A/N: 12/11/12 Again this was one of the chapters that got deleted and I had to start over from scratch, furious apologies for the differences. I wrote this story when I was 19 (I'm now 24!) And it's hard to remember it all! But I do know that this is the chapter where we get to delve a little into the mind of our favorite Slytherin. :)
Disclaimer: Are these really necessary? Obviously not mine...
Weasel Vs. Malfoy Chapter 9
Draco's room was a mess. Book and clothes were strewn in every which direction, a table and an a few chairs up ended. Even his bed-clothes had not escaped the fury that was hurricane Draco. His hair was suffering similar damage, sticking every which way from the young blonde running his fingers through it repeatedly. He finally had an understanding as to why Potter's hair was such a train wreck. If he had half the amount of stress Draco was currently feeling, he'd look like he lost a fight with a kneazle too. Which actually, he currently did.
Why had he kissed Weasley? They were having a perfectly good fight where he was winning as usual and then she had to go and get all emotional on him. When he had seen the moisture in her eyes that she was trying so valiantly to hide, he had felt a pang. At first Draco wanted to chalk it up to heartburn but deep down he knew it for what it was. Remorse. He had actually felt, dare he say it? Bad. It was just supposed to be some friendly banter and then he had actually upset her and when she got up to flee, he felt his legs carrying him of their own volition and the next thing he knew he was kissing the damned girl.
"Urgh!" He growled in frustration and kicked a throw pillow lying nearby.
Who was he kidding? He knew exactly why he had kissed her. He had kissed her because she looked so freaking vulnerable. So achingly beautiful with her flushed cheeks and unshed tears clinging to her impossibly long lashes. Not that he paid attention to these awkward kind of details of course. That would just be gay. This wasn't the first time he was struck by the young red head's vulnerability however. What he had neglected to mention to the Professors in his own recounting of last night's events was that Draco had happened upon the scene in Grimsby Lane sooner than his supposed, 'lucky timing' implied. He had caught up to the littlest Weasley in time to see the whole scene play out. Ginny, wandless and alone, with the psychotic Pansy blithering on about how he belonged to her and all that rot. The girl really did enjoy the sound of her own voice far more than was reasonable. But the amazing thing about the entire scenario was watching brave, short-tempered, fiery Ginny Weasley, totally and completely give in to her fate. Draco couldn't have stopped himself if he tried as he disarmed Pansy and caught the unconscious girl before she hit the pavement. What an undeniably 'Potter' thing to do, he thought bitterly. But as he said, he couldn't help it. Watching her be in such a precarious situation and facing it head on with nothing but her sheer force of will to hang on to, well it was damn attractive is what it was.
Since when is vulnerability hot? Draco wondered.
"Since it came attached to Ginevra Weasley." His mind countered.
Right. Ginny Weasley didn't DO vulnerable. That's what made it so enticing. He couldn't help playing the hero. For once it was HE who had rescued the girl. HE who had been at the right place at the right time. SHE had needed HIM. And Draco had never felt needed before. Sure he was wanted, by half the female population and probably a percentage of boys as well if rumors were to be believed, but never had he been responsible for someone else's well being. It gave him a sense of power that he never thought he would enjoy.
"No wonder Pothead does this so much. It actually feels kind of good. It's like, good guy crack," Draco mused aloud.
Why he was talking to himself out loud was beyond him but it seemed like the best way to work through all the mixed emotions. Draco found himself thinking that he could get used to this hero thing and then nixed the idea. He was NOT going to be like Potter. The whole point in this devious endeavour was to one-up him, not match him. No, he was going to do this the Draco Malfoy way. The Slytherin way. And Slytherins, especially Malfoys did not let insignificant things like circumstantial bouts of temporary-romantic-insanity get in his way, because there was no way in the seven levels of hell that he was developing feelings for Ginny Weasley. Malfoy or not he was still a red-blooded teenage wizard with hormones like everyone else and he was only human after all. Well only just. Satisfied with his deductions for the day, Draco began the painstaking process of putting his room back into some semblance of order.
! #$
In another part of the castle, Ginny was having similar issues. She was sprawled on her bed staring up at the canopy of her bed contemplating the implications of what had transpired. Draco Malfoy had kissed her. Again. And he was stone cold sober this time when he did it. There was no alcohol or freedom of inhibition to blame for it either.
"How typical female of me to be over analyzing this," Ginny thought to herself bitterly. It probably meant nothing. He was just trying to manipulate her and confuse her even more in her fragile state.
"Yeah but that's a new low even for him," Her mind fought back.
"Ugh, this is getting me nowhere," Ginny said out loud to herself.
The dorm was blissfully empty as it was a Sunday and most people were enjoying some down time in the common room. Deciding on the spot that a nice long, hot bath would help clear her head Ginny gathered her bath things and shrunk them down to fit in her pocket before heading downstairs. A few scattered greetings and a hasty exit later she was standing in front of the entrance to the Prefects bathroom. Having Fred and George for older brothers' was really handy when it came to all the castle secrets.
Ginny entered the vast room and walked straight towards the tub, taking care to un-shrink her bath things and setting them on a bench. She then proceeded to turn on every tap available. Multi colored bubbles of every shape, size and density shot from the faucets and Ginny quickly stripped down and immersed herself in the nearly scalding water. She let the tub fill up to her collar bones and shut the taps off, closing her eyes in bliss as the thick steam and warm water lulled her into oblivion...
His hands were on her hips as he slid them gently up her sides, letting her shirt ride up and her breath catch in her throat as his fingertips slid over her sensitive flesh. Soft lips were caressing her neck and nibbling her ear lobes and she was panting in anticipation. Her own hands were everywhere, touching and exploring every inch of pale flesh she could reach. Under his shirt, across his chest, through the silken strands that just brushed the collar of his shirt. When his lips landed on her own, she opened for his eager tongue as it met hers in a tangle of wild desire. She felt as if she was aflame from the inside out, emitting her own little ball of heat as he matched her fervor. She unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off his shoulders, reveling at the feel of taut muscle she revealed. Her sweater and shirt followed shortly as his hands roved over her breasts, making her arch her back and sigh with pleasure. His mouth soon replaced his hands and a jolt of electricity passed down her body to land right there. Her hands were at his belt immediately and soon his pants joined it's mate on the floor.
"Draco..." Ginny gasped as his hands traveled lower to reach under her skirt.
His thumb was tracing tiny little circles on the inside of her thigh and she was practically shaking in anticipation. His hand dipped lower, further away from where she wanted him to be and she let out an involuntary whimper at the absence. She could feel his answering smirk as he found her lips again and felt his hand slowly inching upward towards the apex of her thighs-
"Ack!" Ginny spluttered as she surfaced from the now icy water of the tub. Hopping out quickly she drained the tub and cast a quick warming spell before toweling off and getting dressed. It was only after she had her bearings that she chanced a glance at her watch.
"Eep!" She squealed.
She had been in the tub for 2 hours. Looking down at her wrinkled fingers and toes she grimaced.
"Well that was a rude wake up call if I ever had one," She thought. "But man, what a dream..." Ginny quickly shook her head as if physically trying to banish the memories of her torrid dream from her mind.
"Good Lord woman, what is wrong with you?" She scolded herself. And why was she talking to herself so much these days? Draco Malfoy was making her literally insane and it had to stop. Soon.
Shaking her head at herself, she quickly gathered her things and exited the bathroom. That was definitely not what she had in mind when she had originally entered. She was now more confused than ever and angry at herself for having such irrational dreams. As if she had contorl over her subconscience. Growling and mumbling to herself, she trudged back up to Gryffindor tower in a foul mood, deciding that she would utilize her status with a certain raven haired quidditch captain and book the pitch for a good long broom therapy session.
But the cold hard truth of the matter remained, whether her conscious mind wanted to clue her in or not. Ginny Weasley wanted Draco Malfoy. Whether she liked, disliked, dispised or detested him, she wanted him. And she wanted him bad.
A/N 2: Sorry this one was so short, but I really couldn't remember what else I had included in this chapter! Hopefully this ties the story back together nicely and for those who have read it and new readers as well, please let me know if there are any loose ends or missing plot points I forgot to add. Thanks so much!
