Summary: When Ginny boarded the Hogwarts Express on the first of September, she was surprised to come face-to-face with the last person she expected to see back in school. He was still the same prat she remembered from years before, but now he has a much higher authority than ever before: he was this year's new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Ginny wished this was all a dream, but to her dismay she was stuck with him for an entire school year!
Disclaimer: Once again I don't want to go through all the mumbo-jumbo of having to write this out, so I'm saying this now: NOT MINE!!! I keep on forgetting to add this on to this one: MAIN HP CHARACTERS AREN'T MINE, those other names you don't recognize are mine as well as the plot, and also other stuff that you don't recognize, kapish?
Setting: Ginny's in her 7th year; Draco graduated the year before
PhoenixRae's Notes: I am so totally running out of ideas for this fic! *lol* Uhm...maybe not, but all the same I'm battling writer's block.
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XV. Let's Talk It Out
Taking Harry's advice to mind, Ginny asked Hermione one weekend before the next match of the Quidditch season if they could talk. In as much as she loved Harry's opinion about everything that has to do with her life, still, there are stuff that Harry couldn't answer for her and Hermione would be the only person who would be able to help her out.
"Okay, what's this problem you're so high-strung about, hm?" Hermione asked as soon as she invited Ginny into her private quarters.
"Wha--did Harry tell you something?" Ginny asked suspiciously, crossing Hermione's private living quarters and made herself comfortable on one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace.
"In our numerous correspondence he mentioned something about a certain Mr. X that has got your knickers in a knot, Ginny, but other than that he didn't tell me anything else," Hermione explained, carrying a tray with cookies and biscuits and placed it on the coffee table where she already had two cups and saucers and a ceramic teapot sitting.
"Oh...so Harry mentioned Mr. X to you already, huh?" she leaned forward and poured herself some tea, "And did Harry mention anything else about Mr. X to you that might help things easier for me to explain?"
"Like you and Draco suddenly becoming fast friends over the course of the last couple of months?" Hermione asked casually.
Ginny's hand shook and she nearly dropped the teapot she was holding. She lifted a pair of shock-stricken brown eyes at her friend, her mouth opening and closing as if to say something but she couldn't find the words to use.
Hermione smiled victoriously. Crossing her legs she leaned her elbow against her knee and leaned forward, speaking in a somewhat hushed tone, "So Mr. X is Draco, hm?"
"I...I...N-no!" she stammered, carefully placing the teapot back on the coffee table and more firmly said, "No. Mr. X is definitely not Draco Malfoy!"
Hermione raised an eyebrow. She gave her friend one of her I-don't-believe-you looks and leaned back in her seat.
"C'mon Ginny, there's no need for you to hide this from me. Unlike your brothers and Harry, I won't be having a heart attack if Mr. X turned out to be Malfoy," she assured her worried friend.
Ginny still didn't trust her. God, was she that transparent about who her Mr. X was?! Hell, Harry guessed it was Draco when she told him about her Mr. X in her letters, and now here she sat across from Hermione and her friend deadpanned her mystery guy to be Draco Malfoy as well!
"Look, Mione--" but Hermione cut her off by putting her hand up to stop her from saying any further.
"Gin, we've known each other for years. Remember I was the first one to find out that you were going out with Derek last year? Did I flip out like Ron and Harry when I learned who your boyfriend was?"
Ginny shook her head. Hermione was the only one who kept a level head about the whole Derek situation last year when they found out she was seeing a Slytherin sixth year.
"Of course not, Gin. So you're fancying Malfoy, big deal. I happen to be starting to like the git. Not like-like, you know? What I mean is once you get to know the real person underneath all that icy exterior, well, he's a nice lad."
"Yeah, that he is," Ginny nodded, "But Mione, I can't go and fall for him. We can be friends like you two have obviously become, but something more than just friends? I don't think so."
"Why'd you say that?" inquired Hermione, pouring herself some tea and reached over to grab a cookie from the tray.
"Because...it's just not possible for someone like him to see me as more than just a good time girl...like what Derek obviously saw me as."
"Oh, I don't think Malfoy only sees you as a good time girl, Gin," she took a bite off the cookie and chewed for a while before adding, "But if ever he does only sees you as such, don't worry, I'll straighten him out before he could even say Quidditch!"
That earned a chuckle from her distraught friend. Ginny attempted to pour herself some tea and grabbed a biscuit from the assortment presented before her.
"So do you think I should let whatever feelings I'm having for Malfoy in or should I just keep it at bay for now?" she asked after a while.
"It's all up to you, Gin. It's a bit tricky considering you're a student and he's a teacher, but if you two could be discreet about it and...well," she shrugged and finished off the cookie she was eating. "Just as long as your so-called relationship doesn't interfere with your student-teacher relationship then I say go for it!"
"But what if he doesn't want us to become more than just friends? I mean, he's still a prat sometimes. And in class? Arrgh!" she shivered remembering the times Draco picked on her this week alone in class, "He's such an ass!"
"Since when wasn't Malfoy an ass?" Hermione laughed.
Ginny thought about it for a second and started to laugh herself. "You're right about that. So what you're saying is Draco being an ass is part of who he is?"
"He is an ass whether he's a student, teacher, or just a regular bloke on the street!" Hermione giggled.
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Dearest Harry,
Breathe a word about Mr. X's identity to anyone and I guarantee you the next time we see each other you'll be breathing through a tube when I'm done with you!
Anyway, you're right about who Mr. X is. It's Malfoy. And I think our Ginny's really crazy over him and like me, she has seen a side of Malfoy that no one has seen before. So BE NICE TO GINNY the next time you see her and act as if you know nothing about Mr. X's true identity. I'm only sharing this with you because you've been pestering me about him in your every damn letter that I just have to cave in!
Burn this letter as soon as you're done reading this. I don't want George to accidentally read this and come barging into school intent on beating the snot out of Malfoy!!!!
Always,
Mione
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My Dearest Hermione,
MALFOY?!
Is she out of her freaking mind?! I knew I had that distinct gut-feeling when I received her first letter of the school year and she started complaining about Malfoy. I knew it. I just knew it that she has a thing for that prat! Well he better not mess up with Ginny or he'll have to answer to me as well as the rest of the Weasley boys!
Now how do you expect me to concentrate when I keep on thinking about Ginny salivating over Malfoy?
Ah, dammit! Thanks a lot, Mione!
Your Pissed-Off Friend,
Harry
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My P-O-ed Harry,
Well just try and concentrate on whatever it is you're doing! And don't be getting mad at me for telling you WHO Mr. X is! Remember you kept on bugging me about his real identity. Is it my fault that Ginny found Draco Malfoy attractive?
Hello?! Next to you back in our school days, Draco Malfoy was the next most sought-after bachelor!
Now I'm irritated too! If this is your reaction to Ginny's new apple of the eye, what more would be Fred, George, Ron, and Percy's reaction would be?! I shudder to even think of how they would take the news!
Your Irate Friend,
Mione
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Hermione Granger!
How the hell could you let that slimey git slither right into my sister's life?! You're suppose to be watching out for her NOT letting her getaway with sneaking off somewhere with Malfoy!
Arrgh! You better stop this before anything else happens! I'd hate to have a Malfoy for an in-law if ever something happens to my sister! And I'm holding you responsible for whatever happens to Ginny!
Percy
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Percy Weasley!
What the hell is with all this threats, huh?! You're holding me responsible for your sister liking some guy? HELLO?! In case you're too thick in the head, I am not the one who's running Ginny's life! She can like any damn guy she wanted to like for all I care!
And how the heck did you even find out about Ginny's Mr. X, huh? Did Harry tell you? Oooh...I swear I'm going to wring his neck the next time we see each other!
And before I forget, watch your Weasley temper, Percy! Don't be sending Ginny a howler and embarrass the poor girl in front of everyone! I don't think she'll ever forgive you--and me for that matter--if she finds out that you guys know! Hell, if you know then I'm pretty sure Ron as well as the twins knows about it as well.
Arrgh! Harry's a dead man! Tell him that the next time you see him!
Hermione
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A/N: uh-oh...the secret's out! hehehehe, well, Mr. X's identity is revealed and now Percy's fuming and Hermione's pissed off at Harry for not being able to keep his big fat mouth shut! :::giggles::: okish, I think I'm over my writer's block (either that or I just struck gold and got inspired for some odd reason!)!!! anyways, read, review & enjoy! let me know what you think and keep those suggestions coming 'coz really, I draw some ideas from your fantabulous suggestions & comments even! thanks a bunch!
hasapi: I am fond of Harry as well, so I'm going to make sure that he won't suffer from some major heart attack...but I can't guarantee that Hermione won't rearrange his face after this chapter! *LOL*
Anh D-ao: nope, Draco doesn't like Derek much...and for some pretty good reasons too! hehehe
Cassandra Sisenta or Krey-Zey: yeah, Harry should write an advice column, but then again, will he be good or bad at it?! hehehehe, and I'll check out your d/g ficcy
Faltering Hues: thanks for the suggestion, but if I let Ginny tempt Draco into kissing her, it will be kinda like what I made her do in Mission, so I don't wanna be repeating it here
Arella Hallo: thanks for that piece of advice! and for sure I'll keep that in mind. Mind you, before I ended up with this chapter I think I started it off writing like two different things for it before I finally settled on this one! *lol*
Yochy: yep, D/G rules! hehehehe thanks for the review
xangelcrisisx: you'll be in la la land, eh? hehehehe, thanks for liking my idea of Ginny & Harry exchanging letters in the previous chappie
KeeperOfTheMoon: well this chappie isn't titled 'Girl Talk' but Hermione & Ginny did talk...and also we got a glimpse of Harry and one of the Weasley brother's reaction when they found out about Ginny's Mr. X! *lol*
DJnickSnood: this is torture? oh woe is me! *lol* actually I want them to kiss to, but I just don't know when to execute a full snogfest between Draco & Ginny
SeZzA: thanks! and yep, Ginny was right about Harry flipping out. he did flip out in this chapter when he found out and now Hermione's out to skin his hide for not being able to keep his big mouth shut! *lol*
Jenn: I always pictured Harry to turn out to be another brother to Ginny. They may not end up together but I envisioned them forming a very strong bond of friendship
Starry: yep...couldn't think of any more letters from the alphabet to use except for "X" hehehehe
*karly*: thanks...and don't be rubbing it in that you're gonna be soaking up the sun while I freeze my tush here for another 3 weeks or less!!! arrg! and now that the snow's thawing it's all muddy and my car's caked with it!!! it's going to be a biatch to clean it up! :::pulls hairs out in frustration at the mere thought of a cleaning a very muddy car:::
kellyanne: no, you're not insane. just involved somehow, hahahaha. okish, the Squid will have a Derek meal served up to it soon
Loves-Kiss: oooh...overprotective mom talking Derek to an early grave! *lol*
MelissaAdams: sorry to disappoint you for lack of action in the previous chappie
Freak like me: I can't guarantee you for some longer chapters, but I think I can guarantee you an upload every other day or so, hehehehe
Sharlene: Harry kinda guessed it but of course he was in denial mode *lol*
Miss Marauder: thanks for liking the idea
wowsergirl: the idea had something to do with Draco & Ginny kissing :::winks:::
Redbug: thanks for enjoying this fic. I tend to mix up some humor and some drama in my fics because it's more fun that way, hehehe
slytherin-cool: could it be that Derek hit Ginny with a club in front of the entire school and him acting like a complete jerk around her and her friends? hehehehe, but you're not the only one who's plotting Derek's demiss
Polgara: a Disturbed Harry is always a cute Harry as far as I'm concerned *LOL* and a more than friendly kissing action, eh? hmm...it could be arranged...just dunno when, hehehehe
avapouhi: is this soon enough for you? hehehe, and yep, guys could be clueless sometimes
