Straight to Heaven

Chapter 2

Draco's first instinct was to wildly deny the charges. Malfoy? What Malfoy? No Malfoy here. Then logical reasoning took over. Half of him wanted to pour his heart out to The-Boy-Who-Lived, get his help, and maybe even sympathy - he'd always wanted to know what being a part of the dream team would really be like. The other part of him, though, was stubborn. He was certain that there was no way that the Trio would let go of the accusation, of course, they'd never be content with that. An innocent denial would get him nowhere, and not responding at all, or sneering in Harry's face would get him far worse. After all, being ostracized on the first day of school is not a good thing (well, usually not, anyway).

As common sense warred with pride, he stood, stupidly agape, until his brain moved fast enough to allow him to shut his mouth. Then, it opened again of its own accord. And snapped shut. And opened yet again.

"How...how did you know, Potter?" he asked, with a trace of his old drawl escaping back into his voice.

Harry grinned.

"I didn't. Hermione did. Now, why are you masquerading as an American wizard?"

Pride kicked in at this, and he snappishly retorted, "Why in Merlin's name would you think I'd even dream of telling you, Potter?"

He sneered nastily, and the little voice in the back of his mind began screeching about changing sides and blood traitors and fear and death eaters and pride and family and, strangely enough, Ginny Weasley.

As an image of the sprightly girl filtered into his brain, he slumped with defeat.

"Look, Potter," he began hesitantly, "I don't know if I can just tell you why I'm in hiding. After all, I have no reason to tell you. I want to know, though, how Granger figured it out."

Harry sighed. "Fine. It wasn't that difficult anyway. Five reasons, really. You're still speaking with a hint of a British accent, though it appears you've try to hide it, you're the same build and height as you were, obviously, Malfoy goes missing, you grimaced briefly while shaking Ron's hand, and despite the hair, you still look like a Malfoy - although most people probably won't notice, a lot of students are rather daft. Oh, and you started to introduce yourself as Draco..."

Draco scowled fiercely.

"Okay, so you know. But no one else can," he said, looking glaringly into the bright green eyes across from him.

Harry cracked a smile, then put his finger on his chin slowly, pretending to think it over.

"You know, Malfoy, we do have an obligation to our fellow Gryffindors to let them know that we have a Slytherin amongst us..." Harry paused at the look of horror and fear marring Draco's usually blank, impassive features, then allowed his ghost of a smile to turn into a full out smirk, saying, "Relax, Malfoy, it was a joke. Did you honestly think...?"

He trailed off, then spoke again, his voice full of realization.

"You really did! Malfoy, you've got to learn that some people can keep secrets - even if they are the enemies - if it means helping someone who needs it, and be trusted. Nobody else will find out."

A shocked expression crossed the pallid face, but it was quickly erased and Draco spat out his words chokingly.

"Th - thank you."

* * * * *

"Well, Ginny, welcome to your new dormitory!" Parvati Patil gushed, pulling the Weasley girl into the chamber that had previously roomed just Parvati, Hermione, and Lavender Brown. All three had agreed to let Ginny share the room with them, and it was quite simple - an extra bed and a little bit of bureau space conjured up into the main room, another shower magicked into the bathroom - to help make a niche for the seemingly cheery red-headed girl.

As the other two inhabitants filtered past them, Ginny looked around the room happily. She walked slowly over to the empty bed, grinning as she caught sight of her battered trunk poking out from the other side of it. She turned to face her friends - the only real friends she had, beside "Loony" Luna Lovegood, who was great, but a Ravenclaw, so they had never had much time to hang out, and Colin Creevey, who had drifted away from her in the past year. She had known Hermione for a long time, because of the various visits the elder girl had made to the Burrow. And of course, the two had shared a room, being the only females, besides Mrs. Weasley, around in the limited space, and bonding had commenced. However, Ginny could never quite remember how she first met Lavender and Parvati. They were just there whenever she was lonely or bored, and were always available for manicures, makeovers, and gossip. Just general girly-ness that she couldn't get from Luna, Hermione, Colin, or her family (although Percy did go through that one phase...)

She plopped down onto her bed with a contented sigh, then spoke quietly.

"Thanks for letting me room with you, guys..."

She couldn't be sure if they'd heard her or not, because they didn't respond verbally, just continued to smile at her.

Finally, Parvati couldn't stay quiet any longer.

"So, Gin-gin - what's the story with out new house member?" she asked slyly, eagerly exchanging a knowing look with Lavender.

"Yeah, what was his name? Trace?" Lavender responded keenly, winking at Ginny.

"I haven't the slightest idea about what you might be insinuating," the red-head said primly, and her thoughts whirled back to the pale boy she'd made the acquaintance of that night. He had looked so familiar...it had puzzled her, and her inquisitive mind kept searching his handsome face for clues, but to no avail. Her cheeks blossomed into rose as she remembered how strong and warm his hand had been, enclosed around her own. Her thoughts were interrupted suddenly by a shriek of delight from the girls.

"You like him! I knew it!" Parvati squeaked happily and Ginny's face went completely aflame. She opened her mouth to hotly deny the charges when Hermione stepped out of the bathroom, asking interestedly, "Who likes who now?"

"Ginny likes the new boy, Trace!" Lavender said gleefully, and the color drained out of the clever girl's face. She recovered quickly, though, and crossed the room to the stairway, hurriedly saying, "That's nice," as she began to descend.

"Where're you going, 'Mione?" Parvati asked, and Hermione responded with, "Gotta talk to Harry and Ron."

Ginny, trying to look bored, and failing miserably, jumped at the news.

"I think I'll join you. It's awfully warm and stuffy in here," she said blandly, as Parvati and Lavender exchanged another look.

"Yeah, sure, Gin. Gee, Lav! So you remember who Harry was walking with earlier?" Parvati exclaimed in overly cheery tones. The blonde appeared to be deep in thought for a moment before shaking her head in mock puzzlement, and Parvati smacked herself exaggeratedly on the side of the head.

"I wait, I remember now! I'm sure it was Trace Prewitt, that new boy in out house! Oh, what a coincidence, huh, Gin?"

The two collapsed into giggles as Ginny's face became impossibly red and she stomped down the stairs in pseudo anger.