A/N: Here's the next chapter Christmas Surprises. It's actually the longest chapter so enjoy. Also the POV changes a lot but it's easy to follow along.
Disclaimer: I disclaim all the characters and anything else you would recognize as the wonderful and talented J.K. Rowling.
Rated: PG-13 – there's a lot of cursing…I have a potty mouth!
Summery: Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley find each other in their 7th and 6th year. But what happens when Ron gets in the way and Draco has to become a Death-Eater?
Fluff-o-meter: There's fluff! Yay! After 4 chapters without it there finally is!
Recap: Ginny and Draco sing their songs at the Talent Show. Ginny runs off the stage and puts The Trio in their place.
Christmas Surprises
It was December 25th, Christmas morning, and the entire castle, except for Peeves maybe, was peacefully sleeping.
Almost all the students left yesterday to go home for the holidays leaving only a handful of students from each house. Ginny and Draco being part of that handful.
Ginny didn't go home for the holiday because her parents were spending Christmas with her oldest brother's, Bill, fianc's parents.
Draco stayed at Hogwarts because his father had to get things ready for his initiation.
So it's all peaceful on this newly layered snow Christmas morning until a very cheerful Gryffindor decided to disrupt all that.
"IT'S CHRISTMAS!" Colin Creevy, an over excited 6th year with blond hair and blue eyes, screamed at the top of his lungs waking up the other 5 students in the tower.
"Every frickin year!" Ginny groaned punching her fist in the bed to push herself up and out of it.
She stalked out of her room and stood at the top of the stairs to glare at Colin, who was standing in the middle of the common room, along with Hermione, Parvati Patil, Ron, and Harry.
Colin looked at all the tired and angry faces and shrugged. "Come on guys…it's a tradition!" he said and they all broke out in a smile. It really was a tradition. Colin did that every year since his first year. "Now get you're presents so we can open them together," he ordered.
Ginny smiled and rolled her eyes and walked back into her room. She got all her gifts and walked back down to open them with the rest of the Gryffindors.
"Okay so who wants to go first?" Colin asked. This was his favorite holiday and he always made the people who stayed behind at Hogwarts feel like one big family.
Parvati opened her gifts first, then Colin, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and lastly Ginny.
"Okay Gin…now it's your turn" Colin said happily
"Alright" Ginny said and took her first gift of the top of her pile.
It was from her parents and it was a knitted sweater and some homemade candy. She looked at the sweater for a few seconds then put it down. Her next two were from Colin and Parvati and it was candy from Honeydukes.
"Thanks guys" Ginny said smiling at them.
"You're welcome" Colin and Parvati said together.
Then she opened up gifts from her brothers. Charlie gave her dragon hide boots, Bill gave her decorative parchment and two new color changing quills, and Fred and George gave her some gags from their shop. Next Ginny took a wrapped gift that resembled a book. Sure enough it was a book, about the size of a dictionary, filled with all love stories. Ginny eyes lit up, she spent many hours reading love stories.
"Harry, Ron and myself pooled all our money together to get it for you." Hermione told her "We hope you like it"
"I love it!" Ginny squealed and hugged Hermione, Ron and Harry. She didn't forget the fight but she was willing to forget it for today. "Well that's it" Ginny said throwing the wrapping paper in the fire.
"No wait Gin…what's that?" Ron asked pointing to a little box on the floor with her name on it.
"I don't know," Ginny said picking up the box. It was wrapped in silver wrapping paper with a green silk ribbon tied around it. "It doesn't say who it's from," Ginny said looking all over the box for a name.
"Just open it!" Parvati said the suspense killing her.
Ginny unwrapped the petite box and opened it. Her mouth dropped open and her voice caught in her throat. Inside the box was the necklace Draco gave her along with a silver ring with a green emerald set in the middle and a silver 'M' carved into the center of the ring…Draco's family ring.
"What is it Gin?" Hermione asked.
Ginny couldn't speak tears were welling in her eyes. She turned the box to show everyone else. Parvati and Hermione gasped and the boys sat there with their mouths open.
"Is that his…" Ron asked and Ginny nodded. "And he gave it…" Ginny nodded again. "Do you know what this means?" Ron asked his voice rising.
Ginny nodded her head once and looked at the gift again. "Excuse me" she said and ran up to her room leaving 5 very stunned people watching.
"Can you believe her gave her his ring!" Ron asked stunned still staring at the staircase Ginny just ran up.
"Oh it's so romantic!" Parvati cooed falling on the floor. Ron just glared at her.
"What are you gonna do now Ron?" Harry asked.
Ron stopped glaring at Parvati and looked at Harry, then at the floor. "I don't know," he whispered.
During the same time in the dungeons, Draco woke up. He sat up straight in bed and stretched. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and looked at the presents sitting at the end of the bed. Seeing the presents reminded him of the one he gave Ginny.
I wonder if she liked it…if she understands what it means. He thought. He pulled himself from his thoughts, crawled to the end of his bed and started opening his gifts.
From his father he got some gallons and 3 books on the Dark Arts. Yeah these will go right in the fire. He thought. He got chocolate from girls who he knew were crazy about him and a swimsuit calendar from Blaise. Always the horny teenager! Draco thought with a laugh setting the calendar down. He picked up his last gift. It was wrapped in red wrapping paper and it had a green bow around it.
He tore the paper off revealing a silver picture frame with a picture of himself and Ginny in the piano room. They were standing near the window with the snow falling softly behind them outside. Ginny stood on her tiptoes, brushed Draco's lips with a soft kiss the hugged him tightly around the waist looking at the camera.
Draco remembered that day. It was a few days before the fight with Ron and Ginny broke up with him. Ginny stole Colin's camera and she kept taken pictures of them. He glanced down to the bottom of the frame where the phrase Je t'aime was engraved on the bottom. Draco touched the picture. I miss you Gin…I really miss you.
Ginny was pacing back and forth inside her room. She put Draco's gift on her bed in front of where she was pacing.
Okay Gin just breath. In. Out. In. Out. Who are you kidding…you knew he was gonna get you something. You did give him a gift. But this…I never thought. Ginny stopped pacing and grabbed the jewelry box.
She plopped down on her bed and ran her finger over the ring and necklace. She took the necklace out of the box and put it around her neck, basking in the feeling of the familiar weight. Then she took the ring out and slipped in onto her finger.
Draco had just cleaned up and was getting ready to shower when he heard a loud pounding on his door. He threw on a shirt and opened his door.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING GIVING MY SISTER YOUR FAMILY RING!" Ron screamed storming into Draco's room.
Draco closed his door. Keep your cool. He kept thinking to himself.
"WELL!" Ron yelled getting impatient with him not answering.
"I don't think that's any of your business Weasley" Draco said calmly.
Ron grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "When it come to my sister everything is my business" he hissed.
Draco glared at Ron and shoved his hands off him. "Your business huh?" He yelled. Ron nodded. "Have you looked at her lately? She's gotten so thin, why? Because she hasn't been to any meals and she hasn't been eating! How do I know this…because I look for her during meal times and I can never find her! I know this because I care!"
"I care!" Ron yelled. He was more upset with himself then mad at Draco because Draco noticed something about his sister that he didn't. "I cared enough to know that she would get hurt by dating you!"
Draco let out a laughing sigh and shook his head. "I would never hurt her. I was good to her. I talked to her, listened to her and cared for her. She's far worse now then she was when we were together. We were together for a little over a month. Did you see her upset at all? Now she's depressed. I can see it…I can feel it." Draco told him firmly.
"And how can you feel it?" Ron asked slowly understanding.
Draco suddenly became interested in the ground. "Because I am to," he said softly.
Ron didn't say anything. His mouth just formed and 'O' shape. "Do you love my sister?" He asked sincerely.
Draco nodded. "Very much" he said finally looking up at Ron's face.
"Does she know?" Ron asked feeling bad about what he did.
Draco shook his head. "I never got the chance to tell her. That's why I sent her the ring"
Ron ran his fingers through his hair. "Look…I'm sorry. I didn't know. But if you love my sister then you should be with her. She deserves that after everything she's gone through."
Draco looked at Ron; eyes wide, mouth a gape. Is Ron Weasley approving? At that moment Ron held out his hand. Draco looked at it then back up at Ron's face. He took his hand and shook it.
"I'll talk to her" Ron said then left.
Draco walked over to his bed and threw himself down on it. Did I just have a civil conversation with Ron Weasley? And did he just approve of Ginny and me? He thought in disbelief.
Ginny didn't go to breakfast. She sat in her room and played with Draco's ring. She was still in shock.
He gave me his ring. Draco gave me the Malfoy family ring. He can't love me…he can't…but he did change. He was so gentle and kind and…maybe he does love me. And I love him. I love him so much. She threw her hands over her face and started crying.
Ron went down to breakfast after talking with Draco. He sat down next to Hermione. He looked down each end of the table. "Where's Ginny?" He asked.
"She never came out of her room." Harry said before putting a fork full of food in his mouth.
"Malfoy was right" Ron whispered.
"Malfoy was right about what?" Hermione asked.
Ron looked at her. "Ginny hasn't been to any meals. Did you guys notice?" He asked. Harry and Hermione shook their heads no. "Neither have I…Merlin I'm such a bad brother!" Ron cried throwing his face in his hands.
Hermione put her hand on his back and rubbed it comfortingly. "You're not a bad brother Ron, you were just distracted." She said trying to comfort him.
"But she's my sister! I should have realized something! She's not eating! She hasn't been here and we haven't even noticed!" Ron cried.
Harry shook his head. "That's not true!" he said "You noticed that one time…earlier this week" he finished trying to make Ron feel better.
"One time!" Ron said almost yelling. "One time out of this entire week! Malfoy noticed everyday! He cares about my sister more then I do!"
All of a sudden Harry and Hermione became serious. "Does he really care for her?" Harry asked.
Ron nodded at yes. "He really does. And I ruined that for her too…see what I'm doing? I'm ruining her life! I don't care enough for my own sister!" Ron yelled making everyone look over at him.
Hermione looked around the Great Hall then leaned in closer to Ron. "Ron I think you need to talk to her" she whispered.
Ginny went down to dinner that evening. Even though she loved the Christmas feast she didn't eat. She pushed her food around in her plate, but she didn't see the plate full of food or her fork. All she saw was his ring.
She was still in complete and utter shock. Draco Malfoy gave her, Ginny Weasley, his family ring. She thought it looked beautiful on her like it was supposed to be there. It was a welcoming weight to her and she absolutely loved it.
"Gin…hey Gin" Ron said pushing her lightly.
Ginny snapped out of her daze. "What's up?" She asked looking at him.
"We can head back now." Ron said looking at her plate full of food.
Ginny looked around at the Great Hall and noticed everyone had left. "Okay" she said getting up and starting to walk away.
Ron held her back by the wrist. "You didn't eat…you wanna finish?" He asked.
Ginny looked at her plate of food and shook her head. "No…I'm fine" she assured him.
Ron shrugged, stood up and followed Ginny out. They walked halfway to the tower in silence. Ron was itching to talk to Ginny about everything but bit his tongue. He couldn't wait anymore.
"Gin…I wanna talk to you about something" he said.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Ron it's bloody Christmas…think we can hold out on the lectures?" She asked annoyed.
Ron shook his head. "I don't wanna lecture you Gin. I wanna have a serious conversation about something."
Ginny swallowed, closed her eyes, and put the back of her hand to her forehead. She was getting tired and dizzy. "What's this something?" she asked dropping her hand.
Ron took a deep breath carefully choosing his words. "Look…I know how you feel about Malfoy-"
"Ron I don't wanna talk about that with you" Ginny cut him off.
Ron sighed in defeat. "Fine then let's talk about your eating habits," he said.
Ginny stopped walking. "What about them?" She asked getting angry.
"How 'bout you're not eating at all!" Ron yelled turning to face her and throwing his hands in the air.
Ginny stared at Ron, but he was blurry and he started spinning in circles along with the corridor. "Am to" she whispered before fainting.
Ron quickly shot his arms out and caught Ginny before she hit the floor. "Ginny" he said shaking her. "Ginny!" he said louder now hitting her lightly on the cheek. He started panicking and scooped her up putting one arm under he knees and another behind her back, bride style. He brought her to the only place her could think of at the moment.
Draco was in his room staring at the picture Ginny gave him when he heard urgent knocking on his door. He got up, walked to the door and opened it. He found Ron holding a limp Ginny.
"What happened?" he gasped opening the door wider letting Ron in.
"We were walking back to the common room and talking about how she doesn't eat and she fainted." Ron told Draco placing Ginny gently on the bed.
Draco nodded his head and ran into his bathroom. A second later he came out with a green washcloth soaked with water. He sat down next to Ginny and gently placed the washcloth over her forehead.
Ron watched amused. Malfoy's acting human. He was snapped out of his thinking when Draco spoke.
"Go to the kitchen and get some left overs from tonight. I'll try to wake her up." He said without taking his eyes off Ginny.
Ron nodded his head, eager to do anything that would help his sister, and quickly left the room.
Draco watched Ron leave through the door then turned back to Ginny and looked her up and down.
Her hair was fanned out around her like a lion's mane. It looked beautiful, but it lost its glow. He then looked at her face and noticed her eyes sunken in. He traveled further down her body noticing her frailness. He finally landed on her hand and his ring. She's wearing it! He thought excitingly. He smiled at her and decided to wake her up.
"Ginny…Giiinyyy…Gin come on…wake up," Draco said softly shaking her and rubbing her arm. Ginny's eyes fluttered and she slowly opened them. "Ginny?"
"Draco?" Ginny whispered surprised to see him. "What am I doing here?" she asked weakly taking in her surroundings. She tried to sit up, but Draco pushed her back down gently.
"You fainted in the hallway Gin…you haven't been eating" Draco told her smoothing out her hair and lightly pressing the cloth that he put on her head.
It felt so right to him to be taking care of her. His entire body felt content with her being there with him again.
"I haven't been hungry," Ginny whispered quickly still weak.
Draco tucked two pieces of stray hair out of her face. "Well Ron's getting you some food now"
"Ron!" Ginny said surprised. "He brought me here?" Draco nodded. "Am I dreaming or did the world just end?" She asked not believing Ron brought her to Draco's room.
Draco chuckled. "Neither…he-"
"Is she up?" Ron asked eagerly walking into the room with a tray of food cutting off Draco unknowingly.
"I'm fine Ron" Ginny said lifting her head up to look at him.
"Ginny!" Ron said just noticing her. "You scared the hell out of me! Here eat up!" He set the tray next to Ginny.
Ginny looked at the food and her face screwed up in disgust. "I'm not hungry" she stated and closed her eyes ready to sleep.
"Not hungry! Gin when was the last time you ate?" Ron asked flabbergasted. She looked like a skeleton; anyone could tell she hadn't been eating.
"I don't know…almost two weeks ago" she responded with a shrug not opening her eyes.
"Two weeks ago! Ginny you have to eat!" Ron cried pushing the food closer to her.
"I'm not hungry" Ginny said firmly pushing the food away.
Ron sighed and sat down at the foot of the bed running his fingers through his hair.
"Ginny" Draco whispered making her attention turn towards him. "You need to eat…please just eat…even if it's something small and light…you just need to eat" he told her almost pleadingly, trying to talk some sense into her.
Ginny looked at him for a little bit then nodded her head and pulled the food closer. His eyes were pleading to her and it broke her heart. She poked at the food a little bit then settled on salad and pudding. When she finished that she ate some vegetables and a few bites of meat. When she started eating she couldn't stop the past week, or more, catching up to her.
Ron watched Ginny with happy eyes. He felt horrible for not paying much attention to her over the past 6 years and now he did something good for her. It didn't take away all the guilt, but it did make him feel a little better.
"Alright" Draco said taking the plate away after she was halfway through her first piece of meat. "We don't need you throwing this back up"
Ginny nodded and wiped her mouth clean with her napkin. "I'm tired," she whispered putting the back of her hand to her forehead.
"Okay Gin we'll go. Do you think you can floo?" Ron asked. Ginny nodded her head and got out of bed with the help of Draco. Ron walked over to them and for the second time in one day held his hand out to Draco. "Thanks" he said as Draco grasped it and shook it as Ginny watched stunned.
"My pleasure" Draco said looking down at Ginny, who blushed and looked down at the floor.
"I'll floo first that way someone's there to catch you" Ron said and stepped into Draco's fireplace. He grabbed some powder, yelled Gryffindor common room as he threw the powder down and was engulf in the green flames.
Ginny stepped in next and reached for the powder. Before she could take some Draco grabbed her hand sending tingles to coarse up and down her arms.
"Go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow at 10" he said quickly.
Ginny looked at him for a second then nodded her head yes. She then grabbed some floo powder, threw it down saying Gryffindor common room and was engulf in the green flames.
Draco waited for Ginny by the front doors of the school.
It took him forever to pick something out to wear and finally he settled on blue jeans and a black long sleeve shirt showing off his muscles. He wore his heavy winter cloak over it. He wore sneakers and his hair was loose falling in his eyes as usual. He even put on his favorite cologne that he rarely used, to save it.
This felt like he was on a first date and he wanted to impress the girl, which he would never do. But this was Ginny and he was in love.
He finally saw her coming. She was in dark blue jeans and her Romania sweatshirt her cloak in her arms.
She looks so beautiful. Draco thought. Ginny was still sunken in and thin, but some of the light she possessed was back.
Here we go Ginny. Just breath. And try not to jump him. Were Ginny's thoughts as she walked closer. To her Draco had gotten more handsome in their time apart.
"Hi" Draco said looking her directly in the eye.
"Hey" Ginny responded looking away.
"Ready?" Draco asked pointing to the carriages with his head.
Ginny nodded her head and followed him out. He helped her into one of the carriages and sat down next to her.
They rode to Hogsmeade in silence. Ginny snuck glances at Draco wondering why things got like this.
They used to be able to talk and laugh and have a good time together. Now they were like two scared blind dates, the silence being that thick and that awkward.
The carriage finally stopped and they got out. Hogsmeade was almost empty only a handful of people, unusual for the day after Christmas.
They walked side by side in awkward silence again, their hands brushing past one another's with each swing and step.
Draco couldn't take their hands just brushing so he slowly and gently took her hand in his and laced their fingers together. Ginny looked at their hands and smiled. Then she stopped and Draco did too.
"Look Draco I-"
"Ginny I-"
They both said at the same time. They smiled and looked at the ground.
"You go first," Draco said looking up at her.
"Draco I can't take your ring," she said looking at him through her lashes. Draco face fell and he went to argue, but Ginny continued. "I feel honored that you gave it to me and I love it, but I can't have it…it's your family ring" she said sliding the object of discussion off her finger and placing it in his hand.
Draco looked at his hand his face showing how disappointed he was. Ginny sniffled and he was taken out of his trance.
"Ginny just take it…I want you to have it. You're the only one who deserves to have it." Draco explained.
Ginny looked up at him. "Why?" she asked a tear rolling out of her eye and down her pale cheek.
Draco smiled at her, cupped her face in his hands and brushed the tear away. "Because Gin…I-" was all Draco got out.
A person wearing an all black robe with a huge hood covering his face apperated behind Ginny, who yelped in surprise when he took around her waist and tore her out of Draco's light hold. He disapperated away with Ginny leaving a very shocked and stunned Draco.
A/N: Dun, Dun, Dunnnn. So that's it! Long chapter! It's 1 AM and I started typing at like 9. Any who…I hoped you enjoyed this one and please, please, please review! You know how much I like it. ::gives reviewers a huge smile::
Preview for next chapter: The Night of Initiation
Draco goes to any length to save Ginny. Even if it's showing every feeling he feels towards her.