Forbidden Fruit

Chapter 1 - Deadly Secrets

Ginny looked up, flicking her long red hair over her shoulder and seeing someone approach she shielded her eyes with her hand. Thinking it may have been Harry her heart had leapt into her throat, but it now lay like a ball of lead in the bottom of her stomach. There was no mistaking the arrogant stride, or the silver blonde hair. Draco Malfoy. Ginny gulped loudly, drawing the attention of the girl next to her, who likewise saw Malfoy. Hermione scowled slightly at the seventh year Slytherin boy and returned to her work. Ginny turned her eyes back to her Charms assignment, but her mind simply would not follow. Oh, please, please don't let him come over here. I couldn't stand another taunt! Oh, Merlin, why does he have to be so utterly cruel? Why does he have to be so horrible? What did I ever do -?

Her train of thought was broken as a shadow stood over her tatty second-hand Charms textbook.

"Well, well," that familiar, cold voice drawled in a tone that bespoke utter hatred. "If it isn't the mudblood Granger and the young Weasley." He spat, but something in Draco's eyes held her riveted to the spot and quelled her angry retort. Hermione glanced at Ginny, noting the lack of a fuelled answer that absolutely dripped with malice, as was Ginny's way. She noticed the younger girl staring at Malfoy as though he'd just fallen from heaven in a tutu singing Muggle Christmas Carols and also stored this information away for further perusal at a later date. However, something simply must be done now. Hermione jabbed Ginny in the ribs and the other girl visibly shook herself, thinking what was that in his eyes as he looked at me? Sorrow? Desire? Ha! What a laugh - Malfoy desire me, Virginia Mary Weasley? There's a thought that'll be good for a laugh - after I get over the way his eyes raked over my body. It made me fell all warm. Ewww! Gross! I would never - ! Or would I? She found herself thinking as she entered the Great Hall for dinner.

Dinner in the Great Hall was, for Ginny, confusing, to say the very least. Frustrating, certainly, but more confusing than anything she'd ever felt before. The warmth she felt in the pit of her stomach whenever she looked over to the Slytherin table, to Draco, was so very intense... Hold on just one minute! Since when was she calling him Draco? Sure, it was his name, but... oh, Merlin, she was confused! She didn't know what she felt anymore... She looked at Draco again and slumped in her seat as the familiar butterflies assailed her stomach. Yes, I do... She thought guiltily and stood up sharply, leaving the Great Hall quickly and ignoring Harry and Ron's worried calls after her. If she had have looked back she would have seen Hermione staring at her speculatively. She'd been the only one to catch Ginny's furtive glances in Draco's direction. Or was she?