The Watcher

NOTES: sorry late; at least a year huh? Sorry again; got back from vacation, and i want to at least finish this.

Rating: R in later chapters, and Draco/Ginny pairing.

Genre: humour/drama/romance


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Ginny Weasley couldn't believe it; she was stumped up against the wall of her room, giggling like mad. Her hands were stifling the whimpers of laughter that threatened to burst through. God, she thought - how pleasant it was to play tricks on that Slytherin boy. She really hated him, well - backtracking - maybe not exactly 'hate' as that word does incur such violent notions. Nevertheless, she wanted to do exactly that: do violent and terrible things to Draco. It was infinitely better than confronting Harry Potter and finding the green of his eyes so warily concerned; how comforting to know that the boy who lived was in his miserable cups too.

Wiping a tear from her eyes, due from the uncontrollable laughter, Ginny stretched her lips and clamped them firmly, and with swift movements - she lifted her wand and proceeded to clean up her untidy room. She didn't really have time to do it manually, having spent all that time donning the clothes of the Baron. Sneaking into the Slytherin common rooms wasn't too hard actually; though, to be sure, she was going to have to be a little more careful with Peeves roaming about. He had seen her earlier in her Baron disguise, not realizing quickly it was her - being that the jesterly ghost was too far, flying straight away the opposite direction.

When the last of the pile of clothes went into a particularly fashionable neat position, she was satisfied. Taking a deep breath, she would have to take the time to read the rest of her books as she was a bit behind on that as well. Flinging her hair back, Ginny lifted the large Hogwarts potions book with both hands, dumping them ceremoniously on her lap as she sat on her small cornered desk in the room. One look at the timer, and she was again satisfied at the length she'd have before dinner rolled around.

A half hour into her book, and her mind started wandering. With a small huff, she slammed the thick pages to the back, and her hand lifted over them. She was supremely tempted. Yes, tempted - but even the small amount of magick she used, such as tidying up her room was more than enough. Ginny knew she shouldn't use too much magick without proper supervision, such as a Professor around and only in emergency cases: considering under what rule number the urgency was. But the idea was there; she had practiced at home when her mum wasn't around. Mr. Weasley was, most of the time at the Ministry of Magicks and though, Molly was always underfoot, her mother was far too busy with the cleaning, cooking, laundering, and finding the voice to tell the twins to simmer down.

However, the thought was still there: her hand was above the book: she wanted to cast a spell in which she would learn the entire book. Absorb everything so that - so that, yes, she admitted it. She wanted to play more hideous tricks on Draco Malfoy. What has gotten into her? Her hand pulled back, only replacing the fingers over her lips. She had kissed him! Not only that - she had threatened to kiss him, then actually planted her lips on his.

Sure, she blinked back thoughtfully - sure - sure, it was only under the impression that her cover was some rickety scary ghost from the past. But even to her, this was really took the extreme.

"What has gotten into me?" She cried out loud, to no one in particular. The room didn't answer her and thank goodness - Ron wasn't around, nor was Hermione. They're probably off at Hagrid's or somewhere down in Diagon Alley being as they're a year older and would be able to go there on recesses.

"Surely," she said, muttering under her breath, "surely, I've gotten a bit daft, due to Potter's fault." That wasn't true; knowing this, but still denying it, it didn't help matters when she took great enjoyment out of it. Why...Ginny hoped Draco would be good on his revenge and try his best in getting her back. She'd be prepared for it. "He's too much of a coward." Nodding her head, her brown eyes went back to the pages of the book, "yes, he's a coward, through and through." Exhaling, Ginny pursed her lips afterward, "But, he's very clever. Wish he'd use some of that cleverness to some use and with a spine."

With that last comment to herself, she went back to studying. This time, she was able to concentrate.

xxx

That evening, Draco was sitting casually back in the dining hall; in front of him a familiar finely wrapped 'S' shaped open package: an abundance of expensive sweets that were sent to him by his doting mother. The large portion of snacks - though wasn't nutritious; however, looked awfully tempting to Crabbe who was at this moment salivating. The pale haired boy glanced over at his friend, annoyed; he pushed the plate over to him. "Go on. I think you need it." It was gratefully received with a stretched smile across the larger boy's face.

Goyle, a large slytherin boy next to them, grunted; his mouth full; thoughtfully chewing on the large piece of chicken he had just bit into. With his mouth still full, he spoke: "I wish my mum would send me sweets like that. They don't have those kind here at the kitchen." Hiis over large head nodded into the direction of the kitchens where the elves toiled away.

Still annoyed, Draco clamped down his lips, pursed, and then spoke up with aggravation in his voice: "Shut up, where the hell were you two anyway?" His long fingers tapped the hardwood table, nervously, and ripped them back away to tuck them in his immaculate green sweater pocket. The emblem of a snake glittered there as he moved, and his other hand reached up to push the stray of pale hair away from his grey eyes.

Goyle rolled his round large shoulder, still mouth full, and swallowed loudly. "Dunno. We waited for her out there, but she never showed up." With that, he got a piece of dry chicken thrown at him.

"Bloody hell! She was with me in the Slytherin's common room."

The bigger boys both perked up: Crabbe had stopped long enough to gape at him, a leer in his face and Goyle swallowed louder this time. Simultaneously: "Did you do her?"

With a horrified look, large grey eyes wide; there was a moment of shock; Malfoy gasped out. "WOT? Do her? Do her?" He repeated, as if the two were dafter than a hollow tube. "Where's both your minds at? In the gutter?" He heaved a sigh, dropping his back unto the large tall chair, folding his arms. "I would never do a blood traitor."

Crabbe nodded, resumed his eating of Malfoy's treats, saying with absolute agreement. "True, true, they're nearly bad as muggles." And as if he couldn't help himself, he said out loud as an afterthought: "but she's very pretty." Then realized what he just said, gulping. "Ops. Sorry."

He received his own piece of dry chicken which plastered on his chubby cheeks.

Goyle had to be the one to ask, finishing the last drumstick, making Draco sneer at his lack of manners. "Malfoy, how'd she get in there?"

"Hell if I know." Now it was his turn to draw his pale brows together, "But she's clever, that Weasley, i do give her credit for being smarter than her brainless brothers."

Silence greeted Malfoy and that's what he expected: he wasn't about to get any intelligent ideas from the lot of them. Though, he was already thinking up ways to get back at the little Weasley. "Listen, I need you two again. But..." he gave them a look of warning, "I really need you two to be there when I say so."

Goyle wanted to say something like, he didn't want to follow Malfoy's orders, but he knew that the Malfoy's were proper and respected among the Slytherins, among the entire pureblood community. At least in their circles. He scratched his head. "Alright, but that Ginny's kind of crafty."

"Never you mind about her ways." Draco waved his hand as if the whole affair of Ginny Weasley's powerful spells, even for hers and their years were beyond phenomenal were little more than child's play."I've got a better plan to get back at that girl."

"You going to go into the Gryffindor commons room this time to get back at her?" Crabbe piped up, taking a small break from stuffing himself. Draco winced, seeing that his sweets had almost been emptied out and was again disgusted at the way his friend ate. It was almost as bad as watching Ron Weasley go at it with his food. He wanted to tell Crabbe that he was a moron, but backtracked...the idea of a lightbulb formed into his mind, transferring it to a bright wand that loomed over him with a lumos spell.

"You're a bloody gen - ..." Draco stopped himself, was almost about to say 'genius' but his friend might get the idea that he was one which he wasn't. "Crabbe, I might just take you up on that."

His partner in crime continued to chew, throwing the last piece of delicious sweets inside his mouth. The empty expression stared back at the pale haired Slytherin.

Draco exhaled a long sigh, pulling himself up. "Alright, I'm going to need one of you to distract someone for me."

"Awww that one that again?" Goyle whined, looking out of place with that whine since his bulk body slumped against the table. "I dont know if we can swallow anything out of Professor Snapes stash."

"No," Draco sputtered. "None of that disguising nonsense. I want you as yourself."