- Part 1
Charles
“Miserable old bat,” said Ron bitterly as he the crowds descending the staircases back to the Great Hall and dinner. “That’ll take all weekend, that will...”
“Lots of homework?” said Hermione brightly, as she and Charles caught up with them, with Bianca at his side. They'd heard that last bit. “Professor Vector didn’t give us any at all!”
“Well, bully for Professor Vector,” said Ron moodily.
Charles hesitated, unsure if Ron had forgiven him... as if sensing his inner turmoil, Ron sighed. "Look, Charles, I admit I am a bit angry... but I forgive you."
Charles' smile was blindingly bright as he resisted the urge to giggle giddily. Hermione rolled her eyes. "Boys."
Ron didn't comment on Bianca tagging along with them as they reached the entrance hall, which was packed with people queuing for dinner. They had just joined the end of the line when a loud voice rang out behind them.
“Weasley! Hey, Weasley!”
Charles, Ron, Hermione, and Bianca turned. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing there, each looking thoroughly pleased about something.
“What?” said Ron shortly.
“Your dad’s in the paper, Weasley!” said Malfoy, brandishing a copy of the Daily Prophet and speaking very loudly, so that everyone in the packed entrance hall could hear. “Listen to this!
FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
It seems as though the Ministry of Magic’s troubles are not yet at an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quidditch World Cup, and still unable to account for the disappearance of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh embarrassment yesterday by the antics of Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office.”
Malfoy looked up.
“Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley. It’s almost as though he’s a complete nonentity, isn’t it?” he crowed.
Everyone in the entrance hall was listening now. Malfoy straightened the paper with a flourish and read on:
"Arnold Weasley, who was charged with helping bewitch a flying motorbike two years ago, was yesterday involved in a tussle with several Muggle law-keepers (“policemen”) over a number of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr. Weasley appears to have rushed to the aid of “Mad-Eye” Moody, the aged ex-Auror who retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the difference between a handshake and attempted murder. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Weasley found, upon arrival at Mr. Moody’s heavily guarded house, that Mr. Moody had once again raised a false alarm. Mr. Weasley was forced to modify several memories before he could escape from the policemen, but refused to answer Daily Prophet questions about why he had involved the Ministry in such an undignified and potentially embarrassing scene."
“And there’s a picture, Weasley!” said Malfoy, flipping the paper over and holding it up. “A picture of your parents outside their house - if you can call it a house! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn’t she?”
Ron was shaking with fury. Everyone was staring at him.
“Get stuffed, Malfoy,” Charles spat. “C’mon, Ron...”
“Oh yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren’t you, Potter?” sneered Malfoy. “So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just the picture?”
“You know your mother, Malfoy?” Ginny suddenly said, joining in the conversation. She'd obviously been listening in the crowd as well, with her friends with her. She had her eyes narrowed on Mafoy, who suddenly went ashen. Ron stopped struggling in surprise and Hermione left the back of Ron’s robes that she had grabbed to stop him from launching himself at Malfoy. "That expression she’s got, like she’s got dung under her nose? Has she always looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?
"Where the hell d'you go off insulting my mum like that?" her voice raised when he stayed silent and didn't even berate her for insulting his mother. "You make me sick!"
And she turned on her heel and ran away, back in the direction of the dungeons. With a last glare at Malfoy, who looked thoroughly harassed, Amy and Josephine followed their friend.
After all that commotion, Ron was silent was some time, in thought. He seemed extremely confused as to what to feel. His attention was drawn by Hermione beginning to eat at top speed again.
“Don’t tell me you’re going back to the library this evening?” Charles said, watching her.
“Got to,” said Hermione thickly. “Loads to do.”
“But you told us Professor Vector-”
“It’s not schoolwork,” she said. Within five minutes, she had cleared her plate and departed. No sooner had she gone than her seat was taken by Fred Weasley.
“Moody!” he said. “How cool is he?”
“Beyond cool,” said George, sitting down opposite Fred. “Supercool,” said the twins’ best friend, Lee Jordan, sliding into the seat beside George. “We had him this afternoon,” he told Charles and Ron.
“What was it like?” Charles asked eagerly.
Fred, George, and Lee exchanged looks full of meaning.
“Never had a lesson like it,” said Fred.
“He knows, man,” said Lee.
“Knows what?” said Ron, leaning forward.
“Knows what it’s like to be out there doing it,” said George impressively.
“Fighting the Dark Arts,” said Fred.
“He’s seen it all,” said George.
“’Mazing,” said Lee.
Ron dived into his bag for his schedule. “We haven’t got him till Thursday!” he said in a disappointed voice.
Ginny
Ginny was crying and seething in her room with Amy and Josephine comforting her when Lyra entered.
"Draco's insisting that you talk to him," she said quietly. "Absolute wreck, he is... I think you should give him a last chance. They've deserted his dorm if you wanna go."
Ginny contemplated for a minute after Lyra left. On one hand, she never wanted to see him again. On the other, she wanted to talk it out, know what was going on... and she stood up.
"I'll be back," she said softly to her friends, who nodded in understanding.
As promised, the dorm was empty except for Draco, who was sitting on his bed, looking downcast. He looked up with a hopeful expression when she entered, but Ginny just folded her arms defiantly. "What, Draco?"
"I... I'm sorry," he said weakly.
Ginny blew an incredulous breath and made to turn back when he stood up. "No! I-I mean it! I'm sorry, Ginevra."
"Why did you do it?" Ginny gritted her teeth. "You also cornered Ron at the Cup. He told me everything. Why? I just need an honest answer, Drake."
Draco sighed. "Look, it's... my father's position, okay? I-it's all an act, I swear! But I have to show the Slytherins where my family stand, and I was doing it. You're very smart, Gin, and I know you understand what I'm talking about."
Ginny hesitated and bit her lip. She did understand, if only the gist. Something big was happening, something to do with You-Know-Who... and Malfoys were dark... Ginny knew she wouldn't get an answer if she pried about it, so she didn't even bother. Instead, she just took a deep breath.
"I'll forgive you," she paused, taking in his hopeful face, "On one condition."
Mafoy frowned. "Like what?"
"You won't insult any Weasleys, Potters, or Blacks. Neither directly, nor indirectly."
Ginny watched as Malfoy hesitated, and she thought he'd deny it. But then he surprised her by nodding slowly, as if the very motion caused him physical pain. "Fine. I... I won't insult the Blacks, Potters, or Weasleys. Neither directly, nor indirectly."
Ginny felt a smile spread on her face as she gave a small laugh. "I forgive you."
Draco
Draco didn't know what he was doing. He didn't know why he'd just agreed to that condition.
But the only thing that had occurred to him at the moment was that he'd do anything to see that smile on Ginvera's face. Anything to make her forgive him.
Besides, he knew it must have hurt her. He must have hurt her. He had publicly insulted her family - her mother. It was a miracle she was forgiving him, no matter that he'd explained his reasons.
Ginevra was smart; he knew that she got the gist of it. And somehow, despite her lineage, he believed her to keep his secrets. He just knew that she'd never say anything to anyone. He trusted her, he realized, more than he trusted anyone else at the moment.
In fact, she was probably his only real friend who didn't have any ulterior motives or obligations for befriending him, aside from maybe Lyra. The only person who liked him for who he really was. And Draco couldn't help the feeling of gratitude and affection that surged through him...
Ginny stepped cautiously forward and hugged him lightly, letting go so quickly that he barely had the time to process it... and then she swiftly ran out of the room.