Returned From Superstition

Chapter Six

The two girls sat uncomfortable beside each other, having absolutely nothing else to say.

They had spent the entire night talking about anything they could think about. They had talked about hair - according to Padma, Ginny had lovely hair, according to Ginny, Padma's was fabulous -; then about make up - Ginny didn't use any, Padma couldn't live without it -; later it was about magazines - they both agreed Oliver Wood deserved all the attention he was receiving from TeenWitches, and they both drooled over that picture of him in last months edition -; soon it was about waking up early - Padma hadn't had a full night of sleep since she began dating Ron, Ginny secretly resented that information -; and finally, about boyfriends - yes, Draco is gorgeous, yes, Ron was as gorgeous as he was complicated, "but he's a very nice man and he deserves to be very happy; not that Draco doesn't deserve it, it's just that...Well... It's just that..." Sigh "Good luck, Ginny."

There was nothing else to say, apparently. Of course it didn't occur to any of them to talk about their hilarious situation, because it didn't seem hilarious at all while they sat there in the Infirmary, waiting for Madam Pomfrey to fix Ron's ribs and Draco's nose. They also didn't catch the irony of how their fights had a repeating pattern; Ron would try to damage Draco's face, while Draco would go lower and try to destroy the rest of Ron's body.

To them, the only irony was that they weren't doing anything wrong - what's wrong about sharing some innocent kisses in a closet, Padma had asked, and Madam Pomfrey had wisely reminded them that a couple don't need to hide in a closet to share innocent kisses -, but they would serve detention for an entire month just like they had committed a crime. All thanks to two boys who simply couldn't get along with each other.

So, when they were finally allowed to see their boyfriends, their sigh of relief was very audible. Almost as audible as Ron's voice saying, "I want these curtains opened while my sister stays here, I want to watch and make sure Malfoy doesn't do anything wrong with her."

Draco had the perfect answer to that, but he saw Ginny and she looked so exhausted he decided to shut up.

She smiled faintly at him, and he called her closer. "Hey, give me a kiss," he whispered so Ron couldn't hear him.

She approached, her eyes shinning like stars and kissed him softly on the lips, which made him smile back.

"What are you two doing in there?" It was Ron again. "Padma, please open those curtains? Padma!"

Apparently, the girl decided to ignore the request and did something that shut him up. Draco rolled his eyes and said, not bothering to keep his voice low. "I don't know why he bothers to monitor us so much. After hearing them, I'll never be able to have sex again."

Ginny chuckled and rested her head in Draco's shoulder. "I see you're feeling better."

"Yeah, my nose is already fixed, and it's not like he could really cause too much damage."

"Please, don't let him hear you." Ginny pleaded and Draco smiled and nodded in agreement.

"How long do you think it will take?" Draco asked after a while, stroking her hair gently as she held him.

"For what?"

"For the entire school to know you're my girlfriend."

Ginny smiled against his shoulder. Was that the way Draco had asked her to be with him? "I'd say two hours."

"I think three, since we haven't showed up for breakfast and no one's entered the Infirmary yet. Do you want to bet?"

"No, thank you very much." Ginny sighed and took her seat beside Draco's bed. "I don't have enough money to afford losing it."

Draco was about to comment on that when they heard a soft sound of wings getting closer and closer until a grey owl landed beside them.

Draco unlaced the large package from his family owl's leg and smiled to Ginny while he opened it to reveal a large cheesecake.

Ginny gulped. "Draco... what do you think your parents will say when they know we're together?"

Draco paused, the cheesecake resting on the table beside his bed since his owl had already taken flight. "I don't know. It won't be so bad, I suppose, since you're a pure blood."

"Yes, but I'm a Weasley."

"Now, now, you're talking like I do, Ginny." Draco smirked. "Have I influenced you already?"

"Yes, you have! And you should go to Azkaban for that!" Ron's voice echoed through the Infirmary.

"Just ignore him," Ginny whispered, but Draco was smirking and already following the advice.

"I don't care what they'll say. I've never rebelled against my parents, and now I'm sixteen, and that's what sixteen-year-old boys do. I'll just make a huge fuss about it so they will think I'm just acting my age and won't disown me."

Ginny laughed, not sure if he was being serious or not.

"Or Father will want to kill me, and I'll be obliged to live with you in the Burrow, what do you think?"

Ginny thought of Draco living in the same house as Ron, and she remembered their staircase was not large enough for both of them roll down it and not break their necks. She also thought of her mother and her father's face being obliged to live with the son of the very same man that tried to disgrace their family so many times before.

"What do you think about keeping it secret?"

Draco smiled, hoping she was joking.

"Not bloody likely," Ron answered for him. "Also, if this arrogant ferret has to date you, he must do it properly." They could swear they heard him smirk. "I'm looking forward to seeing him being introduced to Charlie."

"Now, Mister Weasley, I just fixed your ribs and I don't want to have to fix anything else in any of you for today, so stop." Madam Pomfrey sounded exasperated while opening the curtains and the couples could finally see each other. "Mister Malfoy, you may go, there's nothing I should worry about with you. But you, Mister Weasley," she continued with a severe look, "you stay because I want to check some other things yet."

And with a gesture from the woman they knew they had to go, including Padma.

"So, ready for breakfast?" asked Draco while they left the Infirmary, leaving Padma behind to complain she wanted to stay there for a while.

Ginny couldn't help but think how amazing it was that the boy had been beaten up and still looked gorgeous, with no scar and no purple eye to give away what happened. She, on the other hand, couldn't be worse.

"No, I'm not ready yet." She looked at her crumpled shirt and passed her fingers through her hair, feeling suddenly embarrassed of looking so horrible in front of him.

"Oh, come on," he smiled, taking off his robes and handing her so she could wear it. "You've never looked more gorgeous."

And he combed her hair with his hands while she put on his robe, feeling his scent and smiling. Had she ever felt that good?

And with that they left, oblivious to Harry passing by and wishing them good morning, oblivious to Padma's bursting out of the Infirmary shouting it wasn't fair; and most importantly, oblivious to the fact that in a few minutes they would enter the Great Hall in their crumpled uniforms to become the greatest gossip in the entire school. After all, who would wear uniforms on Saturday morning?