Draco didn't even say hello to his mother when he got back to the Manor. Normally he tried to talk to her about how the counseling went, but this time was different. This time he was upset at his body and upset at himself. He stomped up to his room and slammed the door behind him before throwing himself on his large king sized bed.
"GODS! Stupid Weasley! Why did she have to hug me?"
He grunted in frustration and stared up at the ceiling. No matter how hard he cursed the witch for making him feel this way, he couldn't let himself forget her arms around his neck and her scent filling his nostrils. She made his head spin and he had a slight feeling that it wasn't just because he was a horny teenage boy. In the past, when he had had sexual relations with women at Hogwarts, and he had a LOT of those, he had never felt anything like this. He pounded his fist on his emerald green comforter. This wasn't supposed to happen! He was supposed to hate her! He had made fun of her all through school, calling her family poor and teasing her about her stupid boyfriend, Scarhead. He had called her names to try and get in her head before Quidditch games, just so he could see Gryffindor lose. He never failed to tease her siblings as well…so why was he feeling this way towards her? Sure she was bloody gorgeous with her freckles that patterned under her dazzling eyes and her long red hair that was as fiery as her personality. And he didn't even need to mention her amazingly Quidditch toned body and her long legs and…
"DAMNIT!"
"Draco deary, is everything okay? You seem upset or-"
"I'm fine mum! Just let me be today!"
"O-okay."
He could hear his mother stay behind his closed door for a few moments before she walked away. He sighed deeply. This wasn't right. This was against everything he believed in. Well, ever since counseling, USE to believe in. He rolled over on top his side, muttering to herself.
"Damn you Ginny."
o.O.o
Ginny stood, rooted to the spot where she had hugged Draco. It was as if she had been petrified. Why had she done that? That was just…well…unexpected. She didn't even realize what she had done until Draco was hugging her back. And that was another thing. Why had he hugged her back? That was so…un-Draco like! Of course, it was very unlike herself to even hug him in the first place. And what was that rubbish that he whispered in her ear? What was it? He had told her thank you? Thank you for caring? She finally snapped out of her trance and shook her head. The worst part of it all? When he whispered that in her ear, shivers ran down her spine. Harry has been the only other one to give her the shivers like that and that was a while ago. This time it just felt...more intense, more…real. She turned and looked back at the door that they had just both walked out of. What the Hell had these therapy sessions done to her? Questioning her motives for hugging Draco and her sanity for reacting in the way she had, Ginny apparated back to the Burrow.
o.O.o
"Charlie? Can I talk to you, privately?"
Dinner was just winding down as some of the other Weasley children put their plates in the sink and started the night's after supper festivities. George and Ron were already heading back to the shabby Quidditch pitch to throw the Quaffle around while Hermione grabbed a book to read on the sidelines. Mrs. Weasley was setting to work with the dishes while Percy and Mr. Weasley began talking about things at the improving Ministry of Magic. Charlie looked at his little sister.
"Sure Gin. Lets go walk through the garden."
"Okay."
They each grabbed a lightweight cardigan before stepping out into the crisp fall air. Ginny quickly hugged herself tightly, feeling slightly exposed. They made their way to the Weasley family garden, now full of different squash and pumpkins. They slowed their pace once they had reached the garden gate and once inside, Ginny felt secure. There was something about Charlie that always made her feel safe. Maybe it was because he worked with dragons so Ginny knew he could handle her fire which was much more tame. He stuffed his hands into his jean pockets.
"So what did you want to tell me?"
She sighed deeply. She had no idea how Charlie would react to what she was about to say. "I…I'm in a situation that I don't know how to handle."
"This sounds like girl troubles sis."
"I can't go to Hermione or mum about this though. I need an unbiased opinion from someone who really knows me. That's you Charlie."
"Okay…okay. I'm hear for you."
She swallowed hard. "How long has it been since Harry hit me?"
"Almost a month. Why?"
"I just…Charlie…I…" She trailed off. She didn't even know how to put her thoughts into words and now that she thought about it, she just sounded stupid. "Never mind."
"No, no, no. We are not brushing this aside. We're already out here. Spit it out Gin."
She plunged foreword without even thinking. "I think I may be getting feelings for someone already."
Charlie slowed his pace down but didn't falter completely.
"It's someone you met in those therapy sessions, isn't it?"
"H-how did you know?"
"Well, you never go out in public. The only time you leave the house nowadays is for that. I just figured that that's where you would have met someone new."
"He isn't exactly…new. Well, okay, his attitude is new. His change in personality is new. But I've known him for years. He went to Hogwarts with me."
"Ah, I see."
"Yeah. And actually, he has helped me a lot. He's the one who always made sure I was okay. He is one of the reasons I've stopped drinking." She lowered her voice a little, finally admitting something to herself. "He told me to leave Harry after everything that had happened. He is the reason I didn't write him back."
Now Charlie stopped. That had taken him off guard completely. Ginny took another step foreword before turning and facing her older. It was obvious by the look on his face that he just wanted to know who the Hell she was talking about. She looked at him through pleading eyes. She really did not want Charlie going off at her. He nodded at her, willing her to just spit it out.
"It's… it's Draco. Draco Malfoy."