Chapter 1

Ginny Weasley sighed softly as she walked down the hallway. Today was the day she had been dreading for almost eleven years. Today her secret would be known. She only hoped everyone would forgive her, especially her long time boyfriend Draco. She did smile then as she thought of him. She loved him with all her heart; they had started dating her sixth year, and continued through correspondence while he was spying.

He had been a spy in Tom's circle for years, starting when he was in his sixth year. Then about a year before he had stopped; when he gave some information to the Order that would immediately show Tom that Draco was a spy. A hundred lives had been saved because of that information, and Draco came to Hogwarts to teach DADA with Harry. The two worked together to teach the class, even though they still weren't the best of friends. But they did tolerate each other.

Ginny stopped and leaned against the wall as her thoughts went over the changes at Hogwarts over the last couple of years. Severus had retired from teaching, and worked solely on potions and finding new potions for the war. She had taken over the potions class four years earlier. That same year Hermione took over transfiguration, after Professor McGonagall's death the summer before. All the other teachers will still there from her years at Hogwarts. Hermione was now the head of Gryffindor house, and Draco was the head of Slytherin.

"Ginny?"

Ginny opened her eyes and looked up at Albus.

"Are you all right?" the older wizard asked softly.

"I'm fine Albus, just thinking," She replied.

"Everything will be fine, Ginny," he replied, knowing what she was thinking about.

"I hope so," She replied softly.

"It will be Ginny. Now, may I have the pleasure of escorting the lovely potions mistress to dinner?" he asked holding his arm out.

Ginny smiled as she took his arm and they turned towards the Great Hall. "Of course, dear Albus. They are probably all waiting for us by now."

"That they are, my dear, that they are," he replied with a twinkle in his eyes. "But that is the fun in life, making the younger people wait on us."

Ginny laughed softly at her mentor's thoughts. "What would I do without you," she replied with a smile.

"Be bored," he replied as they came to the door and waved at Hermione who was on her way to meet the first years. "Well my dear, are you ready to face the night ahead?" he asked softly.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied.

"Then let us go," he replied before the doors opened and they walked into the hall.

Everyone quieted down when they heard the doors open and the headmaster and Mistress Weasley walked in. Everyone at the head table rose, something the younger professors had started them on, and waited while the two walked up the aisle and Albus dropped her off at her seat, then walked to his own and sat down. After he was seated, the other teachers and Ginny sat down.

Ginny looked to her right and smiled at Draco, who took her hand in his. Turning to her left she smiled at Harry two seats over, who nodded with a small smile, then turned back to watch for Hermione. Ginny had to smile at the two; they still acted like sixteen-year-olds with their first crush. And they had been married for over two years!

Ginny looked up as the doors opened and Hermione came in, followed by the first years. This was it, in a few minutes; things would never be the same.

Draco watched as Hermione led the new students up to the dais and Severus brought out the sorting hat.

Hermione nodded at him as he set it on the chair then turned to the students.

"When I call your name, please come up and sit down. Sarah Ashland."

A young girl with dark hair came up to the chair and sat down timidly.

"Ravenclaw." The hat said after a few moments.

About twenty minutes later Draco was only paying half attention to the new students. The other half of his mind was on the lesson for the next day.

"Kerry Weasley." Hermione called, then looked down at the list to make sure she had read it right.

All of the teachers and staff, as well as the students watched the girl who walked towards the sorting hat. Each of the staff members glanced at Ginny to see if she knew the girl. But Ginny was staring intently at the girl.

Slowly the girl sat down, pushing her midnight black hair behind her ear, and waited. Hermione shook herself out of her shock and put the hat on her head.

Everyone waited in silence as the minutes ticked by. Nearly three minutes later, the hat finally announced its decision.

"Slytherin"

Everyone continued to stare in shock for a moment. The girl turned and looked at Ginny with her brown eyes, one eyebrow raised in question.

Ginny nodded slightly, and smiled before she began to clap.

Only Draco noticed her nod at the girl, and wondered who Kerry was. Why had none of them heard about a Weasley that would be attending Hogwarts? None of the Weasley grandchildren were old enough to go to Hogwarts.

Kerry stood as everyone finally began to clap, though there was no real excitement. Walking down the dais she made her way to the table and sat down, looking and talking to no one.

Hermione called the last student up, and then picked up the hat and the chair disappeared. After she sat the hat down on a stool near the wall, she walked over and sat down between Ginny and Harry. As Albus stood up she turned to Ginny slightly.

"We are going to talk," she whispered.

Ginny nodded in reply but said nothing.

Draco watched her for a few moments wondering what was going on in that pretty head of hers. Sighing softly he turned to Albus as he finished the announcements that were the same every year.

"Finally, as many of you know, we are still at war with Voldemort. Let me reassure you that there is no safer place for any of you than here. So please do not fret. All of you shall be protected here.

"Also, we have a new teacher this year, who will be arriving tomorrow. Madame Malfoy will be taking Professor Flitwick's place when he leaves later on this month. Until then she will be helping in the Charms classes while she gets to know everyone. Please make her feel welcome.

"So, shall we eat," he finished.

The students cheered their approval and Albus clapped his hands once and the food appeared. Sitting down the staff turned to their own food.

Draco continued to watch the older man in surprise. Professor Malfoy? Who would be coming to Hogwarts by that name? There was no one old enough to be a teacher in his family. Unless….

But she was in America, had been for years….

Shaking himself out of his thoughts he turned back to his plate.

Draco, Hermione, and Harry were not blind as Ginny barely ate, instead she watched the newest Weasley to Hogwarts.

The next day Draco walked down the corridor on his way to the DADA room. He nodded to students as he passed, but his mind was anywhere but where he was. His thoughts were focused solely on the events of the previous night. He still wondered who Kerry was, and how she was connected to Ginny, but also wondered whom the new Malfoy was.

After dinner Ginny had disappeared into the potions lab with Severus, and had not returned by the time he fell asleep. When he woke that morning he had immediately gone to her chambers to see if she was there. She was gone again, but her bed had been slept in, so she had returned sometime in the night. She and Severus were both gone from breakfast, and Albus informed him they were working on an important project and not to be disturbed.

"Draco, the students will begin to wonder if you are alive."

Draco turned with a scowl. "Oh shut up Potter."

"Now, now Malfoy, there's no reason to get huffy. Simply making an observation." Harry replied as he turned and walked into the room. Draco following him sullenly.

"No reason to lie about it Potter. If we stopped now, things would never be the same."

"True ferret, true. So, what were you thinking about anyway?" he asked as they sat down at their desks.

"Nothing scarhead."

"Come now Draco. After all the years we've known each other, can't you at least think of a better one than that?" Harry asked rolling his eyes.

"I suppose, haven't given much thought to it really. Been to busy with other things," he mused.

"Who would have thought, one day Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter would have a halfway decent conversation."

"Who would have?" he replied with a smirk. "Then again we aren't the same boys we were when we were eleven. We've both grown."

"That we have Draco. That we have," Harry replied softly.

"Another shock to our peers, we agree on something."

Harry and Draco both laughed, then Harry asked once more what was on his mind.

Draco thought for a few seconds whether he should tell him or not. "I suppose I may as well tell you, since you and Hermione are probably thinking along the same lines anyway. I'm worried about Ginny. Something about last night just isn't right."

"I know. I owled Ron, to asked him about the newest Weasley. I've never heard about the girl, even Molly has never mentioned her. And Molly raves about her grandchildren."

"Could it be a cousin?" Draco asked as he thought.

"That could be, but I would think there would have been talk about a Weasley coming to Hogwarts. They make a Weasley's first year the news of the season. In the family of course" he clarified

"Really? Well, maybe the Weasley's are a great family. Besides the fact they produced Ginny."

"There are times I wonder what she sees in you," Harry mused. "But," he began quickly before Draco could respond. "Then I'm reminded how much you love her."

Draco scowled slightly. "I still won't forgive you for what you put us through when we were first dating."

"I know, nothing new there," he replied. "So when are you two going to move to the next level?"

"I don't see how that is any of your business."

"Oh come on Malfoy. Give me some hope for a day when Hermione won't be planning her speech for Ginny's wedding."

Draco smirked as the door opened and the first of the students came in. "Sorry Potter, no can do. Ginny will be the first to know that info. Until then, deal," he replied before turning to the student. "Hello Mr. Kingdon."

"Hello Professor Malfoy."

Harry shook his head softly. Leave it to Draco to leave him hanging.

An hour later all the students were filing out of the classroom when Harry once more tried to get an answer out of him.

"Drop it Potter before I find a way to make you lose the ability to have children," Draco growled.

"That's not very nice now, is it Draco."

Both men turned at once to the doorway to find a women with pale hair that almost appeared to be transparent in colour, leaning against the doorjamb, one ankle crossed over the other. She smiled at the two as she stood up and shook the hem of her deep purple robes to get rid of any dust.

"Is?" Draco asked in shock

"Nice to see you remember me nephew." She replied with a smile. "Now get your butt over here and give me a hug." She continued as she walked into the room and he met her half way, easily lifting her smaller frame off the floor in a hug.

"What are you doing here?" he asked with a laugh.

"Well, Desi dearest started school, and I needed something to do with my hours so I thought I'd come teach Charms. That and keep you in line. What's this I hear about getting caught betraying Voldie? Have you lost your ever loving mind?" she scolded shaking her finger at him.

"Calm down Is, I didn't get caught until after I was nice and safe here at Hogwarts."

"I still don't like it. But I bet your father blew a fuse." She replied with a smile.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Only you would find happiness in knowing that."

"Can you blame me, Lucius is an idiot. I've said that as long as I can remember."

"You've said that as long as I've been alive. If memory serves me correctly those were your first words."

"That they were." She replied with a grin. "Yours too." She continued her grin becoming the famous Malfoy smirk.

"Ahh yes. Father was so furious that you had me calling him that. I believe that was when he said you were no longer welcomed in the house."

"And father told him to stuff it. He was still head of the family, and I was his only daughter. How I miss the old coot. Even if he did give me enough emotional problems to last a lifetime, it was worth it to watch him tell your father off while Narcissa, mum, you, and I would try our best not to laugh our heads off. Well, except for you perhaps, you were too young…"

"You were only five." He replied indignantly.

"And you were two. Then again I do remember you laughing one time…" she replied with a smile.

Harry cleared his throat, finally managing to catch their attention. "I hate to interrupt a family moment… But could you possibly introduce us?" he asked Draco with a smile.

"Actually, we've met."

"We have?" Harry asked confused as he looked at the women, and Draco who was standing there smirking.

"Yes, we went to Hogwarts together. I'm Isáwien Malfoy, Draco's aunt. I was the same year as Percy Weasley." She explained, knowing his connection with the Weasleys.

"Really? I'll be honest, I don't remember you." he replied trying to think back.

"No, you probably wouldn't. I left the beginning of your third year. My mother was dying and I had to go back and take care of the estate. Or else Lucius would have loved to get his grubby hands on it." She trailed off scowling as she talked about him.

"I take it you don't like him." Harry said with a smile.

"That I don't. It's a love hate relationship. He hates me but loves the inheritance I got from our father. I hate him but love this one next to me."

"So you are only a few years older than us?"

"That's right Potter." Draco replied, one would think that was obvious.

"Be nice Draco," Isáwien replied smacking his arms lightly before turning back to Harry. "My mother was my father's second wife. I'm three years older than this one here, so about that much older than the rest of you."

"Hence the reason she was the same year as Percy." Draco continued. "Ow! Isáwien," he cried when she smacked him over the back of his head.

"Ignore the dingbat next to me," she told Harry. "So what's been going on around here?"

"Not much. Although we were surprised to hear Flitwick was leaving. No one knew about it." Harry mused, thinking back to Hermione's rant the night before. She hated being out of the loop on things.

"Well, he's wanted to retire for years, but didn't get around to it. When he learned I had nothing else to do he offered me the job," she explained as if it was nothing big.

"Bloody hell, we better hurry. Dinner starts soon," Draco said after glancing at his watch.

"You're right. Would you mind walking with me to the dungeons Draco, there's something I need to pick up."

"No problem Is," He replied before turning to Harry. "See you at dinner Potter."

"Nice meeting you again Harry," Isáwien said as she took Draco's arm before they walked out of the room.

Harry stared at the closed door for a minute after they were gone. 'Why do I feel like I've just missed something? Or been run over by a train? That's it; I was run over by the Malfoy express. Merlin how are we going to survive having two Malfoy's at the school at once?'

Forty minutes later Draco sat at the head table with Ginny and the others. Isáwien was at the other end with Severus, the two were talking about something, and Draco was quite curious to learn what. Ever since the conversation he had with Severus in the dungeon, he was more curious than ever about the relationship between the man and the woman he thought of as a sister. Leaning back he thought over their walk to the dungeon.

"So, what do you have to pick up in the dungeons?" Draco asked as they walked, nodding to whatever students they came across.

"Your girlfriend and my mentor." She replied with a smile, her violet eyes dancing in merriment.

Draco smirked, "I thought Albus said to leave them alone."

"Ahh but there's the catch. He told all of you to leave them alone, not me. Besides, they need to eat sometime. And Severus is not getting out of escorting me to my first dinner as a teacher."

"Why do I get the feeling there is something more to that statement," Draco mused.

"Old promise," she replied.

"That's all you are going to tell me?" he asked in mock shock.

"That's all," she smirked.

"Why was I cursed with you for a best friend," he replied shaking his head.

"That's your problem. You choose your friends."

"Yes, but I can't choose my family," he replied sourly.

"None of us can love. If we could we'd get rid of Lucius and father in a heartbeat."

Draco smiled sadly. "I know Is," his grandfather had really ruined her emotional psyche.

"Enough of these sad thoughts. We have a dinner to get to and people to kidnap," she replied smiling wickedly.

Draco shook his head. "You are crazy."

"You've known that since we were children," she replied as they stopped in front of the portrait that hid the door to Severus' lab.

"True," he replied before turning to the painting. After he said the password, the painting moved and they made their way into the room quietly. They stopped just inside the room and exchanged a glance, talking with their eyes. Draco smirked and she smiled in return before they turned and quickly but noiselessly made their way to the lab.

When they reached the door they stopped and Isáwien held up her hand, raising one finger at a time as she counted to three, then they opened the door and walked in, smiling as Ginny jumped three feet in the air and Severus whirled around with his wand raised.

"Draco," Severus growled. "Are you trying to get yourself killed," he continued shaking his head as he lowered his wand.

"What are you doing here Draco?" Ginny asked when her pulse had settled down.

"I asked him to walk me here," Isáwien replied and smiled as Ginny and Severus looked at her for the first time.

Severus watched her with one eyebrow raised; 'It couldn't be her, could it?'

"Isáwien?" Ginny asked after a moment.

"How have you been Gin?" she asked with a smile as Ginny rushed towards her. Holding out her arms she pulled the younger women close in a hug as they both laughed happily.

"Did you know they knew each other?" Draco asked as he walked over to Severus.

"When did she get here?" he asked instead of answering.

"Sometime today, she's the new Charms Professor," he replied watching Severus slowly. The man had been like a father to him since he was eight, when Is had started at Hogwarts, and Severus had taken her under his wing. In turn he also took Draco in as well. But there were times when he had to wonder about his aunt and Severus.

"Albus is being very manipulative," Severus murmured as he watched the two women.

"What?" Draco asked, he had caught what was said, but he wanted to know what he was talking about.

"You wanted to know if I knew that they knew each other," Severus began turning towards him. "They met during Ginny's first year; Isáwien's fourth. They would meet in my lab to spend time together and such."

"Really?" Draco asked in surprise. He had never heard of a student being allowed in Severus' private lab, let alone a Gryffindor.

"Well, It only made sense, Isáwien was usually in the lab anyway." He replied, once more watching the two women as they talked in hushed tones.

Draco paused in shock. Isáwien had been going to his lab? That explained where she was during meals the years they had been at Hogwarts together, but why had she never mentioned it? They were keeping something from him. And he didn't like it when the people he cared about kept secrets, usually when they did, someone always ended up in danger.

Before he had a chance to reply, the girls had come over and dragged them to dinner. But there was still something bothering him about the whole situation. First the newest Weasley had arrived, and then Isáwien had arrived with a few surprises of her own. They had never kept secrets from each other when they were younger, but now. Well, he really didn't like it one bit.

Isáwien was the first person he could remember. Being only three years older than him they had grown up together. They never really cared that she was his aunt, they were best friends. Whenever Lucius had been a pain, he had gone to her. And when grandfather had come to her again, she would go to his room to find the peace she didn't have anywhere else. They became each other's knights. She could always chase away his demons, and he hers. They lived for the summers when the families would gather at each other's estates, trading off every year.

When grandfather had become ill, they had both rejoiced and mourned at the same time. With Abraxas Malfoy's death, Lucius became head of the family, which he had been craving for years. But, with Lucius' new power, he also had the power to banish her and her mother from the manor. So, she and her mother had returned to the estate in Scotland, cutting the summer vacation short. That had been when she was nine, and he six.

Mother had taken him to visit once a month after that, and they kept in touch via owls. But at the same time, it wasn't the same. He had turned to his father for the role model, and forgot the events of their younger years that made him hate his father so. He had started to become more and more like his father, until he was the person he had been when he started at Hogwarts.

When Isáwien had seen him during the sorting, she had been very surprised by the aura he gave off. She had watched him for the whole evening, then snuck into the boy's dorm and smacked him over the head hard enough that he still heard ringing when he thought about it. She then proceeded to tear into him like never before, after placing a nice silencing charm around his bed. Five hours later they had fallen asleep, remnant of bygone days and their time of innocence.

After that day, he had started to find himself around her, but they both knew what his father would do if he went from the path that was set before him. So, to the world he remained that spoiled brat, but in private he was slowly but surly becoming the man that their mothers, and she, was proud of. But even then he still didn't have the courage to turn his back on his father, not until she had left his third year.

It hadn't been her mother's death that drew her from Hogwarts, not entirely. She had left to become guardian to a child whose mother couldn't take care of her. He didn't know much about Desdemona's parentage; the only thing he was told was that Voldemort would give anything to get her. So, Is offered to raise her and take care of her until she was old enough to attend a Wizarding school. He had never met the girl, what he knew of her was only through the letters he and Is had exchanged over the past ten years. When he had been in his fifth year, the two had moved to the states, and he had only seen Is briefly when she had stopped at Hogwarts to say goodbye, before she left.

Now Desi was at school. He assumed she had gone to a school in the states, or else to one of the other European schools. Though if they were still trying to keep her a secret from Voldemort, she was most definitely in the states, any place in Europe was too close to Voldemort for Is. And she was here, which had been quite a surprise in itself, but the greater surprise had been what wasn't being said, had never been said. Ginny was keeping something secret, as was Is and Severus. And for some reason he had a feeling that their secrets were all related, but he just couldn't figure out why.

Ginny sighed softly as she leaned back to look at the stars. It had been a wild week to say the least. After Isáwien's surprise appearance and the dinner, she and Severus had been in the lab all week during their spare time working on a new potion. The only time she had left was to supervise her classes. Even meals were spent in the lab. She had returned to her room in the wee hours of the morning, and left by five, that was even if she left the lab at all. A couple nights they had taken naps in shifts so they could watch the potion all night. Last night the potion had finished, and tomorrow they would test it. But for now they were free, and trying to steal themselves for tomorrow.

She hadn't been able to stay in her room, too much going through her mind she supposed. But deep down she knew that wasn't the real reason. Being in the lab so long had gotten to her. Bringing back the memories she fought so hard to control. She still couldn't stand to go near Myrtle's bathroom after all these years. It was hard to believe it had been ten years since the year that had changed everything in her life. But, deep in the night Tom came back to haunt her, and he still controlled a part of her life.

She had lost her innocence then, and so much more. That was probably the worst thing about working at Hogwarts. Certain areas would bring back the memories. And seeing the students with their belief that nothing would happen to them. Almost everyone she knew still carried that innocence; the belief that good would always succeed. Only Draco and Harry knew the truth, they had seen firsthand what the war really meant. The only person who truly understood completely what she was going through was Isáwien. She too had lost her innocence in a way that most of the world would never understand.

And of course others knew, the older generations, but even Hermione and Ron still thought there was nothing that could break the bonds in their group.

She knew different, had since that last day in the chamber. They thought they knew what it had been like for her with Tom, that he had simply possessed her. But, that wasn't the way it had been. And she could never tell them the truth. She knew that Harry suspected that there was more to it than she said, but he never asked. Draco alone knew for sure that there was more. But even he did not know. She couldn't tell him, and he respected her choice, just as she did not press for information on the things that haunted him.

Only Albus, Isáwien, and Severus knew what had really happened. Severus had found her one-day in the middle of one of her few flashbacks. It had taken him hours to calm her down, and then she had told him everything after he had told her his story. It helped having someone who knew where she came from, that she had been able to see everyday. He too had things that he regretted, that affected his life in a way no one really knew. As for Albus, he had known since the summer after the chamber. He had been at the hospital, and was the first person she truly trusted. He became a second father to her, and she the daughter he never had. Isáwien had been the second to learn. She had been at the hospital as well that summer, though for a different reason. And, that summer Ginny had learned Isáwien's entire story, and they found comfort and peace knowing another could share their experiences.

Closing her eyes she breathed in the cool air. She could smell the forest in the air; feel the magic of the place in her bones. Whenever she could she would come out here and sit under a tree at the edge of the forest. Here she found the peace she never fully had in life. She knew that Draco worried about her safety since he had found her here one-day. But she knew that nothing would harm her.

Opening her eyes she looked up at the stars and watched as they twinkled against the familiar deep blue. Sometimes it seemed like she had lived her entire life surrounded by that blue. She had spent so much time looking up at the sky, watching for the answers that had been denied to her for so long.

"Ginny?"

Ginny turned her head and looked over at Draco sighing softly. He had finally caught up with her.

"Are you okay, Gin?" he asked softly. "May I?" he continued nodding down at the ground next to her.

"Of course," she replied looking back towards the stars.

"What is it Ginny?"

"It's nothing Draco."

"Don't pull that crap with me, Gin, I know you better than that," he snapped.

"That's just it, you don't know me, not everything," she replied, standing up as she replied.

Draco paused when he listened. There was no trace of emotion in her voice, like she really wasn't there. Standing slowly he walked up behind her, but didn't touch her. He didn't want to make her run.

"Ginevra."

Ginny shivered slightly as she heard him. He was the only one who could express such caring, understanding, and love in a single word, in her name. Turning around she stepped forward and threw her arms around him.

Draco sighed softly and pulled her closer, placing his chin on her head. Something was bothering her, now he was positive about it. The question was, whether or not she would share.

"I'm sorry." She whispered as she took a step back, but still remained in his arms, looking up at him.

"It's all right."

Ginny gave a half-smile, then as quick as it appeared it left.

"You know you can tell me anything, Gin."

"I wish that were true my love. But there are just things that we never talk about."

Draco nodded slowly when he realized what she was talking about. Whatever was bothering her was related to the chamber, maybe it was time they finally talked about the things in their past that haunted them. They could never go further in life if they couldn't be honest with each other.

"Maybe it's time," he replied, knowing she would know what he was talking about.

"I just can't," she replied stepping out of his arms and walking a few steps away.

Draco sighed once more. "It's okay. You don't have to," he replied softly, holding his hand out to her. "Come on, let's just watch the stars for a while."

Ginny closed her eyes and nodded, then turned and took his hand.

Squeezing her hand slightly he led her back to her tree and they sat down, his back against the tree, and she sat leaning against his chest.

"How come you never mentioned knowing Is?" he asked with a smile.

"I never thought about it, I suppose. It's been years," she replied. "She was the only friend I had my first year, other than Tom I suppose."

Draco raised an eyebrow but refrained from commenting on the idea that Tom was her friend.

Ginny looked up and saw his expression and smiled softly. "I know, he wasn't the best example of a friend, but I didn't know that until the chamber. For a time he was the only friend I had, even my brothers barely noticed me, they all had their own things to do, with their friends. Until Isáwien quite literally ran into me in the library. She started laughing once we realized we were both fine, and I really laughed for the first time all year that day. The rest as they say is history."

Draco smiled softly. "Now that I think about it, the two of you would make the perfect friends."

"That's what Severus said after he watched us together for the first time. Of course he didn't tell me that until after she was gone."

"He told Is that?" That feeling was back, the one that there was something about Severus and his aunt

"Well, I can't think of anyone else that he would tell that to, except Albus perhaps," she mused.

Draco smirked softly; only she could start saying something sarcastically, then correct herself without sounding silly. "What do you know about her and Severus?" he asked as he frowned once more.

"What do you mean?" she asked as she turned towards him

"I just have weird feeling that there is something going on with them."

"Draco, are you asking me if I know something about Severus and Isá having a relationship?"

"Do they?" he asked frankly.

Ginny rolled her eyes at him. "Draco, you are losing it. They are friends, nothing more. Besides, Severus would never have a relationship with a student. He isn't stupid."

Draco sighed heavily. "You're right, but I just can't get rid of the feeling that they are hiding something."

Ginny turned back towards the stars and refrained from answering. After a few minutes Ginny asked the other question she knew he wanted to ask her. "Who is Kerry?"

"What?" Draco asked surprised.

"You've wanted to ask that since the first day of school. It's okay, I've actually been wondering who would corner me first, you or Hermione."

Draco nodded slightly; he never could keep anything from her, just as she could not hide her feelings from him. "So who is she?"

"A Weasley." She replied with a slight smile.

"I know that," he replied tickling her sides slightly. "Potter said your family normally makes a big deal out of a Weasley starting Hogwarts, but there was no mention of one this year. And from what you said, Hermione doesn't know her either. They are like adopted members of your family, and they have never heard of Kerry."

"They've never met her. She lived not far from here during my second through fourth year, and then moved west. I would visit her before she moved."

"But why did the others not know about her?" he asked softly.

"Her mother didn't want her to have contact with the family," she replied, her voice saying she would not explain further.

"I thought all Weasleys had red hair."

"She has her father's hair."

"Once again, don't the Weasleys usually have red hair?" he replied, continuing with the subject change.

"There has to be red hair on both sides of the family for the child to have red hair."

Draco nodded in reply as he thought over what she said. Kerry's grandmother must have been the one without the red hair. Since the Weasleys tend to have red hair, and her father didn't, then his father must have.

"Draco?"

Draco looked down at her, coming out of his thoughts. "Sorry."

"That's okay," she replied with a smile. "I'm going to go in. Are you going to stay out here a while longer?"

"When I can walk the most beautiful women in Hogwarts to her room? I would never turn an opportunity like that down," he replied as he stood up and held his hand down to her.

Smiling she took his hand and he helped her up, and then tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. Together they walked back to the school and in turn her rooms near the north tower. As they walked Ginny thought about the evening. All in all she had kept things under control. For now that was all she could do.