Chapter Three

Draco Malfoy would admit it freely. There was something about the Weasley girl he found utterly attractive.

What was it though? She was pretty, sure enough, in a very take-her-home-to-Mum kind of way. She wasn't gorgeous. Hell, there were tons of girls prettier than she was around the school. Even Granger, when she took the time to doll herself up, was a damn fine catch.

She had a fantastic body, Draco knew that. Everyone knew that. He hadn't had a chance to see her recently but apparently she was strutting around as a pirate with her slightly off blonde friend, Luna Lovegood. Luna was another good looking girl and a pure blood to boot.

Ginny was smart. Again, Granger was smarter. So was Pansy, if only barely. Pansy was another pretty pure blood but Draco couldn't quite bring himself to like her like that. Not that he liked Ginny that way. No.

Ginny wasn't rich, she wasn't drop dead beautiful. So what was she? Why did he like her?

Draco had once had the dubious pleasure of seeing Ginny Weasley in her bra. One might have thought this the reason he was fascinated with her but it was three years ago and she barely had a need for a bra. She had filled out since then, from what her school uniform showed at the beginning of the school year.

So why the hell was he fascinated with her.

Draco stood up from where he was sitting in the Slytherin common room. Pansy, his ex girlfriend, looked up from the Potions text book she was studying from her position on the floor. Pansy had changed severely since first year. Her pug nose had lengthened to an almost aristocratic length. She had let her hair grow out and left it its natural blonde with caramel undertones. She was tall now, but her figure remained almost boyish. She had thrown herself into studying the past year and a half. In fact she had broken up with Draco because she was afraid he would mess up her grades.

"Where are you off to?" She asked. Her voice had a nice quality to it, one that should have had Draco putting a move on her.

"Need to distract myself for a couple hours. Is that allowed?"

She gave him a small smile. "Fine by me. If Blaise or Theo ask, where should I direct them?"

Draco winced. Could they do nothing without him? Perhaps that was too harsh. They preferred to do nothing without him.

"I'll be back in a few minutes, Pans. I'm sure they can handle themselves for ten or fifteen minutes."

Pansy raised an eyebrow but let him go. No sooner was he out the door, and then Blaise tumbled down the stairs that led to the Fifth year Boys Dorm. Theo quickly followed him, leaping over his winded friend to land beside Pansy. He knelt down to her eye level.

"Hiya, Pans! Where's Draco?"

Pansy sighed. This was going to be a long ten or fifteen minutes.

888

Draco sprinted up the stairs lithely, making his way through the halls to the Library. He darted inside, bestowing a winning smile on the Librarian as he went. He made his way quickly and efficiently to the rear of the library, searching the shelves for the book he knew was there. He found it, pulling it from its nest among other classic works of literature: The Taming of the Shrew.

Draco first discovered William Shakespeare when Blaise took him to see A Midsummer's Night's Dream three summers ago. Blaise had convinced his father that Shakespeare was not only classic culture but had been a Wizard as well. Draco knew this was a face value lie, but he had been getting on his dad's nerves so Lucius overlooked that and let him go.

Draco had loved every minute of the play. When he got home, he put in an order at the local bookstore, picking up every single play by the man. Draco spent most of that summer cooped up in his room, devouring the books. Blaise was less than pleased, as he expected to spend more time with Draco as result.

Now Draco walked to the desk, flashing his smile again as the librarian checked the book out to him.

Draco made his way into the hallway. He winced as he heard a crash coming from what sounded like the Slytherin Common Room. Though he was three stories above them, Draco could have sworn he heard Pansy's shrill voice as she screamed at Blaise and Theo for something. He glanced at the book in his hand. He really wanted to get reading it again, but he foresaw no free time till well after dinner if he returned to the Common Room now.

Maybe... Pansy could hold her own... It would only be for the first act or so.

Draco was still leaning against the wall, reading, fifteen minutes later when a flash of red caught his eye. He glanced up to see Ginny Weasley coming his way. His jaw nearly dropped.

Draco hadn't seen Ginny for almost two months, nor had he actively sought her out for any reason. Now, he could not imagine why he hadn't.

She was wearing jeans and a white dress shirt, a white cravat nestled beneath her chin. She wore a dark red knee length duster over the ensemble with gold and black filigree. Over this she wore a belt that ran from one shoulder to the opposite hip and between her breasts. From it dangled an empty scabbard. Her crimson hair was down and a black bandana circled her head.

She walked by, carrying a few books that probably were headed to Granger. He was far enough into the shadows that she didn't notice him as she walked by. Her hair shifted as she moved, revealing tarnished hoop earrings of some silver imitation.

Draco waited till she was well out of range then darted off to the dungeons. He burst into the Common Room and stared unabashedly for a moment. Pansy had Blaise in a choke hold and was sitting on Theo. Theo was holding her Potions book for her as she made notes on a scrap of parchment she had lying across Theo's back.

Both men looked up as Draco entered, sending him apologetic looks. Draco resisted a grin. No one could beat Pansy.

"Boys, I have a plan!" he announced.

(A/N: Keep an eye on what Draco's reading through out the story. It will give you some idea of how Draco thinks of Ginny in each chapter. And seriously, who isn't in love with Blaise and Theo right now?

To Robin: No I'm not gone. Just taking a bit for updates, is all.