Midnight
By Parseltounge
Chapter 2
The Bet
~*~
Ginny, Colin and Neville arrived at Hogwarts in the normal fashion. Colin was presently talking animatedly to Neville and Ginny about his thoughts for the upcoming school year. "I mean, Professor McGonagall is old, why hasn't she died yet?" Only when Ginny slapped him on the shoulder with a warning look did he take it back. "I'm just stating the facts…"
To Ginny and Colin, the castle looked welcoming and cheerful. To Neville, however, the castle looked like a dungeon of some sort. "What's with the gloomy expression, Neville?" Ginny asked, concerned. Neville turned to eye her warily. "N.E.W.T.'s this year, Gin. For the seventh years only," he said as the three of them walked though the Entrance Hall.
Colin and Ginny groaned sympathetically. "Oh, Neville, N.E.W.T.'s aren't until the end of the year. If you put your mind to it, you will pass N.E.W.T.'s with honors. Never fear."
Colin put on a suggestive face and said, "Yeah, and if you are doubtful of your abilities you can always have Hermione 'help' you."
That did nothing but earn a blush from Neville and another slap on the arm from Ginny.
~*~
I think I have forgotten just how frigging big this hall is. It shouldn't take ten minutes to walk from the Entrance Hall to the Great Hall. It's not as if Hogwarts is a small place, but it just takes so long! My ankles are stating to get sore and there's a stitch in my side. Salazar, whoever did the blueprints for this castle deserves to be thrown out on his ass and have an Unforgivable put on him. Ah, is that the door to the Great Hall? It's about time, thought Draco as he walked into the Great Hall for the Greeting Feast.
Draco was overcome with a great wave of nostalgia as he observed his surroundings. The enchanted ceiling was full of stars, and not one cloud. It shone a crescent moon, and every so often a shooting star passed by. Everyone in the hall was chatting, laughing, looking at their empty plates with an expression of grief, etc. Members of the staff were waiting were surveying the students from the staff table. Nothing much was new to Draco. Draco spotted Hermione and Ron at the Gryffindor table, holding hands and having stupid grins on their faces. Then he noticed Ginny eyeing them as well, looking like she was doing all she could to prevent herself from bursting with laughter.
Draco strode over to the Slytherin table and plopped down in between Crabbe and Goyle, who had a hungry gleam in their eyes. After the last few people came in and took there seats at their house table, Professor McGonagall walked hurriedly to the front of the Great Hall, carrying the sorting hat and a small stool, with about twenty or thirty nervous-looking first years behind her. She placed the stool down, and then placed the sorting hat on the stool.
As Draco eyed the students he automatically new they were going to be in Slytherin. For one, they carried a look of utmost superiority, and for two, they were ugly. Draco was one of the few exemptions that turned out to be a good-looking Slytherin.
Everyone went quiet, and the sorting hat broke out in song:
"About ten decades ago, when I was in much better condition
There were four different people, with one common mission
They strived to build a school for witches and wizards to be taught,
And though you'd think they thought the same way, they did not
Rowena Ravenclaw wanted studious people, who didn't goof off,
Helga Hufflepuff favored people who wanted equality, and who didn't scoff,
Salazar Slytherin prized purebloods, slyness, cunning wit, deemed dangerous
Godric Gryffindor wanted people who were friendly, yet courageous
Slytherin and Gryffindor had a huge fight about how their choice was the best
Gryffindor didn't like Slytherin's preferences, and neither did the rest
Slytherin yearned for students that were aristocrats, and the others started to worry
The three other founders worked in harmony after Slytherin left in fury
The three remaining finished building Hogwarts, and after that
They made something to sort the students into houses - I, the sorting hat!"
~*~
Ginny applauded the sorting hat politely along with the rest of the people in the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall gave the new student who had yet to be sorted a reassuring smile, as some of them had looks of terror.
"When I call your name, you shall sit on this stool right here, have the sorting hat placed on your head, they will tell you which of the four houses you belong in."
The ritual seemed to carry on forever, though not many people were being sorted. Ginny believed it was because of food deprivation. Finally, all the students had been sorted.
Dumbledore got up from his seat at the staff table and cleared his throat. Everyone in the Great Hall turned to look up him.
"I know you must be starving, so I will try to make this brief. I would like to greet old friends, welcome new friends, and urge people to honor the people who have moved on from this school to become greater things. New students keep in mind that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds unless told otherwise by a teacher. It will be a difficult year, with The War, but I know that if we are united and stand together no harm will come our way." Dumbledore looked thoughtful then said, in a less serious tone, "And if anyone would like to try out for their House Quidditch team, speak to either your head of house or Madame Hooch. Having said that, enjoy your meal!"
In an instant, food and drink filled the table. Ginny glanced at Harry, who looked forlorn. She glanced at Ron as well, who said to Hermione, "Why aren't you in Ravenclaw? You're not brave - you said yourself you were dead scared of anything happening to Harry or I."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him.
"I, however, don't cower in front of spiders, or my own mother for that matter," retorted Hermione haughtily, though she still wore an expression of contentedness.
Ginny snorted and reached for a chicken leg.
Seamus sat beside Ginny, perfectly content and loading his plate with everything he could get his hands on.
"Hungry?" said Ginny sardonically.
Seamus took a bite of corn before shrugging. "I've been hungrier."
Ginny gaped at him before shaking her head and continued to eat.
~*~
"Crabbe, Goyle, control yourselves!"
Crabbe and Goyle were munching away on chips. All Draco could hear was crunching sounds.
Draco groaned, putting his head in his hands. "Am I talking to myself?"
Draco looked up from his hands. "Am I?"
"No," replied Blaise Zabini, who was sipping some soup. "I can hear you."
Even over these noises of munching chips? Draco thought.
Blaise Zabini, male, had a very spiteful attitude toward all males in the other houses. But he was never mean to girls. Ever. In fact, he acted very charming and sweet toward girls. They fell for him instantly. He had dark brown hair and sharp, calculating blue eyes. All the females had a private voting of the best looking males in the school - and Seamus was ranked in fourth place, Blaise third, Ron second, and Draco first.
Draco, who had platinum hair, smoky, piercing silver eyes, and a body to die for, was candy for the female eyes.
Blaise turned to look at the other house tables. "Whose heart should I try to win this year?" he asked Draco, who smirked.
"Preferably no male," he replied.
Blaise glared at him. "Don't be daft, which female? And she can't be in Slytherin."
When Draco didn't reply, Blaise continued to talk. "Susan Bones would have been ideal - but it looks like she put on weight over the summer, and I try to avoid Hufflepuffs. Padma Patil is okay, but I'll have her as my last resort, because she's a girly girl. Blaise looked over to the Gryffindor table. "Hermione Granger's looking good, but she's with Weasley." Blaise suddenly whistled. "That other Weasley, what's her name? Virginia? I'll try to get her this year; she's absolutely gorgeous."
Draco grunted in acknowledgment; but couldn't help but looking over at the Gryffindor table and agreeing with him.
~*~
Draco lay awake that night.
It'll be fun to watch Blaise trying to win over the littlest Weasley. He won't know what's coming to him - her brother will have Blaise's intestines for his boot laces.
Draco smirked.
The only thing more ludicrous that a Zabini with a Weasley would be a Malfoy with a Weasley….
And suddenly Draco got an idea.
This was going to be so much fun….
~*~
Ginny woke up the next day fully rested and in an excellent mood.
She dressed in silence - a deep forest green sweater that her mother had made her, along with a pair of grey jeans she had gotten second hand. Fully aware that this was not school uniform, Ginny slipped her robe over it and buttoned it.
Her hair, which went down to the middle of her back, often got in her face irritated her - so she pulled it up into a ponytail.
She gave herself the once-over, and after declaring herself presentable she grabbed her school bag and headed down to the common room. It was still early; Ginny awoke early every morning to get a good start.
Ginny walked downstairs toward the common room. She and Hermione were going to have a little chat….
~*~
Draco opened his eyes groggily. "I hate mornings….I hate mornings…." Draco's curtains which were drain around his four-poster were pulled back to reveal Blaise's cheerful face.
"Well, aren't we a little ray of sunshine! You should be the spirit of the dawn, who loves mornings more than any sane person does -"
"If you don't get the hell away from me you're going to be the spirit of the dead, who is as dead as a person can get," Draco growled. "Why did they put you in Slytherin? Slytherin's are supposed to like the darkness, and be very evil."
Blaise raised his eyebrows. "Are you saying that I wasn't being evil to wake you up?"
"Good point." Draco sat up suddenly, remembering his idea. "Hey, Blaise - you know how Pansy bugs the crap out of me?"
Blaise groaned sympathetically. "Of course!"
"Well, I have a proposal for you. Do you think that I, being a Malfoy, could win Weasley's heart?"
"You're gay, Draco?"
Draco sighed impatiently. "Not THAT one you idiot, Ginny!"
Blaise looked suprised for a moment, then looked at Draco in disbelief. "Salazar, no way."
Draco smiled, or rather, smirked grandly. "How much you do you want to bet I can?"
"I'm betting nothing."
Draco looked thoughtful for a moment. "If I lose the bet, you get to put a Cheering Charm on me every morning. If I win the bet, you keep Pansy away from me."
Blaise smiled, and stuck out his hand, which Draco shook.
"Done."
~*~
Next chapter: A hilarious conversation between Draco and Ginny, Ginny talks to Hermione about what she 'witnessed', a murderous Professor Snape, and a murderous Ron!
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