Muggle Year
by Virgi Ca

Chapter 16: Double Character

A/N: Promised to update, never break promises do I? ^_^ Well anyway, I feel that the plot is going a bit slow, but I need to put everything up before the REAL action stars, right?

Oh, and don't complain anything about OOC, it's called DOUBLE CHARACTER.

Happy reading.

The normal version without any weird signs (if any) and pictures drawn: http://muggleyear.wildimagination.net/index.htm

'Challenge.' Virginia raised her eyebrows and stared straight at Gabrielle.

Gabrielle raised one graceful hand and snapped her fingers as if she owned the place. Hard beat music sliced through the air, one beat harder than one beat, like the steady rhythm of the heart. 'I don't think you suit this role at all.' She repeated, her eyes penetrating. The place was dead with voices, everyone looking at the two girls.

Virginia lowered her head, wet red strands of hair covering her face completely.

'If you can cope with this role, then why not give a little performance now?' Gabrielle continued, 'prove it to us that you can. If you don't, then it only shows that you don't have the confidence, and should give the role back.'

Lesley looked at Lawrence helplessly, while the script writer just looked at them with his lips set in a thin line. He had full confidence in his decision and was almost certain that no one could do the role either than Virginia.

Virginia couldn't help but let out a snort, she'll show her, and everyone.

Gabrielle frowned, 'do you think it's really funny?'

Virginia just smiled under her long mass of hair. Without lifing up her head, she walked past Gabrielle, whose frown deepened and turned, her eyes following the redhead. Her face was hidden behind the damp hair and her pace was slow. What surprised everyone was, she was walking towards a group of Slytherins who were standing near the stage. The place was in dead silence, even Professor McGonagall stopped working to see what the Gryffindor Weasley was up to.

'Lawrence chose me for a reason.' Virginia's voice rang, 'What an actress needs, is a character that nobody can ever estimate.' She stopped right in front of Montague and looked up. He sucked in a quick breath, staring into her tempting dark brown eyes. At that very moment, she looked beautiful, with her narrow eyes, long lashes, wet hair and soft skin under the sunlight.

Virginia smirked, glad that her little act was working. She lifting her finger and traced Montague's lips swiftly before tracing it down his throat, then stopping at right at his chest. She leaned forward and whispered something in his ear, her lips curving in a smile. Montague gulped as she walked past him, strands of hair sliding over his shoulder. She brushed past the other Slytherins who all gawked at her and started up the stairs to the circular platform.

'What I see in Gladys Winifred,' Virginia continued, walking slowly, swaying her hips dramatically, 'is that she's a wild,' she turned in one full circle, leaning her upper body backwards, as if she was made of rubber, 'sexy,' then dropped to her knees, leaning her body forward in a teasingly slowly pace, right in front of Adrian, who smirked at her in anticipation, obviously caught by the teasing view of her low-cut leotard, 'and seductive……' she lowered her eyes, her lips inches away from his lips, her hair sliding down her shoulder, 'slut.'

At the corner of her eyes, she saw Draco look at her with cold gray eyes, as if trying to see through the barrier that she had erected around the true Virginia Weasley, the Virginia Weasley who would be the timid, unattractive and unwanted redhead Gryffindor. Virginia closed her eyes slowly as the soft beats stopped. Putting her hands on Adrian's shoulder for support, she threw her head up as a very strong beat rung off, the water in her hair shimmering under the morning sunlight. She stood up, twisting her hips towards the beat, then kicked her long leg up, sliding across the platform.

'Go GINNY!' Seamus and Dean shouted. Virginia winked at them, shaking her shoulders while leaning her body slightly.

'Hot moves!' a bunch of students from Beauxsbaton yelled, clapping to the rhythm.

'Show em what you got Gin!' Geraldine screamed, waving her arms in the air.

'Shake it girl!' a few guys from Durmstrang shouted as well. Some girls from the other two schools started to shake to the beat as well.

'WOW!' a girl in dirty blonde hair hooted, jumping onto the stage. She gave Virginia a high five.

'Way to go Yvette!' girls from Beauxsbaton cried.

Virginia smiled. Coordinatingly, they scretched out their arms, shaking their hips before walking opposite ways, their bodies intersecting. The girl called Yvette ran a few steps then slide her whole body onto the floor, then rolled onto her stomach, supporting her body with her elbows.

Virginia laughed, holding her wet red hair up. As Yvette stood up, Virginia leaped over, her back turned, dropping herself. Yvette caught her by the arms, then pushed her out again as Virginia did a series of turns. To everyone's shock, Virginia hauled Draco, who was standing near the platform, by the collar, slamming him against the hard wood. Boldly she sat on his chest with her knees on his either side, her face inches away from him, hair draping at the sides of his head.

'Care to have a go Mr. Chester Dwight?' Virginia asked breathlessly, looking at him straight in the eye.

'Way to GO!' Yvette hooted, then turned to the crowd, 'wanna see them shake guys?' Over half of the crowd screamed, which of course did not include Pansy, who's face was burning red, and Gabrielle, who was totally speechless at the antics and passion Virginia was displaying. 'I CAN'T HEAR YOU! LOUDER!' Yvette shouted.

Draco smirked, 'do I have a choice Miss Winifred?'

'NO!' Virginia cried, then stood up, hauling him up to his feet.

Eventually a quarter of the crowd were up on the stage, a party in full swing!

_____________________________________________________________________________

'You have to be kidding.'

'I'm not!'

'But look at her, she's like a total nerd!'

'Jeez, take a look at the hair, it is her! Everyone can recognize that hair, although you might say she looks like shit now. The girl could have at least brushed her hair, it's so long and messy, like wires.'

'You have to be kidding.'

'If you don't believe me, then go and ask her yourself!'

'What am I going to say? "Hey nerd, were you the hot chick that was dancing on the stage yesterday?" Give me a break!'

Madam Pince's eyes darted from left to right, frowning the number of students in the library. There were more than usual, even when two more school were using it. Most murmurs and eyes were casted near the window, where a red head was hutched over a table full of books, her hair all messed up from the scratching and pulling. The books were stacked high up, some almost blocking people's vision of her. She had dark circles under her eyes and her skin was deathly pale from the light shining from the window.

No one from Beauxsbaton and Durmstrang believed that this was the Ginny Weasley who had danced at the studio two days ago.

Count to ten, one. Two. Three. Four. Five…… Virginia tried to calm down, breaking her quill in half. She was practically living in the library, doing loads of research on Potions and her other subjects. She was tired, hungry and sleepy, but she still had a whole parchment to finish on the research of Magical Creatures associated with Dark Magic, and her partner, Draco Malfoy was not doing any help at all.

'I am going to kill him someday.' Virginia muttered, stretching her body, wincing at the crackling sound she could here. This is becoming a nightmare. She thought, standing up, broken quills and crumbled parchments at her feet. Hauling a stack of three hard covered books, she trudged to the counter, unaware of the stares that followed her.

'Miss Weasley, when are you planning to get out of the library? You have been using that table for two days already.' Madam Pince said irratably.

'I'm sorry.' Virginia muttered, 'but I still have work to do, I don't want Professor Snape to kill me.'

Madam Pince sighed. Not that she really minded, but she just didn't want to see the little Weasley work herself to death. Her face was so pale and her eyes were dull. 'Do you have to go to the restricted area again?' she asked instead.

Virginia smiled sheepishly, 'yes, I think I'll be finished by tonight.'

'Don't you ever enjoy yourself?' Madame Pince asked, fishing in her drawer, 'even Miss Granger takes her time to have fun! And everyone knows how obsessed she is with her grades. Have you gone to Hogsmeade this term?'

Virginia shook her head, 'Not necessary, I have all the things I need. If we had to get ingredients, Malfoy would do it, not me. No need to waste time when I can do more stuff at school.'

Madam Pince shook her head and handed her a bracelet. Virginia clasped it on and thanked the librarian before heading for the caged area. The bracelet was for the books to identify it's searcher so that they wouldn't start howling whenever she opened them. After searching for half an hour, she finally located the book that she wanted, one about Magical Creatures and the other about Dark Magic, as usual.

She once again dragged herself back to her messy spot and dropped the book onto the table with a thud. Rubbing her eyes she threw herself onto the chair, exhailng loudly.

'I see the workload is getting on your nerves.' A voice said behind her. Virginia was so startled that her whole chair toppled and she went falling back. 'Watch it!' and the next thing she knew, strong arms were holding her by the arm and she was sprawled on the floor, chair beside, black and red hair falling into her face. 'You okay?' the voice asked in concern.

Virginia looked up, staring into the ice blue eyes of Adrian Bradley, his waist length ponytail falling into her face. 'Oh!' she jumped from his arms, racking her hair, 'I'm sorry, I just got startled…'

'That's okay.' Adrian said, putting the chair back up, 'you seemed drained.'

'Uh…' Virginia sighed, sitting onto her chair again. At the corner of her eye, she saw Adrian sitting down on the chair opposite the table.

'It's a Sunday and you're still working.' Adrian commented, 'I can't imagine what you'd be when we start school tomorrow again.'

'It's nothing, I'm used to it already.' Virginia murmured, rubbing her forehead.

'You're working yourself out.' Adrian said, looking at her.

Virginia snorted, 'this is not called working myself out. I'd done much more intense work than this before.'

'And why?'

'Because – ' Virginia stopped abruptly, staring at her lap. Because I used to be the one overlooked, shadowed and unnoticed? Because no ever really cared about me at school, so I worked myself to the limits, dancing, reading, studying… She had the sudden urge to just scream it out, but stopped herself. She looked up at Adrian. His eyes were facinating, like sapphires, sky blue sapphires. It suddenly occurred her that Adrian had almost made her tell her biggest secret with a simple question.

'I'm sorry if – ' Adrian started.

'No, it's okay, I should be the one apologing.' Virginia interrupted, smiling weakly.

Adrian frowned, 'why?'

Virginia shrugged, 'I wasn't paying attention.' She pulled her chair forward and took a book from the tall stack, 'Congratulations in winning the role.' She added.

Adrian smiled, 'Congradulations to you too.'

Virginia looked down, loss for words. She hadn't had the chance to speak to him ever since the dance in the studio. She really wanted to thank him, but somehow she couldn't pluck the courage, not like he wasn't busy. Adrian was getting very popular, with girls especially. It turned out that he was a really nice guy, even the Gryffindors, Ron and Harry in specific, who were suspicious of his background, turned to like him. Girl's flocked around him and he was always seen with Gabrielle.

'You should take a rest Ginny, you'll collapse if you continue like this.' Adrian said.

Virginia stared at him again, her breath unconciously quickening. People around them were buzzing with conversation while looking at the two unusual pair. 'I – I wanted to thank you actually, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have figured that I liked dancing so much, and that I wanted to be Gladys Winifred.' Virginia stammered, brushing a strand of hair way from her face.

'It's my pleasure to help someone with such talent.' Adrian replied, looking at her straight in the eye.

Virginia suddenly felt a shiver up her spine. The color of his eyes were cold, but oddly emitting some warmth. To her, he was someone very mysterious, someone who didn't want to be understood.

'Well, I better be going.' Adrian said, standing up, interrupting her thoughts. He took a step forward and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, smiling at her. 'Don't work yourself so hard.'

Virginia's eyes followed his back as he walked out of the library, oblivious of the murmurs and glares from the girls in the library.

What does he want? She couldn't help but wonder, feeling his gesture abnormal, to a plain redhead that carried the name Weasley.

_____________________________________________________________________________

'Fucking hell!' a voice cursed loudly from the medical wing, even audible through the soundproof door.

Virginia stopped short outside the medical wing, then flew open the doors and rushed in. Draco was holding his hand painfully, his pale skin bubbling with red substance covering it.

'Ron!' Hermione cried, grabbing his arm, 'stop it, you'll kill him!'

'Ronald Weasley!' Virginia shouted, dropping her books to the floor. They all turned and saw Virginia glaring at them. 'What in the bloody hell are you two doing fighting in the medical wing?' she demanded, glancing from Hermione, who almost had tears in her eyes, to Ron, who's eyes were blazing with fury and Draco, who was crouched on the floor, holding his hand away from Virginia's sight immediately when he noticed her.

'The git…' Ron seethed.

Virginia threw up her hands, 'I don't care what "the git" has done to you, Harry or Hermione. This is the medical wing, where patients rest, not fight. If you can't get that concept, then I advice that you get out of here!'

Hermione grabbed her arm, 'Ginny, Ron didn't mean to… I mean, Malfoy he…'

'What?' Virginia eyed the usually calm and know-it-all witch.

'Malfoy's hand is burning off.' Hermione cried helplessly.

'What?' Virginia yelped. Draco had his back to her, clutching his arm so hard that his knuckles were turning white. She didn't know why, but she sensed that Draco did not want anyone to see what his hand was becoming. Virginia grabbed Ron by the shoulder and shoved him and Hermione to the door. 'Out!' she commanded.

'What? With you and him alone? No way!' Ron protested.

'OUT!' Virginia shouted, 'I need my silence to treat this patient! Now get out of my sight!'

Cursing, Ron stomped out of the infirmary and slammed the door shut after Hermione.

Virginia sighed and walked to Draco, noting the sweat beads forming at the side of his face.

'Draco?' Virginia said softly, touching his shoulder.

'Don't touch me.' Draco seethed, shrugging off her hand.

'Draco!' Virginia grabbed his shoulders, forcing him to turn around. But Draco refused to surrender. Impatiently Virginia stood up and grabbed his hand from behind him, then pushed him down onto the floor.

'What are you doing!' Draco demanded.

'I've never seen a patient so uncooperative.' Virginia snapped. Draco glared at her, still clutching his forearm, but the burnt on his hand was clearly visible to her now. 'Oh my God, what did Ron do to you?'

'Make a guess.' Draco sneered, sitting up again. The bones on his fingers were starting to peek out from the corrosive burn.

'Wait, I need to get something.' Virginia said, 'sit on the sofa in the working room, Madame Promfey would give fit if she found out that Ron did this to you.'

'So your protecting your house from loosing marks right Weasley?' Draco snarled, 'you know I could tell Snape about this and let him do the dirty work, although I'm a prefect.'

Virginia rolled her eyes, 'right, give that a try, and let everyone at school laugh at your bubbling hand.' Virginia almost forgot that this nasty person that she considered a 'friend' was a prefect.

'Right.' It was Draco's turn to roll his eyes.

A few moments later Virginia pushed open the door to the working room, where Draco was lying on the sofa with his eyes closed. He jerked up when Virginia tried to roll up his sleeve.

'I'm just trying to get your shirt out of the way.' Virginia said crossly.

'Sorry.' Draco muttered.

Virginia raised her eyebrows when she saw the elbow protector peaking out from his rolled white shirt, but said nothing. 'What happened?' she asked instead, lifting his fingers up to examine the burn.

'You stupid brother came to warn me off.' Draco spat.

Virginia looked up at him in confusion, 'for what?'

'The little antic you forced me to do with you yesterday.' Draco said glaring at her.

Virginia smiled sheepishly, 'I'm sorry, I was just sort of out of control yesterday.'

Draco snorted, 'well, that git brother of yours told me to bug off you, and that if I ever touch you, he'll kill me. He accidentally pushed the cauldron towards me and all the contents spilled on my arm. '

'That serious?' Virginia asked absently, pouring a potion over his hand.

'Hey, your research partner is being threatened, say something!' Draco protested, trying to snatch his hand away from her grip.

'Hold still!' Virginia commanded, grabbing his wrist. 'Like you did do anything constructive ever since the audition. Still basking in the glory of being flocked over girls?'

'Jealous?' Draco smirked.

'And why should I?' Virginia shot back, looking at him straight in the eye.

Draco shrugged, 'because girls say I'm handsome, cute and a good kisser. Oh, they also seem really jealous of me and you, especially about the rumors of you and me sleeping together.' He smirked.

Virginia laughed, 'you mean the people take it for real? I just wanted to scare Ron so that he would bugger off.'

'It's not funny!' Draco protested, 'I don't want people saying that I'm a womanizer.'

Virginia raised her eyebrows, 'you aren't?'

Draco glared at her, 'No, I'm not. Women are nothing but trouble. Pansy is a very good example.'

'Isn't she your fling or something.' Virginia asked, wrapping his hand with bandages.

Draco rolled his eyes, 'a fling? Give me a break. She thinks I'm her boyfriend or something, which I'm not by the way. Why do people always put me and her together?'

'Um, because you kissed her before and she always tags you in public?' Virginia tried.

Draco choked on his throat, 'How did you know? I only kissed her twice to shut her up.'

Virginia looked at him in embarrassment, 'well, I saw you guys doing it in the dungeons before.'

'Oh, I almost forgot I saw a rehead flee for her life.' Draco snorted, looking down at his bandaged palm. 'Well, since I'm injured, I might as well give you all the work.'

'What?' Virginia yelped, standing up, 'you can't do this to me again!'

'I'm a patient, you know what patients should do.' Draco said in a fake weak voice, 'rest.'

'Oh no you don't, the work is due in three days, and if you don't help, I'll just break your legs.' Virginia warned.

'Violent.' Draco commented.

'Shut up.' Virginia muttered, turning towards the table.

Draco couldn't help but look at her hair. It was quite noticable, not only because of the color, but also because of the length. It shone like fire in the sunlight and it even looked more attractive when it was wet. One minute she was the hot, sexy girl on stage, the other minute she was the quiet, tempermental, messy and ugly Weasley that was always buried in Potions. He was confused, really, because there could be such a big difference in the girl. She was special, really special, than any of the girls he have met. 'Virginia, who's the real you?' Draco asked without even thinking.

Virginia turned and looked at him in confusion. 'What do you mean?'

'One minute you're the shy, shadowed Ginny Weasley and the next minute your dancing like a chick, as I quote Montague, on the stage like a hooker. What's that? It's like you have a mental disorder or something.' Draco replied, frowning.

Virginia sniffed, 'am I that unexpected?' she asked coldly.

'No, just shocking.' Draco said flatly.

'Right.' Virginia snorted, not wanting to discuss this anymore. She turned and headed for the door, 'see you at rehearsal.' She said before closing the door behind her.

Draco stared at the door with hard eyes, then sighed and removed the elbow protector, the Dark Mark showing in ugly black, as if wanting to claw his eyes out.

End of Chapter 16

A/N: Be kind and review! Email me at virginialo@wildimagination.net if you got any questions!

Updates, next Friday! I'll give you a little preview, it's called 'Something New called a Real Friend'. Guess who the friend is, and I'll give a cookie!

Later!