Chapter 12

A/N: Yes, I know it's been four days since my last update, and I apologize for that. I've been very busy. But I'm back now, and I should be able to update daily again.

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Actually, as it turned out, the inn wasn't nearly as bad as it had looked from a distance. The outside was a little rough, like the rest of the surrounding habitations, but the inside was clean, and there was the tantalizing aroma of warm food in the air as they piled in through the single door.

They walked down a short hallway which opened into a good-sized common room, where the smell of smoke and wine hung heavy in the air. Obviously, like most old-fashioned inns that Ginny had heard of, the place doubled as a pub.

They were immediately greeted by a short, plump women of about McGonagall's age, who greeted the Professor warmly.

"Ah, you're 'ere early love, wasn't expecting you 'til this afternoon," she said in a pleasant, if somewhat deep, voice. Her mousy-brown curls shook slightly as she smiled at all of them in turn like old friends and motioned with her hand for them to come in.

Ginny studied her thoughtfully. She seemed nice enough. She smiled back.

"I expect you'll all be wanting to settle into yer rooms 'bout now," she told them. "Come right along this way, I'll take you there."

They followed her across the room obediently, and up a flight of stairs, their packs floating slowly behind them.

Not one of the other people in the inn so much as blinked.

"Wizard town," she heard one Hufflepuff boy whisper. "Like Hogsmeade."

The girl he was talking to nodded.

A long hallway met them at the top of the stairs, branching off in either direction. The innkeeper pointed to the left and then to the right. "Those bedrooms for the girls, those for the boys. Two to a room. Minerva, you have the room at the end of the girls' hallway for yourself."

The students immediately separated, each anxious to claim the best room for themselves.

"Thank you, Maddy," McGonagall addressed the other women gratefully. "I'm so glad you were able to find places for us here,"

"Not a problem, love," the other- who Ginny was quite sure by now was a witch too, though she had not showed any outward signs- replied cheerfully. "Now you'll probably want to get settled in, and I have other guests to attend to. Dinner starts being served downstairs at six o'clock, and is provided free with the rooms."

With that, she turned and went cheerfully back down the stairs, humming to herself.

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Draco wanted the room and the very end of the hallway. Draco got the end at the very end of the hallway. And what was more, was that he got the room at the end of the hallway by himself.

No one protested. No one dared, with the mood he'd been in lately, even though it meant that the other three boys had to share a room between them.

Draco's trunks followed him through the door, then hung there, floating silently. Draco reached in his pocket, before remembering his wand wasn't there. And it wasn't there because she'd broken it.

Foul temper rising, he stalked down the corridor to the other side and banged on one of the doors.

Ally, the short, pretty blond from Hufflepuff answered.

"Yes?" she asked, looking him up and down, her expression slightly wary. And it was no wonder.

"Is Gin-I mean, is Weasley in there?"

The girl's eyes narrowed. "No, she's in the next room over."

Without a reply, or even a nod, Draco left.

Ally closed the door quickly, and swung around, arms crossed.

"What was that all about, she asked Ginny, who had just come out of hiding behind the door, where she'd jumped to at Malfoy's knock.

Ginny wasn't sure how, but she'd just know that it was him, and her instinct had been correct. And she hadn't wanted to see him just then. In fact, she didn't she wanted to see him at all after that stunt he pulled…

Not that that kiss had meant anything, it hadn't. It couldn't have.

So why did it? Just thinking about it made her shiver, and she wrapped her arms around herself, her eyes blank as she remembered the way it had felt.

"Hello, earth to Ginny. Are you there?" Ally's hand waving in front of her face brought her back.

"Huh? What?"

"I said, what was all that about? You could have just talked to him, he's going to come back in a minute anyhow." Ally studied her friend closely, her sharp eyes taking in every fleeting expression that crossed Ginny's face.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "You're scared of him, aren't you?"

"WHAT!" Ginny burst out before she could stop herself. "Are you crazy? Of course I'm not scared of him. He's only a Malfoy."

Ally just grinned. "Exactly. And it's not that I blame you-"

"I'm not scared," Ginny said repeated.

A loud knock sounded at the door, and the two girls looked at each other.

"Prove it," Ally told her with a knowing smile.

"I will!" Defiantly, she slung the door open.

Draco stared back at her, face livid. "You lied-" he began, then stopped, realizing it wasn't Ally who had answered the door.

Darting a quick glance behind her, he sent a nasty glare towards the Hufflepuff girl, but she pretended not to notice.

Then he turned back to Ginny. "You, come with me," he ordered.

"Like hell," Ginny retorted, casting a triumphant glance at Ally to show that she really wasn't afraid.

"Like hell or not you're coming," Draco told her fiercely, gripping her arm and steering her out of the room.

This was a bit much even for Ally to sit by and watch. "Hey, leave her alone!" she called angrily, starting forward.

Draco's glare stopped her. "She'll be returned in one piece, I promise. I just need assistance, since she broke my wand."

"I wouldn't blame her if she broke something else on this trip too," Ally stated. "Like an overblown ego for one thing."

"You," Draco said hatefully, "stay out of this." He started towards the door again, but Ginny stopped him.

"If that's what you wanted, then maybe you'd be so kind as to remember that I don't have a wand either."

Draco stopped mid-stride, looking down at her in what might have been surprise. "Oh."

"Yes, oh," Ginny said, jerking her arm out of his grip. "But, maybe if you'd ask a little nicer, Ally could help you."

Draco turned to look at the other girl, who was watching them both closely.

"No," she said immediately. "But I will let Ginny use my wand to help you. If you apologize to her first. For everything."

"And I'll only help if you apologize to Ally as well."

Draco stared at both of them, incredulous. What were they, crazy? It was bad enough they had asked for one apology, but to demand two?!!

Neither girl moved, as they waited for him to decide.

"I think I'll get one of the boys to help me," he said finally.

Was it his imagination, or did Ginny look a little disappointed?

But the Gryffindor didn't protest. "Fine, she told him with a sigh, "your loss."

The last was said so softly that Draco wasn't even sure he had heard it. But as he walked out of the room, he felt a small, aching feeling take hold in the pit of his stomach, and he suddenly knew without a doubt that she had meant more with those two words than it seemed. Even if he hadn't quite figured out what yet.

A/N: So what's next for Draco and Ginny? Will they ever realize that they're meant for each other? And who will decide to make the first move? Next chapter, I promise. (and I should know, consider it's already written!)

Thanks to my reviewers, you're all great!

Libby: Thanks for reviewing, I hope this chapter answered your questions.

Kneh13: Yeah, Draco and manual labor really don't mix too well, do they? But he survived.

Forbidden: When do you try to write? My best ideas always come to me in the middle of the night, while I'm trying to go to sleep. I absolutely have to get up and write them down then or I forget. So if that happens to you, just go ahead and write them down if possible, and work on it more the next day.

LuLuDucky: Thank you.

Hallee87: I'm glad you liked that part. And there ought to be more kissing soon, even though you can't really tell it in this chapter…

Swaummyjs06: Ginny probably will do something like that, but exactly what…well, I haven't completely worked that out yet. And yes, you can request a catfight. That doesn't mean I'll be able to fit it in, but I'll see!

LiBlackDragon: What do you think? I think games can't last forever… *grins*

Loony-luna32- Good.

Evilryokojesseandfiend: Glad you think so.

Stubbornarse: Yeah, you liked that part! I guess it was kind of funny, lol.

Meadow A: You thought it was realistic? Good, cause I sort of wondered…

Amanda: Yes, I've got another one! Lol.

Pokey2: Ooh, you'll like what coming up!

Dragonsprincess: Yes, I suppose he is. Glad you liked it.

QoF: Lol, I know what you mean, I think I'm addicted to. They're like the only fics I read anymore.

Heather: No problem, I'll email you. Thanks for your review.

Aidenfire: Ooh, that would be a good twist, wouldn't it? Thanks for the idea, I'll have to see if I can come up with something.

Shelleekitten: Thanks.

Emerald Storm 1: You like him that way? *grins* Sometimes I do to. But he can't stay that way forever…Or can he?

The Totally Sarcastic Sprite: Okay, calm down there, Sprite. Hopefully I've appeased you some with this chapter. :::winks:::

XoSexyLilHuniXo: Thank you so much. I'm really glad you like my writing style, as well as the story itself. Hopefully, if I can ever get an original book written (and finished!) I'll have a chance at becoming a real author.

Jane: Yes, what will they do…You're going to find out in the next chapter!