Ginny sat for a moment, perfectly still, trying to comprehend what Dumbledore had just said. She could have sworn he had said her name - but that was impossible. No one in their right mind would pick a Weasley to play opposite Malfoy in a romance story. Clearly, she must have been hallucinating.
However, a quick glance around the room did nothing to calm her. Everyone was either staring in shock at her, Malfoy, or the door which was where Dumbledore had swept through immediately following his announcement, followed by the four Heads of Houses.
Ron and Hermione looked almost angry, and Malfoy was looking at her so lividly that she almost wanted to run away or disappear. But then she remembered she despised him as well, so she did her best to put an angry expression on her face and return his fuming gaze.
"Great, a Weasley" Malfoy said bitterly. "The only thing worse than a Mudblood."
"You take that back!" shouted Ron, standing up and drawing his wand simultaneously. Ginny glanced at Hermione for half a second before they both grabbed Ron by the arms and pulled him back into his chair.
"He's not even worth our attention," Ginny told her brother quietly, but in a voice loud enough for Malfoy to hear. She noted with pleasure that Malfoy's face had carved into an even deeper frown. Ron looked a little disappointed in not being able to batter Malfoy, but he did not make any more moves to leap across the table. "It's okay," she told Ron, "I'll go talk to Dumbledore tonight, convince him that it's a bad idea. Otherwise I have a feeling Juliet might end up killing Romeo," she added with a wicked smile.
"But what if he makes you do the play?" pondered Hermione. "I mean, it is for school unity."
"What do you mean, what if - there is no `what if' - she's not doing it and that's final," shouted Ron angrily, waving his arms frantically in the air. The other prefects watched on in shock, and Malfoy smirked amusedly, though he also looked somewhat distraught at the thought of the play.
"Well, even if she does have to do it, it's not like Dumbledore can force her to kiss Malfoy," Hermione said, weighing out the options in her head.
Ginny suddenly felt sick. "We … we kiss…?" she stuttered, unintelligible thoughts running through her mind. Malfoy's face had also turned a couple shades greyer.
"It is a love story, Ginny," said Hermione matter-of-factly. "Of course Romeo and Juliet kiss at some point - but I'm sure Dumbledore won't make you do that."
"He bloody well better not make them kiss!" shouted Ron, "No way that bloke is kissing my little sister!"
"Why not Weasley?" Malfoy asked coolly, "Think she might like it?" Ginny, Hermione and Ron turned towards Malfoy with outrage stretched across their faces. Ginny was not sure of the last time she had felt so queasy.
"What!?" Ron bellowed, whipping out his wand as he started running towards Malfoy. Hermione reached out to grab the back of his robes but missed.
"Ron! Stop!" Ginny heard herself shout. "He's not worth it. We'll just tell Dumbledore that the play isn't happening, and that will be it." Ron paused and turned to look at Ginny remorsefully. She tried to glare at him as steadily as possible so he would understand she was serious.
Pushing all bad thoughts out of her head, Ginny stood up calmly and gestured to Ron and Hermione. Nodding farewell to the other prefects, she turned and walked out of the room.
A/N: Sorry about the looong break ~ hopefully you enjoy this ~ there is another piece to come soon after. They were originally supposed to be in the same piece, but I want to try and keep the chapters short and sweet (as opposed to some of my other stories). I'm sorry it's been unfinished for so long - but I'll do my best to work on it little by little. I just want to thank all the people who have reviewed the story and left me words of motivation and "where did you go!?" comments - those are what make me come back. Haha. Any comments or critique are welcome, and I'll be sure finish/post a new section in the near future. I love the idea of this story, and I have so many thoughts about it - it's just hard to find time to write. Also, I started this story before book 6 was released, and I haven't yet decided if I plan to use any plot from book 6 yet ~ we'll see.
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