Chapter 6: A Ball to Remember

Ginny woke to a beautiful sunrise on Saturday morning. Autumn was in full swing now, and the trees in the Forbidden Forest were turning all sorts of colors. There were oranges, reds, yellows, and browns all sporadically spread out amongst the trees. Slowly getting up, Ginny noticed the two boxes casually tossed on the floor next to her four-poster bed. She smiled to herself, remembering what happened last night.

Jumping happily from her bed, Ginny picked up the two boxes. She set the smaller box to the side and turned her attention to the bigger rectangle. With slight hesitation, Ginny lifted its lid.

"Oh my gosh," she whispered breathily. Hands shaking, she picked up the silky, black dress that was sitting serenely in its cardboard box. The dress was the most gorgeous thing that Ginny had ever seen in her life! It's black silk was sleek and elegant. Holding the dress to her body, Ginny walked over to the mirror. The cut of the dress was perfect. It fell to just above Ginny's knees, a height that wasn't too short, but was short enough to show off her well-toned legs. The top had a neckline that plunged low but not too low, and wrapped daintily around her neck, halter style.

Ginny shimmied out of her clothes with excitement and stepped into the dress. When she turned back to the mirror, she caught her breath. Staring back at her wasn't some shy nobody, but an outgoing and-if she did say so herself-beautiful woman. If the dress looked good normally, then it looked great on Ginny. Ginny twirled in her new dress in front of the mirror for a while before she realized that she still had another box to open.

She practically skipped over to her bed to retrieve the other box. This time she tore through the package. Inside was a pair of simple, black, open-toed heels. Ginny squealed with delight but stopped abruptly remembering her sleeping roommates. She slipped on the shoes, which fit perfectly by the way, and went back to the mirror to admire her reflection. The heels weren't crazily tall, but were perfect enough to make a slight difference.

I look beautiful Ginny thought to herself. And it was true. The black dress wasn't skimpy, but it wasn't what you'd want your mom to see you in either. Any way, it fit her beyond perfectly. It looked even better with her fair skin as a backdrop. Then to top it all off, Ginny's red curls hung long and sexily below her shoulders. She hardly recognized herself.

"Wow, Ginny," Veronica said sleepily. Ginny turned around to see one of her roommates waking up and staring at Ginny openly. "You look beautiful!" she exclaimed, still a bit groggily.

Ginny just beamed at the girl, at a loss for words. She went and sat back down on her bed dreamily. Draco bought all this for me! Ginny reached back into the last box, noticing a piece of parchment still in there.

Dear Ginny,

I hope you like the dress. I know it will look good on you, even if you hate it. Can't wait for tonight, but meet me in the Charms classroom before you go to the ball. I'll meet up with you there at 6:00, and we can head down to the Great Hall together. I can't wait to see you! I'll be counting down the minutes until I get to be with you again.

Draco

Ginny's heart leapt. He can't wait to see me! She thought excitedly. What was happening between her and Draco felt like a huge dream. The whole time Ginny had been floating, not really sure that what was happening was reality. It was all too good to be true. Seriously, how could she, a Weasley, manage to feel something other than hatred towards him, a Malfoy, and how could it ever work out? There were too many obstacles in their way.

She sighed, depressed at the revelation that she truly always knew: that it wouldn't work out. I'll have to tell him today she thought, miserably, sometime before the ball. Maybe if she told him soon enough, he would have time to ask some other girl to the ball. Jealously flooded through her at the thought of Draco being with someone like Pansy. Oh well Ginny gave up. It could never work anyway.

Ginny got out of the dress and placed it gently back into its package along with her new shoes. Then she showered and got changed, planning to search for Draco to break the news to him. She'd look for him for the whole day if she had to. With that last thought, Ginny made her way down to the Great Hall, more depressed than she had been for a long time.

Luckily for Ginny, Draco was seated at the Slytherin table eating happily with his friends. When he looked over he saw the stationary Ginny and waved to her. Ginny didn't have the nerve to wave back…actually she really couldn't do anything. Her body seemed glued to the spot, and her mind was utterly blank. But before she knew it Draco was getting up and making his way towards her. When he got close to her, he grabbed her hand in front of everyone and led her out of the Great Hall.

"Gin!" he said snapping his fingers, "Hello? Anyone in there?"

She snapped out of it, and turned to look at him. He was smiling at her sweetly and shyly, something that Malfoy never did.

"Did you like the dress?" he asked her eagerly.

"Err-" she began, now hesitating in the plan she'd created that morning, "Draco, listen-"

"You don't like it?" he asked clearly very disappointed, "Oh! It didn't fit right, did it?"

"No, no," she said quickly. "The dress…it was beautiful and just perfect. Its just…" She trailed off.

"What is it Ginny?" he asked tenderly. She looked into his soft and caring eyes…big mistake. He stared softly yet directly at her, into her own eyes, melting her skepticism away, and shoving her sadness aside.

"Nothing," she said, with a semi-forced smile. "I'm fine."

"Good," Draco replied beaming at her. "Now," he began, glancing at his wristwatch, "I have to go, but I can't wait until tonight. I'll meet you in the charms class at 6:00. Okay?"

"Okay," she nodded in agreement. With that, he bent down and kissed her cheek, then walked away. Ginny watched his figure fade down the corridor and then around the corner, her hand pressed to the spot on her cheek where he kissed her. What are you doing, Ginny? She mentally scolded herself. You can't do this. You just can't.

Ginny's skepticism had returned, but she still couldn't wait for tonight, half in anticipation and half in fear.

Despite everything, Ginny got dressed and spruced herself up before meeting Draco. Part of her wanted to enjoy the night, and the other part of her just wanted to disappear into the shadow of her old, invisible lifestyle. Walking down the stairs, Ron stopped her.

"What's going on between you and Malfoy?" he demanded.

She looked up at him, glaring with all the ferocity that she could muster. "It's none of your business, Ronald," she spat at him.

"What the hell are you doing, Ginny?" he asked. This time, it was more out of sadness than anger. She stared into his eyes, no longer filled with rage but with compassion instead.

"I can take care of myself," she told him softly.

"Do you even know what you're doing?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes," she answered confidently, but that was far from how she was feeling.

"He's a Malfoy, for goodness sakes!" Ron shouted, his anger returning. "Don't you dare get mixed-up with him!"

"Goodbye, Ron," she said sadly, turning her back on him and walking out the door. Before Ron could retaliate, she was already walking swiftly down the corridor ready to meet Draco.

When Ginny walked in, Draco gaped at her openly. She smiled to herself, noticing him look her up and down.

"Why, hello to you too." She smirked at him.

"Err-" he said, trying to gain back his composure. "Hiya, Gin," he greeted breathlessly. Gosh, she's beautiful he thought, looking her up and down again.

"Enjoying the view that much?" She asked slyly. In truth, she was practically gawking and Draco too. He looked amazing. The black of his dress robes went so well with his skin and blond hair. He looked sleek and sexy, and Ginny could barely contain herself.

"I have something for you," he said, finally pulling his eyes from her body, which was shown off pretty well because of the form-fitting dress.

"Not something else!" Ginny argued. "Draco, I can't accept anything else! You've already given me more than enough!"

"One last thing," he assured her with a heart-melting smile. "Now, close your eyes."

Ginny did, her heart beating faster and faster as she felt the warmth from his body behind her. She felt him wrap something around her neck and felt it drop against her chest.

"Open your eyes."

Ginny slowly opened her eyes and looked down. She gasped. Around her neck, was a beautiful silver necklace with an amber gem that matched her hair and eyes only too well.

"Oh my gosh, Draco," she breathed. "It's beautiful!" She brought her shaking fingers to it, feeling the stone to make sure it was real. The amber gem gleamed up at her brightly, and Ginny sighed.

"Draco, this must have cost a fortune!" she exclaimed. "I really can't accept this."

"Ginny," he said calmly taking both her hands in his own, "You can accept it, and you will. You deserve it." He leaned forward giving her a light kiss on the lips that still sent butterflies through Ginny's stomach.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"You're welcome," he answered and then with more enthusiasm said, "Now let's get to that ball!"

"Okay," she agreed smiling up at him. They held hands as they floated on over to the Great Hall, but once they got there Ginny stopped.

"I can't do this," she declared.

"Come on, Gin," Draco urged. "Sure you can."

"No, Draco," she said desperately, "you don't understand. Ron's just inside there!"

"And?" He asked without a care.

"And he'll kill me if he sees me with you," she declared. "Actually," she said as an afterthought, "he'll probably kill you, but I don't want that to happen either!"

"Well, what do you want to do then?" Draco asked slightly irritated.

"I don't know," she said softly, and they stood there for a moment in the tense silence.

"Wait," Draco said, an idea forming in his head. "I could illusion you!"

"What?" Ginny asked.

"An illusion, silly!" he said, nudging her lightly. "I could put an illusion on you so your ass of a brother won't notice you!"

"Draco!" she said excitedly. "That's brilliant!"

"Phf," he scoffed. "I know I am."

"Come on, then," she said, pulling him around the corner and into a nearby bathroom. "You better not make me ugly!" she warned him.

"No one could ever make you ugly," he told her sweetly, and she smiled. Ginny relaxed as Draco brought his wand to her, and once again, she could feel the magic forming itself around her, making her tingle from its warmth.

"Okay," he declared. "I'm done."

Ginny rushed quickly to a mirror and gazed at her reflection. The girl who stared back at her was definitely not anything close to Ginny. Her long, red, curly hair was now brown and straight. It was the same length, but she now had side-swept bangs. Her eyes had changed from creamy brown to ocean-like blue, but she still had the same spread of freckles that sprinkled across her nose. What she noticed most was her chest: it was at least three times as big.

"Draco!" Ginny cried spinning around to see him grinning at her.

"Come on, Gin," he said with a smirk. "You don't like them?"

"Fix it," she seethed, and Draco knew better than to keep teasing her. Quickly he reduced her breast size…but not that much.

"Better?" he asked.

"It'll have to do," she said with a sigh, still examining her chest. At least I fill the dress out better now she thought, trying to be positive.

"Now let's go party!" he exclaimed, grabbing her hand and dragging her back to the Great Hall.

It was so amazing. Ginny walked into the ball, hand in hand with Draco, and not one person gawked at her. Even when they passed her brother and Harry, who were sitting at an abandoned table, she wasn't recognized. They didn't see who she really was, but they did throw her dirty looks. They both exchanged some rude comments with Draco, but he didn't even bother with them. He just pulled Ginny closer to him and smirked at the abandoned losers.

The whole dance was one big blur to Ginny. She and Draco danced almost the whole time, their bodies getting sweatier every song. They stopped to eat once and to get drinks a couple more times, but they mostly let the music control their bodies. They danced close together, swaying with the beat of the music. Ginny was having the time of her life. She had never felt so alive and so happy. How could just being with Draco make her feel that way? It didn't matter; it was just the most amazing sensation Ginny had ever felt.

"I wonder where Ginny is," a voice said from behind her. She spun around quickly to see Ron standing with Hermione and Harry.

"Is she even coming?" Harry asked.

"Yeah," Ron said. "I saw her dressed and everything only right before the ball."

Quickly, Ginny dragged Draco over to a deserted corner, fear flooding through her.

"You have to disillusion me!" she ordered, and Draco frowned. "It'll only be for a minute or two! I promise! I just have to let Ron see me here. Otherwise he'll get suspicious, and then he'll go to my mom, and everything will be ruined!" She explained in one big breath.

"Alright," he agreed, "but only for a minute."

Ginny felt the magic lifting from her and looked down to see her red curls falling over her shoulders. She ran off quickly to speak with the trio.

"Hi guys!" she said with enthusiasm as she ran up to them. "Some dance, isn't it?"

"Oh, hey Gin!" Hermione exclaimed. "We were just wondering about you."

"Really?" Ginny asked, playing along. "Why?"

"We were just wondering where you were, that's all," Harry explained and then eyed her up and down. "Man, Gin! You look incredible!"

Ron nudged Harry rather hard and looked at Ginny suspiciously.

"Yeah, she does," a voice agreed with Harry from behind Ginny. She spun around to see Christian standing behind her, his eyes roaming freely. "So where's your date, Ginny?"

"Err-" Ginny began.

"Not around?" Christian cut in. "Perfect! Would you like to dance with me then?"

Ginny hesitated and looked quickly back to Draco who was glaring at Christian's back.

"I…I really shouldn't," she stammered.

"Come on, Ginny," he begged. "It's just one dance!"

"Ginny," Ron said threateningly. "One dance won't kill you."

Again she glanced back at Draco, who was now sitting angrily in one of the many chairs.

"I guess-" she started to agree.

"Great!" Christian shouted and grabbed her arm, pulling her out on to the dance floor. During the length of the dance, Ginny kept stealing glances at Draco who was eyeing both of them angrily. While they were dancing, Christian kept letting his hands fly all over her body, and Ginny had to garb them and remove them from where they were traveling. When it was over, Ginny made to rush off, but Christian grabbed her wrist.

"How 'bout we get out of here?" he asked, lust shining from his eyes.

"How 'bout not," Ginny said trying to wrench her hand away.

"You don't say 'no' to me, Ginny," he warned threateningly as he tightened his grip on her wrist.

"Let go of me, Christian," she ordered.

"Or you'll what?" he smirked.

"Or I'll have to kick your ass," Draco said coming up to the both of them. Christian looked at Draco who was glaring at him, his wand in his hand ready for a fight. Christian hesitated and then finally let Ginny go.

"Fine," he scoffed. "You win for now." With that he stormed away, pushing people out of his way as he went.

"Oh Draco," Ginny began, but when she turned Draco was leaving her too. "Draco!" she shouted running to catch up with him.

"Get away from me," he growled.

"Draco, listen," she tried to explain, but Draco wouldn't listen.

"I said," he warned, his voice rising, "to get away from me!"

"Come on, Draco!" Ginny begged. They were now walking down the corridors in the direction of the Slytherin common room. "I didn't want to dance with Christian! I really didn't! He just came out of nowhere, and before I knew it we were on the dance floor!"

"And," he snarled, "his hands were just roaming freely all over your body!"

"But I didn't let him!" she said, trying to explain herself. "I kept trying to make him stop, but he just wouldn't! Please, Draco. Just believe me!"

"Why don't you just go back to Christian," he said the name with hatred, "and then you can leave me alone."

"But I don't want to be with Christian!" she exclaimed and grabbed his arm to stop him. With much effort Ginny was able to hold him in place. She faced him and looked straight into his eyes. "I want to be with you, Draco," she whispered, her eyes brimmed with unshed tears.

He stared at her, torn between leaving her in the deserted corridor and kissing her. His pride had been hurt, and he wasn't the happiest person at that moment. Eventually he decided to go with the second. Grabbing her around the waist quickly, Draco pulled her near. She squeaked in surprise but welcomed his kiss anyway. The kiss was sweet and passionate, and it told both of them how much they wanted each other.

"I want to be with you too," Draco admitted when he finally pulled away. "Come with me," he said, grabbing her hand and leading her in the opposite way they were going. They went through corridors and up staircases, a path Ginny had never followed before.

"Where are we going?" Ginny said hesitantly. She knew she liked Draco a lot, but she had no idea what he was planning.

"Trust me, Gin," he said, still pulling her along, and she let him. Soon enough they were both standing in front of a portrait of a gallant, stark white centaur.

"Where are we?" Ginny asked turning to look at Draco, but he didn't answer her.

"Porridge Swerp," he said, and the portrait swung forward. Draco climbed in and turned to Ginny expectantly. Slowly she followed him into a spacious room, with a few couches, and a burning fire in the hearth. "This," he said with a grin, "is the Head Boy and Head Girl common room!"

Ginny had completely forgotten that Draco was the Head Boy. Ron had complained about it enough over the summer that she should have remembered, but somehow, it had escaped her mind.

"And this," he started, leading her to an adjoining room, "is my room."

Ginny peaked in to see a tidy, white room, accented with three colors: silver, black, and green.

"Come here," he said sitting down on his bed, which had silky black sheets, and a black comforter, with black pillows.

"Draco," Ginny began. She wasn't sure she was ready to do what she thought he was implying.

"Gin," Draco said reassuringly, "I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to do." He stared into her eyes, and Ginny could see that he was telling the truth. She made her way over to him and sat down gently by his side. "See," he said with a smile. "I don't bite."

"Oh really?" Ginny smirked. "And what if I do?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows. Draco looked at Ginny in shock at her boldness.

Recovering quickly, he said, "All the better," and grabbed her body, pressing it to his own, and kissing her hard. This kiss wasn't like the others. It wasn't soft or sweet; it was intense and lustful. It was a kiss of two people who wanted nothing more than to be with each other. The kiss hardened, and they leaned back on to the bed. Their bodies were meshed together, still sweaty from dancing, and they were totally focused on one another.

"Draco," Ginny breathed in between kisses.

"What?" he whispered back, his hands traveling to unzip her dress.

"I can't do this," she said sitting up abruptly. Ginny sighed and looked down at Draco. He stared up at her longingly but just sighed.

"It's okay, Ginny," he said calming her. "It really is." He lifted his hand to her soft, red curls, and stroked her hair softly. Slowly, Ginny laid back down and faced Draco. They laid like that, bodies close and staring into one another's eyes, until Ginny drifted off to sleep. He pulled a stray curl away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. Tenderly, Draco pulled the blanket over the both of them and wrapped his arms around her tiny body.

"Ginny?" he asked quietly. No response.

He kissed her on top of the head and murmured, "I love you." With that, he pulled her body closer to him, and drifted off to sleep as well. Ginny smiled to herself, hearing what he just said and replaying it over and over in her head. He loves me she thought happily, and with that peaceful and comforting thought, Ginny fell to sleep too.

A/N: You like it?

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