Disclaimer:

Nothing is mine. Harry Potter (the Weasley family and so on) belongs to JKR and those who publish her books. Damien is Kurinoone's and Harry's background is kind of hers, too. I am doing this for fun (and to sleep peacefully) and I earn no money for this story. There are parts of this story that have been written by JKR and parts that have been written by Kurinoone.

Chapter Six – Not So Secret Affair

When Draco had followed Harry from breakfast to bring him the news that it wouldn't take the Death Eaters much longer to work out the wards, he hadn't expected him to go with the Weasley girl. He followed them anyway, knowing that Harry, as soon as he saw Draco, would let the mudblood lover know where her place was and they could talk. She wouldn't dare to say otherwise anyway. No one dared to say otherwise if the Dark Prince said something.

They turned the corner and Draco followed them, but stopped when he saw that Harry pressed her against the wall. He smirked and moved a step closer trying to hear the threat he was giving her. Draco froze when Harry leant in and kissed her. He couldn't help but watch as she moved her hand nearer to his hair. Draco reacted without thinking as he saw that Harry was pulling back. He turned around and hided around the corner. His heart was pounding. What exactly was Harry thinking? He shuddered, but tried to calm his breathing anyway. It wouldn't do for them to hear him. He would ask Harry about it later... or wouldn't he?

The question answered itself, when Harry turned around the corner as well and came face to face with him. Draco swallowed as soon as he saw Harry's face and his narrowed eyes. "Follow me." Draco didn't even think about refusing and just did as he was told.

Draco guessed that Harry just went to the next unused classroom. He waited for Draco to step in, which he did and as soon as both boys were inside Harry wordlessly casted some spells that Draco didn't get because he did it so fast. It didn't really matter anyway since Draco was sure that it was a silencing charm or something other similar to prevent people from listening.

"I believe you have some questions to ask."

Draco hesitated with an answer. Instead he went further into the room, coming to a halt next to one of the student's desks, with his back turning away from Harry. His mind was screaming hundreds of questions at him, but he was forcing himself to remain calm.

"You could say that." He paused, trying to decide what to say."The Weasley girl?"

Harry didn't say anything, so he continued. "How...? What...? Urgh!" Draco swirled around. "What are you thinking? The Weaslette? I mean come on...! They are all mudblood lovers! They are poor! She doesn't even look good... she's just... how can you even stand being around her? Touching her? Kissing her?"

"That's enough." His hard tone got Draco to stop at once. "My reasons are none of your business."

Draco glared at him, but Harry didn't look away. Finally it was Draco, who turned his head away. How... how could Harry do that?

"Fine... I will write to my father then... or should I write to yours? Have you forgotten who he is? In case you haven't noticed it isn't James Potter." As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them.

If Draco had watched Harry he would have seen him narrowing his eyes even more. "What did you say?" If his voice was hard before, now it was unbearable.

Draco swallowed and as Harry slowly closed the gap between them, Draco moved as far away as possible, focusing on the place where he guessed Harry's wand was. "I mean... I didn't... I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

"How did you mean it then?"

"I... uh... look, Harry. I'm just angry about the Weasley girl and I don't know what you could possibly want from her or what you get from her... I shouldn't have said what I did. I don't really think that you forgot the Dark Lord or that you think something positive about Potter."

"Not thinking something positive about him? I bloody hate him!"

"I'm sorry, my Prince. It won't say or even think it again."

Draco knew very well that Harry hated it to be addressed as 'my Prince' or anything formal, but that was all he needed. Harry had to stop for a second to consider that Draco was his only friend and that hurting him wasn't such a good idea.

"You can stop that. I won't attack you. Not now anyway."

Draco relaxed a bit, but kept his eyes on him. It was better to watch his hands to have a slight chance to dodge if he decided to attack him nevertheless.

"You won't tell anyone what you saw."

Draco nodded. Harry was the Dark Prince after all. He had to listen.

"My Prince?"

"It's Harry, Draco."

"Harry... can I ask a question?" He just stared at him, but Draco had made the experience that it was better to be careful when Harry was angry. "Why... why the Weasley girl?"

Harry watched him for a moment, but he answered: "It will break them."

"Excuse me?"

Harry's face was an emotionless mask. Draco couldn't say what he was thinking. "She believes I care for her... I make her believe I care for her. What do you think will happen when she realises I don't?"

"I guess she'll be... sad?"

Harry snorted. "She'll be miserable... furious about herself... it will break her heart. She will have believed me after all..."

"And why are you doing that? I mean... it's not like this will help us in any way."

"I'm totally bored."

"What?"

"For one it is fun."

"Fun? I mean yeah, I can understand the sort of fun you can have with a girl... but she isn't even good looking" Draco made a face while only thinking about her. "She's so pale... and... the red hair! Urgh..."

"As if you can talk about pale skin..." He glared at Harry – hard – but Harry only smirked.

"Git! So you really think she is... hot?"

"I think she is very attractive yes."

Draco shuddered. "Did you look at her?"

"Did you look at her?"

"So... you want fun, huh? The Weasley girl... I still don't get it... why not have some fun with a Slytherin girl? Ravenclaw if it has to be... but a Gryffindor? I mean come on... you'll have a look at the Slytherin ones and choose one and I'll drop a few hints who you are and they will be lying at your feet."

Harry laughed. "As if I would need that help."

Draco paused. "You got the Weasley one after all... I thought she was prude."

"She isn't."

Draco gaped at him. "You got her into bed already? How long has this been going on? No wait... I don't want to know"

"My theory has more to do with her brothers... but who am I to make you believe otherwise?"

"Her brothers? How could they influence if she is a prude or not?"

"I don't think she is a prude because it is more likely that her brothers forbid her to see a boy and are doing everything to prevent her from dating."

"I thought that was nothing more than a stupid rumour."

"I'm not sure if is true or not, but I heard Weasley talking about protecting her and I heard Thomas – or what's his name; you know the mudblood Gryffindor boy – talking with the Irish one about her and it sounded like they were planning on taking out Weasley to have a chance with Ginny."

Draco made a face at Harry calling the Weasley girl by her first name. "Okay maybe it is true, but what has that to do with anything?"

"Yeah... definitely Slytherin's cunning." said Harry in a fake whisper, and then, louder: "Don't you see?"

Draco glared at him. "No, I don't."

"For one it brings even more fun to make Weasley angry and the other point is that it will hurt the whole family."

"Maybe you will break her little heart, but why should that have anything to do with the Weasley family?"

"You weren't there when Weasley talked to the mudblood and Potter junior. He was desperate. It was like it means everything to him to keep her safe. He said that it means everything to his family as well."

"So... you aren't only doing that for fun?" Draco asked sceptical.

"No... hurting a family who is in the Order is never a bad thing, is it?"

Draco laughed. "I would love to see their faces, you know."

"There is another good thing about it... What do you think Arthur Weasley will do, when he finds out I'm playing with his daughter's feelings?"

"He'll be furious."

"Yes... and wizards and witches, who aren't powerful and haven't got magical busts when they are angry, are better when they are angry. Then they aren't acting controlled in a duel. Arthur Weasley isn't extremely powerful now is he?"

"Of course not!"

"What I'm going to tell you is top secret."

"I won't tell a soul."

"Father and I were thinking about ways to destroy the Order before I was captured. We agreed that it would be best to take them out one after the other."

"And...?"

"Arthur Weasley is a member of the Order of the Phoenix..."

"But it wouldn't be hard to take him out." stated Draco confused. It was only Weasley. The Muggle-loving fool.

"Oh, you're underestimating him."

"I am?"

"Yes... he isn't powerful, but he is good with charms and finding out if something is wrong. He has to be good at it or he wouldn't be that good at his job, would he?"

"And if he is good at seeing what is wrong, it is difficult to get anything in his drink like a poison or a dark artefact in his bag." completed Draco.

"Exactly... and we wouldn't want to waste the time to make a plan to capture him or to get him alone. He is a bit paranoid. He is never alone."

"You have someone watching him?"

"Him and a few of the other members."

"Why not all of them?"

"For one there aren't enough Death Eaters for that, they need sleep after all" said Harry dryly "and secondly because we are hoping that with taking Weasley out, his wife will prevent the children from fighting for the Order again ... you know how she could never stand losing her sons after she lost her husband in a terrible fight."

Draco made a face. "That sounds logical."

"Of course it does."

"So... he'll be furious and not so careful with what?"

"Ahh... in a fight Arthur Weasley is one of those who wait for the best chance... what do you think he'll do after he knows about me and his daughter? What do you think he will do when he sees me?"

"He will want to fight you, taking revenge."

"That is the plan... he'll run to me and I'll finish him off without the whole problem of trying to get him alone."

"Wow... I can't wait to be old enough to be a part of all of this."

"Father is thinking about making you a Death Eater as soon as you finish Hogwarts."

Draco made a face. "I wish he would do it as soon as I turn seventeen"

"It is far too dangerous. If they catch you... What does it bring if you have the mark, but you can't do anything anyway and they capture you? Just a waste of money... or maybe you would end up in Azkaban."

"Father would never allow that." tried Draco to convince him.

"Waste of money as I said. There are far better ways to spend it on."

Draco stayed silent. He knew that it wouldn't bring anything to argue. "Oh... now that we are talking about chances to get caught and ways to escape... I have got good news for you. I've got the order to tell you that they nearly worked out the wards... father says it could take another week, maybe two, but not much longer."

Harry smirked. "Those are good news indeed."

xxx

The next day came and Ginny was sitting at the Gryffindor table while eating breakfast. She was surrounded by the usual crowd of Damien, Ron, Hermione and Harry, when the swishing of arriving owls broke the chatter in the hall.

Ginny watched the Hogwarts' owls making their way to the ones the inventions were directed to. She had stopped hoping for one because boys had stopped asking her out to Hogsmeade... why should they do it to the Christmas Ball instead? She frowned when an owl landed between her and Harry who sat opposite of her. Harry didn't even bother to look up.

There was a loud clatter as another brown coloured owl came and landed in front of Harry, knocking the jug of pumpkin juice over, which got a reaction from him. He finally looked up. Ginny noticed that Damien was looking at his brother as well.

He reached over and took the small roll of parchment from one of the owl's legs. He quickly opened the letter and read it. He looked confused. Ginny knew exactly what it was and she wasn't pleased. When she thought about it, it was obvious that Harry would get inventions to the ball, but it was something different to see it.

More owls swooped towards Harry and landed very nosily in front of the puzzled looking boy. The other Gryffindors begun to notice the small army of owls as well and it didn't last long for everyone to laugh and snigger.

"What?" Harry finally snapped at Damien.

"Well Harry, aren't you popular." Damien said before he and Ron dissolved into fits of laughter again.

Ginny watched as the younger boy explained it to Harry, before helping him removing the parchment. She didn't hesitate to help them and Ron and Hermione joined as well. She tried not to think too much about it, but there was some little voice in her head that wouldn't shut up.

Harry quickly got up and left the hall and before Ginny knew it she was running after him together with Damien and Ron, while she heard Hermione calling something about homework. Damien had the collected invitations still in his hands and was in the process of putting them in his bag.

"What are you doing? Get rid of them!" Harry snapped.

Damien just laughed. "No way! This is going to be fun. If you don't want to know who all your admirers are then that's fine. But I want to see who all these girls are that are crazy enough to ask you out."

Harry only glared at him as response and they walked a few steps in silence until Ron exploded. "It is a ridiculous thing anyway. I don't like it. Those silly dress robes and all those giggling girls and...urgh"

"Oh come on Ron! Concentrate on the important things! Before this ball we have got another Quidditch game to win."

Ron's mood changed before their eyes. His dreadful one turned into a delightful one and he nodded excited. "Yes, Damy... you're right."

"What does the score have to be again? 30 points to the others? That won't even take four minutes" Damien and Ron stared a moment at Harry because normally he didn't talk much with them. Most of the time he was just there and listened or he complained about things at Hogwarts.

"No, absolutely not 30 points! We need way more than that. It will take at least 70 points before you can catch the snitch and four minutes? ..." Ginny didn't continue listening to Ron. She just looked at Harry who bent his head slightly to the side as if asking if she understood. Ginny nodded slightly that she did but she wasn't so sure if she wanted to talk to him.

She settled on deciding when she was alone. She excused herself from the group and went down the corridor past the other students. What the hell... it wasn't his fault that she was angry or sad or whatever... she didn't have to tell him anyway... seeing him always made her feel a bit better... 30 and 4... 4 and 30... fourth floor, thirtieth room. Her body made the decision for her as her legs made their way towards the suggested room.

When she entered Harry wasn't there, but she didn't expect him to be there before her anyway.

She sat down on the floor, facing a large window and looked outside. Some snowflakes were falling but it wasn't cold enough today for them to stay. Instead they melted when touching the ground.

The door opened, but Ginny didn't look up. The footsteps came closer and out of the corner of her eye she could see Harry's dark messy hair when he sat down next to her. He was facing her and not the window.

"Hey."

Ginny eyes didn't leave the snow.

"What's wrong?" One of his hands found hers. Ginny stared down as he entwined their fingers.

"It's nothing." She swallowed and tried again, but her voice still sounded weak.

His other hand found her face and he moved it so that she looked into his eyes. "Is it about the ball?" She shrugged. "So it is... are you angry because those other girls think I would go with them?"

She shook her head. "You are angry because we can't go together?"

She shook her head again. "I'm sad we can't go together and... no it isn't important"

"Come on, you can tell me."

"It's just stupid."

"Is it about me?"

"No... it isn't and it isn't important. It doesn't matter"

"I'm... we can't go together, you know that, right?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Of course."

"I'm sure it could be fun, but we can't."

"I know Harry... it would be fun to dance with you... can you dance?"

He nodded. "And you can't?"

"Pardon?"

"I'm just guessing what the other thing is."

"No, I can dance... my mother wanted me to learn it you know... the proper way for a girl." She snorted. "I had to learn it with my brothers. They hated it... Percy was the only one who agreed with my mother, so I danced with him most of the time."

"So you can dance a classical waltz?"

"Yes why?"

"Nothing different?"

"No..."

"I thought so... couldn't imagine you dancing with your brother any other way..."

"And you? Can you dance anything different?"

"Yes, I can."

"Who taught you?"

But Harry just shrugged. "Maybe I'll teach you one day how to really dance."

Ginny looked at him, but now it was Harry who looked out of the window.

Silence stretched between them in which they both looked outside. "So... what is the other thing?"

"You're still thinking about that?"

"Yeah, I'm curious."

Ginny blushed. "It's some stupid girl-thing."

"I thought you wouldn't do the girl things."

"It isn't really a girl thing... its more what the other girls will say if... when..."

"When...?"

Ginny blushed harder. "It is stupid... I mean... I... it's just that I hate how they look at me, when I haven't got a date to the ball again you know." She avoided his glance. "I told you it is stupid..."

Harry freed his hand from hers and pulled her whole body closer to his. "It isn't stupid." He sighed. "You are just worrying about what the others might think about you." Ginny nodded against his chest. "You don't have to worry about that, you know... it doesn't matter what they think or what they say. It is your opinion that matters, not theirs. But if it is that bad you could just go with someone."

"But I only want to go with you and I know I can't."

Harry smiled against her head. "Then I'm afraid to tell you, you won't find a way around the looks."

"As long as you go alone as well... or maybe... you know maybe we both won't go and just do something different. They'll just think that you were too shy to ask a girl and hide in your room, while I'll be in my room crying my eyes out because no one asked me." She laughed slightly.

Harry thought it wasn't a good moment to tell her that he didn't plan to be at Hogwarts at all.

xxx

After a short speech given by Katie – which included something about the special day and win or die trying, which made her grin and after being asked she said something about the twins and Oliver Wood – they left the changing room and stepped outside in the freezing December wind.

Ginny closed her eyes a moment, but opened them when she heard the cheers from the crowd. Her teammates had already made their way to the middle of the pitch where the Hufflepuffs were waiting and Ginny hastily followed them.

Madam Hooch said her usual words and the two captains shook hands. Ginny wasn't really paying attention; instead she was looking at Harry who reminded her of their short meeting before the game. The rest of the team hadn't really eaten anything, just a bit of toast or some bacon before they had gone to the pitch. Ginny had more appetite, which was the reason why she had stayed behind a few more minutes before making her way towards the pitch. Just outside of the castle Harry had waited for her. They had walked together, joking around. He had even given her a short 'good luck' kiss after looking around to make sure that no one was watching.

When they nearly had reached the pitch Harry had suggested meeting after the game. If they were to lose the others would think they were hiding somewhere sulking and if they won everyone would be so happy that it wouldn't attract attention if they were missing half an hour... Ginny could always say that she had taken a long shower and Harry usually avoided the other Gryffindors. Ginny had agreed happily, hoping that the second situation would be the case.

Harry mounting his broom brought her back to the present and she did the same. After a few seconds they were all in the air and Madam Hooch released the balls.

The game wasn't the best for Gryffindor in the first half an hour. Hufflepuff had scored two goals and only after a timeout called by Katie in which she decided to try another strategy did it get better – better was even understated. After that they played excellent and scored nine goals which brought them ahead the needed seven. Ginny searched for Harry one or two times in the sky to see if he was doing alright but he was just flying around, speeding up once as she watched but she couldn't see if he really had seen the snitch.

Ron saving another goal and the loud cheers from the Gryffindors and a few Ravenclaws made her look for the other players. She could watch Harry flying around hour after hour because something changed about him when he was on a broom. He seemed happy... free... at peace.

An excited scream went through the crowd and Ginny looked back to see what the reason was. She found it in Harry and Paul – the Hufflepuff seeker – who were zooming towards the snitch. Harry was ahead and if Ginny concentrated enough she could make out the small golden ball in front of them.

A grin spread on Ginny's face as she saw that the other Seeker was getting slower, too afraid to get that near to the ground. Harry was going full speed and he nearly had it, when another cheer went through the crowd. Ginny didn't look up but she heard Professor McGonagall interrupting Luna's describing of clouds to comment on a goal Katie had scored.

Harry reached out one arm, Paul behind him forgot his worries and tried a last time to come closer to the other Seeker, but Harry caught the snitch, which made him lose his balance. Paul seeing that he had lost, pulled up, but stayed where he was watching Harry fall towards the ground.

Harry made a roll to soften his fall and came to a halt laying flat on the ground. The crowd was absolutely silent and only when Harry put his hand with the little struggling snitch in the air and the whistle from Madam Hooch sounded, the Gryffindors screamed out of joy. The Slytherins booed and the Hufflepuffs seemed disappointed as well, but there wasn't anything they could do. It had been a fair game after all.

The Gryffindor team landed beside Harry who was getting up already.

"Are you alright?" asked Damien concerned. Harry nodded and Ginny let out the breath she hadn't been aware of holding.

Damy grinned cheerfully and hugged his brother who seemed to stiff at that but Ginny didn't think the others had noticed.

Katie beamed and praised their flying and playing and before they could say more they were nearly overrun by all the Gryffindors trying to get through to them. Harry screamed something over them, but Ginny didn't catch it, she only saw him disappearing in the horde of people.

The next thing she saw was Damien and Katie being lifted from a few older Gryffindors. Ron hugged Ginny and screamed into her ear to follow him, but she shook her head and motioned towards the changing rooms and her dirty robes. Ron just stared at her, before he shrugged and went with the mass of people towards the exit and the Gryffindor tower.

As soon as she could walk freely again, Ginny made her way towards the changing rooms and looking down her robes she decided that she really could use a quick shower.

She hurried up, afraid that she would keep Harry waiting. Wrapping a towel around herself, she went to the empty changing room only to stop as soon as she saw him. He was sitting next to her clothes, waiting for her.

Bending his head a bit and looking her up and down, he greeted her. Ginny blushed. She was in that moment painfully aware where exactly the towel ended and where it began.

"I... uh... I'm..." She didn't even dare to move another step afraid the towel wouldn't cover everything then. Damn her mother! If she hadn't talked that much about the proper way to behave maybe she wouldn't have this problem now. Perhaps she would even let it fall down just to tease him. She blushed even harder at that thought.

Harry's gaze lingered on her face a moment, before he got up and gathered her normal clothes, ignoring the Quidditch robes. With a few steps he had crossed the room and stood before her.

He held them out for her to take but she clenched her towel even harder afraid to let it go. She had a tendency to be in embarrassing situations and it really hadn't to be even more awkward than it was now.

"Okay... I can either take them to the showers and you change there or I will lay them back down on the bench and wait outside"

Ginny avoided his eyes and stared instead on her jeans and her hoody and her underwear that was buried under the top. Her eyes got even wider and her blush deepened again.

"Shower." she almost shrieked.

"Calm down, Ginny, it isn't that bad." He didn't wait for her, but walked into the shower room, to where she followed him slowly. He looked around but there was nothing to put them on, so he searched for a dry place and put them on the ground. He stood up and turned around, taking a deep breath.

His voice sounded rough when he spoke again: "Okay... I'll just wait... outside... I mean in the changing room" As soon as he had finished speaking he nearly ran outside.

Ginny looked after him, confused. What had happened to the 'it isn't that bad'? She decided not to think about it and put her clothes on.

Grabbing the towel again and rubbing it through her hair she made her way towards the door and into the changing room. He was sitting on the bench at the same spot as before, her dirty Quidditch robes just a few feet away from him. He looked up, when she entered.

"I could rub m..." He cleared his throat "I mean I could rub your hair dry... or I could use a bit of magic to get it dry more quickly..."

"Err... okay" She sat down facing him and gave him the towel, but he put it aside, running his fingers through her hair. She watched his lips turn into a smile.

"Err... don't you need your wand?"

"Huh? Ah... no, there is no need for that."

She watched as a few of the strands were a bit dryer after he touched them. Fascinated she watched his fingers as far as she could see them. "How...? How do you do that?"

"Magic." He smirked.

"I guessed that... but you haven't got your wand"

"Wandless magic."

"You can do that?"

"Obviously."

"Do you... do you always do it that way?"

"What? Drying my hair?"

She nodded and he answered while moving to the next strands. "No... It takes much more time than it drying the natural way... but your long hair would take ages the natural way and this is much faster." He worked calmly and after a while Ginny closed her eyes, enjoying him so close to her and his hands in her hair.

"Could you turn around?"

Ginny nodded and did as she was told. Silence stretched between them and Ginny had to think again about the way he nearly fled from her.

Feeling a lot more comfortable now with clothes on and him being not able to see her face she broke the quiet again. "What happened to the 'it isn't that bad' when you entered the bathroom?"

Harry froze, but merely a few seconds later he continued working. "Er..." Ginny turned her head around to have a look at his face. He was staring intensely at her hair.

"Your... er... your scent"

"Excuse me?"

"It was everywhere and you being really attractive, not wearing much... I thought I would lose control for a second. You know me being male and everything." His tone got lighter at the end, but Ginny had to look away anyway. Her cheeks were getting redder again.

"Uuh..."

He didn't expect a response or at least he didn't say anything, but worked a few more minutes before stopping. "It isn't totally dry, but it is much better than before."

"Thank you"

"No problem." He lowered his hands, while she turned around, smiling at him. He smiled back.

"You really played fantastic today." Ginny blushed under his gaze.

"Thank-" she couldn't even finish because he had leant in and kissed her. She smiled while he deepened the kiss. Oh Merlin, how she loved these moments with him.

He lent against her, pressing her gently down onto the bench, while throwing her dirty Quidditch robes aside. She ran her fingers through his hair. They stared a moment at each other, before continuing their kiss. She shivered when one of his hands slowly found its way under her hoody. He drew small circles around her navel.

Someone clearing his or her throat, made Ginny freeze. Harry calmly removed his hand before pulling back. Nervous she looked around him, only to see her bushy haired friend.

Hermione's eyes were opened wide. They moved from Harry to Ginny and finally settled on her stomach... where Harry's hand had been. Hermione blushed. "Err... I..."

Harry stood up, while Ginny sat up. They were both looking at Hermione, but Harry was the first one to act. "You didn't see anything" he threatened, while staring Hermione down who stepped back.

Ginny stood up and closed the space between Harry and her. She caught hold of his arm, trying to sooth him down.

"Harry?" He didn't really listen, he was just trying to get free, but Ginny didn't give up. She stepped between him and her best friend, breaking their glaring contest. "I'll talk to her, okay?"

Harry seemed to search something in her eyes. He finally nodded and with a last glance at both girls, he turned around and left the changing room.

Ginny looked after him until he closed the door before turning around slowly. She couldn't face her best friend and her expression, instead she stared down at her feet.

"What did he do to you? Is he... is he forcing you into this?"

Ginny looked up sharply. "No! Of course not"

"You don't have to defend him you know." Hermione stepped closer to her.

"Hermione he really doesn't force me. I'm... doing it willingly."

"Ginny, I can help you escape him. We'll tell someone. Professor McGonagall is going to listen to you... to us. Please! Ginny, you can't give in that easily. Don't let him do that to you."

"Hermione!" Ginny crossed the space between them and looked deeply into the eyes of her friend. "I'm not doing this to defend him. I'm. Doing. It. Willingly. He. Doesn't. Force. Me."

"He really doesn't?"

"No!"

"You would tell me if he did?"

"Of course! I wouldn't do it anyway! Do you know me as someone to give in? To give up? Do I do something just because I'm scared of what people do?"

"No... I guess not." Hermione paused. "But... but why are you doing it then?"

"He... it... it just happened."

"It just happened? He came here, kissed you and you kissed him back until I walked in on you? He had you pressed against the bench, his hands under your hoody!"

Ginny blushed. It sounded even more embarrassing if Hermione said it. "No, not like that... we talked before."

"So he talked with you for a few seconds before jumping you?"

"NO! Hermione he didn't! Could you please stop assuming that he'd do something like that? That I would do something like that? You know me better than that don't you?"

"I'm sorry, Ginny. But what should I think? You didn't talk to me at all the last few weeks! You had either lessons, were at the table eating, in your bed sleeping or missing with no explanation where you were or what you did... that wasn't the first time, was it? All this time... all those hours... you were with him? You ignored your real friends because of some stupid snogging sessions?"

"We didn't just snog..."

"Ginny... can't you see what he is doing? He is using you!"

"Using me? For what? Hermione he likes me!"

"He likes you?" Her voice sounded startled.

"Yeah, even if you don't believe it, there is a boy who likes me – me little Ginevra Molly Weasley."

"I didn't mean it like that, Ginny."

"How do you mean it then?"

"It's just... he could be playing with your feelings, Ginny."

"He isn't." She said forcefully.

Hermione bit her lip, looking worried. "How can you know for sure?"

"How do you know that he is? He saved my live – thrice!"

"Yes, I know, Ginny... but he said to Ron-"

"That he doesn't care and whatever... but Hermione, he told me otherwise! He showed me otherwise. He helped me and he listens to me and... why should he do that if he doesn't care?"

"Like I said... he could be using you."

"But what for? I'm just some unimportant student. There isn't anything he could use me for."

"What about your family?"

"It isn't like that Hermione. I don't tell him everything. I don't tell him secrets of the Order. I don't even know enough to tell him. He doesn't ask anyway. If he wanted to use me, he would do that, wouldn't he?"

"Yes, but maybe he is waiting..."

"Waiting? For what? Hermione if he really wanted to know something I would know. He wouldn't be able to fake all this... all this kindness and interest and... he just wouldn't."

"But he broke Ron's nose! He called me a ..."

"I know Hermione... but he is educated to think and behave that way. It isn't his fault." If only Hermione could see it her way.

"Ginny I don't want you to get hurt."

"He won't hurt me... he doesn't hurt me. He even teaches me sometimes."

"What? The dark arts?" Hermione asked worried.

"No! Of course not. He helped me with my Patronus." Ginny smiled softly, remembering that day.

"He did what?"

"He wouldn't do that if he didn't care would he? It is a disadvantage for the Death Eaters if I'm capable to defend myself."

"Just a moment ago you told me you are an unimportant student and now you are talking about fighting Death Eaters and Dementors."

"For now I am an unimportant student... but if something like Hogsmeade happens again... what if there are Dementors? I can defend myself then. I can save myself and other lives. If he didn't care, he wouldn't teach me. Hermione, please, you have to believe me."

"Ginny... I don't know... it just sounds wrong."

"Hermione..."

"I... I will think about it, okay?"

"That is all I can ask for." She finally said, resigning.

"I've got another question."

"What is it?"

"Why haven't you told me?"

Ginny looked away, noticing her dirty Quidditch robes. "I... I just couldn't. It has been so wonderful and I didn't want to listen to your worries... I had them myself, you know, I didn't want to explain my feelings and the situation and him and everything to you, I didn't want to see your face. I didn't want to see your disappointment either. I just... I couldn't."

"Oh Ginny! I only worry about you!"

"I know... but..."

"It is okay. I won't tell you anymore what to do. If you really think that he... likes you, I can't do anything more anyway. I want you to be careful. You are my best girl friend after all."

"Thank you. You don't know what that means to me."

Silence stretched between them, which was only broken, when Hermione sat down on a bench, looking at Ginny curiously, before speaking again: "Soo... what is it like?"

"What?"

"You know... kissing him, talking to him? How did you get so close? How did it happen? You have to tell me everything!"

Ginny stared at her. "Are you... are you sure?"

Hermione smiled. "Certainly."

"I believe it started when he saved me in Hogsmeade."

"Yes, I guessed that... you searched for him. He came to Hogwarts, he saved you again... he saved us all... but I mean... I haven't got a... relationship with him!"

"I guess then it started when I overheard him talking to Malfoy."

"When was that?"

"Shortly after the incident with Ron's nose... he talked to him in the library and caught me listening. That and the next time he threatened me to not tell anyone. I said I would anyway... but I never really did."

"He threatened you...?"

"It... it wasn't that bad. He didn't hurt me!"

"Okay... but as I said before I haven't got a relationship with him."

"Sorry Hermione, but I'm rather glad you haven't." They shared a small laugh, before Ginny continued. "I met him in the Hospital Wing again. We had our first real conversation there. He was nice... I think I can admit that I was a bit afraid, when I insulted Snape in front of him... but he was really cool about it. Told me he didn't like him either..." Hermione could see that Ginny had been dying to talk to someone about him. She seemed to give her an overview "Then I had that accident were he saved me again and I knew he was the saviour... he wasn't as unfriendly to me as he was to Ron. He was okay I guess. He helped with one of my D.A.D.A. essays later on – you know the one you read and found perfect? I wrote it with his help. It followed the Daywalker thing... I thanked him after that in the hospital wing... he was nearly sweet about it. Additionally there was this moment... it was at night and we walked together to the Astronomy Tower, where we had a long talk about everything and nothing... it was perfect. And... Do you remember the time I came back to the common room and was absolutely happy? You told me that day that I couldn't possible manage the Patronus Charm alone. That was when he kissed me the first time..."

Hermione watched her friend getting that far away glance that she had seen on other girls when they were talking about boys they liked. She couldn't help but smile. Ginny definitively deserved to have someone that made her happy even if she herself couldn't quite understand why it had to be the Dark Prince.

xxx

Somewhere in the castle a blonde and a dark haired boy met after the blonde one had searched for him nearly one hour. He informed him that it would only take a few more days before the dark haired one could go home.

xxx

AN: Maybe you noticed that I changed the Quidditch game a bit... in "The Darkness Within" Harry collapses and wakes up in the hospital wing where Draco tells him about the worked out wards. But my story is an Alternative Universe... which will be made clearer in the next or the chapter after the next one. I'm not sure yet, but don't be surprised if a few... or a bit more things change after that point. I have so many ideas and it had to come after all. ;)