Disclaimer: It should not come as a surprise that I do not own Draco, Ginny, or any characters from the Harry Potter series. JKR does.

Chapter Two: Rhapsody in Grey

It was a changed Draco that Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy welcomed to Malfoy Manor.

The change was not apparent, of course—Draco's sonnets were carefully stowed away, disguised as hexes (a fitting tribute, Draco thought), and his careful, cold demeanor well-concealed the slow-burning fire of the boy's first passion.

Draco greeted his mother and father with appropriate reserve, walked up the ornate staircase and through the elaborately decorated halls with a regular, measured stride.

But once he had dismissed the house-elf, and unpacked his belongings for the summer, Draco could not restrain himself any longer. He raced to his desk and penned a few adoring lines on the glory of Ginny Weasley.

                             With hair as red as crimson flame-

                             And eyes as brown as dragon poo-

                             Despite your most unfortunate name-

                             The sole cry of my heart is you!

                             Your skin, so soft and silky white,

                             Reminds me of my own fine hair.

                             Being hexed by you is a delight-

                             You are as cruel as you are fair!

                             Remember my impassioned plea

                             And give all of yourself to me.

Draco knew he was no Shakespeare, but he was sure there was no way that any woman could resist this tribute to her beauty. But Ginny was so much more than just a woman, he worried. Would she not scorn his poem? Was he perhaps a little too bold in the final couplet? Perhaps he should alter it:

"Remember my impassioned, but entirely respectful and devoted, plea," was a bit better, but the line was just too long and didn't scan properly. Perhaps "Remember my impassioned plea/ And run away today with me!" would be more persuasive, but really, Draco didn't have any intention of running away with Ginny. He had no allowance, and once they'd left Britain, he had no idea where he could take them. Love on the rocks was an appealing idea, he admitted, but, for long periods of time, surely not a comfortable one. No, abandoning their families was not a feasible idea.

Draco's worries on that matter were soon truncated when a house elf arrived to announce that his presence would be expected at dinner in half an hour. His worries on a new matter began-- that of concealing his affection from his father.

Lucius Malfoy would not be amenable to Draco's amour for the daughter of his Weasley rival.

A/N: What to do, what to do. Will Lucius see into Draco's heart and realize that he's in love with an enemy (gasp)? Obviously. What else is there to write about… Please Review.