A/N: Thank you so much for the response on the last chapter! :) It made me very happy. Oh, and for those who want certain ships, I generally only write a few. I won't tell you which ones I'm using in this one, but it should be fairly obvious after this chapter...and don't decide in your mind who you think they are until the end of the chapter! This chapter was draining…it might be a little bit before the next one, sorry.
---
"Hermione!" Her heart gave an unpleasant jolt when she heard her name being called from behind her. She turned around, fixing a smile on her face.
"Yes Ron?" Ron opened his mouth to ask if she wanted a muffin, but he closed it in happy shock. Hermione looked very pretty, in her red top and soft brown locks resting on her back. He gulped slightly and held up a blueberry muffin.
"Do you want a muffin?" he asked, noticing with dislike how stupid that sounded. However, Hermione grinned and reached for it.
"How did you know?" she teased, telling herself inwardly not to blow it; Ginny had specifically ordered her to be like she was usually.
Ron shrugged, looking boyishly adorable. "Well, seeing as you ask for one every morning, I figured today wouldn't be any different." As Hermione smiled and thanked him, both knew that today was probably already as different as it could go.
--
Hermione snorted with laughter, holding a napkin to her mouth to hold in the muffin pieces. Ron sat, laid back in a pulled up chair next to Hermione's desk laughing with her. "Are you serious?" she spluttered, wiping her mouth hurriedly.
"Completely! Malfoy looked like he wanted to melt into the floor," Ron chuckled, chugging down some coffee. Memos forgotten, the two had fallen into a conversation about Draco's dumping of Pansy after Ginny and Hermione had left the restaurant on The Crappy Day. Hermione calmed herself down with a sip of orange juice, thinking.
"You know, I wonder what it was that made him do it," she remarked thoughtfully, absently twirling a quill in her hand. "From what I heard, they were a true couple made in Hell." Ron laughed again, putting down his coffee.
"It was like once he came back from the bathroom, or wherever he was, he realized how repulsive she was," he replied, chortling. Hermione made a face.
"I don't want to know how that came about," she said grimacing. Ron almost choked on his coffee.
"Hermione that is just…erg." Ron's face was one of horror and disgust. Hermione reached over and patted his shoulder.
"It's ok Ron, just don't think about it," she mocked.
"How can you leave me like this Draco!" he imitated Pansy in an uncanny way, making Hermione giggle and other people stare. "I thought we were happy! You no good son of a-"
"Ahem." They looked up sharply to see Harry looking down on them, amused. "Shouldn't you two be working?" he asked with a laughing look in his eyes. Hermione blushed; Harry always could see right through them, even in their school days. Ron rolled his eyes.
"Oh come off it, how many people here actually work?" he said, waving his arm around. The three looked around them. Every single person was either scribbling furiously away or tapping efficiently on a Whizz (sort of wizarding computers). Ron gave them both a sheepish grin. "I stand corrected."
"Sorry Harry," Hermione apologized, still tempted to laugh at the memory of Ron acting out a wounded Pansy Parkinson. Harry shrugged.
"Nah, it looks like you guys are having a much better time than me anyway," he said, sitting down in a nearby vacant chair. "So what's up?"
"Not much, just laughing about Malfoy's dumping of Parkinson," Ron explained, handing him some coffee which Harry took gratefully.
"Ah yes, that was a memory," Harry said, looking ready to laugh. "I mean, how often do you see someone get salad dressing dumped on an arrogant prick?" Hermione moaned.
"I wish I had been there dammit!" she said, but then quickly remembered why she hadn't been there. "I also wish Ginny had been there to see it…I daresay it would have given her something to laugh about." Ron and Harry frowned.
"Whatever happened to her that night?" Harry wondered aloud. Hermione realized her mistake; the two girls had silently agreed not to say anything about what had happened after her departure from the restaurant.
"She just got tired," Hermione lied.
"Is she coming in today?" Harry asked, looking slightly hopeful. Hermione shook her head.
"She's getting ready for the Social," she said. Ron groaned.
"God that thing's going to be so boring," he said. Hermione grinned, the mischievousness of the smile unnoticed by the two men.
"Maybe."
--
An owl swooped into Ginny's window the next morning, landing on her heavily and therefore waking her up. Ginny groaned and sat up, fixing her scarf and blinking sleepily at the bird. "What do you want?" she asked, slight irritation in her voice. The previous night had been none too successful in the sleep department, despite the fact that she had gotten back from work at a relatively early hour; nightmares of the upcoming Social plagued her. One had included her falling down the sweeping staircase and ending up on her head so that her dress came down and she was exposed for the world to see. Besides for Harry, Ron and Hermione laughing heartily, one smirk had made the nightmare inexplicably worse. The bird hooted at her impatiently, making Ginny roll her eyes and grab the letter it held in its beak.
"You couldn't have flown far," she mused as she opened the blank envelope. "You have it in your beak, not around your leg." The owl hopped to the foot of the bed and began to peck the wood as Ginny read:
Dear Ginny,
I know this is last minute, but I was wondering if you wouldn't mind going to the Social with me? If you already have a date or whatever then I apologize, and I'll see you there.
-Harry
Ginny's mouth opened in shock. She re-read the paper to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her; the evidence was in. Ginny Weasley had been invited to the Ministry Social by Harry Potter. Squealing, she jumped out of bed and went to go pound on Hermione's door. Hermione came bolting out of her room at breakneck speed, looking as excited as Ginny was. They crashed into each other.
"Ouch!" Hermione said, rubbing her head. Ginny grinned.
"Sorry, sorry, but look!" she shoved the letter into Hermione's face. Hermione scanned it quickly and then laughed.
"It's about time!" she exclaimed, hugging her ecstatic friend. Ginny hugged her back and then pulled away, looking at Hermione's uncharacteristically flushed face.
"What's up with you?" she asked curiously. Hermione shyly (another difference from her regular personality) handed her the piece of parchment clutched in her hand.
Hey 'Mione!
So that Social thing's tonight. That should be a blast eh (if you can't tell I'm sarcastic here we really need to get in touch more often)? Harry's inviting Ginny (with my blessing of course) and I figured that since everyone else is going to be with someone that we might as well too. Want to go with me?
-Ron
Ginny giggled. "'With my blessing'…stupid prat." She hugged Hermione again, happy for her friend. "That's so like Ron, to make it as un-awkward as he can make it." Hermione grinned.
"I think we're going to have a good time."
"Me too! And the dress you chose is SO perfect, Ron will forget all about the 'awkwardness'", Ginny assured Hermione, who had the flickerings of panic on her face. They disappeared after Ginny's well placed reassurance.
"Thanks. You too you know, although how weird will it be to see you and Harry together?" Hermione remarked, making Ginny go crimson.
"Shut up, we'll make a lovely couple," Ginny replied, sticking out her tongue.
"Up for a morning of lazing about in front of the telly?" Hermione asked, flinging herself onto the couch and grabbing the remote.
"Don't you have work?" Ginny asked, getting out a couple of sheets of parchment and quills, walking over to her. Hermione shook her head.
"They're giving us the day off to get ready for the Social," Hermione said. Ginny raised her eyebrows, impressed.
"Lucky bitch," she said fondly, starting to write.
"Hey you got off work tonight too!" Hermione protested, but Ginny was deaf to her roommate as she wrote a reply to Harry.
Hi Harry.
No, I don't have a date, so you're in luck; doubly so because I want to go with you. I'll meet you at the place (the Pentagon Plaza was it?) at eight o'clock.
-Ginny
Satisfied, Ginny folded it up and put it in the beak of the expectant owl that had followed her into the living room. It flew away out the skylight, and Ginny watched it go happily. Tossing some parchment and a quill to Hermione, she went over to the fridge to get a yogurt for herself. Hermione caught it and looked down at the parchment, at a loss of what to write.
Dear Ron,
I reckon we could do that. See you at eight.
-Hermione
Short, to the point…Hermione mused as she surveyed her letter. The letter seemed all right to her, so she gave it to Pigwidgeon (who had never really gotten very big but was every bit as enthusiastic) who flew away excitedly through the skylight. She watched in alarm when another brown owl nearly crashed into Pig, but dodged him, and came down to Hermione. "Busy day for the post," she muttered, untying the letter from its leg.
Ginny and Hermione-
A bunch of the girls are going out for pre-Social cocktails (who I mean by "the girls" are Padma, me, Lav, Hannah and Suzy) at La Mira Bar at around 7:00 before we meet our dates…interested?
RSVP ASAP
-Parvati (and Dean!! :) )
Hermione laughed, making Ginny look up from her yogurt. "What's up?"
"Parvati's so excited from moving in with Dean," she said, looking back down at the letter. "She seems pretty jolly." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"She didn't write you a letter just to tell you she's happy with Dean, what did she write?" she asked impatiently. Hermione, who had gotten used to Ginny's lack of patience, merely smiled. "Oh come on Hermione you know that drives me insane!" she groaned.
"Yeah I know…but anyway," she continued hastily, seeing Ginny's glare, "they want us to come for cocktails before the Social." Ginny shrugged, indifferent.
"Whatever. I need to be ready soon anyway…" Ginny looked at her watch and her jaw dropped. "We slept so late!" Hermione looked up.
"Why, what time is it?"
"It's already 2!" Ginny shrieked, falling off of her kitchen stool in her frenzy. She got up quickly, her eyes daring Hermione to laugh. Hermione bit her lip and submersed the laughter. "We need to get ready, what are you doing watching telly?!?" she yelled running into her room, yogurt still in hand. Hermione was about to laugh it off when Ginny's words hit her: 2 o'clock?!?
"Oh sweet Jesus!" she yelped, bolting for her room as well.
--
"I hate this," Draco said through clenched teeth. His house elf Marvelle, who was measuring him to make sure the suit still fit, looked up at him with coaster sized eyes.
"Sir must go!" she pleaded with him. "If sir doesn't show up, them will thinks you is still sad about Miss Parkinson sir!" Draco looked down at the elf with loathing, but grudgingly admitted she was right.
"But why in the bloody hell do I have to wear a Muggle suit?" he asked in fury. Marvelle flinched.
"Please sir, Marvelle does not know," she said, cowering. He sighed in impatience.
"That's it, I'm not wearing it," he said, sounding like a child who didn't want to eat the vegetables.
"But then what will sir wear?" Marvelle asked, sounding dumbfounded.
"Sir will wear whatever sir well damn pleases," Draco growled, storming out of the room into his own. Marvelle's stammers of protest were shut out with a swift slam of the door. Angry, he looked around his room for something else suitable to wear (A/N: no pun intended hahaha). It was a losing battle. He opened his closet doors forcefully and found himself looking at the countless Quidditch robes housed in there. Cursing, he opened another closet.
"Oh this is insane," he muttered as he rifled through the various trousers and tops. "I'm like a ruddy girl choosing robes for the Yule Ball." Finally too frustrated to continue, he yanked a random pair of trousers from their hanger and a black shirt and threw them on the bed. Sinking down onto it, he put his head in his hands. "My first time back in England and already I'm known nationwide for dumping a girl. This bloody social isn't going to help any," he said into his hands tiredly.
True, it was his first time back in England. Draco had known all too well the animosity English Quidditch fans harbored towards him and wasn't too keen to set foot where they lived again. Even though they hated him for being Draco Malfoy, they seemed to hate him even more because he hadn't joined their Quidditch team…God knows they needed a decent Seeker. However, Draco didn't mind too much; France is a beautiful country. He learned to speak the language almost fluently, and it proved a useful tool when applied to talking with women. The only reason he had come back was to fix something in his Gringott's account and that had somehow snowballed into Pansy Apparating to England to be with him (he didn't even know how she ended up in France in the first place) and then his staying at the Manor during the Quidditch break. Truthfully, it had all been a kind of blur.
A very unwelcome, reddish sort of blur.
As Draco began to get dressed, he thought about the girl who was making him so agitated these days, and for once it wasn't just Pansy. Who knew that a little Weasley could make him so annoyed? And then there was her friend trying to stick up for her, threatening him! Well, that was almost laughable…well, it would have been if Hermione hadn't looked so scary and convincing. He shuddered and went to look at himself in the mirror.
Perfect.
--
"Hey!" Parvati squealed when she saw Hermione and Ginny approaching. "Oh my God you two look great!" she said excitedly, giving them both hugs. The two in question beamed; then again, if she hadn't said that Parvati might've found herself with leeks sprouting out of her ears for all the time they had put into their appearance that day. Hermione looked stunning in a green dress that looked very earthy, but sexy at the same time with one shoulder strap. Her hair was softly resting on her back which made her chocolate eyes seem ever bigger and prettier. Ginny looked equally dazzling in a crimson dress that matched her hair, spaghetti strap with the strappy red shoes she practically worshipped. She had finally taken off the worn bandanna she had been wearing ever since Frieda's the day before to reveal that Frieda had lengthened her hair so that it was halfway down her back, in beautiful little curls. Ginny had had to fork over a handful of Galleons to get the job done…but it was definitely worth it.
They said hello to everyone, kissing cheeks and accepting compliments as they worked their way through to get to two empty bar stools. Ordering two martinis, the girls looked around happily, unable to believe that the night had come at last.
"So how are you Hermione?" Ginny asked to fill the content silence. Hermione grinned.
"Not much Ginny," she replied rolling her eyes. "You're weird, you know that?"
"I know that," Ginny answered, looking indignant that Hermione would dare to think anything besides.
"Hey Hermione," Suzy (as they all called her; she protested that Susan sounded old and frumpy) Bones called down the row. Hermione stuck her head out to see her.
"Yeah?"
"Is it true you're going to this thing with Ron?" she asked curiously. Hermione flushed and ducked out of sight. Ginny made her presence known by yelling out "Who else would he take?" Everyone giggled while Hermione pretended to be very interested in the napkin holder. Padma walked over, her black eyes glittering with amusement.
"How long did it take him to ask you the, eh?" she asked. Hermione grinned sheepishly.
"Actually, he just asked me today." Padma crowed with laughter.
"That stupid prat, leaving it to the last minute," she giggled. "But then again, it took Seamus something like a year to propose," she added, looking down at the enormous diamond ring on her finger. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Well not all of us are married," she reminded her teasingly. Padma crossed her eyes at her and went back to her seat next to her twin.
Two martinis later, the girls saw the time and ran out of the bar shrieking girlishly at their tardiness- 8:01 and all is well.
--
Harry and Ron waited outside the Pentagon Plaza anxiously, checking their watches every two seconds. "You think something's wrong?" Ron asked, squinting into the darkness. Harry looked back at him and laughed.
"You are crazy, you know that?" he said. Ron shrugged and grinned.
"Well maybe I am. But she-they should have been here…" he checked his watch again, "three minutes ago."
Oh give it up, you're head over heels for her! Harry felt like shouting at his friend, but over the years one thing Harry learned was self control. He contented himself with a sigh and a shake of the head.
"Besides, aren't you just itching to see my sister all dolled up?" Ron asked slyly, a hint of amusement in his voice. Harry wished he could have used the aforementioned self control to keep himself from blushing but it didn't work. "Ha I knew it!" Ron said triumphantly.
"Oh shut it," he mumbled, red as a beetroot now. All of a sudden he heard Ron whistle slowly.
"Jesus Christ, look at them," he said, sounding completely disbelieving. Harry didn't trust himself to look up until Ginny came up to him, smiling.
"Hullo Harry," she said softly. He looked up; it took all he had not to let his jaw drop.
"Erm, hello Ginny," he said, suddenly feeling like he didn't know quite what to do with himself. Next to him, Ron was having similar trouble.
"Hermione you look-well, you look…err…" Hermione couldn't stop smiling, laughing inwardly at the very low comfort level her friend was having.
"Thanks," she replied quietly.
"Shall we go inside then?" Ginny asked everyone, choosing to ignore her older brother's blatant disapproval of her somewhat revealing outfit. They all nodded, and hand in hand in hand in hand (there were four hands you see) they walked in.
--
It had the air of an elegant dinner party with a touch of modern to it. At the top of the stairs, two ghosts waited with a magical megaphone (also transparent and ghost-like) to announce the arriving parties. Ginny felt like she was in an old book or something; the chandeliers and sparkling lights everywhere made her head spin with happiness. Harry quietly told the ghost their names, who nodded and announced with great dignity, "Mr. Harry Potter and Miss Virginia Weasley." Ginny felt like her face would crack open, for her smile took up her entire face. People who had already arrived (a.k.a most of the invited party) looked up and some started whispering amongst themselves. Ginny looked at Harry, her face lit up with ecstasy, and he squeezed her hand. Walking down the steps slowly she giggled and whispered, "This feels unreal." He nodded in agreement.
"Like a Muggle movie," he said.
Back up at the top of the stairs, Ron was telling the ghost his and Hermione's names, who was looking around at the huge room in approval. The twenty foot wide marble staircase led to the magnificent dance floor and tables, with a grand piano towards the floor length windows (which was at least 30 feet). It truly felt like a dream.
"Mr. Ronald Weasley and Miss Hermione Granger," the ghost drawled into the microphone lazily, as if he had had enough of saying people's names. The looks of relief on the people's faces below ("so they're finally doing something!") made Hermione laugh and Ron go purple with embarrassment. They met Harry and Ginny at the bottom, who were being bombarded by representatives from The Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly and The Daily Spark. Ginny looked a little taken aback at the attention, but cooperated anyway. Harry was much too used to the photographers to care, so he steered Ginny over to the punch quickly to avoid it. Ron and Hermione looked at each other and shrugged, grimacing when the purple smoke came over in their faces.
"Ugh I hate cameras!" Ron said in irritation as they waved it away with their hands frantically.
"They're not exactly my favorite things either," Hermione said, grabbing his hand and pulling Ron away from the clouds of smoke.
Meanwhile, Ginny was drinking punch as Harry told her a work story, occasionally laughing for effect. Truth is, she wasn't really listening, but downing her punch and wondering how they made it pink without the after effects of enamored behavior afterwards. She was just about to excuse herself to get another glassful when the magical microphones spoke up again.
"Mr. Draco Malfoy!"
--
Draco scowled darkly at the ghost. "You bloody wanker, I didn't even tell you my name! I was just going to go down there!" The ghost shrugged.
"Not my concern sir, but with all due respect it'd take a blind man not to notice who you are." Draco just glared at him and walked down the stairs, pretending that nothing had happened and everything was handy dandy. There was a momentary silence, but the press broke it with the snapping of cameras and the excited yelled questions from the men in trench coats. He sighed and turned to them.
"I've been in France, I have no comments about being on their team, I'm here for a short time only and no, I'm not seeing her anymore." Having answered all their questions, he hightailed it over to the punch table; he had a sudden craving for some alcohol. The bartender looked at him strangely, to which Draco replied "Oh shove off" and grabbed the glass from his hand. He chugged it quickly and leaned against the bar, looking around.
Looks like Longbottom's got a girlfriend…one as pudgy as him no less, Draco thought, smirking as he watched Neville and Hannah Abbot go by. And the Ravenclaw twin has gotten hitched to Lucky Charms over there…he thought as he located Padma and Seamus. Hmm…who's the girl with Weasley? Oh Lord, it's Granger. What is the world coming to? came the thought when he saw Hermione and Ron together on the dance floor. Well they finally got together. The whole world knew it was coming, it's about bloody time. Absently, he found himself looking for more red hair, but not of the male variety. To his surprise, and grudgingly dislike, he found it linked arms with none other than Harry Potter himself. This didn't make him too happy, but it made him much thirstier. Draco thought bitterly as he narrowed his eyes and drained his glass, Is this a joke? Like Potter could ever get someone like her. Realizing how uncharacteristic this was of him and how jealous he felt of his former arch nemesis that very moment made him quite terrified. The need for another drink became ever more urgent.
--
Ginny had noticed with alarm the immediate look of loathing Harry let show on his face when Draco was announced. She was surprised despite her inner voice; she hadn't expected Draco to show up. She and Harry had been talking to a large group of their former Gryffindor friends. Parvati was now telling them a funny story about Dean's morning habits, which were needless to say making Dean very uncomfortable. Ginny chanced a glance behind her to see Draco's very sour expression. She suppressed a smile of triumph…serves the bastard right. Her glance backward forced her to look at the jet black sky outside, freckled with little diamonds that twinkled invitingly to her senses. She looked back at the group she was talking to and found that outside seemed more appealing at the moment. Fresh air would be much appreciated.
"Harry," she said suddenly, making him jump.
"Yes?" he replied.
"I'm just going outside for a moment, I'll be back in a tick," she said, making him look concerned. "Nothing's wrong," she added quickly. "Don't worry." He smiled softly.
"Hurry back," he advised. Ginny, on impulse, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before steadying the champagne flute in her hand and walking briskly towards the doors. She could hear her friends teasing Harry about them being together and she rolled her eyes.
She reached the doors soon enough thanks to her long strides, and she opened the doors dramatically and set a world of refreshing air upon herself. Ginny breathed it in happily and sat down on a marble bench, sipping her champagne. "Would you mind terribly if I joined you?" She looked up and her jaw dropped.
"What do you think?" she replied scathingly, disgusted that Malfoy would even think she'd agree. He shrugged and remained standing.
"I'm trying to escape the press woman, don't take it personally," he said shortly, and this was true for the press had found him at the bar and proceeded to ask him about his drinking habits.
"Don't worry, I'm not." Ginny decided that she would ignore him, so she drank the last of her champagne and looked up at the sky as she had planned to do. There were no words exchanged as he sat down on the bench across from her and looked around, bored. Suddenly-
"What is it with you popping up everywhere?" Ginny burst out abruptly. Draco looked up.
"Coincidence," was all he offered.
"Coincidence!" she said, disbelieving. "I don't believe in coincidence." Draco snorted.
"Well then fine, it doesn't exist. Go get your horoscopes and talismans and let's figure out what put us here while reciting a tribal chant," he said very sarcastically. Ginny narrowed her eyes in anger, the usual peppy spark in them extinguished from hating the person opposite her.
"You are disgusting," she retorted.
"As if I haven't heard that before," he muttered.
"Doesn't that tell you something?" she burst out, not caring about her decibel level now. "Don't you think it's time to be a little more open to people? Maybe, gasp, be nice?" Ginny let a pause drop before going into her next tirade. "Oh no you couldn't let that happen could you, you're a Malfoy!" Draco stood up, his usually composed state disrupted.
"Trying to pick a fight with me now little Weasel? We were just sitting here, barely making eye contact, and you-you go mad!" he said, trying to make sense of it. He had never flown into an argument so fast, and it bothered him.
She didn't seem to have a response for that. "Yes well, you annoy me," she said in a somewhat unintelligible voice. He laughed; yes laughed.
"And you annoy me too, congratulations. Can I go inside now?" he asked.
"Since when have you needed my permission?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Oh crap, he thought. A trap.
"That's hardly the point."
"On the contrary, I think it's entirely the point," she said, looking curiously at him, hair over one eye. Out of the blue Ginny started to laugh, and once she started she couldn't stop. Draco scowled.
"What's so funny?" he asked, annoyed.
"Are you madly in love with me or something?" she asked, giggling. "Is it that you can't sleep at night for thinking about me and now you're stalking me?" This idea seemed ludicrous to both Ginny and Draco. For Ginny, it was merely an amusing idea fashioned to make her laugh. For Draco, it was sheer madness.
His mouth opened and closed in disbelief. "Are you joking?" he said, not able to believe his ears. She nodded, laughing so hard the tears rolled off her cheeks.
"Of course I'm joking you twit!" she replied, wiping her eyes with her hands.
"Good," he said fiercely, picking up his coat.
"Oh are you leaving now? Scared of little Ginny Weasley?" she taunted, enjoying her torment of him immensely. He whirled around on his heel.
"What is the matter with you?" he cried, throwing his coat down. "First it's 'sod off Malfoy, throw yourself in a well' and now it's 'stay Malfoy or I'll tell my boyfriend you're scared of me'? You're mad!" he exclaimed, not realizing how loud he was being.
"How do you even know I have a boyfriend?" Ginny countered defensively. He snorted.
"Well it's bloody hard not to notice when he's the other one the press is after," he replied smirking. She rolled her eyes.
"Oh, so you think because the press is following you around it makes you special?"
"Hardly," he said.
"You know what I think Malfoy?" she said after a second or two, the effects of the punch taking its toll. "I think you're just an arrogant little boy who's scared of what people think of him." Draco's eyes were reduced to slits in his anger.
"You have no right to judge me Weasley, no one does."
"Oh let me get out my little violin and play a sad song for the rich and powerful handsome young man," Ginny said, sounding as sarcastic as Draco. He opened his mouth to reply, and then closed it in satisfaction.
"So you think I'm handsome!" he said in triumph. Ginny's eyes widened; her crucial mistake. By letting that slip, she lost her upper hand in the argument. "Well, not much you can say after that."
"You are way too sure of yourself," Ginny said quietly, standing up to face him. In her heels, she was about at eye level with him so she could stare him down. Draco didn't flinch though, but held up the gaze with his steely iron eyes. The conflict between the mahogany brown and icy metallic eyes was startling.
"Only because I know I'm better," he breathed, with a superior smug look on his face. She laughed softly, shaking her head.
"In your dreams Malfoy."
"Mature," he remarked, still having not removed his eyes from hers. "Can you do no better than that?"
"Of course I can," she replied, now only a few inches from his face. In the nipping air each other's breath felt warm on their faces, and as much as they both hated to admit it, it felt good.
"Prove it."
Ginny raised an eyebrow at the challenge, and without thinking of the consequences, or indeed without thinking at all, grabbed his head and kissed him hard.
--
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