Chapter 5

I made my excuses to Ron, Harry and Hermione and ran up to my dormitory and collapsed onto my bed. That's usually what I do when I'm about to cry, but not this time. True, I needed to think, but it wasn't anything to cry about.

Predictably, as soon as I hit the mattress, I was automatically joined by my closest friend (other than Hermione etc), Hannah.

"C'mon Ginny, what's wrong?" Hannah asked immediately. Am I really that easy to read? "I couldn't find you after we saw you in the Three Broomsticks, where have you been?"

I proceeded to tell her about what had just happened- everything from my strange experience with Malfoy last night, him knocking me over in Hogsmeade, the nasty things he said in the pub… and most importantly, the kiss.

Hannah's brown eyes widened as her eyebrows arched. "He kissed you? Oh my God Ginny, and you just let him?"

This wasn't entirely unexpected. After all, I hadn't told her the one thing that had been on my mind over the last few days- the only thing that had been on my mind, if I'm honest- that I think I like Malfoy. It might be against my better interests, but I couldn't help it. "It's hard to explain, I- I think I like him." Yeah, well explained. Good one.

"You like him?!" Hannah looked at me incredulously.

"Louder, please, I want everyone to hear," I muttered, glancing around to see if anyone had heard.

"Seriously Ginny? Well, what did he say to you afterwards? I mean, did you plan to meet up again? What does Hermione think? How is this going to work?"

My heart dropped as Hannah said this. I couldn't answer any of her questions. Who said loving someone is easy? There's always something that gets in the way… it's just that in my case there seemed to be too many things to count. I didn't know how it would work, I didn't even know if he really liked me. My own knowledge of Malfoy lead me to think that this might be just part of some obscure plan. I told Hannah my thoughts. She said that if I thought he was going to make me happy then she wouldn't stop me, but that I should think about what I'm doing. I know who he is, I know about his reputation, and I know he's a Slytherin. Hopeful outlook, then.

We talked until lights out, then I lay awake, thinking. I do like him. It's not just because he's showing me attention (although that's always good). But he's so different from Harry. I know I can't go through life comparing all males to Harry, because I know I will be disappointed. Harry was my first love, regardless of the fact that he didn't love me back. He never will, I accept that. But I can't just overlook Malfoy just because he's a Slytherin. Just because he's Harry's enemy. As much as they would both hate to admit it, they are similar in the respect they earn and are equally recognised by Hogwarts as important people in their own right. I know he's from a family that couldn't more different from my own, and that he can be nasty, crude and merciless. But he likes me. At least, I hope he does. If he doesn't, then there really is something seriously wrong with him. You don't just kiss someone for no reason. I sighed as I pictured his well defined face, sleek blonde hair and tall, taught stature. He looked the ultimate epitome of power and confidence. You couldn't deny that he wasn't good looking. With that, I fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

*

The following day I was woken early by Hannah who dragged me excitedly outside for an all-school snowball fight. Well, we say 'all school' but I didn't see Malfoy there. As I stepped out of the majestically tall Hogwarts doors, I was met with a sparkling winter wonderland. Hermione appeared from behind me and grabbed my hand as she pulled me down the steps while hollering warnings to Ron and Harry to watch out for us, because we were going to kill them in our snowball fight. Woohoo!! This was great. I forgot all about my confused thoughts regarding Malfoy and screamed as I ran from Ron, who was aiming a huge snowball at me. I had the most brilliant morning, I have never laughed so hard or had so much fun. We played out in the snow for hours, and I returned to the castle with Hermione, still laughing and dripping with melted snow.

After a well deserved bath, I grabbed my books and made my way resignedly down to the library. I smiled at the memory of the morning as I pushed open the door. I stopped abruptly as my gaze fell onto Draco. Draco?! Where did that come from? Malfoy, I meant Malfoy. I hesitated, not sure of what he would say to me, if anything at all. What if he denied anything ever happened?

He looked up and caught my eye. I couldn't leave now. I set my things down opposite him and began to work. I wasn't going act like I was afraid of him, I was just going to do my work. I opened my Standard Book of Spells and stared down at the page. The harder I tried to take in what it said, the more I wanted to look up at Malfoy. I got the impression he was watching me, I hadn't seen him move his quill for a while. What if he was watching me though? It'd be embarrassing to catch him. Curiosity got the better of me and I looked up. Sure enough, Draco was looking right at me. Unsure of what to do, I gave him a small smile. He nodded at me. I would have thought he was being cool towards me if I hadn't been caught by the look in his eyes. The look that was warm and inviting, caring even. I gazed back at him, almost drowning in his beautiful grey eyes. I saw a movement beside us. A round faced girl, hair pulled back into a ponytail was standing there, hands on her hips. A face filled with hatred glared viciously at me before Draco looked up at her and she looked away, all innocence. Pansy.

*