The week passed by in a haze of potion smoke, badly done transfigurations, exploding eyebrows and melting caldrons. For Ginny it was also filled with anticipation for the Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw game that would be held on Saturday. Terry had told her that he wanted to win but he would be happy for her if she won. Ginny didn't want to talk about it; she wanted another midnight picnic with Draco. But nobody needed to know that, after all, Draco was enemy number one on Ron and Harry's list.

Friday morning she was eating in the Great Hall with her back to Terry so she could watch Draco interact with his minions. The only downside to that was the inability to see when Terry was sneaking up on her. His hands slid down her waist in an odd sort of hug. She turned around with a smile,

"Good morning Ginny," he smiled at her, flashing a full set of very white teeth,

"Good morning Terry," she hoped nothing was stuck in her teeth

"I just wanted to wish you a good day and say that Ravenclaw is going to whip you tomorrow," he was sorry that he'd said it the moment the words left his chiselled lips.

"Yeah um, about that Terry, I don't think so," she stood up carefully – elegance was going to be crucial for her dramatic exit – "Because we, is gonna whip your ass," she added a swing to her hips as she pirouetted and left the Hall with everyone watching her go, mouths gaping and eyes wide. The rest of the team stood up and left the hall, Gryffindor's had a thing for drama and they couldn't let the moment go.

Dinner came with a certain amount of pomp. The team waited outside the hall for Ginny; determined to make a show. Ginny half expected them to burst into song and dance their way into the hall – sadly, nothing of the sort happened. They formed a `V` shape with Harry in the lead, followed by Ginny and Ron, then Katie and Dean, then their infamous beaters Kent and Travis. Harry shoved the doors open and walked into the hall followed closely by his team who kept their faces serious in order to create as much drama as possible. About halfway down the length of their table they turned to face the Ravenclaw's. The girls blew kisses and the boys shook their heads in a menacing manner. There should have been a soundtrack. The Hufflepuff's started laughing, quickly followed by Slytherin jeers. The Ravenclaw's look affronted. Terry just looked at Ginny with a blank expression; she knew he hadn't meant to cross the line by talking about Quidditch, but relationship rules had to be followed and something as important as the school Quidditch cup was not to be joked about.

With her back to Terry she looked at Draco, he raised his glass in a toast to her followed by a wink. She raised her glass back and gave him a smile.

"Ginny, what are you doing?" oops, damn curious Ronald, can't he be as oblivious as he looks, Merlin.

"I am raising my glass to a person that I have come to respect, as far as his talent as Quidditch and his ability to show me that he isn't completely evil," she tried to smile as she said it but the look on Ron's face made her shrink back, he wasn't ready for that, better take it back, "I'm kidding Ronald, goodness, it was a toast of mockery, Merlin," she stuffed some potatoes in her mouth to give her an excuse for not talking.

"Oh, well I guess that's okay then, just don't start getting cozy with him Ginny, remember who his father is," he was trying so hard to sound grown up, Ginny snorted and ended up with pumpkin juice coming out of her nose,

"Went down the wrong pipe," she said lamely, but nobody was listening anymore, Hermione was reading something about 20 inches thick while Ron and Harry talked Quidditch. She used to opportunity to look over at Draco and give him a wink of her own. If he was going to play with her heartstrings with nothing but his voice she was going to return the favour.

Dinner was finished in its own good time and Ginny left the hall in relative secrecy. Outside she bumped into her former favourite person who also happened to be the last person she wanted to talk to the night before the game. Crème-de-menthe.

"What's gotten into you Ginny, you know I was joking this morning, come on," begging didn't suit Terry, he was designed for being in charge and not talking shite from anyone.

"I know you were joking Terry, you couldn't have been serious about beating me tomorrow," she gave him a tight smile that showed how much she didn't want to be talking,

"Oh Gin don't be that way," he put his hand on her cheek and she couldn't help but lean into it and closing her eyes, "Come on girl.." his voice trailed off as he leaned in towards her,

"Oi, hands off," Scotch was back, couldn't he have waited for just a few more seconds, just because I'm being mad at Terry right now it doesn't mean I can't enjoy his kisses,

"Draco its okay," she tried to blow it off,

"No, it's not okay, he's trying to screw with you so that you'll mess up tomorrow, and rigging Quidditch games isn't something I believe in," Thank Merlin, disguising jealousy as respect for a clean Quidditch game, that's actually kind of genius.

"He has a point Terry, I don't want your kisses on my mind tomorrow or tonight while I'm trying to sleep either," this still wasn't going the way she wanted it to, or was it, Terry could be like a cover story, I can stay friendly with him so that if I ever need to sneak off to see Draco I can tell dear Ronald that I'm just seeing Terry, Ronald doesn't object to Terry, lords above I should have been in Slytherin. She gave the boys a lasting smile before running off up the stairs. Voices trailed behind her,

"Stay away from her," that was Terry,

"You scared?" yum, scotch and whiskey

"Yes, and I should be, you're a good for nothing Slytherin who won't treat her like she deserves," awe well wasn't that sweet of him, "She deserves someone with a good family, someone who will be accepted in her life," never mind he was being an arsehole. Draco's clear laughter echoed in the halls,

"Something tell me that a girl like Red isn't going to shy away from a challenge," mmm, no I am not, not when the challenge sounds that intoxicating, I'm drunk just listening to his voice, Merlin have mercy.