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Awkward Moments

Ron and Harry sat nervously on one of the plush couches in the Slytherin common room observing the unfamiliar territory of their rivals. McGonagall sat tapping her fingers rapidly on the ornate wooden table, while Snape paced languidly in front the fire place with his arms crossed tightly across his chest. Ron occasionally glanced at the door they had just come from, only to feel his stomach turn again and his heartbeat rise a few more notches. Harry purposely avoided looking in that direction not wanting to think of what he had just seen. Over the past two years his feelings for Ginny had started to change; maybe it was because she didn't want him anymore, or it could genuinely be true feelings, he hadn't quite been able to decipher what it was yet. But, whatever it was, he could not stand to think of Malfoy doing what he was doing to her.

"Severus?" McGonagall asked quietly. "Do you think you could hurry them along a bit?"

Professor Snape stopped in mid stride and turned to face Professor McGonagall with a glare that could make an iceberg melt. "Minerva, I believe you witnessed the same thing as the rest of us just moments ago," he paused to catch his breath, "and I will not be intruding into Mr. Malfoy's room again in the near future." He resumed his pacing as McGonagall began to drum her fingers even more rapidly than before.

Just as it was beginning to sound as if McGonagall would drum a hole in the table, the door to Draco's room opened slowly. Draco walked through the door confidently, showing no signs of being any worse for the wear of beginning seen bare assed by two of his professors and the brother and best of friend of the girl he was shagging. He lead Ginny through the door and over to one of the couches, her eyes never leaving the ground. She sat down dejectedly, wrapping her arms around her body trying to hide from the room. Draco knew better than to touch Ginny right now, so he left a bit of space between them on the couch and crossed his arms across his chest, smirking at Ron and Harry as if taunting them.

"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Weasley," Professor Snape said pointedly, "how nice of you to finally join us." Draco quickly glanced at Ginny and saw that she was turning a very deep shade of crimson and her whole body was shaking. He did not mind Snape trying to humiliate him, but humiliating Ginny was not something he would tolerate.

"Professor Snape, why don't we just get to whatever it was that brought you and your entourage barging into my room without invitation, or even warning," Draco said harshly, not even bothering to mask his annoyance with the entire situation.

"Mr. Malfoy, I will tolerate for you to speak to a professor in that manner," Professor McGonagall said brusquely as she rose from the table and purposefully strode to join Snape in front the four students. "What we are here for is to clear up an accusation that Harry and Ron have made towards you Mr. Malfoy."

"And what accusation might that be?" Draco asked smugly.

"That you bound the two of them by spells, and left them out on the front lawn without clothing,"

Snape said in an amused tone at the thought of his least two favorite students being completely humiliated in front of the entire school.

"You did what, Draco?" Ginny said in a voice about two octaves higher than her normal tone as she jumped from her seat.

"Ginny, just sit down and let me explain exactly what happened," Draco said quietly. He grabbed her hand in his and pulled her back down on the couch next to him. "I'm not going to lie, I did what Harry and Ron said that I did, but there is quite a bit more to the story than that. I'm sure Ron and Harry did not fill you in on what role they played in this, now did they?"

"Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter, is there any truth to this?" Professor McGonagall asked in a very stern tone that rivaled that of Molly Weasley when she was angry.

Stuttering, Ron and Harry looked to one another in utter surprise. It wasn't as if they had expected Malfoy to touch complete responsibility, but they had not actually thought through what exactly would happen when Malfoy was confronted.

"Go on Potter, Weasel, go ahead and tell them what you did to me," Draco taunted. "Or would you like for me to tell them?"

Ron took a deep breath blowing it out forcefully. "Well, all we really wanted to do was find out Malfoy was up to hanging around my sister. That was it!"

"But that's not all you fucking did though!" Draco replied angrily. "What they did was to put me under a spell and force veritaserum down my throat."

"Mr. Weasley is this true?" Snape spat at him. "I will go check my supplies to see if any are missing if I do not feel I've gotten an honest reply, and then, not only will you be in trouble for lying, but for stealing as well!"

"Yeah, we put a full body bind and silencing spell on Malfoy and gave him veritaserum," Ron said hesitantly. "But it was to protect my baby sister! I know he is up to no good, I know it, I don't care what he says," Ron whined.

"You are a bloody idiot, Weasel!" Draco shouted. "No wonder you're failing potions. Did you miss the day on veritaserum? It's impossible to say anything other than the truth when you are under the influence of veritaserum!" Draco was leaning forward and clenching his fists listening to Ron accusing him. He felt Ginny's hand gently grasp his forearm. He took a deep breath and leaned back into the couch with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Draco," Professor Snape said sternly, "please lower your voice and calm down so we can get this all settled." Draco shot Snape a glare that could kill on being reprimanded in this situation. "Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, where did you get this Veritaserum that you forced Draco to swallow?"

Ron's face was gaining quite a bit of color at being directly questioned about what they had done. He could see the famous Weasley temper boiling behind Ginny's eyes and knew that he was going to be in some serious trouble. She had obviously gotten over her earlier embarrassment at being caught in the act, even though he probably never would.

"Why do you even bother asking?" Harry replied snottily. "You obviously know exactly where we got it from." Harry did not break eye contact with Snape, almost as if he was challenging him. Snape of course did not back down at all.

With this duel of wills, Snape stepped forward until he was so close to Harry that Harry could feel Snape's breath on his face. It was not until this that Harry blinked and looked away. "Mr. Potter, I do not know who you think you are talking to, but you will not talk to me like that at all. I'm not one of your little friends that tolerate your temper tantrums, but in case you have forgotten, I will remind you exactly who I am to you. I am your professor, and I will not hesitate to apply the appropriate punishment if you let this fact slip your mind again." Professor McGonagall cleared her throat just as Snape was about to start in on Harry again. He backed away and stood beside the fireplace surveying the four students sitting before him.

"I think that this matter has been taken care of at this point," McGonagall said quickly before anyone else could speak. "Professor Snape and I will take the matter up with Headmaster Dumbledore to determine what kind of consequences will be applied in response to this little situation between the three of you boys. Harry and Ron, I think it best that you leave at this time and go back to the common room. I do not want to see you out roaming the halls or wandering around at all today."

Harry stood and headed for the door with Ron following closely behind until he reached the couch Ginny was sitting on with Draco. "Ginny, are you coming?" Ron asked tentatively.

"How can you even possibly think that I want to speak to you right now?" Ginny said, her voice rising in pitch with each word.

"What?" Ron asked in shock. "You're staying here with him? After what he did to me?"

"I am," Ginny replied defiantly. "I don't know why you are acting so shocked. Did you already forget that you started this?" Ron started to stutter out a response, but before he could form a complete and coherent word, Ginny stood up quickly coming face to face with Ron. "I think Professor McGonagall asked you to leave, Ron." The tone in her voice didn't leave much room for argument from anyone, and Ron had learned over time that this was not a time to second guess her.

"Fine, Ginny, I'll leave. But I don't think that mum and dad are going to be too terribly happy to hear about what I witnessed earlier," Ron said menacingly as he turned to leave. He stepped through the door before Ginny could even say anything to him.

"Miss Weasley, it is fine if you would like to stay here with Mr. Malfoy for a bit longer," Professor McGonagall said quietly. "Professor Snape, should we go and speak with Professor Dumbledore?"

"Draco, we will speak later on this matter," Snape said curtly, and then turned to McGonagall and nodded. The two professors left the common room quickly to find Dumbledore and figure out what exactly needed to be done about the situation at hand.

Draco and Ginny went back to Draco's room as soon as McGonagall and Snape had left. Just as Draco closed the door behind them Ginny turned, crumpling into his arms and burst into tears. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly to him trying to suppress the racking sobs. He whispered soothing words into her ear and smoothed her hair away from her face.

"I can not believe they did that to you!" Ginny cried loudly. "I can't believe that Snape and McGonagall walked in on us, and Ron and Harry! I'm so humiliated." Ginny buried her face in Draco's shoulder mumbling incoherently about what had gone on in the past hour.

"Well, all I can say is that I hope we don't have to experience this again," Draco said and let out a deep breath. "I don't mind so much that your brother, Potter, and our Heads of House saw my naked arse up in the air, or that I was given Veritaserum, or that your brother and Potter tried to blame me for all of this and take no blame themselves, but what I mind is that they upset you so much." Draco kissed her gently on the forehead and hooked his finger under her chin bringing her mouth up to his.

"I'm sorry that Ron and Harry did that to you. Ron just can't accept that I'm not six anymore!"

"Why don't we just forget about what all has happened today. I'm actually pretty tired," Draco said in between yawns. "Do you want to take a nap?" Ginny nodded and followed him over to the bed. They both crawled under the covers, Draco taking her in his arms and pressing her back firmly to his chest. They both quickly feel asleep, their breathing in sync.

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Professors McGonagall and Snape hurried toward the entrance to the Headmasters stairwell, mumbling quietly between one another. If any student had been lurking through the halls, he or she might just have had a heart attack at hearing the peal of laughter escape Snape's mouth.

"What a way to end the day," Snape said after regaining his composure. "I almost feel bad for Miss Weasley, but Draco, I'll be able to taunt him with this until the day he leaves this place--and maybe even longer!"

"Severus," McGonagall chastised quietly, trying to suppress her own slight laughter. "They are our students; we shouldn't be talking about them like this."

"I know that, Minerva," Snape replied seriously. "But, seriously, how can you not want to laugh at the utter awkwardness that radiated in the room when Draco and Miss Weasley came out. I thought Mr. Weasley's ears were going to start emitting steam!" They reached the entrance and Snape quickly said, "Fizzing Whizbees." The door slid open to reveal the rotating spiral staircase leading to Dumbledore's office, which they quickly followed up to the heavy wooden door. Snape dropped a heavy knock onto the door.

"Come in," the Headmaster chirped cheerfully. The professors entered and quickly took seats facing the headmaster. "What seems to be the problem, Minerva?"

"Severus, I think it might be best for you to explain what has happened," Professor McGonagall said firmly, a slight tinge of pink creeping into her cheeks.

Snape proceeded to relay the previous incident to Dumbledore in excruciating detail, but Dumbledore's strongest reaction was to laugh loudly. Professor McGonagall's hand shot to her heart in shock when Dumbledore laughed so heartily at what had transpired between two of his students.

"Minerva, quit acting like such a prude," Dumbledore said in between laughs. "You have to be aware that a good majority of our students are not as innocent as you would like to believe. And, if I'm not mistaken, your Gryffindors are probably the least innocent of the bunch!"

"Why, I never," she gasped. "If there were such things going on in my house, I would be aware of it."

"Minerva," Snape laughed, "you are completely clueless. You must walk around with blinders on!"

The three adults bantered back and forth about the sexual atmosphere at Hogwarts, finally getting back to the topic at hand. Professor McGonagall rallied for punishment for all involved, including Ginny for being in Draco's room involved in such a lewd act. Snape and Dumbledore both laughed loudly in response to Professor McGonagall's adamant want for severe punishment.

"Ron and Harry need to be punished for stealing from my supplies, which also entails them breaking into my private store room as well," Snape returned seriously. "I think that Draco, Ron, and Harry should all be warned about their actions towards one another. Their punishment should be something that all three of them have to work on together, but that is in addition to an individual more severe punishment for Ron and Harry."

Dumbledore spoke up suddenly, "Ron, Harry, and Draco are all going to help train the W League for the next month. They will all be under Madame Hooch's supervision to ensure we have no more such incidents, but they will come up with a uniform routine to train all the first and second years. Together.

"Ron and Harry will also serve six detentions each with Professor Snape, doing exactly as he pleases, as punishment for their theft and breaking and entering," Dumbledore said firmly.

"Do you really think that's fair?" McGonagall inquired.

"Yes, I do," he replied firmly, "and that is the final word on it. I'd like for the two of you to return to your houses now since it's close to curfew. Minerva, I would dare say that Ginny will not be returning to her dorm tonight."

"But, Albus," she whined.

"But nothing. If she returns, she does. If she decides to stay with Draco tonight, so be it." Dumbledore waved the two professors out of his office, leaving no question as to what his intentions were. McGonagall and Snape exited the office and shut the door firmly behind them.

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After Ron and Harry skulked back to the Gryffindor tower, gloom and anger radiating from their pores, they shared the news with Hermione. Ron had spent the rest of the evening in the common room with his arms crossed, pacing the room, and mumbling under his breath about what a pompous bastard Malfoy and how he must have put his innocent baby sister under a spell of some sort to have her acting this way.

About an hour before curfew Professor McGonagall walked through the portrait and called Ron and Harry into a private room off the main common area.

"Boys," she began quietly, "unfortunately I am the bearer of bad news. Professor Snape and I have spoken with the headmaster in regards to what transpired between you and Mr. Malfoy and the consequences. You will receive two separate punishments."

"What?" Harry roared. "Malfoy better be getting exactly what we are!"

"Mr. Potter, I would appreciate it if you would keep your voice down. There is no arguing the punishments; you will not get out of them. Mr. Malfoy is getting a similar punishment for the uncalled retaliation, but you two are receiving a second punishment for breaking into Professor Snape's personal storeroom and stealing from his personal supplies.

"The three of you will be working together to create a training routine for those students on the W League and implementing it, for a month. In case you've forgotten, the W League is the least experienced of the students," McGonagall stopped to take a deep breath and clear her throat. "Madame Hooch will be supervising the three of you to prevent any disputes, but other than that, you will be working together at least three times a week.

"As for your punishments for stealing the Veritaserum, the two of you will be serving six detentions each with Professor Snape." Ron spluttered something unintelligible, which McGonagall decidedly ignored. "Mr. Malfoy will not be receiving any further punishment than the Quidditch training. And, I will not hear of any disputing or bad mouthing of Mr. Malfoy. If I find either of you within speaking distance of him outside of the time you spend training the Quidditch players, you will receive further punishment, and I will personally deduct points from my own house for it."

Ron and Harry both looked on incredulously as their Head of House dished out the worst punishment they could have ever imagined. McGonagall dismissed them both, and suggested that they head to their room and turn in for the night. Both boys stood up slowly, still in shock of what had just happened, and slinked out the door. They paused for a few minutes in the common room to relay the information to Hermione, but didn't linger for fear of McGonagall getting on to them for congregating with the other students after being sent to their room. They didn't speak after reaching the room, but changed quietly, crawled into their respective beds and pulled the hangings, and were left with their thoughts for the rest of the night.

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Word of what had happened, and to who, traveled through the houses like wildfire, including in depth details of Draco and Ginny's romp, leaving nothing to the imagination. Looks of jealousy followed Ginny through the halls and into her classes; looks of lust followed Draco everywhere he went, even a few guys made their desires obvious.

The first two practices with the first and second years in the W League had gone of rather well. Draco, Harry, and Ron didn't argue, but stayed on opposite ends of the pitch and avoided interfering with one another.

Things stayed calm for the first two weeks, showing marked improvement in the majority of the students. The second face off between Draco's team and Harry's team was coming up in three days, causing tension between the boys. Ginny purposely avoided her brother and Harry, wanting to keep all the frustration pent up to take out during the match.

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A/N: Sorry about leaving it at this. I had to split this up or this chapter would be just toooooo long! Give me lots of reviews and I'll post faster! Come on, you know you wanna!