With New Eyes
by Mnemosyne
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
A/N: This story is based on everything I've read so far that I've truly liked. My sources of inspiration are the great authors out there like L.J. Smith, Anne Bishop, Laurel K. Hamilton, etc. Hope you guys enjoy it!
Also, I don't know how this happened – but it's slightly AU (Alternate Universe)
Chapter 1 – The Beginning"I love you Virginia Weasley."
Ginny gazed adoringly at her beloved, her head tilted upward to receive his kiss. A dreamy smile appeared on her lips as she gazed into his warm gray gaze. "Oh, Draco…" she sighed.
THUD! THUD! "Gin! Little Gin-Gin! Wake up!"
Ginny groans and incoherently mumbles underneath her breath. She's been having the same disturbing dream for a couple of nights now. Her only response to the wake-up call is to burrow in further into her pillow.
Two heads popped through the door and turned to each other.
"I say Feorge," said the first one.
"Yes Gred," answered the second one.
"I dunna think she wants to wake up!"
A wicked smile bloomed in Feorge's face. "I guess we'll have to make her Gred," Feorge replied.
With a pop, both heads disappeared and two stocky identical red-heads appeared in Ginny's room. Fred and George exaggeratedly tiptoed to Ginny's bedside. With each twin on each side, they had a countdown. 1, 2, 3…
"Don't even think about it!" A very grouchy Ginny appeared from underneath a large comforter and fluffy pillows.
Fred grinned. "I knew that would wake you up," he said knowingly.
Looking at Ginny's sleepy, but irritated expression, George's face softened and he said teasingly, "Don't worry Gin-Gin. We woke ya up to tell ya that we're goin' to Diagon Alley today. New robes you know."
Ginny looked questioningly at George and asked, "Just you two?"
"Nope! Everybody's going. Well, 'cept for you and Ronniekins," Fred snickered.
"You're going later when Harry and Hermione arrive," George clarified.
"Go back to sleep Gin-Gin. We can't have our favorite little sister lose her beauty sleep!"
With a wink and a cheerful twist of their wands Fred and George popped out of her room. Ginny shook her head in mild disgust – ever since they learned to apparate and disapparate, they were insufferable. "I'm your only sister," she muttered a bit too late. She sighed and got up ready to face the day.
"I'm a sex pixie!" sang Ginny Weasley shaking her hips to some unknown tune, while a box of Cheerios served as her tambourine (an obvious influence of Harry's combined with Mr. Weasley's fondness for muggle inventions). She grinned. Breakfast is served.
"No you're not – you're only eleven," a dry and irritated voice interrupted, "And for Merlin's sake Gin – put some clothes on!"
Ginny whirled around in surprise as her brows furrowed in displeasure. "These are clothes Ron!" she exclaimed. She looked down perplexed at the large T-shirt she used for sleeping. Ginny didn't think it was inappropriate at all – it covered all the important parts. She opened her mouth to retort, but a loud knock interrupted her. Both Ron and Ginny looked at the back kitchen door with varying expressions of dismay and delight.
"Draco!" screamed Ginny gleefully. She flew to open the latch, but Ron intercepted. "Get some clothes on," he growled. Ginny pouted, but obediently stomped up to her room to put on what Ron defined 'appropriate clothing.' Downstairs she could hear the murmurs of Ron's less-than-happy welcome and Draco's politely frosty replies.
"Honestly!" Ginny muttered as she viciously stuck her head through her shirt, "Draco's been my best friend for years. He doesn't think of me like that." She hung her head morosely. 'If he only saw me as a girl…' Ginny gave a huge sigh and walked to her mirror to comb through her hair. Draco Malfoy has been the love of her life – well, she was sure he'd come to his senses soon and realize it. Their unlikely friendship was born from the very first day in Toots for Tots or Totty for short. Totty was the place to be for the younger wizards; in a way, it can be likened to a smaller Hogwarts that served smaller and younger future students of the illustrious school of wizardry. Ron never went to Totty's because at six, he was considered "grown-up." Ginny gave her reflection a grin as her mind walked the path of memory lane.
Two unhappy little five-year-olds were deposited in Totty, by their respective mothers. In class, Draco was being a usual git and became the immediate leader of the other little boys. Little Draco delighted in calling other little girls names and seeing them cry. To use his logic, it was what they deserved for having cooties.
Later that afternoon, he sighted his target – little Ginny Weasley. Ginny was playing peacefully with a never-ending enchanted root puzzle. Trying to find the end of the root was a challenging feat that occupied her mind for hours.
Draco cockily sauntered over to her and loudly called her a "carrot-headed weasel." All the other little boys started laughing uproariously. Pointing their fingers, they dutifully copied their leader singing, "Carrot-headed weasel…carrot-headed weasel." Ginny looked up from her puzzle, her face red as she screamed, "You take that back!" As the taunting continued, a red-faced Ginny faced a smug Draco. "You take that back!" SMACK! CRACK! Ginny's declaration had been accompanied by a slap and a slam of her puzzle on Draco's unsuspecting head.
The caretaker was horrified and magically chained them together so that they may learn to get along. Varying degrees of anger, shock, and finally acceptance came and went on Draco's face. Finally, he smiled, offered his hand and said, "Want to be friends?"
That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Ginny shook her head as she returned to reality. She stared blankly at the mirror for a moment before smacking her head. How could she forget what day today was! She gave her short red curls one run through and ran out of her room in a hurry. Ginny zoomed through the kitchen, grabbed her broom, grasped Draco's hand, and pulled him through the back door.
"Bye Ron! Quidditch match," yelled Ginny. Ron shook his head as he looked through the window and saw the diminishing figures of his little sister and that git, Malfoy. Try as he might, Ron could not help but dislike the slimy Slytherine. Everyone else did – only Ginny, his oblivious sister, doesn't seem to realize how much of a prat Malfoy was. He knew things about Malfoy. Everybody knew that his father was a devoted follower of Voldemort. Their friendship was fine and all when they were just kids, but times are changing and people change. Every time he tries to inform Ginny of this fact, she would just role her eyes and say, "Honestly Ron!" Ginny doesn't notice because she's just a kid, but mum and dad have been keeping tabs on her and Malfoy.
They were headed towards meadow, they've christened their quidditch field. They, being our beloved duo and the members of their team. Ginny chattered aimlessly all the while gazing surreptitiously underneath her lashes at the boy beside her. Gone was the pasty-faced kid of the past. If at all possible, Malfoy's hair turned to an even whiter blond and free strands of it floated gently in the breeze. Ginny paused to take a big breath lest she die from lack of oxygen and her best friend's mouth slowly turned up at the corners. She spotted the slight upturn of the thin masculine lips and smiled. She talked even louder and more gregariously. To an onlooker, they made an odd pair. The tiny red-headed pixie walking quickly, was fire to Draco's icy good looks and more languid gait. Even their personalities seemed mismatched. Ginny's more outgoing nature and sense of fun forces her to drag Draco along for any adventure that pops into her head. Outwardly she is the dominant of the pair, but it is Draco who holds her in place. One disapproving look and Ginny positively wilts at the weight of the critical stare.
A loud whoop came from the field and held the pair's attention. An answering whoop and war cry came from Ginny's lips as she ran to Colin Creevey – her second best friend, next to Draco, of course. Draco just kept silent but the light of battle was in his eyes. It was him versus Ginny on the field.
Ginny gave a sigh of satisfaction. Draco and Ginny forever…
To be continued…
Well? What do you think? Please please please review. This is my first fic and I want to know what you guys think. Does Ginny seem too young to be in love with Draco? I tried to portray how she's just a kid, but even then she knew what she wanted. I know some people may have questions as to Draco's age and to answer, yes, he is the same age as Ron. I'll be happy to get just one or two reviews. Whoever reviews this story, just so you know in advance – I LOVE YOU!