Title: Blurred lines
A/U: Starting in Chamber of Secrets Making its way through Ginny's years at Hogwarts; Ginny and Draco's POV.
Rating: M for Violence, Grief and Sexually suggestive content.
Chapter 5. Peace split by Prejudice.
It was September first and the train had just pulled out of the station on Platform 9 ¾. Ginny looked up and down the train, searching for someone she knew, when Blaise Zabini, a rather tall black boy with equally dark eyes and hair. He loomed over her before he made his presence known.
"Hello, Weasley…" he said, putting on a deeper voice to make sure that Ginny suitably jumped out of her skin before she got an inevitable punch or hex in as revenge. She thumped him in the chest, it wasn't hard but it didn't have to be. The mixture of his laughter and the punch had made him swallow air and he was coughing and choking but still managed to giggle throughout. "I got you good, your face when you turned around was priceless." Ginny, after a while of scowling at the incoherent giggling Blaise saw the funny side and also chuckled a little. Blaise calmed down when he saw Ginny looking up and down the train. "I suppose you're like me and don't know where Malfoy has gotten himself swamped by giggling first and second year girls this time do you? Unless he's hiding somewhere."
"Buggered if I know," she replied. However, after the words escaped her, she spotted him further down the train. Before she could call after him Blaise took her by the arm and dragged her aside into the nearest empty compartment he could find, which was mercifully the one they had just been conversing in front of.
"Listen, Ginny, I need to ask you something." Blaise looked serious and it had Ginny worried. Carefree pure-blood rich boys like Blaise rarely had anything more serious than quidditch and girls on their minds. This had to be important.
"Do you have any idea what Draco is up to? He's been acting distant…" Ginny had been wondering the same thing, even through the letters she could feel it. Something niggling at the back of her mind ever since she had donned her green and silver robes when she had arrived in The Burrow, after dreading the return all the way to Kings cross.
"I've noticed the distance, but I know about as much as you do. Although, if he's having family troubles like I am, then I don't blame him for wanting to keep quiet. Lucius doesn't exactly seem too friendly," Ginny said.
Blaise had been attentive the whole time but smiled at the last sentence. "I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't very nice to you. Blood traitor and all."
Ginny thumped him on the arm and smirked along with him. "Don't call me that, especially since your family, well your mother, isn't exactly squeaky clean."
Blaise continued to smile and shook his head. "My mother is an enigma… did I tell you she's found number 7?"
Ginny had heard Blaise talking about his mother and didn't know until he explained fully that Ms. Zabini was a widow, a six-time widow. She was a beautiful pureblood witch who had a string of very rich and dead husbands evidently she had found her seventh.
"What's he like?" Ginny asked.
Blaise smirked. "Exactly like the rest of them, thinks that Mother likes them for their looks and their personality. Even though this man has the personality of a flobber worm he's got the money of an arsehole banker with more Galleons than sense. Now can you see the appeal?"
The last question was in aid of Ginny's facial expression which was one of bewilderment, but she understood. "Marry 'em rich and dig 'em a ditch." Ginny had thought about adopting this mantra but before she could think any more on it, Draco Malfoy rounded the corridor, went through the door and into the compartment proper with Theodore Nott in tow.
"You two look like you've been having fun, didn't think to save me from having to listen to this man being pestered by Saint Potter. You'll never guess what the pretentious idiot is saying this time."
But before Theo could utter what was clearly bravado fueled pretentious and- as far as Theo was concerned- completely hilarious, the train shuttered to a halt. The lights flickered off, screeching brakes echoed down the silent train, and the air temperature dropped by a substantial amount. Draco and Ginny jumped up from their seats and rushed to the door, slid it open, and peered out so fast they banged heads.
"Watch it, Weasley," Draco snapped.
"Don't have that tone with me, Malfoy."
The playful contempt in her voice made Draco smirk. After weeks of watching all the females he knew being submissive and doting, it made Draco's face gain some color and his soul some fire when he noticed Ginny being a little feisty. It made him realize there were more interesting people than any good respectable pureblood females. However, a rasping breath snapped him back to reality, away from the pleasing thought of Ginny's snappiness. Why had the train had just stopped somewhere in-between London and the Scottish highlands? Somewhere in the distance he thought he saw a black hooded figure opening a compartment door some ways down the train.
It happened almost instantly. A closer, louder black-cloaked figure moved along the opposite side of the train. All of the remaining light seemed to drain out of the darkened train. Then, before the hooded figure came any closer, a terrible yell came from where the first hooded figure was spotted. A dozen other heads were already poking out of their compartments but this scream sent younger students diving back into their compartments, whilst braver, older students stepped out to investigate the noise. As quickly as it had started however, it had ended. The screaming stopped and the black gliding figures retreated out of the side doors that usually led onto the platform. The lights flickered to life and all was still. The temperature rose again.
When it was confirmed that the coast was clear, Draco stepped out in earnest along with Ginny. They heard a frightened whisper come up the train as Draco and Ginny walked down toward the scream…
"Harry, Harry, are you alright?" It was a girl's voice; the Mud Blood Granger. Draco's face began to burn as a deep hatred for that girl rose within him.
An older voice spoke, "Here, have this. Don't worry, it's chocolate. It'll help after a dementor attack like that."
Draco shuddered at the mention of dementors. Ginny didn't seem to share this feeling and only backed off when she heard Ron's voice and the man saying he was going to check with the driver.
Not wanting to get into a conflict with Ron or have to answer any questions if the man was going to ask them, Ginny made the decision to pull the arm of Draco's robes and make their way back to their compartment
In the confusion of the screaming and the sudden invasion of the dementors onto the train, neither of them had noticed the hulking figures of Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. They had entered the compartment along with the slender, pug-nosed Pansy Parkinson. She batted her eyelids at Draco like she always did and Ginny felt a twinge of embarrassment. Did she not realise how blatant she could be sometimes?
"Dementors not enough to keep the thoughts of a little premarital naughtiness out of your mind, Pansy?" Theo said to the look of embarrassment and annoyance on Pansy's face. This turned to hate and indignation when Ginny walked in flanking Draco holding the sleeve of his robe when she entered.
Liking the reaction she got out of Pansy whenever she was close to Draco, she decided to sit right next to him and sit a little closer to him than she usually would have. If you asked her at the time, she would have sworn that this was purely to annoy Pansy. However, Draco gave off a strange amount of warmth despite how cold he tended to look, with his aristocratically pointed face and alabaster skin tone. Becoming enraptured in the heat for a moment too long would submit her to merciless teasing by the other people in the compartment so she was glad that Pansy decided to speak finally in protest.
"Hello, Weasley, I didn't realise we were still associated with blood traitors like you." This was a standard insult that pansy had used way too many times before.
Ginny's retort had more bite. "I didn't realise we were supposed to associate with people whose parents are in on illicit transnational dragon dung trading, Pansy… Any comments?"
Crabbe and Goyle guffawed stupidly at this Blaise cracked a smile as did Draco. Theo looked humorously shocked at this as if a particularly brutal punch had been thrown in a boxing ring.
Pansy went a bright shade of red and snapped back. "How dare you talk about my family like that, when your family has the likes of...of..." Pansy was never one for comebacks and it was never more evident then now.
"Of what? Don't say blood traitors, Pansy, you're like a broken record and the one you're playing is so incredibly boring now."
Pansy was so shocked she couldn't utter another word. Good thing too as the lunch trolley had come down at last and the Honeydukes trolley keeper wouldn't serve them if two girls were cat fighting and being rowdy.
The rest of the train journey was mostly spent eating little things bought off the trolley, muffled giggles erupting whenever thoughts of what Ginny had said to Pansy crossed their minds. Generally just talking, catching up and relaying events that had happened over the holidays. Just like normal friends. After a long journey the lanterns had been lit to illuminate the platform at Hogsmeade station and a booming voice coming from down the station bellowed, "Come on then, first years, with me. All first years this way."
"That'll be that oaf Hagrid. Have you seen the books he's given us this year for Care of Magical Creatures? Nearly bit Goyles toes off when he opened it before getting on the train. Nearly tore up the whole of Flourish and Blotts actually."
Ginny didn't smirk. She didn't approve of the way Malfoy referred to things that weren't pure-blood and human. She didn't much like the way he talked about women when he thought none could hear him either, but she said nothing. Arguing with him would be the perfect opportunity for Pansy to get some points in and she couldn't let that happen. She didn't know why she cared but persuaded herself, at least temporarily, that it was just some very unfriendly competition and nothing more. Thinking about such things was difficult when it came to boarding the carriages Draco Blaise and Theo being in such close proximity. The carriages themselves were perfectly made to fit the exact same amount of people in as the compartments in the Hogwarts express. At least, they were made to fit the same number of normal-sized people and the hulking figures of Crabbe and Goyle just didn't fit.
"I'm not budging up any more, Crabbe. Get the next carriage along, it's empty," Draco said as he made no real attempt at making more space. The carriages set off after about 5 minutes. Draco was in the middle, on one side of him was Blaise and Ginny on the other. Facing him directly was the pouty Pansy Parkinson and Theo manspreading as usual.
The trail towards Hogwarts was gorgeous at this time of year. Lanterns equal distances apart lined the wide path from the station to the school grounds, flanked all around by tall trees. Some people always gave the strangest looks to the front of the carriages, Ginny never understood why they were shocked that they moved themselves. After all, they all went to school with ghosts.
The ride towards the castle was a quiet one. Everyone on their carriage was content to look out at the passing trees. The forest broke as the Black Lake came into view. Vast with a layer of mist surrounding it, the Black Lake sat on top of the Slytherin Common Room and contained some creatures only spoken about in Hogwarts: A History and some more commonly known such as the Giant Squid. Hogwarts tradition stated that the first years travel to the castle by boat across this lake and, sure enough, at the furthest side of the lake were about 100 little black dots and the substantially larger dot which belonged to Hagrid. Ginny allowed herself to become captivated by the sights so much that she didn't realize they had passed the lake and arrived at the giant wrought iron gates of Hogwarts, which hadith winged boars on the posts that held them up. Usually they were left open and Mr Filch, the care taker, would collect their belongings and stack them to be taken to their respective dormitories. This time, however, there was a small contingent of teachers at the gates and Mr Filch was clad in what looked like armor.
"Must be looking for that killer The Daily Prophet is talking about," Draco said, providing an answer for the questions mounting in Ginny's mind.
As they got closer they realized the armor that Filch was wearing was actually a training kit of chasers for dodging bludgers. It was highly amusing, watching him poke and prod at people with a weird-looking probe.
"He's not actually going to use that on every single student is he? A secrecy sensor is going to make getting inside take bloody ages," Draco moaned next to Ginny.
It did take ages. One by one each student got a couple of sharp prods with the secrecy sensor and their belongings got shifted onto a mounting pile for further inspection. 45 long and grueling minutes later in the cold September air and they were inside the Great Hall and had taken their usual spaces at the Slytherin table. The bewitched sky above them was the same shade deep blue as when they had entered. Despite the long and arduous process of entry, Ginny finally felt at home and she could see Draco relax a little bit. The sorting passed and several young witches and wizards had joined them.
After a short speech from Dumbledore warning them about the man in the Daily Prophet named Sirius Black, the presence of dementors and reminding everyone that Quidditch try-outs were being held and to contact the team captains if anyone wanted to attempt. Ginny seriously thought about trying out for the Slytherin team. The team's history of gross nepotism stacked the odds against her though and Marcus Flint, the current captain, was mostly against girls that weren't built like brick shit-houses. She thought it would be best to at least try and she was currently best friends with Draco Malfoy.
"Oi, Malfoy," Ginny started as she reached the 3 sofas their group usually sat on, "give my team application to Flint with yours will you?"
Draco looked at Ginny clearly sizing her up and wondering if she would be any good at quidditch."I mean, I can. What's in it for me though?" Draco replied, a smirk etching itself across his pallid face.
If it were anyone else the 'magic word' would be the incantation to the bat-bogey hex. Alas, if she actually wanted to get onto the team she had to play along with whatever game Malfoy was playing."What do you want from me Malfoy?" Ginny replied, hand on hip and glowering at him.
"If you get on the team, you have to go to the Quidditch World Cup with me next year."
This was not at all what she was expecting. Most boys would have said something obscene and would have laughed if she did it, and jeered if she refused. However, Draco was asking her to the biggest sporting event of any year that was taking place.
"Hang on, how do you even know it's taking place next year? Did you steal Trelawney's third eye?"
Draco laughed at this."OK first, we all know that old bat is a bigger fraud than Saint Potter and his chosen-one rubbish. And second, Father has many ties to important people in the Ministry. Donates a lot of money to them. You see, probably down to his donations alone that it's even going to happen. So are you going to come and save me from Pansy or not?" It all made sense with his last sentence. He only wanted her to come to save him from having to go with Pansy and deal with her being… Well, Pansy being Pansy
"But if I refuse, sure I won't be let on the team… but you'll have to deal with Pansy at a sporting event. Hell, if you're unlucky maybe for the whole summer." Now it was Ginny's turn to smirk at Draco like a cat who had drunk a whole tub of cream. "I think I'll take you up on your offer though, sounds like a fun day out."
Draco began to smile as well. It wasn't a victorious smile like the one stretched on Ginny's freckled face but one of relief."I'll go hand your application in now, Chaser I take it?" Draco queried.
"What makes you think I don't want to be a Seeker?" Ginny replied with only half seriousness.
"Too skinny to be a Keeper, too weak to be a Beater, and yours truly is going for Seeker, so Chaser it is. Take it or leave it." Draco smirked and before Ginny could give him the playful whack on the arm he so richly deserved, Marcus Flint, the man of the hour, sauntered through the door into the common room and walked right over to Malfoy.
He was smiling with his crooked teeth and slight overbite, giving him the look of a gorilla."Malfoy, I hear you want to be a Seeker, looks like you know exactly the way to get onto the team as well. Father dearest being rich and all, I don't care if you're useless, you're on the team. This is the girl you were talking about as well, eh?" Flint looked her up and down. "She's on too I guess, Chaser, first try outs are at 7 on Wednesday evening. Professor Snape has booked the pitches."
Ginny couldn't tell if she was happy or confused. Had Draco already submitted her?
"If you're wondering, Weasley, I had a feeling you might want to be on the team. If you hadn't agreed to come with me to The Quidditch World Cup, I would have forced you. You're welcome."
"But how did you-" Ginny began but Draco answered before she could complete her sentence.
"Out of all the letters you sent to me, a large proportion of them were about quidditch."
Ginny couldn't believe it, she had been completely played.
Wednesday, 7 PM Quidditch fields
Ginny couldn't believe her eyes when she walked into the Slytherin broom cupboard. Seven shiny, brand new brooms lay inside. Emblazoned on the end of the handle were the words "Nimbus 2001" in golden cursive.
"Draco, did you buy the whole team Nimbus 2001's?" Ginny asked incredulously, pretty much knowing the answer before she even asked it.
"That he did, and he's very much under the impression that we will win. I for one agree with him. Even if Saint bloody Potter is their prized player." Draco started to softly sneer when he said Potters name.
"What will your Father do if we lose?" Ginny asked tentatively.
Draco's eyes seemed to empty a little bit as they fell on her."Well, he won't be too happy, I can tell you that for free. He won't take the brooms away though. No use to him after he brought them. Waste of money and all that." Draco looked away as he stopped talking. Ginny had a feeling something was wrong, but noise started to rise up from the other side of the pitch.
"I don't really care what you have to say, Wood, Snape guaranteed this Pitch for us, as you could see if you had read the parchment," Flint said a little ways away from where they were talking.
"I know what it says, Flint. In fact, I reckon I can read a whole lot better than you can but we also reserved this pitch a long time before you," Wood snapped.
"Well, is yours from your Head of House?" Flint asked tauntingly.
Before Oliver Wood, Captain of the Gryffindor team, could reply another higher-pitched shout came up. Still a male but younger. It had to be Ron. Harry taking up the rear "Ginny? What are you doing here? What are those brooms?" Ron looked angry at Ginny then in awe at the brooms.
"They're a gift from my father," Draco responded cockily. "Seems my family actually believes I can win. Think of these as an investment, Potter. And, for your information, Weasley, she is our new Chaser."
Ron looked open mouthed at the brooms, then at Ginny, at the brooms, then finally back at Ginny, where they stayed."So you're taking..." Ron's words got stuck between his brain and his mouth. He looked like he was choking until he finally spluttered, "taking bribes from the Malfoys."
Ginny couldn't believe it. Here she was again, being blamed for something that was completely out of her control. Then she saw Ron pulling out his wand.
"Ron, don't," Hermione said, pushing his wand arm down.
Draco saw a prime opportunity. "That's right, Weasley, listen to the little mudblood, if you know what's good for you." Draco's grin faded a little as Ron flicked his wand angrily up and, before he could utter an incantation, a flash of green light shot out of the end of his want. It hit Malfoy square in the chest and he did a somersault and slammed hard on the ground ass-first.
Ginny couldn't believe any of this, not only that Draco had called an innocent Hermione a mudblood, but also that Ron had actually used magic against someone who didn't even have his wand out.
"Ron, you idiot." Ginny stepped in between Ron and Draco with her wand pointing right at him. "Chiroptera mucosa."
The moment the words had left Ginny's mouth the spell shot out of her want in a similar green flash and large green bats had sprang out of Ron's nose and started to beat him around the head. The Slytherins all started to guffaw and laugh at Ron's new nasal pets and the Gryffindors backed off.
"That was brilliant, Ginny. You've got to teach us all that."
Ginny's cheeks were hot with rage as color rose up to her ears. Draco got up from the floor in time to see Ron running away with bats coming out of his nose.
"You know, I didn't need you to step in, Gin, I would have had him if I got up a little earlier." Draco was joking but when he saw Ginny's face he got a little bit concerned. "Ginny, are you alright?"
"Yea- yea I'm fine, I just didn't think I'd ever need to." Ginny swayed for a second, then stood steadfast, looking more angry now. "Why is he such a prat!"
"I think it's the genes, or the fact that he's a Gryffindor. He just has to stand up for everyone," Draco reasoned as they mounted their brooms and took off into the sky to endure a brutal two-and-a-half-hour training session.
A/N: Oh my goodness me I am so very sorry that this one took so long. I just haven't had the drive to write recently. Fret not this series is not being abandoned and new words will be posted as I have decided to participate in the QLFC a harry potter fanfiction writing competition. The amazing people in the competition have given me assistance and a real drive for writing recently and thanks to freyja_luna for beta reading this chapter and giving me amazing hints I have finally finished this chapter. This has got to be one of the few im actually proud over. Thank you for waiting and I hope you enjoy :)) new chapter is coming when I can think of a plan. Prisoner of Azkaban is a pretty dead year for Ginny and Draco as the whole book is pretty much used to introduce Sirius and the dementors and doesn't have really much else other then harry blowing up his aunt which Ginny wouldn't have known about and I didn't put in the time at the leaky cauldron as it also wouldn't have added anything to this A/U. Leaving out things that don't directly affect Ginny and Draco will become a regular thing as quite frankly I am far too lazy to figure out how to weave that into this story as these chapters have the capacity to become 3x as long if I didn't skip some stuff.
Thank you again for your patience and patronage and I hope you enjoy :))
A/N: I am now fully aware that i have mixed up the content from the chamber of secrets with the content in Prisoner of Azkaban and this is a mistake that i am farrrrrrr too lazy to fix. lets all just pretend that in this A/U the trauma of having the chamber opened cancelled the quidditch proceedings for that year and this year was the year that the Slytherins got the fancy brooks kay thanks bye!