She Was A Gryffindor, He Was A Slytherin

Chapter 2-The Trophy Room

Ginny Weasley walked into her dorm room and plopped herself down onto her bed. The sorting ceremony had been very boring. In fact, all she had been able to think about was Draco and Harry. How could she like two people at once? She didn't understand it. But what was even more puzzling to her was why she liked Draco. Draco was cruel and cold and hated Weasleys! The only reason she could think of was that all the girls thought (and thought rather loudly I might add) that he was very sexy, and many giggled or sighed when he walked by. She privately agreed with them, though she tried very hard not to admit it. On the other hand she could definitely see why she liked Harry. Harry was kind, smart, adored Weasleys and had saved her life. Everyone thought that her liking Harry was nothing more than a schoolgirl crush, but Ginny wasn't sure.

How could you NOT love someone who had saved your life?

Harry hardly even noticed her. Of course, nobody did. Whenever Draco noticed her on occasion there was nobody else to pick on all he did was make fun of her. But yet...there was something about him that intrigued her.

She grabbed her diary from her bedside table. It was a beautiful diary. It was bright red and on the inside cover her name was printed in beautiful, curvy gold letters and even the pages were edged in gold. It had been a Christmas present from Harry the previous year. He had told her that he thought it only right to give her one, seeing as he had destroyed her last. She smiled to herself at the thought. She lit a candle and opened her book to write.

Dear Diary,

Today was crazy. I saw Draco, but he was so cruel to all of us, especially Hermione. How can I possibly like him? I wish that I didn't but I can't help it. Maybe it's because he's in Slytherin and that's where the Sorting Hat had wanted to place me. I dunno. Harry looks very much the same, except even cuter, if that is possible. He tried to make sure that I didn't get left out too much today on the train. Maybe he's finally starting to notice me? I hope so. I'm always ignored. I truly hate being the youngest! Krum dumped Hermione, she was so upset. But I think that my idea is working. Ron really likes her, and I think he's getting closer to telling her. It's late; I need sleep before classes tomorrow. ~Ginny

With a yawn she closed the book and blew out the candle. She lay down and fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Why? Why? Why!?! I hate Weasleys! Why can't I get her out of my mind!

Draco thought as he sat in front of the fire in the Slytherin common room sipping a green liquid from a wineglass. He was the only one still awake.

What's wrong with me? Am I sick?

The image of Ginny Weasley standing on the train platform plagued his mind.

How could that little pipsqueak change so much over one summer? How could she look so...so damn perfect!

He scowled into the flames. He hated Weasleys. He had been born to hate Weasleys. They were poor, muggle loving scum and a disgrace to purebloods everywhere. Why should she be any different?

He knew why. She too, had faced the darkness, the darkness he had to face every day of his life.

Curse her! I hate her! I hate her for making me love her!

He had thought it. That dreaded for letter word that he wished he felt toward no one.

Love.

He loved a Weasley. If anybody ever found out he would never be able to explain it.

In a horrified daze, Draco walked up to his dorm and fell into bed. He had stayed awake staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours. And when indeed he finally slept, her face haunted his dreams.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the time that Ginny woke up the next morning, everybody else had already left her dorm. She dressed quickly and grabbed her books, hurrying downstairs. By the time she made it to the Great Hall, she had about five minutes left until her first class.

She sat down between her two friends Allison and Claire. Claire was busy finishing up her homework and Allison was staring down the table at Seamus Finnigan who she had a terrible crush on.

Ginny reached forward to grab her schedule and immediately groaned. She had potions first! At least the fourth year Gryffindors had class with the Ravenclaws who were rather friendly if you could ever get their nose out of a book.

She grabbed a piece of toast and ate it hurriedly as breakfast ended and she had to hurry down to the dungeons for class.

As soon as they walked in Snape paired them up and had them sit down and get started on a shrinking potion as he walked around to check their homework. Ginny was paired up with a cute, dark haired, Ravenclaw named Xavier.

They were just getting started when Snape strode over.

"Where may I ask is your homework, Miss. Weasley?" he inquired with a malevolent grin on his face.

Ginny's stomach started to churn.

"It's right there, Professor." She said pointing to the papers on the table.

"That is only some of the homework Miss Weasley, where is the piece of parchment that I assigned on healing potions?"

Her stomach now completely dropped. What piece of parchment? She didn't remember that.

"I, I didn't do it, Professor."

At that, all of the Ravenclaws in the room spun around to stare at her.

Snape smirked.

"Well then, Miss Weasley, that is fifteen points from Gryffindor and a detention tonight. I also expect you to hand in two pages on the topic tomorrow," Snape smirked as he strode away.

Great! Detention on the first day and I haven't even gotten to lunch yet! Great day this is shaping out to be.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Draco strode across the lawn in front of Hogwarts toward the greenhouses with the rest of the Slytherins following behind him. His first class was Herbology with the Hufflepuffs. All the Slytherin fifth years had groaned when they found out. Professor Sprout tended to favor her own house over the Slytherins.

They stepped into the greenhouse and waited, bored, until Professor Sprout had finished speaking.

Draco glanced around, looking for something he could use to cause trouble. He saw a jar sitting on the shelf right next to him labeled bubotuber puss.

Draco smirked as an idea began to form in his brain. Once they had all started Draco carefully grabbed the jar when Professor Sprout asked them to get supplies.

As they were working, Draco waited patiently for Professor Sprout to turn around. As soon as she did so he chucked the jar halfway across the room so that it shattered right in the middle of a table of Hufflepuffs, splattering them all with the painful substance. But Draco hadn't expected Professor Sprout to turn around just as he threw the jar.

She swooped down on him and immediately gave him detention and took twenty-five points from Slytherin.

Draco was in a very bad mood and as soon as class was over he stalked out, snapping at anyone who dared to bother him.

~

Later that night, right after dinner, Ginny said a quick goodbye to her friends and headed toward the Trophy Room. She had detention with Filch polishing all the trophies. How could Snape possibly expect her to complete her extra homework!

She arrived in the Trophy Room a few minutes early, not wanting Filch to get mad at her for being late, and jumped when she saw that someone was already in the trophy room, and that person was most certainly not Filch.

Draco Malfoy stood in the middle of the Trophy Room looking very bored. He turned to look at her as he heard her walk in.

"What are you doing here Weasley?" he asked.

"I should ask you the same thing."

"I asked you first," he said grinning.

"Well, I got detention so I have to clean trophies."

"Great. I have detention too. At least you're better than Potter."

Why him? Why him? God, what did I do to deserve this?

At that moment Filch walked in, saving Ginny from any more conversation, at least for the moment. Why did Draco have to make her nervous like that?

Filch told them what they had to do and gave them each a rag, ordering them to get started. Right away, however, there was a loud crash in the Entrance Hall, followed by Peeves laughter and Filch went sprinting out telling them to keep going and not leave until he got back.

Draco immediately started on the left side of the room, leaving Ginny to start on the right.

Ginny worked hard trying to get all the dirt and dust off, but it was going very slow. By the time she had finished one, Draco had already finished about ten!

Embarrassed, Ginny tried to hurry up, but the faster she tried to go, the longer she had to work on each one.

Finally, Draco stood up and strode towards her.

"You're doing it wrong," he said gently, "that's why it's taking so long. Here, let me show you."

Ginny's breath caught in her throat as Draco kneeled down behind her and leaned over her, grasping her tiny hand in his.

Oh God! thought Ginny.

Her heart beat faster as his body encircled hers. She was sure that he must be able to hear it. He moved her hand around in slow, small circles on the trophy. Amazingly, all the dirt and dust came off the first time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He kneeled down behind her and reached around her to help her with the trophy. He was pressed almost completely up against her. His hand grasped hers and guided it around the trophy.

If somebody walks in what the hell am I going to say?

Even so, he continued to help her. He took his time, going a little slower than perhaps he should have, savoring the rare moment this was with her, and only her. He stopped after he had helped her finish that one trophy, not knowing how long Filch would be and not wanting him to catch them in that awkward position.

"Now, you try the next one. Just take your time and go slow until you get the hang of it."

"Okay," she said softly.

He surveyed her as she did just as he had shown her and did very well. He almost wished she would do a horrible job so he would have an excuse to help her again.

"Great, now just keep going like that."

He walked back across the room and started back on his trophies. His body was still warm from where they had touched.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ginny sighed internally as he went back over to his side of the room.

How does he always have that effect on me?

Ginny's work went much faster this time and she was soon on her last trophy. Draco had finished a few minutes before and was leaning on the wall watching her.

She shivered slightly under his gaze, as she was just about to start on the last trophy she gasped out loud as she read the name.

Tom M. Riddle.

Oh my God. I forgot his award was in here. Why did I have to find his?

Ginny flushed and started to feel faint.

"What's wrong now?" Draco asked, striding over to her.

When she didn't answer he looked down at the trophy and saw why she had stopped.

"Look, you go rest over there and I'll finish this last one, okay?"

Ginny nodded her head and stumbled over to the opposite side of the room as well as she could.

Just as Draco finished up Filch walked in and gave their work a quick inspection. Finding no excuse to keep them any longer, he said that they could leave.

Ginny still felt faint as she stepped into the hallway.

Noticing this, Draco said, "I'll walk back with you. You don't look like you'll make it by yourself."

Draco slipped his arm around her shoulders and guided her back towards Gryffindor Tower. Just as they arrived Ginny stumbled and fell into Draco. He held her up but just stood staring at her. Ginny was becoming increasingly nervous, but couldn't turn her eyes away from his.

Their breath intermingled and just as Draco was about to lean in Peeves swooped low overhead singing a very rude song.

Both, all of a sudden realized what they were doing and practically jumped apart. Without another word Draco turned around and walked back towards the dungeons.

Ginny stood for a moment in silence and amazement before climbing through the portrait hole into the common room.