Author Note: Alright, just so no one yells at me for Draco not being in the normal character, I want to let you know now that this will be explained later in the story. I promise it will make a bit more sense later. Also, I really want to thank citrus587 for beta-ing this story for me. It was rejected several times before she beta-ed. THANKS AGAIN!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the People, Names, Places, or Ideas that the Harry Potter series is based upon. I only own the basic plot idea for this piece of writing.
Chapter 1 - The Train
It was finally September 1, and Ginny was ecstatic to finally be going back to Hogwarts. She would be starting her 6th year, and as her brother, Ron, so nicely reminded that morning, OWL year. The morning had been hectic but had gone fairly quickly. Ron, Harry and Hermione, and herself had found themselves on platform nine and three-quarters quicker than they had realized. Harry and Ron where still talking about Quidditch (of course) and poor Hermione was trying to act like she wasn't listening.
Once on the bright red train, Ginny was told not so nicely to go away because Ron needed to talk to Harry and Hermione about something. Ginny rolled her eyes and made her way through to find another compartment. She finally found one that was occupied by only one other, who seemed to be sound asleep. She silently slipped in and sat down across from the sleeping figure.
He looks somewhat familiar, she thought to herself. She looked over him slowly, his white blonde hair was messy and face terribly pale. His robes where badly wrinkled and dirty. She frowned and looked at the face again. But who- Ginny gasped. The pale wizard sitting across from her was Draco Malfoy. She shook her head as she felt the train lurch forward. He must have had a really hard summer, she thought to herself. Trying to get that sentiment out of her mind, Ginny pulled a tattered book from her bag and began to read. Unfortunately, beginning was as far as she got, because ten minutes later her eyes were on the same page, as well as the same paragraph.
A bit later the food trolley came to their compartment. Ginny put her book down and hesitantly reached out and shook Draco's shoulder, noticing how thin he'd gotten over the summer. "Draco, wake up," she said.
He groaned and opened his eyes. Blinking a few times, he mumbled "What do you want, Weasley?"
She fought the urge to roll her eyes and said, "The food trolley's here and you look like you could do with some food," she said as she paid for her own Cauldron Cakes and sat back down across from him.
Draco yawned and watched Ginny carefully, trying to decide whether he wanted to be decent or not. He sighed, "What are you doing here anyway? Why aren't you with Potter and your brother?" he asked as he paid for his food.
Ginny shrugged. "Ron told me to go away."
Draco frowned and shook his head, "That's nice of him."
Ginny arched an eyebrow then chuckled to herself. "How are you doing Mal--Draco?" she asked hesitantly.
Draco looked up at her and shrugged. "The summer wasn't the greatest. Father is in Azkaban and the lousy Ministry of Magic has been conducting raids on our Manor almost weekly all summer. Mum is just miserable." He shook his head and sighed.
Ginny moved across and sat next to him. She gently put a hand on his shoulder. He started to recoil but stopped himself. "Draco, I can't say I'm sorry for what happened, I think you know why that is, but I am sorry that it ended up affecting you like it has," she said softy. "I know you don't like Harry or my brother, but just know I'm a much better listener than either of those two."
Draco's head whipped around to look her in the face. He saw that there was a kind smile on her face and an understanding in her eyes. He mentally slapped himself; this was Virginia Weasley, the youngest of the Weasley's, long-time enemy of the Malfoys. His eyes narrowed slightly, "Why would you do something decent for some one, such as me, who has done nothing but cause you and your friends and family pain?"
Ginny chuckled and shook her head. "Because I believe you were doing what was expected of you, I think that if some one gave you half a chance and treated you decently, I believe you can turn around. You're not your father; you're not the Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy. You're Draco, you have your own choices and your own decisions, and you have to make them. He can't do it for you, no matter how bad he wants to."
Draco studied her for a moment then sighed and smiled slightly "You know, believe it or not, my opinions of my father have changed since he went to Azkaban. I mean, he is my father, but I have very little respect for him. I still don't like Potter, but I think that he's certainly lucky to have true friends. Crabbe and Goyle turned their backs when their fathers went away with mine. They only hung around because their fathers' wanted more power and thought my father could give it to them. And the fact that you're here talking-err-listening, just goes to show that names mean very little."
He shook his head, "I don't want to be like my father. I don't want to hurt my mother more than she's already been hurt. I don't want to-to become a Death Eater. I want to be in control of my own life, not in control of a half-man who rules through fear." He looked hesitantly up at Ginny who was, as she said, listening.
She was silent a moment, "You know, Draco, you have just earned a lot of respect from me. If it means anything, I can certainly see that you are nothing like your father. You may carry his name and even look similar to him, but at heart you are nearly the exact opposite of him, even if you don't see it. And I suspect, that there will never be a mark on your arm to prove otherwise."
Draco looked at her for a moment then smiled. He lifted the sleeve on his left arm and showed her the bare, pale skin. Ginny smiled knowingly. He sighed and shook his head. "I really don't know what to do, Ginny. I know what's expected of me. I know that during this winter holiday, I'll be expected to let that creep brand me. I really don't want to, but I'm -" he swallowed the lump in his throat, "I'm almost afraid not to. I mean, according to what I've heard Potter's supposed to be the only one who can defeat him. If only Potter can do that, can I really think that I'm even powerful enough to defend ourselves?"
Ginny studied him for a moment then sighed, "I've thought that very same question numerous times, and I've always come up with the same answer. I trust Harry, and I know he's extremely strong willed, and I know when the time comes he will defeat You-Know-Who. Last year when he started the D.A., I was ecstatic because I knew that it would give me the chance to learn how to defend my self and my family. Then Dumbledore left, and Madam Umbridge took up the position of Headmistress. Then came Harry's dream that we later found out was a trick. Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Neville, and myself were at the Ministry of Magic in the Department of Mysteries. Harry was so sure that You-Know-Who had Sirius, the only thing he had left of his past, the only real family he had left. I don't blame Harry at all for wanting to help, and I don't regret going with him. I'm stronger now; I know I can defend myself and my family if the time comes where I need to."
She shrugged, "Maybe I put too much faith in myself, who knows what will happen in the end. But from what I've seen of you at school and what I've heard from you here today, I think that we could use another strong wizard like yourself on this side of the pending war. I know you probably don't want to jump into anything yet, but I suggest you talk to Dumbledore. You need to be apart of the DA, and as much as we both know the negative feelings between Ron, Harry and yourself are mutual, they'll realize it too. Besides when the time comes, we're going to need as much help as we can get."
Draco shook his head and fought the laugh that threatened to show up, failing miserably. Ginny frowned. "What's so funny?" she asked.
Draco shook his head again and looked her in the eye. "You don't have too much faith in your self, Ginny. You are a strong witch. I do think you have too much faith in me though. You know as well as I do that everyone who is in any house besides Slytherin thinks that I'm no good. And I can't blame them for their feelings. I'm horrible to anyone who has a decent heart and mind. If I were to show up to one of your DA meetings, every member would curse me before I even had two feet in the door. You sound so sure that, I don't know. I guess, that I can, have, changed and I don't understand how you could trust me...especially after your first year." he said as he lowered his eyes and began to study his hands.
Ginny rolled her eyes, she put a gentle hand on his face to make him look at her, "Draco, first off, I don't think you're `no good' nor do I think you are as much of a hopeless case as you seem to think you are. I have to admit you've been rather awful to people, but they wouldn't curse you. For one thing, I wouldn't let them, and for another, Dumbledore would talk to Harry first anyway. And as bad as you to have treated one another Harry will respect the Headmaster's words." she said looking him in the eyes. "And Draco?" she smiled, "I don't blame you for what happened during my second year, it wasn't you, it was your father he put that stupid journal in my cauldron that day, he's the one to blame, and I won't put the blame of that on you, when I know it wasn't you."
Draco sighed and leaned into her touch. He chuckled to himself again, at Ginny's questioning look he explained. "I find it some what odd, that the one person who seems to understand me happens to be Virginia Weasley, youngest of the Weasley's, who happen to be the long time `enemy' of the Malfoys. You are a great person, Ginny, you really are."
Ginny flushed, "I do my best to try understanding people before I pass judgment on them. Too bad the rest of my family isn't like that, except mum of course." she said, then with a smile added, "It must be a male-thing, seeing as the only two Weasley's who have the patience to listen happen to be the only two females."
Draco smiled and shook his head. "You know, you really should smile more often, instead of that smirk. It looks good on you," She said.
Draco felt himself flush and took the opportunity to look everywhere but in her eyes, at least until he could get himself composed. "Are you alright?" he heard her say. He glanced back up at her and nodded and went to put his face in his hands, realizing that her hand was still there. Before he knew what he was doing he put his own hand over hers. They both looked at one another, surprised, and flushed. But to his further surprise she didn't pull away. He saw her sharp golden eyes soften and her lips curl into a gentle smile. He let his eyes wonder over the redhead sitting next to him. She had grown up quite nicely, if he did say so himself. He wondered why he hadn't noticed it before. He felt her thumb brush his cheek gently and looked back up into her eyes.
"Thank you. I know I'm not the easiest person to 'get to know' as you said. Thank you for listening." Ginny just grinned, he felt a knot in his stomach and he wasn't sure where it came from. "Would you happen to know how much longer it is until we get to the school?" he asked. Ginny looked out the window and frowned "If I remember right only about five or ten minutes."
Ginny studied him for a moment than hesitantly started to speak, "I can see in your eyes that you're not lying here, but let me warn you, Draco Malfoy, I'm a great friend, I'll listen when ever you need me too, but you'd better not be pulling some kind of trick. I think we've got the beginnings of a good friendship here, so watch it. I don't expect you to be an angel, but I'm not one to cross, I think you know that."
Draco nodded and smiled "If this were some sort of trick, dumb and dumber would be hunched outside the compartment waiting to see if it worked, I wouldn't be sitting here in dirty, wrinkled clothes, and I'd be being a bit more bitter."
Ginny returned the smile "I'm just warning you ahead of time."
They both felt the train start to slow. Ginny smiled again, she pulled her hand away. He noticed her face had taken on a deeper shade of red as she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. She stood up and walked across and picked up her book off the seat and began to put her things away. Well that has to be the most interesting train ride yet she thought to herself as he fallowed her off the train.
-->