The importance of Being Virginia

Chapter SEVEN: Secrets and Slytherins







Virginia walked nervously into the camp. She'd spent the last eleven months training to be an auror and now here she was, on the battlefield. She'd been pleasantly surprised when Draco had told her he was also going to be an auror. Unfortunately they hadn't seen much of each other, although they wrote frequently. A few months ago, Voldemort had decided he was sick of hiding and had started his war. The various attacks on muggles and wizards alike, had convinced the Ministry that it was time to fight back. As a result there were hundreds of camps just like this one, spread about England. They hadn't been told which camp they would be going to until the last minute. She hadn't had time to owl Draco, but she hoped his camp was near hers. A large percentage of the seventh years had signed up to be aurors, so she hoped that there would be people there she knew. She saw a group of people, sitting around a campfire, and went to ask them which tent was hers. A man with sandy blond hair and blue eyes offered to show her. She was surprised when halfway there, he turned to her and said," So you're Ginny Weasley, I suppose you don't remember me?"

"No, I'm sorry. Well come to think of it you do look familiar." Her mind raced, but she couldn't place the face with a name.

"If it helps, you knocked me off my broom one summer when I was visiting the burrow. You were mad because I said you were to young to play quidditch with us. Afterwards you bandaged my knee, all the while saying it was my own fault for being such a git. Merlin you'd of only been about ten years old."

She laughed at the memory. "Well you were being a git. So what have you been up to Mr. Oliver Wood? We all thought you'd play professional quidditch, but you just disappeared."

"I used my ability for planning and strategy for something more important than quidditch. I'm actually in charge of this camp, and the head of tactics for all the camps."

"Wow. That's quite the accomplishment for someone your age."

"Not as good as being made my second in command at eighteen. How did you manage that, I wonder?" He looked at her curiously. He'd been wondering ever since he got the owl, telling him that someone fresh out of Auror training was to be getting the position.

"I got the position because I got top marks in all of my classes in Aurour training, but I was especially brilliant in tactics." She hesitated briefly. "I also have knowledge of the way the enemy's tactician thinks."

"And how do you have that?

"I just do," she answered flatly, her tone making it clear that he should drop the subject.

He took the hint. "Well here we are, home sweet home," he said gesturing to a small tent. "Because some git at the Ministry thought it would save money, we all have to share a tent with someone. There's a thin barrier that separates them though, so you have some privacy. The only problem is that you can pretty much hear everything that goes on in the tent. We can't use silencing charms, so you just have to hope your tent mate is quiet. I think you might be lucky in that, your's seems to be the quiet type. Sometimes anyway. I'll introduce you. Hey blondy, get our here and meet your new roommate."

At the sound of a familiar voice, excitement rushed through her."For the last time my hair is not blond, it's white, you stupid...," he trailed off as he stepped out of the tent and his eyes met hers. "Virginia?"

She rushed forward, crushing him in a hug. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed him, letters just weren't the same as seeing him face to face.

He returned the hug with equal fervor. Smiling as he inhaled the scent of her. "Merlin I've missed you."

"I've missed you too. I can't believe we're in the same camp and the same tent." She drew back smiling mischievously at him. "You don't snore do you?"

"A Malfoy would never do something as undignified as snoring. A Weasley on the other hand personifies everything that is undignified. I'm sure you'll keep me up at all hours."

"Shut up you wanker."

They both laughed and hugged once again.

Oliver watched them curiously. Draco had arrived the day before and had been arrogant and silent. It was like he was a completely different person. "I hate to break up this touching reunion, but there is a meeting with people from other camps in a few minutes. We should all be there."

They reluctantly separated, following him to a big tent in the middle of the camp. When Virginia entered, and spotted a head of bright red hair, her face lit with a smile. She snuck up behind him, putting her hands over his eyes. "The first thing they teach you in Auror training is to never let yourself be blinded. Tsk. Tsk. Ronald."

He grabbed her hands, turning and hugging her. "I was hoping I'd see you. I heard that they sent you here. I can't believe your second in command of tactics. Mum almost had a heart attack when I told her. But I think it's great. At least I'll now that you'll be safe, and not out on the battlefield," he said grinning.

"Actually..," Oliver started to say, but stopped at the look Virginia shot him.

Ron frowned and started to say something, but she cut him off. " Guess what? Draco's at the same camp as me and we're even sharing a tent. Isn't that great?" She hoped the thought of her sharing a tent with Draco would distract Ron.

Ron turned to Draco. "You better stay on your side of the tent Malfoy."

"Well where's the fun in that?"

"The fun is that you get to keep your head, both of them."

Draco just raised an eyebrow. "I see that Auror training hasn't changed you any. You're still the same overbearing, angry, violent git you were at Hogwarts."

"And you're still the same spoiled stuck-up cowardly wanker you were," he answered cheerfully.

"Yes well now that we've all been reacquainted," she interjected drily.

Something flashed across Ron's face and he turned to her, suddenly serious. "Not all of us. Listen Gin, there's something I need to tell you."

"Hello Ginny," a familiar voice said from behind her.

She turned slowly. She hadn't talked to him in almost a year. "Hello, Harry."

There was a moment of awkward silence, as they stared at each other. "I was wondering if I could talk to you after the meeting."

"I..of course."

He nodded, and turned to take a seat at the table.

The rest of them followed suite, sitting down at the table, just as the scout started to report. Virginia forced herself to pay attention, the information was important. However, as soon as the meeting was over, her thoughts turned back to Harry. She was a bundle of nerves as she stood in front of him a few yards away from the tent. What did he want to say to her? Had he forgiven her?

"Ginny I just wanted to say that..I'm sorry."

"There's no reason for you to be sorry. I'm the one that hurt you."

"We both hurt each other. I want us to be friends. Can we just be friends, Ginny?"

"Of course we can. Harry I.." she started to reach forward to hug him, but stopped herself.

He smiled, shaking his head."I think hugging is a safe friend thing. It doesn't usually lead to hot sex."

They hugged each other, awkwardly. It was odd to feel awkward hugging, when they'd touched each other everywhere only a year before. But things were different now. It would probably be awkward for a while, but she was happy. It had been upsetting and unsettling, having Harry mad at her. It was like being viciously attacked by a bunny, you just didn't expect it, and it was all the more shocking for it.

"So are you and Ron at the same camp? And what about Hermione? I didn't see her at the meeting. I thought only death could separate the mighty trio."

He laughed. "Actually, Ron and I are at the same camp, not Hermione though. She works at the ministry. Knowing her she'll probably be Minister of Magic within five years."

"I wouldn't doubt it. So are you guys returning to your camp right away?"

"Actually, no. There giving us a few hours to get to know each other. They want good communication between camps, and it boosts morale, apparently," he said rolling his eyes.

"Well I think it's fantastic. You and Ron can come to my tent and we can all catch up. We've all been busy this year," she said as they walked toward her tent.

"Some of us more than others. I heard a lot about you in training. I think you put even Hermione to shame in marks. And now your second in command of tactics. I have to admit I was shocked when I heard it. I never really thought of you as a tactical kind of person."

"Well growing up as the only girl in a family of seven, not to mention being the youngest, I always had to figure out ways to keep the advantage. Hell, just Fred and George alone gave me plenty of trouble. I'm sure they'll be happy to know that they've contributed to the war effort."

"I wouldn't tell them it'll only encourage them. They're bad enough as it is," he said, wincing as he remembered some of the tricks they'd played.

"They're good brothers though. Speaking of brothers," she said as they reached her tent, and they heard Ron's voice.

"Weasley whatever are you doing?" a smooth voice drawled lazily.

"I'm checking to make sure this wall is secure. Who knows what kind of ideas could creep into that sick little head of yours."

"Weasley, I assure you, if I wanted your sister I wouldn't have to resort to breaking through a wall. I'd just turn on the old Malfoy charm and she'd come running to me."

"Oh I forgot the old Malfoy charm. Come to think of it I did find your father particularly charming the last time I saw him. Chains really suited him." Ron watched Draco's face to see what kind of reaction he'd get.

To Lucius Malfoy's everlasting shame, he had been drug in front of a jury in chains, like a "common criminal". The press had been there and the picture had been in all the papers, under the headline, 'Lucius Malfoy convicted of treason, sentenced to twenty years in Azkaban.'

Virginia knew that although he'd cut off contact with his father in his sixth year, he was still somewhat sensitive to jibes about him. She started into the tent, hoping to forestall whatever nasty comment Draco was sure to unleash at Ron. He responded before she had a chance, and she was surprised at the lightness of his reply.

"I never knew you were so kinky. Please refrain from telling me all of your perverted sexual tastes. The thought of you having sex at all is disturbing enough."

"Good. Be disturbed. You deserve it. I shared a room in Auror training with Blaise and she delighted in telling me in detail how you satisfied her like no Gryffindor ever could." His face twisted in disgust. "The woman lives to torment me. We're in the same camp now, and as it's only an hours flight by broom I'm sure she'll have plenty of new tales to regal me with."

"What's this about you sharing a room with a Slytherin? I'm surprised your still alive, those Slytherins are nasty pieces of work." She smiled, but inside she was confused. Why had Draco never mentioned Blaise? They never kept secrets from each other.

"Barely. I have to admit she sure knows how to get to me. One mention of Draco's magic fingers and she had the room to herself. She's absolutely devious," he said with a small smile that would have had Virginia wondering, if her eyes hadn't been focused on Draco.

Draco looked at her and shifted uncomfortably. "Yes Slytherins are devious. This isn't exactly breaking news." He glanced at Harry narrowing his eyes. "It appears you two have made up. How nice," he said in a tone that implied it was anything but. "I hope you made him grovel sufficiently."

"Don't pay him any mind Harry. He's just mad because he had to walk all the way to the hospital wing with a swollen lip. The blow to his vanity was almost his undoing," she said mockingly.

"Ha. Ha. You just think you're so amusing don't you?" He rolled his eyes.

"You know I am."

"You have your moments to be sure," he said, smirking slightly. "So how long are the duo going to irritate me with their presence. I do need my sleep you know," he said grouchily.

"We'll be here for another hour or two. There's no need for you to stay in our irritating presence. There's a whole camp out there," Ron said motioning expansively with his hands.

"Are you kicking me out of my own tent, Weasley?"

"I believe that this is Ginny's side of the tent, feel free to go to your side, no one's stopping you."

"And have to listen to every irritating thing you say? No thanks." He stood up, and walked out of the tent, saying over his shoulder,"I'll see you later Virginia."

Virginia shook her head and turned to her brother. " Why can't you be civil to him?"

"Hello? This is Malfoy we're talking about. We hate him and he hates us. It's something we're all comfortable with. You should really get over this idea that we should all be friends."

"You're right I don't know why I bother. It's obviously pointless." She turned to Harry asking him what he'd been up to. But in the back of her mind she was wondering if Blaise was at the camp, and if Draco had gone off to see her. And wondering why in the hell she cared.


AN: Many thanks to teran and oliviajoules for your faithful reviewing. Only three chapters left!