Standing To The Right Chapter 10: Acceptations And Deceptions, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter Ten: Acceptations and deceptions

I'm full of regret
For all things that I've done and said
And I don't know if it'll ever be ok to show
My face 'round here
Sometimes I wonder if I disappear

Would you ever turn your head and look
See if I'm gone
Cause I fear

There is nothing left to say to you
That you wanna hear
That you ought to know
I think I should go
The things I've done are way too shameful

You're just an innocent
A helpless victim of a spiders web
And I'm an insect
Going after anything that I can get
So you better turn your head and run
and don't look back
Cause I fear

There is nothing left to say
To you
That you wanna hear
That you ought to know
I think I should go
The things I've done are way too shameful

And I've done you so wrong
Treated you bad
Strung you along
Oh shame on myself
I don't know how I got so tangled

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Ginny giggled as Draco placed a line of gentle kisses along her neck and shoulder blade.

"Draco don't – someone might see us!" she whispered half heartedly, then laughed as Draco pulled her behind a stone statue and kissed her passionately.

"Still want me to stop?" he teased and she slapped him lightly on the arm.

They had been on their way to meet their muggle studies teacher, who'd owled them with a time for an urgent meeting that evening, when Draco had decided he had a better plan for spending their time alone together.

This was how they now found themselves behind the convenient statue.

"c'mon – we'll be late" Ginny pulled Draco out from behind the statue and up the corridor to professor Vetris' office.

She knocked on the door and then distanced herself from Draco, striking up a look of intense hostility for her awaiting audience.

Draco smirked.

"Nice weaslette – but mines better!" he smirked, letting his trademark expression of distaste and disinterest fall over his previously relaxed features.

It took all of Ginny's will power not to laugh, which was just as well because professor Vetris opened her office door right at that moment.

"Ah Miss Weasley, Mr. Malfoy, do come in"

The plump, round faced and good natured professor, swept the pair inside with a warm beam and gestured for them to sit.

Ginny sat daintily on the edge of a soft, plum, velvet armchair, crossing her slim legs, allowing Draco a tantalising glimpse of more flesh then she would usually ever deem it moral to show in public. He rolled his eyes and smirked at the red head, who hid her amusement.

It was such fun to tease Draco. Harry wouldn't notice anything that subtle ever. In fact his idea of subtle would be her dancing naked on a shiny white piano surrounded by giant neon green signs that chanted "She's Nakey!" every five seconds!

Professor Vetris seated herself on the bright yellow sofa and smiled at the pair.

"Tea anyone? No? Okay then I have some news about your muggle studies project"

Ginny stopped stealing glances at Draco and tuned in.

"Its not being cancelled is it?" she asked quickly.

Professor Vetris smiled.

"Well no – but there have been some changes" She replied.

Ginny and Draco had been assigned a project, due to start in a couple of week's time, during which they would have to live as muggles for two weeks in London, using muggle money and not a drop of the magical stuff.

Ginny had been secretly extremely excited about the prospect of spending two weeks alone with Draco, and away from Harry, if she were truthful.

They had been becoming more and more distant over the past week or so, since Ginny had starting seeing Draco on a regular basis. Every time something got challenging or boring with Harry, she was in Draco's arms quicker then lightening. And she felt safe there. Safe and wanted and completely herself. She could tell Draco everything, whereas with Harry, she was constantly treading on eggshells.

"As there are only the two of you this year, professor Dumbledore and I have been discussing and arranging for you to spend the two weeks in the company of two other students, who are doing the same project"

Ginny shrugged.

"That sounds cool actually. Which school are they from?"

"An American wizarding school in New York city. Now you'll be spending your two weeks in New York, where you'll share an apartment with the two American students Brett and Amy – any questions?"

Ginny shook her head and Draco shrugged.

Professor Vetris smiled again.

"Okay! So that's everything! Be ready to leave next Friday at six pm!"

"God! She is way to perky all the time!" Ginny groaned, after their overdose of joyful sunshine for that evening.

"I know – I could have cursed her the minute she started singing whilst boiling the kettle"

They walked in silence for a bit, processing the new information.

"So America huh?" Ginny piped up and Draco shrugged.

Ginny frowned.

"What's wrong? You do still want to go don't you?" she asked, even though she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer.

Draco stopped and took her hands in his.

"Yes of course I still want to go. In fact I think I want to go even more now. I guess I just wanted you all to myself for a bit"

Ginny stared at him.

"You know – so I can taunt you and insult you without saint potter punching me of course" he rectified hastily.

"Of course" laughed Ginny, placing a kiss on the side of his mouth.

He turned his head kissing her back furiously, until footsteps could be heard in the background.

"Now where has that bloody statue gotten to?"

"Why do you have to go?" Harry whined for the millionth time that evening, as Ginny packed her trunk for New York.

Ginny turned to give him an impatient look.

"Because I have to – it's a compulsory project. Don't be like this Harry"

Harry shot her a forlorn look, complete with puppy dog eyes.

"You know you'll be missing our three month anniversary?" he moaned softly.

Ginny paused for a second. She had forgotten that she and Harry had been dating for nearly three months. The thought hadn't even crossed her mind and unwillingly she decided on something.

"Harry? Do you think we should cool things off whilst imp in New York?" she asked quietly.

"I mean ill have no way of contacting you or anything without magic and I don't want the thought that you'll be missing me to haunt me……"

Harry sat on her bed in silence for a while then nodded.

"If that's what you want gin? It's okay. You'll need to concentrate out there and it'll be difficult for you without magic, so yeah okay"

Ginny hugged him tightly, and let a single tear roll down her cheek.

This was it. She had chosen.

"Just promise me things will go back to normal when you get home?" Harry murmured into her hair.

Ginny nodded.

"Of course Harry" knowing that they never would.

"C'mon I gotta go!" she broke the embrace and followed Harry down the stairs into the common room, levitating her trunk behind her.

Professor Vetris beamed at her.

"Hello Ginny, all packed? Good! Here's your travel details and allowance. And ill need your wand okay?"

Ginny exchanged her wand for a passport and small velvet purse, which jangled as it moved.

"Ready?" professor Vetris smiled and Ginny nodded.

Placing a quick kiss on Harry's cheek, she stepped into the fireplace which was now glowing green with floo powder.

"Hogsmede station!" She yelled, and disappeared into the flames.

Hermione was bored. She was in class and for the first time bored out of her mind. Her page was empty from her usual rampant note taking and her mind was drifting out with the clouds that hung in the grey January sky.

"Miss granger!"

Hermione snapped back to reality with a jolt as she focused on the person who had said her name.

"Oh! Professor Dumbledore! I was just …" she blushed as the head teacher smiled down at her.

"I was wondering if I could have a word? In my office?" Dumbledore said gently and Hermione nodded, gathering her belongings up and scooping them into her bag.

She then followed the elderly wizard out of professor Binn's classroom and down the twisting passages that led to his office.

"Zingle poppers!" he cried at the ugly gargoyle that guarded his office and it sprung aside, letting them pass.

"You really must try one of those miss granger. They really are excellent!"

Hermione smiled affectionately at the crazy old man beside her.

They reached the top of the spiral staircase and pushed open the heavy wooden door.

"Blaise?" Hermione exclaimed in surprise, as her gaze landed on the black haired boy who was the picture of relaxation; legs crossed, arms resting behind his head.

Aware that she'd said too much already, Hermione closed her mouth and seated herself opposite Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling in amusement.

"Now then. Professor Snape has bought to my attention that your potions project was rather, shall we say, unique and terribly intriguing."

Hermione frowned.

"I don't understand …." She started.

"Miss Granger, do you know what this potion does?" Dumbledore asked kindly.

"It's a protection potion sir"

"Yes, well done. An extremely powerful and rare one at that. It is called the sip of the soul potion. Can you tell me why?"

Both Hermione and Blaise shook their heads.

Dumbledore smiled.

"It has that name, as its last ingredient – the one I presume you haven't been able to add – is the blood of a person who is an unwilling servant of the enemy of the one who drinks the potion. It takes a sip from their soul in the form of blood to seal the magical protective shield the potion creates once drunk. It can last for as long as the servant is an unwilling one"

Dumbledore stopped to ensure they were following then proceeded once again.

"This is why it can be a highly dangerous and unstable form of protection. If the servant suddenly decides they want to take a revengeful act upon the drinker it can be done in one simple thought, which destroys the shield forever."

Hermione swallowed this information thoughtfully.

"Miss Granger, can you think of someone who would most benefit from this potion and its protection?"

Hermione was about to decline any idea, then stopped.

"Harry!" she whispered, suddenly filled with enlightenment.

Dumbledore nodded frantically.

"If you could find someone who is unwilling but forced to serve lord Voldemort, this potion could help Harry succeed in his chosen path"

Hermione traced the outline of Blaise's jaw with her index finger. She was certain she knew every facial expression and features of his face from memory and drank in the sight of him. She knew how his nose was long and straight, how his eyebrows knotted together when he was frustrated. How his eyes changed from the very dark cobalt colour when he was happy or angry, but paled to a periwinkle blue when his mind was on other things.

She knew that he drummed his fingers on his desk when reading and that he laughed at her muggle jokes, even though he rarely understood their context.

"What's wrong mione?"

Blaise broke their silence, but she shook her head, leaning down to kiss him instead.

He kissed her back, pulling her closer to him, lying face to face along one of the couches in the heads dorm, which now Draco was abroad, they had to themselves day and night.

Hermione had gotten so used to having Blaise's sleeping frame next to hers at night that she was so incredibly lonely if he decided to show his face in the Slytherin dorms occasionally.

"They'll think im sleeping with every girl in Hogwarts otherwise" he had laughed, and she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Would you prefer to be?" she asked in what she hoped was a causal voice.

He looked at her seriously and shook his head.

That was the night he'd told her he loved her.

Their kissing became more frenzied and desperate. Hermione felt Blaise's fingers reaching up to unbutton her blouse and she froze.

He smiled and slid his hands down to her waist instead, sensing she wasn't ready yet, and felt her relax once again.

For once it didn't seem to matter how fast or slow they took their relationship. He wanted it to be Hermione who asserted the pace of their intimacy, as she was still so nervous and inexperienced.

"lets go to bed" Hermione yawned as she made to get up and head for her room, but Blaise pulled her back down beside her.

"Lie with me" he asked and she stopped, resting her head back down on his chest, feeling it rise and fall steadily with each breath.

"I love you"

"I love you too"

"Hi! I'm Brett; you must be Ginny and Draco"

Ginny and Draco had arrived in New York City early the following morning and now found themselves being greeted by a good looking and self confident boy of about their age.

Brett defiantly had the American look, Ginny decided. Immaculately dressed and groomed with a Hollywood smile, Ginny knew instantly where his confidence sprung from.

He ushered them inside the apartment that the four would be sharing for the next fortnight, taking their luggage from them and depositing it next to the stairs, which led to the second floor.

A short blonde haired girl rounded the corner and threw her arms round Ginny in greeting.

"Heya! I'm Amy! I'm so excited to meet you both finally!" she squealed in her American accent, which was harsher then Brett's soft lilting drawl.

Ginny instantly liked them both and she grinned happily as Amy threw her arms round Draco, as if greeting a long lost friend.

"So guys, did you want to unpack, then we'll show you the city?" Brett asked and Ginny nodded, Draco following her up the stairs to the bedrooms, on the upper level of the duplex.

"So what do you think of new York so far then Ginny?"

Ginny smiled at Brett as he joined her on the balcony of the apartment, as she watched the flickering lights of New York in the darkness.

"Its incredible" she breathed, shivering involuntarily in the cool breeze that had settled over the city.

"Here" Brett shrugged off his jacket, draping it round her shoulders and she smiled in thanks.

They stood in silence for a minute or two, looking out over the city.

"Ginny? Can I ask you something?" Brett said finally and Ginny nodded.

"You and Draco……. Are you….?"

Ginny laughed.

"Yeah were together, but it's complicated. Were not meant to be but we are… I know it doesn't make any sense!" she chuckled as Brett frowned in puzzlement.

"Want to explain?" Brett asked and Ginny shrugged.

"I left my boyfriend for Draco. I was dating this guy and he still thinks there's a chance, but im happier with Draco then I ever was with Harry." She explained.

Brett's eyes widened.

"Harry? As in Harry potter?" he asked in disbelief, causing Ginny to roll her eyes and nod.

"Sorry" Brett apologized bashfully.

"If its any consolation, I think you know you made the right choice, you don't need to feel guilty"

Ginny turned to look Brett straight in the eye, and then hugged him gratefully.

"Thanks – I think that's all I needed to hear." She whispered.

From inside his bedroom, Draco glared out at the sight of his girlfriend wrapping her arms round the American wizard. From the minute he'd seen Brett he should have known there would be trouble. He was defiantly more Ginny's type. More like Harry, he thought grimly, before stomping off to bed.

"Erm potter? Can I have a word?"

Blaise approached Harry at the end of dinner, pulling him to one side, out of view from the gossiping students that filled the great hall.

"Im sorry Zabini. I just don't feel that way about you" Harry laughed, as Blaise glared at him, distancing himself further from the bespectacled boy.

"Shut it potter!" Blaise threatened casually.

"No, listen ive got something important to tell you"

"You know, you're not really helping to shed that imp – trying – to – ask – you – out aura you've got going on right now"

"Potter! Listen you know the potion Hermione and I made?" Harry nodded.

"Well it's a protection potion. It can be drunk by anyone, so long as it contains the blood of an unwilling servant of the drinkers' enemy. I think you should drink it" Blaise finished.

Harry stared at him.

"What? That'd mean id need the blood of someone unwilling to become a death eater right? That'd be easy!" he laughed, gesturing around at the great hall.

Blaise shook his head.

"No, it has to be from someone you is forced to serve Voldemort but doesn't necessarily want to" he explained again and Harry shrugged.

"And who do you suggest? If I remember correctly most death eaters are usually thrilled to kiss old Voldy's feet."

Blaise kept quiet for a while, and then spoke up tentatively.

"Me"

Harry stared at him. Blaise waved his hands in front of Harry passive face.

"Potter? Earth to potter!" he chanted, manically.

"Why? I don't understand…." Harry said finally, and Blaise sighed in defeat.

"I was hoping you'd just say okay, but as you are being highly uncooperative……. Your Hermione's best friend and imp in love with Hermione"

This was the breaking point for Harry and he staggered backwards into a stone pillar and slid stunned to the floor. Blaise crouched down in front of him.

"Erm potter? Are you okay?"

Harry waved him away and Blaise stood up hesitantly.

"Let me get this straight. You want to help protect me against Voldemort because you don't want to e a death eater and because you're in love with Hermione?"

"Er yes, I suppose that's correct"

"You're insane you know that. If Voldemort doesn't kill you for it, then Ron certainly will!"

Blaise paused.

"That's why you can't tell anyone, especially not Hermione" he muttered.

"Tell Hermione what?" Ron's voice joined the conversation.

"That he's going to help me, because he's in love with her" Harry's stunned state hadn't quite worn off it seemed and Ron turned an interesting colour of puce.

"Your bloody WHAT!" he roared, launching himself at the startled Slytherin boy.

"Nice one potter!" Blaise groaned, as he ducked a blow from Ron's fist.

"So she'd been seeing you behind my back has she? HAS SHE!" Ron yelled, as a small crowd gathered round the trio of boys.

Blaise shook his head.

"I wont do this now, not here Weasley. Potter get up and take your weasel friend with you. Ill meet you in the heads room in ten minutes.

Ron however, seemed completely against doing as Blaise said.

"Weasley I hate to do this but you leave me no choice"

Seconds later, Harry dragged an incredibly subdued Ron out of the great hall, whilst Blaise nursed his throbbing hand.

It had been quite a good punch if he said so himself.

"What is going on!"

Hermione, having gotten wind of the fight from Parvati, stormed into the heads common room and glared stonily at the three boys in front of her.

Harry seemed to be pinning a bloody nosed Ron back from a furious looking Blaise.

"What the hell is going on!" she yelled even louder and Harry decided to explain.

Hermione glared at the three boys as Harry finished recounting the story and grew very quiet and eerily calm.

"Blaise, Harry, I need to talk to Ron alone for a minute okay?"

Harry nodded and proceeded to leave, but Blaise simply glared at the Gryffindor girl.

"Why me? I think we need to talk as well Hermione" he spat dangerously.

Hermione sighed.

"Blaise please…..?" she begged of him and he crossed his arms and stalked past her, pulling her towards a far corner of the room ,out of Ron's ear shot.

"What are you going to tell him?" he asked sullenly and Hermione shrugged.

"Maybe if we just worked things out it would be better for everyone. I mean Ron and I are friends, were close, it could work if we tried and there's Harry to think of…?" she trailed off miserably.

Blaise almost seemed to seethe with anger and disappointment.

"Hermione, both of us are friends with a powerful wizard who often needs our help okay? We always stand just to the right of them, offering our support. But one day their not going to need it and so isn't it time you chose your own path? Hmmm?"

Then he stalked out of the common room, leaving his words ringing in Hermione's ear.

"Ron?"

"Im not talking to you!" he spat angrily.

Hermione glared.

"Im not asking you to talk, im telling you to listen!" she replied firmly.

Ron sat sulking on the sofa, refusing to look her in the eye, so she settled herself down, opposite him and tried to explain.

"Ron, you and me would never work because well I don't know anything about you –"

Ron stared at her.

"Were best friends you know everything about me!" he cried, and Hermione shook her head.

"no, I know everything that a friend should know, that lots of people who know you know, but nothing a girlfriend should know" she fiddled with the edge of her skirt, trying to make sense of it in her own head.

"I know things about Blaise that only I know. And that makes what we have exclusive and special. Things that I notice because I cant get enough of him, of being around him"

Ron's eyes grew dark and sad expression fell across his features.

"But I love you mione" he whispered.

"No, you don't Ron" she smiled softly.

"You care for me ands you're my best friend, but we've never had more then that. Don't you see? There is so much more that you can feel, then you feel for me and you deserve that Ron."

They sat there simply staring into the fire for what seemed an eternity, before Ron spoke.

"Okay. Maybe I may have exaggerated certain feelings for you, and im sorry if I caused you any pain mione. Friends?"

Hermione beamed at him and threw her arms around his neck.

"Always"

"Okay Draco, what the hell is wrong with you!"

Ginny had only been able to stand a morning of Draco's silence, which was only interrupted by the occasional sarcastic comment, muttered under his breath.

As Brett and Amy had decided to visit a couple of muggle friends for the day, and they weren't due to meet up again till dinner, Ginny and Draco found themselves sauntering round central park for the morning.

It was quite possibly one of the most beautiful days Ginny had ever witnessed. A thin layer of January snow covered the park and tree tops and the cool air was not so much chilling as refreshing.

Draco seemed not to have heard Ginny's frustrated outburst so she stepped in front of him, trying to make eye contact, but he simply manoeuvred around her and continued walking.

"Draco!" she cried, tears pricking in her eyes. She wiped them away with the back of her jacket sleeve and hurried after him.

"What Weasley? What is it you want?" he snapped abruptly.

The use of her last name stung.

"An explanation maybe" she replied sharply.

Draco stopped and peered incredulously down at her.

"An explanation? Surely that's what you should be giving me!"

Ginny gaped at him in puzzlement.

"For what?" she cried

"For why I saw my girlfriend and some cheesy American guy sharing a rather too intimate embrace on the balcony last night!"

Ginny couldn't help it. She did the worst thing possible. She laughed.

Draco shot her a hard look, before storming off down the path.

"Draco wait! It wasn't what …"

She sighed as his frame disappeared from sight.

"…you thought"

"Relax. He'll be back soon. He probably just wound up in Soho or something. I can imagine he'd fit in quite well there"

Ginny pouted as she allowed Amy to finish braiding her red curls, as they sat on her bed. Ginny had just muttered something about there being a possibility Draco might be hurt. He hadn't turned up for dinner at the restaurant they'd booked and it was nearing eleven pm and still there had been no word from him.

Brett had been apologizing profusely since Ginny had arrived at the restaurant in tears and hurriedly explained everything.

Ginny had assured him that Draco had an unfortunate temper and a fair amount of stubbornness in him and that it wasn't Brett's fault in any way.

"You want me to wait up with you sweetie?"

Ginny smiled and nodded gratefully. She'd never really had a proper girlfriend before, if you excluded Hermione of course, and Amy and she had hit it off instantly.

"Ill get some cookies and hot chocolate" Amy jumped up and dashed into the kitchen.

Seconds later Ginny heard Amy's voice float through into the lounge.

"Ginny? How do you make hot chocolate without a wand?"

Draco stirred his silver bullet cocktail with a cherry and then proceeded to drain the concoction of scotch and vodka.

Instantly he began to feel slightly better.

"Same again" he commanded of the bar tender, in the small but exclusive club in Soho.

He took the second drink and spun round, to lean against the bar, so he could examine the crowd the club attracted.

Everyone was immaculately dressed, flaunting their fame and throwing around their cash as if it were peanuts. He smirked.

Every move these people made was so rehearsed. Ginny would have hated it. Everything she did was spontaneous or done in a moment of passion or curiosity. Draco suddenly found himself longing for her company. He wished he could go home to the apartment and tell her he was sorry, but that would mean admitting he was wrong. Something he rally didn't want to do.

"Want to dance?"

An attractive model type girl, with streaming red hair, broke his thoughts. She looks just like Ginny, he mused, before accepting.

"Don't you think you should go home Draco?"

Draco turned to come face to face with Brett.

"What do you want?" Draco drawled in a bored tone.

Brett sighed.

"Ginny and I are simply friends. She was telling me how happy she was with you and how she knew she'd done the right thing by choosing you over Harry potter, when you saw us" Brett explained.

Draco stared down into the glittering liquid of his cocktail.

"Really?" He was shocked at how insecure he sounded. Ginny seemed to be able to make him unable to put up his ice cold front that he used so often in relationships and it was a frightening realisation.

"listen are you going to come and dance?" the pretty red head who'd seemed such a good second best a minute ago, had morphed into a slightly shorter, less attractive and all around ordinary city girl, with badly dyed hair.

Draco shook his head.

"No. no thank you" He replied and allowed himself to be steered out of the club by Brett.

"You do know that that's an extremely girly drink Draco mate?"

A/N: hmmmm? What a palaver! Another quick recap anyone? Yes? No? Okay!

To summarise ……….

No more Hermione / Ron

" " Ginny/ Hazzer

Blaise is a cutie pie

Brett is very American

Amy is lovely

Draco drinks girly cocktails

Got it? Good!

BTW……… Im seriously thinking of giving up on this fic. It's becoming too emotional for my liking. However you readers may be able to change my mind. I could do with some nice long reviews. Tell me what you like, what you hate, whether you think the characters are developing correctly and enough. Is there somewhere you would like the plot to go? Any more obstacles they might need to pass?

Please please review! Thanks X