For the first time in her life, I wasn't looking forward to going back to school this year. I had a distinct feeling that Harry, Ron and Hermione weren't planning on coming back either. They kept sneaking off to discuss plans that I wasn't a part of. This made me feel jealous. I couldn't help it. As long as I could remember I'd felt jealous of the three of them. I'd never had such a close-knit group of friends. Sure, I was well-liked and everything at school…but that didn't mean I had that.

When the trio came down from Ron's room, I couldn't help but feel resentful. After all…Harry had broken up with me and did not go into too much detail other than "I won't be at Hogwarts next year." They came down the stairs and Hermione said sweetly, "Hey Ginny…" I glanced up from my book which I was reading in the lounge and nodded at Hermione briefly before turning back to it.

Ron grumbled under his breath, "Uh oh. I know what that means." Hermione looked fidgety and nervous and said, "I'm going to go and see if your mom needs help cooking dinner, Ron. Come with me." He frowned, "Why on earth would I want to do that?" She rolled her eyes and grumbled, "Just follow me, Ron." She pulled Ron from the room, leaving Harry and me in awkward silence.

Harry muttered, "Mind if I take a seat, please?" I sighed, "Sure…if you don't talk to me." He raised his eyebrows and whispered tightly, "Ginny…what's up with you? I know we broke up and you have every right to be mad at me…but…" I glanced up at him, pretending to be interested. I laughed without humor, "But what, Harry? What could you possibly say to try and make me feel better?" Harry stared at her, perplexed. He hadn't expected this from me. The reason? He'd never done something to make me this mad at him before. He'd never experienced me in a temper, no matter how much he might of heard about it from my brothers.

I could get nasty when I was in a mood. I'd been trying my hardest not to, but the more I tried, the more my resentment towards Harry began to build. And the more it built, the angrier I became. He shrugged his shoulders lamely and whispered, "I'm sorry Ginny…you know it's not because I wanted to end it." I huffed and put down my book now, beyond pretending to read it. Instead I sighed and grumbled, "Just leave me be, please Harry." He raised an eyebrow and then shrugged before walking away.

Just then I heard an owl hoot from the kitchen. I grabbed her book again and turned back to it. A minute later, the trio returned, holding a letter. I frowned at them and Hermione handed it to me, "It's for you," she said with a hint of a smile on her face. I took it from her cautiously. I hadn't been expecting any mail.
Ron grinned eagerly, "Open it! It looks fancy!" The envelope was indeed decorated with a green and silver boarder and the envelope itself was glossy. I frowned and said slowly, "Hey…green and silver are Slytherin colors…" Hermione's face paled and she looked shocked. Ron gasped, "Don't open it Ginny! Don't!"I glanced at Harry who was watching the envelope suspiciously, as if something might jump out of it at him, or explode.

I pulled out the contents and found a piece of card, with a white background and a green serpentine used as a watermark. It read:

To Ginny Weasley

You are invited to the Malfoy manner at the request of Tom Riddle.

Merely reading his name caused me to begin shaking in fear! I couldn't believe it! After all this time…I dropped the invitation I was shaking so much. Hermione picked it up and gasped when she saw the name. She whispered hoarsely, "No!" She read the rest out loud as I turned and sat on the sofa.

There is a ball being thrown there in his honor and it would be prudent for you to attend. It is the on the eve of the Thursday, the 30th of August 1997. You are required to wear the dress that should now be in your bedroom. It would be an honor to have you attend. Draco Malfoy has kindly agreed to escort you to the ball himself. If you give him any trouble, he can easily call Mr Tom Riddle himself to intervene, so please do not be rude and deny this request.

Yours sincerely

Lucius Malfoy

I was sitting on the couch now, head in my hands and shaking in fear, m whole body trembling. The three of them stood and stared at me before Harry sat beside me, took my hand in his and said calmly, "You don't have to go, Ginny." I wiped a tear from my eyes and Hermione came and sat down on the other side of me, "You don't have to go, Ginny. You can stay here. We'll protect you."

I inhaled sharply, trying to calm , my nerves, "But how? He'll come here and try and destroy everyone and everything. I won't have it." Ron just stared at her like a goldfish. I whispered more hoarsely than Hermione, "What do I do! That's the night before Bill and Fleur's wedding! What if they come here and storm the place! I can't!" Harry squeezed her hand and I was surprised by how calm he was reacting. He whispered, "Ginny, relax. But you see…this is why I had to break it off, don't you?" I grimaced and sighed, "I know. It doesn't mean I'm not over it though." He nodded in understanding and sighed, "Neither am I." I had forgotten that maybe Harry felt the same way as me…

We were staring into each other's eyes when Ron interrupted them, "Excuse me, guys for interrupting your little love session going on there, but we have bigger problems on our hands right now!" I jolted back to reality and realized I had stopped crying, "You're right Ron," I said calmly. I whispered then in a small voice, "What do we do?"

Harry thought for a minute and said, "You're going to go." Ron's jaw dropped down to the ground and Hermione raised one skeptical eyebrow at Harry, "You're joking right! She can't go! What if they lock her up or something to get to you?" I glared at him and I felt like I was stuck in the middle. Harry sighed, "Hermione, she's got to go. If she stays here, you heard what he said. He'll cause havoc. I'd hate to think what he would try and do…" Then Harry said firmly, "I doubt he'll harm Ginny. It's not her he wants after all." Harry smiled weakly and then added, "If something happens Ginny, you still have your D.A coin, right?" I nodded and I felt my insides squirm in discomfort. Ron hissed at his best friend, "But she's going with Draco Malfoy Harry! That sly git! I don't want him anywhere near my sister!" he said in protest. Harry snapped at Ron, "How do you think I feel, Ron!" The two boys glared at each other and Hermione rolled her eyes, "Guys! Enough. Let's go and see the dress."

I nodded nervously and we hurried up to my room, narrowly avoiding my mother in the kitchen. She'd been insisting on us doing tasks to keep the trio apart from planning their escape. When I reached my door, I found an owl at my window and I hesitantly walked towards it. It was a horned owl and it didn't look too impressed to be carrying a massive parcel in its claws.

I nervously walked towards it and then untied the package from its feet with shaking hands. I saw another matching envelope on the top and opened it. I pulled out a card similar to the envelope and it read:

Dear Miss Weasley

I'd be honored if you'd accompany me to the ball to celebrate Tom Riddle's return. It is his first time making a public appearance and I feel certain he'll want you there. After all, you did nearly help him come back due to the diary. Please be ready by 6pm on the assigned date given to you. Also, I chose this dress for you. Slytherin colors are essential if you want to look like you fit in. I'm sure Granger can make it fit for you.

I'll see you on the 30th August.

Regards

Draco Malfoy

I stared at his tidy scroll on the card. How dare he mention the diary! What nerve! I glanced up at the trio after reading it out loud and they all stared at me blankly. Then Ron's face contorted in a scowl, "He wants you to wear Slytherin colors?! Is he trying to convert you or something?" Harry glanced away from me, confusion written loud and clear on his face. Hermione whispered, "Open it."

I inhaled sharply and then tore the package open. I found to my surprise, a stunning, emerald green dress. It was possibly the prettiest and most expensive dress robe I had ever seen in my life. The top of the bodice was decorated in glittering green gems which sparkled. The top of the bodice was cut into a sweetheart neckline. The bottom half of the dress was made out of the lightest fabric you could possibly imagine and it seemed to lift off the ground. It did have a slit in it though which made Ron scowl.

I swallowed. Even holding such an expensive dress was somewhat of a novelty to me. I didn't dare touch them in the shops because I knew I'd fall in love and wouldn't be able to take it home. Hermione's jaw had dropped in awe, "Wow! He certainly has good taste in clothing, if nothing else." Harry began pacing my room, his expression changing every second. I wasn't sure how he felt now. Jealousy maybe? I couldn't tell. Hermione sighed, "You might as well try on the dress." So she did.

A/N: Hi all! My first Drinny fanfiction! I have loved this pairing for quite some time and have never really gotten a chance to write about them, until now. If you want more, please let me know. This is just the beginning.