Grey Clouds

Draco set his eyes, scanning the scene in front of him. All around him, sat the entire Weasley family and some others, including Harry Potter. All of them seemed to be staring right back at him, some with loathing, others with curiosity, and a few with kindness. His eyes shifted from one person to the other, slowly glancing shortly at everyone. From red head to red head, he looked around, but abruptly stopped and gasped. Not even Draco Malfoy could hide his surprise on how Ginny Weasley had turned out.

The last time he had seen her was at his last year at Hogwarts. She was still flat, plain, and possessed no charm or beauty. Her pasty red hair would be tied up in a pony tail, while some of it fell messily on her face, hiding her blemished skin. She was short and had developed some curves by her fifth year, but they all seemed out of place and awkward. She had those famed Weasley freckles on her face, which were worsened by her lack of make up. She walked, more like wobbled, like an injured cow, and her head always hung low, which kept her out of most people's notice.

But today as Draco looked at Ginny, he saw an entirely different person, not only physically, but also emotionally. She looked, beyond doubt, like a perfect physical specimen. Her dull hair was now fiery red, and instead of tangled strands falling over her face, her hair was let down and gently tucked in behind her ears. The sunlight from the window gently highlighted her hair, making it seem almost unrealistic. Her eyes were no longer hidden, but instead, beautifully shaped and contained resilience and confidence that Draco had never seen in her before. Draco couldn't help looking at Ginny's faultless figure which placed definite curves at the most perfect places. Her voluptuous body and significant height seemed to echo through Draco's mind as he remembered that short little brat that always hung out with Harry Potter.

***

Ginny looked at Draco and couldn't help but smirking at the irony. Draco Malfoy, named by Witch Weekly as one of the top 10 hottest wizards, was always known to be perfect. His hair was always combed back and seemed to shine in the sunlight unnecessarily. His pale complexion was flawless without a single blemish or scar. His posture was that of a nobleman: always upright with his chin held high. Rumor had it that his body was no secret to anyone. Ginny remembered Draco's last year at Hogwarts when juniors were dared to sneak into his dormitory and catch a peak at his toned, firm body. Ginny never had the displeasure of seeing it. Draco's eyes were considered his greatest feature, those that contained mysteries of innumerable value about Draco. Ginny stared into those eyes now, and didn't see those doors opening into his soul, as described by Luna, or that cold, intimidating persona, as described by Pansy Parkinson. All Ginny could see were eyes; pale grey eyes that seemed as flawless as the rest of him, not a single eyelash out of place. The irony, Ginny thought to herself, is that this perfect bachelor of the highest standards is standing covered in ashes in the middle of a tiny kitchen already cramped with a dozen people.

Yet still, the way Draco was staring at her...

She was venting every drop of hatred she contained into him, and yet, he didn't seem to care. Even though his eyes fell on her directly, he seemed to be in his own world, surrounded by his own thoughts. Ginny felt a bit awkward, and for a second, she almost started to blush. Immediately, she snapped back to reality.

What on earth are you doing, Ginny? she thought to herself. Are you actually blushing at Malfoy?

Before things could get any more unusual, Ginny tore herself away from his gaze and looked in the other direction. She was expecting to see the faces of her loved ones staring at her in awe, but nothing of that sort happened. Everyone at the dining table seemed to be preoccupied with Draco's presence to notice Ginny and Draco staring at each other.

Mrs. Weasley finally broke the silence. "Welcome, Draco." She moved forward quickly and conjured up another chair. "I'm so glad you could join us this year."

Draco seemed to think the opposite with a sour look on his face, but smiled anyway. "Thank you."

Mr. Weasley got up and shook Draco's hand. "It's nice to see you."

Draco nodded politely. "Likewise, Arthur."

Mr. Weasley flinched slightly at the sound of his first name being spoken by someone only a year older than his youngest daughter, but smiled plastically.

"Where's your luggage?" he asked. "I trust you will be staying with us until New Years."

"Yes, of course," Draco spoke quickly. "I had it sent here. If I'm not mistaken, it should be in the room you designated to me."

Mr. Weasley nodded, looking slightly abashed by Draco's arrogance. He looked up and down at Draco and then sat back down in his chair. "Have a seat." He gestured to the chair that his wife had conjured up.

Draco looked at his sordid hands and clothes. He dusted himself off as best as he could and ran his fingers through his hair. "If you don't mind," he began, "I'd rather get cleaned up and unpacked."

"Of course," Mrs. Weasley chimed in. "Why don't you go up to your room and get cleaned off while I prepare some breakfast for you? How do eggs sound?"

Draco smiled politely and nodded. "Which room is it?"

"Oh, right," Mrs. Weasley said. "Well, it is right down the hallway. Climb the short stairs and turn to your right. There are two doors there. Now, let me remember...was it the one with the chipped door or the one with the broken knob...hmm...I believe it was the one with no knob."

Ron shook his head in disbelief. "Mum! They've both got no knobs! I think it's the one with the crooked corners."

"No, it's not," Bill pointed out. "The crooked corners door was replaced last week, but I think it's the door with blue paint."

Both Fred and George joined in this time. "No, the knobs got fixed too..."

Draco stood there and watched as the Weasley family got into a huge argument about which door lead to his room. Finally after thirty seconds of nonsensical arguments, Mr. Weasley silenced everyone.

"Why doesn't Ginny just show Draco to his room?"

Ginny suddenly looked up. "What?"

"Well, that was your room, wasn't it? You know it better then any of us do, so go and show our guest to his room and get him settled in." Mr. Weasley pointed towards the hallway and nodded at Ginny.

Ginny looked pleadingly at her brothers, who didn't seem to be able to do anything. She looked at Harry, who smiled encouragingly and nodded his head as if telling her to do it. She snarled before she left the room, and mumbled something that sounded like 'follow me'.

***

Ginny rolled her eyes as she climbed the short stairs that led to what used to be her bedroom. She turned right at the corner and arrived at a dead end with two doors on either side of her.

Draco caught up with her and looked at both doors. "So...which one is it?"

Ginny sneered, but suddenly a thought occurred to her. "Guess," she demanded spitefully.

"Excuse me?"

"There's all this buzz about you being so smart and so perfect, so let's see it then. Guess which door leads to your room."

"You're challenging me?"

"I guess so."

"You can't do that, particularly not to anyone who's a guest in your house." Draco smiled mischievously.

"So, you don't think that you'll be able to guess which door?"

"Reverse psychology doesn't work on me, Virginia." He looked at Ginny straight in the eyes. "But since you seem so adamant, I'll accept."

"Fine, just pick one of the doors and we'll open it. One leads to my room and the other to Harry's room. If you pick the wrong door, then you'll be sleeping up in the attic with the ghoul and his bloody rattling chains and I get my room back."

"Ah!" A look of understanding shot into Draco's eyes. "So this is about your room then, is it?"

"Correct. It is my room, and I deserve fully to stay in it, but for some reason you've decided to show up and I have to move upstairs." Ginny realized she was shouting, and quickly lowered her voice. The last thing she wanted was for her family to follow her here.

"Well, Virginia, I agree to your terms, but if I choose the correct door I get a favor from you."

Ginny raised her eyebrow suspiciously. "What kind of a favor?"

Draco shrugged, but his eyes danced mischievously. "When the time comes, you'll owe me one."

Ginny shrugged too. She was far too excited about getting her room back to actually care about what Malfoy the prick was saying. "Fine, whatever. Just pick!"

Ginny watched as Draco looked at both doors. The one to his right was a brown oak door with a rusted knob and chipped off corners. The smell coming from that room was strongly of sweat and mud. Draco turned his attention to the other door to his left, which was smooth and a lighter brown. The knob on that door was a shiny bronze, and as Draco lightly touched it he could feel its looseness. That room smelt mostly of cinnamon, and Ginny saw Draco's eyes light up.

"I choose this one." Draco turned and put his hand on the bronze knob. He slowly rotated it and pushed the door open. Ginny cursed loudly as Draco entered an almost empty room with the exception of a bed, a chandelier, a study desk, and a chair.

"That wasn't very challenging," Draco smirked. "Perhaps next time you'll do better."

"You probably cheated with some of sort of spell."

"How could I have done that? You were standing right here!"

"Well then, how could you have guessed without magic?"

"It takes common sense, not magic, to figure out that only someone as sloppy as Potter would leave his room smelling like sweaty socks and mud."

Ginny cursed again and started to leave as Draco called out to her, "So now you owe me."

"What're you talking about?"

"Well, you lost. Now you owe me one favor."

"What kind of a favor?"

"I don't know yet. I'll let you know when I think of something."

Ginny huffed and marched down the hallway. She thumped loudly as she clambered up the stairs. She reached the top floor and threw the door to her room open. Without bothering to close it again, Ginny flopped (To be perfectly honest, I have no idea what the correct tense would be for "lay" in this sentence... How is flopped?) on her bed with her face buried within the pillows. It seemed like she had been there for hours, just thinking of all the fun ways to hex Malfoy and all the different spells to use.

Maybe a wart potion...then that little prick won't be so perfect anymore. Or I could just as easily slip him some Polyjuice Potion, and for the next few hours he'd look like Great Auntie Muriel.

"Ginny?"

Ginny heard someone knock on the opened door, but didn't even bother to turn around to see who it was. That sweet, soothing voice could only belong to one person.

"Go away, Harry!"

"I brought you some breakfast."

"I'm not hungry...I just want to be alone!"

"Come on, Ginny. Your Mum went through so much trouble...at least eat something."

"I already told you, I'm not hungry!"

"Fine, don't eat. At least talk to me."

"You won't understand, Harry...I just hate that stupid arse."

"You're talking about Malfoy, right?" Harry laughed to himself. "Ginny, I've spent a good seven years of my life hating that stupid arse...I think I can understand."

Harry walked over quietly to Ginny's bed and sat beside her. Ginny sat up too and brushed away some hair in front of her face. The two of them just silently sat there for about four minutes until Ginny spoke again.

"It's not fair," she said gloomily.

"What isn't?"

"This...you know...being the youngest child and all. Just because I was born last doesn't mean that I should have to give up everything."

"Ginny, it doesn't always happen like that."

"Yes, it does! I'm the one who always has to give up my belongings in the end. It's been happening since I was ten. Ron wanted some stupid old toy of mine, and just because he was the older one who was going off to Hogwarts, I had to give it up. Now it's over ten years later, and still nothing has changed."

"Maybe your parents think that you're the only one who can handle it."

"What're you talking about?"

"I'm just saying that maybe your parents always make you switch things or give up things because you're the only responsible and mature one in the family who can handle these changes."

"That's bullocks, Harry."

"No, it isn't. I mean, let's face it; your brothers don't seem to adjust to change very well. It took them weeks to get used to the new layout of the house after your parents got the rooms built in."

"I guess...maybe you are right."

"And besides, you're lucky! You get to move away from Malfoy. I'm the one stuck being his neighbor for the entire month."

"Well, that's perfect because that's what you deserve!"

"What do you mean I deserve it?"

"Well, you did cheat during our last Quidditch match, and now this is your penance. You have to live next to Draco Malfoy."

"Hold on, I did not cheat! Besides, you can't punish me."

Ginny cleared her throat. "Mr. Harry Potter, you are hereby sentenced to live within close proximity of one, Draco Malfoy, for the duration of one month. During this time, you must, and will, have to endure his constant perfection and arrogance."

Both of them burst out laughing like little children. The two of them continued to laugh and giggle for what seemed like hours. Ginny smiled at Harry after her laughing fit was over and rested her arm on his shoulder.

"Thank God you're staying with us," she said, "or I wouldn't have been able to live for two days without shrinking Malfoy into the size of a shriveled prune."

"I'm always here for you." Harry looked at Ginny softly and caressed her face. Ginny could've sworn that she saw Harry almost lean in for a kiss and pull back, but she shrugged it off as her stupid imagination.

"I'm starving, though." Ginny rubbed her stomach and smiled at Harry. "Any chance you've saved me some breakfast?"

"Pancakes... maple syrup, no butter... and tea...little cream and two sugars."

Ginny grinned. "I can't believe you remember all that."

"Ginny, I'll always remember everything about you."

Ginny placed her hands on Harry's and kissed his cheek. "That's so sweet, Harry. With all that cheesy romance, you could make any girl fall head over heels in love with you."

Harry raised his eyebrow. "Any girl?"

Before Ginny could answer, there was another knock on the door. Both Harry and Ginny turned to see Bill standing in the doorway. His hands were placed in his pockets and his bright hair clashed against the oak door.

"Mum sent me up here to check on you," he said, rolling his eyes.

Ginny sighed. "Well, you can tell her that I'm fine now."

Bill ran his hand through his hair. "I'm not talking to you, I was talking to Harry. Mum sent me up here to make sure you hadn't hexed Harry out of rage."

Ginny looked shocked, while Harry laughed in amusement.

"That's ridiculous!" Ginny protested. "Why doesn't Mum ever trust me?"

"Oh come on, Gin! Just forget about it...can we just go down to eat with everyone else?"

Ginny thought about it for a second and nodded reluctantly. All three of them then headed towards the dining room, where Draco had now joined the family and was feasting on some eggs and bacon. He looked so polished now that he had showered and put on nicer clothes. His hair was neatly combed back, and he was wearing a simple black trouser with a navy blue button down shirt. Ginny almost didn't recognize him without his school robes on.

Mrs. Weasley looked over and saw Ginny and Harry coming down with Bill. She sighed in relief and smiled at the three of them. "So, are we all feeling alright?" she asked pleasantly.

"Yes, Mum. Now can we please have some breakfast?" Ginny pleaded.

"Sure, love." Mrs. Weasley unloaded four pancakes on Ginny's plate and showered it with maple syrup. She then walked over to Harry's plate and dumped two eggs and three sausages, which Harry happily started to eat.

After everyone got settled into their meal, Mr. Weasley looked over at Draco and initiated conversation. "So, Draco, how was your journey through the Floo Network? I heard things are getting a bit chaotic with all the witches and wizards trying to get home in time for the holidays, and I daresay that our fireplace does require some tweaking."

Draco swallowed a mouthful of eggs and said, "Well actually, apart from the dusty entrance, I traveled fine."

"I heard that the network was busy this morning," Athena pointed out.

"It was, but it could've been much worse." Draco suddenly broke out into a smile. "I mean, I should be thankful that I didn't get lost in the Floo Network and end up in a fireplace far away on an island where no one speaks English."

Ginny gagged on her pancakes and started to cough, but Draco continued. "I might've had my wand break in half or had a stick poke right up my...backside."

Ginny gazed in shock as Draco recited her latest diary entry word for word. He seemed to be pleasantly enjoying this conversation.

"Well..." Hermione started, "It's good that didn't happen."

"Besides," Draco continued, "I heard that natives on far off islands are very unwelcome of guests. Apparently they tie their guests arms and roll them down the stairs until they reach the door step. Terrible people."

Ginny gazed in horror as Draco gave her a mischievous smile. She suddenly looked in all directions except Malfoy's, but couldn't get rid of her shock. How on earth did Draco Malfoy read her diary?

Ginny shot up from her chair and excused herself as fast as she could. She dashed into the hallway, and as she was about to go up the stairs, she heard a voice call her from behind.

"Virginia?"

Ginny turned around and saw Draco standing at the entrance into the hallways. He had his arms crossed, and his gaze was fixed on her. She felt so angry that she was sure she'd hex him. In his hands, Ginny saw a book with the words "Ginny Weasley" gleaming in the sunlight. She dashed over, quickly grabbed the diary from his hands, and put it safely in her arms.

"What is your problem?" she asked Draco.

"I know this upset you, Virginia, and-"

"Of course it upset me! You can't just bloody go around and read people's diaries!"

"Well, I only read the one entry...and seeing as it was about me, I didn't think it would be a big problem."

"How on earth did you find my diary, anyway?"

"I found it on the stairwell. It was empty with your name on it."

"Hermione's spell should've worked. You shouldn't have been able to see the invisible ink!"

"I used a spell on it," Draco said blatantly. "We live in a world of magic here; blank paper is not always blank paper. I just said 'Aparecium' and the ink appeared."

"Oh." Ginny looked idly as she realized how stupid she looked right now for having forgotten about revealing spells. "Well...either way, Malfoy...you can't just go and-"

"I don't want to argue with you, Virginia. I want to start afresh."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, that finally I've got the chance to redeem myself, and I don't want to bother with petty Gryffindor-Slytherin arguments."

"Well then, what do you want?"

"I want to be your friend." Draco's words echoed in Ginny's mind.

Friend? He wants to be my friend?

Don't be silly, Ginny. He's just trying to trick you.

He's changed! Besides, everyone deserves a second chance.

Hello! This is the guy that has been poking fun at you since the day you arrived at school.

Well, he has changed.

Ginny searched Draco's eyes for that glimmer of malice that she'd always seen at Hogwarts. She kept staring at those grey circles to find something that would give away the fact that he was lying, but she found nothing. His eyes were as clear as crystal and showed nothing but sincerity, something which Ginny had never seen in a Slytherin's eyes before.

"Listen, Virginia," Draco said. "I understand that-"

"Don't call me that," Ginny interrupted. "That's not my name."

"What?"

"My name isn't Virginia. You've been calling me that ever since you arrived."

"Well, I just...you know...I've never really called you anything but Weasel, and isn't Ginny short for Virginia?

Ginny shook her head in embarrassment. "It's short for Ginevra."

"Why would someone name their daughter that?"

Ginny was appalled. She placed her hands on her hips and spoke sternly, "Ahem. My parents would!"

This almost felt like they were back at Hogwarts, where Draco would make a snide comment at Ginny, and then she would argue with him until a teacher came. Instead of sneering at her, Draco did something he'd never done before...apologize.

"Sorry," he muttered. He looked up suddenly, realizing that he'd apologized to a Weasley. "So...are we okay now?"

Ginny hesitated. "You can't just compel people to be friends, Malfoy."

"I don't want to force you. I want you to give me a chance."

"Well..." Ginny thought about it for a moment and smiled. "We can't go from enemies to friends in one day, but I guess we could just start with a clean slate."

"Absolutely." Draco smiled too and held out his hand. "Hi, I'm Draco Malfoy."

Ginny smiled back at him and took his hand. "Hi, I'm Ginny Weasley."