Summery: "She doesn't know it yet, but she's going to marry me
"Alright, Dray, that's enough." Blaise Zabini said fists on his hips, glaring at his best friend arrogantly.
"Enough what?" the other Slytherin asked, honestly confused.
"You have that smile on your face again." He replied tugging at his hair. The gesture told Draco just how annoyed his friend was. "The one you've had for the past month and a half. That disgustingly annoying I'm-up-to-something-and-you'll-never-guess-what smile that is about to drive me bonkers!" Draco sighed, leaning back on the comfy armchair quite content. "Will you please tell me what is going on? And I swear that if it has to do with her…" Blaise scowled. When Draco's only response was to close his eyes and smile deeper, Blaise groaned.
"I don't know what's wrong with me." He said softly. The term whipped popped into Blaise's head, but his self-preservation instincts kicked in, and he refrained from mentioning that to Draco.
"You know, last year, when the words "I can do anything" slipped out of my mouth, I had no clue that it would end like this." Blaise said rolling his eyes. Both boys grinned, remembering how those words had started… well, everything. "But since I did say them, and they are true, I'll tell you what is wrong with you, and you won't like it." There he paused for suspense. "You're in love with her." Draco Malfoy opened his eyes and gave his best friend an appraising look. Then he rolled his eyes.
"Blaise, I've known that for months. Hell, I've been telling her that for months. She still says that although she loves me, she doesn't believe it. Something about us Slytherins not having hearts. I think that she does believe me thought, and she's just saying… what?" he asked frowning at the gawking Blaise.
"Let me get this straight. You told her you love her?" Draco nodded like it was the simplest thing in the world. "And you didn't tell me!?"
"Blaise, you are my best friend, but if I ever tell you I love you, then you have my permission to lock me up in St. Mungos." But something had dawned on Blaise.
"That rotten little… Gryffindor! She didn't tell me a thing! Why what a sneaky little…"
"If you would refrain from insulting my girl…"
"May I remind you that she's been my friend longer?"
"A fact that neither you nor her let me forget" Draco replied with a hint of bitterness. Then as an after thought, he added, "You know you never told me how you got her to agree to go out with me"
"Well, that's an interesting story…"
"Tell it." Draco commanded royally. Blaise rolled his eyes.
"I will, as long as you promise not to overreact and never to tell her I told you." Draco fixed him with a steely glare. Blaise rolled his eyes and said, "Well, you know how we had that bet on how I could do the impossible?" Draco nodded. "Well, our sneaky little Gryffindor was fed up with her brother and his friends…"
(
"You know, that kind of power you wield is quite impressive. Everyone is saying so."
"What the hell are you talking about, Blaise?" Ginny Weasley said in a temper. It wasn't his fault that her god-forsaken brother had the gull to think that he had any say whatsoever over her love life, Ginny reminded herself. He sat next to her.
"The power to bend six older brothers to your will, Gin-bug. It's quite entertaining to watch – Draco was particularly impressed."
"That boy has got an unhealthy obsession with us Weasleys." She said rolling her eyes. But Blaise had gotten what he wanted, and Ginny's temper had subsided enough for her to be annoyed. He grinned. He was an expert at getting her out of her moods. There was nothing better than the mix of her most despised nickname and Draco's name, and if anyone knew that it would be him.
"You know, you might give the boy a chance, Gin. He might surprise you."
"Not in a million years."
"He has a thing for you, you know." Blaise said. The boy might not know that himself, but no need to tell her that.
"That's wrong on so many levels," came the witty reply. "And stop trying to set me up with him. If I didn't know any better I'd say you had a side agenda." There was a strange while she readjusted her position on the window seat to hide her face from him. "Oh Merlin what now?" she said realizing that his silence was indeed a confirmation of her suspicions.
"Well… there might have been a bet that involved me doing the impossible… your name might have sprung from my lips, he might have scowled but agreed, thinking, rightly, that you'd never willingly have anything to do with him, and…"
"Stop, stop, stop." She was clearly annoyed. "I'm not getting you out of this one. And I am not going out with Draco Malfoy."
"But Gin, think about it! Use that Slytherin cunning that I know has rubbed off on you from hanging out with me and think of just how annoyed your brother would be, especially after that little display today…" Ginny turned around glaring at him.
"You're trying to manipulate me!" she said, punching his arm.
"Slytherin," he said pointing at himself.
"You do have a good point…" she said slowly.
"And the fact that you've had a crush on Draco for a while has nothing to do with this, right?" he said smirking.
"I do NOT have a crush on Draco Malfoy." She said glaring at him, more annoyed at herself because it was true than at him because he was right. "And if you dare to think otherwise, I won't help you."
"I think you were sorted into the wrong house, Ginny Weasley. You're such a good liar that if I didn't know better I'd say that you've even managed to convince yourself. But I do know you better so I wont go there."
"Very funny."
"You can lie to anyone you like, Gin, but not me. I know you too well. I've known you too long."
"Will you ever stop holding it over my hear? You were my first friend after Tom, Blaise, but…"
"I never understood." He said frowning at her skillful change in subject. She was way over Tom Riddle, and that I-was-so-helpless act wasn't working on him. And yet he knew she was more troubled over liking Draco, and so less likely to talk about it. "Why me?"
"After Tom, I understood," then she grinned. "Scratch that, I thought I understood Slytherins better than… much of anything else, really. For some reason, I was never afraid of you guys, because I knew that deep down you were just like the rest of us, despite what you wanted us to think. When I saw you alone in that compartment the first day of my second year, I figure that you'd be as good an opening as any. I didn't, however, expect you to be so willing to be my friend." Blaise smiled, remembering the feisty second year redhead that had walked into his compartment, hands on her hips, and demanded that he be nice. Nice, of all things, wasn't something he'd been back then. But she'd seen past that, and only now did he realize that he'd needed her as much as she'd needed him.
"I wasn't, you know. I didn't want to, but you never gave me the choice."
"Gryffindor," she said pointing to herself and smiling.
"Coincidentally," he said steering the conversation back to The Subject, "I was actually waiting for Draco that day." Ginny groaned, and dropped her head to his shoulder.
"I tried not to like him," she said softly. "But you made it sort of impossible. Ron doesn't know this, but I've probably spent more time with Draco this year than I have with him, Hermione and Harry combined." Blaise snickered.
"My favorite memory of your brother will always be during our fourth year, when he realized that you and I were good friends."
"I thought his head would explode," she giggled, "that's how purple it was." Then she got up and stretched. "I'll do it, TB. But if he wants me to go out with him, he'll have to ask me himself." He growled, in protest of the nickname and how hard she was making it for him. "Oh, Teddy Bear," she said dramatically, starting down the hall and towards the Gryffindor common room. "Did you honestly think I would make this easy for you?"
"You are one evil, evil Gryffindor, Ginny Weasley." Blaise said pushing his hair out of her eyes and looking after her. She turned, and with a most Slytherin like smirk, said,
"I did learn from the best." And that sent a shiver down his spine.
(
"I don't think I've ever been so afraid of her as I was then," Blaise confessed with a shudder. "It's hard to think that she's so powerful sometimes, especially because she's such a sweetheart. I had a hard time believing that she could hurt anyone until I saw her bat-bogey you that onetime. I laughed at the time, but it made me realize that if it came down to it, she could take either one of us on… and probably win."
"I know. I think that one of the things that drew me to her was that she had dealt with darkness and still chosen light. She had every pretext to join Voldemort, with how her family treated her and all. I know she loves them, but they overlook her and underestimate her so often it makes my blood boil. They really don't know what a treasure they have in her. And He would have welcomed her with open arms." They were quiet for a while, thinking of her family. "She saved us you know, we both owe her for that." Draco said suddenly.
"That we do."
"I realized back then what you were doing."
"It worked beautifully. I did get you two together on every possible chance I got. I knew that she would never break down and ask you out, but you, on the other hand, were head over heels without knowing."
"We had fun at your expense, you know. We discovered right away that we had fun together, but we let you think that nothing was going on. Then we were dating for weeks before we told you." Blaise rolled his eyes.
"I knew, I just figured that you'd tell me in your own time."
"Why you little…"
"Slytherin" Blaise cut in, making Draco smirk.
"What did she say after our "first" date? I remember the two of you talked but I never asked."
"Ah… that…"
"Blaise…"
"I've always thought the three of us have an interesting relationship. Both you and her tell me a lot of things, but both of you refuse to ask about what the other said. It's quite entertaining to know and not tell." Draco flashed him a grin.
"We'd talked before you decided to put your plan in action." He said, smiling at the memory. "In third year, when you became friends, she came up to me – always the brave little Gryffindor. I was young back then, but I remember thinking that she was surprisingly pretty. We made a little deal. We'd both be your friends, but that didn't mean we had to like each other and we both refused to have anything to do with each other so we swore that we'd never ask you. It was stupid, because if we'd allowed ourselves to be with you and around each other, then maybe…" Then he blinked. "Don't change the subject! Tell me about that conversation."
(
Ginny Weasley was positively giddy. It was all Blaise Zabini could do but scowl at her. They were back at the window seat, and Ginny was humming something under her breath. It was about to drive Blaise insane.
"Remember lesson number one?" She frowned at him, and with a sigh he said "Slytherins don't do giddy."
"I could debate that, seeing as your best friend did…"
"Argh, enough, Red. I really don't want to know – and why are you so giddy? It's positively preposterous."
"I had a good time yesterday." She said rolling her eyes. "And why can't I be happy? There's nothing wrong with not going around being pompous and overbearing like you, Blaise. You may be a Slytherin, but I am definitely not."
"I could definitely debate that," the Slytherin said glaring at her. "And I am not pompous or overbearing, I'm subtly immodest and clearly superior."
"Conceited and arrogant is more like it." Ginny said under hear breath. Then, louder added, "You know; I don't know why I bother with you. I'm off… I might even go find Draco. He is infinitely more fun than you."
"No, Gin, wait!" he said grabbing her arm and swinging her to face him. "You have to tell me about your date first." The evil twist of her lips and the sparkles in her eyes didn't bode well for him.
"Why don't you go ask Draco, I thought you boys talked about everything."
"Now, Ginny don't be silly. Hey, that rhymes! I'm just that gooood!" the girl rolled her eyes. "Seriously, though. I want to know if I can collect now or not and Draco is not likely to tell me nearly enough."
"You slimy little cheat! You're using me!"
"No, no love! You know that I love you, right? I just want to be a pompous ass and be able to tell Draco I-told-you-so."
"I'm not talking."
"Ginn-EY!" he whined.
"And don't you dare try those puppy dog eyes with me. It won't work this time… maybe… arhg GO AWAY!"
"Pleady pleady please with a cherry on top?"
"Fine. But you owe me! I swear to God I need to find you a girlfriend, maybe then you'll be off my back."
"Spill." He commanded. She sent a glare his way.
"Honestly, I didn't really expect much." She said with a small smile. "Because it isn't a Hogsmade weekend or anything, I figured that he'd take me on a stroll around the lake or something. But then, I do suppose that we are talking about Draco Malfoy and the idea of simple, small gestures is not enough for him." Blaise smiled, Ginny was being a girl and spilling everything. "As it is, we did go on a stroll around the lake, that was fun. You'd think that a Weasley and a Malfoy wouldn't have much to talk about, but – and here's a shocker – we're a lot alike in a ridiculously different kind of way."
"Wait… what?" Ginny sniggered.
"You're the genius. Figure it out."
"I'm a genius, that does not mean I speak girl."
"Anyway, apparently someone" she said looking at him pointedly "told Draco that I loved ice-skating, so he hijacked an empty room and froze the floor over. There was music and everything! Then he sort of stood there and watched me skate… I swear Blaise, I've never felt so beautiful in my life."
"Did he say anything?" Blaise said, actually impressed with what Draco had done.
"Well, after a while I just stopped and stared right back. And he just stood there and smiled back at me. After that he walked me back to the common room," Ginny finished avoiding his eye. Blaise snickered, knowing what she wasn't saying.
"He kissed you!"
"I did not say that."
"You didn't have to! HA! I'm collecting! It's official I'm a miracle worker!" Ginny bit her lip. She wanted to say something that would shock him; something that would shut him up for good and that was ultimately true.
"You know what Blaise? I'm going to marry him someday."
(
"That's the vaguest monologue I've ever heard." Draco said annoyed. "What'd she say about me?"
"You can go ask her." Blaise smiled at his scowling friend. "I was sworn to secrecy, Dray. She might be your girl, but she's my friend, and you know how those Gryffs are about loyalty. If I think of revealing the contents of that particular conversation she will kill me."
"She doesn't have to know!"
"You know this is funny. We have a Slytherin who's in love with a Gryffindor who went out with him to get back at her brother when he actually went out with her to prove his best mate wrong. And both of you were wrong. Said brother has actually come to terms with said relationship and said best friend was actually right. I'm a genius of Newtonian proportions."
"Now that you mention it, Morgana has a really good paper on disproving Newton's law of…."
"Don't go all I'm-first-in-all-our-classes-and-Mrs-Gryffindor-Know-It-All-does-not-stand-a-chance on me." Blaise cut him off. "You've actually go it easy, as long as you don't take her for granted, you're set for life." Draco smiled.
"I never have. Not since the beginning. She's so hurt every time her family overlooks her. Don't get me wrong, I can't really blame them because there's so many of them, and she does everything she can so that no one sees it, but I do. I see how she tries so hard not to be a burden, and sometimes I think it's hard for her to realize that I'm in there just for her. Sometimes she looks at me when she thinks I'm not paying attention, and it sort of feels like she has to make sure that I'm still there." Draco said shaking his head.
"Yeah, they didn't pay nearly enough attention to her, because she was always so good. Even after her first year, she told me once that after she went back to school, it was like being right back at the beginning."
"Except she had you."
"True." Both boys settled into a comfortable silence.
"She doesn't know it yet, but she's going to marry me." Draco told him with a lazy smile. Blaise laughed.
"Oh, Dray, you fool. She's known from the start. It's no use using any type of cunning against her, I once told her she was sorted into the wrong house and I meant it. She knows us better than we know ourselves. And that girl told me ages ago that you'd be the one to marry her."
"She what?" Draco said sitting up. Blaise was too busy laughing.
"Honestly, the thought of Ginny Weasley not knowing…"
"Not knowing what?" came the voice from the doorway. The redhead in question stood there, a bag of groceries in one hand her keys in the other. Draco gasped; Blaise actually fell out of his chair.
"You said you were staying at school for the holidays." Draco said getting up. She rolled her eyes.
"Honestly, you Slytherins are so easily fooled." She said closing the door with her foot and moving towards the kitchen counter. When both boys stared at her incredulously. "I wanted to surprise you," she explained patiently, in a tone that sounded like she was talking to a child. "And I've brought two huge Christmas cakes and invitations to dinner at home tomorrow. Honestly is this the way you say hello to the person who loves you the most in the world, Draco? And Blaise, you'd think that my best friend could do a little more than stare." There were specks of snow on her coat and hair, and her cheeks were flushed with cold. Draco was sure that he'd never seen her look more beautiful.
"I love you," his brain had frozen, and it was all he could think to say. With a smirk that he was sure she had stolen from him and a raised eyebrow she said,
"Prove it." And although he wasn't sure who'd moved, she was suddenly in his arms and kissing him like there was no tomorrow.
"Erh, stop it you two." Blaise said recovering from the shock and getting to his feet. Ginny had pulled back to smile at him, while Draco had growled. The other Slytherin grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him away from Ginny. "Miss Weasley," Blaise said with an exaggerated bow that had her giggling. Then he took her hand and kissed it. "As always, a pleasure to see you. Now, if my rude and rather un-charming mate will stop scowling, I'd like some of that cake you so kindly mentioned."
"Men!" Ginny said yanking her hand from Blaise's and rolling her eyes. "You're all the same, you think with your stomach! Go on then, eat the cake."
"Come on," Draco said, taking her by the elbow and moving towards the balcony. He closed the crystal door behind him. Ginny walked to the railing and smiled, looking at the city far below.
"I don't remember if I've told you how much I love this apartment."
"You did pick it out." He said, standing behind her and slipping his arms around her. "Have you decided if you're going to move in after graduation?" She sighed.
"I'm still thinking about it. I mentioned it to Mum. To put it mildly, she didn't take it well. But, I am seventeen and I can make my own decisions – a fact that I pointed out rater forcefully. Maybe the wineglass that I threw against the wall was a bit much, but that's besides the point. Needless to say, my brothers wouldn't find it amusing, and I rather hate to think that we'd go back to the beggin – what?" She said when he sighed.
"Gin, can I give you something else to think about?" she went still in his arms; he felt her tense up.
"Blaise. That was the other thing I'd been thinking about, Dray. I can't very well just ask him move ou-"
"Gin," Draco said taking her shoulders and forcing her to turn around and look at him. His hands rested on her back. "I'm not asking you to decide now. You're family will understand – eventually – and Blaise knows he has to move out when the time comes. Can we focus, please?" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"So much for courage," she mumbled. "Go ahead, I'm listening."
"I love you." He said softly, leaning his forehead against hers and closing his eyes. For a minute, he held still, listening to the sound of her breathing and enjoying the feel of her heartbeat beneath his fingertips. Then he opened his eyes and pulled back to look into her worried green ones. "I figured I'd wait until after graduation, but I suppose that now's as good a time as any."
"Dray, rea-" he pressed his lips to her in order to get her to shut up.
"Let me finish. When I bought the apartment last summer, and you suggested that Blaise move in with me, he told me he knew he wouldn't last the year. Maybe your family would take your moving in better if you married me." Ginny frowned.
"You're asking me to marry you?" she said shaking her head. Draco smiled.
"Of course not, silly girl." He said lovingly, "I'm telling you we're getting married. You've known for ages, so there's no real point in asking, is there?"
"So I don't have a choice?" Draco sighed at her tone.
"Have I ever not given you a choice, love? I'm yours if and when you want me. Now can we please set a tentative date? Blaise's eyes are about to pop out." Ginny glared at him.
"I'm going to marry you before the summer is out." She said pushing him away and starting for the door, where Blaise could be seen enjoying the spectacle. "You're lucky I love you, you know. No one else would put up with an egotistical prat like you."
"Ginny," Draco said softly, leaning against the railing. She turned around, hands on her hips and glared. He moved towards her with a sigh. He pushed her hair out of her face and smiled down at her. "I don't think that turned out quite right. Let me try again," he said softly. His hands slid from her shoulders, down her arms. She relaxed visibly. "I love you. My life means nothing without you. Would you please consider marrying me?" she bit her lip to keep from giggling.
"Dray, I think I liked it better the first time around…" he grinned.
"Sounded more like us, didn't it?"
"I'd love to marry you. I love you."
"Where's the ring, you halfwit?" Blaise said sliding the door open and earning a glare from both Draco and Ginny.