All things Harry Potter belong to the wonderful JK Rowling… :-)
Chapter 2: Plots and Projects
Ginny sat pretty much alone at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. Sure, she was surrounded by supposed friends… her brother, Harry and Hermione of course, and there were Collin, Neville, as well as Dean and Seamus nearby. Regardless, she sat silently… deep in thought… and she hardly paid any attention to the sorting ceremony. Ginny mindlessly clapped her hands, her gaze and thoughts elsewhere, as the new Gryffindors approached her table to take their seats.
Across the room, two sets of eyes were staring at the girl… though she did not know it. Blaise Zabini glared at her with a smirk across his face. He was plotting… he was planning.
Draco's silvery eyes were also fixed on the red-head. He looked at her longingly… a mixture of both affection and concern. He was glad that he warned the Weasley girl about Blaise, but he knew that his warnings just would not be enough. The blond boy glanced over at the black-haired boy plotting and planning his evil schemes. Though Blaise was his best friend… he knew that he was now going to become one of his worst enemies.
Draco heaved a sigh and suddenly shuddered as he felt a cool hand brush across the back of his neck.
"Hi Draco… you've been quiet," Pansy Parkinson giggled. "I know just the trick to lighten your mood. Meet me in the Astronomy Tower at midnight." Pansy flipped her long blond hair and smiled her sexiest smile, which was not very sexy at all.
Draco sneered, "Leave me alone, Parkinson. Why don't you go bother Zabini. I hear that he's lowered his standards."
Pansy narrowed her eyes slightly, "Ohh… the things you say, Draco."
Draco shot the girl an icy cold glare causing her to shrink back a bit, "Hmph… you'll be there." At that, the girl walked away and sat down next to her friend, Millicent Bulstrode.
Draco rolled his eyes and shuddered yet again. Though he hated to admit it, he knew that Pansy was right. He probably would meet her at the Astronomy Tower… after all, he was only human and he presently could not be with the one girl he longed to be with. What better way to release all these foreign feelings and emotions than to have meaningless sex with someone you despise?
Once the feast was over, everyone got up and headed towards their dormitories… Gryffindors towards Gryffindor tower… Slytherins towards the dungeons…
Ginny came upon the portrait of the fat lady dressed in pink, "Chudley Cannons." The portrait swung open and Ginny walked into the Gryffindor common room. She walked over to one of the comfy couches closest to the fire and flopped down onto it.
"Ohh…" she sighed while glancing at her black-painted nails.
Hermione suddenly stood in front of Ginny and smiled, "Mind if I sit with you a bit?"
Ginny shrugged.
"How's everything with you… I feel so distant from you for some reason and I'd like to be close with you again." Hermione's voice was very sincere.
Ginny knew that Hermione meant well, but she also knew that she was very different from the bushy-haired brunette. Hermione was very serious about school, but she had loosened up a bit over the years… she was kind and could even be funny when she wanted to. Overall, she was the perfect female friend. But Ginny was different from most of the girls in Gryffindor… she really did not feel as though she fit in.
Hermione brushed some of Ginny's red hair, "You know… black really does suit you," she smiled.
Ginny looked over at Hermione, "Thanks Hermione… thanks for being the first one to really accept me." A single tear fell along her cheek.
The two girls hugged each other and began talking almost as they had done in old times. It was refreshing, yet Ginny still knew that things would never be the same between she and Hermione… or Harry and even Ron… ever again.
***
Down in the dungeons, Blaise Zabini was carefully plotting his next move with the Weasley girl. He had to make sure to seize every opportunity and to use those moments to their fullest, if he was ever to achieve his victory over the fiery red-head.
Blaise paced back and forth in his dorm room, muttering aloud to himself.
"It'll all start tomorrow… perhaps at lunch… or maybe during break. I could get her to be alone with me… I'll confide in her. That'll earn her trust… she's a Gryffindor after all. She'll be throwing herself at me by the end of the month once she hears about how I survived the evil torments of the Death-Eaters trying to recruit me… and how Malfoy has suddenly made it his mission to ruin my reputation…" he grinned evilly.
Suddenly, he paused. Then, his grin became even bigger.
"Ohh Blaise, you genius!" he started. "That's it… its too perfect! She'll definitely trust me after this…"
Draco gasped suddenly at hearing Blaise's words, but recovered quickly. He was quietly standing in the corner of Blaise's dorm room with his precious invisibility cloak draped around him. Yes, like Potter, Draco too had a rare invisibility cloak.
'That lying son of a bitch!' Draco thought. 'What the hell does he have planned… I knew I was right not to trust him at all… and he's my supposed best friend… he sounds half crazed, the bleedin' bastard!'
Blaise resumed his solitary conversation, "I'll get Crabbe and Goyle to attack her… maybe I'll even let them really have a go at her, if they can handle her…" The boy laughed to himself, "And then, just when she thinks all is lost, I'll come and save her… Oh I'm so brilliant!"
Draco stared daggers at Blaise through his invisibility cloak and he greatly repressed the urge to punch the black-haired boy in the teeth. He needed to get out… he quickly and quietly left the dorm room and exited the Slytherin common room. He made his way through the dungeons and stalked through the halls without a care in the world as he was still hidden underneath his invisibility cloak.
He climbed the staircase leading to the Astronomy Tower and carefully opened the door. Inside, he saw Pansy Parkinson sprawled over a blanket on the floor.
"Draco?" she asked aloud as she saw the door open but no body in the doorway. "Is that you…?"
Draco made his way over to the girl and grasped her from underneath the invisibility cloak. She moaned with pleasure at his rough behaviour. She was also thrilled with the fact that she could not see Draco due to his cloak.
He pressed her hard against the floor and violently began to rip off her clothes. He carelessly undid his own pants and forced himself into her.
"Ohhh yessss…" Pansy hissed as she pulled Draco closer.
Draco thrust in and out… in and out… suddenly, instead of blond hair and blue eyes… he saw red hair and brown eyes. He stood up quickly in utter horror and ran out of the tower.
"Draco!" Pansy shrieked. "Don't leave… I know that it's you!"
Draco was horrified. For the first time, he felt ashamed of himself and of his actions. How could he engage in pleasures with another girl, one he loathed, when one certain red-haired girl was consuming his thoughts and his very soul?
He removed his invisibility cloak and straightened out his clothes and aimlessly walked through the large corridors of Hogwarts. He did not even try to avoid Filch and his cat, Mrs. Norris. I hope he catches me… I deserve it!
Suddenly, Draco felt a large thump against his chest. Instinctually, he grabbed at what struck him and when he looked down, he saw a red-haired girl in his arms. Draco smiled and quickly changed it to a smirk.
Ginny's eyes widened when she looked up into Draco's cold gray eyes. Was that a smile I just saw?
"Wh… what are you doing out at this hour?" Ginny stammered.
Draco regained his composure, "I could ask you the same question, little weasel."
Ginny frowned; she knew that he was right and that she had no argument. "I suppose you're right," she hesitated for a moment. "But we shouldn't stay here… Filch is about, he nearly caught me a few minutes ago."
Draco nodded in understanding. He grasped Ginny's hand and led her through corridors that she did not recognize. The two walked for several minutes winding through the halls and down several flights of stairs. Soon, they were in the dungeons. Ginny shivered from the damp and the cold.
Draco noticed her shivering and placed his invisibility cloak over her shoulders. He smiled to himself at the sight of her head floating along next to him.
Abruptly, Draco stopped and took out his wand. He tapped a stone three times and said, "Patefacio."
Suddenly, the stones disappeared revealing a wooden door. Draco opened it and motioned for Ginny to enter. Once inside, Draco shut the door and tapped it three times and said, "Termino." At that, the door disappeared and the stones reappeared.
Ginny looked around and saw that she was in a room decorated in green, silver and black. A bedroom.
"Welcome to my private room, Weasley."
Ginny removed the invisibility cloak and recoiled away from the blond boy.
Draco rolled his eyes, "Don't worry… I won't try anything on you."
Ginny sighed with relief. Though Blaise had told her that Draco was the one to fear and stay away from, she could not help but trust in what Draco said. Perhaps Blaise is mistaken?
"You'll be safe here for the time being. I'll walk you back towards Gryffindor tower in an hour or so… Filch should be on the other side of the castle by then."
Ginny nodded, "Ok… thanks."
"Whatever."
Ginny frowned and a bit of anger flared from within, "Nice room… see you got a private? How'd you manage that one… your dad arrange it for you?"
Draco grabbed her wrists, "You leave my father out of our conversations…" he hissed maliciously.
Fear set into Ginny's deep brown eyes, "I… I'm sorry…"
Draco released the girl and walked over to the couch near his fireplace.
Ginny could not help but realize that she had hit a nerve with the blond boy and she felt horribly for it. She felt as if she should be reveling in the fact that she had discovered his weakness, but for some reason that did not feel right. In fact, that felt down right wrong.
She gently messaged her slightly injured wrists and stammered, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean…"
Draco cut her off, "Not your fault. It's not like you know what goes on in my life… you were acting out of instinct." He heaved a great sigh and turned around. He also noticed Ginny rubbing her wrists, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Ginny looked into his gray eyes and saw that his concern was genuine. How odd… "No, I'm fine. Really."
Draco took out his wand and tapped her wrists lightly, "Medicor."
Instantly, the mild twinge in Ginny's wrists disappeared. She looked up into his eyes and smiled, "Thanks."
"S'all right."
"Malf- uh, Draco… I am sorry about what I said. Especially after you helped me get away from Filch."
Draco's steel-gray eyes softened at how she spoke his actual name, "No problem, really. There are just things about me that no one knows. No one. Not even Crabbe and Goyle… but I'm sure they will soon enough." And not even Zabini… thank the gods!
Ginny's expression pleaded for him to confide in her. For a moment, he just stared at her. She was dressed in black sweatpants, a black camisole and a little black cardigan hanging loosely about her shoulders. He wanted to tell her his secrets, but he was hesitant. He was not used to letting his guard down with anybody… it showed weakness. And with Blaise Zabini, his supposed best friend, out to destroy him… and Ginny… he felt even more wary.
"I can't tell you… You do not want to get yourself involved in something that you could never understand and would surely destroy you."
"I can make that decision for myself." Her eyes glittered with a fierceness that fascinated him.
"It's really better that you don't know. I would explain, but it will place you in danger."
Ginny furrowed her eyebrows and then frowned. Without even thinking, Draco touched her long fiery tresses and gently played with a small lock of it between his fingers.
"I'm a dangerous person to be around…"
"But you said Blaise…"
"I know what I said and it is true," he interrupted. "But at the same time, there are things about me that are dangerous. No matter how I try… I can't escape the inevitability of it all."
Tears began to well in Ginny's eyes, "You could try, you know." A surge of emotion began to fill her to her very soul. It frightened her, yet it exhilarated her. She did not understand these feelings, but they were there regardless of what she thought or felt. Why do I get this way around him… of all people? She also could not help but wonder if Draco was feeling powerful emotions as well.
Indeed Draco was. He moved ever closer to the girl until he was mere inches away from her.
Suddenly, he whispered, "I'll walk you back to Gryffindor tower now."
~*~*~*~*~*~
A special thanks to all those who have reviewed my story so far!!! I hope that you, and others, will continue to enjoy what I write… and leave me nice long reviews! :-)