Forbidden Fruit

Chapter 2

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny were all walking up to Gryffindor Tower, followed by all the first year students, who hadn't yet been told the password.

As they approached the portrait of the Fat Lady, Hermione said, "Emerald Green."

The portrait swung open and they all walked into the common room. As prefects, Hermione and Ron gave the new first years a short tour. They were also in charge of showing them where their dormitories would be. Once the first years went upstairs to get settled in, Harry and Ron sat down to play chess and Hermione headed off to the library.

Ginny sat in the common room near Ron and Harry, pretending to study but she was really thinking about Draco Malfoy again. Could he really have changed that much? Maybe without the influence of his father he could have, she thought to herself, and immediately doubted that it was true. No one could change that much.

Harry watched Ginny pretending to study. He had noticed her watching Malfoy on the train earlier and he hoped she wasn't developing a crush on him. If she had Harry could only see it ending one way, and that was badly. For one thing, Malfoy hated the Weasleys; there was no way he would date one. Besides that, both their families would never allow it.

"Checkmate," Ron said, bringing Harry out of his thoughts.

Ginny gathered up her books. "I'm going to the library."

"Ok, see you, Ginny," Harry said.

Ron barely looked up from the chessboard as he waved goodbye.

When Ginny reached the library, it was practically empty. Hermione was sitting near the restricted section and other than Madame Pince, the librarian; Ginny didn't see anyone else in the library. Since it was the first day of school though, Ginny figured she shouldn't be surprised. She set her books down at an empty table and went to look for a book to help her with her Transfiguration essay. Ginny was slowly walking up and down the aisle of books when she heard footsteps coming towards her. She looked up and saw Draco Malfoy walk past her and into the next aisle.

Ginny quickly gathered a few books and went to sit down. She opened her book bag and pulled out some parchment, a quill, some ink and her Transfiguration book. About ten minutes later, Ginny heard someone sit down at a nearby table, she looked up and saw Malfoy again.

What is this? Was he following her? Ginny laughed to herself at the thought. It was ridiculous and nearly inconceivable that Draco Malfoy would be following her; she dismissed the thought completely and went back to her work.

"Hey. Weasley, do you have an extra quill? This one just broke," Malfoy asked.

"Sure, here." Ginny reached into her book bag and pulled out another quill.

Draco walked over to take the quill from her and started reading over her shoulder.

"What are you working on?" he asked.

"A Transfiguration essay," Ginny replied.

"Leftover summer homework? I didn't think you had it in you, Weasley." Malfoy laughed.

Ginny gave him a strange look and wondered why he was being so nice.

"Hermione's the brain." Ginny laughed. "The rest of us usually leave our homework till the last minute."

"Well, thanks for the quill." Draco turned and headed back to his table.

"You're welcome," Ginny said, she paused a moment, "Hey, Malfoy, why?"

Draco turned back around and looked at her as if she was as crazy as a three-headed dog.

"Why what?" he asked.

"Why are you being so nice?" Ginny asked.

Draco didn't say a word; he just looked her in the eyes and winked, causing Ginny to blush for the third time that day.

"You're pretty cute when you blush, Weasley." Malfoy laughed again.

Ginny's face was now beet-red. Was he actually flirting with her? Before she could think about what was happening, Draco had moved his books and was sitting at her table in the chair next to hers. He moved the chair so close that he was practically sitting in her lap. Ginny shifted slightly so she didn't feel so crowded, when she did, she noticed his lips curved in a small smile.

He knows he is making me uncomfortable and he is enjoying it, the evil prat, Ginny thought.

"I can't concentrate in here, it's too quiet." Ginny stood up and gathered her books then started to walk towards the door.

"Bye, Ginny," Draco said.

Ginny spun around. "Did you just.... never mind."

"No, what were you going to say?" Draco asked.

"You just called me Ginny, you never call me Ginny," she said.

"I rather like the name, bye now, Ginny," he said.

"Bye." Ginny walked back to the Gryffindor common room in a daze.

Hermione stood in the shadows of the library, shocked at the scene she had just witnessed.

Chapter 3

A few nights later Ginny and Hermione were in Hermione's private dorm room. Being prefects entitled her and Ron to that little privilege, they each had their own dorm separate from the others.

"Ginny, I was in the library the other day." Hermione started.

"Big surprise there." Ginny laughed.

"Well, I accidentally overheard you and Malfoy talking. What was that about anyway?" Hermione asked.

"Honestly? I have no idea, and I haven't talked to him since," Ginny said.

"Promise me you'll be careful," Hermione said.

"I will," Ginny said.

A few hours later Ginny was lying in bed trying to sleep when she heard something at the window. Ginny rolled out of bed and quietly walked over to the window to see what it was.

A young owl was waiting patiently outside. Ginny opened the window and let it in. She took the letter it dropped into her hand and looked at it. She was a little surprised to see that it was addressed to her, but she quickly opened it:

Ginny,

Meet me in front of the Great Hall after dinner tomorrow, 7:00.

Draco

Ginny looked around for a piece of parchment and wrote back:

Draco,

I'll be there on one condition; you tell me what is going on. Don't bother to send the owl back, just tell me in the morning at breakfast.

Ginny

Ginny gave the owl the letter and sent him off to deliver it.

About a half hour, later Ginny was almost asleep, but still she was thinking about, what else, Draco Malfoy. I don't know if I will be able to wait until tomorrow to find out what is going on, I hope he likes me, Ginny thought to herself.

"Where did that come from?" Ginny whispered to herself. She tried to clear her mind and a few minutes later, she was asleep.

Harry got out of bed in the morning, he was running a little late but if he hurried, he would still make breakfast. He quickly dressed and practically ran down to the Great Hall. He was coming around a corner when he saw Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy standing just outside the Great Hall. They were talking and Harry could hear every word.

"So, are you going to tell me what this is all about?" Ginny asked.

"That will have to wait for tonight, just be there," Malfoy said.

Ginny sighed dramatically, "Well I guess I don't have a choice, do I?" She laughed.

"Not really." Draco laughed. Harry had never heard Draco laugh before; it gave him an uneasy feeling.

"See you then?" Draco asked.

"I'll be there," Ginny said. She turned and headed in Harry's direction.

"Oh, hi, Harry," she said when she saw him.

Harry made a quick decision to keep his mouth shut about what he had just heard.

"Hi, Ginny." Harry smiled at her and then headed for breakfast.

It was nearly 7:00 that night when Ginny made her excuse to leave the Tower.

Ron and Hermione had gone to the library to study and Harry was unsuccessfully trying to do his homework in the common room.

"I'm going to the library," Ginny said.

Harry nodded. "See you later, Ginny."

The game of chess Neville and Seamus were playing proved too tempting for Harry as he went over to watch the two boys play, hoping to join in the next game and he watched Ginny leave without her books.

Ginny hurried to the Great Hall.

"Where are we going?" Ginny asked when she saw Draco standing there.

"It's a surprise," Draco said.

He led her down to the dungeons and soon they were standing in front of a large door.

"Where are we?" Ginny asked.

"A secret room I found last year, only a few of us know about it. You can't tell anyone you've been here," Draco said.

"Ok, I won't," Ginny said.

He whispered a password so low that Ginny couldn't hear him and the door opened. Draco took her hand and they walked into the room.

He turned to her and smiled. "I am the only one who knows the password."

Ginny looked around and saw a couple of comfortable looking chairs, a couch and a huge fireplace. She walked over and sat in one of the chairs. Draco followed, kneeling in front of the fireplace to start a fire. A moment later, he sat in the chair next to hers.

"I still want to know why you are being so nice to me," Ginny said.

"I would have thought it was obvious, Ginny," Draco said. "Don't tell me you are as thick as those brothers of yours."

Ginny glared at him and stood up. "If you think I am going to sit here and listen to you insult my brothers..."

"Calm down, Ginny, I'm sorry," Draco interrupted her.

Ginny calmed down slightly and sat back down. "You never answered my question and I want a straight answer."

Instead of answering her, Draco stood up, walked over and kissed her. Ginny kissed him back. All of a sudden, a horrible thought crossed her mind. I'm kissing Malfoy. That was enough for Ginny and she broke the kiss. Draco took a step back and Ginny sat there stunned, a moment later without a word she stood up and ran from the room. Draco started to follow but stopped himself. He left the room and headed for his dormitory, deciding it was best to let Ginny cool off and to try to talk to her later.