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Envy and Manipulations	By : rrabbit Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Ginny Views: 8376 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters from it.... therefore I do not receive any payment for this writing.

Chapter List
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I was talking to a serpent.

It was hissing at me, spitting black ink all over my white dress. I tried to wipe it off as quickly as I could but I knew… I just knew I would never be able to get the stains out.

"Ginny…"

The snake turned into Tom.

"Ginny…"

Tom turned into Draco.

"Ginny…."

I turned into the snake.

"Ginny!"

I wake and try desperately to catch my breath before I hyperventilate. I haven't seen Tom like that in years... so real and tangible... I shake my head and try not to cry until I realize it was just a dream and I shouldn't be silly and let my heart race like it is. I close my eyes again and inhale slowly, leaning my head against the pillow behind me in an attempt to relax. It's soft. I run my fingers over the leather cushions…. Leather…. No furniture in my house is made from leather. I blink a few times and then look at where I'm actually laying...

Oh, no.

I sit up quickly, my cheeks heating in embarrassment. I'm laying on a white leather couch in the Malfoy's study and I feel like I'm going to throw up. I even put my hand over my mouth to stop myself. I want to run away and I swing my legs to the floor and sit up board straight as I try to figure out what I should do next. Is running really an option right now? I bring my hand up to my forehead when I remember why I was laying on this couch. I fainted. I fainted when I saw Draco's father and now I feel like dying. I'm so embarrassed and when Draco walks back into the room, I can't even look at him.

"My father left," he says flatly as I stare at my knees. "I had a healer come over," he says as he walks in and he takes a seat on the coffee table right in front of me. I shift my eyes away. A healer? Jesus, was I really that bad?

"He's a friend of the family," he adds. From the corner of my eyes I can see him tilting his head trying to see my face, but I fall into myself even deeper, slumping against the couch and crossing my arms self consciously as my hair falls in front of my face. "He said that you may have been having some sort of anxiety attack…"

"I know," I whisper so he'll stop talking about it. I am so embarrassed right now that I just want to disappear into the sofa. "Draco," I look at him, still tilting my head down in shame. "I am so sorry," I say slowly and he furrows his brows. "I can't believe that happened."

"Seeing my father upset you," he points out. It sounded more like a question than a statement actually.

"I think…" I say uncomfortably as I scratch my fingernails against my thighs, leaving white scrapes in their wake. "I think I should go home."

I start rubbing out the sting of the scratches to get rid of the evidence of that stupid nervous habit that I thought I grew out of…but Draco puts his hands over mine, stopping my fingers. I don't look at him right away and I exhale slowly before glancing up.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asks seriously, staring deeply into my eyes like he was trying to read my thoughts.

I shake my head and look down again.

I hear him sigh. "What would you like to do then?" he asks and I furrow my brows.

"I would like to go home," I whisper honestly. I'm not even mad at my parents anymore. I just need to go home and crawl into my bed. I go to stand up, but he won't let go of my hands so I slump back again. "Let go," I say softly.

"No," he says simply and I make a face.

"Let go," I repeat, jerking my hands back in defense, but he holds tight. "Let go of me," I hiss. I know I'm going to regret getting this angry at him, but this place isn't safe for me right now. Being with him isn't right. "I want to go home."

"I'll take you home," he counters and I shake my head, finally breaking my hands free.

"No." I stand up, smoothing down my clothes. "I can handle it."

"I'm taking you home," he says firmly. "You just passed out, Ginny. You're not okay."

"You don't know anything about me," I say cruelly and he raises his brows as I stomp past him so I can get my shoes. I slip them on without looking at him. I'm humiliated by what just happened and my humiliation turns into defensiveness that makes me hateful. "I'm going home," I tell him firmly, finally finding my voice.

I don't even bother with a goodbye as I stomp towards the front door. I am so stupid. So stupid and such a freak. I can't believe I had an attack in front of him… in front of his father. I have issues I know that, I just hate it when other people know it too. I knew Draco's father was Lucius Malfoy anyways. What was I expecting? Did I think I would never see him if I wanted a relationship with his son? He gave me a diary that nearly killed me. Whether he knew it or not, it had traumatized me and I'll never get over it.

Stupid stupid stupid Ginny. I berate myself all the way to the front door and I cuss under my breath as I leave the grounds when I realize I'm being followed.

"Leave me alone, Draco," I say stubbornly as I start walking faster down the dirt road. The sooner I get to my house the better.

"I'm allowed to walk," he says casually from behind me. Of course, he's so much taller than me that his legs give him an advantage.

Life is not fair.

"You're following me," I snap at him. "Go away."

He doesn't say anything to that, but he doesn't stop following me either and I remain stubbornly quiet as I walk with my hands clenched at my sides.

"You know," he says about twenty minutes into the walk. I ignore him. "This would be a lot easier if you would let me Apparate you," he says. "It would take a couple seconds, tops."

I don't say anything. I bite the inside of my mouth and continue to ignore him, but I stop when we reach the road before my house.

"Go home, Draco," I say as I stop in the middle of the road. I still don't want him to see my house. That would just be another embarrassment for me today. Why do we have to be so freaking poor?

"What's the point?" he asks and he walks around until he's standing in front of me. He puts his hands in his pockets and raises an eyebrow. God, he's attractive. Fuck him. "We're almost to your house."

"You wouldn't know," I tell him snidely as I put my hands on my hips. On top of the whole 'fainting' at his place thing, now I have a new anxiety of him seeing my house with it's peeling paint and patched roof... No, that's not happening. "Please just go home."

"I know where you live, Ginny," he tells me flatly, moving in front of me when I try to walk past him and sliding to the right to block me again when I try to get around from the other side.

"Get out of my way," I say to his throat and when he goes to touch me, I pull back quickly. "Leave me alone!"

I yelled. I actually yelled and I knew it was uncalled for, but I couldn't help it. The way he was looking at me, it changed. He look surprised almost... I took advantage of the pause and I passed him. He didn't follow.

"Where have you been?" My Mom hisses at me when I come through the door with a very deep and very somber frown on my face. I ignore her and go towards the stairs, trying not to feel bad about the way I just handled that situation. He must think terrible things of me now. "Ginevra Weasley, do not blow me off."

Still I don't say anything.

"When your Father gets back from work, we are going to have a long talk!" she calls after me and I roll my eyes as I go to my room.

I slam my bed room door and run over to my vanity where I put that bottle of anti-panic pills Dr. Carol had prescribed me. I open it quickly and take four before falling back against my pillows. I start thinking over what happened today. I can't stop thinking about it... I can't stop playing it over and over again in my mind. I'm such an idiot! God, what was I thinking? He must think I'm such a freak now and he'll never talk to me again. Do I even want to talk to him again? I did really like him... I hate this. I realize that I'm crying and that just makes me hate myself more.

"Stupid stupid stupid," I whisper to myself as I pull the covers over my head and punch my pillow into position. How will I ever face him again? My Mother comes to the door and knocks after a few moments of me balling like a baby, but I don't want to talk to anyone. "Go away," I snap hatefully.

She unlocks my door and she comes in anyways because she's annoying. I hide a bit more under my covers and refuse to come out as she sits down on the edge of my bed and pats my leg.

"Stop being so dramatic," she says and I scoff because she's the most dramatic woman I know. She's one to talk. I curl a little bit more into my own body and wipe my face, trying to get rid of any trace of tears just in case she decides to look.

She sighs loudly after a few moments before laying down beside me, her head heavy against my pillow as I make a small opening in my covers so I can having a breathing hole.

"You act like your father and I do things just to be mean to you," she says after a few moments of silence and I feel her hand squeeze my shoulder. "We just want what's best for you."

"I don't want to quit," I say, my voice muffled by the covers as I think about Folk Hills and the friends I've made. "I like working there."

"How about a compromise then?" she says. I pause a moment before slowly lowering the cover so I can see her. She sits up. "You don't have to quit right now," she says softly as she pushes the bangs out of my yes. "We'll cut back your hours, though," she adds, giving me a stern look. "And I want you to wear this," she says as she takes something from around her neck. It's a silver necklace with a sea shell charm dangling from the end and I sit up to get a better look. I can recall her wearing it since I was a child. "If something happens, god willing, then we'll be able to find you."

I take it with a frown and hold it towards the light so I can see the charm clearly. "It has a tracker on it?" I say, uncomfortable with the idea.

"It would really make us feel better," she nods her head. "Your brother and his friends… we don't know what's going on with them. They could be dead for all we know… I just need to know that you'll be okay," she says and then she gives me a little smile as she kisses my forehead. "You're our baby, Ginny. We need you to be safe."

"Are you going to check this all the time?" I ask worriedly and she gives me an odd look before smiling.

"Not unless we're concerned," she says and then she pinches my cheek. "But you never go anywhere you shouldn't."

Right…

I look down at the necklace and then to her. "Okay," I tell her as I put it around my neck. "It's a deal."

"Good," she smiles gently and then stands up, patting down her dress. "I made some lunch if you want to come down. I know you must be hungry."

"I am," I admit as I push back my covers and follow her down the stairs.

As we eat, we actually talk about things like we haven't done in a while. I told her about work, she told me about Mrs. Daniel's who lives down the road. She's one of my mother's only friends and they have a love/hate relationship based on competition and martial envy.

"What else can we talk about?" she muses out loud after she gets done telling me the story about how Mrs. Daniel's started a new sunflower corner in her summer garden. Fascinating stuff, really. She looks at me after taking a drink from her lemonade and she smiles. "Are you crushing on anyone?"

"Not really," I lie as I pick at my napkin. This is something I don't feel like talking about right now. "Boys are overrated anyways."

"Even Harry?" she asks carefully and I narrow my eyes.

"Especially Harry," I mutter under my breath as I think of Draco and she smiles a little.

"Perhaps that's best," she says as she stands up and picks up her empty plate to put in the sink. "You're young. Now is the time to be single and have fun."

Right, even though I'm never allowed to do anything.

An idea hits me, and I glance on her. "On that note," I say and she looks at me. "Can I go over to Luna's tonight?" I need to talk to her. I haven't talked to her in weeks and I must tell someone about the terrible thing that happened to me today.

That light and wonderful mood we seemed to have settled in leaves us and she looks uneasy. The peace treaty is about to be broken…. I can practically feel it.

"I don't know Ginny… you know her father doesn't have the best wards."

"How am I supposed to be single and have fun if I can't even leave the house?" I whisper dejectedly and I can practically feel her staring at me.

There's a long pause before she gives in.

"Oh, alright, then. But you have to be home by nine."

A real smile graces my face and I go to her and give her a hug around the waist. "Thanks," I say genuinely before running towards the fireplace.

"Be back by nine," she repeats as I take some floo powder from the pot.

"Nine. Got it," I reply as I throw the powder in and step inside, saying Luna's address.

I suppose it's a bit rude to come over unannounced, but with things being as they are with Luna and Theodore, I doubt I'd be able to get an answer out of her with a letter. I found her in a closet doing god knows what with him after all… I need to get to bottom of their relationship because I do not like him at all. He gives me the creeps and maybe I can get a her opinion on things as well. Luna always thinks outside of the box and I need that today.

The place is a wreck when I finally land in their fireplace and I stand there for a few moments just taking it in before making myself known.

Mr. Lovegood has taken to keeping a small printing press in his living room to print out the latest templates for the Quibbler magazine. He's in full printing press mode when I arrive.

"Hello Mr. Lovegood," I announce myself before I step through the grate so I don't seem too intrusive. "Is it okay if I come in?"

"Oh, Ginny," Mr. Lovegood looks at me from behind the big wooden beast of a machine. He has printers ink in his white hair and smudges on his cheeks. "Of course you can come in. How are you doing, girl?"

"I'm doing well," I tell him as I step around the stacks of Quibblers he has bundled around his living room, held together by twine.

"That is good!" he laughs as he presses something down and a few more pages pop out of the machine. I catch one before it magically lands in one of the neat stacks and I glance at the front page.

There's a picture of Harry. Potter in Rome: Living at the Vatican.

"You think Harry is in Rome?" I ask carefully as I put the silly magazine on top of one of the neat stacks. I know to take everything in the Quibbler with a grain of salt, but I am worried about them… Harry, Ron, and Hermione, I mean. They could be in danger. Any news of them would be welcome.

"Think?" he repeats as he shuts his machine down and walks towards me as he wipes ink from his hands with a purple towel. "I know! I have an eye witness that says they spotted Potter having tea with the Pope."

"Why would Harry be having tea with the Pope?" I question and he smiles.

"Why indeed." He says with a serious head nod. "These are dark times indeed."

The Lovegoods are one of the only families that are outspoken about their belief in Harry and The Quibbler is one of the first major publications to support him when he said the Dark Lord was back… Of course, since it came from the Quibbler, it didn't exactly bring any reliable converts, but bless him for trying.

"...And as I recall the Pope is the president of a majority of muggles. He's probably trying to warn them of the impending war."

"The Pope isn't the president of muggles," I say and I almost laugh, actually. I took muggle studies last year so I know a thing or two about them. It's almost scary how uninformed most wizards and witches are on the subject. "He's the head of the Catholic…" I look at Mr. Lovegood as he stares at me with his wide eyes curious and wrinkled around the edges with age. "Never mind," I say because this could turn into a long discussion. "Is Luna home?"

"Oh, yes, of course," he says, shaking his head like he was lost in a fog for a moment. "She's in her room."

"I'm going to go see her, if you don't mind," I say as I start towards the stairs so I can see my friend.

"Not at all!" he calls after me as I put my hand on the railing and follow the cast iron stairs up to the second floor. "Tell her I said hello!"

I laugh a little to myself as I reach Luna's room. Her door is partially open so I peak inside to make sure she's decent. Luna is a painter, she has been for as long as I've known her and her room is full of brushes, jars of paint, and empty canvases. She paints her room about every other week as well during the summer holiday and right now it looks like she's going through an orange phase. Everything is bright orange with yellow dots of varying sizes. I almost wish I would have brought my sunglasses because it's so bright in here. I find Luna sitting on her bed reading from a sheet of parchment and I smile at her as I knock on the door frame.

"Hey there," I say when she sees me and I take a step in. "Your father says hello," I joke and she grins at me.

"Tell him I said hi," she answers and I snort in laughter as I close her door and walk towards her. I needed her company. I feel better already.

"I think you can handle that," I admit as I lean against the wall. "Just thought I'd drop in and see you," I tell her as she goes back to reading the parchment. "I feel like we haven't talked in a while... I have a lot to tell you."

"Hm," is all she says and I frown.

"I just thought we needed to talk since you know…" I say. She nods her head but doesn't look up and I make a face. "Since you were doing something with him in a closet of all places."

"A closet… yes…" she trails off like she wasn't even listening to me so I push off the wall and walk towards her.

"I have a lot to tell you," I tell her again, but she doesn't say anything. How rude. "Luna, I'm talking to you," I say as I wave my hand in front of her face. She blinks a few times and finally glances up from the parchment. "I feel like you're not paying attention to me," I say sarcastically and she gives me a silly grin before folding the parchment up and placing it under her pillow. "What do you keep reading anyways?" I ask as I sit down beside her.

"Just a love poem."

She says that so seriously I can hardly laugh at her for it.

"A love poem?" I repeat, trying not to sound like I was making fun of her.

"Yes," she says with a light head bob as she looks out into space with a stupid smile on her face. She doesn't elaborate further and I furrow my brows.

"Did Theo write you a love poem?" I ask flatly. I kind of feel like throwing up actually and I can't keep my disgusted face at bay when she nods her head. "He wrote you a poem?" I repeat again and I watch her back as she stands up and walks over to her window.

"Does Draco write you love poems?" she asks dreamily and I snort. She glances at me over her shoulder and raises her eyebrows. "Does he?"

"No," I say slowly with a laugh. "Draco does not write me love poems." I couldn't even begin to imagine what his would even say if he did. I actually shudder to think.

It gives me chills.

"Would you like to read it?" she asks and she blinks her big eyes a few times.

"Would I like to read your love poem?" I ask and she presses her lips together.

"Why do you have to say it like that?" she asks as she walks back to her bed and pulls out the parchment. "You say 'love poem' like it's a terrible disease."

"Love poems are terrible diseases," I tell her as she unfolds it with careful fingers. "I have yet to read one that wasn't cringe worthy or just ridiculous."

She looks hurt for a moment and she hesitates handing it to me. I feel guilty for my harsh words and I try to make up for it. "I'm sure it's lovely," I say seriously as I take the paper from her. "I'm sure Theo has a way with words… and rhyming," I say tiredly as I look down at the well worn page. No doubt Luna has read this a million times a day since she got it.

It's hand written in scratchy calligraphy on yellowing paper and I have to squint to read it because the hand writing is so bad. "I've never had a poem written about me before," she says as she sighs wistfully. I frown deeper as I read each line. "He says I have hair spun of gold," she says as she takes a strand of her own hair and stares at it as she spins it around her finger…. Staring at it like she had never realized she had blond hair before. "And eyes as deep as the ocean."

"He wrote this?" I say skeptically. It's not the juvenile love fest I was expecting… it actually wasn't so bad considering I've read it before in one of my books.

"Of course he did. He tells me I'm his muse," she says. I fold the paper back up and I itch my head as I try to decide my next course of action. I want to tell her that Theo didn't actually write this poem about her. Instead it's a poem written by a madman about his dog from a book that came out a few years ago.

I'm not sure if Theo knew that, of course. He might have been looking up poems and thought this one was nice… perhaps he was trying to impress Luna, letting her think he wrote it. I look at Luna again as she rereads the poem that she thinks is about her. But then…. He could be a slimy creep that knows very well that is a poem about a dog and he's a having a laugh about it right now.

"You like Theo a lot?" I ask even though it's pretty damn obvious.

She has I heart Theo written on her wall over there in red lip stick.

"I do…" she says. "It is a good feeling. I've never had a boyfriend before."

"I know," I sigh as I glance at the letter in her hands. "Did you have sex with him?" I ask carefully and she pauses for a second before sitting down beside me.

"No," she says with a head shake. "But we're doing other stuff. I didn't know things could…" she trails off and then she smiles at me. "I like having a boyfriend."

"Do you think he's genuine in his affections?" I ask, looking at the letter again.

"Do you believe Draco Malfoy is?" she counters back and I bite the corner of my lip.

"I don't know," I answer honestly.

"And that's half the fun, isn't it?" she says dreamily and I shake my head.

"That's not fun at all," I mutter, but she doesn't hear me as she stands back up and walks over to her closet. "I wanted to talk to you..." I tell her as I think about the stupid thing I did this morning... "I made such a fool..."

"He's taking me out tonight," she interrupts and I snap my mouth shut in surprise as she grabs a yellow dress from it's hanger. "To some kind of show in the Willow Park. Doesn't that sound romantic?"

"Oh, I thought…" I stand up with disappointment settling in me. I let her rudeness slide and bite the corner of my lip. "I thought maybe we could hang out tonight or something. I thought we could talk."

"Oh," she says and then she looks at me like she was feeling guilty. "You should have written me. I made plans."

"You're right," I say awkwardly. I never thought I'd see the day Luna would ditch me for a boy. It kind of hurts, to be honest. "What time is he coming?" She seems happy, I don't want to bring her down with me.

"Well," she says as she starts brushing out her hair. "In about…." She checks the clock on the table. "Now."

"Luna!" Her father calls from downstairs and I jump. "That Theodore gentleman is at the door for you."

Luna looks at me. "You can come with us of course," she says as she slinks into the yellow dress . "It will be fun."

"No, I think that I would just be the third wheel."

"Yes," she says thoughtfully. "I imagine you would be."

Yeah... She wasn't even joking.

"Yeah, so... I guess I'll just go then?" I say, hoping this isn't actually happening this way.

"Bye Ginny," she says as she starts out the door.

I follow behind her, resisting the urge to pull her hair as we walk down the stairs together. I can't believe this is happening.

Theo is standing awkwardly at the foot of the stairs and for some reason I can't help but glare at him. He notices and smirks.

Jerk.

And then they leave. They really leave together and I'm left standing in the living room with Luna's freaking father.

"So, Ginny," he says and I give him an odd look because I'm still trying to process being ditch so heartlessly from Luna of all people. "Would you like some tea?"

"No," I say seriously. "I do not want any tea."

I go back home them, giving my Mom a tense wave before going back to my room and falling back on my bed, punching my pillow back into position with a little more force than necessary.

Perhaps going to Luna's was successful. I'm not longer upset about the whole Draco incident from this morning... Now I can't stop thinking about how angry I am with Luna.

Mission accomplished... I guess.

"And then she said that Stephan was only talking to her because he wanted to know more about Richard... But I'm not hundred percent sure that Stephan is gay... He does really like the color pink, though," Daphne says thoughtfully as she sits on the counter of my little check out area while filing her nails. "But pink is a very in color for stylish men right now and Stephan is very in tune with fashion."

"Who's Stephan?" I ask as I try to keep up with the conversation while straightening the things around the lockers because, unlike Daphne Greengrass, I actually have a paying job.

"Stephan Stabler of course," she says with a scoff like I was an idiot. "If you ask me," she says as she hops off the counter and leans her elbows against the top so she's facing me. "I think she's just bitter that Stephan didn't want to sleep with her."

I don't know what girl we're talking about, to be honest. I stopped listening a while ago.

"I don't know who would want to, actually. After she got those lip injections, she looks like a duck."

I snort in laughter and shake my head as I walk back towards her. "Don't you have something better to do?" I ask her with a smile. "I am working, you know."

She shrugs a delicate shoulder and she gathers a section of her honey blond hair so she can twirl it around a well manicured finger. "Pans went to Bermuda this week with her father and Millicent is a bitch, so I thought you could be my new bestie for the day."

"Joy for me," I say sarcastically and she rolls her eyes.

"Don't be a whore, Ginny. It's a good thing to be my best friend. You get the perks of my undivided attention and pleasurable company."

"If you say so," I joke with a smile and she smirks at me before talking about gay Stephan and the girl he slighted.

"And then she told me that she had tried to have sex with him at a party but he..." I tune her out as she keeps going and play with the blue ribbon around my wrist.

She hasn't mentioned anything about Draco and that whole fainting episode so I'm guessing Draco didn't tell anyone. A part of me is grateful for that. To be honest, I was a little nervous to come back to Folk Hills because I thought everyone would know what a freak I was and they'd all be talking about me from behind my back, but that doesn't seem true.

I make a face as I think about other people knowing about what a weird-o I am and Daphne catches it, thinking I'm listening to her story.

"Don't be bitter, Ginny. It's unflattering," she says and I smirk at her before straightening my spine when I see someone approach. When I realize that it's Roy, the manager of the pool, I let my shoulders slump a bit. He's not worth my fake niceness.

"Hello there, lovely ladies," he says with a cheesy grin.

Roy is over thirty with suntanned skin and shaggy brown hair that he wears in a surfer style that isn't appropriate for his advanced age. He's wearing swim trunks and a tank top, the usual life guard gear, and he's looking at Daphne like she was a dessert cake. Ew. I look at Daphne to see her reaction at being eyed by a loser like him. She's looking at him in the same disgusting way. I blink a few confused moments as he slithers up beside her and then I remember the night at Pansy's where we played never have I ever and she admitted to having a certain kind of 'back door' sex with Roy the 'pool boy'. I'm officially grossed out.

"You're looking nice today," she says as she reaches out and squeezes his bicep. "Muscles are looking good."

"I always look good," he flirts back with a grin as he flexes his arm. "Not as good as you though, sexy."

I think I threw up a little in my mouth.

"I'm standing right here," I point out and when they both spare me a glance, I wave. "Take this somewhere else, please. I just ate lunch."

"Oh, Ginny, don't be silly," Daphne giggles like a school girl and I cringe at the sound. She is flirting so hardcore with him right now.

"Can I do something for you, Roy?" I ask with an eyebrow raised. He had to have come back to this little hallway for a reason other than Daphne.

"I was just taking a walk," he says as he takes the whistle from his pocket and swirls it around with his fingers. "They closed the pool, so I have some down time. Thought I'd come and find my favorite little lady," he says with a wink towards Daphne.

Ugh.

"Why did they close the pool?" I ask seriously. "It's noon on a Wednesday." The pool is always packed with rich people and their children, especially in the afternoon when the day is at its hottest.

He shrugs his shoulders. "I have no idea why they do half the stuff they do here," he says as Daphne takes the whistle from him and puts it over her head so the whistle part is nestled between her breasts. Of course, that's where his eyes stay and I make a face. "Rich people," he says with a head shake and Daphne raises an eyebrow.

"What does that mean?"

"I was just saying that you're all crazy, that's all," he adds with a smile and she pretends to be insulted.

"Well, if that's how you feel, then I don't know if we should be friends anymore," she coos as she bats her eyelashes at him.

"Who said we were friends?" he asks as he wiggles his brows.

Oh, dear lord.

"Not me," she jokes with a charming smile and she leans in closer. "In fact, I barely even like you."

He puts his hand on his chest. "Oh, you're breaking my heart, darling."

"Ginevra," I raise my brows in surprise at Del. When did she show up? Daphne and Roy part ways to let her through and she gives Roy a disdainful look before facing me again. "You can go home now."

"But my shift isn't over until three," I point out with a confused tilt to my head as I glance at the clock.

"Yes, I am aware," she says as she gives another sideways glance to Roy who is looking uncomfortable. "But Nadia is coming in, so I thought you would like the rest of the afternoon off."

"Um..." I'm a little confused and I send a look to Daphne as she raises her brows. "Am I in trouble?" I ask carefully and she shakes her head.

"Of course not," she says. "Now, go home and you," she gives Roy a stern look. "Go do something worthwhile or you will be in trouble."

Roy blushes and Daphne hides a smile as he scatters away. I furrow my brows as I start gathering my things to place in my backpack. Del comes behind the counter, I guess to watch the place until Nadia gets here, and I send her another confused look before leaving the small room with Daphne hot on my heels.

"That was odd," she points out as I hike my bag over my shoulder and nod my head. "What are you doing now?"

"Going home, I guess," I say uncomfortably. My mom usually picks me up but she won't be here until three so I guess I'll just have to survive going home on my own.

"We could hang out for a little bit," she says, following me down the hallways like a lost puppy dog. "There's still a lot I have to tell you about the Stephan and Richard scandal."

"Um, no, not today," I say because I don't care about that. "I should get home. My Mom would freak out if she found out that I got off early and didn't come straight home."

"Oh, well..." she stops walking and trails off. "I guess... I guess I'll go find something else to do then."

"See you," I say to her disappointed face as I continue walking down the back hallway towards the employee exit. I only feel a little bit bad about that because I'm still impossibly confused by what just happened with Delsia. Why did she send me home so early? She said I wasn't in trouble and if I was she would address it right away, right? What the hell?

I squint against the sun as I open the back door and I start walking down the concrete sidewalk as I dig through my bag for my sunglasses. Today is impossibly humid and I can practically feel my hair frizzing up and my skin burning as the sun shines down from above. Stupid sun and my stupid pale skin.

Why can't I find these damn glasses? I'm too focused on getting my glasses that I don't even bother to acknowledge the other person on the side walk as well.

"You've been successfully avoiding me and all of my owls."

I gasp when Draco slides in front of me and blocks my path. I glance up at him and blink for a few panicked seconds before calming my heart. I drop my bag and pick it up quickly, hoping he doesn't notice what fool I'm being.

"What?" I manage to get out through my surprise. He's wearing thick black rimmed sunglasses and I can see my reflection in them. I look stupid squinting my face up like it is, so I try to smooth out my expression.

"You've been avoiding me," he repeats as he takes my hand. I'm far too confused right now to protest as he starts steering me in the opposite direction from where I was headed. "I don't like that."

"I haven't been avoiding you," I half lie. "You know where I work."

"Obviously," he scoffs as we walk into one of the side doors, leading back into the club. A few high profile members of Folk Hills pass us and I blush and look away, fully aware that they saw me and Draco Malfoy holding hands.

"Where are we going?" I ask and then I shake my head as I pull my hand back. "Wait, I have to go home."

"Why?" he asks as he continues to walk. I follow because half of me is curious as to what is going on here and the other half is pleased that he doesn't hate me for fainting at his home.

"Because..." Why? "Because my Mom is probably waiting for me. She always picks me up from work." I answer and he glances at me over his shoulder before walking towards a set of thick wooden doors. I've never gone any further than the main hall here, and beyond the wooden doors is something totally new to me.

"You got off work like two hours early," he replies as he holds the door open for me. I step ahead of him and look around. The sidewalks are made of bricks and the garden is beautiful with different exotic flowers and large greenery all over the place in a well orchestrated landscape. The brick lined walk way separates towards three large archways. I can see the tennis courts and Quidditch club out in the distance and a few other red roofed buildings that hold special meetings are scattered along the grounds as well.

"How do you know I got off early?" I ask suspiciously as he puts his hand on the small of my back to lead me along. "Wait," I say as I stop walking. "Where are you taking me?"

"You're going to ruin the surprise," he says and I narrow my eyes.

"I hate surprises," I say just so he'll at least give me a hint.

"You're no fun," he says with a sly smirk as he takes something out of his messenger bag. I didn't even notice that he had one. He takes out a purple box and he hands it to me as I give him a look.

"What is this?"

"You can answer your own question by opening it," he says like I was stupid and I give him another angry look before pulling the lid off. Inside is a swim suit. A red one piece suit. I'm almost disappointed.

"I already own a swim suit," I say and he raises an eyebrow as he lifts his glasses until they rest on the top of his head.

"I'm sure you do, but you didn't bring it with you and I'm going to teach you how to swim today."

"What?" I say with a level voice as I look up to him with my brows furrowed.

"Look, the last time we were around each other things got a little heavy," he admits and my cheeks blush in shame when I remember why. And then I remember who he is and whose son he is and why I freaking fainted like a fool. I harden my eyes and glance at him again.

"I should go home."

"No," he says like it was a stupid thing for me to say and I narrow my eyes.

"I'm sorry, Draco," I tell him as I put the lid back on the swim suit box. I hand it back to him and he furrows his brows. "I don't think this is going to work."

"I can get you a different suit if you want," he says and I sigh. "I didn't want to get anything too revealing because I didn't want you to think I was a pervert."

"It's not about the swim suit," I admit. I need to be strong. This is definitely the right thing to do... right? "I don't think it's a good idea for us to see each other anymore." I say softly.

"What?" he questions sharply and I try to tread carefully. I don't want to hurt his feelings when mine are already confused and hurting as well. I guess I have been avoiding him because I knew this conversation would have to happen.

"Just with you being who you are and me… being well, me… I'm just not sure if this is a good match."

"Are you kidding me?" he asks flatly. I shake my head as I hike up my bag again and cross my arms. "That's not fair, Ginny," he says with narrowed eyes. "Why? That can't be your only reason."

"It's not," I admit.

"Do you not like me?"

"No, I like you," I say quickly and he raises an eyebrow. "I just…. We're two different people," I say, putting my hand outs. "It's a bad time right now," I say slowly, trying to figure out exactly what I want to say and how I want to say it. I'm not sure if I want to say it at all, if I was being honest. "And there's a reason why I'm afraid of your father. I don't have to tell you why, but there is a reason and I don't think it's a good idea for us to continue this," I say as I gesture in-between us.

"I know why you're afraid of my father," he says sharply and now it's my turn to raise my brow.

"You do?" I state skeptically because I know he has no idea and he nods his head. A large woman with a diamond necklace on walks by us, and we both pause until she's out of hearing range.

"Of course I do," he continues in a quiet voice. "He was questioned by the Aurors because of it. He didn't know what that book could do, Ginny. He had no idea it would open the Chamber of secrets."

"If he didn't know," I hiss, angry that he knew and never said anything. How many others know? "Then why did he give it to me?" I was an eleven year old girl for Christ's sakes.

"The Aurors thought we had dark artifacts in our house. We were on a list and they were doing random searches," he says and I clench my fists. "My father knew that the object was dark so he needed to get rid of it. I know it's childish, but he thought if he gave if to your family, then your father would get in trouble for it because it was your father who reported him."

"He didn't give it to my father!" I yell and then I look around to quickly to see if anyone saw my outburst. "He gave it to me and it nearly killed me."

"He didn't know," he says firmly. "But that's his mistake, not mine. I'm not my father."

"It doesn't matter," I say with a head shake. "This whole thing is just a terrible idea."

"You didn't seem to mind when I was fingering you the other day," he spits out hatefully and my cheeks heat up in embarrassment. I can't believe he just said that. "In fact, you seemed to thoroughly enjoy my company at that particular time."

"You're a bastard," I tell him scornfully and he clenches a fist. I see it and narrow my eyes. "I'm going home now. Don't bother sending me any more owls," I tell him and he grabs my arm when I try to walk away.

"Why are you being this way?" he asks and then he looks over my face. "I thought you were a different kind of person than this."

"What does that mean?" I snap back and he shakes his head and takes a step back.

"I am not my father," he states seriously. "And your family doesn't define who you are either. If you can walk away from me now and claim that you'll never think of me, then fine, do it. But if you actually want see the potential in this like I do, then you should stay and let me fucking do what I planned to do today."

I don't say anything. I don't move as I process his words and he clenches his jaw.

"You're rejecting me," he says, rolling the words around like it was something he wasn't used to... I guess that's legit. "That's it, then? You're just going to run away from this like a coward?"

Coward.

It's probably the worst thing you could call a Gryffindor.

"I'm not being a coward," I hiss at him. "I'm being practical."

"No, you're not," he says. "This is you just being fucking scared."

"I'm not scared!" I say as I stomp my foot. That's a lie, perhaps I am a bit afraid, but I won't let him know that.

"Tell me why you don't want to be with me again."

He says that like he already knows he's right and I make a face. Again, I'm tongue tied, so I don't say a word for a few long moments. He runs his hands over his face and shakes his head with a long sigh.

"I'm not doing this the way I wanted to," he admits softly and then he looks at me again. "I don't want to fight with you, and I don't want to be with someone who doesn't want to be with me," he says and I chew on my lip. "Could you at least give it a try? We'll sort through all the heavy stuff later, lets just keep it light right now, yeah?"

He holds out his hand.

I look at it and chew on my lip a bit more as he raises his eyebrows.

"Ginny," he says after a few moments as more people walk past us. "You're making me look stupid. Take my damn hand or walk away," he says with a tight voice.

I look at him, I really look at him and I'm struck by how good looking he is. The sun his hitting his gray eyes just right making them shine silver and his hair is falling casually over his brows in such an appealing way. He's handsome, but Tom was handsome too... But there's something else in Draco's expression, an openness that Tom never had.

I've never had someone pursue me the way Draco has and I've never had someone seem to like me as much as he does. I wasted so much time liking someone that never liked me and maybe it's time to move past what's safe and take a chance. Yeah, maybe it is.

I take his hand.

A handsome smile breaks out across his face and I inhale a long breath.

"Are you really going to try to teach me how to swim?" I ask to break the silence and he smirks as he leans in and places a gentle kiss against my lips that makes my heart hammer. Yes, this was a good decision.

"Of course," he says as he takes my hand and starts pulling me down the path to the right. "Its about time that you learned how."

"Right," I whisper to his back.

The pool is amazing... it's actually three pools if we wanted to get technical. The main pool is large with stone linings and a mosaic decorating the floor under the water. Connected to it, separated only by a small wall, is a small heated children's pool that's only a couple feet deep and there are toys floating in it for the kids to play with. There's a large wooden stairway leading up to a second floor where another large pool is that has a connecting slide to the main pool. It's quit beautiful actually.

I guess I can appreciate being spontaneous, and as I'm putting on that red one piece suit in the changing rooms, I think about what he said... about me being off a couple hours early...and that the pool we're currently using is closed. He had the keys to get into it, assuring me that it was okay.

"Hey, Draco," I say, trying to keep it light as I shimmy into the tight material.

"Yeah?" he asks from the other side of the door.

"Did you...Did you make them close the pool for this?" I ask carefully and I hear him laugh.

"Yes," he says and I furrow my brows as I pull the straps up over my breasts. "And before you ask... yes, I did request that they let you go from your shift early."

Once I'm secure in the swimsuit, and I'm sufficiently covered with a towel wrapped around me, I open the door. "How can you do those things?" I ask, worried about my job. What if I get fired because Draco is making odd demands? What would people think of me?

"You know that my Grandfather owns over half this place," he says with a cocky tilt to his head. He takes off his t-shirt, leaving him in blue swim trunks as he walks towards the water. "I can do what I want," he says like the arrogant little rich boy that he sometimes is. "And, as my girlfriend, you get to reap those rewards."

"I'm not your girlfriend," I point out as after he jumps into the water and reemerges. We haven't had that talk yet.

"Says who?" he asks as he slicks back his wet hair. I take tentative steps towards the large, lavish base pool and I glance at the small children's pool on the right side of me. There are sea creatures and sea shells painted on the floor.

"All my other boyfriends," I tease when I look at him again, he raises an eyebrow.

"Boyfriends?" he questions as I stall time from getting in the pool. I'm actually a bit insecure to be around him in a bathing suit. Even a modest one piece like this one. "How many do you have?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"I would actually," he says, sounding a bit more serious than he did before. I laugh it off until he swims towards me. "Alright, now, off with the towel. It's time to get in."

"Okay..." I say slowly, talking myself into being brave. "I'm going to start at the shallow end," I say, pointing towards the other side of the pool where the stairs lead into the water.

I take a step in, the water comes up to my ankles, but I don't feel comfortable enough to remove the towel. I glance at Draco, he's standing in the pool where the water hits his chest and he's staring at me.

"Look away," I say say seriously.

"Why?" he asks with a brow raised like the pompous thing that he is.

"Just look away."

"I'm not going to," he counters as he starts heading towards the shallow end of the pool. Of course, his body is flawless so he has nothing to be ashamed of. He watches me the whole time as he gets to the shallow end and then he starts walking up the stares to get to me. He's all wet and the water is making his body glisten

Do not look at his stomach.

Do not look at his stomach.

"Why are you looking at my stomach?" he asks and I flick my eyes to his because my whole 'not looking at his ab muscles like a creeper' didn't seem to work out.

"No," I say quickly as he looks down at his stomach like he might have something on it. "I mean, I'm not."

"Right," he says as he takes the final step up so we're face to face. I tile my head up to look at him and he smiles as he brings his hands to the towel. "You can't swim in a towel," he says as he takes it off and throws it behind me, leaving me in the swim suit. I want to cross my arms. "That's the first lesson."

"Point taken," I say softly. I feel cold suddenly, cold and warm at the same time and when he puts his hand on my waist to lead me in a more intimate way into the water, I think I may have gasped.

"Look at you being all jumpy," he smirks as he walks me in until the water is up to my stomach. "Are you ready for this?" he asks, his face almost looking boy like as he smiles.

"Are we really doing this?" I ask, as I sink down in the water further so my it's up to my neck and my body is hidden. I dunk my head back to get my hair wet because the sun is so hot and I want something to do other than just staring at him. "Can't we just kind of... kick it?"

He laughs. "Kick it?" he asks with a smile. I like him like this. Maybe he was right. This could work. "What does that even mean?"

I push myself backwards in the water and smirk at him.

"Can't we just play?" To be honest, I really don't want to learn how to swim. There's a reason why I don't actually swim and he knows that.

"Play?" he says as he swims after me. I'm walking, he's actually swimming, so he reaches me in no time. I dodge him, though. "I don't play."

"That's a shame," I tell him as I go to the edge of the pool, acting like I'm going to pull myself out. "I guess I should just leave then.

I scream when he grips me around the waist and throws me back into the water. I make a big splash and instead of panicking when I get under water, I find myself laughing on my way up.

"Draco!" I scold as I blink water out of my eyes. "You could have killed me!"

"Hardly," he says back with a laugh.

I go over to him and try to dunk him, but of course that doesn't work and we wrestle around until I finally get him under the water with a triumphant smile. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing and joking around in the pool. It was really nice and I was having a lot of fun. I even went to the pool on the second floor and used the slide. I felt like a child again. I even found myself liking him more as we horsed around because he was being so different from the Draco Malfoy I had always knew and imagined. It was nice seeing him laugh and have fun as well.

"You're killing me," he says after a while and I try to catch my breath by leaning against the edge of the pool with my arms resting against he cement. He swims up behind me and presses his body against mine so his chest is against my back. "We've been messing around all this time and you haven't tried to kiss me once," he says against my ear.

I shiver but brush it off as I turn around to face him, letting his hips press against mine. That light mood is gone and something much more adult and intimate over takes the situation. I'm so attracted to him and when he's close like this... it makes me feel so much older than I am and it's a good mature feeling. I can forget who his father is, what I've been through, and what everyone else would think. I could make this work if it felt like this all the time.

"What makes you think I want to kiss you?" I question and he smirks as he puts his hands on either side of me, pinning me against the pool wall. "Do you..." I lick my lips because I'm about to say something serious and uncomfortable. "Do you think I'm crazy or something after what happened at you place... when I... you know."

He kisses the corner of my mouth. "If you're crazy, then I'm sure I could be classified that way as well."

"But do you think that?" I ask because a part of me really would hate it if he thought terrible things about me.

"No," he says seriously and the way he said it... I believe him. "No, I don't."

"Good," I say with a head nod. "That's good..."

"Besides," he says as he presses his hips into mine a little firmer. "My therapist says I have control issues and that I'm too narcissistic to be too empathetic towards other people and their problems, so I probably wouldn't notice anyways," he jokes and I smile.

"My therapist says I'm too altruistic and not assertive enough," I admit that little part of myself in the guise of a joke.

"We just might be perfect for each other," he says and I smile again.

"I don't know about that," I reply and he smirks.

"Well..." he says, but he doesn't continue because I actually lean up and kiss him.

How brave I'm getting.

"Hmm..." I hear him say against my lips before he deepens the kiss with a vengeance, pushing his body into mine until it's almost painful, but his weight against my body feels too good to ask him to stop.

I bring my arms up to his shoulders, and I lock my hands behind his neck as our tongues slide against each other. He tastes like some kind of fruit. I think I like it. "You know," he says as he pulls back to place gentle kisses against my neck. I smile like an idiot. "I think I like this swim suit," he says as he runs his fingers along the thick straps on my shoulders. "It leaves more to the imagination."

"Yeah?" is all I come up with because I'm awesome like that.

"Yeah," he says as he nips at my neck. It tickles and I laugh. "Makes me want to take it off," he says as he starts lowering the straps.

This is dangerous.

"People will see," I say as I stop his hands. He pulls back in disappointment as I fix the straps and I look around just to make sure no one is watching.

"There is no one here," he says as he goes down for another kiss.

"Uh, Ginny?" Draco snaps his head to that voice and so do I. My cheeks heat up in embarrassment when I notice Dean Thomas standing at the other side of the pool, looking uncomfortable in his regular life guarding attire.

"What do you want?" Draco hisses at him as I scoot away and right my swimsuit for the millionth time.

"Uh, well..." Dean blinks a few times like he wasn't sure he was actually seeing what was happening just now. He itches his head and the yellow ribbon showing his blood status is bright against his darker skin tone. "I mean, they sent me because... well... Ginny," he looks at me like he's never seen me before. "Your Mom is waiting for you and they told me to come find you..."

"My Mom?" I say with a dry throat. "Jesus, has it been two hours already?" I say in panic as I climb out of the pool and I grab my towel. "I need to get changed," I mumble to myself as I run to the pool house to get into my clothes.

I move fast and get dressed in record time, throwing my bag over my shoulder as I run out of the changing room. Draco is out of the pool and Dean is gone when I finally leave.

"Where did he go?" I ask as I start speed walking away from the pool, stuffing the wet swim suit in my bag as I move. Draco keeps up with my strides easily and he casually puts on his shirt like this wasn't a big deal.

"He left, obviously," he sneers like he was pissed off. I spare him an irritated glance.

"God, what if he tells my parents, or my brother?"

"Tell them what?" he asks as we head down the brick walk way.

"That I was freaking snogging you in a pool," I say in exasperation.

"You say that like it's a bad thing," he says with a smug voice and I glare at him. When we reach that garden, and those large double doors, I stop and stare at him. "You stay here," I tell him because I have no idea where my Mom will be waiting and heaven forbid she sees him with me.

"Why-"

I open the door and close it before he can get that sentence out.

My Mom is waiting for me at my usual spot with one of the managers from the desk and she looks impatient. "Where have you been?" she asks as I approach. "I've been waiting for half an hour... and why is your hair wet?"

I touch my hair and mentally scold myself for the slip. "Uh, I'm sorry. I was doing... something..."

That was the best lie I could come up with and she accepted it because she didn't question me further. When we get home, I go to my room and stare at myself in the mirror, trying to see what Draco sees when he looks at me. My parents talk to me during dinner, urging me to go to more therapy sessions with Dr. Carol and I finally relent after my mother starts crying about 'her children and how she has failed to protect them'... blah blah blah. Emotional manipulation is what that is, really, but I agree to go none the less.

After I take a shower for the night, I look at my unclothed self in my mirror again, trying to see myself through different eyes.

What does he see in me?

I can't dwell on the question, because I don't think I could find the answer. Draco does make me feel special, and I don't want change that... not when things are good again... kind of.

As soon as I close my eyes and fall asleep I wake in a dream.

I'm sitting at the head of a large dark table, in a large dark hall, surrounded by corpses as dinner guests. I've been here before. In my dreams when I was a girl...It was a nightmare...

In the dream I am not afraid of them and I'm not disgusted, I just keep eating my dinner in a beautiful red ballgown like I couldn't be happier. The people, they're dead with rotting flesh and lips sown together with black thread making an all together disturbing imagine and before them are plates of rotting food, infested with maggots and flies. I look at them like they were old friends and go back to my meal. They're propped up in the seats surrounding the table, dressed in tuxedos and extravagant dresses with their eyes open and staring dead eyed into space.

"My love."

I look at the end of the table, but instead of Tom being there, like he usually is, it's someone else. Draco's sitting in the chair, wearing a well tailored black suit with a smirk on his face. He's not dead, and his mouth isn't sown with thread. When did he get here?

I smile at him.

He smiles at me and raises his wine glass.

The corpse beside me slumps forward, his face landing in the pea green soup in front of him. It splashes and Draco and I laugh.

Like all dreams, things don't move the same as they do in real life and I find Draco standing in front of me, looking down at me with a fire in his eyes. The dead people are still at the table, still being dead behind him.

I hear a hissing noise and the slithering of a large being moving through the hallways. I recognize that noise and I see the Basilisk move out of the corner of my eyes, coiling it's large snake body around the room like a predator.

"Ginny."

Draco grabs my hair and pulls me out of the chair. Again, I am not afraid... in fact... I'm feeling something else all together and I know this is going to turn into one of those dreams.

"Is Tom here?" I find myself asking. I don't know why I asked. I never know why I ask.

"No," is all Draco says as he picks me up and spins around. "You're not his anymore."

With a strength I didn't know he had, he throws me on the table, with the rotting food and our rotting guests as our witnesses. He crawls on top of me and hikes up the the skirt of my dress as he bites my neck so hard it bleeds.

Instead of asking him to stop like a sensible person, my dream self said one very bad word.

"Harder."

That seems to be the only word I could say after that as he tore my clothes and pressed harsh kisses against my lips.

"Harder."

He unbuckled his belt as our dead guests started moaning and he pulled my hair again when he kissed me.

"Harder."

He tears my knickers and throws them before pushing down his trousers. They land on one of the dead people.

"Harder."

He bites his way down to my breasts, leaving teeth marks and blood in his wake.

"Harder."

He finally slams inside of me and I scream.

"Harder!"

I wake with a start.

I'm breathing heavy and I wipe my forehead off as I glance at my clock that's glowing against the darkness of my room. It's three in the morning. I'm in a cold, shaking sweat and I have a very uncomfortable wetness between my legs.

I've had that dream before, only with Tom and there was no weird sex like that... and... when I had it as a girl it was a nightmare... A terrible nightmare that I never wanted to have ever again. I look under the covers at my knickers and I make a face.

This was the first time that I had liked it.

I am going crazy.

I play with that stupid sea shell necklace I promised my mother I'd wear. I'm not totally sure why I'm wearing it, to be honest. I did sneak out and if she chose to find me, she easily could and she would know that I'm not currently in my room, writing and listening to music like I had made her believe. I look at the group of people I'm here with through suspicious eyes. Daphne, Millicent, Pansy, Draco, Blaise, and a few other Slytherin upperclassmen are standing out side of the Falcon's Quidditch stadium, waiting to go inside. I suppose a part of me still feels a little unsafe in this group.

Millicent feels me staring and she sneers at me.

She especially makes me uncomfortable.

"What do you think, babe?" That's Draco's voice and I glance at him. Is he really calling me that in front of everyone? It makes me blush.

"Yeah?" I ask uncomfortably as I remember the fucked up sex dream I had about him.

"Haven't you been listening?" he asks and when I shake my head, he sighs. "Do you want to go out after the game?"

"Go out where?" I ask. The longer I'm away from home, the higher the risk of my parents finding out that I'm gone.

"Herme's of course," Pansy cuts in. She has a nice tan from her week in Bermuda and I'm envious of it. I don't tan no matter how long I roast in the sun. I just get burned, get some more freckles, and then go right back to being pale. "It's an 'everything goes but clothes' night."

"What does that mean?" I ask with a frown and they all laugh at me like I was a puppy doing something adorable. That's annoying.

"Looks like you're going to find out," Blaise says with a devilish smirk. "Can't deny her that first experience, Malfoy." he says with a wink towards Draco.

"We'll see, then," Draco says in an affirmative voice.

The line finally moves and we make our way inside. Of course, with the group that I find myself in our seats are the best and we're surrounded by people of influence. Most of them are from the Ministry that I recognize from the papers. Draco knows them all and spends most of the opening show talking to them about bills at the ministry and shaking hands. The Falcons are playing the Warlocks so I know it's going to be a decent game so I settle in my seat as Draco continues to speak to the wizard behind us about taxes. When the game finally starts and the teams appear, I try to tune out the mindless chatter of Pansy and Daphne and focus on the game but they make it so damn hard.

"And instead, I bought the green dress..."

"Green would go good with your hair..."

"...I thought so..."

"Ivy said..."

"...I agree...What a bitch..."

Blah freaking blah.

"I'm going to get something to eat," I say as I stand up. I need to walk away from them before I tell them to shut up. I guess I'm in an edgy mood.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Draco asks, his eyes firmly planted on the match.

"I think I can handle it," I tell him as I start to walk past him so I can get to the aisle, but he grabs my wrist.

"Here," he says as he fishes into his pocket and then he hands me some money.

Really?

"I have money," I mutter because the others are looking at us now.

Instead of responding, he just waves me off and goes back to the game. I clench my jaw and narrow my eyes at him. He doesn't notice, but Blaise does and I catch him smirking at me from the corner of my eyes. I huff and leave the seating area, headed towards the concession stands. I still have Draco's coins clutched in my hand and I glare down at them before stuffing them in my pocket. What a pompous jerk.

I think I'm just in a terrible mood today.

There's quite a line for food and I plant myself at the end of it, waiting impatiently with my arms crossed and my toe tapping against the concrete floor as Quidditch fans chatter on around me. When the line moves forward, I tuck some hair behind my ear and take a step... but then something brushes against me.

I furrow my brows and look around to see who just touched me. No one was walking by and there's no one in line behind me. As I'm looking around, I see a set of feet walking away... just feet, no body.

Invisibility cloak.

You have got to be kidding me.

I only know one person who has one of those and I forget my attempt at getting food as I follow after the feet. The shoes are scuffed up black converse with a frayed shoe lace on the right foot.

I know those shoes.

Harry.

I pick up my pace and weave my way around people, trying to keep my eye on the shoes. Harry had gotten taller this past year and I guess he didn't really take into consideration that his cloak wouldn't cover him half as well. What is he doing here? Why is he at a game when he's supposed to be off saving the world while ignoring everyone that loves him like it was his job?

"Harry!" I call just to make him stop and possibly talk to me. Maybe he can tell me that my brother and Hermione are safe. Maybe he'll apologize for leaving on my birthday.

The shoes pick up pace and start moving faster... he's running... What a bastard! I start running faster and I follow the feet all the way towards the gate where I'm stopped by a burly security guard.

"If you leave, you can't get back in," the large man with a mustache says and I send him a glare before turning back towards the gate. I don't see the feet anymore... He must have left the stadium.

What the fuck?

"So, what are you doing, Miss?" the man asks as I crane my neck to try to spot the converse again, but I don't see them anywhere.

"I'm..." I send another suspicious look around before looking at the guard and coughing uncomfortably. "I'm going to go back to my seat."

He thinks I'm crazy, but I don't care. When I get back to my seat, I sit down with my arms firmly crossed across my chest.

"You didn't get anything?" Draco asks once he notices that I, in fact, have no food with me.

"I found I wasn't very hungry to begin with," I tell him angrily.

Stupid freaking Harry Potter. He constantly ruins my day.

I glance at Draco as he shrugs and looks back at the game. Who cares about Harry? Or Hermione or Ron? They left of my birthday and always made me feel left out. Screw them.

"Draco," I say gently to get his attention and when he tears his eyes away at the game to finally face me, I lean in a kiss him.

"What was that for?" He asks as he pulls back.

"Jesus, get a room," I hear Pansy joke.

"Preferably one with a camera," Blaise adds, but I ignore him.

"Just because," I say as I loop my arm under his and I turn back to the game as he smiles at me.

The falcons won the game, which put everyone in my present company in a good mood for the night. That meant that going out was something that was going to happen and all the girls went to Pansy's summer home to find something to wear. I debated whether I wanted to go home then because I knew I was pushing my luck and I fingered the seashell charm as the other girls moved about the kitchen, trying to find something to wear.

Yes, the kitchen.

I soon found out that 'Everything goes but clothes' meant that you literally could wear anything that didn't count as normal clothing in everyday society. Pansy wrapped herself in aluminum foil, turning it into some risque looking mini dress with a matching head band. Daphne picked duck take, and all she did was make a bra looking thing with it and a skirt that I don't think really counts as skirt it was so small... Millicent, who glared at me the whole entire time like I owed her a large sum of money, cut up a garbage bag and turned it into a sexy little black dress. I thought it was fitting that she was dressed in a trash bag considering her personality was garbage.

My own little joke made me smirk.

"Gin, what are you going to wear?" Pansy asked as she used the toaster as a mirror while she applied more lip gloss.

"I don't know," I shrugged as I looked around the room, halfheartedly looking for something.

"They won't let you in unless you follow the rules of the night," Daphne points out as she opens the pantry and starts rummaging through it, trying to find some material for me to wear.

"How about a cardboard box," Millicent says bitterly from the other side of the room. I ignore her, and so does everyone else.

"Here," Daphne says as she pulls out a bin of news papers that need to be recycled. "We can make you a quick dress out of this," she says as she pulls out her wand. "Strip down to your knickers, Ginny," she says as she starts pulling things out of the box.

I glance at Millicent. I actually don't want her to see my body and say bad things about me... but... oh, fuck her. She's mean and I know I'm not that bad anyways. I strip out of my shirt and shorts and Pansy and Daphne use their wands to secure the newspaper around me like a dress. They keep it short of course and strapless, and Pansy even lets me borrow a pair of her shoes before we leave. The dress is stiff and uncomfortable but more modest by far then my companions and we get to the club we find that the boys are already seated and inside on the second level in the VIP section.

Which surprised no one.

People inside were dancing to the music, dressed in all different kinds of materials. Metal, bubble wrap... I even saw a man in condom pants. It's wild. When we get upstairs and finally see the boys, I stop and put my hand on my hip. The material of the newspaper dress crinkles uncomfortably with the movement. They're all dressed in their normal clothes and I narrow my eyes as Draco runs and appreciate glance down my body.

"Why did we have to dress up if you didn't?" I state sourly as I take a seat beside Draco.

"You didn't have to," he points out and I glare at Pansy and Daphne as they smile at me.

"They said you could only get in if you..." they totally lied. I can tell by the way they're smiling at each other now. "Oh, never mind," I state as I slump against the back of the booth, my dress making annoying noises the whole time.

"It's fun, Ginny," Daphne says with a perky smile as she leans across the table, her boobs almost spilling out over the duck tape bra. "It's good to live a little every now and then."

"You give into peer pressure quite easily," Draco points out as he takes a drink from his glass. I take it from it and sniff it. It burns my nostrils just from the smell so I know it has to be strong. "You are in quite a mood today," he says with a laugh as I make a face and hand the glass back to him.

I think of Harry and how he ran away from me under that damn cloak and I nod my head. "I suppose I am."

A waitress comes by and Draco orders some kind of girly drink for me. It's takes like some kind of frozen strawberry concoction and I like it so I take my time drinking it as Draco puts his hand on my knee.

"Let's go dance," Pansy tries to pull me towards the dance floor, but I shake my head because I will not dance in this unsafe dress.

"No," is all I say as I focus on my drink.

"But, Ginny..." Daphne tries to persuade me, but Draco cuts her off.

"She said no," he says sternly as he glances at them. "Go with out her."

They both furrow their brows at him, but they don't question it as they head towards the dance floor. I watch them go and then I turn back to the table. Blaise and Draco are talking about the game and Millicent is on the other side of the booth, sitting next to another guy friend of Draco's that I never learned the name of.

I watch her as she flirts with him, batting her eyelashes and throwing her hair over her shoulder. I remember what she used to look like before having all that work done and I snort into my glass. Blaise gets up to use the loo after a while, leaving the four of us at the table in a terribly uncomfortable double date set up. Draco's fingers tickle the insides of my thigh as Millicent leans into the boy with lips pouting in a sexy way. She sends a quick look to Draco before running her fingers through the boys hair and I narrow my eyes.

I saw that look she just gave him. She wanted to know if he was watching her... she wanted to make him jealous.

Bitch.

I look at Draco to see what he's doing. He has his wand out and he's tapping it against a napkin, seeing if he has any written messages.

I catch Millicent sending another sly glance to Draco and I turn back to him and lean more against his body. He glances at me before going back to his magic, but I'm not done yet.

"What are you doing?" I ask in a soft voice, but I know full well what he's doing.

"Checking to see if anyone wrote me," he says, tapping through old messages on the napkin.

"Oh," I say and I look at Millicent as she whispers into the boys ear. I scoot even closer.

"Draco," I say to get him to look at me. When he does, I think he gets that I want his attention, so he puts his wand away. "Do you like this dress?" I ask.

He smirks and looks down. "Very much," he admits. "I like that I can read about the crime rate in Diagon Alley and look at your chest all at the same time," he says and when I look down I realize that's true and I laugh.

"At least I'm informative," I tell him and I can feel Millicent's eyes on me as I smile at my boyfriend. Is he boyfriend? Yes, he is my boyfriend after all. She shouldn't be putting on a show for him. I put my hand over his under the table, and I move it up a little further on my thigh.

He raises an eyebrow and gives me an amused look.

"Quite a mood," he repeats as I lean over and kiss his cheek.

I can practically feel Millicent's bitter glare now and it makes me smile as I move my lips to his jaw and then to his neck. He squeezes my thigh and Millicent clenches her jaw.

"I'm going to be sick," she snaps and she stands from the table. "Let's dance Rowland."

The boy follows her as she stomps off and I pull away from Draco with a smirk on my face. Mission accomplished. I go to take a drink from my glass, but Draco takes it out of my hand and pulls me onto his lap.

"I don't think so," he says as I look at him in surprise for the movement. "You have to finish what you started now," he says darkly as he grabs the back of my head and presses his lips against mine.

I didn't even care that we were in public. I don't know what came over me, but I didn't even try to stop the kiss. I even unbuttoned a the first few buttons on his shirt so I could put my hand on his chest as his hand slithered up my thigh. I guess I was just having a bad day and I wanted to feel good.

"Well, this is always a good time."

"Go away," Draco said against my lips when Blaise came back to the table. "Now," he demands as I bite his ear lobe.

Blaise does walk away but I don't spare him another thought as I let myself get carried away in the kiss. "Let's go back to my place," Draco whispers after a few moments. "Get you out of this ridiculous dress."

There are so many things that could happen if I agreed to go back with him.

One of them being sex.

I definitely wanted to have sex with him, but I've never had sex and that was such a big move. My head knew it was a bad idea, but my body was all on board.

"Are you my boyfriend?" I asked, my lips burning with kisses. It sounded like a stupid question when I said it out loud, but I needed to know.

He smirks. "Do you want me to be?"

"Do you want to be?" I counter because I don't want it all on me.

"I think you know the answer to that," he says and then kisses me again. "Let's see," he says between kisses. "On a scale of one to ten... how much to you like me?"

I hesitate. "I would say a ten, I guess."

"You guess?" he says as he moves to my neck. Oh my god, I love it when he kisses my neck.

"On a scale of one to ten how much do you like me?" I ask back.

"Fifteen," he says without missing a beat and I smile. "Come on," he says as he urges me off his lap so he can stand up. "Let's get out of here."

I take his hand and let him pull me to my feet, but as we're walking away from the booth, Pansy comes running up to us, looking panicked.

"Oh, my god," she says, halfway out of breath and looking terrified. "Ginny, your Mom is here."

"What?" my voice was flat and with out humor. "That's not funny," I say seriously and she shakes her head.

"No, I'm fucking serious. She's talking to one of the bartenders now looking for you."

"How would she know you were here?" Draco asks and I grip the charm necklace again. She totally tracked me.

"Here," I say as I quickly take off the necklace and I hand it to her. It was so stupid of me to wear it out. My stupid childish fears are nothing compared to my mother's wrath. "Wear this, when she tracks it, tell her I let you borrow it for the day to go with your outfit or something. Tell her you work at Folk Hills as well," I say in a panic as I run over to the railing and look down at the bar.

My mother sticks out like a sore thumb in her house coat and sensible shoes. That, and the fact that she's the only middle aged person here makes her very noticeable.

"Is there a back way?" I ask because to use the front door, I'd have to pass her and that's risky.

"Of course there is," Draco answers me as Pansy puts on my necklace. "Come with me," he says as he takes my hand and starts walking me towards a hidden door on the second level. Once it's opened we run down the fire escape as he reaches for his wand.

"She is going to kill me," I say as he puts his arm around my waist. "She is going to murder me and I will never see the light of day again."

"Just lie successfully," Draco says before Apparating us away.

Of course, he did know where we lived and we landed a few yards outside of the gate that surrounds my house. It's raining as well and I would scream in frustration if I had the time.

Paper dress + Rain = disaster.

"I'll see you later," I tell Draco as I hop the fence and try to hold the dress together so it doesn't fall and reveal my underwear to the world.

I don't even bother to look over my shoulder as I run towards the house and go to the side that has my room. I need to climb because I know my father has to be home, so I tear off the rest of the stupid dress that's slipping off, leaving me in my bra and knickers as I start to climb up the siding, using the drain pipe and various damage holes in the side of our house as leverage. It was hard getting my window open, but once inside, I threw on an old sleep t-shirt and ran over to my bed, huddling under the covers and pulling my notebook to me so I could pretend to write if my father or mother came in.

An hour later, I hear the front door open and I flip on my stomach and open the notebook with my heart hammering in my chest.

I listen to footsteps as they come up the stairs and down the hallway, and I take in a deep breath when they open my door.

"Where have you been?" My mother accuses with my father hot on her heels.

"What do you mean?" I ask as I sit up and put my notebook on my lap.

She holds up the necklace and I try to look confused. "I followed this to an adult club in the city," she says in anger and I furrow my brows.

"I let Pansy borrow it tonight," I lie through my teeth as she walks further into the room, trying to find evidence of my misdeeds. "I didn't think you would mind."

"I checked your room, Ginevra," she says as she glares at me. "You weren't here."

"I was in the attic," the next lie comes quickly enough. "I was looking for something to write about," I tell them as I hold up my notebook.

"See Molly," My father says, finally finding his voice as he steps around my mother. "A reasonable explanation. You know our Ginny wouldn't sneak out and go to a club of all places."

My poor father and all his hope in me... I almost feel bad.

Mom glares at me for a few moments and then she looks at my Dad. I can see the wheels turning in her head and her resolve melts a little.

"You were in the attic?" she asks and I nod my head like a good liar. After a few moments she sighs and walks over to me, handing me the necklace as she kisses the top of my head. "Don't loan this out with out telling me. You nearly gave me a panic attack."

"I'm sorry, Mom," I admit as she steps back and watches me with her hands on her hips.

"Alright," she says with a head nod. "You should go to sleep now. It's after twelve."

"Yes," I say with a head nod.

"Night Ginny Bean," Dad says to me and I roll my eyes as they walk out of my room, shutting my door and turning off my light like I was a child again.

Once they're gone, I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding and I lay back against my pillows with the necklace still clutched in my hand. I let the metal slide through my fingers for a few moments before I sit up and throw it against the wall. Stupid thing and stupid tracker on it! I'm never wearing that again after that embarrassing display from my mother.

I try to fall asleep, but I just can't. I end up staring at my ceiling for hours, but I jump when I hear something tapping against the window. I find it's just an owl, a beautiful owl that belongs to Draco and I get up from my bed and open my window. It's not carrying a note and as soon the window is open, it flies off. I crane my neck to see were it's going and that's when I spot Draco standing on the other side of the fence. When the owl reaches him, it lands on one of the posts and Draco pets it's feathers before it flies off. He looks up at me and I give him a wave to let him know that I see him. He makes a motion for me to come down to him, but I don't want to go outside and risk it, so I chew on my lower lip until a thought strikes me. I hold up my finger to signal for him to wait and he nods his head before I run out of my room.

My parents are asleep and I try to be quiet as I tip toe into their room and sneak over to their chest of drawers. I know this is only for emergencies, but I don't care. Not right now. My father snores loudly and turns in his sleep and I pause a panicked second before opening the top drawer and digging through their socks until I find the small piece of paper that I'm looking for.

I gently unfold it and see the password written by our secret keeper and I smile to myself before creeping out of their bedroom and running back towards my own room. I close my door and lock it before running over to the window. I whistle for our barn own and the old sad thing comes stumbling to me like a drunk man.

I give it the bit of parchment and point to Draco. "Give it to him," I tell him and it flies off, nearly running into a tree before landing on the post by Draco and giving him the password. I watch as Draco reads it and then says the word out loud. My parents have always had that piece of paper in that drawer for as long as I can remember. People can't come onto our property without permission from my parents, or a password written or given from the secret keeper. My parents had it there just in case us kids needed it.

I doubt they would appreciate me using it for my boyfriend who's a Malfoy.

I watch with a smile as he hops the fence and jogs over to my window. He looks at the drain pipe and then up at me.

"You have to climb," I say down to him in a loud whisper and he makes a disagreeable face before doing just that.

He's better at it than me, actually, and he makes it to my window in two seconds.

"That wasn't so hard," he mutters as he climbs through my window and then he kisses me once he finds his footing. "Forgive me for the late night call, but I couldn't sleep."

"Me either," I admit as I walk towards my bed. He follows.

"Are you in much trouble?" he asks seriously and I shake my head .

"I convinced them that I was here the whole time."

"I'm proud of you," he says with a smirk as he starts unbuckling his belt.

"Uh, what are you doing?" I ask carefully as he pulls his shirt over his head and he heels out of his shoes.

"Getting ready for bed obviously," he says like I was stupid and I shake my head.

"You can't actually sleep here," I point out as he lets his pants drop, leaving him in his boxers and an undershirt. "My parents are home."

"Lock your door," he says with a shrug as he places his things on my dresser.

"They have wands. They can unlock doors," I say seriously and he rolls his eyes before fishing through his pocket and taking out his own.

"I have a wand too," he says as he points it to the door and he swishes his wand a few times. The door glows yellow before settling back to it's original color.

"What did you just do?" I ask and he glances at me as he puts his wand on my night stand.

"No wand but mine can unlock that door now, so we'll have plenty of time to fix things if your parents come knocking."

As he slips into my bed, I'm finally hit with the realization of the situation. He's in my bed, half naked and I was pretty much all over him earlier. Is he expecting something?

"Hey, come here," he says as he pulls me down until I'm laying beside him and he arranges the covers until we're both comfortably under them. "Your bed is small," he says as he kisses my forehead.

I pause a second before wrapping my arm around his torso and pulling my head on his shoulder. "Yes, I know," I say and then I hear him yawn. It makes me yawn as well. "Goodnight," I say, suddenly I do feel tired. I guess my mind is slowing down.

"Goodnight," I hear his voice rumble against his chest and I close my eyes.

When I turn around, he turns as well and molds himself behind me. It's nice to be held and I'm kind of glad he's not trying to do anything with me. I think that just makes me believe it more that he actually likes me. It makes me like him even more, to be honest.

After an hour his breathing evens out and I eventually allow myself to fall asleep as well.

I have another dream. A vivid dream like when I was younger and I find myself in the forbidden forest with blood on my hands. Of course, Draco shows up in my dream again, looking regal and handsome all dressed in black and he smirks at me as I try to wash the blood off.

"I've always liked you in red," he says.

The blood won't wash out no matter how hard I scrub.

"Harder," he says and I look at him. "You have to work harder if you want the blood to come out."

I started crying, and then I was laughing, and then I was having sex with Draco again.

When I wake up, I feel a hand between my legs and I crack my eyes open as his fingers slip under my knickers.

"What are you doing?" I whisper in a voice thick with sleep, still in that foggy state between sleeping and waking.

He kisses my cheek and I feel him smile against my skin.

"Judging by this," he says as he moves his fingers against my arousal. "Someone had a good dream."

I don't know if good is what I would call it.

"But," he says as he leans up on his elbow with his free hand. "I can make it a whole lot better," he says before rolling on top of me.

"This time," he says as he kisses my lips. "I'm going to teach you something new."

I was pretty tired, but that woke me up.

He is far too attractive for his own good.
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Envy and Manipulations