Xo0FireBladeo0X—Hey! Was this soon enough? Sorry if it took a long time. I tried making this one the best I could, so review and let me know what you think!
Cutiepiethesecond—I never got an email from you! Shame, really, I love hearing ideas from you. Hope you like this chapter!
Cherryblossom203—Never got an email from you either! Eh, am I that boring? Well, what he did wasn't ESPECIALLY cruel, but still pretty high up there.
Lucy Saints—Yup, you were definitely right about the boggart. You got it first try too! Hm…did I make it that obvious? Okay, well, yeah, you'll see some of the human aspect of Draco in this chapter. Hopefully it'll explain a bit more. Oh, and for my math…..i have an A!! Woo hoo! Party!! Lol.
Starlitestarbritelilsis—Of course I'm going to include you! Your welcome though. I'm so glad you like this story. And, well, as for the happy ending….would you hate me if it wasn't a happy ending? I can't make any promises.
MissBlueAngel—I know, you haven't updated in awhile! Ah, well neither have I, so I guess I shouldn't be talking now, should I? Anyways, don't worry about the math. Trust me, if I did it, you REALLY can. I swear it's a miracle I got an A last quarter. Now I'm wondering how to keep it up. Anyways, you BETTER be working on the next chapter! Please?
A/N. Okay, here you go. This chapter is going to be long. I thought this chapter over, and if truth be told, it turned out to be a lot longer than I expected. What your reading right here is only half of the chapter I thought about. It was getting way too long so I had to cut off. Don't forget to review please! Enjoy!
Chapter 11-- I don't need their approval
Ginny woke up the next morning, not quite sure what she was feeling. She was in a state of anger, hurt, shock, and disbelief. She had hoped that everything that happened the night before was a dream, but she knew she had to come to grips with reality.
"Ginny, are you coming?" Summer asked, poking her head through Ginny's four poster.
Ginny yawned and sat up. "Sure. Meet me down in the Common Room."
After Summer shut the door behind her, Ginny got up and began to get ready. As far as she knew, she had just became friends with Draco Malfoy the night before.
'Pity,' she thought idly. The school had grown to enjoy seeing the two prank each other. Wrapping her cloak around her, Ginny made her way out of the dormitory. It was getting colder now. She was almost sure that it was going to start snowing soon. She reached the Common Room and spotted Summer talking to the 'Golden Trio.'
Ginny made her way over to them.
"Summer, are you coming?" Ginny asked casually, trying her best not to look at Harry, who was desperately trying to catch her eye.
Summer nodded, sensing the tension between the two. The two walked out of the Portrait Hole.
They made their way down in silence, which Ginny found a little odd. The two of them were very talkative around one another. Summer wasn't looking at Ginny; just straight ahead. Ginny found she didn't mind this too much. She let her mind wander back to the night before.
"Ginny," Summer spoke up.
Or not….
Ginny looked at her friend and raised in eyebrow in response.
Looking highly uncomfortable, Summer began to fiddle with her gloves.
"Where were you last night?" she blurted out.
Raising both eyebrows, Ginny replied, "I was in bed."
"No," Summer shook her head, "you weren't. I waited up for you last night because I needed help in Charms. It was around eleven and you still hadn't come. So….I decided to go and check on you…." She trailed off.
"And?" Ginny urged her on.
"I saw you with Draco Malfoy." Summer admitted.
This statement caused Ginny to stop. Students behind her also stopped in surprise and bumped into one another. Ginny ignored that complaining around her. She just stared at the girl in front of her.
"What? How? There was no one outside but us. I'm sure of it—" Ginny started to say.
Summer shook her head. "I saw it from a window that looked out onto the grounds."
"You were spying on me." Ginny replied angrily. It wasn't a question.
Summer looked at Ginny in the eye, unaffected by her anger.
"It's a good thing I did! You can't go around wandering with a Death Eaters son!" Summer cried.
"Don't tell me who I can and can't hang out with!" Ginny snapped.
"Ginny, don't be so thick," Summer retorted, "He's probably just using you to get to Harry! Think about it. Harry is his biggest rival and You-Know-Who. He's probably just using you to get closer to Harry so he can get revenge."
"Revenge for what?" Ginny asked heatedly.
"Honestly, Ginny. He's hated Harry ever since he's first came here. He's beaten Malfoy at everything." Summer said.
"Malfoy's not as horrible as you think he is! I mean, I thought so too, but after the talk last night—"
"Youtalked to him?"
"Don't be sothick." Ginny said, mocking her friend's words.. "Of course I talked to him. And lucky for me I did. I just gained a really good friend."
"Draco Malfoy isn't capable of being anyone's friend!" Summer retorted, trying desperately to bring her friend back to her senses.
Ginny glared at Summer. Taking a step closer, Ginny began to raise her voice until she was shouting.
"Draco Malfoy was a better friend to me than Harry Potter everwas! Yes, Summer, you heard me right, so you can close your mouth. Draco was a better friend to me than Harry was in all the years I've known him! I've been nothing but nice to him and what do I get? He used me, Summer! Harry Potter used me and didn't even care. Now, Draco Malfoy, someone I've always been cold to—and you can understand why—he's insulted my family more times than I could count. After Harry leaves me there, Draco comes in and talks to me. Actually talks!
"I enjoyed talking to him, Summer. He made me feel a lot better. I honestly don't care what you or anyone else say. He's just a good of friend to me as you and Hermione are."
Summer stared at her friend in disbelief. "You're friends with him after one night of talking to him?"
"One night is all it took for me to realize he's not as bad as I thought." Ginny replied, looking at her friend in the eye.
"Not as bad as you thought?! Think of all the times he's insulted you and your family….think of everything he's done to Ron and Hermione and Harry! You can't tell me he's not as bad as he seems to be." Summer said loudly.
For a moment, Ginny looked away. "I don't know," she said quietly. "Summer, please try to understand. When I talked to him—I don't really understand it. But I know there's more to him than appears; I just have to find out what."
"Please, Ginny." Summer said desperately, "I know you mean well, but really. Please, hanging around with Draco Malfoy will only hurt you!"
"I'll do what I want." Ginny said quietly. She looked at Summer in the eyes. "If you can't wish me well or even support me, then I don't want to be friends with you anymore either."
Summer looked at Ginny, shocked. "Ginny, you don't mean that."
But the look on Ginny's face told Summer that she had meant every word. Summer turned around. With one last look at her friend, she replied, "Fine, Ginny. I hope you know that whenever you come to your senses I'll be waiting for your apology."
"Don't wait for one!" Ginny shouted as her friend disappeared around the corner. Ginny sighed and sat at the foot of a suit of armor. She didn't know what came over her—why she said the things she said.
'And all for what? For Draco Malfoy?' Ginny thought.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head back. A part of her was telling her that she had done the right thing.
Draco Malfoy stood behind the same suit of armor that Ginny Weasley was currently sitting in front of. He tried to understand what had just happened. A Weasley just stood up for him. Ginny Weasley. He didn't know what to make of it. He was grateful, but how did this look? He had to be defended by her? It wasn't right.
The things she said had touched him, though a bit reluctantly. He didn't know why he was here anyways. All he wanted was to go down to breakfast. He didn't mean to overhear his name in their conversation, but couldn't help listening all the same.
Now, Ginny stood there looking upset. Sighing, he slowly stepped out of his hiding place…….
'I just lost one of my best friends. For what though? It's not like Dra—Malfoy was here to hear any of it.' Ginny thought. She didn't know why, but she felt oddly calm for someone who just told their best friend that she didn't want to be friends with her anymore.
"Open your eyes, Weasley." A voice told her.
Reluctantly, she did what she was told. She opened her eyes and screamed at the sight that met her.
Draco Malfoy was leaning down, his face inches from her own. She let out a short scream and scrambled back, only to hit the suit of armor behind her. Draco jumped and covered her mouth with his hands. People were beginning to stare.
"What are you staring at?" Draco shouted at them. "Keep moving or I'll take points from all of your houses!"
Grumbling, students began to head down to breakfast. When the corridor was clear, he eyed Ginny carefully.
"Couldn't have screamed any louder, could you?" Draco asked sarcastically, removing his hand from her mouth.
She glared up at him.
"What were you doing?" she demanded, standing up and facing him angrily.
"Down, Weasley." Draco said casually, only to make Ginny flush with anger, "Er…Ginny. I overheard your conversation with your Gryffindor friend…."
Ginny turned away. "And you just wanted to laugh at me now, did you?" she asked quietly.
Draco stared at her. "No. I suppose I just came to say….." Draco got a sour look on his face and was almost positive he would shock the girl at what he said next, "Thanks."
Ginny looked at him strangely, as if not believing what she just heard. "What?" she asked in disbelief.
"Thanks." He muttered. "But you do know you didn't have to end it with your friend just for me, right?"
Ginny gave him a small smile. "It wasn't fair for her to judge you like that."
"You telling her not to wouldn't have stopped her. She, being the stubborn Gryffindor that she is, would have thought the same of me as your precious 'Golden Trio.'" Draco said with distaste.
"I meant what I said." Ginny stated quietly, looking up at him, "I can't explain it, but something's telling me there's more to you than meets the eye. And I, personally, would like to find out what."
"Ah, I'm just a mystery to you, am I?" Draco asked, smirking.
Ginny grinned. "Maybe. But I think I just might find a friend on the way."
Silence followed her last statement. Ginny was also confused. Why was she doing this? Talking to the boy that had taunted her and her family ever since she could remember? Why was she talking to him, as thought she were friends with her?
She couldn't explain it, but somehow, it felt right.
"So," Ginny looked around, trying to break the silence, "I suppose I can't go down to the Gryffindor table. Summer probably told everyone what had happened and I'm not in the mood to be given one of Ron's lectures. Would you like to accompany me to the kitchens?" Ginny asked sweetly.
Draco raised his eyebrows at her. "Kitchens?" he asked.
"Kitchens." Ginny repeated exasperatedly, "You know, thoseplaces people cook in so others can eat."
Draco scowled. "I know what it is. I just didn't think Hogwarts had one."
Now it was Ginny's turn to raise her eyebrows at him. "How else do you think we got the food?"
Silence.
Ginny laughed. "Come on, I'll show you where it is."
With that, she was off.
She was running through the corridors and Draco had to try hard to keep up with her. She flew down two staircases, nearly bumping into McGonagall. Draco had to apologize for her since she just kept running as if nothing had ever happened. McGonagall had given him an odd look. He could see why. He wasn't normally seen running after a Weasley.
Finally, when they seemed to reach a deserted corridor, Ginny instantly stopped. A few feet behind, Draco came up behind her, panting.
"Do you realize you just nearly hit McGonagall?" Draco demanded.
"Oh, why would you care?" Ginny asked off-handedly, staring at the picture in front of her. "You've never cared what theHeadofmy housethought."
"You could've gotten me a detention! How would that look?" Draco scowled. "I don't care what she thinks, but when it comes to my school record, I'm forced to be kind to those I don't like."
Ginny didn't answer. She just kept staring at the picture in front of her. Draco gave a frustrated growl.
"I thought you were showing me to the kitchens? Why are you just standing there staring at a picture of a bowl of fruits?" Draco asked, giving her a glare.
She turned to look at him, then turned back to the picture, choosing not to answer him.
This wasn't something Draco was used to. Ginny reached up her hand and tickled the pear on the picture.
"Weasley—" Draco began, but didn't get a chance to finish.
The portrait opened to reveal a huge over sized kitchens, along with hundreds of house elves who were scurrying about, desperately trying to cook.
Ginny turned to him and smiled sweetly. She stepped in the kitchen and Draco followed. The portrait shut behind them.
"What would the friend of the great Harry Potter like, miss?" a house elf instantly walked up to Ginny and bowed.
Ginny giggled. "Dobby, you don't need to bow to me, you know that."
Dobby got up and smiled at Ginny appreciatively.
"Actually, I was wondering if you could get me and Draco—"
Dobby's eyes widened at Ginny's statement. The house elf looked behind her to see a smirking Draco Malfoy.
"So, this is where you ended up, did you?" Draco taunted, smirking even more. "This entire time you've been hiding at Hogwarts?"
"Malfoy." Ginny snapped.
"Dobby no longer works for young ungrateful ex-master! Dobby no longer has to take his insults!" Dobby yelled, catching the attention of some house elves behind him.
"Dobby…." Ginny began, growing alarmed at the argument folding before her.
Draco advanced on the house elf, his smirk never leaving his face.
"Malfoy!" Ginny snapped. She grabbed the back of his robes and pulled him back. Then, Ginny looked at Dobby and said in a pleading voice, "Please, Dobby, I don't want to start any trouble. I just came to get some breakfast. I won't let him bother you."
Dobby studied Ginny for a second. His smile returned and he walked off.
Ginny sighed and glared at Draco. She took a seat in a nearby chair.
"You couldn't control yourself, could you?" Ginny snapped.
Draco was just glaring at the spot where Dobby had been. Sighing, Ginny massaged her head.
"Draco," she began, "can you please not be the pompous, intimidating Slytherin you try to be? I'm really not in the mood."
To her great surprise, Draco nodded and took the seat next to her. She didn't really expect him to listen to her.
Truthfully, Draco had even surprised himself. He tried not to look at Ginny in the eye. He didn't know why this girl seemed to have this affect on him. Just then, Dobby came running back with a tray in his hands. The tray was full of eggs, pancakes, and marmalade.
Ginny smiled and said thanks while Dobby set in down. Bowing slightly, Dobby then wandered off. The two began to eat in silence. After awhile, however, Draco decided to break the silence.
"How did you find this place?" he asked.
Ginny, who had been drinking marmalade, slightly choked and set the goblet down.
"Er….sorry." Draco said awkwardly, slightly patting her back as she coughed.
"No, it's okay." She said quietly, her normally loud self was disappearing quickly. Now, she looked down at her goblet sadly.
"Er…if you don't want to talk about it—"
"No, it's fine." Ginny replied shortly. She sighed and looked up, "My brothers, Fred and George showed me this place before they left."
Draco looked at her confused. This wasn't anything to get upset about. But yet, here she was, eyes watering. She looked down and when she spoke, it sounded as thought she was near tears, "I know you must think I'm crazy, but it's just that ever since Fred was been taken—"
Draco stared at her in horror. Not at the news she had just told him, hel, heknew that Fred was going to be taken before he was ever even happened! But no, what had him so horrified was being stuck in a room with a soon to be crying girl.
"But I miss him so much!" Ginny cried, a few tears rolling down her cheeks, much to Draco's horror. "I'd do anything to get him back. It's been so horrible without him….Mum is so upset…..it took her a week to get her out of bed! And George—he was in a state of shock when he found out! He went on a Death Eater killing spree until my dad had to come back and pulled him back. Dad—Dad tried to be strong, but I knew he was in so much pain. Ron—he tries to hide it but I know he sometimes cries at night!"
Draco tried to stifle a snicker at the thought of Ron crying.
"I miss him so much!" Ginny sobbed. Tears were rolling down her face uncontrollably now. "I miss his jokes, his smile, everything about him! I'd do anything to get my brother back!"
Draco felt his eyes water up and and blinked in surprise.Why were his eyes watering up?He put an arm around Ginny awkwardly, while trying to figure out why this girl crying made him upset also.
'I want to help her get her brother back.' Draco thought.
As much as he hated the thought of helping a Weasley, he couldn't explain the strong connection he felt with this one. He hated it. He didn't want it. He thought that if maybe he helped her, he wouldn't feel a sense to protect her anymore. Hellthis is the first time he's even been in the same room with her without insulting her.
He let his thoughts drift somewhere else. How exactly was he going to help her? He knew of a way….but he didn't know if he was willing to do it.
Ginny looked up and noticed Draco's blank stare. Her sobs had stopped and she wiped her eyes, embarrassed with herself.
"What're you think—" Ginny started to say, but someone else's voice from the portrait hole interrupted her.
"Ginny! What theBloody hellare you doing?!"
Ginny knew that voice. She spun in her seat and turned around to face a red faced Ron, an angry Harry, and a shocked Hermione. The 'Golden Trio' were staring at the scene in front of them.
"Ginny!" Ron shouted, stalking over to them. Both Draco and Ginny stood up. "What are you doing here with him?!"
"Ron…." Ginny began.
"Please tell me you have a good reason to be eating here with Malfoy!"
"I do—"
"I'd like to hear it!"
"RON!" Ginny screamed, trying to get his attention. "Please just listen—"
"What did you do to her?" Harry yelled. He came up next to Ron and glared at him.
Draco smirked. "I didn't leave half as much damage as you did, Potter."
Harry looked at him coldly. "What do you mean?" he asked through clenched teeth.
"After last night, I'd say you'd give the Dark lord a run for his money—"
Draco never finished his sentence. Harry ran and tackled him onto the table, apparently angered by that sentence.
"Don't ever compare me to him!" Harry shouted, hitting Draco.
"Harry!" Ginny cried. Ron looked at her.
"Ginny, what're you doing?"
"Ron, I was just eating—"
"With Draco Malfoy?"
"He's not that bad—"
"Not that bad?! Think about everything's he's done to us!"
"I can't explain it Ron, but I feel some sort of connection to him."
"Connection?"
While Ron and Ginny had their fight, Draco and Harry were wrestling each other on the table. They rolled off the table during their fight, with Harry on bottom and Draco on top, giving him the advantage. Draco raised his fist and hit Harry once.
In the midst of it all, Hermione Granger stood by the portrait, her mouth slightly open as she watched the scene in front of her.
Hersilence didn't go unnoticed, either.
"Hermione!" Ron yelled, turning to his friend. "Hermione, you're the only one who can knock sense into her. Tell her she'll get herself in trouble by hanging out with that prat!" Ron pointed a finger at Draco, who had stopped hitting Harry.
Hermione was silent. She looked at Ginny and opened her mouth. But something inside Ginny snapped. She didn't want to hear anything her friend had to say.
She grabbed Draco by the arm and pulled him off Harry.
"I don't need to stand here and be told what I can and can't do who I can and can't hang out with! Ron, you hang out with Harry and you know just how much trouble he gets you into!" Ginny shouted, making her way for the door, dragging Draco behind her.
"It's different." Ron replied.
"IT'S NOT DIFFERENT!" Ginny screamed, shutting the portrait behind her.
She didn't stop there. She stomped her way to the Great Hall, but then Draco pulled back.
"The Slytherin Tower is back there. I better get going." He said quietly.
Ginny gave a small smile. "I'm sorry."
Draco gave out a laugh. "Potter doesn't hit that hard." He remarked, gingerly touched the bruised area on his cheek.
She let out a weak laugh. "I'll change their mind. Just give me some time."
"I don't need their approval, you know." Draco said.
Ginny shrugged. "Right."
Draco turned around to leave. "Good night." He said quietly as he disappeared around the corner.
"Good night." Ginny whispered. She stood there for a few more moments.
"I don't need their approval." Draco words ran through her head.
Ginny suddenly smiled.
'You know what,' she thought happily to herself, 'Neither do I.'
A/N. YES! Do you realize how long that took me to make? Anyways, it's Thanksgiving Day. This thing didn't get posted until Saturday, sorry about. Anyways, PLEASE review because I've been working on this chapter all vacation, trying to make it just right.
Love always,
Amour Lily
P.S For any news on updates or anything, please look at my profile! I update ont hat pretty often to let you know what's going on.
