The Tango is for Two

a/n:all i can say is thank you, thank you thank you!!!i cant believe ive already gotten so many reviews so soon! im touched. i love you all.

now that that crap is out of the way, lets get down to buisness.the dance competition itself will be verry soon, so keep yer eyes open. ive got some great ideas that i have to sort out. in the meantime, just enjoy.

the tango is for two :: chapter six - the game of love

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...

Ginny Weasley threw a book about tango onto the library table. It made a satisfying loud thwack as it's hard cover came in contact with the wood. She herself folded into the chair next to it, propped her elbows on the table and laid her head in her hands.

"What's going on, Gin?" She heard Ron say, and sit down across from her.

"Nothing." Ginny said, quickly, pulling the book to her chest. "What's this, then?" Ron asked, and snatched it from her grasp.

"Two to Tango, Three to Thrango, and Four to Fango - Tango's Titilating and Entrancing Steps - beginner's edition - revised as of 2000 - outlawed in some parts of Canada - prologue by Tanya Tango. Written by Tango Expert Witch Extraordinare, Sonya Slipshin." Ron read. "That is the longest title I have ever seen." He declared.

"I know." Ginny replied, sleepily.

"What are you doing up late at night reading about tango?" Her brother asked, and began flipping idly through the pages.

"Curiosity." She said, feebly. It was difficult to lie to her brother.

"Oh?"

"Mmm."

She caught a glimpse of Draco coming up behind Ron, and she made a subtle gesture not to. He understood and melted into the shadows of the library.

"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked.

"Waiting for someone." Ron said, vaguely. He looked around.

"Who?"

"My date."

"Who's that?"

"A girl."

"I was rather hoping it was female. But who?"

"A Ravenclaw."

"What's her name?"

Ron was silent. "Why don't you just read your book, aye?" He slid the Tango book across the table to her. She picked it up and opened it, her face disappearing as she delved into it, reading intently. She heard footsteps and lowered the book slowly, so that just her eyes look over it's brim.

Cho Chang was heading this way. Certainly not to talk with her. Then Ron? He did say it was a Ravenclaw...

As Cho's slender arm looped around Ron, Ginny's thoughts were confirmed.

"You know my sister Ginny, don't you?" She heard Ron say, but didn't see. Ginny had gone back to reading the book.

"Of course." Cho's silky smooth voice cooed.

"Let's go." Ron decided, and they flounced off together.

Ginny lowered the book, slamming it shut. This was no good. Cho wasn't Ron's type, was she? She was so... Cho Chang. And Ron wasn't interested in the Cho Chang lifestyle... was he?

She raised her gaze to see Draco standing next to her table, watching the couple trounce out the door. He wore a grim expression.

"Hello." Ginny greeted him, standing and hugging his waist.

He stroked her hair, holding her head to his chest protectively. "I didn't know your brother was sleeping with Chang." He said, casually.

Ginny pulled away and crossed her arms. "I don't know if they're sleeping together, but apparently they're dating."

"Strange."

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, scooping the book on Tango into her bookbag and slinging it over her shoulder.

"Well, they're so different. You wouldn't expect them to be.. together. If you can call that together."

"We're different," Ginny pointed out. "and we work out fine. And what do you mean, if you can call that together. What's the matter with their relationship?"

Draco shrugged. "I don't know if I would call it a relationship, that's all."

Ginny frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Cho isn't a relationship person. She sleeps with you and then leaves you to sleep with someone else. Like a doorknob - everyone gets a turn."

"How would you know this?" Ginny asked, as they started for the door to the courtyard.

"I've turned the doorknob a couple of times." He said, nonchalantly, as he opened the door for her.

"What?!" She exclaimed, stopping in the doorway. He pushed her through, and let the door slam behind him. "I said, I've turned the -"

"I know what you said! But... I didn't know you'd.."

"Slept with someone?"

"No, I assumed that... just not... not with Cho."

"Not many people assume that. " He agreed, sticking his hands in his coat's pockets and trudging across the courtyard to a bench, where he sat down.

"What did you mean a couple of times?" Ginny pressed onward, sitting next to him, her hands clenched uncomfortably at her sides.

He rolled his eyes. "Can't we drop this?" He complained.

"No!" She shrieked. Draco didn't flinch.

Her head drooped. "I'm sorry. I just.. I don't know."

"Cho and I have had our run ins from time to time. In fifth year, once, when she was paticularly desperate and went for someone a year younger. I was the lucky bloke... if you could call me lucky. Then when sixth year rolled around, we were on and off for most of the beginning of the year. I dropped her about 3 months ago. Couldn't stand her. She's annoying and snappy and a total slut." He explained.

"Oh." Ginny said, dully.

"Are you okay with that?" He asked, raising his delicate eyebrows.

"Of course. It's just strange. Like now you're a different person because I know... where you've been."

"Is that a bad thing?" He pressed.

"No... not neccesarily. Just rather suprising." She admitted.

"I understand."

"Was... was it good?" She asked, a moment later.

"What? The sex?" He clarified for her.

She nodded, blushing.

"It was all right. She thought I was amazing, or something to that effect. I guess she was good, but it's so much worse when you don't actually feel anything for the person, or in that case, when you can't stand them. It's all that much more terrible."

"Have you ever... been with someone you've felt something deep for?" She ventured.

"The summer before fifth year, after fourth, I met this really nice girl." He said, quietly.

"And?" She urged.

"And we went out for the entire summer, made love, and I never saw or spoke with her again." He finished.

"Never? Was she a witch?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know, quite for sure." He admitted.

"What was her name?" She asked.

"Heather." Draco answered, with a bit sadness in his tone.

...

Hermione pulled away from the searing kiss she had shared with Harry.

"I.." She began, and then her voice faltered and she lowered her head.

He kissed her forehead. "You?" He started again, for her.

She raised her head, their eyes locking. It was easier now, and she started again. "I .."

He nodded, his brilliant emerald eyes urging her on. "Yes?"

"I love you."

It was a whisper, so faint and trembling and weak that Harry almost thought she hadn't said it and that he was dreaming. But the words reached his ears and his heart made a sweeping feeling and his stomach mimicked it, swinging backwards, and adreneline propelled throughout his nervous system.

"And I love you."

It was louder than hers, and yet just as full of emotion. His voice touched her soul, and her knees began to tremble as his embrace tightened around her waist. The warmth from his hands and from the words seeped into her skin from his and into the depths of her heart. Her voice croaked, and she began to cry again.

"There's nothing to cry about!" He said, softly, but firmly, kissing her cheek, capturing the tear before it rolled down to her chin.

"I'm not sad." She said, choking, and yet smiling.

"Then why the waterworks?" He brushed her hair back.

"I'm just so happy. I feel complete." She confessed, and collapsed fully into his arms, leaning into his strong body.

"So do I." He squeaked, and they laughed nervously at their awkwardness.

Harry sunk to his knees, leaning against the wall of the Charms room. He brought Hermione with him, and she nestled between his legs, her arms around his waist, her head on his chest.

"I love you." She said, again, this time it was clearly audible and she wasn't shaking.

"I love you." Harry said, kissing her, and silencing her.

Nothing else needed to be said.

...

"Heather? Like Neville's Heather?!" Ginny exclaimed.

"There are many Heathers in the world, Virginia." He said, slightly scolding her.

"I know... don't you think... that maybe you should meet her? Just in case?"

He frowned at her. "Why on earth would I want to do that?"

"What if you loved her? What if you still do? I don't want you to go off with me and then regret it all and wish you could be with her while you're with me. What if she's the one for you?" She said, vehemently.

"You're the one for me!" He growled, grabbing her arms roughly.

"What if I'm not?!"

He released her. "Why wouldn't you be?"

"Why would I be?" She asked.

"Because I love you! I didn't love Heather!" He said, his eyes growing cloudy.

"But you said you felt deeply..."

"Feeling deeply isn't love! It was a strong liking, stronger than anyone before her, but nothing compared to this! You're the reason I was put on this earth, Ginny! You're the reason for everything that is good in this world!" He said, his arm sweeping dramatically.

Ginny began to cry.

"Stop it!" He shouted.

She sobbed, her head in her hands.

He sighed, his expression softening. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Virginia." He pulled her close to him.

"I love you, Draco. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I doubted you. I just... I just sometimes feel so.."

"I know, it's okay, it's all right." He said, kissing her cheeks.

She kissed his lips, softly, and then nuzzled into his neck.

"You didn't have to say all that other stuff." She whispered.

"What stuff?"

"Me being the reason why you were put on the earth.."

"But you are!"

She pulled away. "No, we were put on this earth to do good to our fellow man and to love one another. Not to make love to me."

"Who said anything about making love to you?" Draco said, his silver eyes gleaming.

She stuttered.

He laughed. "Come with me, I want to show you something." He grabbed her hand and pulled her off the bench, and into the school. He led her up many stairs and through narrow hallways until they climbed a final flight of steps.

"Look." He breathed, and pushed her to a wide window.

"I can see everything!" She exclaimed, looking out over Hogwart's. "This is even higher than Astronomy Tower!"

"This tower's called Poet's Demise." He said, his arm wrapping about her waist as they looked out at the stars and at the school grounds.

"Why's that?" She whispered, taking his other hand and entwining it with hers.

"Because a poet came up here, looked out over everything and was dumbstruck. There weren't words to describe the beauty and peace of it all. Even a poet, master of the romantic language and descriptions, couldn't explain what he felt."

"Do you how I would describe it?" Ginny said, softly.

"How, my love?" He asked, breathing on her ear and kissing her neck.

"Lovely. Just perfectly lovely." She said, beaming, and kissing his nose.

"Just like you." Draco whispered.

...

Hermione finally stood up, grasping his hand and pulling Harry to his feet as well.

"Come on. We only have until tomorrow night. Let's master these steps." She said.

"In other words, instead of loving me madly, you want to study." Harry joked, wrapping his arms around her waist and breathing on her neck. Chills shot down her spine and she sighed.

"Exactly." She broke away from him and got into her starting position.

"That's why I love you." Harry said, laughing lightly, and taking his place.

They danced.

...

Ron and Cho were in the bushes of the courtyard, getting down to buisness, and then they'd heard Draco and Ginny's little conversation.

"Come with me, I want to show you something." Malfoy said, and Ron heard steps and then a door slamming as his sister and his rival left the courtyard.

"That bastard!" Ron exclaimed, pushing Cho off his lap, ignoring her curses as the branches lashed at her face. Ron jumped out of the bush and straightened his robes irately.

Cho crawled out of the bush, disheveled and dirty. "Where do you think you're going?" She snapped, standing and tapping him on his shoulder.

"I'm going to go teach that son of a bitch a lesson about messing with my sister!" He explained, his ears going red.

Cho shoved her hands on her hips. "And?" She urged.

Ron was silent, staring at her queerly. "What do you mean, and? That's my plan, plain and simple." Cho glared and crossed her arms. "How about teaching him a lesson about calling me a slut?" She suggested, her black eyes narrowing.

"But you are one." Ron blurted out, before he could stop himself. Cho gasped, her arms coming uncrossed and one darting out and slapping his cheek.

"How dare you!" She gasped.

"But it's true! You said so yourself! You like being called that when we shag, you-"

"But this is different Ron! This is another person accusing your girlfriend of sleeping around so much that she's going to leave you. How does that sound to you?"

Ron cocked his head to side. It was true, it didn't seem very pleasant. "She wouldn't be leaving, anyway." He decided, aloud.

"Oh? What makes you say that?" Cho asked, and Ron raised an eyebrow. "Sex is too good." He said, cockily.

She started laughing, and punched his arm playfully, before becoming serious again. "Well... you've got a point."

Ron looked at her in surprise. "I do?" He echoed.

She laughed lightly, putting her hands on his chest and stepping into him. "Best ever." She whispered, smiling.

Ron beamed. "Aww shucks." He whispered, and then kissed her. They snogged harshly, before parting and gasping for breath.

"Can't you teach him a lesson some other time?" She cooed, making puppy eyes at him.

"Yeah, of course. I've got all year, right?" They laughed and collapsed into the bushes, kissing.

...

a/n: as said in the fic, the dance competition is the next night in that universe. so its verrry soon! i will try and update again as soon as possible - but i do have some serious homework to deal with, so ummm.. just hang in there. once again, thanks to everyone who reviewed, especially Holly Rachael Zintel! your reviews are very refreshing and inspiring!

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