Sleeping Beauty
Chapter 3: Enter Innocence
Everything belongs to JKR.
****************************************************************************
His father returned the next day, not speaking to his son, which was the normal course of events. His mother, poor creature that she was, made no effort to question her husband and son, past experience making it clear that such insubordination was not allowed.
Narcissa did not care, really. She was content with fancy clothes and jewelry and the prestige of being a Malfoy; what her husband and son chose to do was none of her concern, unless it disturbed her carefully arrange life.
Draco kept the unconscious girl in his suite, stymied as how to fulfill his insane bargain with the Dark Lord. Fall in love with this pale slip of a girl? What rot. Love was a muggle fairy tale.
He paced up and down the room, glaring constantly at the unconscious girl. Even if love existed, how could one fall in love with someone who could not even respond? It would be like falling in love with a piece of furniture: easy to admire, but impossible to talk to.
As he paced, Draco did not allow himself to recall the countless times he had noted the flame haired girl's presence. At Quidditch games, giggling and laughing with her friends. In the Great Hall, in the hallways, on the grounds, always laughing and talking. Some inner light, her hair cascading wildly around her shoulders and eyes sparkling with life, had always animated her countenance.
Unwillingly, he paused beside the table where she lay. Light from the old fashioned lamp fell across her face, highlighting the fine grain of her skin, the curve of her jaw, the slender nose she had used to sneer down at him that one day.
He still did not know what made him stop that day, barring her path, glaring into her eyes. Her friends had fallen silent around her and silently retreated, leaving Ginny alone to face him. She had tilted her head back to look at him, raising one elegant eyebrow arrogantly.
He had flushed in anger at her impertinence, the insult evaporating on his lips. She had smirked at him, her eyes flashing, then turned her head slightly to one side, averting her eyes as if he was something too disgusting to look upon and brushed past him.
The silent observers snickered at seeing a Malfoy bested so easily by a Weasley, causing him to turn and mouth some empty threat at the girl. She had just looked down that nose and walked away, leaving him standing in the hallway like some idiot that didn't know when to retreat from humiliation.
Now, staring down at her pale, perfect features, Draco allowed himself to admire her insolence and hubris, the sheer courage and spirit it had taken to face him down and walk away like some saint, unsullied by the cruder elements of the universe, leaving him to stand with his clay feet before the world.
Draco tangled his fingers in the tangled mass of curls, savoring the cool fire captured in the silky strands. His free hand traced her pure features, wandering ever closer to her full mouth.
Hesitantly he bent forward, tilting her head up, settling his lips over hers.
Softly, he stole a kiss.
Jerkily, he straightened, watching her face for some sign that he had succeeded.
As her face regained color, Draco allowed a thought to cross his amazed mind. Maybe he wasn't so worthless after all, if he could love such innocence.
A/N: Coming soon: Ginny has the audacity to say no