Chapter 4: In Which Draco Surprises Himself

Dedicated to Abatemarca for reviewing! Reviews always give me motivation, so thank you for giving me that! :)

After he had talked to her on his way to potions, Draco tried to avoid the Weasley girl as much as possible. It disturbed him that there was a part of him that wanted to seek her out and that wanted to protect her. Sure, he was a prefect. But he was also a Malfoy. And Malfoys did not protect Weasleys.

"Draco, where are you going?" Pansy said, practically batting her eyelashes. He had bumped into her while walking in the opposite direction of all the students heading to Hogsmeade. "Aren't you coming? I thought maybe we could go to the Three Broomsticks together."

"I may come later. I just want to relax a bit. I had to stay up late patrolling the castle for Umbridge."

"Is that prefect thing or something?" Pansy asked, wrinkling her nose.

He shook his head. "Not exactly. I think Umbridge just wants extra patrollers because of Potter and his antics."

"But Hogsmeade will be so lonely without you," she said. He hated when her voice got whiny like that.

"Yeah, well, like I said I might come later. And Crabbe and Goyle can keep you company." He nodded towards the two boys talking a few feet away from them. They grunted when they saw Draco nod and walked over to where he was..

"Right…" Pansy said, looking in disgust at Goyle who was sniffing under his armpit.

Draco grinned. "See you guys later."

They parted ways, and when Draco finally stepped inside the common room, he breathed a sigh of relief. The common room was almost empty. The students who usually frequented it were at Hogsmeade. The two first years playing chess quickly packed up and left when Draco shot them a glare. As he turned towards his favorite armchair, he couldn't help but let out a groan. The Weasley girl sat there, her legs dangling off the side and her nose in a book.

"Why are you here?"

She looked up, her eyes wide at the sound of his voice. They narrowed when they landed on his face. "Malfoy. What are you doing here?"

He rolled his eyes. "I asked you first."

"Well, I always come here during Hogsmeade trips. The common room is always so empty."

He sat on the couch next to her, immediately sprawling out so he was laying down. "And here I wanted to relax."

'You're the one talking to me. We could easily ignore each other. We've done it before."

She was right. Why had he even bothered talking to her? He closed his eyes, almost lulled to sleep by the sound of pages flipping. But something was bothering him.

"Hey, Weasley. Have you ever gone on a Hogsmeade trip?"

She shook her head, her eyes still on the book. He sat up a little. "Are you serious?"

"Completely."

"But why not? I mean I get that you don't have friends, well except maybe Loony, but-"

"It's not that."

"Then why?"

She bit her lip. "I just...I don't know. There's just no teachers around and…"

"You're afraid of being attacked?"

She nodded. There was a silence between them as she went back to reading. After a few moments of deliberation, he sighed. "Will you go if I take you?"

"You would do that?" she asked, tucking hair behind her ears. The way she looked at him made his cheeks feel warm. But then her tone turned accusing. "Why would you do that? It's not like we're friends. Not even close."

"True. But everyone should go to Hogsmeade, at least once."

She looked back down at her book and then at him. "Um, thank you. That's...surprisingly kind of you, unless…"

"Unless what?"

"Unless this is some kind of trick?"

"It's not a trick! Are you always so paranoid when someone's nice to you?"

"I am when that person is a Malfoy."

He grinned."For someone who comes from a family who claims to be so accepting, you sure are judgemental."

She sat there with a surprised expression. And then she laughed. "Maybe you're right. Fine. Swear it's not a trick?"

"Swear."

"Okay, I'll be right back. Let me get my wallet."

He snorted. "So what? You can carry around all two of your Knuts?"

"More nuts than you carry around."

His eyebrows shot up, and he let out a startled laugh. "Did you just make a dirty joke?" She looked back down at her book, and Draco smiled at the blush on her face. "You turn as red as your hair. Typical Weasley."

"Ginny," she mumbled.

"What?"

"You can call me, Ginny." He looked at her in surprise, and then she quickly added, "But only for tonight. Since you're being so nice."

She went upstairs to get ready, and Draco sat on the couch, wondering what he had gotten himself into.