Title: It's His Eyes

Summary: Ginny Weasley gets into a big fight with Draco Malfoy and says the wrong thing. Then, she discovers a side of him that no one has ever seen before. G/D

Rating: PG-13 for mild language

Disclaimer: don't own anythin, please don't sue me!

Chapter Six: Symptoms

Draco shut his window and lay down on his bed to think. A torrent of thoughts, and that annoying voice at the back of his head came flooding to him. " Are you going freakin' mad, Malfoy?" his so-called conscience screamed at him. " You know what?", Draco thought. " Go away." "No, idiot! You know that if your father saw you out there this afternoon, you're in for another beating! Haven't you had enough of those," it said. "Go. Away." Draco thought again. "You know what? I think I will. That way, when your father sends you a letter again, you have no one to sympathize with."

"Damn, I really must be going mad," Draco said out loud, holding his head in his hands. But really, what was happening to him? Had he gone soft? His conscience was right. If his father saw him "fraternizing with the enemy", he would... Draco shook his head at the thought. He didn't want to remember the experience that used to bring him nightmares every night.

FLASHBACK

August 22nd

Lucius Malfoy entered his son's room quietly and shut the door. Draco had immediately looked up at the sound of his father's footsteps. "It's time Draco. The Dark Lord will be arriving any time soon to put the Mark on you. You better be ready." Draco opened his mouth to speak, sure that he would do it. He would tell his father that he didn't want to serve Voldemort and he didn't want that freakin' tattoo to be burned on his skin. "I—," Draco started to say. But, losing his courage, he just sighed and said, "Yes father." Good," Lucius said surveying his son with his cold gray eyes. "Be downstairs in ten minutes. We don't want to keep him waiting." Draco nodded and his father stepped out of his room.

Draco went down the stairs with a great feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. "I can't believe this is happening," he thought. " Well, I may get the Mark but I'll never do anything for that good for nothing—" His train of thought was broken by a soft voice saying, "Good evening, young Malfoy." Draco looked up (he hadn't been aware that he was looking down) and saw the Dark Lord, Voldemort himself. "Quite good-natured for a guy who's famous for wreaking havoc on the whole wizarding population," he thought. "Well, let me get this over as quickly as I can, Draco. I have other more important business to attend to," Voldemort said. "Extend your right forearm," he commanded. Draco obediently did so. Voldemort took one long white index finger and pressed it to Draco's skin. Draco immediately felt a searing pain in his arm, unlike anything he had ever felt before. He did everything he could to keep from wincing, but he couldn't help but flinch a little. "Hmmm... A strong one, I see," the Dark Lord said, in barely more than a whisper. "You'll make a fine Deatheater." Draco made no answer.

When Voldemort went over to where Lucius stood and told him, "You'd do well to teach that son of yours a bit more manners. Train him well." With that, Voldemort swept out of the Malfoy Manor.

END FLASHBACK

Draco sighed and closed his eyes. He heard a soft tapping noise on his window. "Quicksilver," he thought. He opened his window, but it wasn't his snowy white owl who flew in, but an eagle that looked vaguely familiar. Draco wondered where he remembered the bird from. He removed the envelope from the eagle's leg. He recognized the wax seal at once. "Father," he said, thinking out loud. He read the letter and his stomach twisted into an uncomfortable knot. "Oh shit." Suddenly, there was a soft whoosh as Quicksilver flew in the open window. Draco held out his arm for Quicksilver to land on and his pained expression turned into a faint smile as he saw the wrapped package Ginny sent him. He removed the scroll and the package, stroked Quicksilver's head and tossed him an owl treat. His owl hooted in thanks and nipped his owner's finger affectionately. Draco carried his owl to his cage and then he untied the ribbon on the scroll. He read what was on it and he chuckled. He opened the package, took one look at it and whispered, "Cool." while fingering the clasp. He put it on his desk, smiled at it and glanced at his watch. "Oh damn, 4 a.m.!" With that he put on his pajamas and slipped into bed, his father's letter totally forgotten.

The next morning, Draco, as expected, overslept. He jumped out of his bed, muttered a few expletives and just said a cleaning spell. Instantly, he was perfectly groomed for the day's activities. He changed into his school uniform, grabbed his bag and ran out of his bedroom.

The Great Hall was almost empty when Draco arrived, gasping for breath. Blaise was waiting for him. "Here," she said with a hint of annoyance in her voice, handing him two pieces of toast and an apple. "Thanks," Draco told her, taking a bite out of the toast. "C'mon! We're going to be late for Potions!" Blaise said, dragging Draco along as she took off at a run.

They arrived at the Potions dungeon with barely a second to spare. Professor Snape was already there, and he frowned as Draco and Blaise arrived, their cheeks flushed and their chests heaving from their long run. "Sit down Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Zabini," Snape commanded.

They took their usual seats at the table next to the dream team. Draco glanced over at them and noticed that Granger was looking at him in a strange way. He caught her gaze, and raised an eyebrow at her. Snape noticed this and said irritably, "May I start the lesson now, Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger? Or will I intrude upon the apparently heated telepathic conversation you two seem to be having?"

Whispers broke out around the room. Hermione turned red and quickly looked away. Draco gave Snape a curt nod and focused his eyes on the board. His thoughts, however were focused on a certain redhead somewhere in the castle.

Ginny gave a sudden jerk and woke up from the nap she was taking in History of Magic. Apparently, the bell had just rung. Ginny looked around and saw many other people resting their heads on their desks taking naps. "Figures," she thought. She stood, woke Janine and Jenna up, gathered her books and they walked out of the classroom together.

"Did Draco answer the letter already?" Janine asked as they headed to Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures. "No," Ginny answered, "I didn't even see him at the Slytherin table this morning." "Oh." They walked together in silence for a while. Jenna, breaking the silence, asked Ginny, "You like him, don't you?" Ginny raised her eyebrows and said, "Who?" Jenna sighed. "You know who I mean." " You mean Draco?" Ginny asked, her eyes widening. "No! I meant Snape. Of course, Draco!" "I like him as a friend," Ginny told them firmly. "Whatever you say…"

"I mean it!" Ginny exclaimed, giving her friend a playful shove. Janine butted in and said vexingly, "No you don't" "Yes I do." "No you don't," Janine and Jenna said at the same time. "Do so." "Do not." "Do so." "Do not." "Do so." "Do not infinity!" "Damn." a/n: childish eh? They only realized that they had arrived at Hagrid's Hut when Jenna crashed into her 1 year crush, Colin Creevey. "Oops, sorry Colin," Jenna said going into flirt mode. "Oh, it's okay Jenna," Colin said, "umm… would you mind if we could talk later? In private, I mean." Jenna brightened. "Sure, is lunch okay?" "Yeah. Meet me at the tapestry of the 4 founders at 12:30." "Sure." "Well, see you then," Colin said, walking away.

Jenna half walked, half skipped over to where Ginny and Janine were standing. "So—," Ginny began. "Did he ask you out?" Janine finished for her. "No," Jenna answered, "but he asked me to meet him 30 minutes after lunch starts later." They took one look at each other then jumped up and down squealing. Everyone stared at them. "What?" all three of them said. Everyone turned away and resumed talking.

"Ok, quiet down class," Hagrid said in his booming voice. "We're headin' ter the Forbidden Forest today. I'm goin' ter show you something special." The three looked at each other and whispered, "Uh-oh."

After Double Potions, Draco walked out of the dungeons and headed for the Great Hall, followed by Blaise. She fell into step with him and asked, "What were you looking at Granger for? You don't like her do you?" "Of course not," Draco snapped. "Oh yeah, I forgot," Blaise said, smirking. "You like that Weasley girl. Oh yeah." "Whatever," Draco said, scowling. "I caught Granger looking at me with this strange expression." "Ahh. But I still maintain the assumption that you like, what's her name? Ginny?" Draco nodded. "Right. I still maintain the assumption that you like Ginny." "I don't," Draco said, walking faster. Blaise quickened her pace as well. "Five galleons says you'll be in love by the time the Yule Ball comes." "Fine," Draco said, ending the conversation and walking into the Great Hall.

Ginny, Janine and Jenna entered the Great Hall and took their usual seats at the Gryffindor table. They said hi to Harry, Ron and Hermione and helped themselves to some lunch. "So, how many points did Snape take from Gryffindor today?" Ginny asked. "Just 5," Harry answered. "It's a record, you know, that's the least Snape has taken from Gryffindor, especially since Harry and Neville are in our class," Ron added. They all burst out laughing.

Still giggling, Jenna looked at her watch, stood up quickly and ran out of the Great Hall. "What's gotten into her?" Harry asked. "Colin," Janine and Ginny said together. "Figures," Hermione said with a chuckle.

Ginny laughed and said, "A galleon says Colin asks her out." "No bet!" Hermione said, "It's a sure thing." "You're right." Just then, she caught sight of Draco over at the Slytherin table next to Blaise Zabini. Ginny couldn't help staring and pondering the numerous changes he had gone through in appearance. He looked much better now because his hair was no longer gelled up, he was a lot taller and he had, though it was hidden by his robes, developed QUITE a nice body.

Draco looked up from his plate because he had the odd feeling that someone was watching him. And of course, since his amazing Malfoy sixth sense NEVER fails, he was right. He looked across at the Gryffindor table and found himself staring at Ginny Weasley's chocolate brown eyes. He smirked at her. Her eyes widened and she looked down at her plate. He was just contemplating how she had developed well over the years when Blaise whispered into his ear, "First stage of being in 'like' is finding oneself staring avidly at object of desire, unwillingly thinking about how she 'developed' well over the summer." Draco gave her a Look. Blaise smiled. "I'm winning."

author's note:

weird chappie aint it? Anyway.. I'm MEGA sorry I haven't updated in almost a year. (braces herself against hail of spears, swords and heads of cabbage) man… I've just been super busy with schoolwork lately and we went away from home during summer, so I haven't had much time to update. Sorry again. If I have any typos or grammar errors up there, please excuse me. I haven't got a beta reader. Anyone care to make an offer? (looks around hopefully) So… please review! Tell me what u think is wrong with it and I'll try my best to fix it! Thanks! I'm grateful for negative but constructive criticism. If you think I suck, PLEASE say so… I also appreciate greatly positive but honest reviews, okay? THANKS! (hugs everyone) bye!