Chapter Twelve: Insinuations

Ginevra's plan went smoothly. Just when the mumbling went down she stopped overacting and was back to normal and the murmers were saved from dying out. Just when the trio were starting to breath easily again, they began their newest diversion.

Ginevra was on her way to herbology when Draco turned a corner, ran into her, and they both ended up on the floor. He was lying on top of her, actually. "And how long have you wanted to be there, Blue?" A third year Hufflepuff swore he heard Ginevra taunt the Slytherin.

"Figured you might be going through withdrawal, Red. How long has it been since you were in this position? Twelve hours?" Two Ravenclaws were thoroughly convinced they heard him correctly.

They picked themselves up, gathered their books with a sneer for her and smirk for him, and went to class. Three witnesses all under fourth year, they would have to do better than that next time.

He was on his way to Arithmancy after lunch and she was blocking a door he needed to get through. "Hey Weasel, move your mangy tail, people are trying to get to class."

For once Ginevra didn't argue, she just sauntered off, but not before shooting back "So mangy is what gets the Ferret off, who knew?" He sneered to hide a smirk. She was good at this. A fifth year Gryffindor had heard that one, he was sure.

Rumors were flying by dinner. Of course, none of them were accurate and Ginevra could honestly say she never said anything like what made its way to Ron's ears, but wasn't that what they were hoping for?

They took the next day off, didn't want to overdo it. It was best to let them begin doubting what they had heard.

Ginevra was headed to the library Thursday night when she realized she had left one of the books she needed in her room. She had reached the library doors before she spun around to head back, eyes turned to her bag as she rumaged through it. Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth in concentration.

Draco slid up next to her and whispered in her ear, but loudly enough for the fourth year Slytherin exiting the library to think he heard. "Careful now, wouldn't want your lips to get sore before they're ravaged." She shot ice daggers at him and walked off. He raised an eybrow in the direction of the eavesdropper who quickly scampered off.

Late Sunday night, just before curfew, two Hufflepuffs of unknown year, a Gryffindor, and a Ravenclaw heard a female voice yell, "JUST... GO... SHAG PARKINSON," a resounding slap, and angry footsteps down the coorider they had to turn down. They turned the corner very slowly, trying to talk amongst themselves as though they hadn't heard anything. A flash of red disappeared around the far corner and an angry Draco looked murderous as he stormed passed them holding his cheek.

The slap really had hurt, the girl had strength, but the faces on the unlucky four chosen to witness it was worth it. He had a handprint on his face the next morning and chose not to remove it until someone pointed it out to him. As a result, the entire Great Hall had proof that the tale they heard was true.

If Draco's entrance to breakfast had made a scene, Ginevra's entrance at lunch was spectacular. Once again Ginevra, Ron, Harry, and Hermione had all failed to attend classes. No one was surprised when they entered the Great Hall together. What was remarkable about the entrance was the formation they had adopted. Ginevra managed to look like the perfect martyr, wounded by the horrible rumors attacking her honor and have the smug appearance of one who had just gotten away with murder. Her face was tear stained, her hair was unbrushed, but her head was held high and her back was straight. If she failed to meet anyone's eye, well, who could blame her? Ron walked directly in front of her, practically daring anyone to mention his baby sister and that ferret in the same breath. Harry walked to her right and held her elbow as if to steady her. He seemed as though she was the only thing he was aware of and all that mattered to him was her comfort. Draco figured the boy wonder had finally woken up to what was in front of him, too bad he had missed his chance. Wait, what did Draco care? Still, a smug look crossed his face as he contemplated Scarhead's reaction when he learned the girl he loved was with another, who cared if it was a ruse or not? Hermione walked to the left of Ginevra with her best motherly expression in place. She kept muttering things in Ginevra's ear. Draco could only assume it was an endless stream of platitudes. "Don't let them get to you. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Just ignore them. They'll realize the truth soon enough."

Draco could only assume what had transpired between the trio and his partner in crime, but by the murderous look on her face when she showed up at the Room of Requirement later he knew better than to ask. They worked in silence for two hours before she spoke.

"I realize we have been actively ruining my reputation, but I thought my brother and friends would hold out against the rumors just a little longer. I mean, they are just rumors, but those three believe them all. I knew when I accepted this task my family would think I had turned on them and would, in an understandable reaction, turn on me, but we haven't given them anything more than insinuations witnessed by unreliable sources everytime and they are already questioning my loyalty. I have never given them a reason to doubt me and yet they still find it hard to trust me. I even had to admit to the slap. I convinced them what I said was a lie, that I had slapped you for some insult, but even though I wasn't seen they knew it was me.

"I've told them, repeatedly, why I've developed a bad attitude. I've told them that I was sick of being taken for granted. I've told them I'm sick of being watched every second of every day. I've told them that I just want to be treated like an equal. I've told that I just want people to stop protecting me. I just want them to stop treating me like some talisman, like some symbol of innocence and admit that I'm just as effected by the war as everyone else and let me be who I am.

"They don't listen. If I weren't turning over for the ultimate good I think I'd turn for all the reasons I'm using as cover. I hope they blame themselves, but they won't. They won't look back to all the times they could have changed, could have 'fixed' things. No, they'll blame you. They'll claim you used a spell or a potion. Eventually they'll realize I chose, but no matter what, you'll always bare at least half of the guilt in their minds. They'll never realize that the way they treat me really is enough to drive someone away."

Draco nodded. He knew the comment about her turning either way was exaggeration, but he still wanted to beat her brother to a bloody pulp for making her feel this way. He was a little surprised she had voiced her emotional pain. He had known this was hard on and he had known the trio's reaction to everything, the way they flip-flopped back and forth from trusting her to accusing her to defending her, was cutting her deeper than she would admit, but he didn't realize how deep it was, not until now.

"We can back off a bit, give them the chance to cool down." That was as close to comforting her he would come. He knew better than to act sympathetic. She would have his head for dinner, especially considering the reason she was upset was the manic need to protect her almost everyone felt.

"No. The cabinet is almost fixed. We only have a month left and, while my reputation is indeed rather tarnished, too many people still believe me when I deny the rumors. If this is going to work we need to step it up again, not back off. I can handle Ron. If I can't I have no business going where we will be going."

Draco had to admit that she had a point. They went back to work on the cabinet, discussing their next move as well.