~CHAPTER 01~

By Nitya




Ginny Weasley plopped down near the enchanted lake and hugging her knees, stared out at the horizon pensively. The Giant Squid, which knew Ginny's habits came towards her expectantly, waving one of its tentacles.

"I'm sorry, octi. No tidbits for you today." Said Ginny still staring moodily at the lake.

"Octi?" said a mocking voice.

Ginny's heart skipped a beat. Without even turning she knew to whom that voice belonged.

"I always knew you were a dumb kid, Weasley. But Octi? I'm sure even Crabbe could come up with a better name than that."

Ginny badly wished that she could perfect that sarcastic drawl and come up with a sneering retort, but all her disoriented brain could comprehend was Draco in black and silver robes and the thought, 'Malfoy is drop-dead gorgeous!

Luckily for her, (though she didn't think so) Ron came up at that moment. "Ginny! Where have you been? We've been looking all over for you!"

His eyes fell on Malfoy. "What are you doing here?" he spat.

"Just socializing." Drawled Draco and walked away, the moonlight catching his platinum blonde hair and making the silver dragon in his robe glitter.

It took Ginny's breath away. If it weren't for Ron standing beside her she surely would have swooned.

"What were you doing with him here, at this time of the night?" interrogated Ron sternly, giving an unconscious imitation of a stern father.

Ginny was tempted to laugh, but seeing Ron's red face, controlled herself saying, "Nothing scandalous, I assure you. He was just insulting me as usual."

Before Ron could demand wrathfully what insults Draco had heaped on her, Hermione arrived on the scene, to Ginny's relief.

"Ron! It's nearly 9 P.M. Being a prefect you are supposed to set a better example to the other students, especially your sister. Instead of which you-"

"Ok. Ok." Interposed Ron hastily. "I was just warning Ginny not to wander off alone in the school grounds during the night."

"Humph." Hermione gave a grunt and walked off, with Ron and Ginny in tow.

*****

"CONGRATULATIONS!"

Ginny entered the girl dormitory to sounds of loud cheering.

For being asked by Harry to the Valentine's Day Ball, stupid." said Susan Wright, her best friend, putting her arms around her shoulders and leading her to her bed.

Ginny sank down into it and looked around the dorm. It seemed as if there was a celebration going on. All around girls were dancing; there were balloons and even a huge Chocolate Cake.

"Don't tell me that Harry asking me to the Ball is the cause for so much celebration." Said Ginny laughing.

"Why not?" asked Celia, another of her close friends, doing a complicated dance step and falling to the floor in a twisted heap.

"Because I won't believe it." Said Ginny helping her up.

"Well, the celebration is actually because Julia lost a bet." said Cindy. "I made a bet with her as to who Draco would go with. She betted that he would go with Pansy."

"As if anyone would want to go with that pug-faced idiot." Interposed Marianna scornfully.

Ginny gestured impatiently for Cindy to continue.

"Well I made a bet with Julia that Draco would not go with Pansy. I said that he would go with Cho."

Ginny felt a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach.

She wasn't going to throw up. She wasn't going to throw up.

"And guess what, I won!" said Cindy triumphantly. "So Julia, as the loser had to throw us a fabulous party."

"You mean Draco actually asked Cho to the ball?" asked Ginny incredulously.

Cindy nodded. "Yes, can you believe it? Especially since everybody knows that Harry Potter has had a crush on-"

She abruptly fell silent, receiving death glares from everyone, except Ginny, that is.

"Come on Ginny, let's boogie!" said Susan brightly, covering the awkward moment.

"No, thanks. I.. uh..I think I've got a headache. I'll just go to sleep."

Deaf to all her friends' protests, Ginny lay on her bed with a blanket over her head, trying to sleep.

But unwelcome thoughts kept circling her head. Draco had asked Cho to the ball. Cho, whom Harry had a crush on.

She now knew exactly what had happened. Harry must've asked Cho and got repulsed. Instead Cho had accepted Draco.

On rebound, as a last resort Harry must have asked her.

But that didn't worry Ginny that much. After all, she had got over Harry long ago and no one had been more surprised and less pleased than she, when Harry asked her to the ball.

How could she accept him when she had replaced him in her heart, with his archenemy, Draco Malfoy?

She had, in fact, seriously considered refusing him, but the thought of remaining in the Common Room, or worse, going to the ball alone, while all her friends had partners and enjoyed themselves, made her reconsider her decision.

And now, she didn't know if the decision she had made was the right one or not.

Still tormented by the fact that Draco was taking Cho to the Yule Ball, Ginny fell into a troubled sleep.

~END OF CHAPTER 1~

A/N- Well, the first chapter's done and I had a fantastic time writing it! Even the thought that I had my Business studies exam the next day didn't worry me! I hope you enjoy it too!
I just had a teeny weeny problem with Draco's dialogues. I don't have much experience with making sarcastic comments. Hope they weren't too bad!