Disclaimer: None of this is mine.   

Draco walked into the dining hall expecting to see Ginny sitting at her table. Unfortunately, many of the Gryffindor students weren't seated yet. Draco took his usual seat at the Slytherin table. It was breakfast and many of his fellow students were already eating.

            "Draco, you ok?" Crabbe sat next to Draco, eating his food.

            "Fine." Draco looked at the guy he used to consider a friend and was surprised at what he saw. Crabbe was messy and actually slightly disgusting. Draco and he were friends by default because their fathers were friends. Draco managed to control a shudder of revulsion and looked once again for Ginny.

            Ginny wasn't in the hall, she was waiting in the common room for Harry. Ron and Hermione were already on their way to eat and on his way out, Ron told Ginny Harry was almost ready. She looked down at her watch, and Harry finally emerged from his room.

            "Oh, hi! Didn't know you were here." Harry commented when he found Ginny waiting.

            "I was waiting for you. We need to talk about some stuff." Ginny was feeling extremely nervous about having this conversation with Harry. How could she reveal the truth and not set Harry after Draco?

            "About the other day? We do, are you alright?" Harry's concern was clear in his voice. "It really worried me, I could've killed Jake. He's lucky he ran off. He's avoiding me since then."

            "I'm ok. Thanks for being there; I was actually really worried until you showed up. Are you ok about it?" Ginny was stalling for time, prolonging the inevitable.

            "I'm fine. I think you need to tell Dumbledore what happened. I know that you might feel embarrassed about it but he should know. He'll know what to do about it. I'll be a witness, I was there."

            "That's a good idea, I hadn't thought about telling anyone yet but I think you're right about needing to tell someone."

            Harry smiled at her; obviously relieved she was agreeing to tell Dumbledore what happened.

            "Harry, there's something else I need to tell you." Ginny began nervously. "I'm completely and totally in love with someone else."

            "I remember, you told me." Harry looked uncomfortable.

            "I did, but I didn't tell you who it was."

            "Alright, then, who is it?" Harry shifted his weight from one leg to the other in a nervous gesture.

            "You're going to be upset. I don't want you to judge until you think about it, ok?"

            "Sure." Harry's stomach growled loudly.

            "Promise me, you won't act crazy or rash when I tell you? Promise me, you'll be calm about it?" 

            "Fine. I'm starving, who is it?" Harry looked expectantly at her.

            "It's...it's...Draco Malfoy." Ginny told him in a somewhat quiet tone.

            What felt like an hour passed before Harry responded by yelling, "WHAT??"

            "Look, you said you'd be calm about it!" Ginny reminded him.

            "Before you told me it was MALFOY!!!" Harry looked genuinely disgusted.

            "I love him."

            "Ginny, you're off your block. How can you love him? He's scum."

            "He isn't scum. He's not like you think. He's really nice and Hermione even said he's been acting very nice lately." Ginny defended.

            "Hermione told me he's been acting strange lately!! That doesn't mean nice."

            "Look Harry, I know this is a big shock to you and everything, but it's true. It's not going to change either. I'd appreciate you not telling Ron or anyone else. I'd like to do that myself." Ginny told him bravely because his words were beginning to hurt.

            "You must be crazy. He's probably put you under a love spell or given you a love potion. Ginny you can't love a Malfoy." Harry's voice was calm but his face was angry.

            "I'm not under a spell or a potion! I just love him. He's really an amazing person. If you'd just try and understand." Ginny stopped talking. "I realize this is something you couldn't understand. No one understands how it feels to have to choose between love and obligation. And frankly, I choose love."

            "Gin, don't do anything stupid. Just try and think about something else." Harry was still in denial.

            "Harry you need to just get over it and accept it. Please, for me, please, don't do anything to Draco. It's not his fault that I care about him. If something happened to him, I don't know what I'd do."

            The sincerity in Ginny's voice and expression finally broke Harry's resilience.

            "Fine, but I'll never accept this. You say he's different but people don't change, we are who we are." Harry's stomach growled loudly again. "I'm going to eat now, you coming?"

            "I'll be right behind you." Ginny knew Harry wouldn't be happy about Draco, but she didn't expect he to be disgusted. The actual expression on his face was one of disbelief and disgust, and it hurt Ginny to know he felt that way. Hopefully, eventually he'd accept it, until then she'd just have to persevere and hope she was right about Draco.

            Draco watched Ginny enter the hall and sit down. She looked depressed. He thought it was because of him until she looked at him and smiled brightly. He relaxed but not entirely. It was hard for Draco to relax when Potter was glaring at him, like he was.

            The owls flew in to deliver their packages and letters and to his surprise Draco received a letter. He opened it and found a note from his father.

            My plan goes well. Potter will fall easily into my trap, and then he'll be gone for good. A fellow student of yours had already set up the scene. He attacked a girl, Virginia Weasley, that Potter likes. The seeds of anger and discontent are planted. Anger makes one careless, and Potter will grow angrier with every move he makes. It's all falling into place.  I still hope that you will make me proud by showing me the blood that runs through your veins. Your part will come later and it's a chance for you to show your true colors to all the people around you.

                        Lucius.

Draco reread the letter again, making sure he'd read it correctly. Obviously "his fellow student" was Jake, so that meant his father set up the attack on Ginny. Anger began coursing through his body as he looked at Jake who'd also received a letter. Jake was looking around and reading the letter carefully. When he finished he smiled to himself and Draco wanted to walk over to him and knock him out cold. He looked away before the urge became irresistible, only to collide with Potter's steely glare. He rolled his eyes at him and moved down the table realizing Ginny wasn't there anymore. Needing to get away from all these people he got up and left the hall.

            Draco would've marched all the way up to his room if he hadn't been ambushed by Ginny on the way. As he walked past a hidden alcove she grabbed his robe and pulled him in. Draco automatically went into a defensive mode and reached for his wand but before he could shout a curse, Ginny snatched his wand out of his hand. He looked up and laughed when he realized it was her that had grabbed him from the hall. She smiled back at him and tucked his wand in her robes.

            "So, what are you up to?" Ginny asked as they walked further into the recess.

            "I was on my way to my room before someone, very brazenly I might add, pulled me off into a hidden place."

            "I have no idea what you're talking about." Ginny said it seriously but a smile betrayed her.

            "I'm sure." He reached up and took a piece of her hair and rolled it between his fingers. "How do you feel? I mean, with everything that happened. You must be sore or something."

            "I'm good actually. I keep thinking about when I can have that again. I know you've had sex before but I haven't and that was the most amazing thing I've ever experienced. I can't imagine anything more or better than that."

            Draco smiled knowingly. "Oh there's plenty more than that, and I'll be more that glad to show you."

            "I'd hope so. It wouldn't really be fair to take a girls virginity then leave her high and dry." Ginny commented dryly.

            "You're not something I think I could ever leave." The sudden change from flirty to serious was startling.

            "I hope you never have to. I don't think it's something I could ever do either." Ginny replied with equal seriousness.

            "It's not something I could ever let you do. I don't think I could live if you left me. I know it sounds strange and unreal but...it's deep with you." Draco flushed red causing Ginny to smile.

            "I can't believe I made you blush!!" She reached up and stroked his cheek. "I know what you mean."

            Traffic in the hallway began to pick up and they needed to end this little liaison before they were discovered.

            "I'll see you soon. I have Quidditch practice today and then we have the rematch against Gryfinndor tomorrow."

            "Oh trust me. You'll need to find me pretty soon." Draco bent down and kissed Ginny softly.

            "Bye, Gin." He turned around and left the alcove.

            When she said he'd see her soon, she meant it. She smiled to herself as she felt Draco's wand hidden in her robes. She left the alcove with a grin on her face.

A/N: Hello!! So how'd you like? It's pretty long, I bet all you guys almost passed out when you saw that I actually updated my story and with a semi decently lengthed chapter. It's ok don't worry, I have some sniffing salts handy to wake you up from never never land. Yes well I hope you like it. Read and review please. Eerrrghhhh arrhhhhgggg enjoy!!