"Is the bowl ready?" Narcissa asked, looking over at Ginny. The redhead nodded and watched as Narcissa ladled out the melted wax, then slowly poured it into the cold water that Ginny had prepared. She bit her bottom lip and waited with bated breath for the wax to solidify and form the same shapes that she was certain would appear.

Narcissa eyed the contents of the bowl thoughtfully, then sat back and looked at Ginny. "Tell me what you see, Ginevra." Ginny took a deep breath and peered into the bowl.

Her heart very nearly stopped when she saw the same symbols she had seen the night before, when she'd been reading for herself. Her eyes widened and she looked at the older woman nervously.

"I see the same things I saw last night," she whispered, sitting back. "A moon and a pumpkin."

"Why do these things upset you, my dear? You know as well as I that they are not bad omens; in fact they are quite the opposite."

"I know, but the only men I've come into contact with lately have been my brothers, my father, Harry, and Draco. I know I'm not about to fall in love with any of my family members, and any affection I held for Harry has long since faded. That only leaves…" her voice trailed off and she trembled slightly.

"My son," Narcissa murmured. Ginny nodded. "Perhaps we are misinterpreting, then? A pumpkin only means a warm relationship; perhaps that's the sign meant for Draco's role in your life?"

"Perhaps," Ginny agreed, although she was highly doubtful.

"Why is it that the thought of you loving my son is so upsetting to you? Is he so terrible that you cannot even entertain the idea?"

"No, it's not that," Ginny said quickly. "I don't think he's terrible at all anymore- at least, not from the way he's behaved towards me in the last day or so. He's actually rather nice to be around, even if he doesn't enjoy my company. It's just- Well," she took a deep breath, then met his mother's gaze. "To be perfectly honest, I'm frightened of falling in love."

"I beg your pardon?" Narcissa asked gently, sure she'd misheard the girl.

"I'm frightened of falling in love," she repeated, feeling stupid. "I've seen what it can do, especially when unrequited. I've been there. I want to fall in love, because I want that closeness with someone, but on the other hand, I fear that loving someone will give them entirely too much power over me."

"My dear," Narcissa said, sitting up. She covered Ginny's hand with her own and patted gently. "Love can be frightening, but believe me when I say that it is entirely worth it in the end. I was terrified when I fell in love with Lucius, you know. He was so handsome and cultured; I was certain that he'd never so much as even glance in my general direction."

"How did he notice you?"

"It was at the first Quidditch match of the year during our final year at Hogwarts. Bella and I were sitting together in the highest corner of the stands, watching. It was raining something horrible, and lightning struck the stands we were in, not ten feet away from us. If Lucius hadn't been flying so low, he wouldn't have been able to save us. When we got on the ground, he noticed me for the first time. We were inseparable after that."

"That's amazingly romantic," Ginny sighed. Narcissa smiled. "What was your wedding like?"

"It was exquisite. Lucius' parents had arranged everything. There were roses and ivy draped over anything that would stand still, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky."

"You got married outside, then?"

"Yes," she laughed. "His parents thought it was a heathen idea at the time, but once they saw how beautiful it was, they understood our desire to wed under an open sky."

"It sounds lovely." Narcissa eyed the girl thoughtfully. She was about to say something more when she heard the tiny squeak of a floorboard outside the door. She glanced at Ginny, who was beginning to clean the bowls out; apparently the girl had not heard.

"So, my dear," she said loftily, helping Ginny gather the supplies. "What ever possessed you to even make a wager like that with my son?" Ginny very nearly dropped the bowl she was holding. Her neck turned red and splotchy as she blushed.

"If I tell you, do you promise not to tell anyone else?" Narcissa nodded eagerly; it had been a long time since she'd been someone's confidante. Ginny sighed and brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face with the back of her hand. "I thought he might be a kindred soul."

"How do you mean?"

"I mean that…" she paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. "I saw him that first day by accident, and he seemed to be the same man he always was at school. But then he started following me, and I thought about the friends he'd had at Hogwarts, and I wondered if perhaps he might be as lonely as me. Simply put, I needed a friend, and I thought he might, too." Narcissa mulled this over for a moment. She knew her son had been a different person since that date with the Greengrass girl; more introverted than usual. Perhaps Ginny Weasley was just what he needed, after all.

"Something has been bothering me, Ginevra. Draco has told me before how he treated you and your friends in school, and yet you have invited him into your life as your friend with no questions asked. Why?"

"People change," she shrugged. "But I have no illusions as to why your son is showing interest in me for the time being. It's not my friendship he wants; it's information."

"If you're so sure of that, then why are you bothering with anything more?"

"If he is to get information from me, should I not at least get a little from him, as well?" she asked defensively. "I enjoy the companionship of a handsome man the same as any other woman." She didn't realize what she'd said until she saw Narcissa's smile, and she frowned. "I didn't mean that."

"You did, and it's perfectly fine. You're right, after all. Why should a woman let a man use her and get nothing in return?"

"I didn't mean it to sound like that," she murmured, shaking her head.

"You may not have, dear, but that's how it came out. I think that Draco will surprise you. He's a lovely young man, and I'm not just saying that because he's my son. He's dutiful, he's charming, he's loving, and he's-"

"Generous, when he wants to be," Ginny smiled. Narcissa beamed at her.

"He certainly is. Are you ready to go home, child? You seem tired."

"I'm sorry," Ginny said after yawning. "I don't mean to be rude. I had a long night last night, and today was more excitement than I'm typically used to."

"I quite understand." She rose gracefully from her chair and smiled at Ginny. "Perhaps we'd best call Draco to escort you home."

"No, that's all right, you needn't bother-" at that moment, Draco appeared in the doorway. Narcissa hid her smile when she saw his flushed cheeks, and knew that she'd been right when she'd assumed that it was he standing outside the door, eavesdropping.

"Why, hello, darling," she said softly. "Is something the matter?"

"Not at all, Mother. I was simply coming to check on our guest, to see if she was ready to leave yet."

"She is, indeed. Would you please escort her home? I have a feeling that she's too tired to apparate, and the house elves have closed the floo for the evening already."

"Do you need me to get your cloak?" Draco asked. Ginny noted that he didn't even look at her, which made her feel strangely disappointed. She nodded.

"Please. Thank you." He disappeared and returned scant moments later, holding the cloak out to her. She wrapped it around her shoulders and smiled at Narcissa, who wrapped her in a perfumed hug.

"It's been lovely having you here, my dear. I'm already looking forward to tomorrow evening. Goodnight." Narcissa headed out into the hallway, leaving Ginny alone in the room with Draco.

"Ready, then?" he asked. She nodded, and they made their way down the corridor and out onto the grounds of the Manor. She was rather enjoying the way her breath turned into tiny white clouds when he spoke again. "Do you still enjoy Quidditch?"

She turned and gave him a look of surprise. How had he known- oh, yes. She'd been on the Gryffindor team at Hogwarts. "Yes, I do, although I shouldn't. My favorite team keeps managing to lose every time they play."

"Tell me you're not a Cannons fan," he said, wrinkling his nose in disgust. She laughed.

"No, that's Ron. I'm a Falcons fan." His eyes flew to her face to see if she was joking or not. When he saw that she was quite serious, he did something that almost knocked her off of her feet.

He smiled.

"No, really? I'm a Falcons fan, myself. Best team in the league, you know."

"Yes, well, if they're the best team, please explain to me why it is that Porter keeps cobbing every player on the opposite teams? He got called so many times on it in the last game that he-"

"Was suspended for the next one," Draco finished her sentence for her, laughing. She grinned. "I didn't realize you were such an avid fan."

"What else is a girl to do?" she sighed melodramatically. He rolled his eyes and bit back a smile. "They're playing tomorrow afternoon, you know. It's a tradition for me to wear my Falcons shirt and go down to the Three Broomsticks and watch the games on the enchanted telly."

"I've never seen you there," he said, giving her an appraising look.

"Probably because I stay well hidden. I don't much care for going out in public these days," she said this last part with bitterness that surprised Draco.

"Why not?"

"Are you kidding? Every time I'm out, either I get mobbed by the press, or the Terrific Trio hunts me down and wants to know what I'm doing out alone."

"The press? And why do they care if you go out alone?"

"The press is continually looking for ways to get to Harry," she said, shrugging. She missed him wince at the sound of Harry's name. "And they think that since I'm related to his best friend, I'm a prime target for kidnapping or assassination, or something equally as stupid."

"I'm sure you can take care of yourself," he murmured, looking ahead. She stared at him, her jaw hanging open a bit.

"I can." Sooner than she would have liked, they were standing in front of the door to her flat. She turned and smiled nervously at him. "Thank you for walking me home. You didn't have to. I'll see you at dinner tomorrow evening. Goodnight." She turned and put her hand on the doorknob, but stopped when he cleared his throat.

"Perhaps you'd like to join me in watching the game?" She spun around to stare wide-eyed at him. "That is, if you're not otherwise engaged."

"I'd love to."

"Excellent. I'll come for you around one o'clock. Goodnight." Before she could respond, he had turned and started down the street.

What's come over me? He wondered. Just because she likes Quidditch isn't a reason to ask her over to watch it! He sighed noisily, and repeated to himself that he had a reason for garnering her friendship. The thing that bothered him was that he could no longer clearly say what that reason was.