Pride and Honor

Dawn of the last day of the Pageant promised to be a bright and hopeful one. The pinks and light blues preceding the sun chased the winking stars away for another fourteen hours. The darkness still hiding in the corridors shadowed a lone figure lost in her thoughts as she made her way to the Great Hall.

Ginny Weasley nervously chewed on her bottom lip. While today might be the last day of the Pageant, she still had to compete in one last event; Presentation. During the Presentation she would be judged on her answers given during the interview, and no matter how much the coordinators of the Pageant denied it, appearance would factor in as well. Appearances for the Weasley family bordered on shabby with all of their hand-me-down robes and clothing, yet they managed to be neat enough to get through everyday life.

However, Ginny couldn't go through the last and probably most important part of the Pageant, wearing second-hand robes and too short of a skirt. It was pure coincidence that she had picked up cloth over the summer to make herself a new dress robe. Her plan was to finish the dress robe in time for the holiday break because her father wanted to take her to the annual Ministry Christmas party, but with the Pageant suddenly appearing she had to spend the majority of her breaks (including breakfast, lunch and dinner), and long nights hidden from her schoolmates sewing endlessly to finish it.

It wasn't the dress that worried her though. She was afraid that she would still be the same Ginny Weasley just playing dress up in a pretty dress robe, not standing a chance at all. Or worse yet, to be cast aside because she was a Weasley, and because her friends were more popular and famous than she was.

There was one thing that she wasn't worried about, and that was her actually winning the Pageant. It would be much needed money and prestige that could only do wonders for her. She also believed that while she never had those things before, she would be able to handle them and not feel overwhelmed by it.

Sunlight filtered through the windows down the corridor leading to the Great Hall casting all the shadows from darkness to light. Inside the Great Hall, the enchanted ceiling projected the promise of the morning, and while Ginny was feeling a bit down about the day's events, it couldn't stop the small smile tugging at her lips. The smile was only brief though, fading as she sat down in her regular chair at the Gryffindor table.

She had only taken a few bites when a loud commotion at the door brought her troubled brown eyes up and made her set down her fork. Her fellow sixth year Prefect, Eloise Midgen raced inside of the Great Hall, her robes billowing out behind her. She stopped in between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables speaking to the few students who also rose for an early breakfast. Her whispered words were filled with excitement, yet from her end of the Gryffindor table Ginny could not make out them out. She did not have to wait long because Eloise looked up from her conversation and spotted her.

"Ginny Weasley have I got news for you!" she said as she made her way over to her.

Ginny forced an interested and excited look onto her face as she replied. "Oh, really? What is it?"

Eloise sat down across from her, and leaned across the table. "There was a rumor going around about the reasons why Draco Malfoy looked so beaten earlier this week. Some say that he entered himself into the Pageant and just got back from a horrid Potions exam," she gossiped. "Codswallop I thought, but it's true. Draco Malfoy entered himself in the Pageant!"

The look of interest evaporated from her face as her jaw dropped at the news. "Are you serious?" she breathed.

"Completely," Eloise nodded triumphantly. "I was just coming up from my common room and I heard Malfoy and Professor Snape talking just outside of the staircase to the dungeons about the potion he had to brew. Veritaserum."

If Ginny thought her jaw dropped before, it fell even further at this news. "But Veritaserum is under high Ministry control, students are not allowed to make it!"

Eloise nodded again, this time so hard Ginny thought her head might fall off. "I know, but it's true. There was a Ministry official in there with him in case he messed up the potion, which he obviously didn't since Snape sounded so pleased that Draco managed to brew the potion correctly, and without knowing how much of what ingredients he was supposed to use."

"No wonder he looked so bad," Ginny remarked more to herself than to the girl in front of her. "How stressful that must've been for him to not only have to prove it to his father, but also to the Ministry official and to himself!"

Eloise blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about Ginny? Prove what?"

Realizing what she said, she quickly shook her head. "Never mind Eloise, I was just talking out loud to myself."

"Well, anyway, only a few more people are left to finish all stages of the competition, and then we find out the winner tonight. I'm excited, aren't you?" Without waiting for her to answer, she continued. "I hope I win. I practically flew through all of the competition. The judges really liked me; they told me so during the Presentation part."

Ginny forced a smile, inwardly thinking that the judges must've been complete gits if they actually liked Eloise. Not that there was anything extremely wrong with the girl, she just wasn't Pageant winner material. "I hope you win too Eloise," she finally said.

The other girl smiled brightly. "Thank you Ginny, you really are a sweet girl. Too bad you didn't enter; you really could have given me a run for my money. You really could have also used those winnings too." She glanced down at the watch around her wrist. "Oh, look at the time! I'm supposed to meet Justin at the library in five minutes. I'll see you later Ginny. Cross your fingers for me!"

Ginny waved as the other girl stood up and practically bounced her way out of the Great Hall. Once Eloise was out of the room, she slowly lowered her hand to pick up her knife to butter a biscuit.

"Sure Eloise, I'll cross my fingers for you. Cross them and pray to whoever will listen that you won't win," she muttered before taking a bite out of her breakfast.

She angrily chewed on her food, Eloise's comments whirling around in her head. You really could have given me a run for my money. You really are a sweet girl. You really could have also used those winnings too. Is that all she appeared to be to people? Just some sweet, broke girl who was allowed to play the game, but not worthy enough to actually win it? Did they actually think she was that dense?

Ginny was torn out of her thoughts when someone sat down across from her and called her name. It was Harry, and surprisingly enough neither Ron nor Hermione flanked him. It was a bit odd really.

"Morning Gin," he sleepily said.

"Morning Harry," she replied. "What are you doing up this early?"

"Quidditch practice. Professor McGonagall has a few third years in mind to play on the team, and she wanted to make sure that they can work together with the rest of the group before officially giving them the positions." As Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, as well as the only student who has been on the team the longest, Harry was expected to lead the Gryffindors to the Quidditch Cup by coaching an outstanding team, and he took his job seriously. "What about yourself?"

"Couldn't sleep," she answered honestly.

Harry set down his cup and gazed at her, concern shining out of his green eyes. "Gin, you haven't been sleeping for the last couple of weeks! Is there anything wrong?"

Ginny's eyes widened. "There isn't anything wrong; should there be?"

He reached across the table and grasped her hand. "I worry about you. You've been sneaking out of the dormitories late at night, every night. You say that you're not seeing anybody, and that only makes me worry more. I think that maybe you are seeing someone who you don't think that we would approve of, and would rather hide it to keep us innocent to it all."

She shook her head denying his claim. Inwardly she cursed herself for not being more careful. She should've known that Harry of all people would know if something was up. "I'm not seeing anyone Harry."

"Then tell me where it is you go at night."

"I can't," she whispered.

He squeezed her hand gently. "One of these days I'll just have to follow you to find out myself." His voice was light but she heard the trace of seriousness in it.

Ginny started to pull her hand out from his, but he tightened his grasp. "I'm not going there anymore. You needn't worry."

"You're family to me Ginny," he replied softly. "You can't expect me not to worry about my family when something inside of me tells me that I should."

Her face softened and she stopped trying to pull her hand from his. Harry calling her family was about the highest compliment she ever received from him, and definitely the most sincere. She diverted her eyes from his, instead staring at their hands. "Harry," she started, but faltered. Slowly she raised her eyes back to his. "I promise you that I am fine. I'll tell you if I ever need help."

"Swear?"

"I swear it."

Harry nodded his response, squeezing her hand once more before releasing it and going back to his food. Ginny couldn't even form the commands to finish eating; all she could do was sit there and stare at the man across from her in disbelief. After six years she thought she had him all figured out, but then he went and said something like this. He looked up from his plate and smiled at her. Warmth shone in his eyes, the kind of warmth she never saw in them before, probably because it was distributed between Ron and Hermione and the little that was left over (if any at all) was turned toward her. But it was just the two of them and that warmth was on full blast directed at her.

"You know Gin; you would make a fair Chaser." Just like that, the connection that had formed was broken.

Ginny sighed and resumed eating. "I don't think so Harry. I don't have enough time between all my schoolwork and being a Prefect to join the team."

"Worth a shot," he replied. "What are your plans for today? Besides classes."

She paled a bit, the darkest freckles on her face showing even more. "Oh you know, things." At a sharp glance from him, she continued, her voice practically a whisper. "The Pageant."

"Did you hear that Malfoy entered himself into it?"

She breathed a sigh of relief as he didn't question what at the Pageant she would be doing. "Eloise just told me."

Harry laughed. "I don't know why Malfoy entered. He doesn't need the money or the prestige. He probably just wants to win to be spiteful, you know, be his usual Malfoy self."

Ginny forced herself to chuckle along. Thankfully the conversation didn't last long because Harry realized he had to leave to be on time for Quidditch practice. She followed him out of the Great Hall and almost bumped into him when he stopped unexpectedly in the Entrance Hall.

"Sure you don't want to be a Chaser?"

Ginny smiled. "Sorry Harry, not this year."

"Just thought I would try one last time." He shrugged. "See you at later then."

"Bye Harry."

She watched him exit through the double doors before turning and heading upstairs to the Gryffindor Tower. She had enough time to get dressed and prepare herself for the Presentation part of the Pageant before she actually had to be there. When she entered her dormitory, she checked to see if her roommates were still sleeping (which they were) before heading over to her trunk quietly. Her dress robe was stashed at the bottom of her trunk, and when she pulled it out it was a bit wrinkled. Nothing a little charm couldn't fix. She muttered the words of the charm and smiled as the wrinkles vanished.

A little sigh escaped her as she looked around the room. It was not possible for her to get ready in here because her roommates would ask about the new dress robe, and if by chance she managed to get ready without them asking questions she would never make it out of Gryffindor Tower without someone stopping her. She would just have to go some place else to dress. The only safe place she could think of was the one place that she told Harry she would not go back to.

"Well, what he doesn't know about won't hurt him," she murmured.

*

Draco's eyes slid closed as he tied his tie in front of his mirror. It had been a long and trying week, one that he hoped he never had to experience again. He was tired of the constant gossip behind his back almost as much as the questions about the Pageant that the younger students asked. It would all be over in a few hours time. There was just one last event he had to go through and that was Presentation.

It was not as if the Presentation would be the hardest thing he had to do. He opened his eyes and gazed at his reflection. Surely looks alone could pass him through this stage, but he knew that there was much more to it than that. Not one of those judges on that panel wanted a name to represent all of Britain, especially a name such as Malfoy with all the taint that it had acquired during the reign of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. He had to go in there and prove he was worthy of the honor, he Draco, not he as a Malfoy.

Draco ran his hands down his front, straightening his tie and smoothing the nonexistent creases. Satisfied as he ever was going to be over his appearance, he reached for his autumn dress cloak in the richest black known to exist, and drew it about his shoulders. He took one last quick look in the mirror, smoothed back his hair, and turned to leave his room. On the way through the Slytherin Common Room, he pinned his Head Boy badge on the inside of his cloak. When he looked up from his task he was surprised to see Blaise blocking his exit.

"Blaise," he nodded politely, "if you would move?"

She defiantly lifted her chin. "Not until you tell me the real reason why you entered into this stupid Pageant."

His face fell into an annoyed look. "Blaise, you entered the Pageant, do you see me asking you why you did so?"

"That's not the point Draco. We are two different people. I entered the Pageant because I am vain and knew that I would win. Your reason is not the same because while I know that you like to be perfectly groomed, you couldn't care less about how you looked."

Draco slowly crossed his arms and glared at her, the same glare that he constantly shot towards Potter and company. "I have somewhere to be, and if you make me late I will make you pay."

His threat, while delivered in the same tone of voice that he always spoke to her with, was most definitely a threat that he would act on if necessary. He could see her mind working out the different outcomes of the situation through her eyes and almost wanted to smile at it. Of course, when her mind finally decided what she would do and her back straightened to a point he thought not possibly, he could not be surprised. She was, after all, a Slytherin. A Slytherin female that held the most weight around the House besides him.

"Your reasoning."

Draco's tongue moistened his bottom lip as he regarded her for a second. "All right Blaise, you win," he finally said. "I entered into the Pageant because it is a known fact that I am the best wizard in this school and with all the creditability's to win. Why should I let a half-rate prat win this title when they are not deserving of it? Really Blaise," he snapped as he brushed past her, "as a pure-blood I thought you would've come to that conclusion on your own."

Draco did not turn around or acknowledge anything else on his way to the Presentation part of the Pageant. It was all the way up on the sixth floor, down an unused wing. Looking out the windows he could see the shining surface of the lake to the south-west, and a few students sitting around it enjoying the sun during their break. He almost felt jealous of the carefree-ness that they eluded, but then remembered that he really didn't enjoy sun unless he was out playing Quidditch.

He frowned, glancing at the group before turning around and entering the designated door. An interview was already taking place causing him to freeze where he stood; he only moved to lean against the wall when he felt silly standing in the middle of the doorway. His eyes wandered about the room taking in the surroundings. It was a fairly large room that would be perfect to hold classes in, yet it was never used.

He turned his attention from the room to the interview unfolding in front of him. The judges seemed genuinely charmed by the woman in front of them, so he too focused in on her. The air of regality enveloped her, from the bottom of her feet which were hidden under yards of luxurious emerald fabric all the way up to the top of her burgundy hair that was curled in the tiniest ringlets capable of being made down her back. The woman in front of him was a piece of fine art and definitely one that he swore he never saw before. Her voice was something that his ears perked up to as well, a voice filled with such softness and utter happiness, something that his ears craved for after only having harsh words spoken into them.

Draco shook his head slightly to focus his attention on the question that was posed to the unknown girl.

"Why are you motivated to win this competition?"

She visibly shook, only for a second that probably went unseen by the judges. He watched as her hands rose to clasp each other, her teeth gnaw into her bottom lip and her eyes close as she thought. A minute passed by, and still no sound came from her. She could have became a statue she moved that much. Finally though, her hands fell to her sides and her eyelids opened, brown eyes staring unwaveringly in front of her.

"Over the last few weeks, I often asked myself this same question," she confessed, a slight laugh leaving her. "Each time I asked myself, I always had the same answer, and now the answer hasn't changed.

"For as far back as I can remember I never had the opportunity to prove my worth to my family and friends. Any worth that I had was given to me, and no one allowed me to search out my own. I was constricted, forever thought to stay in the mold that was created for me. That mold though, isn't who I really am. There is more to me than what was handed to me, and I wanted an opportunity to prove such.

"When I heard about this Pageant I knew I had to enter. Names, Houses, class rank, families and even famous friends were left at the door, and it was just me and all my worth fighting to have a chance, to prove that I am more than what meets the eye, and that I'm worth it. That is what motivates me to win this competition."

When she finished her response, Draco couldn't move. Darkness began to close in on him as her words echoed throughout his head. Realizing that he wasn't breathing, he took in a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. His eyes stared up at the woman in the green dress robe in bafflement. To have his thoughts vocalized by someone else down to the T surprised him. He would have bet his inheritance that he was the only student at Hogwarts who felt like that, but clearly he was wrong since she stood in front of him today.

A hand fell on his shoulder startling him out of his thoughts. He looked to see another judge standing next to him. "Number one eighteen? We are ready for you in the other room."

*

The chatter inside of the Great Hall before the evening dinner was loud and filled with excitement. Each table was filled to the brim with students waiting to hear the results of the Bicentennial Pageant of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Most of the students who entered were wearing their best dress robes in anticipation of them winning. Professor Dumbledore and the judges were absent from the High Table still consulting over the winners probably.

Harry looked around the Great Hall before his eyes fell back on his friends. Tonight Hermione sat across from him and Ron next to Ginny who was looking unusually pale. He noticed that she had a light cloak pulled over her robes, her fingers clasping the material tightly around her.

"Loud tonight, isn't it?" he remarked.

Hermione shrugged and fixed her silverware on her napkin so they sat exactly perpendicular to the table. "The winners are going to be announced for the Pageant, who wouldn't be excited?"

Ron sat up in his chair and looked around the room. "Where is Dumbledore? I'm starving!"

Ginny twitched and took a deep breath which she let out slowly.

"Feeling okay, Gin?" Harry questioned.

She looked up quickly into the piercing green eyes. "I'm fine Harry. A bit hungry."

"I didn't see you at all during lunch; did you manage to grab a quick bite of something?"

She shook her head. As she opened her mouth to tell him that she had been too busy, Professor Dumbledore walked into the Great Hall with a grin on his face and the judges trailing behind him. Immediate silence fell upon the Hall as Dumbledore took his spot in the middle of the High Table. He raised his hand as if to silence his students, but considering that it was already quiet it wasn't necessary.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I would first like to thank our supreme judges for being here during the Bicentennial Pageant of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and also to you for being remarkable hosts of this Pageant. But of course you rather me to announce the winners than to keep chattering about, now don't you?" A few students chuckled and the Headmaster smiled at them.

"This years winners' were chosen because of the excellent skill that they have shown during all phases of this Pageant, especially during the Presentation part. Only two students demonstrated the kind of determination that is needed during this Pageant, and I would like to introduce you to them now."

The Headmaster reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. A collective gasp could be heard as they watched him slid his finger under the wax and release the flap. Ginny squirmed in her seat causes Harry to turn his attention from up front. As the Professor Dumbledore spoke she paled even more; Harry reached across the table and squeezed her hand.

"When I call your name please come up to the front. The first winner of the Bicentennial Pageant of Witchcraft and Wizardry is..." He paused to read off the paper. "Draco Malfoy."

The Slytherin table all jumped up and began cheering for their Head Boy. The competitors from the other three Houses tables glared at him, while the others that didn't compete clapped unenthusiastically as he stood up and began walking towards the front. Dumbledore clapped hard for Draco before he pulled another rolled up piece of parchment from his robe and opened that one.

"The second and final winner of this Bicentennial Pageant is..." After consulting the paper he brought it down from his face and smiled out onto his students, his gaze falling onto the Gryffindor table. "Ginny Weasley. Congratulations."

Ginny sat frozen at the table not believing her ears. Her brother and his friends all turned on her with amazement in their eyes. Harry let go of her hand and sat back in his chair.

"You entered?" Ron yelled to be heard over the loud cheering for his sister. "You entered yourself?"

Hermione frowned at the other boy. "Of course she entered Ron, she won!" She tugged on the other girl's arm. "Go on Ginny, get up there."

Ginny bobbed her head in agreement, pushed back her chair and started for the front of the room. A shy smile covered her face as all the Gryffindors patted her on her back as she passed by, her eyes darting around the room before landing on Malfoy at the front. Immediately the smile left her lips as she went and stood next to him. As Dumbledore said his final words about the Pageant, Draco leaned a centimeter closer to her and whispered without moving his lips.

"I should've known that you would enter yourself in the Pageant, Weasley."

"Tell me Malfoy, did you enter for yourself, or for your father?"

Both barbs meant to cut deep into the other, and both were successful. Each recovered quickly though, Draco stood up straighter pushing his shoulders back, and Ginny shook out the long curls that reached the middle of her back, her cloak moving to reveal her dress underneath. The familiar emerald fabric winked at him, and he fought back a startled choke.

Draco's eyes raised back to inspect the girl beside him. They narrowed to slits as he took in the familiar little curls and the form fitting dress robe. Ginny Weasley without a doubt was the same girl that he watched in the Presentation room. The same girl with the voice his ears burned to listen to, and the desires his heart yearned for. Disgust rose in his chest at the thought and he tore his eyes away from her.

"Once again, congratulations to the winners of the Bicentennial Pageant of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You may return to your respected tables." Professor Dumbledore turned his attention to the rest of the Great Hall. "Now please, enjoy the feast!"

Ginny and Draco glared at the other before they turned and walk back to their tables. By the time Ginny was already seated, everyone was eating. Everyone that is, except for Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Why didn't you tell us you entered into the Pageant?" Ron demanded when she sat down.

"Sorry Ron," she replied. "I wanted to keep it to myself."

"Which you obviously did," Harry replied darkly.

"Oh Harry," Ginny sighed. "I honestly didn't know if I was going to win or not. I didn't want to get your hopes up."

"Still, you should have told us Ginny, we could've helped you out," Hermione said.

"And you needn't lie to us either," Harry put in.

Ginny slammed down her cup and angrily glared at the boy across the table from her. "Well Harry, maybe for once I wanted to do something for myself. Maybe I didn't want to be known as Weasley or the girl who had a crush on Harry Potter her first few years at Hogwarts. Maybe I'm just possibly tired of being around you and your famous gang, forever to be tossed to the side by everyone else, most especially the three of you! I like to know that I exist very much, but hanging around the lot of you, that's just bloody damn impossible." She stood up, her chair forcibly being shoved behind her by her legs. "You will not take this away from me Harry Potter! I earned it. I bloody deserve it!"

She turned from the table and stormed out of the Great Hall leaving Hermione and Ron staring at Harry with wide opened mouths.

"How was I to know?" he rhetorically asked.