Author's Note: Since I enjoyed writing the previous chapter so much, while I was at work doing nothing (it was a slow day today at work) I grabbed a piece of paper and started writing the next chapter, and here's the result!

Disclaimer: I must've written this numerous times as it is and you know what? NOT MINE!!!

Summary: Ginny Weasley received the shocker of a lifetime when she entered her sixth year at Hogwarts. She fell in love with the last person on earth she thought she'd fall for. Now she has to do everything in her power to grab his attention and make him hers--even if she have to face the wrath of her six brothers and her parents, not to mention the wrath of Hermione and Harry when they find out what she was planning to do.

Setting: Ginny is in her 6th year; Draco is in his 7th year

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XV. Detention...Again?!

Draco's mood has turned from sour to extremely bad by the end of his Potions class Friday afternoon. This hasn't been his week at all. Three detentions in a week, and two out of those three was given by Snape of all people. Snape! Was the man on crack or something? He couldn't believe Snape would do what he just did! He was as stunned as the rest of his classmates were when Snape docked points off Slytherin after he failed to answer his question the first time. When he was asked another question and he failed to provide a correct answer, Snape's annoyance escalated.

Draco was still reeling from shock and seething with anger after Snape embarrassed him in class the second time he failed to give him the correct answer to his question. He hinted to the rest of the class that Draco's mind was clouded by whomever he was cavorting with Monday night when he was caught running late returning to his dormitory after he was done serving detention with McGonagall. Draco wished the floor his chair was standing on would open just then and swallow him whole. He received quite a few sniggering from his housemates as well as the Gryffindors, and he dared not to look at the Gryffindor seated beside him; he knew she was the one he was cavorting with Monday night after his detention.

He thought being embarrassed in class was the highlight of his day; Slytherin lost 40 points because of him, but that was all right. They could win those points back. But the final straw for Snape happened when a slight mishap while brewing a potion nearly singed his and his partner's (no, it wasn't Ginny this time, although at that very moment he wished he was paired up with Ginny again) work table. His mind has wandered off for a couple of seconds and the next thing he knew his cauldron was spewing fire.

"That's it!" Snape's angry voice boomed around the suddenly quiet classroom, his wand just doused the flaming cauldron with water he conjured. His beady eyes turned towards the blond Slytherin seventh year and through gritted teeth addressed Draco, "Mr. Malfoy, see me after supper. You have earned yourself another detention." he sneered before turning his back to Draco and his partner, the ends of his robe whipping against the table legs as he passed to go back to his desk at the front of the classroom.

He couldn't believe Snape could be this cruel and give him another detention. Why couldn't he have just deducted points off Slytherin? And his lack of attention in class was just a phase he was going through at the moment. It was all Ginny's fault that his concentration seem to falter. That redhead was a menace to society. Well, a menace to all red-hot-blooded bloke who got ensnared by her lethal charm.

"My, my, my, Ferry Boy. Three detention in one week. You're slipping, boy, you're slipping." Ginny tsked as she fell into step beside him after Potions. "I'm starting to think that you're liking getting detentions hence you've got yourself another one for tonight." she mocked.

"Shut-up, Weasel." Draco snapped, picking up the pace of his walk.

Ginny wasn't easily dismayed. She matched her pace with his and continued to walk beside him, "Want me to join you again tonight? I don't have much homework unlike Tuesday night." she offered sweetly.

"No, thank you, Red. The last time you helped me I got myself into another detention."

She raised an eyebrow, "Well it was hardly my fault you landed a second detention the same night you just finished working off your first detention." she pointed out matter-of-factly.

"So you're saying it's my fault then that I landed a second detention the same night I just finished serving my other detention?"

"Yeah. If you hadn't dilly-dallied Snape wouldn't have caught you."

"But--"

"Now come to think of it, it was very weird of Snape to give you detention. He could've docked points off Slytherin, but give you detention?" she mused out loud.

"Shut it, Weasel, and leave me alone. I have another detention to attend to tonight and like the other two, I am not looking forward to it." he snarled.

"Then why the heck did you even get yourself stuck with another one?" she questioned.

"I don't friggin' know!" Draco exclaimed in frustration, "I swear, Red, you're starting to--"

But Ginny cut him off before he could even do as much as finish his sentence. She walked in front of him with her chin held high and a determined gleam seen in those velvety pools of green eyes of hers.

"All I'm doing is offering you my services, Ferret Boy. After all, wasn't Monday's detention proof enough that we work well together, hm?" she pointed out.

Draco smirked. Does she have any idea at all what swam in his head as soon as she said 'offering you my services?' Of course she doesn't! No matter how much of a femme fetale Ginny Weasley turned out to be over the course of the last few weeks, still, there was that innocence surrounding her, adding allure to her already alluring persona.

"Okay, you want me to gratitude for what you did Monday night?" he drawled, his eyes hinting that what happened Monday night was more than just her lending him a hand during his detention.

Ginny caught on and was momentarily shocked at the audacity of the boy to make innuendos right now! A quick glance at the other passing students and she caught her brother and Harry both glaring at their direction, even Hermione was momentarily shocked then her eyes turned to tiny slits as she looked at Draco. Damn, they obviously heard what this loud-mouth ferret just said! Not that she minded, anyway, but nevertheless it would only add further gap in her relationship with the Awesome Threesome.

Somehow what just happened didn't go amiss as far as Draco was concerned. He saw the alarmed look Ginny gave when she glanced at the passing students. He did the same and found himself at the receiving end of three piercing glares. Instead of cowering away he merely raised a challenging brow at the trio before they walked away completely. He thought Harry would've dragged Ginny away from him, but somehow he had a gut feeling Ginny and Harry were still at war with each other hence why Boy Who Lived wasn't able to do much right about then. Turning back to Ginny he said, his voice lost all the haughtiness it had just moments before. He didn't want to get her into any more trouble with her brother and his friends, and he did appreciate her helping him out Monday night while serving detention for McGonagall--he was a lousy housecleaner having been brought up pampered by his parents, never once lifting a hand to do any household chores, and she helped him. But as tempting as her offer of help was, he couldn't afford being within close proximities with her; she polluted his mind--in a good and bad way--too much for him to actually concentrate.

"Look, Red, thanks for helping me out Monday night. I admit I am a lousy housecleaner and wouldn't have been able to finish cleaning our Transfiguration classroom without your help if it hadn't been for you, but I don't want to be taking up too much of your time as it is. It's Friday night, for pity's sake!" he pointed out, "Go have fun with your friends and...and...well, patch things up with Potter, Granger and your brother. Besides, from the looks of it I think your precious Harry Potter misses you a helluva lot!" he flinched after saying those last few words. Something inside him felt like being squished when he realized that no matter how angry at each other Potter and Ginny were, still, they were friends first and would remain so once they have patched things up between them.

Hell, he wasn't blind either!

Potter was in love with Ginny.

Bloody hell, he thought savagely, Seems like you're not the only one falling in love with the tempting redhead. a small voice spoke somewhere at the back of his head.

Draco's entire body stiffen. Falling in love with Ginny? he questioned himself, stunned at this revelation. Bloody hell! he thought savagely and gave an alarmed look at Ginny's way before hastily saying he had to go. She was about to protest but he didn't give her much time. He was briskly walking down the corridor, taking long, brisk strides until he reached the staircases. He felt like he was being suffocated. He can't be falling in love with the youngest weasel offspring! Sure she was fun and flirty and stubborn and charming and sexy as hell, and he missed her when she wasn't around and most of the time he found himself wondering about her, worrying about her even when he least expect to.

Dammit, lad, that girl was starting to get under your skin. RUN FOR YOU LIFE! the very same voice that just told him he was falling for Ginny Weasley just told him to run for his life. Hell, who was he to argue with that? He has to run for his life or risk falling for her.

~*~

Ginny watched as Draco's body stiffened at something he thought of. She was concerned and wanted to ask him what was wrong, but he didn't give her the chance to say anything else before walking away, leaving her staring after his departing back.

Damn! Did she come on too strong for him? She thought he was beginning to mellow down for her, you know? Starting to get soft on her or whatever. Hell, she thought they were beginning to become friends and then he left.

What the hell is wrong, Draco Malfoy? What's stopping you from opening your heart to me? she asked herself in wonder as she walked, alone, down the corridor leading to the staircases.

~*~*~*~*~

to be continued...

A/N: aaaahhh! Sorry about the delayed update AND the short chappie. Hopefully this ain't a cliffhanger. I was nearly attacked by writer's block when I started writing the beginning of this chapter hence why it took me a few days before I updated, but here's the next chapter...read, review, and enjoy as always!

Crystal: hehehe, yeah, our Ferret Boy's starting to get sooo damn adorable even I myself can't stop from making him a softie around Ginny :::grins:::

Miss Marauder: Happy new year to you too, and yes, I do believe Draco's starting to fall for Ginny

Sharlene: hehehe, well, Snape's in a very sour mood hence why he snapped even at his favourite and most favoured student :::winks:::

Kitycat87: :::laughs::: yep, not another detention for our favourite bad boy, but there are some surprises in store for him hence why he's racking up quite a few detentions in a week!

Dracos gal: :::laughs::: Yep, I asked in earlier chapters if anybody remembered that chant Sandra Bullock was singing in Miss Congeniality 'coz I had an idea for a chapter where that particular song/chant plays a role, hehehehe

*karly*: thanks for leaving your mark, and here's the updated chapter

OpalKoboi: so you were my last anonymous reviewer...nice to finally put a name to that anonymous reviewer of mine, hehehe, and no, it's not unfair that Draco gets 2 detentions--three if you include the one he just got in this chapter, hehehe--his detentions plays some part to his and Ginny's "budding romance" hehehehe :::winks:::

Risquer: Hmm...Ginny the sex-crazed one? Hehehehe, yeah, she probably is because Draco hasn't thought about hitting the sack with her in a while :::laughs:::

hasapi: full of questions? what kinda questions?

SnowDevil: hehehehe, Snape has his reasons for punishing Draco, but don't ask me what his reasons were for I myself am still thinking about his reasons! ::laughs:: btw, Happy 2003 to you too!

Hells-lil-Angels: please don't have a heart attack! :::laughs::: Snape's just having an off day

kellyanne: thanks for not throwing any flames, hehehehe, and yeah, Draco have no idea just how much his boxers' going to be braided when Ginny's concerned

Nobodysbitch: thanks for leaving your mark, for gradually like the succeeding chapters :::smiles:::

Blu Misterie: I'll read your fic as soon as I can, now that ff.net is working for me again I'll be able to read all those stories that were updated in the last few days that I wasn't able to read :::laughs:::

Kris: please don't hunt me down, here's the next chapter. A tad bit shorter than the last few ones I posted, but I'll try and get the next chapter out before this weekend's over

Ari, the Felton Lover: :::laughs::: Draco's sexy, isn't he? Yeah, in my eyes he's starting to look more and more sexier than before!

Lady Godiva: hehehe, yeah, but now I gotta explain why Snape's in a foul mood all week! :::grins:::

Eclipse2003: wow...thanks for leaving your mark, hope you enjoy the rest of the chapters

Daemon Sorceress: I don't mind people when they babble, I do that a lot too, and you're right, Ginny will be on hand to 'help' him again, but alas, Draco turned down her offer...but hey, Ginny's a stubborn gal, we'll see what she has planned under her sleeve! hehehehehe

[anonymous] thanks for leaving your mark and here's the next chapter

LonLeY TeNsHi: thanks for saying this is funny, and here's the next chapter