A/N: Sorry I took so long. I've been really busy and I fell asleep earlier (which why the story wasn't up this morning). Hope you like this chapter ^_^ BP
I didn't mean that?
"Alright, Ginny," her mother began as they crossed over to platform nine and three quarters, "I hope the side effects from that potion of yours are over."
"Huh? Oh, yes. I'm sure it is mum."
"Good, because I don't want anymore letters coming home about any wild behavior."
"I don't either. Bye mum!" Ginny called as Harry led her away. Ron had already met up with Hermione and they were currently waiting for Harry and Ginny to catch up.
He didn't seem to be in that much of a hurry, holding Ginny's hand gently as he they walked. Ginny caught a stare from Lavender and Pavarti and could only imagine the rumors they would have started before even boarding the Hogwarts Express.
She also found her eyes searching for Draco. He hadn't looked too happy the last time she saw him, and she couldn't help but wonder if it were her.
"Ginny, something wrong?"Ginny looked up at Harry. She loved the shade of green his eyes became whenever they were clouded with concern -- a midnight sour-apple shade. Still...'
Don't become emotionally involved,' she told herself. It would be easier that way. "I'm fine Harry," she smiled, giving his hand a slight squeeze for reassurance."
Well," said Ron, giving Hermione a sideways glance. "It certainly took you two long enough to get here. I'm surprised the train didn't leave without us." The group hurried aboard.
"So, Ginny," Hermione asked. "How did it go?"
"Fairly well, actually," Ginny replied. "I still have both of my legs."
"She lied," Ron whispered in a hushed tone.
"Not really," Ginny said, elbowing Ron, "I was sort of under the influence of a...Never mind, I'm fine now and that's all that matters."
***********
Draco sauntered bemusedly through the departing crowds of parents and teary-eyed family members. His own parents hadn't bothered to even approach the platform. They claimed he was too old to be escorted to the train. That, and the fact that many of the other Hogwarts families were not of their class -- not exactly people they were interested in being around. Excuses aside, he was actually glad they weren't present.
As he strode through the platform, he noticed a buzz of juicy gossip passing through the crowds. He was unclear as to what it was until after he boarded the train. The words "Ginny", "Harry", and "together" were everywhere. It seemed she was carrying out her end of the bargain.
Again, the sight of her and Harry hand in hand played through his head and he found himself feeling slightly nauseated. He convinced himself that it was solely the image of scar-face and felt relieved when the nausea passed. But just as he began to feel normal again, he saw Ginny. She hadn't seen him, but he had seen her being led into a compartment by Harry. The nausea returned.
"Why, what ever is wrong?" the sugary sweet voice of Pansy reached his ears. "You don't look so good."
Draco took a deep breath before speaking. "It must have been something I ate."
"Or something you saw," Pansy hinted. Draco really didn't want to get into it with Pansy, not then and not ever.
"Hello Draco," said Blaise as she approached casually. She turned her attention to Pansy, her eyes cold.
She had never really liked Pansy, blaming her for the untrue notion that all Slytherin girls were easy. "Could you excuse us dear," she said in a voice almost as sweet as the other girl's. "I'd like to talk to Draco, alone if you don't mind."
Pansy didn't make a move to go anywhere. "Go on," Blaise insisted. "Shoo." Pansy turned slowly, glaring at the two of them, and walked away.
"So," said Draco, turning to Blaise. "What is it that you wanted to talk about?"
"Nothing actually," Blaise admitted. "I just thought I'd bail you out. You did need it right?"
"Yes," said Draco, finding that his nausea had passed. Perhaps it *was* something he saw.
**************
Everything was fine at first, and Ginny, content with her near-success had almost forgotten about everything else. But still, she remembered Draco's face. Had she done something wrong? Ginny tried to push the question out of her mind, brushing it off as ridiculous, but she just couldn't get comfortable. Ginny stood abruptly.
"Nothing's wrong," she said before the question was asked. "I have to go is all. I'll be right back."
Sliding the compartment door shut behind her, she looked left, then right. She tried to imagine where it was that Draco would be. She decided to try the compartment where he had told her to meet him when they had taken the train to London. As she was walking, she stayed alert for the sound of Draco's voice. She didn't hear it.
When she arrived at the compartment, she was tempted to turn the knob and rush in, but something told her it would be a better idea to knock instead. She was right - Crabbe answered the door. He and Goyle seemed to grow larger and larger ever year. Now, he was simply beyond huge.
Ginny lost her nerve for a split second. "Is Draco in there?" after regaining her composure. "I need to ask him something."
"Crabbe."
Crabbe opened the door wider, revealing Goyle, Blaise, and Draco. "What is it?" Draco asked, studying her.
Ginny cleared her throat. "There's something I need to ask you. It's really important."
"To you, I'm sure," he said coolly. "Is it important to me?" "Yes, I assume so, since it's about you."
Draco glanced at Blaise who cocked an eyebrow. He stood, making his way to the door at a set pace, not wanting it to seem as if he were hurrying on her account. He shut the door behind him and led her a few compartments down the hall.
"What did you want to know?" he asked finally, letting go of her hand.
"Well, I was wondering...about...Well, when I was leaving the platform, you looked rather angry. I was wondering if it was because of me. Am I doing something wrong?"
Draco laughed slightly. "Of course not," he said soothingly. "I was just a bit agitated. It wasn't directed at you."
Ginny smiled. She didn't even know *why* the knowledge that Draco wasn't mad at her would make her smile.
"Okay, th-that's all that I wanted to know."
She tried in vain to repress her smile. In the back of her head, she knew she should have been headed back to her compartment. No doubt they were wondering where she was, but she couldn't bring herself to move.
Draco took a step forward, and for a fleeting moment, Ginny thought he was going to walk past her. He didn't. Once again, they were very close, as close as could be allowed without touching. Ginny again found herself wishing to know his thoughts and fought the impulse to ask. Her rationality had not fully come back to her. What else could explain what happened next?
Ignoring her inhibitions, Ginny leaned up and kissed Draco, softly at first but then, as she became familiar with the flavor of his lips, deepened the kiss herself. Draco responded by easing his arms around her waist, and pulling her closer to him. Ginny was beginning to lose herself in him, when a thought hurled itself from the inner most regions of her mind.
'YOU'RE KISSING THE WRONG BOY YOU IDIOT!!!!'
Ginny pulled away forcefully. Then, as if that weren't enough, she exclaimed, "I didn't mean that!"
An eerie silence passed between them, as they tried to get their breathing back to normal. Draco's eyes were wide in disbelief and Ginny had her hand clamped over her mouth. When she finally removed it, she could only stutter.
"I-I...I'm um, sorry Draco." Ginny stumbled backwards. She turned and ran as quickly as she could away from him.
Draco touched his lips and watched her as she exited the train car. "I didn't mean that?" he said aloud. *She'd* kissed him like *that*, and all she could say was 'I didn't mean that'?
Draco was more than annoyed by the time he reached his compartment. He started to enter but decided he was too pissed off to sit. Instead, he brooded quietly outside, leaning against the wall opposite to the door.He ran a negligent hand through his white blond strands, pushing his bangs out of his eyes.
"The hell she didn't mean it," he muttered sullenly. The compartment door opened and Goyle took a step outside.
"You okay, Draco?" He asked, his normally void voice hinted concern.
"None of your fucking business. Close the door and leave me alone."
Goyle was only slightly startled by Draco's temper. He was used to his friend's mood swings, but had learned by now to obey without question. He quickly shut the door.
Draco sighed, knowing he had been completely rude and unreasonable. He mentally cursed Ginny, deciding it was her fault he was angry. What the hell had she been thinking, anyway?
*************
Okay, that's it for this chapter. I'll try to have the next chapter up in a couple of days. In the meantime, can I have more milk for my cookies pleeeeeeeaaasse?
I didn't mean that?
"Alright, Ginny," her mother began as they crossed over to platform nine and three quarters, "I hope the side effects from that potion of yours are over."
"Huh? Oh, yes. I'm sure it is mum."
"Good, because I don't want anymore letters coming home about any wild behavior."
"I don't either. Bye mum!" Ginny called as Harry led her away. Ron had already met up with Hermione and they were currently waiting for Harry and Ginny to catch up.
He didn't seem to be in that much of a hurry, holding Ginny's hand gently as he they walked. Ginny caught a stare from Lavender and Pavarti and could only imagine the rumors they would have started before even boarding the Hogwarts Express.
She also found her eyes searching for Draco. He hadn't looked too happy the last time she saw him, and she couldn't help but wonder if it were her.
"Ginny, something wrong?"Ginny looked up at Harry. She loved the shade of green his eyes became whenever they were clouded with concern -- a midnight sour-apple shade. Still...'
Don't become emotionally involved,' she told herself. It would be easier that way. "I'm fine Harry," she smiled, giving his hand a slight squeeze for reassurance."
Well," said Ron, giving Hermione a sideways glance. "It certainly took you two long enough to get here. I'm surprised the train didn't leave without us." The group hurried aboard.
"So, Ginny," Hermione asked. "How did it go?"
"Fairly well, actually," Ginny replied. "I still have both of my legs."
"She lied," Ron whispered in a hushed tone.
"Not really," Ginny said, elbowing Ron, "I was sort of under the influence of a...Never mind, I'm fine now and that's all that matters."
***********
Draco sauntered bemusedly through the departing crowds of parents and teary-eyed family members. His own parents hadn't bothered to even approach the platform. They claimed he was too old to be escorted to the train. That, and the fact that many of the other Hogwarts families were not of their class -- not exactly people they were interested in being around. Excuses aside, he was actually glad they weren't present.
As he strode through the platform, he noticed a buzz of juicy gossip passing through the crowds. He was unclear as to what it was until after he boarded the train. The words "Ginny", "Harry", and "together" were everywhere. It seemed she was carrying out her end of the bargain.
Again, the sight of her and Harry hand in hand played through his head and he found himself feeling slightly nauseated. He convinced himself that it was solely the image of scar-face and felt relieved when the nausea passed. But just as he began to feel normal again, he saw Ginny. She hadn't seen him, but he had seen her being led into a compartment by Harry. The nausea returned.
"Why, what ever is wrong?" the sugary sweet voice of Pansy reached his ears. "You don't look so good."
Draco took a deep breath before speaking. "It must have been something I ate."
"Or something you saw," Pansy hinted. Draco really didn't want to get into it with Pansy, not then and not ever.
"Hello Draco," said Blaise as she approached casually. She turned her attention to Pansy, her eyes cold.
She had never really liked Pansy, blaming her for the untrue notion that all Slytherin girls were easy. "Could you excuse us dear," she said in a voice almost as sweet as the other girl's. "I'd like to talk to Draco, alone if you don't mind."
Pansy didn't make a move to go anywhere. "Go on," Blaise insisted. "Shoo." Pansy turned slowly, glaring at the two of them, and walked away.
"So," said Draco, turning to Blaise. "What is it that you wanted to talk about?"
"Nothing actually," Blaise admitted. "I just thought I'd bail you out. You did need it right?"
"Yes," said Draco, finding that his nausea had passed. Perhaps it *was* something he saw.
**************
Everything was fine at first, and Ginny, content with her near-success had almost forgotten about everything else. But still, she remembered Draco's face. Had she done something wrong? Ginny tried to push the question out of her mind, brushing it off as ridiculous, but she just couldn't get comfortable. Ginny stood abruptly.
"Nothing's wrong," she said before the question was asked. "I have to go is all. I'll be right back."
Sliding the compartment door shut behind her, she looked left, then right. She tried to imagine where it was that Draco would be. She decided to try the compartment where he had told her to meet him when they had taken the train to London. As she was walking, she stayed alert for the sound of Draco's voice. She didn't hear it.
When she arrived at the compartment, she was tempted to turn the knob and rush in, but something told her it would be a better idea to knock instead. She was right - Crabbe answered the door. He and Goyle seemed to grow larger and larger ever year. Now, he was simply beyond huge.
Ginny lost her nerve for a split second. "Is Draco in there?" after regaining her composure. "I need to ask him something."
"Crabbe."
Crabbe opened the door wider, revealing Goyle, Blaise, and Draco. "What is it?" Draco asked, studying her.
Ginny cleared her throat. "There's something I need to ask you. It's really important."
"To you, I'm sure," he said coolly. "Is it important to me?" "Yes, I assume so, since it's about you."
Draco glanced at Blaise who cocked an eyebrow. He stood, making his way to the door at a set pace, not wanting it to seem as if he were hurrying on her account. He shut the door behind him and led her a few compartments down the hall.
"What did you want to know?" he asked finally, letting go of her hand.
"Well, I was wondering...about...Well, when I was leaving the platform, you looked rather angry. I was wondering if it was because of me. Am I doing something wrong?"
Draco laughed slightly. "Of course not," he said soothingly. "I was just a bit agitated. It wasn't directed at you."
Ginny smiled. She didn't even know *why* the knowledge that Draco wasn't mad at her would make her smile.
"Okay, th-that's all that I wanted to know."
She tried in vain to repress her smile. In the back of her head, she knew she should have been headed back to her compartment. No doubt they were wondering where she was, but she couldn't bring herself to move.
Draco took a step forward, and for a fleeting moment, Ginny thought he was going to walk past her. He didn't. Once again, they were very close, as close as could be allowed without touching. Ginny again found herself wishing to know his thoughts and fought the impulse to ask. Her rationality had not fully come back to her. What else could explain what happened next?
Ignoring her inhibitions, Ginny leaned up and kissed Draco, softly at first but then, as she became familiar with the flavor of his lips, deepened the kiss herself. Draco responded by easing his arms around her waist, and pulling her closer to him. Ginny was beginning to lose herself in him, when a thought hurled itself from the inner most regions of her mind.
'YOU'RE KISSING THE WRONG BOY YOU IDIOT!!!!'
Ginny pulled away forcefully. Then, as if that weren't enough, she exclaimed, "I didn't mean that!"
An eerie silence passed between them, as they tried to get their breathing back to normal. Draco's eyes were wide in disbelief and Ginny had her hand clamped over her mouth. When she finally removed it, she could only stutter.
"I-I...I'm um, sorry Draco." Ginny stumbled backwards. She turned and ran as quickly as she could away from him.
Draco touched his lips and watched her as she exited the train car. "I didn't mean that?" he said aloud. *She'd* kissed him like *that*, and all she could say was 'I didn't mean that'?
Draco was more than annoyed by the time he reached his compartment. He started to enter but decided he was too pissed off to sit. Instead, he brooded quietly outside, leaning against the wall opposite to the door.He ran a negligent hand through his white blond strands, pushing his bangs out of his eyes.
"The hell she didn't mean it," he muttered sullenly. The compartment door opened and Goyle took a step outside.
"You okay, Draco?" He asked, his normally void voice hinted concern.
"None of your fucking business. Close the door and leave me alone."
Goyle was only slightly startled by Draco's temper. He was used to his friend's mood swings, but had learned by now to obey without question. He quickly shut the door.
Draco sighed, knowing he had been completely rude and unreasonable. He mentally cursed Ginny, deciding it was her fault he was angry. What the hell had she been thinking, anyway?
*************
Okay, that's it for this chapter. I'll try to have the next chapter up in a couple of days. In the meantime, can I have more milk for my cookies pleeeeeeeaaasse?