Nothing had ever been so difficult in Draco's life before. Before if anybody had asked him about the hardest thing he had ever been forced to do he would have replied with his sixth year. Fixing that door had been almost impossible and killing Dumbledore had proven even more so. But in comparsion to his latest situation that had been a walk in the park.

He had felt that the next task given to him would be considered by most that much harder than the first. Killing somebody was the hardest thing in the world. When the person was your mother it became that much harder. Following his escape from Hogwarts he had decided that this was going to be the most difficult task in his life. But he was wrong.

Why was it that the littlest Weasley was proving to be so problematic? When he had apporached her in the summer things had been so simple. Get close to her, get her to trust him. He had never expected her to open up to him in the way that she had. He had never expected to want to open up to her. He had never considered the fact that she would be this fantastic woman who would draw his attention, that would cause him to want her in ways he had never wanted a girl before.

She drove him crazy. When he saw her he wanted to go over. He wanted to talk to her, to make her laugh. He wanted to have her look at him in that way. He wanted more than anything to be able to lean in and take her lips with his. He wanted to hold her close and feel her body pressed up against his. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anything in his life.

But he couldn't have her! That was what made things so difficult. He had never been in the situation before where he wanted something he couldn't have. Before he had always gotten his wish. But she was off limits. Yes she was a pureblood so technically she was allowed. But she was a Weasley, she was an enemy. She was his job, and he knew never to mix business with pleasure.

So he had done what he had felt he must. He had distanced himself. When she had returned from her Christmas break he had kept away. She had sought him out and he had mumbled things to her. But it wasn't easy. He spent more and more time in his common room. He hated the looks and whispers but it was easier on him. He liked easy. He liked uncomplicated existances, but he knew he wasn't destined for that.

For a month he had struggled with this promise to himself. It was slightly easier on certain days. When she was in Quidditch practice, when she was in detention (which surprisingly happened on a regular basis). On those days he would sit in the library confident that she wouldn't hunt him down.

Of course Longbottom and Lovegood were there. He had lost count of the times they had called him arsehole and other unpleasent things. Longbottom took to muttering at him in lessons and by mid-January Draco had had enough. He confronted the boy. It hadn't been his best idea but it had needed to be done.

The conversation was bizzare once more, but he was getting use to that. Longbottom had told him that he was playing around with them. That he pretended to be changing but really he was still the argoant boy he had been on entering the school. Draco agreed up to a point with that. He was using them, he hadn't changed but something was changing. So he had done something he had never dreamt of doing before. He told Longbottom the truth.

They had been out in the grounds. The snow littered the ground and mist came from their mouths as Longbottom had yelled. But Draco had kept his composure and spoke softly. He had told the other boy that he was afraid. That he felt he needed to distance himself for Ginny's sake. The boy hadn't understood from that. So with a huge sigh Draco had simply said 'I think I may be falling for her.'

Longbottom had let the argument drop. Maybe he understood what it was like to start falling for someone that you shouldn't. Maybe he understood that Draco was scared to bring Ginny any closer into his world. Or maybe he understood the fear of love. Maybe he too had learnt that it was better to be on your own sometimes than to bring somebody closer to you. Draco knew that the boy had secrets. He knew about his past and knew that most students didn't know the considtion fo the boys parents. So maybe, just maybe in that moment they understood each other.

But if Draco had thought it would get easier with Longbottom (and then Lovegood) not riding him he had been wrong. He had expected teh next attack to come from Weasley herself since she was getting annoyed with the treatment. But he had been wrong. The Slytherins had become use to him slinking off to bed at earlier hours so that he could be on his own. But at the end of January when he entered the room somebody followed him.

He had turned and looked into the weedy face of Theodore Nott.The conversation they had had still weighed heavy on Draco two weeks later.

"Malfoy stop fucking about."

"What the hell are you on about Nott?"

"You keep distancing yourself from the Weasley and there's no information. The Dark Lord isn't impressed."

"How would you know?"

"For Merlins sake Malfoy! You were feeding me the information and I was sending it on. He isn't stupid he knew that you were the one getting it and that you were smart enough not to send it yourself. It was clever. But he knows that the source has dried up. My father has sent me owl after owl asking what is happening. You need to get more information."

"What if I don't want to?"

"You gave yourself to the Dark Lord. You can't go back on that. Get more information. If you don't he'll kill you and the Weasley girl.".

Draco had gone to bed thinking about that. He had tried to but it had become even more diffiuclt. He had stopped the girl in the corridor and spoken to her. He had asked her to join him in the library and work together. He had even agreed to go watch her in Quidditch practice so that they could take a walk and talk together.

But something had occured and there was something missing between them. The spark that had made things so easy was missing. He didn't think that he was going to get any more information from her if this continued. But he couldn't push things like he had because he was afraird. He was afraid of getting to close.

But by Valentine's Day it seemed that the girl had had enough. Draco had spent the day avoiding her as students around him flirted and giggled as cards and presents were exchanged.Draco was beginning to believe that he had gotten away with it. But as he left the Great Hall following his evening meal he was confronted by the girl.

"We need to talk."

Her face was set in a stern manner and he knew that he wouldn't be able to get away from her. So he simply nodded and followed her along the corridor to an empty classroom. The door closed behind her and he moved straight to one of the tables and sat on it.

"I want to know what's going on."

"Ginny there's nothing -"

"You ignored me for the best part of a month and now when we spend time together its not the same. It's strained. What's happened?"

"Nothing."

"Draco don't lie to me!"

He had never heard her yell before and there was something about it which sent a shiver through his body. She looked terrifying as she stood there with her hands on her hips and her jaw set. It was the same look she had directed at him and Longbottom at the start of the year.

"Its the NEWT levels. I'm stressed Ginny. I knew they were going to be hard work but this is beyond. I can't cope."

"That's an excuse. Why are you being all iffy with me."

"Iffy?"

"Don't start that Draco!"

He didn't know why but he stood up. The space between them was lessening.

"Ginny I'm not being iffy with you."

"If you don't want to be my friend anymore just come out and say it. Don't mess around like this."

The sterness was beginning to falter in her face and he could see the start of tears brush her eyes. The gap was closing even more and they were inches apart. Draco couldn't reply. He hadn't been this close to her in so long. Reaching his hand out he brushed a loose strand of her hair behind her ears. Thge small contact sent a shivering pulse through his fingers. He didn't relaise it but he started to lean in towards her.

His heart jumped as his lips brushed against hers. He heard the small intake of breath from her as his lips touched hers for a second time. This time they lingered over hers and then he felt her move. Her lips opened slightly and he kissed her. It only lasted for moments. He began to raise his head but her arms came around his neck. He felt the soft tug and once more their lips met.

This time it was stronger. His arms snaked around her waist as he pulled her body against his. The kiss became wilder as he licked her lower lip. Her arms trightened around his neck as they attacked each others mouth. The entire time Draco's mind was screaming. Her body was pressed against his, her lips her tounge were responding to his. He had dreamt of this but the dreams were nothing compared to the real thing.

He didn't know how long they stood like that for. But when they finally broke apart they were both panting slightly. His arms refused to let her go as he pulled her clsoe to his chest. Her head nuzzled against his neck and it felt to him as if this was how they were meant to be.

Silence stayed with them for a while as they just stood there. Finally Ginny's voice broke it.

"You kissed me."

A small smile was playing on his lips.

"You kissed me back."

A nerve jumped in his neck as her lips touched a rather sensitive spot he didn't know he had. He couldn't help the tiniest sound of pleasure that slipped through his lips as her tounge cressed the spot.

"Ginny."

"Umm..."

"Come to Hogsmeade with me on Saturday."

Her lips left his neck and he fought not to protest as she took a little step back and looked at him.

"I'm not seventeen yet."

"So what? Luna is going in with Neville so you'll be on your own otherwise."

"But -"

"Filch won't know. Come on. It can be a date."

Another smile came to her face. And Draco couldn't help but lean down and kiss her lips again.