Chapter 5

"Hey Ginny! Wow I feel like I haven't talked to you in forever!" Ginny leaned over and gave Zi Lixue Chang, her best friend, a tight hug.

"I know!"

"Your brothers finally are letting you out again?" Zi and Ginny laughed.

"Well they're not exactly happy about it, but I told them that if they didn't let me have some more freedom I'd owl Mum about all their pranks." Ginny sat down and started nibbling on some toast.

"Wasn't your Mum furious when she heard about the Forest thing?"

Ginny shrugged her shoulders, "She's kind in indifferent. She doesn't think I should have gone, but she doesn't think Ron should have yelled at me either. She blames them, mostly, for not looking out for me more."

At the other end of the table, Ron, Fred, and George glanced worriedly at their baby sister. "That girl reminds me of someone ... but I can't put my finger on who it is."

"That's Cho's little sister, Ron," Hermione stated, absentmindedly. She had her nose buried in a book, surprise surprise.

"How did a Chang get into Gryffindor? I thought they were all die-hard Ravenclaws?" Fred glanced at Cho at the Ravenclaw table; she definitely fit in there.

Hermione sighed and closed her book, giving up trying to read with everyone asking her all these questions. "Every Chang in the history of their family has been a Ravenclaw ... except Zi." Hermione took a sip of her pumpkin juice. "Caused quite an uproar, according to Ginny. But Zi fits in here like Cho fits in at Ravenclaw." Ginny and Zi stood up and started for the door, but, as if remembering something, Ginny turned around and started towards her brothers.

"Flitwick is sick, so we have study periods until Lunch. We'll be in the music wing if you feel the need to check up on me." Ginny smiled sweetly despite her remark. "I'll see you at lunch."

"No wandering around, Ginny," Ron said. Fred and George were about to say something else when Ginny interrupted.

"Yes, Ron. I know, I know, Fred, George, I don't need the speech again. I'll see you at lunch. Bye!" Ginny waved and she and Zi walked out of the Great Hall.

Music Wing

Ginny and Zi made their way up the confusing, twisted path to the Music Wing. It was old and hardly anyone knew it was here, let alone used it. The main room was basically a huge orchestra pit; it used to be used for performances. In one of the adjoining rooms, there was an elegant, perfectly tuned Grand Piano. Ginny and Zi headed straight for that room, without even slowing down to look at the menagerie of instruments in the main room.

"Oh my goodness! I haven't played in forever! I hope I don't suck." Zi laughed and shook her head at Ginny.

"You're not going to suck. You're brilliant, better than my sister even." Ginny smiled and they sat down on the bench in front of the piano. After they did a few scales, Zi pulled a book out of her bag.

"What were we singing again?"

Zi sighed and smiled. "The first song of the second act of Carmen."

"Merlin! Of course! I'm sorry, my brain has turned to mush lately." Zi smiled mischievously at her friend.

"I hear it's more of you turning to mush over a guy rather than your head." Ginny eyes got very wide, and she didn't laugh along with Zi.

"You heard that?! From who?"

"Woah, Ginny calm down. I was just kidding. I suspected it was something to do with a guy when you started sneaking out of the Dormitory nearly every night. Not to mention coming back with your lips swollen like you had been making out." Zi laughed as Ginny blushed. "So, come on, spill it all!"

"I can't ... Zi, I'm really sorry."

"Ginny! I'm your best friend ... why can't you tell me?" Ginny sighed.

"Look, I'll think about it ... maybe, but that puts a lot on the line. Don't be upset. Come on let's sing, before my vocal cords rust." Ginny smiled and Zi stared at her, unsure, but started to smile as well.

"Okay, you know the key and everything." Ginny nodded and she and Zi positioned their fingers over the keys. They had been playing together since first year, when Ginny heard Zi playing and fell in love with it. Last year, they had started singing along with playing. Ginny felt her heart soar as they started to play the opening chords. Playing felt like the most natural thing in the world. Their voices rang out clearly, echoing throughout the music wing. The piano, perfectly in tune, seemed to sing out with them.

A Random Corridor

Draco was sitting against the wall, trying to get some time to himself. He had had a hard time shaking Pansy, Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle, but had finally lost them when a staircase changed abruptly. He didn't know if he'd be able to get back to the Great Hall, but he didn't really care. He needed time to think and be alone.

He leaned his head back, against the wall, and sighed heavily. His father had just sent him an owl talking about the ceremony. Draco would become a Death Eater soon; the painstaking preparations were already starting. If everything went according to plan, he would perform the ceremony on Christmas Eve of his seventh year. That meant he had almost two years to figure something out. He did not want to become a Death Eater; frankly he wanted nothing to do with his father. But he knew, that if he left, his father would probably kill his mother. The only reason he kept her alive now was because Lucius thought Draco would run away if he killed Narcissa.

Draco's mother was the only person in the entire Malfoy family, except Draco, with feelings. She tried desperately to stop Lucius from hurting Draco time and time again, but every time she failed. In a sense, she did succeed however; Lucius had not yet gone so far as to kill Draco. Narcissa was always there after Draco and Lucius had a fight, to clean her son up and heal his broken bones.

If only I could get her out of there, Draco thought, desperately. He knew there was little he could do. I wish I could tell Ginny. Lately, Draco had caught himself wishing he could share everything with Ginny, even the more dark parts of his life. Somehow, she was always able to make him smile, to comfort him when everything seemed to be going wrong. But he didn't want to put the burden of his family problems on her; things were bad enough in her own family.

Draco decided to wait to tell Ginny about the whole Death Eater, homicidal father thing until after it was all resolved. She definitely didn't need another thing on her plate to worry about right now. He sighed and looked out the window; lunch would be over soon and he should get to class.

Potions Class

"Miss Weasley?"

"Hemlock is often thought to be a poison, but if used and brewed properly it can function as a very effective healing potion. It cures such things as ulcers, migraines, and other stress induced ailments." Ginny smiled at Professor Snape sweetly and he attempted what looked like a smile.

Ugh, I don't ever want to see Snape smile again ... Ginny's really brilliant, I wonder where she got it from ... and how come I didn't get it? Ron looked absentmindedly around the room; he wasn't really paying any attention to the lesson.

"Very good, Miss Weasley. Five points to Gryffindor." Ron sat bolt upright in his chair. Did Snape just award points to Gryffindor?! He and the other students in the room exchanged confused, shocked glances. What in the bloody hell is going on?

"I don't suppose, Miss Weasley, that you could tell me what ingredient would be mixed with hemlock to make a potent sleeping potion?"

"Of course, Professor. That would be wolfs bane." Ginny smiled sweetly again and Professor Snape continued with the lesson. No one really heard much more of the lesson. The Slytherins were trying to figure out why in the bloody hell Snape was awarding points to their rivals. The Gryffindors were trying to figure out who this person in front of them was and what he had done with Professor Snape.

Gryffindor Common Room

"Where in the bloody hell were you all evening?"

"Oh get off it Ron! I was in the music wing!" Ginny rolled her eyes and plopped down on the couch between Harry and Hermione.

"Ginny, you can't just go wandering around the school. Besides the fact that you almost missed curfew!"

Ginny snorted, "Oh like you and Fred have never missed curfew in your lives right? Where do you honestly think I could have been?"

"With a boy! That's the only plausible explanation." Fred glared at her and she glared right back. The three brothers realized, all too late what was coming. Ginny stood up to face them, her face almost the color of her hair.

"What did you just say to me, Frederick Arthur Weasley?" Fred winced at hearing his full name, he knew he was in deep shit this time. Ginny was almost as scary as Mrs. Weasley when she was mad. "I can't believe that you would presume that I am some slut that only thinks about boys. I've got some news for you! I'm not as perverted and tunnel-visional as all my brothers! I was in the music wing because I was playing! NOW IF YOU DON'T MIND, PLEASE STAY THE FUCK OUT OF MY BUSINESS!" Ginny was screaming at this point and the entire Gryffindor Common Room turned to watch her. A few scared first years had run up to their Dormitories. Ginny turned around and started for the portrait hole.

"Where do you think you're going?" All too late, Ron realized his mistake.

"Where am I going? Did you just ask where I'm going Ronald Michael Weasley? I'M GOING TO THE MUSIC WING! TO BE WITH A BOY, RIGHT FRED?! AND I'LL MISS CURFEW, RIGHT GEORGE PATRICK WEASLEY?" Ginny game them all a look that could kill and stormed out of the Common Room. (A/N: Ok I'm too lazy to look up their real middle names, if you all know, put them in the reviews and I'll change it later ... sorry!)

"Bloody hell, we're in deep shit. If she doesn't tell Mum about every single prank we've ever pulled, I'll feel truly blessed." George shook his head, dismally.

Slytherin 5th Year Boys' Dormitory

"I'm going for a walk," Draco said to no one in particular. It was past curfew, but he didn't really care. He needed to get some air; he walked back to the hallway he had been sitting in before lunch. As he sat down, he heard soft piano music. A few moments later, it was joined by a beautifully clear voice. He got up and followed the music. After about 15 minutes of walking he entered a large room with lots and lots of musical instruments in it. He looked across the room and saw a girl with her back to him, sitting at a Grand Piano. "Red hair? Ginny?" Draco said to himself. He walked closer and could now; unmistakably tell that it was indeed, Ginny Weasley. He waited until her song was finished and then started clapping. She turned around hurriedly.

"I didn't know ... Oh, Draco, hi. What are you doing here?" She turned around on her stool to face him, but didn't smile as he sat down next to her.

"I was going for a walk when I heard an angel singing." Draco smiled and leaned down to kiss Ginny, but she stood up before he could. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"I had another fight with my brothers." Ginny sighed. Draco stood up and hugged her from behind, as her back was to him.

As he kissed the top of her head he said, "Wanna talk about it?"

"Not really. I just want to ... cry. But I can't ... maybe I don't really care anymore." Draco squeezed her tightly.

"You know that's not true. But I'm sure whatever happened wasn't your fault; your brothers have some serious issues." Ginny giggled a little bit and then burst out crying. She turned around and buried her head in Draco's chest. "Shhh, come on, it's ok."

"I just don't understand why everything has to be so fucked up," Ginny choked out between sobs. A few minutes later, she finally stopped sobbing and Draco pulled back to look at her. He wiped the tears away from her face.

"Please don't cry ... I feel horrible when you cry. Especially since I know that if it weren't for me you would have no reason to disobey your brothers. I hate to think that ... I could ever cause you any pain."

"Draco, please it's not your fault." Ginny sighed and pulled Draco close to her, kissing him lightly. "You make me happy and that's all there is to it." Draco smiled and kissed Ginny again. He was amazed how hard he had fallen for someone he had never thought he could like, let alone love. Did he love her? Was he in love with Ginny Weasley?

A/N: Dun dun dun! The answer in chapters to come! I'm so so so happy that I finally finished my 50 page English project ... it was almost ended with me slumped over the computer, dead but it's done now! I thought after all that work and the past couple bad updates, you all deserved an awesome chappie. I hope this was as awesome as I wanted it to be. Let me know what you think! O ya, to clarify. Draco is a fifth year, Ginny is a fourth year, and Fred and George are seventh years. Sorry for any confusion. Some other glitches I don't wanna deal with right now. And I know Cho doesn't have a sister named "Zi", but I took a creative license, don't shoot me!

ShoeMalfoy: Merci Beaucoup! How did you like Ginny's friend? Strangely enough I was just thinking about adding a girl from Ginny's year when I read you review! Hehe, hope you liked it, please review!

Skybluepink: yes, yes, trousers! Haha! Ok, Ginny is like a super-smart person so she is in Potions, Charms, and Divination with the Fifth Years because she is too smart to be in the regular Fourth Year classes. Hope you liked this one, please review!

Mz.Sammiz and Delight: thanks a bunch! Hope you liked this chapter!

I should be updating again before the week is out ... I'm hoping to have a new chapter posted on First Day of My Life and/or Time to Burn before Wednesday! Thanks to the reviewers, you guys make me smile. The reviews really picked me up after that damn English thing! Thanks! mauh! Please review and let me know what you think!

Disclaimer: If you really think I own Harry Potter then you are daft and shouldn't be reading this in the first place!