Pink Hearts by InTheStars
Rating: PG13
Genres: Romance, Humor
Relationships: Draco & Ginny
Book: Draco & Ginny, Books 1 - 5
Published: 17/04/2004
Last Updated: 18/04/2004
Status: In Progress
Flying pink hearts, chocolate frog songs, and muffins. What ever is Draco to do? Very late
Valentine's ficcie.
1. untitled
-----------
**Pink Hearts**
Author: Faith
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Flying pink hearts, chocolate frog songs, and *muffins*. What ever is Draco to do?
Very late Valentine's ficcie.
Disclaimer: Created by J.K. Rowling. I am in no way affiliated ot linked, or in association with
her. I do NOT own Harry Potter, the book series.
If Draco Malfoy saw *one* more pink heart he was going to *explode*.
Damn family honor. Damn his pride. Damn his normally cool exterior. If *one more*
Merlin-forsaken Valentine whizzed into the Great Hall this miserable morning he was going to
*Avada Kedavra* somebody, and he didn’t care about the consequences. He’d rather bunk it up
with dementors than suffer through one more ‘you’re the chocolate card I’ve wanted all my life!’
song.
Something red and pink whizzed passed his left ear-lobe, and hit Pansy Parkinson smack-dab on
the nose, who squealed so loud he was sure his ears popped.
Draco blinked and his grip tightened so hard on his silverware that later that day he would find
imprints.
Well, it wasn’t a pink heart. It was a completely harmless card. And it wasn’t singing. He could
let this one pass.
"Beautiful day, isn’t it, my dear friend?" Blaise Zabini lazily dropped into a seat
next to him, a broad, knowing grin on his face.
Draco scowled. "Shut it, Zabini."
Blaise carefully unfolded his napkin and dutifully placed it in his lap. "Ah, ah, ah. It’s
Valentine’s Day, mate. You have to be happy and loving and pick pretty flowers for even prettier
girls." He bit into a chocolate muffin, the twinkle in his eyes the only evidence of his real
tactic- to annoy his friend as much as humanly possible.
The blonde Slytherin felt the urge to spew. All over Blaise, of course. "I’d rather have
the Cruciatus Curse performed on me by Snape while he dances around in a tutu."
Blaise brushed a few crumbs off his sleeve. "Please refrain from sharing your late-night
fantasies with me, Draco."
"And please remember the silencing charm next time you feel certain urges during
*your* late nights, Blaise."
"Touchee." He commented, sounding mildly impressed. A moment passed. "Sickle for
your thoughts? I’m guessing some woman troubles?"
"Sod off." Draco hissed, knowing where Blaise was going with this.
"But that’s impossible, of course," Blaise continued, "Draco Malfoy doesn’t have
woman problems. They all swoon after him. He can have anyone he wants, I’m told. Except a certain
Gryffindor. She presents no interest in him at all, in fact-"
"Do you like that muffin, Blaise? How would you like me to shove it down your throat and
watch while you choke to death?"
Blaise smiled very slightly and nodded. "Message understood."
Grey eyes narrowed into tiny slits, pushing the thought of Ginny Weasley out of his mind,
because Blaise was, without a doubt, as off-target as Ron Weasley in a duel. Where was he in
describing his hatred before Blaise the-oh-so-witty Zabini interrupted? Oh, yes. *Pink*
*hearts*. That *sang*.
"Happy Valentine’s Day, Blaise." Draco looked up from his thoughts to find Tracey
Davis’s soft smile, which was met with an equally sickening grin.
"Happy Valentine’s Day, Tracey."
Not unexpectedly, Draco felt his stomach lurch in what he could only describe as disgust.
"You two make me sick." He grumbled as she slid in at the edge of the bench, very
comfortably, and very close, to Blaise.
"What was that, Malfoy?" Blaise inquired, offering Tracey half his muffin.
"Nothing."
An acute shade of red had painted Tracey’s cheek from his comment, and Blaise’s grin widened.
Draco had to avert his eyes to hold down his *own* muffin.
Consequently, (and thankfully) that same movement saved him from a collision with the next
Valentine to grace his breakfast, and the pink, fluttering heart flew passed him, at top speed to
skid to a halt before red hair and freckles two tables over.
*Pink*. A *heart*. For *Ginny*.
The little Weasley blushed fiercely, her red ringlets matching her face as Lavender and Parvati
(Or was it Parvati and Lavender? He couldn’t tell half the sodding lot apart, anyway.) Oohed and
ahhed over it, motioning for her to open it, Seamus Finnigan grinning stupidly next to her.
Those fingers slowly reached for the small heart...
Draco’s fingers curled around the edge of the table, intently watching, something akin to murder
in his eyes.
...and the card was open.
And it *sang*. It *sang* that *song*. For *Ginny*. **His**
*Ginny*.
"You’ve ended my strife,
You’re the chocolate card,
I’ve wanted all my life.
Love, Seamus"
He almost took his wand out right there and cursed the whole Hall into oblivion. Where did that
bastard get off? (*Ginny, supposedly*, said a voice, fueling his anger.)
Ginny’s blush deepened and Lavender and Parvati (or Parvati and Lavender) giggled. Seamus
Finnigan slung an arm over her shoulders.
That had to be the most *unoriginal* valentine he could have chosen, and it was
*completely* uncalled for! He could *not* believe she was falling for this!
He stoically glared into Seamus’s direction, willing him to look over. Oh, this unholy day
wouldn’t be completely wasted if the git pissed his pants from fright.
*Look over*, he seethed. *Come on!* But Seamus was too busy flirting.
This had all started because of the old buffoon (more commonly referred to as Professor
Dumbledore) a few months previous. Could he help it if he was paired with the redhead against his
will? It certainly wasn’t *his* fault. Of anyone, she was the last he expected to be forced to
during Dumbledore’s improving house relationships crusade.
So, after a few well-aimed slaps and snide remarks, Draco was, for some unattainable reason,
completely smitten with the spitfire (damn her), but unfortunately, as he had come to learn, so was
Seamus Finnigan (damn him).
Damn the whole *lot* of them. Damn the bloody *pink hearts* that *sang* that
*damn bloody song*.
Damn the decorations, the cards, the chocolates (although he really did love chocolate), the
candy, *and* the flowers! *And* just for good measure, damn *Potter* too!
Draco took a last distasteful look at the two before setting his eyes on the remains of his
breakfast, finding he wasn’t very hungry anymore.
Damn the whole bloody holiday.
If Ginny Weasley saw *one* more pink heart she was going to *explode*.
On a second thought, she wasn’t going to explode. She was going to spontaneously combust from
pure frustration, in a horrible display of fire.
She had known Seamus was going to send her one. It was inevitable. It was inescapable. It was
annoying beyond anything she had ever experienced. Not to mention, utterly mortifying. She wished
he would stop smiling at her like that, or learn the meaning of personal space, or maybe just charm
his breath so it didn’t reek of bacon.
Why couldn’t he have had a *muffin* instead? Muffins don’t give one bad breath, or at
least, not to this extent.
"Did you like the valentine?"
Ginny knew if she looked his way, she’d only see a huge white smile, and (the horror!) Maybe
even bacon bits between said white teeth. So, that was out of the question. Best to look at
anything else. At all. *Anything* at all.
Her cinnamon eyes rested on the sulking, blonde Slytherin straight ahead of her.
"Very much, thanks." She whispered, and swallowed.
A few strands of white-blonde hair dangled across grey eyes. They looked sideways at Blaise
Zabini and Tracey Davis with obvious repulsion as they shared a secret joke over their shared
muffin.
She almost snorted in a very un-ladylike manner. Just like Draco to think it was nauseating. It
was rather cute, actually. Just as the thought reached her, she chided herself, her conscious
sounding much like her mother. *Stop thinking about him*.
Ginny sighed. The past was the past. A mere week ago they were coerced into daily activities
with each other. Studying, eating, everything one could possibly do with a friend. And they had
excepted it at first, calming deciding not to attack each other’s throats. Most of the time. Some
of the time. Truthfully, that plan had been a bit of a dud.
After a month of such, it was hard not to notice his strange habits, the little things he did,
his expressions. According to her brother, Draco Malfoy was a cold, evil boy, but, in her eyes, he
was just lonely and sad, and just a little bit (or maybe a lot) snarky.
Ginny had to try even harder to hold down a bitter laugh. How dramatic she sounded.
So, she just *might* have developed some one-sided feelings for him. Arguing twenty-four
seven had gotten old after the first week, and terribly draining. So they had become almost
tolerable friends for the last two weeks, and now that they didn’t have to stand each other, why do
so anymore?
Ginny Weasley had gotten herself into a bad, bad situation.
With a last look of nausea, the object of her ponders stood up, most likely intending to leave.
Suddenly aware of Seamus’s breath on her cheek, she realized how much she wanted to leave also,
just to escape the bacon-smell alone.
"So, Ginny," he began, "are you going with anyone special to Hogsmeade
today?"
Ginny felt as if the Hogwarts Express just flattened her.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go with me?"
Damn pink hearts. Damn song. Damn holiday. Stupid her. She should have expected this. Damn,
damn, damn.
"Um..." She stuttered, her eyes fixed on Draco, as if the sight of him could conjure
up an answer. Oh, this was wrong. She was leading Seamus on, she knew she was, but she didn’t want
to hurt him...
Draco was getting closer, and his pale sliver eyes slowly caught her deer-in-headlights
gaze.
Her mind screamed. *Think! Think of something! Anything!*
And quite suddenly, she did. And she regretted it the moment the words spewed from her mouth.
"Draco!" She squeaked.
Seamus started, looking up to the halted Seeker, than back at Ginny, who took that as the
opportune moment to wrench herself from under his arm. "Huh?"
"Draco." She repeated. "I... can’t go to Hogsmeade with you, because... I’m- I’m
going with Draco."
Seamus blinked. "That’s funny, Ginny." He said, breaking out into a smile.
"But I am." She repeated, looking over to a slightly surprised Malfoy.
"Right?" She let the next word be for Draco, only. "*Please*?"
The shocked look on his face slowly filtered off, and he raised one eyebrow, a slight smirk
quirking his mouth, and Ginny felt her heart fall into her stomach for more than one reason.
"Of course." He accepted with stride, his smirk growing to a wicked smile.
"McGonagall and Snape thought we needed more time to set out our differences, since we spent
most of the time thinking ways to hex each other anyway. Decided to torture us into a submission of
sorts."
"Oh." Seamus accepted with general dislike, his bacon-smile wiped off his face.
"Well, c’mon Red, better get going." Draco continued, his simper even wider,
shark-like, unnerving her. He was assenting to this much too readily. It was entirely possible
Ginny has gotten herself into an even worse situation.
With a ruined vigor in his step, Draco exited the Hall, not even looking back to check if Ginny
followed.
He took it all back, all his previous misgivings about Valentine’s Day; his damning of the
chocolate, the flowers (maybe not so much), the decorations, the candy and the cards. Even those
ruddy pink hearts that sang that dreadful song.
Except for Potter. Potter could stayed damned.
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2. untitled
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**Pink Hearts**
Author: Faith
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Flying pink hearts, chocolate frog songs, and *muffins*. What ever is Draco to do?
Very late Valentine's ficcie.
Disclaimer: Created by J.K. Rowling. I am in no way affiliated ot linked, or in association with
her. I do NOT own Harry Potter, the book series.
"Draco!" Ginny yelled, her legs covering the distance, her footfalls sharp against the
hard floor.
"Get those little legs moving, Weasley." He called back to her, heading out the
door.
"Will- you- *wait*- up- you- *stupid*-" She seethed, slowing to an exhausted
walk next to him.
"Now, now, do I even have to tell you why you shouldn’t finish that question? After all, I
am doing you a favor..." He said cheekily, the winter sunlight blinding him for a moment.
Ginny’s chest heaved, and she dragged herself along next to his long stride. "Sod the
favor, slow down!" She snapped.
He stopped so abruptly, turning on her so fast, Ginny stumbled with surprise, a breath away from
knocking into him. He leered over her, and she was suddenly very aware of the fact he had a few
good inches on her.
"All right then, I’ll just go tell good ole Irish the truth," he smiled with an odd
glint in his eyes, "that you’d rather spend a day with the evil Slytherin Draco Malfoy than
the corn beef and cabbage of Gryffindor himself."
Ginny’s eyes widened. "No! You wouldn’t-"
Draco scoffed. "I very well would."
The red head pursed her lips together, and crossed her arms. "All right, Draco, what do you
want from me for this?"
He smirked coldly, his eyes giving her the up and the down. "What do you offer?"
Cinnamon eyes narrowed and her pale, freckled face flushed pink. "Why, you-"
"Na uh." Draco reprimanded, smile widening. "I’ve got you, Ginny. Finnigan is
only just inside..."
"You’re *disgusting*, and I would rather rot in hell than-"
"You’re going red, Weasley. Very festive of you." Draco drawled, and he could almost
imagine the steam whistling out of her ears. He could spend all day just like this, watching her
get riled up because of him, something that was much more satisfying then setting off her brother
or Pothead. Resignedly, he sighed. "Calm down, Ginny. Don’t get your knickers in a knot. There
will be no inappropriate behavior of any kind."
Slowly, her face drained. "Fine." She agreed briskly. A relieved exhale escaped her
body.
"Two butterbeers, please."
Ginny played with the hem of her shirt as Madam Rosmerta smiled a bit quizzically at the two.
They had to look the odd couple- red clashing with blonde, the red neither looking happy nor in
love, whilst the blonde looked much too satisfied.
The Three Broomsticks was adorned with red and pink glitter streaking across the ceiling, little
cupids dancing merrily above them. A stray magical arrow dissipated as it struck the table, white
sparkling crystal that seemed like broken glass tumbling over the surface before vanishing.
"I’m not thirsty." Ginny crossed her arms, raising a challenging eyebrow at Draco.
He smiled sugar sweetly. "Of course you are, Valentine."
Her lips twisted in disgust. "If I *was* thirsty, I’d buy it *myself*."
Draco scoffed and turned to Madam Rosmerta. "She’s thirsty, and I’m buying."
Seemingly somewhere between confused and amused, she assented to the order and walked away.
"I’ll pay for my own drink." Ginny said stubbornly, once she was out of earshot.
"That’s not how a gentlemen would allow his woman to act." Draco drawled, leaning back
into his chair.
"You are so Teutonic, Draco. And I am *not* your ‘woman.’ " She accused through
narrowed eyes. "*Why* are you doing this to me? We didn’t *have* to go to
Hogsmeade-"
"Oh, contraire, I believe we *did*, supposing, of course, you still want Fin Boy to
suspect this isn’t some kind of love tryst."
Ginny clucked her tongue, even as her heart skipped a beat at the thought. "As if. Let’s
just get this over with..."
Draco’s smirk slowly wavered, and he leaned forward, resting his hands and elbows on the table.
"Listen, Weasley," he sighed, "this is not how you want to spend your day, and you
*know* I’d rather jump in the lake and offer myself as breakfast to the giant squid. So, we
can get through this the hard way, or the easy way. Your choice."
Another arrow collided with the space in between them, a firework of stars. Ginny felt her
insides softening.
"What would the easy way entail, then?"
"A day in my wonderful company." Smugly, Draco leaned back again.
Eyes rolling, Ginny raised her eyes to meet his. "And I suppose the hard way will
be..."
"Poor, heartbroken Finnigan."
A frown took hold on Ginny’s features. "You’re really being horrible, Draco," she said
sadly, blinking into grey eyes.
Draco gave a bitter laugh, his heart panging almost painfully. "I try."
Butterbeers finished and another witty repartee later, Draco led Ginny out into the streets of
Hogsmeade, where the pairs of couples only brought sneers from the Slytherin, and a few chastising
looks from the Gryffindor.
"Where to now?" Ginny had asked, and Draco had shrugged. "Bloody fun, you are,
Draco. How about Honeydukes?"
"Weasley, your language!" Mockingly pressing a hand to his chest, he had gasped rather
dramatically.
"Oh, do shut up."
And so, Honeydukes it was. As according to the wondrous day, red and pink decorations were
abound. But, much to Ginny and Draco’s relief, so was an enormous amount of chocolate.
"This," Ginny started, swallowing a bit of chocolate, "is the only good part
about this holiday."
They had taken to a lone bench near Honeydukes, settling down with armfuls of sweets.
"Indeed." Draco agreed, opening a Chocolate Frog and scrambling to catch it.
"We’re going to get sick from all this chocolate, you do realize?" He drawled, and took a
bite.
Settling into another piece of chocolate, Ginny felt her lips curl. "And I’m *sure* I
care."
"I will *not* be holding your hair back for you if you spew, Ginny." He warned,
but a small smile had wandered onto his face.
Ginny chuckled, swallowing her bit and reaching for more. Her red hair fell forward, wisping
across her face and shadowing her freckles, the sun creating yellow flecks in the long mane. Sliver
eyes watched the corner of her mouths, slowly reaching upward into a pleased grin.
"Not so bad, is it?"
"Wha?" Ginny asked from behind a mouthful.
"A day in my wonderful company." He suggested, and a bold move flexed his hand forward
to move said hair behind her ear.
Her tongue flicked out to save a crumble of chocolate, her cheek growing a pink underneath
scrutiny. "Huh." She forced out, causing red to creep down to her neck. "Chocolate.
Not you. I’m having a wonderful day in the company of chocolate."
Draco finished his Chocolate Frog in a triumphant flourish. That had to be a good sign.
"I give it two weeks."
Ginny scrunched up her nose in disagreement. "Really? I don’t know, they seem to really
like each other."
Draco flicked a bit of lint from his pants, and then quite casually wrapped his arm around the
back of the bench. "Weasley, they’ll never last. They hang all over each other. They’ll get
bored out of their minds after awhile."
Teeth nibbled diligently on a bottom lip. "Some people call that *love*, Draco."
The tone of stubborn rebellion had rose into her voice, the kind he knew would kick, scream, and
yell until he agreed with her. Oh, what a wonderful temper she had. Why did he like her, again?
"What about them?" He asked, gesturing to the next couple. Cho Chang and Michael
Corner were smiling in the other’s eyes, holding hands and making their way to Honeydukes.
Ginny huffed and crossed her arms. "I wish he walks into a pole."
"They will if they don’t start looking ahead of them."
"I’d laugh." Ginny whipped her head around to him. "Laugh with me?"
Draco smirked, watching as she blinked hesitantly, noticing how close they were truly sitting.
"Laugh?" He scoffed, "I’d trip him for you."
Cinnamon eyes lite up with mischievous intentions, and her leg kicked out from behind his,
lurching it forward.
And Michael Corner plopped into a thick covering of snow, slowly melting from fading winter.
He couldn’t help it. He honestly couldn’t. The sight of the flailing body falling straight into
a pile of sludgy snow was just too funny not to laugh. And so he did, loud, side-clutching, barks
of uncontrollable laughter.
"Oi!" Ginny cried, falling to her knees to help the Ravenclaw. "Draco, I
*cannot* believe you just did that!" Michael sputtered out pieces of mingling dirt as Cho
hurriedly asked if he was all right.
"I’m fine." He answered, and through Draco’s tear-filing eyes he saw Michael’s face
turn such a shade of rose it would be difficult to differentiate from Hogsmeade’s festive
decorations.
"Stop laughing, you big oaf!" Ginny ordered him. "I am *so sorry*,
Michael."
"Yes, we understand *that*." Cho snapped impatiently, wiping his face with her
scarf. Cheeks were steadily getting redder as both girls fluttered over him, and Draco was still
ever laughing.
"I’m all right, I’m *ALL RIGHT*!" Michael stood up hastily, putting up his hands
in surrender.
With that, he took Cho’s arms and rushed into the hearts of Honeydukes’.
"I’m sorry!" Ginny shouted after the jingle of bells (to the tune of My Funny
Valentine, if it must be known) above the door.
Draco wiped his eyes, slowly recovering from the comical sight. Grinning happily, the Gryffindor
sat unceremoniously back down. "Thanks, Draco. I feel *much* better now."
Right at that moment, while amusement hung to her lips and grey clashed with cinnamon, he
remembered why he liked her, after all. His throat suddenly felt blocked, and he cleared it with an
effort he had never experienced before.
He should tell her right there. ‘Listen, I know I’m a Malfoy, and you’re a Weasley, and all that
Slytherin and Gryffindor righteous rivalry, but don’t get me wrong, I’m really am a great bloke,
counting my looks, of course, that is, but I think we should risk it all and snog. What do you
say?’
An annoying voice in his mind (that sounded suspiciously like Blaise) laughed heartily at his
attempt.
Ginny wrapped her arms around her waist and looked into the street, her cheeks blushing from his
strange expression. "How about them?" She offered quietly.
Tearing his gaze, it rested on (speak of the devil) Blaise and Tracey. A disgusted sound rose up
from the back of his throat. "They’re so in love it’s nauseating. ‘Blaise, that’s the last
chocolate muffin,’ ‘I know Tracey, I saved it for you,’ ‘oh, how sweet of you; I love you ever so
much.’ "
A hand reached out and playfully swatted his arm. "That *is* sweet, Draco."
"The way to a women’s heart is a muffin?" His eyebrow raised so high it was in danger
of merging with his hairline.
"No, it’s caring about them. Being sensitive to their feelings."
"In other words, being a pansy."
The only response was Ginny rolling her eyes. "Is the day *over* yet?"
Lips thinned. "No." He answered defiantly, crossing his arms and sulking back into the
bench.
One moment they were laughing over the imprint of Michael Corner’s face, and the next she hated
him with the fire of a thousand burning suns, eager for any opportunity to get away. It just
figured, having his luck.
Women.
-
Thanks to ktkc1031, DarkenedQuasar, Draco's Gurl, pinksunryse, darkcharlie, Ri, and
Momentyne for the reviews! They're very appreciated. :D And you're welcome to call me
Starry, Darkened Quasar. Ri- *Another* signature change?? :P
2. untitled
-----------
**Pink Hearts**
Author: Faith
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Flying pink hearts, chocolate frog songs, and *muffins*. What ever is Draco to do?
Very late Valentine's ficcie.
Disclaimer: Created by J.K. Rowling. I am in no way affiliated ot linked, or in association with
her. I do NOT own Harry Potter, the book series.
"Draco!" Ginny yelled, her legs covering the distance, her footfalls sharp against the
hard floor.
"Get those little legs moving, Weasley." He called back to her, heading out the
door.
"Will- you- *wait*- up- you- *stupid*-" She seethed, slowing to an exhausted
walk next to him.
"Now, now, do I even have to tell you why you shouldn’t finish that question? After all, I
am doing you a favor..." He said cheekily, the winter sunlight blinding him for a moment.
Ginny’s chest heaved, and she dragged herself along next to his long stride. "Sod the
favor, slow down!" She snapped.
He stopped so abruptly, turning on her so fast, Ginny stumbled with surprise, a breath away from
knocking into him. He leered over her, and she was suddenly very aware of the fact he had a few
good inches on her.
"All right then, I’ll just go tell good ole Irish the truth," he smiled with an odd
glint in his eyes, "that you’d rather spend a day with the evil Slytherin Draco Malfoy than
the corn beef and cabbage of Gryffindor himself."
Ginny’s eyes widened. "No! You wouldn’t-"
Draco scoffed. "I very well would."
The red head pursed her lips together, and crossed her arms. "All right, Draco, what do you
want from me for this?"
He smirked coldly, his eyes giving her the up and the down. "What do you offer?"
Cinnamon eyes narrowed and her pale, freckled face flushed pink. "Why, you-"
"Na uh." Draco reprimanded, smile widening. "I’ve got you, Ginny. Finnigan is
only just inside..."
"You’re *disgusting*, and I would rather rot in hell than-"
"You’re going red, Weasley. Very festive of you." Draco drawled, and he could almost
imagine the steam whistling out of her ears. He could spend all day just like this, watching her
get riled up because of him, something that was much more satisfying then setting off her brother
or Pothead. Resignedly, he sighed. "Calm down, Ginny. Don’t get your knickers in a knot. There
will be no inappropriate behavior of any kind."
Slowly, her face drained. "Fine." She agreed briskly. A relieved exhale escaped her
body.
"Two butterbeers, please."
Ginny played with the hem of her shirt as Madam Rosmerta smiled a bit quizzically at the two.
They had to look the odd couple- red clashing with blonde, the red neither looking happy nor in
love, whilst the blonde looked much too satisfied.
The Three Broomsticks was adorned with red and pink glitter streaking across the ceiling, little
cupids dancing merrily above them. A stray magical arrow dissipated as it struck the table, white
sparkling crystal that seemed like broken glass tumbling over the surface before vanishing.
"I’m not thirsty." Ginny crossed her arms, raising a challenging eyebrow at Draco.
He smiled sugar sweetly. "Of course you are, Valentine."
Her lips twisted in disgust. "If I *was* thirsty, I’d buy it *myself*."
Draco scoffed and turned to Madam Rosmerta. "She’s thirsty, and I’m buying."
Seemingly somewhere between confused and amused, she assented to the order and walked away.
"I’ll pay for my own drink." Ginny said stubbornly, once she was out of earshot.
"That’s not how a gentlemen would allow his woman to act." Draco drawled, leaning back
into his chair.
"You are so Teutonic, Draco. And I am *not* your ‘woman.’ " She accused through
narrowed eyes. "*Why* are you doing this to me? We didn’t *have* to go to
Hogsmeade-"
"Oh, contraire, I believe we *did*, supposing, of course, you still want Fin Boy to
suspect this isn’t some kind of love tryst."
Ginny clucked her tongue, even as her heart skipped a beat at the thought. "As if. Let’s
just get this over with..."
Draco’s smirk slowly wavered, and he leaned forward, resting his hands and elbows on the table.
"Listen, Weasley," he sighed, "this is not how you want to spend your day, and you
*know* I’d rather jump in the lake and offer myself as breakfast to the giant squid. So, we
can get through this the hard way, or the easy way. Your choice."
Another arrow collided with the space in between them, a firework of stars. Ginny felt her
insides softening.
"What would the easy way entail, then?"
"A day in my wonderful company." Smugly, Draco leaned back again.
Eyes rolling, Ginny raised her eyes to meet his. "And I suppose the hard way will
be..."
"Poor, heartbroken Finnigan."
A frown took hold on Ginny’s features. "You’re really being horrible, Draco," she said
sadly, blinking into grey eyes.
Draco gave a bitter laugh, his heart panging almost painfully. "I try."
Butterbeers finished and another witty repartee later, Draco led Ginny out into the streets of
Hogsmeade, where the pairs of couples only brought sneers from the Slytherin, and a few chastising
looks from the Gryffindor.
"Where to now?" Ginny had asked, and Draco had shrugged. "Bloody fun, you are,
Draco. How about Honeydukes?"
"Weasley, your language!" Mockingly pressing a hand to his chest, he had gasped rather
dramatically.
"Oh, do shut up."
And so, Honeydukes it was. As according to the wondrous day, red and pink decorations were
abound. But, much to Ginny and Draco’s relief, so was an enormous amount of chocolate.
"This," Ginny started, swallowing a bit of chocolate, "is the only good part
about this holiday."
They had taken to a lone bench near Honeydukes, settling down with armfuls of sweets.
"Indeed." Draco agreed, opening a Chocolate Frog and scrambling to catch it.
"We’re going to get sick from all this chocolate, you do realize?" He drawled, and took a
bite.
Settling into another piece of chocolate, Ginny felt her lips curl. "And I’m *sure* I
care."
"I will *not* be holding your hair back for you if you spew, Ginny." He warned,
but a small smile had wandered onto his face.
Ginny chuckled, swallowing her bit and reaching for more. Her red hair fell forward, wisping
across her face and shadowing her freckles, the sun creating yellow flecks in the long mane. Sliver
eyes watched the corner of her mouths, slowly reaching upward into a pleased grin.
"Not so bad, is it?"
"Wha?" Ginny asked from behind a mouthful.
"A day in my wonderful company." He suggested, and a bold move flexed his hand forward
to move said hair behind her ear.
Her tongue flicked out to save a crumble of chocolate, her cheek growing a pink underneath
scrutiny. "Huh." She forced out, causing red to creep down to her neck. "Chocolate.
Not you. I’m having a wonderful day in the company of chocolate."
Draco finished his Chocolate Frog in a triumphant flourish. That had to be a good sign.
"I give it two weeks."
Ginny scrunched up her nose in disagreement. "Really? I don’t know, they seem to really
like each other."
Draco flicked a bit of lint from his pants, and then quite casually wrapped his arm around the
back of the bench. "Weasley, they’ll never last. They hang all over each other. They’ll get
bored out of their minds after awhile."
Teeth nibbled diligently on a bottom lip. "Some people call that *love*, Draco."
The tone of stubborn rebellion had rose into her voice, the kind he knew would kick, scream, and
yell until he agreed with her. Oh, what a wonderful temper she had. Why did he like her, again?
"What about them?" He asked, gesturing to the next couple. Cho Chang and Michael
Corner were smiling in the other’s eyes, holding hands and making their way to Honeydukes.
Ginny huffed and crossed her arms. "I wish he walks into a pole."
"They will if they don’t start looking ahead of them."
"I’d laugh." Ginny whipped her head around to him. "Laugh with me?"
Draco smirked, watching as she blinked hesitantly, noticing how close they were truly sitting.
"Laugh?" He scoffed, "I’d trip him for you."
Cinnamon eyes lite up with mischievous intentions, and her leg kicked out from behind his,
lurching it forward.
And Michael Corner plopped into a thick covering of snow, slowly melting from fading winter.
He couldn’t help it. He honestly couldn’t. The sight of the flailing body falling straight into
a pile of sludgy snow was just too funny not to laugh. And so he did, loud, side-clutching, barks
of uncontrollable laughter.
"Oi!" Ginny cried, falling to her knees to help the Ravenclaw. "Draco, I
*cannot* believe you just did that!" Michael sputtered out pieces of mingling dirt as Cho
hurriedly asked if he was all right.
"I’m fine." He answered, and through Draco’s tear-filing eyes he saw Michael’s face
turn such a shade of rose it would be difficult to differentiate from Hogsmeade’s festive
decorations.
"Stop laughing, you big oaf!" Ginny ordered him. "I am *so sorry*,
Michael."
"Yes, we understand *that*." Cho snapped impatiently, wiping his face with her
scarf. Cheeks were steadily getting redder as both girls fluttered over him, and Draco was still
ever laughing.
"I’m all right, I’m *ALL RIGHT*!" Michael stood up hastily, putting up his hands
in surrender.
With that, he took Cho’s arms and rushed into the hearts of Honeydukes’.
"I’m sorry!" Ginny shouted after the jingle of bells (to the tune of My Funny
Valentine, if it must be known) above the door.
Draco wiped his eyes, slowly recovering from the comical sight. Grinning happily, the Gryffindor
sat unceremoniously back down. "Thanks, Draco. I feel *much* better now."
Right at that moment, while amusement hung to her lips and grey clashed with cinnamon, he
remembered why he liked her, after all. His throat suddenly felt blocked, and he cleared it with an
effort he had never experienced before.
He should tell her right there. ‘Listen, I know I’m a Malfoy, and you’re a Weasley, and all that
Slytherin and Gryffindor righteous rivalry, but don’t get me wrong, I’m really am a great bloke,
counting my looks, of course, that is, but I think we should risk it all and snog. What do you
say?’
An annoying voice in his mind (that sounded suspiciously like Blaise) laughed heartily at his
attempt.
Ginny wrapped her arms around her waist and looked into the street, her cheeks blushing from his
strange expression. "How about them?" She offered quietly.
Tearing his gaze, it rested on (speak of the devil) Blaise and Tracey. A disgusted sound rose up
from the back of his throat. "They’re so in love it’s nauseating. ‘Blaise, that’s the last
chocolate muffin,’ ‘I know Tracey, I saved it for you,’ ‘oh, how sweet of you; I love you ever so
much.’ "
A hand reached out and playfully swatted his arm. "That *is* sweet, Draco."
"The way to a women’s heart is a muffin?" His eyebrow raised so high it was in danger
of merging with his hairline.
"No, it’s caring about them. Being sensitive to their feelings."
"In other words, being a pansy."
The only response was Ginny rolling her eyes. "Is the day *over* yet?"
Lips thinned. "No." He answered defiantly, crossing his arms and sulking back into the
bench.
One moment they were laughing over the imprint of Michael Corner’s face, and the next she hated
him with the fire of a thousand burning suns, eager for any opportunity to get away. It just
figured, having his luck.
Women.
-
Thanks to ktkc1031, DarkenedQuasar, Draco's Gurl, pinksunryse, darkcharlie, Ri, and
Momentyne for the reviews! They're very appreciated. :D And you're welcome to call me
Starry, Darkened Quasar. Ri- *Another* signature change?? :P