Chapter 39- Things Revealed
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When the first rays of pale morning sunlight washed over the landscape Friday morning, a cloaked figure stealthily made her way across school grounds to the gates marking the boundary of Hogwarts. Spring was finally making its mark, but the shrouded figure paid no heed to the emerging leaves and flowers. Instead, she remained focused on the man pacing on the other side of the iron bars. "Do you have what I ordered, Mundungus?"
Yellow-stained teeth bared in an avaricious smile. "Aye."
When a slender hand extended imperiously, the disreputable man held up a bag. Instead of handing it over, he scratched his unshaven chin. "Finding two of these handy items was a bit more effort than I'd expected, Missy."
A small bag landed on the ground in front of the man's foot. He picked it up and smiled, pleased with the heavy clinking sound. The scoundrel tossed her bag up and over the iron fence. Silver and bronze shimmering fabrics spilled out of the sack.
Blaise bent and placed a hand beneath the sheer material. It became invisible. She nodded to the man bowing obsequiously. She picked up the bag and headed back to school.
On the front steps, a group had just finished putting on sunglasses to watch the sunrise. Blaise sat beside her roommate Cassandra. "I see you're back in black. Did you have a good holiday?"
Lips painted to match black hair, kohl, and fingernail polish curved. "Yes. You?"
"Yeah." She said hello to the others in the small group. They returned her greeting.
Lexx ran a hand over his waxed spikes. "You dealing with that Intruder stuff okay? We'll greet the sun every morning if it'll help."
"Thanks."
After the group dispersed, Blaise ducked into a lavatory and pulled on the silver Invisibility Cloak. She waited for an early riser to leave Ravenclaw House. Before the portrait closed, she slipped into the common room. At the top of the boys' staircase, quiet steps took her to Terry's room. Inside, each of the beds had their curtains drawn. Pulse racing in anticipation, she crossed silently to her boyfriend's bed.
He lay facing her. Reaching out, her hand smoothed down lightly tanned musculature. Terry rolled onto his back. Leaning over his sleeping face, she uncovered her head and softly kissed her sleeping cutie.
Dark blue eyes blinked sleepily up at her. "Either I'm dreaming of your face, or you got the invisibility cloaks." A warm palm curved around the nape of her neck, bringing her down for a lingering kiss.
"Hey, Boot, time to get your lazy arse out of bed!"
Blaise hurriedly covered her head with the Invisibility Cloak again. Wesley opened the bed curtains and said jokingly,
"Do I have to drag…you…out…?" His words slowed to a halt from the shock of reaching inside the curtains to encounter an invisible body where he'd expected empty space. He called to the other roommates, "Terry's going to be a few minutes late to breakfast, boys. Tell our illustrious prefects that I'll ensure the prisoner goes straight to the Great Hall without detours, would you?"
The good-natured ribbing of the others made Terry smile. Blaise couldn't help it. She had to put a hand out of the cloak to trace his lips with her fingertips. They were so gorgeous.
When the last boy had left the chamber, Roberts stuck his head back in. "I'm going to have nightmares about roving hands, thanks to you, Blaise."
She pulled off the Invisibility Cloak. "Just imagine they're Luna's"
"Buena idea, Amiga, but—what in the world are you wearing?"
Blaise glanced down at the figure-hugging black leather outfit. "Vampire Chic. Why?"
"Do you think Luna would ever wear something like that?" Wesley noticed Terry's pointed stare and hastily added, "We can ask her later. I'll just go sit at my desk now."
Terry sat up and hugged her tight. She ran her fingers through silky, brown strands, "Your cloak is in a bag under the bed. When do you want to use it?" He kissed her and smiled. "Tonight, after curfew, let's meet at the Room of Requirement."
She nodded happily and used her hold in long hair to bring his mouth down to hers.
"Well, well, look what I've found. Horrible Hexes for Randy Roommates. My, my, this lip swelling spell looks particularly nasty, though it would prevent innocent ears from hearing sounds."
Blaise kissed her boyfriend goodbye and slipped under the Invisibility Cloak. She tiptoed over to the boy leaning back in his desk chair with his eyes closed and his hands behind his head. She playfully pinched Wesley's cheek. His eyes opened. With a yelp at the sight of a floating hand, he returned all legs to the floor with a thump.
"That's a fine way to repay a friend," he grumbled over their laughter.
Downstairs, Blaise heard Luna tell Mindy, "I'm going to wait for Wesley. Go on ahead."
Unable to resist, she shoved a book off a nearby table. Mindy jumped when it hit the floor. She scurried away, ignoring her friend's calm assertion that Ravenclaw House was not home to a poltergeist.
"That wasn't very nice, Blaise," Luna said when her roommate left.
"But it was fun."
"I'll bet." Luna said after a moment, "I don't hear footsteps. Not that I mind appearing to talk to myself, but why are you still here?"
Underneath the Invisibility Cloak, Blaise smiled widely. "You'll see."
Terry and Wesley bounded downstairs. In the outer corridor, Blaise walked up behind her boyfriend. She pinched his bum. He whirled around. She giggled.
"Blaise? Is that you?" he said laughingly.
She pressed herself against his chest, whispering, "Nobody else better touch your arse." Terry's grin matched hers. She slipped her arms around his waist and walked backwards to the Hall.
That evening, Blaise found the door across from the moth-eaten tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy slightly ajar. Inside, the tree house looked the same, a round single room built into a massive tree trunk overlooking a jungle—except for the flowering vines. Everywhere she looked, colourful, perfumed flowers bloomed. It was beautiful. Leaning over the balcony railing to look out into the jungle, she felt a pinch on her backside. "Baby, is that you?"
She whirled around to see Terry remove his bronze-coloured Invisibility Cloak. He wrapped his arms around her. "Nobody else better touch your arse."
Her laughter faded when she noticed that she was now wearing her short-skirted 'Jane' outfit. Terry looked gorgeous as Tarzan. In his embrace, she had had everything she needed to be happy. Wanting to make the most of their short time together, Blaise traced his lips with her tongue, before opening her mouth for a deep, satisfying kiss.
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On the Saturday morning following their return to school, Luna smilingly accepted a piece of bacon from Wesley. She was thankful students weren't required to wear school robes on weekends. Her boyfriend's eyes looked so incredibly blue against his bright blue jumper.
A dish of strawberries had just appeared on the table before her when the first owl swooped down from the rafters to deliver the post. Numerous owls followed.
Across from her, Cindy's pale blonde curls shook in distress after she began to look through her Teen Witch magazine. "Oh no, there's a new set of ads for Zabini Jewellers."
Wesley asked, "May we see?"
His polite request brought a smile to the cherubic girl's face. She handed it to him. "Of course."
Luna and Terry leaned in to view the magazine while Wesley opened the publication and flipped the pages. The first ad wasn't too inflammatory. It portrayed a couple dancing, with an elegant blond giving a brunette with short curls what looked like an anniversary ring. The second layout, with Malfoy diving into the pool and emerging to place a strand of black pearls around Zabini's golden neck was another story.
Luna mused aloud, "Funny how something that didn't look half as sexy during the shoot turned into a photograph like this."
Long hair falling forward, Terry agreed dryly, "Yeah, real funny."
Over at the Slytherin table, Blaise was staring at her boyfriend, biting her lip in worry. Luna said, "Your girlfriend is about to cry. Why don't you look at her?"
The tense expression on Terry's face softened into a rueful smile. He stood and walked over to whisper quickly in his girlfriend's ear before a Ravenclaw prefect made it clear he had to leave immediately.
Blaise smiled at Luna, until an owl glided down to drop a black envelope onto the table in front of her. Opening by magic, the plummy tones of Edina Zabini gushed out.
Oh sweetie, oh darling, oh gods sweetie, Are you ready for this? That little romantic faux pas of yours has turned out to be a goldmine, or at least a silver one. Profits are so fab, I've bought all sorts of glam fashions and gorgeous expensive things without your father complaining the least little bit. Cissy and I can't possibly attend all the parties we've been invited to thanks to our lovely photogenic darlings. When your tedious little term is over, what fun we'll have showing you off. Bon soir!
Suddenly, Luna was glad that her only complaints about her father were his prejudice and poor taste in lady friends. Draco and Blaise left the hall after the Gusher exploded into black confetti. A few pieces drifted over to the Ravenclaw table. Luna wondered if they were an omen. As if in answer, an owl dropped an envelope in front of Wesley.
He swallowed hard and smiled lopsidedly. "At least it's not a Howler."
Not wanting an audience, she suggested, "Let's go someplace private before you open it."
"Good idea, Buttercup."
They decided to walk to the greenhouse holding Bindy and Neville's Passionata Fruit Tree. As they stood before the spreading branches of the tree now fifteen metres tall, a slightly hysterical giggle escaped before Luna could prevent it.
A golden eyebrow arched dashingly. "How much encouraging to grow have your friends been doing, Bella Luna?"
"Quite a lot, obviously."
He chuckled and offered the envelope. "If you'll do the honours."
She nodded and slid her fingernail under the wax to break the seal. Taking out a sheet of parchment, Luna handed it to Wesley, who took a deep breath and then read aloud, in the droll voice he used to hide emotions.
Wesley,
Your mother and I are deeply disappointed. You deliberately misled us about your holiday. Nevertheless, we are proud that you confessed your wrong instead of continuing to perpetuate a lie. We have not yet decided what the exact consequences will be for your actions. Community service, at the least, will be expected of you this summer in hopes that destructive self-interest will be negated by serving others.
Luna said, "At least he signed it 'Mum and Dad'."
Her observation was an attempt to look on the bright side, but it was hard. For easy-going Mr. Roberts to sound like Professor Snape, he must be upset.
A corner of Wesley's mouth turned up. "Is my wanting to be with you really destructive self interest?"
"To parents it is." She hugged him. "I'm so glad you're not under restrictions like Terry." In an attempt to make Wesley smile, she gave him a mock-chiding look. "Just think of how depressed the books in the Restricted Section would be if we couldn't give them hope of being read one day."
"That would be tragic, indeed." Looking down into her face, his lips turned up although blue eyes were shadowed. "How about we encourage each other?"
Of all the kisses given Wesley, the one she pressed to his lips then was done for a reason she had never thought of before—comfort. Mutual reassuring with touch eased the tension caused by an unknown future. When they drew apart, Luna glanced at the Passionata tree.
Her boyfriend followed the direction of her gaze and smiled. "Looks like we've encouraged it to bloom." Plucking a delicate white blossom on a stem, he slid it into her tiny side braid and gave a smile of more natural, appealing charm than a certain Runes professor—whose voice she heard outside!
They crouched behind the enormous pots stacked in a far corner of the greenhouse, listening as the door squeaked open and Professor Sprout said, "I didn't know Stuart all that well, I'm afraid. We said good day and Happy Christmas, but otherwise, we were two different samples of soil." The woman bustled around the tables, likely checking the condition of her beloved plants. She asked, "What kind of information are you digging for, James?"
Luna peeked between pots. In his tailored black shirt and trousers, Hook looked every inch the pirate.
He smiled roguishly, deftly using the hook to deadhead a flowering plant. "Well, since you've brought it up, Pomona, I was hoping that someone as observant and intelligent as you would know if my old roommate had a…lady friend…on staff. Professor Lorelei, perhaps?"
Luna grimaced at the thought. So did Wesley.
Sprout burst into laughter before saying earthily, "I wish I had some of that shite you're shovelling to fertilize my plants, James. It's high quality." After a last chuckle, she said, "Lorelei's been keeping company with another wizard. She may be part siren, but the woman's never looked at another man as far as anyone on staff knows."
"Indeed? Who would that be?"
Between the gaps, Luna saw Sprout give a look usually reserved for students asking questions that should be self-explanatory. "Who else would a potions professor find irresistible? Our Potions Master, of course."
Hook snorted in disbelief. "Snape!" Blue eyes became contemplative. "Well, split my infinitives, what an interesting development."
The man thanked his fellow professor for her time with a gleaming, calculated smile. Sprout activated the watering system with a charm and soon followed. When the two had left, Wesley held Luna's hand and led her out from behind the giant pots. "I don't think I'd call it interesting, precisely, but I definitely think we're right to keep an eye on Hook. He's up to something."
"I agree."
On their way back, Wesley said, "If your message doesn't get an answer by the end of the week, let's go into the village and send one through the Owl Post Office. Deal?"
"Depends."
They were inside the school near the statue of Daniel the Daft. Her boyfriend manoeuvred her behind it. "On what?"
His lips were twitching.
Hers were trembling with amusement. "On if we seal it with a kiss."
Wesley moved closer and closer until their lips gently touched. His eyes stared into hers. The intensity of his gaze combined with the slow, sensual kiss caused butterflies to flutter in her middle. Luna's eyes closed as she leaned into him to seal their 'deal' with another kiss.
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Ginny usually spend Sunday mornings huddled under warm covers, delighting in the fact that she didn't have to get out of bed. Some of her best daydreams came during these times of drowsy contentment. This morning, she hoped to have another one. Slowly, her eyes closed as her mind drifted easily into fantasy.
It was the happiest season of all. Light snow began to drift down as Ginny sat on a bench to put on her skates. She came to the Muggle skating rink at least once a week. The festive Christmas tree and strings of lights encircling the outdoor area made her feel like a little kid looking forward to a visit from Father Christmas. She wasn't a little girl anymore, even though her flatmate Luna told her she was just as messy as one.
"You'll turn your ankles with that lacing. Here, let me do it."
Masculine, artistic fingers nimbly tightened her laces. Running her own fingers through the platinum strands of the man whose head bent to his task, Ginny smiled. "Have I told you how sexy you look in that jumper?"
Briskly tying the last bow, Draco stood and pulled her to her feet. Looking down past the opened coat to the red jumper she'd knitted, he smirked. "Not in the last five minutes. Good to know I haven't lost my appeal."
Holding hands, they stepped onto the ice and began to glide. Her smile widened. Her love wasn't fond of the colour red, but it looked abso-bloody-lutely scrummy on him.
Chiselled lips curved while he drawled, "Have I told you how beautiful you look in your early Christmas present?"
She glanced down at the luxurious coat that made her feel almost as beautiful as the way he looked at her. Running her free hand over the soft black trim framing her face, she asked, "This is faux fur…isn't it?"
His chuckle made a lovely shiver race down her spine. "As far as you know."
He pulled her into waltzing position, cleverly distracting Ginny from insisting that he answer. It was probably better not to know. Circling the ice, her brown eyes darkened.
Shrewd grey narrowed. "You're not worried about tomorrow night, are you?"
Shaking off her misgivings, she smiled and thought only about enjoying this night and her partner.
The next evening, The Burrow filled with Weasley friends and family. Their Christmas Eve parties were legendary. Looking out the kitchen window, Ginny thought with a trace of hysteria that this year's party might go down as the most memorable of all time.
"Looking for Father Christmas, Ginny?"
"Can't wait for coal and switches, sister?"
She gave Fred and George a wicked smile. "If I get switches, I know just who to use them on."
Molly bustled into the room and nodded admiringly at the festively decorated table. Smiling happily, she told her daughter, "Lovely job decorating the table, dear." Pleasant, round features turned mischievous when she asked her sons, "Did you get her to tell you who the mystery guest is? It's driving me spare to have to guess who's coming to dinner!"
Just then, the doorbell chimed. Heart pounding, Ginny rushed into the lounge, pushing past Ron, Hermione, and Harry to place her hand over Arthur's as his began to turn the handle on the front door. Looking at the roomful of loved ones gazing expectantly at her, she said, "I've been trying to get up the nerve to introduce someone very special to me. I hope you'll welcome him, for my sake."
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door. Gasps and inarticulate expressions of disbelief filled the air as Draco Malfoy stepped into the room. Slipping her arm through his, she met his rueful smile and tried to return it with trembling lips.
"My precious daughter…and Malfoy…I feel so…" Molly fainted.
Fred and George caught their mother and dragged her over to a sofa. Ron whipped out his wand, red faced. Hermione grabbed her fiancée's arm to prevent the curse he uttered from hitting his old enemy. Deflected, the spell careened toward the Christmas tree, which hurtled across the room, knocking people onto the floor , before bursting through the picture window to land on the front lawn.
A group of neighbours arrived at that very moment, songbooks in hand. They gaped before singing a carol with wavering voices.
"Are you alright in there, Weasley? That hysterical laughter is scaring Isabel and Grace, so if you'd kindly stop, we'd appreciate it."
Rosaline's cool words snapped Ginny out of the daydream that had started so dreamily and ended like a nightmare. She opened the curtains and swung her legs over the side of the bed.
Two girls huddled together on a bed across the room.
"You…you're not going to hex us again, are you Gin?" asked Isabel.
Shaking her head wearily, the freckled face was solemn as she assured, "No, of course not…just, watch it with the gossip, because I think that jinx has long-lasting effects."
She was gathering clothes out of her trunk when Hermione stuck her head in the door. "Ginny, I'm glad you're up. I have a favour to ask."
Ronald was having trouble in Transfiguration and needed to borrow a solid gold bracelet. Hermione had bracelets, but they had semi-precious stones in them, none was gold alone.
Ginny waved at her open trunk. "Sure, I've got a couple in the top drawer of my jewellery box. Pick whichever one you like. I'll see you later."
After a shower, she impulsively decided to wear her Valentine's Day present. Opening the bottom drawer to her jewellery box, she reached for the gold bracelet. It wasn't there.
Her stomach dropped, even while her mind tried to rationalise that perhaps she just hadn't placed it in the same spot that she'd returned it to every other single time she'd worn the gift. She yanked open the second drawer. The bracelet wasn't there either. Pulling out the first drawer, Ginny dumped the mix of bracelets and costume jewellery onto a stack of jumpers.
"Looking for something in particular?" asked Rosaline.
"Did you see Hermione take a bracelet?"
Pale eyebrows rose. "Yes, actually. When I said I thought you'd specified the top drawer, Granger snapped at me to mind my own business. I think your brother's temper has rubbed off on her."
Ginny pressed a hand to her cramping stomach. "Did you notice what the bracelet she chose looked like?"
Almost pityingly, the girl nodded. "It was the gold bracelet with a heart charm."
Slamming down the lid of her trunk after snatching up another gold bracelet, Ginny raced down the girls' staircase. The situation wasn't as bad as it looked. She'd find Ron, tell him that she'd been planning on wearing the bracelet Hermione took, exchange it for the one in her pocket, and everything would be fine.
At the bottom of the steps, she called out, "Colin, where's Ron?"
The boy looked up from his seat on one of the sofas. "In his room with Harry and Hermione. He said he didn't want to practise where people would laugh at him."
"Thanks."
She quickly ascended the boys' stairway and ran toward her brother's chamber. The door was ajar.
Inside, Ron said, "I'll get you a bracelet like that, Hermione, except that I'd have our initials engraved on the heart, so you could kiss it like this and be kissing me."
Harry groaned. "Merlin, that's corny."
Ginny pushed open the door, watching in horror while her brother looked down at the charm. Ron's brow wrinkled in confusion. "Look, initials are appearing. D…M…G…W..."
"What?" said Harry.
"Somebody gave my sister this bracelet," said Ron. "Who the bloody hell was it? Doug Montgomery? Drake Martin?"
"Devlin MacGregor asked her to the Valentine's Dance," Hermione said thoughtfully, "but she said she didn't like him."
Ginny walked into the room. The first person to see her was Harry. He said, "I think I know who gave her that bracelet. The same person she's been sneaking off to meet at the library."
Ron stared at her unhappily. "You've been sneaking around with somebody? Why? Why wouldn't you want me…us…to know, Ginny? Who is it?"
His expression told her he suspected, but still hoped that she would say a name, any name, other than the one he dreaded.
"Draco Malfoy," she said.
Her brother silently mouthed the name, features crumpling. After a long, painful silence, he repeated, "Draco Malfoy…." His face started to flush as his voice rose, "My sister has been sneaking around with Draco-Bloody-Malfoy!" He shook off the restraining hand his girlfriend placed on his arm. "Are you insane? After everything that's happened, you pick a Death Eater for a boyfriend?"
"Ronald, please. Take a deep breath and calm down. I'm sure that if we just talk things through, we can bring Ginny round…."
"He's not a Death Eater, Ron, and Hermione—nobody's talking me out of anything."
Ron said angrily, "Then you're officially mental, sister, and they've got a ward at St. Mungo's for you! How are Mum and Dad going to feel when they find out? Huh? Didn't think about that, did you?" He grabbed his hair with both hands. "Mum's already gutted over Percy. Damn it, you're going break her heart again. How can you be so bloody selfish?"
"I'm not selfish!" Ginny yelled back. "I've tried for six months to make you see that Slytherin doesn't mean evil, but you, like the rest of our family, are so bloody-minded and prejudiced…."
"Six months?" whispered Ron.
The door slammed shut behind her.
Ginny looked from Harry who had his wand out, to her brother, who seemed ready to cry.
"Finite Incantatem!"
Incredulous, Ginny looked at Harry. "What was that for? Do you think Draco's put a love spell on me? He hasn't."
Harry turned to Ron. "He didn't use a spell."
"What about a potion? What if my poor little sister was given a love potion?"
Ginny said, "I'm right here. You can talk directly to me. He didn't give me a love potion!"
Ron told her, "If you're under a love potion, you wouldn't know it, would you?" He asked Hermione, "Can you make a counter-potion?"
"Of course, but I'd have to make sure she'd actually taken a love potion first."
"How can you do that?" said Harry.
Ginny fingers splayed against her stomach. "Ron, if I agree to do whatever test you want, will you promise not to tell Mum and Dad? I'll tell them, I promise, but I want to do it in a way that won't hurt so badly."
"I promise."
To determine whether a love potion had been ingested, they needed to examine the contents of her stomach. In the lavatory, Ginny grimly stuck her finger down her throat. Afterwards, she chewed a brushing/flossing mint and tried not to cry. "You know Draco hasn't compelled me to do anything, so keep your end of the bargain. Let me owl Mum and Dad."
"All right, but why, Ginny? Why Malfoy?" Her brother's face scrunched up, as if he was trying not to cry. Hermione hugged him while Harry placed a comforting hand on his best mate's shoulder. They all looked at her.
She couldn't believe they didn't know. Tears rolled down her face.
"I love him."
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In the attic, Draco whistled 'Weasley is our King', the original version, as he bent to remove a knee-length coat of mail out of a trunk. The hauberk was what the best-dressed warriors had worn in the eleventh century. He placed it over a headless mannequin. Next, he lifted a conical helmet and put it on. Made of four sections of leather and wood set in a metal frame with a metal bar protecting the nose and face, the spangenhelm was more comfortable than he would have thought.
When he heard light footsteps approaching, Draco struck a pose with a wooden practise sword that was a hell of a lot easier to heft about than the real thing. "How do you like the spangenhelm, Red?"
She didn't answer.
He pulled it off. "I know, I'm playing dress up again, but you've got to admit its more fun than reading Hogwarts, A History."
"Draco."
Her voice sounded choked up. He took a closer look at his girlfriend. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes red-rimmed. He tossed the priceless artefacts down and pulled her into his arms.
She buried her face against his chest. "They know. Hermione wanted to borrow a gold bracelet…she didn't get one from the drawer I told her to look in…I didn't get to his room before Ron de-activated the concealment charm. Oh gods, they know!"
He tightened the embrace, whispering, "It's okay, it'll be okay." Draco felt weirdly relieved. He had wanted to tell the world from day one. Now Weasel knew his sister was dating a ferret. He suppressed the urge to laugh, knowing that his girl wouldn't understand why he did it. Red would think he was gloating, when in reality he was so damned happy that the secret was finally out. "Will he owl your parents?"
"Ron promised to let me owl them."
Draco kissed Ginny's forehead, waiting for her to compose herself before asking, "When…and what…will you write?"
She exhaled shakily. "I don't know. I feel so numb after everything that happened."
Grey eyes hardened, even while the boy forced himself to ask quietly, "What else happened?"
His stomach began to twist into knots with the effort to listen and not rush off to hex the trio who thought their end justified the means. The bloody hypocrites! They looked down at Slytherins while acting every bit as ruthless.
"I don't want to go back to Gryffindor right now."
Fine with him, he wished that she could transfer to Slytherin House and never have to go back. A thought struck. Draco smiled. "How about we spend some time in the Room of Requirement?"
She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and nodded. They held hands on the way to the seventh floor.
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Entering the Room was like entering a lavish Noble's home in Verona. Draco ruefully noted his change in clothes. He now wore a Slytherin green doublet slashed with gold and embroidered with gold thread. His elaborate white sleeves matched the feather in his hat.
He admired the crimson velvet and gold gown that Ginny wore. With a smile, he brought the slender hand almost hidden by a long, pointed sleeve to his lips. "Come hither, the banquet awaits."
She curtsied. "Hither, I come."
A long table was loaded down with beef, mutton, pork, rabbit and venison. Fruits of all kinds and a wide assortment of sweet and savoury pastries were available as well. He pointed out the dietary differences between nobles and commoners.
Ginny said, "Didn't believe in vegetables, did they?"
He chuckled. "There are a few dishes of onions, garlic, and leeks at the end, if you'd like some."
"No thanks, I prefer sweet breath."
"Me too."
She smiled and held up a round cheese. "What's this?"
"Nettle cheese."
Delicate red brows winged upward. "Ouch, nettles in the cheese?"
"No, left to drain on a bed of nettles."
"Oh."
The way her pink lips curved made him suspicious. "Did you know all this already?"
She prevaricated like a Slytherin. "I like the way you explain things. Even a bed of nettles sounds sexy."
He grinned. "If I was on it, it would be."
He mentally patted himself on the back when she giggled.
They decided to eat 'outside' on a bench in the courtyard. Ginny took a bite of a mushroom pastry. "If I ignore the fat content and questionable cooking methods, Renaissance food is quite tasty."
He carved and offered a slice of pear with a jewelled dagger before he ate one himself. "No worries about food poisoning, here, my lady." Reaching out to cup her cheek, Draco said, "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!"
Her pleased laughter was worth the time he had spent reading the so-called 'romantic' play. Romeo and Juliet were both idiots, in his opinion, who had some good lines.
After they'd finished their feast and snickered over the anachronistic brushing/flossing mints he'd pulled out of a pocket, Ginny looked at him and asked almost shyly, "Would…would you do the 'holy palmers' kiss' scene with me?"
Since he would have suggested it if she hadn't asked, he smiled in a way that made her blush. 'Inside' the stately manor, the room had transformed into a romantically lit chamber filled with music. They stood in the middle of the room and slowly lifted their hands to place one palm against another.
Not feeling half as awkward as he would have if he hadn't been in costume, Draco remembered his lines and said, "If I profane with my un-worthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this; my lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand, To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."
He was startled, in a good way, when Ginny threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. He half-heartedly protested when he was given opportunity to draw breath. "I know more."
"That's nice. You're brilliant. Have my lips, or as we say in modern times, 'Shut up and kiss me!"
He complied with his lady's wishes, removing the gold net containing bright tresses. They spilled over his fingers and tunic like a fragrant waterfall. Tender kisses turned passionate.
Ginny sighed. "Feel free to 'profane this holy shrine' any time you like."
Happiness rumbled like laughter in his chest. He swung Ginny around until she lay dizzy against his shoulder.
Parting was sweet sorrow when they finally had to leave. He said, "I'll wait in the corridor a few minutes before I follow."
She blew a kiss. Draco did something he had scoffed at when Terry did it for Blaise. He 'caught' the kiss and pressed it to his heart. Ginny's melting smile made the Hufflepuff-sentimental gesture worth it. After she left, he looked down at his shoes, thinking that they were a huge improvement over the Renaissance variety.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
Draco stood unmoving but conscious. He thought with black humour that he had played this scene before. Last time, Romeo and Mercutio had disabled him with 'Frozen Pain.' This time, Potty and Weasel were the ones attacking from the shadows to immobilise their enemy.
When the two faces came into his forward frozen view, their stony expressions told the helpless boy that this time, he wouldn't be getting off with a word and a blow.
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A/N: I couldn't resist using one of Hook's famous lines or the quotes from Romeo and Juliet. Anyone wondering how Draco's going to get out of the bind he finds himself in? You'll soon find out. :D