AN: And here we have it, the 11th chapter :D Do enjoy it ^v^

Chapter 11

The girl's breathing had stopped. She couldn't believe the words that was coming out of the blonde's mouth.

This was Draco Malfoy. He didn't suddenly express his affection for you. He was the one that got what he want merely by thinking it.

No, this had to be some sick, twisted little joke of his.

Staring into the blonde's eyes, Ginny spoke. "What are you trying at? What wicked scheme have you planned for me now?" The accusing tone was clear in the girl's voice.

"I'm not", the boy replied calmly.

"Well, I don't believe it!" The girl exclaimed. "This is not typical Draco Malfoy behaviour, hence you have to be up to something! Why else this sudden outburst?"

"Why else?" Draco repeated, losing his cool and becoming enraged. "Isn't that obvious? Ever since you started spending time with that Ravenclaw boy, it's all you ever speak of! It is driving me mad hearing it! Not to mention watching the two of you! Why should he have you? What has he done to deserve you and not I?"

Baffled, Ginny fell silent. Could it really be? Did Draco Malfoy have feelings for her, Ginny Weasley? Nothing in that sentence sounded right. It was against all logic, something the red-head never could have dreamed of happening. An impossibility. Yet here the impossible was, staring her straight in the eye.

"I...", the girl began, but was lost for words.

A panic crept upon her and the urge to flee became to intense to ignore. Not saying another word, the girl flung herself at the door and was gone before the blonde even had time to react.

Her footsteps echoed throughout the empty corridors. Despite her common sense telling her that this was the worst possible reaction and that she should have stood her ground, the girl couldn't stop running. Some small part of her mind was hoping, no matter how irrational it sounded, that if she ran long enough, all her problems would disappear.

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Despite having cursed Draco for having avoided her, Ginny was now no better herself. More than a week had passed and the girl was still unsure how to react to the blonde's sudden confession. Not that she had given it much thought. Rather, she had tried her best to avoid thinking about it and therefore kept herself busy. But every time she went to sleep, the thoughts came back and pestered her all night long.

The one thing that might have been able to keep her occupied, namely spending time with Jeremy, the red-head denied herself. Every time she had thought about it, a slight guilt had emerged from the back of her head and stopped her. Ginny just couldn't spend time with the Ravenclaw, not while things was left unresolved between her and Draco. Therefore, she turned down the boy every time he asked her to see him. Blaming it on homework and what not, the girl always did the same thing and excused herself hastily. It made her feel ashamed, especially as Jeremy always looked so confused and hurt by her words.

Staring up at the ceiling during yet another restless night, Ginny sighed. She couldn't go on like this. But what exactly was she doing? Bidding her time to tell the Slytherin she didn't feel the same? Or was it something else?

No, never! Ginny was in love with Harry and had been for years! And even though the raven-haired boy didn't share her feelings, that would never change how she felt, right? Of course, there was Jeremy. Kind, caring Jeremy that had swayed her heart and made her feel good. If the girl couldn't have Harry, then Jeremy was the second best thing. Not Draco Malfoy, the conceited Slytherin that always took his chances to taunt her. Falling for him would be against everything she stood for. No, Jeremy was the obvious choice. Few boys at Hogwarts stood a chance against him and Ginny had a feeling that her family would absolutely adore him.

But why then couldn't she make up her mind?

Living with the indecisiveness wore Ginny out and it wasn't long before Hermione with her hawk-eyes noticed it.

"Ginny, what's the matter?" The frizzy-haired girl asked after she had cornered Ginny.

Not feeling up to getting questioned by the older girl, the red-head merely shrugged. Maybe if she acted indifferent enough, Hermione would go away.

It didn't work.

Placing a reassuring hand on Ginny's shoulder, Hermione went on. "Is it Harry and Cho?" The brunette's eyes were filled with sympathy.

"No, it isn't." Keeping her answer short, the red-head prayed that Hermione would get the hint and go away.

She didn't and instead looked busy, as if she was trying to put some pieces together. Ginny's answer had puzzled her, and it seemed she was now looking for an explanation to the younger girl's recent behaviour.

"Is something the matter with that Ravenclaw boy, Jeremy?"

"No, not really", Ginny replied curtly. "Look, can I go? I am not really feeling up to talking."

Not even waiting for a reply, the red-head quickly hurried off. It probably would have been better if Ginny had come up with a good reason to calm the older girl down, but at that precise moment she hadn't been up to it. It would most likely come back to bite her, as Hermione wasn't one to let things go easily.

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Already the following morning, Hermione kept asking Ginny what was going on.

During the whole breakfast, the red-head had to withstand her questions. Tenaciously avoiding any eye-contact with the frizzy-haired girl, Ginny wished that she would give up.

Time passed by, but Hermione never ceased with her attempts at getting the younger girl to talk. Reaching her limit, the red-head excused herself. Making sure to the older girl didn't follow her, Ginny headed to her first class of the day.

She kept an eye open to make sure she wasn't followed, but also to make sure she didn't run into Draco. Though it was beginning to feel a bit useless. During the week that had passed, Ginny had slowly noticed that the blonde was avoiding her as well. He was no where to be seen, almost as if he had vanished into thin air.

Perhaps it was time to stop worrying about running into the boy. Besides, what was the point of avoiding someone if you never saw them? It defeated the whole purpose and Ginny was sick of constantly worrying.

Letting her feet lead the way, Ginny felt her mood lift. How silly of her to let the worry take over! Turning the corner, the girl felt the air went out of her. There, by the end of the corridor walked a familiar-looking face, one she didn't want to see.

Life sure was having fun messing with her.

Feeling the panic rise from inside, the red-head turned on her heels and began to sprint. Unfortunately for her, she had in her panic gone the wrong way and was met by a dead end. Not being able to head back the way she came as she would most likely run into Draco, Ginny did the second best thing. Hide.

Taking her chance, Ginny opened the door to what she hoped was an empty classroom and slammed it shut.

Paranoid as she was, the Gryffindor remained longer in the classroom than what was needed, causing her to be late to transfiguration. Enduring a harsh scolding from McGonagall, the girl cursed the blonde in her head. If it hadn't been for him, she wouldn't be standing here now!

Sighing to herself silently so that Professor McGonagall didn't hear her, Ginny took the seat next to Luna.

The blonde girl gave the Gryffindor a half-dreamy stare. "Are you feeling alright?"

"I've had better days", the red-head admitted.

Luna replied with an absent nod before turning her concentration towards the task before them. Namely, turning a roaster into a music box.

That was one of the things Ginny liked about the Ravenclaw, she never pushed a subject.

However, very unlike Luna, the blonde girl didn't remain quiet about it for long. Soon after their lesson had ended and the pair was out of hearing range of their classmates Luna spoke.

"So", the Ravenclaw began in her usual tone, "what's bothering you?"

Ginny remained silent for a while, pondering whether or not she wanted to talk to Luna. Or if it was Hermione that had sent her. Of course the blonde would never let another soul know what was said between them, but that didn't make it any easier for Ginny to share her thoughts. Once out, they could never be taken back.

"Yes, Hermione did ask me to talk to you", Luna replied to the red-head's thoughts. "But I also wanted to see how you were. Though I have a pretty good guess what is going on."

Ginny chocked. "D... do you?"

She hadn't meant to sound so panic-struck, but once the words left her mouth she hadn't had any control over them.

Calm down Ginny. Knowing Luna, this could mean anything. And besides, how could she ever have found out about her and...

"It's got something to do with Draco Malfoy, no?" Luna's voice cut through Ginny's trail of thought and left the girl gaping for air.

How had she even found out? How! Oh, this was bad, bad, BAD!

Turning towards Luna with an expression Ginny hoped didn't look horrified, the girl tried a faint smile. "What? How... when.. I..." No coherent sentence left Ginny's mouth. Not that she quite knew what to say.

"Oh, I've known for a while now" the Ravenclaw calmly stated as she examined a crack on the wall.

Had it been anyone but Luna, they would have freaked out already by this knowledge. But there she stood, patiently awaiting the red-head's answer.

"So, do you want to talk about it?"

Ginny nodded in defeat. The blonde girl already knew, at least partly, what was going on. Also, it could be nice to finally have someone to talk to. Someone that could help her straight things out.

"Let's take a walk", Luna said and grabbed hold of the Gryffindor's arm. "If we're lucky, we might see some Loxyworgens."

Walking around the lake, Ginny told Luna everything that had happened. How Draco had offered to be her coach, the lessons, the tours to Hogsmeade, the Yule Bale, her dates, the incident with the bludger and finally Draco's confession.

During the whole story, Luna remained silent, taking everything in. It wasn't until Ginny was done that she spoke again.

"What are you going to do now then?"

"That's the thing! I have no idea what I am going to do, hence I am in this mess to begin with!"

"Is it?" Luna raised her eyebrows. "Or is it that you are afraid?"

Ginny gaped. "I'm a Gryffindor, we aren't supposed to be afraid of anything." She retorted after a while.

The red-head got no reply.

"What are you saying then?" Ginny said and sat down next to an old oak. "That I am scared of my own feelings?"

The Gryffindor still didn't get a reply, but Luna's silence was answer enough.

"What feelings would that be? That I actually would be in...like him?"

"You do speak very fondly of him", Luna finally replied and took the seat next to her. "And both of you seem to enjoy each other's company."

"Perhaps," Ginny muttered and looked at the grass. "Wait, how would you know that? And how did you even find out?"

"Oh, I was following a Snogglewart outside during the Yule Ball and happened to stumble upon you."

Since the Yule Ball. Luna had known since the Yule Ball and never once during the months that had passed had the blonde girl hinted that she knew. It was nice to know that Luna kept it to herself, but still a bit unnerving that the Ravenclaw had kept it to herself for so long.

"But still, it is ridiculous! Me, liking Draco? I'm in love with Harry, everyone knows that! Well, at least almost everyone." Voicing her thoughts, Ginny looked expectingly on Luna to see if she had anything to say on the matter.

However, she remained quiet. It was almost as if Ginny was talking to herself. And perhaps that had been the blonde's plan all along.

"Sure, it isn't going well at the moment", Ginny continued, "but you'll see! And for now there is Jeremy! I mean, we are practically dating already!"

Excuse after excuse poured from the Gryffindor's mouth, but they soon ran out and Ginny was left with an realization. Maybe, just maybe, the Ravenclaw had point with what she had said. That Ginny in fact had some sorts of feelings for a certain blonde.

Still not fully certain of what she felt, Ginny at least knew that that she was done with her running. It was time to face the boy and once and for all solve this matter.

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Ginny's mind had been set on dealing with everything as quickly as possible, but that had not been meant to be. Mentally, she was still unprepared and it would take the next few days before the girl mustered up the courage to send an owl to the blonde and ask him to meet her.

Sneaking through the corridors, for reasons not even she knew, Ginny headed to the usual classroom. Her stomach was filled with discomfort and jitters. And no wonder why. Whatever happened in the classroom today would change things as she knew it. Or perhaps that change had begun all those months ago when she first agreed to be coached by Draco.

Still in her stealth mode, Ginny opened the door an inch so that she could peek inside. If she was lucky, the blonde wouldn't be there already. But of course he was, like he always was. Sitting in the window, Draco was silently waiting for her.

He is beautiful.

The sudden realization hit Ginny hard. Of course the girl had always know that the Slytherin was good-looking, but it had never hit her just how much. He was down right gorgeous. How had she ever been able to be alone in the same room as him and not constantly be in awe?

The answer to that was rather easy: the boy was a bastard, something that distracted one a great deal from his looks.

"Ginny, if you think I haven't noticed you, you're sorely mistaken", Draco suddenly called out, causing the girl to jump.

No longer having a reason to stand outside the room, Ginny entered. Not knowing what to do next, she remained just inside the room, most likely looking like a lost puppy. Her behaviour caused the blonde to raise an eyebrow.

"Afraid I might bite?" He said teasingly and flashed a smile.

"Hah, you would never dare!" The red-head snapped back, grateful to fall back into the old pattern of throwing insults at each other.

To show the boy that she wasn't scared of being close to him, she went to sit down on the chair closest to him with true Gryffindor manner. Something she immediately came to regret, as she now was looking directly at the boy. The words she had prepared vanished and left behind a slightly awkward and mute Ginny.

Having nothing to say, silence fell between the two again. A silence that was both awkward and strained.

Oh come on Ginny! You didn't come here to sit awkwardly on a chair! Just tell him what you feel and be done with it.

Despite her inner voice urging her on, the Gryffindor found herself unable to act. No matter how much she wanted to let her words out, she couldn't. And it wasn't as if Draco's silence was helping. Why couldn't he be the one to bring the subject up?

Taking a deep breath, Ginny prepared herself for the inevitable.

Ironically, at the same time that the Gryffindor opened her mouth to speak, so did the blonde. This caused them both to fall silent again.

"You... wanted to say something?" Ginny said after some more awkward silence.

"So did you", Draco quickly replied. "So go ahead."

Once more feeling the jitters in her stomach, panic took over the girl's mind. This caused Ginny said the first thing that came to mind. "Dreadful weather today, right?" The words sounded stupid and as soon as they had left her mouth, the girl wished she hadn't spoken at all.

Apparently taking the Slytherin by surprise, he stayed quiet. His silence didn't last long and he soon broke out in laughter.

It hadn't been the smartest thing to say, but did he really have to laugh at it?

The rage that was building inside the girl soon evaporated, as she noticed that the boy's laughter wasn't taunting nor mocking. It was a sincere one.

"Okay, stop it", Ginny said while she shoved the boy slightly. "Not the smartest thing to say, I know. So be quiet now!"

Of course the blonde didn't pay her any attention and kept on laughing. Eventually he stopped, wiping tears away from his eyes.

"Well, you know, you're right about that one. The weather is rather foul today." Judging from the look on Draco's face, he was having a hard time restraining himself. But he did, leaving only a slight smirk on his lips to show his amusement. "I am going to guess that it wasn't the weather you wanted to talk about though."

The mood that had been light, now went back to the more serious one. This time Ginny didn't feel discouraged by it. This was as ready as she would get.

Averting her eyes from the boy, she began to speak while fiddling with a thread at the end of her sleeve. "I've been thinking about what you said..." Ginny's voice feel silent.

"Yes?" The blonde's voice urged her on.

Eye still fixed on the thread, the red-head went on. "And I've come to the conclusion that maybe... I like you too..." Cheeks flaming red, Ginny twirled the thread in her fingers.

It unnerved her that the blonde had been so quiet, but what unnerved her even more was that he remained so for a long time.

The growing feeling of dread spread throughout Ginny's body. What if he had changed his mind and no longer wanted to have anything to do with her? Or worse, what if this really all had been a cruel joke? If it was, he would never live it down.

Growing impatient of the boy's lack of response, she turned her eye his way. No matter what she had been expecting, it wasn't this. In front of her sat Draco, wearing a wide, slightly smug grin. However, it wasn't just smugness the girl saw in it as she studied it. There was something more behind it. Joy.

"What are you smiling at?" the Gryffindor snapped, her voice uneven and cheeks burning hot.

"I'm smiling because I was right."

"Right about what?" Ginny asked in a suspicious tone.

"That you would choose me in the end", Draco said, his voice both teasing and warm.

Opening her mouth to object, Ginny was cut off by a pair of lips that connected with hers. Pulling her closer towards him, Ginny felt Draco's arms rest possessively around her. When he finally let go of her, Ginny could do nothing more than stare at the boy dazzled. This was not the quite the reaction she had expected.

Clearly amused by her, the blonde got another smile on his lips.

"You know Ginny, I'm disappointed with you!"

Draco's sudden words caught her off guard.

Raising her eyebrows, Ginny looked at the boy puzzled. What had she done now?

"You broke your promise", the Slytherin continued.

Now the red-head was completely lost. Promise? What in Merlin's name was he talking about?

"Oh Ginny, Ginny, Ginny", Draco half-sighed, half-said, putting on his more dramatic side. "Don't you remember? You said you wouldn't fall in love with me."

A vague memory resurfaced from the back of the girl's head. Though she was fairly certain she hadn't exactly promised that. Besides, hadn't it been the boy that first had expressed his feelings?

Not leaving any room for Ginny to speak, Draco went on. "Of course I shouldn't have expected anything else", he said, eyes gleaming with self-admiration. "I am quite irresistible after all!"

Just about to scold the boy, Ginny was once more cut off as Draco leaned in and kissed her again. All other thought but one escaped her and that was how remarkably soft the boy's lips were.