Undivided

Chapter 2: Things could be different

Author's jibberish: It's been a month… geez, how time flies. For those who actually read this story, you all get virtual cookies! No fat, but lots of sugary goodness.

To sexytexy: "Oh and is Ginny head girl or what?" Actually she's just a prefect.

To A Watcher: "So when's Draco going to start spying for the order?" Eh-heh…just wait and see!

To Ang3l666: "Yeah! Draco is back! Yummy! I assume some excitement is coming…?!?!" Of course! Draco in a story should always equal excitement!

This chapter is dedicated to all the singles this Valentine's Day…The opposite sex sucks mostly anyway (don't tell my boyfriend that)…

            Defense of the Dark Arts wasn't until Tuesday for Gryffindors. One morning, Pigwidgeon flew by at the breakfast table.

I'M FREE!

Dear Ginny,

            Maybe I should repeat myself: I'M FREE! After 10 blasted weeks of my life, I'm finally done with Auror training. Starting next week, Harry and I will do rookie work under another Auror. It was painful, it was vigorous, it caused me back problems, but Harry and I survived. Now he and I can hunt the scum of the wizarding world.

            Speaking of scum, Hermione told us last week that Malfoy was at Hogwarts. Is he a staff member? As in a teacher? As much as I respect Dumbledore, he must have been completely off his rocker to hire that bleached-hair blinding fool. I would have thought he would follow in his father's footsteps, if you know what I mean.

            I hope your last year will start off well, and if Malfoy is you teacher, don't take any grief from him. Just call on your wicked cool Auror brother (me) and I'll take care of everything.

            After our Primary Cadet Training, Harry and I will try to visit. Hang it there, Gin!

Love, Ron

He did bring up an interesting thought. Last she recalled, Draco was a Death-eater. How did he get a job at Hogwarts? Well, he was rather qualified, no denying that…but did Dumbledore know?

Tuesday afternoon finally came.

"Of all the luck," Colin sat beside her in the middle of the room. "With Malfoy as a teacher and Slytherin as classmates."

"That's Professor Malfoy to you, Mr. Creevey."

Colin turned white and slowly craned his head, looking in the direction of their teacher. "S-sorry, Professor Malfoy."

Draco sneered. "Five points from Gryffindor," he said casually and approached the front of the room. "Class," he called. Everyone was silenced; Slytherins for respect, Gryffindors from fear. "I am your Defense teacher, Draco Malfoy. I'm sure you all know who I am…"

Did Ginny imagine it or did his eyes fall on her for a brief second?

"I will be completely honest," he began. "You will learn nothing new. As a former student, I know that the 7th year reviews all your studies within the past 6 years. For example, the details of the Unforgivable Curses were taught at the end of your 6th year. This year will consist in perfecting all your learned skills."

A single hand rose. Draco looked up. "Yes, Miss Crane?"

"Professor Malfoy," she smiled. "Will you be giving us written assignments and tests?"

Draco leaned back against his desk. "There will be occasional quizzes to keep you on top of your game. But for the most part, Defense against the Dark Arts is a skill, not something you can find in books. Other than that, there will be no pointless pen assignments. There will be 2 tests, however: the mid-term and the final. The mid-term will be a written test, consisting of everything learned since December and the Final in June will be cumulative; with an obstacle course. Fail either one," he shrugged, crossing his arms, "and you are not ready for what is really out there."

Ginny gulped. He would know.

"Now," he turned slightly and grabbed hold of a list. He started to take attendance, reading down the familiar list of names. After a few moments, he began class. "So, moving right along, let's start at the very beginning. What is the definition of the Dark Arts?"

No Gryffindor dared to raise their hand. Slytherin Jeremy Doyle raised his hand. When called upon, he answered, "The Dark Arts is a form of magic which the caster has true evil intent behind it."

"Further explain your answer," Draco prompted.

"Well, say there was this really annoying brat," and quickly, Jeremy shot a look to Gryffindor Christian Anderson, "and I perform a body-binding curse. My intent is to poke fun and make people laugh at him for a couple of hours, not to permanently damage him."

Draco nodded. "Ten points to Slytherin."

Colin sighed something that sounded an awful lot like 'biased.'

"Mr. Creevey," Draco snapped. Colin sat up straight when he heard his name. "This is a no-brainer, anyone can get this; including you. Can you name any practitioners of the Dark Arts?"

"Salazar Slytherin," Colin blurted without thinking. A collective gasp came from the Gryffindor side and the intensity of the Slytherin side seemed to double.

            Draco raised an eyebrow. "And why would you name him?"

            "Because…as revenge to the other founders, Slytherin put the basilisk in the school to purify the school population. Eventually…" Colin trailed off, looking at Ginny. She was slightly pale; they knew the story after that; she was center stage of it all during her first year. The manifestation of a young Tom Riddle, Voldemort's younger days, used her to open the Chamber of Secrets and released the monster. Colin Creevey was one of her victims.

            "What's the matter, Creevey? Snake got your tongue?" Slytherin Brittany Fledge laughed.

            "Oh, that's right!" Slytherin Terrance Bean chuckled. "You were the first one to go, Creevey."

            "Yeah!" another Slytherin Rusty Andrews laughed. "And didn't Weasley set the thing loose as well?"

            "Leave her alone!" Gryffindor Charles Bins shouted.

            Ginny paled. She didn't want to be reminded of all those unfortunate occurrences. She balled her fists in her lap.

            Draco looked to her, and then turned to the class. "All right, enough."

            "Nice friend you got there, Creevey. She's a real keeper--."

            "Shut up!" Kristy Eggburn, a Gryffindor defended.

            "Enough," Draco raised his voice slightly, with more authority in his voice. Everyone silenced. Draco sighed; it would be a long class period.

            A while later, the bell rang. Everyone filed out of class, many talking about the teacher, good and bad.

            Colin threw all his books in his bag. He noticed that Ginny was taking a lot of time packing up. "Coming Ginny?"

            She nodded. "Yeah, but go ahead. I need to do something first."

            Colin puzzled but shrugged it off. "Alright, then," and he exited the classroom.

            The classroom was empty. She flung her bag strap over her shoulder and approached the teacher's desk, where Draco was sitting. "Dra—Mal—um, Professor?"

            Draco looked up and then around them. He scanned the room, searching for any observers. "Vir—Ms. Weasley…"

            She couldn't help but notice his cautious face. "There's nothing wrong with asking the teacher questions after class. No one should think anything of it."

            Draco swallowed. "I suppose. What questions do you have?"

            "How are you?"

            He stood and closed the notebook in front of him. "Do you have any questions concerning class?"

            Ginny was a bit taken back by it. What did she do wrong? Why such a cold tone? "Um…will we need to bring the 1st year books to class?" she made up on the top of her head.

            "Only if you choose," he slipped the notebook in his desk drawer. He pulled out his wand; it was about 14 inches, made of ebony with a dark finish. On its handle was the engraving of a snake, coiling. It must have been a custom job, unless Ollivander started a new wand design at the shop. He used his wand to lock the drawer. "You won't need any books in class; you can read them on your own study time."

            Ginny remained standing, her hands resting on his desk. Her legs began to turn to jelly. She knew he was trying to avoid talking to her; she could feel it…plus the fact that he wasn't really looking at her when he spoke. "I'd really…like to talk with you, Draco."

            Draco walked out from behind his desk, a cross look on his face. "I expect you to treat me with respect, Miss Weasley. I am your teacher and thus should be treated as such, despite our closeness in age or…our history."

            "We're not in class. Lecture is over."
            "You are still in school," he pointed out.

            She bit her lip. "I'm sorry, Professor. But is there any way you and I can talk as if I am not your student?"

            Draco's lips tightened. "I made it clear we shouldn't sp--."

            "You let me read a poem. You never told me directly," Ginny pulled the strap towards her. "Things could be different now, right?"

            He looked away from her. "I must be going. I have some business to attend to." Draco had left her alone in the classroom before she could say anything.

            "Ginny, who are you staring at?"

            Ginny came out of her trance. "Huh?"

            Colin raised an eyebrow. "Who were you staring at?"

            "No one in particular," Ginny quickly answered. "Is it me or is Snape's hair more greasy than usual?"

            "You may be the sister of Fred and George Weasley, but you're a terrible liar."

            Ginny looked at Colin. "What do you mean?"

            "You can spit so many lies until Stonehenge falls and crumbles to bits but your eyes deceive you. You look puzzled…"

            Ginny smiled. She knew how much he cared for her. It was only recently that she was able to talk with him. It started during the summer, during the end of her sixth year. She hit a slump and locked herself up in her room. Her parents were so concerned; it got even worse when Ron left for Auror training. Molly owled the Creevey house, inviting Colin to come over. He arrived around 10am the next morning. When Ginny opened her bedroom door at 8pm, he was still there. That was when she knew he cared for her. She just didn't know in which way… until a few weeks later. He admitted feelings that have been there for a while.

            "When I'm ready to say, you'll be the very first person," she promised.

            He nodded. "Alright. I'll let you go for now."

            I was staring at Draco, her mind was screaming.

            "So why did you need to stay after class?" he asked suddenly.

            Ginny forked through her mashed potatoes. "Oh…I had a question. I asked Dra--," she stopped herself, "Professor Malfoy if we needed the previous years' books. After all, we're doing a thorough review this year."

            Colin looked at her, curious. Did he notice her tongue-slip? "Hm…" he seemed not to believe her but he didn't ask anything else.

            Being a prefect sure had its perks. They could stay up at later hours and had their own bathroom. Sure, Head Boy and Girl had their own suites but this suited her just fine.

            It was late in the evening when Ginny sat in the Prefect's bath. She made sure to take a bath when it was too late.

            It must have been a full 15 minutes since she got in.

            Sonnet XXXVI, from her understanding, was about a person who cared deeply for someone else. However, he couldn't make it public. The speaker wanted the person to know that no matter what, even if he may ignore the other, he still felt strongly for that person. So, did that mean Draco felt the same for her?

            It made sense… kind of. He was a Death-eater and follower of You-Know-Who. He couldn't be seen with a muggle-lover Weasley. All right… so how strongly did he feel for her?

            She sighed deeply. "Draco…" she muttered to the dead silence.

            A soft clatter was heard from behind her. Panicking, she sank into the water so she was chin-deep. Ginny turned around but found no one behind her. "Hello? Who's here?" she demanded.

            Quickly, she pulled on her bathrobe which hung close by. Still dripping wet, she surveyed the bathroom, searching for anything. And to her utter horror, Ginny found a wand lying on the floor a few feet from where she was while taking a bath. Ginny stared at the black wand with its snake coiling around the handle.

~*to be continued*~

Author's jibberish: Happy Valentine's Day…our love-lives aren't as horrible as Gin's…=)