PART II

When Mary arrived at the office Monday morning there was a stapled stack of paper on her desk. She couldn't help the grin that covered her face when she realized what it was. It was a damn good thing Marshall wouldn't be in for at least an hour, because there was no way she was going to make it through without busting a gut laughing, despite the sticky note he'd attached to the first page that threatened of no sex for a week if she teased him about it.

Marshall never could hold out on her for long.

It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
a Harry Potter Fanfiction by MarshMann

Chapter 1: Quidditch and Quarrelling

"Weasley has spotted the snitch!" Ernie MacMillan's magically magnified voice filled the capacity stadium. It was the much anticipated first Slytherin Gryffindor matchup of the Quidditch Season and not a single student wanted to miss this. Minus Harry Potter and Ron Weasley the Gryffindor team managed to scrape a win over Hufflepuff already that season, but Slytherin too had gone undefeated in their first game against Ravenclaw. The winner of this match would have the edge on the cup, only increasing the already bitter tensions between the houses.

Headmaster Snape sat at the top of the teacher's box, his dark eyes following the play, a contemptuous smile on his lips. Despite their valiant efforts, Gryffindor hadn't yet managed to get a single goal past Blaise Zabini (the new Slytherin Keeper) and unless the Weasley girl beat Malfoy to the snitch, the game would be all Slytherin. He had been tempted to call of Quidditch altogether this year. With both sides gearing up for a fight and attacks possible at any second, he knew the students would be safer indoors, but they also needed something to focus on. Something that wasn't a casualty list or the steadily emptying house tables as concerned parents pulled their children out of the safest place in England in a vain attempt to protect them from the coming war.

On the pitch Ginny Weasley flattened herself over the handle of the Firebolt, willing her body onwards, faster, faster. She could see the golden gleam of the snitch ten meters out, but she was closing in on it and Malfoy was nowhere to be seen. The Firebolt seemed to read her desperate pleas for speed, whipping her along after the elusive golden prize. Harry had given her permission to use his Firebolt for this season's Quidditch, it wasn't much good to him on the run with Hermione (who was scared to death of flying), but she didn't know how she would ever go back to a hand me down comet after this.

Draco Malfoy followed the redhead's progress across the pitch for a few seconds before he made out the glittering snitch through the misty rain that had coated the Scottish highlands for the last six weeks straight. The girl and the snitch were rounding towards him and he was certain if he moved quickly he could beat her to it. Bending low and fastening his eyes on the tiny winged ball he dove towards it.

"Malfoy is in pursuit, but will he be fast enough?"

All eyes in the stands turned to watch the seekers, blonde and red flying at breakneck speeds on a collision course, the snitch a tiny spark of light near the middle of the steadily closing gap. When it looked as though they might collide in a matter of seconds, neither walling to pull up and out of the race, the snitch suddenly shot straight up in the air.

Malfoy yanked up on his broom handle and practically held his breath, he could see nothing but the snitch and a flash of red just below him that gained ever so slightly with each second that they rocketing upwards.

Neither seeker saw the bludger until it was too late. It hit Malfoy squarely in the ribs, stealing his breath and tossing him from his broom and right into Ginny. Not prepared for an impact, let alone for being tackled by her fellow seeker, lost her grip and the pair toppled to the ground.

Ginny woke seven hours later to a pounding in her skull and an unfamiliar ceiling.

"If you're looking for wonder boy and the idiot sidekicks, they never showed." A cool male voice came from Ginny's right.

What the hell are you talking about? Ginny tried to ask. What came out was more a hoarse grunt that made her sore throat ache.

"I know. It's disappointing really." The drawling voice continued as if Ginny's attempt at speech had been an outraged grunt. "It would be worth the inconvenience just to have your ugly redheaded self back in the hovel where you belong."

Despite the pounding head and aching muscles, Ginny managed to turn far enough to glower at the owner of the obnoxious voice who'd dared insult her family home and her hair in the same breath. Malfoy? She didn't know why she was surprised. From everything she had seen and heard about Draco Malfoy he was a spoiled, smug son of a death eater who had no greater entertainment than to torture Ron, Harry and Hermione. "You're one to talk, ferret." She sneered. The look on his face was worth the pain talking caused.

Any retort the steaming blonde might have had was abruptly cut off by the arrival of Madame Pomfrey with a tray of unpleasant looking potions. "Nice to see you awake Miss Weasley." The mediwitch's bright smile didn't even falter when Malfoy scoffed behind her.

Ginny tried to return the smile but it turned into a grimace of pain.

Madam Pomfrey tutted in a motherly manner and handed Ginny a steaming class of eggplant coloured potion, it smelt like Ron's socks. "Drink up, there's a girl. It will help with the headache. Nasty fall you two had."

Draco made a face as she handed him an identical glass. "It smells like Weasley." He muttered bitterly.

"I know dear," Madam Pomfrey said absently, waving her wand over Ginny's body the diagnostic spells lighting up greens, blues and reds.

Ginny glared at him, but kept silent as the mediwitch worked. Malfoy was a prat but not worth making a fool of herself for.

Madam Pomfrey finished her diagnostic spells and smiled at her charges. "Another week here and you should be right as rain."

A week? Ginny's brain refused to give words to the horror of an entire week in the infirmary, let alone an entire week in the infirmary with Malfoy

"My father will-"

But Madam Pomfrey did not gave Draco a chance to explain the seven ways Lucius would destroy her career, reputation and life in that order). "The headmaster has already spoken to your father AND his personal physician and both agree that Hogwarts is the safest place for you both. What with St Mungos filled to capacity with blast victims and the like. Now drink this," she handed them each a small phial of bright red liquid, "and get some rest."

Draco glared mutinously at her for a full 30 seconds before exhaustion won over irritation. The potion smelt like hot summer rain and had almost no flavour. In seconds he was floating on a sea of delicious, dizzy exhaustion, on the edge of dreams.

Madam Pomfrey settled herself on a straight backed chair across from her two charges. It was something of a miracle they looked as good as they did. As a healer she hated Quidditch. It was a dangerous game at the best of times, and these were far from the best of times. All four house teams but Slytherin were three fourths new players who, despite boundless enthusiasm, lacked the flying skills and unique hand eye coordination Quidditch required. This meant that Bludgers were constantly misdirected, catching the Quaffle but losing balance on ones broom and five hour games that were finally called off due to dark not the catching of the snitch. It was a wonder no one had been killed. The headmaster was no help either. Severus Snape was not a man who took constructive criticism, or any criticism kindly. Her job had become much harder since the loss of Albus Dumbledore, followed by the loss of half the students and a fair number of the staff.

Still, despite the Carrows, Hogwarts felt like the safest place to be. Poppy had never been one to concern herself with the political. She'd been a school girl in the time of Grindelwald and had seen horrors enough on both sides to leave her determined to stay as far from political intrigue as possible. Her training at St Mungos to become a mediwitch had further solidified her neutral stance. The hospital training program emphasised the value of every life and the healer's vital function in preserving and improving life without judgement or bias. When she'd been appointed healer at Hogwarts in the early years of Voldemort's first bid for power she had been approached by Albus and asked to join the Order of the Phoenix. She had declined and even now, with Voldemort in the ministry and the Order largely in hiding, she felt she had made the right choice. She hoped Potter would prevail and life would return to peaceful monotony, but her role was here, at Hogwarts caring for these students and preparing for the battle she knew would come before long. The rest was out of her hands.

The hospital wing was dark and quiet when Draco opened his eyes. He lay still for several moments, enjoying the quiet and the fact that, for the first time in days, his head wasn't aching.

He couldn't believe his mother had let Snape and Pomfrey confine him to the infirmary with a Weasley for an entire week. Lucius was angry about Draco's failure last spring and the disgrace it had allegedly brought the Malfoy family. Ironic that the letter condemning Draco for his un-Malfoy cowardice came from Azkaban Prison where his father had been incarcerated for nearly a year. Apparently the Malfoy Patriarch was immune to shame.

A shrill scream split the silence of the infirmary, pulling Draco from his thoughts. It took him several seconds longer than it should have to realize the scream came from the redhead sleeping in the next bed. Before he had a chance to do anything she sat up suddenly cried out in pain at the sudden movement and collapsed back against the bed, breathing heavily.

"You're in the Infirmary at Hogwarts. It was a dream. I'm sure Potter is alive to be obnoxious another day." Draco smirked a little, "Now I know it's disappointing, but sometimes in life, Weasley, things don't go our way... but then, I guess I don't have to tell that part to you. Your entire life has been a disappointment."

"Shut your face, Malfoy." Ginny spat, massaging her aching head with one hand. "Harry Potter is twice the man you are."

"Put on a little weight has he? He should really watch that. they say the camera adds ten pounds and it really wouldn't do to have the hero of the wizarding world looking like Longbottom's fat, ugly cousin."

Gritting her teeth against the ache in her head, Ginny slowly leveraged herself into a sitting position so she could glare at him properly. "You're just jealous."

"Of Potter's facial scar and deep need to attention?" He let the insult linger in the air for a moment before continuing, enjoying the mute fury radiating from the youngest Weasley. It was a shame he hadn't known until tonight how much more fun it was to torment the Weasley Femme than her ginger posse of brothers. "You've found me out, I always wanted to poor, ugly and completely deluded. It's the trifecta"

"At least Harry never had to buy friends!"

"No, you're right," Malfoy's voice dripped sarcasm, "No one has ever liked Harry Potter for anything other than his winning personality. His instant popularity at Hogwarts had nothing to do with surviving Avada Kedavra when he was too young to know what death was, or cheating his way into the Tri-Wizard-"

"Harry didn't cheat-"

"- Tournament. Perfect Potter pandering to his adoring public wouldn't know anything about superficial friendships."

"-Bartie Crouch put his name in the cup so that Voldemort-"

"You are as naive as you look." Malfoy sounded genuinely stunned instead of snide and it cut Ginny off mid-word.

"Voldemort killed Cedric Diggory. You were there!"

Malfoy's eyes narrowed. "If by there you mean at Hogwarts when Potter appeared blabbing like a lunatic about things he doesn't understand. Yes. I was also there when the Minister and every other respectable Wizard in Britain told the world what I have known since first year. Potter is no more than a fame-loving fraud who has a little more luck than your average idiot."

"You're pathetic."

"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad, his hair is as dark as a blackboard," Malfoy sang.

Ginny could feel the flush of embarrassment creeping up from collarbone to hairline. Why, oh why in Merlin's name had she bought that bloody singing valentines card? It wasn't like Harry had even noticed the card. Even when they had dated he'd never mentioned it. True she'd been twelve and more than a little socially awkward, but it was still humiliating.

"What is going on in here?" Madame Pomfrey

"Nothing." Ginny and Draco answered in speedy unison.

The healer raised both eyebrows in obvious disbelief. "Well, it's time for your potions, but in the morning you will keep your voices down and act like civilized patients or so help me Merlin I will keep you here in isolation for a month. Do I make myself clear?"

Ginny nodded, "Of course, Madame Pomfrey. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"What she said." Draco said sullenly, crossing his arms over his chest in obvious defiance.

Twenty minutes and three vials of potion later and both students were fast asleep. Madame Pomfrey stayed only long enough to make sure they were truly asleep before warding the hospital wing and setting out in search of the Headmaster.

"It's been less than forty-eight hours and they're already fighting like dogs."

Severus templed his fingers in front of his face and regarded the medi witch thoughtfully. Poppy Pomfrey was one of a small handful of staff members at Hogwarts who didn't treat him like a murderous traitor - well, technically he was both, but not in the way they thought - and it had given him a new respect for her. Still, he didn't know where her loyalties lay and he had already received a sound lashing from Lucius via owl for confining Malfoy junior to Hogwarts Infirmary rather than sending him to a specialist at St. Mungos or even home to the dubious care of his mother- Narcissa Malfoy nee Black had never been much of a nurturer. He'd managed to rebuff Lucius's complaints, claiming that it was better for the boy's personal safety not to leave Hogwarts with the Order clamouring for blood. The excuse worked to still Lucius's complaints, but it was not the real reason Severus had chosen to back Pomfrey's decision to detain the Malfoy boy and the Weasley girl in the infirmary for a week while their head injuries healed the slow way.

"How are they?" Severus stood just inside the hospital wing, reluctant to interrupt the mediwitch any more than necessary and she bustled about the ward, gathering potions and running diagnostic spells.

The tri-coloured aura around Ginevra Weasley's body dissolved as Poppy dropped her wand and turned to the headmaster. "It's quite serious, but they'll both pull through in time."

"Shall I let St. Mungo's know to expect them?"

Poppy looked startled. "I-" she faltered.

"No slight to your skills, Poppy," he assured her with a tight smile, "You've healed my own wounds a time or two, I know you are more than capable. I merely thought it might lighten your burden if we sent one or both of them to St. Mungo's. You do so much already."

Feathers smoothed by the headmaster's statement of confidence in her abilities, Poppy smiled gently, "I appreciate the consideration, Headmaster, but I believe a familiar environment would be best for their recovery. Brain injuries are tricky. I've stopped the bleeding and neither seems to have suffered permanent damage, but they will need rest and observation for at least a week. I'm afraid the chaos of St. Mungo's might increase stress and slow the healing."

"Of course." Severus inclined his head, a visible concession to her authority in this matter, "You will keep me updated on their progress and inform me of any potions you need?" There was no way Severus would let anyone else brew healing potions destined for the Malfoy heir and a Weasley. There were at least seven undetectable poisons simple enough that even Neville Longbottom could accomplish using only the ingredients of a first year's kit. No, he would see to any brewing himself.

"Would you please inform the children's parents. I would feel better about confining the children with parental knowledge and consent."

Severus nodded absently, already picturing the cold fury that would fill Lucius Malfoy's eyes the moment he received word that Draco was being housed with a Weasley. It was almost enough to make him smile.

"Sir?" Poppy broke through his thoughts.

"You have my full support to do what needs doing, Madame Pomfrey. However, before locking them in private isolation beds might I suggest giving them a better outlet for their rivalry? Perhaps chess. If I recall Ronald Weasley was quite gifted, perhaps some of it rubbed off."

Poppy was taken aback, but she smiled and thanked the headmaster for the suggestion. She had thought of exploding snap but decided it was too vigorous a game for her injured charges, but wizards chess really only involved the brain. Well, it was worth a shot.

Mare,

This is chapter one. If you want the rest, you will never mention this to anyone.

– Marshall

Mary stared at the last page and the scribbled note from Marshall with a frown. The dreams she'd had of mocking Marshall for his writing abilities, his cheesy plots and the porn she was reasonably certain lurked within, fizzled. If she wanted to get to the good stuff she would have to play by his rules. It wasn't something she'd ever been good at, but she could fake it. At least until he handed her the chapter she needed to he never got laid – at least not by anyone who wasn't her – for the rest of his life.

A/N: Thanks for reading! I hope my fic within a fic was as much fun to read as it was to write. The Harry Potter part of this is not completed yet… I have an outline, but I have not yet finished it. When it is it will be posted on as its own story for anyone who wants to read on .