Of Inscrutable Conceit

Chapter Nine

Ginny was on her sixth butterbeer. She was going to kill Malfoy.

"Well, it is pretty, Ginny. It could be worse. He could have given you rotten fish," Luna said in an attempt to comfort Ginny.

"This is his idea of a joke. It's a bloody joke to him, Luna," Ginny muttered before taking a long gulp of her butterbeer.

Everyone in the pub was dying to ask Ginny questions, but she had nearly bit off Ernie Macmillian's head when he had tried shortly after Draco had left. The crowd settled upon buzzing whispers around her.

"I'm done, Luna, let's go. If we hurry, we can catch the Cannonson the wireless," Ginny said, casting a dark look at the occupants of the pub.

Luna shrugged.

"I suppose I don't have anything better to do," Luna said, hopping down from her perch.

Ginny, however, had already stalked off. She was going to kill Malfoy. She had been in such a good mood this morning. She had worn the Cannons' colours—today would be the match that determined whether or not they would be competing for the World Cup. There was going to be a listening party in the common room. The kiss at least she could write off as Weasley cheek. Now she had this stupid rose from stupid bloody Malfoy and everyone would be pestering her about it. She told the twerp that she wanted to be a partner and he took that to mean target of public humiliation.

Well, there way one way to end it. She raised her hand to her ear and attempted to pull the flower off. It did not budge. She frowned and shook her head. The flower seemed to be lodged in place. She bent over and began to toss her hair to and fro. The rose did not move.

Luna leaned forward and peered at the rose.

"It's nearly the same colour as your hair, Ginny! Malfoy really knows what he's doing. He even got it charmed to never be lost. He's pretty impressive for a whippet," Luna said. "Maybe he really likes you."

Ginny snapped back up, her face nearly as red as her hair.

"Don't be ridiculous, Luna. I don't want to hear another word about this stupid rose. If we hurry, we can catch the bus back to school," Ginny said sharply.

---------------------------------------------

Luna had begged off. Ginny had mentioned slyly that Ron would be there, but Luna made a face.

"I don't understand how you can be so mad for Quidditch. It's so silly," Luna said.

Ginny didn't push the issue—if Luna came, she would be sure to mention the incident with Malfoy at the pub. The rose had shrunk to a half bloom. Ginny rearranged her hair so that it hide the rose, more or less.

A group of students were huddled around a wireless sitting in the middle of the common room.

"I haven't missed much, have I?" Ginny asked as she made her way over to the group.

"No, things have just started getting heating up. The Snitch has been spotted!" Ron shouted; thumping Ginny's back for good measure.

Ginny clapped her hands. Ron shoved his way back to the inner circle. Ginny however, sat down, happy to be in the fringe.

She nudged the person next to her and asked, "So what's the score?"

"Cannons are down by 80, it's not looking good for them," Neville said.

Ginny blushed and the rose bloomed. She felt a pricking sensation and raised her hand to touch the stem. No thorns and yet she could feel them. Neville peered at her ear.

"Wot's that, Ginny?" Neville asked.

"It's a rose that I found," Ginny said, lying through her teeth.

"I don't think those are the sorts of roses you just find lying about, Ginny," Neville said mildly. "Mind if I have a look at it?"

"No!" Ginny shouted, scooting away from him.

Neville's face fell and Ginny felt her stomach drop. The pricking sensation grew stronger. Blast Malfoy.

"Well, I suppose if you want, it's just a rose after all," Ginny said.

She didn't know how she was going to explain the rose's attachment charm, but she wasn't the twins' sister for nothing.

"Are you sure, Ginny? I know that…." Neville said, his voice trailing off.

"No, really, it's all right, Nev, I promise," Ginny said, smiling despite the stabbing pain. Death was too kind for Malfoy.

Neville reached over and gingerly removed the rose from her ear. He stared at it intently and began clucking, shaking his head.

"That is a cruel thing to do to an innocent plant," Neville muttered, half to himself. "But it is a pretty bit of work."

The rose, meanwhile, had burst into full bloom and was yet again the same colour as Ginny's hair. Ginny frowned. Love tokens weren't supposed to react that way to other boys. Then again, plants always were a bit batty about Neville. He had that affect on them. Even the Whomping Willow tried cuddling up to Neville. That had been a sight to see. Harry and Ron could talk of nothing else for days, to the detriment of Neville's complexion.

"It suits you," Neville said, tucking it back behind her ear.

The stabbing pain was gone. Ginny blinked. She smiled at Neville and Neville smiled back, slowly and shyly, but a smile nonetheless.

---------------------------------------------

Ginny walked to the greenhouse with a bounce in her step. Somehow, Malfoy's hideous gift had turned into a boon. Trust Neville to fall for a flower. Ginny peered into the thick glass, barely able to discern much of anything in its murky green depths. Neville had promised to help her feed the rose.

"You're not going to water my head, are you, Neville?" she had asked, a mock scowl on her face.

"Of course not, Ginny," Neville had stammered, waving his hands before Ginny burst into a fit of giggles.

Neville, of course, was bright red, but he soon joined in her laughter. He hadn't probed any further where she had found the rose. She hoped he was too enamored with the new bloom to think of silly questions like where, who, and why. If asked, she would lie, of course, but as a last resort. Neville had this way of finding out her lies.

Ginny looked around. Neville's admirers appeared to have abandoned their posts. She released a breath she hadn't known she was holding. Things were practically back to normal.

"Weasley, if you wanted to know how to take care of the gift, shouldn't you ask the giver?" someone asked in a familiar drawl.

"Poor taste to put a tracking spell on a love token and bad luck besides, Malfoy," Ginny replied with a teeth-baring grimace.

Draco laughed and tossed his head for full effect, causing his hair to flare out like a pale halo.

"A tracking spell would be wasted galleons, dearest Weasley. You are not a hard bird to suss out," Draco said. "Besides, did you think you had to water the bloody thing? This is not your garden-variety love token."

Draco chuckled at his own joke. Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Sorry, it's not common amongst my sort to brand," Ginny said.

Draco winced and Ginny barely managed not to smirk.

"I thought independent investigation was called for. Of course, there's no need for you to stay, since you know everything. No need to watch the peons mucking about," Ginny continued airily, waving a hand at Draco.

"Be that as it may, I think I will crash your little rendezvous. Longbottom does have a way with botany," Draco said, frowning slightly.

Ginny blinked. That was unexpected. He was up to something.

"I'd rather you not, Malfoy," Ginny said, smiling sweetly.

Draco's frown grew deeper. Ginny smiled even harder. He reached out and pulled the rose from behind her ear.

"I'm sure you'll have a very fruitful meeting then. Cheers," Draco said, tucking the rose into his prefect pin.

Ginny's eyes narrowed. Brat, brat and double brat. She grabbed his robe and yanked hard.

"You're welcome to explain your presence then, since you're the brains. You wouldn't want my hopeless clodding," Ginny snapped.

She dropped his robe and spun on her heel, briskly walking into the greenhouse. Draco did not respond, he merely hopped behind her like a rabbit in springtime. The greenhouse had grown lusher in her absence—she could barely make her way through the foliage. Where was Neville? The sound of muffled voices could be heard to her left. She swatted away, changing the direction of her path.

"Why can't you all just leave me bbbbloody alone?" Neville stammered.

Ginny stiffened and stopped in her tracks. Draco stumbled and leaned heavily against her.

"Trust me, Longbottom, I'm not so stupid as to believe those rumours. I was there, after all," a girl replied in a stiff voice.

Ginny felt Draco strain against her.

"Oops, seems that Longbottom's double-booking, tut tut," he whispered into her ear. "Move closer, I can't hear them clearly."

Ginny elbowed Draco in the ribs but grudgingly moved a foot or two in the direction of the voices.

"Ssssoo you know where the door is. Leave me alone," Neville said, his voice growing stronger.

"But they looked like they were having fun, and you couldn't have been bribing all of them," the girl said coolly.

Ginny snarled. She could imagine the bint eying poor Neville like a piece of meat. She felt Draco's body shaking against her back.

"Stop laughing, it's not funny, Malfoy," Ginny hissed through her teeth.

"Iiii can't speak, you really have to go. I'm supposed to meeting someone," Neville pleaded.

"Oh, really? Who?" the girl asked.

"Errrr, that's none of your business," Neville said.

"It's Weasley, isn't it?" the girl said.

Draco stiffened and Ginny turned to look back at him. Draco shook his head and raised a finger to his lips, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

"I said it's none of your business, so sod off," Neville said.

Ginny marveled at the lack of stuttering. He was really angry.

"All the better. She's exactly the one I want," the girl said.

Ginny waited for Neville to say something. However, there was only silence.

"The silly bird left, can we go now?" Ginny whispered as she turned to face Draco.

"You're the silly bird. She's still there. Can't you hear? They're snogging," Draco whispered back.

Ginny began stomping the ground and Draco grabbed her in an attempt to still her.

"How can you be so bloody calm? Neville's snogging that stupid bint," Ginny hissed.

"It's sweet, really. I didn't realize how much Pansy cared until now," Draco whispered back, still holding her in place.

"What?" Ginny shouted.

Draco shot her a dirty look, but it was too late. There was a pause and some awkward coughing.

"Ginny?" Neville asked.

Ginny turned bright red and Draco smirked. He began ruffling her hair and Ginny stared. Draco shrugged and began to loosen his tie. Neville's head popped up between the nearby bushes and Ginny blushed even brighter.

"So nice of you to join us, Longbottom," Draco drawled.

The rose hung from the pin and was now bright orange and in full bloom. Neville looked at the rose, his gaze slowly moving to Draco's face and then Ginny's.

"Longbottom, I said that I wasn't finished with you," Pansy said, poking her head up next to his.

She stopped once she saw Draco and Ginny and she turned an ashy white.

"You!" she spat at Ginny.

Pansy grabbed Neville's tie and kissed him hard. Ginny struggled against Draco, intent upon committing as much bodily harm upon Pansy as possible. Draco however, squeezed Ginny tightly and began dragging her away.

"Come now, pet, there's no reason to jump and down in joy over Longbottom's happiness. It's best if we leave the lovebirds alone. I'm sure we can come up with another way to occupy ourselves. Herbology is forever, after all. Or perhaps it's cyclical, I never did pay much attention to Sprout," Draco said merrily.

He was still clinging tightly to her, even though they were outside of the greenhouse.

"Weasley, I never promised ours would be an easy path. We must all make sacrifices," Draco murmured in her ear.

"Aren't you angry? Pansy's snogging NEVILLE," Ginny said through her teeth.

"She cares, Weasley, so she does what any good Slytherin does. She plots," Draco said with a touch of pride.

Ginny snorted.

"Slytherins are weird," she said.

"Coming from a Gryffindor, I don't know if that's an insult," Draco said, brushing her hair out of her eyes. "You should go lie down. I think you've had enough excitement for today."

"Drop dead, Malfoy," Ginny said.

"My beloved, she speaks," Malfoy said, fluttering his eyelashes. He glanced down and plucked the rose from his pin. "Mustn't forget your token."

He tucked the rose behind her ear again and gave her a soft kiss.

"Anon, Weasley," he said before flouncing off.

The flurry of giggles alerted Ginny to the audience.

"I hate boys," she announced.

The audience clapped. She glared at them. They stopped, unsure of what to do. She waved her wand and they fled. The bat bogey hex was not one to be taken lightly.