Love's Talent
Chapter 8: Contestant Consternation
LunarianPrincess
A talent contest and performing class brings new alliances and blooming romance, but is a sinister force trying to prevent it from being successful?
Pairings: GW/DM; KS/DS; some HP/LL and HG/RW
Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter Universe/Characters, I do own Darien Solaro and Kassara Saravati. This is in Ginny's sixth year and some of the characters might seem OOC, but bear with me. Feedback is appreciated, but please try to keep criticism constructive, Thanx in advance
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Last Chapter-------
"Thank you, I don't know if you can hear me or if you're even still there, but thank you it means a lot to me, Malfoy," she whispered. Turning she said the password and slipped behind the portrait.
Now---------------
Malfoy heard her whispered words and whirled away, walking towards the Slytherin dungeons. He had only taught her so he could humiliate her, right? It wasn't because of the hopeful look in her eyes, or the way she looked at him with respect when he taught her the dance. He stalked through the night, angry at himself for not being in control of the situation. When he had taught her the steps he had been close enough to notice her unique smell again. He said the password and slammed through his dorm, he flung his cloak on the bed.
"So, how did it go?" Dare asked, surprisingly composed for having seen his best friend materialize in a ferocious temper.
"What is that stupid spitfire's game," Draco ground out, beginning to pace around the room. He stalked to the window and stood staring out at the starry sky in silence.
"She blow you off?" his friend asked smugly.
"No," Draco ground turning to glare at his friend reclining on his bed. "She looks at me like I'm the freaking greatest person simply because I'm teaching her how to dance, even though she knows I'm only doing it to get at Precious Potter and her brothers, what is her deal," he ranted.
"Well, I have two theories," Dare expounded. "First, you are the first person to pay any real attention to her, I mean she does have six brothers, and she likes the attention, or she has a thing for you and doesn't know it yet, or any combination of the two," he said, laughing at his friends murderous expression.
"Why ME?" Draco exploded. Dare just sat and laughed at his friend's predicament. Draco glared at him before getting into his pajamas. He slid between the covers and extinguished the lights, just then the door swung open to reveal two very angry forms.
"What the hell are you doing?" a petite figure demanded. Draco sat up in bed, surprised by the vehemence in the voice. He waved the lights on and found two girls in the doorway. The one who had just yelled at him had her hands on her hips, her midnight blue eyes sparking silver. Next to her was a tall brunette, looking around speculatively.
"I don't see a blood thirsty monster so what's the deal Malfoy, we were trying to get our work done," the brunette, Shiara, explained. Claiming a seat on the chair by the desk she looked expectantly at him.
"Nothing, I just had a run in with someone," he told them dismissively, lying back on his pillows.
"A someone, who happens to be a Weasley," Dare told Emi, who sat on the couch primly.
"Well, well, has our Dragon been tamed by the Vixen," Emi asked sarcastically.
"Keep dreaming, Emilia, no I just can't figure her out, thanks a lot you traitor," he sniped at Dare. Dare just grinned back at him.
"Malfoy no one can figure that girl out, don't think you're any different. Every body thinks she belongs in their house, Hufflepuff thinks she's the nicest girl who is sweet and helpful, Ravenclaw knows she's one of the smartest witches at the school, Gryffindor thinks she's brave for going after Voldemort two years ago and Slytherin think she is cunning and clever, so there you have it, no one can figure her out," Sheece said seriously.
"Don't give yourself a headache Draco, she's a smart girl, if you have feelings for her why not just tell her," with this amazingly simple bit of insight they swept out of the room.
Draco laid back down, thinking about their advice, simply because he was fascinated by Ginny did not mean he was attracted to her. He put out the lights and ignored Darien's snickers. He closed his eyes and thought about Ginny, her expressive hazel eyes, her rosy cheeks and plump lips and amazing figure. Okay so he was attracted to her but it was just physical. With that false reassurance he fell into a restless sleep.
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Ginny slipped into her room, grateful that the few people in the common room had not noticed her come in late and that her brother and his friends were also notably absent. She sighed and closed the door, Kasi greeted her with a squeal.
"So, what did you learn?" she exclaimed.
"Well, he taught me the basic steps and that's about it, he said tomorrow he would teach me the beginning of the dance. Remember the movie Moulin Rouge that you showed me, well he says it's the tango like that." She said, slipping her clothes off and pulling her night shirt on. She remembered something and tilted her head as she thought about it. "He was teasing me about turning me in and letting Filch know I was out after hours but then he was really nice and walked me up here using his invisibility cloak, he is so confusing, I don't know what his deal is," Ginny said, becoming frustrated by her evaluation of Malfoy's motives. "What is he trying to do, does he want me to owe him a favor, or did he do it to be nice,"
"Maybe he just did it so he can have everyone see you with him at the dance, that would be like him wouldn't it," Kasi suggested.
"Yes, but why would he want me to DANCE with him, I mean there are so many worse things he could have done, I mean what is it!" she shouted.
She sat on her bed and crossed her arms, a scowl covering her features as she thought about what Malfoy's motives were. The door swung open to reveal two girls in Gryffindor robes. Ginny had seen them a few minutes ago when she had left the common room. One was in her year, she recognized the auburn hair and teal eyes, not to mention the freckles that gilded her skin. The other was an unknown girl with dark brown hair and green eyes with gold flecks in them.
"Hi Ginny, we were just heading to our room when we heard you yelling, what's wrong?" Honey asked, leaning against the door jamb. When Ginny and Kasi's eyes swept over her companion, she spoke up "This is Ari, Ariana, she's a friend of mine, a fifth year." She swept her arm toward the brunette, who smiled timidly.
"Nothing, I just hate when you can't figure out a guy's motives, I mean what are they so confusing for?" she lamented. Honey stepped all the way inside and swung the door closed, she sat on the edge of the desk by the door and regarded Ginny seriously.
"Any particular guy, I mean I've never seen you get so worked up over a guy, not even when you had a crush on Potter," she said impassively.
"Well, I made a deal with Malfoy," she said in a small voice.
"You mean Draco Malfoy, the one Harry Potter and your brothers' hate, that Malfoy," the brunette remarked in awe. Ginny smiled sardonically at the girl.
"Apparently, why does everyone care so much what Harry and my brothers think, I mean I'm never going to get out of their shadow," she said regretfully.
"What kind of deal," Honey asked curiously.
"Well, I like this band and Draco said he knew the Singer's middle name, so I agreed to dance with him at the Halloween Dance, but I can't figure out why he wants to dance with me," she explained, playing with a curl that fell across her collarbone.
"Well, there are two possibilities, one, Draco actually likes you," when Ginny laughed at this she continued, "Or he thinks Harry will be jealous if he dances with you at the Halloween Dance,"
"Why would Harry be jealous if I danced with Malfoy at the Halloween Dance?" she asked, bewildered by this idea.
"Well, it is common knowledge that you used to have a crush on Harry Potter," Ari piped up. "Maybe if everyone thinks you like Draco now Harry will want to protect you from Malfoy, who is his worst enemy, aside from, well you know," Ari said quietly, avoiding Ginny's eyes.
"She's right Ginny, I mean Harry might have Luna now but he would think you needed protection, not to mention your brothers and it would be all over school that you liked Draco and your brother and Harry would cause problems, I mean they could get in major trouble," Kasi said calmly.
"I guess, I don't think it would be that big of a deal, but you're right my brother and Harry would blow it out of proportion," Ginny nodded absently. She was already thinking of what she was going to do. Ari and Honey waved at Kasi and exited the room, closing the door softly. Ginny thought about the things the girls had told her, she couldn't help thinking it but she didn't think that Malfoy was all evil. She had noticed a noble side while he had taught her to dance. He had been patient and relatively polite, she figured that Malfoy felt the same way she did about Harry, jealous that their own parents cared more about Harry than they did about them. She fell asleep thinking about how her life had turned upside-down, I mean she was relating to a Malfoy!
Okay that's the end of another chap, I just want you guys to know I love you, I've never had so many reviews before!
Okay responses to reviews:
Dracosbaby7- I'm so glad you liked the song, I dint know how it was going to work so I'm glad you liked it! I don't know how to tango so I'm glad I'm describing it right, imagine how much of an idiot I would be if I said tango and taught her to waltz!
musicgirl141- thank you for your support! Hope you liked this chapter.
Hoppers- thanks I will try to post regularly, since I know how it is waiting in agony for someone to post.
Sunny Joe Bob- it isn't too late, I'll try to fit you in.
Cinder2004- I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for such a great review!