Author's Note:
Guess who's back? Okay, it won't be very had to guess cause my names right
up there ^, but yeah. I've finally updated, and I'm sensing a new
inspiration for the story. So don't expect too much, but I think that I'll
be posting more. Plus it's Christmas break, and I have nothing better to
do. So I'll try to never go so long without updating again. Thanks for
the support!
Disclaimer (PLEASE READ - IMPORTANT): We all know that I don't own Harry Potter, but I want to make it very clear that I do not own "The Art of Seduction" either. It is a book by Robert Greene, filled with steps to seduce someone. I am taking each rule and using it as a start of a chapter, kind of like a songfic, but with excerpts from a book instead of verses from a song. Also I would like to point out the no characters are actually reading the book in my story, its just sort of an introduction into each chapter. Kapeesh? Good.
Rule # 9
Keep Them in Suspense - What Comes Next?
The moment people feel they know what to expect from you, your spell on them is broken. More: You have ceded them power. The only way to lead the seduced along and keep the upper hand is to create suspense, a calculated surprise. Doing something they do not expect from you will give them a delightful sense of spontaneity - they will not be able to foresee what comes next. You are always one step ahead and in control. Give the victim a thrill with a sudden change of direction.
*
She was conforming to his plans. Every tiny step he made, she responded just as she was intended to. But her reactions only made it more important that he didn't falter. Because since she fit his process, any stray actions would seem even more out of place. A slightest mishap could be his downfall.
*
Her lips made their way slowly forward. She was slightly afraid; she had kissed before, but she had never initiated it. Seeming to sense her fear, Draco brought one hand gently to her cheek and brought his mouth down to hers.
It wasn't heavy snogging. It was a short, sweet, and chaste kiss. Ginny didn't know whether to be disappointed or relieved - but then again, confusion seemed to be common when she was around him. The moment she had went to kiss him had been the only time on the entire date that she had known what to do, and now that it was over she was left feeling unsure.
Once again seeming to read her mind, Draco took over the silence at the perfect moment. "We should probably start heading for the theatre." His words were perfectly placed in time, right between 'savoring the moment' and 'awkward,' and they were gentle and reassuring.
Ginny couldn't help but smile.
"What time is it?" she asked, as he stood up slowly.
Draco glanced at his watch. "We have about a half hour. We'll want to get there before it gets too crowded."
He lowered his hand to help her up, and Ginny gladly accepted it. When she was standing, she made to release it, but Draco held on. She was glad. She hadn't really wanted to let go in the first place.
*
" . . . and Robin shall restore amends."
The theatre burst into applause. Following Draco and everyone sitting below them, Ginny stood up and continued clapping as the characters made their way onto the stage for curtain call.
Ginny was in a daze. The night had been full of surprises, from the top box they were placed in, to the amazing show, to the hand that had been interlaced with Draco's the whole time. She had been at a loss as to how Draco had managed to secure a top box. Of course, she did recall seeing him in the top box at the Quidditch World Cup several years ago, but it was a different type of event. He had had his father with him, and Lucius Malfoy was one of those, for lack of a better word, celebrities of the wizarding world. Top boxes were reserved for that type of people. For a teenager to be able to secure one for a date was baffling, and sure to have cost a fortune.
Draco didn't seem to mind. He had remained calm and composed, and thoroughly happy to be there. Throughout the show he had periodically given her hand a squeeze, and he had brought his arm to wrap around her shoulder. It was somewhat like a dream.
The crowd eventually calmed down, and Draco led Ginny by hand to the cold air outside.
*
Ginny was mostly silent on the ride back. She leaned on Draco's shoulder while he stroked her hair and told her an amusing story about the time he had learned to fly.
Being so close to him brought out his scent. Everyone had a scent, at least to Ginny, which was totally unique. He didn't smell of cologne like her brother, or peppermint like Harry, or shampoo like Hermione. It was strong, but personal, not something she could put her name on it. She found that she rather liked it, and began to fall asleep.
The ride back to the school wasn't very long, so Ginny didn't have time to fully drift off. She noticed, somewhat surprised, that the chauffeur didn't take them up to the school. Instead, he dropped them off a short way away, near the lake. Draco seemed to have been expecting this, and after opening the door for Ginny, he thanked the old man and helped her out.
"Why did he drop us off out here?" Ginny asked, not in outrage or sarcasm, but sincerely.
"You'll see," was Draco's bemused reply.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ginny laughed, now fully awake.
"You'll see."
Shaking her head, Ginny followed him. Draco led her to the lake, and then hand in hand, but with him leading, they walked around it some distance, until Ginny was able to make out something green and silver lying on the ground in the distance.
"What's that," she asked, pointing at what appeared to be a blanket.
"It's your surprise."
"My surprise?" Ginny asked incredulously. "What did you do?" she teased.
"Just a little . . . picnic, if you will."
"A picnic?" By this point they had reached the green material with a large 'S' embroidered into it in some shimmering silver thread. Noticing the wineglasses set out and the wizarding wireless, she jumped into his arms in a tight embrace. "You shouldn't have!"
"My pleasure."
*
It was time to really get things moving.
A/N:
Well, I hope you all liked it. I'm sorry that I can't thank all of my reviewers, but I'm in a hurry. I have to go decorate a Christmas tree. Yippy skippy. Can you sense my enthusiasm? Also, I re-did my bio. It includes my lists of "People that are pretty" "Things I like" "People I feel sorry for" and "Things I don't like." Maybe if I hadn't spent so much time on my bio I would have been able to update sooner . . . Oh well. The past is the past.
Sorry this chapter isn't beta'd. Not that they usually are, but I didn't even re-read this one. I was in a hurry to get it out and I didn't feel like it. Thanks for reading! REVIEW!
~Angie
Disclaimer (PLEASE READ - IMPORTANT): We all know that I don't own Harry Potter, but I want to make it very clear that I do not own "The Art of Seduction" either. It is a book by Robert Greene, filled with steps to seduce someone. I am taking each rule and using it as a start of a chapter, kind of like a songfic, but with excerpts from a book instead of verses from a song. Also I would like to point out the no characters are actually reading the book in my story, its just sort of an introduction into each chapter. Kapeesh? Good.
Rule # 9
Keep Them in Suspense - What Comes Next?
The moment people feel they know what to expect from you, your spell on them is broken. More: You have ceded them power. The only way to lead the seduced along and keep the upper hand is to create suspense, a calculated surprise. Doing something they do not expect from you will give them a delightful sense of spontaneity - they will not be able to foresee what comes next. You are always one step ahead and in control. Give the victim a thrill with a sudden change of direction.
*
She was conforming to his plans. Every tiny step he made, she responded just as she was intended to. But her reactions only made it more important that he didn't falter. Because since she fit his process, any stray actions would seem even more out of place. A slightest mishap could be his downfall.
*
Her lips made their way slowly forward. She was slightly afraid; she had kissed before, but she had never initiated it. Seeming to sense her fear, Draco brought one hand gently to her cheek and brought his mouth down to hers.
It wasn't heavy snogging. It was a short, sweet, and chaste kiss. Ginny didn't know whether to be disappointed or relieved - but then again, confusion seemed to be common when she was around him. The moment she had went to kiss him had been the only time on the entire date that she had known what to do, and now that it was over she was left feeling unsure.
Once again seeming to read her mind, Draco took over the silence at the perfect moment. "We should probably start heading for the theatre." His words were perfectly placed in time, right between 'savoring the moment' and 'awkward,' and they were gentle and reassuring.
Ginny couldn't help but smile.
"What time is it?" she asked, as he stood up slowly.
Draco glanced at his watch. "We have about a half hour. We'll want to get there before it gets too crowded."
He lowered his hand to help her up, and Ginny gladly accepted it. When she was standing, she made to release it, but Draco held on. She was glad. She hadn't really wanted to let go in the first place.
*
" . . . and Robin shall restore amends."
The theatre burst into applause. Following Draco and everyone sitting below them, Ginny stood up and continued clapping as the characters made their way onto the stage for curtain call.
Ginny was in a daze. The night had been full of surprises, from the top box they were placed in, to the amazing show, to the hand that had been interlaced with Draco's the whole time. She had been at a loss as to how Draco had managed to secure a top box. Of course, she did recall seeing him in the top box at the Quidditch World Cup several years ago, but it was a different type of event. He had had his father with him, and Lucius Malfoy was one of those, for lack of a better word, celebrities of the wizarding world. Top boxes were reserved for that type of people. For a teenager to be able to secure one for a date was baffling, and sure to have cost a fortune.
Draco didn't seem to mind. He had remained calm and composed, and thoroughly happy to be there. Throughout the show he had periodically given her hand a squeeze, and he had brought his arm to wrap around her shoulder. It was somewhat like a dream.
The crowd eventually calmed down, and Draco led Ginny by hand to the cold air outside.
*
Ginny was mostly silent on the ride back. She leaned on Draco's shoulder while he stroked her hair and told her an amusing story about the time he had learned to fly.
Being so close to him brought out his scent. Everyone had a scent, at least to Ginny, which was totally unique. He didn't smell of cologne like her brother, or peppermint like Harry, or shampoo like Hermione. It was strong, but personal, not something she could put her name on it. She found that she rather liked it, and began to fall asleep.
The ride back to the school wasn't very long, so Ginny didn't have time to fully drift off. She noticed, somewhat surprised, that the chauffeur didn't take them up to the school. Instead, he dropped them off a short way away, near the lake. Draco seemed to have been expecting this, and after opening the door for Ginny, he thanked the old man and helped her out.
"Why did he drop us off out here?" Ginny asked, not in outrage or sarcasm, but sincerely.
"You'll see," was Draco's bemused reply.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ginny laughed, now fully awake.
"You'll see."
Shaking her head, Ginny followed him. Draco led her to the lake, and then hand in hand, but with him leading, they walked around it some distance, until Ginny was able to make out something green and silver lying on the ground in the distance.
"What's that," she asked, pointing at what appeared to be a blanket.
"It's your surprise."
"My surprise?" Ginny asked incredulously. "What did you do?" she teased.
"Just a little . . . picnic, if you will."
"A picnic?" By this point they had reached the green material with a large 'S' embroidered into it in some shimmering silver thread. Noticing the wineglasses set out and the wizarding wireless, she jumped into his arms in a tight embrace. "You shouldn't have!"
"My pleasure."
*
It was time to really get things moving.
A/N:
Well, I hope you all liked it. I'm sorry that I can't thank all of my reviewers, but I'm in a hurry. I have to go decorate a Christmas tree. Yippy skippy. Can you sense my enthusiasm? Also, I re-did my bio. It includes my lists of "People that are pretty" "Things I like" "People I feel sorry for" and "Things I don't like." Maybe if I hadn't spent so much time on my bio I would have been able to update sooner . . . Oh well. The past is the past.
Sorry this chapter isn't beta'd. Not that they usually are, but I didn't even re-read this one. I was in a hurry to get it out and I didn't feel like it. Thanks for reading! REVIEW!
~Angie