Chapter Three: Why Can't I Have A Normal Life?
Notes from the Beta: Hey ya'll, thanks for the support! There were some quirks in the first two chapters that I messed with a little. It's not vital to the story, but you can reread it if you like. Hopefully you can see the scene changes now.
Questions: Yes, despite the comedy, this story will have a lot of drama. Hopefully this chapter makes that clear.
- - - -
To say that Harry was anything less than flabbergasted, would be an understatement. What had started as a traditional, undercover trip to the kitchens, ended up as a peepshow on his best friend's little sister in a questionable situation with his biggest enemy.He could only find the mind to stay standing as he watched his rival plant a big-one on poor, defenseless, Ginny.
Although, inwardly, he cheered quite loudly when the situation ended with a good, sound smack.
- - - -
When Ron found out, the result wasn't pretty in any way, shape, or form. Everywhere Draco went, Ron and Harry weren't far behind. Draco wasn't scared of them, but he was tired of all the detentions he was getting. Pansy had stopped talking to him because of all the points he lost for Slytherin.
If only it was Snape that continually caught them instead of McGonagall.
Wherever Harry and Ron came around, McGonagall was right behind them. Of course, they didn't seem to be all that popular with the Gryffindors themselves. He had overheard Ginny tell the duo to just 'leave him alone', which- in Draco's mind- meant she might be warming up to him. But the next time he spoke with her, it became apparent that he was sorely mistaken.
- - - -
"Hello Weaselett." Draco commented playfully as she walked out of the library.
Ginny continued past him, "What do you want Malfoy?" She asked, not even sparing him a glance.
"Back to calling me Malfoy, eh? You certainly didn't call me that during our last meeting." He smirked suggestively. She turned around and looked him straight in the eye.
"And what happened to you during that 'last meeting' as you call it? Oh. I remember. You ended up with a nice big red mark on your flawless face. And my brother and Harry have been trying to destroy you for the past two weeks. Tell me, Malfoy, are you a masochist? Do you want that to happen again?" Her eyes bored into him. This time, it was her turn to smirk at him.
But, as usual, Draco surprised her. He grinned. "So, you think my face is flawless, do you? Oh, Ginny. Ginny, Ginny, Ginny. Flattery will get you everywhere."
She glared at him, how dare he. He continued.
"As I recall, some... other things... happened during our last meeting. And they went a little like this." He leaned down again, kissing her softly. She tried to pull away but was thwarted by the tight grip he had somehow managed to gain on her waist.
"MALFOY WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY SISTER!"
It was unmistakably Ron who yelled. He was running toward them, Harry close behind. Draco stepped away from Ginny and to the side, out of the way of the lunging mass of black and blazing red that was Ron. Ron fell to the floor. Draco chuckled at the end result and looked over to Ginny who tossed a glare at him as she ran to her brother's side.
"Ron, don't waste your time on him. He's not worth it." She said matter-a-factly. Ron didn't listen to her. He got right back up and threw a punch at Malfoy's head. He missed once again only to trip, hop a few times, and fall at the feet of one Severus Snape. Draco was glad that, for once, it wasn't McGonagall.
"What's going on out here?" Snape asked. He took in the commotion with a quick sweep of his eyes, "Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Weasley what do you two think you are doing?"
He looked down to Ron on the floor right by Draco, then up to Ginny. "I think I'll ask you Miss Weasley. What happened here?" Draco glanced over to Ginny as her eyes filled with fear.
"Um... I... um... ah," She stuttered. Draco couldn't bear to hear it.
"It was my fault Professor." He blurted out. All eyes were drawn to him, but not in the way he usually liked it.
Professor Snape took on a ghastly frown that twisted into Draco's gut with a particular maliciousness. "Mr. Malfoy," he began slowly and deliberately, "I believe that question was intended for Miss Weasley. But seeing as how you do so enjoy leaping to the rescue..." he paused, letting his slight hang heavily in the air around the four students, "you can help her in detention on Friday. 8 o'clock."
He made his verdict with an added crossing of the arms and a severe glare. There would be no getting around this particular sentence.
"WHY!"
- - - -
Ginny was still gaping at Draco when she heard her fate. She quickly came to her senses and gaped instead at the Professor. What was that for? She hadn't done anything. It was all Malfoy's fault!
"But, sir I..." She began.
"I don't want to hear it Miss Weasley. As far as I can see..." he eyed the scene in front of him and bypassed Harry with a peculiar grimace, "yourself and Mr. Malfoy are the only ones standing. Obviously you must have done something to your brother. For whatever reason, I have no desire to know." He said.
"He's my brother! What would I have done to him?" Ginny said.
"I said: I do not want to hear it. Miss. Weasley. And I meant that." He clenched his teeth and glared at the two in a nearly exasperated manner. "I will see the two of you in my class. On Friday. At 8. No exceptions."
Ginny grumbled and glared at Snape's back as he turned and left them alone. She then dragged her gaze back to Draco. He was glaring at her.
"What?" she demanded, "I didn't make Snape put you in detention too." She crossed her arms in a huffy manner, "This is so unfair! I didn't do anything! It was all you." She emphasized this fact with a point of her finger. "You're the one that attacked me!" Ginny accused, jabbing at his chest with sudden ferocity.
Draco had enough dignity to look affronted. "I attacked you? What about your brother! He came at me!" He yelled back.
"Well I wouldn't have attacked you if you hadn't been kissing my sister! Against her will!" Ron growled while getting up.
"You shut it Weasel!" Draco snarled.
"You leave Ron alone Malfoy!" Ginny scowled at the pale boy. "This doesn't concern him." Draco glared at her for a moment longer, then softened his gaze.
"Well then. Miss Weasley, I will see you Friday."
He took a step towards her, catching her hand in his, and pressed his lips to her fingers. She jerked her hand away from him.
"Don't touch me." She ground out, then turned on her heal and walked away.
- - - -
Left on his own to keep Ron in line while Draco and Ginny went their separate ways, Harry could only deem this day to be the strangest ever. But who was he to complain?
He didn't have detention.
- - - -
Ginny stormed down the halls. How dare that- that CREEP get her in trouble, then decide to up and KISS her hand! She was fuming all the way to her room. When she got there, she jumped onto her bed and drew the curtains around it.
"What's wrong with the little red head?" Angel Cooper asked, peaking though the curtains.
"I don't feel like talking right now." Ginny replied.
"Aw, what did Harry do to you now? Ignore you like always?" Ginny's ears turned bright read with rage at the taunt, and with her patience already ripped to shreds, she couldn't help but bite back.
"No, he didn't ignore me. It's amazing you say that, because today he was going to defend me. I haven't seen him do that for you yet." Ginny finished with a vicious satisfaction, getting up and looking Angel right in the eyes. Angel had been going after Harry for years now. So far, Harry hadn't even looked at her.
"I'd watch your back Weasley." Angel growled as she walked away and out the door. Ginny watched her go, and as soon as she was out of sight, flopped back down on her bed, ready to fall into blessed sleep.
- - - -
Draco couldn't believe how unfair Snape had been to Ginny. Wait, what was he thinking? Snape was more unfair to him than Ginny! Ginny didn't even answer his question! Why did he take up for Ginny? Why is he calling her Ginny!
Draco rammed his fist into a conveniently placed wall. Things were becoming so much harder than he thought they would. He wasn't supposed to have feelings for his victims... and this was his first victim too. He laid his head against the wall and sighed.
"Come on Draco, you have to keep to the plan. No time for feelings." He said to himself.
"Talking to yourself Draco?" A voice came from his door. Draco turned around to find Blaise standing there. Staring at him.
"Yes Blaise." Draco muttered. "I am talking to myself. As in, I am not talking to you."
The boy raised his hands up in mock placation. "I was just wondering why you were talking to yourself. No need to get snappy."
Blaise chuckled to himself at Draco's expense. He was Draco's best friend, and therefore had liberties. Of course, his strong stature and a height of 6'1 could have something to do with it. He studied the shorter boy through his dark bangs, eyes sparkling in an eerie resemblance to Dumbledor. After a quick appraisal of the situation, Blaise made his opinion clear: "That Weasley girl must have you under a love spell or something."
Draco made a face at the Italian boy, "What are you going on about? She doesn't have me under a spell. She's just a victim." He retorted.
"Really. Who are your other victims?" Blaise asked and settled himself into a chair. As Head Boy and a Malfoy to boot, Draco had managed himself a single room. Flexing his now aching fingers, Draco rolled his head away from the taller boy and counted off on his uninjured hand.
"Well," he started, "there are those two new first years: Elane and Manuela. Then there's Susan Bones..." Draco went on, and on, and on.
"Ok! Ok, I get it! I get it! Stop!" Blaise half yelled, half jested. "So... what are the girls going to be? Your slaves or something?"
"You could call them that." Draco answered with a smirk. Just the thought of the legacy he was going to leave behind...
"Well my friend," Blaise said, forcing himself out of his seat and patting Draco on the back, "you better start doing better with your first victim."
Draco sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I know that. Wait!" Draco shouted, making Blaise jump back, "I have a detention with her on Friday! This is perfect! Why didn't I think about it before?"
"You're scaring me Draco. That look on your face... is not... normal." Blaise murmured, backing away. Draco looked at Blaise and nodded to himself, not quite realizing what it was he was agreeing to, so caught up in his scheming he was.
"I'll be back later. Don't wait up." Draco declared, marching by him. He quickly found his way to the Owlry and sent a letter to Professor Snape, asking for Ginny and him to have their detention alone. He was sure that Snape would allow it since he was his Godfather.
- - - -
Ginny woke to find herself alone. She got up drowsily and looked at the time. Grumbling, she walked to the door and made her way downstairs. It was 9: she had missed dinner. She found Ron, Harry and Hermione playing Wizards Chess when she reached the common room.
"Hey Gin why weren't you at dinner?" Ron asked, moving his queen to knock Harry's knight off the board.
"I... had to think and I fell asleep." Ginny answered, sitting next to Hermione on the couch. She sighed.
"I bet you're hungry." Harry said looking over Ginny as Ron took out the last of his chess pieces. He winced just slightly at the sound of a diminutive, but quite barbaric crunch.
She considered his statement. "Yeah, I think I'll go down to the kitchens and get something to eat," she decided aloud.
"You want us to go down there with you?" Ron asked. Clearly, the last episode with Malfoy was still in his mind.
"No. I'll be fine, don't worry. I can handle Malfoy on my own." She replied tartly, getting up and walking to the porthole.
"Just be careful!" came a chorus of three voices behind her. Ginny rolled her eyes.
However, after making her way down the hall, every noise seemed to make Ginny jump. She didn't know where Malfoy was, and she didn't want to run into him again. "Hello there."
Ginny jumped with a squeak, and turned around.
"Who's there?" She demanded, backing up. That didn't sound a thing like Draco.
"Don't fret little Ginny. I'm not Draco." A tall, dark boy walked out from the doorway he had been hiding in.
"Wha-what do you want?" Ginny asked, looking up at him. She could feel the hair on the back of her neck rising in his presence.
"Nothing, nothing at all." He murmured. "Where are you headed?" He changed the topic quickly and made his way closer, slowly, much like a predator.
"Why do you want to know?" she retorted, backing away. Panic was building its way through her chest. This situation felt way too much like it belonged in a trashy muggle paperback.
"Just wondering why a pretty girl like you would be walking alone somewhere... Now, will you tell me where you're going?" He crept into her personal space until she had backed all the way into a wall. Ginny was shaking now; she didn't know who this was and she didn't know why he was cornering her- until he kissed her. Too shocked to move or even struggle, she could only clench her teeth together and squeeze her eyes shut in horror. When he pulled back, Ginny screamed and he covered her mouth with his hand.
"Don't make another sound." He said. She shook her head wildly. Where was here wand? Which pocket had she stashed it in? All her recent memories seemed to have fled and suddenly she wasn't even sure she had brought that blasted contraption with her.
- - - -
Draco was walking back from the Owlry when he heard the scream. It sounded like it had come from the direction of the kitchens. He didn't know whether he should or shouldn't go and see who it was. Then again, he was Head Boy... Giving up, he slowly made his way in the direction of the scream. It was probably some punk of a second year playing a prank on a girl.
When he finally got there, he received a nasty little surprise: Blaise. And he was holding Ginny against the wall.
"Hey! Let go of her!" Draco yelled, running over to him. Filled with a sudden rage, he punched the other boy down. He looked to Ginny and she started crying. He glared down at the injured Slytherin. "What were you thinking Blaise! Leave her alone!" Draco yelled. Not satisfied, he stomped over to Blaise and kicked him in the side. "I can't believe you!"
"Why are you defending her? You don't even like her." Blaise said slowly, holding his side as he got up.
The realization of the miracle that had just occurred forced Ginny into giving the now flustered blond a once-over. "Yeah, why are you defending me?" She asked looking Draco in the eye.
"Um... I... uh..." caught off guard, Draco stammered.
"Why won't you answer us Draco?" Blaise asked, a triumphant smile beginning to creep up onto his face. Draco saw Ginny look from himself to Blaise.
"What's going on with you two?" she asked suspiciously, "You're both Slytherins. You aren't supposed to kiss Gryffindors like me. Why do you especially, Malfoy, keep attacking me in the halls?" She looked so confused; he didn't know what to say. He didn't know if he liked her or not. But that should be an easy answer.
He couldn't like her. Not a Weasley.
"Just go on Ginny. Don't worry about it." He muttered, "I'm sorry for Blaise attacking you."
She suppressed the urge to bite at her lip and gave him an imploring look. Realizing she wouldn't get any answers hoever, she resigned herself to nodding at the two seventh years and walked on toward the kitchens. The desire for food- that originally chased her out of the safety of the Gryffindor commons- had reared it's hungry head in the form of stomach cramps.
Left on their own in the halls, Blaise was looking Draco up and down in a quite smug fasion.
"Well, well, well... You do like her." he said with a snarky grin.
"No I don't!" Draco spun on his friend, "You, are just screwing with my plan!" he declared.
"I'm not doing anything with your plan." Blaise replied lightly. His smile widened as Draco turned red. "Now come on Mr. Head Boy, we have charms homework, and I need your help." he turned his back on the astounded blond, and cackled to himself in conspiratory glee.