Title: Being Nice Doesn't Always Pay Off…
Author: Cactuskitty
Chapter: Seventeen
Summary: Ginny gets angry with a friend and decides that it's time for her to change. In this chapter, Pandora's box is opened.

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Harry Potter book series, they belong to J. K. Rowling, so please don't sue. All I own is the little plot there is, Hillary, Tibby, and Ryan… But that's not much to brag about.

Chapter Seventeen: Tainted Love

"Sometimes I feel I've got to

Run away I've got to

Get away

From the pain that you drive into the heart of me

The love we share

Seems to go nowhere

And I've lost my light

For I toss and turn I can't sleep at night"

-Tainted Love

Softcell

So, she thought that he was reckless and had a constant need to play hero. Well, wasn't that a laugh. The entire reason for his training was so that his actions could be more thought out and a hell of a lot less rash, but it wasn't like he could tell her that. No, he definitely could not. Dumbledore would have his hide in so many different painful ways that he hadn't even told Ron or Hermione. No one even would have even noticed if it wasn't for that beating Ryan had given him the other day. He was given a time turner for a reason. Though in the end none of that really mattered because Harry knew that even if he could tell her about the training she still would never understand the pain he was going through—no one could. It angered him how wrongfully he was misjudged.

How many afternoons had he spent with her in the library? Nearly every day for the past three bloody months and she was still no closer to understanding him since the day they met. To her, Harry Potter would always be the drama king-hero who is able to pull strings and gets away with everything. A regular goody two shoes. Regardless of the fact that nearly all of their conversations ended with seething death glares and grumbled low tones, he still had expected her to get a little more insight to the person who he was on the inside. He was trying as hard as he possibly could to get her to open up, so that he could support her and try to understand her as a person, something he was sure she had dreamt of in the past. Yet Virginia wouldn't even give him that sort of relief. She was always cold to him, making it apparent that she felt that he was wasting her time. She spat on his offers to help because he was too late. Harry knew that the had missed his opportunity to be with her a long time ago. If only he had seen her how she was before the darkness inside of her had taken over.

This deliberation hurt him more than his slowly healing tongue that still throbbed despite the magic Madame Pomfrey had used. The injury caused by her—caused by her infernal ex boyfriend who still held a torch for her and couldn't stand the truth. The fact that Harry had missed his chance played a part in his injured tongue as well, but he didn't like to think of it that way. He felt more like torturing the one person who had been given the chance to have her and gave it away. The one who was able to hold her and kiss her and comfort her. Harry knew that he was the reason that Ryan had to give her up in the first place and that was the reason for the hatred shown towards him. But that still wasn't enough to pacify his abhorrence for his instructor and until he got what he wanted Harry didn't think that he would be able to calm his jealousy. Not until he had been rewarded with his prize.

His prize—that mysterious and self inflicting Virginia Weasley who was so intoxicating and infuriating at the same time.  After his eyes had been opened during the summer he had begun feeling this raw tainted carnal desire that he had never felt before. Every time he saw her Harry was greatly affected by her presence. He wanted so much to touch and reach her at some level. She was the only other girl he had ever met who treated him as a regular boy even though she thought of him as nothing more than a brooding masochistic hero. She no longer treated him as the boy who lived, but just Harry—even if she only seemed to see his flaws. She was wild, free willed, and untamed. Though his favorite quality by far was the fact that she was a solitary being. Virginia kept to her self; not giving her smile not just anyone anymore. She was a complete and utter enigma to everyone and Harry felt that there wedre part of her that even she did not understand.

Virginia was brutally honest about everything except herself. Her feelings were a locked box and Harry wanted nothing more than to be the key. He wanted her. He wanted to be with her. To be more than just friends, but to be her one and only. Harry wasn't stupid, he knew that he had missed his chance and the second opportunity would be much more difficult to grasp because he had ignored her for so long the first time around. It was probably impossible. However impossible was what Harry did best. She would be a difficult goal to achieve, but Harry knew that she would eventually come around. He'd then show her just how serious he really was. He would do it catiously since she seemed to hate his recklessness. Harry would do anything for her if it ensured her happiness…except give up on her.

*          *          *

            "DAMN IT, GOYLE! You could have killed me! What were you trying to do?! Take the door out by its hinges?!" As Draco's staggering rant continued the words seemed to grow uglier and bitterer by the second. Virginia didn't waste her time listening, instead she picked herself off of the ground, brushed the dust off of her favorite red plaid skirt, took off her cloak, and straightened her infernal fishnet stockings that were really beginning to itch something fierce. It was the straightening of the stockings that stopped Draco mid rant as he stared at her open mouthed in a lustful shock.

Goyle blinked at him for a moment before nodding his head idly and mumbling a pathetic "Yes sir…" and clopping off to go find Crabbe so that they could partake in the activity that would stimulate even of the stupidest creatures. Eat. Draco did not notice him leaving, he was too busy watching the girl in front of him unselfconsciously "adjust" herself in public. It was the fact that she did it without even seeming to care that anyone saw her that made it so sexy. Draco was in astonished in more way than one. He was so involved in watching her that it took him a while before he began a second rant when a small first year made the same mistake as Goyle while exiting the common room.

Now Virginia was not oblivious to Draco's gaping—in fact that was the reason why she didn't wait until later to fix her stockings. It's always nice to feel in control of something when you know for a fact that your life is out of your hands. And there was no feeling like the controlling of a hormonal boy to bring up your self esteem, especially if it's an attractive hormonal boy. Yes, she had a very definite feeling that her conversation with him today was going to go somewhere and she owed it all to Goyle.

She had had an epiphany, Harry's problems didn't matter. Ryan's death didn't matter. Other's approval didn't matter. She was alive and healthy and that was the only thing that really was important. The only problems she needed to worry about were her own, therefore she would be fine in the long run. She was going to be okay, and that thought was enough for her to regain control of the situation. And the only person she could thank for regaining her consciousness was Goyle. If he hadn't rammed through that door like the idiot he is—Draco and she might have never have fallen over and she might not have had the sense knocked back into her. This entire scene could have ended with her acting in a way that she would learn to regret later in life. So she silently thanked the ugly ogre and began tapping her foot signaling Draco to hurry up. Which he did almost immediately, and the fist year ran off mumbling dark words under his breath.

Draco glared daggers through the young boy's back before turning to towards Virginia. However his eyes were not really focused on her. He took a second to appreciate her low black v-neck shirt that had just become visible since she had taken off that cloak. Draco smirked at her chest for a moment before slowly lifting his eyes to her face which did not seem to hold any emotion expect dry irritability.

"I'm assuming by your cocky look that my appearance has gained your approval." Virginia stated blandly, as she checked her watch, they had at least forty-five minutes before dinner, that should be enough time for what she was planning if they hurried. It was nice being in control. She stopped tapping her foot.

"It usually does, Virginia." He leered, and Ginny smirked in reply and he continued, "Now I believe that I was going to take you somewhere a little more private so we might talk?" She nodded and allowed him to led her through a long cold hallway and two flights of stairs to an empty classroom.

He opened the door for her then sat himself on a desk facing out the window. They were in a small unused, but clean, classroom in the second floor overlooking the lake. Far, far from the hospital wing, the Gryffindor common room, and all of life's obstacles. He motioned for her to take a seat while he spoke with a sneer, "Alright Virginia what's on your mind? When I first saw you in the hallway you looked like shit, but you've seemed to gather yourself. Need anything?"

She put her cloak down on the thick windowsill in front of him before gracefully hopping up like a cat and sitting down with her legs swinging slightly, "Thanks for he brutal honesty…" She replied calmly and smirked a little at his reaction.

"No problem," he smirked. Draco had lost contol of his stormy gray eyes that were now like those of a leopard stalking its prey, as they followed the every motion of her swaying legs, "I know you'd do the same for me…."

"Yes, but I wouldn't have glued my eyes to your body instead of your face, now would I?" She asked coolly and they smirked at each other as their eyes met for a split second. Everything was moving along as she planned, she soon would have exactly what she wanted.

"See what I mean, you don't let anything past you." He replied smoothly, and Virginia noted that he was unashamed of his actions as she was of hers. Not that she was unsurprised, it just was so opposite from what she was used to in the past. Harry or Ryan would have blushed furiously; they were both too sincere and innocent. Virginia wouldn't be surprised if Draco had gone or nearly gone all they way with a girl—he was that kind of smooth and tainted. That's why he preyed on her hidden innocence. He wanted her and she was playing him, but the catch was that he knew her game. Therefore it was a draw at who was really in charge of the entire matter, and the catch was that no matter who was in lead at the moment, the way the board was set—it could go either way. And this roll would be a turning point of the entire game.

It was obvious that Draco was also aware their situation as his smirk dimmed and he asked seriously while leaning back slightly, "So tell me little weasel, what is it that is eating away at your thoughts? I'm guessing by your grave look earlier that you heard about Potter's visit to the hospital wing." When she didn't reply he continued coldly, "But my real question is why did you come to me?"

She could tell by the icy edge in his eyes that he was being sincere, and she began to ask herself the same question. Why had she? It wasn't like it was intentional, she was just walking blindly through the halls…right? No something had drawn her directly to him, because…because she needed him. She needed someone else to help keep herself in line. She was beginning to realize that the line "no man is an island" really does have some meaning to it. She needed a companion, but not just anyone. She needed Malfoy because he was her idol. He was as cold and cut off as she wished to be, therefore he was the only one who could appreciate the true beauty of her actions. Now how could she voice that to him? Why did he always have to toss her wild cards? She was taking too much time thinking and the silence was beginning to become awkward for her for the first time since school had started. So she spoke,

"Why do you think, Malfoy?" She sighed and Draco barely blinked before his dry response.

"I think you need me a helluva a lot more than you let on little weasel, but I also think that this love triangle is getting a little old. I refuse to be part of anything that involves Potter. I'm not asking you to choose, I'm telling you to leave me out of it if that's what it is. I'm sick of being a fall back guy for when you're pissed at Potty. I don't' like getting people's leftovers and hand-me-downs."

Ginny couldn't help but begin laughing. She laughed until she cried and her side hurt. She was so busy laughing that she failed to notice that Draco was no longer sitting in front of her, but standing and looking entirely pissed off. Not that it would have mattered, she just would have made her laugh more as her plan progressed exatly as she planned that it would have. He really was predictable sometimes.

She wiped away her tears as he addressed her, "Well loon, please explain to me why my reply was so comical."

His deadpan face nearly caused her laughing to start up again, but she practiced her self control as she sat up and looked him straight in his stormy gray eyes, "A love triangle? In both of yours' dreams… I barely even like him. He's more like another stupid older brother than…a love interest. He annoys me almost as much as he pisses you off…God, I knew you were jealous…"

Draco's face did nothing but darken as he listened to her explanation, she was buying into his trap and he was not about to give up his game face, "I was not jealous. I just need  to be sure…" He would have her before Potter and now was his time to move.  Draco could tell that she knew it too—that was why she wasn't wearing her cloak in this freezing room.

She laughed again and turned looking out the window, "Yeah right…and I'm Moaning Myrtle's twin…" As she stared out the window thoughtfully Draco slowly stepped forward. Slowly cornering his prey one step at a time.

She was his.

"You could have fooled me—you look so much more…fleshy." He was nearly there, one more inch till his target.

She smirked at her reflection, "Of course you would say that…" he made it, "All you ever think about is my flesh."

Virginia turned around and the surprise was evident for a split second on her face, even thought Draco was near positive that she could see his reflection the entire time in the window, "Is that so?" He replied coolly, and as he saw his mischievous glint reflected in her eyes he knew that his assumptions were correct, so he went in for the kill. She was trapped, but there was no head turning this time.

A/N: Ahh! Total Kare Kano moment…*groan* Fluff…*grin* Always fun.

Sorry about the delays, I actually do not have any excuses except for the fact that I have just finished finals and have terrible writers block that just cleared two days ago. Now I can't stop. I have outlined the last two chapters of this story and now know that there will be around twenty-five, give or take a few. I am starting chapter eighteen right now by the title of New. Expect it as soon as I get 200 reviews.

So please remember to review. Thanks to all ya'alls who did it in the past. And a special thanks to my beta Mists Avalon.

Review.