Chapter 4- Ron the Happy

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Hi again. My poor baby computer died and had to be nursed back to health so that is why there hasn't been an update in a while but to make up for it this chapter is nice and long. 26 reviews by the way! WOW!

Disclaimer: Is not mine this…rearrange these words into a common phrase which I begin each chapter with.

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***

Ginny glanced sideways at Draco who kept staring resolutely ahead. They were sitting stiffly next to each other on two hard, wooden visiting chairs in the hospital wing. They had spent the day collecting things from their dormitories (Ginny had been instructed to block her ears so she couldn't hear the password into the Slytherin dormitories but she wasn't the trouble making twins little sister for nothing! Therefore she heard perfectly that their password was Slytherin slime balls a name which seemed very familiar) and generally organising themselves. Now they were waiting for seven so they could go escape from each other and get ready for the ball. Ginny had suggested they had not go but Draco had shot her a contemptuous look and told her plainly that whether she wanted to or not, she was going. Therefore she was resigned to a night of people staring and whispering about her not to mention the nasty comments she would no doubt receive from Draco's fellow Slytherins. She was terrified that they all knew what a little idiot she had been trying to get Harry to fall in love with her. In fact the only thing that kept her from crawling under a nearby bed and never coming out was that everybody thought it was Draco's fault that they were connected and thus she would be pitied rather than mocked. Suddenly she felt a slackening of the tie between her and Draco and then she felt the separation. It was a weird feeling, rather like when you cut a nail and the skin feels strange at the loss. Knowing she didn't have much time she leapt to her feet and, snatching up her dress, ran into the hospital wing bathroom. She had a quick shower and hurried into her dress, terrified that the time would run out and Draco would burst in with her half-dressed or, even worse, completely naked. The dress was a deep emerald green with a tight bodice which laced up at the back and a flowing skirt. The twins had bought it for her on a sudden whim of generosity and Ginny adored it. She twisted her hair up into an intricate series of little knots and applied a little make-up before seizing her plain silver mask. She was just in time as she suddenly began to feel a tugging at her wrist. With one more quick glance in the mirror she hurried out into the main ward and met up with Draco who was exiting the male bathroom opposite. He was dressed in black trousers and a green shirt almost exactly the same hue as her dress. A black cloak swirled around him, his hair had been tousled slightly and he carried a mask framed by two coiled silver serpents. He appraised her silently then said:

"Well for once you seem to have cleaned yourself up a bit."

This was such a nice comment from him that for a moment Ginny was stunned. When she got her voice back she smiled, "Thank you Malfoy, I suppose I can put up with your appearance too."

"Try not to drool over me on the way down. Slobber stains you know." He smirked at her and gestured for her to follow him down the stairs to the great hall.

***

They paused outside the doors to the great hall and looked at each other.

"Right so what's the deal here?" Ginny asked smoothing down her dress nervously, "Do we pretend that we don't know anything, or what?"

Draco sneered and ran a hand through his hair, "What do you mean? Didn't you know that that evil Draco Malfoy tricked some poor little Gryffindor into following him around everywhere he goes?"

"Me! Follow you?! I'd rather drink undiluted Bubotuber pus!" Ginny said in disgust at which Draco turned to her, his eyes glinting with anger.

"Or would you rather me tell them the truth? Is that what you want? Everyone to know that your silly little infatuation led you to such desperate measures?" he asked harshly and Ginny shook her head miserably. "You should be grovelling on your knees at my feet to thank me for covering for you." He added.

"Why did you cover for me?" Ginny asked suddenly, "It seems remarkably out of character for you." 

"Don't think for a minute I'm doing you a favour." He said angrily, "Think about my reputation. If it got out that a stupid little Gryffindor managed to magically entrap me and that I couldn't find a way to get out of it people would think I had been outwitted by you."

"Which you were." Ginny couldn't help pointing out and Draco rolled his eyes.

"Don't get too cocky." He ordered, "After all you managed to outwit yourself as well you silly little girl."

Ginny nodded at the truth in his words. "Well we'd better go in." Ginny said looking apprehensively at the two big doors in front of them.

"Virginia, just do as I tell you and try not to say anything stupid. I know this is asking a lot for you but just try." Draco ordered before striding before her and banging open the doors.

Ginny muttered some rude words under her breath but was forced to follow him by the link between them.

The great hall sparkled with decorations and the students outfits. Every colour of the rainbow and others beside swirled across the walls and reflected onto the occupants and Ginny gasped in delight at its beauty. Before she had had time to fully take it in, however, Draco marched forward again and she was dragged unceremoniously behind him.

"Hey!" she squeaked in protest but Draco ignored her. He was heading for a group of Slytherins in the corner and Ginny sighed, resigned to an utterly horrible night.

***

Ginny yawned not so subtly and looked about her. She had been standing beside Draco listening to him talk to his nasty friends for what seemed like forever and she was bored out of her wits. Although they tried to hide it the other Slytherins were unnerved by her presence and their eyes kept sliding over to her as Draco talked. Eventually Draco snapped at them.

"Ignore her. She'll stay quiet. She's not important."

On top of everything else she'd had to put up with that day and the ball she should have been enjoying with her friends being such a disappointment Ginny had reached the end of her patience. Her patience being not exactly extensive in the first place she felt she'd done quite well putting up with Draco as it was, but no more. Without hesitating to consider the consequences Ginny stepped round in front of him and brought her palm crashing down against his cheek. Draco looked down at her with an expression of pure astonishment on his face. A red handprint was livid on his pale skin and Ginny felt a great sense of satisfaction.

"But don't you know Malfoy," she hissed, "it's the quiet ones you've got to watch out for." When he continued to stare down at her, a hint of anger creeping into his face now, Ginny decided to take the upper hand, so to speak. "Well we've talked to your friends Malfoy I think it's time we visited mine. Goodbye." She waved at the set of stupefied Slytherins, smothering a giggle at their stunned mullet impersonations, and marched towards the band of Gryffindors who were her closest friends.

"Hi Ginny! Wow you look fantastic!" Hermione greeted her enthusiastically.

Ginny smiled and returned the compliment although she wasn't doing it solely out of obligation. Hermione was wearing a deep burgundy dress which sparkled with flecks of gold and set off the streaks of gold in her hair perfectly. Ron, Ginny noticed, was standing rather close to her, one arm draped comfortably around her shoulders. It seemed that they were there together and Ginny couldn't help thinking 'about time!' Then she turned her attention to Harry who was wearing deep blue robes and an awestruck expression. It took her a moment to figure out what he was gawking at and when she realised it was her she blushed. Ron, who was wearing robes of grey, suddenly noticed Draco and his smile of contentment turned into a scowl.

"Malfoy." He said grimly

"Weasley." Draco replied just as seriously.

Hermione tried to deflect the tension and leaned over to Harry.

"Doesn't Ginny look fabulous?"

Harry gulped and nodded, "Yeah," he said hoarsely, "Ginny you look great."

Draco snorted, "Great? Is that all you can manage? Pathetic!"

Ginny, who had been greeting Colin snapped her attention back to the others.

"Malfoy." She said warningly.

"What?" he asked, mock innocently, "I was honestly just trying to give him a hand."

"Speaking of hands." Hermione said studying Draco closely, "Who hit you Malfoy?"

Draco shot Hermione a look of absolute loathing which she readily returned.

Harry and Ron both stared at Draco then looked at Ginny.

"Did you…?" Ron asked and she nodded. He let out a whoop and clapped her on the shoulder, "That's my sister." he said proudly.

Harry grinned, "Way to go Gin." He said fondly and she smiled shyly at him.

"Well don't think she'll be making a habit out of it." Draco growled, "She's lucky she got away with it the first time."

"Are you threatening her?" Harry asked grimly taking a step forward and Ginny rushed to intervene.

"Alright, everybody needs to calm down. I'm thirsty, come on Malfoy lets go get some drinks."

Harry turned to her, "I'll get you some punch, Ginny."

"Oh no, don't bother, I can get it." she smiled at him, truly touched by his consideration. She opened her mouth to thank him but Draco had clearly had enough and he gave her arm a tug which sent her flying after him and towards the refreshments table.

***

The ball was winding down. The songs had become slower and slower and it was only couples who were swaying backwards and forwards to the rhythms now. Ginny sat on a bench with Draco, cradling a cup of punch and watching Hermione and Ron. Hermione's head had dropped to her friend's shoulder and her eyes were shut. Ron held her tight and looked as if he was in heaven. Ginny giggled in delight and exchanged a grin with Harry who was standing on the other side of the room talking to Dean Thomas. He winked and gave her the thumbs up and she nodded happily.

"Well that's an improvement. At least he's flirting with you now." Draco's voice cut through her bubble of happiness and she turned to look at him.

"Huh?" she asked, honestly confused as to what he was talking about.

"Potter, winking at you and all that, I said it was an improvement from him totally ignoring you."

"Oh shut it Malfoy. Stop being so cranky." Ginny stretched and yawned, "I'm so tired." She sighed.

"And I'm bored. Let's just go." Draco said standing up and pulling Ginny up with him.

Ginny considered the options. She really was tired and nothing seemed to be going on. A lot of people had already left and so their departure wouldn't be too conspicuous. After deliberating for a bit more she finally nodded.

"Yeah," she said with conviction, "Let me just say goodnight to Harry and the others."

Surprisingly Draco didn't protest and obediently followed her around as she said goodbye to her friends. Finally she reached Harry. The music was quite loud and so she stood up on her tiptoes to whisper into his ear:

"I'm off Harry, have a nice night."

He leant down and kissed her cheek softly, "Alright, take care."

She blushed and nodded whilst Draco rolled his eyes and farewelled one of his own friends. Eventually they made their way back up to the hospital wing and Draco flopped onto his bed. Ginny stood nervously beside him until he looked at her expectantly.

"What do you want?" he snapped and Ginny blushed.

"Well, I want to …ah…get out of these clothes."

Draco sighed and sat up. "Blimey, just when I think I can relax you start coming on to me. Potter, Virginia, you want Potter."

Ginny drew a deep breath to yell at him but he held up his hands to forestall her and turned around so she had some privacy.

Ginny hurriedly pulled out her white nightdress and started to fiddle with the complicated back of her green dress. She undid most of the laces but then somehow they all got tangled into a knot. Pulling again and again to try and loosen them she only succeeded in creating even more twists in the laces. She fussed with it for several minutes until Draco said.

"Aren't you done yet?"

"Nearly." Ginny said desperately yanking at the ties trying to separate them. She only succeeded, however, in creating an even tighter knot. Eventually she had to bow to the inevitable and in a very small, very quiet voice she said:

"Malfoy, I'm stuck."

"What are you talking about?" he asked crossly and she winced, her embarrassment almost tangible.

"I can't get out of my dress."

Unbelievingly he chuckled making her cringe even more.

"Well I guess you'll just have to sleep in it then." he said coldly turning around again and reaching for his own things. Ginny's eyes widened. He couldn't be serious? Much as she didn't want him anywhere near her she needed him to help her out of it. She couldn't sleep in it, it cost so much and was her pride and joy.

"But…" she began and he groaned.

"You're not expecting me to do anything about it, are you?" she gave a shamed little nod and he rolled his eyes, "And you won't go running to Potter crying molestation will you?" she shook her head, "Fine then, turn back around."

She did so and the next moment she felt his fingers on her bare back the sudden contact making her shiver. His long piano fingers brushed occasionally against her as he worked and she closed her eyes tight and tried to ignore the stabbing pains of humiliation. Eventually the bodice hung loose on her and Draco pulled his hands away.

"You're free." He said simply then he added, "I'm turning back around."

Ginny's forehead creased in confusion as she failed to notice any signs of mockery in his voice. She finished wriggling out of the dress, noting that the magical link between them wasn't actually tangible and getting changed wasn't a problem, and slipped her night dress on. She began to release her hair from the complicated style and, turning around, she saw that Draco also had gotten ready for bed and was wearing black silk trousers but nothing else.

"Oh sorry." She muttered, thinking he hadn't finished getting dressed but he spread his arms out and smirked.

"This is how I sleep Virginia, get used to it."

A traitorous part of her mind couldn't help pointing out that she could get very used to seeing his toned and lightly muscled chest every night but Ginny told her estrogen to hush and climbed into bed.

***

One half hour later she was still wide awake. Although the beds were fairly close together she found that she could barely move without coming up against some resistance. Hoping that Draco was asleep she gave a little tug with her right wrist hoping to gain some more slack. In answer, however, there was a harder tug from his end. Ginny smothered a giggle and pulled harder. Again, there was a yank from Draco's bed. Ginny summoned up all her strength and pulled as hard as she could. The magical cord didn't budge but the answering pull from the other end caused her to fall out of her bed and land unceremoniously on the floor.

"Hey!" she cried out in indignation.

Draco's face appeared above her, he was smirking at her and, against her will, her own lips began to curve into a smile.

"What are doing on the floor, Virginia?" he asked with a superior smile.

Ginny tried to scowl at him but found that she couldn't stop smiling either.

"As if you didn't know!" she laughed and he shrugged.

"You started it." he said simply.

Ginny nodded and spread her arms out. "This whole bed thing isn't working." She said, "If maybe they weren't attached to the floor we could pull them together but I don't think Madam Pomfrey would like us changing the décor without her permission."

Draco leaned down and pulled her to her feet. "Are Gryffindors always this stupid?" he asked insolently, "We could just do the obvious thing."

Ginny sat down on the bed beside him and tucked her hair behind her ears.

"Oh yes," she asked with a hint of malice, offended by his Gryffindor comment, "and what would this obvious solution be?"

Instead of answering her directly he pushed her off the bed then began pulling at his mattress. He yanked it off the bed frame then marched over to Ginny's bed and did the same. He positioned the two mattresses side by side so they created a double bed on the floor then turned to her with a flourish.

"Voila!" he said, "One easy solution."

Ginny eyed the makeshift bed apprehensively.

"I don't know about this." she said nervously and Draco sighed.

"Fine, you stand for the rest of the night, I'm tired." And so saying he slid under his covers and turned his back to her. Ginny stood above him for a few indecisive moments then she shook her head at her foolishness and slipped in beside him. Although she now had more room to turn over and generally move about Ginny found herself lying still as a statue. She could feel Draco's presence so close to her that she didn't want to move for fear of accidentally coming into contact with him. Ginny lay waiting for him to complain about being so close to her and/or to make some sort of derogatory remark about her but he lay as quiet and still as she did. Soon the stresses of the day began to eat away at her resolve and, without even realising it, she fell deeply asleep.

***

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Oooh naughty. I know the slap is cliché but I feel that there has to be at least one in every love/hate fic. As well as the word thus. I don't know why but I have a close affinity with the word thus and as such like to use it as often as possible. Yes I know I am a little odd but I'm dealing with it. Now big scrummy thank yous to:

V: Yes this is D/G although at the moment it seems a bit more H/G doesn't it? Never fear it will all come right. Yep I think there will be a bit more R/Hrm because I love that pairing so much. Maybe I'll write one after this story, what do you think? Sorry but uppity Gryffindors are somewhat important to my plot! I was thinking they were out of character but if you look at any of their interactions with the Slytherin's you can see they're just as bad really. Hmm a Quidditch match. That's an idea I hadn't thought of. Yeah maybe I'll slip one in just for you. Thank you for saying you like my characters. I really feel Draco is wrong but he makes this fic more fun to write if he's sarcastic so I'm keeping him like that. Thank you so much for your long and very informative review. I was made very happy by it.

Toriisen: I'm glad you think so. Yes indeed I will keep writing, thanks for you review.

OCTFD: I'm glad you liked it. I haven't updated very soon but soon enough I think, usually I take much longer! Thanks.

Lyndie578: Yeah I'm trying to keep this one nice and light-hearted. It will be D/G but I agree, Draco has to suffer! Thanks for you review.

Aroka: Wow thank you! Yay for looking forward to my new chapter! Thank you again and again, your review meant a lot to me.

Oooo: you begged for an update soon and I didn't give it to you. Sorry! Well it is up now so I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for reviewing.

SarkLover: Hilarious? Thanks. You love it?! Even more thanks. I did write more soon I just couldn't upload it, nevermind it is here now and I hope you enjoyed. Thank you.

Jessiebear: Yep you got that right, Draco is going to be a meanie poo! I'm so glad you lurve my story! Thank you for continuing to review.

LiTtLe-bLaCk-sTaR: Just by reviewing you made me update quicker. However this took a while but wasn't my fault. I swear! I didn't know there were lots of stuck together Draco and Ginny stories…I no longer feel unique! But thank you for saying mine stands out. Yay for different! Thank you for reviewing all of my chapters so far, you're great!

MelissaAdams: I'm sorry I took so long after your instructions to update quickly. Anyway thank you for reviewing again. I like them a lot!

Sazzy7: Yay you think my idea is unique! Apparently there are a lot of Draco and Ginny stuck together stories so thank you for putting my mind at rest about being boring. Yes as you have hopefully just read sleeping together means problems for those two! Thank you for saying you love my little ol' story1

Ash Night: Wow I put you in awe! Good for me, lol! I hope it was as interesting as you expected it to be! Thank you for reviewing.

Cherrie Berry Draco Luver: I think that's a good story idea although I never really saw Voldemort as a matchmaker, lol! Why can't you write it? I'm glad I made you happy by updating. Here is another update…obviously. Thank you reviewing!

Andysleeps: I think that is the best description of this story. With your permission I shall use it whenever explaining it to anybody! Yeah I was getting a little sick of angsty stuff it just seemed to be a bit depressing so I thought I'd try and get a bit of humour going. Who knows how long it will last…knowing me there will be tears before bedtime! I'm so very happy that you rather like it. I really liked your review, thank you.

Right I think that is that. Thanks to everybody for reading now if you could just review…

Cheers,

Jess/star123

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