Sell My Soul

Chapter 1:

How do you hate?

Does he always have to be such a bloody git? Ginny wondered as she stormed down a deserted hallway, after a particularly trying double Potions class. While the balmy spring weather seemed to lift everyone's spirits, it had the opposite effect on Snape; he had been in quite a temper throughout the class. Ginny had been partnered with Colin for today's particularly hard assignment. Of course, she fumed, Colin had to give me the horned slugs at the wrong moment and cause our cauldron to explode... The catastrophe had brought Snape's full anger upon her and Colin, resulting in public humiliation and detention for both of them.

Ginny's inward rant went on until she had nearly stomped through the entire first floor of the castle. With a weary spirit and tired feet, she stopped in a corridor that faced the lake and leaned against the wall. Closing her eyes dejectedly, she wished for about the fifth time that day that she had a Time Turner and could change what had happened. As her thoughts continued along that vein, she gradually grew aware that she was completely alone in the hallway. She opened her eyes slowly when a calm spring breeze drifted by lazily from an open window, sending a small shiver down her spine. Glancing around her, she noticed how the bright sunshine and sounds of laughter spilled through the open windows. She shifted her eyes to the window, feeling her spirits rise at the beautiful day before her.

A familiar bark of laughter drew Ginny to the windows, as though beckoning her to look. She was a bit shocked to see just how many students were outside enjoying the weather. Seamus and Dean were climbing a tree nearby, while helping two first-year Ravenclaw boys up with them. Lavender and Parvati were sitting in the grass, holding court with a gaggle of girls from other houses; they were having a serious discussion in whispers, even though they interrupted each other periodically with fits of giggles. Shaking her head amusedly, Ginny's eyes roved on to Luna Lovegood, who was basking in the sunshine and petting a rather content Crookshanks, while Neville Longbottom sat beside her, showing off his toad Trevor. Near them, a younger group of Hufflepuff girls were chasing each other in the grass, laughing hysterically when one would slip and fall. Ginny actually allowed herself a smile when one girl fell and brought down two others with her.

A distant splash broke her reverie, and she turned her eyes towards the shore. There, reclining under the shade of a large tree, sat Harry and Hermione. Both were laughing at her brother Ron, who was flapping exaggeratedly in the shallow water a few feet away from them. An involuntary smirk crossed Ginny's face when she noticed that Hermione still had a book in her lap, even though her attention was quite obviously elsewhere. Yet, Ginny was truly happy that her brother and his friends were finally enjoying themselves a bit. Between studying for NEWTs, playing Quidditch, and fighting Voldemort, she knew that they barely had time to enjoy their time at Hogwarts, which was quickly slipping through their fingers.

Out of the three in that group at the lake, Hermione had matured the most since her first year. Of course, the Head Girl had always been very mature for her age, but Ginny could now see that the loud precociousness of Hermione's childhood had become a quiet confidence now that she was a woman. Even with her annoying, and somewhat endearing, traits, Hermione had also managed to find love. Ginny's smirk widened into a small laugh as she recalled Ron and Harry's different reactions to Hermione's new relationship.

Hermione had finally broken the news to the two unsuspecting boys during dinner, just before Christmas. Ron had immediately frowned and actually stopped eating, arguing fiercely with Hermione about how Blaise was "a ruddy Slytherin" who was probably toying with her heart and emotions. During the small melee that ensued between them, Harry quietly got up and walked steadily over to the Slytherin table. No one except Blaise and Harry knew what those two talked about, but Harry returned sedately in two minutes and loudly proclaimed his approval to Hermione and Ron. Both were a bit flabbergasted at his sudden appearance, but the discussion essentially ended at that point.

Ginny's eyes glazed over a bit as she continued to watch Ron acting comically in the water. While Ron had eventually expressed his approval by the end of dinner that night, both his and Harry's reactions were testament to how much they had grown as well. Ron's lanky awkwardness and wittiness had made him a tall bloke with an engaging sense of humour and plenty of dry wit. Harry, while still a bit short for his age, now had soulful eyes and a confident stance. It's a shame, really, Ginny thought idly, that we're all growing up so fast. I do hope we remember some happiness from our childhoods after this war is over.

Sunlight glinted off of something shiny in the distance, distracting Ginny's eyes towards it. Her face immediately twisted into a frown when she spotted blond hair on dark, inky robes in the distance, followed by two similarly black blobs. Her fists clenched instinctively as she watched Draco Malfoy and his goons Crabbe and Goyle walking near the lake. After the rather awful day she'd been having, Ginny certainly didn't want Malfoy and his idiots to ruin the mood. She sighed with relief when she realized that he hadn't noticed her, but her back stiffened when she saw him stalking towards Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

That lout enjoys ruining everything, Ginny thought exasperatedly as she saw Ron rise out of the water and clench his fists at Malfoy's approach. Those three haven't had a moment to themselves all term, and he simply can't have that, now can he? Hermione had finally closed her book and risen to her feet calmly, while Harry jumped up beside her and quickly reached for his wand. Malfoy and his lackeys stopped once they noticed Harry's wand, which made Ginny grin with smug glee. Malfoy said something to Harry that made Hermione step back in disgusted horror, and sent Harry and Ron moving quickly to point their wands at the blonde. Ginny's own hand moved to her wand as she moved away from the window, looking around quickly for the nearest exit; if Ron and Harry needed help, she was willing to oblige.

However, Malfoy was completely unfazed by the two boys and sneered with contempt. With a parting shot at Ron, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle turned on their heels and left. Ginny's eyes stayed with her brother and his best friend, noticing that they were both putting away their wands. She was a bit startled to see that neither Harry nor Hermione needed to restrain Ron from punching Malfoy. The Weasley part of Ginny was slightly miffed that he wasn't willing to stand up for himself against Malfoy's insults, which were probably about her family's poverty or red hair, as usual. Yet, the younger sister side of her was proud that he'd matured enough to realize when Malfoy was simply trying to get a rise out of him.

Turning her eyes towards the three Slytherins that had been unsuccessful in their attempts at riling her brother, she was shocked to see that they were headed in her direction. She quickly moved away from the window, looking around quickly for an escape route, thinking about Crabbe and Goyle's meaty fists all the while. Suddenly remembering the exit that she had spotted earlier when she was willing to help Ron and Harry, she instinctively started walking towards it. When she was halfway there, she paused and looked out the window again. Crabbe and Goyle were snickering to themselves about something, preoccupied with eating some Chocolate Frogs and trying to walk at the same time. Malfoy was walking ahead of them with an odd brooding look on his face, his downcast eyes focused on the ground before him.

Puzzled that they weren't even keeping their eye on her, she kept watching them as they neared the door, until it dawned on her that they hadn't spotted her; apparently, they were only looking for the nearest entrance into the castle. A flush spread across Ginny's cheeks and reached her ears when she realized that she'd been worried for no reason. Her embarrassment quickly turned into resentment as she remembered how eager she had been to escape. I'm a bloody coward, she berated herself. It's no wonder that Mum and Dad won't let me join the Order yet, even though Ron has already. I can't even face a rich, spoiled prat in my school, where I'm practically safe from harm. How in Merlin's name would I act if I faced Tom again?

She glared at Malfoy's unassuming form as he made his way to the entrance, remembering the last time she'd begged her mother to let her join the Order. While her mother was always protective of her brood, Molly Weasley was annoyingly persistent in sheltering Ginny from Order business. Even her brothers, in all of their overprotective glory, flatly refused to tell her anything. Needless to say, Ginny was more than frustrated that she knew nothing of what went on in the meetings. I've faced Tom before, she thought sullenly. True, he had the upper hand in that situation, but I'm not a little girl anymore! I hate him just as much as Ron or Harry. And for Merlin's sake, I was at the Department of Mysteries fifth year and survived. Why can't Mum see that?

Memories of the Department of Mysteries also reminded Ginny of the time she used the Bat-Bogey Hex on Malfoy. She smirked to herself as she remembered that wonderful sight, but suddenly thought, Hang on. I have faced Malfoy before, and gotten the best of him. Bloody hell, I fought Death Eaters that term, too. If I can defeat them, I have every right to join the Order. That surge of confidence disappeared quickly when she reminded herself, Mum will still refuse.

The sunlight glinted off of Malfoy's hair again, catching Ginny's attention. No matter what Mum says, she thought grimly, that doesn't mean I can't face Malfoy again and win... Spurred to action by her thoughts, Ginny stalked to the exit. When she reached there, she realized that she needed to say or do something to provoke him. Standing in the doorway, she looked around the corridor and patted her pockets, wondering what she could use.

Ginny's back was to the door when she heard a cold, cultured voice state "Out of the way, Weasley."

Smirking to herself, Ginny turned around slowly and looked Malfoy dead in the eye. Crabbe and Goyle were only a few steps behind him, still laughing; they stopped, however, when they realized that Draco had stopped. Ginny only heard them approach; she was too preoccupied staring into Malfoy's eyes to bother paying attention to the two lumps behind him.

His eyes are the colour of the flagstones, she thought idly. Horrified at the fact that she'd been studying his eyes, she blinked quickly and cleared her mind. Tightening her grip on her wand, she gritted out wrathfully, "Make me."

Malfoy didn't react at all to her blunt invitation for a fight. Instead, he smirked at her as he slowly stepped closer to her. Confused at his action, Ginny held her breath as he took another step forward. By his third step, her eyes widened frantically when she realized that he would soon be two inches from her nose. Disgusted by the thought of being in such close proximity to him, she backed away reflexively.

With two more steps, the doorjamb was digging into Ginny's back rather painfully. Malfoy didn't stop until he was sneering down at her. Apprehensively, and a bit defiantly, she glared back up at him; her grip on her wand was so tight that she could nearly snap it in two. He was so close to her that she could feel his breath, which smelled like Toothflossing Stringmints and Chocolate Frogs, against the tip of her nose. He's wearing some sort of cologne, too, she thought idly as she twitched her nose a bit, trying to identify it. Smells a bit like something from Herbology. I should ask Hermione...

She was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she nearly jumped when he whispered down at her, "So that's what you want, is it? Provoke me into hexing you, so that you can cast the Bat-Bogey Hex again?" He tsked softly under his breath and continued, "It's a pity, Ginevra, that you have to resort to violence to garner attention."

Ginny glared up at him, attempting to hide her astonishment. How did he know? she wondered as she slowly lifted her wand. She had no chance to use it, however, because he quickly stepped back and brushed off his robes, nonchalantly stating in a louder voice, "Well, that was easy. Too bad I had to soil my robes to do it."

Crabbe and Goyle chuckled behind Malfoy, which confused Ginny for a moment. What is he on about? she wondered, ignoring the insult. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him that very same question, when she saw him smirk at her... and slip past her into the castle.

He turned his back and walked away from her the moment he was in the corridor. Ginny was left practically gaping after him, never noticing how Crabbe and Goyle shoved her away as they squeezed past her to follow Malfoy. How? was the only thought racing through her mind as she watched their retreating backs disappear behind a bend in the corridor.

She stood there for a moment, her wand loosely swinging through her thumb and forefinger as she tried to gather her wits. Finally, she felt relaxed enough to slip her wand into her pocket and go on about her business. Letting out a resigned sigh, she made her way down the hallway towards the stairs, her mind racing with all the things she had to finish before her detention tonight. Anxious to give Colin a piece of her mind about his absolute idiocy in class today, she studiously avoided thinking about Malfoy, especially about his cologne and how he'd guessed her intentions.

However, she couldn't stop one niggling question in the back of her mind: How did Malfoy know my bloody name?