Chapter 6- Christmas
A/N: Hey, y'all! I don't really know what to say, so, um, thanx for reviewing, all those people who did! And for the people who didn't…*gives evil glare here* (JK). Oh yeah, just for the heck of it, guess how old I am in your reviews! J
Ginny awoke to a small pile of presents at the foot of her bed on Christmas morning. Yawning, she picked up the first package and tore it open.
"Good ol' Mom," she smiled as she held up her hand-knitted green sweater. The package also included a small chunk of fudge, which she devoured hungrily as she reached for her next one.
Her roommates, Eva, Kaitlyn, Amorette, and Kelly started waking up and attacked their stacks of presents.
"Another pair of earrings!" guessed Kaitlyn as she held up a small present. "I have five pairs of them and they all look the same, except the colors. I expect this one will be orange." She opened it. "Arrgh! I hate it when I'm right!"
Ginny laughed as she opened a package from Hermione. A diary. She smiled. Hermione always knew what Ginny needed; she was running low on pages in her recent diary. Another package contained greetings from Ron, who, did not know what to buy, so gave her five Galleons. Harry sent her a broom polishing kit; identical to the one Hermione gave him. The twins sent her their latest addition to their joke shop: A box of twenty pencils that yelled what they wrote. Ginny giggled as she scribbled 'Ginny' on a piece of paper and heard it yell.
She was gathering all the wrappings and was about to throw them away when another package dropped out onto the floor.
"What's that?" Eva asked, and started to pick it up.
"No!" cried Ginny, snatching it. Somehow she knew it was from a certain someone. Like Draco. He had gone home for Christmas, for the first time ever, and Ginny missed him terribly. "I mean, it's probably nothing." She stuck it in her pocket and hid into the bathroom to open it.
Carefully, she peeled back the wrappings and took out the small box covered with red velvet. She opened it quietly, as though noise might disturb it. The box contained a thin golden necklace. When inspected closely, Ginny found that the heart strung on it was a locket. She pried it open, and saw a blank space for a photo. Surely Draco would put his picture in it? She wondered, and didn't notice a piece of paper flutter from the wrapping until it brushed her hand. Looking down, Ginny picked it up and saw that it was a picture of Draco. She smiled. Typical. He wanted her to put it in herself. That's more like the Draco she knew. They weren't really boyfriend/girlfriend, ever since that time kissing in the common room they haven't really talked to each other, though Ginny imagined talking to him every day. She liked his slyness, how there's always mysterious aroma around him, and sometimes she liked it when he never showed his emotions. Sliding the picture in carefully, Ginny looped the necklace around her neck and admired herself in the mirror. Perfect. Throwing the wrappings in the trash, she stepped out of the bathroom.
"Hey, nice necklace." Amorette remarked. "Who gave it to you?"
Ginny smiled. "A friend."
***
Ginny was on her way to class after vacation when a hand grabbed and pulled her into an empty classroom.
"Hey," said Draco Malfoy. "Long time no see."
Ginny looked at him. "What is it?"
"I want you to do me a favor."
"What kind of favor?"
Draco tilted her chin up. "Just promise me you'll do it."
Pulling away, Ginny crossed her arms. "I'm not promising something I don't know."
"Please," Draco looked at her in such a way that Ginny knew she was going to give in anytime.
"Fine," she said, thinking that she had nothing to loose.
"I want to skip school."
"What?" Ginny whirled. "Draco, I…I can't do that!"
Draco merely smiled at her. "You promised me."
"Draco…I can't…I won't. Promise or no promise, it'll make my parents furious! What about your parents?"
He shrugged. "They won't care."
Nervously, Ginny ran her hand through her hair. She knew she had promised, and she was supposed to keep her promises, but he didn't even tell her what it was! "Draco, God, how can you do this me?"
"Just for today," he pleaded. "I really need a break."
"You've just had a break for two weeks!"
"C'mon, Ginny." Draco touched her arm.
She stubbornly refused, but she was sure she would agree sooner or later, Draco would see to that, but she wanted to she how long she can deny him.
Draco gave her an intense look and stroked her hair. "Please?"
Ginny felt herself give in. "Alright."
Draco twisted his mouth into what looked like a smile. "Thanks. We'll leave after lunch."
***
They arrived at Hogsmeade through the secret passage that Dumbledore had forbidden anyone to use after Draco's fourth year. Dumbledore had discovered it through Potter's map, and after some careful investigation, Draco figured out the password to opening the witch's hump.
Finally, they climbed out of the Shrieking Shack and Draco pulled her into The Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer.
"Hello, you two," said Madame Rosmerta, walking over. "No school today?"
Draco grinned at her. "You could say that. Two butterbeers." He dug around in his cloak and pulled out a few sickles and Madame Rosmerta scooped them up.
"Be right there," she winked, and left.
"Draco…do you really like me?"
He looked up at her and didn't say anything.
"Well?"
He merely shrugged.
Ginny gave him an intense stare. "If you can't even say that you like me, Draco, how are we ever supposed to be anything?"
"I never said we had to be something. And even if I did, you don't have to listen to me and say we have to be something."
"Well maybe I want us to be something. Maybe I like you."
His mouth twisted into what looked like half a sneer and half a smile. "You did, did you? But that's not enough."
"What do you mean?" Ginny demanded.
"I mean, that, in order for two people to be something, they both have to like each other," said Draco simply.
"Isn't that what we are?"
Draco was silent as Madame Rosmerta arrived with their drinks. "Enjoy." she smiled at them.
"Isn't it?" Ginny insisted as Rosmerta left.
"Well, look, Ginny, no one wants us to be something. Ron gets made all the time."
"Damn Ron," Ginny whispered. "Isn't that what you said?"
"Ginny, what do you want me to do?"
"I want to know if you love me. And I want you to tell me honestly." Ginny said.
Draco was silent for a moment as he sipped his Butterbeer. "I will tell the truth. There are three things I don't do: Cheat, pretend, or lie."
"That's not an answer. Tell me."
"Words aren't everything, Ginny. I can lie, you know."
"But you won't," Ginny replied.
"I'm just telling you. I'm not going to give you my word. Feelings can change."
"So you're telling me you like another girl?" Ginny demanded.
Draco replied coolly to her accusing him. "I didn't say that."
Now Ginny was silent. "So what do you want?"
Draco paused before answering. "I don't know. Just let it go, I guess. Let it go and see what happens."
***
The two of them headed down the passageway back to the school about the time school ended. They didn't do much, Draco bought two no-melting ice cream cones and they licked them as they window-shopped. After touring around all of Hogsmeade, they started back towards the Shrieking Shack and sat the minutes by.
"Is there anyone on the other side?" Ginny whispered as they approached the back of the witch's hump.
"Shh," Draco pressed his ear against the door and listened hard. "McGonagall's here. We'll wait until she leaves."
They stood silently until the heard the footsteps leave the classroom.
Draco gently pushed it and the witch's hump opened. Draco stepped out first, and then, Ginny, shading her eyes, came out and closed it up. They walked out of the classroom and was about to head to their common rooms when a sharp voice halted them.
"Malfoy! Weasley!"
They turned, and stood face-to-face with a very stern-looking Professor McGonagall.
"I'm just very curious, Malfoy, Weasley," she nodded at both of them, "how you came out of the room I was just in, and I didn't see anyone."
Ginny looked at her shoes. "Well, Professor, I just went in and popped back out."
"Was there a reason for it?"
"Uh- I was looking for someone."
"Who?"
"Malfoy?" she said meekly.
Professor McGonagall gave her a nice-try smile. "I happen to know, Weasley, from Professor Servanda, your Medical Studies teacher, that you weren't in this afternoon."
"Oh! Well, I was just really tired."
"After vacation?"
"Well-"
She cut her off. "And you, Malfoy. If you don't have a good reason, I suggest you both head up to the Headmaster's office and explain why you used the secret passageway and went to Hogesmeade without permission."
Dumbfounded, Ginny stared at her. "How'd you know?" Draco poked her sharply in the back.
McGonagall narrowed her eyes. "That, Weasley, is none of your concern. Now hurry along, before my temper flares."
"Nice going, Weasley," Draco muttered as McGonagall left.
"Be quiet. She already knew," said Ginny. "Besides, it was your idea."
Draco sighed as they approached the statue.
"Student entering," he said, and it popped open.
A/N: Sixth chapter, done! Okay, the thing at the end, when Draco says 'Student Entering,' it'll get you in if you wanna talk w/ Dumbledore. Ginny's taking Medical Studies, which is studying magical medicine! Chapter 7( I think I'm going to have a lot of chapters) : they get sent to Dumbledore, receive detention. Hermione learns a bit more about the Draco/ Ginny thing. The three good guys: Ron, Harry, Hermione, talks again about the two of them, and Ron talks with Ginny again. So, happy reviewing, and guess my age! J