CHAPTER THREE

Draco had Ginny's note out and was reading it over and over to make sure he understood. It was exactly the opposite of what he'd expected. It wasn't a hate not; it was an admission of love. She wrote:

Dear Draco,

I don't know how to say this, but even though it's so wrong, I can't help myself. I love you, Draco. We have to be together somehow. We just have to! Somehow I know we can't be together forever, but I also know we should be. Let's try to figure this out. If you feel the same way, let's meet at the room that only appears when truly needed at eleven o'clock tonight. Please be there.

Love,

Ginny

All of the air left Draco's lungs in a giant whoosh. He felt as though he could fly; so much happiness rushed through him in a single, euphoric burst. The room that only appears when truly needed... At eleven... Determination gleamed in his lightening eyes and he nodded to himself. Tonight could very well decide the fate of the heir to the Malfoy fortune, but one thing was for certain: he would be with one person he loved more than anyone else in the world.

Eleven frightful chimes echoed through the silent hallway. Very few people were up at this hour, Ginny noticed with slight nervousness. She'd passed Hermione fucking some third year Hufflepuff against a wall, receiving her usual nod of greeting. (The third year couldn't hear her footsteps over his groans.) Professor McGonagal was trying hard to be sneaky as she snuck to the Slytherin common room when Ginny spotted her. Date with Snape perhaps? Or possibly Crabbe and Goyle? Those two had been receiving unusually high marks in Transfiguration lately...

Ginny made no indication that she was aware of her teacher's presence, and though both saw each other and knew the other saw them, they thought a mutual silence would be best. So she continued on her way down the hallway, praying feverishly Draco read her note and would meet her.

The door appeared out of what should have been a solid wall, just as it was supposed to. Was he already there? Had he stood her up? Ginny pushed all the worry from her mind as she gripped the doorhandle and slowly shoved the door open. It was black as sin inside. With shaky fingers, she drew out her wand and whispered an unsteady, "Luminous!" Instantly, a white light glowed from the end of her wand, and she shut the door behind her so no one else would know she was there. On preliminary inspection, it appeared she was alone. Then a hand clamped over her mouth, and she felt a scream rising in her throat.

"Shhh," a familiar voice whispered gently in her ear. "Don't worry, it's just me." Thin fingers ran through her auburn locks, soothing her fears. She shifted in his arms so that she faced him and embraced him tenderly.

"I thought you weren't going to come," she murmured into the folds of his robe. He drew away and took her face in his hands.

"Oh course," he laughed softly, "you can't pass up on true love."

She let out a gleeful giggle as he spun her around. "You really, truly, love me?" Ginny asked, unable to contain her glee. This seemed so unreal.

Draco nodded. "No doubt in my mind," he assured her, kissing her softly. Finally. She sighed against his lips. Everything was clicking into place.

"I don't want to lose you," she murmured out, a sense of desperation creeping into her brain. He stroked her hair and looked into the emerald beauty of her eyes. "Don't worry," he smiled down on her. "I'm never letting you go."

A few prismatic tears escaped from her eyes, and she sniffed. "They'd never let us be together."

"So we don't tell them," he said, pulling them both down to the floor. Ginny almost laughed at the absurdity of that statement.

"Draco, I have six brothers who watch over my every word. They'd find out eventually. We need to tell them."

Frustration glanced from his eyes. "Yes, but my family..." he trailed off. "They would never forgive me, cut me off completely... or worse..." He trembled at the thought of what his father would do if he knew.

"Look," Ginny said, firmly but tenderly. "I don't know what your father could do to you, but I know if you really want to be with me, if you love me, you'll find some way to be honest with him." She clasped his hand in her own. "Do this for me, okay?" she murmured, batting her eyes.

He looked into her eyes and felt his fear dissipate. "Of course I'll do it for you. I'll do anything--"

She cut him off with an abrupt kiss, wrapping her slender arms around his neck. "Thank you for this," she said quietly. "Now we can be together, really be together."

"Finally," Draco whispered.

Hermione stiffened as she saw Harry grab Ron's hand during breakfast, and nearly screamed as he set the hand on his own knee. She had forgiven them for their sexual preferences, but still... She supposed it was jealousy she was feeling, this overwhelming tension that ate away at the pit of her stomach, but she hated seeing Harry with Ron. Dammit, she was still so attracted to him.

Harry tossed his unruly hair and she unwittingly shivered. He was so sexy. Forcing her eyes away from his strong profile, she glanced at Seamus, who apparently had been staring at her chest for some time now. She smirked slyly and ran her hand down her body.

"Hermione," he said suddenly, seemingly jolted out of his trance.

"Yes?" she asked, loosening her robe and leaning forward to show more cleavage. She hadn't even bothered to put a shirt on today; all she was wearing was a lacy bra. It would probably be off before her first class anyway.

Seamus gulped. "I was thinking... You know, if you're interested, if... we could get together sometime like a couple," he blurted out nervously.

She held back a laugh. "A couple?" she asked. It was strange: no one she'd been with had ever thought of her as a half of their couple, not even Victor Krum.

"Yeah," he encouraged sincerely. He reminded her of a small boy.

Hermione tried to look sympathetic as she sized up his brown-eyed, dark-haired, sturdy frame. "Look Seamuse, you're cute and all but..." Seeing his quickly falling expression, she made an extra attempt to be nice. "I'm just not the couple type, I guess. I'm sorry."

He looked confused, studying her face critically. "I thought... When we..."

She cleared her throat, trying to move past the topic. "About that, I just, you know, am a girl who likes to have fun. If you're interested in that, well, maybe we can work something out," she said seductively. Her foot crept up his pant leg.

He shuddered, but wouldn't meet her eyes. "You know, this was a bad idea." He got to his feet, preparing to walk away.

"No!" Hermione called out. "Wait for me!" She caught up to him and slipped her arm around his back. "How about we be a couple for a little while?" she whispered in his ear.

Seamus shook his head. "No," he said quietly, and then with more convinction, "No! I can't deal with your games anymore, and if I can't have you in a true way, I don't want you," he insisted fervently as they neared the door. "Goodbye," he added after they'd entered the hallway, walking away from her as quickly as possible.

Standing alone in the hallway, feeling dirty and rejected, Hermione wondered how someone could actually have turned her down. The wonder quickly turned to desperation. Yes, this was definitely desperation that she was feeling. Spotting a tall seventh year, she sauntered over to him, twirling a curl of hair with her index finger.

"Do you want a graduation present?" she murmured.

Professor Snaps moved to the front of the classroom and snapped her fingers impatiently. Instantly everyone in the room fell silent. They had quickly learned that this professor was not to be tested. She smiled coyly and let out a small giggle, which quickly morphed into a cough.

"Welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts," she cooed. Everyone stared in rapture at the woman as she shifted her black vinyl dress so it covered just a bit less of her pale, hairy legs. She hadn't had time to shave the stubble that was rapidly transforming into a beard and the beginnings of a mustache that usually looked diabolical. Damn, she thought as she looked in the small mirror, the disguise is slipping. Oh well, she'd take care of it at the end of class.

"Who can tell me who the most powerful evil wizard in history is?" she asked.

The smiles in the room began to wane, and some of the students shifted uncomfortably in their seats. Ginger couldn't help but grin at the fear that began to permeate through the room. One hand shot up in the mess, and the professor's black eyes narrowed into slits.

Harry Potter.

"Voldemort," he replied smoothly with out the faintest hint of a tremor in his voice.

She was one part annoyed and one part amused at his curt reply, raising a bushy eyebrow. "You do not fear to say his name, young Mr. Potter?" she challenged, gruff voice scraping.

"No," Harry said slowly. His eyes calmly met her black stare. "I do not fear him."

Professor Snaps' face fell in disbelief. Surely he could not be serious. "Foolish boy! Lord Voldemort--" The class gasped at the sound of his name. "Er-- He-who-should-not-be-named is a threat to the entire wizarding world! He is more powerful than ever! You, of all people, Potter, should fear him! He'll come after you if you don't watch your foolish tongue!"

The entire class went silent, watching the professor's ranting in fear. Was this new teacher meaning to threaten Harry? Or was she just mad?

Harry's eyes had filled with confusion. "Yes, well, this is true. But we've been taught that fearing him does us no good. We're learning to overcome our fears of the dark arts." His voice took on clear sarcasm as he added, "That's why we're here."

Professor Snaps glanced warily around the class. "Yes, of course," she grunted. "I apologize, I just... you know... feel very strongly about er-- fighting the dark arts." The class stared at her for a moment, Harry studying her nervous expression, before she continued. "Let's continue our discussion of Voldemort another time. Right now, turn to page seventy-two of your text. Miss Granger, will you do us the honor of reading?" she asked briskly.

"Of course, Professor," Hermione answered, spreading her legs.

The professor wondered at the girl's sexual manner. Surely she couldn't know... After all, it was a perfect plan... Flawless, in fact... Snaps followed along her book, trying not to even consider the possibility that Hermione knew her deep, dark secret.

Hermione finished her reading and faced the front of the classroom, watching the man in disguise as he continued to teach the class. It was obvious that the imposter was a man, and what a man he was. Hermione was definitely beginning to get turned on by him. He was careful not to look at her as he spoke to them.

The man, Ginger Snaps, or whatever his real name was, wasn't at all physically attractive, but there was something about him... a sexy sort of danger in his eye. There was a power in him that was obvious from the first time she'd seen him, but she was getting more and more attracted to him as he spoke, his deep, rumbling voice resonating through the room. If only she could get him to notice her... At the moment, she didn't care what his secret was, she just wanted him.

But how could she approach him? If she was too subtle, he wouldn't catch her meaning, but if she was too obvious, she might scare him away. On the other hand... A lot of guys liked aggressiveness, and it was her strongest tactic... So, aggressive it was. She couldn't wait to tell the Professor what she thought of him.

"You are dismissed," Professor Snaps called out deeply. The sound of his voice was so intoxicating, Hermione almost drooled on herself.

Students filed out hurriedly, but Hermione stayed in her chair, still staring at the Professor. Harry and Ron were last out the door. They sent her a questioning look, but she told them to leave with a wave of her hand.

Professor Snaps began digging through her desk for materials, looking nervous. Hermione approached him slowly, but he seemed not to notice her until she was right in front of him. He looked up questioningly, and their eye contact was awkward and fleeting. Quickly, he looked back down. "Yes, Miss Granger?" he asked, keeping up the facade with an impossibly high voice.

Swaying her hips, Hermione sat on the edge of his desk. She leaned closer to his face. "Professor, you're so different from the other teachers here," she said huskily.

He looked up hesitantly, a sort of dark fear in his eyes. "What do you mean?" he asked, voice cracking.

"I know you're a man, Professor," Hermione smiled coyly, pulling her skirt up to reveal more leg, "and you should know that I'm interested."

Snaps gulped. "Interested in what?" His voice had completely dropped now, and his black eyes were twitching.

She got up off his desk and sat slowly on his lap. She giggled when he gasped slightly in surprise. Not answering his question, she asked, "Tell me, how long has been since you've been a with a woman? Months? Years?"

He smiled slightly as her direction became obvious. "It's been a long time," he whispered in her ear, making her shiver with anticipation.

"Let's change that," Hermione murmured back. She grabbed him by the neck and thrust her lips onto his lustily. Her tongue slipped inside his mouth and her hands ran over his body.

He pulled away, reluctance apparent. "No one will know about this, will they?" She shook her head. "Then let's continue this in my cupboard." Seeing her annoyance, he added, "Just in case anyone disturbs us."

Hermione nodded slyly, her eyes taking in his black ones. "Let's go," she said seductively, licking her lips and then tugging him by the hand to the rather large cupboard.

Harry closed the door of the empty Transfiguration classroom and turned to face Ron. He took a tentative step towards the red head, smiling shyly. Now that they were finally alone together, Harry realized how nervous he was. Ron reached slender fingers up to brush a stray strand of hair from Harry's face, and Harry's heart skipped a beat. When did looking into Ron's sparking, joyful eyes start making Harry's heart dance and his stomach flutter? When had things changed from friendly comraderie to... love?

Harry caught Ron's wrist as he started to pull away, stopping his hand at eye-level. Ron's gaze flicked to Harry's soft lips, and his fingers twitched with the urge to touch them. Smiling, Harry brought Ron's hand to his mouth and took one long, slender finger into his mouth.

The door burst open, and a frightened-looking first year dashed to the back of the room, snatched up a book, and ran out, hardly glancing at the two boys who were now standing a good six feet apart, hands clasped conspicuously behind their backs. They both stared at the door as it clicked shut. Ron let out an explosive sigh and flung himself into one of the empty seats.

"It's no use Harry. We're cursed."

Harry's eyes widened, and he took a step towards his friend and pseudo-lover. "Ron... You don't think... Hermione..."

"Blimey!" Ron's eyes widened, then narrowed as he considered the idea. "Last year I would've said she'd never do something like that... But so much has changed over the summer..." Ron let his eyes travel over Harry's hunky body and allowed himself a small smirk.

Harry blushed, and stammered, "B-but... Would she really curse her best friends?"

"She bloody well would! She's turned into such a bitch this year. And I've seen the way she looks at you, like a cat after a choice mouse. It's sickening!"

Draco sat in the uncomfortable wooden chair outside of his father's office. He'd gotten special permission to meet his father during school hours; he had convinced Dumbledore that it was urgent. And it was. With Ginny desperate to get their relationship out in the open, he felt getting it over with was urgent within itself.

Anxiously, his foot began twitching. God, could his father's meeting last any longer? Draco had been sitting in that rigid chair for nearly an hour and a half. His father had been informed of his arrival, so where was he? Couldn't he see that this was important to Draco?

"Draco Malfoy?" asked a lumpy faced witch behind the front desk.

Draco turned to look at her. "Yeah?" he replied impatiently.

"Your father will see you now," she said smilingly. "You can enter that door."

He nodded but didn't get up right away. He shook out his nerves and rubbed the muscles behind his neck with tense, shaky fingers, hoping to relax. It didn't work. Trying hard to act casual, he got up and shoved open the door to his father's office.

As soon as he entered, a file of serious-looking witches and warlocks walked out. Most of them were pale and looked harrassed, he noticed. Her hoped his father was in an okay mood to hear his news. If he wasn't... Draco didn't even want to think about it.

Lucius Malfoy's cold gray eyes smiled sharply at his son. "Draco, boy, why are you here to visit? Shouldn't you be in school?"

"I excused myself for the day," Draco said hesitantly, worried about how much he should tell his father.

Lucius waited for an explanation. "Why?" he asked after none came.

The son gulped. "I have something to tell you," he said softly.

"Well, what is it?" Aggravatedly, he shook his head and began magically sorting files. "I'm a very busy man..."

"Dad, I--I'm in love," Draco blurted out, eager to get it out in the open.

His father looked at him amusedly, one eyebrow raised in a gentilian manner. "That's good, son. As long as you let her know who is in control, I'm sure you'll be happy together." He began to distract himself by looking as though he were absorbed in paperwork, but when Draco stayed in front of his desk, he puzzedly glanced back up. "Is there more?" his snarling voice questioned.

"Yes. It's Ginny Weasley," Draco choked out.

Somehow hearing himself say it out loud made him realize it was only fair to tell his father, no matter what the consequences. Keeping it a secret would be terribly wrong. Still, it was scary, seeing his father's normally pale face redden deeply, and his eyes bulge as this registered with him. Draco could almost pinpoint the moment when the full force of the anger hit him.

"What?" Lucius Malfoy snapped. "You... love... Ginny Weasley?" He spat the name as if it were poison.

Draco gulped. "I do."

"The wretch! From that despicably lowly family! Draco, no, you are ending this now. To be associated with the Weasleys..." He trailed off, glaring at Draco demandingly.

The boy clenched his teeth and listened to his father's demand; he'd expected this kind of reaction. But it didn't change that he wouldn't ever leave Ginny. He'd never felt the way he felt with her before. There was an electricity, a chemical reaction everytime they were together. He couldn't just give that up. If only his father could understand.

"I love her," Draco forced out tightly, "and I can't end it."

Lucius continued to glare at his son with obvious disdain. "You must. There is no alternative," his strained voice growled.

"Yes, there is!" his son declared, his confidence growing. "We will be together, father."

"Will you really?"

"Yes," Draco said firmly. "You can't stop us."

"Can't I?" Lucius asked, threat apparent in his voice.

Draco gulped apprehensively. "No," he said in a slightly weaker tone. He tried to continue looking committed to his cause.

"Son?"

Nerves elevating, he dared to glance at his father.

"What if I was to send you to another wizarding school? Say--Durmstrang?" Lucius's eyes seemed masked somehow, as if he were hiding his true emotions.

"Durmstrang?" Draco somehow managed to choke out. His father wouldn't actually send him away, would he?

Lucius smiled coldly. "It's a fine school, that. Your cousin Glenfilda graduated at the top of her class there. And with Dumbledore still the headmaster at Hogwarts... It seems a better alternative," he added, maintaining his calm.

Draco's pale eyebrows drew together. His father could not do this to him. "No, I'm staying at Hogwarts. I'm staying with Ginny," he insisted.

Suddenly, his father lept up from behind his desk, as he moved, shouting, "Crucio!" with his wand outstretched.

Before the full impact of what his father had just done could hit Draco, the torture that the curse inflicted did. It was unlike anything he'd ever felt before; starting in his extremities and moving inward, incredible pain sliced through his nerves, causing his muscles to spasm uncontrollably. Draco riled on the floor, staring up at his father with forsaken eyes.

"Draco," his father said slowly, as if to prolong his son's agony. "You will not have anything to do with Ginny Weasley, you hear me?" His voice took on a more deadly tone as he added, "If I hear anything from the school about you two being together, anything, I may be forced to use the Imperius curse on you. You will have nothing to do with the Weasley girl," he repeated, seeming to relish the words. He withdrew the curse.

Draco looked up at his father weakly before staggering out of his office, not caring that the people in the Ministry were staring at him as if he were crazy.

Nothing could keep him away from Ginny Weasley. Nothing.