Lost Seconds

Leni

Rating: PG
Genres: Romance
Relationships: Draco & Ginny
Book: Draco & Ginny, Books 1 - 5
Published: 21/03/2004
Last Updated: 21/03/2004
Status: completed

Because love is never around the corner, but it just might be hidden under a Snitch's trail.

Chapters

1. one lost little second running scared after its mommy...

1. one lost little second running scared after its mommy...

TITLE: Lost Seconds
AUTHOR: Leni
DISCLAIMER: Give him three or four extra years and then give him to me. Please?
SUMMARY: Ginny and secret crushes are still good friends.
PAIRINGS: D/G, because I like them too much and Eleni did add them in the 'possible pairings to write for my birthday' list. ;)
TIMELINE: Ginny's fifth year at Hogwarts.
FEEDBACK: Enjoyed.
THANKYOU: To Meghan. For being there when I was panicking about not having begun Eleni's gift. Yes, I remember the idea you gave me but it was too complex. Hermione absolutely refused to cooperate, God, is that girl difficult to write! Wonder how J.K.Rowling manages it...
Oh, and the *very* quick betaing while she was watching 'Angel'.
DEDICATION: To Eleni, for her birthday

***

It was already close to sundown. Time passed too quickly when one was absorbed in something.

Something, for example, like watching a sixteen-year-old guy in his Quidditch robes chase quickly after the quicker Snitch. For hours already, she had seen him free the little sphere just to catch it again after some minutes.

Ginny sighed wistfully, drawing her scarf tighter around her neck.

She really shouldn't be here.

For one, today had to be the coldest winter day. It had been freezing in the Common Room, where the fire was bright and the thick walls didn't let the chilly wind come in contact with her body. Here, in training field, she felt as if a wave of ice was engulfing her.

Secondly, it was her fifth year, meaning that she'd be taking the O.W.L.S. in another few weeks. She should be with her Arithmancy books, or maybe studying Potions and nagging Hermione to explain the chain reaction of the Sleeping Draught. If she really wasn't feeling like doing schoolwork, then she could gossip with Marla about the cute boys in Ron's grade. For that matter, she could be trying out new hairdos for her stubborn red hair!

Truth was, were she interested in anything else but observing this Seeker, there were lots of things Ginny Weasley could and should be doing at this very moment.

But none of them appealed her as much as watching him fly.

She sighed again. God, if Ron got wind of her newest pastime, there'll be hell to pay. Her older brother would never accept such a behaviour, not even if he didn't have any right to meddle in her life. But then, who'd understand her?

Little Weasley girls were not supposed to sneak out every evening from the Gryffindor Tower, bundled tightly in the warmest robes, much less just to watch someone practice.

Little Weasley girls should not be trying to hide in their blue robes, teeth chattering loudly, not minding the cold as long as he was still flying around the field in search for his prize.

It was madness.

The way he grabbed his broom made her wish his hands were around her wrists, gripping her with the promise of never letting go.

It was crazy.

The resolute look in his eyes as he searched for the Snitch made her desire that he would look at her with the same intensity.

It was absurd.

Even the strong, self-assured smile as he finally caught the little ball would make another smile appear in her own face.

It was idiocy.

Because the moment he captured his fifth Snitch of the evening, he finally decided to acknowledge her and break the spell.

"Hey Weasley!" She cursed under her breath and braced herself. "You spying on me?" Draco Malfoy sniggered as he purposely reduced his altitude until he was facing her. "What, Potter can not do the dirty job himself? Or he's decided to get rid of you by sending you into the cold for some hours?"

She glared at him murderously, trying to get her mouth to work properly. How dare he insinuate that she still acted like a puppy at Harry's heels? The nerve! Was he that dumb?

Here she came every day just to watch him train. She never stepped into his foolish conflicts with her brother unless to calm Ron down, she'd even gone as far as to help him to the Infirmary Wing when both Ron and Harry had lost their patience with the stupid git. Of course, not even once had the little bastard say 'thank you', not that she expected him to. But could he really be that blind? Not even Harry was as bad when he was dating/not dating Cho!

"Cat got your tongue, girl?"

Yes, he really was that dumb.

"Do shut up, Malfoy!" she replied testily. "As if Harry didn't know that you couldn't catch a Snitch! And that's even if it'd freeze below your nose!"

Draco smirked. There was something dangerous about it, that Ginny knew, but she still couldn't stop her heart from doing cartwheels as his grey eyes looked into her.

"Oh, I can't catch a Snitch? So what have I been doing in the last hours?" He looked at her, a little blue bundle of righteous fury, arms akimbo and glaring at him like a true Weasley. But Draco hadn't spent six years confronting her brother to back off now, even if he had to admit that her rounder, lighter eyes were much prettier than the Weasel's. The corners of his mouth lifted again, this time in a daring smile. "And what have you been doing in that bench not to notice? Too busy admiring your brother's enemy?"

Ginny flushed slightly. "Oh please, your ego is blinding me." She scoffed, glad that gone were the times of stuttering and mad blushing. "You only caught it because there was nobody else to do it."

An elegant eyebrow was lifted as he assessed the girl below him. "Is that a challenge, Weasley?"

Until he said the words she hadn't realised that yes, her words had been a challenge. True, Draco Malfoy was now a decent Seeker and in the last hours she had seen some impressive moves but, wasn't she good too? In the last year - her first and apparently last as a Seeker - she had played against all teams but Slytherin. She was curious and, she realised now, even eager to compete against Draco. Maybe she had an insane crush on him, and maybe it would/could/should never be but, why not spend some time with the guy in the only way nobody - not even he - would suspect a thing?

"Silent now, huh?" he laughed nastily. "Did I scare Potter's little girlfriend?"

"I'm not his girlfriend!" His eyes sparkled with some unsaid comment. She interrupted him fast before he could throw the unpleasant remark. "And yes, I challenge you!"

Draco saw her turn back and call for her broom. He smiled slowly.

"Accio broom!"

If she had turned right then, Ginny would have noticed the malicious twinkle in his eyes go softer for a second...

"Ready now, Weasley?"

She answered by mounting her broom and elevating herself in a smooth movement. No words crossed her lips as she placed herself at his right and nodded her assent.

Draco freed the Snitch and immediately went after it.

If he had waited a single second he'd have heard Ginny's wistful sigh before she followed his example...

...Lost little seconds indeed.

The End.
Written: 14/10/03
Betaed: 14/10/03 (Thanks Meghan!)