Chapter 10

'No one's ever going to get to me

The way you do...

Can't you see,

That you are the only one

Who has ever made me feel this way?

Nothing is ever coming even close

No one is ever been comparable to you

And no girl, no place, no where

Would ever mean a thing to me, but you.'

"Ginny!"

Ginny sighed and turned around. She was back in her common room with Luna after the Hogsmeade visit. Whatever she said about it being quite a good day earlier on, she took it back now.

Ron was standing there with Harry and Hermione. Ron face was a purplish red and was screwed up in anger. Harry had his hand on his shoulder; no doubt to physically restrain Ron if he went to far.

"What?" Ginny said.

"What? You know very well what!" Ron exploded.

Ginny was confused. What did he mean by that? A cold dread filled her stomach. She cleared her face of all expression and remained calm and composed – at least on the outside.

"Calm down, Ron. Let Ginny explain," Hermione rolled her eyes. "Don't jump to conclusions like you always do."

Thank goodness for Hermione. "Explain what?" Ginny said innocently. "If you don't tell me what I'm supposed to explain, how can I be able to explain it to you?"

Ron opened his mouth to speak, but Hermione beat him to it.

"Well, we saw you going into the ice cream shop with Zabini and Luna." Hermione explained. "And Ron here, intelligently concluded that you were 'fraternising with the enemy'." She crossed her arms, irritated.

Evidently, Hermione had not forgotten about the event concerning Viktor Krum that happened in her fourth year.

Ginny sighed. No excuses were going to work for this. It would be best if she just told them the truth. She knew Hermione would probably not mind; and the worst she could do was to yell at Ginny.

Luckily, they had not seen Malfoy walking with her. Ginny knew when to count her blessings.

However, Harry and Ron were a completely different matter. Harry was somewhat more in control of himself than Ron, but quite dangerous at the same time.

"Okay. I'm going out with Blaise," said Luna, ignoring the gasps of shock coming from Hermione. "And I wanted Ginny to keep me company. Is that a problem?" She asked Ron with a raised eyebrow.

Ron's jaw dropped. He knew he had no power over Luna, since she was not his sister or anything. She was free to do whatever she wanted and it was none of his business.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked warily. It was the first thing he said since the discussion, if you can call it that, started.

"Yes. That's what we did. Nothing else." Ginny added. "Actually, this is really none of your business. As I recall, Luna is not related to you, Ron."

Ron's mouth opened and closed again like a fish gasping for air.

"You are going out with Zabini?" Ron choked out.

"Why not?" Luna's eyes narrowed. She could take people teasing her about her dressing and her beliefs but she certainly did not take kindly to people to insulted Blaise.

"He's a Slytherin!" Ron spluttered out.

Luna eyes reduced to slits dangerously. Her lips, which were usually smiling, were pressed together tightly in an angry scowl.

Hermione saw the danger signs and immediately took a hold on Ron's arm and motioned for Harry to get him out. Harry complied, dragging Ron out through the door. A few muffled shouts could be heard as Ron left the common room.

As Hermione was the last to leave, Ginny then told her not to tell anyone about Luna's relationship. She agreed, also promising to make sure Ron and Harry did not blurt it out to the world.

"I'll take care of it," Hermione promised, as she quickly popped her head back through the door before disappearing after Ron and Harry.

"That went quite well," Luna commented, no longer angry now that Ron was out of her sight.

"Yep." Ginny agreed. That situation would have been far worse if Luna had not intercepted on her behalf. She could not bear to imagine what would happen. Probably, Ron would go to bed that night with a bruised eye, but you could never be too sure.

It was a breezy day. The sun was shining brightly. It was late in the afternoon. The crystal clear water in the lake reflected the sunshine, making it look like myriads of glittering diamonds.

Ginny was at the castle grounds, doing her homework under a shady tree. Luna was in Snape's dungeons, serving detention for 'not paying attention in class'.

She had actually been paying attention. Snape, being Snape, accused her of doing otherwise. Anyother arguments she hadbeen ignored and had gotten her into detention.

Ginny lay on the grass, absentmindedly twirling her quill in her hand. With her elbows propped up against the ground and legs bent - in the air, she thought of the answer and scribbled it down.

There was a question Ginny did not know. She did not even remember Snape teaching it to them. It was plain ridiculous. He did not teach it and he expected them to know the answer?

Or maybe she was not paying attention at that time. Ginny was not very sure. Could he have taught it the day Luna and her were reading a storybook without getting caught by Snape? Possibly...

What is the best substitute for the crushed sopophorous beans for the Everlasting Elixirs potion?

This question puzzled her. As she was pondering over the question, a shadow fell over her. Not bothering to look up, she assumed it was Luna.

After all, it could not be Harry or Ron who came to look for her, right? There was still a chance Hermione would. Ron and Harry were definitely out. They did not look for her unless they needed money, or help of some sort.

"So how was detention?" Ginny asked, eyes looking at the question. "Snape made you dissect frogs?"

"No." The shadow answered. "If I ever was in detention, Snape would have just made me read a passage from a book."

Ginny looked up in surprise. Even though the face was shadowed, there was no mistaking the blonde hair and the grey eyes. Malfoy.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, going back to her work as though she did not care that he was there. She refused to show him that he had surprised her.

"Breathing." He answered smoothly. "Human beings generally have to breath, you know."

"You know what I mean."

"I know what you mean." He settled down on the grass beside her. But not that close.

"If you do, answer my question then," Ginny said irritably. She really had no time for this nonsense. Why did he have to sit next to her? Couldn't he see she was busy? Then again, he probably would not care if she were busy or not. Ginny thought wryly.

She did not know why he was here and tried to tolerate his annoying presence for Blaise's sake. It was really sad that he had such an infuriating friend like Malfoy.

"Fine. I'm out here to watch the scenery. Satisfied?"

"Very. It would be more satisfying if you could go away now." Ginny said, still trying to figure the answer out. She had to hand this in the next day, or go to detention. Ginny certainly did not want to dissect frogs, thank you very much.

"Is there a rule that says I cannot be here?"

"Yes," said Ginny.

"Since when?" He challenged.

"Since now." Ginny still had not turned to look at him, except for the first time when he had just arrived, and she liked to keep it that way. She could felt his gaze on her.

"By who, may I ask?"

"Me."

"Right. And I'm supposed to follow that rule?"

"Yes." Ginny said shortly.

"What makes you think I'll follow it?"

"Because I really really need to know best substitute for the crushed sopophorous beans for the Everlasting Elixirs potion, or I'll be dissecting frogs tomorrow for detention!" Ginny burst out, slamming her hand against the ground. She had lost all her patience with him.

She finally turned around and glared at him fiercely, brown eyes flashing brightly in the golden light. Ginny looked ready to kill something.

Malfoy just looked at her with an eyebrow raised, clearly unafraid at her show of anger. He sat down there, against the tree, examining his nails calmly.

"You really shouldn't glare. Your eyeballs will get overused and drop off one day." Malfoy said, unperturbed by Ginny's actions.

"If I really wanted my eyeballs to drop off, there would be no need to keep glaring. Just one look at you will do the job." Ginny snapped back.

"Well, that has to be because I'm too good looking."

"In your dreams, Malfoy." Ginny said, going back to her work. If she were not in such a bad mood, Malfoy's eyeball 'joke' would have made her laugh. But it helped lessen her anger and calm her down slightly. She did not know why. It just did.

"I thought it would be in your dreams," Malfoy smirked, emphasising on the word 'your'.

" More like in my nightmares."

"Really. Am I that horrible to look at?"

"It depends."

"On?" Malfoy raised his eyebrows.

"Who is the one looking at you," Ginny said simply. She had decided to skip that particular question and do the rest first. "If it is me looking at you, I would have to say yes. If it were-" Ginny stopped. She had to be very careful with what she said next.

"Yes?" Malfoy prompted.

"Well, if it is one of those giggling Slytherin girlfriends that you have, I think they would say no."

"What an astute observation you have made."

"It's good to know you agree, now leave me alone." Ginny tucked some stray hairs behind her ear.

"I will do whatever I like."

"Yeah...yeah... just keep quiet," Ginny frowned. What was the strongest love potion called again? Seriously, he was very distracting and she had a hard time concentrating. Oh yeah, it's Amortentia.

A cool breeze blew and a sweet scent drifted past her. Her nose twitched. She was sure she had smelt that scent before. But where? Then she remembered. The Invisibility Cloak Blaise had lent them. The trace of smell was not there when she was alone. To her horror, she realised that the scent was coming from Malfoy! And she liked it! That meant...

"Malfoy, you do, by any chance, happen to own an Invisibility Cloak?" She asked, as sweetly as possible.

"Why?" His eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"I was...just...just wondering," Ginny mumbled.

"Do you really think Potter is the only one that owns one?" Malfoy arched his eyebrow in response. "Anyway, I should be going."

"Go then. No one asked you here in the first place."

"As it so happens, this is my favourite tree."

"It doesn't belong to you," Ginny said.

"Well it does now." Malfoy stood up. "By the way, it's salamander's blood, Weasley. Salamander's blood." With that, he strode off, not waiting for her reply.

Salamander's blood? What was he talking about? Ginny looked back at the question she had been pondering on for so long. Then it dawned on her. The best substitute for the crushed sopophorous beans for the Everlasting Elixirs potion was salamander's blood. How could she have forgot?

Luna plopped down onto the bed tiredly. She just came back from detention.

"How was it?" Ginny asked, propping herself up on an elbow.

"Bad," Luna sighed. "Had to dissect frogs."

Ginny grimaced. "Gross."

"You bet," Luna headed towards the bathroom. "I'm going to bathe."

"I'll wait for you to go down to dinner," Ginny nodded.

Ginny took out her parchment. There was a message.

Are you at dinner yet?

No. Obviously, you are not too.

Yes. I am not.

Hmm...you never strike me as a person who loves to eat.

Perhaps.

But there always is a possibility that you are a huge, fat bulging mammoth.

Don't get your hopes up.

I promise I won't.

Your promises do not mean anything.

You are wrong. My promises do.

Promises are just words, devoid of meaning.

If you mean them, then they aren't devoid of meaning. I bet you don't keep your promises, do you?

I do. I'm a man of my word.

I guess I have to see about that.

You do.

Tell me something about you.

Why don't you find out yourself?

Easier said than done.

I remember you clearly said that you 'will find out who I am'... Does that jolt your memory?

It does. Don't worry. I'll be keeping an eye out for you.

Good to know that.

When are you going to dinner?

Soon. Why?

I want to see if I can accidentally bump into you.

That will never happen. I don't bump into people.

Surely you must have bumped into someone at least once in your life.

Sorry to disappoint you, but no.

That's just sad.

I don't see what I should be sad about.

You are missing out on the joys of life.

I don't find bumping into random people joyful. Perhaps only you do, being so strange and all.

Excuse me. I'm not strange. Even if I'm, how do you know? You have never seen me before.

What makes you think I have not?

So you have?

Maybe.

Luna exited the shower. "Let's go."

"Hang on," said Ginny.

Have to go. Talk to you later.

Yeah, and maybe we can see if we accidentally bump into each other.

Bye. Ginny wrote, ignoring his sarcasm.

Ginny kept her parchment and walked out of the door with Luna.

They reached the Great Hall just in time for dinner. On the way down, Ginny had not bumped into anyone. It was just a pity that her plan did not work.

They walked towards the Gryffindor table and sat down. Unfortunately, there were not much seats left so they had to settle for seat beside Ron, Harry and Hermione.

Ginny kept her eyes averted and did not look at Ron. They had not been speaking since the argument. She reached for her food, determined to make it out of there without having another fight with Ron.

She ate her potato salad in silence, tuning out Harry and Ron's loud chatters. Ginny was sad to say that her brother had no table manners at all. Right now, some mashed potato was dripping down his chin.

Ginny was put off. But she did not say anything. Luna was eating slowly, jabbing her fork at the lettuce unhurriedly. Ginny guessed she was tired from the detention. Snape was such a terrorist.

She looked up and her eyes met Blaise's, who was sitting opposite her. He gave her a small smile, which she returned.

Hermione tugged at her sleeve. "Ron has something to say to you, Ginny." She gave Ron a meaningful look.

"Umm...Ginny?" Ron stammered. "I just wanted to say sorry for that day. I should not have jumped to conclusions. And sorry Luna," he said, looking at Luna in the eye. "It was really none of my business."

It was very obvious that Hermione somehow forced him to say that, but still, Ginny accepted his apology graciously. They could not stay fighting forever, could they?

"It's all right, Ron." Ginny replied. "I know you were just concerned for me." That was true up till a certain extent. Sometimes, he could be paranoid over her actions.

Luna also accepted his apology and they continued eating. Hermione looked very pleased with herself for what she had accomplished. After all, it had not been very easy to force and persuade Ron to do that.

The resting of the evening passed swiftly and soon, they were back in the common room. Ginny and Luna were sitting by the fireplace with Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Are we going back for Christmas, Ron?" Ginny asked. Christmas was nearing and she still was not sure whether they were supposed to go back to the Burrow.

"I'm not sure," He answered. "Mum feels it's safer for us to be in Hogwarts than the Burrow."

"Oh..." Ginny drifted off. She hated this war and wanted it to end. Charlie was still on his mission and no word had been received from him yet.

Mrs Weasley said he was fine, but Ginny still was not very sure. Her terrifying nightmares had reduced slightly, but she still had them.

Ginny stared into the burning embers, deep in her thoughts, her brown eyes reflecting the golden light of pure fire.

A/N: Christmas is next! 'I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!' Haha... Some of you really read my mind. That is not the last you have seen of the kitten. Heehee... This is a really big clue I'm giving away. Never mind. Hmm...

Since you all know that Ginny's going to receive a kitten, why don't you help me choose a name for it? Send in the names that you want for the kitten and I'll see which one suits the kitten best!

Someone said ina review that if 'Blaise and Luna actually know that Ginny and Draco are secretly communicating through the charmed parchment? Since Ginny told her best friend, wouldn't it be likely for Draco to do so then?' I'm sorry if I have been unclear, but Blaise does not know that Ginny is communicating with someone through the parchment. Neither does he know that Draco is communicating with anyone. Ginny is more prone to telling Luna everything, that's why she told Luna, but Draco is more secretive, although he trusts Blaise, he has not gotten round to telling Blaise yet. He is still quite confused over this issue.

All right. I shall try not to put too obvious hints. But sometimes I can't stop myself. Like my blabbering now. Haha.

And don't worry; no offence is taken, at all, to your opinions. It's good to tell me if you are unclear about anything in the story.

In reply to what twinsofthesky said, I promise to try my best to make the characters sparkle and to make them real. However, you must forgive me if I'm not able to do it properly. As you can see from the stories in my profile, this is my first fanfic, so I still have a lot to learn. Thank you very much for your opinion; I'll try my utmost best to do it! Please keep on reading the next chapters, I'll try to improve them!

Here are my reviewers! Thanks for reviewing; you don't know how much you have inspired me to write.

ailiramlove, nc99, candycoated, asecretno1nosbutme, pinkstargummii, SenatorSolo, Flipinpenname, harrypotterchick4ever, RazzlebeDazzled, Aly'sPenName, fluffernutter, QueenThayet, Tomsgirl2005, StarLightStarBright567, ajma, Phoenix Feather Queen, twinsofthesky.

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Hope you liked this chapter! Review!