Chapter 2 - A New Understanding
Ginny shook herself mentally. "Sure, I guess. Come on in, Malfoy." She backed away from the door, giving the pale Slytherin room to get inside. As she watched Malfoy put his trunk under the bench opposite hers, she wondered what she was doing. This was the boy who had tormented her for years, railed on about how the Weasleys were worthless and may as well Mudbloods, and whose father had personally tried to kill her. So why was she letting Draco Malfoy share her compartment? I don't really want a conflict, and it's not like he barged in on me. He looks off, so maybe he'll leave me alone. I'll just curse him if he starts anything. She returned to her seat, pulling a small book out of her rucksack as Malfoy lay down on his bench. She got back to her comfortable position and began reading.
She was distracted from her book when she felt his eyes on her.
"What?"
"Just wondering what you're reading."
She turned the cover of the paperback for him to see. The title read Memnoch the Devil. "It's a vampire book. Written by a Muggle American author, but it's really very good." Ginny looked over the book at him. "Very accurate, too."
"You have anything else?" he asked, and she raised an eyebrow at him. "I couldn't find anything interesting to read, and I really don't feel like starting in on a textbook."
"Here." Ginny handed the vampire novel out to him. "I've read it before." Malfoy took it and she dug another book, Dragonsdawn, out of the sack. She looked at him sideways and smirked: he'd been drawn into the book immediately. She opened the big hardcover book and began to read, but she found herself glancing over to look at her odd companion. She was astounded to hear real laughter escape him and even an actual smile cross his face. The effect on his features was astounding.
The train lurched as it started, and Ginny tumbled from her seat, but only her legs hit the floor. She felt an arm under her side and Malfoy's face appeared above hers, looking somewhat concerned. "You alright?"
She was thrown more by his apparent concern for her safety and his reflexes than by the lurching train. "Yeah, I think so." She smirked at him, amused by his concern and trying not to show the fact that, for some reason, her heart skipped a beat looking at his silvery eyes. "Forget who I am, Malfoy?" she quipped.
He shook his head, looking oddly serious, but smiled a bit at her tone. The lack of scorn in the expression was unusual, and Ginny couldn't help but notice that, without the smirk, he really was rather handsome. "No, Weasley, I haven't." Ginny looked at him with mock surprise. "But you haven't gotten to know me. Here, let me help you up."
Ginny felt awkward at the sincerity in his voice, and she fought down a blush at the intensity and climbed back into her seat. "Er, thanks, Malfoy."
"Call me Draco," he said with a grin.
"Okay, Draco." Who is this and what has he done with Draco Malfoy? She resumed her book, feeling very self-conscious and confused.
What are you doing, Malfoy? Draco scolded himself mentally. He couldn't seem to get back involved with the characters on the pages of the book. Slow down, get control of yourself. There's too much to deal with right now without getting on the wrong end of one of her Bat-Bogey Curses!
He kept stealing quick glances at the little ginger across the compartment. She seemed a bit closed off, a little off-balance since he helped her up, though not angry or upset. He felt a little relief at that. Draco thought back on his plan for the year. He was going to redefine himself to the wizarding world. Draco would not be like his father any longer, nor bend to his will. The classist, purist mindset that he'd had beaten into him, rather literally at times, would no longer prejudice him. He was determined to make that true, and he had decided about a month ago that the best way to start that was to start with Ginny. He'd thought a lot about her this summer, mostly while bandaged up in a recovery room at St. Mungo's. Draco frowned at the memory. Lucius hadn't taken Draco's inability to kill as well as Voldemort had, because the Dark Lord was just pleased that Dumbledore was dead. The fact that his mother, Narcissa, had forced Professor Snape to swear to complete Draco's assignment if her son couldn't only ensured Lucius' wrath came down on both of their heads. Ginny was the focal point of Draco's resolve to reshape him and his image.
He stole another glance. She was twisting a strand of copper hair around her finger. I just hope she'll give me a chance to prove myself. The Weasley family may not have been rich, but they seemed generally willing to give people a chance. Draco hoped they would give him the opportunity to prove that he was not his father.
"Hey, Weasley?"
"Call me Ginny, Draco. If we're going to be on a first-name basis, I suppose it should go both ways. And what?"
"Do I need to leave so you can change into your robes?"
Ginny looked up from her book at him. Draco's face was sheepish. Again. She chuckled and nodded, somewhat amused at the out of place expression. "Yeah, but I won't be that long. Just a minute." Draco nodded, picked up the book, and stepped outside the door. Ginny spelled the door to be opaque and dug a set of robes and clothes from her trunk. She traded her white baby doll top and blue track pants for a tank top in Gryffindor colors with the House emblem and a pair of low-rise blue jeans. She pulled on the robe she had altered to fit her – it had been one of the twins' robes before – and found a hairbrush. She swept her hair up into a ponytail and tied it off. Ginny opened the door and tapped Draco on the shoulder, not realizing that he had company.
"Ginny!" Ron screamed, and Ginny jumped. He and Harry were standing outside the door and had been trying to start a fight, judging by the way Draco was clenching his jaw. "What are you doing with this scum?"
She looked sideways at the pale Slytherin nest to her and looked back to her brother, controlling her emotions. "Sharing the compartment with him and letting him read my book, if you must know," Ginny replied coolly. "Is there something wrong with that?" She stared Ron straight in the eye, daring him to start something.
Apparently, Harry didn't realize that the dare didn't apply to him. "He's a Slytherin and Malfoy, so yeah, I'd say there's something wrong with that!" Harry stepped up to her, a growl in his voice. He's trying to back me down. He really thinks he controls me.
Ron just stared at her, slackjawed at his sister's matter-of-fact reply. He reached out and pulled Harry back, out of Ginny's face. "Gin, can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?" His voice shook slightly, his strength gone, replaced by confusion and caution.
She nodded and went with her brother, flashing Draco what she hoped was a polite smile. "I'll be just a minute," she said and followed Ron down the corridor.
Come on, prat. Give me a reason.
Draco's jaw was starting to cramp from his irritation, and he waited for Harry to make up his mind. The agitated Gryffindor seemed torn between chasing after the Weasleys or turning back on Draco. Draco, for one, hoped that Potter chose the latter. He'd at least have an excuse to break his nose. Of course, if he tried to back Ginny down, that'd be just as good a reason. He caught himself feeling protective of her. He took a small breath, calming himself, trying to let his planning side take control of the situation. Provoking Potter would put him back in the position of antagonist and jeopardize the tentative peace between him and Ginny, but walking away would give him a chance to go after Ginny, which would risk her getting hurt but possibly prove that he was on her side. But I don't know the whole story with Potter's weirdness, and there is that bizarre Gryffindor loyalty. They fight over the slightest things but let people get away with utter betrayal. I have no idea what's going on.
He decided to keep an eye on Potter but disengage slightly. He rounded the corner of the door, sitting on the bench where he could keep an eye on Potter.
Harry sneered at him. "Backing down, Malfoy?"
"Hardly, scarhead" Draco returned, smirking back. He slipped easily into the arrogant tone of voice he often used with the infuriating boy. "You're just not worth the energy to stand." Can't let my guard down with him. Something's off about him, and I don't know what. He heard Ron's and Ginny's voices down the hall.
A/N 6 October 2011: Here's the revision of Chapter 2! I'm trying to bring Draco in and give a bit of backstory as to his changed personality.
Everyone's noticing Harry's weird behavior, and I promise there's something behind it, it's not just "let's make Harry the bad guy just so Draco can be the hero for once." The question of why might go unanswered for a little while, but the answers will come in time.
A/N 8 June 2012: Re-post of the final edits on Chapter 2.
