Much thanks to my Beta Malon A. Lupin

Ch1

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements

Even if it leads nowhere or would it be a waste

Even if I knew my place should I leave it there

Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements

Even if it leads nowhere

– Adele, Chasing pavements

"Gin," she heard Harry call as he entered the Gryffindor common room. She watched as the door slide close behind him. Ginny looked up and placed a smile on her face, trying to suppress the frown that wanted to take place on her face.

"Hey Harry."

He came over to sit beside her. "What are you doing?" he asked as he ran his hands through her fiery red locks, twirling one lock around his forefinger.

"Just trying to write an extremely hard assignment for DADA, I don't think I can sit here any longer, my quill hand is starting to cramp." Ginny dropped her quill and began to rotate her wrist.

"Why don't we go for a walk?" asked Harry.

Ginny tried to think of a reason why she shouldn't go on a walk with Harry, but she had already told him that she needed a break. And she couldn't think of a reason to not go on a walk with her boyfriend. "Sure, why not?" She got up and straightened her skirt. He held out his hand and she took it and they left the common room.

They ended up lying by the weeping willow tree. Harry held her tightly in his arms and they watched as the sun began to set. "We should be heading back soon, we might miss dinner." Ginny said, trying to get up.

"Let's stay here for a few minutes longer," Harry said, pulling her back to him and hugging her tightly. "I could stay here forever," he whispered.

Ginny just laid her head on his chest. She didn't know exactly what to say to that.

"I love you, Gin."

His words made her heart beat faster. She bit her lip, turned to him, and smiled. That's all she could do--she couldn't say it back to him. She leaned in and kissed him so she wouldn't have to speak. He responded enthusiastically, grabbing the base of her head and kissing her harder. She tried to keep up with his enthusiasm. He laid her down, and she could feel the prickly grass beneath her. His hand slid slowly down from her silky red hair down to her chest and he began to knead her breast through her shirt.

"Harry," she moaned, his small action causing heat to flow down between her legs.

"Yes?" he purred back, licking the spot of her neck that always made her go crazy.

"We can't, not here."

"No one will see us, Gin." His hand left her breast and began to travel further south.

She grabbed his hand. "No, Harry," she said more firmly.

He took a deep breath and slowly sat up. "Sorry, Gin."

"Its fine," she sighed. "You don't have to apologize you know."

He looked away. "Let's go get dinner."

They got up, and she dusted off the grass on her skirt. She knew he felt bad, so she grabbed his hand in order to make him see that she wasn't upset. He held it firmly and smiled. "I love you Gin."

She just smiled.

***

Ginny took a seat beside Hermione and began to pile food onto her plate. Harry sat at the other end with Ron and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"Hey, 'Mione."

"Hey, where were you? I came to get you for dinner but you weren't there."

"Yeah, I went on a walk with Harry."

Hermione gave her a knowing look and Ginny just ignored it.

"Sooo?" Hermione nudged her.

"So what?" Ginny took a bite of her roast beef.

"Did you?"

"Did I what?"

"You know, did you?"

"No, 'Mione, I told you I'm not ready yet."

"But you've been with him for two years now. What are you waiting for?"

Ginny took a deep breath. "I'm just not ready, 'Mione, that's all." She stabbed her potatoes.

"I remember my first time with Ron," she began.

Ginny gagged. "That's an image I could have lived without, thanks."

Hermione chuckled.

"Where's Luna?" Ginny asked.

"She decided to sit with the Slytherin's today." Hermione said gesturing towards the table.

Ginny looked for her blonde haired loopy friend, who seemed to be accepted by every house. She was mostly accepted by Slytherin because she was dating the tall dark and handsome Blaise Zabini, Ginny caught Luna's eye and her friend waved frantically at her. Ginny grinned and waved back. Luna whispered something to Blaise, got up from her seat, and ran over to Ginny.

"Hey Gin."

"Hey, Luna." She moved over so that Luna could sit beside her.

"Do you want to come over with me?"

"To the Slytherin table?"

"Yes," she said, holding the same enthusiasm.

"No thanks Luna, Slytherin and I don't really get along."

"Oh come on, Gin." Luna rose from her seat and grabbed Ginny's arm.

"Lun," Ginny whined.

Luna dragged her all the way across the Great Hall to the Slytherin table. To her luck, a certain blonde Slytherin was absent. She looked across to the Gryffindor table to see Harry giving her a questioning look. "I'll be back," she mouthed to him and he just nodded and went back to his conversation.

"Weasley," Blaise said with a nod.

"Zabini," She smiled.

Luna went to sit beside him.

"Now what's got my friend more loony than usual?" she teased.

"It's our anniversary." He smiled and kissed Luna's cheek.

"Luna! Why didn't you tell me? I would have gotten you guys something."

"Oh, no need, Ginny. Blaise is all I need."

Ginny smiled although the lovey-dovey scene before her made her slightly nauseous.

"It seems the littlest Weasley has lost her way," she heard someone drawl from behind she rolled her eyes and turned to face the blonde Slytherin.

"Well hello, Malfoy, it's lovely to see you too. "

He sneered. He ran a hand through his shoulder length hair. Ginny had a strange sensation that she would like to see what that felt like between her fingers.

"Move over, Weasley. You've already taken up half the bench. Leave some room for the rest of us."

"I'll move over as much as I can, but I'm afraid your ego won't be able to fit, what with it being as large as the Great Hall itself."

"I love it when they're in the same room together. They never fail to entertain," Blaise said as he sipped his pumpkin juice.

They both glared at him and he just grinned.

Ginny scoffed and began to rise from her seat. "Not that I don't love the company you keep," She looked at Draco. "But I'm going back to where I can eat and not get annoyed at the same time."

"I assure you you'll be missed," Draco said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Wait, Gin, you'll come to our anniversary party wont you?"

"Sure, Luna, Where is it?"

"Slytherin," she smiled hopefully.

Ginny sighed. "Sure, Luna"

Her friend smiled and Ginny walked away with a wave.

Ginny lay in her bed a few hours before Luna's anniversary party, a silencing charm and a sound-blocking charm conveniently placed around her bed. She had the curtains around her bed drawn. She just needed to be alone again. She needed to think of how she was feeling about Harry. Her feelings shifted so very often that they began to confuse her. One moment she could look into his hazel green eyes and see her future with him. She could see their children, and it didn't scare her. Next, the thought of spending the rest of her life with him would cause her to panic. She liked Harry, she knew she did. She liked spending time with him, and enjoyed his company. But sometimes it felt like she needed something different, something stronger…. because at times he just seemed so sugary-sweet that it gave her a stomach ache.

She glanced at the Muggle clock on her nightstand and realized that she would be fashionably late to Luna's party.

***

Entering the Slytherin common room would never be comfortable. Although, she has spent many nights there before with Luna and Blaise, and occasionally the infamous Draco Malfoy. She walked through the portrait after whispering the password. The music was thumping and she could see the bodies moving closely together. She recognized the song that was playing by the Weird Sisters.

"Come on baby show me what you mean,

Tell me that you love me baby show me

That you mean it."

Ginny's hips began to sway to the music, as she searched the common room for Luna and Blaise.

"Come on baby, you make me crazy, staring at me like you do.

Come on baby you make me crazy, touching me like you do."

She spotted them on one of the dark clove green sofas, Blaise whispering in her ear and Luna giggling non-stop. Ginny walked over to them. "Sorry to interrupt," she said, sitting beside them.

"Ginny!" Luna squealed.

"I'm so glad you came". Luna gave Ginny a hug.

"So what have I missed?"

"Oh nothing really, Just a few Slytherin's making royal asses of themselves."

"Oh really, then I missed too much. Do share," Ginny said, scooting closer to Blaise.

"Well, Pansy for one seems to have an agenda for the night: make out with any male at this party," Blaise said.

"How so unlike her," Ginny chuckled.

"Even worse, she is succeeding."

"Oh no," Ginny said making a face.

"Oh yes," Blaise smirked.

Smirking seemed to be a Slytherin thing. Luna and even Ginny seem to be imitating it without even realizing it.

"Blaise, darling," they heard Pansy screech from across the room.

"Yes, Pansy?" Blaise drawled. "What can I do for you?"

"I'd say a little kiss, but I'm afraid loony will curse me to bits. Maybe later" She winked.

"Very doubtful, Pansy."

"Oh, too bad," she frowned.

"Ooooh," she purred. "Who do we have here?" She sat beside Ginny and threw her arm around her. They weren't what you could call friends, they just tolerated each other.

"The littlest Weasley came out to play."

"Hello Pansy, drink enough did we?"

"Not nearly enough. Join me, wont you?"

"No thanks, I have to walk back Pansy, some other time."

"Oh come on, just one."

Ginny looked at her skeptically then thought what the hell. It was a party, right? "Fine, just one."

"A small one." Pansy gestured with her hand and laughed.

***

One shot of Firewhiskey turned to 6 and a butterbeer Pansy and Ginny where on the dance floor, swaying their hips slowly teasing the boys around them to a song by the Wizards of Anarchy, singing the words to the song into their butterbeer bottles and laughing every time one of them didn't know the words to a verse.

"You cast a spell and now I'm lost, oh baby what will this cost.

I'll pay anything a galleon or twenty, just to be with you honey,"

They sang completely off-key. But not one boy cared as they watched the girls dance. The room around Ginny was spinning and her legs felt numb, the effect of the butterbeer running its course. She liked this feeling--the way her arms tingled, and she felt as light as a feather. Although, the light sensation didn't work completely to her advantage. Suddenly she lost her footing and fell into a pair of strong arms.

"Watch your step, Weasley," she heard Draco drawl behind her. She turned on him and glared.

"You were in my way," she said, using her butterbeer bottle to poke him in the chest.

"Maybe you've had enough of this." He took the bottle from her hand. She looked at him in shock and reached for her bottle, but he held it out of reach and she ended up stumbling. She growled in frustration.

"You know what I don't get, Malfoy? I saw you drink just as much as me, maybe even more. Why are you acting so sober?"

"Some of us know how to hold our liquor with a little more class, I guess."

Ginny glared and went for her bottle once more. Again he held it out of reach.

"Ginny, you left me hanging out there." Pansy came to her side.

"I need a backup singer for the next song."

"You're the cause of Weasel's foolishness?" Draco asked.

"No I'm the cause of her having fun." Pansy smiled seductively.

"Now where have you been all night, Draco?" she asked, placing her hand on his chest.

"Oh please, Pansy, I'm not nearly drunk enough."

She frowned. "Then we need a few more shots over here don't we?"

"Don't you ever give up, Pansy?"

"No, she doesn't, and I find it endearing," Ginny said, trying once again to get her bottle, but Draco switched it to his other hand.

He rolled his eyes and drank from the butter beer he had stolen from Ginny. She grunted and stomped her foot, and he smirked and took another long gulp. She watched as he finished her butter beer.

"All gone," he said, pouring the last drips on the floor.

Ginny reached for her wand, but Pansy grabbed her hand. "Let's just go get you a new one."

"I wanted that one," Ginny said forcefully, pointing at the now-empty bottle.

"Someone's an angry drunk," Draco teased.

"New bottle for Ginny!" Pansy said excitedly and began to pull her away.

"Ah-ah," Draco said, grabbing Ginny's other arm.

"I've been asked to keep my eye on the Littlest Weasley to make sure she doesn't drink herself into such a stupor that she is unable to walk back to her own common room."

"By who?" Ginny asked.

"Why, who else? The couple of the night."

"Wha…?" Ginny looked around and realized that Luna and Blaise were no longer present at their own party.

"Well how about you don't, and we say you did."

"Sorry, I can't. A Malfoy always keeps his word, and I promised a very drunk Luna that I would take care of you and I will."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, Malfoy, just let me have my fun, and I'll tell Luna you kept your promise."

"No can do."

"I don't have to listen to you, you know." She pulled her hand out of his grip. "Come on Pansy, let's go find me another butterbeer."

Draco watched as Ginny and Pansy wound their way through the crowd, and sighed.

***

"Ginny… Ginny" she heard someone say her name. She chose to ignore it. She was then shaken thoroughly and she woke with a start and fell off of what may have been a couch. She lazily opened her eyes, as she was still drunk.

"What?" she whined.

"I'm taking you back to your common room."

"No." She groaned as she slowly got to her feet and turned to what did turn out to be a couch, and began to climb back on.

"Oh no, you don't." He pulled her to him again.

"Why can't I just sleep on the couch?"

"You are not sleeping in the common room," Draco said forcefully. "Now let's go."

She tried to get her balance as she swayed right into his arms.

"Are you going to walk or do I have to carry you?"

"I can walk, thank you very much," she said as she quickly stepped away from him, stumbling towards the door as she did She reached the portrait and laid her head against it. The lady in the painting made a disgusted face and turned her nose up at her. Draco took her arm and helped her through the portrait.

"Stupid git," she muttered.

"What?" he asked in disbelief.

"I'm helping you back to your room! How does that make me a git?"

"I just felt like saying it."

He rolled his eyes, "Zabini owes me," he muttered.

Ginny realized as she kept walking that her body felt heavier and heavier with every step. She hadn't realized it, but she had begun to lean on Draco more and more until it was as if he was carrying her. They reached the Fat lady and he turned to her.

"What?"

"The password"

"Oh. Uhm…"

"You forgot your password?"

"No." Ginny glared. "It'll come to me." They both leaned on either wall. Ginny slumped and Draco with his arms crossed staring at Ginny. "Stop staring at me."

"How would you know I was staring unless you were staring at me?"

"That… that's stupid"

He just smirked. He ran his hand through his hair and Ginny's strange urge to run her hands through his hair came back. In her drunken state she didn't think much of it as she got up from the wall and walked towards him.

"What are you doing?" he asked skeptically.

She didn't answer as she got closer and reached her hand out and ran her hand through his feather soft hair. She gasped. "Wow it's softer than I imagined."

He just continued to stare at her as she curled his hair around her finger, with a slight smile across her face.

"I remember!" she said suddenly, breaking the silence they had fallen into almost causing him to jump. She turned to the fat lady, whispered the password, and the door swung open. She climbed in and quickly turned around. "Thanks, Malfoy."

He just nodded and walked away, trying to push aside the strange feeling he had gotten as she played with his hair