Bed Of Lies

Chapter 2 - Splendide Mendax

 

"Gin," Harry said, "We need you, I need you. Please."

Ginny stared blankly at Harry for a few moments. She breathed in deeply and let it out very slowly. She wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. He was asking her to do something for him. Not for the good of the world, or for Hogwarts, or for anyone…Just, for him. "I…I…" she stumbled. Her lips didn’t seem to want to cooperate with her brain.

"Gin…You ok?" Hermione placed a light hand on her knee.

"Yeah," said Ginny, brushing her off. "Yeah, I’ll do it." Ron stared at her like she’d lost her mind. But Harry was looking at her curiously; like he didn’t understand why she’d said yes, even though he had asked her.

"Thanks, Ginny," Harry said in a voice no louder than a whisper.

"You’re welcome," she whispered back. She stood very slowly and put her hand on the back of her chair to steady herself. She paused for a moment, then walked across the room towards the girls’ dormitories.

After Ginny had gone, Harry’s shoulders sagged with relief and he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. The relief was short-lived, however.

"So, Harry," snarled Ron, "Anything to achieve our ends, hmmm? Including manipulating my little sister and placing her in danger? What are we, Slytherins?

"I had to, Ron," murmured Harry, his voice pleading, "You know I don’t want-- I’d never—."

"She’ll be fine," Hermione soothed, "Ginny’s a smart girl, and you know how much she wants to help. This way is better than letting her go up against actual Death Eaters." She reached out and squeezed Ron’s shoulder. He relaxed visibly under her touch.

"I suppose," he conceded grudgingly.

"You’re a good brother," Hermione commended, giving Ron a quick hug, "but she doesn’t need- or want- your protection all the time."

"What about you?" Ron asked, grinning.

"I’ll play ‘damsel in distress’ whenever you want," Hermione quipped. She dropped a soft kiss on his lips. "No more brooding tonight, Ron. Go to bed." She commanded, suppressing a yawn. Hermione let her hand smooth back Ron’s hair then stood up. "G’night. I’ll see you both in the morning." She walked across the common room and headed up the stairs.

Harry stood up as well. "She’s right, let’s get a good night’s sleep and see what we can do about this in the morning." But Ron’s hand held his shoulder like a vice. Ron stood up, towering several inches above Harry.

"Just so you know, Harry, I am holding you personally responsible for this fiasco, and if anything happens to her, ANYTHING, I will never forgive you. Ever. Everyone always treated you as if you were somehow superhuman; above the laws of the common man. Now I’m worried that you’re starting to believe it." With these words, Ron turned and headed toward his dormitory. He stopped at the foot of the stairs and shook his head ruefully. "I can’t believe we’re actually doing this."

"I can’t either," said Harry, coming up behind him. And together they ascended towards their dormitory.

* * * * *

Ron came down to breakfast the next morning to find Harry and Hermione eating. "Good morning, Ron," said Hermione. Ron grunted a reply. He’d never been much of a morning person. As he sat and loaded his plate with a variety of sugary breakfast foods, he noticed that Ginny wasn’t sitting in her normal spot.

"Ginny’s still asleep?" he asked, surprised. Ginny was normally down in the Great Hall before any of them. But Ron noticed the worried look Harry was giving Hermione.

"She already finished eating," Harry said, trying to be casual, but failing miserably.

"Where’d she go?" Ron asked suspiciously.

"She’s gone off to the library. Getting a bit of homework done."

"It’s Saturday…"

"Well…she saw Draco headed in that direction and assumed that maybe she could…get started." Ron threw his fork on the table.

"Already? And I’m sure you two did nothing to discourage her!" Hermione put a hand on his arm as he moved to stand.

"Ron, we talked about it, it’s for the best."

"Well I don’t want her in there alone with that creep. I’m getting the invisibility cloak and I’m going to chaperone her little escapade." Ron said, pushing away from the table.

Both Hermione and Harry jumped to their feet. Harry grabbed Ron’s arm. "I don’t think that that is such a good idea…"

"Out of my way, Potter," Ron growled menacingly, but Harry stood his ground.

"Don’t make me stop you," said Hermione quietly.

Ron turned to see her wand pointed straight at him. Her eyes were anguished, but her hand was steady. He had no doubt she’d use it, after all, hadn’t she immobilized Neville back in first year? "Fine," he muttered grumpily, hating to see Hermione upset, "But I don’t want her in there alone."

"I’ll get the cloak and I’ll go, alright?" asked Hermione, lowering her wand.

Ron nodded. "Be careful."

"I will." He kissed her on the cheek lightly and then she was off.

* * * * *

Tension clogged the air of the Hogwarts library, much like a boxing ring just before a heavyweight match. In one corner sat Ginny Weasley, staring determinedly at her potions homework. In the other lounged Draco Malfoy staring, with equal determination at Ginny Weasley. Or, to be more precise, at her chest.

Ginny gritted her teeth and tapped her quill impatiently on the scroll in front of her. If she hadn’t been so stressed, she would have laughed at the irony of the situation. She couldn’t concentrate on her Potions work because of Draco Malfoy, and she couldn’t think about her Draco problems until she had finished her assignment.

"Gin!" hissed Hermione’s disembodied voice from directly beside her, "I’ve got the Invisibility Cloak. How’s it going?"

"Bloody wonderful," muttered Ginny. "I’m going to fail Potions, and that pervert won’t stop ogling me."

"When do you plan to talk to him?"

"Oh, I don’t know…when Hell freezes over and my mum starts to knit jumpers for all the poor ickle demons?" said Ginny nonchalantly.

"Well," said Hermione, completely unfazed, "I hope it happens soon, because I’m not letting you leave this room until you talk to Malfoy."

Ginny tapped her quill even more furiously. "And just what, exactly, am I supposed to say to him? Shall I confess my undying love and beg him to have his wicked way with me right here on the library table?" From across the room, Draco raised one amused eyebrow, and Ginny scowled, hoping against hope that he couldn’t read lips. "Wonderful! Now he thinks I’m a mad woman, yelling at myself in the library."

Once Hermione stopped snickering, she replied, "Why don’t you just ask him to tutor you? Then you might actually pass Potions. –You’ve gotten ink all over your homework, by the way."

Ginny stopped tapping abruptly. The quill flew out of her hand and onto the floor. "Perfect," she muttered, "Just perfect." She turned and leaned over to pick up the quill and heard a shuffling noise coming from Malfoy’s corner of the library. The prat was actually leaning forward over his table to get a better view down her robes! His gaze traveled lazily up her body until their eyes met. A faintly challenging smirk lit his face before his gaze slowly and deliberately returned to her chest.

In the next instant, Ginny found herself standing, hands on hips, in front of Draco, with no memory whatsoever of having crossed the library. "What is your problem, Malfoy?" she hissed.

"My mother didn’t breastfeed me?" he ventured, mock-innocent look on his face.

Ginny decided to deliver a perfectly nasty set-down. Something so awful that he would cry himself to sleep every night for a week…no, a month! But when she opened her mouth, something odd happened. She laughed. It was just a brief little giggle, but completely inappropriate. She stared, horrified, at Malfoy.

He looked equally aghast. "You’ve got a sense of humor!" he accused.

Ginny realized with some surprise that she had actually started a conversation. It hadn’t even been painful. Smiling slightly, she sank into the seat next to him. She had come this far, it was time to set the ball rolling. "So, Malfoy, are you any good at Potions?" She began to flip through the parchments he had spread across the table. She sat uncomfortably for a few moments until he overcame his shock. She had never seen him at a loss for words before – it was a nice change.

"Why, Weasley? Need a Love Potion for Potter?"

"My name is Ginny. And no, actually," she turned to look at him with a small smile on her face, "I just need to pass that bloody class." He seemed surprised by her reply, but just nodded his head and opened up his book.

Hours passed and Draco had gotten more and more frustrated with Ginny. He’d muttered obscenity after obscenity and finally told her he couldn’t help her anymore. Ginny sat sucking a sugarquill, trying to remember the fourth ingredient in the Forgetfulness Potion, but it just wasn’t coming to her.

"Give up already, Weasley," Draco groaned. "You are the most benightedly ungifted witch it has ever been my misfortune to tutor."

Ginny flicked her wand lazily and turned him into a cricket. He chirped angrily until she changed him back. "My Potions skills may not be phenomenal, but I’m excellent at Transfiguration," she said cheekily, gathering her things. "We should do this again some time, Malfoy," she threw over her shoulder as she swept from the room.

Draco sat bemusedly in his chair, marveling at the realization that he actually liked a Weasley. She was intelligent – aside from Potions, that is – she was funny, and she had both the guts and the panache to turn him into a small insect. That was indeed something to respect. They definitely would have to ‘do this again sometime.’ Finally, smiling to himself, Draco hopped out of the library.

* * * * *

As the weeks went by, most often Ginny and Draco were seen in the library, working side by side. Aside from a few early encounters with Ron, which Draco seemed to take a perverse delight in, his contact with the Gryffindors was kept to a minimum. Harry, Ron and Hermione had started to work with Dumbledore on their plan of attack, but the time was coming when they would need Draco Malfoy by their side, although the headmaster still refused to tell them why his participation was so important.

To Ginny’s surprise, she didn’t dread the time she spent with Draco. He was never boring. Part of her really enjoyed the challenge he presented. And best of all, her potions grades were improving steadily. Still, she was always on guard in his presence. One little slip of the tongue could undo everything she had worked for. Sometimes she reminded herself of Mad-Eye Moody with his "Constant Vigilance!" And she was afraid the strain was beginning to show. Harry and Hermione always treated her with an air of profound apology, while Ron began to talk softly around her and make her drink copious amounts of tea. He reminded her of their mother. One night, tossing and turning in her bed, she became convinced that everything would be all right if she could just get one good night’s sleep. She pulled on her bathrobe and slipped out of Gryffindor tower, giving thanks that Filch had departed two years ago for parts unknown, and trudged down to the library.

Easing the door open, she was about to head over to the Medicinal Magic section to look up a good sleeping potion, when she saw a familiar blonde head sitting at the usual table. He looked alone and vulnerable, sitting in one small pool of light in the enormous dark library. Ginny realized that there was something that had been nagging at her conscience; one thing she absolutely had to know before she went any further with this scheme. She padded silently toward his table.

"Draco," murmured Ginny, "why are you still here?"

If he was surprised to see her, he didn’t let on. "Transfiguration test tomorrow," he replied without glancing up from the book in front of him, "haven't studied yet."

"Not why are you still in the library. Why are you still at Hogwarts?"

Very slowly Draco raised his head, the look in his eyes flat and unreadable. For an agonizingly long moment his eyes searched hers, then they narrowed slightly. He stood and began to gather his books. "You mean," he answered, his voice curiously empty of emotion, "why am I here instead of with the Death Eaters." It wasn’t a question.

Ginny wanted to say something smart, but his suddenly impersonal manner stopped her. Had she given herself away? Could he see through her act? Dear God, if she lost his trust now… Panicked thoughts swirled through her mind, half formed plans and desperate schemes to win back his confidence. Ultimately, she didn’t have to do anything,

He stepped closer to her, so close that she could feel his breath on her face when he whispered, "Do you think I'm evil, Ginny? Do you think I’m dangerous?" A frisson of awareness ran through her and goose-bumps rose in its wake.

"I know you're dangerous," she replied, unsure whether she was talking about his politics or the strange effect he was having on her. She could feel the heat emanating from his body and her fingers itched to touch him, but somehow the scant centimeters between them seemed insurmountable.

Apparently nothing was insurmountable to Draco Malfoy, though. He leaned in slowly and touched his lips to her own. The kiss was feather-light, but in no way tentative. It drew all of her senses until Ginny was aware of nothing but the feel of his mouth on hers. She gasped softly when he caught her bottom lip gently between his teeth and nearly moaned with desolate loss when he broke contact and pulled away. "I'm not a crusader, Ginny," he said in a low voice, "I follow no one; not Dumbledore, not Voldemort, and not Harry Potter. I just take care of myself." As he picked up his books and turned to leave, the air seemed to vibrate with the words he left unsaid. And of you, Ginny. I might take care of you.

* * * * *

When she finally stumbled back into her dormitory, she found Hermione waiting, a worried frown on her face. "Where have you been?" Hermione hissed in a not-so-soft whisper.

"The Library," murmured Ginny, "I wanted to look up a sleeping potion. …Draco was there." Hermione didn’t respond, so Ginny continued, "And...he kissed me."

"Oh, Ginny," murmured Hermione, suddenly more girlfriend than taskmaster. "Your first?" Ginny nodded, dazed, and Hermione laughed. "I remember my first kiss with Ron. We were both so awkward…terrified we’d do something wrong." She blushed slightly at the memory.

Ginny looked fondly, and somewhat patronizingly, down at her friend as her hand went to her lips. "Draco Malfoy has never felt awkward once in his entire life. I sincerely doubt that this kiss was anything like yours."

"Oh really?" murmured Hermione, her face clearly begging for further information.

Ginny faked an enormous yawn to hide a small secret smile. "It’s very late. I should really go to bed." Then, without another word, she slid under her covers and drifted off to sleep, with only one tiny voice at the back of her mind whispering, "It should have been Harry."

* * * * *

The chill winds of March blew fiercely around her, but Ginny barely felt them as she snuggled closely against Draco. On the first sunny Saturday since early December, almost everyone had seized the opportunity to get out of the castle. Early that morning, Draco had somehow snuck into the Gryffindor common room and whisked Ginny directly out from under the watchful eye of her older brother. Even after two months of dating, he still delighted in provoking Ron. Ginny knew she should be angry, or at least annoyed, but the truth was, while Draco could be arrogant, nasty, and snobbish, he was also downright amusing.

They sat next to the thawing lake, his arms wrapped around her and his chin rested on her head…and Ginny knew it was time. Since their first confrontation in the Library, she had devoted nearly every waking moment to her mission. Constantly creating and re-evaluating her strategy. There had been so many missteps in the beginning…so many times she was sure she had lost him; but somehow the ruse continued. Now, she trembled with the giddy nervousness of a high-stakes gambler. Everything was riding on this one last hand.

"Once the semester ends, Ron, Hermione, and Harry are going to go after Voldemort in earnest. They’re going to try to re-establish the Order of the Phoenix."

"Good for them," Draco remarked noncommittally.

Ginny took a deep breath. "I’ve decided to join them," she said. Draco stiffened underneath her.

"You’re joking," he said.

"I’m not. They’ll need my help."

Draco stood up, pulling her to her feet. He dragged a hand agitatedly through his hair, (which, annoyingly, fell perfectly back into place) muttering under his breath. Ginny was pretty sure she caught ‘bloody fucking insane’ and ‘brainless woman’ but she also thought she heard ‘piece of toast’ interjected randomly into his rant. Finally, he stopped.

"You," he said, pointing a finger at her menacingly, "are not leaving Hogwarts."

"They are my friends," she returned resolutely. "My family. I can’t let them face this alone."

"Your brother’s too smart to let you do something this stupid," he persisted, not even realizing that he had actually complimented Ron.

"Hermione will convince him," she stated, trying not to think about how close to the truth that was.

Draco looked desperate. He turned toward the lake and walked a few steps away from her. Ginny stayed rooted to the spot, hoping that she had lead him close enough to the correct answer. When he turned back to her, he looked vaguely defeated, and Ginny felt her first pangs of conscience.

"I’ll go," he grumbled.

"What?" asked Ginny, feigning shock.

"You stay here. I’ll help the dream team."

Ginny wanted to laugh and cheer and announce to the world that she had accomplished her mission, but she didn’t think Draco would appreciate that, so she settled for gaping like a landed fish.

"One condition," Draco added, "You don’t attempt to help in any way. You don’t place yourself in danger. If you do, I swear to God, I will abandon them to whatever fate or Voldemort has in store."

Ginny nodded, trying to look appropriately chastened, and threw herself into his arms.

"Promise me," he rasped against her ear, "Promise me you’ll stay safe."

Feeling suddenly like the cruelest kind of manipulator, Ginny whispered, "I promise."