((A/N: … um… I…er….love you guys…? Don't hurt me, I'm updating it, aren't I?!))

Ginny hurried down the hallways, careful to avoid conversation with anyone. She simply wasn't in the mood to talk. She'd been late for potions, her hair and was a mess, she'd forgotten her textbook for D.A.D.A. and had had to run back to the dorm to get it consequently being late for that class as well, and then, to make matters worse, she'd dropped her last ink bottle all over her last pile of parchment. It soaked through every single sheet. To say the least, Ginny was having a bad day.

It was lunch time, and normally she would just go to the lunchroom and eat quietly, but right now, she was just too stressed. Any chatter would just bring her to tears. The trio passed by and Ginny slid behind a corner and pressed herself flat to the wall. They walked by without even noticing her. Soon, the hallways were empty. She wandered up and down them in silent contemplation, trying to calm down.

It wasn't long before she came to a long corridor with many beautiful paintings lining the walls. She put her bag down at the edge and began to walk, slowly examining the variety of techniques and styles. Suddenly, two arms encircled her from behind and she felt hot breath on her ear, causing chills to go down her spine. She didn't even need to turn to know who it was that smelled of that spicy, sharp scent.

"Draco," she breathed, unintentionally spoken so gently and lovingly. She felt him stiffen for a moment and squeezed her eyes tightly shut, afraid she'd frightened him…wanting to take it back. But just as quickly as his arms had stiffened, they relaxed and tightened the hug.

"Hullo, love," he whispered. She knew the nickname was a common pet name and didn't mean anything, but hearing it made her heart ache. Tears brimmed her eyes. She turned to look at him, trying to force them back.

"Ginny…?" he said upon seeing red eyes glistening. She lowered her head and her body shook with silent sobs. He lifted her face with one hand beneath her chin and felt his heart wrench when he saw tears staining her lovely, freckled cheeks. He pulled her close and held her tightly.

"What is it, love?" he asked softly. She turned her eyes to Draco and spilled out how much of a miserable day she had, finishing with the recent D.A.D.A. incident. "And then there's this guy I want to ask to the Masquerade but I can't get up the courage…to…ask…" she trailed off when she saw his blank, emotionless face. She had just mimicked the line she'd told so many girlfriends.

He burned with jealousy. So it wasn't him she liked. Perhaps she had only just seen the guy she'd wanted to ask and that's why she'd been so embarrassed when talking to him. He gave her a pat on the back, wiped the remaining tears from her eyes, and simply said "It'll be alright."

He took a deep breath. This hurt too much. "Hey, Weaslette, I gotta get going…just…take care of yourself." And then he left, leaving her there alone.

Draco sat on his bed, heart-broken and eating a box of chocolates his mother had sent him along with his dress robes for the upcoming Masquerade. Seeing the robes had only made another sharp pang travel through his body, numbing him for a moment. After the numbness had passed, his heart felt as though it had been punctured by a knife.

He began a letter to his mother, which read:

Dearest Mother-

Thank you for the chocolates and my robes. However, I'm afraid I might not be needing them. The Masquerade is just some foolish event that I'm not sure I wish to waste my time with. I might make an appearance, just for your sake, but that will probably be all. Thank you again.

Fondest Love and Affections,

Draco Malfoy

There, he thought sadly. That ought to get me by without needing to actually go. Draco closed his eyes and lay down on the bed after sending the letter off to his mother.

He awoke two hours later in darkness. He looked around and found no one else in the dorm yet. The night was still young. He closed his eyes and let silent tears fall for the first time in years. He thought of Ginny and how desperately he had wanted that fiery young girl to want him, to be his and his alone.

Harry and Ron were sitting in the hallway, talking, when they spotted Draco coming. Ron muttered under his breath "Ferret" as the other boy passed. Draco's inanimate gray eyes lifted slowly to glance at Ron, then to Ron's hair, but that was all. After the glance, the young Slytherin continued his heavy-hearted pace.

"That was odd…" Harry said. "Did you see him flinch when he saw your hair?"

"You think the flinch was odd? I think the silence, the lack of retaliation, the messy hair and red eyes were odd. Not to mention the fact that he was walking like he actually wasn't some snobby prat," Ron said back, but seemed to disregard it after that. He continued talking about Quidditch after only another moment. Hairy looked after Draco, his thoughts lasting slightly longer than his best friends, but soon also gave in to nonchalance and he began to prattle with the older brother of the object that gave Draco the look as though he'd been through Hell and back.

And in his heart, Draco thought, losing Ginny to some nameless boy was just that; a trip to Hell. However, coming back from Hell was something he considered would never happen. Not unless Ginny was his.

Ginny felt like a connection had been severed. Without Draco, she felt lost. She sat on her bed, holding her legs tightly. She felt the cold chill run down her neck, but she knew it wasn't a draft. The icy fingers began to massage her back and she closed her eyes, tears spilling instantly as she prayed she was dreaming.

"Where is the one who protects you now, Ginny? Hm?"

"Please go away," she whispered, her voice shaky.

"But Ginny, you promised me forever. It was only a little over 5 years ago, Ginny. Don't you remember, Ginny? Don't you?"

He kept repeating her name, knowing what effect it was having on her.

"Tom, I'm asking you to please leave…" she said, turning to him. He sat just behind her on her bed, closer to the pillows. He stared at her and began to crawl on all fours closer to her. She leaned back to get away from the impending kiss but found she could not. She lost her balance and fell down on the bed beneath him. He grinned down at her and pressed his entire body against her, leaving her incapable of escaping his kiss. This time, she knew Draco wouldn't, and couldn't, come to her rescue. She tried to scream. He broke the kiss long enough to let her, before chuckling and saying, "Don't you think I took precautions?" Her face paled. With the curtains closed, her bed became a room. And a room could be made sound proof. He pressed himself against her again and kissed her. She cried out as his mouth moved to her neck and began to nibble. She moaned in disgust, wanting him to stop. He looked down at her and realized how much she was obviously against him. He hissed.

"You will want me soon enough!" He changed again into a serpent and slithered around her body and then out of her bed. She dropped herself down into a pillow and sobbed. How would she be able to put on a happy face for the Masquerade tomorrow? She sobbed even harder when the Masquerade made her think of her lost love – Draco.