Can't Decide to Love or Hate You

Draco glanced at the Gryffindor table for the fifth time that night with a questioning look. He had not seen Ginny since the morning before when he was in the hospital wing, and despite what he told himself, he was a bit worried. Everyone has had their days where they would not appear for meals, but Draco didn't have a clue of why Ginny would do such a thing at a time like this. Draco stared at his turkey sandwich with confused eyes. Was she purposely ignoring him? What did he do that she wouldn't even come to meals for just to avoid seeing him? Draco's eyes widened slightly at the thought that Ginny might want to call off their whole scheme.

Annoyed that he couldn't even concentrate enough to return Potter's hateful stares, Draco grabbed his untouched turkey sandwich, and after wrapping it in a napkin, he decided to take it somewhere else to eat. He just couldn't think of stomaching his food with the terrific trio staring at him without Ginny to look at for any comfort. Ignoring Pansy's looks as he stood to leave, he huffed out of the Great Hall hoping that Weasley didn't notice. He wasn't in the mood to be followed around and being asked where Ginny was.

In thoughts of where to eat his dinner, Draco just turned into the hallway when he bumped into a small female body, sending her flying to the floor and his dinner up in the air. Cursing at all the clumsy people that crossed his path, Draco smoothly caught his sandwich, thankful that he wrapped it up so tightly. He didn't think that Filch would enjoy picking up random pieces of turkey.

"Watch where you're going, little Gryffindor," Draco said angrily as he eyed the girl's patch on her robe.

"Shove it, Malfoy. You're the one who bumped into me," she replied with annoyance as she stood on her own two feet.

Draco eyed the short girl, and was about to stalk to his room for quiet when he did a double take at her face and short, choppy black hair. She looked familiar; familiar enough to be sitting next to a certain red head at almost every meal. At least the ones that Draco attended.

"Aren't you Ginny's friend?" Draco asked curiously.

Riley narrowed her eyes at him. "Yes I am, you stupid prat. Aren't you supposed to know all of your girlfriend's friends?"

Ignoring the sarcasm in her voice, Draco asked, "Do you by any chance know where she is, little Gryffindor?"

Riley huffed loudly at him. "I have a name, you know!"

"I'm sure you do, but that means nothing to me. Now, where is Ginny?"

Riley stubbornly crossed her arms across her chest. "Give me one good reason why I would do you such a favor?"

Draco sighed loudly as he ran his hand over his hair. He truly did hate Gryffindors. "Because I haven't seen her since yesterday morning and am a bit worried about her. Satisfied now?" he snapped.

Draco couldn't help but smirk at the surprised look in her eyes. 'She probably wasn't expecting me to say that,' he thought to himself.

She stared at him for several seconds before saying, "She's outside by the lake. She goes there at times to think."

"Now was that so hard, little Gryffindor?" Draco said as he turned towards the entrance doors. He paused mid-step as the words seeped into him. He quickly looked back at the Gryffindor in confusing. "What does she have to think about?"

A look crossed Riley's face, one of sweet revenge. "I guess you don't know your girlfriend too well, Malfoy."

Draco turned fully around to face her. "I'm sick of these games with you simple minded people," Draco said angrily. "Just answer the bloody question. What could Ginny possibly have to think about that would cause her to miss so many meals?"

A small smirk flickered on Riley's face. "How about the fact that she's still in love with Harry Potter?" Smiling at the face that Draco just looked like he had been slapped, Riley gracefully walked into the Great Hall.

Draco stared after her, desperately wanting to doubt her. 'Yes, that's it,' Draco assured himself, 'She's lying to me. She obviously hates me, so she's telling me the one thing that she thinks would most get to me.'

Draco quickly walked out the doors towards the lake, not even noticing that he was angrily squeezing the hell out of his turkey sandwich.

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

Ginny stared at the still water in the lake as she rested against a tree. As a cool September breeze blew by, she dragged her knees up to her chest and hugged them for warmth. October was nearing, and already she needed a cloak. Shivering slightly in just her jeans and light jumper, she settled her chin upon her arms with a deep sigh.

She played with a red leaf in her hand, dragging it through her fingers as she focused on its beautiful color. Riley's words still stuck in her head, and only weighed her down with heavy thought.

Like you're still in love with him.

Could she really still be in love with Harry Potter? After all this want for revenge and hurting him, could she still love him?

The leaf slowly fluttered to the ground as realization dawned upon Ginny. Deep inside, she knew that she would always hold Harry in her heart. She was in love with him ever since she was ten years old. She doubted that one could ever just get over that.

All thoughts paused as she heard footsteps crunching through the fallen leaves. Not bothering too look up, she picked up the fallen red leaf once more, concentrating harder on it than she did before.

She heard the crunching stop and took her eyes off the leaf to glance at some polished black shoes standing right next to her. Despite the mood she was in, she couldn't help but smile slightly. "Can I help you, Draco?"

Draco kicked a few leaves out of his way before taking a seat next to Ginny. "Interesting how that leaf perfectly matches your hair."

Rolling her eyes at him, she dropped the leaf and sat up. "What are you doing here?" she asked as she stared at the blonde haired boy.

Draco shrugged his shoulders as he stared at his wrapped up dinner. "I don't know. You weren't at dinner, or lunch. Actually, come to think of it, neither breakfast, or the dinner before, or-"

"Okay, Draco! I get your point," Ginny exclaimed, glad that he went silent. Now was not a time to go through one of Draco's ramblings.

They sat there quietly together, both staring out at the lake. Still unsure of why exactly Draco was here, she turned to question him again when she noticed the sandwich in his hands.

Suddenly starving, she looked up at Draco with kind eyes. "Did you bring that out here for me?"

Draco looked at her with confused eyes before he realized that she was referring to the sandwich, his sandwich to be precise. He looked down at the sandwich, before looking back up at Ginny again. He was quite hungry, and it wasn't his fault that Ginny was avoiding meals.

"Well, actually, it's," Draco started off before pausing himself as he looked into her eyes. Suddenly warm, brown eyes that gave him goose bumps and made his stomach weigh down. Draco shuddered as he felt a shiver go down his back.

"Yeah, it's for you," Draco said hesitantly as he handed her over his food, not able to look her in the eye.

Ginny graciously took the sandwich from Draco's hands. "That's really sweet of you, Draco. Thanks," she said with a huge smile.

Suddenly uncomfortable, Draco mumbled, "You're welcome." He quickly went back to staring at the lake, then the castle, and then the red leaf on the ground. Anywhere but at Ginny.

Ginny eyed the squished sandwich curiously before taking a bite. "Yummy, turkey," she exclaimed happily. After swallowing she asked politely, "Do you want some, Draco?"

His stomach grumbling a yes, he looked up at her anxiously for food only for his eyes to pause at her lips. There was a very small bread crumb at the corner of her lips, and Draco suddenly hated it for having to bring such attention.

"Um, Gin," Draco said as he motioned with his own hand that there was something on her face. "You have food on you."

Ginny's face turned red as she tried to brush off the crumb, missing it entirely. "Did I get it?" she asked.

Draco shook his head. "No, it's on your right side. Your other right, Ginny."

Suddenly annoyed at the crumb that still existed on her lips, Draco leaned towards her, determined to take it off himself. Gently removing the crumb with his finger, Draco smirked slightly. "There, Weasley. Now was that so hard?" He started to pull away when he suddenly realized how close he was to her.

She was only inches away from him, and though her hair was still its frazzled self, and her face was quite pasty, he couldn't bring himself to stop looking and sit back down. His finger hovering near her lips, he moved it to rest on her cheek for support as his body shook slightly.

"What are you doing, Draco?" Ginny asked quietly with wide eyes, dropping her sandwich at the look in Draco's eyes. It was the same look he gave her after they kissed.

'What am I doing?' his mind screamed at him, but he continued to stay where he was. "Just getting the crumb off," he gulped quietly.

"Oh," Ginny responded, suddenly unable to move herself. "Well, thank you," she whispered as she subconsciously moved closer to Draco. There was something in his gray eyes that lured her to him.

"Ginny," Draco managed to say as he licked his lips, "I need to ask you something important."

"What is it, Draco?"

Their lips were only a centimeter away, and Draco could feel her warm breath on his face. He watched her as her eyelids started to close, awaiting the kiss he wanted to give her.

"Are you still in love with Potter?"

"Yes," Ginny responded in a hushed voice, caught completely off guard.

That one word broke Draco out of his trance, causing him to stare at Ginny with wide eyes. Her own eyes didn't open until he quickly withdrew his hand, leaving her feeling suddenly very cold without his touch.

"Draco?" Ginny asked as she watched him stand up and start to walk back up to the castle. "What's wrong?"

Her words made Draco stop in his tracks, as that question was too racing through his mind. Slowly turning to look at Ginny, he simply answered, "I don't know," before walking back to the castle and away from Ginny.