Rating:: R
House:: Astronomy Tower
Characters:: Draco Malfoy Ginny Weasley
Genres:: Romance General
Era:: Multiple Eras
Spoilers:: Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Stats:: Published: 04/27/2003

Updated: 12/22/2004

Words: 79,803

Chapters: 25

Hits: 15,873

Trademark smirks and Temperamental redheads

Rea Yume

Story Summary:: Draco and Ginny have exchanged a few words of hostility over the years, but what happens when an unsteady friendship begins to form between the two? As realizations slowly dawn on the clueless pair, what hindrances will they have to overcome before they can be together? Read as obstacles appear in the form of Draco and his Death Eater training, and Ginny’s attempts to sort out her feelings for Harry, as well as a particularly hot-tempered Weasley, intent on breaking up the couple. Complete d/g bliss!

Chapter 04

Chapter Summary:: Oooh! Ginny catches Draco doing something naughty! And does she get to dance with Harry at the Yule Ball? =)

Posted:: 05/04/2003

Hits:: 474

Author's Note:: Sorry, i know this chapter is a bit short, but don't worry the next chapters will be quite long and bursting with interesting scenes. No, it's not all just fluff, TRUST ME! Would i lie to you? =)

PS REVIEW!! how many times do i have to say it? >,

* * * * *

Chapter Four - Uses of the Astronomy Tower (Fourth Year)

Ginny trudged slowly up the long staircase to the astronomy tower. It was midnight, time for her to do the Divination homework Professor Trelawney had set. Her partner, Sara, was in bed with her ears sprouting steam after Madame Pomfrey had made her swallow a dose of Pepperup Potion for her cold. So Ginny had volunteered to go alone and do the work while Sara waited for her ears to stop steaming.

Pulling her robes tighter around her, she was beginning to regret the offer. The staircase was dark and gloomy, and she could barely see two steps in front of her. The wintry night air was freezing to the bone, in her thin cloak that had at one stage, belonged to Percy, she may as well have been wearing nothing at all.

Finally, she made it to the door of the tower. She hurried forward, knowing the house elves would have set up a fire expecting her arrival. She opened the door and stepped inside, quickly shutting the door behind her. She made a beeline for the fireplace, reaching her arms toward it. Then she heard a faint moan, coming from behind the couch in the far corner. Startled, and slightly frightened, she walked over slowly.

"Who's there? Sorry to disturb you, I'm just up here to do my astronomy homework, but if you want I could come back later -" as she said this, a pale face framed with silvery hair and gray eyes emerged from behind the couch, followed by one blonde head. Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. "Oh, oh my, I-I'm sorry, I'll just take my things and leave shall I?"

Ginny hurried to the fireplace to collect her parchment and divination textbook.

"You just disturbed my perfectly good snogging session with Draco, and all you have to say is 'sorry'?" Pansy Parkinson demanded, in her high nasal voice.

"Well, I uh, I didn't know -"

"You didn't know what? That people come up to the astronomy tower to make out? Everyone knows that! What, have you been living under a rock for the past three years or something?"

Ginny just stared at her. Draco had by now straightened out his clothes, and was leaning against the large window, smirking at the scene before him. How dare he? It was entirely his fault for taking his girlfriend up here to snog, and now this blonde bimbo was reprimanding her and all he could do was stand there smirking?

Ginny had a sudden irrational urge to just lunge at him, and throw a few of those punches Charlie had shown her a couple of years back at him.

"Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" Pansy Parkinson demanded.

"Pansy, I'm sorry, but times up," said Draco, as he pointed at a clock he had just conjured up. "Off you go. I've got another appointment soon you know."

"But Draco, it's not fair, I didn't get my full half hour! It's all 'coz of that Weasley girl over there!" She turned around then, and shouted at Ginny, "Oooh, it's all your fault! You spoiled my time with Draco! I had to wait two weeks for this you know?"

But Malfoy just wound his arms around Pansy Parkinson's waist, and pulled her back towards him.

"Don't worry, we'll make another appointment soon." And with that he gave her a long sensuous kiss that made Ginny's face heat up, and she wished she could have just evaporated on the spot.

When they finally pulled away from each other, Pansy was flushed and grinning happily.

"Promise Drakky?"

After Draco nodded, she leaned up and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before turning around, and walking towards the door. She paused to shoot Ginny an evil glare, before closing the door behind her.

Ginny flopped onto the nearest couch before her knees could give way beneath her. What had she just witnessed? Malfoy making out with a girl? Well, what had she expected? Of course an evil jerk like Malfoy would enjoy pastimes such as this. But what had he meant by appointment? This was soon answered, as a voice suddenly whispered in her ear.

"You know," Draco began, but paused as Ginny stiffened in surprise, "I'm going to be here for at least another hour or so, my next appointment's on her way up now. So if you want to skip another embarrassing scene like the one you just had, I'd suggest you take your things and leave now."

But Ginny wasn't listening. She was too intent on trying not to squirm, as she felt his breath warm on her neck.

"Did you hear me Weasley?" Malfoy demanded. Ginny snapped up to see that Draco had walked over to the fireplace, and was now warming himself up.

"I have homework to do, and I need the astronomy tower to do it in. Why don't you take your appointment somewhere else, the dungeons perhaps? I'm sure Snape wouldn't mind lending you his classroom, after all you Slytherins can't get much more romantic than those dank, foul-smelling dungeons, wouldn't you say?" Ginny replied, raising defiant eyes to the silver haired boy with his back to her.

He didn't reply for a moment, nor did he move. Indeed it seemed as if he'd froze over, before he abruptly turned, and strode across the room toward her, stopping just inches from her.

"I'd watch your mouth Weasley, unless you want Potter to know all about your secret fantasies about him." At this, Ginny blushed a bright scarlet, which only seemed to annoy Malfoy further.

"Slytherins don't need to be romantic, least of all me, I've got girls falling at my feet wherever I go." As if to prove his point, the door chose at that moment to swing open, admitting a dark haired girl with pretty hazelnut eyes.

"Draco, I'm ready!" the girl sang out, but paused when she saw Malfoy and Ginny staring at each other across the room. Ginny remembered the girl as a third year Ravenclaw. Suddenly, she didn't really feel much like doing homework. She was just about to pack up and leave, when Malfoy turned and put an arm around the girl.

"Come on Alyssa, its too cold in here, let's go find somewhere more cozy," he said, with a suggestive smirk that made the Ravenclaw blush madly.

"OK Draco." And with that they swept out of the tower, leaving Ginny standing in the middle of the room wondering what had just happened.

Yule Ball

Draco slowly walked up the steps from the dungeon common room, leading a group of Slytherins toward the Great Hall for the Yule Ball. He had Pansy clinging tightly to his arm dressed in pale pink robes, and Crabbe and Goyle dressed in green on either side of them.

As they walked into the Hall and the dancing began, he found himself searching the crowd for a glimpse of red hair, but found none.

'Of course, the Weasel is a third year, she probably couldn't find a date to come with.' Draco settled down at Slytherin table in the corner, intent on staying there for the rest of the Ball. After all, he hated these events, and was only there to show off his superior robes and class, he took a mug of butterbeer from the center of the table and began to sip on it quietly.

After his fifth butterbeer, Draco was beginning to feel distinctly bored and annoyed, when a patch of red at the corner of his eye, caught his attention. There she was, on the other side of the hall dancing with Longbottom; she winced as Longbottom trod on her toe. Draco watched them for a couple more minutes, till the song was nearly over, then, finishing off his butterbeer, he strode across the room.

"May I have this dance?" Draco whispered in her ear, once Longbottom was out of sight, stretching out an arm.

* * * * *

Ginny stared at the silver haired boy, dressed in beautiful dress robes of black velvet, and then at his proffered arm.

"Sure," she said, surprising even herself, and slipped her arm around his. He led her over to the dance floor, and proceeded to wrap his arms around her waist.

Ginny felt distinctly awkward, as she couldn't figure out where to put her arms. She could place them on his shoulders, but that seemed like she didn't want to touch him, on the other hand, if she wrapped her arms around his neck, he might take it the wrong way, and that just wouldn't do.

Malfoy, meanwhile, seemed to have figured out what was wrong. He leaned in close to her left ear, whispering softly.

"I don't bite you know." As he pulled back, Ginny could see the trace of a smirk on his face.

"Hmph!" And with that, Ginny placed her arms around his neck, leaning in close to his face. An eyebrow shot up from Malfoy's clearly amused face.

"So, how many appointments are lined up for you tonight, Malfoy? I bet there's a heap of girls willing to pay all the galleons they have to dance with you."

"Hmm, too bad you couldn't even scrap up a Knut, huh? But if I were you, I'd probably go out and buy myself decent dress robes first, before worrying about a date, wouldn't you say?" Malfoy murmured in a low voice, with a clear edge.

Ginny looked down at the dress she had bought at the last minute, from an old secondhand shop at Hogsmeade, the weekend before.

It was a faded blue, with slightly torn trimmings at the sleeves, and several patches at the bottom, where it had been trodden on. It had cost her a good three Knuts for this dress, and she'd be damned if she was going to let Malfoy get to her like this.

As she looked up at his face, and into his cold gray eyes and widening smirk, she raised her hand and slapped him.

"At least I don't have to pay for my respect, Malfoy," Ginny spat at him. "You hang around the corridors with your goons, bullying younger students, basking in the hatred of others. You've probably never had a real friendship in your life, and you think I'm beneath you? Reality check Malfoy, you're the one with nothing, and the one who is nothing. Don't let that escape your attention next time you're degrading someone else."

Ginny finished her words, and stomped out of the Great Hall. Once outside, she could feel the hot tears sliding down her cheeks, and she quickened her pace, making her way up the stairs to Gryffindor Tower.

"Weasley! Weasley, wait." Ginny could hear Malfoy's footsteps behind her, hurrying to catch up with her. She broke into a run, not noticing where she was going; knowing only that she wanted to get as far away from him as possible.

* * * * *

Draco raced after her. He didn't know why, and he didn't know what he'd say once he'd caught up with her, all he knew was he didn't want the night to end this way. As she was about to turn a corner, he caught up with her and grabbed her arm. Losing her balance, she fell into him. Both of them landed heavily on the floor, with Weasley in his arms. There was silence as they both got up, brushing themselves off.

"I don't have any appointments tonight. I only wanted to dance with you."

* * * * *

Ginny looked up, surprised at the Slytherin's words. And found him staring intently back at her, as if waiting for a reply. But the tears staining her cheeks reminded her of what he had just said to her in the Great Hall, and her anger returned in full measure. Ginny turned around, planning to get back to Gryffindor Tower; but as she looked about her in confusion, she realized with a sinking feeling that she was lost. Her eyes searched up and down the dark corridors for a familiar sight, but couldn't find anything.

* * * * *

"Accio, lamp," Draco muttered quietly, and waited patiently until he heard the faint sound of the lamp, swishing its way towards him. He caught it lightly in his hand, and offered it to her. "Here."

She only stared at it, then back up at him. "What is it?" she asked curiously.

Draco rolled his eyes. "It's a lamp Weasley, don't tell me you're too poor to even understand its use."

He could see the anger rising in the redhead's face, and decided he wasn't ready for another attack from this little Weasley; her temper was quite a handful.

"It'll show you the way back to Gryffindor Tower." And with that, he placed the lamp at her feet, turned, and walked off down the corridor.

Ginny slowly bent over to pick up the lamp, her hand closing on something soft instead. Lifting it up for inspection, she realized Malfoy had left his cloak for her. She picked up the lamp, and sure enough it began tugging at her hand.