Ginny walked into class still in a daze, floating to her seat just as Professor McGonagall strode in, effectively silencing all of Colin's questions. Throughout the entire period Colin shot her many questioning looks, and even dared to slip her a note. To none of these did she respond. She simply sat there staring into space, with the expression of one who had sent he Devil himself help an old lady across the street and then offer to carry her bags home for her. Professor McGonagall obviously noticed as well, because she scrutinized Ginny from the corner of her eye the entire class, but left her alone. When the class ended Ginny was the first out of the door, and to the Great Hall. It was only when Ron, Harry and Hermione walked in that she broke from her reverie. Staring at the food on her plate, she absently picked up her fork and began to push the food around her plate listlessly. Some one placed a hand on her shoulder, making her jump and jerk around. Excitement bloomed on her face, until she saw who the hand was attached to.
"Hullo, Colin." She muttered turning back to her food. Hurt by the completely indifferent attitude he walked silently around the other side of the table and sat down across from her. Ginny ignored him once again playing with her food. Ron opened his mouth to say something, when Hermione kicked him not too lightly in under the table shaking her head no. It wasn't until Ginny started flicking rice at her goblet did anyone say anything.
"Umm, Ginny, what are you doing?" Harry asked hesitantly. Ginny ignored him and continued flicking the rice. She had only managed to get a few grains into the goblet the rest lay littered around it's base. After one overly hard flick that landed a grain of rice on Colin's forehead, Hermione went and sat down next to her.
"Ginny, what's going on? You're really worrying us. Please tell me." Seeing the concern on Hermione's face, Ginny sighed.
"It's this whole thing with Draco. I'm really confused and ... and ... Oh, I don't know. It's too complicated." Anger clouded the boys faces. Harry's eyebrows knit together, and Ron looked like he could have taken on a Hippogriff. She sighed again and felt a prickling sensation between her shoulder blades. Straightening slowly she froze as the tingling intensified. She had always had the ability to sense when someone was watching her, her mother said it came from years of watching other She turned and gazed around the room, her eyes finally landed on the Slytherin table. She saw Draco staring penetratingly at her, as though he could see into her mind and was sorting through her thoughts as he stared. A small smile passed over her lips and she noticed a small movement on his. Turning back to the people sitting around her she found faces like thunderheads.
"Oh, no. It's not like that!" She said horrified "No, he hasn't done anything. Not yet, and I don't think he will. And with everything that's been going on and when he said ... Then with the trip ... It's all too confusing." When she look to her friends for a response, all she saw was confusion. Except on the part of Colin who looked only slightly less confused.
"Umm, Gin, in the nicest possible way, what the bloody hell are you talking about?" Harry asked totally befuddled. Ginny knit her eyebrows together and launched into the story of the events that had taken place in the last week.
"...And then this morning he apologised to me for ... everything, then asked if he could make I up to me by taking me to Hogsmeade." She finished and stared nervously down at her plate.
"So?" Harry asked "What did you say? You did say no right? I mean it's Malfoy for Merlin's sake!" Ginny blushed furiously and mumbled something into her hair.
"Ginny please tell me you said no, please?" Harry asked again.
"I-I can't do that, Harry." Ginny replied taking a large gulp from her pumpkin juice. Hastily spitting it back out she examined her goblet which was now filled with rice. Looking up bewilderedly around the table she saw Fred and George shaking with silent laughter anfew seat down. Ginny turned , mildly annoyed, to her friends and raised an eyebrow. Colin shrugged apologetically and she sighed pushing the goblet away from her.
"But, Gin, why not? It's a simple question really." Ron said obviously not getting the hints she had dropped. Ginny blushed again wondering what she had done to deserve the thickest brothers in the world.
"I won't lie to you guys, Ron. And I hope you all will understand why I'm doing this too." Ginny replied quietly. Ron's face turned a dangerous shade of maroon. He looked like he was about to launch into a screaming session that would match a Howler, when Hermione placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked at her for a second and took a deep breath.
"Ginny, please don't tell me you said you'd go." Said Harry softly. Ron opened his mouth at her lack of immediate response, and most likely would have started yelling had Hermione not hissed "Silencio!" Ron's mouth worked furiously as he gestured emphatically at his mouth and Hermoine's wand. Hermione pretended not to understand and ignored him. Finally he sank sulkily to his seat, arms crossed over his chest like a two year old who had been refused his favourite candy.
"Then I won't Harry." She replied finally, an obstinately.
"Why in Merlin's name did you do that in? that was incredibly stupid of you, you know!" Harry growled. Ginny turned to stare at him.
"I expected this from Ron, but not from you Harry. You're the one whose always saving people, and giving them chances. I really thought you'd understand about this. Is that what you think to Hermione? Am I being incredibly stupid to you to?" Ginny fairly shouted at them.
"No. Ginny, I just think that maybe you should reconsider-"hermione began. "RECONSIDER WHAT??" Ginny screamed "MY FRIENDSHIP TO YOU ALL? MOST DEFINETLY!! THE TRIP? NO YOU'VE FIRMLY MADE UP MY MIND IN THE MATTER! I'M GOING!!!" With that she stormed out of the Great Hall, oblivious to the stares that followed her.

A few minutes before, at the Slytherin table...
Draco walked slowly into the Great Hall, a bit behind Ginny, watching her. Sitting down at the Slytherin table, he continued to watch her, resting his chin on one fist. He was considering going over and talking to her when Hogwarts' Holy Trinity entered. Potter at the front, as usual, with Weasel, and the Mudblood bickering behind him. Only when they sat down did Ginny break from her trance-like state. Watching her push her food around her plate lethargically he blinked. This was not her usual behaviour, most of the time she was joking and laughing right along with the Dream Team. Today there was nothing. Then Colin came in ad walked up behind her, placing a hand on her right shoulder. Suddenly she came to life whipping around excitement plain on her face. However, upon seeing Colin she drifted back into her emotionless, expressionless state. Who exactly was she expecting, or hoping it to be, he mused. Just then some one came up behind him and hissed "Boo!" He jumped. He hadn't even heard them coming up behind him. Turning he saw Marcus Flint grinning snidely, his arms crossed over his chest.
"So, Malfoy, how's your little project doing?" Flint sneered. Draco sneered back at him, and, even if he did say so himself, his sneer was far superior to Flints pitiful attempt.
"Just fine, Flint. Getting cold feet about the bet are we? Is it too much for you poor little wallet? Is it?" He taunted. Flint scowled at Draco. Then an evil glint came into his eyes.
"How'd you like to make this a little more interesting, Malfoy?" he now had a maniacal look on his face. Draco was immediately cautious.
"What did you have in mind?" He asked as cockily as he could. The grin seemed to falter a little, then was back full force.
"Oh, nothing much. Just upping the anti a bit. How's about you have got to get her to actually fall in love with you, and say it. And it can't be like when that cow Parkinson says it just to get in your pants it's got to be for real. And I need proof. Oh, and lets say the wagers is now, oh, I don't know, one hundred Galleons. Right, see you in class Draco." Marcus snarled nastily, grinning as though Christmas had come early. Staring down at his pate Draco contemplated this new twist. How could he, a slimy Slytherin, get her, the noble Gryffindor, to truly love him? This contest was getting more and more personal, he had to have he ultimate trophy, at least ... that's why he told himself he was going through with it. Nothing more, nothing less, strictly keeping up his image. Either way making her love him would be ... "RECONSIDER WHAT?" He jerked up and stared vaguely around the room. Upon seeing a wild red-headed figure storming out of the Great Hall he quickly got up and followed her out.
Jogging lightly down the corridor, he stopped and listened. Hearing her footsteps echoing from the Entrance hall, Draco hurried after her. When he got to the Entrance Hall he scanned the room quickly looking for a glimpse of fiery red hair to direct him. Seeing no one, however he thrust open the gigantic double doors just in time to see Ginny stumbling around the edge of Hagrid's Hut. Dashing after her he rounded the corner as she disappeared into the Forbidden Forest, and checking to see that he wasn't seen, quickly followed suit.
Walking as quietly as he could into the Forest he came upon a clearing a little ways in. In the middle of the clearing lay a small boulder, on which sat a forlorn little figure, shaking uncontrollably from the sobs that racked it's tiny form. Coming up behind it he swung himself up next to the figure and wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders. She leaned into his body and cried silently.