Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Harry Potter and its characters…… sigh
Dedication: I would like to dedicate this chapter to Fairyoftheclouds for betaing and severely slaughtering it. (wink wink)
A/N: Well, another Chapter! I'm feeling extremely proud here.
Choices and Life
Chapter 2
.-.-.-.-.
Harry was still standing on the stair case, blinking. The house was still shaking from the slam made by the angry Ginny, rushing out of the house.
Ron, Fred, George, and Hermione were now standing below the stairwells, looking up at Harry, whose face had not yet regained its color.
'Did something just happen? Or am I dreaming?' Thoughts flooded through Harry's head before he could process them in his mind.
.-.-.-.-.
Ginny started to slow down from running to a fast jog. Her eyes were puffy red and there were still drops of tears left on her cheeks. She felt betrayed and stupid. She realized that she should never had trusted that Potter.
It was late afternoon already. The light orange sun rays were shinning on Ginny's face. She looked almost perfect with her freckles and her chopped red. To Ginny, everything seemed to be slowing down. Her mind, compared to before, now was just blank. The only thing she knew was she could not and would not return home. Being in that house where Harry was staying at was just too awkward and confusing. Her breath was starting to slow, while her heart pounded like busy drums. It was just one of those moments where everything you do goes wrong. Ginny took a deep breath and decided to let her feet take her to wherever and let her mind be still.
The more Ginny walked, the less intense her expression became. Now Ginny was strolling into Diagon Alley. She felt like sliding through the crowd gracefully and admiring the sun shine reflecting on the clouds, tinged with a nice orange hue.
Ginny has been here several times, but this time it was somewhat different. The wind gently brushed her face. She remembered coming here in the past seven years, shopping for supplies to get ready for the new school year.
Ginny browsed around, looking through the shop windows, seeing children and their parents picking out new clothing. As she approached to a small coffee shop, she paused, unsure if to walk in or keep wandering on the streets.
.-.-.-.-.
"I am worried about Ginny." Mrs. Weasley walked about in the living room, pacing back and fort, making everyone feeling dizzy.
"Mom, you have been pacing more than an hour now. Would you please sit down and breathe?" Ron said sounding impatiently and without concern.
"Ron how could you just sit there and enjoy your pie while your sister is missing!" Mrs. Weasley criticized. Her feet nearly were wearing holes in the floor.
"Mom," Ron swallowed down a bite and continued, "I would hardly call running out of the house, missing. Besides it wasn't my fault that she ran out." Everyone still stared at Ron while he stuffed another piece of pie into his mouth. Ron glanced around and added, "Blame everything on Harry."
"WHAT!" Harry's eyes popped out and mouth wide open ready to argue. "What… what…what did I do?" He managed.
"Well…. She did say 'I hate you Harry Potter.' Before running out of the door." Hermione pointed out. Harry shot her a 'thanks for the help' glance.
"Yes…. helpful Hermione. This isn't class; you don't have to tell us about EVERYTHING." Harry pointed out.
Hermione rolled her eyes at Harry and walked off into the kitchen for some pie of her own.
Harry shifted his stare back to Ron. "What? You want a piece?" Ron lifted his plate and offered.
Harry sighed at Ron and the whipping cream on his face. He got up from his chair and headed up stairs, shaking his head.
Ron gave his mother a confused look, "I was just offering." He shrugged.
.-.-.-.-.
Inside the coffee shop, Ginny stood by the counter. The shop was surrounded by wood. Wood walls, wood counters, wood chairs and wood tables.
"May I help you miss?" An old man walked up to Ginny. He had silvery gray hair, the color of the unicorn's blood, and wrinkles all over his face. His jade green eyes reminded Ginny of Harry's. She ached at the thoughts of him.
"Good day sir. I would like a butterbeer please." Ginny smiled sweetly, hiding her pain on the inside.
"Be right there. Feel free to take a seat anywhere." The old man offered while retying his apron and went off working diligently.
Ginny walked off to a small table and buried her head in the palm of her hands. She thought about the first time she met Harry. He was so young then. She thought of the time they cuddled on a couch and Harry stroked her hair thousands of times and they laughed at everything that happened.
Just as Ginny was drifting into the past, a young man, not much older than Ginny, walked into the shop. He had silky blond hair brushed to one side and light grey eyes that jumped at you when you glanced at it.
"What would you like Mr. Malfoy?" A voice asked.
"Butterbeer," Draco Malfoy, leaning against the counter, requested while running his hands through his smooth hair. Pulling out a stool, Draco took a seat and turned around, quickly. He looked around, pausing at the sight of Ginny. He never noticed how beautiful her hair looked under the shine of the sun. 'Wait Draco, get your head straight. She is a Weasley. You are a Malfoy. The two do not belong together. You mock the Weasleys to fill your pleasures.' Draco's head spoke, then another voice interrupted, 'take a look at her! She's not a child that you thought she was. She's a woman now!'
'But she's a Weasley!'
'Oh hush, it doesn't matter!'
Draco just sat there paralyzed while his head fought with its self.
Ginny lifted her head and saw Draco's expression tightened and relaxed as if his mind wasn't here on the planet. She noticed his gaze was towards her. 'What does he want now?' She thought in irritation. Yet, she noticed that the arrogant, stern look wasn't there today, instead it is now replaced by a relaxed and soft look that seemed unreal.
Ginny pushed her chair back, let her self up and walked up to the counter to retrieve her butterbeer, avoiding eye contact with Draco.
Draco watched in admiration at the gracefulness of Ginny. Her hair waved gently as she stepped closer and closer. For the first time, Draco's heart pounded nervously as he shifted his eye sight to the wooden floor. 'I, Draco Malfoy, melted like ice in fire in front of a Weasley. Way to go Draco….' He cursed at himself.
Ginny twisted her head, seeing Draco muttering under his breath. Ginny was amused at Malfoy, being so confused and unconfident. Yet she found him rather adorable with his eye brows crunched up. Draco started to shift left and right as Ginny stood next to him.
'Say something you moron!' Draco's mind argued.
'But she's a Weasley!'
'You know you want to!'
"Shut up!" Draco screamed attempting to block his thoughts but instead he spoke out loud allowing everyone hearing it, especially Ginny, who seemed to be getting angry.
"Excuse me?" Ginny asked shooting him an angry glare.
'Oh, way to go Draco. She will know you forever as the ridiculous guy that can not control his mouth!' Draco had to think of something to say before he embarrassed himself even more.
"What are you looking at?" Draco questioned. His Malfoy attitude returned.
"I think I should be the one asking YOU that same question." Ginny answered coolly
"Well…" A soft voice returned but quickly Draco cleared his throat and his Malfoy personality came back, "What are you doing here Weasley?"
"None of your business Malfoy." Ginny rolled her eyes and sipped her butterbeer.
"Where's your Potter?" Draco smirked.
"None of your business and he is not MY Potter." Ginny answered emphasizing on certain words.
"What? Did Potter dump you?" Draco teased. Ginny's hand went up attempting to slap Draco on the face while he dodged. "Okay, can't take a joke? Geeze!"
"I'm not in a joking mood Malfoy! I'm warning you, I'll pour this all over your nicely brushed and precious hair." Ginny warned.
"Sorry, didn't know you were so grouchy…" His voice faded more and more as he saw Ginny's jaw tighten.
Ginny ignored Draco and went on enjoying her butterbeer.
"Hey, you want to go for a walk?" Draco suggested, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Why would I go for a walk by myself?" Ginny snapped irritated by his icon stunt attempts to start a conversation.
"…I meant with me." Draco said, resisting the urge to curse whatever had caused her to wake up on the wrong side of the bed.
Ginny was shocked. The first answer that popped into her mind was no. She knew it would be dangerous just to talk to Malfoy in a friendly voice. He was the enemy of her brother, and his family had threatened her father's job several times in her life time. She couldn't possibly go anywhere with Malfoy, but then if she did, it would be pay back to Harry and his "wife to be" smart head Hermione. But Ginny could not disappoint her parents. She was confused but quickly answered, "No thanks." There was an awkward silence between the two, and then Ginny made an excuse, "I have to go." With out looking back, Ginny headed towards the door, pushing the door out of her way. Ginny wondered if it was really necessary to refused Draco's offer. Of course she realized the consequences that are involved if she was ever even to become friends with any member of the Malfoy's family. But deep down, Ginny was regretting her decision more and more.
.-.-.-.-.
That night, Ginny went to bed early, tossing and turning in her covers, completely unable to fall asleep.
The house had grown quiet as the night fell upon it. Ginny never spoke a word when she arrived home. Everyone was still in the living room. Ron was trying to get whipping cream out of his nose. A few came out to see Ginny, yet no one spoke.
Hiding under the covers, Ginny went on with her thoughts. 'I couldn't possibly have any feelings for Malfoy, even if he is handsome and not a bad person to talk to. He can even be amusing sometimes.' Ginny sighed, even more confused.
'His father has threatened and mocked my entire family on many occasions. His is my brother's worst enemy and here I am dreaming of how good he looks.' Ginny gave up arguing with herself.
.-.-.-.-.
The sun peeped out of the horizon and everyone was up when, Ginny came out from under her covers, blinded by the brightness outside. The sunlight shone on her soft delicate face giving it a glow. Ginny blinked, and then sat up on her bed. She yawned and waddled down the stairs trying not to fall face flat on the bottom. Everyone paused with their task and all eyes focused on Ginny, filled with concern and curiosity. Ginny pretended not to notice anything and stacked layers of bacon and pancake onto her plate. She noticed that she has not eaten since yesterday's party. Her stomach growled, but no one cared or even noticed.
Harry, while scratching his head and rubbing his eyes entered the dinning room. He stopped at the site of the awkward silence.
Ginny pretended he wasn't there and that he did not exist. She continued swallowing the last bit of her food, and walked hurriedly out of the room, leaving everyone still in the fog.
.-.-.-.-.
Ginny enjoyed leaving everyone in suspense. She strokes her hair with a brush several times then pulled it back into a pony tail. Downstairs, the door bell ran and Ron rushed to the door while bumping into a plant in the hallway, Ron's high-pitched screaming voice reached her ears, "MALFOY! What the heck are you doing here?"
"Frankly, Weasley, my presence here is none of your business."
"You are certainly NOT welcomed here." Ron started then was interrupted by a voice coming down the stairs.
"He's here for me."
"You?" Ron asked, apparently to stun to speak or think clearly.
"Yes Ron, you heard me." Ginny gave a smile for Draco just to see Ron flush bright red.
"Ginny, is there something you would like to explain?"
A/N: THIS IS MUCH LONGER! WooT! (winks at fairyoftheclouds) Please now, REVIEW and REVIEW!
