Ginger Chap 2
By Ice Queen (ice_queen_5@hotmail.com)
Category: Romance/humor
Keywords: Draco, Ginny, Weasley,
Rating: G
Spoilers: All four Books, but not really.
Summary: Draco keeps having these dreams, and they're throwing off his bad boy groove. But they aren't scary... Cept for him, that is. D/G
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N: Wow... There's a plot under the plot? I hadn't really noticed^_^;; *Waits for a reaction, smirks evilly* There are a couple of questions that have been getting under my skin, so this fic will hopefully Exorcise these demons for me. Thanks for all the great comments! There might be a touch of R/Hr, but not much in this chap, I say Hermione can have whatever man she bloody well wants (Other than Draco), cuz she rocks! So H/H shippers don't flame me, all right? Rest of you ready the torches! There's something in this fic which could piss Ginny lovers off. Forgive me, and as for Draco... well... what won't piss Draco lovers off? And as for Harry lovers... well...*Runs away before they start shooting.*
Draco was late to dinner that evening, walking in with his usual smirk in place. None of the teachers made a comment, so it appeared as though he had permission.
Ginny sat back, a befuddled look on her face. Why is he late? And why was I watching for him? It isn't as though I care for the egotistical git. I wish he would just leave me alone! He looked up, as though knowing she were watching him, and smirked. It was enough to make the youngest Weasley fume silently. She turned, blatantly showing that she didn't care she had been caught staring.
Megan smirked directly into her eyes. "I suppose even Harry isn't a match for that one, is he, Ginny?" She stated, grateful for the chance at revenge.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Of course."
Ginny growled, turning her attention back to her plate and ignoring the way Megan's smirk widened. And the way Draco's widened as well.
"Hey, Malfoy? Whatcha starin at?" Crabbe asked around a slab of meat.
"Nothing important." He replied, inwardly rejoicing that he had gotten over the ridiculous torture of feeling he had been attacked by.
"Oh, right." Munch, munch, munch.
"Have you never heard of chewing with your mouth's closed?" Draco asked sarcastically, not surprised when all he got in return were two extremely blank looks and more open mouthed chewing. "I suppose it was a bit too much to ask, wasn't it?" They both nodded, smiling happily because, though neither had gotten the joke, it appeared Draco was back to normal. In their small little brains even they had begun to worry about his changes. It didn't speak well of his self-control.
Thankfully he would no longer have to worry about appearing less than Malfoy like. If he did have a setback he would merely return to the pensieve and rid himself of it. With that thought Draco dug into his first decent meal of the week.
**********
"But, didn't you want us, Daddy?" Antonia asked, gazing up at him with hurt silver eyes.
"Oh, don't be a git, Anton'a, he didn't even know 'bout us back then! He was tryin' to concentrate on bein' a Quiddetch player and stuff!" But I did know... I saw you. Draco stared down at the faces so precious to him, the memories of years ago rushing into his head as though they were yesterday. He couldn't tell them that, though, so he continued with his tale, not bothering to answer.
"But while I was busy shoving my thoughts away, your mother was brimming full of new ones... And had I known what they were I would have ran screaming."
"You're so silly, Daddy. You don't run from anything!"
"Maybe not now, but back then it was considered a very Slytherin thing to do. At least that's what I told myself."
"Draco, honey. It's time for all good boys and girls to go to bed." Ginny came into the room, her hair a mass of flame flowing around her face. The twins smirked. "That includes you two." He gave the two a sympathetic smile, tucking them into their beds with a kiss for each. Soon he would have to insist they slept in different rooms, but not for a while yet.
"Your mum's right, kids. I need my beauty sleep you know!" He stated, walking away to the sweet sound of children's laughter.
"Daddy wants to be pretty!" He heard one say between gasps of laughter.
Such innocence... Was I ever like that?
Draco jerked awake once more, an almost inhuman cry longing to escape. I thought it were over... This is not good.
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The next morning it appeared that Draco had taken a turn for the worse. He refused to say a thing, not even bothering to comment when the Weasley boy shot orange juice out of his nose, or when Potter choked on his pancakes. His eyes kept traveling from the Weasley girl to the headmaster, neither one receiving a particularly loving glance. In other words Ginny was seeing images of her headstone, all thanks to his look, while Dumbledore wasn't bothered in the least, merely being polite enough to hide his amusement.
After class Draco shoved past everyone in his haste to get to Dumbledore's office. He sat there, waiting for the headmaster to show up for a good twenty minutes. When the headmaster finally got there he began to growl.
"Why didn't that... THING work?" Draco demanded as the Headmaster sat down. Dumbledore merely smiled, leaning back in his over sized chair. "It didn't help at all! If anything the dreams are worse!!"
"When one takes old thoughts out, one allows room for new ones." Dumbledore stated cryptically. "By examining the thoughts you wish to rid yourself of, they become more clear and start to show patterns." He smiled, offering the blonde a candy.
"Ton tongue toffee?" Draco snarled, turning on his heel and stalking out of the room. "Perhaps Miss Weasley might be of service, she has had some training in unusual dreams." Dumbledore threw out that last piece of advice right before the sound of the door slamming reached him.
The day I go to a Weasley for help is the day I go to St. Mungos for a permanent vacation. With that cynical thought Draco Malfoy stormed off to his next class, never even noticing the stricken look on the person in the hallway.
Draco Malfoy needs help from a Weasley?! Ginny paled, Not just any Weasley, but... Me? Even if he does he's too bloody proud to admit it, so I have nothing to worry about. She sighed, that truth relieving her greatly. With a last look in the direction he had headed she turned and entered the Headmaster's office.
"You wanted to see me, Headmaster Dumbledore?"
"Ahh, yes! Miss Weasley, I was just wondering when you would get here."
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"There's no point in asking her, anyways. As if a little muggle loving brat would know what it was like to be tormented with... Brady Gang, or whatever the hell that muggle show is, images. She'd probably think they were... Cute." His normally pale face went pure white with that thought. "I'd rather have nightmares of Dementors than another one of those fluffy, good for nothing dreams." An image of Ginny dressed as a dementor leaning forward to give him the Kiss popped into his head, making him tug at his tie.
"Not that kind of dementor." He rebuked.
"Hey, check it out, Malfoy's talking to himself!" The most loathsome voice of all was right behind him, and he hadn't even noticed. This was NOT good.
"Heard that was the next step of someone going insane." The male Weasley replied.
"Oh yeah? And what's the first?"
"Do you really need a reason when you're an awful git like him?" The trio of annoyance giggled as though he had made the joke of the year. Draco turned with a snarl.
"At least I can afford to go insane, Weasley." As they stared at him silently he turned, walking away, not even bothering to affect his usual saunter. They should bloody well start a club, call it "League of Annoyance" or better yet, "Three Arses." Out to right wrongs and annoy those better looking than they are. Even he had to choke back a laugh at that one.
"You know, if I actually cared, I would think that there's something wrong with Draco." Hermione stated with a curious look.
"Took you long enough to figure, and here I thought you were a bloomin' genius." Ron stated, shoving the thought away as easily as that. "I've known it since first year."
"I'd have to agree with that one, Hermione." Harry stated with a half smile, leading the group away.
*************
Ginny was not feeling well, and it was all the headmaster's fault. Set an example, he says... Show others that inter-house friendships and cooperation are to be accepted, even commended. Well, that was all well and good had it not been a SLYTHERIN! Not just any Slytherin, either. Draco Malfoy, biggest git in the universe Slytherin. Why couldn't he have picked a nice Hufflepuff boy?? She kept telling herself that her experiences with dreams had nothing to do with this. In fact, she would rather not go over what she had dealt with after her first year, it had taken many books and counseling to get over that time, the last one she wanted to know about it was...
"How can you help me, Weasley?" Yes, that was him. Draco Malfoy had her pinned against the wall that led to the dining hall, one hand on either side of her, daring her to escape. He was getting rather pushy if you asked her, and she would have kneed him for a dollar had she not known it would get points taken. Stupid prefect.
"If you ask me, Malfoy, I doubt anyone can help you." For a second there she could have sworn his mouth was going to drop open. "But I'm sure there's a five step plan for being an annoying Git... Perhaps Lockeharte wrote one." She gave him her most cheery smile and ducked out from under his arms.
"I'm not done with you Weasley!!" He shouted, glaring at her retreating back. The sound of someone clearing their throat behind him made him turn. Pansy Parkinson stood, glaring icicles at her supposed 'Boyfriend.' Draco merely scowled at her, deliberately turning and walking away without a word.
*************
"Miss Weasley! I am ashamed of you! The Headmaster clearly asked you to do a simple favor for Mr. Malfoy here, and you blatantly ignore him!" Ginny looked from her lunch up with a groan, seeing a smirking Draco waving at her from behind Professor McGonagall's back. Slytherins, Machiavellians was more like it! With a muted scowl she nodded, ignoring Malfoy's triumphant smirk.
"Yes Professor McGonagall."
"Now that's more like the Ginny we know, isn't it? You shall be meeting with Mr. Malfoy during your free period after lunch for the rest of the week." McGonagall smiled sympathetically. "And no need to worry, the staff and I shall make sure the two of you are left in peace." That's what I was worried about... Ginny thought with a muffled groan. Draco smirked as he walked away, he might not have wanted her help, but nobody turned down a Malfoy. Especially a no-account Weasley!
Ron glared at her, than glared at the retreating Malfoy. "What did she mean, meeting with that arrogant git?" He demanded. "She can't expect you to put up with an egotistical Slytherin like that!"
Ginny merely nodded, burying her bright red face in her arms as the rumors began spreading like wildfire. Next thing she knew the entire school would have her bonded for life with the prat, and rumors of child pregnancies would abound. As if she would even talk to him if she didn't have to!
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**A/N: I just... can't help myself... Forgive me ahead of time, it just got... stuck in my head. You're wondering what I'm talking about? Just... watch.**
Crabbe was bored, and it was a rather astounding thing to be sure. Usually when at a meal he was too busy eating to get bored, and there was the little fact that he never thought enough to run out of thoughts. But for some reason he wasn't particularly hungry.
He would have expected Draco to make some comment where he was trained to respond, but the blonde was too busy staring over at the little redhead and avoiding Pansy. That was completely understandable from Crabbe's prospective, even if the Weasley was a Gryffindor. At least she didn't talk like a parrot on speed. He frowned, absently reaching for another chicken leg. His hand touched flesh, making his eyes jump up. He found himself staring into the most beautiful pair of eyes he had ever seen. Millicient stared back, a slight smile forming. And they stayed that way for what seemed an eternity, both holding onto the same piece of chicken.
Goyle glanced up, watched for a while, then thanked the powers that be he didn't have to share his own chicken.
**Oh, wasn't that just too sweet!! BWAHAHAHAA! Gomen, Mina-san, Icy had a slight breakdown there. Hums a few bars of Love is in the Air.**
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Draco absently wondered where Crabbe had gotten off to after lunch, but didn't care enough to go looking. Besides Goyle had grown big enough that he blocked out the sun every time he walked by a window. He was more than sufficient as a bodyguard/object of mockery. Though Draco had grown fond of the two over the years, they were kind of like... over-grown pit bulls. He smirked, telling himself they would both be getting spiked collars for Christmas.
Daddy? Where are you?
Daddy! It's dark! Mommy's afraid...
You have to save her! She doesn't like the dark!
Da-
Draco staggered like a blind man, hitting the wall with his shoulder and bonelessly sliding down it.
"D-Draco? Man, what's wrong?" Goyle asked, staring stupidly at him from above.
"It-It's nothing. Just... nothing." He stood, running his hand through his hair in an agitated manner. "Where would it be dark at this time of day?" He asked himself.
"Oh! I know! I know! In the dungeons! It's spook-er... It's cool down there." Goyle looked like he had just won a Spelling Bee.
"You idiot! We sleep down there! Of course it- Wait, you might have something. Gotta go!" What am I doing? I'm acting like a complete idiot! I'm supposed to meet Gi- He stopped, almost making Goyle run into him. I'm late... Bloody hell, don't tell me she went down there to find me! Idiotic Gryffindor. I ought to let her rot for the sake of humanity. Of course by this time he had already hit the bottom stairs running and was searching for something off balance. There, that room's not supposed to be closed. He started running forward.
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"Who do you think you are, little girl? How dare you trespass on Slytherin Territory?" The disembodied voice was mocking her, playing on her fears. It was getting rather old.
"We've seen how you watch Draco, but you can't have him. He's too good for a muggle-loving brat like you." It called out again. Ginny shuddered slightly, searching around with her hands in order to find a door. It was pitch black, something that she had never liked, especially since first year.
"What? Think you're too good to reply? Or have you wet yourself already?" A creepy laugh followed, sending chills down her spine. "Is the widdle weasel fwightened? Does her want her mumsy? Awwww. GET OVER IT!!"
A different voice came this time, more hesitant. "I don't know, I say she can have Malfoy if she wants, he's always been somewh-"
"SHUDDUP! She can't have him and that's that!" The voices began to argue, which would have made Ginny laugh had she not been unable to see her hand in front of her face. She could have sworn that something brushed against her calf, though. Images of Basiliks and other assorted snakes jumped into her mind, making her body freeze in terror.
BANG!! The door crashed in, followed by a sweaty Goyle. Draco Malfoy stepped over him, not a single hair out of place. "I suppose a bright Gryffindor like yourself forgot Lumos at a time like this?" He asked cynically, reluctantly reaching his hand out to her. Ginny grabbed on, clinging like it were a life raft and ignoring his commentary. "I suppose I'll have to shower after this, wouldn't want Weasley germs." It was enough to jerk her out of her terror as she glared at him. Draco merely smirked.
"Come out Pansy, Blaise." He called, almost casually. The two girls came out from behind the closet door, almost shaking in their fright. "You have displeased me, girls. And shall be punished." The two went as pale as Malfoy, pleading looks on their faces.
"B-but... she's a Gryffindor! And a Weasley to boot!" Pansy pleaded.
"And thus mine to torture, not yours. For punishment... Goyle, take your pick and she shall be your girlfriend for the next year. Where is Crabbe, anyways?" The two girls ran screaming, a hugely grinning Goyle close on their heels.
"I suppose Goyle will work it out on his own."
"That was... really evil. Not that they didn't deserve it, but Goyle?" Ginny stared up at him with horrified amusement.
"It won't be all that bad, he'll end up following them around offering to carry their shopping bags." Draco smirked, easily pulling her out of the darkened room into the hallway. "Now you brainless little weasel, where the hell did you get the idea of coming down here from?" His scowl was back, full force. It was just too much for the overly stressed girl to handle. Ginny cracked.
"You know what, Malfoy? I don't care what you think, I'm sick and tired of being the Damsel in distress. I'd rather have detention with Snape than work with you!" She turned and began to storm away.
"What exactly are you talking about, Weasley? I didn't say anything about being a damsel in distress! Just an idiot!"
"But you were thinking it, weren't you? Little Ginny Weasley needs to be saved on a weekly basis, and since Potter isn't here I guess the big bad Draco Malfoy will have to step in! Get over yourself, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of my own problems!" She turned again, but this time Malfoy merely pulled her back by the arm.
"Oh, yeah. It sure looked that way to me." The sarcasm was evident. "Maybe when you were cutting off the circulation in my arm. Or when you were near tears when I walked in. Face it little girl, you're no match for Slytherins. You might as well go running to your precious Potter before you even attempt to deal with me." Draco's eyes went cold as he turned away.
"Why... Why do I get the feeling we aren't talking about the same thing?" She moved, trying to get a glimpse of his face. He kept moving away. "Don't tell me... You actually liked playing hero! BWAHAHAHAHAA!!"
He flushed slightly, shrugging his shoulders in an attempt to appear unaffected. Ginny stopped laughing. "Mal-Draco... I mean... Um, thanks." With that she turned and ran as though the depths of Hell were on her heels.
He stared at the empty hallway, a resolute scowl on his face. "Don't even think you're going to make me a Gryffindor, little girl. Especially not one like your precious Potter." He turned, sauntering to his dorm room. First day down, four days to go.
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