It was another week before Ginny managed to find all the ingredients she needed for her potion, then there was the matter of brewing it. It took her a few days to work up the courage to visit the girls' lavatory on the second floor. Moaning Myrtle was offended by her presence, recalling the incident from years prior, and dove noisily into a nearby stall. Thankfully, she didn't bother Ginny again.

Ginny struggled to focus as she pulled out her notebook and the ingredients, scattering them about her on the floor. Memories tugged at her. She closed her eyes for a moment to right herself only to be overwhelmed by the image of a handsome sixteen-year-old boy with dark hair smiling at her.

Immediately, Ginny's eyes snapped open and she reached for her wand, eyes flying frantically across the bathroom, studying each shadowed crevice. Her heart hammered against her chest, her eyes burned.

He isn't here, Ginny told herself, he isn't here.

Ginny began preparing the potion to distract herself. It was as she was allowing it to bubble and brew that she felt a presence in the room with her. Grabbing her wand and fearing the worst, she leapt to her feet expecting to meet a pair of glowing red eyes and instead found herself meeting Malfoy's gray ones.

He looked tired.

Ginny flooded with her relief as she settled back down to watch her potion. Only one more ingredient added after a few more minutes of bubbling and she would be safe to sleep again.

"Good evening, Malfoy," Ginny greeted, studying the purple-gray color of her concoction.

"Just because you're Potter's girlfriend doesn't mean you get free run of the school."

Ginny nodded not bothering to correct him, "please forgive me." Then quickly diverted her attention back to her potion, adding the fluxweed. The bubbling increased, nearly spilling over the edges of the cauldron before calming to a simmer. The only part left was to wait.

"What are you doing, Weasley?"

"You're smarter than that, Malfoy. Can't you tell?"

Malfoy narrowed his eyes at her as he took a step forward and sniffed.

"Careful," Ginny said, "who knows what might happen if you inhale too deeply." Actually, Ginny thought, could she get him to take a drink? That would make things simpler.

"Fluxweed, red wine, powdered rue," Malfoy said as he scanned her ingredients. "Trying to knock someone out?"

Ginny didn't respond, surprised by his quick understanding, and began to gather up what remained of the ingredients, slipping them into her bag.

"I should confiscate those."

Ginny looked up at him, "if you were going to turn me in, you would have done it the first night. Now, please go, or I'll call Myrtle. She still likes you, you know."

Malfoy's gaze flickered about the bathroom with mild apprehension before his tired gaze rested on her. Ginny found herself taking a quick inventory of the shadows again before meeting his eyes.

"Stupid Potter thinks he rules this place because he was Dumbledore's favorite. Well, Dumbledore's dead now."

Ginny's eyes lingered on the potion for a moment longer before lifting to meet Malfoy's. "Last I heard, you failed trying to kill him."

Malfoy grew quiet, eyes narrowed as he looked about the lavatory. He had memories here too, Ginny recalled. She followed his gaze, studying a few dark shadows that had been haunting the corner of her eyes.

"Neither of us want to be here," Ginny said quietly. "I'll go back to my room in fifteen minutes when this potion is complete."

Malfoy blinked at her, then seemed to shake himself. "You're not allowed out past bedtime hours. As a prefect, I must escort you back to your chambers and alert the on-call professor."

"Malfoy."

He continued on, "Madame Pomfrey will administer your punishment as she deems fit."

"Draco," Ginny tried again and stood. "What do you want?"

Malfoy glanced at her, then at the potion. "I want Potter and his stupid friends to stop thinking they're above the law."

"I wouldn't be here unless it was important."

"Yes, because helping Potter defeat my Lord is of the utmost importance."

Ginny took a step back, fear slicing through her. "Did he send you?" she whispered. She glanced around the lavatory again. He isn't here, she reminded herself. Was that why Malfoy always seemed to appear when she was working toward her goal? Did the Dark Lord send him?

"The Dark Lord has no interest in the acts of a little schoolgirl."

Her shoulders relaxed a fraction but her heart still pounded in her chest. Her eyes fixed on a corner whose shadow her eyes couldn't quite pierce. "This will be the last time, Malfoy. The potion isn't to help Harry or Ron or Hermione. It's to help me sleep."

Malfoy's brows raised but he didn't respond.

Ginny stepped toward him, lifting her eyes to his. "Please."

Malfoy's surprise turned to confusion. He watched her move closer, his gaze dropping to her mouth, to the buttons she'd undone on her shirt as she'd worked, then away from her entirely as he turned toward the sinks behind him.

That's what he wanted?

"As a prefect, I hold students accountable for their actions."

Ginny put a hand on his back, meeting his gaze in the mirror. He seemed almost frightened as he turned to face her.

"Yes, you must hold students accountable for their actions," Ginny agreed, then tugged at his robes to pull him close as she pressed her lips against his.

The kiss was less awkward this time. Malfoy inhaled sharply as she pressed her tongue between his lips, but he didn't pull away. His arms stayed rigidly at his sides, but he hesitated only a moment longer before his tongue brushed hers. Then he jerked himself away and stormed out of the girls' lavatory.