Secrets

CHAPTER 5

When Ginny woke in the morning, she laid still for several minutes to ensure that she wasn't going to be sick. Just to be safe, she retrieved Snape's beaker and carefully let several drops fall into her water. Three days passed, just as they normally did, and Ginny began to wonder if Draco really knew, or if she had been dreaming. She watched him carefully, and not once did he ever look in her direction or even acknowledge her presence.

At the end of the week, Ginny was so hungry, that as soon as Potions class was over she snuck down to the Great Hall instead of going to Professor Binn's class. Dobby was more than happy to bring her her usual dinner of potatoes and bread, and she left the room as students began pouring in for dinner.

"You're going the wrong way."

Ginny looked up and saw Draco stopped in front of her.

"I'll catch up with you," he motioned to Crabbe and Goyle.

Ginny eyed him warily. "I already ate."

"So where are you going?"

"The library."

"I'll go with you."

"I'm fine," she told him, adjusting her bag nervously.

"So?" he countered. "Give me your bag."

"What?"

"I'll carry it."

For the first time, it struck Ginny that Draco Malfoy was rather good looking. "Thanks."

They hadn't taken two steps when Ron's voice filled the hall. "Where are you going?"

"To the library," she said, attempting to side step him.

"What are you doing, Malfoy?" he demanded.

"What does it look like?" he asked casually.

"Get away from her." Ron's voice was tight with anger.

"Calm down!" Ginny hissed. "People are staring. We're going to the library for Merlin's sake!"

By now Hermione and Harry were standing behind Ron, staring at Ginny as if she had lost her mind.

Ron's fists were clenched, and his face was as red as his hair.

"What are you going to do, hit me?" Draco asked.

"I might," Hermione said darkly.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Stop it. I can take care of myself." She side stepped the trio and began making her way down the hall.

"I don't think your brother approves," Draco told her.

"Imagine that."

Instead of replying, Draco smiled at her.

CHAPTER 6

They sat in the farthest back table in the library, mostly hidden from view by a large collection of ancient books on an enormous dusty case. "So why are we here," Draco asked brightly, setting her bag down beside her.

"I'm here because I don't want to do my homework tomorrow," Ginny said. "I'd rather sleep. But first I need to know something."

"What?" he asked, pushing his light hair out of his eyes as he pulled out his quill.

"Why are you doing this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, what are you getting out of it. What is the reasoning behind you being nice to me?"

Draco sat down and stared her in the eye. "I'm still working on the answer to that."

"Meaning what?" she demanded.

"Well, let's face it," he drawled. "You are the beautiful, Ginny Weasley."

"Excuse me?"

He let out a quiet laugh. "I'm not the person you think I am."

"Then who are you? If you're not the mean, rude, arrogant Draco Malfoy, who are you?"

"You forgot great and wonderful and exceedingly gorgeous."

Ginny snorted. "You're really Gildroy Lockhart in disguise, aren't you?"

Draco let out a laugh, and then caught himself, looking around for Madam Pince. "I'm just me. You'll have to figure it out on your own."

Ginny smoothed down the roll of parchment in front of her and stared at the questions she needed to answer for Astronomy. "The problem is," she said finally, "I don't know if I can trust you, and you already know my biggest secret."

Draco nodded, and studied his quill for a moment before answering. "I guess there's nothing to do but wait then, is there?"

They worked in silence for nearly twenty minutes, until Draco broke the silence by yawning. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Who is the father?"

Ginny didn't look up. "It doesn't matter."

"Does he know?"

Ginny nodded.

"What did he say?"

"Nothing," she sighed. "He hasn't said one word about it. He just had a bunch of baby stuff sent to my parent's house."

"They know?"

"Uh huh. Mum told Dumbledore, and they made some arrangements for me."

"So what are you going to do when it's born?"

Ginny shrugged. "I don't know. I haven't figured that out yet."

"When, um, are you due?" he asked quietly.

"July. Madam Pomfrey said the end of July."

"So what's going on? I mean, what's happening? You don't look different."

"I won't," she admitted. "I had to learn a charm to cast on my robes so that when I start showing no one will know. It will keep me looking the same. Besides that I'm just really hungry, but I usually throw it all up."

He wrinkled his nose. "Sorry."

"It's supposed to pass."