Opposite Attraction Chapter 7
"You're impossible! Bulgaria's beaters can hardly touch their own nose they have so little coordination, much less hit a bludger!" Ginny argued throwing her hands around wildly in broad gestures to accentuate her point.
"And you're off your rocker! Ireland's seeker has the grace and swiftness of a pregnant hippogriff!" Draco replied.
They'd been sitting in the new Chinese restaurant on the other side of Hogsmeade for the last thirty minutes, arguing loudly over which team was more likely to win the Quidditch cup this year. Needless to say, people were starting to give them strange glances, though neither of them noticed, they were so caught up in the conversation.
Both had been surprised at how easily the conversation had flowed. There had been barely any pauses, and none of them were awkward. Even though it'd only been barely more than a few days since they'd even been on civil terms, it felt like they'd been friends forever.
"Yeah, well Bulgaria's chaser couldn't catch the quaffle if it was the size of the moon!" Ginny shot back.
"Oh and I supposed Ireland's chaser can?" Draco questioned.
"They bloody well can! Now sod off Ire;nad or I'll be forced to throw my water in your face!" Ginny said in mock outrage.
"Oooh, I'm scared now!" Draco said pretending to shiver.
"Yeah that's right Malfoy, no goons to hide behind now!" She said pointing an accusing finger at him.
Clutching his heart he gasped, "I'm wounded that you think I would need goons! I am perfectly capable of defending myself!"
"Oh yeah, one can see that, especially since the whole Bat-Bogey incident!" She said smirking.
Pausing for a moment, he said quickly, "That was unfair! My back was turned, you had a free shot!"
"Only because you were too busy tormenting Harry!" She shot at him.
"Oh, had to defend Potty there didn't you? Can't look after himself so he has his fan club do it for him?" Draco shot back his voice rising.
When did this turn into an argument? Draco thought. Everything was going well a few minutes ago!
"For your information Malfoy, if you'd taken the time to notice, you would have seen that I've been over him years! I'm not in the habit of going around stalking people who will never feel about me the same way!" Ginny said, her voice dangerously low as she got out of her chair, pivoted on her heel and strode out of the restaurant.
Throwing a few galleons down on the table Draco ran out the door behind her. Looking around he saw her heading down an alleyway. Noticing the alleyway from a few excursions with his father, he quickened his pace knowing that nothing good could be down that way.
"Ginny!" Draco called hastening down the alley.
"Shit!" He cursed upon realizing he had no idea where she had gone.
A few moments later he heard a scream that sounded distinctly female, and quickly backtracked and ran down another alley to the sound of it.
Rounding a corner, he saw Ginny leaning against a brick wall for support, shaking, and a large figure, which he later realized was a man, lying on the ground in front of her.
"Ginny!" Draco breathed in relief.
Looking up at the sound of his voice and seeing him standing there, Ginny ran towards him and launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck, burying her head in his chest. Quickly recovering from the shock that came from having a sobbing redhead throw herself at him, he put his arms around her back, noticing that she was sobbing.
"Gin, what's wrong?" He questioned uneasily. Draco was not used to having sobbing females in his arms much less having to comfort them. His mother had always put on an icy façade when in the presence of anybody else, and rarely did he see her show any emotion except disdain or disgust, so the concept of comforting anybody was quite alien to him.
"He t-tried to pull me into his, his store, and I tried to get away, and h-he was too strong, and so I k-kicked him, and I stunned him. And it w-was horrible!" She cried, tightening her arms around him and bringing forth a fresh torrent of tears.
"Then we need to move Ginny, we don't want him to wake up and come after you again!" Draco said softly.
Nodding her head Ginny stepped away from Draco and wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve. Taking a shaky breath she looked up at Draco and discovered that he was watching her like a hawk.
"What?" She questioned, her voice still a little weak.
Draco just shook his head and turned away setting a brisk pace up the alleyway.
Not wanting to lose him again Ginny quickly started jogging until she caught up and fell into step with him.
Stepping out of the alley, Ginny realized how late it had become. The streets were deserted and the sun was barely visible above the horizon casting an orange glow to everything. Looking at Draco, she saw the orange hues mixing with the white of his hair and making it look almost golden. She turned quickly away so that he wouldn't see her smile and ask her about it.
A sudden wind blew through the streets and Ginny shivered, mentally slapping herself on the forehead as she realized she hadn't brought her cloak.
Seeing this out of the corner of his eye, he swung his cloak off his shoulders and draped it onto Ginny's shoulders. Seeing how big it was on her, the hem almost trailing the ground and the rest engulfing her body, a smile spread across his face briefly before vanishing as he looked straight ahead again.
Shooting a glance at him, Ginny wondered why he had given her his cloak.
Not that I don't appreciate it. She though with a smirk. It even smells like him, and it's still warm too. Her face adopting a dreamy sort of look.
She adjusted the cloak around her and picked it up a bit so it wouldn't trail on the ground, then they continued on their way to Hogwarts in a comfortable silence.
As they approached the Hogwarts gates, Draco found himself thinking about the feelings he'd felt when Ginny had stepped out of his arms, back in the alley.
It almost felt like emptiness. Loneliness. Like there was something missing. He thought.
Shaking his head he cleared the thoughts from his mind, just as Ginny's hand brushed his. Jumping from the sudden contact, he felt a blush crawling up his skin at his reaction.
Stupid fool! It was an accident and you go and act like a jumpy twelve year old on his first date! This isn't even a date. . . . right?
Draco suddenly became worried. What if she thought it was a date? What if it was? What if it was, and she didn't think it was a date? What if it wasn't and she thinks it was? Ah! What do I do?
Mentally giving himself a nice bonk upside the head he tried to gather his wits.
Get yourself together man! You're a Malfoy! A MALFOY for gods sake! We do not get all worried over if a girl thinks a pleasant friendly outing was a date or not! We ask her!
Gulping, Draco cleared his throat and turned to Ginny.
"Hey Ginny?" He said softly shaking his head at himself.
"Yeah?"
"I was just, ah, wondering, if you would, um, consider this, thing, that we ah, did today, if you would consider it a, um, date." Looking at anything but her he waited to hear her mocking laughter and her quick rejection.
Not hearing either he chanced a quick glance at her. He saw her biting her lip and staring at her hands nervously.
"Gin?" He asked.
"I, I don't know. Do you think it was?" Ginny said turning the question back on him.
"I asked you first." Draco replied smirking at her.
Scowling at him she said, "Fine. Let's call it two friends meeting for tea."
"Sounds good to me." He said, realizing with a start the sinking feeling in his stomach.
Did you really expect her to say yes, it was a date? Would you have? No! Besides even if she did feel about you that way, WHICH SHE DOESN'T, he thought quickly, trying to get his hopes up, she wouldn't say anything, because she wouldn't even know if you like her!
Then you'll just have to show her. He thought, a grin appearing on his face.
After all you ARE a Malfoy, and the Malfoy charm is irresistible!
When they reached the front doors, Draco chivalrously held the door open for Ginny, bowing low his arm folded across his stomach.
Ginny shot him a strange look that was almost apprehensive as she walked past him, but chose not to say anything.
When they reached the stairs leading down to the Slytherin common room, and up to the Gryffindor common room Ginny turned to face Draco.
"I had a-" She started, then stopped abruptly as she realized he was staring at her again.
"What ar-" She started to say, but was cut off when Draco put a finger to her lips.
She realized his face was moving closer to hers. Or maybe hers was moving closer to his. Or maybe they were moving simultaneously closer! Whichever it was though, his face was close to hers!
Her heart started to beat wildly in her chest. She could feel his breath on her face, even count the eyelashes above his eye she was so close!
Feeling her heart would burst with anticipation and excitement, she closed her eyes and waited. . .
A/N: Hold the flames, pitchforks, machine guns, and any other harmful devices you may be holding, ready to pitch at me! Remember, the more reviews I get, the quicker I update!! And if anybody would be interested in beta'ing, I'd really appreciate it! So if you do just tell me in a review or e-mail me! Thanks!
And thanks to all of my reviewers:
Claudia: Hey! I hope you waited for this one! Lol! I am SO sorry it took so long! I promise to update quicker!
Future Writer of America: I'm so glad you like this story! Hope you can wait long enough for this chapter! Lol! I'll have to go read your stories! And I promise to leave a review, too!
Harrypotterrox13: Ok, I used "Strawberry Shortcake" because it's a popular toddlers plushie/TV show/movie. OK? But glad you liked it! Lol, and sorry "Rosey the Chimpanzee" will NOT be making an appearance!
Leah: Lol! Leah it WOUNDS me that you think I would skip school just to write fanfiction! Lol! clutches heart and falls to ground But the Schleinster. . . hmm. . . yes GOOD LUCK with the no homework thing. Ha! But I'll try to write more even though we do have staggering amounts of hw every day.
Lil Bre: LMAO! Are you okay there? Geez, I didn't know strawberry shortcake would illicit such an. . . interesting. . response! Lol! Bad childhood memories? Lol! Hope you liked this chapter and sorry for the long wait!
Orlando Bloom Luver: Lol! So sorry for the long wait! I promise to update sooner this time!
And again, if anybody wants to beta anything for me (including other stuff besides this story) I would REALLY appreciate it! Thanks, Funnykido.