Chapter 9
Ginny left the passage and hurried to the Gryffindor common room formulating any story to explain her where abouts to her friends. "Lion's den." She said and the fat lady portrait swung open. Before she even had a chance to scan the common room, she was grabbed by Hermione and dragged upstairs to her private dormitory. "What's wrong Hermione?" Ginny said in her most innocent voice.
"Where have you been all day?" Hermione said with suspicion.
"In class of course." Ginny said.
"Yes I know. But what happened after you took Malfoy to the hospital wing? Is he alright?" Hermione asked then suddenly wondered why she cared.
"He's going to be fine. I stayed just to make sure he was okay you know. It was terrible what happened to him. It should have been me." Ginny said carefully holding back tears.
"It would have been you if he hadn't…" Hermione couldn't finish her thoughts. It was just impossible that Malfoy would do anything remotely close to saving someone.
"Saved me Hermione. He saved me. Don't ask me why, but he did. So I stayed a little while so I could thank him." Ginny whispered.
"Well what did he say? Why did he do it?" Hermione asked covering her mouth with her hand.
"He was in too much pain to talk about it really. He simply accepted my thanks and I left." Ginny replied calmly and was surprised to see Hermione laughing hysterically. "What's so funny?"
"Oh! Nothing about Malfoy! What happened to him is just terrible. It's just….You should have seen Ron and Harry's faces when it all happened. No one knew what to think. Pansy said he tripped over you trying to get out of the way. But from what we saw, he deliberately covered your body with his. Harry said it was probably just a reaction since Pansy usually sat next to him. But Ron, he saw it and knows he saved you and it's eating him alive! He doesn't know what to do about it! He's been talking about it all day and is trying to concoct some other circumstances that would have caused him to do it. He's simply beside himself! It's rather amusing if you ask me." Hermione said wiping the small tears in the corners of her eyes that appeared while she was laughing.
"Well Ron has always believed that everything happens for a reason and he just probably can't think of what reason Dr-Malfoy would have to save me." Ginny said as she headed for the stairs.
"Ginny is there anything you want to tell me? Anything at all?" Hermione said softly.
"Actually there is. I'm starving! Let's go eat." With that the girls walked downstairs and bumped into Ron and Harry.
"Hey Gin. Crazy day huh?' Harry said.
"Yes it has been." Ginny said pretending not to know exactly what he was referring to. She looked over at Ron who was studying her carefully. As they began to leave the common room and walk towards the Great Hall, Ginny walked next to Ron. "What's up?"
Ron was barely whispering. "Oh. Nothing, I just. Well ever since potions class I've been going a bit crazy. I don't understand what happened. Let me rephrase that. I understand what happened. I just don't know why it happened the way it did. Malfoy has really gone mental hasn't he?"
"No he hasn't. I just think he was trying to you know save me from getting burned." Ginny said and then winced waiting for his reply.
"I know. That's what it looked like. But that's not Malfoy's way and you know it. Why would he risk his neck for a Weasley? It just doesn't add up. He reacted so quickly as if it was his duty or something. It's exactly what I would have done if I was sitting next to you. That's what is so bizarre. Why would he protect someone he hates?" Ron said scratching his head as he approached the Great Hall doors.
"Well maybe Harry's right. Maybe he forgot Pansy wasn't sitting next to him and just did it out of habit." Ginny said assuming Harry's conclusion was more reasonable to Ron.
"No it can't be. Any guy will tell you that Malfoy doesn't care about her. That much is obvious. Anyway, I'm positive he wouldn't have protected her if she was sitting there. You should have seen it from my angle. He saw the potion coming and looked right at you then threw himself over you. He knew exactly who he was protecting Ginny and he didn't hesitate. I'm just glad-never mind. Now I'm going mental!" Ron said as Ginny shrugged her shoulders.
They sat together as usual in the Great Hall and began eating. Ron didn't have much of an appetite as his mind was clouded with what he saw in potions. He kept shifting from side to side in deep thought. Ron was sitting directly across from Ginny who had her back to the Slytherin table. Ginny and Hermione were in deep conversation about the summer. Ron scanned the Slytherin table and found Malfoy sitting quietly and playing with his food. Ginny got up to ask Luna who was only a few feet away to join them. Ron saw something that confused him even more. Draco watched Ginny stand, walk over to Luna, and carry a short conversation. The girls whispered and giggled about something which made Draco smile and chuckle. Draco just loved to see Ginny laugh. He continued to watch her walk back to Hermione with Luna. Draco felt someone watching him and shifted his gaze over to Ron, staring at him with his mouth wide open in disbelief. Draco quickly blinked, rubbed his eyes and began to stare at his plate. Normally he would have flipped Weasley off and yelled some profanity across the Great Hall but he had been caught eyeing his sister. Draco didn't know what would have been appropriate for that. He hoped that Ron had only saw him looking at Ginny briefly but he realized that wasn't true as Ron had walked over and was standing over him. Draco looked up at Ron who had his fists clenched and appeared to be battling with the words he was about to say. The entire Gryffindor and Slytherin tables were silent and watching.
"Can I help you Weasley?" Draco said in a direct but even tone.
Ron extended his hand and through clenched teeth he spoke. "I just wanted to thank you for saving my sister from getting burned. It doesn't matter why you did it because you did. And I just wanted to say thank you." Draco shook his hand in shock.
"You're welcome Weasley. Anytime." Draco said forgetting that everyone was watching. Ron was astonished with Malfoy's polite response.
"Yeah well. Hopefully it won't happen again." Ron said as he turned.
"You might want to discuss that with Longbottom!" Draco laughed along with Ron.
Ron walked back to his seat sighed deeply and began shoveling food into his mouth like normal. After a few moments of silence, everyone else continued on with their feast and conversations. "Ron! That was so thoughtful! I would never have expected you to do that." Hermione said with a grin from ear to ear just like Ginny.
"I would have never expected Malfoy to save her either but he did. I just had to get that off my chest otherwise I would have owed him something you know. Now we're square right?" He asked Hermione.
"Well not exactly. All you did was properly thank him. That was the right thing to do but that doesn't make you even. He saved something of yours that was precious and now you need to save something of his that's precious." Hermione said smartly.
"Malfoy see something as precious? What his money?" Ron said and snorted.
"I'm sure there must be something. Don't worry, it will come to you and when it does-." Hermione said with delight.
"You know Hermione, a simple yes you're square would have sufficed. Instead I get some absurd quest to find out what's precious to Malfoy and save it! You've cracked up you have!" Ron said with frustration. Hermione giggled under her hand because she knew that it would kill Ron not to do exactly that.
As things began to wind down in the Great Hall, most of the students retreated back to their dormitories. Draco and Hermione gave the prefects instructions on their rounds without even acknowledging each others presence. When the prefects left, the only people that remained were a few teachers, Draco, and Hermione. There was an uncomfortable silence between them so Hermione spoke quickly. "Ron isn't the only one that's grateful to you Malfoy. Harry and I are as well."
"Potter? Yeah right. He's probably livid that it wasn't him saving her this time." Draco shot back out of habit at Hermione.
Ignoring the rudeness, she continued. "Actually, he figured you just did it forgetting it wasn't Pansy sitting next to you."
"Like I would risk my neck for Parkinson!" Draco said in disgust.
"So you would for Ginny?" Hermione said excitedly.
"No! I uh….Why do you care anyway Granger?" Draco said hoping his angry voice would scare her away.
Realizing she was getting under his skin she spoke innocently. "Well, it's just that I've noticed how nice you've been to Ginny and I just wondered why."
"Well she's my partner for potions isn't she? I have to talk to her or we wouldn't be able to do the work in class now would we?" Draco said trying to avoid her question.
"I see. So tell me something Malfoy. How is it that we've been speaking for about five minutes and you haven't referred to me as 'mud blood' once?" Hermione said smiling evilly.
"Because I….Things are just different now. No need for childish name calling anymore. I still despise you Granger. Don't forget that!" Draco said without looking her in the eye. Hermione couldn't contain herself and began to laugh. "What's so funny Granger? Have you gone mad?"
Hermione covered her mouth and pointed at him. She whispered. "You've changed Malfoy and there's nothing you can do about it."
"Oh yeah? Maybe I'm just tricking you into believing that so you'll trust me. Never trust a Malfoy! Never." Draco said and felt a tap on his shoulder.
Cormac McLaggen was standing right behind him. "Now we all know we could never trust a Malfoy. Surely you know that. Is he bothering you Hermione?"
"No Cormac. I'm fine." Hermione said still smiling at Draco and barely acknowledging Cormac's presence.
"You know something Mclaggen? I'm getting sick and tired of you popping up out of no where. What do you want?" Draco said and got directly in his face.
"Oh nothing in particular. I just want to make sure you are not harassing my beautiful Gryffindor girls." Cormac said arrogantly.
"Your Gryffindor girls!" Hermione snapped. "I'll have you know that not one of the Gryffindor's would accept any of your protection! Don't forget how inappropriate you got with me last Christmas under the mistletoe. We Gryffindor girls need protection from you!" Hermione slapped him across the face and walked out of the Great Hall. Draco laughed in his face and ran after Hermione.
"Granger wait! I don't know what that was about but I hope I get to see it again. You Gryffindor girls are feisty! Anyway, I wanted you to know that I saved Gi-Weasley and that was that. Don't read any further into it as much as you love to do that. Please?" Draco said flabbergasted that he was asking Hermione Granger for a favor.
"Of course. I think I understand. Good night." Hermione walked to the Gryffindor common room that was almost deserted and went to bed. Ginny lay awake waiting to make her journey back through the secret passage at one o'clock.
Once Draco made it to his room he changed into nothing but green silk pajama pants and lay on his stomach. He was determined to wait up for her but the pain was returning and he began to feel drowsy. He fought sleep for only a few minutes, and then gave in. Ginny walked out of the Gryffindor common room wearing the green flannel pajamas Draco had given her and headed for the secret passage.
Draco was sick of lying on his stomach and rolled slightly to his side. Suddenly he felt someone laying next to him and trying to undo the string of his pants. He was startled at the thought that Ginny would be so forward but when he breathed in, he didn't smell her sweet smell. Instead he smelled Pansy's perfume that always made him sick. "Pansy! What the hell are you doing in here? Get off me!"
"Oh go on Draco. You know you want me. Just lay back." Pansy said struggling to get his pants off.
"You have got to be kidding! Wait how did you get in here? My door was charmed." Draco said sitting upright.
"I didn't use your door." Pansy said as she leaned in to kiss him.
Draco shoved her face away with his hand. "What do you mean you didn't-how do you know about the secret passage into this room?"
"Oh. Well I uh, um." Pansy was stuck. How would she explain it?
"You went and shagged the Head Boy last year when I cut you off didn't you? You're disgusting. Get out!" Draco yelled as he pushed her off the bed.
"Wait! Let me explain. It wasn't like that! He would just listen to me when I needed someone to talk to. About you! We only did it a few times or so." Pansy said still on the floor. "It didn't mean anything!"
"No Parkinson, you didn't mean anything! To him or to me! You know what? That letter you were going to send to my mum. Go ahead and send it. Just don't forget to include the portion where you were unfaithful to me. You know that no one is unfaithful to a Malfoy Pansy. You know what she'll do to you when she finds out? I wonder which unforgivable curse she'll use. Maybe all of them since she will be so distraught at the fact that her only son was cheated on by you!" Draco yelled with satisfaction. "Maybe I'll just tell her myself seeing how upset I am. I should really get it off my chest."
Pansy began to cry and plead as if she would die at that very moment. "No! No! Please Draco don't tell her! She'll kill me! I don't want to die! I'll do anything you ask!"
"Anything?" Draco smiled
"Anything." Pansy whimpered and began to sob.
"Then here it is. I want you leave me alone. Forever. Pretend I don't even exist. Can you do that Pansy?" Draco raised his voice to ensure she was listening.
"Yes. I'll do it! I'll never speak to you again. Just don't tell her!" Pansy cried a little while longer and then left his room through the door this time. Draco threw himself on his bed and hollered in victory. Just then, Ginny walked through the portrait hole to find him smiling with satisfaction and laying on his side.
"You sure look happy." Ginny said shyly noticing his untied pajama pants.
Draco looked down and quickly tied them. "Sorry about that. Nice jamies."
"Oh thanks. Some guy gave them to me." She laughed.
"Ah, some guy. Do you like him?"
"Ummmm. Yes. He's nice."
"Only nice? You're not attracted to him?"
"No not really. His arms are too big for my liking." She laughed again.
Draco crossed his arms slightly flexing them. "So you've noticed his arms have you? What else have you noticed?"
"Oh nothing really. But, he does seem to enjoy time alone with himself. I caught him smiling one time with his pants untied." With that he scoffed and threw her on the bed playfully.
"If you must know, I had a visitor shortly before you arrived. It appears Ms. Parkinson has a problem with being faithful and is now in debt to me forever." Draco said happily.
Ginny sat up and looked back down at the string to his pants. "What did you make her do?"
"Ewww! No, not that. I can't say she wasn't trying though. Anyway, she has promised to pretend I don't exist and that's that. Now I'm in a lot of pain nurse so if you don't mind, please tend to your patient. Ginny laughed and pulled out the cream. "Shall I assume my favorite position nurse?" Draco said smiling and grabbing a pillow.
"Well, if you must." Ginny said pretending not to be excited that he would be laying his head in her lap again. Draco laid the pillow down on her lap gently and swiped away any creases. He laid his head down slowly and did his usual happy moan. This time though, instead of holding on to the pillow, he gently grasped the outside of her thighs with each hand moaning happily again. Ginny gasped in shock but then focused on the task at hand.
"I'm ready." He said trying to hide a laugh.
Ginny began to apply the cream to his shoulder blades and he quickly tightened his grip causing her to gasp again. She then applied it to his lower back and he began to squirm slightly tightening his grip so much that she yelped.
"Oh I'm sorry." Draco said squinting up at her in pain.
"It's okay. Just shocked me is all." Ginny said blushing as he was staring into her eyes again. This time Draco snapped out of it before she did and released his grip on her thighs. "Thanks. We should probably get to bed."
"Yes you're right. I'll meet you back here at five o'clock tomorrow uh today? Oh so what was that handshake about in the Great Hall anyway?" Ginny said with interest.
"Just an understanding between men you know. You wouldn't understand. I bet he thinks he has to make it up to me though." Draco said arrogantly.
"Well does he?" Ginny asked raising an eyebrow.
"Of course not! " He laughed. "I didn't do it for him….I did it for you." Draco said timidly.
"Well than what do I owe you?" Ginny said blushing.
"Nothing. Nothing at all. Just promise me that when this whole mess with the good and bad gets cleared up that we can remain friends but out in the open. No more of this forbidden nonsense." Draco said unable to look her in the eye.
"Are we friends now?" Ginny said as she turned his head down to look at hers.
"Yes Ginny." He scooped her up into his arms and squeezed her tight. He kissed her forehead and breathed her in. "Good night."
"Good night." She said and traveled back to her dormitory and quickly fell asleep.