Library

[Draco Malfoy]

Come here to study or just for a bit of piece and Quiet.

[Ginny Weasley]

Ginny stepped into the Library, well aware of the eyes that followed her around the room - Harry Potter's girlfriend, or was it ex girlfriend? No one seemed certain, but neither won her much in this current climate, Slytherins and Death Eaters waiting for any chance to trip her up, their intent entirely clear on their faces as they watched. Still she walked with her head held high in defiance, ignoring those around her as she moved to browse the shelves for the texts she needed, inwardly ready for trouble.

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco found a quiet corner of the library... well actually it was literally a corner of the library. The location was far back in the stacks, in the section of books rarely used. He had used a good scouring charm and a small cushioning one on one of his books before sitting on it as though it were a pillow.

He just wanted a moment, a moment to think. There was speculation -lots of it. It had not gone unnoticed that he'd disappered right after Dumbledore's death along with Professor Snape. He recieved lots of curious or fearful looks, as well as a few hostile ones fromn the Gryffindors like Longbottom, the She-Weasel and any of Potters other former mates. But how much they knew he didn't know, nor did he want to.

He just wanted peace, to keep his head down, to make it out alive and to not be summoned back to the Dark Lords side...

[Ginny Weasley]

Frowning, the redhead moved slowly deeper into the library, heading towards the far corner as she searched for the books she wanted, a few already held in her arms. While she wasn't a bad student by far, she had always been more of an instinctive witch than a learned one, following gut feelings and what felt right rather than hard facts and a careful detailed plan. With Death Eaters crawling over the school however, she couldn't afford to be complacent any longer however. She needed to up her game, and for that, she needed more knowledge.

The things she was checking out were carefully chosen to appear innoculous while still helping her hone the skills she needed - a few history books to look at guirrilla tactics, a few defence and charm books to polish up her dueling skills. Now she just needed to see if she could find anything that could help her protect her mind from Snape... She knew about Occulmency from Harry, but not how to do it (given he had never figured it out, that was unsurprising). She didn't really have much hope of discovering a book on occulmency here really, but perhaps if she was lucky she could find *something* that could help...

So engrosed in her search was she that it took her a few long minutes to realise the isle she had turned up a) lead to a dead end, and b) had someone else in it.

Head snapping up, Ginny stilled at the sight of a familiar and hated face, eyes narrowing suspiciously as she took in his posture, her red lips tugging down stubbornly.

Malfoy.

"What are you doing?" she asked him, voice cool as her brown eyes flickered over his haunched, defensive posture.

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco's gaze narrowed as the she-weasel herself appeared "I'm minding my own ruddy businsess *Weasley*. Aren't you out of your jurisdiction?" His silvery gaze flicked over the books in her arms before he arched a mocking brow "I wasn't aware you read? I figured you Weasley's were more the picture book types..."

She *would* show up, destroying his peace and quiet. f**k**g Weasleys, no respect for their betters.

[Ginny Weasley]

"I'm not the one hiding out behind a bookshelf, Malfoy," she shot back, temper flaring at the mere sight of his typical arsy-ness. "Whats the matter, ferret - not excited to be hanging out with all your new Death Eater mates?"

At the unsurprisingly juvenille taunt, the girl glanced down at the books in her arms before shoot him a scaithing look.

"Just becuase your "friends" are to inbred to read, doesn't mean the rest of us can't, surprisingly enough, some of us actually use Librarys as places to find books, not just to snog and cry in," Ginny retorted, shaking her head. "A novel concept for you I'm sure."

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco's eyes narrowed and he stood looking at her "Hiding? That's rich coming from a girl whose boyfriend is off hiding in whatever hole he can find just so he isn't murdered by the Dark Lord. Maybe if he actually stepped up then you wouldn't need to be here with my 'Deat Eater mates'."

"As for us being inbred... well, I know you're not too bright so I'll take this moment to remind you that *you too* are in inbreed pureblood... just a poor one," he finished with a mocking smirk.

[Ginny Weasley]

Her head tilted back as she glared up at the taller boy.

"Harry's doing what he needs too, to win this war," she informed him cooly. "Just because he's not dumb enough to play the Dark Lord's games doesn't mean he's turned his back on us. I'd have thought that picking your battles was a setiment that a Slytherin could actually grasp."

"There's a difference between being inbred and a pureblood," Ginny shot back, letting out a scoff as she shook her head. "I know it's hard to understand nuances with your head up your arse, so I'll make it easy for you. Both of us might be purebloods, but only you are an inbred git."

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco flushed deeply at her words about Potter "Whatever you want to believe about your pathetic Potter. Wherever he is cuddled up nicely with Granger. However keep dreaming Weasley- it's what your lot does best."

The blond scoffed and rolled his eyes "I know that well, you're the one who seems to have trouble understanding it. Then again you'd know nothing about being a *true* pure blood. However I'm sure the Carrows will help you understand the differences between the two..."

[Ginny Weasley]

"I bet you like the thought of that," Ginny accused, face hardening as she steped a little closer, firey eyes accusing as they pinned him down, pretending to ignore the comment about Harry and Hermione. Harry wasn't her boyfriend any more... she knew why he had left her and it had nothing to do with Monie. She supported him in that... But it didn't stop that little niggling feeling of hurt, the one that whispered to her how extreme circumstances often developed feelings that weren't there before... "What they'll do to us - every student that they don't like or dares to talk back?"

Her eyes flickered over his face, scrutising him closely, clearly unimpressed with what she was seeing.

"Do you even give the tiniest bit of a damn, that thanks to you people you've known for seven years, innocent kids are going to be made Death Eater sport?" she asked him, voice low and fierce. "Do you even care that the one person that could have kept us safe is dead?"

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco's gaze narrowed and he sneared "You don't know shite what I care about and what I don't. And whatever it may be it's not your bloody buisness. You and your muggle loving lot just need to get use to the fact that this is the way it is now. It's up to you if you survive and therefore not my ruddy problem." He scoffed and looked her over "Something I don't see happening..."

"However never let it be said I wouldn't help a fellow pureblood, so I'll spell it out for you since I know it's hard to understand nuances with your head up your arse. Keep your ruddy mouth shut, don't 'dare to talk back and you'll get through it almost unscathed."

[Ginny Weasley]

"Is that your plan?" the redhead snapped in retaliation, anger mounting with the boy. "Keep your head down and hope for the best? Tough luck to anyone that messes up? Bollocks to that! I'm not about to pretend to be some sicchophantic supporter of Voldemort for an easy life, and I'm not about to just pretend I don't see things how they are."

"You're right," she added as she turned from him, ready to leave the isle arms tightening around her books. "I probably wont survive this war, but at least I wont sell my soul for it."

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco laughed lightly shaking his head "How easy it must be in your rainbow coloured world. Go ahead and advocate, but don't crawl to me when you're bloody and battered. As for hoping for the best, you should know better than anyone, Weaslette, hope is useless- hell, even your precious boyfriend should have shown you that..."

[Ginny Weasley]

"He's not my boyfriend."

The words slipped out before she could screen them, furstration at the blonde prat constantly referring to Harry as her other half driving her insane and biting at a still raw wound.

Stopping before she could go on, before she tried to explain or justify herself to Malfoy of all people, the redhead bit back the rest of her words on the topic, lips thinning a moment as she turned her head to shoot him a scaithing look.

"You want to resign yourself, to hide up library isles and cry over how tragic your life is, go ahead, but while you're lying down and taking it, I refuse too. War doesn't go away because its inconvenient, Malfoy, and ignoring it wont save your sorry hide. And if Harry taught me anything? It's to never stop fighting. He's won against him before, he'll do it again."

[Draco Malfoy]

"He didn't battle him before his Mother did- first of all," Draco drawled arching a brow. "Yes, the spell was for mini Potter but Lily Potter blocked it -died, so she didn't win. And the Dark Lord was vanquished... temporarily, but my himself- not by Potter and not by his Mother."

The blond boy shook his head burying a hand in his hair "However if Potter taught you anything it should be how to get rid of unnecessary baggage... though I'm quite sure it wasn't you- it was him, right?" Draco almost scoffed and shook his head "I give him credit though. He knows how to get away from both the Dark Lord *and* an obnoxious girlfriend... maybe I should rename him the 'Boy who escaped' instead..."

[Ginny Weasley]

"If that's all you can come up with, you're either deliberately blind or completely clueless about the reality of the last six years," she retorted, voice vaguely incredulous.

At his next words however a flicker of pain passed over her face, the cruelly spoken words worming past her hard defense to burrow into her, praying on her own secret fears and hurts, though it was quickly followed with a sharp flare of her infamous Weasley temper.

Her hand lashed out without warning or even really considering her actions, aiming to slap hard against his cheek.

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco caught her hand, just barely, his gaze hard on her face as he twisted her hand back. "Look little Weasel, I don't know what kind of relation you had with the coward of the wizarding world, but I only do kinky during sex. And since I have no interest in stooping *that* low, then I suggest you keep your hands to yourself and your temper in check. I don't hit girls however I *will* hit one back if the situation calls for it."

[Ginny Weasley]

"You're pathetic," she hissed back, eyes burning, jaw clenched as he twisted her wrist away, pain lacing up from the awkward angle and his tight grip, but refusing to let him see. "It's no wonder the whole school hates you - I'd ask whats it like to have even your own housemates avoiding you, but honestly I don't want to listen to your slimy voice any longer."

"Let go of me," Ginny demanded, arm giving a tug from his, though her eyes remained locked hatefully on his face.

[Draco Malfoy]

"I'm pathetic? Why? Because I wouldn't let you hit me?" He scoffed releasing her and pushing her back at the same time "Get over yourself Weaslette- it's not hard to do if Potter's any indication and get lost."

Draco shook his head and leaned back against the book shelf with a bored look making a shooing motion "Go on."

Her words didn't bother him... well much, to be honest he had so much other crap to worry about, what the other students thought was pointless. Besides by now he was use to hate though he did ask her "And you believe that they don't hate you too? Now who's pathetic..."

She wasn't doing great this year either, besides her usual band of ragtag mates and ex boyfriends. Being the girlfriend (at least still thought to be by most) of the infamous and infamously missing Harry Potter didn't exactly make her high on anyone's list of people they *didn't* hate.

[Ginny Weasley]

His shove sent her back a step, just regaining her balance on time to avoid a more graceless recovery - something that she could thank on years of Quidditch - her hand instantly moving away as he released her.

"Your pathetic because you don't give a crap about anyone or anything but yourself," she countered in disgust, torn between frustration and vague embarrasment at her hit not landing home, neither of which helped her temper. "Because after everything you've done you still don't even feel a modicum of guilt - you're rotton to the core."

Turning on her heel she made to stalk off, pausing only as his last words left his lips.

"At least I have friends to support me. Who have you got?" she tossed back before marching away, not waiting for the answer lest she do something stupid like hex the git. She meant what she said about not backing down or playing along with Death Eaters just for an easier life, and honestly she was *itching* to lift her wand to him - bloody wanker, actually compairing her to HIM of all people! And like he knew the first thing about what was really going on with Harry. He really WAS pathetic, pathetic, stuck up, prattish git who didn't care that he'd got blood on his hands. Harry might have told her that Draco didn't cast the spell, but that didn't make it any less his fault. HE let the Death Eaters into school, HE was the one supposed to kill Dumbledore. As far as she was concerned everyone that was hurt as a consquence had the blame laid squarely at his door. She despised him.

Still, fortunately the more rational part of her mind that spoke through the fires of her temper pointed out that starting a duel for no reason other than he was an evil remorseless prat was stupid. Even if she won it - and reluctant as she was to admit it, Malfoy knew his way around a wand - there would be nasty repercussions for attacking a precious Slytherin/baby death eater. There was standing up for your beliefs and there was causing trouble. Her friends were counting on her now... she couldn't just do whatever she felt like any more. And didn't that annoy her all the more.

Maybe she'd find a way to slip him a laxative potion in vengence and as a tribute to her brothers...

[Draco Malfoy]

Draco watched the self righteous, self important little bint flounce her way out of the room. What the hell did she know about him? Nothing. That's what. Only what Potter told her after she finished fangirling all over his ruddy robes. The she-weasel had no comprehension of his life, his loyalties. Hell yes he was keeping his head down, hell yes he was trying to stay alive, was he ashamed of that? -Hell no.

Muggle loving, tree hugging Gryffindors could toss their lives up for the cause, but he'd be damned if he happily joined in like the rest of the brainwashed masses. He'd seen first hand what the Dark Lord and his followers were capable of- he'd looked that *thing* in the eyes. And she could take her bloody hero worship and shove it up her Potter.

Rolling his eyes at the romanticism and stupidity of girls the blond resumed his seat, hoping to -at least *end* with some peace and quiet.

[Theo Nott]

Theo entered the library a small stack of books in his hands. Returning them to the librarian, he made his way deeper into the Library gathering a few books along the way.

After a few moments of searching he spotted Draco and the littlest Weasley, apparently just finishing a conversation. Chuckling in dark amusement as she moved out of the room, he moved over to the table Draco had claimed as his own.

"Having some issues with Weasley?" he asked a small smirk of amusement sliding onto his face.

[Draco Malfoy]

"When is the bint not an issue? Self righteous little tart," Draco remarked icily. His gaze flicked over Nott "What about you? Looking to get a head start on the term?"

[Theo Nott]

Theo shrugged. "I can't argue your point there." he replied as he took one of the seats at the table. Setting the books down he nodded. "I am hoping to get a good grounding in exactly what the professors are going to be asking of us this year." he paused and tilted his head to the side slightly. "Well the ones that matter anyways." he added.

[Draco Malfoy]

(Draco wasn't at a table, he was near some bookshelves in the very back corner of the library, lol -I'll just disregard the part where the sat down.)


Draco looked at the other Slytherin, Theo had always been a tad bit more Raven than Snake for his tastes but then again the boy had a knack for self preservation so he supposed the sorting DID make some sense. "Yes, well good luck on that. I have a feeling some of them are going to be a bit too unpredictable for that..."

[Theo Nott]

"Probably." Theo agreed. "But I would much rather attempt this than get on their bad side already."

[Draco Malfoy]

"Have you spoken to any of them?" Draco asked looking at Theo.

[Theo Nott]

Theo nodded. "The professors Carrow." He replied. "I was curious to see what i could do to get a headstart on classes." He admitted with a shrug. "You know how i am." He said. "They suggested enthusiasm."

[Draco Malfoy]

The blong smirked before saying dryly "Yes, I know how you are, and how they are. I must say, I look forward to the match."

[Theo Nott]

"I am looking forward to their classes." Theo agreed. "When I spoke with them they seemed eager for the classes to start as well."