Chapter 2
Return to Hogwarts
Draco watched as the last of his things were packed into the trunk, suddenly he turned and pulled an object from a drawer. Walking over he breathed in the scent from the red cloth and then shoved it as deep as he could into the trunk. Walking toward the window he thought about the people he would be seeing on the train. I don't know if I am going to be able to put up with Crabbe and Goyle this year. I feel as if I'm stifling every time they come near me. I hope Pansy doesn't start trying to hang off of my arm every time I turn around either. But before he knew it his thoughts had drifted in a different direction. I wonder if she found it. I wonder if she even bothered keeping it.
Ginny fingered the bracelet on her wrist. Over the summer she had pulled it out several times and looked at it only to throw it back into the drawer. But now that she was on the train and headed back to Hogwarts, she felt safe about pulling it out and trying it on. What had gotten into Malfoy? Why would he have bought her something so obviously expensive? Ginny was still thinking about that when the door to the compartment opened and Hermione walked in. Ginny pulled the sleeve of her robe down before anything was seen.
"Honestly Ron, I don't see what was so important about getting onto the train that you had to drag me away from your mother," Hermione was saying as she came in.
"Ron just didn't want Mom embarrassing him in front of you," said Ginny as she looked up.
"That's not it at all Ginny," Ron tried to look calm but his ears were slowly turning red.
"I think I'm going to go see who else is here. See you later Hermione." Ginny said as she rose from her seat and left the compartment. Outside the door she almost ran into Harry who looked as if he had just escaped his own encounter with Mrs. Weasley.
"Hi Ginny. Have you seen Ron or Hermione?" Harry asked
"I just left them in there, why?" Ginny responded
"I need to ask them something," said Harry
"I would wait before going in there Harry," said Ginny as she stepped away from the door and prepared to make her way down the corridor.
"Why? Oh, right, never mind," said Harry as he flushed red, "Do um…how was your summer?"
"Harry, you were there for most of it so you know already!" Ginny sounded exasperated as she started walking.
"Oh right, I was. I guess I'm not used to seeing Ron and Hermione as a couple you know?" said Harry following her, "where are we going anyway?"
"I was just going to see if I could find a quiet place to sit. You can probably go back there. They're probably looking for you by now you know." Ginny spoke softly as she kept moving. She didn't really want company at the moment. Harry seemed to get the idea and moved back up the corridor toward where Ron and Hermione where at. Ginny sighed and leaned against the wall as she watched him walk away. Harry sure has gotten tall. Ginny was suddenly surprised to realized that the thought didn't seemed to cause the slight hitch in her heart that it used to. I don't know what's worse. The thought that I'm over Harry completely and not a little girl anymore or the thought that it's Draco Malfoy that made me realize it.
"Well if it isn't Little Red." A voice drawled behind her. Ginny swung round to find herself face to face with Draco. Ginny started for a moment until her eyes flashed.
"And who are you supposed to be? The Big Bad Wolf? Should I start looking for a woodsman? Or just an axe?" said Ginny in a sudden burst of unexplained anger.
Draco's eyes flashed as well, "You wouldn't have to look very far, I'm sure Potty would be more than glad to fill that role for you."
"Who says I have to have someone do it for me in the first place Malfoy?" Ginny sneered and turned down the corridor in the opposite direction from what she had started. Draco watched her go. However the flash of silver on her wrist didn't escape his notice and as he turned to go back to his compartment he was surprised to find that he was smiling.