed a wand at it. “Protus!”

“Portkey,” she informed them, and she gave a nod of her head, towards the lamp. “-- Since I don’t expect any of you to know where the Tree is." She leaned back in her seat, and grinned broadly. "If you figure out how to use your leaf, Mr. and Miss, don’t leave my lamp lying around – destroy it or whatever. If you don’t -" and she pouted a little at this statement. "- Which would be a shame, return it.”

Ginny stood up and walked over to the lamp. Haudrey's story had, in its own, crumbling way, wrapped her in a blanket of awe, and escape seemed - once again - a feat too impossible for the world. She wanted now, to get away, get away from the Age she was captured in, get away from its scents, its tales, its fires --

-- Get away from Draco Malfoy.

Under normal circumstances, she would never have touched a portkey being offered by a stranger. But she had proof – whole textbooks of proof! – that Bowman Wright was a reliable man, and he would never have referred them to a woman who was not. She nodded, reached out a hand to touch the portkey – and paused.

“Are there going to be a lot of people there?” she asked. After what seemed like ages of isolation, a crowd would, after all, be a unique sight.

“Oh my, how ignorant you sure are,” Haudrey said, shaking her head. “You’re all in different dimensions there, aren’t you? No one there can see or feel anyone else there, can they? Well, not anyone else. You’ll be able to see him, I suppose, since you’re going there together and maybe -” she paused. "Are you hungry?"

"Excuse me?" Ginny asked incredulously.

Haudrey tittered delightedly, and then she turned to Draco. "Come on boy, touch the portkey. Or don't you want to go? That's your one chance out!"

Mad - this woman is MAD! Draco thought to himself as, with a rough nod to her, he stepped up to the artifact that seemed to hold, in its delicate framework, the feeble threads that bound him to the escape he longed for. "Thank you, then," he said smoothly. "May the world remember you as the lady upon whom was bestowed the honour to help the prettiest man the world has ever seen."

He touched the portkey at the same moment as Ginny. There was the familiar jerk behind his naval, and then he was rushing through air, through part-suffocation that he hoped was temporary.

*shnuggles you lyk anything* <333

hehe *shnuggle right back!* <33333


Another fabulous chapter(oh crap-I'm running out of discriptive words to use!! @s@ *panic*)!!!!!!!!

-Falls into a fit of giggles-

Hey, I like this lady! She's funny!
But what's even funnier is Ginny punching Draco in the face. oh goodness, that was priceless! How I missed those two fighting! BAHAHAHAH. -Pets Draco-


Draco, you conceited boy!

Duuuude!
This seems like… mission impossible! Those poor kids! What else are they gonna have to go through now?! But I must say, Maxers, I loved how you described the whole legend about the tree and stuff… it was beautiful. Hehehehe.

I can't wait for the next chapter!! More adventures!!! WOOOTTT!

hehehehehehehe....Draco Malfoy...lovely quote Maxie....

hilarious....i just dont understand how doesnt Ginny crack up at such lines....Maxie wonderful post waiting for more...

Oh, wow, I wonder what this tree is going to look like! Man, Maxie, you're so descrptive and imaginative!!! Draco is soo conceited! Poor Ginny...I love the way they tak to each other--pea sized brain and all that!

Simply lovely.
PAMS
bc I love you

Thanks, luff. *gives you a dictionary*


Draco: You found that FUNNY? She nearly ruined my pretty face, lady!
Thank you. I was reading Malekith, yesterday - it's a book about the elves, the "Old Ones," the "Chaos Gods," very legend type, and that inspired me to ... legend-ize stuff. xDD
Two more chapterrrrrrrs to go.

Or maybe three.
Thanks, luff. Glad to know you liked it! <3
She wouldn't... I mean, he kissed her TWICE [maybe even more] and then denied being in love with her. =p
Mr. Donkey: It can't be as pretty as me, you know!
Super thank you, luff. Glad to know you likeyyy. =]
IloveyouMORE. <3

Quote:

Love Cancels Love

Very unique name. Me likes!

Quote:

He pressed his free hand against Ginny’s hand, almost felt his energy wash out of him in one sickening, dizzying wave, and enter her.

Awww. I love him! *hugs him*

Quote:

“Don’t,” she whispered.

“I love you,” he replied, against her lips.

I loved this part. So ....... delicate! Very well-written!!!

Quote:

He wore no robe and, instead of the usual black, a loose, white shirt paired with his jeans.

Oh my... I can just imagine that, he will look SO HOT!!!!

Quote:

“Makes you look a donkey.”

Lmao! Go Ginny!

Quote:

They went through one of the doors, only to come upon a dining room that boasted of a table set with food that looked – despite bearing no resemblance to the sort she was used to consuming – quite delicious: platters of steaming meats; soft garnishes of silver foils; and wraps of dough, inlaid with chili and rich spices.

OMG! I WANNA EAT THAT! Great description! Yummmyyy!!!

Quote:

“No,” he said quietly. “We can’t, Ginny.”

WHAT???!!! Not again! DRACO YOU TEASE!

Quote:

She stood there, so cold it felt as if someone was emptying bucketfuls of icy water on her, and he opened the door and left the hall.

That was a beautiful ending... I CANT BELIEVE DRACO WALKED OFF!

Love,
~~Jay~~

anytime!!!♥ Oh and I love my dictionary- I will use it right away!!

I'm a student of Maths, you know.
Thanks a bunch, luff. Glad to know you liked it. =]
Me is hungry, right now. Haven't had breakfast and... *eats Draco*
Thank you, and yes, he was BAD! =[
I love my dictionary, too! <3 Even though I don't use it often.

=[

aw! well I hope you get to use your dictionary in the near future

Amazing chappie MaxieluffYAY!!
I was pretty bored and this chapter just made me happy!
Oh and Draco is biggest Tease everrr!!!!!!
-grrrrrr'errrrrr-
PAMS!
Jess(:

Hehe. There is a CK dictionary in progress, at the moment.

*adds YAYAYAY and Senorita to CK dictionary* xDD
Thanks, luff. Me is happy I made you happy! =D
Draco: But you still love me, don't you?

Yay!!! Señorita y Yayayay= dictionary buddies♥