A/N: Dedicated to the usual suspects. Gratitude to Star for beta-ing for me! I love you all! And no, I'm not J. K. Rowling…

Draco dropped his quill and stretched his arms. He'd been sitting down for too long. He needed to get another book anyway, so he pushed back his chair and got to his feet. He'd barely taken a step before he heard a voice behind him.

"Sit down," Ginny directed. Draco raised his eyebrows, but did as she had instructed.

"I think it's about time somebody finally explained a few things. Politics for example. You Slytherins are so bloody complicated, it's driving me crazy."

"Why me?"

"Well, Lisa just tells me to ask a Slytherin and I can't find Blaise anywhere. You don't seem to be busy, so it's your privilege to make things clear to me."

'I don't seem to be busy?' Draco thought, staring at the large pile of books spread over the desk in front of him.

"So," Ginny continued, seating herself opposite Draco and propping her feet on the chair beside him. "I'm ready for my lesson in politics. Teach away."

"Well…what exactly do you want to know?"

"For starters you can tell me why you're friends with Blaise but have to act like you aren't."

"Oh that. Our mothers were friends in school, but then Blaise's mum married a Muggle-born wizard and my father wouldn't allow them in the house. So Mother would take me over to their place instead. Blaise and I would play together in the way that babies and toddlers do while they chatted about… actually, I don't have a clue what they talked about. Anyway, when I was about five I began to idolize my father even more. I knew he wouldn't like what we were doing, so I told him about it."

"God Malfoy, even as a kid you were a brat."

"I know. So, Blaise and I didn't see each other again until we started school. We fought a lot in our first year until we remembered how much we liked each other as young children. We decided to resurrect that friendship and it's stayed that way ever since. However, my father still would not approve and since he has Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle all spying on me we can't be seen as friends in public. So whenever people see us together we pick fights with each other or pretend to pass messages to and from Pansy."

"What's the deal with Parkinson anyway?"

"My father seems to be under the impression that we like or, nauseating as this may sound, love one another. In any case, he keeps saying that he expects to hear of our engagement any day now. It's quite infuriating, but I have certain reasons for not wanting to outwardly defy him. Mainly because I'd rather stay alive."

"Survival is an excellent motivator."

"Indeed."

"What about Crabbe and Goyle?"

"Ugh. Those two. Our fathers were all friends at school. My father expects them to spy on me and their fathers expect me to spy on them. It's a Slytherin thing."

"I gathered. Why not ditch them?"

"Keep your friends close, and the idiots who could ruin your life and get you killed closer. If I started to avoid them they'd pay closer attention to me. The only way I can get away from them is to tell them I'm going to the library. They get really uncomfortable in libraries. Must be all the books."

"I'm sure they'd seem like foreign objects to Crabbe and Goyle."

"Seem like? They are foreign objects to them!"

"How did you become friends with Lisa?"

"Well, Lisa and Blaise knew each other before Hogwarts and despite being in different houses they managed to maintain their friendship. When I became friends with Blaise again in second year, she decided not to introduce us. She knew I'd probably be nasty to Lisa. Then in fifth year I needed help in some of my classes and Blaise said she'd organise it but only if I promised to behave. Within a few months Lisa and I became good friends."

"A fairytale ending."

"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit."

"I thought that was the pun?"

"One or the other."

"Now, I know there was something else I needed to ask…"

"Oh, take you're time. I'm in no rush."

Ginny pointedly ignored Draco's sarcastic tone and meaningful look at his books as she tried to remember what else she'd intended to ask him.

"While you're thinking, you could do me a favour in return for all this free information. See, this is one of those 'If I told you, I'd have to kill you," situations. I think I forgot to mention that earlier."

"Very funny."

"Not really."

"I know you dislike me, but would you really kill me? Okay, silly question, let me rephrase it. Would you really kill me with the chance that Lisa might find out?"

"Ugh, good point. I'd be sure to destroy all evidence. Look, I wouldn't kill you, but I'm serious about wanting something in return."

"Something only your perverted mind could think up, am I right?"

"Not at all, I'm sure any male of my age would think of something like this."

"You sick, twisted-"

"Weasley, I'm kidding! It's nothing like that. I'm just curious about something."

"About what?" Ginny asked suspiciously.

"About why Potter ends up in the Hospital Wing towards the end of each year. I mean, I've heard of bad lack, but…"

"That's not really for me to tell…"

"I'm not asking for deep dark secrets, just a vague outline."

Ginny hesitated. "Oh, alright. But only until I think of what I wanted to ask!"

"Okay. So what was the deal in first year?

With a sigh, Ginny began to skim of the details of Harry's first year, then his fourth through to his sixth. Most of said details she'd only learned by eavesdropping, but she didn't tell Draco that. Draco listened well for the most part, only interjecting an occasional 'Ha!' whenever it reached the point of Harry getting hurt. When Ginny had finished he seemed to think for a minute or two, then asked, "What about second and third year?"

"Well, I can't really talk about your third year. It's something that could get a lot of people in trouble. It's just not my place to say anything. Well, it wasn't my place to saying anything for the other years too, but this is more serious."

Draco frowned but nodded his understanding. "And second year?"

"That's also pretty complicated. See, somebody gave this kid a diary which they began writing in. The diary wrote back. It was possessed by the memory of sixteen-year-old Tom Riddle. I think you already know that he's You-Know-Who. Anyway, the more this student wrote in the diary, the more control Tom Riddle gained." Ginny stood up and started pacing around the table. "He used the student to open the Chamber of Secrets, something he'd done himself fifty years ago. The student had no idea what they were doing. Riddle's memory was possessing this kid and controlling the monster within the Chamber. When I was taken into the Chamber, Riddle's memory had almost completely sucked the soul out of this kid. He was getting stronger and the student was dying. Then Harry showed up and saved the day. Killed the basilisk, as I'm sure you know, and destroyed the diary which put an end to Riddle. At least in that form."

"Who was it? Who was the student? Who gave them the diary?"

"It was your father. He was the one who gave me the diary."

"I hate my father," Draco said bitterly, then suddenly realized what else Ginny had said. He was the one who gave me the diary. Me. He stared up at her. She was still pacing around the table, but she was very pale and seemed to be having trouble staying steady. After a moment, her pacing began to make him dizzy, so he snapped at her to sit down. She gave him a hurt and angry look before complying. Sitting down was no better. She drummed her fingers on the desk while she chewed nervously on her lip. Draco was still staring at her in disbelief.

"I swear I didn't know!" he blurted out. Ginny favoured him with a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I know. For a while I thought you did, but I realized you didn't on the day that I began spending time with you three. Then Lisa assured me that you didn't know."

"You told Lisa too? What about Blaise?"

Ginny shook her head. "I'd rather not tell her if it's all the same to you. I don't even know why I told you about it. I guess I thought you deserved to know, since it was your father who orchestrated the whole thing."

"No wonder you hate me so much."

"I don't hate you anymore. Besides, I hated you at first because you were mean to Harry. You were mean to me too, but not in the same way. "

"I haven't been mean to you for a while though, have I?"

"No. You've been almost decent. Ron would probably die if I mentioned that to him, but I'm not about to tell him that I consider you a friend."

"What about your other friends? Before Lisa, Blaise and I?"

"I didn't really have any. I was kind of anti-social during my first year, and even more so afterwards. I preferred to hang around on my brother's heels than to take a risk and make my own friends. But then Fred and George gave me a good talking to. 'You used to be such a gutsy little girl! This shy thing is starting to worry us! Snap out of it, and have a Cream Pie.' Of course, I'd seen what the Canary Creams had done to Neville, so I didn't fall for that part, but I began to loosen up. I didn't make any close friends, but I became acquaintances with most people in my House. Every day was like getting a piece of my soul back. I know it sounds melodramatic, but that's how it felt. I began to get into my art again, and my music. And I regained my temper. Fred and George were kicking themselves for days after that happened."

"I can see why."

Ginny smiled, a bit more honestly this time and after a slight hesitation, drew her sketchpad from her bag. "Can I get your opinion on something?"

"Uh, sure."

"Do you think Lisa will like this? It's for her birthday…"

Ginny opened the pad to one of the last pages and pushed it towards Draco. His mouth fell open in surprise. It was a charcoal sketch of Lisa, Blaise, Ginny and Draco seated around a fireplace. They were laughing as they talked and teased one another – at least that's what Draco assumed they were doing as there was no sound, but it was an incredibly accurate drawing.

"This is amazing. I knew you liked art, but…wow! Lisa will love it!"

"You really think so?"

"I know so! Look, do you think I could commission you to draw one of the four of us for me?"

"Oh, you don't have to commission me for that…"

"I want to. You're a fantastic artist and deserve to be paid as such. If you'd like, we could go to 'The Artisan' in Hogsmeade and ask how much they think it would be worth. That way, you'd get a fair price."

"Oh, no, it's not necessary."

"Don't make me say please, you know I don't like to do that…"

"Alright, fine. But forget the art store. Wait until you see it then make an offer, okay?"

Draco nodded and stood, handing the pad back to Ginny. "I should really get back to work. I've got heaps to do."

Ginny stood too, sliding the sketchbook back into her bag. "Thanks Draco."

"What for?"

Ginny shrugged and grinned goofily. "I don't know – it just seemed like the right thing to say."

"Oh. Well you're welcome. And thank you."

"What for?"

"For telling me about what happened. You didn't have to, you know. You could have told me to get lost. I'm sorry for making you explain it."

"Don't be silly. Like I said, I thought you deserved to know anyway."

"Well, still, thanks."

"Hold on, can you write that down for me? Nobody will believe me otherwise," Ginny said with a grin.

"Not a chance Weasley."

Ginny rolled her eyes, still grinning, and headed towards the library exit. "Oh!" She exclaimed and retraced her steps, this time sitting in the seat beside him.

"Let me guess. You remembered what you were going to ask me?"

"Good guess. How did Lisa find out that you weren't evil?"

Draco fell silent, staring at her. Ginny began to feel a little uncomfortable, but did her best not to squirm.

"Maybe you should ask-"

"Lisa told me to ask you."

He sighed and nodded. He began twirling his pen in his fingers as he spoke. "As you know, I needed homework help. Blaise talked to Lisa. Lisa agreed as long as Blaise stayed with us as she didn't trust me. This was back when I was an arrogant prick…" Draco trailed off at the look on Ginny's face. "This is back when I idolised my father and spurted off everything he said because I thought he knew everything. I didn't blame her for being scared, but I'd promised Blaise that I'd behave. So I did. Gradually she realised that I wouldn't hurt her because Blaise would kill me, and told Blaise she could stop coming if she wanted to. Blaise still came every now and then, but mostly it was just Lisa and I. I came to respect her and even like her a little. She was scared, but did her best not to show it. She never treated me like a monster, though the gods know that I deserved it. Anyway, one day she asked me what I believed in. I said the usual stuff that my father had been lecturing me on all my life and she asked me why. I couldn't come up with a decent reason."

"So that's why homework is the reason you aren't a Death Eater?" Ginny asked softy, carefully inspecting his face.

"There's more. You know the ghost in the girls' bathroom? Moaning Myrtle?"

"Yes, but more importantly, you know her?"

"No. Lisa was in there one day and Myrtle started talking to her. Somehow You-Know-Who came up and Myrtle said something about what a nice boy he'd been when he'd attended Hogwarts. Lisa was shocked, but it seems Myrtle was quite infatuated with the boy. Head Boy or something. Myrtle never mentioned a full name, just 'Tom'. Lisa mentioned it to me and we started looking for old Head Boys with the name of Tom. There were only two. Thomas Chalmers and Tom Riddle. Thomas Chalmers was Head Boy about one hundred and fifty years ago. Before they modified our uniforms. Lisa said that Myrtle was wearing the uniform that Hogwarts had from seventy-five years ago to about fifteen years ago. So it had to be Riddle. Then I found out that he was Muggle-born. I can't help being brought up the way I was. For the most part, I don't like Muggle-borns or Muggle-lovers – there are a few exceptions as I'm sure you've noticed. What really annoyed me was that I know my father must know, and yet he still insists on preaching one thing and following another. I don't like hypocrites."

Ginny stared at Malfoy for a few moments. "Wow. I think that's the most you've ever said to me."

Malfoy looked up into her eyes and gave a half-hearted smile. "Yeah, well don't expect it to happen too often. Lisa told you to ask me to explain something so I did. That's that."

"Thanks. You didn't have to explain it to me."

"Now you tell me!"

"Well you didn't say that I didn't have to tell about Harry until after I'd explained it all. I figured this was fair."

"About that…the diary…"

"There's really nothing to say," Ginny said uncomfortably. It was something she would rather not think about.

"There is. If I'd known what my bastard of a father was doing to you, I probably would have laughed. You know how I was back then. But if it was now and he did something like that to you, I'd kill him. If he hurts any of my friends I'll kill him."

Ginny tried not to back away from the seriousness in Draco's face. She didn't doubt that he was capable of murder, but she'd rather not be the reason for it.

"Thanks for the sentiment, but that really isn't necessary-"

"Yes it is," Draco hissed, clenching his fists together. "He should have used somebody else. Somebody stronger or smarter-" Draco broke off, looking horrified. Ginny looked furious, but her tone was moderate.

"Back then I wasn't very wise, or strong. I like to think that I'm different know, but I'm sure I'm still perceived that way."

"No. Well, not by me. You are different. If you were still the way you were back then I probably wouldn't want to know you."

"Okay, this is getting far too friendly and nice for my liking. Can we please change the topic?"

"Good plan," Draco replied hastily. "I should get back to my work. I'll talk to you later."

"Yeah, I've been here too long. The rumours might start up again. Oh! I never did tell you…"

"Tell me what?"

"You're a great singer…"

"Thanks."

"'Course, you were nothing compared to us," Ginny smirked, picking up her bag again. "Oh, and I saw you from the stage. You walked out on us."

"Crabbe and Goyle were ogling…Lisa. So I thought I should get them out of there. Only way to do that would be to leave myself. So I did."

"Took you a few tries though didn't it. So who was it that kept stopping you in your tracks? Lisa? Or was it our dear Head Girl, Miss Hermione?"

"You really think I'll respond to that?" Draco forced out. The way Ginny was smirking at him, teasing him…it was all he could do not to grab her and kiss her silly right there and then. The thought shocked him and rather frightened him. "Why don't you go find somebody else to bug? I'm trying to work here," he snapped, infuriated with himself.

Ginny gave him a stunned look, which quickly turned into a glare. "Whatever you say Malfoy," she retorted, standing up and storming from the library.