Later that day, when night was approaching, the Gryffindor common room was crowded. They had just finished dinner, and most people were busy with homework. So many people were walking around there, that nobody noticed Ginny, who snuck into the empty boys dormitory again, and took Harry's invisibility cloak. She somehow made her way through the stuffed common room, wearing the cloak, and was once again off to see Draco Malfoy.
She said "Jade Snake" when she got to the picture that blocked off the Slytherin common room, and it opened. She entered, invisible. The Slytherin common room was almost as stuffed as the Gryffindor one, so Ginny had to find herself a safe spot to stand in until everybody left to go to sleep.
She heard Pansy Parkenson's shrill laugh, which came from where Draco was sitting. Ginny wondered if Pansy was still Draco's girlfriend. After all, she thought that she had already replaced Pansy.
Finally, everyone started dispersing. Draco was about to leave, too, but Ginny crept up to him, and tapped him soundlessly on the shoulder. He was accustomed to this, so he didn't yelp out or anything that would give her away. So he stayed behind.
Ginny just noticed that Draco had a newsletter rolled up in his hand, which he was clutching very tightly. Must be something important, she observed.
When they were alone in the common room, Ginny took off her cloak.
"Hey, Ginny," Draco caressed her hand gently.
"Hey," she replied, smiling a bit. "You look.. upset. What's wrong?"
Draco sighed, and handed it to her, saying, "Read this."
He released his grip on the newsletter, and handed it over to Ginny. On the front headlines it said:
Lucius Malfoy, an active Death Eaters, was released from Azkaban last year, (as most of your remember) due to the unrejectably high bribes that he offered to everyone. With help from the dementors, most of which support He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Malfoy left Azkaban, swearing he'd put a stop to all his dark activities. A reliable news source has just found out that Malfoy is once again an active Death Eater. He has been put in Azkaban along with Bellatrix Lestrange, and the minister assures us they will stay there for good. For full story, turn to page 4.
Draco looked ready to cry, so Ginny put a comforting arm around him, and said, "Aww, I'm so sorry, Draco!"
Draco put his head on her shoulder. This was the first time that they physically touched each other, lovingly.
"Draco," Ginny continued, "Do you love your father?"
Draco shook his head violently, and replied, "I'm just worried about something else. I got a letter from my mom." He put his hand in his pocket, and withdrew a piece of parchment. "Here," he gave it to her to read.
She unfolded it, and read:
Dearest Draco, Please write back,
I'm worried of the effect these news will have on you. I love
you very much,
I have received an
issue of the Daily Prophet, which I am attaching to this letter. Your
father has been put in Azkaban yesterday afternoon. Before he was put
in Azkaban, he filed a divorce. He forced me to divorce him. He
hasn't left any money for me, only the house in which we lived.
Draco, we are not very rich anymore. I still have an inheritance from
my parents, but it's not a lot. Only a thousand galleons or so, from
the 50 thousand we had. And, he wasn't the only one put in Azkaban.
Bellatrix Lestrange was too. He convinced authorities to let him
officially marry her there, in Azkaban, with bribes. So now, your
father is married to Bellatrix Lestrange.
Mom
Ginny was speechless. She knew Bellatrix Lestrange! Lestrange was the one who almost killed Harry and who killed Sirius, his godfather!
"I'm worried for my mother," Draco sniffed, "We have no money left."
"But she said you have a thousand left! That's more than my family ever had." She immediately reddened when she realized that she actually said that.
Draco apologized, and said, "I shouldn't be complaining. Thanks, Ginny."
"Why don't you write her back?" Ginny suggested.
Malfoy nodded, and said, "I'll do it a bit later. Oh," he added suddenly, "What's that hanging from the invisibility cloak?"
Ginny looked down at where he was pointing, and noticed a little square with glass in the middle of it. It looked something like a camera. They right away realized that it was a spying device, only a wizard version. It was bewitched.
Ginny gasped, "Oh no! We're in big trouble."
"You better go," Draco gave her a small push towards the door.
Ginny put on the cloak and ran faster than she had ever run before. Someone was spying on her!
When she got back to the Gryffindor common room, invisible and out of breath, the first thing she noticed was Ron. He was standing, fuming, right in front of her, sparks of anger flying from his eyes. Ginny was thankful that she was invisible, so Ron couldn't see her and get her into trouble. The one set back was, the spying device was still attached to the cloak. In Ron's hand was a mini television. It was tiny and looked a bit like the camera. On the screen of the TV was Ginny. Visible. Apparently, his little spying device had the ability to make people visible on the screen. With witches and spells, everything was possible.
"There you are!" Ron shouted, livid. "I know you're here, so don't try to hide from me under that cloak that you stole from Harry!"
Seeing it was no use, Ginny took off the cloak, ashamed that Ron found out her dirty secret.
Ron stomped up to her, and gave her a hard slap, on the same cheek that Hermione slapped her. Tears sprung to Ginny's eyes, and her hand sprung to her cheek. Thankfully, they were the only ones in the common room, because everyone was asleep.
"I didn't.." Ginny protested.
"Yes you did!" Ron interrupted her furiously. "I saw you with my own eyes. It's all here!" He pointed to the tiny TV in his other hand.
"Ron, you don't understand," objected Ginny morosely.
"I understand," he gritted his teeth. "You were with Malfoy." He spat the name out.
"He's not so bad!"
"Not so bad!" Ron screamed loud enough to wake the dead. Harry and Hermione, who woke up at the sound and recognized Ron's voice shouting, ran out into the common room to see what's going on.
"Ron," Hermione remonstrated him sharply, "Can't I have a minute of sleep!"
"Wait till you here this, Hermione," Ron replied. He told her the entire story, adding, "After I first noticed that Ginny stole his Cloak a week ago, I bugged it. In a wizarding fashion."
"No way," Harry was the first to respond. "Ron, you must've misunderstood what you saw! Ginny would never--"
"Stop it," Ginny cried, "You don't understand!"
Harry, the most sympathetic of the group at the moment, stepped up to her, and put an arm around her. The sight of her in tears distressed him very much. He knew that deliberately making a female cry is just wrong. "You can tell me what happened," Harry said encouragingly. Noticing that she was looking at Ron and Hermione with fear, Harry requested them to leave. Now alone, Ginny confided in Harry.
"I'm sorry, Harry. He seemed just so nice. He really is nice. Oh, I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have said that! He's so mean to you!" She broke down.
"Ginny, please don't. It's all okay." Harry took her hand in one of his, and with his other hand caressed her burning cheek. It was what Ginny had dreamed of all her life. If only it had happened under different circumstances!
"Well, he was nice to me. Since the beginning of this year," Ginny continued, her voice trembling. She took a deep breath, and said, "We talked once. He understood me, and I understood him. He said that he doesn't like his father. That must mean that Draco is good. Oh, I believe he is." She felt Harry's hand stiffen slightly. "Oh, please don't be offended! You're better than him." She blushed when she heard herself say that.
"Thank you," Harry's muscles relaxed. "But why did you go to the Slytherin common room? Did he invite you?"
"No. I just felt that everyone hates me," she sobbed.
"I don't hate you, Ginny."
"Oh," she looked up into his beautiful green eyes, that were full of love this time.
Does he love me? Ginny wondered. His eyes are so... loving! He does love me, he does, doesn't he? She felt triumphant, even though she earlier vowed that she'd let him have Hermione.
"Ginny," Harry murmured, taking her head into both his hands. He gently wiped away all her tears, and moved his face closer to hers. He felt jealous of Malfoy, because he also loved Ginny. After all, she loved him, too. And she was so so so beautiful. Ginny also moved closer to him. Their lips touched softly. Harry's arms went around Ginny, and she put her hand on Harry's arm. The kiss lasted for a second, it seemed, then Ginny put her head onto Harry's shoulder. It was the first time he kissed her, and although it wasn't very passionate, she was thrilled. They stayed like that, Ginny with her head on Harry's shoulder, and Harry hugging Ginny for what seemed like an eternity. It felt good to be like that.
Finally, Harry whispered in her ear, "Ginny, it's been a tiring night for you. You should go to sleep." Ginny obeyed him like a child, and went into the girls dormitory, where she fell asleep instantly. Her dreams were untroubled, and she felt like she was flying in the clouds. Harry loved her.
The next day, after breakfast, Ginny headed off to Divination class with Firenze, in classroom 11.
She came into the classroom, which resembled Firenze's natural habitat, and sat on a big rock that was under a tree. Soon, Firenze entered. He was a strong beautiful centaur, and it seemed that he was handsomer than most centaurs. He greeted the class, and began his lesson. They were learning about how to read the future in the stars.
"Of course," Firenze informed, "You're mere humans, and I doubt you'll ever succeed at this."
Firenze flicked his hoof, and darkness settled onto the scene. Stars popped out in the sky. Firenze took a glance at them, and meditated. He finally announced, "Ah, the stars tell me that there will be many mixed and confusing romances." He looked at Ginny understandingly, as though he knew everything.
Ginny almost jumped in surprise. She bit her lips in worry, until they were close to bleeding.
When the lesson ended, she ran over to Firenze.
"Yes?" he asked, almost smiling.
"Do you know?" she inquired.
He nodded. "It's alright, it happens to everyone. Go along, now. Wouldn't want you to be late for lunch."
Ginny said goodbye, and went out of the classroom. She was on the way to the common room, to drop off her school stuff before lunch, when Draco appeared out of no where, alone. He pushed her into an empty classroom. Remembering last night, Ginny stared wildly as Draco cornered her.
"Colloportus," Draco said to the door with his wand. It magically sealed shut.
He strode over to Ginny, taking big steps, and angrily said, "I know what you did last night. After you left me." Seeing the bewildered look on her face, he informed her, "I have my way of knowing."
He suddenly pushed her roughly against the wall, and bent to reach her lips. He started to heatedly kissed her, violently it seemed. Ginny stood on tip toe so he shouldn't have to bend down, and wrapped her arms around him, returning the kiss. She felt a thrill go through her, an unusual thrill that she didn't feel ever before. She felt cold, hot, shaky, steady, all at the same time. It was a weird feeling.
Wow, she thought. He's a good kisser. Even better than Harry. Poor Harry. He has Hermione any way. He doesn't need me.
When they parted, she still didn't release her grip around his neck.
"I'm sorry about what happened last night," Ginny apologized, "I really am."
"Do you mean it?" Malfoy's eyes looked at her skeptically. "Or will you regret it, and be Potter's boyfriend?" He spat the name out, just like Harry did.
"I mean it, I promise! Please don't leave me," she pleaded, when Malfoy shook her arms off. "Please, I love you."
He froze at the word 'love.'
His face paled and his eyes searched Ginny's emotional face. He was at her side instantly, quietly demanding, "Since when?"
"Since when I first came to your common room," Ginny calmed down a bit when she saw that she still had a chance.
Without warning, Malfoy smirked his nasty old smirk, and remarked, "Do you want me just because you can't have me?"
"What?" Ginny's hands were all sweaty, "I don't understand.."
"Can you prove to me that you love me?"
Ginny looked dazed. She slowly attempted to put her arms around his neck, but he threw her off.
"Never mind," Malfoy said, "I know you do. It's time for lunch, we'll be late." He tore himself away from her.
Ginny looked upset, and she questioned, "Do you love me too?"
"Yes, of course I do," Malfoy laughed. "I'm sorry for leaving you like that. It's just that I don't want anyone to see us entering the Great Hall together. It'll be obvious if we're late. And I don't want your friends tormenting you about it." He kissed her forehead, said "Alohomora!" to the locked door, and they left together, both satisfied.
Before entering the Great Hall, Malfoy whispered in Ginny's ear, "Promise me we'll always be together. No fights."
"I promise," Ginny giggled, just remembering that she still had her book bag with her.
Malfoy entered the Great Hall, so there shouldn't be any controversy. A few seconds later, Ginny entered, and sat down at the Gryffindor table.
"Why are you late?" Ron was controlling her life as usual.
"None of your business," snapped Ginny. "So don't try to find out. You're no brother to me! What you do is nasty. You try to control my life, and my mind. What's wrong with you? I'm 16 now! I don't need your help!" Seeing the hurt look on his face, she triumphantly continued. She wanted to get rid of his overprotectiveness of her for once and for all. "I don't need you to spy and contradict me, Ron! It's my business now, not yours. What you did last night, spying on me like that, is vulgar and low down."
"What you did with Malfoy was also vulgar and low down," Ron was shocked that she spoke up for herself like that. "And I sent an owl about it to Mom."
"You wouldn't," Ginny gasped.
"Yes, I would."
"Well then," Ginny countered, "What would be if I sent her an owl about your horrible behavior? And that you continue Fred and George's business in Hogwarts?"
"First off," Ron glared, "I'm not doing it for myself. The money all goes to Fred and George. I'm doing them a favor. Second off, you were mighty okay with Fred and George selling it!"
Ginny interrupted him, "Yes, I was. Fred and George never spied on me."
Ron continued, ignoring her, "Third of all, how the heck do you know about that?"
Ginny slyly said, "Just like you know about me. Paid back in your own way. Spying."
Two owls swooped into the Great Hall, even though the time for owls was at breakfast. The owls were both carrying dreadful and all too familiar red envelopes. One owl dropped her load off at the Slytherin table, and the other at the Gryffindor table. Everybody looked around to see who got a Howler, and at such an unusual time.
Ginny shrunk away from the Howler. Neville, who was sitting somewhere close to her, said, "You better open it. It's even worse when you don't."
Ginny nodded, and nervously opened the red envelope. It flew out of her hands, and began to scream shrilly, "GINNY, HOW COULD YOU? HANGING OUT WITH A SLYTHERIN BOY AND GOING INTO THEIR COMMON ROOM! SHAME ON YOU! YOU'RE A DISGRACE TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY! YOUR BEHAVIOR WAS MOST SHAMEFUL AND I DEMAND AN APOLOGY. YOU MUST PROMISE TO NEVER DO IT AGAIN, OR I'LL DRAG YOU OUT OF HOGWARTS BY YOUR HAIR!" On a softer note, the Howler said to Ron, "Thank you, Ronnykins for telling me about this," and then the note started screaming again at Ginny. "WHEN YOU COME BACK HOME, YOU'RE GROUNDED FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER! AND DON'T THINK YOU CAN GET OUT OF IT!" The note shriveled up and disappeared, leaving Ginny shaking violently out of fright. From the other side of the room, she overheard Malfoy's Howler finishing it's beratement. Malfoy's father, who was still in Azkaban, had bribed the officials to let him send his son a Howler, after word got about to him of what had happened. The Howler was almost finished, and Ginny only caught the words, "YOU'LL BE PUNISHED SEVERELY ONCE I LAY MY HANDS ON YOU. ASSOCIATING WITH MUGGLE LOVERS AS THOUGH THEY WERE EQUALS!"
Ginny trembled, knowing that the entire Great Hall heard their Howlers, and understood what happened.
She looked down sadly at her still empty plate. As she was watching her reflection in the shiny plate, a note appeared on it by magic. She opened it up, wondering who it could be from.
The letter was from Dumbledore. It read as follows:
Dear Miss Weasley,
Please meet me at my office
after lunch. I would like to discuss something of importance with
you. The password to my office is raspberry sorbet.
Dumbledore
Ginny looked up to see if Dumbledore was watching her. He wasn't. He was talking to Professor McGonagall as if nothing had happened.
After lunch, Ginny trudged to his office, ready for a lecturing. "R-r-raspberry sorbet," she stammered. The gargoyle let her through, and she stepped onto the forever spiraling staircase, which went upwards.
Ginny knocked on the door with hesitation. Dumbledore's voice came from within, "Please come in." She pushed open the door, and the first thing she noticed upon entering his office was that Malfoy was sitting in front of Dumbledore's desk on a large wooden chair. Malfoy had a glint of amusement in his eyes.
D it, Ginny
thought angrily. We're both in trouble, and he looks like he's
having fun! Wait, No, no, But then
who's to blame? Maybe Ron was right after all.. My
relationship with Malfoy is a bit troublesome..
With a wave of his hand, Dumbledore conjured another wooden chair for Ginny. "Have a seat," he indicated the chair.
Ginny sat down, trying to avoid looking at Malfoy. All she needed now was to get in trouble with Dumbledore.
"I suppose you both know the reason of this meeting," Dumbledore gave them a grave look. "I have heard the entire story from your mother, Miss Weasley. She has sent me a copy of a letter your brother sent her." He waved a piece of parchment which was in Ron's handwriting. "Mrs. Weasley has requested of me that I keep an strict eye on you, and as she is your mother, I am inclined to carry out her request. I know exactly what has happened over the past couple of days between the two of you from Mr. Ron Weasley's point of view. I would like to, in addition, hear your side of the story. Would you like to start, Mr. Malfoy?"
Without looking at Ginny, Malfoy said in a crystal clear voice, "With all due respect, Headmaster, I believe that we are old enough to make our own decisions." It must have been the first time that Malfoy spoke with some respect to Dumbledore.
"Ah, yes," Dumbledore nodded, his blue eyes beginning to twinkle, "Your relationship is none of my business. That is not what bothers me. I believe, as well, that students have a right to like whoever they do. It is not up to me to command who your friends should be, although it is unusual, you two being in completely different Houses. However, in this letter here, Mr. Ron Weasley states that you.. ahem.." He adjusted his half moon spectacles and peered at the letter on his desk, "That you were in the Slytherin common room, Miss Weasley. That is strictly against the rules."
"Sorry," Ginny opened her mouth for the first time since she sat down. "I didn't realize.."
"You didn't realize it was against the rules?" Dumbledore showed surprise.
"I mean, I realized that," Ginny gulped, "But I didn't realize it at the time. I mean, I forgot the rule."
"Ah," Dumbledore nodded understandingly. "Miss Weasley and Mr. Malfoy, do you share positive feelings towards each other?"
Without looking at each other, they both nodded.
"How peculiar," Dumbledore exclaimed lightly. "Would you like to continue seeing each other in private?"
"Oh, yes, please, if that would be possible," Ginny said. Malfoy nodded in agreement.
"Very well. But," Dumbledore warned, "I do not want to see you in a different common room other than your own. There is a place near the portrait of Barnabas the Balmy." Seeing recognition spring into both Ginny and Draco's eyes, he chuckled. "Yes, the room of requirement. You had a brush with it two years ago. If I'm not mistaken, you were on opposing sides back then. Well, since you are determined to stay together, you can go there during your free time. Miss Weasley, you know how to enter the room. You'll explain to Mr. Malfoy later. So do you agree to that plan?"
They both nodded happily. Malfoy had some doubts about it, because he remembered in his fifth year, how he caught a few members of "Dumbledore's Army."
"You may leave now, Mr. Malfoy. I still have something to discuss with Miss Weasley."
Malfoy left, without a backwards glance. When the door shut behind him, Dumbledore fixed his glance on Ginny.
"Miss Weasley, I'm afraid that this is not the wisest decision. Mr. Malfoy is a Slytherin, and in previous years, he hated your entire family and most of your friends. Because of this sudden change in him and in you, I cannot help but suspect that something is wrong. In my opinion, you'd be better off looking for a Gryffindor boy."
"Headmaster, you're wrong. We love each other!"
"Yes, but feelings are often misleading."
"This time, they aren't," Ginny hotly defended her new boyfriend.
Dumbledore sighed. It seemed as though he aged a couple of years in the course of a second.
He doesn't look so much older because of me, does he? Ginny asked herself, alarmed. No, he's aged. He isn't very young, you know. Ginny convinced herself.
"You may leave."
