Labelled Caustic

Chp2. Setting New Limits

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From that moment, things as you would think might have been through a drastic change, but no. Draco was still cold and quite unsure of what he was feeling. It was something new. He was normally a cold person, but even thinking of Ginny made him feel warm and his robes still held her scents of vanilla.

It drove him over the wall but made no attempt to be rid of it. His scowl, a now permanent fixture where his smirk used to be darkened his profile.

'Does she feel this?' he asked himself and shook his head at the question. 'Draco Malfoy you have gone off your rocker.'

Their arguments still bounced off the Hogwarts walls every so often but usually thereafter he would try as hard to avoid her. Hoping that as time passed the feeling he had would go away but it only became worse. Draco was the epitome of control and if he could not control his feelings then something was seriously wrong. These fluffy bunny feelings for someone especially a Weasley was mortifying! But he still couldn't help himself every time he caught a flitting glance of her. This made him even angrier and caused several first years to be the centre of his rage as he sent them flying over the common room. He stalked over to his favourite window seat began thinking of ways to make her pay for all these; he couldn't find a word eloquent enough and looked out the window and...

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Ginny to was beginning to wonder about what had happened the other night. A moment of lust was her guess. She observed Draco and he didn't seem to be himself, he seemed somewhat moodier. She couldn't read his expression entirely though but then again that was always the case. Ginny thought herself mad, when she speculated the feelings she had for that ferret. It couldn't be. It just couldn't be. Ginny shook her head and went out of the castle to savour the atmosphere. It was bright and sunny and the air was cool.

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...and lo and behold there was the bane of his existence just standing; she was nowhere near the lake and nowhere near the castle; Smack dab in the centre. Just standing, he frowned at this and swished out of his seat. He didn't know what was making him go toward her but he just went on. Anger flushing his pale face, the minute he reached the doors of the castle and stepped out icy sheets of rain started to pelt down.

Draco frowned at this even more. Cursing under his breath, he looked around, but everything still shone brilliantly. It was raining and shining at the same time. 'One of Nature's incessant paradoxes,' he thought. He looked out at the Weasel who was just standing there and saw her shiver. Instinct was to walk over and to hand her his cloak but all he did was sneer at her ragged cloak and all too thin uniform. How pathetic, was the first words that jumped into his mind and he smirked. He paused to look at her for a moment before he turned on his heel and walked away.

Just then Ginny turned around to see him walk away. She had felt his presence somehow and when he stepped back into the castle, the rain slowly faded and Ginny was left alone in the boiling sun, her damp hair flaming.

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Draco waited inside the castle and performed a drying charm on himself and let his hair hang by his temples. He leaned back on the wall and waited until;

"I see you finally had the sense to come out of the rain," Draco smirked and let his eyes take in her wet uniform, which clung to every single curve on her body. Water dripping and snaking over her legs; tearing and caressing her face. She looked oh so... 'Don't even think it!' Malfoy chided himself. Why had he even stayed to parry on with a useless Weasel.

"Why Malfoy, when did you start to care?" Ginny smirked and cocked her head. Draco felt his mouth wanting to tug into a smile. He seemed to have rubbed of on her. She placed her hand on her hip now, waiting for his answer. A crowd had someone gathered wanting to get their daily dose of Draco et Ginny; it was like watching a soap opera, just without the worthless fluffy piffle thereafter and hopeless declarations of non-existent love.

"Me?" Draco asked flatly, his hands to his chest, "Care about a Weasel? Why would I care about a poor mudblood - loving person like you?" he snarled, eyes narrowing onto her. The crowd gasped.

"Why you foul prejudiced ferret!" she cried as she took a step forward and swung her arm to slap his face, but Draco wasn't a seeker for nothing and his reflex caught her hand in his. Ginny gave a shudder as it came in contact.

"Now, now, I'm not prejudiced, in fact, I'm free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally," he smirked while his eyes locked onto her brandy coloured orbs. "Control yourself Virginia," He breathed in her vanilla scent muddled with the rain and his eyes flicked over her lips before he continued, "Striking someone is most unladylike. Then again, your manners were never up to par," he sighed at this as if pitying her.

"Yes, we haven't all gone to obedience school like you have, Malfoy," she scoffed.

Surprisingly Malfoy just pulled her in closer and let his robes be dampened by her own wet ones. She breathed in harshly as she felt his breath on her and his hand gripping her own like a vice. "Why you're losing your touch Virginia. Did Potter finally give you some?" his voice soft yet tinged with malice.

Ginny's face immediately became hot and white and her pupils became thin gold slices and her breathing; ragged. She knew better though, she was going to play right into his hands if she got angry.

She suddenly grinned then pulled her face into a sad puppy look. Throwing back at him what he had said to her before: " Jealous now, are we love? At least someone's getting something. Don't worry, someday you'll be a man," she gave him a pout and his hand wound tighter.

"Why you insolent chi-" Draco was about to put her in her place when she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. Her tongue slipping into his open mouth and ravaged every corner. He stiffened and as fast as it came, it ended.

Ginny could finally retrieve her hand and she backed away from him grinning . "Cat got your tongue Draco? Oh, wait, I do!" With that she winked at him and tore off to Gryffindor Tower. Leaving the crowd shell shocked for a moment before a jumble of words tumbled out from every one of them.

Naturally, the whole school would know within a few minutes. All of them cleared the corridor that they were in; leaving a very angry yet surprised Slytherin all alone.

There would definitely be hell to pay for this.

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'What in Merlin's name, did I just do?' Ginny thought incredulously. She had ran up into her dorm room and pulled her canopy bed curtains around her and revelled in her little prison.

'I just kissed Malfoy, that bugger! And this is the second time! What the hell is wrong with me? Am I that stupid? That lousy ferret. That damned sexy ferret,' she thought abysmally. Draco's looks had now strayed into her foray of self- criticism, which was her speciality! She really was done in now. She had fallen for the enemy. She slumped back onto her bed, not caring that she was wet from head to toe. Only breathing in his forest scent that he had left on her. 'Oh dear, I've done it now,' Ginny thought once more.

She suddenly heard roaring from the common room below. In a matter of seconds she knew her brother would be howling and come rampaging into her room like a wild bull, reprimanding her while sending spittle around. She knew how his exact reaction would be like.

"What?! Ginny where the hell are you" Ron howled.

'There you go, coming up the stairs now-'

Ron's pounding footsteps followed by two more pairs, the rest of the dream teams she thought.

The door of her room slammed open and the canopy bed curtain's pulled apart. His eyes huge and face so red, that his freckles vanished. He went onto flay her, telling her how dangerous Malfoy was and how could she have played tonsil hockey with a disgusting ferret and what mother would think. Ginny just listened quietly, looking at Harry and Hermione who were trying to calm him down.

"Well? Don't you have anything to say?" he asked, finally coming to a stop with his chest heaving.

"Thanks for the shower of spittle, added extra strength to the rain water I'm soaked in," she said bitterly and closed her eyes. Ron just look at her, mouth agape and looking rather embarrassed as he swallowed loudly. He just walked out followed by Harry and Hermione who tried not to laugh.

"Gin - you're alright. Aren't you?" Harry asked, poking his head back into the room before leaving.

She smiled at him sweetly. "Yeah. Do me a favour?"

Harry grinned and agreed.

"Tell Ron to not fly off his bloody broom handle and shove it up his-"

"Ginny! You talk to your parents with that mouth?" he gasped in surprise at her language and grinned. " Well, I won't exactly say that, but sure," Harry said laughing as he stepped out of the room.

Ginny was laughing herself and heard the door click behind her. My how things have changed, she wondered as she stared at the wall in front of her.

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Later that day, Draco spent the rest of his time in the Library. Working on assignments and well, just plain avoiding Ginny. The afternoon came and went and he stayed on during dinner. He finished each and every one of his assignments he had for the week and stood up. The air had suddenly grown very cold and thin. Draco took this in and stood up and packed his essays into his bag and stalked out off the library.

He turned a corner and saw the dream team just up front. He watched them as they stopped for awhile and stood in front of a broom closet. He saw that damned Weasel grin and open the door. Draco just stood behind them watching.

Out came tumbling, Crabbe and Goyle lips glued together and Justin as well! In a more, erm, southern region.

"Oh good Merlin! I did not want to - " Ron started cursing madly and left nothing to one's imagination that it made Hermione's eyes widen. Harry's face was pulled into a face of disgust and he turned around to see Draco standing there.

"Malfoy, I don't know how you ever put up with them," he said shaking his head.

Draco gave his characteristic snort, "Because their ever so lovable, bless those little blighters," Draco saw Harry roll his eyes and Ron still cursing with his eyes closed. Crabbe and Goyle were still going at it while Justin had disappeared! Hermione was looking rather done in by what she saw and what she was hearing. She didn't know what to do.

"It's worse when you actually share a room with them," Draco said with disgust and turned on his heel towards the dungeons.

"I did not need the mental image of them, Malfoy," Harry's voice called out.

"I didn't give you one. You sure you aren't gay, Harry?" Draco asked with a smirk before turning the corner.

"Idiot," Harry whispered and tried to tear away Ron and Hermione from the scene. "No more opening of broom closets, you understand me?" Harry chuckled to them.

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Draco had far more important things to worry about those idiots slobbering over each other. Really, had they no sense of pride?

Just as he expected the common room was empty and the roaring fire could barely placate the feeling that was raging on within him. He settled his bag in a corner and stood stiffly behind a huge armchair. He knew the lone figure settled in it was just waiting until he was still.

"Draco, come stand before me."

"Yes Father," he said smoothly and swished his cloak behind him and knelt in front of the dark figure his head bowed.

His head was then lifted by his father's cane. As cold metal came in contact with his skin, he suppressed a shudder and looked forward. A steely grey pair meeting the other.

"What is this I hear about a Weasley, having her way with you? Taunting you?" Lucius voice came out smooth. Almost nonchalant.

Draco's eyes flickered down and did not answer for awhile until he thought of a suitable answer.

"Runt as she maybe, she might be useful to our Master," Draco said softly. His mind was reeling and he had a plan. He gave a smirk to show off his confidence and bore into his father's eyes.

"A Weasel? Good to our Master?" Lucius gave a knowing smile. "Very well Draco. Let this be a test. Do well and you will be rewarded. Fail and well, we don't want to think about that, do we?" With that, Lucius swept out of the room.

Draco blew air through his teeth and made sure his father was gone before he slumped his shoulders.

"Goodbye to you to Father. Smashing conversation we had! Yes, yes I will take care of myself. Thanks," Draco deadpanned to the chair his father had vacated.

He sat down into it his eyes entranced by the dancing flames as his plans took place and a vindictive smile spread over his face. He was going to show everyone who he really was.

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