A/N: redone as of 11/29/05 with great help from a great beta, Amber from Checkmated!
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Chapter 5: Making Friends
Had anyone ever told Draco Malfoy that he’d be staying with the Weasley family for any length of time and, more importantly, be enjoying such a stay, he’d have thought them completely mental.
But, for the past week, he had been feeling better and was actually having a good time playing cards and chess with Ginny in the afternoons. He still threw out his sarcasm and insults as they came to him, but Ginny always had a quick bite in return. He was mildly civil to Harry and Ron, had even nodded to Hermione--though he refused to speak to her.
Draco’s past year at school had been nothing but stressful and lonely. He’d worked so hard, fearing for his life as well as the lives of his mother and father. He’d lost weight, gone even more pale than usual, and had worn large dark circles under his eyes. He couldn’t help but notice how lately, when he looked in the mirror, his face was more alive and had more color. And fuller, no doubt, from the wonderful food the Weasley mom was feeding him.
Malfoy ventured out into the garden one sunny afternoon about a week after he’d arrived at the Burrow. He was glad to be up and about.
He found Ginny flying through the air on a swing hung from a huge oak. He couldn’t help but smile as her long red waves flew threw the air, her eyes closed in childish pleasure.
Draco hobbled to the nearest bench and sat, just watching. When she finally became aware of his presence, she blushed and slowed her speed on the swing.
“Hi. So you’re up, eh? Feeling better?”
“Yeah. I thought a bit of fresh air would be nice. I saw you from the window and… well I thought you looked like you were having fun. I figured I’d come muck things up for you.” He gave a sardonic laugh that they both knew he didn’t mean.
“Oh, you can try, Malfoy, but it’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, and it’s only a few more days until Bill and Fleur’s wedding. Then, she is out of this house and they are on their honeymoon, and I could not be looking forward to anything more!” Ginny beamed as she hopped off the swing and sauntered past him, patting his shoulder as she did.
At her touch, his face froze. Her touch was so warm and tingling! He shook off the feeling and settled back into the bench, wishing he were quite well enough to fly on his broom, which wasn’t here.
“Malfoy?” Ginny began, as she slowly turned back to him.
“Yeah?”
“Would you like me to bring something out here for you? Something to drink or a game or something?”
“Nah. I just wanted to be outside,” he sighed, looking into the bright summer sky. Ginny lingered for a minute before heading back to the house. “Don’t leave on my account,” he called after her.
“Oh no… I just…”
“You could stay and talk, you know. I won’t bite.”
Ginny started back towards him, a puzzled look on her face. “You want to talk? Is that it?”
“No… well, yes, I suppose.” He searched for something to say in response. He didn’t want her to leave but for Merlin’s sake what would he have to talk to her about if they weren’t playing cards or something?
Ginny plopped down on the ground in front of him, her chocolate eyes twinkling. She was just wearing some Muggle t-shirt and a pair of shorts, and her hair was loose and wind blown but Malfoy wasn’t sure if he’d ever seen a more beautiful girl.
* * *
Ginny noticed how lively Malfoy was beginning to look and had to admit the boy was actually quite handsome. Of course, many girls she knew thought so but he’d always been the dreaded enemy, the bane of her and her friends’ existence. No one could ever know she found him the least bit attractive. That simply would not do.
“There are some things I need to know,” Malfoy began, “about what is going on. I thought Harry was supposed to show me something or--”
“Yeah,” Ginny looked down. Clueing Malfoy in was just one in a long list of things Harry needed to do. “See the thing is,” Ginny stopped short. “I’ll make sure he tells you soon. There are things you need to know--things that might change your mind about… well about a lot of things.”
“Could you be any more vague?” Malfoy snapped. She figured that he’d have little patience for her stalling, so she considered his comment and decided that telling him what she knew wouldn’t hurt.
“All I know is that the Death Eaters think you’re dead. They wanted you dead. Voldemort is really a half-blood himself and he just hates Muggles because of what his father did to his mum and--”
Malfoy cut her off. “Wait. Volde--he’s a what?”
“Oh. He’s a..... a half-blood," she repeated cautiously.
“What? How could you possibly--”
“I know because I’ve read his diary.” Ginny got up and began to pace. “I opened the Chamber of Secrets my first year. I was duped into it by--” She suddenly thought better of telling Malfoy something bad about his father given the current situation. “Well, it doesn’t matter. When I read the diary, he sort of came alive and showed me his memories. And, Harry has some of his memories too. Memories that explain how messed up Voldemort was-- is. I don’t know how he ever got this big following but…” she paused.
Malfoy looked simply dumbstruck. He kept shaking his head.
“Are you trying to tall me that every thing I have been brought up to believe has basically been a lie? That… half-blood…he-- I…my father--” Malfoy buried his head in his hands.
Ginny thought it possible that he could be crying but when he raised his head, she saw the naked anger mirrored in his impossibly red face. He stood, towering menacingly over her.
“So I guess you’re proud of yourself, eh? Being the one to let it slip to me that everything I’ve stood for, everything I’ve ever believed, is a big lie and I’m a complete idiot?” He glared at her, causing her to take a step back, and then turned and headed feebly for the house.
Ginny rushed to him, offering him her arm to help him inside.
“I don’t need your help. You’ve done enough,” he said, shaking off her arm.
* * *
Ginny was miserable. She hadn’t meant to sound like she was trying to make a fool him. She told Harry about her conversation with Malfoy as soon as he returned.
“Well, this is why I’ve put off telling him. I knew he wouldn’t take it easily and, to be honest, it probably would have been worse coming from me,” Harry sighed, as they sat together in the garden, where she had sat earlier with Malfoy, watching the sun set.
“I shouldn’t have told him a thing. It wasn’t my place,” Ginny shook her head, guilt pawing at her insides.
“It’s OK, Gin. Think how you would feel if someone told you that basically everything you’d ever been told was rubbish?”
Ginny pondered this and nodded. “Yeah, I reckon I wouldn’t be so thrilled.”
“So… I’d better go and finish the job, eh?” Harry sighed. Ginny nodded, and he got up and headed into the house.
* * *
Ginny heard the whole thing. Not like she was trying, but Malfoy’s window was open and… well, it couldn’t be avoided. Voices had risen, insults been thrown, and Harry had no doubt shown Malfoy nearly all he needed to know. When it was over, Harry had come down and sat with her in the garden, quietly re-telling the encounter.
“May I have a word?” asked a voice from behind them. Ginny turned to see Malfoy, looking defeated and a little haunting in the moonlight. “With Ginny, alone.”
Harry raised his eyebrows, but Ginny nodded to him that it was OK. Harry got up to leave, giving each of them one last puzzled look before closing the kitchen door.
Ginny patted the seat beside her. “I’m so sorry,” she said, as he sat down. “I shouldn’t--”
“No. I shouldn’t have gotten mad at you. At least you had the guts to tell me. Potter’d probably still not have told me anything if it weren’t for you,” Malfoy spat.
“I know it wasn’t the easiest thing to hear but I just--”
“It’s okay,” he looked at her intently. “I think deep down I’ve probably always known that something was wrong… something was off.”
Ginny sighed and looked back into his dark grey eyes, trying to look deeper to see if there really was new person there. When Harry’s call of “Dinner!” rent the still night air, she still wasn’t sure what she saw in his eyes, but, whatever it was, it wasn’t evil or malevolent.
When Harry called a second time, Ginny smiled shyly at Malfoy and nodded her head towards the kitchen.
“Shall we?” Malfoy nodded, smiling slightly back. They started towards the kitchen and Malfoy softly took her arm.
“I need to work on being more mobile… get some exercise, you know?” Ginny nodded. “Would you,” he paused, gathering his thoughts, “like to accompany me on a walk tomorrow?”
Ginny smiled. “Sure.” She hoped she wasn’t blushing.
* * *
It had been a pleasant evening. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione had taken Malfoy aside after dinner and caught him up on the state of things and what had really happened over the past few years. Malfoy seemed disgusted with his family and what they had done, especially with Ginny and the diary, and he confessed that his attempts on Dumbledore’s life had been half-hearted and foolish--he chalked it up to being desperate to saving his family, particularly his mother, and his own life. No one could blame him for that. He was still young, and coming face to face with the Dark Lord had been something completely terrifying for him. That much Ginny certainly could appreciate.
Malfoy had gone to bed looking more tired than Ginny had ever seen him, but he did remind her about their walk. He had said he would like to do it early, before it got too hot.
The next morning, Ginny showered off and put her hair up. She dressed casually, not wanting to look like she was trying to look too nice for a walk. She told her mum what she was going to do and Mrs. Weasley actually looked pleased.
“I think that sounds nice, dear. You just stick close. You can’t go too far, you know--watch for the borders of our land. You’re protected as long as you are inside them.”
Ginny nodded and ate her breakfast as she waited for Malfoy to join her. Ron, Harry and Hermione were still in bed. Mrs. Weasley said those three had stayed up quite late discussing the new “developments” in Malfoy’s understanding of things and figuring out where they needed to go from here. Not for the first time, Ginny felt both a pang of anger and a wave of relief that she wasn’t included in on those meetings.
Malfoy descended the stairs into the kitchen looking tired and a bit pale, but not limping as badly. He gave Mrs. Weasley a small smile, as though he wasn’t sure how to act. “Good morning,” he said quietly.
“Good morning. Help yourself to some breakfast, young man,” Mrs. Weasley smiled warmly.
“Feeling up to a walk this morning?” he asked, tucking into some sausage.
“I am if you are,” Ginny said, finishing her breakfast and scooting her chair back from the table. “I’ll be outside when you’re done, okay?”
Ginny needed to get some fresh air and clear her head. She’d thought about Malfoy in a different light since last night. She was sure it was just pity, but, for whatever reason, her thoughts of him were bothering her. Well, not so much her thoughts as her dreams.
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Chapter 5: Making Friends
Had anyone ever told Draco Malfoy that he’d be staying with the Weasley family for any length of time and, more importantly, be enjoying such a stay, he’d have thought them completely mental.
But, for the past week, he had been feeling better and was actually having a good time playing cards and chess with Ginny in the afternoons. He still threw out his sarcasm and insults as they came to him, but Ginny always had a quick bite in return. He was mildly civil to Harry and Ron, had even nodded to Hermione--though he refused to speak to her.
Draco’s past year at school had been nothing but stressful and lonely. He’d worked so hard, fearing for his life as well as the lives of his mother and father. He’d lost weight, gone even more pale than usual, and had worn large dark circles under his eyes. He couldn’t help but notice how lately, when he looked in the mirror, his face was more alive and had more color. And fuller, no doubt, from the wonderful food the Weasley mom was feeding him.
Malfoy ventured out into the garden one sunny afternoon about a week after he’d arrived at the Burrow. He was glad to be up and about.
He found Ginny flying through the air on a swing hung from a huge oak. He couldn’t help but smile as her long red waves flew threw the air, her eyes closed in childish pleasure.
Draco hobbled to the nearest bench and sat, just watching. When she finally became aware of his presence, she blushed and slowed her speed on the swing.
“Hi. So you’re up, eh? Feeling better?”
“Yeah. I thought a bit of fresh air would be nice. I saw you from the window and… well I thought you looked like you were having fun. I figured I’d come muck things up for you.” He gave a sardonic laugh that they both knew he didn’t mean.
“Oh, you can try, Malfoy, but it’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, and it’s only a few more days until Bill and Fleur’s wedding. Then, she is out of this house and they are on their honeymoon, and I could not be looking forward to anything more!” Ginny beamed as she hopped off the swing and sauntered past him, patting his shoulder as she did.
At her touch, his face froze. Her touch was so warm and tingling! He shook off the feeling and settled back into the bench, wishing he were quite well enough to fly on his broom, which wasn’t here.
“Malfoy?” Ginny began, as she slowly turned back to him.
“Yeah?”
“Would you like me to bring something out here for you? Something to drink or a game or something?”
“Nah. I just wanted to be outside,” he sighed, looking into the bright summer sky. Ginny lingered for a minute before heading back to the house. “Don’t leave on my account,” he called after her.
“Oh no… I just…”
“You could stay and talk, you know. I won’t bite.”
Ginny started back towards him, a puzzled look on her face. “You want to talk? Is that it?”
“No… well, yes, I suppose.” He searched for something to say in response. He didn’t want her to leave but for Merlin’s sake what would he have to talk to her about if they weren’t playing cards or something?
Ginny plopped down on the ground in front of him, her chocolate eyes twinkling. She was just wearing some Muggle t-shirt and a pair of shorts, and her hair was loose and wind blown but Malfoy wasn’t sure if he’d ever seen a more beautiful girl.
* * *
Ginny noticed how lively Malfoy was beginning to look and had to admit the boy was actually quite handsome. Of course, many girls she knew thought so but he’d always been the dreaded enemy, the bane of her and her friends’ existence. No one could ever know she found him the least bit attractive. That simply would not do.
“There are some things I need to know,” Malfoy began, “about what is going on. I thought Harry was supposed to show me something or--”
“Yeah,” Ginny looked down. Clueing Malfoy in was just one in a long list of things Harry needed to do. “See the thing is,” Ginny stopped short. “I’ll make sure he tells you soon. There are things you need to know--things that might change your mind about… well about a lot of things.”
“Could you be any more vague?” Malfoy snapped. She figured that he’d have little patience for her stalling, so she considered his comment and decided that telling him what she knew wouldn’t hurt.
“All I know is that the Death Eaters think you’re dead. They wanted you dead. Voldemort is really a half-blood himself and he just hates Muggles because of what his father did to his mum and--”
Malfoy cut her off. “Wait. Volde--he’s a what?”
“Oh. He’s a..... a half-blood," she repeated cautiously.
“What? How could you possibly--”
“I know because I’ve read his diary.” Ginny got up and began to pace. “I opened the Chamber of Secrets my first year. I was duped into it by--” She suddenly thought better of telling Malfoy something bad about his father given the current situation. “Well, it doesn’t matter. When I read the diary, he sort of came alive and showed me his memories. And, Harry has some of his memories too. Memories that explain how messed up Voldemort was-- is. I don’t know how he ever got this big following but…” she paused.
Malfoy looked simply dumbstruck. He kept shaking his head.
“Are you trying to tall me that every thing I have been brought up to believe has basically been a lie? That… half-blood…he-- I…my father--” Malfoy buried his head in his hands.
Ginny thought it possible that he could be crying but when he raised his head, she saw the naked anger mirrored in his impossibly red face. He stood, towering menacingly over her.
“So I guess you’re proud of yourself, eh? Being the one to let it slip to me that everything I’ve stood for, everything I’ve ever believed, is a big lie and I’m a complete idiot?” He glared at her, causing her to take a step back, and then turned and headed feebly for the house.
Ginny rushed to him, offering him her arm to help him inside.
“I don’t need your help. You’ve done enough,” he said, shaking off her arm.
* * *
Ginny was miserable. She hadn’t meant to sound like she was trying to make a fool him. She told Harry about her conversation with Malfoy as soon as he returned.
“Well, this is why I’ve put off telling him. I knew he wouldn’t take it easily and, to be honest, it probably would have been worse coming from me,” Harry sighed, as they sat together in the garden, where she had sat earlier with Malfoy, watching the sun set.
“I shouldn’t have told him a thing. It wasn’t my place,” Ginny shook her head, guilt pawing at her insides.
“It’s OK, Gin. Think how you would feel if someone told you that basically everything you’d ever been told was rubbish?”
Ginny pondered this and nodded. “Yeah, I reckon I wouldn’t be so thrilled.”
“So… I’d better go and finish the job, eh?” Harry sighed. Ginny nodded, and he got up and headed into the house.
* * *
Ginny heard the whole thing. Not like she was trying, but Malfoy’s window was open and… well, it couldn’t be avoided. Voices had risen, insults been thrown, and Harry had no doubt shown Malfoy nearly all he needed to know. When it was over, Harry had come down and sat with her in the garden, quietly re-telling the encounter.
“May I have a word?” asked a voice from behind them. Ginny turned to see Malfoy, looking defeated and a little haunting in the moonlight. “With Ginny, alone.”
Harry raised his eyebrows, but Ginny nodded to him that it was OK. Harry got up to leave, giving each of them one last puzzled look before closing the kitchen door.
Ginny patted the seat beside her. “I’m so sorry,” she said, as he sat down. “I shouldn’t--”
“No. I shouldn’t have gotten mad at you. At least you had the guts to tell me. Potter’d probably still not have told me anything if it weren’t for you,” Malfoy spat.
“I know it wasn’t the easiest thing to hear but I just--”
“It’s okay,” he looked at her intently. “I think deep down I’ve probably always known that something was wrong… something was off.”
Ginny sighed and looked back into his dark grey eyes, trying to look deeper to see if there really was new person there. When Harry’s call of “Dinner!” rent the still night air, she still wasn’t sure what she saw in his eyes, but, whatever it was, it wasn’t evil or malevolent.
When Harry called a second time, Ginny smiled shyly at Malfoy and nodded her head towards the kitchen.
“Shall we?” Malfoy nodded, smiling slightly back. They started towards the kitchen and Malfoy softly took her arm.
“I need to work on being more mobile… get some exercise, you know?” Ginny nodded. “Would you,” he paused, gathering his thoughts, “like to accompany me on a walk tomorrow?”
Ginny smiled. “Sure.” She hoped she wasn’t blushing.
* * *
It had been a pleasant evening. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione had taken Malfoy aside after dinner and caught him up on the state of things and what had really happened over the past few years. Malfoy seemed disgusted with his family and what they had done, especially with Ginny and the diary, and he confessed that his attempts on Dumbledore’s life had been half-hearted and foolish--he chalked it up to being desperate to saving his family, particularly his mother, and his own life. No one could blame him for that. He was still young, and coming face to face with the Dark Lord had been something completely terrifying for him. That much Ginny certainly could appreciate.
Malfoy had gone to bed looking more tired than Ginny had ever seen him, but he did remind her about their walk. He had said he would like to do it early, before it got too hot.
The next morning, Ginny showered off and put her hair up. She dressed casually, not wanting to look like she was trying to look too nice for a walk. She told her mum what she was going to do and Mrs. Weasley actually looked pleased.
“I think that sounds nice, dear. You just stick close. You can’t go too far, you know--watch for the borders of our land. You’re protected as long as you are inside them.”
Ginny nodded and ate her breakfast as she waited for Malfoy to join her. Ron, Harry and Hermione were still in bed. Mrs. Weasley said those three had stayed up quite late discussing the new “developments” in Malfoy’s understanding of things and figuring out where they needed to go from here. Not for the first time, Ginny felt both a pang of anger and a wave of relief that she wasn’t included in on those meetings.
Malfoy descended the stairs into the kitchen looking tired and a bit pale, but not limping as badly. He gave Mrs. Weasley a small smile, as though he wasn’t sure how to act. “Good morning,” he said quietly.
“Good morning. Help yourself to some breakfast, young man,” Mrs. Weasley smiled warmly.
“Feeling up to a walk this morning?” he asked, tucking into some sausage.
“I am if you are,” Ginny said, finishing her breakfast and scooting her chair back from the table. “I’ll be outside when you’re done, okay?”
Ginny needed to get some fresh air and clear her head. She’d thought about Malfoy in a different light since last night. She was sure it was just pity, but, for whatever reason, her thoughts of him were bothering her. Well, not so much her thoughts as her dreams.
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