It was a very strange dream and when she woke up next morning she couldn't remember anything of the dream. She arose and pulled the hangings on her four-poster bed aside. She went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth and her hair while looking into the mirror. She pulled her hair back and studied her face while sighing and then letting go of the big wave of fiery red hair. She took a last glance into the mirror and then left the bathroom. Back in the dormitory she put on her clothes and went down to the Great Hall for breakfast. There she met Hermione who seemed to be in quite a bad mood.

"Morning, 'Mione!" said Ginny cheerfully.

"Morning," she grunted as a reply.

"Why so blue?"

"Didn't sleep very well. Had some things to sort out you know. Nothing to worry about." Hermione said.

"Oh, okay. Well, I had this strange dream, but I can't remember anything about it. Couldn't have been too important."

"Anyway, how was your visit to Hogsmeade? I didn't see much of you. Were you by yourself?" asked Hermione.

"Most of the time. Luna couldn't come, she was with her dad. But then I met someone in front of the Jeweller's, and we went to the Three Broomsticks together."

"Who?"

"Oh... er... promise not to tell Ron or Harry, okay?"

"I promise, Ginny. Who was it?" Hermione said, her voice filled with curiosity.

"Dracomalfoy," Ginny mumbled quickly.

"What did you say?"

"Draco Malfoy," Ginny said a bit louder.

"WHAT?" Hermione shrieked.

"Draco Malfoy!"

"I heard you. I mean, what on earth did you do with him?"

"He bought me a Butterbeer. He's actually quite nice sometimes. When you get to talk to him by yourself I mean," she said defensively.

"But still... he's a Malfoy," said Hermione in dismay.

"I thought that you of all people wouldn't be so prejudiced."

"It's just that... he's a Malfoy!"

"Honestly, Hermione, now you're just being childish!"

"I'm just a bit shocked, that's all," Hermione said.

Ginny glanced over to the Slytherin table and blushed slightly when she saw Malfoy sitting there between Crabbe and Goyle, looking rather bored. When he noticed her stare he smiled at her and she smiled back, blushing even more. Hermione looked confused but didn't say anything.

Soon the snow started falling outside and covered the school in a layer of glistening whiteness. Christmas was drawing nearer and everybody waited with anticipation for the upcoming Yule Ball. Everywhere you looked girls were giggling as soon a boy passed by.

Ginny was also looking forward to the big event. But maybe not as much as Hermione who was almost ecstatic since Ron had finally got the nerves to ask her to go with him. Harry was going with Luna, which had come as a big surprise to all of them. Ginny was going alone. Not that nobody had asked her, she had actually got quite a few invitations, but she just didn't feel like going with anyone.

Christmas Day arrived. Ginny awoke with a big yawn, to find all of her presents lying in a pile by her feet. She started opening them one by one; there was the usual Weasley-sweater from her parents and a book called 'A Little Love Song' by Michelle Magorian – a Muggle author – from Hermione. She got two Skiving Snackboxes from Fred and George, a book about Verrerts, written by Luna's father, from Luna and a perfume from Ron and Harry. Then she noticed another present, nicely wrapped in green paper with silver string. She picked it up and started unwrapping it carefully. Inside there was a little black box which she opened slowly. She gasped at the sight of its content. In her hand she held the beautiful necklace she had seen in Hogsmeade. There was a little note.

This was the one you were looking at, right?

Ginny let out a small laugh. She got to her feet and ran out of her dormitory and in to Hermione's. Hermione was sitting on her bed opening her last present when Ginny entered.

"Merry Christmas, Hermione," Ginny said smiling.

"Merry Christmas, Gin."

"So, any good presents?"

"Yeah, thank you so much for the book, it's great."

"You're welcome, thank you for 'A Little Love Song'. What did you get from Ron?"

"These earrings," she said holding back her hair for Ginny to see.

"Lovely, he and Harry gave me a perfume. Odd smell...." said Ginny and giggled.

"What's that in your hand?" Hermione asked and pointed at the necklace.

"Oh, this? Someone gave it to me, don't know who though," she said and showed it to Hermione. She didn't feel like telling that she knew who it was from.

"Someone's got herself a secret admirer," Hermione said and grinned.

Ginny blushed and turned her face to the floor. After a while they went down for breakfast.