Reputations

Hermione watched as Ginny left the common room. "Is Ginny all right?" she asked Ron.

"As far as I know, yeah. Why?"

"She just seems a bit quiet, and she left in a hurry."

"Probably had to go and see Malfoy and that's enough to cause anyone stress. How come I've never been asked to tutor? I'm completely offended."

"Perhaps when you grasp the art of learning yourself, you will be able to pass on that knowledge to others," she giggled.

"That's not funny. Anyway, who are the head students this year? You would think it would be one of us wouldn't you?"

Harry shrugged. "I think both head girl and head boy are from Hufflepuff."

"What a waste. We've done so much for the school. It's not as if we have been anything less than model students."

"I'm thinking that those chosen have led relatively normal student lives," Harry guessed.

"Oh well, their loss."

***

"Ginny, where are we going?"

"To the dungeons. Your favourite hang out."

"I think I've used up all my cupid powers today," Ceridon protested.

"Good, because they weren't much help," she smiled.

"I'm starting to feel like a Slytherin," Ceridon continued moaning.

"As opposed to...?"

"Hey! Though I would look good in green..."

"Ceridon!"

"OK, OK, I'll be quiet."

Ginny walked straight over to the Slytherin common room where Goyle was loitering outside.

"I need to see Draco."

Goyle looked at her as though she were mad and didn't move.

"Fetch your m a s t e r," Ceridon added slowly, as though talking to a three-year-old. Ginny shot her a warning look.

"It's really important," Ginny added.

"This I have to see," Goyle mumbled as he went inside the Slytherin common room. He returned moments later, without Draco. "Draco is currently busy."

"Then I'll wait," she replied, sounding braver than she actually was.

Goyle shrugged and went back inside the common room, leaving Ginny and Ceridon on their own.

"Listen Ginny, maybe we should come back later. We could be here for ages otherwise."

"You don't have to stay," said Ginny quietly.

"No, it's just that, I feel kind of responsible for this. You don't have to go through with it if you don't want to."

"I want to and you're not responsible for it."

"Frogging chocolate, I completely forgot!" said Ceridon suddenly. "I have detention. Sorry, Ginny."

"It's OK. You had better hurry up before he gives you another detention." Ceridon ran off towards Snape's classroom and Ginny sat down against the wall. I'll just close my eyes for a bit, she thought, I could be here...a while.

"You have a stalker. Congratulations."

Ginny opened her eyes to the sight of Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy, and quickly closed them again. Draco turned to Pansy. "Leave us a minute."

"What?" she asked incredulously.

Draco gave her a look not to be argued with.

"Fine," she spat, and walked off.

"Weasley, I know you're awake. So what do you want?"

Ginny opened her eyes and stood up awkwardly. "The book," she said quickly. "It wasn't helpful."

"And?" asked Draco impatiently.

"You're supposed to be my tutor."

"Not through choice."

Ginny stared at the ground and Draco sighed. "Which part of the book didn't answer your questions?"

"The chapter."

"Which chapter?"

"The one in the book."

Draco stared at her as if assessing her level of sanity and if he should move away slowly.

"It doesn't matter," she said quietly, as she started to leave.

"Weasley, wait. I'm not going to let you go running back to Snape and make me look bad. Meet me tonight at the Astronomy Tower. I have some other business there," he smirked.

"Thanks," she muttered.

"Oh and Weasley, don't follow me around. It's not good for my image."

Wishing the ground would swallow her up whole, Ginny walked towards Snape's classroom to see if she could see Ceridon. She tried to get her attention, but Ceridon was too busy scraping indescribable green goo off the desks. Ginny tried not to think what it could be and instead headed for the Gryffindor common room. She wasn't sure exactly what time qualified as 'tonight' so she decided to head over to the Astronomy Tower as early as possible. After an hour of polite chit chat with Neville, who was eager to discuss the maturity Ceridon demonstrated when she asked for a tutor, she made her excuses and left, only to be confronted by Ron.

"Ginny, about earlier..."

"Ron, I'm in a bit of a hurry."

"Are you OK?"

"Yes."

"If Malfoy's giving you trouble I'll..."

"He's not giving me any trouble. Everything is fine, honestly."

"OK, well just make sure he doesn't try any funny business..."

"I have to go, I'll see you later." Ginny left and walked slowly to the Astronomy Tower. It wasn't a place that she frequented. She could hear noises and make out a light under the door, of the top of the tower. Opening it, she walked in on Draco and dark haired Slytherin girl kissing.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said blushing.

The Slytherin girl giggled.

"Don't you know how to knock, Weasley?" Draco snapped. "I'll see you later," he said turning his attention to the Slytherin girl, running his hand through her hair. As she passed Ginny on the way out, she looked her over and laughed.

Ginny stood frozen to the spot.

"Do you want help or not?" asked Draco impatiently.

She walked over to him and sat down. "Was that your girlfriend?" said Ginny quietly.

"No, that was my Thursday appointment."

Embarrassed, Ginny pulled some notes out of her bag. "I'm finding the um, Swirly Potion difficult." Swirly Potion, she thought to herself, what in the name of Merlin was that?

"The Swirly Potion..." repeated Draco slowly. "How about we concentrate on a real potion for now?"

He started to talk about the Memory Potion and Ginny contemplated her next move. She put a hand on his knee as if by accident and quickly moved it away. "It's so cold up here," she shivered moving closer to Draco.

Draco looked at the thick winter robes Ginny was wearing, plus the heavily knitted cardigan on top. "Perhaps you should wear more," he observed, before turning his attention back to potions.

Running out of ideas, and feeling thoroughly embarrassed, Ginny stretched out her right arm, and let it fall against Draco's shoulder.

Irritated, Draco put the notes down on the floor. "Weasley, what are you trying to do? This?" he said as he leaned forward and kissed her.

Completely taken aback, Ginny pulled away and muttered something incoherent. Reaching for her notes, she headed for the door. "I have to go," she said quickly.

Draco laughed as he watched her leave, "Tutoring is more entertaining than I thought it would be."