A/N: Just wanted to let you all know, I have a race later today and tomorrow, so most likely you won't get another chapter till Monday. *cringes* Sorry, but I'll try to make up for it will a really good chapter.

Chapter 16

Trunks were un-shrunk and unpacked in a matter of moments. Everyone was eager to get on with things.

As soon as they were finished, McGonagall called everyone to her again.

"Okay, what we're going to go over first is a bit of your basic navigation equipment and how to use it. First, we have the compass. Does everyone know how to use one?"

Ginny and Draco, among others, nodded, but their were a few students, including Neville, who had no idea. They were used to using their wands, but Ginny had actually learned how to use the muggle device from her father, who had acquired one in some way or the other from work and brought home to experiment with. It could be quite useful, but what was the point-"

Someone else voiced Ginny's question. "Professor, why can't we just use our wands?"

McGonagall pursed her lips. "Because, Davidson, it could mean your survival in the wilderness. What if you are surrounded by muggles- however unlikely that seems- and cannot use your wand in front of them? Or what if it gets broken-"

McGonagall hesitated, and Ginny bit her lip to keep from laughing. It was a good thing she hadn't, Draco was glaring daggers at her. Apparently, it was still a sore spot.

McGonagall continued. "The point is, you might find yourself in a circumstance where this knowledge will help you, so you will learn it. Understood?"

The Hufflepuff boy nodded, taken a bit taken back.

"Good. Now then-" McGonagall went on to explain how a compass worked, and how you told directions with it. Then she pulled out folded piece of parchment. "This is a map of the area as it was 1,000 years ago. Part of your required project will be an essay that compares this map with the new one that you will have to draw."

There were a few quick intakes of breath, and Ginny gulped. That sounded like an enormous project all by itself, not to mention the other things they would have to do…

"However," McGonagall was saying, "You will not need to worry about that today. We will touch upon it later. Today, we will simply divide into groups of three and scout the area around our campsite and learn about some of the vegatation and wildlife we see. When we return, we'll go over some of the techniques of map-making, and then I will pass out a worksheet that will ask questions based on what we learn today. Any questions?"

Draco's hand shot into the air, as if he'd only been waiting for McGonagall to pause for breath before he began antagonizing her again.

"Yes, Mr. Malfoy?"

"When's lunch?"

*****************

Lunch, it seemed was already prepared for them that day (McGonagall un-shrunk it), but she warned them as they ate that over the next few weeks they would have to learn to find most of their food themselves. It was not a very exciting thought.

So far Draco hadn't seen any berry trees, and he was not, under any circumstances, eating fish, as McGonagall had hinted they might do. He hated fish.

He was also beginning to hate beautiful red-heads who wouldn't get out of his head. He'd gave it a go, she'd rejected him. Game over. Okay, maybe that wasn't a good choice of words…But the point was, he'd gone after her, and she hadn't wanted him. He'd failed. And Draco hated, hated, to fail. He even hated failure more than he hated fish.

But what could he do about it? The deal was done, fate had decided. Hadn't she? Draco remembered a little phrase his father was quite fond of saying when people would mention "unchangeable circumstances". We make our own fate.

Before, Draco had never really thought about what it meant, but now…What if it was true? After all, fate couldn't do everything could she? Maybe he should help her out.

If only there weren't so many people around, he'd try to talk to her. But Pansy was plastered to his side, and it would be no easy task to remove her. But-he'd find some way.

His resolve strengthened, and he found himself seeking Ginny's gaze. She turned, as if she'd felt his eyes, and he winked at her.

Ginny blinked stupidly. What the-?

And Draco turned away again, grinning. He was going to get her back, somehow, someway. Maybe they would be put in the same group…?

Not a chance. McGonagall had finally wised up, and when it came time to divide the students, Ginny and Draco were placed apart. And no one could blame the Professor at all, even though Draco really wanted to.

They set off, and Draco trailed behind the other two students in his group. The boy, a Ravenclaw, led the way and Ally, the blonde haired girl who shared a room at the inn with Ginny, followed him, glancing back at Draco occasionally to see if he was coming. And for something else. Draco felt her eyes on him, and a chill crept up his spine. Something about her eyes…

Ally fell into step beside him after a few minutes, and her probing gaze forced Draco to look up.

"What?" he asked, irate.

"What did you do to her?"

"Huh?" What did he do to who? Oh. She meant Ginny. "What did I do to her! I think you've got it backwards."

"Oh really," Ally asked sarcastically, "then why did she come into our room so angry she was crying? Would you like to explain that one?"

Draco said nothing. No he was not going to explain anything to a nosy, bossy girl he didn't even really know. Then again, it might make him feel a little better to get it off his chest…

Before he knew it, Draco was spilling everything out to her. She was a good listener, who sighed, gasped, and groaned at all the right places, and Draco realized he really did feel better. Especially when she sympathized with him for the way Ginny had reacted. Normally he would loathe sympathy, but today, he needed it.

And the best part was, Ally promised to talk to Ginny and see if she couldn't get her to come around, maybe talk to him again.

Conversation over, Ally sprinted on ahead to catch up with Paul, which Draco found out was the Ravenclaws name, and he was left to enjoy the scenery by himself. Not that there was much to enjoy, with his head bowed in though all he saw was the ground.

And maybe that's when things started to go wrong. They couldn't have been more than a mile from camp when Draco suddenly realized that the sound of voices had faded. Glancing up, he looked around for any sign of his companions, but the only thing that was visible were the tall, dark trees of the forest surrounding him.

A bit nervous, he called out. First Ally's name, then Paul's. There was no answer. He turned to look back the way he'd come, but to his untrained eyes, the trail was indistinguishable from the rest of the ground. He could have used the sun to judge his direction, if only he could see it through the thick trees. And he might even have been able to find his way back using his wand, if only Ginny hadn't broken it.

But he couldn't, and she had, so Draco found himself looking apprehensively out into the gigantic forest that seemed to have swallowed him up.

He was officially lost.

********************************

Ginny followed her classmate and the Professor through the forest, her mind only half there. McGonagall had the map, and she was the teacher, so she let her lead, and trudged along behind, thinking.

Draco had winked at her. What was with that? It was like that first day of school all over again, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't keep her heart from pounding and her breath catching in her throat.

She was pathetic.

Leave it to me to fall in love with the first boy I kiss…

No, wait, she did not just think that.

And it wasn't even a very good kiss…

Stop that!

Her mind was screaming at her to wake up, but her heart was saying she just had. But she couldn't love him, could she.

Ginny groaned out loud, her head in her hands. She couldn't, but she did.

You'd think she'd have learned her lesson wouldn't you? I mean, he'd already played her-successfully-twice, and here she was, opening herself up for attack even more. Stupid. Idiot. Moron…She went through all the worst names she could think of and called herself that. Some people never learned.

But-the previous night came back to her, and she remembered Draco's voice: Ginny, I didn't mean it that way. I swear I didn't-

Then, she'd wanted to hate him for lying. Now, she wanted to believe it was true.

I'm so mixed up, she thought helplessly. It's not supposed to be like this. Cupid's supposed to hit your with a little arrow and you fall in love and live happily ever after. Not this…well, I'm not sure what this is, but it's not happily anything.

It was only then that she looked up, realizing she hadn't heard the sound of voices or branches breaking except the ones she stepped on. Surely the Professor and that Davidson boy hadn't gotten that far ahead of her…

But they were gone, that much was obvious. Completely out of sight.

Uh oh.

Ginny glanced around frantically, realizing that they really weren't there. Nothing looked back at her except the trees on all sides. Dark, mysterious figures that reminded her of the ones in the Forbidden Forest. Ginny shivered. A cold, icy sweat breaking out on her brow. This was so not good.

She called out, hoping that someone would hear her, but no one answered.

How could this have happened? She was lost in the middle of the Himalaya mountains!

And she didn't even have a map.

A/N: So…here we go. I'll give you three guesses about who's going to "accidentally" meet up in the forest, and the first two don't count. Think you can manage? Lol.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter:

Aidenfire: Was this a little more interesting…?

Draco~Gin*gurl: Yeah, you're right. I think. Lol.

Hallee87: Thanks

Marybecca: Training wasn't as big a thing as you thought, was it? *grins* Rock climbing…there's an idea. Maybe I'll use it, if you don't mind.

Heather: Thank you, and yes, I do.

Meadow A: Thanks. Now what was that about a blackout? I live in Kentucky, and nothing happened here. What caused it?

The Totally Sarcastic Sprite: Lol. I end up saying that a lot to you, don't I?

Dragonsprincess: You like a broody Draco? Sometimes I think he's a bit annoying when he's like that myself, but maybe that's because I have to write him! *grins* And yes, Ginny has her wand back now, and you'll find out why later. Sometime. In chapter 20 something maybe. *shrugs*

Kneh13: Yeah, I decided to do a bit of a different take on McGonagall. The lady can't always be so overbearing and strict can she? Especially not when she's stuck on her own with a load of kids.

LiBlackDragon: Thanks.

Forbidden: Doesn't it though?

Also, I wanted to run an idea by you guys. Basically, I'm thinking of starting a new fic when I finish this one, but this story will have a twist. To begin with, I'll think of a simple plot, and write and post the first chapter. Sounds ordinary, correct? The twist is, at the end of each chapter, I'll ask you guys, the readers, to decide what should happen next. You will get to choose from a couple of options and leave your vote in a review. In a certain amount of days (not sure how many yet) I'll count them and whichever option has the most votes is the one I'll use to write the next chapter. So in a way, it's like you all help me write the story. It's almost like the "Choose your own Adventure" books, except in this case, the characters you make decisions for will be Draco and Ginny. So let me know what you think, even if you think it's stupid. That's why I'm putting this here, after all; to learn everyone's opinion.

Thanks!