Chapter 1 - Getting Rid of a Nuisance
It was one of those days when the sky looks ready to pour down a steady stream of rain, yet one can't help loving it. It was a sort of light stormy grey with a hint of blue added to the mixture to make it deliciously irresistible. It was the kind that reminded me of someone's eyes. The way they captured your gaze and made you feel as if you could never let go. The way they made you feel so small and defenseless against the oncoming torrent. The way you seemed to drown in them even though you could feel the solid ground beneath you. The sky resembled his eyes. They resembled -
"Ginny, darling, will you please hurry up?! The train will leave in a few minutes and you still haven't got your luggage on it."
"Yeah, okay mum. Bye."
"Are you feeling alright, Ginny, darling?"
"Yes I'm fine mum. Gotta go." I pecked my mom lightly on the cheek, hugged my dad quickly, and sauntered to the train where I began the task of hauling my bags in. It really wasn't a difficult job, but I had other things on my mind.
"Here, let me help you with those."
Harry came into focus in front of me as I futilely attempted to get my bags in sideways through the tiny door. Harry turned the bags around and I fell flat on my bum with the luggage on top of me. He reached out his hand to help me up, but I refused it and stood up by myself, brushing myself off in the process.
"I thank you Harry, but would advise you to please leave me alone to sort out my own problems by myself." I picked up my stuff and headed down to the last compartment I could find, which also happened to be the loneliest, all the while slamming my bags into walls and compartment doors as I went.
I hadn't really noticed, until then, how much I was missing the solitude I had once loathed so much. I guess that all the time I had previously been spending with Harry, and before him Dean, had totally and completely deprived me of MY time. I mean, once I began to think about it, while Hermoine and Ron were busy in Ron's room, Harry and I were busy in mine. Not that we were doing things that we weren't supposed to be doing, but I never had any time alone in my own room. If Harry wasn't in there making out with me, then Hermione was in there talking to me about Ron and her studies and whatnot. Snapping back to reality I thought about how I had refused to sit with Harry, Ron, and Hermione on the pretense that I wasn't feeling too well and wanted to sleep. I didn't want to make it too obvious that I wasn't comfortable around Harry anymore, but what else was I going to do? I didn't want to sit there and reminisce on things that had happened between us. It would've been sheer torture. As Harry had followed me out into the hall, I had turned to see what he wanted, trying to control my anger at the same time. However, my temper got the better of me and I told Harry to sod off. I really did mean it too. I turned on my heel and left him there talking to himself.
Yup, this train ride was definitely gonna be good for sorting my thoughts out.
I sat down, after putting my things on the luggage rack, and looked out at the dreary sky, or at least what other people saw as a dreary sky. I would have been in my element had I been outside in the cool September breeze rather than cooped up in the musty compartment with nothing to do but think. Either way, I didn't have Harry anymore, and that was what hurt me the most.
The train started and I drew my hand across my face expecting the tears, which I had felt on the edge of my eyes, to greet my hand. However, there were none. I was extremely surprised as I had been certain that they had fallen. Forgetting the tears I had thought were coming, I soon drifted off into my memories; my fantasyland where I had lived but a short time.
I had just remembered how Harry used to embrace me as I cuddled up to him in front of the fireplace at Grimmauld Place when the compartment door slid open. There stood THE hottest guy in London, probably in England for that matter. No joke. This guy had to be five ten or eleven, close to six feet. He had the most gorgeous biceps you can imagine under his muscle tee shirt. You could see his six-pack rippling under his shirt as he leaned against the frame of the door lazily. His platinum blonde hair hung down over his eyes, which were icy grey. I knew at once that this was the boy the sky had brought to my mind. Well, in actuality, this was the man that sky had reminded me of. This was Draco Malfoy, my brother's greatest enemy, and, I reluctantly reminded myself, therefore mine also.
"Like what you see Weasley?" he drawled lazily.
I looked at him airily, as if he had no effect on me whatsoever with his gorgeous body, raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"You know, I've heard steroids can damage your package," I said casually, looking down at his crotch as I said it. Damn. "Not that you've got much to damage, but I'd keep what I do have if I were you Malfoy."
I think I saw him blush, but if he did, it was very faint and gone the next moment.
"Oh, and how would know Weasel? Have you been thinking about it much lately?"
"Am I that transparent?" I said feigning surprise. "I want you, I need you. Oh baby, oh baby." Over the summer, my father had bought a telyvizin, or something like that. Hermione had helped him set it up and had showed us how to work it. Then, she had asked her mum to send her one of her favorite movees, I think they are called. The movee was called Ten Things I Hate About You. I loved it and watched it a couple of times over the summer, mostly with Harry. Okay, stop thinking about him. Anyways.
He smiled faintly, walked up to me, and stooped down so that his face and mine were only centimeters apart. I thought for one wild second that he was going to kiss me, but I forced my heart to stop beating so wildly. I had to get my head out of all this romanticism crap. Even if he did kiss me, I told myself, it would all eventually end in pain; just like before.
"What's wrong Ginny? Scared? Or did you actually think I was going to kiss you?" Damn, he read my mind like an open piece of parchment. His every breath smelled of minty freshness, and I couldn't stop thinking of how inviting his lips looked.
"How did you know Draco. Damn, I really thought I was more opaque than that. So now that you've guessed, do I still get the kiss?"
"Do you really think I'm that desperate Weasel? I'd rather kiss a frog before kissing you!"
"Oh well, I didn't know you swung that way Malfoy. I've heard that frogs only turn into princes. Although with the girls you hang out with, even I'm more attractive, aren't I, Malfoy?"
"You just put yourself down. You know that don't you?"
"Oh my goodness Malfoy, thank you so very much for telling me. I really wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't been so kind as to point it out for me. Really dahling, you're too kind."
He looked like he was going to throw something back at me, but a head popped into the compartment at that precise moment and who could it be but the dearest Pansy Parkinson.
"Oh Draco," she said smoothly. "I've been looking all over for you. I'm so glad I found you!" she attempted the last line seductively, but with her high-pitched voice it did not sound in place.
She suddenly noticed that I was present in the compartment and she wrinkled up her nose.
"Draco, how can you stand being in here with that - that thing?" she asked trying to sound hurtful.
Now let me tell you, a couple of years ago this would've hurt, but now it's like I don't even feel it. I don't think I even heard it at the time.
"Well, I got tired of looking at your hideous face, so I decided to move on to something a little - prettier shall we say?" he replied looking at me with a smirk.
I felt a burning sensation creeping up my face, but I fought to restrain the blush I knew was coming. Pansy was looking at Malfoy in a somewhat bewildered manner. I personally do not think that anyone has insulted her in such a way before.
I must admit though, that Pansy isn't really that ugly. She's definitely not the prettiest girl in the school, but I envy her good looks and I would kill for her body. She has strawberry blonde hair that falls down to her waist, and her eyes are a really awesome caramel color. Her nose ends in a refined position and her cheeks have a natural blush in them. As for her body, she has got a tiny little waistline that guys drool over and girls want.
Well, Pansy looked over at Malfoy, who was still looking at me, to see if he was joking or not. Seeing that he showed no emotion (typical of a Malfoy) she looked down at the floor, trying her best to look crestfallen and said, "Oh well, by the way, the Head Boy and Girl are waiting for us in the Prefects compartment, so they sent me to get you."
As she left the compartment, I could swear that I saw her smile, but it could have just been me. Just as Malfoy about to leave he turned around and faced me again.
"We'll continue our little conversation later," he stated simply as if it were an obvious law. "But don't be sorry that I'm leaving; you'll be seeing a lot of me at school."
"Sorry my arse," I replied in a somewhat loud undertone. "The only thing I'm sorry about is that you didn't leave earlier."
He exited without even bothering to close the door. That bastard. As soon as I reached the door to close it, Harry came bounding in.
"Ginny, are you alright? Did he hurt you in any way?"
"I'm sorry, do I know you? Oh wait I think recall seeing you somewhere after having landed on my arse with a pile of trunks on top of me. Didn't I tell you to let me handle my own problems?" I asked him with a tone full of unconcealed hatred.
"Yes but - "
"Then I recommend you follow that advice unless you want to have your arse kicked. Thank you, and have a nice day," I replied shutting the door rudely in his face.
I went back to my former position on the empty seat and closed my eyes, reflecting on the conversation Malfoy and I had just had. He had really given me a chance to vent out all my frustration. It actually felt good. I suddenly became aware of the fact that he had called me by my nickname. He had never done that before. I don't know if he had been trying to make a point or it had just slipped or whatever, but the fact of the matter is that he called me Ginny. For some reason or other, this thought made my heart pound wildly against my chest. Then I remembered what had happened the last time my heart had been beating that loudly and how it had ended and I forced myself to stop.
I reclined my head against the window and closed my eyes, feeling tears of anger and pain trickle down my face. This time as I brushed my hand across my face, I felt the bitter tears that had fallen. I couldn't help thinking of how I could hurt Harry as much as he had hurt me, or at least make him pay back for what he had done. With these thoughts in mind, I fell asleep, into a dream world where all my darkest fantasies were brought to life.
I woke up some time later to find two silver moonstones looking back at me. It was completely dark and those eyes, which I supposed they must be, were the only things I could see. I quickly reached into my pocket and grabbed my wand, muttering a lighting spell as soon as I had freed it from my pants' grasp.
"Malfoy," I breathed, relieved that it was only him and not someone else.
"Who did you think it was Weasel? Your little Harry Potter?"
"No," I replied in a somewhat shaky voice, despite my efforts to keep it calm. I could see myself reflected in those two orbs, tearstains still covering my cheeks long after the tears themselves had died away. "Why didn't you wake me up instead of scaring me like that?" I asked him trying to wipe the stains off my face.
"For the same reason that you didn't die when you had the chance to," he replied.
"Harry Potter saved your life?" I asked stupidly.
"Wow, you're slower than Crabbe and Goyle put together when you wake up. Anyway, I came to tell you that we're near Hogwarts. It amazes me that your little mudblood friend didn't come and wake you up yet," he added turning away.
I didn't hear much except that we were near Hogwarts so I stood up and fished around my trunks for my school robes.
"Please go away and let me change in peace, Malfoy, before I make you," I stated rudely, not even bothering to thank him.
"As you wish your majesty." And he left.
As soon as the train stopped fully, I swept by Hermione, not answering her question about how I had known that we were at Hogwarts already when she had just come to tell me. I didn't do it to be rude, I just didn't hear her.
It was one of those days when the sky looks ready to pour down a steady stream of rain, yet one can't help loving it. It was a sort of light stormy grey with a hint of blue added to the mixture to make it deliciously irresistible. It was the kind that reminded me of someone's eyes. The way they captured your gaze and made you feel as if you could never let go. The way they made you feel so small and defenseless against the oncoming torrent. The way you seemed to drown in them even though you could feel the solid ground beneath you. The sky resembled his eyes. They resembled -
"Ginny, darling, will you please hurry up?! The train will leave in a few minutes and you still haven't got your luggage on it."
"Yeah, okay mum. Bye."
"Are you feeling alright, Ginny, darling?"
"Yes I'm fine mum. Gotta go." I pecked my mom lightly on the cheek, hugged my dad quickly, and sauntered to the train where I began the task of hauling my bags in. It really wasn't a difficult job, but I had other things on my mind.
"Here, let me help you with those."
Harry came into focus in front of me as I futilely attempted to get my bags in sideways through the tiny door. Harry turned the bags around and I fell flat on my bum with the luggage on top of me. He reached out his hand to help me up, but I refused it and stood up by myself, brushing myself off in the process.
"I thank you Harry, but would advise you to please leave me alone to sort out my own problems by myself." I picked up my stuff and headed down to the last compartment I could find, which also happened to be the loneliest, all the while slamming my bags into walls and compartment doors as I went.
I hadn't really noticed, until then, how much I was missing the solitude I had once loathed so much. I guess that all the time I had previously been spending with Harry, and before him Dean, had totally and completely deprived me of MY time. I mean, once I began to think about it, while Hermoine and Ron were busy in Ron's room, Harry and I were busy in mine. Not that we were doing things that we weren't supposed to be doing, but I never had any time alone in my own room. If Harry wasn't in there making out with me, then Hermione was in there talking to me about Ron and her studies and whatnot. Snapping back to reality I thought about how I had refused to sit with Harry, Ron, and Hermione on the pretense that I wasn't feeling too well and wanted to sleep. I didn't want to make it too obvious that I wasn't comfortable around Harry anymore, but what else was I going to do? I didn't want to sit there and reminisce on things that had happened between us. It would've been sheer torture. As Harry had followed me out into the hall, I had turned to see what he wanted, trying to control my anger at the same time. However, my temper got the better of me and I told Harry to sod off. I really did mean it too. I turned on my heel and left him there talking to himself.
Yup, this train ride was definitely gonna be good for sorting my thoughts out.
I sat down, after putting my things on the luggage rack, and looked out at the dreary sky, or at least what other people saw as a dreary sky. I would have been in my element had I been outside in the cool September breeze rather than cooped up in the musty compartment with nothing to do but think. Either way, I didn't have Harry anymore, and that was what hurt me the most.
The train started and I drew my hand across my face expecting the tears, which I had felt on the edge of my eyes, to greet my hand. However, there were none. I was extremely surprised as I had been certain that they had fallen. Forgetting the tears I had thought were coming, I soon drifted off into my memories; my fantasyland where I had lived but a short time.
I had just remembered how Harry used to embrace me as I cuddled up to him in front of the fireplace at Grimmauld Place when the compartment door slid open. There stood THE hottest guy in London, probably in England for that matter. No joke. This guy had to be five ten or eleven, close to six feet. He had the most gorgeous biceps you can imagine under his muscle tee shirt. You could see his six-pack rippling under his shirt as he leaned against the frame of the door lazily. His platinum blonde hair hung down over his eyes, which were icy grey. I knew at once that this was the boy the sky had brought to my mind. Well, in actuality, this was the man that sky had reminded me of. This was Draco Malfoy, my brother's greatest enemy, and, I reluctantly reminded myself, therefore mine also.
"Like what you see Weasley?" he drawled lazily.
I looked at him airily, as if he had no effect on me whatsoever with his gorgeous body, raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"You know, I've heard steroids can damage your package," I said casually, looking down at his crotch as I said it. Damn. "Not that you've got much to damage, but I'd keep what I do have if I were you Malfoy."
I think I saw him blush, but if he did, it was very faint and gone the next moment.
"Oh, and how would know Weasel? Have you been thinking about it much lately?"
"Am I that transparent?" I said feigning surprise. "I want you, I need you. Oh baby, oh baby." Over the summer, my father had bought a telyvizin, or something like that. Hermione had helped him set it up and had showed us how to work it. Then, she had asked her mum to send her one of her favorite movees, I think they are called. The movee was called Ten Things I Hate About You. I loved it and watched it a couple of times over the summer, mostly with Harry. Okay, stop thinking about him. Anyways.
He smiled faintly, walked up to me, and stooped down so that his face and mine were only centimeters apart. I thought for one wild second that he was going to kiss me, but I forced my heart to stop beating so wildly. I had to get my head out of all this romanticism crap. Even if he did kiss me, I told myself, it would all eventually end in pain; just like before.
"What's wrong Ginny? Scared? Or did you actually think I was going to kiss you?" Damn, he read my mind like an open piece of parchment. His every breath smelled of minty freshness, and I couldn't stop thinking of how inviting his lips looked.
"How did you know Draco. Damn, I really thought I was more opaque than that. So now that you've guessed, do I still get the kiss?"
"Do you really think I'm that desperate Weasel? I'd rather kiss a frog before kissing you!"
"Oh well, I didn't know you swung that way Malfoy. I've heard that frogs only turn into princes. Although with the girls you hang out with, even I'm more attractive, aren't I, Malfoy?"
"You just put yourself down. You know that don't you?"
"Oh my goodness Malfoy, thank you so very much for telling me. I really wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't been so kind as to point it out for me. Really dahling, you're too kind."
He looked like he was going to throw something back at me, but a head popped into the compartment at that precise moment and who could it be but the dearest Pansy Parkinson.
"Oh Draco," she said smoothly. "I've been looking all over for you. I'm so glad I found you!" she attempted the last line seductively, but with her high-pitched voice it did not sound in place.
She suddenly noticed that I was present in the compartment and she wrinkled up her nose.
"Draco, how can you stand being in here with that - that thing?" she asked trying to sound hurtful.
Now let me tell you, a couple of years ago this would've hurt, but now it's like I don't even feel it. I don't think I even heard it at the time.
"Well, I got tired of looking at your hideous face, so I decided to move on to something a little - prettier shall we say?" he replied looking at me with a smirk.
I felt a burning sensation creeping up my face, but I fought to restrain the blush I knew was coming. Pansy was looking at Malfoy in a somewhat bewildered manner. I personally do not think that anyone has insulted her in such a way before.
I must admit though, that Pansy isn't really that ugly. She's definitely not the prettiest girl in the school, but I envy her good looks and I would kill for her body. She has strawberry blonde hair that falls down to her waist, and her eyes are a really awesome caramel color. Her nose ends in a refined position and her cheeks have a natural blush in them. As for her body, she has got a tiny little waistline that guys drool over and girls want.
Well, Pansy looked over at Malfoy, who was still looking at me, to see if he was joking or not. Seeing that he showed no emotion (typical of a Malfoy) she looked down at the floor, trying her best to look crestfallen and said, "Oh well, by the way, the Head Boy and Girl are waiting for us in the Prefects compartment, so they sent me to get you."
As she left the compartment, I could swear that I saw her smile, but it could have just been me. Just as Malfoy about to leave he turned around and faced me again.
"We'll continue our little conversation later," he stated simply as if it were an obvious law. "But don't be sorry that I'm leaving; you'll be seeing a lot of me at school."
"Sorry my arse," I replied in a somewhat loud undertone. "The only thing I'm sorry about is that you didn't leave earlier."
He exited without even bothering to close the door. That bastard. As soon as I reached the door to close it, Harry came bounding in.
"Ginny, are you alright? Did he hurt you in any way?"
"I'm sorry, do I know you? Oh wait I think recall seeing you somewhere after having landed on my arse with a pile of trunks on top of me. Didn't I tell you to let me handle my own problems?" I asked him with a tone full of unconcealed hatred.
"Yes but - "
"Then I recommend you follow that advice unless you want to have your arse kicked. Thank you, and have a nice day," I replied shutting the door rudely in his face.
I went back to my former position on the empty seat and closed my eyes, reflecting on the conversation Malfoy and I had just had. He had really given me a chance to vent out all my frustration. It actually felt good. I suddenly became aware of the fact that he had called me by my nickname. He had never done that before. I don't know if he had been trying to make a point or it had just slipped or whatever, but the fact of the matter is that he called me Ginny. For some reason or other, this thought made my heart pound wildly against my chest. Then I remembered what had happened the last time my heart had been beating that loudly and how it had ended and I forced myself to stop.
I reclined my head against the window and closed my eyes, feeling tears of anger and pain trickle down my face. This time as I brushed my hand across my face, I felt the bitter tears that had fallen. I couldn't help thinking of how I could hurt Harry as much as he had hurt me, or at least make him pay back for what he had done. With these thoughts in mind, I fell asleep, into a dream world where all my darkest fantasies were brought to life.
I woke up some time later to find two silver moonstones looking back at me. It was completely dark and those eyes, which I supposed they must be, were the only things I could see. I quickly reached into my pocket and grabbed my wand, muttering a lighting spell as soon as I had freed it from my pants' grasp.
"Malfoy," I breathed, relieved that it was only him and not someone else.
"Who did you think it was Weasel? Your little Harry Potter?"
"No," I replied in a somewhat shaky voice, despite my efforts to keep it calm. I could see myself reflected in those two orbs, tearstains still covering my cheeks long after the tears themselves had died away. "Why didn't you wake me up instead of scaring me like that?" I asked him trying to wipe the stains off my face.
"For the same reason that you didn't die when you had the chance to," he replied.
"Harry Potter saved your life?" I asked stupidly.
"Wow, you're slower than Crabbe and Goyle put together when you wake up. Anyway, I came to tell you that we're near Hogwarts. It amazes me that your little mudblood friend didn't come and wake you up yet," he added turning away.
I didn't hear much except that we were near Hogwarts so I stood up and fished around my trunks for my school robes.
"Please go away and let me change in peace, Malfoy, before I make you," I stated rudely, not even bothering to thank him.
"As you wish your majesty." And he left.
As soon as the train stopped fully, I swept by Hermione, not answering her question about how I had known that we were at Hogwarts already when she had just come to tell me. I didn't do it to be rude, I just didn't hear her.