Chapter 9

"Colin?" Colin looked up at Luna and then quickly looked slightly over her shoulder.

"Yeah?" He gulped.

"What do you think of Ginny dating Draco?" Luna asked quietly.

"Oh," Colin felt he was safe to glance at her again, and regretted it. "Well, I don't know, it's been like almost two months now right? I've gotten used to it, she seems happy. What makes you ask?"

"I'm worried, Christmas is right around the corner, and I'm pretty sure that Harry is going to be visiting the Burrow. Think how awful it would be for Harry if he found out."

"Ginny's a clever girl, if she doesn't want Harry to know then he won't. I'm more worried about what seeing Harry is going to do to her." Colin snuck another careful glance at Luna. She seemed to be thinking hard about what he'd said.

"Hmm, yeah, she's dealing with dangerous stuff here. I wouldn't be surprised if she totally crashes when she sees Harry and ends up breaking both their hearts."

"But not Draco's?"

"I'm not sure how torn up he's going to be," Luna caught Colin's eye and neither looked away. "He plays the attentive, love-struck boyfriend but sometimes when he doesn't think anyone's looking, I catch him with this horrible, calculating look on his face."

"Everyone knows that he still isn't on our side; that he's neutral." Colin was concentrating very hard on staying focused on the conversation.

"I don't believe there is such a thing as neutral. If he's not on our side then he's definitely still in league with the Death Eaters."

"They tried to kill him, remember?"

"Maybe he's trying to get back in their good graces." Luna finally looked away from Colin and into the fireplace.

"By dating Ginny? Luna, I think that would be more likely to make them hate him more."

"Maybe you're right; but I still don't trust him."

"Well I trust her, and whatever he decides to throw at her she'll be able to handle."

Luna turned her big blue eyes on him and held his attention for a moment. "Okay."

"So what are you doing for Christmas Vacation?" Ginny and Draco were sitting on one of the big green couches in the Slytherin Common Room while they were doing homework.

"I know what you're doing," Draco said. "You're going back to the Burrow and you're going to open lots of presents and wrestle with your brothers and try to outwit the twins without any luck."

She laughed. "You've got it down pretty well."

"Yup, I've got you all figured out by now. You're completely predictable." He smirked at her.

"That's what you think," she threw a pillow at his head playfully. "I'll make you eat those words."

"The day that happens I'll snap my wand in half."

"I look forward to it." Ginny smiled at him and went back to her essay. "You didn't answer me, are you staying here for Christmas?"

"Geez you're hard to distract," lies, all lies, he thought. "Yes I'm staying here all by myself with only the Bloody Barron for company."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Said an outraged voice from somewhere near the ceiling.

"Nothing, sorry Roger!" Draco laughed.

"Maybe I'll come back a day or two early and come to see you."

"I'd like that."

Ginny put her essay down on the table and laid back on the couch to rest her head on Draco's lap.

"Man I'm tired." She rubbed her eyes and yawned. "This Charms' assignment is killing me."

"I hope not, I'll have to have a word with Flitwick if I find out he's attempting to kill my girlfriend with homework." He stroked her hair.

Ginny giggled and closed her eyes, she decided to take a nap right there and then. "Don't worry about it, I'll be fine…"

A few minutes later she was asleep and Draco stayed put looking at her peaceful, trusting face.

A scoff from behind him startled Draco. He turned his head and saw Blaise standing there with an amused look on his face.

"Isn't it great that you get such fabulous perks from setting up a betrayal for the Dark Lord? Most people who get an assignment like that end up being tortured or killed, but you, you get a pretty girlfriend out of it." Blaise grinned cheekily.

"Jealous Blaise, or just feeling lonely?" Draco had slid out from under Ginny and placed her head on the couch and was now standing in front of Blaise.

"Oh no, just pointing out how lucky you are," he continued to grin. "And anyway, I'm seeing someone."

"Really, and who might that be?"

"Now that is a secret, but you know all about those don't you?"

On the other side of the couch Ginny wasn't completely asleep and was gaining the sense that she probably wasn't supposed to be hearing this conversation.

"Would you shut up?!"

"Shh, you wouldn't want to wake up the Weaslette, I mean Ginny-kins, now would you?"

Ginny closed her eyes again and silently thought to herself 'Weaslette?!'

"Blaise, now is not the time to display what an asshole you can be." Draco was angry now and he had his wand in his hand.

"Fine, but I did want to tell you that I'm impressed at how well this is going. I hadn't expected you to get her to trust you."

Draco relaxed and grinned. "I know right. I have to say though that I'm worried about what's going to happen if she sees Potter any time soon. If that idiot finds out she's been seeing me the whole plan could fall apart. He'd never trust her again and then everything would be ruined."

Ginny couldn't believe what she was hearing, what on earth was he talking about?!

"It'll be fine, she'll never tell him." Blaise frowned. "How are you going to convince her to help you?"

Draco thought for a moment. "I don't know. I'm kind of hoping it will just fall into place, and if not I'll have to come up with something really clever."

His friend nodded. "Do you still have His letter?"

"It never leaves my person." Draco affirmed.

"Well, I have to go meet someone, so I'll see you later."

"Okay." Ginny was so confused and she was getting angrier by the moment, but she knew that she had to keep her mouth shut until she worked out what was going on.

When Blaise was at the portrait he stopped and turned. "Draco, try not to fall too in love with this girl, we both know what will happen if you do."

"Don't worry about it; I know what I'm doing." His eyes were instantly guarded with an icy wall.

"Yeah right, she's already got you completely crazy about her. I don't want to know what the Dark Lord will do if he finds out." With that Blaise stepped out into the corridor.

Draco stood a moment pondering that and then went back to the couch to find Ginny still sound asleep, or at least that's what it looked like. He couldn't help but notice how lovely her red hair looked flared out over the emerald velvet. He carefully lay down beside her and wrapped his arms around her waist, soon he too was asleep.

A/N Who's excited for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows? I'm completely freaking out, but that could just be me…Review!