The Dragon's Fire

The Prefect meeting ended at 7:15, and Draco went back to the Slytherin common room to complain to Blaise about being stuck with Weaselette. Blaise wouldn't listen at first so they played a game of wizard's chess first, and Draco won.

"I can't believe you won again! I'm gonna kick your ass one of these days, Malfoy," Blaise said.

"Dream on, Zabini. You'll never beat me in wizard's chess. I happen to be the best."

"Whatever, Drake, just keep telling yourself that."

"I will, thank you. Anyway, can you believe I got stuck with the Weaselette for patrolling? Why do they have to change it around?"

"Oh yes, because you were so happy to patrol with Pansy?"

"At least she's easy to control. But you're right, she's a pain in the ass."

"Of course I'm right. I'm always right."

"Whatever. Were you serious at lunch today? About the Weaselette? In the summer?"

"Of course I was serious. Talk to her on your patrol tonight, you might figure out why my sister is friends with her."

"Because your sister is deluded?"

"I resent that Draco Malfoy!" a voice piped up from behind them.

Draco turned around to see Bri Zabini giving him a death glare.

"Don't look at me like that, Zabini."

"I'm not going to take your crap, Malfoy. And I heard what you were talking about. Do you honestly think Pam and I would be friends with a regular Gryff? She's different."

"I told you, Drake. Honestly. Bri, did you ask Ginny about coming to the Underground on Saturday like I told you to?"

"Shit! No, I forgot. Draco, ask her on patrol tonight," Bri said, without waiting for an answer before she and Pam left for the girls' dormitories.

"No way!" Draco said to Blaise.

"Do it!"

"No one tells Draco Malfoy what to do!"

"In case you haven't noticed, oh high and mighty one, no one cares that you are Draco Malfoy anymore. You gave up your position in Slytherin when your mum asked Dumbledore for help."

"How did you know about that?!"

"The whole house knows. So you might want to quit treating the only friend you've got left, me, like you're above me. Because, right now, you aren't. Ask her to come to the Underground, and maybe if you show up with her they'll let you in."

"Not funny, Blaise! Not funny at all. They'll let me in. I'm Draco Malfoy!" and with that he got up and left the common room for patrolling.

"Yeah, well no one cares about that anymore." Blaise said, more to himself than to anyone else.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After the prefect meeting, Ginny had retreated to her common room too. She curled up on one of the couches with a book until eight, when she went upstairs to get changed for her patrol duty.

Why am I getting changed? she thought to herself

Because you want to look good for Draco, said the voice in her head.

Well, at least there aren't two of them this time!

She picked out Muggle clothes to wear, because most of her new clothes this year were Muggle. She had gone shopping with Hermione in Muggle London before going to Bri's, so that she would have new clothes to wear. Tonight, she decided to go casual. She just put on a pair of jeans and a black tank top that hugged her curves. She put her hair up in a messy bun, and, at quarter to nine, left to go meet Draco. I can't believe I got stuck with Malfoy, she thought as she went down the stairs.

When Ginny got to the Entrance Hall, Draco was already waiting for her. He didn't notice her walk up until she was right beside him.

"Let's go, Malfoy," she said.

He spun around and stared at her. Is this the Weaselette? thought Draco. Why isn't she in robes?

"Why aren't you wearing your robes, Weaselette?"

"I wanted to be comfortable if I have to walk around the castle for three hours. And I thought I told you not to call me that!"

"Whatever, Ginny."

Ginny rolled her eyes and started walking back up the stairs. For ten minutes, the only sound they could hear was the sound of their footsteps. Finally, Ginny broke the silence.

"I don't know about you, Malfoy, but I don't feel like walking around for three hours in silence. While you may like talking to the voices in your head, I don't."

"Malfoys don't have voices in their heads."

"Everyone has some sort of voice inside their head, Malfoy. Even you, I'm sure."

"Oh, and how can you be so sure, Weasley? Just because you talk to yourself, doesn't mean it's normal."

"Well, I wouldn't have to be talking to myself if you would talk to me. Do you honestly enjoy walking around in silence?"

"I don't have anything to say to you."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm a Malfoy, and you are a Weasley."

"Oh, and being a Malfoy makes you so much better than me?"

"Finally realizing the way the world works, Weasley?"

"I've always had an understanding of how the world works Malfoy. You, on the other hand, don't. But, I can't expect a Death Eater to understand something as complicated as that."

Draco snapped. With reflexes only a Seeker could have, he grabbed Ginny and slammed her against the wall.

Why the hell does everyone automatically assume that I'm a Death Eater? Draco thought, Maybe because you always acted like you were.

"Don't speak about things you don't understand, Ginny," he said, in such a calm way that one would think he was simply talking about the weather. It was in his eyes that Ginny saw it, pure hatred, but she had a feeling that it wasn't directed at her.

If it isn't directed at me, then why am I the one being slammed up against walls? How dare he? All I did was call him a Death Eater, something I'd have thought he would take as a compliment. He's the one saying all that bullshit about 'the way the world works.' I should be just as pissed off at him, and I'm not slamming him into walls.

But you aren't pissed off are you? Just hurt that he thinks he's better than you. And that he doesn't want to talk to you. There was that other voice again.

I am not! Once again with the conflicting voices. This is all HIS fault

"Oooh, I hit a nerve didn't I, Malfoy? Does ickle Draco not wanna talk about that ickle mark on his arm?"

Suddenly, Malfoy released her and pulled up his sleeve. "There is no mark, Weasley."

"For now."

"Forever." And he stalked off down the corridor.

Ginny would have been perfectly content patrolling by herself, but she still had two hours left, and Cho had specifically said to stick with your partner. So, Ginny sucked up her pride and ran after him.

"Malfoy, wait." No response

"Malfoy, stop," she said a little louder. Still no response.

"DRACO!" This time he stopped and turned around.

"Go away, Weasley."

"No, we still have two hours of patrolling left."

"Do it by yourself."

"No!"

"Go away, Weasley."

"You already said that."

"Then DO IT!"

"NO! What the hell is your problem, Malfoy? I'd have thought you'd be happy to be called a Death Eater. It's your life's ambition. You wanna be just like your sick, sadistic prick of a father, and he's a Death Eater. Wanna follow in daddy's footsteps, right Malfoy? Kill innocent people just for the fun of it? That's what being a Death Eater is all about right Malfoy? You'd fit right in." Ginny stopped for a minute, originally to fight back the tears that threatened to spring up at the mention of Lucius Malfoy. She'd never forget it was him to blame for all the evil that surrounded her first year. But, then she saw that look of pure hatred in Draco's eyes at the mention of his father. This time she knew it wasn't towards her. "Oh right. You ran from your father this summer didn't you? Aww, scared of your daddy Malfoy? Can't take being a Malfoy any more?"

"Shut upWeasley. Just get the hell out of my face!"

"No!"

"Why do you fucking insist on not going away!?"

"Because we're supposed to patrol for another two hours, and I, unlike you, take my prefect position seriously."

"Go away, Weasley. If you get caught tell them I threatened your life."

"No. Draco, what is your problem?"

"You called me Draco again," he said, hardly believing his ears.

"Well, that's your name isn't it?"

"Who said you could use it? Get out of my face, Weaselette. NOW!"

Ginny tried to think of the reason she wanted to stay. She tried to think of some insult she could throw at him. But, she couldn't, so she just screamed. She screamed for a good minute, just to let her frustrations out. Then she turned around and walked away from Malfoy. But, she wasn't going back to Gryffindor Tower. No, she was going to go down to the Slytherin Dungeon to try and talk to Pam and Bri.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After the Weaselette stalked off Draco started walking again. He couldn't believe all the shit she'd said to him. That girl had balls. But she didn't know what she was talking about. He also couldn't understand the hatred that had seeped from her voice when she was talking about his father. It took him a few minutes to realize the reason behind it.

Of course, he thought, the whole Chamber of Secrets, Tom Riddle's Diary thing. His father had told him all about it when he had come home for the summer at the end of his second year.

That's why she hates him so much. He gave her the diary.

Draco remembered hearing the story from his father, and it was the first time he hadn't agreed with something his father had done. He knew his father had killed Mudbloods and Muggles before, but when he found out that Ginny Weasley had almost died he had questioned his father. Weasley or not, she was a pureblood. His father had simply said she was a Weasley, a blood-traitor, and had used the Cruciatus Curse on Draco for questioning him.

Draco's thoughts went back to Ginny. She thought he was a Death Eater, but she also knew about the events that had happened at the end of the summer. Did she know the whole story? And how did she know in the first place? Was Blaise only partly right? Did not only all of Slytherin but the whole school, too, know that he had run from his father? Then Draco remembered Snape's words. "After word gets around Slytherin of your whereabouts at the end of the summer, and the reasons for them, I dare say you may need friends in other houses." And Blaise had said that Ginny was all right. He suddenly felt bad for slamming her against the wall like that. He quickly dismissed the thought. She was the one who had brought up all of the bullshit. Draco decided he was done patrolling for the night, and turned around to head back to the Slytherin dungeons.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

By the time Ginny got to the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room, she realized it was after curfew, and no Slytherins would be going in or out, so she had no way to let her friends know she was out here. Her best option was to go up to bed, and talk to her friends in the morning at breakfast. But, Ginny was pissed, and she wasn't rational, so she just sat down across from the entrance and hoped that a Slytherin would be breaking the rules. She sat there for a while, she didn't know how long, and then she heard footsteps. She crossed her fingers, hoping it was a student, and waited for them to come into sight. Then she realized it was the last person she wanted to see.

"What the hell are you doing here, Weasley?" Draco snarled.

Ginny sighed. "Just waiting for a Slytherin to come along and let me in."

"Too bad you aren't allowed in the Slytherin Common Room. You're a Gryffindor, remember?"

"Well, then just tell Pam and Bri that I'm waiting for them."

"Why should I, Weasley? What's in it for me?"

"Just tell them!" Ginny yelled. "Why are you such a fucking prick all the time?"

"Because it works for me." He didn't give Ginny a chance to say anything before saying the password, which she didn't hear, and entering the common room.

Ginny screamed again. She screamed as loud as she could and then she started walking away.

"Gin! Wait! What's wrong?" a voice yelled to her.

Bri stood behind Ginny in shorts and a tank top, looking like she was ready for bed. Beside her, Pam was dressed in her nightclothes as well.

"Oh, were you guys going to bed? I'm sorry. It was nothing. I was just pissed and needed to vent, but if you're going to bed then go. Don't let me keep you up."

They both ran up to Ginny and linked arms with her, leading her back to the Slytherin Common Room. Bri said the password, "Salazar," and they walked in, pulling Ginny with them.

"You guys, I can't go in there!"

"Sure you can. There's hardly anyone in the Common Room anyway."

When they walked in, Draco and Blaise looked up from where they were sitting in front of the fire.

"What the hell do you two think you're doing, bringing her in here?" Draco looked furious.

"Oh shut up, D," Pam said, "like you've never brought any of the Ravenclaws you fuck into the Common Room before?"

"That's different. She's a Gryff. And a Weasley."

Bri was about to say something when Ginny spoke up. Three little words were all it took.

"Fuck off, Malfoy."

Then she let Pam and Bri lead her up to their dorm. They all sat down on Pam's bed, and drew the curtains, before casting a Silencing Spell.

"What's up, G? Something happen on patrol with Draco?"

"I hate him!" She told them exactly what had happened.

"Well, Gin, I have to admit, it sounds to me like you were the one doing most of the, um, pissing off."

"Yeah, G. Sure, he shouldn't have slammed you against the wall like that, but you don't even know what went on with him this summer, not really. And you don't know what it's like to have a Death Eater for a dad."

"Don't tell me you're on his side?"

They looked at each other. "Yep," they said simultaneously.

"Ah!" Ginny moved to leave, but Bri grabbed her arm.

"Wait Gin, we still love you. I just think you made a bad move tonight. You know what else I think?"

"Enlighten me."

"I think you like Draco, and were pissed off that he wasn't talking to you, so you said exactly what you knew would piss him off!"

"What?" Ginny gaped at her friend. She had hit the nail on the head. But Ginny wasn't going to let on. "You're crazy! Tell her she's crazy, Pam!"

"I think she's dead on, G. And I think you're just afraid to admit the truth."

"No way!"

"Gin..."

"Ugh! You both know me way too well! Fine. I may, have the tiniest, little crush on Draco Malfoy. But every time he opens his mouth it gets smaller!"

"I knew it! Did Draco invite you to the Underground on Saturday before you two went at it?" Bri asked.

"What?"

"Didn't think so. Well, all the Slytherin fifth, sixth, and seventh years go to this, um, secret room in Hogwarts every Saturday night. Sometimes we bring friends from other houses, mostly Ravenclaw, but Blaise told me to invite you this Saturday. I kind of forgot, so I told Draco to do it on patrol tonight."

"I am not going to go to some 'secret room' with all Slytherins. No way!"

"Come on, G! It's a killer time. And you're a Gryff and you got invited. Blaise already cleared it with Flint. You're in, no problem, so you just have to come!"

"Will it be like at your house during the summer?" Ginny asked Bri.

"Yep! All the same people, Gin, so you already know what it'll be like."

"Ok, I'm in."

"Good. And G?"

"Yeah?"

"Draco will be there," she said in a sing-song voice, followed by a wink.

"Shut up!" She grabbed one of the pillows and threw it a Pam, starting a pillow fight between the three of them. After about fifteen minutes, Ginny realized it was almost twelve, and she could safely head back up to the tower.

"Guys, stop," Ginny said through giggles. "I can go back up to the tower now."

"Ok, Gin, we'll walk with you out through the common room."

"No, you don't have to. I can make it there by myself, I think."

"Ok, night G."

"Ya, see you tomorrow Gin!"

"Bye guys."

When Ginny got down to the common room, she realized Draco and Blaise were still sitting there, but were now immersed in a game of wizard's chess.

When she was behind Draco, so he couldn't see her, she stopped and started watching them. They were both really good, but Ginny could already see that Draco was going to win.

Might as well try and mend some fences, thought Ginny. We still have to patrol together, and I don't want to patrol with him if he's more of a bastard than usual.

After a few more moves, he did win and that's when Ginny made her presence known to him.

A nice, solid compliment should go a long way, Ginny thought, optimistically.

"Good job," she said quietly.

He jumped and turned around. "Weasley," he sneered, "what are you still doing here?"

Or not. So much for mending fences, Ginny thought. If he doesn't care then I don't care. I hate him!

But you don't want to, the other voice said. Not you again!

"Well, I was on my way out, but I wanted to talk to Blaise. I didn't want to interrupt your game. Not that my business concerns you at all Malfoy." She said the last sentence with such hate in her voice that Draco started a bit.

"Blaise, I'm gonna be heading back to the tower now. Have a good night. Oh, and thanks for getting me into the 'Underground.' Sounds like a blast!" She then walked out of the Common Room and started on her way back up to the Tower.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"What the hell was that?" asked Draco.

"That was Ginny trying to give you a compliment."

"Did you not hear a word I told you about patrolling tonight? She was ready to kill me!"

"Well, obviously she talked to my sister for a bit. Maybe she was trying to tell you she was sorry. Anyway, I guess Bri told her about Saturday, so you can figure it out then. But, since you have patrol duty every night this week, and those tutor sessions, I have a feeling you'll talk to her before then. Almost seems like you're being pushed together, doesn't it? Maybe you should try to make some friends in other houses, Drake. You know I'm all for Slytherin unity, but you've been singled out, and they all listen to their parents, who are all listening to your father. I think he's trying to make you come running back to him. Anyway, I'm going to bed. Think about some of that."

Draco stared at Blaise's retreating figure, before closing his eyes and leaning his head back. Patrol every night for three hours, tutoring every other day. Looks like I'm going to have to try to be civil to the Weaselette.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When Ginny got to the portrait of the Fat Lady, and gave her the password, she was all set to go straight up to bed and have a good sleep. But, that wasn't the case. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all sitting in their usual spots by the fire, obviously waiting for her to return.

"Ginny, what are you wearing?" Ron asked.

"Clothes, Ron. Honestly."

"Well, why did you wear something so...revealing, to patrol with Malfoy?"

"Revealing? Hardly. I wore it to be comfortable. You know what it's like to walk around for three hours. I'm obviously not going to wear robes. And I would hardly call these revealing. I could have worn something much worse, and maybe tomorrow night I will, just to show you."

"Gin, wait! I was going to apologize to you, for what I said at dinner. You're right, I don't have to know everything that goes on in your life. I just wish you would've told me."

"Why? So you could've doubted me like during the summer when I told you I made prefect. You didn't even know I was doing all that extra work last year. We used to be really close, you and I, and now you hardly speak to me."

Ginny was fighting very hard to hold back tears. "It seems like the only time you talk to me now is to yell at me, or ask me for something, or get me to fix your mistakes." Ron started to say something but Ginny cut him off. "No, Ron, don't apologize, I don't want to hear it. Say it some other time when you actually mean it, and frankly, even then, I think it might be to late." Ginny was crying now, and she ran up the stairs to her dorm. After she changed into her nightclothes, and sat down on her bed, she heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Ginny?" It was Hermione.

"Hermione, you don't have to come up here, I'm fine."

"I just wanted to say that your brothers an idiot, but he'll come around. How was patrolling? Was Malfoy an ass like usual?

"Yes, and no. Come here and I'll tell you about it." Hermione opened the curtains to Ginny's four-poster, and sat down beside her. Ginny told her all about what had happened that night. Even thought Ginny wasn't that close to Hermione, she felt like she needed a Gryffindor's perspective on the whole thing. She told her about the Underground and was about to tell her that she liked Draco.

"So, I don't know if I want to see him at all the rest of the week. I'll have to see him every night for patrols, and twice more for Potions studies. I just don't know if I can handle my feelings-" She gasped. "Whoops, didn't mean to say that."

"Gin, what do you mean your feelings?"

"IthinkIkindoflikeMalfoy."

"Huh?"

"I think...I kind of...like...Malfoy."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Pam and Bri love the idea, I think, but they're Slytherins. I just don't know what to do about the whole thing."

"Well, he's not a Death Eater right? He showed you his arm. And he freaked out when you accused him of being one. Plus, I heard he ran away from his father and came to Dumbledore for help this summer, so he must not want to be one. That doesn't mean he's on our side, but at least he's not with You-Know-Who. All the Slytherins are turning on him, you can see it during meals, and it's only the second day back. He must be different, Ginny, and if you like him, then he can't be that bad. I say just to patrol with him, and go to your 'sessions' and see what happens." Hermione gave Ginny a weak smile, like she was trying to be supportive.

"Thanks Hermione, it means a lot to me that I can talk to you. You won't tell Ron or Harry about this, will you?"

"Of course not! Just between us girls."

"Ok, thanks. I won't keep you any longer. Night Hermione."

"Night Gin."

Ginny fell asleep thinking about Draco again, and secretly waiting for the next time she would be alone with him. Maybe next time he won't throw me against a wall.