A/N: thanks to my readers from "Crescent Moon" who are staying with me during some of the repeated scenes in this story. I am doing that for the D and G shippers who don't read H and Hr, so it's new to them. I am trying to make my way to the end of the year quickly, which will then start new D and G scenes, but without leaving out any pertinent information. I love reviews, so please do!
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Let it Snow!
The month of November slid by rather uneventfully and Ginny managed to find herself back on an even keel. She had finished the drawing for Maggie, who proudly displayed it in the dorm room.
She had found out that her brother Charlie had eloped with a girl named Katharine and they were expecting their first child in April.
Bill and Fleur were planning on getting married in early July, right after school let out. Her mom had also written that the twins were dating former female Gryffindor Quidditch players which set the boys off laughing as they thought of Fred and George snogging any girl!
Ginny had chatted with Draco but nothing more. She would sometimes see him on her way out of Potion's class as he was entering. She asked him once how it was going with Pansy and he said she had found a new snogging partner, so she guessed that was good, for Draco.
Every time she saw him, or heard someone mention his name, her heart would beat a bit faster and she knew for some reason she had started "crushing on him" as her roommates said. She never voiced it aloud and thought she hid it pretty well.
Hermione was recovering nicely and was back into the swing of school and studying for NEWTs. She was excited that a trip to Hogsmeade was slated that weekend and at breakfast one Saturday morning, they were discussing the new dresses they were hoping to purchase.
"You girls going to Hogsmeade today to get your dresses?" Harry asked Ginny, Luna, Samantha and Hermione as he tucked into some eggs
"Sure are! This being our last year we are going to look gorgeous for you guys!" Hermione said with a sidelong glance at Harry, who was too busy eating to notice the look she gave him.
"Ginny, are you going with anyone?" Luna asked as she took a drink of pumpkin juice. Ginny shrugged and set down her fork.
"Well, four different guys have asked me and I know that three of them just want an ummmm…good time afterwards," Ginny rolled her eyes at Ron who gave her a pointed look.
"So, I think when the right person asks, I will know. If not, I'll go by myself. I have no problem with that," Ginny said confidently.
"What about Malfoy?" Harry asked casually.
"What about him?" Ginny looked up and met Harry's gaze.
"Has he asked you?" Harry pressed, feeling Ron tense up beside him.
"Why would he?" Ginny asked huffily.
"I figured he might; you danced with him at Halloween and he seems to be staying civil with you. Might be a good way to bridge the Slytherin/Gryffindor gap!" Harry winked at her, then ducked as she tossed a cherry from the fruit bowl at him.
"Well, I figured he would be going with someone from his own house. I know Pansy has hooked up with someone, so he has her off his back. Other than that I don't know much about…well…anything that has to do with him," Ginny answered, trying to sound bored about it, but the thought of going to the dance with him made her insides squirm for a bit; a good type of squirm and she really didn't want to let anyone know that.
After breakfast those students, third years and up who were going to Hogsmeade met outside the castle. Ginny didn't have enough money to buy a new dress, the one she had from last year would be good enough. She was looking forward to helping Hermione, Luna and Samantha pick out a dress.
The wind was bitter and the air crystal clear and very cold. Ginny huddled together with the girls as they waited for everyone to join them for the day trip. Ginny turned around, putting the wind to her back when she saw Draco walking down towards them, animatedly talking to someone from Slytherin that she knew by sight not by name. He glanced up at her as he walked by and for a moment they held each other's gaze. She gave him a small smile and he looked like he was going to ask her something when they heard Professor McGonagall telling everyone to get moving down the hill. Ginny turned away and followed Luna and her friends down and out of the gates.
An hour later, Ginny found herself coerced into trying on dresses after firmly saying no. Hermione had found one for her that they all liked and Luna had fallen in love with one; Samantha was using one from home and as a gift to Ginny, they all pitched in for a new one as a Christmas gift.
Ginny stood in the dressing room staring at the dark blue long sleeve dress that she tried on.
"How are you doing in there?" Samantha asked, poking her head in the curtains.
"I don't like this one," Ginny turned around frowning.
"Let the rest of us see it!" Luna called from the middle of the store. Ginny pulled up the long skirt and followed Samantha out and stood on the raised platform. Everyone else agreed it wasn't for her and they shoved her back to try on more. It was the third one she tried that actually made Ginny's jaw drop.
It was a unique shade of green that seemed to change hues as she moved. She felt the soft material cling to her hips, lightly touch her calves and felt a bit self conscious that the only thing holding it up was her chest, which the dress skimmed across with a scalloped neck line. Samantha stuck her head in and their eyes met in the mirror. Ginny turned and followed her out, hearing the ohhs and ahhs of her friends. She stared at herself in the mirror, thinking she looked like a totally different person.
What she didn't realize that someone else was staring too.
Draco has walked in coincidentally as she was trying on dresses.
Samantha had made him wait in the shadows knowing Ginny would refuse to try anything else on if she saw him there in the store. He had watched with genuine amusement as Ginny tried on the first two dresses, wondering how long girls could do this. But, when she emerged the third time from between the curtains he had actually held his breath. He wasn't planning on staring and he wasn't planning on feeling a heat rush through him that he had never felt before.
She. Was. Beautiful.
He actually wanted to get up and go say something, but she had stepped down and gone back to change. Quietly he left the shop, forgetting his own new dress robes and he wandered into The Three Broomsticks, joining Zabini for a Butterbeer.
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Finding a place to sit undisturbed was hard for Ginny; for once she was done her work early, she had her sketch pad and pencils and just wanted to sit somewhere secluded and draw.
The library was packed with 5th and 7th years studying; the Great Hall was being decorated for the Christmas Holiday.
Ginny leaned against the railing, looking at the hourglasses with the house points. Now that Harry wasn't getting points deducted from those teachers-who-must-not-be-named, they were ahead, closely followed by Hufflepuff. She saw a house elf dart across the floor and dust the hourglasses and that gave her the idea of escaping to the kitchens. The house elves would leave her alone and since she wasn't on duty that night, she could sit down there for hours. Dinner was over, Harry, Hermione and Ron were studying; Samantha was writing her paper; her roommates were taking some quiz from "Witch Weekly" and she saw Malfoy only briefly that morning and he was complaining about how much he had to study, so she wasn't even going to track him down.
Ginny walked quickly through the door and down the stairs to that led to the kitchens, happy to see the place clean and free of house elves.
Settling down at the table, she pulled out her sketch pad and started working on the sketch of Draco she had started from that summer. She turned the chair so the back was to the wall, pulled a chair over for her legs, stretched out, laid the pad on her lap and began sketching from memory.
Before she knew it, an hour had passed and at some point Dobby had brought her hot chocolate and biscuits. She nibbled on them, every so often brushing crumbs off her notebook and taking a look at her sketch. She had the tree done, and his face, but so far he was legless and one arm hadn't been drawn yet.
She let her mind wander as she shaded in his shadow that was cast to the side of him. Many people had come up to her, asking if she was dating him. She said 'No' but it didn't escape her notice that many girls were starting to look at him in a different light. He was less rude, hadn't reverted to any name calling and was almost pleasant to be around…unless you were Pansy. She still managed to piss him off, just to do it. Looking up and behind her thinking she heard something, she saw that it was snowing.
Closing her notebook, she rested her knees on the chair and looked outside in the dim light cast by the moon.
'Hermione will be so excited', Ginny thought, touching the window pane as a snowflake stuck to it then melted. Turning around she gathered her things and ran up to the tower anxious to relay this new weather to Hermione…knowing that when the weekend came there would be an all out snowball fight.
And right Ginny was…that Saturday morning the students piled outside and set up various types of forts, letting all types of snowballs fly. For Ginny's group it was boys vs. girls and soon she found out that they were no match for the boys.
Having run into Malfoy on a bathroom break, he joined the ranks of Harry and Ron who managed to capture the girls. Ginny managed to get Ron to chase her through the snow but wasn't a match for his speed. He tackled her until she squirmed out from under his tickling and took off for her fort. Now she had Ron and Draco after her and found herself on the ground again; Ron holding her legs and Draco her arms.
Ginny squirmed out from Ron's grasp after he took off after his girlfriend who threw a snowball at him and quickly, Draco was sitting on her legs, looking down at her, then he smiled.
"Somehow you managed to get snow down my jumper, so what should I do about that?" he moved his hand so one hand was holding both of hers above her head and he settled one on her ribcage. She tried to move away but he was heavy enough she couldn't move. He flexed his fingers and she dissolved into laughter.
"Stop, stop!" She laughed squirming under him, not really aware that her legs had come up so they were bent at the knee on either side of them her feet planted firmly on the ground. She felt him still his fingers, but his hand stayed there in a threatening position. She jumped slightly as he moved his hand, a grin spreading across his face.
"Ticklish are we? Never would have pegged that on you, Weasley."
"My only weakness," she replied, now realizing the position she was in.
'Oh my god…if Ron comes back here and sees me like this…,' she thought to herself, although she could hear him yelling at Harry about some snowball that hit him.
'Don't let anyone see me, don't let anyone come back here, don't let him move.'
Ginny had these thoughts running through her head as she stared up at him, and their eyes met, searching; Ginny realized that his hand was now threaded through her fingers above her head and the hand that was on her ribcage had moved to the snow next to her. Ginny felt him move slightly, rearranging his weight and Ginny was sure he heard her suck in her breath.
She never wanted anything more at this moment than for him to kiss her, which at this point was her only thought. The blood was pounding in her ears and all the noise from over her wall was silenced in her mind. She was only truly aware of how still he was, how he felt on top of her and how long they could stare at each other.
She opened her mouth to say something, something smart like, "Get off me," or "Let me up!"; she could even flip him over with her legs that were now free but all that came out of her mouth surprised her more than finding herself in this position.
"Draco-," she whispered and it was all he needed for his lips to meet hers, to send shockwaves through her body. Her eyes closed, savoring the coldness of his lips against hers. Just a light, caress on her lips and his hand tightening around hers; she squeezed his hand back and moved her lips under his, feeling them warm quickly as they hesitantly moved over hers. He shifted his weight from his hand to his elbow, allowing his body to rest on hers and she wished there weren't so many layers of clothes between them.
Ginny felt him pull back as someone yelled her name. He let go of her hand and helped her up, his cheeks as flushed as hers. Not saying anything, they stood up only to get pelted by two snowballs, breaking the mood, and the war was on again until everyone was soaked, cold and hungry.
Walking back from the snowball fight Ginny was shivering but elated. Her friends were trudging up ahead through a path worn already by many students while she hung back with Draco who was using a drying charm on his gloves. Ginny took hers off and shoved them into her pockets, figuring she would dry them out later.
Rubbing her hands together she kept replaying the kiss over and over and thought about the look on his face which probably mirrored hers for a second when he pulled away and had gazed down at her.
He stopped at the stairs that she climbed every day to get to Gryffindor Tower and she stopped along side of him, stepping to the side to let some first years run past them.
"I should probably thank you for not hexing me back there," Draco said, holding his gloves in one hand, unable to meet her gaze for the first time since she had known him. For a moment she thought of Harry…the bashfulness and uncertainty of what he just did coming to the surface. So much what Harry was like the first time he kissed Hermione…at least from what Ginny had heard from the both of them.
"I wasn't really thinking about hexing," Ginny said, looking down at his hand holding his gloves. She needed to go, she had to use the bathroom, talk to Hermione and clear her head.
She pulled out her wet gloves.
"I need to go dry out. I'll see you later I'm sure," she looked up at him and he met her gaze. He nodded in agreement and they turned away each going their separate ways.
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Ginny was warming up in front of the Common Room fire, sitting next to Hermione when she blurted out, "I need to tell someone or I am going to burst."
"What?" Hermione glanced over, brushing out her hair. Ginny looked around at the other students and lowered her voice.
"Malfoy kissed me, behind our fort." Ginny felt a blush coming to her cheeks. Hermione stared at her and didn't say anything for a few seconds.
"Well," Hermione started out, "how do you feel about that?"
Ginny glanced down at her hands then back to the fire.
"What was it like when you and Harry first kissed?"
Hermione smiled, remembering the Tower last Spring.
"It wasn't planned, but was magical in every sense of the word. And, to experiencing Harry Potter letting his control go was so awesome; it was like you could feel the power radiating out of him…" Hermione trailed off, clearing her throat.
"But, this is about you!" she grinned at Ginny who was looking very confused.
"Well, he certainly kept control, but it was unexpected. I just don't know what to do now," Ginny wasn't sure if it was an "in the moment" kiss or something deeper and she hated not knowing what he was thinking.
"How was it?" Hermione asked, her hairbrush now on her lap and her attention focused on Ginny.
"It was…nothing like you would think from Malfoy. And, I think I even called him "Draco" right before he kissed me," Ginny mumbled, feeling almost ashamed at using a name that had such a different connotation in her mind. "I'm just glad Ron didn't see us because I think he might have gone loony."
"Ginny, as dense as your brother can be, I think he sees something that we all see; "we" meaning me, Harry, your brother, Samantha and even Neville, and that would be an interest in each other. But, I can also see you fighting it."
"Mostly because what would my family think? What would I think of myself if I let myself get involved with the "enemy" so to speak? For six years he did nothing but degrade my family, make hurtful remarks to you and make fun of Harry. Why, then do I feel jumpy every time I see him?"
Hermione set down her brush and turned so she was leaning against the arm of the sofa, fully facing Ginny.
"I think with his father gone, no one is around to tell him what he should be thinking and how he should act towards anyone who isn't full blooded. Your family is, but I think now that he can see people for who they are not just for their income status. He might be trying to change his views of them, of you."
"Ron would still kill me," Ginny sighed seeing her brother come down the stairs, but head towards the back of the room where a chess game was being played.
"I don't think he would. You're sixteen. You're smart and you can understand and feel so much about people from just watching them. I think if you talked, or if even Draco talked to Ron, then the animosity might not be there-- as much anyway. As for the rest of your family-- if you can get Ron to see that Draco Malfoy has changed then it would be a big plus in helping your family see it too." Hermione put an arm around Ginny's shoulders, seeing Harry start her way. She shook her head slightly and Harry raised an eyebrow but changed direction to the chess game.
"Let me tell you something else," Hermione lowered her head to Ginny's and began talking in a whisper. "I don't know if you know this, but apparently when two full blooded wizards get together and…well…YOU KNOW…the power is supposed to be amazing." Ginny looked up so quickly she almost collided with Hermione's chin.
"WHAT?" Ginny had absolutely not heard this before.
"Well, I read and have heard that if the man and woman are full blooded and consummate their relationship, the feeling and power is tremendous. I read that objects around the room fall, or items even fly around the room. I have and never will experience it, but apparently if someone doesn't exert tremendous control, all this can happen."
Hermione saw Ginny's face go pale.
"But, I am not saying that you will experience this with HIM, but I just wanted you to be aware, that if you feel he is holding back or in control…that is why. It can happen even when kissing, but not as much so as…" Ginny stopped her with a small nod not wanting to think of going there with him; the kiss was enough to send her reeling.
"Sounds like it would be amazing, but I could see how it could scare someone if they didn't know." Ginny let out a huge sigh, trying to take in even more information.
"Do you want me to talk to Ron? Malfoy? What can I do to help you?" Hermione asked quietly. Ginny shrugged.
"If the situation presents itself, go ahead but I don't even know what you would say," Ginny stood up, very warm now from the fire and the conversation.
"I think I might go eat something then take a walk and clear my head a bit at the lake. I'll be back soon," Ginny squeezed Hermione's hand and trotted off to her room.
Draco was on his way to the library, studying yet again. He was so tired of reading and note taking he thought he would jump out the window, but he was almost done. Half a year then he was free…never to take another test again!
"Malfoy," Hermione came up next to him and he looked at her startled for a moment when he saw she was alone. "Can we talk for a moment?"
Now he stopped and stared at her. "What did I do?" he asked suspiciously. He had never had a conversation with her before and couldn't fathom what she needed now.
He saw a smile spread across her face. "Nothing. I just need to talk to you for a minute."
She held the door to the library open for him and he walked through, pausing on the other side. She led him to the furthest corner, near the restricted section, and sat down motioning him to sit across from her.
He threw his bag on the table and sat down heavily. For a moment they stared openly at each other and Hermione fully expected him to get up and leave but he sat there patiently waiting for her to talk.
"I have something to say that might help you and I just want you to listen until I am done," Hermione crossed her arms in front of her and leaned closer to him. "There isn't much that escapes my attention and I can see that you have somewhat of an interest in Ginny," Hermione held his gaze, marveling that he had so much control that he didn't give away anything.
Draco made sure his face was in the same neutral expression as when they sat down. He thought to himself that she was going to tell him to leave Ginny alone.
Hermione continued, "And I think that if you were to talk to Ron first before you would think about asking Ginny out, or putting yourself in a position where you are alone with her, then you might find it easier to get whatever it is you are seeking. Being the only girl for seven generations, a very powerful witch and a pureblooded one at that and having six older brothers doesn't bode well for anyone that is interested in her. But I know Ron...," Hermione lowered her voice a bit as someone walked by them, "And if the next bloke that takes Ginny out recognizes that Ron is an entity in Ginny's life than he has a much better chance to get involved with her." Hermione sat back, and watched him move slightly in his seat.
Draco had never heard her talk so much without taking a breath. What was she telling him? He had to go through Ron to date Ginny? Date? Did he even want that?
He looked uncomfortable as if he wanted to jump up and run away, but was waiting to be dismissed.
Hermione had a thought hit her and she added it to her speech, "And Ginny doesn't have a date to the dance. She has been asked numerous times but said she is waiting for the right person to ask her." Hermione saw his eyes raise from the table top to hers. She smiled at him and did something Draco never ever thought she would do, she reached across the table and laid her hand on top of his arm. Out of habit he flinched but managed not to move his arm.
"I also know that Ron will be down having a snack in a few minutes, and Ginny is taking a walk around the lake. This might be the best time to talk," Hermione removed her books and in a selfless gesture she got ready to leave the table first, so he could leave on his own accord.
"Off to study Potions now. Good luck." Hermione turned and walked through and aisle of books, not turning back to see what he did.
Draco sat there stunned for a moment. He just felt any semblance of control he had on the situation leave his hands. Making a tent with his fingers he rested his chin on them, staring at the clock above the wall. Ever since his father died, well actually ever since he had run into Ginny on the train the first day of September, she had been a thought in the corner of his head. But, now that his father wasn't around, he was calling the shots and was actually enjoying for once not stressing out over Pansy, not trying to live up to Death Eater expectations and was learning patience in certain situations so he didn't piss anyone off. Now, he had to go through a Weasley, one who hated him, for him to see the one Weasley who had at least a mild interest in him.
Knowing that studying was not happening now, he walked out of the library, found a second year Slytherin to take his books back to their Common Room and pulling on his robes, he headed for the Great Hall to do something he NEVER thought he would do…ask a Weasley for permission to do anything.
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Draco walked outside into the fresh air, taking a deep breath. That didn't go so badly; he asked and Weasley had said it wasn't up to him and to ask her but added the expected "you hurt her…" remark which Draco knew should not be taken with a grain of salt.
He buttoned up his wool cloak and started off around the lake to find Ginny. He sure hoped that in the end all this hoop jumping would be worth it. He realized it wasn't the thrill of the chase anymore…there wasn't a thrill at all about seeking a Weasley's permission on something so he knew that some part of him was pursuing her for other reasons. Probably the reasons Pansy so wanted but he just didn't feel for her.
He remembered the first time he had kissed Pansy-the end of third year a quick peck on her cheek as they left the train station. His father had been watching and seemed to approve.
The next year a kiss here and there usually before bed as they went their separate ways…same for fifth year, but a little more intense.
But, sixth year she had started coming on to him and sometimes he would respond, thinking it was normal to just not feel much as the other person was kissing you. Go through the motions, make sure she was happy but one thing he could not do was sleep with her.
In September of their seventh year she had broached the subject with him and he had told her flat out 'No', which started the whole "on the fence" relationship corkscrew it's way down hill. Then when his father died, he realized Pansy wasn't needed for him to "look good" and that there weren't many people who were full blooded anymore.
He saw how his mother and father had related to one another. He was pretty sure it was an arranged marriage and there wasn't any love in it; just two very good looking people who seemed to have everything on the surface.
He didn't want to be like that.
Then he danced with Ginny and felt her worm his way into her heart. He could sense when she was nearby.
He could read most of her feelings and the things that bothered most people didn't bother her. She wasn't concerned with money, clothes, what people thought of her; he wondered if his father had died years ago and he ran into Ginny, would he feel the same? He had a good intuition that he could trust her which surprised him because he was taught to trust no one but himself.
Up ahead he saw her tossing snowballs into the lake, throwing them as far as she could, occasionally they would skid across the ice to the other side. She began to make another ball but stopped short when she saw him walking towards her.
"Hi," she tossed the ball to him and he caught it, breaking it apart as he did.
"Hi, yourself," he said and for a moment he just looked at her, standing there in a red hat, pulled down over her ears, her wool cloak buttoned up and a pair of new gloves on, red to match the hat. Her Gryffindor scarf hung loose around her neck and her cheeks were bright pink, from the cold or blushing he couldn't tell.
"Are you playing catch with the squid?" Draco made his own snowball and hauled it across the pond. Ginny was duly impressed.
"You should have been a Chaser," Ginny commented.
"Nah, I just like looking at Potter's arse the whole game." Ginny double over with laughter, tried to compose herself but broke out into giggles again.
"I know many girls who would like to be there," Ginny wiped her eyes and turned towards Draco, flipping her scarf over her shoulder. "So, what brings you out here?"
"I came to ask if you wanted to go to the Yule Ball together," he said in his typical straightforward way. Ginny felt herself go numb for a minute, then she felt like jumping up and down.
"Sure," she responded with false calm, "I can just meet you by the library; it's about halfway between our houses." Draco nodded, then hauled another snowball out over the lake. Ginny picked one up and lightly threw it at him to see what he would do. It hit his arm and he turned towards her, snowball in his hand.
"I would think with six older brothers you would have learned not to do that," he tossed the ball softly from one hand to another. With a flick of her hand she conjured up one and let it fly, hitting him in the chest. She took off running as she saw him toss his own snowball behind him, weaving in and out of trees, then stopping behind one…keeping it between her and him.
"You do know that I will get you," Draco walked towards her as she backed up, smiling at him.
"I'm sure you will; I don't go down without a fight though," Ginny squealed as he lunged forward and trapped her between him and the tree behind her.
Her body hitting the tree had caused snow to fall on her and laughing she wiped it off, noticing his arms were on either side of her.
Before she could say anything she felt his mouth on hers, felt his hands move to her shoulders as he stepped closer to her, pressing her against the tree and himself. His gloved hands moved to her neck, cupping it as if he didn't want her to pull away. Letting any hesitations she may have had crumble inside her, she reached up and wound her arms around his neck pushing herself against him, mentally cursing the winter cloaks. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer, their lips still maintaining the slow sensual dance he started. Ginny had no idea how long they stood like that, but when she felt him smile against her lips she pulled back and for the first time saw the gorgeous blue of his eyes, the perfect straight bridge of his nose.
"I thought you were going down with a fight?" Draco asked quietly, a sly smile on his face. Ginny pushed him back.
"Prat," she joked and fixed her hat which had come off in the process of snogging Malfoy under the tree. With that they walked side by side back towards the castle, passing a few other students who cast curious glances their way. Neither cared. Ginny was secure in the knowledge that the second kiss wasn't an accident and Draco was secure in the knowledge that he got to dance with her in that green dress he saw her in at the store…the one that had rendered him speechless.