Disclaimer: I own nothing… never will.

A/N: I am so grateful for all of my wonderful readers. You all make it worth my time and effort into getting this story out. I'm sorry the last chapter was so short but I wanted to get something out there to read. I hope this next chapter will be a little longer. So, without further ado… here's chapter 12.

A/N: Oh and I suck at Quidditch games. Please, bear with that part, as it's really short.

Chapter Twelve Rekindled Friendships

"Is she alright?"

"I think so."

"She looks like she's in pain."

Ginny squeezed her eyes tight as she tried to make out who was talking. She moaned and placed a hand on her forehead. "What time is it?" she asked, her voice sounding hoarse.

"Oh, Ginny, you're awake," April's voice floated to her sounding very far away.

Ginny squinted and saw that her friend was sitting right next to her. "Brilliant observation," Ginny bit back. She then felt the other side of her bed give under some weight. She rolled her head to that side. "Hermione?"

"I came up here to see if you were alright," Hermione stated.

Ginny sat up and brushed her hair out of her face. "Why do I have to keep repeating myself?" she asked. "I'm fine."

"Well, after what happened earlier today…" Hermione started.

"What do you mean?"

Hermione sighed and looked down at her lap. "Ron told me. He said…"

"What? That Harry kicked me off the team?"

April rested her hand on Ginny's shoulder. "Gin, Harry was upset. He just wants a good team…"

Ginny snorted. "I was tired. All I wanted to do was have a lie down on my bed."

"If you'd stop interrupting, you would know that you are NOT kicked off the team," April sighed.

Ginny looked at her friend disbelievingly. "What?"

"After you left the Quidditch pitch, Ron talked to Harry. He convinced Harry to let up on you and to give you another chance," Hermione said matter-of-factly.

Ginny laid her head back against the headboard and closed her eyes. So, she wasn't off the team. Wonderful, she thought. "What time is it?" she asked.

"Almost seven," April chimed in.

"Where is everyone?"

"Down at dinner, I suppose."

Ginny swung her legs around April and stood up. The cold stone floor under her feet made her shiver and she wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed her arms. "Guess I should go and at least eat something."

Hermione stood up and walked around the bed to face Ginny. "You sure? We could go and get you something."

Ginny smiled up at the older girl. "I can't hide up here all the time." Ginny walked around Hermione and headed for the trunk at the end of her bed. She took out a pair of socks and some new clothes. Then she sat down on top of the trunk, pulling her socks on her feet to warm her up a bit. "I'm just gonna hop into the bathroom and change. Meet you down in the common room?" She hoped she sounded all right. She thought that if she went down to the Great Hall she just might find a certain Slytherin. If he were there, she would wait until she could follow him and get him alone. It wasn't much of a plan but she had nothing else to fall back on. She needed to know if she truly felt anything for him or if it was just a passing fancy.

Hermione sighed and looked over at April who just shrugged her shoulders. Hermione then turned back to the redhead. "Sure, alright… see you in a bit."

Ginny didn't wait and made her way to the bathroom. She just wanted to get down to dinner and see if her small plan could be put into action. As she left, Hermione looked down to the floor and noticed something glimmer in the soft candlelight next to Ginny's bed. Bending down, she noticed a chain protruding from underneath. She grabbed it and pulled… holding up the chain and noticed a small gold ring attached. April came up behind her. "What's that?" she asked.

"I'm not sure," she whispered back. She pocketed the ring and the two girls made their way down to the common room to wait for Ginny.

Ginny finished in the bathroom and went back to her bed. She put away her old clothes and looked in her bedside drawer. Much to her amazement, the ring wasn't there. She looked under her sheets and pillows… still no ring. She dropped to her knees and reached under her bed. Where is that ring? She wondered. I couldn't have lost it… I was just holding it a few hours ago. She searched, nervously, for a few more minutes then decided to give up… for now. She pushed her hair up into a messy bun and made her way down to the common room. She spotted Hermione sitting alone on one of the many couches reading… again. Ginny cleared her throat. Hermione looked up and smiled. "Ready?" she asked.

"Yep," Ginny replied. The two girls left the common room and headed down to the Great Hall. As they neared, Ginny's stomach started turning. Not the normal butterflies one usually gets before seeing a crush but the stomach turning feeling one gets when they feel like something dreadful was about to happen. The noise from the dining hall usually put Ginny in a good mood but this time, it sounded like a bunch of angry bees buzzing in her brain. She put a hand to her head and swooned a little.

Hermione put her hand on Ginny's shoulder. "Are you ok?" she asked, concern etched in her voice.

Ginny merely nodded her head yes and took a shaky breath. "Let's just go in."

"Looks like you need some water," she said. Pushing open the doors, the two made their way to the Gryffindor table and sat down. Ginny sat as far away from Harry as she could and stared down at her empty plate. She was brought out of her thoughts by her own brother's voice.

"Oi, Ginny… how are you?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. If she had to listen to someone ask that very question of her one more time, she was going to scream. "I'm fine, Ron. Just a little tired."

Ron placed a hand over his sister's and patted it lightly. "You just need to eat. You haven't eaten well in the last few days. If mum saw you now… she'd be furious that I didn't keep a better eye on you."

Ginny smiled a little and looked up at her brother. "I guess you're right." Ginny took a roll and tore at it. She was just reaching for a goblet of water when she spotted blonde hair across the room. She saw the back of Malfoy's head and the spasms in her stomach turned a little more. She felt faint and silently thanked Merlin that she was sitting. She held onto the table in front of her.

Hermione leaned over and whispered into her ear. "Gin, what is going on? You're knuckles are turning white you're gripping the table so hard."

Ginny took a series of short breaths, trying not to faint. She knew she needed to talk to Draco but now that she saw him, she was a nervous wreck. Hermione merely rubbed her back in small circles, trying to comfort her friend. After a few seconds, Ginny closed her eyes and took a long slow breath… in and then out. "I'm alright now, Hermione. I guess lack of sleep and food is starting to finally take its toll." Ginny tried to eat some of the roll before her but it was hard to swallow now that her mouth felt dry like the deserts of Egypt. She reached out for her goblet once more and saw that her hand was shaking. Without raising any more questions, Hermione reached over and brought the goblet closer to Ginny. "Thanks," she mumbled finally taking and downing the water in just a few gulps.

Ginny put the cup down and looked back over to the Slytherins. She didn't see Draco anymore and she frantically searched the Great Hall for any sign of him. Where did he go? She wondered. She turned to Hermione, excused herself, and quickly walked out of the dining hall. She scanned the hallway before her but was disappointed to find it completely empty. This felt all too familiar to her as she remembered that this happened just a few short months ago. But last time, Draco had grabbed her and pulled her into an alcove where he kissed her. She raised her hands to her lips and tentatively touched them. She swore she could still feel him… the light press of lips on lips. She longed for that feeling again. What am I thinking? He's a Slytherin, a royal pain in my friends' arse, and a Malfoy. I have no right to be longing for him. With a determined air, Ginny decided to just stop thinking about the sexy Slytherin and concentrate on Quidditch and her schoolwork. She was just about to head back to the Gryffindor Tower when a hand rested on her arm. She froze, her heart started to beat faster, and she closed her eyes… hoping that it was just Hermione that had stopped her.

"Ginny, can we talk?" came Harry's voice from behind her.

Letting out the breath she didn't know she was holding, Ginny turned around and tried to force a smile. "Listen, Harry… I'm… I'm sorry about earlier today. I was just tired."

Harry let go of her arm and looked down at the floor. "I know. Ron told me you haven't been sleeping well lately."

"Yeah… you could say that."

"Well… I just wanted to tell you that you're still a part of the team. And there will be a practice scheduled for Friday night after dinner. Professor McGonagall has given us permission to use the pitch."

"Why a special practice?" she asked.

"We play Slytherin on Saturday and I do NOT want them to win."

Ginny winced a little as Harry's voice rose. She forgot that they were playing Slytherin and she felt her heart drop. Did she have the nerve, or the Gryffindor courage, to face Draco on the Quidditch pitch? Yes! She WAS a Gryffindor, by the way, and no boy was going to get her knickers in a twist. Oh yes… wonderful imagery, Ginerva, she thought to herself. She finally looked up at Harry. "Alright. I'll be there."

Harry placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" he asked.

Ginny suppressed the urge to scream at his question… instead, she took a deep breath and calmed herself down. "Yes, I'm fine."

"You seem distant… like you're thinking about something. I'm just a little concerned."

"I guess I'm just nervous about the upcoming game. This IS my first year as a Chaser."

Harry smiled as he rubbed the toe of his trainer on the floor. "You are a wonderful Chaser," he commented. "Just promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

"Get some much needed sleep. I don't need you falling off your broom on Saturday."

Ginny couldn't help but laugh at that. It felt good to laugh again. "Um… Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"We good? I mean… are we going to be ok?"

Harry crossed his arms and tried not to look down at the floor. "We were friends before all this and I would like to be friends again."

"I would like that, too, Harry." Ginny reached out and brought Harry into a hug. "And maybe one day… we can start over. But not just yet."

Harry pulled away a little, brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and smiled at her. "That would be… nice," he returned.

Ginny pulled him in again and rested her head against his chest. It felt good to just have someone to hold her without asking for anything in return. She felt him relax a little and wrap his arms around her. Harry rested his chin on the top of her head and she completely forgot about Malfoy. What she didn't know was that the very same person had just rounded the corner and witnessed the embrace of the two Gryffindors. With eyes wide, he turned and quietly walked back the way he had just come.

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

The next few days went by without any incident. Ginny was again talking to Harry like the friends they used to be before they started dating. She had gotten all her homework done, courtesy of Hermione, and even did well in Quidditch practice that Friday evening. She had been sleeping well again and all seemed right in Ginny's world. Saturday morning came too soon for her and she found herself quietly sulking at breakfast. Her leg was bouncing uncontrollably, making the table shake a little every so often. Ron, who was sitting next to her, reached under and stopped her leg.

"Gin… please stop. We're all nervous and you shaking your leg isn't helping any."

Ginny looked up at Ron and tried to smile. "Sorry." It was then that the rest of the team stood up as Harry made his way over to them.

"Is everyone here?" he asked, looking around. When everyone nodded yes, he continued. "Good. Let's head on down to the pitch and go over some last minute strategies. Not much more we can do right now."

The team walked quietly to the locker rooms and entered. They got dressed and sat down. After a few minutes of listening to Harry, they all gathered their brooms and walked towards the tunnel. Ginny could hear the cheers of the crowd and her heart felt as though it had sunk down to her feet. She kept taking deep breaths to calm her nerves and to keep from shaking. She felt someone's hand on her shoulder.

"Just breathe," Harry whispered, leaning over her shoulder, into her ear. Ginny closed her eyes at his words and willed her heart to stop beating so furiously. She turned around and smiled.

The team made their way out onto the pitch to a deafening roar. Cheers and chants of "Gryffindor" could be heard and Ginny's whole entire being smiled. She was a part of this and she loved it. Suddenly, a light rain had started… making her shiver. At least this time, it was from the chill in the air. She saw Harry walk to the center of the field to meet with the Slytherin captain (whose name escaped her) and Madame Hooch. She could barely hear the crowd now over the roar of the wind that had just picked up. Ginny was starting to fear that she wouldn't be able to hear her fellow teammates. She looked up and spotted Draco standing next to the other Slytherins. His long hair was pulled back into a ponytail but the wind whipped a few strands around his face. She tried desperately to not stare but he just looked so good… clutching his broom and brushing furiously at the loose strands. She was brought out of her musings when Madison spoke up.

"Mount up!" the other chaser cried over the wind.

Ginny climbed onto her broom and kicked off… where the rain seemed to be a lot colder. She flew around with the other chasers, trying her best to keep track of the Quaffle. She managed to score a few points. From up here, she couldn't even hear the commentating so she had to rely on her eyes. A few times, she found herself lost… not noticing where the ball was at the time. The rain picked up and was beating her face furiously… the drops felt like ice, stinging her. All of a sudden, she heard someone shouting her name. She turned her head left and right but couldn't make out where it was coming from. The voice sounded so far away. She spotted Madison take off to her right and was just about to turn that way when something slammed into her, knocking her right off her broom. She could feel herself falling and it felt like she was moving in slow motion. It was then that she blacked out and didn't notice a certain someone with their wand pointing right at her.

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

"Is she going to be ok?" someone asked. Ginny couldn't make out who it was… her head was spinning. She opened her eyes but everything was out of focus.

"Uh…" she moaned as she placed her hand on her head and shut her eyes tight.

"She's coming to," Harry said as he laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Ginny?" Ron questioned. "Can you hear me?"

Ginny heard the concerned tone in her brother's voice and nodded… slowly. She tried opening her eyes again and this time her vision wasn't so blurry. "Wha… what happened?" she asked.

She saw Harry's relieved face as he sat down on the bed next to her. "A bludger happened. One of the Slytherin Beaters aimed right for you. I tried yelling for you to look out but the wind was too loud."

"I did hear my name but I didn't know who said it," she commented.

"Well, when it hit you, it knocked you clean off your broom. You would have hit the ground really hard but for some reason, you slowed down and landed softly. We still don't know who did it. Professor Dumbledore said it wasn't him so we're stumped."

Ginny didn't have time to contemplate this because Madame Pomfrey rushed in. "Alright everyone… Miss Weasley needs her rest. You can all come back in the morning."

Ginny watched as everyone left… the entire Gryffindor team had waited for her until she woke up. As everyone left, she noticed that Hermione had hung back. The other girl turned to her and took her hand. Ginny felt something hard and cold placed into her hand and when she looked up, Hermione smiled. "I found this under your bed the other day. I don't know what it is but I figured you'd want it. When you feel better, you can explain." Without another word, Hermione walked away and out of the infirmary. Ginny looked down and in her hand was Draco's ring. Chills ran through her body as her hand clutched the ring tightly. At least Hermione didn't know to whom the ring belonged. But what would she say? Could she tell her that it was Draco's and that she was secretly seeing him? Uh… she wasn't seeing him anymore so why did she feel nervous? It was then that she felt her eyes start to close. Pomfrey must have given her a sleeping potion so she just welcomed the sleep. She would worry about the ring, Hermione, and Draco when she woke up.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

It was dark when Ginny heard something that roused her from her sleep. She sat up slowly and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. From the small amount of candlelight from a nearby sconce, she noticed the outline of someone standing by the end of her bed. "Who's there?" she whispered, afraid that she might wake up the nurse.

From out of the shadows she saw Draco Malfoy. As he approached the side of her bed, she could see dark circles under his eyes. It looked like he hadn't slept in days. His normally shiny eyes were dull and his silken hair seemed lifeless. What had happened to him the past few days? "Um… hi," he said as he rubbed his hands together nervously.

"Hi," she replied. She wasn't sure what to say to him so she waited for him to talk.

"How are you?"

"Ok, I guess. My side hurts from where the Bludger hit and my head is still spinning again but that's about it." They remained silent for a few minutes and it was starting to bug her. "So… what brings you here?"

"We need to talk."

She's heard this before but from someone else. She sighed, willing the tears not to start. "Look, I just can't do this. I really like you but I'm afraid I might get my heart broken… again." Ginny looked down and clutched at her blankets.

"I was trying to joke with you… but… you're right. I can't show how I feel about you around the Golden Trio. It's not that I don't like you… "

"What did you say?" she asked. Did he just say that he liked me? She wondered.

"What part?" he said and a trace of a small smirk played on his lips.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Did you just say that you liked me?"

Draco sat down next to her and ran a finger down her cheek. "I like you, Ginny Weasley. Everything I've done to your body… every thought in my head when you're not around… every waking moment… I have but one thing on my mind: that I like you. I'm not sure where this is going to go but I can't be without you. But it would be a little strange if we started acting all lovey dovey with each other in front of our friends. I mean… couldn't we just be secretive for a while? At least until we know where this is going?"

Ginny shut her eyes at his touch. Yes, this was exactly what she had been thinking. She couldn't get him off her mind… she saw him everywhere like in her dreams and whenever she saw blonde hair. "I understand. I don't want to let you go. I want to feel your hands on me again… to kiss you again… Gods, Draco, please forgive me?"

Draco pulled her into a hug and she wrapped her arms around her. She hissed as she felt the bruise on her side and he let go. "Sorry…"

Ginny pulled him back. "Don't let me go," she whispered into his hair.

"Never," he whispered back. A few seconds passed and he released her a little to look into her eyes. "You are beautiful."

Ginny blushed and giggled. "Yeah, right. My hair's a mess and I probably look like hell."

Draco lifted her chin. "You look like an angel." He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers… lightly. He reached around her and with one hand on her back and the other on her head, he brought her into the kiss a little more. She opened her lips, granting him access and he took it… his tongue mingling with hers. They kissed passionately and only stopped when she moaned into his mouth. "Shh," he purred as he laid his forehead against hers. "You'll wake Pomfrey."

"I don't care," she whispered back, loving the warmth his breath gave against her face.

"Yes… you do," he replied. He kissed her quickly, a mere press of lips, as he slowly backed away. "I better go."

He went to stand but Ginny stopped him by grabbing his arm. "Please don't go."

"You need sleep. You'll get it here."

"At least wait until I fall asleep."

Draco looked into her eyes and she could see life pouring back into him. Did she do that to him? He sighed but a smile formed. "Alright… but only until you fall asleep."

"Thank you," she replied, letting go of his arm. He sat back down and she snuggled in close to him. "Um… I do have a question."

"What's that?"

"Harry said…" She could feel him stiffen at Harry's name. She looked up at him and saw that his jaw was clenched tight. "Draco, Harry is just a friend… nothing more."

"I saw the two of you out front of the Great Hall a few days ago. You looked a little more than friends."

Ginny sighed. "Draco, we had a falling out. But we've always been friends. Please, understand that I don't have feelings for him anymore."

"I know… it was just hard seeing you like that knowing that you two did have something at one point."

"In the past…" she replied. "But as I was saying… Harry said that someone slowed down my fall when the Bludger hit me. Do you know who did that?"

Draco ran his hand down her hair and twirled the end of one strand between his fingers. "That Bludger nearly took your head off."

Ginny sat up and looked at Draco. "It was you?" she asked, surprise in her voice. "But, we're not allowed to have wands during a game."

"Aren't you lucky I don't play by the rules?" he smirked.

Ginny playfully punched his arm. "Yeah… thank you."

"You can repay me later."

"How?" she asked, bewildered.

"What are your plans for Christmas holiday?"

"Staying here," she answered, looking down. "Mum and Dad are going to visit Charlie and I would rather not spend my time with something that will more than likely burn me alive. Dragons are not my thing."

Draco bit back a laugh. "But what about this dragon?" he asked.

Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned forward. "This dragon has already caught me in his fire," she whispered into his ear.

"Well then… this dragon just might have a surprise for his prey. Now, lie down and get some rest. I'll catch you sometime tomorrow."

Ginny put her head back down on the pillow and closed her eyes. "But you WILL stay here for a while… right?"

"Of course. Now… go to sleep." Ginny drifted off to sleep, a smile on her lips. As her breathing deepened, Draco noticed a gold chain falling through her fingers. He pried her hand open and noticed that she was holding his ring. He smiled as he put the ring on the table next to her and stood up. He bent over, kissed her on the forehead, and silently made his way out of the infirmary. Yes, Christmas was going to be a day that the littlest Weasley would not soon forget.

A/N: Thanks again for your patience. I love reviews so please… REVIEW!