Ginny's hands were still shaking when she mounted her broom. She had always been afraid of Malfoy and his crowd. Not that he really had a crowd anymore, but most of the Slytherins he had hung out with were a bad lot. And he was the worst. She still couldn't believe that she had said anything about the diary and her suspicions that it was Lucius Malfoy that had planted the diary in her books. Who else could it have been? But she hadn't ever spoken about it. She still had nightmares sometimes about the tall, good-looking, dark haired boy who had materialized from the diary, so compelling, yet so evil. And if it hadn't been for Harry, she would have died down there, alone and frightened.

She thought about the incident with Malfoy and shuddered. Malfoy was blond and pale, but in looks, expression, even the way he moved, he reminded her of the brief glimpse she had of Tom Riddle. Especially after she had mentioned his father. She could easily believe that the cruel streak in his father was passed to him. Hell, she thought, his track record was just full of nasty, mean little pranks and tricks and Ginny didn't even have to strain to think of at least a dozen. She took off, going through a series of aerobatic exercises to calm herself and work the tension from her muscles. The bad thing about her encounter was that it made her really LOOK at Malfoy for the first time. He was quite good looking! There was just no way around that. Ginny wondered why the girls weren't flocking around him. She never heard them giggle over him the way they did about Harry and Justin Finch-Fletchly and some of the other cute boys. They even whispered about Ron, for Heaven's sake! But seldom about Malfoy. Maybe they were afraid of him, as she was? Whatever the reason, she had never noticed his looks before. And she had never felt so scared as when he had her cornered against the stairs, no one around, and him so close. A small voice asked if she were really scared or if it had been the excitement of being so close to such a handsome boy.

Ginny was extremely confused. She should be boiling mad right now. She should have decked him (with six brothers, she certainly knew how to fight) as soon as her hands were free. But she didn't. She barely put up any resistance at all. The only sensible thing she had done was to run. Ginny didn't have time to wonder about her actions for long. In a few minutes, her teammates began to show up and practice was soon under way.

"Good work, team," Dean Thomas shouted to the Gryffindors. "Let's wrap it up and get some dinner!"

Dean was a good Captain. Most of the Gryffindors had wanted Harry for Captain but Harry had declined.

"I mean," he had explained, "Dean learned to play soccer and football before he could even walk and he's been following Quidditch since he heard about it. He's the strategy man. I wouldn't know the first thing about trying to lead a team."

Some had protested, but Harry finally said, "Look, let me get the Snitch, it's what I'm good at. And let Dean plan the best way to keep us a winning team!"

Now, Dean looked over his tired but happy Quidditch team and smiled.

"You were all great! And Ginny, keep the Chasers working on those moves you came up with. With so many inexperienced players on all our teams, that might be the edge we need to take the cup this year. That," he added with a grin at Harry, "and keeping our Seeker nice and healthy!"

They all laughed. It was well known that the only time Gryffindor had not done well in the last five years was when Harry was injured or sick.

They started back toward the castle, Natalie purposely ignoring Dean and walking with Ginny.

"Aren't you being a little hard on him?" Ginny whispered to Nat with a smile.

"Just keeping him interested," Natalie returned with a wicked grin. "I'm going to let him chase me 'til I catch him."

The girls laughed and moved a bit faster. Dinner would be served soon, and they wanted to shower and change before going down.

Ginny was the last one out of the Common Room and was in no hurry. She still hadn't come to grips with what had happened on the stairs. Probably nothing, as far as Malfoy was concerned, she thought with a twinge of anger. He probably thought nothing of accosting young women on empty stairs, in dark hallways, in empty classrooms. She was trying to figure out why, if she was angry with him, was she worrying about her regular outfit of trousers, shirt, tie and old robe? Why did she care? He probably wouldn't even notice her anyway. Ginny straightened her shoulders, deciding that it would probably be a good thing if she never came to his notice again. She paused at the door to the great hall, running a nervous hand through her hair, making it spike and stand up again. Then she entered.

The way the tables were set up, she would have to pass the Slytherin table to get to her own. Sometimes students going out with someone in another house would eat at one another's table for the weekend meals, but during the week everyone generally stayed with his or her own house.

Ginny glanced quickly toward the Gryffindor table and saw that Natalie had saved a spot for Ginny next to her. She smiled and started over, but found her way blocked. Malfoy was lolling lazily with his back against his table, elbows resting on it and his long legs stretched out just enough to make Ginny have to stop or step awkwardly over him. He gave her a smug grin and Ginny promptly forgot that she was afraid of him. She scowled at him and glanced at his legs barring her path. He only smiled more broadly, waiting for her to say something. Instead, she drew back her foot and gave him a good hard kick in the crossed ankles. As he yelped and drew his legs back, Ginny stomped past. She ignored his muttered oath and some snickering comments from the Slytherins who had witnessed the incident.

"Wow!" Natalie exclaimed in awe as Ginny slid in beside her. "I can't believe you just did that!"

"Did what?" Ginny asked innocently, spooning some rich, meaty stew into her bowl.

"You know," Nat lowered her voice but her eyes were still wide with amazement. "You just booted Malfoy! Hard, too, by the look of it!"

Ginny shrugged, refusing to follow Nat's eyes to where Malfoy was, no doubt, glaring at her.

"Great Gods!" Natalie breathed, "What a look! If he was staring at me like that, I'd pass out on the spot!"

Ginny felt a decided chill down her back as she realized that she had once again brought herself glaringly to Malfoy's notice. What might he do to get even for this very public embarrassment? Just about anything, from her experience of him. Would he get those two goons, Crabbe and Goyle to help him? She shuddered slightly, her appetite now gone. She picked at her food and barely listened to Natalie's chatter.

Dinner was finally finished. Ginny didn't hurry to exit. She wanted to make sure she was with a crowd of Gryffindors in case she met Malfoy in the hallway. As she slowly made her way toward the door, she felt someone jostle her shoulder and heard her brother's familiar voice.

"Hey, Ginny, what was up with Malfoy?" Ron asked, scowling toward the exiting crowd.

Ron, Hermione and Harry were walking just behind her, but Hermione moved forward to walk alongside Ginny.

"What do you--" Ginny didn't get a chance to finish, Ron cut her off.

"Don't give me that," he snapped. "I saw the git blocking your way, then glaring darts at you the whole meal. And the way you kicked him, what was that about? What's his problem?"

Ron bunched his fists and continued scowling toward the door. He had filled out quite a bit in the last year, now with the bulk to go with his exceptional height. Harry had the grace to look slightly embarrassed, but still very interested. Hermione, who was still the peacemaker, put a restraining hand on Ron's arm. He seemed to subside a bit.

"Actually, Ginny," Hermione said calmly, "he wasn't glaring at you, but he was staring at you. And," Hermione added in her most inquisitive tone, "you were obviously trying to ignore him. So, give. What is going on? Why was he bothering you in the first place?"

Ginny was glad for their presence, but resented them questioning her. They generally ignored her, unless it was Ron or Harry asking her something about Magical Healing, a subject at which she excelled.

"Nothing's going on," she insisted. "Who knows what got into Malfoy's head to make him act like that? Did he ever need a reason before to be an obnoxious prat?"

Ron still looked ready to hit someone (three guesses who, and the first two didn't count, Ginny thought with a mental sigh). Hermione dropped back to his side and Harry came forward to walk with her. Ginny was ready to tell them to all shove off as they exited the Great Hall. Then she caught sight of Malfoy just ahead, leaning against the railing, exactly where Ginny had been leaning earlier. He wasn't looking at them, didn't even seem to notice the crowd of students passing him up the stairs or toward the dungeons. He just stood, arms crossed, with a thoroughly bored look on his face, as though he had nothing better to do.

Ginny moved a bit closer to Harry and began chattering about practice. Harry looked surprised, but played along. Ron glared at Malfoy until Hermione grabbed his arm and gave him a glare of her own. He muttered once more about wanting to know what the "stupid git" thought he was up to, and then followed Hermione up the stairs.

Ginny had chanced a quick glance at Malfoy as she and Harry passed, and then wished she hadn't. Even though Malfoy was facing straight ahead, his eyes had been fixed on her and the look he gave her once he met her eyes seemed to promise grave repercussions for her recent actions. She glanced quickly at Harry and saw that he hadn't missed any of it. Thankfully, though, Harry didn't mention it. Ginny could almost kiss him, but the memory of the one and only time she and Harry had kissed, now almost a year and a half ago, kept her from acting on the impulse.

When they entered the Gryffindor Common Room, Ron started on Ginny again. Hermione was explaining to Ron that Ginny would certainly tell them if Malfoy was causing problems that she, Ginny, couldn't handle herself, but Ron wouldn't listen. When Ginny was within an inch of telling Ron to sod off and mind his own damned business, Harry surprised them all by taking Ginny's side.

"Aw, c'mon, Ron, you know Ginny can handle any fellow at this school! Besides, Malfoy hasn't bothered anyone in over a year. Give it a rest. If Ginny needs our help, I'm sure she'll ask, right Gin?"

Ginny felt relief and surprise wash over her. She really didn't think Harry would ever defend Malfoy, but then, he was defending her, not Malfoy, right? Besides, it seemed to work. Ron backed down finally, and the three sixth years wandered over to the table by the fireplace they usually used for homework. Ginny sighed and ran upstairs to get her own homework. As she sat on her bed, she suddenly felt overwhelmed. She pushed her book bag from her bed, pulled the curtains closed, slipped off her shoes and curled up on the bed without bothering to change, asleep almost immediately.

Practices were going well, Ginny thought. She had slunk and snuck around the school for several days after the incident with Malfoy, but he hadn't tried to retaliate. In fact, Ginny only saw him because she had been looking out for him. Being in different years and different houses, they seldom had any reason to cross paths. Almost the only time she saw him was at meals, which she had taken to eating with her back to the Slytherin table. Now, two weeks later, she chided herself that she had blown the entire matter way out of proportion. With a sigh of relief, Ginny brought her broom to the ground as Dean signaled everyone that practice was over.

"Boy, he really had us at it today, didn't he?"

Natalie landed right beside Ginny, breathing heavily with the exertion of practice.

"Wonder what's up?" Ginny mused aloud.

Dean called all the players over.

"Well, we have our game schedule," he said when everyone had gathered. "We play Slytherin first--"

There were groans from Natalie and Colin, but the others simply nodded.

"--And then Ravenclaw in early December, then Hufflepuff in January, after the holidays."

"When's the first game," Harry asked. The others nodded, wanting to know the same thing.

"Hmmmm," Dean looked over his notes. "Last weekend in October, just before Halloween," he said.

"Hey, that's great!" Ron said. "Hermione told me there's a trip to Hogsmeade the following week! We smash Slytherin one week and then go into Hogsmeade and celebrate the next!"

The team burst into cheers, except for Dean.

"Hold on, there." he shouted over the cheers. "Don't think Malfoy hasn't had his team practicing as much as we've been. I snuck over to watch them yesterday and they are not too bad!"

"Aw, come on, Dean," Seamus called out. "They're all brand new except Malfoy this year. We'll roll right over 'em!"

Dean hollered for quiet, and then looked seriously at all his players.

"Our team is brand new except me an' Harry," he stated. "And," he added with emphasis, "their keeper is better than I am. I'd say that makes us about even."

This statement brought protests but Dean stood his ground.

"She isn't a LOT better than me, but she's smaller and quicker. More like a Seeker, but they've already got one of those, haven't they?"

The others on the team still groused a bit, but soon they were all heading for the locker room, then the castle.

"Well, we've got three weeks to get it really together before we play Slytherin," Ginny commented to Nat. "Think Dean'll keep us going at this pace?"

Natalie wiped a small bead of perspiration from her brow and blew out her breath in a gusty sigh.

"I hope not! I'm beat right now. Don't even know if I want to eat or go right to bed!"

"Yeah, I know what you mean!" Ginny agreed as they trailed the boys up the steps to the castle doors. Nat caught hold of Ginny's arm and made her slow even more.

"So, what's up with Malfoy, then?" she asked as they entered the castle.

Ginny stopped abruptly and looked warily at Nat.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Come ON, Ginny!" Nat looked a little exasperated. "You've been sneaking around trying to avoid him since that night in the Great Hall. And every time I see Malfoy at meals, he's trying to stare you to death! Is something going on here? Did you two have a lover's quarrel or something?"

Ginny had to laugh at the last question. The animosity between the Malfoys and the Weasleys was almost legendary. The thought of Ginny and Malfoy together was almost as comical as it was frightening.

"Nat, you are unbelievable! Could you imagine me with Malfoy? I mean, really?"

"Puh-lease!" Natalie said in an exaggerated sigh. "Stranger things have happened than two enemies becoming --uh--well, friends?"

Ginny nodded, a grin on her face. "Yeah, and they started with mutual attraction. Look at me!"

Ginny stretched her arms out and cocked her head to one side.

"I'm skinny, I've got freaky red hair, and the best you could say about my looks is that I have nice eyes. Where's the attraction?"

Nat looked fondly at Ginny.

"Come on, girl. You have perfect skin, you're not skinny any more, just slender. Your hair is unique, not freaky, and your eyes aren't nice, they're fab! I wish I had eyes like that! Besides," she approached Ginny and plucked at the billowy, worn robe, "If you didn't wear all these baggy things, and those ugly uniform pants, the guys would be able to see that you've got nice curves and great legs!"

Ginny dropped her arms and shook her head.

"You're just saying that because you're my friend. And, anyway, what about Malfoy? Where's the attraction there? His lovely sneer? His cutting wit? The way he lights up a room like guttering torch?"

"Well," Natalie said with a playful grin, "even you have to admit that he's not bad looking for a white guy."

The girls laughed and rushed up the stairs for the dorm to clean up for dinner.

Draco Malfoy knew he should go back to his own Common Room. He knew he shouldn't skulk around the dark passage leading from the dungeons to the castle entry. He had been here for the last ten minutes waiting for the Gryffindor team to come in from practice. He had been doing this for the last week. He wanted to try to get the Weasley girl alone again, but every time he saw her, she was either with a crowd or just slipping into a classroom. He still didn't know what he had in mind if he ever got her alone. Talk? Oh, yeah, they had a lot to talk about, especially her accusing Lucius of trying to kill her. That would be a great icebreaker. (In the back of his mind, though, he seemed to remember the man mentioning something about his plan to get rid of Potter getting fouled up because of one of the Weasley brats.) The fact was, though, he couldn't seem to help himself. Since that incident at dinner, everyone seemed to be waiting for him to react. To get even or something stupid like that. He figured that they were already even. He had acted like an annoying git, blocking her way (and he couldn't even figure out why he'd done that, either). She had cleared her path in a most efficient manner. He was surprised and impressed. He was tired of girls either fawning over him (mostly the Slytherins) because of the 'fortune' his family had, or cringing from him (mostly all the other girls) because of his family's reputation. Weasley had done neither. He acted like a git; she retaliated. Fair was fair.

So, why was he standing in this cold, damp doorway, like some lovesick--no, stop it, he told himself. He was not going there. Draco Malfoy suffering from stupid puppy love was just not going to happen. Okay, smart ass, another voice in his head asked, so why are you here?

He thought quickly then decided that he was there to find out what kind of Quidditch strategies Gryffindor was going to use in their upcoming match. He was spying, hoping they would drop some casual information he could use. Yeah, right.

He heard the door open and slipped back into the darkness of the corridor. He watched as Potter and the other fellows on the team entered. Ginny Weasley wasn't walking with any of the fellows on her team. He felt an odd satisfaction at this that he decided not to examine too closely. The boys passed him and went up the stairs. Then the door opened again and Weasley and the other girl, McDaniel, McDonnough, whatever, entered. He watched as the pretty black girl stopped Ginny and spoke quietly to her. Draco moved slightly closer, still in the shadows, and heard his name. He listened avidly, watching the expressions that came and went across the Weasley girl's face. Then the girls ran up the stairs laughing.

Interesting, he thought. She really doesn't think she's attractive. He wondered briefly why none of the guys in her house hadn't asked her to go out, but figured her brother Ron was probably frightening them off. He had heard rumors of the sort. Their loss, he figured. If they weren't men enough to stand up to that prat, the girl was better off without 'em. His mind turned to her comments about him. Yes, he did sneer (not as much as before, though), and he was known to make very cutting comments. He certainly didn't brighten a room when he entered it, but so what? He wasn't out to make people like him. They would have to accept him as he was or not. He wasn't about to change himself for anyone, especially not some Gryffindor Good Girl like Ginny Weasley! He scowled as he thought about the distain in her voice. As he returned to his own Common Room, he vowed he'd get her alone, soon, and then he'd tell her what he thought of her.

Ginny showered slowly, enjoying the way the hot water loosened the muscles in her neck and shoulders. Nat's comments had come out of nowhere. How the heck had she known that Ginny had been trying to avoid meeting Malfoy? And did he always stare at her at meals? Why? It must be worse than she thought. He must be planning something really drastic. Then she got hold of herself. Why on earth would Malfoy care? She was from a Muggle-loving, poor nobody family as far as he was concerned, right? She had just had the bad luck to get in his way one day and now that it was over, he had promptly forgotten she existed. She just wished that he hadn't been so good looking, or strong or that his cologne hadn't left a lingering scent on the robe she had been wearing. That robe didn't go in the laundry basket, it had been folded and stuffed at the bottom of her chest and to her everlasting embarrassment she had pulled it out once or twice just to see if she could still smell his cologne. Ginny finished her shower and tucked her towel around her. She shook her head as she rummaged through the trunk. Don't do this, Ginny, she told herself. It's idiotic. She pulled out the practice robe and gave it one last sniff. She could still smell the cologne and was dismayed at the shiver that went down her spine. This was just too much, she told her self. Her face set resolutely, she finally tossed it into the laundry.

The dorms were quiet as Ginny emerged from hers. She had dressed in the typical blouse, pants and robe. But the castle was chilly tonight so she added a scarlet and gold jumper under the robe, deciding against the tie. She left her collar open and brushed her hair back as usual. Not wanting to mess with stiff hair mousse tonight, she fluffed the bangs a bit and left the rest to fall softly around her face. It was finally long enough not to spike as much and even though she didn't like it hanging around her face, fixing it was too much bother right now. Giving her hair a final pat, she descended to the deserted Common Room. Everyone must be at dinner, she thought, and hurried out the portrait hole. She ran down the stairs and came up short at the entry to the Great Hall. Peeking in, she quickly scanned the Slytherin table, noting that Malfoy wasn't there. She breathed a small sigh of relief. Too soon.

She smelled the cologne before she heard the soft whisper in her ear, so close it stirred a few strands of hair at her temple.

"Hiding in doorways now, Weasley? Now, who could you possibly be looking for? Me, maybe?"

Ginny spun around. Malfoy was standing just inches away, smiling (not very nicely, either) at her obvious discomposure. The door to the dining room had slipped shut when she had turned, and now they were alone again in the deserted entry hall. She felt the urge to slap that arrogant grin off of his face. She even half raised her hand to deliver the blow, but Malfoy saw the movement and grabbed her wrist with a quickness that surprised Ginny. He held the wrist firmly, but not painfully. Ginny took a shaky breath, angry that Malfoy could make her so jittery without even trying. That brought Malfoy's attention to the open neck of her jumper and blouse. As his eyes fixed on her neckline, she thought very quickly. He was much stronger than she was and she didn't think a physical attack would work.

Trying her best to imitate that sneering, superior drawl of his, she said, "Tired of attacking young women on the stairs? Sneaking about in hallways now, Malfoy? Who could you possibly have been waiting for? Me, maybe?"

This brought Malfoy's pale eyes snapping back up to her face. He was shocked to hear his own voice and something like his own words coming from her lips. She had even imitated his expression with a disturbing accuracy. He recognized it instantly as it was one he used to practice in the mirror. He was so surprised he let go of her wrist. Acting quickly, she shoved him backward and turned back to the door. She looked at him briefly and had the satisfaction of seeing the sneer wiped completely from his face.

With as much calm distain as she could force into her voice she said, "Try that again, Malfoy, and I'll break that perfect nose you're always looking down!" Then she slipped through the door and was gone.

Draco just let her go. He stared at the door for several moments, not believing she had done it again. She had bested him again! Gods, this was impossible! One second he had her where he wanted her. She had been nervous, scared even. He'd felt her shaking, seen her lips trembling, even noticed the pulse pounding in her throat where the open neck of her blouse seemed to be calling his name. She had even had to take a shaky breath to control her breathing, though that had distracted him badly. Then suddenly, she was in control again. Suddenly she was HIM! The change had been so fast that he had let go of her arm (tactical error) and got caught off balance (again) when she'd shoved him away. And that last comment. No one threatened like that unless they were pretty sure of themselves. Well, he amended; no one threatened HIM like that at all.

For just a moment he felt the urge to follow that irritating girl, grab her and shake her until her teeth rattled (if she'd been a boy he would have decked her right then and there). He even took a step toward the door to the Great Hall. Then he imagined himself charging after her, confronting her in front of everyone. He imagined the expressions on everyone's face. They would stare at him, and would probably come to the laughable conclusion that they had had a lover's quarrel, like that McDonald girl had said. No, Draco vowed, not him. He wouldn't embarrass himself that way. He would find a way to get at the Weasley girl, but not publicly. She would learn that there were some people you just didn't threaten.

He calmed himself with an effort and placed his customary bored, superior expression on his face. He sauntered to his table and slid in next to some of the other Quidditch players. The questioning looks some of his teammates gave him, darting their eyes from him to the Weasley girl, were quickly quelled by his frowning glare. If any of them noticed his eyes straying frequently to the Gryffindor table, they were smart enough not to mention it.