Taking The Chance

Ginny Weasley stood at the door to the common room waiting on her brother and his friends; it was after 6 and they were all about to go and get dinner in the great hall.

"Come on, Ron! We're starving!" Dean Thomas shouted irritably at her brother while giving a wink to Ginny. "You should be a little more punctual like your sister..."

Ron came over irritably. "Yeah well, not all of us are a future Percy in the making, are we Gin?"

Ginny gave him an annoyed look as she tried to surpress a smile. It was nice to still have her brother at the school; with Fred and George still teasing her everytime she had a bad day it was good, in a strange way to have Ron slide into that role as unknowing ally, for no other reason than she could always slip the twins some info on Ron that would deflect the attention away from her.

Ron looked at them all and sighed. "Why are we waiting?"

Seamus looked uncomfortably and nodded towards Neville and lowered his voice. "Harry and Hermione are trying to get him to come down to the hall for something to eat. I could kill Malfoy...I can't believe even he would stoop that low."

As Seamus clenched his fist angrily Dean and Ron nodded their heads in unison as Ron spoke. "I can't believe he didn't tell us...I mean...it's us..."

"None of you even bothered to ask why he lived with his grandmother in 5 years so why would he tell you? I mean, put yourself in his position...you would only tell people you were close to something like that..." Ginny said quietly as she looked towards Neville and sighed sadly. How could none of them have known? Because Neville was invisible unless they were making fun of him...

Ron looked at her and shook his head. "You don't know what you're talking about Ginny...we just didn't want to pry. We are close to Neville..." Ron said as he looked around at the other boys desperately, "That's right, isn't it?"

Seamus and Dean nodded their heads guiltily as Dean spoke quietly, still observing Neville and Harry in the corner. "How do you think Malfoy found out?"

"Obvious, ain't it? His father the Death Eater. Probably was there and told it to Draco as a bedtime story." Ron said angrily, the colour flaring in his face. "Tonight, Draco...we'll talk about how we tortured and killed good wizards in front of their families in excruciating detail...chapter 1: The Longbottoms..."

Ginny shuddered involuntarily as the mental image forced its way into her head. "Ron...don't..."

Ron was about to reply when Ginny noticed a movement at the back of the common room as Harry, Hermione and Neville came walking over. She gave them all a sympathetic smile, which she hoped conveyed to Neville that she was on his side. She always liked Neville, he was sweet and if you could get beneath the awkward exterior he could be really funny. Even if he had proved at the Yule Ball what a bad dancer he was.

"All right, Neville?" Dean said uneasily.

Neville looked at him and gave a nervous smile as he nodded his head. "Yeah, of course..."

Ginny sighed as they all walked through the corridor to the portrait hole; his voice was a lot higher than normal and he definitely was a lot paler than usual. Harry, Ron and Hermione stood by him protectively as Ginny followed the group of them down the corridor towards the Great Hall.

"So, Harry..." Neville said loudly as the others began to talk. "You ready for the next Quidditch game? It's against Hufflepuff? "

Ginny winced slightly as she looked at Harry who looked down sadly. "Yeah...they got a new Seeker..."

Ginny sighed, poor Harry. He was still hurting as much as he tried to hide it: he needed someone he could talk to about it. And you know just the girl for the job, don't you? She felt herself blush slightly as she imagined her and Harry talking, him telling her all his feeling and her helping him through it. Pathetic...you are the most pathetic excuse for a woman ever...who fantasises about helping someone through their problems? She chastised herself as she saw Ron stop and turn to the others.

"Guess who's outside Dumbledore's office?" He said with a broad grin.

Dean looked around and clapped his hands as he nudged Harry who grinned as he looked at Neville.

Ron began to snigger slightly as he turned to Hermione. "You don't still have Rita Skeeter there do you? I would give my left arm to know what's going to get said in there...hell, I'd give Harry's Firebolt to get up there..."

Harry looked at him and smirked. "Not likely, if anyone's giving the Firebolt to get up there it will be me..."

Ron looked at him and grinned as Hermione was getting her "prefect face" on as Ron so tactfully put it. "Well, I'll throw Pig and Crookshanks in along with the Firebolt..."

Hermione looked at him and shook her head as she raised her voice slightly, "Come on, lets not be as petty as he is...we need to get to the Hall...."

"But we like being petty, Hermione...it makes the day more interesting." Ron said with a conspiratory smirk to the boys.

Hermione groaned loudly as they all began to walk slowly, although Ron, Harry, Dean and Seamus were all sniggering as they walked past the office, where a much paler than usual Draco Malfoy was standing.

"Maybe we're finally get rid of you now, Malfoy, Dumbledore won't put up with your racist shit. He'll pack your bags so quickly that even Daddy won't be able to buy you back in." Ron said cheerily as Draco looked at him with utter disdain.

Draco gave a twisted smile at Ron as he spoke. "Do you honestly think that I would have to be bought in anywhere? Unlike some people," Draco looked at them and tossed his head airily as he indicated towards Ron, "I have pure, wizarding blood. I will be picked up by another school if it's necessary, though I doubt you would be able to boast the same. Weasley just doesn't hold the same respect as Malfoy."

Ginny glared at Malfoy as Hermione and Harry restrained Ron: how dare he insult her family again? After what he did? Nonetheless, as she looked at him she saw that he was different than usual: the contemptuous smile was the same, the hair framed his pale face the same and the way he held himself; like he was aloof and better than everyone else was the same. But his eyes...his pale blue eyes were haunted...like he was worried. Maybe even scared...that was very different.

Ginny was broken out of her observation with McGonagal's stern voice. "You all, get going to where your going and if I come out and see any of you still around I will be taking points from you and putting you on detention with Mr Filch!"

They didn't need told twice as they began walking away: Neville muttering something about hoping they sent Malfoy to Romania to meet the vampires, Hermione trying to get them all to walk along quickly and Harry, Ron, Dean and Seamus all waving at him sarcastically. Ginny turned away from them and couldn't help but look back towards the office towards Draco. Could it have been worry that she had seen hidden in his eyes? Could it have been fear? She looked at him and sighed. Don't be so stupid, Ginny. To be scared or worried you have to have feelings...

* * * * *

Dinner had been a much more lively affair than Ginny had expected. Even Neville seemed to be in good spirits as he theorised with the rest of the Gryffindors on possible fates for Malfoy. She laughed and smiled at the imitations that some of them were doing: most notably Fred, George and Ron's interpretation of a quivering wreck Draco, furious and indignant Lucius and a Dumbledore who lost control of his wand and turned them both into strange Leprauchaun/ chicken hybrids who talked in an Irish accent as they pecked the ground. But, despite this, she couldn't help the nagging feeling that there had to be something more than what was there. No one was that shallow, and no one was inextricably evil at 16...not even Malfoy. There had to be something more to him.

As the laughter died down, Fred sighed loudly as he looked at Harry. "You hear that Hufflepuff are asking to postpone, Harry? I think all the matches are going to get put back: you know, first they need to train a new Seeker, now Slytherin have lost theirs and there's a rumour going about that Cho's not going to be in the Ravenclaw side..."

Ginny's head snapped up at the mention of Harry's name. She looked at him intently as his face went through a large number of emotions in the space of a few seconds at the mention of Cho's name.

"She's not?" Harry asked, desperately trying to sound like it didn't bother him. He should try harder then... Ginny thought sadly as she watched him. She knew that Harry still had a lot of feelings for Cho, and a lot of guilt about what happened in the Tri Wizard cup with Cedric, but she couldn't help feeling jealous. She sighed as she looked back down at the food she was eating...what did she really have to feel jealous about? Were they dating? Did they ever date? Did he ever speak more than: "hey Ginny, how's it going?" to her a day? No. She had no reason to feel jealous.

"You okay, Ginny?" Hermione asked concerned, as the Quidditch team talked passionately about the possibilities of the next season.

Ginny smiled weakly as she answered. "Yeah, I'm just trying to work up the energy to go and pick my stuff up from the library..."

Hermione smiled as she nodded her head and leaned in closer to her. "You sure that's all?" Hermione indicated towards Harry as she continued, "You know he'll twig eventually...we'll just have to persuade Fred or George to let a bludger hit him and he'll work it out."

Ginny smiled as she stood up and whispered. "So all I have to do is wait on a potentially fatal collision with a bludger? That could be a while...so, I think I'm going to go and collect my books. Who knows, maybe when I least expect it things will fall into place...or I'll finally get a life..."

"What will fall into place?" Ron asked as he shoved a large piece of bread into his mouth.

Hermione gave him a disapproving look. "None of your business...you want me to come to the library with you, Ginny?"

Ginny smiled and shook her head as she walked away. "No, you stay here. I'll see you in the Common Room..."

* * * * *

Ginny had picked her books up from the library but couldn't really be bothered going straight upstairs yet. The thought that she would be going up to Harry moping about Cho and the others cheering themselves up with Malfoy's expulsion didn't really appeal to her...she just wanted a little quiet. Maybe she would go up to the fourth floor gallery...that was always deserted if you could avoid attracting Nearly Headless Nick's attention. She made up her mind to head straight up there while everyone else was still in the Great Hall having dinner, so at the very least she wouldn't be disturbed. As she walked quickly with her head down she felt herself hit hard against someone and was knocked to the ground in a heap.

"What the...Weasley..." She looked up from the heap on the floor and looked into the pale face of Draco Malfoy. He was still here? She quickly went to pick up her books and felt a rush of infuriation as he rolled his eyes at her before stooping over and picking up some of the books.

"I don't need your help, Malfoy." She said angrily as she grabbed some of the books from him. He held his hands up in a mock defence stance and gave her a smug smile.

"I don't recall saying you needed anything from me, I just assumed you would appreciate the help, but clearly you, like so many people of...moderate means, take any sign of help as an offer of charity..." Thoughts of smacking him right around his head came to mind as she looked at him before grabbing the last book back as he continued. "Muggle Studies? You enjoy that?"

Was he trying to start a conversation? She nodded her head as she looked at him. "I do as a matter of fact, but I doubt that it would appeal to you due to the subject matter..." What with you being a racist and all that. She looked at him as he stood up, he looked kinda tired and strained...well, she reasoned: that's probably how anyone would look if they had just been expelled...

"I have no doubt that you're probably right, but unfortunately I don't have the luxury of deciding anymore."

Ginny looked at him as she got to her feet. Why would muggle studies have anything to do with him now...what with him being expelled? Unless...no, they wouldn't have. "You're staying?" She asked, barely capable of keeping the disappointment out of her voice.

She looked at him expectantly as he gave her a tight smile. "Don't sound so disappointed, Weasley, if it makes you feel any better I am here under duress. My father just mentioned that I had an acceptance from Durmstrang and Dumbledore changed his mind: practically begged my dad to keep me here."

Ginny looked at him unimpressed. Dumbledore begging to keep Malfoy? That had as much chance of being true as Harry proposing to her when she walked in the common room. She looked at Malfoy and shook her head, Malfoy's father was upstairs? "Your father is up there? How did he get here as quickly?"

Ginny looked at him as Draco smiled at her: actually, she thought, smile might be too strong...he smirked at her as he drawled. "Like all great wizards do, not that you or your family would know, but he apparated."

She looked at him before turning away, could that have been a flash of hurt in his face? No, he was a Malfoy...he was probably just thinking of a good hex to curse her with when her back was turned.

"Weasley!" Ginny turned around slowly and looked at him expectantly. "I don't care for what you are implying."

Ginny walked over to him, clutching the books tight to her. This definitely wasn't what she expected. But what did he expect from her? He was twisted like his father...everyone knew that. "Malfoy, that would matter more to me if I cared what you think...but anyone who persistently hurts and insults people who are different from them really doesn't deserve any consideration."

As she finished speaking she swore that he definitely looked hurt and she felt a pang of regret at saying it out loud. But as quickly as it had appeared he had fixed his face into a twisted smile as he spat quietly. "It's a pity you can't get sentences that long out in front of Potter, he might acknowledge your existence then..."

Ginny gasped quietly as she looked at him, she felt her face redden as she looked at him. How dare he? How dare he talk about her relationship with Harry? He wasn't fit to talk about Harry. "Harry is 10 times the man you will ever be, Malfoy. You should remember that when you are acting so superior. My life has nothing to do with you! You should go to Durmstrang, because you certainly aren't wanted here!"

She quickly turned and walked away before he had a chance to reply. As she turned away from the corridor she stopped and leant against the wall, trying not to think that what she said might have actually hurt him. She took a deep breath and tried to calm down, she had never felt as angry than when his sneering face presumed to tell her that Harry didn't recognise her. Of course he acknowledged her existence...how dare Malfoy? He dares because he sees what you don't...you're like Neville: invisible.

She shook her head and tried to block out the thoughts as she walked determinedly towards the common room. Harry did acknowledge her existence...he knew a lot about her. He knew what happened with Tom Riddle...Because he was there, and because Riddle was only interested in you because of Harry...he didn't know because he asked you about it, or how you were feeling...he found it out from Riddle, not you. She walked to the portrait of the Fat Lady and looked at her. "Hello deary, shouldn't you be in dinner?"

Ginny looked up at her and sighed as she muttered. "Not hungry, and I have to study. Zanchita."

The Portrait of the Fat Lady swung open and she walked in, still replaying Draco's words over and over in her head. Even Malfoy, who hated the Weasley's and probably didn't give them a passing thought unless they were standing 10 ft in front of him, had noticed what was going on with Harry. Not only that, but he was staying at Hogwarts as well and she had basically given him ammo to tease her with for the next year.

"Harry's 10 times the man you'll ever be?...stupid Ginny, you shouldn't have said that out loud...especially to him."

As she sat down on the chair she looked straight into the fire and couldn't help but smile slightly. If you took away the embarrassment of saying what she said, then tonight was the first time in months when she had just been able to yell, and shout and give out as good as she got outwith her family and, she reasoned, it actually felt good. Give out as good as you got? You gave out better than you got. You wiped the smirk off his arrogant face and you walked away having the last word...even Ron hasn't been able to do that.

She smiled broadly as the portrait opened again and she heard familiar voices, still no doubt celebrating over Draco's 'expulsion'. She thought about telling them the bad news but, seeing Neville looking as happy decided against it...they may as well have fun tonight.

"Alright, Ginny?" Hermione asked as she walked over and sat beside her. "I thought you were going to the library?"

Ginny looked at her and smiled. "Yeah, I did." She looked at Hermione as Ron and Harry sat down beside them. Ginny looked down slightly before a question involuntarily escaped from her lips. "So, I've been wondering, can a person apparate into Hogwarts or out of it?"

Harry and Ron looked at each other as Hermione opened her mouth to speak. But before any sound could come out they had both put on a squeaky, airy voice and said in unison. "Well, seriously...if you had read Hogwarts: A History you would know the answer to that question..."

Ginny giggled involuntarily as Hermione glared at both of them indignantly. "I do not talk like that!"

Ron looked at Hermione and raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh, sure you don't, and Draco Malfoy's not owling Lucius tonight to get him to get Dumbledore fired..."

Hermione ignored him and turned to Ginny. "Ignore them...when push comes to shove they are just immature boys. Anyway, no, you can't apparate into or out of Hogwarts, why?"

Ginny nodded her head for a second before standing up. "Um, no...no reason...just curious...well, I think I'm going to go up and work on this...I'll see you all later. Could you tell Colin to leave out my potions book when he comes up?"

Hermione nodded as she looked at Ginny retreat. "No problem."

* * * * *

Ginny lay on her bed, her books still closed over as she looked up at ceiling. Why had Malfoy told her Lucius had apparated? If he had really been there then why didn't he just tell her the truth? What did it matter to her anyway? So what if he lied? It wouldn't be anything new for him. She closed her eyes and tried to stop the torrent of thoughts that were flooding through her head. If Lucius wasn't there then there was obviously no acceptance from Durmstrang and as Draco was staying, it could be assumed that he had had to make a deal to stay. One aspect of which was joining the muggle studies class...but there was no way that Dumbledore would let him off that easily. Draco Malfoy had never done anything to warrant special treatment. He had a rich family, but that was it...he didn't have to struggle...

"Why did they let him stay? Why couldn't he just leave?" She sighed quietly as she pictured the reactions of everyone as they saw him show up for breakfast tomorrow with a smug smile on his face, ready to flaunt and show everyone what he could get away with because of who his parents were. She sighed as she sat up and opened her book, no doubt Malfoy would get what was coming to him tomorrow so there was no point her wasting anymore time thinking about him. He wasn't worth it. He'd never be worth it.