It is always the best policy to speak the truth--unless, of course, you are an exceptionally good liar—Jerome K. Jerome
Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies—Ralph Waldo Emerson
I would have told the truth, but lying was funnier—Kelly Felix (aka Davesmom)
Ginny glanced up from the book she was reading, a look of resignation on her face. He'd found her. Damn, she thought. She'd hoped she'd lost him on the stairs. Sighing, Ginny closed her book and laid it aside. Then she watched her older brother stomping toward her.
"I wasn't through, yet," he said without preamble. Taking up the conversation (no, it had been a rant, not a conversation, Ginny informed herself. Conversations took two people and Ron hadn't let her get a word in edgewise.) Ron shook his finger at her.
"I've had at least a dozen people ask me what my sister means by going out with that scum Malfoy. I won't put up with it, Gin! You know what him and his lot are. You just tell him to bugger off! Got it?"
Ginny's patience had been stretched to the utmost. It wasn't enough that Ron had just spoiled her evening meal, but now he had to follow her into her sanctuary. She came to the library to be away from the usual crowd of people she had to see every day in the common room. Not only that, but the great git was actually trying to dictate to her whom she could spend her time with! She would not tolerate it!
"If I tell anyone to bugger off, Ron, it'll be you! How dare you try to tell me who I can talk to! Just who the hell do you think you are?"
Ginny was angry, yes, but she was also tired of having people ask her about Malfoy. Ever since she and Malfoy had begun talking again after the holidays, people seemed to have noticed. Ginny had initially blamed that jealous cat Pansy Parkinson, but it seemed that everyone was talking about it. Everyone seemed to think that he or she had a right to question Ginny about it, and everyone seemed to think there was more going on than there really was. She did like Malfoy, even though she knew what a rotten ass he was to most people. He treated her well, and the fact was that they were friends.
"What do you mean, who do I think I am?" Ron snapped. "I'm your brother! I'm supposed to protect you! And that means keeping scum like Malfoy away from you!"
Ginny bit back the automatic response that he hadn't done a very good job protecting her in her first year or even keeping the dementors from nearly sapping her on the train in her second year. Instead, she changed tactics.
"Just how do you know its Malfoy you need to be worried about, Ron? Did it ever occur to you that I might be the one making moves on him? Maybe it's Malfoy who needs your protection, because I sure the hell don't!"
Ron gaped at her for a few seconds, apparently unable accept this as a possibility. Before he could frame some sort of reply, Ginny saw a familiar and very welcome figure move behind him.
"This prat bothering you, brat?" Draco said smoothly. "Can I help?"
Ginny smiled, a sly, mischievous glint in her eye. "My brother seems to be under the impression that you're bothering me, Malfoy. I was just telling him that you were an innocent victim, and I'm the one with evil designs on your pure, pristine person. Isn't that right?"
Draco's eyebrows lifted as he flashed her a grin. He then faced the spluttering, indignant older brother. "She's absolutely right, Weasley," he said. "I've told her again and again that I only want to be friends, but she continues to assault my virtue. Well, I'm tired of fighting, so I've decided to give in to her lustful demands."
Reaching for Ginny's hand, Draco drew her from the seat. "Very well, brat," he intoned gravely. "Take me, I'm yours!"
Ginny was giggling helplessly as Draco pushed himself into her arms and laid his head on her shoulder. "Please be gentle with me, darling. It's my first time," he implored, a wistful, pleading expression on his face, before falling into a play faint against her.
Ron looked on, speechless, his eyes as wide as saucers.
"No!" he uttered. "This cannot be happening! Oh, lord! Mum's gonna have kittens! Ginny…"
He broke off as he watched Ginny and Draco collapse onto the window seat, both laughing hysterically and hugging the other to keep from falling. Draco was able to stop laughing just long enough to tell Ron to bugger off before cracking up again.
Ron seemed unsure whether to try to tear Draco apart or drag Ginny back to Gryffindor. He dithered for a moment before grasping his head between his hands.
"Headache, Ron?" Ginny asked in false concern before dissolving into another peal of laughter. "Maybe Madame Pince can help. Here she comes," Ginny added between giggles. Ron scowled blackly, but backed off.
"This isn't over yet," he said. He seemed to know that he wouldn't get a sensible response from either of them at the moment so he stormed off.
Madame Pince watched the flustered teen stalk by as she hurried to see what the commotion was. Ginny and Draco immediately pulled themselves together, only emitting the occasional odd hiccough while the librarian told them off for causing such a disturbance. When she finally left them, they glanced at one another and almost went off again.
When they could finally face each other without howling with laughter, Draco gave the girl a wicked grin. "Evil designs on my 'pure, pristine person'? Weasley, you are so evilly brilliant. That was so much better than what we did to Pansy. I feel I'm in the presence of a master!"
She couldn't help laughing. "I thought that was rather good, myself," she admitted. "And, as to masters, I must say, Malfoy, I did learn from the best, didn't I?"
Looking unutterably smug, Draco nodded. "That you did." Motioning to her book bag, he added, "Now, brat, let's see if you can 'master' your Herbology homework."