Chapter Nine

Testing the water

Ginny shrugged. She had figured they would have to talk this out sooner or later, she just wished she had thought more about what to say. As it was, she was at a loss. She was seeing a different side of Draco Malfoy. One she hadn't truly expected even after everything Cissy and Daphne had told her.

He didn't say a word until they were far enough away as not to be overheard. "Am I in for painful hexes?"

She laughed, not having expected that. "No, I did promise to try. Though, get me angry enough and I make no promises."

"My mother is plotting with yours," he said and she swore she heard hesitance hidden under the air of confidence.

"Likely," she agreed smoothly. "I would bet you receive an invitation to the Burrow for Christmas."

He jolted and she barely resisted snarling at him. Then she remembered what her mum had said on her birthday, that he and Cissy hadn't wanted to start a row. She was slightly ashamed that she'd immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion.

"Your brother wouldn't like that much."

She nodded absently. "Did you threaten him yet?"

"If I say yes are you going to hex me?"

She stopped and turned to fully face him and noted the amusement he allowed to show.

"No," she said softly. "He actually deserves it. As I'm sure you'll hear soon enough, I wasn't welcomed with open arms in Gryffindor. I'll handle it. In fact, I already have a plan in mind."

He smirked, though it wasn't his normal nasty one. This one seemed to be full of malicious approval. "How bad will it be?"

She smirked deliberately and didn't answer, just to see what sort of reaction she would get. He half-smiled and said, "I warned him, Potter, and Granger."

She acknowledged his admission with a slight nod and started walking again, meandering around the castle towards the lake. "Do you actually think we can get along?"

"We're managing at the moment," he pointed out.

"Have you flown the Fire Storm yet?"

His eyes went wide for a split second before he nodded. "I heard tell you were taunting your brothers with yours."

"Oh did I ever. I'm not above taking any opening given when dealing with that lot. The twins and I flew almost all day. They were helping me keep up my training. If I'm kicked off the Quidditch team, I will hurt someone."

"You won't be alone, you're the best Chaser in the castle and everyone knows it."

"Thanks," she offered hesitantly. "Though, you do know if they don't kick me off, the rest of your team will hate you for giving me that broom."

He snickered. "I've got one whereas Potter doesn't. Not to mention, our Beaters are Vincent and Gregory. With that combination, most Chasers will be far outstripped."

"Not me?"

He sighed and looked as if he was bracing himself. "No, I told the team not to coddle you actually. I knew you'd hex the lot of us if we did. They have been warned that targeting you is not acceptable."

Ginny nearly fell over. He was being open and honest, completely opposite of normal Slytherin behavior. He was truly trying and something about that made her extremely pleased. She didn't know what she had expected, maybe him reverting to his old behavior once Cissy wasn't around. Her normal reaction would be to yell at him for coddling her or reminding him that she could more than handle Bludgers. But, something stopped her.

----

"I give them a month," Daphne said, digging into her pocket for the galleons.

"Six months," Vincent countered, holding out five galleons.

"You're both wrong," Blaise interjected. "They'll fight like mad and not come to any sort of agreement until right before they get married."

Gregory didn't bother objecting to the betting pool. In fact, he took out a parchment and self-inking quill to notate the bets. "I say you are all wrong, actually."

"Do tell," Blaise crooned.

"The first time he defends her, truly defends her," Gregory said with a cocky grin. "No time limit on that, merely whenever it happens."

"You'll have to be more specific," Daphne pointed out, taking the quill and parchment from him.

He sighed. "Look, I can't get more specific. I just know what I see. What I see that when Draco steps up and thrashes someone, with or without using his wand, Ginny will be done for. She is scary with a wand, but…," he trailed off embarrassed.

"We're not going to repeat this," Blaise said shortly. "If Ginny Weasley hears that we're betting on her love life, all of us will become well acquainted with Pomfrey."

"Too true," Daphne said, shooting a wary look over her shoulder where Draco and Ginny were walking.

Gregory swore he felt a blush creeping up his neck. "Ginny doesn't want a hero. I feel like a ponce, you know, saying this."

"Nothing wrong with that," Vincent teased. "Just spit it out before they decide to head back over here."

"She's the overprotected baby of the family. That means she's had to fight to be noticed. I just think that when Draco proves that he will defend her unthinkingly, that will do it for her. He is already proving that he knows how well she can take care of herself."

"Both sides," Daphne suggested. "She wants equality. She's already defended the betrothal and as a result Draco."

"What if he's just doing it because of the betrothal?" Blaise asked.

Daphne giggled, and then laughed uproariously.

"It hasn't been just about the betrothal for months, Blaise," Vincent explained warily. "Don't go repeating that or even alluding to the fact that I said it or I'll thrash you."

Blaise sat down cross-legged and looked at each of them in turn before he laughed. "C-catch me up?"

"Not a chance," Daphne quipped. "You'll have to puzzle it out on your own. If Draco found out we said what we have, he'll not hesitate to pay us back…best friends or not."

----

"Weasley!"

Ron turned to see Mandy Brocklehurst waving to him from the library. He had been walking aimlessly about the castle since splitting from Harry and Hermione. He was trying to figure out just what Malfoy's game was. He had actually seemed like it mattered how Ginny was treated and that didn't sit well. It didn't fit the cold bastard that Ron damn well knew he was. Since he was circling around and not getting any answers, he decided to see what Brocklehurst wanted.

She shooed him to the furthest corner and whispered, "I'll help you get your sister away from Malfoy."

"Why?" he asked cautiously. He wanted Ginny away from Malfoy and maybe she could help him with that. It was worth considering since he, Harry, and Hermione hadn't had any luck.

She smiled unpleasantly. "I want him, I've always wanted him, and with your sister out of the way I can have him."

Something about the fervent, frankly fanatical way she was going on about Malfoy had him reassessing the situation. "Let me think about it?"

Her eyes narrowed and she growled, literally. "You can help me or I do this my way."

He nodded, hoping he could assure her and then run like hell. She wasn't right in the head, not at all. He wanted Ginny away from Malfoy, but somewhere deep inside he couldn't bring himself to help this obviously insane witch get him either. He hated Malfoy, just not this much. "I'll help you, but I need to go. Harry and Hermione are supposed to meet me in our common room in just a couple of minutes."

She giggled wildly and waved him off. When he was out of her sight, he ran.

----

Draco had never felt so uncertain in his life. He and Ginny had been walking and chatting about mostly unimportant things for nearly fifteen minutes and he hadn't been hexed or slapped once. It was unsettling how much he was enjoying himself. He hadn't expected her to simply set aside the past as she'd done. He'd had months to work out the disgust and hatred that Lucius had tried to instill. Ginny, on the other hand, had only known for a month. It caused an odd reaction. Her apparent ease at accepting the betrothal made him…sheepish…maybe, he wasn't certain. It wasn't something he was well acquainted with whatever it was.

All he was sure of was that Ginny Weasley was shaking his convictions, the promises he'd made to himself long ago. She was causing him to think about things best left alone. He was Lucius Malfoy's son and heir for Merlin's sake. He shouldn't be wondering if maybe they could find even a sliver of happiness with each other. The moment he realized what he was thinking, he shoved the idea away.

He couldn't ever allow himself to forget why he'd never wanted to find himself engaged.

----

Ginny watched Draco's expression change out of the corner of her eye. She saw that 'I'm a spoiled, rotten brat' mask slide into place and nearly sighed aloud. He'd actually lasted longer then she expected. They had been getting along fine, chatting about classes and Quidditch. She was actually pleased, though the disappointment was threatening to overcome her.

When he stopped walking and deliberately turned away from her, she scrambled for a reason to get away without causing a row. Then, she remembered Snape and her detentions. He never did tell her when they were to start.

"I need to track down Snape."

He nodded but didn't show any other sign of hearing her.

Ginny bit her lip to keep from asking him what the hell had changed. Instead she simply turned and walked away. Any small steps should be celebrated not worried over. At least now they knew that they could get along.

----

Daphne groaned when she saw Draco standing, alone, by the lake. "Where did Ginny go?"

When he glared at her, his mask firmly in place, she nearly punched him square in the nose. His low, careless drawl did nothing to alleviate the urge.

"I'm not her bloody keeper any more than I'm yours. If she's so necessary to your health and well-being, then find her yourself."

"What did you do?" she demanded, planting her hands on his chest in an attempt to keep him from walking away as he was known to do.

"Nothing," he drawled, stepping back, turning on his heel, and stalking away.

Troubled, she watched him skirt the edge of the lake moving further from the castle. She knew she couldn't meddle. They had to work this out on their own.