Stole

STOLE

CHAPTER THREE

Countdown - 10 Days

First day at school as the plan begins to scheme. The day seemed to drag on for an eternity. All I kept thinking about was him. His unpredictable eyes, that smile that I hardly ever saw... And thinking about how I would be hurting Harry. And thinking about how nasty I was, at the fact that I didn't care. As we passed in the corridors, I noticed the way that Draco would stalk past. Ron pointed this out to me once. The fact that Draco never walked. He always walked silently, like he was stalking someone. Now it was like he was stalking me. He would always somehow move closer to me, but without me noticing. As he walked closer to me, he glared at me with those cold, pitiless eyes. It frightened me. It was almost as if yesterday never happened. Then as we passed it was as if by accident, his hand brushed lightly against mine and I saw that glare flicker a little. And I knew that this was real. No pretend shit. This was so real.

"Ginny?"

I jumped suddenly and broke out of Draco's stare.

"Hurry up! You're going to be late if you walk along in that dream state of yours!"

"Yer Harry. I'm okay now."

I turned around, and he was gone.

Lunchtime came and I sat down at the Gryffindor table. The famous trio came romping in, with Harry in the lead. He searched for me, found me and grinned cheekily. Then he led the way over and sat down next to me.

"Potions was satisfying Gin! You should have seen his face!!"

"I wish I had my camera. I never want to forget that look." Ron beamed and he helped himself to some pizza.

"I'm not proud of you boys, but because it was him, I won't say anything." The boys grimaced at Hermione.

"Lighten up 'Mione. Let us have our moment of glory!"

"Ron, eat with your mouth closed. That's gross."

"Hey! Both of You! Lighten up. We've just had the most triumphant moment of our lives. Let us enjoy it for longer than 10 minutes!"

"Harry? What happened?" I was used to being left out of their conversations. But this sounded good.

"Well Gin, we just had Potions just now and like usual; he was being a dickhead, so I cursed him."

"Who was it?"

"And what's more, it was the curse that we were making in potions."

"Harry. Slow down. What was it?"

"The Enlargement Curse. And wait for it... we got away with it!!!"

"What? You got cursed Professor Snape with the Enlargement curse?!"

"What? No Ginny! We got Malfoy!"

I gasped and dropped my fork.

"You...you got Malfoy?" I squeaked

"What? Aren't you proud of us?" Harry looked at me with a quizzical look.

"No." I answered hastily.

"What? Are you defending him?!"

"No! I mean... um... just that... um... his dad will kill you."

Nice cover up Ginny.

"Oh yer, I'm not worried. Snape didn't suspect anything because we were making the potion anyway. He just thought Malfoy spilled it on himself. He'll have a time proving it was me."

I felt sick. I instinctively looked over at the Slytherin table. Malfoy was missing from his usual seat. I can't believe I didn't notice until now. I had to see him. I had to know he was alright.

I picked up my bag and stood up from my seat.

"Where are you going babe?"

"I have to get to the library. All this talk about Potions made me remember, I haven't done my homework."

Screw homework, I had to get to Draco.

"Do you want me to help you? I can keep you company."

"No Harry! I mean, no it's ok. I'll only be distracted by having a sexy boy beside me." I grinned cheekily, hoping he wouldn't see through it. He didn't.

"Aww, thanks Gin! Ok, I won't distract you. Have fun and good luck."

And with that I rushed out of the Hall to find Draco.

"I know he's resting, but I have to pass on a message from Professor Snape. I ran into him in the hall and he told me to tell Draco."

"Ginny Weasley. You know as well as I do, Professor Snape did none of the sort. But I will give you permission for trying. One would have to be extremely desperate to use Professor Snape as an excuse. Just keep it down. He's back to normal, but he's resting."

As I walk slowly through the room, I look through the beds. All of them are empty. Except for one, down the very end under the window. The curtains are open and light sunshine is flooding the bed. I race over and drop my bag on the chair by the bed. I hastily shut the curtains. After all, the sun is no place for a Slytherin.

I sit on the end of the bed and quietly look upon him. His eyes are closed and for the first time, I realized that Draco may be nasty, but he's just as innocent as any Gryffindor, when he was asleep. I reach over and grab his hand lightly. He doesn't stir. I didn't want to wake him, but I didn't want him to not know I cared enough to be here. I stared for a little longer when I heard a shuffling noise coming towards me. I turned around and saw Madame Pomfrey walking towards me hastily. She reached for her wand and waved it over us. Curtains appeared around us and I thanked her quickly as she bustled away. We were left in silence again. And yet, Draco still hadn't stirred. I leant over and kissed him lightly on the forehead. Sounds cliché but it worked. He stirred lightly and clenched his hands tightly, as if trying to grab hold of something. I pulled my hand away quickly in pain. He opened his eyes and glared at me. I stood up and started backing away from the bed. That look said it all. It just said that I shouldn't be here.

"Come to see me Ginny?"

"Yes, but I'm leaving now. I shouldn't be here. I'm sorry..."

"Harry oesn't know you're here?"

"No. He thinks I'm in the library doing homework."

"Then why should you leave?"

"Well the way you just looked at me, I didn't think you wanted me to be here."

"I do. But you should never sneak up on a Malfoy."

"Is that so?"

"Indeed Ms Weasley. Let this be a lesson for you."

And he reached up and pulled my cloak so I stumbled towards him, and fell forwards. He grabbed me just before I fell onto the bed and kissed me. Light at first, then getting harder, more demanding. Before this could lead into something not suitable for a Hospital Wing, I pulled away. I stared at him quizzically. There was something different about those eyes. They weren't as evil. I could see almost... sadness? I couldn't tell.

"Maybe we should just sit and talk, okay Draco?"

He didn't answer. He just stared back at me with those eyes.

"Draco, what happened?"

He looked away from me.

"I... I don't want to talk about it."

"Please. What happened?"

There was a long pause. I opened my mouth to say something and he just let it spill out.

"Ginny, I'm jealous of him."

A Malfoy? Jealous of a lower class? Now was this the real Draco?

"I hate the way he can have you all to himself, and the way he can show you off to his friends, and the way he can talk about you, and the way he doesn't have to keep you a secret, and the way..."

"Draco. It's ok..."

"No Ginny! It's not okay!"

"You're right. It's not okay. But it will be. You'll see"

There was a pause and I looked deep into those eyes. There was no mistaking it. There was definitely sadness in them.

"Ginny, I can't stop thinking about you."

"And me with you! This is so bad! We're so naughty."

"I know. And I know that this is wrong. And I love it..."

"Yer, with you being the bad ass and all..."

"...But I can't help feel what it must be doing to you."

"Draco. I'm doing this purely by choice. And I'm doing it because I'm with the wrong guy. I should be with you. But to everyone else, it's wrong. A Gryffindor and a Slytherin? This is the only way to avoid tainting that reputation of yours!"

"I really can't wait to the Yule Ball Ginny. I really can't. It will be my moment then. It will be our moment."