Okay, now I have to fess up! Yes, I read The Half Blood Prince! Yes I know that Snape killed Dumbledore and Draco was supposed to do it. Unfortunately, I can't come to terms with that! I had this whole other idea for this chapter to address those issues but I just can't admit that Dumbledore is dead and that Snape is truly evil! So, in my own Harry Potter world: Dumbledore was just faking so Draco and Snape are off the hook. They've all agreed to put it behind them and never discuss it again. I know that after reading my confession that some of you will leave me forever but I'm prepared to deal with that. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me then read on...LONG LIVE ALBUS DUMBLEDORE! Hee hee!
Chapter Five
Ginny returned to the Burrow and was bombarded by her parent's skeptical questioning. After about an hour or so of discussion, they accepted her story about being with Luna and moved on. Ron however, was not convinced.
"You mean to tell me that you just happened to run into Luna at the crack of dawn in Diagon Alley and suddenly had the urge to spontaneously spend the night?" Ron said suspiciously.
"Yes! Why is that so hard to believe?" Ginny yelled defensively.
"Because Ginny, I ran into Luna that afternoon at The Three Broomsticks and she had asked why you hadn't sent her any owls lately. Now tell me where you were and who you were with!" Ron said with his face reddening.
"Oh….Did you tell Mum and Dad?" Ginny asked as her stomach turned.
"Of course not! When I read the letter you sent, I knew you were okay so I didn't want to worry them. But that's beside the point! Tell me where you were!" Ron yelled in anger since she had so easily distracted him.
"I'm sorry but I can't tell you. Something came up and I had to think. I stayed at a friend's house and now I'm back. Ron, I am asking you to trust me and to leave it alone. Everything is fine now and you have nothing to worry about. Please don't ask me about it anymore. I'm begging you." Ginny said quietly.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Ron asked genuinely.
"Yes….I will be fine. Thank you." Ginny said and hugged her brother.
The next few days went by in a flash as Ginny slept most of the time. She had even asked her mum to shop for her school supplies without her this year. Ginny couldn't bear to go anywhere near Diagon Alley and she didn't want to risk running in to Draco. Before she knew it, she was back on platform 9 ¾ and kissing her parents goodbye. Ron and Ginny boarded Hogwarts Express and immediately spotted Harry and Hermione entering a compartment far up ahead.
"Oh good. They'll save us a seat." Ron said to Ginny as their trunks banged into the walls behind them.
"Yeah." Ginny barely replied in agreement. Ron looked back at her wondering what had happened to make her so tired and quiet the past week. He had promised not discuss it any further but it was troubling him terribly. As Ron was distracted pushing his trunk into the compartment, Ginny began to look around while she waited to go in.
Her eyes fell upon Draco standing two compartments down also waiting to push his trunk inside. He had his arms crossed looking impatiently at Goyle who was struggling with his own trunk. "Really Goyle, maybe if you didn't bring all the food you own it would fit." Draco said refusing to lend a hand. Ginny was afraid he might catch her looking at him so she pretended to be distracted with a button on her shirt. Just then, she felt his eyes on her begging her to look his way. She refused to look at him. Out of the corner of her eye she could see him just standing there facing her direction and waiting for her to acknowledge him. She saw Goyle pull Draco's trunk in leaving him no reason to stand outside the compartment. It seemed like an eternity. "Come on Ron, hurry up!" Ginny whispered.
"Malfoy, what's going on?" Crabbe yelled. Ron looked over and saw Draco staring at Ginny.
"What are you staring at!" Ron yelled at Draco.
"Nothing that concerns you Weaslby." Draco said with a smirk.
"Than keep your eyes to yourself." Ron warned and pulled Ginny into the compartment.
"What was that all about?" Hermione asked.
"It looks like Malfoy's gone mental. He was just standing there staring at Ginny." Ron said shrugging it off as nothing.
"Maybe he was trying to perform a non-verbal spell on her or something." Harry said looking at Ron worriedly.
"You better be careful Gin. If Malfoy's after you for some reason, you need to have your guard up. You know he's famous for hexing people when their backs are turned." Hermione said with concern.
"That's a bunch of rubbish! He's just quick that's all. He doesn't have to think much before he casts, it just comes to him more naturally than others." Ginny said in utter shock of herself. Why would she defend Draco Malfoy to those three of all people? They all just stood there in silence waiting for Ginny to say she was kidding.
"Maybe you're the one who's gone mental! Maybe he did cast a non-verbal spell on you just now that causes you to worship him or something." Ron yelled looking at Ginny like she was crazy.
"Oh please Ron, I was only joking. That little ferret is as untrusting as they come." Ginny said quickly. Ron and Harry gave grins of satisfaction but Hermione wasn't convinced. She stared at Ginny for a few moments and then changed the subject with the intention of discussing it later.
The train ride went by quicker than usual and they were approaching the great hall before they knew it. For the first time, the doors were closed. "What's going on Professor?" Hermione asked Professor McGonagall as the students began to group around the doors.
"Oh nothing to be worried about Ms. Granger. Professor Flitwick is just tidying up the place a bit. Peeves decided to create quite a mess just a few moments ago and we'd rather not allow the first years to see it. It may frighten them." Professor McGonagall replied loud enough so that she wouldn't have to repeat herself and walked away.
Ginny felt someone's eyes on her again and she turned around. Draco was standing directly behind her but was looking over her head as to not draw attention again. Crabbe and Goyle gave her dirty looks. Just then, someone covered Draco's eyes with their hands. "Guess Whooo?" It was Pansy Parkinson.
Draco shoved her hands away. "Find someone else to annoy will you?"
"How was your summer?" Pansy said pretending not to hear the insult.
"Seeing how I wasn't around you, I'd say it was smashing." Draco said rudely.
"Well um. Mine was good too." Pansy said as her voice began to crack. She should have just left him alone but due to her embarrassment around the other students, she continued hoping he'd change his tone with her. Every student was watching as if attending a tennis match as their heads jerked to the left and right following who ever was speaking.
"Great Pansy. Now my life is complete. I can go on living with the knowledge that you had a good summer." Draco replied loudly. Ginny couldn't help herself and snickered.
"Find that funny blood traitor?" Pansy said as she tapped Ginny's shoulder harshly.
Ginny turned to face Pansy quickly with a huge smile on her face. "Actually, I did. Thanks to you, this year has started off with a comical display of groveling for attention from a boy who doesn't even care you exist. That should hold me over until Christmas so I'll be sure to buy front row seats to your New Years performance."
Pansy's jaw dropped and Draco laughed which infuriated her even more. "How dare you speak to me like that!" Pansy screamed at her. Suddenly she regained her composure and smiled. "I think you're jealous! You want to be with Draco don't you? Well sorry Weasley but you're beneath him. "Draco tried to butt in hoping to break it up but Ginny beat him to it.
"Oh my gosh you're right! I do want him Pansy! I can't believe I never noticed it before! If I'm lucky, he can treat me the same way he does you. You know, cheating on me, calling me easy to his friends, pushing me away when I try to hold him. That sounds like love to me! You better be careful though, I'm not the only girl at Hogwarts who wants to get treated like a door mat." Ginny said still smiling widely. Draco was using all his strength not to burst out laughing and Pansy knew it.
"Why you grimy little…." Pansy raised her wand but before she could mutter a curse, Professor McGonagall walked over and the doors to the Great Hall opened. Hoping not to miss anything nobody moved.
"Ms. Parkinson! Lower your wand this instant. Come with me. The rest of you may take your seats." Professor McGonagall escorted Pansy in the opposite direction. The gossip began almost instantly as the students took their seats.
"Ginny!"
"That was splendid!"
"Remarkable!"
"Did you see Pansy's face?"
Ginny was getting pats on the back from everyone except the Slytherin's of course. She was quite amused with herself as well. Everyone settled down and watched the sorting of the first years. Dumbledore began his usual compelling speech as Ginny began to think of her two days spent with Draco. She looked over at him and realized he had been looking at her the whole time. She couldn't help but smile at him as she was still delighted with her performance outside the Great Hall. He smiled back a winked at her.
Neither of them noticed that Hermione was watching them. Hermione did a double take when he winked at Ginny. She thought that there was no possible way she had just witnessed that. Maybe he had been looking at someone else and Ginny as well. No, it was obvious. Everyone else had their heads turned towards Dumbledore who had just announced Draco and Hermione as Head Boy and Girl. She continued to watch Draco stare dreamily at Ginny while she blushed shyly.
After they were excused and began to head for their dormitories, Hermione grabbed Ginny's arm. "Ginny, can I speak with you?" Harry and Ron rolled their eyes sensing it was probably "girl talk" and proceeded without them.
"Sure. What's on your mind?" Ginny asked with a yawn.
"I thought I saw something during Dumbledore's speech. I probably just imagined it but I have to ask." Hermione said.
"What is it?" Ginny said yawning again.
"I thought I saw Malfoy wink at you. And I thought I saw you smile back at him." Hermione said trying to read Ginny.
"You must be joking! Why would I smile at that evil little ferret anyway? He was probably winking at some poor unsuspecting first year." Ginny said very convincingly.
"Well, I just thought…" Hermione wasn't about to accuse one of her best friends of anything. "Never mind. I'm probably just tired. Let's go."
"I'll be up in a minute. You're going to think I'm crazy but I'm going to ask Snape if I can take Potions with the seventh years." Ginny said.
"You are crazy! Why would you go and do a thing like that?" Hermione yelled.
"Hermione, Potions is my best subject and I'm constantly finished at least an hour before everyone else. I want a bit of a challenge you know?" Ginny said confidently.
"Well good luck with that. I'll see you upstairs." Hermione said with little belief that Snape would allow such a thing.
Ginny approached Snape who happened to be conversing with Draco. They both stopped and stared at her. "What is it Weasley?" Professor Snape said with impatience.
"I would like to discuss my intentions in Potions this year Professor…I'll wait until you're finished." Ginny said acknowledging Draco.
"Actually Professor, that was all. Good night." Draco said and walked towards the doors.
Professor Snape nodded and turned to Ginny and rolled his eyes. "I can't imagine what couldn't wait until tomorrow's lesson."
"That's just it Professor…" Ginny went on to explain how she felt she could handle seventh year potions and that sixth year potions wouldn't be challenging enough for her. After she was done pleading her case, she held her breath waiting to hear the worst.
"Well Miss Weasley, It's a shame I bore you so. I would be more than willing to allow you to fall face first in seventh year potions. By all means, attend with the seventh years if you dare. One more Weasley flunking out of Potions will matter little to me. Now, if you'll excuse me." Snape replied cruelly and swept out of the Great Hall.
Ginny sighed happily as another delightful thing had just occurred and she walked out of the Great Hall. As she turned the corner she bumped right into to Draco. "Took you long enough. I thought you were maybe telling him off too." He said replaying her conflict with Pansy in his head. "Did you know how beautiful you are when you're angry?" He took a step toward her and smelled the perfume he had given her.
Ginny pushed him away slightly. "Malfoy, I'm tired. It's been a long night. We shouldn't be speaking remember? We hate each other. Anyway, you shouldn't be wasting your time with me. You need to be stocking up on new girlfriends since Pansy may hold a slight grudge until tomorrow morning." Ginny said trying to create an argument.
"I wanted to know how you're doing. Are you alright? "Draco asked sincerely ignoring her obvious objective to fight.
"I'll be fine. I am still very grateful to you for taking me in. I'll never forget that. Regardless of your intentions, it helped me get through a tough time." Ginny said looking into his eyes and trying to show how appreciative she really was.
"What do you mean my intentions? I thought I made it very clear that I was more than privileged to share your company those two days. I still don't understand why you left so abruptly. My mother didn't tell you anything about me you didn't already know. You proved that much when you told off Pansy. I just don't understand why it bothered you all of the sudden." Draco said becoming agitated.
"You're right Malfoy. I did know all those things about you before but it didn't matter back then. I can't bare to be one of those girls you simply toss aside when you've had enough. It's almost like your mother brought me back to the reality of who you really are."
"I told you that I've changed! I don't know what else to do or say to make you believe it. You know what? I haven't done anything wrong. Don't believe me then! It will make hating each other that much easier." Draco was suddenly distracted with something behind him. "No, I won't take back that detention. Filthy muggle lover!" Draco said and stormed off. Ginny turned around in shock and saw him join Crabbe and Goyle who had obviously come looking for him. His insult didn't even bother her. They obviously couldn't be friends so why waste time being polite with one another. Ginny walked to her dormitory and went to sleep.