The Claiming

Chapter One Cover Art by Akiko Meigetsu.

Chapter One - A Deal With the Devil

The sun was low in the afternoon sky. It would be hours before sunset lengthened the shadows of Hogwarts Castle that were now barely brushing the edge of the lake, but the sun had fallen enough to take the harsh edge off the late June day, and the air was pleasantly warm. Ginny Weasley leaned on the rail of one of the many balconies overlooking the western lawn of the castle and rested her chin on her palms.

She would miss the castle and the grounds. She wouldn't be seeing them for some time as she was spending the whole next year in France, attending Beauxbatons as an exchange student. Since the events immediately following the Triwizard Tournament a year ago, Professor Dumbledore had been feverishly sending owls to the heads of other magical schools, trying to initiate an international exchange program. He was convinced that wizards all over the world needed to put aside their cultural differences and learn to appreciate one another if they were to successfully band together to oppose He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Finally, his plans were bearing fruit and Ginny was among the first group of students to benefit from his newly instituted program. Of course, she would have to return before the end of the school year to sit for her O.W.L.s, but she would certainly miss Hogwarts until then.

Ginny watched from above as her fellow students bustled around busily on the lawn below. They were loading their trunks into the carriages that would transport them to the Hogwarts Express, most of them blissfully unaware of the thestrals that would be pulling them. Friends were laughing nervously and reminding each other to owl over the summer and a dangerous number of heavy trunks were flying recklessly through the air as students took advantage of their last chance to use magic for the summer and levitated their burdens into the waiting carriages.

Going home for the summer was usually a festive, if bittersweet, event, but today everyone seemed just a bit more reserved. Voldemort was back and everyone finally knew it; Harry Potter had been attacked by Dementors on a Muggle street; Dumbledore had been temporarily removed from his post as Headmaster and replaced by a sadistic representative of the Ministry of Magic. Everyone's faith in adults, and in authority, was shattered or wobbling and no one really knew what to expect at home this summer, or indeed if home was even safe. Ginny was mostly hoping that her parents wouldn't decide it was unsafe for her to go to France in these conditions.

Ginny sighed. She supposed she should be following suit and packing up, but she was loath to leave. Leaving meant enduring the long, boring train ride home. Harry, Ron, and Hermione would be wrapped up in each other and she would feel like an extraneous piece of baggage - and that was assuming she didn't get stuck in a compartment with a mindlessly gossiping group of her fellow Fourth Years! Neville would be peeking in the compartment door every twenty minutes, ostensibly looking for his toad, his eyes lingering on Ginny's face. He was a sweet boy, but she couldn't take that kind of needy adulation right now. She had recently become single, and recently been through extreme trauma at the hands of her old friend Tom's minions; she wasn't in the mood for gently evading Neville's obvious admiration.

Worse still, leaving meant arriving at platform 9 ¾ and watching Harry greet her overly loud, exuberant family, along with the rest of his Order of the Phoenix fanclub. She knew from experience that his eyes would light up as he greeted each of them in turn. Each greeting would be a poignant reminder that she was just an afterthought in his eyes - the one Weasley who wasn't important to him. She knew that she would not see him again for five whole weeks until his annual visit to the Burrow. But by far the worst part of the parting would be admitting to herself that for all the notice he took of her, it wouldn't matter when he did come. She might have grown up. She might have started dating, hexed Malfoy, played for the house Quidditch team, and entered the Ministry of Magic to fight Death Eaters alongside him, but none of it mattered. He accepted her presence amicably, then dismissed her from his thoughts wit cruel nonchalance.

No, it was better by far to stay here in the late afternoon summer sun, gazing down upon him and wondering when, no if, he would ever realize that she was more than just Ron's little sister. Maybe if she rode a broomstick naked across the Quidditch pitch, like Lady Godiva...

She heard a soft step behind her, but did not turn around. She wasn't in the mood for company. She closed her eyes in exasperation as she heard a familiar, annoying drawl directly to her left.

"Still stalking Potter, are we, Weasley? Four years of watching him nance about the castle and you still haven't given up. I would have thought you'd have developed some self-respect when you developed that admirable figure and a rather shocking talent for hexing people," the voice ended with a grudging note of admiration.

Ginny looked up angrily at Draco Malfoy and forced herself to count to ten. She didn't know how he provoked her so easily, but she had learned long ago that her first angry reaction often only made her look silly. In this instance, she wisely resisted an urge to retort, "Clearly, you were mistaken."

At least she had never been afraid of him, and occasionally she secretly she admired his caustic wit, although lately he had been less often witty and more often simply irritating. She didn't regret having hexed him for one moment, and only hoped that his arrogance would slip a notch or two now that his precious father was a convicted criminal. She lifted her chin defiantly and met his cool stare evenly.

Malfoy leaned nonchalantly against the balustrade beside her and somehow managed to look unconcerned and innocent at the same time that his dispassionate grey eyes slowly appraised every inch of the aforementioned figure.

Ginny blushed hotly. "Is there something you want, Malfoy, or did you just come to say good-bye?" she asked sarcastically.

Malfoy clutched his chest above his heart in mock pain. "My Love! My Sweet! Fiery Vixen and Supreme Sorceress of My Heart!" (She could actually hear the capitals in this melodramatic speech.) "How could I ever leave these hallowed walls without once again looking upon your lovely visage, without hearing the melodious murmur of your sweet voice, without falling at your feet and begging the honour of washing them with my tears!"

Ginny was momentarily stunned. This was a new tack for Malfoy. Usually, he didn't bother with trying to be funny and cut straight to the insults. She resisted an urge to kick him, or try out one of the new hexes she'd been practicing, but at the image of him supplicating at her (admittedly dirty) feet, she felt a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth that erupted into a small, but very unladylike snort of mirth. "Oh Malfoy! How couldst thou conceal the passion of thine heart? Had I but known your true feelings, I would have given myself to you many many many times over, My Silver Prince, My Most Foul and Beloved Snaky Dreamboat, My--" she erupted into a fit of giggles.

Draco looked taken aback, then quickly concealed his surprise under the familiar insolent half-smile. Ginny wondered if anyone had ever risen to the challenge of returning Malfoy's teasing in kind, rather than instinctively backing down in shame or retorting angrily.

She found with surprise that joining in Malfoy's games rather than trying to fight him had its advantages - she no longer felt quite as stupid as she usually did when caught in conversation with him, and there were aesthetic benefits too. He was positively cute when he was surprised and trying not to show it. She had never had the pleasure of seeing him surprised before. She vowed to try and push his buttons more often. For that matter, she had begun to realise the benefits of asserting herself with other people as well. She had lived as an accessory to the greatness of others long enough.

Her gaze wandered back down to Harry, busily stowing his and Ron's assorted birds and baggage into a carriage. His hair was charmingly disheveled and she ached to run her fingers through it. As she watched, one of Ron's careening trunks flew out of control and banged into the side of Harry's head and he sat down quite suddenly as Ron laughed, then ran to Harry's side to apologize and Hermione stood looking on, her body language fairly radiating disapproval at their antics. Ginny gasped in concern when she saw Harry fall and, hearing Malfoy's snicker to her left, suddenly suspected that he had had something to do with that 'accident,' but Harry seemed to be largely unhurt and her lips spread into a soft smile as she watched her brother help him up and jokingly dust his bum for him.

"He'll never notice you, you know. Fiery vixen though you may be, to him you're just Weasley's little sister. You could ride a broomstick naked across the Quidditch pitch and he'd toss you a Quaffle and continue on his way - oh wait, I forgot - he's banned from playing Quidditch, isn't he?" Draco murmured unpleasantly.

Ginny was startled at how closely Malfoy's comments mirrored her own earlier thoughts. "I'm certain he'll be reinstated now your precious Umbridge is gone," she replied acerbically. "Anyway, I don't see how what Harry does or does not notice is any affair of yours, Malfoy--" she began haughtily, but he cut her off.

"Ah, but you see, my little cinnamon burst, I plan to make it my affair," he said lightly, but with a calculating look at Ginny. "I have a proposition for you."

Ginny repressed a giggle. Did he just call me a cinnamon burst? What was that supposed to mean? "What kind of proposition could you possibly have that wouldn't result in me slapping you and retreating to my tower immediately?" she asked, managing to sound indignant.

Draco's eyes widened innocently. "Slapping me? Such shocking behaviour! And here I am, come to seek you out with the best possible intentions, offering my humble services--"

"Malfoy!" Ginny exploded with exasperation. "Can't you ever come to a point without useless melodrama? No, never mind. Don't answer that. I don't even want to know what hideous scheme you've concocted and why you think I would have anything to do with it."

"Because I can get you what you want...Potter!"

Ginny eyed him warily. "What makes you think you can do that? Or that I still want him? Or that I would even want your help?" And what's in this for you, you selfish weasel? she added silently.

"Of course you still want him. I wasn't fooled by that spineless nothing of a boyfriend you had; you still follow Potter with your eyes. Anyway, the way I see it, Potter is blind. Maybe not about everything, but he certainly doesn't see you. He's so wrapped up in his little gang, fighting the forces of evil, saving the world, blah, blah, blah, he doesn't even realize you've grown up," Malfoy explained.

Ginny nodded as she tried to hide the sudden tears that sprung to her eyes at this harsh, but accurate assessment. Does the bastard see everything? How does he do that? I wish he'd find himself a hobby or something and leave me alone.

"Well, that's where I come in," Malfoy grinned wickedly. "I'm here to increase your value." Ginny glared angrily, but Malfoy continued unperturbed, "When does a bloke notice a girl most? When she's with another bloke, of course! Particularly with someone he can't stand..." his voice trailed off suggestively.

Ginny stared at him uncomprehendingly. "Are you suggesting that we start dating?"

"Great Merlin! She's not as dumb as I thought! Yes, my kitten, that's exactly what I am suggesting."

Ginny clenched her fists, then slowly managed to relax them. "Will you stop with those ridiculous pet names?"

Malfoy looked hurt. "I thought I should practice endearments, snookums, you know, to lend credibility to our charade?"

Ginny rolled her eyes, "'Snookums' indeed! Look, there isn't going to be any charade, and there certainly isn't going to be any 'our' anything, so you can just take yourself off if that's all you came for."

Malfoy smirked insolently and Ginny thought she saw a flash of anger in his eyes. "You won't even consider my obviously brilliant plan then? Why not?"

"Because it's the stupidest idea I've ever heard. I dated Michael all year and I didn't see Harry flying into any jealous rages, why should you be any different?"

"I'm different because Potter hates me. He notices me. If there's anyone he notices less than you, it would have to be that Milo kid."

"Michael," she corrected automatically.

"Whatever," he said with a smirk. "The point is, if you were dating him to try and show Potter how much you were over him, it either didn't work at all, or worked so well that he's considering you as a love interest even less than he did before.

"I wasn't dating him just to...oh, never mind. Why should I explain myself to you?" Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What's in this for you, anyway? Let's just say for argument's sake that I was interested in your daft scheme - why would you want to help me get Harry's attention?"

Malfoy laughed rudely. "Darling, have you looked in a mirror lately? Okay, aside from the obvious inducements of your luscious form, I have a suspicion that Potter and your charming brother Ron will not look on this relationship with, shall I say, favour?"

Ginny snorted. "Not bloody likely!" she agreed.

Malfoy smiled dreamily. "That's reason enough for me, love."

***

Ginny sat working on a quiz in The Quibbler as the Hogwarts Express raced across the English countryside. Ron, Hermione, Harry, and Neville were all talking, but Ginny found it easy to tune them out for most of the ride. She knew they had serious things to discuss and she didn't want to be shunted to the side again. Besides, Ginny had no desire to talk to Harry or Ron before she had sorted out her thoughts about Draco.

What have I done? she thought as she stared out the window, an image of Malfoy's arrogant smirk floating across her mind. Did I really agree to date Draco Malfoy? Sure, he's gorgeous, and any Slytherin girl would probably kill to be in my shoes...but he's a Malfoy! I don't love him. He certainly doesn't love me. My dad will probably kill - my dad! Dear Merlin, I was only thinking about Harry's reaction. What will my parents say? What will they think of me? What was I thinking? I don't know if I can go through with this... Ginny's mind traveled the same weary path over and over during the long ride to King's Cross Station.

Eventually, her reverie was broken by talk of who Cho was dating now instead of Harry. That would be my ex-boyfriend, Ginny thought, with mild rancor. She's snared Harry, she's snared Michael, I really might start to dislike that girl. She heard Ron asking who Cho was dating now and decided she might as well get it out in the open herself.

"Michael Corner," she said.

"Michael - but -" said Ron, craning around in his seat to stare at her. "But you were going out with him!"

"Not anymore," said Ginny resolutely. "He didn't like Gryffindor beating Ravenclaw at Quidditch and he got really sulky, so I ditched him and he ran off to comfort Cho instead." She went back to working on her quiz, hoping fervently that discussion of anything tangentially related to her love life was over, but to her chagrin, Ron was still babbling on, trying to influence her next choice.

Ginny grimaced inwardly. If he only knew who her next choice was, he'd be appalled. Still, she'd better tell him something and it had best not be Draco. She thought quickly, trying to come up with someone Ron might not object to, while appearing nonchalant about the whole thing. "Well, I've chosen Dean Thomas, would you say he's better?" asked Ginny vaguely.

Predictably, Ron started shouting and Ginny smiled quietly, returning to her quiz as everyone fell into a familiar pattern of behaviour.

As the train pulled into the station, Ginny mentally braced herself to meet the tidal wave that was her family. She loved them all dearly, but sometimes they could be a little, well, overwhelming. She didn't know how she could begin to bring up the subject of Draco Malfoy, particularly now that Ron thought she had a crush on Dean. Her brothers would be furious, or worse yet, they would laugh at her. She didn't know if she could bear the further humiliation of not being taken seriously - being regarded as a silly little girl...a silly little girl who made cute little mistakes...a silly little girl who didn't matter. Her parents would be confused and disappointed and try to hide their hurt behind a façade of tentative approval. Ginny hated disappointing her parents almost more than having them angry with her. It hurt her to be the cause of their sadness, or to feel that she didn't deserve their love.

But she wasn't doing anything wrong - not really. It wasn't as though she was foolish enough to actually fall in love with Malfoy. She was just using him - and for a good cause, too! Still, she couldn't very well tell her family that she was only trying to get Harry's attention and she had a sinking feeling that they couldn't fail to notice this relationship - and she didn't want themto, for that matter. There was no point in this whole charade if nobody noticed. She wanted Harry to notice. She just wished her family could be even more oblivious than usual this summer. Only a short summer - she had so little time to make this work before she left for Beauxbatons. But it was worth it. If Harry cared about her, she could put up with a long distance relationship for a year. She'd probably even stay if he asked her to. If only he would ask.

All her musings had caused her to be one of the last people to disembark. She gave herself a mental shake and forgot all about Draco Malfoy for a few precious minutes as she stepped off the train and heard her mother calling to her excitedly, "Ginny! We're over here, sweetheart!" Her mother hopped up and down and waved, as though Ginny would need a larger visual cue than a knot of six flaming redheads to locate her family.

Still, they were a wonderful family. Ginny ran happily to meet them and was crushed in successive embraces as her mother, father, Fred, George, and Bill all greeted her enthusiastically. Ron was busy saying goodbye to Hermione and didn't glance her way.

Arthur Weasley counted heads, clapped his hands and boomed out cheerfully, "Well! Seems we're all present and accounted for. Shall we?"

"Oh no, dear!" gasped Molly Weasley quickly. "I must say hello to dear Harry before we go."

"Ah, yes, Harry!" Arthur agreed enthusiastically. "Must have a little chat with that Muggle uncle of his before we go. Promised Mad-Eye I'd help..." he bustled off down the platform with the twins in tow, searching for Moody and the other members of Harry's self-appointed Family Intimidation Squad.

Ginny cringed when she heard her mother was planning to go talk to Harry. The last thing she wanted was to wait around the station with Malfoy lurking about.

"Shouldn't we get going, mum?" she asked hopefully. "We'll see Harry so soon - surely he's busy right now?"

"Don't be silly, Ginny," her mother replied. "It won't take but a moment."

Mrs. Weasley approached the dark-haired boy who was morosely tugging his heavy trunk without assistance toward the magical barrier, on the other side of which his uncle was waiting to take him back to Privet Drive.

"Now, Harry," she said breathlessly, "it will only be five weeks until we come to fetch you to the Burrow. Try to stay cheery, love. Think of them as...erm...as a highly fascinating study in Muggle behaviour." She grinned impishly. "Need a little help with that trunk, Harry dear?"

Harry grunted. "Well, it is a bit heavy. But I wouldn't want you to lift--"

"Lift? Nonsense, Harry!" She winked at him, pointed her wand at the trunk, muttered a very small "Wingardium Leviosa" and watched as it levitated a scant quarter inch above the surface of the platform.

Harry gasped. "Mrs. Weasley! I'm not allowed to use magic in front of Muggles! How will I explain a floating trunk on the other side of the barrier?"

Mrs. Weasley just smiled. "You didn't use magic, love. I did. Besides, it's barely floating. Now just lean into it and try to look like you're pushing really hard. There you go! No trouble at all. See you on the other side of the barrier, dear!" And with that, she popped through the magical barrier to join her husband and the others waiting for Harry.

Ginny breathed a sigh of relief. Every moment they lingered she was afraid Malfoy would turn up and find a way to embarrass her in front of her family. Maybe, if she was lucky, he'd forget all about their strange conversation and she wouldn't have to see him, or think about him again, for a whole year. After all, she was spending her fifth year in France. Surely, he wouldn't bother her there.

Just as Ginny finished this reassuring train of thought, she turned and was chagrined to see Malfoy bearing down on her, steely-eyed and determined.

"Darling! You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye?" And with that, he grasped her firmly by the shoulders, leaned down and kissed her soundly. His voice had been deceptively light, but his grip as he held her shoulders to kiss her was vice-like and she could feel him shaking with suppressed rage. Her shoulders smarted as he released her, and she was certain she would bruise. He caressed her cheek rather harder than was necessary and left a slimy trail along the side of her face. She wondered idly what he had gotten into on the train and why it took him so long to disembark, for that matter. As she stood there, stunned, he gave her a mocking wave and strode away along the platform, yelling back, "I'll owl you!" as he disappeared.

Ginny turned around slowly to meet two identical stares of shock as Ron and Bill glared at her. She supposed there was no chance that the rest of her family would fail to hear about this. Slowly Ron's expression transformed from shock to anger.

"Ginny," he said slowly and with an obvious effort at remaining calm, "what was that?"

Ginny sighed. It was going to be a long summer.

***

Coming Soon

Chapter Two - The Price: In which Ron yells a lot, Ginny gets an Owl, and Draco learns a new spell.