It's Been A While

"Then you add the horned toad. Ginny? Are you listening to me?"

"Yes, yes," Ginny mumbled under her breath. She was paired with Ariana Newgit *again*, and she felt that she just might explode. Ariana was the snottiest of all the sixth years and had a way of getting under her skin.

"I'm going to go get the newt eyes. You stay here and add the powdered unicorn horn as soon as it turns green. Right?"

"Yup," Ginny grinned through gritted teeth. She'd do anything to get that stupid git away from her. Ariana left with a last snobby look at Ginny. She rolled her eyes and began adding the unicorn horn. "Who does she think she is? Just let me do it, we don't anymore marks off," she imitated with a growl.

After empting the rest of the ingredients into the cauldron she sat down and waited for Ariana's return. As Ariana sat back down at the table she eyed the potion suspiciously.

"It's not supposed to be purple!" she hissed. "It's *supposed* to be green! What did you do?"

"Nothing you didn't tell me, oh royal one." Ariana made a gesture as if grabbing on to an invisible throat and squeezing it very hard before giving the potion another look over and turning again to Ginny. "How much unicorn horn did you add?" She sounded a bit worried.

"The whole thing," Ginny muttered with a swing of her hand.

"Bloody hell!" Ariana yelled as she pulled Ginny and herself under the table to the sounds of something exploding above them.

"What the..."

"GINNY WEASLEY!" came a terrifying cry. "What the hell did you do to your potion?" Ginny was roughly dragged out from under the table. She was greeted with the cold looks of several onlookers, all of which were covered in purple goo.

"Oi!" she stuttered. This was much worse then she expected.

"Weasley, outside, now!" Snape screamed. Everyone was in an uproar as Snape dragged a protesting Ginny out into the hallway, slamming the door shut behind him.

"How dare you! That's the second time this month Weasley. The second time this month! Another one of my classes ruined, another one of your cauldrons melted. This is becoming quite an expensive habit Weasley! Do you hear me?"

"Yes," she croaked through her long auburn hair. She couldn't look him in the face. She had already been giving two detentions last time. What now?

"Oh you've pushed me to the limits! You and that Neville Longbottom. Both prats that can't get their damn potions correct! What is wrong with you?" He wanted to shake her, shake her until her head hurt and she would learn to get things right. Instead he restrained his hands by gripping them firmly behind him and leaned closer to her, practically spitting every word into her face.

“Detention! Three! Yes, three detentions. One tonight, where you will make the potion again, correctly this time. The other I'll have to figure out later. Now back in the classroom and clean up you things! Move it! I said NOW!"

Holding back the urge to kick Snape very hard in the shins she instead retreated back into the classroom to clean up her cauldron. All around her spells were being yelled to clean up the mess. Her mess. Could she ever get things right? Not with Snape watching her like the hawk he was. Argh, another detention with the slimy git. What could be worse?

* * * * *

“Are you sure you don’t want help with that Gin?”

“No,” she grumbled. Ginny was tired of being treated like a baby. Everyone did it, including Ron, Hermoine, and… Even her lover boy Harry! Ok, maybe not lover boy, but defiantly in the “biggest crush” category. Actually, Harry didn’t even realize she existed. She was just Ron’s bloody sister, and he was to busy staring at a long gone Cho Chang. Yup, she had cracked the year after Cedric died and since had kept mostly to herself, not even managing to keep up a conversation with some of the friends she used to be so close to. The stupid git! How could he like someone who had basically taken a vow of silence? Ginny snarled into her soup, earning her a disgruntled look from Ron, Hermoine, and (shit!) Harry! She just smiled back sweetly and pretended to be the boring little Ginny, the child who couldn’t do anything for herself. Not even concoct a simply potion…

“So how did double potions with Snape go?” Harry coughed out. Aww just the wonderful man she had been thinking about.

“Well, I added to much powdered unicorn horn to Anti-Imperius potion and exploded it in Snape’s face.” Ron and Harry both broke out into grins while Hermoine’s face broke into a look of shock.

“Oh no Gin, you didn’t? And you’re proud of it? Do you have detention with him?”

“Calm down Moine,” Ron whispered giving her hand a slight squeeze. She smiled back removing her hand from his and sliding it somewhere “further” under the table. As Ron grinned Ginny and Harry both winced and looked away. Hermoine blushed as Ron’s grin continued to widen. Ginny thought if he smiled anymore his face would simply burst.

“All right, all right!” Ginny screamed. “Control yourself please. I think you have successfully allowed me to loose my appetite!” This caused Hermoine to blush even more furiously (if humanly possible) and Harry to grimace. Looking down at the two of them with something sounding like “Oh gods!” he walked around to the other side of the table and sat down next to Ginny. Harry being so close made Ginny’s heartbeat madly. Geez, I’ve really got to get some friends of my own…

“Wow Weasley. I didn’t know you and the mud-blood were so ‘attached’,” came a drawling voice from across the hall. Turning around Ginny saw Draco Malfroy walcing (?) over to their table. He gave her a brief look over (Hey! Was he checking her out?) before returning his glance to Hermoine and Ron. “I didn’t think you were allowed to do that in public.”
Ron made as if to get up and punch Malfroy but was rudely intercepted by a furious Hermoine. Whispering into his ear she gave him a slight kiss before turning back to Malfroy.

“Sod off Malfroy,” came Ron’s voice. As he stood up Ginny noticed the height difference between him and Malfroy. Ron had grown a lot over the summer, and now being in his seventh year he was over six feet tall. He had broad shoulders, and was rather roughly built. Malfroy on the other hand was also rather tall, probably close to six feet, but was built much leaner. She wondered if he’d actually grown some muscle under those black robes. Nope, probably not she thought with a laugh. He was always going to be that pathetic…

“What are you glaring at Weasley?” Malfroy’s voice cut into her thoughts. It was always so hard to tell whom he was talking to, seeing that he called her and her brothers all the same name. She looked up at him and put on the best smirk she thought possible. He can see right through it, she thought miserably. She was staring into those cold piercing gray eyes, so different from her warm brown ones. Someone could get lost in those eyes…

“I said what are you glaring at?” This time he gave Ginny a nice shove, throwing her back hard into the tabletop. Ron’s face began to grow red and if she didn’t know better Ginny thought that steam would come pouring out of his ears any moment.

“Don’t. You. EVER! Touch. My. Sister. AGAIN!” he screamed. That was it. He was out of his seat and lunging across the table at Malfroy. Malfroy backed away, just out of Ron’s arm distance, but this didn’t stop Harry from getting him. He was on the right side of the table and on top of Malfroy in a flash. Punches were flying everywhere, and it seemed Draco was receiving the worse end of the lot.

“Harry. Harry!” Ginny screamed grabbing his arms. “Stop!” She was so close to him, but she couldn’t enjoy it. Any moment now a professor would be on the scene and they’d all be in trouble. Not to mention the fact that Malfroy would be in the hospital wing a long time.

Under Ginny’s pressure, even though she knew she didn’t retain the strength to actually remove Harry’s fist from Malfroy’s face, he loosened the grip and let Malfroy slide to the floor.

“Next time Malfroy,” he growled. Actually, the whole situation would have been quite funny if they didn’t run the risk of deducting house points and earning detentions. As soon as Harry had rolled off of Malfroy Pansy Parkinson came flying in screaming at the top of her lungs that her “’ickle Dracie” had been scared for life. Malfroy merely grumbled and pushed her off of him. It was amazing that no professors had turned up on the scene. They were nearly always itching to take away house points and assign detentions. Actually (Ginny thought to herself) she had sworn she had seen Professor Dumbledore look this way. Probably just thinking that Malfroy deserves some of his own medicine every once in a while.

Ginny found herself smiling as Malfroy picked himself off of the floor, shoeing away a still persistent Pansy Parkinson. (“Are you sure you’re not hurt? I can take you to the informatory or take you back to the common room for some rest!”) He gave Ginny his best ‘I’ll-Get-You-Back-For-This-Somehow’ glances and stole away back to the Slytherin table.

“And now that that’s over,” she hummed to herself, picking at the blueberry tart in front of her. She would have liked to believe that Harry had fought Malfroy just for her. That he had brought blood to Malfroy’s noise and stained his pale skin just for her, but deep inside she knew it wasn’t true. The only reason he had attacked Malfroy was to make a point. ‘Mess with my friends and you deal with me!’ Bah! Boys could be so arrogant and stubborn. Nudging her tart Ginny drifted back to thoughts of her detention later that night.

* * * * *

Running a brush through her thick tresses Ginny glanced at the time. Damn! It was seven-ten. She was going to be late. Throwing down the brush she grabbed at her jacket, remembering how cold the dungeons normally were. She made a move to grab her brush again, but thought better of it. Who was going to see her besides Snape? Hopefully no one, she assured herself while flying down the staircase. She was just at the portrait hole when a voice behind her stopped her dead in her tracks.

“Hey Gin, hold up.” It was Harry, running after her with flushed cheeks trying to catch his breath. His hair was sticking up at odd angles, and his face showed an expression of determination. Ginny felt her legs began to buckle as he flashed her a smile.

As if sensing her weakness Harry reached out and gently brushed her arm. Ginny felt a tingling sensation run up her backbone, making the little hairs on her neck stand on end. Don’t do this to me!

“Can you give this to Professor Snape?” Harry roughly opened her small hand and shoved a bit of parchment into it. “It’s my essay on Polyjuice Potion. I would have turned it in earlier, but I got caught up with McGonagall. I also would have delivered it myself but…”

“Aha,” Ginny nodded staring at her feet. “Leave me to do all the dirt work, right?”

“Well,” his eyes twinkled. Ginny felt her heart melt in he chest. “I figure you’re up to it.” Ginny wanted to linger, to be closer to Harry, but she was suddenly aware of the time and that bloody potions teacher. Damn!

“Ok,” she stuttered before turning and running out of the portrait hole. By the time she arrived in the dungeons she knew she must be late. She swung around a corner and ran right into a solid wooden door. Argh! She reached up and rubbed tentatively at the bump that was already forming on her forehead. Looking up she realized that the door she had run into was none other then the door that lead into her potions classroom.

“Mrs. Weasley. I see you have decided to grace me with your presence. I was dearly hoping you wouldn’t show so I could bring the matter straight to Dumbledore. What a pity…” Ginny looked up into the face of one greasy Severus Snape.

“Bloody git!” she muttered under her breath.

* * * * *

After two grueling hours of laboring over the potion, Snape constantly over her shoulder, it was ready. Snape was on her in a flash, looking at the potion with mild interest.

“I’ll take this,” he scowled grabbing her cauldron. Ginny noted that his nails had grown quite long and were also very dirty. I wonder if he’s gay? She way interrupted by a cough from the front of the classroom.

“Well, if you’ve correctly mixed your potion,” he looked doubtful, “then you should be able to resist the Imperius Curse after drinking it.” His lips broke into a rare smile. I don’t like the look of this. “But if not,” his smirk was evident in even his voice, “then this might turn into a very long night.” Oh gods! He was going to put the Imperius curse on her. That bastard!

As Ginny opened her mouth in protest she heard the familiar words echo in her head. “Imperius!” She tried to block it out, but it came on her like a wave, flooding to every limb in her body until she felt like she had no control. “Come here,” called a sly voice. She recognized it immediately as Snape’s, just as she felt her legs began to move under her. I’m going to kill that bloody bastard. As soon as he takes this off me I’ll just wrap my hands around his neck, and then this whole mess will be over.

Unaware that she was now at the front of the classroom she was jolted to reality. She could now hear, just barely, the sound of a whisper in her head.

“She looks just like her,” it murmured. “That hair, those lips, even the freckles are like hers. Damn! Why is this so hard?” As Ginny felt her arm reaching out she felt panicked. Oh Gods! Was he talking about me?

“Grab the glass vial!” This voice was more insistent, more audible then the other voice had been. This was the voice that controlled her, the voice that she yielded too. Yet there was another voice present, and it was becoming clearer by the moment.

“She’s small and delicate just like her. Her skin is as pale as the moon. I wonder if she’d feel the same way, pressed against my body as we…” The glass vial that Ginny had been holding crashed to the dungeon floor and shattered. Snape’s head snapped up as he surveyed the floor and then Ginny.

“What the hell?” he snapped. Grabbing Ginny he shoved her roughly against the wall. “What do you think you’re doing?” he hissed. “Can’t you damn well do anything right?” His voice was blocked out by another one, this time distinctively Snape’s.

“Gods, her lips, the way her hair cascades down her back… She evens smells like her!” Repulsed Ginny tried to squirm out of Snape’s grasp, but found that his arms held her firmly in place.

“Kiss me!” an urgent voice sounded in the back of her mind. Oh no! How could he do this to her? But there was no time to think as Ginny’s mouth was now placed firmly on Snape’s.

Snape was taken aback as the little Weasley threw her mouth on his. Shocked didn’t even describe the feeling as he felt her tongue enter his mouth. He shoved her even harder into the wall, forcing his body up against hers.

On the other end of things Ginny wanted to gag. Oh, this was seriously not happening. She was kissing Snape for Gods sake! She tried to fight the curse, but it was useless. She was pinned to the wall by her potions teacher, who was using the Imperius Curse to get a good snog! Argh! He could get sent to Azkaban for this!

With another intense moment Ginny was harshly shoved onto Snape’s desk. Get off of me you slimy git! He was now on top of her, and Ginny could do nothing to stop it. She was kissing him like she’d never thought possible, and his hand was traveling slowly up her thigh. She tried to pull away but Snape pressed her harder into the desk, now kissing her with enough force to bruise her mouth.

As his lips moved down to work on her neck she felt herself arch towards him. Her hands were on his back, her nails digging in fiercely. He began to yank at her shirt, while her hand traveled under and up his. Her breathing was becoming erratic, and she felt the need to stop and go up for some air. As she tried to break the kiss Snape shifted and pulled her further under him. Parchment and quills were being knocked off of his desk left and right.

“Make love to me,” a strong voice in her head screamed. Hell no! This was too much! Ginny found herself praying that someone, anyone, would walk in the room and drag this man off of her. She felt like a helpless onlooker, watching as she was sickly seduced by none other then Snape!

Snape had now successful managed to rip her t-shirt off, and it was left in a heap at the bottom of his desk. He had forcefully grabbed her wrists and held them above her head. He was kissing her madly, drowning her in an endless sea. She found that the more she tried to prevent it, the stronger the desire came. Her body felt like it was being ripped in two halves, one trying to escape while the other gave in to total temptation.

Her hands, currently released, where making their way down to Snape’s pants. They fumbled as they nervously tried to unbutton his pants. Snape mouth was on her ear, kissing and biting, causing Ginny to wince with slight pain. As his mouth slowly brushed her other ear he whispered huskily.

“Make love to me Lily!” What the hell? Ginny immediately found herself free of the curse. Taking her two hands she shoved them gruffly into Snape’s chest, making him break their passionate kiss.

Ginny? Oh Gods, what have I done? As reality dawned on Snape he quickly jumped off of Ginny and backed into the wall, leaning on it for support. His eyes moved from the assortment of quills and parchment that now littered the floor to the student on his desk, clothes ripped and torn, hair falling in messy wisps across her face. Oh Gods, what *had* he done?

Ginny, cheeks flushed breathing heavy, looked away from the hard glare Snape was now giving her. His cheeks were flushed and he was grabbing at his chest, where his shirt was (in turn) ripped open. Realizing that she was still in quite a compromising position Ginny quickly moved to close her legs and sat up.

Snape and Ginny just stared at each other a moment before Ginny, remembering Harry’s homework, shoved some parchment in his hand and ran for the door. Snape made no move to stop her, or to look at the parchment that his hand now grasped. He continued to stare at his desk. The desk where he just about shagged Ginny Weasley a few moments ago…