Moonlight on Malfoy Manor

Chapter 3 - midnight Quidditch; hangover; Hermione suspects; Ginny tells all.

There was no moon that night, but the stars were bright. It was beautiful, a total contrast to Draco's mood. Sitting on a dry log on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Draco was wishing desperately for a cigarette. His father had taken all of his away in the last week of the holidays and had banned him from smoking. The reason was simple, smoking was addictive and addiction was a weakness. Draco frowned at the memory and then scrubbed his hand across his eyes. The Gryffindors were probably still celebrating their Quidditch victory. His eyes wandered over the various towers of the castle wondering which of them housed the Gryffindors. Ginny would be there. Draco closed his eyes and remembered what it had felt like to hold her. She had seemed to fit perfectly against him, her head tucked under his chin, like two pieces of a puzzle. He shook himself.

'Do not go there, Malfoy!' he warned himself sternly. 'You already have enough to worry about, add the female Weasley and your head will explode.' Draco stood, thrust his hands deep into his pockets and wandered off aimlessly. His feet took him to the pitch. It was quiet and peaceful under the stars. Unconsciously Draco made up his mind to stay there for a while. They would probably still be discussing the match back in the common room, blaming him for their defeat behind his back. He didn't care what they thought; they would never dare complain to his face, they were all too scared. Draco smiled grimly to himself; he liked the fact that he elicited such fear in others; it gave him a sense of infinite power. He stood in the middle of the pitch and surveyed the empty stands, then he lay down, his head cushioned on his interlaced fingers and stared up at the night sky.

It wasn't as if he had ever given them much reason to fear him, he had never hurt anyone, well not fatally anyway. It wasn't really anything he had done but rather what he was capable of doing that caused so much fear. Draco Malfoy was suave, sophisticated and calm. But he could be cruel, most often his cruelty was revealed in the form of words, witty darts that were thrown with precision and never missed their target. He could reduce most to tears with a few lazily drawled out sentences. And if that was what he was like when he was in a good mood, no one wanted to be around when he got angry. It seemed like an unnecessary risk. Draco himself didn't know to what extremes he was capable of going to when pushed. He knew a good many hexes and jinxes, some of them illegal; he had practiced dueling with his father ever since he was old enough to hold a wand and say a spell. True, he had had to be nursed back to health after every altercation but he was positive that he was more than a match for any student in this school, even Potter. Yes, his father had taught him a lot, made him what he was today, but he hadn't taught him how to control his dreams and Draco really needed to know if such a thing was possible. He hadn't had a decent night's sleep in weeks, he was tired and irritable and his temper was so close to the surface he didn't know how long he could control it. Draco wondered what his father would do in his position. Just then a movement down by the changing rooms caught his eye, a figure went into the changing rooms. Draco watched the door without moving, wondering if someone had a romantic tryst. It seemed the only logical explanation, well the only one he liked anyway. But no, the figure emerged and was about to return to the castle and then hesitated and began to walk towards him instead. Draco felt annoyed, couldn't people just leave him alone. Annoyance quickly changed to anticipation as he recognized the red hair and slight build. He smiled and waited.

The celebration party in the Gryffindor common room had slackened. The party had started out fairly well with Harry, Ron, Dean and Seamus making several trips to the kitchen and returning laden with good things. The result had been inevitable - everyone had eaten too much. The Gryffindors who had not trudged off to bed already, sat around in groups, too full to move. Ginny found herself with Elizabeth and Ashley and between the three of them they discussed every rumor and every marginally attractive boy that Hogwarts had to offer. Draco Malfoy's name had come up a fair number of times, but Ginny stoically refused to dwell on the images the name conjured. But she couldn't help remembering little things - the way he smelled, the way he had held her so carefully but firmly, the way he felt in her arms, so warm and solid.

'Stop it Weasley. One would think you had never been kissed by a boy in your life before.'

'I haven't been kissed like that, not by anyone. And I had neverkissed him before.'

'And you never will again.'

'Well, a girl can dream can't she?'

'No she most certainly cannot! Not about people she sees everyday and does not want to get involved with. And you do not want to get involved with Draco Malfoy.'

Ginny sighed, that annoying little voice in her head was right, she could not get involved with Draco Malfoy. Besides, just because a guy was a great kisser did not mean that he was a nice guy, he had proved that ample number of times. And nice guys were the only ones worth getting involved with. Nice guys like Gareth. At the thought of Gareth her hand automatically moved to her throat, but the familiar feel of the silver chain and its crystal pendent was gone.

"Oh no!" Ginny panicked and patted her neck and chest, casting her eyes around in desperation.

"What's wrong Gin?" Ashley asked.

"I've lost my pendent."

"I'm sure it's around here somewhere." Elizabeth started casting her eyes around as well. The three girls searched the common room to no avail.

"Ok Ginny, where could you have dropped it? Where did you go besides the common room and the pitch?" Ashley took charge, as always.

"The owlery. I wrote a letter to Charlie last night but forgot to send it, so I went in the afternoon, right after lunch. And I went to the dorm, to change after the match."

"Right then, I'll take the owlery, Liz can check the dorm and you had better check the pitch." Ginny nodded; glad that she would not have to check the owlery. She really hoped she hadn't lost the pendent; she was so used the way it turned warm every time Gareth was near. She wondered how it would feel when Draco was close, she could not remember. It had been the last thing on her mind when he had pushed her behind the tapestry. Ginny gave herself a mental shake as she approached the pitch; she headed straight for the change rooms. She emerged a few minutes later, feeling exhilarated and relieved, the pendent on its broken chain clutched in her hand. She had not noticed what a beautiful night it was, she gazed up at the sky for a moment before turning back to the castle. She hesitated and turned back, something or someone was lying in the middle of the pitch. Thinking someone could be hurt Ginny advanced toward the sprawling figure. As she came closer she could see it was a boy, a boy in dark jeans and a jumper that looked silver in the moonlight. She was close enough to recognize him now.

"Malfoy!" she squealed in surprise.

"Weasley," came the tired response.

"Are you hurt?" she asked curtly.

"No."

"What a pity."

"Are you going to remedy that slight problem?" Draco asked, amused.

"Don't tempt me," she responded dourly.

"Now that could have interesting results. Whoever thought a Weasley could come up with a good idea." Draco sat up, leaned back on his hands and looked up at her. Ginny snorted in a rather unladylike manner.

"Go to bed, Malfoy. Its late." Ginny turned away. Quick as a flash, Draco stretched out a long arm and caught her hand.

"Come with me," he drawled. Ginny looked him up and down with a critical eye.

"Nope," she tried to snatch her hand away, but he held fast.

"Sure? This is a one-time offer," he raised an eyebrow and smiled pointedly.

"Malfoy if you were the last man left standing on the face of the planet..."

"Yes?" he returned her gaze, unabashed

"I'd change my sexual preferences. Now kindly return my hand."

"No, I think I'll keep it for now. It's a very nice hand," he said, as he noticed her gripping a crystal pendant on a broken chain.

"Malfoy!" Ginny hissed though gritted teeth, it was taking every ounce of self-control she had not to punch him across the face. "Let me go."

"No," Draco was enjoying this; he really wondered what she would do next. She looked just about ready to pound his face in, he grinned. This was fun!

"Don't make me hurt you!"

"Are you threatening me, Weasley?" Draco asked surprised.

"If you want to take that as a threat, feel free."

"Strong women always turn me on," he replied deliberately dropping his voice to a low growl, his eyes shining with mirth. Ginny lost what little restraint she had and swung her fist at his face, but he was to fast for her. He grabbed her wrist with his free hand and pulled. Ginny lost her balance and landed on top of him with a squeal. Before she could recover from the shock he rolled over pinning her under him. Her hands were pinned down by his on either side of her head, he was lying flush against her, pressing her down under his weight so she had no leverage. Ginny gulped, the grass beneath her was cold, but he was warm. His familiar scent engulfed her, lemon and wet grass and something she could not name. His face was inches away from hers - so close, he was blurry, but his grey eyes looking down on her were clear, darker than usual and rimmed with silver. She was gulping down air, whether this was because of his weight on her chest or some other reason she didn't know.

"What... what are you doing?" she asked in a breathy whisper. He smiled as he rubbed the tip of his nose to hers.

"Tempting you," he murmured before he lowered his head and caught her lips with his. Ginny's eyes fluttered shut, she half-heartedly cursed herself for reacting to him this way, before all thought was erased from her mind and her mouth opened to him. Ginny moaned in frustration, she was struggling to free her arms, desperately wanting to pull him closer. He finally released her and braced himself on his arms, Ginny sighed and wound her arms around his neck, hand tangling in his hair. She was lost in this kiss, which was unlike any kiss she had ever experienced before. He released her mouth only to trail his lips down her neck. Ginny threw back her head to give him better access; he licked and nibbled his way to the soft patch of skin behind her ear. She gasped as a totally new sensation rocketed through her. But she wanted more, she gently pulled his head up and their eyes met for a brief second before her eyes slid to his lips, she raised her head and caught his mouth, kissing him hungrily. Draco was surprised but reacted instantly, kissing her back as if his life depended on it. He ran his hand down her side, brushing past her breast to rest on her waist. She could feel the heat of his hand through several layers of clothing, she was acutely aware of every inch that touched her. She slid her fingers down the back of his jumper, his skin was warm and dizzyingly soft. She wanted more, so much more. His hand slid further to rest on her upper thigh. Then he broke the kiss, leaning down so that his mouth was merely centimeters from her ear, his ragged breath warm and ticklish on her skin.

"Ginny," he rasped, "do you want me to go on?"

'Yes! Oh yes!' she thought ecstatically, before she floated back to reality.

"Draco..." he stiffened; the sound of her breathlessly whispering his name would haunt him for a long time to come.

"Draco, I have to go back," she admitted reluctantly. He raised his head and looked her straight in the eyes. Ginny met his gaze. Without a word he rolled off her, sprawling on his back next to her. He threw an arm over his eyes. Ginny felt bereft and very cold, she wanted to curl up next to him, touching as much of him as she could reach. Instead she stood up slowly and looked down at him, his eyes were still hidden. She turned away and walked slowly back to the castle, her mind an intense whirl of psychedelic colour and fragmented thoughts, his voice echoing and re-echoing over it all.

"Ginny, do you want me to go on?"

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Ginny wandered towards the library, a book and her wand clutched to her chest, eyes staring intently at the stone floor.

It was the Sunday after the match, but the match was the last thing Ginny remembered about the previous day. As she had sat in the now exhausted Gryffindor common room, her mind had wandered back to the night before. Sitting with a mountain of homework to complete, Ginny had realized that that was not a good idea. Needing desperately to clear her head and get some work done, Ginny had picked up her school things and her wand and headed out of the common room.

So absorbed was she that she did not even hear the soft thump of books hitting the floor behnd her or the fact that her book bag was getting lighter with every step. All she heard was the soft, rasping voice echoing in her mind.

"Ginny, do you want me to go on?"

"Virginia?" It was the same voice. Ginny stiffened in consternation.

"Virginia." More insistent this time.

'Virginia!' she thought indignantly.

'At least its better than Weasley.'

'Shut up! I'll give him Virginia!' Ginny turned slowly and gazed at those veiled grey eyes.

"Yes," she asked haughtily. A flash of amusement and that slow, lazy smile. How she hated that smile, how she longed to slap it off his face. He held out a book and Ginny looked at it uncomprehendingly. It was her Transfiguration book. She took it from him automatically wondering how he had got it. The question was on the tip of her tongue but he spoke first.

"You dropped this, along with a few other things." He stepped sideways as he spoke and gestured as a trail of books and parchments that led to where she stood. "Marking a trail so you don't loose your way? I hear bread crumbs are more effective."

Ginny ignored him and raised her wand all set to say the summoning spell when Draco seized her wrist and pulled her too him, she didn't resist. So close she could smell that scent again, that Draco-smell.

"No magic in the corridors, Virginia. Don't make me take points from you." She did not, could not move but simply looked up at him as he smiled down on her. It seemed like eternity but was barely a few seconds before...

"What the hell are you doing, Malfoy?" Hermione, arms full of books glared at Draco before shooting Ginny a concerned look.

"Just reminding Virginia of a few school rules," he replied still looking at Ginny, but the smile had been replaced by a slight frown. He was evidently not pleased at being interrupted.

"I wasn't aware that 'reminding' required such close proximity," Hermione retorted.

"It doesn't." Draco finally looked at her, his eyes cold and glittering. "But it is infinitely more interesting this way." Ginny, no longer under his gaze, wrenched her hand out of his grasp and stepped away. Draco appeared not to have noticed.

"Gin, are you okay?" Hermione asked concerned, Ginny nodded.

"Bag ripped, stuff fell out. I was just going to summon them when..."

"When I came along and saved her from herself," Draco finished cheerfully.

"Students may no be allowed to use magic in the corridors, Malfoy, but Prefects are." Hermione now stood next to Ginny and began fumbling for her wand.

"Granger, I honestly thought I would never say this. But...you're right. Accio!" Ginny's books hung in the air in a neat pile as she reached out her arms and gathered them to her. Draco took a step towards her, invading her space.

"I would get a new bag if I were you Virginia. That one is on its last legs." With that Draco brushed past a dazed Ginny and a startled Hermione and walked on down the corridor. Hermione turned and watched him go. Ginny took a deep breath - she knew what was coming. Hermione laid a gentle hand on Ginny's shoulder.

"Ginny, has Malfoy been bothering you? Its okay to talk about it." She squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. Ginny's head was in a whirl, she just had to sort out everything before she could talk about it, before she exploded. Was Malfoy bothering her? Yes, very much but not in the way Hermione thought. What bothered Ginny was the way Malfoy made her feel. She liked being close to him, well physically anyway. But he was Malfoy, he was cruel, he was evil, he was almost a Death-Eater. He stood for everything that she was against and yet he was warm, somewhere he was, Ginny knew this instinctively. But he couldn't be, he was a Slytherin, cunning, ruthless and he had proved he was nasty any number of times. Every logical cell in her brain told her to walk away, just walk away. But something else, something more basic and fundamental told her not to, told her to wait and watch, that this was something she should not just throw away. Ginny's eyes were unfocused as she stared at the corridor floor, her silence frightened Hermione who shook her gently.

"Ginny! GINNY!" Ginny's head snapped up and she blinked at Hermione as if she were seeing her for the first time.

"Ginny talk to me. Has Malfoy said something... done something to you?" Ginny shook her head.

"I'm fine Hermione, really I am. I just need... need some air."

"Ginny something is going on with you and Malfoy, I just know it. Tell me! I can help you deal with him."

Ginny came to a decision, "You're right, something is going on and I will tell you all about it, I promise. But not now."

"Then when?"

"Tonight after dinner, I'll come to your room." Hermione gave Ginny a long, searching look.

"Alright," she finally agreed reluctantly. Ginny gave her a small smile as she turned and walked down the corridor away from the library. Hermione watched her go with concern. Ginny seemed dazed and confused, had been that way since yesterday. Hermione had assumed it had something to do with Gareth. If Malfoy were hurting her she would make him pay, she swore silently to herself, her hand clenching around her wand.

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There was a hesitant knock on the door. Hermione put aside her Runes Dictionary and watched as Ginny walked in and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"So, Hermione how was your day?"

"Fine. So what's up with you and Malfoy?"

"Okay Hermione. You asked for it so brace yourself. Firstff, it's not what you think."

"Never mind what I think. Spill!"

"Oh, where do I begin?" Ginny said as she ran a hand through her hair in distraction.

"How about at the beginning? I here it's a very good place to start."

"It started the day Malfoy helped me write my Potions essay, which got top marks by the way."

"Malfoy helped you with a Potions essay?" Hermione's eyes nearly fell out of her head.

"Malfoy helped you with a Potions essay?"

"Malfoy helped you with a Potions essay?"

"And then..." Ginny continued, "and then there was the kiss in the owlery, but that was after he saved me from Filch."

"Kiss in the owlery?" Hermione sputtered as Ginny continued dreamily.

"Then there was the night on the Quidditch Pitch, but that was after the match, where he was being such a... such a... Slytherin."

"Whoa! NIGHT!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN NIGHT AT THE QUIDDITCH PITCH?" Hermione shrieked.

"It's not what you think Hermione," Ginny sighed and said.

"WILL YOU STOP SAYING THAT VIRGINIA WEASLEY!"

Ginny looked woefully at Hermione and plunged into a blow-by-blow explanation of all that had happened since the day in the library. As Ginny narrated the story of her life as it had been since term started the expression on Hermione's face grew more and more aghast. The silence rang loud as Ginny stopped speaking and Hermione tried to assimilate all that had been thrown at her. She then looked concernedly at Ginny and said.

"Gin, Draco Malfoy..."

"I know, I know... he's the underbelly of a slug, he's a slimy git, the embodiment of everything I am against. He's almost a Death-Eater, heck he's Lucius Malfoy's son. He hates my family and he's a Slytherin for crying out loud. And did I mention that he's petty and mean and generally not nice."

Hermione shook her head, "That's not what I was going to say. Draco Malfoy has a girlfriend," she concluded gently. Ginny hung her head and closed her eyes. It was not like she did not know. She did. Who could miss Blaise Zabini and Draco Malfoy? They were together constantly - they ate together; they walked down the corridors hand in hand. Ginny had seen Draco hand her gaily-wrapped packages and be kissed in return. Ginny had seen it all, and yet...

"How could I not know Hermione? Everyone knows."

"Then why are you letting him...?"

Ginny hid her face in her hands and mumbled, "I don't know. I just don't know. Sometimes he's nice, sometimes he's nasty and most of the times I just don't know. I know I'm not supposed to feel like this, not about him, not Malfoy. But there is something about him Hermione," she concluded desperately.

"Ginny, have you talked to Malfoy about this?"

"Well, we haven't gotten around to doing any talking." Ginny commented wryly.

"I don't want to be judgmental or anything, but seeing that it is Malfoy, a million to one he's up to no good."

"Not being judgmental huh?" Ginny rolled her eyes. "How did this happen Hermione? How did snot-nosed, bratty, prejudiced Draco Malfoy turn into debonair, refined, intelligent and drop dead gorgeous Draco Malfoy?"

Hermione sighed, "Life isn't fair Ginny. Life just isn't fair."

They sat together quietly for a while, before Hermione broke the silence.

"Ginny?"

"Hmm," Ginny replied absentmindedly petting Crookshanks.

"What about Gareth?" Ginny's head shot up and her hand stilled in Crookshanks' fur at the mention of Gareth's name.

"What about Gareth?" she asked back.

"I thought you liked him. Didn't you go out on a couple of dates with him towards the beginning of term?"

"They weren't exactly official dates. We were double dating with Ashley and Colin."

"So what happened?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing I guess. We had a good time. Its so easy being around him I sometimes forget to think before I speak. We can talk about anything for any length of time and still have things left to say to each other. I feel so strange Hermione; I simply don't know what to do any more."

"Maybe you should give the guy a fair chance and go out with him on a date, a real date... alone."

"I know what you mean," Ginny said confusedly and then took the easiest way out. "I... what will Ron say when he finds out? He hated the idea of my seeing Michael Connor. Dean was only a marginal improvement because Ron could threaten him whenever he liked. And Gareth - "

"Ginny! Stop!" Hermione commanded. "Don't worry about Ron. He likes Gareth- what's not to like? He's smart, funny, good-looking and a Rimbower. ('As opposed to a Malfoy.' Ginny thought wryly.) and he's crazy about you." Ginny looked mournfully at Hermione at that last statement.

"Is it that apparent?"

"You only have to look at him long enough. Give the guy a chance Ginny, a fair one." Ginny stroked the back of Crookshanks' head absently while she thought about what Hermione had said.

At last she looked up and said, "Thanks Hermione. I feel like someone lifted the weight of the universe from my shoulders. Now I'd better get back to bed and so had you."

"Anytime Gin. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Ginny softly shut the door behind her.

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