Chapter 11:
Ginny reached for her pumpkin juice, and looked at Blaise over the rim of the goblet across the hall. She had been back at Hogwarts for a week, but neither he, nor Draco had made any sort of effort to see her.
The first day back, she had spotted Draco in the hall, and had tried to approach him with a big smile, but he had simply seemed to stare right through her, before turning on his heel and walking away with a whirl of his robes.
Since then, she had tried to talk to Blaise as well, and had received a sad, sympathetic smile, before he too walked away. According to Padma, she had given the letter to Draco, but Ginny was going to assume that he had not really cared about it.
Refusing to dignify their childish behavior by following them like a lost little puppy, she had full-heartedly thrown herself into her schoolwork, and her Gryffindor friends, who were curious as to where she had been, but still happy to see her.
Quidditch helped too, but their last game before the Christmas break had been a few days before she had come back. Dean and Seamus had played a few games of pickup with her, but it was almost too cold outside for flying at this point.
Yawning, she tried to pay attention to what Lavender was saying, and failed miserably as another yawn escaped. "I'm so sorry Lav… I think I need to head to the tower."
Lavender waved her off with a face, and the rest of the group briefly looked up from their dinner with a chorus of goodbyes.
Walking out of the Great Hall, Ginny pulled her book bag into a more comfortable position and glanced around the entranceway out of habit before heading over to the hall that led to the stairs.
"Ginny?" A low voice called quietly, and she turned to see Blaise walking toward her, his navy eyes flashing in the shadows.
"Blaise?" She stared at him in mild disbelief, "You've decided to talk to me now?"
Blaise reached out to gently touch her cheek, before letting his hand drop to his side, "Come on Ginny. You're the one who took off."
"I sent you a letter explaining that!" She glared at him, and crossed her arms over her chest. He shot her a look of disbelief.
"Look, Draco really isn't going to forget about this."
"What about you?"
Blaise's eyes hardened momentarily, before taking on a weariness she had never seen before, "You know that I need to stick by Draco. You know the score."
Her eyes filled with unexpected tears as she registered the rejection, "I always came last, didn't I?"
Staring at her for a moment longer, Blaise turned to head to the Slytherin dungeons, forcing himself not to look back at the small redhead.
Ginny wiped the moisture off her cheeks angrily, and stalked up the stairs to the safety of Gryffindor.
She forced herself not to think about the two Slytherins who were giving her such grief, and stalked into the common room with a growled "Alohamora" at the fat lady.
"Good grief… For someone so small, you do give up a hell of a racket when you're mad, don't you?" Seamus remarked from where he was studying in the corner.
Ginny summoned a small smile for him, before heading up the stairs towards the girls' dorms. Pulling on her nightclothes, she stood at the end of her bed, and stared at it, glad that her roommates were still in the Great Hall.
For the first time since she had really arrived at Hogwarts, it no longer felt like home. Even Tom Riddle had not been able to take that from her. It hurt…
Bracing her forehead against the post of the large bed, Ginny gritted her teeth, and fought the tears with every fiber of her being. Breathing heavily, she pounded her head against the wood in frustration. It was so damn difficult knowing exactly what she was missing. God… she couldn't wait for the Christmas holiday. The Burrow was looking better and better.
Seamus stared at the stairs for a moment in indecision… The need to go after her was almost overwhelming…
Pausing at the stairs long enough to cast the spell that the Weasley twins had taught him before they had left, he climbed up and headed for the 6th year room that Parvati had once pointed out to him when they had briefly dated earlier in the year.
Ginny turned to the door as a hesitant knock sounded, and opened it to find Seamus staring down at her. "Seamus… how promiscuous of you that you know how to make it up the stairs."
Seamus stared at her for a moment, taking in the very skimpy tank top that hugged her full breasts so lovingly, every breath she took making him aware of the lack of undergarments. Seeing the sliver of skin laid bare between that and the low-riding pajama bottoms, his fingers itched to stroke the softness he knew lay there.
He grinned at her wry tone, "Well, love, what can I say? Can't deprive the ladies."
Smiling at his familiar Irish lilt and flirting, she motioned for him to come into the room. "What can I do for you Mr. Finnegan?"
"Thought you'd need some company, love…" He paused to tuck a red curl behind her ear, "Or a stiff drink." Ginny laughed lightly, and headed toward her bed, slipping under the covers and holding them out for him to join her.
Pulling off his shoes and sweater to toss under the bed, he slid into the large bed. Ginny smiled up at him as he pulled the curtains closed, before settling down to cuddle into her.
"Thanks Seamus." Tucking her head under his chin, she held onto him tightly, "This means a lot, it's been a bad day."
Seamus kissed the top of her head, laying his cheek against the soft hair there and relaxed against her. It was almost killing him not to make a move, he had wanted to be with Ginny since she had broken up with him in the summer. Softly murmuring "Silencio", he placed his wand on top of her headboard.
Knowing that any advance he might make would not be taken well by the small witch, he stroked his hands slowly up and down her back in what he hoped was a soothing way, instead of a "randy bastard" way.
Feeling herself relax, Ginny closed her eyes and basked in his warmth. It felt so good just to be held… though, it felt strange to be in Seamus' wiry arms, not feeling Draco and Blaise surrounding her with their presence and scents.
She must have fallen asleep, as she slowly woke up savoring the sensation of being held against a warm body, a feeling that she had sorely missed. Opening her eyes, she looked up to see Seamus staring down at her with deep brown eyes that spoke of tenderness.
"Hi." His voice was warm and low with sleep, his Irish lilt more pronounced in the murky tones. Smiling at him somewhat shyly, Ginny looked away from the depth of feeling she could see in his face.
"Hi." Her voice was as soft as his had been, and muffled against the white t-shirt that covered his chest.
"Gin…" Seamus paused, as if he was thinking about what he would say next, "Is there any chance for us?"
A long silence deepened between them as Ginny wished the floor would open up beneath her… figuratively, of course, one could never be too sure of that kind of thing in Hogwarts castle.
Biting her lip, Ginny looked up at him again, meeting his intense eyes once again, full on. "Seamus, I… I really don't know."
Seamus smiled tenderly at her, and tightened his hold around her shoulders, "Well, at least that wasn't a no."
Tilting her head back fully to kiss his cheek lightly, his stubble scratching at her sensitive lips. She started in surprise as Seamus turned his head to brush his lips against hers, and simply stiffened as his mouth moved over hers, not sure whether to respond.
Moving his large hand up to cup the back of her head, Seamus felt the silky weight of her hair and lightly massaged her skull with his fingertips, moving his mouth down to the clean line of her jaw.
Ginny gasped lightly at the sensations that were running through her as he nuzzled across a sensitive point just below her ear. She drew back slightly, however, as she realized that she was trying to superimpose Draco's silky soft silvery hair to the slightly wiry curls brushing against her skin, and Blaise's firm touch to Seamus' feathery-light caresses.
"I'm sorry, Seamus…" She spoke softly, and moved away from him so that a foot of space separated them on her large bed, "I'm just not ready for this."
Desire still coursing through him, Seamus nodded at her, before reaching out to smooth his thumb over one of her high cheekbones, "Love, I'm honestly just happy you're letting me be here with you. Don't worry about anything further."
Ginny smiled gently at him, and wondered whether she would ever be ready for him, and whether it was even fair of her to allow him to lay in her bed with her when she was already questioning it. Closing her eyes, she willed sleep to take her away from her worries, and again thought longingly of the Christmas break.
Across the castle, Draco stared at the back of Blaise's inky head, willing him to relax, and turn to him.
"Piss off." Blaise mumbled into his pillow, and hunched his broad shoulders defensively.
--
Ginny pulled her potions text out of her bag, and looked around the empty room. She was early, again, as usual, in her bid to avoid her classmates sympathetic looks in the Great Hall as she studiously avoided looking at the Slytherin table.
Looking over her essay that was due for Slughorn, Ginny didn't look up as the heavy door was opened, and footsteps tapped on the stone floor.
"Weasley." The low voice shook her to her very core, and she quickly looked up, meeting silver eyes head on.
"Malfoy." Her voice seemed to shake, despite the fact that she was trying for a cool, confident tone. He looked tired…
Draco stared down at the small redhead that he had been unable to get out of his head. Her brilliant hair was bound back in a strict French braid, and his fingers itched to release it from it's confines… She was pale…
"Was there something you wanted?" This time, Ginny was pleased with her voice, the trembling under control. His hard gaze was starting to unnerve her.
Draco swallowed against the instant obstruction that had presented itself in the back of his throat, "He misses you."
Feeling the tears prickling at the corners of her eyes, Ginny stared at him, trying to compose herself enough not to cry as she talked. Nope, not possible.
Watching as Ginny stared at him coolly, Draco felt anger rising in him at her cool composure. The woman seemed to not care at all that he had put himself out there. Sneering at her, he stared over her head, "Obviously, this was a bad idea. I shall leave you to your studies."
Ginny watched him leave, the predator-like elegance that shrouded him showing itself in every step, and surreptitiously wiped at the tears that had welled up in her eyes with the sleeve of her black robe.
--
"Well, they're both prats." Padma denounced upon hearing the details of Ginny's visit, however brief, with Draco.
Ginny nodded mutely, and flicked through her copy of Quidditch Weekly, hoping to glance something that might work as a Christmas gift for Ron. They were curled up in one of the large window seats in the Ravenclaw common room which was made cozy against the snow storm raging outside by a roaring fire in the large hearth.
"What are you going to do?" Delicately choosing a chocolate from the large box the lay between them, Padma glanced at the smaller girl.
Ginny sighed and put her magazine down, "I have no idea. I think I've already done more than enough… the next move is Draco's. I did wrong, but I had my reasons, as you well know, and he didn't give a shit."
"I agree." Padma looked at her nails with a great concentration, unwilling to meet Ginny's bright blue eyes, "but you miss them. You love them."
Ginny's head popped up in shock, "I do not love them."
"Yes, you do." Padma continued on despite Ginny's denials, "You haven't admitted it, but you will. And that doesn't address the fact that you do miss them. I know that Seamus has been hanging around, but we both know that you don't look at him with anything more than friendship these days… the same with any other man since Blaise and Draco really came into the picture."
Looking at Padma with something akin to shock, Ginny sputtered, "How did you manage to say all of that without taking a breath?"
"Never mind that, Gin, you need to focus on this." Padma folded her arms across her chest and shot her friend and fierce look, "It isn't just going to go away, despite the fact that they are both prats."
"That was some pep talk, Padma," Ginny reached for a chocolate, "Had all of the subtlety of a sledgehammer."
"Well, you are all behaving like children, I felt the need to say something."
Narrowing her eyes at Padma, Ginny decided that that was enough talk about her irritating love life, "So, Padma, what about you and my prat of a brother?"
Padma tensed slightly, before forcing herself to relax, "Oh, well, Ron isn't exactly my type, sorry darling."
Ginny laughed at the evasion, and shook a finger at Padma, "Nice try."
"Tell me this, Gin, why do we always have to talk about boys?" Ginny grinned at the emphasis that was placed on the last word.
"Tell me this, Padma, why do you only say that when we talk about you, and yet I am fair game?"
"Because your situation is infinitesimally more interesting than mine."
"Are you going to say anything about George?"
"Nope." Padma reached for the box of chocolates, "There is nothing to tell. You know as well as I that your brothers are notorious flirts. I'm not going to be wasting my time on that sort of bullshit."
"Hmm…" Ginny watched her for a moment, before shrugging and looking out the window to where the snow was falling at a steady pace on the lake.
"I've kind of been watching Seamus for awhile, but he's so in love with you, that I don't think it's worth it." Ginny's head whipped around at the casually spoken words, "What?"
Smiling a soft, resigned smile, Padma's dark good looks were accented by the firelight, "You heard me. I've liked Seamus for months… but I know there's absolutely no chance for us."
"Padma… I…" Ginny reached over to hug her friend tightly, accepting that Padma returned the embrace half-heartedly, "I didn't know. I've just been thinking about Blaise and Draco and… I'm sorry. I haven't been giving you the attention you deserve."
"Don't worry." Padma smiled at her, and wove her fingers through Ginny's in a gesture of affection, "Parvati didn't realize either… It was kind of a shocker when they started seeing each other around Halloween, but I dealt. Obviously, I am not an open book, and I know it well."
Tightening her arms around Padma's curvy waist, Ginny leaned her forehead against her shoulder, "You're perfect, Padma. It's the rest of us who have the problem… Never you. Don't doubt yourself now, you're my role model."
Padma laughed tightly and leaned her cheek against the top of the red head, and closed her eyes, "Don't be silly, Ginny. No one is perfect. All one can do is try to conceal their biggest imperfections."
They sat like that for some time, staring into the fire together until Ginny felt herself starting to drift off, sleep proving to be an almost impossible desire to overcome. Padma felt Ginny sway against her, and nudged her up.
"Come on Gin, you can crash in my room tonight."
Across the castle, Draco lounged outside of the Gryffindor portrait-entrance, growing more and more angry at himself as it became clear that Ginny had obviously found another bed for the night.
Reaching out for Blaise out of habit, again he felt the walls that had been there for over a week. Draco hadn't felt this alone in a long time, and it almost physically pained him.
Thinking about that, he walked over to stand in front of the fat lady, "My good lady, has Ginevra Weasley graced you with her presence this evening?"
The fat lady stared at him for a long moment, and he smiled charmingly at her, focusing all of his attention on her until she smiled back, and answered, "No, young Malfoy, she left for dinner, and has not been back."
He nodded stiffly at her, before turning to walk away. So… he, and Blaise, were pining for her… and she obviously did not feel the same. Feeling a coldness in his chest, he wandered back to the Slytherin dungeons, and entered the room that he shared with Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott, but which he had not slept in.
Wondering briefly if Blaise would actually miss him, Draco lay down to sleep without removing his clothing.
Theo watched Draco's entrance, and caught the look that Crabbe and Goyle shared. So… Blaise and Draco were not as impenetrable as they had thought. Smiling slightly to himself, Theo rolled over, sleep claiming him in moments.
--
Padma watched the Slytherin table with curiosity the next morning at breakfast. There was some major differences to the dynamics going on between the Slytherins that had not been there previously.
Draco and Blaise were quite obviously not sitting together, and were both completely silent and expressionless. Theo was grinning as if Christmas had come early, and everyone else was sneering as per usual, but looking concerned nonetheless.
Glancing over at the Gryffindor table, she saw Ginny sitting staring at her plate, playing with her eggs, while Parvati and Lavender tried to talk to her, in vain. Seamus was a few seats away, staring at her bent head. Padma quickly looked away from his dark head, and found Pansy staring at her.
Nodding her head toward the entrance of the Great Hall, Pansy smiled at Vince before turning to leave. Since the Parkinsons had thrown their support behind Dumbledore in her third year, they had had to date in secret, and it wore on her.
Standing outside of the Great Hall, Pansy inspected her nailpolish while waiting for Padma to join her. Spotting her coming, Pansy took off at a sedate pace for the empty classroom she knew was just down a corridor.
"Pansy?" Padma called as she entered the room behind her, "You beckoned?"
"I did." She made herself comfortable on a desk, and crossed her legs under her robes, motioning for Padma to do the same. "We need to talk about this stupid situation."
"I completely agree." Padma leaned forward, "Ginny is absolutely miserable, and from what I can see, the other two aren't doing so hot."
"Not so hot?" Pansy snorted, and ran a hand through her black hair to push it off her pale forehead, "They've gotten to the almost-pathetic stage. I'm sick of this crap."
Author's Note: I haven't updated in awhile, and I'm sorry... if you've checked my profile, you'll see that my life has been haywire. Thank you for all of the wonderful reviews, I have been reading them, and they truely make me want to write, so thank you for all of the great support I've gotten. This chapter, I just wanted to bring everyone back to Hogwarts, and the big secrets should be revealed next chapter as 'Complicate You' is almost at an end... Don't worry, I have the sequel planned in my head. :)
By the way... I'm VASTLY surprised no one has guessed where the title, and chapter headings are from... VERY surprised. A cookie to whoever guesses, as this is amusing to me. :)