Title: Another Sunny Day
Author: Straw_berry
Rating: PG13
A/N: Merry Christmas!!! Today is Christmas Day here in our country, and even though I know by the time I post this it may be New Year or so, I'd still like to greet everyone a Merry Christmas! Sorry, because I haven't updated for a long time, 1.) I didn't have a plot for this chappie yet, 2.) My parents banned me from using the computer, because I had to clean my room, 3.) We had to go to midnight mass, and I was too tired to write. ^-^ Anyways, Read, Review and Enjoy!
Santa: Ho, Ho, Ho! Pops in via fireplace into the invisible floor of the Prefects
Ginny: Yey! Santa's here, Santa's here! hops around the room
Draco: Childish fool…
Santa: Here, a gift for Ginny—
Ginny: Thanks!!!
Santa: —a gift for Hannah—
Hannah: Thanks, Santa!
Santa: —a gift for Terry—
Terry: Thanks, old man!
Santa: —and, a gift for—
Draco: leans forward expectantly
Santa: —Straw_berry!
Straw_berry: Thanks a million!
Draco: What about me?!? stomps his foot
Santa: Oh-h-h! Yes! Here, Mr. Malfoy, a lump of coal! hands the lump of coal to Draco
Draco: Do you honestly think that we Malfoys accept lumps of coal for their presents? Indignation…
Santa: We-ll, your record doesn't seem too good…dueling others in the halls…playing endless tricks on Mr. Potter…and…being a pervert!
Ginny: looks horror-ingly at Draco
Hannah: looks disbelievingly at Draco
Ginny: You're a pervie?!
Hannah: Ginny, let's go! It's dangerous for innocent girls like us to be in the company of a Pervert!
Terry: Good going man! Welcome to the club!
Straw_berry: How could you!?! looks sternly at Draco
Draco: Crimson with shame
And a one…and a two…and a three!
Chapter 3 "A Fresh Start"
Ginny was now sitting in the Great Hall, with the rest of the Gryffindor House. Harry and Ron were busy discussing the upcoming Quidditch tryouts [A/N: Harry is still seeker, and Ron took over Oliver's position.], Hermione was occupied with trying to decipher a Rune in her book, Neville was busy finding his toad underneath the pile of freshly baked bread and the others were busy eating their breakfast.
"So, Harry, when will we hold the tryouts?" Ron asked Harry.
"I dunno. Probably next week. One Chaser position is empty, and we need new beaters too. Seamus told me he meant to try out for beater this year, after little John told him he was going to quit. "
"And little James goes wherever little John goes, which means were left with none, huh?"
"Yup. They're stuck together like the two headed Banshee."
"What could you expect, they're twins!"
"Anyhow, any nominees who've brave souls? The Slytherin beaters were pretty harsh last year. That ferret-head picked the meanest among their lot."
"Seamus is pretty tough. Why don't we try…" Ron's eyes scanned the table for a moment, "…Ginny!"
Ginny looked up at the mention of her name. "What?"
"She's too weak to be a beater." Said Harry, shaking his head.
"Not as a beater, lum-dum, as a Chaser. She runs faster than a stag! You should see her!"
"Running is not a part of Quidditch."
"So?"
"I haven't seen her ride a broom yet!"
"Who says I can't ride a broom?" asked Ginny.
Harry turned red.
"Fine. I'll be there at the tryouts." She stood and went out of the hall.
"Oh-boy, now you've done it Harry."
~^-^~
Draco Malfoy sat on the stairs near the Prefects floor. This was his favorite spot to think, no students ever came, and if they did, he could be mistaken doing his Prefect duties. He decided to skip his breakfast today; no one would miss him, anyway. He was thinking about his dream, about Cassandra.
"Who is that person? Why would he kill her? She's innocent…" He wondered out loud.
Suddenly, he felt a pain in his leg (He was sitting with his legs straight before him…) and heard something fall to the ground. He quickly stood up and looked around. He saw nothing. He looked down at the ground. There was a figure there, slumped down. He knelt down and turned the figure over. What he saw surprised him.
"Ginny?!"
Ginny's eyes were red, her nose was red, and her cheeks were red with shame and shock. [A/N: "Houston, we have a red alert! We're seeing all red!"]
"What happened?" He asked.
Ginny started to sob once more.
Draco held her close. He could feel her body shaking, and he could feel sadness in her aura.
"Come on, I won't eat you alive you know."
"H-h-ha-Harry, h-h-he th-th-thinks I c-c-can't FLY! A-a-a-and Ron n-n-nominated m-m-me t-t-to b-b-e t-the CHASER! A-a-and what H-h-h-Ha-Harry s-said m-m-made m-m-me s-so m-m-mad that I told them I'd try OUT!" She sobbed out.
"So? What's the problem?"
"I'm a good Chaser, Fred and George trained me last summer, and they said I was good, but only when I don't get scared of heights." She said, much more audible now that she had quieted down.
"Then don't try out."
"I cannot not try out! I already told them I would, and I don't make a habit of breaking my word!"
"So?"
"I need someone to help me!" she said, quite exasperated.
"I'll help you."
Ginny looked up at him. "You would?"
"Sure. After all, prefects have to help each other."
Ginny smiled at him. "Thanks!"
"You're welcome. Now we'd better get to our classes, unless of course, you want to do something else…" he said, looking at her position.
She was (after Draco comforted her) seated sideways on his lap, one hand on his chest, and the other, on her lap.
Ginny blushed and stood up. "Well, what class has you today?"
"Me? Oh, Potions." He replied.
"Me too!"
"Let's go then, Snape might get a bit shirty if we're late."
"Sure."
~^-^~
Ginny arrived at Potions class out of breath. She and Draco had been running, trying to avoid the Professor's wrath. She plopped down her seat and gasped for air. She looked at Draco and flashed him a small grin. He grinned at her too.
"Ms. Weasley, please explain why you were five minutes late for my class." Said Professor Snape.
Ginny stood up, suddenly nervous. She knew that the greasy-haired Potions teacher could be exceptionally nasty, especially when it comes to being punctual in his class.
"I…"
"We were called to a meeting by Professor Dumbledore, sir." Draco said, standing up.
The Professor looked into the younger man's eyes, searching for any feasible signs of lies. He found none, however, and he had to believe him.
"Who can confirm his statement?"
"I can, sir." Hermione said, also standing up. "I had a stomachache, which is why I did not attend."
"I see. You are excused for now, Ms. Weasley. I do hope that you will take what fortune has been granted to you by the Headmaster seriously."
"Yes, Professor."
"Sit down, you three. Now who can tell me where to find the Green Horned Tadpole and its uses?"
Hermione's hand shot up like a cannon, and to everyone's surprise, so did Harry Potter.
"Yes, Ms. Granger?"
"The Green Horned Tadpole is normally found in clean waters, usually near mountains. Its horns have many uses, both for decoration and medicinal purposes…"
As Hermione told the Professor all she knew about the Tadpoles, Ginny looked over at Draco and tried to send him a silent message. To her surprise, Draco turned around and smiled at her, as if receiving her message. She mouthed the words: 'Thank You'. He just smiled and nodded his head in recognition. Ginny turned her head around and listened to the lesson, happy.
~^-^~
Hermione Granger was walking down the hall, minding her own business. She was thinking of the homework that Professor Snape gave them—make a list of the Hundred and One uses of Frog Spawns—(to which, at the mention of it, Neville Longbottom turned a very vivid shade of Green)—and Ginny. She was sure that there was no meeting called by the Professor for the Prefects, she was to be informed if there was any. She wasn't surprised that Draco Malfoy set up an alibi for Ginny. He was one of her best friends (although in secret), she knew him well enough, and she also knew that he was a man of many faces. His acting couldn't fool the Headmaster, but most of her schoolmates were fooled.
Ginny must've been in trouble, and Draco was there at the scene of the crime. That was why they were late, and that was why Draco gave an alibi. Yes, that must be the reason. Her logical mind told her. She just didn't know how close to truth she was.
She had almost reached the classroom when a hand caught her arm. She swiveled quickly to face her aggressor, but the arm that held her was too strong.
"Thanks for backing up my alibi, Little Mio."
"Welcome, Dragonis. What happened? Why were you and Ginny late? You haven't done anything bad to her, or have you?" her eyes narrowed at the last sentence.
"Nope. She had a problem with Potter Arse-head. Something about Quidditch."
"Quit the name-calling, will you?"
"As if they don't call me names every possible chance they get."
Hermione was silent at that comment.
"Anyhow, little Mio, you're going to be late for your class. See you later." And with that, her 'aggressor' had gone.
Hermione shook her head and sighed.
He may be cold and stone-hearted, but he's a good person.
~^-^~
Ginny entered the common room, a smile plastered on her face, her arms swinging happily.
"Why, the missy is happier than a buckin' bronco!" Terry commented.
"Shut your trap, Terry, you don't make any sense at all!" said Hannah, who was seated across him.
"Why ain't the two horsies happy at their corral." Ginny remarked, copying Terry's western accent, plopping onto the comfy chair next to Hannah's.
"I'm so ecstatic." Hannah said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "That horrid old Professor gave me TEN rolls of Parchment as punishment! 'Young miss, unless thou shalt learn to respecth thy elders, you will, in, constant, get punishmenth from me everyday!' Professor Binns is so horrible!"
"Can't exactly agree with you, the good ghost gave me only one roll! Great imitation though." Commented Draco, who had just popped in from outside.
"Ah, balderdash! You're the teacher's pet anyway." Replied Hannah.
"It's really hard you know. Perfect attendance, Perfect everything…"
"Shoudn't that be for Potter?" cut in Terry.
"Hah. Potter isn't exactly a saint you know. He dated Susan Bones for a spell, and she said that his entire mind focused on was 'good show'. He kept on telling her to 'behave in public' and 'act like a very sociable lady'. They didn't last long." Said Hannah.
"Really? Potter's version of it was that Hannah was too controlling." Terry said, "Hey, Ginny, is it true that the Gryffindor tryouts are next week?"
"Yeah. I'm planning to try out, actually."
"Really? For what position?" asked Hannah.
"Chaser."
"Cool! I'm planning to try out for Keeper. Want to practice?" said Terry.
"Sorry mate, she already is signed up with me." Draco said.
"Aw, c'mon! I'll leave you two alone in the tower afterwards anyway!"
"What did you say!?!" Ginny said.
"Oh, nothing!"
"Get this! And that!" said Ginny, hitting him with a pillow.
"Pillow fight!!!" Hannah screamed, and joined in. She hit Draco in the face, causing his face to contort in fake anger. He took a pillow and started whacking her.
Soon, Feathers were flying everywhere. It was eleven in the evening when they finished, all of them exhausted. One by one, they returned to their rooms. When Draco turned to go to his room, Ginny grabbed his arm, turned him around and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"Thanks, for a while ago, I mean." She said, her face flushed.
"No problem. By the way, do I get a kiss every time I help you?" he said.
She laughed. "You wish! Good Night, Mr. Malfoy!"
"Good Night, Ms. Weasley!"
A/N: It's Friday, January 03, 2003!!! I can't believe it! It's already 2003! I'm a year older! Sorry for the short chappie, I promise to make it up to you next time!
Disclaimer: I own my name, my fingers, my email, my story, my chair, my sweat, my computer, C.R.E.A.M., the feathers used in the story…the Corn Frosties I'm eating right now. :)
Special Thanks To:
1. RebukyàThanks! You just made me Happy!
2. TuldsdavampslayeràGreen eyes and Red hair match! ^-^
3. InsaneMonkeyOàYour wish is my command! (It might take time to make more though!)
4. AnjellineàThanks! It's not so interesting this chapter though…
5. Pseudonym SymphulseàI'm planning to make Alinor their mother's maiden name. Thanks!
6. Rubyà^-^ Thanks!
7. Lovely AtchieàOf course!
