-Chapter Four-
"Sure," was Draco's monosyllabic reply as he fixed his eyes onto Ginny's.
Ginny shivered a bit under his gaze and said "I, I just want to thank you for putting up with me this morning. I just had this really bad dream, and, I just needed some time. And you gave it to me. So yeah, thanks…" Ginny trailed off with a blush.
The blush didn't escape Draco.
"That's okay Weasley," he replied, followed by an awkward silence.
"Can I sit here? There are no more free spaces," asked Ginny in a rush. "Again," she added under her breath.
"Sure," was Draco's reply, again. This time Ginny tentatively placed her bag on the ground and slid into the chair almost carefully. Then she proceeded to take out her work.
Both Ginny and Draco couldn't believe the situation they were in. As Ginny worked, she wished so badly that her face would go back to its milky colour instead of pink, and she wished she could stop caring about what Draco Malfoy thought.
Draco wished Ginny was naked, and was wondering if any other parts of her body were as pink as her face was now. The pink cheeks only added to Ginny's beauty and vulnerability.
But soon the two had to get on with their work, which was an extremely large amount. Occasionally, the pair would look up to find the person they were looking at was hard at work. At one point, Ginny and Draco looked up at the same time. Draco's gaze held, and Ginny just couldn't tear her eyes away. She was unconsciously leaning closer.
Then Draco's eyes dropped back to his work and Ginny was left leaning over the table and feeling very silly.
Draco got his work done before Ginny did, and he was back to his unusual pastime lately.
Staring at Ginny Weasley.
Ginny Weasley again was stuck on an ever irritating transfiguration question. Tapping her quill on her nose, oblivious to the smidges of ink she was getting on it, she decided to do something she would usually never even consider. She would ask Draco Malfoy for help.
"Hey, Malfoy," enquired Ginny. Draco's eyes flicked up from his parchment to Ginny. He quirked an eyebrow in response to Ginny and her inked nose, and Ginny could physically feel herself melt.
"Can you help me with this question?"
It was so apparent that Ginny was trying to be brave by asking him that Draco couldn't help but give her a big smile, and was rewarded with one back in return.
Two hours later found Ginny giggling like mad and Draco trying to hold in a smile, homework being finished and ignored.
Ginny was laughing at what she said about McGonagal and Flitwick getting it on in the Astronomy tower. Draco added in his two cents about chains and whips and Ginny dissolved into conspicuous giggles again.
Eventually they passed and Ginny slumped in her chair, trying to get her breath back. She wondered how they got talking about such a ridiculous subject. First they were discussing transfiguration, and then they moved onto McGonagal and her annoying bitchy habits, and then from there it was pairing her up with random professors around the school.
Ginny looked at Draco and opened her mouth to ask about the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher, but she closed again, because of the apprehension of confronting Draco about Snape, and anything to do with the end of last year.
Draco only quirked his eyebrow and was about to say something before he was cut off by Harry Potter.
"Ginny! What are you doing sitting next to Malfoy?" demanded Harry. Ginny's eyes flew to Harry, who wasn't very happy.
"I was working!" replied Ginny in a not-so-friendly voice.
"With Malfoy? Are you out of your mind? There are plenty of seats around," replied Harry angrily.
"So what? When I got here there were no seats! It's none of your business where I sit anyway," retorted Ginny. She was starting to feel threatened by the way Harry was interrogating her. "It's none of your business, so why do you care?"
"I care when people are trying to make me jealous. I know you still love me Ginerva. Admit it, you're flirting with Draco just to get back at me. But look, you know I gave you my reasons for breaking up, I only want to pro…" but Harry never got to finish his sentence because Ginny got off her chair, walked up to Harry and punched him right between the eyes with a sickening crack.
Harry went cross-eyed and swayed on the spot, eventually falling to the ground.
"Don't you ever call me Ginerva! You don't care about me at all, you selfish, arrogant bastard!" hissed Ginny at Harry in a dangerous undertone. She then spun on her heal and stalked out of the library, glaring death at anyone who dared looked at her.
Draco simply stared wide-eyed at Ginny's retreating back, half shocked at her outburst, half concentrating on her backside. His gaze fell to Harry and he let out a short bark of laughter that shook everyone out of their reverie. They all swarmed to Harry trying to revive him whilst Draco gathered Ginny's and his belongings, and followed after her.
Ginny stalked out of the library doors and down the main hallway. She pushed the large oak doors open with force and stepped out into the cool September air. Immediately, Ginny felt a bit calmer.
Taking deep breaths, she slowly walked to a big oak tree that was next to the lake. Ginny used to always visit this tree whenever she was stressed, upset or just needed some time to herself.
This was one of the moments where she needed time to herself.
The sun had set but there was still that murky blue/purple shade that was splashed across the horizon. Ginny leant on the tree, removed her shoes and dipped her legs in the chilly water.
The blue light reflected on the calm surface of the water. The waning moonlight cast its silvery sparkle across the little ripples and frogs and crickets made their noises within the reeds that surrounded the massive lake.
Ginny let her head fall onto the tree trunk, and savoured this moment which to her was perfection. She was just smiling at how the little fish in the water tickled her feet when she heard a noise. Immediately she whipped her head around to find Draco Malfoy looking at her with curiosity.
"Draco!" exclaimed Ginny with surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"You forgot your books," replied Draco, holding up Ginny's bag.
"Thanks," said Ginny, and she reached out with both hands to receive it. But her strength let her down and the weight of the book pulled her down to the ground with a thump. "Fuck," spat Ginny, her face buried in her bag. Draco only laughed, and laughed, and laughed.
"You alright there?" he asked breathlessly. He didn't know why, but the sight of Ginny being pulled down by her own bag was so refreshingly hilarious he couldn't help but laugh.
"Hahaha, I'm just fine," groaned Ginny, rubbing her ribs. Then not thinking before she spoke, she asked "care to join me?"
"Sure." Draco then proceeded to take off his shoes and rolled up his pants, then stuck his legs in the water just as Ginny did. "I like what you did with Potter. He's such a tool," continued Draco.
'Oh my lord is he actually sitting with me with his legs in the water? Just a tad out of character.'
"Yeah, I can't believe he said that. I mean who does he think he is?"
"Wonderboy actually," answered Draco in his deep voice. "So why do you come here?"
"I like coming here at night, to think, to be alone. The water is always so peaceful. You're actually the first person to be here with me," said Ginny, trying to save them both from an awkward silence.
"Really? I just block out people's voices. I've been doing it my whole life," replied Draco with resignation.
"Oh… okay. I've had too many people in my family to do that. It was either they all demanded something from the only girl in the family, or I was ignored. Always was too much or too little."
"I was generally left alone if my father didn't want to give me a hard time."
"Your father gave you a hard time?" asked Ginny solemnly, looking at Draco's face. As the night grew on, the moonlight grew stronger and now Draco's features were illuminated by it. His blue-grey eyes reflected the lake, and Ginny felt as if she was drowning in him again.
"Yeah, he did," replied Draco with some finality. "Look, I don't even know why I'm telling you. You probably don't care anyway," continued Draco, some resignation apparent in his voice. He couldn't understand why he told her that piece of information. He never shared his thoughts or feelings.
"Oh! It's okay, I don't mind you telling me. Nobody tells me anything unless I force them, except for my best friend Collin. But his life is so boring it doesn't matter," said Ginny, laughing a bit.
Draco only smiled at her and looked out at the lake again. It was good that she was so understanding, but he wouldn't let himself slip up again like that.
"Draco," said Ginny tentatively. After a few moments of silence.
She received a "mm" in response.
"I'm going to be honest. You've changed. I don't know if it's just to me, or why, but I don't think I've seen you tease anyone. And you're being so nice to me. And… I don't want to offend you, but I'm dying of curiosity. What happened at the end of last year? Please don't be mad at me for asking," continued Ginny in a rushed tone.
There was silence in which Ginny began to recoil. She could feel Draco stiffen next to her and she was too afraid to look at him in case he was angry.
The little fish in the water didn't tickle her feet anymore. They had all gone home to the little weeds at the bottom of the lake to sleep. Ginny could hear Draco getting out of the water and putting his shoes on. She closed her eyes and willed so hard not to cry over something so silly like him leaving. Then, she heard him whisper her name.
"Ginny."
Ginny looked up in surprise, and Draco was right in front of her face. He was kneeling and looking straight into Ginny's eyes. Her breath caught. With his hair cascading over his forehead, and his large expressive eyes, Ginny swore she had never seen anyone look so attractive.
Draco and Ginny were held in a gaze-lock until they both subconsciously leaned towards each other. Time moved so slowly as their lips met in a slow and sweet fusion.
The kiss was painfully short and sweet for Ginny when Draco pulled away. Her eyes opened to his slightly pink tinted cheeks, and Ginny had to use all her self control not to throw herself at him.
Draco simply smiled and held her close, all the while, kissing her cheek.
"Be with me," he whispered in Ginny's ear. "Be with me, then you will find out."
The sensation of Draco's lips on Ginny's lips, cheek and ears was too much. Draco quickly swept away after one last stroke of Ginny's face. He left her in a total emotional and physical meltdown.
'Draco Malfoy just kissed me twice! And I loved it!' screamed Ginny's mind. Unable to move too much out of shock, she let herself rest on the tree again.
The lake was still as perfect as it was when Ginny arrived.
