Ch 3: Challenges

When Draco Malfoy awoke to sunlight pouring in through a large, slightly dusty window and a bird merrily chirping outside, he sat up with a start. He felt like he had been in another world for days.

He cried out as a sharp pain coursed through his still-sore back. 'Where am I?' he wondered vaguely. He'd been under so many anti-pain charms and sleeping draughts that his thinking was just returning to normal. Slowly everything came back to him.

Had Professor McGonagall and Harry Potter really brought him to the blood-traitor Weasley's house? What the bloody hell was Snape up to? And his mum--why would she ever agree to this?

Draco mulled these thoughts around for a while before sadly realizing that he was lonely. He thought back to the past year and wanted to… cry? He'd never wanted to cry before this past year, yet lately he'd been doing a lot of that--in secret, of course. That git Dumbledore! Dumbledore had known all along what he had been up to, but Dumbledore had still been kind to him, even when he had been fighting his inner battle about killing the old fool! Why would anyone do that? How could anyone do that?

Malfoy heard the door handle creak slowly. He looked around for his wand but his attempt was futile. But, he knew that no one was going to hurt him here.

Ginny Weasley entered the room, looking annoyed and carrying a tray with some sandwiches and tea. "Good morning." She did not smile.

Malfoy simply nodded and studied her. The baby weasel had become quite popular during her five years at Hogwarts. She was, after all, dating the famous Potter last he heard.

Ginny set the tray on the table beside the bed. "Are you hungry?" she asked. A part of him wanted to say no and throw the tray across the room but the horrible growling in his stomach gave him away. He nodded. She motioned to the tray as if to say, "All yours," and turned to walk out.

"Where's your boyfriend?" Malfoy managed with a full mouth. If he was going to take her food, he wouldn't let her leave without a good insult.

Ginny stopped but didn't turn to face him. "I don't have one. But I assume you are referring to Harry? Would you like me to get him?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Nah. I just wondered is all," he said. "Figured he'd have been in by now to give me his best and rub this whole mess in my face."

"Harry's got better things to do than bother with you," Ginny said, turning up her nose and leaving the room.

Malfoy grinned. He still had it--his old way of making those beneath him know their place. This stay with the Weasleys might be quite fun after all.

Malfoy scarfed down everything he could and then, just to be a pain, pushed the tray off his bed, spilling the remaining food on the floor.

Mrs. Weasley and Ginny heard the clatter of the tray falling all the way down in the kitchen.

"Oh my!" Mrs. Weasley cried. "Do go and make sure everything's all right will you, Ginny dear?"

"Sure," Ginny said snidely. 'I'll go make sure it's not alright,' she thought.

As she quickly but quietly ran up the stairs, she secretly hoped to find Malfoy lying on the floor, horribly disfigured from some catastrophic fall. She knew better than to expect this, though. Entering the room, Ginny saw clearly what Malfoy had done and rolled her eyes.

"Oh! So sorry, baby weasel," he smirked. "I'd have cleaned up the mess but my wand seems to be misplaced at the moment. Besides, it was an accident."

"Whatever, ferret-boy," Ginny said and, with a flick of her wand, the floor was clean and the mess piled back on the tray. Living with Molly Weasley, she had been taught the household spells quite early on.

"Well some things will never change. You Weasley lot will always be around to clean up the messes then, won't you?" he sneered. As she bent down to collect the tray, she felt his eyes travel down her body. She shuddered at the intrusion and, standing up straight and determined, walked out, slamming the door behind her.

As she reached the kitchen, her mother eyed the messy tray. "Oh my! He wasn't hurt was he?"

"No," Ginny said dryly. "But one can hope."

"Oh now! I know his family is, er well… at any rate he is our guest and he's been through a terrible ordeal. He doesn't even know all the particulars yet. Just try to tolerate him, for a few more days, at least. I know it's hard, but please try."

Ginny shook her head in disbelief and finished cleaning up. She yawned a little and decided that a lazy afternoon nap would do her some good. She bid her mother goodbye and headed, as quietly as she could, back up the stairs, lest her unfortunate houseguest hear her. She tiptoed past Fred and George's old room where Malfoy was staying, but alas, despite his other injuries, his hearing was still intact.

"Hello? Mrs. Weasley? Somebody?" he called, sounding innocent enough. Ginny scowled, mumbled an impolite word and tipped her head in through the door.

"Can I help you with something?" Darn her mother's request to be nice.

"I'm really quite bored. I don't suppose you'd…" he paused. She could be mistaken, but was that vulnerability she saw flash across his face? He became arrogant again quickly. "I don't suppose you're any good at cards or chess or something of the like?"

"You want me to play a game," Ginny asked, confused. "With you?"

"Well, it would be nice to have some company, and, while I'm here, I guess I can't really be picky. You're here so you're the lucky one," Draco crossed his arms over his chest and looked terribly satisfied with himself.

Ginny stood quietly, contemplating this. She had become quite good at cards. It could be a good way to put Malfoy in his place.

"Alright then. Fancy a game of Exploding Snap?" she asked, trying to sound put-off at his request. What she couldn't ignore was, again, that decidedly un-Malfoy-ish look of "happy" flit across his features. It didn't last long.

"What would we bet?"

Ginny thought about it. "We don't have to bet anything."

"It's no fun without betting, now is it?"

"Well… I…"

"Well, as you probably have nothing really worth anything, I guess we'll just play a few innocent hands and see how your game is. If you're horrid, I'll get bored and we'll have to do something else. I do enjoy a challenge."

'Nope, I was wrong. What a git,' Ginny thought, heading towards her room for a deck of cards.

The baby weasel was really fun to aggravate. Draco had always enjoyed making sport of her family, but there was something different about her. Despite her bright red hair, which was actually quite becoming, and her telltale Weasley freckles, she was very pretty. She had a great body. Draco had overheard numerous Slytherin boys complimenting the Gryffindor and saying what a darn shame it was that she was a Weasley. How, they wondered, was she even from the same parents as her goofy-looking brothers? Malfoy shook his head.

Ginny returned with her deck of cards and to his surprise, she was actually quite good. She beat him six hands out of nine, and they even managed some pleasant, if not sarcastic, chats and laughs between hands.

"Nice play. Better come back tomorrow and I won't let you win," Draco smirked. This time, he felt the noticeable change in his demeanor, but didn't move to correct it as he had before.

"Oh don't try to act like you let me win! I may not know you that well but I know you better than that." Ginny smiled genuinely, and Draco noticed how pretty her eyes were when they crinkled a little at the corners. It scared him.

"Whatever, Weaselette. I'm tired now. You should go," he huffed, hoping he sounded bored with her.

Ginny shrugged. "Don't worry, I certainly am not going to go bragging around that I beat you at cards. That would mean that I actually stayed in your presence without hexing you and, after all, I do have a reputation to live up to."

This time, the smile she shot at him wasn't as genuine. She turned and closed the door loudly.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned later that afternoon from Diagon Alley with their attire for the wedding and some other household necessities.

After setting everything away, Harry knocked on Ginny's slightly open door, but as it opened he saw the room was empty. He headed outside and after a quick look, he found her just inside the garden walls. She was lazily picking some vegetables and playing with a few garden worms.

"Hey," Harry said, waving from the edge of the garden.

"Hey!" Ginny waved back gracefully, dropping a parsnip into her basket.

"So, good day?" he asked.

"It was OK. I had to take care of the dreaded patient though. Loads of fun that was," she rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Oh, I can imagine. Is he back to his usual self or the pain charms still kicking in?"

"They must still be kicking in because he actually… well he was bored so he wanted to play cards… and, of course, I whipped his arse," she added quickly "But, he was actually pleasant for a few rare minutes."

"You played cards with Malfoy?" Harry said, unable to hide his disgust. "He didn't say anything awful, did he?"

"No," Ginny smiled and concentrated on picking the few remaining ingredients for her mother. "He was civil. He made some jokes. He…. I figure the numbing charms are still working their magic. He's totally out of it or something. Definitely not himself."

Harry was slightly disturbed. Ginny was smiling and laughing about having spent an afternoon with Malfoy! 'Surely she couldn't… no! Definitely not! What a stupid thing to even begin to think.'

Ginny was the kind of person who would treat you as you treated her--be mean to her, she'd return it. Be nice, she'd return that, too. If Malfoy was playing nice, Ginny had played nice. If he was being a prat, she'd have returned the favor.

'No, no, there's nothing to worry about.'

Had anyone ever told Draco Malfoy that he'd be staying with the Weasley family for any length of time and, more importantly, be enjoying such a stay, he'd have thought them completely mental.

But, for the past week, he had been feeling better and was actually having a good time playing cards and chess with Ginny in the afternoons. He still threw out his sarcasm and insults as they came to him, but Ginny always had a quick bite in return. He was mildly civil to Harry and Ron, had even nodded to Hermione--though he refused to speak to her.

Draco's past year at school had been nothing but stressful and lonely. He'd worked so hard, fearing for his life as well as the lives of his mother and father. He'd lost weight, gone even more pale than usual, and had worn large dark circles under his eyes. He couldn't help but notice how lately, when he looked in the mirror, his face was more alive and had more color. And fuller, no doubt, from the wonderful food the Weasley mom was feeding him.

Malfoy ventured out into the garden one sunny afternoon about a week after he'd arrived at the Burrow. He was glad to be up and about.

He found Ginny flying through the air on a swing hung from a huge oak. He couldn't help but smile as her long red waves flew threw the air, her eyes closed in childish pleasure.

Draco hobbled to the nearest bench and sat, just watching. When she finally became aware of his presence, she blushed and slowed her speed on the swing.

"Hi. So you're up, eh? Feeling better?"

"Yeah. I thought a bit of fresh air would be nice. I saw you from the window and… well I thought you looked like you were having fun. I figured I'd come muck things up for you." He gave a sardonic laugh that they both knew he didn't mean.

"Oh, you can try, Malfoy, but it's a beautiful day, the sun is shining, and it's only a few more days until Bill and Fleur's wedding. Then, she is out of this house and they are on their honeymoon, and I could not be looking forward to anything more!" Ginny beamed as she hopped off the swing and sauntered past him, patting his shoulder as she did.

At her touch, his face froze. Her touch was so warm and tingling! He shook off the feeling and settled back into the bench, wishing he were quite well enough to fly on his broom, which wasn't here.

"Malfoy?" Ginny began, as she slowly turned back to him.

"Yeah?"

"Would you like me to bring something out here for you? Something to drink or a game or something?"

"Nah. I just wanted to be outside," he sighed, looking into the bright summer sky. Ginny lingered for a minute before heading back to the house. "Don't leave on my account," he called after her.

"Oh no… I just…"

"You could stay and talk, you know. I won't bite."

Ginny started back towards him, a puzzled look on her face. "You want to talk? Is that it?"

"No… well, yes, I suppose." He searched for something to say in response. He didn't want her to leave but for Merlin's sake what would he have to talk to her about if they weren't playing cards or something?

Ginny plopped down on the ground in front of him, her chocolate eyes twinkling. She was just wearing some Muggle t-shirt and a pair of shorts, and her hair was loose and wind blown but Malfoy wasn't sure if he'd ever seen a more beautiful girl.

Ginny was noticing how lively Malfoy was beginning to look and had to admit the boy was actually quite handsome. Of course, many girls she knew thought so, but he'd always been the dreaded enemy, the bane of her and her friends' existence. No one could ever know she found him the least bit attractive. That simply would not do.

"There are some things I need to know," Malfoy began, "about what is going on. I thought Harry was supposed to show me something or--"

"Yeah," Ginny looked down. Clueing Malfoy in was just one in a long list of things Harry needed to do. "See the thing is," Ginny stopped short. "I'll make sure he tells you soon. There are things you need to know--things that might change your mind about… well about a lot of things."

"Could you be any more vague?" Malfoy snapped. She figured that he'd have little patience for her stalling, so she considered his comment and decided that telling him what she knew wouldn't hurt.

"All I know is that the Death Eaters think you're dead. They wanted you dead. Voldemort is really a half-blood himself and he just hates Muggles because of what his father did to his mum and--"

Malfoy cut her off. "Wait. Volde--he's a what?"

"Oh. He's a half-blood."

"What? How could you possibly--"

"I know because I've read his diary." Ginny got up and began to pace. "I opened the Chamber of Secrets my first year. I was duped into it by--" She suddenly thought better of telling Malfoy something bad about his father given the current situation. "Well, it doesn't matter. When I read the diary, he sort of came alive and showed me his memories. And, Harry has some of his memories too. Memories that explain how messed up Voldemort was-- is. I don't know how he ever got this big following but…" she paused.

Malfoy looked simply dumbstruck. He kept shaking his head.

"Are you trying to tall me that every thing I have been brought up to believe has basically been a lie? That… half-blood…he-- I…my father--" Malfoy buried his head in his hands.

Ginny thought it possible that he could be crying but when he raised his head, she saw his naked anger mirrored in his impossibly red face. He stood, towering menacingly over her.

"So I guess you're proud of yourself, eh? Being the one to let it slip to me that everything I've stood for, everything I've ever believed, is a big lie and I'm a complete idiot?" He glared at her, causing her to take a step back, and then turned and headed feebly for the house.

Ginny rushed to him, offering him her arm to help him inside.

"I don't need your help. You've done enough," he said, shaking off her arm.

Ginny was miserable. She hadn't meant to sound like she was trying to make a fool him. She told Harry about her conversation with Malfoy as soon as he cam back from wherever he was.

"Well, this is why I've put off telling him. I knew he wouldn't take it easily, and, to be honest, it probably would have been worse coming from me," Harry sighed, as they sat together in the garden, where she had sat earlier with Malfoy, watching the sun set.

"I shouldn't have told him a thing. It wasn't my place," Ginny shook her head, her guilt pawing at her insides.

"It's OK, Gin. Think how you would feel if someone told you that basically everything you'd ever been told was rubbish?"

Ginny pondered this and nodded. "Yeah, I reckon I wouldn't be so thrilled."

"So… I'd better go and finish the job, eh?" Harry sighed. Ginny nodded, and he got up and headed into the house.

Ginny heard the whole thing. Not like she was trying, but Malfoy's window was open and… well, it couldn't be avoided. Voices had risen, insults been thrown, and Harry had no doubt shown Malfoy nearly all he needed to know. When it was over, Harry had come down and sat with her in the garden, quietly recounting the night.

"May I have a word?" asked a voice from behind them. Ginny turned to see Malfoy, looking defeated and a little haunting in the moonlight. "With Ginny, alone."

Harry raised his eyebrows, but Ginny nodded to him that it was OK. Harry got up to leave, giving each of them one last puzzled look before closing the kitchen door.

Ginny patted the seat beside her. "I'm so sorry," she said, as he sat down. "I shouldn't--"

"No. I shouldn't have gotten mad at you. At least you had the guts to tell me. Potter'd probably still not have told me anything if it weren't for you," Malfoy spat.

"I know it wasn't the easiest thing to hear but I just--"

"It's okay," he looked at her intently. "I think deep down I've probably always known that something was wrong… something was off."

Ginny sighed and looked back into his dark grey eyes, trying to look deeper to see if there really was new person there. When Harry's call of "Dinner!" rent the still night air, she still wasn't sure what she saw in his eyes, but, whatever it was, it wasn't evil or malevolent.

When Harry called a second time, Ginny smiled shyly at Malfoy and nodded her head towards the kitchen.

"Shall we?" Malfoy nodded, smiling slightly back. They started towards the kitchen and Malfoy softly took her arm.

"I need to work on being more mobile… get some exercise, you know?" Ginny nodded. "Would you," he paused, gathering his thoughts, "like to accompany me on a walk tomorrow?"

Ginny smiled. "Sure." She hoped she wasn't blushing.

It had been a pleasant evening. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione had taken Malfoy aside after dinner and caught him up on the state of things and what had really happened over the past few years. Malfoy seemed disgusted with his family and what they had done, especially with Ginny and the diary, and he confessed that his attempts on Dumbledore's life had been half-hearted and foolish--he chalked it up to being desperate to saving his family, particularly his mother, and his own life. No one could blame him for that. He was still young, and coming face to face with the Dark Lord had been something completely terrifying for him. That much Ginny certainly could appreciate.

Malfoy had gone to bed looking more tired than Ginny had ever seen him, but he did remind her about their walk. He had said he would like to do it early, before it got too hot.

The next morning, Ginny showered off and put her hair up. She dressed casually, not wanting to look like she was trying to look too nice for a walk. She told her mum what she was going to do and Mrs. Weasley actually looked pleased.

"I think that sounds nice, dear. You just stick close. You can't go too far, you know--watch for the borders of our land. You're protected as long as you are inside them."

Ginny nodded and ate her breakfast as she waited for Malfoy to join her. Ron, Harry and Hermione were still in bed. Mrs. Weasley said those three had stayed up quite late discussing the new "developments" in Malfoy's understanding of things and figuring out where they needed to go from here. Not for the first time, Ginny felt both a pang of anger and a wave of relief that she wasn't included in on those meetings.

Malfoy descended the stairs into the kitchen looking tired and a bit pale, but not limping as badly. He gave Mrs. Weasley a small smile, as though he wasn't sure how to act. "Good morning," he said quietly.

"Good morning. Help yourself to some breakfast, young man," Mrs. Weasley smiled warmly.

"Feeling up to a walk this morning?" he asked, tucking into some sausage.

"I am if you are," Ginny said, finishing her breakfast and scooting her chair back from the table. "I'll be outside when you're done, okay?"

Ginny needed to get some fresh air and clear her head. She'd thought about Malfoy in a different light since last night. She was sure it was just pity, but, for whatever reason, her thoughts of him were bothering her. Well, not so much her thoughts as her dreams.