Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me; it's all property of J.K. Rowling and a bunch of publishers-blah blah blah-you get the picture. I also borrowed an idea for part of this chapter from a book I once read by Elizabeth Thorton, and I suppose some people may be reminded of a scene in Knotting Hill, but that part was more by accident…oh well.
CHAPTER 3
"But she was worth it," he sighed. Thinking of all the wasted time reminded him of the heavy weight his heart was supporting. He let his head fall forward into his hands and sighed an agonizing sigh of defeat.
* * *
Ginny Weasley unlocked the door to her London flat and made her way to the icebox. Groaning with disgust at the virtually empty fridge, she roughly closed the door and sulked back to her bedroom. Inevitably, her thoughts drifted back to him, and her dire mood sank even lower. With a sigh she collapsed back onto the bed, memories of the past weeks filling her brain like water.
* * *
Her evening with Draco had started out surprisingly peaceful. They had exited the coffee shop to find themselves in a lively hamlet outside of London. Strolling through the market, the pair looked to the average passerby like an attractive young couple, as opposed to what they really were, two confused people fighting on opposite sides of a war and unable to comprehend the animal attraction that was pulling them together.
Before they knew it, their meetings had become routine. Two months after the encounter in the coffee shop, Ginny and Draco found themselves wandering aimlessly through residential London. Dusk had settled, and despite the growing pangs of hunger in her stomach, Ginny had willed herself to continue, not wanting to end the night early. They had come to a gated park and, unable to resist the temptation, proceeded to climb the high fence, both extremely thankful that their jobs required just such training. Once alone in the green paradise of foliage, they walked along the path silently, feeling no need for words.
They paused under a giant willow tree, protected by cascading flora on all sides. Ginny glanced at Draco from the corner of her eye. He was staring wordlessly at something only he could see, when Ginny followed his gaze, she saw only a lacey wall of leaves. Draco cleared his throat as if to say something, then thinking better of it, motioned for her to sit down.
Finally, Draco broke the silence, "Ever wonder why the things you take for granted suddenly change, and you don't if you can really depend on anything anymore?" he breathed.
Ginny, suddenly caught off guard, didn't know how too answer.
"I didn't think so," he said harshly, "little Weasley, from her perfect little family, nothing bad could ever happen to her."
"I think," she spoke up, "that it shouldn't matter what what's going on in the world around you, if life is screwing you over, then I guess all you can rely on is yourself."
He seemed to contemplate this for a while. Just when she didn't think he was going to say anything else on the subject, finally he murmured, "I'm sorry."
"For…" she prodded.
"For taking my self-centered problems out on you; that's not very fair of me," he admitted solemnly.
"Well, what are friends, if they aren't people you can spill your troubles to?" she asked kindly.
"Friends?" he replied with a smirk.
Ginny mentally hit herself on the forehead. "Smooth Weasley, real smooth," she chastised herself. Why on earth had she said that? She looked at Malfoy to see him still smirking at her. "You hate the smirk," she reminded herself bitterly.
"Wow," he whistled enthusiastically, "I haven't seen anyone go that red since I planted Filibusters Fireworks in your brother's cauldron, and it exploded, turning Snape's hair turquoise!"
The crack about her family and the smug sneer on his face was transporting Ginny back to a time she didn't want to think about. Whipping around faster than a Firebolt, Ginny pointed a angry finger in his face and exclaimed, "Listen Malfoy, I don't know what kind of permanent scars your deranged father left on you, or exactly how bad your life sucks right now, but I do know that when someone tries to help, you don't turn your nose up at them and act like you're all bloody that!"
After speaking her mind, Ginny made her dramatic exit and stormed off in a rage of embarrassment masked by fury.
Draco, completely unused to being spoken to in such a manner, felt his blood boil and jumped up after her. Grapping Ginny by the arm, he spun her around and held her down by the shoulders.
"No one, especially not a poor *Weasley*, has ever spoken to me so harshly in my entire life. Now I don't know who the hell you think are or where you think you get off speaking to a Malfoy like that, but let me assure you, castigating your superiors will never get you far in life. Not that you have anywhere to go but up, of course," he added.
Her normally bright brown eyes darkened to whirling black orbs and her temper was released. "Castigating my superiors!" she sputtered. "The day that I ever consider you my superior, will be the same day that I decide I am madly in love with Argus Filch and rape him on the spot, do you understand me Malfoy?" Disdain was dripping off her voice as she glared at him with a passionate hatred that would have made any other man cower in fear, any other man, but of course not Draco.
He just smiled coolly at her, "So, you and Filch, huh? Who would have known?" That was the straw that broke the camel's back and Ginny felt her last ounce of reserve shatter. She prepared to berate him for all he was worth, but before she had uttered a word, she felt Draco's firm hands on her face. He planted his lips on hers with enough force to bruise.
The kiss that followed was nowhere near sweet, but neither party pulled away. Ginny's eyes locked into her his, and when she glared, eyes full of anger, his were like a mirror reflecting the exact same emotions of contempt and fervor. When he pushed against her, she pushed right back, and when his hands moved over her body, hers fought to master them. They struggled like this for some time, returning each angry kiss for kiss. But finally, for some mysterious reason, the nature of their actions changed.
Draco groaned as Ginny let out a whimper, and instantly her body softened against his, and his hands tried to smooth the damage he cost. Slowly he pushed her down until she was sitting on the ground. Then ever so carefully, he urged her fragile body back until she was looking up at him, the glow from the star-filled sky reflecting off his hair and creating a halo of light that surrounded his face. The look was overwhelmingly endearing, but the irony of an angelic Malfoy snapped Ginny out of her state of ecstasy and desire. He opened his eyes for a moment and was astonished to find hers open as well, gaping at him with obvious surprise and bewilderment. Draco jumped up allowing her to sidle out from under him. She sat back and, flushed, tried to straighten her hair and clothing.
"Wow," she began, "what just happened?"
"What happened," he smirked, "was that our innocent evening got a little out of hand."
"Well obviously Malfoy," she spat, "honestly, why do I even try to take you seriously?"
"Because you know you love me," he chided.
"Love," she scoffed, "you don't even know the meaning of the word."
"Oh how original-It's so good to know I can always count on *you* for snappy comments."
"Yes, whereas you're really raking in the points for creativity."
"You know what, I am beginning to think this is not going to work out," Draco exclaimed.
"Oh well spotted!" she cried, "Please could you possibly explain how you come to these brilliant conclusions, because honestly, I am just amazed."
"Do you think your funny?" he questioned.
"No," she replied coolly, "I think I am sarcastic."
"Yes, right then you really must know you are abusing your little amount of talent for it."
"Fine," she glared, "that's just fine I don't care anymore. You know, for just a second I thought people were wrong about you. I thought that maybe you weren't the arrogant bastard everyone takes you for. But I guess I was wrong. I pray our paths will never cross again, but if they do, I want you to know, I never make the same mistake twice. If I ever meet you again in a dark alley, I promise, I won't hesitate before sending your sorry ass to Azkaban. Goodbye Malfoy." And for possibly the last time Ginny stormed off, and this time, Draco didn't follow.
A/N: Okay I know it's kind of weird to have them snogging one second and then screaming at each other the next, but I suppose that is just how I see them together! Anyways, you know what to do…REVIEW!! I am serious, it takes all of 10 seconds and it makes me sooooo happy when you do!