Chapter 18: Hogwarts and the Troublemakers

Draco did indeed go find Miss Virginia Weasley after changing into his robes and kept her company until they arrived at Hogwart's Station.

Once there, he stuck by her side like glue, despite all the whispers and stares they received. He helped her into the nearest horseless carriage to ride up to Hogwarts. Oddly enough, they found themselves sharing the carriage with none other than Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini.

Draco held Ginny's hand firmly in his grasp. He knew today was going to be hard for both of them. Despite now being engaged and the closeness they had found over the summer, he was still a Slytherin and she a Gryffindor.

Things were not looking too good either if the looks on Pansy and Blaise's faces were anything to go by. Ginny flashed him a half-smile followed by a wink and he squeezed her hand in return.

"How was your summer, guys?" Draco asked.

"Not as exciting as yours apparently was" Blaise replied. The handsome, raven-haired Slytherin pointedly looked at their clasped hands and raised a sardonic eyebrow.

Pansy simply growled a very unladylike noise in response.

"Yes, ours WAS very nice." Ginny responded.

Just then, Pansy caught a glimpse of Ginny's left hand. Before Ginny or Draco could react, Pansy had Ginny's left hand in a vice grip.

In a grating, guttural tone, Pansy asked, "What the hell is this mudblood-lover?"

Draco, in defense mode, went to grab Pansy. Before he had the chance though, Ginny grabbed her wand from her left sleeve and put the tip to Pansy's face.

"Why Pansy, I didn't know you cared. That, my dear, is my engagement ring. Mr. Malfoy gave it to ME about a month ago. Now kindly release me, before I feel the need to teach you some manners."

Pansy reluctantly released Ginny's arm, but her eyes looked ready to murder.

"Well?" Ginny asked.

"Well what?" Pansy nastily queried.

"Well, do you like it? Is it befitting the bride of a Malfoy?"

Draco, now closely pressed to Ginny, was shaking with constrained laughter. When Ginny realized what he was doing, she gave him a smirk, the Malfoy smirk. This did it for Draco. He doubled over in laughter.

"I do not see what is so damn funny, Draco" retorted Pansy.

"You wouldn't." Draco responded while still laughing.

The conversation abruptly ended because they found themselves at the Entrance Hall of Hogwarts. Draco got out of the carriage and turned to help Ginny. Once he had her safely on the ground, he offered her his arm. She graciously took it with a smile and so began their seventh and final year of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Draco and Ginny walked through the great oak doors very different from when they had last left, different, but better.

Once inside, Draco bent to give Ginny a kiss on the cheek. "I'll meet you back here ten minutes before the Feast begins, all right?"

"All right."

Ginny turned to the right to go to Gryffindor Tower and Draco turned left to go down to the dungeons. All the while, students from every house were gawking at the unlikely pair. Oh! How the rumor mills would be churning tonight.

At exactly 6:50, Ginny walked down the stairwell to the entrance hall. She had taken a quick shower and changed clothes. She had put on a new black skirt, red shirt and her robes, of course. She had pulled her copper mane up into a French braid. Her ears were adorned with 2mm black pearls, an engagement gift from Mrs. Malfoy.

Draco saw her coming down the stairs and felt his heart start a faster tattoo. She truly was exquisite. He only wished he had truly seen her earlier, without the help of a magical oath.

He walked towards her as she reached the bottom stair and offered his arm. She delicately smiled and put her arm through his.

"Well, do we sit together or apart?" Draco asked.

"Together. We need everyone to accept it and get over it as soon as possible."

"I could not have said it better myself. Next question, your house or mine?"

"I'll let you take that one."

"Alright, let's try mine, but I reserve the right to move at anytime."

"Sounds like a plan."

So, together they walked into the almost full hall. Just as expected, most conversations ceased at their entrance and many heads turned in their direction to stare. Draco smirked encouragingly at Ginny and led her over to the Slytherin table.

Crabbe and Goyle, Draco's longtime bodyguards, were already saving a seat for him in his usual spot.

"Move over for the lady."

Crabbe and Goyle hurriedly shifted over to make room for Ginny.

"Umm, Draco why did you bring her over here?" Goyle asked.

"Because I did."

"O-okay."

"Well, where are your manners. Greet the lady."

"Hullo"

"Hullo"

"Hi!" Ginny responded with a grin.

At her grin, Crabbe and Goyle both got goofy grins on their face.

Draco turned to Ginny, rolled his eyes and leaned over to her ear. He said, "I see, Miss Weasley, that you have made two more conquests."

Ginny fluttered her eyelashes and quietly responded, "Why, with those two adorable, brawny men, what do I need YOU for?"

"Aha! Miss Weasley, that is for me to know and you to find out." Draco responded while suggestively arching an eyebrow.

While Ginny and Draco were caught up in their flirting, Blaise and Pansy had sat down across from them.

"Aww, Pansy look. It is Hogwart's newest couple, Ginny and Draco. Aren't they cute?" Blaise snidely queried.

"Sickeningly so." Pansy responded.

Ginny and Draco turned to respond to the scathing remarks from Blaise and Pansy, but McGonagall walked in with the first years.

Ginny turned her attention to the proceedings and was amazed at how young the first years looked. She turned to Draco and said, "Did we look that frightened?"

"Yes, you did. I also remember the Sorting Hat saying something to the effect that thank goodness that would be the last Weasley for a while…"

"HA-HA! Like you could hear what the Sorting Hat said to me."

"But, I'm right. Am I not?

"Stuff it, Malfoy"

"Where? Here? Why, Miss Weasley, your parents should be notified immediately of the Scarlet Woman in their midst"

"Draco?"

"Yes dear---"

"Sod off!"

"Anything you wish." Draco chuckled.

Ginny turned her attention to the sorting. Draco, however, being a Slytherin knew to keep his attention on the trouble brewing before him, Blaise and Pansy.

The Sorting Hat was brought out and the sorting began. In the background, one could here the Hat discreetly cough and clear its throat. It seemed this year the Hat decided to use the popular Rap style, and to confirm this, a human beat box could now be heard in the background:

"Four there were in Ancient times

Placed a charm for me to rhyme

Find I must the house you belong

But first, I sing this Bleedin' song!

First, we find those that are brave

Reminds me of the middle "knaves"

So search your soul and find true

Then, a Gryffindor is you…

Next, we search the lot for steadfast

Those that have the charm for loyalty cast

Thus, if Helga be proud of your traits

A great Hufflepuff you will make

Now, we search for the drive to learn

The late night oils you choose to burn

Then, Rowena knows your soul

Yes, a true Ravenclaw be your goal

Then, we find the lot of ambition

Strive and compete be your mission

Failure, not an option, this you know

Salazar Slytherin and his House you go

Please call my first sort."

As always, the first years were stuck dumb at the sight of the talking Sorting Hat and the older students (including Dumbledore) were amused by its antics.

McGonagall rolled out her parchment and called, "Anderson, Willow"

A small girl, with cinnamon colored hair, shyly stepped forward and took her seat on the stool provided.

"Ravenclaw!" The Sorting Hat yelled.

The process continued with the first Slytherin being called with Clayson, Dale. The first Gryffindor took a bit longer; she was Handell, Tracy.

After all first years had sat with their houses, Dumbledore called for the feast to begin. The tables instantly filled with large amounts of food, a bit of everything, for every imaginable taste.

Ginny watched from the Slytherin table as Ron and Harry dug into the sumptuous cuisine. She was a bit wistful at not sitting at the Gryffindor table, but soon let it go. It wasn't as if she had any friends to really eat with. She had always been the "fourth wheel" of the Majestic Trio. She just had never fit in. If she was honest with herself, they only came along to stick their noses in her life. In reality, Draco was her closest and probably only true friend. Ginny giggled to herself at that thought. Wouldn't that put Miss Hermione's knickers in a wad?

Draco was to her left eating heartily. This is why they were not prepared for what happened next.

While Ginny was lost in her own thoughts and Draco was curbing his seventeen-year old man/boy hunger, Blaise and Pansy set a nasty little plan into action. They had, under the table, completed the Conjuring of the Dead Spell. This spell is the spell used by Hogwart's students to call their House ghosts, in this case the Bloody Baron.

It took no more than 10 seconds for the Baron to arrive. Everyone knew there was one thing the Bloody Baron could not tolerate, non-Slytherins; and today, he found one at his table.

Draco had just enough time to mutter, "Oh shit!"

Simultaneously, the Baron conjured and dropped a bowl of liver pudding on Ginny. She yelped in surprise, but the Baron was not finished. He immediately followed with a large carafe of pumpkin juice.

By now, Draco was up, had pulled his robes off and placed them over Ginny.

Dumbledore appeared and muttered a temporary banishing spell on the Baron. Professor Snape was not far behind in arriving, as well as Professor McGonagall.

However, before any professor could react; Draco had reached across the table and jerked Blaise up by his robes. He gave him one good shake and said, "If you ever, EVER come near Ginny in the future, I'll make you regret the day your parents gave you life."

"Mr. Malfoy, release Mr. Zabini this instant." Professor McGonagall commanded, not that Draco listened.

Draco, still holding onto Zabini, turned to Pansy.

"And you, I don't like you, and I never have. You are a repulsive BITCH. Stay away from me, Ginny and anyone else who happens to be in my vicinity, or you, too, will regret it. Understand?"

Pansy, with tears in her eyes more from the humiliation than the rejection, nodded.

Draco released Zabini with a push and sent him flying backwards on his arse. Then, he turned to the Professors and asked, "Where should I show up for detention?"

Professor Snape intervened and responded, "Tomorrow, in the dungeons. 8pm do not be late."

Before he could leave, but after the normal swish of his robes, Ginny looked out from underneath Draco's robes and said, "This is partly my fault. I will be there too, Professor Snape."

Without turning around, he responded, "Very well."

Ginny looked up and saw a delightful twinkle in Dumbledore's blue eyes. With a wink at her and a flick of his wand, he turned to head back to the Head Table. Dumbledore had "freshened" Ginny's clothes.

Professor McGonagall followed and the rest of the hall quietly, very quietly, returned to their meals.