A Little Forbidden Fun

"Shut up a minute, Pansy," Draco snapped.

"But I was just telling you what would make my seventeenth birthday perfect," said Pansy. "It is tomorrow, and you've obviously got something very special planned for me, but you're being so secretive. I just want a hint! Oh, I can't stand the wait."

"Don't get your spirits too high, Pansy," said Draco.

"See? You're being so secretive!" cried Pansy.

"We're in a library, Pansy," said Draco. "Now, I know it's not the sort of place you'd normally be, but in a library, you've got to learn to keep your voice down."

"But I can't stand it!" Pansy shrieked. "You've got to tell me!"

"Pansy, get out," said Draco. "The library is obviously no place for you."

"Oh Draco! Are you working on my surprise?" Pansy cried, gleefully. "Is that why you don't want me here?"

"Er, yeah, whatever," said Draco. "Just leave me alone."

Pansy stood up. "Bye bye, Draco," she said, and was just about to lean down to kiss Draco, but he ducked out of the way quickly.

"Get lost, Pansy," said Draco.

Pansy blew him a kiss and skipped out of the library.

Draco rolled his eyes. "What a prat," he muttered to himself.

"Fancy seeing you in a library, Malfoy," said an almost familiar voice.

Draco looked up to see Ginny Weasley, the youngest member of the Weasley family, smirking at him.

"Honestly, I didn't know you could read," she said. "But I'm even more surprised to see you without your little bodyguards."

"Run along now, Weasley," said Draco. "You might just run into Potter in the corridor. Of course, it'd be quite unfortunate if you ran into him while he was busy snogging some other girl."

Ginny's cheeks flushed red.

"But you have nothing to worry about," Draco continued. "You keep yourself busy with those Hufflepuff boys, don't you, now?"

"Well, Hufflepuff boys are better than Slytherin boys," Ginny retorted.

"Oh, I'm so hurt," said Draco, in mock distress.

Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Now what are you doing in here?" said Draco. "Looking for something to steal so that your family can eat at least one meal this year? Well you'd better hurry up, the year's almost over."

"Shut up, Malfoy," said Ginny.

"No," said Draco. "Why don't you?"

"I told you to first," said Ginny.

"You're just a whiny little girl with an enormous crush on Harry Potter," said Draco. "And he doesn't even like you."

Ginny turned on her heel and left the library.

Draco smirked. It worked every time...

***

Ginny walked out of the castle and onto the grounds. In her six years at Hogwarts, she'd still never gotten the chance to explore the Forbidden Forest, and the other Gryffindors were always telling her about it.

"Ginny!" a voice called out behind her.

She turned around as Justin Finch-Fletchly jogged towards her.

"Ginny," he said. "I've been looking all over for you."

"Hi Justin," said Ginny.

"What are you doing out here?" Justin asked. "It's freezing."

"I'm just walking," said Ginny. "But actually Justin, I'd like to be left alone, if you don't mind. It's just need some time alone."

"I know what you mean," said Justin. "You know, just the other day I needed to spend some time alone, and people kept bothering me. Ernie and Hannah had so many stories to tell. And don't tell them this, but they got on my nerves a little bit. But I just couldn't tell them to be quiet."

"Yes, Justin," said Ginny. "But I'm sure you know how I feel right now."

"You know, it's never good to bottle up your feelings inside you," Justin went on. "You should always talk to someone when you have something on your mind. Is there something you wanted to talk about? Because you know, I can listen, if you need to talk."

"No, no, Justin," said Ginny. "Really, I don't want to talk. I just want to take a walk."

"I'll come with you, then," said Justin.

"No," said Ginny. "I mean, er, I just want to go by myself. I'll speak with you tomorrow."

"Are you sure you're okay?" said Justin. "Because you really should talk to someone if you have a problem."

"I know, Justin," said Ginny, voice showing signs of frustration. "But really, I just need to be by myself right now. I'm not having any problems. In fact, I'm perfectly happy. I just don't want anyone around right now."

"If you're sure..."

"I'm sure, Justin," said Ginny. "Now, please, just leave me alone."

Justin looked disappointed, but even he knew better than to annoy Ginny Weasley any further. "All right, Ginny, I'll see you later," he said, and he kissed her on the cheek, then went on his way back to the castle.

Ginny sighed and walked on toward the Forbidden Forest. When she reached the outer trees of the forest, she hesitated before going any farther, but finally, stepped forward amidst the trees.

The forest grew darker as Ginny went deeper. There were strange rustling noises which startled Ginny every so often. A couple of times, a twig broke beneath Ginny's foot, making her jump.

She heard a wolf howl and decided she'd better turn around. The last thing she wanted was to encounter a wolf. She'd been lucky thus far to have not run into any creatures of the forest.

When she turned around, she heard the distinct sound of footsteps somewhere off to her left. Any of Ginny's friends (other than Harry) would have run screaming out of the forest at the blink of an eye, but Ginny's curiosity was far too strong.

She stepped over the roots of a tree, and crept to the source of the footsteps she could hear. But then the footsteps stopped. Ginny looked frantically around the clearing, but could see nobody. Had she heard the footsteps of some dark creature which was preparing to attack her?

Ginny's breathing became unsteady and she stood very still, expecting some horrible creature to jump out at her. But nothing happened.

After a few minutes, Ginny sighed, deciding she had just imagined the footsteps. She was about to start forward again, when she heard someone, or something coming toward her from behind.

Ginny whipped around and to her great shock, she saw Draco Malfoy's sneering face.

"What are you doing here, Weasley?" he said. "Come for a good cry?"

"N-no," said Ginny. "W-what are you d-doing here M-Malfoy?"

"I'm p-p-picking flowers," Draco mocked. "For P-Pansy."

"In the Forbidden Forest?" said Ginny.

"Yes, she suddenly wants rare flowers," said Draco. "And the rarest flowers come from the Forbidden Forest." He held out a handful of exquisite flower heads.

"You're supposed to pick the stems as well," said Ginny.

"That's what poor people do," said Draco. "Now if you don't mind, I've got more flowers to pick." He turned around and headed back into the trees.

Ginny followed him because she couldn't help but think he was hiding something.

Draco didn't stop to pick flowers, but he kept walking deeper into the forest. He stopped a few times, as though listening for something.

After a few minutes of following Draco, Ginny was about to turn back to Hogwarts, but then Draco spoke, startling Ginny.

"Don't go now, Weasley," he said. "The fun's only just begun."

"W-what fun?" Ginny asked.

"The forbidden fun," said Draco, turning to look at her.

"Forbidden fun?" asked Ginny.

"Yeah," said Draco. "It takes place deep in the Forbidden Forest."

"What is it?" Ginny asked.

"Would you like to see?" Draco asked.

"What is it?" Ginny repeated.

Draco laughed like a lunatic, frightening Ginny.

"What are you laughing about?" she asked.

Draco continued laughing.

"Lunatic," said Ginny.

"I know!" Draco cried.

"Know what?" Ginny asked, still startled.

Draco suddenly stopped laughing, shocking Ginny even more.

"What is wrong with you?" said Ginny.

"I just realised there are werewolves in here," said Draco. "What if they heard me?"

"Malfoy, you idiot," said Ginny.

"Don't worry," said Draco. "We aren't supposed to be in here, so it's better if the werewolves kill us both; we wouldn't get a detention."

"I'm going," said Ginny, turning around. But she didn't begin walking.

Draco started at her back, expecting her to leave, but she didn't move. "Er, weren't you going?" he said.

Ginny turned around, an odd sort of smirk on her face. Without a word, she walked towards Draco, grabbed his collars, and kissed him.

It took Draco a few seconds to realise what had happened, and when he did realise it, he took a step backwards and tripped over a tree root, falling backwards on the ground with Ginny still on him.

"What the Hell was that about?" Draco demanded when he caught his breath.

"Er..." Ginny was completely at a loss for words.

"What the Hell were you thinking?" said Draco. "You don't just go around kissing strangers."

"You aren't really a stranger, though," said Ginny.

"Enemies, whatever," said Draco. "People you don't like."

"Oh, but you do," said Ginny. "It's just a bit of forbidden fun."

"Well, get off me," Draco snapped.

Ginny quickly got to her feet and Draco sat up.

"Now don't ever touch me again," said Draco. "That's just... eurgh."

"All right," said Ginny. "But it was fun. We really should do it again sometime."

"It was not fun," Draco snapped. "And we most certainly should not do that again."

"It was fun," said Ginny. "And why should Pansy Parkinson get all the fun?"

"Because Pansy Parkinson doesn't go around with Hufflepuff boys," said Draco. "And she doesn't have fancy Harry Potter."

"I do not," said Ginny.

"Yes, you do," said Draco. "Goodness, the amount you lie, Weasley, I'm surprised your nose hasn't grown to the same length as your brother's."

Ginny reached for her wand.

"Don't hex me in here," said Draco. "What if a werewolf comes along and I'm knocked out? Then what are you supposed to do?"

"I doubt you'd be any help at all," said Ginny. "I heard you ran screaming from the forest in your first year."

"I was eleven," said Draco. "What would you have done if you were eleven and you'd just seen the dark lord?"

"Run screaming," Ginny admitted.

"Well then," said Draco, standing up at last. "We're never to speak of this night again, agreed?"

"No," said Ginny. "I can't make any promises."

"It's for your own good," said Draco. "But I expect you'll want to brag about it to your little Gryffindor friends."

"No, it's not that," said Ginny. "It's just if we ever meet again after Hogwarts, it might come up in conversation."

"That's why we're going to agree to never talk about it again," said Draco.

"I can't do that," said Ginny.

"Why not?" said Draco.

"I just told you why," Ginny replied.

"That's no reason," said Draco. "How would you like it if I told Potter about your behaviour tonight? Or how about your brother? Wouldn't it be interesting to see their reactions?"

"No," said Ginny.

"It'd be a good bit of fun," said Draco. "And I'd like to see how Potter treats you after."

"I could easily put the blame on you," said Ginny.

"So we'll never speak of it again?" said Draco.

"I can't make any promises," said Ginny. "But we won't ever talk to other people about it."

"Fine by me," said Draco.

There was a galloping sound from behind Draco, and the two students went rigid. The galloping grew louder, indicating that it was coming closer.

Ginny's eyes widened and Draco ran forward, yelling.

It was a few seconds before Ginny followed, and she didn't stop running until she was out of the forest, and Draco was nowhere to be seen.

***

When Ginny went down to breakfast the next morning, every head at the Hufflepuff table turned to her. One face stood out most of all, and that face belonged to Justin Finch-Fletchly. He looked angry, and for a Hufflepuff, angry was bad. Really bad.

Ginny smiled very weakly and made her way to the Gryffindor table, where she received a glare from Colin.

"Morning, Colin," she said.

Colin scowled at her and turned to his brother, Dennis.

"What's up with them?" Ginny mumbled to Hermione.

"Don't act so innocent," Hermione said, coolly. "Ron's out of his mind with fury."

"Fury?" Ginny asked.

"He and Harry heard this morning," said Hermione. "You didn't think no one would find out?"

"About what?" said Ginny.

"You know very well," Hermione snapped.

"No, I don't know," said Ginny, feeling her cheeks burn. "And I won't know until you tell me."

"The whole school knows what you get up to Ginny Weasley," said Hermione. "Stop acting so innocent. I don't think Ron will ever be able to forgive you."

"Forgive me for what?" said Ginny.

"You know very well," said Hermione. "You didn't even consider how he'd feel."

"Feel about what?!" Ginny almost shouted.

"Stop pretending you don't know," said Hermione. "And you might want to talk to Ron, as well."

"About what?!" Ginny repeated, louder this time. "Honestly, Hermione, I don't know what your problem is!"

"You're absolutely terrible, Ginny!" Hermione shouted.

Ginny got to her feet, purposely knocking over a jug of pumpkin juice with her elbow so that the juice spilled over Hermione's plate, and stormed out of the Great Hall.

In the Entrance Hall, Ginny was surprised to see Draco standing alone.

"And what are you smirking about?" she snapped as she passed him.

"What am I ever smirking about?" said Draco, in a very bored tone.

"You told them, didn't you?" said Ginny. "And now Ron's upset."

"I told no one," said Draco. "We had a deal not to speak of it to anyone else."

"But they all know, and you were the only other one there," said Ginny. "And I sure as Hell didn't tell."

"How do I know that's true?" Draco asked.

"It is!" Ginny shouted. "Why would I tell anyone? Now my brother's upset, and Harry'll never look at me the same!"

"How does Potter look at you anyway?" Draco inquired. "Like a snot-nosed little fan?"

"You keep your big mouth shut," Ginny snapped.

"Don't you talk to me like that, you little-"

"Stop right there, Malfoy," said Ron, walking up behind Ginny. "Stop harassing my little sister, or you won't see another day."

"With pleasure," said Draco. "Your sister is an annoying little-"

Ron pointed his wand at Draco as warning. "No Crabbe and Goyle here to stop me," he said. "No Snape to give me detention, so don't think I won't."

Draco smirked, and walked passed Ron and Ginny back to the Great Hall.

"Ron, I don't know what's going on, but Hermione says you're really angry, and she thinks it's my fault," said Ginny. "I really don't know what it's all about-"

"Don't bother, Ginny," said Ron. "It's just one of those Hogwarts rumors that's best ignored."

"What rumor?" Ginny asked.

"You don't need to know," said Ron. "It's obviously not true."

"But what was the rumor?" Ginny asked.

"I don't think you want to hear it," said Ron. "It isn't very nice."

"But I do want to hear it," said Ginny. "Please, Ron? Just tell me!"

"It's about you and Malfoy," said Ron. "You definitely don't want to hear it."

"What exactly did you hear?" Ginny asked.

"Don't bother, Ginny," said Ron. "It's nothing."