AN - hope you like this, my chapters seem to be getting longer and longer! i quite like this chapter but any responses are welcome - and i hope everything is clear!
Purple - Punk : Thanks for the review, I hope this update is soon enough!
baseball2horse : thanks also -i hopw you like my ginny and malfoy - to me they are the most complicated characters in the books!
druccillamalfoyrox : don't worry, i loved the review not at all like a first grade teacher!
neveralone89 - i'm glad you liked it, hope you like where it ends up too- though it may be rather obvious!
Chapter 3 – All is not as it seems
"Ginny, um you look um"
"Did you know that in order to converse with a person, Colin, one must speak in full sentences and preferably in English, or is that too hard a concept for you to grasp?" sneered Ginevra.
"What, yes well I just um wanted to er say well that you look really nice!" Colin Creevey gabbled this out as fast as he could while standing over Ginevra's armchair in the Gryffindor Common Room. His embarrassment started to show as a tell-tale red blush crept over his face, ears and neck. Ginevra slowly swung her legs over the arm of the chair and stretched out slowly unwinding her body horizontally over the chair. Her eyes never left his face; hers were the only pair which didn't wander. The boys in the common room had been playing a competitive game of exploding snap when they had heard Colin's brave statement, but now as Ginevra relaxed with her hands behind her head, and her robes discarded, her school jumper had lifted slightly to show no shirt but a little glimpse of her exquisitely silky skin, sharp intakes of breath could be heard from all the male Gryffindors. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly, a husky drawl left her lips,
"Well, Colin, as much as I am glad about your statement, it was rather unnecessary since I wouldn't have left my room looking like this if I hadn't known I 'look really nice' as you so eloquently put it. But then of course, I should be honoured that you deigned to compliment me, you the God of Gryffindor actually spoke to me, I feel faint!" Bursting into laughter, she made her way through the room to the stairs leading to the Girls dorms. With one foot on the step, she suddenly twisted around and with the whole room's attention on her she said sharply "And if anyone calls me Ginny I will not hesitate to hex them, my name is Ginevra and you'd do well to remember that."
Flinging herself onto her bed, Ginevra drew her hangings around the bed and fastened them tightly and muttered under her breath "Silencio", and wept to her heart's content.
Draco laughed inwardly, the little Weasley had obviously formed her own plan but little did she know that he could be included in hers, and both of their plans could be fulfilled, but the question was how to go about it. The Weaselette wouldn't believe he had turned over a new leaf, which means he'd have to use the Malfoy charm to win over her. At least once he had her, he wouldn't have to tutor her in the art of being a Malfoy, she seemed to have perfected that overnight! That smirk had been priceless.
Grabbing his books, Draco walked down the steps to the dungeons, it was only Potions, so it didn't matter whether he was late or not, Snape knew he was too good for this moronic class. As he turned the corner, someone came barrelling around it, flying into him, if Draco hadn't reached out in time and held onto the rail he would have fell, and a Malfoy did not belong on the floor. Looking down he saw a heap of robes at his feet with masses of red hair protruding from the neck. Well someone seemed to like him today, this was perfect! Scattered around him were all her books and right next him was her wand. Draco smirked. Bending down he started to reach for her wand when he found himself staring into a pair of round chocolate brown eyes.
"I do not need your help, Malfoy!" muttered Ginevra, giving him a look that would have killed him if looks were deadly.
"Try not to flatter yourself, Weasley, a Malfoy does not help anyone unless they would gain from it too, try to remember that." Keeping eye contact with her, he straightened himself out and perched against the wall playing with her wand in his hands.
Scrambling around, Ginevra located her books and started to pick them up, she could hardly see, the dim light of the candles didn't really help in dark corners. As she dusted herself off, she realised she didn't have her wand, Merlin, Snape was going to kill her.
"I do believe that you are looking for this" Draco held out the wand which was lying in his palm in front of her face.
"Oh, um thanks, um"
"On the other hand," his fingers closed tightly around the wand "I think I'll hold onto to this until you answer some of my questions."
Ginny, controlled herself, taking a deep breath she realised that she couldn't reign in her temper fast enough.
"Malfoy! Give me back my wand or else I'll"
Draco sneered, "You'll what, hex me, curse me? Correct me if I'm wrong Weasley but surely you need a wand to do that?" He watched her struggle with herself, he sniggered to himself, perhaps before she became a Malfoy, she could just be there for entertainment value...
"Unless you want to be standing here staring soulfully into my eyes till Winter Solstice begins, I suggest you start asking your questions." Ginny gathered up her courage and stared right back at Malfoy, wondering how he always managed to look devoid of emotions; she really needed to learn that.
"I could teach you if you wish, well if you give me something in return of course"
"Wha – what? Wait did I just say that out aloud? No, wait, Malfoy what the hell are you doing to me, stop playing mind games with me, I mean it, STOP IT!" As Ginny shrieked this, she could feel her face burning with anger, as her face became infused with red, she was so incensed that she didn't think before she acted. Raising her arm, her hand came forcefully down toward his cheek, but before she heard the successfully resounding slap, her arm was caught in a painful grip.
How dare she, Draco seethed inside with fury, but on the outside the only change in his expression was the coldness in his eyes. Ginny gasped, the iciness of his glare, she squirmed uncomfortably. Draco spun her around against the wall and trapped her with his body. She felt like his eyes were boring a hole right through her skin. Two could play this game. Ginny mustered up all her rage at him, and focused it directly at him. There was silence throughout the corridor, only the sound of heavy breathing could be heard from the isolated corner.
"You are lucky Weasley that I am in a good mood today, I was only practising the art of Legilimens on you, I've never found such an easy target! Otherwise, you would have found yourself lying in a corner of a dungeon unconscious and forgotten about it. How many days do you think it would take before someone actually noticed your disappearance?" Draco leered at her, while pressing his body closer to hers, he could feel her tense up, it amazed him how she could be so scared, he would be a fool if he did anything to harm her, Merlin, she has six older brothers, and he did want to live out his life till old-age. No, everything he would do for the little one would be because she wanted it too, and judging by her state, she would give in easily, but she needed to be taught a lesson first.
Ginny glared at him, why couldn't she do anything else, she was so useless!
"Look, Malfoy, just leave me alone, and give me back my wand. I'm already going to be killed by Snape for being this late isn't that punishment enough? I promise I won't do anything to you, I just really need my wand." There she had swallowed her pride, and practically begged him for her wand, ugh, she felt so disgusting.
"Not so fast, you're a sixth year, so why are you in seventh year potions? And while I'm at it why have you decided to grow up all of a sudden? You actually look passable, just a few twists here and there, and I may actually be able to look at you!"
"You're so amusing Malfoy, I think I may die of laughing from your jokes."
"Weasley, you are in a situation in which you should think before you mock me, I highly doubt anyone could possibly hear your screams from here." Draco grabbed her chin and forced her face closer to his, while he took in all her features.
"Fine, whatever Malfoy, if you had just said please, you wouldn't have had to resort to threats. I've been moved up a year in Potions, as I found it terribly easy so I've been put with you, the seventh years, no doubt I'll find you as stupid as the other class was. And the other question, well I didn't just decide to grow up, I've been like this all the time, it just took a long time for people to acknowledge it. And you're probably right that no one would miss me if I was lying dead in a corner, but all that's about to change so if you're not careful you will have the whole clan of Weasleys, Aurors and your best friend, Harry Potter on your back."
"How interesting, you want attention do you my little Weasley, well maybe we could both help each other out, but you would have to banish your nauseating infatuation for Wonder Boy first, otherwise you will be scorned for the rest of your life as a pathetic follower of the 'I love potty fan club'!"
"Malfoy, I do not need or want your help; there is absolutely nothing else that I could think of which is possibly worse than having to converse with you, so leave me alone!" With those words, Ginny, pushed as hard as she could against him. Draco was caught unaware, and faltered nearly tripping over his feet. Ginny ran down the corridor and threw open the door to the Potions classroom. Hearing the bang, the Gryffindors and Slytherins all turned their heads; they were amazed it was the second time the female Weasley had made an entrance today.
"Well, well, Miss Weasley we are honoured to have you in our presence, obviously being moved up a year isn't enough for you. Detention for a week, and twenty points off Gryffindor, now sit down!" An echoing groan could be heard from all areas of the dungeon where the Gryffindors sat, Ginny looked up and saw Harry shaking his head, and nearly erupted. Remembering Malfoy, she calmed herself down, and smiled sweetly at Snape, "Of course Professor, I didn't expect anything else, I will take my punishment gladly, but I thought I should inform you that I passed Draco Malfoy in the corridor and-"
"Why, thank you for your concern, Weasley, its ok Professor, I'm here, I was just delayed" sneered Draco, winking at Ginny.
"That's ok, Mr Malfoy, take your seat and try to be on time next time. Longbottom, did I tell you to stir it three or four times, how did you manage to get an Outstanding in your OWLS, you have to be the most incapable student I've taught, definitely a worthy Gryffindor" The Slytherins laughed as Snape barked out instructions to a quivering Longbottom, while the Gryffindors stared in sympathy at his hopelessness.
Draco smirked at Ginny, the only seat available was the one next to her, and judging by her expression, she had realised that too, this term was going to be interesting. Taking his seat, he saw her crossing out her scribbles, almost snapping her quill. He could almost decipher it, ah so she was given a detention by that ignorant idiot. Snape wasn't that bad, well if you were in Slytherin that was. Glancing at her sideways, he realised that he hadn't got very far with his plan. The best way was to keep her confused, and then she would fall into his arms begging for help.
Leaning forward he whispered into her ear "If you want to seem different, always keep calm, never run, and never show your emotions, believe me, you'll have everyone at your feet in no time." He saw shock register on her face, and smiled to himself.
"Something amusing Mr Malfoy? I know a Gryffindor can be amusing but this is too much!" The Slytherins all burst out into laughter while the Gyffindors bristled with resent.
"Oh no, Professor, its just that I heard the Weaselette had been given a detention which I thought was slightly unfair since I had stopped her to help me. As he spoke, Ginny felt a warm hand brush past her thigh inside her robes. Almost jumping out of her skin, she felt Draco place her wand in her pocket. Completely stunned at his actions, she scarcely heard Snape's reply
"Well in that case Mr Malfoy I will revoke Miss Weasley's detention, but the points will still be taken off for her decision that you are more important than me."
Draco didn't hear him either, he was staring into her eyes, fighting out an internal debate whether to cover her light sprinkling of freckles when she became a Malfoy, or allow her to have the sweet distinguishing feature, bringing innocence into the Malfoy name too.
Ginny was held by his silvery eyes, which seemed to have a hold on her, not understanding what game he was playing.
Read and Review Please!