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Chapter 5

The morning of the Hogsmeade trip arrived crisp but sunny. Ginny woke early and took extra care over her choice of dress (the least tattered robes she had) and her hair and makeup (hair: sleek and shiny, makeup: light and natural). Draco also spent more time than usual over his appearance, choosing his best robes and checking his slicked back hair in the mirror several times before leaving for breakfast.

Once sat in the Great Hall he found that the butterflies in his stomach were preventing him from being able to eat. He pushed his cereal bowl away and proceeded to scan the Gryffindor table for Ginny. Draco realised that she too had lost her appetite as he watched her pushing pieces of sausage and bacon around her plate aimlessly. She looked beautiful with her hair falling around her shoulders and her pale, flawless skin punctuated with rosy red lips. She looked up and Draco locked his gaze with her feeling the electricity even from across the room.

At that moment, Ron sat down in front of Ginny, blocking her from Draco's view. Cursing under his breath, he stood up and left to wait in the Entrance hall for her.

"We're not going to Hogsmeade until later because Hermione's got a stupid essay to finish. It doesn't have to be in till tomorrow afternoon but you know what she's like" grumbled Ron rolling his eyes at the thought of his studious girlfriend.

He expected her to wait and go with them. Ginny had been expecting this but knew it was still going to be difficult.

"I'm going in about 10 minutes actually."

"What? Who with? Why can't you wait for us?"

"I've been asked to go with someone else and I've agreed."

"Who?" demanded Ron.

"You have to promise not to get mad. I can take care of myself and I'm only a year younger than you."

"Ginny! Who is it?"

Ginny mumbled something incoherently.

"What? I can't hear you?"

"Draco Malfoy."

"I'm sorry, can you say that again? I thought you said Draco Malfoy."

"I did," said Ginny, hurriedly gathering her things and getting to her feet.

"WHAT?" bellowed Ron.

"Calm down. I'm only going to Hogsmeade with him. It's not illegal."

Ginny started making her way down her side of the table, towards the door into the Entrance Hall.

"BUT ITS MALFOY, THE ROTTEN DIRTY SCUMBAG FERRET."

Ron was getting to his feet but he tripped over his robes, falling back down onto the bench and banging his knee.

"OW!"

Ginny took full advantage of this distraction and raced for the door. She quickly found Malfoy, grabbed him by the hand and dragged him to where Filch stood, with his list of pupils allowed on Hogsmeade visits. Ginny shouted their names at him and bounded outside pulling a thoroughly bemused Draco behind her.

With any luck Hermione will be able to calm Ron down before he sees Malfoy or me again.

They had almost reached the village of Hogsmeade when Draco awakened from the shock of being dragged by a Weasley and tugged back on Ginny's hand causing her to whip round to face him.

"What was all that about?" he asked, slicking back his now windswept hair.

"I told Ron I was coming to Hogsmeade with you and I had to make a quick escape."

"Oh, I see," said Draco, smirking as he pictured Ron's face as Ginny told him the news.

I wish I'd been there to see it.

"So, where do you want to go?"

"Er…"

Draco was completely thrown by this question. He had thought that in asking Ginny to Hogsmeade he had already got over the hard part. He hadn't thought about what they were going to do when they got there.

"Do you just want to have a look in the shops?"

"Yes," said Draco, grateful that Ginny had come up with something before he made himself look like a total fool.

They spent a couple of hours, looking around the various shops located in Hogsmeade, chatting comfortably. This surprised both Draco and Ginny; they hadn't expected to get on so well. They went to the Three Broomsticks and Draco paid for the drinks while Ginny found a secluded corner to sit in. They talked about everything; school, careers, movies, music, sport and even touched on more dangerous subjects; Draco's home life, Ginny's brothers, Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort, although they did not dwell long on these not wanting to ruin the moment.

After spending another hour or so wandering around Hogsmeade, they decided to make their way back to Hogwarts and it was only then that Draco plucked up enough courage to take Ginny's hand. They walked back to the castle but Draco stopped just before the entrance and pulled Ginny gently into the shadows of the door so they couldn't be seen.

"We're very lucky we didn't see any of your friends while we were out."

"I have a funny feeling that Hermione stopped Ron and Harry from going," said Ginny thoughtfully.

"I'm glad. I didn't want them to ruin it."

Ginny smiled up at him as he tucked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear. His hand grazed her cheekbone and he tilted her chin up to his face so he could look into her deep hazel eyes. Ginny's heart was beating fast; she suddenly felt very hot and her skin was tingling where Draco had touched her. He slid his other hand around her waist feeling the heat pass between them as she pressed against him, and his own heart speeded up. Gently, he brushed his lips against hers, inhaling the light scent of her pretty perfume. He dropped his hand from her chin to her waist and nudged her arms upwards. Ginny took the hint and wrapped her arms around his neck deepening the kiss. Draco pulled away and began lightly kissing her neck.

"Thank you," he whispered, pulling her even closer against him. He looked back into her eyes and they smiled at each other, completely content.

Draco kissed her forehead before escorting her to Gryffindor Tower and making his way back to his own room with a smile he couldn't get rid of. He lay on his bed for hours thinking about how Ginny made him feel and hoping against hope she felt the same.