Chapter 4: The New Kid

Draco asked himself for what seemed like the hundredth time.

He was sitting at his normal spot on the bank of the lake. It was nearly two in the morning, and Draco had lost track of how long he'd been out there, leaning against a tree trunk. A couple hours earlier he'd embraced Ginny. Draco flinched recalling it.

She was falling! He said, trying to justify his actions…but he knew he couldn't. Yes, she was going to fall, but after he caught her he'd done nothing. No snide remark escaped his mouth that made fun of her clumsiness. And then there was the fact that he had kept his arm around her. After he'd steadied her, he hadn't let go.

What was worse was the thoughts flying through his head that told him he liked it. That he might like the way her body fit perfectly against his, the way he felt her pulse quicken…along with his own.

But before he knew it, she had pulled away. One second she was in his arms and the next she was out the door. The only thing she left behind was the warmth from her body, and even that had slowly faded away.

Stop he ordered himself. It took a lot of will power, but Draco finally managed to force himself to forget about Ginny. Instead, he thought about the girl who cries. What he ironically didn't realize was that those two girls were one in the same.

Draco had been out every night in the last two weeks, but she was nowhere to be seen. What if something happened to her he wondered and then thought guiltily what if I scared her off?

"Ugh," Draco grunted to the darkness. What's wrong with me? He was going all sentimental over a girl. Actually, he reminded himself, two girls. And in his mind flashed a picture of Ginny smiling with cheeks flushed and eyes warm and bright. NO! Draco told himself to stop again, but he couldn't. No matter what he did, his thoughts always drifted back to Ginny, and that's what the rest of the night was like. He would sit in the darkness, his mind contradicting every single one of his thoughts. Who knew it would be so hard to force his mind off of her?

"Have you been avoiding me?" a voice from behind her asked. Ginny practically jumped out of her chair at the sound of his voice.

"No," she stammered, then added more calmly, "of course not."

It was true though. Draco and Ginny had run into each other the last couple days more times than they had in the last year altogether. Of course they hadn't acknowledged each other, but there was a definite awkwardness…on both their parts. Maybe it was the way their eyes shied away from one another, or the way one would look back just to see if the other was looking too. Or it could've been the way Draco saw a blush creep up Ginny's cheeks whenever he neared her, and if he could blush, then he sure as hell would've too.

They were now both sitting silently in their seats, ready for the charms class to begin. This time Flitwick didn't rush in. In fact, he was nearly twenty minutes late. The rest of the class was talking, and Hermione looked as if she were going to die from worry, but Ginny and Draco sat deathly quiet. Both of them were thinking about the same thing: what happened last night.

"I'm so sorry, class," Professor Flitwick apologized while he rushed into the room looking very flustered. "There was a bit of an incident." He said the word delicately.

"What happened, Professor?" Hermione asked politely.

"Well," he started to explain, but then stopped dead and gave a little yelp. The whole class stared at him as he started speaking again…to no one, it appeared to them.

"What are you doing here?" he cried out rather rudely. The students in his class were staring incredulously at him and whispering to their neighbors.

"This is where they sent me," said a voice casually. In unison, the whole class turned around to see a boy standing at the back of the classroom. He was tall and tan with light brown hair, and as he walked -actually, it was more of a strut- to the front of the class, Ginny's pulse quickened. He was dressed in khaki shorts and a navy blue shirt, and Ginny noticed, it showed off his muscles very well. He looked like he had been planning to go to the beach instead of a magical school. He held out a slip of paper, and Flitwick flinched slightly but then took it. After reading it over quickly, their Professor sighed.

"Alright class," he said to them all. "We have a new student now. His name is…"

"Lander," the boy supplied. "Christian Lander."

"Right," Flitwick said looking the boy over skeptically. "Well, just have a seat anywhere, and we'll begin the lesson."

Christian looked up, his eyes landing on Ginny. Ginny felt her heart race and her pulse quicken, and it seemed like he was about to make his way over to her. But then Ron and Harry waved him over, and he walked away in the opposite direction.

"I wonder why Flitwick seemed so spooked," Draco muttered, and Ginny realized it was true. Flitwick kept jumping around for the rest of the class and occasionally threw Christian some odd looks.

They were all supposed to be doing more illusion charms on their water (skipping nonverbal magic for the day because of the interruption), but not one of them could concentrate. Everyone kept on looking over at Christian and staring openly. Draco had muttered that they were all utterly pathetic, that he was just the new kid, but that was just it. He was the new kid. There weren't many times when Hogwarts received a new student, and when they did, it certainly wasn't after the year already began.

But there was also something about him, Ginny noticed. He gave off a strange aura, one that was sweetly warm and inviting. Ginny couldn't help but turn around in her seat to get a better look at him. He was laughing and smiling with Harry and Ron, and he constantly pulled his hand through his hair, rumpling it slightly. But when she looked over, he was already looking at her…or he turned to her right away, as if he could sense her eyes. Every time Ginny would blush furiously and turn back around.

Draco, who noticed this, was beginning to get frustrated. He had been illusioning his water into crazy things for the whole class, and Ginny had done nothing more than smile dreamily; Draco knew she wasn't smiling at his silly antics but over the thoughts she was having about Christian. For some reason, this pissed him off…a lot.

"Are you even listening to me?" Draco asked not even trying to keep the anger out of his voice.

"Huh?" Ginny asked dreamily.

"That would be a 'no'," Draco said angrily. Ginny noticed the anger in his voice and was finally pulled out of her revere. She looked at him, his forehead wrinkled up in frustration and his lips set in a fine line.

"Are you alright?" she asked gently.

"Perfect," he answered tartly. In truth, Draco didn't know why he was getting so mad in the first place. Who cared if the Weasel liked Lander?

"So," Ginny said, making a stab at conversation. "I was thinking that you could help me again tonight."

"Really?" Draco asked, his mood lightening at her suggestion.

"Yeah, really," she said with a smile.

"Okay," he agreed as they started packing up their stuff at the signal of the end of class. "Same time, same place?"

"Yeah," Ginny said hastily, and Draco could see the dreamy look she'd had all class coming back.

"See you then," Draco said grumpily, grabbing his books and storming out of the classroom.

"Uh, huh," Ginny said, barely paying attention to anything anymore…except for Christian.

"Hey!" a voice called down the corridor. Weird Ginny thought. Everyone should've been in the Great Hall enjoying their dinners. She turned around, her pulse quickening the moment she realized who had called to her. Running to catch up with her was the one and only Christian. What do I do? Ginny wondered. She was just standing there and trying to not look like a dork. Why on earth would he want to talk to me?

"Hi," she said awkwardly once he had caught up with her.

"I'm Christian," he said holding out his hand.

"Right, I know," Ginny said taking his hand and shaking it. His hands were smooth and warm, and Ginny didn't want to pull her hand away. He stood there smiling questioningly.

"Oh!" Ginny realized flustered. "I'm Ginevra Weasley…I mean, I'm Ginny -everyone calls me Ginny."

"Ginny." He said the name aloud, mulling it over. "I like it." He smiled at her, and Ginny felt butterflies flare to life in her stomach. "So, why aren't you in the Great Hall with everyone else? Aren't you hungry?"

"Why aren't you in there with everyone else?" she asked right back and was pleased to see that she made him smile.

"You first."

"Err," Ginny began. In truth, she didn't know why she had never gone down to the Great Hall. "I guess I just needed some time to think…or clear my head." She blushed and added, "I dunno."

"Well, a little peace and quiet can go a long way," he said, making her feel comfortable even when she had felt embarrassed only moments ago. This is weird Ginny thought. She was speaking to Christian Lander, a gorgeously hot, funny, and sweet (or so Ginny thought) guy. What else was weird was that she felt totally normal around him. He didn't know her as Ron's little sister, or as the girl who had been obsessed with Harry Potter. She was just a girl, and she liked the way he made her feel.

"Okay, then," Ginny said. "Now, why aren't you eating dinner right now?"

"Truthfully?" he asked, looking away with slightly pink cheeks. "Well," he stammered, "I was actually looking for you."

"Me?" Ginny blurted out incredulously.

"Yeah, you," he said with a smile. A comforting silence fell over them, and Ginny was tempted to ask why. Even though he was new, Ginny knew that there wasn't anything special about her. Nothing unique, and definitely nothing worthwhile.

"So," he started up again, "do you want to give me a tour of the school?"

"Sure," Ginny replied, delighted at the thought of spending more time with him.

"Why'd you come to Hogwarts?" Ginny asked as they started to walk. "And why'd you come after the year had already started?"

"My family and I moved," he said without further explanation.

"Why?"

"We had some…" he trailed off looking for the right word, "difficulties."

"What kind of difficulties?" she asked knowing that she was being nosy.

"I dunno," Christian said shortly. "Things just weren't working out." He looked at her and smiled, "But I'm really glad we moved."

Ginny blushed, hoping she was that reason. They kept walking, and Ginny realized she wasn't much of a tour guide, as they were just walking around, not paying attention to anything.

"So I'm in Gryffindor," he stated looking at her. "How 'bout you?"

"Yeah, me too," she said smiling, "Okay, so tell me something about yourself."

"Well, I think all the teachers hate me," Christian said with a smile.

"Really?" Ginny asked. "Why?"

"Well, I arrived…" he said grinning, "in style."

"How?"

"I rode Nelly all the way here,"

"Who is Nelly?" she asked warily.

"My pet dragon," he replied casually while shrugging his shoulders. "I can take you to see her some day if you want."

Ginny stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth wide open.

"Pet dragon?!" she asked semi-hysterically.

"Yeah," Christian continued, loving the shocked expression on her face. She stared at him waiting for an explanation.

"Well," he began, "my father works with dragons, and about a year ago he got to work with Nelly. She was very obedient and learned easily. Dragons are naturally very bright creatures, but Nelly was passive too. So my father took the responsibility of training her." He glanced up to see her still gaping at him. She looks so perfect he thought, looking at her and the way the lights from the candles lit up and darkened her face at the same time.

"Anyway," he continued, "she obeyed so well that she became a sort of pet." He stopped and laughed, "But the teachers here wouldn't believe that. They freaked out when I landed."

"I can imagine," Ginny said breathlessly. He gazed at her, still smiling at her shocked expression.

"Except," Christian said recalling earlier that day, "there was this one bloke, who nearly cried with excitement when he saw Nelly."

"Hagrid," Ginny said with a knowing smile. Christian looked at her quizzically.

"He loves dragons," she explained.

"Right," he said while looking down at his wristwatch. "Wow, how time flies! It's already nine."

"Wow, we've been-" Ginny stopped suddenly, guilt seeping through her body. "Crap!" she shouted smacking herself in the head.

"What?" Christian asked.

"I have to go," Ginny said backing away.

"Wait," he said with a frown and grabbed her arm. "Why?"

"I just gotta go," she said, wrenching her arm away from him. "I'll talk to you tomorrow!" she called over her shoulder. If Ginny would have looked back, she would've seen Christian Lander taking his anger which was caused by Ginny out on the stone wall.

"Malfoy?" Ginny called to the empty classroom. "Malfoy!" He's not here!

"Draco?" she called again half-heartedly. He's going to be really pissed she thought to herself, smacking her head once again at her stupidity.

Draco woke up Saturday morning wondering why he felt so awful. Then it hit him.

He'd gone to meet Weasley last night for her tutoring lesson, but she hadn't turned up. Draco actually waited for her for half an hour before he realized that she wasn't coming. He had been furious. She had stood up him! The little Weasel he thought miserably. The worst thing about the whole situation was that he had felt something other than anger. That at the moment he realized she wasn't coming, he hadn't been mad…he'd been sad. Draco didn't know why, and at first he denied it. But as he laid on his bed at night, he knew that it was true.

He had been devastated.

Why? Draco didn't know the answer to this question, and he wasn't about to start thinking about it for fear of what the truth might be. His mind kept racking over the possibilities of why she didn't show. He'd gone over the worst possibilities; the very idea of them drove him crazy.

Draco had to ignore the little voice in his head that kept asking him what he was doing. He couldn't stop thinking about Ginny, and he was pretty sure that he didn't care.

Ginny spent the weekend searching for Draco everywhere she went, but it seemed like he was determined to avoid her. She knew she had screwed up with him. It was odd…the thing she and Draco had. She knew she liked being around him, even when he was pissing her off, and she knew that there was more to him than everyone thought.

Why did she care? That was a good question that Ginny was determined not to answer.

All around her people were talking about Christian.

"He came here by dragon!" one girl squealed.

"I heard he's the prince of some distant country," another boy explained.

"He was kicked out of his last four schools because he was always dueling other students," a first year said quietly.

However crazy all the rumors were, one of them seemed to remain constant amongst the students. One idea or fact, seemed to be screaming at her from everywhere she went. The whispers: Christian Lander liked Ginny Weasley.

Ginny couldn't believe it, refused to believe it, but it really did seem to be true. When she ran into Christian he would smile serenely and start up a conversation. Unfortunately, Ginny was just a little too preoccupied trying to find Draco, and she had no clue why. Christian Lander, the new kid, who had become as popular and as liked as Harry, had feelings for her. She should have been jumping up for joy, and a part of her was, except a larger part of her was just hoping that Draco wasn't too mad at her.

"Gin!" Ron called out across the grounds. It was Sunday afternoon, and Ginny had just given up with her search for Draco. At least she'd see him in class on Tuesday. Ginny barely looked back, but kept walking forward instead.

"GINNY!" he shouted even louder.

"What?" she sighed.

"Oh nothing really," he said casually. "I'm just really proud of you."

Ginny looked at him in shock. Ron had never been straightforward with any of his positive opinions about her…if he even had any that is.

"Why?" she asked with a smile.

"Well, I dunno," he said looking at his feet sheepishly. "You've just been working really hard, and doing really well, and now Christian likes you, and-"

"Wait," she stopped him suddenly, looking at her brother incredulously. "You're proud of me because Christian likes me?"

"Well, yeah," he admitted. "Christian is such a cool kid. Just as popular as Harry, ya know? Well, it's just really cool that he likes you. My sister. Yeah, just thought I should let you know. So, see you later, and keep up the good work!"

Ginny gaped at her brother as he trotted up to the castle. How dare he! She thought furiously. He couldn't be proud of her for being smart and doing well in school, but he could be proud of her because some guy liked her. He's horrible! Ginny was so furious that she stormed up to the castle to her dormitory and slammed the door, wishing things were different.

"Please don't be mad at me," Ginny pleaded to a silent Draco. No matter what she did he stayed silent. The class was nearing its end, and Draco had not spoken a word to her the whole time. "Won't you say anything?"

Nothing. He didn't even glare at her or make a snide remark. It was driving Ginny crazy.

"Look," she started to explain. "I just forgot! I got carried up in something, and before I knew it, it was way too late! I really am sorry!"

Draco saw her devastated expression from the corner of his eye. It was killing him to make her feel so distraught, but he was giving her what she deserved. He felt that way the whole weekend, so she should have to feel that way too, and the Christian thing didn't help either. Everywhere Draco had gone over the weekend people had been talking about Christian and Ginny. It was making him insane. Draco was more than jealous; he was glowing with green envy.

What's so special about him anyway Draco thought miserably to himself. He's nothing great. So he came by dragon, what's the big deal?

"Don't be mad at me," Ginny begged once more. Draco knew that he wasn't talking to her for another reason other than how much she had hurt him just by ditching him. He was utterly afraid that Ginny would like Christian. Draco wouldn't talk to Ginny because he feared she'd desert him for Christian, which was really stupid, even he knew that. He should be sweeping her off her feet to keep her from him.

It was all just too much for Draco. He hadn't slept the night before but had finally reached a conclusion: he liked Ginny. He liked her wary and shy smile, her warm, brown eyes, and the sprinkle of freckles that crossed her nose. He liked the way she made him feel, but he couldn't say how or why that was. There was something magical about her, something addicting, and he found himself wanting her more and more every second.

"I give up," she said sadly. "Nothing gets through to you. I apologized!" She said in one last desperate attempt, "and you can't suck up your own pride to forgive me!"

Class ended, and Draco stormed away. Even though Ginny said she had given up, she wasn't about to let him go that easily. She followed him and kept on his tail, demanding that he speak to her. Finally, Draco said something.

"Fine!" he shouted, rearing around at her. "I'll say something! GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!"

She shrunk back at his outburst, the hurt evident on her face.

"Do you really mean that?" she muttered quietly.

"Yes, I really mean it!" he said angrily and convincingly. Draco was about to storm away, but couldn't drag his eyes away from her. Her head was bent over in defeat and agony, and her shoulders were slumped. Slowly she sank to the floor, her worry and exhaustion overtaking her. Despite her self-control, Ginny started sobbing softly, not for just Draco but for everything.

Draco, who was watching her every move, felt a pang of guilt. How could I do this to her? With a sigh, he walked over and sat down next to Ginny.

"Look," he whispered softly, "I didn't mean it, I swear."

She still sobbed, not looking up at his face.

"Hey," he said using his hand to lift her chin up so he could stare into her beautiful, brown eyes. "It's okay, everything's going to be okay."

"No," she sobbed, "it's not…gosh, everything's so screwed up!"

"What?" he asked. "What's screwed up?"

"For one thing," she explained angrily, remembering Ron the other day, "my brother is a complete ass!"

"Well, I can't argue with you there," he said jokingly, which made her smile a little. "What else?"

"Err-" she hesitated and then chose her words carefully, trying to leave her feelings for Draco out of it, "the whole situation with Christian."

Draco froze at the sound of his name, but acted neutral and nonchalant as he asked, "What about Christian?"

"Well, I don't know if you've heard, but apparently he likes me, and…oh I don't know," she said, her sobbing subsiding. "He's nice and all, but I don't know."

Draco slightly smiled at her remark. So she's not already head over heels for the kid, he thought, at least that's good.

"Weasley," he said suddenly, "come with me."

"Wait," she said breathlessly, wiping the stray tears from her face, "where are we going?"

"It's a surprise," he grinned maliciously.

"But don't you have another class?" Ginny asked indignantly.

"Psh," he said waving his hand at her, "it doesn't matter. Now, come on!"

Draco grabbed Ginny's hand bravely, and they went running down the deserted corridors and out to the grounds. Ginny had no idea what was going on, she was just concentrating on the feel of Draco's hand in hers.

"Alright," Draco said, "this is it."

They stopped in the most magnificent garden that Ginny had ever seen. She walked forward, staring in shock.

"It's beautiful," she breathed.

"I know," Draco agreed. "I found it last year; it's Professor Sprout's private garden. She has all sorts of flowers and plants here."

Ginny looked at him skeptically.

"But there aren't any of her crazy I'm-gonna-kill-you plants here," he assured her, and she laughed. Her laugh sent warm tingles throughout his body. How can she make me so happy? He wondered. How does she do it?

"Can we talk about something," Ginny said while flopping down into a patch of Spout Lilies. They were bright yellow flowers that omitted soft, warm bursts of air every minute or two.

"Like what?"

"I don't know," she said with a sigh. "Something exciting…something happy."

"Err-" Draco started, racking his mind for a topic. "We could talk about the ball," he offered.

"What ball?" Ginny said sitting up.

"What ball!" Draco said incredulously. "Have you been living under a rock this entire weekend!"

"Apparently," Ginny said, sliding closer to Draco. "What's this about a ball?"

"Well," he began, "it's in a week. Only 5th years and higher are allowed to attend. Unless, of course, an older student asks a younger one."

"Right," Ginny said impatiently, "now get to the good stuff!"

"It's a Black&White theme. All students must wear either black or white, though I doubt they'd kick anyone out if they came wearing neon yellow or something."

"Hmm…" Ginny thought, then she frowned angrily.

"What?"

"I was just thinking," Ginny said through gritted teeth, "that my dearest brother would just love if I went with Christian."

A flood of jealously flowed through Draco's body as he imagined Ginny dancing with Christian, but instead of showing his jealously he kept talking casually.

"So, remind me, why are you so pissed at your no-good brother?"

"He," Ginny said the word vehemently, "finally told me that he was proud of me."

"And that's a bad thing?"

"Just wait for it," Ginny said slightly hysterical. "Ask me why he's proud of me."

Draco just looked at her; the look on her face was a mix of amusement and anger.

"Why is he proud of you?"

"Because," Ginny laughed, "Christian likes me! He's finally proud of me because some guy likes me. He's totally unbelievable! I still can't believe he said that to me."

"Do you want to really piss him off then?" Draco asked Ginny.

"Yes!" she cried.

"Then find yourself a date to the ball," he explained, "that is definitely not Christian, and make sure this person is someone your brother really hates."

"Like you?" she asked hesitantly.

Draco's heart quickened. Of course he meant him, but he didn't know she would realize that.

"Well, yes, your brother does rather hate me doesn't he?" Draco said calmly, though he was unbelievably nervous.

"So that's a yes?" Ginny asked with a confidence that she didn't even know she possessed.

"Are you asking me to the ball, Miss Weasley?" Draco asked waggling his eyebrows.

"Yes," Ginny said with a smile, "and it's Ginny. Not Miss Weasley, not Weasley, and definitely not Weasel."

Draco opened his mouth.

"And no variations of these names either!"

"Fine," he said giving in, "then you must call me The Almighty Amazingly Perfect and Handsome Draco Malfoy."

Ginny started to giggle as she rolled in the field of exotic flowers.

"Alright," Ginny said after she had caught her breath again. "The Almighty Amazingly Perfect-"

"And Handsome," Draco pointed out with a smile.

"And Handsome Draco Malfoy, what is your answer?"

Draco hesitated. Could he really go to the ball with a Weasley? Be seen in public with her? He knew he shouldn't, and people would talk. But all those reasons flew from his mind as Ginny pouted with wide and innocent eyes.

"It would piss off your brother," Draco admitted as he gazed at her longingly. "Sure, what the hell; I'll go with you to the ball."

Ginny grinned and rolled around in the flowers enjoying the warm sun and the comforting smells. She and Draco spent the rest of the day talking to each other like they had been best friends since they were born, not like enemies. When they had to leave, Ginny didn't want to go. She realized during their day that she liked Draco; she liked him so much. She liked the way he made her smile and laugh and even when he made her slightly annoyed. Everything about him made her feel good.

But she had to go.

And so she went, gliding through the halls and to her bed where she fell to sleep and dreamt of Draco.

A/N: Yay, I'm done! Please leave me comments and suggestions: