Even Better Than the Real Thing
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Please note, that I do not own the characters Draco Malfoy or Ginny Weasley, or any other magical lingo.
This is a Draco/Ginny story.
A/N: Wow! Such a response! Thanks for the encouragement and the comments. I promise this won't be a normal "stolen diary" story. I promise. Enjoy! And please review so I know how I'm doing.
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Chapter 2: Island in the Sun
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Clutching the book tightly in one hand, Ginny stormed off to her room. She was thoroughly annoyed with the way she'd been completely confused with the entire episode in the library. It had all been one big blur. Draco…books and parchments…Pansy. She rounded a corner into the hallway that lead straight to the Fat Lady.
She smiled to herself, remembering the look of sheer terror on Draco's face as Pansy advanced toward him. Her smile grew into a soft giggle. Her giggles built up until she was laughing. By the time she reached the painting, she was leaning against the wall, in tears and unable to catch her breath.
"Gingersnaps!" Ginny managed to say between breaths. When the door swung open, she climbed into the nearly empty Common Room. She headed up the stairs to the girls' rooms. By the time she reached her "5th years" room, she had managed to regain control over herself. She put away her things, and looked at the sketchbook, sitting down on her bed.
Truthfully, Ginny was dying to open it. Draco Malfoy's sketchbook! It was probably very private, very secret, which was exactly the reason she couldn't open it. She had learned to always respect other people's property. Because she wouldn't want someone else looking through her private things. Like her journal. Damn!
She quickly tucked the sketchbook in between her pillows. Ginny stood and searched through her bag, hoping that maybe she'd put it away, sometime during the confusion… No luck. She had been completely distracted. She had been so distracted that she'd allowed someone to walk off with her personal thoughts and feelings in their bag. She sighed. At least it was Draco who had it. What'd he care about some little girl's journal? Oh, who was she kidding?
Ginny, pacing around the room, and starting to feel slightly sick, wondered what she'd do with Draco's book. But more importantly, she thought, what he'd do with HER book?
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Draco finally let out a deep breath when he'd reached the boys' dorms. It was deserted; his roommates were probably all down in the Great Hall. He checked his pocket watch. It was nearly 7:30 now. He sighed, tossing his bag onto his bed. He made his way to the mirror, checking his appearance.
He considered the possibility that Pansy might be waiting for him in the Common Room, ready to pounce. He groaned. What has happened to her lately? She's under the impression that Draco was her boyfriend. Now when did he ever lead her on?
Draco grinned at his reflection, realizing he was so deliciously devious. He knew he used Pansy. For that matter, even Pansy probably knew he was using her. At first for status, then for information, considering the girl was such a gossipmonger. But now, she'd gotten so…annoying and…demanding.
He wrinkled his nose, thinking about seeing her pudgy face every school day for the past 5 years. Things needed to change. He felt more…independent. He didn't want Crabbe and Goyle on his heels all day. And he certainly didn't want Pansy gluing herself to his side.
More than anything, he wanted to be alone. He wanted to be away from his father and his Master's biddings. Away from his friends, and enemies, for that matter. Maybe even away from himself.
Draco stared at his own cold gray eyes in the mirror. When he felt his emotions recede, he turned sharply, storming out of the room, ready to make his appearance at dinner. He would nod at Professor Snape in acknowledgement, and glare at Weasley. He'd force down something, even though he wasn't that hungry. He would comment about any upcoming Quidditch games, and give his opinion regarding the unjust dispensing of assignments during holidays.
He'd be the Draco they all expected to see. But then what? He sighed. Nothing really seemed to matter.
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Ginny was chewing on a strand of her red hair, when she felt a sharp elbow dig into her side. She squealed and instinctively smacked the owner of the elbow. Ron. He rubbed his arm, muttering something about remembering not to get on her bad side.
"Ginny! There's food on your plate, you know," smiled Hermione, sitting across from Ron.
"I was just thinking, that's all." Ginny picked up her fork, spitting her hair out of her mouth. She frowned, looking at the selection she'd blindly piled onto her plate. Spinach and liver. She wrinkled her nose, putting down her fork. Ron moved her plate away and set down a clean plate in front of her. She smiled up at him, and he ruffled her hair.
"You never liked liver, did you, Gin?"
Ron was probably her best friend. They grew up together. She remembered when he used to play with her like she was his doll. Though, he'd never ever admit to playing with any dolls, living or not.
He knew her better than anyone else. And even though he was her older brother, he didn't treat her like a small child. Well, not all of the time. Mostly, he talked with her about her classes, her classmates, and even helped her sort out her feelings sometimes. She started spending more time with him in the common room, usually reading at the same table while he, Harry, and Hermione did their schoolwork.
"Ron… Can I borrow Pigwidgeon after dinner?" Ginny scooped potatoes onto her new plate. Trying to avoid Ron's searching eyes, she reached for the fried chicken. Finally, when she heard Ron sigh next to her, she turned her head up to look at him.
"Of course, you can, Gin. Pig's up in the owlery. I hope he'll stand still long enough for you. He always gets too excited." Ron grinned, thinking about the silly bird. Ginny smiled back, glad he didn't prod too much. He know that if it were something serious, she'd come to him for help.
As Ron and Hermione turned back to their conversation, or rather argument, about Quidditch, Ginny started to think about how she'd word the letter she intended to write. To Draco. She burst into a fresh fit of giggles, the entire situation in the library was so…FUNNY! Draco fleeing from Pansy. Oh, dear. Ginny clutched her side, still aching from the good laugh she had earlier.
"Ginny!"
Hermione and Ron were staring at her. She wrinkled her nose, trying to calm down, remembering where she was. She took a deep calming breath, still grinning.
"What was so funny?" Ron looked at her curiously, one eyebrow raised.
"Something I saw in the library…"
"Don't say it! I don't want anyone mentioning the words 'library' or 'books' for the rest of the holidays!" He gave Hermione a meaningful glance, implying that if she was just about to use either one of those words, she'd better reconsider. Ginny smiled.
"Ron, you know we have to start our Herbology assignment tonight!" Hermione teased him, pleased to see him cover his ears with his hands. "What? I didn't use either of your forbidden words!" She grinned knowing she'd bested him. Ginny laughed again at Ron's pitiful groan.
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Draco sat down at the Slytherin table, Crabbe and Goyle on either side. Pansy, Blaise Zabini, and Millicent Bulstrode sat smugly across from them. He chanced a look up towards the Head Table, and bowed his head toward Snape when their eyes met. Cutting straight to the chase, Draco filled his plate with baked chicken and rice, the closest platter to him. He lifted his fork, starting to glance around the Hall. He looked over Pansy's right shoulder.
His eyes went straight to her. She was sitting at the damn Gryffindor table, chewing on her hair. Eww, he thought. That's not very refined. He focused his eyes on Pansy, right across from him. She was snorting loudly with laughter at one of Goyle's jokes. Yeah, refined.
Discretely, he watched the little redhead interact with her Weasel brother. Poor girl. He smirked. She had to deal with the git all of the time. His mouth softened into a smile as he watched her pout over her plate and then become overjoyed when Weasley offered her another one. He looked down to his own dinner, trying to refocus on the conversation at his table.
"I can't believe how pathetic she is. I mean, if I wanted anything at all, I just ask my father and he sends me all the galleons I want."
"Yeah, can you imagine having to wear other people's used clothes? That's just… disgusting!"
"She's so whiny, too. You'd think she'd be used to having no money…and no friends."
Draco frowned, trying to figure out who the girls were referring to, though he could take a good guess.
"Draco, you want to hear a secret?"
He clenched his teeth and dropped his fork. What were they all talking about? He lifted his head up to look at Pansy. A cruel smile played on her lips, as she pulled something out of her robes. It was a small red notebook. She opened it up, turning a few pages.
"…past years have been lonely…reminded that I have no friends…" Pansy started in her loud, irritating voice. Draco stood and snatched the book right from her fingers, before she could even continue. She looked up at him, a smirk plastered on her face. Draco kept his face blank, not knowing what to say now, or how to act. He had done the first thing he thought was natural – he defended her. He had wanted to protect the little girl from the wiles of this Slytherin witch.
Closing the book, Draco stepped over the bench and made his way to the double doors of the Hall, nearly cursing himself for being so soft.
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Ginny struggled with the small bird in her arms. She was desperately trying to calm Pigwidgeon down enough to tie her piece of parchment to his leg. He squirmed his way out of her grasp and flew in circles above her head, so excited just to have a visitor. Ginny sighed and sat down on the floor. Holding the parchment in one hand, she covered her eyes with the other.
She hoped that her letter didn't sound too desperate. She was basically begging Draco not to read her journal, not to reveal her secrets to the entire school. What if this doesn't work? Why would he ever listen to me? A little Weasel. She sighed. She knew there was little hope that she'd that book again. She just didn't need all of Hogwarts to know about her insecurities and secret aspirations. She sighed again.
The door to the owlery opened and closed. Someone's footsteps echoed into the large room. Ginny pulled herself to her feet, to try and grab for Pigwidgeon again. She was startled by the voice directly behind her.
"Well, well, just the person I was looking for," Draco said, trying to sound obnoxious. It came out rather awkward instead. Ginny turned around, trying to hide her letter behind her back.
"I…you were looking for me?" She swallowed, feeling slightly nervous. He knew she had his book and he's come to coerce her into giving it back.
"Er…well, I think this belongs to you, Weasley." Draco held out the leather notebook. Ginny immediately recognized her notebook. Her eyes darted back and forth between Draco and her book.
Was he serious? Her heart skipped a beat, as she realized how incredibly fortunate she was. Overjoyed, she ran to Draco and threw her arms around his neck.
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Draco figured it would be easiest to write the little redhead a note. He didn't even know her first name. He could just look in the book. It didn't feel right. He wanted to read it, because he wondered about the sanity of that girl. She'd even apologized for him being an ass to her.
He remembered noticing other people take advantage of her. Telling her to carry their bags back to their rooms while they went and played in the snow. Telling her to watch out for McGonagall while they tried to pull off some prank. Telling her to let them borrow her homework so they could "check" theirs.
She let people walk all over her. Poor kid. He didn't know whether he wanted to help her or slap her. And here he was, marching up to the owlery, with a journal filled with…well, with her. Her dreams, her fears. He sighed. When did he get this soft? A year ago, he'd have magically copied every page and distributed them throughout the school. But now, he was going to send her a letter to tell her to come claim her damn book.
When he entered the owlery, he realized there was already someone there. It was her. The little Weasel. He grinned.
He tried being his usual insufferable self. It wasn't working. Get to the point, Malfoy, he told himself. He held out the book.
Her entire appearance transformed. It dawned on her that he was returning her book. Yeah, I'm just as surprised myself, snickered Draco in his thoughts. Oh no, she looked like she was going to cry. But instead, she ran right into his arms. When he felt her small arms wrap around his neck, he tensed. His right hand was still extended, holding out the book, the other plastered to his side.
She was on her tip-toes and when he bent his head down a little, she took the opportunity to tighten her embrace. He didn't know what to do. He certainly wasn't expecting this. He was expecting a furious row about taking other people's property. Or maybe a timid "thank you" before she ran off. Well, he didn't really know what he was expecting. But it certainly wasn't this.
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Ginny's heart pounded in her chest. Just what did she think she was doing?! What now? She knew the second she pulled away there would be a tense awkwardness. Of course, the longer she stayed wrapped around Draco, the more awkward it would become. She sighed. Still she was completely relieved. Her book. He was giving it back!
"Draco, I didn't…" Ginny pulled away slowly. She didn't want to admit that she wasn't expecting him to be so…nice. "Um…thank you. I mean, thanks for returning my book." Wait a second. "How'd you know it was my book, by the way?" She stepped a few feet back, still not reaching for the book. Draco lowered his arm, clenching the book tightly with both hands.
"Well..." Draco looked anxious. "I…er…Pansy was sharing passages from this book at dinner and from the way she was describing the author, I thought it might be you." Ginny paled. Pansy. Pansy found her book. She swayed, thinking of what that would mean. She was reading it at dinner? Oh, most of the table's probably heard about…her.
"Oh…" Ginny didn't know what to say now. All her relief that had overwhelmed her was flooded by dread. She began to wish that she'd never written in the journal. She could just keep her thoughts crammed in her head. She felt tears burning her eyes. Oh, not now, she thought. I've already embarrassed myself enough today. No need to let Draco Malfoy have the pleasure of seeing her cry.
She felt a tired, but still happy, Pigwidgeon rest on her shoulder. Remembering her note, she brushed the owl away. The letter was still clenched in her hand. Slowly, she brought it up and offered it to Draco. He took it, a little surprised. She took the book from him and dashed out of the room. She ran through the halls as fast as she could.
Ginny felt like she wouldn't be able to show her face to anyone ever again. She couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks when she climbed into the Gryffindor Common Room. When she spotted a miserable Ron sitting with a huge Herbology textbook, she ran straight to him. She pushed the book aside and buried herself in his lap. She cried into his chest as he patted her back and smoothed her hair.
Finally, when he pulled her away, to ask her what happened, she shook her head. Ron understood. She just needed to be comforted. So he held her, like he used to, when he pretended she was his little doll, while she cried her forlorn heart out.
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U2 – Even Better Than the Real Thing
The Strokes – Hard to Explain
Weezer – Island in the Sun