A few weeks passed by and everything was the same at Hogwarts… Well, except for the huge piles of homework, of course.
Right now, Ginny was at the library with Cathy and the girl's boyfriend, trying to finish her Potions essay, but it was getting hard to do it with the couple kissing right in front of her.
"Cathy, can't you stop that for a few minutes? It's getting really distracting…" Ginny asked with a gentle smile.
"Oh, sorry Gin, you're right, we shouldn't do this in here. See you later!" Cathy agreed with a large smile, quickly leaving the room with Hugh, her 6th year Ravenclaw boyfriend.
"Oh, this is much better…" she sighed, going back to work. Her friend was very lucky to have someone to talk to and love. She only had Angel, but it was a different kind of love.
"Hey Ginny!" a voice said, behind her and she immediately recognized its owner… Harry.
"Hello Harry! Hi Hermione… So, what are you guys doing in the library on a sunny day like today?" Ginny asked, going a little pink at the memory of the night she had seen what she didn't want to see ever again.
"We are just finishing a few essays and then we'll go somewhere cosy…" Harry said, hugging Hermione and kissing her gently.
"Harry, stop it… This is not the right place to do this." Hermione giggled, turning her attention back to Ginny, realizing that the redheaded girl was embarrassed. "Harry, could you give me a few moments with Ginny?"
"Sure, I'll wait on our usual table." he agreed, leaving them with a smile.
"What is it Hermione? Is everything ok?" Ginny asked, a little worried.
"Yes, everything is fantastic… I've noticed your blush and embarrassment. Are you ok about my relationship with Harry? Do you still like him?" Hermione asked, holding Ginny's hand gently with a soft smile on her lips.
"`Mione, I'm over Harry, don't worry. Yes, I was a little jealous in the beginning, but now I'm sure you two are soul mates…" Ginny replied, truthfully. "I only blushed and got shy because I saw something a few weeks ago in a certain Gryffindor Common Room, late a night."
Hermione's eyes got huge and she looked like she wanted to dig a hole and hide herself in it.
"You saw… what exactly?" she asked, shaking nervously.
"Well, you were both on the floor, in front of the fireplace. I thought you were snogging, but when I noticed your lack of clothes, I left the Gryffindor tower as quickly as I could… That's why I got so embarrassed." Ginny laughed, at Hermione's shocked face.
"Oh, I'm sorry about that Ginny…" she sighed.
"It's ok, Hermione, just be careful with the places you choose to do that. It might have been someone else… like Ron." Ginny warned her, giving her a hug.
"You're right, but, where were you going, so late at night?" she asked, curious.
"I went down to the kitchens…" Ginny said, blushing at the memory of her kiss with Draco.
"Ginny, I know that redness on your face… Who is he?" her bushy haired friend teased, smiling happily. "Is he your date to the Halloween ball?"
"No, he isn't. Oh, Hermione, I don't want to like him, but when I'm with him, it's as if a force is driving us closer… How can I like and hate the same person, at the same time?" Ginny asked, sadly.
"I have no idea, Ginny, but from what you're telling me I can only conclude that he's not a Gryffindor, is he?" Hermione asked wisely.
"No, he isn't." Ginny sighed. "I must go now… Goodbye Hermione and thank you for hearing me out."
"It was my pleasure, Gin, you can always count on me." Hermione said, as the redheaded girl left the library. `If she hates him, it means that he's a Slytherin, as she gets along with practically all the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. So, she's loves a Slytherin… Poor Ginny.'
The day was beautiful, full of sunlight but slightly chilly. It seemed like every single student was out in Hogwarts grounds enjoying the sun, while they did their homework, read a book or just talked with their friends. Slowly, Ginny made her way to her favourite oak tree near the lakeshore and sat down, enjoying the feeling of the sun on her face.
"If you catch sun on that ugly face of yours, the freckles will come out even more." an amused voice said, on her side.
Dear Merlin! She had tried to avoid Malfoy since that night, but now, he had come to her… What should she do? Hate him or love him?
"That's not a problem, Malfoy… I'm sure I'll look uglier and then you won't even have to look at my face. Now, sod off." Ginny replied, slightly hurt, not bothering to open her eyes or leave her position against the tree trunk.
"You should learn to control that temper, Weasley. One day it will bring you problems…" he warned, sounding amused.
"That will be the day you'll cry from happiness… There will be minus one Weasley polluting the air you breathe." she replied, bored. "Have you been with Angel this morning?"
"Yes, she was with me… Where is she now?" he asked, softly.
"I don't know, I haven't seen her since breakfast…" Ginny replied, listening to his movements as he sat down by her side. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Sitting down and enjoying the sun light." he chuckled, looking into her brown eyes with sincerity.
"Won't it ruin your Vampire like skin?" she asked with a teasing smile on the corner of her mouth. "Be careful, we don't want Pansy to leave you because of your sunburns."
"If all I needed was a sunburn to get rid of that monster, then I'd have done it a long time ago…" he said faking a shudder with his entire body.
"You shouldn't talk like that about the love of your life…" Ginny teased him, playing with a small rock.
"Malfoys don't love…" was his reply, before he stretched his body on the grass, laying on his stomach with his face supported by his hands. "And you? Is Potter going to like you if your face gets all stained with those freckles?"
"Yes, he will." Ginny replied, sounding sincere.
The moment she saw his face go from happy and calm, to mad and hurt, Ginny wished she could take those words back.
`Why is he looking so mad? Is that hurt in his eyes? Why? I'm getting so confused…' she thought, watching as he sat up again, right in front of her, with their knees touching.
"You're still that disgusting little girl with a terrible taste, are you? You still like the Pothead?" he asked, looking deep into her eyes.
"Yes, I like Harry, because he's my friend… And he likes me back, because I'm his friend, I'm his girlfriend's friend and because I'm his best friend's sister…" she explained calmly, watching him calm down again.
"You know what, Weasley; I think you love Potter…" Draco said, testing her.
"You know what, Malfoy? You don't know anything about feelings, so don't talk about things you don't understand…" she snapped at him. "When you learn the meaning of the word Love, I hope it won't too late for you."
Seeing him become shocked, Ginny took the chance to stand up, and go away.
"What if I'm starting to learn that feeling?" he whispered, as he watched the girl walk away.
+++++++~~~~~~~++++++
"Hello, Angel, I've missed you this last week. Where do you spend your time? With Malfoy?" Ginny asked the Pulga, feeling jealous. "Will you stay with me today? It's the first Quidditch game of the year…"
"Meow…"
"I'll take that as a yes…" Ginny laughed, when Angel started licking her hands. "Let's go down for breakfast."
After putting on her warmest jumpers and trousers, Ginny put on her Gryffindor cloak and scarf, and combed her long hair. Finally, the girl and the Pulga went down to the Great Hall. As they headed there, Ginny told Angel what had happened with her during the last week, holding the kitten against her chest in a protective way.
"Ginny! Hey, Ginny…" a male voice called behind her, on the Main Staircase.
"Hello, Colin, what is it?" she asked curious, eyeing her classmate's red face and feeling Angel trembling in her arms.
"I well… The Halloween Ball is approaching and I… I… " Colin started, but suddenly stopped, turned on his heels and ran away with horror on his face.
"What was that all about? Why was he looking so terrified?" Ginny mumbled, as she walked to the Gryffindor table and sat between Harry and Ron. "Was he about to ask me to the ball and on the last moment realized I look like a Grindylow?"
At that moment, Harry spit all the Pumpkin Juice he was drinking. Everyone in the Gryffindor table looked at him with curiosity.
"What is it Harry? Do you need classes on table manners?" Ginny joked, patting his back while he coughed and breathed with difficulty.
"Ginny, you do not look like a Grindylow!" Harry whispered, still in shock, looking at her face. "Who the hell told you that?"
"No one… It was my conclusion after the way I was treated!" she explained, smiling with a little blush on her cheeks.
"Who treated you bad? I'm going to kill that guy… It's a guy, isn't it?" he asked, furious.
"Harry, forget about it. Are you feeling prepared for the match?" she asked, trying to make him forget the subject. Why the hell was he acting so worried about her? She had older brothers to do that.
"As ready as one can be." he smiled softly, turning around to peck Hermione's cheek, before he left the Great Hall, with his Gryffindor robes flying behind him.
"He's so cute!" a girl said, a few seats down the Gryffindor table.
Turning around, Ginny saw a bunch of 3rd years giggling while they watched Harry.
"Gosh, I'm so glad I'm no longer part of the Harry Potter Fan Club…" Ginny sighed smiling happily.
"And I'm glad to hear that…" Hermione said, smiling as well.
As she ate her breakfast, Ginny fed Angel with milk and cheese. She had missed her friend over the last week. Angel seemed to have her own ideas and will, and she went off to Merlin knows where, for Merlin knows how long. But they still loved each other, of course.
`Love?' the word echoed in her mind. Slowly, Ginny held her head up and looked at the Slytherin table. Everyone was eating in silence, with serious faces.
Finally, her eyes found the person she was looking for… Draco Malfoy. There he was, playing with his food and eating nothing at all, with a scowl on his face. He looked worried… Was he afraid of losing against Harry, again?
As if he felt her gaze, Draco locked his silver-grey eyes with chocolate brown ones. There was sadness in his eyes… Sadness, hope, rage… So many different feelings.
`You don't want to win the game… You want to get the Snitch before Harry does, isn't it my Dragon? Well, I hope you get your wish, if it'll make you smile the way I've seen you smile before.' Ginny thought, feeling compassion for him.
Breaking their gaze, Ginny got up from the table, held Angel inside her warm robes and left towards the Quidditch field, finding a good place on the first row of the Gryffindor stands.
Soon, all the stands were full of students yelling and waving their team's flags, waiting for the exciting game to begin. Although the day was freezing, it was a sunny day. Perfect for Quidditch.
"Good morning, Hogwarts! Here we are for the fantastic game of Slytherin vs. Gryffindor. And here comes the amazing and extraordinary Gryffindor team! Applauses, please…" Dennis Creevy commented, his voice reaching the school grounds loud and clear. "There's their spectacular captain and seeker, Harry Potter!"
Three of the four houses started cheering the Gryffindor team, which was warming up, high in the air.
"And now, the low, stinking gits and sons of a…" Creevy started, being hit in the head by Professor McGonagall. "Right… Sons of a Great Nation: our Great Britain… The Slytherin team and their captain, the Amazing Bouncing Ferret! OOWW… Professor, you must get a beating bag of your own! My head is aching and the game hasn't even started."
The whole stadium laughed at his complaints and waited for the game to begin.
"And the game starts! There goes Zabini, he catches the Quaffle, passes to Crabbe, he flies past Andrews and Ron Weasley tries to catch the Quaffle and… he fails… 10 to nothing, Slytherin is ahead!" Dennis yelled. "But Gryffindor is full of energy and we can still win those snakes… Go Gryffindor!"
As the game kept going, Ginny didn't listen to what was going on around her. Although she tried to to pay attention, she couldn't, as her eyes seemed to be glued on Draco Malfoy's shape, high in the air.
`There must be something wrong with all this… I can't understand, but it's like something is pushing us together.' she whispered to herself. `But what?'
He looked handsome up there on his broom, with the sun light reflecting on his silver blond hair, making him look as bright as a star. His face was focused on finding the Snitch and at the same time, he sent glances towards the Gryffindor stands, trying to find a certain redhead among so many red cloaks and scarves.
Finally, he spotted her and to his great surprise she was looking at him, as well. Their eyes locked once again, as if they could read each other's mind, through their eyes.
"What do you think you're doing, looking at her like that?" Harry yelled, placing himself in front of the blond Slytherin, blocking his view of Ginny.
"That's none of your business, Potter." Malfoy answered, starting to search the Snitch, once again.
"Ginny is a naïve girl… If you dare to put one finger on her, I'll kill you. You better mark my words, stay away from Ginny!" Harry yelled, furious.
"And who nominated you Weasley's Bodyguard? I thought you were dating the Mudblood… Have you changed your mind about the Littlest Weasel?" Draco replied, sneering at Harry's shocked face.
"That's none of your damn business. Stay away from her…" Harry menaced, pointing his finger against Malfoy's hard chest.
Ginny stood there, holding Angel in her arms and watching the fight between Draco and Harry. If only they were closer, she would be able to hear them… What were they fighting over? Moving a little to the side, Draco locked is gaze with her, once again and Ginny felt warmth flow trough her body.
On that moment she saw something reflect the sun light not far away from both Seekers and Ginny recognized the Snitch. Before she could hold back her words, they were out of her mouth.
"DRACO! CATCH THE SNITCH, IT'S RIGHT THERE! CATCH THE SNITCH…" she screamed and waved her arms towards the Golden Snitch.
`What the hell is she doing? Trying to fall down from there?' Draco thought, concerned with her safety.
As the stands quieted their cheering to look at the crazy Gryffindor girl, Draco was able to ear what she was saying.
"DRACO, CATCH THE DAMN SNITCH!"
Not stopping to think about what she was doing, Draco searched the snitch and flew as fast as he could to catch it.
"Potter, I CAN'T and WON'T stay away from her." he yelled, as he saw Harry on his tail, gaining speed.
Both boys had their arms stretched, trying to catch the golden snitch, but Draco was faster and caught it, holding it high in the air in triumph.
`For the first time in seven bloody years, I've defeated the Boy-Who-Just-Wouldn't-Die…' Draco thought happily, screaming and laughing openly, for the first time in his whole life. And he owed all this to the sweet Gryffindor Redhead, Virginia Weasley.
"And Draco Malfoy catches the Golden Snitch, but still, Gryffindor wins with 200 points against Slytherins' 170 points…" Dennis yelled hysterically, while jumping up and down. Amazingly McGonagall wasn't telling him to stop… By the opposite, she was even more hysteric than he was.
"Angel, he caught the Snitch! He may have lost the game, but he won his self-esteem." Ginny whispered softly to her Pulga, with tears in her eyes, as she ran through the school grounds towards the school, leaving her house colleagues looking at her with rage. She had just betrayed her own house, because of Draco Malfoy. Her brother's biggest enemy, but not hers.
When she was about to climb the main stairs to enter the school, Ginny fainted, with Angel on her side meowing worriedly.
+++++~~~~~+++++
"Oh, my Mom is going to kill me. She warned me to take care of Ginny, and just look at what happened… She fainted, with no one there to help her." Ron groaned as he paced the Infirmary, in front of his sister's bed.
"Ron, calm down… Madame Pomfrey says that she's just tired, that's all." Hermione whispered, softly caressing Ginny's hand.
"When she wakes up, she'll have a lot of things to explain…" he replied, looking murderous. "Why the hell was she screaming at Malfoy to catch the Snitch? Why was she helping him?"
Hermione sighed and, once again, patted Ginny's hand, trying to give her support. Hermione had just found out who was the boy that was confusing Ginny. Draco Malfoy…
"Ron, it doesn't matter anymore. Gryffindor won the game, we're still ahead in the house points and we must go up for lunch. Harry is waiting for us." Hermione said, leaving her seat and pushed Ron out of the Infirmary.
As soon as both Gryffindors left the room, Angel got out from under the bed and jumped to Ginny's bed, licking her face, hoping she would wake up. But, she didn't.
The Slytherins usually didn't throw parties to celebrate Quidditch victories, but tonight was an exception. For the first time in seven years, Draco Malfoy had caught the Snitch against Harry Potter. Even though they had lost the game, they still had won the glory.
The Common Room was full of people talking and drinking, although none of them was laughing or smiling. Slytherins don't show emotions… ever.
Draco was sitting in a corner of the room, watching the people all around him when he felt something stinging in his chest. He felt as if something was terribly wrong, and his thoughts kept going to an image of Ginny surrounded by white sheets, her face looking very pale.
Snapping out of his visions, Draco left the dungeons running, allowing his feet to drive him to the Infirmary. Reaching the doors, he stopped and prepared himself to face his sweet Ginevra.
"Meow…"
"Angel, what happened? What's wrong with Virginia? Who hurt her?" he asked, as if the kitten could answer his desperate questions.
Picking Angel in his arms, he sat on Ginny's bed, caressing her cold cheeks, watching the way the moon reflected on her pale skin.
"Hello Weasel. So, won't you tell me what happened to you? Angel is worried with you, and so am I… And, I don't like it." he whispered softly. "You are so beautiful… Did you know that? Probably not, Potter is too stupid to see that."
"You know she doesn't like him anymore, don't you?" a voice said, behind him.
"I don't care. I must leave, now…" he said, coldly, standing on his feet and placing Angel on top of Ginny's stomach.
"You don't have to leave, Malfoy… Ginny would like to wake up and find you here." Hermione said, in a gentle voice.
"What do you know about what she wants or not…" he scowled, still looking at Ginny's sleeping form.
"I do know she likes you, and I know she's afraid of what she feels for you. It's not easy to like someone who treats her so bad, as you do. You are always making fun of her, always bringing out her temper and she hates you for that, but, at the same time, she likes you and wants to be with you… It's weird." Hermione explained, sighing. "But I shouldn't say these things. Ginny is the one who knows what's going on inside her heart… All I ask you, Malfoy, is to keep her safe from harm and to be true to her. Don't make her suffer, because she deserves to be happy…"
"Hey, you're making it sound as if Ginevra and I are going to get married or something. There's nothing going on between us. Nothing…" he said, looking sad and furious at the same time. "What happened to her?"
"Ginny fainted. Madame Pomfrey says that she's just tired, but I'm not sure that's the truth… Madame Pomfrey looked very nervous and she refused to look anyone in the eye… There's something going on." Hermione replied, sounding worried. "We'll have to wait for her to wake up."
Draco didn't say anything. He just stood there, caressing Ginny's cheek with one hand and Angel's head with the other.
"I'll leave you both alone. Good night, Malfoy." she whispered, with a knowing smile on her lips.
"Good night, Granger…" he replied, not noticing her face break into a huge grin, when he didn't call her `Mudblood'.
`Yep… That one is head over heels with sweet Ginny. I sure hope everything works out for them…' she thought to herself, as she went back to Gryffindor Tower.
"Draco? Draco, wake up." Ginny called softly, caressing his cheek.
Slowly, his silver grey eyes opened and looked up at her, a smile appearing in his lips.
"Hello. How are you feeling?" he asked, leaving his chair to sit close to her on the bed.
"I'm fine. Why were you sleeping on that uncomfortable chair?" she asked with a big smile.
"Just checking if the Infirmary's furniture is comfortable. Why else?" he smiled amusedly, brushing a lock of red hair behind her ear. "Thank you…"
"What for?" she asked, leaning her face against his cool hand.
"For telling me where the Snitch was… Why did you do it, though?" he asked, curiosity showing on his pale face.
"You and I are very alike, Draco, we both wish to be recognized. Not because we are rich or poor, but because we can do something to prove our value. All you ever wanted was to catch the Snitch before Harry did, and you caught it, Draco. Slytherin may have lost the game, but, still, you caught the Snitch… Congratulations!" she whispered, with a gentle smile on her lips, as she leaned against him, kissing his soft cheek.
"And what do you wish for your self?" he asked seriously. "Potter?"
"How many times do I have to repeat that I don't like Harry anymore? Merlin, I hate that people think of me as the `Poor little Weasley, in love with Harry Potter'." She sighed, trying to keep her anger at bay. "I'm not an innocent little girl that everyone should pity. I wish I could prove it!"
"One day you will, I'm sure of that. Now, go back to sleep and have a good night of rest. We don't want you fainting all over the corridors… Just imagine if you faint on top of me and you ruin my robes with your poverty? That would be terrible." he joked, with a serious face.
"Keep dreaming, Malfoy." she laughed. "See you tomorrow… Angel, go with Draco, ok? Tomorrow you can stay with me again. Do you mind, Draco?"
"Of course not… Come Angel." he whispered, picking up Angel in his arms and kissing Ginny's forehead very softly. "Good night, little angel…"
"Good night Dragon…" Ginny replied, watching the two loves of her life leaving the Infirmary.
`He cares about me…' she thought, falling asleep with a happy smile on her face.
+++++~~~~~+++++
"Good morning, Miss Weasley, how are you feeling?" Madame Pomfrey asked her the next morning, as soon as Ginny opened her brown eyes.
"I'm feeling better, thank you," she replied, sitting up on the warm bed. "When will I leave this bed?"
"What about right now?" Madame Pomfrey replied with a friendly smile. "If you feel dizzy or with headaches, please come to me and I'll help you, alright, Miss Weasley?"
"Yes, Madame Pomfrey, thank you for everything." Ginny smiled sweetly. Dressing quickly, Ginny was about to leave when a very serious looking Draco Malfoy appeared in front of her.
"Good morning, Draco!" she said, smiling.
"Hi." was the cold answer. "Professor Dumbledore wants to see us… Come."
"Both of us? Why, what's going on?" she asked, confused, while she picked up Angel from the floor and into her arms.
"I don't know but that's why we are going there. Now, will you stop making questions? I'm not in the mood…" he growled, showing his bad mood.
"You're never in the mood, Malfoy. Can I at least take a shower before we go?" she asked coldly. If he was treating her like she was filth, then she could be cold as well.
"You'll do that after we meet Dumbledore, now move those damn legs, Weasel." he spat, walking even faster.
Just to make him mad, Ginny kept her own pace, while she talked with Angel and stroked her soft white fur.
"Will you just hurry?" he yelled, in a bad temper, walking back towards her and holding her in his arms, against his chest.
"PUT ME DOWN, RIGHT NOW, DRACO MALFOY!" she screamed back. "I will not be your punch bag, tonight."
His jaw tightened, but he kept walking towards the stone gargoyles and whispered the secret password. He only dropped her to the ground when they entered Dumbledore's office.
"Good morning, Miss Weasley. I see Mr. Malfoy found a better way of bringing you here…" Professor Dumbledore chuckled, his eyes twinkling madly.
"Good morning, Headmaster. Why am I here?" Ginny asked, going right to the point.
"You are here, Miss Weasley, because it's time to reveal the truth…" Dumbledore said with a serious expression on his usually friendly face.
"What truth? And why is he here?" she complained, pointing at Draco.
"Please, sit down, both of you, and listen without interruptions." he ordered.
By the look on his face this was serious and Ginny couldn't even imagine what was going on. And how could it include her and a certain blond Slytherin? Dumbledore cleared his throat, and started to tell them a story, with a soft tone of voice.
"When Molly Weasley became pregnant of her 7th child, Ginevra Weasley, what everyone had feared, happened. The 7th child would die before she was born… Fearing this curse, Molly Weasley and her husband, asked help from everyone who was able to do so, but no one had the power to destroy that curse and the despair took over the Weasley family. As their last resort, they went to the Queen of Fairies, and asked for her help.
The Queen said she would help, if the Weasleys' allowed the Fairies to place a curse on Ginevra. They wanted to have an ally among the Wizarding world and that child would be useful.
The curse said:
By the time this young girl completes her 16th birthday, her heart will open up for true love. As soon as she gives a proof of that love to the boy she cares for, the curse will wake up from its long sleep. Then, this young woman shall receive the power of the fairies and protect us among her people. As long has the man she loves remains close to her, she will keep her powers. If they break apart and their love is destroyed, the powers will cease and the young woman shall die.
This is the curse that runs in your blood and yesterday you have awakened its power, Miss Weasley."
"No, I haven't! I haven't done anything…" she said, extremely confused and scared.
"If I'm correct, Miss Weasley, you helped Mr. Malfoy find the Golden Snitch, going against your own House… That was a proof of your love for him." the Headmaster said with a knowing smile on his lips.
Draco stiffened on his seat and turned to look at Ginny, who covered her face with both hands and cried in fury.
"DAMN!" she screamed in despair. "I wish I had known this before! I would have never helped him…"
"You love me?" was all Draco could say, as a knot formed in his throat.
"Well, can't you see that I do? If I didn't then I wouldn't be in this bloody situation!" she screamed again, furious. "What's going to happen now, Headmaster?"
"You've fainted because the curse was awakened. For the next month you'll be feeling extremely tired, you won't feel hungry, you will have insomnia and you'll have a hard time practising magic, so I don't think you should carry your wand for the next month, if you don't want something bad to happen to you, or to the person the spell was aimed for." Dumbledore explained with a soft smile, trying to reassure her that everything would be ok. "This month is the time it'll take for you to receive all the powers the fairies wanted you to have. When that process is complete, your life will go back to normal but you'll be more powerful and you'll have certain responsibilities. We'll talk about them when the time is right…"
"Why am I here?" Draco asked, confused.
"Because, Mr. Malfoy, you are the key to this entire situation. Do you love Miss Weasley, back?" Dumbledore asked, although the twinkling in his blue eyes revealed that he already knew the answer.
"I don't know sir… I never knew the meaning of that word and I never knew what it felt like to be loved, so all I can say is that I do care for Ginevra, but at the same time I feel like I shouldn't like her." Draco explained, sounding extremely sincere, his eyes never leaving her face.
"Well, I advise both of you to be together at least an hour each day, for the next month. Ginevra will need your presence to link the love she feels for you, with the magic that is starting to increase inside of her." Dumbledore said. "I advise Ginny to take a birth control potion, because she'll need it."
"WHAT?" Ginny and Draco yelled at the same time, completely in shock.
"The fairies' magic will make your love grow more each day. There will be times when the feeling will be overwhelming and you won't be able to control yourselves. We must assure that Miss Weasley does not get pregnant at such a young age…"
"Oh, my good Merlin! Why do these things happen to me?" Ginny whispered, tears falling down her face. "Me, sleeping with Draco Malfoy, because of a damn curse… My parents should have let me die while I was a foetus. It would have been so much simpler…"
"Don't you say that, Weasley… They loved you already, even before you were born! I didn't have such luck, so, stick to what you have and be happy with it." Draco said in a hurt voice, leaving his seat.
"Very well, Mr. Malfoy, if you'll please accompany Miss Weasley on her way back to the Gryffindor Tower, I appreciate it… You are both dismissed from classes for the rest of the morning. Have a nice day!" Professor Dumbledore said, watching has Draco guided Ginny by the arm, out of his office.
Draco and Ginny walked side by side, with serious faces, both very quiet, while Angel slept in Draco's arms. When they reached the Gryffindor tower, she muttered the password and went to her dorm, leaving a hurt Draco behind.
The 6th year girls' dorm was empty, as everyone was having classes, and Ginny walked quickly across the room, throwing herself on her bed.
So far she had allowed the tears to fall down her face, but now that she was alone Ginny allowed herself to sob.
"Oh Merlin, I love him because of the curse… That's the only reason." she realised, suddenly, feeling extremely unhappy. "How can I stay with him my entire life? The love we'll feel for each other will only be a lie…"
Crappy, crappy life… That's what happens when you think nothing will ever go wrong with you.
Thinking about the things she had just found out, Ginny fell asleep. While she was in that state when you are not sleeping yet, but you're not awake either, she felt something heavy and warm cover her body and then a gentle kiss on her temple. That was enough for her to fall in a dreamless sleep.
"Ginny? Gin, wake up…" Hermione's voice came to her in dreams, while someone's hand shook her awake.
"`Mione? What's the matter?" she groaned, snuggling under the warm blanket.
"Ginny, you've missed the morning classes and so has Draco Malfoy. What happened, Ginny?" Hermione asked, sitting on the bed next to her friend.
"Well, this is a long story. Do you have the time to listen?" she asked, sitting against the bed's headboard.
"Yes, we have an hour until lunch, so shoot…" Hermione said.
It was really hard to tell the whole story to Hermione, because she kept on making questions and interrupting Ginny's line of thought. By the end of the whole explanation, Hermione looked completely fascinated and happy.
"Oh, that is so romantic! Imagine… you have to live happily ever after with the guy you love. Oh, you are so lucky." she sighed, lost in thought.
"Hermione, have you lost your mind? Which part of the Curse didn't you understand? I love him because I'm cursed and he'll start to love me, because my curse will affect him… If we stay apart I will die, how can this be romantic?" Ginny almost screamed in frustration.
"Ginny, if I understood correctly, you've said, that the curse only started to work after you gave him a proof of your love. That means, you loved him before this entire curse thing… And who knows if he didn't love you already, as well?" Hermione said, sounding very secure of her own words.
"Do you think so? Oh, I wish I wasn't in this situation…" Ginny sighed, with a little smile on her lips and the hope that Hermione was indeed correct.
"Everything will be alright in the end… You'll see, Ginny. Now, let's go down for lunch, I'm starved." Hermione complained, pushing Ginny out of the bed.
"Wait! I need a shower and a clean change of clothes…" she said, holding her hygiene bag and walking towards the bathroom.
"I'll wait for you in the Common Room…"
After a delicious bath, Ginny put on a clean uniform and met Hermione and Harry in the Common Room.
"Where's Ron?" she asked curious, as they left the Gryffindor tower.
"I think he found out something special in Luna Lovegood…" Harry said, trying hard not to laugh.
"REALLY? But they were always fighting and she kept on talking about how wonderful you were, Harry… WOW; that comes as a surprise." Ginny laughed as well, in a better mood.
"Yeap, now you have an extra loony in your family." Hermione said, opening the doors to the Great Hall.
Laughing happily, the three of them went to their seats at the Gryffindor table.
Not far from there, a blond Slytherin watched a certain redhead, smiling while she talked with her friends. Lately, that girl was the only thing on his mind from the moment he woke up, until he finally fell asleep, and at times she was present even in his dreams.
One would think he was crazy to like a Weasley. Well, even he agreed with that thought. The Malfoys weren't supposed to be friends with the Weasleys, and to have a Malfoy fall in love with a Weasley was just unacceptable.
The whole revelation brought a new hope to his heart, though. She loved him; she had screamed that she did in Dumbledore's office. Now, they had an excuse to spend time together and to fall in love with each other. They would stay together forever… and he could hardly wait to share his life with her.
`I'm so ridiculous when I'm in love… I'm acting like a little virgin falling in love for the first time! Well, actually this is the first time I fall in love, but I sure am not a virgin…' he thought with a scowl on his face.
"Dracky? Why are you looking at the Weasel? You've been so strange, lately! And why are you always carrying that cat?" Pansy complained in her annoyingly fake sweet voice.
"Maybe I can't find anything worthy of my attention in this table…" he replied with a sneer, keeping his cool façade.
"Draco Malfoy, are you saying you don't find me attractive?" she shrieked loudly, making everyone look at them.
"That's exactly what I'm saying." he replied coldly, sipping his pumpkin juice.
"You'll pay for this, Draco Malfoy, you mark my words… I will have revenge." she screamed, as she ran out of the Great Hall, crying like a baby, with Crabbe and Goyle behind her.
Slowly everyone went back to their lunch, talking about what they had just heard and seen, but Draco's eyes went back to the beautiful face of none other than Miss Ginevra Weasley. To his great surprise, she was staring back at him with an amused look on her face.
"Oh, I just had the time of my life…" Hermione laughed, as Pansy ran away from the Great Hall.
"Yeah, me too…" Ginny agreed, not taking her eyes from the boy she loved. Their gazes met and they neither broke the eye contact.
A sudden movement on Draco's table distracted them. Angel had just jumped on top of the table and was eating Draco's chocolate muffin. Draco and Ginny laughed, surprising both Gryffindor and Slytherin table, Ginny went to Draco and sat next to him, on the seat formerly occupied by Pansy Parkinson.
"Hi, I'm sorry about the way I behaved after we left Dumbledore's office. I had a little too much on my mind…" she whispered in a sweet voice that made him shiver from head to toes. "Hello Angel, how have you been behaving? I'm sorry if she's bothering your life..."
"No, she isn't, I love to spend time with her, and talk with her… She's my only friend inside the Slytherin Dungeons." he replied, petting Angel while she kept eating her muffin.
"Draco, I'm sorry I dragged you into this mess… I didn't know about this bloody curse." she sighed, holding his hands between hers, making the whole student body gasp in surprise.
By now, all the students had noticed the Gryffindor and the Slytherin talking quietly and holding hands. Everyone was abnormally quiet and watching them, trying to understand what was going on.
"I'm happy I was dragged into this situation. I would have been furious if you had given a love proof to Harry Bloody Potter…" he replied, truthfully. "Everything will be alright."
"I sure hope so, Draco…" she sighed and held up a hand to caress his beautiful face, tracing each of his features with the rounded tip of her nail. "You are so beautiful."
All the students held their breaths, as they knew what was coming next. Ginny and Draco leaned in and their lips joined in a long and gentle kiss. Not realising the stares from their colleagues and from the teachers, Draco turned the kiss from tender and innocent, to a kiss full of desire and lust.
When they finally heard applauses in the distance, Draco and Ginny broke the kiss, breathing heavily, with their lips swollen and their hands on each other's bodies.
"You'd better take that Birth Control Potion, really soon…" Draco whispered against her lips, making her smile.
The entire hall was cheering them on; even Dumbledore was clapping his hands with an amused smile on his lips and his eyes were twinkling, as usual.
Blushing, Ginny and Draco rose from their seats and left the Great Hall, with their hands linked and little Angel following them.
"That was sssssoooooo romantic…" Hermione sighed, happy for her friend.
"She's sssssssooooo lucky Ron is not here to see this. He would have killed Malfoy, for touching his little sister…" Harry replied, looking a little irritated.
"They love each other… Let them be." Hermione whispered, before she sweetly kissed her boyfriend.
The couple walked hand-in-hand to the lakeshore, where Draco sat on a huge rock with Ginny on his lap.
"I think that we are in deep trouble…" Ginny smiled, watching the gigantic squid throw its tentacles out of the lake's surface. "It's against the rules to show this kind of affection in public … And what we just did was terribly public."
"I know, but it felt incredibly good, didn't it?" he laughed, caressing her waist and resting his head on her shoulder.
"Draco, are you sure you're ok with this?" Ginny asked, caressing his hands. "I mean, you hate Weasleys, you hate Harry Potter (my friend), you hate Muggle born people (Hermione is my friend as well), and you can have any girl you want… Are you sure you want to be a part of this curse?"
Draco turned her on his lap, to face her properly.
"Ginevra, you are the one I've wanted since the day we ran into each other, at Diagon Alley, this summer… And, I assure you, I like you because I want to and not because of the curse." Draco whispered, caressing her cheek with gentle fingers. "Yes, I was taught to hate the Weasleys, Mudbloods and Harry Potter, but I only did those things to please my Father. Although I must confess that I do enjoy teasing your brother and Pot-head…"
"You naughty boy!" she laughed, slapping his arm, jokingly. "But, what will we do when your father finds out about our little display at the Great Hall?"
"There's nothing he can do… The curse is keeping us together. If he separates us, we'll both die." he smiled, evilly. "And he sure can't kill his heir…"
"But, the one who dies, if we get apart, is me… Not you."
"We know that, but he doesn't…" Draco laughed, at her surprised face.
"Oh, I like the way you think… I guess that's the meaning of cunning, uh?" she joked, teasingly. "Well, I guess I have a few Slytherin things I have to learn from you…"
"You bet you do…" he whispered in her ear, with a seductive voice. "In more ways than you can imagine."
"I can hardly wait to start, although, I have a few Gryffindor things to teach you as well…" she said, waiting to see his reaction to her words.
"And what things would you teach me?" he asked, kissing her jaw.
"I can teach you to be gentle, caring, loyal… You're already brave, so, there's not much more I can teach." she replied, thinking about the Gryffindor's characteristics.
"What? You mean I'm not gentle, caring and loyal?" he growled, trying to sound hurt by her words.
"Draco, you'll have to prove you are those things if you want me to believe you…" she smiled, brushing his blond hair away from his face.
"I will reveal my true self to you, if you promise me not to tell anyone… I want to keep my Bad Boy Slytherin image. I just love to scare the first years, and tease the Dream Team…" he smiled, tickling her gently. "Do you agree, Weasel?"
"I agree, if you stop tickling me and if you don't call me Weasel, Ferret." she laughed, trying to stop his hands.
"You've got yourself a deal, Ginevra." he replied, stopping the tickling, to hold her face between his hands. "You're so beautiful, you know that?"
"Oh oh… I think the curse is starting to affect your eyes." she laughed, blushing adoringly.
"I think not. You are beautiful, and now you're all mine…" he whispered against her lips.
"Hey, I'm not something you can own, but thank you for thinking of me that way, although I don't need another Ron to control me at all times." she sighed, happily.
"I'm not like that Weasel… I'm much better." he smiled, kissing her softly. As soon as she responded to the kiss, he licked her lips, asking permission to deepen the caress and Ginny allowed by slowly opening her lips.
They were lost in each other's caresses, savouring their kisses and exploring with their hands, when an amused cough sounded behind them.
Surprised, they stopped the kiss and looked around searching for the person who had interrupted them.
"Angel, was it you?" Draco asked, smiling amusedly. "What is it?"
"Why are you thinking that Angel can cough like that?" Ginny asked, surprised with his words.
"Probably, because he's used to talk with me. Poor guy has to talk with a Pulga because no one in Slytherin likes him…" Angel replied, with amusement in her light gentle voice.
"ANGEL, you can talk?" Ginny gasped in shock and happiness, all at the same time. "Wow, that's amazing… I didn't know you could talk."
"I know, Gin, I was waiting for the right time to tell you." Angel explained, as Ginny held her in her arms.
"Oh, my little angel, I'm really happy you can communicate with us, but I have a question for you. Do you mind?" Ginny asked, smiling.
"Of course not… Shoot!"
"Why do you like Snape? He's always so stupid to everyone, except the Slytherins of course… So, why?" Ginny asked, curious.
"Ah, good question. Well, Severus is not that bad a person, when you get to know him… He has a great mind and he's very funny, although a little too sarcastic." Angel replied, looking at Ginny with her cute pink eyes. "And he likes me as well… He pets me, gives me chocolate cookies, and talks with me. I really like him."
"And me? Do you like me?" Ginny asked, with a serious face.
"You Ginny, are my best friend, the person I love the most in the world… I would do anything for you, Gin… Anything!" Angel said, tapping Ginny's face with her soft paw, as if caressing her.
"Oh, I love you too, Angel… Please, don't you ever doubt that, and don't you even think about dying of sadness. Draco loves you as well, don't you Draco?" Ginny smiled, facing Draco.
"Of course I do. I love both my girls…" he smiled, kissing Ginny on the lips, while scratching Angel behind her ears.
"Well, I'm glad you two love me, but right now, we must avoid some troubles… Gin, your brother is coming this way. I think you two should keep this relationship as a secret, for now…" Angel said, with a serious voice.
"Very well…" Ginny answered, kissing Draco one last time before leaving his lap. "Can we meet later?"
"Of course, send Angel to me when you decide when and where." he smiled, still holding her hand in his.
"I love you, Draco…" Ginny whispered, as she kissed him one last time, and ran towards the castle.
"Hey, Ginny, what were you doing over there with that Slytherin git?" Ron asked, looking furious, pointing at Draco.
"He was just telling me that Angel was a little sick last night… I asked him what were the symptoms and now I'm going to the library to research what's wrong with her. Do you want to help?" she lied, with a smile on her face.
"I can't… I have to go to classes. Don't you have classes now?" he asked, suspicious.
"Not for another hour… See you later, Ron." she said, entering the castle with happiness all over her face.
"Nah, something is wrong between these two… I can feel it in my bones." Ron whispered to himself, walking back to the school, towards the Dungeons, for double Potions with Snape and the Slytherins.
The afternoon went by very very slowly and Ginny wished she could be alone with Draco, sitting on that rock, close to the lake, feeling his arms protecting her from the world…
Every single student kept pointing their fingers at her and commenting about her kiss with Draco, making her feel like a jailed animal. Everyone stares and talks about you, but no one dares to approach you and know the real you…
As soon as she left her last class of the day, Ginny ran to the Gryffindor tower, with Angel in her arms.
"Gin, are you upset?" Angel whispered, sounding worried.
"A little, my friend… This entire situation is so hard!" Ginny sighed, trying to smile. "Look, I'm not hungry… Can you find Draco and tell him to meet me in the Astronomy Tower at 10 p.m.?"
"But, that's after the curfew. Are you sure, Gin?" the Pulga asked, worried.
"You're right, I don't want us to get detention. Angel, tell him to meet me in the Library after dinner and tell him to bring his books to do his homework. Do you agree?" Ginny reconsidered.
"That's much better, Gin. Are you sure you don't want to eat?" Angel asked, placing a soft paw on Ginny's cheek.
"Yes, I'm sure… Go ahead, and tell Draco to feed you, ok? I'll see you later…" Ginny smiled, as she placed the Pulga on the floor and watched her run down the corridor, towards the moving staircases, to find Draco.
As soon as Ginny entered the Gryffindor Common Room, she saw Harry trying to stop a furious Ron from running to her.
`Ooops… He heard about the kiss. I should have gone down for dinner.' she thought worriedly.
"YOU! How could you do something like that? I've spent a whole afternoon being laughed at, without knowing why… People telling me you were a scarlet woman, and I've started fighting them. I've lost points for fighting because of your honour! At last, someone dared to explain to me that you've spent today's lunch hour snogging Draco Malfoy in front of the entire school, in the middle of the Great Hall…" Ron yelled, ignoring the gathering crowd, watching their fight. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Don't talk about things you don't understand, Ron… When I feel ready to reveal what's happening, you'll be the first to know." Ginny said, gently, although she looked extremely pale and on the verge of fainting.
"I'm your brother, Ginevra Weasley, and I want an explanation right now!" he yelled again, even more furious with her lack of response.
"I will not give you an explanation when you are about to explode." she screamed back, getting sick of so much yelling. "That explanation involves me and Draco, and if you even think of hurting him, you'll regret the day you were born, Ronald Weasley!"
"They were right, you are acting like a scarlet woman…" he screamed, freeing himself from Harry's arms and coming to stand in front of her. "You are a disgrace to our family Ginny… Getting involved with a Malfoy is the worst thing you could ever do to your family."
Having said this, Ron slapped her face, making everyone in the Common Room gasp in shock, including Ginny.
She just looked at his face and before the tears started to spill on her face, Ginny ran to her dorm, picked up her Potion books and ran out of the Gryffindor Tower, ignoring Hermione's calls.
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