That very morning, Ginny had promised herself she would talk to Draco. But when? How? Where? How can you go up to someone that you are in love with and just start talking to them? Is it really love? These are just some of the thoughts that were racing through Ginny's mind as she passed by Draco in the hall that afternoon. As upon seeing him, she started walking faster, but not as fast as her heart was pounding. "Hermione!" Ginny called out after seeing her.

            Hermione stopped in her tracks, turned around, and walked casually toward Ginny. Before Hermione could even greet her, Ginny blurted out, "I saw him! But I blew it. Didn't even say 'hi'."

            "Ginny. It's okay! You will get to it eventually, I promise. I have to go to Defense Against the Dark Arts now. See you." Ginny nodded and sauntered off with a melancholy air to her.

            Finally, that night at dinner it happened. Ginny stood up as soon as she saw Draco start to walk out of the Great Hall and she followed him up the stairs. When he reached his common room, Ginny called out "Draco!" after him. He immediately spun around and his dark eyes settled upon her.

            "Yes?" he replied.

            "Umm, well," Ginny was finding this difficult as she raced through her mind searching for words. "Um, I just wanted to say that I am really sorry to hear about your father. I, um, hope you and your family are alright."

            Draco smiled solemnly and whispered, "Thanks". Then he walked into his room leaving a remorseful Ginny standing in the hall staring at the door. 'I shouldn't have brought up his father,' she thought sadly. 'But at least he knows I care.'

            That night Ginny fell asleep peacefully.

            Potions class was really tough the next day. They had to write an exceptionally long essay on the ingredients in a crystal ball. Ginny took advantage of the dazzling warm day by doing her essay during lunch by the shining lake. Every now and then she would watch the owls soar around the castle and the giant squid stick it's tentacles out of the lake. Her mind had been cleared ever since talking to Draco, so she could do the essay with ease. Unfortunately, later that day, when she saw Draco strolling down the stairs she became strikingly nervous and avoided eye contact. If she only would look up she would have noticed the smile he threw her way with the same longing she had when she looked at him.

            Ginny went for a few days without seeing Draco at all. He would take one route somewhere, and she would take the other. They ate at different times. They awoke in the morning and went to sleep at different times. When they finally saw each other after a few days, they made eye contact for less than a second, then hurried on their way, both embarrassed for no apparent reason.

            And so it went. Ginny loved Draco, but kept it to herself (besides Hermione) and everyday her heartache worsened. It hurt her not to be able to talk to Draco as she could with Harry and Hermione. And it hurt even worse to think that he probably didn't even like her.

            However, Draco was feeling the exact same way. He, on the other hand, kept more to himself since his father's death. Draco felt if he became to close to someone, if he loved them, he would only lose them. He hated pain, suffering, grief. But he hated not being able to talk to Ginny even more. He didn't know what brought him so unexpectedly toward Ginny, but he had seen her for years, and teased her for years. Now he had grown up and realized his true feelings for her. But after all of those years of taunting her, why couldn't he bring himself to say a simple 'hello' in the hallway?

            Ginny fell asleep that night on her Potions essay.