Trademark smirks and Temperamental redheads

Chapter 9 - Newfound friendships (Fifth Year)

The first thing Ginny heard as she stepped through the portrait hole and into Gryffindor common room was: "Ginny, could I talk to you?"

She looked up at Harry; he was looking at her with regretful and hopeful eyes. She scanned the common room, and found Ron and Hermione sitting on a couch near the fireplace. They were both staring at Harry and Ginny intently and Hermione was wringing her hands. She turned her attention back to Harry, giving a tired sigh. She was not in the mood to deal with these three tonight.

"Sorry Harry, I'm really tired. Can this wait till tomorrow?" she asked.

"I'd really like to talk about it now, but if you're tired, how about tomorrow morning before breakfast?" Harry responded. She nodded her head in approval, and waved goodnight at him, heading for her dormitory.

~~~

Ginny woke up the next morning to warm, bright sunlight shining down on her from the window. She smiled to herself as she stretched lazily on her bed, thinking about what had happened last night. She had developed a friendship with the most unlikely person, Draco Malfoy. She quickly showered and dressed, as her stomach sent out signals protesting its lack of food in the form of grumbles and groans.

As she cheerily descended the stairs of the Gryffindor common room, her happy smiled faded away at the sight of Harry's messy hair and bright green eyes.

"Morning, Ginny," he began, trying to sound cheerful, a forced smile on his face.

Ginny groaned inwardly, she'd forgotten all about their 'talk', she glanced around the room, noticing Ron and Hermione's absence. Well at least she could talk to him alone instead of the three of them bearing down on her.

"Let's take a walk outside," she suggested, turning toward the portrait hole before Harry had the chance to acknowledge his consent. They walked silently to the lake's edge, circling it leisurely.

"So," Harry began nervously, "did you, er, have a good sleep?"

"Harry, I'm sure this isn't what you wanted to talk to me about," Ginny chided, rolling her eyes.

"Right, sorry," Harry mumbled, "I just wanted to explain about last night. I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I do like you, but just as more of a sister than anything else. Please don't hate me Ginny." He looked at Ginny, seeking understanding.

They walked around the lake in silence for another few minutes before Ginny replied.

"It doesn't matter, I understand. We'll still be friends," she said, smiling up at Harry. Hesitating, he smiled back, closing the distance between them with a brotherly hug. Ginny returned it weakly, trying to keep her smile in place.

"Should we go back for breakfast?" Harry asked.

"You go first, I think I'll walk around for a bit," Ginny replied. Harry looked concernedly at her, but left her to it, it was good enough they were still friends.

Ginny watched his retreating back, as her five-year crush on Harry Potter crashed around her painfully. Pitiful. Ginny thought to herself.

It was strange really, by anyone else's standards; she was a very lucky girl. She had a large loving family who spoiled her endlessly, and she had no trouble making friends due to her friendly demeanor. Sure her family wasn't rich, and she wasn't exactly known for her brilliant wardrobe, but as people say, it's what's on the inside that counts. Nevertheless, Ginny couldn't help but think she was cursed, cursed to a life of endless misery and pain.

She took in the hurt of her conversation with Harry, as she had before with Tom, it was becoming a ritual. For a long time after the Chamber of Secrets incident, Ginny would wake up in the middle of the night crying out for Tom. It had been so painful, a hurt that no eleven-year-old girl could be expected to fully comprehend. So she cried, not knowing how else to express herself. She cried herself to sleep every night, dreaming about Tom and how dark it had been in the chamber, the atmosphere reeking of hatred.

He had been everything to her, supporting her as she tried to build up a life for herself, never laughing at her for her pettiness. Even now she could hear his laughter, laughter at her simple foolishness and innocence. That night she had lost a part of her soul, as Tom's took over her body, dominating her, crushing her. Of course, Ginny grew up and matured very fast after that, it was necessary, she believed. She had developed a weary acceptance of what had happened to her, although when she recalled Tom she still felt sad and lonely without his soothing presence. It was like she never really grew out of her reliance on him, even after finding the truth she still thought of him as her sole supporter, her guardian.

And now she watched as Harry walked away from her, the distance between them growing further and further apart. It would be another fact for her to accept, to detach herself from this reality. What had she expected anyway? It had been obvious Harry would never return her feelings. The way he'd try to avoid her in the corridors, and how he looked at her sympathetically and winced when she embarrassed herself in front of him. But she had needed him, needed him to protect her from Tom, from herself. Even though she knew that no one could protect her from Tom, the thought of Harry was a comforting one. One that could still her pounding heart when she awoke in the night, crying out "Tom"; tears in her eyes and hugging herself, hands clutching her own shoulders so tightly they bruised.

It had taken her an immense amount of self-control not to break down when people pointed and stared at her, whispering to each other, regardless of her presence. She forced herself to carry herself around with a dignity she did not feel, to smile with a cheerfulness she did not comprehend. And it worked. People began to tire of speculating about her; soon she was just another Weasley, the Chamber of Secrets incident fading into the background as more interesting gossip took its place.

Ginny let out a long breath, it was time to move on. She shrugged at her own reflection in the lake, and headed inside the castle.

~~~

Draco seated himself with an arrogant grace across from Crabbe and Goyle, helping himself to some bacon as he waited for the Owl Post to arrive.

"Care to explain yourself?" came Pansy's voice from above his head. He turned around; Pansy was standing behind him, shaking in anger with a livid expression on her face.

"Come again?" Draco asked calmly, turning back to his bacon.

"I saw you last night, out by the lake with a particular red haired Weasel," she hissed through her teeth.

"I don't see the need to give you an explanation," he said. "What seems to be the problem?"

"Problem?" she asked, her voice rising. "Since when have you taken to keeping company with Weasleys, Draco? I don't see you taking me for midnight walks around the lake."

By this time, everyone at the Slytherin table and most of the other students in the Great Hall had turned to watch the row with interest.

"Weasley is special to me, don't compare yourself to her," Draco replied coldly, aware of the effect his words had made on the Hogwarts students. Immediately, hushed whispers descended the Hall as everyone contemplated what he meant.

Ginny, who had stepped into the Hall just in time to overhear the exchange between the two Slytherins, stood shocked and surprised. By the time she had regained composure, most of the students had noticed her presence and fingers began pointing. She strode over to the Slytherin table, coming to a halt beside Pansy.

"Malfoy, what are you on about? You'll give people the wrong idea! You sound like you like me or something!" she whispered, although it came out as more of a hiss.

"Not sound like, it's the truth. I do like you," Draco replied calmly.

This time, the student populace didn't even bother to conceal their whispers, openly discussing this surprising announcement from Draco Malfoy. Ginny could see Harry and Hermione trying to force a purple faced Ron back into his seat. To his left, the twins were equally outraged, both an extraordinary shade of red.

"Shut up!" Ginny half shouted. "Do you want my brothers to come after you and hex you into next week?"

"Oh but weren't you the one who wanted us to stop hating each other, Virginia?" Draco asked, thoroughly enjoying himself.

He must've gotten off the wrong side of bed this morning, he thought to himself. He felt a rare sense of freedom as he said his mind, wanting to burst into laughter at the surprise he had instilled on the Hogwarts populace. He wasn't really sure what made him say all this, but he knew he would regret it later when his father heard about what happened. But for now, he planned to indulge himself.

Ginny stared at him for a long moment, trying to grasp his meaning, was he mocking her?

"Too bad," Pansy began. "She's a Weasley, and a Gryffindor. You could never be with her, your father would never allow it," she concluded, a satisfied look on her face.

"Just like I will never be with you," Draco replied calmly. He looked up as the owls began flocking in, completely ignoring Pansy who stood fuming behind him.

"You don't have a say in the matter! You know your father will make you marry me; we're destined to be a couple. Play around with all the girls you want Draco, but in the end you will come crawling back to me," Pansy shrieked, storming out of the Great Hall with tears in her eyes.

Draco stilled his shaking hand, trying to control his anger. How dare she mention his father to him? If it weren't for his father, he would've made sure she got transferred to Durmstrang by now.

He looked up in surprise at Ginny, he had forgotten all about her.

"Draco Malfoy, explain yourself!" she demanded, cheeks red. Draco could've sworn there was steam coming out of her ears.

He looked wistfully at the half-eaten bacon on his plate and sighed. He drained his goblet of pumpkin juice and got up. Taking her hand, he led her outside onto the grounds, turning to face her. He winced, as he saw her expression.

"Do you have to look at me like that?" he whined. There was no reply. "Look, I'm sorry, I was just having a little fun back there -"

"Is that it? What Pansy said? You're just trying to shag every girl in school before you have to get married off to her? Well wipe me off that list Draco Malfoy, I will never sleep with you!" Ginny shouted suddenly.

"Leave Pansy out of this," he said irritably. What was she on about? He didn't want to sleep with her.

"And here I thought I was beginning to understand you. Well, silly me for thinking you had a heart!" she continued, "I can't believe it, all this time you just wanted me for sex? What is it with me and assholes? They just keep coming one after the other!" she spat, turning around and walking back to the castle.

Draco just stood there, unable to move, staring as her form disappeared from view. He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair, staring out at the lake. He knew he was going to regret his little show at breakfast. Damn Pansy, she had the knack for ruining everything for him. He slowly traced Ginny's footsteps back to the castle.

~~~

Ginny stormed up the front steps toward the entrance of the castle, her happy mood from this morning forgotten. She wasn't sure who she was angrier with, Malfoy for being a shallow idiot or herself for believing in him. She stopped at the doors as she heard a muffled sob to her left. She turned around and retraced her steps down the stairs, walking around to the side of the castle. Pansy Parkinson was crouched by a bush, her face in her hands. Ginny approached her slowly, not knowing what to say. Pansy rounded on her suddenly, her expression irate and menacing.

"Stay away from Draco," she hissed at Ginny, cheeks damp with tears.

"Believe me, I never want to have anything to do with him again," Ginny drawled, her face pulled into a disgusted frown.

Pansy only stared at her, mistrust written across her features. Ginny stared back defiantly at the disheveled blond in front of her.

"Why do you let him treat you like that?" Ginny found herself asking. The blond only glared at her. "He's a jerk, no matter how rich or good looking he may seem to you, he will never give you happiness. Why marry someone like him and waste your life like that?"

"What would you know?" Pansy said coldly, regaining her frosty demeanor. "He's everything to me. And if anyone-" she paused, glaring at Ginny, "tries to steal him from me, I will make sure their existence is erased permanently."

She finished her words and stormed past Ginny.

~~~

Draco was having a particularly hard time dealing with women in the coming weeks. They seemed to have dubbed him the source of all problems any woman could have, and therefore snuffed their noses at him whenever he approached. It was a lonely fortnight he passed without companionship, and he was still trying to figure out what had gotten into Ginny. Her words echoed in his ears, and he found that he did not want the Weasley to misunderstand him. For some reason, it seemed awfully important to him, for her to know that he wasn't being nice to her to get her into bed. Draco stretched absently as he sat in Professor Binns' class, wondering what he could do to make it up to her.

Why did she have to be a Gryffindor anyway? How was he supposed to get a chance to talk with her when her brothers surrounded her constantly? He grinned suddenly, the first thing he had to do was establish a form of communication. Feeling happier with himself, he leaned to his left, waking Crabbe from his snoring.

"I'm going into Hogsmeade after lunch, cover for me," he instructed. Crabbe nodded slightly and fell back into his coma.

~~~

Ginny was exhausted from a day of rigorous classes; she stomped into her dormitory and threw her bag under the bed. She sank into the softness of the bed, burying her face in a pillow.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Ginny looked up in annoyance, there was a snowy white owl flapping outside her window. Surprised, Ginny walked over to the window and opened it; somehow it didn't seem to be Hedwig. The owl swooped past her and landed on her bed, cocking its head to the side as if studying her. It stuck its leg out to her and Ginny realized it was carrying a message; she untied it from the owl's leg. The parchment had elegant loopy writing set into it with dark green ink.

Virginia,

Meet me at the Owlery now. It's important.

D.M.

Ginny frowned. Of all places to meet, why the Owlery? She looked up as the owl flew back out the window. Curious, she quickly made her way up to the Owlery. Malfoy stood facing the sunset as she walked in, coughing slightly so he would notice her presence. He turned around and she put on an irritated expression at the sight of his grin.

"So?" she said, raising an eyebrow.

"I wanted to show you something." he replied, walking over to the far side of the room, as he gestured for her to do the same. She followed reluctantly until they were standing in front of a pair of Snowy Owls.

"Isn't this the owl that just delivered the message?" she pointed at the owl on her left, it's body was made up of snowy white feathers, a spot of brown on one side of its neck. Malfoy nodded in reply.

"She's yours," he stated simply.

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked in confusion.

"Honestly Virginia, you are so slow, you could probably give Crabbe and Goyle a run for their money," he drawled, Ginny glared at him in annoyance. "They're a pair, this one-" he gestured to the one on the left, "is yours, and this one-" he moved to the one on the right, "is mine."

"Alright," Ginny began. "And you got me an owl because?" she prompted him.

"As you've probably noticed, I am a Slytherin and you are a Gryffindor," he explained.

"Oh really? I hadn't noticed, after all it's only been what, four years?" she remarked sarcastically. Ignoring her, Malfoy went on.

"Therefore, it's hard for me to contact you when I need to speak with you. I figure it will be easier for communication between us if we had an owl each. They'll be able to find us under any circumstances," he finished with a grin.

Ginny stared at him; he thought he could get back into her good books by giving her an owl? The nerve of him!

"I have to go to dinner," she said coldly, turning to leave. Malfoy held her arm, turning her back round.

"Wait, there's something else I want to give you. But it'll have to wait till the sun sets fully," he paused to study her reaction; she stared at him blankly. "It won't take long?" he tried. Ginny sighed and went over to the pair of owls, stroking their soft feathers and ignoring him. He smirked and leaned against the wall, studying her as they waited for the sun to go down.

At last the sun disappeared beyond the horizon, and the Owlery went into a flutter as the owls awoke and began to fly out for their hunt. Ginny watched as the pair of Snowy owls took off, and turned to face Malfoy.

"Well?" she demanded impatiently.

"Feisty," he concluded, shaking his head slightly.