Disclaimer : All characters owned by JK Rowlings
Chapter 3
In the Great Hall
Ginny followed Ron, Harry and Hermione into the Great Hall as they made their way to the Gryffindor table. After they were seated Ginny started looking around the room. She saw Draco enter flanked by his usual bodyguards of Crabbe and Goyle. What is it about him? One moment I want him to kiss me and the next I want to throw him in the lake and hope the giant squid gets him. Ginny still wasn't sure how she was supposed to react to Draco and the way he was acting. He hadn't bothered her or any of the others for the rest of the ride to Hogwarts after that one outburst in the corridor. She played with the charms on her wrist as she watched him take his place at the Slytherin table. At the front of the room the new first years were getting Sorted.
"I do hope that we get some good students this year," Hermione commented from her spot next to Ginny, "Maybe they'll make up for all the points Harry and Ron keep losing."
"Fred and George aren't here this year either so that will help too," Ginny responded looking up.
"It's going to be a lot quieter in the common room without them pulling pranks and trying out things for their joke shop," Hermione mused.
"I should think you'd be happy about that," Ron said from the other side of her, "no one interrupting your studies and all that."
"I'll still miss them you know," Hermione responded looking down at her plate.
"I'm going to miss Lee Jordan doing the commentary on the Quiddich matches myself," Harry spoke up from the other side of the table, "It was fun watching Professor McGonagall trying to stifle some of his more outrageous comments," he continued with a smile. Hermione shook her head and turned back to Ginny.
"Do you know who the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher is Ginny?"
"Ginny?" Hermione repeated after not getting an immediate response. Ginny started as Hermione's voice shook her out of the trance she seemed to have sunk into. Tearing her eyes off of Draco - Why do I keep staring at him? - she thought and looked at the High Table searching for the new face. Catching sight of the new professor - seated between Professor Flitwick and Professor Snape - she said, "No, but my father said they got someone who just finished Auror Training, something about passing on some of his learning before going in the field." Her fingers seemed to drift of their own accord to the bracelet on her wrist. I wonder what I can get for Draco to match this? She thought as Hermione's next words floated over her head. Arrgg! What am I thinking? I should be wondering what Draco is trying to pull with this not trying to figure out what kind of gift to get him! Her eyes drifted back up to watch the silvery blond head two tables over. Next to her, Hermione trailed off thoughtfully.
Draco seated himself at the Slytherin table, as far away from the Bloody Baron as he could get, and waited while Crabbe and Goyle did the same. Across from him Pansy Parkinson was prattling on about what she had done that summer to Millicent Bulstrode. He looked up the High Table; it looked like Professor McGonagall was getting ready to start the Sorting. He wasn't really interested in that so he started looking around at the other tables. There were empty spots here and there, Cedric Diggory may have been the first to die two years ago when Lord Voldemort came back but he certainly wasn't the only one. It looked like they had lost two or three more people over the summer. Draco was brought back to the present by clapping; it looked like they had gotten their first new Slytherin. He glanced at the boy for a moment then went back to looking at the other tables. Inevitably his eyes fell on her. She seemed to be answering a question asked by Granger, but as he watched she seemed to be playing with something in her wrist. Something inside him gave a lurch. She's still got it, and she's wearing it! I don't believe it; I have thought she would have thrown it out the train window after what I said. He shook his head in amazement. Across from him Pansy watched him shaking his head and turned to see what he was looking at. Noticing Ginny she turned back and said, "Amazing isn't it? They actually have new robes this year. I wonder what they had to sell to afford that?" The sarcasm was quite evident in her voice.
"Mind your own business Pansy," Draco snapped. Where did that come from? He
thought, I'm usually the first one to say things about how little the
Weasley's have and now I'm telling someone off for making the same kind of
comment? Something has got to be wrong with me.
Pansy's eyes flashed, "Why? You'd say the same thing," she retorted echoing what he had just been thing, "Or are you trying to tell me you like the skinny little wench?" Pansy eyed him curiously.
"No I'm just tired of hearing your voice, it's making me lose my appetite," he snarled suddenly getting up from the table and walking out of the Great Hall. Pansy watched him go with dangerously glittering eyes.
Ginny's head snapped up as she realized the movement she'd seen was Draco who had gotten up from his heat and was stalking out of the hall. I wonder what happened that he did that? What am I thinking? Anything that makes Draco Malfoy leave the room has to be good right? But somehow she didn't think she'd convinced herself.
A/N And here is where I will answer some of the reviews.
Kat O' Connell – Because if it were anyone else the song just wouldn't fit, I mean can you see Crabbe or Goyle as a sneaky wolf????
Rose Tangle – No the song wasn't playing it's just in the insperation for the story. FYI the song is called Little Red Riding Hood and it's sung by Sam the Sham and the Pharos (what a name huh?)
Dobby@Winky and Spy_Angel - I'm really sorry but I just write what they (points at characters above) say to write and they said this one stops here so it did, but there are some longer chapters coming. I promise.
And now a big Thank You to everyone who reviewed – Min_1979, Shankz, K, Ron's Babe, Lily Ayl, Me (whoever you are), RisingStar, Arime Setta, Mae, Godess, Illiterate, Kay, Swish, Erica, DaemonGirl, Pipina, Evil Fiona, Rose Tangle, Pheonix, Amanda, Twirlgirl04, Shadow Knight, Erin, Draco's Cutie Gal, Summer_Thyme, Missy, Water Sprite, Swim Angel, and MP
Also to Spy_Angel, Illiterate, DaemonGirl, Evil Fiona, Lily Ayl, RisingStar, Min_1979, Arime Setta, and Summer_Thyme. I am flattered that you all considered it good enough to add to your favorites.