Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related content does not belong to me. No infringement is intended on my part. So don't sue me please.
A/N I enjoy reviews so feel free to let me enjoy myself. That said, let's start this chapter.
Oh yeah, and the last chapter had no other point other than to show that Ginny is finally on the up and up with Slytherins and she's starting to get well deserved power. Okay really, let's get this chapter started. Chapter 4 of In Passion, In Death. Right here folks.
"Blaise. If you don't want to then don't. It's not that hard." Ginny shook her head.
"You didn't grow up as a female death eater, or at least a future female death eater, anyway, that's not the point, things are different for us. We participate in attacks, sure, but everyone knows that a female's place is in the bed. It's frustrating when you're trying to rise in the ranks. Especially with someone like you around. You don't seem to understand all these rules and so they don't apply to you. I never had that luxury." Blaise said grumpily, but still watching her tongue.
"Stick by me, Zabini, and I'll try my best to make things easier for you. Leaders need followers and I'm going to need support to grant wishes of the women. You know, though, before this year, I didn't exactly know that He was looking for a queen. And when I did find out, I thought it was be Bellatrix Lestrange." She said confidentially.
"Lestrange is exactly suited for what women are supposed to be." Blaise said contemptuously. "Anyway, she has a husband. Not that that stops her."
"Watch it. She's higher than you. At this point she's higher than me. I'm not even a death eater."
"So you really want to be a death eater? I figured at first this was some act, but I'm not as sure anymore." Blaise tapped a finger against her lip.
"Why are you confiding in me if you're not sure? Not a wise decision. But even so, I'm very serious. I didn't realize it until recently, but it's what I really want. He waited for me." She paused before she said in this moment of relaxation something that was a secret. The fact that she intoxicated him as much as he to her. That she had power that she still wasn't sure was only just a dream. She toured headquarters with him every night, before he swirled into Tom and they performed acts that would make a seasoned prostitute or a long time sailor blush. And sometimes she would wake and sometimes she wouldn't. They would talk. She figured she knew more about the attacks than anyone at this point. She would make a brilliant double agent. But she didn't want to be a double agent, unless she was whispering in to Tom's ear, a bizarre sort of pillow talk.
"You're so lucky…" Blaise suddenly glanced at her watch. "Whoa, you have to meet with Dumbledore in like three minutes. Better haul some serious ass." Ginny finished her coffee and made to leave. Blaise grabbed her arm and tossed her lovely head. "Hey, thanks. You, you'd do better than Bella Lestrange. Hell, you might even do better than I would. Even I though I doubt it." They were big words. Ginny smiled lightly.
"Thanks." She reached to Blaise's hand on her arm and gave it a squeeze before breaking free and running up the hallways. She let herself onto Dumbledore's stairway and began the climb. Her biggest victory yet. Blaise.
"Do you know why I brought you here?" Ginny didn't look into Dumbledore's eyes, looking everywhere but.
"I have an idea."
"Do share."
"My time allegedly spent in the Slytherin common room."
"How did you get into my office?"
"You told me." She realized this was the wrong answer as he got up and placed two fingers under her chin. "I guessed it more like, you just told me that you only use candy."
"Did I now?" His fingers were cool as they applied pressure. She lifted her head and looked over her shoulder. "Look at me please, Ginny." She looked at his forehead. "Ginny. You say yourself you have nothing to hide. Even so, what can meeting my eyes do?"
"Ha! If an idiot like me can get into someone's mind an idiot like you can." There was an amused chuckle at her words. She built up all her concentration and met his clear blue eyes. It was like trying to push a door closed in a red room against a raging bull. She had to physically push her face away when she felt her will bending. "I'm stronger than you think." She kept tears from her voice. He moved away and she looked up to watch him. He glanced towards her and she looked down again. He approached her again and pushed the knobby fingers under her chin applying more pressure. She closed her eyes when her head lifted involuntarily.
"Ginny." His voice had taken on a different tone. "Open your eyes." It was impossible to resist. Her eyes slid open and she saw the blue surface of his before she fell into them. She pushed, hard, but he was in and strolling around. Harry had told her once about Snape saying that the mind couldn't be read like a book. Maybe it couldn't. It was like reading a book in a foreign language. You saw pictures, but you couldn't read the stories. She realized suddenly that pictures were all it took. Her friendship with Draco was proof of that. She withdrew quickly and managed to look away.
Tears began to leak from the corner of her eyes. "Go away," She choked. "Leave my mind alone. You don't belong there." There was a sigh and he was gone again. She could hear him pacing and there was a noise that could only indicate he had slammed his fist into the desk.
"You were lying last night. I know that much. Harry is easy to tell. You are not so much."
"Amazing, a commoner doing something the boy who lived can't. Bet Moody failed to mention I can throw off the Imperius and that I almost beat him in a duel after school."
"It wasn't Moody."
"But it was a prized death eater. Harry couldn't have done that."
"Harry beat Voldemort."
"He didn't beat him. He participated. No one won that duel."
"Harry wouldn't begrudge you being a better dueler."
"Are you so sure?" She said softly. "Have you seen him when someone bests him? Harry wears his heart on his sleeves, a foolish place to wear something like that."
"Where do you wear your heart?"
"I don't use my heart. I use my head." That was lie. She couldn't do that no matter how hard she tried. Dumbledore seemed to accept it though.
"What would you have done if you had lost your parents? Or the closest thing you have to them?"
"I don't know. But if I had reacted as Harry had, Bellatrix Lestrange would be next to Frank and Alice Longbottom at St. Mungos, passing out bubble gum wrappers." She looked up at Dumbledore who looked disgusted. She looked away before their eyes locked.
"What exactly are you admitting to?" His voice was calm, but she could hear anger underneath it. She was still crying and she didn't know why.
"Nothing." The word was short and whispered, but it was packed with raw emotion.
"Ginny. Before you decide to pursue something I would remind you of several things. The first is your family and friends and their reaction to any bad choices you may make. The second is relationships with people that dark groups stand against."
"And the third?" She wiped away tears.
"Third." He seemed to consider a moment before speaking. "Our side are full of very bad enemies to have. I am a bad enemy to have." There was no threat, only implication.
"You're not my enemy." She stood, still crying.
"No?" He whispered. She finally looked into his eyes and let the tears push him back. She made to leave and looked back only once to speak before going through the door and closing it.
"I'm still your student."
* * *
"Who are you?" Pansy swayed to the pounding music. She was dressed as a cat. She looked pretty. Ginny had told her so and Pansy had granted her a rare smile. Ginny was buttering her up shamelessly.
"Don't you recognize Harpo Marx?" She honked her cane at Pansy and pulled a face.
"I remember those from when I was a kid!" She pointed at Ginny. "That was the one that didn't talk. He played the harp, right?" Crabbe came to ask her to dance and she accepted. Ginny waved and picked up a butterbeer. She flipped the top off and sat down on a table, jangling her foot to the music. It was the Weird Sisters. She wasn't extraordinarily fond of their music, but it wasn't bad, really. Goyle stood in front of her, shuffling his feet.
"Hey, Ginny…" He mumbled.
"Why Gregory? Are you blushing?" He cleared his throat. "Would you like to dance?" He nodded. She looked into his eyes and saw a single image locked into his mind. Crabbe placing a chaste kiss on his forehead. She grinned and let him lead her onto the dance floor. The dancing was a little awkward. Wizards didn't have a particularly hip way of dancing. So they waltzed, box stepped, and fox trotted their way through even punk music. Goyle had to remind her not to lead and she had to dance a little oddly to keep his feet away from hers. "So."
"So." He repeated. "How do you like the Slytherin O Hallows Eve party?"
"I like it. Now that I know it exists and all." Draco had told her about it only a few days ago, forcing her to throw together an odd costume. Harpo Marx was the result. Everybody headed straight to bed after the dance. Sandra had a boyfriend in Ravenclaw, so she usually didn't notice that Ginny was gone.
She was surprised at first. She had thought the Slytherins would constantly sit around making evil plans and torturing lesser beings. On the contrary, they all seemed to be lovers of music and cards. She could hardly count the evenings she had played bridge, spades, blackjack and poker eventually getting up to be whirled around the common room by various boys of various ages. She would help the smaller ones with their homework and was surprised that everyone took care of each other. It was good to be in with the Slytherins, and it was miserable to be out. They were much like a rich family, with strict rules that were mostly ignored for the pleasure of acting young. Draco had told her it was much the same at headquarters. With seriousness only before in the meetings. There were good times to be had with the future death eaters, while everyone else felt guilty about sleeping deeply and worried constantly. Ginny basked in it.
"Hey. Can I have this dance?" Ginny let Millicent Bulstrode take Goyle away, and watched his eyes flash to Crabbe, still dancing with Pansy. She turned around and walked straight into Draco. He smiled at her and let her lead. They bumped into a few fumbling first years.
"So." He drawled.
"Déjà vu." She said slowly. "I like your costume." It was the same robes that he had been wearing at the feast.
"I'm a homicidal maniac. They look like everyone else." He explained saucily. "Now, I really do like your costume. Are you a bum?"
"How dare you! I'm Harpo Marx."
"Oh, a Muggle." He said dryly.
"Oh, a homicidal maniac." She imitated perfectly. "How perfectly unoriginal."
"I used to have sleep-overs with Pansy Parkinson, Blaise and Greg. We would watch the Marx brothers." He said as he and Ginny moved together as a slow song started. "Duck soup was my favorite."
"I like Monkey Business. Zeppo was my favorite. I didn't know if I could pull off the tux, though." She laughed at the look on his face.
"I liked Harpo. I recognized you."
"It's funny. Don't sound like you're confessing to a murder."
"I am after all a homicidal maniac." She laughed and they danced together until Snape broke up the party at midnight. She changed into boxers and T-shirt and climbed to the very top of the stairs to Draco's room. The 7th year boys were having a jolly time with a wrestling match. They had thrown all their pillows on the floor and were tussling about.
"Can I join in?" She asked, skipping around the pillows to sit beside Draco on his bed.
"As long as we aren't dueling." He said loudly and Morag MacDougal laughed. Crabbe won against Goyle. Both boys blushed and climbed off one another. Ginny elbowed Draco and raised her eyebrows. He rolled his eyes. She jumped onto the pillows.
"Come on, Malfoy. Bring it!" He climbed lightly off his bed and watched her with crossed arms. She danced over the unsteady, squashy surface. "Are you afraid of me?"
"Yes." He drawled. She grabbed onto his arm and tried to trip him. He dove into her stomach and she landed on the pillows hard. She flipped him over, but he jumped on her again, surprised when she managed to flip him over again.
"You forget I have six brothers." She said as Morag MacDougal counted. She had almost won, when Draco got purchase on the pillows and had knocked her away, sending her skidding on a pillow. She pursed her lips and dove onto his back. His elbow got her in the eye and it watered. But she won.
"Oh, Gin!" He slapped a hand over his mouth and reached out to brush his fingertips over the bump already swelling around her eye.
"I'm fine. I'm fine." She said through her laughter. "I so just kicked your ass."
"You always best me." He looked amused, but a little worried. She didn't like the other emotion she saw on his face. The others saw it too.
"I'll go get ice." Greg mumbled.
"Oh yeah, me too." Vince slipped out of the door. Morag began to pick up pillows, tossing them randomly on beds.
"Bathroom." He said gruffly. Ginny looked around and looked back up at Draco, whose eyes had never left her. They stood barely a foot apart, arms dangling at their sides. She looked into his eyes, but didn't venture into his mind, fearing she would never be able to leave their depths.
"Everybody left." She said stupidly. Draco nodded and reached up to brush her eye, turning his hand slightly to run the smooth back over her cheek. Her breath picked up a little, and tears filled them that had nothing to do with her smarting eye. She wanted this, and she knew she shouldn't. She sniffed a little and hated herself for acting like this. She was supposed to be above all this emotion, but she couldn't help it. She needed to vent some way. Ginny had thought she had everything worked out; all her plans had been perfection. And then along came Draco, not from no where, her sketchbooks were proof of that, but unexpected. The heat rose in her cheeks and she looked away. "I was thinking I should go to my rooms…" She turned to go and was unsurprised when his arm caught hers.
"Ginny." He whispered. And she heard so many things in her name, in that one word, that she relented and pressed her lips to his.
It felt right at the same time she knew it was wrong. She couldn't tell, with her eyes closed, whether or not his lips were thick or thin, she hadn't ever thought to look, but they were swallowing her up. His tongue was cooler than her own, unfamiliar, but welcome in her mouth. She had kissed plenty of boys, mostly just in fun and teasing, but the sheer emotion she felt for Draco finally placed itself in this kiss. She had found a label for the feeling she felt every time he was near. Ginny was in love with someone other than the Dark Lord. Damn it.
* * *
"I'm sworn to the Dark Lord." She said softly. Pressed to his chest. "Your roommates. They could use this against me. But hell, I don't even know if he really wants me for his queen."
"That's not true. You and I both know that if it's anyone of us, it's you. Everyone knows that." Draco whispered. "I'm sworn to the Dark Lord, as well, but I don't want to think about it. I'm not supposed to feel emotion, Ginny. I thought I was pretty much all trained-up. But you… you make me feel."
"I know. I know." She murmured. "I don't want to think either."
"Then don't." He kissed her again and slowly walked her back until they sprawled across his bed. He lifted himself for a moment and looked at her, sprawled over his pillows. He went to her lips and she felt his brush gently against her skin, pushing slowly under her T-shirt. It took all her effort to stop him. "Why?" He whispered, hazily complying. "Don't you want me?" He sounded a little cocky. She swallowed at the pun and composed herself a moment.
"I can't think with you straddling me like that." She pushed onto his chest.
"Funny that."
"Draco, please." She begged. "I- I can't." He climbed off of her and she sat up, pushing a hand against her chest to feel her heart beating a tattoo against her ribcage.
"Why? Please, Ginny, don't reject me." He whispered, sounding so earnest that she was for a moment taken aback.
"I'm not rejecting you." She said. "But I want to think about this before I just jump into it. And if I stay any longer in a position like the one you had me in, I think I would have slept with you."
"And that's a bad thing?" Draco's face pulled up a look of aloof indifference. She growled with frustration, the look dropped off his face and he reached for her again. She pushed him away.
"Yes. That's a bad thing. I want you, but you can have almost any girl you want."
"I want you, especially." He said helpfully.
"Those other girls, they don't always have the option of saying no."
"You're doing this to set yourself apart from the Slytherin girls?"
"No! I'm doing this to make sure this is something other than just lust and silliness. I want to uphold the option I have of saying no with you. And I don't want my first time to be with my eye like this." This made him laugh. He kissed her again, softly on the lips. She looked to them when he broke it. They were supple, but not thick.
"It'll be your first?" Draco asked incredulously.
"Not everybody follows under the Death Eater's Code of Intimacy." She said grumpily.
"You're just so beautiful and powerful and…" He made to show her and she climbed off the bed.
"Walk me to my rooms, Draco." She said with a note of finality. He complied and they walked quietly down the stairs. Ginny stopped Draco at the bottom and motioned to where a surprised Gregory Goyle was being kissed by and kissing Vincent Crabbe with a baggie of ice in his hand. Draco was caught somewhere between disgust and interest. Ginny could tell by his face. She motioned for him to walk up the stairs and then started down them loudly. They met Vince and Greg at the bottom. Greg was blushing furiously.
"Ice." She took the bag he handed her and pushed past them both to the room. Vince wished them good night and followed him. They started into the halls and Ginny giggled furiously.
"You should have seen the look on your face."
"You should have seen yours."
"What was it?" She asked.
"Like you had just seen a baby or puppy." He said with no small amount of disgust.
"Oh please. I know for a fact that you don't care about homosexuality. That seems to be the only minority that Death Eaters tolerate." She put a finger to her chin. "That sounds like a deep, dark secret just waiting to jump out."
"Doesn't it, though?" He said cheerily. "Well, if the Dark Lord's gay, it's no wonder he would pick you for his queen."
"Why you bloody-!" She cried.
"Oh, stop. You'll make me blush." He leaned forward and kissed her. "I must be gay, too." He said against her lips.
"I think you must be getting soft." She whispered back. "I wonder what that's all about."
"Must be what's left of the good ol' Gryffindor persuasion in you."
"Glad to see it's having an influence on you." They kissed again, and Ginny was able to push any negative thoughts back into her mind. She thought back to something that the twins, George probably, had told was their philosophy of life their mother once that made her sigh in exasperation. If it feels good, do it. Draco walked her to the end of the dungeons. She made it back up to Gryffindor tower with little trouble. She really did miss her bed most of the time. But sometimes her urge to stay in the Slytherin common room forced her onto the god awful sofa. More often than not the Slytherin urges won over the need for a comfortable bed. Ginny climbed into the portrait hole and laughed.
"When do you three sleep? I swear, you can't have any more homework than the next 7th year." Ginny said with laughter in her voice as her brother and his two best friends looked up at her, surprised.
"Ginny, what happened to your eye? Where are you always off to that you come home so late? Honestly, it's almost one." Ron said unhappily, checking his watch.
"How long have you guys been in here?" Ginny asked evasively, picking up one of Ron's books.
"Since we got back from the feast." Hermione said.
"I went down to the kitchens. I must've slipped through in the crowds." Ginny rubbed her stomach. "I'm such a psycho about food. I think I must get that from my father. Ronnie's got that too."
"Yeah." Said Hermione slowly. "Listen. Ginny, there were no crowds after the feast. It was empty within ten minutes. We were doing something and all of us have a big assignment due tomorrow. We have a theory, though, Ginny." Ginny's throat tightened. "Tell me if we're wrong."
"You're wrong." She joked, trying to clear her throat.
"Gin. Please, just listen to Hermione." Harry said in a choked voice.
"Are you seeing Draco Malfoy? Is that where you're learning all that dark magic?"
"No." Ginny laughed trying to make herself relax and save her ass. "That's your theory. Come on. You guys…" hit the nail exactly on the head, "couldn't be more off." Hermione visibly relaxed.
"Well good. We were getting worried." They all smiled at each other.
"You want to know what I've been doing?" Ginny smiled for a minute as they nodded. "I've uh… I've been… been… been… BEEN BEING TUTORED IN POTIONS!"
"By who?" Hermione asked. "Why so late?" Ginny cursed Hermione for making her elaborate.
"By Snape. And you know, with detention , I only have so much time to have that sort of help."
"Why can't he do that when he's supervising your detention?
"Hermione. We're supposed to be silent."
"Alright. But I dunno, Gin. Keeping you until 1 am. It doesn't seem entirely appropriate."
"So now you think I'm shagging Severus Snape? That's even less likely than Draco Malfoy." She hoped not or she'd be in the sack with Snape in no time. The idea made her shudder.
"But Ginny. Haven't you made friends with Draco Malfoy, just a little bit, just a touch? You've been in detention with him excepting weekends and holidays, every day. You're sure?"
"Positive." Ginny tried to sound exasperated, but her voice squeaked.
"You said you were the highest in your year in potions!" Harry cried suddenly. "Just last week. You said…" Ron and Hermione looked back to Harry and then at Ginny.
"You did say that!" Ron said slowly. "Why would you need to tutor if you were at the top of your year?" Ginny shook her head at such silliness and started to walk away. "Your roommate. She said you haven't spent the night in your room but once or twice." That two faced little… Ginny calmed slightly. She had never asked Sandra to do anything, or not tell anyone. She ignored them and started up the stairs. Her brother ran after her and grabbed onto her hand as the stairs transitioned easily into stairs.
"What do you want?" She said indifferently from the carpet as Ron got to his feet and brushed himself off. It was easy practicing total lack of emotion on Harry, Hermione, and Ron because they didn't expect her to and they didn't laugh when she got frustrated and showed it.
"I want you to tell me the truth." He offered her his hand. She didn't take it.
"I'm tired of these constant confrontations." She propped her arms behind her head. "What business of it is yours? If you wanted to see more of me, you'd make an effort to. This is all a huge control issue for you."
"Don't try and act like a shrink. I care because I'm your brother and…"
"Ron, none of our other brothers did this. Even Fred, George or Percy when we were all simultaneously at Hogwarts. They never threw things when I got a new boyfriend or wanted to know where I was going every time I shifted my weight. They didn't watch my weight and they certainly didn't blather on about me being a dark witch, because they know better. There you are. All out of excuses. Ron, I love you. Sometimes you're my favorite brother. This is not one of those times. Let it go." She sat up.
"Ginny. Now you see here!" He stomped his foot. "You… you…"
"You're absolutely right." Hermione came up behind Ron and grabbed on his arm, stroking it lightly. Ron shot Hermione a grateful, but confused look. "Go on up to bed, Ginny."
"I don't like your holier than thou tone, Hermione. I don't have to if I don't want to."
"You sound like a child, Ginny. Please? Just go to bed."
"I want you guys to promise me you'll leave me alone about this. I'm 16."
"Sure, sure. And just to set Ron's mind at ease we'll go to Dumbledore and ask him to schedule you tutoring appointments earlier. I'm sure he won't have a problem with that." Ginny managed to keep her face indifferent. Always indifferent, she reminded herself.
"I'm sure he won't." The stairs had returned to their original state so Ginny did indeed go to bed. Hermione waited for her door to close.
"Well, that's it then. You'll have to trail her, Harry."
"Me? Why, me? This is all Ron's affair." Harry said indignantly.
"Because you fit best under the invisibility cloak, and because you won't have your head chopped off if you miss a day of classes."
"You wouldn't either."
"Yes, well, I'm head girl." Harry cursed under his breath.
"Fine. You really want me to follow her to her classes? Never mind. Fine. Fine."
"Good." Hermione looked satisfied.
"But you owe me." Harry warned her.
"Naturally." She sighed. "Do it tomorrow. And be nice to her, all of you, but not too nice or inquisitive. Alright?" When everyone complied she gathered her things, kissed Ron, and went to bed. She passed Ginny's door on her way to the top, where Ginny quietly dreamed of Tom, guiltily thinking of Draco's lips and Draco's hands as she was swallowed up in satin sheets.
* * * Dumbledore stroked his beard, pensive. A matter had sprung to his attention that was made him curse himself for not realizing before. Like Ron Weasley had come to him complaining of violent memories that had nothing to do with his own past, coming from a brain that attacked him in his fifth year, of course Ginny Weasley would have more of Lord Voldemort running through her veins than even, perhaps, Harry Potter. It had begun at the beginning of this year. At the beginning of her entrance into Hogwarts, if he was honest with himself. Possessed at such a young age, and seemingly innocent. He had noticed that Tom had amazingly passed over some of the capabilities of his complex mind. She had been hysterical, but had admitted to him later that she had lost a dear friend in Tom.
This was not the usual psychology of someone who has been possessed. They were angry at the attacker, and anxious over the safety of their mind. Unusual dreams could drive them to hysteria and they often had submissive control issues later in life. The average victim relied on human interaction, especially authority figures, but had a hard time in sexual and romantic relationships. Ginny Weasley wasn't any one of these things. She had longed for the companionship of her attacker after the attack. She had never come to Dumbledore, or any of the staff over anxiety issues. Any control issues she had didn't leave her submissive. She was a loner save her boyfriends. She didn't rely on authority, quite the opposite.
A first year Slytherin had caught he, Minerva, and Severus leaving the Great Hall. "Please, sir." She had gasped. "They're going to kill each other." She had told them the location and he had run. Two students dueling with Dark Magic? It wasn't the first of the kind, but the girl had sounded frantic. There had been Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy. He should have expelled Malfoy, or at least suspended him. But he didn't want the number 1 candidate for a little tattoo after graduation to be on the loose even for a week or two without the wards of Hogwarts. So he gave Draco, and Ginny, a year of detention.
He wondered that Tom had given her all that knowledge, and that she could surpass Draco Malfoy's skill, but he stupidly had let it go. And then the reports had begun to come in. Severus mostly, but students, too. Ginny Weasley was spending all her time in the Slytherin common room. He was surprised to hear that the students were starting to respect and obey the girl.. So he tried to bust her, catch her in the act. She had lied to him, but pulled it off brilliantly. He was even more surprised when Severus ceased giving any reports on the girl. He had brought her to the office and he tried his best to get into her mind, but was given childhood images and one impression; she thought Lord Voldemort was brilliant. So he had given her a warning and let her slip away. But he knew he would regret it soon.
And not a week after the occasion Hermione Granger had asked, lying, why Ginny's tutoring sessions were lasting so late. Dumbledore had played dumb and promised to speak to Professor Snape. But he had logged it away in his mind. She was powerful and cunning and she had a wizard that was bested by almost no one in her mind. He would have to further consider the matter of the youngest Weasley.
* * *
Harry was getting a cramp in his back from crouching on the floor in the back of the Transfiguration classroom. Hermione really did owe him. This was uncomfortable and he hadn't heard Ginny talk all morning. She was kind of a loner. He had always thought of her as friendly, but distant. Beautiful, but untouchable. And out of nowhere she was a better dueler than he was, better than Draco Malfoy, who Harry had never seen the likes of. She was seductive but aloof. She disappeared for long periods of time and left vague excuses. Ginny dropped a piece of paper on the floor. He moved his foot out of the range of her arm sweeping to get. He looked over her shoulder. It didn't look like she was writing, and she had pulled out a sort of pencil he didn't think he had seen before. She was drawing a picture of Luna, who was two rows across from her. He didn't know that Ginny drew, but she was good. Very good. She touched her neck and squirmed and he realized he had been breathing on it.
He flopped back down. That was nothing incriminating. There hadn't been anything incriminating. The bell blared and he followed Ginny down to the Great Hall. A little Slytherin caught up with her and grabbed onto the arm of Ginny's robes. Ginny was small, and so her and the first year were practically the same height. "Ginny." The little girl squeaked and bowed awkwardly. Ginny slightly inclined her head. "I had a question about that herbology homework you were helping me with. Remember?"
"Sure Hannah, I remember." She took the scroll of parchment and book that was presented to her, looking over them quickly.
"See how they don't match up. I was double-checking I wasn't sure what Professor Sprout would think, so I uh…" She pointed as Ginny looked up at her. "I know I didn't need to double-check since you helped me, but I wanted to memorize everything since I've got that test coming up and…"
"No it's important to be thorough and knowledgeable in everything you take on. Have you been working on that wand work? I want you to be useful to me. Good. You see, this rule applies only when you're using Spring pods in potions, not in the harvesting and drying. See, it's right here. Later on."
"Oh. I'm sorry. I just read it wrong."
"You didn't read far enough. You needed to read the entire section."
"I'm sorry. I'll make sure to do that. Thank you. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Good luck on your test."
"Oh, I think I've got it."
"Good, good." Ginny gave her back her things and continued on. She had been helping a Slytherin with her homework? It was something, though it didn't prove she was a dark witch. He left her at the door and went down to the kitchens as Hermione had instructed when he had remarked he would seem them at lunch.
"You're sick, remember? Are you suddenly feeling so well as to come to lunch and then go back upstairs to be sick? I didn't think so." He had a sandwich and crisps, gloomily wishing Ginny could just make life easier and fit into a little, unconfusing box. He heard another bell and waited outside the Great Hall for Ginny.
The rest of the afternoon was uneventful, just as he had expected. He watched Ginny run laps and only slightly regretted following her and Malfoy into the changing rooms of the Quidditch stadium. Malfoy pulled off shirt and watched as Ginny did the same. She stood before him in a sports bra and looked impatient. "Leave me alone and go get some clothes on." He looked only slightly wounded and complied. He watched her strip and wrap herself in a towel. He was beginning to enjoy this spying thing.
"You want company?" He heard a cry from the boy's side of the locker rooms.
"Try it and watch what happens." Was the reply.
"You'll ravish me?" Malfoy called hopefully.
"I'll curse you." Malfoy seemed to find this funny. He went into a shower stall of his own. At least Harry hoped it was a different stall. There were stalls and communal showers, Harry sat on the bench and waited for them to finish their showers. It only took a few minutes. Ginny came back and toweled her hair dry and pulled on a clean set of robes. Harry barely restrained himself from sighing wistfully. He and Luna had agreed to take things slowly, but things were going a little too slowly for an average 17-year-old male's taste. But Luna had had a hard time with people making fun of her. And he thought maybe he loved her, so he was just going to respect her wishes and be a little passive aggressive and watch his best friend's sister naked.
So, Ginny and Malfoy seemed to be on joking terms. Still not solid proof. Proof jumped up right in front on him as Malfoy jumped in front of Ginny and grabbed onto the arms of her robes. She didn't seem angry, in fact, a smile played on her lips. "So, Mr. Malfoy. You're trying to follow me into the showers? What would your mother say?" She whispered.
"Something we don't repeat in front of civilized company."
"Mmmm. Tell me." Was Ginny telling Malfoy to talk dirty? Harry shuddered. He certainly hoped not. He was grateful when Malfoy didn't answer. The problem was, Malfoy leaned down and kissed her full on the lips. Ginny didn't seem angry about this either. She kissed him back. Thankfully, it didn't last long. There was banging on the locker room door.
"Weasley! Malfoy! Study time in two minutes! What are you doing in there? Snogging?"
"Gag me! I'd rather kiss my own brother than his ugly mug." Ginny said with a huge smile on her face. Malfoy pretended to look offended and picked up his book bag.
"If I wasn't an only child I'd kiss her brother, too." He said, stupidly.
"What?" Ginny asked with laughter in her voice. "Alright, Madam Hooch. Stick me with a fork, because I'm done." She giggled a little as she grabbed her stuff and Malfoy smacked her on her ass. Harry avoided her as she walked past him. They kissed again, tenderly, just before they left. Harry went through quickly when Malfoy was holding the door open for Ginny. He wasn't expecting him to shut it right in Ginny's face. She made a frustrated noise in her throat. Madam Hooch looked annoyed.
"Malfoy. You would think an impending year of detention would make you act civil towards the girl, but no, you have to remain pig-headed."
"Why, Madam Hooch, you act as though this surprises you." Ginny shoved the door into Draco and he fell onto the ground. Both laughed. Ginny held out a hand to him and then walked away as soon as he meant to take it. "Come on, torture time you big idiot!"
"Is that the best you have? You big dolt?" He brushed off his robes and went after them.
"I can't mention everything I'd like to say to you in civilized company." Ginny said in a disgusted tone. Draco grinned broadly at the mention of their earlier conversation. "So, whose supervising us tomorrow?" She stretched her arms above her head and yawned. "I'm going to sleep so well, tonight."
"Just so long as you don't sleep on my homework again. Drooling all over my potions essay."
"You liked it. It's the closest to a girl's saliva you've ever been."
"It's the closest to a Weasley's saliva I've ever wanted to be." Draco snapped. Ginny stuck out her tongue at him, he repeated the gesture behind Madam Hooch's back.
"Alright, you two. Professor Flitwick tomorrow." Madam Hooch said sternly.
"Good. We haven't had him in a while." Ginny sounded pleased.
"Yeah, he usually brings us butterbeer for torture." Draco smacked his lips.
"And he lets us practice dwarf tossing." Ginny joked. "I must be good enough for nationals. I still don't understand why they don't have that in the Olympics."
"You're so funny. Do you say all this in front of the professor?" Hooch asked impatiently as they went into the Great Hall.
"He thinks it funny, as well." Draco said. "Jeez, Gin. We're regular comedians."
"I am. People just think it's funny that you're so big of an idiot."
"Bint!"
"Prat!"
"Slut!"
"Bastard!"
"And Frances stars in it!" They sang in unison. Harry was confused. A smile played on Madam Hooch's lips. "May we?" Draco asked grandly.
"No." She said dryly.
"Alright, Ginny. She asked for it. Science Fiction/Double Feature. In A minor."
"In a what?"
"I don't know." Draco shrugged. "I've heard that somewhere before."
"Oh. Well then, without further ado…" And the two began a rousing chorus of a song Harry had never heard before. As Madam Hooch let them into a room off of the Great Hall, they slapped hands. "Ah, another satisfied customer." Ginny said.
"It'll be your first." Draco said.
"Hey!" Ginny cried. Madam Hooch shut the door in Harry's face. He turned around and walked up to the common room.
* * *
"So?" Hermione asked, when they were back in Harry and Ron's room. "What did you find out?"
"She may not be a dark witch, but her and Draco are definitely a couple. Or something." Harry told them about his day. Hermione sat silent the entire time, while Ron made angry noises after nearly every sentence. Finally, she spoke.
"Well, that settles it. You'll just have to follow her to Slytherin common room. You have a few hours while they're in study time."
"Why? Haven't I found out enough?"
"You've found out that she's been spending time in Slytherin common room. With Draco Malfoy. Honestly, Ron, shut up." They shot each other glares. "But you haven't found out what she does in the common room."
"If it's anything like what she does in the locker room, I'm not interested." Harry said adamantly. There was an angry mumbling and a violent reaction from the bed next to Harry's.
"Ron!" They called out together. He blushed and glared at them both.
"This is my sister you're talking about! Snogging, possibly shagging, my worst enemy."
"Harry'll get to the bottom of it, won't he?" Hermione gave Harry a frightening glance.
"Yeah. Yeah I will. Don't sweat it, mate." Harry said tiredly. It had been a long day. They studied until Harry was set to go back down to Ginny and Draco. They couldn't keep their hands off each other all the way down to the dungeons, slipping into nooks and crannies all along the way. Finally they reached the common room, Harry barely got in in time.
Draco picked up his books again, glancing once at Ginny, before hitting them. Ginny went around, reminding Harry of a politician, greeting people and asking about their families and friends. Harry kind of wished there were some babies around so Ginny could lavish over them and give them kisses on the forehead. Then she began work in earnest. She helped people with homework, played cards with groups of Slytherins. She had a running project, apparently, of teaching a boy to teach. The Slytherins seemed to adore and respect her. Harry was searching for an undercurrent of hostility, but there didn't seem to be one. Ginny was a fluid social creature where she hadn't been previously.
As he sat there in the common room, wondering what Ginny was brewing up, he feel quietly asleep after a long day. It was the only thing he could do.
Thanks to:
LuciusisPimp11 and lil kawaii doom – Glad you like the story
meowness – I chose this perspective because it seems like Ginny and Draco romances usually involve Draco being completely out of canon. And Ginny being dark doesn't seem so far out of canon, does it?
Calliandra – I love Luna, too. Sadly, she reminds me of me. You think Harry/Luna will make it to the books?
ennui2 – As you can see, it was only a little girl that told on Ginny. And Ginny didn't really think about it, because they almost killed each other. The teachers were running because of the way the girl described it. I don't think Tom knew about the duel, a lot of the story talks about Ginny being able to keep him out of her mind, and him not minding and all.
g21lto – Wow! Thanks for such strong praise. I appreciate any reviews, but this one was really flattering. The best… aaawwww
Neni Potter – Ginny Weasley is a little crazy. But who isn't. She's just a bit of a danger to herself and society. And tada! There is some relationship between Ginny and Draco! It's a big part of the story. Not so much the smut, but the dynamic of their relationship in regard to Ginny's position.