Chapter One - A Thank You

Ginny Weasley gave one last hug to hermum and dadbefore she left to go search for Colin, her best friend, and for a compartment in the Hogwarts Express. She had changed a lot over the summer. Now, in her 6th year, she had a nice figure, a lot of confidence, and of course the Weasley temper, though she could usually control it.

"Ginny!" someone called.

"Hey Colin! What's up?" Ginny asked as they hugged.

"Wow! Not much," he replied staring at her. "Hey! Is that makeup?"

Ginny just smiled shyly. "Maybe."

Colin shook his head. "Ok, well let's go get a compartment before they're all taken."


"Joy," Draco Malfoy thought. "Another year at Hogwarts. I don't know if I'll be able to make it."

"Dracie, darling!"

"Yes," he replied, sounding very strained. Pansy siddled up to him, permanently locking her arm in his.

"How was your summer? I sure missed you!" she said in her annoying high- pitched sugary voice.

"Just fine," he said wishing he were anywhere else. Heck, even the youngest Weasley would be better.

"If you will excuse me," he said, unlinking his arm with hers and walking off towards the Hogwarts Express.


"Seriously?"

"Yes. I knew Hermione and my brother liked each other. I never knew they were that shy though, it took me and-" Ginny was interrupted by someone slamming the compartment door open and then shut.

"What the-" Ginny said, "Malfoy?" she yelled.

"I do have a first name Weasley," he said smirking. His hair wasn't slicked back as usual, but left to fall as it pleased. At the moment it was all in his face, and his cheeks were a little red. Apparently he had been running.

Ginny ignored that last comment, along with his good looks. "Uh, just what do you think you're doing?" she asked. Colin just sat there, looking back and forth between Ginny and Malfoy. Suddenly the compartment door was once again opened. Malfoy quickly dashed for the corner behind the compartment door.

"Hello? Have you seen my Dracie? . . . Oh, a Weasley, what do you know."

Ginny just stared at Pansy for a second, but then she smirked. "Actually I know a lot, and I do happen to know where your . . . 'Dracie' is," she said, turning to look at Malfoy, who was silently pleading for her not to say anything.

"Oh, really, then where is he?" Pansy asked, not really expecting much, but straightening up to look inside.

"Oh, down that way," Ginny pointed down the hallway, smiling brightly. Pansy just rolled her eyes, but walked on in that direction. Ginny closed the compartment door and burst out laughing. Colin laughed as well, falling out of his seat.

"Oh, where is my Dracie," Ginny called in a high pitched voice, imitating Pansy frightfully well.

"Shut up," Malfoy spat, scowling.

Ginny and Colin just continued to laugh their heads off. Then, Ginny stopped, and still smiling said, "Well, I think I still deserve a thank you."

"Malfoy's don't thank people."

"Oh, really?" Ginny said. Smiling, she went to open the compartment. "Pansy!" she called.

"Noooo!" Malfoy yelled, making a move to try and stop Ginny from revealing his location. Ginny cocked her eyebrows at him.

Malfoy scowled, glaring at her smiling face. "Thanks," he mumbled.

"You're welcome," she said laughing.


After the welcoming feast, Ginny and Colin headed up to the common room with the rest of the Gryffindors.

"Hey Ginny!" someone called.

"Hey Harry," Ginny said. "Remind me never to sit with Hermione and Ron again! Geez . . . " he said with a rather disgusted face.

Ginny smiled. "Guess they're catching up."

Harry just shook his head. "Yeah, well, hope you had a better trip."

Ginny and Colin both started to crack up, and Harry stared at them both, puzzled. "Uh . . . "

"Well, you see, Malfoy tried to hide from Pansy . . . in our compartment . . . "


By the time they reached the common room, Hermione and Ron had joined them, and they were all laughing hysterically.

"I can't believe that git is afraid of Parkinson!" Ron said in between laughing.

"I think he was just more annoyed by her," Ginny said smiling. "But oh, you should have seen his face! 'Noooo!' And when he thought I was gonna tell her where he was!"

"Yeah, and then when you made him say thank you," Harry said, looking at Ginny, his eyes sparkling.

Finally it was only Colin and Ginny in the common room.

"Hey Ginny?" Colin asked.

"Yeah."

"I think the boy who lived likes someone," he stated bluntly. Colin was known for not fooling around. He got right to the point.

Ginny looked up. "What do you mean?"

"I think Harry has finally noticed you, now that you don't wear all your brother's old clothes and you wear some make up," he said, staring out into space.

"Well, it's too late for him. I wasted so much time on him," she said sadly. "Besides, if it's just looks than . . . Oh Colin!" Ginny cried.

Colin came over and hugged her. He remembered all those times that Ginny had cried over Harry. He hated Harry for it, for just ignoring her. And now, if it was just about looks, than he for sure wouldn't let Harry get to her again, no matter what.