The Only Good Type of Secret

Chapter 4 - I Solemnly Swear

Ginny had never felt so anxious. Not before her first real potions exam, and not even before her first kiss with Dean Thomas. This was on a whole other level. She knew this was a terrible idea. A really, truly, remarkably terrible idea. But she and Hermione had been forced to go through with it. They couldn't just out Harry and Draco, now could they? And they didn't even technically know for sure if... well, Hermione didn't know for sure. Ginny had seen the two boys yesterday. Harry and Draco, in the garden. Their lips locked together... Ginny sighed. She only wished she could achieve what they had one day. She raked her hand through her fiery red tresses, before patting the wild strands of hair back down to sit prettily atop her head. Everyone at the Burrow (well, except for maybe Malfoy) knew about Ginny's nervous habit of fiddling with her hair when she was stressed. Or more specifically, guilty. Ginny felt a shop prod in the small of her back. She turned, and rolled her eyes. "Go on, go on!" It was Fred, the mischief in his eyes nearly contagious. Nearly. Ginny still felt sick. She sighed, and with a last glance back at the rest of her siblings plus Hermione, she made her way down the staircase. It was game time.

Draco walked slowly from the kitchen, making his way to the living room. He had ditched the formal Malfoy facade, and was now making himself more comfortable in the Burrow. If he had to stay there, may as well make the most of it, right? But once a Malfoy, always a Malfoy, and Draco self consciously tugged on his silk pajama bottoms, buttoning the top button of his matching shirt. He made his way towards the staircase, wondering where everyone was. He knew Harry was back in the kitchen, finishing up his breakfast. Draco had decided to leave in order to divert any suspicion that might be brewing amongst some of the Weasleys, plus Granger, of course. As he approached the staircase, he made as though to turn into the room on the right, but then froze. He turned around with a blaring grin on his face, expecting to see the sparkling emerald eyes of his boyfriend. Instead, he was greeted with an odd look from the Weaselette. Draco slowly eyed the fiery haired girl, and inconspicuously sniffed. He could have sworn he heard a snort coming from further up the banister, but he chose to ignore it. He turned to the Weasley girl, grey eyes flashing.

"Um... Hey, Malfoy. Where's Harry?" Ginny asked tentatively, mentally cursing herself for asking a question that would clearly rile Malfoy up.

"Wouldn't you like to know," he sneered back at her. "Where have you been, Weasley?" "Erm... in my room?" Ginny said slowly, shrinking back into the staircase, pretending not to notice the extendable ear lurking behind her. Draco shook his head slowly, muttering something.

"What was that, Malfoy? I couldn't quite-" Draco shoved past her, marching up the staircase and past the rather suspicious crowd huddled there before slamming the door to Ron's room.

"Hey," Ron protested, before Hermione gave him a look that clearly read shut up or I will hex you. George tapped his chin, grinning at Ginny as she came up the stairs. "We shall have to do some more digging! The young Malfoy will not escape us this easily!" And with that, him, Fred, and Ron all laughed and disappeared into the kitchen, where Harry was just finishing his eggs.

Ginny looked at Hermione. "I saw them," she said. "Yesterday. In the garden. They're... together, and they're happy. And I think I've just ruined it." Hermione put a soft hand on her friend's shoulder and led her to her room. "We'll set this right. Don't worry; it wasn't your fault. Plus, we don't know for sure if anything's been ruined, Malfoy could just-" And then it was Ginny's turn to give her a look that probably meant one of her famous stinging hexes was on the way for the bushy haired girl.

Draco sat on Ron's bed, not even bothering to cast a cleaning charm when, for all he knew, the Weasel had been doing who knows what on the very surface he was resting on. But he was too tired, too hurt to care. Draco had been wary of the Weaselette since he had arrived at the burrow and realized Harry's presence there. Everyone knew about the red headed girl's ridiculous infatuation with Harry thanks to that pitiful poem in their second year, and though she was currently dating fellow Gryffindork Thomas and although Harry was definitely into blokes... Draco couldn't help but wonder. Just moments ago, when he had crossed paths with the Weasley girl, she had smelled like Harry. Just like Harry. And Draco would know that scent anywhere; it was intoxicating, and... and he loved it.