The days passed by without any further accidents or confrontations, and soon the Hogsmeade weekend was there. It was a foggy, snowy November day and all the students were wearing their winter cloaks. Ginny was going by herself, without further enthusiasm, but she thought it to be a good opportunity to buy all of the Christmas gifts.
She was walking down the main street, when she stopped in front of a Jeweller's. In one of the windows she laid eyes on a necklace, with a white-gold chain and a black brilliant surrounded by smaller bright diamonds. It was breathtaking; she couldn't turn her eyes away. Then she noticed the price, and snorted.
"That's ridiculous," she mumbled to herself.
"Talking to yourself I see," she heard a familiar voice behind her say.
"Yes, I am as a matter of fact," she snapped back at him.
"So you finally realise that you're insane and ready for St Mungo's?"
"Definitely," she laughed.
"So... d'you want to get a Butterbeer or something?" he asked, his voice not as steady as it used to be.
"With you?"
"No, with the dwarf standing next to me and the house elf holding my hand. Yes, with me!" he muttered.
Ginny's heart skipped a beat. "Yeah, sure," she smiled at him.
They walked beside each other in silence, heading to the Three Broomsticks. It was a bit awkward; she tried desperately to find something to say, but without any success. They arrived at the Three Broomsticks and found a table in the back of the bar. Malfoy bought two Butterbeers while Ginny took place at the table and waited for him to return.
"I can't believe I'm doing this...." she whispered quietly to herself and sighed.
But she had to admit that she didn't find it totally awful.
Malfoy returned and sat down in front of her, giving her the Butterbeer.
"Thanks," she said.
"You're welcome."
"How come you're here all alone? I mean, where are your slaves, Crabbe and Goyle or that bint Parkinson?"
"As nice as it is spending time with idiots, one sometimes feels a need to talk to people who actually understand what you're saying." he said and grinned.
Ginny laughed. "I get your point. I didn't feel like spending time with the 'darling trio' as you so nicely put it, either. They're always treating me like a child, playing besserwissers."
"Well, you're absolutely not a child. You're more like a... an elephant."
"What?!" she said insultedly.
"You're so clumsy, I mean. You're always, you know, found on the floor somewhere and at the end I'm always the one helping you up."
"You helped me up twice," she pointed out.
"Doesn't matter. I just wanted to show you the similarities between you and an elephant." he smirked.
"Now you're just being rude, Draco," she said.
He looked her in the eyes, obviously searching for something, some kind of sign, and for a moment his eyes weren't as cold as they used to be. But then he put his mask on again and grinned.
"So, it's Draco now, is it?" he said ironically.
She flushed and turned away for a split second. When she looked back she was gathered again.
"Well, I thought I'd be a bit nice to you. After all, I punched you in the stomach a couple of days ago. Remember, Malfoy?" she said.
"Malfoy again, I see. Troubles deciding, Redhead?"
"Don't call me Redhead... I hate it," she said furiously, but he noticed he had hit a wrong nerve.
"Anyway...."
"I think I have to go now... I still have a lot of presents to buy, for my friends." she said and got up.
Draco also stood up and looked at her.
"Bye then," Ginny said.
"Bye... Ginny."
She turned to face him, and noticed that look again, as if he looked right into her soul, hoping to find something there. She didn't dare meeting his gaze, afraid of him and the things that she tried to hide somewhere deep inside. She smiled at him and left the bar.
Back at Hogwarts she met up with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Together they went to the common room where they sat down in front of the fire, all with a cup of peppermint tea in their hands.
They sat laughing and talking about everything between heaven and earth, and soon they were discussing love, and whether or not it existed.
"So, 'Mione, anything new you feel like sharing with us?" Harry asked.
Hermione blushed and glanced at Ron who coughed. His eyes were fixed on something outside the window that seemed quite interesting, and if she didn't mistake his ears had gotten just a shade redder. But maybe that was just the fire. Ginny sat in her chair trying to suppress laughter. Harry smirked and he looked at Ginny knowingly. It was so obvious to everyone but Ron and Hermione that they were in love, but sooner or later they would have to face the fact that they were meant for each other.
In an attempt to get out of the spotlight Hermione turned to Ginny. "And what about you? Who's that you've been dreaming about all the time?"
"Yeah, Gin, tell us!" Ron and Harry said in unison.
"Oh... er... no-one..." she whispered and blushed.
Harry and Ron looked at each other suspiciously, both wondering what Ginny was hiding from them.
"Come on, Gin. Tell us," smirked Ron.
"Be careful, she might snap your head of, Ron," Harry said and grinned.
"Ha ha ha, very funny Harry," Ginny said sarcastically. "And even if there was someone I wouldn't tell you, because it doesn't concern you."
Hermione looked at her a bit disappointed, but she didn't say anything.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, they started talking about other things such as Quidditch, school and whatnot. They sat there for a couple of more minutes, before they said good night and went up to their dormitories. Ginny couldn't fall asleep, she twisted and turned in bed. When she finally fell asleep she dreamt about fuzzy things floating around on fluffy clouds.