[ I'd Rather Be In Love With You ]
chapter seven: because I want to
Darn, she thought with her heart sinking. I left my wand!
Ginny was standing beside her table in the Charms classroom. There was a pile of large books on the table and she needed to return them to the library or else Madam Pince will be mad as hell! How will she ever manage to lift them all? She brought them here using magic and now she can't because she left her wand. Madam Pince is extremely strict when it comes to borrowing books and she promised to return the books before library closed. And the library closed at eight thirty. She looked at the time and she had exactly a quarter of an hour to return the books! That didn't give her much time to return to her dormitory and retrieve her wand. She just had to carry them all.
How on earth will I be able to carry them all? she thought frantically while children were running towards the door. Evidently, Draco Malfoy already dismissed his students. She plunked her hands on her hips and thought for a moment. Thought for any solution, which might be helpful in her predicament.
Let's see, she though. I can't do magic and I can't carry these all by myself, so I'll just have to ask someone to help me. Ginny turned so she could ask one of the kids to help her, but there was nobody there except Draco Malfoy who was arranging the chairs on his table.
Ginny let out a defeated shrug. I'm not asking that git for his help, she thought. He'll just insult me some more and fling my request right in my face! No way! I'm not taking that from him.
Left with no other choice, Ginny started to scoop the books from the table. She managed to carry all of them for a moment, then as if by some force of gravity, they started to get heavier. She was only four steps away from the table when she couldn't take it anymore. Her arms gave in and the books crashed to the floor.
Oh great! Ginny thought. This is just great! Just perfect!
From the other side of the room, Draco Malfoy turned to see what the commotion was about. He saw Ginny standing with her hands on her hips and books at her feet. He figured she must have been having some trouble with those books she was carrying. He finished arranging the chairs and then turned to look at Ginny again. She hadn't gotten far from where she was a minute ago. Draco stood still and folded his arms across his chest while watching her. He didn't think she could manage to lift all those books up all by herself. They were too large and too heavy for her. She, however, did not seem to get the idea.
"You know, Weasley, you could use a spell to lift them all. I see you don't get the idea that maybe you can't carry all of those by yourself," he drawled making Ginny turn towards him.
"I'm getting along fine, Malfoy, so just leave me alone," she snapped at him, her hands still at her hips.
"Now, where have I heard that before?" Draco asked sarcastically no one in particular.
"I can't do magic because I don't have my wand right now," Ginny said her chin held high. "And besides, we don't really need magic for everything. What if all of the sudden every witch and wizard lost their ability to do magic? What would you do Malfoy? Sulk and piss everyone off? 'Cuz that's what you're good at-"
"I wouldn't go there if I were you, Weasley," he bit back, anger emanating from his eyes. "You don't want to know what I'm capable of doing when I'm mad."
Ginny stopped. Her heart was beginning to pound in her chest. Her courage somehow dissolved when he saw the fury in his eyes. He was right. She didn't want to know what he was capable of doing if he was provoked. So, she did the only sensible thing she could do then, she turned around with her back at him and went back to her dilemma.
Draco watched her. He knew he scared her. That was the only reason why she turned away from him without answering back. He saw the fear in her eyes and he slightly regretted giving her such a look of contempt.
He continued to watch her struggle her way towards the door, but she wasn't so successful. She kept stopping to put the books down because they were too heavy and by now her cheeks were flushed. She was tired he knew. Draco thought she looked adorable looking annoyed and irritated with her cheeks flushed. He suddenly had an undeniable impulse to go and help her.
Help her? Draco thought. Why in hell would I want to do that?
But as Draco continued to watch her, he thought to himself that it would take her forever to get to the library. Then, he let out a defeated shrug and thought, Oh what the hell? He started walking towards Ginny.
For the fourth time, Ginny settled the books on the floor. This was not working out so well. She hasn't even gotten through the door and it already took five minutes of her time. Madam Pince was sure to pounce on her at this rate. Beads of sweat were already forming on her forehead and she wiped them off.
Just then, she heard footsteps behind her and she turned around only to see Malfoy walking towards her. Oh no! Please don't let him hurt me, she thought frantically. Then without warning, Draco Malfoy bent down and scooped up all the books as if they had no weight at all!
Ginny stood flabbergasted on the spot. Her eyes were wide as realization hit her. Draco Malfoy was helping her out of his own violation! And he wasn't even using magic! Is something wrong with him? she thought. She was on the verge of asking him that when Draco reached the closed door and turned his head towards her.
"Are you just going to stand there, Weasley?" Draco asked, hinting for her to open the door. "Open the door, because as you can see, I have both my hands full."
Ginny realized that and she shook her head a little and hurried to the door and opened it. When they got through the door, Peeves was watching and he made the books fall off of Draco's arms.
"What're you two doing in there? You were snogging weren't you?" Peeves asked mischievously. "Ha! I knew it!"
"Peeves! What is it about you and snogging? We had tutoring sessions in here and now we're done! We're taking these books to the library," Ginny explained. "Now, go away!" Peeves complied, laughing mischievously, but Ginny had a nasty feeling that Peeves let them off the hook easily.
Draco cast a look of pure venom towards Peeves but he kept his mouth shut. He knelt down and started piling up the books. Ginny helped, too. While they were gathering the books, Ginny looked at Draco and asked softly, "Why didn't you use magic, then?"
Draco continued gathering the books then replied, "I left my wand at my room." At one time, Ginny thought she saw something on Draco's left arm when he stretched out his hand to reach a book. She figured it must have been the Dark Mark and decided not to say something about it.
Both kept silent after that. Ginny carried the books she piled herself. It was very few compared to what Draco Malfoy was carrying. They continued their way towards the library with Ginny on the lead.
When they got in the library, Madam Pince counted the books then told them to return the books to its proper shelf. Ginny led the way to the shelf where she got the books. Thankfully, all of them were in the same shelf so she wouldn't have a hard time running around the library. Ginny thought that after carrying the books for her, Draco Malfoy would've had enough and would leave her there. Boy, was she wrong.
When they got to the designated shelf of the whole lot, Draco placed them on the floor and helped her place them on the shelf. Ginny's mind was confused. Who is this person? she asked herself. This is definitely not Draco Malfoy. Maybe he's in the Imperious Curse. Or better yet, maybe he's possessed!
Ginny was on the verge of asking him that, but thought she better help him with the books. While doing so, she kept stealing glances towards Draco Malfoy. He looked like nothing out of the ordinary was happening; as if helping Weasleys were his daily habit.
Draco placed the last book on the shelf when suddenly Ginny stepped closer to him and placed the back of her hand on his forehead. Draco blinked unable to comprehend what she was doing. Her hand was having a strange effect on him. He felt like his head was burning of her touch although her hand wasn't very warm.
"What in the world are you doing?" he asked.
"You're not ill."
It was a statement, not a question.
"Excuse me?" Draco asked, confused.
"You're not ill, which is the only reason I can come up with when you helped me," Ginny elaborated, stepping back a little. "Why did you help me? Are you in some kind of medication, Malfoy?"
Draco frowned. "No," he said. Why did I help her? Draco asked himself.
"Then, why did you help me? Why did you catch me a week ago when I fell from the ladder when you thought I was someone else?"
Because I wanted to and because I had to, he answered in his head while staying silent.
After a few moments, Ginny spoke again. "Aren't you going to answer me?"
"It's none of your business, Weasley," he replied angry with himself because he couldn't think of a plausible answer.
"I think I am entitled to some answers, Malfoy," she announced. "For all I know you could be setting me up for something terrible. Knowing you-"
"I am not setting you up for anything, Weasley and you don't know me very much so just drop it!"
With that, Draco turned around and walked away. He couldn't believe the nerve of that girl! Who the hell does she think she is asking me all those questions? he thought angrily. She doesn't have any right whatsoever to demand that of me. And to think I wanted to help her!
When Draco got in his room, he slammed the door and got into bed without changing. He was too mad to bother. Draco tried to forget what happened a while ago. He was angry with the Weasley girl for assuming that he was helping her so he could set her up for something terrible.
I am not associating myself with that Weasley girl again. Everytime I help her, she does something to make mad! Last time I helped her, I ended up in detention, Draco thought angrily.
Ginny was stunned. Draco Malfoy sure was touchy about that certain subject. Curiosity overtook Ginny's mind and then she ran after Draco, hoping to catch him. When she got out of the library, he wasn't in sight anymore. Sighing, Ginny walked back to the Gryffindor Common Room while thinking about what happened with Malfoy.
Something is definitely different with him, she contemplated. He sure has helped me a lot these past days. When she got in front of the Fat Lady, she mumbled the password and got in. Most people already got in their beds. Seated at the far end of the room, Ron and Harry, were playing chess and Hermione was at the other side of the room, reading. No doubt she was staying away from both guys because she found them too noisy.
She walked in and both Harry and Ron looked up. "Hey Gin, Hermione tells me you have this tutoring thing. How was it?" Ron asked though his attention was still on the game.
"It was okay, Ron," Ginny replied, thankful that Hermione didn't mention Draco Malfoy.
"Checkmate! Ha! That's the third time in a row, Harry," Ron shouted victoriously.
"I know and I think it's time we stop this. God knows I've been beaten enough already," Harry replied standing up, no doubt to go to their dormitory.
Ginny was in an arm's length from Harry and Ron when she felt it again. That dizziness she felt in the Charms classroom. She stopped in her tracks, closed her eyes while both her hands reached up to her temples. She felt the world whirl around her.
"Gin, what's wrong?" she heard Harry ask, though she heard it as if it was a distant voice. She felt as if everything was growing hazy around her. She opened her eyes but all she could see were blurry visions. She felt like fainting again.
"Gin? What's-"
And then, the world faded away.
* * *
He was there again. Standing in an arm's reach in front of her. His tall form looming above her. She could feel his eyes on her. Does he love me? she wondered. She knew she felt something for him. But she didn't know what he felt about her.
Then, without warning, she closed the gap between them and wound her arms around his neck. She felt his body stiffen. Then, after a moment, she felt him relax and he encircled her waist with his strong arms.
It felt so right to be in his arms. She fit perfectly to his body, like she was really made to fit him. She wanted to say the words to him. To tell him how she really felt about him.
"I love you," she said softly. He drew back a little bit so he was looking into her eyes. What she saw made her heart jump. She was staring right into two beautiful orbs.
Gray ones.
Then she felt herself being pulled away from the heavenly place she was in.
"What's wrong with her?"
"Is she alright?"
"What happened to her?"
Ginny heard voices. At first they sounded like it was miles away, then it became louder and louder until she assumed that the people talking must be beside her.
Ginny opened her eyes. She looked around.
Where am I? What happened? These were the first questions that raced through her mind. Then, she realized she was at the Hospital Wing. She realized she must have fainted.
She saw Ron and Hermione at her right. They were looking at Madam Pomfrey, who as at the moment bringing another piece of blanket towards Ginny.
"Mr. Weasley, kindly tell me again what really happened and why your sister fainted," Madam Pomfrey said looking at Ron.
"I told you before, one minute we were talking to her, the next minute, her face screws up like she wasn't feeling well and then she fell! Luckily, Harry caught her," Ron enumerated, looking a little frantic.
Madam Pomfrey breathed a sigh, and then she looked at Ginny.
"Oh good, you're awake," she announced moving to Ginny's left, then that's when she noticed Harry was there, too.
"How are you feeling?" Madam Pomfrey asked Ginny and then felt Ginny's forehead for her temperature.
"I feel, alright," Ginny replied looking confused. "Did I faint?"
"Yes, you did, Gin," Harry replied.
"Well, you don't have any fever, that's for sure. Maybe you were just tired, that's why you fainted," Madam Pomfrey observed.
"Tired?" Harry, Ron and Hermione all repeated.
"Well, I did have to carry several large books to the library," Ginny admitted. She wasn't sure why she fainted. All she knew was that she felt that dizziness before and she didn't even know what caused it. She rarely faints and she never fainted because she was tired. What's wrong with me? she asked herself. She didn't say anything about feeling the dizziness before because she didn't want to worry anyone.
"Well, you're not sick so I'm permitting you to go back to your dormitory," Madam Pomfrey said. "Try not to tire yourself Miss Weasley," she advised.
"Alright. Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," Ginny said, getting out of the bed.
She joined Harry, Ron and Hermione to the Gryffindor Common Room.
"What's wrong you, Gin?" Ron asked, looking concerned.
"I don't know, Ron, but really it's nothing so don't worry about it, alright?" Ginny said. "Don't say anything to Mum, she'll get worried and I don't want her to."
"Well, alright, if you say so. But try not to do anything that'll make you very tired, alright?" Ron said.
"Alright," Ginny agreed. "I'll go to bed now. Good night all of you."
"Goodnight," Ron, Hermione and Harry all replied.
Ginny climbed up the stairs and got into her bed. She thought about what happened a while ago. Why did she faint? What was the cause of her dizziness? It puzzled her to no end because she was sure she never faints just because she was tired.
And what about that damned dream?! She couldn't understand any of it. She was sure it was telling her something because she has been having them since she was small. But it was only now that her dreams were progressing. Before this year, she'd just been dreaming about a man in some place, now, she was dreaming of embracing him and then professing undying declarations of love. She did not understand it. Maybe this person in my dream is my soul mate, she thought. It was the only explanation she could think about.
Ginny, then felt exhaustion overcome her and then she gave way to slumber as the night wore on.
The following evening, Ginny was eating dinner quietly in the Great Hall with none other than Ron, Hermione and Harry. She kept thinking about what happened the night before and the dream she had after it. She was so engrossed with her thoughts that she didn't notice she was barely touching her food.
"Gin, you better eat up. We can't have you fainting again," Ron said a little angrily. He took careful notice of Ginny now because he was worried about her.
Ginny just smiled at him, not offended by her brother's tone. She knew he was just worried for her.
After she was done eating, she stood up to go to the Charms classroom.
"Hey, Gin, don't carry any more heavy stuff. Have someone help you on that, alright?" Ron advised. Ginny nodded and started her way towards the Charms classroom.
Then, she remembered about the whole thing with Malfoy. She then remembered what happened the night before and how he helped her. She also remembered how he cut her off when she asked about him and helping other people, especially her. She decided to talk to him again. She knew it wasn't necessary but she couldn't help it. She knew Malfoy would get mad at her again if she tried to pry but she couldn't help her curiosity. She always saw Malfoy as an egotistical conceited jerk, but lately, he hasn't been himself. But then again, he was a Death Eater. She was supposed to stay away from him because he was considered dangerous or something like that. She had an undeniable urge to try to understand Draco Malfoy. She was going to risk getting physically hurt by him in doing so.
But she had a feeling he won't.
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A/N: Well? What do you guys think? Please review! I know everyone's been saying they can't wait for the whole romance thing, don't worry though, there will be. Just in case you guys were beginning to doubt if there is any. Just hold on. I'll make it fluffy if that's what you guys want. Anyways, stay tuned for the next chapter. A big THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed! You guys are the best! :)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story except the plot, so please don't sue me. Thanks!