Chapter 4- Hogsmeade

When Hermione walked into the hospital wing she saw Ginny sitting by Draco, their hands clasped together.

'Hello Malfoy,' Hermione said coolly.

'Granger,' Draco said, inclining his head. Hermione sat in a chair at the foot of the bed. She was on 'Ginny's side', but she still didn't want to get close to Draco after all those years.

'They didn't give you any trouble did they?' Ginny asked. Hermione could see that she had been crying, but she was doing well to hold back the tears now.

'No, no. It's ok Ginny.'

'Hermione, I'm so sorry.'

'You've done nothing wrong. It's those stubborn, pig-headed guys. They should just forgive and move on, but they're set in their ways.

'Mmmmm,' Draco said.

'I'll leave you two alone now. If you want me, I'll be in the library ok Ginny?'

'Ok. Bye Mione.' Ginny couldn't help smiling as Hermione left for her beloved library.

'Her and that library huh?' Draco said.

'I think she might get married in it one day,' Ginny said, grinning.

'So...................................where do want to go when we get to Hogsmeade?'

'Hogsmeade?' Ginny asked in surprise.

'Yeah, there's a trip to Hogsmeade tomorrow. Didn't you hear about it?'

'No, I didn't. We're having a lot of trip s to Hogsmeade lately,' she replied.

'Yeah, but the last time was so everyone could buy what they wanted for the dance,' Draco mused.

'I suppose so. I don't really mind where we go. You choose.'

'Ah well. We'll see when we get there,' he said, eyes glinting.

'What are you thinking Draco?' Ginny noticed the hint of mischief in his eyes.

'Oh nothing. I just think I should buy you something, that's all.'

'Oh no, you don't have to do that,' Ginny blushed. She knew that Draco was pretty 'well-off' and she felt embarrassed that she probably wouldn't be able to buy him anything in return.

'Yes I do,' Draco replied quietly.

'Besides, are you sure you're up to going?'

'Are you kidding? I'd get out of this bed right now if it were on today. I just thought I may as well stay in here, it's private and we can see each other without raising eyebrows.'

Ginny laughed. 'What am I going to do with you Draco?'

'I don't know Ginny. What would you like to do with me?' Draco asked with a straight and serious face.'

'Cheeky!' She sniffed and pointed her nose up in the air in the pretence of being snooty. ' Well I should leave you to get some rest,' she added and got up from her chair.

'See you tomorrow, Ginny,' Draco said as she walked off. Ginny turned her head back towards him, her hair flying around her face as she did so. She smiled at him

'Yeah, tomorrow. If you excuse me, I just have to go and pay a little visit to Nancy Phillips.'

Ginny found Nancy at lunchtime. She was talking and giggling with the rest of the group.

'Oh Ginny, there you are,' Nancy said smugly. 'I suppose you haven't heard. Michael and I are going out.' Michael was one of the hottest guys in their year and he scarily resembled Cedric Diggory.

'Right. That's great Nancy. Well, that's not what I've come to talk to you about,' Ginny said with more confidence than she felt.

'Oh?' Nancy asked, eyebrows rising to her hairline.

'Yes. I've come to tell you that I can't complete the dare you've given me...............'

'Really?' Nancy asked with interest.

'Yes, really,' Ginny replied, grinding her teeth.

#Like what's with all the short questions? Can't she just let me explain already?!# 'You're well aware that you still have just under a week to complete it?'

'Yes.......................................'

'And that you will be kicked out from the group should you refuse to complete it?'

'Nancy, frankly I no longer give a shit about this stupid game. If I have to do a stupid dare to be considered a friend in this group, then I'll gladly leave, because that's not friendship is all about.'

'And may I ask WHY you can't finish the dare. You only have one guy left.'

'That's right.'

'And? What's the reason?'

'I can't dump someone I'm in love with,' Ginny said simply.

'You? In love with Draco Malfoy?!

'Yes, as a matter of fact. And I am NOT going to dump him.'

'Well, if that is your decision, you're no longer a member of the group.' Ginny's friend, Danielle, looked horrified.

'Well, if she is no longer in this group, then neither am I!' Danielle said, standing up in protest.

'Me neither,' said Grace. Ginny smiled at them both with gratitude.

'Fine. If anyone else feels the same way, I think she should leave too,' sniffed Nancy. There was a moment of silence. You could have cut the tension with a knife. Eventually, Ginny got up and began to walk away. Grace and Danielle followed.

'You're right Ginny,' Grace said, eye downcast in shame. 'That's not what friendship is all about. We shouldn't have pursued the game to the extent we did.'

'Yeah, it started out being fun and all, but then the dares just got worse,' Danielle chimed in.

'I know. Still....................I would have like to give Nancy a really bad dare to get her back,' Ginny sighed.

'Yeah, it would have been interesting to give her a taste of her own medicine,' Grace said bitterly.

'I wonder if anyone else will leave the group,' said Danielle.

'Nah, I don't think so. They'd probably be too scared to give up begin popular.'

'I know, wanna come to the library with me and find a way to curse her?' Grace asked in an excited way. Ginny looked at her in surprise.

'Well, Grace. This is certainly a side of you I've never glimpsed before.'

'I have my moments,' Grace replied, putting on a pompous expression. They all laughed in unison.

'No, don't get me wrong, I'd love to join you, but I think I might go to see Draco again.'

'So........................it is true. You are in love with each other.'

Ginny smiled to herself. 'Yes. I never would have thought it possible. He's just, so different. I'm even more surprised that I fell in love with him so quickly. But I have to admit..................................................'

'What?'

'He IS a good kisser.' They laughed again.

'How does Harry feel about it all? He's liked you for ages,' Danielle said.

Ginny's voice turned as cold as steel. 'I'd rather not talk about him. He's been a real arsehole to me ever since the Dance- after party.'

'Who would have thought it, huh? Well catch you later Ginny. Tell me all the details later.'

'Bye guys.' And so they parted.

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The next day, excited Hogwarts students bustled into Hogsmeade. Draco and Ginny set their stroll at a leisurely pace and walked through the crowd clasping hands and smiling.

'Draco?'

'Mmmmm?'

'Have you told your father about us?' Draco was silent for a few minutes.

'No,' he finally said quietly. 'Believe me I want to, I want to so badly, I just don't know how to do it. What about you? Have you told your parents?'

'No,' Ginny admitted 'I'm faced with the same problem. Our situation is not so different from that of Romeo and Juliet is it?' The corners of Draco's mouth quirked slightly, hinting his amusement 'I imagine my brother will no doubt tell my parents about us anyway,' Ginny added as an afterthought.

'I can understand why he doesn't approve. Still....' His voice trailed off. He brought Ginny's hands up to his lips and kissed it gently. She smiled at him and moved to walk closer to him.

'It doesn't matter anyway,' Ginny said. 'I think I'll spend my holidays at Hogwarts. It'll give me some more time to avoid my family.'

'I'll stay with you,' Draco said, putting his arm around her shoulders. 'Now, let's move on to talk about a happier subject shall we?' Ginny smiled at him again. 'I said I was going to buy you something didn't I?'

Ginny flushed, 'Well, yes, you did..........but you really don't need to.....'

'But I want to. We'll get a drink first though. It's rather cold out here.' And so they walked into the Three Broomsticks and were lucky enough to find a spare table. 'Butterbeer?' Draco asked suggestively.

'Yes thank you,' Ginny replied.

While Draco went to order the drinks, Ginny felt someone's eyes on her. She followed the direction of the tingling sensation spindling down her back. She half turned and saw Harry watching her with an extremely sour expression on his face. Hermione was seated next to him and was sitting very quietly, eyes cast downwards to the floor whilst Ron appeared to making something of an apology. Ginny sympathised with her but she dared not go over to where they were sitting.

Soon Draco returned with the drinks and they sat there, sipping and talking about all the things that interested them. After the butterbeer had thawed out all the cold from their bodies and made them feel all warm and fuzzy inside, the got up and went outside once more.

'I think I've decided what to get you,' Draco said, looking sideways at Ginny.

'Oh really?' Ginny asked with a quick raising and lowering of one eyebrow.

'Mmmmmmmmmmmmhmmmmmmmmmmmmm,' Draco replied. 'But I want it to be a surprise.'

'Oh?' So I take it that I can't come with you.'

'Clever girl,' Draco smirked. 'Would you mind just waiting here for a few minutes while I nip into the shop to get it?' They had by now stopped outside the Shrieking Shack. Ginny shivered.

'It's kind of creepy here,'

'You're not AFRAID are you?' Draco chided.

'No,' Ginny replied quickly. Draco smiled again.

'You know I won't let anything happen to you,' he said seriously. 'I promise. Not your brother or anyone.'

Ginny looked at his solemn face into his clear eyes. She had always thought them to be grey until she had looked properly. Words could not express what she found in the depths of them. Love, warmth beyond measure. She sighed happily.

'I believe you,' she smiled. Then added, 'Draco Malfoy,' raising her chin in an effort of acting pompous, 'You are now my chief protector.' They burst out laughing.

'Alright, just stay here and I'll be back in a minute,' he said, turning to go.

'Oh Draco?'

'Yes Ginny?'

'You've forgotten something,' she said, half-smiling. She smirked as she saw the look of confusion on Draco's face.

'What have I forgotten?'

Ginny frowned slightly. 'To say good bye,' she sniffed.

'Oh yes,' Draco smiled. 'How silly of me. Of course,' he came over to her and embraced her pressing his lips against hers. It was what one might call a 'marsh-mellow' kiss. It started off slow, then a slight parting of the lips and then soft traces of the tongue entering the other's mouth. As sweet as a marsh-mellow melting in you mouth. Ginny had both hands around his muscular neck and his hands were slowly travelling ever downwards.

'Alright?' he asked kissing her neck once. 'May I take m leave?' he kissed it again.

'Mmmmm, yes. But don't be too long.' Draco quickly kissed her on the cheek and then walked briskly away, whistling as he went.

# Oh he's so ADORABLE!!!#

Ginny lifted herself up to perch on the fence outside the Shrieking shack to await Draco's return. She had only been waiting for about a minute went Harry stepped silently out from behind a nearby tree and walked slowly up to her. She practically jumped off the fence in alarm.

'What are you afraid of?' Harry asked casually. His eyes containing no warmth.

'Nothing,' Ginny said unconvincingly.

'So,' Harry said. 'It's official then.'

'What is?' Ginny asked, choosing her words carefully.

'You and Draco, going around together in public.'

'Well, yes. I suppose if you want to call it that,' Ginny said. Her hands started to fiddle with the pockets of her jeans nervously.

'You don't look good together you know,' Harry said after a moment's silence.

Ginny was quick to retort. 'I hardly think you're in any position to comment on it Harry, considering how bias your opinion is,' she remarked acidly.

'Oh but it's true,' he said quietly. He took a step forward. 'Griffindor and Slytherin don't go together Ginny.' Ginny didn't like the way the conversation was going, but she stood her ground. She didn't want Harry to know how intimidated she felt.

'We don't care what other people think,' she said.

'But you should,' Harry said. His voice now had a dangerous edge to it.

'Harry I think it best that you leave now,' Ginny said quietly, working hard to keep her voice under control and not to let her emotions get the better of her.

'No, I'm not going anywhere.'

'Then I'll leave,' Ginny said haughtily and turned to go.'

'Oh no you won't,' Harry said harshly and his hands fastened around her wrists again in a grip of steel as he had done once before in the Griffindor Common room. 'Say it,' he said, his voice barely audible.

'Say what?' Ginny asked. Her heart was thumping loudly in her chest, but she still betrayed no sign of her emotions, keeping her face expressionless and her voice steady.

'That you love me and you're never going out with that creep again.'

'I would never say that,' Ginny answered just as quietly.

'SAY IT,' Harry raised his voice and shook her. Ginny could feel the blood pulsing in her arms, her hands being cut off from the circulation by Harry's grip.

Ginny looked at Harry's eyes. You could barely have thought of them as eyes. They were more like hollow holes, looking down into the dark depths of a well, no love, no warmth, simply empty and only the thinnest trace of his green irises could be seen around the pupil. 'Harry, let go of me,' Ginny whispered, her voice cracking.

'SAY IT!' Harry was shouting now. It was at this point that Ginny couldn't keep a hold on herself any longer. She was almost at the point of tears and her heart was beating so fast she thought she would have a heart attack. There was no one around. To put it bluntly, she was scared. Harry was in a state of madness and there was no knowing what he was about to do.

'HARRY LET GO OF ME!!!!!!' Ginny screamed. She started sobbing uncontrollably

'HEY!' a voice shouted from nearby. Ginny recognised it and a wave of relief swept through her. Harry turned to see who it was, letting go of Ginny's hands. Before he had any time to react, Draco's fist caught him right in the face. Harry staggered back, holding his nose. Blood dribbled down between his fingers and down his wrists. He looked at Malfoy wide-eyed in shock as if awaking from a daze

'DON'T YOU EVER, EVER COME NEAR HER AGAIN!' Draco said, his fist making contact with Harry's head again, this time, higher; right on the ride under his eye. At this point, Harry scrambled up to his feet and ran away as fast as he could.

Draco scowled after him and then engulfed Ginny in his arms. He felt her slight body shaking as he pressed her tightly to him making soothing noises.

'Sssssshh,' he crooned. 'It's ok now. He's gone.' Ginny continued to sob silently. She couldn't stop and she was gasping for breath.

'His-his eyes. They were-were EMPTY. Th-There there was no warmth in- in them. I was so s-s-scared,' she hiccupped helplessly and buried her head in his chest while he caressed her hair.

'This is my fault. I shouldn't have left you alone here. How could I be so stupid?' Draco asked himself angrily.

'It's not your fault. You couldn't have known he would come. I'm ok.'

'No, no you're not ok. God, I shouldn't have left you alone,' he kissed her hair, still holding her tightly.

They remained so for a few minutes until Draco said, ' Here, I was going to give it to you later, but you need cheering up.' He picked up a small black bag, which Ginny hadn't noticed. They sat down together side-by-side and he handed her the gift.

Ginny nimbly pulled a small, black, rectangular case from the bag and opened it. 'Oh Draco,' she gasped in awe. 'It's beautiful!' And so it was. It was a beautiful necklace encrusted with emeralds shaped like leaves and all outlined with silver. In the centre, there was a beautiful flower with thin, swirling petals and the clasp which fastened it was comprised of two small silver swirls with a miniscule acorn at the end of each.

Draco removed it from its case and fastened it around her neck, then leant back to admire the affect. 'It suits you,' he said admiringly.

'Just out of curiosity, how much did it cost?' Draco felt himself grow red.

'That doesn't matter,' he said evasively.

'Yes it does,' Ginny said. 'How much did it cost,' she repeated.

Draco hesitated. '899 Galleons'

'WHAT!!!!' Ginny stared at him open mouthed in shock.

'It's my money,' Draco said quickly 'And I told you I wanted to get you something..........so I did.'

Ginny was still looking at Draco, mouth gaping. Then she pounced on him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him over and over again.

'Thankyou- thankyou- thankyou- thankyou!' She said between each kiss and they continued to roll on the grass, laughing, kissing, arms twining around each other, until they ended up under a large Birch tree a considerable distance away from where they had started off. By now, they both had grass entangled in their tousled hair and so they sat and patiently picked it out; Ginny removing the mess from Draco's and he, in turn, removing it from hers. When they had finished, they sat contently under the tree, Ginny resting her head on Draco's chest, his arm placed protectively around her.

'Draco, I just wanted to say............................................thanks,' Ginny said quietly.

'For what?' Draco asked.

'Everything,' Ginny answered. 'For being there when I needed you, for the gift, for being there for me to talk to. Everything.'

'You're welcome honey,' he said. 'What am I going to do with you?' he added after some time. 'I leave you alone for five minutes and already you're in trouble. You act so tough and it makes it easy to forget how small and well...........I suppose fragile you are.'

'FRAGILE?' Ginny laughed and shouted at the same time. 'I'm not fragile!'

'To a guy you are.'

'I can look after myself,' Ginny replied confidently.

'Hmmmmm, it certainly didn't look that way today,' he replied seriously.

'Well, thank God you were there,' Ginny said.

'That's right,' Draco half-smiled. 'And I always will be there.'

And so, when it was almost time to go back to Hogwarts, they got up and walked back into Hogsmeade, arms around each other, each feeling totally content in one another's presence. Both completely and utterly happy.

------------------------Well, there it is. Chapter 4. Once again, I apologise for taking like a milenium to write it. Is it just me, or do I seem to be saying that at the end of every chapter? Seriously though, I'm sorry, I'm a very slack writer. Ok, Tlucy and Melissa?! Now you can stop bugging me! Hahahaha. Well, until next chapter! HAPPY READING!!!!!! Luv Chloe ; ) -----------------------------------------------------