A/N: Sorry it's been so long, guys. To be honest, I haven't gotten any writing on this done in ages, busy as I've been with my courseload at school. But since I had some chapters in the vault, I figured I could spare one for ya - Call it a Halloween gift! ^_~
Chapter 20: The Second Detention
"Draco… didn't you want to talk to Professor Snape about next week's assignment?"
The blond looked up from where he'd been scratching down an essay for his NEWT-level Transfiguration course. He narrowed grey eyes at the swarthy boy, who was currently lounging across one of the plush sofas in the Slytherin common room, wearing a look of utter harmlessness. It was suspicious. "…Why do you ask?"
Blaise shrugged, gesturing to his own Potions assignment where it sat on the table in front of him. "It'd be nice to have a heads up."
For some reason, Draco wasn't convinced of his friend's intentions. Then again: Blaise wasn't the most transparent of people. He did tend to have ulterior motives. Draco twirled his quill between his fingers, watching the black-haired boy. "Why don't I believe you?" His voice was wry and cynical.
Blaise looked away, then straightened, packing his things. He'd dropped the casual attitude, and looked a bit more bothered. "Look, Draco…" he leaned toward the blond as he rolled the scroll up, tucking it into his rucksack, his voice low. "I'm just –" He glanced around, as though checking to make sure no one was listening. "I really need a heads up, okay?" His touch of annoyed anxiety was enough to belie his purpose. Apparently, the boy who couldn't care less… could really care less.
"…Yeah, fine." Draco nodded. "I'll go talk to him." Blaise had never given off the studious vibe, but Draco knew that marks – NEWT levels, at least – were important to his friend. Important-ish, anyway, given their impact on anyone's post-Hogwarts life and career. Besides, he wouldn't mind a heads up for what sort of questions might be asked in class. He'd been irritatingly overshadowed by the mudblood, who'd been flying through class without a care while Draco was working his arse off studying.
"Thanks, mate." Blaise sounded truly relieved.
Draco should've been a bit less trusting. Really, as though Blaise needed Draco to get him that sort of information…
The black haired boy casually slipped from corner to corner, following his friend's footsteps through the dungeons, safely hidden several steps behind. It was a wonder he bothered hiding, he mused, everything seemed to be going according to plan. Berrow giving the detention, Snape carrying it out, and Draco toddling off to distract Snape as-
"Zabini?"
Her words cut off his train of thought almost simultaneously as he shut the door of the potions classroom behind him.
"Hey, Red," he grinned wickedly.
A flicker of confusion lit in the girl's eyes, followed by suspicion. "How did you-?"
He shrugged, going to sit on the Professor's desk. "I heard Berrow bragging about it," he lied, easily.
He was keeping his distance for now, staying at the front of the room as she worked a few tables away, scrubbing cauldrons. He knew her game. He didn't want to spook her.
Glancing around, he kicked his feet against the desk, casually. "So what does everyone's favorite potions master have you doing tonight?"
Ginny stood, peeling off the dragonhide gloves she'd been using to hold her scrubbing materials, and ran a hand through that gorgeous mane. She was smirking, wryly. "Cauldron duty." She looked from the cauldrons to him, before deciding the attractive Slytherin was the better choice, and making her way toward him casually. "No magic, either." She came to a halt, hopping up to sit directly across from him on top of the front row work table. She mimicked his kicking motion, and reached one foot out to hit his, purposefully, catching his eye with a small smile.
That seemed like a pretty straightforward sign to him.
"Wonder why," he kicked her back, his voice teasing, "maybe 'cause- scourgify-" He waved his wand at the collection of cauldrons, and a layer of grime immediately dissipated.
Ginny's brows shot up, and she seemed about to protest, but bit her tongue. And rightly so. So what if it was cheating? He was saving her hours of scrubbing with that little spell.
She was pursing her lips in mock suspicion as she tilted her head to the side, her hair tumbling in fiery waves over one shoulder. Merlin, she couldn't possibly imagine how delectable she was, that gleam in her eyes as she kicked at him again. "Well now what am I supposed to do?" Her voice, while superficially a complaint of annoyance, seemed to Blaise to have a slight purr in it. A purr of promise. And the way she bit her lip – like she had at the party the night before, or in that first detention when they'd met – it was as though he could see her mentally debating their flirtation.
"I could think of a few ways to pass the time." His voice was light and playful, but the way he'd raised his eyebrows at her, suggestively, hinted at some… darker intentions. But he stayed put. He gave her space. If she wanted it, she'd come to him. They always did.
A/N: I do love this ending. And the next chapters as well. I guess I can post another pretty soon. It's soon to be the time of giving, after all, so another chapter or two might make it up in November. I do, however, have a screenplay to write. So that will be taking up most of my time, meaning I'm not going to be producing more material for this story (now you see why I saved up while I could). Maybe over Thanksgiving break or after classes finish in December I'll get back to work.
Thanks to all of my new followers, favoriters, and thanks to She Who Must Not Be Tamed and kit7714 for the reviews. You guys all rock my world. ;D
-Turner
