Rating:
PG-13
House:
Astronomy Tower
Characters:
Draco Malfoy Ginny Weasley Harry Potter
Genres:
General Romance
Era:
Multiple Eras
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Order of the Phoenix
Stats:
Published: 07/12/2003
Updated: 07/25/2003
Words: 8,575
Chapters: 3
Hits: 3,011

When Love and Hate Collide

Zahra_Weasley

Story Summary:
What happens when Ginny asks for Draco's help to attract Harry's attention? Read on to find out!

When Love and Hate Collide Prologue

Posted:
07/12/2003
Hits:
1,404
Author's Note:
My first ever fanfic; hope you guys like it. Pls review if you have read! Need beta-readers for subsequent chapters; pls owl me with your email address. Thanks.


When Love and Hate Collide

By Zahra_Weasley

~*~* Chapter One *~*~

Nineteen-year-old Ginny Weasley has had it. The youngest Weasley sat in her cubicle in the Daily Prophet office - she'd started working there as a junior reporter after graduating from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry two years ago - feeling utterly frustrated. Men! she muttered under her breath closing her eyes.

"Did you say something, Ginny?" her partner, Isabella Hunt asked.

"No... just thinking of one of the greatest mysteries of life," she replied, giving the older girl a watery smile.

She looks like she's about to cry any second, Isabella thought. It's intervention time, then. She raised an eyebrow. "Wanna talk about it?"

Ginny looked at her friend. Isabella was really nice, and had been friendly to her since she started work two years ago and barely knew anyone. Last year, Ginny's desk buddy had transferred departments, and Isabella had taken up the seat that was vacated by him. The two of them had been close since. Isabella had gone to Hogwarts as well, but she'd been in Charlie's year, and so Ginny had not known her then. But there are some things... "Not really... well... I guess I could use some advice. Heaven knows I've tried and tried but just can't get though to that... to that..." Ginny couldn't seem to find the right verb to describe Harry James Potter.

"Is it men?" Isabella asked. "If so, you've come to the right place." She began unwrapping the lollipop she'd bought at lunch, put it in her mouth, and dragged her chair closer to Ginny's to hear the whole story in detail.

"Oh boy... I forgot, you're the one writing the Dear Anne weekly columns - Advice for Wizards in Need." The column was a huge success, mostly because Isabella seemed to really know how to give good, practical advice to her public. And if she didn't know the answer, she'd ask for expert advice on the matter - which happened to be one of her wacky Muggle friends (Isabella's cousins are Muggles).

"And my specialty is relationships. So spill."

"Under one condition - you are not to write about anything I say in whatever form, in your column." Ginny gave her first small smile of the day.

"OK, fair enough."

"OK... and you're right, the problem is men." Ginny rolled her eyes. "Or in my case, one particular man who cannot see what is right in front of him, a woman who would give him anything if only he'd ask for it."

"And how long have you known this guy?" Isabella asked. With respect to her friend's privacy, she did not ask for his name, although she had a sneaking suspicion as to who it was.

"How long? How long?? I've known him since I was ten... that makes it, what... almost ten years now? Almost half my life! The thing is, he's my elder brother's best friend. No, more than his best friend. They're more like... brothers. Not that I need another one, mind you," the other girl laughed at this as she knew Ginny grew up with six brothers, all of them older than her. "But throughout our friendship he's only seen me as Ron's little sister..."

"So basically, you're asking me how to get this guy's attention, when he only sees you as a pal's sister and not someone to get involved with?" Isabella cut her to the chase.

"That was quick; how'd you guess?" Ginny smiled.

"Well, I am in the relationship business, you know. Dear Anne," she said, mimicking a letter, speaking in a singsong voice. "I'm in love with my best friend's brother, what should I do? Or how about this one..." Isabella started quoting other letters, which she'd spread on her desk. "Girl, I've heard it all."

Ginny laughed, a real one this time. "Yeah, so I suppose you know all the problems and all the storylines, huh?"

"Yup, most of it anyway. I'm sure someday I'll get a problem that'll just stump me. I just didn't think that someone like you'd be waiting for a guy this long to make a move." she said, then, "Is he that special to you?"

Ginny sighed, a long, audible sigh. "Yes, he is. He's kind, thoughtful, smart, brave, good looking in his own way... ugrh, what am I thinking? Why would he want me when he can probably get any girl he wants?"

Isabella looked at her sharply. "Now is not the time to down-grade yourself, girl! Repeat after me: I am worthy, I am worthy, I am - well? Why aren't you chanting it, when you're the one who needs this more than I do?" she demanded. "All together now..." and the two girls chanted the words over and over until it became almost like a mantra to Ginny.

"OK, I feel better now, thanks." Ginny said. "So, what's the plan?"

"Well, you have to have a man in order to get a man." Isabella said matter-of-factly.

"Excuse me? I poured my heart and soul to you and all I get is this you-have-to-have-a-man crap? What kind of advice is that?"

"Listen, will you, before you go off the handle like that. It's a simple theory, really. Muggle friends of mine have been doing this for ages." Once Isabella was sure she had Ginny's attention, she continued. "Look, I'll give you an example. Let's say you're grocery shopping right, and you see this watermelon on the shelf. Would you buy it?" she asked.

"Well, only if I really love watermelon," Ginny replied, wondering where this was leading.

"Right... but if someone else is eating watermelon right in front of you - can you imagine it, all red and juicy - wouldn't you want to buy yourself a slice, like, right now, simply because it's too tempting?"

"I guess so," Ginny acquiesced, "but I still don't get it."

Isabella sighed. "OK... how do I put this in terms you'd understand... in order to get a man to notice you, you need to be in a relationship. People shine more when they're in relationships, especially girls. And of course, it wouldn't hurt to make him a little... well, make him wish that you were with him, and not with some other bloke. Guys are prone to the green-eyed monster just as girls are."

"Oh. I see... and how do you propose this plan'll help me?" Ginny asked.

"Let me ask you something, my dear. In these ten years that you've known him, did you ever go out with someone else?"

"Bella! I was ten for heaven's sake...!" she shrieked.

"Well... you were also in that school until you were seventeen, weren't you? Girl, please tell me that you did go out with someone else?"

"No... I didn't really go out with anyone..." Ginny began, "But you have to remember I had four of my brothers in school with me as well - you knew Charlie, you know how... protective they can be - the only time they weren't there was when I was in seventh year. And of course, there wasn't any point to make anyone jealous by that point, cause he'd graduated too. Wait, there was one time..." She looked at her friend, who looked questioningly at her. "We had a Yule Ball in my third year, he was in his fourth. I could've gone with him, except he didn't invite me first. A guy called Neville Longbottom beat him to it, and I had to say yes to Neville, because otherwise I wouldn't be able to go to the ball at all. Only fourth years and above were invited, but they could invite someone younger if they wanted to..."

"And about this Neville fella... did your... ehrm, heart's desire, ever felt... jealous of him going out with you?" Isabella asked, choosing her words carefully so as not to hurt her friend.

"Now that you mentioned it, no. And besides, we only went together cause he wouldn't have had a date otherwise. I was in the same situation too, so I thought, why not?" Ginny explained.

"See, that's where you went wrong. You should've gone with someone who'd have made him sit up and notice you."

A light bulb went off in Ginny's head. "So what you're saying is, find someone who would make my... heart's desire as you called him, jealous if he saw me with him?"

Isabella gave a big grin, and nodded. "That's it. That's all there is to it. Now that I've given you the theory, how you go about arranging this is your problem." Finally done with the lollipop, she threw the remaining stick into the wastebasket under Ginny's desk.

"Isn't there a big thingy organized by the Ministry of Magic sometime soon? The one that invited Daily Prophet reporters as well?" Ginny demanded. "Where was the memo? I knew I read it..."

"Yup, you're right. The Spring Fling. It's three Saturdays from now. I checked my calendar," she said, and giggled. "So all you gotta do, is to find someone who'd be your date - better still if he'd pretend to be your boyfriend - and make sure your heart's desire attends the party. He'd definitely notice you then!"

Ginny narrowed her eyes, trying to follow the scene in her mind. It sounded great, and it was workable too; she was sure that Harry Potter would be invited to the 'do, he was a Ministry employee now, anyway, except... "Wait, what d'you mean, the stand-in has to pretend to be my boyfriend?"

"You're supposed to be in a relationship, remember?"

"Oh yeah."

"Now, do you know who you can ask to be the stand-in? Remember, it'd have to be someone who'd make him sit up and notice you..."

Smiling broadly, Ginny said, "I know just the person..."

*

After lunch the next day, Ginny gathered her courage to drop by the office of her "pretend" boyfriend. If she wanted this to work, she knew that she'd have to swallow her pride and talk to this man, now - and the sooner, the better. She was hoping that he would help her in spite of their... animosity at Hogwarts. She could just imagine what her brother Ron would say if he knew she was going to do this. But she was certain that he was the only person, as Isabella put it, that would make Harry Potter sit up and take notice if they went anywhere together.

Taking a deep breath, she went up to the receptionist at the Ministry of Magic, and said bravely, "Virginia Weasley, here to see Mr. Draco Malfoy."

"Do you have an appointment, Ms Weasley?" the receptionist asked coolly.

"I'm sorry, I don't. I was just in the neighbourhood and I thought I'd drop by..." she trailed off. Silly, silly girl, you should've made an appointment. But she knew that if she did, she wouldn't have turned up, she'd be too scared. What if she bumped into... gulp, Harry?

"You're lucky; he just had a meeting this morning, and should be free now. Let me announce you," the receptionist said. Speaking into the intercom system, she said, "Mr. Malfoy, this is Ms Dearheart at the reception. There is a Ms Weasley here to see you, sir. Shall I show her to your office?" Nodding her understanding to something Malfoy said on the other side, she said, "Very good sir, I'll tell her." To Ginny, she said, "Mr. Malfoy will be down in a few minutes. Would you like to take a seat while you wait?"

"Thank you, I will," Ginny said, heading towards one of the love seats at the reception area.

"Ginny! Ginny Weasley!" said a familiar voice to the left of her. "What brings you here?"

Oh, no... it can't be, she thought, turning towards her left. But it was... "Oh, hi, Harry. What a surprise to see you here," she said. D'uh, what a stupid thing to say. He works here, doesn't he?

"Did you come all the way here to see me?" Harry asked, giving her one of those smiles that normally turned Ginny to butter. Ginny was at a loss for words.

"No, Potter. Actually she's here to see me," drawled another familiar voice.

For a while, it seemed to Ginny that Harry looked slightly crestfallen. "Is this true, Gin?" he asked. "You're here to see Malfoy?" The way he said Malfoy was in the same tone that her brother Ron would say, spider.

Collecting herself, Ginny said, "Yes, yes I am. It's for the Daily Prophet."

At this, Draco raised an eyebrow at her. "Well, Ms. Weasley, shall we go somewhere where we won't be interrupted?" looking at Harry as though daring him to join them. "Like my office?"

"Okay. Bye Harry, see you around," Ginny said. Harry was too stunned at this exchange to say goodbye. She followed Draco towards the elevators, giving a slight backward glance at Harry. He was still rooted to the spot where they left him; eyes round as though in shock, his jaw dropped almost to the ground. He looked like one who could not believe what he was seeing with his own eyes.

Ginny resisted the urge to do her victory dance in front of Malfoy. Yes! she thought. Phase One, full steam ahead.

~*~* Chapter Two *~*~

Back at her office the next morning, Ginny found herself being cornered by Isabella in the pantry. "So, I heard someone went to see someone yesterday."

Ginny was making herself a cup of her usual morning tea. She giggled, and said, "You should've been there, Bella. Your plan worked like a charm," and proceeded to tell her friend of her near-disastrous run in with Harry ('the one person I was trying to avoid, and there he was, saying hello to me like it was the most normal thing in the world...') and how she became speechless at his warm smile when Draco had come to her rescue. Well, he did, didn't he?

Isabella laughed, and said, "See, I told you it'd work! What happened then, after you went to Malfoy's office, and you were supposedly giving him an interview?" Both of them had dropped the pretense that Isabella didn't know that Ginny's heart's desire was Harry Potter.

Ginny turned thoughtful, sipping her hot tea, remembering yesterday's turn of events. "That's when it became weird..."

*

Draco Malfoy led the way back to his office. They didn't talk much; Ginny was mentally preparing her speech/proposal in her head, and it seemed to her that Draco was too surprised at her sudden visit to say anything scathing, as he normally would.

They left the elevators at the fourth floor. As it was after lunch, the elevators were pretty quiet; most employees had already returned to their desks. Airplane memos flew in and out of the corridors, trying to reach their various recipients. They walked silently down the corridor so as not to disturb the flurry of activity that was work. Ginny noticed that they had cubicles in here too, just as the Daily Prophet, but Malfoy had an office to himself in the far corner of the floor. "Well, here we are," he said, opening the door, showing her into his private office.

"Nice one, Malfoy. What did you have to do to get your own office? Did you buy your way in like you bought your way into the Slytherin Quidditch team back at school?" she asked, stepping in. She could smell his faint perfume, and found she rather liked it.

"I paid my dues, Weasley. I worked my ass off in the first two years I was here, and last year when Gordon resigned, they offered me his job. And his office too, as you can see. Now, would you like to have a seat?" he offered her. "Or anything to drink?"

If she was surprised at his sudden show of manners, she didn't show it. "I'll have a seat, thank you." Putting her purse in the seat next to her, she waited while Draco walked around to his seat. "But no drinks, I just came from lunch."

"So, to what do I owe of this... visit, Weasel?" he said, stepping into the old nickname for her and Ron at school. "Am I right in thinking that it's not for the Daily?"

Ginny looked stonily at him. What, did he think we were back at Hogwarts? No way am I going to allow for this. Stepping into her Virginia persona, she replied, "First of all, Draco... it's Virginia, Virginia Weasley, in case you've forgotten how to pronounce my last name correctly."

Draco smirked at the sound of his first name on her lips, "OK, Virginia Weasley... what can I do for you?"

She looked at him, as if assessing his suitability for the job. He'd grown up, she thought. And seemed more filled out, somehow. She was sure that underneath his robes were muscles just waiting to be discovered. She liked that his hair wasn't a silvery-blond anymore; it seemed to her that the dark brown hair he was sporting now made him look more... manly. She shook herself mentally. Girl, this is Malfoy you're talking about! He's not to be described in those terms! Get on with it, then...

"You're right," she said, "this visit isn't about the Daily. I just used that as an excuse to get out of Harry Potter's Q&A session downstairs at the reception."

Draco nodded. "I thought so. This is getting interesting. A Weasley, needing an excuse to get away from Potter? I thought you people lived and breathed Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived."

Ginny shook her head. "Not this time, Draco. I need you," she said softly.

"Excuse me?" Draco sounded shocked, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Yes," Ginny said, more bravely this time. "Actually, I need you to help me get Harry's attention..." Ginny looked at him sharply, "but if you were to help me, you must know that none what I'll be telling you EVER leaves this office, you understand?"

Draco's grey eyes narrowed into slits. "What is the story, Virginia? How am I to... help you if I don't know the full story?"

Ginny liked her dry lips, and started on her story. "Well, I think all of Hogwarts knew that I was... enamoured with Harry since the first day I started. (Draco rolled his eyes at that; it must be old news to him, she thought, its probably old news to all of Hogwarts except to the man in question). And it's true. I am and have been in love with that man since I first saw him. Unfortunately, he sees me only as Ron does, as a little sister, and nothing more," she grimaced, then continued, "I thought that if I could show him I'm not a little girl anymore, maybe I could have a chance with him..." she trailed off.

Draco laughed. The laughter didn't sit well with Ginny, who squirmed in her seat. "What's so funny?" she demanded, when Draco finally stopped laughing. Wiping his eyes, Draco said, "Let me get this straight. You want me to help you... court Potter? Is that it?"

"Don't be silly. I'm not going to... court him. I just want him to see that I've grown up, that I do have my own life and... that I do have a boyfriend."

"I have to pretend to be your boyfriend to get Potter's attention?" he asked incredulously. "What is he, blind, or just plain stupid like I've always thought he was?"

Ginny was startled. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

"Well, he'd have to be. I see a beautiful young woman sitting in front of me, and she's asking for my help to... attract Potter. Can't he see you like I can?" he demanded. Then, shocked as though he couldn't believe what he just said, he amended, "He'd have to be really blind, or stupid, not to be able to see that you're beautiful. Maybe even gorgeous. And you're smart, too, aren't you? That's why they made you Prefect in your fifth year. I remember... we were in our sixth year by then."

Ginny was shocked to hear all this, especially since it came from Draco Malfoy. "How come you knew all this? I didn't think what I did, or what I became in school, carried that much weight with the likes of Draco Malfoy?"

Draco sighed, and said, "Do you ever wonder why, throughout the years in our journey on the Express, I would always drop by your compartment, even though I hated the sight of the Trio together?" When she nodded, he said, "Well, that was the last time I knew I'd be able to see you, at least until the next school year started in September."

"Draco..." Ginny whispered, "Are you saying that all this time... you liked me?" he nodded slowly. "Well, why in Merlin's name didn't you say or do anything about it, then?" she demanded.

"Are you crazy? What, I should've asked you out when Potter and Weasley - Ron - was there, surrounding you all the time, as was the Mudblood?" Ginny winced at the callous name he called her dear friend Hermione Granger. "They'd have my head served on a platter! If they didn't then the Slytherins would."

I suppose he's right, she thought with a sigh, Harry and Ron would've killed him, too. Not to mention Fred and George as well. "Do me a favour, then, would you? Please don't call Hermione that in front of me."

"I'm sorry," he said. "Old habits are hard to break," he tried to smile at her. "So, about this proposal of yours..."

*

"So, he said he'd help?" Isabella asked, curiously.

Ginny nodded. "Yup. We decided on some ground rules, though. Number one we agreed on was no sex involved. It'd complicate things." Isabella nodded. "Of course, public displays of affections are a must, especially where he could see us. And of course, public appearances as well... for parties and such, you know. We need to give people the idea that we are a couple, and a happy one at that. Unfortunately, 'public appearances' also included family functions."

"What? Are you crazy?" Isabella asked her. "Bring Malfoy to your parents' home? Your brothers would kill him, not to mention your father!"

"Oh, I'm not too worried about that," Ginny said airily. "They'd just have to get used to it... at least until I have Harry eating in the palm of my hand." When Isabella looked dubious at this, she continued, "You're forgetting something, Isabella, dear... Am I not the youngest child, and the only daughter of Arthur and Molly Weasley? Don't you think I'll get what I want eventually?"

"I suppose..." Isabella said grudgingly.

"What I'm worried about is I may have to put in a few appearances at Malfoy Manor."

Isabella nearly choked on her tea at this. "What?!"

"Yup. Part of why Malfoy agreed was that I'd have to help him get his mother off his back."

"What do you mean by that?" Isabella demanded.

"Well, you know that he'd been engaged to marry Pansy Parkinson?" Isabella nodded; the news of the engagement was on the Society pages of the Daily Prophet last year. "Well, the wedding is off. They broke up about six months ago. However Mrs. Malfoy is now trying to match make Draco with one of her American friends' daughter, an American witch. A pureblood of course, what else? Anyway, Draco told me that no way is he ever going to marry an American witch, pureblood or not. So that's where I come in. We are putting up a performance to show Mrs. Malfoy that he and I are so much in love that he's not going to leave me for some American." Ginny looked over at her friend, seeds of doubt beginning to show. "Do you think we're laying it in too thick?"

"Well, the Muggles do have another saying... you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. It's the price you'll have to pay, Gin... if you really want Harry. But you'd better make sure your performance is believable."

Ginny nodded. "Yeah, otherwise Harry and Mrs. Malfoy wouldn't fall for it."

"Did I tell you, though, that the theory isn't really... foolproof? Ginny shook her head. "There might be a flaw in the plan. Sometimes, there are cases where... the girl falls in love with the pretend boyfriend instead..."

*