Dear readers, I know this took a long time, and you will probably be unsatisfied (or at least curious) at the end of this chapter, but please, please review. Your opinon matters a lot to me.
Sweet Merlin, Malfoy thought as went from the prefect's bathroom towards the dungeon, he couldn't even walk normally. What had gotten into him? Just leaving like that. He knew he had restraint, but bloody hell, he actually deliberately walked away with an erection so painful it would have to be taken care of. He must have gone completely mad. It wasn't like him to restrain himself so much.
He probably could have persuaded little Weaslette to take care of his problem for him, but it wasn't worth the risk of having her shy away and be prude or whatever a nervous Gryffindor virgin like her would have been. He wasn't too sure how she would react. But it was just a matter of time before she would return the favour.
To be honest he was quite proud of his work today. She had responded better than he could have hoped. Merlin, he never had to work so hard for a girl, but something told him she was worth it.
He noted the dampness and coldness of the dungeons, but it did little to ease his pain. He thought about going to the common room but decided against it. He wasn't in the mood for polite conversation. As he saw Nott approach, he muttered his password and made for his room as quick as he could. He needed a shower.
Malfoy excited the bathroom, a towel around his waist, still damp and definitely more relaxed. His respite however was very short lived as he saw Theodore sprawled on his bed reading a magazine.
"I admit there are many advantages to having one's own room and bathroom." He said turning the magazine clockwise.
"Give me that!" Malfoy growled as he snatched the offensive paper from his hands "I have no idea whatever possessed me to give you my password." If Nott heard him, he gave no notice of it.
"That was a nice long shower. Hope you enjoyed it. You looked a bit stiff when I saw you walking in the corridor. If I didn't know better, I would even have said you were limping. Has someone been rejecting you?" an amused sparkle glittering in his eye. He winked.
So much for subtlety.
"Sod off" he answered as he raked his hand through his still wet hair.
"I don't know why you even bother to act like us mere mortals when you could have any female arse in this house. Hell even some male ones two." He paused a while thinking about what he said while Malfoy was putting a pair of shorts on. "Come to think of it, that's a bit disturbing"
"Whatever! Get out" he answered as he threw the towel back in the bathroom and started picking up his clothes. He had left all of them on the floor as he hurried to the shower.
"So, who is she?" Nott asked matter-of-factly, examining his nails and only just throwing a glance to judge his reaction.
Malfoy froze in midair while tidying the room. "Who?"
"The girl! You know, the one you've been rejecting Pansy for."
"I've always been rejecting Pansy" Malfoy resumed folding his clothes as if discussing the weather.
"Oh come on, you know how girls are. Pansy gloats every morning after. Only when girls are present of course, but Daphne doesn't know how to keep a secret. Well actually she does, but under the proper circumstances you can get any girl to say whatever you want, if you get my meaning" He said wriggling his eyebrow suggestively.
"More than you think" he mumbled
"What's that?" he said pricking up his ear.
"Nothing. Get off my bed; I'm going to sleep now" as he pulled the covers from underneath Nott.
"Fine" Nott answered as he got up "But trust me when I say Pansy isn't going to let go that easily. She kinda got used to all the privileges of dating the Head Boy"
"We never daaaaated" Malfoy said not bothering to stifle his yawn.
"Sleeping with, if you prefer, but to her, it's the same."
The only answer that came was a soft snore. Nott left, only just realising that he had not answered about the girl.
Ginny was thankful for her dreamless sleep. No handsome dark wizard and no Slytherin.
Quidditch practice the next day had been awful. Ron was in a rather foul mood, he had obviously had a row with Hermione, probably over Krum or something stupid. Not only was he cold-shouldering Hermione on the way to the pitch, but it also seemed that Harry had gotten in the middle of their fight and wasn't very detached as he picked up on Ron's mistakes. To be honest, Ron had never played so dreadfully, and seemed to be aware of it, which only heightened his aggressiveness. As they went to the changing room he yelled at some frightened first years, accusing them to block the way to the broom shed.
"Ron you stupid git" Ginny yelled as the girl reduced to tears, very tempted to show off her skills as an accomplished caster of the Bat Bogey Hex. But Harry stepped in before she could even pull out her wand.
"Enough! Ginny, for once, control your temper, and Ron, if you don't stop bullying everyone around you, including your team mates, I'm going to have to kick you off the team." Ginny could not believe it. He was actually shouting at her. "Go to your changing rooms. Now!" he yelled as both of them stayed rooted in place at his outburst.
Ginny fled to her changing room. Something was wrong, she could feel it. Ron was being his normal obnoxious self, but Harry's outburst toward her was very out of character. Sure, the trio often bickered, but never with her.
The rest of the girls had already left. Alone, Ginny started undressing "prats, both of them".
"I couldn't agree more" came an amused voice behind her. "Talk to yourself often?"
Ginny spun around, grabbed her shirt in a futile attempt to cover herself.
"Come now, I've seen you more naked than that" his smirked widened as he approached "In fact", he said grabbing her shirt, "I think you're a little to dress for what I intend"
"And what exactly do you intend?" She asked as coldly as she could, resisting. She knew he was going to win in the end but she would not give him the satisfaction of being easy. Besides, she liked being seduced.
"What do you think?" he was much too close, yet still a little far. He started nibbling her ear.
"With you, I always imagine the worse." Her voice seemed a little hoarse, even to her.
"And what would the worse be?" His hands were cool against her heated and damp skin. She felt them snaking around her waist, unhooking her bra.
"Not yet!" She said shoving his hands away. She wanted him to try little harder. This was too easy.
"You don't mean it" his tone was still playful, but his hands had left her.
"Oh but I do" she said rehooking her bra.
"Drop the act Ginevra!" She could feel that he wasn't playing anymore, but she didn't see how she could 'drop the act' without losing her dignity as well.
"It's not an act" Her words didn't even seem convincing to her. "I'm not ready"
"So you want me to leave?"
"Yes I do" No she didn't.
"Very well then, I'm leaving"
And true to his word, he turned around and made for the door.
"Fine" She said to his retreating form. She couldn't stop herself. "You can stay"
Malfoy stopped dead in his tracks but didn't turn around. "Do you want me to stay?"
Ginny bit her lips. "Yes" she whispered barely audible. But she knew he'd heard her.
"Well, unfortunately, I don't have the time to seduce you from scratch today, so you know where to find me when you ARE ready."
And without another word he left. Ginny was dumbstruck. That was the one thing she had not expected.
But her shock would have turned into anger could she have seen the smirk on his face.
As Draco walked towards the castle, he wondered if he was stupid or simply crazy. He finally decided he was a genius. She would soon be eating out of the palm of his hand. Oh yes. She would come to him.
She would NOT go to him!!!!! Who did he think she was? Some sort of needy tramp? Hell, who did he think he was?
She had thought of little else throughout the day. And still her anger hadn't reduced. After all, he came to her, not the opposite! Why should she seek him out?
"Humph"
Of all the nerves. She walked furiously. No one had ever humiliated her this way. She was done with him. Done!!! He could go to hell for all she cared. He was probably going to end up there anyhow she thought ironically. She had never met anyone so… so… evil! Well Tom didn't count. He wasn't human after all. Well maybe a bit, but he still didn't count!
She was a bit breathless from all her rapid pacing. Her stride usually matched the speed of her thoughts. She stopped to catch her breath and leaned against the wall for support.
"Arrogant bastard!!" She said between two gulps of air.
"Hum hum" a rusty and very deep voice interrupted her thoughts.
For the first time, Ginny paid attention to her surroundings. She didn't recognize this end of the castle, but the dampness and coldness did not reassure her.
"Do you have the password?" came the strange voice again.
Ginny looked up. She was in front of a blank wall. She had never been here, but she knew from Ron that it was such a wall that guarded the entrance to the Slytherin common room.
She had a dreadful feeling. And sure enough, to her left was the portrait of a silver dragon guarding the way to what she assumed was the Head Boy's room.
"You must be kidding me." It was like her feet had dragged her there of their own volition. Even her feet disagreed with her. Since when had her body stopped obeying her?
Since, it had started to be corrupted by him. Oh she didn't know what to do. She knew she should leave at once, and never think of him again. But some part of her told her to just swallow her pride and play whatever game he wanted to play. It seemed she stayed hours in front of the impatient dragon torn between common sense and curiosity of what could be.
She must have hesitated just a little too long. For just around the corner a group of seventh year Slytherins appeared coming back from dinner.
"Wait a minute!" the deep voice of the Dragon startled her "Come to think of it, I did have specific instructions to let a red-headed girl in. Would you consider yourself red-headed?"
Ginny panicked. The group was coming toward her and would very soon notice her.
"Yes yes, I'm red-headed Mr Malfoy asked me to come."
"Very well young lady." He swung open. Ginny quickly climbed through. As the portrait closed however, she heard him say. "Have fun!"
Have fun? She should have guessed. Getting in had been too easy. Apparently, this dragon was used to letting girls in Malfoy's room. Surely she wasn't the first. And nor would she be the last!
It soon occurred to her that this was a very very bad idea. He was Malfoy for goodness' sake. As soon as the Slytherins disappeared, she would leave. Hopefully the dragon wouldn't say anything to Malfoy and none would be the wiser.
Ginny stuck her ear to the back of the portrait. She heard them enter their common room. She waited a few minutes to make sure, then reached for the handle.
"What the…?" It was locked! An awful feeling crept in her stomach. She started banging on the panel.
"Excuse me Mr Dragon Sir, I'd like to leave!"
"I am very sorry miss" came the now hated voice "I also had specific instructions not to let you out before Mr Malfoy arrives! This is actually the first time he's asked this of me."
"WHAT? You can't be serious." Her banging became frantic. "You're not allowed to do this. Let me out. I warn you, the headmaster will hear of this!"
The dragon let out a chuckle which resembled more a rumble. "I highly doubt that! How would you explain you're being here in the first place?"
Ginny couldn't believe it. He was right of course, but still. If Dumbledore knew about this…
It seemed, she was stuck in here. Everyone knew an opening charm couldn't work on portraits, but she still pulled out her wand and gave it a try.
She wasn't very surprised when it didn't work. She did however hear the Dragon let out an enormous sigh. From the heat she felt, she supposed it must have been accompanied by a few flames.
She had to find a way out. Ginny ran to the nearest window. By the fading light, she guessed diner would nearly be over by now. It was locked of course, and with very low expectations she murmured "Alohomora".
To her surprise, it did unlock. Ginny pulled it opened, only to find herself facing a stone wall. Ginny touched it to see if it was real. Sadly, it was very real indeed, and very wet.
"Stupid!" she muttered, hitting her forehead. "I'm in the Dungeons!! Underground! Those windows must be charmed to show the same thing normal windows would."
Ginny found that speaking to herself during times of crisis helped her think straight. She brought her wet hand back to her face and smelled it.
"Ewww!" it smelled of ooze. Quickly, she closed the window and wiped her hand on the bed covers.
For the first time, Ginny paid attention to her surroundings. The room looked very much like what could be expected. The covers and the curtains were a deep dark green. The handles, lamps, in fact anything metallic was silver. The desk however didn't look like any other at Hogwarts. It was much too fancy. She moved the books from it and could see what she guessed was a Malfoy crest carved into the wood. It was a giant M with a dragon standing on it, its tail woven around it, breathing fire.
Ginny rolled her eyes. What was it with the Malfoys and dragons?
Apart from the desk, everything was neat and tidy. She should have expected it of course, Malfoy wouldn't settle for anything less than perfect. He probably had a few house elves tidy up twice every day.
Try as she might, Ginny couldn't see any way out. In a last attempt, she knocked on the back of the portrait.
"Excuse me, but I really need to go to the loo. Please let me out!"
Another chuckle! "Nice try young Lady, but there is a bathroom in here. Right besides the wardrobe. You may even take a shower if you feel the need."
Ginny turned around, and headed for the bathroom and stopped to examine it. It was exactly the same as the one that had appeared in the room of requirements, the night after… Well, the first night. In fact, now that she thought about it, the whole room was the same, but it had been red and gold instead of green and silver. Malfoy must have programmed the room to look like this one.
Ginny went to wash her hands. The bath tub looked tempting, but there was no way she would undress when Malfoy could appear at any given minute. As she washed her hands, the awful smell disappeared and was replaced by the very fresh and (she had to admit) virile small of the soap. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply until she realised it actually smelled like him.
No matter how much she hated him, Ginny had to admit that Malfoy was good at this little cat and mouse game. He had definitely out witted her today. Of course, he would think that she had come here of her one free will, which was only partly true, but still, the result was the same. He had her at his mercy and although the prospect should terrify her, she couldn't really suppress the many butterflies in her stomach at the thought of what he would do next.
Ginny rinsed her hands, went back into the room, sat in the very comfortable chair and pulled out her Muggle studies book. She plunged her nose in it and began reading…
A few hours later, or at least what seemed like a few hours, Ginny yawned. A lot of time had passed and Malfoy hadn't come to free her. Ginny threw an envious glance towards the bed.
She narrowed her eyes and threw a mean look at the inanimate bed.
"You know, it's not nice to tempt people like that when they are trying to do the right thing. And I'm telling you, Malfoy's bed, sneaking under your covers is definitely not the right thing to do!"
The bed didn't answer.
She could however hear the dragon giggling.
"Who knew dragons could giggle in such a girly way?" She asked aloud.
A satisfied smile appeared on her face as she heard the dragon coughing than grumbling.
Ginny shifted. As comfortable as the chair was (she guessed he had also brought this from home) she had developed a crick in her neck and a was well on her way to form cramps. Plus there was no way of knowing when Malfoy would be back, so she might as well catch up on her sleep a bit. But then again, what would happen if Malfoy found her in his bed?
Eventually, Ginny lost the battle against herself (or won, depending on one's point of view) and soon found herself crawling under the soft covers. As her head hit the pillow, she let out a blissful sigh. Her last coherent thought before falling asleep was that now that the cat had caught the mouse, this little game would very soon end. One way or another.
The next chapter will be up shortly (hopefully)! What do you think? Should they finally do it? Because I still haven't made up my mind yet!