Chapter 7

Harry, Ron and Hermione stood, gaping at me. Glaring at Malfoy. What were they doing here? How had they known where we were? All their wands were raised, and I know that if they used them they'd think it was for the best, but they couldn't! I couldn't let them doing anything to Draco.

"Nice to see you Potter. Anything I can help you with?" I wasn't expecting any pleasant comment to protrude from Draco's mouth, but he could have at least held back the sarcasm. It wasn't going to earn him any friends… but maybe they were truly past that stage anyway.

Harry stepped forward as if to say something, wand clenched in his hand. I know that if the wand had been pointed at me I wouldn't have noticed, but I saw a bit of parchment screwed up in his other clenched hand. Hmmm.

I looked into Harry's face. This was the worst thing ever. He looked shocked, and what made me feel worse- disappointed. Maybe nothing would have happened with me and Harry anyway. But now… now he'd caught me with his enemy, he wouldn't ever want me. But should I be thinking this way now I'm meant to be with Draco?

Harry's bright eyes shone sadly at me as he turned and swept out of the room. I saw Hermione look uncomfortably at Ron who was furious. Returning to address me, she said, "Ginny… what…?" but Ron crashed through her words as he pushed past her and glared into Draco's smirking eyes.

"You are absolute slime, Malfoy. Come on, what spell have you got on my sister? I swear, if you don't let her go right now you'll regret it," he snarled. I would have smiled- trust Ron, he'd never think I'd be in this situation of my own free will

"Is that a threat Weasley? I'd think more carefully about that if I were you. You must understand you're in way out of your depth. In any case, you'll find that your sister is under no magical influence of mine."

If Draco'd said that to me I know I probably would have run away, but Ron pushed closer. "I thought I told you to stay away from her. She's not going to be any part of your twisted, sick little conspiracy." He turned his head to face me. "Come on Gin, it's ok now, come back to the common room with us."

I love Ron. I really do. But what he wanted and what I wanted were such different things. I couldn't do what he wanted just to please him. I had to be straight with him.

"No, Ron, I don't want to go back. I'm fine where I am." Not the most informative of statements, but I'd said it.

"What?! Gin, what's wrong with you? It's Malfoy. You don't want to be getting involved with him!" he scowled in Draco's direction.

"Your sister's got more sense that you have, Weasley. She has standards with her acquaintances. You'd do yourself a favour to follow her example. Why don't you just leave? You must have had enough experience to know when you're not wanted," Draco drawled.

What's wrong with them? Why couldn't they put aside their differences and get along? It frustrated me, I could see it was never going to happen.

Hermione tried another tack. "Ginny, you're making a mistake. He's got you under his spell, magical or otherwise. You know what he's like," she said softly.

I obviously wasn't being clear enough. I wanted to say, look, this is my life! Let me make my own decisions- my own mistakes if needs be. But don't tell me what to do. But I couldn't. Hermione is my best friend, and as much as I appreciate her concern, I didn't need it. "Hermione, I know a lot more than Ron, Harry- and even you- give me credit for. I'm not the one who's wrong here. Maybe you should all open your eyes a bit and see what's really there."

Hermione's eyebrows arched. Not surprisingly really. I'd always agreed with her, backed up her ideas and followed her advice. But I couldn't this time. This time it was different. It didn't make me feel any better to tell her so though. Emotion was rising in my chest. Ron glared at me.

"Well Ginny, if you ever decide to remember where your roots are and get rid of this loser, you'll know where to find us. That's if you're fit for anything after this snake's finished with you." With that, he stormed out, Hermione following silently after him. My eyes prickled with yet more tears, but I wouldn't let them fall. I wasn't the one in the wrong here! I wasn't.

Draco hugged me tightly. It's warmth gave me strength, and I said that we should go. However, when we got to the door, on top of a pile of papers lying on the floor I saw a map. Small, labelled dots were moving around on it. Instantly I knew what it was. It was Harry's Marauder's Map! We'd used it so many times before to sneak to the kitchens in the dead of night.

Suddenly it all clicked. That was how Harry had known where to find me. He must have seen Draco and I rushing through the corridors- and decided to follow us. He must have thought I was in trouble or something. And then he saw us…

Draco looked down at it like he'd found gold. I quickly snatched it up. That was my instinct- don't show it to anyone! That's what Harry had always said.

"What's that?" Draco eyed me suspiciously.

"Nothing, nothing…" I replied hastily. I'm terrible at lying. I know it. Draco must have known it too. He was silent until we reached the entrance to his common room.

"Later, Ginny," he whispered to me, hugging me tightly.

It wasn't til I got back to the Gryffindor common room that I noticed the map had gone…

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