Disclaimer: All characters pertaining to Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling does not belong to me. But the story line does. :)
Chapter Two: A Deal and A Second Chance
It was dawn and Ginny was already awake. It was finally the day that she got to see Hogwarts again. Although she didn't really like doing homework or attending classes, she felt safe and warm at Hogwarts. Since she didn't have many friends, Ginny had found a secret room back in the beginning of her 3rd year. It was a nice place to go to read a book or to cry. It had a large comfortable couch and a fireplace along with a window with heavy embroidered drapes. The room was pretty small and dim, but Ginny loved it.
Ginny walked up to her old, chipping vanity table and sat in front of it. She sighed deeply while looking at the reflection of her normal, plain face. After a moment, Ginny picked up her brush and started running it through her long hair.
"Everything's going to be alright." Ginny told herself. She signed and put the brush down. "Why did I even get up so early?"
A voice from within suddenly came to life.
"Ginny! You know exactly why you got up so early! It's because of HIM! You know… Forget him!" A voice said in the back of her head strongly.
"I know, but I…can't." Ginny whispered back quietly, feeling her heart ache—something she got used to over the years.
"Of course you can! You need to get stronger! Who needs wonder boy? He doesn't need you! You're just 'Ginny' or 'Ron's adorable little sister' or 'the cute girl that follows me and had a crush on me for years'. Forget him Ginny."
The voice in her head was gone now. Ginny looked up at the mirror again and quickly wiped away the non-existent tears off her cheeks. She ran out of tears for Harry a long time ago.
Determined to move on and live her life, Ginny went the bathroom to get ready to go to Queens Cross Station and then to Hogwarts.
"Okay, Harry and Ron, you go first and then Hermione and Ginny okay?" Molly ordered the children.
"Yes mam!" said Harry, Ron, and Hermione in unison. Ginny just kept quiet.
When everyone got through, Ginny said her good byes quickly and kissed her mom.
"Better go into a different compartment." thought Ginny as she walked down the aisle looking for an empty cart. Finally, after a few minutes of searching, she found what she was looking for. Ginny sighed in peace and laid down on the seat, slowly closing her eyes. She barely received any sleep the night before and the seat underneath her felt heavenly. Ginny was sound asleep.
"There's something wrong with Weasley. She's a little pale today. Wonder what happened." Draco thought as he watched the small redhead board the train. "Whoa! Did I just worry about someone? That's so not right! You're softening too much these days Draco!...Well, I wasn't actually worried. I just wanted Weasley to be ready for me to piss her off." Draco nodded to himself "Yeah, that's it."
"Weasley," Draco barked, "wakey, wakey!"
"Wha..."
Ginny opened her eyes with great effort only to get swirl of cloudy colors. She closed them and opened them again a couple times only to see Draco's face a couple inches away from hers. She yelped and got up as if she was lying on hot coals, hitting her head against the wall in her furious attempt to get up. Ginny winced. She was so sure that she looked like a mess. Her hair was probably a dirty mat on her head, tangled and her face drowsy, but unknowingly to her, Draco thought she looked even more tempting with her bed look.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Ginny asked in annoyance. She rubbed her scalp where she had injured herself.
"What happened to the first name basis Weasley?" Draco asked in a fake, disappointed tone.
"Malfoy, if you're just here to bother me, then please go away. I'm tired right now." Ginny said to Draco dully and then looked outside the window. They were passing through bright meadows, except it wasn't bright. The sky was full with rain clouds, ready to burst open to fall upon the thirsty soil.
Looking at Ginny's emotionless, yet reminiscing expression, Draco's face darkened. He knew it was about Harry. It was always about Harry.
"Is that how you talk to a person who's here to give back your hat?" Draco replied coldly and mirthlessly. He then smirked as he had finally caught Ginny's full attention now.
"Okay, thanks. You could leave it and go."
Draco coldly glared at Ginny in the eyes so that she couldn't look straight at him. She turned back towards the window.
"This is about Potter isn't it?" Draco spat out accusingly. It was a statement, not a question. Ginny suddenly stood up and turned to him with glassy eyes.
"Malfoy I mean it! Leave. Me. Alone." Ginny said furiously as her tears fell down the sides of her face. She couldn't take it anymore! It wasn't just about Harry, but she was tired. Tired of thinking about Harry, tired of defending herself against Malfoy, tired of being sad, tired of being tired. She returned Draco's glare now.
"Look Weasley," Draco whispered deadly, advancing on Ginny as she backed up. Ginny then softly bumped into the wall and Draco trapped her, placing his hands on the wall so that her head was between his arms. "No one orders a Malfoy around. And no one ever ignores a Malfoy when he had kindly returned a belonging."
Draco was really close to Ginny's face and Ginny was slightly shaking. It was either because of the coldness of the cart, crying, or from the shock of the close proximity between Draco and herself. To her, it was the later.
Draco examined her eyes—those deep chocolate eyes. The usual happiness and warmth were now filled with pain, regret, and anger. After a long silence, Draco finally said something.
"Wonder Boy doesn't deserve you Weasley. Forget him. He's crazy for not noticing you." Draco raised his right hand and wiped the tears off her face. While he did this, Ginny closed her eyes as fresh new tears came out.
"I know what you want. You want power don't you? To be noticed. To pay back for your pain." Draco stopped as Ginny tried to deny what he had just said.
"Shhh." Draco ordered, cutting her off. "Listen to me first." Ginny then closed her mouth. Something in Draco's voice was calming and made her listen.
"Let me offer you something and think about it during the train ride. Okay?" Ginny nodded slightly.
"I'm going to offer everything that you want. To get back at the people who hurt you, to be noticed, to do whatever you always dreamed of. In return of course I want to see Potter suffer and see what pain truly is. By the end of everything, you will be one of the most irresistible girls at Hogwarts. What I am asking in return is for you to attend to every dance during this year with me, especially the Winter Ball." Draco said all this slowly and clearly while looking straight into Ginny's eyes so she could process all this new information in her head. When Ginny felt that she was going to have to say something, she opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She realized that she wasn't sure of what to say. Draco almost smiled and cocked his head to one side.
"Think about it." Draco then swiftly, with grace, straightened up and walked out the compartment.
Draco's words were echoing in Ginny's head after he left her. Ginny sat down exhaustedly and rested her head in her hands. After thinking about it for a long time, Ginny got up to dress into her school robes. She made her decision. She was going to accept.
After getting off the train, Ginny rejoined Harry, Ron, and Hermione, because Ron remembered that he forgot his dear little sister. Ginny unhappily walked behind the trio when Draco blocked their way. She knew why Draco was here. It was for two reasons. One: He had to say the start-of-year hello to the Dream Team. Two: He wanted an answer from her.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Ron spit out as if Draco's name was the dirtiest thing ever.
"Nothing of your concern Weasley. I'm just saying hello for our last year to spend together. Other than that I need to have a little talk with your lovely sister." Everyone turned to look at Ginny. Hermione's face looked questioning, Harry's hurt and confused, and Ron's absolutely furious.
"Okay." Ginny said barely above a whisper. She walked to Draco's side.
"Ginny!" Ron said surprised and angry.
"It's okay Ron." Ginny said reassuring it with a small smile.
Draco smirked. Ginny sure did well acting like an innocent little girl to the Dream Team, but he knew that she was a temptress with a sharp mind. When everything was said and done, Draco and Ginny entered a coach to ride to Hogwarts.
"So, did you make a decision?" Draco asked.
"Yeah I did, but I'm not really sure. Is that all you really want from me? A few dances and that's it?"
"That's not just a few dances, those dances shows the whole world who was the one to develop Ginevra Weasley into a beautiful woman." At that last statement, Ginny looked down at her feet and blushed. Draco added, "Plus I get to piss off the Dream Team. But seriously, you have to get rid of that shyness and timid-ness of yours."
Ginny flushed with annoyance.
"So, how shall we steal the deal?" Draco asked as he leaned back into his seat. Ginny looked up at him questioningly.
"Umm. I'm not sure. Do you have anything in mind?"
"How about with this?" Before Ginny could say anything, Draco's warm lips were upon Ginny's inexperienced ones. Ginny gasped and Draco took the chance of her mouth opened to slide his tongue into her mouth, exploring it. Ginny had never felt anything like this ever before. She started to feel warm inside and her heart began to thump hard on her chest. Finally, after a couple minutes that seemed like forever, Draco pulled away. When Draco opened his eyes, Ginny's were still closed and her cheeks were flushed.
"Deal sealed." Draco said coolly while leaning back into his seat, arms crossed and lips smirking. Ginny opened her eyes and nodded.
A minute later, they had reached the front of Hogwarts and Draco got off first and helped Ginny to get off the carriage.
"Thank you." Ginny said quietly. And without saying anything, Draco turned and walked into the school with Ginny following him. Suddenly, when reaching the entrance to the great hall, Draco turned around to Ginny.
"After dinner, wait for me." And with no explanation of why, Draco walked to the Slytherin table. So, Ginny also went to go sit at the Gryffindor table next to Hermione and across from Harry. The sorting had passed quickly and Dumbledore stood up from the staff table to make this year's announcements.
"Hello students! Welcome back to Hogwarts! Back to learning something new and exciting! I have a few things to announce. Like usual, the Forbidden Forest is forbidden to go into to all years. Also there are two new events going on this year. The 6th and 7th years would be experiencing how to make wine for Professor Bins had suggested that the experience would connect you with the history of wizard winery. The second event is a 5th to 7th year event. There would be a singing contest. The rules and sign up sheet will be up in the hall. And also, the sign up sheet is surrounded by an Age spell so younger years, be aware. We don't need another event of young students with beards like mine." People laughed, remembering the Weasley twin's attempt to place their name in the Goblet of Fire years before.
"Before we eat our wonderful, prepared dinner, I would like to announce head boy and head girl—Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy."
Ginny was surprised, but so were the rest of the school except for Draco who was smirking his ass off and Hermione who knew before hand, but didn't expose it. The whole school was so sure that Harry would get Head Boy.
"And of course, lastly, a couple words for the year. Pickled minks." As always, everyone started dumbfounded back at their headmaster, but dismissed the absurdity of his words and went back to noisy chatter. Dumbledore sat down and began chatting away with the professors sitting next to him as well.
Ginny stared across the Great Hall at the stormy-eyed boy who sat with a cool demeanor, talking with silk words to his so-called friends. She didn't notice the food that had appeared on the table until Harry waved a hand over her face.
"Hello? Earth to Ginny!"
"Huh?" questioned Ginny tearing her eyes away from the Slytherin and turned to look at Harry with a blank expression.
"Are you okay Ginny? You looked really out of it there."
"Oh. I'm alright Harry." Ginny replied smiling slightly at Harry's worried face.
"Okay. If you say so." Harry then turned to Ron and Hermione. "Hey, are you going to try out for the singing contest?"
"I'm not sure. I heard that you needed to make your own music or use a popular muggle song, not a wizard one." Hermione replied spooning her mash potatoes.
"I don't think I would sign up, but I can play an instrument." Ron said through his mouthful of turkey and gravy. He quickly swallowed and added, "Harry, you know a lot of muggle songs don't you? You could sing and me and the other guys could play instruments!" Ron then turned to Ginny.
"Hey Ginny, are you goin' to sing anything?"
"I'm not so sure." But then looked at Draco and saw that he was looking at her. He was signaling her to meet him in the hallway.
"But then again, I think I will." Ginny said as she turned back to Ron, Harry, and Hermione. "Hey, I'm just going to go and rest. I'm really tired. I didn't get much sleep last night or on the train. Hermione, can I know the password?"
"It's fumbling dwarves." Hermione replied with concern tinted in her voice. Ron scrunched up his nose.
"Fumbling dwarves? What kind of messed up password is that?"
Before Ginny got involved in the quarrel between her brother and the new Head Girl, she quickly got up and went out of the Great Hall. It was empty outside in the corridor. Suddenly out of no where, a pair of strong arms slid around Ginny's thin waist.
"Good evening Ginevra." Draco whispered into Ginny's ear. Ginny shuddered, feeling a shiver going down her spine. "Come on. Let's go to my room."
Lucky Draco had his own Head Boy room, but they again, Ginny guessed he did for all the years that he has been at Hogwarts. He had the money.
"Want a cup of wine?"
"No." Ginny replied. The truth behind her answer wasn't that she didn't want to. It was that she had never drunk alcohol before without parental supervision. Sure, she had sipped some champagne at events, but the closest she got to alcohol most of the time was butter beer. Draco smirked.
"You don't know how to take it do you." Draco stated flatly. "Here try it anyways. There's always a first time for everything."
Ginny took the glass he was offering her and she took a sip. It was rich and bitter on her tongue, but she liked it.
"At first, you might not like it, but the more you drink the more you become to know the taste."
"I think it tastes…I don't know…beautiful?"
Draco raised an eyebrow. "Explain."
"Well, when I was younger, I had a dream about wine. There was a grape orchard and everything. In my dream, I made my own wine with my own recipe and sold it. I felt so calm and beautiful there while smelling the fragrant of the fermenting wine and the grape orchards." Ginny closed her eyes and opened then again. She looked at Draco with a tint of sadness in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I didn't really need to say all this and all." Ginny lowered her eyes to the ground. "The truth is that I really like making wine even though I had never made it before. I know it's strange, but I don't know. It's just one of those feelings you know. Or probably you don't even give a shit about what I'm saying right now!" Ginny fell backwards to sit on Draco's bed and closed her eyes again.
"I don't think what you're saying is stupid at all." Draco said quietly, looking at Ginny's calm but pained face. He didn't know why she was so sad about a dream about wine and grapes. Truthfully, he thought it didn't make sense at all and that the idea was stupid, but yet, he believed every word he was saying and was captured by her every emotions that crossed her face. She was so innocent, pure, and beautiful, but somehow he knew this wasn't really the "real" Ginny. He needed to know who she really was.
Ginny opened her eyes and sat up.
"I think I have to go back before Ron finds out that I'm missing. I'll be in big trouble again. I don't know why Ron has to make a big deal over every single thing that I do. He's too protective and uptight." Ginny explained, blabbing on about her brother. She looked at Draco to see him smirking but not the fun, witty kind, but the mirthless kind of smirk.
"You don't like my brother do you?"
"Weasley, is that a statement or a question because if it is a question, then I am sure you know the answer." Draco said in a low, hard tone.
"You know Malfoy, I know that you grew up in a Dark wizard family and all and have every right to dislike Harry, but why do you hate him so much?"
"That is for me to know." Draco replied simply.
Ginny glared back, but then turned and picked up her cloak. "I really need to go. Ron's going to get worried." She didn't even look at Draco as she walked towards the exit when suddenly a hand grabbed her wrist and swung her around and Draco's lips landed a deep kiss on her lips. This time, instead of replying slowly and shyly, Ginny pulled Draco closer by putting her arms around his neck. For a couple minutes, Draco and Ginny were locked in a passionate kiss. Draco was channeling his frustration and Ginny responded with her own. They finally pulled away from each other when air was needed.
"Why did you need to do that?" Ginny asked Draco quietly. "You're making me crazy."
Draco placed his forehead against Ginny's and said, "Look who's talking. You're making me crazier." He then kissed Ginny again, but shorter, softer, sweeter.
"You better get going. Weasley is going to get pissed."
"'Kay. Bye."
"Bye. See you tomorrow. This is supposed to be a secret, but you're placed in advanced classes. Seems like you've been doing exceptionally well in school. You're taking potions with me. Gryffindor and Slytherin are together."
"Oh, thanks for the heads up."
"Oh, and Ginny," Draco started.
Ginny turned around, a little surprised that he had used her first name.
"Yeah?"
"Tomorrow, I'll begin making all your dreams come true." Draco ever so slightly smiled, that it was almost invisible, but Ginny saw the smile and smiled softly back. Without any more words, Ginny walked out of his room.
"WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN?!!!?!!!?!!!?!!!?!!!? I'VE BEEN SO WORRIED AND YOU JUST THINK YOU COULD PRANCE IN HERE WITHOUT BEING NOTICED? WELL, I'M SORRY, BUT I DON'T THINK SO! YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE GINNY WEASLEY!"
"I'm sorry Ron. I said I was sorry like 10 times already."
"DO YOU THINK SORRY WOULD BE ENOUGH?!?!"
Ginny sighed. "Sorry. It's just that I fell asleep outside because it was warmer than usual and I was really sleepy."
"What am I doing? I'm even lying to Ron now!" Ginny thought.
Confused by her feelings, Ginny ran a hand through her thick hair and sighed.
"I'm really sorry Ron. I'll make it up tomorrow. Right now, I have to get some sleep. I feel like shit."
"Fine, but expect the unexpected tomorrow." Ron turned around and yawned to his full extent. "I think I got to go to sleep too."
"Okay." Whatever 'expect the unexpected meant.' "Good-night Ron."
"Night."
When Ginny washed up and got into her soft bed, she heard a soft knock on the door. Getting up quietly and trying not to wake up her room mates, she walked towards the door and opened it only to find Harry standing there.
"Hi Ginny." Harry said, smiling.
"Harry! What are you doing here and at," Ginny looked back into the room to find out the time. "At half past 1 in the morning?!"
"Ginny can I talk to you in the common room for just a few minutes? I feel that if I don't talk to you tonight, I'm not going to able to go to sleep." Harry explained quietly while looking into Ginny's eyes with his bright emerald ones.
"Okay."
Ginny just stared at her breakfast. She couldn't believe it. She sighed and poked at her scrambled eggs.
"Hey, Ginny, are you okay? You look a little pale."
Ginny raised her head to see Hermione and Ron looking at her very worried. Ginny smiled and said, "I'm okay. Don't worry about me."
"When did they begin to worry about me? I don't remember them worrying about me during the summer after I opened the Chamber of Secrets. I don't remember them worrying about me when Harry began to go out with that Cho girl. I don't remember them worrying about me when I was depressed last morning." Ginny continued to list all the times when "they" never worried in her head when Harry sat down.
"Hi Ginny!"
"Oh! Hi Harry!"
Then Ginny remembered what happened last night.
"Ginny, I know that I have ignored you for these last few years, but can you give me another chance?"
Ginny felt uncomfortable. "Harry, what are you saying?"
For some reason, Ginny was scared of what she was about to hear next.
"What I'm trying to say is that, I'm beginning you like you. No, I'm falling in love with you. That's not right either. I love you. Ever since I broke up with Cho Chang in my 5th year because she couldn't forget about Cedric, you were always there for me and comforted me you know, and now, I feel that I love you. I just realized that after all these years. I will understand if you don't have feelings for me anymore, and that you wouldn't want to like me anymore since I never really noticed you, but can you give me another chance? I would do and try anything to make you like or even better, fall in love with me again."
Ginny felt tears well up in her eyes. Finally a tear fell down her cheek.
"Oh Ginny, don't cry." Harry said gently. His voice was full of regret—regret that he hadn't realized his love for Ginny sooner. He wiped her tears away.
"So, can you give me another chance, or at least think about it for me? Please?" Harry begged.
And all Ginny could do was nod.
Ginny sighed and ran both of her hands through her hair. She was so confused. Right when she was trying to move on and started having these weird new feelings for Draco, Harry came to pull her back to him. But the strangest thing was that she didn't want to go back to Harry. She actually liked the idea of Draco. Last night, when she was with him, she felt something. She didn't know what it was, but she felt something.
Harry looked towards Ginny. He knew something was going on. Ginny usually didn't look so sad and confused. She didn't even give him one of her sunshine smiles this morning. He had to find out what was going on.
Draco saw Harry come into the Great Hall. He observed how Ginny reacted. She was paler than usual. Something was bothering her.
"Probably something to do with Potter." Draco thought darkly.
He couldn't understand why Ginny couldn't let go of Harry. He didn't deserve her.
"And you do?" A voice asked Draco. "Of course." He answered himself. "Why? Because you're the all powerful, sexy, rich Malfoy? But then, why should she like you? You're a snotty, pompous, arrogant, conceited jerk."
Suddenly, after arguing with himself, Draco felt angry. He got every girl he wanted, and if he wanted Ginny, he will get her. But strangely, Draco didn't feel so angry about that fact. Instead, he was angrier about the fact that Ginny couldn't forget Harry. Could it be jealously? No. He didn't want to admit it. Draco pushed these strange feelings to the side and stood up to walk outside. He knew that Ginny would see him and eventually follow him. He also knew that Harry would also follow. Draco smirked. Who cares if Ginny likes him or not! Everything was going according to plan.
How do you guys like the revised story? Good, bad, don't even notice? For those who are reading this story for the first time, what do you guys think? I'll try to get the other chapters revised as soon as I can! Please review and tell me what you think!
-- CE
Next Chapter: Harry discovers the relationship between Ginny and Draco. Draco feels something for Ginny. Ginny has new found "powers." Ginny loves Draco?