Love's Intruder

Ginny Weasley was feeling very pretty tonight in her new crushed blue velvet ensemble. It felt good to dress up and Professor Slughorn's party had been the perfect reason. The room had been transformed into some sort of exotic tent. Ginny was thrilled by the food and entertainment. Slughorn had definitely gone all out for his favored students.

She had arrived with her brother's best friend Harry. She had once had a crush on dear Harry but that phase was long over with. She was now secretly seeing someone else. Someone a bit more dangerous and exciting. Their relationship was filled with secret passion filled rendezvous'. She wasn't sure if it was serious, so she felt no guilt in flirting with other boys including Harry Potter. Especially when her secret lover was nowhere to be found at the moment.

Ginny was a smart witch who liked to keep her options open. Especially when those options were rich, handsome, eligible young wizards. If there was one thing about Ginny Weasley, it was that she didn't intend to marry a poor man. That was certainly evident by the solid gold, emerald encrusted pendent dangling from her neck. A recent gift from her latest of conquests. Her brother Ron would be seething if he knew the Slytherin boy's name, which only made seeing him more thrilling to Ginny.

Suddenly there was a commotion at the door, someone was trying to gatecrash the party. Ginny looked up and saw Filch dragging an angry Draco Malfoy over to where Slughorn was deep in conversation with Professor Snape. Snape looked irritated at being interrupted. He sneered at the boy and questioned him. "What is the meaning of this Mr. Malfoy?" Draco looked unabashed and replied, "I was only crashing your silly little party to find my girlfriend. She's here with another wizard and I won't stand for it!"

Snape looked at him curiously. "You must be mistaken Malfoy… I believe your girlfriend Pansy is in the Slytherin commons as we speak." Draco looked over at Harry with his arm protectively around Ginny's shoulder. He pulled out his wand, pointing it at Potter. "Get your filthy hands off my girl! Ginny please…" He looked at her with pleading eyes. A shocked murmur ran through the room. Harry looked at Ginny as if she'd just slapped him.

Furiously, Snape dragged Malfoy outside. Embarrassed, Ginny left and followed behind them at a safe distance. They were in an empty classroom not too far down the corridor. She could hear Snape bellowing at Malfoy. "…to disgrace your family by cavorting with a blood traitor whore! What will your parents say?"

Draco cut him off. "With all respect sir, I'd appreciate you not calling her that. I love Ginny, her family be damned! She's the best thing to ever happen to me and I'm sick of keeping it a secret! I don't care what my family thinks of it!" Ginny was stunned by his sudden proclamation. Draco Malfoy actually loved her. A sudden smile played across her lips. Her fingers wrapped around the delicate chain on her neck as she silently vowed to be worthy of all Draco's love and devotion… For Draco hadn't just intruded on the party, but also on Ginny Weasley's heart.