Author's Note: Hello, everyone! Here's Chapter 1…I hope you like it :) I know it's a little on the short side, but I wanted to get something up for you all to read, and I'll have the next one posted asap! Please review at the end – I love reviews!

Chapter 1: First Encounters

"Rap! Rap! Rap!" Ginny jolted awake, mind racing. It took her a moment to orient herself. She was in bed, still wearing her blue dress from last night's wedding party. The clock on her wall read four o'clock. It was still dark outside her window. What in Merlin's name…?

Just then, she heard the muffled sounds of voices filtering up from downstairs and was immediately alert. She grabbed her wand from her bedside table and tiptoed to the door, carefully avoiding the places on her bedroom floor that she knew creaked. She opened her door, crossed the hall, and slowly made her way down the staircase, the voices getting louder and clearer as she went.

"It's just for the summer…until things quiet down." Ginny's body sagged a little in relief – it was Lupin.

"I don't trust him – or her!" Ginny heard her mother say in a harsh whisper. "After what that boy's done, Remus!"

"He didn't want any of this, Molly, you know that!" said a woman's voice that Ginny didn't recognize.

"It was only possible because of him, Nar—."

Ginny rounded the corner and the conversation stopped short. A small group was gathered around the kitchen table, and from the light of Charlie's wand, which he was holding up in the center of the group, Ginny could make out their faces. Her parents were on one side of the table; her mum was leaning forward angrily and her dad had one hand on her shoulder, holding her back. Charlie stood in the middle, and beside him was Lupin, who looked weary, as always.

On the other side of the table, standing very straight, was a blonde woman that Ginny had never seen before. And behind her, one hand protectively on the woman's arm…. Ginny's stomach dropped in angry surprise. Malfoy.

"Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, still keeping her voice to a whisper. "What are you doing up?"

Before Ginny could answer, Lupin said calmly, "Ginny, I believe you know Mr. Malfoy."

Ginny's eyes flicked over to the tall, slender figure. She nodded. "What is he doing here?" she said slowly, keeping her voice low and steady.

There was a long pause, during which Mrs. Weasley visibly attempted to collect herself. "Remus and Mrs. Malfoy," she said, her voice finally calm, "would like Draco to stay with us for a while."

"Why?" she said, her voice a whisper.

"It isn't safe for him to be where the He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has access to him," Remus said. "The Dark Lord is angry that he failed in the Astronomy Tower. It is only a matter of time before he sets Draco an impossible task that will result in his death in order to punish him for his failure. He will stay here, under the Order's protection…if your parents consent. He could be disguised as Ron, if anyone were to come calling," Remus added. "The ghoul plan could be dispensed with."

A pause. "So he's running away?" Ginny responded finally, looking straight at Draco.

"Not running away," Narcissa Malfoy said, her eyes blazing. "My son is no coward."

"Yes." Draco's voice cut in; it was quiet, but his words were crisp and clear. "I am running away." He looked straight back at Ginny, meeting her gaze head-on. "But what else would you have me do?"

For all that Ginny expected anger to swell inside her and a thousand retorts to spring to her lips, none came. Instead, to her great surprise, she felt like crying. Ron and Hermione and Harry…confusing, frustrating, noble, wonderful Harry…were gone, and Draco Malfoy was here in their stead. It was so incredibly wrong.

She stared back at Draco without saying anything, and for a long moment there was silence as they all waited for her to respond. Finally, she turned on her heel and walked slowly back up the stairs.

Ginny lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. She was thinking of Harry. It had been funny, really. Her feelings for Harry had developed over so many years of her life that when they were finally a couple it had just felt…natural and comfortable. She knew that everyone thought of her as a fireball with a fierce temper and strong opinions, but with Harry she had been calm. She had always been talkative – as the youngest child she had had to speak up to be heard – but with Harry she had never felt so content with silence.

She still heard the quiet buzz of conversation from downstairs. It went on for nearly an hour more, but Ginny knew her mother would cave. Mrs. Weasley could never turn away a boy in danger. Especially not now, when her own son was Merlin knows where.

Sure enough, she soon heard the Burrow door open and then close. Then the sound of four sets of footsteps on the stairs. A few quiet whispers in the hall outside her bedroom door, which quickly faded as the group moved down the hall.

Draco Malfoy would be staying.

When Ginny woke a few hours later, sun was streaming in through her bedroom window and she could hear the familiar sound of birds chirping outside. Had last night really happened? How could everything feel so normal and yet be so different?

She sat up, rubbing sleep from her eyes, and slid her feet into her fuzzy slippers. A shower. That's what she needed first…to clear her head. She grabbed a towel, a pair of shorts, and a ratty Holyhead Harpies t-shirt and headed to the bathroom.

The hall was clear outside, but she could hear her mum cooking breakfast in the kitchen below. Bill and Fleur would have left for their newly acquired beachside cottage after the wedding, but Charlie, Fred, and George must still be around somewhere, probably still sleeping. At the door to the bathroom, Ginny paused. A small staircase to her right led to the top of the house, where Ron's room was, and where Malfoy now slept.

In the shower, Ginny considered their new…guest. He was a foul git, obviously, and she didn't like him. He had taken every opportunity to annoy and undermine her and everyone she cared about at school. And that was nothing compared to the things his father had done! Lucius Malfoy had planted that book…that terrible book…for her to find in her first year…. Ginny stopped herself short. She didn't think about that. Ever.

But in any case, Lucius Malfoy was a horrible man, and even if Draco wasn't quite as evil as him yet, he could be soon. But then…didn't that excuse Draco, at least a little? He had been surrounded by horrible, evil people for his entire life. He had been used and manipulated by them, even. Was it any wonder he was cold and unfriendly? Wasn't it actually amazing that he wasn't worse?

Ginny puzzled over this as she washed off all the dirt and tears of the previous night. By the time she stepped out of the shower, steam had filled the room, and she cracked open the small, high window to let in some of the cool summer breeze.

She dressed, and as she brushed out her long hair she considered her face in the mirror over the sink. Her eyes were a little swollen from crying, and she was still as pale as ever, even in the midst of summer.

Finally, she gathered up her towel and last night's blue dress and opened the door, only to see Malfoy descending the staircase before her. He was hunched a little to keep his carefully combed blonde hair from brushing the ceiling, and he was wearing dark pants and a dress shirt rolled up to his elbows. He looked very…well-bred…Ginny decided, and completely and totally out of place in the familiarity of the Burrow.

He was looking at her with raised eyebrows that Ginny interpreted as uncertainty, although it could have easily been disdain. She realized that she had left her feelings about his presence rather ambiguous last night. Then again, she wasn't sure herself what she thought about him being there.

"You've somehow convinced Remus and my parents and even Charlie, who never believes anyone, that you're trustworthy," she said finally, "so I suppose I'll have to go along with it."

He nodded. "Not exactly a ringing endorsement," he observed drily, "but your caution is understandable."

"But if you try to my family in danger, or if you do anything to put Harry in harm's way," she continued, looking him straight in the eye. "I will make bloody well sure it's the last thing you do."

His lips twitched a little, but when he answered, his voice was solemn. "I'm not here to hurt any of you. I swear it."

Ginny snorted. "Your word doesn't mean much," she observed.

He glared at her. "Malfoys never break their word."

"Fine," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. She sighed. "Mum's probably got breakfast ready downstairs," she said finally. "But you'd better change first," she added, "You look ridiculous…you're not visiting the bloody Minister of Magic."

Malfoy looked at her in surprise, and then, quite suddenly, he burst out laughing. Ginny was rather taken aback. His laugh was much…happier…than Ginny would have expected. She realized she had never heard him laugh before. It was full and…dare she say, bubbly?

"I'll change, shall I?" he said when he had stopped laughing. He was still smiling, and Ginny had to keep herself from doing the same. She pressed her lips firmly together and just nodded, turned on her heel, and marched away down the hall.

Downstairs, everyone else in the house had already gathered around the table.

"Morning, dear," Mrs. Weasley said, setting down another plate of scrambled eggs on the table.

Ginny slid into her usual chair. "Morning," she said, reaching for the Daily Prophet. "Any…any news?" she said, trying to sound nonchalant as she flicked through the pages of the newspaper.

"No, Gin," Mr. Weasley, said, glancing at his wife. "They only left a few hours ago, after all."

"Mmm," Ginny nodded, taking a sip of orange juice. George put his hand on her shoulder.

"At least the ferret is here to be tortured, eh Ginnykins?" Fred said.

Ginny snorted. "Silver lining, hm?"

"Exactly," Fred quipped.

Ginny shook her head amusedly and started buttering a piece of toast. "You two seem awfully good-natured about this whole situation."

Fred and George shrugged simultaneously. "We've all got to follow the Order's orders, haven't we?" Fred said.

"If our baby Ronniekins can go out into the wilderness, we can bloody well put up with that colourless twit for a few months, we suppose," George added.

"Charlie, are you planning on heading out today?" Mrs. Weasley cut in.

"Yes, straight away after breakfast, if you don't mind," Charlie said. "Can I take some of this to go, d'ya think?"

"Oh, of course!" Mrs. Weasley said, getting up again to grab some containers. "Take as much as you like, dear. I don't have a high opinion of your cooking abilities, if you don't mind my saying," she said, laughingly tousling her second son's hair. "Take as much as you like."

Just then, Draco appeared at the bottom of the staircase. He had changed into jeans and a plain black t-shirt that made his skin look even paler.

"Good morning," he said, cooly.

"Here's a seat, dear," said Mrs. Weasley, whose motherly protectiveness seemed to have taken over during the course of the night. She flicked her wand and a chair whizzed into the kitchen and situated itself beside Ginny.

"Thank you," Draco said, sitting down. Ginny noticed that he sat very straight, carefully not leaning against the back of his seat. She couldn't help smirking.

"Draco," Mr. Weasley said, rather awkwardly, "eggs?"

"Yes, thank you," Draco replied. There was silence as Draco scooped some eggs onto his plate.

"Well," Fred said, breaking the silence, "Charlie, any progress on that Ridgeback you were struggling with?"

Charlie, whose face brightened the mention of his work, cleared his throat and launched into a detailed explanation of his recent breakthrough.

"Molly," Mr. Weasley said, turning to his wife, "Have you heard from Nymphadora recently?"

With the rest of her family distracted, Ginny turned to Draco. "What did I say about the Minister of Magic," she demanded.

Draco looked back at her, affronted. "I changed, didn't I?"

"Yes, yes," Ginny said impatiently, "but you're sitting like you've got your wand up your rear."

Draco nearly choked on his mouthful of eggs. "I'm sitting how I was taught," he said finally, but he leaned back a little against chairback and crossed his arms defiantly. "And don't they teach any manners at all in this godforsaken place?" he added, smirking at her cheekily.

Ginny grinned. So he was the same old insulting ferret she had always known. She raised her eyebrows at him and smiled archly. "No," she replied decisively.

Author's Note: So...what do you think? I'm planning on writing writing several chapters about the development of Ginny and Draco's relationship before I shift back to the present day/Harry's return. Any thoughts on that structure? I would love feedback! Much love, mugglehugger.