Title: Never Been Kissed: A Ghost's Tale
Author: Tiny Q
E-Mail: one_legged_lesbian_seagull@hotmail.com
A/N: Wow. People thought this was smash. And not just a few people, a lot of people. I am really rather surprised, and honored. Let's just hope this one doesn't slip like Muggle Music did. Bah. Oh well, hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: Nothing. I posses nothing to do with Harry Potter. Well not the rights to it anyway...
Never Been Kissed: A Ghost's Tale
Chapter 2
When Peeves Attacks
~*~
Ginny Weasley stared at her reflection with a mixture of wonderment and disbelief. She really was dead. She looked like herself: her red hair still slightly red, her freckles still slightly brown, but she was mainly blue. Almost as if a blue light was being permanently set on her, casting no shadow. This blue light also seemed to make her transparent, for she could see the far wall through her head. It was the most peculiar sensation, ranking up there with seeing your seemingly sleeping self be buried.
Her funeral had been the day before. She had not been the only casualty either for there had been several other students and adults at the ceremony along side her. She was the only ghost of the lot though and despite warnings from those she knew, she hid and watched the proceedings anyway. It had probably been a mistake, for she still could not get the image of her dead self lying in the casket as everyone walked by and spoke words to her as if they would never see her again.
'But they will!' she insisted in her head. 'I'm not going anywhere! I'm going to stay here and finish school.'
This had been the plan she had come up with after floating about in a complete stupor over what to do. She concluded she would try and learn as much as she could then do something. Yet as to what, she still hadn't decided. When she had informed Dumbledore of this he simply smiled a knowing smile and said: "What ever you think you need to do Miss Weasley." She had then been told that she could no longer stay in the dorm room she had residence and must leave. He gave her the option of finding a vacant room anywhere in the castle to keep her belongings in for as long as she needed them. She wondered what he meant by that last part but pushed it from her mind. That was what she needed to do now in fact, but she found that her reflection was too queer to give up just yet.
With a sigh, she appraised the apparel she would wear for the rest of eternity, or at least until she passed on. She was content that the clothing articles she wore were not thread bare as most of her garments were. In fact, the clothes she wore were her best. A sad, and piss poor attempt to impress Harry Potter on her last day of living. Not that that really mattered anymore. He hadn't even cried at her funeral. Not many people had in fact and neither had she.
But relationships like that were no longer of any relevance to her. She was a ghost and he was a human. She was dead and he was alive. A relationship like that would never work out. Even if she was a poltergeist. She could no longer spend her days swooning over Harry or following him around in an attempt to get him to notice her. He was dead to her in a way. And for some reason this didn't make her feel as terrible as she thought it would.
Turning away from the mirror she drifted out of the bathroom she had occupied. The attack had caused the professors to postpone classes until further notice. That had been over a week ago. So at the moment most students were outside, trying to enjoy their haunted freedom as much they could.
With a tiny smile on her lips at the blessed silence, Ginny drifted down the hall in search of her new room.
~*~
Draco Malfoy sat on the side of his bed, staring at the rest of him dorm room. He had been in the infirmary for the past seven days, lying there and taking potion after potion. Madame Pomfrey had claimed he was suffering from shock, but it didn't mean anything to him, he just wanted the images of that night to be erased from his mind. She had said that that was impossible, but that in time they would fade, that he would find new and better memories to cover them up. He thought her daft, but already he noticed Crabbe's face wasn't quite as clear. But then, he could simply be imagining that.
Now he was alone. Crabbe and Goyle had truly been his only friends. His best friends. He realized that they hadn't exactly been the joking type and more followed him around than anything else, but they were still his friends. And now they were gone.
Their beds had been removed, leaving a large and empty space in the center of the dorm room. There were only two beds left now, his and that of Blaise Zabini. A boy he could not stand in the slightest, and the three of them had often ignored him as best they could. Draco had no intentions of changing his ways now. Even if it meant he would be alone.
With a frustrated sigh he stood up. 'If I stay here I'm going to drive myself insane,' he thought angrily, beginning to pace before his bed. 'If I'm not already.'
The handle of the door across from him turned, yet the person who was opening it seemed to hesitate before pushing the heavy barricade open. When it was opened however, Draco met the eyes of the only other seventh year Slytherin boy in the school.
"You are in here," he said quietly, simply standing in the doorway. Draco looked at him. The two of them had nothing in common except their height and blue eyes, though the eyes of the boy before him had no trace of gray in them.
"Where do you expect me to be, Zabini?" Draco snapped. He had stopped his pacing the moment the door had opened.
"The infirmary?" Blaise asked coldly, walking into the room to where his own bed was. They were on opposite ends of the room. They always had been, with Draco's two large friends in between them. He never had had a problem with this, yet some part of him, deep down persisted that he needed to be closer to someone, and not so faraway. He told that part of him to screw off.
"So what are you doing in here?" the other boy's muffled voice drifted over to him as he seemed to search for something under his bed. Draco frowned. 'Why would he keep things under his bed?' he thought with distaste. 'It's all dirty under there.'
"I was just leaving," he replied simply and proceeded to leave the room without a backwards glance at the boy sprawled out on the floor, half his body under his bed.
'Yes, just leaving,' he thought to himself, trudging down the stairs to the Common Room. There were a few fifth years in front of the fireplace, but other than that the dank and dreary room was vacant. He had no problem with this, except the thought that if the rest of his house was not in this room, they had to be scattered about the school.
He had no idea where these antisocial thoughts were coming from. Sure he had never been the social butterfly of Slytherin house, but he had never wanted to be away from people as badly as he did now. They all just seemed too happy at the moment for no apparent reason.
He made his way out into the halls of the dungeons and was about to head towards the Entrance Hall when he heard voices from that direction drift down and greet his ears.
"Can you believe her?" a rather high-pitched voice cooed. "You'd think she was an angel or something the way she looked down at us."
Figuring there was no place else to go, Draco headed towards the voices. As he turned the corner he saw Pansy Parkinson and her small gang of girls. All the ditzes he found he had trouble standing, no matter who he was with or what they were saying. They didn't seem to notice him at first.
"Draco!" Pansy suddenly shrieked, seeming to finally notice the blond at the bottom of the stairs. With two gigantic, leading steps, she flung her arms around him squealing with delight. "You're back! You're better!" She let out another squeal. "You're back!"
"Uh, yes," he said, and patted her back a little awkwardly, she had her arms fastened right around his own. "Can you let go of me now?"
She held on for a moment longer, then released him and stepped back. She looked down on him, her long charmed blond hair bobbing as she did so. "We." She gestured at the other girls behind her. "Have all been so worried. They wouldn't tell us what was wrong. They wouldn't even let us come and see you."
'Well there was probably a reason for that,' he thought darkly. He hadn't been the only one in the hospital wing. There had been others in there with far worse injuries than the ones he had had. He still wasn't even sure why he had to be there in the first place, he still felt the same as he had when he had gone in, but he could still analyze that one later.
"But you're alright now, aren't you?" she asked, staring earnestly at his face. Draco stared back, keeping any emotion from his eyes. He could never tell when this girl was being serious or not. He knew it was physically impossible for her to be so happy all the time. Actually, she could be rather evil when she wanted to be. But as he stared at her, he could see concern, yet it was just covered up by the squealing and bubbly attitude. It sent a chill down his spine. He did not want Pansy's concern. He didn't want anyone's concern. He simply wanted to be left alone.
"I'm fine," he said curtly. For an instant he thought he saw hurt flash through the girl's eyes. He ignored it. "Now if you don't mind," he began to walk past her. "I have somewhere to go."
He thought he would get away without hearing her voice once more. He was mistaken however. "Well if you need anything," she called after him. "We'll be in the Common Room!" He continued on his way, not showing that he had heard the girl at all.
A few moments later he made his way into the Entrance Hall. It was devoid of people and he was about to head outside, when he heard singing. It was odd. He had never heard anyone in the school sing before. All his previous thoughts dropped away and he moved towards the sound. As he got closer he realized it was female, high but gruff. It was pleasant in a way and soothing in another. Not that he would ever admit this to anyone.
"My memory is muddy, what's this river I'm in," the voice rang out. He headed up a flight of stairs into a dimly lit hall. There was something moving near the end of it. He walked toward it, feeling that he needed to know whose voice it was, though he had no idea as to why. "New Orleans is sinking and I don't want to swim!"
A few moments later he met up with who was singing and he didn't like it in the slightest. It was the person who was supposedly supposed to haunt him till the day he died. He hadn't seen her for about a week. Not that he missed her. Not in the slightest.
"Ain't got no picture post- " her voice stopped short when she realized there was someone beside her. She looked down on him, seemingly startled. "Oh, it's you," she said darkly, beginning to frown. "Come to throw more rocks at me?"
"What were you singing, Weasley?" he asked, not quite sure as to why. 'What does it matter to me?' he wondered, yet continued to stare at the ghost expectantly.
"I thought you didn't like Muggles," she sneered slightly, lowering herself to what would be the ground if she could stand. He never realized how tall the girl actually was. Not as tall as her brother, but she a few inches shy of his own height. Not that it mattered.
"What does that have to do with anything?" he drawled, staring at her. He found it odder than he had on his first encounter with her. She argued like a Weasley, yet he could see right through her head. 'There's nothing there but air,' he concluded, trying to keep himself from grinning.
"It's a Muggle song, Malfoy," she said exasperatedly, shaking her head at him.
He frowned. "So?" he asked snootily. He really didn't care, he just wanted to know. But he still wasn't quite sure as to why.
She stared at him for a moment then shrugged. "New Orleans is Sinking, by The Tragically Hip," she finally replied. "Not that it should matter to you. I thought you and your father were totally against anything Muggle."
"Me and my father aren't exactly alike, Weasley," he replied darkly.
"Whatever," she sneered down on him, then turned and floated down the hall. She paused at a door, opened it and poked her semitransparent head in. Shaking it, she turned to the door that was across the hall.
"What are you doing?" Malfoy hissed, staring at her. He didn't really care, but he found himself walking towards her.
"Not that it matters to you," she replied, opening yet another door and looking about it. "But I am finding myself a new residence."
"A new residence?" he scoffed. "What, did they kick you out of your dorm?"
"I did not get kicked out," she sneered. "I was asked to leave." He frowned up at her, for she was again about a foot off the ground. She glared down on him. "Get lost Malfoy," she growled suddenly. "You're annoying me."
"Oh, I wouldn't want to do that," he said, his voice full of insincere sincerity.
"Just leave me alone," she snapped, not looking at him.
With that, he left.
~*~
Ginny spent most of the day searching what seemed to be every room in the school. She even found rooms she never knew existed. Yet even though she searched rooms that were far from any of the students or staff of the school, it was a room that was close to the Entrance Hall that she felt was the best of the lot.
There was nothing special at all about the room. It was an abandoned classroom with windows that traveled from floor to ceiling all across the wall opposite the door. It was rather nice, yet chilly at the same time. Not that it would matter to her. Ginny no longer felt heat or cold. But for the life, or death of her she couldn't figure out why this room out of all the others was the one that she seemed to want to stay in. There had been other rooms. More glamorous and cozy rooms that she would have died for but weeks before. But it seemed that this simple, chilly room was the room for her.
All of her belongings had already been moved, most likely by the house elves after she had informed the Headmaster of her decision. He simply smiled knowingly and said he would make the arrangements to make it too her liking. She wanted some furniture and he said it would be there the next day. But the more she thought about it, she really didn't need furniture. Did ghosts even sit on chairs? Or did they make their own out of the air.
She never really realized that there were a lot of things she didn't know about ghosts, let alone being one. Did they sleep? She figured that one out on her own after about a week of not feeling the least bit tired. Did ghosts eat? Obviously not. There was no place for the digested food to go. It would be rather disgusting to see it floating about inside her. So that was another thing she would have to live without. So then what did ghosts do?
A feeling over came her then, as she floated before the window, not really looking out. It was failure to her, yet she couldn't remember from where. It seemed important, yet there was no explanation as to why. Just that she was in the right place and that she shouldn't leave.
Sighing with frustration, Ginny sat down on the floor. Yet, even after a week of being dead, she still hadn't completely mastered the skill of being not entirely there. So in other words, she didn't sit on the floor, she went right through it.
Giving out a small yelp, she managed to stop herself from drifting right down to the floor bellow her own. Spreading out her arms and legs, causing the blue mist she was made of to swirl around her with the movement, she floated near the ceiling of this new room.
It was dark, and she had to squint to see what was in there. She could make out what seemed to be two occupied beds on opposite ends of the room. The curtains had been drawn shut so she assumed that who ever lay on them, was asleep or close to. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she floated downward to the bed farthest from the door. Pulling back the curtain slightly, she peeked in. Her hand flew to her mouth in an attempt to make no exclamation at what she saw.
Draco Malfoy lay on the bed, his face turned towards her. His face was devoid of emotion, simply relaxed. It was the face of a person that was sound asleep. Ginny stared at him, taking in how different he looked without a sneer plastered on his face. 'He almost looks cute and innocent,' she found herself musing, then realized what she was saying. 'Those are two words that should never, ever be used to describe Malfoy again. Ever.'
It seemed to be this flare of animosity that brought realization to her exact situation. She had chosen a new room for herself that she seemed to like for no apparent reason. She had chosen a room right above Malfoy's own. She floated there, wondering what it could possibly mean. He was the catalyst of the odd feeling.
Disgust washed over her and Ginny felt that she had to get away as fast as she bloody well could. Dropping the heavy curtain around his bed, she glanced around. There was no other sensible way to get out than the way she had come. So with a speed she didn't know she was capable, the red head bolted upward, through the ceiling and back into the room she had chosen.
Looking around, she frantically thought she had to get out. Without even opening the door she floated straight through the door. Straight though the door and into another floating, blue essence.
"Hey!" the blue individual cried sharply. "Watch where you're going!"
Ginny looked at the ghost she had run into. She hadn't encountered any of them since she had died. It was rather odd now that she thought about it, but here was one now. It was Peeves.
"Sorry," she muttered, and proceeded to float past him. She had never liked Peeves. And she had a feeling that the poltergeist had never liked her either.
"I know you," he said after a moment, causing her to turn around. She was half scared he would declare her a Weasley and attack her or something stupid like that. "You're the new ghost." He floated up to her and poked her in the shoulder. His usually smirking face twisted with a frown. He backed up. "You're a poltergeist," he practically sneered.
Ginny stared at him, taken aback. "That's right," she said slowly, floating backwards a few feet.
The ghost's face twisted further. "Hogwarts is my school, girl," he snarled, seeming to compress and look ready to spring. Ginny felt a pang of fear sharper than any she had ever felt. Even more powerful than the ones she had received from Tom Riddle. Could a one poltergeist hurt another? She wasn't too keen on finding out. "I am the only one who has the right to haunt it," he moved towards her then, slowly and menacingly. "Leave!"
"Uh..." Ginny found herself muttering, backing up further. She had never seen Peeves get so mad. He had always just been a nuisance, never a threat. "I don't have anywhere to go..." "Do you think I care?" the advancing ghost snapped. "Just leave! Get out of here before you do any more damage!"
"Damage?" Ginny asked, beginning to feel confused. How could she have done any damage? She hadn't done anything.
"I said-" the ghost began to bellow.
"Peeves!" someone from behind her said sharply. The ghost stopped, his eyes going wide with fear and shock. Ginny whirled around to see the Bloody Baron a few feet behind her looking as menacing as ever. A few feet behind him Nearly Headless Nick floated, looking concerned. "You get away from her," he advanced a few feet. The poltergeist retreated. "You leave her alone." There was no need for the ghost to raise his voice, his appearance was menacing enough.
"Sorry sir," the ghost behind her apologized. Ginny looked back at him to see him looking quite terrified. "So sorry." With that he turned and barreled down the hall and around the corner.
Ginny stared after him for a moment, not sure as to what she should be feeling. If anything she was simply more confused than ever.
"So you are the new ghost," the Bloody Baron said to her, causing her to turn and look at him. He was smiling at her, or at least what could only be considered a smile. Ginny stared at him. She had never really encountered him before, but the rumors she had heard had been that he was terribly frightening. "Come here my dear."
She hesitated then floated over to him. Nearly Headless Nick approached as well. "We heard a student had turned over, but we have been having problems finding you," the nearly decapitated ghost claimed, stopping beside his companion. She simply nodded. "We were hoping to find you before Peeves did."
"Why-" she croaked, finding her voice was trying to leave her. "Why did he act like that?"
"Because he feels threatened," the Bloody Baron said simply, causing Ginny to look at him with surprise.
"Threatened of me?" she asked. "How?"
"We have a lot to explain to you," Nearly Headless Nick said reasonably. "Come, now is as good a time as any."
Realizing that she really had nothing else to do, she shrugged. A few moments later she found herself trailing after the two older ghosts to who knows where.
~*~
A/N: Well, there you go. I know there wasn't much D/G interaction in here, but it was more of a foundation chapter, laying the basis for the story. I know the first chapter should have done that, but it turned out to be more of a prologue now that I think about it. Oh well. Next chapter is where things should start to pick up. Or at least I hope to make them pick up... And I know I made Ginny sing. But I like to make people sing... But this part of the story will be explained as well.
Many thanks to: kelly, GinnyYvetteHermione(Oh, she will...), Sharie, Laiannon-fae-elf(Really? A billion??), Furiya Celine, draco-iz-a-hottie, NACHO(Never really thought about that, but they probably would or will or- never mind. ~grin~), Harrygirlie(Really? An A+??), IndigoStar12020(ok), December's Girl, karen, my parents didnt name me... there's a whole story to it... but its really long and i dont want to bore you to death... so i'll save the story for another time when its needed(Hissy fit? Please no. Love the name BTW), Mooniala Trials, sparkling fire fly, FPB Hunter Keri NSJ, Katie Bell(Ed's Smash or Trash. Great show), ye ye(You'll see soon enough ~grin~), Lallie(Oh happy day! Originality and funniness. Don't get much better than that. Well maybe chocolate, but chocolate makes you fat after a while...), jessica(That was a hard one to write. I didn't want to make it too gory or too stupid either. ~shrug~ But thanks), Cygnet(Ginny's Ghost? Who's the author? Just wondering), HippieLady, scamp(Well I wrote more. Hope you're happy my dear ~smiles~), Azalea and tulzdavampslayer(Muggle Music is over! ~happy dance~ Sorry. Glad you think it's smash!).
Thanks again! I love to hear from you guys, so in other words: please review!