Malfoy Invasion

By Cassandra Sisenta

A/N: EEEEEEH!! AN UPDATE!! I'm so proud of myself!! Okay, slight D/G interaction. Are you just gearing to kill me now? But I promise! It's coming in the next chapter!! A whole scene with the two of them together!! Yeah! Don't believe me? Oh well, that's your choice!! ^_^ Again, thanks for the reviews!! You guys are just awesome. I'm warning you now though, updates might be coming as fast as this. School is starting in a week for me and I'm starting College as well so I'm wary of the workload. We'll just see okay? I hope I get to finish this. Okay, on to the fic!

DISCLAIMER:

Draco: How could you enjoy this part? I mean seriously! All she's saying is that she doesn't own anything except Adriana and the twins!….Oh I forgot, **smirks** it's because I'm the one talking.

Ginny: **snogs him silly**

Draco: **is in a daze after such a mind blowing kiss**

Ginny: If JK Rowling wrote this, that probably wouldn't happen. Enjoy!

Chapter VII

Plans and Set-Ups

Draco was sitting somewhere near the Resource section of the library. He was poring through a thick book on Herbology as he held his quill in one hand over a piece of parchment, ready to take down notes at any time. His gray eyes were narrowed in concentration, a lock of blond hair falling down the side of his cheek, as his eyes flowed down page after page.

Ginny, meanwhile, was on the other side of the library by the Muggle Literature section where she was sitting on a stuffy, comfortable chair with her legs tucked neatly under her. Her long red hair fell and contrasted against the white of the chair as she propped up her head by a fist against her cheek. She was reading a Muggle book entitled "Like Water for Chocolate" and looked like she was enjoying it.

From behind a low bookcase, Rizza was watching them alternately, marveling at their differences.

"Rizza, I thought you had an essay in Transfiguration to finish?" A voice called from behind, but the female Malfoy twin ignored it.

"Why are they so far apart?" Rizza exclaimed as loud as possible inside the library. She was frowning, clearly in distress as she watched Draco and Ginny as if their lack of interaction was the end of the world.

Behind her, Adriana was watching her younger sister curiously, trying to figure out what she was talking about.

"Rizza's convinced that Ginny and Draco belong together."

Adriana's gaze fell to the side to the one who spoke, Julian. The boy was busy writing his own Transfiguration essay and he was almost done with only a few more inches lacking. Of course, Julian was perfectly capable of doing two things at the same time since he had been doing it since he came from the womb. While he was doing something, he always had one eye still on Rizza whom he would protect no matter what happened, house rivalries be damned.

Julian shook his head at Rizza as he dipped his quill into the ink. "I don't know where she gets her ideas. Honestly!"

Adriana giggled slightly, amused once more at the uncanny differences between the twins. She squeezed his other hand that didn't hold the quill so tensely. "Allow her her whims, Julian. She puts up with your overbearing attitude doesn't she?"

The male Malfoy twin glared at his elder sister who only giggled once more in response. He shook his head once more and rolled his eyes.

"Girls…"

"Oh why can't they see that they're so perfect for one another?" Rizza wailed, this time interrupting quite a number of students and pushing them to shush her.

As Rizza looked around in bewilderment, Adriana took it upon herself to act. She took the girl's hand and had her sit down in front of her parchment and quill.

"Work on your Transfiguration, then you can talk all you want."

Julian sneered evilly across Rizza as his twin frowned at her sparsely filled roll of parchment. She frowned at Julian as well before taking her quill in her hand.

The twins never argued with Adriana. To them, she was an all-powerful entity who saw, heard, and knew all. She was like their second mother who was always around to remind them and explain to them about things.

With a sigh, Rizza began writing slowly.

Adriana watched her over the rim of her Ancient Runes book, taking note of the time.

Julian made sure to finish his own essay as quickly as possible.

Then, in exactly ten minutes and thirty-seven seconds, Rizza dropped her quill and sighed loudly.

"I want to talk about it now." Rizza announced with finality.

"Oh bugger." That was Julian who grumbled of course, his gray eyes rolling in irritation as his quill worked furiously.

Adriana, since she expected this, placed her book down on the table and set it aside for the moment. She folded her hands in front of her in the table like a lawyer waiting for his charge's story and fixed her unwavering gaze at Rizza.

"What is it you want to talk about, Riz?"

"Adriana please!" Julian argued as he set down his parchment on the table. His essay was done. "Rizza has barely half of her parchment filled. She has to finish this essay first."

"And do you think she will be able to finish with her work if she has something else in her mind?" Adriana asked, looking at Julian firmly.

Julian slumped back into his seat gracefully in a huff. He crossed his arms over his chest and made no more comments. For the time being.

When Adriana especially used that voice he knew he couldn't say anything. It was sometimes hard to remember that he and Rizza were two individuals and that they were twins. Julian had certain expectations of himself and he sometimes expected them of Rizza as well, which was unfair considering that they were as different as night and day.

Adriana watched Julian a little more for a while for anymore of his protests. There were none and with that she turned back to her other sibling with an amused smile. The workings of Rizza's mind were so different from her own and Julian's and it endlessly fascinated Adriana to hear of her younger sister's ideas.

"So tell us about this sudden interest on Draco's love life?"

Julian groaned when he heard the topic of conversation even if he did know where it was going to lead.

Rizza stuck her tongue out at Julian first before turning to Adriana. "I don't really know, Anna. I just thought since Draco had been so troubled lately, he needed someone to distract him from all of it."

"So you thought fixing Draco up with someone would immediately make him forget about what happened to him this past summer?" Julian went headlong into battle, falling into his position as the other side of the circle where everything needed practicality and logic. "He can't just forget what happened just like that, Rizza. He lost his FATHER. Even if he was the slimy bastard he was," He ignored the gasp from Rizza and the disapproving stare from Adriana and pressed on. "He still played a part in bringing Draco into this world."

"You didn't even let me finish yet, Juli."

Julian growled at the off-hand mention of the horrid nickname.

"I don't want him to forget Uncle Lucius. I just thought I'd like to see him smile again like he did when he was away from Hogwarts, when he was just with us."  Rizza glared at Julian who was about to open his mouth. "Shut it about Draco not being capable of smiling, you prat."

"I wasn't going to say anything." Julian retorted.

If anything, Rizza looked absolutely unconvinced. "Right."

Julian rolled his gray eyes as he always did in answer to his sister's absurdity. "Oh ye of little faith."

"I just want to see him happy, Juli!"

"Happy? You want Draco to be happy? What if he doesn't want to be happy? What if, he's happy with where is right now?"

"Do you think he's ever really been happy? Sure, he was always given what he wanted, but does that necessarily mean happiness? Material things aren't everything."
"Rizza, do you think he would be 'happy' once he found out you are setting him up with Ginny? Ginny WEASLEY?"

Julian's condescending tone when he said Ginny's family name made Rizza's temper flare and she almost leaped forward to attack her brother. Thankfully, Adriana stepped in to stop the royal rumble.

"How dare you!" Rizza hissed as she tried to get free from Adriana's hold on her arm. Her face was the absolute picture of fury.

Adriana must have sensed that this conversation was getting much too heated for the library for she said in a firm tone, "Pack your things. We are going to continue this in another place."

The twins followed without a word, Rizza glaring at an impassive Julian all the way. They quickly left the library, practically unnoticed by the library's patrons. Adriana led them into a deserted hallway and Rizza didn't waste time nor mince words as she said in a controlled voice, "I could hurt you so much for saying what you did, Julian."

As unreserved and frank as Rizza was most of the time, she still knew that beating up Julian would do nothing for her other than bruises and cuts. Now was not the time to brawl.

"Rotten Slytherin's crawled up your arse and now you're as bad as they are."

Julian eyed his twin coolly, strategically with a knowing gaze. He spoke cautiously when he continued, "I have nothing against Ginny personally, if you should know, Rizza. I only mean to remind you of a certain fact that seems to have eluded you. Don't forget, dear sister, that there has been an ongoing feud between the Malfoys and Weasleys for generations.

"Our side of the family has ignored it since Father cut his ties with Uncle Lucius. We have lived with only knowledge of it and we weren't encouraged to carry it on as Draco was, from the looks of it. Surely you have heard how Draco practically waged war on Ron Weasley since they came across each other and Weasley won Harry Potter over to his side?

"Let us add a bit more into this history lesson shall we? Which two houses in Hogwarts loathed each other to shreds since the beginning? Gryffindor and Slytherin of course, and which houses do Ginny and Draco belong to?"

Julian allowed the question to hang in the air as he watched Rizza take it all in with narrowed eyes and her arms crossed over her chest. Adriana was still standing in the sidelines, watching them and listening to the words they traded with unveiled interest and judgment.

The whole of Hogwarts seemed to have stilled as a moment of silence filled up the void between them.

Julian's points were powerful and anyone else who listened would have agreed with him. Rizza's ideas were atrocious. A Malfoy and a Weasley? A Slytherin and a Gryfffindor? The whole of Hogwarts would be appalled and the Weasleys would lock Ginny up in a tower before you could say 'undying hate'.

A look of resignation found itself in Julian's face, an event that only happened in the presence of his family and them alone. He looked almost desperate as he looked at Rizza who was stubbornly silent.

"Face it Rizza, it's a lost cause. He'll probably hurt you if he finds out." He's talking about Draco of course.

Rizza remained still and quiet for a few more moments, looking like a coiled snake ready to strike if anyone at least moved a muscle. She almost convinced Julian that she would stay like that when a determined fire sparked to life in her large blue eyes.

She was full of confidence when she spoke.

"Love knows no boundaries, Julian."

Julian let out a soft snort of disbelief. He smirked at her fire and he shook his head, amused.

"Not that girly fairly tale, Rizza. It's a one in a million occurrence. It hardly happens."

"And what if this is one of those?" Rizza fired back, mimicking his smirk with ease as she tossed her chin in full Malfoy arrogance. When the female Malfoy twin got back on her groove, it was almost impossible to stop, but that didn't stop the male one from trying.

Julian narrowed his eyes at her. "Foolish hopes." He put in in a terse voice. "This is a Slytherin Malfoy and a Gryffindor Weasley we're talking about."

He was almost floored literally when she practically glomped on him, disconcerted at her sudden change of current.

"Aww, but you love me don't you, Juli?" She cutely pouted at her now-glaring twin, her blue eyes large and puppy-like with her arms clamped around him like a vise. Julian winced when she began talking in that cutesy voice that always sent him over the edge. "And love knows no house, Juli and I looooooOOOoove you!!"

"Let go of me!" Julian exclaimed as he tried to pry her off, but with no success. He glared at their only witness who was not helping him get out of his predicament. "Oi! Adriana! Snap out of it! Confound it woman, get a hold of yourself!"

Sure enough, Adriana was giggling herself silly at the sight of them.

"Adriana!"

"Ju—LI!"

"Let go!"

"All right, that's quite enough," Adriana called from the sidelines just when Julian was looking red in the face. She was still trying hard not to giggle as she hesitantly tried to pry Rizza away. "Rizza, let your brother go please?"

After a few rounds of Rizza whining negative, Julian's squeaky pleas, and Adriana's patient diplomacy, Julian was released still breathing.

The usual icy glare that was for Rizza alone enhanced Julian's pale features as he looked at her.

"I hate you," He spat at Rizza as if he meant it. He was shaking his arms to get the feeling back into them and he would have looked funny if his face didn't speak volumes of plotting murder. "I HATE you."

Rizza sighed as she nonchalantly flipped her length of long blond hair over her shoulder. "Sure Juli honey, whatever you say." She drawled in a terrible South American accent that had Adriana giggling again.
It was no big deal. Julian told her how much he loathed her existence pretty much every time they were together ever since he learned to talk.

Glaring still, Julian turned his gaze to Adriana and said one word in a potent whisper.

"Verdict."

"Well," Adriana paused as If to think as she looked from one twin to another. Both were looking quite expectant through not identically so. Rizza was looking hopeful and Julian was sober, but you could still see the anticipation. Adriana, being the wiser and older fraction of the trio was always neutral ground and unopposed judge.

"Julian's points were very true and valid. There is just too much bad blood between Malfoys and Weasleys and Slytherins and Gryffindors. Combining the two would result to ultimate destruction. Very astute, Julian, you have given this some thought." Adriana complimented him as if they were participating in a debate competition.

"Well if it was forced down your throat since the beginning of the term then you would start to think of ways to make it stop right?" Julian answered smugly, smirking in absolute self-satisfaction at the glare that Rizza was aiming at him openly. "It's been a month, Rizza. You lost, get over it."

But before Julian could take advantage of bragging rights and throw a party, Adriana spoke again, bursting his bubble when it was swelling to its worst.

"However, I do believe and agree with Rizza on the matter that Draco does need a little sunshine in his life and Ginny's very opposite personality could just be it."

The reverse of roles was quick.

While Rizza was ready to glomp Adriana, Julian was horrified. The possibilities were probably running amuck in his mind and he was terrified at what he was seeing.

Stalking Draco and Ginny, sending anonymous love notes, sending flowers that were so grand and expensive, setting them up to meet "accidentally" in a dark corridor—

Julian's mind reeled.

Rizza was ecstatic.

"Haha! I won!" Rizza rejoiced, doing her Happy Dance.

"No!" Julian cried out, looking ready to sink to his knees and damn God for all the mysteries within His creation, which is life itself.

"But." Adriana's voice sliced through their ruckus, but they weren't paying attention. The eldest Malfoy sighed and pulled out her wand. She muttered "sonorous" under her breath and then spoke again.

"BUT!"

Rizza stopped in mid-swing of her hips.

Julian didn't start crying (at that moment it looked very possible).

They both looked at her.

"There's a 'but'?" Again, in unison.

"But—" Adriana repeated, now without the aid of the spell that made her voice louder. She paused for full effect, making sure that both were listening.

"We are not going to do any matchmaking."

It took a full moment for that to sink in and another to kick the mood ball into the other side of the court.

Since no one was looking anyway, Julian allowed himself to pump his fist in the air in a gesture of triumph. "Yes!"

Then Julian began to rejoice.

"WHY?" Rizza wailed, nearly kneeling before Adriana as if she was the Virgin Mary herself. She tugged at her sister's robes. "Why not?"

Julain was telling everything and everyone that he was "the great and awesome Julian" and that they should bow before his greatness.

"Because it is not our place to interfere, dear." Adriana spoke now as she looked to Rizza who was clearly disappointed. She leveled herself down so she was looking straight into Rizza's face, smiling gently. "As much as we want them to be together, we would just have to let nature take its course."

Julian was doing a "manly" jig.

"But then nothing would ever happen!" Rizza argued, still disappointed. "They have no ways of interacting with each other!"

Julian was almost splitting his face into two with his big grin.

Adriana grinned this time around. "That's where we come in then, Rizza."

Julian attempted a cartwheel.

The look of puzzlement in Rizza's face was classic. "I'm confused."

Julian succeeded.

Her sister did nothing but grin and wink. "Let's just say we are not going to manipulate Fate all right? We're just going to give it a little push and see what happens."

Julian was humming happily.

There had always been something very sly about Malfoys and it was most obvious when they had plans brewing in their minds.

Julian was beginning to ask who "the man" was.

Adriana was no exception as her ocean green eyes twinkled with mirth.

Sighing, Adriana turned to Julian who was still reveling in his "victory".

"All right Julian, come off the ceiling. You're going to petrify your classmates."

"Snape is evil."

"Since when wasn't he?"

Ginny paused and looked at Colin, who was looking at her questioningly in turn.

"Good point."

Ginny and Colin were waiting patiently outside of one of the Gryffindors' favorite classrooms, the Potions Room. This statement is said with sarcasm of course.

Only Slytherins and a couple of Ravenclaws actually liked Potions. It was no lie that the Potions Master, Professor Snape, particularly favored his own house among others and held Gryffindor in the most contempt. Ginny always figured that Snape only did so since misery loves company and it was no question that Snape and his young charges were a miserable lot. They'll all be happy together, dominating the high scores in Potions and frolicking around in their dungeons all day.

She was pulled out of her musings when the door to the Potions' classroom was opened, giving exit to the seventh year Slytherins and Gryffindors who just finished their class.

It would have been strange to an outsider how the two houses maintained a certain distance to one another, but Ginny was used to it and so was the rest of the school.

Ginny watched as Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bullstrode passed by, sneering dejectedly at her before giggling to themselves, probably another Poor Weasley joke. Slytherins never talked about anything else referring to her anyway. Their gang of airhead cronies followed them closely.

Coming after them closely were Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, looking as stupid as ever with or without anyone to tell them what to do. They were never seen with Malfoy now and Malfoy never did give any implication that he minded that they were not at his beck and call anymore.

A symphony of complaints and groans complimented usually by a rotten curse every now and then signaled the arrival of the Gryffindors. Almost all of them looked miffed about something, probably someone lost them points again and Professor Snape slapped them extra homework.

Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, and Parvati Patil headed the Gryffindor entourage as the boys complained and Parvati cooed at them like a comforting mother hen. They passed by Ginny and Colin without another glance.

Lagging behind were Lavender Brown who looked like she was trying to remember something and Neville Longbottom  who looked the worst of the lot. The duo noticed Ginny and Colin's presence and took a moment to say 'hi'. Lavender did so in her usual cheery way and Neville gave them a weak wave.

The next to come by was the Gryffindor Trio aka Harry, Ron and Hermione. Ron was predictably sour-faced, probably thinking of many ways to kill Snape in his sleep. Hermione was between the two boys, looking the most distressed of the three though she was still telling Ron that cursing would do him no good. Harry was alternating between third wheel and mediator and the strain was apparent in him.

"Hey Ginny, Colin." It was Harry who noticed them first, actually pausing to talk to them for a while.  Hermione and Ron followed suit.

"What are you two doing here? Going to ask for extra credit?" Of course Hermione would ask that.

"Please." Ron was looking grumpy again as he eyed his little sister and her best friend. "Whatever you're planning to do in there, don't bugger it up. Don't want to lose more points."

"What happened in there?" Colin tried to look past the Trio to see the damage in the Potions room.

"Aside from fifty points taken from Gryffindor and research for other uses of the boomslang root? Ron dropped a jar of boomslang root. Apparently, the last batch Professor Snape had." Harry explained wryly, looking at Ron who was ready to explode.

"It was not my fault!" Ron insisted hotly, his eyes narrowing angrily. "Bloody Parkinson tripped me!"

"Now that's quite enough from you Ronald Weasley!" Hermione scolded again. She looked ready to whip out her McGonagall interpretation if Ron wouldn't keep it down. "You're getting far too loud and with all your shouting we just might get more points knocked off!" Hermione snapped, her eyes blazing.

Before Ron could start yelling at his girlfriend, Harry cut in.

"So, what are you doing here?"

Ginny sighed as she shifted with the books she had in her arms. "Snape asked me to see him after classes. Must be about my grades again."

"You're going to be all right Ginny." Colin said, always the encouraging one. Ginny smiled at him wanly.

Harry looked sympathetic. No one should ever keep company with Snape after class hours. It was far too stressing.

"Good luck then." Harry sighed as he looked at the bickering couple beside him. "Go on, Snape wouldn't want to be kept waiting. Meanwhile, I'll be making sure these two get to the library alive. We've got a long night ahead of us and Hermione would have a fit in the morning if she didn't get to finish her essay."

And with that and a goodbye, Harry pulled a pissed Ron and an indignant Hermione towards the direction of the library.

When the trio disappeared from view and Ron and Hermione's bickering couldn't be heard anymore, Ginny felt Colin's hand on her shoulder.

Colin was serious when he spoke. "Are you sure you could take him on your own?"

In all honesty, Ginny didn't think she could face Professor Snape yet, but if she knew the man enough, he wouldn't appreciate seeing Colin. It was a fact that Colin's mere presence annoyed Professor Snape. Aside from Colin's limited skill in Potions, he was known as a Potter groupie and Professor Snape hated nothing more than his sort.

"I'll be fine Colin."

"Are you sure?"

Ginny gave him another weak smile. "I'm sure."

Colin still didn't appear to be convinced. "Honest to goodness sure?"

"Positive."

"Honestly, positively—"

"Professor Snape doesn't want to be kept waiting, Creevey. Now if you would allow, Weasley made it perfectly clear that she is capable of seeing him." A cool voice announced from behind them.

Draco Malfoy stood in the doorway of the Potions' classroom, looking as immaculate as ever with his impeccable school robes and the air of authority around him. Beside him was a silent Blaise Zabini who was as intimidating even without his prefect badge on. He regarded Ginny with cool acknowledgement and completely ignored Colin's presence.

Before Ginny could even make a comment, Draco raised her an eyebrow in question.

"We don't intend on staying here all night, Weasley and I'm sure you don't either."

Ginny quickly moved out of the way as if she was struck by lightning. She didn't know what it was but for some reason, following what Malfoy said this time around didn't seem so bad.

Draco left without another glance or a word, his dark school robes swishing silently against the cold dungeon floor. Blaise followed Draco through, his mysterious violet eyes fixed intently at Ginny before turning around as if dismissing her.

Again, Ginny was snapped out of her stupor from her thoughts of Slytherin strangeness by a caustic, cutting voice from inside the Potions Classroom.

"I don't have time to wait for you to finish gawking at Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Zabini, Ms. Weasley. Come inside this minute."

Colin was immediately there to give his support. With a big, encouraging smile on his face, he gave her hand a squeeze. "I'll just be here if he tries anything funny."

Ginny couldn't help rolling her eyes when she turned her back on her long-time best friend. Colin was practically the best guy friend a girl could have, but he still had his annoying moments. Like right now. She's just going to meet with the terror Potions professor, not trysting with Draco Malfoy. (Like that'll ever happen!) He doesn't need to pull out his model of Ron 2000. She berated herself mentally about this as she walked down the center aisle towards Professor Snape's desk.

Colin was just being nice. Stop it!

Back to the real subject at hand, Professor Snape wasn't looking at her as he continued to frown down on the parchment he was grading. Ginny had no idea why he even stuck around when he obviously didn't like teaching at all.

"I suppose your little brain would be able to figure out why you are here this afternoon, Ms. Weasley." He didn't even bother to look at her when he spoke. Ginny wanted to hit him.

Putting all entertaining thoughts of Professor Snape's head getting flattened by a large anvil, Ginny decided to let it slide. She answered in the politest way she could, "I believe it must be something about my grades, Professor."

"I wouldn't call them grades if I were you, Ms. Weasley."

Were all Slytherins given some kind of special class where they would learn to be mean?

"They're nothing but trash."

Professor Snape must really excel in that Mean Classes when he was still studying in Hogwarts.

Ginny watched as Professor Snape graded the essay with a big red E and pushed it aside. It was only then that he looked at her straight in the eye and she felt the instinctive shiver whenever she was in his presence.

"You should consider yourself lucky that I even bothered to see you this afternoon."

Oh I'd be luckier to be away from you right now, believe me Professor Snape. Ginny mused to herself but outwardly remained silent.

"Professor Flitwick had been telling everyone in the Faculty how talented you are in his class. I kept on asking myself why you won't display the same genius in my class, Gryffindor though you are."

Professor Flitwick snitched?! Ginny was shocked. Didn't she ask him not to tell anyone aside from her parents? Her usual cycle of horrors was put to a stop at the sound of Professor Snape's dry and steady voice.

"I don't believe that anyone is incapable of anything. Everyone has a hidden potential, they just need to find and develop it." Those coal black eyes were still fixed on her and she wanted nothing more than to have him start checking papers again. She didn't care if he was being rude anymore. He was so creepy. Was it just her or did Professor Snape suddenly became inanimate?

"I believe you wouldn't want to fail Potions when you obviously have the ability to do better somehow. You have more than decent grades in your other subjects don't you?" Professor Snape continued. "And I expect the same if not more in my own class. I therefore require you, Ms. Weasley to have tutoring sessions."

Ginny didn't know what to say. As far as she knew, Professor Snape didn't do this all the time. Well, she never knew he actually assigned tutoring sessions!

Dare she think that he was giving her another chance?

"I-yes, thank you, Sir." What else could she say after all?

Professor Snape didn't seem to acknowledge she said anything for he carried on as if he did not want to be interrupted. "I took the liberty of assigning your tutor since I wanted to make sure of your progress. He shall be meeting you in the library this Thursday for briefing." The dark robed Professor got up from his seat and swept towards his Potions Store Room. "You can go now, Ms. Weasley."

"Wait, Professor Snape." Ginny called. "Aren't you going to tell me who my tutor is?"

She was answered by the closing of the Potions Store Room door.

Ginny couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.

A/N: Who's going to be Ginny's tutor? Do you have any guesses? See you next time! ^_~