TABANCA
CHAPTER FOUR
INTERCEPTED
BY: J
DISCLAIMER - This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
CHAPTER SUMMARY - In which the morning after occurs; Harry and Ron meet the unlikely pair; Draco messes up; and Ginny sets him straight.
A/N: grins sheepishly Yeah I pretty much forgot about this fic, well, more like had no inspiration but I have finished a chapter (yay me!) and most of the fic actually since it's Christmas ^^ and I have plenty of free time. Thanks to all the recent reviews, you guys got my butt into gear.
--
Draco watched as the girl mumbled and turned onto her side, entangled herself in his sheets. She was the first girl he'd had sex with. Draco's eyes trailed to the rise and fall of her chest and quelled the urge to run. First pair of breasts he'd ever seen too. He wondered how long she'd keep this ridiculous infatuation for. Running his hand tentatively over the curve of her breast, Draco marvelled at how delicate she seemed. No one could stay in a relationship where it was one sided. Humans craved love. His hand stilled.
I crave love.
Picking up his wand, Draco let his eyes skim her body before resting on a strategic location. It was terribly uncomfortable and tricky business. With a smirk and careful precision he poked her soundly.
"Malfoy!" Draco couldn't help the satisfied smile as her disoriented gaze rested on him.
With a uncontrolled curiosity, he stared as a crimson blush stained her cheeks before travelling down to her chest.
Crossing her arms across her chest, Ginny shifted uncomfortably beneath his gaze. "W-what time is it?"
"Six o'clock," he said smoothly, rising to his feet. "I figured you'd like to be back in your dormitory before you're found missing."
"Thanks," she muttered, not moving from her place.
"Well hurry up, I don't need a bunch of Gryffindors telling the professors that you're gone." Ginny's eyes widened, and she fumbled for her clothes.
"Over there," Draco sighed, pointing to the chair he'd laid her clothes neatly out of pure boredom while waiting for her to wake up.
"Can I shower?"
Draco stared at her silently, making the simple question seem out of order. He acceded only when her gaze flickered away. "The boys bathroom is just outside the door."
Ginny nodded and peered at him enquiringly as he stood relaxed with his hands in his pockets. She looked away quickly, her brow creased with confusion.
"Is it easier to pretend Malfoy?"
He looked startled. "How'd we move from a shower to-"
"It was that awful."
Draco sighed before answering, "No, but it can't happen again."
Ginny felt ready to protest but really, what say did she have. It only made her look pathetic, holding onto something that wasn't even there. Draco did not feel the same way as she did and not only that, he was queer.
"If you weren't gay-"
"But I am."
"But if you weren't would you be able to like me."
"I don't even know you Weasley."
"I mean would you be able to try Draco."
He stared at her. "You are the oddest person I have ever met."
"Thanks," she said wryly.
He smirked. "Is this another proposal? Cause you know, even after last night, I'm still very much gay."
"Yeah well…last night didn't turn out exactly how I'd planned."
"Shower's over there," said Draco a little wearily. "Just don't take too long."
Ginny stared at him with a mix of confusion and hurt before casting her eyes down. Maybe he was right - maybe she didn't know him. Picking up her clothes and walking towards the bathroom she missed his measuring gaze. Draco Malfoy was effectively confused by her insistence to love him. It was ironic that that redhead was now just as effectively…doubtful about loving him.
Padding into the bathroom Ginny turned the shower on and stepped in. As she soaped she thought back to the night before. It hadn't turned out the way she had expected. The sex was incredible, but the circumstances stank. Sighing Ginny fumbled with the hair cleansing potion before lathering her hair. Draco had been nothing more and nothing less than she had expected but the disappointment still hung heavily over her.
She leaned her forehead onto the cool tile and let the water run over her. Ginny wondered what this must be like for Draco. Was he even concerned that he just had sex with her? Smiling bitterly at the thought, Ginny turned the shower off before grabbing a towel from the hook. Draco didn't give a damn about relationships; to him it was just sex. His emotions were screwed worse than hers.
Ginny changed quickly and towelled her hair. She avoided looking at herself in the mirror. It was inevitable that her own expression would betray her doubt in this so called plan. She sighed and pulled the towel from her hair. Throwing it in the laundry basket she found herself inexplicably resolute.
"Draco Malfoy will love me even if it takes me the rest of this year."
She scowled.
It figured she'd go all the way out to find the most challenging bloke to fall in love with.
--
"Draco?"
Draco looked up from the fire questioningly. He'd figured she'd be gone after the shower. His feelings about the whole thing had been made pretty clear to her. He watched as she bit her lip nervously before looking away. It didn't help that he didn't know his own feelings himself.
"I'm going down to breakfast."
"Already?"
"Well no one's there. I figured you might want to eat as well."
Draco couldn't help grin as she visibly winced at her blatant invitation to him to eat with her. He took a minute to think about it even though he knew courtesy asked him to reply at once. Even though it was Weasley, strange girl as she was, it wouldn't be so bad would it? To have someone else to talk to rather than his cronies?
"Alright," said Draco finally.
She stared. "Seriously?"
Draco wrinkled his brow. "Do you expect me to lie or something then take it back?"
She grinned. "It would be characteristic of a Malfoy."
"Yeah, I suppose it would be."
"Come on, I could eat a hippogryff."
Draco gave her a disgusted look as they went down the stairs. Ginny caught it and laughed.
"Got mauled by one didn't you?" She snickered. "Heard you cried like a baby."
"I did not! Besides, that bloody animal needed to be put down anyway. Stupid thing somehow got away." Draco slid his hands into his pockets and ignored her horrified look.
"You're awful, they're beautiful animals."
Draco stared at her strangely. "You do know what a hippogryff is right?"
"Gentle creatures once you treat them right."
"Didn't know you were an animal lover," Draco muttered.
"I'm glad it got away. Serves you right especially after hearing all those awful things you did to Ron and Harry."
"And you say you love me."
Ginny smiled and Draco was strangely disappointed when she didn't affirm it as he thought she would. It was kind of nice having Harry Potter's number one fan turn her affections on him. He smirked. Potter would hate that. And Weasley! Draco couldn't help the sly grin.
"Thinking evil thoughts are you."
"Shut up and keep walking. Didn't say I'd enjoy your company while we ate."
"We aren't eating at the moment." She grinned cheekily.
Draco shook his head, suppressing a smile. "To think I used to make you cry. All this wit and retort."
She paused at that. "Yes you were a prick."
He sputtered. "I never said I was a prick!"
"So making younger girls cry makes you a…"
He sighed. "A bit of a prick then."
"VIRGINIA WEASLEY!"
Ginny winced while Draco looked amused. She gave him a half-hearted glare. "Malfoy radar."
"What're you doing with my sister Malfoy!"
"Weasley. Potter."
Ginny glared as Draco's eyes lingered a bit longer on Harry.
"Answer my question Malfoy!"
"Going to breakfast Ron. Want to join us?"
Ron's face purpled. "Malfoy! Get away from my bloody sister, NOW!"
"I would, but you see, your sister is in love with me and insisted I join her for breakfast."
Ginny choked and averted her gaze from Ron's dumbstruck one. Draco smirked at her, calm as ever.
"You conniving Death Eater! Gods, you try to corrupt her once and then you try again!"
Draco looked terribly interested in that comment. "Corrupt her once?"
"Ron!" Ginny blanched. Draco couldn't know. No one could know.
"What are you playing at Malfoy?"
Draco turned to Harry's quiet voice and his face was covered carefully by a mask of indifference.
"She's convenient."
The three Gryffindors fell silent and Harry cast a worried glance at Ginny who'd gone pale. His demeanour became angry when he noticed the pained look on her face. Did something really happen between them? Harry glanced back at Malfoy who was looking triumphant. His face hardened.
"You're so bloody pathetic Malfoy."
Draco turned to Ron unbelievingly. "Pathetic? Pathetic is a bloke who pines after a Mudblood that his best friend has already thoroughly fucked."
He glanced at Ginny. "Pathetic is a girl who-"
"Shut up!"
Ginny and Harry looked startled as they both shouted. But it was Harry whose face was contorted with fury and it was Harry who shoved Draco roughly into the stone wall. Draco's head hit the stone with a sickening thud.
Ginny closed her eyes as Draco grinned at her from the wall. It was his fantasy after all, that Harry Potter pin him against the wall. Draco turned his gaze back to the fuming boy whose eyes had become a startling green against his flushed face. Draco was quite comfortable having Harry press his forearm against his neck as he leant forward threateningly.
"Never call Hermione a Mudblood!" Harry hissed.
Draco's fantasies of an incensed Potter were rapidly disintegrating as the boy's forearm pressed painfully against his windpipe. He looked at Ginny who'd begun to walk away and he stared at the slight slump to her shoulders.
"Don't look at her!"
Draco turned back to Harry only to swing sideways as Harry suddenly pulled back his fist and cuffed him in the jaw. Draco fell to the floor and gasped for breath trying to ignore the searing pain in his jaw.
"Ron's my best friend. A bloody good one too! If anyone was pathetic it'd be you Malfoy. Using his little sister and playing with her feelings."
Draco sneered. "She seemed to like it a lot."
Ron flew at him only to be held back by Harry.
"You're a prefect Ron. You can't."
"Harry, you think I bloody care at this moment!"
"You're the Head Boy Potter." Draco rose from the ground wiping the blood from his mouth. "Think that was an intelligent move?"
"It was worth it."
"Harry! Let me go!"
"No. Come on mate, Ginny's probably a lot worse off."
Ron slumped and pushed away from Harry; both leaving Draco standing alone without a backward glance.
--
"Weasley."
Ginny shaded her eyes and stared up at Draco angrily.
"Piss. Off."
"I've been looking for you everywhere." Any delusions that he was looking for her because he cared for her were easily dashed by his frustrated tone. Like a bloody dog he couldn't find.
Ginny stared at her book, bewildered as to why he was even here. "What do you want?"
Draco ignored her question as he sat across from her on the grass. Stretching his legs out in front of him he closed his eyes and let the sun shine onto his face.
"Breakfast was good today."
Sighing, Ginny looked at him carefully. "Again. What do you want?"
"Just to talk."
Not to apologize. He probably figured she was fine about the way he acted. The words in her book swam and she blinked away the tears hurriedly. Hurt or not she refused to let him know that she cared.
"If Ron or Harry see you with me…" Ginny trailed off at Draco's smirk, and she looked down at her book again unseeingly. Snapping it shut she jumped to her feet.
"That's what I thought," she muttered.
Draco grabbed her hand and tugged her to the ground. Stumbling, Ginny fell into his lap only to be shoved rudely onto the grass. Draco glanced around furtively before relaxing again. Making sure no one saw him in close contact with a Weasley, Ginny thought bitterly.
"What's the matter with you?" Draco looked at her calculatingly and Ginny scowled, picking up her book.
"Nothing. Are we done?"
She moved to stand again but Draco kept a grip on her thigh making her remain seated. "No. What's the matter with you?"
"What do you think?" she growled. "Leave it alone Draco."
He stared at her stubbornly, "If you leave I won't get my dose of Harry Potter."
Ginny glared at him disgust, not noticing how her hands were shaking. Draco released her, obviously thinking she was finally placated.
"You ran away after that entire fiasco."
"Shut up, just shut up."
"It wasn't like I lied."
"I mean that little then."
He let out a bark of laughter. "Yes considering I barely know you."
"So why are you here then!" She hissed.
Ginny was tempted to slap him. His pale upturned face with his eyes closed as if they were having a casual conversation. He dismissed everything with an indifference that seriously, pissed her off.
"If I said I was sorry I'd be lying."
"I wouldn't expect you to say sorry."
"So why are you so mad then?"
Ginny felt her temper rising. His twisted logic was twisting up her thinking; making it seem as if she was in the wrong. The silver tongued prick.
"Figure it out prat. I like to believe that I have some self worth."
He snorted. "Self worth? How does a girl who volunteers her body for sex have any self worth?"
"Not just sex." She whispered.
"Weasley, I'm not judging you. Sex is a wonderful thing."
"Stop. Stop making everything I say sound so dirty."
Draco opened his eyes and turned to her. "So it isn't just sex?"
"I never meant it in that way."
"Why not though?" Draco sat up and faced her properly. "Your little experiment didn't work."
"It seemed just fine," Ginny bit out, looking pointedly at his crotch.
He smirked, "All I needed was a little imagination."
Reddening, Ginny's knuckles whitened as her grip on the book tightened. Why'd she think she was in love with him? He was right, she didn't know him and now that she was getting to know him, she found she was beginning to hate the bastard. Releasing her book of her death grip she pulled her knees up and glared at Draco.
Draco leaned back on his elbows and looked at her through half-lidded eyes. "I told you it was playing with fire."
"Well lovely, you've proved your point," Ginny spat, trying to ignore how her insides twisted at his words. "Loving you is obviously a waste of time."
Draco smiled lazily. "Fine, you did turn me on, but that's all it was about. Sex."
Ginny swallowed thickly and stood again. "Indeed. I'll keep that in mind."
"So you're admitting you were wrong?"
Ginny clenched her teeth and closed her eyes, slowing her breathing. "I guess so," she whispered.
"Pity. I enjoyed myself last night."
Ginny turned to look at him; she couldn't believe she was this stupid, wallowing after yet another guy who failed to care. "I'm sure you did," she said, hurt by his complete indifference. "After all, it was Harry you were imagining."
Draco looked at her coolly, obviously thinking that that conversation had been closed. Ginny stared at him carefully, looking for any sign of emotion only to be sorely disappointed as she found nothing
"I myself have a proposal for you," he said. "I say we continue this experiment."
"I told you, I didn't mean it in that way!"
"And I said why not. You need to make me love you by the end of the year after all." Draco smirked at her as Ginny's cheeks reddened with mortification.
"You heard that?"
"Weasley. The bathroom door isn't that thick."
"Wait! What were you doing outside the bathroom door!"
"To tell you to hurry up," Draco said as if it were obvious.
She frowned.
"Don't love me anymore then Weasley?" Draco's tone was amused and Ginny glowered at the laughter that danced behind his eyes.
"What if I didn't have a good time last night?"
Draco gave her a shrewd look. "Screaming my name seemed to imply otherwise."
"And you then. How was it for you?"
Draco gave her a long look. "It was alright. If you wanted to have another go my door is open."
Ginny glared at him, feeling her temper reach its threshold. How dare he try play with her like that?
"Another go Malfoy! I'm not your bloody trial with the heterosexuals," she spat, "you know how I feel about you. I'm not going to sleep with you only to hear you moaning Harry's name." Ginny felt herself shaking with fury and humiliation, obviously Malfoy didn't care about the complications of emotion. He looked wholly unconcerned about whose name he moaned during his climax.
"I'm gay Ginny. What did you expect? I had a romp with you because it's just sex. I can make you out to be whoever I want while having the pleasures of sex."
Draco's features were impassive as he said this and Ginny had to take a deep breath to calm her temper and frustration.
"No."
"You've decided already?"
"I can't take the ups and downs of your whims and your disregard for anything that I feel." Ginny said, cradling her head.
"You wouldn't understand. Loving you hurts a bloody lot," she whispered.
"Loving Harry wasn't a dance in the park either Weasley."
"He didn't know you loved him."
Draco groaned at her accusing tone. Why was he pushing this?
"I'll be considerate."
Ginny's mouth dropped open.
"You really want to do this don't you? You're serious."
Draco looked slightly uncomfortable. She needn't make it sound so desperate.
"Alright," she said finally. "But if you mess up. Harry discovers who wanks off to a picture of him in Quidditch gear."
It was Draco's turn for his mouth to drop open. "How do you know about that!"
--
Completed 06/13/03
A/N: Thanks to Nayanya for pointing out that I wrote Draco as Head Boy instead of Potter! *glomps*