A/N: Thank you so much for all the reviews I've been receiving! I'm really
getting into this story, so I'll tell you now it wont just get abandoned,
hehe. I really appreciate the reviews that actually have insightful
comments, so if I get nice reviews, I might start doing shout-outs again.
~*~
People are starting to arrive and that's when I realize just how big Draco's room is. He has the perfect party room, I can tell you that.
You can already tell what sort of people Draco is friends with, also. There is a group of punk kids standing by his bed, wearing all black and metal jewelry, like I am. There are some more average looking people by the doorway, wearing sweatshirts and jeans, probably waiting for the rest of their friends. I've noticed that these are the kind of people who always travel in packs.
I wonder if they are afraid to be alone. I know that Ron and Harry and Hermione are like that, they always have each other around to back them up. I value my alone time.
Blaise has already found the guy she wants to impress. I'm not quite sure of his name but he looks clean cut, a little punk, a nice guy. I hope she has a good night. I sit down against a wall. Maybe someone will come talk to me.
My eyes drift over the crowds of people entering the room. It's up to about twenty-five people now, making me wonder just how big this thing is going to get. I recognize a couple people from my own grade, ones I've never talked to. Slytherin students.
Strangely enough, I feel intrigued.
There are a few girls standing in the corner, wearing skimpy shirts and mini skirts. By the mere way they are dressed, I figure they weren't invited. The pinks and whites of their outfits clash horribly with the various black, grays, and dark blues of the rest of the room.
I wonder what they want. They seem like good girls, what would they be doing at a party like this? But then I revised my thoughts, wondering why I was at a party like this myself.
Because Blaise told you you'd have a good time and Blaise doesn't lie to you, I reminded myself.
Oh yeah. I forgot.
Another song came on that I knew. I found myself singing, something I normally only did in the privacy of my shower. If I was feeling even the remotest bit happy.
"Are you having fun?" a voice nearly screamed in my ear. The music was so loud that I could still only just hear them. I look up into the cold gray eyes of Draco Malfoy. He's standing above me, holding a cup of something.
I shrug. "More or less."
"Anything I can do to make it more, not less?" he asked, taking a sip of his drink.
I shrug again.
"Here, have this." He hands me his cup. I don't even care what's in it, I take a sip. It tastes bitter, but I don't care. I take another sip.
"Do you want to dance?" His question catches me off guard. I only stare at him.
"Right...forget I asked." He starts to turn and leave, but I reach out and grab his arm. Yes, it surprises me too.
"I was just surprised, that's all. Sure I'll dance." I take another gulp, finishing it off, before I set the cup on the ground. It gets knocked over as I'm getting up, but Draco doesn't seem to mind. I look around for other people dancing, but nobody is.
"Where exactly are we going to dance?" I ask, stupidly.
He gives me his famous half smile that seems to either drive girls wild or make them want to slap him. I think I'm somewhere in between. "Right here." He answers.
I'm sure there is a look of confusion on my face, because Draco grabs my hand, leans toward me, and whispers, "It's my party, I can do whatever I damn well want to do."
I haven't moved. "Why are you being so nice to me?" It just doesn't add up.
He shrugs, grabbing my other hand as well. "I'm not quite sure. But Blaise is a good friend of mine, and if she wants you here then I want you here. I'm not as closed minded as you think, Ginny Weasley."
"But I'm a Gryffindor. Doesn't this hurt your social status or something?"
Draco laughed. A real genuine laugh, not the hateful mocking laugh I'd heard from him so many times before. "Ginny, let me tell you something. I'm at the top of the social chain. If I start hanging around Gryffindors, they all will. Not that you're just an average Gryffindor, however."
It is at this point in our conversation that I realize all of his words are a bit slurred, and his movements are jerky. Whatever he'd been drinking, and gave me, was definitely alcoholic. It doesn't bother me in the slightest, just makes this situation a little more realistic. He won't remember it by morning.
With his last comment, he put his arm around my waist, meeting it halfway around with his other hand. This left my own arms at an odd position, forcing me to put them up around his neck. There was still space between us, though. Sort of the way you dance when you are young and still afraid of the opposite sex, like at our dances back in third and fourth year.
But Draco and I aren't young, and we both know how to dance properly. It was at the very moment that I was going to pull away and tell this creep to leave me alone that he pulled me closer. So close to his own body that I could feel his heart beat, with my face against his chest.
Ok, ok, I'll quit being my usual sarcastic self and admit it. It was a perfect fit.
And I'll also admit this. Whatever was in that cup was not normal beer either, like I'd been expecting when he handed it to me. Because even though I was pressed up against Draco Malfoy, breathing in his scent, dancing to the music that was way too loud and getting a headache, I liked it. Blaise was right. I needed this.
"Gin..." he sort of whispered into my ear, getting a dazed look on his face. "Come with me, let's go somewhere else."
Don't ask me why I was surprised again, but I was. He wanted to actually hang out with me? I've never left a party with a boy, well then again I've never really been to a party, either.
He wrapped his hand around my own, and pulled me out into the hallway. There was a group of people out there already, including one of the pink and white girls I'd seen earlier. They were sitting around a cloud of smoke, not leaving much to my imagination as to what they were up to.
The girl was sitting in another guys lap, smoking. I was wrong to judge her.
"Hey, Draco. Ready to hang out with us again?" she called over to him, waving him over.
He shook his head, and kept walking. "No." was all he said.
I waited a few minutes to question him. Farther along down the hallway, I spoke up. "What was that about?"
He didn't even turn to face me, but stopped walking. "I've been clean for a month now. I'm not starting that back up again." We were at the end of the hall; the only thing in front of us now was a window, with a stained glass picture of a snake on it. It was raining outside.
"Do you smoke?" The question was so simple, yet my answer could be crucial.
"No."
"Good. Don't start." Then he changed his serious demeanor into a friendlier one, sitting down against the wall. I followed him down, sitting facing him. I was feeling my shyness creep upon me, but I tried to ignore it. He was being nice, this was my chance to prove that I deserved to be in this house, not Gryffindor. By getting along with Slytherins. Although I hoped there would be more to this conversation than me proving myself.
It seemed as though somebody should say something, perhaps explain why we were out here together when only yesterday we couldn't stand each other. Or so it seemed. Draco took it upon himself.
"I had kind of a shitty day. But this party was already planned, so I couldn't back out. So I'll let them all have their fun, but I'm not in the mood." His shrug was cute, a 'there's more to this than I'm letting on' shrug. "And in case you didn't know, Blaise and I are pretty close friends. She's told me about you; Ginny, and I think you seem cool. Nothing like your brother and his stupid friends."
I thought for a second to stick up for Ron, but then thought better of it. I could see perfectly well why Draco didn't like my brother. I didn't like him for the same reasons. "Yeah, I've always been different from them, they bother me. Blaise is my only real friend around here." Why did my voice sound so funny?
"Half of these people I can't even stand. But they are the party group here, so I cant leave anyone out. They're fun people, but you know how it is when you just want someone to shut up? That's how I feel around most of them." Draco confessed. That explained why there were so many people.
My headache had ceased to a dull throbbing, not sure if that was a good sign or a bad one. "So, if you don't mind me asking, why was your day so horrible?" I was beginning to realize why people socialize. It felt really good to talk to Draco; it was nice to chat with somebody other than Blaise. I internally kicked myself for being so closed off and nervous around people, some of them were really nice. If only, if only I'd been put in Slytherin. I could have met these people right off the bat.
A pained look crossed Draco's face. He seemed to be struggling with himself, deciding whether or not to tell me what's on his mind. "Well," he started, "Ginny, we're cool with each other, right?"
I nod. This is strange.
"Well, I should probably talk to someone but I don't have any good friends that want to listen." He mumbles.
"I'll listen." My voice sounds assuring. When did I get good at talking to people?
Draco, nods, and pulls up the sleeve of his black sweater. I'm confused, why is he showing me his arm?
"Look closely."
I look up into his eyes; they have a sad sparkle in them. From the alcohol or from what he's trying to tell me, I'm not sure. I look closer. And gasp.
There are tons of red scratches along his arm, and white ones underneath them. The white ones are scars, the rest are newer ones, scabbed over. The cuts are in no particular order, just all up and down his arm. I'm about to ask him what happened when I realize what's going on. Why he needed to talk, and that look in his eyes. The look I now recognize as guilt.
"Those aren't even the worst ones. The bad ones are on my legs." He says, covering his arm back up. I give him a sad look, not quite sure what to say. I've been depressed enough to want to hurt myself before, but my stupid fear of needles has always stopped me from doing so. I've been in the bathroom, holding my pocketknife a few millimeters away from my skin, tears streaming down my face, but I cant do it.
"I'm sorry Draco..." I sort of whisper to him, leaning my head over to rest on his chest. Somehow I feel really close to him all of a sudden.
"Ginny..." he whispers back, lifting my chin with his fingers carefully, and putting his mouth on mine. He kisses me with such gentleness and caring that I lose myself to it, without even thinking. This is the kind of kiss I've dreamed about, expecting it to never really happen. Seconds later, it's over and we're sitting in silence again.
My headache comes roaring back out of nowhere.
Wait, someone remind me what's going on.
My head falls with a clunk onto his chest again as I pass out.
~*~
A/N: No, he didn't give her the date rape drug or anything, she just got woozy, that's all. Don't worry; your favorite (female) HP character is ok. ^_^ REVIEWS! Until next time, ja!
~*~
People are starting to arrive and that's when I realize just how big Draco's room is. He has the perfect party room, I can tell you that.
You can already tell what sort of people Draco is friends with, also. There is a group of punk kids standing by his bed, wearing all black and metal jewelry, like I am. There are some more average looking people by the doorway, wearing sweatshirts and jeans, probably waiting for the rest of their friends. I've noticed that these are the kind of people who always travel in packs.
I wonder if they are afraid to be alone. I know that Ron and Harry and Hermione are like that, they always have each other around to back them up. I value my alone time.
Blaise has already found the guy she wants to impress. I'm not quite sure of his name but he looks clean cut, a little punk, a nice guy. I hope she has a good night. I sit down against a wall. Maybe someone will come talk to me.
My eyes drift over the crowds of people entering the room. It's up to about twenty-five people now, making me wonder just how big this thing is going to get. I recognize a couple people from my own grade, ones I've never talked to. Slytherin students.
Strangely enough, I feel intrigued.
There are a few girls standing in the corner, wearing skimpy shirts and mini skirts. By the mere way they are dressed, I figure they weren't invited. The pinks and whites of their outfits clash horribly with the various black, grays, and dark blues of the rest of the room.
I wonder what they want. They seem like good girls, what would they be doing at a party like this? But then I revised my thoughts, wondering why I was at a party like this myself.
Because Blaise told you you'd have a good time and Blaise doesn't lie to you, I reminded myself.
Oh yeah. I forgot.
Another song came on that I knew. I found myself singing, something I normally only did in the privacy of my shower. If I was feeling even the remotest bit happy.
"Are you having fun?" a voice nearly screamed in my ear. The music was so loud that I could still only just hear them. I look up into the cold gray eyes of Draco Malfoy. He's standing above me, holding a cup of something.
I shrug. "More or less."
"Anything I can do to make it more, not less?" he asked, taking a sip of his drink.
I shrug again.
"Here, have this." He hands me his cup. I don't even care what's in it, I take a sip. It tastes bitter, but I don't care. I take another sip.
"Do you want to dance?" His question catches me off guard. I only stare at him.
"Right...forget I asked." He starts to turn and leave, but I reach out and grab his arm. Yes, it surprises me too.
"I was just surprised, that's all. Sure I'll dance." I take another gulp, finishing it off, before I set the cup on the ground. It gets knocked over as I'm getting up, but Draco doesn't seem to mind. I look around for other people dancing, but nobody is.
"Where exactly are we going to dance?" I ask, stupidly.
He gives me his famous half smile that seems to either drive girls wild or make them want to slap him. I think I'm somewhere in between. "Right here." He answers.
I'm sure there is a look of confusion on my face, because Draco grabs my hand, leans toward me, and whispers, "It's my party, I can do whatever I damn well want to do."
I haven't moved. "Why are you being so nice to me?" It just doesn't add up.
He shrugs, grabbing my other hand as well. "I'm not quite sure. But Blaise is a good friend of mine, and if she wants you here then I want you here. I'm not as closed minded as you think, Ginny Weasley."
"But I'm a Gryffindor. Doesn't this hurt your social status or something?"
Draco laughed. A real genuine laugh, not the hateful mocking laugh I'd heard from him so many times before. "Ginny, let me tell you something. I'm at the top of the social chain. If I start hanging around Gryffindors, they all will. Not that you're just an average Gryffindor, however."
It is at this point in our conversation that I realize all of his words are a bit slurred, and his movements are jerky. Whatever he'd been drinking, and gave me, was definitely alcoholic. It doesn't bother me in the slightest, just makes this situation a little more realistic. He won't remember it by morning.
With his last comment, he put his arm around my waist, meeting it halfway around with his other hand. This left my own arms at an odd position, forcing me to put them up around his neck. There was still space between us, though. Sort of the way you dance when you are young and still afraid of the opposite sex, like at our dances back in third and fourth year.
But Draco and I aren't young, and we both know how to dance properly. It was at the very moment that I was going to pull away and tell this creep to leave me alone that he pulled me closer. So close to his own body that I could feel his heart beat, with my face against his chest.
Ok, ok, I'll quit being my usual sarcastic self and admit it. It was a perfect fit.
And I'll also admit this. Whatever was in that cup was not normal beer either, like I'd been expecting when he handed it to me. Because even though I was pressed up against Draco Malfoy, breathing in his scent, dancing to the music that was way too loud and getting a headache, I liked it. Blaise was right. I needed this.
"Gin..." he sort of whispered into my ear, getting a dazed look on his face. "Come with me, let's go somewhere else."
Don't ask me why I was surprised again, but I was. He wanted to actually hang out with me? I've never left a party with a boy, well then again I've never really been to a party, either.
He wrapped his hand around my own, and pulled me out into the hallway. There was a group of people out there already, including one of the pink and white girls I'd seen earlier. They were sitting around a cloud of smoke, not leaving much to my imagination as to what they were up to.
The girl was sitting in another guys lap, smoking. I was wrong to judge her.
"Hey, Draco. Ready to hang out with us again?" she called over to him, waving him over.
He shook his head, and kept walking. "No." was all he said.
I waited a few minutes to question him. Farther along down the hallway, I spoke up. "What was that about?"
He didn't even turn to face me, but stopped walking. "I've been clean for a month now. I'm not starting that back up again." We were at the end of the hall; the only thing in front of us now was a window, with a stained glass picture of a snake on it. It was raining outside.
"Do you smoke?" The question was so simple, yet my answer could be crucial.
"No."
"Good. Don't start." Then he changed his serious demeanor into a friendlier one, sitting down against the wall. I followed him down, sitting facing him. I was feeling my shyness creep upon me, but I tried to ignore it. He was being nice, this was my chance to prove that I deserved to be in this house, not Gryffindor. By getting along with Slytherins. Although I hoped there would be more to this conversation than me proving myself.
It seemed as though somebody should say something, perhaps explain why we were out here together when only yesterday we couldn't stand each other. Or so it seemed. Draco took it upon himself.
"I had kind of a shitty day. But this party was already planned, so I couldn't back out. So I'll let them all have their fun, but I'm not in the mood." His shrug was cute, a 'there's more to this than I'm letting on' shrug. "And in case you didn't know, Blaise and I are pretty close friends. She's told me about you; Ginny, and I think you seem cool. Nothing like your brother and his stupid friends."
I thought for a second to stick up for Ron, but then thought better of it. I could see perfectly well why Draco didn't like my brother. I didn't like him for the same reasons. "Yeah, I've always been different from them, they bother me. Blaise is my only real friend around here." Why did my voice sound so funny?
"Half of these people I can't even stand. But they are the party group here, so I cant leave anyone out. They're fun people, but you know how it is when you just want someone to shut up? That's how I feel around most of them." Draco confessed. That explained why there were so many people.
My headache had ceased to a dull throbbing, not sure if that was a good sign or a bad one. "So, if you don't mind me asking, why was your day so horrible?" I was beginning to realize why people socialize. It felt really good to talk to Draco; it was nice to chat with somebody other than Blaise. I internally kicked myself for being so closed off and nervous around people, some of them were really nice. If only, if only I'd been put in Slytherin. I could have met these people right off the bat.
A pained look crossed Draco's face. He seemed to be struggling with himself, deciding whether or not to tell me what's on his mind. "Well," he started, "Ginny, we're cool with each other, right?"
I nod. This is strange.
"Well, I should probably talk to someone but I don't have any good friends that want to listen." He mumbles.
"I'll listen." My voice sounds assuring. When did I get good at talking to people?
Draco, nods, and pulls up the sleeve of his black sweater. I'm confused, why is he showing me his arm?
"Look closely."
I look up into his eyes; they have a sad sparkle in them. From the alcohol or from what he's trying to tell me, I'm not sure. I look closer. And gasp.
There are tons of red scratches along his arm, and white ones underneath them. The white ones are scars, the rest are newer ones, scabbed over. The cuts are in no particular order, just all up and down his arm. I'm about to ask him what happened when I realize what's going on. Why he needed to talk, and that look in his eyes. The look I now recognize as guilt.
"Those aren't even the worst ones. The bad ones are on my legs." He says, covering his arm back up. I give him a sad look, not quite sure what to say. I've been depressed enough to want to hurt myself before, but my stupid fear of needles has always stopped me from doing so. I've been in the bathroom, holding my pocketknife a few millimeters away from my skin, tears streaming down my face, but I cant do it.
"I'm sorry Draco..." I sort of whisper to him, leaning my head over to rest on his chest. Somehow I feel really close to him all of a sudden.
"Ginny..." he whispers back, lifting my chin with his fingers carefully, and putting his mouth on mine. He kisses me with such gentleness and caring that I lose myself to it, without even thinking. This is the kind of kiss I've dreamed about, expecting it to never really happen. Seconds later, it's over and we're sitting in silence again.
My headache comes roaring back out of nowhere.
Wait, someone remind me what's going on.
My head falls with a clunk onto his chest again as I pass out.
~*~
A/N: No, he didn't give her the date rape drug or anything, she just got woozy, that's all. Don't worry; your favorite (female) HP character is ok. ^_^ REVIEWS! Until next time, ja!