(( ... o-O;; I'm really sorry. Sorry about 1- not updating in *counts*
about 8 months... and 2- Forgetting how the characters are supposed to act.
This might turn into a LONG story, becuase I have a plot, I swear, it's
just taking me a while to get to it. Lots of fluff and junk taking up
space. x-X In the long run, I'd say I'm about....*thinks* .... almost
halfway done with the story, if I try to get to the point soon. Yeah.... 20
chapters in and the plot's only now unravelling itself. v-V Sorreh... ))
Ginny groggily opened her eyes. Then shut them. The bright light gave her a headache. Suddenly she opened her eyes again. Sunlight. And it was bright... normally Hermione woke her up just after the sun rose, when the light was soft, and comforting..... Draco. The memories of last night rushed through her mind, making her blush again. A thought flashed through her mind and she glanced around the room in a panic. She was in her own bed, in Gryffindor. How had she got back? The last thing she remembered was Draco, holding her in his arms.... she smiled at the thought.
To her relief, no one was in there.
'Already down for breakfast, I guess' she thought as she stood up. She was still in her robes, at least. She quickly ran a comb through her red hair and hurried downstairs, hoping no one missed her that morning, or thought she got an early start. As she passed through the portrait hole, however, someone grabbed her arm. Smiling, she turned - and stopped smiling.
"Where have you been??" Hermione hissed, livid. "Do you realize what I had to do to stop Ron from going straight to Dumbledore? Do you even know what could have happaened?" she fumed quietly, dragging Ginny into an empty hallway. Ginny followed with a sense of dread, guilty as charged.
"I had to convince your brothers AND Harry AND everyone else in Gryffindor that you just got lost in one of the corridors waiting for me to help you with your homework." she raged on. "And I don't believe for one minute they believed me! I had to cast a silencing spell to keep them contained! You'd better have a damn good explination as to where you've been if you don't want to be locked up for the rest of your life!" She stopped for breath and glared at Ginny, who was temporarily shocked into silence.
"I ... I just... it was..." she stammered, groping for the right words. "I ... couldn't sleep, ....got up for a walk.... I got lost..?" It was more of a question than an explination, and her face had turned an impossible shade of red. Hermione looked at her strangely, then a look of realization dawned on her face. She stared at Ginny.
"You.... were with ... him, weren't you?" she choked out incredulously. "Do you have ANY idea how dangerous that was? Didn't you think about what might have happened?" Giny stared at her, horrified.
"No, it's not like that! He's... not like that!"
"How can you be so sure?" Hermione demanded. "What exactly did you DO?" She raised her eyebrow.
Ginny blushed and looked at the floor. "It's not LIKE that, I swear! It's just..... he just.... I ...." she gave up, at a loss for words. Hermione sighed and rubbed her head.
"You can't just DO these kinds of things, you know? It's DANGEROUS - "
"So you keep telling me!" Ginny cut in. "What's so dangerous about it? It's not like I'd DO anything with him! You, and Ron, and Fred, and George, and Harry.... you're all too over-protective. You worry too much! I can take care of myself, you know!" Hermione just stared at her, in a stunned silence.
"I understand where it comes from, but.... I don't think it's as dangerous as you make it out to be." This made Hermione speak up.
"It's just about as dangerous as it can be, sneaking off with some Slytherin, even Malfoy - especially Malfoy!- in the middle of the night to who knows where, where you'll be alone and vulnerable...."
"You think he'd take advantage of me?" Ginny yelled. She cought herself, and lowered her voice. "It seems to me that the only one with those kinds of thoughts are you and Ron." She turned to walk away, furious, but Hermione held her back.
"Wait... I'm sorry," she apologized, looking hurt. "But we really are just terribly worried about you... I don't think you understand the position this puts Ron in.... if it were any other guy, sure he'd play the protective older-brother bit... but Malfoy? All the trouble he's caused for Ron and Harry..."
"And you." Ginny added softly. She sighed. "I'm sorry, Herm. I just.... " she shook her head. "Nevermind. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused.... where is everybody, anyway? Breakfast should be over...." she looked around quizzically.
Hermione smacked her head. "That's right, you don't know.... classes have been cancelled today.... we have an excange student, from Beauxbatons ... one of Madame Maxime's own. In my year, too.....She's being sorted at the moment, I think... let's hurry!" They ran down the stairs, their argument temporarily forgotten .
As they neared the Great Hall, they could hear hushed murmuring, and then, just as they got to the doors, a bellow rang out - "Slytherin!" There was a burst of cheering and applause from the Slytherin table, and the other tables graciously clapped, though they were reluctant to add a new Slytherin to their school. Ginny spied the girl as she got off the stool and walked twoards the Slytherin Table.
Well..... if walked is what you could call it. She was fairly tall, slim, with waist length raven black hair blach hair. Her robes were a little too long, but in a way that made it seem almost fashionable. The onlg folds swished around her and brushed the floor, giving the appearance that she floated instead of walked. From across the Hall, Ginny couldn't see much of her face, but she had a hunch. This girl glided over to the Slytherins and sat down in an empty spot - which, Ginny noticed without difficulty, was positioned right on Draco's left. He smiled graciously at her and offerend her a plate of toast. She smiled coyly back and took a piece between her long, slender fingers. Ginny's mouth twitched down, but she managed to contain the feeling.
"Hermione," she whispered, not know why, " What's her name?"
Hermione shrugged, less intent on the Girl than on Gryffindor Table, where Ron and Harry alternately glanced back and forth from Draco to Dumbledore, obviously trying to make up their minds on something. Hermione scowled. "I told them I'd find you, what do they think they're doing?" Just as Ron started to stand up, Hermione and Ginny sneaked into the Great Hall, dashing towards Gryffindor Table and sitting down hurridly on eiter side of Ron, pulling him down. His eyes widened when he saw Ginny, and he gripped her by the shoulders.
"Where have you been?" he bellowed. People from other tables looked over in interest. Hermione frowned at him. "Keep it down," she scolded as she reached for a platter of food. Ron just glared at Ginny, ears practically glowing.
She shrugged uneasily. "I ... got lost," she replied simply, hoping it didn't sound like too much of a lie. "Really," she added as an afterthought, though she doubted it'd work. But, to her ramazement, Ron just released her and started messing at his food. He mumbled something about 'worried', and 'dangerous', and then shovedsome eggs into his mouth. Ginny sighed, relieved, and turned to find Harry staring at her oddly. When she realized he wasn't going to look away she hurridly mumbled "Pass the toast," and looks down uncomfortably at her plate.
What was up with Harry? Recently she had looked over to find him staring at her in a pequliar way.... she shook the thought away and picked at her eggs. She wasn't really hungry.... she let her thoughts drift to Draco. A smile lingered on her lips as she thought about his face... his eyes.... his lips... she felt her face get warm as she thought about the two of them, in the empty classroom, with his arms around her..... suddenly, she looked up, and Harry was looking at her again.
Or, no... not at her... over her shoulder. She glanced behind her and her heart sank. Draco was laughing with his fellow Slytherins, and the Girl had her hand on his arm. Draco started saying something, and everyone laughed. The tinkle of Her laugh carried across the room, turning quite a few heads. Suddenly he looked up, straight at Ginny. Horrified that she had been caught looking at him she turned quickly back to her plate, moving the eggs from one side of the plate to the other, hoping no one saw her.
Fighting back tears she murmered that she wasn't feeling well, got up. She walked hurridly from the Great Hall, trying her hardest not to look back at the Slytherin Table, where the laughter seemed to mock her evey step. Once outside the Great Hall's doors, she turned and ran blindly through the corridors, unaware of where she was headed.
~
Draco saw her leave and a small frown creased his face. 'What upset her so much?' he wondered, though in a small part of his mind, he knew. He glanced quickly over at Her, sighing inwardly. She was acctually Polaire- elegant, mild-mannered, and stunningly beautiful.... to some. He, however, regarded her with suspicion. He was untrustful to anyone who acted that smoothly. And he wished she'd remove her hand from his arm. She looked over at him.
"Monsieur Draco, ees something ze matter?" she asked softly, her voice light and chiming. He cringed inwardly, and put on his best smile - well, maybe second best.
"Of course not. You were saying?" he replied politely, then tuned out her words. He thought back to last night, of Virginia in the moonlight, firey hair almost luminescent, with her wide, trusting eyes. He remembered the feeling of his lips on hers, his heart beating madly against her chest.... and then the task of getting her back to her room without anyone catching on. The first few moments she slept he simply watched her, lips parted slightly, eyelashes fluttering... realizing the situation, he employed the help of a house-elf, getting the creature to transport her to her room, and giving him some time to get himself ready for breakfast.
Draco looked down at his plate, food hardly touched. He paid attention long enough to catch what Polaire was talking about, then looked lazily around the Hall. His eyes landed on Potter, who was staring intently at him. With a blank face he stared back. Harry whispered something to Weasley, who turned and glared at Draco. Draco flashed a smile and gave a little wave, which only seemed to upset Weasley and Potter more.
"Are ze your friends?" Polaire asked, puzzled. Draco shook his head and laughed.
"Hardly. They couldn't get a friend outside Gryffindor if they paid them.... which would explain why Weasley has no friends at all except for Potty and the Mudblood." This earned him laughter from the table, and several turned to look at the Gryffindors. Ron started to get up, but Hermione pulled him back down and whispered something in his ear. He sulked in his chair and shot nasty glances over at the SLytherin Table.
"Aww, a Weasle and a Mudblood... don't they make the perfect couple?" he mocked. Inside, though, he felt his stomach turn at what he was saying. He felt.... like a traitor, somehow. He knew what he was saying was wrong, but he couldn't bring himself to correct it. Image still meant something to him... and to his family. He cringed, thinking about what his father would say, knowing what was in his mind.
With a mental shrug he pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. Noticing some other people getting up to leave, he got up and explained that he had 'something of urgent importance' to take care of. To his surprise, Polaire stood up, too.
"Then I will accompany you, Monsieur Draco," she said, smiling. His stomach turned again, this time in annoyance. After a moment's struggle with himself, he sighed angrily and nodded, striding twoards the door with her gliding along behind him. His search for Ginny must wait.
~
When Harry saw Malfoy start to get up, he narrowed his eyes in suspicion, but when the new Girl excused herself along with him he settled back, relieved. When Ginny had gone missing this morning it was all he could do to contain his own feelings of protectiveness, much less calm Ron's. Somehow Hermione had convinced them both not to worry, though Harry believed she knew something they didn't. Ron might not notice it, but Hermione would glance oddly at Ginny sometimes, as though troubled by something.
And no matter what, he'd get it out of her.
~~~
((Sorry these are so long.... I just need to cram all these things into as few chapters as possible so it doesn't turn out gigantic. Anyway... review! I'm trying to do my homework and re-read the books to see if I've got them how they should be acting. v-V It's kinda hard....*shivers* And I'm about frozen to death, here..... so... just... review!))
Ginny groggily opened her eyes. Then shut them. The bright light gave her a headache. Suddenly she opened her eyes again. Sunlight. And it was bright... normally Hermione woke her up just after the sun rose, when the light was soft, and comforting..... Draco. The memories of last night rushed through her mind, making her blush again. A thought flashed through her mind and she glanced around the room in a panic. She was in her own bed, in Gryffindor. How had she got back? The last thing she remembered was Draco, holding her in his arms.... she smiled at the thought.
To her relief, no one was in there.
'Already down for breakfast, I guess' she thought as she stood up. She was still in her robes, at least. She quickly ran a comb through her red hair and hurried downstairs, hoping no one missed her that morning, or thought she got an early start. As she passed through the portrait hole, however, someone grabbed her arm. Smiling, she turned - and stopped smiling.
"Where have you been??" Hermione hissed, livid. "Do you realize what I had to do to stop Ron from going straight to Dumbledore? Do you even know what could have happaened?" she fumed quietly, dragging Ginny into an empty hallway. Ginny followed with a sense of dread, guilty as charged.
"I had to convince your brothers AND Harry AND everyone else in Gryffindor that you just got lost in one of the corridors waiting for me to help you with your homework." she raged on. "And I don't believe for one minute they believed me! I had to cast a silencing spell to keep them contained! You'd better have a damn good explination as to where you've been if you don't want to be locked up for the rest of your life!" She stopped for breath and glared at Ginny, who was temporarily shocked into silence.
"I ... I just... it was..." she stammered, groping for the right words. "I ... couldn't sleep, ....got up for a walk.... I got lost..?" It was more of a question than an explination, and her face had turned an impossible shade of red. Hermione looked at her strangely, then a look of realization dawned on her face. She stared at Ginny.
"You.... were with ... him, weren't you?" she choked out incredulously. "Do you have ANY idea how dangerous that was? Didn't you think about what might have happened?" Giny stared at her, horrified.
"No, it's not like that! He's... not like that!"
"How can you be so sure?" Hermione demanded. "What exactly did you DO?" She raised her eyebrow.
Ginny blushed and looked at the floor. "It's not LIKE that, I swear! It's just..... he just.... I ...." she gave up, at a loss for words. Hermione sighed and rubbed her head.
"You can't just DO these kinds of things, you know? It's DANGEROUS - "
"So you keep telling me!" Ginny cut in. "What's so dangerous about it? It's not like I'd DO anything with him! You, and Ron, and Fred, and George, and Harry.... you're all too over-protective. You worry too much! I can take care of myself, you know!" Hermione just stared at her, in a stunned silence.
"I understand where it comes from, but.... I don't think it's as dangerous as you make it out to be." This made Hermione speak up.
"It's just about as dangerous as it can be, sneaking off with some Slytherin, even Malfoy - especially Malfoy!- in the middle of the night to who knows where, where you'll be alone and vulnerable...."
"You think he'd take advantage of me?" Ginny yelled. She cought herself, and lowered her voice. "It seems to me that the only one with those kinds of thoughts are you and Ron." She turned to walk away, furious, but Hermione held her back.
"Wait... I'm sorry," she apologized, looking hurt. "But we really are just terribly worried about you... I don't think you understand the position this puts Ron in.... if it were any other guy, sure he'd play the protective older-brother bit... but Malfoy? All the trouble he's caused for Ron and Harry..."
"And you." Ginny added softly. She sighed. "I'm sorry, Herm. I just.... " she shook her head. "Nevermind. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused.... where is everybody, anyway? Breakfast should be over...." she looked around quizzically.
Hermione smacked her head. "That's right, you don't know.... classes have been cancelled today.... we have an excange student, from Beauxbatons ... one of Madame Maxime's own. In my year, too.....She's being sorted at the moment, I think... let's hurry!" They ran down the stairs, their argument temporarily forgotten .
As they neared the Great Hall, they could hear hushed murmuring, and then, just as they got to the doors, a bellow rang out - "Slytherin!" There was a burst of cheering and applause from the Slytherin table, and the other tables graciously clapped, though they were reluctant to add a new Slytherin to their school. Ginny spied the girl as she got off the stool and walked twoards the Slytherin Table.
Well..... if walked is what you could call it. She was fairly tall, slim, with waist length raven black hair blach hair. Her robes were a little too long, but in a way that made it seem almost fashionable. The onlg folds swished around her and brushed the floor, giving the appearance that she floated instead of walked. From across the Hall, Ginny couldn't see much of her face, but she had a hunch. This girl glided over to the Slytherins and sat down in an empty spot - which, Ginny noticed without difficulty, was positioned right on Draco's left. He smiled graciously at her and offerend her a plate of toast. She smiled coyly back and took a piece between her long, slender fingers. Ginny's mouth twitched down, but she managed to contain the feeling.
"Hermione," she whispered, not know why, " What's her name?"
Hermione shrugged, less intent on the Girl than on Gryffindor Table, where Ron and Harry alternately glanced back and forth from Draco to Dumbledore, obviously trying to make up their minds on something. Hermione scowled. "I told them I'd find you, what do they think they're doing?" Just as Ron started to stand up, Hermione and Ginny sneaked into the Great Hall, dashing towards Gryffindor Table and sitting down hurridly on eiter side of Ron, pulling him down. His eyes widened when he saw Ginny, and he gripped her by the shoulders.
"Where have you been?" he bellowed. People from other tables looked over in interest. Hermione frowned at him. "Keep it down," she scolded as she reached for a platter of food. Ron just glared at Ginny, ears practically glowing.
She shrugged uneasily. "I ... got lost," she replied simply, hoping it didn't sound like too much of a lie. "Really," she added as an afterthought, though she doubted it'd work. But, to her ramazement, Ron just released her and started messing at his food. He mumbled something about 'worried', and 'dangerous', and then shovedsome eggs into his mouth. Ginny sighed, relieved, and turned to find Harry staring at her oddly. When she realized he wasn't going to look away she hurridly mumbled "Pass the toast," and looks down uncomfortably at her plate.
What was up with Harry? Recently she had looked over to find him staring at her in a pequliar way.... she shook the thought away and picked at her eggs. She wasn't really hungry.... she let her thoughts drift to Draco. A smile lingered on her lips as she thought about his face... his eyes.... his lips... she felt her face get warm as she thought about the two of them, in the empty classroom, with his arms around her..... suddenly, she looked up, and Harry was looking at her again.
Or, no... not at her... over her shoulder. She glanced behind her and her heart sank. Draco was laughing with his fellow Slytherins, and the Girl had her hand on his arm. Draco started saying something, and everyone laughed. The tinkle of Her laugh carried across the room, turning quite a few heads. Suddenly he looked up, straight at Ginny. Horrified that she had been caught looking at him she turned quickly back to her plate, moving the eggs from one side of the plate to the other, hoping no one saw her.
Fighting back tears she murmered that she wasn't feeling well, got up. She walked hurridly from the Great Hall, trying her hardest not to look back at the Slytherin Table, where the laughter seemed to mock her evey step. Once outside the Great Hall's doors, she turned and ran blindly through the corridors, unaware of where she was headed.
~
Draco saw her leave and a small frown creased his face. 'What upset her so much?' he wondered, though in a small part of his mind, he knew. He glanced quickly over at Her, sighing inwardly. She was acctually Polaire- elegant, mild-mannered, and stunningly beautiful.... to some. He, however, regarded her with suspicion. He was untrustful to anyone who acted that smoothly. And he wished she'd remove her hand from his arm. She looked over at him.
"Monsieur Draco, ees something ze matter?" she asked softly, her voice light and chiming. He cringed inwardly, and put on his best smile - well, maybe second best.
"Of course not. You were saying?" he replied politely, then tuned out her words. He thought back to last night, of Virginia in the moonlight, firey hair almost luminescent, with her wide, trusting eyes. He remembered the feeling of his lips on hers, his heart beating madly against her chest.... and then the task of getting her back to her room without anyone catching on. The first few moments she slept he simply watched her, lips parted slightly, eyelashes fluttering... realizing the situation, he employed the help of a house-elf, getting the creature to transport her to her room, and giving him some time to get himself ready for breakfast.
Draco looked down at his plate, food hardly touched. He paid attention long enough to catch what Polaire was talking about, then looked lazily around the Hall. His eyes landed on Potter, who was staring intently at him. With a blank face he stared back. Harry whispered something to Weasley, who turned and glared at Draco. Draco flashed a smile and gave a little wave, which only seemed to upset Weasley and Potter more.
"Are ze your friends?" Polaire asked, puzzled. Draco shook his head and laughed.
"Hardly. They couldn't get a friend outside Gryffindor if they paid them.... which would explain why Weasley has no friends at all except for Potty and the Mudblood." This earned him laughter from the table, and several turned to look at the Gryffindors. Ron started to get up, but Hermione pulled him back down and whispered something in his ear. He sulked in his chair and shot nasty glances over at the SLytherin Table.
"Aww, a Weasle and a Mudblood... don't they make the perfect couple?" he mocked. Inside, though, he felt his stomach turn at what he was saying. He felt.... like a traitor, somehow. He knew what he was saying was wrong, but he couldn't bring himself to correct it. Image still meant something to him... and to his family. He cringed, thinking about what his father would say, knowing what was in his mind.
With a mental shrug he pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. Noticing some other people getting up to leave, he got up and explained that he had 'something of urgent importance' to take care of. To his surprise, Polaire stood up, too.
"Then I will accompany you, Monsieur Draco," she said, smiling. His stomach turned again, this time in annoyance. After a moment's struggle with himself, he sighed angrily and nodded, striding twoards the door with her gliding along behind him. His search for Ginny must wait.
~
When Harry saw Malfoy start to get up, he narrowed his eyes in suspicion, but when the new Girl excused herself along with him he settled back, relieved. When Ginny had gone missing this morning it was all he could do to contain his own feelings of protectiveness, much less calm Ron's. Somehow Hermione had convinced them both not to worry, though Harry believed she knew something they didn't. Ron might not notice it, but Hermione would glance oddly at Ginny sometimes, as though troubled by something.
And no matter what, he'd get it out of her.
~~~
((Sorry these are so long.... I just need to cram all these things into as few chapters as possible so it doesn't turn out gigantic. Anyway... review! I'm trying to do my homework and re-read the books to see if I've got them how they should be acting. v-V It's kinda hard....*shivers* And I'm about frozen to death, here..... so... just... review!))