Chapter Two

Draco wandered around the grounds, not paying attention to anything. He was extremely frustrated with himself. He couldn't get the red-haired beauty out of his head. All he saw when he closed his eyes was her long red hair swirling in the wind as she sang. Then he began to see a different image; she and Harry, snogging in a closet. She was running her fingers through his hair, her lips on his. He slid his hands down her back, pulling her closer. Then she began playing with his robes and he

"Gah! Snap out of it!" Draco told himself out loud. He continued wandering, trying to think of anything but her. He suddenly found himself out by the lake. As he walked down to the shore, he caught a glimpse of fire shooting out from behind a willow. He slowly made his way over and slid over to see what was going on. To his immense surprise, none other than Ginny Weasley was sitting there, firing hexes out to the trees on the other bank. She was crying, angrily but sadly.

"Ginny…" She jumped at the sound of his voice and tried to wipe the tears from her eyes. He froze when she turned her wand on him accidentally, and she burst into fresh tears and lowered it. Draco, who had always been uncomfortable around crying women, stood there uncertainly for a moment before hesitantly sitting beside her. She leaned into his shoulder, wrapped her arms around him, and cried silently for a while.

"Now, do you want to calm down and tell me what's going on, or are you just going to continue sobbing?"

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Ginny had heard him walk up. She felt him sit down next to her. She felt him put an arm around her and gently pull her against his shoulder. She couldn't help throwing her arms around his waist, hugging him even closer. She finally started to calm down, breathing more steadily.

"Now, do you want to calm down and tell me what's going on, or are you just going to continue sobbing uncontrollably?" Malfoy pulled away a little and tilted her head up so that she was looking into his silver eyes. She thought about it for a moment and then leaned her head on his chest.

"It's my idiot brother," she started quietly. "He…he found out about…what you did. What we did."

"Ah. I see. So, should I study up on protective charms and defensive spells, or would it be better to hide out in the common room for awhile?" she could tell he was smiling by the tone of his voice, and she giggled a little hysterically.

"Personally, I would flee to France immediately. That seems the safest route."

"I've never been one to run away…maybe I'll come down with a terrible illness and have to be quarantined?" He chuckled. "Seriously, though. What happened when he found out?"

"Well, he started going off about how it was 'unacceptable' and how I'm 'not allowed to date you, even if I wanted to' and all that. And…I guess I just couldn't take him bossing me around. So I…well, I told him off and came out here." She smiled, remembering the look on Ron's face when she had stormed out. He had looked…murderous. She was suddenly very happy that Draco was with her instead of wandering alone in the castle, just in case.

"Wow. You did that? I'm impressed. He must be fuming." Draco squeezed her shoulder.

"Yeah…" they trailed into silence, watching the lake ripple and splash as first years played around.

"Would you…want to walk around the lake with me?" Draco asked, feeling very awkward. Ginny smiled and nodded, getting up. The walked around the lake in near silence, only talking when absolutely necessary. The reached the other bank and Ginny took her shoes off and slipped into the water up to her thighs. Her skirt hem floated at the surface, revealing tight white thighs. She sighed happily as the cool water lapped at her stomach. Her white Oxford shirt became see-through where the water touched it. Draco slipped out of his shoes and socks, rolled up his pants, and pulled off his shirt and tie. He stood beside her and she smiled at him.

Ginny turned to look at him and barely held back a gasp. She had a sudden urge to reach out and touch his chest, his chiseled muscles. She blinked rapidly and then looked out at the water again. He carefully slid his hand in hers and pulled her deeper into the water. She laughed softly and shoved him.

"Oh, you're in for it now!" He cried. He grabbed her, picked her up, and threw her into the water. She laughed and jumped on him. He grabbed her legs and piggy-backed her so deep they were both underwater. She swam up to the surface and he chased her around, splashing her, until she eventually collapsed on the sand. Her shirt was completely see-through and her skirt was clinging to her legs; his pants were soaked as well. He fell down beside her, laughing, and brushed a strand of wet red hair out of her eyes.

"Draco," she whispered, suddenly very serious. She searched his eyes for some indication of his feelings, but found none. He stared back at her, completely absorbed in the moment.

"Ginny," he murmured, begging her to go on. She looked so…fragile. But not weak. She had never looked weak to him. Slowly, she sat up, and he did the same. She scooted closer and leaned in, still gazing at him. Ever so slowly, she pressed her lips to his and put one hand on the back of his neck. He moved so that their bodies were pressed together and his arms wrapped around her waist. The kiss became more passionate, with her sitting in his lap and her hands were tangling in his long blonde hair. The kiss, sweet but desperate, went on.

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After Ginny stormed out, Harry had listened to Ron rant. Well, he hadn't really listened so much as he sat and waited it out. He couldn't hear anything properly; the blood was pounding too loudly in his ears. He didn't know whether to feel angry or heartbroken. After all, Ginny was going to go to Hogsmeade with Malfoy. But it was Malfoy who had kissed her and lured her in.

Maybe she was just trying to get on Ron's nerves? Maybe she still despises him as much as I do. He thought to himself. This cheered him up a bit, and he made his way to his dorm, continuing to think like that. Noticeably happier, he put away his books and was about to change for dinner when he heard laughing outside. Harry went to the window, hoping it wasn't Ginny's delighted shriek he heard outside with a male voice.

Although, as long as it's not Malfoy, I could overlook her finding someone who makes her happy for awhile. He realized. He studied more closely the figures across the lake and recognized her, splashing around. Her vibrant red hair flew everywhere, getting wet at the ends because of its length. Harry's heart swelled at the sound of her giggle. Then he saw her being picked up, and he turned his attention to the shirtless teenage boy. The white skin, the muscles that were obviously from Quidditch practice, and the voice all seemed familiar. It was only when he added the white-blonde hair that his blood started to boil. He tried to remain calm, knowing he should look away from them, but he couldn't. He continued watching as they lay on the sand, as she reached up, and as their lips met. However, it was when she pulled herself into his lap that Harry snapped. He roared, snatching up his wand, and stormed out of the room. He met Ron in the common room, and grabbed him. Hermione swiftly got up and followed.

"Harry, what's wrong? Harry, stop! Tell us what's wrong!" Hermione pleaded.

"Ron, what if I told you your sister is snogging Malfoy as we speak?" Harry snarled, quickening his pace.

"What?!? WHAT?!? She's SNOGGING him? I'm gonna KILL THAT BLOODY BASTARD!!!" Ron screeched. He and Harry streaked out of the castle and raced to the other side of the lake, with Hermione on their heels. They reached the other side and found Ginny and 'the bloody bastard' in the middle of a deep, passionate kiss. As Harry watched on in horror, Malfoy pushed Ginny back so she was lying on the sand with him over her. It was at this point that Ron lost all self control. He ripped Malfoy off of her with impressive strength, and threw him to Harry, who held him back. Harry was surprised to see Malfoy fighting back, snarling and trying to reach his wand.

Ron then reached down and wrenched his sister off the sand. She had a fiery look in her eyes, and she started clawing at him. Suddenly, Harry found it impossible to move. Apparently, so did everyone else. Hermione stepped out from behind a tree and shook her head. First, she addressed Ron.

"Ronald Weasley, leave your sister alone! You aren't the boss of her! You have no control of what she does, so leave her be!" Then she turned to Harry. "Harry, everyone knows you fancy Ginny. But you can't explode like this just because she doesn't share your feelings. Calm down!" Harry would have sulked, could he have moved. He felt embarrassed and idiotic. Finally, she rounded on Ginny. "Ginny, I don't know what you really feel. But please don't rush into things. Or lead someone on to irritate your brother. Please," Hermione turned, walked back to the tree line before releasing them from the body-binding curse.

Ron dropped Ginny on the sand. Harry shoved Malfoy off him. To his extreme irritation, Ginny raced to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He put an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.

"Malfoy," Ron started in a deadly tone.

"Weasel" he responded with an equally poisonous voice.

"Look, Malfoy. I don't like you messing around with my sister. I really don't think it's a good idea. I'm only looking out for her." He was trying to keep his tone reasonable.

"Weasel, you're an idiot if you think I don't care about her." Malfoy snapped. Ginny looked up at him with wide eyes. "I do. I really care about her. And I'm not the one who made her cry," he added. Ron's eyes grew wider and he seemed to calm down even more.

"I still don't like it." He muttered. Ginny sighed and stepped away from Malfoy. She walked up and gave her brother a hug.

"Ron, I know you don't like it. And I know you don't trust him. But you know what? We aren't jumping into anything. We just want to see where this takes us. We just want to see what happens. Ok?" Ginny pleaded. Harry saw Malfoy raise his eyebrows. She then put one arm around her brother and one arm around Malfoy and the trio walked back to the castle nearly peacefully, leaving Harry on the beach, all alone.