Disclaimer: It's all JK Rowling's. I still own Lori, however, and that's not going to change. :)

A/N: I'm sorry for the shortness of the chapters! I'm trying to make them longer, really.

Chapter Three: Not Just a Bad Temper

She was late.

Ginny was running through the hall, on her way to Transfiguration class. Lori had forgotten her bag back at the dormitory and told Ginny to go on without her. Lori would be later than Ginny, but they would serve detention anyway. Ginny was lost in her thoughts and not paying attention to where she was going when she ran smack into a solid person.

"Ow!" she cried as she was knocked down on the floor.

"Watch where you're going, Weasley," a hard voice drawled cruelly. Ginny froze.

"Sorry, I don't notice things that don't matter," she shot back. Not her best insult, but she was worried and didn't care. She had just sidestepped him when she heard him call out.

"Careful, you don't want green hair again, do you?"

Ginny turned around. "It was you, wasn't it?"

Draco sneered. "Now I didn't say that, did I?"

 "You asshole. I knew it was you," she said, approaching him and glaring.

 "Language, Weasley," he said mockingly.

Ginny spun on her heel and left him standing there. She didn't have the last word, but she didn't care. She was late for class, and she was going to get detention. Ugh. The day was going to be very crappy.

Ginny reached the classroom door and hesitated for a moment. She couldn't wait for Lori to show up; no, McGonagall would think they were hanging out together. She grasped the door handle, and with a held breath, she opened the door,

"Miss Weasley, how nice of you to join us. I think I'll spare you this once on detention, but let's see to it that it doesn't happen again," Professor McGonagall said sternly as Ginny slid shyly into her seat.

Not five minutes later did Lori come rushing into the room, flushed and panting.

"Sorry – Professor – lost – my bag…" Lori took a seat next to Ginny, and continued her heavy breathing.

"Hmm." Professor McGonagall looked from Ginny to Lori. She was obviously thinking they were together and separated themselves to make it look like they weren't – for once that was quite the opposite, and she was hoping McGonagall would see that. "Do try to be on time, Miss Kendrick."

Lori nodded vigorously and took out her Transfiguration book.

"Guess what happened on the way here…" Lori whispered as they attempted to transfigure the hats that they had been given into mice.

"What?"

"Ran into Malfoy. Heard him talking to Crabbe – or Goyle, I can never figure out which is which – about you."

"About me?" Ginny asked in disbelief.

"Yea…I think he's the one who's responsible for the green hair stunt," Lori said.

"He so much as told me in the hallway before. What was he doing out there anyway, shouldn't he be in class?" Ginny wondered.

Lori shrugged. "Who knows? He can't really care about class."

Ginny giggled, which drew the attention of Professor McGonagall.

"Girls! I gave you a chance at the beginning of class. Detention. Both of you."

Lori and Ginny exchanged glances and sighed. "Sorry, Professor," they chorused.

And the end of class, Lori and Ginny approached Professor McGonagall's desk cautiously. Professor McGonagall seemed to not notice their presence, so Lori cleared her throat.

McGonagall looked up and stared at Lori and Ginny for a few seconds before she started to speak. "It's the first day of school, girls. Couldn't you wait until we were into the semester before you started getting into trouble? You know your way around the school enough to avoid being late, and you know that talking during class is frowned upon."

"I know, Professor. But we woke up late and I forgot my bag in the dormitory. Then well…I just needed to tell Ginny something," Lori stated.

"It could have waited until after class. You'll serve your detentions with…" Professor McGonagall stopped and looked down at her desk, apparently checking something. "Professor Snape. Tomorrow evening, after dinner."

"P – Professor Snape?" Ginny squeaked. Being Ron's sister, Snape had been extra mean to her and managed to single her out every lesson. It was torture. "Oh, please, Professor, I'll do anything else."

McGonagall didn't look the least bit surprised at Ginny's reluctance to serve detention with Snape. "I'm sorry, Miss Weasley. You'll have Miss Kendrick with you, so it won't be that bad. Though it's not supposed to be…fun. Mind you behave yourselves."

Lori smiled and dragged the stuttering Ginny out of the classroom. Ginny was too appalled to speak properly.

"Gin, it won't be that bad," Lori said, trying to cheer Ginny up.

"This is all Malfoy's fault."

"How?"

"If he hadn't turned my hair green…then we wouldn't have been talking about him!" Ginny cried. She was stretching for a reason.

"All right, whatever you say. Oh look, there's Harry."

Harry was leaning against the wall, arms folded. He didn't look like he was in a good mood at all, so Ginny went up to him.

"Hey," she said.

Harry looked at her and straightened up, dropping his arms. "Hey."

"What…what are you doing?" she asked tentatively.

"Nothing." He looked around.

"Oh…well I guess I'll see you later then," Ginny replied cautiously. Something wasn't right with him. Perhaps he was just in a bad mood.

"That was weird," Lori stated as they walked away.

"Yea I know," Ginny replied. "I mean, he isn't the most talkative person with me anyway, but that was just plain strange. Did you see his eyes? He looked really angry."

Lori chuckled. "Maybe Malfoy pissed him off."

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Lori and Ginny were actually on time for their detention. Unwilling to be late, they made sure to leave dinner early so they could arrive on time. Not that they wanted to be with Snape, but they didn't want to give him a reason for points to be taken away from Gryffindor. As soon as they entered the dungeons, Snape recited what they were to do.

"The entire classroom must be spotless. Everything must be clean." Perhaps Snape was just completely neurotic, or he was just being an ass…mostly likely, he was just being an ass. As soon as he finished, he left the room.

"I can't believe they're letting us serve our detentions together. They never do that," Ginny said as she dunked a large sponge into a basin of clean, soapy water.

"Well, maybe they're being lenient because school just started."

"Yea." Ginny started on one half of the classroom while Lori dusted the other half. They chatted their way through the detention, and neither noticed how awfully boring it was when they had each other.

About two hours into the detention, someone burst into the room. Malfoy.

"What are you doing here?" he snarled, frantically attempting to hide a ridiculously large box.

"Detention, Malfoy. Did you think we like to clean the dungeons for fun?" Lori retorted, throwing her mucky sponge into the now disgustingly dirty water basin.

"Wouldn't put it past you," he shot back, strolling past them and disappearing into the room in the back.

"You're not allowed in there, Malfoy!" Ginny yelled back at him. It was Snape's private stores, what was he doing back there?

Malfoy returned with a malevolent gleam in his eyes. "Maybe you aren't, Weasley, but I am. And I highly suggest you clean yourself up. No one likes a dirty Weasel," he said, flicking a huge chunk of dust out of Ginny's ringlets of red hair. Ginny smacked his hand away.

"Don't touch me, Malfoy," Ginny growled, raising her hand again.

Malfoy caught her hand before she could make contact with the side of his face. He held it for a moment and said to her quietly, "I'd be careful if I were you." He dropped her hand and swept out of the dungeon, slamming the heavy door behind him.

Lori let out a low whistle. "What was that about?"

"What?" Ginny snapped. Ooh, Malfoy could annoy the hell out of her.

"The handholding thing, you git. You could cut the sexual tension in here with a knife!" Lori exclaimed, as if this was obvious.

Ginny laughed hollowly. "Lori…Malfoy."

"Yea, I know. Malfoy. You can't tell me he's not…you know…"

"What?" she asked, bewildered.

"Oh, Gin. Cute. Hot. Whatever, he is it," Lori said, blushing.

"What?!"

"Say 'what' one more time and I'll have to kill you," Lori threatened jokingly.

Ginny ignored this. "Lori, he's Draco Malfoy. You know, much despised among my family and the majority of the people here. Come on!" she said incredulously.

"So? I mean, yea, he may be cruel and vicious, but he does have the looks."

Ginny considered this. "Well…I suppose so."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

They must have seen the box. It was huge – no doubt about that. He had tried to hide it from the two Gryffindor girls, but it was hopeless. They seemed to not notice it though…maybe there was a chance. But oh, could that Weasley girl could really grate on his nerves. She had actually warned him about not going into Snape's private stores. Honestly, did she think he was that stupid? Of course he was allowed in there – special privileges and all – but really, what did she think she was going to accomplish?

Draco slapped his hand down menacingly on the armchair in the dark Slytherin common room and grumbled in an attempt to show his frustration. Pansy looked up from a book and was instantly at his side, trying yet again to woo him with her so-called charms.

"Dra-co, what's wrong?" she asked sweetly.

"Nothing," he replied monotonously. Would she please find someone else to bother? Pansy can never take the hint. Go away, go away, go away.

"There is something wrong. Is it Potter again? Or, ooh, did that Weasley girl get on your nerves like she did on the train?"

Yes, but now you are too, he thought angrily. He sighed. "No."

Pansy looked at him disapprovingly and retreated to her seat. Apparently she took the hint by way of his stern "no" and decided he was best left alone.

Why did he let people get to him like that? Ginny Weasley was nothing. She was a shadow in comparison to her brothers and her friends. Well, what little friends she did have. The only person he saw her hanging around with was that Lori Kendrick – obnoxiously loud and vexatious. Yet Ginny was always smiling, it seemed. This only angered Draco more.

What does she have to smile about? Even if her father did get a raise, they're still poor. She's still a Muggle-lover, too. I can't stand this. Why am I even thinking about her? Think about something else. What else is there to think about?

Draco looked over at Pansy, who was busy attempting to read a thick volume and doing something peculiar with her finger at her nose. He shook his head.

What else is there to think about?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"So do you honestly like him, Lori?" Ginny asked her friend while relaxing by the lake.

"Who?" Lori replied, smacking the Giant Squid after it reached across the smooth surface of the lake and tried to wrap its slimy tentacle around her ankle.

"Malfoy."

Lori stopped hitting the squid and turned to Ginny. "Whoa, Gin. I never said I liked him, I only said that I thought he was fairly cute."

"Oh," Ginny said, standing up. "You know, Seamus was looking at you during breakfast."

Lori nearly dropped the books she was carrying. She quickly recouped and straightened up, blushing. "And…and why should I care?"

Snickering, she replied, "Oh, drop it. I know you like him."

Lori blushed even more, and sighed. "Fine, so I do."

Ginny grinned and the two started walking back towards the building. As they were strolling along, Ginny spotted Harry talking to Neville. It seemed like they were arguing…only Neville was shrinking back away from Harry.

"—So watch where you're going, Longbottom. Don't get in my way." Harry glared and stalked off angrily. It was completely unlike him. Ginny hurried over to Neville.

"Neville! What happened?" Ginny asked, stopping in front of him.

Neville glanced at Ginny and Lori. "N-nothing…I mean, it was so strange, I only bumped into him. On accident, really, it was an accident. I didn't mean for him to start yelling." Neville gave a frightened look and rushed off.

Lori let out a low whistle. "Harry's in a bad mood."

Ginny was concerned. As long as she'd known Harry, he never shouted at anyone, except Draco, of course. He would especially never threaten Neville. She thought back to when he was in the hallway, and he seemed so…angry. There was something definitely wrong with Harry. She decided she would have to speak with Ron and Hermione. Ginny grabbed Lori's hand and dragged her off to the Gryffindor common room.

"Her…mione…Ron…" Ginny panted as they found the two sitting in the common room playing chess.

Ron looked up at the out-of-breath Ginny. "What's wrong?"

Ginny and Lori sat down. "Have you noticed anything…strange…about Harry, lately?"

Hermione cast a sideways glance at Ron. "We didn't think anyone else noticed."

"How could we not? The way he was shouting at Neville…" Lori exclaimed.

"He shouted at Neville? When?" Ron asked, surprised.

Ginny explained what they had seen. After she finished, Ron and Hermione stood up. They said they needed to find Harry, and they left without another word. Ginny and Lori sat back and sighed in unison. Seamus appeared in front of them a few minutes later.

"Lori? Can I ask you something…over there, maybe?" he asked, fidgeting with his robes.

"Sure." Lori stood, and threw a quizzical look at Ginny.

A few minutes later, Lori came back, positively beaming.

"He asked me out," she whispered as she sank back down on the couch next to Ginny.

"Did you say yes?" Ginny squealed.

"Of course!" Lori exclaimed. They stood, laughing, and were about to leave the common room when the door burst open and Hermione marched in, alongside a fuming Ron.

"That…bloody git!" Ron bellowed. He was sporting a bloody nose and messy hair.

"Ron! You're bleeding!" Ginny cried, running over to her brother. He waved her hand away and went on ranting about bad tempers.

While Ron was yelling, Hermione explained to Ginny and Lori what happened. Ron and Hermione had asked Harry what was up with him, when he went crazy and punched Ron right in the face. Ron recuperated instantly and nearly beheaded Harry before Hermione could intervene and drag Ron away.

"Something is seriously wrong with him," Ginny said quietly to Hermione.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It worked. It had actually worked. Draco had been looking out the window when he saw the fight between Potter and Weasley, and knew that it had actually happened. He wasn't rooting for the plan to work, to tell the truth, he just didn't care. People were going to notice the change in Potter – well, he didn't exactly know the entire plan so he wasn't sure if that was supposed to happen.

He remembered the offer. "Help, and you'll be among the most respected. Refuse, and you'll die. Perhaps at my hand."

Draco sneered. Like his father could kill him on his own terms anyway. He only took orders from Voldemort. It was pathetic the way they all honored him and feared him, when really, he was only a man. His father expected him to become a Death Eater when he turned 18. Draco had no intention of ever becoming a Death Eater. Becoming a Death Eater would mean he had to support something – and in all honesty, Draco just didn't care either way.

Knowing his parents, however, he'd be forced to. Lucius was an avid Voldemort supporter and Narcissa was absolutely useless, leaving her able to do nothing to protect him. She'd probably tell him to join the Death Eaters just to appease Lucius. It wasn't as though Narcissa was afraid of Lucius; she simply didn't want to get him angry. Narcissa would rather ruin Draco's life than anger Lucius. It wasn't as if Draco hated his parents or vice versa. No, if anything, he was the golden child compared to everyone else.

Draco sighed and resumed his position at the window. His last year was going to be hell.

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Thanks to Nene Kenobi, Draco Bitch, NiMi Babe, and Autumn Ice for reviewing! And the anonymous person. :)