In the Bleak Midwinter

Chapter Four: I Would Do My Part

"Harry," Ginny called softly, and the young man peering pensively into the fire looked up sharply. His vibrant green eyes came slowly into focus until he was able to recognize the pajama-clad girl, bathed softly in firelight.

Remembering Ginny's unjustified tears, Harry felt fear and concern lock in his stomach. "Ginny? Are you all right?"

Ginny smiled at him, shoving fiery hair behind her shoulder and thumping down onto the couch beside him. "Fine, thanks to you."

Harry raised an eyebrow and tried to ignore how close she was to him. "What did I do?"

For a brief moment, Ginny's eyes clouded over with the memory of some nightmare that was lost to him. "You comforted me when I was... in pain. And you didn't tell my brother, which is an amazing feat, seeing as he is one of your best friends."

Harry noticed how hard it was for Ginny to acknowledge the pain and fear she had been feeling--and showing--of late. What was hurting her so much? Why was it so hard for her to face? He then remembered an encounter of a few days before; he remembered discovering Malfoy with his hand locked on Ginny's arm. "Ginny?" Her thin, pale face turned up to his. "May I ask--what's going on between you and Malfoy?"

Ginny looked down again, and Harry misread her reluctance to answer, taking it to be a sign of Malfoy's guilt. "No, Harry, you may not," she replied, only sealing Harry's suspicion.

Harry put a gentle hand on her slender arm. "You can't keep it inside of yourself. I promise not to tell Ron--"

Ginny stood up suddenly, and Harry's hand dropped heavily to the couch cushion. "I meant what I said," she snapped, her body tense. "You have no right to ask questions."

She turned back to the stairs leading up to her dormitory, her eyes blazing, but Harry immediately sought to mend his outspokenness. "Never mind, then. Don't go--we don't have to talk about it."

Ginny stopped and turned back to him, her shoulders relaxed, but her amber eyes still challenging. "Actually, I think I'm kind of tired. But I mean it, Harry, thank you for everything. Your gift, your comfort, and your trustworthiness." She practically spat the last word out.

Harry's eyes pleaded with her to stay, his need laid bare in his desperation not to let her walk away angry. "Gin--"

"Goodnight, Harry." With that, she turned and ascended the stairs, and Harry watched with disappointment as the last glinting color of her flaming hair dissolved into the shadows of the girl's dormitories.

(&)

Draco breathed in the crisp air of the new day from the window of his dormitory. Leaning out dangerously to survey the winter panorama, he decided that the landscape reminded him of Ginny; it was chilled and removed, but still beautiful and untouchable.

I must not be fully awake yet, Draco thought to himself as he realized how many other confusing emotions were laced into his assessment. Retreating back into his room, he shut out the frosted winter world with a click of the window latch. Perhaps, a sly voice murmured in Draco's mind, you're letting that charm get to you.

But Ginny hadn't know what the charm meant upon giving the gift--had she? Surely it was all a mistake. Draco shouldn't get all riled up about it.

These attempts at calm thoughts did nothing to console Draco. After all, a perfectly eligible, good-looking girl had just given him a gift that could be taken as a declaration of certain complicated--if not unwanted--feelings.

No, no, no! Draco's head screamed. Sure, she was pretty and more likeable by far than Draco had expected, but there was one minor difficulty. Minor, mind you--after all, their families were only mortal enemies.

Hey, it worked with Romeo and Juliet, Draco's inner voice stated, before caustically adding, before they died tragic, misunderstood deaths.

Confused by his emotions and all the events of the past few days, Draco abruptly ended his conversation with himself and began getting dressed for breakfast.

(&)

Ginny avoided Harry at breakfast, sitting at the other end of the table between Seamus Finnegan and Dennis Creevey. Although she could feel Harry's eyes on her, she did not look at him.

After all, what right had he to push his nose into her business? It was bad enough having six older brothers. Was Harry becoming overly protective too? Ginny stabbed a potato angrily, feeling defensive.

"What did that poor potato do to you?" A soft Irish voice chuckled.

Ginny looked up sharply to find Seamus grinning. "Nothing," Ginny said lamely, feeling as though she should reply.

Seamus grin faded and his eyes became concerned. "What's the matter, Ginny?"

This was the wrong question. Jumping up from her seat, Ginny shouted, "Why do you care?! It's none of your business! Can't you people just leave me alone!!"

Seamus gaped at her, severely stunned, as did the rest of Gryffindor table. Angry with them all, Ginny violently threw down her fork and ran from the hall.

The shocked table was suddenly very silent. As the doors to the Entrance Hall banged behind Ginny, causing several others from different Houses to stare, whispers broke out.

"I'm going after her," Harry told Hermione and Ron, standing up quickly.

Ron grabbed his elbow. "No! Bad idea."

Harry jerked free. "Ron, someone's got apologize!"

Ron shook his head, and Hermione pulled Harry back on to the bench.

"Trust me, mate, I've been her brother for sixteen years. Don't ever approach Ginny when she's in a rage."

Harry sighed, defeated, and sat down, still staring longingly at the doors.

(&)

Ginny trudged away from Hogwarts as fast as she could, glad to leave the overprotective Gryffindors behind. Why can't they leave me alone? She thought angrily as she marched up the hill above the castle. When did my business become everyone else's?

Blinded by her rage, Ginny was unprepared when she tripped over something hard and solid sitting atop the hill. Stumbling, she tried to catch herself, but overbalanced and fell to the soft, cold snow. Quickly, she sat up, but she could already feel the wetness seeping through her robes and clinging to her hair.

"We meet again, Littlest Weasley," Blaise Zabini called from where he sat on a patch of cleared ground. The snow rose around him, making his black hair sharp in contrast.

"Unfortunately," she snapped back at him, rising smoothly to her feet and dusting herself off.

He smiled. "Having a hard day?"

"Why," she muttered angrily, "does every Gryffindor think that they have a right to my business?" Ginny studied him closely as he stretched languidly at her feet. "Are all the houses as nosy as the Gryffindors?"

He shrugged. "Most Slytherins keep to themselves, and the Hufflepuffs don't have any juicy business to nose into. As for the Ravenclaws, your guess is as good as mine."

She quirked an eyebrow at him. "What, haven't slept with one of them lately?"

She regretted her words immediately. She never talked with Blaise Zabini. She had no idea what his temper was like. And she wasn't in the mood to find out. Hastily, she tried to stutter something, but to her surprise, he burst out laughing.

"Little Weasley," he said between chuckles, "I haven't even slept with a Hufflepuff. And of course, I could never catch a Gryffindor."

She glared at him, but with no real dislike. "I resent that."

"The fact that I've never slept with a Gryffindor?" He asked, startled.

It was her turn to laugh. "No. 'Little Weasley'."

"Ah." He grinned. "Don't worry, I don't underestimate you like your brother and his mates do."

This surprised Ginny - she had never guessed that this Slytherin knew so much about her. Or, for that matter, that any Slytherin would know so much about her. "How did you... what do you mean?"

"I'm not blind," he began. "Certainly not when it comes to you -"

But he was cut off then as someone else came over the top of the mountain. Ginny spun around at the sound of their footsteps, only to see Draco Malfoy, skin as pale as the snow beneath his feet.

(&)

He had no idea what possessed him to follow her. Draco's mind had started spinning when he saw her walk out of the Great Hall, and his feet had taken things from there. Fortunately, everyone was too busy gossiping about Ginny's suspicious exit to notice him slip away. Thank Merlin for that, he thought. I may be losing my mind and my heart, but I won't be losing my reputation.

Luckily, it was at that moment that Ginny noticed Draco walking her way. Surprise flashed across her features, distracting him from the dangerous path his thoughts had been traversing.

Both Ginny and Draco opened their mouths to speak, but Blaise was fastest. "Welcome to the party, Malfoy."

Draco narrowed his eyes at the other Slytherin boy. What was he doing here? "I'm truly sorry for you if this is your idea of a party."

Blaise quirked an eyebrow. "Oh, and your pow-wows in the corner of the Slytherin common room with only library book for company are exciting?"

Ginny's voice was quiet but defensive. "Hey, sometimes books are the best company."

"Personally, I think you're the best company, Little -"

Draco and Ginny spoke simultaneously, turning on Blaise.

"I told you not to call me that," said Ginny.

"Put a sock in it, Zabini, before you make her vomit," said Draco.

Blaise scowled at the two of them, but said nothing. The silence lengthened. After a while, Draco turned away from Blaise and let his gaze wander to Ginny. He discovered with some surprise that she was staring at him. It was even more startling when she did not look away; instead, she opened her mouth to speak, closed it, opened it again, and... closed it with a look of frustration.

Draco tried to speak for her, but he was shocked at the words produced by his rogue mouth. "Thanks for the present, Weasley. At least I got one thing I liked this year."

It was Ginny's turn to be surprised. Her eyes widened, but she smiled hesitantly. "I had hoped..." She stopped. "It wasn't much," she said finally.

Draco's mind completely lost control of his body for a moment. He felt his muscles move into a smile, and knew that he was helpless to resist. Ginny, too, was grinning a little bit. They stared at each other, both feeling equally shocked but in a rather pleasant way.

Blaise was mumbling something, which they ignored. "Bloody idiots."

(&)