Ginny looked up slowly, dreading the face that went with that cold voice.
"Hello Malfoy," she said with as much control as possible. She really
wanted to strangle someone right now, anyone. Malfoy seemed the perfect
victim.
"Well, if it isn't little miss weasel in a temper. Tut tut..." His cold gray eyes glinted with malice. "You even broke off your date with Potter... Remind me never to come your sight while you are angry."
If only she could get her hands to his throat...
"What made you dump perfect Potter? The celebrity life not for you? You were sick for him a few years ago..." The Malfoy sneer had appeared.
"Was, Malfoy, is past tense. It isn't like he is going to care anyways. He is too concerned with the other two members of the terrific trio. And then Ron the pig, he always acts like he has it the worst of the family," she coldly began imitating Ron," 'No one ever listens to me. I have so much to live up to. I'll never be known for anything.' It makes me sick. He is best friends with he famous Harry Potter. He gets the attention he wants with the friendship. I can be talking about... who knows what and they won't even look up. And today, Harry comes and asks me to the ball like it was so difficult for him to do. I bet it never crossed his mind that I might refuse. I doubt he would care anyways. He only asked me because Cho's gone and Hermione is going with... I don't even remember anymore. I was his last choice because he knew I wouldn't refuse. And when he asked me I didn't, but now I have decided I don't want to go with Harry. I want to go with..." she stopped. Her life as she knew it would have ended horribly if she had finished that statement. She was silent.
Draco chuckled slightly, as if her mini-tantrum had been a comedy act. "Come Little Flame before you burn down the lovely grounds. It would be much more convient for you to burn down the school. Besides, it is time for that detention." He turned and began walking up to the school
Ginny checked her watch, then rushed to catch up with Malfoy. They walked in silence for a little while, then Draco spoke. "You said you wanted to go with someone to the ball." Ginny's heart raced and she felt her face grow warmer. "I did..." she said slowly.'Is there any way he could weasle it out of me?' She subconsciously shook herself. 'What am I thinking? I don't want to go to the ball with Draco Malfoy. Ron, Harry, Hermione, Dad, everyone. They would have a cow!' "Well, spit it out, Weasley. Who?" Ginny bit her tongue. 'Well, serves them right, always ignoring me and not paying attention. At least they'll notice me.' "No one. Come on, we're gonna be late and Filch'll strangle us." She walked faster, hurrying to the Trophy Room.
::Flash forward to the detention::
Ginny scrubbed the trophy viciously with the rag while Filch looked around. They had just arrived a matter of minutes ago and were already cleaning. Fich grumbled something about patrolling the halls then walked out, his cat at his heels. Ginny glared at his retreating back. Why did she have to get detention? The 'Trio' never got detention and they were out late all the time. She could always tell how late they had been out by how tired they looked at breakfast the next morning. But they never got caught.
A cold damp thing hitting her back made her jealous thoughts retreat. Spinning around, she saw Malfoy looking innocently at a trophy, his rag no where in sight.
"Malfoy," Ginny hissed from across the room, "I thought we were mature enough not to throw things at people. Apparently I was wrong."
"I did nothing," he replied calmly.
"Sure," Ginny said sarcastically.
"I didn't!"
An ink bottle fell out of the ceiling and smashed on the floor.
"Now the ikkle couple gets to clean up inky mess," Peeves said, appearing right over the puddle of ink. He zoomed towards Ginny and snatched her rag out of her hands. Smiling, he threw it at Draco's head and then zoomed out of the room.
Ginny crawled over the the inky mess, quickly looked around for Filch or the peering eyes of Mrs. Norris, whipped out her wand and muttered, "Scourgify." She pocketed her wand and scooted back to her trophy. "Tsk Tsk, Weasley. Flich specifically said no magic." Ginny glanced over at him and smiled mischevisouly. "Then you'll be needing this," she flung his soapy rag at him and whacked him in his face. "And don't call me Weasley, Malfoy" she said coolly, as he peeled the wet rag off of his face. "My name is Ginny." "Then don't call me Malfoy, Ginny. My name is Draco." He sneered at her before turning back to his trophy.
They worked in silence for a few minutes, then in wheezed Filch, Mrs. Norris close behind. He bent over Ginny's shoulder to inspect her trophy. He grunted, and turned to look at Draco's. He left as quickly as he came, saying nothing save for a few grunts and some sweet nothings to his cat. "So, who is the lucky lady who has the honor of being your partner at the Christmas Ball?" Ginny wrung out a rag into a bucket, trying not to sound anxious. ('Anxious?! I am not anxious!! I'm just curious...') Draco scrubbed an award to Daren Thimble (before answering. "No one, yet." He said in his cool, silky drawl. "Surely you've gotten countless offers," Ginny said, trying very hard to make her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I guess." He ticked them off his fingers as he named them. "Susan Bones; told her I would never be seen with a Ravenclaw. I think she ran off to cry in the W.C. Millicent Bulstrode; out of the question. She's built like an ox. Blaise Zabini; she pretty enough, but she's got no brains, an absolute airhead. There were some others, I forget. Oh, and Pansy Parkinson. The pig, honestly I don't get how she had the nerve to even ask me. The slime." Ginny nodded and concentrated on her rag as she asked him the next question. "So, you've got your eye on anyone?" He turned to face her, and she arranged a look of uninterested conversation before she turned to meet his gaze. "Now if you tell me who you want to take, I'll tell you. You first." Ginny felt the blush creep up her neck and twirled around, furious. Draco chuckled slightly and said softly, "I thought not."
Ginny turned her reddened face back to the trophy. She did not want to go to the ball with a git like Malfoy. She only wanted to go with the dangerous boy who would shock everyone. Going with the most handsome boy in the school would be an added bonus. Plus, he was a Malfoy, and her whole family had hated his family for centuries. It was the obvious way to get people to notice her. And this was Draco Malfoy, she was talking about. The Draco Malfoy. One third of the school hated him, one third envied him, and the rest loved him.
Snap out of it Ginny, she told her reflection. It would be embarrassing for her family and down right scandalous of she went with him. And there was the fact that someone like him would never, never go with a poor girl with no beauty to speak of and a muggle loving family. "It's impossible," she said quietly.
"What's impossible?"
Ginny's eyes popped. Why did she say that out loud? "Nothing," she said quickly and twisted her rag around.
"Oh come on, you know you're bursting to say you want to go with me." Ginny turned a raised eyebrow and saw a smirked face.
"Yes. That's it. I'm dying to go with you. Now shut up and clean." Ginny scrubbed the next trophy and inched her eyes over to see if Draco actually took that seriously. All she saw was the back of his blonde head and a raised wand. "Mr. Malfoy, what do you think you are doing? Filch specifically said no magic." Suddenly the trophies were sparkling clean. "What he doesn't know won't hurt him." The two students rose and started to leave the trophy room.
"Well, Miss Weasley," Draco said, drawing every word out, "as for your urge to dance with me at the ball, I'm afraid it's out of the question." Ginny rolled her eyes and said to herself, "Like I said, impossible."
"Really?"
Ginny's eyes popped open and she flushed. Why do I have to say things out loud? Why?!!?
"Well, Goodnight."
Ginny stood still, not looking up from a spot on the floor until Draco's footsteps were far, far away. She nearly ran to the common room. Why didn't she confess all her feelings and get it over with? She said the password irritably and the portrait swung open to a very full common room. She pushed and shoved her way through and was almost to the dorm stairs when three figures stepped out in front of her.
"Ginny? We, um.. wanted to talk with you." Hermione looked anxiously at her and Ginny glared at her, Ron, and Harry.
"Ron? Did you relay the message that I am not on speaking terms with any of you? No leave me alone as I try to get some sleep and forget about the awful detention I just had."
Ginny closed the dormitory door and fell onto her bed. She would sleep well, wake up energetic and awake, and ready for a week of school. She will not be confronted by the Dream Team and Draco would not remember their encounter. She could only hope.
Ginny sank under the warm covers gratefully. At least there none could laugh at her. She had actually told Draco how she felt. What a Stupid, stupid girl she was. She was positive that next time Draco saw her, he and the rest of his Slytherin friends would collapse in fits of laughter. She, a Gryffindor Wealsey, wanted to go to the Ball with Draco Malfoy, the rich, snobbish, Slytherin. But she had told him her feelings truthfully. She did only want to go to the ball with him because of the attention it would give her. But she had conviently left out how her stomach had flipped when he said her name. It wasn't her fault that the name "Ginny' sounded wonderful when he said it. Sighing, she rolled over, dreading dawn.
Morning came all too quickly. Ginny slowly sat up and got dressed. She peered out the door to check the common room. Clear; no Harry, Ron, or Hermione in sight. She rushed out of there before one could show up. She sat alone at breakfast, scanning the tables. There he was. Draco was sitting between Crabbe and Goyle. He looked utterly bored. But then again, didn't he always? Ginny tried to catch his eye, but whenever he would turn in her general direction, she quickly looked somewhere else. She eventually rose from the table and started to her first period, Charms. "I can't believe the nerve of her," she heard Harry say. He and Ron were walking down the corridor and, of course, didn't notice Ginny. She jumped behind a tapestry as they continued their conversation. "Really mate. Something's messed with her head. You know, she was in detention with Malfoy that whole time...You never know." Harry snarled at Ron's comment. "Wouldn't put it past the scum. Bewitching your sister." Ginny practically boiled and she jumped from behind the tapestry.
Unfortunately, her mouth made no sound as she tried to yell at their retreating backs. Would it really matter anyways? They could think what they wanted as long as they didn't act on those thoughts. She clenched her fists angrily and stormed the opposite direction. She had no clue where she was going, but she was desperate to put as much space as possible between her and Harry and Ron. "Why do they always feel that they have to look after me?" she muttered, blindly turning a random corner. "Ever since that whole Tom Riddle inncident, they have been wondering about my 'sanity' or whatever yet have not even noticed me enough to say hi." She paused, trying to think over how that was logical. "Oh well. Who needs logic in this kind of mess?" Her voice echoed through the presumably empty hallway.
Ginny didn't see Draco that day nor the rest of the week, unless one might count passing in hallways and glancing in the Great Hall. Before Ginny could turn around, it was the end of the week.
The rain drummed dolefully on the large windows, lighting illuminating the dark landscape at random intervals followed by the low rumble of thunder. The weather was changing quickly. Soon, some predicted even by the end of next week, there would be a thick blanked of white show covering Hogwarts. Ginny drug herself out of bed and shrugged on one of her thick dressing robes. She knew exactly what day it was. It was the day of the ball. She was dreading it. The ball would be a boring...thing for couples to be together before the holidays. It was stupid. Ginny was planning on staying in the library or just staying in the common room. She sighed as she pulled off that warm robe and her nightgown, doning her tattered school uniform. After she quickly ran a brush through her horribly tangled hair, she walked down the stairs to the common room.
Ginny went to the common room and saw the 'Terrific Trio' sitting in their usual spots around the fire. She felt their eyes on the back of her head, and she debated whether or not to turn around. She decided not to, and left quickly before they could call her back. She walked quickly down to the dining hall to have breakfast. She sat alone, observing everyone as she quietly munched her food. Almost unconsciously, her eyes drifted toward the Slytherin table. Malfoy was talking to some of the more popular Slytherins around him, obviously making a joke. They were all laughing their heads off. Ginny frowned. She hadn't even said so much of as a "Good Morning" to Draco, let alone talk to him. 'Was he going to the ball? With who? Am I obsessing over him?' Ginny rubbed her temples as if thinking about him gave her a headache. "I do not like Draco Malfoy, I do not like Draco Malfoy," she chanted under her breath until someone interrupted her. "Erm.. Ginny? May I sit here?" Hermione's voice sounded concerned. Ginny didn't answer. Hermione slid into the seat next to her and put food on her plate as she talked. "I know we haven't been talking to you lately and you must feel left out, but we think it's really unfair that you take out your anger on us. We've been really busy with our homework and you can't expect us to be able to spend every waking moment with you."
Ginny refused to answer, but she thought to herself, 'Every waking moment? That would be h3 (double hockey sticks).'
Hermione pushed her food around her plate, and began talking. Again.
"But we want you to know that were really worried about you. You've been acting so queer (OOC: be mature, people) and," she snorted, "Ron and Harry seem to think you've been put under the Imperious Curse by Malfoy. During your detention. Seriously, those two jump to conclusions. But," she glanced slyly towards Ginny. "What did go on?"
Ginny sipped her porridge, dabbed her face, turned toward Hermione and said in the most polite way possible, "None of your d*** business." She then stood up and walked away slowly.
She heard Hermione make some noise of.. something behind her but didn't stop. She was so tired of them. All of them. Including Draco. It scared her to realize how much she wanted to know who he was going to the ball with. "Probably that Parkinson character." she muttered. She didn't know why a guy like him would go with a pig like Pansy. Stop it Ginny, she told herself as she walked, You just want the danger of the forbidden. If everyone said Harry was off limits to you, you would want to go with him too. But that wasn't true. There was something different about Malfoy that Harry, the little orphan hero, could never possess. It was that ability to be charmingly unpredictable and utterly repulsive at the same time. Harry, on the other hand, was far too used to being worshipped and fawned over. Draco was different. Because he is off limits..., she told herself fervently. She sighed, imagining waltzing around that beautiful Great Hall with the strong arms of the sneering blonde around her waist. They would dance and dance until the sun rose then set again. Off LIMITS! her mind screamed, as she found herself smiling. She felt like slapping herself. He was going with Pansy or some beautiful and popular doll and there was nothing she could do about it.
Ginny wandered up to the Gryffindor tower and grabbed some homework to do by the fire. She was looking up the ingredients in a Forgetfulness Potion when she heard a small noise behind her. "Um, Ginny?" She winced at the sound of his voice. She knew he was going to ask her to the ball. What excuse will she use this year? She slowly revolved in her chair to face Colin Creevy, his hands behind his back and blushing furiously as he stared at his shoes.
"Erm, I was wondering. Wouldyouliketogototheballwithme?"
Every year the same thing.
"Sorry Colin. But I'm not going to the ball."
"Oh... Okay then."
He scurried off in shame as Ginny faced the fire again. She was just glad Ron wasn't here again. "Why'd you dump him, Gin? He's nice enough!" She muttered under her breath, imitating her brother. "Because she's a stupid git who won't even look me in the face," she answered herself, stabbing her potions essay repeatedly. "Everyone here is a nice, safe, acceptable prat. Why can't anyone be interesting?!" Ginny looked at her pock-marked paper and sighed. Snape would take of points for that. Oh well, she can deal with bad marks.
She finally put away her essay and walked around the common room, looking for anything not completely boring. She saw the terrific trio sitting round a table and decided to listen in of their conversation.
"Well, what'd she say went on during the detention?" Her brother sounded concerned, but Ginny new better. He was only looking for a reason to jinx Draco.
"When I asked her, she said it was none of my..Buisness and walked off." Good, saintly Hermione. Never a swear word would cross her lips.
"Definitely fishy. I say, we somehow get them two together, alone and see what goes on." Harry always came up 'the plan'.
"Yes, but how?"
Ron got excited. "We find where Ginny is then get Malfoy to go there! It's foolproof!"
"Genius, Ron" Ginny whispered. But of course they didn't hear her. She was hiding behind a chair, but she hardly needed to be; they wouldn't even see her.
"Well, then. Let's go scout out Ginny!" Harry and Ron rose quickly from the table.
"But we've so much homework we can't possibly get it done if we leave! What with the ball..."
"Hermione, my sister's in danger! Homework can wait!" Ron was at the portrait hole, Harry already outside of it.
"Oh...oh... alright. For Ginny." She too stepped out of then portrait hole.
"Stupid gits," Ginny said, but followed them out of curiosity.
Ginny followed them silently as they looked for her. After a few hallways, she took a 'shortcut' hall and got in front of them, Walking as if she had been walking to the portrait hole.
"There she is..." Ron whispered to Harry, while he nudged him forward. But it was Hermione who spoke to her.
"Ginny," she said naturally," We were looking all over for you. Could you come to the library to help me with.. erm.." Hermione faltered, but quickly recovered, "Charms. Yes, I have some charms homework I need help on. Harry and Ron don't get it either and I know how good you are at it...."
Stupid aliby.Like The smartest girl in the school would ever need any help with homework...
"Of course, Hermione," Ginny said sweetly. Could be a bit of entertainment...
The two girls walked in silence to the library until Ginny decided to break the ice. "I never knew you to have any trouble with Charms, Hermione. What is it you need help with?" Hermione may be smart, but when it comes to thinking on the spot, she's lacking in talent. "Erm... well.. uh." Hermione walked faster. "I have to... pick a topic. About an essay. And I wanted your opinion. Come on lets hurry."
"What's the rush? It's not like the library's going anywhere." Ginny smiled. How she loved to see people crack under pressure.
"I have to hurry so I can get ready for the ball."
"But its not even lunch yet! Surely you don't need five hours to prepare."
"You never know," Hermione said as she rushed inside the library and lost herself amongst the books. Ginny sat herself at a table and looked out the window. All she had to do was wait until Harry and Ron showed up. She imagined it now. They would be panting, and would rush over to Hermione and speak to her in panicked whispers, not knowing she would be able to overhear every word. She crumpled up a piece of scrap parchment she found and tossed it over her shoulder.
"Now, now Miss Weasley. Is that any way to get rid of your trash?"
Ginny whisked her head around to see Draco standing behind her, the piece of parchment in his hand. In the background, she saw Hermione rush out of the Library to fetch Harry and Ron.
"Fancy seeing you here." Ginny smiled secretly. So the trio's plan would work after all. Not exactly how they planned, but they would be able to spy on her and Draco. He sat down across from her and put his feet on the table.
"So, accepted any offers for the ball yet?" Ginny leaned back in her chair, trying to appear just as confident as him.
"I'm not going," he said in is famous drawl. "Balls really aren't my thing."
"Me neither. I hate dancing. Besides, if I do go, Ron will insist I go with Harry."
Draco placed his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. "Why did you turn down Potter?"
Oh, I hope Hermione's back with Harry and Ron. I would die if they wouldn't be able hear this. "Because he's the most insufferable pig I've ever known! He's always the hero and he always gets the girl. You'd think with someone always trying to kill you, you wouldn't be so d*** arrogant!" She heard a startled gasp from behind her a gave a small smile. So Hermione was back.
Draco smirked and said quietly, "Your fanclub's just arrived."
"Good," Ginny answered and turned around to meet a very angry Ron, Harry and Hermione.
"Well, if it isn't little miss weasel in a temper. Tut tut..." His cold gray eyes glinted with malice. "You even broke off your date with Potter... Remind me never to come your sight while you are angry."
If only she could get her hands to his throat...
"What made you dump perfect Potter? The celebrity life not for you? You were sick for him a few years ago..." The Malfoy sneer had appeared.
"Was, Malfoy, is past tense. It isn't like he is going to care anyways. He is too concerned with the other two members of the terrific trio. And then Ron the pig, he always acts like he has it the worst of the family," she coldly began imitating Ron," 'No one ever listens to me. I have so much to live up to. I'll never be known for anything.' It makes me sick. He is best friends with he famous Harry Potter. He gets the attention he wants with the friendship. I can be talking about... who knows what and they won't even look up. And today, Harry comes and asks me to the ball like it was so difficult for him to do. I bet it never crossed his mind that I might refuse. I doubt he would care anyways. He only asked me because Cho's gone and Hermione is going with... I don't even remember anymore. I was his last choice because he knew I wouldn't refuse. And when he asked me I didn't, but now I have decided I don't want to go with Harry. I want to go with..." she stopped. Her life as she knew it would have ended horribly if she had finished that statement. She was silent.
Draco chuckled slightly, as if her mini-tantrum had been a comedy act. "Come Little Flame before you burn down the lovely grounds. It would be much more convient for you to burn down the school. Besides, it is time for that detention." He turned and began walking up to the school
Ginny checked her watch, then rushed to catch up with Malfoy. They walked in silence for a little while, then Draco spoke. "You said you wanted to go with someone to the ball." Ginny's heart raced and she felt her face grow warmer. "I did..." she said slowly.'Is there any way he could weasle it out of me?' She subconsciously shook herself. 'What am I thinking? I don't want to go to the ball with Draco Malfoy. Ron, Harry, Hermione, Dad, everyone. They would have a cow!' "Well, spit it out, Weasley. Who?" Ginny bit her tongue. 'Well, serves them right, always ignoring me and not paying attention. At least they'll notice me.' "No one. Come on, we're gonna be late and Filch'll strangle us." She walked faster, hurrying to the Trophy Room.
::Flash forward to the detention::
Ginny scrubbed the trophy viciously with the rag while Filch looked around. They had just arrived a matter of minutes ago and were already cleaning. Fich grumbled something about patrolling the halls then walked out, his cat at his heels. Ginny glared at his retreating back. Why did she have to get detention? The 'Trio' never got detention and they were out late all the time. She could always tell how late they had been out by how tired they looked at breakfast the next morning. But they never got caught.
A cold damp thing hitting her back made her jealous thoughts retreat. Spinning around, she saw Malfoy looking innocently at a trophy, his rag no where in sight.
"Malfoy," Ginny hissed from across the room, "I thought we were mature enough not to throw things at people. Apparently I was wrong."
"I did nothing," he replied calmly.
"Sure," Ginny said sarcastically.
"I didn't!"
An ink bottle fell out of the ceiling and smashed on the floor.
"Now the ikkle couple gets to clean up inky mess," Peeves said, appearing right over the puddle of ink. He zoomed towards Ginny and snatched her rag out of her hands. Smiling, he threw it at Draco's head and then zoomed out of the room.
Ginny crawled over the the inky mess, quickly looked around for Filch or the peering eyes of Mrs. Norris, whipped out her wand and muttered, "Scourgify." She pocketed her wand and scooted back to her trophy. "Tsk Tsk, Weasley. Flich specifically said no magic." Ginny glanced over at him and smiled mischevisouly. "Then you'll be needing this," she flung his soapy rag at him and whacked him in his face. "And don't call me Weasley, Malfoy" she said coolly, as he peeled the wet rag off of his face. "My name is Ginny." "Then don't call me Malfoy, Ginny. My name is Draco." He sneered at her before turning back to his trophy.
They worked in silence for a few minutes, then in wheezed Filch, Mrs. Norris close behind. He bent over Ginny's shoulder to inspect her trophy. He grunted, and turned to look at Draco's. He left as quickly as he came, saying nothing save for a few grunts and some sweet nothings to his cat. "So, who is the lucky lady who has the honor of being your partner at the Christmas Ball?" Ginny wrung out a rag into a bucket, trying not to sound anxious. ('Anxious?! I am not anxious!! I'm just curious...') Draco scrubbed an award to Daren Thimble (before answering. "No one, yet." He said in his cool, silky drawl. "Surely you've gotten countless offers," Ginny said, trying very hard to make her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I guess." He ticked them off his fingers as he named them. "Susan Bones; told her I would never be seen with a Ravenclaw. I think she ran off to cry in the W.C. Millicent Bulstrode; out of the question. She's built like an ox. Blaise Zabini; she pretty enough, but she's got no brains, an absolute airhead. There were some others, I forget. Oh, and Pansy Parkinson. The pig, honestly I don't get how she had the nerve to even ask me. The slime." Ginny nodded and concentrated on her rag as she asked him the next question. "So, you've got your eye on anyone?" He turned to face her, and she arranged a look of uninterested conversation before she turned to meet his gaze. "Now if you tell me who you want to take, I'll tell you. You first." Ginny felt the blush creep up her neck and twirled around, furious. Draco chuckled slightly and said softly, "I thought not."
Ginny turned her reddened face back to the trophy. She did not want to go to the ball with a git like Malfoy. She only wanted to go with the dangerous boy who would shock everyone. Going with the most handsome boy in the school would be an added bonus. Plus, he was a Malfoy, and her whole family had hated his family for centuries. It was the obvious way to get people to notice her. And this was Draco Malfoy, she was talking about. The Draco Malfoy. One third of the school hated him, one third envied him, and the rest loved him.
Snap out of it Ginny, she told her reflection. It would be embarrassing for her family and down right scandalous of she went with him. And there was the fact that someone like him would never, never go with a poor girl with no beauty to speak of and a muggle loving family. "It's impossible," she said quietly.
"What's impossible?"
Ginny's eyes popped. Why did she say that out loud? "Nothing," she said quickly and twisted her rag around.
"Oh come on, you know you're bursting to say you want to go with me." Ginny turned a raised eyebrow and saw a smirked face.
"Yes. That's it. I'm dying to go with you. Now shut up and clean." Ginny scrubbed the next trophy and inched her eyes over to see if Draco actually took that seriously. All she saw was the back of his blonde head and a raised wand. "Mr. Malfoy, what do you think you are doing? Filch specifically said no magic." Suddenly the trophies were sparkling clean. "What he doesn't know won't hurt him." The two students rose and started to leave the trophy room.
"Well, Miss Weasley," Draco said, drawing every word out, "as for your urge to dance with me at the ball, I'm afraid it's out of the question." Ginny rolled her eyes and said to herself, "Like I said, impossible."
"Really?"
Ginny's eyes popped open and she flushed. Why do I have to say things out loud? Why?!!?
"Well, Goodnight."
Ginny stood still, not looking up from a spot on the floor until Draco's footsteps were far, far away. She nearly ran to the common room. Why didn't she confess all her feelings and get it over with? She said the password irritably and the portrait swung open to a very full common room. She pushed and shoved her way through and was almost to the dorm stairs when three figures stepped out in front of her.
"Ginny? We, um.. wanted to talk with you." Hermione looked anxiously at her and Ginny glared at her, Ron, and Harry.
"Ron? Did you relay the message that I am not on speaking terms with any of you? No leave me alone as I try to get some sleep and forget about the awful detention I just had."
Ginny closed the dormitory door and fell onto her bed. She would sleep well, wake up energetic and awake, and ready for a week of school. She will not be confronted by the Dream Team and Draco would not remember their encounter. She could only hope.
Ginny sank under the warm covers gratefully. At least there none could laugh at her. She had actually told Draco how she felt. What a Stupid, stupid girl she was. She was positive that next time Draco saw her, he and the rest of his Slytherin friends would collapse in fits of laughter. She, a Gryffindor Wealsey, wanted to go to the Ball with Draco Malfoy, the rich, snobbish, Slytherin. But she had told him her feelings truthfully. She did only want to go to the ball with him because of the attention it would give her. But she had conviently left out how her stomach had flipped when he said her name. It wasn't her fault that the name "Ginny' sounded wonderful when he said it. Sighing, she rolled over, dreading dawn.
Morning came all too quickly. Ginny slowly sat up and got dressed. She peered out the door to check the common room. Clear; no Harry, Ron, or Hermione in sight. She rushed out of there before one could show up. She sat alone at breakfast, scanning the tables. There he was. Draco was sitting between Crabbe and Goyle. He looked utterly bored. But then again, didn't he always? Ginny tried to catch his eye, but whenever he would turn in her general direction, she quickly looked somewhere else. She eventually rose from the table and started to her first period, Charms. "I can't believe the nerve of her," she heard Harry say. He and Ron were walking down the corridor and, of course, didn't notice Ginny. She jumped behind a tapestry as they continued their conversation. "Really mate. Something's messed with her head. You know, she was in detention with Malfoy that whole time...You never know." Harry snarled at Ron's comment. "Wouldn't put it past the scum. Bewitching your sister." Ginny practically boiled and she jumped from behind the tapestry.
Unfortunately, her mouth made no sound as she tried to yell at their retreating backs. Would it really matter anyways? They could think what they wanted as long as they didn't act on those thoughts. She clenched her fists angrily and stormed the opposite direction. She had no clue where she was going, but she was desperate to put as much space as possible between her and Harry and Ron. "Why do they always feel that they have to look after me?" she muttered, blindly turning a random corner. "Ever since that whole Tom Riddle inncident, they have been wondering about my 'sanity' or whatever yet have not even noticed me enough to say hi." She paused, trying to think over how that was logical. "Oh well. Who needs logic in this kind of mess?" Her voice echoed through the presumably empty hallway.
Ginny didn't see Draco that day nor the rest of the week, unless one might count passing in hallways and glancing in the Great Hall. Before Ginny could turn around, it was the end of the week.
The rain drummed dolefully on the large windows, lighting illuminating the dark landscape at random intervals followed by the low rumble of thunder. The weather was changing quickly. Soon, some predicted even by the end of next week, there would be a thick blanked of white show covering Hogwarts. Ginny drug herself out of bed and shrugged on one of her thick dressing robes. She knew exactly what day it was. It was the day of the ball. She was dreading it. The ball would be a boring...thing for couples to be together before the holidays. It was stupid. Ginny was planning on staying in the library or just staying in the common room. She sighed as she pulled off that warm robe and her nightgown, doning her tattered school uniform. After she quickly ran a brush through her horribly tangled hair, she walked down the stairs to the common room.
Ginny went to the common room and saw the 'Terrific Trio' sitting in their usual spots around the fire. She felt their eyes on the back of her head, and she debated whether or not to turn around. She decided not to, and left quickly before they could call her back. She walked quickly down to the dining hall to have breakfast. She sat alone, observing everyone as she quietly munched her food. Almost unconsciously, her eyes drifted toward the Slytherin table. Malfoy was talking to some of the more popular Slytherins around him, obviously making a joke. They were all laughing their heads off. Ginny frowned. She hadn't even said so much of as a "Good Morning" to Draco, let alone talk to him. 'Was he going to the ball? With who? Am I obsessing over him?' Ginny rubbed her temples as if thinking about him gave her a headache. "I do not like Draco Malfoy, I do not like Draco Malfoy," she chanted under her breath until someone interrupted her. "Erm.. Ginny? May I sit here?" Hermione's voice sounded concerned. Ginny didn't answer. Hermione slid into the seat next to her and put food on her plate as she talked. "I know we haven't been talking to you lately and you must feel left out, but we think it's really unfair that you take out your anger on us. We've been really busy with our homework and you can't expect us to be able to spend every waking moment with you."
Ginny refused to answer, but she thought to herself, 'Every waking moment? That would be h3 (double hockey sticks).'
Hermione pushed her food around her plate, and began talking. Again.
"But we want you to know that were really worried about you. You've been acting so queer (OOC: be mature, people) and," she snorted, "Ron and Harry seem to think you've been put under the Imperious Curse by Malfoy. During your detention. Seriously, those two jump to conclusions. But," she glanced slyly towards Ginny. "What did go on?"
Ginny sipped her porridge, dabbed her face, turned toward Hermione and said in the most polite way possible, "None of your d*** business." She then stood up and walked away slowly.
She heard Hermione make some noise of.. something behind her but didn't stop. She was so tired of them. All of them. Including Draco. It scared her to realize how much she wanted to know who he was going to the ball with. "Probably that Parkinson character." she muttered. She didn't know why a guy like him would go with a pig like Pansy. Stop it Ginny, she told herself as she walked, You just want the danger of the forbidden. If everyone said Harry was off limits to you, you would want to go with him too. But that wasn't true. There was something different about Malfoy that Harry, the little orphan hero, could never possess. It was that ability to be charmingly unpredictable and utterly repulsive at the same time. Harry, on the other hand, was far too used to being worshipped and fawned over. Draco was different. Because he is off limits..., she told herself fervently. She sighed, imagining waltzing around that beautiful Great Hall with the strong arms of the sneering blonde around her waist. They would dance and dance until the sun rose then set again. Off LIMITS! her mind screamed, as she found herself smiling. She felt like slapping herself. He was going with Pansy or some beautiful and popular doll and there was nothing she could do about it.
Ginny wandered up to the Gryffindor tower and grabbed some homework to do by the fire. She was looking up the ingredients in a Forgetfulness Potion when she heard a small noise behind her. "Um, Ginny?" She winced at the sound of his voice. She knew he was going to ask her to the ball. What excuse will she use this year? She slowly revolved in her chair to face Colin Creevy, his hands behind his back and blushing furiously as he stared at his shoes.
"Erm, I was wondering. Wouldyouliketogototheballwithme?"
Every year the same thing.
"Sorry Colin. But I'm not going to the ball."
"Oh... Okay then."
He scurried off in shame as Ginny faced the fire again. She was just glad Ron wasn't here again. "Why'd you dump him, Gin? He's nice enough!" She muttered under her breath, imitating her brother. "Because she's a stupid git who won't even look me in the face," she answered herself, stabbing her potions essay repeatedly. "Everyone here is a nice, safe, acceptable prat. Why can't anyone be interesting?!" Ginny looked at her pock-marked paper and sighed. Snape would take of points for that. Oh well, she can deal with bad marks.
She finally put away her essay and walked around the common room, looking for anything not completely boring. She saw the terrific trio sitting round a table and decided to listen in of their conversation.
"Well, what'd she say went on during the detention?" Her brother sounded concerned, but Ginny new better. He was only looking for a reason to jinx Draco.
"When I asked her, she said it was none of my..Buisness and walked off." Good, saintly Hermione. Never a swear word would cross her lips.
"Definitely fishy. I say, we somehow get them two together, alone and see what goes on." Harry always came up 'the plan'.
"Yes, but how?"
Ron got excited. "We find where Ginny is then get Malfoy to go there! It's foolproof!"
"Genius, Ron" Ginny whispered. But of course they didn't hear her. She was hiding behind a chair, but she hardly needed to be; they wouldn't even see her.
"Well, then. Let's go scout out Ginny!" Harry and Ron rose quickly from the table.
"But we've so much homework we can't possibly get it done if we leave! What with the ball..."
"Hermione, my sister's in danger! Homework can wait!" Ron was at the portrait hole, Harry already outside of it.
"Oh...oh... alright. For Ginny." She too stepped out of then portrait hole.
"Stupid gits," Ginny said, but followed them out of curiosity.
Ginny followed them silently as they looked for her. After a few hallways, she took a 'shortcut' hall and got in front of them, Walking as if she had been walking to the portrait hole.
"There she is..." Ron whispered to Harry, while he nudged him forward. But it was Hermione who spoke to her.
"Ginny," she said naturally," We were looking all over for you. Could you come to the library to help me with.. erm.." Hermione faltered, but quickly recovered, "Charms. Yes, I have some charms homework I need help on. Harry and Ron don't get it either and I know how good you are at it...."
Stupid aliby.Like The smartest girl in the school would ever need any help with homework...
"Of course, Hermione," Ginny said sweetly. Could be a bit of entertainment...
The two girls walked in silence to the library until Ginny decided to break the ice. "I never knew you to have any trouble with Charms, Hermione. What is it you need help with?" Hermione may be smart, but when it comes to thinking on the spot, she's lacking in talent. "Erm... well.. uh." Hermione walked faster. "I have to... pick a topic. About an essay. And I wanted your opinion. Come on lets hurry."
"What's the rush? It's not like the library's going anywhere." Ginny smiled. How she loved to see people crack under pressure.
"I have to hurry so I can get ready for the ball."
"But its not even lunch yet! Surely you don't need five hours to prepare."
"You never know," Hermione said as she rushed inside the library and lost herself amongst the books. Ginny sat herself at a table and looked out the window. All she had to do was wait until Harry and Ron showed up. She imagined it now. They would be panting, and would rush over to Hermione and speak to her in panicked whispers, not knowing she would be able to overhear every word. She crumpled up a piece of scrap parchment she found and tossed it over her shoulder.
"Now, now Miss Weasley. Is that any way to get rid of your trash?"
Ginny whisked her head around to see Draco standing behind her, the piece of parchment in his hand. In the background, she saw Hermione rush out of the Library to fetch Harry and Ron.
"Fancy seeing you here." Ginny smiled secretly. So the trio's plan would work after all. Not exactly how they planned, but they would be able to spy on her and Draco. He sat down across from her and put his feet on the table.
"So, accepted any offers for the ball yet?" Ginny leaned back in her chair, trying to appear just as confident as him.
"I'm not going," he said in is famous drawl. "Balls really aren't my thing."
"Me neither. I hate dancing. Besides, if I do go, Ron will insist I go with Harry."
Draco placed his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. "Why did you turn down Potter?"
Oh, I hope Hermione's back with Harry and Ron. I would die if they wouldn't be able hear this. "Because he's the most insufferable pig I've ever known! He's always the hero and he always gets the girl. You'd think with someone always trying to kill you, you wouldn't be so d*** arrogant!" She heard a startled gasp from behind her a gave a small smile. So Hermione was back.
Draco smirked and said quietly, "Your fanclub's just arrived."
"Good," Ginny answered and turned around to meet a very angry Ron, Harry and Hermione.