A Blank Verse Romance

Chapter Four: Incest and a Blackmailing Ferret

"Ginny! Give it back right now!" yelled Ron, jumping over an armchair in his pursuit.

"But Ron, it's so sweet. I think she should know you write such wonderful poetry." Ginny held a poem Ron had written for Hermione, very badly written and corny. Asking Ginny to help him fix it had obviously not been the way to go.

"Virginia give it here!" Ron was epileptic with rage. He tackled Ginny and grabbed the paper out of her hand, holding it up in triumph. A third hand snatched the paper and began to laugh. Ron looked up in horror to see Hermione reading his poem ... and laughing at it. He blushed beat red and stormed out of the tower.

"Ron ... Ron come back. It really is very sweet of you!" Hermione trailed off as she exited the portrait hole after him. Ginny got up to leave as well, as a few people were calling out, "Hey Virginia!" in a significant way. She hated that! Why did she have to be named Virginia of all names? She opened her diary and began to complain about her name, as well as Ron being a stupid older brother, when Mona came in looking most excited.

"I just got this package from a secret admirer," she said breathlessly, ripping away the paper. She handed Ginny the note that had come with it, which read:

Mona -

I've loved you for so long that I'm driving myself

insane. I dream about you every night.

Please use this perfume. It will help you find me.

See you sometime soon!

With Love,

Your Secret Admirer

"Mona," Ginny said, as Mona pulled out a small perfume bottle shaped like a rose. "Do you recognize this handwriting?" Looking over the note again, she shook her head.

"No, why? Do you? Do you know who it is?" Mona's face was glowing and she seemed so happy. Ginny debated quickly in her mind what she should do. This was her best friend. Then again, she had some suspicions about this perfume, judging by what he had been up to lately.

"Well, I think it's from ... Colin," she said flatly, faintly shocked herself. Mona scanned the note again, glanced at Ginny, then looked at the note again.

"No," she said in disbelief. She began pacing the room. "Not Colin. He likes you, doesn't he?" Ginny shook her head.

"No, he told me he didn't two years ago. I don't think you should use that perfume at any rate," she said quickly as Mona held it up to spray herself. She gave Ginny her worst look and sprayed herself, smelling the air deeply.

"Come on Ginny, there isn't any harm in using it. What could be wrong with perfume?" Pulling open a drawer to put the bottle away, Mona froze. She dropped the bottle and stood up, her eyes looked glazed and glassy. She shuffled towards the stairs.

"Mona, are you alright?" Ginny asked tentatively. She waved a hand in front of Mona's eyes but she didn't blink.

"I've got to go find him,"she said, walking faster down the stairs. Ginny raced after her, hoping to find Colin and sort this out before it got messy. Thinking of the book she had seen him looking at in the library a few days before, she began to worry. Colin was not the best in potions and love potions were very difficult. If he had indeed put a love potion into the perfume, one that drew Mona to him ...

Suddenly the staircase turned into a slide and the two girls slid down it, landing at the bottom. Ginny looked up to see a very apologetic, pink faced Colin.

"I-I was coming to take it back. I just wasn't think--"

"Colin!" squealed Mona, jumping up and hugging him. The sight of Colin had apparently released her from her dream-like state of mind. "I missed you pookie!" She kissed him on the cheek. Colin looked scared out of his wits under the clutches of this new Mona.

"Hello," he said, nervously trying to pry her fingers out of his skin.

"What's this all about Colin? What did you put in that perfume?" Ginny said angrily.

"A love potion." Ginny glared at him. "Well, I was hoping this would make Mona notice me more, you know. She just doesn't seem to see me as a guy, you know?" The zombie Mona was rubbing her head against his shoulder, humming slightly.

"And you thought this was the solution?!" trilled Ginny through her teeth.

"Obviously not," Colin muttered. "I think I may have overdone the dosage slight--"

"Oh schnookums, I wuv you!" she said, trying to kiss him again. Colin managed to loosen her fingers enough to make a mad dash for freedom. Mona and Ginny followed in hot pursuit. He was almost to the portrait hole when Mona jumped and flung her arms around his neck, choking him as they fell to the ground. She squealed and began to kiss him again. Panic stricken, he got up and ran out of the common room, followed by calls of, "Wait for me Hunky!"

Everyone in the common room sat still for a few moments before bursting out laughing. Ginny left the room, hoping to find Colin before Mona did. Perhaps she could help him find a potion to reverse the effects. She began scouring the castle, listening for the sound of Mona shrieking after him. As she rounded the corner on the third floor, she ran into none other than Draco Malfoy. He had been reading what looked to be a diary. When he saw Ginny, his eyes almost popped out. He put the book quickly in his pocket.

"What are you doing here?" she said, glaring at him with dislike.

"I could ask you the same thing, but that won't get us anywhere now will it? By the way," he leaned close to her ear to whisper. "I don't think you want to go this way. You might see something you don't want to." With that, he walked past her, robes billowing behind him. Ginny stood frozen in shock. Had Draco Malfoy just given her advice? Without even making a crack at her family? He must be pulling my leg, she thought, turning the corner. She stifled a gasp and hid behind a large statue of a Viking wizard holding a fierce battle ax.

"Oh Marc stop it! You're teasing me! Be serious for once," said a voice, laughing.

"No really, that's what he said. Uncle Ned was completely -- oh hi Ginny." Marc looked at her, smiling though Ginny couldn't imagine why. He had his arm around Bonnie. Both looked very happy. Ginny took in the sight, tears stinging her eyes and fled. There were some confused sounds as she left, but Ginny didn't hear them. Malfoy had been right. She didn't want to see it. Marc was cheating on her -- with Bonnie Evans!

Ginny ran half blinded by tears, desperately hating Bonnie. Thinking back on how she had always envied Bonnie, Miss Mary Poppins; practically perfect in every way. Didn't she already have everything? Did she really need to steal Marc away from her?

That night when all the girls had returned to their dormitory (Mona was spending the night in the hospital wing) Ginny tried very hard to pretend to be asleep. She had made up her mind that first thing in the morning, she was going to tell Jake Shimelfinny, Bonnie's boyfriend in Hufflepuff, that he was being cheated on as well. Bonnie came over to her and shook her shoulder.

"Ginny? Are you asleep?" She didn't move. Bonnie sighed and went back to her own bed. Ginny couldn't believe it of Bonnie. She was always so good to her; she was kind to everyone. Had the same girl who encouraged her and Marc to be together be sneaking behind her back?

"What's wrong with her?" asked Josceline. Bonnie's bed creaked as she laid down.

"She saw me and Marc today. I think she got the wrong impression." Ginny felt her face grow hot. Wrong impression my foot! she thought.

"What were you doing? You weren't kissing or something ..."

"Eww ! Ub course nod!" Bonnie had apparently put the clothes pin on her nose. "Desbite whad peoble may say, dere is no incesd going on here." Incest? What is she talking about? Ginny thought miserably.

"We were jusd discussing by busic. De whole fambly really is pushing be to ged by busic starded. All de Evanses wand be to ged public ind de muggle world, you dow. But by momb's side, all de Davies wand be to go for id in de wizardin world. Andyway, Marc was telling be whad one of by uncles was saying. He wands be to go in wid this insane record comp'ny called --"

"You're his cousin?!" Bonnie looked over to see Ginny, sitting bolt upright, shiny tear stains on her face.

"Yes I amb," she said. Ginny smiled weakly as warm, solid relief flooded over her.

"I'm sorry." She jumped up and ran to hug Bonnie, crying with happiness into her shoulder. "Someone said they saw something and I just thought--" Bonnie shook her head.

"Don' worry about id. I told Mawc dat was probubly whad habbined." Ginny wiped her eyes and sighed, as she flopped onto her bed. Looking dreamily up at her canopy, she smiled. Marc wasn't deceiving her. He loved her as much as ever. Everything was going to be just fine.

"You dow, Ginny. Mawc wud neber chead on you. He's liged you since lasd year and I doubd dat he's going to leab you andy dime soon." Josceline snorted at that.

"Just who was it that told you about Marc and Bonnie?" Her eyes were narrowed at Ginny.

"Malfoy. It was very stupid of me to believe him I suppose. He's such a little slime ball, trying to get me back for the train incident. I can't believe I--

"I think you should cut him a break," burst out Josceline. "If you ever truly got to know him, you wouldn't think so ill of him." With that she blew out her candle and pulled her hangings shut. Bonnie shrugged, readjusting the clothes pin on her nose. Just why was Josceline protecting Malfoy so much? He wasn't even in their house; he was a Slytherin of all thing! Ginny rolled over, not wanting to spoil her dreams by thinking about Malfoy.

-*-*-*-

"There is only one thing to fear," declared Colin, "and that is Mondays."

"How so?" asked Denis, his mouth full of porridge and toast.

"There are classes on Monday Denis," he said in a baby voice, as if explaining to his dog. "Ergo, Double Muggle Studies with the Slytherins first thing. Ergo, my life is doubly hel-- "

"Hello Creevy,"drawled a sickeningly sweet voice. Malfoy's face looked almost gleeful. "I see you've picked up a new word in your vocabulary." He turned sharply to Ginny and said, "I need to see you outside, Virginia." He emphasized the last word. Ginny could feel her blood begin to boil, but kept her cool.

"And why should I do that?" she said stiffly. Malfoy whipped something out of his pocket and waved it in front of her face. It was the book he had been reading in the hall earlier when he had warned her about Marc. It was open and Ginny read the page. Her face went white then red. Her hand snatched for it, but Malfoy had lifted it above his head, far too high for her to reach.

"I believe we have a few things to discuss in the hall, Virginia." Ginny shoved her seat back forcefully and stomped after him into the hall. Her blush had vanished, leaving her face white with just the tip of her nose still red.

"Where in the world did you get that?" she snarled through clenched teeth.

"Funny you should ask. Lets just say I get around, shall we?" His smirk deepened and Ginny's hate grew in intensity. "I have a modest little proposal to make for you, Virginia. You see, some little insignificant rodent gave me a little souvenir on the train this year." He patted his eye that still had a slight off-color tinge to it.

"And I seem to remember telling that rodent that it would not go without punishment," he said in light irritating tones, beginning to circle her. Ginny held still, her head raised high. "My pride will be avenged and it will be soon. Revenge is very, very sweet, isn't Virginia? Rodents should watch their manners more carefully." A hand fingered some of her hair. Ginny snapped and whirled around.

"I believe there are also other rodents who should watch their hands, Malfoy. Twitchy little ferrets do not scare me. Nor do they walk all over me." Malfoy's eyes widened and narrowed. Opening his mouth to reply, the doors banged open and chattering students began milling around.

"Ginny there you are!" Ginny jumped as she saw Marc bounding towards her. "I'm so sorry about the other day. I thought you'd know we were cousins, as Bonnie is in your dormitory." Ginny raised a significant eyebrow at Malfoy, before he magnificently stormed off.

"Did I miss something?" asked Marc, taking Ginny's books for her. She shook her head.

"Just being his usual twitchy ferret self." Marc laughed. Ginny loved it when he laughed. His cockney accent made for an unusually high laugh for such a low voice. His blue eyes crinkled up attractively and his shoulders --

"See you at lunch!" he waved, leaving her to face Double Muggle Studies alone. All through the class, Ginny could feel Malfoy's heated gaze on her though he said nothing. It was drilling into the back of her mind. How did he manage it? she kept thinking, How did he ever manage to get his hands on it? When Draco had opened the brown leather diary, Ginny had seen her latest diary entry, full of sentimentalities about Marc. What's more, it was in her handwriting!

She knew Malfoy was good at getting his revenge but no one was that good. And what was he going to do with that information? Her downtrodden social life was fading before her eyes when Professor Dilliers said irritably, "Miss Weasley, would you kindly pay attention?" Ginny nodded, mentally slapping herself.

"Now, Mister Malfoy, perhaps you can tell me what your answer would be to my question." She eyed Ginny questioningly. Ginny flushed momentarily and slid down slightly in her seat.

"Dante's Inferno," he said promptly. What? thought Ginny, tempted to turn around and stare at him in disbelief.

"Indeed," sniffed Professor Dilliers, "And pray, tell the class what was so interesting about Dante's Inferno, if indeed you have read it." She looked at him with suspecting eyes.

"It's a piece of muggle fiction describing the seven levels of hell." Ginny turned around at this, as did the rest of the class, muttering. Malfoy looked around for a moment, then said, "Sorry. I meant the nine levels of hell." The class went silent.

"In ballad form." More silence.

"With rhymes." It was the loudest silence any of them had ever heard.

"That will do Mister Malfoy. For once you seem to have an interest in something muggle related. Perhaps you won't fail this year after all." Draco smirked and sat for a moment. Then he opened his eyes really wide and waved a hand in front of his face saying, "Hello? Earth to Weasley." Ginny snapped her head back around, catching a final smirk.

This was obviously not her day. Being blackmailed by Malfoy and him being more prepared than her in Muggle Studies? It was ludicrous. She made a mental note to rant about him in her diary when she realized that if she did, Malfoy would be sure to torture her even more. She could have screamed out loud at this outrage.

Professor Dilliers had a large folder in her hand and was proceeding to open it. Her eyes had taken on a misty glow. "Although you have been warned for two weeks, I feel the need to remind all of you that Friday will be the last day to enter the ---- contest. Romantic muggle fairy tales are very enjoyable and satisfactory to write. If everyone who would like an entry form could kindly raise their hand." as only a few hands raised, Professor Dilliers added, "I also remind you that this is worth one hundred extra credit points."

Ginny's stayed up as many other shot up. She had been so distracted over her lost bag that she had forgotten to take a form earlier in the week. She read over the requirements. A romantic muggle fairy tale in a modern setting, maximum of one hundred meters in length. This was the perfect thing to keep her mind off Malfoy!

"Forms should be turned in to me by no later than five o'clock on Friday. Remember, once you have entered, you must complete a story. They will be due by Valentines Day. The sponsored prize is three hundred galleons, along with publication of your story for first prize. Ten runners up will receive two cases of chocolate frogs." Publication?! Ginny could hardly wait for the bell to sound. An idea was already forming in her mind.

A pale hand tapped her shoulder. Ginny glared at Malfoy, who appeared to be holding a note. For her. "Don't be late," he said. Snatching the note, Ginny read:

Meet me at the Astronomy Tower at eleven o'clock. We will be

discussing your punishment. Be late and you'll wish you'd never

been born Virginia Weasel! Also, don't mention this to anyone.

It will be our little secret for now.

- Draco Malfoy

Malfoy waved cheerily, blowing her a kiss as he left the classroom. Ginny slammed her bag on the desk and began throwing her supplies into it.

"What's up with you and Malfoy?" asked Colin, who had been too afraid of her to speak to her all class.

"Nothing," she barked, marching out of the classroom.