Life is what happens when you were making other plans--unknown
"You said these stories I read have nothing to do with real life, right, Malfoy?"
Ginny Weasley was ensconced in one of the plush window seats with her short, comfortable frame stretched across the cushions and her back to one of the cool, stone walls. At present, her long, flaming hair was pulled back in her usual plait and tied with a green and red ribbon, in honor the Christmas season. She was holding a thick romance novel in one hand while the other gestured toward the tall, good-looking blond who was leaning against the nearby bookshelves.
"Yeah, that's right, Weasley. I can't believe you still rot your brain with that crap. What do you see in them, anyway?"
He was grinning (smirking, really) while leafing through the latest copy of 'Quidditch Quarterly', the trade paper for Quidditch enthusiasts.
For once, Ginny didn't return his insult. Instead, she stared blankly at the pages in front of her. She wasn't wearing her normal cheerful expression, nor was she smiling mischievously as she often did when in Malfoy's company. Right now she looked pensive. When she didn't answer him after a few moments, Draco folded his paper under his arm and moved next to her.
"All right, brat, spill it. What's wrong?"
"What do you mean? Nothing's wrong," she said, avoiding his eyes.
Snagging the book from her grip, Draco closed it and tossed it onto the seat beside her. Motioning for her to move, he sat near her knees and gave her a glare.
"Listen, brat, you never pass up a chance to argue with me. When I ask what you see in those godawful books, you always have a smart remark. So, when you don't bite my head off for calling them crap, there's something wrong. I just need to figure what it is. Fail another Herbology exam?"
Ginny sighed. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Leaning her chin on her knees, she frowned again.
"Cute trick, brat," Draco commented, reaching out to tug the braid dangling over her shoulder. "You look about ten years old right now. And your face will get stuck if you keep frowning like that."
Ginny didn't reply for a moment, and Draco wondered what could make this normally boisterous girl so quiet. Finally, she lifted her head.
"What's real life to you, Malfoy? I mean, not breaking a girl's neck while telling her you love her, but the other stuff. What's it like for you at home? When you want to do something but your mum and dad can't…crap. Never mind. You can't even answer that one like a normal person."
Draco's eyebrows shot up. They seldom discussed anything 'personal' and he could see landmines all over this particular subject. It sounded very much like Weasley was going to start talking about money. He cleared his throat.
"Hm, well, Weasley, I never claimed to be 'normal'," he stated, sounding unbearably pompous. "I strive to be above the ordinary, and be extraordinary."
The corner of her mouth twitched just the slightest bit, so Draco went on. "Besides, I imagine we have some of the same problems. I want a new broom but my father says I just got one and don't need another. I want a second piece of cake, but Mother says no, I'll get sick. My parents fight, like other people's parents, though probably not about the same things. They argue; Mother throws things. Sometimes I want to just scream at them. What about you?"
Ginny had lifted her head at these shockingly personal revelations. She would never have imagined Malfoy actually admitting that his life wasn't picture perfect. Setting aside her amazement, she said, "Well, Mum doesn't throw things, but she's awfully good with a wooden spoon."
Draco smirked. This was better. Although his parents had never denied him a second anything, they did fight, and some of the fights were bloody awful. And even though he hadn't meant to confide that particular fact to the youngest Weasley, at least she didn't look like a pathetic urchin anymore.
"C'mon, brat," he said bracingly. "What's wrong?"
She clicked her tongue. "It sounds so childish, now," she said hesitantly.
"So what else is new?"
"You're a real git, you know that, don't you?"
"So you always tell me. What's wrong?"
With a roll of her eyes, Ginny finally said, "A real persistent git. It's about the holidays. Mum and Dad are going to visit Charlie, Ron is spending his holidays at some resort with Hermione and her family, but I have to spend mine with George and Fred in London."
Draco shrugged. "And that's bad because why? I mean you're not stuck here, right?"
Eying him narrowly, she demanded, "Have you ever had all of your presents explode in your face? Try eating the inedible mess those two come up with for meals. I'll end up doing all the cooking. And I won't even go into what to expect to come out of my toothpaste tube or deodorant can. It's going to be a nightmare!"
Draco felt a sudden surge of pity and a bit of annoyance with her. It was too bad that she had to spend the holidays with those irritating git brothers of hers, but at least she had family to spend the holidays with. "Well, then, brat, just stay here," he said more harshly than he'd intended. More gently, he added, "I could always use another target for my enchanted snowball fight."
She snorted. "As enticing as your offer is, Malfoy, I'm going to have to pass. Mum and Dad have already decreed that I will help the boys in their shop for the holidays so I can earn some spending money. It just isn't fair!"
Ginny rested her forehead on her knees and was surprised to hear him snarl at her.
"Why don't you grow up, Weasley? Life isn't a book and life isn't fair! Your stupid books have silly little plots that wouldn't happen to a real person in a hundred years. They're not real life. Real life is a mother who cares more for her manicure than her son. Real life is a father who thinks he can buy everything in the world, but won't take his kid to a game unless it's for political gain. Real life is being surrounded by family who couldn't care if you live or die! You think you've got it tough!" Draco edged closer, his face almost nose to nose with Ginny's. "It's not like you're being sent to a leper colony, or something, right? You're going to spend the holidays with brothers who love you. So what if you get an exploding gift or some of those enchanted candies of theirs? At least you know if something happens to you in the middle of the night they'll be there to take care of you. You won't have some freak of nature dropping by any time of day or night to order your brothers to go off some poor slob, right? God, you people make me sick, bleating about how bad you have it, when you've got fucking everything! You know what, Weasley? Go tell someone who cares."
He'd been talking quietly, but almost spitting out the words. Ginny had backed away from him a bit more with every word, until she was now cringing in a corner. He straightened abruptly, his face suddenly blank. Without another word, he stood and left the library.
Ginny bit her lip, hard. If she didn't she'd be bawling like a baby right now. The thing was, she wasn't sure if she would be bawling for herself or for him. Deciding that it didn't matter, Ginny scrubbed at her eyes with her knuckles, and then picked up her book. It took her ten minutes to realize that the damned thing was upside down.