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: well last chapter wasn't really that much exciting, but I needed to get that out because although it was a short one, it plays a significant part in this story...anyways, on with the story now!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
XXIII. to the Burrow
"Ready, Blondie?" Ginny asked with a knowing smirk (she had gotten so good at imitating the famous Draco Malfoy smirk that Draco himself couldn't help himself from being impressed with her).
Draco let out the breath he had been holding and looked down at the petite redhead who came up beside him as the students were filing out of the castle, "Can I back out now and feign being sick or something so I can't go?"
Ginny made a sour face at him, "There's no backing out now, Professor," she reminded him before going off to join a waiting Janelle who was being entertained by Colin.
"Nice move, slick," Hermione commented when she came up from behind her colleague.
Draco frowned at the brunette who joined him, "Stuff it, Granger."
Hermione merely rolled her eyes and shook her head. "So, got everything all packed up and wrapped?" she asked, changing the subject and lowering her voice so no one else could hear what she just asked him.
Draco did a quick scan of the place, making sure no one was within hearing range, but he still didn't want to chance it and instead nodded in repsonse.
"Good," Hermione smiled, "You'll be sharing a carriage with us, right?" she reminded him before walking to join the three Gryffindor students who were waiting in line for their turn to ride on the next carriage.
Draco stared after the jolly brunette and shook his head. He couldn't believe he was going through with this! Who would've thought that a Malfoy would be socializing with a Muggle-born and Muggle-loving people for Christmas? His father and his group of friends would laugh at him if they ever found out what he was up to this Christmas.
"Ready, Professor?"
Draco jumped when he heard Twyla's voice from behind him. The Gryffindor Quidditch captain stood just at arm's length away from him with a grin plastered on her face. Draco's eyebrow rose questioningly at the spunky blond.
"I take it that your parents allowed you to stay with the Weasleys for the holidays," it wasn't a question and there was really no need for him to ask her that when the answer was written all over her face.
"I just got their owl of approval this morning that's why I'm running a bit late," Twyla flashed him a small piece of parchment then straightened the strap of her bag over her shoulder, "Shall we? I think our entourage is already waiting," she smiled deviously and looked at the foursome standing near the doors waiting for the rest of the two of them to join.
Draco tried to hide a grin as he stepped back and let Twyla precede him to join the others waiting in line. The girl was so crazy in love with Percy her excitement at being able to spend a week or two with him was written all over her damn face!
Somehow something tells him that spending the next fourteen days with this group of people (minus Creevey of course; his parents decided to go elsewhere for the holiday and his presence was highly needed) would be something he would remember for the rest of his life!
= = = = = * * * = = = = =
The train ride to Kings Cross wasn't a quiet one. Draco, Ginny, Hermione, Colin, Janelle, and Twyla managed to cramp themselves inside one compartment, occasionally having visitors drop by for a chat every now and then. The rest of the trip was spent planning what they should do at the Burrow over the holidays, pointing out that they should at least sneak in some time to do their projects when they can. Colin was slowly becoming more and more envious as the girls--excluding Hermione of course--planned on things to do while having a two-week sleepover at Ginny's place.
"Man, I wish I don't have to go," he pouted, skulking on his corner of the compartment.
"Aww, poor baby," Janelle teased and patted the top of his head gently.
"Don't worry, Colin, we'll take lots of pictures to show you what we were up to," Ginny promised him.
"And we'll also owl you almost everyday--or every other day--just to update you on what we did," Twyla added.
The three girls spent the next half hour reassuring Colin that they would keep in touch with him if he promised to do the same.
"Oh, and don't forget to take loads of pictures once you get to Liechtenstein. I want to see some of what old Europe's got to give," Janelle piped in as an after thought.
Hermione and Draco sat back, watching the three girls bombard Colin with reminders and promises, alternating from one to the other until the look on Colin's face said he has had enough and now he was wishing he hadn't opened his mouth! Ginny, Janelle, and Twyla wouldn't stop telling him what they wanted him to do and how often they wanted to receive news from him, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
"Somehow I think Creevey has learned his lesson when it comes to his three friends," Draco whispered to Hermione as Colin tried desperately not to scream at the three girls bombarding him with attention.
Finally they reached Kings Cross and one by one the students crossed the barrier. Colin and Janelle went first followed by Ginny and Twyla. Draco decided to go with Hermione just to be on the safe side; he doesn't know who would be waiting for them on the other side of the barrier once they get there.
"Now don't be crapping in your pants, Malfoy," Hermione reminded her worried companion as they waited for Ginny and Twyla to cross, "Ginny already warned her brothers to treat one of her guests nicely."
"Yeah, right," he snorted.
"Oh, lighten up, Professor!" Hermione punched him playfully on the arm before she pushed her trolley through the barrier followed closely behind by Draco.
The sight that greeted them as soon as they crossed the barrier was something to be reckoned with. Both Fred and George were draped all over a flushed-faced Twyla, each twin giving her ample attention worthy of a queen while Percy stood behind the twins red-faced because of the twins' antics. Ron and Harry decided to stand back with Janelle and Colin watching the dynamic duo irritate Percy to oblivion.
"Jeez! If Weasley likes Isaacs so much, why couldn't he just come outright and ask her out instead of standing there looking like a very ripe tomato ready to burst?" Draco snapped as he watched Percy clench and unclench his fists, ready to tackle his two brothers.
Hermione chuckled and gave him an are-you-kidding-me look. "You should know that almost all Weasley boys are very shy when it comes to asking girls out, Malfoy," she reminded him casually, "I remember it took Ron a good...oh, how many years before he finally got up the courage to ask me out, but by then whatever feelings I have for him was gone."
"And transferred to Potter," Draco said under his breath, but Hermione caught it and stopped dead on her tracks. She stepped right in to his path, her hand on his chest and her brown eyes wide from disbelief. Draco merely chuckled and gave her a conspiring wink before walking around her to join the others, but Hermione quickly grabbed his wrist and yanked him back.
"You are not going to breathe a word to anyone about that, Draco Malfoy, you got it?" she said in a harsh low tone that only he could hear.
"Relax, Granger. Your secret's safe with me," he chuckled wickedly then added, "Besides, you and Potter are still at war, right? By the way, what was it that you two fought about that sent you both on a cold-shoulder-treatment kinda war, huh?"
"Oh stuff it, Ferret Boy!" she hissed and let go of him instantly. Draco's teasing chuckle followed her until she was engulfed in a welcoming hug from Ron, but she maintained a silent treatment when it came to Harry wanting to give her a hug; she still hasn't forgiven him for blabbing to Percy about Mr. X's identity!
Harry gave her a funny look. He was still boggled by Hermione's sudden cold treatment of him. She stopped owling him since...well, since before Slytherin versus Ravenclaw match back in November.
"M-Mione?" he called her softly, but Hermione chose to ignore him and chattered away with Ron instead. "Hermione," he called more firmly this time, and again he received the same treatment. He was about to call her again for the third time when he felt a hand clap him on the shoulder. He turned to look at the hand's owner and frowned when he found Malfoy standing behind him.
"What?" he snapped at him.
"I'd leave her alone for now if I were you, Potter," Draco advised his former school days nemesis.
"And why is that, huh?"
"Because, Potter, the girl obviously isn't in the mood to acknowledge your puny presence, that's why," he couldn't help himself from insulting Harry, after all he knew he'd be defenseless against him and the rest of the Weasley boys once they've decided to gang up on him.
"My brain isn't puny, Mal-foy, and you better watch that mouth of yours, you're in unchartered territories now. We can beat the snot out of you for all we care," he threatened, turning to around to face the blond man who now towered over Harry by a couple of inches or so.
Ginny saw the impending fight between her professor and close friend and decided it was time to interfere now before fists started flying. She didn't want to present her Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in front of her parents sporting a very nice shiner given to him by Harry as a welcome to the Burrow for the holiday present!
"Break it off, you guys," she stepped between Draco and Harry (who both towered over her, to her dismay) and tried separating them by placing a hand each on their chests and pushed as hard as she might to give them a bit of distance from one another, "Remember what I said, Harry?" she willed her friend to look her in the eyes and held it, "No fighting," she stressed out the two words as if she was talking to a two-year-old.
"But he started it," Harry whined.
Ginny cocked an eyebrow. Harry knew that look all too well now. She meant what she said about no fighting and he better abide to it or he would have another person not speaking to him. Damn women and their always useful feminine wiles! he thought savagely and dropped his impending argument with Malfoy.
Draco couldn't help but grin in satisfaction at how easily Potter was manipulated by women.
"Weakling," he muttered under his breath, but both Ginny and Harry heard him.
Harry looked like he was ready to pounce on him, but Ginny stopped him with her hand still pressing against his chest. Draco chuckled once again and was about to say something else when Ginny's piercing brown eyes turned to him.
"Same rule applies to you, Professor," she reminded him sternly, the look on her face deadly serious that Draco quickly clamped his mouth shut because she meant business.
It was Harry's turn this time to chuckle and taunted him. "Weakling," he muttered before turning his back to him and talk to Colin and Janelle.
Oh this was going to be a very fun Christmas. Fred and George were still fussing about over Twyla, their arms looped around her shoulders and waist, sandwiching her between them whilst Percy followed them very closely with his piercing glare. Hermione was still busy catching up with Ron while Harry tried his best to catch her attention and make her talk to him, but to no avail.
Oh yes, definitely a helluva fun Christmas indeed!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
A/N: hiya folks! sorry for not uploading a chapter yesterday. for once I was busy on a Saturday! *lol* watched a couple of movies and just stayed out of the house all day. anyway, I would like to thank all those reviewers who gave me some ideas for gifts. they're all so good I'm gonna be having a hard time picking one out of the lot! *lol*
KT: thank you so much, and I try my best to get at least one chapter out per day
myobgirly: chapter 21 was an 'R', eh? hehehe, well I couldn't think of anything else to give him for a final task that would sure make him go out of his mind *lol*
the Lady of Gondor: I think this chapter gave you preview of what's the come during Draco's stay at the Burrow *lol* and what do you mean you love the way I put feelings into this story, how? just curious about what you mean by that
Duckluvr7: didn't mean to leave you in suspense! *lol* I do tend to leave my readers hanging sometimes, but I post the next chapter out as soon as I can, hehehehe
FE: thank you very much!
Anyanka: hmm...this chapter has a preview of what's to come
Chick4Skater: don't worry, you won't be in suspense for long...and please, don't hurt anybody!
Quis: I try my best to put less a/n's in the middle of the story, but sometimes I just can't help it! and thanks for liking the story!
AngelLuna: thank you!
lama: sorry for leaving another cliffie back in chapter 21, but I couldn't resist so I left it as is
Hunter: it's very brave of Draco to actually go through with this, he could've argued to death with Ginny about not going and whatnot, but in the end he decided to go
The Elfin Child: I hope you had a good nite's sleep! and...hmm...maybe I'll await for a looooong entertaining review from you :::smiles:::
Cassandra Sisneta or Krey-Zey, MelissaAdams, moo, hasapi: thanks for the gift ideas
Kilmeny: of course Hermione knows...remember, she and Ginny talks about everything? hehehe, and whatever gift Draco decides to buy for Ron & Harry will be something...oh, I dunno, hilarious? unexpected? it's a tough decision to make, hehehehe
Jenn: yeah, thinking of what presents to give is really hard. and you like the Draco & Hermione friendship of some sorts? hehehe, thanks! I aim for them to agree to disagree :::winks:::
avapouhi: well not really, but by the end of his stint at the Burrow he'll sure become a part of the family--somehow, hehehehe
Xtremegrl2020: thanks for liking the d/h friendship! I know it's not really the kind of friendship where they always agree...it's nice to have them still be at each other's throats at times
Lia: yeah, it's kinda hard to think of what gifts to give to the others, but I'm sure getting quite a lot of response regarding gift ideas for the other characters
Sharlene: hmm...everybody's going to react in their own special way...I think
omelette du fromage: *lol* will they be looks of surprise? gladness? vindictive? murderous? hehehe
animezebra: what do you mean turn Draco into another Harry? meaning what exactly? I'm just curious
Polgara: some things never change? meaning Draco's still being stupid? *lol*
Crystal: me being naughty too???? :::looks incredulous then slyly grins::: hehehe, well, I have my moments! *lol*
Eva: of course you are forgiven and allowed to spend some time with your niece! hehehehe
Alli: hmm...well, it'll be a blast most probably, hehehe
Jade Stellar: Draco is very very unhappy with what, I wonder...hmm.... :::taps chin and thinks::: could it be because Ginny left him somewhat unsatisfied or because he had to go to the Burrow? hehehe, and btw, thanks for the gift ideas!
death: well, I hope this chapter is pretty interesting enough
SeZzA: of course he's cute all the time! *lol*
joebob: you are very welcome, and I'm glad you enjoyed the very first fanfic you ever read :::smiles:::
xangelcrisisx: of course he came--Ginny'll wring his neck if he didn't! *lol*
sassw14: hehehe, so nothing over the top for the Weasleys, eh? hehehe, I'll keep that in mind :::smiles:::
Nicole: now, now, no need to break both his legs! *lol*
Junebug: hmm...the brothers won't be able to say much because Ginny warned them all to not fight with one of her guests, hehehe
Cheater531: well I hope the chapters of Draco staying at the Burrow will be a whole lot of fun to read :::smiles:::
Miss Marauder: don't worry, it's always hard to think of gift ideas on the spot! *lol* and having too much isn't always that bad :::winks::: I should know, I seem to overdose myself with caffeine and sugar a lot! *lol*
Cactuskitty: I'd sure love to read one of your stories when I have the time (which is like...uhm...after I upload a chapter or in-between typing the next chapter and uploading it, hehehehe)
Redbug: Draco seemed to have a hard time asking Hermione for help, but he knew he had to, hehehe
^_^ (you didn't leave a pen name): thanks for liking the Quidditch match in chapter 9 :::smiles:::
wowsergirl: hey, not bad of an idea...hehehe, it'll probably cause a riot when Draco sleeps in GINNY'S room and...oh, let's just put Twyla in PERCY'S room *lol* what do you think? :::winks:::
Lady Phoenix Feather: oh, you won't be hearing any complaints from me regarding Tom Felton being hot! *lol*
Arella Hallo: oh he did ask her for her help all right
kellyanne: *lol* ooh...he it was really HARD for him to go ask a Muggle-born for help (now I wonder why you can't believe that part in the last chapter....hehehehe)
*karly*: I did respond to your email! Uhm...yeah, I did, I know I did! I distinctively remember responding to it, but anywho, hope you're enjoying your holiday! It's friggin' cold here right now! the temps are just falling overnight and it's not even funny!!!
JaNx: glad I made you laugh with this story, that's one of my sole purpose when I began writing this--to make my readers laugh
me: you know, I received a couple or so ideas about that gift for Percy & Twyla, hehehe, so maybe I'll end up using it, but who knows
slytherin-cool: thanks!
Isis The Goddess Of Life: uh-oh...why were you grounded? spending too much time on the computer instead of doing your chores/homework? hehehe, and don't worry, Harry & Hermione will probably get some snoggin' done in future chapters
Loves-Kiss: you're on your spring break already? lucky you! spring looks pretty far away from where I am right now :::pouts:::
Angelic Vampire: hahaha, why thank you! I knew Ginny using some of her deadly feminine wiles would always get her her way *lol*
Amy: of course you sensed right! and from the looks of this chapter, seems like Percy's going to have a helluva hard time dealing with his "feelings" for her when George and Fred decided to make it their sole purpose to drive him crazy! *lol*
