A/N at the end! ^_^

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Shakespeare Was All It Took - 2
Ginny slowly walked down the hall, not wanting to arrive too early at the meeting. She had to be in the charms classroom at six, to meet the director and Malfoy. When she entered, she was surprised to see Lavender sitting behind a desk full parchments. Draco was sitting casually on a desk.

"Ah, there you are Ginny! Here, you'll have to learn this by heart." She tucked a parchment in Ginny's arms.

"As I already said to Malfoy, you'll have to rehearse alone with him a lot, because I really don't have time to supervise all of you. Now shoot, and begin next door."

She hastily made a sign with her hand. Draco swiftly jumped down and was playing with the thick role of parchment. He followed Ginny into the classroom Lavender had appointed them and closed the door behind him.

"So, Juliet…" His malicious voice was ready to attack.

"Don't call me like that!" She snapped back, knowing it would only start a new war.

"You better get used to it."

Ginny didn't answer. She unfolded the parchment and started reading.

"It's funny, isn't it? We fit quite well in our roles, don't you think? The Capulets versus the Montagues, the Wealeys versus the Malfoys…"

He smirked. She looked up, and found out he was right, but then blushed when she understood what he really meant…

But Romeo and Juliet, despite their families's hate, loved each other.

The way how her mother had told her the story came back into her mind. She surely hoped Draco didn't think about that…

"Yeah, whatever." She muttered.

They both sat in silence, reading their lines. But then Draco got bored and wished her goodnight, without any warning.

*

"No, no, no!" yelled Lavender, "Not like that! Ginny, could you please say it with more love? You loooooove Romeo, don't despise him! Do it again."

Ginny rolled her eyes. Draco seemed perfectly fine faking his love for her but she happened to be a terrible actor. Or at least in this situation.

They had to start all over again many times, but then Lavender gave up on trying to make Ginny change her attitude. She was sure the ice would melt, with time. And they had time, hadn't they?

Draco stood underneath the balcony and recited the poem perfectly. This arms were lifted towards his Juliet, whose grimace slowly turned into a real smile. How much Ginny hated Draco, she couldn't ignore is acting skills. She decided to do her best, and eventually turned out to do fine. Or at least without the look of sommeone who's declaring his fake love to a slimy frog.

*

Christmas holidays had begun, and many had gone home so there weren't any rehearsals planned. To her relief, Ron and Harry had gone to the Burrow, and Ginny had insisted on staying. Why she wanted to stay, she didn't know, but soon found herself regretting it. All her friend were gone, and she was left almost alone.

Looking outside and deciding it was a nice day to go outside, she grabbed her cloak and a roll of parchment and hurried towards the Great Hall. She peeked inside and noticed the house elves had already decorated a lot, but they would have to hurry for the Christmas Eve feast that night. Noticing the hall was empty, thus not finding anyone who could hold her company, she strolled away, and decided to get out.

When she closed the door behind her, she felt the cold sharp breeze stab her face, and making her eyes teary. Taking no notice of it, she continued her walk en went to sit under a tree, after having rid the place of snow and dried it with two handy spells.

She let her gaze slide over the frozen lake in front of her, and then shrugged, to unroll the parchment. She started reading quietly, then raised her voice and repeated each line she had to memorize for the play. She soon found herself agitating and yelling, weeping, or whispering whenever the paper instructed her to do so. The silence around her was so empty, she fell the need of filling it with Shakespeare's verses. Besides, the frozen lake and chilling trees did make a good audience. For once, she didn't have to fake her smile nor thought of the hated Romeo, and really, truly, spoke the words as the real Juliet would have done.

And then, she heard clapping.

Clap. Clap. Clap. She turned around, only to find the Romeo she was crying for, leaning casually against the very tree she had been sitting against half an hour ago.

"Bravo, Juliet. Do the same performance at the end of the year and the public will really go wild."

With a chuckle, Draco cast a last glance at her, and turned away, making his way back to the castle.

Ginny didn't move, perplexed, and couldn't make out her feelings. Was he teasing her again? Or did he really give her a compliment? Should she be pleased? Or feel mad?

*

Many hours and loads of thinking later, she decided to go change for the feast. She also decided to stop wondering about Malfoy's words, without really having decided wether he had been ironic or just nice.

She happily skipped up to her dormitory and picked out a crimson red dress. When she finished dressing and pulling her hair into a low ponytail, she looked at herself in the mirror. She frowned a moment. The dress was fine, but… She released her hair again and decided to make a half-ponytail instead. Then, she looked again and was pleased with what she saw. Or at least, she thought she looked good enough for a dinner with people she hardly knew.

She had been a bit lonely, yes, but at least she got time to be on her own and had met some interesting people from other houses. It was more than she would have expected. Or was it? Her mind wandered of to Malfoy…

Virginia Weasley, what are you thinking of? She mind-slapped herself and set off to the Great Hall.

All the professors who lived in the caste had already taken a seat at a long table in the middle of the Hall. Next to that table, there was another one, where some students were waiting for the meal. She took place a few seats further a Hufflepuff and a Ravenclaw, who obviously wanted to be alone.

She hadn't been there for long when Draco made his appearance. He was wearing a muggle-like light blue shirt, and black jeans. The youngster looked more like a muggle model than a wizard… But it didn't attract Ginny's attention. Yet. Not until he passed by, at the other side of the table, noticed Ginny, and bend over a chair.

"Hello Virginia, do you mind if I sit here?"

Without waiting for the answer, he pulled the chair towards him and sat down, his eyes not leaving Ginny's face.

Did he just called me properly by my name, and not "Weasel" or "Muggle-friend" or whatever? What does he want?

Draco obviously loved the confusion he was creating in her and stared in silence.

"Well, I think you made your decision before hearing my opinion." She finally spoke.

"I knew the answer, I spared you a few words."

"Malfoy, I-"

"Draco is fine, you know."

Ginny didn't continue her sentence. Instead, she decided to be nice to him and see what he really wanted.

"Ok, Draco… Call me Ginny if you like. Virginia is a bit long, don't you think?"

"I like Virginia." He said it as if it was a daily confession.

Do you realize how odd that sounds? "I like Virginia."? God, if it wasn't in this context and if he wasn't talking to me… Wait. What am I thinking? Look, he's staring again. Uhg! It's as if he can read my mind…

"Right. Ok. Fine to me." Ginny tried to shrug as naturally as possible.

Draco seemed to notice, but at that very moment, Dumbledore stood up and had a little speech. Ginny noticed that while she had been talking with Malfoy, err, Draco, more students had come. About 24 had stayed, of which she knew 18 and got along with 6. That wasn't too bad. As long as she didn't make more enemies.

Dumbledore finally finished and made the food appear.

Draco didn't speak anymore, but started serving himself. Ginny took note of all the food he liked and didn't like, noticing she had the same tastes. How odd.

Half an hour passed by, accompanied by friendly chattering, drinking and eating. But at Ginny's and Draco's side of the table, they remained silent.

"Virginia", started Draco to wake her from her thoughts, "I'm having kind of a little party after this, with the others that are present. Nice people, even though not worthy being Slytherins… Anyway, would you like to come?"

How could she refuse? She nodded and finished her desert.

"The room we were given for the rehearsals, 8 o'clock. By the way, nice dress."

He smirked slightly as she walked away. This was getting faaaar too confusing for her. But confusing or not, she planned to be there. She would even be a bit early to be sure no prank was being prepared. Maybe that Draco wasn't as bad as the rest of his family? She had to think back at her own family, and the hate they had for the Malfoys. Then, her mind started wandering off to the Capulets and Montagues… Romeo & Juliet… Forbidden love…

Mental slap!

The common room was empty, and seeing that she still had an hour, she opened a book and started reading.

"Oy, Weasley!" A seven grader, Seamus, waved at her and then pointed to the clock. "Planning on getting to the party late?"

Ginny gasped as she saw that she had 5 minutes left. She sprang on her feet.

"Thanks for reminding me." She was about to get out when suddenly she turned around and made it for the mirror.

"You look fine, Ginny." Seamus's reassuring voice made her stop on her tracks, turn again, almost run out of the portrait, stop again, and wave impatiently to Seamus. He broke out in a laugh. She was obviously nervous.

"Calm down… and whatever happens tonight, I won't tell your brother." He looked at her maliciously.

"W-What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that if you plan on doing something with a certain Slytherin, you better don't tell Ron. Family disputes and all, you know…" He trailed off.

"You think that Draco and I…?"

"Draco? I didn't even mention him! So I was right afteral…" He started laughing again. He cared about Ginny a lot, but never had the intention on going out with her. She was more like a little sister he should protect. But she surely had enough brothers already…

"I don't know what you think, but you're wrong. The only relationship I have with Draco, uhm, Malfoy, is that we are both in a play." She tried to reply coldly, but knew she was unable too. Her fears were confirmed when he answered.

"Right. I'll just believe that, for my safety."

"Seamus?"

"Yeah?"

"Well… You know I've a lot of brothers and all but I think of you as one you know… especially since you're not of my blood. It's easier."

Seamus smiled. There was that family thing again.

"Yeah, sis. Now have fun with your bad Slytherin boy." He pushed the door as to conclude their conversation and joined a couple of guys in a corner.

Ginny shyly looked around, and finally spotted Draco - who was looking right at her. Slightly blushing, she went towards a table garnished with some snacks and drinks.

Draco swiftly joined her, despite the jealous looks of some Ravenclaw girls. Seamus turned a stereo - they happen to have that in Hogwards - on and it's music filled the place. Then, he transformed the whole place in a sort of disco. Bouncing music, flashing lights and drinks. That's all they needed to have fun.

Ginny poured herself a cup of something she didn't even know, but liked it, even if it burned her throat lightly.

"Firewhiskey!" She gasped, and saw Draco drink his cup at once. He glanced at her daringly and she accepted the challenge.

"Whoa, Virginia, don't get drunk too soon!" She had just finished her second cup in one gulp, and giggled. Not resisting the temptation of the swinging beat, she dragged Draco in the middle of the dancing people and started - surprise, surprise - dancing. She was obviously not knowing what she was doing… But for once, Draco decided to be a good boy and play along… Soon enough, after a couple more bottles alcohol, Ginny lost all sense of her actions…

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Thank you sooooo much for all your reviews! It really helps! And please continue to review^^.

Heena : Thank you^^

Angelic_pen: Thank you too!

lil' Hp fan: Glad you do! And thanks, I didn't really think of the first chapter as good^^;
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Krisleigh: I'll be updating quite fast (in comparison to my other stories), and thanks!

Paz-54: I've seen one fic with Romeo and Juliet so far, but I really should go and look around. I'm happy my approach is different^^. As for Mercutio, I was thinking of Crabbe or Goyle, but I've changed my mind. So I gave his part to an other person, a more appropriate one. I won't tell who, it'll be said in the fourth chapter^_^

Isabella Jynx: Thanks for informing me about that^^; I've changed it, I hope it updated well. And yes, it's D/G!

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Renn: Thanks très chère, luv ya! And for the two gentlemen: it's a secret ^_-

Tyra: *grin* I've made you curious XD. Thanks, by the way. I hope your writer block will be healed soon!