A/N: (Dodges Bludger being aimed in my direction) I know. Very bad me for taking so long. I have no excuse, simply haven't had much of any spare time to sit down and write. Will try to make amends by making this chapter long, with lots of fun D/G scenes. I am very much feeling Droll!Draco and Exasperated!Ginny right now. This, of course, will lead to fun conversations. And Draco singing. And maybe a snog or two; but beware, the snogging may involve a person who isn't Draco. (Ducks another Bludger) Further more, I have given in to the desire to give my poor Snape a bit of romance. After re-reading the previous chapters, I have come to the conclusion that Snape has a teensy little crush. Unintended on my part, but there it is.
On a side note (Read: Katie's disjointed tangents for the day) -
1.) Yay! Three hundred reviews! To everyone that submitted a review, big hugs from me. Love you all.2.) Everyone: Go check out 'Disparaissant' and 'Of Peppers and Tiramisu' (both D/G), and make sure to leave a lovely review. I, personally, cannot wait for the next chapter of 'Of Peppers...' (hint, hint, Sunday).
3.) This is my space, and I can pimp out other stories if I like. Want me to pimp for you? Drop a review with the story you want me to read.
4.) Speaking of reading, any of you lovely readers have favourite D/G stories, leave them in your reviews. I am all out of good ones to read, am way too lazy to sort through the million and one stories floating around, and I know you can help.
5.) New chapter of 'She's Plotting Our Downfall' will be completed soon. Sorry about the long wait.
-Katie-
Disclaimer: Today I am making this the "unclaimer". I am tired of "disclaimers", and am thus making a new word. Or mangling the English language, depending on how you view it. If you recognise it, it means it's not mine. But that in no way is going to stop me from swiping it. I will, in a graceful gesture of goodwill (ah, I love alliteration), credit the brilliant mind that came up with it. So... Harry Potter and Co.- J.K. Rowling. And I am borrowing a line from 'The Princess Bride' and 'Family Guy', respectively. See if you can find them.
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Chapter Twelve: Public Proclamations and Private Prevarication
The morning flew by in a blur for Ginny. History of Magic provided the perfect opportunity to replay the scene with Draco from that morning, and she spent the majority of the class considering all that had happened. Colin had to elbow her hard in the side to catch her attention when Professor Binns asked her about the causes of the Goblin Rebellion of 1612. Thankfully, she remembered Hermione droning on about this just the other day, and parroted it back to a delighted Professor Binns, who awarded Gryffindor five points. As soon as he turned back to his lecture, her mind drifted to her conversation with Draco.
Ah, so he's Draco now. The damnable voices in her head were, by all appearances, back.
No! I mean, kind of. Well, it IS his name, she defended.
One voice obviously had chosen to play devil's advocate, and snorted. And now, after six years of mutual enmity, you've decided is the opportune time to employ it?
Oh, stuff it. He made some valid points this morning. Perhaps I have been a little rash in painting him as some aspiring Dark Wizard. I didn't bother to learn anything about him, or what he thinks. I just condemned him because of who his father is, and how he treated Ron, Harry and Hermione.
Oh yes, he LOVES them, just hasn't found a way to express his feelings. Aside from hexing and name-calling, of course. But really, he just wants to cuddle them all and compose flowery poetry in their honour.
Okay, maybe he treats them so badly because he just doesn't like them. But still; he was civil to me, she replied.
A long pause preceded the response. Well, yes, that's because he's attracted to you.
What? Ginny spluttered. She hadn't realised she said that part aloud until Colin gave her a weird look. She smiled apologetically and diligently took notes until Colin's head began to nod with sleep.
Come now, don't be dense. Ahem. Let me quote: 'If you're going to poison my dreams, Weasley, I at least deserve a kiss out of it.' Dreams, as in the plural usage of the word. As in, I-think-about-you-more-than-I-would-care-to-admit. And he went positively homicidal when he thought you were doing all of this out of some unrequited love for Harry. Not to mention the whole 'but you I could handle' speech.
But that's just... just...
Cat got your tongue, dear?, the voice responded dryly.
No! That's asinine, that's what it is. Malfoy does NOT harbour feelings for me.
No, not at all. He just enjoys seeing you practically naked and snogging you senseless. I believe the term is Unresolved Sexual Tension.
You. Are. MENTAL.
Of course I am. I only exist in your head. Really, I thought you were a lot brighter than this, the voice chided.
Ginny gave up with a mental shriek of frustration as class ended. She was only ten minutes into Potions, her last class before lunch, when a startling thought struck her. Oh no! I have to apologise to Malfoy in front of the entire school at lunch! And I haven't even mentioned it to anyone yet! Ron's going to go spare! And I have no idea what to say, and everyone's going to stare, and-
"Miss Weasley," Snape drawled dangerously.
With a start, Ginny spun around in her seat and looked at the professor. "Yes, sir?" she asked meekly.
He pointed at the cauldron hissing in front of her. Softly, he asked, "Is there a reason your potion is even a more hideous shade of orange than your hair?"
With a gulp, Ginny sped through the steps for the potion in her head. After adding the dried Billywig stings, she was supposed to stir clockwise 25 times. She realised she must have been stirring for at least the last five minutes. Oh, bugger.
"You do realise you've absolutely destroyed your potion, don't you?" he continued.
Ginny closed her eyes and waited for him to deduct points, tell her how many detentions she would receive and make a fool of her in front of the entire class. After several long seconds, she cracked one eye and glanced up at him apprehensively. He was just standing there, a thoughtful look on his face. With a quick flick of his wand, the potion in her cauldron disappeared.
"Now," he said evenly. "Begin from scratch. I expect this potion to be perfect by the end of the period, Miss Weasley. And you will have a foot of parchment ready for me by next class on the importance of being mentally present whilst creating potions."
Ginny stared at him, her eyes rounding into a fair imitation of saucers. "Are you-" she cut off that thought. It would only get her in serious trouble. "Yes, sir," she tried.
Satisfied, he gave her a look of disgust and strode off.
---
Ginny readjusted the strap of her bag as she walked into the Great Hall. With a sigh of relief, she noticed that he wasn't there. His spot at the Slytherin table was empty, even though the other Slytherin seventh-years were chatting and gesturing as they ate. Ginny chose a spot at the Gryffindor table that faced the other side of the room. She knew it was cowardly, but if she didn't have to face that way, she wouldn't notice when he came in, and then she wouldn't have to apologise.
The table filled quickly, and she hardly noticed as Ron slid into the spot directly across from her. She was half-heartedly spooning stew into her bowl and listening to Harry tell Ron that the Quidditch training session scheduled for that afternoon was going to be cut short, since Slytherin had booked the pitch right after them. Ron was agreeing, saying how he didn't want to give them an opportunity to spy on them when he cut himself off. Ginny looked up, wondering what on earth could get Ron to shut up about Quidditch. He was sitting with a spoonful of stew halfway to his mouth, and looking over her shoulder, his eyes slitted.
"Weasley," came a drawl from directly behind her. "As much as the prospect of you suffering from an apoplexy appeals to me, try not to die for the next five minutes. I desperately want to see your reaction to what your sister is about to do."
Draco Malfoy, it appeared, had made his arrival to lunch with a typical flourish.
Ginny pleaded with Harry, who sat next to Ron, with her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she turned. "Please don't make me do this," she said, her eyes begging. "I hate the thought of everyone staring at me."
He stood there, giving her an inscrutable look. Just as she was rising to her feet to get it over with, he gently shoved her back down with a hand to the shoulder.
"A moment of your attention, everyone," he called out. The students quickly fell quiet until he had a rapt audience. "Miss Weasley and I have reached an agreement. The challenge is off." He looked around, making sure to catch the gazes of many of the girls, who looked crestfallen. "We felt it would be too distracting to everyone, what with Quidditch season upon us, and the Headmaster feels that many of you," he paused to glare at Padma Patil, "are breaking school rules in attempts to win. So, the prank is over. There will be no more attacks on me, and anyone professing to have 'proof' will be dealt with harshly." He turned and held out his hand to her. "Miss Weasley will even verify this for the non-believers. Ginny?" he prompted.
Ron, who had been turning a progressively nastier shade of scarlet, overturned his bowl and scrambled to his feet when Malfoy said "Ginny". Harry barely had time to grab him around the waist as he launched himself across the table in an attempt to get at Malfoy. "Don't you touch my sister!" he bellowed. "How dare you call her Ginny?" he yelled as Dean and Neville joined Harry in dragging him back over the table and pinning him to the bench. He thrashed about angrily, sputtering incoherently as Ginny stared at him, horrified.
"Ron!" she hissed. "Ron! Dammit, stop! Dumbledore said we had to do this, you berk! Just shut up already!"
Mortified, she ignored the hand Malfoy still proffered and stood gracefully. "Thanks for provoking Ron, you arse. Now everyone is staring," she muttered.
The side of his mouth tipped up. "Not at all. I said I'd be nice to you; being nice to him was never part of the agreement. Besides, I did all of the hard work. Now you just have to confirm what I said."
Ginny looked around. Every single pair of eyes was on them, including the House ghosts', who hovered in the corner. She straightened her shoulders, even as an embarrassed blush flooded her face. "Malfoy's right. It's off. No reward, no more attempts, game over. I'm sorry I started this. It was wrong of me," she finished in a hurry. With that she threw a leg over the bench and slithered as far down in her seat as she could. Bracing her face in one hand, she shook her head. "Sometimes, I hate this place," she sighed.
Fabric rustled behind her. "So, Gryffindor has the pitch booked this afternoon, don't they?" he queried.
Ron looked ready to combust where he sat. "Yeah, we do," he spat belligerently. "And if I so much as see you anywhere near the pitch before your time slot, the team will use you for Bludger practise. Got it?"
A mocking sneer touched his lips as Draco pinned Weasley with a level glare. "Don't worry," he said quietly, looking at each member of the team in turn. "You won't see a single hair on my head. And no, Granger," he said quickly, "I don't have an Invisibility Cloak. Satisfied?"
Ron, hands still fisted, slowly began to return to his normal colour. "Yeah, fine, whatever. Just don't-"
Draco sighed. "Your threats are repetitive and tiresome, Weasley. Get some new ones." He turned on his heel and strolled over to the Slytherin table.
Or at least that's what Ginny assumed. She wasn't about to turn round and look, not with the glare Ron gave her. Surprisingly, he didn't say a word, just ate the sandwich Neville pushed into his hand. Grateful for the reprieve, Ginny morosely finished her lunch in silence.
---
Despite the unseasonably cold weather, Ginny's hair was plastered to her head with sweat. Harry sat on his broom off to the side, calling out the plays. Colin and Andrew Kirke, the Beaters, were acting as the opposing Chasers, trying to foul up the formation she and Seamus and Dennis were practising.
No one had been more surprised than Ginny when Colin turned out for team try-outs. He was startlingly good, and had spent a lot of extra time with Andrew going over the finer points of being a Beater. As a result, they worked as a fluid unit; Ginny thought charitably that they were almost as good as Fred and George were.
Now, she thought, if only Seamus, Dennis and I could work that well together.
Dennis, although an exceptional flier, was very small. This made him a prime target for an opposing team. Privately, Ginny thought one well-aimed Bludger would be the death of him.
Knowing that the other teams would likely attack Dennis as the weak link, Ron had come up with a very good idea to use Dennis' size to their advantage. This was the reason they had been practising the same play for the past half an hour. The play called for Dennis to act as a decoy, speeding for the opposing hoops with the Quaffle. Ginny flew directly below him, with Seamus trailing slightly higher and a few broom lengths behind.
It was a precision play, and they were still ironing out the timing. Dennis would keep the Quaffle until the other team closed in on him, when he would drop the Quaffle and pull up into a steep climb. Ginny, being just under him, would catch it. At that point, she would have two options, depending on whether the other team followed Dennis or went for her. If she was clear, she could take the shot at the goal. Otherwise, she would just throw the Quaffle directly above her head, where Seamus would be ready to score the goal. It was a brilliant play, if they could get the timing down.
They flew it over and over again, until Ginny was thoroughly sick of it and threw the Quaffle at Ron's head. He took the hint and left the Chasers to their own devices, taking Colin and Andrew to the other end of the pitch to practise leading the target. Andrew was actually very good at hitting the Bludger where a player was going. Personally, Ginny thought it was incredibly good luck. He just didn't seem smart enough to anticipate someone's moves.
They flew for another 45 minutes, until Ginny's teeth were chattering from the cold and Dennis could barely get his numb fingers to grasp the Quaffle anymore. Seamus, damn his Irish arse, was rosy-cheeked and cheerful.
"How in the world are you smiling, you half-wit?" she teased.
"It's the Irish blood, love. It retains enough of the alcohol we drink to keep us cosy even in the coldest weather." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "Want me to come keep you warm?"
Ginny laughed and flew a tight circle around him as she reached out and punched his arm. "You're not my type, Seamus darling."
Dennis flew over and slid his broom sideways, bumping her thigh with his own. "Hey! Leaving me out? Where's my dose of the Chaser love?" he wheedled.
Ginny threw an affectionate arm around each of them and leant over to give Dennis a kiss on the cheek. "I'd never leave you out, sweeting. Can't have the team without you," she laughed.
Dennis held his cheek. "Hey, Weasley!" he shouted. "You're sister's so cold she's resorted to snogging us to keep warm!"
Ron, even from a distance, was very clearly displeased. As Harry, Ron, Andrew and Colin flew over, Dennis yipped and moved his broom behind Ginny. "Keep your brother away!" he shrieked jokingly. "Everyone knows he's obsessive about boys not going near you, Gin!"
Ron's face split into a grin. "Nah, just yanking your chain. I know my mates respect my sister," he laughed. Sobering, he said, "They better, if they know what's good for them."
Harry glanced at his wrist. "Ron, it's getting close to the time we wanted to be done by. Everyone's obviously freezing, and I don't want to still be flying when the Slytherins show up. Better to be showered and gone by then."
Ron nodded. "You're right. Everybody down. Take nice hot showers and then head up to the Great Hall. We'll have dinner together later and discuss how the session went. Seamus, I've got a new idea for a solo move to shake the Keeper from the goals. It's best suited to you, so remind me at dinner. Gin, great flying. That precision play you three are working on is really coming together. Dennis, your speed is a great asset; especially against Slytherin, since their Chasers are big and bulky. Colin, Andrew, you two are unbelievable. I never thought I'd see two Beaters that communicate as well as my brothers did. Harry, you know there's no Seeker that can keep pace with you. You've more talent in your little finger than the Slytherin team has put together. We're going to massacre them guys, just wait and see."
By the time he was done, everyone was beaming. Even Harry, who looked more present than Ginny had seen him in months. She hoped something was pulling him out of the depression that seemed to accompany him everywhere.
Propping her broom against her shoulder, she chatted with Colin on the way to the dressing rooms. The girls' and boys' changing rooms were down the same tunnel, but branched off in opposite directions. With a little wave, she headed off for her shower. Peeling off her sweat-dampened clothes, she left them on the floor and padded into the shower. The hot spray warmed her quickly, and felt good on her sore muscles.
With a sigh, she turned off the water, wrapped her towel around her and walked back into the changing area. When she turned the corner, she gave a little squeak of shock and stopped abruptly. Draco Malfoy was lounging on the bench where she had left her things, leaning back on his hands and facing her.
"Fancy meeting you here," he drawled, his eyes very dark in his fair-skinned face.
Clutching her towel, she took an involuntary step back. Forcibly gathering her thoughts, she said in a shocked voice, "What are you doing here?"
He smirked. "Well, if I had known you would be so dense, I would have brought supplies and drawn schematics for you," he said as he uncrossed his legs and stretched lazily.
She backed up another step as he stood. Gathering her anger about her like a suit of armour, Ginny went on the offensive. "Leave, Malfoy, right this instant," she demanded, fighting the blush that made her face flame.
"Or what? You'll snap me with your towel?" He tapped his cheek with a thin finger thoughtfully. "It might sting for a minute, but I think the end results would be worth a little discomfort on my part," he said with a leer.
Ginny cast him a dark look. "I swear to you; keep it up and I will hex your testicles into Snitches and use them for training sessions, Malfoy."
He took a leisurely step forward and gave her a wide-eyed, little boy look. "I'd prefer it if you didn't. Besides the horribly scarring notion of Potter holding my testicles, transfigured or otherwise, I'd actually like to have one or two ridiculously beautiful children that remind me of myself one day."
Partially forgetting that she was next to naked, Ginny raised an eyebrow. Conversation with him, whilst vexing in the extreme, was rather fun. "Who would be stupid enough to breed with you?"
Draco feigned an injured look and spread his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Come now, don't be rude. There are plenty of girls in this school that would just love to have sex with me."
"There are?" she replied dubiously.
"Oh yes, and when I walk by, they all gasp." He moved forward again, only a step or two away from her. "You see, I am so beautiful I take their breath away."
Ginny moved back a few quick steps and put a bench between them, tightening her grip on her towel. "Actually, I'm leaning more towards the gasping being an attempt to not spill the contents of their stomachs all over you in disgust."
He narrowed his eyes and gave her a dark grin, touching a hand to his heart. "Ouch. You are vicious, you know that?"
"Yes, it's one of my many charms." Ginny's eyes widened in alarm as she realised she was flirting with Draco Malfoy in a deserted changing room, wearing nothing but a towel. Must remember to work on my sense of self-preservation.
He stepped over the bench and placed an arm on either side of her head, caging her against the lockers at her back. "Truly, you have a dizzying intellect," he whispered as he bent his head towards her.
She wasn't sure how long the kiss lasted before she shoved him away. "What are you doing?" she asked breathlessly. "You don't even like me!" That, she thought, was not what I meant to say.
He looked at her quizzically. "Who said I had to like you to want you?"
Ginny gaped at him, momentarily stunned into speechlessness. He took her shocked silence as an opportunity to close in again, this time wrapping his arms loosely about her waist. He nuzzled her, the damp tendrils of her hair tickling his cheek. He licked her neck before taking a delicate earlobe in his mouth.
Undone, desire curling through her stomach, Ginny put her hands on his shoulders to push him away. She was dismayed when, instead of shoving him, she pulled him flush against her. He let her earlobe slide out from between his lips, angling his head instead to capture her mouth. He kissed her with a hard desperation, like he couldn't get enough.
Dizzily, Ginny thought she could get used to being kissed like this, like she was the only thing in the world that mattered. Giving up for the moment, she kissed him back, running her hands over his shoulders, finally coming to rest at the nape of his neck. When she felt his tongue sweeping into her mouth, she gave his hair a quick tug before threading her hand through it. She used her splayed fingers on his head to force him to deepen the kiss. They stayed like that until, gasping, they were forced to break apart for some much needed oxygen.
Ginny stared up at him. Say something, you twit. "You don't respect me." That's not what I was going for. What is wrong with the connection between my brain and my mouth?
His lips twitched with mirth. "Ginny, let me assure you; I hold you in the highest regard."
They looked at each other for a long moment. Ginny closed her eyes, which only served to remind her that he was gently squeezing her bottom.
"Draco, what you're holding is my arse. And that, I think, says it all."
"See? You called me Draco. That must count for something. And you should know that I can respect you and fondle you at the same time," he added, his eyes laughing at her.
Ginny shook her head in mute amazement at his purposeful obtuseness. "Get your hands off my arse," she commanded. Ah, that's better.
His lips twisted into a full smirk. "I'd rather not. It's very nice, you know. Although I imagine it's rather a lot nicer without a thick towel between us. Don't suppose I could persuade you to lose it, could I?"
Ginny clamped her hand to her chest, securing the loosened towel. Ducking to the side, she put some much need distance between them. She cocked her head, and considered him carefully. "Have you been drinking any illegal potions lately?"
"What? Like Love Potions, you mean?" he asked innocently. When she nodded, he continued. "No, of course not. I've been doing some thinking, is all. I find you attractive, in spite of your awful hair, and even that is growing on me." He shook his head and raised an eyebrow. "Of course, that fact alone is enough to make me think perhaps someone slipped something in my drink. But no. Perhaps it's that you're a brilliant conversationalist?" he offered.
At her doubtful look, he tried again. "A challenge?" Again, she looked dubious as she forcefully shook her head. "How about I have no idea why the hell I'm here, or why I think about you at odd times?"
She gave him a snotty little smirk of her own. "Now that has the ring of truth to it," she said drily. "Now that that's out of the way, give me one good reason I shouldn't scream down the walls so my brother and friends have the reason they've always dreamt of to beat you into a pulpy mess."
He gave her a knee-melting look. "Because you want me here," he replied confidently. "Otherwise, you'd have screamed a long time ago."
This time she didn't back away when he began to advance on her once more. "Is it so hard to believe that I might find you attractive?" he asked. "Because I do," he said quietly, touching her arm. "When you went all pleady don't-make-me-do-this in the Great Hall, I made the announcement for you." He shook his head. "The gods only know why, but I did. My father would go batty if he knew. And I've been thinking about our conversation. We're not so different." At her look of disbelief, he amended his previous statement. "Alright, we are different. There's worlds between us. But I think you're damned good-looking. Even when you're not wearing a towel." He smiled evilly. "Especially when you're not wearing a towel, but I don't suppose I'm going to get to see that. Yet," he smirked.
Ginny looked at him, amazed. This was as close to coming clean as Draco Malfoy was ever likely to get. Wait. He thinks I'm good-looking? "Is that how you see me?" she asked in a dismayingly breathless voice. "You think I'm... pretty?" she finished haltingly.
He tilted his head to the side and looked her up and down. "No, I see you more as an Ann Summers Wizarding Lingerie model waiting to happen."
Ginny gulped. "A WHAT?"
He gave a quick chuckle, laughing at the stunned girl in front of him. Deciding to have some fun at her expense, he added, "You know, prancing around in stilettos and a sexy little pair of black knickers trimmed with niffler fur. Ooh! And pasties. Definitely a good look for you. Perhaps I'll be buying you a Christmas gift."
Ginny thought she was going to fall over. Snorting, she replied, "I am SO not a stilettos kind of girl. And I'm not even sure I want to know what pasties are." She held up an imperious hand as he opened his mouth. "Do NOT explain it to me. You'll give me heart failure, I'm sure." She chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully. "Er.. as charming as this has been, I think I'm done having an insane, entirely unlikely conversation with you in nothing but a towel. I'm getting dressed now," she added pointedly.
Purposely ignoring her meaning, Draco collapsed gracefully on a nearby bench. With a wave, he said, "Don't mind me. Go right ahead."
Careful not to flash anything, Ginny knelt down and grabbed an elbow guard, which she flung with great accuracy at his head. "I meant you need to leave, so I can get dressed," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Rubbing his head where the elbow guard had glanced off, he pouted, "I can't leave yet. Those gits on your team would see me."
With a sigh of supreme annoyance, Ginny acknowledge his point. "Can I trust you?" she asked doubtfully.
"No, probably not," he said truthfully, his lips twitching with the urge to grin.
"Well, I'm not waiting here in a towel for my team to leave," she huffed. "Then I'd still be naked and alone with you..." she trailed off, obviously mortified. "Gah! Get over there in the showers, Malfoy."
He cast a sorrowful look at her. "We're back to Malfoy?"
"You'd prefer Draco?" she asked, surprised. "Are you sure you're not under the influence of some spell? Oh! Damn your eyes, stop getting off track. Go back in the showers and sing." At his raised eyebrow, she explained further. "If you sing, I can hear where you are. If you stop singing, or move, I'd be able to hear it and hex you into next week."
"Well, that's not very romantic," he complained.
With a wry glance she replied, "Trust me when I tell you, I've never considered the words 'Draco Malfoy' and 'romantic' in the same sentence. Now get!" She shooed him with her hands, herding him around the corner into the showers. "Get to singing," she ordered.
"There once was a bloke named Puck," he chortled.
She silenced him with one deadly look. "I absolutely will transfigure your testicles into Snitches if you continue that song," she said with malice.
He threw a charming smile her way. "What's wrong with it? I'm rather partial to that song," he said in a very self-satisfied voice.
At the glare she levelled at him, he raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I'll behave. Go on," he prodded.
She turned around and walked away, pausing at the corner to give him one more death glare.
"Doesn't mean I can't imagine what's going on out there," he muttered.
"I heard that," she yelled.
"Bloody red-haired women and their bloody hearing," he added mutinously.
"Start singing!" she ordered.
Huffing, he sang the only song that came to mind, a lullaby that his mother sang to him when he was small.
"Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,Smiles awake you when you rise.
Sleep, pretty darlings, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby:
Rock them, a lulla, lullaby.
Care is heavy, therefore sleep you;
You are care, and care must keep you.
Sleep, pretty darlings, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby:
Rock them, a lulla, lullaby."
Ginny sat on the bench, the clothes in her hand forgotten. His voice, although slightly rusty, was a clear tenor, and it beautifully complemented the song. She recognised it as one her mum had sung to her when she was small, and sighed happily at the memories. A moment of silence passed before she called out, "Keep singing. I'm not done yet. And you have a beautiful voice, did you know that?"
A very disgruntled Draco Malfoy replied, "I can't believe you're making me sing. I'm beginning to think you're the spawn of some very evil demon. And I can't think of any other songs, so you're stuck. How about I just talk?" he asked hopefully.
Ginny smirked to herself. "No, you have to sing. I remember that song from when I was little; I used to like it very much. How about the one from 'Songs of Innocence'? Do you know that one? The first line is something like, 'Sweet dreams form a shade'..."
He was silent a long moment. Grudgingly, he said, "Yeah, I know that one. Are all women born with the capacity for estrogenical tyranny, or is it just you?" He paused. "Have I mentioned that I think you're evil?"
Ginny laughed. "Consider it your punishment for sneaking into the girls' changing rooms and trying to catch me naked. You're going to get away with it without even a pummelling from my teammates. Don't whine; you're getting off light." She began to dress quickly as his voice filled the room again. He really does have a very pretty voice.
"Sweet dreams form a shadeO'er my lovely infants head.
Sweet dreams of pleasant streams,
By happy silent moony beams.
Sweet sleep with soft down,
Weave thy brows an infant crown.
Sweet sleep Angel mild,
Hover o'er my happy child.
Sweet smiles in the night,
Hover over my delight.
Sweet smiles Mothers smiles
All the livelong night beguiles.
Sweet moans, dovelike sighs,
Chase not slumber from thy eyes,
Sweet moans, sweeter smiles,
All the dovelike moans beguiles.
Sleep sleep happy child.
All creation slept and smil'd.
Sleep sleep, happy sleep,
While o'er thee thy mother weep.
Sweet babe in thy face,
Holy image I can trace.
Sweet babe once like thee,
Thy maker lay and wept for me.
Wept for me for thee for all,
When he was an infant small.
Thou his image ever see.
Heavenly face that smiles on thee.
Smiles on thee on me on all,
Who became an infant small,
Infant smiles are his own smiles,
Heaven & earth to peace beguiles."
She was fully dressed by the time his voice died away. Sitting dreamily on the bench, she was happily thinking of the Burrow, and her mum, when...
"WEASLEY!"
She started. "What?" she yelled crossly.
"I said," he drawled snottily, "are you clothed now?"
"Oh. Yes, you can come back out now." She gave him a dreamy, happy smile as he rounded the corner. Draco stopped dead in his tracks and stared at her, all prim and proper back in her school uniform and robes, smiling a dopey smile that would make Loony Lovegood proud. And then it hit him. Women, he thought, are silly, romantic creatures at heart. And I, miserable stupid git that I am, was just singing sweet romantic baby songs to her. Oh, gods, what have I done? Sweet Salazar, I am a complete idiot.
Panicked, he said the first thing that came to mind. "Weasley," he sneered. "You are a complete moron."
She snapped out of her very pleasant reverie and eyed the desperate looking blond. "What?"
"I said you're a moron. I hate singing, I hate you, and I don't even know why I'm still here," he sneered.
Seeing right through him, Ginny snickered. Which, of course, only served to confuse him even more. "What?" she asked mockingly. "You think I'm sitting here thinking how romantic you are?"
At his uncomfortable look, she burst out into a full-fledged laugh. "Please. I was thinking about home, and my mum. Gods, you are completely transparent, you know that?" she wheezed, trying to catch her breath.
Indignant, Draco replied, "Hey! I can be romantic!" Realising what had just escaped his mouth, he clamped his lips shut. Not another bloody word, Draco.
Taking pity on him, Ginny stood and picked up her broom and the bag with her Quidditch kit. She walked past him, stopping at the door. "And I'm the moron?" she asked sweetly.
"Hey!" he said. Oh, very eloquent, Draco. Try again. "I wasn't done talking to you yet," he ground out.
She gave him a remarkable imitation of his own trademark smirk. "Oh, is that what we were doing? Well, I'm hungry. Enjoy your practise," she said with a mocking grin. She opened the door and glanced around. Apparently satisfied, she turned back to him. "If you want to finish this 'conversation', meet me at the Astronomy Tower at 20.00 and we can 'talk' then."
Completely startled, Draco stared at her as she flounced out the door. Someone should write a book on insane women and how to translate them.
---
Ginny spent most of her meal staring at the table. I can't believe I said that. What was I thinking, inviting Draco sodding Malfoy to the Astronomy Tower? Ginny shook her head. I just can't believe that actually happened. Things like that don't happen in real life! It's like one of those novels Hermione reads when she thinks no one's paying attention. Bodice-Rippers, she called them. Ginny shook her head again ruefully. I simply can't believe it. What was I thinking? What was HE thinking? I'm insane. Ron'll kill me. And him? They'll be lucky if a Locating Charm finds enough pieces of him to bury in a thimble!
She started as someone slapped her shoulder. "What? What'd I miss?" she asked dazedly.
Hermione's curious brown eyes stared at her from across the table as she carefully laid down the dusty tome she was perusing. "Seamus was just talking about the play you lot practised today," she said as she gave Ginny a searching look.
"Yeah, it was brill!" Dennis laughed as he slapped Ginny's shoulder again. "We've got it cold; Slytherin is going down!"
Ginny coloured as a rather crude application of Dennis' words drifted through her mind. "Yeah," Ginny echoed. "They'll be toast."
Ron leaned forward from the other side of Seamus. "What're you talking about?" he asked around a mouthful of pudding.
"Ron!" Ginny and Hermione said together. Their disapproving looks made him swallow the rest of what was in his mouth. "Sorry, Hermione. I was saying, I hope you're not discussing tactics where anyone could hear you!" he chastised.
Ginny snorted and turned up her nose. "Don't be a prat. No one's listening."
"The point is, they could be. Just be cautious-"
Hermione laughed and tucked her book away in her bag. "Now you sound like Mad-Eye Moody." Ginny giggled as Hermione pointed at her. "Constant Vigilance!" they chorused together.
Harry's untidied head poked out from the other side of Lavender Brown. "What are you two doing, channelling one another? Like the bloody Bobsey Twins, you are," he said with a crooked smile.
Hermione burst into laughter at that, along with Dennis and Colin. After she had subsided, she explained who the Bobsey Twins were to the non-Muggleborns.
Ginny leaned across the table and motioned Hermione forward. Making sure to keep her voice down, she whispered, "Have you noticed anything different about Harry lately?"
Hermione paused thoughtfully. "Now that you mention it, he seemed very...here this afternoon. You know what I mean?"
"Yeah, he was the same way at the training session. I wonder if he's pulling out of it," Ginny mused.
"Maybe," Hermione agreed. "But don't get your hopes up," she cautioned. "He could backslide at any moment. I'll keep a closer eye on him, though."
Ginny was leaning back when Hermione stopped her with a hand on her arm. "Speaking of keeping a close eye on, somebody has looked over here at least a dozen times. Care to guess who?"
Ginny could feel the blush creeping up her neck as she tried to look innocent. "Not a clue."
Hermione frowned. "You're a terrible liar. Spill it."
Ginny gave her a cheeky grin. "Not a chance. Maybe tomorrow you and I'll have a nice little chat. That is, if I'm satisfied that not a word will ever reach my darling brother's ears."
Ginny gave the older girl a puzzled look when she held up the fingers of one hand. "Is that some sort of code?"
Hermione's eyes widened and she shook her head. "Sometimes, I forget how different it is here in the wizarding world. It means Girl Scout's honour. Basically, I swear I'll keep whatever it is confidential."
Ginny gave a satisfied nod. "Done. How about right after last class, before dinner?"
Hermione smiled. "Done."
---
Ginny paced along the outer wall of the Astronomy Tower. Most of the tower was covered by an overhang, but the outer edge was open to the night air, affording an exceptional view of the sky. Nervously, she kept glancing at the door. Where is he? Maybe he decided not to come. Maybe I mistook what happened. Maybe... Why the hell am I nervous about Draco Malfoy?
She was still pondering that when the door swung open silently. He was outlined by the torchlight behind him, his pale hair gleaming and the rest of him thrown into shadows. Ginny started violently when he appeared, and nervously swiped her hair back as he moved towards her.
Walking up to her, Draco felt a twinge of nerves flutter in his stomach. He shoved his hands in his pockets and shifted from foot to foot, at a loss for words. C'mon, Draco, say something. "The moonlight suits you, you know." Oh, brilliant. Why not drop to one knee and compose an ode to her beauty, you great pillock?
Ginny blushed. "Thank you," she replied quietly.
They stood there and stared at each other for several long minutes. Finally, Ginny said, "Now that we're here, I haven't the slightest idea what to say."
"Well, no one expects a Weasley to have mastered the fine art of conversation," he replied snidely.
"I don't exactly see you leading the way," she snapped.
He eyed her. "So."
She crossed her arms. "So," she repeated.
"Alright," he sighed. He sounded very annoyed. "You're the one that wanted to meet up here to 'talk'. So talk."
Ginny stared down at her feet with an air of great interest. "Er..."
"Oh bloody hell!" he snarled. "We'll never get around to it at this rate! Let's just skip the pointless small talk, shall we?" He snatched her forward and kissed her, hard.
Thankful that he had taken the decision out of her hands, Ginny melted into him. This is what I wanted. "You taste good," she mumbled.
He pulled back with a laugh. "What did you just say?" Even in the moonlight, he could see the blushed that suffused her cheeks.
"Erm, nothing. Nothing at all."
He tugged the lock of hair that spilled over her shoulder. "Funny," he smirked, "I thought you said I tasted good. Is that what you said?"
"No," she grumbled.
He nibbled at her lips. "Tell the truth, little girl. Or else I'll have to..." He grabbed her and walked her backwards until she was trapped between his body and the wall. Pushing her robes open, he bent down and sucked on her neck. "Didn't your mummy ever tell you what happened to little girls that didn't tell the truth?" he growled against her skin.
Ginny shrieked with laughter. "Stop that! It tickles!" she choked out. He pulled back and grinned. "Draco Malfoy, are you teasing me? I didn't know you were even capable of teasing!"
The grin dropped off of his face. "There's a lot I'm capable of that you don't know," he said seriously. "I told you before, you really don't know anything about me at all. And most of what you think you know are lies passed around by the Wonder Twits," he added.
Ginny put her hands on her hips. "I recall numerous occasions that I witnessed myself where you were a complete and utter bastard. One of them ended with you being chased by your own bogeys," she sniped.
"I never said I wasn't a bastard. Just that I'm not always a bastard. I have good qualities. Like my charm," he added pompously.
"Arrogance is not charm," Ginny responded with a raised eyebrow.
He gave her a small smile, cautious. "Well, you seem to like me," he pointed out.
"The gods only know why," she quipped. "You're kind of like mould. You just sort of pop up when one isn't paying attention."
Serious, he gazed at her, his eyes lost in shadow. "So you do like me?"
Ginny thought about it. "I'm not sure. Maybe. I don't not like you, if that makes any sense," she answered truthfully.
"So you can snog me, but you don't know if you like me?" He sounded incredulous.
"As you so aptly put it, I don't have to like you to want you," Ginny replied evenly.
He was silent as he moved away from her and leaned out over the wall.
"Don't jump," she smirked. "I'm not worth it."
He threw her an annoyed glance and turned his face up towards the stars.
"Gods, you're a moody git, you know that?" she huffed.
He stewed for another moment before turning to face her. "So you don't like me," he said tonelessly.
"You don't like me either, so what do you care?" she asked quickly.
He looked down at her with a steady gaze. "I never said that."
"Yes you did," she reminded him. "Down in the changing room. You said-"
"I know what I said," he cut in. "I said I didn't have to like you to want you. But I never actually said 'Ginny I don't like you', did I?"
Ginny wrinkled her nose. "It was implied. Stop playing word games."
His smirk returned, full force. "But I'm so good at them," he drawled.
"Ha ha. Your wit is without equal," she replied with a quick grin. "Now if you're done with the mood swings..."
"I'm not. I want to know if you like me or not," he pouted. "I'm a prize catch, you know," he said winningly.
Ginny patted him on the head, like a little boy. "I'm sure you are. I might like you, but only a tiny bit. There. Does that soothe your ego?" she asked drily.
"Oh, yes. I feel much better now." He caught her up in his arms. "Don't you agree?"
"I don't know," she joked. "I can't tell until you kiss me."
He licked her lower lip and gave a playful little growl. "I told you I was charming."
They stayed locked together, unaware of time going by.
Ginny decided that she enjoyed kissing him very much, and she could feel bad about it later. The fact was, she liked this Draco Malfoy. He was being affectionate and funny and... well, charming. She knew that he was also a first-rate git, an arrogant nasty bastard, and moody, to boot. Not to mention his affinity for terrorising her brother, Harry and Hermione. He could be ruthlessly vicious, striking at an opponent's most obvious flaw, picking at them until they bled. But none of this was factoring in her decisions right now, simply because he made her head spin and her blood sing. Sappy and melodramatic, she acknowledged, but true. Draco Malfoy, curse him, made her giddy.
She would have laughed if she could read his mind. Gods in heaven, this is nice. Who'd have thought it? Me and Ginny Weasley. Blaise, damn his smug arse, called it. Spot on. Ah well, it's not like he'll ever find out. Just a bit of a snog, and then... well damn. If we go back to the way things were, she won't kiss me anymore. And I sure as hell can't date Little Miss Gryffindor. Gah! Dad would shit himself. And I'd be stoned by the other Slytherins. Maybe I can convince her that we should meet in secret every now and then. What's a guy to do?
They were just getting to the good part, where clothes got unfastened, when a noise caught Draco's attention. Tearing himself away, he looked at the door.
Perplexed, and just the slightest bit dazed, Ginny stared at him. "What is-" she got out, before his hand slapped over her mouth. With wide eyes, she nodded as he lifted a finger to his lips and removed his hand from her mouth.
Draco crept over to the door and stood motionless for what seemed like an eternity before he walked back to her. He shrugged his shoulders and, in a normal voice said, "Whoever it is, there's two of them, and they're talking in the stairwell for the moment."
Horrified, Ginny stared at him. "Well, do you think they'll go away?"
Again, he shrugged. "Probably not. Most people don't walk up to the Astronomy Tower and turn back around when they get there."
"Are you mad?" she squeaked. "They'll see us! We need to get down from here!" She grabbed his arm in a death grip. "I'm serious!"
Looking pointedly at her hand, he pried her fingers loose. "We can't get down from here. They're in the stairwell," he said calmly.
Slightly hysterical at the prospect of being caught in the Astronomy Tower with Draco Malfoy, Supreme Git, Ginny wrung her hands in distress. "Think of something!" she ordered.
His lips twisted. "A moment, please, whilst I eviscerate myself. You, of course, can use my intestines to rappel down the wall. I will stand here and bleed to death with aplomb. If you'd like, I'll even tell whoever it is to go rot for you," he said.
"I hope you choke on all that sarcasm." She slanted him a distinctly nasty glance. "Git."
Draco waved a hand airily. "Never let it be said that I was the one that let chivalry die."
Ginny's snort of derision was her only reply.
Draco put his hand to his brow and gave a melodramatic sigh. "Women are SO unappreciative," he drawled theatrically.
"Draco?" Ginny asked sweetly. He was learning to fear that particular tone.
"Yes, darling," he tried meekly.
She ignored the 'darling'. "DO shut up and help me find a way to hide us. They're coming up the stairs now; I can hear them," she said frantically.
"You wish to hide then?" he asked in a perfectly normal tone, as he grabbed her elbow and shuffled her over to the far side of the door, where the shadows were thick.
"No," she hissed, "I thought we'd remove our clothing and dance wildly, and just tell whoever it is that we were practising for the Samhain Festival."
He put his mouth directly against her ear and whispered, "As appealing a prospect as that is, I think perhaps the way to go is... Obfuscus!"
Ginny started. Grudgingly, she allowed that he was a quick thinker. The particular charm he cast would make them fade away into the shadows around them. She leaned against him and whispered, "Have I ever told you that I think your sense of humour is wretched?"
"Twice, I think," he whispered back. "But do go ahead; I never tire of hearing you say it."
Ginny was about to issue a scathing retort when the door opened. She instinctively flattened herself against his larger body, seeking the protection it would provide. She gasped in shock as the identities of the people became clear.
Luckily, he pressed her face into his side and muffled the sound. The gods only knew what his Head of House would do if he caught them.
Prof Sinistra and Prof Snape strolled towards the open walkway at the far side of the room. Sufficiently recovered, Ginny peered out from Draco's side, curious. Both listened raptly to their professors' conversation.
"I told you, Severus," Prof Sinistra crowed delightedly. "I told you, didn't I?"
"Indeed," Prof Snape retorted sourly. "Shameful, if you ask me."
"Oh come now, what's wrong with a little romance?" she said, her smile full of mischief. "It's the most natural thing in the world. Don't you remember what that's like?" she teased.
Even in the dim light, Draco could see his Head of House's face darken in mortification. "Romance is for fools, Melissande," he replied stiffly.
Draco avidly watched the scene in front of his eyes. Was Prof Sinistra hitting on Snape? No chance, he thought. She's way too good-looking for him. But it appeared that she was when she leaned in and wrapped a hand around his wrist.
"Come here, Severus," she said quietly. "I'd like to show you something. Look up." The last was still said quietly, but there was no chance of mistaking it for anything other than what it was: an order.
She moved behind him and lifted an arm over his shoulder, pointing to the sky. "You see that there? That milky glow is a meteor cluster; tonight is a meteor shower the likes of which won't be seen again for fifty years. It's very special; I've been anticipating this for weeks," she sighed happily.
"I'll bet that wasn't the only thing she's been anticipating," Ginny breathed in his ear. Draco smirked down at her before turning back to the drama in front of them.
Snape was clearing his throat uncomfortably. "Well, I wouldn't want to distract you from it," he managed to croak.
She looked at him sharply. "Don't be ridiculous. I wanted to share this with you," she said, hurt lacing her words.
"Melissande," he began uneasily, edging away from her.
She threw up her hands, clearly exasperated. "Severus!" she shrilled. "You are the stupidest man I have ever met! I have been throwing myself at you all evening, and you look like you're being threatened with an Unforgivable!"
"You've... what?" he stammered.
"Clueless," she muttered as she grabbed the collar of his robes and drew him forward. "Completely clueless. Kiss me, you idiot," she commanded.
And what happened next quickly had Draco covering Ginny's eyes. "Don't watch," he said mournfully. "I think I'm scarred for life!" A shudder ran the length of his body as he glared with revulsion at the two professors. "Really! At their age... Oh, now THAT is just disgusting."
"Draco?" Ginny whispered, trying to pry his hand away from her eyes. "Draco?" she tried again.
"What?" he asked distractedly.
"Erm, I think they're busy enough that they won't notice if we slip out now," she offered timidly, trying to avoid looking in the direction of her professors.
He glanced down at her, and quickly back at the embracing couple. "You're right. Let's go. Quiet now..." They made it to the door without incident. Silently edging it open just enough for them to slip through, Draco shoved her through before following. Easing the door closed, he ushered her down the stairs and into a deserted corridor.
He glanced at the clock behind her. "Shit! It's an hour past curfew!" he cursed. He looked down and watched as her face turned white, making her freckles stand out vividly in contrast.
"Ron's going to kill me!" she breathed. "I told him I was going to the library, and that closed at curfew! Oh no," she moaned, "I am so dead." She grabbed his robes in her little fists. "What am I going to do?"
Draco disengaged her hands and thought hard. "Tell him you went to the Prefects' Bath after you left the library, and fell asleep in the bathtub. Tell him Pansy found you whilst she was making her rounds and sent you back to Gryffindor Tower. I'll get her to back it up. She'll stop by your table at breakfast tomorrow and take points. How's that work for you?"
She wrinkled her little nose at him in a way that was rather endearing. "That doesn't work for me at all. That's like you're taking points for kissing you." She paused. "How about a warning?"
He smirked. "Fine, but you owe me, Weasley."
Ginny turned and walked off. "That's what you think," she tossed over her shoulder before disappearing around a corner.
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So? What do you all think? Gah! That was long. My fingers hurt now. Well, review and give me sugar!
The "unclaimers":"Truly, you have a dizzying intellect." -The Princess Bride
"estrogenical tyranny"- Family Guy
The two lullabies, respectively: 'Golden Slumbers Kiss Your Eyes', by Thomas Decker, 1603; and 'Songs of Innocence: A Cradle Song', by William Blake, 1789.
