Hooray for multiple chapters posted in a few days! I actually have this more or less finished, it's just been sitting on my computer for ages unBeta-ed. It's still unBeta-ed, but I want to get started on another writing project, and I want to get this done before I start it. Hope it's not too crap, lemme know if it is. My ownership of Harry Potter and The Little Mermaid hasn't changed. I still don't own them. Oh well, enjoy.

Ginny sat back against the tree she had chosen, a thick blanket beneath her and one over her legs, a basket next to her and a cushion at her back. She was comfortable and moderately warm, which was a good thing what with the bitter wind that reddened her cheeks. At least the weeping willow she sat under helped with the wind a bit and what got through the gently waving fronds didn't have as much bite as the wind she had fought through on her way down to the edge of the Lake. Apart from the wind, it was a nice day, a weak sun shone far above her, making the water sparkle. The sky was a washed out bluey-grey, with a few paler clouds drifting across the sky.

She pulled a hand mirror out of a pocket and opened it, scrutinising herself in the tiny mirror for the millionth time since she reached the tree, peering through the dense fronds and deciding that it was the perfect place to eat a picnic under a blanket with a beautiful boy. She adjusted the white silk lily in her hair, and made sure it hadn't fallen flat since she had taken the time to curl it. It wasn't wild and bushy like Hermione's, thank Merlin, but the soft curls had drooped just a little. It didn't matter, Draco always seemed happy to see her, no matter what she looked like. Her make up was minimalistic, a little shimmer to her cheekbones, mascara and lipgloss. She was only wearing it because it smelled and tasted like strawberries. Not the sickly artificial kind, the real kind. It was delicious, and she was sure Draco would appreciate it, despite his unwillingness to eat anything other than bread and fish. And if he kissed her, it'd taste like strawberries. And probably fish, since when he did eat, that's what it was. She had brought some along, in the hopes that he'd eat, but he'd probably just watch her. She was starving, and thus had brought plenty for herself.

Movement outside the gently waving fronds made her look up, and she squinted for a couple of seconds before calling out and waving. Draco stepped through the leafy curtain, grinning at her. It was only as he walked towards her that she noticed the slight limp. Did he always have that limp? Or was that new? There was no sign of pain in his face, which didn't give away any emotion at the best of times. His face always seemed carefully controlled, like he was afraid to show any emotion that he didn't want other people to see. He was always watching, always listening. Even his grin seemed oddly restrained, there were other emotions carefully hidden behind his clear grey eyes that she couldn't quite make out. She smiled back at him and lifted the blanket, throwing it over his legs as he settled next to her, close but not too close. She could sense nerves from him, as if he was afraid to get too close in case she ran away. She closed the distance between them and gave him a quick hug before settling against his side, pulling the basket to her.

"From our conversation earlier, I decided that you don't like kippers much, but other than that I'm at a loss. I got a few different types of fish and a few other things, you can pick at whatever you like." she rambled, opening the basket and spreading the neatly wrapped food across both their laps. Once opened, they made quite a generous spread. There was a piece of salmon cooked in soy sauce, cod with lemon and dill, a slab of battered fish that she couldn't name, a few different types of sandwiches, two slices of strawberry cheesecake, two pasties and a little bowl of fruit salad. She gave him another smile before picking up a sandwich and biting into it, savouring the taste of chicken, lettuce and mayonnaise. She watched him pick up a tuna and sweetcorn sandwich, and take a bite of it with the air of someone performing a dangerous experiment. She couldn't help but turn and look at him as he chewed it, a bemused expression on his face. It was almost like he was unsure what to make of it, but would try and choke it down anyway. She started to laugh, and he glared at her, finally swallowing the mouthful and putting the rest of the sandwich back on the napkin with the rest of the sandwiches. She shook her head and took a deep breath, pushing the sandwich back into his hand. "I'm sorry. . . I've just never seen someone so wary while eating a sandwich!" She giggled, and the annoyed scowl changed to a frown of embarrassment, and she patted the back of his hand before turning back to her own food.

They spent some time eating in silence, barely even glancing at each other until they were finished, when they finally lifted their heads again and glanced at each other. The awkward silence finally descended on them, as Ginny didn't know what to say, and Draco couldn't speak, even if he did know what to say. She settled for snuggling into a more comfortable position against his side, and smiling to herself when he finally lifted his arm and put it around her shoulders. When she turned to look at him he was blushing furiously, and returned her smile shyly. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then frowned slightly and shut it again, pulling away from her slightly. She closed the distance between them again, looking into his stormy grey eyes. "It's OK. I don't mind that you can't speak." She whispered, smiling slightly as she felt his hands clasp behind her back. She lifted her own hands, putting one on his collarbone and one at the back of his neck, pulling his head down so that she could touch her lips to his. His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer, which she took as a sign to deepen the kiss, opening her mouth and gently probing at his lips with her tongue. His response was enthusiastic, and before long their tongues were moving against each other in a way that made her tingle all over, tasting each other with enthusiasm and, on Dracos part, inexperience. A tiny part of Ginny was relieved to find that he didn't taste like fish.

She gave a little whine of disappointment when he pulled away abruptly, looking into her eyes. He opened his mouth, shut it again, and shifted position a few times in irritation, before standing up, pulling Ginny with him. He pointed at himself, then at her, then at the castle, and then did a strange, jerky movement. She frowned at him in confusion, and he drooped slightly, before pointing at himself again, then at her, then at the castle, and then slipping one arm around her waist, taking her hand in the other, and swaying gently. It was only after swaying on the spot for a couple of seconds that Ginny realised what he was doing. "You're asking me to go to the Ball with you?" Enthusiastic nod, big hopeful grin. She returned the nod, and his grin widened, threatening to take over his whole face. She laughed out loud and launched herself into his arms, feeling him wrap his arms around her and swing her around on the spot, lifting her off her feet. It felt natural, like both of them knew what to do at exactly the right moment so that she didn't knock him off his feet, or so that he didn't drop her. They staggered apart, laughing, before Draco pulled her close again, leaning down until his forehead touched hers. She hadn't realised he was so tall. . . He pulled her closer for another tight hug, and their lips were just about to touch when the bell rang inside the castle. Ginny drew back sharply, swearing under her breath. She had Potions after lunch. Snape wouldn't be impressed if she skipped class, he had glared at her when he had spotted her picking food off the Gryffindor table, wrapping it up and shoving it into her basket. There was nothing she could say that would excuse her from the class.

A gentle nudge reminded her where she was, and she looked up into Dracos eyes again. He gave her another gentle push, before turning back to the tree trunk and wrapping the food up again, putting it back into the basket before brushing the crumbs off the blankets and folding them neatly. He put them into the basket on top of the food and stood by her side, looking slightly awkward again. She smiled at him and took his free hand, giving it a quick squeeze before she started walking, Draco keeping up with her fast pace. She knew she was going to be late for class, as she had left her bag with her books up in the Girl's Dormitory, but she didn't care. All she could feel was happiness, and a slight buzz after their kiss. His hand was warm, with calluses on his palms. She noted that he still had the limp, but there was also a spring in his step, if that was possible when limping. She was a little surprised at how quickly they made it back to the castle, and they were at the bottom of the stairs when Luna hopped lightly off the bottom step, carrying two bags. "Hermione told me to give you this. Are you coming to class?" She nodded, taking the bag from Luna and turning to Draco. He grinned at her and made a shooing motion, clearly indicating that she should go to class. She pulled him into a hug, giving him a kiss on the cheek before turning and dashing down the stairs to the dungeons after Luna, leaving Draco in the Great Hall, one hand touching his cheek and the other still holding the basket.