(A/N: I know you guys must think I dropped off the face of the planet, but I'm still here. I just felt really uninspired. I think it's 'cause I'm trying to win over this guys heart and he just thinks we're friends.
::sigh:: I'll try and get this story finished.)






Chapter Nine

Ginny swept down the corridors the next week with a little more hope than she had before. She had a small plan that just might turn the tide on her troubles. She hardly noticed the soft whispers followed by silence as she passed students. During class she forgot that she sat by herself and that every teacher looked at her a little warily.

Draco had noticed, but didn't think anything of it. He thought that his little pep talk had worked, so he left it at that.

Draco had begun to turn around. His attitude was a little less sour and Ron and Harry thought he had finally come out of his phase. He liked being the center of attention for reasons other than annoyance. People continued to congratulate him on his victory over Snape and were waiting to see what the littlest Weasley would do next.

But the real test for Draco came on a Saturday afternoon while he was in the common room, studying.

It was a Hogwarts weekend and nearly everyone was away from the castle. Even those not old enough seemed to vacate the cold corridors and enjoy the last days of Autumn, before the snows came. A small fire was crackling in the grate and Draco had his History of Magic book open on the table, along with a long roll of parchment, a few quills and some ink. This essay was killing him and he wished he hadn't spent the whole of last night playing exploding snap with some fellow students, instead of doing his work.

The sound of footsteps came down the stairs. Draco didn't think anything of it until the footsteps stopped just feet away. He looked up and saw a Gryffindor girl standing beside him, looking down at his work.

Draco had thought all along that the Gryffindors had the prettiest girls in the school. They were so innocent and naïve, while the Slytherins were either ugly or all too willing. This particular girl had long golden hair with bright blue eyes. She was petite and a little on the slim side. He noticed she wasn't wearing her uniform, but some tight fitting jeans and an equally tight fitting long sleeved shirt.

"It's cold, isn't it?" She said while sitting next to him.

"Sure is." Draco said.

He continued with his work trying to find the dates and names of places where Goblin Rebellions had taken place near or around London in the 1600's. It wasn't until he began to write that he felt the girl stare at him. He looked up at her and realized why she was here. He smiled.

"It's Hillary, isn't it?" He asked, putting his quill down.

"Yes." Hillary smiled brightly.

"I'm Draco." He smiled also. "Professor Binns always gives us killer essays." Draco stretched his arms then leaned back and slightly closer to Hillary.

"Y—yeah, he does." Draco could see her shaking.

"Are you cold?" He asked. He got his school robes from the seat next to him and placed it over Hillary's shoulders. "There, that should feel better."

"It does." Hillary whispered.

"You know what? I know this spell that can heat a room…but the common room is too big. Let's go up to my dorm."

Hillary's eyes shot wide open and it looked as if her heart had stopped. Draco ignored it and collected his things from the table.

"I just hope Collin won't bug us. He's studying up there too." Draco saw Hillary's face return to normal at the thought of not being completely alone with a boy.

"But—girls aren't supp—"

"Don't worry, it'll just be until we get warmed up a bit."

Draco led Hillary to the dorm he shared with the other sixth year boys. He walked in and deposited his things on his desk and watched Hillary walk meekly in.

"Where's Collin?"

"Huh? Oh, he must have left." He smiled. "Ok, about this spell." Draco held out his wand and performed the warming spell, which worked instantly.

"That's nice." Hillary took off Draco's cloak and placed it on a nearby chair.

Draco sat down on his bed and motioned for Hillary to follow. She hesitated, but walked over and sat on the very edge. They began to talk about nothing at all. Draco flattered her with compliments and asked about her likes and dislikes until he knew she was completely at ease with him.

"It's hard, you know, being the youngest." Draco said after talking about Hillary's family. "I feel like I have so much to live up to and it's hard."

"Oh, Draco, don't feel that way." Hillary scooted closer and put her arm on his shoulder. "I'm sure you'll do great things."

"Thanks, Hillary. I've never talked to anyone about that before." Well, Draco thought, that wasn't a lie.

Draco looked up into Hillary's eyes. He placed his hand on her cheek and leaned in closer. He gently kissed her lips, letting them linger a moment before letting his other hand run through her hair. At first Hillary just sat there, letting Draco kiss her, but then her emotions kicked in. She brought her own hands to his shoulders, bringing him closer to herself. It wasn't until Draco gently leaned her down on the bed that he heard the tapping at the window, and then it opening.

"Draco, I think I found some—" Ginny's words were cut off as she saw the sight in front of her.

Draco sat up casually as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened but Hillary quickly stood up and faced Ginny. She straightened her hair and then rubbed her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Hillary?" Ginny said in confusion. "But—" She looked over at Draco who smiled.

Ginny's face began to turn red from anger and embarrassment. She turned around and grabbed her broom and was heading out the window. She tripped on an upturned rug and fell flat on her face. Hillary walked over to help her up but Ginny shoved her aside. She took one last glare at Draco then faced Hillary.

"Hillary, Draco's a liar and a user. You promised your Mother you'd wait until you were married. You—" Ginny couldn't go on so she took her exit through the window.

Hillary's eyes were wide in amazement. She just stared out the window, not moving. Draco came up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Where were we?" Draco whispered into her ear.

"No!" Hillary pulled away from him then looked around the room, not knowing where she was any more.

"Don't listen to her, she's been after me for weeks."

"She was right…but how did she know?" Hillary looked towards the window again. "I never told anyone I promised my mum that-- How did she know? I have to go." Hillary quickly walked out of the room.

Draco's eyes narrowed in anger. He had words he needed to exchange with a certain red-head.

~*~*~

Ginny couldn't take it any more. She needed someone to talk to…someone besides Draco. Someone she knew would understand and be able to help. The little glimmer of hope she had when she found that book and been put out. Draco was having a little too much fun being her.

She went directly to the library knowing full well that the person she was seeking would be there sometime during the day. She didn't have long to wait, Hermione entered just minutes after she had.

Hermione walked in with an armful of books. She placed them on Madam Pince's desk then headed towards a nearby shelf of books. Ginny watched as she grabbed a couple of books then went to a desk to read them. Ginny stood up and walked over towards Hermione and sat down.

"Hermione, I need to talk to." Ginny whispered.

Hermione looked up, startled at seeing Ginny.

"We don't have anything to talk about, Virginia." Hermione continued to read her book.

"Hermione, please, just hear me out!" Ginny grabbed the book from under Hermione's nose and slammed it shut.

Hermione flung her hands up to her face as if to shield herself from an attack.

"Hermione…I just need to talk."

Hermione's hands came slowly down. "We've never talked before, why start now?"

"Please." The pleading in Ginny's eyes had gotten Hermione's attention.

"What do you want?"

"Look, I'm stuck in this parallel universe and I don't know how to get out. I'm really Ron's younger sister and Draco is a Malfoy and I'm getting frustrated and I don't know what to do." Ginny said all this in one quick breath, then waited for a reaction.

Hermione took all this in, then shook her head. "You expect me to believe that?"

A small tear came to Ginny's eye and she hung her head in defeat. "I knew you wouldn't believe me…but at least I tried."

They sat in silence for a while then an idea struck Ginny. "Wait, what if I can prove it!"

Hermione looked incredulous. "How?"

"Um, I don't know…ask me anything."

"I don't know what to ask you."

"Um…let me think…your parents! They're dentists!" Ginny looked triumphant.

"Anyone could know that."

"What? How can anyone know that?"

Right then the library doors swung open and Ron and Harry came in. At seeing Ginny and Hermione in an argument they hurried over.

"Look, Malfoy, just leave her alone!" Ron said.

"Yeah, haven't you caused enough trouble?" Harry added.

"Just bugger off Ron…you're always getting in other people's conversation!" Ginny said.

Ron's mouth dropped as if to say something, but no words came out.

Ginny had another stroke of genius. "Wait, I need you!" She stood up and faced Ron. "Ok, Hermione, I'll prove it." She looked down at Hermione he began to smile a little. "Ron, I know what you keep in your sock drawer."

Ron's eyes opened wide. "What do you mean? I keep socks there."

"That's not all, though." Ginny smiled and began to giggle.

"Look, this meeting is over, let's go!" Ron said.

"Wait, I want to hear what you keep in your sock drawer." Hermione said.

"Ron, you keep a picture of Hermione in your drawer with a large heart drawn around her face and one of her hair ribbons."

Ron's face turned completely red as Hermione and Harry began to snigger.

"How did you know—I mean, no I don't!" He looked from Hermione to Harry, then to Ginny but Ginny was already turning on Harry.

"And Harry, last year when Cho turned you down, you went to the astronomy tower and cried all night long."

Now it was Harry's turn to turn red, but only Hermione was left laughing.

"Well, do you believe me?" Ginny asked, facing Hermione again.

After Hermione finished laughing, she looked up at Ginny. "It's so far fetched…the theory of a parallel universe is just that…a theory."

"What are you guys talking about?" Ron asked.

"Virginia says she's from another universe and she's really you're little sister and that Drake's a Malfoy."

"What?" Both Harry and Ron said at the same time.

"But I just proved it, didn't I?" Ginny looked hopeful.

"Well, I don't see how else you could know all that stuff." Hermione conceded. "And Drake has been acting weird…almost not himself…"

"She's lieing." Ron accused.

"No, I'm not!" Ginny was furious. "Do you want me to tell them what happened last summer in Wales?"

"Shut up about that!" Ron yelled, attracting the attention of Madam Pince.

"I wanna know." Hermione said.

"Ok, I believe you!" Ron sat down as so did Harry and Ginny.

"When did this happen?" Hermione asked, eager for a new project to work on.

Ginny told her story and the three agreed that Draco's attitude change had begun the day Ginny said this had happened. Some very confusing bits had been put together by Ginny and things began to make sense.

"So will you help me?" Ginny asked after they discussed the matter.

"We should talk to Drake." Hermione said.

"No!" Ginny said. "Draco didn't want me to come to you in the first place. I think—I think he doesn't want to go back. Please don't tell him until we find the solution."

The others agreed and they began looking for a way to send Ginny back.