Chapter 6
Title
Summary: Ginny and Draco have to say goodbye to each other for the summer and they both go home to BIG surprises! Draco's got a little one at home and Ginny's got several! At school there's new kid causing some trouble between the lovers, nasty rumors are beginning to spread and it's starting to look like things will never be the same again. Plus Draco and Ginny get paired up for another practical project! And what does a sack of flour have to with it??
Author's Note: Hello everyone! Finally, I am getting chapter six all ready to go and everything! Sorry it took so incredibly long!
In this chapter you will meet a ton of new people, and a lot of these people are characters that will be very important to the plot line through the whole story. I typically do not like when new characters are introduced to be Ginny's friends in fan fictions, but it is absolutely necessary - plus without all of that, we wouldn't have Chloe! Anyway, I really hope you enjoy it!
When you've finished reading just leave me a little note and tell me your thoughts on this!
Disclaimer will be mentioned at the end so as not to ruin any of the chapter.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 6
Title
Last time: Everyone had to go back to Hogwarts for the beginning of the New Year and they find out that Tonks will be their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"I don't think I've ever heard of that," Draco said.
"Me neither," Byron said, "That sounds so strange."
"I think she's brilliant," Ginny defended her friend.
The rest of the train ride was fairly quiet and uneventful. Draco didn't hardly glance at her or touch her. Ginny wished to herself that she had the old Draco back once more. Not this dull, nicer and quieter version. He almost acted as though he didn't love her anymore.
It was almost as if he had changed overnight..
Once the train arrived at Hogwarts, Byron, Draco and Ginny all got of the train and were greeted by pouring rain. Quickly, they ran to the 'horseless' carriages to seek shelter from the showers outside.
Inside the carriage, the trio found that there was already a girl occupying one of the seats.
"Hi Luna!" Ginny greeted enthusiastically. Last year, Luna had been involved in a foreign exchange student program and had been in America visiting the Salem Witchcraft and Wizardry Academy. Apparently the American girls had had some fun with Luna.
"Hello, Gin!" the blonde girl smiled back. Her hair was a bit long and straight with a few highlights and her eyes sparkled mischievously. If Ginny hadn't known any better, she would have thought the girl sitting there across from her was a totally different girl.
Ginny noticed that Byron was unashamedly gazing at Luna.
"How was America?" she asked.
"It was fantastic!" Luna exclaimed, "The people there are very friendly - always smiling to you on the streets and things. The boys were gorgeous as well."
"Find one worth keeping?" Ginny asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Yeah. I mean, there was one," Luna blushed, "His name is Trent. But we're just friends, he totally like another girl named Lindy, who's not right for him at all."
"Wow, that's cool! So, how was the food?"
"It was pretty good, not incredibly different from what we eat here. Still good though," Luna answered.
"I'm glad you had a good time, Luna."
"Thanks."
America was a place Ginny wanted to see at one point in time and she made a mental note to ask Luna more about her trip later. But now was not the time, with Draco pouting in the corner about something and Byron drooling.
At least Ginny could fix one of the two problems. She leaned over to Draco and put her head to his chest. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her protectively and his mood improved.
A few short minutes later, their carriage stopped and they got out and walked into the large warm castle that served as their second home.
Ginny took in castle once more. The hallways flickered with the candlelight and doors of all shapes and sizes lined the walls. The people in the portraits moved freely about, greeting the first years warmly and welcoming back the older students. Distantly, she could hear Peeves cackling followed by a loud splash of water; he was obviously armed with water balloons again.
When Draco, Ginny, Byron, and Luna entered the Great Hall, they went their separate ways. Byron winked at Luna and went to find McGonagall so he could be sorted.
Draco kissed briefly on the cheek before the couple went to their different tables.
"Hey Gin!" Chloe greeted, motioning Ginny to the seat next to her.
"What's up, Chloe?" the redhead asked in return, taking the seat across from her best friend.
"I met these four girls on the train and they're all pretty cool. Well, except one, but I'm sure you could put her in her place. I bet two or three of them will be rooming with us. They're all pretty much Gryffindor material," Chloe told Ginny in her quick tongue.
"That sounds cool. We need some more friends," Ginny said, "Not that you're not the greatest or anything."
"Yeah, no one beats me," Chloe laughed.
While Chloe and Ginny were laughing, McGonagall walked up toward the stage to explain the Sorting Ceremony to the first years and new students.
"When I call your name, please take a seat on the stool and true on the hat. It will tell you which house you're to be in and you may then take off the hat and be seated at your table. First we have the new first years. Armour, Jasmine, please come forward," the stern woman announced, stepping aside.
Ginny watched as a small girl of eleven with short black hair confidently strode toward the stool. She put on the old hat and waited few moments before the hat reached its conclusion.
"Slytherin!" the hat announced.
As Ginny's eyes followed the girl towards the furthest table, she caught Draco's eye. He winked at her, making her heart race at his devilish expression. Ginny blew him a small kiss, causing him to grin slightly.
"Meet me in our secret room," Draco mouthed to her.
Ginny nodded in acknowledgment as Ravenclaw received their new first year.
Ginny turned her attention back to the Sorting. She watched other house get new housemates (such as Josh Catton for Slytherin, who seemed to take quite a liking to Draco and was eagerly asked him questions - or Emma Norris for Hufflepuff, who was so ecstatic she nearly fainted, and Ginny saw her whisper something about being in the same house as Cedric Diggory had been.)
Soon it was time for the new, older students to be sorted. Ginny always liked this part because if there were new students then that meant new friends and new people to gossip about.
First, an African American girl took her place on the stool. Ginny noticed she was very pretty with her large brown eyes and short hair. Moments later, the hat shouted 'Hufflepuff' and Chloe mumbled something about her having a pretty name.
"Evie Madison. I like it," Chloe said.
Next a girl that was of about the same height as Ginny had her name called.
"Grove, Ashlyn."
The girl was pretty with curly blonde hair that fell a few inches below her shoulders and what appeared to be bluish-purple eyes.
"Gryffindor!" the hat screamed to the whole room.
"I knew it!" Chloe roared, "That's Ashlyn, you'll love her! She's actually a lot like you," she said to Ginny.
Ashlyn sat down across from Ginny and flashed her a smile before turning to watch the rest of the Sorting.
"Mandela, Dabria!"
A girl with shiny, medium-length, brown hair and large piercing blue eyes put the hat on next.
The Sorting Hat took forever trying to decide were to put Dabria. Finally, it settled on Gryffindor.
When Dabria sat down next to Ashlyn, she beamed brightly at everyone.
"Can you believe it almost put me in Hufflepuff?" she asked, mortified at the thought of being split up from Ashlyn.
Everyone sort of laughed before turning his or her attention back to the Sorting Hat.
They watched as Slytherin gained an ugly girl with hair that could have rivaled that of Snape's in the grease department named Calista Starling. Ravenclaw received James Carmichael and Michael Jamison before Gryffindor welcomed Farrah Neely.
Ginny knew right from the start that she and Farrah would be great friends. Farrah had straight reddish-blonde hair to her lower back and huge pretty blue eyes that were insanely dark. She was sort of short like Ginny and had a huge smile on her face when she waved to her friends. Ginny also noticed that she had dimples on both her cheeks.
"Hey! I'm Farrah!" the girl said enthusiastically, waving at Ginny.
"Hi, I'm Ginny," she smiled back.
"This is quite the ordeal, isn't it?" Farrah asked while gazing around, as Chanda Popkin became a Hufflepuff.
"Yeah it's a pretty big deal!" Ginny said jovially, "Oh, there's Byron!"
"Wow, he's cute!" Farrah commented aloud, watching the tall blonde boy walk across the stage.
"You think so?" Ginny asked, wiping her face clean from any emotion that would hint hat she agreed.
"Slytherin!" the hat announced the instant it touched his hair.
"Oh, I know so," Farrah said laughing.
"Do you know him?" Ashlyn asked.
"Yeah, he's my boyfriend's cousin," Ginny explained, casting a look at Draco. He appeared completely bored with everything - even though Josh was talking animatedly to him about something.
Ginny looked up in time to see "Applequist, Katrice" become a Ravenclaw. She noticed that there were only two more girls left. One of them looked none too happy to be there.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco felt as though he were practically asleep. The Sorting seemed so boring for some reason! He almost felt bad for letting this Catton kid just ramble on about Quidditch when he had no intention of seriously listening.
As Natalie Mitchell joined Slytherin, Catton said something that caught Draco's attention.
"So, Malfoy - do you have any girlfriends? I'm sure all the girls love you!" The little boy said in his still somewhat high-pitched voice, looking eagerly at him.
Draco admired the kid's bravery for talking so gregariously to a seventh year after being sorted into the Slytherin house just moments ago as a first year, so he answered.
"Just one girl."
"Really? I heard you had five or six!" Catton piped up, happy to have gotten a response at last.
"Don't need more than one. They cause too much trouble." Draco told him gazing at Ginny, who was talking excitedly to a pretty new girl across from her. He then watched her face fall slightly as a haughty looking girl named Claire Redding was sorted into Gryffindor.
"Then why even have one?" Catton questioned.
"She's worth it."
"Who is she, then?"
"You see the pretty redheaded girl over there?" Draco asked, pointing to Ginny.
"Yeah."
"That's her."
"She is pretty!" Catton agreed enthusiastically, "But she's a Gryffindor! I didn't think that Slytherins dated or even LIKED any other house, especially not Gryffindor," Catton protested.
"She's different. When you fall in love, you'll understand and put the rules aside." Draco assured him before Dumbledore began to speak.
"Welcome to Hogwarts ladies and gentlemen! Or for those of you returning, welcome back! I do hope you've all had a good summer! For some start-of- term announcements, Mr. Filch asked me to tell you of all the things you must refrain from doing in the hallways and after hours, but I do not have that kind of time, so please use your common sense or look at the complete list that's posted on his door. I would also like to remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is once again off limits to all students at all times. Need I remind you of the incident with Professor Umbridge a few years back?" The old man asked with a twinkle in his eyes. "This year, I would like to welcome a new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher," Dumbledore said for the sixth year in a row.
All of the students exchanged looks as if to ask what kind of psychotic teacher they would be supplied with this year.
"Nymphadora Tonks - Professor Tonks to all of you. She's a good friend of mine, and an Auror at the Ministry.
Everyone seemed impressed by her credentials but totally thrown off by the pink-haired lady who was standing amidst the polite applause.
"Also this year, we will have two large, formal balls instead of the extensive amount we hosted last year. I would expect you all to either find formal robes or formal ball gowns like you all wore last year that the Muggles sell." Dumbledore suggested.
"On a darker note, war is still around us, just as the Sorting Hat has advised you for the past few years, you must stick together as a school and no longer as four individual houses. Although it appears as though it is coming to a close, we must remain on our toes, ready for anything that may come our way. I'll leave you to think about that later, but for now, dig in!"
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ginny glanced down the table at the four new girls - Ashlyn, Dabria, Farrah, and Claire. Ashlyn, Farrah and Dabria looked excited and they stuffed their mouths with all the tasty food they could grasp. But Claire was just sitting at the end of the table, staring around her in disgust.
Ginny leaned over to Ashlyn.
"What's her problem?" Ginny asked, eyeing Claire.
"No one really knows. She's been totally grouchy ever since we met her. Always complaining about the most marvelous of things, she comes off quite stuck up," Ashlyn told her newest friend as she took a look at the seemingly melancholy Claire.
"I wonder why she acts like that?" Ginny asked quietly.
Ashlyn only shrugged before changing the subject.
"So you said you have a boyfriend?" she asked.
"Yeah. Draco Malfoy."
"What House is he in?" Ashlyn asked out of curiosity.
"Slytherin," Ginny told her, wondering if Ashlyn knew about the Slytherin vs. Gryffindor grudge match.
"Wow, I heard they were all evil.born to follow You-Know-Who. A Gryffindor/Slytherin relationship is almost like a taboo from what I've heard! How'd you manage to find yourself a good one?" Ashlyn asked.
Ginny already like this girl a lot. Even though Ashlyn had been told all those things about Slytherins, she still believed there could be a good one. She didn't second-guess Ginny's judgment.
"He's over there, next to the sandy-haired boy and the black-haired girl," she said pointing him out.
"The blonde one?" Ashlyn asked.
"Yeah."
"Wow! He's pretty fine looking! Does he have a brother?" she teased, laughing.
"No - but he does have a cousin here who looks identical to him."
"You're kidding!"
"No, his name's Byron," Ginny said.
"Oh yeah, I remember you telling us that! Maybe you could hook me up?" Ashlyn pleaded.
"I don't know, Draco said he is dangerous. But, I could see what Draco thinks though," Ginny volunteered. If Byron really were as horrible as Draco said he was, then she wouldn't want to hook him up with one of her new friends.
"Okay, sweet," Ashlyn agreed, taking a roll, "Oh yeah, and you can call me Ashe."
"Cool, everyone calls me Gin."
"Awesome, like the drink!" she laughed
"Yeah, I guess so," Ginny said. She'd never really thought about it like that before.
"Hey, Ginny! Chloe told me you won the singing division of the talent contest last year! That's so cool!" Farrah exclaimed loudly.
"Thanks!" Ginny said appreciatively.
"I love to sing; maybe you and I could do a duet sometime. You'll have to tell me all about the contest," Farrah went on.
"That sounds like a plan; I'm really not that great though!" Ginny warned, excited just to have another friend who was into singing.
"Yeah, and I'm sure that's why you won!" Farrah laughed.
Soon, it was time for everyone to start heading back to his or her common rooms. All the older students were yawning loudly and aching to get to their soft beds, as the first years were bright-eyed with excitement.
Ginny was walking up the stairs, almost forgetting about the meeting Draco had called for, until a pair of strong arms came out and grasped her around the waist and pulled her into the shadowy corridor that was oh-so-familiar.
"You know, you could have just waited for me and reminded me to come with you," Ginny said as he released her.
Draco took her hand and began to walk down the dimly lit hall.
"What would be the fun in that?" he asked, smirking slightly.
Ginny laughed quietly as the couple walked into their old secret room. Everything was just as it was when they had left it.
They sat down on the couch and Ginny rested her back on Draco's stomach. She laid her head back against his chest and closed her eyes, inhaling his scent.
"This feels right," Ginny whispered, opening her eyes and gazing into the pools of silver looming above her.
"I missed doing this over the summer," Draco told her, staring into her eyes.
Ginny smiled warmly but for some reason her heart didn't twitch at all. Not like it used to. She hated that Draco's romantic comments no longer made her tingle. It just didn't seem like him anymore. Last year, she had been excited to change his awful attitude and prove to everyone that he could be changed. Now though, she was realizing that the fact of the matter was that his toughness and even his coldness added to his appeal. She didn't really want a guy that was always mushy and played it safe. And she knew he was only acting that way because he thought she wanted him to. Mr. Play-It-Safe wasn't him at all. He was dangerous and wild; carefree and witty, but sometimes charming and protective. As Ginny pondered those thoughts, Draco asked her a few questions.
"So, what do you think of Byron so far?" Draco asked, secretly meaning, "Has he said anything I should kill him for?"
"He seems okay to me. He kind of reminds me of how you used to be," Ginny said, hoping to get some sort of a reaction.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked her, slightly defensively.
"He's dangerous, cold, tough and mysterious - you know," Ginny replied.
"Are you saying that I'm no longer those things?' Draco asked, eyes boring into hers, searching for answers.
"Yeah. Now the danger is gone, you've become extremely nice and sweet. You're even fairly nice to Gryffindors and first years," Ginny pointed out softly.
"I thought that was what you wanted," Draco told the redhead, confused.
"To a certain degree, but I love your danger and mystery. I love you like this too, but it'll just take some getting used to," Ginny explained.
"We're just normal now," Draco told her reassuringly. He had never thought his danger was gone. It came as big news to him that no one really feared him anymore. He decided he would have to think the whole thing over when he went to bed.
"Yeah, it's kind of nice," Ginny lied.
Draco and Ginny stayed like that for several more minutes before they kissed goodnight and headed off to bed.
They both had a lot of rethinking to do about their personalities and their relationships.
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Yay! There's you're next chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it! Please leave me a review and tell me what you think!
Also, tell me who you're favorite new character is and what you think Ginny and Draco should do!
Disclaimer: Yay! I now own the plot line, Chloe Lynch, Payton Jackson, Andrew, and Sophie, Rachel, Andrew, Chris and Danica Weasley, Bryon Malfoy, Bella, Ashlyn Grove, Dabria Mandela, Claire Redding, Farrah Neely, James Carmichael, Katrice Applequist, Michael Jamison, Evie Madison, Chanda Popkin, Calista Starling, Natalie Mitchell, Mara, Elisabeth and Bailey Malfoy! JK Rowling owns everything and everyone else that you would possibly recognize!
Title
Summary: Ginny and Draco have to say goodbye to each other for the summer and they both go home to BIG surprises! Draco's got a little one at home and Ginny's got several! At school there's new kid causing some trouble between the lovers, nasty rumors are beginning to spread and it's starting to look like things will never be the same again. Plus Draco and Ginny get paired up for another practical project! And what does a sack of flour have to with it??
Author's Note: Hello everyone! Finally, I am getting chapter six all ready to go and everything! Sorry it took so incredibly long!
In this chapter you will meet a ton of new people, and a lot of these people are characters that will be very important to the plot line through the whole story. I typically do not like when new characters are introduced to be Ginny's friends in fan fictions, but it is absolutely necessary - plus without all of that, we wouldn't have Chloe! Anyway, I really hope you enjoy it!
When you've finished reading just leave me a little note and tell me your thoughts on this!
Disclaimer will be mentioned at the end so as not to ruin any of the chapter.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 6
Title
Last time: Everyone had to go back to Hogwarts for the beginning of the New Year and they find out that Tonks will be their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"I don't think I've ever heard of that," Draco said.
"Me neither," Byron said, "That sounds so strange."
"I think she's brilliant," Ginny defended her friend.
The rest of the train ride was fairly quiet and uneventful. Draco didn't hardly glance at her or touch her. Ginny wished to herself that she had the old Draco back once more. Not this dull, nicer and quieter version. He almost acted as though he didn't love her anymore.
It was almost as if he had changed overnight..
Once the train arrived at Hogwarts, Byron, Draco and Ginny all got of the train and were greeted by pouring rain. Quickly, they ran to the 'horseless' carriages to seek shelter from the showers outside.
Inside the carriage, the trio found that there was already a girl occupying one of the seats.
"Hi Luna!" Ginny greeted enthusiastically. Last year, Luna had been involved in a foreign exchange student program and had been in America visiting the Salem Witchcraft and Wizardry Academy. Apparently the American girls had had some fun with Luna.
"Hello, Gin!" the blonde girl smiled back. Her hair was a bit long and straight with a few highlights and her eyes sparkled mischievously. If Ginny hadn't known any better, she would have thought the girl sitting there across from her was a totally different girl.
Ginny noticed that Byron was unashamedly gazing at Luna.
"How was America?" she asked.
"It was fantastic!" Luna exclaimed, "The people there are very friendly - always smiling to you on the streets and things. The boys were gorgeous as well."
"Find one worth keeping?" Ginny asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Yeah. I mean, there was one," Luna blushed, "His name is Trent. But we're just friends, he totally like another girl named Lindy, who's not right for him at all."
"Wow, that's cool! So, how was the food?"
"It was pretty good, not incredibly different from what we eat here. Still good though," Luna answered.
"I'm glad you had a good time, Luna."
"Thanks."
America was a place Ginny wanted to see at one point in time and she made a mental note to ask Luna more about her trip later. But now was not the time, with Draco pouting in the corner about something and Byron drooling.
At least Ginny could fix one of the two problems. She leaned over to Draco and put her head to his chest. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her protectively and his mood improved.
A few short minutes later, their carriage stopped and they got out and walked into the large warm castle that served as their second home.
Ginny took in castle once more. The hallways flickered with the candlelight and doors of all shapes and sizes lined the walls. The people in the portraits moved freely about, greeting the first years warmly and welcoming back the older students. Distantly, she could hear Peeves cackling followed by a loud splash of water; he was obviously armed with water balloons again.
When Draco, Ginny, Byron, and Luna entered the Great Hall, they went their separate ways. Byron winked at Luna and went to find McGonagall so he could be sorted.
Draco kissed briefly on the cheek before the couple went to their different tables.
"Hey Gin!" Chloe greeted, motioning Ginny to the seat next to her.
"What's up, Chloe?" the redhead asked in return, taking the seat across from her best friend.
"I met these four girls on the train and they're all pretty cool. Well, except one, but I'm sure you could put her in her place. I bet two or three of them will be rooming with us. They're all pretty much Gryffindor material," Chloe told Ginny in her quick tongue.
"That sounds cool. We need some more friends," Ginny said, "Not that you're not the greatest or anything."
"Yeah, no one beats me," Chloe laughed.
While Chloe and Ginny were laughing, McGonagall walked up toward the stage to explain the Sorting Ceremony to the first years and new students.
"When I call your name, please take a seat on the stool and true on the hat. It will tell you which house you're to be in and you may then take off the hat and be seated at your table. First we have the new first years. Armour, Jasmine, please come forward," the stern woman announced, stepping aside.
Ginny watched as a small girl of eleven with short black hair confidently strode toward the stool. She put on the old hat and waited few moments before the hat reached its conclusion.
"Slytherin!" the hat announced.
As Ginny's eyes followed the girl towards the furthest table, she caught Draco's eye. He winked at her, making her heart race at his devilish expression. Ginny blew him a small kiss, causing him to grin slightly.
"Meet me in our secret room," Draco mouthed to her.
Ginny nodded in acknowledgment as Ravenclaw received their new first year.
Ginny turned her attention back to the Sorting. She watched other house get new housemates (such as Josh Catton for Slytherin, who seemed to take quite a liking to Draco and was eagerly asked him questions - or Emma Norris for Hufflepuff, who was so ecstatic she nearly fainted, and Ginny saw her whisper something about being in the same house as Cedric Diggory had been.)
Soon it was time for the new, older students to be sorted. Ginny always liked this part because if there were new students then that meant new friends and new people to gossip about.
First, an African American girl took her place on the stool. Ginny noticed she was very pretty with her large brown eyes and short hair. Moments later, the hat shouted 'Hufflepuff' and Chloe mumbled something about her having a pretty name.
"Evie Madison. I like it," Chloe said.
Next a girl that was of about the same height as Ginny had her name called.
"Grove, Ashlyn."
The girl was pretty with curly blonde hair that fell a few inches below her shoulders and what appeared to be bluish-purple eyes.
"Gryffindor!" the hat screamed to the whole room.
"I knew it!" Chloe roared, "That's Ashlyn, you'll love her! She's actually a lot like you," she said to Ginny.
Ashlyn sat down across from Ginny and flashed her a smile before turning to watch the rest of the Sorting.
"Mandela, Dabria!"
A girl with shiny, medium-length, brown hair and large piercing blue eyes put the hat on next.
The Sorting Hat took forever trying to decide were to put Dabria. Finally, it settled on Gryffindor.
When Dabria sat down next to Ashlyn, she beamed brightly at everyone.
"Can you believe it almost put me in Hufflepuff?" she asked, mortified at the thought of being split up from Ashlyn.
Everyone sort of laughed before turning his or her attention back to the Sorting Hat.
They watched as Slytherin gained an ugly girl with hair that could have rivaled that of Snape's in the grease department named Calista Starling. Ravenclaw received James Carmichael and Michael Jamison before Gryffindor welcomed Farrah Neely.
Ginny knew right from the start that she and Farrah would be great friends. Farrah had straight reddish-blonde hair to her lower back and huge pretty blue eyes that were insanely dark. She was sort of short like Ginny and had a huge smile on her face when she waved to her friends. Ginny also noticed that she had dimples on both her cheeks.
"Hey! I'm Farrah!" the girl said enthusiastically, waving at Ginny.
"Hi, I'm Ginny," she smiled back.
"This is quite the ordeal, isn't it?" Farrah asked while gazing around, as Chanda Popkin became a Hufflepuff.
"Yeah it's a pretty big deal!" Ginny said jovially, "Oh, there's Byron!"
"Wow, he's cute!" Farrah commented aloud, watching the tall blonde boy walk across the stage.
"You think so?" Ginny asked, wiping her face clean from any emotion that would hint hat she agreed.
"Slytherin!" the hat announced the instant it touched his hair.
"Oh, I know so," Farrah said laughing.
"Do you know him?" Ashlyn asked.
"Yeah, he's my boyfriend's cousin," Ginny explained, casting a look at Draco. He appeared completely bored with everything - even though Josh was talking animatedly to him about something.
Ginny looked up in time to see "Applequist, Katrice" become a Ravenclaw. She noticed that there were only two more girls left. One of them looked none too happy to be there.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Draco felt as though he were practically asleep. The Sorting seemed so boring for some reason! He almost felt bad for letting this Catton kid just ramble on about Quidditch when he had no intention of seriously listening.
As Natalie Mitchell joined Slytherin, Catton said something that caught Draco's attention.
"So, Malfoy - do you have any girlfriends? I'm sure all the girls love you!" The little boy said in his still somewhat high-pitched voice, looking eagerly at him.
Draco admired the kid's bravery for talking so gregariously to a seventh year after being sorted into the Slytherin house just moments ago as a first year, so he answered.
"Just one girl."
"Really? I heard you had five or six!" Catton piped up, happy to have gotten a response at last.
"Don't need more than one. They cause too much trouble." Draco told him gazing at Ginny, who was talking excitedly to a pretty new girl across from her. He then watched her face fall slightly as a haughty looking girl named Claire Redding was sorted into Gryffindor.
"Then why even have one?" Catton questioned.
"She's worth it."
"Who is she, then?"
"You see the pretty redheaded girl over there?" Draco asked, pointing to Ginny.
"Yeah."
"That's her."
"She is pretty!" Catton agreed enthusiastically, "But she's a Gryffindor! I didn't think that Slytherins dated or even LIKED any other house, especially not Gryffindor," Catton protested.
"She's different. When you fall in love, you'll understand and put the rules aside." Draco assured him before Dumbledore began to speak.
"Welcome to Hogwarts ladies and gentlemen! Or for those of you returning, welcome back! I do hope you've all had a good summer! For some start-of- term announcements, Mr. Filch asked me to tell you of all the things you must refrain from doing in the hallways and after hours, but I do not have that kind of time, so please use your common sense or look at the complete list that's posted on his door. I would also like to remind you all that the Forbidden Forest is once again off limits to all students at all times. Need I remind you of the incident with Professor Umbridge a few years back?" The old man asked with a twinkle in his eyes. "This year, I would like to welcome a new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher," Dumbledore said for the sixth year in a row.
All of the students exchanged looks as if to ask what kind of psychotic teacher they would be supplied with this year.
"Nymphadora Tonks - Professor Tonks to all of you. She's a good friend of mine, and an Auror at the Ministry.
Everyone seemed impressed by her credentials but totally thrown off by the pink-haired lady who was standing amidst the polite applause.
"Also this year, we will have two large, formal balls instead of the extensive amount we hosted last year. I would expect you all to either find formal robes or formal ball gowns like you all wore last year that the Muggles sell." Dumbledore suggested.
"On a darker note, war is still around us, just as the Sorting Hat has advised you for the past few years, you must stick together as a school and no longer as four individual houses. Although it appears as though it is coming to a close, we must remain on our toes, ready for anything that may come our way. I'll leave you to think about that later, but for now, dig in!"
~*~*~*~*~*~
Ginny glanced down the table at the four new girls - Ashlyn, Dabria, Farrah, and Claire. Ashlyn, Farrah and Dabria looked excited and they stuffed their mouths with all the tasty food they could grasp. But Claire was just sitting at the end of the table, staring around her in disgust.
Ginny leaned over to Ashlyn.
"What's her problem?" Ginny asked, eyeing Claire.
"No one really knows. She's been totally grouchy ever since we met her. Always complaining about the most marvelous of things, she comes off quite stuck up," Ashlyn told her newest friend as she took a look at the seemingly melancholy Claire.
"I wonder why she acts like that?" Ginny asked quietly.
Ashlyn only shrugged before changing the subject.
"So you said you have a boyfriend?" she asked.
"Yeah. Draco Malfoy."
"What House is he in?" Ashlyn asked out of curiosity.
"Slytherin," Ginny told her, wondering if Ashlyn knew about the Slytherin vs. Gryffindor grudge match.
"Wow, I heard they were all evil.born to follow You-Know-Who. A Gryffindor/Slytherin relationship is almost like a taboo from what I've heard! How'd you manage to find yourself a good one?" Ashlyn asked.
Ginny already like this girl a lot. Even though Ashlyn had been told all those things about Slytherins, she still believed there could be a good one. She didn't second-guess Ginny's judgment.
"He's over there, next to the sandy-haired boy and the black-haired girl," she said pointing him out.
"The blonde one?" Ashlyn asked.
"Yeah."
"Wow! He's pretty fine looking! Does he have a brother?" she teased, laughing.
"No - but he does have a cousin here who looks identical to him."
"You're kidding!"
"No, his name's Byron," Ginny said.
"Oh yeah, I remember you telling us that! Maybe you could hook me up?" Ashlyn pleaded.
"I don't know, Draco said he is dangerous. But, I could see what Draco thinks though," Ginny volunteered. If Byron really were as horrible as Draco said he was, then she wouldn't want to hook him up with one of her new friends.
"Okay, sweet," Ashlyn agreed, taking a roll, "Oh yeah, and you can call me Ashe."
"Cool, everyone calls me Gin."
"Awesome, like the drink!" she laughed
"Yeah, I guess so," Ginny said. She'd never really thought about it like that before.
"Hey, Ginny! Chloe told me you won the singing division of the talent contest last year! That's so cool!" Farrah exclaimed loudly.
"Thanks!" Ginny said appreciatively.
"I love to sing; maybe you and I could do a duet sometime. You'll have to tell me all about the contest," Farrah went on.
"That sounds like a plan; I'm really not that great though!" Ginny warned, excited just to have another friend who was into singing.
"Yeah, and I'm sure that's why you won!" Farrah laughed.
Soon, it was time for everyone to start heading back to his or her common rooms. All the older students were yawning loudly and aching to get to their soft beds, as the first years were bright-eyed with excitement.
Ginny was walking up the stairs, almost forgetting about the meeting Draco had called for, until a pair of strong arms came out and grasped her around the waist and pulled her into the shadowy corridor that was oh-so-familiar.
"You know, you could have just waited for me and reminded me to come with you," Ginny said as he released her.
Draco took her hand and began to walk down the dimly lit hall.
"What would be the fun in that?" he asked, smirking slightly.
Ginny laughed quietly as the couple walked into their old secret room. Everything was just as it was when they had left it.
They sat down on the couch and Ginny rested her back on Draco's stomach. She laid her head back against his chest and closed her eyes, inhaling his scent.
"This feels right," Ginny whispered, opening her eyes and gazing into the pools of silver looming above her.
"I missed doing this over the summer," Draco told her, staring into her eyes.
Ginny smiled warmly but for some reason her heart didn't twitch at all. Not like it used to. She hated that Draco's romantic comments no longer made her tingle. It just didn't seem like him anymore. Last year, she had been excited to change his awful attitude and prove to everyone that he could be changed. Now though, she was realizing that the fact of the matter was that his toughness and even his coldness added to his appeal. She didn't really want a guy that was always mushy and played it safe. And she knew he was only acting that way because he thought she wanted him to. Mr. Play-It-Safe wasn't him at all. He was dangerous and wild; carefree and witty, but sometimes charming and protective. As Ginny pondered those thoughts, Draco asked her a few questions.
"So, what do you think of Byron so far?" Draco asked, secretly meaning, "Has he said anything I should kill him for?"
"He seems okay to me. He kind of reminds me of how you used to be," Ginny said, hoping to get some sort of a reaction.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Draco asked her, slightly defensively.
"He's dangerous, cold, tough and mysterious - you know," Ginny replied.
"Are you saying that I'm no longer those things?' Draco asked, eyes boring into hers, searching for answers.
"Yeah. Now the danger is gone, you've become extremely nice and sweet. You're even fairly nice to Gryffindors and first years," Ginny pointed out softly.
"I thought that was what you wanted," Draco told the redhead, confused.
"To a certain degree, but I love your danger and mystery. I love you like this too, but it'll just take some getting used to," Ginny explained.
"We're just normal now," Draco told her reassuringly. He had never thought his danger was gone. It came as big news to him that no one really feared him anymore. He decided he would have to think the whole thing over when he went to bed.
"Yeah, it's kind of nice," Ginny lied.
Draco and Ginny stayed like that for several more minutes before they kissed goodnight and headed off to bed.
They both had a lot of rethinking to do about their personalities and their relationships.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yay! There's you're next chapter! I hope you all enjoyed it! Please leave me a review and tell me what you think!
Also, tell me who you're favorite new character is and what you think Ginny and Draco should do!
Disclaimer: Yay! I now own the plot line, Chloe Lynch, Payton Jackson, Andrew, and Sophie, Rachel, Andrew, Chris and Danica Weasley, Bryon Malfoy, Bella, Ashlyn Grove, Dabria Mandela, Claire Redding, Farrah Neely, James Carmichael, Katrice Applequist, Michael Jamison, Evie Madison, Chanda Popkin, Calista Starling, Natalie Mitchell, Mara, Elisabeth and Bailey Malfoy! JK Rowling owns everything and everyone else that you would possibly recognize!