Can't Decide to Love or Hate You

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 3

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

~*flashback*~

The cool spring breeze threatened to ruffle Draco's perfect, slicked back hair as he relaxed underneath an oak tree. A few puffy, white clouds filled the dazzling blue sky, and birds from the Forbidden Forest sang a joyful song. From where he sat he had a clear view of the lake on his left where many students sat by to take a break from studying. Draco frowned at all of them having fun, laughing with each other while he sat all alone. Not that he minded; he did order Goyle and Crabbe to leave him be. And alone time he did want until a certain four Gryffindors decided to join the relaxation by the lake.

Draco's gray eyes stared at them with disgust. Ron Weasley was gently tugging on Hermione's bushy hair as she tried to read a book, hoping to distract her for a moment. Draco noticed that even though she paid Weasley no attention, a smile did creep across her face. Draco shook his head at the two. He knew they were together for quite some time, but if their relationship consisted of Weasley being a pest and Granger being a bookworm, he had to wonder about their sex life.

Bored with them, he turned his attention to the other two Gryffindors. The famous Harry Potter lay back on his elbows, looking all high and mighty. Draco's mouth frowned with annoyance at Potter's messy black hair and his dorky glasses. Why everyone thought he was so special, Draco did not know. Just because he just finally defeated the Dark Lord did not mean anything.

Draco was about to retreat back into the cold dungeons of the Slytherin house when he noticed the fourth of the Dream Team. He knew it to be Weasley's little sister, the red hair and frkles clearly gave that away, but why she was with them he did not know. It was a known fact in Hogwarts that Ginny Weasley followed Potter around like a puppy dog since day one, but something did not seem right here. Instead of her being shy and hiding in the corner, her face was smiling and she was laughing. And instead of Potter trying to be the saint he was and pretend to be her friend, he seemed to be enjoying her company. The young, female Weasley was leaning over Potter's laid back form, her fiery red hair gently touching his cheeks. It was when she leaned down to give Potter a soft kiss did Draco's eyes open wide. That was something he did not expect to see.

His first instinct was to upchuck behind the tree, hoping no one would notice. He never knew that such a sight could cause him to feel physically ill. But then another feeling hit him. Jealousy.

Draco scrunched up his face in confusion. Why was he, Draco Lucius Malfoy, jealous of Potter and his scrawny, poor, Mblood-loving girlfriend? Who cares that Potter always had people who cared about him wherever he went. Who cares if Potter could find love just like that? Draco snorted at his mixed emotions. It was not as if he would want someone to care for him like Weaslette cared for Potter. Why people wanted love puzzled him. Love was for those who were weak, and Draco was definitely not weak. He was brought up to only know strength and power, and taught that love and emotions could get in the way of that. Who needed love and friends when you had money and power?

The bright sun shone over Hermione whom finally gave up her book in an attempt of a tickle attack by Ron. Hearing Hermione's giggles, Ginny looked up from Harry, only to be wrestled to the ground by him when she least expected it. Her shrieks of happiness filled the grounds, causing everyone else to look at them with a smile.

The oak tree's branches blocked out the sunlight, causing Draco to sit alone in the darkness. Everyo around him people laughed and couples showed each other their affection. Draco stood up and stalked back to the castle, going unnoticed and uncared for.

~*end flashback*~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ginny walked to her last class of the day, trying to ignore the stares of students in the hallways. It was the day after her and Draco*s scene during breakfast, and since then she purposely avoided Ron, Harry, Hermione, and even Draco. She did not want to have to deal with him when they were not putting on an act. The gossip about her and Draco 'being together' was staring to die down thankfully, but it certainly caught everyone's attention, even though it was meant to just get Harry's.

She could not get the look on Harry's face out of her mind. It tore her up inside to do this to him, but then again he was the one that lead her to be in this situation. So it was only fair to give him what he deserves, right?

Ginny turned the corner sharply without looking, only to crash head on into an unfortunate student. Books flying and Ginny almost falling over, she promptly went on her knees to pick everything up, half aware that her victim also bent over to help.

"I am so sorry," Ginny said without looking up. "I am so clumsy, this happens all the time."

"Trust me, I know from experience," the person said, his voice filled with nervousness and forced laughter.

Ginny's hand paused over her Potions book; fully aware of whom she bumped into. 'Why him?' she thought to herself. 'Why him of all the people I could have crashed into?'

Ginny did not know how long her hand hovered over her belongings until a rough hand held it softly.

"Ginny, please look at me."

Ginny's eyes swept up to Harry's face, not knowing what to say or do. Once Ginny gave him her full attention, Harry grasped her hand tightly and pulled her into standing position. As hard as she tried not to look into his eyes, she knew it was a loosing battle. So there she stood, a few inches away from Harry, staring into his eyes as he held her hand, right in the middle of the hallway with even an audience to watch.

"Ginny, what is going on with you and Malfoy?" Harry asked quietly, not wanting to cause a scene.

Ginny opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out. She and Draco did have a great plan, but she never thought about what she would say to Harry, or Ron, or anyone that asked. She actually hoped that everyone would just assume she moved on and would not play 20 Questions.

"Well you see," Ginny started to say when she suddenly felt a strong arm wrap around her waist. She turned her head, surprised to see Draco, but also thankful for sparing her from answering Harry.

Draco looked at Harry with both disgust and glee, who was still holding Ginny's hand. "I do not believe she is yours to touch anymore, Potter," Draco said with a smirk.

Harry ignored Draco's remark and continued to hold Ginny's hand, waiting for an answer. Ginny looked up at Draco for help, seeing that he was rather enjoying the awkward moment. Annoyed at him, she silentwished he would jump in and save her, only realizing that he did his part by showing up. Sooner or later she too would have to play along and pretend she wanted nothing to do with Harry anymore. No one said revenge was easy.

Her eyes back on Harry, she pulled her hand away as if it hurt to touch him. Harry's eyes widened at her sudden movement, his hand still out in front of him. Ginny heard Draco give a soft chuckle, but silenced him with a quick jab in the ribs. At that moment the bell rang through the corridors, warning the students who were stalling that they were going to be late to class. Everyone brushed past the three teenagers with quick glances, and a minute later they were the only ones left. Harry and Ginny continued their silent staring contest, and the only movement that was made was Harry's arm falling limp to his side. Ginny began to wonder how long they were going to stand there and not talk when Draco's annoying self saved the day.

"Better run off class like a good boy, Potter," Draco said with a smirk. "You do not want Mudblood Granger getting mad at you for missing something educational."

Harry narrowed his eyes at Draco's comment, and with no words spoken, he moved to pass the two and be on his way. When he passed Ginny he stopped for a second to search her face once more for the Ginny he thought he knew. Ginny tore her eyes away from him and stared at the ground until she finally heard him walk away.

The final bell rang, alerting Ginny that she was now officially late to Potions. Praying that Snape would not punish her too harshly for being tardy, she made a move to pick up her books when she realized that a certain person was still holding onto to her very tightly.

"Draco?"

"Yes?"

"Harry's not here anymore so you can let me go."

Draco looked down at his arm wrapped around her body, jumping back at the sight. He didn't even notice that he was still touching her. Ginny smiled at his expression of disgust and shock. "What? Afraid you are going to get the deadly Weasley cooties?"

Draco narrowed his eyes at her. "Ha ha, very funny," he said as he regained his cool appearance. "And we both know you liked it," he added with a half-smile. Who didn't enjoy his touch?

Ginny rolled her eyes as she bent over to finally pick up her belongings. "Oh yes," Ginny said with no emotion in her voice. "I want you so bad Draco, please touch me again."

Noticing her sarcasm, Draco looked down at her to give her another threatening Malfoy glare only to find her bending over, her bottom sticking up in the air. His first reaction was to quickly look away, hoping she would not look up and think that he was checking her out. But after he made no move to avert his eyes in the other direction, that was exactly what he was doing. Draco found himself staring at it, noticing its perfect roundness, and suddenly wanting very much to do what she just asked him to do.

"Could you repeat that last comment, Ginny?" Draco asked innocently and calmly, though his heart was beating a different rhythm than it was a minute ago.

Ginny sighed with annoyance, knowing perfectly well he heard her the first time. "Please touch me, Draco, please I am dying without your touch," she said in her flat, annoyed voice as she reached for her quill.

Draco smirked at her, his eyes gleaming. "As you wish," he whispered. As he gracefully walked by her, he took his left hand and smacked it hard across her bottom, not hesitating to grab it before loosing contact.

His sudden movement caused Ginny to fall over on top of her collected books with a shriek. She pushed herself up with her hands and stared at Draco with surprise as he continued to walk down the hallway, his black robes bellowing at his every step. He waved his hand at her over his shoulder, not bothering to at least help her up. Ginny's groans of frustration filled the empty corridors, leaving a smile of satisfaction on Draco's face.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*