[ I'd Rather Be In Love With You ]

chapter two: thoughts and train rides

Shock was written all over Ginny's face. One minute she was looking for an empty compartment, next she was falling backwards due to the fact that she didn't look where she was going, now she was gazing up at the eyes of Draco Malfoy, who was holding her at that moment preventing her fall.

Ginny's mind went blank. She was totally surprised but she couldn't help to notice that his eyes were a beautiful shade of gray. They weren't just blue after all. She could also smell him, nice, familiar smell, though she didn't now what it was. She knew she had come across it before. For a moment, they were just looking at each other. Her eyes widened as she could see a look of concern and surprise in his face. Ginny was well aware that her heart was hammering insanely inside her chest and she didn't know if it was due to shock or fear.

But when Draco seemed to realize whom he was holding, he immediately let go of her and she fell down on her butt.

Hard.

"Ow," She managed to groan. Her butt really hurt. And for a minute there, she actually believed Malfoy had held her. Was that his idea of a sick joke? It wasn't funny at all. Not to her anyway.

She looked up at Draco. The surprise look he had a while ago was now replaced with an ever-familiar sneer.

"Watch where you're going, Weasly. Potter is nowhere in sight to catch you," he said coldly and walked away.

Ginny just shrugged, rolled her eyes, and stood up and grabbed her book on the floor. It was pointless, in her opinion, to try and say something back to that git. He wasn't worth wasting her breath, she thought. Ginny had to wonder as to why Draco even considered helping someone. She thought he wasn't capable of such act. She knew for sure by looking in his eyes that he intended to help her, but only let go because he realized it was her. Well, of course, her mind screamed, Weaslys and Malfoys were born to hate and taunt each other, what did you expect?

Ginny tried not to think about what Draco Malfoy could've done. After all, he was a Death Eater. Everybody knows that before Dark Lord met his downfall, he has already gathered and initiated new members for his inner circle. One of them is Draco Malfoy and that meant he was already a Death Eater, which also goes without saying that Draco Malfoy has and can kill.

Apparently, neither Ron nor Harry saw what happened and she was grateful for that. If any of them saw anything, there'd be more trouble than she could ever expect, knowing Ron could do anything when he is provoked and the mere sight of Draco Malfoy is enough to provoke Ron.

Ginny sighed. Fortunately, she found an empty compartment and was later joined by Ron, Hermione and Harry.

Ginny settled herself and looked out the window. As the train started to move, Ron, Harry and Hermione started talking. Ginny, however, just kept quiet. She really couldn't participate in their conversations so she stood up and started for the door.

"What are you doing?" Ron asked her.

"I'm going to find another compartment seeing as the three of you need to catch up on a lot of stuff. And besides, Ron, I want to read something, but having the three of you talking around me, well… that wouldn't do me much good," Ginny replied.

"Ron, just leave her alone. I'm sure Ginny can take care of herself," Hermione said. Ginny looked at her with gratitude written all over her eyes.

"I'm her brother and it's my obligation to take care of her," Ron answered.

"Look, Ron, I'm not in danger or dying for the matter. I just want to read alone for heaven's sake!" Ginny said, irritated.

Ron shrugged. "OK! Whatever suits your mood. I was just asking," Ron said.

Ginny got out of the compartment and started to look for another empty compartment… again. Fortunately, she found one. She went inside and decided to slightly leave the door opened. She sat down, got her book, and started reading as the train continued running to its destination.

* * *

It was already dark and the moon and countless stars were visible, when Hogwarts Express finally came into a halt.

Thank heavens we're here! Draco thought. Crabbe and Goyle left Draco in the compartment hours ago to join the other Slytherins no doubt to talk about what happened over the summer. He really didn't want to sit with them even if they asked him to. Every Slytherin looked up to him even way before since his father was powerful and downright evil.

He stood up and stepped out of the compartment, when he did, he came face to face with the dream team.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Pot-Head, Weasel and Mudblood. Are you just going to stand there or have you purposely stuck your shoes on that spot. I'm surprised you're alive, Granger, knowing full well, Voldemort would come after you. Wouldn't mind if you aren't though." Draco said with a smirk on his face. Ron flinched when he heard the word 'Voldemort' making Draco utter a silent laugh.

"Leave her alone, Malfoy, or you're gonna get it." Harry said giving Draco a death look.

"You can't scare me, Potter. Just because you helped defeat Voldemort doesn't make you a god in this place. Now, get out of my sight before I turn each of you into slugs," Draco demanded getting tired of their faces.

"Just try Malfoy and-" Harry said reaching for his wand but was cut off by Hermione.

"Harry, ignore him. Let's go. Ron, c'mon." Hermione told them.

"What's the matter, Weasly? Cat got your tongue?" Draco snickered.

"Why, you D-" Ron started but was yet again cut off by Hermione. "Ron!" she called. Draco smirked.

Ron reluctantly turned his back on Draco and made his way out of the train. He was already as red as his hair when they got off the train.

The pot-head, the weasel and the mudblood. Terrible combination if you ask me, Draco thought. Somehow, he didn't really see the need to make their lives miserable. He just did it out of the ordinary. He was so accustomed to it that he didn't realize that his father wasn't around to punish him if he didn't exchange one squabble with Potter and his friends. His father was now lying, soul-less, in Azkhaban. Just last summer, Voldemort met his downfall and most of his Death Eaters were sent to Azkhaban. They were each immediately turned into soul-less corpses. Draco, however, was spared much to some people's disapproval. They demanded that he, Draco Malfoy, also be sent to Azkhaban for the Dementor's Kiss to be fulfilled to him. But amongst the upheaval, Albus Dumbledore confirmed that there is no need to perform the Dementor's Kiss on Draco Malfoy or put him in Azkhaban, since he was informed by Narcissa Malfoy that Draco did not have a say in all that has happened because, he only obeyed Lucius so that Draco could save his mother from the Killing Curse. The Truth Potion was also given to both Draco and Narcissa just to be sure.

Draco noticed that Crabbe and Goyle were nowhere in sight so he decided to tread to the castle by himself. He was one of the last people to get out of the train so it really wasn't crowded much to his delight. When he entered the Great Hall, he could feel eyes following him. He didn't really know if the people who were looking at him were looking at him with disgust or admiration. He didn't care anyway. He was used to people praising him and bickering at him. He heard a couple of Ravenclaw girls sigh as he walked by. What was that about, he asked himself. He took a seat at the Slytherin table and waited for the feast to start. He made sure he was far from the clutches of Pansy Parkinson and her friends due to the fact that Pansy made it look like they were a couple and all her group of friends would sigh and say, "Oh how romantic! Don't they make a cute couple?" Draco would roll his eyes and would feel like gagging everytime this happens.

Professor McGonagall announced the beginning of the Sorting Ceremony. Draco didn't really pay attention in the sorting but he didn't have anyone to talk to so he half-heartedly paid attention to it. He would clap his hands unenthusiastically when the Sorting Hat would announce another member of the Slytherin House. He yawned in boredom as the Sorting wore on, silently hoping it would be finished soon.

After the Sorting, Professor McGonagall got everyone's attention.

"Will everyone please quiet down. Professor Dumbledore wishes to say something to all of you," she said for everyone to hear.

Professor Dumbledore stood up and said, "I would just like to announce that there are now two reasons why this feast we are about to have is special. First, because the new term will begin tomorrow and we, here at Hogwarts, wish to welcome you all. Second, is because we are now celebrating a new period in the Magical History where Voldemort is no longer existing. I am happy to say that we are now our community is safe and there's no more need to worry about Voldemort ever coming back. However, I'm sure that most of you must be hungry by now so, I will stop babbling and let you eat."

"Let the feast begin," Professor Dumbledore said with a wave of his hand and all tables in the Great Hall were suddenly filled with food.

Draco ate silently. He didn't really feel like talking to anyone and he was thankful that no one was bothering him. He looked up and watched the people around him. His eyes traveled to each table and he looked at the people sitting in them. He felt like he didn't belong anywhere. Everybody seemed perfectly happy. His eyes landed on the Gryffindor Table. Every person in that table were all enjoying and laughing. He cursed at them silently.

His eyes then stopped on a certain redhead he encountered on the train. He looked at her and observed that she didn't really participate with the famous trio's chatter. She sat there and ate alone as if no one was around. She had beautiful big brown eyes that stood out along with her long red shiny hair. He liked the way it fell down her head like cascading flames down to her shoulders and her back. It framed her face perfectly, making her eyes look bigger than they really are. He, then, felt shivers run down his spine.

Just then, someone passed by blocking his view of her momentarily which made him blink and shake his head. I must be going insane, he thought to himself. First, bad dreams, now, thinking that a Weasley is beautiful. Much less, a Weasley who is in love with Potter!

He got rid of the thought and after the feast everyone went to their respective Common Rooms to get ready for classes the next day. Draco headed for his own room in their dormitory. He climbed up his four-poster without changing. He'd had some sleeping problems. Most of the time he wakes up drenched in sweat. He is haunted by what he has done in the past, the killing, torturing and all that. His conscience is eating him alive. He never should have done those things, but then he didn't want to. His father forced him into doing it. He cursed his father. It's all his fault why he is being deprived of a good sleep.

"This is going to be a long night," he said to himself, closing his eyes hoping he'll be asleep in the next hour or so.

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A/N: Thanks a lot to those who reviewed and by the way, the italicized words are supposed to be thoughts. This is my first fic, so if you please, just bear with me. I know this chapter somewhat boring but I promise, the next one won't be.

Dislcaimer: I don't own anything in this story except the plot, so please don't sue me. Thanks!