Chapter 3
Eye candy, Ginny thought, despising the phrase, but knowing that in Draco's case it was apt. Candy for the eyes. Not necessarily gorgeous, but easy on the eyes. Yummy, delicious, and very, very bad for you. That summed up Draco Malfoy to a tee! He wasn't handsome, and he definitely wasn't cute. But he was stunningly, simmeringly, sumptuously attractive. Dead sexy. He looked dangerous, too. When he'd faced down Marcus Flint in Knockturn Alley, he'd looked dangerous. Even when he was just walking around the castle in his normal, irritable, irritating manner, he looked much like her friend Su had said. A snake, coiled and ready to strike. Ginny watched him, looking him up and down as he stood there, leaning negligently against the corner of the book shelf and holding Labelle to his chest. She felt even more messy than usual.
Draco was dressed casually enough. He was wearing a Slytherin pullover jumper with a gray tee shirt showing at the 'V' neck, neat blue jeans and scuffed tennis shoes. Over this he wore a casual robe, unbuttoned and showing his slim, athletic form off to perfection. Everything the best quality, everything except the shoes neat and clean. And Ginny had been right when she'd thought he'd filled out. Despite the slender build, his shoulders and chest were definitely broader and more muscular than they'd been in previous years. He wasn't a skinny little ferret anymore. Ginny swallowed and met his eyes.
"When I saw your Kneazle I thought I'd find you studying, Weasley," he said with a sneer. "Didn't realize they'd hired you to do the cleaning."
He smirked as his eyes traveled from her messy hair, over her face to her dusty robes, to her worn tennis shoes and back. Ginny didn't have a chance to put her guard up. He'd already smashed her defenses with that one cruel sentence. When she retaliated, she spoke from anger and hurt.
"Well, I thought I'd have the room to myself. It was rather pleasant, too, but suddenly there's a bad smell in here. Guess I'll have to leave, or at least open a window to let the stench of the basements out!"
Oh, God, she thought! She'd never actually insulted him before; she'd just stopped him before he could insult her! It wasn't even that good an insult, but he was sure to want her blood now! She was very surprised, then, when he lifted one eyebrow and grinned. It was a nasty, mean grin.
"So, the little weasel has claws, does she? That's good to know," he said, his voice as nasty as his grin. "I guess I'll have to watch what I say or I'll feel them ripping into me? Is that it, little weasel?"
Labelle, who had been lying comfortably in Draco's arm, stretched up his chest and swatted him on the face. Her claws were retracted, but it was enough to catch his attention. He looked down at her and his mean grin turned into a soft smile.
"Ah, yes, and little Labelle is telling me to watch myself, too, isn't she?" he murmured, scratching the kitten's head.
Once again, Ginny had to wonder what the kitten saw in people to make her like them. But in this case, she had to wonder at herself, too. Draco had just insulted her but she was still here, staring at him and acting like an infatuated idiot. Do SOMETHING, she told herself angrily. Don't just STAND here! Finally turning away from him, she began to stuff her things back into her bag. Draco pushed himself away from the shelves and sauntered over to her.
"So what ARE you doing here, Weasley? I'd think that even you would have better things to do on a Saturday morning than hide in the library."
Ginny glared at him. He was setting Labelle down and lifting her books, examining them carefully. Ginny bristled and snatched 'Knowing your Kneazle' from his hand. He laughed at her.
"Doesn't seem to be helping, from what I hear, little weasel. Your Kneazle seems to be running tame through all the classes."
"What do you care?" Ginny snapped, shoving the book into the bag and barely missing Labelle's head. The kitten was trying to jump into the bag and Ginny turned her irritation on her. "Labelle, will you st--." Ginny stopped suddenly, looking around.
Sure enough, she could hear the rapid patter of Madam Pince's feet against the floor tiles as the librarian approached. Ginny looked up at Draco and then down at the Kneazle, who was still trying to hide. Draco scooped the kitten up and moved forward until he was only inches from Ginny. He dropped the kitten into her arms and pulled his handkerchief from his pocket.
"Miss Weasley!" the librarian's strident voice demanded. "What is going on here?"
Ginny didn't blame her for her shocked reaction. From where she was standing it must look like Ginny and Draco were about to kiss! Draco jumped in before Ginny could stammer an answer.
"Weasley has ink smudged on her face, and I'm just helping her clean it away since she doesn't have a mirror," he said smoothly, as though it was something that happened every day.
Ginny looked helplessly toward the librarian, who raised her eyebrows and then nodded.
"So I see," she snapped, still eying them both suspiciously. "Very well, get on with it and then go about your business. This is a library, not a..."
Her voice faded as she marched away. Ginny looked gratefully up at Draco. He'd protected Labelle from discovery, shielding her from Madam Pince with his own body. Draco, however, was frowning at her again. "God, Weasley, how did you manage to get so much ink on your face, anyway?" he demanded as he lifted the material to her cheek and rubbed none too gently.
"What?" Ginny had thought he'd been bluffing, but when he pulled the cloth away, it was smudged with ink.
"Its all over! You better go round to the loo and wash it off." He stepped back and shook his head. "You're hopeless, Weasley. I hope you take better care of Labelle than you do yourself."
He grabbed her hand, looking at it with disgust. "You know, little weasel," he remarked with a sneer as Ginny tried to tug her hand back. "If you had decent quill you wouldn't spill so much ink!"
Releasing her hand, he added, "But then, you can't afford it, can you?"
Turning away, he sauntered off. Ginny felt her cheeks flush. She wanted to scratch his eyes out, but reached out to scratch Labelle's head instead. The kitten burrowed under Ginny's chin and purred comfortingly.
"Oh, Labelle, we're just a couple of blind idiots," she said unhappily, blinking back a tear. "There's nothing nice or chivalrous about him. He must have been having a bad day when he helped us."
Labelle gave a distressed mewl and snuggled even closer to Ginny. Feeling a bit battered, Ginny sighed and set the kitten on the desk again. She repacked her bag and deposited the kitten inside, then hefted the bag again and left the library. She didn't see Draco on the way out, but was relieved rather than disappointed.
The loo along the corridor was empty, so Ginny set her bag on the ground and moved cautiously to the row of mirrors to see how bad the damage was. Her eyes widened even as her spirits sank to her toes. Draco had been right. She had ink all over her face! She remembered swiping the hair from her face and scratching an itch on her nose. She must have brushed her cheeks and rubbed her chin as well, as she had smudges of ink on those, too. It wasn't that dark, but it was obvious on her pale skin. It was no wonder he'd made that crack about her cleaning the library. God, it was a wonder that he hadn't just burst out laughing at her the second he saw her! The light dust on her robes was nothing compared to the filth on her face.
Feeling the tears sting her eyes, she pumped some soap into her hands and turned the water on. Working up a lather, Ginny washed her hands thoroughly, cleaning all of the ink off. She got more soap and scrubbed her face. The ink came off easily enough, but Ginny couldn't wash away the humiliation she felt. How Draco must have been laughing at her. It wasn't just the incident with the ink, but the other things he'd said. She usually had her guard up when she saw him, but she hadn't stood a chance this morning. And instead of being able to deflect his sarcasm and insults, he'd just walked all over her. He'd called her hopeless, implied that she couldn't take care of her kitten, and had rubbed her nose in her family's money situation. There was no way he would ever be interested in her romantically, and at this moment Ginny wondered whether she wasn't actually glad. What on earth did she think she saw in him? His actions proved that he really was just cruel and arrogant.
Drying her face with scratchy paper towels, Ginny sighed.
"Mrow?"
Labelle was rubbing against Ginny's ankles and looking up, worried. Ginny instantly brightened and scooped the kitten up into her arms.
"It's all right, love. We just made a mistake, that's all."
She nuzzled the Kneazle, lifted her bag and headed back to Gryffindor.
When Ginny entered the Common Room, Su and Daisy were saving her a seat on the couch by the fireplace. They motioned her over, so she set Labelle down and headed toward her friends. She was a bit depressed and they noticed. As she slumped into the couch next to Su, Daisy asked, "What's up, Gin? You look like someone cancelled Hogsmeade next week!"
Ginny glanced at her friends and wondered what to say. Colin, who'd been talking Quidditch with Ron and Harry, walked over and slid in on her other side, putting a comforting arm around her.
"Tell us," he said simply.
"Oh, it's really nothing," Ginny sighed. It wasn't really. Just Draco Malfoy showing his true colours, albeit several months later than usual. That was all. "I was in the library and I had a run-in with Draco." After a slight pause she added, "Malfoy."
"Is that all?" Su turned back to the fashion magazine open on her lap. "Lord, Gin, you've been at each other's throats all year. That's nothing to get upset at."
"At who's throat?" Hermione Granger looked up from the thick text she'd had her nose buried in. Ginny hadn't even noticed her sitting in a large, wingback chair a few feet away.
"No one," Ginny muttered. She might have told Su, Daisy and Colin, but not Hermione. Her friends might or might not sympathize, but Hermione had a bad habit of getting preachy. Ginny was NOT in the mood for a sermon on how she should have avoided Draco in the first place.
"Who, Ginny? Have you really been having problems with Malfoy this year?" For a change, Hermione looked totally perplexed.
"Nothing I can't take care of," Ginny said quickly.
"Too right," Colin agreed. "Our Gin's been keeping that prat in his place for months now. He must have just caught her by surprise today."
Ginny gave him a look of mixed gratitude and irritation. She did NOT need her brother's girlfriend inciting Ron to go after Draco's blood on her behalf. But, then again....
"That's odd," Hermione said, interrupting Ginny's train of thought. "Malfoy's been unusually mellow this year. I don't think he's said half a dozen words to us the whole school year. I thought he'd finally grown up."
Hermione looked more closely at Ginny, making the younger girl want to squirm. Hermione had a knack for making wild guesses that just happened to be correct. Before she could get the older girl on a different subject, though, Hermione snapped her book closed.
"All right, Ginny. If you're sure it's nothing..." She stood and gave Ginny a final, questioning look.
Ginny breathed a silent sigh of relief. Hermione was letting her off the hook. She wouldn't pursue it. Shaking her head, she watched Hermione take herself off upstairs. She wasn't pleased, though, when Colin leaned over and whispered conspiratorially, "By the skin of our teeth, that!"
Ginny had tried very hard to avoid Draco the following week. She saw him at meals, of course. Occasionally she saw him ahead of her in the hallways. But she no longer tried to meet him, and she did everything she could to prevent him from sneaking up on her from behind. Not that he ever had before, but she was growing paranoid. After the verbal drubbing he'd given her on Saturday, she wanted to keep her distance. And she'd finally convinced herself that she had been temporarily insane when she'd thought she liked him. There really wasn't anything there to like. At least, not for her. She would find herself a nice boy who didn't feel compelled to tear her down to make himself feel good. The trouble was, she wasn't attracted to any 'nice' boys.
Although Su, Colin and Daisy complained about rushing to classes and bolting their food to get out of the Great Hall before everyone else, they seemed relieved that Ginny wasn't carrying her battle to the enemy any more. At least, Su and Daisy seemed relieved. Colin seemed puzzled. By Friday, Ginny felt that Draco (she really SHOULD think of him as Malfoy again) realized that she wouldn't bother him anymore, so hopefully he would leave her alone. The four friends were walking a bit more slowly toward their third hour class when Su and Daisy excused themselves to use the loo. Colin and Ginny continued to class.
"Look, Ginny," Colin began. He stopped, looking uncomfortable.
"What?" Colin had done this all week. He'd begin to ask her something, then just stop. "Spit it out, Colin," she said irritably.
"Well, you never told us what happened in the library. I was just wondering if the snake really did bite. What did Malfoy say that makes you cringe around the corners and look over your shoulder all the time? I mean, I thought you two might just-uh, you know.."
Ginny flushed, but wasn't surprised. Hadn't she always known that if anyone saw through her it would be Colin? Sighing, she stopped and leaned against the wall wearily. She would have scratched at her kitten's head, but they were headed for History of Magic and Labelle had taken herself elsewhere.
"You know, I thought so too, for a while," Ginny finally admitted. "I thought that if I could keep him, you know, off balance, he might become interested. You know? He might actually see ME and not the 'little weasel' he always calls me."
Colin gave her a sympathetic smile and reached out to touch her cheek gently. "Bloody idiot, he is. But things might turn out right, after all. Give it time, yeah?"
Ginny smiled back and squeezed Colin's hand. She knew he wasn't interested in her; he was just a very comforting friend. She was about to release his hand when a cold, hard voice made her jump.
"So, this is what the good little Gryffs get up to when there's no one about, is it?"
Draco's voice sliced through the quiet hallway like a blade. It dripped sarcasm, but it couldn't be colder than the expression on his face. He glared from Colin to Ginny and back as he stalked up to them. Ginny was surprised when Colin grinned at him.
"What's it to you, Malfoy? What do you care what Ginny and I get up to?"
Ginny grimaced as she noted Draco's expression grow, if possible, angrier. It took all her courage not to cower under the look. Draco seemed to be ignoring her, though. He turned his full glare on Colin, and Ginny noticed for the first time that Colin, too, towered over her. He could actually look Draco in the eye!
"Well, Malfoy? You had something to say?"
Draco narrowed his eyes as his fists tightened.
"I should kick your ass for you, Creevey, just on principle," he said, his voice tight.
Colin surprised both Ginny and Draco by laughing. "Oh, you could TRY, Malfoy," he said, amused. Then his own voice hardened. "But don't let my reputation fool you. I might be, what do your type call me? Oh, yes, a queer-boy, a pouf, a nancy-boy? That doesn't mean I can't defend myself."
He turned back to Ginny and touched her cheek again. "Ta, love," he said in an exaggerated falsetto. "Just don't be too late for class."
"Colin! Wait!"
Ginny moved to accompany him, but he put a hand on her shoulder, gently pushing her back.
"Talk to him, Gin. It'll be okay." Colin gave Draco a last look and Ginny could swear that something, some message had passed between the two of them. Colin nodded and walked away and Draco's stiff, menacing stance relaxed. When he finally looked at her, he was merely frowning.
"Odd friends you choose, Weasley," he said. "Two girls who cower when they see me, and should have been in Hufflepuff. And a," he paused, looking toward Colin's retreating form, "a boy who isn't interested in you as anything more than a friend."
Now it was Ginny's turn to frown. She'd known about Colin since their fourth year. It hadn't mattered to her, though. He was the best friend she'd ever had. But she had always pegged Malfoy and his lot as typical macho homophobes. Apparently he hadn't known about Colin and his casual acceptance confused her. He didn't give her a chance to defend her friends, though.
"If he wasn't coming on to you, what was he doing?"
"Like Colin said, what do you care? Looking for some new and exciting way to humiliate me? Didn't have enough on Saturday?" Ginny shoved past him. "I have to get to class."
His hand gripped her arm and she was yanked back, none too gently. Ginny tried to pull away, but she might as well have not bothered. Glaring up at him, she spat, "Let go! I'm tired of being your verbal punching bag, and I'm tired of you manhandling me!"
She punctuated her statement with a swift kick to his shin. He avoided it, but barely.
"Damn it, Weasley, knock it off! I just wanted to ask you a question!"
He finally released her and Ginny angrily adjusted her robes. Her book bag had slipped off of her shoulder and although she'd been able to catch it before it hit the floor, the jolt had knocked some of her supplies out. Irritably she knelt to put everything back. He knelt beside her to help.
"What is it? Just ask and go away," she snapped, snatching her quills from his hand and stuffing them back into the bag. She really hadn't needed her worn, mended quills as a reminder of their 'conversation' last Saturday.
"Are you going into Hogsmeade tomorrow?" he asked finally.
Ginny froze. Could he-was it possible that he was going to ask her to go with him? No way, she thought, but couldn't control the sudden racing of her pulse.
"I-er, yeah. Why?"
Don't get your hopes up, she warned. Just don't!
His eyes met hers and Ginny couldn't pull away from the intensity of his stare. "Just remember what I told you before, Weasley. Stay out of alleys and dark places. Don't wander around alone. There are bad people in Hogsmeade as well as Knockturn Alley. Got it?"
Ginny frowned, confused. "Wha--?"
"Just try to stay out of trouble for once, right? And, for God's sake, stay with your friends!"
Before Ginny could even think of asking for more details, he rose, turned and strode away.
Eye candy, Ginny thought, despising the phrase, but knowing that in Draco's case it was apt. Candy for the eyes. Not necessarily gorgeous, but easy on the eyes. Yummy, delicious, and very, very bad for you. That summed up Draco Malfoy to a tee! He wasn't handsome, and he definitely wasn't cute. But he was stunningly, simmeringly, sumptuously attractive. Dead sexy. He looked dangerous, too. When he'd faced down Marcus Flint in Knockturn Alley, he'd looked dangerous. Even when he was just walking around the castle in his normal, irritable, irritating manner, he looked much like her friend Su had said. A snake, coiled and ready to strike. Ginny watched him, looking him up and down as he stood there, leaning negligently against the corner of the book shelf and holding Labelle to his chest. She felt even more messy than usual.
Draco was dressed casually enough. He was wearing a Slytherin pullover jumper with a gray tee shirt showing at the 'V' neck, neat blue jeans and scuffed tennis shoes. Over this he wore a casual robe, unbuttoned and showing his slim, athletic form off to perfection. Everything the best quality, everything except the shoes neat and clean. And Ginny had been right when she'd thought he'd filled out. Despite the slender build, his shoulders and chest were definitely broader and more muscular than they'd been in previous years. He wasn't a skinny little ferret anymore. Ginny swallowed and met his eyes.
"When I saw your Kneazle I thought I'd find you studying, Weasley," he said with a sneer. "Didn't realize they'd hired you to do the cleaning."
He smirked as his eyes traveled from her messy hair, over her face to her dusty robes, to her worn tennis shoes and back. Ginny didn't have a chance to put her guard up. He'd already smashed her defenses with that one cruel sentence. When she retaliated, she spoke from anger and hurt.
"Well, I thought I'd have the room to myself. It was rather pleasant, too, but suddenly there's a bad smell in here. Guess I'll have to leave, or at least open a window to let the stench of the basements out!"
Oh, God, she thought! She'd never actually insulted him before; she'd just stopped him before he could insult her! It wasn't even that good an insult, but he was sure to want her blood now! She was very surprised, then, when he lifted one eyebrow and grinned. It was a nasty, mean grin.
"So, the little weasel has claws, does she? That's good to know," he said, his voice as nasty as his grin. "I guess I'll have to watch what I say or I'll feel them ripping into me? Is that it, little weasel?"
Labelle, who had been lying comfortably in Draco's arm, stretched up his chest and swatted him on the face. Her claws were retracted, but it was enough to catch his attention. He looked down at her and his mean grin turned into a soft smile.
"Ah, yes, and little Labelle is telling me to watch myself, too, isn't she?" he murmured, scratching the kitten's head.
Once again, Ginny had to wonder what the kitten saw in people to make her like them. But in this case, she had to wonder at herself, too. Draco had just insulted her but she was still here, staring at him and acting like an infatuated idiot. Do SOMETHING, she told herself angrily. Don't just STAND here! Finally turning away from him, she began to stuff her things back into her bag. Draco pushed himself away from the shelves and sauntered over to her.
"So what ARE you doing here, Weasley? I'd think that even you would have better things to do on a Saturday morning than hide in the library."
Ginny glared at him. He was setting Labelle down and lifting her books, examining them carefully. Ginny bristled and snatched 'Knowing your Kneazle' from his hand. He laughed at her.
"Doesn't seem to be helping, from what I hear, little weasel. Your Kneazle seems to be running tame through all the classes."
"What do you care?" Ginny snapped, shoving the book into the bag and barely missing Labelle's head. The kitten was trying to jump into the bag and Ginny turned her irritation on her. "Labelle, will you st--." Ginny stopped suddenly, looking around.
Sure enough, she could hear the rapid patter of Madam Pince's feet against the floor tiles as the librarian approached. Ginny looked up at Draco and then down at the Kneazle, who was still trying to hide. Draco scooped the kitten up and moved forward until he was only inches from Ginny. He dropped the kitten into her arms and pulled his handkerchief from his pocket.
"Miss Weasley!" the librarian's strident voice demanded. "What is going on here?"
Ginny didn't blame her for her shocked reaction. From where she was standing it must look like Ginny and Draco were about to kiss! Draco jumped in before Ginny could stammer an answer.
"Weasley has ink smudged on her face, and I'm just helping her clean it away since she doesn't have a mirror," he said smoothly, as though it was something that happened every day.
Ginny looked helplessly toward the librarian, who raised her eyebrows and then nodded.
"So I see," she snapped, still eying them both suspiciously. "Very well, get on with it and then go about your business. This is a library, not a..."
Her voice faded as she marched away. Ginny looked gratefully up at Draco. He'd protected Labelle from discovery, shielding her from Madam Pince with his own body. Draco, however, was frowning at her again. "God, Weasley, how did you manage to get so much ink on your face, anyway?" he demanded as he lifted the material to her cheek and rubbed none too gently.
"What?" Ginny had thought he'd been bluffing, but when he pulled the cloth away, it was smudged with ink.
"Its all over! You better go round to the loo and wash it off." He stepped back and shook his head. "You're hopeless, Weasley. I hope you take better care of Labelle than you do yourself."
He grabbed her hand, looking at it with disgust. "You know, little weasel," he remarked with a sneer as Ginny tried to tug her hand back. "If you had decent quill you wouldn't spill so much ink!"
Releasing her hand, he added, "But then, you can't afford it, can you?"
Turning away, he sauntered off. Ginny felt her cheeks flush. She wanted to scratch his eyes out, but reached out to scratch Labelle's head instead. The kitten burrowed under Ginny's chin and purred comfortingly.
"Oh, Labelle, we're just a couple of blind idiots," she said unhappily, blinking back a tear. "There's nothing nice or chivalrous about him. He must have been having a bad day when he helped us."
Labelle gave a distressed mewl and snuggled even closer to Ginny. Feeling a bit battered, Ginny sighed and set the kitten on the desk again. She repacked her bag and deposited the kitten inside, then hefted the bag again and left the library. She didn't see Draco on the way out, but was relieved rather than disappointed.
The loo along the corridor was empty, so Ginny set her bag on the ground and moved cautiously to the row of mirrors to see how bad the damage was. Her eyes widened even as her spirits sank to her toes. Draco had been right. She had ink all over her face! She remembered swiping the hair from her face and scratching an itch on her nose. She must have brushed her cheeks and rubbed her chin as well, as she had smudges of ink on those, too. It wasn't that dark, but it was obvious on her pale skin. It was no wonder he'd made that crack about her cleaning the library. God, it was a wonder that he hadn't just burst out laughing at her the second he saw her! The light dust on her robes was nothing compared to the filth on her face.
Feeling the tears sting her eyes, she pumped some soap into her hands and turned the water on. Working up a lather, Ginny washed her hands thoroughly, cleaning all of the ink off. She got more soap and scrubbed her face. The ink came off easily enough, but Ginny couldn't wash away the humiliation she felt. How Draco must have been laughing at her. It wasn't just the incident with the ink, but the other things he'd said. She usually had her guard up when she saw him, but she hadn't stood a chance this morning. And instead of being able to deflect his sarcasm and insults, he'd just walked all over her. He'd called her hopeless, implied that she couldn't take care of her kitten, and had rubbed her nose in her family's money situation. There was no way he would ever be interested in her romantically, and at this moment Ginny wondered whether she wasn't actually glad. What on earth did she think she saw in him? His actions proved that he really was just cruel and arrogant.
Drying her face with scratchy paper towels, Ginny sighed.
"Mrow?"
Labelle was rubbing against Ginny's ankles and looking up, worried. Ginny instantly brightened and scooped the kitten up into her arms.
"It's all right, love. We just made a mistake, that's all."
She nuzzled the Kneazle, lifted her bag and headed back to Gryffindor.
When Ginny entered the Common Room, Su and Daisy were saving her a seat on the couch by the fireplace. They motioned her over, so she set Labelle down and headed toward her friends. She was a bit depressed and they noticed. As she slumped into the couch next to Su, Daisy asked, "What's up, Gin? You look like someone cancelled Hogsmeade next week!"
Ginny glanced at her friends and wondered what to say. Colin, who'd been talking Quidditch with Ron and Harry, walked over and slid in on her other side, putting a comforting arm around her.
"Tell us," he said simply.
"Oh, it's really nothing," Ginny sighed. It wasn't really. Just Draco Malfoy showing his true colours, albeit several months later than usual. That was all. "I was in the library and I had a run-in with Draco." After a slight pause she added, "Malfoy."
"Is that all?" Su turned back to the fashion magazine open on her lap. "Lord, Gin, you've been at each other's throats all year. That's nothing to get upset at."
"At who's throat?" Hermione Granger looked up from the thick text she'd had her nose buried in. Ginny hadn't even noticed her sitting in a large, wingback chair a few feet away.
"No one," Ginny muttered. She might have told Su, Daisy and Colin, but not Hermione. Her friends might or might not sympathize, but Hermione had a bad habit of getting preachy. Ginny was NOT in the mood for a sermon on how she should have avoided Draco in the first place.
"Who, Ginny? Have you really been having problems with Malfoy this year?" For a change, Hermione looked totally perplexed.
"Nothing I can't take care of," Ginny said quickly.
"Too right," Colin agreed. "Our Gin's been keeping that prat in his place for months now. He must have just caught her by surprise today."
Ginny gave him a look of mixed gratitude and irritation. She did NOT need her brother's girlfriend inciting Ron to go after Draco's blood on her behalf. But, then again....
"That's odd," Hermione said, interrupting Ginny's train of thought. "Malfoy's been unusually mellow this year. I don't think he's said half a dozen words to us the whole school year. I thought he'd finally grown up."
Hermione looked more closely at Ginny, making the younger girl want to squirm. Hermione had a knack for making wild guesses that just happened to be correct. Before she could get the older girl on a different subject, though, Hermione snapped her book closed.
"All right, Ginny. If you're sure it's nothing..." She stood and gave Ginny a final, questioning look.
Ginny breathed a silent sigh of relief. Hermione was letting her off the hook. She wouldn't pursue it. Shaking her head, she watched Hermione take herself off upstairs. She wasn't pleased, though, when Colin leaned over and whispered conspiratorially, "By the skin of our teeth, that!"
Ginny had tried very hard to avoid Draco the following week. She saw him at meals, of course. Occasionally she saw him ahead of her in the hallways. But she no longer tried to meet him, and she did everything she could to prevent him from sneaking up on her from behind. Not that he ever had before, but she was growing paranoid. After the verbal drubbing he'd given her on Saturday, she wanted to keep her distance. And she'd finally convinced herself that she had been temporarily insane when she'd thought she liked him. There really wasn't anything there to like. At least, not for her. She would find herself a nice boy who didn't feel compelled to tear her down to make himself feel good. The trouble was, she wasn't attracted to any 'nice' boys.
Although Su, Colin and Daisy complained about rushing to classes and bolting their food to get out of the Great Hall before everyone else, they seemed relieved that Ginny wasn't carrying her battle to the enemy any more. At least, Su and Daisy seemed relieved. Colin seemed puzzled. By Friday, Ginny felt that Draco (she really SHOULD think of him as Malfoy again) realized that she wouldn't bother him anymore, so hopefully he would leave her alone. The four friends were walking a bit more slowly toward their third hour class when Su and Daisy excused themselves to use the loo. Colin and Ginny continued to class.
"Look, Ginny," Colin began. He stopped, looking uncomfortable.
"What?" Colin had done this all week. He'd begin to ask her something, then just stop. "Spit it out, Colin," she said irritably.
"Well, you never told us what happened in the library. I was just wondering if the snake really did bite. What did Malfoy say that makes you cringe around the corners and look over your shoulder all the time? I mean, I thought you two might just-uh, you know.."
Ginny flushed, but wasn't surprised. Hadn't she always known that if anyone saw through her it would be Colin? Sighing, she stopped and leaned against the wall wearily. She would have scratched at her kitten's head, but they were headed for History of Magic and Labelle had taken herself elsewhere.
"You know, I thought so too, for a while," Ginny finally admitted. "I thought that if I could keep him, you know, off balance, he might become interested. You know? He might actually see ME and not the 'little weasel' he always calls me."
Colin gave her a sympathetic smile and reached out to touch her cheek gently. "Bloody idiot, he is. But things might turn out right, after all. Give it time, yeah?"
Ginny smiled back and squeezed Colin's hand. She knew he wasn't interested in her; he was just a very comforting friend. She was about to release his hand when a cold, hard voice made her jump.
"So, this is what the good little Gryffs get up to when there's no one about, is it?"
Draco's voice sliced through the quiet hallway like a blade. It dripped sarcasm, but it couldn't be colder than the expression on his face. He glared from Colin to Ginny and back as he stalked up to them. Ginny was surprised when Colin grinned at him.
"What's it to you, Malfoy? What do you care what Ginny and I get up to?"
Ginny grimaced as she noted Draco's expression grow, if possible, angrier. It took all her courage not to cower under the look. Draco seemed to be ignoring her, though. He turned his full glare on Colin, and Ginny noticed for the first time that Colin, too, towered over her. He could actually look Draco in the eye!
"Well, Malfoy? You had something to say?"
Draco narrowed his eyes as his fists tightened.
"I should kick your ass for you, Creevey, just on principle," he said, his voice tight.
Colin surprised both Ginny and Draco by laughing. "Oh, you could TRY, Malfoy," he said, amused. Then his own voice hardened. "But don't let my reputation fool you. I might be, what do your type call me? Oh, yes, a queer-boy, a pouf, a nancy-boy? That doesn't mean I can't defend myself."
He turned back to Ginny and touched her cheek again. "Ta, love," he said in an exaggerated falsetto. "Just don't be too late for class."
"Colin! Wait!"
Ginny moved to accompany him, but he put a hand on her shoulder, gently pushing her back.
"Talk to him, Gin. It'll be okay." Colin gave Draco a last look and Ginny could swear that something, some message had passed between the two of them. Colin nodded and walked away and Draco's stiff, menacing stance relaxed. When he finally looked at her, he was merely frowning.
"Odd friends you choose, Weasley," he said. "Two girls who cower when they see me, and should have been in Hufflepuff. And a," he paused, looking toward Colin's retreating form, "a boy who isn't interested in you as anything more than a friend."
Now it was Ginny's turn to frown. She'd known about Colin since their fourth year. It hadn't mattered to her, though. He was the best friend she'd ever had. But she had always pegged Malfoy and his lot as typical macho homophobes. Apparently he hadn't known about Colin and his casual acceptance confused her. He didn't give her a chance to defend her friends, though.
"If he wasn't coming on to you, what was he doing?"
"Like Colin said, what do you care? Looking for some new and exciting way to humiliate me? Didn't have enough on Saturday?" Ginny shoved past him. "I have to get to class."
His hand gripped her arm and she was yanked back, none too gently. Ginny tried to pull away, but she might as well have not bothered. Glaring up at him, she spat, "Let go! I'm tired of being your verbal punching bag, and I'm tired of you manhandling me!"
She punctuated her statement with a swift kick to his shin. He avoided it, but barely.
"Damn it, Weasley, knock it off! I just wanted to ask you a question!"
He finally released her and Ginny angrily adjusted her robes. Her book bag had slipped off of her shoulder and although she'd been able to catch it before it hit the floor, the jolt had knocked some of her supplies out. Irritably she knelt to put everything back. He knelt beside her to help.
"What is it? Just ask and go away," she snapped, snatching her quills from his hand and stuffing them back into the bag. She really hadn't needed her worn, mended quills as a reminder of their 'conversation' last Saturday.
"Are you going into Hogsmeade tomorrow?" he asked finally.
Ginny froze. Could he-was it possible that he was going to ask her to go with him? No way, she thought, but couldn't control the sudden racing of her pulse.
"I-er, yeah. Why?"
Don't get your hopes up, she warned. Just don't!
His eyes met hers and Ginny couldn't pull away from the intensity of his stare. "Just remember what I told you before, Weasley. Stay out of alleys and dark places. Don't wander around alone. There are bad people in Hogsmeade as well as Knockturn Alley. Got it?"
Ginny frowned, confused. "Wha--?"
"Just try to stay out of trouble for once, right? And, for God's sake, stay with your friends!"
Before Ginny could even think of asking for more details, he rose, turned and strode away.