A/N: I have NO excuse for how late this chapter is! *bows head in shame*. Alright, I do. Not only was I extremely busy but I had writer's block. But I have been working weeks, months even on this chapter, and it's long, angsty AND has plot, how do you like that? Plus, I know pretty well where the story is going now so the next few chapters should come a lot quicker! I really do hope you guys enjoy this chapter which took me ages to write! Please, R/R. Thank you!
I'd like to say such a special thanks to all the people that reviewed my last chapter! It was extremely overwhelming and I swear I couldn't stop smiling the entire day after I got one. If it wasn't for you guys this chapter might have never come out. The reviews really do mean a lot to me. Thank you guys so much! And thank you to my beta reader Rachel, who always makes time in her busy schedule to beta my fics!
Disclaimer: I wish I owned him, I really, really do, but unfortunately the character Draco Malfoy belongs to and is the creation of J.K Rowling's. As well as the rest of the wonderful characters you recognize. I just mess around with their lives for our enjoyment. Enjoy!
Rating Warnings; PG-13 for language and some sexual reference (all kept in PG-13 limits of course)
Now on with the story!
Cheers!
Chapter Three- Paranoia
Draco lay, draped across the bench on the Slytherin Quidditch stand. He gazed upon the golden snitch without much interest as it flitted its tiny, delicate gold wings before him. It was as if it was tempting Draco to chase after it, like a dog tempting one to throw a stick. But Draco had had enough physical activity for one day as he had been chasing the bloody thing since this morning and his encounter with Virginia. This is what he figured; it was obvious this girl was getting to him but he was a Malfoy, damn it! No one got to him. And if there were any perks to being a Malfoy, it was the fast healing and learning from your mistakes. The Malfoy family was extremely clever in that way, especially Draco. He wouldn't let this pass him by - instead, those wicked wheels turned viciously in his head, trying to figure out every single detail he could use to his advantage that he had found out because of that little happening. Draco wasn't going to let this throw him off. He had a job to do, and absolutely nothing would stand in his way. If Weasley wanted a game of cat and mouse, that was exactly what he would give her. He would sink his fangs into her.
It was now dusk. The sun was beginning to fade behind the horizon, leaving tints of gold and fading purples. Draco's muscles were sore and seemed to be failing him at the moment, and being Saturday he had found it surprising that he had been able to have the Quidditch pitch for the entire day. In fact he was sure that every annoying Gryffindor and Hufflepuff would have been coming outside to enjoy what had been a clear sky on a very fine morning. Thank the gods, Draco thought. It had probably been a Hogsmeade day, but even if there was, he had not noticed anyone come near him. Not that it was wise to come near a Malfoy in such a state. Slowly, he began to rise from the bench, using his broom to steady himself, making sure to grab the very hard to see silver liquid material of his invisibility cloak which he had not bothered to take inside. He dragged his feet about the ground as he walked towards the huge front oak doors, but as the thoughts raged in his head his strides became longer and more powerful, and the expression on his face twisted to show a true wickedness, power. The night made scary shadows that played about his face and his hair had come loose of the sticky gel from the wind, and it settled about his face, making him look slightly scary, mad even and very confident. Exhaling deeply he decided to skip dinner, not a wise choice since he had not been to lunch either. But it had been a surprisingly dismal, but clam day and he preferred to keep it that way. And that meant staying away from annoying female ramblings, in other words, Pansy. He wasn't sure he'd be able to control his anger tonight.
*
Ginny dangled her fork in the chocolate pie her brother had placed before her. She dragged the fork over the frosting and watched as the little metal tines made imprints on it. She looked about her surroundings and watched as the students happily ate their dinner and talked about that day's Hogsmeade trip. Ginny had stayed in the castle that day; as much as her friends had pushed her to come along on their trip, she had come up with a lame homework excuse and stayed within the bliss of the quiet school with the exception of the few who were too young to go. She had been locked up in her room or in the library the entire day, frightened that she might bump into Draco. The shock of the kiss had finally subsided and now the question of why, and what to do, tormented her thoughts. She had finally come to the conclusion that he must want something from her - either that or he was playing with her emotions, for a bet or his own enjoyment. It seemed Malfoy-ish enough of a reason to kiss her. Her fingers grazed her lips as she thought of the kiss she had shared with the serpent.
Ginny's glare shot toward the Slytherin table which she had been trying to avoid with a passion the entire night, only to find no Draco sitting between his two, dumb as a stump human shields. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion and she wondered if he had come back to the castle at all--not that she cared. Suddenly a glare caught her eye from the Slytherin table she had been scanning. It was a girl; her eyes were narrowed, almost serpent-like. A look of great, evil interest spread about her face as she noticed Ginny searching. Ginny had seen the girl before; often envied her beauty. Her features were of an exotic kind, her hair black as night, hanging down her back. Her eyes were actually a violet colour that often seemed to sparkle with mischief, and the greatest feeling of elegance yet danger and pure, simple evil radiated from her. Ginny had heard people talk about her. Blaise Zabini, she believed. It was alleged that at 17, Blaise had already received the Dark Mark, and her family was greatly involved with Lord Voldemort. She sat delicately, looking so fragile but so poisonous beside Pansy Parkinson. However, she seemed isolated, as if she was in a completely different state of mind than anyone in the room. Ginny felt herself shiver, there was something simply not right about Blaise.
Blaise arched an eyebrow as she noticed the youngest Weasley eagerly search about the place where Draco usually sat. Blaise was no idiot. Ginny turned away quickly, only catching Blaise's intimidating glare for merely five seconds; too little time to see the corner of Blaise's pale lips curl up in a delightfully knowing smirk. 'It is not wise for weasels to play with snakes,' she muttered under her breath, and turned back to the food set about her plate, the fire in her eyes burning more brightly than before. This would be interesting.
Ginny saw Hermione looking at her in a "what's wrong?" sort of way. Hermione had noticed Ginny's odd stares towards the Slytherin table, and the fact she hadn't touched a bite of her food. However, before Hermione could say anything, Ginny pushed away the chocolate pie before her and lifted herself from her seat.
'I'm really tired, I'm heading up to the Gryffindor tower.' Ginny smiled faintly, hoping it looked genuine. For the first time throughout the whole meal, Harry and Ron broke off their Quidditch conversation and stared at Ginny, trying to comprehend what she had just said.
'Right Gin, see you later,' Ron finally managed to say, and Harry nodded in agreement. Hermione stared at Ginny in a disapproving way and began to get up herself.
'I'll go with you Ginny, I'm not much of a Quidditch kind of gal,' Hermione said. Instantly, Ginny saw that all Hermione wanted to do was get the scoop; she wanted to know what Ginny apparently seemed to know.
'No Hermione, it's alright. Don't you have detention duty anyways?' Ginny replied quickly, and to her relief, Hermione's eyes widened.
'Oh for Merlin's sake!' Hermione slapped Ron lightly on the shoulder, and he looked up at her, confused.
'Hey, what was that for?' he questioned.
'Ron! I told you to remind me I have detention duty tonight! You know I've been terribly busy!' She began to collect her books frantically from the table, shoving them into her knapsack.
Ron shot another lovingly glance at Hermione as he watched her rush. He took her hand and looked into her eyes. 'Wouldn't you much rather stay here with me than look after those terribly naughty people?' he puckered his lip playfully and she shot him an annoyed but playful glance.
Ginny rolled her eyes, and grabbing her own bag, shot out of the great hall, eager and happy to get away from her lovey dovey brother and his girlfriend. Ginny walked quickly along the corridors. The chill winter air ran through them and she shivered slightly. She began to grow paranoid of the shadows that loomed in the corners, since these halls were only illuminated by the torchlight. They were also empty, for everyone seemed to be at dinner. Her breath began to quiver as her eyes played tricks on her and she found her feet shuffling more quickly; her heart pounding with a desire to reach the warmth and coziness of the Gryffindor common room.
Her eyes darted about from corner to corner, checking for imaginary creatures her father had always told her were not there. He had told her she was safe, but she hadn't been safe, had she? She never had. She had been proved that in her first year, where the shadows in the corners loomed about her and haunted her. They still seemed to haunt her as the little light there was flickered. She squeaked when she saw a tall figure along the corridor she had turned into. Her mind raced with ridiculous ideas, and she forced herself to calm down as she clung on to her cloak, almost as if it would shield her from whatever evil was trying to get at her. She took two big breaths and continued her walk down the hallway. It was just another student, or perhaps Filch, she assured herself.
Ginny gathered up all her Gryffindor courage and walked swiftly down the corridor, the figure walking towards her as well. As they came closer together, Ginny lowered her head so her hair fell over her face, simply concentrating on passing the person. She felt the person's presence as she passed, releasing a breath of relief and scolding herself mentally for being so silly, when a hand enclosed itself about her upper arm. She squealed and immediately lunged for the opposite direction, but the hand would not let go. Her vision fell on the person's face, dark, it couldn't be, Tom? No, no it couldn't be, and it wasn't. Draco Malfoy stared back at her. The shadow played about his eyes, making them dark and unreadable; all she could see was the faint silver spark. Her heart beat quickly and her eyes widened as she watched him smirk wickedly and take hold of her other arm.
'Weasley, you didn't think you were going to get away that easily, did you?' his voice was confident, deep and sleek. Ginny shivered and managed to pull one of her hands from his grasp.
'Malfoy,' her voice was tiny and it wavered. She hated herself for being so intimidated by him. 'What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?' Ginny's eyes narrowed in surprise and fear.
'You want to know what I'm doing,' Draco moved his face closer to her, forcing her to back up against a wall. 'The question, Virginia,' he mocked, savoring the word and letting it flow out of his lips, making her squirm against him, and smirking, 'What do you think you're doing?'
Ginny arched an eyebrow questioningly, and at seeing this Draco chuckled coldly. Now that she had backed into the light of the torch, Ginny studied Draco's face, his eyes frightening, predatory.
'What do you mean, what am I doing?' she spat back at him, still struggling against his grasp, trying her best not to sound frightened. His grip on her arms was becoming tighter and she winked slightly in pain. 'I didn't do anything, you're the one who kissed me,' and sudden rage entered her. For some reason she began to grow furious. Wriggling herself finally loose she stared at him, her glare, if it would have been anyone but a Malfoy would have made the person run.
'Ah Virginia, Virginia, Virginia,' he drawled, letting her pause and pant in anger as he leaned one side against the stone wall and slicked back his hair, completely calm. 'If you insist into getting into the meek subject of the pitiful kiss then I should have to mention the fact that you wanted it…you wanted it bad,' his lips curled in pleasure as he saw her eyes grow wide and the red brighten upon her face.
'I certainly did not-'
'Please Virginia, let us not fight like children. You were the one who took the cloak…You were the one that kept on coming closer. Please, do you think me an idiot, Virginia? Don't you think I saw the want in your eyes? I simply seized the opportunity, after all, I get whatever I want, if you should be so lucky to be such." He smirked and eyed her, a devilish smile playing on his lips, "I'm just the kind of bad boy you're dying to break, aren't I? You just want to find the good in me.' He pushed himself off the wall with his shoulder and walked over to Ginny, his eyes sparkling with malice.
"Well let me tell you now Weasley, I am a Slytherin, a Malfoy, and according to you Gryffindors, I have no good in me. I'm a snake, Virginia, and you would be wise to stay away.'
Ginny was frozen; she stood there before him in utter shock. She definitely hadn't been expecting this. 'Of course,' Draco reached over and twirled a bit of her blood red hair on his finger; 'if the little Weasel thinks she's ready to come out and play with the snake, that would be entirely up to her.' Ginny suddenly found her shoes very interesting as she gazed at them, unable to stare at his grey eyes any longer. She was rooted to the spot it seemed, and she found herself painfully reminded of Tom as Draco had twirled her hair. Shivers she hadn't felt for years ran up and down her spine.
"I-um…" Ginny breathed deeply, and Draco dropped the curl of hair he was twirling and placing his hand onto her shoulder, lowering his face to hers, his hot breath on her cheeks, eyes glinting as such as a manipulator.
"You what?" he asked daringly. A wide grin had sprawled onto his face; his hand had began to trace her collarbone, when small clicks on stone could be heard from around the corner,
'DRACY-POO!' boomed a loud, shrill feminine voice, destroying the intimidating atmosphere he had produced upon Ginny.
Ginny saw Draco cringe and a wicked small, but cautious smile played upon her lips, her eyes shining as his hand dropped from her collarbone and his eyes darted away from her to the approaching form.
'Dracy-poo?' Ginny asked, smiling so widely that Draco was ready to kill that damned bitch Pansy. He growled, rolled his eyes and let go completely of Ginny's arm as he felt Pansy's chest press up against his back.
'Dracy! Where have you been!? I have been looking for you everywhere!' Her voice became silkier as she passed a hand down his chest and snuggled closer to him, pressing herself onto him seductively.
'I thought you might want to-' Pansy suddenly stopped short, her blue eyes piercing Ginny, as if she just now noticed her standing there. She flipped her fake blonde hair off her shoulder and looked back at Draco, blinking and pouting as she asked, 'torturing Weasley's again, love?' Pansy leaned farther into Draco, and Ginny saw him move away slightly.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "If you'll excuse me, I'd better be going before I lose any more IQ points from being in your presence." With that, Ginny turned on her heel, deliberately avoiding Draco's stare and stalked down the hall quickly before Pansy understood what she had said and tried to hex her. Before she could get away though, she felt a strong tug on her arm that pulled her back. Ginny turned around and was forced to stare into Draco's cold grey eyes. He lowered his lips to her ears and whispered in a voice that sent shivers up her spine,
'This isn't over Weasley, I'll get you back for this.' His hot breath was on her neck, and then suddenly he flung her away. Turning sharply, Ginny raced down the hall towards the Gryffindor common room, before Draco decided to do anything else.
Pansy watched as Draco whispered into Ginny's ear. She watched as the redhead stalked down the hallway, and frowned.
'Why is he talking to a Weasley?' Pansy questioned under her breath, and once Draco got close enough she leaned on him again.
"Hey!" she said after several seconds, "Draco!" She squealed in a high pitched voice, "aren't you going to do anything!? She called me stupid!"
Draco pushed Pansy violently off of him, 'Shut your pug face!' he yelled at her, 'there's nothing I can do if someone tells the truth." He turned down the staircase towards the dungeons, Pansy on his heel, yammering the whole time until they got to his dorm room.
'Alright, I forgive you, Draco,' she pressed her body fully onto him as he began to open the door to his dorm. Draco raised a brow; he hadn't said a thing; the girl was brainless.
'Pansy, I'm not in the mood,' he pushed her aside and shut the door quickly to his room. After countless squeals without answer he heard Pansy huff and trail down the stairs. Once sure she was gone Draco immediately sighed, letting his back relax as he took off his cloak and laid it on the hook of his door.
"Hallo Draco," a sexy, silky voice snaked about the room, and Draco turned around to see Blaise, lying on his bed upon the black and green sheets. Her long legs were tangled in them, her white school blouse half opened, revealing part of her black bra. Her skirt was tucked up too high, and her long black silky hair was down and sprawled about his pillow.
'Blaise,' Draco said, his tone slightly annoyed, but it wavered as she untangled her legs from the sheets and he got a glance at her black silk knickers. 'What are you doing here?' he said, still staring at her. Blaise got off the bed, swinging her long legs over the side seductively. Walking over to Draco, she placed her hands on his shoulders and began massaging him, leaning over him, and pressing her pale lips to his ear she asked,
'Why so stressed, love? I thought you could use some company,' Draco could smell Blaise's intoxicating perfume and closed his eyes. Maybe company that wasn't Pansy could be…beneficial.
'Why so avoidant lately? You weren't at dinner, or anywhere else for that matter…who are you hiding from?' At the sudden questioning, Draco pulled forwards, making her let go. He walked over to the desk, understanding that she wanted information. He studied the stunning woman before him, her features as gorgeous as ever yet that snaky smile was placed on her lips and her eyes shone with a malice he only knew meant bad news for whomever she was plotting against.
'Why don't you tell me what you want so I can have some peace Zabini?' he snapped, ignoring her questions and pretending to busy himself with some homework, trying to control himself and keep his cool, regardless or her swaying form that kept on coming closer.
'So impersonal…' Blaise drifted off as she entwined her fingers in his blonde, platinum hair. That did it, he grabbed her hand violently and she suddenly gasped in slight pain. 'Alright, alright…' she sighed, snapping back her hand and brushing his side with her hip before she walked over to the door. She knew it wasn't beneficial for her own health to go on. 'I'll leave you to whatever you need to do…' she fluttered her long dark eyelashes at him seductively before adding, 'it you need anything, just call…'Blaise gave him a snaky smile he didn't like and walked out, shutting the door behind her.
Draco frowned, letting out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. What was the girl up to? He closed the books on the table, thrashing them into his drawer. He plummeted onto his bed, and passing a hand through his hair, he closed his eyes tightly and sighed.
'What a day,' he mumbled, thinking about Ginny. Her big dark intimidated chocolate eyes came to mind and he smirked. How he loved to be in power, how helpless she had seemed, and the temptation…feeling something jab his back, his thoughts were interrupted and he sat up. There, where Blaise had been sitting was an opened black envelope. He frowned as he recognized his father's letter, the one he had not yet opened. He held it in his hands and extracted the dark, fine paper from the envelope.
Draco,
The Dark Lord is becoming impatient. I assume you are making progress with the Weasley girl?
Do not disappoint me boy, do not disappoint the Dark Lord, I expect a full report by next week. If not I am afraid I will have to get involved.
Your mother greets you.
Regards,
Lucius Malfoy
Draco frowned at the letter. The last thing he wanted was his father getting involved in anything. He wondered also if his mother knew about any of this. It was very possible she didn't, it would break her heart to know he was socializing with muggle lovers. Lucius made an effort to keep Narcissa out of Death Eater situations, for one reason or another. She was really the one who bought things, not one to get her hands dirty.
'What are you up to, Zabini?" he thought out loud as he set the letter back in a drawer of his night table. He stretched and yawning, peeled off his shirt, revealing his chiseled lean abs. He flung it onto his dresser and headed toward the loo, a green towel embroidered with the initials DM in his hands. He didn't need any more problems to deal with right now, what he did need was a very cold shower.
*
Ginny stumbled through the portrait hole, her breath heavy and uneven. That last threat from Malfoy had affected her in more ways than she had liked it to. She couldn't stop herself from the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Grateful that no one was in the common room with the exception of a pair of first years talking about some winter ball, she stumbled to her room. For no apparent reason, only on impulse, she kneeled in front of the trunk at the foot of her bed. With a shaking hand she extracted the familiar black box. Wasting no time, she gripped the tear shaped jewel hard between her fingers, letting the cooling sensation flow through her, and she stopped shaking. After a moment her mind became clear, her breathing regulated and she got off the floor, readjusting her clothing and setting the necklace about her neck. She sat on the bed and closed her eyes, letting the world fall into a comforting black.
* * *
Ginny stumbled into the Great Hall the next morning and tripped over her oversized down robe. Heads all across the Great Hall turned and faced her. She blushed and sighing, got up quickly, heading towards the Gryffindor table, ignoring the snickers and howls. She made sure not to look over at the Slytherin table, where she could practically hear Malfoy smirking. She groaned as she flopped herself down on the bench at the Gryffindor table beside Hermione, Ron across from them.
'Hey Gin,' her brother barely greeted her through mouthfuls of what seemed to be pancakes.
'Something wrong Ginny?' Hermione asked while helping her adjusts her robes.
Ginny hadn't had much time to get ready this morning and was now fixing the colour of her uniform shirt. She hated uniforms, but on weekdays she had no choice, and considering that it was Monday morning Ginny had put on her short grey skirt, white blouse and robes, much to her disdain. It wasn't just that the uniform was grey and tasteless, but the fact that her family hadn't had the money to buy her a new one in two years, leaving her with a shirt that was way too tight (thank god for the huge handy down cloak that once belonged to Percy), and a skirt that was way too short. Her hands flung down to the seams of her skirt, unconsciously pulling it down as much as she could over her legs, then tightened the high ponytail as she looked at Hermione.
'Morning Ron,' she frowned and faced Hermione, glad to see for one that they weren't making googly eyes at each other.
'Had a bit of trouble falling asleep, that's all,' she smiled a little and once she was satisfied with her ponytail, began to fill her plate with food.
It was true, she hadn't been able to sleep at all the night before, and it showed, with the dark circles under her eyes. All night she had tossed and turned, waking up every hour from the horrible repeating nightmares of glowing necklaces and bloody bodies. She had even woken up her roommates in the middle of the night with a piercing scream of pain from her necklace which had been glowing and burning her chest. She had quickly tucked it away as so no one could see. Not to mention she had been thinking of that stupid kiss and Malfoy's stupid threats. She or rather Draco somehow had managed to convince her it was her fault. Something she had done. But it wasn't, she had thought to herself. Malfoy had been the one that kissed her. Not only that, but she was beginning to wonder if Draco would really get her back. She was starting to become slightly paranoid.
'You look awful,' Ron mumbled while taking another huge bite of his pancakes, his hair in a big red mess. His tie was undone and the first button of his dress shirt opened.
'Hey Romeo, you don't look so hot yourself,' Ginny frowned as she saw her brother hold hands with Hermione across the table. Hermione blushed but didn't let go of his hand.
'I'm sure he didn't mean it that way,' Hermione playfully slapped Ron's hand and he too blushed. Ginny rolled her eyes; she knew it couldn't have lasted very long.
Turning away so that she didn't have to look at this sickening display, Ginny turned her head. She found herself looking over at the Slytherin table, and she was sure that Malfoy's head had turned quickly to not let her see he had been looking at her - perhaps he had been plotting? She saw along with every other Slytherin boy, Pansy Parkinson sitting on his lap, trying to push her chest into his face.
Ginny narrowed her eyes at the two, unable to look away, not really knowing why her stomach was lurching and turning in quite an uncomfortable way.
* * *
Pansy Parkinson was slumped over Draco, trying to push her humongous breasts into his face. He looked down, it was kind of hard not to. At this point Draco was tempted to throw Pansy violently off his lap and onto the floor. She was twirling his perfectly smooth hair around and around with her fingers and kissing his neck. It was the bloody morning! And he was hungry. He was in no mood for this. All night he had been twitching and turning in his bed, sweat dripping off his body as his blood boiled. Never had it come this badly, and so painful the will to kill became that if one were to step into the room of Draco Malfoy that morning, one would have seen the mass of feathers that had been sprawled out on the floor, coming from the ripped pillows. His sheets were torn and there were even blood stains on the hangings. His blood hadn't began to cool until five thirteen to be exact that morning, yet he still managed to look pulled together this morning as usual, with a quick wit and short temper.
Luckily for Pansy, Draco noticed Ginny staring at Pansy and himself, with the most disgusted look on her face, so he simply couldn't give this chance up.
Putting on a show for Ginny, he grabbed the back of Pansy's neck and kissed her roughly. He saw Ginny narrow her eyes at him and he winked at her. She turned her head in disgust and he smirked.
'Oh Draco baby,' Pansy said, holding onto the collar of his shirt and went in to give him another kiss. This time he pushed her away and she hit the space of bench next to him with a hard thump.
'Ow,' she moaned, stroking her perfectly fake blonde hair and pouting her lips. 'What was that for?' Draco didn't even give her a second look. He was watching Wealsey. Pansy, disappointed, turned to see who sat beside her, looking for someone else to flirt with. She curled her lip in disgust as Goylle gave her a perverted smile.
'Ew,' she said and walked over to Maxwell, a tall, well built seventh year Slytherin. Her hips swayed from side to side as she bent over to pick up what she had 'dropped', flashing him completely. He grabbed her at the waist and she giggled. She didn't need Malfoy.
Taking a bite out of his apple Malfoy raked his eyes over the little Weasley, his eyes narrowed into slits. She was wearing her school uniform, which he actually now decided he liked more than the muggle clothes she wore. The skirt was way to small for her, leaving her long legs quite exposed and he was sure under that cloak her shirt was way too tight. Probably too poor to buy a new uniform, Thank gods for poor Weasleys, he thought, smirking. Draco threw the apple core onto his plate and got up. Looking around he saw both Crabbe and Goyle so engrossed in their food they hadn't noticed he had stood. Usually they would have stood with him, placing themselves like two idiotic human shields on either side of him. He was glad, as he didn't feel like walking around with those two idiotic excuses for Slytherins. He began to walk out of the Great Hall, swiftly and quickly to make sure none of the other Slytherins would notice. He had plans to make...
Blaise watched as Draco slipped out of the Great Hall, slithering past the doors while avoiding the rest of their fellow Slytherins. She licked her lips and smirked,
'What do you have to hide, Mr. Malfoy?'
* * *
Ginny watched as Draco slipped out of the Great Hall so quickly she didn't think anyone but herself had seen him. She looked down at her egg and ham filled plate and dangled her fork in it, trying not to think of where he had gone…or what he was planning.
'Where's Harry?' She asked, suddenly aware that he hadn't been sitting at the table the whole morning, and there were only a few minutes left until first class.
'Well, if it's going to be like that!!!' A loud, shrill voice sliced through the quiet murmur that had been going on in the Hall. It was Cho Chang, at the Ravenclaw table. She was standing and her face was quite red; it looked like she was about to cry. Beside her sat Harry, looking quite disgruntled.
'Then frankly, Harry Potter, I don't want to see you anymore!!!' Everyone was quiet as Cho grabbed her purple bag off the table and stomped out of the Hall, her heels clicking on the marble floor. Four other girls following her, giving Harry nasty looks as they passed. The silence was soon broken by murmurs of questions and gossip. Ron and Hermione looked at each other awkwardly and began to walk towards Harry. Even the teachers at the head table were murmuring to each other. Ginny couldn't help it - she smiled to herself. She wasn't planning on going over to Harry and comforting him. Instead she stood and grabbed her bag, deciding to make an early start to her first class, Double Potions. She slung her bag over one shoulder and dashed out of the Great Hall.
* * *
It was exactly halfway through Potions, as Ginny was having trouble skinning the flabby, dull grey skin of her woobaloo that the doors to the Potions room swung open, the hinges squeaking. All the sixth years looked up in curiosity to see whom the unfortunate soul who had decided to come late to Potions class was.
'Ah…Mr. Malfoy. How considerate of you to show up,' Professor Snape remarked in a painfully sarcastic, flat voice as Malfoy glided into the room, looking perfect as usual, his long strides causing his black, expensive cloak to swirl with every step.
'Apologies Professor,' Draco spoke with ease. 'I was caught with some unexpected business.' He gave a curt nod and Snape turned to face the class. It was only a Slytherin who could get away with coming late to Potions with nothing more than a remark.
'Mr. Malfoy is an advanced Potion maker and has been granted a position as Potions teacher assistant. For a class credit, he will be helping me, help the…considering most of you are Gryffindors, many of you whom aren't as, shall we say, skilled at Potions as Mr. Malfoy here,' Snape's lip curled upwards in a smirk as he saw most of the Gryffindors snarl with displeasure.
'Take a seat Mr. Malfoy,' Snape said, waving his hand as a gesture of, 'choose anywhere you like' and sat back down at his desk, where he seemed to be busying himself with large stacks of old dusty looking volumes of books.
As Malfoy passed by Ginny's cauldron, Ginny held her breath, concentrating on skinning the woobaloo in front of her. So far he hadn't even acknowledged her presence, perhaps he wasn't planning anything, and she was simply being paranoid. Passing Ginny's cauldron Malfoy moved his arm quickly to his side, causing the woobaloo remainders to drop into her cauldron 'accidentally'. What had been a calming blue colour in the cauldron began to bubble with a red rage. Ginny, seeing this, cocked her head sharply to look into Draco's eyes. The sides of his pale, thin lips were twisted into a smirk, and his brow was raised. He was already two more strides out of her reach as he slid into a chair in front of a cauldron no more than two meters away from her own. She glared at him for a moment, red creeping to the sides of her face before the sudden loud, 'POP!' her potion made got her attention and she concentrated on getting it to stop bubbling.
Once Ginny had gotten her potion under control (well, it was still red but at least it had stopped bubbling) she turned back to glare at Draco. Draco's face was set in an innocent (not that he could pull off the innocent look very well) smile, his eyes sparkling with a malice that much resembled a small boy whom had just pulled at a little girls pigtails and ran away.
'Very mature,' Ginny mouthed, her eyebrows set in an expression letting Draco know of the sarcasm dripping off these words.
Draco suddenly ran a hand down his blonde slicked hair slowly, his eyes became cold and calculating as he let his eyes drape over Weasley's form. Ginny shifted slightly under the oversized cloak, grateful for it and feeling uncomfortable, turned away from Draco's stare. Ginny slowly picked up the small blade in her fumbling hands and gripped the handle hard, once again attempting to skin this funny looking creature. Slowly she let the blade sink under the skin. She shuddered slightly, not because of the green blood dripping on the cuffs of her robes, but the fact that she could still feel Draco staring at her back. She bit her lip and breathed deeply, chancing a glance back at Malfoy - he was indeed still staring at her. His glare, though, had changed completely. His grey eyes were half narrowed into slits, staring directly into Ginny's chocolate ones, a seductive sly expression on his face. Ginny felt her stomach turn as she watched him for a long moment until his lip curled into a knowing smirk and he raised a brow.
'Stop it,' she mouthed, but his expression only got deeper, eviler…
Ginny turned back to her woobaloo and began furiously skinning the creature, cutting big, uneven pieces, but she didn't notice. She could feel his glare piercing, burning her back. She looked over her shoulder to find him still staring.
'Quit it, Malfoy!' Ginny yelled this time, not being able to take it anymore. Professor Snape cocked his head upwards, his eyes looking away from the old, dusty book through the curtain of black greasy hair at Ginny and walked over to her, as Draco sank back onto his chair, looking satisfied.
'Miss Weasley! What is the explanation for this!?' Ginny wasn't sure if he was referring to the potion gone wrong or her sudden outburst.
'What did Malfoy do, Miss. Weasley?' Snape asked, as if reading her mind.
'He…he…was looking at me,' Ginny choked out, her heart beating faster. She shot a look at Draco but he was only smiling devilishly.
'Watching you Miss. Weasley? I would hardly call that an excuse to interrupt my class. Five points from Gryffindor,' Snape snapped.
'But sir!' Ginny began to complain, forgetting herself for a moment.
'Make that 10 points and a detention, Miss Weasley,' Snape gave her the twisted smile he always did that came from the enjoyment of punishing a Gryffindor.
All the students that had been listening scowled at Ginny, or at least the Gryffindor ones. Not that it was any surprise that Snape should take points from Gryffindor for the most ridiculous things. Ginny frowned and muttered to herself, refusing to look at Malfoy for the rest of the class.
As the class thankfully ended, Ginny passed by the Professor's desk and handed over a flask filled with a green liquid, which was as close as she had gotten it to be the proper colour. She sighed with relief as she stepped out of the class, placing her bag onto her back. Malfoy was still inside talking to Snape and didn't have a chance to catch up with her.
'Ginny!' Harry greeted her as the seventh years began to fill the space in front of the Potion's room for their next class.
'Hey Gin!' Harry was shortly followed by Ginny's brother, who was holding hands with Hermione. She gave Ginny a smile. 'Hi,' she said, and they walked into the class together. To Ginny's surprise, Harry was still standing in front of her.
Harry smiled his cute, adorable smile and attempted without much success at taming his jet black hair. Ginny couldn't help the blush that crept onto her cheeks as he bent down to meet her at eye level, his irresistibly emerald green eyes staring deeply into hers.
'Umm, do you think we could talk later, Ginny?' he asked as he noticed Professor Snape was about to begin his lesson, trying to settle the students. Ginny giggled slightly but kept her cool. 'Of course Harry, I'll see you later in the common room.'
'Great,' Harry smiled at her and then glanced back into the classroom, 'Gotta run, talk to you soon,' and with that he dashed into the classroom, giving Ginny a final wave before the door was closed. Ginny was left with butterflies flying around in her stomach, her cheeks glowing pink and her step a little wobbly.
'I see we're still following the hero boy like an obedient puppy,' Malfoy drawled, his voice cold and cruel as he stepped out of the corner he had been looming in.
Ginny's giggly, stupid, "schoolgirl-with-a-crush" expression disappeared as she heard Draco's comment.
'I don't follow Harry like an obedient puppy!' she retorted, 'he was the one who talked to me!'
'Of course, Harry!' Malfoy did an over the top impression of Ginny and smirked.
Ginny looked at him, with a less than amused gaze, her arms folded over her chest.
'What's the matter Malfoy, jealous?'
Malfoy scoffed.
'Please Weasley, don't make me laugh. Why on earth would I be jealous of good ol' mighty Potty over there?' he raised a brow as he spit out the words.
'Of course you're not jealous,' Ginny remarked in a tone that Draco couldn't tell if was genuine or sarcastic. Ginny began to walk away, stalking down the hallways. Did she expect him to go after her? Draco growled slightly, feeling frustrated and stalked off in the opposite direction of Ginny.
* * *
Later that night as Ginny's roommates headed off towards the Great Hall for dinner, Ginny strode down the flight of steps towards the dungeons, dressed in a pair of muggle jeans and a light blue tank top, her black cloak draped across her shoulders. After all, the dungeons were incredibly cold, especially at night. She refused to wear her uniform when she didn't need to, and she didn't consider detention a uniform wearing occasion. Her long, amber locks were let down, reaching her mid back, and they bounced as she shuffled down the long, cold stone hallways of the dungeon, dimly lit by the torch light.
Ginny had just turned a sharp corner when a tall figure blocked her path.
'Weasl-ugh-Ginny,' the voice snaked around Ginny's ears and she froze, looking at the much taller, slim figure standing in front of her, blocking her path. There was a small awkward silence as Ginny stood there, knowing what to say but unable for some reason to say it. Ginny bit her lip nervously.
The figure finally stretched out its hand to shake Ginny's,
'Blaise Zabini,' she introduced herself with a delicate scoff.
Ginny looked at the tall woman, her dark hair was up in a tight, high ponytail, and she was wearing her robes. Something about the way her lips were twisted made Ginny uneasy.
'I know,' Ginny said, and stared at Blaise's hand a few moments before she hesitantly shook it.
Blaise's violet eyes pierced through the little girl but softened as she felt how intimidated the girl was by her.
'You do, do you?' Blaise asked, a bit surprised. Blaise eyed the girl warily for a moment and tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. A sudden smile playing on her lips, she opened her fine pale lips, lowering them to Ginny's ear to say something; when the sudden clicking sound made by shoes on stone was heard just down the hall. Blaise's eyes narrowed into slits in frustration as she looked down at the youngest Weasley. In what seemed a bit of a rush she said, 'I'll find you later.' She slithered down the hallway, so quickly and elegantly that in seconds, Ginny was left standing alone in the hallway. It had happened so fast that for a moment Ginny thought that none of this had happened, that it had perhaps been a figment of her imagination.
Ginny blinked a couple of times and bit down on her lip once again, and this time she felt it begin to bruise. She really had to stop that habit. "I'll find you later" didn't seem like something good coming from a Slytherin, let alone one she had never talked to. What had just happened, and what did Blaise Zabini want to talk about with her? Ginny shook her head and with newfound worry, tread down the rest of the hall towards the Potions classroom, which she found to be empty. She walked over and slid into one of the desks in the second row and waited for someone to come, fiddling with the loose seams of her robes as she did, new paranoia creeping its way into her head.
It had to be only a minute later did the heavy door swing open and in walked a tall man, wearing expensive black robes with slicked back blonde platinum hair. He walked to where the professor's desk was, and sat down on his chair. Raising his feet onto the desk, he smiled a crooked smile at Ginny, his eyes glinting with amused malice.
'Welcome to detention, Weasley,' Draco Malfoy smirked as he watched Ginny groan and sink back into her chair.
-fin of chapter 3