A/N: Just tell me how many times I have to say sorry to get you all to forgive me, and I'll do it!! I really am sorry! I don't even know how long it's been, because I'm too scared to look at the "updated" date! But it's definitely been over a month. I really, really, really am sorry! I made this chapter long too, but it's not as long as last chapter... But it's still long. I hope you all like it!

Disclaimer: Tell me you're not reading this! You want to read the chapter! I mean it is about time! If you must know though, check chapter 1. But not now! Read now!

***

I slammed through the common room, positively fuming.

"Gin -- Oof!"

I stopped, having bulldozed over Hermione, in my hurry to race up through the common room unnoticed.

"Sorry, Hermione," I said distantly, as she righted herself.

I rushed over to the Girl's Dormitory steps, making my way up.

"Ginny, can I talk to you?" Hermione asked, chasing after me.

"About what?" I snapped.

"Draco Malfoy," Hermione said quietly. I stopped quickly, and she just refrained from slamming into me.

I glared down at her, from a few steps above. "No."

"Ginny," Hermione pleaded. "I talked to Ron."

I laughed derisively. "There's a surprise."

Hermione sighed, and for some reason, was putting up with me. "Ginny--"

"Did he tell you what he did, Hermione?" I hissed. "Did he tell you that right in front of Draco -- and Harry -- he lunged forward, and told Malfoy to keep his hands off me? Did he mention that? All Malfoy did was touch my arm! Ron completely embarrassed me and--"

"Yes," Hermione cut me off.

"Yes what?"

"Yes, he told me that, Ginny."

I blinked in surprise. "Oh."

"Ginny, he couldn't stand it," Hermione said in a completely calm voice. "He couldn't stand that fact that Malfoy was touching you -- even if it was only on the arm," she added hastily as I opened my mouth furiously to argue. "What did you expect, Ginny? You don't even forewarn him, and all of a sudden you're waltzing through the Great Hall hand-in-hand with Draco Malfoy?"

"I didn't waltz," I said stubbornly.

Hermione sighed. "You know what I mean. You just all of a sudden dropped a bomb on us, and you expect us to be okay with it?"

I closed my eyes. She was right, of course. I opened up the door to my dormitory, checking quickly to see if any of the other girls were in there. It was a Friday afternoon, so of course no one would be. I walked inside, and sat down on my bed; Hermione sat next to me.

"Hermione... I'm not really -- dating Draco." I leaned up against the bedpost, cross-legged, preparing myself for a complete outburst, long explanations, and perhaps, even some crying.

She raised her eyebrows. "No kiddin'?"

Okay... Not exactly the reaction I was expecting.

Hermione laughed. "Ginny, I know."

I stared at her. "Who told you?" I asked stupidly.

Hermione shook her head smiling. "Lavender and Parvati."

"How do they know?!"

"Oh they were crystal-ball gazing and--"

"WHAT?!" I shrieked.

Hermione fell back on my bed overcome with giggles.

I threw a pillow at her. "So, they weren't joining forces with Professor Trelawny?"

Hermione snorted, but shook her head, sitting up. "No one told me, Gin. I figured it out on my own." Well. Hermione was... Hermione. "Don't forget who gave you this 'brilliant plan' of making Harry jealous. Of course I didn't think you would go for it..." she sighed. "Why Malfoy?"

"I don't know," I muttered. "Oh, Hermione, if you just knew him... He's not that bad, really."

"I already do know him, Ginny."

I hugged my knees to my chest. "He's just trying to get out of his shell." I shook my head. "He has no idea how."

"I can't believe we're talking about Draco Malfoy, mudblood hater."

I sighed. "I think he's past that.  I feel almost like... I'm changing him. He has these amazingly sweet moments, and sometimes he doesn't even realize it."

Hermione nodded. "There must be something about him then. I trust you Ginny. It's just... Be careful, I mean--"

"Don't give me a Ron lecture," I cut her off.

"He's worried--"

"--so tell him to stop!"

"You know I can't.  It's not his fault.  He loves you."

I groaned. "I love him too, of course! But he has to lighten up!"

"Maybe you should tell him what you told me."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

I looked at her like she was insane. "He's my brother! He doesn't want to hear wonderful things about my so-called boyfriend!"

Hermione looked out the window, battling with her conscience. "He misses talking to you."

"Yeah, right." But catching the look on Hermione's face, somehow I felt like she knew something.

She turned back to me. "Oh, Ginny, don't tell him I told you, please.  I feel like I'm betraying him but--" she sighed. "--he told me that when you two were little, you always used to hang out together, and it was always you tagging along with him." Hermione nodded at my disbelieving expression. "He never admitted it then... but he said it was kind of nice to be looked up to."

My stomach dropped.  I felt like the most horrible person in the world. "He told you that he... he misses that?" And after all the yelling and screaming Ron used to do to get me to leave him alone... How the hell was I supposed to know he liked it?

She shook her head. "He told me all that I just told you, and then sort of stared into space.  I heard the words he didn't say though.  Of course he misses it.  And of course you being with Malfoy is freaking him out. He's Ron.  He's overprotective, sure, but he cares about you. He's sensitive -- you know that."

She got up from my bed. "Just give him a chance." She opened and then closed the door behind her. 

Hearing her footsteps fade away, I fell back on my pillows. "I'll try," I muttered. "But who knows what good it'll do."

***

"Ron! My favorite brother in the whole wide worl--"

"Go away, Virginia," Ron snarled.

I stared at him. Well, considering I just wandered through the entire school looking for him, and ended up screaming his name down four different hallways causing numerous glances in my direction, I expected a nicer greeting than that. "No way, Ronald," I said in an equally petty voice. We used our full names with each other only when we were going through a period of utmost loathing for one another. I plopped down in the dusty desk next to him.

The room Ron had chosen to hide out in turned out to be musty, old, abandoned, perhaps forgotten, classroom. I found it interesting how Ron knew exactly where it was though I was sure he would claim that he just happened to stumble into it. The sudden thought of Ron and Hermione snogging came to mind before I had a sudden other thought -- losing my lunch.

"So," I began smartly.

Silence.

"Ron."

Silence.

"What's new?"

Okay, so it wasn't my smoothest moment. And maybe not the best of conversation starters... but I was trying which is more than I can say for some people.

Ron turned in his seat to glare at me, giving me the full effect of his dark blue eyes boring into mine, before facing forward again.

"Cool!" I burst out, as if he had actually answered my question with the most interesting and exciting response. "Nothing is actually going on with me, thanks for asking," I said with a dorky grin. I nodded at his silence. "Actually..." I began, getting an idea. "Something did in fact happen. You see, I just realized, that I might have made a fool of myself and ended up picking my boyfriend over my brother. I wish I had realized it before too becau--"

"Ginny, what are you doing?" Ron cut me off sharply.

At least we were past full-naming each other. "Having a conversation with you," I said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Ron stared at me blankly then muttered something to himself, most likely about my insanity, before his witty and ever so genius response. "It takes two people to have a conversation."

I widened my eyes. "So it does!" I bit my lip, dropping the overly cheery act. Upon realizing how serious Ron was, I didn't feel so chipper anymore. "Ron," I pleaded. "I know I made a mistake--"

"God Ginny, why him?" He cut me off again. "Why Malfoy? Damn it!"

I sighed heavily, and looked up at the ceiling. I had never wanted to tell someone something so badly in my entire life. But I couldn't. And it was killing me. "I don't know," I whispered. "I think I'm... making him a better person--" Ron scoffed. "--Listen, Ron. I didn't come here to explain anything to you. I came here to apologize. But I'm not going to say that I'm sorry that I'm with him," I said quickly. "Because I'm not." Ron's eyes darkened. "But I am sorry for everything it's causing you. And... I'm sorry that I've been spending more time with him, than with you."

Ron was silent, but his features were softening.

"For what it's worth, Ron, out of all the brothers I have... I always felt closest to you. And though sometimes, I just want to murder you while you're sleeping, slowly and painfully," I said honestly. Ron's eyebrows shot up. "To be honest, I can't imagine my life with out you. I don't want to imagine my life without you." I smiled a little, as Ron's face broke into a grin.

His eyes lightened, and he patted my head, causing me to roll my eyes. "You know what, Gin?" I shook my head. "It was worth it all to hear you say that."

And a warm fuzzy feeling came over me. Ron stood up, and stuck out his hand. "I'll try not to... interfere with you and --" he paused. "--what's-his-face."

I shook my head. "Good enough, I guess," I said shaking his hand in a truce fashion. "I really am, sorry Ron," I said in all seriousness. Ron pulled me up from my seat. He was still a head taller than me.

"I know."

I sighed. Oh, I loved these rare brotherly-sisterly moments I had with him. I leaned forward, and hugged him tightly. "I love you Ronniekins!" I giggled.

I felt, rather than saw, Ron shake his head in nothing short of dismay. "You too, Ginnykins," he said mockingly.

I smiled, breaking away. So, Ron would still be the overprotective brother I knew and loved. He would still clench his fists, and set his jaw when Draco and I walked past, I knew that. But things were going to be better now.

And that was definitely a start.

***

"Ginny, do you want to go to the library with me, Beth and Marie?" Anna asked me in the dormitory a few hours before dinner.

I was sprawled out on the bed, while she casually leaned up against the closed door. "On a Friday?" I looked up from the book I was reading.

"We want to get our homework done before Hogsmeade tomorrow."

"Is Sharon going?"

"She doesn't need to, since she's not going to Hogsmeade."

I stared at her. "Why not?"

Anna looked at me with an 'I-can't-believe-you're-not-getting-this-by-now' stare. "Because," she said slowly. "She and Colin broke up this morning and she was planning on having a great time with him there. But now she just doesn't feel like going anymore."

My mouth dropped open. "She and Colin broke up? When?"

Anna looked annoyed. "After Potions. You weren't there."

Obviously. I was cutting...with Draco. I hadn't even noticed her looking upset or anything during the rest of our classes. "Oh no..."

Anna's eyes softened. "Don't worry, Ginny. She knows what you're going through too now. She'll understand."

I shook my head. What was going on with me? "You know what? Tomorrow I'm going to but her a gift from Hogsmeade. I'll meet you guys down at the library in five." 

Anna looked me up and down. "Why? You don't have to get ready or anything."

I held up my book for her. "I've got to finish this chapter," I grinned.

Anna sighed shaking her head. "Only you," she laughed. "How many times have you read that book?"

"Too many times to count."

Anna put her hand on the doorknob. "Well," she said. "If the ending changes... Tell me?"

I got ready to hurl a pillow at her, but she opened and closed the door before I got the chance. "Have fun with Scarlett and Rhett!" She called flying down the stairs.

I shook my head smiling -- holding up the book and admiring the cover. I traced the words Gone With The Wind with my index finger. Suddenly I became reminded of Christmas. The most romantic day of my life. A wave of sickness came over me, and I realized I had to get out.

I ran down the stairs, and in my haste I smashed face first into...

I must have had the worst luck in the world.

...Harry. "Oy... Watch where you're going," I snapped, looking up at him.  Which was a mistake by the way, because I forgot how green his eyes were.

Harry glared down at me. "Sorry your majesty," he said sarcastically. "I'll remember to make sure I steer clear of head cases that don't look where they're frantically stumbling to."

I opened my mouth in disgust. Frantically stumbling? What a jerk.  Wasn't it just a few hours ago that he so urgently needed to talk to me? "You have problems," I spat, shoving past him. "I wish it hadn't taken me so long to notice that. I could have saved myself a lot of wasted nights thinking about you, and your ridiculous little plan and Cho and --"

Harry caught my wrist whirling me around. Okay, I was out of my mind. Clearly, because I just admitted a whole lot more than I wanted to. "Shut the hell up about 'that plan'." He looked just as dark and scary as he had the night we broke up.

"Why? You're the one who came up with it." I was testing some dangerous waters now.

"God damn it Ginny! You know nothing about anything what went on that night! Nothing! Only what you chose to believe and that isn't the truth at all!"

"Right," I scoffed. There was something in the way he was saying it though.

"Listen." His voice was softening. "I wanted to explain this to you... You have to stop assuming what happened that night becau--"

Suddenly I felt like I was four and being given a lecture. "Oh save it," I spit out the words at him. "I don't have time for a lesson right now."

Harry didn't even bother trying to hide his groan. "You're not the same."

"Neither are you."

"Gin, I--"

Something boiling up inside me had snapped. "Don't you ever call me that!" I shrieked.  Harry's eyes widened and he looked around quickly but besides the fact that we were standing on the bottom of the stairs, partially blocked, the common room was too bustling with energy for anyone to pay attention to us. "Don't call me 'Gin' -- like we have something. Like we have anything," I near screamed.

Harry took a step backwards. "I -- er -- I'm sorry...Ginny," he said awkwardly. "I just--"

"Forget it," I snapped. "Shouldn't you be off somewhere writing to Miss 'All-I-Want-Is-Everything'?"

Harry's eyes flashed. "God, Ginny, you think that you're a princess, don't you? That everything's happening to only you. And you know what? Everything you're 'going through'," he began enunciating each word harshly. "You asked for it."

My jaw dropped. "What the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?" I managed.

"You figure it out for yourself," Harry spat. "Because every time I try to tell you, you walk away."

I clenched my teeth. "Well get used to it!" I yelled whipping around and stalking out of the room. And this time people did turn to look at me.

All I wanted to do was go back in time and stop myself from ever meeting Harry Potter.

***

"Is your brother in the hospital from a heart attack yet?" Malfoy asked referring to his 'small' outburst the few hours before.

"Shut up, Draco."

"Did you see the way the vein in his forehead was pulsing?"

"Shut up, Draco."

"And the way his left eye bugged out farther than his right eye?"

"Shut up, Draco."

"It was kind of creepy. In a pathetically funny sort of way of course. Potter and Weasel are always pathetic." I opened my mouth but was cut off. "'Shut up, Draco.' I know," he said for me.

I glared at him. Malfoy was actually attempting conversation with me in front of his Slytherins. It was sort of amazing. But then I suppose they were getting used to us, because now, as we were sitting down at dinner, not one of that had turned to glare at me.

"You look tired."

"Huh? Oh. Oh yeah."

"What's wrong?"

"You care?" I raised my eyebrows in accusation.

"No."

I shrugged. "Good." I turned back to my food and he stared at me for a second before sighing and looking away. Oh, he desperately wanted to know. He was too stubborn to admit it and that was his fault. For once I was glad. I didn't want to tell him.

Probably because I was scared of what he would say. Scared that he would say Harry was right. That I never did give him a chance to say what happened that night. I was scared that Malfoy would tell me that Harry had a right to say those things. That I did keep walking out on him.

I was scared, because I knew that if Draco did say any of that, he would be right.

***

A/N2: There you go! I hope you were happy with it, and please tell me in a review! By the way, thank you sooo much for all the reviews last chapter! Now, I know I usually say something to almost everyone, but now I'm just going to respond to those people who asked me a question, because I am just too eager to post this, and writing a note to all of you would take me so long! But I just wanted to let you all no how much I appreciate your reviews. You have no idea how much they mean to me. Thank you all so much!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter 5...

Lord Sauron (I think I answered you're question in an IM), fredngeorgegirl, Punkin, Ginny Coupling Fan, starwest45, Darcel, Lioness-07863, AmaraDragon, Wizzabee, magicrulz718, chrystieluv, hpdancer92, KeeperOfTheMoon, Laura (Just wanted to say... We have the same name! Okay, now that I've made a fool of myself...), weirdo_without_a_clue, StarJade, Julie101 (3 times!), Jessika Organa Solo, anonymous, Killer Angel, Jitterbelle (I will definitely have to check out your stories. Just keep reminding me to *lol*), Kristen Michelle (The Draco/Ginny kiss? You want to know when? Oh...you'll find out soon enough!), Temporary Insanity, Angel St. James, Brianna Potter, Blue eyes, GirlAngel, bigfan, Walking Contradiction (Oh yes, in due time. Perhaps. Perhaps not. Tee hee.), goobersprinkle (*lol* Love it!), eclipse, chloe "sully" sullivan, dkscully, Katrina, Snoopy511, Neni Potter, OliverPhelpsLover, the-girl-named-kittie, kei-chan, WritinChicka1 (Wouldn't you like to know!), Angel Dumbledore, Random guy (Yeah? And you need something called a life.), lilja, crazyfriendsfan, joviality, Julie, Difinity, Padme's Handmaiden, Annoying little Bella Mafia (*lol* You're review was the longest ever! For me, anyways.  I think. It was fun to read, hehe.), Nia 88, GothicAngel, Scarlett (You're review was so nice and amazing, I don't think I'm worthy of it! But thank you so much. It made me all happy inside. :-)), Carolyn, Vincelia Valentine, jop, elana (2ce!), Jasmine, and eva

...Thank you guys all so much... You rock!!

Tell me what you thought of this chapter! And keep your eye on my story with Kristen Michelle because now I'm going to finish up the chapter I've been working on for that story, and have it posted soon.

Thank you for bearing with me!