Author's Notes:

I, of course, don't own Gone with the Wind, but I wish I did. I tried very hard to have this chapter make sense to anyone who hasn't read the book (and I'm sure most people haven't).

Chapter 6: Like Rhett and Scarlett

Ginny knocked on the library door and then opened it. She saw that Draco was sitting in a chair reading and hadn't noticed her. A half-smile spread across her face as she closed the door firmly behind her. Draco was oblivious to it all.

Must be a good book, she thought with a lift of one of her red eyebrows.

She cleared her throat. He still didn't look up. So she said, "And I thought Slytherins were always on guard."

It took him a few seconds, but he finally looked up, his eyes glazed over. After another few seconds, his eyes slid into focus. He smiled slightly, but she could tell he wasn't entirely happy to be interrupted. "Did you say something?"

"I was just trying to get your attention, but it wasn't important. I'll just go now." She backed up, blushing furiously. He obviously didn't want her there.

"No, Ginny, it's fine. I've been reading practically nonstop for an entire day. I still have no idea what happened at the meeting." His smile was genuine now, and he slipped the book under his chair.

She saw the gesture. Why did he want to hide it from her? "What book is that?"

"Nothing," he told her with studied nonchalance. "So what happened at the meeting? Did Granger tell you?"

"Draco," she said, not about to give up, "what book is that?"

Rolling his eyes, he replied, "Gone with the Wind."

She attempted to control her blush but, being a redhead, failed miserably. Now she knew why he was embarrassed. He must have considered it a girl's book. He shouldn't think that, she thought. It's a classic. I know it's a romance, but it has so much going on. She remembered when she had read it in Muggle Studies last year for the first time. At first she hadn't wanted to read the American novel, but once she'd started, she hadn't been able to stop.

Fondly, she said, "I love that book. Don't the Tarleton twins remind you of my brothers?"

Mentally thanking her for not saying anything bad about his reading material, he said, "Red-haired twins have a tendency to be troublemakers, don't they?"

They continued to discuss the novel. As it turned out, this was his second time reading the book.

She was confused about that. "Why did you read it the first time? You didn't take Muggle Studies, and you don't really seem the type to pick up a book just for the heck of it."

Draco laughed softly before saying, "I guess you don't know me all that well. I read all the time. Oh, and there's a funny story about why I read it the first time..."

With a smile, she asked, "Funny ha-ha or funny weird?"

He shrugged. "Both, I guess. Anyway, during my fifth year I discovered a loose floorboard in my dorm. So I lifted it, and there was a bunch of old muggle classics. Gods, no wonder the Slytherin had to hide them." She grinned, fully agreeing. "So at first I just kind of made fun of him to myself. I didn't tell anyone, and after a while I decided to read one just because I imagined the look on my father's face if he found out. I can't even begin to describe it to you." She grinned again at his laugh, which she was surprised to hear had no bitterness at all. "So I randomly picked out one, and it was Gone with the Wind. And I knew Father would be even more horrified if I read an muggle American classic." They were both laughing now, and she could hardly imagine that Draco had come so far from being a snob to a good friend. "He has this thing against America... So anyway, I read it, and I surprisingly liked it. I never told anyone, and soon I came to be thankful to the Slytherin who acted so Hufflepuff by reading and hiding those books. But then I realized I was just as Hufflepuff because I had done the same thing." His face became serious. "I really wish I had taken those books with me. I wanted to keep them, but I guess I didn't think that Hogwarts would ever close." Then he smiled bitterly. "Not that I would have been able to go back even if it had."

She didn't know what to say for a minute. Why had the carefree story that had shown her that other side to Draco taken such an awful turn? She said the only thing he would believe and find comfort in, "Draco, I trust you."

"I know... and thanks. But let's talk about something else."

After a few short comments about the book that failed to turn into a full conversation, Ginny skillfully turned the conversation around to the romance between Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara. "I think it's one of the best romances ever written."

"It's because of their personalities," Draco said with a nod. "They don't even kiss until halfway along the book, but they're so alike. They're perfect for each other." Then he spoke one of Gerald's–Scarlett's father's–lines in a very bad Irish accent, "'Only when like marries like can there be any happiness.'"

"Both of them are so unlike anyone else in the book, but I guess that just amplifies how they are."

"How they were meant to be. How alike they are."

She smiled. "I always hate it when authors make their characters spontaneously fall in love when they're so different. Rhett and Scarlett were made for each other."

They spoke of the romance a little more, until Draco said, "Still, you and Potter are pretty similar, but you aren't in love with him."

She said softly, "I used to think so too."

He nodded absently, not really listening. "So what did happen at the meeting?"

"Well, Hermione said nothing really significant happened. Basically it was just a fight between Snape and Harry... Harry refuses to trust him."

"For once Potter and I agree on something."

She smiled. "Yeah, apparently Harry told him not to come back, but most of the adults think that Snape might be telling the truth. And no one let it slip that you're here."

"I'm glad." Still, his face was set in harsh lines as it always was when anyone brought up Snape.

Changing the subject, Ginny asked, "Don't you ever get tired of just sitting around here?"

He nodded. "I used to out for a run every morning. I wish I still could."

"Why can't you? Just go before it gets light and cast a disillusionment charm. No one will notice you."

Draco looked at her, impressed by her logic. He grinned again. "What if Potter forbids it?"

"Aren't you too good to do what anyone tells you?"

He laughed softly. "True. Very true."

She thought again of how much he'd changed, yet still stayed the same. "The arrogance never goes away, does it?"

"Some of it turns to pride, but you're right: I'll always be arrogant."

"But less than before, so it isn't nearly as annoying."

"You thought I was annoying?"

She laughed. "I still think you're annoying."

"And yet you talk to me all the time."

She enjoyed their bantering, but her next sentence was a lie, "There's no one else to talk to."

Draco sat up, not teasing anymore. "Did the Wonder Trio leave?"

"No, they're still here."

Draco fell back into their wordplay. "So you chose me over them?"

Now it was Ginny's turn to be serious. "I still haven't broken up with Harry, and I feel really awkward around them."

Their minutes of carefree conversation was over. He looked into her sad brown eyes and said, "You still haven't? How long are you going to keep him on the string?"

"Not much longer," she answered with a sigh. "I told him I wanted to talk to him."

Draco knew she was telling the truth, because the next instant there was a knock on the door. "Ginny?" Harry said as he opened it. "You said you wanted to talk."

His eyes fell on Draco. Just like the night before, Draco was silently asked to go. He got up and left, closing the door softly behind him.

"So..." Harry said, waiting for Ginny to talk.

She was silent. Now that the time had finally come, she couldn't find the words to tell him she wasn't in love with him. Hermione's words–those harsh words that had told her that a refusal would kill Harry–came rushing back to her. She didn't want to break his heart, but at the same time knew it would be impossible for her to be in another relationship with Harry. He was looking closely at her face now, but she had a feeling he wasn't as good at reading faces as Draco was.

"Harry, I'm sorry." That was all she could manage to say.

"You–You're breaking up with me?" His voice was quiet but intense.

She nodded. "Really, I'm so flattered that you love me, and wish I could return it, but I just can't."

He interrupted her before she could go on, "But we're so perfect for each other." In the exact same way Hermione had the night before, his face became a mixture of horror and realization at the same time. He was even less eloquent, though. He sputtered, "Ginny... you can't mean... it isn't–it's–it's him... isn't it?"

Ginny had the awful feeling she knew exactly who he was talking about, but she asked anyway, "What are you talking about?"

His face was turning a fabulous shade of red. He was really, really angry. "Draco!" He yelled. Ginny hastily cast a Silencing Charm over the room. "How can you chose Draco bloody Malfoy over me!"

Her eyes flashed. "Have you ever thought that you might be jumping to conclusions?"

"I saw the way you look at each other, but I never really thought anything of it until now," he said as his voice became softer and thoughtful. Then he was yelling again, "Ginny! Come on! How can you possibly chose him?"

"I haven't chosen him! We aren't dating or anything."

He wasn't listening to her. He was still thinking aloud, as if trying to figure out how Ginny could have fallen for Draco. "Hermione told me you guys took a long time to unlock the door after the meeting... And she told me your clothes were 'disheveled'..." He looked at her, his eyes holding all kinds of accusations.

She couldn't very well tell him they were playing dress up. Draco would kill her. Instead she said, "Honestly, Harry, we weren't doing anything. Nothing like what you're thinking. It was all stuff that friends do."

"What was it?" Harry asked, obviously not believing her.

"Are you my father?" Ginny said loudly as she turned away from him. She was trying to make him stop questioning her.

She succeeded. "Ginny, it isn't that. I just can't stop thinking that you aren't getting back together with me because of him."

"Harry, I really hate to say this, but my answer would be the same whether Draco were here or not."

"So you have no feelings for him whatsoever?"

She shook her head but avoided directly answering the question. "Harry, my decision has nothing to do with him."

"But, why then, Ginny? Everyone knows we're perfect for each other."

Ginny's thoughts ran wild. Because we're alike, but not enough alike. We're enough alike to date and maybe even fall in love, but not enough for a lifetime of happiness. Our personalities aren't close enough. We aren't like Rhett and Scarlett. And that's why I can't love him anymore.

She felt relieved when she figured this out and she told Harry, "We're not perfect for each other, Harry. Someday you'll find someone else and be glad you waited."

"What about you?" He said, still thinking that the two of them were quite perfect enough together for him, thank you very much.

A face flashed before her mind, but she shook it off. "Don't worry about me, Harry."

He knew he couldn't change her mind. He wanted to yell at her, accuse her even more of being in love with Draco, but he didn't. Even though Ginny wasn't in love with him, he knew her very well and knew for a fact that screaming would only make things worse. He sadly accepted her decision. "So what now?"

"As cliché as it sounds, I really do want to be friends again. We were good friends before we dated. Can't we go back to that?"

He shook his head. "No, I don't think we can. Maybe someday, but not right now."

"Harry, I really don't want things to be awkward when I hang out with you, Ron, and Hermione."

He shrugged, unwilling to back down on this one thing. "Ginny, I'm still in love with you. Until I stop, I won't be talk to you just as a friend. Besides, you always have Malfoy," he said the last sentence with a twisted smile.

Ginny knew how angry he must be and just sighed. Then she said, "Fine, Harry. I'll leave now. And I am sorry."

He stopped her. "No. You stay here and do whatever you were doing. I'm going to my room."

She nodded, saying nothing after him. She collapsed back onto the couch, her red hair spilling over the pillow. What had she been doing? Oh, she remembered, I was talking to Draco. I wish he was here now. He would understand and talk to me. She remembered all her years at Hogwarts and snorted at her thought, feeling bitter and sarcastic. I can't believe I'm thinking Draco is understanding. Then she admitted reluctantly to herself, He really is. He really has changed.

Then she spotted the book under the chair Draco had sat in and picked it up. She opened to the first page, but she could only read: "Scarlett O'Hara was not beautiful, but men..."

The words slid out of focus. Her bitterness was gone and her eyes were tearing up. She knew this wasn't because of her own feelings, but because of the look on Harry's face when he left. The tears slowly and silently fell down her cheeks as she laid back, lost in thought. Eventually the tears stopped coming and she drifted into sleep.

OooOooOooO

Draco was lying down inside his room when he heard Potter storm out of the library. He wanted to see Ginny, to talk to her, but he didn't hear her leave, so he stayed where he was.

After an hour, though, he couldn't take it any longer. He found himself outside the library door and opened it quietly.

He immediately saw Ginny lying on the sofa, her red hair spread in all directions on the pillow. He smiled with tenderness she never would have seen had she been awake.

Her small white hands were clutched over Gone with the Wind. The harsh lines that her face had been set in when she fell asleep had smoothed out, making her look more carefree than she had since her third year at Hogwarts.

He took the novel from her hands and laid it on the floor beside the couch. Then he went and got a blanket, bringing it back with him and setting it lightly over her. As an afterthought, he magically lit a fire in the fireplace.

He was about to turn and leave, but before he could, Ginny's eyes fluttered open. She looked into his face with a glazed look and said almost inaudibly, "I can't believe I'm dreaming about Draco again. Makes me think they might be right..."

Then, clutching the blanket to her chin, she turned around and fell back asleep.

Draco knew he should leave immediately, but he stood frozen in place as her words ran again and again through his mind. Then he thought, Why has she dreamt of me before? She can't possibly think of me as anything more than a friend. I guess that has to be it. She's dreaming of me because we're friends... But who does she think might be right? What does that mean? It makes no sense. And if we were only friends in her dreams, she would easily be able to believe it, since we are friends. Nothing makes any sense.

He hadn't figured anything out, but at least he could walk again.

Draco thought as he was leaving, I don't deserve her. Then his thoughts stopped completely as he realized something: he would probably never have a chance to deserve her.

OooOooOooO

"Draco! Draco! Wake up!"

Three days after the breakup, Draco was awoken abruptly in the middle of the night by Ginny.

"What's wrong?" he asked, sitting up and pulling his robe on. Why in the world would she barge in like this?

"We have to go."

"Ginny, what are you talking about? Go where? In case you haven't noticed, I can't exactly walk around... And we have a few hours till our run." They'd been going running every morning as Ginny had suggested. Draco checked the clock. It was two in the morning, and he was tired.

"I'll explain later. Just get dressed, pack some clothes, and come with me."

He looked at her, incredulous, as she walked quickly and softly to the door. He knew something must be wrong, so he did what she told him to.

Then he went in the hallway and called, "Ginn–"

"Quiet!" She said sharply from beside him. He had no idea when she'd gotten there, but he had no time to be surprised. He was being dragged down the hall downstairs, with Ginny asking him if he'd remembered to pack various items, such as his toothbrush.

"Where are we going?" he asked, no longer able to keep in his question.

"The Burrow. By floo."

"They'll freak out when you're gone!"

"Oh, I don't care. Besides, I wrote a note. Now go!"

She shoved him toward the fireplace. He grabbed the Floo Powder and threw it into the fire, saying, "The Burrow."

By the time Ginny had followed him, he was carefully examining the house he'd never seen but always made fun of. He had to admit, it wasn't nearly as bad as he'd said. It was very different from his Manor, but it seemed so much more like a home.

He turned to her, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No. I want to go back to sleep."

"And where exactly should I sleep?"

"I guess you could have Fred and George's room. Ron would kill me if I gave you his room."

Draco rolled his eyes but followed her. "Where is everyone?"

She stopped abruptly and looked at the clock. Draco went over and examined it, noticing everyone was in "mortal peril."

"Bloody clock," Ginny said. "Like we don't know that already."

He was intrigued by the clock, but knew better than to say so. He followed her quietly and fell asleep, telling himself he would find out all about Ginny's strange behaviour tomorrow.