Seven Sins and a Heart

Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to J.K. Rowling and no money is being made out of this.

Beta’d by Raisinous Fiendling.

I Lost Your Knickers, You Lost Yourself

“Get lost, Zabini, I said no!” a female voice yelled.

“Oh, but Daphne dearest, you’re the love of my life! The very air I breathe!” Zabini pleaded.

“Stop it, Zabini, can’t you see she doesn’t want you? I’m sure she’d rather go out with me, right, Miss Greengrass?” Draco turned his eyes to Daphne Greengrass who looked rather bored.

“Neither of you! Especially not you, Malfoy! You should at least act more gentlemanly! You just got lucky last night,” Daphne replied as she sat beside Pansy at the Slytherin table. Zabini, who had been drinking pumpkin juice, almost choked at her comment.

“Now, why would you say that?” Draco asked, astonished at her direct approach.

“No one but you would dare to leave a pair of his date’s knickers in the dungeons, or am I wrong, Malfoy? Didn’t that underwear belong to your latest shag?”

“Draco Malfoy! How dare you leave a girl’s precious possession lying around, for everyone to see? What in Merlin’s name has gotten into you?” Pansy interjected in a mocking voice.

“Pansy, I have absolutely no idea. What’s to become of me, now that I have lost my good manners?” Draco replied, in feign affliction.

“You shall die of sheer embarrassment,” Zabini said. “So, Daphne, my love, will you come with me to Hogsmeade, now that we have proven Mr. Malfoy to be a complete waste of your precious time?”

“No, Zabini. For the zillionth time, no, I won’t.”

“You should know when to give up, Blaise,” Pansy commented, amused.

“Ah! I shall go and hang myself!”

“Do as you wish. Just as long as you stop bothering me with your presence,” Daphne replied.

“You really don’t care about me? My well-being?”

“I believe I’ve made it clear that I do not care.”

“How Slytherin of you, not to care for the one who gives you unconditional love!”

“I reckon there was a reason I was sorted into this house.”

“There’s no way around it, then. I’ll excuse myself. Malfoy, come with me, I need firewhiskey,” Zabini demanded as he made an odd gesture with his hand to add more drama to the already ridiculous scene.

“I am sorry, ladies, it is a men’s matter.” Draco left the Great Hall with Zabini and walked to his private room. As they arrived at Draco’s room, he served two glasses of water and handed one to Zabini.

“How did you do it, mate?” Zabini suddenly asked.

“Do what?” Draco asked, confused.

“Get the Weaselette in bed.”

“Oh, that. Yes, well, I’m not sure as to how that happened. She was pretty into it before I noticed.” Now that he thought about it, why had she slept with him? She wasn’t drunk as far as he could tell and he definitely hadn’t used force.

“She just decided it would be fun to sleep with you and went for it? That doesn’t sound too convincing, you know? I’m starting to think you drugged her!”

“I would never do such a thing! And yes, that is what I’m trying to say. I am confused about the matter, too. She was… I believe the word is, horny. I have no idea what got into her, I’m just grateful for whatever it was.” Surely he was quite grateful for it all. His obsession was getting the best of him, and Draco didn’t like that at all.

“So, was she drunk?”

“I don’t think so,” Draco said, thoughtfully.

“She really likes you, then,” Zabini stated, a wide smirk spread over his face, as if he thought that was funny.

“I would hope not,” Draco sighed, not seeing where the fun was in the Weaselette liking him.

“What’s it to you, anyway? It’s her fault for falling for you, not yours.”

“Indeed, you’re right. But I’d rather think that I would like to spare her the trouble.”

“She should know better. It is you she’s dealing with, after all.” There was a pause before Zabini continued. “I take it all your sexual problems are resolved?”

“I reckon that is all settled.” It would be the apocalypse for Draco if those matters had yet to be settled. Not that he would mind another shag with the Weasley girl; but still, it wasn’t becoming of a Malfoy to be obsessed with a Muggle-lover.

“Now you’re free to shag and melt the girls’ hearts!” Zabini teased.

“For now, at least. Mother wrote to me yesterday, she asked me if I had already chosen one.” Draco was beginning to worry about what his mother had asked him. He was very far from choosing a wife and did not even so much as want one. His single life was quite good at the present.

“And you can’t exactly tell her you’re currently infatuated with a certain redhead!”

“She would die! And I’d rather she didn’t,” Draco exclaimed, horrified at the mere thought.

“Who are you thinking about, then?” Zabini asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice. But Draco doubted Zabini didn’t already know the answer to that.

“Greengrass is a good option.” Draco paused. “What was it with you and her at lunch, anyway?”

“A bet.” Zabini shrugged, as if he made bets so often that Draco shouldn’t be surprised. However, Draco was surprised, considering Zabini wasn’t usually one to go along with such a ‘plebeian act’, as the dark boy had once phrased it.

“A bet?”

“Yes, a bet,” Zabini answered, rolling his eyes at Draco.

“With who, if I may be allowed to ask?”

“Pansy. She said she’d pay me back for the stash of chocolate she stole from me last week if I could take Daphne to bed with me. Unfortunately I hadn’t realized dear Daphne is already smitten with that bloke from Ravenclaw.”

“She is? Merlin, and here I was, just about to make a proposal to her,” Draco said, cursing his bad luck on the subject. A Ravenclaw! Oh, well, I guess that’s better than a bloody Gryffindor.

“Well, I doubt she’ll refuse you.”

“I doubt her family will refuse. I’ll invite her over to the Manor during Christmas holidays. We shall see what happens then.” And Draco wasn’t really excited about the fact that she’d probably have to accept him. After all, you don’t see proposals like that everyday.

“And your mother will be pleased to know you are at least trying to find yourself a wife.” Yes, she certainly will.

“What about you?” Draco asked, suddenly curious.

“What about me?”

“Well, how’s your search for a wife going?” Draco rephrased, irritated at the fact that Zabini had tried to play dumb on him!

“I find those matters absolutely tiresome,” the other boy said casually.

“The almighty Zabini has no prospects! My, my, you don’t see that every day.” Draco smirked.

“I, unlike you, do not need to get laid with every lady in Hogwarts. One will do.”

“So you do have someone in mind.” Draco’s smirk widened, if possible.

“Let’s just say we’re shagging out of convenience. Nothing serious, really,” Zabini said, his cheeks lightly colouring and then returning to their original shade. It was an almost invisible blush, but Draco had seen it and was now very interested in the girl that made Zabini blush, even if just a little.

“But you’re not telling me who she is, so you’re either very embarrassed of her or she’s close to me. Which of the two is it?”

“You’ll never know, Malfoy,” Zabini retorted sharply.

“I’ll just have to throw guesses,” Draco said in such amusement that Zabini looked at him as though he was about to kill him.

“And I will confirm no guess of yours.” Zabini’s voice was low and dangerous, which only served to increase Draco’s amusement.

“Luna Lovegood!” Draco exclaimed, nearly snorting.

“Are you out of your mind?!” Zabini exclaimed.

“I guess not. Millicent Bulstrode,” Draco insisted.

“You know, Draco, I don’t know about you, but I am definitely not into girls who look like blokes,” Zabini said plainly as he gulped down his glass of water; Draco suspected his best mate was wishing he had given him something a little stronger.

“Myrtle.” Draco narrowed his eyes at his friend as if to make sure he wasn’t lying.

“Now, that’s just sick! You’ll never know Malfoy, give up.” Zabini’s voice was so disgusted Draco that actually thought the other boy was going to be sick.

“I’ll let the matter rest for now. I will get it out of you, Zabini. Just you see.”

“Whatever you say, Malfoy.” Zabini sighed in relief seeing Draco had given up. Well, for now, at least.

Silence filled the room once more. Both boys sat and drank their water quietly, thinking on their own worries. Draco refilled their glasses with a bottle of firewhiskey he had inside his closet.

Draco broke the silence. “She’s a good shag.”

“One would hope so, if one is to see you so eager to get her,” Zabini truthfully commented.

“I wonder if Daphne is as good as she is,” Draco continued.

“Mate, you’ve got to revise your thoughts. Any casual listener might think you’re talking about your whores.” Zabini’s voice was anything but amused and the blond boy could only wonder why.

“That’s because said casual listener has a very twisted mind,” Draco decided to answer, instead of asking what the big fuss about sleeping around was. He was a teenager and everyone knew how hormones worked!

“That would be because you practically treat them as sluts.” Ah yes, well they don’t seem to mind, do they?

“No, I don’t. I care for their reputation. I never tell a single soul who I shag.”

“Yes, but they all like to say they’ve slept with Draco Malfoy.” Draco wasn’t sure where Zabini wanted to get with all this, but he wasn’t enjoying it.

“Then it’s their fault,” Draco defended himself.

“You should at least choose one per month.”

“You’ve grown to be quite a bore, Zabini,” Draco snapped, trying to get off the topic.

“And you have grown quite careless. Honestly, mate, her knickers!”

“We could’ve stayed and looked for them. She was the one who rushed out of the room!” Draco exclaimed. It was not his fault she had decided to go without her underwear, why couldn’t anyone get that little fact?

“Well, that really is none of my business. But you might want to be careful with what you do.” Zabini’s voice had lowered and Draco knew he was no longer referring to sleeping around.

“I know. Do we have a date already?” Draco asked, a frown crossing his face.

“No, but I believe it’ll be during Christmas break.” Christmas break?! But that’s barely two weeks from now!

“Who else is to join?”

“Nott, Pansy-”

“Pansy!” Draco could not believe his ears.

“Millicent Bulstrode, too.”

“What about Greengrass?” Draco asked, wanting to know if his future wife was bound to the same fate as his.

“She won’t be joining this time. Word on the street says her mother wants her settled before she joins the Dark Lord.”

“But Pansy?” Draco couldn’t believe Pansy’s parents would allow their daughter to join the Dark Lord so early.

“You know her parents. They will gladly give her to him,” Zabini said gloomily.

“Bloody hell.” Draco couldn’t help but drink his remaining firewhiskey at once.

“Yes, well, there’s nothing to it. We should enjoy the few days of freedom we have left.” Zabini’s eyes were dark and Draco could’ve sworn he had seen a glimpse of sadness but it quickly vanished.

“No need to get that gloomy, Zabini.”

“Oh, excuse me, Malfoy; I wasn’t aware you were so thrilled by the idea!” Zabini snapped.

“I’m not. It’s just…” Draco fell silent. He didn’t know what he had meant to say.

“Yeah…I feel the same. I only wish we had more time.”

“Me, too.”

Zabini sighed and then continued in a more cheerful tone, “I’ve got a girl waiting for me!”

“I can’t believe you’re trading me for a girl!” Draco mocked him.

“I’m sorry, Malfoy. I’m just not into blokes. Sorry to disappoint you.” Zabini left the glass he was still holding on Draco’s table and left the room, leaving Draco alone with his thoughts. There were barely two weeks until Christmas break, but the whole Ginny thing had Draco completely distracted. He hadn’t thought about the Dark Lord until now.

He would receive the Dark Mark over the holidays. These are some holidays I’m not really looking forward to. He had a funny feeling in his stomach, one he had not felt since the Halloween Ball. Now that that issue was over, his former anxiety returned to him.

But today was no day to be worrying about that. He had to focus on the assignments he had neglected for so long. The library was awaiting, and for the first time in his life, Draco didn’t mind so much having to spend the whole afternoon, and probably night, at the place. He picked up his bag and headed to the library.

Four hours, and what felt like a mile of parchment, later Draco was done and exhausted. His bed was calling him, and he wasn’t willing to refuse a well-deserved nap. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be a nap turned into a profound sleep, and he missed dinner, again. His sleeping pattern was so altered, Draco was really beginning to worry.

He walked to the dungeons, not caring it was already past curfew. Entering the kitchens, he was surprised by the sight that greeted him.

“It seems the kitchens are our meeting place, Ginevra,” he said, his voice low and husky. He waited for her sarcastic remark, but it never came. In fact, she didn’t even turn around to see who had interrupted her midnight snack.

“That’s very rude, you know. You won’t even look at me? What kind of manners are those?” he said, hoping it would provoke her and make her at least turn around. She did turn around, but her gaze wasn’t meeting his.

“I’m sorry, Malfoy,” she said in a thin voice. There was no furious look in her eyes, no sarcastic reply. Draco was so taken aback by her reaction that he said nothing back and just asked the elves for some food and went back to his room. To him, it looked as if she had been crying. He didn’t know where his rush of sympathy had come from, but he simply decided to let her be for the night.

OoO

4 o’clock! What kind of people wake up at four o’clock hungry! He groaned and wondered if he could ignore his roaring stomach. He was eating like a freaking cow! He went for the kitchens, thinking he should have a stash of food for his own enjoyment to avoid the current visits to the kitchens. He could have sworn the elves were already looking weirdly at him.

And then, what was it with meeting the Weaselette every time he went there. Was she stalking him? But she couldn’t be. At least not last night…had she really been crying? If she had, why would she? Wait…why would he care? It was just the Weaselette.

As soon as he entered the kitchens, an elf approached him. “Master! Master has to take the silly girl out! She is in the way of the elves’ work. Food won’t be ready in time!”

“Which silly girl?” Draco asked, amused by the deep frown on the elf’s face.

“The red-haired one. She slept here.”

“She did? Where is she?” The elf pointed a corner in the room. Draco couldn’t believe it! She had stayed all night. On the floor! He walked towards her, noticing how beautiful she looked, lying there on her side.

He knelt near her and whispered, “Hey, Weaselette, time to wake up.”

“Ungh…go away! I wanna sleep!” she moaned and rolled on her other side.

“You’re in the kitchens! You can’t sleep here. Come on, you have to return to your tower,” Draco told her patiently while shaking her tiny body.

“No! I wanna stay here. I don’t wanna move,” she said stubbornly. Draco couldn’t help but think she looked adorable like that.

“If I carried you to your dorm, would that be okay?” his voice sounded so kind, it shocked him. She still had her eyes closed, but she reached her arms up in the air. Draco chuckled at the childish gesture, but took her in his arms.

“My, how much do you weigh?” Draco complained as her full weight rested on his arms.

“Mmm…no idea,” she mumbled sleepily, her breath ranking with the smell firewhiskey.

“So you’re drunk,” Draco stated.

“Nah! Where are we going?”

“To your room,” he answered, beginning to wonder why in Merlin’s name he had decided to take her there. The girl probably didn’t even remember her password, and even if she did, she wouldn’t be able to get in there on her own and Draco only could go as far as the portrait.

“Noo…I hate it!” she complained and stirred in his arms. Draco was already feeling the pain he would feel once he woke up.

“Oh, really? Then where do you suggest I take you?” He asked, his voice somewhat annoyed at her current state. Oh bugger, I shall make a mental note not to ever take care of drunks again!

“To the moon!” she exclaimed happily as she raised her hands up to the ceiling. Draco cursed at the noise she was making. They would be discovered if she kept her voice so loud!

“I can’t take you there,” Draco replied harshly.

“Why not? Why not? Let me down if you’re not taking me there,” she whined as she struggled in his arms.

“Hey, stop! I’m gonna fall down,” Draco scolded her as he tried to regain his balance.

“You aaareee boooring!” she whined, settling herself in Draco’s arms.

“And you’re completely wasted!” Draco said between gritted teeth.

“I’m not!”

“Yes, you are,” Draco said, nearly losing the few strings of patience he had left.

Ginny didn’t answer back; she looked as if she had fallen asleep again. Marvellous! Just what I needed!

“Hey, wake up!” he tried, but she was far gone and no one could wake her up.

“Bloody hell…” Draco was now stuck with Ginevra Weasley of all people! He had to feel sympathy for her!

“I’m going to take you to my room…not that you are going to decline or anything...I’m just saying it, so that I can say I did warn you…Blimey, you’re getting heavy!” He sighed and changed his course. She could sleep in his bed, and he…that couch in the common room seemed just fine for this one night.

A/N: Please R&R!! Yet again, if you haven't read A/N of chapter three, I encourage you to do so! Oh the pain of this last writen chapter! I trully fear this is heading nowhere...except of course I already have the ending planned, but I just don't know how to get there...oh the pain! But you know what would really ease the pain and allow me to write some more? You got it! More reviews! LOL I must seem like a pathetic old lady asking for alms, except instead of money, I'm begging for reviews...well, what the hell, an author needs the proper encouragement!