Chapter III: Confrontations
Virginia was looking at her reflection, adjusting her new prefect badge with pride.
"Come on, already Ginny!" Ron shouted up the stairs.
She heaved a sigh as she pulled her cloke over her school robes and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
"You look fine, dear," the mirror reassured.
Virginia smiled and collected the last of her books to put into her bag, having no more room in her trunk.
"Ginny!"
"Alright! I'm coming!" She stomped down the stairs and glared at Ron, who was waiting at the bottom.
"You shouldn't be in your robes yet…"
"Ron, just leave it. I can wear them if I want. I've seen muggles wearing stranger things than this."
"But—"
"Just leave it alone!"
Ron narrowed his eyes. "Let's go. We're late."
Virginia followed him outside where her father was packing the last of their trunks in the ministry car he was able to borrow to take them all to school. Harry walked up to the two of them and took the bag she was lugging, looking at Ron curiously.
"What's wrong?" Ron just shrugged and continued toward Hermione. "Ginny?"
"It's nothing, Harry. Don't worry about it."
"You know you can tell me if something's wrong." He reached over and squeezed her shoulder. "After all, we're family."
Virginia smiled in return. "I know. He's still sore because of Diagon Alley."
"Ginny…I know what you said, but are you sure Malfoy didn't do anything to you? You've been acting, I don't know, different since then."
Virginia glanced quickly towards her father, then back at Harry. "It wasn't him. I—I just heard something that I'm trying to figure out."
Harry's brows furrowed. "What? We could help you." Virginia snorted and they both looked over to Ron and Hermione who were again gazing into each other eyes. "Well, at least I could."
"Thanks Harry, but I think I need to figure this one out myself." She looked at Harry for a moment and laughed. "You know, I wish my other brothers were as helpful as you."
Harry grinned. "Well, after last year, I think I want to stay on your good side as much as possible," he replied, rubbing his chin.
Virginia was caught between a laugh and a blush at this. She well remembered when she slugged Harry last Christmas.
"How many times do I have to tell you how sorry I am about that?"
"I was joking, Ginny."
"Are you two coming?" They looked over at Arthur, who was standing at the driver's side door, ready to leave.
"Come on."
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While they walked through King's Cross, the muggles barely spared Virginia a second glance in her robes, which she smiled triumphantly at to Ron before she crossed the barrier on to platform 9 ¾ . As she stepped through to the other side, she began to search the crowd for familiar faces. She spotted Neville in the distance, loading his trunk into the train, and she was about to make her way over to him when her father's voice called her back.
"Ginny, don't run off yet."
Ron gloated as he walked passed, Hermione tutted at Ron, while Harry shot her a concerned look, until Cho passed by and caught his attention.
"Yes?"
Arthur smiled at Virginia and took her hand. "I can't believe how much you've grown."
"Dad?"
"Ginny, I'm going to ask you to do something for me that is very important. I know that I can rely on you for this, and that you won't discuss it with anyone."
Virginia swallowed and gathered her courage. "Is this about the Malfoy's?"
"How…?"
"I heard you and Mrs. Malfoy before we went to Madam Malkin's. I didn't mean to, but I was in the hall…How are you using me and Draco, uh, Malfoy?"
"Honey…we're not using you. We're relying on you. I need you to talk to him and tell me if he tells you anything."
She furrowed her brows. "How can you trust him? How can you trust her?"
Arthur looked around them and pulled her further away from the crowd. "Ginny, not everything is what it seems. I can't tell you much, but I will tell you that I've known Narcissa since she was your age, and I would trust her with my life, and she trust's her son, so I do too."
Virginia was silent for a moment. "What do you need me to do?"
"Just talk to Draco." Virginia nodded. "One day you'll realize how important this is."
She hesitated for a moment. "I think I have some idea already." She dropped her father's hand and began to walk away.
She felt something strange wash over her, and stopped briefly, almost dizzy as her father called out, "Ginny, I love you."
The feeling passed just as quickly as it came and she turned to look back at her father. "I know, daddy." She gave him a small smile and retreated to the train.
Having only just boarded as they began to pull away from the platform, Virginia hefted her bag and began searching for a compartment. Just as she entered the next car, her bag snagged on a door latch, causing it to tare and the contents to spill onto the floor. "Blast."
She bent down to gather her belongings when a familiar laugh sounded behind her. "Well well, if it isn't a Weasley. Down where you belong, I see."
She whirled around to see Draco and his two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, standing above her. She felt hurt, angry and confused, wondering what had happened to the person she saw at Madam Malkin's. "Sod off, Malfoy."
"Ooh, looks like this one's got a backbone." Virginia just glared back. "What's the matter? Cat got your tongue, or have you realized you could never match my wit?" he laughed out. "Come on guys; let's see if we can find some respectable company."
He began to lead them out of the car, and Crabbe kicked a book, causing the pages to come loose from their binding, before following.
Her eyes grew even narrower as she felt the anger build up inside of her, but strangely, it was not directed at Draco, as it usually would be. Muttering under her breath, she began to gather her things, when she felt a presence behind her again. "What!" She whirled around to see Draco again, this time by himself.
He knelt down and began to help as she just stared at him in confusion. He stopped and looked at her, "Look, I'm sorry about that."
She blinked in confusion. "What?"
"I'm sorry about what I said back there, but I had to." She still looked blankly at him and he continued. "Virginia," she smiled slightly at this, "can't you just accept my apology and leave it at that."
"Why are you apologizing in the first place?"
He hesitated. "I, ah, I… Look, you're not a bad person to talk to, so I, ah… Oh, for pete's sake, just accept the damn apology before someone comes looking for me."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "You've never done this before, have you." It was a statement rather than a question.
He set his features. "Of course not. A Malfoy doesn't apologize for things."
She grinned again. "Except this?"
His features narrowed. "Fine, if that's the way you want it."
He rose and Virginia took his hand to prevent him from leaving, but let go quickly as shock passed between them. They looked at each other in surprised confusion as he knelt down again. "I—"
"What the hell was that?"
She looked down at her hands in wonder, then back at him. "I don't know." They were silent for a few moments before Virginia spoke up again. "Thank you."
"What?"
"For helping me pick up my stuff, and the apology."
"You're, ah, you're welcome?"
She smiled at him as their eyes met and locked. She felt a force drawing her towards him, and had to consciously shake her head to rid herself of the sensation. She opened her mouth to say something, when someone cleared their throat behind them. She looked up and saw Harry standing over them.
"Alright Ginny?"
"Fine, Harry."
Draco handed over the stack of papers he had gathered and stood. "Potter," he acknowledged with a nod.
Harry regarded him in surprise. "Malfoy."
"Virginia." He made to leave but Virginia took his hand again to stop him.
"Please wait." She turned and gave Harry an entreating look, which he reluctantly gave in to.
"Well, ah, our compartments just over here, Ginny."
She nodded and watched as he stepped through the entrance and waited for the door to close again. "Look, Draco…"
"My mother wants me to thank you again for your help with picking out robes."
She blinked at this sudden change of the mood. "Oh, tell her it was my pleasure, and I, ah, enjoyed myself."
He nodded. "Is there anything else?"
She dropped his hand. "No."
"Well, then. I best be off."
She nodded and watched him walk away.