Her Housemate’s brogue was thicker than usual, which always indicated an elevated level of nervousness in him.
Ginny shivered in response, loving the way the syllables rolled off the man’s tongue.
Even though he was an incredible man-slag, and she’d sampled him once, he was still a very sexy wizard.
Sea could easily make a girl wet just by talking.
Another shiver danced down her spine, as a whiplash of anger slid across her magical aura.
It felt as if she’d just been burned by fire.
She glanced up, unsure of where it was coming from… and was skewered on Zabini’s knowing, dark gaze across the way.
From the daggers he was staring into the very heart of her, it was clear that he was incensed with her again.
What the hell had she done this time?
Annoyed with his cryptic emotional displays, Ginny simply raised an eyebrow at him and flattened her expression, letting him know in a simple look that she wouldn’t let him intimidate her, and she could care less what his problem was.
His lips twitched in rising fury and she pointedly turned away, determined to ignore him from then on.
Whatever his problem with her was, she refused to allow it to affect her mood.
“Questions?” Draco addressed them again.
“Last chance.”
“You collectin’ these before or at the game?” Ron asked for clarification.
Malfoy tsk’d, clearly believing the answer should be obvious.
“At the game. Hold onto them until then, and for Slytherin’s sake, don’t let anyone else see them – especially teachers. This is a forbidden game on campus, don’t forget, and I don’t relish expulsion a week away from graduation.”
“Who’s setting up the Room of Requirement?” Harry asked, once more reaching for his phantom glasses, noting the behaviour and changing it at the last second to run his fingers through his short hair instead.
“I’ll do it, if you trust me?” He grinned like a shark, all white teeth in that pale, pointed face.
Harry stared hard at him.
“No, I think we’ll do it together, if you don’t mind.”
Always so polite, Harry was.
It’s too bad their chemistry didn’t mesh, Ginny thought, because he’d have been the perfect guy for her.
He was the romantic, wanting to take his time making love for hours, never rough, always soft and patient.
Ginny liked things a little harder, more desperate, though.
It was this incompatibility in the bedroom that had driven them apart.
Tragic, really.
Malfoy snickered.
“Fine by me, Potter. Shall we meet at half past six tomorrow night in front of the room? We’ll arrange it as necessary when we get there.”
Harry nodded.
“Deal.” He raised his card, magically signed his name with his wand, and then spoke the charm to commit to this course of action.
Following their teammate’s lead, the rest of the Gryffindors and Slytherins did likewise.
Once everyone had bound themselves to the game, Malfoy turned towards the fabric door, peeking out, making sure the coast was clear.
He turned back once, grinning with glee.
“See you tomorrow night, pips. Don’t forget your hankies.” With that, he was gone, Zabini and Nott following close behind.
Eventually, they all made their exits together, girls going next in groups of three.
When they retired to their House common room, the six Gryffindor teammates looked askance at each other, nodded, and left for their dorms without another word. This chapter is updated first at novelping . com.
Ginny followed Hermione and Lavender back to their room.
Pavarti was out, probably hanging with her sister for the evening, as the two liked to bunk over in each other’s rooms every other weekend, to hang with the boys from that House during that time.
Apparently, it was a Ravenclaw weekend for her friend.
That worked out just splendidly as far as Ginny was concerned.
Locking and bespelling the door for privacy, Hermione indicated them to all flop down on her bed.
“We should work together on our cards, so we don’t duplicate any efforts and waste precious time. You heard the Ferret about getting down an idea first. I’ve got some ideas that I’m praying a Slytherin doesn’t take.”
Ginny considered it.
“I don’t mind sharing the fun,” she admitted.
“In fact, if we do it together, we’ll get it done quicker.”
Lavender nodded.
“Sounds good to me, too.” She put her cards down on the red and gold coverlet, and separated them by colour.
Picking up a blue Forfeit first, she held it up.
“I think we should do punishments first, though, since I’m sure the Slytherins will immediately jump on that.”
‘Mione chuckled.
“If I know Malfoy, that will be the first cards he’ll reach for, followed by the Deeds.”
Ginny held up her blue card as well.
“All right then, what kind of penalties shall we invent to torture our fellow players?”