Chapter 8- Back to Hogwarts
*****Draco*****
The second day of term, and the world was told that ten Death Eaters have escaped from Azkaban, including an aunt and uncle that Draco could not remember ever meeting. In fact, it was his aunt and nine wizards. Did that say something about Tom or about witches and wizards? Draco's mother had never taken the mark, nor had she been pressured to do so, as far as Draco knew. Or perhaps most of Tom's female followers escaped imprisonment. And the Prophet was saying that the escape was probably orchestrated by Sirius Black, another relative of Draco's whom no one discussed.
The next day brought the most limiting Educational Decree yet, that teachers couldn't share any information with students outside of course material. Had the Order done something, Draco wondered? He didn't want to ask Ginny just to hear her probably lie. As if it would stop Heads of Houses from talking to their students. Even Snape would serve as a mentor for his students when needed, and he was easily the least approachable Head of House. The new decree probably had something to do with Potter; the woman was obsessed.
*****Ginny*****
Christmas had been good, all things considered. Lockheart, Ginny would always hate that man. If he'd been the great man he'd claimed to be, there never would have been any troubles her first year. Instead, he had almost prevented her from being saved. It was a time of her life that came up far too often and unpleasantly. And seeing Neville and his parents had made her so sad. Neville was one of the nicest people she had ever met, and for him to go through that…
Ginny was glad she had saved Draco's present to open afterwards, though it was a more literal pick-me-up than she had expected. Fizzing Whizbees. She had a funny idea of the two of them floating around a room on the seventh floor together, laughing. Silly, really, especially when they could just go flying- though Ginny would have to use Ron's old broom then- unless they shared Draco's... And there was something so… cute about the gift, and that they'd thought of the same thing.
The second term started even less promising than the first one of her fourth year. For one, Ginny saw Umbridge almost twice as often because the woman was "overseeing" all of Hagrid's classes now. Ginny's classes had never been inspected before- when nearly all of Ron's classes had been, which made Ginny think that Umbridge was really more interested in Harry than in the teachers.
But now, true to her word, Umbitch was hovering through all Care of Magical Creatures classes, and apparently Divination classes too. How did she have time? It was like the woman had a Time Turner, but wasn't that one of the worst things Ginny could imagine?
Quidditch was good, even if everyone would rather Harry still be on the team instead of her.
Draco was good company too. They had nice talks, but their meetings were more enjoyable when they didn't.
"You okay?" Draco asked her when she stepped into 'their' room the first time after break.
"Yeah, I'm okay," she answered. And then they didn't talk the rest of the time. They were way better at snogging than she had been with Michael. And she didn't mind a little hand wandering.
"Are you okay?" he asked again on their second such meeting.
"If I say yes, are we just going to snog for the next hour?" she asked.
"We don't have to," Draco said, looking at his feet.
"I enjoy it," Ginny said, and she did enjoy Draco's grin.
"I went to St. Mungo's," Draco declared. "Did you know?"
"No," Ginny answered, wondering how he even got out of the school, not to mention why he'd go.
"I spoke to your father," he said.
"Really?" Ginny asked. Though it made sense that that was why he mentioned it.
"I asked his permission to take you on a proper date, for Valentine's Day, if you want to go," Draco informed her.
"And he said?"
*****Draco*****
Draco stared at the middle-aged redheaded man as Draco walked across the Dai Llewellyn Ward for creature-induced injuries. He hadn't thought it would be difficult to covertly navigate the hospital, especially only as far as the first floor on a holiday when the building was likely understaffed, but he was not so lucky.
Draco was stopped by a young healer's assistant, "Can I help you find someone, young man?" she asked.
Draco didn't even look lost, he was sure.
"Just visiting family," he said casually.
"Oh? Normal visiting hours are over, but I can take you there this once. Who are you here to see?" she asked.
"Not exactly family. Mr. Weasley, here for a creature bite. You see-" what should he tell the nosy witch?
Further comment was evidently not needed. "Ooh, I thought so!" she squealed. "I read all about the two of you. So tragic, but it could be so romantic in the end, I think. She's a pretty girl, with that vibrant hair, don't you think? I'm sorry she'd not still here, but it's so cute of you to be concerned for her father. Your future father-in-law," the witch prattled on. She couldn't have been much out of Hogwarts, but Draco didn't recognize her. Probably a Hufflepuff, possibly a Gryffindor.
"Here you go, don't stay too long," the witch warned. Mr. Weasley looked skeptical.
"And what is Draco Malfoy doing at St Mungo's?" Ginny's father asked when they were mostly alone. There was an unconscious man in the room with them, and another bed with curtains drawn.
"I thought Ginny might be here," Draco said, which was only half a lie. Though Draco had only terrible plans of what he would say if she were. Especially because that would mean that the entire Weasley clan was present, along with Potter and probably Granger.
Mr. Weasley raised an eyebrow and sat up straighter until he winced, "She was here earlier. I will let her know you stopped by," he said.
"No, you don't have to," Draco replied, making the injured man more curious. "Are you- feeling any better? Has Professor Snape-?" Draco didn't know how much he could say.
"I am considerably improved, largely just waiting at this point, we think," he said critically.
"That's good," Draco said. It was stupid to come, stupid.
"And you came here personally why? I believe Ginny has already stayed in contact?" he pried.
"Ginny and I have been getting along well in the last months," Draco said calmly. "And though we already have a marriage contract in place, I thought it… proper to ask for your permission to court her officially," Draco said. It was what he would have been expected to do before this point if his parents had still been negotiating with the Greengrass Family, or any other.
"From what I hear from my boys, you are well past that. I haven't gotten so many letters since the boys were first years. None from Ginny though," he commented, staring at Draco. It wasn't any of the man's business what they did.
"You can ask Ginny what she thinks," Draco pointed out.
"I have," he said before changing the subject. "I've never gotten along with your father. We have very different views on… nearly everything," Arthur Weasley said.
"Yes, sir," Draco replied, because it was the politest thing he could think of to say.
"Do you think you're too good for my daughter, Draco Malfoy?" the man asked.
"No, sir," Draco answered honestly. It would have been a lie not long ago, even after their first snog.
"And why is that?" the man pressed. He wasn't intimidating physically just… Draco thought that this man was the type of parent that the worst thing a child could do was make their father disappointed. Draco wasn't sure what he was afraid his own father would do.
"Because Ginny's clever and talented, and enjoyable to spend time with," Draco answered carefully. 'Attractive' didn't seem like a good thing to say.
"Do you think you are good enough for my daughter?" he asked.
And who was he to question Draco? "Does it really matter? I don't intend to die in the next two and a half years," he said, even though it was just past two and three quarters, "So we both figure that we must make the best of it. Hating each other or wishing it away wouldn't be productive," Draco said neutrally. Or perhaps the man still had faith in the great Dumbledore to fix it. Draco hadn't known any Slytherin to have faith in Dumbldore ever. The few who had been neutral on the man in Draco's year hadn't been after their first end of year feast.
"I have two conditions; will you hear them?" Ginny's father said.
"Yes, sir," Draco answered, though he didn't like the man very much at this point. Wasn't it a Slytherin trait to make demands in exchange for something Draco couldn't really control? As long as Draco wasn't taking any vows, he'd agree.
"I won't have my daughter married to a Death Eater, and I won't have her going anywhere near Him because of you," the older wizard said. This man in St. Mungo's from a bite from the Dar- from Tom's snake probably knew a lot more about what was happening than Draco did.
"I don't intend to make that a problem," Draco answered. They were in a public place, for Merlin's sake! Even the Boy-Who-Lived and Albus Dumbledore had been publicly denounced for proclaiming Tom's return.
"Good. And my second condition is that you have no... sex until you're much- until you're married," the man said red in the face. "My little girl is only fourteen. Don't think we didn't notice that in the contract, young man," he chastised as if Draco had had any say in the archaic text.
"I would never pressure Ginny into anything physical," Draco said uncomfortably.
"That isn't what I asked for," Mr. Weasley pointed out.
"Yes sir, I understand," Draco said, and the wizard nodded. It wasn't exactly a promise, very carefully not exactly saying yes to the request and making it sound like he did. But Draco really didn't think that they would do anything close to that, would they? Not soon, at least. And did the man actually think Ginny would instigate something like that if Draco didn't? Maybe one day.
"And you'll do your best to give my baby girl a happy life? And I don't want my grandchildren prejudiced against muggles or muggleborns," Mr. Weasley piled on. "And I don't want to hear of you starting any more incidents with my children, and I will ask them to do the same," he said, which was really a larger ask than any of the others- maybe. Did Potter and Granger count? At least he hadn't outright said that he blamed Draco for the boy's suspension, Gryffindors, all of them.
"Yes, sir, I understand," Draco said again. "I'll do my best," he added. Even if all that should count as five or more things, and the last wouldn't likely happen.
"Then you have my permission to court my daughter, if she agrees. Though I do suggest you leave before my wife returns," the man warned. Draco didn't wish to find out why.
*****Ginny*****
"He said yes eventually. Would you like to?" Draco asked. There was a shock, her father saying yes to Draco asking her out, even if he didn't have much of a choice in his daughter's future. And Draco asking her father in the first place. But he did know all the proper things.
"Define a proper date- like Madame Puddifoot's?" she asked.
Draco shrugged, "There isn't anywhere nicer in Hogsmeade. We could sneak off to Diagon Alley if you wanted," Draco offered, smiling broadly. That was- something.
"Madame Pudifoot's sounds nice," she said. She had been there with Michael- not that she would bring that up- and it was a bit over the top in cheesy decorations for some people… but she liked it. "Umbridge will get me expelled if I break a rule as big as that, and I don't really see the reason," Ginny said. "And who did you get to let you leave the school to go to St. Mungo's anyway? Snape?" she asked, trying to picture Draco asking Snape if he could go see Arthur Weasley.
Draco shivered, "Umbridge, but she thought I was going home. And I still had to listen to her going on for too long."
Ginny laughed. Then she decided that she really could use a snog. And not because he followed some archaic principle of asking for a father's permission to court her, because she was pretty sure that permission was supposed to come before they were making out so… physically.
When Draco played quidditch against Ravenclaw, Ginny found herself hoping Draco would win. She watched Draco more than Chang, even though Ginny would have to fly against Cho and not Draco, because she was certain that Harry would be back before next November.
When Draco did make the catch, every Gryffindor must have glared at her when she gave a cheer. They could just mind their own business. It wasn't like she was supporting any team over Gryffindor. And really, Slytherin winning was better for Gryffindor, because Ravenclaw was ahead on points. So really, they should be happy too. And if Ravenclaw had gotten the snitch, the Ravenclaws would have been up by a lot, because their chasers were a bit better than Slytherin's, even if Slytherins fouled more often.
*****Draco*****
Sitting in that woman's class was the most infuriating thing, Draco actually preferred the crazy man from the year before who had tortured Draco. But at least he'd learned something. Sure, the man had repeatedly put him under the Imperius Curse, but Draco had done better at resisting by the end, perhaps from the beginnings of Occlumency that Mother had taught him, perhaps unrelated. Now Umbridge smiled at Draco as if they were friends just because he'd used her to get something once. She clearly didn't belong in Slytherin.
It was bad enough that Hogwarts didn't teach the Dark Arts, but now students couldn't even learn to protect against them. Though… Draco had some thoughts now that some things shouldn't be taught. But, he still wouldn't need to know defence, and even Binns was a better teacher than Umbridge, or at least less revolting. Binns didn't make giant wars any more interesting than goblin wars had been, but at least he wasn't actively trying to sabotage their learning process.
Creatures had been his favourite class last term, what he had always hoped for out of the class without the unqualified ex-Gryffindor half-giant trying to kill them with his abominations. Draco might, grudgingly believe that Hagid's lesson's were more interesting than Grubbly-Plank's, but interest didn't need to overrule safety, structure, logical and fair student evaluation practices. And, the man- if one could call him that- was now on probation with Umbridge, which actually made Draco like the man more in protest. Thestrals had been a fascinating and potentially useful lesson, even if the creatures were… unsettling.
"Are you okay?" Draco had quietly asked Theo as they had walked back to the castle after that lesson.
"I'm fine," Nott replied without emotion, but he walked faster. Draco wasn't surprised that Theo could see the creatures, but was surprised that the other boy had admitted it. Longbottom and Potter could see them too, obviously Potter from Diggory. How many more students could see them? Draco had never questioned the horseless carriages before but now they seemed... sad. Ginny's friend Lovegood would be able to see them, he thought. She was like Theo.
Theo didn't talk much, but he never had, and that hadn't bothered Draco before. Crabbe and Goyle didn't say much either, and even less that was worth listening to.
Blaize did his own thing, mostly talking to older girls in their house. Much of Draco's time had previously been occupied by listening to Pansy's drivel, which had been boring except when it was praising Draco. And Draco didn't want her to talk to him again, but it did make for a lot of empty time when he wasn't doing classwork, quidditch, eating, or talking to Ginny. And during a fair amount of that time, he was thinking about what he might say to Ginny, or what he might want to do to her- with her.
*****Ginny*****
Angelina had gotten it into her head that the Saturday before Valentine's Day was a great time for practice, when nearly everyone old enough to go to Hogsmeade wanted to be doing so. Really, even people without dates still wanted to enjoy the break from Hogwarts and everything that had been happening at the castle. They didn't often get the chance to be so far away from Umbridge. And, Ginny had a date with Draco, and she didn't want to have to pick either the team or him.
"George, my second favourite brother," Ginny greeted, sitting at the table with both of her twin older brothers.
"Yes, oh favourite sister?" George replied.
"Oh, and what am I?" Fred demanded of Ginny at the same time.
"Not the person who I think will help me here," Ginny replied.
"And what are you wanting, my child?" George asked with a fake air of sophistication.
"You like Angelina," Ginny stated boldly, causing George and Fred to both look around wildly. Anyone who thought the twins were sneaky hadn't really spent time with them. Ginny was the sneakiest Weasley.
"And what would make you think I think that about our esteemed quidditch captain?" George asked. "Fred was the one who took her to the Yule Ball last year, or can you not tell your own brothers apart?" he asked, mocking hurt.
"I'm not a child. I see a lot of things. And you are pretty obvious right now. You should ask her out. For Valentine's Day to Hogsmeade," Ginny said firmly.
"And this wouldn't happen to have anything to do with our captain's plan to have practice at the castle on that day, would it?" Fred asked. "Does Ginny have a date with a certain blond rat? Or maybe ferret?"
"Oh yeah, mocking a person for the time that he was assaulted by a Death Eater masquerading as our Defence Against the Dark Arts professor really gives you the high ground," Ginny snapped back. Fred did look abashed for it. "And yes, I just happen to have a proper date with Draco next week, one that he went to St. Mungo's over the holiday and asked dad permission for, in fact," Ginny recounted to the shocked looks of her brothers. "And yeah, I want that day to go smoothly without me ditching quidditch practice. But also, I think Angelina likes you and would be flattered and go with you, and I think she needs a break," Ginny announced. "And don't go to Madame Puddifoot's," she warned.
George made a face, "Wouldn't set foot in the place."
Ginny left with a smile, confident that that was taken care of. Sure enough, practice was postponed until the next evening, and Angelina and George sat together at dinner. Though, perhaps Ginny should have tried to get out of practice just for herself, because it would have been nice if all her brothers still at Hogwarts were occupied there. But, she cared more for their future happiness.
*****Ginny*****
Madame Puddifoot's was every tacky, gooshy thing that Ginny loved. And even though they'd recently had breakfast, Draco didn't object when Ginny led them right there. There was the normal amount of pink and frilliness, there were also little golden cherubs throwing bits and sparkles around. They both ordered tea. Draco didn't comment on the large amount of milk and sugar she put in hers. Draco didn't use either, but squeezed two lemon slices into it instead. The Weasleys didn't even usually have lemons in the house.
"OWL preparations going well?" Ginny asked.
"I think so," Draco answered.
"Can I have your revision notes when you're done?" Ginny ventured. "We do have all the same classes, after all."
Draco smirked, "Don't you have a multitude of family you could ask?" he pointed out. "Or better, Granger?"
"Bill's brilliant, but not one to keep that sort of thing, and if he did, they didn't make it past Charlie. Charlie probably never made notes, except maybe for Creatures and Charms, but he was good at what he liked. Percy- you know this issue there," she said. Because they'd actually talked a lot, even about some family stuff. And even before the fight, none of the Weasley children would have asked Percy for notes. "The twins didn't care enough to pass anything that they didn't know would help them with their joke shop. Ron- not to mock him in front of you because you do it too much already, but I wouldn't use Ron's notes. They'd just be a bad version of Hermione's. And I probably will get Hermione's, but honestly sometimes hers are so long, I might as well just reread the textbooks," Ginny complained at length. Draco would enjoy all of that so much that he'd agree to let her borrow his.
"I'll make you a copy when I'm done. I can get them to you before the end of term. Unless you want to wait for my results?" he challenged.
"Oh, you'll do fine," Ginny brushed off. "And flag someone down. I want a crêpe," Ginny instructed. "Breakfast was much better when the Beauxbatons students were here. I should probably just go to the kitchen and make a request, but I only think about it when I'm half-awake in the morning and don't want to."
Ginny enjoyed the treat she had shortly, more lavash than what should be called breakfast, especially after the strawberries and chocolate. She even magnanimously offered Draco to try some of the food that he was paying for, and he did.
"Do you have anything specific you would like to do today?" Draco asked.
"Oh, the usual is good," Ginny said easily. "Though I would like to stop by Scrivenshaft's and get some ink that isn't black. You've got some chocolate on your lips," Ginny said, which was going to be her smooth line before leaning over to kiss him. But, he wasn't even looking at her, but rather off over her shoulder.
What now? Ginny could tell from Draco's expression when someone he didn't want to see walked in. Pansy was her first thought, the girl he'd sort of dated. Or maybe one of Ginny's older brothers, because that would be awkward.
No, it was Harry Potter, which was apparently worse. And Cho Chang. Ginny really hoped she beat the girl to the snitch when they played in a few months. Of course, Ginny had to worry about whatever his name was, Taylor, who the Hufflepuff team got to replace Cedric first, and in only a week. Who/Whom? Hermione would correct Ginny on those things, but Mum had never been picky. Cedric who had dated Cho Chang last year and was now dead because of Tom. This was not what she wanted to be thinking about while celebrating Valentine's Day- with Draco Malfoy, son of a Death Eater, whom she'd have to marry because of her stupid ancestors, but she wasn't acting upset by that anymore- she wasn't actively upset most of the time- in fact, she wanted to kiss him in public today- which was a big move for them. Why were there not more places for couples to go in Hogsmeade? Surely there was plenty of running into exes every year? She was glad not to see Michael Corner around, but it was still early, so it could always get worse. And Harry would hate this place, worse than Draco by far. And now Draco was going to be distracted away from her just watching Harry. Thought spiral.
Ginny grabbed Draco's hand and he looked back at her. Sometimes hand holding felt more intimate than snogging. "We can leave if you want. But I wouldn't even want to be here with him. In case that's what's bothering you." She could hardly believe that she wanted to be here with Draco Malfoy, but she wasn't still pining Harry, really. Even though she liked Cho Chang even less for it.
"I'm okay," he said, looking at their hands, and then back at her. "So, are you ready to beat Hufflepuff?" he asked.
"Yeah, I think so," Ginny answered. She wished Harry was able to teach her some things. Sure, Umbridge could ban him from games, but could she really take his broomstick and say he couldn't fly at all? She didn't want to mention any of that to Draco. "Seekers have some cool moves, I suppose. Not as good as chaser cooperation, of course," she said.
Draco made a little 'tsk' noise. "You're a seeker right now, you have to embrace that first, no matter what you might be next year. Teamwork is just what people point to when they know they're not the most important player on the field. How often does a chaser score a hundred fifty points? And they can never end the game like a seeker," Draco shot back, but he was smiling, and looking at her. Maybe he'd still get kissed, despite what his stupid mouth said.
"Well, Slytherin certainly needs beater teamwork to not get yourself killed out there. Crabbe and Goyle are clearly sub par. I was actually worried about your safety a few times last match," she said.
"Really?" he smiled. "And I never said beaters weren't important. They protect the most vital player on the team. And Crabbe and Goyle are awful, but not everyone is from a family big enough to field two teams," Draco gave a weak sneer. His eyes darted away and returned back to her. Ginny didn't have to be able to see to know why.
Cho's voice was audible in the whole little place now, "I thought- I thought you'd u-u-understand," she stuttered accusingly.
Ginny tried to keep speaking, "You've used that one before, and I think you're under the impression that it's an insult, but it's just not," Ginny said.
"I need to talk about it! Surely you n-need to talk about it t-too?" Cho kept crying. Ginny wasn't sure who she felt worse for, Harry or Cho, but did they really need to make a scene?
Harry said something that was at least quiet enough that Ginny couldn't hear.
"Oh, you'll talk to Hermione Granger, but you won't talk to me!" Chang shrieked. Harry clearly said one of the stupidest things he could- that he'd already talked about his problems to another girl. "P-perhaps it would be best if we just… just p-paid and you went and met up with Hermione G-Granger, like you obviously want to!" she near-screamed.
"Should we just leave?" Ginny asked? Cho was still shrieking. Ginny turned to look finally.
"Damn Potter," Draco muttered. "Not going to ruin my damned date," he growled.
"Cho!" Harry yelled after the pretty sixth year who had finally left dramatically.
Ginny was not going to make a scene like some people just had. "So it's a damned date, is it?" she challenged quietly. "It seemed to me like you worked hard to get this date, and you should still feel lucky that I accepted," she said. Draco looked scared. "Even if I was mad, no way I would run out into that rain. Though we should have gone somewhere with butterbeer, or something stronger."
Draco gave a near-snort, "I'd like to see you drunk."
"Not a very romantic pick-up line, Malfoy," Ginny corrected. The closest she'd gotten to drunk had been with the Malfoy family. And now she didn't as much want to kiss him on the mouth in public.
"Yeah, well, you're already stuck with me," he said, earning one of her glares, "Sorry," he said.
"Stupid Harry," Ginny groused. "Do you know any water repelling charms?" she asked, looking at the rain. Anything to get out of here.
Draco fished out enough coins to leave on the table. "I know drying charms for after," he offered.
"Good enough," Ginny decided, even though it would be miserably cold. "Scrivenshaft's, then," she stated rather than asked. It was one of the least date-like places in Hogsmeade. And maybe she'd go back to the castle early because of the rain.
*****Draco*****
Damned Potter, ruining everyone's time. Draco couldn't even properly enjoy that Potter had been so humiliatingly dumped, because now Ginny was in a mood. Draco bought her seven different colours of ink, but she just shrugged. She said she didn't want anything at Honeydukes.
When they walked into the Three Broomsticks, Draco looked around and saw that Potter was there too. With Granger, Weasley, and- Rita Skeeter at the same table? Everyone could see them.
"Do you want to leave?" Draco asked, jerking his head in the offending direction.
"Fine, Ginny said, walking back out into the rain before they'd even bothered with drying charms. "Hog's Head," she called, walking faster.
Ginny led Draco in one of the Hogsmeade establishments that Draco had never wished to visit before. The place was filthy. There were only two patrons in the place, and Draco chose not to stare at either strange-looking wizard. The barkeep was absently scrubbing by hand at a filthy glass. As Draco cast drying charms on them, he really considered some cleaning charms on the place just to make his short visit less unpleasant. And he wasn't even very good at cleaning charms.
"Oh, and there's no privacy here," Ginny mentioned. "Anything we say will probably get back to someone," she shrugged.
"Two butterbeers," Draco ordered.
"Coward," Ginny said, but she was smiling a bit again.
The old man thumped two glasses of questionable cleanliness on the counter and bent over again.
"Tergeo," Draco whispered, and the glasses looked somewhat better. Was the man even a wizard? The old man frowned as he served them, and Draco led them to the table that looked the least filthy. "And why have you been here before?" Draco asked in an undertone.
Ginny shrugged, "Curiosity. I go a lot of places." Of course, she did. Because she somehow knew more about the world than he did, despite being younger and a Weasley. And now she was acting annoyed at him, and it was his stupid problem. Maybe he would risk ordering a firewhiskey after all.
A/N: In 1996, Valentine's day was on a Wednesday, and I stick roughly to a calendar most of the time, unless it's more canon important, and it didn't seem to be here. I almost didn't include the St. Mungo's scene, but decided on it.
Editing note: I don't like how this website does line spacing. Definitely losing some of my formatting, sorry.