[ I'd Rather Be In Love With You ]
chapter five: am I dreaming again?
Ginny was furious that she got stuck with tutoring with none other Malfoy! Of all the people in Hogwarts, it had to be Malfoy. She was already dreading the exact hour that they were going to spend. Why me? she thought. She blamed Malfoy for being such a miserable git. How was she to endure two months with him? I could be reading something useful instead of enduring all of his snide comments, her mind said miserably.
Then, her thoughts turned to Draco's answer to Professor Dumbledore's question. Ginny could feel her face getting hot. Just the thought of it made her blush again! That incident at Professor McGonagall's office was probably one of Ginny's most uncomfortable moments. After what Draco said, she couldn't take one look at him. When she did muster up the courage to do so, she had to do it in the exact time he did! She had the worst luck of all.
Malfoy was probably lying, her mind screamed. It was probably true. Draco Malfoy was every bit as capable of doing those things. He probably did it to impress Professor Dumbledore or something. The useless prat always made up all kinds of things just to get himself out of trouble. Yes, that was probably it.
Anger surged through Ginny. Why that good for nothing beast! He'll get what's coming to him, she thought.
But if Malfoy was lying, then why was Ginny so mad about the fact that maybe he did lie. Why did that simple yes to that question have a startling effect on her? She was supposed to feel disgusted and revolted. She did get compliments from other people but they never really affected her. She would thank them and shrug the thought off. But why did Malfoy's affirmative response made her feel really... beautiful?
She didn't understand it. Maybe it was because Malfoy was being drooled over by a lot of girls in this school. Or maybe it's because he was really handsome and awfully hard to please. Or maybe it's because he seemed so different all of the sudden...
I have got to get a grip on myself, she thought. Ginny knew she had to stop thinking about this and get on with whatever she had to do because it was getting the better of her. That git does not affect me. I am going to wake up tomorrow hating him like I used to, she told herself.
Which is exactly why she was still lying awake in her room that same night they discussed the whole thing with Professor Dumbledore, wondering about what Draco Malfoy said.
The next day, Ginny's mood couldn't get worse. She barely said a word to anyone afraid that if she lost control over her temper, they might be the receiving end of her bad mood when other people didn't deserve it. Nobody really noticed it since, she never really talked to anyone about anything.
Ginny went to the library after classes to read. At least, no one really stays in the library because everyone was out playing or having a picnic. She kept her nose on a book the entire afternoon.
However, Hermione noticed something after dinner Tuesday night in the Gryffindor Common room when everyone was out of their dormitories and were relaxing.
"Are you OK, Gin?" Hermione asked, "You look so out of it. Is something bothering you?"
"I'm fine, Hermione. I'm just... irritated," Ginny admitted and Hermione looked at her with a questioning look that indicated she wanted to know why.
"Oh, well, I might as well tell you," Ginny started. "It's like this, tomorrow night I'll be doing this tutoring session with first and second years. It's sort of a... well... punishment because I was caught yelling at the library yesterday b-"
"You were caught yelling at the library?" Hermione interrupted with a look of disbelief in her face. "With who, Gin? And furthermore, why?"
"Oh, Hermione, it was all Malfoy's fault! He was there, too, and-"
"You were with Malfoy?!?! Ginny, you better be careful. Everyone knows Draco Malfoy is a Death Eater, so please stay away from him. He might hurt you or something," Hermione said, in a concerned voice. "What was he doing in the library, anyway? It's the first day of school and Malfoy doesn't strike me as the type of person who studies," she added.
"I don't know, Hermione. All I know is that, one minute, I was up at the ladder on one of the shelves to start reading on some homework on potions, then the next minute, someone bumped on my ladder and I fell off. Who could it be but Malfoy who caught me when I fell," Ginny said.
"Then why were you yelling? I mean he did catch you," Hermione asked curiously.
"I screamed at him because he couldn't keep his fat mouth shut! And now I'm supposed to go to this tutoring thing five nights a week for an hour and a half for two whole months! Can you believe that?" Ginny said a little louder.
"Calm down, Gin!" Hermione said. "Well, I guess, you'll have to be careful with him. Being a Death Eater must have taught him a lot. At least, you won't be alone with him or something like that. You both will be probably too busy for him to get you angry." Then Hermione added, "But what is it about Malfoy that gets you, Gin? I mean, you rarely lost your temper over something, so why now?"
"I don't know and I hate it," Ginny said frustratedly. Both of them, then, sighed at the same time. "I think I better finish that Potions homework, Herms. And please don't tell Harry or Ron about this whole Malfoy thing. Tell them whatever you like, just don't tell them I'm working with Malfoy. If they knew, there'd be more trouble here than we'd expect," Ginny said.
"OK, Gin, if you say so. But please, be careful with Malfoy. Ron will have my neck if he knew I knew something and didn't tell him and something bad happens to you," Hermione said with a pleading look.
"I know, don't worry about it," Ginny assured her. I won't worry about it if I were you, Hermione. Somehow, something tells me Malfoy isn't as dangerous as he seems, she thought to herself.
Ginny went back and continued her Potions homework and when she was done, she tried to get some sleep. It was a long time before she did have some and it only left her a few hours of sleep before morning.
When she woke up, she still felt sleepy. She could do with a couple more hours of sleep, but time was against her. So, she forced herself to get up and go to breakfast so she won't be late.
When classes started, she forgot her sleepiness and the fact that it was a Wednesday and she would have her first night of tutoring session with Malfoy and the kids. It wasn't until the end of Transfiguration that she remembered it. When it was the end of the class, Professor McGonagall called for her to come up to her desk.
Ginny walked to Professor McGonagall's desk and asked, "What is it, Professor?"
"I just wanted to remind you, Miss Weasley, that you are to join Mr. Malfoy along with some of our first and second years to the Charms classroom after dinner tonight. I already gave notices to our first and second years, so they will be there tonight. Don't be late, Miss Weasley," Professor McGonagall said.
"Yes, Professor, I'll be there," Ginny replied, with a sinking heart.
Ginny, as usual, finished dinner early and went straight to the Charms classroom. When Ginny got outside the door leading to the Charms classroom, she found Peeves hanging around.
"Peeves, would you please go and play somewhere," she said kindly to the poltergeist.
"Ooohhh, I won't go unless you tell me why. It's already nighttime so, what do you want to do in there? You're not going in for any snogging, are you?" Peeves asked mischievously.
"No, Peeves, I'm not snogging anyone in there and Professor Dumbledore told me to be there because I'm tutoring for the kids, now would you please go away. The first and second years won't be able to learn anything if the you're here distracting them," she told him.
"OK, Miss, anything for his headship," Peeves said with a bow and then turned to go the other way. Ginny smiled at the poltergeist. He really was loyal to Professor Dumbledore. Maybe Dumbledore did something to him or something.
Ginny opened the door and got in. She sat on one of the chairs quietly to wait for the other occupants of the room. She placed her arms on the table and laid her head on it. Her lack of sleep was finally getting to her. She thought maybe she should think of other things to make her stay awake, but she was tired nonetheless. She felt her body give in to the few minutes of slumber and she closed her eyes...
She heard the leaves rustle and the wind blowing. The sky was gray and she felt the dry, fallen leaves hit her legs, face, and arms. She held her skirt so it won't fly up to expose her legs. She clasped her hair at her nape and she turned around.
He was there. And again, she couldn't see his face. She took one step forward. He was very tall. She wanted to touch his cheek then put her arms around his neck. She wanted him to put his arms around her and hold her close. She took another step forward. Finally, she was near enough to see him. But then she let her hair go and it was flying over her face, making her vision of him unclear.
She felt him move towards her. He stopped only inches from her, her senses filled with his smell. He placed both hands on both her shoulders and he said her name, "Weasley."
She didn't look up to him. She didn't see his face yet, but she will in a matter of seconds. She closed her eyes and heard him call her again by her last name, his voice so familiar, and this time with a little shake on her shoulders.
She felt her eyes open and suddenly, everything was brighter than usual. There was more no wind and no leaves. She saw two beautiful gray eyes. But he was looking at her blankly. She noted that there was something distinctly familiar with the way he was looking at her.
And then she realized... she was awake!
And Draco Malfoy was kneeling in front her with his hands on her shoulders, waking her up!
When Draco saw her eyes open, he took his hands from her shoulders, stood up and said, "Wake up, Weasley. They're here," his head motioning towards the opening door. Then he turned his back on her.
It was the dream again! Ginny was so annoyed with the fact that she was made to wake up. It was a beautiful dream. She distinctly remembered that she wanted to see the face of the man in her dreams. Why did Malfoy have to wake her up? She was so close in finding out who the man was. She'd been having that dream since she was small and she never saw the man's face. Now, she was so close in finding out and Malfoy had to wake her up! Curse him, she thought.
Ginny stood up wordlessly and started fixing and adjusting her robes for them to be in the right places. She was slightly embarrassed to be found there, sleeping.
She saw as much as about twelve first years and ten second years, all in different houses, entering the room with Professor McGonagall marching behind them.
"Settle down everyone," Professor McGonagall ordered. "You're all here tonight for the same reason so I'm just going to say a few words. This is Miss Ginny Weasley," Professor McGonagall said nodding towards Ginny and Ginny smiled, "and Mr. Draco Malfoy," she said doing the same with Draco, while Draco looked at them, his hands in his pockets, with nothing written in his face. All first and second years we're somewhat appalled to know that Draco Malfoy was tutoring them. Presumably, they knew who he was and what he was or else they wouldn't have reacted that way.
"Both of them will be here five nights a week, an hour and a half each, which also goes for all of you. I will divide you all into your years. Mr. Malfoy and all will tutor all first years and Miss Weasley," Professor McGonagall said nodding towards her, " you will tutor the second years. I know that this is most unpleasant to all of you, however, this task will be most benefit to you and therefore, we take it seriously. The headmaster will never come up with anything that is not at your best advantage. There is no point in trying to avoid this and get out of this classroom before an hour and a half thinking that we, the teachers, will never know. This classroom has been bewitched to monitor what time and how long each of you comes in here so do not be late. So please, abide by the rules. Is that clear?"
All first and second years nodded and said, "Yes, Professor."
"Anymore questions?" Professor McGonagall asked eagerly.
When no one answered, she took that as a yes and said, "Alright then, it's settled. I will leave them to both of you. And please, Mr. Malfoy and Miss Weasley, do try to make this successful."
Professor McGonagall then turned around and left the room with the door closing behind her. Both Ginny and Draco didn't seem to know what to do for a moment. Then, due to the awkward silence, Ginny spoke up, "Alright then, let's get started."
Ginny was determined to do the best she can in this job, after all it's about helping those people who need her help. She wanted these children to learn as much as they can. She clearly remembered in her first year that she became a victim of Tom Riddle just because she didn't know what she was getting at. She wanted the children to learn as much as they can so they won't fall victim to anything.
All second years then moved toward Ginny's table and all first years moved rather reluctantly toward Draco's table. Ginny decided that it would be better for her to introduce herself first so the kids could follow. She waited until everyone in her table was settled and while doing so, she stole a glance at Draco Malfoy's table and saw that everyone in his table looked like they were half-expecting him to hex each one of them. Then, her gaze went to Draco Malfoy himself and she saw that, somehow, he didn't look angry or annoyed. He face was a mask of usual emptiness.
She, then, dismissed the idea and then focused on the uneasy faces before her. She smiled at them and said, "Well, now that we're all settled, why don't we all get to know each other first before we start, is that OK with you?"
All heads nodded and then she continued, "Very well then, I'll go first. My name is Virginia Weasley, but you can call me Ginny, everyone does."
The tension among the kids at her table was beginning to crumble and she was thankful for that. "Why don't you go next," she said, nodding at the little boy at her right. At first, the little boy seemed to be embarrassed, then, he looked up and launched into a little speech about himself. He was named Nigel. After that, the little girl next to Nigel did the same. One by one, the children told her their names and a little something about themselves. After that warm introduction, Ginny started on tutoring them a little about History of Magic. She could really give them much of a lesson because it was just the first night. After an hour and a half, everyone started leaving. Ginny went to her own dormitory without giving as much as another glance at Draco Malfoy.
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A/N: Please do review, it keeps me going when people do and I get determined to finish faster! Thank you so much to those who did review. You guys rock! By the way, I'm so sorry that it took me this long to update. Schoolwork is overtaking everything I'm doing. I still have book reports and numerous projects to do. Don't worry, by the time sembreak's on the roll, I'll be able to update more often. Thanks a lot for waiting for this.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story except the plot, so please don't sue me. Thanks!