Chapter Four: Speechless

There stood The-Boy-Who-Lived.

"Hello Harry. What are you doing at school before it even starts?" Ginny questioned.

Harry's eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadn't slept in days. "Well, there is the fact that I was with your family when you and lover boy here walked into the Great Hall, but of course, you didn't see me. You had eyes only for him." Harry sneered.

"Oh, well, I'm sorry Harry. It's just that there was such a commotion and it was really the first time Draco and I had been apart since summer began. We're heading down to the Great Hall right now for dinner; did you want to join us?"

"No, I'd rather not be in the presence of a future Death Eater. Besides I just had dinner." Harry replied angrily and stalked off, bumping in-between Draco and Ginny as he did so.

"Why that good-for-nothing bastard. Who does he think he is talking to you like that? I should go over there and...I don't know what." Draco said angrily.

"It's okay Draco, maybe Harry has just been having bad dreams. He'll calm down in the morning. I'll see what's bothering him then. Why don't we just continue and go see how Ron and Hermione are taking this?" Ginny replied while trying to sooth Draco.

"If you say so. But, Red, I think that Potter has feelings for you. I mean, I know that if a girl I loved or liked was with my enemy, I would be bitter towards her. I just really don't like the idea of you going to see him tomorrow. Maybe it would be best if we asked Weasley and Granger about Potter. They'd be able to tell us more than what we'll get out of him." Draco explained as they walked to the Great Hall.

When they walked through the doors, they paused. Neither had any idea where they would sit. Just as they were trying to figure it all out, Professor Dumbledore walked up to them. "Ah, yes, I can see what you two are thinking. You don't know quite where to sit. I do have a suggestion for you. You don't have to take it, but it would possibly put an end to your problems. Every other day, sit at each other's tables. For example, Draco, you sit with Ginny at the Gryffindor table today, and she will sit with you at the Slytherin table tomorrow. From then on just alternate tables. You won't have any troubles at the Slytherin table, for I see that Ms. Weasley has the infamous bracelet on, so I don't see why this arrangement won't work. I'll see you two around." And just as quick as Dumbledore appeared, he left, leaving a dumbfounded couple.

"Draco, what is he talking about? I never even put on the bracelet. I was so upset about the potion recipe that I hardly glanced at it."

"Well, you see Red. You didn't even need to put it on. All you had to do was glance at it. The bracelet knows when the right person sees it. It automatically puts it on you. Do you like it?" Draco explained... and questioned.

For the first time, Ginny really looked at the bracelet. It was set in white gold with emerald (of course) and diamond accents. The piece of jewelry was breathtaking and it took all Ginny had not to faint right there. What she had on her wrist was worth more than anything in her whole house.

"Draco, there's no way that I can accept this. I mean, it's just too much!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Red, you're my girl now. Get used to having fine things. You don't ever have to worry about money again. And," this is where Draco hesitated, "neither does your family." At this point, Ginny started to hesitate. "I know that they may not appreciate, or even want to accept my money. They may see it as charity. I do have an idea that I will run by you later, though. We'll talk about it then."

Ginny was speechless. Never in her entire life had she felt this overwhelmed. She knew that she would quite possibly be the only one to know Draco as he was now; a sensitive person who actually cared enough about her family to not give them money outright. She knew that she would probably be the only person for a while to see him like that. It takes a lot to make a person change; and she was glad that she played that role in Draco's life.

All of this was though while walking towards Hermione and Ron. Draco and Ginny took the seats across from them apprehensively, not knowing what to expect.

Ron looked at them and said quite easily, in a conversational tone, "You do know, Malfoy, that if you ever, ever hurt my sister or cause her any pain, that my brothers, my father, Harry, and I will be all over you like those tropical piranhas that haven't eaten in quite some time."

Draco gulped and paled a little bit, but said with great ease, "I respect that, Weasley. I really do. But I do want, for Ginny's sake, to at least be on speaking and civil terms with you. If that is okay with you, of course. I'll even call Granger over there her real name, as soon as I feel comfortable enough with this whole situation. It is rather odd for me, and I'm sure for you, right now"

Ron nodded and continued eating.

"Ron," Ginny stated, "do know what's wrong with Harry? Draco and I saw him in the hall and, well, he wasn't too nice to us. Has he been having bad dreams?"

Hermione and Ron paused in their eating and looked at each other.

"Well, Ginny, it's like this..." Hermione said.

"'Mione, maybe we should let them talk to Harry. I'm sure he doesn't want us to tell how he feels. Mabye he wants to do it himself."

"Ron, you know that's ridiculous. Harry won't tell them, and they have to know. They'll find out sooner or later." Hermione calmly said. "You see it's like this. Ever since Ginny disappeared, Harry was worried sick. He thought that Draco was going to hurt you somehow. We see now that that notion was ridiculous, but to Harry, it wasn't. During the time that you were gone, he realized how much he cared about you. He hasn't slept in days; worrying about what kind of condition you would be in when we saw you again. The fact that you are happier with Draco than you ever would have been had you been with Harry tears him up. Just thought you would like to know."

Draco and Ginny were speechless.