Halloween Time
It was the day before the dance and Draco was sitting in the second row trying to stay awake in the mind numbing Defense Against the Dark Arts class. The new teacher, Professor Sunnyvale (which everyone sniggered at when they heard her name) taught straight out of the book like Umbridge. Maybe she thought that no one needed to experience or practice the spells, but he sure would have preferred doing that than sitting next to his Slytherin counterparts, trying to stay awake.
He was staring out the window, past the teacher when he heard Ron Weasley behind him snort and the rest of his friends start giggling. Of course, the giggling turned to laughter which was contagious and soon enough the whole row was in stitches as Professor Sunnyvale gave them the evil eye.
Draco turned around and saw Hermione giggling, Harry had his glasses off and was wiping his eyes. Ron was holding his stomach as Samantha and Neville had hands over their mouths, trying not to laugh out loud. It was the happiest he had seen them over the past few weeks, but it was still annoying to hear them laugh at something that wasn't remotely funny.
"What is so funny back there?" Mrs. Sunnyvale's high voice floated to the back of the classroom. The Gryffindor's all looked at each other trying not to laugh, which anyone on the face of the earth knows DOES NOT WORK. Hermione started giggling again, which made Harry laugh because he had never heard Hermione giggle. Draco continued to stare at them, wondering if they had all gone nutters.
"S-s-s-sorry!" Ron managed clutching his sides, breathing deeply.
"Ron s-s-snorted!" Harry gasped, setting his glasses back on his face.
"We're sorry Professor. It's been a rough couple of weeks." Hermione's voice was shaky from exerting herself to not laugh.
Draco turned around muttering, "What was so funny?" under his breath.
The class only lasted a few more minutes and as soon as the teacher dismissed them and as the Gryffindor's piled out into the hall Draco could still hear them laughing. He gathered his books and bag following the last of the students out into the hall. Looking out the door, he saw Ginny talking to Hermione with a wide smile on her face; a Divination notebook in her hands. Draco looked at Harry leaning up against the wall and for a minute their guarded gazes met and, surprisingly, Harry nodded at him. Draco knew it was an acknowledgement about his father's death and Draco gave a slight nod of his head, then turned to Ginny who was watching him.
"Your brother was the highlight of the class."
Ginny seemed too stunned to speak for a moment, shocked that Draco had actually talked to her in public and hadn't insulted her family. She was sure some crude comment would have come out of his mouth, given the stupid reason everyone was laughing.
"Umm…well, it's something he doesn't have to work hard at," Ginny cracked a smile and covered her mouth as Ron glared at her, shoving her in the shoulder. Ginny didn't hesitate shoving him back against the wall. Draco couldn't help the hint of a smile that came to his mouth, but he caught it in time. All he needed was to smile like an idiot in front of a bunch of Gryffindor's.
"S-s-sorry Draco, it's been a long few weeks," Samantha gulped and wiped her eyes, using Ron's robes which he tried to snatch away, playfully. Crabbe and Goyle came up behind Draco clearly waiting for some type of insult to fly. Draco nodded in agreement with Samantha then turned and walked away. Everyone looked at everyone else, as Ginny stared at him walking down the hall.
"Something is wrong with him," Ron muttered flinging an arm around Samantha's shoulders. More nodding from his friends. Harry pulled Hermione back for a kiss as their friends began walking in different directions to their next class.
Ginny walked up to Divination as her thoughts rolled around Malfoy. What was going through his mind? He actually had spoken to her and her friends and managed not to piss anyone off. It looked as if he almost smiled which made Ginny wonder if she had EVER seen him smile, with genuine happiness. Climbing up the ladder and finding her spot next to her roommate, Maggie, she chatted about what just happened downstairs, but Maggie didn't have any better ideas than Ginny did about why he was so reserved as of late; the only thing they thought was the death of his father had affected him deeper than anyone thought.
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"Well, look who decided to come out of the broom closet," Ron chided Harry and Hermione an hour later at lunch, receiving a smack upside the head from Hermione. Truthfully, they both looked ten times happier than they had the past few weeks, so Ron filled his mouth with food which ceased any more smart comments.
"Ready for Halloween?" Samantha asked innocently to anyone listening. "I can't imagine what it's like here." She looked up at the blue sky above her, clouds floating around the enchanted ceiling. They all looked up as Luna sat down next to Neville, bypassing her Ravenclaw table. It was one of several times during the past month she had done that. Ginny smiled knowingly at Samantha who grinned back. Neville gave a small blush as he caught the girls smiling at each other and to cover up that he did see it, he began telling Samantha what Halloween was like at Hogwarts.
A half hour later, the Great Hall was cleared, the tables cleaned and ready for students who wished to study to do so. This was one of the chances that friends from different houses could come together, study or talk quietly about school. Having friends from other houses into your Common Room wasn't something that usually happened, so friends would meet in the library or Great Hall.
It was here, that Ginny was spread out over two places next to her and the one in front of her, painstakingly studying her Potions notes from Professor Snape. Having Ron to "live up to" wasn't a good thing, especially in Snape's class; she felt Snape was constantly waiting for her to make a Ron-like mistake. To prove him wrong, she would try to pull "Hermione's" where she would make the perfect potion, but it wasn't easy. It was all this studying, note taking and reading that led to that perfectly concocted liquid.
And it was here where Draco saw Ginny, bent over her work. She had seen him the hall before lunch and as he stood in front of her, he was clearly remembering the bat bogey hex she had put on him years ago.
"Hey, Weasley," a soft, slow drawl came from opposite Ginny and she snapped her head up, meeting his grayish blue eyes.
"Malfoy." She returned the greeting, her quill still above her parchment. He looked like he was going to say something and she was ready for a smart comment that she could snap back too, or even point her wand at but she wasn't ready for what really did come out of his mouth.
"Thanks." Ginny saw him lower his gaze, very uncomfortable using that word.
"For what?" Ginny was very confused, thoughts running through her head as to why he could possibly be thanking her. He shifted his gaze back up to her, face expressionless, except for his eyes. She held his gaze for minute, eyebrows raised questioningly. The hand that wasn't holding his bag of books waved in the general direction of the hallway outside the doors.
"For…what you said in the hall, about my father. You were the only Gryffindor to SAY anything," he added, seeing a slight blush rise in her freckled cheeks. He took a step closer to the table and Ginny looked down at her parchment. Two thoughts racing through her mind.
'I can nod and say 'you're welcome' and he will be on his way. OR, I can wave in the direction of the empty bench in front of me because he actually looks like he wants to sit. Of course, RON WILL KILL ME.'
So Ginny did what any little sister would do, she waved her hand to the bench in front of her, moving her papers aside. He hesitated for a moment then sat down straddling the bench, quietly appraising her, one hand still holding his bag, which was on the table. She folded her hands in front of her, and watched him fiddle with his bag. He looked slightly nervous, probably the result of sitting at this table. One he never before sat at until today. She briefly wondered if people were looking at them, but she didn't want to turn her head to see.
"What is that?" he nodded to her work spread out on the table.
"Potions," Ginny answered. "Ron didn't exactly pave a great path for me to follow on."
Draco gave a ghost of a smile.
"Yeah, he and Potter together couldn't even get it right," Draco rested his hands on the table and studied one of her formulas upside down. He took a finger and pointed to one formula for love potion, Amortentia.
"Should be stirred for three minutes, not four," Ginny looked down where he was pointing, noticing how long his fingers were. Shaking herself and removing her mind from that image, she thanked him and fixed the error. 'What the hell do I say now?' Ginny thought, 'He's not leaving! Shouldn't Pansy be dragging him somewhere?'
"Where's Pansy?" Ginny inquired, blowing on her ink to dry it, before moving on. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Draco shrug.
"Don't know, don't care," he said in a bitter voice causing Ginny to look up at him startled to hear him say that.
"That seems rather…drastic to say…about your girlfriend, doesn't it?" Ginny said, not sure whether to question if Pansy was his girlfriend…hell, she didn't even know why she was talking to him.
"She couldn't be bothered to come to my father's funeral and, well, other factors…," his voice trailed off at the end of his sentence, his eyes met hers and for a moment Ginny saw his guard was down. She was very good at reading people and she could see that at the moment, Draco Malfoy was almost like a lost puppy. No girlfriend, his bodyguards each had girlfriends so they weren't hanging out as much anymore, his father had been killed and she was sure he was studying for NEWTs just as hard as many of the 7th years.
"Oh. I-I'm sorry to hear that," Ginny murmured, beginning to pack her parchments up and stuffing them into her book bag.
"I have to go. Potions time." Ginny stood up and Draco walked parallel to her, the long table separating them, to the doors.
"Good luck. Get to hear your brother snore again in another class," Draco said dryly as he headed in the opposite direction. Ginny stared after him for a second, and then walked quickly down the hall to the Dungeons. First, her best friend got pregnant with a guy she had a huge crush on for years. Now, their enemy was chatting away with her…what was going on?
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Ginny was reading a magazine in the Great Hall after dinner that night; half listening to her brother teach Samantha the fine art of Chess. She looked over at Hermione and noticed she was asleep, head on her crossed arms, hair falling over her face. Before she could tell Ron maybe they should take her upstairs, Harry walked back from a meeting he had with Dumbledore that started as dinner was ending.
"She just zonked right out," Ron said, swearing under his breath as Samantha took his Knight.
"I'll take her upstairs," Harry smiled and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. Ginny looked up from her magazine and smiled at the tender gesture. Part of her wished she could be on the receiving end of Harry's ministrations, but she was actually closer to him now as a friend than she was having a crush on him. Harry caught her gaze and smiled at her and Ginny reached out and took his hand. He stopped for a moment, looking down at Ginny, surprised at her gesture.
"What?" he asked and she tugged his hand so he sat down next to her, careful not to disturb Hermione.
"I just want you to know that I am so happy for you two, baby or not. You are perfect for each other," Ginny released his hand and marked her spot in the magazine with her finger. "She's my best friend and I was worried when she dated Krum for awhile; he didn't seem her type. I'm so glad that you both came to your senses and saw what we all have observed over the past few years," Ginny glanced down at her magazine then looked up at Harry, meeting his steady gaze. "I know you'll take care of her, and she will take care of you."
"Thanks, Ginny." Harry patted her knee awkwardly. "What about you? Are you going to the dance with Tom or any other special bloke?"
Ginny shook her head, "There's no one special at the moment."
Harry nodded then rose from his spot. "Now, I will do my duty and take my girlfriend up to her room and put her to bed." Ron saluted him in acknowledgement, keeping his eyes glued to the Chess board between him and Samantha. Harry stood up and carefully lifted up Hermione, one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back. Not even opening her eyes she laid her head on his chest, her chestnut brown hair falling around her face. Ginny waved at him as he carefully made his way back from the table.
Harry walked towards the doors and was ready to use "Alohamora" but the door opened a moment before he voiced the spell in his head. Draco stepped halfway in, saw Harry carrying Hermione, then stepped back holding the door for Harry. Draco inclined his head towards Hermione.
"Did she lose a bet or something?" Draco asked quietly. Harry paused; take back by the direct question.
"No, she fell asleep, so I am taking her to her room," Harry answered a note of caution in his voice. Draco looked at Hermione's sleeping form once more then stepped into the Great Hall, leaving Harry very bewildered by the recent actions (talking to Gryffindor's…having manners to hold the door) of Draco Malfoy.
Glancing around the Great Hall, Draco saw students from all four houses doing homework, talking, playing Chess or just reading quietly to themselves. It really was a different, more relaxed atmosphere with Voldemort gone and Draco wasn't to sure if it would last or not. He saw the twin red heads at their usual table; Ginny was standing up, talking to a bloke from her house; her brother was playing chess with the Muggle and Neville was playing something with Luna.
"Draco," Pansy's voice came from his left and he glanced down at her.
"What now?" He snapped, irritated that she just wouldn't leave him alone.
"I apologize for not coming to your father's funeral, but don't you think we can move past that? I miss you…," she rubbed her hand suggestively up and down his arm and he shook her off, moving to the side to let Ginny and Tom walk by him and through the doors. Ginny and Pansy's eyes met for a split second until Tom asked Ginny a question about the dance, distracting her from the conversation going on at the doors. Draco took this chance and slipped out the doors behind them, Pansy at his heels as he headed down for the dungeons.
"What can I say to make you change your mind about us?" She stood next to him at the top of the stairs that led down to the boys dormitory in the Slytherin Common Room.
"Parkinson, you're starting to piss me off. I don't need to date you anymore; it was an agreement my father made me do which I have told you, repeatedly. Go find someone who will actually care for you, or love you or whatever you seek. I am not that person anymore," Draco felt her shove him towards the wall and all of a sudden her mouth was on his, trying to get a response out of him.
Her hands moved under his robes, touching spots she knew he liked. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he pushed her roughly towards the opposite wall, walked quickly down the stairs and through the door to his room. He felt nothing but coldness for her, and he knew she wanted to sleep with him. For awhile he liked the tug of war with him not giving her what she seeked and vice versa; he liked seeing her squirm, but she never truly excited him. However now that he didn't need to honor his father's wishes he cut her loose. It felt like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders not having to play the boyfriend to her; now if he could just get her to stay away and find someone else or… maybe…if HE found someone else she would leave him alone.
A certain willowy redhead came to mind. A Weasley nonetheless.
Draco looked through some papers idly on his bed then sat down. She didn't make him feel cold, she was different than he ever thought she would be. When she wasn't angry or yelling (which amused him), she was actually considerate, smart, funny…something he never thought he would be attracted too-then again, maybe he wasn't; maybe it was the thrill of the chase or something. He laid back on his pillow, hands under his head thinking about everything…and nothing.
For the rest of the day, he wandered around his Common Room when Pansy wasn't there, but would quickly go to his room when she did make her presence known. He struggled with trying to sleep, numerous thoughts running through his head. He heard the snores of Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini and Nott and decided, finally at midnight it was time to visit the kitchens. Pansy would never find him there and he was a bit hungry. Pulling on sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt, he quietly made his way out of the dungeons and to the kitchens. Walking past the window above the small table he glanced out and saw bats flying around the squid in the lake. He rested his chin on his arms and watched the Squid wave a tentacle in the air, either playing with or trying to eat the bats.
After a strained conversation with his mother via the Floo this morning regarding his father's will and things being changed into her and his name, he felt the most relaxed at this early hour than he had all day. He stared out the window, munching on some chips, not really thinking of anything…until he felt it; it was like a single wave had emanated from an oven and warmed upon his skin. He didn't hear her come in, she was a quiet as a mouse, but he felt something: an alteration in his environment, something that almost warmed him and made him even more relaxed than he was already. He waited to see what she would do.
Ginny had come down expecting to grab a quick cup of something hot and taking it back to her room. What she didn't expect to see, as she stood there in a pair of pink and blue plaid pajamas was Draco Malfoy, looking out the window near the small table. His chin resting on his arms, body slightly bent and one leg crossed behind the other. He looked to be deep in thought about something and Ginny was about to turn around and quietly creep out of the kitchen when he spoke, not moving from his position.
"You can't sneak up on me."
He startled Ginny with his abrupt comment.
Ginny looked away, hoping Dobby would suddenly appear and save her from this awkward situation.
"I-I wasn't trying to; I didn't know you were here," Ginny said, trying to regain her composure, but staying back in the shadows. It was so quiet; she could actually hear the few leaves left on the trees outside rustling in the breeze. She counted to 45 to give him time to respond.
"I'll just get myself a drink and be on my way," she started for the cupboards she knew contained mugs and rooted around from some hot chocolate; she wished she could use magic to conjure up a cup, but that would only give away the secret that she was down here.
She felt his eyes on her as she moved around pouring chocolate into a mug. Feeling self conscious because of that, she closed her eyes as she waited for the water to get hot and sighed to herself.
"Would you like some hot chocolate?" She asked politely, not turning around since she was shaken by the fact
that this stuck up and rude person she had known for six years, was appearing to be relaxed and thoughtful when she has
first walked into the kitchen.
"Why not?" Draco said lightly and he walked over until he was standing behind her. Ginny grabbed the edge of the counter, wondering why all of the sudden she was bothered by his nearness. By some unknown rationale, that she couldn't put into words, she knew he wasn't going to hurt her; just having him stand so close to her, watching water boil, she could smell him, a pleasant spicy scent that set her on edge.
"Do you always walk around in your night time clothes?" He asked from behind her. Ginny was glad it was still dark and shadowy down here because she was blushing furiously.
"Not usually, no, as I said I didn't think anyone but Dobby would be down here," she grabbed the pot off the stove and filled up two mugs, feeling him move and stand next to her. He grabbed a spoon and quickly stirred the chocolate into the water and handed her a mug. Wrapping her hands around the warm mug she leaned back against the counter, waiting until her mug wasn't so full so she could walk back up to the tower without spilling it all over herself.
"Another nightmare?" his voice sliced the still darkness and she jumped, spilling some hot liquid onto her thumb. Raising her hand to her mouth she sucked the hot chocolate off her hand before she shook her head.
"No," she took a sip of her slightly less than scalding drink. "You?"
"I don't dream; or shall I say I don't remember any if I do."
Ginny was surprised by this, "You don't remember any of your dreams? None?"
"No, the only one I remember was when I was younger; that typical dream of falling but I usually would hit the ground THEN wake up," Draco took a sip of his drink.
"Huh. I thought if you hit before you woke up, it meant you were dead."
"Well, I am standing here aren't I? Do I look dead to you?" Draco turned towards her and she was forced to look at him dressed casually in sweatpants and a long sleeve shirt; she shook her head again and took a drink, not trusting her voice. As they stood there in silence, Ginny realized for the first time that she really didn't know what to say. Usually she had a comment or could talk about anything, but having what was her and her friends sworn enemy standing next to her, wasn't something she thought she would ever experience.
Ginny glanced down at her cup, amazed to find it just about empty. Turning around she set it in the sink; Draco followed suit and briefly she wondered how long it was until HE noticed he was finished.
"We'll have to do this again sometime," Draco said sarcastically, opening the door out to the hall for her.
"Maybe," Ginny said a hint of slyness in her voice. She followed him out to the main hall, where he gave a flick of his hand for a wave goodnight and he headed down the stairs to the dungeons. Ginny hurried up to her tower, not wanting to be caught early in the morning on Halloween.
The next morning, Ginny told her friends about her night trip to the kitchen and again Maggie surprised them all. She was brushing her hair and had been silent as Ginny and Susan threw rumors back and forth about why he was being civil.
"He likes you, that's why," Maggie said in her bored voice, but it got everyone's attention. Ginny laughed out loud as she buttoned her skirt and smoothed it down.
"Maggie, our families have been at each other's throats forever. He wouldn't want to be seen with a poor Weasley like me; just because he isn't with Parkinson anymore doesn't mean he won't find another rich pureblood to be with."
"You're a pureblood," Maggie turned to her, her black hair swept down her back and her dark eyes rested on Ginny. Ginny narrowed her eyes at her, completely confused.
"So? Maggie, he was never nice to us! Remember my first year? Remember the fight his father and mine go into while buying our books? The name calling the last five years?"
"His father isn't around anymore. Malfoy never stood up to him, Ginny, you know that. Now, he is essentially a free man. He can do what he wants, when he wants and see who he wants," by now the room was staring at Maggie who had never voiced her opinion so strongly about anything.
"Maggie, are you crushing on Malfoy?" Susan asked bluntly. Maggie sighed and shook her head.
"No, but I'll take his friend Zabini," Maggie said evenly, shocking her friends who thought she was
joking. Many girls said that if Malfoy and Zabini had been sorted into Gryffindor, then they would have the three best
looking men in their house, the third being Harry.
"Merlin, Maggie…what has gotten into you?" Ginny asked, fighting with the Gryffindor tie until Susan came over and offered her assistance.
"I just wish you would see what I do or read between the lines," Maggie said, snapping her book bag shut. She smiled at Ginny. "Tonight is the Halloween Dance; I bet you two will dance together--,"
"Dance? Me and Malfoy?" Ginny rolled her eyes as she grabbed her bag.
"Yes, Ginny. I bet you two will," Maggie said quietly as they filed down the stairs.
"What is the bet? Because that won't happen. I promised Tom a dance, that is the only dance I KNOW of," Ginny waved to Hermione who was waiting for Harry at the bottom of the boys stairs.
"The bet? I don't know. If I'm right you have to draw me a picture, how's that?" Maggie and Susan knew that most of Ginny's drawings were private so this was a big issue for her.
"Ok, fine Maggie. If I am right, you have to go up to Zabini and talk to him," Ginny saw Maggie flush, but she nodded. Shaking hands on it, the group entered the hall for breakfast, each hoping that they were right, and in a matter of 11 hours they would find out.