"Dealing With It"

by x0firefly0x

Summary: Sequel to "How To Be Bad". After their "lessons", Draco and Ginny are now together. But can they deal with the school's hatred of their relationship? D/G, R/Hr.

Disclaimer: I wish Drakey-poo was mine. Alas, he is not. In this story he belongs to Ginny, in the real-world he belongs to the lovely J.K. Rowling. (Psst...Harry's hott too! And yet not mine!)

Chapter 2: A Big Decision

"Shit!" Ginny yelled suddenly; Draco looked startled.

"Quidditch practice," Ginny explained, before dashing off. She ran out the entrance, across the steeply sloping lawn, plushly green, the sun shining relentlessly down upon her, her long red hair glinting like crackling fire.

"You're late," Harry said crossly, his arms folded across his chest, when Ginny had finally flown up to her position as Chaser.

"Sorry," Ginny said, grimacing. Being the most experianced and longest member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Harry had taken over Angelina Johnson's post as Captain due to an unanimous vote. Unfortunately, he was as diligent as Oliver Wood had been, being quite adamant to keep the Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor and prove himself as the new Captain. However, the property Ginny liked most about his Captainship was his stout promise never to wake them up before 8.

Harry blew his whistle and they were off once again. Ginny's mind felt peacefully at ease at the one place where she wasn't ridiculed about Draco...Looking down, Ginny saw Hermione who was knitting more elf hats and socks.

"OOPH!" Ginny said as the Quaffle flew into her stomach, momentarily knocking the wind out of her. She dived to get it as it fell.

"PAY ATTENTION!" Harry yelled.

"*Sorry*," Ginny snapped indignantly. The rest of the hour-and-a-half practice flew by (sorry about the pun). The team touched down and walked wearily to the locker rooms. They changed and walked steadily to the Great Hall for lunch. Ginny walked in and blew a kiss to Draco, who was at the Slytherin table. He "ignored" her, but Ginny saw him wink.

Ginny sat down next to Hermione at the Gryffindor table, and, after giving her a brief smile, pulled the closest plate next to her, filling it, then shoveling potatoes into her mouth. Ron did the same across from her. They had their father's appetite...with their mother as a cook, they had all been accustomed to having the best-tasting foods.

"Don't choke now," Harry said jokingly, glancing back and forth between Ron and Ginny.

Ginny swallowed her potatoes and gave him a look. Hermione's face was buried behind the Daily Prophet she had received at breakfast again; there were too many stories of hurt and suffering on the pages to keep track of, or remember. At least Ginny was sure Draco's father wasn't taking any part in these spots of torture...Lucius Malfoy was dead. The circumstances were mysterious, but he was still dead.

Ginny finished her meal quickly, and shot up again. She had History of Magic, and she couldn't be late; she wanted to properly catch up on her sleep. She smiled at Draco who gave a small half-smile back (which more than satisfied Ginny) and stalked outt, her long red hair swinging.

"Ginny!" someone called. Ginny wheeled around.

"Hey," she greeted, grinning at Colin, who was standing there looking disheveled, his blond hair flopping over his sapphire eyes. His camera was slung over his slight shoulder.

"Thanks for waiting up," Colin said sarcastically.

"No problem," Ginny shot back, still grinning.

"Ready for an exciting History of Magic class?" Colin said, his tanned face full of mirth.

"If you're asking whether I'm excited for a refreshing nap, then yes," Ginny replied smoothly, her brown eyes twinkling.

They started walking to the third floor classroom where History of Magic was situated. They walked in, quite early, and sat down, chatting amicably about their respective day so far. They groaned together about Harry's Nazi-ish tendency on the Quidditch pitch, their upcoming O.W.L.s and the boatload of work that came with it. Eventually, their fellow Gryffindor fifth-years walked in. Most ignored Ginny and Colin; they were not the most popular in their year by any stretch of the imagination. Professor Binns commenced his dull lesson, droning on and on until the class had lapsed into it's usual torpor.

At the end of History of Magic, Ginny parted ways with Colin, who was hailed by his younger brother, Dennis, and headed towards the portrait of the Fat Lady. Draco beckoned to her from the other side of the corridor, where he leaned on the wall quite suavely. Ginny walked over.

"Hey," she breathed.

"Hi," Draco said quietly, "Let's go."

"Where are we going?!" Ginny inquired curiously. Draco said nothing as he led her to the Astronomy Tower; this much Ginny knew. Ginny kept her mouth shut until he had shut the door behind her. The tower was miraculously void of kissing couples. Ginny expected him to kiss her, but instead Draco took her by the hand to a a window, which was clothed in dark black curtains. Draco smiled genuinely at Ginny, and she could swear his eyes looked nervous. Her curiousity mounted. Suddenly, with a swift movement of his muscular arm, he drew back the curtains. Ginny gasped, putting a hand on her mouth.

The view was magnificent. The fiery semi-circle of the sun was peering over the plush, rolling green hills, covered with swaying wildflowers. Haloes of pink, red, purple and orange surrounded the sun, reflecting it's colours on the lake nearby. It was truly awe-inspiring.

Ginny lay her head on Draco's firm chest, her fingers splaying over his back. She rubbed his back gently.

"Thank you," Ginny breathed. Draco leant over to kiss her tenderly.

"I love you," Draco said, his voice full of emotion.

"I love you too," Ginny said back, smiling.

"You know I'm graduating early this year, right?" Draco began.

"Yes," Ginny said sadly, prompting him to continue.

"And," he gulped, "I don't think I can leave you here. I mean, what if you met someone new whilst I was away?" Ginny shook her head, showing she would never do that.

"I know we're young, but--" Draco took a deep breath, and went down on one knee. Ginny's eyes widened. Draco removed a small, black velvet box lined with emeralds and silver from within his robes.

"Virginia Weasley," Draco whispered, his voice wavering, slowly opening up the box, "Will you marry me?"

Author's Note: I AM SO EVIL! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAA. Voldie taught me how to laugh like that, lol. What do you think she'll say? Yes? No? Maybe So? Coming up next week, on "Dealing With It".

Mystical Starlight: I'm glad "Missy likes" and I'm happy to be writing a story with you!

RosyCheeks: Well, Draco is tall, but Micheal Corner is taller, that's all. Think of good ol' Mike as freakishly tall if you'd like ;)

Julia: Glad you like it!

Karamel06: Jenni, hope you liked this chapter!

Love 'n' Evil Cackles,

Amanda/Firefly