Things Change
A/N Well, I said I'd try and carry on in a little while and I have. I actually had ideas about where this story was going, but I've got past them all and now I'm just blindly going where the plot bunnies haven't taken me yet.
Oh, and this is important - Thom is quite a popular guy. Not big headed popular, just nice popular, cool popular, etc. You need to know that.
I don't know if you *can* floo in 'The Three Broomsticks', but in this story you can, and I thought it'd be a bit stupid for people to floo in a fireplace right in the middle of the pub, so I've just invented one a little off to the side.
Read and enjoy (you'd better!) ^_^
Here we go.
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"Ginny dear, have you got the floo powder?"
"Yes Mum" Ginny replied, holding up the little flower pot of green dust. "And I've got some with me so I can get back. Don't worry"
Mrs Weasley smiled, ushering her towards the fireplace. Ron stood behind her. Both wore their school cloaks, the only things that could keep them relatively warm.
"Now off you go dear, and make sure you wait for Ron"
Ginny sighed. "Yes Mum, I will"
With that she threw the floo powder into the fire. It roared green, and Ginny stepped into it, the flames tickling her hands.
"The Three Broomsticks!" she shouted, and next minute the familiar feeling of being sucked down a giant plug-hole swept over her. She watched, squinting, as grates flew past, waiting, waiting...ah yes, The Three Broomsticks would be coming up anytime now...
She stepped out of the fire into the warmth of the pub, brushing her cloak off as she did so. She had arrived by the smaller fireplace round near the back of the tavern, where less people went and it was easier to floo. She waited for a moment for Ron to appear, and he did so a few minutes later, his face sooty.
"You've got dirt on your nose, you know"
Ron scowled at her and said nothing. They walked round to the front of the pub, and he quickly spotted Harry and Hermione by a Christmas tree. Ginny looked around for Thom and spotted him by their usual table. She was about to wave when Ron took hold of her arm and started to drag her towards Harry and Hermione.
"I can't see your girly mates Gin" Ron said, not noticing Ginny's protests as he sat her down at the table. "You'll just have to come and sit with us while you wait. Mum said I have to look after -"
"Ron, I don't need looking after, and besides, my mate *is* here, see? He's sitting over there by the window!"
Ron looked over to where she was pointing. He stopped for a second, his face confused, before looking at Ginny as if she were mad.
"Gin, that's Thom Walker"
Ginny sighed, exasperated.
"I *know*"
"But -"
"But nothing, Ron" Ginny interrupted. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to go and see my friend. Oh, and hi Harry, Hermione"
Ginny stood up and walked over to Thom's table. She could feel Harry, Hermione and Ron staring after her. It was probably a bit of a shock for them. What would little Ginny Weasley being doing with a guy like Thom Walker?
"Hey Gin" Thom said, shuffling over so she could sit down. He hugged her in greeting. Ginny smiled and hugged him back.
"Hi Thom, I missed you!"
"Yeah, you too. How've you been?" Thom replied, handing her a butterbeer he must have ordered before she got there.
"Hectic. My brother Bill brought home his new girlfriend - you'll never guess who!"
Thom grinned. "Who says?"
"Me"
"Oh well, I'm doomed. Who is it?"
"Fleur Delacour"
Thom choked on his butterbeer. Ginny thumped his back vigorously, helping him get air back in his lungs. After he had finished nearly suffocating, Thom turned to Ginny, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Fleur Delacour?" he said, still coughing slightly. "But I thought she was all 'high and mighty'?"
Ginny shook her head. "She's not too bad actually. She looked a little apprehensive at the state of our house though"
Thom grinned. "Don't worry. Those Beauxbatons lot are all the same. They thought the Ravenclaw dorms were 'ghastly', as they put it. Lovely, huh?"
"Wonderful," Ginny replied. "She's sort of alright really though. She was talking about this present Bill got her - it was some bracelet or something - and they way they were looking at each other! They're so in love"
"Speaking of presents," Thom said. "I've got something I wanted to give you"
Ginny blushed. "Thom! You really shouldn't!"
"It's Christmas! Well, it was Christmas, anyway. I got all my other friends presents"
"Fine," Ginny answered as she pulled a paper bag out from under the table. "But I've got something for you too. Let me give you yours first"
"Okay" Thom replied.
Ginny handed him the bag, and he pulled out a small, brown, paper package. He prised open the wrapping, and two leather bracelets fell out onto the table. Both were a soft brown colour, and were made of little pieces of leather twisted together into braids, thin and elegant. One had the initial 'T' on it, and the other held the initial 'G'.
"I know they're not much" Ginny said quickly, blushing with embarrassment. "But they mean a lot. They're friendship bracelets"
Thom grinned at Ginny's discomfiture, slipping Ginny's onto her wrist and his onto his own.
"Don't worry Gin. I think they're fantastic"
Ginny blushed again, looking at the floor.
"Really?" she asked.
"Really. And now," Thom said, reaching under the table. "Here's your gift"
He had a bag too. It was pretty big. Opening it, Ginny pulled out a box, long and thin, with a company brand name on it. Ginny recognised that brand name. It was -
"Oh Thom, not Madam Malkins!" she cried as she opened the box. She gasped with astonishment. Inside was the most beautiful dress robe she had ever seen. It was silver, with a scooped collar and angel sleeves that she could tell would fall almost past her knees if she drew her arms up to her chest. There was a thin silver and white brocade round the collar, cuffs and hemline. It was almost like a real princess dress.
"Thom..." Ginny breathed, her eyes wide in awe. "This is...amazing!"
Thom grinned. "I hoped you'd look at it that way"
Ginny was almost speechless. "But it must have been so expensive!"
"It's the thought that counts, right?"
Ginny giggled, her eyes still fixed on the amazing dress robes. "That's only for horrible gifts that your granny buys you"
"It still counts for this anyway"
Ginny sighed, touching the smooth material lovingly.
"Is it real silk?" she asked, marvelling at the softness of the fabric.
"Yep," Thom replied. He looked especially proud of himself. "I'm guessing you like it then?"
"Like it?" Ginny asked. She turned to Thom. "I love it!"
And with that she threw her arms around him. He looked surprised for a second, but then he hugged her back, wrapping his arms around her. Today was a wonderful day, Ginny thought contentedly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The start of term arrived, and Ginny trudged towards the Hogwarts express tiredly. She was pretty exhausted, not having had much sleep. She had been up playing wizards chess with Bill and watching Fred and George inventing new jokes.
Hauling her trunk onto the train, Ginny watched as her mother said goodbye to Ron. She had avoided the whole long goodbye thing for a couple of years running now, but Ron always got it. Probably because of his adventures with Harry. She smiled and escaped onto the train. She dragged her trunk along the corridor, looking for an empty compartment. She had seen Thom sitting with all of his big Ravenclaw friends, and Ginny would've sat with him if she wasn't so shy. But she was, so she'd opted for sitting alone. She was just about ready to give up when she found one unoccupied compartment. Putting her trunk on the luggage rack, she sat down on the seat and exhaled. She leant her head back, closing her eyes for just one second...
She was woken up by the sound of the door opening and closing. She opened her eyes, her brain registering that it was dark outside, bleak, depressing rain clouds threatening to let go off the rain they held. She lifted her head from the back of the seat and who else did she see, but Draco Malfoy and some Slytherin fourth year standing by the door, about to start making out by the look of things.
Ginny cleared her throat and the two swung round.
"Weasley!" Malfoy cried, his expression one of annoyance. He gestured for the girl to leave, practically pushing her out of the door in his irritation. "What are you doing here? Can't you see I'm busy?"
Ginny grinned, glad to see his frustration.
"Tut, tut" she said, wagging her finger at him. "Remember our deal? You call me Ginny and I call you Draco. We agreed"
Draco almost looked as if he wanted to kill her, but he forced his face into a smirk.
"I remember *Ginny*" he replied, stressing her name.
"Good boy. I wasn't sure you would" Ginny said, enjoying patronising him. He scowled at her.
"Get out Ginny. I want to use this carriage. It's the only empty one on the whole train, apart from the one the 'dream team' are in. You can go bug them"
Now it was Ginny's turn to scowl. She leant back, her arms crossed. She clearly wasn't leaving.
"Ginny..." Draco growled.
"No"
He threw his arms in the air, exasperated.
"Why not?" he whined, almost sounding like a little kid.
"Because, Draco," Ginny retorted, glaring at him. "I was here first"
He raised his eyebrows. "So?"
"So I want to stay here. You can go make out with that girl somewhere else"
Draco glowered at her for a moment, but suddenly his glare turned into a smirk, and he moved towards her, sitting on the seat beside her. He now wore his usual sneer, and the dim light of the storm clouds sent shadows over his face.
"Who says," he whispered as he leant closer. "That I have to make out with *her* in this carriage?"
Ginny stared at him, her face nervous. He leant closer. She backed up against the wall of the compartment, now facing him. He put his hand on one side of her, preventing her from getting off the seat.
"Uh, Draco -" she started to say, but in one fluid motion he had leant forward and silenced her with his own lips. Ginny's eyes went wide, and she leant against the wall, her back pressing against it hard, waving her arms in an effort to break free.
"Mmuuph!" she tried to say, as Draco deepened the kiss. "Mmuupph mmph!"
Draco leant back, breaking the kiss and frowning.
"If you're going to make stupid noises all day this is never going to work" he said, and before Ginny could say another word, he'd started to kiss her again. This time, however, as Draco intensified the kiss, she suddenly felt like an electric shock had run down her spine. A nice electric shock that felt strangely tempting, like maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to just...go with the flow, so to speak. She stopped struggling against him, trying to work out what was going on. Shyly, she kissed him back softly. Draco responded, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her waist. Before Ginny realised what she was doing, she tentatively reached up a hand and ran it through his hair, feeling the silky locks slip through her fingers. She lifted up her other arm and draped it around his neck, drawing him to her. She had never kissed like this before. Actually, scratch that, she'd never kissed before full stop. (A/N I guess that's period if you're American, huh?)
Ginny closed her eyes with satisfaction, moaning softly as Draco trailed one of his long fingers down her back, causing her to shiver in the thin material of her shirt. She played with the hair at the nape of his neck, running her fingers through the smooth tresses. This was like nothing she'd ever dreamed of...
A sudden rap on the door made Ginny and Draco break apart, both flinging themselves to opposite ends of the seat. The fourth year Slytherin girl stood there, looking slightly angry. Draco sighed and stood up. He glanced briefly at Ginny, who was unable to read his look, before walking to the door, opening it and stepping out into the corridor. His and the girl's voices sounded muffled as they talked, or rather, argued, outside the door, and got steadily more distant until she couldn't hear them anymore. They must have left.
Ginny exhaled, bewildered. What the hell had just happened? Being taken advantage of by Malfoy hadn't exactly been on her top ten list of things to do that day. She shivered as she thought of what had just happened, feeling slightly sick. Did she feel nauseous because she hated the thought of what she had just done? Or was it simply the fact that she wanted to do it again, and he wasn't here? Neither option was nice, but the former looked better in her eyes. She snuggled down into the seat, which was still warm from where he'd been sitting. Mmmm...
'Wait a minute!' Ginny thought, sitting bolt upright again and edging over to the other side of the seat. 'Oh, for goodness sake! I can't even sit on my seat without thinking about...that'
She sighed, annoyed. Malfoy always messed things up. Now she'd been thinking about *him* more than Thom and Harry! Damn him!
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A/N Aa ha ha! The Draco/Ginny action has arrived (even though it was a little short)! Does it sound okay? I hope so. Anyways, thanks for all my reviews - I love getting reviews! This chapter took longer than usual...well, actually, it only took a while to *update* it. I've had it written for ages. I haven't been on the internet for a loooong time is all!
Thanks for reading my fic ^_^
Pleez R&R,
S.e.a
A/N Well, I said I'd try and carry on in a little while and I have. I actually had ideas about where this story was going, but I've got past them all and now I'm just blindly going where the plot bunnies haven't taken me yet.
Oh, and this is important - Thom is quite a popular guy. Not big headed popular, just nice popular, cool popular, etc. You need to know that.
I don't know if you *can* floo in 'The Three Broomsticks', but in this story you can, and I thought it'd be a bit stupid for people to floo in a fireplace right in the middle of the pub, so I've just invented one a little off to the side.
Read and enjoy (you'd better!) ^_^
Here we go.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Ginny dear, have you got the floo powder?"
"Yes Mum" Ginny replied, holding up the little flower pot of green dust. "And I've got some with me so I can get back. Don't worry"
Mrs Weasley smiled, ushering her towards the fireplace. Ron stood behind her. Both wore their school cloaks, the only things that could keep them relatively warm.
"Now off you go dear, and make sure you wait for Ron"
Ginny sighed. "Yes Mum, I will"
With that she threw the floo powder into the fire. It roared green, and Ginny stepped into it, the flames tickling her hands.
"The Three Broomsticks!" she shouted, and next minute the familiar feeling of being sucked down a giant plug-hole swept over her. She watched, squinting, as grates flew past, waiting, waiting...ah yes, The Three Broomsticks would be coming up anytime now...
She stepped out of the fire into the warmth of the pub, brushing her cloak off as she did so. She had arrived by the smaller fireplace round near the back of the tavern, where less people went and it was easier to floo. She waited for a moment for Ron to appear, and he did so a few minutes later, his face sooty.
"You've got dirt on your nose, you know"
Ron scowled at her and said nothing. They walked round to the front of the pub, and he quickly spotted Harry and Hermione by a Christmas tree. Ginny looked around for Thom and spotted him by their usual table. She was about to wave when Ron took hold of her arm and started to drag her towards Harry and Hermione.
"I can't see your girly mates Gin" Ron said, not noticing Ginny's protests as he sat her down at the table. "You'll just have to come and sit with us while you wait. Mum said I have to look after -"
"Ron, I don't need looking after, and besides, my mate *is* here, see? He's sitting over there by the window!"
Ron looked over to where she was pointing. He stopped for a second, his face confused, before looking at Ginny as if she were mad.
"Gin, that's Thom Walker"
Ginny sighed, exasperated.
"I *know*"
"But -"
"But nothing, Ron" Ginny interrupted. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to go and see my friend. Oh, and hi Harry, Hermione"
Ginny stood up and walked over to Thom's table. She could feel Harry, Hermione and Ron staring after her. It was probably a bit of a shock for them. What would little Ginny Weasley being doing with a guy like Thom Walker?
"Hey Gin" Thom said, shuffling over so she could sit down. He hugged her in greeting. Ginny smiled and hugged him back.
"Hi Thom, I missed you!"
"Yeah, you too. How've you been?" Thom replied, handing her a butterbeer he must have ordered before she got there.
"Hectic. My brother Bill brought home his new girlfriend - you'll never guess who!"
Thom grinned. "Who says?"
"Me"
"Oh well, I'm doomed. Who is it?"
"Fleur Delacour"
Thom choked on his butterbeer. Ginny thumped his back vigorously, helping him get air back in his lungs. After he had finished nearly suffocating, Thom turned to Ginny, his eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Fleur Delacour?" he said, still coughing slightly. "But I thought she was all 'high and mighty'?"
Ginny shook her head. "She's not too bad actually. She looked a little apprehensive at the state of our house though"
Thom grinned. "Don't worry. Those Beauxbatons lot are all the same. They thought the Ravenclaw dorms were 'ghastly', as they put it. Lovely, huh?"
"Wonderful," Ginny replied. "She's sort of alright really though. She was talking about this present Bill got her - it was some bracelet or something - and they way they were looking at each other! They're so in love"
"Speaking of presents," Thom said. "I've got something I wanted to give you"
Ginny blushed. "Thom! You really shouldn't!"
"It's Christmas! Well, it was Christmas, anyway. I got all my other friends presents"
"Fine," Ginny answered as she pulled a paper bag out from under the table. "But I've got something for you too. Let me give you yours first"
"Okay" Thom replied.
Ginny handed him the bag, and he pulled out a small, brown, paper package. He prised open the wrapping, and two leather bracelets fell out onto the table. Both were a soft brown colour, and were made of little pieces of leather twisted together into braids, thin and elegant. One had the initial 'T' on it, and the other held the initial 'G'.
"I know they're not much" Ginny said quickly, blushing with embarrassment. "But they mean a lot. They're friendship bracelets"
Thom grinned at Ginny's discomfiture, slipping Ginny's onto her wrist and his onto his own.
"Don't worry Gin. I think they're fantastic"
Ginny blushed again, looking at the floor.
"Really?" she asked.
"Really. And now," Thom said, reaching under the table. "Here's your gift"
He had a bag too. It was pretty big. Opening it, Ginny pulled out a box, long and thin, with a company brand name on it. Ginny recognised that brand name. It was -
"Oh Thom, not Madam Malkins!" she cried as she opened the box. She gasped with astonishment. Inside was the most beautiful dress robe she had ever seen. It was silver, with a scooped collar and angel sleeves that she could tell would fall almost past her knees if she drew her arms up to her chest. There was a thin silver and white brocade round the collar, cuffs and hemline. It was almost like a real princess dress.
"Thom..." Ginny breathed, her eyes wide in awe. "This is...amazing!"
Thom grinned. "I hoped you'd look at it that way"
Ginny was almost speechless. "But it must have been so expensive!"
"It's the thought that counts, right?"
Ginny giggled, her eyes still fixed on the amazing dress robes. "That's only for horrible gifts that your granny buys you"
"It still counts for this anyway"
Ginny sighed, touching the smooth material lovingly.
"Is it real silk?" she asked, marvelling at the softness of the fabric.
"Yep," Thom replied. He looked especially proud of himself. "I'm guessing you like it then?"
"Like it?" Ginny asked. She turned to Thom. "I love it!"
And with that she threw her arms around him. He looked surprised for a second, but then he hugged her back, wrapping his arms around her. Today was a wonderful day, Ginny thought contentedly.
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The start of term arrived, and Ginny trudged towards the Hogwarts express tiredly. She was pretty exhausted, not having had much sleep. She had been up playing wizards chess with Bill and watching Fred and George inventing new jokes.
Hauling her trunk onto the train, Ginny watched as her mother said goodbye to Ron. She had avoided the whole long goodbye thing for a couple of years running now, but Ron always got it. Probably because of his adventures with Harry. She smiled and escaped onto the train. She dragged her trunk along the corridor, looking for an empty compartment. She had seen Thom sitting with all of his big Ravenclaw friends, and Ginny would've sat with him if she wasn't so shy. But she was, so she'd opted for sitting alone. She was just about ready to give up when she found one unoccupied compartment. Putting her trunk on the luggage rack, she sat down on the seat and exhaled. She leant her head back, closing her eyes for just one second...
She was woken up by the sound of the door opening and closing. She opened her eyes, her brain registering that it was dark outside, bleak, depressing rain clouds threatening to let go off the rain they held. She lifted her head from the back of the seat and who else did she see, but Draco Malfoy and some Slytherin fourth year standing by the door, about to start making out by the look of things.
Ginny cleared her throat and the two swung round.
"Weasley!" Malfoy cried, his expression one of annoyance. He gestured for the girl to leave, practically pushing her out of the door in his irritation. "What are you doing here? Can't you see I'm busy?"
Ginny grinned, glad to see his frustration.
"Tut, tut" she said, wagging her finger at him. "Remember our deal? You call me Ginny and I call you Draco. We agreed"
Draco almost looked as if he wanted to kill her, but he forced his face into a smirk.
"I remember *Ginny*" he replied, stressing her name.
"Good boy. I wasn't sure you would" Ginny said, enjoying patronising him. He scowled at her.
"Get out Ginny. I want to use this carriage. It's the only empty one on the whole train, apart from the one the 'dream team' are in. You can go bug them"
Now it was Ginny's turn to scowl. She leant back, her arms crossed. She clearly wasn't leaving.
"Ginny..." Draco growled.
"No"
He threw his arms in the air, exasperated.
"Why not?" he whined, almost sounding like a little kid.
"Because, Draco," Ginny retorted, glaring at him. "I was here first"
He raised his eyebrows. "So?"
"So I want to stay here. You can go make out with that girl somewhere else"
Draco glowered at her for a moment, but suddenly his glare turned into a smirk, and he moved towards her, sitting on the seat beside her. He now wore his usual sneer, and the dim light of the storm clouds sent shadows over his face.
"Who says," he whispered as he leant closer. "That I have to make out with *her* in this carriage?"
Ginny stared at him, her face nervous. He leant closer. She backed up against the wall of the compartment, now facing him. He put his hand on one side of her, preventing her from getting off the seat.
"Uh, Draco -" she started to say, but in one fluid motion he had leant forward and silenced her with his own lips. Ginny's eyes went wide, and she leant against the wall, her back pressing against it hard, waving her arms in an effort to break free.
"Mmuuph!" she tried to say, as Draco deepened the kiss. "Mmuupph mmph!"
Draco leant back, breaking the kiss and frowning.
"If you're going to make stupid noises all day this is never going to work" he said, and before Ginny could say another word, he'd started to kiss her again. This time, however, as Draco intensified the kiss, she suddenly felt like an electric shock had run down her spine. A nice electric shock that felt strangely tempting, like maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to just...go with the flow, so to speak. She stopped struggling against him, trying to work out what was going on. Shyly, she kissed him back softly. Draco responded, pulling her to him and wrapping his arms around her waist. Before Ginny realised what she was doing, she tentatively reached up a hand and ran it through his hair, feeling the silky locks slip through her fingers. She lifted up her other arm and draped it around his neck, drawing him to her. She had never kissed like this before. Actually, scratch that, she'd never kissed before full stop. (A/N I guess that's period if you're American, huh?)
Ginny closed her eyes with satisfaction, moaning softly as Draco trailed one of his long fingers down her back, causing her to shiver in the thin material of her shirt. She played with the hair at the nape of his neck, running her fingers through the smooth tresses. This was like nothing she'd ever dreamed of...
A sudden rap on the door made Ginny and Draco break apart, both flinging themselves to opposite ends of the seat. The fourth year Slytherin girl stood there, looking slightly angry. Draco sighed and stood up. He glanced briefly at Ginny, who was unable to read his look, before walking to the door, opening it and stepping out into the corridor. His and the girl's voices sounded muffled as they talked, or rather, argued, outside the door, and got steadily more distant until she couldn't hear them anymore. They must have left.
Ginny exhaled, bewildered. What the hell had just happened? Being taken advantage of by Malfoy hadn't exactly been on her top ten list of things to do that day. She shivered as she thought of what had just happened, feeling slightly sick. Did she feel nauseous because she hated the thought of what she had just done? Or was it simply the fact that she wanted to do it again, and he wasn't here? Neither option was nice, but the former looked better in her eyes. She snuggled down into the seat, which was still warm from where he'd been sitting. Mmmm...
'Wait a minute!' Ginny thought, sitting bolt upright again and edging over to the other side of the seat. 'Oh, for goodness sake! I can't even sit on my seat without thinking about...that'
She sighed, annoyed. Malfoy always messed things up. Now she'd been thinking about *him* more than Thom and Harry! Damn him!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N Aa ha ha! The Draco/Ginny action has arrived (even though it was a little short)! Does it sound okay? I hope so. Anyways, thanks for all my reviews - I love getting reviews! This chapter took longer than usual...well, actually, it only took a while to *update* it. I've had it written for ages. I haven't been on the internet for a loooong time is all!
Thanks for reading my fic ^_^
Pleez R&R,
S.e.a