A Taste of Smoke

Ginny did what she always did when faced with a frustrating problem. She grabbed her shoes, threw on the closest robe, (which was the one she was wearing earlier that day) and went outside to her favorite spot facing the lake right under a classroom window. She then bent down, counted four grey stones to the right of one suspiciously brown one and tapped on the stone to reveal a secret compartment. From the secret compartment she pulled out her pack of Dragon's Breath cigarettes and lit up. Ginny was just beginning to enjoy herself and the flame shaped smoke Dragon's Breaths allowed her to exhale, when she head someone coming around the side of the castle. Before she could hide her cigarette, which was definitely not allowed on school grounds, Draco Malfoy was standing right beside her.

Although Draco was surprised to find the littlest Weasley in mid-puff, years of training kicked in and he was able to make a very smooth comeback even if it wasn't the wittiest thing that had ever passed through his lips. "Well, well, if it isn't Weaslette," he drawled. Actually what was most surprising was not the cigarette between her fingers but her clothing. Apparently the girl weasel preferred to sleep in a very small, tight tank top and flannel boxers that were a touch too big so they sat on her hip bones leaving a section of her mid-drift exposed. The shorts, although long, did nothing to disguise the fact that her legs were long and very good-looking. Draco was slightly unnerved to find himself describing anything about Ginny Weasley "very good looking" and even worse, he suddenly wanted to run his hands along her stomach to see if her skin was as smooth as it looked.

Ginny decided that if Malfoy could appear unconcerned, she would too so her only response to his greeting was to glance at him, raise an eyebrow and say, "Malfoy" in a very bored yet polite manner. If Draco thought he could cow her, he was very much mistaken. Of course her resolve to be cool was greatly hindered by the fact that Draco was dressed in a well fitting black sweater and slacks. She see a hint of muscles under the sweater that could drive her crazy if she let herself indulge in her fantasy of running her hands over his torso. Plus the shadows and the moonlight were creating very striking effects on his face. Ginny was always a sucker for prominent cheekbones. Too bad he had to ruin the effect by speaking.

"You do know that smoking is against Hogwart's rules," said Draco arrogantly, the way only someone assured of his righteous position can say.

"Yes," replied Ginny calmly.

"So I could deduct points, report you, and give you detention," said Draco snidely.

"No," replied Ginny, suspiciously happy.

"And why not?" asked Draco infuriated.

"Because smoking inside the castle is against school regulations as is having a pack in one's room. But smoking is permitted in school grounds, mainly because of the visitors we get for Quidditch, and there is nothing against having a pack out here as well. Seeing that I am on school grounds and you have not caught me with a pack inside the castle, I may continue to smoke as long as I please and you can't do anything about it." Ginny replied, trying so hard to disguise her smile.

Draco had nothing to say to her so he chose a different line of questioning.

"I could give you the same punishments because you are out of bed."

"How do you know I am not volunteering for extra rounds?"

"Since when do rounds involve going outside?"

"I don't know, aren't you supposed to be doing rounds as well? You're out here. Perhaps I got confused and thought this was a new responsibility."

Getting frustrated, Draco continued to try to break her down.

"Does your mother know you smoke?"

"No."

"So I could tell her."

"You could, but I could also say that you have now decided to torment me by spreading vicious lies. I don't think she'd believe you then."

Draco was at another standstill but she intrigued him. It had been a long time since he had an interesting conversation.

"So when did you start smoking?" queried Draco. If Ginny thought it was odd to be conversing with Draco Malfoy at one a.m. on the first night of school, she did not show it.

"Since I was sixteen."

"And how long have you been smoking out here?"

"Since last year."

"Ever get caught?"

"Besides now?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah, but since I mainly smoked with Harry last year, it was overlooked. That and we weren't breaking school rules."

"Potter smokes?"

"Yeah, he has to get rid of the stress somehow. That was mainly why we weren't bothered; it is amazing what people can overlook if it means the wizarding world will get saved."

"So you used Potter for his smoking privileges?" Draco asked just to see if it would get a rise. Once again Ginny surprised him. Rather than get all up in arms, she smiled. It was more of a mouth quirk but it was pointing up and that is a smile.

"One of the reasons," she replied.

"Oh, there are more?"

"Wouldn't you just like to know!" said Ginny. "Well, that's the end of my fag, I should be heading in now." With that, she flicked the butt into the air and walked towards the entrance. Draco watched the butt fly through the air with a rising sense of fascination. For the life of him he could not quite figure out what had just transpired.

***

When Draco returned to his room there was a letter dropped into his fireplace. Draco had no idea how it got there but knew exactly from whom it came. He opened it up and was mildly surprised to see that it was more than two lines.

Listen Boy, here is what you must do. Get into the minds of the idiots around you. Our Lord will make it worth your while when you join us. This will be the last missive before I summon you. I hope I can trust you not to try to contact me. You will endanger all that we are working for. You mother sends her love.

Draco stared at the paper for a long moment. If he were in a habit of examining his feelings, he would say he was trying to commit it to memory, but Malfoys do not introspect so that bit of self-awareness was lost on Draco. After he had finished examining the paper, he calmly took it to the grate, lit a match from the box that was kept on the mantel, and burnt the letter. His confusion over Ginny was replaced by confusion over the simultaneous rage and loneliness that Draco suddenly felt. Draco dealt with these emotions as he did all emotions; he pushed them to the back of his mind. He had no use and no room for emotions in his life.