sonnet29

Ginny was feeling a bit guilty about what she had done by the next morning. Just a bit though. It all seemed to
go down at once. Almost everyone was seated for breakfast. Ron and Hermione were chatting quietly while
Ginny and Harry kept sneaking peeks at the doors. Lily, Dawn, and Draco had yet to arrive.

Just as the three most talked about Slytherins entered, two owls swooped into the great hall. One dropped a
letter before Ron, the other dropped one before Ginny. She stared. It was a snow white envelope that smelled
of... flowers?

She would wait though, curious as she was, because the red envelope before Ron was already starting to
smoke. He eyed it with horror. Everyone was mumbling to themselves that Weasley had gotten a howler. Ron
hadn't gotten one since the car incident his second year.

"Better open it, Ron." Neville Longbottom whispered nervously.

Ron grasped the message and broke the seal wondering what on earth his mother could be mad at him for.
But it wasn't Molly Weasley's voice that shook the stained glass windows of the great hall.

It was Ginny's.

"RONALD WEASLEY! HOW DARE YOU STEAL MY MAIL! I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED! NEVER
BEFORE HAVE I BEEN SO ANGRY AT A BROTHER OF MINE! OF ALL THE LOW AND DISGUSTING
THINGS TO DO!"

Dust shook itself from the ceiling.

"HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME SO MISERABLE! I THOUGHT DRACO WAS USING ME! I ACTUALLY
ACCUSED HIM OF IT! AND YOU JUST STOOD THERE! I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS! NEVER!"

Harry was staring at Ron with his jaw dropped in horror. Had Ron really done this? The redhead had moved
past pale and was turning a sickly green. Harry would have been too. The venom in Ginny's magnified voice
was terrible.

"AFTER ALL THAT HE'S BEEN THROUGH, AND YOU MAKE HIM THINK I'VE ABANDONED HIM AS
WELL! FOR SHAME! IF I WANT TO BE WITH DRACO BLEEPING MALFOY THEN I WILL! IF I WANT TO
SNOG HIM OR GROPE HIM OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WILL MAKE YOUR SENSITIVE WEASLEY EARS
GO QUITE PINK THEN I WILL! AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT! HE'S MINE, DO YOU
HEAR?! MINE! AND I'M HIS! AND NOTHING SHORT OF THE RUDDY HANDS OF THE GODS WILL KEEP
ME FROM HIM! YOU GET BETWEEN US AGAIN, AND YOU WILL RUE THE DAMN DAY! MARK MY
WORDS!"

The missive tore itself up then and burst into flames.

Ron sat stunned and shaking. Ginny was looking at him with this harsh stare, and he suddenly realized he
should not have crossed his sister like that. Even if he only ever wanted her away from Malfoy. Even if he was
only worried about her because it was Malfoy. He so should not have done it, but hindsight was 20/20 when
your ears were still ringing from a howler.

"Ginny-"

She held up her hand to stop him. She was so not ready to hear a word he had to say just then. She knew why
he'd done it. She didn't need him to explain it to her. He was just worried, but in typical Ron fashion he'd gone
about in the complete wrong way.

Ginny looked to the doors where Draco was frozen and staring at her. He was flanked by Lily and Dawn who
were also staring. One of Dawn's hands was on Draco's arm for support. Then Ginny's eyes fell on the letter
before her, in its pure white envelope. The hall was very quiet. All eyes were on her as she opened it.

It drifted up into the air before her and the silk of Draco Malfoy's murmuring voice filled the hall.

"When, in disgrace with Fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf
heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in
hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possessed, Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope, With
what I most enjoy contented least, Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising, Haply I think on thee, and
then my state, Like to the lark at break of day arising, From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate; For thy
sweet love rememb'red such wealth brings, that then I scorn to change my state with kings."

It burst apart then with a bright flash of light showering the table before her with flower petals.

Ginny could barely breathe. It had been quite honestly the most beautiful thing anyone had ever done to her.
Usually she was the one making gestures and declarations. And those words, where on earth had he found
them? Who knew there was such passion in Draco Malfoy? Well, she did. Ginny just hadn't known to what
depths. His voice in that letter. It had sent shivers down her spine, and he'd declared himself to her before...
what was that muggle saying... before God and everyone. He'd laid the last thing he had before her... his
pride.

She sat very still for a moment remembering him telling his father that he was pretty sure that he loved her,
that he might ask her to marry him one day, have his children, that she was his girl and to piss off, that he saw
the Ginny and not the Weasley. That he would never have enough. That she tasted like sugar quills. And what
had she said? Oh yes, he tasted like sin. Followed by...

"Trespass sweetly urge... give me my sin again." She mumbled to herself. It was like a great light had gone off
in her brain.

Great Merlin, how could she have doubted him? It was all right there before her. What had he said last night?
Staring her blatantly in the face? Well, it was. Ginny slammed her hands on the table suddenly and pushed
herself to her feet. Everyone just watched in awe as the marched to the other end of the great hall where
Draco was standing very rigidly. She stopped about a foot before him.

"Why?"

"Why what?" He asked.

"The love letter."

"Wasn't a love letter."

She raised her eyebrows at him.

"All right, so maybe it was."

Ginny continued to stare waiting for an answer.

"Thought it might wear you down."

"Oh."

"Did it work?"

"Better than you can possibly imagine." She said a bit breathlessly.

He smirked.

"I'm sorry."

His brow furrowed. "For what?"

"Doubting you."

"Like I'm the most trustworthy fellow around. Hello Malfoy."

"You really have to stop using that excuse."

"Why? It's true."

"I will never doubt again."

Oh damn Dawn and her muggle movies. "There will never be a need."

Someone nearby actually sighed. One of those swoon-y sighs too. Draco rolled his eyes.

"It's too cute, isn't it?" Ginny whispered.

"Yes."

"The poem?"

"Shakespeare."

"Of course. The only muggle worth a damn."

He smirked at her. "There are a few more on that list now."

"I look forward to hearing about it."

"This is awkward. A bit sappy. Cute. I don't do cute very well."

"Then I suppose I should make things decidedly less cute and sappy. And awkward for everyone who's not us.
Maybe start a bit of that burning thing you spoke of last night."

"What do you-"

She cut him off with a kiss. Which considering her height and his was a mighty feat. Ginny had grabbed two
handfuls of his school robes and yanked him down to her. Draco swept her up off of her feet. Her arms locked
tightly around his neck, his wrapped around her waist. He suddenly so got what she was talking about with the
burning.

Lily gaped. They looked like they were trying to eat each other's faces. It was almost indecent. It was just like
a trashy romance novel. She was expecting Draco's shirt to be ripped off and Ginny to be thrown down on the
nearest hard surface and ravished at any moment.

Dawn noticed several of the teachers moving their way and began tapping Draco on his shoulder. He swatted
her hand away without even breaking contact. She had to admire his determination to kiss Ginny senseless.
Then again, this is all he'd been wanting to do all summer.

Spike got to them first. He pulled the two teens apart with a whoosh of air and a bizarre popping noise. Ginny
was breathing heavily, as was Draco. They were staring at each other so intently that the room seemed to rise
in temperature several degrees. Burning indeed.

"You and I are having a little chat later." Spike hissed at Draco. "Go sit, Westley." He looked at Ginny. "You
too, Buttercup."

Dawn giggled maniacally as she looped her arm through Draco's and drug him off towards the Slytherin table.
Ginny rounded the Gryffindor table and walked in time with them, her eyes on Draco, his on her, both looking
a bit... hungry. They sat down slowly - facing each other. The intensity was fairly stifling.

But soon conversations started to rise again, and no one was bothering to notice that Draco and Ginny were
still staring at one another. Harry caught Dawn's eye and winked. She grinned at him.

Lily leaned over to Draco. "Damn. Damn, I say. That was.. what do you Brits say... ah yes, that was bloody
brilliant. Shakespeare. Who knew?"

Draco finally broke eye contact with Ginny. He was feeling just the thing now. "I like Shakespeare. He was one
of the few muggles who was worth a damn. Man knew how to string his words together. You got to appreciate
a bloke who can do that."

"You know..." Dawn said rather innocently as she sprinkled some cinnamon on her steaming oatmeal. "I
thought for a moment that one of you was gonna turn the other one inside out with all the suction going on
back there."

Lily snickered.

"Well at least I wasn't having sex with Potter in the loo on the train."

Dawn slammed her hand on the table making her goblet jump. "How many times do I have to say it?! Harry
and I were NOT having sex in the bathroom!"

Then she realized she might have been a bit too loud as people were snickering and looking at her. Harry had
gone bright red. Dawn flushed and looked back down at her bowl.

Lily giggled. "I'll say this... Ginny Weasley is made of stronger stuff than I gave her credit for. How about that
note to her brother? Geez! Talk about ripping someone a new butthole."

"It's called a howler."

"You call your butthole a howler? Well, that's certainly disturbing and gross. Not to mention obviously flatulent."

Dawn choked spraying pumpkin juice everywhere. Several of the teachers were looking at the three of them
in an irritated manner. A few of the Slytherins sitting closest to them had snickered at Lily's comment.

"No, pervert girl of the vulgar, the note. The letter."

"What?"

"Note like that, it's called a howler. It's nothing to do with my asshole."

Dawn sputtered again. Draco was talking quite loudly and the teachers nearest to the Slytherin table were
shooting them harsh looks.

"You know if you don't open them they explode."

"No way." Dawn said.

"Yep."

"That is so fucking cool!" Lily said, smiling brightly. "I friggin love it here!"

They were once again getting some rather harsh glares for their loudness. Draco grinned at Lily before
looking up to see Ginny looking at him with this demure little girlie smile on her face. She was munching on a
piece of toast and looking a bit edible herself. He sighed and grinned a bit wolfishly at her.

It was very wrong for his happiness to have such stock in Ginny Weasley. But he was best mates with two
annoying little twits who were by all accounts mudbloods, so why not go for broke, no pun intended, and be
completely barking mad for Ginny? Why not be toe up, ass backwards in love with a girl who was several
inches shorter than him, related to a few someones he strongly disliked, freckled, redheaded, the complete
opposite of him in personality and demeanor, and a bloody Gryffindor to boot? Because she looked at him
like he was worth a damn. Even without the Malfoy fortune. Because it appeared she was willing to throw
caution to the wind again and allow him to get close. Very close apparently, considering that kiss. It was
foolish of him to think of her in terms of forever, but Tara was always telling him that sometimes you just
KNEW things. And he just knew about Ginny.

Ginny was about ready to melt. Obviously she was forgiven. But if Draco Malfoy didn't stop looking at her like
that, there was gonna be a Ginny-shaped puddle on the floor. She chanced a look at her brother and felt a
twinge of guilt. Ron was still pale. He hadn't touched his food. Hermione was whispering in his ear, but it didn't
seem to be having an effect.

As soon as people started leaving the great hall for their first class, Ron shoved back from the table and
stormed out rather quickly. Ginny had to run to keep up with him. Her heart would never allow her to see one
her brothers in pain, no matter how angry she was at them. He'd been very wrong, but that didn't mean she
wanted him to suffer. Not Ron.

"Ron!"

He spun around only to have to quickly catch his sister in his arms.

"You're a terrible prat, you know. I love you dearly, but stop trying to protect me from Draco. He wouldn't hurt
me."

"I just..."

"I know. That makes you a good brother, Ron. But for someone as gifted at wizard's chess as you are, you
come up with some of the worst real life strategies ever. You very nearly had me die of a broken heart."

"You like him so well then?" Ron said with a resigned sigh. "If I had know how well you fancied him, Gin, I
never would have.... well, there's no point in that, ay? I did it. I'm sorry. I just didn't realize how deep your
feelings went for... Malfoy."

"If you knew him like I do-"

Ron held up his hand. "No thank you. Ugh. I don't want his mouth anywhere near me."

"Ron." She giggled, slapping his arm playfully.

"So am I forgiven then?" He said smiling that charming smile of his.

"No." Ginny said, eyes glistening with mischief. "But it's a start. You're just lucky Draco forgives me for
thinking he was using me."

"Fair enough. I suppose I'll take what I can get. But Ginny..."

"Yes?"

"No more howlers. Please."

She giggled again.

"Bloody hell, that was worse than mum. Your future kids are in for some horror if they ever put a toe out of
line."

"Well, considering they'll probably be part Malfoy, I suspect many toes will be out of line."

"Ginny! Ick! That's SO not the image I need of my baby sister."

"I'm not a baby anymore, Ron. Best you remember it."

"Best Draco Malfoy doesn't notice it. He had been treat you respectful-like, hands in appropriate places and
all, or I'll break him."

Ginny grinned. She loved her big brother, however misguided he was at times. She wondered if he'd ever
truly accept the fact that she was toes over top for Draco Malfoy. That she had been quite attracted to him
since the evanescent troll attacked them, and he had averted his eyes in a very gentlemanly manner when she
tugged her skirt back down into its proper place, so that her panties were no longer blazing out for everyone
to see - after he had helped her to her feet. She could trace it to then.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry and Hermione caught up with Ron as they made their way to their first class... potions.

"Everything all right Ron?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, but I didn't eat anything. Now I'm starving."

Hermione grinned at him and produced a cup of pumpkin juice and two pieces of toast.

"Bloody hell. You are truly amazing, you know that right?" He said before pecking her on the cheek. "Gosh,
Mione, you're a life saver." Ron ate half of one of the pieces of toast in one bite.

Hermione was blushing very prettily at him, then she snarled. "Ron Weasley, don't think I'm not just as put out
with you as your sister is."

Ron swallowed hard. "Mione-"

"No! It was very wrong of you to do such a thing. How would you have felt if Ginny did the same to you?"

"I would never have the bad taste to write Malfoy."

"Oh!" She stormed off ahead of them.

"Mione, wait! I was only joking! I'm sorry!" Ron called as he hurried off after her trying not to spill his mug of
juice.

Harry rolled his eyes. Typical. He heard Seamus and Dean snickering about it behind him. Harry was a bit
anxious to get to class which was rather ironic considering it was potions. With Slytherin. And for the first time
EVER, Harry was greatly looking forward to potions with the Slytherins because he had just seen Dawn,
Draco and Lily enter the class. Harry sprinted ahead to catch up. He didn't even blink as he hurried past Ron
who was speaking in low tones to his angry girlfriend.

Dawn gasped as someone grabbed her arm and pulled her to a desk near the front. She looked up to see
Harry taking the seat next to her. Lily and Draco exchanged a grin as they took the desk next to them.

"The great Harry Potter smitten with a Slytherin. Never thought I'd see the day."

The four turned to see who had addressed them as Ron and Hermione entered with Dean, Neville, and
Seamus behind them.

Harry regarded Pansy Parkinson with a blank expression. "Why shouldn't I like Dawn? She's not your typical
snake. And Slytherin or not, she's still Dawn."

"No. I suppose you're right. She's not typical. No Slytherin before her was ever a mudblood."

Draco shot to his feet. "You take that back! You don't talk that way about her!"

Everyone was in awe. Draco Malfoy was defending someone being called a mudblood? When he'd said the
word so much in the past it was like he had been the one to coin it? Hermione in particular was looking at him
with the oddest look on her face.

Harry had gotten to his feet slowly. He had a feeling this was going to get ugly before it got any less volatile.
Draco Malfoy had never looked so ready to snap in his entire life.

"What's a mudblood?" Lily asked.

Pansy snorted. "You are."

That was all it took. Draco lunged at her with a snarl, but the back of his robes had been grabbed by
someone. That someone being Professor Snape. Who looked VERY put out. Professor Maclay was standing
next to him looking just as severe.

"Miss Parkinson, do refrain from such uncivilized conversation in my classroom. That's five points from
Slytherin and detention for a week." Snape said coolly as he released Draco's robes.

Pansy's face went an indignant shade of pink.

"Before you go commenting upon the pure blood of Slytherins kindly recall that certain dark wizards who
resided in this house many, many years ago were, in fact, half muggle." Snape turned to Draco. "And Mr.
Malfoy, I know you are rather protective of Misses Summers and Rosenberg, but do try to keep that temper of
yours in check."

"Yes, sir." Draco said as he slid in the chair next to Lily.

Ron, Hermione and the others piled into the desks in the row behind Harry and the Slytherin three.

"Now. Let's see how ignorant you all became over the summer." Snape said tonelessly. "Who can tell me
what the three main ingredients in a wit-sharpening potion are?"

Four hands shot into the air. The owner of each with a very serious look on their faces. Snape was a bit
shocked. Granger was a given. Rosenberg was not a great shock. The girl was whip-smart. Summers was a
bit surprising, but then again, they had just talked about this. Malfoy, however, was the one surprising him.

"Rosenberg?"

"Ground scarab beetle, cut up ginger root, and armadillo bile."

"Correct. Ten points to Slytherin. But that's not what we will be brewing today."

Snape started to stalk about the classroom.

"Professor Maclay will be making it."

He spun to face the class sharply. Neville Longbottom jumped a bit.

"To counter any ill effects of the forgetfulness potion we will be attempting today. Longbottom, I'm anticipating
you needing Professor Maclay's services in advance."

Harry sighed. You'd think Snape would have grown tired of picking on Neville Longbottom by now. It couldn't
be much of a challenge anymore. And for someone who was apparently, if the rumors were true, 'getting it' on
a regular basis, Snape sure was still with the tense and cranky.

Then Harry shook himself with a bit of revulsion. Snape and sex. He so did not need to be having those scary
thoughts this early in the day. He looked at the girl next to him and decided to think about Dawn and snogging
instead.

Had it actually gotten warm in Snape's class?

*~*~*~*

Draco's love letter is Sonnet 29 by William Shakespeare in case you didn't figure it out.