Melting Ice

The redheaded girl looked out over the empty grounds. Well, she thought they were empty. From her vantage point in the tower, she suddenly saw a flash of platinum blonde hair under a tree. The sun shone behind him, making him look almost like an angel. Before she could stop to think why she was doing it, she was exiting the Gryffindor common room and heading down through the castle to the front gates. She approached him quietly, somewhat shyly. Her voice was soft as she spoke. “Draco?”

Her brothers and their friends would all have fits if they saw her out here with him, but she didn’t care. She was drawn to him, she didn’t know why. It’s not like he’d ever been nice to her, or even noticed her, other than to torment her for her crush on her brother’s best friend, Harry. She’d outgrown that fairly quickly, once she realized that he was never going to look at her that way.

The pale blonde boy looked up quickly, his customary sneer in place. “Well, well, if the little puppy isn’t out slumming....” He couldn’t help but notice her quick blush even as fire flashed in her eyes. The tips of her ears stayed a bit red as she shook her head, as if to say “What did I expect?”

“Fine. I came out here to be nice. I know Professor McGonagall was hard on you, and I was going to offer to help... But I can tell when I’m not wanted...” If Draco hadn’t really been listeneing, he probably wouldn’t have heard her whispered, “I certainly have enough practice at that from the Trio...” His eyes widened as he watched her retreating back...

*****

At breakfast, he couldn’t help himself. His eyes were drawn to her flaming red hair as she sat between the two other sixth year girls. For the first time, he noticed that she rarely looked at Harry Potter, and that her eyes were cold when she did. But when she happened to glance at him, then he saw the fire in her chocolate gaze. “Oh, Potter, you bloody twit... How did you ever miss this goddess when she would have done anything for you?” He didn’t acknowledge the rest of his thought, that he wished she felt that way about him. The very idea startled him, though nothing of his thoughts showed on his face. He’d learned early never to show emotion. The world could collapse around him and he’d still look like he just came from the tailor.

Ginny felt him staring at her. She didn’t know why, but she knew it was him. The back of her neck tingled with anticipation. She quickly pushed her plate away and stood, leaving the great hall quickly. She muttered under her breath, “Stupid git... not like he’s really going to follow anyway...” When she heard the reply whispered behind her, she jumped.

“Not like who won’t follow, Virginia? The blind idiot who lived....” His voice dropped even lower, if that were possible. “Or perhaps someone a little more dangerous?” She blushed, and he smirked, his eyes following her as she headed off to her first class before he sauntered down to potions.

*****

Hermione Granger glanced at her friend, asleep in the chair next to the fire. There was a ghost of a smile on Ginny’s face, and she hadn’t seen that in a very long time. She looked to her two best friends, but they were too caught up in a game of Wizard’s Chess to notice either of the girls. She sighed. It was often like that, though they paid her more attention than they did anyone else. Unfortunately, that attention often led to tension. She was torn between them sometimes, not sure which one really held her heart. Sometimes, she was sure it was Harry, he could read her mind and often knew what she was thinking with just a quick glance to her face. But other times, she thought it might be Ron, with his jokes and his quick defense of her. She wished for the peace she saw on Ginny’s face.

Then she noticed the sketchbook open on Ginny’s lap. Her eyes widened as she noticed the trademark smirk and the cold reflection caught so perfectly with charcoal and paper. She caught herself before she gasped, not wanting to draw Ron or Harry’s attention to what Ginny’d been drawing. With a confused look still in her eyes, she closed the sketchbook and placed it back on Ginny’s lap. Then she walked up to her room, as Head Girl, she didn’t have to share, and curled up on her bed to do some serious thinking.

*****

Ginny awoke late that night, still in the common room. Ron and Harry hadn’t even noticed she was still there, but she wasn’t really surprised by that. She headed to her prefect’s room, and slept until late the next morning. It was Saturday, so there were no classes to worry about. After a leisurely breakfast, with no sign of the Trio, she wandered off to her favorite tree near the lake to work on some more sketches.

From memory, she sketched him under the tree, not sure if the haunted look she drew was real or if she’d imagined it.

Draco stood behind her, silently watching as his face appeared under her fingers. He couldn’t believe she’d captured him so well. He reached down, before he could stop himself. Her hair felt like silk under his hand. Her voice was soft as she spoke. “Do you like the sketch, Draco? Or just watching me?”

He stilled. “It’s not bad, Little Weasel...” His tone belied his words, a softness she’d never heard from him under the harsh, sneering syllables.

“You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if your face froze like that, Malfoy...” He couldn’t help it. He laughed, a genuine, heartfelt laugh, probably the first anyone had seen from him since he had come to Hogwarts. And all because she, a Weasley, had managed a decent comeback.

“Maybe you’re not as hopeless as your brother...” She froze, though not from his words. The familiar laughs of the Trio startled her as she saw them approaching. “Well, well, speak of the Weasel, with Potty and Smartypants too... “ He’d dropped the “Mudblood” term, figuring it’d be stupid to make the Head Girl, or the Head Boy, take away points, even if he was a prefect.

Ron hissed as he noticed his sister and Malfoy. “Ginny! Is this prat bothering you?” Harry sighed and glanced at Hermione. He really didn’t want to have to use his Head Boy position, and figured she didn’t want to remind Ron that she was Head Girl.

“No, Ron, we were actually having a nice conversation...” Ginny glanced up, her warm gaze catching Draco’s cold, silver one. “In fact, Draco’s offered to help me with potions...” She knew perfectly well he’d done no such thing, but the look on Ron’s face was well worth it. Harry and Hermione looked shocked, though ‘Mione was less so. Ginny stood, noting Draco’s continued silence. “Right then, if you’ll excuse me... Draco, after dinner in the library?” He nodded, wondering just what she was up to. He watched her as she slipped off, his eyes betraying nothing.

“Stay away from my sister, Ferret...” Ron was almost purple with rage.

“Weasel, she is the one you should be warning away from me...” Draco spun on his heel and headed back to the castle himself, green trimmed robes flowing out behind him. He could almost hear Ron’s sputtering as he entered the castle.

*****

Draco sat at the Slytherin table, quietly eating dinner, while trying to keep Pansy’s hands off his body. She had some foolish idea that they were meant to be together, but he really couldn’t tolerate her at all. He caught sight of Ginny’s red hair at the Gryffindor table and wondered just what she was up to. He was meeting her in the library though, just to find out what she was up to. He noticed her push her plate away and stand, slinging her bookbag up onto her shoulder, narrowly missing hitting Potter right in the head with it. He smirked, fighting the urge to snicker. After she’d slipped out the door, he stood himself and headed for the library.

He caught sight of her seated at a table, her potions book in front of her as well as a piece of parchment. She idly twirled her quill around her fingers, looking up as though she sensed him come in, when he knew he hadn’t made a sound. The quick smile she flashed him was enough to make his eyes flash, proving that he wasn’t made of ice.

“So, just what’s all this about, Little Weasel?” His voice was soft, more teasing than cruel.

“I just wanted to see the looks on their faces. They ignore me all the bloody time, unless I’m doing something they don’t approve of...” She smiled softly, a blush on her cheeks as the words slipped out.

The two sat in a companionable silence, both working on potions homework. Draco would occasionally glance over at what Ginny wrote and point out things that could be changed, as he was the top student in potions.

*****

Breakfast the next morning was a stilted affair. Ron, and Harry kept trying to lecture her about Draco. Hermione surprisingly said little, neither to help nor hinder the boys. After about the fifth time Ron forbid her to spend time with him, she stood, her eyes flaming. “Ronald Weasley, I will spend my time with whoever I want to. It’s not like your or your friends can bother with me when I’m not doing something you don’t like, so why don’t you just bugger off!” The last words were practically screamed as she stared down at her brother. She grabbed her bag and left, before anyone could do or say anything to stop her. Draco’s eyes followed her, a new appreciation glinting in their silver depths.

*****

The day passed quickly for both of them. Instead of going to lunch, Ginny slipped down to the kitchens, where the house elves gave her all she wanted to eat and drink. After her last class, she was sitting out by the tree again, half hoping Draco would come to see her. But he didn’t, most likely because the Trio wasn’t far away and they were watching Ginny very closely.

At dinner, Ginny sat at with the other sixth year girls at the end of the table, as far from her brother as she could get. Even still, she could feel his eyes on her. Then Headmaster Dumbledore stood.

“Students, it gives me great pleasure to announce that we will be continuing our tradition of the last three years by having a Yule Ball, just before the beginning of the holidays. However, as it’s a year where we have much to celebrate, we will also have a harvest ball, at the end of this month. Fourth years and up will be permitted to attend. Dress robes are mandatory.” He sat down, and the food magically appeared on the table.

Ginny glanced over to the Slytherin table, catching Draco’s eye, hoping he understood by her nod, that she needed to talk to him. She held up her book, before returning to her dinner, hoping he’d realize that meant she would meet him in the library.

She headed out quickly after dinner, stopping only when Harry grabbed her arm. “Gin.. about the ball...”

Her eyes turned to ice. “Harry, don’t start. You only want to go with me cause Ron’s afraid I’ll go with Draco... You didn’t even know I was alive otherwise...” She glared at his hand on her arm until he let go and then she headed quickly to the library.

Draco didn’t wait long to join her, the fast he got away from Pansy Parkinson’s hands, the better for him. He was still shuddering in revulsion as he entered the library.

“What’s up, Weasel?”

“I have a proposition for you, Malfoy...” Her eyes gleamed and he couldn’t help but smirk as he replied.

“What? And what’s in it for me?”

“Well, I’ve noticed lately, that Pansy seems to be all over you, and that you don’t seem to fond of her... And Harry seems to have some idea that he needs to help Ron protect me... So I was hoping you’d go with me to the ball...”

She spoke softly, so softly that he had to really think about what she’d said to make sure he’d heard her right...

“So, you want me to go to the ball with you to keep Harry from asking you? Still not sure what’s in it for me...”

“You can keep Pansy off you a bit easier if you tell her you already have a date...” She blushed, her ears turning almost as red as her hair.

He mused quietly, thinking about the idea. Then he nodded. “The idea has merit... Alright...” He muttered the last word. She barely heard him, but when it sunk it, she smiled. Then she stood, gathered her books, kissed his cheek quickly and headed up to her common room, leaving a very stunned Slytherin in her wake.

*****

When the night of the ball arrived, Ginny was not speaking to Ron. He’d asked her who she was going with and she’d refused to answer. Harry’d tried as well, but she was still talking to him. Hermione’d surprised her. The Head Girl had refused Ron’s invitation, telling him he was being a prat to his sister. She’d then asked Harry to go with her. Ron had finally asked Lavendar Brown, who had a huge crush on him, to go.

Ginny was in Hermione’s room with her. Her dress robes lay across the bed, next to the older girl’s. Ginny stood, wrapped in a fluffy, green robe, with her hair up, falling in a waterfall of curls down her back. An open magazine lay next to each robe and Ginny had just finished the spell to transfigure her robes.

“Mione, why are Harry and my brother being such prats? They don’t even know I’m going with him... They just know that he and I are friends and they can’t accept it...”

“Because they’re boys, Gin. Plus, it’s not like Malfoy’s given them, or me even, any reason to like him...”

“But it’s my decision who I choose to be friends with.. Why can’t they at least accept that?”

“They just don’t want you to get hurt, Ginny...” Hermione smiled sadly as Ginny scowled. The girls slipped into their newly transfigured dress robes, Ginny in a soft green that brought out the color of her hair. Ginny turned to the mirror and admired the way the new robe clung to her curves.

“It’s not like I’m a little girl anymore, ‘Mione... I’m sixteen... I don’t tell Ron he can’t be friends with you or Harry.. No matter how many times you three have almost gotten killed together...” A regal looking owl flew in the window as Ginny spoke, landing in front of the redhead and placing a package before her. As she opened the note, the owl flew out again.

    Weasel,

    Can’t have you ruining my reputation... These are for you.

    D.

She opened the box to see a silver necklace with a tiny emerald dragon pendant. Two tiny emerald earrings were next to the pendant. She smiled and began to hook the earrings in. As she transfigured her watch to match the jewelry, she turned to Hermione. “Well, how do I look?”

“You look fantastic...” Hermione smiled and modeled her own crimson robes. Ginny returned the compliment and they walked out into the common room. Hermione headed straight for Harry, who looked awestruck. Ginny smiled at them before she scowled at Ron, who was still waiting for Lavendar, and headed out through the portrait hole.

*****

Draco was waiting in an empty classroom. His forest green robes suited his pale coloring perfectly, and he knew it. He brushed at an imagined bit of lint while he waited. He still wasn’t sure what had possessed him to send the jewelry, but he also hoped she hadn’t misunderstood the teasing in his note.

Then she walked into the classroom and his breath caught in his throat. Her long, red hair fell down her back in curls from the crown of her head, a few loose tendrils curling around her face. The emeralds glinted in her ears and at the center of her collarbone. The soft, green robes clung to each and every curve, ending just above her knees.

She slipped her hand into his and he smiled as she spoke. “Shall we?”

“Yeah, let’s go see if we can shock everyone...” He knew that Hermione Granger was the only one who knew they would be arriving together. They entered the great hall, everyone else was already there.

The room grew strangely silent as the two entered. Ron looked as if he were going to explode. The professors looked back and forth, mouths half open with shock. Ginny caught Hermione’s eye and smiled. Hermione returned the smile, hand still firmly in Harry’s.

Draco led Ginny right out onto the dance floor, the band suddenly remembering to play. The music was soft and slow as Ginny slid into his arms. Over the past month, they’d become good friends, though still a bit wary of this. She fit perfectly into his arms, her head resting against his shoulder. Some unspoken agreement kept both of them from thinking about how right it felt to be there together.

She could feel the eyes on them. The fury in Ron’s and the jealousy in Pansy’s, the curiosity in everyone else’s and even some of the pride from the professors and Hermione. But Ginny blocked all of that out, focusing on Draco instead. He’d become the first real friend she had of her own. She had other friends, like Hermione, but they were usually her brothers’ friends first. Draco was hers alone. He’d even toned down his insults in public, making sure that she could hear the teasing note in his voice and keeping his housemates away from her.

“Virginia?” His voice was soft, a whisper meant for her alone. “You look beautiful...” She smiled as she looked up at him and reached to brush a stray lock of soft, silver-blonde hair from his eyes.

“You’re not so bad yourself, Draco...” Her eyes showed him that she thought he looked incredible, even more handsome than normal, though her pride would never allow her to come right out and say so.