A/N:  Hi! *waves brightly* I bet you all are waiting for my excuse for being out for two months and the good news is I don't...Um, actually have one.  Heh heh. I could probably name a few things like my trip to Washington or Graduation but I won't! *lol* Seriously though, sorry I had to make you all wait so long.  It's summer now though, so everything should be coming faster.  Anyway, we're reaching the end of this story too.. :-( But not yet at least! By the way...THERE WILL BE NO BOOK 5 SPOILERS IN THIS STORY. Just so y'all know hehe. 

Now... Let me just say that I always used to think that if a story had 300+ reviews then that story must be AMAZING, but I could never have guessed that a story with that many reviews could be mine.  Sometimes I just stare at the review counter. 310. It's a really awesome feeling, let me tell ya.  So thank you all for thinking that my story is good because I really would be nothing without your lovely reviews to keep my going!!  So thank you all for reviewing, I never dreamed of reaching 300!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed Ch. 7...

OliverPhelpsLover, Lioness-07863, Darcel, Magic Girl2, Julie101 (2ce!), StephanieCook (I took no offence because I think I've improved too, I really used to SUCK as a matter of fact *lol* Anyway, I'm writing a story with Kristen Michelle right now but when we finish that one maybe I'll do one with you! We'll chat about it ;-)), mutsumi, Kristen Michelle (2ce! Read OotP? Me? *lol* What a silly question! Never!), Lord Sauron, Jessika Organa Solo, susieq05, Punkin, lauralia, La Bella Yu-gi-oh (Well, don't we all want Draco in love with us!), JT Jones, KeeperOfTheMoon, Princess Amelia, eva, AmaraDragon, weirdo_without_a_clue, chrystieluv, Kirunai, hpdancer92 (FIVE TIMES!! Hehe Thanks bunches!!), a person, Blue*Faerie, Nia 88, StarJade (Your review made me laugh and smile and be very thankful to have such nice reviewers like you), Killer Angel (*lol* Threatening to kill her would have been a GREAT twist, though!), Blue eyes, Riley. Just Riley, Katy, kei-chan, dan fan, I_luv_Draco!! (*hugs back* Thanks!!!), LJHPotter (I'm glad you like my Draco.  I'm always so worried he's not Draco-ish enough), GothicAngel, Sandi, elana, Lawwwren, allieshee, dominique, mysticalrain, Darla Potter (I'm glad I won your interest, and you are very welcome :-)), HP Freak 845 (I hope not in honor of Tom Riddle!!?), Lady Marie, Venus, Angel Dumbledore, joviality, impatient, BuTtWoRm LuVs InChIe, Juunanagou4ever, goobersprinkle, melonsprite, Herbie, Jitterbelle, TheSkyIsOrange666, Feather, miki, prongs, maria, Impatient, Becky, PonyLuvrGirl, eedoe, Angel of Fate, Lemon, PotterzGirl, guesS?, lilja, LivEviL, dan fan, and Ladee Sakura Evenstar Night

...You guys rock!!!

Disclaimer: Check ch. 1 for disclaimer.

The chapter title has double meaning so 50 points to Gryffindor for whoever figures out both meanings! Okay, thank you Kristi for as always helping me, and now, FINALLY, here is chapter 8! Enjoy!

***

"Ginny, are you coming? Everyone is leaving for Hogsmeade now! Aren't you supposed to be meeting Malfoy?"

"Yes!" I answered Beth. "I am, and I can't find where I put my money!" I said going down on all fours, and taking out everything from under the bed and thrashing through it.

"GINNY!"

"WHAT?" I screamed, looking up.  Beth was glaring at me. "Look, go without me."

"Ginny--"

"Just," I sighed, throwing up a pile of clothes. "Go."

"Look, just borrow some of my money."

I felt my cheeks stain pink.  She must've thought I just didn't have any. "No, don't worry about it.  In fact, I think I remember where I put it," I said going over to my trunk.

"Are you sure?" She said hesitantly.

"Yup," my voice sounding muffled since my head was buried in my trunk.

"Well..." She put her hand on the door. "I'll see you then!"

"Have fun!" The second the door closed, I poked out of the trunk and kicked it.  Why was our room such a mess? I thought, annoyed as I looked around at the tornado-stricken dorm.  I looked at my watch noticing that the hands on it were quivering towards 'you're late'.  "I know," I told it.

I leaned up against the wall putting a hand to my forehead.  "Oh God," I muttered. I didn't really misplace it all did I? I must have spent all my money on Christmas gifts for my family.  I licked my lips, thinking hard.  Yes, I realized painfully, I had.  That was why I hadn't bought Harry a Christmas gift.  I didn't have any money left to do so, plus I never dreamed he would get me a present.  I then wished hard that I hadn't spent nearly all my earnings from my summer job at once only leaving me with such little money to use for gifts. Well, there was nothing I could do now except write home hoping mum would have at least a sickle to spare. 

I kicked at my books scattered across the floor.  We never had anything to spare. I would just go to Hogsmeade and not buy anything.  And pray that Draco didn't catch on to it because he would for sure make my life a living hell after that.

I sighed, and taking one last fleeting glance around the room, I grabbed my jacket, and shut the door behind me.

***

I stood in the entrance hall, and stared at Draco.  He was leaning up against the wall in a very James Dean like pose, and he hadn't seen me yet.

We were the only ones who hadn't left yet, and every so often I saw him look at his watch, and then run his hands through his hair in frustration. 

I grinned. "Someone told me there would be a guy waiting here for me," I said smoothly walking up to him.

He raised his eyebrows. "Really? I heard that the jerk said he didn't want to be here with you."

I smirked. "You did? Well I heard that he said he was sorry."

Draco stared at me for a moment just then. "I heard, he meant it."

"Sorry I'm late."

"Ah, you always are. Nothing new," Malfoy sneered.

"Oh...shut up."

"Good comeback, Weasley."

I shook my head, linked arms with Draco, and we walked off to Hogsmeade. With me, feeling possibly happier than ever before.

***

Hogsmeade was overly packed today and it was a struggle for Draco and me to push through the crowds.  I stood on my tiptoes a few times before Draco finally had enough.

"Weasley, if you keep doing that we're going to be walking backwards," he drawled.

I peered over the heads of a snogging couple before shrinking an inch or so down to my usual height, both feet firmly on the ground. "Just um... looking for some good stores."

"You mean the store called Harry Potter?"

"Huh? Oh," I said my face reddening. "No!"

"That's right," Draco said leering. "They changed the name to 'Bigheaded Git With Ugly Markings on Forehead,'" he smirked. "Was that the name?"

I glared at him, pulling him forward.  Draco suddenly pointed out something in the distance. "Look!" I whipped around thinking he had spotted Harry. "There's the store called 'Temperamental Redhead Doesn't Know When To Stop Chasing After Bigheaded Git Wi—"

"You know," I said loudly over Draco's very witty store name.  "I must have totally missed that store." Draco smirked in a satisfied way. "But, I did see the store called 'Draco Malfoy Sings Rubber Ducky In The Bath—"

Malfoy clapped a hand over my mouth. "I've had enough of this game," he said gruffly glancing around at the passersby who were all ignoring us. "You don't want me to hurt you, Weasley."

I forced his hand off my lips.  "And you don't want me to mortify you as I make you're life a living hell." I smiled pleasantly, as I walked into Honeydukes. 

Draco trudged in unhappily after me. "Don't get all high and mighty on me, Weasley," he said picking up a pouch of Every Flavor Beans and weighing it in his hand for a moment before throwing it back in its bin.

I glanced around the store my mouth practically watering to try every single candy in here.  I shared a sweet tooth with Ron.  That was what mum always said.  It was pretty unfortunate too, because usually all my savings were spent on sugar-coated treats.  Well, I didn't have the problem today, seeing as I had no money to blow.

I sighed heavily reaching the exit with Draco on my heels.  I threw one last lingering look at the store before heading back out onto the streets of Hogsmeade.

"Just a question, Weasley," Malfoy said, falling in step next to me. "That's the fifth store you've walked out of without buying anything."

"That's not a question, Malfoy," I said sweetly, hoping he would make some retort and leave the subject at hand alone.

"Is there some reason you haven't bought anything yet?"

I closed my eyes for as long as I could while walking on a crowded street, and breathed in deeply.  I did not want to discuss matters of my money with Draco Malfoy coming from one of the richest families in the wizarding world.

Draco prodded me in the shoulder. "Care to answer me before I hit age 60?"

I searched desperately for a way to get out of this. "I – uh um... I...don't, er... I mean, well, I just--" I stuttered brilliantly.

Draco gave me a sidelong glance. "You don't have any money, do you Ginny?"

I stared unblinkingly ahead. "That's none of your business," I snapped.

"I didn't ask whose business it was."

I glared at him. "Yes. Okay? Yes, I don't have any god damn money.  I'm not rich like you, I'm not Slytherin like you, I'm not perfect like you and I'm sorry. Is that what you want? I'm just a stupid, Weasley. And the fact that I have no money just proves it."

Draco stopped walking, and I took two steps before realizing what happened and backtracking. "You're never going to forgive me, are you?"

I looked up at him my eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"

Draco licked his lips, took hold of my wrist, and pulled me into a corner away from the throng of people.

"I don't—"

"You're never going to forgive me for being a Malfoy."

The words from his mouth threw me so off-guard that I actually took one step backwards. "I – I do...forgive you. I mean, no, I don't because – because what you're name is doesn't need forgiveness, Draco!"

He shook his head. His eyes were icy. "Then stop throwing damn accusations at me!"

"I didn't—" But of course I had, so what was the point? "It's just... I hate being poor," I mumbled.

I looked to the ground, but the force of Draco's voice made me look at him. "Ginny, what made you think that I care whether or not you're poor?"

I blinked. "I don't know," I snapped, sarcastically. "Maybe the fact that that's all you ever mention to either me or my brothers.  The Weasley's are so poor, the Weasley's will be working for me one day, the Weasley's live in a bin," I recited for him.

Draco seemed unperturbed. "Okay, you'll never have a great manor like myself. And yeah, so having money matters..." he drawled.  I felt my stomach drop. "But knowing who you are matters more."

 "Who am I, then?"

"Just a girl who is...A little hot-headed, it seems, and poor sure," he sneered.  "But also," he cut in, "A lot cooler than I thought you would be."

I accepted that. "You are too, Malfoy. A lot cooler." Actually he was a lot...everything, really. Cooler, nicer, sweeter, sexier.  "And I forgive you."

"I thought a name doesn't need forgiveness?"

I shrugged. "I don't think it does," I said truthfully. "But you do."

***

This day could not be more perfect, I thought as Draco and I were walking along the streets of Hogsmeade, on better terms than probably ever before.

It was a wonderful day with light snow flurries floating about everyone's faces.  I was practically leaning on Draco who was keeping me warm as we walked, and best of all there was no Harry or Cho in--

"Harry! Harry!"

--Sight.

My body stiffened. There she was. Cho Chang. Her hair was up in a messy bun, she was wearing these tight fitting muggle designer jeans, and a pale pink low cut short sleeve shirt showing way too much cleavage, and more than enough stomach.

Oh, not to mention it was the middle of January but hey -- she has Harry to keep her warm! I looked at her sourly.

Freak.

Harry turned around cluelessly, first glancing at me. Draco casually slipped an arm around my waist. Harry held my gaze for a moment, then the hand on my waist, then he turned to Cho and grinned.

I felt like I wasn't there. Like I was watching some sort of movie, in which this couldn't be happening. Not so close in front of me. Not now. Not here.

Cho ran up and slid her arms around his neck and leaned in for a passionate, over exaggerated kiss.

I averted my gaze, and felt Draco's arm tighten at my side, and I looked up at him realizing he was staring at me.

"Forget it," he muttered under his breath. "He's acting."

I swallowed hard. Were they still at it? My guess was yes, but I didn't dare look over to see if Harry and Cho were still sucking face. "How do you know?"

For a brief moment Draco's eyes softened, before realizing what had just happened, and then the hard, cold gray was back. "Because if he was into her, than he wouldn't have stared at you while she was calling for him."

Was Draco actually...caring? "I don't know--"

"Stop being so damn naive," Draco snapped. Okay, nix the caring. "I'm a guy. I know."

Well, him being a guy and 'knowing' clearly settles it all then.

Draco continued staring at me, looking for some sort of response. I sighed deeply, and nodded, swiping at my eyes. "I'm not turning all blotchy am I?"

"What am I your mirror? You look gorgeous." Draco smirked.

I rolled my eyes. "Not likely."

He glared over at Harry. "They're not attached at the tongue anymore," he said nodding in their direction.

I looked over too, and it seemed like Cho was telling Harry some very important story, because she looked so into it, with complete hand motions and head gestures. I also heard the word 'like' at least eighty times from her mouth, as her voice carried over.

Harry's eyes kept wandering, and settling on Draco and me with hardened eyes. "He looks like he would prefer the wizard's digest version."

I snorted.

"Come on, let's show them the real way it's done."

I looked at Harry for a moment before turning back to Draco. He really wasn't bad at all.

I grinned, and Draco took his hand away from my waist, and intertwined my fingers in his, leading the way. He very obviously almost bulldozed over Harry as we passed.

During this Draco and I pretended we were in the middle of a very scintillating conversation, in which Draco said just the most hilarious thing and I burst out laughing, tucking a strand of flaming red hair behind my ear, and just managed to see Harry's reaction.

He didn't look hurt. He looked angry. He gazed into my eyes for what must have been not even half a second, but for what felt like an eternity. Cho snapped him back to attention looking slightly annoyed.

I got a sinking feeling in my stomach, as Malfoy and I strode past the stores.

I looked up at Malfoy's handsome features, and quickly back at Harry's. 

And I didn't know what I wanted anymore.

***

"Oh! Oh no," I muttered, grasping my butterbeer, and hiding my face behind it, my eyes darting around the Three Broomsticks.

"Can you see better that way?" Malfoy smirked, pushing the glass out of my face.

"Stop!" I hissed. "Look behind you!"

Draco turned, and found Harry and Cho sliding into the table behind us.

"So?"

"So!"

"Yeah?"

"Well..." I mumbled. I sighed putting my glass down. "I don't want to deal with him right now."

"Well he obviously wants to deal with you." Draco turned around. "Here comes the jealous boyfriend," he whispered to me.

Oh no. Oh no. "Draco don--"

"Hey, Potter," Malfoy said loudly.

He was not doing this to me. He was not doing this to me. He was not--

"You see that girl you're sitting across from right now?" Harry blinked, and Cho was eyeing Malfoy up and down.

I sat up a little straighter in my chair. "All mine," I mouthed to her, enjoying myself.

She laced her hands through Harry's. "And all mine," she mouthed back.

I scowled. As Draco continued. "Stare at her. Not at the girl sitting across from me."

Cho's mouth dropped open. Oh good lord. "Malfoy!" I snapped.

"What?" He said smiling pleasantly, turning back to me.

Was he trying to ruin my life? "Let's go." I roughly grabbed his arm, and pulled him up.

Walking away, I heard Harry say, "Hey, Malfoy, letting a girl tell you what to do now?"

We both stopped dead, and if Malfoy didn't punch him than I sure would.

"You're one to talk, Potter," he snarled.

Cho pouted. "Like, who are you?" 

Draco blinked at her.

"He's, like, leaving," I said pettily.

"I can't believe you did that!" I shouted once we were out the door.

"What are you talking about? I played the act so well!"

"Malfoy are you kidding, me? Harry was right! You were way to easy on me. You totally let me push you around!"

Malfoy's face hardened. "Oh, sorry, I suppose I should have just forced you to stay until I was ready to leave?"

I shrugged. "No..."  I paused. "Well, I mean. That's what you would have done."

"And I'm not me?"

"Not anymore," I said, honestly. Too honestly. Way too honestly.

A shot of lightning bolted through Draco's eyes. "Well you're one to talk! God, you always tell me to change, be nicer, pretend like I'm a god damn caring boyfriend which I'm obviously not. And do you know what the solution is?"

I swallowed hard. "What?"

"Shut up."

"What?" I spat.

"Shut up," Malfoy repeated. "Just shut up about perfecting everything, or being believable okay? I am so sick of it. Just shut up," he spit out.

"You know what Malfoy?" I yelled "You're so... so..." I beckoned around for the right word. "Infuriating," I settled on. "Why do you always have to turn everything around and make it all my fault? You--"

"--Weasley!" Draco cut me off.

"WHAT?"

"SHUT UP!"

"Draco Malfoy you are so--" 

And in the same moment when Harry and Cho came prancing out of the pub, Malfoy's lips crashed against mine, cutting off any further sentence, and any further thought.

Except the fact that we were kissing. In the middle of Hogsmeade. In front of everyone. Including Harry.

Draco broke off with a wicked grin on his face. "I'm so what, Weasley?"

I caught sight of Harry's face out of the corner of my eye. I then looked back at Draco.

And leaning forward, I kissed him again.