Labelled Caustic

Chp 4: The Artful Dodger

**********

They stood at the banks wrapped up in each other as it continued snowing, almost oblivious to it. The air brushed lightly against them, with the moon´s light enshrouding them casting them into lyrical silhouettes.

Ginny opened her eyes and was starting to realise what she was doing. She loved every moment of it and didn´t want to let go but she was slightly confused. `Is this all a game to him?´ she thought. The fighting, the kissing and now this. She looked up at him in quiet befuddlement. He seemed as if his mind was far away. His eyes glazed over in contemplation.

Ginny frowned at this and took a step back away from him and this made Draco snap out of his trance and he stared back at her.

"Mal - D-Draco," she stuttered. His silver eyes hardened and his stomach gave a tiny flop. He couldn´t control it and he didn´t like it one bit. Draco saw the fear flit across her eyes but it disappeared and she bit her lip in that way that made him want to gasp for breath.

He regained his composure quickly though.

"Yes, I know I´m charmingly handsome. Don´t need to get all blustery," he smirked.

Ginny rolled her eyes and before she could even proofread what was in her head it was out. This made Draco rather surprised but he didn´t look so full of himself as he did before. She decided to roll on the tsunami she created.

"You heard me," Ginny whispered coming closer to him. Draco wanted to take a step backwards, not really knowing why but caught himself in time. "Kiss me, or are you scared-"

Draco caught her lips in a kiss. It wasn´t like the first time they had kissed. That was full of passion and it was almost rough. This one was soft and gentle. Ginny wanted to pinch herself to make sure this wasn´t a dream but her eyes fluttered open and there she was. Kissing Draco Malfoy. Her Dragon of Bad Faith. Did she just say `her´?

His hands clutched her hips and gently brought her closer to him. Draco´s heart was pounding furiously in his ears and his knees were almost buckling. `Pull yourself together Man!´ was what was screaming in his head but he quickly doused it out by deepening the kiss.

Ginny never felt so confused and joyful all at the same time. The situation seemed so wrong but felt so right. `Argh!´ her heart yelled. Too many contradictions. But Malfoy and herself kissing was a contradiction by itself. She didn´t bother to go on, she just let herself be lost in their act. It was almost sinful.

She let her hands wrap around his neck and tousled his hair a little as his hands moved up her back. He then pulled away from her gasping for air as both their chests heaved. Draco couldn´t help himself and ravaged her neck like he did the first time but this time being much more gentle. He felt her shudder against him and he smiled. He trailed kisses up her throat to her jawline and landed his final kiss on her forehead and let their foreheads prop up against each other´s. They were both still struggling for breath, their eyes searching to what the other was feeling.

The perfect moment they were having was then put on hold.

"Malfoy! Get your hands off my sister! You twitchy little ferret," Ronald Weasley roared as he was running towards them, his lips swollen, cheeks flushed and robes askew. Behind him Lavender Brown was trying to catch up with him, shoes in her hands looking just as flustered.

"And here I thought Potter and him were having a grand illustrious affair," Draco said with a small smile. Ginny gave a giggle to do this and noticed that he still didn´t pull away from her.

"Impedimenta!" Draco growled. Ginny gave a bemused look toward her brother who was walking toward her in slow motion. "Let´s go then," he said with a grin, Ginny threw him back her own grin and they started back towards the castle. Passing Ron who was still moving towards where they were standing earlier. Harry and Hermione who looked like they had some broom closet action themselves were a little giggly and found Ron rather amusing.

"Malfoy, what joy you bring to us," Harry said shaking his head.

"I try my best," Draco sneered. Harry gave a searching look towards Ginny but she just smiled back. Harry could only sigh and look back toward Ron. Hermione had just reached him and recited the counter curse. When Ron had finally regained what had happened he gave a holler and was gently placated by Lavender.

"What is she on about Malfoy?" Harry whispered to Hermione.

"I really don´t know Harry, I just hope that she does."

**********

They landed back at the balcony where they shared their first kiss together. Both were standing at the rails of the balcony hands clasped together. Settling in the silence that was rather soothing.

Ginny feeling quite courageous; "Draco" he turned and looked her squarely in the face. She was startled a little but went on. "Where do we go from here?"

"Why Virginia," Draco smirked closing the gap between them and whispered "How far do you want this to go?" Lettingl his tongue flick in her ear.

Ginny almost melted but she stood her ground and she managed to frown and pout. She was quite used to him doing that already. When Draco saw this he gave into a chuckle. He thought this made her look rather endearing; just like the way she blushed. `Oh crap! I have gone off the deep end!´ he thought and swallowed quite loudly.

He tuned his eyes back to hers and felt himself softening; he wanted her. Just then the harsh reality of his plan snapped back into his mind. He only had one shot and he wasn´t going to blow it. "You like me Virginia,"

Ginny couldn´t read the way he said it. Was that Draco telling her what she felt? Or was it a question? He tipped her chin up and gave her a single kiss.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked softly. He was a tiny bit afraid. Afraid that she didn´t like him as well as afraid that he might have to resort to drastic measures if she rejected him. Both of these thoughts gave him a headache and he couldn´t think straight.

Ginny just wrapped herself around Draco and whispered a yes.

Draco hugged her back. He felt a myriad of feelings. Ecstasy, that she liked him as well. Sadness, that she was going to be a pawn in his game. Anger, that he was feeling all of this at all! He was supposed to be cold. Livid. Detached. Things were changing and he didn´t like it but for the moment he savoured the moment that was their bliss.

**********

Before sharing in a final kiss both had retreated back to their dorms to sort things out. Draco was rather tired by the whole night and had wanted some space. He walked to the very end of the dungeons where there was only but a bare wall. He tapped the wall three times and muttered, "Apertus Statim."

The wall suddenly halved and opened up to Draco. As soon as he was inside the walls had closed leaving him magically sealed in.

"Incendio," A fire ravaged the fireplace, merrily licking the logs in it. Draco gave a sigh and sagged unto the couch before it. He looked around the room. Books and parchment littered the desk in the far corner and a bed just behind the couch. He kneaded his temples and closed his eyes. Propping his chin in his hands.

He let his thoughts bounce around his head, making his headache even worse. With this pain he let himself be consumed by the truth. Letting his conscience, whatever little of it question him.

`Do you really want to go through with this plan?´

`What choice do I have?´

`Do you really want to use Ginny?´

`Again, what choice do I have?´

`Will you join your father in his ways?´

`It is my legacy and it will serve my cause.´

When he said that, suddenly Draco felt like a small boy once again. Wanting to ball up and just cry. He wiped out that thought and tried to exhale the heaviness that he felt on his chest. It wouldn´t go away. The impending future just made it heavier and he felt crushed. His conscience didn´t bother and just went on.

`Do you want to hurt Ginny?´

`I shouldn´t even have that thought, but no. I don´t want to.´

`Do you love her?´

Draco opened his eyes and breathed in deeply. How could he? He was not one to have this sort of feelings, he wanted to curl his lips in disgust but his thoughts ran unto Ginny and all he could do was give a hint of a smile.

He went over to his desk opening several drawers before he found the right one and took out a small box. He sat back down and opened it looking at it thoroughly.

He then snapped the box and pocketed it before sending his private room, which only he knew about, into darkness.

**********

"Shut up! All of you!" Ginny yelled over the three voices that were all talking at once.

Ron, Harry and Hermione were in Ginny´s room, cornering her about Draco.

Ron immediately blew his top at her, letting Malfoy embarrass him that way and her letting his hands touch her. Calling her a scarlet woman! Ginny was about to slap his face but she learnt a thing or two while fighting with Draco and that was control.

Hermione had snapped at Ron to shut up and he did with a pout and sulked in a corner.

"Gin, we´re all just worried about you. This is Draco Malfoy! The son of a Death Eater, who by the way, put you through hell in your first year here," Hermione chided her.

That had gotten Ginny thinking but it hadn´t changed the way she felt for him and she was positive that he felt the same way. It was very naïve of her to think so, she knew she was a hopeless romantic and she wanted it so to be true. Her eyes flickered to her trunk where her romance novels lay buried in.

"He´ll turn on you the first chance he gets Gin. He might just want his way with you, to hurt you," Harry said kneeling in front of her. "Are you sure about this?"

She was feeling utterly scared at this point of time, but she stubbornly stuck to her guns. She wanted Draco because she liked him but also because secretly she wanted to use him against her brothers and well, guiltily she thought, attention.

"Yes. Look, I know you´re worried but really. I know what I´m doing," she said earnestly. `Are you sure, Ginny!´ her mind yelled.

"If that is the way you feel. Then it´s your choice, don´t say we didn´t warn you and don´t come running to us when he hurts you," with that Ron walked out of the room.

"Thanks you guys," she smiled to Harry and Hermione as they left.

She bounced onto her bed and stared up at the ceiling.

"What was she doing?" she groaned and felt so utterly helpless.

**********

Soon all the students that were left were the Dream Team. Lavender, Ginny, Draco and a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaw students as all the rest had departed for the holidays. In Slytherin, besides himself, only Crabbe and Goyle stayed. Draco noticed Justin and another guy from Hufflepuff eyeing each other and he snorted in disgust. They were probably only staying to continue their `broom closet´ trysts as he had taken to calling them. Draco shook his head at them. They were all seated in the Great Hall where the enchanted ceiling was snowing. There was a single table in the centre of it and everyone was digging into Christmas dinner.

Professor McGonagall and Hagrid had popped a cracker and they were both sporting fake wizards hats and their toys were two tiny Firebolts II that were zooming around their palms. He thought he saw a white mouse slip up Professor Flitwick´s sleeve and quickly preceded to take his hands off the table.

He looked over at Ginny who was smiling happily. She was quite full by now, having stuffed herself silly. She had received terrific gifts as well. All except Draco´s but she wasn´t expecting anything. They were only together for a week. She suddenly felt his hot breath on her neck and she stifled a gasp.

"Walk with me?" he asked. Ginny turned and said she would meet him out front in a few minutes. She glanced over at her friends. Ron and Lavender were in a private conversation and Harry and Hermione were laughing gaily.

After meeting him, she thought they were going out to the banks of the lake like they had the past few times but when they passed it she had to ask. "Where are we walking to?" Draco only nodded up ahead and she looked onward to the Forbidden Forest. "There? Are you sure about this? It´s really late," Ginny stared up at the full moon glowering at her. He just grasped her hand and smiled. She just looked at him in curiosity and followed on.

They had passed Hagrid´s garden when Ginny spotted something. "Oh look darling. Your distant cousin!" she said giggling and pointing to a Jarvey, which sort of looks like an overgrown ferret, that was chasing gnomes. Then she heard something quite startling and made a face. " My, my he seems to have learnt a lot from you with that mouth."

Draco just gave her an evil look and started tickling her until she almost fell to the ground. "Dra- Stop! Oh please! Stop!" she pleaded in between her laughter. Tears were spilling down her eyes at laughing so hard.

"Take what you said back first!" he snarled with a gleam in his eyes.

"Back! All back! None of it true! Fallacy I tell you!" she yelled trying to squirm away from Draco´s nimble fingers.

Then she just lay on the ground breathing hard. He kneeled down over her and grinned evilly. He wiped away her tears with his thumb and kissed her gently.

Ginny just pouted, "Can´t even take a joke, you can´t" she sniffed.

Draco gave a dramatic sigh, "What ever will you do with me?" Ginny just took a fist full of snow and threw it at him. He gave a growl, while a smile was trying to ruin the perfect frown he had set on his face as he watched Ginny roll back in laughter.

Draco stood up and shook his head. He had never ever acted like this before, but he was just giddy with what he felt. Another part of him was egging him to get on with his plan but he reasoned that he would start it after the holidays. It just wasn´t the right time. With that thought Draco went a bit serious and held out his hand to help her up.

They walked together in comfortable silence, hands clasped together. Ginny hoped Draco knew where he was going because she had absolutely no idea, whatsoever but she could tell that they were only on the outskirts of the forest. She breathed a sigh of relief. Then she felt Draco stiffen and he quickened their pace. Then he froze behind a tree.

"Draco, what is it?" Ginny asked urgently. She was getting worried but then when she saw what he was staring at, she laughed. He scowled at her but she didn´t let up.

"Haha, Draco it´s a Mooncalf! I don´t know what it´s doing here, since they like wheatfields but they´re harmless! They just dance around a whole lot," Ginny couldn´t help it really and she teased him further when she saw a slight blush cross his face.

"Draco, you got scared by a giant bunny with feet the size of a tiny island," she said with a smile and gave him a hug. "You should really pay attention more in Care of Magical Creatures," and gave a giggle.

Draco gave a scowl and continued walking. They walked for a few minutes until she saw a clearing and there was a large pond. What had really caught her eyes though were the flowers that grew there. Marigolds and Bluebells and Roses! But it was the middle of winter! She suddenly smiled. It was only in this particular area that had not one pinch of snow. She looked at Draco, "You did this? How?"

"Magic, how else? Now really, did you eat so much until you pushed out some brain cells to make way for it?"

All she could do was give him a tight hug, so tight that she almost cut off his oxygen supply.

"I need to breathe right about now," he muttered. She let go but was smiling from ear to ear. Draco himself didn´t know what possessed him to do so but he remembered the way she described her garden at home where there was a pond as well with flowers growing all around. He just picked her favourites.

She sat at the edge of the pond and Ginny felt like she was going to cry. Nobody, absolutely nobody had done something like this for her. Draco sat next to her and stared at her. "I take it you like it"

"Like it? I love it! Draco, I- Nobody has done something this lovely for me, before and to think it´s coming from you! That´s like the best Christmas present ever!"

"Hey, what do you mean someone like me?" he asked visibly hurt.

"Well you´re not the nicest banana in the bunch are you? You´re mean and a big bully and well you´ve never been nice," Ginny said in a matter of fact.

Draco just looked at her shaking his head and snorted. "That is just synonymous with the name Malfoy, what else can you expect? Anything less and that would be just scary," he said giving in to a mock shudder. "I´m hurt and to think I wanted to give you a Christmas present."

"This isn´t my Christmas present?" she asked with wide eyes and excitement glittering in them. Draco looked at her innocent face and his heart melted and what he was going to do with her in his plan. He felt guilty. Something he thought he would never feel for anyone, a Weasley at that. Things were getting too out of hand. He felt the beginnings of another headache coming on.

"Draco are you ok?" her voice sliced into his thoughts and he reached into his pocket and pulled out the box he pocketed from his room.

"Happy Christmas Virginia," he said placing it in her hands and giving her a kiss on the forehead.

Ginny was definitely going to cry now! She didn´t expect this much! `My present isn´t going to match up to this.´ Her mind whined.

When she opened it her jaw dropped. "Draco!"