Secret Santa One Shot Exchange 2016

Giggling Jinx

This is from mettastars to their secret santa assignment, ImNotCrazyImAFangirl !

Draco Malfoy wasn't very surprised to find Gregory Goyle blubbering about how that Weasley girl had hit Crabbe with a Bat-Bogey Hex, he'd nearly been hit by one himself, how did he not see that coming, where was Draco exactly, and what was the spell for a Shield Charm again?

"Goyle," said Draco slowly, "How exactly did you not fail during our first year, again?"Goyle's face was squished into frustration. Draco thumped his book shut and rose. "I'll take care of the Weasley girl," he said. "You should probably go visit your boyfriend.""B-boyfriend?""Yes. In the hospital wing.""Hospital wing?""For Merlin's sake, Goyle, Crabbe!""Oh," said Goyle thickly. "Sure."Draco didn't wait to see him lumber off. Even the Weasley girl would be a better sight than Goyle. Much better, if he was being honest with himself.He was nearing the Fat Lady's portrait when he heard, "Malfoy."It was Ginny Weasley. She had her wand out. "Why so far from the dungeons? Won't you get lost? Mummy isn't here to save you.""And you, so vicious," said Draco, folding his arms. He itched to draw his wand. "The red of your cheeks matches your hair, you know.""Your size matches that of your brain," said Ginny calmly. "Small for your age."Draco surveyed the Weasley girl, whom he towered over. "We're playing it like that, are we, then?" he asked, and felt a smile of all things creep into his face. Ginny stowed her wand and folded her arms as well."If you're going to make a joke about how our pockets are empty, take a look inside your head, Malfoy. That should teach what emptiness is like."Draco opened his mouth to retaliate just as a Ravenclaw came 'round the corner. His eyes bulged."Ginny?""Hello, Michael," said Ginny without turning."You're--that's--Draco Malfoy--dating?"

Draco looked at the other boy with disdain. "I thought Ravenclaws were meant to be smart, Corner?"

Ginny's eyes blazed anew. "You're the expert on being an idiot, Malfoy, don't you start harping on my boyfriend now."Draco felt a little funny. "Boyfriend? You could do so much better than Michael Corner."Ginny raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She dragged Michael away from Draco, and only later did she finally allow her mind to process the fact that Draco Malfoy had, technically, complimented her. Her second revelation was that she'd quite liked it.Draco, meanwhile, realized it right away. He began thinking up a new insult for the Weasley girl, something that would make her completely forget that he'd ever said anything bordering on nice to her. However, between spats with Potter and studies, Draco didn't find time to even glance in Ginny Weasley's direction.He finally found his chance after the Gryffindor-versus-Ravenclaw Quidditch match. There was no point in staying and watching that sickeningly joyful look on Potter's perfect little face, so he left early.And ran into Ginny Weasley. She was red in the face again."Sod off, Malfoy," said Ginny before Draco could say anything. But she stopped anyway."Where's your boyfriend, Weasley?"Ginny didn't look up. "Don't have one," she said curtly. "You want him? He's free. His attitude perfectly matches yours. You're both whiny little--"This was the point where Draco should've insulted Ginny. He had the sentence planned out perfectly: Better you don't have a boyfriend, Weasley, then your spawn won't dirty mine. Or the wizarding world.But Draco, the eloquent, cold Draco Malfoy, fumbled with his words. So this was what came out."Better you don't have a boyfriend, Weasley, then my spawn--" Pause. Stutter. "Then your spawn--" Pause. Stutter. Draco looked at Ginny, upon whose face a slow, befuddled yet amused smile was spreading. Finally, he gave her his best scowl, but he found that he must have wasted them all on Potter because he could do nothing more than narrow his eyes at her. "Sod off, Weasley," he finally said.Ginny stared at him a moment longer before walking off. Draco saw her shoulders shaking and thought she was crying. But then she threw her head back and Draco heard laughter. Gasps of laughter."Malfoy!" Ginny yelled, turning to face him. "Your spawn'll be as ugly as you, I bet! With your eyes--""And yours will have your bloody hair--""--and your nose, it's always scrunched up, did you snatch a whiff of yourself?--"She was too far away by now to hear Draco's reply. He waited until she'd disappeared and then walked off to find another way into the castle. The Quidditch teams would be out soon, with Potter likely in the lead.Tonight should have been a disappointment, thought Draco. Gryffindor won the match and he hadn't even managed to insult Ginny Weasley properly. But Draco didn't feel any disappointment. It was a warmth in his chest that he felt, a sensation that made him want to bounce on his toes and smile.Draco did not bounce on his toes and smile. He pinched himself until the feeling subsided. She cast a spell on me somehow, some sort of variant of the Giggling Jinx...Not completely reassured, Draco pushed the thoughts away and walked to the castle. He quite failed to notice that his steps were lighter than usual.