A/N-12 reviews! That's the most so far. And what a great number since this is Chapter 12. I loved hearing from my vocal regulars and my silent regulars! I even picked up some new readers along the way! Thank you!
Chapter 12
"Bloody hell! What was that about?" Ron said to Harry as they were changing out of their Quidditch uniforms.
"I don't know. I did notice that just before the game, they exchanged words. You were there Ginny. What happened?" Harry said as he buttoned his shirt.
"Oh well…Um. Cormac was telling me that we were going to win and that he was going to call every foul on Slytherin." Ginny said uncomfortably.
"Well than why was Malfoy there?" Harry said in confusion.
"I really don't care to talk about it okay?" Ginny said sounding annoyed with the thought of Cormac holding her close.
"Spill it Ginny! What happened?" Ron yelled as he leaned against her locker.
"Fine! Cormac was….He was….He was acting like a prat. He was holding my arm and preventing me from warming up with you lot…..So Dr-Malfoy made him let go of me and then the match started. That's it!" Ginny said nervously.
"What do you mean McLaggen was holding your arm? What else did he do to you? I'll kill him I will!" Ron said as he punched the locker next to Ginny's.
"Ron stop. It's over. Nothing happened." Ginny said stroking his shoulder.
"Nothing happened? How dare he think he has the right to touch you! He better hope he's in the hospital wing for a while because I'll pick up where Malfoy left off!" Ron said and was now pacing and clenching his fists.
Harry was scratching his head in confusion. "Hang on. That still doesn't explain where Malfoy fits in to all this. Why would he care if McLaggen was talking to you? Why would he make him let go of you?" Harry was getting very suspicious.
"Listen Harry. Malfoy and I are potions partners which has made it extremely hard for him to be nasty to me. I'd say he's given up on it all together. He was just doing what either of you would have done." Ginny said knowing she had said too much.
Ron stopped pacing and sat down on the bench. Harry was staring at Ginny in amazement and then began to speak slowly and sternly. "The Malfoy I know doesn't give a damn about you. Whatever this little game he's playing with you is, it's dangerous. You need to be careful."
"God Harry! You sound just like Ron! Isn't it possible for someone to change? Maybe Malfoy has more important things on his mind than to continue this childish rivalry!" Ginny said and sat next to Ron who was thinking intently.
"I'm not sure what's going on but, either of you could be right. Malfoy could be changing or he could be trying to make us trust him for some unknown reason." Ron said as he stroked his chin.
Harry snorted and threw his hands up into the air. "You have got to be kidding me! Ron, it's obvious! Malfoy is up to something and that something is directly related to Ginny. We need to keep an eye on him for her sake."
Ginny laughed which confused both boys. "You guys are hilarious! Here I have the Glory of Gryffindor trying to protect me from my harmless potions partner. You've both cracked you have!"
At this, Ron stood and yelled in anger. "Cracked have we? You just referred to Malfoy as harmless! Did you just see what he did to McLaggen? I'll admit he seems to always be there for you at the right time but that's not enough to convince me that he's not after you himself Ginny! Snap out of it! It's Draco Malfoy! You need to have your guard up."
Harry smiled and slapped Ron on the shoulder. "I thought I had lost you there for a minute mate. Glad to see you've come to your senses."
"You know, I just can't listen to this anymore. You are both paranoid about something so stupid. Just leave me alone." Ginny walked out of the changing area and headed toward the castle as reality set in. Right now, Draco would be talking to Dumbledore. He could already be expelled. Ginny replayed the visions of him fighting Cormac and she became nauseous. She sat on the same bench Draco had a while back and breathed deeply. She thought about the anger she saw in Draco's face as he was punching Cormac. She recalled how she attempted to pull them apart with Harry and Madam Hooch but Draco was strong and wouldn't let up. He had been determined to hurt McLaggen but why? What had been said that would cause him to react so violently?
Draco was sitting across from Dumbledore in his office. Dumbledore sat quietly with a look of calm curiosity. They had been sitting there in silence for at least fifteen minutes. Draco couldn't bare it any longer. "Professor? Am I to be expelled?"
"Mr. Malfoy, what I witnessed on the pitch was utter hatred and anger. Can you explain that?" Dumbledore said now sitting up in his chair.
"I told you sir. It was something he said. I don't want to repeat it." Draco said and gripped the arms of the chair tightly turning his knuckles white. Just the thought of what McLaggen said was making his anger return.
Dumbledore noticed this at once. "Mr. Malfoy, I have no other option than to assume that Mr. McLaggen insulted you or someone you care about. Is that correct?"
"Yes sir." Draco said through gritted teeth.
"Is there any hope for you to learn to handle your anger in a more constructive manner?" Dumbledore said with a smile.
Draco was completely confused. Why hadn't he simply expelled him yet? Why was he dragging it on? "Sir, with all due respect…..I don't think so. I've never been one for thinking things through. I just react. When I get that angry there's no telling what I will do. McLaggen's just lucky you came along." Draco said with an evil grin.
"Oh I don't doubt that." Dumbledore whispered acknowledging the fact that McLaggen had been lucky. "What concerns me Draco is you do think things through…You just seem to do it much quicker than others and choose violence over vengeance. I am a firm believer in standing up for what you believe in and protecting those that you care for. But I also believe in retaliating in a positive way."
"Sir, I'm afraid I don't understand." Draco said frowning.
"Whatever Mr. McLaggen said upset you enough to react in a rage of anger. Not only did he insult you or someone you care about but due to your reaction, he may also have the pleasure of seeing you expelled. If it had been me, I would have simply smiled and defeated Gryffindor severely. I think we both would agree that he still holds a grudge about his lack of Quidditch play time while he attended Hogwarts." Dumbledore smiled again and Draco nodded.
"Sir, I understand everything you just said but I have to be honest. I was raised differently." Draco was about to reiterate the speech he had given to Ginny but Dumbledore raised his hand and cut him off.
"Mr. Malfoy, I am perfectly aware of your upbringing and it is no excuse. You know the difference between right and wrong. You know that there is justice in the Wizarding world if you seek it out properly. No bad deed should go unpunished however, that does not give you the right to carry out the punishment yourself. People of authority should be trusted to handle things such as this in a fair and proper manner." Dumbledore said in a direct tone.
Malfoy stood from his chair and began to yell. "But sir! I can't just go running to you or someone from the ministry every time someone ticks me off! That's ridiculous. Don't you think a man should handle his problems on his own? That's what makes him a man after all doesn't it?"
"Spoken like a true Malfoy." Dumbledore said calmly as he gestured for Draco to sit back down. Draco complied with much regret. "You are a powerful wizard Mr. Malfoy and only you can decide which route you are going to take in life. If you choose to exclude your self from friends and the assistance they can provide than you will truly be alone and will need to rely on yourself. But, that won't make you a man. What defines you as a man is much different than what you were taught. When you can be depended on and rely on others for strength. When you protect and provide for those you love. When you allow things to be handled by authority and not your bare hands. When you can walk away with respect from others and not fear. That Draco, that is what makes you a man."
"I'm not…I can't sir. You are asking me to restrain myself. I've never done that before. Any impulse I have, I follow it." Draco said running a hand through his hair.
"Then can you explain why you protected Miss Weasley from being burned that day? Can you explain why you protected a member of a family you have continually despised? Wasn't your first impulse to let her be burned?" That thought made Draco cringe. "Why did you run to her aide that day she fainted in the Great Hall? Were you simply trying to add to her strain by being there? Did you insult her as she lay on the ground?" Draco shifted in his seat and took a deep breath. These comments were making his hands sweat and his eyes burn. "What about today Mr. Malfoy? Why did it bother you so that Mr. McLaggen was holding Miss Weasley's arm? Were you upset that someone other than you was making her feel uncomfortable?" Dumbledore stood and walked to the front of his desk and sat on it and clasped his hands. He was only two feet from Draco. "From your look of discomfort I should say the answer to all those questions is no. You have been restraining yourself since you set foot off the train this year. You are not prepared to let on that you, Mr. Malfoy may have fallen for someone that is forbidden to you."
"How…What? What makes you think that?" Draco yelled in shock and looked away.
"Mr. Malfoy, there is little that happens at this school that I am unaware of. I won't pretend to know everything about how this came to be but I will say that your judgment has been poor. You have risked not only your future in Hogwarts but your future in the wizarding world." Dumbledore paused at this to ensure Draco understood that he was aware of the incident in Knock Turn Alley.
"How did you know?" Draco said returning his eyes to Dumbledore.
"I watch over all of my students. I know when they are in need of assistance and just like McLaggen was lucky to have myself today, Miss Weasely was lucky to have you then. I think I've made it quite clear that I completely disagree with your actions but what's done is done. You need to move forward and change how you react to things you dislike. If you are even considering any kind of future with Miss Weasley, your current decisions will not suffice." Dumbledore paused again.
Draco was floored. A future with Ginny? They barely knew each other. Draco just couldn't simply change standing up for himself and those he cared for. But then he remembered something Dumbledore had said earlier. "Sir, you said that protecting and providing for those you care for is part of being a man. Isn't that what I've been doing?" Draco was pleased with himself and sat back comfortably in the chair smiling.
"Are you acknowledging the fact that you care for Miss Weasley?" Dumbledore returned the smile and awaited his response with his arms now crossed.
Draco frowned and sat forward in his chair. He hadn't really thought about it all this time. How did he feel for Ginny? He obviously cared for her since every time she was in harms way he turned into a monster. Draco spoke quietly. "I don't really know Professor. I know that nothing can ever come of whatever is going on because if my mother ever found out, she would do something horrible. I can't put Gin-her in that situation anymore. I should put an end to this before she gets hurt. Sir, am I to be expelled?" Draco questioned once more.
Dumbledore stood and began pacing the room. "Mr. Malfoy, what you have done is not only an embarrassment to the school but will cause many parents to demand action. I'm afraid my only choice is to suspend you from the next two matches. You will write Mr. McLaggen a formal apology that will also state that you will be assisting him in his duties with the Gryffindor team. This means you will need to attend their practices along with your own and offer any assistance they may need." Draco began to protest but without the need from Dumbledore to raise a hand, he silenced himself. He realized that anything was better than being expelled. He then comprehended what Dumbledore had just said. He was insisting that Draco attend all Gryffindor practices and help out. Was there something about McLaggen that Dumbledore didn't trust? Was he asking Draco to watch over Ginny? Didn't he realize how upset Potter and Weasley would be about it?
"Thank you sir. I understand." Draco said as he stood.
"Mr. Malfoy, if Mr. McLaggen chooses to insult Miss Weasley again, you have my permission to walk away with respect." Dumbledore said forcefully and then smiled.
Draco smiled back acknowledging that this was his last chance. He needed to change the way he handled things or he would definitely be expelled. Dumbledore's mercy would only go so far compared to how many parents would take action if something happened again. Draco exited Dumbledore's office and headed for the Slytherin common room.