Stupid

Part II

Everything changes, everything falls apart

I can't stand to feel myself losing control

In the deep of my weakness, I know...

How stupid could I be?
A simpleton could see
that you're no good for me
but you're the only one I see
Sarah McLachlan "Stupid"

Two whole weeks. Ginny cursed herself for being so dumb. How could she possibly have liked Malfoy? Her picture of him sat in a box, under several books, under her bed, behind as much junk as possible. Oh wait, her naked picture of him. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Why did she act like that? She'd practically thrown herself at him. She covered her face as she remembered that night.

Well, the good news was no one seemed to know, so no one was talking about it.

"Another Hogsmeade trip this weekend." Hermione, lugging a S.P.E.W notebook, sat at the table in the Great Hall, in-between Ron and Harry. Ginny was next to George, and on her other side sat Neville.
"So have you lot heard about Malfoy?" Fred grinned maliciously. Ginny choked on her pumpkin juice. She ignored the odd looks and Fred continued. "Apparently, he had a...meeting with someone from another house- I heard Hufflepuff- and his Slytherin cronies beat him up. That's why he hasn't been around."
Ginny gasped slightly. "How bad was it?"

"Who cares?" Ron seemed happy that karma had seemingly done its justice. Hermione tutted at him.
"Ronald Weasley, that's no way to be." But Hermione herself seemed amused.

"It's awful, but I'm glad it happened- to him and not me. Eh, Harry?" Ron elbowed his friend. Harry shrugged.

"I'm with Ron. Oh, Hermione, don't give me that look. He's my worst enemy, remember?"

"He calls me a 'mudblood', but I don't go about wishing ill on him!" Hermione gathered up her huge notebook and ran off. Ron chuckled and turned to his little sister. "Well, Gin- "

She was gone.

Draco sat in the library. His black eye and bloody lip were healing- slowly, as were his ribs. He'd opted not to go to the nurse, and put a charm on his face for classes and ignored the pains in his side.

He heard a noise and looked up, hoping, wishing...it was Pansy. This was not a happy moment.

The awful thing was, Pansy was not ugly by any means. She was tall and skinny, with turned up nose, narrow green eyes, thick lips, and long blonde hair. She did however, look like what she was: a bitch.

"Draco, honey, why are you in here all alone? I see your...battle wounds are healing quite nicely. Oh, you stubborn boy, don't look at me like that, it was for your own good. We..." she giggled, "Beat some sense into you. Honestly, who were you with? We know she wasn't Slytherin, so she couldn't have been any good."

Draco was quickly losing patience. "I told you, I went to investigate something. As a prefect, it's my duty to make sure Potter isn't lolling around at night."

"Prove it then," she spat. She was not pretty anymore. "You've been strange for weeks. Be yourself. You're putting Slytherin to shame, Malfoy." She left and someone else came in.

Ginny's eyes widened as she took in his black eye. It was a horrible purple and green mixture of colors. His lip was swollen and dried blood was crusted over it. All for her.
"What do you want, Weasel?" His voice was venomous.

"I-I...er--"
"Spit it out, I haven't got all day. I'm a busy man, with many endeavors." Ginny just stared at him in shock. He stood and backed her into a corner. He was dangerously close; his breath hit her cheek. "Look, it was fun. I'm only sorry I didn't get some. But now, it's time to get back to the real world. You and I, well, it's just not meant to be. I mean, I'm a superior, and you're just an inferior. You're something to be used for the moment. I will go on. I have a legacy. And there are at least twenty girls who would kill to have been you. And you know, I think I like them more. They're prettier, and not quite so...poor. So run on to your precious Potter, because I know you will. He makes everything better. So tell him what a bastard I am. Tell him what you did, Weasel. But don't come running back to me looking for leftovers. I don't give to the poor." He sneered at her. There was a moment where all Ginny could hear was the blood rushing through her head. Then she hauled off and punched Malfoy in the nose. He doubled over, catching blood in his hands.

She stepped over him as she walked out.

Virginia Ann Weasley would not cry. Her hands were still balled into tight fist and she was shaking from anger. But she would not cry. She was mad at herself for being so blatantly stupid. She'd even felt bad about the beating- now she wished they'd put him in the hospital.

She took a deep breath. Think about anything else...happy things...

She was going to Hogsmeade this weekend. Then, there was a brief break. No classes for a few days. Some people would go home over this break, and maybe he would. Then Ginny could burn the picture and get over it in peace. She exhaled once more, feeling much better.

But then again, the picture was really good...maybe...she could just change the face. No one would have to see it. Well, maybe Dean because this was her best to date...yes, and she knew just who's face to change it to.