Disclaimer: I own nothing, so don't sue me. You wouldn't get anything
anyway. I'm broke.
I made two stops straight away; one at Magical Transportation and Tours, to pick up mum's floo powder, and the other at a basic potion supply store for my powdered ginger root. After leaving the second shop, both of my small bags clasped firmly in my left hand, I wandered fairly aimlessly for a while, bored.
The heat finally getting to me, I sauntered over to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, ordered myself an ice cream sundae, and dropped into a seat at a corner table outside. It occurred to me, as I ate my ice cream, that there were a bloody lot of people trying to control my life.
Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Mum, Dad, and not to mention all the teachers at Hogwarts who are always breathing down my neck, always seem to have some sort of control over what I do. I frowned, and chewed on my ice cream spoon, pondering what to do about the disgraceful situation.
And that brought me to another thing: Potter. He was such a... prick. He'd never shown any interest in me before, when I actually liked him, but as soon as he found out that people he didn't approve of showed an interest in me – even if it was only casual sex – he was all over me. It was quite disgusting, really.
Speak of the Devil, Gin! The Golden Trio is here, in all of their heroic, take-care-of-Ron's-little-sister glory.
I saw them out of the corner of my eye, conspicuous in their attempt to be inconspicuous. They were all watching me, and when I looked up, all three looked away; they were leaning against one of the walls of the shops, chatting a little too animatedly for the ploy to be plausible.
My eyes rolled, and I was just about to get up and tell them off when I felt those goddamn prickles at the back of my neck.
"Hello, Virginia," he breathed in my ear, causing me to jump nearly six inches off my seat.
He chuckled softly, and sat down in the seat across from me, his back to the street. Mercury colored eyes glittered in amusement as my breathing slowed gradually back to its normal rate.
"Don't DO that!" I said, when I was able to speak. He really was insufferably evil.
"Don't do what, Virginia?" He asked innocently, patented smirk playing on his lips.
I rolled my eyes and didn't reply.
GIN! BETTER DO SOMETHING! QUICK! THEY'RE COMING! THEY'VE SEEN HIM! AND THEY NOTICED THAT, UNLIKE MOST, YOU HAVEN'T HEXED HIM TO BITS!
"Oh, shit," I muttered, gaze traveling over his shoulder in the direction of my brother and his friends, who were approaching quickly, pushing their way across the crowded street, wands at the ready.
"Problem?" He inquired lazily, leaning back in his chair.
"Yes, problem."
"Anything I can help with?"
"You could get your arse out of here."
"Virginia! You wound me!"
"Well, it's either that, or they'll curse you into oblivion."
"Who will?"
"The Golden Trio."
He chuckled again, and rose languorously from his seat, turning towards the street just as my three 'protectors' reached us.
"Get away from her, Malfoy," Harry snarled, pointing his wand at the blonde boy.
"Why would I want to do that, Potter?" Draco asked boredly, pulling out his own wand and twirling it between his fingers.
I rose from my chair, seething; it was no business of theirs what I did, or whom I associated with, but here they were, ruining a very pleasant conversation with their deluded ideas that I was incapable of taking care of myself.
GIN! This could be the answer you were looking for! Go out with Draco! That'd infuriate everyone to no end, and you'd have plenty of fun, not to mention the fact that they wouldn't be able to do anything to him, since he's Head Boy and all.
Pouting, I stood beside Draco, my arms folded over my chest.
"Ronald, may I please remind you that my life is none of your business? Now be a dear and fuck off; Draco and I were having a very pleasant conversation before you showed up."
All of them – including Draco – looked quite taken aback at my words. I could see how Draco would be surprised, but the others had heard the same refrain all summer; it shouldn't have been much of a shock to them.
"Ginny! We aren't leaving you here with this... this..." Ron didn't seem able to find words to describe Draco.
"Please, Ronald. I am quite capable of taking care of myself," I snapped, glaring at my older brother.
"Yeah, you certainly showed us that last night," Harry retorted acidly, still pointing his wand at Draco.
"I don't recall asking your opinion, Potter. And kindly lower your wand; Draco hasn't done anything."
"Of course he's done something; he exists, doesn't he?" Harry responded, glaring in my direction.
I slapped him. What else was I supposed to do? Let the remark slide? So I walked right up to him, and slapped him around the face. His head snapped round with the force of my blow, and I was pleased to see a handprint on his cheek.
Temporarily distracted by their friend's plight, Hermione and Ron turned away from Draco and I. I grabbed Draco's hand, having had enough of my insufferable brother and his entourage for one lifetime, and dragged him away from the ice cream parlor.
"I'm quite surprised at you, Virginia," Draco remarked, as I pulled him into a side alley in hopes of hiding from my now furious brother – not to mention a Harry Potter whose ego was just seriously injured, and Hermione who was quite appalled.
"Why're you surprised," I asked, turning from my surveillance of the street beyond our hiding place to look at him.
"You hit Potter." He said it simply, as though it were quite obvious.
"So?"
"I thought you had a bit of an infatuation with the boy."
"No."
"Really?"
"Really."
"May I inquire as to why? Most of the female population at Hogwarts worships the moron. Why don't you?" He seemed quite curious, and I sighed.
"I used to like him, and I used to be a pathetic fangirl. But now I dunno. Things change. I changed. I don't particularly like him at all any more."
"Intriguing."
I scoffed.
"Hardly. He's trying to control my life, just like the rest of them. You know, he actually came on to me today?" I glanced up at him, as I said it, wondering what his reaction would be.
A mixture of expressions crossed his face, though before I could try to decipher any of them, his visage had returned to its customary blank façade.
"I can see why," he said after a moment.
"You can?!"
"Well of course, my dear. You are beautiful, and you don't worship the ground he walks on. You could care less if he pledged his undying love to you right now, and he knows it. You are associating with the enemy, and it frightens him; he wants to bring you back to him, if you follow me."
"I follow, but I don't understand."
"He wants what he cannot get."
"Oh. Well. I certainly wish he'd take his affections elsewhere, but I don't know how to get him to go away. He won't leave me the hell alone."
"It's the oldest story in the book, darling."
"Stupid, stupid, stupid, that's what it is."
"You've got it in a nutshell."
"This year at school's going to be hell," I muttered, massaging my temples.
"You think it'll be bad for you? I'm Head Boy. Granger's Head Girl. I have to work with the Mudblood."
"At least you don't have some insufferable prick lusting after you," I pouted.
He considered it.
"True," he conceded. I giggled.
"Draco..."
"Hm?"
"I've an idea."
"Really?"
"Yup."
"And that would be?"
"Well... what if you and I got together?"
"Are you asking me out, Virginia?" He was amused.
"No! See, if you and I got together, it would piss off everyone we know, correct?"
"Correct."
"So it would be fun for you, since it would piss off Potter and his little gang, correct?"
"Correct." He was considering it.
"And it would be good for me, since Potter wouldn't be able to do anything about it, 'cause you're Head Boy."
"True enough."
"And, since I'm a prefect and you're Head Boy, if anyone tries to do anything about it, well, they could get detention or something."
"It's a good scheme, my dear, but there's only one flaw."
"What's that?"
"If my parents found out, I'd be shipped off to Durmstrang. If your parents found out, I imagine you would be in a shitload of trouble."
"I've thought about that. If your father finds out – which it would probably be better if you just straight up told him – you can tell him that you're only seeing me in order to get closer to Potter, to try and find out information, or whatever. And as for me, well, my mum will let me do anything once I get to school, 'cause I'm a great actress."
He raised a brow, and I could see he was impressed.
"Very well, Virginia. Your little plot sounds to me as though it would benefit the both of us."
I beamed.
"But I wonder," he drawled, tracing one finger along my jaw line, "if perhaps you aren't trying to find a way to repeat last night?"
I shivered, as his hand cupped my chin.
"Well, if you want to repeat last night, I'd be more than happy to oblige," I replied, smirking.
"Would you now?"
I shrugged.
"It could be a benefit of my plot."
His eyes glittered like falling stars, and his smirk mirrored my own. Before I could say anything more, he pressed his lips to mine in a soft kiss. He pulled away just as quickly, releasing my chin in the process.
"I'll see you on the train tomorrow, my dear," he said, and made to leave.
"Hold up! Is this farce going to take place, or not? 'Cause I need to know how to act tomorrow, you know."
"Just follow my lead tomorrow, and everything will be fine, darling."
And with that, he disapparated, leaving me alone in the alley. I shook my head in puzzlement, and left the side street, pondering his words. I was pretty sure that his response had been an agreement, or he wouldn't have said what he did. Shrugging, I wandered down the main street towards the Leaky Cauldron, more than ready to go home. It was nearly dinnertime, after all, and I hadn't eaten anything more than an ice cream sundae all day.
I was nearly there when my brother fell into step on my left, Harry on my right, Hermione beside Harry. I rolled my eyes.
"Have a nice time with Malfoy?" Ron asked coldly.
"Quite, thank you."
"You know Ginny, I'm surprised at you."
"Why's that Potter?"
"'Cause you hit me."
I laughed. I couldn't believe his arrogance!
"So?"
"It's been a long time since I've been hit."
"And your point is?"
"His point is, Ginny, that it was wrong what you did. You should apologize," Hermione said reproachfully.
"What I did was wrong? I was simply defending my friend. Now, Potter, on the other hand, was insulting someone for no reason. I'm pretty sure he's the one who should be apologizing."
We had reached the Leaky Cauldron by now, and I had no doubt that they were going to watch me floo home, for fear I was off to Malfoy Manor.
"Ginny, I thought you told me that you just had casual sex with Malfoy. No ties, and forget about it afterwards."
"Well, Potter, I don't generally have sex with someone and then pretend like I don't even know them. Usually, we do remain friends. It's sort of a common courtesy," I explained coldly. Ron winced at my words. No doubt the thought of his baby sister not being a virgin was terrifying.
"Are you trying to tell us that Malfoy w-wasn't your first?" Ron's face drained of all color as he said it.
Right on, Gin! You've scared your brother! Good work. Maybe now he'll leave you alone. FAT CHANCE!
"Yes, Ronald. I actually thought it was pretty obvious." I took a handful of floo powder, threw it into the fire, and disappeared in a whirl of bright green flames.
I made two stops straight away; one at Magical Transportation and Tours, to pick up mum's floo powder, and the other at a basic potion supply store for my powdered ginger root. After leaving the second shop, both of my small bags clasped firmly in my left hand, I wandered fairly aimlessly for a while, bored.
The heat finally getting to me, I sauntered over to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor, ordered myself an ice cream sundae, and dropped into a seat at a corner table outside. It occurred to me, as I ate my ice cream, that there were a bloody lot of people trying to control my life.
Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Mum, Dad, and not to mention all the teachers at Hogwarts who are always breathing down my neck, always seem to have some sort of control over what I do. I frowned, and chewed on my ice cream spoon, pondering what to do about the disgraceful situation.
And that brought me to another thing: Potter. He was such a... prick. He'd never shown any interest in me before, when I actually liked him, but as soon as he found out that people he didn't approve of showed an interest in me – even if it was only casual sex – he was all over me. It was quite disgusting, really.
Speak of the Devil, Gin! The Golden Trio is here, in all of their heroic, take-care-of-Ron's-little-sister glory.
I saw them out of the corner of my eye, conspicuous in their attempt to be inconspicuous. They were all watching me, and when I looked up, all three looked away; they were leaning against one of the walls of the shops, chatting a little too animatedly for the ploy to be plausible.
My eyes rolled, and I was just about to get up and tell them off when I felt those goddamn prickles at the back of my neck.
"Hello, Virginia," he breathed in my ear, causing me to jump nearly six inches off my seat.
He chuckled softly, and sat down in the seat across from me, his back to the street. Mercury colored eyes glittered in amusement as my breathing slowed gradually back to its normal rate.
"Don't DO that!" I said, when I was able to speak. He really was insufferably evil.
"Don't do what, Virginia?" He asked innocently, patented smirk playing on his lips.
I rolled my eyes and didn't reply.
GIN! BETTER DO SOMETHING! QUICK! THEY'RE COMING! THEY'VE SEEN HIM! AND THEY NOTICED THAT, UNLIKE MOST, YOU HAVEN'T HEXED HIM TO BITS!
"Oh, shit," I muttered, gaze traveling over his shoulder in the direction of my brother and his friends, who were approaching quickly, pushing their way across the crowded street, wands at the ready.
"Problem?" He inquired lazily, leaning back in his chair.
"Yes, problem."
"Anything I can help with?"
"You could get your arse out of here."
"Virginia! You wound me!"
"Well, it's either that, or they'll curse you into oblivion."
"Who will?"
"The Golden Trio."
He chuckled again, and rose languorously from his seat, turning towards the street just as my three 'protectors' reached us.
"Get away from her, Malfoy," Harry snarled, pointing his wand at the blonde boy.
"Why would I want to do that, Potter?" Draco asked boredly, pulling out his own wand and twirling it between his fingers.
I rose from my chair, seething; it was no business of theirs what I did, or whom I associated with, but here they were, ruining a very pleasant conversation with their deluded ideas that I was incapable of taking care of myself.
GIN! This could be the answer you were looking for! Go out with Draco! That'd infuriate everyone to no end, and you'd have plenty of fun, not to mention the fact that they wouldn't be able to do anything to him, since he's Head Boy and all.
Pouting, I stood beside Draco, my arms folded over my chest.
"Ronald, may I please remind you that my life is none of your business? Now be a dear and fuck off; Draco and I were having a very pleasant conversation before you showed up."
All of them – including Draco – looked quite taken aback at my words. I could see how Draco would be surprised, but the others had heard the same refrain all summer; it shouldn't have been much of a shock to them.
"Ginny! We aren't leaving you here with this... this..." Ron didn't seem able to find words to describe Draco.
"Please, Ronald. I am quite capable of taking care of myself," I snapped, glaring at my older brother.
"Yeah, you certainly showed us that last night," Harry retorted acidly, still pointing his wand at Draco.
"I don't recall asking your opinion, Potter. And kindly lower your wand; Draco hasn't done anything."
"Of course he's done something; he exists, doesn't he?" Harry responded, glaring in my direction.
I slapped him. What else was I supposed to do? Let the remark slide? So I walked right up to him, and slapped him around the face. His head snapped round with the force of my blow, and I was pleased to see a handprint on his cheek.
Temporarily distracted by their friend's plight, Hermione and Ron turned away from Draco and I. I grabbed Draco's hand, having had enough of my insufferable brother and his entourage for one lifetime, and dragged him away from the ice cream parlor.
"I'm quite surprised at you, Virginia," Draco remarked, as I pulled him into a side alley in hopes of hiding from my now furious brother – not to mention a Harry Potter whose ego was just seriously injured, and Hermione who was quite appalled.
"Why're you surprised," I asked, turning from my surveillance of the street beyond our hiding place to look at him.
"You hit Potter." He said it simply, as though it were quite obvious.
"So?"
"I thought you had a bit of an infatuation with the boy."
"No."
"Really?"
"Really."
"May I inquire as to why? Most of the female population at Hogwarts worships the moron. Why don't you?" He seemed quite curious, and I sighed.
"I used to like him, and I used to be a pathetic fangirl. But now I dunno. Things change. I changed. I don't particularly like him at all any more."
"Intriguing."
I scoffed.
"Hardly. He's trying to control my life, just like the rest of them. You know, he actually came on to me today?" I glanced up at him, as I said it, wondering what his reaction would be.
A mixture of expressions crossed his face, though before I could try to decipher any of them, his visage had returned to its customary blank façade.
"I can see why," he said after a moment.
"You can?!"
"Well of course, my dear. You are beautiful, and you don't worship the ground he walks on. You could care less if he pledged his undying love to you right now, and he knows it. You are associating with the enemy, and it frightens him; he wants to bring you back to him, if you follow me."
"I follow, but I don't understand."
"He wants what he cannot get."
"Oh. Well. I certainly wish he'd take his affections elsewhere, but I don't know how to get him to go away. He won't leave me the hell alone."
"It's the oldest story in the book, darling."
"Stupid, stupid, stupid, that's what it is."
"You've got it in a nutshell."
"This year at school's going to be hell," I muttered, massaging my temples.
"You think it'll be bad for you? I'm Head Boy. Granger's Head Girl. I have to work with the Mudblood."
"At least you don't have some insufferable prick lusting after you," I pouted.
He considered it.
"True," he conceded. I giggled.
"Draco..."
"Hm?"
"I've an idea."
"Really?"
"Yup."
"And that would be?"
"Well... what if you and I got together?"
"Are you asking me out, Virginia?" He was amused.
"No! See, if you and I got together, it would piss off everyone we know, correct?"
"Correct."
"So it would be fun for you, since it would piss off Potter and his little gang, correct?"
"Correct." He was considering it.
"And it would be good for me, since Potter wouldn't be able to do anything about it, 'cause you're Head Boy."
"True enough."
"And, since I'm a prefect and you're Head Boy, if anyone tries to do anything about it, well, they could get detention or something."
"It's a good scheme, my dear, but there's only one flaw."
"What's that?"
"If my parents found out, I'd be shipped off to Durmstrang. If your parents found out, I imagine you would be in a shitload of trouble."
"I've thought about that. If your father finds out – which it would probably be better if you just straight up told him – you can tell him that you're only seeing me in order to get closer to Potter, to try and find out information, or whatever. And as for me, well, my mum will let me do anything once I get to school, 'cause I'm a great actress."
He raised a brow, and I could see he was impressed.
"Very well, Virginia. Your little plot sounds to me as though it would benefit the both of us."
I beamed.
"But I wonder," he drawled, tracing one finger along my jaw line, "if perhaps you aren't trying to find a way to repeat last night?"
I shivered, as his hand cupped my chin.
"Well, if you want to repeat last night, I'd be more than happy to oblige," I replied, smirking.
"Would you now?"
I shrugged.
"It could be a benefit of my plot."
His eyes glittered like falling stars, and his smirk mirrored my own. Before I could say anything more, he pressed his lips to mine in a soft kiss. He pulled away just as quickly, releasing my chin in the process.
"I'll see you on the train tomorrow, my dear," he said, and made to leave.
"Hold up! Is this farce going to take place, or not? 'Cause I need to know how to act tomorrow, you know."
"Just follow my lead tomorrow, and everything will be fine, darling."
And with that, he disapparated, leaving me alone in the alley. I shook my head in puzzlement, and left the side street, pondering his words. I was pretty sure that his response had been an agreement, or he wouldn't have said what he did. Shrugging, I wandered down the main street towards the Leaky Cauldron, more than ready to go home. It was nearly dinnertime, after all, and I hadn't eaten anything more than an ice cream sundae all day.
I was nearly there when my brother fell into step on my left, Harry on my right, Hermione beside Harry. I rolled my eyes.
"Have a nice time with Malfoy?" Ron asked coldly.
"Quite, thank you."
"You know Ginny, I'm surprised at you."
"Why's that Potter?"
"'Cause you hit me."
I laughed. I couldn't believe his arrogance!
"So?"
"It's been a long time since I've been hit."
"And your point is?"
"His point is, Ginny, that it was wrong what you did. You should apologize," Hermione said reproachfully.
"What I did was wrong? I was simply defending my friend. Now, Potter, on the other hand, was insulting someone for no reason. I'm pretty sure he's the one who should be apologizing."
We had reached the Leaky Cauldron by now, and I had no doubt that they were going to watch me floo home, for fear I was off to Malfoy Manor.
"Ginny, I thought you told me that you just had casual sex with Malfoy. No ties, and forget about it afterwards."
"Well, Potter, I don't generally have sex with someone and then pretend like I don't even know them. Usually, we do remain friends. It's sort of a common courtesy," I explained coldly. Ron winced at my words. No doubt the thought of his baby sister not being a virgin was terrifying.
"Are you trying to tell us that Malfoy w-wasn't your first?" Ron's face drained of all color as he said it.
Right on, Gin! You've scared your brother! Good work. Maybe now he'll leave you alone. FAT CHANCE!
"Yes, Ronald. I actually thought it was pretty obvious." I took a handful of floo powder, threw it into the fire, and disappeared in a whirl of bright green flames.