All Harry Potter Characters don't belong to me.
The Source - Chapter Eighteen
"Speaking"
<Thinking>
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It was a Saturday afternoon and was three days before Valentine's Day. Hogsmeade was packed full of Hogwarts students and the local shops were bursting full of people buying Valentine gifts.
Ginny was walking along with Colin and Amy, another Gryffindor 6th year, while looking at all the students running around. Colin and Amy were holding hands and acting all lovey-dovey so Ginny just walked off, and they didn't even notice. She made her way to a gap between two stores and took out her shrunken invisibility cloak. She then un-shrunk it and draped it over herself. She was heading to the stores to collect information.
Last year, after Valentine's Day, she had received many letters asking her to find out who the many anonymous Valentine authors were. A lot of boys had given gifts to girls but didn't write their names on it and the girls were just too curious, so they had asked her to find out who their secret admirers were. She wasn't prepared for the rush, so she had ended up losing a lot of money last year and she wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.
Ginny had managed to get her hands on devices professional wizard spies used. This particular one was a small silver round pendant looking device, which worked much like a camera did. Ginny had secretly placed the pendant things at the counter of every shop so it could record everything that anybody bought. She would then take the little pendant back to her dorm where she would place it into a slot on a crystal ball. The crystal ball was especially designed to show what it had recorded for Ginny to see. There weren't many gift stores in Hogsmeade so Ginny didn't have to purchase that many 'viso-seekers', which was a good thing because they were not cheap.
Ginny had gone to all the shops just before they closed to get the little pendants but there was one shop which she couldn't put a viso-seeker in, because the gifts were not given to the buyer immediately. And that was the flower shop. Many people from school went to the florist to order flowers, which were sent to school on Valentine's Day; so putting a viso-seeker there would not be of any help. Instead, Ginny had to go and retrieve the order booklet, which had the name of the person who placed the order, the gift, the message they have chosen and also the price.
It was getting late now so all the students had already gathered around to wait for the carriages. This was when Ginny crept into the florist under her invisibility cloak. The owner was at the back doing something so Ginny took the order book from the cupboard and did a copying charm. Another book was immediately duplicated and she put in into her book bag. She then replaced the original book back in the cupboard and quickly rushed outside to remove her invisibility cloak and run to the carriages. She did not notice as a figure crept into the florist while she was running towards the carriages.
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Valentine's Day had arrived and everyone was all happy and cheerful. Classes had even been shortened to celebrate the occasion, so after lunch everyone was allowed to go and have extra free time.
It was also during lunch that the special deliveries from the florist arrived. Hundreds of owls that had red ribbons tied to them were swooping down to deliver flowers, love letters and boxes of chocolates. All the people around Ginny who received something shouted in delight. It wasn't very surprising to Ginny because she already knew what everyone was getting; therefore she just sat and watched the happy faces around her.
Ginny nearly had a heart attack when a red shoebox sized object landed loudly on her plate. She immediately jumped back slightly, holding her hand at her heart. The box just sat there for a minute because Ginny was so shocked she didn't know what to do. So, instead she just stared at it. All of a sudden flaps opened at the top of the box and red fireworks started to fly out along with a romantic tune. All the heads in the hall turned to look and then red and pink butterflies flew out to spread a lovely flower scent all around her. Ginny looked up and saw that the sparks from the fireworks had spelled out a message above the table.
Happy Valentine's Day, Virginia!
Ginny was very surprised and her hand had flown to cover her wide-open mouth. After the fireworks and the butterflies had returned to the box, screams of excitement rose from all around Ginny. Girls were scrambling around her saying how lucky she was and asking her if she knew who had sent it. Ginny was very uncomfortable because of all the attention, therefore ended up staying silent and blushing through the whole ordeal. After a while the girls finally left her alone. Some went to go back to their boyfriends to complain about what a plain Valentine's gift they got and some were feeling jealous of what a romantic present Ginny had gotten. But many eyes were still on her and she even heard some girls criticizing her.
"Who the hell is she to get such an extravagant present?"
"I know, she's not even pretty or anything."
"Do you think she sent it to herself just to get people's attention?"
Ginny picked up the red box and left the noisy Great Hall to go back to her room, while many eyes followed her. Hermione, Lavender and Amy also followed her up. When they reached Ginny's room they saw that she was in her bed with the curtains drawn. They walked over slowly and gently opened the curtains to reveal Ginny sitting on her bed hugging her knees while staring at the red box placed in front of her. She didn't look very happy.
Hermione was the first to speak.
"What's wrong, Ginny?" she asked gently, "Are you still a bit shocked from receiving a Valentine's present?"
"Shock is an understatement," Amy shouted excitedly. "Did you see that present? It was fabulous."
Hermione and Lavender frowned at her but then turned their heads quickly when they heard Ginny giggle.
"I'm alright, guys. I just wasn't really prepared to receive such a big gift, that's all. I just need some time to let it register in my head."
All three girls sighed in relief.
"So do you know who sent it to you?" Lavender asked with a twinkle in her eye.
Hermione and Amy were also getting excited and were eager to know. Ginny shook her head,
"No, I have no idea who would send me this."
The three girls thought for a while and they couldn't think of anyone either. Ginny wasn't exactly a popular girl. She always kept to herself and hardly associated with other boys besides Colin, Harry and her brothers. It really was a mystery as to who would've sent her a Valentine's gift, especially one as grand as that one.
Hermione, Lavender and Amy left the room after Ginny said that she wanted time to think. But throughout the rest of the day many girls had come in to ask if they could see her present. When she opened the lid, what happened in the hall would happen again except at a smaller size and the girls just loved to see it. They all complimented on how lucky she was and swooned over how romantic it was. Ginny could just thank them all and wait for them to leave. It wasn't until 10 PM that night that Ginny finally had some time to herself, and she left her room to head towards the Hospital Wing.
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Draco was siting in his chair smiling to himself when Ginny walked into the room. He hid the smile immediately and swirled around in his chair to look at her.
Ginny was standing stiffly and had a frown on her face. She then slammed his medicine on the table.
"It was you, wasn't it?" Ginny said accusingly. Draco feigned confusion.
"Whatever are you talking about, Weasley?" he asked. Ginny grew angry.
"I'm talking about the Valentine's gift. You know, the one that blew up and attracted everyone's attention," Ginny yelled. Draco stood up to look her in the eyes
"First of all, it didn't blow up, they're called fireworks. And second of all, what makes you think it was me?"
"Only you would actually want to humiliate me in front of everyone, and I bet you got a great laugh from it, too."
"Well, your surprised look was quite entertaining but I doubt it was humiliating."
"How would you know, you weren't the one being stared at by nearly the whole school and also being questioned about it for the rest of the day." Draco got angry.
"You really are unbelievable, you know that? Any other girl that received that present would be fawning over the guy who sent it to them."
"So you admit that you sent it?"
"Yes, and if I knew you were going to be like this I would have sent it someone else, at lease they would appreciate it, like any normal girl."
"Well, I'm sorry that I'm not normal but I don't like the fact that you used a Valentine's gift to make fun of me in front of the whole school."
"Hasn't it ever occurred to you that I might have given you the gift because I like you?" Ginny grew even angrier.
"This is just all so funny to you isn't it?" She didn't wait for his answer and instead turned swiftly to leave. Draco reacted quickly and held on to her arm to stop her from leaving. He looked into her eyes and saw how miserable she was. He didn't expect her to have this kind of reaction. He lost his anger and his voice was gentle.
"I'm sorry, alright," he whispered.
Ginny's eyes widened and she also lost her anger. Draco hardly ever apologized to anyone.
"I didn't mean for it to humiliate you," Draco continued with the same gentle voice. "I just wanted to give you something back for the scarf you gave me at Christmas. I thought you'd like it."
Ginny was facing Draco now and was feeling ashamed. The present really was wonderful, she was just really angry at being surprised that's all. After being the Source she didn't receive surprises anymore. She knew everything beforehand and she had just forgotten what it felt like to be surprised.
"I…ah…I mean," Ginny stumbled. "It was nice. Thank you, Malfoy. I'm just not used to surprises, that's all." Draco sighed in relief.
"So, you're not mad anymore?" he asked. Ginny smiled,
"No, I'm not mad anymore." Draco also smiled very slightly,
"I'm glad to hear that."
They were staring at each other for quite a while until Ginny spoke.
"Well, I'd better go now. I have some things to do," she said very quietly.
Draco just nodded and she left his room. He then slumped back down in his chair with a genuine smile plastered on his face.
Back in her room Ginny was laying side ways on her bed and looking at the red box. She had a smile on her face and had the warmest feeling flow through her just before she went to sleep.
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Draco and Harry were both shivering while standing outside in the snow because Mr. Gilding had taken them outside to train them in cold weather.
"Today you will be defending my attacks in the cold weather. While being an Auror, you will be expected to perform at your best under any circumstances or conditions. You have to learn to block out any feelings, which will affect your ability to fight. Even…" Mr. Gilding was unable to finish because a house elf came out and whispered something in his ear.
"I'll be back in a while, stay here." he said and then disappeared back into the school.
Draco and Harry gave each other questioning looks and then shrugged. Even though Draco liked the cold weather, being only in his pants, shirt and jumper, he was freezing.
"I swear, if I get sick I am so going to report him to the Headmaster and get him fired," Draco said.
"You c-can't get him fired. H-he's a representative from the order," Harry chattered back.
The two stood there rubbing their arms and hugging themselves to get some warmth.
"Hey, Malfoy, how about a little warm up practice?" Harry said.
Draco looked at Harry and then smirked,
"You're on, Potter."
The two walked apart and took up a duelling stance. The excitement from actually being able to duel with each other blocked out all the cold and they were now pumped full of adrenalin and ready to fight.
Spells were thrown back and forth, and defences were put up and down. This duel wasn't as deadly as the one they had in their second year. They were actually holding back a bit and having fun. Draco cast a spell, which sent a wave of snow from the ground to wash over Harry.
Harry was buried underneath and after a few seconds he managed to get his head out from under all the snow. His glasses were crooked and he had a dazed look on his face.
Draco clutched his stomach laughing loudly. He was so engrossed in his laughter he didn't notice Harry scrambling out from the pile of snow and casting a spell, which sent a spiral of snow to rise from Draco's feet. It sent him in the sky and back down again to land on his ass.
It was now Harry's turn to laugh his head off at Draco's stunned expression. Draco picked himself off the ground and brushed the snow off. Harry had stopped laughing now but still had a wide smile on his face as he walked towards Draco.
"How about we call it a draw, eh, Malfoy?" said Harry. Draco pocketed his wand.
"Sure, Potter, but just this once." And then he also smiled.
The two made their way to the steps leading into the school and sat down in silence.
"Hey, Malfoy," Harry said and Draco's head turned to look at him. "Do you remember how we met in our first year?" Draco smirked.
"How could I forget? The great Harry Potter didn't want to associate with me." Harry smiled sadly.
"Yeah, well, what do you say we give it another try then?" Harry said and then held out his hand.
Draco looked at it before he took Harry's hand and shook it, the indication of a newfound friendship.
End of Chapter Eighteen. Thanks for reading and I Hope you Review.
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