Chapter 10

It was with his usual lackadaisical air that Blaise fell into step beside a rather weary looking Ginny Weasley as students bustled through the halls on the way to classes. "Hey, Gin. Mind if I have a word with you?" In response, she came to a halt before offering him a weak smile.

"Sorry, I've gotta get to class."

"Where are you off to?" he inquired, taking in her flustered appearance. Her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail and she looked as if she had just woken up from a mid-afternoon nap. It seemed as if the stress of NEWT level studies and breaking House boundaries had finally caught up with her.

"Transfiguration," she answered with a soft sigh, "and you know how McGonagall hates it when we're late."

"I'll walk with you then. Slughorn won't mind if I come in a few minutes after class starts," he reasoned, and she had to agree. After all, Blaise had been a member of the Slug Club.

"It'd be better if you didn't," she argued, though the attempt was feeble. "I don't want you to get in trouble."

"What? Don't want to talk to me?" he teased as they started walking down the hallway towards the Transfiguration classroom. Ginny couldn't help but glance down with mild embarrassment. While she did consider him to be a good friend, Blaise had an innate ability to bring up exactly what she didn't want to discuss, and he certainly didn't fail her this time. So, with a small frown on his lips and sincere concern in his voice, he asked, "Why are you two acting so… weird today?"

"What are you talking about?" she mumbled, hoping to feign ignorance. She could tell it didn't work when the corners of his mouth quirked ever so slightly.

"Draco's been kinda out of it today too," he informed her before chuckling. "The poor bloke spilt pumpkin juice all over himself this morning and then nearly fell down the stairs on the way to class."

"He probably didn't get enough sleep or something," Ginny replied indifferently, forcing the boy beside her to refrain from rolling his eyes. Of course Draco didn't get enough sleep, and the same could obviously be said of her, but he decided it would be useless to press the matter.

"So, do you feel like coming down to the lake today?" he wondered, drawing the conversation away from his friend. "The weather's pretty nice now that it's March and all." To his dismay, she shook her head.

"I've got a lot of work to do tonight, but maybe some other day."

"Suit yourself," he murmured with a hint of disappointment. Her gaze once again diverted to the floor abashedly, but she said nothing as they stopped outside the Transfiguration classroom. Blaise turned to head back in the opposite direction in order to get to his own class, but didn't move quite yet. "By the way," he began, causing Ginny to pause as she prepared to enter the classroom, "try to cheer up, will you? You're so much prettier when you're not moping around." With a mixture of confusion and surprise gracing her face, she whirled around, but he was already walking away as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

Slughorn had just gotten up from his desk to close the door when Blaise strolled into the classroom and took his usual seat next to Draco. As expected, their Potions professor offered him a cordial greeting before shutting the door and waddling up to the front of the room to begin class.

"I know you think you're special and everything, but you still have to be on time like the rest of us," Draco grumbled as he took out some parchment to take notes.

"I had to pay a visit to our dear Ginny. You must've noticed that she didn't seem to be her usual happy self this morning," he responded in a hushed tone. "Why do you think that is?"

"I'm not talking about this now." In an effort to tune Blaise out, he busied himself with jotting down the instructions for the potion they would be brewing.

"And why is that?"

"Blaise. Not now," Draco hissed warningly, shooting a quick glare in his friend's direction. Blaise glanced up to see Slughorn sending them a disapproving look as the rest of the class stood to gather supplies for the task at hand.

"Fine, but I'm expecting an answer after class," he stated quietly before also rising from his seat. True to his word, he pushed the topic aside and they managed to finish the potion fairly accurately, but that lasted only until they exited the room.

As if he were trying to strike up a casual conversation, Blaise spoke up. "I don't know what the hell you did to her, but I'm tired of both of you being so bloody miserable all the time."

"I didn't do anything to her," Draco insisted with obvious annoyance. "She was the one who started it."

"Started what?"

"None of your business," he snapped before Blaise caught him by the arm and forced him to stop.

"Let's face it, we both know that you fancy her," the boy declared, ignoring the look of indignation that appeared on the other Slytherin's face. "If you would just admit it, this would be much easier. I can't help you if I don't know what's going on."

"I don't need your help," Draco growled through gritted teeth, which caused Blaise to let out a snort.

"But you are interested in her."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't deny it."

Draco narrowed his eyes, daring him to continue. When the curious boy wisely chose to keep his mouth shut, he muttered, "Bugger off," before walking briskly to his next class. While his friend strode away, Blaise sighed and turned on his heel to head in the opposite direction.

Typically, people needed a few days before they would confront whatever was troubling them – at least, that's what Blaise figured. So, he backed off to give the pair time to work things out by themselves, but after nearly a week passed, he doubted if things were ever going to get back to a less awkward state. Ginny was still slumping around the halls with a false smile making its way onto her face from time to time while Draco seemed to be constantly irritated about something. Just this morning he almost scared a first year half to death after she accidentally bumped into him when exiting the Common Room. It was after this that Blaise intervened.
"Draco, I think we need to discuss something." The blonde looked up from his meal to see Blaise stand up with an expression of resolve.

"I think it can wait until after I've finished my dinner," he replied loftily. A small, amused smirk formed on Blaise's face.

"I don't think this is something you want everyone to hear about." With a discontent huff, Draco also rose from the table and followed his friend out of the Great Hall. Since dinner hadn't started long ago and everyone was still eating, they didn't need to worry about being overheard.

"What's this about?" Draco demanded as soon as the heavy wooden door shut behind him.

"I'm sure you know already."

He quirked an eyebrow as he leaned against the wall opposite Blaise. "Weaslette?"

The other boy sighed. "Yes, but if you want to get her to like you, I would suggest dropping your habit of calling her that." Draco looked away, shoving his hands in the pockets of his robes.

"...You're going on about that again?"

"She obviously feels something for you, oddly enough, and you're completely smitten with her, so maybe you should act on it instead of just sitting on your arse and doing nothing."

Draco pushed himself away from the walk and turned to leave, mumbling, "Too bad you're wrong about her."

A growl of frustration echoed through the hall. "I didn't go through all this trouble for you to be such a bloody idiot!" The other Slytherin stopped dead in his tracks and whirled around with an icy gaze.

"What was that?" he questioned slowly, his face hardened with anger.

Upon realizing what he had said, Blaise put up a mask of indifference. "I said you're being an idiot."

"Before that," Draco spat, retracing his steps so he was standing in front of his friend. "Exactly what 'trouble' have you been going through?"

Blaise focused his attention on the suddenly very interesting tapestry on the wall as he told him, "I've kinda been trying to set the two of you up."

"And what the hell would provoke you to do that?"

"Oh, come on. I know you're not that daft," he remarked with a dry laugh. "I've seen the way you act around each other, and it was pretty clear you weren't going to do anything about it." Draco opened his mouth to contradict him, but after a second thought, snapped his mouth closed and began heading towards the dungeons. Blaise quickly caught up and continued with a sigh. "Draco, I want to help. All you need to tell me is why Ginny's been avoiding us."

"She shouldn't be avoiding you."

He shrugged. "I don't get her sometimes, but that's not important. Now, you can either tell me what happened, or I can get it from some unreliable source who's twisted the truth into something horribly demented that'll forever haunt you." He paused. "The choice is yours."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Merlin, do you have to make it sound so dramatic?"

"It's a talent," Blaise chimed with a broad grin, getting the feeling that his friend wasn't quite so annoyed with him anymore. Sure enough, it was only a brief moment before the blonde prepared to give the long awaited answer, but it wasn't exactly what Blaise had been expecting.

"...She snogged me, alright?" The other boy froze as he processed the information.

"Wait... You kissed her and you're still not together?" he blurted out incredulously before shaking his head. "What's this going to take...?"

"I didn't kiss her," he clarified sharply. "She's the one who made the first move and then bolted out of the library like the place had caught on fire." When Blaise exhaled slowly and started back-tracking, Draco knew the gears were already churning in his mind. "You'd better not be planning something else!" he shouted at his friend's retreating back, but it was in vain. "Blaise!"

"I swear this is the last time," he called, resisting the urge to turn around to observe Draco's undoubtedly amusing reaction. "I'll talk to you back in the Common Room." When he reached the Great Hall, a few students who had already eaten their fill were beginning to leave, and to his good fortune, these students included an acquaintance of his. "Hey, Brocklehurst?" His tutor faced him with a questioning expression. "Can you do me a quick favor?"

Her gaze was a tad suspicious, but she agreed nonetheless. "I guess I could."

"Can you bring Ginny Weasley out here?" After a second, he added, "Don't tell her it's me though."

"What if she says 'no?'"

"You're a bright girl. I'm sure you can come up with something," Blaise replied with a wave of his hand. She adjusted her glasses thoughtfully before her shoulders fell slightly.

"Fine, but you'd better not be up to anything, Zabini." She disappeared through the entrance before returning a minute later. "She'll be out in a second."

"Thanks," he said with an appreciative grin just as the door opened once more to reveal a confused face framed by dark red hair.

"Blaise?" He greeted her with a cheerful grin as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders in order to lead her away from the Great Hall.

"Good evening to you too. I was just thinking we should take a little walk."

Ginny didn't try to slip away, but she did glance over her shoulder with a forlorn look. "But I'm still hungr-"

"We can talk on our way to the kitchens, okay?"

"But-"

"Gin, I really need to talk to you about something, and then you can do whatever you want," he assured her. Detecting the mild desperation in his voice, she gazed up with a hint of worry in her eyes.

"Is something wrong?"

He laughed, shaking his head. "No. I just think we should have an actual conversation this week. Don't you agree?"

"Sorry about that," she apologized with a faint tint to her cheeks. "I've been busy..."
"You don't have to lie to me." Blaise let his arm fall from her shoulders, briefly scanning the hall for any students who might over-hear them before bring up the topic at hand. "Draco told me what happened."

"Brilliant..." she groaned under her breath. "I was just surprised... I still can't believe you were actually right."

"Excuse me? I'm always right about these things." She rolled her eyes at the defensive tone of his voice as a smile came to her lips.

"Sure... Whatever you say." He returned her expression, bringing his hand up to ruffle her hair playfully, to which she responded with a small shove. With a laugh, he wondered, "So, now that you've realized that snogging somebody and then ignoring them is wrong, what are you going to do about it?"

"I dunno..." she mused, her smile being replaced with a displeased frown. "Don't you think he should do something for once?"

"Actually, that's why I wanted to talk to you. You know that abandoned classroom where we would meet sometimes when you were tutoring me?"

"Uh huh..." she answered slowly, trying to figure out where he was going with this.

"He wants to meet you there after classes on Monday." Ginny turned towards him with a look of astonishment.

"You're joking."

"Nope, can't say I am."

She bit her lip in contemplation before inquiring, "Why that long from now?" He responded with a convincing shrug.

"Guess he just needs time to sort a few things out." She considered it for a moment before exhaling softly.

"We do need to figure out what's going on..."

Blaise mentally scoffed, unable to fathom how they didn't realize what was going on between them, when Ginny spoke up once more.

"Blaise, before I talk to Draco again, I want to ask you something." Her tone was hesitant, but her eyes met his intently. He offered her a bemused smile, but only to cover up his wariness about her serious expression.

"Come on Gin. You know you can ask me anything."

Her eyes held a hint amusement as she raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Really? The last time I asked this, you dodged the question."

"You want to know why I kissed you." She was momentarily taken-aback by his directness, but she nodded her head. "I thought it would make Draco jealous," he shrugged. Ginny gazed at him as if studying him for a sign of his bluffing. She must have found something, because a moment later she looked away, folding her arms over her chest.

"Fine. You don't want to tell me."

He chuckled. "What gave me away?" At this, her lips curved into a smug grin as she glanced back over at him.

"Nothing. I had no idea if you were lying or not."

Blaise simply stared at her in surprise before a smirk appeared on his face. "I think I'm wearing off on you. That was quite clever for a Gryffindor."

"I think you underestimate us." She stopped in her tracks, causing him to follow suit. "And you're trying to change the topic." A soft sigh escaped her lips when he opened his mouth; she cut him off, anticipating his question. "It won't change anything, I promise."

He hesitated before finally saying, "I kind of had a thing for you last year." Her jaw dropped, and he resisted the urge to burst out laughing in order to clarify his statement. "You have to understand that it was purely physical. I didn't really know you, I just thought you were attractive. You really can't blame me for that."

It took a moment for her to process this new information, but when she did, a look of confusion, mixed with bewilderment, was still plastered to her face. "Wait, so when you asked me to tutor you–"

"Oh no. I was completely over it by then."

"And when you kissed me–"

"I was just curious about what it would be like." He tried to gauge her reaction, but when he couldn't detect anything but utter amazement, he decided it would be better just to get straight to the point. "Hate to break it to you, but turns out I don't care for snogging stubborn little red-heads very much." She let out a subtle sigh of relief, and though he was a little hurt, he hadn't expected anything else. She didn't act the same around the two of them — he knew that, and so he had responded accordingly. He had lied.

Still a little surprised by what had just transpired, Ginny continued walking down the hallway as Blaise fell into step beside her. "So you don't like me, right?"

It was with practiced ease that he responded, "Nope. At least, not in that way." What she didn't know wouldn't hurt her. She had said so herself: it wouldn't have changed anything.

A mischievous smile played on her lips as she sent him a suggestive look. "But you still think I'm attractive?" He met her gaze with an equally mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

"You know, it's funny, but you've gotten really hideous over the past year. I don't even think I can look at you anymore."

With a few more steps, they disappeared around the corner, her laughter echoing through the hallways.

Ginny had gone over many scenarios of how her meeting with Draco might pan out, but she couldn't say that any of them had started with him storming into the nearly empty classroom and slamming the door shut behind him. Yet, here he was, standing in front of the wooden door, looking about as furious as she'd ever seen him. Giving him a second to gather his wits about him, she simply sat there and watched as took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"Listen, Weasley," he finally gritted out after a moment. "You can just leave now if you want. I don't know what the hell that git told you, but I just found out about this little rendezvous ten minutes ago."

The red-head sighed, glancing at the ground as she swung her legs back and forth from her perch on one of the tables. "I knew he was up to something..." she mumbled before raising her eyes to meet his. "But now that you're here, we may as well talk about what's gonna happen. You know..." she gestured between them, "with us."

He folded his arms over his chest as he lazily fell back against the door. "Nothing's going on," Draco stated bitterly. "I think you made that pretty clear."

"I was confused, alright?" she retorted hotly, knowing they were both letting their tempers getting the better of them, but that didn't stop her from making another comment. "I didn't exactly think you'd ever say something like that."

"Yeah, and I didn't exactly think you'd bloody well snog me in the library like that and then leave."

Her face turned a brilliant shade of red. "I wasn't thinking!"

"That's obvious," he sneered, at which point a frustrated huff escaped her lips and she buried her face in her hands.

"I can't argue with you anymore... We always end up annoyed with each other and I don't want that," she uttered, causing his vexation to dissipate, though he couldn't help but still be a little miffed about the whole situation.

"Then what do you want?"

She lifted her head from her hands and locked eyes with him, a weak smile on her lips. "Unless I'm wrong, the same thing you do."

Draco's shoulders slumped as he ran a hand through his hair irately. "Why does this have to be so difficult?" She chuckled quietly.

"'Cause neither of us are willing to admit that we like each other?" He glanced over at her to see a twinkling light in her eyes as she waited expectantly. He strode over to her before standing in front of her with a serious expression on his face.

"What should we do? If we do give it a shot, it'll have to be kept a secret. Is that really what you want?"

"It's up to you," she chimed, her smile growing. He stared at her for a minute before taking her hand and stepping closer, her head naturally tilting up as he leaned down to press his lips warmly against hers. She responded immediately by reaching up to place her hand on his shoulder as she scooted nearer to the edge of the desk she was sitting on. Noticing this, he settled into the chair beside him and pulled her down on to his lap, allowing her to relax as she leaned against him. Leaving a lingering sensation tingling on his lips, she pulled away with a content sigh.

"I'll take that as a 'yes?'" Ginny piped, sheer bliss bubbling through her words.

"Yeah," he breathed, still focused on her rosy lips, but he was taken off guard when she suddenly let out a melodic laugh.

"You realize we'll have to be on a first name basis now, right Malfoy?"

He rolled his eyes as a grin made its way onto his lips. "I don't see why, Weasley."

She made a tutting noise before singing, "That won't do."

Draco lifted a hand and brushed away the strand of hair that had fallen in front of her chocolate brown eyes as he murmured, "Fine... Ginny."

A satisfied smirk flitted across her face as her breath mingled with his. "About time," she whispered before their lips met once again.

A/N - Yeah... I'm really sorry about the delay... But I made the chapter longer to make up for it : ) Also, I've already started on the next chapter, so that should be up really soon. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter and, as always, please review!

-Twilight-Songstress