Reputations

Ginny hurried away from the Astronomy Tower. What had she done? Flustered she made her way out into the grounds, despite the pouring rain. The cold water, splashing against her cheeks failed to make them any less red. Eventually she took a deep breath and decided to return to the castle, leaving a trail of wet footprints.

"Ginny, what's the matter? You look like a drowned rat," said Ceridon, who was pacing up and down outside the Gryffindor common room.

"Draco, we kissed, by accident," Ginny blurted out.

"You accidentally fell on his lips?" asked Ceridon in disbelief.

"It was a mistake; I can't go through with this whole stupid plan. I'm going to tell him I don't want a tutor anymore."

"Come on," said Ceridon pulling Ginny into the Gryffindor common room and pushing her towards a chair. "Sit."

Ron, who was talking to Neville, took that moment to charge over to his sister. "Ginny, mum sent us some...hey, what's wrong? You look like a drowned r..."

"Nothing is wrong. She did not kiss Draco Malfoy," Ceridon replied seriously.

Ceridon put her hand over her mouth as Ron looked at Ginny.

"What?" asked Ron, the tips of his ears turning purple.

"I mean, she didn't kiss Draco Malfoy because, that would be a silly thing to do. She doesn't like him or anything. He's really ugly with his beautiful blond hair and ice blue eyes. It's all part of a, ow..."

"She drank something strange in Potions. Ignore her," interrupted Ginny, whilst nudging Ceridon sharply.

Ron looked at them both for a moment, then continued with his message. "Mum sent some new jumpers because of the bad weather. There's one for you too, Ceridon."

Ceridon looked scared. "Um, that's really nice of her, but I still have the other eight that she sent me - last week."

"Didn't you lose them all?" asked Ginny mischievously."

"I, er, no. They're still, um, somewhere. I have to err, go to bed now. Really sleepy." Ceridon yawned dramatically, got up and quickly left.

Ron smirked then handed Ginny a package. "Here they are."

"Thanks," said Ginny. "I should get some sleep too, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Gin..." he said as she walked away. "You didn't really kiss Malfoy did you?"

"Do I look that stupid?" laughed Ginny nervously, as she headed for the dorm. It had been a stressful day.

***

"I'm starving," moaned Ceridon, as she and Ginny headed for breakfast.

"Well you shouldn't be after all those sweets."

"I understand why you're not hungry. You're in love," teased Ceridon.

"I am not," Ginny snapped.

"Oh my gosh, there he is. Act normal," squealed Ceridon.

Ginny turned to see Draco walking towards the Great Hall with his arm around Pansy Parkinson.

"I'm going to go and tell him now." Ginny went over to him before Ceridon could stop her.

"Draco, I need to talk to you."

Draco looked annoyed. "Excuse me a moment Pansy." Pansy frowned as Draco went to walk away, so he turned back and kissed her on her forehead. "Missing you already, Parkinson," he winked. Then he walked over to Ginny. "Weasley," he said pulling her away from the crowd of students heading for the hall. "I told you not to follow me around."

"I'm going to tell Snape I don't want a tutor anymore," she said quickly.

"I can't let you do that."

"What?" asked Ginny surprised.

"I'm not satisfied that you have learned enough," he said matter of factly.

"But why? You said you didn't want to be a tutor!"

"I don't, but I feel it is my duty, as a tutor, to teach you something."

Ginny started to get annoyed. "Go back to your Friday appointment," she muttered and walked back over to Ceridon.

Draco shook his head and laughed to himself, 'Friday appointment?' he thought as he returned to his Friday morning appointment.

"How did it go?" asked Ceridon.

"Awful. He's being really difficult."

"What happened?"

"I don't understand. I told him that I didn't want a tutor anymore, but he said he couldn't allow that."

"If you want to get rid of Malfoy, you'll have to speak to Snape. There's still time to go and see him before breakfast."

Ginny sighed.

"Do you want me to come with you?" asked Ceridon, who kept her fingers crossed behind her back.

"No, it's OK. You go to breakfast."

Ceridon breathed a sigh of relief. "See you in a bit," she said as she ran off into the hall.

Ginny made her way down to Snape's classroom. It was becoming a very familiar route. Taking a deep breath she knocked on his door and went inside.

"What is it, Miss Weasley?" asked Snape without looking up from his writing.

"I, I, don't want a tutor for Potions anymore."

Snape looked at her.

"Ah, yes. Mr. Malfoy came in to speak to me earlier. He said that you haven't been turning up for designated tutoring sessions, and when you do, you are insolent and leave early. You will continue to go to your tutoring sessions, Miss Weasley."

Ginny stared at Snape for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Yes, sir," she eventually mumbled, then she headed towards the door.

"Oh and Miss Weasley, detention tonight at eight."

Ginny closed the door and slowly walked along the corridor. What had Draco been saying about her?

She had lost her appetite but she went to the Great Hall anyway.

"How did it go?" asked Ceridon, as Ginny sat down.

"He gave me detention," Ginny replied quietly, still in shock.

"I'm so happy for you. Congratulations." Ceridon flung her arms around Ginny and hugged her tightly.

"Well I'm glad somebody is pleased because I'm not."

"This is what you wanted...detention, the whole 'bad girl thing' remember? The plan is working."

"I suppose so," muttered Ginny.

"I'm so proud of you," said Ceridon, putting her hand on her heart. "My little Ginny's all grown up." She looked as though she was about to cry.

"Ceridon, you sound like my mum."

"Speaking of your mum..." said Ceridon quietly as an Owl came swooping into the hall, dropping a red letter in front of Ginny.

Ginny felt like she was going to be sick.

"You had better open it."

Ginny picked it up, her hand shaking. "DETENTION? DETENTION? FOR SIX YEARS YOU HAVE BEEN AT HOGWARTS AND NEVER DID I THINK MY OWN DAUGHTER WOULD GET DETENTION. THIS IS THE KIND OF THING I WOULD EXPECT OF YOUR BROTHERS GINNY, BUT NOT OF YOU. AND MAKE SURE YOU TURN UP TO YOUR TUTORING SESSIONS, OR ELSE YOU WILL HEAR FROM ME AGAIN!"

Ceridon patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry. At least you've got detention with Snape, and he's pretty sexy when he's in a bad mood."

Ginny looked up, the whole hall was watching her in amazement. Then she looked over at the Slytherin table. Draco smirked at her, then turned to talk to Blaise.

"Holy acid pops," said Ceridon slowly. "He knows."

"How could he know? I haven't told anyone!"

"Well, I only told a few people..."

"Ceridon!"

"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking."

"You never do. No wonder he still wants to be my tutor. He's going to get his own back." Ginny got up from the table and headed for the door.

"Ginny, I'm sorry..."

"Shut up, Ceridon." Ginny looked over at the Slytherin table as she left. Draco wasn't going to win. No way.