Oh, it's a long one... :)
disclaimer: i own nothing
11
you know
me better than i know myself
and i trust you more than i trust
anyone else
but promises made are promises broken
at least from
what ive seen,
it all fades away...
brandston
"Great practice, Harry!" Ginny flew towards him on her broom, landing gracefully on the pitch beside him and Ron.
"Yea, so great that I'm going to drown myself in the showers," Ron muttered kicking at the grass.
"Come off it, Ron! You weren't that bad!" Harry cheerfully slapped him on the back, but Ron just lurched forward in defeat.
"Yea, Ron, I only scored about fifty goals this time," Colin said in all seriousness, landing beside them. Ron gave the considerably smaller boy a menacing look, along with Harry and Ginny, and getting the hint Colin quickly excused himself to the showers.
Ginny said nothing in fear of Ron's retribution, and the three were silent until Ron left for the locker rooms as well.
Harry and Ginny watched him go until he was out of earshot.
"He really was terrible today, wasn't he?" Ginny sighed.
"It's just nerves, and it's the first week of practice. He'll improve," Harry hoped, smiling down at Ginny.
"If not, we always have a month before our first match to replace him," she teased, then laughed at Harry's faked shocked expression. "Speaking of replacements, I wonder who will replace you if you don't get up there and start practicing as well. You might be a great Team Captain, but you're an even better Seeker."
Harry sighed, he just didn't have the energy to get up and practice after his training sessions with Professor Morticai every night. It had been a month since he first learned about his Aspect powers, and consequently the most mentally and physically exhausting month since the Triwizard Challenge.
He would start out strong, and by the end of the team warm-ups he would be so fatigued he could barely keep his eyes open from exhaustion. So he directed his team from the ground and hoped that his performance wouldn't be affected in the games.
"I've just been up late studying for N.E.W.T.s is all," Harry said, which was the excuse he told Hermione and Ron every night that he came back late. He figured no one would believe he would start studying for N.E.W.T.s eight months in advance, but they seemed to accept his explanation, even though he was also bruised and frequently limping. But neither Ron nor Hermione noticed his injuries, and only Hermione questioned further as to where he studied so that she might join him and was quite put off when he told her it was an invitation-only study group.
"Right, I didn't know studying was such a physical activity," Ginny laughed, motioning to his black eye. She didn't believe him for a second, and Harry knew it. At least one of his friends still knew the true him.
But Harry still shot her a look and stayed silent. A sign Ginny knew that meant the conversation was over. He handed her three practice Quaffles and they started to pack the ball trunk.
As their hands briefly touched, a thought occurred to Harry. He hadn't been shocked by Ginny in a long time, practically since school started. He studied her for a moment, contemplating what was different between now and then. He came up with nothing; he and Ginny were still close friends, nothing had changed between them, so why did the shocks stop? Ginny looked up from where she was packing the trunk and smiled at him. He smiled back, handing her a wiggling Bludger. They were alone, and he figured it was a good time to bring up the subject.
"What…" Harry began.
"Who…" Ginny said at the same time. They both laughed, and with some relief Harry told Ginny to go first. He latched the trunk and they each picked up an end.
"I was just going to ask who you asked to Hogsmead tomorrow," Ginny said, as they trudged towards the locker rooms, the heavy Quidditch trunk between them.
"I haven't actually asked anyone yet, but I was thinking I'd like to go with…" Harry stopped and Ginny looked up to see what he was staring at.
The Slytherin Quidditch team was making their way onto the pitch, heading towards them. The black and green robes were billowing behind them and their brooms were thrown over their shoulders. Emlyn and Malfoy were leading the smirking pack.
"Emlyn…" he breathed quietly, then coughed, and shifted the trunk so that Ginny ended up dropping her end. He glared over at her, and she scowled back at him.
"What was that Potter?" Draco asked, smirking at them. Ginny heaved her side of the trunk up, but Harry left his on the pitch. "I could have sworn I heard that you wanted to ask Emlyn something."
Harry scowled back at him, but said nothing, which annoyed Ginny. She impatiently shifted the trunk again, trying to get Harry's attention. The less time they spent with the Slytherins, the better for Harry. But as for herself, she always enjoyed seeing Draco in his Quidditch robes, even if he was being a giant prat at the moment.
"I saw your practice today, Potter. It was pretty pitiful. From one Captain to another," he mocked in a fake concerned voice, "I suggest you teach your mate Weasley how to recognize a Quaffle because from the looks of it, he doesn't know one from your miniscule Chaser." The whole Slytherin team burst into laughter, and to Harry's displeasure, Emlyn laughed along with them.
"But Seekers end the game, Malfoy, so you better get up there in practice if you want to give me the chance to beat your ass again," Harry calmly replied. Ginny grinned at Draco, knowing full well that he hated it when she sided with Harry. But Draco's usual annoyance at meeting Harry was over passed by unveiled hatred on his face. Ginny tried to slide in a slight smile, Draco just scowled at her also.
"I saw you don't practice much either, is that because you're so confident? Or because you know your pathetic team has no chance against mine?" Draco growled back. Ginny's mouth almost dropped open. Draco never prolonged talking to Harry for any reason, and it made her worry. Anyone could clearly see Draco was seething, but Ginny, who knew him better, could tell he was about ready to explode. But before Harry could get back at Draco, and Ginny could get Harry away, Emlyn cut in.
"As interesting as this blatant show of masculine insecurity is, I have to talk to Potter. If you would excuse us," Emlyn said smoothly. Both Draco and Harry looked at her with wide eyes, and neither moved until Emlyn physically grabbed Harry's arm and pulled him away.
Ginny sighed watching them walk away, and hoisted the end of the trunk up again. She wished she had her wand with her so she could levitate the trunk rather than drag it across the pitch.
"Sad your precious Potter isn't here to help you with the heavy trunk, Princess?" Draco asked, deliberately stepping on the end of the trunk making Ginny drop it. He rested his foot on it and crossed his arms over his knees to lean in to talk to her. Ginny was silent, but folded her arms over he chest and glared at him, secretly overjoyed that he wanted to talk to her.
"So what did you think of our chat, Weasel? Did you actually follow the conversation this time?" Draco smirked at her, his anger vanished. Ginny shot him a menacing look, but she knew he was teasing her. But the players on his team were listening closely, and they had no idea he was just joking with her.
"Actually, from one Quidditch player to another," she imitated him, "I thought you sounded like an asshole." The Slytherins behind him made mocking Ooh-s, and clearly expected Draco to cut her down.
"That is obviously a biased opinion," was all Draco said, in a superior voice. Ginny laughed at him.
"Biased how? I would take Harry's side any day, and you know it, so I don't know why you insisted on asking my opinion," Ginny tried to keep a straight face, but Draco was smirking at her.
"Why won't you ever take my side? Aren't I more handsome anyways? I could make you a very happy girl…"
"By leaving me alone?" she asked innocently.
"Ha, not even close," he winked at her. "I would…"
"I know what you meant!" Ginny interrupted him hurriedly, quickly looking away from his gorgeous grey eyes. She didn't know why he was so forward with her lately, but it made her uneasy. Uneasy meaning that she would almost let herself believe he meant his 'compliments.' But, she reminded herself, he said that to all the girls in Hogwarts, and that made her angry. She supposed herself more than his conquests, but it hurt her even more to know that he was just teasing her when he called her 'beautiful' when she wanted so much to know he was serious.
"Good, I wasn't sure," Draco teased her, "So what are you doing for Halloween? Combing you hair? Because that would sure be frightening."
"I think you've mistaken me for Pansy," Ginny glowered at him, slightly hurt, but glad he was back to himself. She could deal with him when he wasn't spouting pretty things. "I'm spending the day with Harry at Hogsmead." Ginny lied, Harry hadn't actually asked her, but if he hadn't asked anyone yet, she assumed she'd go with him.
"Right, your precious scarhead comes to your rescue," Draco's smiled faded, the previous anger she had seen returning.
"Just to warn you, if you decide to dress up like Death Eaters again to scare Harry, I'll be there with him, except this time, I will help him curse your balls off." She said, suddenly more hurt.
"Harsh, Weasel," Draco said, "What's gotten into you?"
"You're pissing me off," Ginny said darkly. It was true, all her good feelings about seeing him today were gone and he was just making her mad with his comments about Harry, and herself. What she didn't really want to admit was that she was more hurt that he didn't like her, and that was more devastating to her mindset. "Get off my trunk, Malfoy," she commanded uneasily.
"You don't like me today?" Draco smirked, unfazed by her mood.
"I don't like you most days, but I put up with you because no one else will. Get off my trunk!" she yanked it up wards but Draco kept his weight on it and it stayed on the ground.
"Get practicing!" Draco yelled to his team behind him without turning around. The team reluctantly left, flying upwards passing the quaffle and bludgers between them.
"Now, what's really bothering you?" Draco asked seriously, though he played it off like a joke.
"Nothing!" Ginny said, almost falling for his concerned expression. Remember, he's a Malfoy, and you're a Weasley, she thought, shooting a glance at Harry, willing him to hurry up and get back to help her with the trunk. Draco saw her glance, and his jaw hardened as he once again remembered that Ginny was Potter's girlfriend.
"Are you jealous that your boyfriend is actually talking to someone besides you?" He asked her viscously. Ginny heard the serious tones in his voice and knew that he meant that as an insult.
"I'm surprised you aren't looking for a new tramp since it's been almost two minuets since Riley's fawned all over you," Ginny shot back.
"I believe my turnover rate starts at three minuets. Honestly, I thought you knew me better," Draco's silver eyes winked at her, but Ginny couldn't help getting angrier. Yes, she knew him and his stupid lines, and she should have remembered to keep him as far away from her heart as possible.
"I know you quite well, and it is two minuets. Why are you so top off lately?" Ginny asked.
"What does that mean?" Draco stormed.
"It means, you go balls out whenever Harry is around, and you are so mean sometimes. But then you turn back into charming Malfoy whenever you want."
"Am I mean to you?"
"Not more than usual," Ginny said crossly.
"Then what's the problem? You don't like when I'm charming?" Draco shot her a fake upset look, but Ginny was serious.
"I just don't know what's going on with you!" she answered. Draco's eyes narrowed.
"You're just jealous that I hang out with Emlyn more now," he accused.
"Then you're jealous that I hang out with Harry," Ginny gaped at his self-absorption.
"Piss it; you know I've always hated you with Harry," Draco admitted fiercely, then suddenly realized what he said, and looked away.
"But that's just because you hate Harry, it has nothing to do with me."
"Does that make a difference to you?" Inwardly Draco sighed with relief that she came to the wrong conclusion. Most of why he hated Harry, and the hatred that was cultured in his practices, stemmed from the fact that Harry had Ginny.
"NO! I just … damn, you are so difficult sometimes," Ginny spat out, angry that she felt so strongly towards him, when all he thought of her was a friend and Harry's girlfriend.
"And besides," Draco smirked at her, "I like making Potter's girlfriend blush." He leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "Though I'd rather make you sweat."
His innuendo was not lost on her, once again, and it made her heart ache. She wished so much that he meant it, but she knew he was just playing with her to see if he could get a rise out of her. But he didn't know that he was actually playing with her feelings.
Ginny didn't know when it started, but she knew she had more than a crush on Draco. And it was driving her crazy that he would say these things to her. He made her hot, and it took all of her control to keep her tone light and friendly around him so that he didn't suspect what she was feeling.
But she was getting tired of keeping her feelings in check around him, and his playful flirting had to end or she would… well, she didn't know what she would do.
But she turned back to face him, her anger and hurt rising.
"That's getting old," Ginny said lowly, anger flashing in her eyes. Draco was still smirking at her, so she yanked up on the trunk his foot was still resting on, catching him off guard and unbalancing him, and Draco flew backwards landing on the pitch.
"Weasley!" she heard Draco call after her. She could tell he was angry, but Ginny didn't turn back. She roughly maneuvered the trunk into the equipment closet and headed for the girl's locker room.
0000
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Harry asked Emlyn as they were walking away. Emlyn was silent so they kept walking farther away from the prying ears of the Slytherin team. When they were a good distance away from the others, Emlyn was about to answer Harry's question when he asked it again.
"Calm down," Emlyn said, annoyed. "I just wanted to make sure we aren't overheard."
"Oh," Harry answered, feeling awkward. But he couldn't stop staring at her bright blue eyes and the way her hair blew in the light breeze.
"Damaris, I mean, Professor Morticai, wanted to tell you that your practice is canceled tonight and for the rest of the week. She thinks that you are wearing yourself out, so your practices are now reduced to twice a week," Emlyn told him.
"Are your practices reduced?" Harry asked her.
"No. Well, yes. Now that I'm on the Quiddich team I stopped my morning practices," she answered, looking down at the grass. She didn't really like talking to Harry; his green eyes looked at her too deeply, and her stomach fluttered whenever she saw him run his hand through his messy hair. Hate, hate, hate, she chanted to herself.
"Morning practices? You mean you practiced twice a day?" Harry looked at her with amazement.
"Not anymore, obviously," she said nastily, but her tone didn't seem to affect Harry. Rather, he seemed to be more upset than anything.
"This means you've been having double practices while I've been just having one, right?" Harry asked her, but continued before she could answer. "I've been so stupid, what made me think that only one practice a day would be enough? No, tell Professor Morticai that I'll be there tonight, and that I want to start morning practices as well."
"You can't do that, Harry. You're exhausted, and if you continue you're just going to hurt yourself more," she said, trying to keep her voice even. She was impressed with the fact he wanted to do more, but he was obviously too worn-out to do it.
"But I have to keep up with you and Lukas, and besides, I'm doing terrible in practices," Harry swept his hand through his hair in frustration. Emlyn couldn't help but feeling something for him. He was so determined to succeed. For himself. For herself and Lukas. He didn't want to let them down, and he would do anything, including sacrificing more of his time and energy to learning, to become strong and powerful.
And in one fleeting moment, before she remembered who he was to her, he was worthy in her eyes.
And that pissed her off.
His obvious distress over the situation made her even madder.
"How did Professor Morticai know?" Harry asked her quietly.
"Know what?" Emlyn bit out, though she knew what he meant.
"How did she know that I was tired, that I am tired?" Harry avoided looking at her, knowing that admitting it probably made him even more hateful in her eyes. "Did she say I was slacking in practices? Or in class, or something like that?"
Emlyn sighed, and to avoid answering the question started walking back towards her team. But Harry followed her, still talking about the situation.
"I bet she noticed in practice. I was trying that one spell you used on me during our first fight, the one where you shield things by erecting a barrier and throwing anything that gets in the way. Adipsium Opusm, something like that."
"Adipsium Posium," Emlyn corrected him, annoyed, though he wasn't listening to her again.
"I just couldn't do it yet, I don't know why. I bet that's why, she thought I should be able to do that by now. I need to talk to her about the extra practices, I should be able to do simple things like that by now…"
"Potter!" Emlyn interrupted him, frustrated with his ramblings. She turned in front of him and placed a hand on his chest to stop him walking after her. For one swift second their eyes connected, and Emlyn saw the weight that Harry carried with him everywhere he went. Her heart reached out to him, and she suddenly wanted to be wrapped in his arms. She had the distinct feeling that she needed him, and that he needed her.
"Sorry, er, I mean, you…. You make me nervous," Harry blurted out, then immediately felt like hexing himself. But he saw the way she was looking at him and he felt her warm hand resting on his chest. He saw the pain in her eyes, and wanted nothing more than to hold her and tell her he would make everything okay. He wanted to protect her. But he swallowed his feelings, knowing that she didn't need him to tell her anything, and she most definitely didn't need him to protect her.
"I wasn't able to do the Adipsuim spells until I obtained Master Aspect. You are already so far advanced in comparison to me, Lukas and…" she paused, thinking briefly of Tynan, "Never mind, it doesn't matter. Damaris knows because I told her." Emlyn confessed.
"You told her that I'm awful?" Harry asked, confused and slightly outraged.
"No," Emlyn was impatient to end the conversation. She was uncomfortable with her feelings around him, and the quicker she left, the better. "I told her that I thought you could use a rest. I'm tired, even Lukas is tired, and I noticed that you fall asleep in class and you don't practice with your team anymore. And flying seems like the only thing that you love, besides your friends and Ginny. You're giving up so much to help protect us that I thought I should do something for you. Damaris wouldn't have known otherwise," the words poured out of her mouth faster than she could think about what she was saying. "So fine, go ahead and do two practices a day and kill yourself, but I think you should rest seeing as I, I mean, Professor Morticai thinks that you are progressing faster than she thought."
Harry was almost speechless, "You… you notice me?" He saw her look under he lashes at him and whisper something, but he wasn't paying attention. He was waiting for her answer. He wasn't getting one.
"Oh look, time for practice," Emlyn smirked at him, the barrier between them erected again, and she hopped on her broom and zoomed away. Starting back towards the locker room he saw the Slytherin team laughing and calling from their positions in the arena. Glancing down by chance, he saw his sleeve was hot pink; in fact, all of his dark blue practice robes were a hot magenta pink. The Gryffindor lion patch was a large pink heart, his captain patch was now was flashing 'Cupid,' and the 'Potter' on his back now read 'Pretty.' Harry was almost furious, but he caught Emlyn smirking at him from her position by the goalposts.
"Everyone notices you, Potter." Emlyn called to him, laughing along with her team.
Harry said nothing, but under his breath he whispered, watching her eyes widen. He waved a mocking goodbye and headed into the locker room. Ron was just coming out.
"What happened to your robes, mate! Ugh! They're… disgusting!" Ron wrinkled his nose in distaste, picking at his sleeve.
"I took care of it," Harry said, smiling to himself, "Let's go get some dinner."
0000
The weekend was unusually uneventful, even with Halloween and a Hogsmead visit falling on the same day. The Halloween banquet was festive as always, with jack-o-lanterns floating through the starry night sky in the Great Hall, the resident ghosts playing pranks on the First Years, and with the immensely popular new Weasley Wizarding Wheezes Whoa-paques, the number of students turned temporarily transparent made for an interesting evening.
They all supposed the trip to Hogsmead that afternoon was the reason for so many Weasley inspired mischief, but even though it made Ron rapturous to see his brothers' pranks in use, he was a complete grump the whole trip. It was because Hermione was spending the day with Lukas, who had asked her to show him around the village right after the notice for the trip was posted. Harry couldn't believe Ron missed his chance, and based on the way Ron was acting, he himself couldn't believe it either.
And so, Ron sulked through the whole meal, even though his all time favorite dish was served: pistachio pudding. He absentmindedly played with his pudding while watching Hermione gush to Ginny over her splendid time with Lukas at Hogsmead. Though with Ron popping into the conversation with nasty remarks like "I bet Brandon looked like a chicken with a head like a … chicken!" and "Hopefully he gets Gallyhurkers from it," Harry thought it was a pretty interesting.
But the most interesting part of the day, the event that overshadowed even transparent students, were the rumors circulating that Harry Potter had finally bested Emlyn Riley. Rumors that Harry knew were exactly true, though probably slightly exaggerated. But he didn't care; as long as he got to see Emlyn's blue eyes darken with frustration. Revenge really was sweet, Harry thought to himself, then laughed loudly when he heard Ron tell Hermione savagely that "Brandon probably doesn't even know how to walk properly!"
Just then a storm of whispering erupted and Harry looked over to see Emlyn stalk into the Great Hall.
She was furious with Harry. Not only did he curse her, she didn't know how to remove it, and she was supposed to be the one talented in the Dark Arts. But she had been up all night, trying to think of a way to remove it after he cursed her at her Quidditch practice the night before, and now she was exhausted and pissed off at him.
Emlyn knew the whole room was staring at her; it wasn't hard to miss a Slytherin wearing Harry Potter's Gryffindor Quidditch robes. It was creative payback, she admitted it. And the special touch he added was just enough to make her want to wring his neck. After all, Professor Morticai's favorite phrase was "Its creativity wins the battle, not strength." Potter probably had it drilled into him, just like she, Lukas, and Tynan did.
She sat in her usual spot next to Draco, who was at the moment giving her a disgusted look.
"I thought I told you to take those off yesterday, Riley," Draco glowered at her.
"Oh, yes, I completely forgot," Emlyn said sarcastically, "Why don't you lend me your robes for dinner?"
Draco gave her a weird look, but agreed, taking off his tailored school robes to hand to her. She smiled a thanks while he adjusted his tie, then put the robe on and watched as the jet black robe turned Gryffindor red and gold, with Potter's name and number appearing on the back. The whole Great Hall erupted with laughter; Emlyn had forgotten she was being watched.
Draco gaped, "What the hell did you do!"
"I told you yesterday at practice that HE CURSED ME," Emlyn whispered furiously to him.
"Well …un-curse yourself!" he said giving her another disgusted look. Emlyn briefly wondered what Potter did to make Draco hate him so much.
"Smooth, Malfoy, how would you suggest I do that?"
"I don't care; just get out of my sight. Ugh, I think I'm going to be sick," Draco mocked her. The Slytherin table laughed, along with the rest of the Great Hall.
Emlyn smiled sweetly at Draco, "My, that's nice of you," then she punched him hard in the arm. He fell backwards into Pansy, who fell into a bowl of mashed potatoes. The Hall went silent as nervous students averted their gaze.
"Learn to take a punch, you wanker," she turned and walked down the tables towards the door, swiftly removing Draco-turned-Potter's robes.
"I told you he was trouble," she heard Lukas tell her, and she turned to glare at him before blocking him out.
As she passed the Gryffindor table she turned, heading towards Harry. He was watching her walk, his green eyes met hers, and she almost smiled.
Stopping in front of him, she flung the robes at him. He caught them easily, smiling at her.
"Payback's a—"
"Piss it, Potter," Emlyn whispered to him, leaning down so she was facing him. "How did you do it?" She didn't care there were other students watching them, they both felt like the only people in the room.
"I rather like seeing you as my cheerleader, Riley, it makes up for the shit you put me through, and now I have something to replace the robes you ruined yesterday," Harry whispered back. "By the way, how does it feel being the center of attention, the person everyone notices?"
"Your stupid curse ruined all my clothes," she almost shouted at him. She could feel her eyes darken. "And I look terrible in red…" she glared at him.
"I only improved your clothes, you shouldn't be in Slytherin," he said back. "And anyways, I think red is more your color than puke green."
"What do you know? You think one little superiority over me makes you special when you still have a whole hell of a lot of catching up to do," she was furious, and she was drawing at any power she could, though she knew he was the one giving it to her, and he could feel that she was angry.
"I thought you were the one who said I was 'very advanced,'" Harry smirked at her.
"'Very advanced' is completely different than 'Ready to Fight,' which is what you are heading towards if you don't take off this curse," she kept her voice low, but the anger she felt radiated off her. Harry was still unfazed.
"I already fought you, Riley, twice, if you don't remember," Harry whispered back, "But I'll be ready soon, and I think you're looking forward to it as much as I am."
"If you hadn't noticed, I can't stand you. Take the curse off, or I will show you why the Aspect Ancient is the most feared," she threatened.
"Ooh, I'm scared, Emlyn," Harry whispered back, the smile dropping off his face, "But how are you going to hurt me when I'm the one giving you the Power?" To emphasize his point, he gathered an extreme amount of Power and offered it to her. He saw her eyes darken further, but this time she was impressed and he could tell.
Their eyes locked, and they were silent for what seemed to be an eternity.
Harry was thinking about how sorry he was that she was laughed at, a Slytherin wearing a Gryffindor's clothes, even if it was a settling of scores. In fact, he didn't know that he had that type of revenge in him, he did know that Emlyn made him crazy in a way he never thought possible. But he was not sorry about how he threatened her back, he felt ready to take her on again, even if he knew that he would have only a little more experience to go on. He wanted to see her eyes darken again because of him…
Emlyn was thinking about Tynan, and how if her sister was here, the whole room would be alive for her. Tynan would have given her the Power to cut Harry down, but now her enemy was truly her rescuer and her only means of survival. Now Harry was the one making the room alive for her, and he was the person she wanted to hurt the most. She was thinking about how Harry knew something she didn't, and how proud she was of him in spite of everything. She was also thinking about how much she liked the color red, especially when it involved Harry and some Slicing Spells.
She didn't say anything as she walked away, but he felt what she was feeling. Intense pain and hatred. Harry was sure he was the cause of it, but still hoped that he was wrong.
0000
Draco shoved his hand through his hair and glanced at the dungeon door again. Ginny was late to class, and he was pissed because he wanted to talk to her. Actually, he needed to just be near her. Draco knew what Gruchis did to him at his last practice on Friday night, but though he had tried to resist it, he had not felt right ever since. Every object he looked at was a weapon; every person he looked at was either a target or an obstacle towards his ultimate goal. It had been drilled into him: Assassin of Harry Potter.
It was a modification of the Ancient Chinese water torture that was used. Draco sat until the small hours of the morning, the mantra dripping into his head.
Assassin…
Assassin…
Assassin…
After he got back to Hogwarts, it had taken him hours just to remember his own name. And even now, Draco had the thought constantly running through his head and it wouldn't stop.
But he knew something that Gruchis and Voldemort didn't. He had a secret weapon against their plotting. Of course he wanted to keep his new glory in his position with Voldemort. Never in a million years would he give up this chance, it made his father feel proud, it made him feel wanted. But Gruchis and Voldemort were out to make him feel nothing but suffering and hatred. They were using him, and he knew it. But Draco had a secret, and his secret was Ginny.
She was his feelings, and as long as she was around, he was grounded enough to stay normal. Well, normal enough for an assassin, he thought, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.
Draco was not stupid. He knew what their plans were, and what they wanted of him. He made sure that he surpassed their expectations. But he didn't want to become a slave; he wanted to be the master. He wanted the power of Voldemort, and he would get it.
In the beginning of his training, Voldemort made sure that Draco was kept separate from his friends in Slytherin. Except for Quidditch, Draco wasn't allowed to do much of anything that was social, because it interfered with his mindset. Not that he had any great friends in Slytherin, but who would suspect that the Slytherin Prince would have a true friend outside of Slytherin. He needed a friend, he needed Ginny, and just to be around her was enough to keep him grounded.
He didn't know why she got so mad at practice because he didn't say anything out of the ordinary. In fact, he wasn't even sure if she was still mad at him. He cursed himself for not thinking about bringing her favorite pumpkin pasties again, as it seemed to work last time. But just as Snape was about to shut the door, Ginny slipped in. Draco released a sigh of relief as she slid down into the chair next to him.
"You're late," Draco whispered to her since Snape had started the lesson. He watched her, taking her in, reveling in the feeling that all of his Assassin thoughts were being released and replaced by her.
"You're an ass," Ginny whispered back, which didn't confirm or deny his belief that she was mad, since she frequently used it in reference to him. Snape, who had closed the window shutters for the beginning of lecture, shot them a withering look, so they stopped their whispering. But Draco wasn't satisfied; he got out a spare piece of parchment to write on.
You're angry with me, he wrote, then shoved the paper over towards her. Ginny looked at it, then ignored it for the longest time. Draco thought she wasn't going to answer, but she finally shoved the paper back towards him.
I thought you were supposed to be smart, she answered. Even in words he was arrogant, actually telling her that she was angry with him. It made her want to smile, but she was still annoyed about the way he was treating her.
He was changing slowly, and she could see it. He was darker, he said more vicious things, and at times he looked more intense than she had ever seen him. But one thing that had stayed constant was the way he treated her. They were friends, no matter the typical definition. She loved to be around him, she loved when he teased her. She loved teasing him back and making him angry. She loved watching him, she loved it when she knew he was watching her. But she was angry at herself for believing him when he flirted intensely with her.
Obviously not that smart, or I would know why, he wrote back.
Figure it out on your own, I've put up with you long enough, her elegant script read.
Draco frowned. He didn't actually know why Ginny put up with him. He only knew that he was himself around her. It wasn't an act or a chore to be around her, he was just… Draco.
You like me. That's why you put up with me, he penned.
Only on the days when you aren't talking, she answered.
He laughed silently. I'm not talking now… it must be love, he teased.
Why do you say those things? You don't mean them, she wrote quickly, then turned to write something in her notebook that Snape had magically scripted on the board.
Who says I don't mean them? he answered.
Ginny sighed with agitation. He was charming, and it was tearing her apart. She couldn't have him say things like that to her, because one day she just might believe him and do something stupid.
Draco had no idea why he said those things to her about her beauty. But for the first time, he wondered if he actually meant them. Of course he said probably the same stuff to Pansy when he wanted something but Draco wouldn't lie to Ginny. He wasn't lying when he said she was beautiful, but he was glad he could play it off as a joke. Despite being a Weasley, Draco was not blind enough to not notice beauty when Ginny walked by, even if he would never act on it. He was a Malfoy after all.
But her golden red hair always waved and bounced around her shoulders when she walked, her long dark eyelashes that framed her deep blue eyes, and her long legs…
Draco shook his head, and noticed she had shoved the paper back towards him.
You are still treating me like one of your little sluts. How about treating me like the friend I am to you? She wrote back.
So you want to be friends now? He asked, smiling as he wrote it.
Piss it and just stop being such a jerk to me! She wrote furiously.
What are you angry for?
I'm you're friend, you treat me like one of your salads, and I'm tired of it.
Why the hell do you care now? I've teased you like that for ages, what is with it now? He wrote, but as soon as the paper left his hands, he knew.
He knew he wasn't lying when he told her she was beautiful, and that he liked her bum, and he wanted to make her sweat. He was completely serious. He suddenly realized that he had been telling her the truth, and she had seen right through him. She knew he meant them, and it was making her uncomfortable. She didn't like him and she didn't like him talking like that to her. He briefly wondered what made him so revolting to her, completely forgetting that it might be because she was dating Harry, and his anger and humiliation started rising. He was rejected by a Weasley, and surprisingly it hurt.
Looking down, he saw that the paper was covered with their scribblings and that Ginny had gotten out a new sheet.
I just think you should treat me better, she wrote, and shoved the paper towards Draco. But her movement caught Snape's eye, and he pounced on the paper before Draco even saw it.
"What is this? A note in the middle of Advanced Potions?" he sneered, unfolding the paper, quickly reading what Ginny had wrote.
She was blushing to the roots of her hair, and she snuck a peek at Draco, who looked cool as ice and extremely furious.
"'I just think you should treat me better,'" Snape read in a high girly voice, mocking her. "Since when should a Weasley be treated better?" he looked down his crooked nose at her. Ginny blushed harder, but she did not look away. "Draco, what is the meaning of this?"
"I don't know, Weasley has been bothering me all class," Draco said blandly, not looking at Ginny. His anger at her, and himself, was paramount, and he didn't care that she looked at him with complete shock.
"You started it!" Ginny accused, but Draco still wouldn't look at her.
"Miss Weasley, I don't care!" Snape bellowed. "Passing notes in my class and disrupting my best student are grounds for detention and removal of your Prefect Badge, and removal from this class. I will be talking to the Headmaster about this, and you WILL BE PUNISHED!" Snape finished with gusto. "Now, get out of my class," he commanded in a low voice.
Ginny looked shocked and felt betrayed by Draco. But as she gathered her bag, she felt the overwhelming need to say some last furious words to Draco. Looking around, she quickly calculated how many people were in the room, the angles and the line of their vision. It was dangerous for her to do her magic when she had been out of practice so long, but her anger with Draco drove her on.
She quickly drew in her Power, and projected the image of her packing her bag into everyone's mind. She moved sideways, testing her ability, and when Snape's eyes did not move from a spot on the floor, she knew it had been successful. Draco still wasn't looking at her, but she projected the image to him also, so that if he looked over, he would see her packing her bag also. Standing on her tiptoes she whispered in Draco's ear. He didn't move, but she felt him shiver.
"You were right, I put up with you because I liked you. But forget that now, bastard, friends don't betray friends, and I don't know what's happened to you, but you're not my friend anymore and you haven't been for some time. So don't talk to me, don't look at me, and don't even consider trying to get me more Pumpkin Pasties. I know you too well, and I've finally figured out that you piss me off to much for me to put up with you anymore," she whispered, her heart dropping with every word. He deserved it, and she couldn't be around him anymore with her feelings towards him growing with every deviating smile he set on her. It was better for both of them, but it still hurt.
She leaned down to get her bag, and released the vision. Snape was sneering at the real her, and she saw a line in Draco's jaw twitch, but he still wasn't looking at her. So she slung her bag over her shoulder and walked towards the door.
"How is that for better treatment, Weasley?" Snape sneered. Ginny turned around, and this time Draco turned to look at her. But she didn't return his gaze, but glowered at Snape and slammed the dungeon door behind her.
So... what did you think, eh? I hoped you liked it, it was so long! Another chapter will be up quick too, so stick around and tell me what you think!
Thank you to my reviewers! intricate simplicity (again you are always one step ahead of me! your reviews make my day ;) as for your last question, the relationships are going to progress, naturally, and stuff happens. But the M rating was sort of for language and fighting, and I changed it anyways because I'm dumb and wanted to be safe for starters. But as for the relationship stuff, you'll know what happens between everyone without reading about it cause I'm not into writing it (it makes me blush lol, so imaginations will have to be used) i hope that's the right answer for you!) neveralone89 (I hope you liked this one too!) kwyn jae (i hope your lawn didnt suffer much, but I'm so glad you liked it! Morticai learned to teach from the last Aspect teacher, her mother. She can't control the Power, just teach you how to feel around for it, like the power of suggestion. She's not an Aspect, she doesn't have the capacity like Harry, Emlyn, Lukas, Tynan (and Ginny!) do.) katie (oh, I cant wait for you to read my favorite chapter! It's coming up!) Norwegian ridgeback (thanks for the huge compliment! you made my day!) and, last but not least, elvenfairie (thanks! stick around it gets better!)
And to my readers, I heart you all!
Keep reading and reviewing, and check back soon, the updates are going to be quick! -xxx