Fall From Grace

Chapter Eight - You did What?

Defence Against the Dark Arts was usually one of Harry's favourite classes. But seeing Ginny with Malfoy all the time he didn't want to do anything short of sitting on his bed staring at the ceiling. She was being so nice to Malfoy and he was just treating her like...like a common prostitute or something. Malfoy hadn't spoken a word to her during breakfast except to give her orders and there she had been, nice as pie, and feeding him toast from her hands. She actually let that bastard lick the butter from her fingers. Harry felt sick, worse than sick, he felt hollow and a headache he had not been able to shake since last night was still pounding round his head.

He was sure Madam Pomfrey would have a potion and that Professor Lupin would not mind him being a little late to his lesson so Harry made his way towards the Hospital Wing. The bell had already gone for lessons and the corridors were only slightly less creepy than they were during the night when nobody was around. A school seemed so unnatural when it was not filled with pupils talking or shouting down the corridors. Even the Hospital Wing seemed unusually quiet when everybody was in class. The silence was un-nerving and Harry would be glad to get back to class.

His headache worsened and though the numbing pain he was sure he could hear a low hissing. Something about it sounded so familiar, for a moment Harry was sure another Basilisk had gotten loose inside the school. His headache quickly returned to its normal hum. Pausing and listening for both a hiss or a trace of parceltonuge Harry stayed totally silent. His waiting ears were greeted with a laugh.

"What? You thought that would impress me?" Draco Malfoy's teasing voice echoed down the corridor.

"Sorry poppet...You sure you are ok? Your arm looked bad, did you fall on it?" Ginny was holding his hand as they strolled down the corridor, oblivious to the idea they should be in lessons.

"It's OK, don't worry so much. Oh shit I mean..."

"That's OK. It is getting kinda hard to remember which side you are supposed to do," Ginny giggled. "When I told you to 'shut it' after we came out of your room this morning. The look on your face was priceless."

Draco glared at her and rolled his eyes. He knew this bad-girl Ginny couldn't last forever, although the darkness in her had seemed so truthful.

"Yeah just like that," Ginny laughed again and almost walked into Harry. They apparently hadn't noticed him as they walked along.

"Watch where you are going Malfoy," Harry spat, wishing he could just go back to bed.

"Sorry Harry. How are you?" Ginny smiled trying to make amends with the boy she was once so enamoured with.

"Move Malfoy."

"Ginny's talking to you Potter. I think she deserves an answer." Draco refused to move out of the corridor.

"Go to Hell Malfoy!" Harry scowled and stormed between the two tearing their fingers away from each other.

Choking back unshed tears about Harry's open hostility Ginny allowed Draco to walk her to her Charms class. The advantage of being Seventh Year meant Draco had a number of 'study periods' and Ginny just didn't care about being late anymore. The bell had only gone a few minutes ago and legitimately she would be allowed a few minutes. She could blush and say she had been to Madam Pomfrey for a potion. Professor Flickwick was not so isolated from the students to not have heard the rumours about Ginny and Draco's sex life. Madame Pomfrey never gave out 'morning after' potions without a short interview. Ginny's lateness would be excused, she was sure of it.

"Ginny? Are you even listening to me?" Draco spun her by the shoulders to face him.

"Yeah, sorry."

"Do you want to be punished?" Draco's eyes glinted as Ginny smiled a little.

"Really D? Out here?" The idea of being punished by Draco in a corridor was too appealing. Ginny nodded and he slammed her back against the wall. Trying to retain a squeal Ginny grinned. A sharp slap from Draco wiped the smile from her face and she slipped into the submissive role perfectly.

"Dra...Draco don't."

"Shut up Weasley!" Draco sneered her name in the same way he sneered Ron's and he kissed Ginny on the underside of her neck. He moved his tongue up to her ear and blew gently into it. Ginny shivered under his breath. Draco moved down from her ear gently nosing her shoulder and eventually reaching her wrist. He licked across her pulse tasting the soap from her shower this morning. Raising his mouth he slapped her pulse point with his two fingers. The wetness caused his slap to sting and Draco walked away from Ginny without saying goodbye.

Ginny hadn't before noticed they were next door to her Charms room and sighing she knocked and entered, her wrist still stinging from Draco's final slap.

Professor Flickwick blushed slightly, as predicted, and shooed Ginny to her seat without asking for an explanation for her lateness. Chloe, Ginny's dorm mate and best friend at Hogwarts smiled a little at her as she sat down. At least not all of Gryffindor hate me, Ginny thought as she smiled back. After Flitwick had given them their project for that class Chloe turned and stared at Ginny.

"What Clo?" Ginny asked still taking notes on her scatter charm.

"So, you slept...where...last night and the night before that, and the night before that and the night before...do you want me continue?"

"No and with Malfoy," Ginny remarked in the same way one would simply say as home. The boy behind them dropped his quill in surprise and blushed when both girls turned to glare at him.

"With Malfoy?" Chloe hissed as quietly as she could, "Oh. Ok. In Malfoy's room you mean."

"Nope. With Malfoy. Blow jobs and all." Ginny was still focused on her work and for the second time the boy behind them dropped his quill.

"Oh My God! One, don't be so rude in public and two with Malfoy? It's been ages, hasn't he dumped you yet?" Chloe detested any sort of sex talk in public.

"No. He's not going to either."

"Oh. He instigated?"

"No. I believe it was me." Ginny smiled at her friend and turned to the boy behind them who had dropped his quill again and was staring freely at the back of her head, "Christov, if you are going to listen you might as well help me with my Charms."

Christov picked up his chair and moved around to the other side of the table. Lowering his head to be part of the girly conversation. Normally Ginny and Chloe were very secretive about their girly chats but Christov was an honorary girl. Possibly Hogwarts first ever openly 'confused' individual Chris was as camp as a row of little pink tents, and for that Ginny loved him. Christov had in fact been one of the first people to notice Malfoy's bad boy sexiness.

"So what was he like?" Christov got straight to his point.

"Blunt much Chris?" Ginny retorted not wanting to answer his question.

"Oh please girly, that smile did not come from a really satisfying shower now did it?" Chris winked tyring to anger Ginny into the truth.

"Actually, we spent all night talking about his crush on you."

"Really?" Christov raised his eyebrows in excitement.

"No. Chloe is it Nacus Accor or Accus Nacor?" Ginny tried to change the subject.

"Nacus. Ron was very annoyed this morning, he expected you back after the weekend. He said you really disappointed him." Chloe bit on her lower lip, not wanting to get in a row with her best friend.

"Ron can fuck himself. Please stop dithering about my arse of a brother." Ginny shook her head at Chloe who had developed a dreamy look.

"Yeah Clo, it's disgusting his best friend is so much fitter..." Chris matched Chloe's dreamy look and Ginny giggled.

"Hermione, really? I thought your were gay?" she asked smirking.

"Harry Potter, you great nonce!" Chris smacked her playfully on the back of her head, "but back to the delicious blonde point. Was Malfoy a good lay?"

"I don't know. I have nothing to compare but yeah. I guess in the way you think Strawberry's are the best fruit ever but have you tasted every fruit?"

"Gin! You did not loose your..." Chloe looked around and lowered her voice, "...virginity with Draco Malfoy."

"Well...yeah, no, kinda. He's the first boy I loved and slept with. And I never did it that way before." Ginny blushed slightly not wanting to have to explain her situation with Tom Riddle when she was twelve.

"You love him?" Chris looked shocked.

"No. Yeah. Oh guys...I can't do the flick and swish?" Ginny desperately tried to change conversation but gave up with a sigh, "Let me figure it out in my own head before I try to tell you guys, deal? Now can we please change the subject? How are your love lives?"

"Dead," Chris answered as Chloe said, "Great."

"Ohhh," Ginny said perking up, "Poor Chris but Chloe, how great?"

"Ron took me into the boys dorm."

"You shagged her brother?" Chris began to laugh and received a stern looked from Professor Flickwick who was trying to gather the paperclips another student had sent all over the room.

"No. Not yet. He asked me into his room to see if Ginny had really spent that first night in our dorm. Then he said I was irreplaceable and asked if there was anything he could do for me." Chloe paused for dramatic effect, not planning on Chris's interruption.

"To which you said, roger me now?" Chris and Ginny dissolved into giggles causing Professor Flitwick to yell from under his desk.

"Mister Allson if you can't control your outstanding sense of humour I suggest you move back to your place."

"Sorry Professor." Chris grimaced at his friends before adding, "I'll behave!"

"As. I. Was. Saying," Chloe continued, "he asked what he could do for me and I said I needed help telling a boy I liked him. Ron laughed and said he knew the feeling. He really loved this witch but couldn't think how to tell her. He kept looking at me and I'm sure he would have kissed me if Harry hadn't come bursting in talking about dogs getting slime on his robes. Apparently Lupin has a pet or...I wasn't concentrating. I left, but we had...a moment."

Chris and Ginny exchanged a glance and nodded, "Deluded" they said at the same time and burst into giggles again.

"MISTER ALLSON!" Professor Flitwick's voice rang across the room, "Back to your seat and I will be over to check your group's work in just a moment."

"Can we meet up tonight, finish the conversation? Common room, eightish?" Chris whispered under the pretence of gathering his things.

"I'm spending tonight in Draco's room, but we could meet there. I'll let you in." Ginny blushed subconsciously.

"Sure thing! And another night with Draco you little slut!" Chris laughed again.

"MISTER ALLSON!"

"Yes Sir. Sorry Sir just...going."

Admitting defeat the group separated and began to do some actual work sending small objects randomly across the room.

%%%

Ginny was walking back to Draco's room trying to avoid as many Gryffindors as she could when the boy stepped out of the shadows and smiled at her.

"Ginny," he said taking her hand an smiling, "I've been waiting here for you all day. How are you?"

"I'm fine," Ginny said shortly.

"No you're not. If you are fine why is there a lump in your throat like you are about to burst into tears?"

"I'm..." Ginny started to say but her voice cracked and tears flowed down her cheeks. "I haven't had a letter off Mum."

"Oh Gin," the boy said before pulling her into a hug. Stroking one hand down her hair he left her tears soak into his robes and Ginny hugged him closer.

"I miss them Tom. I can't not be a part of my family. I'm...I'm...they don't love me any more." Ginny burst into a fresh flood of tears.

"I still love you Ginny. You don't need anybody apart from me. And you will have me with you forever. I'm not going to leave you. I love you, do you love me?"

"Oh Tom. I love you so much but nobody could know..."

"Shush. Nobody matters apart from you or me. So long as we love each other what else do we need?" He kissed her lightly on the lips and left her outside Draco's room. "Dry your eyes sweetheart. Tomorrow will be a new day."

%%%

"Right Moony. Any idea how you are going to tell her?" Sirius was peering around the corner that lead to the Gryffindor common room. He was trying to avoid being seen by the Fat Lady who had not forgiven him for scaring her half to death a few years back. Apparently painting were like elephants, incredible memories.

"No idea. I sent her an owl at lunch asking her to meet me in the classroom that's a couple of doors to the left from here. You stay here, and hide, and when you hear her using your super dog hearing come and let me know she's coming so I'm ready." Remus was wringing his hands together nervously.

"I know all that! And by the way, Super Dog? I sound like a cartoon character!" Sirius pulled a face at his best mate, trying to lighten the mood.

"I have absolutely no idea what I'm supposed to say. I have to let her down gently because I'm her teacher and you know how delicate girls are at this age." Remus bit his lower lip as it wobbled.

"Yeah, I stopped most of the girls in our year doing their NEWTs. Most of them were too exhausted nursing broken hearts!" Sirius sighed dramatically.

"My, my don't we think highly of ourselves? Most of the girls were inspired to do well in their NEWTs by you. I believe, 'even a lifetime of work is better than ending up with Sirius' was their official motto," Remus said allowing himself to smile slightly for the first time in hours.

"Why don't you take that oh-so-tactful approach with Hermione, it would do wonders for her self-confidence!" Sirius scowled a little.

"Oh yeah go down a treat that. Hermione, love. Thanks for a lovely shag but I'm bored now so bugger off and leave me alone! Oh and be a love and close the door on your way out!" Remus did an uncanny Sirius face at the end of his little speech, slightly pompous and verging on naughty.

"Save you all these problems though, wouldn't it?" Sirius asked as if the idea of Remus saying something like that wasn't totally unreal.

"Yeah, have the one person who didn't scream or faint or change their opinion of me when they discovered I was a werewolf hate me forever, that's a lovely possiblitly," Remus sighed, "go on wonder-dog, get in position. I'll go and wait, wish me luck."

"Good lu-" Sirius' sentence was cut off my the slamming of the Fat Lady's portrait. Sirius peered gingerly around the corner, "She saw me!"

"Who? Hermione?"

"No the Fat Lady. Gave me a right scowl."

"Was Hermi there?"

"No."

"Well who was it?" Remus was getting slightly annoyed.

"Nobody. Just the Fat Lady, looking at me!"

"Alright Sirius! I'm sorry she saw you but quickly transform into a dog and have a smell, she might be under James' invisibility cloak and standing next to us!" Remus watched as Sirius turned into a dog, paused a moment, before quickly changing back.

"Sorry mate, Herm's scent is here but then again she has walked down here everyday for the last seven years."

"OK. In that cupboard and remember, you have to get to me before she does, give me a head-start!" Remus watched Sirius switch into dog form then claw his way into the cloak closet before taking a deep breath and waking to his classroom to wait.