The Best Insult

I, Virginia Weasley, am in love. It's such an amazing feeling. I wish everyone in the world would be so lucky. He loves me too. It's not like I'm all alone in how I feel. Every time, after we make love, we lie in each others' arms and whisper about just how much we love each other. I never imagined that I could feel this good.

He's the best man in the world. Some people would probably disagree, but that's just because they have their own love. He knows every little detail of me. I know every little detail of him too. But it's really how he slowly traces his finger up and down my side that lets me know he cares. He touches me like I am the most fragile thing on Earth. I'm so ticklish that I always end up in fits of giggles. He just smiles and laughs. Oh God, how I love his smile. It will never fail to cheer me up.

I will always wonder what would have happened if I hadn't slapped Blaise Zambini in the Great Hall that fall morning. He had just called me a 'Mudblood-loving bitch', what else could I do? I saw murder in his eyes as I turned away towards the doors. He yelled some more profanities at me and then I heard his angry footsteps following me quickly. I felt like giving him a chase so I ran out onto the chilly grounds. I headed straight for the lake, figuring that I could always jump in, if it came to it. I stopped on the bank and rolled to the ground, out of breath. Suddenly, I heard a splash. I bolted up. There were ripples spreading across the lake from a spot near to me. I stood up and slowly backed away from the shore.

"You Gryffindor bitch!" I had almost forgot Blaise was following me. I slid my school cloak off and hopped out of my shoes.

The hardest part of getting into the water was getting past my waist. The lake has a steep drop-off though, and I had no choice. I dived under and when I came back up, Blaise was already retreating back to the castle. I exhaled, and breathed in deeply. I lazily floated on my back until I realized that I was slowly but surely being pulled into deeper water. I wiggled, so I wasn't floating anymore and then I saw a head flash in and out of my sight. Could Blaise have followed me back in when I wasn't watching? No, he wasn't that stealthy. I swam closer to shore and stood waiting for the head.

There it was again! Whoever it was, was a really fast swimmer. I noticed that this time it was closer than before. Next time the head came above the water I saw blond hair. The head moved closer. Then right in front of me the head broke the surface. He stood up and was a few inches taller than me. The first thing I saw of him was his eyes. They are such a lovely color. There is so much depth in them, I want to drown. These eyes stared back into my own. I finally gathered the courage to look at the rest of him. Chiseled body, pale skin, handsome face, tell-tale smirk.

Draco was wearing a pair of Muggle swimming trunks, I was surprised to find. He looked so good in them too. I started shivering suddenly. I felt like a fool. I didn't know what to say. There I was, standing right next to Draco Malfoy, in my soaked clothing, shivering.

He didn't say a word, but went right around me and grabbed a towel from the shore that I hadn't noticed earlier. He came back and wrapped it around me.

"You know Ginny, unless you're used to it, swimming in the lake in October might not be the smartest thing to do." He smirked. I had always thought his smirk was mocking, but now I saw that it was just goofy.

"Blaise was chasing me and I.... didn't know where else to go," I said simply.

He laughed. "Maybe.... your dormitory?"

I smiled. "Too far."

Now he smiled. "Let's get you inside. Come on, I'll walk with you."

I had never been personal enemies with Draco, I had left that up to Ron, Harry, and Hermione. However, I had never been friendly or really even civil to him either. I welcomed the change in his manner though. It was nice to be treated this way.

As we walked up to the castle we talked about quidditch, the food at Hogwarts, and Draco's swimming habits. At the staircase I gave him his towel back and said a polite thank you. He smiled one last time and leaned in to kiss me softly on the lips.

"Have a good day, Ginny." And he walked off.

How could I have known that I owe all my happiness, all my joy to an insult?