Full story this time, hopefully. I own nothing. I hope you enjoy.
White Rose
Ginny sat at the Gryffindor table that morning looking absolutely exhausted. She had been awake half the night revising after fretting about her upcoming exams. It was nearing the end of the school year and by now, everyone was ready for a break. Even more so was Ginny as she was in her fifth year and was therefore coming up to taking her O.W.L.S. She was determined to do well. She pushed her scrambled egg around her plate as she dwelled on that lessons that she had today. She Transfiguration first with Professor McGonagall. She had been getting extra lessons as her work had become increasingly below standard recently. However, Ron who was sitting opposite her was wolfing down bacon at the speed of light as if it was going out of fashion. Hermione who was to his left was neglecting her toast and pumpkin juice for a potions textbook. It was now common knowledge that she was no longer top of that class thanks to Harry. He was on Rons right, staring directly at the Ravenclaw table where Cho sat, chatting with her friends. He was obviously still hung up on her since their kiss last year but she did not seem to interested, leaving Harry living in hope. From down the other end of the table, Ginny could hear Neville talking to Pavarti Patil about how her Herbology homework was of a very high standard. Headored Herbology. Seamus and Dean were charming baked beans to fly across the room and bounce off of Flitwicks head, much to theirs and others amusement. The sun that had just risen was shining bright through the window. Everything was normal and it was a beautiful day. Eventually, Ginny pushed her plate away and stood up without a word. She grabbed her bag, tucking her hair behind her ears and walked through the doors. She decided she was going to walk to lessons early in the hope that she could have a quick word with Professor McGonagall about her next catch up session.
She walked slowly up the large, marble staircase, her bag slapping lightly against her thigh. The majority of the portraits on the wall were awake though some still snoozed in their frames. Ginny wasn't really watching where she was going when she walked into something or someone. Her bag slipped off of her arm as she tripped, falling to the floor. Her books lay spread out in front of her upon the steps. Her hands were scraped by the stone. She looked up and there was the last person she wanted to see. Draco Malfoy. His white blonde hair was slicked back and his icy grey eyes were piercing. His cheekbones stood out in the sunlight and his toned body was carefully hidden by his school uniform. Ginny had always thought of him as handsome although she would never admit it. After all, they were rivals. She began to pick up her books and to her greatest surprise, Malfoy started to help her. They picked up each book without uttering a word to each other. She watched him out of the corner of her eye but he just kept his eyes to the floor. He put the books in her bag and she stood up, swinging it over her shoulder. They stood there in silence. They looked into each others eyes for a second. His grey and cold, hers chocolate and warm. He must have realised as he shook his head muttering to her, "Watch where you are going Weasley." And walked away. Ginny turned to watch him go but she was obviously too slow as he was gone. What in Merlin's name was that about? Finally she decided to push the thought to the back of her mind as she continued towards Transfiguration. She hurried up the steps as she heard the doors to the great hall open and everyone else begin to disperse in all directions towards their lessons.
She walked in quietly and sat in her usual seat at the back of the room next to Luna. Try as she might she could not shift the events of this mornings incident on the stairs with Malfoy out of her mind. This had an unignorable effect upon her work. They were supposed to be transforming beetles into needles but Ginny had already managed to squish three with her hand and four had escaped and ran the door. Despite this she did feel quite please that she had tried unlike Luna who was affectionately talking to her beetle, claiming it to a three eyed Snorkel-Wart, whatever that was. Unfortunately, Professor McGonagall did not feel the same way about this matter as eventually Luna had managed transformed her beetle. As a result, Ginny was made to stay behind while everyone left. The whole of fifth year had a free period where they were supposed to revise all though the majority of them just lazed about, enjoying the break. Ginny packed her bags while everyone left. As soon as they were out the room, she walked up to the front desk where McGonagall had fixed her with a deathly stare over the top of her glasses.
"Miss Weasley, I believe you know why I have asked you to stay behind." Ginny nodded her head silently. There's something about Professor McGonagall that make you know not to say anything unless asked. "You are slipping tremendously your studies. Even with extra help you are receiving is deeming inadequate. I'm sorry Miss Weasley but I have no choice but to give you a detention for this evening at 6 o'clock. You may go now."
Ginny left without a word, she knew better than to argue. She slumped off to the common room to revise for Herbology which she had not go around to doing quite yet. On the way back, the corridors were almost completely empty except for a tall Slytherin walking up the steps. Once again, it was Malfoy. There was something different about him. He used to walk with pride and purpose holding an auror of authority. But now he walk walking extremely slow, dragging his feet. He looked paler than usual, as though he was ill. He was taking a remarkably long time walking up the stairs for someone who was late for their next lesson. She don't know why but she just watched him. It was as if she was frozen. Transfixed by Malfoy's sudden change in character. He must have noticed as his head shot up, and their eyes locked once more. When he finally reached the top of the stairs, he stood directly in front of her, inches from touching her. "Following me are you Weasley?" He whispered.
"You wish," she scoffed back. Once again, they were unable to look away from each other until Malfoy stepped a side, gave a slight chuckle and carried on down the corridor with his trademark smirk playing upon his lips. Ginny was as confused as ever now. That is twice today they have bumped into each other on the stairs and twice he has spoken to without a single insult. This combined with his new behaviour makes it even more suspicious. It wasn't really any of her business but she could not deny the fact that she was curious.
Time had ticked on since the second incident on the stairs and it was soon 6 o'clock. Ginny sauntered down to Professor McGonagall's classroom exactly on time to find her sitting in the same spot as earlier, as if she hadn't moved. She looked up for her paper work and gestured for Ginny to sit in the front row, directly in front of her. She did so, still without uttering a word. McGonagall had given her box full of beetle to turn into needles by 9 o'clock. Just as she had started to transform her fifth beetle when the doors at the back of the room swung open. Ginny, to busy trying to do her work to bother turning around. McGonagall lifted her head a peered over her glasses like she had at Ginny. "Ah, Mr Malfoy," Ginny heart give an unexpected leap, "Are you aware that you are fifteen minutes late?"
"Sorry," he muttered as he sat down exactly three rows behind Ginny. He had been given the task of turning mice into paper aeroplanes and bewitching the to fly out of the open window. To Ginny, two could barely bewitch a sickle to spin thought that all that seemed like hard work but Malfoy had already done one. They sat in silence. They always seemed to not be able to speak when they were in the same room. For a minuet, Ginny wondered what Malfoy had done to deserve a detention and then she remembered that this was Draco Malfoy after all so he could be in there for anything. Just then, the doors slammed open once again and in came a Gryffindor second year, look extremely out of breath.
"Professor McGonagall, the fat lady's singing again," the first year breathed heavily. Everyone knows that the fat lady's singing is the most vile, blood curdling, deafening screeches in the whole of the wizarding world. Without a second thought, Professor McGonogall leapt up from her seat and marched quickly out of the hall, following the child. The door shut and Ginny and Malfoy were just left there. Alone. Ginny tried with all he might to concentrate instead of looking at Malfoy. This proved unsuccessful as she managed to give the beetle on the tale a pointed head instead of turning it into an actual needed. That was when she felt something off hit her in the back of the head. Then again. She turned around to see two paper aeroplanes on the floor behind her. She then looked at Malfoy who was yet again, wearing a smirk.
"So Weasley," He lent forward across the table, "What you inn for?" he asked.
"Why'd you care?" She shot back without thinking.
"Oh I do," he replied calmly, "I'm just sick of the silence that's all."
Ginny was taken back by his calmness. He had never spoken to her in that way before. He had always been so harsh and insulting and now he was talking to her like a human. Something was definitely wrong.
"I..." she stutter, "I...um...I'm just falling behind a bit," She now sat sideways in her chair so that she could see him with out having to strain her neck. His cold eyes now laughed at her and his smirk suddenly grew into a mocking grin.
"Clever girl like you, falling behind. A Weasley at that. What will your mother say?!" He laughed at his own sarcastic question, shaking his head like he always seemed to be doing.
"What are you in for then, Malfoy?" she snapped.
"Nothing really, just tripped a first year down some stairs. No biggy. I didn't mean to but he probably had it coming," The corners of his mouth lifted again but not like before. In a way, he seemed to look sort of ashamed or embarrassed by what he had done.
"Merlin's sake Malfoy, do you just enjoy harassing people on the stairs or something?/" She sneered at is sheepishness. She tried to keep the conversation going although she knew that McGonagall would be back soon but anything was better than the silence.
"I don't know, just a new hobby of mine I guess," e chuckled back, the laughed filling his eyes. "Lets drop the formalities shall we? It's just Draco." He smiled. Not his smirk, not a sneer but a real smile. She smiled back as the door slammed and McGongall entered, looking rather flustered. Her cheeks were red and er usually tight bun was scraggley. She gave a small cough as though to clear her throat and got back to her work.
Ginny soon finished her work long before Draco had finished his after he had accidentally made one of the planes hit Professor McGonagall in the head meaning he had to stay for another hour. Ginny finally reach the Gryffindor tower and climbed through the portrait hole. She fumbled through the common room and staggered tiredly to bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was fast asleep forgetting the work she had due in for tomorrow and the mysterious actions of the newly named Draco.
