One of these days I am going to say no, no to my family, no to my friends, no to bloody Harry Potter. But today wasn't that day.
"Gin, we just need you to get close to him." said Harry, a crooked smile lit up his green eyes. His dark messy hair was out of place as usual. Candle light glinted off his glasses.
It was only the second day of my fourth year at Hogwarts and already the trio was up to something. Just once couldn't they lay low and blend in?
"Ginny, you are in Advanced Potions with him and we know he's up to something," interrupted Ron, "You've…blossomed over the summer. He won't say no to an attractive redhead trying to get his attention." Ron turned as bright as the roots of his hair.
I huffed, "Hermione, you can't be in on this with them? It's a foolish idea."
Hermione glanced up from the dusty tome she was pouring over, "Hmm? Oh yes, that. Well, Gin, it isn't a terrible idea per se. It's not like we are asking you to go to Yule with him. You're already his Potions partner. Just butter him up. Ron is right about that. You're gorgeous, not that you weren't before but you certainly have a more…womanly figure."
Harry took my hand in his, a thrill raced through my chest. I tried to focus on his words.
"Ginny, Voldemort is back. I saw him take form. We need all the information we can get. Now, Malfoy isn't a Death Eater –"
"That we know of." interjected Ron. He clenched and unclenched his fists as Harry spoke, clearly uncomfortable with the subject but willing to go along with his best friend.
Harry nodded, "But, we know as well as anyone that being around an operation, even an operation you aren't directly involved with, you'll glean information from it. He is well on his way to becoming a Death Eater and any information he has is useful. Say you'll do it, Gin. For us…for me?"
He had me and he knew it. For Harry Potter I would do almost anything, including getting close to Draco Malfoy.
The dungeon was muggy from the steam ribboning up from the cauldrons, doing absolutely nothing for my long red hair. Even so, I had taken extra care in my appearance that day. I leaned over my roll of parchment, hiding my face with my hair. Draco sat next to me running through the list of instructions. He had kept his cloak on despite the heat and was absentmindedly rubbing the inside of his forearm. His nails were bitten to the quick. His platinum hair had grown long and shaggy over the summer He muttered to himself as if I wasn't there.
"I can feel you staring at me, Weasley."
I started, not realizing he could see me or that he was paying attention to what I was doing, "Sorry, I –"
He didn't let me finish, "Look, we are stuck together for the rest of the year and I am not going to pick up the slack if you can't cut it. Pay attention. This potion is difficult."
My anger rose to the surface, "Look, Malfoy. I'm the only fourth year in this Advanced Potion class so clearly I can "cut it" and you've already messed the potion up. It says to cut the slugs horizontally not diagonally." I point out the mess in front of him and then show him my perfectly dissected slugs and push them towards him, "Use these and next time you want to get all high and mighty make sure you have your act together. I'm not picking up the slack and you get all the credit."
Internally I curse myself. I'm supposed to be making friends. We revert back to the awkward silence, the sound of the other students working filling the void. I debated whether I would make another go at it but Malfoy decided for me.
"You're right. I…apologize."
I glance up at him and am shocked to see that he might mean it. His gray eyes look troubled and his skin, pale and clammy. Honestly he looks quite ill. I feel a pang of sympathy for him before shaking my head. He goes out of his way to make trouble for my friends, I remind myself. He's practically a Death Eater already and I've already had more than enough experience with his type in my second year, a mistake that almost cost my dearly. No, this was a job. A way I could contribute to the cause. I'd find out what I could about Draco Malfoy and discard him the way Tom Riddle discarded me…although maybe without the leaving to die part.
I nodded, accepting his apology and we went back to work in silence, our only conversation pertaining to the task at hand. However, when he handed me a vial and his fingers overlapped mine I couldn't help the spark that danced across my skin. It was gone as soon as soon as it came but it was clear he felt it too. My eyes widened and I took my hand back. He gave me a curious look but said nothing. I rushed out of the dungeon as soon as class ended.
"Weasley, wait!"
I had almost made it to the stairwell when Draco Malfoy caught up with me. I swung around, my annoyance with him clear, "What Malfoy?"
He held up my favorite quill, "Left this."
I was sure it was the last thing I had packed away in my rush to leave class, how he ended up with it, I didn't know. I reached for it and he held it just out of the way, "Well, give it here." We were blocking the stairwell and causing a crowd of students as they watched a Malfoy and a Weasley interact.
He cocked an eyebrow, quite arrogantly, and pursed his lips as if considering my demand before handing it over. I wasn't sure but I think he purposely brushed my skin with his hand and again felt the spark that crossed between us.
"Hmmm." He turned around, leaving me open mouthed and staring as he made his way through the crowd.
I narrowed my eyes at his retreat. Something was up and I intended to find out what it was.
