Misconception

Disclaimer: I solemnly swear that I do not own Harry Potter or any other characters. This fic is based on the books BEFORE HBP. Therefore, there will be no references to HBP, unless marked by author.

Author's Note: I'm glad all my fluffiness in the last chapter didn't make any of you gag. Prepare for more! If I don't update soon, it's because I've gone to hell--I mean, school and will be tres tres busy and stressed out.

Chapter 14: Clandestine

"You never told me why you didn't owl during Christmas break…"

Draco turned his head, as he inquired this. He saw Ginny look up from her homework that was on her lap thoughtfully, poising the quill in mid sentence. They were sitting back to back on the bench of one of the Quidditch stands. Draco could hardly believe that it had been three months since they confessed their feelings for one another at the train station. Now, the afternoon sun was shining brightly down on them, but they were sure not to be seen by any onlookers.

They had come to the mutual agreement to keep their relationship a secret until the right time. They didn't mind all this secrecy; truth be told, although they never admitted it, they both liked the thrill of sneaking around just to be in each other's arms. It was always worth it. Whenever Draco had had a bad day, he always felt better when Ginny was there, even if it was merely a secret glance between them in the corridors. He felt his whole day light up just for her.

True to the agreement, no one knew about the relationship. If Blaise had known, he would have shot insinuating comments whenever they were in each other's presence. Even Dumbledore, the only person that Draco trusted with his life, did not know of this.

Dumbledore had agreed that there would be no more meetings with him and Draco for the time being, as suspicions were on a dangerous rise. In December, Draco had told all he had learned from the Death Eater meetings to Dumbledore. There was to be another attack in London, near the Muggle Prime Minister. It was stopped by the Order, and only a few Muggles were severely injured. They were promptly sent to St. Mungo's with their memories erased of the events.

Every now and then, the Dark Mark burned, sometimes so severely that Ginny would be startled at his sudden gasps of pain. However, he would make up some excuse, but he knew that Ginny never stopped worrying.

But they were here, together. Both of them were happy and found that the need to be with each other grew stronger everyday…

Ginny giggled, turning her head to reply to Draco, "Honestly, are you still worried about things from three months ago?"

"I waited night and day for those promised owls!" said Draco in a mock of outrage.

"You just thought of it now," said Ginny, laughing. And it was true. It just occurred to Draco now that there had been a little incident before Christmas break, as well… "Well, if you must know," continued Ginny, "I told you how Ron and Harry got really suspicious about the necklace, right? Well, anyway, after Christmas, Ron seemed to monitor me, and I overheard him telling Harry that he'd start monitoring my owls. It was going a bit extreme, if you ask me, over a necklace, and I really didn't believe he would do it. But I thought I wouldn't risk it."

"Your brother is more of a git than I thought," said Draco. "And Potter too…does he fancy you?" asked Draco sharply.

"You'll never stop asking, will you?" said Ginny with a tone of amusement. "I told you before that he doesn't. He's just protective because he's like a brother to me…"

"I don't buy that" said Draco automatically.

Draco could almost see Ginny roll her eyes before she said, "Honestly, I think Harry has something for Hermione anyway. You should see the way he's been looking at her, and she barely notices…"

She sighed, obviously feeling bad for Potter. Draco rolled his eyes and scoffed, muttering with no emotion, "How sad."

"You're heartless." snapped Ginny.

"Get used to it, Weasley." retorted Draco. "I honestly don't care if Potter is having trouble with his love life…especially if it involves Mud—er---Granger."

"You were going to call her 'that'," accused Ginny with a hint of indignation.

"Okay, you caught me," said Draco sarcastically. He heard a huff of annoyance. However, he couldn't help wondering: weren't Potter and Granger already together…since the first day of school. He remembered seeing them hug each other. It disgusted him greatly…

Ginny touched the little diamond on her necklace fondly, as she began writing her homework again. Draco looked down on his own homework and began writing as their well established silence began to settle in. For a few minutes, all one could hear was the scratching of quills against parchments and the occasional rustling of the Forbidden Forest's trees.

Draco heard Ginny's quill stop and heard her book slam shut. A sigh came from her, as she got up from the bench and stretched. Draco looked up from his essay that was nearly done and watched her. She was leaning against the wooden railings at the front of the stand and looking out to the lake. Ginny was beautiful in Draco's eyes, and he wondered why he never noticed through all these years…

She turned to Draco with a smile and said, "I have to meet Luna in the library. She needed some help with Potions…I don't know why she didn't ask Hermione…"

She gathered her books and her school bag from the bench. Then, she bent down and gave Draco a quick kiss on the lips, whispering, "See you tonight." Ginny turned to leave but Draco withheld her. She raised her eyebrows questioningly, but Draco only smirked as he drew her closer to him. He kissed her passionately on the lips, and she quickly indulged with a small smile. She dropped her bags and books and sat on his lap, where his work had already slid off.

Ginny planted little kisses on his forehead until finally his lips were on hers again. Whenever they were like this, Draco could feel that their feelings were much stronger than a mere fancy. He had never felt this way with anyone—not with all the other girls he had snogged. But as strong as his feelings were, there was always a sense of guilt at the corner of his heart. It ached whenever he was with Ginny because he hid something from her under their ever growing trust.

Ginny sincerely believed that he was not what people said he was. She trusted him. It frightened Draco to think about what would happen if she found out what he was: a Death Eater. But was his oath to never tell a soul that he was a mole until the end of war worth losing Ginny? Draco didn't know, and he didn't like thinking about it.

He pushed her away and said, "See you…"

She nodded and flung her bag around her shoulder and gathered her books in her arms. With one last smile, she went to the stairs and disappeared out of sight. Draco picked up the fallen parchment and book and went back to work, feeling the stinging guilt come back to him…

What would happen if Ginny found out what he did…? All the killings and tortures; they were all true, but they were only to keep his cover safe. It's not like he did it all personally; he only gave the orders…But wouldn't it be better just to tell Ginny that he was on the Order's side, but he was a mole. But he couldn't….Dumbledore wouldn't allow it…He could trust Ginny with the secret, but there was just a nagging feeling in his mind.

Draco shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He forced himself to concentrate on his homework…

By the time he was done, dinner was about to be served in the Great Hall. The crowds were already gathering and squeezing to get through the doors of the Hall. Draco pushed through the crowds, trying to get to the redhead ahead of him. When he was by Ginny's side, he discreetly brushed his hand on hers. She jumped and when she saw who it was, a smile crept to her lips.

"You're in my way, Weasley," said Draco with a hint of amusement in his gray eyes.

She opened her mouth to retort, but was rudely interrupted.

"Shove off, Malfoy!" said Potter, pushing Draco into a crowd.

Draco watched Potter dangerously, as Potter put his hand on Ginny's wrist, leading her away from him. Jealousy and anger began to boil in his veins, and he felt the need to curse Potter. Most of the students were already in the Great Hall, but Draco stood there like a stone, too angry to move. Ginny gave Draco a helpless look and shook her head, knowing what he was about to do. Draco nodded briefly, swallowing his anger; he quickly went inside the Great Hall and sat at the end of the Slytherin table.

"So how is Helen doing these days?" asked Blaise casually, as he sat across from Draco.

Draco shot Blaise a glare and did not answer. He wasn't even worth his breath, that bastard. Crabbe and Goyle were sitting next to him, too busy eating to say anything. Pansy, who sat across from Goyle, two seats away from Blaise, looked like she had been crying. Blaise followed his eyes and glanced at Pansy carelessly. She sniffed and forced herself to eat. Draco frowned, which made Blaise smirk sadistically.

"You know the drill, Draco," said Blaise with a shrug.

Yes, he knew the drill. He had once lived like that with Zabini. They hold on to a girl long enough, making them believe they loved her. But once they get what they were looking for, they are promptly dumped and forgotten. Draco could not help but to feel sorry for Pansy, who was loyal to any guy who showed her the attention she craved.

"If you're done with Helen," continued Blaise, "Mind if I have her for a bit?"

Draco looked at Blaise with the utmost disgust and said, "You can keep that whore."

There was a sudden and loud scrape of a chair. A few people looked up and saw Pansy, getting up from her seat, and running out of the Great Hall, sobbing. Draco watched her leave and also caught Ginny's glance in the process. She frowned questioningly, but he only shook his head.

"I'm surprised the Dark Lord didn't kill you over break…" said Blaise, as if nothing had happened.

"If you want me dead, then just do it," snapped Draco, angrily, "Don't just talk about it."

However, both their voices were low, so no one could hear them.

Blaise merely scoffed and picked at the food with his fork. "I almost had you dead, Malfoy. You were at my mercy…until that Weasley bitch came, meddling into other people's business."

Draco glared at Blaise and got up from his chair, leaving the Great Hall. He waited a few feet away from the Great Hall for Ginny, who followed ten minutes later. They quickly and quietly went outside. They did not speak to each other until they were far from the castle, far from prying eyes and ears.

"I'm really sorry about Harry," said Ginny finally.

Draco waved it off, pulling her forward into a close embrace and then a gentle kiss. They walked, hand-in-hand, toward the Quidditch field and up to one of the stands. They sat next to each other. Ginny's head rested on his shoulder and his head rested on the side of her head…Neither of them spoke for a moment, but only enjoyed the company of the other.

"By the way," said Ginny, facing Draco. "Who's Helen?"

Draco felt a sinking feeling in his stomach, and he turned pale. He swallowed the lump in his throat, and he found his mouth unusually dry. Draco knew he had no reason to feel uneasy, because he didn't do anything with Helen. But if Helen was trying to interfere, which he knew she would…

"How do you know about her?" asked Draco, finally.

She shrugged and said, "I overheard Blaise talking in the library about her and how he'd have her if she wasn't clung on to you…"

There was no jealousy in her voice, but Draco could tell that she was hiding it. How was Helen clung on to him? He hadn't seen her for three months; so she fancied him then? No doubt Blaise and his father had visited the Chamberlains these past three months to make business deals…

"She's the daughter of Richard Chamberlain," he said.

When he saw Ginny frown, Draco knew that she had no idea who the Chamberlains were. For a moment, he couldn't help but to feel scorn for her family and how poor they were. However, he quickly felt bad for thinking so and pulled her closer to him.

"She's not important," murmured Draco, slowly kissing her neck.

"Is she pretty?" asked Ginny, unable to hide the bitterness in her voice.

"Oh God, Weasley…" said Draco, trying not to laugh. This was the first time that Ginny had ever shown jealousy, since Draco was the one always snapping about Potter. Draco found it oddly comforting.

"Well, did anything happen between you two?" asked Ginny suspiciously.

"No," said Draco firmly.

She did not say anything, only looked away from Draco. Ginny did not seem satisfied with his answer.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" said Ginny quietly. "And she's rich…" She scoffed and added disdainfully, "And me, what have I got?"

Draco smiled weakly, not knowing what to say to comfort her. She was all of a sudden feeling insecure because she felt she could not live up to what Helen was. It's true, Helen was beautiful, possibly even more than that, and she wasn't even a veela. However, Draco found Ginny a hundred times the girl that Helen could ever be. It didn't matter how poor she was; in fact, Draco barely gave it a thought. He brought her face to his and kissed her gently on the lips. Then, he wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"Trust me, Ginny," whispered Draco. "You're more beautiful than Helen could ever be, and you'll never lose me to her…"

(A/N: Hey, maybe if you give me a review, I will try to update faster!)