A/N: First of all, much thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Secondly, thank you too everyone who pointed out the errors I made in the last chapter. Just ignore them. I'll go back and fix them eventually, but I'm afraid I'll erase something accidentally, so I'm going to wait on it. Anyway, let me know what you all think! Reviews are the bestest! Happy Reading!

Chapter Sixteen

Ginny stared up at Draco, who was looking down at her, his eyes glinting with a bit of amusement. They were in a narrow, muddy alleyway. The sunlight was blocked out completely except for a small beam that was glinting off of Draco's platinum hair.

"Damn, Weasley, you need to chill out," Draco said sternly, taking his hand off of her mouth.

"Well, excuse me," she said huffily, hoping that her voice gave away none of the nervousness that was surging in her. "Next time someone grabs me from behind I'll be sure to try and remember my manners." Draco snickered and she uncrossed her arms from across her chest where she had placed them in a defensive stance. "What were you doing anyway? Do you just hide out waiting to grab unsuspecting girls?"

Ginny thought that she might have been mistaken, but she could have sworn that she saw something that passed for hurt and confusion flicker in Draco's silvery eyes. "No, Weasley, actually I was waiting for you."

"Stop calling me Weasley," she hissed. "My name is-"

"Ginny," he said quickly, his smooth edge dropping. He furrowed his brow and stared at her, looking a bit concerned. "Ginny, I'm sorry. Is everything okay?"

She considered telling him right then and there that she knew that the Mystique Rose from him. But how was she supposed to bring it up? She couldn't very well pop out with, "Hey, by the way, thanks for the rose!" She knew that wouldn't go over very well - for his ego nor for her, especially if she were wrong, though she doubted that she was.

"Ginny?," she heard him ask again, this time trying to disguise the concern in his voice.

She looked up, toying with the twigs of the Nimbus 2001 that he had given her the day before. "Look," she began, "there are things that need to be said." He opened his mouth and started to say something, but she quickly cut him off. "But not here. Not in some muddy alleyway between buildings."

Draco looked a bit confused and unless Ginny was imagining it, a bit worried. "What's so important that it can't be said here and now?"

"Draco, will you please just trust me on this?," she asked in a pleading tone. "Please?"

He sighed a bit mournfully. "Okay, okay. I don't know why I'm letting you get away with manipulating me like this little girl," he said in a teasing tone, gently flicking her ear with his gloved finger, "but I am. Meet me later. Same place as last night. Same time."

Ginny smiled, feeling as though a bit of weight being lifted from her shoulders. "Thank you."

Draco just shrugged. "Yeah. Well, I better go. I have a Potions exam tomorrow." He reached forward and in a very un Draco-like move, simply wrapped her into a warm hug. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and sighed deeply. She kept wondering if it was worth it to put it all out there and risk his rejection, if by some odd chance he hadn't sent the rose, but every time she was close to him like this, she know that it was. It was definitely worth it.

"See you later," she mumbled, reluctantly pulling away. "I'll see you later."

---

Draco returned to the Slytherin common room, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. He was extremely desperate to know what it was that Ginny wanted to talk to him about. He had never seen her look so serious before and he had a bad feeling about the way that their conversation was going to turn out.

He collapsed on one of the green velvet sofas and stared up at the beamed ceiling, trying to figure out what was so important that she wasn't able to tell him straight off.

There was only one thing that he thought it could be - and he hoped to Merlin that it wasn't. He feared Ginny had realized that the rose was from him.

It wasn't that he didn't want her to know how he felt about her, but he wanted to be the one to tell her. And besides that, she hadn't seemed completely overjoyed at whatever it was she was upset about. She had looked frightened and more than a bit nervous; fear wasn't exactly what he was aiming for when he had sent her the rose.

"Knut for your thoughts?"

Draco snapped out of his thoughts and looked around for the source of the voice. Blaise was standing in the doorway leading towards the girl's dorms. Her green eyes were concentrated on him in a look of deep concern. She crossed the room and sat down across from him in an overstuffed armchair. She slung her legs over one arm and rested her head in her palm and stared at him. "Care to tell an old friend what's bothering you?"

Draco just shrugged. Even though Blaise was one of his best friends - hell, she was probably one of the only real friends he had ever had - he still wasn't accustomed to opening up to her. It was understood that Slytherins liked to keep things to themselves; they only talked about things if times got really desperate. "I'm fine, Blaise," he finally mumbled.

"You sure?," she asked, raising her thin, dark eyebrows. "Because you don't look like you're fine. You look like you're completely miserable."

"What else is new?," he muttered. "It's the Slytherin way."

"I'm not miserable," Blaise pointed out. "But we're not talking about me."

"Indeed."

"We're talking about you," she continued as though she hadn't heard his sarcastic comment. "What's wrong?"

"I think she knows," he finally said.

Blaise stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out just what he meant before gasping slightly. "Weasley? About the rose?" Draco nodded somberly. "Why do you think that she knows?"

"I went down to the pitch to see her try out and afterwards I grabbed her and sort of dragged her between the broom shed and the stadium-"

"You dragged her somewhere?," Blaise questioned, looking at him as though he were insane. "What are you, a bloody caveman?"

"Only when it's necessary," Draco shrugged in the most innocent manner he could manage. "Anyway, I could tell something was wrong and she said she couldn't talk to me about it there."

"Why not?"

"It was too muddy or something," Draco said, trying to remember if she had said anything else. Nope…too muddy had been about the extent of it.

"Too muddy?," Blaise repeated, starting to laugh. "Those bloody Gryffindors are so pathetic. Muddy my arse." She continued to laugh uncontrollably, her normally pallid cheeks growing an unusual pink.

"As amusing as your little fit of hysteria is, Blaise," Draco drawled, growing impatient, "you asked me what was wrong and I told you. Now what do you suggest I do about it?"

Blaise took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. "I think you should beat her to the chase. Tell her it's from you before she tells you that she knows. At least then you'll have the upper hand." She slid out of her chair and stood up and pointed a manicured finger at him. "And what is the Slytherin motto?"

"Lie, cheat, steal and always have the upper hand," Draco replied automatically. "I guess as long as I avoid the first three during our conversation I should be alright."

"I would hope so," Blaise agreed. She stretched her arms and then glanced at her watch. "I really have to go now, though. I'm studying with Pansy in the library. You want to come? I heard this Potions exam is going to be a killer."

"Nah," Draco retorted. "I think I'm going to study by myself."

Blaise nodded. "Okay, well see you later. And Draco?" He looked up at the brown-haired girl curiously. "Good luck."

She picked up her books which were lying on a nearby table and made her way out of the common room. Draco stared after her for a moment and then reabsorbed himself in his thoughts of what was to come.

---

Ginny sat in her own common room later that evening, pretending to be reading her Transfiguration text. Of course, she hadn't turned a page in the last hour, so the illusion wasn't really holding up, but Ginny wasn't think of this. She could only think of how she was going to tell Draco that she knew that the rose was from him.

She had considered many options. There was the direct one, consisting of her marching straight up to him and saying that she knew he sent the rose. Then there was the one where she got him to admit that he had sent it to her - she hadn't quite worked that one out completely, though she felt it would be the easiest. And of course, her favorite option: She could hide under the covers of her bed until the end of the semester in the hopes that she wouldn't have to ever confront Draco about it. Yes, plan three was sounding better with every rotation of the clock's minute hand.

She glanced up at the aforementioned clock and her stomach convulsed in nervousness. Only half an hour and she would be in the tiny alcove behind the tapestry, telling Draco that she knew he had sent her the rose.

"Is this seat taken?"

Ginny looked up and was not at all surprised to see Seamus staring down at her, his own Transfiguration book clasped in his hand.

"Why aren't you in Hogsmeade?," she asked in surprise. Most of the other seventh-year Gryffindors had crept out of the castle earlier to celebrate Ron's birthday in the wizarding village.

"I got caught sneaking out last week. If I get caught again I'll be in detention until I'm as old as Dumbledore," he replied. He sat down at the opposite end of the sofa. "Your book is upside down," he said quietly, his lips curling up in an amused smile.

Ginny glanced down and realized that indeed the pages were inverted. No wonder she hadn't been absorbing anything. She sheepishly turned the book right-side-up. "Oops," she mumbled.

Seamus laughed lightly. "I would have thought you'd be over there celebrating with them," he said, gesturing towards the group of students in one corner who were toasting each other with butterbeer, rejoicing at their new places on the Gryffindor team. They had invited her to join them, but she had politely declined, choosing to sit alone with her upside-down book and her thoughts.

"Well, you know…important test coming up," she shrugged.

"Yeah," Seamus said, nodding. "Now, what are you really thinking about?"

"You don't want to hear it," she assured him. "I can assure you of that."

"You're probably right," he agreed nodding. There was a pause. "But try me anyway."

She stared over at him and he looked back at her, eyebrows raised, his book lying in his lap, forgotten. "It's about Draco," she warned him.

"I figured as much," he admitted. "But I'm your friend, aren't I? I want to be here for you, even if it does involve Mal-Ferret."

"Well…okay," Ginny finally said, not believing she was about to confide in Seamus about her feelings for Draco. "I think that Draco sent me the rose." Seamus just nodded, not looking in the least bit surprised. "And I'm going to talk to him later on tonight. I'm…I'm going to tell him that I know."

Seamus was silent for a moment. "You should," he said. "I don't want you to and I still think that Malfoy will never be good enough for you, but if you don't find out if it's from him, you're always going to wonder."

"That's what I've been thinking," Ginny agreed, sitting up a bit straighter. "I mean, I like Draco - I like him a lot." She tried to ignore the pained expression that crossed Seamus's face. "But I don't know if it's worth it. Can you imagine how my brother would react if I were to start anything up with Draco? He would never forgive me! I keep thinking I should talk to him about it. Maybe I should find out if he'd have a real problem with it." Seamus just snorted. Ginny sighed. "Yeah, I know. Stupid idea. I would just feel better if I had, you know…like, permission or something."

Seamus looked thoughtful. "You know, my mum has a saying. She always says it is easier to get forgiveness than permission." He grinned and leaned back. "Live by that one, I do."

"Your mum says that?," Ginny asked, sniggering. "No wonder you get in so much trouble."

Seamus shrugged and grinned slightly. "It's in my blood."

"So, that's your advice? Just to go for it and worry about the consequences later?," she asked.

He looked thoughtful. "Well, yes I suppose so. Ginny," he started, leaning forward and looking serious, "it's just life. Don't take it so seriously."

She nodded and sat back, her eyes drifting once again to the clock. "You're right, Seamus."
"Don't worry so much," he said, nudging her. "My mum has another saying: If you worry you die and if you don't worry you die, so why worry?"

It was now a quarter until ten and Ginny realized if she didn't get moving, she would be late. She stood up and looked down at Seamus, smiling gratefully. "Thank you for listening, Seamus. And thank you for you advice." She looked thoughtful. "Or should I say thank you for your mum's advice? Anyway, thank you."

"You're welcome," he said quietly. She smiled once more and glancing once more around the room to make sure nobody was watching her, slipped out the portrait hole. "There's one more quote my mum always says," he murmured as the door closed. "You never miss the water till the well has run dry."

---

A/N:

Yes, I know - not much D/G action; but I wanted just a bit more Blaise and Seamus before everything comes out in the open, cause I'm thinking about, though not completely decided on having a…SEQUEL, featuring everyone's favorite Irish Louse and Slytherin Princess. What do y'all think? Good idea? Bad idea? Let me know what you think about that and especially what you think of the chapter!

Much thanks to all my wonderful reviewers: hpangel (rabid chipmunks??? Well, at least they aren't rabid seagulls…I'm terrified of seagulls…), Sakura1287 (I'm sorry I called you a punk. But good on ya for updating W&A), Kat, Beth, MeowMix, ryuu_chan2000(stay tuned - there may be a sequel with that very pairing), Erin Faith (Thanks for the long review! Wow being compared to Cassandra Claire's stories; that's a huge compliment…Thank you *grins*), august, Space Lion (Aww…poor Seamus. But him flying into a jealous rage…hmm…that has possibilities…), Random Artemis (Loved the little dialogue! And that's totally me drooling…hehe), Brianna Darknight (No! I would most definitely NOT want that on my conscious…geez…), Kitycat87, Tigerlily Loamsdown (Seamus DOES have a hobby…stalking Ginny, of course), Tuilindo (Nebraska…Ron…same thing…haha), DreamofTF, Redmeadow (cause she can't afford one, of course…poor poor Weasleys), Pebble of Insanity (eeek…have you been reading the chapter outlines in my computer? You're scarily close…unless I change it…bwahaha), Isadora, Canis Lupin (If she wasn't so thick, she would have figured it out earlier - and where would the fun be in that? Hehe), Jen, Mint, Crystal, Airna, frananddragon (My mom, my best friend, and my boyfriend are actually Geminis. *sigh* It's like have two of each), Silver Essence (Be HAPPY!), angel, Missy, Lady Megan (Don't get yourself in trouble! LoL), charismatic, Ravyn Nyte, SweetMe, Luinthoron, & Cassandra Sistenta (You can stop bouncing now!).

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