Author's Note: Boo-yah! Chapter 3 is up! Swing! As promised, Draco and Ginny enter a...shall we ? It certainly creates many compromising situations. Sorry about the delay in putting up chapters; they'll all be out soon. Read and enjoy! I look forward to reading your reviews, and thanks to the person who's already read and reviewed. Twiddles!

Disclaimer: Oh, bother...not mine, because pigs can't fly. Everything stays pretty much the same throughout the story; Jenna's mine, and a few other things; basically what you don't recognize from the book.

Puffy Red Eyes

Chapter 3: A Plan in the Making...with Little or no Tears Involved

The days flew by. Jenna got Ginny better acquainted with the television, and the girls decided it was time to get out before their brains fried.

They were in Jenna's luxurious room, trying to decide what to wear for a day at Diagon Alley. Ginny was inclined to throw on a pair of jeans and an old tee, but Jenna had other ideas.

"Come on, Ginny. We got you all those pretty clothes. You have to wear them sometime!" She sounded exasperated.

Ginny held her hands up in mock surrender. "I give, I give! What do you want me to wear? But no skirts, it's too windy." She said.

Jenna nodded, "Fair enough."

She began to rummage through the bags they had yet to unpack. She pulled out a pair of black pants and a turquoise camisole. Ginny looked at the scanty shirt dubiously.

Jenna rolled her eyes and placed a light button up over-shirt on the bed. "Happy?" She asked through her grin.

"Exquisitely." Ginny replied, shrugging out of her shirt. "What are you wearing?" She asked, muffled through the wads of fabric.

Jenna barely had to think. "The beige capris with the red Diamond Girls tee." She said, pointing to the shirt sporting the familiar insignia of the popular witch band.

Ginny's hands were immediately on her hips. "Why can you wear tees?" She asked.

Jenna tugged the debated tee over her head, and smoothed it out. Smiling at Ginny through her full-length mirror, she pulled on several red bangles, red hoop earrings, a ruby necklace, and a fiery red scarf. "Because I know how to accessorize."

Ginny scowled at her friend and pulled the soft linen pants on. "Fine."

Draco Malfoy had fewer problems deciding what to wear that morning. Since he was out of school, he donned his baggy black jeans, and a silky tank top. He ran a hand through his hair, making sure it was as messy as possible.

He grinned at his reflection in the mirror. Perfect.

"Ginny, slow down! I still need to get some parchment, ink, a new robe, my old one doesn't fit around the hips anymore, and I need to get some wand polish." Jenna whined.

Ginny, who had finished her shopping in record time, was sitting on a bench in Diagon Alley. "Well, I'm rather tired, and there was that friend of yours, Beatrix, who wanted to go look at robes with you, so why don't you go meet her, and then you can meet me back here in two hours, OK?" Ginny asked.

Jenna grinned at her again. "Thanks, Gin." And she was off.

Ginny shut her eyes and leaned her head back dreamily. Suddenly a shadow blocked the sun's warmth from her face. Not looking, she laughed at Jenna's indecisiveness.

"Go on, don't wait for me, I'll be waiting right here."

"That's nice, but where do you suppose I go, weasel?" A familiar drawling voice asked.

Ginny's eyes shot open.

Draco frowned slightly. Damn those eyes! They were so big and lively. He'd seen her sitting on the bench, her eyes closed, and a sweet smile on her face.

Probably thinking about Potter, he thought to himself. Disgusting the way she threw herself at the idiot and he didn't even know she existed. She could do better than Scar-Head, he thought.

Ginny couldn't believe her luck. Malfoy! For the first time she was actually glad to see him. She smiled up at him, hoping she looked at least alright.

Draco, startled at her smile, froze. He'd never been on the receiving end of a smile like that, and he didn't know what to say.

"Hello Malfoy. How are you?" She asked.

Draco was stunned. Was the little weasel being nice to him? No, there had to be a catch, or some ridiculous, childish joke. But, she looked so…sincere.

"Fine, you, weasel? Seen you around that girl a lot. Did your family kick you out or something? Surprised Potter didn't welcome you into his bed-I mean home." He said, not looking apologetic in the least bit. Until he saw her eyes.

With eyes that big, it was impossible to hide emotions in them. Right know they were displaying hatred…for him? And something else…possibly…longing?

Malfoy narrowed his eyes at her. So she hated him and wanted Potter. Fine, they were made for each other. An oblivious dolt and a needy little kid.

He started to turn away when he felt a tug on his pants. Looking down, he noticed that it was her tiny hand that was causing the tug. Even though she wouldn't look up at him, he could see the tears forming in her eyes.

"Can I…talk to you…in private?" Her sentence was choppy and undecided.

Malfoy was shocked, but remained calm. This would be the perfect time to take his revenge on the little brat!

"Sure Weasel-y." He corrected himself. To his surprise, and hers, he took her hand in his and helped her up. Hers was cool, even compared to his. He reluctantly released it.

They made their way to a little-visited café shadowed by a large market based mostly on dragon products. Ginny and Draco ordered teas. While Ginny stirred hers absentmindedly, Draco leaned back in his chair, staring intently at her face, trying desperately not to acknowledge how pretty she was when she was perplexed.

Ginny suddenly looked up at Malfoy, who tried to pretend he hadn't been watching her.

"You really hate Harry, don't you?" She asked, quietly.

Malfoy was so surprised he nearly fell backwards. He quickly regained his composure.

"Brilliant observation, Weasley. When did you figure that out?" He sneered.

Suddenly, it was like she had resolved something in her head. She looked…determined.

"I have a proposition for you Malfoy." She said.

Malfoy nearly laughed. "And what can you give me that I don't already have?"

Ginny grinned wryly at him. "Satisfaction. The satisfaction of causing Harry Potter, the boy you hate so much, pain." She said, her voice dangerously quiet.

Malfoy was shocked. "You're selling out on Potter!?" He blurted before he could stop himself.

To his surprise, Ginny smiled. "You could say that. He hurt me. Badly. Make fun of me while I'm down if you like, but listen to my proposition, even though I don't like it anymore than you do. What happened between me and him is our business. You are a convenient means to an end, but in that end, you will get what you want, included in that, the satisfaction of driving my brother insane. A friend of mine gave me some advice. What Harry did was wrong, and I want revenge, but I should also forget about it. So I'll get my revenge by simply forgetting him. And dating his worst enemy. I need to move on in life, but it wouldn't hurt if I made him hurt a little on the way, does it?" She said, bitter-sweetly.

Malfoy's jaw had dropped completely now, and Ginny couldn't help but laugh at his amazed expression. "What's the matter, Malfoy? Surely you couldn't believe that I was truly as innocent as I appear? Or perhaps you're just scared of me?" She suggested playfully.

Malfoy was considering things over in his mind. Hurt Potter, yes. Date Weasley, no. Or, hurt Potter, yes, screw Weasley, yes? Or just date Weasley, yes? No, she's a Weasley for Chrissake! He hated them all. On the other hand, if he hurt Potter, big brother Weasley, and the littlest weasel, he'd be in business.

He looked up at her. "I didn't think you were this bad, weasel, but what makes you think I'm available, even more so to someone like you?" He was startled when she stared back at his just as coolly.

"Perhaps I am evil, but I don't get the same sick pleasure you do out of this. This will make me feel guilt for the rest of my life, but it doesn't really matter, because I don't have that much to live for besides myself and my own justice, in a sense. And second of all, I didn't ask you to enjoy this, and I know for a fact you don't have a girl right now. All you can do is gain from this, so what's your decision?" She sat back in her chair.

Malfoy stared. What the hell did Potter do to her? That's a huge grudge she's carrying against him. But she's right. It can't hurt me. And the satisfaction of Potter and Weasley knowing I screwed them over by screwing the little weasel, and that she started it, what fun! He'd made up his mind.

"Deal." He said, sticking his hand out for her to shake.

Ginny was so surprised she almost didn't shake his hand. She'd expected him to laugh at her, ridicule her, call her insane, but she'd never actually thought he'd accept her offer.

Grinning she took his hand in hers. He turned it over and ran his lips across the back.

Ginny nearly gasped out loud. The electric thrill he sent through her veins in that one simple touch was thrilling. She'd never experienced that feeling in her most passionate kiss with Harry.

Smiling, Draco dropped her hand. "Liked that, didn't you?" He teased, earning him a scowl from Ginny. "Grow up!" She yelled at him, scooting back her chair and storming off. Suddenly, there was a hand around her waist.

She turned around. There he was. She glared at him. "Go to hell, Malfoy!" She yelled, pushing at his arm.

He caught her hands in his. "Temper, Weasley. We have a deal. And I don't expect us to have a lover's quarrel until we've become lovers."

He nearly laughed out loud as she blanched at his insinuation.

He pushed her up against the wall of the market. His face half-hidden in the shadows, he smiled at her vain attempts to get free of him.

"Stop Weasley. Give up, you know you want to." He said, before covering her mouth with his.

Stars exploded in Ginny's head. She felt hot and feverish, and could barely register that the cause of this delight was Draco Malfoy. She struggled weakly for a few seconds, then, tentatively, stopped. Although she had little experience in this field, her hands told her where to go.

Her arms encircled Malfoy's neck, pulling him closer to her both fearfully and excitedly. Draco, on his part was equally surprised that she was answering back like this, and even more surprised that he was experiencing his most enjoyable kiss so far with Ginny Weasley. Chills went down his spine as she toyed with his hair, running her hands through it.

Ginny was becoming lightheaded, and it occurred to her that she might need to breathe soon. Apparently the same thought entered Malfoy's mind because he (reluctantly) pulled his lips from hers.

Ginny looked slightly out of breath, and her eyes were dancing wildly. All thoughts of Harry Potter left her head as she touched her lips reminiscently.

Malfoy was staring at something behind her. Ginny glanced over her shoulder, and immediately wished she hadn't. Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini of Slytherin were staring at the couple in shock, before hurrying off to whisper to some friends.

Ginny breathed out. "Shit." She said. She was hoping to at least let Jenna know before everyone else, but then again, she hadn't expected Malfoy to agree with her idea, let alone jump on her like that. Not that she'd minded. Even if he was a Malfoy, he was one hell of a kisser, even if he did look a little uncertain.

Malfoy stiffened as she exhaled that single word. So she was ashamed of him? It wasn't like she was any trophy. Perhaps he could just squirm his way out of this little arrangement. No, no matter how bad things got, he was a Malfoy, and he would keep his word. Not that he'd make her life any better.

Ginny sat up off the wall. "Is that how you seal every deal, Malfoy? It's no wonder your father had so many clients." She said, jokingly.

She stared at his unfathomable silvery-grey eyes. He looked troubled, and angry.

She touched his arm gently. He flinched at her touch. She jerked her hand back. "Malfoy, are you alright?" She was surprised she was asking, considering her father had nearly gotten her killed, but Malfoy was beginning to grow on her. I didn't help that he was arrogant, confident, and dead sexy. She didn't know why he was so cold suddenly, but perhaps talking about his father was painful. He wasn't the best father figure you could ask for. Not a very loving one.

On a sudden impulse, Ginny turned to Malfoy.

"Have you ever been in love, before, Malfoy?" She asked timidly. It would be hard for someone like Malfoy (especially with his parents) to know what love was; giving or receiving it would be quite a challenge.

His eyes hardened. "I'm not your precious Potter, and don't think for one moment that kiss meant anything to me. I bet everyone will know now." He turned to her harshly. "And I don't love."

He whirled off, but her soft voice stopped him. "Why?"

He whirled on her, and she stood her ground. "Why!? Why!? Why would I care about stupid little sniveling girls with a crush on stupid Harry fucking Potter? You think you're better than me? You're not! You don't know what love is, so don't ask me if I love like you know all about that subject, weasel! Are you afraid of me, now? Are you? I could break your neck and I wouldn't give a damn. And no one would care. You can't do a thing to stop me, and you think you can ask me about love in that stupid, pretend innocent voice, to try to make me say I care about you. I don't! I just want to hurt you as much as I want to hurt Potter!"

He grabbed her and shoved her into the wall. Her face remained expressionless and calm. For a second, Malfoy was confused, then he decided it was a trick. He grabbed her shoulders and pushed her up the wall until her feet were dangling inches off the ground.

Still Ginny didn't panic. When she spoke, her voice was smooth and even, as if she were having a pleasant conversation with a friend, and not with her brother's biggest enemy, who was threatening her. "You want to hurt me, Malfoy? Go ahead, hurt a girl half your size with not even half your strength. I am childish, because for a second back there, you took my breath away. Are you happy? It worked. You egocentric prat. You've got me around your finger, now what are you going to do? Are you going to crush me? Go ahead. At least then I won't keep getting hurt by idiotic pricks."

It was her courage in the end, that calmed him down. He released his hold on her, and she slid down the wall. He was shaking, and in a moment of maternal instinct, she leaned forward and kissed his forehead.

Even the chaste brush of her lips on his skin made his body ache for her.

Ginny didn't understand much about Malfoy, but he could be nice when he wanted to. He'd been rather helpful with her in school, tutoring her in her spare time after Snape had recognized her talent in Potions. He was sharp, yes, but underneath the brusque exterior, he could be pleasant, even funny sometimes. Maybe it was just his childhood and maybe not. Either way, with kisses like that, not much else mattered, including Harry Potter.

"I'm sorry Malfoy." And she really sounded sorry, too. "We got off on the wrong start. Can we try again? We should at least try to get along to create the illusion we're dating."

Malfoy looked down at her, smiling freely up at him after he'd just threatened to kill her.

"At the very least, we should go on a first name basis." She prodded.

Draco considered this. "You may call me Draco, but I'm afraid Weasley is too good to give up." Ginny sighed. "Good enough. Just let me do the talking."

Draco grabbed her arm before she left. "See you on the train?" he asked, trying not to sound too hopeful. Ginny grinned. "Last compartment?" She asked.

"See you there." Draco replied.

As if on second thought, Ginny stood on her toes and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. Blushing, she scrambled of, leaving a very confused Malfoy. And Malfoys never appreciate being confused.

Ginny was flushing furiously as she rushed to meet Jenna back at the bench. She had just kissed Draco Malfoy. As gross as it sounded, Ginny resolved to tell Jenna that it was nothing like kissing a statue. Not unless kissing statues sent pleasurable shivers sliding down your back, and if it did, Ginny was going to start kissing statues to get that effect.

She shivered again, trying to clear her mind. That was the most electric kiss she'd ever felt. Even in her most heated moments with Harry, the most she'd experienced was a pleasant tingling just from kissing someone.

Ginny shook her head angrily. Knock it off, girl, you're just inexperienced, and he's…well…experienced. Nothing happened between us, it was just an agreement. He's just doing this to get at Harry and Ron, he's not interested in you, and you're not interested in him. It was just an agreement. It was just an agreement. She thought.

She was so immersed in her thoughts that she didn't notice the figure in her path.

"Ohh!" She gasped as she ran straight into someone's chest.

She looked up and paled. Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle were leering down at her. Her eyes widened. While she was mildly afraid of Malfoy, who was probably twenty pounds heavier than her, she was terrified of these two, who each had at least a hundred on her.

"Hey weasel. You better watch where you're going, or you're bound to get hurt."

She was shaking noticeably, and glanced around quickly. They were next to a dark alleyway, and no one was around. She briefly considered screaming or running, but the two creeps had other ideas. Crabbe grabbed her arms and covered her mouth with his huge hand.

Her cry stifled, Ginny started lashing out with her feet. Her toe connected with Crabbe's kneecap, and he doubled over in pain, not releasing his hold on her for a second.

He straightened up and glared at her. Grabbing her shirt front, Crabbe lifted her up a foot off the ground effortlessly, as if she were a tiny rag doll.

Ginny wrapped her hands around Crabbe's wrists to gain some leverage. Then she remembered the trick she'd used on Malfoy. Without thinking, she dug her sharp nails into Crabbe's flesh.

His piggy little eyes widened in shock and pain. "Ow-ow-ow-ow-oww! You bitch!"

Crying out, he dropped her to the ground, where she quickly scrambled to her feet, trying not to look at the blood welling up on Crabbe's wrist. Suddenly, Goyle was right in front of her. Ginny tried to stop before she ran straight into him, landing firmly on her rear.

She could just see an open shop across the street, if she could just make it…

Ginny remembered something Fred and George had taught her in her third year. Very useful, especially if you were in a non-magic situation.

Ginny jumped into a crouch, and swung her right foot around in a circle along the ground, kicking Goyle's feet out from under him.

Ginny nimbly leapt to her feet as Goyle dropped on his back, his arms waving around in what would have been, under other circumstances, a comedic whirling motion. Giving the howling pair in pain only one second glance, she ran across the street where an elderly witch was cleaning dust from the windows.

Ginny, panting from lack of breath and fear, stepped inside the grimy shop.

Crabbe's husky voice stretched across the deserted street to Ginny's ears. "This is not the end, weasel brat!" He yelled.

Ginny turned around. The two oafs were gone.

Ginny was shaking violently as she crept over to the bench where Jenna had left her. To her relief, she saw several other Hogwarts students around it, including Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, and Colin Creevey, the last she waved to.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she glanced at her watch. Twenty minutes to go until Jenna got back. She stared wistfully in the direction of Madame Malkins, the popular robes shop.

Hurry up, Jenna. She thought. She didn't relish the idea of sitting here by herself while Crabbe and Goyle were out there, probably looking for her.

She managed a weak smile, promising herself to send Fred and George a huge box of Chocolate Frogs as soon as she got back to Jenna's. The look on Crabbe's face! With his gob hanging open like a codfish! She'd probably pay dearly for that one later, but they'd really deserved it. Maybe next time they'd think twice about beating up on little kids.

Ginny closed her eyes and leaned back, basking in the failing warmth of the fall sun. As earlier, a shadow fell across her face, chilling her.

Malfoy. Great. Why can he just leave it?

Aloud, she said "Go away", too tired to open her eyes.

"Well fine. If you want to sit here all night instead of spending the night at my place, be my guest. Touchy." Jenna said, her tone teasing.

Ginny's eyes snapped open. "Jen! It's you. Sorry, I thought you were Malfoy…no offense, I had my eyes closed…but you can see why I'd want him to go away…" she trailed, realizing she was babbling.

Jenna looked away, looking oddly uncomfortable. "Good, because I heard some girls from Hogwarts saying stuff about you and Malfoy, and well…you know I don't listen to gossip….but it was Pansy, and she wouldn't have any reason to lie about that. In fact, she sounded rather angry. But, if you still hate him, then she was wrong, right…?" She said very quickly, stealing a glance at her young friend.

Ginny looked down at her feet, her cheeks glowing. Why did it sound like she was such a slut?

Jenna caught the look.

"Ginny!" She protested, shocked, yet somehow still grinning.

Ginny squirmed in her seat under her friend's knowing scrutiny. "You said I should try to forget about Harry, and the best thing I could do would be to get another guy,…so…"

Jenna cut her off. "Yeah, but I didn't mean with Malfoy, that's just…wrong! You said it yourself; kissing Malfoy would be like snogging a statue! And here you are snogging the hell out of him in broad daylight! What's with the change of heart?"

Ginny just continued to look down at her feet, too ashamed of herself to say anything. Somehow it hadn't sounded so bad in her head.

Jenna glared suspiciously. "OK, what's wrong? What the hell is going on here? The other day you were ready to kill Malfoy, and now you're ready to screw him ("Jenna!"), I mean, are you bipolar or something? Because people don't have such drastic changes in heart in a few days like that! So spill!" She panted, her hands on her hips. Her eyes were flashing dangerously, almost daring Ginny to try and feed her some bullshit story.

Ginny looked up at the dark girl sheepishly.

"OK, I'll tell you what's going on as long as you don't say anything." Jenna nodded.

"Fine," Ginny continued, "you said I needed to just be kissed to get my mind off Harry, and…" here came the hard part. Now that she was saying it out loud, it really did sound childish and silly. What had she been thinking? She was a Gryffindor, for Pete's sake! She didn't do malicious stuff like this…did she really belong in Slytherin?

Jenna stared at her, almost into her. Lying would be of little use right now.

Ginny exhaled feebly. It was now or never. "I know you'll think badly of me, but I just wanted to hurt Harry. I know now that it was ridiculously stupid, and Harry probably never would have noticed anyway, but… I just…wanted him to see me…you know? I just wanted him to look at me the way he does Hermione. Maybe I just wanted anyone to look at me the way Harry looks at Hermione. I guess I shouldn't have acted so quickly. Now I'm not really mad at Harry anymore and I'm stuck in this deal with Malfoy…" she trailed off.

Jenna was on the verge of mentioning that Malfoy had been looking at her very similar to the way Harry looked at Hermione when Ginny continued her reasoning.

"I know it's stupid, but at the time I was coming up with the plan, I wasn't thinking straight, obviously, or my mind would have told me how wrong thinking about Malfoy like that was…"

Jenna held up one well-manicured hand.

"What plan?" She asked suspiciously.

Ginny swallowed nervously, her head buzzing, and her tongue suddenly felt very heavy.

"I thought, well, not really, but I was trying to think of the bet way to get back at Harry. I thought maybe I he saw me going out with someone else, he might get the tiniest bit jealous, or at least feel rotten that I'd gotten over him so quickly. I know you think I'm horrible, but I thought, what about Malfoy? I don't have anything to give anyone, and no one would want me as his girl, so I tried to find someone who would do it just to spite Harry. Hence Malfoy's entrance into my little scheme. He hates Harry enough that he'd do nearly anything to get under his skin. He doesn't have much respect for my brother, either." Ginny let out the breath he'd been holding.

Jenna smiled at her warily. "Wow. That was a…bad plan. I understand why you'd want to hurt Harry, though; he was a major bastard to you. You're right, Gin, it was a stupid idea, but at least you've gotten Harry out of your mind, right?"

Ginny thought back to her kiss with Malfoy. "Oh, yeah."

"But, you're not going to carry on with it, right?" Jenna asked.

Ginny shrugged helplessly. "I made a deal with Malfoy, but given the circumstances, I think he might agree to break it off, eh? You know what I mean?" She grinned evilly.

Jenna rolled her eyes. "Which would make him an enormous idiot. But for our purposes, young friend, an enormous idiot might just be what we need." She pulled Ginny to her feet, helping her with her bags.

"So," she said, wrapping a sisterly arm around Ginny's shoulders as they began to walk home "what WAS the kiss like?"