Vulpinae
by Mnemosyne
A/N: Uh oh, Ginny's going off into Hogwarts for her 3rd year. Let me remind some people that like other romance D/G fics, it might be slightly AU in that new situations may be made up. In any case, don't worry about it – just read and enjoy. *giggle* You wouldn't believe how excited I was when saw my reviewers. They may not have been much compared to the thousands that some people have, but each individual review touched me. So, THANKS TO EVERYONE!
Chapter 4: Back to School~Draco Malfoy~
Draco Malfoy was brooding. Crabbe and Goyle were off doing god knows what, and here he was left alone to think. His father had issued an interesting mission before he left for the train. It had to do with Ginny Weasley. Draco turned to look outside the window and looked blindly at the passing scenery. His brow furrowed. Nah, his father couldn't possibly be serious. For years he wanted nothing to do with the Weasleys and neither did Draco. He sneered as he thought of their homely appearances with their homely freckles and shocking red hair. It had been the Weasleys versus the Malfoys for generations and nothing could change how infinitely superior the Malfoys were. Draco almost gagged at the thought of being shackled to Ginny Weasley for a lifetime. He couldn't quite remember what she looked like; after all, Draco Malfoy never paid attention to gawky scrawny brats with the name of Weasley attached. He thought some more. There must be something about the girl that he could remember. Oh yes, the picture was forming in his mind. She was always with Colin Creevey and Neville Longbottom. He almost laughed aloud at that thought – Creevey and Longbottom! What a pair of fools!
Draco shook his head. No, there is no reason for him to "woo" her as his father said. Sure she came from a pureblood family but there were a couple of those still around. The Parkinsons and the Zabinis for example. Draco smirked. He wouldn't mind being married to that cow Pansy, she may be lacking in the brains department but she was a good shag. No, he needn't complete this mission for his father. Lucius would understand. He needn't lower himself to the Weasleys' level. If he should marry, he could choose any number of pureblood girls with good lineage – it need not be a Weasley. Completely reassured, Draco stood up to find what his goons were up to.
~Ginny Weasley~
Ginny was excited beyond belief! With her new look, she was sure that this school year would be completely different. She could just feel it. Harry was sure to notice her this year. Ron, Hermione, and Harry had promised to meet each other on the train and Ginny would be sure to catch his attention when they got to Hogwarts.
As she stood on the platform with her mum and her brothers, Ginny absently looked around and spotted a familiar face.
"Hermione!"
"Ginny! Oh my God! You look fantastic!"
"By Merlin's beard! Hermione your hair!"
"Me! What about YOUR HAIR and YOUR FRECKLES! What happened to them?"
More squeals and hugs. Hearing them, Ron rolled his eyes. He turned around to greet Hermione and stopped cold. He gulped and turned around and busied himself with arranging his bags. He finally heard the expected silence behind him. Ron took a deep breath and turned around. Hermione was looking expectantly at him, her brows raised.
He barely looked at her and mumbled, "Hey Hermione." Hermione barely noticed his lukewarm greeting because before he knew it, he found himself with a soft armful and heard the echo of her delighted cry. Ron awkwardly patted her back and said, "I guess we'll see you up there." He felt her nod and he released her so she could run back to her parents to say goodbye. He was silent as he helped his sister with her bags.
As soon as they got on the train, Ginny turned around and smacked him. He howled and shot her a deadly look.
"What was that for?"
"Honestly Ron, you could at least have said something nice. Didn't you notice that she looked particularly pretty? Next time, say something – compliment her hair or her eyes, or…or something, anything! Girls like that you know!"
"Well what was I supposed to say? 'Hermione, you're bloody beautiful!'"
Ginny softened. Knowing how incredibly tongue-tied and dense Ron could be, it wasn't surprising he couldn't tell Hermione his "hidden" feelings. She hugged him and patted him maternally on the back.
"Oh, Ron," she said lovingly, "Come on, let's get you to your compartment."
"Hey Gin," her brother said hesitantly, "You know you could always sit with us."
She smiled brightly at him and said, "It's okay. You know I always sit with Colin and Neville." Besides, this was all part of her devious plan – Operation HP. She figured that she'd surprise Harry with her glowing new looks. Being a Vulpinae was good…very good. A devilish smile on her face, Ginny sauntered up and down the train to look for Colin and Neville.
She found them in another compartment playing Exploding Snaps on the floor. Both boys looked up in shock at her unexpected appearance. They looked at each other in bewilderment and said together in awe, "Wow Gin!"
Ginny shook her head. Honestly, can't guys think of anything else more creative to say? She'd gotten this reaction many times and they always said the same thing.
Colin grinned and took her appearance in stride. He got up and gave her a hug. "You look great Gin," he commented.
Neville said, "Why'd you do that to your hair?"
Ginny opened her mouth to explain and then shut it. She shrugged. "I just felt like a change I guess."
Clearly at a loss as to what to say about Ginny's transformation, Neville looked up and asked, "Would you like to play with us?"
Ginny giggled. Sometimes Neville was just too clueless. She went over to hug him, when something unexpected happened. Neville turned green and started coughing.
Ginny became alarmed. "Neville? What's wrong?" She stepped closer and Neville started gagging.
By now, Neville was gasping for breath and turning purple. He got up and ran from the compartment. She exchanged bewildered and anxious looks with Colin. They could hear him outside taking huge deep breaths.
"You'd better find out what's the matter," Ginny said. Colin went outside to talk to Neville. She could hear their voices muffled in the corridor. Colin finally went back inside the compartment and looked at her with amusement and a bit of worry.
"So? What's wrong with him?"
Colin remained silent and went over to where she was standing. He started sniffing her.
"Colin! What are you doing?!" Ginny squealed.
Colin looked sheepish and said, "Sorry, Gin. Neville didn't really want to tell you this…he didn't want to hurt your feelings and all…but…but…"
Ginny started looking impatient. "What is it?"
"YOU STINK."
She looked blankly at Colin. Colin repeated himself. "You stink. He said you smelled so bad he needed to get out of here."
Ginny blinked. "I don't stink. Did you smell anything?"
Colin shook his head no.
"Well, there you go – maybe Neville was just imagining it." She felt relieved.
Colin looked at her thoughtfully and said, "Maybe I need to get one of your brothers. Somebody could have played a nasty prank on you."
Before she could protest, he went out of the compartment to presumably look for one of her wayward brothers. Ginny started to smell herself. Armpits – check. Breath – check. Feet – check. She knew everything else smelled okay. But still, Neville's face looked horrible. She knew nobody could possibly fake such a disgusted look. Ginny was starting to get worried. Maybe it was a good idea to get one of her brothers.
She soon regretted her thoughts when Ron burst into her train compartment. He was followed by Fred, George, and Percy.
"Gin-!" Ron's greeting was cut off when he wrinkled his nose and pinched them. He took a good look at his sister's stricken face and managed with some difficulty to slowly ease his fingers off his offended nose. He's obviously decided to try and hold his breath. Ron started to cough from the strain and decided to compromise. He put his hands over his mouth and nose in order to breath.
"Ye gads!" This reaction was from Percy.
"It smells like throw-up!" That was Fred.
"No! It smells like sh**!" That was George.
Ginny was torn from laughing hysterically and screaming like a banshee. There goes her plan to seduce Harry Potter. She felt like crying – she wanted this year to be different, but not this kind of different. What was wrong with her?
A/N: Dun…dun…dun…LOL. I wonder what's wrong with Ginny. Not exactly the adoration she expected due to her new looks. Don't worry though – Ginny becomes a sex goddess in the next chapter. Just kidding. No, seriously, Ginny will get the attention of every male in Hogwarts. For those of you who were disappointed or thrown off the loop by this new development of stinkdom, don't worry about it – just go with the flow. And like always REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
