A/N: This is based on a conversation that a friend had with me. She's been smitten with a friend of mine, and I can't convince her to talk to the guy...*sigh* I know I really should be updating my other stories-for all it's worth, half of the new chapter of Girl Boy is written, but it's still unsatisfactory to me...and I think my steam on To Bring You Back is fading fast, so I'll just have to lug the thing home! Hope you enjoy.
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Seven Days Later
Chapter One: Changes
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Someone once told me that it only took seven days for a person to fall in love.
I told her that she was out of her mind.
Seven days? Please. Love isn't something that could happen in seven days. I mean really...as Hermione says, it's something that evolves, that builds up until one day it hits you that you're in love.
Granted, I've never really been in love...
Of course, people will tell me that I was in love with Harry Potter my first few years of Hogwarts. I have to disagree. I wasn't in love with Harry Potter, for one thing. I was in love with the-boy-who-lived, who happens to be a very different person. And for another thing, I wouldn't really call it love...it's more of obsession, if you think about it.
Bloody Harry Potter.
"Of course I'll be your partner, Gin."
Damn Harry Potter.
Not that I can blame him. He's been infatuated with Hermione for the longest time, so when she came up and asked him to be her partner he immediately jumped on the wagon.
Psh. The moment he saw her he forgot all about me.
Insensitive jerk.
So here I was, leaning against the wall, my head laying uncomfortably on the cold stone.
Professor Dumbledore, in all his wisdom, had decided that for all the 6th and 7th year students he would have a mandatory class...I think it was a combination of classes that muggles usually had. Well, it was an absolute waste of my time...
Miss Clearwater (Penelope became a teacher's assistant after she graduated) decided that the best way to teach the "drama" section would be for the students to learn it hands on. She proposed that everyone would pair up and recite a scene from a play.
A play.
She then told us that the couple who performed the best scene would win 100 house points and would be free from the final exam.
Well, all I had to do would be to find a suave, wonderful man who would win me the 100 points, excuse me from the exam, and make regretful Harry give me a second glance and realize what he was missing with wonderful me.
Neville was walking towards me and I gave him a small smile. Neville isn't exactly the suave, wonderful man, but he was better than partnering with carbon dioxide...
...and he's already with Susan Bones.
Oh, well, there was Colin over there in the corner. He'd be okay...
...except he's holding hands with Pru. Hm.
"Miss Weasley."
Ah, bloody damning Hell...
I turned around to find Malfoy standing behind me, a curling smirk on his face. I immediately knew that the following week would torture me to no end.
"The point of partnering up is to find a partner," he drawled, his glance purposely eyeing the empty air next to me. "Or are you so half-witted that you can't understand simple instructions."
"Fuck off, Malfoy."
He gave me another curling smirk.
"Or maybe it's just that nobody wants to be your partner..."
Damn my blush...
I saw Harry give me an apologetic glance but I glared at him anyway. Bloody bloke.
"Aw," Penelope cooed as she walked towards us, smiling at me. "How adorable. Cross-house interaction!"
Shut up, woman.
"Come now," she called out, "A Weasley and a Malfoy! How...unpredictable!"
I shouldn't have broken up with Dean.
I could hear Malfoy snicker behind me.
"So you two are working together, aren't you?"
"Yes," I said immediately. Malfoy gave me a glare, opening his mouth to interrupt but I continued. "We are. Isn't that wonderful? We decided that we should put our horrible past behind us and continue into our new, bright future." I gave Penelope a fake smile and batted my eyelashes, giving Malfoy a warning glance. He knew not to piss off a Weasley. Shall we count all the consequences? Let's see...bloody nose, black eye, bruises (I think it's 14 so far?), a broken broomstick, countless bat-bogey hexes, a father in Azkaban, a mother in Mungo's...
"How wonderful," she said, giving me a wink as she turned away. "Class!" she yelled, clapping her hands together. Everyone fell quiet, giving her their attention (or half of it, anyway). "Your couple assignment will be given to you tomorrow. I'm letting you guys get out early, so use it well!"
Everyone gave each other amused grins and picked up their things, exiting quickly. I saw Harry headed towards me, another apologetic expression on his face, but I quickly took Malfoy's arm in mine and marched out of the classroom.
"Excuse me, Weasley," Malfoy growled, pulling his arm out of my grasp before we made it to the next hallway. "What exactly are you trying to do, grab a quick snog? I know I'm desperately handsome, but I don't associate myself with dirt like you, even if I-"
"Listen, you bastard," I muttered, stepping up close to him. He was nearly a head taller than me, but it didn't matter. I stared up into his eyes, glaring, until I could see the blue flecks in his gray eyes. "I am going to win this. You are going to help me because you are a fucking bastard, and I know that you will do anything you possibly can to tick off the three people you despise. What better way than working with me and winning those points?"
"You are aware that half the points would go to Slytherin?" he asked, an unreadable expression on his face. "Or are you just that stupid to forget that. Of course, what can I expect from a Weasley, no less..." he drawled, an amused grin on his face. I frowned; before I knew it, my arm winded back and a loud slap could be heard through the deserted hallway. Malfoy stared at me in astonishment, an extremely red handprint on his pale cheek.
"Bitch," he growled, his gray eyes narrowing. "You're going to pay for that."
"Just try," I shot back, continuing to glare into his eyes.
"I'm doing you a fucking favor by working with you," he muttered. "I could just pull out now."
"Except you won't," I replied, stepping backwards.
"Oh? Why wouldn't I? I can do much better than you, Weasley."
"See, unfortunately, you can't." I stepped back from him, giving him a fleeting smile before turning around and walking away. I didn't hear any movement behind me, and to be honest, was quite relieved when I made it to the Gryffindor common room alive.
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"Antigone."
"Who?!" Malfoy said, a confused expression on his face. "What the bloody hell is that?"
"It's one of the most famous Muggle plays," Penelope said. "You can check it out in the library. Do make sure you do it well, I'll know if it's fake..."
I tried to conceal my smile.
"What," Malfoy moaned, taking a look at my face. "What are you so bleeding happy about."
"Antigone? We should be lucky. That's an easy one."
"Easy?" I smirked at the expression on Malfoy's face. "Easy would be 'Dwake: Fire Alight.' Easier would be 'Romeo and Juliet.' I've never heard of 'Antigone.'"
"Stupid, arrogant pig," I muttered, shaking my head. "I'll meet you in the library tonight, all right?"
"...what?" Malfoy turned to give me a bemused look. "You expect me to work with you?"
"In the left corner. That's where all the muggle books are."
"You cannot be serious...as if I would take time out of my precious schedule to sit next to a scrawny Weasley and read books even Granger wouldn't give a second glance to."
"I'll see you at 6 then." Once again I turned around and walked away. This was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Granted, Malfoy wasn't as horrible as he usually was...there was a rumor that he was betraying his father, but I wasn't believing it. I mean really...once a Malfoy, always a Malfoy. It's like saying a ferret can magically transform into a weasel, or something.
By itself, I mean.
Day one of our week together. Hurray.
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"'Ismene, sister, mine own dear sister, knowest thou what ill there is, of all bequeathed by Oedipus, that Zeus fulfils not for us twain while we live? Nothing painful is there, nothing fraught with ruin, no shame, no dishonour, that I have not seen in thy woes and mine.'"
"What?" Malfoy asked, one eyebrow raised. "What is this person talking about? Is she a nun?"
"What?"
"You know, a sacrificed lamb?"
"What?" I asked, bewildered. What the bloody hell was Malfoy talking about now? "A nun is a member of a female religious community...lives under vows and chastity and all that."
"Chastity?"
"You know, no sex."
"I know what it is. I'm amazed you do, though. It's a wonder any Weasley's vocabulary extends beyond vile language."
"I'm sure chastity's a piece of vile language to you, Malfoy. I mean really, as if you know anyone with morals." I smirked at him, continuing to read the passage.
"'And now what new edict is this of which thy tell, that our Captain hath just published to all Thebes? Knowest thou aught? Hast thou heard? Or is it hidden from thee that our friends are threatened with the doom of our foes?'" I stopped reading, smirking as I said, "Too difficult for you to understand, Malfoy?"
"This is worthless," Malfoy drawled, leaning back in his chair. "This story has no plot."
"It has an amazing plot," I countered, narrowing my eyes at him. "It's a tragedy...her two brothers killed, her Uncle banning anyone from burying one of them due to insult, I mean it's just horrible...he doesn't think that she should have a brain, but she's convinced that her uncle's politics are-"
"A woman in politics?" Malfoy snorted. I glared.
"She was a royal, Malfoy."
"See, this is the thing with you Weasleys," Malfoy drawled, leaning back in his chair and smirking at me. "You expect everyone else to know, or care, for that matter, about these stupid, meaningless things that you're quite obsessed about it. With your father, it's the protection of muggles...with your brother, it's about his wealth...or lack of it, shall I say? And with you, it's Pothead..."
"I am not obsessed with Harry," I growled, glaring at Malfoy. "And I-"
"Then what was that singing valentine for, Weasley? I never did tell you, I think you have quite a captivating singing voice. I'm sure it's what kept Potter a couple more days in the hospital."
"Bastard," I muttered. "What would you know about love, anyway? You're a Malfoy."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, his eyes narrowing as he leaned upright in his chair.
"It just means your incapable of doing anything other than being arrogant, jealous, and having sex...horrible sex, mind you."
"Horrible sex? Weasley, I think you've got your facts wrong. Besides, I'm sure you've fantasized about me enough to figure that out for yourself."
"That's not what the girls in the bathroom say, Malfoy. Let's just say that you've got to...oh, what did they say? Higher the notch on your, um, performance..."
Malfoy sent me a look that seemed torn between amusement and anger.
"I guess I'd just have to prove it to you, then," Malfoy muttered, a wicked grin adorning his aristocratic features. My eyes widened as I saw him lean towards me, his tongue coming out to lick his lips.
Damnit, bloody Hell, to all that is holy...Malfoy was going to kiss me!!!
And the weird thing?
My heart began racing. Shallow breaths were coming out of my body and I couldn't think straight-everything around me was fading in and out of proportion-the only thing I could see, feel, think about, was Malfoy leaning towards me, those suddenly alluring lips inching closer and closer and closer....I closed my eyes in anticipation, just waiting, absolutely begging for this moment to happen...
Suddenly I felt cold air. My eyes snapped open to see Malfoy walking briskly away from me, his shoulders tense. I frowned, glaring at his retreating figure. That bloody wanker just tricked me! What type of weird, sick, tormented humor was that?!
But then when he reached the library doors he gave me a quick glance over his shoulder. I memorized him at that moment...because I was sure it wouldn't ever happen again.
Malfoy's eyes weren't cold, sharper than diamond or steely. They were almost...warm as they gazed at me from across the room. Although there was a rather confused look in them, it was as close to....to soft, I suppose, that I'd ever seen them. And replacing that annoying smirk was a small smile. His cheeks were slightly rosy and his posture wasn't screaming arrogance or annoyance.
He was attractive.
And that's when I knew something had gone horribly wrong.
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It was day two of our assignment, and we hadn't gotten anything done. Harry booked the quidditch field for us right before dinner, and right after Malfoy had it booked for his team. What with Snape's essay and Binn's lecture, I had trouble finishing my homework that day.
The sky was clear, sunny, one of those perfect horizons adorning the mountains and field surrounding Hogwarts. It was a day when I wished I wasn't a chaser, when I zoomed across the field so fast I could barely enjoy the scenary around me. Instead I got to focus on a red ball, on throwing it in a hoop, on catching it when someone dropped it.
"Ginny!" Harry yelled, racing up to me. "Take that bloody hat off."
"My hat?" I asked, my hand coming up to rest on the bill. "Why?"
"It's distracting. Just go put it in the stands and get it after practice, will you?" I opened my mouth to stubbornly argue when he sighed, muttering, "Please?"
I grunted, drifting towards the ground slowly and throwing my hat onto the bottom stair of the stands. Looking up I saw Harry give me a rare smile and race away to work with our new beaters, a frustrated expression on his face.
Normally, a smile like that would have made my heart lighter, transforming everything around me into happy bunnies and light fluffy clouds.
I guess things weren't normal anymore.
Immediately after practice Ron and I raced towards dinner, absolutely starving for food. But it was after I finished eating my dessert that I noticed something was missing.
My hat.
The one my penpal from St. Louis bought me.
Hurriedly I put the last of my chocolate cake in my mouth and ran out of the Great Hall in the direction of the quidditch field.
As I reached the stands, however, something caught my eye. A lone figure was flying leisurely around the field, his robes billowing around him as his eyes were closed, looking as relaxed and at peace as I had ever seen him.
Malfoy looked amazing flying around on that broomstick of his. Granted, he would never be anything on Harry...Harry was just a natural. But there was something about Malfoy that screamed instinct as well. This was where he belonged, it seemed.
Which explained why Malfoy would be pinched and bothered by Harry. Malfoy probably thought, from the beginning, that quidditch would be his thing. And then Harry comes and makes the team his first year and ruins all hopes of glory for Malfoy.
Not that I cared.
I crept back to the castle, my hat in my hand. I took one last look back towards the stadium to find Malfoy looking directly at me, another unreadable expression on his face.
I smiled.
I didn't like Malfoy. Seeing him on a broomstick and seeing him standing in front of a door wasn't going to change that.
But I think something did.
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A/N: the whole nun-sacrificed lamb thing was for my sister. I know it totally disturbs the flow of the dialogue, but she absolutely begged me to put that in here, so I did. It's a conversation from a few years ago where she asked me if a nun was a sacrificed lamb. I have no idea how she got that idea, but...well, there we have it. lol.
That's part one. I think I have 3 parts in mind, maybe 2...maybe 4. I'm not sure. Thanks for reading!