Tangled Web

Summary: New Year's has come to Hogwarts.

Tangled Web Chapter Five - Hogmanay

Ginny got up off the bed to peer at her reflection in the mirror. She ran a hand through her impossibly tangled hair, only making matters worse. Red rimmed eyes set in a splotchy face stared back at her while she took in the plain white cotton knickers and bra she wore, nothing exciting or pretty, just plain.

Plain.

Just like her.

"Not very much dear, from the looks of you," the catty voice of the mirror replied.

"Ewww," Ginny squeaked, throwing the first thing she could lay her hands on at the offending mirror. "Shut up!"

"Well, be that way then! Just offering an honest opinion," the mirror huffed before going silent and slightly dark.

She slipped the previously discarded bright blue dress robes over her head, altering the garment with strategically placed taps from her wand. It wasn't like she hadn't had performed alterations before - it was practically an art form in the Weasley household.

Once she had the robes to where they weren't falling off of her, she admired her handiwork. It would have to make do, not like she had much choice anyway. As she smoothed her hands over the material, she could just imagine the smug look on Zabini's face. What she wouldn't give to scratch that bint's eyes out. But that wasn't the matter at hand at the moment.

Ginny continued making adjustments until the robes were at least presentable, slipping the straps of her bra down and tucking them under the puffy gathering of material that hung just off her shoulders.

She peered in the mirror once more. It wasn't the best color in the world for her, but Seamus would never mention that. He would kiss her cheek and tell her how beautiful she looked. Sometimes she wondered if he really meant it or if was just being polite in hopes of getting lucky.

A sharp pang of guilt stabbed her chest.

Just what did she think she was doing, snogging Malfoy in darkened corridors like that? It wasn't like he was in love with her. He was the only trying to get lucky. He was just using her; that was the only explanation. A Malfoy and a Weasley -- it was absurd, completely and utterly. Zabini probably put him up to it to see if they could bait Ron into making a fool of himself.

She resolved to put a stop to the Draco thing right then and there. First thing first, no more of this Draco business. He's a dastardly Malfoy, she chided herself.

Seamus was a perfectly acceptable boyfriend. He loved her for her; she knew this without a doubt. He was good and kind and sweet. He was a fine catch -- all the girls in her dorm said so -- and even had an adorable accent. She heard the whispers about her being so lucky and how they all just knew he'd ask her to marry him as soon as she graduated.

She was the one with the problem; that was the only answer she could figure. A whole life spent wishing for things she could never have, and it spilled over into her love life. Seamus was better than she thought she'd ever do, and she made a decision right then: no more taking him for granted.

Seamus was a boy. Boys all want one thing, even the ever polite Seamus, she was sure of it. She just hadn't given him the right signals.

She smirked at her reflection in the mirror.

That was all about to change.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Albus, I am not so sure about this," Snape sniffed disaffectedly.

The wizened old wizard sat back in his tall desk chair, regarding the dark younger man before him. "Have I ever given you reason to doubt me before?" he asked slowly.

"No, sir." He fidgeted a little under the intense blue gaze of his mentor. "It's just - I don't think this is the way to lure him to our side."

"It is the only way," Dumbledore stated plainly, steepling his fingers before him. "He needs incentive."

"Do you not think he'll see through something so obvious?"

"His interest is already piqued."

Snape crossed his arms before making a low disparaging sound.

"I know you are doubtful, but you must have faith, Severus."

"Faith is a luxury we do not have time for, Albus. The situation is growing dire."

Dumbledore smiled then, eyes twinkling. "Then you see the pressing need for you to accomplish what I have asked of you."

"But, sir," Snape started to protest.

"But nothing, Severus. I ask of you one small favor that will take no more than an hour of your time."

"But, sir, surely someone else would be better suited for this task," Snape said with a tinge of discomfort. "Minerva, perhaps."

"I have faith that you will make the correct choice," Dumbledore stately kindly, but firmly, allowing no room for further debate.

"As you wish, sir." The Potions Master nodded to his mentor before Apparating away to complete his appointed task.

~*~

31st December

~*~

Ginny carefully eyed the large box lying on the foot of her bed. It definitely hadn't been there when she had gone down to dinner. There was no note that she could see; the only thing on the box was the twine holding the lid down and a tag with her name on it. She glanced around the room for any sign of it being a joke.

The box mocked her as she went about getting ready for the evening, donning her best bra and knickers. It was teasing her, sitting there so tantalizingly, on her bed, but she was determined not to give into temptation.

It looked to be the size of a robes box, that much she did know.

Curiosity got the best of her just as she was pulling on Lavender's bright blue robes from last year's Spring Fling. Before she knew what she was doing, Ginny was tearing at the twine, ripping the lid off in her haste, exposing carefully arranged creamy tissue paper. Her mouth fell open as she pulled back the paper, exposing rosewood colored material with delicate embroidery and bead work.

It was too much to believe that her family had sent her the robes after they didn't take the hint at Christmas, and it was definitely too expensive to be a prank by Blaise. She wondered if it could have been Draco as she pulled the lovely garment from the box, holding the robes in front of her so she could admire her reflection in the mirror. The color was exquisite, making her creamy skin glow and her dark eyes sparkle. And for once, the color didn't clash with her red hair!

A quick inspection of the box revealed that whoever had gifted her with the robes was also thoughtful enough to include the proper undergarments, a pair of what looked to be ivory silk stockings and a pair of matching low heeled slippers.

A loud knock on the door startled her. "Yes?" she asked a little shakily.

"Do you need some help with your hair?" called Hermione's muffled voice through the door.

"No, I think I've got it."

"Do you want help with your robes?"

"No, no, you go on. I think I can manage."

"All right, but we're leaving soon so we can get a good table. We'll save you a seat."

"Okay," Ginny answered absently as she carefully used the combs Seamus had given her for Christmas to loosely secure her hair away from her face, but leaving her wild curls to fall how they may down her back.

For once in her life she was going to be fashionably late instead of being there first to get a good table.

She carefully slipped the delicate undergarments on, the silk feeling like absolute sin against her bare skin.

As the instant tailoring charms set about their work, Ginny wondered if this was how it felt to be Cinderella sans the faerie godmother, the pumpkin coach and the glass slippers.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"You know what you have to do?" Pansy asked as she tried different hairstyles in front of the full length mirror standing in the corner of the Head Boy's room. He knew she was not concerned about time; after all it was fashionable to be late.

"Yes," Draco sighed as he pull on his formal black robes over a crisp white shirt and white silk tie and vest.

"I know you don't like it," she offered sympathetically, "but it's the only way to deal with Blaise."

He wasn't really listening anymore. Blaise was the last thing on his mind as he straightened his robes before running his fingers through his hair. To be honest, Ginny was all he could think about. She consumed most of his waking thoughts and all of his dreams at night. It didn't help matters that he hadn't seen her since dinner Christmas night which led to all kinds of unwanted speculation as to what she'd been up to with that git that called himself her boyfriend.

Pansy had been surprisingly accepting of his adoration of the Weasley girl, but he didn't know how far he could push his luck with her. She did like to have every single little detail planned out, and his infatuation with Ginny was probably something she hadn't factored in. And Merlin knew how prickly Pansy could be when things didn't go according to plan...

"No, I don't like it," he stated firmly. It was high time he tried to assert some control over his own destiny. "I don't know why you can't pick someone else."

"You know good and damn well it has to be the girl Weasley. I'm through discussing it."

"Granger, she'd be even better than Ginny."

She regarded him with a raised eyebrow. "Ginny now is it? I wasn't aware you two were that close yet. Besides it's not the Mudblood you're fancying now, is it?"

"Has it been that obvious?"

"You remember those flashing 'Potter Stinks' buttons from fourth year?"

"Yes," he mumbled, not fond of remembering the lazy days when such childish pranks were the most of his worries.

"Those were more subtle." She turned back to the mirror to try a different hairstyle, leaving Draco to pout about getting called out. He'd been so careful to keep his feelings well hidden, but then again, he never could hide anything from Pansy. She knew him almost as well as he knew himself.

"Are you ready yet?" he asked in sheer frustration after what seemed an eternity.

She muttered a spell that made her hair fall into soft waves that framed her face. Finally satisfied, she turned to face him. "She's out of your league, you know."

Draco stared at her a moment, trying to get his mouth to work. "She's not out of my league! If anything, I'm out of hers!" he spluttered indignantly.

Pansy chuckled softly. "That's where you're wrong. You don't get it, do you? She's a princess!"

"Princess, ha," he scoffed. "She's a Quidditch playing, red-haired, tomboy-"

"She's the beloved youngest child of a very influential pureblood family as old as yours. Her blood is just as pure, if not more pure, than yours!"

He snorted. "As if."

"You know it's true," Pansy said, pinning him with a meaningful glare, "and you better than anyone know the lengths her brothers have gone to protect her since the incident. I believe you've tasted a few of the hexes her twin brothers taught her."

"I-" he started, knowing that his cheeks flamed red with embarrassment that a mere girl had gotten the best of him more than once. Even though he knew every single word Pansy spoke was true, he was loathe to admit it. The childish side of him didn't want to give her any more ammunition than she already had to use against him. "She's a menace to polite society."

"Be that as it may, you are in love with her."

"I am not!"

"Oh, come off it, Draco," Pansy said, exasperated. "You know there is no point in trying to hide anything from me."

"Tell me why it can't be Granger again?" Draco whined, throwing caution to the wind. He had to put a stop to the madness Pansy had planned before Ginny got injured.

"Two birds, one stone, Draco," she ground out. "Two birds, one stone."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Seamus' eyes nearly popped out of his eye sockets when she finally put an appearance in the deserted common room.

"Do I pass snuff?" she asked, grinning at her boyfriend who couldn't seem to take his eyes off her new found cleavage thanks to the wonders of a strapless under-wire bra. Ginny knew she looked good in the robes that fit like they had been tailored just for her. The closely fitted beaded bodice hinted of an hourglass figure that was just beginning to blossom and the long plain silk skirt accentuated her willowy height.

"Uhm," was all he could manage once his mouth snapped shut.

"You don't like it," she said, crestfallen.

"No," he started firmly, taking her hand brushing his lips lightly against her fingers. "You are so beautiful that I was at a loss for words there for a minute."

She had the good sense to look at the floor as a warm blush crept up over cheeks so he wouldn't see just how much she was enjoying the attention. "Oh."

He leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek when she suddenly crooked her head to capture his lips in a lingering kiss, teasing him with an occasional flick of her tongue.

"Ginny," Seamus growled after a few moments, "if you don't stop that we'll never make it down to ball."

"Maybe that was my plan," she teased softly, pressing her long body against him.

"And waste that dress? Are you nutters? I want all the blokes to see what they can't have!"

Ginny found herself having to bite her lip to keep from telling him just how much she wanted to see Malfoy's face when she made her grand entrance. "I suppose we should go before Ron sends out a search party," she sighed.

"Yes," he said, grabbing her hand, "god forbid he thinks we're off shagging or something." He shuddered involuntarily at just the thought after months of conditioning by her brother.

"I suppose you're right," she finally conceded after shaking her head slightly to remove the image of Draco in formal dress robes from her head. Putting him out of mind was proving much more difficult than she had anticipated.

"Besides," he said with a wink before pulling her along, "there is always later."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Blaise, darling, it really isn't ladylike to hang your mouth open like that," Pansy said smugly as the girl Weasley make her grand entrance to the New Year's Ball, garnering much attention from everyone.

"I wonder who she shagged for those robes," Blaise said viciously, her eyes settling on Draco. Someone had to have given that bint those silk robes. How dare the little weasel enter the room like she owned the place?

"A bit green-eyed, are we?" Pansy asked.

Blaise knew she was always supposed to be the most beautiful witch in any room. All of the boys and a few witches gave her a second glance, a third even, not that little red-headed Gryffindor bitch. "It had to be someone with Galleons to burn from the looks of it too," she hissed.

"What makes you think that?" Pansy asked.

She knew that the other witch was baiting her, but she was so worked up over this latest turn of evens that she could not helping allowing the other witch to suck her in. This was a travesty of epic proportions, and it was up to her to set things back to rights. "That bint doesn't have two Knuts to rub together."

"Who knows," Pansy mused, "maybe she did get lucky..."

"What do you know?" Blaise asked quickly, too quickly. She knew she should be embarrassed, jumping at any bit of gossip she could get, but she couldn't bring herself to care at the moment. She was too consumed with the intense desire to wrap her slender fingers around the throat of the girl weasel so she could delight in slowly choking the life out of the person she hated most in the world.

"...at the secondhand shop."

She pinned the shorter witch with a death glare. "I hate you."

"Likewise," Pansy said, her lips twitching with a repressed smile.

"You'd better watch your back," Blaze warned dangerously. "That's all I've got to say."

Pansy's eyes twinkled. "And you'd do well by not spending so much time on yours."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

He had no idea that she'd clean up that well.

Ginny Weasley was a beautiful witch, and there was no denying that fact now that if the looks of every male in the room was to go by.

The robes she was wearing were positively sinful in the way they hugged her body. Oh, everything was covered, and there was definitely something left to be said about leaving things to the imagination.

He found himself fascinated with how the thin straps drew attention to her creamy shoulders, and wondering if her shoulders were dusted with freckles just like her cheeks were because he couldn't tell from his position across the room.

His mind had whisked them away to their bed chamber at the manor; a low fire was burning in the hearth, casting a warm, inviting glow to the cavernous room. The house elf assigned to see to Ginny's needs had turned down the bed in anticipation of their late arrival home. They had been to a party at the Ministry that she had insisted they attend. He would've much preferred to ring in the New Year making love in their huge four poster bed. She dropped her black velvet evening cloak to the floor as they enter the room and he was on her in flash, his fingers working at undoing the long line of hooks down her back that held her robes together, his mouth devouring her bare neck and shoulders. She moaned as his lips follow the trail of exposed skin, whispering for him to hurry before she died of want. He smirked, as if he'd ever allow that to happen...

"Promise me that you'll remember a contraceptive charm if you manage to get her alone for five seconds," Pansy warned, startling him out of his thoughts, before she hooked his arm with hers and dragged him to a more secluded spot. "With the way her family breeds, all you might have to do is brush up against her and she'd fall pregnant."

He glared at his much shorter fiancée. "What are you going about?"

"The Weasley girl."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Please, a starving man doesn't stare as longingly at the prize goose in the butcher's window."

"I am not that obvious."

"Come off of it, Draco! You were practically standing in a puddle of drool."

"I was not," he said indignantly.

"Yes, you were and it couldn't be more perfect. Keep it up. Your mooning will make what I'm going to do all that more believable," she said with barely contained glee.

"Don't do it, Pansy, for the love Merlin, don't," he begged.

"You'll thank me later for this when you're being pestered by ten little red-headed brats."

He glanced in Ginny's direction. Pansy didn't know what she was talking about - ten children - just the requisite heir and they'd be done. There was no way in bloody hell he was going to be sharing her, once he got his hands on her that was, with more people than absolutely necessary. "If she ever speaks to me again, that is."

"Oh, she will," Pansy said with what sounded like all the confidence in the world, "she will."

"What makes you so sure?" he asked, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

"I just am, and I expect one of those brats to be named for me," she teased, patting his arse to send him off. "Now go on and make a lovesick fool of yourself."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"Is that any way to treat a proper witch?" Blaise pouted prettily as Seamus tried to push past her. She had managed to get him alone in the little breezeway between the kitchens and the Great Hall.

Seamus chuckled. "I don't see a proper witch here."

She ran her fingers lightly up his arm, delighting in the involuntary shiver she had invoked. In her vast experience, Blaise found that boys needed very little prompting to get them do what she wanted -- a well placed hand or a husky suggestion was usually all it took. "Why do you want to be like that now? I could make you happy."

"Happy?" he asked, sounding confused.

"Very happy," she said breathlessly, her hand lingering meaningfully at his belt buckle.

Seamus pushed her hand away. "What are you playing at here, Zabini?"

"Just a little fun," she purred, strategically maneuvering so he'd get an unobstructed view of her barely concealed cleavage. A knowing smile crept across her lips when he licked his lips; this was going to be easier than stealing candy from a baby. "You like to have fun, don't you?"

"Uh," he managed to utter, practically swallowing his words. "I guess."

She pressed against him, slowly rolling her hips against him so there would be no mistaking her intentions. "You only guess?"

Seamus groaned when her teeth grazed his ear and shuddered. "Yes."

"Mmm." Her tongue flittered around the shell of his ear as she gave his bits a firm squeeze, and for an instant she felt a slight flicker of envy. If the girl weasel wasn't putting what she was feeling to good use, then she most definitely would. It would be a crime otherwise.

"Zabini," he said harshly, trying to push her away.

"What would you like me to do?" she offered suggestively, knowing full and well that boys could never resist what she was about to offer, delighting when his eyes widened. "Wouldn't you like to feel my hot, wet mouth around your big cock?"

He shook his head, trying to back away from her, but she could tell he was torn. There wasn't a boy alive that could resist the offer of a blowjob; she knew this fact well and used it to her advantage.

"Just relax, I promise you'll enjoy it," she said, sliding down the front of his body, continuing her assault on his trousers. "I know just how to make you forget about that little tart you go out with."

"Ginny," he exclaimed, pushing Blaise away with renewed strength. "She's my girlfriend."

"Uh-huh," Blaise said as she managed to pop the last button of his trousers and get her fingers inside, "and if she was good girlfriend she'd be here right now blowing you."

"How dare you!" he shouted hoarsely, finally shoving her far enough away that he could escape her clutches. "Ginny is a better person than you'll ever be. You'll never be anything more than a slag that whores around with Malfoy!"

"I whore around with Malfoy!" Laughter bubbled up from what seemed to be her toes just then, a crazed, maniacal sort of laughter. She picked herself up off the floor, dusting off her arse with both hands. "Me! That's rich! Apparently, you don't know Saint Gin-Gin very well, do you?"

"What are you talking about?" He turned on her then, grabbing her by her upper arms and shaking her furiously. "Never mind, I don't want to hear your lies."

"See for yourself." She forcibly turned him around and shoved him near the entrance way so he'd have an unobstructed view of the Great Hall, and there in the center of the dance floor was Draco Malfoy dancing with Ginny Weasley. Blaise pressed against his back, whispering in his ear, "Believe me now?"

She grabbed him to keep him running off to rescues his little slag. "Let go of me!"

"I bet they are making plans to meet later tonight," she told him. "I can see them now in a dark corridor-"

"Stop!"

"-shagging up against the wall."

"Just stop!" He twisted, almost breaking free of her grip, but she managed to hold tight.

"I've seen it, them, shagging."

"No!"

"Yes, she was moaning-"

"It's not true!"

"Your little girlfriend is in love with Draco Malfoy!"

"She's-" Seamus trailed off as their fellow students began counting down the last few seconds of the year, staring at the couple in the center of the room.

Blaise could not believe what she was about to witness, something no one else seem to notice because they were so distracted by Draco Malfoy and Ginny Weasley about to ring in the new year with a very public display of affection: Pansy with sly smile on her face and a raised wand.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Ginny could not believe she was dancing Draco Malfoy at almost midnight on New Year's Eve.

She didn't know who was more shocked, her dance partner or herself, but when Draco curtly asked to cut in, Neville didn't put up much of a protest. Neither did Ron, who apparently was too preoccupied with Harry and Hermione to notice what his baby sister was getting up to right under his nose. But there she was, wrapped in the arms of supposed arch enemy, dancing to some beautiful piece of music she couldn't name, and loving every second of it.

It was as if her most secret fantasy had come true, and nothing, and no one except Draco mattered at the moment. She knew there would questions to be answered on the morrow. Questions she had no idea how she was going to answer, especially concerning the dress and most likely Draco, but the consequences be damned. She was going to enjoy it for all it was worth and if she was very lucky, she would receive a kiss from him as the clock struck midnight.

Her stomach felt full of fluttering Snitches as he gracefully spun her around the dance floor, his hand firmly on the small of her back, holding her closer than really was necessary, while most of Hogwarts looked on in varying degrees of disbelief. She finally knew what it felt like to be a princess, aching feet and all, even if it was just for this one moment.

"Malfoy," she admonished, feeling the need to say something, anything really, "what are you doing?"

"Dancing," he said with a ghost of a smile.

"But, everyone-"

"The hell with all of them," he stated simply, but firmly. His hand drifted a little lower, and all she could think was that Seamus' hand hadn't felt nearly as sinful when he'd tried a similar move earlier in the evening. There was just something about being in Draco's presence that inspired her to want to be naughty, and that caused her to do things that would surely send her mother to an early grave if she only knew what she was doing.

"You are so wicked."

"I do so try."

"All righty then," Ginny giggled, "Mr. Wicked, just what are you going to say tomorrow when everyone asks why you were dancing with a Gryffindor?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Why, I'll simply state that I was just partaking in what every other male here had gotten a bit of tonight."

She knew his words weren't meant to be hurtful, or at least she thought they weren't intended that way. It was always so hard to tell with him, and she had danced the night away. She didn't think she'd sat out more than three songs the entire evening, relishing the fact that nearly every male in the room was nearly tripping over themselves to ask her for the next dance. Maybe she was a tart.

Ginny didn't know how to respond to the comment so she kept silent, and only sneaked a glance up at him occasionally in an effort to judge his mood. The last thing she wanted was to ruin this perfect moment any further.

"If I'd known you'd clean up this well, Weasley, I would have bought you dress robes ages ago," he teased in an effort to lighten the mood. His hand boldly slipping further down her bum than any other boy had dared venture. "Where'd you get them anyway?"

"One of Padma's castoffs," she said, the lie slipping easily from her lips despite the fact that every time they moved in time together, she rubbed intimately against his groin and it was making her slightly lightheaded. If he doubted her word, she couldn't tell and was too distracted to care.

"Well, you're the most beautiful witch here," Draco said softly, leaning in close to nip the ticklish spot on her neck just below her ear.

Ginny gasped as a shiver went down her spine, her cheeks flaming crimson at his words. She'd been told many times, and by many boys, some variation of those words over the course of the evening, but they had not struck home like they did when Draco uttered them to her. She could tear her eyes from his darkened grey ones as he started intently at her. It was almost like he was trying to memorize her, this moment, everything, and it make her feel a bit uneasy.

"Draco!" she exclaimed, twisting away from him to break free of the prison his arms when he dipped his head to nibble at her throat. "What do you think you're doing?"

He managed to capture her by her wrist and haul her back in front him, his arms encircling her waist like a vice grip. "We don't have much time now," he tried to explain as the crowd of fellow students started to grow restless and titter around them as midnight drew near.

"Much time for what?" she questioned as a feeling of dark dread flooded over her. "I don't like this! You're starting to scare me!"

"I never meant for this to happen," he said earnestly, "but please believe me when I say that it's for your own good."

She shoved hard at his chest, trying to squirm free. "Let go of me!"

"If you never talk to me again, end up hating me forever, I will understand." Draco closed his eyes, and swallowed hard as a look of raw grief twisted his beautiful features into a grim frown.

A roil of conflicting emotions tore at her heart and soul. The sorrowful look on his face simultaneously frightened her while very nearly breaking her heart in two. This was a side of Draco she never had suspected even existed, and now all she wanted to do was gather him in her arms and assure him everything would turn out somehow, she would see to it.

"Shhh," she found herself murmuring to him just as their fellow students shouted out the last few seconds of the year. Her arms found their way around his shoulders. "Everything will be all right, I promise."

"Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!" The students around them erupted in raucous cheers and whistling as the large clock suspended in mid-air over the stage area in the Great Hall started to chime the midnight hour. A number of couples were starting their new year with a snog. Off-key, and muddled attempts at singing "Auld Lang Syne" broke out among the ranks.

A half smile brightened his features a bit, just before he lightly brushed his lips against her willing mouth. He pulled away before she had the opportunity to deepen the kiss, whispering, "I'm so sorry."

"Serpensortia Medusa" was the last thing Ginny would remember hearing before being enveloped in a bright flash of pure blue-white light as a spell hit her, causing the festive joy of an entire school to melt into instant mass chaos. Pain shot through her body, and she could feel her face contorting into a grotesque mask. Her hair began to slither about her shoulders, hissing and spitting at anyone who accidentally got too near.

"Ginny!" she heard Seamus shout from somewhere behind her. "Ginny, don't move!"

"Help me!" she squealed, wheeling around to find her boyfriend racing across the room.

Their eyes locked had for barely a second before Ginny collapsed to the floor, screaming bloody murder.

Seamus had turned to stone in mid-stride.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~