Under Your Spell by _Amber_Eyes_

Rating: PG13
Genres: Angst, Romance
Relationships: Draco & Ginny
Book: Draco & Ginny, Books 1 - 5
Published: 29/12/2004
Last Updated: 31/01/2005
Status: In Progress

After this mysterious revolution, Draco changes for the better, Ginny couldn't be happier to
find a friend in the most unlikely of places. But as the Dark War draws near, a new change claims
her new friend. What she doesn't realize is that her new friendship has her in more danger than
Draco or Ginny, herself, could ever realize. Other couples later in the story: H/Hr, R/L (P.S.
there's a bit of OOC in the first few chapters, it will explain itself later on, Promise)




1. Chapter 1  - The Train
-------------------------



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.

-->



2. Chapter 2 - Confessions
--------------------------



**Author Note: I want to thank swimchick1614, WriterLady1031, and the two anonymous readers who
reviewed the first chapter.**

**I want to appologise for the mix up on the Hogwarts years during the first chapter, as one of
the anonymous readers pointed out. Ginny is in her fifth year, sorry for the confusion.**

**As for Ginny's real name, I've read both Virginia and Ginevra, Virginia just happens
to be my preferred choice.**

**I really hope you like this chapter, and I hope to be able to read more reviews.
Soon!**

**Chapter 2 - Confessions**

The first few weeks went by fairly quickly. Before anyone realized, September had seamlessly
flowed into the first week of October. The sun had just begun to peak over the horizon on the first
Saturday of the month. The rays of light fell on the grounds of Hogwarts, which were dusted with
the first frost of the season, and into the windows of the castle.

One such window was shinning the rays of light onto a pale face that was surrounded by a curtain
of red. Ginny opened her eyes and scowled. She muttered a few choice words under her breath as she
climbed out of bed and headed towards the showers. Even if it was only 7:30 on a Saturday, she was
up, there was little chance of her getting back to sleep.

A half an hour later Ginny was dressed and making her way down towards the Great Hall for
breakfast. The halls were still pretty much empty, as most were using their Saturdays catching up
on sleep lost during the week. Ginny stifled a yawn and went into the Hall, she momentarily glanced
around noting that only a few people were scattered around the hall at their respective tables.

"Good Morning, Virginia!" a voice said from behind her. Ginny frowned slightly, not
recognizing the voice at first. "Oh, Good morning, Luna." She said with a small smile as
the blonde haired girl sat down next to her. Luna had taken to sitting at the Gryffindor table with
Ginny, on weekends rather than her Ravenclaw table. The two girls glanced up as they heard someone
enter the Great Hall. It was a familiar blonde Slytherin who was looking as low as he had on the
train the month before.

Ginny sighed inwardly, he had been acting odd on the train, and he wasn't acting like
himself at all. He was so quiet, not a single rude comment, gesture, and not a single taunt in her
direction. Not normal Draco Malfoy behavior. But behind the mask he held so firmly in place, Ginny
thought she had seen the look true hurt and confusion briefly pass into his eyes, it was gone,
however, as quickly as it came.

"Virginia?" a soft voice said as she felt herself being shaken. She glanced up and saw
Luna still watching her with a curious expression on her face. "Sorry Luna, my mind
was--elsewhere" she finished rather lamely. Luna just chuckled and shook her head
"Elsewhere is right" she muttered. The two girls laughed and turned back to their plates
of food.

What they didn't notice was a pair of icy blue eyes studying them from the other end of the
Great Hall. Draco had felt her eyes watching him, not that it was a big deal. They had managed to
share a few civil conversations since the start of term, but a couple of times he noticed an odd
sort of look she gave him. It was as though she was just given a puzzle, and she was trying her
hardest to put it together. Was he that difficult to understand? He hadn't changed that much
this past summer, not much at all.

Draco's eyes widened momentarily. So that's what this is all about, he thought to
himself. As he shook his head he went over the summer in his mind. His father had escaped, been
recaptured and thrown back into Azkaban within a month of the end of last term. After Lucius had
been recaptured, Ministry officials started doing weekly raids on the Malfoy Manor, apparently
suspecting that something would appear during one of those searches. As he had told Ginny on the
train, his mother had been slipping further and further into depression ever since his father's
recapture.

At this he could barely contain his bitterness for Lucius Malfoy. Even if the man was his
father, what made him think he could do that to Narcissa? He should have at least had the decency
to either stay in Azkaban, as not to let her have the pain of seeing him gaunt and dirty, or at
least make sure he wasn't caught again! His poor mother, who was a petite woman to begin with,
was little more than skin and bones when he had left last month. Her eyes lost all brightness that
they might have held.

Draco sighed as he pushed his food around on his plate. He knew he'd be fairly lucky if his
mother made it through this up coming war alive, and if she managed that, odds were she would never
be the same. And for his father, he half hoped his father wouldn't make it through the war.
Lousy git, Draco thought to himself. What kind of man would do that to his family? To his
**wife,** the woman he supposedly loves? What kind of man would put everything on the line for
some wreck of a wizard? What kind of wizard would do that? His mind was going into the familiar
pattern of shame and bitterness as he had been doing since his father was daft enough to get caught
again.

Dropping his fork onto his plate, Draco stood and quickly left the Great Hall, once again glad
it was a Saturday. He made his way silently out onto the grounds. The air was a bit cool, but no
worse than what the dungeons were. He sighed to himself as he lowered himself to the ground beneath
a tree next to the lake. He shook his head as the memories of the summer passed through his
mind.

*~*FLASHBACK*~*

*Draco laid back staring at the ceiling. He sighed contently, it was the first full week of
summer holidays, and he couldn't think of a single thing that could force him out of bed until
at least nine o'clock. That is until he heard his mother screech down stairs in the kitchen.
Draco started, he jumped out of bed. He barely managed to pull his robes on before he was out of
his room and down the stairs.*

*"Mother?" he called looking around the kitchen, she wasn't there. Draco frowned
slightly.*

*"In-In here Draco," he heard her voice call from the sitting room just off the
kitchen. Draco hesitated then entered the room, only to stop abruptly in the doorway. He shook his
head slightly then frown again...it couldn't be.*

*"G-Good morning, Father," Draco said, still unable to believe who was sitting in
front of him.*

*"Draco" Lucius rasped. Rasped? Draco looked his father over, his eyes were sunken
in and his usually neat blond hair was a knotted and tangled mess. His father, though he was never
a heavy man, had also lost a considerable amount of weight. Draco glanced up at his mother who,
once again, held a familiar spark. He just couldn't help the smile that passed across his
face.*

*"When did you return home, Father?" He asked politely.*

*"Just this morning," Lucius said. "It would seem that your mother was not
quite expecting me,” he added with a slight smirk.*

*The conversation had continued on through out the day, and life went almost back to normal.
That is until about two and a half weeks later.*

*Draco and Lucius were sitting in the study, both reading silently when they heard a rap at
the front door. Draco glanced up at his father, who looked as though he was listening closely
without appearing to do so. He heard a couple voices including his mothers. As he listened closely,
he could hear two male voices, both seemed rather angry. Glancing back down at his book, he tried
to concentrate on his reading, but he couldn't help but try to hear what was going on.*

*"Draco!" his father said sharply. Draco looked up, surprised to see his father on
his feet. "Draco, those two gentlemen you hear are Aurors, they most likely will have charms
up to keep me from aparating. You must do what you can to help your mother distract them so I may
make my way through the dungeon passages."*

*Draco noted the slight look of panic on his father's normally calm features. "Yes
Father, go quickly,” he said as he, himself quickly left the study to help his mother.*

*"Is every thing alright here, Mother?" Draco asked mildly. Narcissa glanced at her
son, making brief eye contact that told her everything she needed to know, then nodded. "Yes
Draco, dear, these gentlemen say your father has escaped Azkaban, over two weeks ago."*

*"Really?" Draco asked with a forced hint of curiosity in his voice. He then allowed
his voice to turn bitter, "If that's true it's a rather pity he didn't have the
nerve to come and see how his family is fairing in his absence."*

*The two aurors shared a glance and one who seemed to have sonority on the job said, "Be
as it may, we have a warrant to search the Manor. With no disrespect Mrs. Malfoy, we are only doing
our job."*

*Draco glanced at his mother who let her eyes move swiftly to the clock, deciding if her
husband was safe or not. Draco looked over his mother than to the two aurors. "Well, I
certainly don't see any problems with that. Do you, Mother?" Draco asked.*

*"Oh, no. Of course not" She said with a shake of her head.*

*After not even an hour of searching, Draco and Narcissa heard shouting from below them and
looked at each other. They both knew what had happened. Lucius Malfoy had, once again, been caught.
The youngest auror walked the Elder Malfoy out of the Manor, while that other turned to the two who
were standing in shock. "I will be forced to bring this up at the Ministry,” he said before he
and his partner left, along with Lucius Malfoy.*

*"I'm sorry, Mother," Draco said as he pulled his sobbing mother into a hug.
"I'm so sorry."*

~*~END FLASH BACK~*~

Draco bit his lower lip as he looked across the lake. He didn't realize that a petite
redhead had just sat down next to him. His mind was still focused on the past summer.

"Draco?" Ginny said hesitantly "Are you alright?"

Draco shook himself from his reverie and looked around, until his eyes landed on where the voice
was coming from. "Hum? Oh, yes. Yes, I'm fine"

Ginny watched him for a moment then sighed as she leaned back against the tree. They both sat
silently side-by-side for a while. Both in their own thoughts and memories. Ginny chewed on her
bottom lip for a moment as she watched Draco.

"Draco?"

"Hmm?"

"Can--Can I ask you something?"

There was a moment's pause "Of course"

Ginny was silent for a moment, as though trying to choose her words very carefully. "Ok,
you've been acting--odd, this term. Not that I'm really complaining, but you're
acting...well you're acting nice. I know we talked a little bit about this on the train, but I
guess I just don't understand this, change." she said very hesitantly.

Draco looked over at her and gave a weak smile. He sighed and shook his head "Change? No,
Ginny, there's no change." Ginny frowned slightly
"What do you mean 'there's no change'?" she asked shaking her head "Up
until this year you were...well you were rude to anyone and everyone, you seemed so self-centered
and conceited, then this year...this year you're so quiet, you're such a gentleman...and at
the same time...you seem almost ready to give up on it all."

Draco gave another small smile, "I have been pretty rotten the last several years
haven't I? That's not me Ginny, not really anyway. I do what is expected of me, and
it's expected of me to carry my name with unfailing pureblood pride. For as long as I can
remember, whenever father would take me to London, we'd be sitting together and talking.
Whenever someone would pass, he'd tell me to find the flaw of that witch or wizard. When I
brought a friend home, he'd criticized them and their families, right there in front of us.
Unless of course there were wealthy purebloods.

As much as I hate him now, I didn't always. Up until this summer I wanted to be just like my
father, I knew I couldn't, I don't have what it takes to be like Lucius Malfoy. I could
never be so cold, so unrelenting. What I did to you and your friends was cold enough, but to become
a Death Eater? No, I couldn't. Even if, my denying the Dark Lord would be a disgrace to the
family name, I can't do it."

"I've always lived up to the expectation my Father had for me, but I always did it just
to see if I could keep his praise, that's all I wanted. That's why I've always acted
like I have. I just wanted my Father to be proud of me for once. But after this summer, he's
giving me more than enough reasons to know I don't want to be like my father, and I really
don't care about that prat or the name that ties me to him. I'm not Lucius Malfoy, nor
would I ever want to be Lucius Malfoy. So now, rather than trying to be what I cannot be, I'm
just being myself for once."

Ginny studied him for a moment, then smiled slightly and leaned back against the tree, satisfied
with his answer. "Well," she said with her smile growing, "I'm certainly glad
you've decided to stop being such a prat. Now if only I could get my brother to do the
same." Draco chuckled and leaned back against the tree as well. So this is what it was like to
have a friend who knew the "real" you, huh?

Draco closed his eyes and let a rarely seen smile slip on his face. Though it did not go
unnoticed, Ginny thought it better to let him be. And so she did.

-->



3. Chapter 3 - Cruel Thoughts
-----------------------------



**Author Note:** This chapter is a bit shorter than the last two, but I thought it was a bit
more entertaining. I hope you enjoy this one. I enjoy reading and replying to the reviews, so
please continue reviewing!

~*~

**Chapter 3 - Cruel Thoughts**

Draco and Ginny had several conversations similar to the one they share that first weekend of
October. But Ginny certainly wasn't the only one who noticed the change in Draco. The Slytherin
table was always buzzing about the loss of the "Slytherin Prince". Then, at the
Gryffindor table there was buzz about how Draco was playing a crude trick on everyone. The
Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were skeptical about the popular Gryffindor tale, but the too were
curious about what brought about the odd change. Every time Ginny would hear her brother and Harry
coming up with a new tale, the next few were even more ridiculous than the first, she bit her
tongue (literally) to stop herself from telling them off. The last thing she needed was Ron harping
on her for being decent to Draco.

Ginny sighed as she lowered herself into one of the chairs the Gryffindor common room. As she
watched the flames dance in the hearth in front of her, she could hear a muffled sound from just
beyond the portrait. She listened closely but couldn't make out the words, nor to whom the
voices belonged. She frowned and remained still as she heard the portrait open.

"Just because you don't like him, doesn't give you the right to hex him for no
reason, Ron!" yelled a female voice, Ginny immediately recognized it as Hermione's.

"I didn't hex him for no reason! I had a reason, lots of reasons!" Ginny heard her
brother yell back. Neither noticed that Ginny was sitting there.

"Lots of reasons? Honestly, Ron! I don't think there is any possible way you could be a
bigger prat! Malfoy has not said a single word, derogatory or other wise, to you this term, *not
a single word*. He's being decent for, Merlin's sake. And here you are, hexing him
because you feel like it!" Hermione screeched.

Ginny looked over and saw Harry lowering himself into the chair next to hers. He rolled his eyes
and shook his head. His expressions clearly said *this is going to take a while*. Ginny just
shrugged and continued listening to the argument.

"Decent? Hermione, how can you say that rat is decent? After everything that prat has said
and done to us over the last six years?" Ron yelled.

"I can say that Draco Malfoy is decent, because at this point in time he is acting more
like a human being than you are!" Hermione hissed, "He is treating everyone with a decent
amount of respect, which is more than I can say for you."

Ron's eyes widened and he shook his head, "You're something else, Hermione Granger.
You'll sit there and stick up of for the guy who has been the cause of our misery for the past
six years. I can't see how you can call yourself a Gryffindor. Should we be checking
*your* arms now, Hermione? Is that it? Is that why you're sticking up for the rotten
bastard?" The next thing Ron knew he was on the ground holding his jaw, where someone who was
able to put a lot of force behind his or her fist had punched him. Ron opened his eyes to see his
other best friend standing over him, his emerald eyes a blaze. "Bloody hell, Harry, what was
that for?"

"I'll listen to you two bicker all you want, but you *will not* suggest that type
of thing to one another. I won't stand for that, not from you. Not from Hermione. Hermione has
every right to be sticking up for what she believes is right, at this moment I agree with her, you
shouldn't be hexing *anyone* just for the fun of it, not even Malfoy. That makes you too
much like, " Harry snapped his mouth shut, drew a deep breath than spoke again,
"Don't you ever say something that stupid again with in range of me, Ron." He said
before returning to his seat next to a very shocked and furious Ginny.

Ginny glared at her brother as he picked himself up off the ground, muttering the whole time.
Hermione looked from Harry to Ron and shook her head. The shock of what Ron had suggested
hadn't fully settled yet. She spun on her heal and ran up to the girls' dormitories. Harry,
Ron, and Ginny all winced as they heard a door slam.

Ron threw a dirty look at Harry, who was glaring into the fire, and slipped back out the
portrait hole. Ginny turned back around and sighed. "Are you alright, Harry?" she asked
hesitantly. Harry nodded silently. "So...what happened to cause that scene?"

Harry glance up at her, "We were walking back from the Library, Hermione was helping us on
our Potions paper, when we saw Draco doing his prefect rounds. He was being quiet, he wasn't
disturbing anyone, he was just acting like he has been lately. All of a sudden, Ron calls out his
name. Hermione and I knew something wasn't right in the way he'd said Malfoy's name. We
stayed close enough to stop him if he did something stupid. Draco stopped and turned around. He was
pleasant enough, as Hermione said, he never mentioned my scar or family, and he didn't mention
your family and he said nothing about Hermione being muggle-born.

Ron just got a wicked look in his eyes and sent the binding charm at him, then proceeded to send
to more hexes towards Draco. Hermione and I managed to reflect those two. Hermione did the counter
spell for the binding spell and helped Malfoy up. Malfoy just gave Ron a dirty look, *thanked*
Hermione, and walked away." Harry said shaking his head, "As you can tell, Hermione was
furious at Ron for hexing Malfoy, and Ron was mad at Hermione and I for countering his
hexes."

When he glanced at Ginny again he was surprised to see her face was red, not from embarrassment,
but from anger. "T-that PRAT!" Ginny growled. She looked at Harry and shook her head,
"Draco's really not that bad, and he certainly doesn't deserve to be treated like
*that*."

Harry frowned for a moment studying the girl who had been like a little sister to him for the
last several years, "Just as I thought," he muttered under his breath. At Ginny's
questioning look he explained, "I've seen Malfoy...alright, alright, *Draco*,
together talking quite a bit recently, no don't worry I've said nothing to your
brothers," he said quickly as Ginny started to panic. "Anyway, I've seen you two
talking, and he's seemed like he's been treating you nice enough. I thought perhaps the
reason he's always acted as he has, had to do with his lack of true friends, and it seems that
I wasn't too far off."

Ginny just shrugged, "He was sitting on the train by himself and his was the only nearly
empty compartment, so I sat in there, and we started talking. Once school started we just found
convenient times to continue talking. Like I said, he really isn't all that bad." Harry
nodded silently, it was then that Ginny had an idea. "Harry?" she asked hesitantly. Harry
glanced up curiously. "Would you be willing to do something for me?"

Harry narrowed his eyes slightly. He wasn't sure he liked the tone that her voice had just
adopted. "That would depend on what it is that you are asking me to do." he said watching
her.

Ginny chewed on her lower lip for a moment before launching into her story. She told Harry about
the state in which Draco was in during the train ride. She told him about his fear of not becoming
a Death Eater, she also told Harry about the conversation they had not long ago. About why he was
acting so much differently this term. After telling him the background of her request, she voiced
what she'd been trying to say for the last twenty minutes. "Harry, he's afraid of his
father, of what will happen to his mother. He's afraid of not being able to defend himself
against You-know-who's dark powers, he says that's the only reason he's considering
becoming a Death Eater. He really doesn't want to though."

"Ginny...Ginny, hold on," Harry said holding up a hand to stop her, "What is it
that you're trying to ask me?"

Ginny sighed "Harry, he wants to know how to defend himself without resorting to becoming a
Death Eater. I'm wondering if it would be too much to ask to invite him to the D.A." Harry
opened his mouth to say something but Ginny cut him off, "Come on Harry, I mean I could bring
him as a guest, just for one meeting to see how he gets on, then if you say otherwise I won't
invite him again. But doesn't Draco have as much right to learn to defend himself as anyone
else?" she pleaded.

"GINNY!" Harry said loudly, cutting off her pleas. "Will you listen for a
moment?" Harry sighed, "I'll make you a deal, he can come to the D.A.but there are
two conditions," Ginny nodded and looked at Harry expectantly. "First, you have to be
able to help him catch up. Second, if I ask you not to bring him again, you do so."

Ginny grinned and threw her arms around Harry's neck. "Thank you, thank you, thank
you,” she squealed as she gave him a hug. Harry laughed and returned the hug. "I'll talk
to you later, I've got to go see if I can find Draco!" she said as she hurried towards
that portrait hole.

Harry shook his head as he watched her leave. As soon as she was gone, he leaned his head back
against his chair and groaned. "What have I gotten myself into?" he muttered. *Well
I'd better let Hermione know what's going on,* he thought to himself. He stood up and
looked around. He saw Pavarti and Lavender in the corner and approached the two girls, "Would
you mind getting Hermione for me?" he asked. Both girls looked surprised but Pavarti nodded
then walked up the stairs to the dormitory.

"Here goes nothing,” he muttered.

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4. Charms and Charming
----------------------



A week later, Ginny and Draco made their way to the room of requirement. Draco fidgeted a bit
and sighed as he glances at Ginny. This couldn't turn out very well. Ron was going to have a
field day, but that didn't matter, Potter had let him join this group and as much as he
disliked Ron and Harry, he wasn't going to push his luck.

Ginny and himself had worked during the past week to help him get caught up. Most of the things
he already knew but some, such as the Patronus Charm, was unfamiliar to him. It took them a full
hour for him to finally get his patronus to work properly. He took a deep breath as he and Ginny
entered the room.

Hermione and Harry both gave them a simple welcome smile, but Ron gave them both a hard glare.
Draco saw Ron's eyes fallow Harry as he approached. "Glad you could make it," Harry
said. Ginny grinned then lead Draco over to take a seat on one of the pillows and Harry returned to
the front of the room.

There were two battered suitcases next to Harry. Neville Longbottom and Semus Finnigan were
watching them very closely. "Alright," Harry said. "We've worked a lot with the
Patronus Charm but we've only practiced during calm times. In these suitcases is a boggart in
each, which is how I learned. If you remember our 3rd year Defense Against the Dark Arts class
you'll remember our boggart lesson."

"Now, one at a time I'm going to want you to approach the boggart and see a dementor.
We can't rightly bring a real dementor here to practice on, so this boggart will have to do.
You all remember the incantation, correct?" He glanced around to see everyone nodding.
"Alright, I want two single file lines. This suitcase will remain here and the second one will
be across the room."

Everyone stood and got themselves into one of the lines, Ginny and Draco took the second
suitcase. Draco somehow managed to be the first in line; he squared his shoulders and held his wand
ready. Ginny opened the case and stepped back, as a Dementor pulled it's self from it.

"Expecto Patronum!" He shouted. Only a small silvery wisp was produced. Draco took a
deep breath and yelled the incantation two more times with the same results. He paused for a moment
and closed his eyes, picturing the day on the train when he managed to have an actual civil
conversation with the youngest Weasley. "Expeco Patronum!" he shouted again, this time a
silver eagle erupted from the tip of his wand. It soared towards the boggart-dementor and forced it
back into the case.

Draco sighed and lowered his wand. He'd done it, it had taken a few tries but he had done
it! He ran a hand through his hair and took his place behind the case so Ginny could have her
chance.

~*~

At nine o'clock Harry blew the shrill whistle and everyone made their way back to their
common rooms. Ginny had fallen behind to talk to Hermione and let Draco go on ahead. Harry decided
it would be fun to sneak down to the kitchens before returning. Ron and Hermione agreed to go with
him but Ginny declined the offer. So there she was walking herself back to the common room after a
fun DA meeting.

She frowned when she heard scuffled footsteps and pressed herself against the wall. Slowly and
silently, she slipped towards the sound. She heard a whispering voice but couldn't pick out the
owner. Ginny peered around the corner and saw one person being pinned against the wall by another.
The one being pinned was Draco.

Ginny gasped and squinted to see who the other person was, but they seemed to know they were
being watched. The person whispered one last thing into Draco's ear then disappeared down the
corridor. Draco slumped to the ground in a heap; Ginny hurried towards him and knelt beside
him.

"Draco?" She whispered, "Are you alright?" Draco nodded mutely. "Who
was that?"

"It's none of your damn business, Weasley." He snapped before pulling himself to
his feet and stalking off towards the dungeons.

~*~

The next morning was a Saturday, and the Gryffindor/Ravenclaw Quidditch match. Ginny let a heavy
sigh escape before making her way to the Great Hall for breakfast. She still wanted to know what
happened the night before, why did Draco snap like that? She frowned as she lowered herself into
her usual spot at the Gryffindor table. She was about to put a bit of food on her plate when two
hands covered her eyes making her gasp.

"Guess who?" Said a familiar voice.

Ginny smiled, "hmm...could it be...umm...Ron?"

"Nooooo."

"Hmmm, Colin?"

"Nope, guess again."

"Well, if it's not those two then it has to be Draco."

"Good guess," he said pulling his hands off her eyes.

"They say third times a charm," she grinned.

"That's true," he nodded. "Anyway I wanted to apologize for snapping at you
last night, I just ran into someone who put me in a mood, I'm sorry I took it out on you like
that."

She shrugged, "It's no big deal. Who was it anyway?"

"Oh, just one of my House mates who aren't happy to see me this term," he said,
avoiding her eyes.

Ginny frowned but let it slide, "You can join me for breakfast today, that is if you
don't want to sit with your Housemates."

Draco grinned and lowered himself on the bench next to her. They both felt eyes on them and
looked up, Ron was scowling, as were several Slytherins. "You know it would be *so* easy
to piss them off right now."

"It would," Ginny agreed. "But unless I don't want to play today, I've
got to behave."

"That's right Weaselette gets to play Quidditch today," Draco teased with a
wink.

Ginny elbowed him playfully, "Yes as a matter of fact I do." She took a bite of toast,
"It should be a good game. Ravenclaw, I can't wait to see Harry beat Cho Chang
again."

Draco smirked, "Holding a grudge against Miss Chang?"

Ginny shook her head, "No, I just don't like her."

"I see," Draco smirked.

Ginny shook her head and finished her breakfast. "Well I should be heading to the locker
rooms."

"Alright, good luck."

"Thanks," she said as she gave him a light kiss on the cheek and turned to leave.

Draco's eyes widened slightly. "Hey, I'll walk you at least part way, it
wouldn't do me well to be sitting at the Gryffindor table after you leave."

Ginny smiled, "Alright then, come on."

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