Chapter 3 In Which Our Pair Finds Common Ground
Valentine's Day Friday dawned with snow on the ground, clouds in the sky, and a definite chill in the air. What a letdown! thought Ginny. No romance anywhere, and why do I even bother? She got dressed slowly, dreading all the red and pink decorations in the Great Hall and the couples with their faces plastered to one another.
Besides, she had another Potions essay due Monday, which made today that much less fun. She trudged down to breakfast, trying not to look like she felt, grumpy and annoyed. Sure enough, even walking through the Gryffindor Common Room irked her, for there were Ron and Luna, holding hands with their heads together, whispering. She slipped out the portrait hole without comment, clenching her fist and banging the door shut.
Draco Malfoy peered around the corner at Ginny coming down from Gryffindor Tower. One look at her face told him it wasn't a good time to approach her. He waited until she went into the Great Hall to come out from his hiding place, and strode in after her, wondering if she might be feeling friendlier after eating.
Ginny sat down at the Gryffindor table, looking at all the hearts and cupids floating around the enchanted ceiling. The plates and even some of the foods were heart-shaped. Ginny sniffed, picked up a fork and stared at her breakfast.
"Ginny! Why didn't you wait for us? I thought we were all going to come down together today," said Luna dreamily as she and Ron sat down at the table next to her.
"Oh, Luna, I was really hungry, and I have another Potions essay to work on, if I can get some time before my first class." Ginny tried to sound disappointed, but really, the essay was looking better at this point than sitting with her brother and his kooky girlfriend.
"Poor Gin, studying on Valentine's Day. I'm sorry, sis. Slughorn's a git! No one else gave out homework. They all knew the dance was tonight," said Ron, stuffing his mouth with heart-shaped pancakes and syrup.
"Never mind, Ron, I'm not worried, and I can handle Slughorn. Besides, I wasn't going to the dance anyway. I don't have a date and a late night is always too hard to deal with the next morning," Ginny responded.
"But Ginny, even if you don't have a date, the dance will still be fun. There'll be lots of chances for you to dance, and the food is always good," said Ron, talking through another bite.
"And you know Harry and Ron and Neville and all the boys will be happy to dance with you, no matter what," said Luna, not realizing she just made Ginny sound like a wallflower and a loser.
Ginny groaned to herself. "Really, I'm not going to the dance and I'm not crying about it. But thanks for your concern." She was beginning to be irritated with her friends.
"Can't really be sad, I don't think anyone's good enough for my sister anyhow," said Ron as he pulled her into an enormous hug. Ginny felt loved and throttled at the same time.
"Thanks Ron," she said sarcastically. "I'm done eating, so I'm going to the library to get started on this." Ginny stood up and walked quickly out of the hall. She didn't notice the pair of eyes following her, or the man attached to them rising and leaving soon thereafter.
Draco chased her up to the library, carefully trying not to be seen. He had it in mind to help her with her Potions essay, which had been assigned to all the Advanced students. His was done, Professor Slughorn being kind enough to give Draco a heads-up, and he thought maybe if it looked as if he was helping her, he might be able to take it further.
He walked in to find her curled up in her favorite armchair, staring out the window again.
"Weaselette, I thought I heard you say you had an essay to work on," he said as he approached her.
"What's it to you, Malfoy? I'll get it done," she said sadly. She didn't bother to turn around and look at him.
"Ginny, I'm hurt. I come over to offer my assistance, and my most honorable intentions are dismissed with an insult." Draco put a hand over his heart and a knuckle in his eye.
Ginny couldn't help it - she giggled. "Draco, you are too funny for words. Honorable, as if! What do you really want?" Ginny looked at him, making him squirm just a bit.
"If you must know, Red, I wanted to know who's taking you to the dance tonight, so I can insult him and make my day a little brighter," was his not-so subtle response. She growled. I really hate Valentine's Day.
"I'm not going. Not that it's any of your business, but no one's asked me and it's stupid anyway. Find someone else to make fun of, I'm not having it." Ginny lost her smile and Draco was surprised.
"Not going? No one asked you? What, are all Gryffindor boys idiots like your brother?"
"Why? What's it to you?" she asked again.
"I'm just wondering where all the Gryffindor bravery is when it comes to asking you out." He smirked mischievously.
"Let's just say Gryffindor bravery has nothing on the Weasley temper. My idiot brother is happy to scare them away if he can, and in the end there's nothing less romantic than having my date looking over his shoulder all night long."
"Oh, you're on about romance again, are you? Well, I'm not going, either, too much sentiment is bad for one's reputation," Draco laughed uneasily at his own comment.
Ginny frowned. "Valentine's Day is supposed to be romantic, but I can't seem to get into it this year like the rest of them. You're the only other person I've seen all morning who isn't moon-eyed and ridiculous."
Draco bowed low. "I thank you for your keen observation of my notable self-control."
Ginny giggled again. "Don't let it go to your head, Ferret, I'm just as capable of making fun of you as I am all the other idiots."
"Then let's go to the dance together, and we'll spend the evening poking fun at all the knuckleheads who think they're being romantic." He smiled at her this time, a genuine smile that both surprised her and pleased her. She simply couldn't resist.
"Oh, alright, but only if I can get this essay done." Shesmirked in imitation of him. "Are you wearing red or pink tonight," she said playfully.
"Perish the thought," he frowned before grinning. "Slytherin green for both of us, if you please, and no red for you, we'd look like a badly wrapped Christmas present!" She giggled at the statement. "I'll bring a proper corsage, but not another word about going together. We'll make a grand entrance and shock them all. Now, can I help you with your essay?"
Ginny smiled as Draco sat next to her, showing him her paper. They worked quietly for an hour before first classes, and promised to meet up after last class to finish.