What a way to get an idea—I actually dreamt this the other night…I'm not sure how original this is so….why don't you just review and tell me if I should continue?
The bold italics are lyrics from various songs to separate the thingamabobbers
Regular italics are thoughts
WARNING: HBP SPOILERS AHEAD!
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Look, you're standing alone, standing alone. However, I should have known, I should have known… -How, the Cranberries
"Listen…I really thought we understood each other last term…It's not a good idea for us to be together." The boy looked at the girl, trying hard to find the words to keep her from crying.
No tears were in her eyes. "Yes, and I thought we had an understanding when I told you that I don't care. I'm in no more danger than Ron or Hermione or anyone else you care about."
"But you're more important to me. I just…I don't want something to happen to you and have it be my fault."
"Make up your mind, Harry." Ginny Weasley snapped. "It's either always your fault or never your fault; you can't seem to decide which fits which situation."
Harry stared blankly at the redhead before him. "Ginny—"
"Don't Harry." She muttered, tearing her eyes from his hurt gaze. She wanted to hurt him. Looking at him would make her feel pity. "I don't want to have this conversation again. It ends now. You decide, right here, right now, Harry, are you going to be with me, no matter what risks there may be, or are you just going to throw away any friendship we might have?"
She stared at him hard now, willing him to make a choice, to make the choice she wanted him to make. He glanced away to the wall next to her.
"I'm sorry, Gin…"
"So I was just wasting my time, waiting on you to come around. I hope you don't change your mind, because it's a mistake I'm not going to make again."
She left the library in a silent fury. What a way to start the school year.
How, you said you never would leave me alone, how… -How, the Cranberries
Deceiver of hearts, deceiver of fools, he rules with fear, deceiver of hopes, deceiver of fools, he rules again –Deceiver of Fools, Within TemptationHe sat on his bed and looked around. It was still sinking in. He was back. They had let him back. He had assisted Death Eaters in entering Hogwarts, and had tried numerous times to murder the Headmaster, and they still let him back in the school.
I guess me finishing my last year here is more important to them then what place I have in the war. I didn't touch one person that night, in fact I was practically kidnapped. The fools couldn't convict me of a thing, so they sent me back here.
Draco Malfoy scoffed at this and lay back, resting his arm over his eyes.
…It's good to be back though…
He feeds on fear, poisons the truth, to gain their faith, to lead the way, to a world of decay –Deceiver of Fools, Within Temptation
He told me he loved me, while laughed in my face, he just led me astray –Caged, Within Temptation "Morning, Ginny." She ignored Hermione.
She took her seat at the end of the table, the furthest place possible away from him. She no longer felt the sting of tears in her eyes. They had long been exhausted the night before, and now it was Ginny who was exhausted. She had only gotten a few hours of sleep.
Kendry took the seat opposite Ginny silently and began dishing up food.
It was only after she had eaten her scrambled eggs and half of her jellied toast that she said anything. "You kept me up all night you know."
She stated, not looking at Ginny, but instead dishing more eggs onto her plate. A twang of shame mixed with annoyance ran through her. She was sorry for keeping her dorm mate awake, but she was in a right state here!
"Sorry." She mumbled.
"It's all right, considering…" she let the statement drift over the table.
If it was all right then WHY did you comment on it! Ginny thought fiercely, stabbing at her own food with equal ferocity. Ginny was angry. She was angry with Harry for being stupid, most obviously, but she was also angry with herself, she realized.
Why did I cry? I'm not sad, I'm completely pissed off! Ginny took a sip of orange juice and concluded that they were solely tears of anger that she was weeping.
"What you need is another guy." Kendry smirked and glanced down the table. "I've been hearing that Seamus is interested in you…I think you two would hit it off."
"I don't need another guy, I need revenge." Ginny fumed quietly.
A roar of laughter across the Hall grabbed their attention. Draco Malfoy and his friends were in a right fit of laughter over something over at the Slytherin table.
Ginny's eyes instinctively rolled upwards toward the cloudless ceiling at the stupidity of the Slytherin boys, but quickly snapped back to Malfoy.
She didn't even notice the hundreds of owls overhead as her mind began to formulate a plan. Or maybe both…
He took my virtue, I feel so cold inside, sorrow has frozen my mind. –Caged, Within Temptation
It's in your eyes, what's on your mind. I fear your smile and the promise inside. –A Dangerous Mind, Within Temptation
She wasn't sure if it was the best idea.
She actually knew it wasn't the best idea, but she didn't care.
Ginny had made up her mind. She was going to take revenge on Harry, and everyone else, for not hating him for his decision.
Sure, there were kinks that had to be worked out, but that could all be dealt with later. At the moment, Ginny was mainly concerned with setting everything into motion, and damn the consequences.
She was betraying her friends, her family, most of the wizarding community too, but she didn't care. Hurt, no, destroy Harry; that was all that was on her mind.
With that in mind, she spent her entire free period after breakfast searching for the person she needed to talk to most. After spending half of her time searching the castle, she gave up, figuring that he had classes, and went to the library.
Oh this is too easy… There he was: Draco Malfoy, by himself in a nearly deserted library, at a secluded table near the rear. Courage, Ginny. She thought to herself. The worst he can do is say no…
It's in your eyes, what's on your mind. I fear your presence, I'm frozen inside. –A Dangerous Mind, Within Temptation
My evil plan to save the world, just you wait 'till it's unfurled, it'll go down in history. –My Evil Plan to Save the World, Five Iron Frenzy
Quadrantis: The Quartering Curse.
This curse causes the victim's limbs to be torn in four different directions at the same time. It was invented by Hurgis the Horrible, a sixteenth century wizard who was fascinated by medieval muggle torture devices. Hurgis also went on to invent some of the more despicable and disused curses of our time, such as: The Bone Powdering Curse (page 42), The Eyeball Melting Curse (page 69) and Fireskin (page 136).
Draco Malfoy looked up as someone plopped into the seat across from him.
He scowled at the interruption, as well as the Weasley before him, before turning back to his book.
"You still hate him, right?"
Draco didn't look up. "Hate who?"
"Harry."
"Of course." He scoffed at the silliness of the girl's question.
"Just making sure." She sat there in silence then.
Draco tried to continue to read.
Fireskin, that sounds interesting…page 136…
Draco flipped to the page and began to read.
Arderecorium: The Flesh Burning Curse (Fireskin)
This curse causes the victim's brain to believe that their skin is on fire. Depending on the intensity of the casting, temperatures have been known to match those of the sun. Though the victim will feel extreme agony, the flesh will feel normal temperature to anyone else. The inventor…
"What do you want?" Draco snapped, loosing focus and looking up.
The redhead before him jumped at this sudden movement. She obviously wasn't expecting him to break that soon.
"Nothing much…I just…have an idea."
"Go share it with someone who cares, I'm trying to concentrate." Malfoy looked back down to the text before him, but smirked when he heard the distinct noise of a chair being pushed back.
Confervefacio lippitudo: The Eyeball Melting Curse
This curse does just what its name states. It causes the victim's eyeballs to melt in their sockets—
"Eww, that is so gross! Who would do that to someone?" an annoyingly-Weasley voice sounded behind him.
"I'm going to do it to you if you don't leave me in peace!" Malfoy growled.
"Okay fine, I'm just going to get straight to the point." She took the seat across from him again.
"Joy."
"I need your help."
Malfoy snorted. "Remind me again why I would help you?" he returned to his book.
"Heh, let me rephrase that: I think we can help each other." Ginny tried again.
Malfoy chuckled. "I don't see how you could possibly help me."
"I live at the Order." She answered quietly.
Malfoy looked up, a slight trace of interest carved in his features.
"What I mean to say is, I'm sixteen years old, and in everyone's eyes, apparently, still a child. They don't really watch what they say around me, and when they do…well I have my means to find things out." Ginny grinned at the thought of Fred and George's Extendable Ears.
"Are you trying to tell me that you would pass me information?"
"You catch on quick, Skippy."
"And in return you want…"
"You." She filled in the blank. "Heh…that sounds really funny doesn't it. Okay, time to specify again. I hate Harry Potter. You hate Harry Potter. I hate my brother for not hating Harry, You hate my brother for…well, generally speaking you hate my brother. Harry hates you. Ron hates you. Imagine their reactions if you and I were to…well we wouldn't really have to, but if the general public were to believe we were an item…" she trailed off.
"They would be furious."
"Exactly."
"I like the way you think, Weasley."
"That's Ginny, handsome." Ginny smirked at Malfoy's smirk.
"Why the sudden hate of…everything?"
"Nosy." She tapped his nose, but continued anyways. "Harry seems to think if we date I'm in more danger than anyone else he's close to. He's a prat."
"Agreed." Malfoy glanced at his watch. "I need to go. I have class." He glanced around them and, seeing that they were alone, shrunk the book in front of him and slipped it in his bag.
When he stood, Ginny stood with him. "So…we have a deal then?"
"Uh…yeah." He nodded. He took her outstretched hand, shaking on the bargain and pulled her towards him fiercely. "But if I find out you're passing me fake information—"
"You won't!" she denied quickly. "I mean, I wouldn't."
"Then we have an accord. See you 'round, love." He hissed, and left her, alone in the library and late for Arithmancy.
It's prophetic, no, it's not pathetic, I can't believe I made it up myself. –My Evil Plan to Save the World, Five Iron Frenzy
We're searching for a message, or so I thought but so it seems, the ignorance in the myths of others, is easier to redeem –Trust, Sarah McLachlan
Headmistress Minerva McGonagall sat in her office, awaiting word from the minister. Suddenly the flames in her fireplace changed to greens ones, and out popped Cornelius Fudge.
"The Minister sends his apologies, but is very busy at the moment. He asked me to visit you on his behalf." Fudge explained before McGonagall could utter a syllable.
"That's quite alright. Won't you take a seat?" Minerva offered the man, gesturing to a chair that appeared in front of the desk.
"No, no, won't be here long. The reason for my visit is this: It has come to the Minister's attention that you have admitted Draco Malfoy back into Hogwarts, am I correct in stating this?"
"Quite, yes."
"And the Minister would like to know…er, why?" Fudge stumbled over the words. "What I mean to say is, we demand you remove him from the premises immediately. He is a danger to the students!"
"He is nothing of the sort. Draco Malfoy did not, and will not, harm one person. His only crime was allegedly admitting followers of Voldemort into the school, and we don't even have proof of that." She was of course, completely lying. Potter and his friends confirmed numerous times that the Malfoy boy had helped the Death Eaters enter the school via a magical cabinet in the Room of Requirement.
"He should not be permitted to learn here! Let the other schools take him!"
"MR. Fudge." Minerva started loudly, rising from her seat. "As long as I can call this school my own, any student, no matter what bloodline, family or criminal record will be allowed to learn at Hogwarts." Cornelius looked momentarily taken aback at the Headmistress's force.
"The Ministry elected me to remain in the position of Headmistress. That means I have the final decision. And I have decided that the Malfoy boy will stay…It's what Albus would have done." She added quietly.
"Here, here!" The portrait of Dumbledore agreed behind her.
"Albus Dumbledore was a—"
"A GREAT man! And don't you dare attempt to insult him this office, school, or, for that matter, in my presence at all! Draco Malfoy is staying, and that's that! Now if you'll excuse me I have students to see….Good day!" she emphasized loudly at Fudge's frozen figure.
"Minister Scrimegeour will hear about this!" He threatened quietly, strutting back towards the fire.
"Tell him to try to do something about it!" she called to Fudge as he disappeared in the once again green flames.
"You're a very trusting woman, Minerva." The portrait of Phinius commented. "Even being a Slytherin, personally I'm not sure if I would allow him back."
McGonagall fell back into her chair and rested her elbows on her desk, her face in her hands and sighed. "I believe in second chances."
I've never questioned the answers given, to find the faith that's been lost within, 'cause where I lay my trust in others, where it lies the ground is thin –Trust, Sarah McLachlan
I like to play with you, pretend, 'Cuz you don't make me cry. We're better then all of the rest, so it's okay to lie. –Perfect Lie, Me
2:04.
It was 2:04 in the morning and Ginny was still pacing around her dorm.
The previous day's conversation with Malfoy wouldn't stop running through her head.
He said yes…Harry is going to think we're together and feel the pain that I felt when I couldn't have him. Merlin I can't believe he said yes, I mean so quickly! This is perfect, the perfect plan, the perfect lie. This little game with make Harry cry. Hey, haha, that rhymes! Ha, now I'm like an uber wicked poet! Ha, he said yes, this is great. Everything is working out just like I had hoped! Malfoy agreed and Harry will be crushed when he sees I've "moved on" and I can't even think of one problem except—
"—I have to betray the Order." She whispered aloud, catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She walked closer and placed her hands on either edge of the vanity.
"I can do it no problem right?" she asked her reflection, as if she were the future Ginny having already been in this experience.
"I mean no one cares that Harry hurt me so why shouldn't I hurt all of them?"
"Because." Her reflection replied. "You aren't like that. You're Ginerva Weasley, yes, like it or not you're a Weasley, and you are a good witch. You don't devote your time to hurting others or plotting things like this. Face it, babe, you're way out of your league on this one."
"No." Ginny replied. "Shut up."
"Yes. Face it, playing with fire is going to get you burned. Playing with the big boys is going to get you thrown out of the game unconscious, this is common knowledge. Well Draco Malfoy is the fire. This isn't a game or a scheme to him, this is his life. He does these kinds of things for fun and work! You can't just jump in and think that making one little deal with him is going to change anything because the first chance he gets, he's going to squash you into the dirt like the good person you are."
"No. Stop it. I'm not good. I want them to hurt…" Ginny hissed to her reflection. She was so close her nose was almost touching the mirror and the glass was becoming foggier with each of her words.
The reflection wiped the fog away irritably. "You don't know what you're doing. You--Oh no, he's coming--"
Draco Malfoy appeared in the mirror behind Ginny.
He grabbed her swiftly and held a blunt dagger to her throat. "You wouldn't be thinking about backing out, now, would you?" he hissed.
"Now look what you've gone and done! Now wake up and get yourself out of this mess! You're in over your head! Wake UP!" the mirror Ginny screamed.
Ginny jerked awake. She scrambled out of bed and in front of her mirror, clutching the sides, waiting for her reflection to speak to her once more.
Draco Malfoy appeared and disappeared behind her and Ginny had to stifle a scream as her bed hangings swung back and forth in the breeze from the open window.
Panting in fear still from her crazy dream, Ginny climbed back into bed and glanced at the clock.
2:04
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Ginny slept in the next morning. Except for waking up from that one dream she had slept all night, but it was a restless sleep.
She awoke late in the morning with 30 minutes left of her free period. She quickly showered and got dressed.
She was on her way down to the kitchens for a late breakfast when a silver locket caught her attention. There it was just lying on the floor. She bent down and picked up. The locket had an ornate pattern carved into it in what looked like rose quartz.
When Ginny tried to open it, she found the task impossible. She slid it into her pocket. I'll put up some found signs later…she thought absentmindedly.
Ten minutes later with her stomach full of bacon and toast, Ginny headed down to the dungeons for her first potions lesson of the year.
"Hello…and how is everyone today?" inquired Professor Slughorn.
The class muttered various responses.
"Good!" he cried cheerfully, as if they had just announced that he had just won one million galleons from Wizarding Reimbursement Abode. "We're going to start the year off with quite a common Pepperup Potion. Now, who can tell me who invented this potion?" He looked around the Gryffindor's side of the class eagerly, as if hoping for two Hermione Grangers in one generation.
Ginny glanced around. Everyone was staring dumbly around or scribbling doodles or initials all over their parchment. Ginny sighed and raised her hand reluctantly.
"Miss Weasley!"
"Erm, the Pepperup Potion was invented by Glover Hipworth to cure the common cold."
"Very good, very good, five points to Gryffindor!"
"He's in an awfully cheery mood today." Kendry leaned over and whispered to Ginny.
"Hey whatever gets us points, right?" Ginny muttered.
"It also helps that he favors you." Ginny smiled at this and, on Slughorn's orders, retrieved some Billywig stings from the supply cabinet and began her potion.
It wasn't long before Kendry leaned over to Ginny again. "So…why don't you want to go out with Seamus? He really fancies you."
"I'm…interested in someone else." The lie came out easily once she had thought of it. "And I think something might happen."
"Oh?" Kendry cocked her head towards Ginny as she crushed her daisy roots. "And who might that be?"
"No one important." That was true enough. Malfoy really wasn't all that important.
"That's not true just tell me—"
"Shh, Slughorn." Slughorn strolled past on his patrol of the classroom.
Kendry tried several more times to contact Ginny during potions but she claimed she needed to concentrate on her potion and otherwise ignored her. The focused work actually paid off at the end of class, however, when Professor Slughorn announced that Ginny's potion was the perfect temperature, color, texture and density, suggested she go into nursing after Hogwarts and awarded Gryffindor with another fifteen points.
As the sixth years filed out of the classroom Ginny noticed the seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins were lining up. She was stopped in her tracks by an arm. An arm protruding from the wall to Draco Malfoy. Ginny smiled slyly.
"Hey, Malfoy."
"How is he today?"
"Excellent mood. Gave me 20 points." Draco smirked and leaned against the wall with his arm above Ginny.
"Well I'll have to remember to deduct 25 later on then."
This…Ginny was in shock inside. This is Draco Malfoy flirting! She flirted back.
"Is that so?" She questioned, raising her eyebrows. "For what, may I ask?"
"Oh, I'm sure I can think of something…" he leaned in significantly, but left enough space for Ginny to escape.
And it's a good thing he did to, because at that moment Ron, Hermione and Harry added themselves to the Gryffindor line and were staring incredulously.
Ginny blushed and ducked out from under Malfoy's pin. "I gotta get to Charms."
"Have fun."
'I'll talk to you later!' Ginny mouthed and gestured, then quickly turned and sped off.
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"What the bloody hell was that?" Hermione spit out.
"I'm not quite sure…but I think Ginny was just flirting with Malfoy." Harry shuddered.
"Hey Malfoy!" Ron called out and walked towards the Slytherin. "Leave my sister alone, eh?"
Malfoy grinned to his friends. "Must respect older brother's rules, no doubt, but uh, I guarantee you she'll find a loophole."
"And what makes you think she'll bother trying?" Ron fumed.
Malfoy and Zabini exchanged glances. Malfoy smirked. Zabini chuckled.
Ron stepped forward once more, drawing his fist back to punch. Just as Hermione caught his wrist, Professor Slughorn walked out.
"No trouble, is there?"
"No, professor." Harry replied. "Everything's fine."
"Right then, everyone inside!" he called out merrily to the students.
The seventh years started to file in. Malfoy went out of his way to bump into Harry and whisper:
"Can't believe you let that one get away, she's a looker, she is."
Harry had to resist punching Malfoy in the mouth all through Potions.
So don't be afraid to grab my hand, when the passersby pass through, one perfect lie and they'll believe that I'm really with you. –Perfect Lie, Me
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So that's all for this one! Later to come: Harry is in torment as Ginny's plan becomes more and more believable, and as Ginny gets in more and more over her head.
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