Chapter One:

It was the start of Winter and so without fail, Professor Snape was more of a git then ever. It wasn't a surprise, he was never happy when his students were. It was a known fact; and with the upcoming Yule Ball, things were as chaotic as ever. Snape had taken the liberty to assign the class loads of essays right before the Ball.

Ginny Weasley sat in the library that afternoon watching the snow fall. She was the only sixth year in her House that was going to do the work, because she wasn't going to the Ball. I need to keep myself busy. She thought and frowned. Her best friend, Hermione Granger was so absorbed in finding dress robes for the Ball that she was slipping with her work. This shocked Ginny and the entire Potions class greatly, but Snape just gave Hermione a detention.

"He's rotten." Ginny scowled at her parchment and damn near dropped the quill in her hand. She didn't realize how much she was trembling with anger until the quill did fall to the floor. She pushed her long crimson hair away from her eyes and knelt down to pick it up but suddenly stopped. Her eyes lingered on a pair of expensive black shoes, black pants, and a black shirt. Cold gray eyes met her brown ones and his lips curled.

"Finally groveling, are you Weasel?" Draco Malfoy spoke with such arrogance that she resisted the urge to smack him. It was difficult. He was a Slytherin and never faltered once when he insulted Ginny or the rest of her family.

"And give you the satisfaction of winning? Forget it...you should know that I don't bow for a prick with a rat for a father." She glared at him, though her lip trembled. He watched this action steadily and smirked.

"You should watch that mouth of yours...it may get you into more trouble then you think." His hand moved with a swift motion and her quill dropped back onto the table as his footsteps disappeared. She heard the door slam closed and let out a low grueling sigh. After sitting back down, she put her head in her hands and yawned. She glanced out the window and gasped. It was dark, and only the white of the snow illuminated the grounds. She needed to get back to her dorm, immediately or risk a detention. So she quickly gathered all of her books, placed her quill in between her teeth and headed for the door.

The hallway was quiet as she moved stealthily down it. She jumped as the torches lit in her passing and shrieked when something moved ahead of her. Stopping and flattening herself against the wall she shut her eyes. She could hear the footfalls coming. It's Filch...That was her first thought. But her answer came all too quickly when soft laughter struck her ears He stepped from the shadows and smiled cruelly at her, before he let her voice be heard.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? YOU COULD HAVE KILLED ME BY SCARING ME LIKE THAT!" Suddenly his hands shot out and pulled her against him. She started to struggle as he put his hand over her mouth. He was hissing at her while she was trying to fight him, but they both stopped momentarily and silenced. A soft mew rippled through the air and Ginny shut her eyes once more.

Hogwarts Caretaker, Filch was harboring this corridor with his faithful feline Mrs. Norris who never stopped to get students in trouble. Draco let her go and told her to stay where she was. She nodded stupidly and listened to the voices.

"Who's-Oh-Mr. Malfoy."

"Filch."

"Any sign of troublemakers, boy?"

"None."

"Aye. Professor Snape will finally be able to get some rest now without having to constantly check for disobedient students."

"That's our job..." Ginny could hear the bitterness in his voice as his spoke. She was thankful for what he did.

"Right then. Carry on."

"'Night sir." Heavy footfalls fell out of earshot as Draco came up beside Ginny, the ghostly paleness of his face made her squeak.

"Why didn't you report me?"

"Don't think yourself special Weasley. I only did it because I didn't feel like escorting a whiny little girl to the Headmaster's office, or her Head of Houses. Plus...I could really use with some—hey, are you listening?" His eyes lingered on her form before it hit him. She was sitting on the floor with her head lowered, hands placed delicately in her lap.

That was when he realized the clothing. Black tank top, and matching pants. Her dark hair fell in waves over her chest. He breathed out a long forgotten sigh before he did something incredibly stupid. Carefully, he picked her up and walked down the hall. Something told him that he couldn't just leave her here. By helping her with one thing he has already disgraced his father.

He didn't know what to do with her. He was afraid to bring her back to her portrait and leave her there. Since when is a Malfoy afraid? He ignored the voice and turned toward his common room.

Ginny awoke abruptly and looked around. This wasn't her room...it was...his. Her eyes lingered on the slumbering boy across the room. Draco was slumped in an armchair, head bent low, blonde hair slightly tousled. His eyes fluttered open and he yawned and looked up. His mouth opened and he yelped as he fell out of the chair and hit the floor with a thud.

"That looks like it hurt."

"No...really, it was wonderful."

She laughed. He tilted his head up at her. She was laughing; it was soft and sweet and so much like a child's. He shook his head and stood up.

"What am I doing here?" She asked, lifting herself from the bed and bringing her knees to her chest while she sat by the empty fireplace.

"You fell asleep last night I brought you here. You can leave now."

"No."

"Excuse me?" He whirled around and gapped at her. He watched her fingers tread through her hair and she turned her head slightly.

"Never had a request to stay, did you?"

"No." He flushed and pulled a shirt out of his closet. While buttoning it, he watched her.

"It's still early morning, Malfoy."

"Why aren't you sleeping then?" At this question, she didn't respond. The room had gone silent again, he walked forward and stood beside her form. Gently he knelt down; she was staring into the fireplace, he could see the pale of her face as the moon shone through the room.

"I never sleep anymore." The tone of her voice startled him. He nodded slowly and rose and sat on his bed. Something about her was different from any girl he had ever encountered. She spoke her mind and didn't take any bull. It was rather impressive.

"How come?"

"Nightmares."

I wonder what makes Ginny Weasley tick? I could open her up...she doesn't seem that frightened of me anymore.

"What kind of nightmares?"

"From my first year. You're telling me that you had no idea that your father put that diary in my cauldron when I was eleven?" His expression remained blank and Ginny looked away.

"He was the cause for it all. Tom would have killed me if Harry hadn't shown up. People had their speculations about you as well. Oh yes—they all thought you were involved. But you didn't know, did you?"

"I don't know anything anymore, not since my father was thrown into Azkaban."

"I knew for the longest time you weren't involved."

"How could you trust me?"

"Because I'm not like everyone else...I knew you weren't your father Draco."

"I never wanted to be."

"You've convinced one person. I think that's all you need. It'll all fall into place with time. They'll see." She smiled as he sat beside her again.

He stared at her for a moment before she leaned against him and settled her head on his shoulder. He started as her hand dropped onto his stomach and stayed motionless. Her breathing was slow but even. She was asleep. Gently he bent down and kissed her head.

"We'll show them...together." He whispered as his own eyes shut.

(Author's Note: I don't know if that was decent enough to be put up, but I'm hoping.)