Chapter Three
When the sun rose the next morning, Ginny immediately decided that getting out of bed might be the worst decision she could make all day.Groaning over a massive headache, she rolled over in her bed.What reason did she have to get out of bed today? It was a Sunday, so she had no classes.
She really hoped she wouldn't be stuck cleaning up last night's party with Ron like last time. At least the twins had gone back home; that was a plus. She laughed to herself. Dumbledore still didn't know they'd sneaked in for every party since they left Hogwarts.Merlin, those boys were crafty. That was another reason the younger years couldn't come to the party- Young students were notorious gossips and snitches, no matter what house they were from. True, the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were better known for their loyalty, but things got around.
Ginny grumbled at her clock and rolled out of bed. She had to get up now if she wanted to be on time for breakfast, though she wasn't very hungry. She'd had so much junk food the night before; she needed something healthy in her stomach before it consumed itself. She ran a comb through her hair, marveling at how tangled it could get in a couple of hours.Even as she finished, her hair looked remarkably similar to when she had woken up.
"Really, dear," the mirror began, "I know you can do better than that…" Ginny stuck her tongue out at it and left the dorm for the Great Hall.As she entered, Seamus waved for her to sit next to him. It was odd to sit at that end of the table. Normally, Ginny would sit to Ron's side, across from Harry, and eat quietly, listening to them talk.Sometimes she'd sit by Colin, but he normally skipped breakfast. Now she was next to Seamus and Lavender, across from Dean and Parvati.
It felt odd and uncomfortable.Seamus was talking with Dean about yesterday's game, and Lavender and Parvati were gossiping about something Ginny didn't care to listen to. Shifting in her seat, she poked at her food. This really didn't seem right.
Actually, she had never felt in place during breakfast, but today was different. Today she wasn't dependent on Harry, Ron or Hermione. Today she was on her own with a guy who liked her for who she was, and damn it, she should try and enjoy herself.
She twirled a piece of her hair between her fingers.She found herself thinking about Malfoy and why he hadn't tried to pull anything yet. Maybe he's not going to do anything at all... maybe he'll just leave me alone... maybe he was just bluffing... then again, Malfoy isn't known for empty threats...
She shook herself, and found that her thoughts moved to Seamus. He acts like he likes me, and asks me to come over here, then ignores me? He hasn't talked to me since he invited me over here, and that was 20 minutes ago... it's always about Dean isn't it? I'm always just going to be the one everyone ignores aren't I?
Suddenly, Ginny's attention was brought back to reality when a pair of fingers snapped in her face. "Ginny! Ginny, are you there?"Seamus grinned at her.
"Don't snap at me, of course I'm 'here'."Irritated, she stabbed a pancake.
"Gosh, take it easy Gin, I didn't mean..." He touched her shoulder, but she took his hand off her and stood up.
"You don't mean much of what you say, do you?"she asked him.
He just looked at her, confused by her reaction. The way things were going, she'd never let him take her to Hogsmeade two weeks from now. He didn't think he'd done anything particularly wrong, and made a mental note to ask Dean about it later.Dean always knew what to do about things like this.
Ignoring a bewildered Seamus and observant Dean, Ginny left the Great Hall. She made her way out of Hogwarts, in an attempt to settle down. She found a small nook in the wall of the castle, which was just about big enough for her to sit in, with her legs bent and crossed in front of her.
Ginny pushed her hair out of her face and grumbled, "I'm over-reacting, I know. Seamus didn't ignore me really… It's just what I'm making out of it. Well, it is partly his fault. If he didn't have the decency to -"
"- at least pay you for your services?"
Draco Malfoy, who seemed to have popped out of nowhere, stood in front of Ginny. He leaned against the wall, his arms folded across his chest.
Her head, which had been facing the side of the nook before, turned to look at him. He wore a heavy cloak of a shiny, deep forest green material with an intricate silver clasp, black slacks and a gray shirt. His hair wasn't slicked back like it had been when he was younger, but instead fell over his eyes. He would've been quite sexy if he wasn't such a git all the time. His familiar smirk snapped her back to reality.
"And here I thought it was Seamus who had no decency,"she commented.
Malfoy looked down at her condescendingly. "What'd he do? Ignore you like everyone else does?"His sarcastic tone made Ginny all the more defensive.
"How would you know, Malfoy?You don't know anything about me!" Ginny retorted. She'd come to the conclusion that he existed merely to make her feel horrible about herself.What he said next definitely affirmed that idea.
"I know you're a poor, good-for-nothing Weasley with that horrid hair all of you have, who obviously isn't special enough for even her brothers or her friends to notice her." His fingers rubbed his cloak as he'd said it, but Ginny didn't notice the slight movement.She was angry that he could say something so hurtful so easily, but she also thought he was right.She tried to open her mouth with some sarcastic retort, but nothing came out.
"What? Nothing to say to that, Weasley?" He smirked."I guess it just proves -"
"It proves how much of an ass you are, Malfoy."Her eyes flared in anger. "You'd better back off! You know nothing!You don't know me, or my family, or what I've gone through, or -"
Malfoy had slid down against the wall beside her, one arm on his bent leg, the other straight out in a casual manner. He interrupted her, "Weasley, are you ever going to stop talking?"
She looked at him, finally noticing he was blocking her exit unless she climbed over him.She wondered how she'd find her way out of the nook until she saw him start to lean toward her.The cool morning air suddenly seemed a lot warmer, and she realized she didn't know what to do with her hands.Her mind raced as he neared her.
She didn't have much time to think about her hands, though.His face was now so close to hers, it was amazing that he wasn't touching her. His hair fell from his eyes onto her cheeks as his head tilted down to meet hers.She stared at him, frozen in shock of his closeness.His lips just barely brushed hers as he whispered to her, "I don't think you understand, Weasley..." His lips moved from her lips to her cheek, moving slowly to her ear. Her eyes closed, and she noticed his woodsy scent, which made her temperature rise quickly. "I know you very well."
His voice made her shiver, his words vibrating through her ear in his sexy tone.She leaned back, pressing up against the cold wall, her head resting back on it. She thought he would kiss her then - almost wished he would kiss her then - but when she opened her eyes, he was gone.