Some Days I Wish I Were in Slytherin

Ch 4: The Company of Friends

Draco Malfoy's eyes moved quickly from the plate of sandwiches to the red head sitting across from his seat in the leather armchair as if his mind had just taken him to a frightening visual place.

"Kidding, Malfoy, only kidding," Ginny told him. Her lips twisted in an amused grin. "After all, wouldn't want you to get too jealous now would we."

He lifted his lip and leaned back into his chair. "Dream on weasel, as if I'd ever be jealous of you."

"Oh, not of me, of him, I mean you are his favorite student aren't you? And I know a feeble little mind like your own couldn't attain that status on grades alone, now could it? Must be convenient having the Slytherin common room so close to Professor Snape's rooms ..." Her voice trailed off and she glanced over at him.

"Listen Weasley," Draco said, "I don't care for what you're insinuating. Professor Snape's attitude toward me is nothing more than my due. Your family may be used to being treated poorly by the rest of the world, but I am used to more ... preferential treatment."

"So I've heard," Ginny replied. "I suppose that's why your father's assets have been frozen and he's currently under arrest. Or is that just a new method of the preferential treatment I wouldn't be familiar with?" She gave Malfoy a scornful glance and reached for her teacup.

Draco's hand shot out grabbing her own and pulling her across the table towards him, he squeezed her hand so tightly in his that she could feel the bones grinding. "Don't ever talk about my father. Ever. Do you hear me? You're not even worthy to have his name on your lips." His grey eyes narrowed and he stared ferociously at her, their faces mere inches apart.

Ginny ignored the pain in her hand and stared back unflinching. "Sore spot Malfoy? Take it from one who's used to people talking about her. Get over it. It's not going away. He was careless, he got caught, and now he has to pay, simple as that." Draco's grip suddenly went slack, and she took the opportunity to pry his fingers off with her free hand. She stood up and started to leave, but turned to him her brown eyes strangely soft and said quietly, "It's not your fault you know."

Draco watched her disappear from the car, a confused expression on his face. What had she meant by that? Did she actually fell sorry for him? He didn't need one of those red haired rabbits feeling pity for him, and what had she meant that he'd been careless?

"Who were you talking to?" asked a gruff voice as a hand clapped down on his shoulder. Draco concentrated on not being startled and turned around to face his grandfather. The old man's eyes looked at him shrewdly.

"Pretty girl," he said. "You seemed to be having an interesting conversation with her." He grabbed Draco's arm to pull him close, his voice dropping to a near whisper as he spoke. "You know, it would be very beneficial to the council if we could convince one of the Weasleys to join us. Very beneficial. We'd be able to get one step ahead of your father's ... friends."

"As if I would ever associate with that family," Draco said, pulling out of his grandfather's grasp.

"You'll do what you're told boy. Your father has told me things about that girl that make you look like a Hufflepuff. There are two choices in that family for us. She's one, and we have someone else working on the other. If we can get someone from the Potter boy's inner circle on our side.... but never you mind about that. Just try to get to the girl. Unless you want to go back to the Ministry home?" His cold grey eyes held a cruel glint.

"No Grandfather," Draco mumbled under his breath. "I'll do it."

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Ginny walked back into the main compartment to find Snape sitting on the bench making notes in the margins of a book. He looked up as she walked in and asked. "Finished with that book yet, Weasley?"

"Half way through." Ginny sat next to him on the bench stretching her legs out in front of her. "That antidote for the Confundus potion looks very difficult Professor." She inclined her head towards him a little. "I ran into your favorite student outside, maybe he can help me."

"Mr. Malfoy?" Snape said, his head snapping around as he shot her a warning glance.

"Yes," said Ginny, her tone unrevealing. "I thought since he's such a good student of yours he might be... helpful to me in my studies."

Snape nodded slowly, rubbing his fingers along his jaw. "Yes indeed, I think Mr. Malfoy could help you a great deal." He looked at her and gave her a small vicious smile. "Just make sure he thinks it's his idea to ... help you with your work."

"Of course Professor," Ginny said. "I'll get started as soon as possible." She went into her compartment and closed the door. She had a pretty good idea of the way to start.

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Ginny looked into the mirror above her sink. She had finished the first book of Snape's earlier that afternoon and had written a series of questions in the back with invisible ink to ask him later. There were some points she was unclear on regarding Occulumency. Harry had told her about his lessons with Snape in this subject, and she was not looking forward to them. It didn't look quite as hard as Harry had made it out to be, but she wouldn't find out until Snape started her instruction. She thought maybe Harry's hatred of Snape was keeping him from the control necessary for the subject. She, on the other hand, had been practicing control for the past four years, and this couldn't be that different.

Speaking of control ... She ran her hand over a loose piece of hair that kept escaping her hairclip and cursed under her breath. Finally she tucked the piece behind her ear, it would have to do. She surveyed the rest of her appearance, clean, neat, and virginal. She smirked and unbuttoned the top buttons of her high collar; better much better. She picked up her next book 'Defensive and Protective Charms and How to Use Them', settled her expression into one of sweet innocence, and left the room.

At the end of the train was a small library, packed to the brim with wizards preparing for their conference lectures. Ginny bypassed this room and entered a cozy reading nook, which was empty except for a wizened old witch who had fallen asleep in the far corner. She left the door to the nook cracked open and settled into a comfortably soft-cushioned green couch to read, feet resting on the cushions with her back to the door. She had been reading for over an hour (the witch had awoken and left shortly after her arrival), and she could feel her eyes almost closing when she sensed someone else enter the room. Ginny kept her eyes on her book, ignoring the presence, but she could feel the hairs rise on the back of her neck and knew he must be standing in the doorway looking at her. He stood there so long without moving that she actually jumped when he spoke.

"Aren't you afraid to be sitting on that couch? Slytherin colors and all?" He picked up her feet and slid next to her, then dropped them so her lower legs rested across his lap.

Ginny drew her legs in towards her body and looked coolly at him over her knees. "I'm not afraid of Slytherin colors," she said, "or anything associated with them." She raised her eyebrows. "Had a change of heart Malfoy? Or is this the one hour a year you decide to raise your standards?"

Draco opened his mouth, as if to retort, then closed it suddenly. He reached across her lap and grabbed her hand, pulling it towards him. He looked at the swollen bruised finger marks ranged across the back of it and then up at her. "Is that from me? I'm sorry about that; I didn't mean to hurt you."

Ginny held in the smile that threatened to cross her lips, what was he playing at? This would be too easy with him helping. He was actually a pretty good actor; pity Hogwarts didn't have a Drama department. She wouldn't be making it nearly as easy on him, had to make it convincing after all. She left her hand in his a moment longer than necessary, then pulled it away and gave him a hurt look.

"Yes you did, but don't worry about it. I've had worse bruises than that before."

Draco had the grace to look shocked. "You mean... Did your father?"

Ginny rolled her eyes, but inside she shuddered to think that had been his first conclusion. "No you idiot. Quidditch, remember, seeker and all that. My father never laid a hand on me. He's too nice for that." She lowered her voice a little at the end as if that might not be a good thing. "He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. Why do you think he never got anywhere in the Ministry?" She managed to sound a little contemptuous.

"And all this time, I thought it was his poor fashion sense." Draco said. She scowled, and he quickly added. "I mean, I didn't think that would bother you."

"Of course it bothers me. You've said enough rotten things about my family. It shouldn't be news. How would you feel to be in a family where there was never enough to go around? He says he loves us, but if he did, don't you think he'd try a little harder to be successful?" She looked at Draco and lowered her eyes as if she shouldn't be talking to him about this. "You don't want to hear this anyway."

"No," he said, ducking his head and looking at his hands. "I guess I never thought you'd mind. I mean, you Weasleys seem so all for one and one for all." He raised his eyes and looked at her, his expression thoughtful. "You know, just because your parents are a certain way doesn't mean you have to be."

She cocked her head to the side. "Is that so Malfoy? I suppose that explains why you're always so nice to everyone all the time."

Draco frowned. "No need to be touchy, Weasley. And I am nice. To my friends."

"Well don't worry; I'm sure I won't be on that list anytime soon, so you can stop trying."

"I'm not ..." He gave her an exasperated look. "Believe me; I'm not trying to be friends. It's just that I know how you feel sometimes."

"Get off it Malfoy, you and I both know you're a Slytherin through and through. You see what you want and you make it happen no matter what." She looked at him appraisingly, widening her eyes and lowering her voice. "Can I tell you something Malfoy?"

Draco nodded, his expression puzzled but interested.

Ginny leaned close and whispered in his ear. "Some days I wish I were in Slytherin."

He turned to her, and gave her a strange smile. "Do you really? Don't you think that would disappoint Daddy and Mummy?"

Ginny pulled away and picked up her book. "Isn't that the point?" She started to read again, concentrating on the words before her, aware of the grey eyes looking at her intently. They sat in silence for a time; the room was so quiet she could hear the soft sound of his breathing.

Draco watched her read. For some reason he had never paid much attention to the youngest member of the overgrown Weasley clan. She had always blended in the background for him, so distracted was he by Potter and her idiot brother. She was pretty, he had to admit. Maybe this mission of his Grandfather's wouldn't be so bad after all. She certainly seemed susceptible to manipulation. Sure she was still a Gryffindor and a Weasley, but maybe he could turn that around. He'd have to be careful though, she already seemed suspicious of his overtures, he'd just have to turn on the Malfoy charm. Girls always fell for that. He brought his hand down on the page she was reading.

"Why?" he asked. He took the book away from her and studied the title (Charms for Fun and Profit) before setting it down on the couch.

The red head sighed and looked away. "I think it's obvious don't you? I'm tired of always not having what I want, of always having to be worried about what people will think of me. I want to be something more than just the end of a long line of brothers, always last to do anything. Nothing is expected of me. As long as I eat my vegetables and study for school they're happy. Do you know my parents didn't even care I made the Quidditch team? All they could talk about was Ron this and Ron that and how terrible it was that Fred and George were kicked off."

"You're actually pretty good. You know, at Quidditch," Draco said. He'd been searching for something to compliment her with, this thing, at least was the truth.

"Goodness, was that a compliment? Fancy that, you didn't even turn to stone or anything." She squeezed his arm as if checking and smiled mischievously. He restrained his own smile of triumph. This was just too easy.

He put his hand over hers before she could move it and caressed the back of it gently with his fingers. "I can be very nice Weasley, if you bothered to get to know me."

"Do you have a fever? Are you ill?" she asked. She felt his forehead with the back of her free hand, and he felt a little spark of excitement at her touch. If what he'd heard about her in the changing rooms was correct, maybe this little job of his Grandfather's could have added benefits. He captured that hand too, trapping both of hers in his, and gave her the alluring smile that always made the Slytherin girls swoon.

"No." He let his voice drop down into the lower register. "But I think I'm coming down with something."

Ginny laughed, a free and ringing laugh with a little touch of mockery. She pulled her hands free and picked up her book, giving him a saucy glance. "Is that the best you can do? Do girls usually fall for that?"

He nodded, strangely speechless, and his smile faded a little. Girls did usually fall for that kind of thing.

Her eyes glinted at him merrily. "Next time you'll have to do better." She stood up, walked to the door, looked back and said, "Why don't you have lunch with me tomorrow? One o'clock in the dining car?"

"Whatever, just don't be late Weasley, I don't like to be kept waiting," he said, forcing his voice into its usual drawling manner. He closed his eyes, thinking that he'd have to use a different approach; this wasn't working exactly how he'd planned. But then she had wanted to see him again, perhaps he'd just have to fine tune a little. He opened his eyes and was surprised to see her still standing there.

Ginny smiled at him as his gaze settled on her. "See you tomorrow then. Oh, and Malfoy, my friends call me Ginny."