****I own nothing! Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling! A very spectacular author!
Chapter 9, Fall
Draco sat with wide shocked eyes in the kitchen, he was only dimly aware of his old house elf shooting him incredibly nasty looks from across the room.
She had gone completely insane! He had never seen her act in such a way. He had only been teasing her, like he always did, about her mother's cookies, which he had been highly disappointed to find were very good.
After a moment of thinking he became angry with himself.
'What are you doing?' He asked himself darkly. 'Why are you even worried about the way she acted? She simply lost it this time, you drove her over the edge! You wanted it that way, remember?'
Yet he could not get the image of her face out of her mind. She had leapt up as though the end of the world were upon them. Her eyes had been wide, and her face pale. The expression had been hard to read, it had been angry, yet her eyes were wide as though from shock and confusion.
He shook himself mentally for thinking of such things, he had better things to do. He was still waiting for the answer from his father.
Excitement rose inside Draco, and his eyes glittered maliciously. He stood and grabbed the tray of food set out for him and then left the kitchen.
He could not wait to see Potter, Weasley, and Granger screaming. He knew his father, if he agreed, would make sure they screamed.
Ginny sat huddled in the Common Room in one of the large squishy couches by the fire for the remainder of the day. She was completely lost in thoughts and did not notice when Colin snapped a picture of her, nor did she notice Rebecca walk by with a snicker directed at her.
Ginny only looked up near dinner time when the portrait door swung open and Gryffindors began to poor in. She was slightly in a daze and was only dimly aware when Hermione, Harry, and Ron began walking towards her.
'What could it have meant?' She thought. 'I still don't understand!'
"Hey Gin!" Ron sunk down into a seat beside her, his cheeks were red from the cold, and a smile was on his lips.
"Hello Ginny!" Hermione and Harry both said happily from either side of her as they to both took seats.
All three of them were holding bags of sweets and tricks (Hermione had bought a new book). Ron began to rummage through his bag and took out a large bag of Bertie Botts Every Flavoured Beans.
"Here Ginny", he said tossing her the bag, which she caught quickly before it hit her in the face. "We all bought you something, we figured you might want something, since you didn't come today".
"Yes, here you go", Hermione pulled out a thermos like container and handed it gently to the scarlet haired girl. "I was able to get you some butterbeer", she announced happily.
"Thanks!" Ginny beamed.
Harry was still rummaging around through his bag until he lifted a box of chocolate frogs towards her. He grinned, his eyes sparkling.
"Found em", he said triumphantly.
He handed them to Ginny and she reached out, a smile on her lips, showing off her white teeth. She took the box from his hands and her fingers gently brushed over his own. She paused, both still holding the box, the tips of her fingers over his own.
She looked thoughtfully down at her hands, as though expecting something to happen.
"Ginny?"
'Isn't something supposed to happen?' She wondered.
"Hey! Ginny!" Ginny blinked and looked up to see all three of them staring at her with odd expressions on her face, she felt herself go crimson. "Are you going to take the box?"
"Uh, oh yeah, thanks Harry!"
"No problem".
She took the box and set it down beside her, feeling confused and heavy-headed.
"Oh, uh, Ron! Mum sent us a box of cookies each", she informed him taking out his cookies and passing them to him.
"Brilliant! Mum makes the best cookies", he exclaimed opening the package immediately.
Ginny nodded without feeling and propped herself up on her elbow against the arm of the chair. Ron gave Hermione and Harry each a cookie and the trio began talking happily to one another.
Ginny gazed at Harry, her cheeks flushed slightly. She didn't get it, how come Harry didn't make her feel different when they touched? She furrowed her brow in confusion. And if Malfoy made her feel tingly… what did that mean?
The next day was Halloween and Ginny though of nothing else. She was completely happy and content that day. She laughed with Ron, Hermione, and Harry, and especially with Colin, she even had a conversation with Dinah, Katherine, and Leikela, even though it was only about another plan to get Colin with Dinah.
That night she slept comfortably and without dreams, yet the next day brought her crashing down to reality.
She hurriedly walked down into the Common Room that morning, dressed in her school robes. She swung her bag over her shoulder, she felt slightly light-headed from rushing out of bed so quickly.
Yet when she entered, she saw the Gryffindor team together. They were all having a deep conversation, but Rebecca, sadly, noticed when she entered. She sneered smugly and lifted her head as though telling her, 'I made the team and you didn't Weasley! Ha ha!'
Just as she was walking out of the portrait hole however, the entire team followed. Lola caught up with Ginny and swung an arm casually around her shoulder.
"Hey Gin", she said quite happily, her eyes sparkling excitedly.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Oh, the first Quidditch team of the season is taking place tomorrow!" She breathed and seemed to add a little skip to her walk. "I'm so excited! Not like I haven't played in a game before though, my parents sign me up for the summer leagues every summer!"
"Oh", Ginny mumbled, how could she forget that the first Quidditch game was taking place the next day. Gryffindor verses Ravenclaw. "Great!"
"Oh you'll come won't you?" Lola asked and Ginny nodded, smiling weakly. "Brilliant! It'll be absolutely brilliant!"
Ginny's morning did not go so well after this. Rebecca continued to gloat so Ginny could hear at the breakfast table, and Dinah seemed to be furious with Ginny again because she had been spending to much time with Colin. She had double Potions next and Snape had been quick to take ten points from Gryffindor when Ginny had slipped and knocked the books out of a Slytherin students arms.
When lunch came Ginny didn't feel the need to return to the Great Hall so Rebecca could continue on gloating from that morning. She wondered through the charms corridor and leaned against one of the cool stone walls. Her stomach rumbled softly, only loud enough for her to hear. She would go and eat later…
Ginny did not open her eyes when she heard a soft sound, something like a swish of a cloak… But the hair on her arms began to tingle oddly, as though someone were watching her. She opened her eyes and shrieked in surprise.
Draco Malfoy was standing only a foot away looking down at her with narrowed grey eyes, though he was sporting his ever famous smirk.
Ginny pressed a hand to her heart and breathed deeply before glaring darkly up at Malfoy.
"What are you doing?" She gasped.
He was silent, simply staring down at her. She could feel herself switching from foot to foot, and could feel an uncomfortable blush rising up in her cheeks. When she could no longer bear him simply looking down at her with eyes like steel, he spoke.
"You wanted a truce Weasley?" He asked in a voice as quiet as a whisper.
At this her mouth slightly opened and it was her turn to simply stare up at him. She wondered when he had gotten so very tall, he was perhaps Harry's height or taller. His skin was so pale and white, and his blonde hair never seemed to be out of place. Yet it was his eyes that she was staring into now, so much like cold steel, they sent a shiver down her spine and she fought the urge to shutter.
Was he actually going to agree with a truce? She wondered.
"I… I"… she couldn't form the words she wanted to, her eyes still locked to his. "I… Uh"…
A look of complete utter amusement flashed across his features and she quickly shook her head, breaking all eye contact she had with him. He couldn't laugh at her! She wouldn't let him! He had laughed at her to much over the school year!
"Malfoy!" She began but suddenly a voice ripped through the air interrupting her.
"Malfoy!"
Ron, Harry, and Hermione had come around the corner of the Charms corridor. Ron looked absolutely furious, his brown eyes were like fire, and his red hair was slightly messed. Harry seemed just as furious and both boys were stomping towards Malfoy looking ready to strike.
Hermione was hurrying behind them, for once her long legs not being able to catch up.
"Oh"… she kept saying. "Oh, oh, oh!"
Ginny blinked in confusion, why were they angry? She wondered for a moment. She looked up at Malfoy who's eyes had narrowed with the deepest annoyance.
"Malfoy you bloody prat!" Ron roared suddenly upon them. "You've done it to many times! I'm going to rip your head off!"
Ginny stepped back only just in time as Ron leapt on Malfoy and the two sixteen year old boys were suddenly on the ground hitting and fighting. Ginny let out an involuntary cry.
Malfoy kicked Ron off after a moment and then Harry leapt on him.
Ginny felt herself go pale with fright and she began to shake on the spot, however long she had wanted this to happen, it didn't feel like she thought it would have.
Hermione had grabbed Ginny by the hand and pulled her out of harms way.
"Stop it!" Ginny heard herself shrieking. "Stop, stop, stop!"
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" Hermione kept on saying, her brown eyes wide, her face pale.
Ginny stared down at the three boys hitting and fighting. The fight was definitely not fair, two against one. And she found herself, horrified at the thought, worrying for all three of them. Why would she be worried about Malfoy?
Suddenly Malfoy used his powerful legs and knocked both boys backwards off of him and quickly scrambled to his feet. He had a bruise forming under his right eyes, and a long cut just along his hairline. The rest of his body had obviously been much more damaged then his face (Lucky for him). Harry was sporting a bleeding lip, and Ron was pinching a bleeding nose.
"What the bloody hell!" Malfoy roared obviously to angry to say anything intelligent.
"Just stay away from Ginny, Malfoy!" Ron roared, he was still trying to get at the tall blonde, but Harry was holding him back by the back of his robes. "I'll kill you if I ever see you near her again! I swear it!"
"Ron!" Ginny whimpered. "Leave it alone, he wasn't doing anything".
"Yeah right, he would have!" Ron snarled. "Don't try to be nice Ginny, he deserves to"-
Suddenly from around the corner came tiny Professor Flitwick. He stared at the three boys and blinked in surprise.
"Oh my, boys!" He squeaked. "What's happened here? You'd better go down the hospital wing and get Madam Pomfrey to mend those cuts up".
"We're fine here professor", Hermione beamed with false brightness. "Just a little accident, I'll handle everything", he nodded and disappeared into a classroom, all five completely shocked that her pathetic attempt of an excuse had actually worked.
Malfoy touched a small line of blood forming at the top of his forehead. He smirked in this kind of insane little way, surprising all four of them.
"You'll get what's coming to you", his eyes rested on Ron, then Harry, and finally Hermione. "All three of you", his eyes then rested on Ginny and then he turned and walked stiffly away.
The four were silent for a moment until Ron turned on Ginny and pointed a finger at her.
"What's wrong with you?" He demanded. "He wasn't doing anything?"
"He wasn't doing anything Ron", Ginny felt herself become red, knowing the trio was looking down at her with studying eyes.
"He might have done something! He was probably planning it right then and there! Your lucky we came around the corner!" Ron nearly screamed at her.
"Ron!" Hermione snarled back at him in return. "He probably was going to do something, but what will it help by screaming at her? He probably snuck up on her!"
"I bet you anything he was the one that cursed her in the hall", Ron fumed turning on his heels and stomping away.
Hermione glared at his back and then looked at Harry with an equally angry glare, he shook his head.
"I'm not going to say anything", he said and Hermione nodded. "But… Well, Ginny you should be more careful. You know that Malfoy is a prat, just look out for him, okay?"
Ginny nodded and blushed under his concerned stare.
"Thanks"… she mumbled quietly. "For being worried about me".
The rest of the day passed in a haze. She decided to take a bath and took it in the prefect washroom. She sat in the tub full of rose smelling bubbles and crossed her arms over her chest. Her hair was held up in a simple bun atop her head and her brow was furrowed.
'When I see Harry, he makes me blush still, but when we touch it feels just like I'm touching anyone else', Ginny bit her lip in concentration. 'But when I see Malfoy, he absolutely infuriates me. I feel so much hate towards him, but when we touch he makes me tingle and feel… different'.
Ginny thought about this for a moment. "I obviously don't like Malfoy", she said out loud to the washroom. "That's absolutely insane to even suggest! I hate him, he's a bloody prat. Maybe it's just all my hatred towards him that makes me feel weird when he touches me".
'But why does it feel good?' A nasty little voice in the back of her head whispered.
Ginny felt like slapping whoever the little voice belonged to. She scowled and slid down in the bath, sinking completely under the hot water.
The next day classes ended quickly, an excitement had spread through out the entire school about the upcoming Quidditch match. Near three o'clock the Gryffindor team got up from sitting in the Common Room and began to leave.
"Good luck Harry! Good luck Ron! Good luck Lola!" Ginny cheered from where she sat, trying to quickly finish a Potions essay.
"See you after the game!" Lola beamed in return.
When four o'clock arrived Ginny, the Gryffindors, and the rest of the school began to make their way down towards the Quidditch pitch. Hermione, Hagrid, Colin, and Ginny all hurried to get good seats at the very top of the stadium.
They took their seats and began to talk excitedly to one another. It was a perfect day for flying. The sky was clear and blue, and there wasn't the slightest hint of a breeze.
A couple of minutes past until a loud booming voice rose over all the others.
"Hello! And welcome to the first Quidditch match of the season! Gryffindor verses Ravenclaw!" A familiar voice boomed.
Ernie Macmillan had taken the place of Lee Jordan doing announcements. He was quite good at announcing as well, and everyone thought he was perfect for the job.
"Here comes the Ravenclaw team! Captain and seeker Cho Chang".
Ginny frowned but clapped anyway as the Ravenclaw team emerged dressed in blue Quidditch robes. Cho Chang beamed at everyone and waved happily to the crowd, her long black hair flowing out gracefully behind her. Several people cat called.
"And the Gryffindor team! Captain and seeker Harry Potter!"
The crowds went wild as the Gryffindor team emerged onto the pitch, completely drowning out the hisses and boo's coming from the Slytherins.
Harry and Ron both zoomed about the pitch and Ginny beamed proudly up at them, wishing that she were with them. How wonderful it would have been to smile and wave, and have people cheer for her.
"And Madam Hooch comes out with the balls!" Ernie announced loudly. "The bludgers and snitch are released! Remember you need to catch the snitch to end the game, and it earns you another a hundred and fifty points students! Madam Hooch has the quaffle, and she releases it!" There was a loud roar from the crowd. "Lola gets the quaffle and is going across the pitch! Oh! Wendy Peterson sends a bludger and… Lola gets past! She's going, going, going and… Lola scores! Ten points to Gryffindor!"
Ginny squealed in delight and hopped up and down clapping furiously.
The game continued on like this for ten minutes until the game was seventy Gryffindor and twenty Ravenclaw. Neither Harry or Cho had seen the snitch yet and were both circling high above the air. Ginny had tried not to notice the smiles they kept giving one another.
From beside her Colin was taking pictures, and Hagrid and Hermione were both very involved with the game.
"And Rebecca of Gryffindor gets the quaffle! Wow! She is an amazing player isn't she? She dives, misses a bludger, she's going! She passes it to Nathan who passes it over Ravenclaw chaser Samuel's head, and back to Rebecca! Rebecca is going, she- Oh god! Is she still alive?"
As Rebecca had drawn near to the Ravenclaw keeper both Ravenclaw beaters had sent two bludgers at her. One smashed into the side of her head and the other into her chest. She flung from her broom, hit the metal hoop and began to fall. The Ravenclaw keeper caught her and slowly brought her down to the ground.
"Oh my goodness!" Hermione was shrieking digging her nails into her cheeks. "Oh! Do you think Rebecca is alright?"
Even though Ginny did not like Rebecca, she still felt very worried. Colin had begun taking pictures like mad.
The two teams, Madam Hooch, and several teachers had come down onto the pitch. The crowds of students were shouting and talking loudly together, the Slytherins were laughing and pointing down at the pitch.
Without anyone noticing as Harry had came down to check on Rebecca, he caught the snitch that had suddenly appeared with out a second though.
"Is she alright?" Harry shouted over the noise. "Professors? Madam? Is Rebecca alright?"
After a few confused minutes Rebecca was brought out of the pitch on a stretcher, pale as marble and unconscious. Ginny stared down at the pitch where the two teams were chattering together. Lola looked pale but had a smile on her face as she talked to Nathan, it didn't seem to anyone that Rebecca's injury was a big problem. Yet Ginny's eyes were locked on Harry who was talking happily to Cho.
Cho was even shorter then herself, and was ten times prettier. Cho stuck out her hand and she noticed, even from her seat, that Harry blushed and took her hand quickly. They shook hands and turned their separate ways.
Ginny wrinkled her nose and crossed her arms. She was angry and jealous, no denying that, but she wasn't fuming, and that got her even angrier. Why wasn't she screaming with rage?
"Oh I don't even know what's happening any more!" Ginny moaned and stomped away leaving a completely bewildered Colin Creevey staring after her.
Ginny was in the Common room about six thirty finishing her homework when the Gryffindor team arrived. They all looked clean and content.
Hermione who was sitting beside Ginny raised a brow when they entered.
"How is she?" She asked when Ron and Harry came and took seats beside them.
"Not good", Ron said shaking his head, but was grinning. "Did you see Harry? He was just zooming down towards the ground to go see if Rebecca was okay, stuck his hand out casually, caught the snitch, and then was all 'Is she okay?'"
"Not good?" Hermione repeated ignoring Ron's last sentence. "What do you mean not good?"
"Well", Harry hesitated. "She's sort of unconscious for the time being… Madam Pomfrey said she might be unconscious for a few days, and that she won't be able to play any Quidditch any time soon", Harry was looking down at the ground and then brought his eyes up to rest on Ginny. "So, I hope Lola's flying lessons are doing you some good Ginny. Because I promised you a spot on the team if something happened, are you up to it?"
Ginny nearly slid out of her seat from shock. She felt excitement and fright flood through her small body and all she could manage was to nod vigorously.
"Brilliant!" Hermione exclaimed beaming proudly at Ginny, obviously forgetting to worry about Rebecca any further.
"Great", Harry smiled and Ron grinned at her with a wink. "We'll be having practices every day Ginny, our next match is two weeks from now, and you need to get the practice it. Plus it's against Slytherin".
Ginny felt herself pale slightly, Malfoy was seeker of the Slytherin team.
"Okay! I'll be there!" She smiled feeling a flush come up on her cheeks.
"Excellent".
Ginny settled back in her seat and closed her eyes. She could imagine herself in flowing scarlet Quidditch robes, her hair flowing behind her. People cheering her and waving, Colin clicking pictures, herself waving her hand and smiling.
She turned and there was Harry beaming at her, admiration and pride in his eyes… But his eyes weren't green, they were grey. His hair was becoming lighter and before Ginny could imagine any more she opened her eyes and shook her head so violently it began to thump.
'What am I thinking? He's gotten me so mad lately, that now he's even invading my imagination! That prat!'
Draco was furious after the encounter with Potter and Weasley. They had nerve jumping on him like that! He hadn't even been doing anything… yet anyway.
He attended the Quidditch match the next day and laughed heartily when Rebecca was knocked violently out of the sky, but had narrowed his eyes at Potter's spectacular and very casual capture of the snitch.
Without noticing what he was doing his eyes had glided over the crowds of Gryffindors waving scarlet banners and shouting angrily.
His eyes rested on a particular scarlet haired girl looking down with wide worried eyes. Colin was hopping about her like an idiot snapping pictures and Granger appeared as though she were about to have a fatal heart attack. Ginny appeared to be the calmest of the three students there, except perhaps the large oaf Hagrid, who was standing just behind them.
His eyes narrowed slightly, she had been about to answer him when her brother and Potter had interrupted. He could not help but let curiosity get the better of him and wonder what it was that she had been about to say.
After the game the news spread quickly that Rebecca was out of it for most of the season and that Ginny Weasley would be taking her place. For some odd reason, this had not thrilled Draco as he had thought it would.
He knew that he should have been dearly wanting to see her fly from her broom, see her brown eyes widen in shock as she fell. But somehow he felt different, he felt slightly… No! He wouldn't even say such a thing even to himself!
Yet he was angry with her, furious at the way she had reacted in the kitchen. Why had she acted as though his touch had burned her? Why had she been angry after it? He hadn't exactly been thrilled when their fingers touched, but he had not acted in such an offensive way. Every girl wished to have a touch from him and few had received such a great honour.
The reason why he had asked her if she had wanted a truce was to see if she had really meant it. He had quite enjoyed fighting with her, and if he was any good at judging people, he had believed she had enjoyed getting him in trouble just as much.
Draco lay back in his bed that night lost in thoughts. He had been receiving letters from his mother each day with a box of sweets, but he had received no answer from his father. He found this uncomforting, for his father normally wrote each week.
His thoughts drifted to Potter, Weasley, and Granger. He couldn't believe how utterly stupid they all were. They were all thick headed in his opinion, even Granger. They could never really watch out for each other. Every year one of them nearly died, and they could never save each other from it. They weren't even good enough to save Ginny from him. If he had someone to watch out over, he would make sure they were never to get hurt. He didn't have anyone like that though, Crabbe and Goyle were completely capable of watching out after themselves.
The dormitory door creaked open and Draco was brought out of his thoughts. He propped himself up on his elbows to see Crabbe and Goyle huddle in.
He lay back down and closed his eyes, his thoughts now on Quidditch. They would definitely need to practice, the Gryffindor's had a far better team then he had originally suspected…
Ginny felt the two weeks went by much to quickly. Though each day had seemed like a hundred years to her. The practices were hard and exhausting, she knew the rules and how to play, but she had to learn to get past the other players. She was a fairly good flyer now, but no where near as good as the others were, and much to her dismay, she even admitted to herself that Rebecca was a far better player.
Ron and Harry both pushed her hard and were encouraging. Every day Hermione and Colin would sit in the bleachers, even if the air was like ice and sleet was pouring from the sky. They would be bundled up and they would watch with sparkling eyes.
Classes were a daze and Ginny felt herself more then once drifting off into sleep. Colin however was quick to prod her awake with a gentle smile, more then once he would take a picture to get her attention. The Slytherins would cackle and hiss whenever she went past, but all the other houses would whisper words of encouragement to her.
When the Quidditch match drew near she felt small amounts of fear creep into her body, mainly her stomach. The only reason she was able to finish her schoolwork and stay caught up was because of Hermione. All of her time was spent either on practice, homework, or sleeping. She was however happy of all the work, because during the two weeks she didn't think of Draco Malfoy all that much.
Much to her discomfort the day of the Quidditch match arrived. Ginny woke feeling sick to her stomach and slightly light headed. Her body felt sore from so many nights of seemingly endless practice. Yet what was even more discomforting was the fact that three people were staring down at her.
"What are you doing?" Ginny mumbled, feeling to sleepy and sick to be startled.
Leikela, Dinah, and Katherine were all staring down at her with sparkling eyes.
"We're going to eat breakfast with you this morning Gin", Katherine said pointedly.
"Oh?" Ginny slowly sat herself up.
The three girls were already completely dressed in their Hogwarts robes, their hair and make up was done, and they were wearing their hats.
"So hurry up", Leikela ordered.
It took a long time for Ginny to get ready. She stretched several times before her muscles felt ready to work properly. She had had to hide in the bathroom to get away from the three girls, who had been staring at her.
She wondered why they suddenly wanted to have breakfast with her. They had before of course eaten together and gone places together, but they had never been close. Ginny was closest to Colin then anyone else in their year, and that had always bothered the girls.
She dressed into her school robes and ran a brush through her scarlet hair. She looked pale as usual, but her brown eyes seemed oddly bright. She sighed staring at her reflection and gently shook her head in dismay. Why couldn't she be beautiful? Why couldn't she own anything beautiful? Why couldn't she have anything beautiful?
She simply left her hair down and slung her backpack over her shoulder. She opened the door for the bathroom and her eyes widened to find that the three girls were waiting for her. Dinah threw an arm around Ginny's shoulders and led her towards the Great Hall.
During most of breakfast the three girls held up a conversation completely on hair accessories. Ginny felt like sinking into the floor and dying, she had never been so completely bored in her entire life.
When someone tapped Ginny on the shoulder she was more then able to whirl around with begging eyes. She found Harry and Ron staring down at her and a smile broke out on her lips.
"Can we have a word with you Ginny?" Harry asked, raising a brow.
Ginny nodded, gave the girls an apologetic look, and leapt up from her seat more then thankful. The two sixteen year old boys led her down the Gryffindor table to where Hermione was munching on toast. Hermione waved brightly and Ginny sank down into a seat beside her. Harry and Ron both sank down into seats beside Ginny, Harry sat beside her.
"Ron thought we should help you out a bit", Harry said when Ron and Hermione began to talk. "You looked quite bored with those girls".
Ginny smiled thankfully. "Yeah thanks Harry!"
"Are you nervous about today?" He then asked her softly.
Ginny was silent, but her head was screaming yes. She felt her stomach give a funny lurch before she nodded slightly. Harry nodded and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. Ginny frowned thoughtfully at this gesture, it didn't make her shiver… and it didn't make her blush. She was utterly confused.
"Don't worry Ginny", Harry told her. "You've greatly improved, and I'm sure you'll do great".
"Thanks", she murmured feeling anything but in high spirits.
When three o'clock came rain was pouring down from the sky in buckets of ice. Ginny stood in the Gryffindor change room with the rest of the team. She was easily the smallest of them all, they all seemed to tower over her tiny form. She however felt proud and important, excitement and fear rushing through her all at once. She was dressed in scarlet Quidditch robes that were much lighter then they appeared.
She could hear the wind rushing outside and shuttered lightly. The November winds were harsh and icy, and the ground was a thick layer of mud.
They all stood together and immediately Lola draped an arm around Ginny's shoulder. Ginny looked up nervously, but managed a smile when she saw Lola beaming down at her confidently.
She looked at the others standing around her and sighed. Harry smiled at them all and fixed his glasses.
"Alright team", he said calmly. "I know we'll do great! I don't have a doubt in my mind that we all won't play brilliantly! Try your hardest and remember to have fun".
"And if you get the chance to push a Slytherin off their broomstick, do so", Ron added cheerfully and everyone laughed.
"Let's head out!"
"Come on Gin", Lola said happily leading her out, her arm still draped about her shoulder.
"You'll do great Ginny, don't worry. You fly much better then you did before", Nathan, the other Gryffindor chaser told her cheerfully.
"Yeah Gin, besides you won't have to worry. We'll have the bludgers covered, nothing will happen to you like what happened to Rebecca", Lewis, one of the Gryffindor Beaters informed her, and Craig, the other beater, nodded in agreement.
"I'm kind of glad she's not playing anymore", Craig said as they reached the doors leading out into the pitch. "She was kind of a bi"- yet the rest of his words were drowned out by the sudden roar of wind as the doors swung open.
"Good luck", Ginny heard Harry whisper in her ear.
Draco flew high above the rest of the players. The Gryffindors were still yet to come out onto the pitch. The wind was blowing violently and he scowled in distaste as he flew slightly off course. The wind would be a definite problem, however the players on the Slytherin team were much heavier and could stay in place longer then the Gryffindor team probably could.
His long emerald Quidditch robes were billowing slightly in the wind, and he wondered vaguely how out of place his hair looked. He absent-mindedly slicked his hair back and looked down at the crowds of people. Three quarters of the crowd were bearing banners and streamers of scarlet, and the last quarter bore things of emerald.
The Gryffindor door gates swung open and the Gryffindor team rose into the air for a few practice laps. He could barely hear Justin Finch-Fletchley but it didn't matter. His eyes scanned the pitch and he quickly spotted Potter and Weasley, his eyes narrowed in hatred. However his eyes then drifted to where a tiny figure was flying through the air.
Ginny Weasley had indeed become a fairly good flyer, she wasn't spectacular, or anywhere near as good a flyer as Rebecca was, but she could stay on her broomstick.
Even through the wind that burned his eyes he could see the camera flashes of Colin Creevey's camera. His eyes narrowed irritably, did that kid even have a life? All he ever did was take pictures of Potter… and Ginny. He wondered then if Colin had a crush on her? Something that felt very much like anger surged through his body and he shook his head in slight surprise. That had been odd.
A hurried moment past and everyone took their places on the pitch, waiting for the balls to be released.
Potter was facing him and the two locked eyes, brilliant green against steel grey. Their eyes both narrowed in hatred and they tightened their grips on the handles of their broomsticks.
"Good luck Potter", he hissed sardonically.
"If you touch Ginny, I'll murder you", Potter hissed in return and Draco simply smirked icily.
Suddenly from below the house teams lurched forward and a flash of red was seen before Lola of Gryffindor was flying away with it held under her arm.
Potter rose high above the stadium and Malfoy followed after him. He kept glancing back with eyes of utter hatred and Draco, despite his anger, found this quite amusing.
Draco forced his attention away from Potter and began to scan the pitch below with his eyes narrowed. He was furious at the rain and wind that burned his eyes and soaked through his robes. He held himself in place and stared down below. Everything just seemed like a big blur but he did his best to spot any hint of gold.
He was distracted though by the game commencing below, since he could not hear Justin Finch-Fletchley he watched for himself.
He knew immediately that they were losing just on impulse. He watched as Lola and Nathan of Gryffindor swerved expertly through the other players and dodged bludgers. Surprisingly, Ginny was right there with them. He was impressed that she could actually catch up and take part in the rough game. However, she was not as good as dodging things as Lola and Nathan were. Several times bludgers skimmed her head or body, and once or twice she was hit in the arm. Yet she caught right up with them and took part in the passing of the quaffle.
He watched as Lola scored another goal and narrowed his eyes in the deepest annoyance before returning his attention back to his own job. Potter was still sitting in the same position as before, his eyes scanning the area below.
Ten minutes later the game became violently dangerous. The snitch had not yet been seen by either Potter or Draco. He was sure that it had made an appearance but neither Potter or himself had been able to spot it.
The players below were however becoming quite rough. The beaters were now hitting bludgers in every direction possible, even at each other. The chasers were staying in tight knit-groups and all appeared to be splattered in mud. It appeared as though Lola had been knocked off her broomstick and landed in the mud when he had not been looking.
Draco hissed between his teeth and lowered closer to the game, he could not see so high up! Potter followed his leave and he was aggravated by this.
They began to circle the pitch and their eyes locked hatefully once more for a minute or so.
Draco growled and shook his head, and strands of blonde hair stuck to his forehead. He quickly slicked back his hair and squeezed his eyes tightly shut for a moment. They were stinging and sore from the wind and rain.
That's when he saw it, a glint of shimmering gold. He leaned forward and shot across the pitch like a bullet, Potter was directly behind him, and then beside him.
The snitch was hiding near the players who were struggling over the quaffle. Both Potter and himself pushed their broomsticks to their limits and then something happened that Malfoy regretted.
He didn't understand it then, but afterwards he went over it in his mind and hated himself for it. The chasers came forward in a rush, Ginny was in possession of the quaffle. Bludgers came from every direction and Malfoy was directly in their path. They missed him by inches and then there was a scream.
He hadn't meant to do it, he hadn't meant to catch her!
Things had gotten so very violent that in between her shivers Ginny was trembling with terror. She was doing fairly alright, but her right arm was throbbing with pain from where a bludger had struck her.
They were flying low on their broomsticks and Nathan had just received the quaffle from Lola and he was zooming towards the Slytherin keeper. He passed it back to Lola who was flying so very close to Ginny. Two Slytherin chasers were suddenly on her, and then the quaffle was in Ginny's arms.
Malfoy and Harry flew by a second later, a flash of gold shocked her and she slowed her pace, then she was being thrown from her broomstick as a Slytherin chaser crashed harshly into her from behind.
A terrified scream left her lips and she felt as though she were flying downwards into a blur of burning wind and ice rain.
Her arms snatched at the air as though she were going to catch something, and then it happened. Everything went silent all around her as a hand closed around her left wrist and she was halted painfully in the air.
Slowly she lifted her eyes and they locked with those of storm grey. She forgot everything then, and it was only her and Draco Malfoy there. Draco, hanging half way off of his broomstick holding onto her.
Draco Malfoy had undoubtfully saved her life, and the shivers spreading through out her body were not from pain or fear any longer.
Then noise came rushing back into existence as two strong arms wrapped around her waist and yanked her from Malfoy's grip. She was being seated on a broomstick, with someone's arms about her in a protecting manner.
"Are you alright Ginny?" Harry's voice asked her, his warm breath on her cheek, but her eyes were locked on Malfoy's.
He had saved her from falling fifty feet to the ground. Why? He was simply sitting on his broomstick, his eyes still locked with hers. The expression on his face and in his eyes were unreadable.
~~~
Ginny sat motionless in the changing room. She was completely soaked through and splattered head to toe in mud. Her right arm was throbbing, and the entire left side of her body was aching. Yet her eyes were locked on her hands, clasped in her lap.
There was no such thing as noise any longer, or people for that matter. She didn't not notice or hear Harry and the rest of the team standing about her and arguing.
'Why did he catch me?' She wondered. 'Why didn't he let me fall? Why didn't he let me hit the ground and laugh? Why did he hold on… he had time to correct his mistake. I don't understand any of this!'
Suddenly Ginny was being shaken and she blinked in surprise, as though just realizing there were other people in the room with her.
"Ginny are you alright?" Ron was peering into her brown eyes with his own. He looked rather tired. "Are you alright?"
Ginny nodded. She was alive wasn't she? Malfoy had caught her, why wouldn't she be alright?
"I'm fine", she answered hoarsely. "A little sore, but that's it".
"Did Malfoy say anything to you?" Harry pushed Ron out of the way.
Ginny closed her eyes and the memory of Malfoy holding her by the wrist came back full force. He hadn't said anything… why had his face and eyes seemed so emotionless? Or had there been emotion there that she had not been able to detect?
"Ginny! Did Malfoy say anything to you?" Harry repeated shaking her slightly.
"No", she answered once more, and then frowned slightly. "Who won the game?" She couldn't rightly remember anything after Harry had taken her away from Malfoy's stare.
"We did Ginny, but that's not important right now", Harry informed her. "Malfoy didn't say anything? He wasn't the one who pushed you off your broomstick? He wasn't about to let you fall? He didn't say or do anything?"
"One of those bloody chasers rammed her from behind", Nathan spoke up from behind Ron. "I saw it, she flew right through the air".
"Then Malfoy just reached out, grabbed her wrist, and caught her", Lola finished off and the room became silent.
"Ginny! Was Malfoy doing any of the things Harry asked?" Ron asked angrily making his sister look at him.
"No!" Ginny said quietly into the suddenly silent change room. "He didn't do anything or say anything. He just caught me and then Harry took me away".
She blinked up at the bleary faces of her team-mates standing around her. She felt like dissolving into tears, she was so very confused.
There were so many questions. Why? Why did Malfoy make her tingle? Why did he catch her? Why had he wanted a truce? Why was he making her think about him?
Ginny didn't talk to anyone and her team-mates gave up on trying to talk to her. She continued to simply glaze completely over and be lost in her thoughts, and no one could get her attention without thoroughly shaking her.
She took a long hot shower and changed back into her school robes. She hurried back to the Gryffindor tower and rushed past everyone in the Common Room up to the fifth year dorms. She climbed into bed completely dressed and clamped her eyes shut.
She didn't want to think about anything any more, she just wanted to sleep and forget everything.
However even her dreams seemed to be against her, because they simply repeated the event of her falling over and over again. She woke the next morning aching, tired, and confused with only the thoughts of Draco Malfoy in her mind.
*** A/N Chapter nine is done! Actually there was supposed to be more, but I decided to cut it short and do the rest of it in the next chapter. Something might be happening next chapter, something that you might have been wanting to happen for a while now *hint, hint, wink, wink*. Get my drift? Please Read and Review! And thank you to all the people that already have!
Okay, I'm a Draco and Hermione fan to. But lately I've been reading a bunch of stories where Hermione it being hit by Draco and she's just some abused snivelling girlfriend. I seriously don't think Hermione would put up with that. If Draco ever hit her I totally believe she'd hit him right back or curse him or something like that. It's not in her character to be weak, she always pulls through on top!
Ooooh! I saw The Four Feathers today! It was such a good movie, you have to be into serious type movies to watch it though. I personally thought it was excellent though. I want to see Tuck Everlasting to! Anyone seen it? Tell me if it's good or not please!