Chapter Four: A Kiss?
Neither of them attended the Halloween Feast. Due to the amazing amount of jeers both of them got whenever they were seen together, it was decided that it would be best if they stayed in their room. As the year went on and it drew to Christmas vacation, the owls began to come in both to Dumbledore and Ginny and Draco. Most were asking if the spell had broken and if they could go home for the Holiday's. They were sent back with the same response, 'There is no sign of it ending. They are still bonded together.'
Draco received a howler when they were eating dinner a week before the holiday vacation. Ginny did the spell and left down for the Gryffindor common room to let him hear it in peace. She couldn't make out the words, but they didn't sound very encouraging, or nice.
It was decided from both of the parents, that they would stay at the school for the vacation. Ron delivered a letter to his mother telling her Harry, Hermione, and he were planning on staying to keep her company. No one of course stayed back for Draco.
The morning of Christmas was awoken with Ginny's shouts of laughter for Draco. He rolled over to look at her sleepily as she dug through her many presents. In her hands was a small mechanical bird that made a cooing noise and twitching little wings that looked strangely like the small owl that delivered her letters. On it was a tag that read: With love, Fred and George.
"Draco," Ginny said when she noticed him watching her. "Get your presents! Open them!"
Draco almost smiled, but instead he leaned over and gathered his presents and set them on his lap. Ginny must had gotten up before him because she was nearly finished when he was about halfway through. The morning sun was shining into their window, lighting the room considerably. Ginny crawled over towards Draco and picked up one of his unwrapped presents.
"What's this?" she asked, turning it around in her hands. It was a funny top shaped thing made of shiny silver, when she pressed the button it hovered in her hand, lying still.
"The new sneakoscope," Draco said taking it from her.
"That's nice," Ginny continued, leaning down to stare at one of his wrapped presents, "Who gave it to you?"
It took Draco a moment to answer, since he was staring almost transfixed at Ginny's copper hair that fell over her shoulders as she leaned over. "My mother," he said finally. Ginny sat up a cheerful smile on her face.
He continued to unwrap his presents in silence, Ginny watching silently beside him, occasionally picking up one to look at and ask a question about.
"Draco," Ginny began when he finished and began to put away his presents.
"Yes?"
"I got this for you," she said handing him a small box wrapped in silver paper. "Well Ron got it for me, but it was for you."
Draco took it, and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "He doesn't know," she added hastily. A smile escaped her lips. "Open it."
Draco carefully unwrapped the paper; a black leather box with a gold clasp, in gold letters on it read 'Draco'.
"That's the name of the manufacturers." Ginny said when she noticed him studying it. "I thought it'd fit."
Draco smirked, and opened the box. Inside sat a miniature dragon made of silver. It's eyes were a glittering red, and it stood proudly, claws outstretched and mouth open, showing its long fangs.
"It's made of silver, and the eyes aren't real rubies, but they look like them. I saw this in one of my mum's books once and I knew Hogsmeade had them so I asked Ron to pick it up for me," Ginny said this quickly, she was red in the face and looking down at her hands. I can't believe I gave him that, she thought.
Draco however was in shock. He looked from the miniature dragon to Ginny's bowed blushing head. "Thanks..." he said, which surprised him even more.
Ginny looked pleased with the response though. "You're welcome, do you like it?"
"Yes, it's...nice Ginny." Draco managed, "I didn't get you anything though."
"That's fine, I didn't expect you would. I never thought about it until the last moment," Ginny smiled. "Touch it with your wand."
Draco didn't ask questions, he reached under his pillow and touched the silver figurine lightly with his wand. It twitched then looked up at him, its sparkling red eyes blink slowly. Then it jumped on his arm and bit him hard.
"Ouch!" Draco cried, throwing the dragon off onto the bed. It landed and stood up, stretching its wings indignantly.
Ginny was laughing hysterically, until it bit her toe as well. "What an imp!" she shrieked after prying it off, much to Draco's mirth.
After putting away their presents and dressing, Ginny managed to convince Draco to go to the Gryffindor common room, so she could see her brother. Hermione was coming down from the girls dormitory, dressed, but didn't notice them until she was on the steps to the boys' room.
"Where are you going Granger?" Draco asked, he winced when he felt Ginny's elbow drive into the side of him. "What?"
"Her name's Hermione!" Ginny cried.
"I only have to get along with you, woman. Not Granger." Draco grinned; he received a slap on the arm.
"Fine only for Christmas, you have to treat all of my friends like you treat me," Ginny said.
"No," Draco said, turning serious. "If that includes Potter, no."
"Draco," Ginny warned. Draco gave her a hard look, which she returned. "For my Christmas present you forgot?"
Draco blanched, "Don't try to blackmail me into it!" he groaned.
"Yep, for my present. Or you'll owe me, and I know you don't want to owe a Weasley anything."
Draco grew silent, and then nodded his agreement. Hermione had watched the whole thing open mouthed and snapped it shut when they looked to her.
"I-I was going to see the boys," Hermione said quickly.
"Being a Prefect and breaking the rules?" Draco said, as they climbed the steps. He heard Hermione cough angrily.
"Its vacation," Ginny answered for her. Draco didn't respond.
The day continued, Ginny was enjoying herself the entire time. She laughed and joked with her friends, Harry especially seemed to want to talk to her. A few other students from the other houses that had stayed behind got to know them all, most being first and second years, became louder than any of them. Draco stood or sat beside Ginny the entire time, quiet and watchful. As the night came on, they all went up to their common rooms, Draco and Ginny to Gryffindor with the others.
Harry left shortly after then returned with butterbeer for all, including Draco, and a few other sweets. They all, except Draco, sat around the fire talking and laughing. The night became darker, and Draco steadily became agitated. The whole feeling in the room was very unfamiliar to him, the joy and close friendship between them all. That and he had to avoid saying any of their names since he made that promise to Ginny.
His gray eyes narrowed when Harry leaned over and whispered something into Ginny's ear, which made her face light up and her laugh rise above the others. She didn't even realize it, too overjoyed with the fact that Potter was actually speaking to her. Draco took a pull from his butter beer finishing it off. He tossed the drained bottle into the empty chair beside him. He tried to look at anything else but Potter and Ginny, but somehow his eyes always were drawn back to them.
Ginny would flip her hair and smile brilliantly at him, and Potter would return it, with some witty remark since she would always laugh. It disgusted him. Draco closed his eyes briefly, then stood.
"I'm going," Draco said harshly, causing Ginny to look up at him.
"Stay with us Draco, you've hardly said anything," Ginny said still smiling, her eyes twinkling with laughter. Caused by...him...
"I'd prefer to go," Draco snapped, he drew his wand and performed the spell. The smile and laughter faded from Ginny's face as he stormed out.
"Draco!" Ginny called, beginning to stand, but a hand on her arm stopped her.
"Let him go," Harry told her.
Ginny looked at him hesitant, then with a nod, sat back down and tried to push Draco Malfoy from her mind.
Draco was standing by the window when she got back to the room. He'd left long before her and she'd done the spell since he'd left. And when he didn't move to regard her, she wondered if he'd been waiting for her.
"I didn't mean to make you wait," Ginny said beginning to move over to him, "You could've gone to bed without me."
"Not unless you'd mind sleeping on top of me," Draco's voice said devoid of emotion.
"Oh, the spell..." Ginny trailed off, noticing his tensed shoulders. "Is something wrong?"
"Are you so blind?" Draco said, he turned to look at her, his eyes cold. Ginny shivered at his look. "Are you really that naive?"
"What are you talking about, Draco?" Ginny asked.
"Tonight, at the common room. You and Potter?"
"I was just talking, what's the harm in that?" Ginny cried defensively.
Draco smirked, "Oh just talking, that's what you call it,"
"I wasn't doing anything wrong," Ginny snapped.
"If that was just talking then I must have been taking Pansy wrong all year," Draco said, not listening to her. "You know, I don't understand why Potter does that. Is it because he can't have one of his loyal...admirers have feelings for anyone else?"
Ginny's mouth dropped open, but Draco wasn't finished.
"Or maybe I'm wrong, I'm just misinterpreting these things, you seemed to fall for him rather quick."
"Draco!" Ginny cried.
"Never mind, just go." Draco snapped, turning around.
Ginny stood there, her mouth still open, her eyes wide. At first she planned on walking over to apologize and talk to him, but she found herself out the door and leaning heavily against it. She closed her eyes with a low groan. "What have I done?"
"Ginny?" Harry's voice asked. Ginny sat up straight, and saw Harry coming towards her.
"What are you doing here, Harry?" Ginny asked weakly, not in the mood to talk.
"You left you're butter beer in the common room I thought you might have wanted it..." Harry said, he wasn't looking her in the eye.
"Thanks," Ginny said, taking the bottle from him. She looked down at it, a familiar stinging feeling starting in the corner of her eyes.
"Are you crying?"
Ginny shook her head, "No," she snapped, wiping away the tears that had escaped from her eyes. "I'm fine."
"What happened? What's wrong?" Harry asked.
Ginny shook her head again. "Nothing Harry, I just got into a fight with Draco and...I want to be alone. I can't talk about it right now."
Harry looked hurt, and Ginny regretted she had said that. "Are you sure?"
"No," Ginny sniffed. "I'm not sure about anything right now,"
"What did he say to you in there?" Harry asked.
"Things..." Ginny said, she looked down at her feet. "Things I never thought of, but I always wanted..."
"Like?"
"The feelings I have for someone, that they might feel the same way toward me?" Ginny said, she looked up at Harry's brilliant green eyes. "Or maybe it's just my wanting, and that person really doesn't feel that way for me."
Harry was staring at her hard, and the two stood there, in the darkened hallway with the whispering of paintings and the settling of the old castle creaking around them. Ginny finally pushed herself from the door. "I need to talk to Draco, thank you for talking with me Harry," she said.
But suddenly, she found Harry pulling her toward him, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing his lips to hers. Ginny's eyes widened with surprise, and then instinctively closed and found herself kissing back. She felt her hear leap into her throat, and butterflies fluttering in her stomach, and the thought running through her mind, Oh my god, he's kissing me! Harry Potter! And then suddenly they disappeared, the feeling the thought. Something was on the edge of her mind and consciousness. No, the thought came. This isn't right...
And then she heard the sharp intake of breath. Draco...
I shouldn't have said that, Draco thought furiously to himself as he looked out the window. I shouldn't have told her what I felt, that was so stupid of me! He slammed his fist down on windowsill and glared angrily at the moon. "Stupid, stupid girl," he hissed.
She had left the room at his request; she hadn't came and talked to him. He had expected her to, it was just the Ginny-like thing to do, but she didn't she left him. Just like she had left him alone up here, rather spend time back with Potter than him. And he had practically told her how he had felt about her and what he thought she'd felt for him.
He closed his eyes and let his forehead fall lightly onto the cool windowpane. He didn't plan on saying those things; it wasn't like him to reveal his feelings to anyone. He just wanted to do the spell and brood in silence, let her try and pry out what had been bothering him, but when she had came in the room... She acted as though she didn't even realize he was angry, or he would be. And to top it off, she didn't notice how Potter had gave her the amazing amount of attention. Something she must have craved dearly, since she had risked the ending of the spell just for him.
Draco shook his head, he needed to sleep on this, to think about what was going to happen. He walked over to the door and opened it quickly. "Ginny..." he began then stopped with a sharp gasp.
Ginny had her arms wrapped around Potter, and his arms were around her waist. They were kissing! A number of emotions ran through him right at that moment, so many he almost fell over from the feeling. When she turned to him, her eyes wide and a look of guilt on her face he settled on the one he was most familiar with. Anger.
"Draco! It's not what you think!" she cried.
He just stared at her coldly, at loss for words. Instead he tossed the most horrible look he could conjure over to Harry before turning on his heel and going back into the bedroom.
Ginny didn't even say anything to Harry, just rushed in after Draco and shut the door. The noise of a click determined she locked it. Harry just stood there dumfounded.
"Draco," Ginny said, turning from the door. "I'm sorry, it wasn't what you thought it was."
"No?" Draco asked, "it looked as though you were kissing him Ginny."
"I was kissing him," she stopped and closed her eyes. "He was kissing me, I didn't expect him to, I was upset and he came along..."
"So you kiss guys when you're upset? Wonderful," Draco said.
"No!" Ginny said. "No, not like that. I was upset about things you said to me..."
"Which were true," Draco interrupted.
"Which were true," she said, rewarded with a surprised look from Draco, but it disappeared quickly. "And Harry started talking to me. I was going to come back in and...He kissed me..."
"He kissed you..." Draco repeated.
"Yes,"
"And you didn't kiss him back? You didn't enjoy it?"
"I...didn't...enjoy it," Ginny said, blushing.
"I'm not convinced," Draco frowned.
"I kissed him back," Ginny admitted. A disgusted snort made her continue, "but only for a minute, then I pulled away but you came just before I did."
"You pulled away because I came," Draco corrected.
"No..."
"Yes, if I hadn't have walked in on your...snogging session, I'm sure you'd be out there still latched to Potter's lips." Draco accused.
"I wouldn't Draco! I don't like him!"
"No? You didn't enjoy that kiss at all? Not even for a moment?"
"No!"
Draco raised an eyebrow at her.
"Yes...no...I did, for a moment."
Draco got into his bed and turned away from her.
"But it was only a moment...Draco...you don't understand."
"I do, go to bed Ginny."
"Draco..." Ginny pleaded, but he didn't answer. With a sigh Ginny turned off the lights and crawled into the bed beside him. She faced her back to his, griping the sheets tightly. "You don't understand..." she whispered. Draco still didn't answer.
~
Draco was numb. His entire body, his emotions, were just...numb. He couldn't feel and right now he didn't want to feel. He was stupid, just as his father had told him his entire youth, he was stupid to even think what he did. To even let himself feel for her like he had. And Potter yet again, had something he didn't. Draco gritted his teeth and closed his eyes tight. Bright lights behind his eyelids flashed and he opened them briefly.
The moon was out, and shining down on him, he lifted a hand toward it noticing how it tinted his skin a light blue. It made it look almost surreal.
Just like what had been happened nearly a half-hour ago. Unable to stop himself he turned to look at Ginny.
Her back faced him, but she was breathing evenly. She slept, though she was curled in a ball, and her head looked as though it were bowed. Her bright red hair took the blue tint of the moon, making it shimmer in the dark.
He leaned a hand over and touched it, not realizing he was. He stared at her for a long moment, wondering how he could let himself be hurt by her, and how he had even dreamed of feeling something for this girl. Then he drew his hand back, unconcerned with the fact the wall wasn't up and closed his eyes. He fell asleep soon after.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews :0)
MochaButterfly, Trunks_Goku_DBZ, Hermione Gulliver, Amanda Mancini, *~*GinnyPotter*~*, Kristen of Mistallia, W&M_law!
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