Real Love

Chapter 4: La Complainte de la Butte

Disclaimer: not mine

A/N: So I hope you all are liking this so far. Let me know by reviewing if you want! Also, someone mentioned it, and I just wanted to say that while in this story so far Hermione is very cold, in general in canon and fanon I am a Hermione fan. I've written two fics that revolve around her (though only one is fully posted), but I felt like in this story, she plays a really important role by being this way and so she is. Haha.

Et voila qu'elle trotte la lune qui flotte, la princesse aussi
La da da da da da da da da da
Mes reves epanouis
Les escaliers de la butte sont durs aux misereux
Les ailes du moulin protegent les amoureux

-La Complainte de la Butte, Rufus Wainwright

"Malfoy is up to something," Hermione said to Ginny at breakfast a few weeks after the ball.

"What makes you say that?" Ginny asked, though thoroughly uninterested.

"Just look at him," Hermione nodded towards the Slytherin table.

Draco was sitting at the end of the table, silently eating with Blaise.

"Wow, someone better warn that biscuit…"

Hermione scowled. "Be serious Ginny. I know Malfoy, and he's definitely up to something."

"You know him? Talk about being serious Hermione…" Ginny didn't finish her breakfast. Instead she stood up and left her friend at the table.

Hermione had been getting worse and worse. After the ball all she could talk about was how Malfoy had made such a scene with Ginny just for her going ahead with the auction, which he too had opposed, and how she wouldn't have dance with him if he'd bid all the money in his estate.

Not being near Hermione was quickly becoming the only way that Ginny could stand her.

Draco watched her leave the Great Hall in a fuss. He needed to talk to her, but Granger had been watching him like a hawk, and watching Ginny even closer. He should have cast a silencing spell the night Snape had come to visit him, but he hadn't planned on arguing, because he hadn't planned on involving her. Draco's head ached. He still didn't like the idea of involving her, and still fought with the decision that she was the only one who could do it. With any luck, she'd turn him away.

"Cheer up now! She'll realize what a prince charming you are one of these days."

Draco scowled at Blaise.

"I need to come by my room tonight, after curfew."

"No. I told you no more booty calls Draco Malfoy. If this is how you're going to treat me…"

Draco tuned the boy out, too tired to deal with Blaise's antics, but knew he'd be there.

She hadn't talked to him since their encounter, so it was quite a surprise when Ginny found Draco waiting from outside the infirmary when she got off of her shift that night. There were only minutes remaining before curfew. She let the tall heavy door clunk shut behind her before addressing him.

"Malfoy?"

"Shh," he hushed her. "I need to talk to you."

"I don't have time Malfoy. Let's just let the past…"

"It's about Potter," he whispered harshly. "Meet me out front of the castle."

He left before Ginny could say anything else. Her heart raced at the thought of news about Harry. Ginny debated whether she should go back to the tower first. Hermione was surely waiting for her to get back, and would be a headache to deal with in the morning, but she'd never let Ginny leave the tower alone once she was there. She didn't want to risk the chance of being stuck there or having Hermione following her, and headed straight towards the front of the school. The walk to the front entrance of the school had never felt longer, and she nearly broke out into a run on her way.

"No time to waste when it comes to precious Potter huh?" Ginny heard from behind her, she had rushed right past him. He positioned himself in a shadowed nook along the wall, just outside the castle doors.

"Where is he?" she asked, ignoring his words. It was all that mattered.

"I don't know." Ginny's heart sank. "But I know where he'll be tomorrow night.

He's going to be in Hogsmead."

Elation ran through her and she threw her arms around the boy standing in front of her.

"Is Ron with him? I'll have to go meet them… We can get them back to the castle and…"

"Ginny. This isn't good news. I know because the Death Eater know." He gave her a meaningful; all her joy collapsed and was reborn as fear.

"What can I do?" Ginny knew now that he needed her for something, and she was willing to do anything.

Draco scratched the brown facial hair that now adorned his face. He felt filthy. Never had such cheap fabric touched his skin, and never had his hair been so horrendously greasy. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Blaise doing the same inspection in the large mirror above his dresser. The other boy was completely unrecognizable. Not a soul would ever suspect a Slytherin to take on such a grubby appearance. Or so he dearly hoped.

There was a rap on the door.

"Its me," Ginny's voice called.

Blaise moved for the door and opened it to allow in a cloaked figure who rushed inside the room. Once the door shut behind her she pulled back her hood and dropped the cloak to the ground.

Draco felt a small panic when Ginny exposed herself. Blue eyes and blonde hair, every inch of her was different and still he would have known her in a moment. He looked to Blaise who didn't seem to have the same problem.

"Unbelievable," the boy took a circle around her.

"You look nice too. You could almost pass for a Weasley," Ginny commented on Blaise's auburn locks. He scowled at her and ran his hand through his long hair for the thousandth time.

"Are you ready?" Draco ended things there. It was too late for him to second-guess their plan now. Ginny silently nodded. She was fidgeting with nervousness. He approached her, bringing his face close to hers.

"Are you sure you can handle this?"

"Yes," she looked him in the eye, and he knew she was serious.

"Ok. Here are you're flowers. This one," he pointed to the one on the far left of the bunch, "is the port key. Don't forget. Remember, Blaise first, then them, then Harry, and then me." Ginny nodded. He knew she knew. They'd gone over the plan a hundred times. "Everything's going to be fine."

He grabbed her cloak from the floor and draped in around her. Her satiny red dress hung to her curves exceedingly well and Blaise still hadn't wiped the dopey grin off his face.

It had been twelve minutes since Draco had gone into the pub, Blaise had gone in shortly before him and Ginny was ready to make her entrance. Shrugging one of her thin dress straps off her shoulder, she took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy oak door. The pub was dark and smoky. Her heels clicking on the stone floor was the loudest noise in the quiet room. A few men were at the bar; Draco was at the end. Only three tables were occupied. Blaise was nursing a drink at one, while Snape sat with three other death eaters Ginny did not recognize at another. In the corner, a hooded figure sat in the shadows. Ginny resisted the desire to run to him as she sauntered over to Blaise.

"A sickle for a rose sir?" she bent over his table seductively.

"Nice tits Gin," he said lowly, however he sneered as he spoke and waved her away.

"You're loss," she smiled and slid away. The death eaters, had yet to notice her, so it was up to her to make her presence known. She approached the men, huddled tightly together around the small wooden table.

"Good evening gentlemen," she smiled and narrowed her eyes, placing her hand on the back of one's chair.

"Can we help you?" they're conversation came to a quick end and they sat up, their focus now on her.

"I was hoping maybe I could help you," she eyed the man sitting across from her, "A rose for your lady sir?"

"That all you're selling?" he replied.

"Well that depends on what you have to offer," she started towards him puffing her chest out. He began to stand and Ginny was suppressing the repulsion that was sweeping through her when Snape pushed him back into his seat. She never thought she could feel such love for the slimy teacher.

"That's enough of this. Be on your way, we don't require the services you offer," he remarked sternly. Ginny smiled brazenly and tossed a rose into the lap of the man who had spoken to her, and turned towards the corner.

Harry tried to pretend that he hadn't seen her coming his way, but she knew that he had. He looked horrible. Dark circles rimmed his eyes and his pale face was sporting disheveled beard. Every second seemed like an hour as Ginny wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around Harry and take him away.

"No thank you," he said politely as she reached him.

She ignored him and laid the rose in front of him. Leaning far over the splintering wooden table she pressed her bosom close to the face and whispered, "Wait five minutes, then use this to get out Harry. They know." She looked him in the eye for only a moment before moving on her way.

"Ginny?" she heard him whisper. She didn't hesitate, and he was smart enough not to come after her. Ginny now approached the last man in the bar whom she had to speak with. The brunette's drink was now mostly ice and he absently traced the rim of the glass with his finger.

"Can I interest you in a rose sir?" she struggled to keep up the act any longer.

He lowered his head to her ear. "You're perfect." Ginny smirked despite his sincerity, and headed for the door where Draco's finger directed her to wait.

Draco turned away from Ginny quickly and waved for the bartender to settle his tab. She had been flawless and Draco felt foolish for ever doubting her capacity to pull it off. He walked past Blaise on his way out and was pleased to see that Blaise had timed his meal perfectly and was nearly done eating. He would be able to leave soon without raising a brow.

He found Ginny outside leaning against the wall where they had separated before. Her closed eyes flew open as the pebbles of the ally shuffled noisily below his feet. When she saw it was him she closed them again taking in a deep breath. He stepped forward to wipe away the tears that were slowly escaping her eyes but was stopped when she ferociously removed them herself. She looked up at him, and gave a sad smile. "Thank you," she told him. He simply nodded in return. He knew she had to be struggling to keep herself this together. Harry had looked horrible, and Draco had even found himself feeling sorry for the boy hero.

The silence was broken when Blaise finally met back up with them.

"Brilliant job Weasley! How much do you charge anyway?" he teased.

"Who says I'd charge you Blaise?" she joked back. Ginny seemed to shake away her sadness.

"Yes!" Blaise threw his arms around Ginny's shoulder. "I knew there was a reason I liked you Weasley. By the looks of it though you shouldn't be too worried about business. Henshall was ready to take you outback. Hell, even Snape gave you a second look."

"Maybe I should consider keeping the blonde?" Ginny twirled the hair in her fingers.

"Weasley, you wouldn't have made it past me tonight with your real hair. Don't ever change your hair." Blaise was firm in his command, and Draco wasn't sure, but thought he may have seen a trace of blush rise on her cheeks.

Draco was happy to hear Ginny joking, and happier when she giggled. "Well red hair may suit me, but it certainly doesn't do it for you."

"No contest. Red is all yours. Where'd you get this little number anyway?"

"Oh this old thing?" she looked down at her dress. "This is from my old hooking days back in 4th year."

The two joked all the way back to Hogwarts.

"I'm wiped," Blaise yawned. "So Gin, my place or yours?" Ginny laughed.

"Goodnight Blaise."

"Yeah, you're right, tomorrow would be better," he shrugged and then give her a quick hug before strolling into the building.

"Well, goodnight…" she turned to him, swinging the shoes she now carried in her hands. "And thank you," she gestured to hold them out and modeled her dress. "Nice to know you think I'd make such a classy prostitute."

"Are you ok Ginny?" Draco cut her off.

She smiled a little, and nodded her head. "Yeah."

"You can't tell anyone. Not even Hermione…" He paused as Ginny's hair turned a strawberry blond. The charms were wearing off. She took his pause as a chance to cut him off.

"I know. If I need to talk I know where to go," her smiled widened a bit. "And thank you again." Draco was going to reply but was caught off guard when Ginny stood on her toes and have him a chaste kiss. "Goodnight." She turned and the

"Goodnight," he whispered, but only when she was too far to hear.