A/N – This is the longest chapter so far! I'm trying to make all the characters true to themselves. So no OOC if I can help it. Let me know if I've seriously messed up any of their personalities.
Chapter Three – "You smoke?"
Catching one of the last carriages, Ginny entered the Great Hall to find it mostly full. She noted the glares coming from the Slytherin table as she took a seat next to Hermione, across from Ron and Harry.
"How are you feeling Ginny?" Ron asked, worry written all over his face.
"I feel much better, thank you," she replied cheerfully. "It was only a nose bleed."
They sat in silence for a few minutes as they listened to the Sorting Hat call out houses for first years. When the food appeared, Ginny reached for a roll. Harry's hand shot out and grabbed her hand. "Ginny," he started, his eyes flashing, "did Malfoy hurt you?"
Something in Ginny snapped and she suppressed the urge to smack Harry with her free hand. Instead she smiled at him sweetly and slowly withdrew her hand. "Of course he hurt me Harry, he's like a brick wall to run into."
"That's not what I mean. He was- why was he on top of you?"
"I don't know. We were both disoriented."
"Ginny-" Harry insisted.
Ginny's eyes suddenly lit up as if remembering something. "Gods!" she exclaimed, rising out of her seat. "I forgot to say hi to Hagrid on the way in!"
Harry rose as well. "We already talked to him. He said he'd meet us tomorrow to catch up."
"Well I have to use the bathroom anyways," she replied, her voice not losing any of its sweetness. Ginny quickly left the Hall and headed towards the bathroom. She was angry with them all. So angry she wanted to go blow up a toilet or something. Running into Draco on accident was not that big of a deal. She suddenly felt ashamed. Maybe they were right to be concerned for her safety. Other students have been nearly killed for lesser incidents with Draco.
Harry watched her leave and then noticed Draco slipping out of the Hall as well. Not waiting to tell Ron or Hermione what was going on, he rushed out after him. Hermione made to leave as well when Ron stopped her. "Let him talk to her."
"It was only a nose bleed," Hermione whined.
"We don't know that."
"Oh come on Ron!" she rolled her eyes.
Harry saw Draco striding towards the bathrooms but there was no sign of Ginny. "Malfoy!" he yelled, seeing Draco freeze and turn to face him.
"What do you want Potter?" he sneered.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"That's none of your business. I'm head boy, I should be asking you that question."
"What did you do to Ginny?"
"The Weasel?"
"Don't call her that!" Harry advanced a few paces, fists clenched.
Draco's eyes studied Harry's expression. "Is Potter in love?"
Harry pulled out his wand and Draco drew his as well. "Just what do you think you're starting Potter?"
"Leave her alone Malfoy!"
"Or what?" Draco chuckled and put his wand away. Harry didn't have the courage to do anything.
Harry didn't respond and marched past Draco towards the bathrooms. Draco started after him, picking up the pace to get in front of Harry. Harry walked faster as well, flaring at Draco. Pretty soon both of them started to run for it. Harry got there first and ran into the boy's bathroom triumphantly while Draco ran into the girl's bathroom, slammed the door, and locked it with a charm. "Idiot," he murmured under his breath.
He turned to see Ginny gaping at him from the sink, apparently in the middle of washing her hands. She backed up quickly as he advanced on her and in four long strides he had her pinned against the wall. The faucet was still running.
He leaned down to whisper in her ear and she felt his neck against her face. "What did you think you were doing Ginevra?"
"I-I…" she stuttered and trailed off.
He moved his face over to look her directly in the eyes, their noses almost touching. "Hmm?"
Her knees were shaking in fright. There were times she could stand up to him and win, but not here. Not alone in the bathroom. "Pansy yelled and I ran out. You were running too-"
"So it's my fault Ginevra?"
"Yes – I mean no! No!"
Their noses touched. "Yes or no."
"No."
"Shouldn't I have been looking where I was going?" He traced her jaw with his finger.
She drew in a breath sharply at his touch. "What are you going to do to me?"
"I want an apology Ginevra," he said, still stroking her face. Why did he keep saying her name like that?
Someone pounded on the bathroom door and she heard Harry yelling, "Ginny!" She looked at the door but Draco kept his eyes on her.
"An apology Ginevra," he leaned closer.
She gulped as she felt his lips brush against hers as he spoke. He smelled like old books.
"Ginny!" Harry yelled again.
"I'm," Ginny started, his lips pressing closer.
"Ginny!"
"So-" the word was lost as Draco kissed her roughly, biting and bruising her lips.
"Ginny!"
She turned her head to the side so he couldn't kiss her anymore and stared at the wall stubbornly. Draco stared at the side of her face for a few minutes and then backed off her. She felt relief as the cool air hit her hot body. "Tell Potter to scram," he ordered her, wondering how long the idiot would keep it up.
Ginny shakily walked to the door and leaned her cheek against it. "Harry?"
Silence.
"Harry, Draco and I are talking in here. Could you go away please?" she tried to sound pleasant.
"Ginny," his voice was so quiet she could barely hear it, "let me in."
Ginny looked over at Draco's back warily and grabbed the doorknob. "Ginevra," he warned, not looking at her.
"Go away Harry. I'll be out in a few minutes."
"Don't let him do anything, you're a strong witch," Harry murmured and walked away from the door.
Ginny fumbled through her robes and pulled out a cigarette. She took out a silver dragon figurine and flipped the switch behind its head, a flame shooting out of its mouth. Hastily she lit her cigarette and took a long drag before returning the lighter to her pocket. Feeling less shaky, she turned to Draco, exhaling smoke in his direction. "What do you want with me Malfoy?"
"You smoke?"
"What does it bloody look like?"
Draco's eyes narrowed dangerously and she looked away, immediately regretting what she said. Smoking helped her loosen up, but maybe she was getting too loose.
"Why do you use a lighter?" His voice was clear and emotionless.
Ginny wanted to ask him why he cared, but felt the wiser just answering his question. "I'm paranoid."
Draco stayed silent and she knew he wanted a better answer. "When I started smoking I was worried someone would check my wand for the last spell I used and that they'd figure out what I was doing. Once I started using the lighter I got used to it. I'm quite fond of it now."
"It's a muggle device. How did you get it? I don't suppose you could afford to buy it."
"You're right, I stole it," she paused, "from my father."
"So the Weasel steals from her own parents?" Draco drawled, leaning against the sink. Ginny looked at the door again. She had been gone ten minutes, no more. They should be coming to find her soon. Harry would tell them, Ginny sighed, if she hadn't told him she was okay. Anywhere near Draco was not okay. He was raised to be a ruthless deatheater, trained to kill people like her.
"Does it matter?" she asked back.
"Not for a mudblood lover like you."
"You locked me in the bathroom to insult me?" she puffed on her cigarette again, throwing her head back as she exhaled.
"Calling you a mudblood lover is an insult now?"
"That's not what I meant."
"What did you mean then?"
Ginny crushed her finished cigarette into the wall. "Tell me what you bloody want!"
"Why were you talking to Pansy?"
"I didn't! I didn't say one word to her and she went off on me!"
"Why?" Draco's voice was accusatory.
"Like I bloody well know!"
Draco advanced towards her again. "Watch your tongue Ginevra," he hissed, grabbing her shoulders.
Ginny twisted out of his grip and drew her wand. "Hands off Malfoy!" Draco smirked- they both knew that he would beat her in a wizard's duel.
"Why? You were all over me on the train," his eyes were searching hers.
Ginny leaned her forehead against the door and started to laugh. To Draco, her laugh sounded almost cruel. "That's what you think?" she laughed some more. "I was running from that mental case when I ran into you and got a nose bleed! I was trying to get around you when I stepped on your hand and you pulled me down on you. I was trying to get off you while you pinned me to the ground! So yes, Malfoy, I guess I was ALL over you on the train! And you were so hot that my capillaries burst and I blacked out!" she realized she was yelling and did not dare to look at Draco who might strike her at any second. She just couldn't keep her mouth shut it would seem.
"You're not fit to kiss my boots, do not presume to raise you voice to me," Draco said quietly, his voice dripping with menace.
Ginny stayed quiet, growing more fearful with every word. She felt arms wrap around her waist from behind and hot breathing on her neck. "You owe me Ginevra."
She spun around in his arms and put her wand to his neck and her other hand on his chest to keep them apart. "I don't owe you anything."
"I think you do. Are you saying I'm wrong?" He ignored the wand.
"Yes."
He pushed her hard against the wall and pinned her arms around her head, bruising her wrists. She had gone too far now. "I don't want to see you around Potter anymore. I want-"
Suddenly her head shot forward and captured his lips with hers, but the kiss was not passionate, it was angry and bitter. She felt him let go of her arms and she took the opening. Breaking the kiss, she pushed him as hard as she could. He stumbled back and she opened the door, dissolving the charm. "Is that what you wanted!" she yelled, eyeing him coldly before sprinting back to the Great Hall.
Draco stood there raging, wanting to use an Unforgiveable on the stupid whore. No one got away from Draco, no one got the last word, and no one disobeyed him. If that idiot wonderboy hadn't shown up and ruined his plan, he would have gotten back at the girl and that would have been it. Instead he had to improvise and kiss her, not once, but twice. Now he felt dirty- who knows what sort of mudblood scum she'd been around?
Draco headed back to the Great Hall and realized what a chance he had. Ginny was perhaps the weakest Gryffindor and also the closest to the Wonder Trio. She was Ron's sister, Harry's love interest, and Hermione's… he wasn't sure about that one. He could hurt Ginny and manipulate her, getting back at the three who were always so untouchable.
As he entered the Great Hall, he noticed that Ginny was sitting next to Harry. Harry's arm was wrapped around her as she leaned against him. Her eyes were closed but Harry was looking at him, his eyes shining with smoldering hatred. Draco smirked and looked away, not caring.
