Disclaimer: Common, do I really have to do this? It's not mine! None of it! Really, I'm not faking!
Well maybe just the plot and one or two minor characters.
A/N: Thanks bundles to "Harry potter lexicon," it's packed with information!
Did you know Hermione's birthday is on September 19? Oh well we'll just ignore that and pretend it's around Christmas.
Thoughts will be in italics.
And just one last thing, please review, criticism as well, it helps me improve.
Chapter 3: Hermione's party.
"Thanks Ron" Ginny said as he opened the door for her.
They had just arrived at Hermione's birthday party, and from what she could see the room was packed.
"Wow, quite a lot of people huh Ron. Ron?"
That was fast. Ginny thought as she observed Ron already greeting Hermione and Harry and quickly turning around to talk to some petite brunet.
"Ginny! Over here!"
"Coming" Ginny said and quickly hurried over to greet Hermione.
"I see you went for the "big party" idea this year huh?"
"Well quite a turn out isn't it," said Hermione proudly looking around.
"I met so many new people this year!" pausing she continued "Also, Mum and Pop insisted that I invite the family over so… well you know."
"Anyway, here's your gift" said Ginny handing the wrapped parcel to Hermione and embracing her with a hug
"Happy birthday and I really hope you like it" she said smiling and pointing towards the gift.
"I'm sure I will if you got it for me," Hermione smiled happily.
She sincerely hoped she liked it. Ginny had arrived yesterday dying for some time to rest.
When she discovered that her "brilliant" brothers forgot to get a gift.
So of course, since mom had been busy, she had to get it. And she spent all day, yesterday looking for the perfect gift.
All that would have been bearable if it wasn't for Ron and Bill who just had to accompany her.
Ron, because Hermione was one of his best friends.
And Bill because he was bored, meaning he was going to use this chance to tease her, not that she minded too much, it was Bill after all.
But the worst thing was that they had no clue what to get for a "girl".
Bill came up with all sort of romantic gifts while Ron simply rejected anything she offered.
In the end they chose a book (completely unavoidable) about the process of making new charms and two concert tickets to Hermione's absolutely favorite band "The Weird Sisters".
"Hermione dear!" someone shrilled.
"Oh dear! Ginny you better go, its time to face Aunt Jemima!"
"Sure," Ginny giggled good-naturedly and swiftly stepped aside to see if she could find anyone she knew. And, Ginny thought as she heard her stomach rumble, find the food!
No sooner had she left Hermione when she glanced back and saw her being smothered by a woman, who was "big boned" to say the least.
Ginny reached the food table, finally, and feasted her eyes on the variety of foods spread before her.
After a couple of seconds, once she finished taking in the "view" and deciding what she wanted Ginny reached for one of the appetizers.
Just as she leaned forward in order to seize it her head collided with someone.
"Ow, oh my gosh I'm so sorry." She said quickly and looked up. What?!
"Malfoy?!" she said.
"Nice to see you again too Ginny. It is Ginny isn't it?" He said with his everlasting smirk.
"Uh yeah, Ginny it is, um bye, I um have to go to Harry, yup have to go." She stuttered.
Great Ginny, real smooth. She scolded herself.
What was Malfoy doing here? At Hermione's birthday?
So yea he wasn't so "pure blood" crazed anymore. Not since the end of her fourth year when Harry had finally killed Voldemort, and Lucius.
He wasn't exactly a muggle lover, but he was much more polite and open about the whole issue last she saw him.
And damn good looking too. Ginny stop that! He's Malfoy for Christ sake!
She quickly walked away feeling Malfoy's eyes boring into her.
She looked around for someone she knew and tried to appear busy.
She spotted Harry and started walking in his direction.
"Hey Harry" she whispered, "What is Malfoy doing here?"
"I know I talked to Hermione about it but she insisted"
"Why?!"
"Well," Harry paused "they work together and apparently they get along"
"All I have to say is it's bizarre, completely bizarre" Ginny shook her head.
"Hey, Ginny what did you get Hermione? Something I'll enjoy eh?" said Harry while trying to wiggle his eyebrow suggestively and wink at the same time, failing obviously.
"Good one Harry, you know me as a person to get Hermione that kind of thing? Besides I'm underage forget? But actually you might enjoy some of it, we got her two tickets for the "Weird Sisters" and well I gue-"
"What?!" Harry interrupted, "what!" he whispered as they got a few stares. "You got her tickets? But that's what I got her"
"I am sooo sorry Harry. I didn't know!"
"Oh well I'll find something else I guess" Harry said slightly disappointed, then he looked over her shoulder and looked very panicked.
"Oh quick, quick talk to me and look busy, I'm trying to avoid Hermione's aunt, Jemima.
"
Oh aren't you a dear!" Harry mimicked her quietly. "How are you treating my precious Hermione?"
He continued. "Bloody hell, there's no avoiding it she's coming over here! Go Ginny! Save yourself!"
"Um...O.k." Ginny said chuckling and moving away towards Fred and George who appeared to be in the middle of performing one of their newest stunts.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~
A couple hours later Ginny was sitting at one of the tables looking at everyone on the dance floors.
There was Ron and the brunette she'd seen him talking to earlier.
And there was "aunt" Jemima dancing with someone who looked as if he was ready to give up dancing for life!
Behind them were Neville and Danielle, I hope for her sake he's improved since the yule ball.
And there were Harry and Hermione, looking as if they were in a world of their own.
How long had they been together, Ginny tried to remember.
It seemed only yesterday that they had finally worked up the courage to tell each other how they felt. But actually it was almost a year now.
Harry and Hermione had pulled an all-nighter because they had there first N.E.W.T and from there on the events took a roll of there own.
It was a blessing really, after their break-up in the middle of fifth year they had agreed to stay friends and date other people.
But in those few weeks before they got back together, they were both walking around completely depressed.
Each of them realizing his/her feeling for the other but afraid to act on it, for fear the other didn't feel the same.
Thank god that they got back together.
She didn't think she could take anymore of them acting like that.
"Hello there, you look like you'd like to dance." Someone interrupted her train of thought. She quickly looked up,
"Malfoy?"
"Draco, please." He said smiling. "We seem to have started of on the wrong foot there. So?" He paused, obviously waiting for an answer, "Do you want to dance?"
Wow, he's changed!
"Sure why not." Ginny said taking his outstretched hand and pulling her self up.
Just as they started dancing, the music switched to a slow song.
"Well then Ginny Weasly" he said while putting his hand on her waist. "What have you been up to this year?"
A slight blush came on her cheeks, as he pulled her a tad closer to him.
"It's only the beginning, but we've started working on our N.E.W.Ts. What have you been doing?"
"I'm sure you know by now I've been working with Hermione. I'm the "Daily Prophet" political reporter."
"Oh" Ginny said, and they fell into an awkward silence.
Once the song ended, Draco suggested they get a drink.
As they walked toward the table Ginny said "You know, I never get it about fruit punch, is it alcoholic or is it just some sort of fruit juice."
"I know, I never got it either. But I think it has a small amount of alcohol, not enough to get you drunk though."
"Well" Ginny giggled figuring it would at least be something to do, "What do you say we give it a go"
"My, my, my Ginny Weasly, you sure have changed" Malfoy said, raising a brow, "are you suggesting what I think you are"
"Yup, let's get pissed"
"Language, language. You know what, let' do it, we'll do a contest, what do you say?"
"Sure. O.k., on my mark, ready set…go!" And so they both started drinking one cup after the other.
After finishing half of the bowl, (it was a very big bowl) Draco said "You know what, either I was wrong, and this has no alcohol what so ever, or we can both hold it really well. So what do we say we drink something a bit stronger…"
"Um, I don't know" Ginny said looking around her.
"Come on Weasly, can't take it?" Malfoy said, his old sneer returning.
"Of course I can, but not here, let's go outside." Ginny quickly said and started walking briskly outside, chin high, hoping Draco was really following and not just laughing at her.
God she hated it when he sneered at her, it made her feel so small, and brought back his taunting from schools earlier years.
She was going to show him, no way was he going to treat her like a little girl.
Ginny opened the door, stepped outside and aimed for the brick wall.
"Come on Draco" she said climbing on the wall and sitting on it. "Bring the bottle"
"Ginny if you don-"
"Bring the bottle"
"Fine" he said and handed Ginny the bottle. "Here you go".
"So" Draco said heaving himself on the wall, "How's school? God, I never thought I'd ask that!"
"School is fine. And I'm not that much younger then you, it's just a year."
"Fine, fine. But you have to cut me some slack, I do have a right to patronize you a bit, I am finished. But really what's going on?"
"Well" Ginny said, moved the hair from her eyes, took a big sip out of the bottle and started dangling her feet, "actually nothing much, you know? I'm doing o.k. at school, except potions that is."
"I could help you"
Ginny paused and looked at him, "really?"
"Sure, why not, it was my best subject. Now give me that bottle" and with that he made a lunge towards Ginny while she moved backwards to avoid him. All this ended with Draco falling of the wall, which luckily wasn't very tall.
"I am sooo sorry!" Ginny managed to say between giggles "Here I'll come and help you".
"Well you don't sound sorry, you sound as if you are already under the influence, which means it's my turn now." And with that he grabbed the bottle (successfully) and took a big gulp.
As it was they were both sprawled on a brick floor outside in the London night, there they remained for what might have been an hour or so, they were both too drunk by that time to notice.
Suddenly they heard the patio door open. They both tripped over their feet while trying to get up.
"Quick behind this tree, to your left, no that's you right, your left Ginny!"
Suddenly they heard Charlie's voice: "Ginny?"
"Yeah, over here!" she yelled out.
"Why'd you answer him?" Draco whispered fiercely.
"It might be important! Now go hide behind the tree! He can't find you here with me!" she whispered back.
"Ginny, there you are! I'm going back home, here's your floo powder; everyone can go home when he feels like it. Ginny, are you o.k.?"
"I'm fine" said Ginny, swaying slightly. "Really I am. Bye Charlie"
"Okay then, bye" and with that Charlie headed back home.
"Coast is clear, you can come out now." Ginny said in an exaggerated whisper.
"You know what." Draco said coming from behind the tree "I feel like taking a walk. Come on lets go."
Draco grabbed her arm, and together they started walking, leaning on each for support.
After about fifteen minutes Draco suddenly said "you're not cold, are you?"
"Actually now that you mention it I am a bit chilly"
"Well then here, you can take my cloak"
"Thanks" Ginny said and wrapped the cloak around her.
"So…" Ginny said.
"So…"
"Do you want to go back insi-"
But Ginny didn't get to finish her sentence. Draco was kissing her, and slowly she started to kiss him back.
What am I doing?! It's Draco. "Yeah the new and improved" said a voice in her head.
After what seemed like ages (though keep in mind they had long before lost track of time) they pulled apart.
Well? What do you think? Was it okay, awful, what? Please review. You are welcome to leave any sort of criticism, of course with a preference to constructive one.
Anyway I hoped you liked it!