sixteen. fencing.
Ginny could feel the coolness of a steely gaze against her back from a distance but staunchly chose to ignore it. But, the curious side of her couldn't resist a sideways glance at her once-again adversary. Draco was now vacantly staring at his morning breakfast while Blaise was enthusiastically digging into what looked like his second helping of everything.
She turned back to Lena and proclaimed, "I would run away with Blaise if I could, at this rate," before disgruntledly ripping off a piece of her buttered toast with her teeth.
"Hey!" Lena exclaimed with a chuckle. She mischievously flung a potato with her fork at Ginny.
The redhead easily caught the tasty morsel and popped it into her mouth.
"At least you have good taste," Lena added. "Madam Malfoy hasn't said anything yet?"
"I'm sure she's reveling in my misery," Ginny replied wryly. "That pasty pillock ruined everything."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" A voice said, sliding in next to her, waves of light brown hair entering her line of vision.
Maxwell offered her a cautious smile and reached over to pile on the indulgent breakfast spread on his plate. He had on what must have been a freshly laundered blue oxford shirt, in addition to his black trousers, judging from the refreshing aroma wafting over to her. It enveloped Ginny in warmth and comfort, smelling nothing like the scent that still clung to one of her cardigans, which she was grateful for, regardless of the fact that she refused to wash said article of clothing.
It struck her how different Max was from the other two men. Though she could feel the same sense of privilege radiating off of him, he didn't have airs about him like Draco and Blaise did. While Draco was arrogant and cool, and Blaise always put up a front that he was above everything, Maxwell was much more inviting and easy going.
"If you must ask," Ginny finally responded. "I am technically out of an escort."
"How so?"
"I may have subtly told Madam Malfoy that her son is an arrogant, inconsiderate bastard."
Maxwell laughed. "I'm pretty sure she's aware of that. Draco was probably just as arrogant and inconsiderate in the womb."
Ginny laughed at the thought of Draco throwing a temper tantrum before he was even born, and decided that it was incredibly likely.
"Ginny, look no further, I'm at your service," Maxwell said, lowering his head in a mock attempt to bow down to her.
A giggle escaped from her lips. Ginny swore she could feel her back grow even colder at this point. She shrugged her shoulders in an attempt to let the frostiness roll off her back.
"What about Daphne?" asked Lena, voicing Ginny's thoughts out loud.
"Daphne Shmaphne," Max brushed it off. He turned to gaze intently at Ginny and his tone lost its lightness. "In all honesty though, she owes you for what she put you through. While I'm actually glad the truth is out there because it was uncomfortable keeping it inside, you didn't deserve to find out that way. I am so sorry for what started out as a silly idea between friends became so harmful. I warned Draco that he was taking it too far, and I'm sorry that I didn't come to you about it."
"I... I don't know what to say," Ginny stammered, at a loss for words. She could hear the sincerity in his voice and it struck a chord. How was it so easy for someone that was an acquaintance to recognize the pain and cruelty that was inflicted upon her instead of the person she wanted to hear it from the most?
Before they knew it, the gong echoed throughout the room, and the students gathered their things while enjoying their last bites before heading off to their morning lecture.
With lecture over for the day, the students were heading back towards the dining room with stomachs rumbling in anticipation for a filling lunch. Draco couldn't help but notice that Ginny seemed much more chipper than before, much to his chagrin. It was no doubt because of that slithering Maxwell Fawley that had been hanging around her all through breakfast. They had been laughing and having a jolly good time. He could only imagine what rot Max was spewing, no doubt making him look bad.
Just as Draco had reached the large double doors to the dining room, he was stopped by Kendra. She silently handed him an envelope before turning around and sauntering down the hallway without ever speaking. As he stared at the letter in puzzlement, Draco couldn't help but wonder why his mother had decided to hire Kendra in the first place. She barely ever talked unless instructed or really made much of a presence unless absolutely necessary. She reminded him of a mouse. On the other hand, that was probably precisely why Narcissa hired her as a trusty assistant.
Shaking himself of these unnecessary thoughts, he unfolded the parchment encased in the envelope. Scanning the contents, Draco's jaw clenched. He quickly crumpled up the parchment and shoved it in his pocket, unable to discard of it right then and there.
During the duration of the meal, he kept stealing glances at Ginny, who showed no unusual emotion. He angrily bit into his sandwich, wondering how he had gotten caught in this tangled web. It is your own fault, you idiot, Draco chastised himself. This was true, he had weaved a complicated thread and somehow ensnared himself inside of a preventable dilemma.
He silently thanked Merlin when the gong finally sounded, alerting the pupils that lunch was over and that the afternoon session would convene soon. This was his opportunity. While everyone began to shuffle out, rather than look for a flash of red hair like he was used to, Draco instead sought out an unremorseful blonde. She was rounding off the crowd, laying low in the back, chatting amiably with Tracey and Morgan. He quickly strode to the doorway, casually leaning up against it with crossed arms while the room continued to clear. At the sight of Daphne and her followers, he promptly blocked the doorway with his arm.
"Could you get out of the way, Draco?" Daphne requested, irritation laced in her voice.
He said nothing, but shot her a meaningful look.
Dropping her usual dominant stance, she moved to whisper over to her friends, apparently telling them to not wait up for her. Without needing much advice, the other two women quickly shuffled around Malfoy, eager to get out of the way of whatever was about to go down, if Draco's stern disposition was anything to go by.
"Alright, Malfoy, what is it?" Daphne asked tiredly.
"What the hell is this?" Draco demanded, bringing out the crumpled parchment from his pocket, throwing it at the girl.
The parchment fumbled in her clumsy hands but eventually she caught it, unwrapped the note and scanned its contents.
"It seems as if we're going to be the best of friends, Drakey," Daphne commented, her tone dripping with sarcasm. The note Kendra had ceremoniously handed off to him was from his mother, informing him that Draco had been reassigned to a new Ball partner. He was furious, to say the least. Not only did that mean he was going to be stuck with Daphne while Max was with Ginny, but now he was beginning to lose the small glimmer of hope he had to try to rectify their delicate predicament.
"Cut the crap, Greengrass," Draco retorted, his eyes clear and cold. "You've been gunning against Ginny the whole time, and apparently you've succeeded. Tell me now, or I will hex you."
At this, Daphne dropped her cautious temperament. Folding her arms across her chest, she glared back at him. "Look, stop blaming me! This is not my fault."
Draco quirked an eyebrow. "What are you talking about? You're the only person who has a damn problem with her!"
Dropping her arms, Daphne rolled her eyes and brushed past him to walk away from the discussion, growing quickly disinterested at the topic at hand. There was nothing advantageous for her, and she was over the conversation. Before she left, she poked him the chest with one of her long, pointed nails.
"I may not like Weasley, and I thoroughly enjoy watching her seethe, but don't think for a moment that I would dream of giving her any sense of importance in my life by creating some elaborate scheme," Daphne said quietly, reminding him of an angry feline.
Daphne turned away and began to head towards the afternoon session. Calling out over her shoulder, she said, "Go ask Fawley."
Fawley? Draco echoed in his mind. What did he have to do with any of this? Daphne was the one who blurted out the news for everyone to hear up in the Owlery. Could Max still be angry from their disagreement in the kitchens last week? They hadn't really discussed the matter further since then, or really talked, for that matter. But that wasn't rare; they often had little arguments and promptly swept them under the rug.
A wicked smile appeared on Draco's face. Maybe this afternoon's session wouldn't be completely useless after all. With all of the recreational activities the students were going to explore, he was bound to be partnered up with Maxwell. That was where he would finally get to the bottom of this expanding quandary of his.
After pulling on the spotless white trousers and using her wand to zip up the fencing jacket, Ginny reached for a helmet, just as everyone else was doing as she surveyed the room. They were somewhere on the second floor, facing west judging by the ceiling to floor paned window that cast the afternoon sun on the wooden floor that was covered in blue mats. She wasn't sure what this room was used for, but it was undoubtedly fancy judging by the expensive looking chandelier and ornate teal wallpaper, which was a stark contrast to the fencing memorabilia stationed around the room.
They had just watched a live demonstration on the basics of fencing and were now preparing to face off each other. Thankfully she had been training with Draco before everything imploded, because though she looked as if she was closely studying the instructor's movements, her mind was miles away.
Narcissa had informed her in writing that she had been reassigned a partner for the remainder of the program and Ball. Even though this was the very thing she had been wishing for, a part of her still felt sad while breathing a sigh of relief. Every so often, thoughts about the situation with Draco would wash over her like a crashing wave, sending her into a cyclone of confusion.
"Does your helmet smell?"
Ginny's head snapped up in confusion until the words registered in her brain a moment later. Refusing to waste another second thinking about the impossible Draco Malfoy, she quickly tied up her hair.
"Why can't we do something that doesn't give us helmet hair? I'm bloody fantastic at Quidditch," Ginny grumbled to Lena, who was still warily eyeing the unlikely pungent helmet.
"I swear, Gin, you're obsessed with Quidditch."
Ginny sniffed her helmet, both in part for Lena's sake and her own growing apprehension.
"Smells fine to me."
They pulled on their gloves and reached for a sword on display, and together they walked over to the nearest mat to begin the opening exercises. Ginny could feel the rush of excitement coursing through her veins. Even if it was a sport she was unfamiliar with, she was happy to be doing something physical and active.
"Class, we will begin with our counter-sixte-riposte carte."
Tapping her wand on her helmet, it secured itself around her head, before tucking the instrument into her suit's pocket. They both took their positions, knees bent, Ginny placing her right leg forward, Lena doing the opposite.
"Beginning salute."
They both raised their swords, pointing straight up in the air in front of their faces. Lena flashed her a silly grin, sticking her tongue out. Ginny bit her cheek to prevent herself from bursting out in laughter.
"Isn't it odd to be practicing a sport whose original intent was to kill people?"
Lena chuckled. "Well, we do have dueling clubs still around."
"Touché, Shafiq."
"En Garde," warned Kendra, who was leading the students through their exercises.
All of the women swiped their arms down in one fluid movement, the whipping sounds of the thin blades echoing in the room.
"Right side advance."
Lena moved forward as Ginny moved back and they swiftly reversed positions. Lena lunged as prompted, but Ginny easily blocked the attack, her blade clanking against Lena's. They easily went back and forth, neither eager to defeat the other. It became an easy dance between the two, going back and forth in sync.
Eventually Kendra came to split them up, recognizing that their match wasn't going to go anywhere. Ginny smiled sheepishly as Lena sulked away, both saddened by the fact that they were being separated. But Ginny's mood turned grim when she saw her new partner standing before her. Daphne rolled her eyes at Ginny's uninviting face.
Daphne Greengrass. Just looking at her smug, pretty face irritated Ginny to no end. She could feel the heat blooming on her cheeks as her ire rose. It was all because of her that whatever she had with Draco was ruined. Great, now I'm thinking about Malfoy again. The blasted cow just had to go and open her mouth, didn't she? Just what was Daphne's problem with her that she felt the need to stick her brand new nose into every damn situation in her life since she arrived at Malfoy Manor?
Would you really have wanted to live in ignorance? A voice asked from deep within. Though she knew it was better that she had finally found out the truth, the immature side would have been more than happy to live in bliss against her better judgement. Plumes of anger rose in her chest, and she exhaled deeply in a feeble attempt to get rid of her irate feelings.
"Earth to Weasley. I haven't got all day, you know."
Her eyes flickered to Daphne, irritation flashing in the other girl's hazel eyes. Unconsciously adjusting her helmet, though she hadn't even taken it off, Ginny got back into her standing position, right leg leading her left, bent and squat.
Daphne also took her position, raising her sword and lunged at Ginny. The redhead stiffened, attempting to stay stoic, roughly blocking Daphne's attempt by clashing her blade against the other.
"What's your problem?" Daphne huffed, visibly raising an eyebrow through the mesh front of her helmet.
"Why, nothing, Greengrass, why do you ask?" Ginny replied sarcastically.
Kendra announced the next exercise, meaning that it was Ginny's turn to advance. She took several steps as she sprang forward, using more force than necessary in an attempt to disarm Daphne. The thin blade of her sword clashed loudly with Daphne's, causing the other woman to jump back in surprise, though she managed to defend herself.
"Easy there, Weasley!" Daphne shouted, recovering from the forceful advance.
"Left side retreat!" Kendra called out.
As instructed, Ginny withdrew, bringing her sword back down to her side.
"We're fencing, not playing gobstones," Ginny explained snidely. "I would think you of all people would know the difference."
Getting exasperated with Ginny's foul mood, Daphne snapped into action. She stepped forward with the intent to return Ginny's advancement with equal force. They continued to spar forcefully, parrying against each other with all their might. No matter what direction Ginny came at in order to try to defeat Daphne once and for all, the blonde was quick to block the move.
"Stop doing that, Weasley! You're not supposed to be parrying that hard!" Daphne shouted, slightly out of breath from the unexpected exertion of the activity.
Ginny either ignored her shouting or simply chose not to listen. The heat that had bloomed on her cheeks was coursing through her veins, circulating throughout her entire body. She had reached a wall and was ready to climb over and run away from it all. Only, Daphne seemed to be in her way of her escape plan.
"You did this all on purpose!" Ginny cried, still angrily stabbing her sword in Daphne's direction. "To make me look like a fool!"
Daphne, to her credit, was still parrying strong, despite the genuine confusion written on her face based on the wide eyes Ginny could see through the mask. By now, some of the other students were gathering around them, dropping their own swords and pitching their helmets up in an effort to see what was going on between the two women.
"Don't give me that coy I-didn't-do-anything-wrong face!" Ginny snapped, still trying every which way to attack Daphne from an unexpected direction.
"What face?" Daphne shouted angrily. "I'm wearing a mask, you twit!"
"I know you don't like me and we had this rivalry going on. I just assumed your hatred of me was some sort of stunted immaturity but I didn't think you would sink this low, Greengrass," Ginny roared angrily, the two still in a combative duel of swords. Their swords clanged violently close to the hilt. Both of the girls came close, looking at each other eye to eye as their arms and swords locked against each other in battle.
"All of you have probably been meeting behind my back, laughing, and making fun of me. 'Look at Ginny Weasley, isn't she a gullible, old bat!'"
By now the whole class was watching, even if Kendra was futilely trying to get the women back in order. Normally, this kind of attention would have embarrassed Ginny, but she frankly didn't care. She had hit her breaking point and was ready to lash out at the nearest person.
"Weasley, don't be mad at me," Daphne huffed, out of breath from pushing against the redhead. Both of the girls retreated to opposite ends of the mat. "Think of me as doing you a favor."
"A favor? You ruined everything!" Ginny thundered, diving forward and aimed at Daphne's right side. The blonde's sword was at her left side and she was unable to defend against the incoming attack from the right. With an angry swat, the blade in Daphne's hand fumbled and fell to the ground. That didn't stop Ginny. She still came forward, swinging the sword in every which direction towards her opponent.
Not knowing what to do, Daphne's eyes grew large in horror and she stumbled backwards in a panic. Ginny continued to advance, slashing her sword this way and that, as they both moved towards the other side of the room. Not noticing a sword cast aside on the ground, Daphne tripped over it and fell to the ground, her back hitting the padded mats. She gasped and groaned, reaching up to remove the stuffy helmet to let in fresh air.
Ginny came to stand on top of her, pointing her sword her at Daphne's chest, barely grazing her blindingly white jacket. She also reached up to remove her helmet, feeling stifled by the mesh contraption and threw it aside.
"I don't know why I expected anything from any of you. But, somehow, against my better judgement, I trusted you. I guess that was my mistake," Ginny admitted quietly. Daphne gazed at her, the pupils in her hazel eyes constricting in fear.
It was then that Ginny realized that she wasn't even really speaking to Daphne anymore. Though she had finally beaten her at something, it wasn't even worth it in the end. The ecstasy she had expected to build up in her body and lift her off the ground never came. Instead, she felt empty and hollow inside. Ginny's chest rose and fell in quick succession as she willed herself to calm down. A kaleidoscope of Daphnes began to appear in front of her eyes. Blonde merged with the white of the jacket until the image blurred completely. There was wetness in her eyes. It was tears. Tears were forming and beginning to descend though she tried in vain to refrain from letting them fall.
Ignoring the shocked faces of the other girls in the room, Ginny's blazing brown eyes angrily searched for the door. She quickly made a beeline for it, desperately in need for some fresh air and time away from these people she knew little about.
Just as she was about to exit, Narcissa came through the doorway, looking dismayed at the whole scene before her. All of the girls were still circling Daphne, who was still on the floor, heaving deep breaths while dramatically clutching the part of her chest that was centimeters away from Ginny's sword minutes ago. Right when Narcissa was about to open her mouth and presumably ask Ginny what in the world she was doing, Ginny, instead peeled off her gloves and stuck her sword in the nearest mannequin hanging against the wall, piercing it through the heart. She walked out of the room without another word.
No one made a move to bring her back to the class. No one called out her name. Good, she thought, enough was enough. As she began to ascend the stairs, she began to realize that wasn't even really that angry at Daphne. She was angry that Draco had betrayed her, and most of all, what Daphne had said that day in the Owlery was true. Draco Malfoy was using her for some kind of sick bet and twisted enjoyment. After finally getting slightly comfortable in this world, she was beginning to consider that perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to be a part of Pureblood society. Now more than ever, Ginny wanted nothing to do with this place or these people if they were all as cruel and fickle as he.
Beads of sweat were forming on his forehead and he absent-mindedly wiped it off with his sleeve. Draco raked his hair back with a hand as he scanned the room. The room contrasted sharply with the rest of the ornate house with its plain, solid concrete walls and padded floors. The rooms were soundproof and charmed with insulation spells in order to prevent any structural damage. Save for the lit sconces that lined the room, the walls were a plain, windowless grey. Everyone was cooling off and gathering their belongings to leave the battle room.
Draco had signed up for the dueling session for that afternoon, and had done a pretty good job overtaking every individual in the class. It wasn't just because he just happened to be an adept dueler, which he was, it was more likely because of the sheer force each of his spells had on his opponents. Perhaps he was channeling a bit too much of his negative energy and anger into his incantations. His eyes landed on Maxwell, who was also taking a breather. Their eyes locked and Maxwell gave him a friendly wave and Draco silently accepted the invitation to walk over. He knew this was his chance to finally get a bit of information. He heard the iron double doors loudly slam and knew they were the only two left in the room.
"That was a good match, Dra-" Maxwell started, before Draco grabbed a fistful of his robes and threw Maxwell up against a nearby wall.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Draco snarled angrily.
"Me?! What is wrong with you?" Maxwell gasped, alarmed by the sudden change in the air and the surprising force Draco used against him. With Draco pushing him up against the wall, they were at eye level. He could see the confusion and alarm in Maxwell's eyes, but refused to break off the piercing stare he was giving him. After all, Max was a Slytherin in Hufflepuff's clothing.
"Daphne told me this whole mess was your fault," Draco growled, continuing to shove Maxwell against the wall.
"Damnit, Daphne," Maxwell muttered, his innocent façade crumbling away.
"Don't blame her, it's not her fault," Draco reassured snidely. "Besides. I threatened to hex her so she had no choice."
"Always the gentleman, Malfoy," Maxwell sneered, his eyes narrowing at the blond.
"How the hell did you get manage to switch partners?" Draco asked, demanding an answer. "What's your angle?"
As if suddenly finding his own strength, Maxwell pushed back against Draco, breaking free the iron fists that were clamped around his shirt.
"Is ickle Draco throwing a tantrum because he finally didn't get his way for once?" Maxwell asked sarcastically before he dropped the tone. "Deal with it."
"Is this because of that disagreement in the kitchens the other day? I know you're petty Fawley, but this is too far," Draco retorted, bringing his arms down to his side, just in case he needed to have his wand at the ready.
Maxwell snorted. "You really think this is about that stupid little discussion? Newsflash, Malfoy, the world does not revolve around you. I was hoping finally, just finally, you would fall on your arse with this little bet. Somehow, you managed to fuck up my whole plan."
Draco paused, taken aback by the bitterness in Maxwell's voice. He had no idea where any of this was coming from. They had been good friends for more than seven years, and he had never acted like this before.
"All of you – Zabini, Nott, the whole lot – have had everything handed to you your whole lives. Somehow, my parents managed to scrape by and climb their way back up to the top, bloodlines notwithstanding," Maxwell continued, talking to himself out loud more than he was to Draco. "I've had enough. I'm sick of your condescending attitude, Malfoy. For once, you're going to lose and I'm going to win. And there's nothing you can do about it because Ginny Weasley hates your fucking guts."
Maxwell flashed him an evil, conquering grin. Draco couldn't decide how he should handle this: should he wipe that disgusting leer off of his face the old fashioned way with his fist or with a nasty combination of spells? His hand dove into his pocket, wrapping around his wand, just in case.
"Before you know it, I'm going to charm the pants off of her," Maxwell continued with that stupid, triumphant smile on his face. "I'll get to find out if the carpet match the drapes, if you know what I mean."
Draco's eyes flashed angrily. Without another thought, he pulled out his wand and cast a Tongue-Tying Curse on Maxwell without another thought. Maxwell sputtered, his tongue curling backwards against his will. Before he had a chance to run away, Draco muttered, "Locomotor Mortis" followed by a "Lignum Contra", effectively gluing Maxwell against the wall while his legs became bound. A silver jet streamed out of his wand as he shouted "Rictumsempra!" with more force than he anticipated. Maxwell's knees buckled as he doubled over in laughter, though it was very much muffled with his tongue still jammed in his mouth while still flush against the wall. Instead, all Draco could see was the pained expression on Maxwell's face and hear strange honking noises coming out of the other man's mouth.
"This has always been your problem, Fawley. You talk too much."
With a satisfied yet twisted smirk, Draco eyed his handiwork. He returned his tucked his wand away and dusted off his hands, still admiring his creation. The spells were an improvisation on his part, but they got the job done. Interesting combination, Draco thought to himself as he turned on his heel. Remind myself to write this down.
He left his idiot former friend to deal with the consequences of his actions. Eventually, someone would find him and end the spells, but for now he could suffer silently in the battle room in the far left corner of the third floor.
A/N: lulz, everyone is mad. The fencing scene is definitely semi-borrowed from Gilmore Girls ("I Solemnly Swear"... whoa I just realized that episode title relates to HP!). So yeah… it's been a long time since an update, but I have reasons! I was moving, still job hunting, had relatives over, went to a wedding, AND now recovering from a nasty cold, so I do hope this chapter is to par! I'm hoping to get back into regular updating, but between job hunting and other projects, it may not be so soon (but not after two months, either!) I'm anticipating about 5 more chapters including the epilogue. Thank you so much for your lovely reviews as always, I really do hope you leave one on the way out – they truly keep me going when I feel like this story and/or my writing is crap, lol. Also, I wrote a new one-shot "Almost Birthday" in honor of Draco's birthday (that will be up shortly after this posting), so please check that out and hopefully leave a review right after leaving one on this story! And thanks to the guests for your lovely reviews; I only wish I could reply to you individually.