Real Love
Chapter 2: Wind It Up
Disclaimer: not mine
A/N: here's a little more.
You've got to let the beat get under your skin
You've got to open up and let it all in
But, see, once it gets in the popping begins
Then you find out why all the boys stare
-Wind It Up, Gwen Stefani
Ginny exited the Great Hall and made her way towards the infirmary. From just one day of classes Ginny knew that the school year was going to be a joke. With Professor Snape not at school while he was working as a full time spy for the Order, potions had reverted to an elementary level in the care of the substitute teacher. Anyone with any useful knowledge of defense was off helping the cause, leaving no one suitable to truly teach DADA. Divination had always been a joke and Muggle Studies and Divination had always been a breeze for her.
Entering the hospital wing Ginny peered into the soldier ward and found that several of the beds were occupied. She went into Madame Pomfrey's office and put down her books before pulling out her uniform to change into.
Halfway through the previous year, as the size of the war had begun to swell Ginny had played a large role in making the Hogwarts infirmary a hospital for those fighting. The local hospital's couldn't handle in the influx of injuries and illnesses, and small treatment facilities had been opening in places all over England. Ginny had come up with the idea of making Hogwarts one when Charlie had been injured and ended up being sent quite a distance away for treatment for lack of space anywhere close to home. Student volunteers had been one of the only solutions to staffing the ward, and Ginny was the first to volunteer.
"How was your summer Ginny?" Madame Pomfrey greeted her when she exited the office and met the woman out in the ward.
"Alright."
"We've got three tonight."
Ginny nodded. "I saw them on my way in."
"One broken leg and the other just has a bad flu."
"And the third?"
"Physical deterioration from the cruciatus," Madame Pomfrey sighed. "I gave him something for the pain and a vial sleeping potion. He seems to be of good mental health but physically…the pain must simply be…I don't expect him to wake but I want you to come find me if he does."
"Of course," Ginny agreed, peeling her eyes from the sleeping man. She hadn't even realized she'd been staring at him.
Ginny dipped the soft cloth into the basin of cool water, singing softly to herself as she pressed it to the young man's warm forehead. The potion Madame Pomfrey had given him was working to bring his fever down, but Ginny always found that the human touch often brought the most comfort to a restless sleeper.
"Who would have thought? A weasel that can sing," a voice came from behind Ginny as her song ended.
"Students aren't supposed to be back here Malfoy," Ginny told him.
"Pomfrey told me to come see you."
Ginny frowned.
"She also told me to tell you she had to go meet a patient at the school gates."
"Oh," Ginny whispered. Rarely did anyone Madame Pomfrey went to meet make it through the night. "Well what do you need?" she stood and went to the sink to empty the basin of water.
"Dreamless Sleep Potion," he told her.
Ginny couldn't help herself from eyeing the Slytherin. Why on earth would he need dreamless sleep potion? She resisted the urge to tease him, but compromised that one day she'd share the story with Ron.
"Do you work here a lot Weasley?" Was that embarrassment she heard in his voice?
"Three or four nights a week and Sundays. And once a month I work a midnight shift."
"Have to work off that tuition somehow."
Ginny's jaw fell a little. She'd just spared him the humiliation of needing a potion to block out nightmares, and now he was making fun of her. Ginny hastily threw open the medicine cabinet, hoping maybe it would swing open far enough to smash the boy in the face. Rows of small glasses lined the bottom shelf and Ginny selected one. Scanning the bottles Ginny frowned, unable to locate the one she was searching for.
"Top right Weasley," Malfoy directed her.
"Thank y…" She was interrupted by the cry of pain that rang from behind her. She turned and found the cruciatus patient awake, thrashing violently. The glass in her hand went crashing to her feet and Ginny rushed to the man's side.
"Petrificus Totalus!" She cried.
His sounds of pain and discomfort as he struggled for release, sent waves of guilt through Ginny.
"Shhh," She stroked the side of the man's face with one hand, distracting him while her other hand rummaged through her apron. "I'll fix it," she promised.
"Are you sure you want to help that one Weasley?" Malfoy asked her as she worked. "He's got a bad spot." Draco's eyes shifted to the man's left forearm.
"He's still a person Malfoy. A tattoo doesn't change that," she replied coolly.
From her apron Ginny took a small syringe that she gently stuck into the man's arm. The potion quickly took effect and his struggle finally ceased.
"There you go," Ginny said leaning over him. "Want me to take that charm off now?" she offered. "Finite Incantateum."
Before she could bat an eye the man's muscular arm flung out and his fist struck her face, sending her flying into the wall. She heard the thud as her head hit the wall
and she fell to the floor. From his lack of movement Ginny knew the patient had fallen back to sleep.
Ginny groaned and rubbed the back of her head. She felt as though she'd taken a bludger to the head.
"Are you alright Weasley?" Draco stood before her. She nodded and accepted the hand up he offered her. Silently she thanked him and took a step forward. She faltered slightly as the room spun around her.
"Whoa Weasley." Ginny was surprised to find him reach around and place a steadying hand her back. "Maybe you should sit down." His gray eyes, laced with concern, stared into hers. Ginny's knees buckled beneath her and Malfoy's strong hands gripping her waist were suddenly the only reason she was still standing.
"Okay Weasley. Let's get you to a bed."
"No. No. I'm fine," she insisted although she wasn't sure she was. "I just stood up too fast." Malfoy seemed dubious but Ginny pushed his hands from her and headed for the medicine cabinet. While she was still woozy, she was able to walk with little difficulty. She took a new glass from the cabinet and poured Malfoy a dose of the purple potion.
"Thanks," he said as she handed it to him. "Cheers!" he toasted her before downing the dose.
"What happened here?" Madame Pomfrey exclaimed as she came in the room. The glass Ginny had dropped was still scattered across the floor and the contents of the patient's night table had been sent flying during his fit.
"He woke up, but I took care of it," Ginny managed, clutching her head. Madame Pomfrey's shrill voice was been like daggers to her brain.
"But not without getting knocked into the wall with his fist," Malfoy commented.
Ginny's jaw dropped at the outing. She scowled.
"Oh dear! Are you alright? How's your head? Are you dizzy at all?"
"No," Ginny interjected quickly.
"Was it just my good looks that made you weak in the knees then Weasley?"
That was all that needed to be said. Ginny found herself being whisked away and placed in a bed next to the one Malfoy's robe was draped over.
"I'll be back with something for that head in just a moment dear. Oh and I do hope your face doesn't swell too much. I can see the bruises forming already." Madame Pomfrey ran off in the other direction.
Ginny took the opportunity to glower at Malfoy as he hopped up onto his bed and stretched out, folding his hands behind his head.
"Nice going Malfoy," Ginny wrestled with the rough bed sheets. They were uncomfortable even by her standards
"Wouldn't want something bad to happen to you would I Weasley? At least not on my watch." He yawned. "I thought Pomfrey was going to get a patient." He seemed to suddenly recall the fact.
"Dead I assume," Ginny was blunt.
"You seem pretty torn up about that Weasley," he accused facetiously.
"It's hard enough caring about that people who do make it here. I couldn't handle crying over the ones who don't." Ginny's own honesty surprised her.
"Why do you bother caring so much anyway?"
"Because they're fighting for what I believe in, and when they're here I'm all they have."
"The one that gave you that headache isn't fighting for what you believe in."
Ginny paused, suddenly wondering why Malfoy was having this conversation with her. Since when was he interested in her life and values? Since when was he interested in anything that wasn't himself? Malfoy, who'd been then bane of her family since he came to Hogwarts seven years before. Malfoy who walked around with such an air of arrogance and contempt.
"But he's a person," she suddenly whispered. She stared at the boy next to her a moment longer than she probably should have before adding, "I guess I hope that if I can see that, that anyone can, and that if my brothers or Harry ever end up in the care of a woman on the other side, she'd do the same for them."
Malfoy stared back at her, making her uncomfortable until he finally laughed. "Good luck with that Weasley."
At some point during the night Ginny awoke to hushed charms being whispered above her. She kept her eyes shut as his voice cast the spells over her. She didn't remember falling back asleep but when she opened her eyes in the morning Malfoy was gone, and so were the bruises on her face.
"Are you coming to the prefects meeting tonight Ginny?" Hermione asked her as they sat down for breakfast.
Ginny groaned the reminder. A prefects meeting wasn't exactly her idea of a Saturday night.
"I know," Hermione comforted. "I have a lot of school work to do too, but it won't be very long. I promise."
Ginny stared at her friend, hoping Hermione might laugh, or wink, or give some sort of indication that she was joking. Only Hermione would be so out of touch to think that Ginny was concerned about homework.
Hermione had as much worked things out with Ginny, as she had simply moved on and resumed speaking with her. Ginny had let it go as well, but had decided not to mention anything of her encounter with Malfoy to the head-girl. While she was sure the strange night was meaningless, and she hadn't seen the boy since, Ginny didn't want to get into anymore fights with Hermione, and she didn't particularly wish to give any more thought to the annoying Slytherin. She'd be perfectly content not seeing him for the rest of the year. This would prove difficult however, seeing that as head boy he would certainly be at the prefects meeting that night.
Ginny sighed, angry that as they often did lately, her thoughts had turned to Draco Malfoy. "Yeah Hermione. I'll be there."
After dropping her books in her room and shedding her robes, sweater, and tie, Ginny trudged her way to Professor McGonagall's classroom, where the meeting was being held. She entered and found that Hermione had arranged all the chairs in a circle. Hermione was standing outside the circle chatting with several other seventh years, and the new fifth year prefects were all seated together facing the front of the classroom.
Ginny took a seat on the side of the classroom and wondered how long it would take for everyone to get there.
A loud "Boo!" sounded and she watched Blaise Zabini make several of the fifth years jump from their seats.
"Play nice Zabini, or I'll dock you points," a familiar sarcastic drawl followed. Ginny looked the way of the voice and found Malfoy's meeting her own.
"Shouldn't you be off singing lullabies to sick people Weasley?" he asked as he walked by her.
"Shouldn't you be off getting something for your bad dweams?" she shot back, pouting her lower lip as she spoke.
Draco scowled and Ginny felt triumphant. Blaise howled with laughter and sat down beside her.
"Now that's my kind of woman," he approved.
"I'm flattered you'd put me in such an exclusive group of anything with a vagina," Ginny pretended to swoon.
Malfoy snickered.
"You don't want that one Zabini, you need em dumb and mute."
Ginny could feel Hermione's eyes on her. She was clearly not pleased to see the Slytherin boys hanging around her.
"Maybe she's more your type then Malfoy," Blaise offered.
"Poor, Gryffindor, and Weasley. I think I'll write mum."
Ginny rolled her eyes at his cheap shots and Malfoy turned away to find his seat at the front of the room beside Hermione.
Perhaps it was the power he had to evoke fear out of any student that crossed his path that was the reasoning behind making Malfoy head boy. There was no denying that there were very few people that would cross the prince of Slytherin. Whether they were scared of what he would do to them, or hoping for a chance to get close to the boy that girls longed to be with, people simply didn't get in his way.
"Alright. Is everyone here?" Hermione began the meeting. "Good! Well I'd like to start off by welcoming everyone to what is going to be a great year. Now we're going to meet twice a month this year, every other Saturday, unless we let you know otherwise. Also, as usual each of you will have patrolling duties once a week, but this year, in order to promote inter-house relations, you'll be paired with someone from another house."
"I found my partner," Blaise announced, clapping Ginny on the back.
"Partners will be assigned at random," Hemione told him sternly, "And will be kept within years."
"Well then maybe I'll get lucky and get paired with you Granger."
"Sorry Blaise but I already have the pleasure or being paired with Draco."
"Lucky me," Malfoy commented.
"Another new objective this year is that every sixth year will be responsible for organizing a school event. This will give the headmaster something concrete to look at when selecting the head boy and girl for next year. The project will have to follow a set of approved criteria, but if you're having any trouble with an idea just come to Draco or me, and we'll be more than happy to help you."
"Estatic."
"Does anyone have any questions about that?"
Ginny raised her hand and Hermione nodded in acknowledgement.
"Does my work in the hospital count?"
"Sorry Ginny but it doesn't really fit the criteria, wonderful as it is."
Ginny sighed disappointed and annoyed.
"But I have gotten the ball rolling on a project that I think would be just perfect for you."
Uh-oh.
"Which actually leads me to my next topic for tonight. I was approached by several students who think that the perfect way to get the year started, and to get everyone into better spirits would be a back to school celebration of sorts."
"We already have one of those," Blaise grinned. Ginny could feel the excitement radiating off of him.
"One that everyone is welcomed to attend?" Hermione questioned.
"Everyone that matters," he shrugged.
"As a prefect I would expect you be smart enough to know that everyone matters."
"As head girl I'd expect you to be smart enough to know that everyone's equal bullshit they feed you your first year isn't true," Blaise countered.
Hermione rolled her eyes and continued on. Blaise chuckled beside Ginny.
"Anyway, we thought the perfect way to celebrate would to be to hold a ball."
"A ball?" Ginny exclaimed. "What does that have to do with me?"
"We'll your such a good organizer I thought that you could be in charge. I spoke with Dumbledore and he agreed to let the profits be used to help fund hospital wards like the one you started here."
"What would I have to do?" Ginny was finding it hard to mask her reluctance.
"Well I've already set up the basics: time, date, rules."
"I thought you wanted me to plan this."
"Oh I do! I just thought you might be more willing if you had a little bit of a platform to start on."
"Can I have help with this or…?"
"Of course you can! I thought we could go over some plans now, and then form a committee of anyone that's interested in helping."
Ginny slumped in her seat, disappointed in herself as she said, "Sounds great."
"Well the theme actually came to me when I was trying to decide on the best date to hold the ball. Since we've never held a ball like this, I really didn't have anything to go off of. But muggles have traditional school ball called a Homecoming. Don't you think that would be a perfect theme Ginny?"
"Muggles?" she raised an eyebrow, unsure.
"A muggle Homecoming," Hermione corrected.
"Don't even bother answering that Weasley; I'm vetoing the suggestion.
'Oh what grounds?" Hermione's head whipped around to face the head-boy.
"On the grounds that it discourages an entire house from attending your little party. You said yourself that everyone is supposed to be welcomed."
"If you're referring to your house's disdain for muggles Malfoy, then I don't feel that people's ignorance towards other cultures is our responsibility. If Slytherin should choose not attend it would be because of their own preferences and not because they aren't perfectly welcomed."
"It fairly obvious that you don't desire Slytherin attendance when you choose a theme that you're perfectly aware will not fail to be unpopular."
"Well maybe your house could learn something about unfair prejudices from all of this."
"Are you trying to throw a ball Granger, or make a political statement?"
"Fine then, let's vote." Hermione confidence irritated her. "All in favor of a different theme raise your hand."
All of the Slytherins and several Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs who refused to let house loyalties influence their diplomatic opinion, raised their hands.
Ginny had to admit that Malfoy's objections made sense. While she certainly didn't approve of Slytherin's hatred for all things muggle, a ball wasn't an appropriate way to call them on it. Hoping to slide under the radar, Ginny didn't vote either way.
"A tie? But that's impossible. We have an odd number of members." Hermione frowned when she finished tallying the votes.
"Weasley didn't vote." Ginny silently cursed the boy as he spoke.
" Oh! Well then homecoming theme it is then." Hermione smiled triumphantly.
"How do you know that's how she wanted to vote Granger?"
"Of course that's what she wanted. It is isn't it Ginny?"
Everything inside her told her to reject Hermione and her theme. She hadn't liked it to begin with and Malfoy's arguments had only made it seem worse; however, Ginny failed to find it in herself to vote against her best friend, and with Malfoy.
A silent nod sealed the deal.
"Aw, I'm disappointed in you Ginger," Blaise whispered in her ear. Ginny looked up and expected to see a smiling brunette and a brooding blond looking back at her. Instead the latter smirked at her, as if showing his satisfaction in knowing how she had truly wanted to vote.
It was nearly eleven when Ginny the meeting was finally adjourned and Ginny wandered out of the classroom, barely awake. The entire night had consisted of Hermione and Malfoy arguing about the ball.
The ball.
Ginny never wanted to hear those two words again, and yet somehow she was going to be in charge of it all.
"Ginny wait up!" Hermione's voice called from behind. When she caught up she smiled at Ginny apologetically. "I'm sorry. I didn't think things would go on that long. I wasn't exactly planning on fighting with Malfoy all night."
"Then why did you plan a muggle themed dance for the same weekend as the bash?"
"It's not my problem if Malfoy hate muggles, and the bash is an outdated tradition that frankly I can't believe the professors are still willing to just overlook. Its highly irresponsible and I wouldn't be surprised if it gets shut down this year."
"I don't remember you being so negative about the bash when you got your invitation last year." Ginny could feel her patience waning.
" I was immature, and excited to be invited without being a seventh year."
"Are you sure? Or was it because it wasn't Slytherin's year to host?"
"Why do you care so much about the bash anyway Ginny? It's not like you're going to be invited."
" How do you know?" Ginny challenged, even though she knew perfectly well she would in fact not be invited this year.
"Oh sorry I forgot that you and Malfoy are best mates now. Don't think I didn't see your little exchanges tonight. I'm telling you Ginny, whatever is starting up between you and Draco Malfoy has to stop right now."
Ginny stopped walking. Her patience was gone.
"First off, nothing is going on between me and Draco Malfoy. Secondly, even if there was something going on, what on earth makes you think you have any authority over what I do. You're not my brother and just because he's not here doesn't mean you get to step in. I could let Draco Malfoy fuck me up against the wall you two share and there's not a damn thing you could do about it Hermione Granger, so just stay the hell out of my business."
Hermione glowered when Ginny finished her speech before storming away.
Ginny let out a breathe she hadn't realized she'd been holding and felt the tension in her body disappear. Lashing out at Hermione had felt so good that even the amused chuckling she heard behind her failed to rile her up again.
"You'd let me fuck you Weasley? I think it'd be the other way around."
"In your dreams Malfoy," Ginny replied, walking away.
"Precisely why I'm trying to forget them" he called after her.
Ginny grinned, as she just kept walking.
Draco watched her, unfazed by his contest, saunter away from him. She was so different from any of her brothers. She had the Weasley temper that he had used against Ron Weasley more time that he could count; only unlike the rest of her family, she knew how to control it. She had the Weasley hair, but on her it was stunning. She had the stubbornness of her older brother, but the wit and confidence to turn her brother's worst flaw, into her sexiest trait.
Draco could help but grin when, while watching the Weasley girl disappear down the corridor, he realized that little did she know, he would gladly take her up against the wall of his quarters.