Pride

Chapter 2 - Hunt

Ginny could sense another presence as she walked down the hallway towards class. She was late for Potions, which made her an easy target for Snape's belittlement, especially since she had been bumped up a level at the beginning of the term. She already felt out of place being a year younger than everyone else. She didn't need Snape rescinding his decision to allow her in his advanced class in front of the Trio and any other important people for that matter.

She sighed as she neared the dungeons and then suddenly halted, looking around. "Is someone there?" she called out, her voice high. "Hello?"

"You're late, too, I see," a voice drawled silkily behind her, causing her heart to leap into her throat.

Ginny spun around, bumping into the one person she knew who could make her day even worse.

"I think I might have to deduct points, Weaslette." Draco Malfoy stood before her, his pale face partially shadowed by the darkness that presented itself in this section of the castle.

"I could just have Hermione take points from your house; she is Head Girl now, Malfoy," Ginny feebly yet confidently retorted with a hard look in her eyes.

"That did not make any sense," Malfoy replied haughtily, glaring at the petite redhead. "The Mudblood can't do something like that. She needs a bloody reason to deduct points, Weasley. Of course you wouldn't know such things, having never been in a position of power or authority - or overburdened with an abundance of brains." He smirked at her then stepped sideways, hoping to reach his destination before she did, but then the door swung open and ―Bang―

Ginny was satisfied to see Malfoy jump at the sound.

"What is going on here?" Professor Snape's black eyes surveyed the scene in front of him. "Is there a problem?" the imposing Potions professor asked as he watched the two teenagers attempt to creep into his classroom - late.

Draco's eyes narrowed as he faced the Potions Master. "No, Sir."

"Good." Snape sniffed as he looked down at his cocky yet favoured student. "Now get inside!" he added with a bark to Ginny, who jumped and scrambled to find a seat.

One minute, three snide remarks, one bellow, and two slaps to the head with rolled up parchment later, Draco and Ginny, much to their dismay, were finally seat - side by side.

"You are to be partners," Snape said in a low tone as glared at the two of them. The rest of the class worked diligently while Snape turned to the tardy duo. "You will work together for the next six weeks to achieve a passing grade," he said through gritted teeth as both looked up at him in horror and shock. Since when were were separate houses put to work together? Never? Almost never? What kind of punishment was this?

Ginny was about to speak up and ask when Snape turned and strode away, leaving them to their own displeasing thoughts about the project.

"Great," Draco muttered out loud without reproach from his stodgy and fastidious Head of House.

Ginny remained quiet. She was playing with the brass latch on her bag, and Draco solemnly wondered if she had stolen it.

"Tell me something, Weaslette," he began as he watched her raise her head, her red hair falling past her shoulders. "Who did you take that bag from?"

The Gryffindor's head shot up, and her eyes narrowed. "Shut up, Malfoy," she hissed.

"Why were you late?" he asked as he leaned in closer, letting her failure to answer his previous question slide. He just wanted to bug her regardless. "Were you waiting for Nott?" He watched her lip twitch as she turned her head, her eyes sharp.

"How did you know about that?" she asked.

"He told me you two were fucking around," he replied casually.

Ginny raised her hand, having half a mind to slap him; however, she did not want to sink to his level.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" she said through gritted teeth, much like how Snape had earlier. She watched him stiffen, and his lip curled into a characteristic sneer.

"Well, which is it, Weasley?" he asked seriously, causing her to become emotionally charged.

"Excuse me?" she demanded aloud.

Several heads lifted as Draco continued, "You heard me - are you fucking him or just using him to get back at someone?" He smiled coldly, and sent chills down Ginny's body.

She turned away from him. "Since when do you care, Malfoy?"

"Since you began ruining my friend's life, Weaslette," Draco stated.

"I d-didn't," Ginny stuttered, her eyes hard as she stood up. Professor Snape rose simultaneously with the redhead. "You have no right to make these insinuations about me!"

She grabbed her bag, half of her papers falling to the floor, and exited the room. The Potions Master's booming voice following closely behind her.

When she finally made it to the Gryffindor common room, she came across a serious looking Harry, who was sitting on one of the lounges, watching Ginny as she strode into the room. She caught his concerned expression and frowned.

"You look annoyed. Are you alright?" she asked him.

Harry's eyes rose to meet hers, and he stood up, crossing his arms over his chest. He stared at the books in her hand, stepping forward until he backed her against the nearest wall.

"No," he replied softly.

She heard something else in his voice, something that she didn't like.

"I'm not, Ginny," he replied as he ran a steady hand through his hair and shook his head. "I want to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me." She held her breath. "Are you seeing Theodore Nott?"

The young girl stared at him, her look of confusion evident. "Harry," she protested with a tiny smile on her lips. "Do you think I'd go sneaking around with a dirty Slytherin, a Death Eater's son, even?"

Harry looked unconvinced. "Then why has Malfoy been telling everyone that you've been caught with Nott - on more than one occasion - snogging?"

"What?" Ginny glared, her lip curling. "That's ridiculous! Harry, you know me better than that!"

His eyes were dark, and he was giving her a look that made her uncomfortable. "I thought I did."

Ginny sighed, throwing her hands up. "Listen to yourself! You're accepting suspicions from Malfoy!"

"It makes sense," Harry retorted. "You have been acting weird lately."

Just as Ginny was about to rejoin when Hermione entered looking grim.

"What is going on here?" she asked. "I can hear you from down the hallway." The brunette frowned, looking at both of her friends disapprovingly.

"She's―forget it." He stared at Hermione and shrugged.

"Ginny," Hermione turned to the other girl. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, Mione."

She was such a good liar that it almost scared her.

---

Draco slammed the book shut, earning a reproachful glare from Madam Pince and the other students in the library. He ignored their shushes and irately ran a hand through his shaggy blond hair. He growled slightly as he caught sight of Theodore walking towards him, his eyes glued to the stupid book in his hand.

"Where's your pet?" Draco called out, smirking.

Theo looked up, his dark eyes narrowing. He swept his hair from his face and stopped in front of the other Slytherin.

"Why are you asking?" he inquired and tilted his head slightly, taking a seat to the table nearest.

"Curiosity, mate." Draco nodded firmly, leaning back in his chair. "That girl has caused a rift between you and your friends. It's not surprising more than one person wants the relationship to end." He smiled a truly devious smile, knowing that Theo would trust him entirely.

Draco was a truly clever and cunning Slytherin. He was not putting all of his effort into making sure that Theo was being taken care of. It wasn't his vanity that Draco was catering to. This was all about how it could benefit Draco Malfoy. After all, that's what being a Slytherin was about - manipulating others at their own expense, hurt the ones who deserved it, and never regret it.

"Ginny and I have talked about this, Draco." Theodore looked grim, his lip twitching slightly. "She's not daft. She knows the consequences," he added softly. "What are you doing here anyway? I thought you had class."

Draco's eyes flickered dangerously, and he reopened the book that he had been reading. "This is part of the class," he replied simply. "I am working on a Potions assignment." He looked up at Theo and smirked. "In fact, it might interest you to know that I am partnered with your girlfriend."

Theo frowned. "She never mentioned that to me," he said slowly and then smirked, himself. "Well, I can understand why she would want to hide it."

"And why exactly would she want to do that?" Draco asked, biting back the snarl threatening to erupt from his throat.

"Oh, come off it, Draco," Theo laughed. "You know she detests you."

Draco had to laugh too. "She only hates me because that's what she's been told to do all her life."

"Ginny has a mind of her own," Theo said seriously. "She knows how horrible your family really is, especially your father."

The pale boy's hand shot out, gripping the other around the throat so suddenly that Theo had no time to run. Draco pinned him against the table, his head slamming against the wood.

"You will do well to take that comment back, Nott," he demanded rather evenly.

Theo's fist came against the platinum-haired boy's jaw, sending him crashing to the floor. As Theo turned to leave, he stopped dead. Ginny was staring at him, her eyes wide and unbelieving.