12. Immoral Imperatives
~***~
Disclaimer: Yay, I own it! I'm so rich! ::blinks:: Oh, wait. No I don't. Damn!
~***~
(A/N: Okay, it's here, at last - at least it wasn't my fault this time. ^-^ Anyway, the story
had gone and evolved itself again - meaning I think I've gone and made it all dark and
angsty again, completely against my will, of course, and it comes complete with quotes
from my own personal collection - whoopee. The idea for this chapter was all Draco's
fault, so if you guys dislike it, blame him - he doesn't mind. ::wink:: Next chapter's
going to be dark, be warned. Love Ya! ~Lee)
~***~
'The most momentous thing in human life Is the art of winning The soul to good or evil.' -"Pythagoras", From Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers,
Bk.VIII
~***~
'There are some men who are Fortune's favorites, and who like cats, light forever on their legs.' - Colton
~***~
Draco didn't speak to Ginny again until the train ride to Hogwarts the next term. He really should have been grateful. She'd made absolutely no effort to speak to him, that last half of the term before the summer holiday, hadn't even bothered herself to look at him.
He'd finally convinced himself he didn't really care.
That was when her mother started mailing him letters about how she distant Ginny was, voicing her concerns.and had practically begged him to write to her. She was despondent, wouldn't eat, wouldn't sleep.
He had, grudgingly, after a time penned a carefully impersonal note, inquiring after her health, wary, because she'd never responded to his last one - but she never replied. That had only served to make him exceptionally irate - and he'd sent her a letter every day thereafter, just to get on her nerves.
Of course he never even received even so much as a bloody Howler in return.
Then Molly had requested that he come to see her over the summer - but he couldn't make himself go. Draco had truthfully been scared of what he might do when he saw her. Instead he politely declined, and busied himself with sorting out the massive mess that Lucius had left behind. The amount of Dark Arts paraphernalia that the ministry officials hadn't found, alone had been mind boggling - but it had been easy enough to get rid of, what with that snakey old bastard in Knockturn Alley offering a bloody fortune for the stuff, and half of it being worthless junk.
Not that he was anywhere near poor, but the debts and bills Lucius had left unpaid, along with the penalties the ministry had slapped him with when they'd raided the manor directly after his father's death had added up to a healthy amount.
In September, a limo dropped him off in front of King's Cross, and he made his way through the crowds, feeling impatient, bored, and far too old to be going somewhere as menial as school.
He had a terrific headache, and as a result, his mood was particularly black, as was his expression, but it did seem to serve to clear a path for him through the waves of Muggles mucking about the place.
Draco approached the platforms, looking out over the heads of several dozen, nervous looking kids who wandered about chattering at insane speeds, and pushing carts loaded with luggage and caged pets.
He at last made his way through the wall onto platform 9 and ¾, for the last time as a Hogwarts student, and, incredibly, suddenly felt almost regretful.
Draco looked at the first years staring in awe at the scarlet red Hogwarts Express, and remembered vaguely his first visit to the platform in his first year. He hadn't been nervous or awed by anything. He'd arrived at King's Cross fresh from one of his father's 'lectures', and had been aggravated beyond his means to control himself. He'd managed to annoy a few, intimidate many, and make enemies of Potter, Weasley and Granger, all before dinner time.
No, he hadn't been at all nervous. He'd walked into that school intent on owning it.
"Malfoy!"
At the loud hiss, Draco tore himself from his thoughts. He looked around to find Ron Weasley standing nearby, reluctantly waving him over. He was trying very hard to look inconspicuous while doing it, and failing miserably.
Draco would have cheerfully ignored the flame headed git if Molly hadn't been standing right there.
He set his jaw and leisurely sauntered over, summoning a very slight smile for the weary looking red haired woman.
In the process of pinching her son's spotty cheek, Molly caught sight of Draco and lunged forward to envelop him in a crushing hug. He allowed himself to very briefly return it, before pushing away, aware of several people staring. He schooled his features into a practiced glare of distaste. It didn't fool Molly - she just sniffed and reached up to pinch his unscarred cheek all the same, winking.
Draco rubbed his reddening cheek and exchanged a suffering look with her son. "Mrs. Weasley," he greeted her at a safe distance.
"It's Molly, I told you," the woman said insistently, looking ridiculously motherly with her faded knit cap and softly graying red curls.
"Right - er, Molly," Draco murmured disdainfully.
"Malfoy," Weasley greeted him stiffly.
"Ronald Weasley!" Molly chastised loudly, making her son's ears redden.
"His name is Draco - use it!"
Ron glared at him with icy eyes, and bit out the single word, his gruff voice dripping with loathing. "Draco."
Draco smiled thinly. "Weas - Ron.I trust you're doing well?"
The boy seemed to be chewing on his tongue.
"So.is Ginny about?" Draco wanted to bite his own tongue for blurting that.
"Oh, she's already boarded," Molly said somewhat sadly. "I'm worried about her.she's been so quiet, you know, since - well, you know. Not that she hasn't a reason to be, mind you, but she refuses to do anything to help herself.she's so blessed stubborn, like her father you know."
"Like you," Ron said between coughs into his hand.
"Perhaps I should brew up some of Grandma Florentina's cough elixir for that -"
"Er - bye Mum!"
Draco watched, amused, as Ron kissed his mother's cheek with comic haste and rushed off.
"Works every time," Molly murmured thoughtfully as she watched her youngest son disappear.
"Wonder if that would work with creditors," Draco said, smirking.
"How have you been, Draco? Arthur said the Ministry hit you pretty hard. I've been worried about you."
"Molly, you shouldn't waste your time worrying about me - I always manage to land on my feet. I am a Malfoy, after all."
"Don't be pissin' on me leg and calling it rain," the woman said brazenly, the crude turn of phrase at odds with her motherly appearance and the stern look on her face.
Draco was hard pressed not to laugh out loud. He fought to keep his expression bland, but felt his lips twitch against his will.
"She loves you, you know." The sudden quiet statement in the midst of the noise and bustle seemed louder than a shout.
Draco looked down at her with a carefully blank face. "She told me she didn't. She wouldn't answer my letters. I think that pretty much finishes it."
"She read every single one, Draco. Maybe not at first, but she eventually just sat and read every one of them. I well remember - she wouldn't come out of her room for two days, after."
While he stared at her, speechless, she squeezed his arm in an encouraging manner.
"Don't give up on her. Please. She needs you. Ginny -" Molly sighed and shook her head.
"She's always been special - "
"Especially troublesome." Draco muttered under his breath.
"- unselfish, you know. She thinks she's protecting you by staying distant, since, well.you know. That."
Draco knew very well what 'that' was. 'That' had kept him up sleepless many a night since.
" I believe she's forgotten that I too, have been there, done that, and received the souvenir t - shirt," he finally managed to mutter.
In his personal opinion, Ginny was being incredibly selfish, and he was getting bloody tired of it. He supposed he'd have to do something about it.but then, why bother? She'd already been much more trouble than anyone was worth. He'd just go about ignoring her, much as he had last year.
'What if she's summoned?' An unwelcome voice asked perversely. 'What if she's threatened? You'll go rushing off like some aspirant Potter, champion of the unfortunate and foolish, to save her.'
Again.
As if the words 'moral' or 'imperative' had ever been in his vocabulary. He'd always been known for his extraordinary lack of principles, after all. Everyone had always looked on him as being the villain, anyway, and it was a role he'd been born into. Why should he care about her eventual fate? Only a maudlin fool would.
And so, it always came back to his recently inconvenient, appalling, and completely unwanted, recurring attack of conscience.
Draco brought a hand up to rub his jaw thoughtfully, unaware of his darkening, malevolent expression.
Molly cleared her throat.
The smile he gave her as he slowly redirected his attention to her wasn't in the least reassuring. "Anyway - I'm in as much danger as she is." In more ways than one, he added silently.
"I know, dear, I know," Molly sighed again, her hands worrying, twisting about the handle of her handbag. "You have no idea what I had to do to get her to just come back to school this year."
Draco looked away, and suddenly narrowed his eyes threateningly on a first year staring at him open mouthed through a window on the train. The girl squealed loudly and abruptly disappeared.
He rolled his eyes in irritation, and shoved his hands into his trouser pockets.
"You do still care about her, don't you?" Molly prodded.
Draco gave his head an impatient shake. The woman was ruthless. It was no wonder he had come to feel a reluctant admiration for her.
"I find this whole situation highly unlikely. I can't believe I'm standing here, talking about the details of my private life with you, of all people." He tried to make himself sound insulting, but his tone came out as being merely exasperated instead. Which he really was. Molly was reminding him of his feelings again, and didn't know what to do with himself. He was very nearly ready to shout himself witless.
The departure whistle sounded, and Draco found himself on the receiving end of those weary, pleading eyes again.
"What are you thinking, dear?"
"I'm trying my best not to think at this point,"
"A fine feat if you can manage it."
He turned away to board the train with a curse, and completely missed the cunning, triumphant smile on Molly's softly lined face.
~***~
'Words are arrows and should not be shot at random. Silence is a gift without peril, and a treasure without enemies. Those who speak are not serious enough, and those that hear are too serious.'
~***~
"You actually think the Cannon's are going to make it to the playoffs?"
"Why not?" Asked Ron belligerently.
Seamus looked at Harry. "How thick can you get?"
Ginny sat quietly in a darkened corner of the compartment she shared with her brother, Harry, Hermione and Seamus, who'd dropped in to say hello, and had consequently ended up talking Quidditch. She remained silent throughout the discussion, thanks to a Distraction Charm Hermione had cast. Although Seamus was one of the few still in acceptance of her, she had no intention of giving him any cause to be nervous by drawing attention to herself, but had to bite her lip against a grin.
"Can it, Seamus, if you like your eyebrows where they are," said Ron threateningly. He was fiercely protective of the Cannon's.
"Hey, don't you dare - they only just finally finished growing back!" Seamus threw his hands protectively over the dark arches of his brows.
"Don't your parents know by now to take your wand away as a safety precaution over the summer?"
Harry snorted suspiciously.
"Why do you automatically assume that it was my doing, Weasley? I'll have you know, it was me Dad's fault - he was setting up this new Muggle grill he bought, and was making me watch for something or other, and next thing I know, this bloody huge flame comes bursting out of the cursed thing, and I'm without me eyebrows again!" Seamus looked at them sufferingly and then glared at Ron as he snickered, and pulled out his wand.
"Don't you dare laugh - it's getting downright traumatic, I tell you!"
Ginny bit the inside of her cheek and locked eyes with Hermione, who was rolling her eyes.
"I'm goin' to sit with Longbottom - I'd rather go searching for Trevor, really." Seamus left with a scowl.
"Aw, c'mon, Seamus - don't go off all mad - " Ron got up and walked after the other boy with a sigh.
Harry stood up too, and looked after Ron with a shrug. "I better go with him - else Seamus is liable to singe himself again."
Ginny rolled her eyes as she watched the boys go.
Hermione shook her head. "Boys are such a bother."
Ginny smiled and then froze as another figure filled the compartment doorway.
It was Draco. He was looking down at them, faintly bored, slightly amused.
He'd changed somehow, she noticed, after she got over her first, initial surprise at seeing him. It wasn't really clearly apparent just how, but it was there, that something, however well hidden it was.
Ginny stayed perfectly still and silent.
His eyes went right to her, none the less.
"Really, Ginny. A Distraction charm? Parents use that on their two year olds at dinner parties," Draco drawled, stepping inside.
Hermione stood up, and Ginny took a deep breath.
"I really don't think this is the best time, Malfoy."
Draco didn't even spare Hermione a glance.
"Get lost, Granger."
"Why you - !"
Ginny gave Hermione's robes a sharp tug and the irate girl whirled on her.
Ginny arched her brows and the pleadingly looked at the door.
"Don't you look at me in that tone of voice!" Hermione snapped and Ginny gave her a frustrated, fierce look.
There was a wavering shimmer in the air as Hermione sighed, and withdrew her wand from her pocket. She gave her wand a perfunctory flick so that the simple charm that Ginny had requested she cast was broken. It had been ever so slightly diverting the attention of anyone not in the compartment when it was cast, from Ginny.
"I don't think it's a good idea," Hermione insisted, turning away, but looking back at Ginny over her shoulder. "Hermione, please?"
She finally gave in at Ginny's insistence, and stepped around Draco shooting him a narrow look before she left, sliding the door closed behind her.
"Appointed herself your nursemaid, has she?"
Ginny looked up at him and cleared her throat nervously. "She just doesn't want to see me get hurt."
He turned his pale, unnerving glance on her, and she felt her heart jump.
"Did you want something?"
He laughed in his mocking way, but she found herself staring, entranced by a slight dimple in his cheek that she'd never noticed before.
"I was just thinking, wondering actually - if you had had black or brown hair, if I'd have ever paid any attention to you at all." His eyes moved over the soft fall of her loose red curls, and she wished she'd pulled it all back into a braid.
She crossed her arms and shifted on her feet uneasily. "I recall having to dump ink practically in your lap to get you to pay any attention to me. I don't think the color of my hair factored into it at all."
Draco shrugged carelessly. "You're probably right - I didn't fall in love with just your hair, after all."
The well aimed barb hit its mark and Ginny felt herself go pale. He was goading her, it was nothing new; Draco never had been one predisposed to compassion or honor. Her hurt showed on her face she knew, but his cold expression said clearly that he really didn't care.
He had a right to be angry, and she'd known he was.
She just hadn't realized he'd actually seek her out.
~***~
TBC
(A/N: Next, Pansy makes an appearance! Muwhahahahahahaha - ::coughs:: -hahahh, ahah, ahh ha ha. ::ahem:: Okay.er.later. ^-^)
~***~
Disclaimer: Yay, I own it! I'm so rich! ::blinks:: Oh, wait. No I don't. Damn!
~***~
(A/N: Okay, it's here, at last - at least it wasn't my fault this time. ^-^ Anyway, the story
had gone and evolved itself again - meaning I think I've gone and made it all dark and
angsty again, completely against my will, of course, and it comes complete with quotes
from my own personal collection - whoopee. The idea for this chapter was all Draco's
fault, so if you guys dislike it, blame him - he doesn't mind. ::wink:: Next chapter's
going to be dark, be warned. Love Ya! ~Lee)
~***~
'The most momentous thing in human life Is the art of winning The soul to good or evil.' -"Pythagoras", From Diogenes Laertius, Lives of Eminent Philosophers,
Bk.VIII
~***~
'There are some men who are Fortune's favorites, and who like cats, light forever on their legs.' - Colton
~***~
Draco didn't speak to Ginny again until the train ride to Hogwarts the next term. He really should have been grateful. She'd made absolutely no effort to speak to him, that last half of the term before the summer holiday, hadn't even bothered herself to look at him.
He'd finally convinced himself he didn't really care.
That was when her mother started mailing him letters about how she distant Ginny was, voicing her concerns.and had practically begged him to write to her. She was despondent, wouldn't eat, wouldn't sleep.
He had, grudgingly, after a time penned a carefully impersonal note, inquiring after her health, wary, because she'd never responded to his last one - but she never replied. That had only served to make him exceptionally irate - and he'd sent her a letter every day thereafter, just to get on her nerves.
Of course he never even received even so much as a bloody Howler in return.
Then Molly had requested that he come to see her over the summer - but he couldn't make himself go. Draco had truthfully been scared of what he might do when he saw her. Instead he politely declined, and busied himself with sorting out the massive mess that Lucius had left behind. The amount of Dark Arts paraphernalia that the ministry officials hadn't found, alone had been mind boggling - but it had been easy enough to get rid of, what with that snakey old bastard in Knockturn Alley offering a bloody fortune for the stuff, and half of it being worthless junk.
Not that he was anywhere near poor, but the debts and bills Lucius had left unpaid, along with the penalties the ministry had slapped him with when they'd raided the manor directly after his father's death had added up to a healthy amount.
In September, a limo dropped him off in front of King's Cross, and he made his way through the crowds, feeling impatient, bored, and far too old to be going somewhere as menial as school.
He had a terrific headache, and as a result, his mood was particularly black, as was his expression, but it did seem to serve to clear a path for him through the waves of Muggles mucking about the place.
Draco approached the platforms, looking out over the heads of several dozen, nervous looking kids who wandered about chattering at insane speeds, and pushing carts loaded with luggage and caged pets.
He at last made his way through the wall onto platform 9 and ¾, for the last time as a Hogwarts student, and, incredibly, suddenly felt almost regretful.
Draco looked at the first years staring in awe at the scarlet red Hogwarts Express, and remembered vaguely his first visit to the platform in his first year. He hadn't been nervous or awed by anything. He'd arrived at King's Cross fresh from one of his father's 'lectures', and had been aggravated beyond his means to control himself. He'd managed to annoy a few, intimidate many, and make enemies of Potter, Weasley and Granger, all before dinner time.
No, he hadn't been at all nervous. He'd walked into that school intent on owning it.
"Malfoy!"
At the loud hiss, Draco tore himself from his thoughts. He looked around to find Ron Weasley standing nearby, reluctantly waving him over. He was trying very hard to look inconspicuous while doing it, and failing miserably.
Draco would have cheerfully ignored the flame headed git if Molly hadn't been standing right there.
He set his jaw and leisurely sauntered over, summoning a very slight smile for the weary looking red haired woman.
In the process of pinching her son's spotty cheek, Molly caught sight of Draco and lunged forward to envelop him in a crushing hug. He allowed himself to very briefly return it, before pushing away, aware of several people staring. He schooled his features into a practiced glare of distaste. It didn't fool Molly - she just sniffed and reached up to pinch his unscarred cheek all the same, winking.
Draco rubbed his reddening cheek and exchanged a suffering look with her son. "Mrs. Weasley," he greeted her at a safe distance.
"It's Molly, I told you," the woman said insistently, looking ridiculously motherly with her faded knit cap and softly graying red curls.
"Right - er, Molly," Draco murmured disdainfully.
"Malfoy," Weasley greeted him stiffly.
"Ronald Weasley!" Molly chastised loudly, making her son's ears redden.
"His name is Draco - use it!"
Ron glared at him with icy eyes, and bit out the single word, his gruff voice dripping with loathing. "Draco."
Draco smiled thinly. "Weas - Ron.I trust you're doing well?"
The boy seemed to be chewing on his tongue.
"So.is Ginny about?" Draco wanted to bite his own tongue for blurting that.
"Oh, she's already boarded," Molly said somewhat sadly. "I'm worried about her.she's been so quiet, you know, since - well, you know. Not that she hasn't a reason to be, mind you, but she refuses to do anything to help herself.she's so blessed stubborn, like her father you know."
"Like you," Ron said between coughs into his hand.
"Perhaps I should brew up some of Grandma Florentina's cough elixir for that -"
"Er - bye Mum!"
Draco watched, amused, as Ron kissed his mother's cheek with comic haste and rushed off.
"Works every time," Molly murmured thoughtfully as she watched her youngest son disappear.
"Wonder if that would work with creditors," Draco said, smirking.
"How have you been, Draco? Arthur said the Ministry hit you pretty hard. I've been worried about you."
"Molly, you shouldn't waste your time worrying about me - I always manage to land on my feet. I am a Malfoy, after all."
"Don't be pissin' on me leg and calling it rain," the woman said brazenly, the crude turn of phrase at odds with her motherly appearance and the stern look on her face.
Draco was hard pressed not to laugh out loud. He fought to keep his expression bland, but felt his lips twitch against his will.
"She loves you, you know." The sudden quiet statement in the midst of the noise and bustle seemed louder than a shout.
Draco looked down at her with a carefully blank face. "She told me she didn't. She wouldn't answer my letters. I think that pretty much finishes it."
"She read every single one, Draco. Maybe not at first, but she eventually just sat and read every one of them. I well remember - she wouldn't come out of her room for two days, after."
While he stared at her, speechless, she squeezed his arm in an encouraging manner.
"Don't give up on her. Please. She needs you. Ginny -" Molly sighed and shook her head.
"She's always been special - "
"Especially troublesome." Draco muttered under his breath.
"- unselfish, you know. She thinks she's protecting you by staying distant, since, well.you know. That."
Draco knew very well what 'that' was. 'That' had kept him up sleepless many a night since.
" I believe she's forgotten that I too, have been there, done that, and received the souvenir t - shirt," he finally managed to mutter.
In his personal opinion, Ginny was being incredibly selfish, and he was getting bloody tired of it. He supposed he'd have to do something about it.but then, why bother? She'd already been much more trouble than anyone was worth. He'd just go about ignoring her, much as he had last year.
'What if she's summoned?' An unwelcome voice asked perversely. 'What if she's threatened? You'll go rushing off like some aspirant Potter, champion of the unfortunate and foolish, to save her.'
Again.
As if the words 'moral' or 'imperative' had ever been in his vocabulary. He'd always been known for his extraordinary lack of principles, after all. Everyone had always looked on him as being the villain, anyway, and it was a role he'd been born into. Why should he care about her eventual fate? Only a maudlin fool would.
And so, it always came back to his recently inconvenient, appalling, and completely unwanted, recurring attack of conscience.
Draco brought a hand up to rub his jaw thoughtfully, unaware of his darkening, malevolent expression.
Molly cleared her throat.
The smile he gave her as he slowly redirected his attention to her wasn't in the least reassuring. "Anyway - I'm in as much danger as she is." In more ways than one, he added silently.
"I know, dear, I know," Molly sighed again, her hands worrying, twisting about the handle of her handbag. "You have no idea what I had to do to get her to just come back to school this year."
Draco looked away, and suddenly narrowed his eyes threateningly on a first year staring at him open mouthed through a window on the train. The girl squealed loudly and abruptly disappeared.
He rolled his eyes in irritation, and shoved his hands into his trouser pockets.
"You do still care about her, don't you?" Molly prodded.
Draco gave his head an impatient shake. The woman was ruthless. It was no wonder he had come to feel a reluctant admiration for her.
"I find this whole situation highly unlikely. I can't believe I'm standing here, talking about the details of my private life with you, of all people." He tried to make himself sound insulting, but his tone came out as being merely exasperated instead. Which he really was. Molly was reminding him of his feelings again, and didn't know what to do with himself. He was very nearly ready to shout himself witless.
The departure whistle sounded, and Draco found himself on the receiving end of those weary, pleading eyes again.
"What are you thinking, dear?"
"I'm trying my best not to think at this point,"
"A fine feat if you can manage it."
He turned away to board the train with a curse, and completely missed the cunning, triumphant smile on Molly's softly lined face.
~***~
'Words are arrows and should not be shot at random. Silence is a gift without peril, and a treasure without enemies. Those who speak are not serious enough, and those that hear are too serious.'
~***~
"You actually think the Cannon's are going to make it to the playoffs?"
"Why not?" Asked Ron belligerently.
Seamus looked at Harry. "How thick can you get?"
Ginny sat quietly in a darkened corner of the compartment she shared with her brother, Harry, Hermione and Seamus, who'd dropped in to say hello, and had consequently ended up talking Quidditch. She remained silent throughout the discussion, thanks to a Distraction Charm Hermione had cast. Although Seamus was one of the few still in acceptance of her, she had no intention of giving him any cause to be nervous by drawing attention to herself, but had to bite her lip against a grin.
"Can it, Seamus, if you like your eyebrows where they are," said Ron threateningly. He was fiercely protective of the Cannon's.
"Hey, don't you dare - they only just finally finished growing back!" Seamus threw his hands protectively over the dark arches of his brows.
"Don't your parents know by now to take your wand away as a safety precaution over the summer?"
Harry snorted suspiciously.
"Why do you automatically assume that it was my doing, Weasley? I'll have you know, it was me Dad's fault - he was setting up this new Muggle grill he bought, and was making me watch for something or other, and next thing I know, this bloody huge flame comes bursting out of the cursed thing, and I'm without me eyebrows again!" Seamus looked at them sufferingly and then glared at Ron as he snickered, and pulled out his wand.
"Don't you dare laugh - it's getting downright traumatic, I tell you!"
Ginny bit the inside of her cheek and locked eyes with Hermione, who was rolling her eyes.
"I'm goin' to sit with Longbottom - I'd rather go searching for Trevor, really." Seamus left with a scowl.
"Aw, c'mon, Seamus - don't go off all mad - " Ron got up and walked after the other boy with a sigh.
Harry stood up too, and looked after Ron with a shrug. "I better go with him - else Seamus is liable to singe himself again."
Ginny rolled her eyes as she watched the boys go.
Hermione shook her head. "Boys are such a bother."
Ginny smiled and then froze as another figure filled the compartment doorway.
It was Draco. He was looking down at them, faintly bored, slightly amused.
He'd changed somehow, she noticed, after she got over her first, initial surprise at seeing him. It wasn't really clearly apparent just how, but it was there, that something, however well hidden it was.
Ginny stayed perfectly still and silent.
His eyes went right to her, none the less.
"Really, Ginny. A Distraction charm? Parents use that on their two year olds at dinner parties," Draco drawled, stepping inside.
Hermione stood up, and Ginny took a deep breath.
"I really don't think this is the best time, Malfoy."
Draco didn't even spare Hermione a glance.
"Get lost, Granger."
"Why you - !"
Ginny gave Hermione's robes a sharp tug and the irate girl whirled on her.
Ginny arched her brows and the pleadingly looked at the door.
"Don't you look at me in that tone of voice!" Hermione snapped and Ginny gave her a frustrated, fierce look.
There was a wavering shimmer in the air as Hermione sighed, and withdrew her wand from her pocket. She gave her wand a perfunctory flick so that the simple charm that Ginny had requested she cast was broken. It had been ever so slightly diverting the attention of anyone not in the compartment when it was cast, from Ginny.
"I don't think it's a good idea," Hermione insisted, turning away, but looking back at Ginny over her shoulder. "Hermione, please?"
She finally gave in at Ginny's insistence, and stepped around Draco shooting him a narrow look before she left, sliding the door closed behind her.
"Appointed herself your nursemaid, has she?"
Ginny looked up at him and cleared her throat nervously. "She just doesn't want to see me get hurt."
He turned his pale, unnerving glance on her, and she felt her heart jump.
"Did you want something?"
He laughed in his mocking way, but she found herself staring, entranced by a slight dimple in his cheek that she'd never noticed before.
"I was just thinking, wondering actually - if you had had black or brown hair, if I'd have ever paid any attention to you at all." His eyes moved over the soft fall of her loose red curls, and she wished she'd pulled it all back into a braid.
She crossed her arms and shifted on her feet uneasily. "I recall having to dump ink practically in your lap to get you to pay any attention to me. I don't think the color of my hair factored into it at all."
Draco shrugged carelessly. "You're probably right - I didn't fall in love with just your hair, after all."
The well aimed barb hit its mark and Ginny felt herself go pale. He was goading her, it was nothing new; Draco never had been one predisposed to compassion or honor. Her hurt showed on her face she knew, but his cold expression said clearly that he really didn't care.
He had a right to be angry, and she'd known he was.
She just hadn't realized he'd actually seek her out.
~***~
TBC
(A/N: Next, Pansy makes an appearance! Muwhahahahahahaha - ::coughs:: -hahahh, ahah, ahh ha ha. ::ahem:: Okay.er.later. ^-^)