Thanks to Uglinessrox55, DobbyMania89, red unicorn, and Andufeniel for reviewing.

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Chapter 18: Sneaky Preparations

Draco returned a minute later with a basket and a blanket. "I thought we'd have lunch here," he said.

"That sounds wonderful," Ginny said as she helped Draco set everything up.

"I usually come here to think, to relax, and to get away from my problems. It's like my sanctuary, where I don't have to care what anyone else thinks of me, and I don't have to put up an act," Draco closed his mouth quickly, realizing he had said too much. He didn't want Ginny to see that he has a weak side.

"It's a great place to come to relax and get away from it all," Ginny agreed.

"Yeah, that's what I like about it. I'm glad I can share this place with you," he said as he looked into her deep cinnamon brown eyes.

"Thanks for sharing it with me," Ginny said, looking into his crystal blue eyes in return.

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Ginny and Draco ate lunch and talked for another hour or so. It was now 5:15 PM, and it was beginning to get dark.

"You think we should go back now?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, it seems about time," Ginny replied as Draco got up from the ground and held out his hand to her to help her to her feet.

Together they cleaned up the lunch area that they had ate at, and folded the blanket, putting it inside the now empty basket.

Draco reached for Ginny's hand, and walked back to the Hogwart's castle together, hand in hand.

"It's an unusual Christmas this year, there's always snow, but today it's warm," Ginny said after a moment.

"I know, but it's supposed to snow later on today."

"That's wonderful, I love snow," Ginny said and smiled.

"Me, too."

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When Draco and Ginny reached the entrance doors to the castle ten minutes later, it was just about time for dinner.

"Thanks for today, everything was so wonderful!" Ginny said as she gave Draco a hug and pressed her lips agaisnt his in a kiss that lingered for several seconds.

"Your welcome," he said with a smile - something he'd been doing a lot of since he began going out with Ginny.

"I'll meet you tonight in your room at eight," Ginny said with a wink.

"I can't wait," Draco said with a smirk, and together they walked into the Great Hall.

Because only several students from each house chose to stay for the Christmas holiday, all the students and teachers sat together at one big table. Ginny and Draco were several minutes early, and so, had the Great Hall to themselves.

They sat down on the right side of the long table.

"Draco?" Ginny asked as they got settled in their seats.

"Yeah?" he asked in return.

"I was wondering, remember the day in the library when we bumped into eachother?"

"Yea, what about it?" he asked.

"Well, uh, why did you kiss me?"

Draco looked hurt, and looked away from her.

"Don't take it the wrong way, I'm glad you did, but I just want to know why you did?" Ginny said in a reassuring yet questioning tone.

"I don't know what came over me, I guess there was something about you that just made me want to kiss you. Maybe it's your gorgeous red hair or fiery attitude that just turned me on," Draco said with a smirk.

Ginny's cheeks turned a light shade of pink. "Very funny, Malfoy," she said playfully.

"I know, Weasley," Draco said with the same tone in return.

Ginny giggled and leaned in to kiss Draco. She kissed him lightly on the lips, and just when they were getting 'into' the kiss, the Great Hall doors swung open, and they pulled apart.

Ginny and Draco turned their attention to the person standing at the entrance to the Hall.

"There you guys are!" Hermione said out of breath.

"What's wrong?!" Ginny asked worriedly.

"Nothing," she said to Ginny out of breath, and then turned her attention to Draco. "Listen, you need to do something very important for both your and Ginny's safety."

Draco and Ginny turned slightly pale at Hermione's words. Hundreds of questions and thoughts were racing through Ginny's head.

"What do you need?" Draco asked.

Hermione looked around to make sure that no one else was in the room. She looked back at Draco, unbottoned her robe, and pulled out a bag. Inside was the memory potion that Hermione, Harry, and Ron had created, in the form of a small tablet.

"You have to listen very carefully, and do as I say."

Draco nodded, and she continued. "Your father is staying for dinner tonight. He can't see the two of you sitting together or showing any kind of affection toward one another. He will get suspicious. That's what this potion is for."

Hermione handed Draco the small tablet, and continued once again. "Sometime during dinner, when no one is looking, you must slip this in his drink. It will dissolve, and when he drinks his pumpkin juice, the potion will get into his blood stream. The potion enables him from remembering something or someone. Before you slip it in his drink, you whisper 'Weasley Family,' and he will no longer remember his hatred toward the Weasleys, and will not remember anyone in the family."

'That's brilliant!' Draco thought.

"Do it fast and quick, and as subtle as possible. Sit next to your father tonight. Ron will cause a distraction, and when he does, whisper 'Weasley Family' and slip it in his drink."

"Ok," he said to Hermione, and slipped the tablet into his cloak pocket. "Bye," he said to Ginny, and gave her a quick peck before getting up to exit the Great Hall.

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Please review. Tell me what you think of the story so far, what you would like to see happening in future chapters, and any criticism regarding anything that you have found in my story that you would like to see changed or improved.