Trenton had left a few hours ago, and Ginny sat upright in the infirmary cot. Her leg was now healed, and she was avoiding eating a new concoction that Madam Pomfrey had recently discovered. She had been happily telling Ginny, her only patient, how she was excited about her new cooking/potion making techniques. Okay, Ginny thought. She could understand how Snape could have introduced her to a whole new side of potion making.. but cooking? Pondering this made her head hurt. The concoction was called Pepper Up Pudding. It tasted just like the Pepper Up Potion.. only the combination was so odd that Ginny couldn't stand to eat it. Instead she just stared. She stared for a long.. long.. long, time.
Until, of course, Ron came to visit. He was visibly rigid, and the corneas of his eyes were almost pink.
"Ginny Weasley," he stated plainly.
Ginny gave Ron a swift look up and down and smirked. "Aunt Rose."
Ron spluttered. "What?! Who?"
"You look like Aunt Rose. Minus the plaid blouse and striped trousers, of course. But you've definately got the arthritic and insomniac look down. Cheers, Ronald!" Ginny poked her pudding with her spoon. Freakishly enough, it jiggled.
Ron glared. "I do NOT," he seethed, "look like Aunt Rose. Besides, I am worried."
Ginny looked up, fiery red curls falling into her face. "What?"
"About you," he simpered, seating himself at the foot of her bed. "I mean.. you've had that manipulative Slytherin around you for a long period of time. And you might have hit your head when you fell--"
Ginny's pupils dilated. "WHAT?! Ron, I broke my leg, I didn't lose my sanity. And manipulative? Trenton?"
"Montague," Ron said acidly, "is the most dangerous, scabrous, unchivalrous, creep of a male that I've ever had the displeasure of attending the same school as."
Ginny could feel herself shaking. Her fingernails were digging into her palms, and the small hairs on the back of her neck were prickling. "He. Is. Not. You think.. that just because he's in Slytherin house, that he is a complete scoundrel? You think he watched over me, and helped me sleep, and made sure I got out of there safe, all so he could have a quick shag later? You would think that, wouldn't you! For once, can you stop pretending to be the protective older brother who has no bloody clue what he's talking about?! People CHANGE, Ron. I know that your image of Slytherins is a grimy, snobby fuckwit, but Trenton isn't."
"How can you be so sure, Gin? What if it's all an act! He may not even like you for the reasons you think!" Ron immediately regretted what he'd said. He was standing now, but he didn't remember when he'd gotten like that.
Ginny stared at him, completely and utterly hurt. "It's comforting to know that you find your sister a personality-less toad with nothing better to do than act the part of a damsel. Fuck the hell off, Ron."
Ron had nothing to say to that. He did what he knew she wanted him to do, and left. He knew he should apologise, but he still loathed Montague. His pride was eating at him. He nodded, and turned to leave. Ginny didn't stop him.
---
Trenton, Draco, and Abby were sitting in the common room. It was late now, and Abby had her legs across Draco's lap, her back resting against the armrest of the couch. Trenton was seated in the puffy old recliner.
"There's a match tomorrow," Draco said to no one in particular.
"Mm," Abby mumbled.
"Going to let your girlfriend win, are you?" said Trenton with a grin.
Draco rubbed Abby's legs, and looked up at Trenton. "Definately not," he answered, and then a grin played across his face. "What about you?"
Trenton looked down. "I wouldn't call Ginny my girlfriend. Perhaps I'd.. like to. I just want to know what she wants. I really know nothing about her."
Abby and Draco exchanged glances. Draco grinned. "Abby's favorite color is.. uhm.. blue."
Abby smiled. "Wrong. Green."
Draco smirked and looked at Trenton again. "See? We hardly know a thing about one another."
Trenton sighed. "Not exactly what I meant. Miss your own common room, Ab?"
"Yes," she said truthfully, and Draco spun back to look at her.
"What? You do?" He was slightly skeptical.
Abby smiled, and kissed him softly on the mouth. "Yes, I do."
He looked almost hurt. Except he didn't really, because a Malfoy never looks hurt. "Why?"
"It's warmer," she said simply.
Draco smirked. "You find my dormitory rather warm--"
"Enough," Abby laughed. "And it isn't like I'd ever expect you to come to MY dorm."
"Right-o. I won't set foot in there if my life depends on it." Draco went back to stroking her legs innocently.
"I need to go back to my dormitory tonight though."
Draco's eyes widened, as though the thought of sleeping alone would kill him. "Why?"
"We've got a game tomorrow and I need to rest."
Draco just stared at her. "I have a bed?"
"Yes, love. We just don't sleep in it."
Draco grinned. "Fine. Just don't get used to it."
Trenton laughed; then sighed. "Gods, I want to see her."
Draco looked at him. "I've never seen you like this. I think I might be getting a bit sick."
Trenton ignored Draco and stood up. "I'll be back later. G'night Abby." And he left.
---
The corridors were dark, and almost damp. The torches on the wall cast an eerie glow along the stone walls, but hardly were fruitful, as the corridor was almost too dark to walk through. Trenton was grateful, however, when he reached the Entrance Hall, and took a corridor that lead to the hospital wing. It was lighter, even though it was night, and the crossed panes of glass in the windows flooded darkness.
I'm going to wake her, he thought, it's late.
He shook his head. He had to see her. Trenton had never felt this way in his life, but rather than being scared of it, he wanted to chase it. See what it was about. Live it. Love it.
And he did.
It was insane; maniacal, even. The thought of having feelings for a girl he didn't really know, a girl who did things to him by just smiling, a girl who he wanted to get to know better. She had a brother who would disapprove so greatly, but that didn't matter. He'd just deck him. NO HE WOULDN'T! No. No, he can't deck the brother. He repeated this in his head more than he could count.
The infirmary came closer, and Trenton was relieved. But suddenly he didn't know what he was going to say to her. 'Hello, Ginny, I can't stop thinking about you.' 'I'm crazy about you.' 'I want to be with you. I want to make you happy. I want to be the reason you smile, like you're the reason I do.'
Yes. Trenton really is romantic. He just hides it well when he feels he has to.
He stopped before he reached the doors, and took a breath. He didn't have anything to offer her, but he didn't think she seemed like the kind of girl to throw a guy out if he didn't bring her a flower.. or twelve. He took a deep breath and stepped through the doors, his heart doing things he didn't think capable. His eyes glazed with an insanity he didn't know what normal. And he set his gaze on her bed.
The bed that she wasn't in.
---
Hermione was alight with ecstatic energy. "You were both so amazing out there!" she said and gave each boy a kiss on the cheek. Ron reddened, as usual, and Harry just beamed at her. He liked her like this. When she wasn't stressed or bossy or dominating. Just happy. But it was rather rare.
Abby looked, if possible, more excited than all of them put together. She'd hugged Harry, Ron, Ginny, and every other team member, along with random underclassmen who came running up to cheer for them. It was great to win at Quidditch.
Ginny looked happy, but wholly distracted. She was staring at the sulky Slytherin team, and she was sure she'd seen the back of Trenton's head as he walked into their locker room. Ron noticed this at once.
"Ginny! Ginny, wait!" he called, and charged after her.
Ginny turned, and stared at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "What, Ron?"
"I'm sorry.." he panted.
Ginny blinked. "You.. are? Because, Ron, the last thing I need is you being sorry, but still hate him."
"I don't hate him! I don't.. I don't hate him. He makes you happy. But if he ever does anything to hurt you I'll--"
"Let me handle it?" Ginny interjected. "Yes. You'll let me handle it." She threw her arms around her brother and hugged him tightly. Ron hadn't expected this at all, but he was thankful, and hugged her back. "I'm sorry too, you know. I know you'd never think I was.. well, whatever the hell I exploded about." She let go. "But now I have to go find someone."
Ron gave a small smile. "All right. Good luck. And Ginny?"
"Yes?" she said, suddenly looking less impatient.
"I know you can handle it."
Ginny smiled back at him before running towards the Slytherin locker room, and opening the doors. She charged inside.
"DEAR MERLIN!"
Lots of boys changing. She goggled, and Draco stepped forward, a towel wrapped around his waist. He'd clearly already taken a quick shower, as droplets bejeweled his chest.
"I.. I.." Ginny unsuccessfully stuttered.
"Yes. You are in a boys locker room. A Slytherin one. Yeah, yeah. 'Wow! You all are pretty built! Who'd have thought!?' We don't need to be degraded much more today, thanks. Now what is it that you want?" Draco finished with a smirk.
"Where's Trenton?" she squeaked.
Draco shrugged. "The changing rooms are pretty big. Or he could be in the shower, in which case, he'll be delighted to see you."
Ginny grinned, despite herself. "Not that he hasn't already made himself a public exhibition.. but I'll have to be careful when looking around corners, won't I?"
"Doubt you will," he said with a smirk. "Where's Abby?"
"Out there, hugging anything that breathes," Ginny said happily.
Draco's eyes widened. "I better make her feel sorry for me. You know.. losing and all."
Ginny grinned and watching him as he left. Surprising.. how Draco wasn't the same pestering 12 year old anymore. Sure, he still disliked Harry a great deal, but they were able to stand eachother. That was quite a huge step.
Ginny was lost in thought as she wandered through the locker room. It really was big. Bigger even than the Gryffindor one. Perhaps Salazar was compensating.
Then she saw him. He was wearing.. boxers. Well. It was a locker room! Of course he was changing. He was facing the opposite direction, and he seemingly hadn't heard her. His back was muscular, and he had more colour than Draco. His broad shoulders and torso led into a more narrow waist, and he hadn't seemed to have showered yet. Trenton grabbed a towel and was about to remove his boxers when--
"Trenton," Ginny said.
She had startled him, and he jumped up and spun around like a guilty child stealing cookies before dinner. His chest was absolutely gorgeous. His muscles were a lot more noticable than Draco's, but still subtle enough to want to touch. He seemed to be breathing much more heavily all of a sudden. "Ginny.." he breathed once he saw her. "I.. I came to see you last night, but you'd left the hospital wing."
Ginny smiled and took a few steps toward him. "I know, I wanted to see you as well, but Harry and Hermione wanted to talk to me. I was pretty much avoiding Ron."
Trenton's sweaty brow creased. "He doesn't like me much, eh?"
Ginny smiled. "Maybe he doesn't," she said, and stepped closer to him, so that she was right in front of him, looking up at his face. He was much taller than her. "But I do."
Trenton couldn't stop himself. He bent down and kissed her, wrapping his powerful, though gentle, arms around her. He pulled her against him, and was relieved as she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Forgetting himself for a moment, he spun her around, and pushed her against the hard lockers. He was passionate in the way he kissed her, and the feel of her beautiful small lips touching his was more than he could stand. How he could have ever been without her was unknown to him. Sometimes being with her was a foreign land he had never been, and felt almost lost in. But other times, he felt right at home. His body pressed against hers, and her mouth opened wider as his tongue explored her mouth. He made a sound a lot like a grunt as he kissed her, and she cried out.
He stopped kissing her immediately. "Are you all right? Did I hurt you? Was I.. too rough?"
Ginny stared at him. He was so skeptical all of a sudden. "One of the locks.. dug into my back." She smiled.
Cradling her face, he kissed her again, softly. He pulled back a little and smiled at her. "How in bloody hell could you kiss me. I smell so bad I'm bothering myself."
Ginny grinned. "That's easy," she said. "Six brothers. Okay, well five if you don't count Percy. He never got sweaty. Oh, except when he was studying."
Trenton laughed. The sound was masculine, and adorable at the same time. "I'm going to take a quick shower. Will you wait for me?"
"Of course," she said, and stood on her toes to kiss him quickly on the mouth.
---
Draco tapped on Abby's shoulder, and smiled placidly when she turned to face him. "Hello, pet."
Abby grinned. "We beat you. Doubt you're surprised though, eh?"
Draco smirked. "Of course I'm surprised. With a shit team like yours, who'd have thought?"
Abby pinched his side and grinned. "Shut up."
"Only if you make me," he said, grinning back at her.
Abby looked thoughtful for a moment. "I don't want to make you," she said finally, a twinkle in her green eyes.
Blinking, Draco took her hand and drew her closer. "No, you have to make me."
"Having a problem with the word 'no,' Draco?" she asked, feigning seriousness.
He whimpered, and somehow it still managed to sound manly. "Yes, I am... Shut me up, Abby." Draco cradled her jaw and ran his thumb over her soft lips. "Use those."
Abby smiled at him. His hair was wet from his recent shower, and Abby was still dirty from the game. He looked gorgeous. He certainly had that fallen angel look about him. And usually after a night in his dormitory he looked like a fallen angel that had bounced a whole hell of a lot on the way down. Still beautiful. "I'm not going to kiss you."
Draco's eyes were wide. "And what is your excuse?"
"My family is standing behind you."
He jumped, almost as gracefully as a cat, to Abby's side. His eyes were wide with horror. ..And then, as though he'd gone from terrified to ecstatic, his eyes could have turned into stars.
"Aiden Lynch! ..I mean, nice to meet you.. uhm.. Lynches." Draco went back into his look of terror. Lynches? What the hell was wrong with him?
Abby grinned. "Dad, Mum, Aiden, this is Draco Malfoy."
Abby's father reached out his hand and Draco, looking lost, stared at it. Her father pat him on the shoulder instead. "Don't be nervous, son."
If Draco Malfoy was capable of fainting, this might be the time he would. He was just called son.
"Sorry, sir," he said finally. "Did you.. enjoy the game?"
"You were right amazing," Aiden said, and this probably shocked Draco the most.
"But my team lost.." Draco started.
"You are still an amazing Seeker. Harry Potter is great too, but he won't win EVERY time. You played a great game." Aiden looked at Abby and then picked her up. "And you did great, too!"
Abby squeaked, then laughed. "Bah! Aiden, put me down!" But she didn't seem to mind, because she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "I've missed all of you."
Aiden laughed and put her down next to Draco, who was lucky he didn't have a big brother at the moment. "We've missed you too, Abby Normal."
Draco smirked and looked at her. He knew she saw him, but she avoided looking at him. After a few more moments of Abby speaking to her parents, they decided to take a look around the grounds. In a second of complete and utterly surprising sincerety, Draco told them that he and Abby wouldn't mind showing them around. Aiden grinned at him, and clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Just have your kiss with my sister, mate," he said, and winked at Abby, who blushed noticably.
When they left, Draco turned to her, a huge grin on his face. "I just made a complete fool of myself."
"No you didn't," Abby said, smiling. "They liked you, trust me. Last boyfriend was a complete bloke to them."
"Worse than me? ...There is a WORSE THAN ME?!"
Abby smirked and wrapped her arms around his neck. His hands found her lower back. "Did your ego just implode, darling?"
Draco looked over her face for a moment. She was truly one of the most beautiful girls he'd ever set eyes on. "No, I think my ego's just fine."
She finally gave him his kiss.
---
Lucius moved his king, and sighed over the chessboard. Voldemort looked at him as though he were a very filthy bug. "You couldn't even smite your own son."
Lucius growled. "We've had this conversation."
"The one about your carelessness? The one about your foolishness? The one about turning your BACK on the enemy?" Voldemort could have continued, an action that might never have ended, but he didn't. Lucius was truly a bad smiter. He need a few refresher courses, provided by Yours Truly.
"The one about how bloody tired I am of playing chess with you?" Lucius spoke through gritted teeth.
Voldemort laughed. It was a chilling, hollow, high-pitched, altogether fucked up chuckle; but a laugh nonetheless. "This is your punishment."
"I don't have anything but kings! Of course I'm going to lose!"
"That's why this is punishment, you moronic toad. Now, Check," voldemort said proudly.
"No shit, My Lord," Lucius spat. "I wonder what'll happen next?"
Voldemort eyed him with his thoroughly ugly, blood-filled eyes. "Well. Aren't we the picky princess? Lucius, you realise that I am the Dark Lord."
"...Is this a joke?" Lucius stared blankly at him. "Is this a fucking JOKE? Of course I know! And I'm playing chess with you! Chess that I cannot win at! You're a bloody cheater.."
"One must cheat to win, sometimes." Voldemort studied his long, porcelain fingers. "You know that."
Lucius bit his tongue. He wanted to tell him that he should have cheated each time he had the Potter boy in his midst.
"He was protected, Lucius."
Oh yeah. The stupid bloke could read minds. Fantastic.
"Don't call me that," Voldemort said.
Lucius slumped into his chair. This was beginning to get tiring. Wait.. beginning? No, it was tiring before it started. "What do you suppose I do?"
Voldemort grinned a lipless grin. All that seemed to happen was that his skin stretched farther back onto his cheekbones, and revealed somewhat pointy, large, yellow teeth. "Well it's simple. Your son is easy to control from afar. And even so.. he'll have to come home for the summer. You'll have contact with him. But..." Voldemort stopped. His eyes seemed to flicker like a flame. "No. He won't have contact with you per se..."
Lucius yawned. "With you, then?"
"Shut up, you filthy worm. You proved yourself useless. I'll obviously have a bigger part this time."
"Does it really even matter, My Lord? I mean.. Draco isn't going to be much use to us. He could turn out to be a traitor. And if he eventually weds that Lynch girl--"
"If he eventually marries that Lynch girl," Voldemort interrupted, "she will do whatever it takes to make him happy. Eventually he will see what it is that he wants. Power. And he will pursue it. She will follow him obligingly."
Voldemort fingered something by his chest. There was a gold chain around his neck, and at the end of it was a small hourglass.
Lucius stared at it, utterly transfixed. "It's only a matter of time..."
Until, of course, Ron came to visit. He was visibly rigid, and the corneas of his eyes were almost pink.
"Ginny Weasley," he stated plainly.
Ginny gave Ron a swift look up and down and smirked. "Aunt Rose."
Ron spluttered. "What?! Who?"
"You look like Aunt Rose. Minus the plaid blouse and striped trousers, of course. But you've definately got the arthritic and insomniac look down. Cheers, Ronald!" Ginny poked her pudding with her spoon. Freakishly enough, it jiggled.
Ron glared. "I do NOT," he seethed, "look like Aunt Rose. Besides, I am worried."
Ginny looked up, fiery red curls falling into her face. "What?"
"About you," he simpered, seating himself at the foot of her bed. "I mean.. you've had that manipulative Slytherin around you for a long period of time. And you might have hit your head when you fell--"
Ginny's pupils dilated. "WHAT?! Ron, I broke my leg, I didn't lose my sanity. And manipulative? Trenton?"
"Montague," Ron said acidly, "is the most dangerous, scabrous, unchivalrous, creep of a male that I've ever had the displeasure of attending the same school as."
Ginny could feel herself shaking. Her fingernails were digging into her palms, and the small hairs on the back of her neck were prickling. "He. Is. Not. You think.. that just because he's in Slytherin house, that he is a complete scoundrel? You think he watched over me, and helped me sleep, and made sure I got out of there safe, all so he could have a quick shag later? You would think that, wouldn't you! For once, can you stop pretending to be the protective older brother who has no bloody clue what he's talking about?! People CHANGE, Ron. I know that your image of Slytherins is a grimy, snobby fuckwit, but Trenton isn't."
"How can you be so sure, Gin? What if it's all an act! He may not even like you for the reasons you think!" Ron immediately regretted what he'd said. He was standing now, but he didn't remember when he'd gotten like that.
Ginny stared at him, completely and utterly hurt. "It's comforting to know that you find your sister a personality-less toad with nothing better to do than act the part of a damsel. Fuck the hell off, Ron."
Ron had nothing to say to that. He did what he knew she wanted him to do, and left. He knew he should apologise, but he still loathed Montague. His pride was eating at him. He nodded, and turned to leave. Ginny didn't stop him.
---
Trenton, Draco, and Abby were sitting in the common room. It was late now, and Abby had her legs across Draco's lap, her back resting against the armrest of the couch. Trenton was seated in the puffy old recliner.
"There's a match tomorrow," Draco said to no one in particular.
"Mm," Abby mumbled.
"Going to let your girlfriend win, are you?" said Trenton with a grin.
Draco rubbed Abby's legs, and looked up at Trenton. "Definately not," he answered, and then a grin played across his face. "What about you?"
Trenton looked down. "I wouldn't call Ginny my girlfriend. Perhaps I'd.. like to. I just want to know what she wants. I really know nothing about her."
Abby and Draco exchanged glances. Draco grinned. "Abby's favorite color is.. uhm.. blue."
Abby smiled. "Wrong. Green."
Draco smirked and looked at Trenton again. "See? We hardly know a thing about one another."
Trenton sighed. "Not exactly what I meant. Miss your own common room, Ab?"
"Yes," she said truthfully, and Draco spun back to look at her.
"What? You do?" He was slightly skeptical.
Abby smiled, and kissed him softly on the mouth. "Yes, I do."
He looked almost hurt. Except he didn't really, because a Malfoy never looks hurt. "Why?"
"It's warmer," she said simply.
Draco smirked. "You find my dormitory rather warm--"
"Enough," Abby laughed. "And it isn't like I'd ever expect you to come to MY dorm."
"Right-o. I won't set foot in there if my life depends on it." Draco went back to stroking her legs innocently.
"I need to go back to my dormitory tonight though."
Draco's eyes widened, as though the thought of sleeping alone would kill him. "Why?"
"We've got a game tomorrow and I need to rest."
Draco just stared at her. "I have a bed?"
"Yes, love. We just don't sleep in it."
Draco grinned. "Fine. Just don't get used to it."
Trenton laughed; then sighed. "Gods, I want to see her."
Draco looked at him. "I've never seen you like this. I think I might be getting a bit sick."
Trenton ignored Draco and stood up. "I'll be back later. G'night Abby." And he left.
---
The corridors were dark, and almost damp. The torches on the wall cast an eerie glow along the stone walls, but hardly were fruitful, as the corridor was almost too dark to walk through. Trenton was grateful, however, when he reached the Entrance Hall, and took a corridor that lead to the hospital wing. It was lighter, even though it was night, and the crossed panes of glass in the windows flooded darkness.
I'm going to wake her, he thought, it's late.
He shook his head. He had to see her. Trenton had never felt this way in his life, but rather than being scared of it, he wanted to chase it. See what it was about. Live it. Love it.
And he did.
It was insane; maniacal, even. The thought of having feelings for a girl he didn't really know, a girl who did things to him by just smiling, a girl who he wanted to get to know better. She had a brother who would disapprove so greatly, but that didn't matter. He'd just deck him. NO HE WOULDN'T! No. No, he can't deck the brother. He repeated this in his head more than he could count.
The infirmary came closer, and Trenton was relieved. But suddenly he didn't know what he was going to say to her. 'Hello, Ginny, I can't stop thinking about you.' 'I'm crazy about you.' 'I want to be with you. I want to make you happy. I want to be the reason you smile, like you're the reason I do.'
Yes. Trenton really is romantic. He just hides it well when he feels he has to.
He stopped before he reached the doors, and took a breath. He didn't have anything to offer her, but he didn't think she seemed like the kind of girl to throw a guy out if he didn't bring her a flower.. or twelve. He took a deep breath and stepped through the doors, his heart doing things he didn't think capable. His eyes glazed with an insanity he didn't know what normal. And he set his gaze on her bed.
The bed that she wasn't in.
---
Hermione was alight with ecstatic energy. "You were both so amazing out there!" she said and gave each boy a kiss on the cheek. Ron reddened, as usual, and Harry just beamed at her. He liked her like this. When she wasn't stressed or bossy or dominating. Just happy. But it was rather rare.
Abby looked, if possible, more excited than all of them put together. She'd hugged Harry, Ron, Ginny, and every other team member, along with random underclassmen who came running up to cheer for them. It was great to win at Quidditch.
Ginny looked happy, but wholly distracted. She was staring at the sulky Slytherin team, and she was sure she'd seen the back of Trenton's head as he walked into their locker room. Ron noticed this at once.
"Ginny! Ginny, wait!" he called, and charged after her.
Ginny turned, and stared at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "What, Ron?"
"I'm sorry.." he panted.
Ginny blinked. "You.. are? Because, Ron, the last thing I need is you being sorry, but still hate him."
"I don't hate him! I don't.. I don't hate him. He makes you happy. But if he ever does anything to hurt you I'll--"
"Let me handle it?" Ginny interjected. "Yes. You'll let me handle it." She threw her arms around her brother and hugged him tightly. Ron hadn't expected this at all, but he was thankful, and hugged her back. "I'm sorry too, you know. I know you'd never think I was.. well, whatever the hell I exploded about." She let go. "But now I have to go find someone."
Ron gave a small smile. "All right. Good luck. And Ginny?"
"Yes?" she said, suddenly looking less impatient.
"I know you can handle it."
Ginny smiled back at him before running towards the Slytherin locker room, and opening the doors. She charged inside.
"DEAR MERLIN!"
Lots of boys changing. She goggled, and Draco stepped forward, a towel wrapped around his waist. He'd clearly already taken a quick shower, as droplets bejeweled his chest.
"I.. I.." Ginny unsuccessfully stuttered.
"Yes. You are in a boys locker room. A Slytherin one. Yeah, yeah. 'Wow! You all are pretty built! Who'd have thought!?' We don't need to be degraded much more today, thanks. Now what is it that you want?" Draco finished with a smirk.
"Where's Trenton?" she squeaked.
Draco shrugged. "The changing rooms are pretty big. Or he could be in the shower, in which case, he'll be delighted to see you."
Ginny grinned, despite herself. "Not that he hasn't already made himself a public exhibition.. but I'll have to be careful when looking around corners, won't I?"
"Doubt you will," he said with a smirk. "Where's Abby?"
"Out there, hugging anything that breathes," Ginny said happily.
Draco's eyes widened. "I better make her feel sorry for me. You know.. losing and all."
Ginny grinned and watching him as he left. Surprising.. how Draco wasn't the same pestering 12 year old anymore. Sure, he still disliked Harry a great deal, but they were able to stand eachother. That was quite a huge step.
Ginny was lost in thought as she wandered through the locker room. It really was big. Bigger even than the Gryffindor one. Perhaps Salazar was compensating.
Then she saw him. He was wearing.. boxers. Well. It was a locker room! Of course he was changing. He was facing the opposite direction, and he seemingly hadn't heard her. His back was muscular, and he had more colour than Draco. His broad shoulders and torso led into a more narrow waist, and he hadn't seemed to have showered yet. Trenton grabbed a towel and was about to remove his boxers when--
"Trenton," Ginny said.
She had startled him, and he jumped up and spun around like a guilty child stealing cookies before dinner. His chest was absolutely gorgeous. His muscles were a lot more noticable than Draco's, but still subtle enough to want to touch. He seemed to be breathing much more heavily all of a sudden. "Ginny.." he breathed once he saw her. "I.. I came to see you last night, but you'd left the hospital wing."
Ginny smiled and took a few steps toward him. "I know, I wanted to see you as well, but Harry and Hermione wanted to talk to me. I was pretty much avoiding Ron."
Trenton's sweaty brow creased. "He doesn't like me much, eh?"
Ginny smiled. "Maybe he doesn't," she said, and stepped closer to him, so that she was right in front of him, looking up at his face. He was much taller than her. "But I do."
Trenton couldn't stop himself. He bent down and kissed her, wrapping his powerful, though gentle, arms around her. He pulled her against him, and was relieved as she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Forgetting himself for a moment, he spun her around, and pushed her against the hard lockers. He was passionate in the way he kissed her, and the feel of her beautiful small lips touching his was more than he could stand. How he could have ever been without her was unknown to him. Sometimes being with her was a foreign land he had never been, and felt almost lost in. But other times, he felt right at home. His body pressed against hers, and her mouth opened wider as his tongue explored her mouth. He made a sound a lot like a grunt as he kissed her, and she cried out.
He stopped kissing her immediately. "Are you all right? Did I hurt you? Was I.. too rough?"
Ginny stared at him. He was so skeptical all of a sudden. "One of the locks.. dug into my back." She smiled.
Cradling her face, he kissed her again, softly. He pulled back a little and smiled at her. "How in bloody hell could you kiss me. I smell so bad I'm bothering myself."
Ginny grinned. "That's easy," she said. "Six brothers. Okay, well five if you don't count Percy. He never got sweaty. Oh, except when he was studying."
Trenton laughed. The sound was masculine, and adorable at the same time. "I'm going to take a quick shower. Will you wait for me?"
"Of course," she said, and stood on her toes to kiss him quickly on the mouth.
---
Draco tapped on Abby's shoulder, and smiled placidly when she turned to face him. "Hello, pet."
Abby grinned. "We beat you. Doubt you're surprised though, eh?"
Draco smirked. "Of course I'm surprised. With a shit team like yours, who'd have thought?"
Abby pinched his side and grinned. "Shut up."
"Only if you make me," he said, grinning back at her.
Abby looked thoughtful for a moment. "I don't want to make you," she said finally, a twinkle in her green eyes.
Blinking, Draco took her hand and drew her closer. "No, you have to make me."
"Having a problem with the word 'no,' Draco?" she asked, feigning seriousness.
He whimpered, and somehow it still managed to sound manly. "Yes, I am... Shut me up, Abby." Draco cradled her jaw and ran his thumb over her soft lips. "Use those."
Abby smiled at him. His hair was wet from his recent shower, and Abby was still dirty from the game. He looked gorgeous. He certainly had that fallen angel look about him. And usually after a night in his dormitory he looked like a fallen angel that had bounced a whole hell of a lot on the way down. Still beautiful. "I'm not going to kiss you."
Draco's eyes were wide. "And what is your excuse?"
"My family is standing behind you."
He jumped, almost as gracefully as a cat, to Abby's side. His eyes were wide with horror. ..And then, as though he'd gone from terrified to ecstatic, his eyes could have turned into stars.
"Aiden Lynch! ..I mean, nice to meet you.. uhm.. Lynches." Draco went back into his look of terror. Lynches? What the hell was wrong with him?
Abby grinned. "Dad, Mum, Aiden, this is Draco Malfoy."
Abby's father reached out his hand and Draco, looking lost, stared at it. Her father pat him on the shoulder instead. "Don't be nervous, son."
If Draco Malfoy was capable of fainting, this might be the time he would. He was just called son.
"Sorry, sir," he said finally. "Did you.. enjoy the game?"
"You were right amazing," Aiden said, and this probably shocked Draco the most.
"But my team lost.." Draco started.
"You are still an amazing Seeker. Harry Potter is great too, but he won't win EVERY time. You played a great game." Aiden looked at Abby and then picked her up. "And you did great, too!"
Abby squeaked, then laughed. "Bah! Aiden, put me down!" But she didn't seem to mind, because she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. "I've missed all of you."
Aiden laughed and put her down next to Draco, who was lucky he didn't have a big brother at the moment. "We've missed you too, Abby Normal."
Draco smirked and looked at her. He knew she saw him, but she avoided looking at him. After a few more moments of Abby speaking to her parents, they decided to take a look around the grounds. In a second of complete and utterly surprising sincerety, Draco told them that he and Abby wouldn't mind showing them around. Aiden grinned at him, and clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Just have your kiss with my sister, mate," he said, and winked at Abby, who blushed noticably.
When they left, Draco turned to her, a huge grin on his face. "I just made a complete fool of myself."
"No you didn't," Abby said, smiling. "They liked you, trust me. Last boyfriend was a complete bloke to them."
"Worse than me? ...There is a WORSE THAN ME?!"
Abby smirked and wrapped her arms around his neck. His hands found her lower back. "Did your ego just implode, darling?"
Draco looked over her face for a moment. She was truly one of the most beautiful girls he'd ever set eyes on. "No, I think my ego's just fine."
She finally gave him his kiss.
---
Lucius moved his king, and sighed over the chessboard. Voldemort looked at him as though he were a very filthy bug. "You couldn't even smite your own son."
Lucius growled. "We've had this conversation."
"The one about your carelessness? The one about your foolishness? The one about turning your BACK on the enemy?" Voldemort could have continued, an action that might never have ended, but he didn't. Lucius was truly a bad smiter. He need a few refresher courses, provided by Yours Truly.
"The one about how bloody tired I am of playing chess with you?" Lucius spoke through gritted teeth.
Voldemort laughed. It was a chilling, hollow, high-pitched, altogether fucked up chuckle; but a laugh nonetheless. "This is your punishment."
"I don't have anything but kings! Of course I'm going to lose!"
"That's why this is punishment, you moronic toad. Now, Check," voldemort said proudly.
"No shit, My Lord," Lucius spat. "I wonder what'll happen next?"
Voldemort eyed him with his thoroughly ugly, blood-filled eyes. "Well. Aren't we the picky princess? Lucius, you realise that I am the Dark Lord."
"...Is this a joke?" Lucius stared blankly at him. "Is this a fucking JOKE? Of course I know! And I'm playing chess with you! Chess that I cannot win at! You're a bloody cheater.."
"One must cheat to win, sometimes." Voldemort studied his long, porcelain fingers. "You know that."
Lucius bit his tongue. He wanted to tell him that he should have cheated each time he had the Potter boy in his midst.
"He was protected, Lucius."
Oh yeah. The stupid bloke could read minds. Fantastic.
"Don't call me that," Voldemort said.
Lucius slumped into his chair. This was beginning to get tiring. Wait.. beginning? No, it was tiring before it started. "What do you suppose I do?"
Voldemort grinned a lipless grin. All that seemed to happen was that his skin stretched farther back onto his cheekbones, and revealed somewhat pointy, large, yellow teeth. "Well it's simple. Your son is easy to control from afar. And even so.. he'll have to come home for the summer. You'll have contact with him. But..." Voldemort stopped. His eyes seemed to flicker like a flame. "No. He won't have contact with you per se..."
Lucius yawned. "With you, then?"
"Shut up, you filthy worm. You proved yourself useless. I'll obviously have a bigger part this time."
"Does it really even matter, My Lord? I mean.. Draco isn't going to be much use to us. He could turn out to be a traitor. And if he eventually weds that Lynch girl--"
"If he eventually marries that Lynch girl," Voldemort interrupted, "she will do whatever it takes to make him happy. Eventually he will see what it is that he wants. Power. And he will pursue it. She will follow him obligingly."
Voldemort fingered something by his chest. There was a gold chain around his neck, and at the end of it was a small hourglass.
Lucius stared at it, utterly transfixed. "It's only a matter of time..."