Hey… I'm terrible at updating. I know. Now let's all just move on and see what happens.
Draco has his date coming up with Ginny. But what about Seraphina?
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Chapter Ten:
It's the Saturday before the big day of Draco and Ginny's date. Pansy and I are just so excited! I think we're starting to drive Blaise insane because we've been refraining from going too overboard when Draco's around but as soon as he leaves, we've been channelling our inner fan girls: squealing, laughing, gasping, slapping and high-pitched, fast talking has ensued. Blaise is seriously at the point where he's about to slam mine and Pansy's heads together. I'm not even joking. He's done it before.
Anyway my excitement was a bit dampened because I'd just been asked out again. Now don't get me wrong, it's nice to know that people like you enough to want to try to be something more than friends. But when a girl likes a guy and it's not him who's interested. It's just bloody depressing & annoying. So I am currently stalking through the hallways towards the Great Hall and our usual spot at the Slytherin table. That was about the third guy to ask me out in as many days. And each time I reply with the same 'I'm sorry, there's someone else I like & I'm waiting for them' line.
This latest one's put me in a bad mood though because he then came out and said 'There's no use waiting around for someone. If they want to be in your life, they'll make a way to be in it.' Which of course has the other way of sounding like 'he's just not interested in you. Move on or do something about it.' I may be confident, forward, assertive and assured in most ways, but I have grown up with princess stories practically being my life and there is NO WAY I'm going to ask a guy out. Don't get all feminist on me now, I'm all supportive of girls who do that because that is their decision; they want to do that. I don't. Of course, that then leads to this exact situation I'm currently in, this annoying waiting phase.
I honestly don't think I've ever had to wait so long for a guy to make a move and ask me out. Ever.
Just then my thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Draco, Pansy and Blaise.
"What's up Sera-Bear?" Draco asked, sitting across from me.
"Don't tell," Blaise said from my left. "You turned down another guy today."
I felt my face grimace and knew that they had their answer.
"Geeze, they're getting more persistent, aren't they?" Pansy said from my right.
Draco leaned forward, grabbing some roast chicken and adding it to his plate. "I bet it's because you tell them that you're interested in someone. Now all the poor sods are trying to find out if they're the one that you like."
"This is getting beyond ridiculous!" Pansy said, shaking her head. "I've seen the way he looks at you, he definitely likes you. Maybe he's heard the same thing but thinks that it couldn't be him and doesn't want to be rejected?"
Blaise and Draco's heads shot up from their dinners to look at me. "Wait! Sera likes someone?!" They cried, leaning forward with large eyes on their shocked faces, obviously wanting to know more. And of course everyone within hearing range of their comments then turned to watch as well.
About to quietly continue and give them some hints, it's not as if I'd just blatantly say who I like in front of the whole school, I looked behind Draco and noticed that a specific group of Gryffindors had also heard and had turned to watch the unfolding events. I noticed that Ginny, Colin and Ronald were shooting intermittent looks at Harry when they weren't blatantly eavesdropping on our conversation. Maybe there's something to what Pansy said?
"How could you not tell me you like someone?!" Draco was saying.
"Yeah, you know that we need to interrogate – ah, interview him first." Blaise added, at times he could almost be as protective as Draco was. It was sweet.
Looking right into a pair of emerald green eyes, I cut through the many questions Blaise and Draco were firing off, trying to figure out who it was and Pansy telling them to mind their own business. "Well I certainly hope you're not right, Pansy, because it would be pathetic for someone who was sorted into Gryffindor, house of the noble and brave, to be scared of telling someone how they feel." I raised an eyebrow in a challenging manner. Gryffindors love challenges, right? They can't resist them, right? I could sense Draco and Blaise's heads become part of the multitudes that were flickering between myself and the Lion's table. "Especially," I continued, deciding to make it as obvious as if I did say his name, "if they manage to get themselves into life-threatening situations on a regular basis. What's the worst that could happen? They could be told 'no'? Well guess what, if they never ask, they'll never get a 'yes' either."
And with that I turned my attention back to my dinner. "Pass the salt please, Pansy?"
"After I use some first, hun." She replied, probably the only person who had followed all of that and who wasn't freaking out on some level. One of the reasons I love Pans; she rarely loses her cool. "The elves really have left the seasoning off these potatoes. I wonder if we should pay them a visit later?"
Seriously, I love her. I know that as soon as we get some privacy she is going to want to freak out and shake me and ask what possessed me to do that. But right now? Well, she's just going with it. The perfect mask on to hide the inner emotions.
Just as I was about to take a mouthful of my shepherd's pie, I felt a tap on my shoulder. And turning around I had to school my face not to show my triumphant smirk. Dang but Gryffindors really can't resist a challenge it seems. "Harry, can I help you?"
He visibly swallowed and looked at me in silence for a moment before speaking. "Did you know bravery isn't about having no fears, but rather acting in spite of them?"
"Oh, is that so?" I tilted my head slightly, both of us knowing I was acting and that I wouldn't be helping him in anyway. If this were to go anywhere, it was now entirely down to him.
"Seraphina, would you like to go with me to Hogsmead tomorrow?" He held my gaze and didn't blink.
I slowly smiled. Thank you mother for all those times you were telling me ways to get a guy to act how you want him to. "I'd love to, Harry. Meet you at the Three Broomsticks at eleven?"
"Great!" He grinned, made a slight movement forwards before suddenly stopping, his eyes flickering away from me. He straightened, gave an awkward wave and walked off, back to his friends who were sitting, jaws agape and grinning. The rest of the school broke out in loud conversations, discussing what had just happened while I spun around to see Draco and Blaise expressionlessly watching Harry. It was plain as the sun on a cloudless day that they'd obviously been sending him warning vibes.
Draco turned his attention back to me. I doubt many would be able to read the slight expressions he was giving out, but this is my twin brother we're talking about. I can read him like a book. That slight crease between his brows is because he's annoyed I hadn't told him that I fancied someone. The muscle in his neck that was tensing and relaxing was because the guy was Harry Potter and Draco was fluctuating between being cool and understanding, and years of rivalry screaming out 'no'. And the slight upward quirk of his lips showed that he was amused, but I admit, of what I'm not too sure. "Potter." Draco said. "You like Potter of all people?" And then he started laughing. "Oh this is great! Between the two of us, father's probably in hell having a heart attack and dying all over again, what with you liking Potter and me liking a Weasley! And now I have a justifiable reason for giving Harry Potter hell, I can go all protective brother on him and make sure he treats you right." He smirked at me and I mirrored his smirk.
"You two are going to restore the House of Malfoy back to its proper glory." Blaise added sarcastically, watching our exchange. "But Draco's right. If Potter breaks your heart, we'll break his balls."
"Lovely picture over dinner that, Blaise, thanks." Pansy drawled in a near perfect imitation of Snape. "Now shut up and start being helpful. Now both our babies have dates to prepare for tomorrow."
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"Ginny! Wake up!"
A groan came from the red head's bed. "Shuddup, Mione. It's like, what? Eight? Leave me alone and let me sleep."
"No! I have, in your writing, handwritten permission to wake you up now." Only a mumble was the response that the bushy haired witch got. "Fine. Don't blame me though."
In the silence that followed, a sleepy Ginny was settling back to sleep when her instincts kicked in. Living with Fred and George, everything was screaming at her that it was too quiet. These thoughts however were quickly followed by an ice-cold torrential downpour on the poor girl. Hermione only ended the she spell when she saw that Ginny sit up and scramble to get out of the way.
"Get in the shower while I dry off your bed." Hermione said before Ginny had the chance to yell. "You've got two hours before you're meeting Mal-Draco in the Hall."
"Crud! I forgot about that!"
"Noooo! Really?!" Hermione said sarcastically. "I'll go get some food while you're getting ready." And with that, the older girl walked out with a spring in her step, obviously excited for her friend's date today.
After showering, Ginny settled on doing a little makeup in neutral colours, highlighting her eyes with a coat of mascara and a thin line of eyeliner on her upper lid. She then stood, letting her hair dry naturally into its curls while she had a mini crisis. What the heck was she to wear today? Draco, Sera, Blaise and Pansy always wear new clothes that are fashionable and the majority of which are designer. Plus Ginny had no idea what Draco had planned for them today.
"Please God, don't let it be superficially sappy." Ginny muttered under her breath, thinking that she'd die if they went somewhere like Madame Malkin's. All that pink!
Looking at her clothes, she finally decided to go with an outfit that was a smart-casual look and comfy. She went with black stockings, a cream dress that came to her knees, a thick beige knitted cardigan and a long necklace with a star pendant. Tan boots that came just below her knees and a beige knitted beanie, she pulled her red curls into a messy side braid with lose curls falling out and a pair of star stud earrings. Grabbing a small shoulder bag and her purse, Ginny made her way down to the common room.
It seemed like Hermione had recruited Colin for help with getting breakfast and the two had evidently raided the kitchens. Colin, Hermione, Harry and Ron were gorging themselves on the feast laid out before them on a long rectangular table by some of the windows, overlooking the school grounds. Moving in on the scrambled eggs and bacon, Ginny joined them, sitting on the arm of the chair Harry was occupying.
"So today's the big day, eh?" Colin said. "Everyone's talking about how you guys have dates with Slytherin's hottest siblings. According to James, there are a few bets going around. Sorry to say Harry, but there are quite a few saying that you won't get a kiss today, and even more than that saying Sera won't want a second date. But don't worry, I'm sure they're all just the guys who want to date Sera themselves. You've nothing to worry about."
"Colin, shut up." Ron said, for once swallowing all his food before speaking. He was sending the younger boy an exasperated glare. "Harry's already nervous, can't you tell? He hasn't been this pale and picky over breakfast since his first Quidditch match in first year."
"Ron, not helping." Harry muttered, pulling his hands through his messy hair. He was paler than usual, he'd had the worst night's sleep in years, being kept up thinking about all the things that could go wrong. He could tip juice on Seraphina. Step on her feet. Say something stupid.
"And Gin, I still don't like you going on a date with Malfoy today." Ron said seriously.
"Oh shut up, Ronald." Hermione cut in, stopping him from continuing his mini rant. "It's not like he'll do anything bad. And Ginny can easily protect herself if she needs to."
"Not that it'll come to that." Ginny hastily added, seeing the look her brother had at that.
"Better not." Ron grumbled under his breath but otherwise dropped the subject.
As the Gryffindors made their way down the levels of the castle, to join their dates and all the other students who would be cueing to leave the school grounds, Ginny walked side by side with Harry. She hadn't had the chance to talk to him since he asked Sera out the other day.
"So, what do you have planned for your date, Harry?" Ginny asked, curious as to what Harry had planned and secretly hoping to get some ideas as to what Draco might have planned.
Harry looked at her, a sick parlour on his face. "Honestly, Gin? I got nothing. It's not like I've had time to plan this for weeks like some others have. It was kind of a spur of the moment thing, asking Seraphina out yesterday. I still can't quite believe that I did that. I mean, can I be any more stupid?"
"Evidently yes," Ginny said, as she raised her eyebrows and looked at the boy she knew so well with a mixture of surprise and disappointment. "You're being unimaginably stupid right now by regretting asking her out. Seraphina said yes. You should be happy."
Realizing the point Ginny was trying to make, Harry smiled slightly and he relaxed for the first time since he asked the Slytherin girl out in front of the whole school. "You're right!"
They walked in silence the rest of the way, each lost in their own thoughts. It wasn't until right before they got to the Great Hall that Harry turned to Ginny and said. "Just because I'm happy doesn't mean I'm prepared."
"Just do what you always do when you're thrown in the deep end."
"Which is?"
"Surf. Not drown, not swim, but surf. Come out standing on top. You're a great guy Harry and Seraphina is one of the nicest people out there. I know I asked you what you had planned, but one of the best things a guy can do on a date is make sure the girl enjoys herself. Make some decisions on where to go, but also ask her what she wants to do. Plan it together."
Then the group of Gryffindors entered the crowded room. Ron and Hermione went off with Colin to find Luna and Jasper while Harry and Ginny looked for their dates.
It wasn't that hard to spot them. In the crowds of teenagers, only one group stood with such elegance, poise, and confidence. All four were dressed impeccably. Pansy was in grey jeans; orange top and a cropped black leather jacket, her hair loose and wavy. A gold watch and gold bracelets decorated her wrists and an eye-catching necklace completed the look. Blaise was in blue jeans, fitted white t-shirt, denim shirt over followed by a black zip-up hoodie. Seraphina wore red flats, blue jeans, a light brown blouse with tiny red flowers picked out in it, and a red blazer. Black earrings dangled down, emphasising her elegant neck as her hair was pulled back in a casual, relaxed pony tail. And Draco wore black pants and shoes, with a black fitted jumper, from which the collar of a checked green and blue shirt could be seen around his neck.
Feeling the stares of the entire school, Ginny and Harry made their way over to join them, Pansy noticed them when they were half way over and nudged the others who turned to see.
Ginny stopped in her tracks when Draco moved to meet her half way and pulled from nowhere a single sunflower. "Did you know that the sunflower is so infatuated with the sun that when the sun crosses paths with it, it follows it, unable to look at anything else but its light? It opens up during the day and closes at night, only complete and fulfilled with the sun there."
With anyone else, it would be corny as hell. With Draco Malfoy? Swoons-ville. If this continued, Ginny would be putty in his hands
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The day had been going well. Against Ginny's worries, Draco had not taken a step in the direction of the pink-infested tea house that was infested with couples. In fact, when they had been talking about their favourite and worst places to visit in Hogsmeade, Draco had mentioned that he hated the place and after his first visit to the café, had sworn never to return. Not for anything.
Draco had taken Ginny off the main street and she had to admit to him that she hadn't realised how much of the town she didn't know was there because she and her friends tended to stick to the main street. They ended up browsing a number of boutique shops which Ginny had never known existed. There was a small Quidditch store, where the owner was launching a small, private range of broomsticks which Ginny had drooled over. And in a trinket and gift shop, she saw a set of tea cups that she planned to come back and buy for her mother's birthday.
Lunch was at a quaint tapas restaurant where their meal was filled with light banter, jokes and stories of each other's childhoods. Draco was intrigued to find out how Ginny thought. Growing up with six older brothers, she liked to be independent, demanding, and scornful of 'girly' things. However, the other side of the coin was that she was the only daughter and the youngest sister of a family dominated by males, so she did like to be spoiled, and treated like a princess.
And Draco told about how he grew up with Seraphina, Pansy and Blaise. How they were much closer than friends, and closer than cousins, they were practically siblings. It was basically inevitable considering their parents got them the same tutors so they were schooled together, were forced through the same dull social events, the same absurd expectations of their parents, and the same holidays, and ridiculously over-priced presents from parents.
Now they were finally wandering the main street. Somehow, without Ginny noticing, he had captured her hand in his and she found that she didn't want him to let go. As they neared the fountain that stood in the middle of the square, they crossed paths with Harry and Seraphina who were red in the face and laughing without abandon.
"Sera," Draco said with a smile for his twin. He dropped his smile but kept his face neutral as he faced Harry. "And Potter."
"What've you two been up to?" Ginny asked Seraphina and Harry, curious to know what the two had been up to since the morning had started off with absolutely no idea of what to do to now both laughing uncontrollably.
"Oh, you know. We started off at Zonkos where I bought a few… items-"
"A few!" Harry interrupted with a grin. "You practically sent them bankrupt!"
"Yes, well, when one owns shares in a company, they do their best to eliminate the competition."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, voicing the question that Harry also wondered over.
"Standing here is rather uncomfortable," Draco commented. "How about we go inside somewhere so you can continue?"
"Oooh, yes." Seraphina said before linking arms with Ginny and walking off. "Let's go to that place which does the amazing scones!"
"Thank you." Draco muttered under his breath. "If you're going to start all the girl chatter, I at least want to be seated and have food."
"I know, right?" Harry commented without thought. Causing both males to stop and stare at one another, wondering how they could be having similar thoughts without feeling the need to kill one another.
When they were all seated and Ginny and Sera where detailing how their days had gone, Draco and Harry sat slightly in slight discomfort until Harry broke the silence.
"You know, since Seraphina has arrived this year, the entire school has fallen in love with her."
"I know. And it's good. The rest of you are starting to treat Slytherins as people and not like we're going to kill you just for pleasure."
"Oh come off it, we both know you want to do that."
"Well," Draco said with an evil smirk, "there have to be the exceptions and the truths that begin the rumours."
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Please leave me a review. Even if it's to tell me you hate me for not updating regularly/soon. (Ok, I lie. I don't really want reviews like that… even though they'd be the truth and as such, merited).
My question to you:
Who is your favourite couple between Harry/Seraphina and Draco/Ginny?
Here's a thought, in the next chapter, is the big dramatic scene for our favourite couples.
What do you think will happen?
Will someone be injured? Move away? Propose? Die? Turn into an animal? Be cursed to stay away from their loved one?
Any couples that you want to see? Any breakups, pranks, etc.?