"Ginny! Wait up!" Hermione called as she ran down the hall. "One...second," she attempted to catch her breath. "I wanted to talk to you."
"I about caught that," Ginny laughed as Hermione struggled to breathe. "Where ever did you come from?" Hermione finally stood upright and gave Ginny a questioning look. ‘Hmm, wonder what she wants to talk about. Three guess, first two don’t count.’
"Ginny," Hermione paused dramatically, "about you and..."
"Let me guess, you want to be the first to talk with me about Draco. You’re not. I spoke with Professor Smythe about it already. She understands and I hardly even know her. Hell, she understands when even I don’t."
Hermione grabbed Ginny’s hands, which were flying all over as she was speaking. "Try to help me understand. Honestly, do you know what you are doing, Ginny?"
"No, not at all. I have no clue as to what I am doing. What I am thinking? He infuriates me. He makes me smile. I was scared I’d lose him and I don’t even have him. He didn’t even know I was alive until last night. Well," she paused, "maybe December when I yelled at him outside the Potions classroom."
"You yelled at Draco? About what?" Hermione asked as they continued down the hall.
"Not eating or sleeping," she cast a sideways glance at Hermione who was looking at her shocked. "Well, someone had to!"
"Ginny, just be careful with him. He’s not like Ron or Harry. He’s... you know what he is like. Be careful..."
"Hermione," she stopped to stand directly in front of her friend, "what would you have done if someone told you to be careful with Ron?"
"But it was different with Ron. He wasn’t an insufferable git, well, sometimes he was, still is. But I had known him for years, I knew everything about him, I understood him as much as one can understand Ron Weasley. Most important, we were friends"
"Yes, you were friends and that is important, I know. But, Hermione, you must have thought that by pursuing something more, you were risking your friendship."
"Well, yes. But..."
"What did you do, Hermione? Did you take the cautious route or take the chance?"
"I took the chance," Hermione sighed in defeat.
"And was it worth it?"
"Yes," Hermione twisted a lock of hair around her finger. "It was definitely worth it."
"Then you know what I am talking about. I don’t know what will happen with him, with me, with us. If there could even be an us. But, I at least owe myself to take the chance."
Hermione looked her in the eye. "How does he make you feel when you’re with him? Not when he’s infuriating you and not when you are thinking he is a gift from the gods. The other mes."
"Well, I haven’t had much experience with him when I wasn’t thinking those two things," Ginny smiled.
"Ginny?"
"Fine. I don’t know, I guess, the only way to describe it...He just, he leaves me breathless."
Hermione sighed. "I know the feeling. Then, the only thing I can do is tell you to be careful, take it slow, and I’ll wish you good luck. I’m afraid you’ll need it."
"Are you talking about with Draco or when Ron finds out?" Ginny asked as she looped her arm though Hermione’s and started forward again.
"Oh, lord, both I think!" Hermione laughed as they headed back to the tower.
*~*~*~*~
News must not have traveled back to his housemates about what happened in the wood. Surprisingly, they still were speaking to him, at least those that dared to speak to him before, which weren’t many. He was most surprised that Crabbe and Goyle were speaking to him. He had seen their fathers there last night. His friend’s fathers, his... they were going to kill him to make themselves look better to Voldemort. Draco pushed that thought from his head. It would do him no good to think about what had almost happened. Right now, all he wanted to do was get to his room and then get a shower. After that, he didn’t know what he was going to do. He didn’t feel like studying, too much time lost in his thoughts would not be a good thing. Maybe he could go out to the Quidditch fields. Or he could look for her. ‘Go find Ginny? NO! Where did that thought come from? Go find her? Since when does Draco Malfoy go after a girl? Draco Malfoy lets the girls come to him.’
After he had showered and dressed he decided, Draco would go to the Quidditch field and get some practice in, as he always felt better after spending some time outside, up in the air. He felt free up there, he didn’t have to worry about his family, his destiny, or even Harry friggin’ Potter. Well, most of the time he didn’t have to think about Potter. He could go out, clear his head a bit, and hopefully stop thinking about Ginny Weasley’s hair.
"Malfoy! Where do you think you are going?" Draco turned to see Snape quickly striding down the hallway accompanied by Professor Smythe. She was whispering to him and Draco thought he saw her slap his arm. Potter’s aunt gave him a weak smile and asked how he was before Snape asked again, "Where are you going?"
Draco looked pointedly at the broom in his hand and then stated the obvious, "To the Quidditch field, Professor Snape."
"After everything that has happened to you, you were just going to head off to the field without telling anyone? Without even inquiring as to whether it was safe?" Snape bit out. Draco had to suppress a bit of a laugh at the expression on Professor Smythe’s face. "Malfoy?"
"Professor..." Draco could not remember the last time anyone, particularly Snape had spoken to him like this. Snape looked shaken by the prior night’s events. ‘This is definitely strange. First, he asks me to stay over break. Now, even though he is one of them, he’s upset by what happened. I thought he was fighting with her, why is she running down the halls with her? What is going on in this school?’
"Severus, please. At least explain to the boy why you are acting like a complete," she winked at Draco before finishing, "prat."
"Rose, please. Fine, listen to me, Draco. You may still be in great danger. You are confined to the school grounds unless accompanied by a professor. And no Quidditch practice unless Madam Hooch or I am there. Do you understand?" Draco could only nod. It was as if he was being punished for almost getting killed. He could understand if it was Potter, who was always heading off and putting himself in danger. But he did nothing wrong! He was merely going to see his bastard of a father. Snape was still staring down at him, apparently waiting for an answer. "Do you hear me, Malfoy?"
"Yes, Professor," Draco said his eyes downcast. It wasn’t that he was upset rather he was bloody furious. Damn Lucius Malfoy. Not only did he try to kill him, he was now taking away the only thing that he enjoyed.
"Draco, we just want to keep you safe. Make sure all my hard work was not for naught," Smythe said softly. "You aren’t being punished. You did nothing wrong last night."
"It is for your own good, Draco." Draco looked up at Snape. Was that concern he heard in his Professor’s voice? "We don’t want you killed, surely you can fathom that."
"Yes, Professor Snape." ‘This is getting stranger by the second!’
"I will speak with Madam Hooch. I am sure we can work something out. The Headmaster has decided not to cancel the remaining matches. The schedule will be played as originally conceived. The games missed in the mean-time will be rescheduled." Draco couldn’t believe it when Snape’s hand came to rest on his shoulder. "You’ll need to practice. We can’t lose the Quidditch cup to Gryffindor, can we?"
"No, Professor, not again," Draco smiled. ‘This is weird. Snape showing any emotion other than bitter hatred. Yes, but if he lets me play, who cares how he acts?’
"I don’t know about that boys. That Gryffindor seeker is quite something," Smythe laughed. "Gonna take a lot of practice. I think Severus you should find Hooch right away. Draco needs a lot of time practicing." Draco watched, very confused, as she winked at him again. Then he realized she was just trying to get him onto the field faster then if he simply waited around for Snape to do something on his own.
Snape turned from Draco to face Smythe. He looked even more annoyed than normal. "I will seek her out forthwith, find a time when Draco can practice. Draco, I will let you know as soon as I know anything. And I bet you, Rose, ten sickles that Slytherin takes the Cup."
"Thank you, Professor." Draco called as Snape, accompanied by Smythe, headed back to the dungeons, still arguing about Quidditch. ‘That was definitely weird, but so far this semester, what isn’t? First, Ginny Weasley likes you. Then, I’m almost killed. Now, Snape cares. What next, Potter trying to kiss me?’
*~*~*~*~*~
Ginny was able to avoid Draco for the rest of the day, as she was still quite annoyed by his behavior in the medical wing. He and Harry never could be civil to one another. ‘Yeah, but he hates Ron just as much. What did Hermione say? ‘Good luck.’ I’m going to need more than luck if Ron or Harry finds out how I feel. Then again, how do I feel? You’ve spent an entire term mooning over him, Ginny. Now that he’s speaking to you, you’re confused. Oh, this was so much easier with Harry. Oh, yes much easier. You liked him. He loved Cho and treated you as a kid sister. You’re insane Ginny Weasley. Absolutely insane. Ugh!’ Ginny started to pound her head on the library table.
"Ginny? Are you all right?"
Ginny quickly lifted her head to find Harry’s aunt standing in front of her. "Oh, I’m fine. How are feeling today?"
"Much better than last night. I’m actually looking for Harry. I saw him earlier, but I wanted to see him about something. Have you seen him?"
"Only this morning. You might want to check the common room." Ginny wondered if she and Sirius had told Harry yet that he was going to have a new cousin and how Harry reacted. She’d find out soon enough, though.
"I’ll head up there then." Rose started to head out of the library and turned back. She leaned down and whispered, "Sirius said to say goodbye."
"He left?"
"Yeah, about an hour ago. I doubt he’ll be gone too, too long though. Well, I need to go find Harry now. See you later?"
"Of course." After Rose left, Ginny returned to her Potions essay on the various uses of artemesia dracunculus. However, when she had learned it could be used to heal the bites of dogs and poisonous snakes, her thoughts focused upon Draco. He was after all a Slytherin. The question was whether he would poison her. ‘But to poison you Gin, he’d have to bite you first. Not that I wouldn’t mind him biting me. Ginny! What would mum say?’
Her stomach rumbling pulled her from her thoughts, which may have been a good thing based on the direction they were heading, and was why she was on her way to the hall when she ran into him. Literally ran into him. Draco was rounding the corner and walked right into her, nearly knocking her down, but he grabbed her to keep her from falling. "Sorry, Ginny. I wasn’t watching where I was going."
Once she recovered from the shock of his hands on her shoulders, and was able to form a complete sentence, she realized he had just apologized to her. She’d never heard him apologize ever. ‘I have to say something. Keep it light, breezy. Tease. NO don’t tease. Be casual.’ "It’s not totally your fault. I wasn’t watching either."
"Not totally my fault. How generous of you," he mocked. He was rewarded with a slight smile from her. ‘Draco, what the hell are you doing? You don’t flirt. You sneer. Smirk. Don’t smile!’
"Are you feeling any better?"
"Well, I doubt I’ll be able to sleep," he said softly while admiring how the firelight brought out the gold in her hair. ‘Stop it! What are you doing? This is Ginny Weasley. Obviously, that is what the problem is!’
"You should take something then. We have plenty of..."
"No," he said flatly.
"Then I’m sure you could make a potion yourself."
He smiled. ‘She thinks I’m that good with potions, does she?’ "That’s not it, Ginny. I don’t want to take something I could become addicted to."
"Oh, I see." She paused and bit her lip trying to think of something he could take without the chance of addiction.
"It’s ok. I can do without sleep," he said softly while watching her chew on her lip. ‘Stop looking at her lips! Her eyes focus on her eyes! Damn, they’re pretty too!’
"No you can’t. Don’t you dare fall into your patterns from last semester, Draco Malfoy!" He laughed at her then. "What?"
"Temper, temper Miss Weasley." He started to say something else but was interrupted as Ron came flying down the hall.
"What are you doing? I told you before Malfoy to stay away from my sister!" Ron launched himself at Draco, knocking him back against the wall. Draco was broader than Ron, but Ron made up for it in height and, in this case, fury.
"Ron!" Hermione ran in after her boyfriend and began to pull at the back of his robes. "Ginny, help me here!" Hermione struggled to pull Ron off of Draco, who was pretty much pinned against the wall.
"Ron, don’t make Ginny take back all the nice things she said about you yesterday," Hermione hissed when she and Ginny had them finally separated, or rather had dragged Ron away from Draco.
"You said nice things about me?" Ron asked still glaring at Draco.
"Yes, but I am seriously reconsidering them now that you are acting like an arse." Ginny stepped in between Draco and Ron, turning her back on her still sputtering brother. "Are you OK?" Ginny asked Draco who was rubbing his throat where Ron’s hands had just recently been. She had an insane urge to touch his neck, to make sure it was not hurt. ‘Yeah right, Gin. Keep telling yourself that. What did you tell Rose in December? You love him. Yeah, you want to touch his neck just because you’re concerned.’
"I’m fine," he croaked in response. "Not everyone almost gets killed twice in one weekend."
Ginny paled at that comment and spun round to face Ron. "Ronald Arthur Weasley, you apologize!" Ginny ordered her brother, punctuated with a stomp of her foot.
"What?" Ron roared, "Apologize to Malfoy!"
"You apologize right now," Ginny stepped closer to her brother, "or I tell them all about you know what."
"You wouldn’t?" Ron said weakly, finally breaking his stare to look at his sister.
"I would and I will," Ginny answered in a deathly serious voice. "And Draco, wipe that smirk off your face or I’ll let my brother have another go at you!"
Draco followed her order. ‘How did she know I was smirking? She’s not even looking at me.’
"I’m sorry I attacked you Malfoy." Ron spat through clenched teeth.
Draco just nodded. ‘Sure you are, Weasley. You’re just sorry your sister and girlfriend stopped you from killing me. But still, this is certainly a first. Bizarre, too. Uck, where’s Potter? He’s going to kiss me if I don’t watch out.’
"Ron, come on," Hermione placed her arm around his waist and steered him into the hall.
"I’m sorry about that, Draco," Ginny said as she came to stand directly in front of him.
"Not the first time, doubt it will be the last time your brother will want to throw me up against a wall."
"My brother..."
"Has a temper. Kind of like his sister," Draco pointed it out with a raised eyebrow. "Must be the hair."
"Are you insulting my hair color, Draco? Would you rather it be the color of ice, like yours?"
"Not at all, besides ice is clear. My hair is blonde. Your hair, however, reminds me of fire. And your temper."
"Whatever you say, Draco." Ginny refused to point out how his hair gleamed silver in the sunlight. She always pictured icicles and snowflakes as that exact shade of silver.
"So, what exactly are you holding over the Red Weasel?"
"Like I’d tell you," she laughed.
"Oh, come on. You know you want to." He leaned in closer to her. She shook her head. He couldn’t tell if she was trying to refuse him or not. Her hair flew in his face. It smelled like vanilla and roses. He lowered his voice to a whisper, "I promise I won’t tell."
Draco was so close to her; she could feel his breath on her ear when he whispered into it. Ginny could tell he had been sitting by a fire earlier, he smelled slightly of smoke and of something else too, something she couldn’t place. ‘Why do I suddenly stop thinking when he gets close like this? Because he smells good, he looks good, and now he’s waiting for you to say something. What did he ask? Think, think, think. He wants you to tell him about Ron, that’s it.’"No, if I told you then I won’t have anything to hold over his head next time."
He moved back slightly and laughed at that. "Are you sure you aren’t a Slytherin? That doesn’t sound very goody-goody Gryffindor."
"Maybe it’s just that I have been hanging around you too long."
"Maybe you should hang around me more often." ‘Did I just say that? Bloody, hell, Malfoy, what are you doing? Damage control!’ He swiftly continued, "You know, then you’d know how to properly use that bit of information."
She couldn’t believe he had just said that. ‘Does he really want me around him more often?’ He looked shocked by what he had just said if only for a moment. It had been replaced with an expression she couldn’t quite call a smirk. ‘It doesn’t matter, if I stay out here any longer I am going to do things that I really don’t want to do, yet. Who am I kidding? I really want to do it, now. But, I really shouldn’t want to kiss him when he is... who am I kidding? I always want to kiss him. Need to go. Now. Run. Move Ginny!’ She turned to head into the hall, but stopped to call over her shoulder, "Has anyone ever told you that you are impossible?"
"Well, if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black," Draco said to her back as she walked away. ‘Why do her hips have to sway like that? I really shouldn’t be thinking this. Not about her. Bloody hell, if Voldie and my father don’t kill me, her brothers will. Her brothers definitely will.
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Draco and Ginny belong to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Warner Bros and various other corporations. They are being used here without permission and/or affiliation with the above. None of the authors listed here make any profit from these stories.