The Devils Triangle

by fresh pickled toad

A funny and sexy little tale about the two great loves of Ginny Weasley's life Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter. They're both wonderful, both flawed. How did this happen? Who will she choose?

5. Chapter Four: Saving Draco Malfoy

The Devil's Triangle

Chapter 4: Saving Draco Malfoy

Harry finished packing his trunk and took a quick look around his room to make sure nothing was forgotten.

"Ready, Gin?" he called across the hall.

"Yes, let's go." Ginny came out of her room and at the sight of her, Harry felt the breath leave his body. Ginny was wearing a sapphire blue sundress that suited her figure perfectly; she was gorgeous.

"Wow! What's the occasion?"

"I don't know. I reckon it'll be a sad day, so I just want to brighten it up a bit," she said.

"Well, I figure if Sirius is looking down on us today and sees you, he'll come running back out through the Veil just to flirt with you," Harry said grinning.

"Harry!"

"Is that the dress you wore to the wedding with Dean?"

"Yes, I probably won't get another chance to wear it this season. Let's go."

Harry and Ginny were Flooing to Grimmauld Place to attend Sirius' will reading. Ron, Hermione and Mrs. Weasley would meet them there later for dinner and they would leave for the Hogwarts Express from Grimmauld Place in the morning.

"Gin, can two people Floo at once?" Harry asked with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

Ginny giggled. "I don't see why not, might be a bit cosy; let's give it a whirl!"

Harry and Ginny tumbled out of the Floo into the kitchen at #12 Grimmauld Place laughing. Harry rotated their bodies so that he fell, not so accidentally, on top of Ginny. "Now that's the way to travel!" he said grinning, as he pinned her beneath his weight, making no attempt to get up.

"Harry… get off me you perv! This is serious; we're here for a will reading!"

"Yes, but Sirius would be the first person to encourage me to take advantage of the position I find myself in!"

A caustic voice from above sneered. "I'm very pleased you're having a fruitful summer Potter, but the rest of us are trying to hold down our lunch."

Harry burst up off the floor and immediately drew his wand. "Malfoy!"

"Take it easy Harry," chuckled the friendly voice of Remus Lupin behind him.

"Remus! What's going on here?" Harry spat lowering his wand slightly. It was then he noticed a third person at the large wooden table, a regal and elegant blond woman he knew to be Malfoy's mother.

"Harry, I'd like to introduce Narcissa Malfoy," Remus spoke in a tone of voice that warned Harry not to say anything rash. "Mrs. Malfoy has placed herself and Draco under the protection of the Order of the Phoenix; they've been in residence here most of the summer."

Harry swallowed his indignation, barely managing to restrain himself from having a fit at the stupidity of letting Malfoys into Grimmauld Place. He smiled stiffly and reached across the table to offer his hand to Mrs. Malfoy. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Malfoy."

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Harry. Draco has mentioned you on occasion," she said with cool purr and a slight smirk reminiscent of her son.

Harry suddenly remembered he'd left Ginny lying on the floor. He turned in time to see Malfoy sweep Ginny onto her feet in one strong elegant movement. He then helped her remove the cloak she had worn to protect her summer dress from the Floo ash. Harry watched Malfoy's eyes subtly appreciate Ginny's curves which were enhanced by the fitted dress. Harry had liked her outfit very much before leaving The Burrow, but now he thought she was a bit underdressed.

"Thank you… Draco," Ginny said choking slightly on his name.

"You're very welcome, Ginny," Draco replied much more smoothly, holding her gaze in his own with a smirk.

"Ginny, I'm sorry I didn't help you up myself." Ginny tore her gaze away from Draco and stepped towards Harry.

"That's all right Harry, Draco was there to rescue me," she said with grin and an incredulous flash of her eyes. "Hello Remus, Mrs. Malfoy. Are you having a pleas…"

"Is Professor Dumbledore here yet?" Harry interrupted.

"Yes, he's in Sirius' study I believe," Remus answered.

"Come on Ginny," Harry grabbed Ginny's hand abruptly and tugged her behind him as he quickly led her from the room.

"Harry, what's wrong with you? Stop dragging me around!" Ginny exclaimed once they were safely out of the kitchen and yanked her hand from his death grip.

"How could they let Malfoys into the Headquarters?" he hissed.

"It is odd, I must admit. I'm sure Professor Dumbledore had his reasons, Harry."

"Yes Harry, she's quite correct. Miss Weasley, you're looking lovely today; perhaps you'd like to retire to the kitchen while Harry, Remus and I discuss Sirius' estate." Harry stiffened as Professor Dumbledore spoke from behind him. He had no intention of going through this without Ginny.

"Hello Professor. Ginny, I'd like you to stay with me if you don't mind."

"Alright Harry," Ginny said, slightly surprised.

"Professor Dumbledore, there's nothing you can say to me that Ginny can't hear. She stays with me."

Professor Dumbledore merely raised his eyebrow with an amused twinkle in his eyes and followed them into his office.

The actual will reading was far less traumatic then Harry had envisioned. Remus had been appointed his new guardian and the two of them had to review and sign many parchments. After an hour, poor Ginny was shifting restlessly in her seat and looked like she was struggling to stay awake.

"Gin, why don't you go? I'll catch up with you in a bit," Harry whispered to her chuckling.

"Oh, thank Merlin! I guess I'm not a 'sit quietly' kind of girl!" she giggled as she scruffed his hair and practically bolted from the room.

Ginny got herself a Butterbeer from the kitchen. After discovering that Ron, Hermione and Mrs. Weasley still had not yet arrived, she headed for the library to find something to read. The Black family library had an extensive selection of books, including many on the Dark Arts which could only be obtained from the 'Restricted Section' of the library at Hogwarts. Ginny found a book on Binding Curses. Although she'd introduced Harry to the concept, she really didn't know much about them and was curious… after all, it couldn't hurt to be informed. She curled up in a chair and began reading.

"Boyfriend finally let you out of his sight, did he?" Ginny cringed at the sound of Malfoy's taunting voice. He was ensconced comfortably in a chair in the corner and had apparently been watching her since she'd entered the room. Ginny merely sneered at him and returned to her reading. Malfoy tilted his head to read the title on the spine of her book; his face registered amused surprise by her reading selection but he said nothing and returned to his own book.

Ginny surreptitiously glanced at Malfoy on occasion. He looked positively scruffy by Malfoy standards; barefoot, wearing only blue jeans and a black tee shirt. His hair was a mess and looked like it had been slept on. Overall he looked quite yummy… ahem… not that Ginny noticed these things.

Draco had watched the Weaslette enter the library; she didn't seem to notice him. When did she grow up? However, Draco vaguely seemed to recall one of the reasons she'd been able to hit him with that nasty hex last spring was because he'd been so busy noticing other parts of her anatomy that he wasn't paying attention to her wand hand.

Draco had been stuck in this awful house all summer; not allowed out or to Owl his friends. His only company had been his mother, who had not been in a humour to listen to any of his opinions, and a band of annoying, self-deluded 'do-gooders' who he vigorously attempted to avoid. He was desperate for company, but not desperate enough for the company of a Weasley. One more day and he could return to his friends at school.

Would they still be his friends? He didn't know. Slytherins were unpredictable about such things; preservation of power generally outweighed friendship. Parkinson would be there for him, he was sure of that, or at least right after she strangled him for missing her birthday. He'd made one witty comment to the Weaslette and she just made face at him, a rather cute face actually; apparently she wasn't in the mood to spar. She was reading a book about Binding Curses… an interesting choice; maybe Potter had a kinky side, although he sincerely doubted it.

"Hey Gin, I'm done." Harry came into the library and noticed the two of them reading on opposite ends of the library. "You two playing nicely together?" he asked with a smirk.

"Hi, Harry."

"Gin, you want to go somewhere else?" Harry asked. This was probably the last time he and Ginny could be alone together and he certainly didn't want to spend one second of it with Malfoy.

"Sure. Upstairs?"

Malfoy rolled his eyes and snorted a laugh as they left the room, but they ignored him.

They settled themselves comfortably in the room Ginny and Hermione would share that night.

"Did Malfoy annoy you?" Harry asked.

"Surprisingly, no. Just one snarky comment, then he ignored me. I'd say that's as pleasant as one can get with him."

Harry chuckled. "I expect you're right. What was the snarky comment?"

"Oh! It was: 'Boyfriend finally let you out of his sight, did he?'" Ginny did such an uncanny imitation of Malfoy's drawl that Harry laughed outright.

"Sorry about that. I probably shouldn't have mauled you in the kitchen. People will get the wrong idea," Harry winced slightly.

"I don't care what Malfoy thinks; he probably thinks we're up here snogging our brains out right now. Let him," Ginny said casually.

"I'm going to miss being alone with you."

"Me too. It's been nice, hasn't it? We'll figure something out."

"Ginny, the memory charm on The Bower… will I forget about The Bower? I don't want to forget anything that happened this summer."

"When Mum gets here, I'll have her fix it so you won't forget."

"Thanks."

They spent they rest of the afternoon peacefully chatting and laughing together. Before they realized time had passed, there was a knock on the door and Ron and Hermione entered. Ron was in a state.

"What the bloody Hell is Malfoy doing here? What's that all about? Oh and by the way, we ran into him in the hall and he told us we could find the two of you up here shagging. Does he know something we don't?" Ron glared at both of them.

Harry looked shocked, but Ginny just laughed. "Ron, he's just being Malfoy, trying to get a rise out of you and it obviously worked. Calm down."

"Yeah, well Mum brought in dinner. She told us to come and get you."

They arrived in the kitchen and were surprised to find Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Malfoy chatting pleasantly with one another.

"Oh good, everyone's here. Let's eat." Mrs. Weasley exclaimed. "No wait… Draco's missing. Ron, go find Draco."

"I'm not getting him. He can starve for all I care!" Ron said adamantly.

"Ronald!" his mother gasped.

"I'll get him Mum." Ginny left the kitchen and found Draco in the library where she'd left him earlier. "Malfoy, dinner's ready," she announced. As he walked past her grumpily, she couldn't resist the grin that spread across her face. "This should be fun," she said to him quietly.

Malfoy smirked back at her mischievously. "We'll see what we can do."

When they returned to the kitchen, apparently Harry had shown some surprise that Mrs. Weasley and Mrs. Malfoy knew one another so well.

"Of course, dear. We're cousins, very distant of course, but our families associated when we were girls. We took very different paths in life though."

"I'll say!" Suddenly, Harry looked at Ginny and Draco with a look of mock-disgust. "So you two are cousins!"

Draco looked equally disgusted with Harry. "All pureblood families are related if you go back far enough Potter. The Potters are related to the Weasleys much in the same way that the Prewetts are related to the Blacks, so you're her cousin too. I also believe that the Potters are related to the Malfoys in some way, but I'd rather not think about that."

"How do you know all that?" Harry asked, as no one had ever told him who his family was, or who he was related to. It was rather disturbing that Malfoy knew so much.

"I pay attention to what's important Potter. It's a very Muggle attitude you have. They think it's an accomplishment if they know who their grandparents are. It's repulsive. I'd bet you have no idea about your heritage do you?"

"No one's ever told me…."

"You shouldn't need to be told! It's in the library, I'm sure Granger could show you where that is."

"Draco, that's enough. Eat your dinner," his mother ordered sternly.

Ron thought a change of topic was in order. "Harry, how'd today go with Sirius' will and all?"

"Lovely… aside from his vault at Gringotts, I'm also the proud owner of #12 Grimmauld Place and all its contents," Harry said, dispassionately.

"Harry! What are you going to do with it?" Hermione exclaimed.

Harry shrugged. "I don't know. The Order can use it for as long as they like; then I'll take a match to it I suppose."

"Oh Harry, you can't!" Ginny interjected. "You could brighten it up! Get rid of Mrs. Black's portrait somehow; it'll make a brilliant bachelor pad for you and Ron someday. Plenty of room for pesky little sisters to visit!"

"Yeah! Wouldn't we be popular with the witches Harry? Living in an invisible house that none of them could find," laughed Ron.

"Well, I know how particular you two are; you wouldn't want just any witch to be able to stop by, just a select few," Ginny said defensively.

"Alright Gin. I'll be sure to consider that before I torch the place. And yes Hermione, you may help yourself to the books in the library. Happy birthday, and don't expect me to help you carry them."

"Thank you, Harry! I'm going to need another trunk!" exclaimed Hermione happily.

"Hey Harry, don't you think it's time we tracked down Kreacher and gave him his fondest wish?" asked Ron with a gleam in his eye.

"What's that, being given permanent residence in a pair of Mrs. Black's elephant-sized knickers?"

"No… mounting his head on a plaque next to his ancestors on that wall going up the steps. And no Hermione, after what he did to Sirius, I don't want to hear about spew!"

"Ronald… it's S.P.E.W.!"

Harry was surprised dinner continued rather uneventfully after that. In fact, it wasn't nearly as dramatic as a normal Weasley meal. Following dinner, Ginny pulled her mother aside quietly and then invited Harry over as well. Mrs. Weasley waved her wand and chanted an unfamiliar charm. Harry immediately felt a warm tingling sensation in his head, and Mrs. Weasley explained, "It's the opposite of a memory charm, dear. Now you can keep your memories from The Bower this summer for as long as you like."

Later that evening, Harry sat in the Grimmauld Place library frantically finishing a potions essay, on the components and uses of Polyjuice Potion, which he had left until the last minute. One of the disadvantages to spending all of his spare time in Ginny's Bower was that Hermione wasn't there to remind him to do his homework. She was sitting next to him on the sofa reading her arithmancy textbook, while Ron and Ginny were in the middle of a particularly heated game of wizard's chess.

Draco and his mother had been in the kitchen since dinner having a quiet but intense discussion. Harry couldn't hear what it was about, but finally Mrs. Malfoy's autocratic voice rose to an audible level.

"No Draco, I'm not willing to do that any more than you are, and that's my final word. I'm retiring to my room now. Go and spend a pleasant evening with your schoolmates, and I'll see you in the morning." Harry saw Mrs. Malfoy breeze by the library door on her way to her quarters. Then he heard the sounds of Draco swearing, and throwing something in the kitchen. Harry and his mates all looked up and around at each other, but no one ventured to comment.

Several minutes later Draco appeared in the doorway looking sullen and miserable, but also in complete control of his temper. "I've been instructed to come and have a pleasant evening with my schoolmates," he drawled. He pinched the bridge of his nose as if the were developing a headache and laughed at the absurdity of his mother's instruction.

The four of them looked at him blankly. Finally, Ginny took pity on him. "Malfoy, do you play?" she asked indicating the chess board, while sending her most ferocious 'behave yourselves'glare at Ron and Harry.

"Of course," Malfoy brightened slightly, stepping forward to have a look at the game.

"Good then, come and help me whip Ron's arse. I have him on the run as you can see, but Ron always has a 'Plan B', and I'm having trouble figuring out what his 'Plan B' is here. Do you have any ideas?"

Malfoy continued to look at the game intently, as Ron protested. "Ginny, you can't do that! If he helps you win you're going to lose a point in the record book."

"Well, that's not fair! Harry helps me against you all the time and you don't complain!"
Ginny protested back.

"Harry's useless at chess!" Ron laughed.

"Hey, I'm right here!" Harry yelped as he continued to scribble out his essay.

"Yeah well, rumour has it the Ferret's quite good," Ron said warily.

"I've heard the same about you Weasel, although I'm surprised you let the Weaslette back you up against the wall like this."

"Ginny's no slouch."

Harry watched the two boys size each other up. They each carried the reputation of being the best chess player in their respective house. Harry knew the one thing Ron would like to do more than beat Malfoy up was to beat him at chess.

"Right then! Budge up." Malfoy squeezed himself into the same oxblood leather chair as Ginny and he began whispering in her ear.

"Well, isn't that cosy," grumbled Harry under his breath.

After a minute of whispering back and forth Ginny let out a happy squeal and continued the game with Ron. She defeated him five moves later.

"Give me my point, darling brother!" she exclaimed jubilantly.

"No way!" Ron pouted.

"Give the young lady her point, Weasley; she had you beat before I entered in and you know it," Malfoy laughed as he leaned away from Ginny's flailing arms and watched her bounce out of the chair and do her usual victory celebration. Malfoy's eyes opened in amused surprise.

Ron growled and pulled the little notebook from his pocket, jotting down some figures.

"What's the score Ron?" asked Ginny, winding down her victory dance and sitting down next to Malfoy.

"Lets see…" Ron grumbled. "Ron 1549…. Ginny 1535. Humph!"

"I'm gaining on you, Ronnikins! I'd say by the end of the term Gryffindor will have a new champion!" taunted Ginny.

Ron suddenly darkened and glared at her as furiously as he could manage. "Over my dead, bruised and bloody body, Gingerkins." Ron brightened suddenly as he popped out of his chair. "Anyone for a Butterbeer?" Everyone's hand went up. "Right then. I'll be back. Set-up the board Malfoy… if you have the stones to face me!"

"After the thrashing I just witnessed, I'm shivering in fear!" Malfoy drawled as he and Ginny began to reset the board. Their arms kept intertwining and bumping into one another as they reset the chessmen. They both realized how closely to one another they had been sitting and an uncomfortable silence descended over them, although neither moved from the chair.

"Erm… how long have you and your brother been keeping score?" Malfoy asked almost timidly.

"Oh… ah… well, forever it seems. I was probably about 5 when we started. We hadn't played for the longest time, but Harry got us going again this summer, didn't you Harry?" Ginny leaned forward and shot an adoring and grateful grin at him. Although Harry was inwardly seething at Ginny's proximity to Malfoy he couldn't help but return her gaze, and grin back.

"I didn't do anything, Gin," Harry blushed lightly.

Malfoy watched this exchange imperceptivity. He started to realise it might be fun to steal Potter's girl out from under his nose. Certainly something to do. The little witch did have her assets. Could almost make a bloke forget she's a Weasley… almost.

Ron returned with everyone's Butterbeer and settled in to do battle with Malfoy. The tension and concentration between the two was palpable in the room. Ginny and Malfoy continued to whisper to each other about the best strategy to defeat Ron, who was clearly not amused.

"Harry, mark this down as the day when Ginny defected to the dark side," grumbled Ron.

"You'll survive," Ginny countered.

"Finished! Yes!" Harry happily put down his quill, and stretched to relieve the tension in his arms and shoulders. Hermione's head immediately popped out of her book, reached for Harry's parchment and began to read.

"Mummy correcting your schoolwork, Scarhead?" taunted Malfoy. Harry shot a very rude hand gesture at Malfoy, while turning to Hermione.

"Hermione, don't mark it up too badly; I don't have the time or energy to rewrite it!" pleaded Harry.

"Shhh!" was Hermione's only reply, correction quill in hand.

After several minutes of reading, Hermione looked up very confused. "Harry? This essay!"

"Oh, is it crap? Please don't tell me its crap!"

"No," she began carefully. "It's not. It's well organized, your arguments are logical and your supporting facts are correct and well presented. You wrote eight inches more than was required, and you even included a section on Polyjuice variations and alternate uses. I didn't even do that!"

"But what's wrong with it?" Harry asked desperately.

"Nothing! That's what I'm trying to tell you. This is a brilliant essay, and I can't improve it." Harry sat there looking stunned, almost scared. Harry usually wrote essays at least three times before Hermione allowed him to turn them in.

In fact, everyone in the room was stunned. "Let me see that!" Malfoy demanded. He and Hermione were the two top students in potions; the last thing he needed was more competition from Perfect Potter. After quickly scanning the essay Malfoy conceded, "It is good. Humph!"

"I guess I've been thinking more clearly lately. I've been sleeping better too. Maybe that has something to do with it," Harry pondered.

"That makes sense," Hermione said thoughtfully. "Have you been dreaming?"

"Not about Voldemort, no," Harry grinned sheepishly. "No nightmares, not since I arrived at The Burrow. Dumbledore told me today that Voldemort has been attempting to access my dreams for the past month unsuccessfully and he's getting quite peevish about it. I have to meet with Snape the first day of classes, so he can assess what's going on." Harry made a facial expression of severe distaste.

"Er… Harry, should you be saying all this in front of the Ferret?" Ron asked.

"Dumbledore said it didn't matter what we said to Malfoy; he's bound by a charm to not repeat anything he's seen or heard this summer. He probably knows more than we do, having been here all summer." Harry grinned widely. "Let's just say that if he squeals, it'll be written all over his face!"

Ron laughed loudly. "The old man's taken a page out of our Hermione's book has he?" Ron said beaming with pride at Hermione. Hermione looked quite pleased as well.

"Well let's take advantage of it, shall we? So Malfoy, is there any burning question you've been dying to ask us? Now's your chance!" teased Ron.

"I don't give you lot that much thought," Malfoy lied, and then continued carefully. "But this essay has reminded me of one thing. Second year: you two Polyjuiced Crabbe and Goyle and had a chat with me in the dungeon, didn't you?"

"You didn't!" Ginny exclaimed, leaning toward Harry. "I can't believe you didn't tell me!"

Ron and Harry grinned at each other, remembering that particular adventure.

"I knew it!" Malfoy exclaimed. "Why?"

"We thought you were the Heir of Slytherin and opened the Chamber," Ron said simply.

"I didn't open the bloody Chamber!" ranted Malfoy.

"We know that now," Ron said cautiously, watching Ginny stiffen.

"So, who did open the Chamber? I know you lot know," Draco queried.

Ginny answered quickly. "That's not a conversation that leads to a pleasant evening, so another time perhaps." Draco met Ginny eyes and noticed a haunted sadness in them he hadn't seen before. He nodded and changed the subject.

"Where did you get Polyjuice Potion anyway?"

Ron nodded his head towards Hermione. "Hermione brewed it."

"You were brewing Polyjuice when you were twelve?" Hermione nodded. She was very uncomfortable sharing information with Malfoy, and she was sure they would regret it. "That's brilliant!" Malfoy said, genuinely impressed. Hermione smiled a bit.

"She's not that brilliant," Ron countered. "Hermione was supposed to be in the dungeon with us…"

"Ron…" Hermione said quietly with a distinct warning in her voice.

"She was supposed to Polyjuice Millicent Bulstrode…"

"RON!" she tried again, but Ron continued unfazed.

"…but instead she turned herself into Millicent Bulstrode's cat!" Ron and Harry burst out laughing at the memory of Hermione with a furry face, ears and a tail. Ginny gasped, and Malfoy sat there gaping.

"I don't believe you Ronald Weasley!" Hermione shrieked.

"MUDBLOOD?" said Malfoy, finally able to form words as he collapsed into hysterical laughter.

Ron and Harry both began yelling at Malfoy for his perceived slight on Hermione. Ginny turned and punched Malfoy several times as hard as she could.

"Ouch! NO! You don't understand… ouch! You don't understand!" Malfoy barely squeaked out. Still laughing uncontrollably, he wrapped his arms tightly around Ginny and pulled her close to restrain her from hitting him again.

"Calm down, Weaslette! Millie's cat is named MUDBLOOD!" he said as he collapsed breathlessly against Ginny's shoulder. There was a moment of silence, and then Ginny began snickering with him and he released her reluctantly from his embrace.

Harry and Ron were valiantly swallowing their laughter and watching Hermione intently. Hermione's lips finally twitched. "Okay, that is funny," she admitted. Harry and Ron finally allowed themselves to dissolve into laughter.

After several minutes Ron and Draco resumed their chess game and all was peaceful again, with only an occasional snicker breaking through the quiet.

However, Hermione was plotting her revenge.

"Ron…" she said sweetly, "why don't you ask Malfoy about your theory?"

All Ron's attention was focused on the chessboard. "What theory's that, Luv?" he said without looking up.

Harry and Ginny shot each other a surprised look that said "Did Ron just call Hermione Luv?" Hermione looked momentarily stunned, but recovered quickly and resumed her track.

"You remember, the one about Slytherin girls' virtue," Hermione reminded him.

Ron's head jerked up so hard he gave himself whiplash. Draco's head also snapped out of the game with a smirk. "You have my attention!'

Ron glowered at Hermione, his face quickly turning bright red. "Oh, it's nothing… just some stupid thing I heard."

"Some stupid thing you heard and believed!"Hermione quipped.

"It's NOTHING!" Ron replied, desperately trying to return his attention to the chess game.

"Malfoy, Ron thinks there are no virgins in Slytherin house!"

Draco quirked an eyebrow with interest.

"Hermione!" Ron tried to interrupt.

"He thinks the girls lose their virginity as soon as possible to protect themselves against Binding curses."

"HERMIONE!" Ron tried again, but now Hermione continued, unfazed.

"Ron thinks it's common for fathers to use their daughters as chattel, you know, gamble them in a game of cards or trade them for other favours."

"I never said that!" Ron exclaimed

"It is certainly what you implied! Malfoy, would you care to clarify?"

Draco was half amused and half horrified. "Do you really believe that rubbish? Do you think we would treat our woman like common blood traitors? I'm not even going to respond any further." The Malfoy smirk returned to his face. "When we get back to school, I think you should pose your theory to Parkinson. She'd set you straight." Then he began to laugh. "Or better yet, ask Millie! Oh yeah! Millie'd have your privates stuffed and mounted on the common room wall before you finished the question. Oh Weasley, I'm begging you. Ask her, and let me be there when you do!"

"Okay, okay. I guess I might be wrong," Ron conceded, grouchily

At some point during Draco's tirade, Ginny had stiffened and removed herself from the chair she'd been sharing with Draco. She moved to sit on the sofa between Harry and Hermione, and was shooting him cold and menacing glares. For a little thing, she looked quite intimidating. Draco tried to think back on anything he could have said to offend her. He couldn't think of anything. In fact, he thought he'd been behaving quite well considering the circumstances. Nevertheless, he continued his rant at Ron.

"Did you think it was part of my Slytherin prefect duties to deflower the virgins?" he laughed and was pleased to see Ginny trying to hide a giggle.

"Is it?" Ron raised his eyebrows interestedly.

"No! Bloody hell! NO! ... Actually that task would be more in Zabini's area of interest, not mine."

"Don't you like girls?" Ron couldn't resist.

Anger flashed over Malfoy's face momentarily, but a calm mask quickly overcame the fury. He spoke slowly as though he were speaking to a small child who couldn't possibly understand. "I like girls... very much, but unlike some, I have standards. I'm not one to indulge in casual liaisons."

"Whatever that means! Check!" Ron said indicating the chess board.

Malfoy's attention returned to the game. He moved his king out of danger, but Weasley had him on the run. Ginny had been more of a distraction to him than he realized.

"So, Malfoy, our turn. How did you end up here? Why aren't you in Jr. Death Eater camp this summer?" Ron asked.

"Ron!" Ginny exclaimed. "Malfoy just ignore him, he's an idiot."

"It's alright, Ginny," Malfoy drawled complacently. "I knew it wouldn't last. If you must know Weasley, I received a summons from the Dark Lord that my mother saw fit to avoid."

"You sound disappointed! Did you want to become a Death Eater?" Ron scoffed.

"What I want never enters into the equation. Tell me Weasley, did anyone ask you if you wanted to become a minion of Dumbledore?" countered Malfoy.

Ron looked taken aback for a moment, but then answered very quietly and intensely. "My allegiance lies with Harry. If he chose to take the Dark Mark tomorrow I'd be by his side."

"Aww... thanks mate, but I've never been much of a joiner," Harry joked, obviously touched by his friend's loyalty.

"I think we should refrain from discussing politics any further, Weasley," Malfoy stated. He noted the pleasant surprise on Potter's face and although he maintained a detached veneer, Draco was a bit surprised and envious as well. After all these were Gryffindors, not Hufflepuffs. Also, he was not so sure whether any of his friends would ever have that type of allegiance to him. In fact, he was somewhat apprehensive regarding their reception of him when he returned to Hogwarts.

"We're not discussing politics, Malfoy! We're discussing good versus evil!" Ron spat.

"Weasley! You can't be that naive! Nothing… nothing in this world is that black and white!" Malfoy's voice rose for the first time.

"Harry Potter versus Voldemort is as black and white as it gets! If you think differently, you've been misinformed."

"What the hell are you on about? There you go again talking as though this was Harry Potter's personal bleedin' war! Do you really believe the Dark Lord gives a second thought to him?"

Ron met Harry's eyes and Harry shook his head subtly. It was far too dangerous to let Malfoy know about the Prophecy.

"You're right Malfoy, we shouldn't be talking politics. Checkmate."

The tension in the room diffused, as Draco studied the chess board quietly. "Good game Weasel. I'm going to need a rematch sometime, especially if you plan to brag around school that you beat me."

"Just let me know when and where and I'll be there, preferably not in the dungeons. I won't say a word about my beating you, as you were far too distracted by my sister's cleavage to call this a fair game," Ron glared at him, but kept his tone friendly.

Malfoy's face remained a mask of indifference, neither confirming nor denying his guilt as he looked Ron in the eye, "I look forward to the rematch."

"I'm off to bed. No offence, Malfoy, but it's late and I've had enough of you for one night," Ron said.

"I'll go too," Hermione said as she packed up her books and the two of them headed upstairs.

As soon as Hermione stood, Ginny scooted over to her end of the sofa and patted her lap. Harry's eyes brightened in anticipation and relief, as he laid his head on her lap and she began massaging his temples and head. It seemed to Draco they'd done this a hundred times before.

"So, are those two off to snog then?" queried Draco, nodding towards the door.

"NO!" Ginny and Harry said in unison laughing.

"Aren't they together?" Draco asked incredulously.

"NO!" they said again.

Harry tilted his head up from Ginny's lap to look at her. "Did you hear Ron call Hermione 'Luv'?"

"Yes, but I don't think he had a clue he did it!" Ginny giggled.

"Wait a minute! Why aren't they together?" Draco looked about to burst. Ginny just shrugged her shoulders.

"They're mad for each other! Always have been," Draco continued.

"We don't have an answer for you Malfoy," Harry laughed.

"You mean she's been waiting for him all this time? No wonder she's so uptight!"

Harry and Ginny dissolved into giggles again.

"Well I'm off to bed. Ginny, your fingers have worked their magic once again," Harry got up and quickly kissed Ginny's forehead. "Don't stay up too late. You want to be fresh for your boyfriend tomorrow. 'Night Malfoy," Harry smirked at Ginny as he left the room.

"Potter's not your boyfriend?" Draco asked, once Harry had left the room.

"Do you think he'd leave me alone with you if he were?"

"Probably not. You two seem very friendly. The kitchen floor today..."

"That was Harry being a prat... he's already apologized," Ginny interrupted.

"I don't believe I have to share a room with those two buffoons! Listening to the Weasel King and Potty snoring all night is my idea of hell!" groaned Malfoy.

"Ron snores, but Harry doesn't. Harry just wakes up screaming!" Draco glared at her. "But not recently… lately he's been sleeping like a baby," Ginny said helpfully.

"Lovely. You seem to know Potter's sleeping habits rather intimately… for a friend," Malfoy smirked.

"A very close friend," Ginny replied cryptically, mimicking his smirk back at him and offering no further information. Malfoy's smirk threatened to turn into a grin before he bit it back.

"So who is your boyfriend?"

"Dean Thomas."

"Another Mudblood?"

"I think I'll go to bed myself," Ginny stiffened and started to rise.

"No! Please don't go yet, I apologize. Please stay," Ginny sat back onto the sofa, but continued to glare coldly at Draco. They were quiet for a long while.

"Will you tell me what I did to upset you earlier, or are you going to hex me into a quivering mass with giant flying bogeys attacking me," Draco grinned as he reminded her of their last meeting.

Ginny giggled. "I haven't decided yet."

"Would you teach me that hex?"

"I'll consider it, if you stay on my good side. The one I used on you was my mild version. I have a more intense version that I reserve for my brothers."

"You're wicked!" Draco laughed.

"That's what Harry calls me too. Ron says I'm evil," Ginny grinned.

"No. You're not evil," he said knowingly. "Have you ever hexed Potter?" he asked hopefully.

"No, but his day is coming soon, I can tell," Ginny paused and looked at Draco intently. He waited patiently for her to formulate her thoughts. "Can I ask you something?"

"You can ask," he said.

"Can you explain to me why a witch as brilliant as Hermione is considered inferior because of her bloodline? Why someone, like your father, who has wealth, property, power and a family, is willing to throw it all away?" Draco visibly drew breath and stiffened. "I'm not trying to pick a fight, I really want to know."

"I know you do. It just that those are big questions for..." he looked at his wristwatch "half past one in the morning; perhaps another time. Why don't you tell me what I said that made you leave our chair earlier? I really want to know."

Ginny's gaze dropped from Draco to the floor. "You were talking about Binding curses and how Slytherin women wouldn't be treated like common blood traitors. If Voldemort comes to power, who do you think will be considered a blood traitor? Don't you think I fit into that category quite nicely?"

Draco blanched as the realization of what he'd said hit him. The thought of a beautiful creature like Ginny spending her life in someone's dungeon sickened him. "I wasn't thinking. I can't say I've ever given the practice much thought, but you ask if you would be in danger... there's the politics of your family to consider. The fact that you're a Weasley also implies a certain desirable level of fertility. Your mother is a Prewett, a powerfully magical family known for their healers and seers." As Draco spoke he rose from his chair and sat next to Ginny on the sofa facing her, lifting her chin to meet his gaze. "Then there's also the fact that you are young and very beautiful. To tell you the truth, I think you would be at the top of the list. You'd be in grave danger."

A tear rolled down Ginny's cheek and Draco wiped it away with the pad of his thumb.

"Do you think that's the fate I deserve for dating boys like Dean Thomas or even Harry Potter?" Ginny asked with a sniffle.

"No, Ginny. I'd never think that. I told you it just came out, I'd never even thought about it."

"Do you think about any of it Draco? Do you question anything they tell you?"

"Do you? Do you question any of the crap your side tells you?" Draco asked sharply.

Ginny nodded. "I thought that's what I was doing now, by talking to you," she said very quietly.

Draco laughed suddenly.

"What's so funny?"

"It's just not very often someone surprises me... it's very late. Let's go up," Draco said, taking Ginny's hand and pulling her onto her feet.

As Ginny stood Draco bent down and whispered in her ear, "Death Eaters need their beauty sleep too, you know."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Mmmmm... we can't have Draco Malfoy showing up on the first day of school as anything less than pretty."

"That would be tragic," Draco drawled and continued to hold her hand while pulling her towards the stairs.

Draco was in a muddle. The girl is a Weasley, you randy git! He must be more desperate than he thought after being locked up in this hell-hole all summer! But she was funny, and smart, not at all like that cretin brother of hers. She was asking him intelligent questions he'd been asking himself all summer, questions to which he didn't have answers. He definitely wanted more.

Draco stopped at the top of the stairs. "Would you come to Hogsmeade with me?" he whispered. Ginny eyes widened in shock.

"Do you mean a date?" she squeaked. Draco nodded. "I do have a boyfriend."

"Let me rephrase the question. If by the first Hogsmeade weekend you no longer have a boyfriend, would you consider being my date?" Draco tried again.

"Are you going to poison Dean?" Ginny leaned against the wall of the hallway outside her room.

"No!" Draco chuckled. She wasn't going to make this easy.

"But I thought you had standards. Surely a Weasley is far below..."

"I'm not offering to marry you Weasley," Draco interrupted with forced patience. "I'm not even offering to shag you. I'd just like to buy you a Butterbeer and a few Chocolate Frogs and continue our conversation at a later time. Maybe answer a few questions for one another." Draco had leaned into her, trapping her between the wall and his body; their bodies were as close as they could get without touching.

Ginny forced herself to speak in a casual, detached tone, even though she was feeling light-headed.

"Oh. Well, if all you want is conversation, I am allowed to talk to other boys you know, even with a boyfriend. We don't need a date for that."

"How progressive!" Draco spat through his teeth. "Answer... the question... about... the date."

"Why Mr. Malfoy! Methinks you may want more than conversation!" Ginny teased, enjoying his discomfort immensely.

"Okay… perhaps a bit more." He lowered his head, and very gently ran his lips over her earlobe and her neck, barely touching her. Ginny shuddered when she felt his warm breath as he spoke. She instinctively tilted her head to give him better access. "I'm not going to ask again. I do have some pride."

"Well, the truth is I don't know," Ginny replied pushing Draco away so she could regain her breath. "Just because we've had one tolerable evening doesn't change the fact that you've been absolutely foul for the past four years I've known you. Especially last year when you were such a sycophant to that cow Umbridge! It was revolting!"

"Mmm... yes, allegiance to Umbridge may have been a miscalculation on my part. Live and learn. But anyway... I'm not asking for a promise in blood. I can be a bastard, that won't change. If you can't stand me, break the date… no harm done."

"All right then. In the unlikely event I've broken up with Dean, and in the even more unlikely event I don't find you repulsive, I will go out with you."

"Finally!" he chuckled. He gazed down at her lips: they were perfect, begging to be kissed. But no, he would have to play this carefully. "Goodnight Ginny." He kissed Ginny lightly on the forehead and then he was gone.

Draco stumbled in the darkness trying to find his bed. His shin collided with something hard and heavy.

"Bugger!" he yelped, flicking on a light. Harry had left his trunk in front of Draco's bed. "Bloody hell, Potter!"

"What? Oh, sorry," Harry said sleepily. He got up and moved his trunk out of the way.

"What are you two on about? Go… sleep!" croaked Ron.

"I'm trying to, but Potter's trying to kill me!" Draco snapped, as he changed into his night clothes.

"Nice try, Harry," Ron quipped. "Malfoy, I don't suppose it would do any good to tell you to keep your manicured paws off of my sister?"

"That would be her call to make," Draco said, dismissively.

"She has a boyfriend!" chimed Harry.

"A fact that doesn't seem to slow you down!" Draco laughed.

"Ginny and I are friends."

"So I've been told. What are you planning to do? Wait patiently in queue for her until she's available?" Harry glared at Malfoy, but said nothing, as that was exactly what he was planning to do. "Is that what Gryffindor nobility calls for? It's amazing any of you manage to breed!"

"Don't mention breeding and Ginny in the same thought, Malfoy!" Ron shuddered. "Let me tell you something about my sister. She has a really big heart. When she was a kid she was always bringing home birds with broken wings and garden gnomes that got chucked a bit too hard. If you think she feels something for you, you're probably right. It's called compassion. She thinks she can fix you, that's all it is."

"Hmm, that could explain her fascination with me as well," Harry said miserably.

"Nah… she was mad for you before we all knew how screwed-up you are," Ron quipped.

"Thanks, mate."

"Don't mention it."

Draco pulled back his blankets and got into bed. "Well, I don't need fixing, but that information will be useful. Cheers." He turned over and faced the wall.

Harry was now wide awake with no hope of immediate sleep. "So, how are you planning to 'cut the queue' then?"

Draco groaned. "Is life just one great heart-to-heart for you Gryffs? Don't you ever sleep? Unlike you, I'm not planning to wait my turn in queue. I already asked her out, that's all."

"What'd she say?" Harry asked with some trepidation.

"She said she had a boyfriend."

"Ha!" The pit in Harry's stomach disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, and he settled down into his bed.

Draco flipped over onto his side, leaning his head on one hand. "That's not a 'No' Potter. I got her to agree to come to Hogsmeade with me if she no longer had a boyfriend by then."

Ron popped up in bed. "Are you going to poison Dean?"

"No! You Gryffs are so violent! I won't need to," Draco chuckled, confidently.

"You think by just asking her out, she'll go chuck Dean and fall into your arms? That's the stupidest plan I've ever heard!" Ron said incredulously.

"You're one to talk of stupid plans!" Malfoy retorted. "When are you going to make a move on Granger? Please, do us all a favor… drag her into a broom cupboard and provide the service she so desperately needs! Then maybe we can all have a peaceful school year."

"I don't know what you mean. Hermione and I are just good friends," Ron pouted.

Draco shot a disbelieving glare at Harry, who just grinned and shrugged. "Humph," Draco snorted. "There seems to be a lot of that going around."

Harry couldn't get his mind off Ginny. "Ron, are you just going to let him chase after Ginny like this?"

"A particularly nasty Bat-Bogey I received a few weeks ago tells me to stay out of it, for the moment at least. However, I must admit, I'm torn, mate. Part of me wants to hex him into next week, but another part wants to sit back and watch the man work," Ron chuckled.

"Ron! She's your sister! That's bollocks!" Harry was panicked; he didn't understand why he couldn't manage to enrage his friend.

"Don't get yourself all in a strop, Harry!"

"I'm not in a strop! I don't believe your abandoning your sister like this!"

"Harry, it's Malfoy! He doesn't stand a chance with Ginny! No way! Now, go to sleep!"

Harry glared at Malfoy, who was quietly chuckling at their argument. "Have you kissed her Malfoy?" he spat.

"Go to sleep Potter. Lesson's over for tonight," Draco extinguished the light. Harry growled and punched his pillow.

Ginny floated into her bedroom and crumbled onto her bed. Hermione flipped over with a start and turned on a light.

"Ginny? You okay?"

"Mmmmmm."

"It's really late. Have you been with Malfoy all this time?"

"Hermione, have you ever noticed how good he smells?" she sighed.

Hermione sat bolt upright in her bed.

"Ew! I can't say I've ever caught a whiff of him," she said with disgust. "The closest I've ever gotten to him was when I punched him in my third year."

"He smells like bayberry and leather. It's intoxicating!"

"Apparently," Hermione said dryly. "Ginny, sit up and look at me. This is Malfoy you're talking about."

"I know, it's insane! I'm sure he'll go back to his normal egotistical, bullying self once we're back at school. But tonight he was alright, wasn't he?"

"He was pleasant enough, I suppose," Hermione said warily. "You know, I thought of something funny earlier."

"What?"

"Well, you take sweet natured Harry and lock him up alone and he turns grouchy and petulant, like last summer. But take vile Malfoy and lock him up and he comes out all civil and chatty!" she giggled.

"That is funny. I think it has something to do with his mother because he seems to really care about her. Or maybe it's because his awful father isn't around to poison him anymore."

"Ginny… please be careful. He can't be trusted."

"I know. Good night Hermione."

"'Night Ginny."

Ginny reluctantly got into her night clothes and crawled under the covers. He said I was very beautiful… no one's ever told me that before. As she drifted off to sleep, for the first time, the boy kissing her in her dreams was not Harry Potter.

Authors Note:

Once again, an enthusiastic thank you to Jocjarmom for the beta and tweaks.

Everyone should go check out her TDT outtake from the last chapter The Dog Days, it's called Welcome Back, Hermione, and is chuck full of H/R goodness! It's great!