Matters of Blood and Connection

Chapter 7: Set Into Motion

Ginny's lips twitched slightly as she entered the Great Hall and sat down beside Hermione, Ron, and Harry at breakfast that morning. She carefully observed the students coming in and was worried when she didn't see a certain blond Slytherin saunter in arrogantly.

"What are you looking at?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing," said Ginny distractedly.

"It's something," piped up Harry. "You've been acting funny lately. Are you all right?"

"Fine, Harry," Ginny said, without looking at her friends.

Her eyes widened slightly as Blaise and Draco walked in and went straight to the Slytherin table without stopping or looking at her. She watched them chat quietly to each other, and she vaguely wondered if Pansy would show up today.

"What are you doing?" Hermione hissed suddenly. "Stop staring or you're going to make him come over here."

"This isn't what it looks like," said Ginny quietly. "I'll explain later if you'll just ignore what you just saw. I don't want Ron or Harry to find out and overreact."

"If you're in some kind of trouble-"

Ginny's eyes narrowed as she stared at the brunette and stood up slowly. Her anger at her friend's pushiness decreased as Draco's gray eyes locked with hers and his lips turned upward into a small smile. He seemed to be reading her thoughts exactly, as he got up from between Blaise and Goyle and waited for her to move.

It seemed like the air was fresher in the hallway as Ginny stepped out into it. She walked a few steps and wasn't surprised when she heard someone behind her clear their throat.

"Have they been giving you a hard time?"

Before she could answer she felt his arms snake around her waist and pull her back against his chest.

"Hermione was bugging me," the redhead said softly. "She wanted me to stop staring at you, because you might have come over."

"And did what?" Draco asked with amusement. "I not looking to have my parts hexed off, you know."

Ginny's body rumbled against his lightly as she giggled. "Oh, that's lovely. I'm sure that would get you far if you're ever on the end of another Bat-Bogey Hex."

"You're a good shot," he said kindly into her ear. "I didn't even see that coming."

Ginny turned in his arms and rested her head against his chest. "Well, what did you expect from all of your insults towards my family and me?"

Draco shrugged and brushed his lips against her forehead as she stared up at him. "I honestly didn't think you had it in you to curse me. Back then, you were just a little redheaded annoyance." He smiled as she shot him a glare. "But you've changed since then. Everyone has. Now, tell me, when are we going to start this deception?"

Ginny shrugged and looked at him. "It's all up to Nott and whether he wants to believe it."

"Talk to him for a few weeks, become friends, and then realize that you've actually started developing feelings for the slug. He's bound to believe it, because he's already envisioning getting close to you."

Ginny considered this for a few moments before saying, "What if something goes wrong?"

Draco frowned at her then and pressed his lips against her cheek. "If he suspects something, you get yourself out, understand me? Just because he likes you it doesn't mean he won't hurt you, if he knows you've double-crossed him."

Ginny sighed and wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him closer, her breath slow. "This is blackmail."

"Yes, it is." Draco said quietly. "But it's the only way to ensure that I don't get expelled."

Ginny shook her head and stepped back, glancing up at him, her eyes cool. "This is really risky."

"But you agreed last night-"

A low growl erupted from the redhead suddenly, and Draco found himself taking a few steps back. He knew how she was, how bad her temper got at times, and how sorry she felt afterward. He knew that she must have felt a little insecure about what she was doing, even if it was all for him.

"You don't have to do this, Ginny," he said after a moment. "It was selfish of me to even ask you to."

Her brown eyes widened and she leaned up, brushing her lips against his, and sliding her fingers through his shaggy blond hair. She felt him respond very enthusiastically. As her back hit the cold stone wall, she gasped into his mouth, and her fingers trembled as they looped around his neck.

"I don't want you to get expelled," whispered the girl softly as she hugged him. "And I don't see any other way."

Draco's lips curved into a smile and he kissed her again, slowly at first, and then applied more pressure. "I really appreciate this, and I promise I'll make it up to you, okay?"

"Okay." Ginny smiled.

Draco grinned at her. "I think it's time to play the game."

* * *

It was later that night when Draco received an owl instructing him to meet Ginny in the Great Hall. He took one look at the parchment and hurried to gather his cloak and wand that were somewhere around his dorm. He hadn't heard from her since for the rest of the day after they set their plan into motion.

He had begun to feel anxious as he reached walked through the Entrance Hall. When and he pushed the doors to the Great Hall open Draco to revealed his redheaded girlfriend sitting on the bench closest to the door. He swallowed hard at what his eyes caught sight of; Ginny was staring at him, her lips curled into a tiny smile, and her body clothed in a thin, short black nightgown.

When the blond finally found his voice again, he nearly growled out, "Is this why you wanted to see me?" He stepped forward, bent down and crushed his lips against hers, his hands brushing her warm, bare shoulders.

"As much as I enjoyed the look on your face, as well as your lips-"

"What happened with Nott?" asked Draco directly. He was afraid, if he didn't get straight to the point, he would definitely shag her on the table right then and there.

Ginny watched him sit beside her and frowned slightly as he avoided her gaze. "Well," she said, "I managed to talk to him a little bit before he-"

"He what?"

She swallowed and looked at the floor. "Oh, Draco, he kissed me."

The blond said nothing in response to her confession. Instead, he stood up quickly and walked toward the door. He heard her utter a noise behind him, but didn't turn as he stepped out into the hallway.

Game over, Nott.