Dreams of Fire

Chapter Four – A Blaze Of Intensity

Whilst Draco and Ginny were in the Slytherin dungeons, Harry and Ron had found Hermione. Harry explained what was going on, which was difficult with Ron standing fuming next to him. When he came to the part about Ron punching Draco Hermione gasped. ‘You STUPID fool! What do you want her to do? Go against you deliberately? Can’t you realise that she actually likes him…? Give them a chance, for God’s sake. Where did they go?’

‘I think they headed to the Slytherin rooms. I could be wrong, but it looked like that vague direction.‘ Hermione rushed off.

Draco and Ginny were lying on his bed. ‘How come you guys get your own rooms?’ she complained.

‘Probably because ‘us guys’ would kick up a huge fuss about sharing!’ he leaned over and kissed her. ‘Don’t think that you’re going to change the subject like that. It’s not that easy…’ he kissed her again, and wrapped his arms around her.

‘Ok, maybe it is…’ she murmured, melting into his arms. At that moment, the door burst open.

‘What the heck?!’ shouted Draco, looking round. He saw Hermione standing there, in the doorframe.

‘Herm, what’re you doing here?’ Ginny asked.

‘I came to find you and to…’ She looked pointedly at Draco, who took one look at her face and slunk out of the room, ‘I’ll be back later Gin.’’ He added in an undertone.

Hermione waited until he was out of sight and hearing, and then turned to Ginny. ‘Ok, not to be mean or anything, but what do you think you’re doing?’

‘Well, I’m sitting here, being interrogated by you right now.’

‘Oh, that’s funny Ginny…pardon me, but I’m too stressed to laugh.’

‘You’re stressed…why the hell are you stressed; this has nothing to do with you. In fact, you’re not even supposed to be in here.’

‘Neither are you.’

‘Ok, fair point, but anyway, why are you here? Did Ron set you up to this?’

‘Look, Ginny, I can’t talk to you if you’re going to jump onto every conclusion that comes your way. All I wanted to do is ask a few questions. Do you know what you’re doing?’

‘Yes’

‘And are you happy doing what you’re doing?’

‘Yes’

‘And do you like him?’

‘Yes’

‘And does he like you?’

‘I…I think so’

‘Well then,‘ Hermione’s voice seemed to assume an American accent, ‘ you go girl!’ Ginny laughed and leapt up, her arms flying around Hermione’s neck.

‘Thank you so much…you don’t know what it means to know you’re on my side.’ Just then Draco came into the room. Hermione undid Ginny’s arms from around her neck, ‘here Draco, I think you’d better take this!’ He grabbed hold of Ginny into a tight hug. Hermione continued, ‘I’ll tell the teachers you’re not feeling too well, Ginny.’

‘Thanks Herm, I owe you one.’

‘I know you do, but I’ll think of something you can do for me sometime!’ She left the room and went to find Harry and Ron in their first lesson.

Draco looked at Ginny in amazement. ‘Granger’s…well…she’s all right.’

‘I know she is, so why’d you disappear?’

‘I got food!’ He pulled a bag out from behind his back, filled with any kind of food you could name. ‘And all from the school’s very own kitchen!’ He said triumphantly.

‘My hero, how did you know I was hungry?’

‘Well, we haven’t had any breakfast, and I, for one, didn’t eat much dinner last night, so I figured if I was hungry, you might be too.’

‘That’s great Draco, let’s eat, I’m starving.’ They both dug into the bag and came out with a cream cake. ‘Mmm, my favourite…’ they both said at the same time. They looked at each other, and then at the cakes, which were identical, and laughed. Draco took a big bite out of his, sending cream down the front of his robes. Ginny laughed even harder, and even Draco had to see the funny side. Of course, it was made easier when Ginny did exactly the same thing…

As Draco and Ginny were sitting on the floor, eating, the bell had gone for lunch and the rest of the school filed into the Great Hall.

Ron, Harry, and Hermione took their seats, Ron still fuming about that morningÂ’s encounter with a certain Draco Malfoy. A notice came round announcing that there would be a Hogsmeade visit the next day. Ron brightened slightly.Â’ Great, I told Fred and George that they could come and meet us on the first Hogsmeade visit, remind me to go and owl them later.Â’

‘Why not now?’ asked Hermione, ‘I’ve got a bit of spare parchment here, write it and then we can send it after lunch.’

‘Okay, hand it over then.’ Ron scribbled on the parchment:

Fred and George,
Hogsmeade visit announced for tomorrow, hope you can make it, need to talk to you. Will meet you outside the Post Office at Eleven OÂ’clock. See you then.
Ron

(And Hermione and Harry!)

‘I wonder if Ginny knows about the Hogsmeade day tomorrow?’ Hermione wondered as they made their was to the Owlery.

‘Don’t tell her Fred and George are coming, not until we have to,’ Ron hissed.

‘Why not?’

‘Because I want to talk to them myself first, you know, about Ginny.’

‘Don’t Ron. What ever you do, don’t. You’ll only worry them, and then they’ll tell your mum and that’ll make things even worse.’

‘Okay, I’m not saying I won’t, but I’ll try not to. Is that good enough for you?’

‘I suppose that’ll have to do for now,’ Hermione said, resigned to the fact that that was the best she would get out of Ron today.

Meanwhile, an owl had flown in through the window of Draco’s room. ‘It’s from Professor Snape,” he told Ginny, looking worried, and then he opened the envelope. He scanned it and laughed.

‘What, what does it say?’ Draco handed Ginny the letter, and she read it:

Dear Mr. Malfoy,
I hope this letter finds you better than I was lead to believe this morning. I thought that I would inform you that there is a Hogsmeade visit tomorrow. I hope that you will be feeling well enough to attend, but if not, you will, of course, be welcome to remain in the castle. I would advise that you stay behind tomorrow until we can be sure that this ‘illness’ is cured. Bear in mind, Draco, that there is more than me in this castle who can read minds.
S. Snape
Professor Snape.

‘You mean, he knows?’ Ginny asked, her face white with fear.

‘Looks like it.’

‘How can you be so calm?’

‘’Look, if he knows, then it could make things easier. We were going to be open about this anyway, weren’t we?’

‘Yes, I suppose… but…’

‘It’ll make things a lot better for you in Potions class!’

‘I suppose it will! ‘ Ginny had stopped looking so worried. ‘ Draco, why don’t we stay behind tomorrow, just the two of us? Then we can have the day together again.’

‘That’s fine by me. But you’d probably be better heading off now; it’s nearly time for the last bell.’

‘I’ll see you tomorrow…’

‘I’ll miss you…’

‘Me too.’ Ginny ran back to Draco’s arms and hugged him. ‘ Thanks.’

‘Thanks?’

‘For today.’ She kissed him and ran out. Somehow, she managed to get back to the Gryffindor Tower without being seen, and curled up in a chair by the fire with her favourite book. She fell asleep before the night bell went, and when Ron saw her asleep in the chair, he carried her up to her bed.

‘Night little sis’, and I’m sorry…’