Disclaimer: I wish I owned Harry Potter.

Author's Note:

Misconception

Chapter 11: Feelings

His trunk was neatly packed and placed upon his bed. Draco sat next to his heavy trunk with a weary sigh. It was the last day before the holidays. The train to take everyone home for holidays was to leave tonight, and that was just half an hour from now. He could hear the muffled noises coming from the common room, as the excited students were getting ready for break. Draco wondered if he could even remember what it felt like to be excited about a holiday. Again, he sighed, reaching into his pocket for a newly purchased pack of cigarettes from Hogsmeade.

The first thing that came to his mind was: Would Ginny approve of this? He wanted to hex himself for thinking something so stupid, but he couldn't help it. Ever since the incident under the mistletoe, he couldn't get his mind off of Ginny. He yearned for her taste and the way he felt when he had her in his arms…

Draco pressed his palms onto his eyes, trying to block out the thought of Ginny. Firmly, he told himself that he was simply confused and delirious. He couldn't possibly have feelings for a Weasley. It just wasn't possible or plausible. He got up and blinked several times to get rid of the colors that were flying to and fro in his vision.

Turning to a side, he found himself facing a long mirror. He stared at his reflection, which determinedly stared back at him in a duplicated confused look. Draco frowned and thought that probably Nargles really did go into his brain when he was under the mistletoe. The reflection's frown grew deeper, and he wondered, "What the hell are Nargles, anyway?"

He turned away from the mirror and shook his head. With an irritable wave of his wand, he levitated his wand to the door, which he swiftly pulled open. The volume of the once muffled noises increased, as he walked down the spiral staircase from his room. The trunk obediently followed behind him. No one took notice of his presence, and he took no notice of theirs.

Without even realizing it, he was already at the Entrance Hall, where many other students, who were going home for the holidays, were already gathered. They were all chatting animatedly with each other, while waiting for the carriages for Hogsmeade train station to be ready. The doors of the Entrance Hall opened, and Filch moodily beckoned the students to go outside to the carriages.

Soon enough, Draco found himself waiting in a train station, once again. He leaned against the stone pillars, hiding in the shadows with a lit cigarette. Again, he became the silhouette of solitude. His thoughts took another deep plunge into despair, and he didn't even know why. Draco already knew what he was supposed to do, but why couldn't he get these bad feelings out of his head.

The others were all huddled together, laughing and looking excited to get home. Draco glared moodily at them, exhaling a great puff of smoke toward them. He looked up at the gray ceiling and then back down again. A cold wind admitted from the train station entrance, which made the students shiver. Draco pulled his thick, black cloak closer toward him.

Inhaling the smoke once again, he felt his stress lessen slightly. He turned his head and exhaled, causing the person standing next to him to cough violently. He was somewhat surprised by the person but was not quick to apologize. It took him a few seconds to fully realize who it was. The red hair, the glare from her brown eyes….it was Ginny.

"I thought you said you were staying here for Christmas," said Draco tonelessly and looking away from her.

"I know," coughed Ginny, "But I just wanted to say 'bye' before you left."

She flushed a little, and Draco found himself feeling slightly uncomfortable. He felt his insides squirm, and the strange feeling he felt whenever he was around her arose again. Ginny brushed a strand of hair away from her face, as she faced him, looking into his eyes. Draco noticed she'd do this when she wanted to search his emotions, most likely his feelings for her…

"Are you sure you didn't come just to snog me?" said Draco in a teasing tone. It meant to come out cold and indifferent, but that did not work out very well.

She gave him a wry smile and said, "Will you owl me during the holidays?"

"And why would I want to do that, Weasley?" said Draco coldly.

Her grin faded away, but the content look in her eyes did not. She was not hurt by the comment, even though Draco felt rather guilty saying it. What was the matter with him? Why was he feeling guilty over the stupidest things?

"Ginny," she corrected quietly.

Draco rolled his eyes and said, "You won't ever give up, will you?"

"Well, I'll owl you," Ginny mumbled, looking down on the ground.

"I won't read them." replied Draco defiantly. "Look, just because I snogged you doesn't mean—."

"We're friends," finished Ginny. "I know."

"I—well—." Stammered Draco, completely taken aback. He was actually thinking they'd be something more than friends…

"Would it kill you to make a new friend?" asked Ginny.

"No, I just don't like Weasleys." said Draco firmly.

Ginny rolled her eyes and said, "There's no need for pretending; well, as your new friend, I'm going to owl you." She smiled brightly, and Draco could not help but to grin a little too.

Ginny stepped closer to Draco, which almost made Draco choke on his smoke. He quickly exhaled to the ground. She sighed and slowly made a move to remove the cigarette from his mouth. He gently pushed her hand away and muttered, "Don't…"

Draco heard a giggle coming from one of the group of students. He looked up to make sure they weren't looking at them. Much to his relief, they were looking the exact opposite way, probably laughing at some joke. Draco grabbed Ginny's wrist and pulled her more into the shadows, so no one would see them.

"What are you doing?" asked Ginny.

"I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea…" muttered Draco.

"Good point," agreed Ginny.

Draco threw his cigarette on the ground, and Ginny stepped on it as she advanced closer toward Draco. Draco's heart began to beat faster. He felt the warmth emitting from her body, as she stood closer to him. Draco was tempted to wrap his arms around her and just hold her…Wait! What am I thinking!

She laughed quietly and said, "Sorry, I'm just kind of cold…"

A great gust of wind came as the Hogwarts Express rushed by and came to a stop. Ginny shivered from the wind, as Draco lifted his heavy trunk, ready to board the train. He muttered a 'bye' and prepared to board, but Ginny grabbed his arm. He turned around irritably, but before he could say anything, she gave him a swift kiss on the cheek. Draco stood, stunned, for a couple of seconds before registering what she did.

"Happy Christmas, one friend to another!" she said cheerfully.

Before Draco could stop himself, he grabbed Ginny into a close embrace and kissed her on the lips. At first, she was too surprised to do anything, but she returned the kiss gently. No one could see this moment they shared together, because everyone else was too busy boarding the train to notice that they were kissing in the shadows. A secret. His secret. Their secret.

They slowly broke off the kiss and looked into each other's eyes. Draco gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face and gave her a lopsided grin. She smiled at him—there was no blush or feeling of embarrassment anymore.

"Have a good holiday…" Ginny breathed.

"I doubt it," said Draco.

"Are you always this pessimistic?" she mocked with a small smirk.

"Yup," he said. With that, he boarded the train to go back to King's Cross, where an escort would be waiting for him.

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