"How's Ginny?" Hermione asked Ron. Ron shook his head.
"She wouldn't talk to me," Ron said. "I don't know what I did." He sighed. "She's ignoring Harry, too. And Morgan."
"Speaking of, where are they?" Hermione set down her book and went over to him.
"They went off together after lunch," Ron told her. Hermione raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Nothing, Ron... Do you think I should talk to Ginny, see if I can find out what's bothering her now?"
"No. The last time you tried that she just got mad, remember? That thing with Draco?" Ron paused as a thought hit him. "Don't you think it's strange that Malfoy's the one who found her?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, whatever happened to her, Malfoy found her, didn't say where or anything, and took her to the hospital wing."
"Ron, you don't think-" Ron nodded grimly.
"That's exactly what I think." Hermione put a hand to her mouth.
"Poor Ginny! What can we do? She trusts him!" Ron groaned in exasperation.
"It figures. She has such poor judgment, I swear. I can't exactly forbid her to talk to him, not unless we plan on spending all of our time with her to prevent it."
"I wouldn't even think of it."
"What, forbidding her to talk to him, or spending all of our time with her?" Hermione went to hit Ron. "I was kidding!"
"I know," Hermione said. "But seriously. If we just tell her not to talk to Malfoy, she'll do it solely to spite us, I think." Ron nodded. Just then, Harry and Morgan entered the common room.
"Well, there you are!" Ron cried. He'd been beginning to wonder. Morgan looked sheepish.
"Sorry, Ron, we went for a walk," she explained. Harry just laughed. He sobered when he noticed Hermione though.
"Herm? What's wrong?" Harry asked, casting a glance at Ron, who also looked unusually serious. "Did we miss something?"
"Not really, Harry. Ron and I were just talking about Ginny," Herm said. "We think maybe Malfoy's up to something, and is using her for his pawn."
"Why would Malfoy be playing around with us with Voldemort back?" Harry asked. Then he realized what a stupid question it was. "Unless, you don't think he's using her to lure us to Voldemort, do you? Like the last time?"
"The last time?" Morgan asked. Three sets of eyes turned to her with astonished expressions.
"You don't know about first-year?" Ron asked, awed. "Do you think we should tell her?"
"Of course you're going to tell me!" Morgan said. "What happened? I mean, I remember that whole episode with the petrifying- sorry, Hermione- who doesn't, but what does it have to do with Ginny?"
"Ginny was the girl taken into the chamber, Morgan," Harry said softly. Morgan's eyes got wide.
"Oh my God! She never told me, I mean, we didn't become close until, like, last year, and-" she cut off then. "Wow. I didn't know."
"It would be just like Malfoy to use her like that," Ron commented. "But we don't know what to do to stop him. Hermione has reminded me that she trusts him."
"I don't know. We'll just have to watch her, I guess," Harry said glumly. Morgan nodded.
"I can spend more time with her. I am her best friend," she said, trailing off. She hadn't been spending much time with Ginny at all... In fact, lately, Morgan had been spending more and more time with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She felt bad. "I'll see what I can do."
"Okay, good. Thanks, Morgan," Ron said. Hermione nodded. "Hey, has anyone seen Ginny yet today?"
"Yes, but she won't speak to me yet," Harry said. Morgan shrugged.
"I haven't seen her yet, but once I do, I'm sure she'll talk to me. I hope, anyway." Morgan left the common room. Harry watched her go, then turned to see both Ron and Hermione staring at him. He flushed.
"What?" Now they broke into big grins. Harry didn't think he would like this.
"You like her, don't you?" Hermione asked. Harry laughed, but it was unconvincing.
"Gee, Herm, first you think I like Ginny, now you think I like her best friend! Of course not," he said. Ron and Hermione just exchanged a look.
"He's worse than I thought," Ron said to her. Herm nodded.
"Yes, well. I expected as much. Besides, he's not the only one still in denial!" She laughed then, and went up to her dormitory. Ron stared after her, jaw open.
"What were you saying, Ron?" Harry grinned evilly. "Something about my being worse than you thought? Oh, how the tables have turned, haven't they?"
"I do NOT like Hermione, Harry!" Ron exclaimed. "She's- she's- Hermione!"
"Okay, okay. Fine. You don't like Herm, and I don't like Morgan. It's settled, then?" Harry said, putting out his hand. Ron shook it.
"Yeah, yeah. It's settled," Ron muttered. Hermione suppressed a snicker from her place on the stairs. ~*~
"Hey, Ginny!" Ginny spun around to see Draco running to catch up to her.
"Yes, Draco? What is it? Is something wrong? What happened?" She was frantic. Draco laughed after catching his breath. He shook his head.
"Nothing's wrong, I just wanted to get a hold of you before you went to your common room. You know it's a Hogsmeade weekend, right?" Ginny nodded, but Draco could see her tense. "Well, I know it's not exactly your favourite place right now, but I was wondering if you'd want to go with me?"
"Why, do you need help with stuff for the file?" Ginny said, puzzled. "Or do you think Lavander and Colin will try something again?"
"Uh, well, neither actually. I just wanted you to come with me." Ginny's eyes got a little bigger, but she commendably didn't let him notice her surprise.
"Of course, Draco," she said. He grinned at her.
"Great. I'll meet you in the Great Hall by the passageway for ten o'clock, okay?" Ginny nodded and watched him walk away. Why was she so surprised by his offer? They were friends, after all. Friends did things together, right? She began walking towards the common room. Morgan rushed up to her.
"Ginny! Hi! I haven't seen you around much lately," she said. Ginny looked at her, and decided that she just couldn't hold a grudge. She smiled.
"Sorry, Morgan. I've been kind of busy. But it looks like you've been keeping yourself occupied," Ginny commented wrily. Morgan blushed.
"Harry and I are just friends! For now," she said, grinning. Ginny laughed.
"That's good. I wonder how long you'll stay that way?" Morgan swatted her. "I'm kidding! I'm happy for you guys, really. All Harry has to do now is work up the nerve to actually ask you out."
"Yeah. Oh well, it's not like he has competition or something," Morgan replied. Ginny shook her head.
"Hey, at least you have Harry! I'm, like, transparent to guys." Morgan's eyes lit up.
"Gin, do you realize what today is?" Ginny looked thoughtful.
"Uh, November 27th?" Morgan rolled her eyes.
"Well, yeah, but do you realize what was put up today?" Ginny's face registered acknowledgement. She groaned.
"Oh, Morgan, no! Not the Yule Ball! You and Harry go and have a lot of fun, but really, don't look for me!" Morgan sighed in exasperation.
"Ginny, you have to go! We'll find someone. There's gotta be a guy in this school who will take you!" Ginny stopped walking and looked at her. They burst out laughing.
"Thanks so much, Morgan. I really feel confident now!" They couldn't stop laughing as they made their way to the common room.
"Maybe we could have a contest, and that could be first prize!" Morgan said. They collapsed into giggles as Hermione came in.
"A contest for what?" She asked, smiling. Morgan sat up as Herm plopped down on the floor of Ginny's room. Gin was laying on her bed.
"We're trying to figure out a way to get Ginny a date for the Yule Ball," Morgan explained. Ginny blushed.
"I don't even want to go!" She protested. It was too late; now that Hermione was helping Morgan, there'd be no way out. Hermione furled her brow in thought.
"Um. A guy who would take Ginny to the Yule Ball. That IS a challenge. No offence, Gin!" A thought occurred to Ginny, but she knew that neither Morgan nor Hermione would let Ginny ask Draco to take her. She sighed. "Maybe a contest isn't such a bad idea!" Ginny groaned. She was really in for it now. ~*~
Ginny waiting under the portrait in the Great Hall on Saturday at ten o'clock. Draco was late, as usual. It amused her. Finally, Draco dashed up. Without even saying anything, he grabbed her arm and hauled her off to go with the rest of the students.
"Sorry 'bout that, I was held up in the common room!" Draco explained once they were settled on the way to Hogsmeade. "I got an owl from Father." Ginny's eyebrows shot up. He handed her a piece of parchment.
"Draco- I've been contacted by the Parkinsons. All is well here, everyone believes my return as a DeathEater. I got your owl about Miss Weasley. I'm sure she'll be of great help. Do you think she still blames me for that incident your second year? I'll be waiting for your next letter. -Father." Ginny gave it back to Draco and stared at him. Draco shifted uncomfortably.
"I just told him that you were helping, and what's happened so far, like the kidnapping and all," he said. Ginny looked down.
"It's not that, really. I don't mind. It just made me think about the Chamber and everything," she said quietly. Draco hugged her.
"I'm sorry, Gin. Once Harry 'exposed' Father, he couldn't exactly refute it. To be honest, it wasn't he who gave you the diary. He found out about it after... Which is why Dobby knew everything." Draco didn't know why, but he felt he had to explain everything to her. Ginny nodded, then smiled a little.
"It's okay, Draco. I understand. Don't worry about it," Ginny said. "Well, come on. We're at Hogsmeade!" ~*~
"Hermione, come on!" Ron was waiting impatiently as Herm bought an armful of books. "Harry and Morgan are waiting for us!" Hermione shot him a look as she handed him her bags. They went outside and met Harry and Morgan. Both of them were staring down the sidewalk at apparently nothing. "Guys?"
"We just saw Draco and Ginny walk by," Morgan said. "They were laughing."
"What? I didn't even know Ginny was COMING to Hogsmeade today! Why with Malfoy? She knows how much it bothers us!" Ron exclaimed. Hermione put a hand on his shoulder.
"Ron, calm down. I know we said we'd watch out for her, but we're in Hogsmeade, there's a lot of people around, he wouldn't try anything," she said logically.
"But Hermione, wasn't she going to Hogsmeade last weekend when she was kidnapped?" Hermione looked thoughtful.
"She was supposed to, but I don't exactly know if she even made it to Hogsmeade. She hasn't told any of us what happened, remember?" Ron sighed.
"I see your point," he conceded. "I always do." Hermione gave him a smile.
"We can't do anything about it now, so let's enjoy our day," Harry suggested. "Let's get lunch." He took Morgan's arm and started away. Ron took Hermione's arm and followed. ~*~
"I'm starved, Draco, can't we get something to eat, please?" Ginny pleaded. They'd been shopping all morning. Draco consented, but insisted they stop at one more store. He drug her into the jewelry shop.
"I want to get Mother's Christmas present," Draco told her. Ginny had managed to get a few presents bought, but was already running out of money. She was almost glad she didn't have many friends- less things to buy. She'd gotten something for everyone in her family, but needed things for Morgan, Hermione, Harry, and Draco. She was puzzled as to what to get Draco. The other three gifts just needed to be purchased. "Do you think Mother would like this?"
Draco was holding up a silver chain with a dainty emerald pendant dangling from it. Slytherin's colours. Ginny knew that his entire family had been in the house, and figured any woman would love getting that necklace. She nodded. "Draco, I'm sure she'd love it. You have nice taste." While Draco went to pay, Ginny wandered around the shop. She paused in front of the earring case. Her attention was attracted to a set of teardrop shaped diamonds. Simple, but stunning.
"Gin, you ready to go?" Draco asked. She hurried over to him.
"Yeah, now can we get lunch?" He nodded and held the door open for her.
"We'll go to The Trotting Horse; it's a nice little restaurant, I always eat there when I'm in Hogsmeade," Draco suggested. The Trotting Horse turned out to be one of those hole-in-the-wall places that was absolutely enchanting. It was practically empty, a small wonder considering how good the food supposedly was. The waitress took their orders and then left them alone.
"I wasn't going to come to Hogsmeade today. Thanks for inviting me, Draco," Ginny said, taking a sip of her water. Draco smiled at her.
"No problem. I didn't want to come alone, and I certainly couldn't bring Crabbe and Goyle Christmas shopping!" Draco rolled his eyes. Ginny thought for a moment.
"Don't you think they're suspicious? I mean, we're spending more time together, someone's bound to notice. Besides my brother, anyway," Ginny said. Draco shook his head.
"I'd be more inclined to think Pansy's suspicious. But I doubt it. She's too self-absorbed to notice anything," Draco replied. "Don't you want to spend time with me?"
"Oh, no! Er, I mean, yes. Wait, let me try again. I do like spending time with you. There, that's better," Ginny said, blushing. "I just meant that with the work we're doing, I wouldn't want to have anyone realizing it or something." She groaned. "I'm going to shut up now, I'm just sounding more and more stupid!" Draco laughed.
"You're not stupid, I understand what you mean. I just don't think it matters. We go to the same school, just because we're in different houses doesn't mean we wouldn't talk to each other."
"Draco, you're a Slytherin. I'm a Gryffindor. You're a Malfoy! I'm a Weasley!" Ginny grinned, and Draco smiled back.
"Okay, I see your point. I'm just not concerned, that's all," he finally said. Ginny shrugged.
"That's fine. I was just wondering. Wouldn't want to compromise our mission by a Hogsmeade trip," she replied. The waitress brought their food, and it really was as good as Draco had said. "I have a new favourite restaurant! This is great."
"I told you that you'd like it," Draco laughed. "Yeah, it's my favourite, too." They finished eating, and Draco insisting on paying the bill. Although Ginny protested, she was secretly extremely relieved.
*A/N: Okay, this chapter has got to be the biggest Harry Potter cliché ever, but I couldn't help writing it. Yes, I know parts are so predictable now, but I promise the next chapter will have plenty of surprises. *winks* Trust me on this one.
"She wouldn't talk to me," Ron said. "I don't know what I did." He sighed. "She's ignoring Harry, too. And Morgan."
"Speaking of, where are they?" Hermione set down her book and went over to him.
"They went off together after lunch," Ron told her. Hermione raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Nothing, Ron... Do you think I should talk to Ginny, see if I can find out what's bothering her now?"
"No. The last time you tried that she just got mad, remember? That thing with Draco?" Ron paused as a thought hit him. "Don't you think it's strange that Malfoy's the one who found her?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, whatever happened to her, Malfoy found her, didn't say where or anything, and took her to the hospital wing."
"Ron, you don't think-" Ron nodded grimly.
"That's exactly what I think." Hermione put a hand to her mouth.
"Poor Ginny! What can we do? She trusts him!" Ron groaned in exasperation.
"It figures. She has such poor judgment, I swear. I can't exactly forbid her to talk to him, not unless we plan on spending all of our time with her to prevent it."
"I wouldn't even think of it."
"What, forbidding her to talk to him, or spending all of our time with her?" Hermione went to hit Ron. "I was kidding!"
"I know," Hermione said. "But seriously. If we just tell her not to talk to Malfoy, she'll do it solely to spite us, I think." Ron nodded. Just then, Harry and Morgan entered the common room.
"Well, there you are!" Ron cried. He'd been beginning to wonder. Morgan looked sheepish.
"Sorry, Ron, we went for a walk," she explained. Harry just laughed. He sobered when he noticed Hermione though.
"Herm? What's wrong?" Harry asked, casting a glance at Ron, who also looked unusually serious. "Did we miss something?"
"Not really, Harry. Ron and I were just talking about Ginny," Herm said. "We think maybe Malfoy's up to something, and is using her for his pawn."
"Why would Malfoy be playing around with us with Voldemort back?" Harry asked. Then he realized what a stupid question it was. "Unless, you don't think he's using her to lure us to Voldemort, do you? Like the last time?"
"The last time?" Morgan asked. Three sets of eyes turned to her with astonished expressions.
"You don't know about first-year?" Ron asked, awed. "Do you think we should tell her?"
"Of course you're going to tell me!" Morgan said. "What happened? I mean, I remember that whole episode with the petrifying- sorry, Hermione- who doesn't, but what does it have to do with Ginny?"
"Ginny was the girl taken into the chamber, Morgan," Harry said softly. Morgan's eyes got wide.
"Oh my God! She never told me, I mean, we didn't become close until, like, last year, and-" she cut off then. "Wow. I didn't know."
"It would be just like Malfoy to use her like that," Ron commented. "But we don't know what to do to stop him. Hermione has reminded me that she trusts him."
"I don't know. We'll just have to watch her, I guess," Harry said glumly. Morgan nodded.
"I can spend more time with her. I am her best friend," she said, trailing off. She hadn't been spending much time with Ginny at all... In fact, lately, Morgan had been spending more and more time with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She felt bad. "I'll see what I can do."
"Okay, good. Thanks, Morgan," Ron said. Hermione nodded. "Hey, has anyone seen Ginny yet today?"
"Yes, but she won't speak to me yet," Harry said. Morgan shrugged.
"I haven't seen her yet, but once I do, I'm sure she'll talk to me. I hope, anyway." Morgan left the common room. Harry watched her go, then turned to see both Ron and Hermione staring at him. He flushed.
"What?" Now they broke into big grins. Harry didn't think he would like this.
"You like her, don't you?" Hermione asked. Harry laughed, but it was unconvincing.
"Gee, Herm, first you think I like Ginny, now you think I like her best friend! Of course not," he said. Ron and Hermione just exchanged a look.
"He's worse than I thought," Ron said to her. Herm nodded.
"Yes, well. I expected as much. Besides, he's not the only one still in denial!" She laughed then, and went up to her dormitory. Ron stared after her, jaw open.
"What were you saying, Ron?" Harry grinned evilly. "Something about my being worse than you thought? Oh, how the tables have turned, haven't they?"
"I do NOT like Hermione, Harry!" Ron exclaimed. "She's- she's- Hermione!"
"Okay, okay. Fine. You don't like Herm, and I don't like Morgan. It's settled, then?" Harry said, putting out his hand. Ron shook it.
"Yeah, yeah. It's settled," Ron muttered. Hermione suppressed a snicker from her place on the stairs. ~*~
"Hey, Ginny!" Ginny spun around to see Draco running to catch up to her.
"Yes, Draco? What is it? Is something wrong? What happened?" She was frantic. Draco laughed after catching his breath. He shook his head.
"Nothing's wrong, I just wanted to get a hold of you before you went to your common room. You know it's a Hogsmeade weekend, right?" Ginny nodded, but Draco could see her tense. "Well, I know it's not exactly your favourite place right now, but I was wondering if you'd want to go with me?"
"Why, do you need help with stuff for the file?" Ginny said, puzzled. "Or do you think Lavander and Colin will try something again?"
"Uh, well, neither actually. I just wanted you to come with me." Ginny's eyes got a little bigger, but she commendably didn't let him notice her surprise.
"Of course, Draco," she said. He grinned at her.
"Great. I'll meet you in the Great Hall by the passageway for ten o'clock, okay?" Ginny nodded and watched him walk away. Why was she so surprised by his offer? They were friends, after all. Friends did things together, right? She began walking towards the common room. Morgan rushed up to her.
"Ginny! Hi! I haven't seen you around much lately," she said. Ginny looked at her, and decided that she just couldn't hold a grudge. She smiled.
"Sorry, Morgan. I've been kind of busy. But it looks like you've been keeping yourself occupied," Ginny commented wrily. Morgan blushed.
"Harry and I are just friends! For now," she said, grinning. Ginny laughed.
"That's good. I wonder how long you'll stay that way?" Morgan swatted her. "I'm kidding! I'm happy for you guys, really. All Harry has to do now is work up the nerve to actually ask you out."
"Yeah. Oh well, it's not like he has competition or something," Morgan replied. Ginny shook her head.
"Hey, at least you have Harry! I'm, like, transparent to guys." Morgan's eyes lit up.
"Gin, do you realize what today is?" Ginny looked thoughtful.
"Uh, November 27th?" Morgan rolled her eyes.
"Well, yeah, but do you realize what was put up today?" Ginny's face registered acknowledgement. She groaned.
"Oh, Morgan, no! Not the Yule Ball! You and Harry go and have a lot of fun, but really, don't look for me!" Morgan sighed in exasperation.
"Ginny, you have to go! We'll find someone. There's gotta be a guy in this school who will take you!" Ginny stopped walking and looked at her. They burst out laughing.
"Thanks so much, Morgan. I really feel confident now!" They couldn't stop laughing as they made their way to the common room.
"Maybe we could have a contest, and that could be first prize!" Morgan said. They collapsed into giggles as Hermione came in.
"A contest for what?" She asked, smiling. Morgan sat up as Herm plopped down on the floor of Ginny's room. Gin was laying on her bed.
"We're trying to figure out a way to get Ginny a date for the Yule Ball," Morgan explained. Ginny blushed.
"I don't even want to go!" She protested. It was too late; now that Hermione was helping Morgan, there'd be no way out. Hermione furled her brow in thought.
"Um. A guy who would take Ginny to the Yule Ball. That IS a challenge. No offence, Gin!" A thought occurred to Ginny, but she knew that neither Morgan nor Hermione would let Ginny ask Draco to take her. She sighed. "Maybe a contest isn't such a bad idea!" Ginny groaned. She was really in for it now. ~*~
Ginny waiting under the portrait in the Great Hall on Saturday at ten o'clock. Draco was late, as usual. It amused her. Finally, Draco dashed up. Without even saying anything, he grabbed her arm and hauled her off to go with the rest of the students.
"Sorry 'bout that, I was held up in the common room!" Draco explained once they were settled on the way to Hogsmeade. "I got an owl from Father." Ginny's eyebrows shot up. He handed her a piece of parchment.
"Draco- I've been contacted by the Parkinsons. All is well here, everyone believes my return as a DeathEater. I got your owl about Miss Weasley. I'm sure she'll be of great help. Do you think she still blames me for that incident your second year? I'll be waiting for your next letter. -Father." Ginny gave it back to Draco and stared at him. Draco shifted uncomfortably.
"I just told him that you were helping, and what's happened so far, like the kidnapping and all," he said. Ginny looked down.
"It's not that, really. I don't mind. It just made me think about the Chamber and everything," she said quietly. Draco hugged her.
"I'm sorry, Gin. Once Harry 'exposed' Father, he couldn't exactly refute it. To be honest, it wasn't he who gave you the diary. He found out about it after... Which is why Dobby knew everything." Draco didn't know why, but he felt he had to explain everything to her. Ginny nodded, then smiled a little.
"It's okay, Draco. I understand. Don't worry about it," Ginny said. "Well, come on. We're at Hogsmeade!" ~*~
"Hermione, come on!" Ron was waiting impatiently as Herm bought an armful of books. "Harry and Morgan are waiting for us!" Hermione shot him a look as she handed him her bags. They went outside and met Harry and Morgan. Both of them were staring down the sidewalk at apparently nothing. "Guys?"
"We just saw Draco and Ginny walk by," Morgan said. "They were laughing."
"What? I didn't even know Ginny was COMING to Hogsmeade today! Why with Malfoy? She knows how much it bothers us!" Ron exclaimed. Hermione put a hand on his shoulder.
"Ron, calm down. I know we said we'd watch out for her, but we're in Hogsmeade, there's a lot of people around, he wouldn't try anything," she said logically.
"But Hermione, wasn't she going to Hogsmeade last weekend when she was kidnapped?" Hermione looked thoughtful.
"She was supposed to, but I don't exactly know if she even made it to Hogsmeade. She hasn't told any of us what happened, remember?" Ron sighed.
"I see your point," he conceded. "I always do." Hermione gave him a smile.
"We can't do anything about it now, so let's enjoy our day," Harry suggested. "Let's get lunch." He took Morgan's arm and started away. Ron took Hermione's arm and followed. ~*~
"I'm starved, Draco, can't we get something to eat, please?" Ginny pleaded. They'd been shopping all morning. Draco consented, but insisted they stop at one more store. He drug her into the jewelry shop.
"I want to get Mother's Christmas present," Draco told her. Ginny had managed to get a few presents bought, but was already running out of money. She was almost glad she didn't have many friends- less things to buy. She'd gotten something for everyone in her family, but needed things for Morgan, Hermione, Harry, and Draco. She was puzzled as to what to get Draco. The other three gifts just needed to be purchased. "Do you think Mother would like this?"
Draco was holding up a silver chain with a dainty emerald pendant dangling from it. Slytherin's colours. Ginny knew that his entire family had been in the house, and figured any woman would love getting that necklace. She nodded. "Draco, I'm sure she'd love it. You have nice taste." While Draco went to pay, Ginny wandered around the shop. She paused in front of the earring case. Her attention was attracted to a set of teardrop shaped diamonds. Simple, but stunning.
"Gin, you ready to go?" Draco asked. She hurried over to him.
"Yeah, now can we get lunch?" He nodded and held the door open for her.
"We'll go to The Trotting Horse; it's a nice little restaurant, I always eat there when I'm in Hogsmeade," Draco suggested. The Trotting Horse turned out to be one of those hole-in-the-wall places that was absolutely enchanting. It was practically empty, a small wonder considering how good the food supposedly was. The waitress took their orders and then left them alone.
"I wasn't going to come to Hogsmeade today. Thanks for inviting me, Draco," Ginny said, taking a sip of her water. Draco smiled at her.
"No problem. I didn't want to come alone, and I certainly couldn't bring Crabbe and Goyle Christmas shopping!" Draco rolled his eyes. Ginny thought for a moment.
"Don't you think they're suspicious? I mean, we're spending more time together, someone's bound to notice. Besides my brother, anyway," Ginny said. Draco shook his head.
"I'd be more inclined to think Pansy's suspicious. But I doubt it. She's too self-absorbed to notice anything," Draco replied. "Don't you want to spend time with me?"
"Oh, no! Er, I mean, yes. Wait, let me try again. I do like spending time with you. There, that's better," Ginny said, blushing. "I just meant that with the work we're doing, I wouldn't want to have anyone realizing it or something." She groaned. "I'm going to shut up now, I'm just sounding more and more stupid!" Draco laughed.
"You're not stupid, I understand what you mean. I just don't think it matters. We go to the same school, just because we're in different houses doesn't mean we wouldn't talk to each other."
"Draco, you're a Slytherin. I'm a Gryffindor. You're a Malfoy! I'm a Weasley!" Ginny grinned, and Draco smiled back.
"Okay, I see your point. I'm just not concerned, that's all," he finally said. Ginny shrugged.
"That's fine. I was just wondering. Wouldn't want to compromise our mission by a Hogsmeade trip," she replied. The waitress brought their food, and it really was as good as Draco had said. "I have a new favourite restaurant! This is great."
"I told you that you'd like it," Draco laughed. "Yeah, it's my favourite, too." They finished eating, and Draco insisting on paying the bill. Although Ginny protested, she was secretly extremely relieved.
*A/N: Okay, this chapter has got to be the biggest Harry Potter cliché ever, but I couldn't help writing it. Yes, I know parts are so predictable now, but I promise the next chapter will have plenty of surprises. *winks* Trust me on this one.