Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Harry Potter books or movies. I am just borrowing them for a bit of fun. Hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to review however like I have said I will put the bad reviews in with my owl so she can poop on them! The good reviews will get the reviewer a shout out in the author note in the next chapter!
Chapter 13: Sweet Treats
In the sweet shop they run into Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore. "Hello Professors." Draco and Ginny greeted the three together.
"Hello Mr. Malfoy and Miss Weasley." The three teachers answered in turn.
"How are you doing today?" Dumbledore asked the pair.
"Great!" The two answered in unison.
The three teachers just smiled at one another before McGonagall spoke. "Ginny I seen you received three letters. I know one was from Charlie but can I ask who the other two were from?"
"One was from Draco it contained part of my Valentine's Day gift. The other was from Prince Charming. This ended up the topic of a very unusual conversation involving Fred, George, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and myself."
"Ah very interesting Miss Weasley and what about the letter you received Draco. Was it from your parents?" Snape asked.
"No it was from someone referring to themselves as Cinderella. Millicent and I couldn't figure out who it was from though."
"Well by any chance did either of you bring said letters along?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes actually we both did. Why?" Draco responded.
"May we see them?" Dumbledore said with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes.
He knows as always. Ginny thought at the same time Draco thought the same thing.
"Sure professor." Draco held his letter out as did Ginny.
After the professors read them they handed them back. "Are you two heading to lunch soon?" Snape asked softly.
"As soon as we finish here we plan to go for lunch why?" Ginny answered.
"Well we will wait for you and then if you don't mind we will join you. I think we can figure out some clues as to who the mystery persons are." McGonagall stated knowing just what Snape had been thinking.
"Alright we will just be a couple of minutes." Draco said without any hesitation.
"Right just give us a couple of minutes to get the sweets we came in for." Ginny agreed with Draco showing no sign of hesitation as well.
They walked off after the teachers approved their request. They picked up the sweets they came in for. Of course both got some Chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. "Draco do you find it funny that the teachers are wanting to hang out with us when we are actually getting along for a change?"
"Yeah I did find that a bit funny but I think they are behind the letters in some way."
"So you think maybe Snape is my Prince Charming and McGonagall is your Cinderella?" Ginny said with a laugh.
"I don't think that although that is a funny picture don't you think? The head of my house after you and the head of your house after me is a real good joke."
"God I love that sense of humor you have. Now are you ready to face your Cinderella?"
"Only if you're ready to face your Prince Charming?" Draco smirked.
"Oh yes bring on the greasy hairball of a Prince." She whispered right in Draco's ear. Her breath was warm and soft in his ear sending a shiver down his body. As she stepped back they both laughed.
"Ok but first bring on the tight lipped perfect bun babe they call Cinderella." Draco whispered leaning directly in Ginny's ear. His warm sweet breath sent chills down her body.
With a good laugh they went to pay for their goodies. They then walked over to the teachers. "Ready to go?" Snape asked.
Ginny and Draco looked at one another with a laugh. In unison they answered through their laughs. "Yes we are ready."
"What is so funny you two?" McGonagall asked.
"Nothing!" They answered again with another look at one another. They were laughing harder.
Noticing the confusion and slight upset looks on the teachers faces the two decided they would explain at lunch. They went to the Three Broomsticks for lunch and once they ordered they all started to chat.
Draco and Ginny did explain what they had laughed at. "What was so funny was that we were joking that maybe Cinderella was Professor McGonagall." Ginny said.
"Yeah and that Professor Snape was Ginny's Prince Charming." Draco finished the explanation.
To their surprise the three teachers laughed. "That is funny Mr. Malfoy." I mean at Christmas didn't I mention my girlfriend?" Snape asked kindly.
"I think that is why it was so funny Professor." Ginny said gently.
"Did anyone ever tell you who McGonagall is seeing?" Snape asked the pair.
"Um no. Wait don't tell me! I don't think I want to ruin my image of my Transfigurations teacher!" Draco said with a look of horror. "It was bad enough that I found out about you Professor Snape."
"Draco I can tell you who Professor McGonagall is seeing!" Ginny said with a smirk that made Draco proud. Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore noticed this and almost laughed. "She is seeing Dumbledore. They have dated on and off again for the last twenty years."
"How did you know that Miss Weasley?" Professor Dumbledore asked with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eyes.
"You know how I know that Professor since you are the one who taught me how to handle the power I have."
"Ah yes Miss Weasley I should have known that!"
"What powers Gin?" Draco asked confused.
"Well more like two different powers one of which Professor Snape has been helping with one while Professor Dumbledore helped me learn to control the other one."
"Does anyone want to clue me in?" Draco looked really worried that he didn't understand.
"I would like to explain but until I know you better I can't trust you to know about my powers. You see with your father being a Deatheater I can't tell you in case you follow in his footsteps or he does something to harm you that would get the information out of you." Ginny said on the verge of tears. She wanted to tell him everything.
"Hey Gin it is ok I understand why you can't tell me." Draco said placing a hand on top of hers. The three teachers smiled at the two trying to hide their feelings for fear of rejection.
"Here are some of the clues you two should be able to understand in these letters. Both are written by the sender and not by someone else. Also you each know the person who sent you the letter you received." Professor McGonagall started.
"The second clue comes from their words. May I see your letter Draco?" Snape asked. Draco handed him the letter. Snape read it aloud.
Draco,
I love your smirk, the way you smell, the way you laugh, the way you look at me, but most of all I love you for you. I know that there could never be anything between the two of us but I had to let you know that you are thought of every single day. I fall asleep to thoughts of you and wake with a thought of you in my head every morning. I hope to see you soon although you will not know who I am but still I look forward to seeing you. Have a great day and don't let the little Weaselette get you upset. You're too smart for her.
Love,
Your Cinderella
"The person states that there could never be anything between the two of you. Think of the people who you would most likely not hook up with Draco." Snape told him.
"Alright there is Granger but she is dating Gin's brother. I can't think of anyone else at this point. I know it can't be Gin because she would never make reference to herself as the Weaselette because she hates that nickname."
"Well at least you are starting to get some ideas from that clue." Snape went on. "She is someone who has been close enough to smell your cologne and she has heard you laugh. How many of the girls that you wouldn't date have gotten that close to you?"
"I don't think there is one unless it is Gingersnap!" Draco replied.
"Well think about it for a while and tonight make a list." Snape told him.
"Now Miss Weasley may I have a look at your letter?" McGonagall said as she held out her hand. Ginny handed her the letter and she read this letter aloud as well.
Ginny,
I love your smile, the way you wear your hair and the way you smell. I know you can never trust or love me the way I trust and love you. I just want you to know that I think of you everyday. I fall asleep every night thinking of you. Have a great day and don't let Malfoy give you too much trouble.
Love,
Your Prince Charming
"Well Ginny think of all the guys you don't trust. Then think of which ones have been close enough to see you smile or smell your perfume." McGonagall said.
"Let me think. I don't trust most of the Slytherins. No offense Draco and Professor Snape but they aren't known for being trustworthy."
"Very true Gin. We don't even trust one another for the most part." Draco said with a gentle smile.
"He is right you know?" Snape responded.
"Ok anyone else?" McGonagall asked the young girl.
"Not that I can think of unless you want to count someone who isn't exactly the same person he used to be." Ginny replied.
Everyone looked at her a bit confused of course Dumbledore understood her. "Maybe you should explain yourself Ginny. I don't think the others understood that last bit." Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"I am talking about Tom of course." Ginny said as though that should have been obvious.
"Tom who?" Draco asked not realizing that Tom Riddle was really the man commonly referred to as he who must not be named.
"Tom Riddle or should I say Lord Voldemort." Ginny said quietly.
"Gin when would you have ever let him that close to you?" Draco said without really thinking.
"Oh I don't know! Let me think he might have been a memory but sometimes I think the real person could feel, tell, see, smell, and taste everything that happened in that year." Ginny replied a bit upset.
"Oh Gin I am so sorry I didn't think before I spoke." Draco looked like he was about to cry again. He couldn't believe how dumb he was at times. He should have known this topic would upset her and most of all to say things he knew little or nothing about wasn't right.
"It's ok Draco. Like I have told you several times already I don't blame you. Besides you don't know everything that went down in that year or even in that chamber."
They were eating lunch at this point and Professor Dumbledore decided to change the subject. "How is the competition going with your brothers Miss Weasley?"
"Thanks to Draco I may stand a chance to beat them this year. They weren't too happy when he gave me about 45 cards at Christmas along with 10 frogs. Then again this morning when another 30 cards arrived with a note from Draco telling me it was a Valentine's gift. It was funny watching them realize they may all lose this year."
"Really?" Draco said surprised that her brothers were letting him get as close as he was to Ginny.
"Yes really although you should have heard what they said when I read the Prince Charming letter. Fred and Harry seemed to think you might be behind it although they also accused one another of doing it. Actually it was more like Fred stating he thought it was Draco or Harry and Harry stating he thought it was Draco or one of the twins as a prank."
"Wow interesting theories." Draco said with a smirk.
"Yeah well then Harry said it wasn't him and George told us it wasn't him either. The Fred reminded everyone that my love life is something he wouldn't joke about because it was a very sacred part of life."
"Amazing you actually have one area of your life your twin prankster brothers won't play pranks on?" Draco said with a look of surprise.
"Yes this of course led to Ron pointing out that they had agreed on you being a likely candidate to which I told him it couldn't be. This led George to ask why not."
"What was your response?" Snape asked watching Draco for a second to gauge the young man's reaction to this information.
"I told them that looking at the letter from you and the one from the Prince Charming the handwritings didn't match up."
"Well that settled that then!" Draco replied with a smirk.
"No it didn't!"
"What do you mean?" He questioned cautiously.
"My sweet wonderful friend Harry reminded us all that you could have had someone write one of the letters for you."
"What was your response to this?"
"I told him that was possible but to get real. You loving me is as likely as," Ginny started trailing off looking at the teachers and then finished. "Dumbledore declaring his undying love for Snape."
They all laughed at this. "Professor Dumbledore I never knew you had feelings for me!" Snape said through his laughter.
"Why Severus you may call me Albus. I mean I wouldn't expect the object of my affections to continuously call me Professor Dumbledore."
"I am so hurt by this news gentlemen. I thought I was the object of your affection Albus." McGonagall said pretending to pout. This only caused the group to laugh harder.
"Wait a moment everyone I need to continue on there was more to this conversation that was just as funny." Ginny said with a laugh.
"Well please do finish so that we can get back to me professing my undying love for Severus." Dumbledore said laughing yet again.
"Alright when I said that Harry just raised an eyebrow and asked me how I knew about that. I replied that I had over heard him last night when he fell asleep by the fire. I also told him it must have been a nice dream he had to picture the two of you together."
"And what was his response?" Snape asked curiously.
"He told me I was funny but that actually he was having a nightmare about being late to Snape's class and finding Dumbledore teaching instead because Snape was helping out in the hospital wing. However I don't know any more about the dream because he told me it was a long story and I would have to wait until this summer. I think I may have convinced him to tell me sooner."
They all roared with laughter again. Draco had been watching Ginny though out the whole lunch and the teachers had noticed this. They also noticed that the two called each other by their first names and usually talked to just one another excluding the teachers.
"Did you two plan your outfits today?" McGonagall asked with wide eyes as she just realized for the first time that Ginny and Draco were both wearing blue jeans and white shirts.
"No why?" Ginny asked looking from herself to Draco trying to figure out what she had meant.
"Well I think she is referring to the way you two are both wearing blue jeans and white shirts." Snape answered as he too noticed the matching outfits.
Draco now was realizing their outfits did match. "Millicent!" Was all he could manage to say.
"What does she have to do with our matching outfits?" Ginny said with an amused look.
"Well she decided today of all days to give me fashion advise and for once I listened. I guess she must have noticed what you were wearing and thought it would be cute if we matched. Don't ask me why I listened to her today when normally I would have done just the opposite of what she told me but no not today!" Draco said with a tinge of pink in his cheeks. Everyone laughed softly.
"Well tell Mill that she is good at picking out your clothes. You look good in that outfit however if she pulls another make them match clothes stunt I will hex her!" Ginny said. Again everyone laughed.
"I will tell her that. I have to admit it was a cute stunt though. Thank you for the compliment too. I must also say you look very beautiful today as well. Is that the shirt Hermione gave you for Christmas?"
"Thank you. Yes it is!" Ginny replied as the instructors looked at one another with big grins on their faces.
After lunch the group walked outside and said their good byes. The teachers headed back to the castle and the students decided to do a little window shopping. Draco and Ginny walked for a while before either said anything. "That was weird." They said at the same time.
They laughed and then both said. "Oh God we are talking alike." That did it they collapsed onto one another's shoulder laughing.
"Ginny I can't believe how much fun I have had today."
"I know me too Draco." She responded as they started to walk back to the castle.
After walking side by side in silence for a few minutes they finally reached the castle. "Well I think we are here. Are you ready to head in?" Draco asked with a little bit of disappointment in his voice.
"Yes I guess we are and I guess I am ready." She said with a bit of disappointment in her own voice. "Well let us go see our Prince Charming and Cinderella shall we?"
This eased their disappointment just a bit. "Oh yes I think we shall." He offered her his arm and she took it. They then walked back into the castle with arms linked.
"Welcome back Mr. Malfoy and Miss Weasley. How was today? Did you two managed to avoid fighting this time?" Dumbledore asked as Filch checked them back in.
"Today was the best day we have had together I think that is because we didn't," Ginny started but Draco finished for her by adding, "fight."
With this they started away from the teachers laughing. The teachers watched in amazement as the two parted ways with a short one armed hug. "Well I think we have managed to melt the ice a bit with the fire." Dumbledore stated.
"I have to agree the Prince of Ice is becoming the Prince Charming." Snape added.
"Yes tis true that Cinderella Queen of fire is melting the heart of the Prince of Ice. However don't forget that in melting his heart of ice she is turning him into her Prince Charming and therefore falling for him. Both are still afraid of their feelings for one another. You both have seen that in the letters right?" McGonagall asked the two other teachers.
"Yes unfortunately I did Minerva and I know Severus did as well. But I don't think it will be much longer. You two know what you have to do right?"
The two nodded that they understood what Dumbledore wanted.
Author note: Morgan-Elizabeth thank you for the review. I am glad you are enjoying the story. Sarah thank you again for another wonderful review. I am so glad that the story is one you can't wait to read the next chapter on. When I write I try to write the kinds of stories I would not want to put down til I am done with it and often I find I succeed at that and I almost always forget I wrote it when I reread them because they feel too good to be my writing. However reading all the great reviews I am beginning to think maybe this story is as good as I thought it was lol. Take care everyone and look for another chapter in a few moments. If you have specific questions you can email me at the email address on my profile but mention the story so I know to open it. Thank you - Joy