Where could he be? She wondered. He has to be here somewhere. This school
isn't that big.
She laughed softly at the absurdity of the idea. This was Hogwart's. It could be endless for all she knew.
Ginny Weasley was on a mission, looking to deliver a message to Malfoy. He, however, was remaining elusive for the time being.
They'd only had three 'sessions' (as she liked to call them) to date, and already Ginny felt rather empowered. She was quick to the draw, could defend herself on a whim, and though she couldn't inflict very severe damage as of yet, she could still put you out of commission for a good week or so. She could even cast a memory-modifying charm with a careless flick of the wrist, if she felt so inclined.
Her skill level surprised Malfoy, though he'd never say that outright. Instead he took to pointing out the most minor of discrepancies in Ginny's technique, quite pleased with the way it made her cheeks flush in suppressed anger.
But Ginny put all these thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. She had to find Malfoy to tell him their session tomorrow would have to be held later, due to that ratfink, Snape. He'd moved last night's detention to the very time they had arranged for training. Ginny couldn't help but wonder if just maybe Snape had a sixth sense for ruining a person's day.
Her head snapped to attention then as she heard an all to familiar drawl drifting around the corner ahead of her. She moved close to the wall and peered around it. Malfoy stood there, his back to her, surrounded by a pack of Slytherin counter-parts. They were all laughing at the various jokes, or rather insults, he was making about different teachers and students.
"You never stop, do you?" Ginny muttered, shaking her head.
The group slowly began to break as class time drew near. Finally, Malfoy was left standing with just two friends, whom Ginny recognized as Blaise Zabani and Millicent Bullstrode. They appeared to be leaving as well, so Ginny decided to make her move.
"Malfoy." She called, trying to draw as little attention to the word as possible. As she had hoped, Malfoy turned around, but her heart sank as Zabani and Bullstrode did the same.
"What do you want?" he asked, with more malice than Ginny felt necessary.
"I-" She eyed the two behind him warily. "I just wanted to talk to you about something."
"What's that? You want a quib or two, I suppose? Well, no need to say it, your robes speak for themselves."
Ginny's ears burned in embarrassment.
"No. I only wanted-"
"Look," he rudely interrupted, "why don't you hold company with someone in your own league. Say, a house elf?"
She heard the snickers behind him as Zabani and Bullstrode stepped closer.
"Whose this little girl?" Millicent asked.
Malfoy smirked at the nickname he (unbeknownst to his friend of course, which made it all the more hilarious) had invented for Ginny.
"No one important. Looks like a pathetic Weasel to me."
Ginny's face grew hot. When it came to wands she could duel with the best of them. But in a war of words, she simply came up short at times. This being one of them, she did what any sensible person would do. She ran.
Ran back around the corner, down a flight of stairs, through an empty classroom and around another corner. She was fuming at this point.
Where did he get off? Sure, Ginny didn't see them as friends exactly, but she thought they had at least learned to be civil with one another. She supposed this meant their lessons were over, but could careless at the moment. She was thinking of all the wonderfully horrible things she could do to that imbecile, when a hand suddenly grabbed her arm, pulling her behind a gargoyle statue into a crevice in the wall, and she came face to face with the imbecile himself.
"You." She said, the word dripping with loathing.
"Now, now that's not a very friendly greeting, is it?"
"More than you deserve. I got the impression we were far below friendly. You snake." She glared daggers, mentally willing his head to explode.
"You're angry." He stated.
"No kidding, is it obvious?" she spat sarcastically.
"Why are you angry?" he asked, as innocently as if he were asking about the neighbour's dog.
"Why? Why am I angry? You've got to be joking!" Ginny exclaimed, shaking his hand off her arm, which he raised in mock surrender.
"I beg your pardon Weasel, but-"
"Weasley!" She shouted, ignoring the urge to stamp her foot. "The name is Weasley."
"Look, Weasel, if anyone has the right to be angry, I think it should be me."
He watched her sputter in rage, his expression unchanging.
"You think that-! Uh-ho you've got a lot of nerve, Malfoy." She turned to leave the small alcove, but he grabbed her once again.
"I'm sorry, perhaps you don't understand the delicate nature of the situation we're in. The situation you've created mind you. Well, let me spell it out for you." This sudden viciousness was staggering, and his grip was tightening painfully. "I was hoping you would be intelligent enough to realize that it isn't exactly advantageous for us to be seen together, certainly not on speaking terms. I thought it was common knowledge." He gently released her arm then and gave her one of his many superior looks that he had come to master so well. "But obviously, I expected too much." He folded his arms across his chest. "I should of known."
Ginny was prime to slap him.
"You great prat! 'Isn't advantageous for us' eh? Isn't advantageous for you, you mean, being seen with riff raff like me, am I right?"
"Weasel, Weasel," Malfoy shook his head, his tone condescending, "get over yourself. I'm merely looking out for both our interests."
"Yeah, like hell you are Malfoy."
"Good lord, you can't possibly be this dense! Are you honestly that blind to the consequences of any kind of relationship between us?"
He was agitated again, that was clear. Ginny decided not to provoke him further for the moment, and let him continue in silence.
"Imagine your school life, for one. If our battling houses didn't ostracize us, they would at least never look at us the same way again. And that doesn't begin to describe how our families would react. Or more importantly, how your brothers might react..." He brought his hands to his throat at the thought.
This had to be a first, a Malfoy showing signs of discomfort. Ginny was somewhat amused by this.
"Draco Malfoy," The corners of her mouth turned up in a sanctimonious grin, "I didn't know you could actually be intimidated by anyone. You seemed too arrogant."
"Please, I may be arrogant but I'm not simple. I know when I'm outmatched...and outnumbered. Of course, I'm not one to admit it."
"I believe you just did." Her grin widened.
"Oh that's all right. You won't be telling anyone." He said, his voice sounding almost bored with its certainty. The smile fell from Ginny's face.
"What makes you so sure?" She asked sullenly, catching herself in mid pout.
He faced her, fixing her with a disdainful countenance.
"Because I'm the only one here who can do what I do, which means you need my help. Clearly more than your willing to admit to yourself."
He was right, of course. He had an annoying way of being so when it mattered. Ginny tried to cling to the few scraps of dignity she still held.
"Don't be thinking so highly of yourself, Malfoy. I'm the one holding the cards, or books as it were. I wouldn't be singing my own praises so readily if I were you."
She walked out from behind the statue and made her way to her next class.
"What time tomorrow, Weasel?" He called after her.
Ginny didn't answer at first, then looked over her shoulder, "You'll hear from me." She continued on her way without looking back.
"Right." Malfoy smiled to himself, and began walking to his own class.
She laughed softly at the absurdity of the idea. This was Hogwart's. It could be endless for all she knew.
Ginny Weasley was on a mission, looking to deliver a message to Malfoy. He, however, was remaining elusive for the time being.
They'd only had three 'sessions' (as she liked to call them) to date, and already Ginny felt rather empowered. She was quick to the draw, could defend herself on a whim, and though she couldn't inflict very severe damage as of yet, she could still put you out of commission for a good week or so. She could even cast a memory-modifying charm with a careless flick of the wrist, if she felt so inclined.
Her skill level surprised Malfoy, though he'd never say that outright. Instead he took to pointing out the most minor of discrepancies in Ginny's technique, quite pleased with the way it made her cheeks flush in suppressed anger.
But Ginny put all these thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. She had to find Malfoy to tell him their session tomorrow would have to be held later, due to that ratfink, Snape. He'd moved last night's detention to the very time they had arranged for training. Ginny couldn't help but wonder if just maybe Snape had a sixth sense for ruining a person's day.
Her head snapped to attention then as she heard an all to familiar drawl drifting around the corner ahead of her. She moved close to the wall and peered around it. Malfoy stood there, his back to her, surrounded by a pack of Slytherin counter-parts. They were all laughing at the various jokes, or rather insults, he was making about different teachers and students.
"You never stop, do you?" Ginny muttered, shaking her head.
The group slowly began to break as class time drew near. Finally, Malfoy was left standing with just two friends, whom Ginny recognized as Blaise Zabani and Millicent Bullstrode. They appeared to be leaving as well, so Ginny decided to make her move.
"Malfoy." She called, trying to draw as little attention to the word as possible. As she had hoped, Malfoy turned around, but her heart sank as Zabani and Bullstrode did the same.
"What do you want?" he asked, with more malice than Ginny felt necessary.
"I-" She eyed the two behind him warily. "I just wanted to talk to you about something."
"What's that? You want a quib or two, I suppose? Well, no need to say it, your robes speak for themselves."
Ginny's ears burned in embarrassment.
"No. I only wanted-"
"Look," he rudely interrupted, "why don't you hold company with someone in your own league. Say, a house elf?"
She heard the snickers behind him as Zabani and Bullstrode stepped closer.
"Whose this little girl?" Millicent asked.
Malfoy smirked at the nickname he (unbeknownst to his friend of course, which made it all the more hilarious) had invented for Ginny.
"No one important. Looks like a pathetic Weasel to me."
Ginny's face grew hot. When it came to wands she could duel with the best of them. But in a war of words, she simply came up short at times. This being one of them, she did what any sensible person would do. She ran.
Ran back around the corner, down a flight of stairs, through an empty classroom and around another corner. She was fuming at this point.
Where did he get off? Sure, Ginny didn't see them as friends exactly, but she thought they had at least learned to be civil with one another. She supposed this meant their lessons were over, but could careless at the moment. She was thinking of all the wonderfully horrible things she could do to that imbecile, when a hand suddenly grabbed her arm, pulling her behind a gargoyle statue into a crevice in the wall, and she came face to face with the imbecile himself.
"You." She said, the word dripping with loathing.
"Now, now that's not a very friendly greeting, is it?"
"More than you deserve. I got the impression we were far below friendly. You snake." She glared daggers, mentally willing his head to explode.
"You're angry." He stated.
"No kidding, is it obvious?" she spat sarcastically.
"Why are you angry?" he asked, as innocently as if he were asking about the neighbour's dog.
"Why? Why am I angry? You've got to be joking!" Ginny exclaimed, shaking his hand off her arm, which he raised in mock surrender.
"I beg your pardon Weasel, but-"
"Weasley!" She shouted, ignoring the urge to stamp her foot. "The name is Weasley."
"Look, Weasel, if anyone has the right to be angry, I think it should be me."
He watched her sputter in rage, his expression unchanging.
"You think that-! Uh-ho you've got a lot of nerve, Malfoy." She turned to leave the small alcove, but he grabbed her once again.
"I'm sorry, perhaps you don't understand the delicate nature of the situation we're in. The situation you've created mind you. Well, let me spell it out for you." This sudden viciousness was staggering, and his grip was tightening painfully. "I was hoping you would be intelligent enough to realize that it isn't exactly advantageous for us to be seen together, certainly not on speaking terms. I thought it was common knowledge." He gently released her arm then and gave her one of his many superior looks that he had come to master so well. "But obviously, I expected too much." He folded his arms across his chest. "I should of known."
Ginny was prime to slap him.
"You great prat! 'Isn't advantageous for us' eh? Isn't advantageous for you, you mean, being seen with riff raff like me, am I right?"
"Weasel, Weasel," Malfoy shook his head, his tone condescending, "get over yourself. I'm merely looking out for both our interests."
"Yeah, like hell you are Malfoy."
"Good lord, you can't possibly be this dense! Are you honestly that blind to the consequences of any kind of relationship between us?"
He was agitated again, that was clear. Ginny decided not to provoke him further for the moment, and let him continue in silence.
"Imagine your school life, for one. If our battling houses didn't ostracize us, they would at least never look at us the same way again. And that doesn't begin to describe how our families would react. Or more importantly, how your brothers might react..." He brought his hands to his throat at the thought.
This had to be a first, a Malfoy showing signs of discomfort. Ginny was somewhat amused by this.
"Draco Malfoy," The corners of her mouth turned up in a sanctimonious grin, "I didn't know you could actually be intimidated by anyone. You seemed too arrogant."
"Please, I may be arrogant but I'm not simple. I know when I'm outmatched...and outnumbered. Of course, I'm not one to admit it."
"I believe you just did." Her grin widened.
"Oh that's all right. You won't be telling anyone." He said, his voice sounding almost bored with its certainty. The smile fell from Ginny's face.
"What makes you so sure?" She asked sullenly, catching herself in mid pout.
He faced her, fixing her with a disdainful countenance.
"Because I'm the only one here who can do what I do, which means you need my help. Clearly more than your willing to admit to yourself."
He was right, of course. He had an annoying way of being so when it mattered. Ginny tried to cling to the few scraps of dignity she still held.
"Don't be thinking so highly of yourself, Malfoy. I'm the one holding the cards, or books as it were. I wouldn't be singing my own praises so readily if I were you."
She walked out from behind the statue and made her way to her next class.
"What time tomorrow, Weasel?" He called after her.
Ginny didn't answer at first, then looked over her shoulder, "You'll hear from me." She continued on her way without looking back.
"Right." Malfoy smiled to himself, and began walking to his own class.