Disclaimer: Don't own it. Never claimed to.... All belong to J.K.
Rowling.
a/n: Thanks to all who are reading this story. Thank you for all the great reviews.
Chapter 8 "Characterization and Plot Devices" The Least Likely Prince Charming
HIDDEN ROOM DEEP IN THE DUNGEONS OF HOGWARTS
Draco Malfoy was deep in thought. Now, this didn't happen all that often, as Draco tended to be a more act first and don't think about your actions type of person (this came in the territory of being a bully, you see, for if a bully ever truly thought about their actions, would they really do it?). But, anyway, Draco Malfoy was "Thinking". Not the type of thinking done for homework assignments or class projects - Draco possessed a very shrewd mind and for him those kinds of things did not take a whole lot of actual thought time - no, Draco was thinking about life.
More specifically, his life. Following his confrontation with Ginny the other morning, Draco had discovered himself spending more and more time thinking about what Ginny had said to him. "You don't have to be the way you are. You choose to be that way." Those words had stuck in his head, and kept popping up in his thoughts.
As with all times when you don't have the last word, the replies to her comment kept spinning through his head. Draco kept thinking, I should have told her this, or I should have told her that, but in the end he knew it was too late. And to tell the truth, his heart wasn't truly into any of those possible replies. Because, deep down inside himself, in a place he never had an occasion to look too often in the past, a little voice(was it his conscience? He really didn't know) kept telling him, "she's right, you know."
But Draco didn't truly think the voice or Ginny was right. People liked him. He wasn't a BULLY, he was just powerful. Someone would love him, his parents did, didn't they? And he didn't choose to be this way, he was only being the way his father wanted him to be. Because his father loved him, didn't he? Because his father only wanted what was best for him, certainly? Because his father loved him, didn't he? But that little voice deep down inside wouldn't let itself be buried anymore. It kept him thinking, and contemplating things he would rather not remember....
DRACO'S SECOND YEAR AT HOGWARTS
Draco was watching Harry, trying to dodge the bludger which almost certainly appeared to be going nuts, and started to snicker. Draco himself was sitting on his brand new Nimbus 2001, which his father had bought for everyone on his team "to ensure Slytherin be holding the Quiddith Cup, with his only 'dear son', who happened to be a 'spectacular' seeker and was, with his 'pure' blood certainly better than that silly Potter boy." How he knew how good of a seeker his son was, Draco never knew, for his father had too many important business matters to spend much time with him, and Draco spent many a hour in his backyard, practicing Quidditch with Dobby and Dixie, the family's two house elves. But Draco was on his house team now, and his father's words of encouragement were still with him as he sat on his broom and watched Harry try to avoid the rogue bludger. "You better win, boy. Can't have those mudblood loving fools showing up a MALFOY, can we?" His father had told him, giving Draco the cold smile he had known all his life. Draco knew that he had to catch the snitch and lead his team to victory, or his father would be very disappointed. Draco tried not to disappoint his father, cause he knew that his father only became disappointed in him because he loved him (did he?). In his amusement, Draco completely missed the bit of gold that was buzzing in a blur right beside him, until Harry came barreling at him full speed. Needless to say, Draco tried his very best, and put up a valiant effort, but Harry, yet again, caught the snitch. Draco never forgot the unforgiving and cold look his father had on his face when he looked at Draco, and he never forgot how his father had yelled at him when they were alone afterward....
PRESENT DAY
But Draco knew his father only wanted what was best for him, didn't he? His father only yelled when Draco did something to disappoint him, but his father was only disappointed because he wanted the best for Draco, didn't he? But deep inside, that voice was growing stronger.... Has he ever said he loves you? No, but he does (doesn't he?)
But Draco knew his mother loved him. His beautiful mother, with her beautiful blonde hair and silver eyes.... She spent a lot of time on beauty creams to make herself look younger, and a lot of time in front of the mirror, cataloging the effects of time that those creams and rinses and magic muds and miracle anti-age treatments can't erase. But on the rare occasions she talked to Draco, she would never yell at him. She would usually just ask him about how old he was, and what year he was in school. And she did stop his dad from sending him to Durmstang "Because it was too far away and what would people think if we sent out son somewhere so far away. They would think he did something wrong and was being banished or something... Bad gossip to have about us, especially if you want to make it to be Minister of Magic when old Fudge dies."
His mother loved him, didn't she? But the voice wouldn't be quiet.... She'd trade you for a new miracle wrinkle removing cream, and you know it.... And lately she's begun to say you are her younger brother instead of her son......
So this was the prevailing theme reverberating through Draco's head.... "My parents love me, don't they?" And the voice within him answering, was becoming louder and louder, and beginning to sound more and more like Ginny Weasley......
GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM
"No" said Ginny Weasley as she sat in the common room of her house, reading her Arithmancy book (why did she let Hermione talk her into taking this) "I haven't seen Ron." Ginny replied, as she looked up at emerald green eyes made larger by the thick glasses with the black frames sliding slowly off of a straight nose. "I saw Hermione in the library, so you might want to check there." Ginny said with a small smile and a pronounced roll of her eyes. Harry looked down at Ginny and laughed. "Yeah, they do seem to be following each other around lately." He said. "But the really funny thing is, they always end up fighting wherever they meet."
Ginny just giggled a little at Harry's observation. It was the truth, however. It seemed to everyone who didn't know the pair that the just followed each other around to fight. To those who knew them as well as Harry and Ginny, however, it was a whole different story.
"You know, I think more people are starting to figure out they have a thing for each other." Ginny said. "Now, if only they would just figure it out..." Ginny stated with a laugh.
Harry laughed, and replied "Well, you know it's bad if even Malfoy noticed."
"What!?" Said Ginny.
"Yeah, the other day, he passed them in the hallway bickering and suggested they stop pretending they don't like each other, and get a room, and snog each other senseless, already." Harry said. "Or something to that effect. I think his language was a little cruder than that." Harry said, to an astonished Ginny.
"I didn't think Malfoy was that observant." was all Ginny replied, and started to turn back to her book.
But Harry wasn't going to have that. He really wasn't looking for Ron, he had in fact just been looking for an excuse to talk to Ginny. He had something he wanted to ask her, if he was brave enough to.
"Uh, Ginny." He stuttered.
Ginny looked up at Harry, and was surprised to see a slight blush on his high cheekbones. She suddenly knew that something was up.
"Yes, Harry." She said with as kind of a smile as she could manage.
It took Harry a few moments to start what he wanted to say, and when he did, it was all in a rush.
"WillyougowithmetoHogsmeadethisweekend?" He said quickly, and all in one breath. Ginny just looked up at him, completely shocked.......
And Fate watched, and held her breath... For the one thing fate could not control was human choice.............................................................. Coming up: Will our prince actually find a soul in all his soul searching? Will Ginny make the right choice? What will fate do if Ginny makes the wrong choice? What is the wrong choice? Find out next time, in Chapter 9....
A/n..... I know, I'm evil... But this is the first cliffhanger I've put in.... I've restrained myself from using them all the time.... I promise, I'll update soon....
a/n: Thanks to all who are reading this story. Thank you for all the great reviews.
Chapter 8 "Characterization and Plot Devices" The Least Likely Prince Charming
HIDDEN ROOM DEEP IN THE DUNGEONS OF HOGWARTS
Draco Malfoy was deep in thought. Now, this didn't happen all that often, as Draco tended to be a more act first and don't think about your actions type of person (this came in the territory of being a bully, you see, for if a bully ever truly thought about their actions, would they really do it?). But, anyway, Draco Malfoy was "Thinking". Not the type of thinking done for homework assignments or class projects - Draco possessed a very shrewd mind and for him those kinds of things did not take a whole lot of actual thought time - no, Draco was thinking about life.
More specifically, his life. Following his confrontation with Ginny the other morning, Draco had discovered himself spending more and more time thinking about what Ginny had said to him. "You don't have to be the way you are. You choose to be that way." Those words had stuck in his head, and kept popping up in his thoughts.
As with all times when you don't have the last word, the replies to her comment kept spinning through his head. Draco kept thinking, I should have told her this, or I should have told her that, but in the end he knew it was too late. And to tell the truth, his heart wasn't truly into any of those possible replies. Because, deep down inside himself, in a place he never had an occasion to look too often in the past, a little voice(was it his conscience? He really didn't know) kept telling him, "she's right, you know."
But Draco didn't truly think the voice or Ginny was right. People liked him. He wasn't a BULLY, he was just powerful. Someone would love him, his parents did, didn't they? And he didn't choose to be this way, he was only being the way his father wanted him to be. Because his father loved him, didn't he? Because his father only wanted what was best for him, certainly? Because his father loved him, didn't he? But that little voice deep down inside wouldn't let itself be buried anymore. It kept him thinking, and contemplating things he would rather not remember....
DRACO'S SECOND YEAR AT HOGWARTS
Draco was watching Harry, trying to dodge the bludger which almost certainly appeared to be going nuts, and started to snicker. Draco himself was sitting on his brand new Nimbus 2001, which his father had bought for everyone on his team "to ensure Slytherin be holding the Quiddith Cup, with his only 'dear son', who happened to be a 'spectacular' seeker and was, with his 'pure' blood certainly better than that silly Potter boy." How he knew how good of a seeker his son was, Draco never knew, for his father had too many important business matters to spend much time with him, and Draco spent many a hour in his backyard, practicing Quidditch with Dobby and Dixie, the family's two house elves. But Draco was on his house team now, and his father's words of encouragement were still with him as he sat on his broom and watched Harry try to avoid the rogue bludger. "You better win, boy. Can't have those mudblood loving fools showing up a MALFOY, can we?" His father had told him, giving Draco the cold smile he had known all his life. Draco knew that he had to catch the snitch and lead his team to victory, or his father would be very disappointed. Draco tried not to disappoint his father, cause he knew that his father only became disappointed in him because he loved him (did he?). In his amusement, Draco completely missed the bit of gold that was buzzing in a blur right beside him, until Harry came barreling at him full speed. Needless to say, Draco tried his very best, and put up a valiant effort, but Harry, yet again, caught the snitch. Draco never forgot the unforgiving and cold look his father had on his face when he looked at Draco, and he never forgot how his father had yelled at him when they were alone afterward....
PRESENT DAY
But Draco knew his father only wanted what was best for him, didn't he? His father only yelled when Draco did something to disappoint him, but his father was only disappointed because he wanted the best for Draco, didn't he? But deep inside, that voice was growing stronger.... Has he ever said he loves you? No, but he does (doesn't he?)
But Draco knew his mother loved him. His beautiful mother, with her beautiful blonde hair and silver eyes.... She spent a lot of time on beauty creams to make herself look younger, and a lot of time in front of the mirror, cataloging the effects of time that those creams and rinses and magic muds and miracle anti-age treatments can't erase. But on the rare occasions she talked to Draco, she would never yell at him. She would usually just ask him about how old he was, and what year he was in school. And she did stop his dad from sending him to Durmstang "Because it was too far away and what would people think if we sent out son somewhere so far away. They would think he did something wrong and was being banished or something... Bad gossip to have about us, especially if you want to make it to be Minister of Magic when old Fudge dies."
His mother loved him, didn't she? But the voice wouldn't be quiet.... She'd trade you for a new miracle wrinkle removing cream, and you know it.... And lately she's begun to say you are her younger brother instead of her son......
So this was the prevailing theme reverberating through Draco's head.... "My parents love me, don't they?" And the voice within him answering, was becoming louder and louder, and beginning to sound more and more like Ginny Weasley......
GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM
"No" said Ginny Weasley as she sat in the common room of her house, reading her Arithmancy book (why did she let Hermione talk her into taking this) "I haven't seen Ron." Ginny replied, as she looked up at emerald green eyes made larger by the thick glasses with the black frames sliding slowly off of a straight nose. "I saw Hermione in the library, so you might want to check there." Ginny said with a small smile and a pronounced roll of her eyes. Harry looked down at Ginny and laughed. "Yeah, they do seem to be following each other around lately." He said. "But the really funny thing is, they always end up fighting wherever they meet."
Ginny just giggled a little at Harry's observation. It was the truth, however. It seemed to everyone who didn't know the pair that the just followed each other around to fight. To those who knew them as well as Harry and Ginny, however, it was a whole different story.
"You know, I think more people are starting to figure out they have a thing for each other." Ginny said. "Now, if only they would just figure it out..." Ginny stated with a laugh.
Harry laughed, and replied "Well, you know it's bad if even Malfoy noticed."
"What!?" Said Ginny.
"Yeah, the other day, he passed them in the hallway bickering and suggested they stop pretending they don't like each other, and get a room, and snog each other senseless, already." Harry said. "Or something to that effect. I think his language was a little cruder than that." Harry said, to an astonished Ginny.
"I didn't think Malfoy was that observant." was all Ginny replied, and started to turn back to her book.
But Harry wasn't going to have that. He really wasn't looking for Ron, he had in fact just been looking for an excuse to talk to Ginny. He had something he wanted to ask her, if he was brave enough to.
"Uh, Ginny." He stuttered.
Ginny looked up at Harry, and was surprised to see a slight blush on his high cheekbones. She suddenly knew that something was up.
"Yes, Harry." She said with as kind of a smile as she could manage.
It took Harry a few moments to start what he wanted to say, and when he did, it was all in a rush.
"WillyougowithmetoHogsmeadethisweekend?" He said quickly, and all in one breath. Ginny just looked up at him, completely shocked.......
And Fate watched, and held her breath... For the one thing fate could not control was human choice.............................................................. Coming up: Will our prince actually find a soul in all his soul searching? Will Ginny make the right choice? What will fate do if Ginny makes the wrong choice? What is the wrong choice? Find out next time, in Chapter 9....
A/n..... I know, I'm evil... But this is the first cliffhanger I've put in.... I've restrained myself from using them all the time.... I promise, I'll update soon....