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Chapter 3 Vulnerable

Eyes wide, Ginny slowly backed away from Draco, her hand rising of its own accord, her fingers coming to rest on her swollen lips. His eyes followed hers, his expression unreadable. Ginny turned and tore out of the classroom to the portrait hole. She sprinted through the common room and up the stairs to her dorm room.

"Hey, where's the fire?" called Ron laughing.

Ginny was grateful that none of her roommates were there. She threw herself onto her bed and almost tore down the hangings in her haste to close them. Grabbing her pillow, she buried her face and stifled the wail that had been sliding painfully up her throat.

Just then she heard a tentative, "Ginny?" Hermione's steps came closer and in a low voice she asked, "Ginny, what's going on?"

Ginny pulled a curtain back and allowed Hermione to clamber in. Seeing Ginny's tears, Hermione reached in her pocket and handed over some tissues.

"Thanks," muttered Ginny wiping her eyes.

"You seem to be having the worst day. So what's the matter? Do you want to talk about it?"

"Would you believe it if I told you that five minutes ago," Ginny began in a low voice, "I was in a dark classroom kissing Draco Malfoy like I have never kissed anyone before?"

Hermione gasped. "You what?"

"Yeah," said Ginny with a sardonic laugh. "Well, it's the truth. And the worst part of it is," Ginny's eyes cast down and she added quietly, "It was really good...what am I going to do?"

"What...how did this happen?" Hermione asked faintly.

Ginny told Hermione about leaving the library and being grabbed from the hall. "And then I saw his face and he just hauled me to him and...we went from there."

Hermione let out a big breath. "Ginny...this is Draco Malfoy. Remember what you heard him say at dinner tonight? Remember who his father is—where he is..."

"I know...I know..." Ginny moaned as she rested her head in her hands again. "I don't know what to think right now."

"Please be careful, Ginny," Hermione looked distressed. "Draco never does anything that isn't in his own interest."

"I realize that, Hermione, and I know this looks like something I should run screaming from. But there was something different about him this afternoon before he realized we had an audience. I'm not ready to just dismiss it yet."

"But, Ginny, even if he was different when he was by himself—and I really think it was an aberration of some sort—his friends are with him most of the time. He's hardly ever without Crabbe and Goyle—you know that."

"I know you're right," said Ginny miserably. "But I have to find out what's really going on here before I can just leave it."

"But, Ginny, what about Harry? Do you still have feelings for him?" Hermione said closely watching Ginny's eyes.

"No...I had the biggest crush on The Boy Who Lived for a long time before I even knew him...but I don't really feel the same way about 'Harry, My Friend'. And certainly not like I felt with Draco."

"So what did you feel?"

"Hmm...it felt like I had live wires draped over my body while standing in the rain."

"Well..." sighed Hermione shaking her head. "Please just be careful, Ginny. I don't like this at all. His awful father almost caused your death and Draco seems cut from the same cloth given all his previous behavior."

"I will. And please don't let Ron or Harry know about this just yet—at least until I figure out what's really going on. Thanks, Hermione—I don't know what I would've done without you today."

"I'm not at all comfortable with this, Ginny—in fact I'm worried. But I'm here if you need me and even if you don't." Hermione gave her a hug.

"Oh no!" Ginny gasped suddenly and jumped up. "I left my book bag and my wand down in that classroom. I've got to go and get them—I hope Draco hasn't taken them!"

She jumped up, sprinted down the stairs and hurried out the portrait hole.

"Oi! Ginny! Training for a marathon?" called Ron to her disappearing back and shook his head. "What is with her tonight?"

Ginny ran back to the classroom but her bag and wand weren't there.

She walked dejectedly back to the common room. Ginny gave a tiny shake of her head at Hermione's questioning look. Hermione gave a tiny frown in response.

'Does Draco have my things? What is he going to do with them? How will I get them from him without people seeing?' Ginny's worried thoughts carried her upstairs and to bed.

The next morning, Ginny awoke with a start at the sound of a tapping on the window nearest her bed. Pulling back the hangings, she saw a large unfamiliar owl perched on the windowsill looking expectantly at her. Ginny opened the window and the bird flew to her bed carrying a parcel. She untied it and whispered, "Thank you!" to the owl as it flew back out the window. Opening the package, she found her book bag and wand.

Ginny sighed with relief hugging them to herself. She dressed quietly so as not to wake the rest of the room and went to breakfast. Finding a seat beside Neville, Ginny got a few pieces of toast and some eggs.

"Good morning," said Neville brightly.

"How are you?" inquired Ginny smiling back.

"Pretty well—looks to be a nice day"

"It does, doesn't it? That'll be nice for Quidditch practice later."

"Yes, I'm going to the greenhouses later—want to come and see what I've been working on?" Neville asked hesitantly.

"Er, I've got a nasty potions essay I've got to finish before class tomorrow and with practice this afternoon, I will probably have to come some other time." Ginny responded. "But thanks for asking."

"Yeah, too bad weekends aren't three days instead of two," said Neville a little disappointedly.

"Hello," said Ron as he plunked down in his seat. "I'm famished!" Ron heaped his plate with eggs and bacon.

"Morning," said Hermione.

Harry sat across from Ginny. "Sleep well?"

"Mmhmm, how about you?"

"Pretty well, thanks."

"Ready for practice later?" Harry smiled as he helped himself to some kippers.

"More than," Ginny returned his smile.

"Yeah," said Ron, "And Slytherin's our next match this coming Saturday. I've got some strategies in mind that need practicing today. I hope this weather holds."

"I thought they were playing Hufflepuff, not us," Ginny said in surprise. 'Oh, great...this is the last thing I need...'

"They were, but the schedule has been changed as two of Hufflepuff's chasers were injured in practice last week." Ron shrugged.

Just then a rather large and noisy group sat down at the Slytherin table.

"Speak of the devil..." Ron smirked, "And there's their leader and his pet dog." Draco had just walked in with Pansy Parkinson on his arm.

Ginny turned her attention back to her plate, her eyes narrowing.

"Everything all right, Ginny?" asked Harry.

"Yes," she replied resolutely. "Just imagining another Gryffindor victory over Slytherin."