A/N: To anyone who skipped the A/N about what happened, just so you know, these chapters are dedicated to ALL the readers and beta-readers ^_^.
What exactly happened?
As to whether or not she was reluctant to see her parents, Ginny was undecided. As the baby of the family, she knew she'd be greeted warmly with hugs and kisses every time she stepped off the Hogwarts Express onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. But now was certainly not the time to worry about hugs.
What was she going to say to explain her behavior? Did they know everything? Frantic questions bounded through her frenzied thoughts, but she didn't have the nerve to question Ron. As the group prepared to leave the station, Ginny was aware of Draco's icy eyes boring into her.
She was half tempted to look for him, but resisted. 'You're supposed to be thinking about Harry,' she chided herself, 'Not Draco.' This in mind, Ginny made it a point to hold Harry's hand and snuggle close to him as they walked. Harry glanced at her, surprised. Ginny returned the look with a sweet smile and a wink.
For the second time,* Ginny went against her better judgment and looked around for Draco. Her eyes found his in a matter of moments. She didn't understand it. She was doing what he wanted her to. So then why did he appear so...angry?
*******************
Unbeknownst to Ginny, Draco wasn't conscious of his facial expression, an odd thing for a Malfoy. Those in the practice of deceit are usually mindful and very much in control of their social mien. Draco was not.
"What a cute little couple," Pansy Parkison commented as she made her way to Draco's side. Considering that his mind was elsewhere, and that he quite frankly hadn't found Pansy to be of interest lately, it took a while for her words to register.
"Hmm?" he murmured after a few empty moments. Pansy frowned. Then, her frown changed into a devilish grin, and attempted some malicious payback for his obvious rudeness. She hadn't missed Draco's expression either.
"I was just saying," She began slowly, "that they do make such a cute couple. I used to think Potter and that Mudblood girl would have something going on, but now that I think about it, he and Weasley are perfectly suited. I mean, I actually almost bought into those flimsy little rumors about you two. Silly me. How could Ginny pass up the great Harry Potter? After all, it was meaningless sex...right, Draco?"
While Pansy had maintained a face that reflected absolute innocence, Draco was not buying it, and he was anything but amused. Turning to her, Draco replied in a voice as casual as her own, "No my dear Pansy, you were meaningless sex. You're meaningless sex for any boy with nothing else better to do. Now, if you'll excuse me, my parents are waiting for me."
With that, Draco walked away leaving Pansy alone and considerably deflated.
*****************
'What am I going to say, what am I going to do?' Ginny's anxiety was growing steadily, until even Harry's proximity wasn't a comfort.
Even the sight of her room did little to soothe her. Were they playing it off? Were they going to nail her at dinner? Flopping down slowly onto her bed, Ginny pondered the possible ways she could answer them.
"Well you see mum," she would said quietly, "I...well the reason I had acted so strange was...well, I had made up this potion for...my...monthly changes...you know how I get, and instead of making me better, the potion made me a monster. I had no control over myself whatsoever...I mean, when I finally came to, I was completely naked on the Slytherin.....
.....couch," Ginny finished. She paused looking from parent to parent at each end of the table. "You could imagine my embarrassment." Molly Weasley arched an eyebrow. "I certainly can," she said.
Ginny was grateful that it was only Ron, Harry and herself at the table with her parents. Percy would have begun laughing at the mention of the potion and no doubt Fred and George would have shouted, "Lie!" before she had finished the first sentence and she wasn't certain she could handle what Bill would think. She could see that Ron was doing his part by taking measured sips of Molly's thick Chicken soup, enough to keep his mouth full to refrain from answering any questions from his parents.
His father, Arthur, had already timed his actions and said to him, "Ron, did Ginny ever mention this potion to you?" The spoon of the hot, meaty substance paused in midair. Ron could have simply sipped the soup, shook his head, and let that be the end of it. Ginny sighed inwardly. Nothing was ever that simple.
Ron did go ahead and eat a bit more soup, perhaps to gather enough courage to answer. "Well, she never mentioned it to me...probably because of the nature of the potion. That's not exactly something I want to think about while eating. Though I'll admit she was worse than usual, and it lasted for a couple of weeks. I'm just glad she's back to normal." Ginny didn't miss the emphasis placed on the last part of Ron's statement. Ron and Ginny expected that to be the end of it.
"Well, what do you think about all of this, Harry?" So much for that idea.
Harry had been in the process of swallowing an especially meaty portion of his chicken soup. It somehow managed to get caught in his throat. He tried in vain to clear his throat of it, but then, with a little aid from Ron, he was alright. "Well, I, um...agree with Ron, that's not something I want to think about while eating. I also think and hope that Ginny's back to normal." Molly glanced at Arthur, who only shrugged. All's well that ends well.
***********************
* The first time being in Chapter One of "Wickedly Delicious"
End of chappie! Next one is -- that way! ^_^.
What exactly happened?
As to whether or not she was reluctant to see her parents, Ginny was undecided. As the baby of the family, she knew she'd be greeted warmly with hugs and kisses every time she stepped off the Hogwarts Express onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. But now was certainly not the time to worry about hugs.
What was she going to say to explain her behavior? Did they know everything? Frantic questions bounded through her frenzied thoughts, but she didn't have the nerve to question Ron. As the group prepared to leave the station, Ginny was aware of Draco's icy eyes boring into her.
She was half tempted to look for him, but resisted. 'You're supposed to be thinking about Harry,' she chided herself, 'Not Draco.' This in mind, Ginny made it a point to hold Harry's hand and snuggle close to him as they walked. Harry glanced at her, surprised. Ginny returned the look with a sweet smile and a wink.
For the second time,* Ginny went against her better judgment and looked around for Draco. Her eyes found his in a matter of moments. She didn't understand it. She was doing what he wanted her to. So then why did he appear so...angry?
*******************
Unbeknownst to Ginny, Draco wasn't conscious of his facial expression, an odd thing for a Malfoy. Those in the practice of deceit are usually mindful and very much in control of their social mien. Draco was not.
"What a cute little couple," Pansy Parkison commented as she made her way to Draco's side. Considering that his mind was elsewhere, and that he quite frankly hadn't found Pansy to be of interest lately, it took a while for her words to register.
"Hmm?" he murmured after a few empty moments. Pansy frowned. Then, her frown changed into a devilish grin, and attempted some malicious payback for his obvious rudeness. She hadn't missed Draco's expression either.
"I was just saying," She began slowly, "that they do make such a cute couple. I used to think Potter and that Mudblood girl would have something going on, but now that I think about it, he and Weasley are perfectly suited. I mean, I actually almost bought into those flimsy little rumors about you two. Silly me. How could Ginny pass up the great Harry Potter? After all, it was meaningless sex...right, Draco?"
While Pansy had maintained a face that reflected absolute innocence, Draco was not buying it, and he was anything but amused. Turning to her, Draco replied in a voice as casual as her own, "No my dear Pansy, you were meaningless sex. You're meaningless sex for any boy with nothing else better to do. Now, if you'll excuse me, my parents are waiting for me."
With that, Draco walked away leaving Pansy alone and considerably deflated.
*****************
'What am I going to say, what am I going to do?' Ginny's anxiety was growing steadily, until even Harry's proximity wasn't a comfort.
Even the sight of her room did little to soothe her. Were they playing it off? Were they going to nail her at dinner? Flopping down slowly onto her bed, Ginny pondered the possible ways she could answer them.
"Well you see mum," she would said quietly, "I...well the reason I had acted so strange was...well, I had made up this potion for...my...monthly changes...you know how I get, and instead of making me better, the potion made me a monster. I had no control over myself whatsoever...I mean, when I finally came to, I was completely naked on the Slytherin.....
.....couch," Ginny finished. She paused looking from parent to parent at each end of the table. "You could imagine my embarrassment." Molly Weasley arched an eyebrow. "I certainly can," she said.
Ginny was grateful that it was only Ron, Harry and herself at the table with her parents. Percy would have begun laughing at the mention of the potion and no doubt Fred and George would have shouted, "Lie!" before she had finished the first sentence and she wasn't certain she could handle what Bill would think. She could see that Ron was doing his part by taking measured sips of Molly's thick Chicken soup, enough to keep his mouth full to refrain from answering any questions from his parents.
His father, Arthur, had already timed his actions and said to him, "Ron, did Ginny ever mention this potion to you?" The spoon of the hot, meaty substance paused in midair. Ron could have simply sipped the soup, shook his head, and let that be the end of it. Ginny sighed inwardly. Nothing was ever that simple.
Ron did go ahead and eat a bit more soup, perhaps to gather enough courage to answer. "Well, she never mentioned it to me...probably because of the nature of the potion. That's not exactly something I want to think about while eating. Though I'll admit she was worse than usual, and it lasted for a couple of weeks. I'm just glad she's back to normal." Ginny didn't miss the emphasis placed on the last part of Ron's statement. Ron and Ginny expected that to be the end of it.
"Well, what do you think about all of this, Harry?" So much for that idea.
Harry had been in the process of swallowing an especially meaty portion of his chicken soup. It somehow managed to get caught in his throat. He tried in vain to clear his throat of it, but then, with a little aid from Ron, he was alright. "Well, I, um...agree with Ron, that's not something I want to think about while eating. I also think and hope that Ginny's back to normal." Molly glanced at Arthur, who only shrugged. All's well that ends well.
***********************
* The first time being in Chapter One of "Wickedly Delicious"
End of chappie! Next one is -- that way! ^_^.