Author's Note: Shwiiinnnggg! Yes, almost finished! Damn, and I thought I'd written a lot. This is the second to last chapter, althought the last chapter's just kinda a (rock-awesome) epilogue. Damn you all for inflating my ego-bubble. (Shakes fist at somputer screen.) But thank you so much all the same. I still think I'm a horrible writer, but at least now I know there are people out there who like my writing. (God knows my English teachers don't, but they're all prats with no sense of humor.) Back to uploading last chapter! It's kind of sad. Once this is done, there's no going back and visiting this world I've created. Well, guess I'll just have to write another one. (Rubs hands together with maniacal gleam in eyes while men in white coats pound on my door.) So, please, enjoy this chapter, and I hope you don't find it too mushy!

Disclaimer: See last few chapters; I'm tired of this...you all know what's what. And what's right. And what's wrong.

Puffy Red Eyes

Chapter 12: Brawls, Bonds, and Bets.

Ginny was avoiding him. Draco just couldn't believe it.

He glared at her the entire class, astonished only when she turned and looked at him, her eyes widening and lips parting to form a shocked 'o'. She turned back around and didn't turn around for the rest of the class.

Draco was confused at her reaction, but put it down to acting, and resumed glowering at her back.

Ginny sighed with relief as the bell rang. She gathered up her things and quickly rushed from class. Someone jostled her shoulder sharply, sending her books and her flying. She landed on her knees painfully, her books and bag lying scattered in the hall.

She heard sneering laughs behind her and whirled around. Draco was standing closest to her, laughing heartily, while Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle, and a few other Slytherins laughed along with him. Ginny stared at Draco, who had apparently pushed her, tears prickling her eyes.

Ron and Harry shoved angrily through the tight throng of Slytherins. Ron picked up her books while Harry helped her to her feet, and put a comforting arm around her shoulders. Draco scowled at this, noting how Ginny shook in his arms.

"Oy scarhead! Think maybe you can teach your girlfriend how to walk properly? Must be hard with those huge feet of hers." He sneered.

Ron lunged for him, wand out. Ginny broke away from Harry's grasp, blocking Ron's way. Draco stared quizzically at Ginny's back, her arms stretched out to either side of her. "Ron, stop." She said firmly.

Ron glared at Draco over his sister's shoulder, still fuming. "Gin, did you hear him?" He asked, snarling at Malfoy.

Ginny nodded. "It's not worth it." She said, taking his arm and pulling him away.

Draco glared. She couldn't trick him like that. He laughed nastily and derisively. "What's the matter, Weasley? Not gonna stand up to your little baby sister, even, you pouf?" He snarled.

Ron went rigid, his face draining. Draco was still laughing when a red-headed blur flew at him, fists flying. He dodged one aimed at his face, but winced as another hit him full force in the stomach. Another glanced off his ribs. Crabbe and Goyle stepped forward, grabbing the person's arms and hauling her off Draco, who sat back, amazed.

He looked up. Ginny was writhing in Crabbe and Goyle's arms, her face red, anger fuming in her eyes. Draco touched a hand to his ribs. She could really pack a punch!

Ron and Harry stood, lost for words, behind them. Ginny struggled in vain for several more minutes. Then she stopped, still looking murderous. "I swear to god, Malfoy. You ever insult my family and friends or hurt me again, I'll kill you with my bare hands." She leaned over and bit Crabbe on the hand. Actually bit him! He howled in pain and let go of her left arm. Ginny turned to Goyle, who was glancing nervously down at her, and smiled toothily up at him. He promptly let go of her other arm.

Throwing Draco one last glare, she took her things from Ron's limp hand and turned to the two boys. "Shall we?" She asked, coloring again.

They set off down the hallway. Ron finally regained his speech and turned to his usually sweet, demure little sister. "Gin? What was that? That was…"

Harry broke in, picking her up in a twirling hug. "That was amazing Gin!" He planted her down on the ground, grinning. He stopped and suddenly looked embarrassed. "Uh, sorry, Gin, I wasn't…I just got excited…I didn't…"

Ginny cut him off, putting a reassuring hand on his arm. "It's fine, Harry. I understand, and I'm glad you and Hermione are back together. It's nice to have another "brother" again, though I don't really need more." She smiled weakly.

Harry looked immensely relieved, but Ron still looked puzzled. "So, why are you allowed to hit him? I wanted to first." Ginny flushed.

"Ron, if you'd attacked him, he'd probably have fought back. At least I got the element of surprise in for a good few punches." She said, shrugging.

Ron grinned, but still looked preoccupied. "How d'you think he knew?" He asked softly.

Ginny and Harry passed glances. Although seventeen and rather good-looking, Ron had never given much though to girls. He could admire beauty and liked their company, but he'd never really been into the whole 'dating' thing.

Ginny had her suspicions. But he was her brother. It wasn't like she could ask him about his sexual preferences!

Ron glanced back at Ginny and smiled. "Thought it was time to finally come out. Didn't think Malfoy would be the one to bring it out." He shrugged and turned around to face his sister and best friend. "But this doesn't change anything? Gin, I'm still your brother. Harry, we're still mates…right?" He looked hopefully at Harry.

Harry smiled. "Like I haven't known for ages. Just glad you never liked me…in that way." He grinned, clapping Ron on the back.

Ron flamed, but looked rather pleased with himself. "Sorry, Harry, you're not really my type." Ginny giggled as the two boys play-fought all the way back to the Gryffindor common room.

Once inside the comforting building, Harry and Ron immediately told Hermione and Jenna what had happened after Potions class (both had left early to help Professor Flitwick with some charmed plates that his fourth years had lost control of).

Hermione looked stern, but trying to prevent herself from smiling slightly was impossible. Jenna looked upset. Ginny noticed this. As the 'Dream Team' walked off to a secluded corner of the common room, Ginny settled next to her friend. "Jenna? Are you alright?"

Jenna shook her head. "I'm sorry Gin. I really thought he liked you." She sighed. "Guess even I can be wrong." She shrugged apologetically.

Ginny straightened up. "I've cried for him. I cried a lot for him. But he never cared for me. I guess it makes it easier, knowing he was just using me, but still…" Her eyes watered "…it hurts like hell." She allowed herself to be enclosed in a warm embrace.

Jenna's eyes were flaming like mad.

"DAMN! DAMN! DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN!" Draco fumed, kicking his trunk vindictively. The two Slytherin boys who had been in the room quickly and wisely exited the room. Draco Malfoy was one person you didn't want to bother when he was in a rage. And gods was he in a rage.

He rammed his fist into the wall. "Damn Weasleys and send them all to hell!" He shouted, fuming. Where did she get off, ignoring him, then hitting him? And she'd made him feel guilty! She didn't give a damn; he'd seen Potter hugging her further down the hallway. It was disgusting.

He didn't want to admit it, not even to himself, but he had fallen rather hard for the little red-headed angel. It was probably why he was so mad now, he thought, glancing down at his purpling knuckles. It made him furious that he couldn't think about her without feeling that familiar pull in the pit of his stomach. God only knew how much he wanted her. But she'd made it very clear; she didn't want him.

He fumed some more, then sat wearily. He decided to visit the library. It was after classes on a Friday. Everyone else would be in their dormitories and common rooms, or in the Great Hall. He could finally be alone. He didn't need her. He'd show them all; he didn't need the attentions of a rotten red-headed brat like Weasly.

Three months flew by, and the winter holidays approached. Ginny became more like her usual self, but those closest to her noticed that her brown eyes didn't shine anymore. Sometimes it seemed like everyone but Ginny was paired up and happy.

Harry and Hermione snuggled appreciatively in corners, snogging every chance they got. Jenna and Dean weren't much better, coddling each other and laughing merrily. But the biggest surprise was Ron.

About a month after Ginny's disastrous plunge down the stairs and Malfoy's cutting comment to Ron, he'd admitted to Ginny that he and Seamus were a couple.

Ginny had been unsure at first. It wasn't that she was against homosexual relationships, but just the fact that it was her brother made it awkward. But, after seeing them together a few times, even Ginny had to admit that they were content with each other.

Which made her feel even worse.

To avoid all her love-struck friends, Ginny had begun hanging around Snape's room more often. It surprised her to find that the hook-nosed man actually had a good sense of humor; his own dry wit.

She felt comfortable in the silent and deserted chamber. Two days before the winter holidays, Ginny stormed into the empty Potions classroom, flinging her bag against the wall and heading over to the stores of potions.

"Stupid bloody prat!" She hissed, grabbing several jars and hauling them over to a table she had chosen as her own.

"Careful, Weasley. Those are expensive ingredients."

Apparently, the room wasn't as empty as she'd first thought. Snape was staring at her from behind his desk, looking faintly curious.

Ginny whirled, flushing. "Sorry, Professor. I though you were out."

"Obviously." He stared at her oddly.

She bit her lip and went back to setting up ingredients for a Boiling Draught, as several students had contracted rather nasty-looking green boils, most likely from Hagrid's latest creatures; Snacklers. Filthy little popping things that looked like frogs.

Snape stood and walked over to where she was crushing snake fangs with shaking hands.

"Miss Weasley, you seem to be rather agitated. Any particular reason?"

Ginny remained silent, taking out her anger on the snake fangs, which were rapidly turing in a fine powder.

Snape arched an eyebrow. "Certainly it can't have anything to do with a certain pale Slytherin who seems to have gone suddenly vindictive?"

Ginny dropped the pounding tool she'd been using. She ignored the clattering it made as it fell to the ground and looked at her now favorite teacher. "How…" She stopped herself. Dra-Malfoy had been so conspicuous in his sudden vengeance on Ginny, she was surprised Snape was the only one who'd seen it. At least Pansy and her buddies weren't bothering her anymore.

She nodded. "Clever guess, Professor."

Snape's look softened. He would have sworn they had been, if not in love, rather close, and now…but it wasn't really his place. Although he really couldn't stand Malfoy glancing at her so wanting, only to shove her around or insult her when she was looking at him. And he REALLY couldn't stand his best student moping around without that disgustingly infectious smile of hers any longer.

"Have a falling out with young master Malfoy?" He queried. Ginny's jaw dropped lower. "Now, how did you know about that?" She asked.

Snape grinned. "What happened?" He asked, surprisingly gently, ignoring her shock.

Ginny sighed. The latest was Draco teasing her about her lack of money, but that wasn't what he was asking…

"This might surprise you, but…Malfoy and I were a couple for a while. I don't know about him, but I was happy. I liked him a lot. Then, after I fell down the stairs, he got mad at me. Said he hated me, never liked me." She mumbled, tears stinging her eyes again. Damnit! Why can't I think about him without crying? She furiously wiped tears from her eyes, not sure why she was having this discussion with Snape, or why she wasn't feeling uncomfortable.

Snape was looking thoughtful. Funny, that wasn't how Malfoy looked at her…

"Are you sure, Weasley? He still looks rather obsessed with you."

"Professor! He keeps insulting me and pushing me around; if that's love, I think I'd rather be an old spinster!" She bit her lip.

"It's strange. The way he looks at you in class when you're not looking…would suggest something else besides hatred…but it's not really my place to say…" He trailed off and went back to his desk, smiling to himself.

Ginny looked puzzled. Was it possible? God knows I wish it was. She thought. She shrugged and went back to smashing her snake fangs, although it had already been reduced to a pile of dust.

Two days later, Ginny and Jenna were walking along the school grounds. It had begun to snow a few weeks before, but now it was really snowing. It had stopped the morning of their holidays, giving some of the tougher students the perfect opportunity to enjoy the freshly fallen snow.

Ginny was alone during the holidays save for Jenna and Colin. Ron, Harry, Hermione and Seamus had gone to spend the weeks at the Burrow. Dean, Lavendar, Parvati, and several other Gryffindors had simply gone home.

Ginny glanced over at Jenna, bundled up in a fleece jacket and jeans with a maroon scarf pulled around her neck. Ginny smiled and felt the wind brush her face. She loved the cold! She glanced down at her jacket, which Fred and George had given her for her birthday. It was a lovely suede creation, coming down to her knees, buttoning only to her thighs. She snuggled into it, loving the way it showed off her jean-clad legs. Between Jenna and her brothers, she had the most beautiful winter wardrobe ever. The only problem was, she had no one special to wear it for.

She glanced ahead. Oh no. She thought. Draco Malfoy was sitting morosely at the edge of the lake. Her heart jumped up into her throat. She felt the usual want rising up in her.

She turned to Jenna, who was shivering, and still hadn't seen the petulant blonde.

"Jen? You look cold. Why don't you head back inside? I'm going to enjoy the snow for a little longer." Jenna nodded, teeth chattering.

"I dunno h-how you d-d-do it, Gin." She stammered, before turning back to the castle with a small wave.

Ginny sighed and looked back at Draco. She couldn't deny that, no matter how many times he slighted her, she'd still care for him. She had to talk to him. No Slytherins, no Gryffindors, no one but them. She stepped forward, her feet leading her up to him.

He looked so disturbed, she thought, moving stealthily closer. He was wearing a light sweatshirt and jogging pants. Damn! Why does he always have to look so sexy? She thought, hastily pulling her mussed hair from her face and attempting to smooth it out.

And suddenly, she was standing behind him. She looked down at the pale blonde hair pulled back in a tie. How much she wanted to run her hands through it…how much she wanted to kiss those insulting lips…how much she wanted to hold that lean body…

She leaned forward, not really sure what she was doing. She hesitated right next to his ear. Best to get it over with. One kiss, and he could go back to hating her, but if she didn't touch him, she'd burst!

She closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his cheek, shocked at how cold it was.

Draco had been staring out over the lake when he felt a pair of warm lips touch his cheek. He sat for a second, stunned. He bit his lips at the tenderness in the innocent kiss and whirled around.

Ginny jumped back at the alacrity in is movement, flushed. "I-I.." She stammered, then sighed. "Go ahead." She shrugged helplessly.

Draco's eyes narrowed, though he still couldn't get the feel of her lips off his cheek. "Go ahead with what, Weasley?" He sneered.

She bit her lip. "Go on...insult me. It's what you want to do. I'm sorry I bothered you, so just say whatever you're going to say and I'll leave you alone." She stared down at the snow.

Draco stared up at her. She looked so…upset. Well, at least, her face did, the rest of her was…stunning. Trying not to stare, he frowned. "Why did you bother me if you were just going to be sorry about it?" He asked gruffly.

Ginny stared at his lips. Should she? "Because I had to kiss you. Happy? Hope it does your ego good, Draco. You haven't given me a second thought, except perhaps to hate me, and I can't stop thinking about you. You've got a Gryffindor twined around your finger, hopelessly in love with you. Go on, have a good laugh. It doesn't matter. I just had to kiss you…one last time." She shivered, though she wasn't cold.

Draco's world was spinning. She was in love with him? "Then why did you ignore me?" He asked, abruptly, scowling once more.

Ginny looked up at him. "Ignore you?" When did I ignore you?"

He rolled his eyes. "Day you got out of the infirmary. We were in Snape's class and you walked past me like I didn't exist."

Something flared in Ginny. "Oh, you mean the day after you ripped my heart out mercilessly and chucked it out the window? Did you enjoy watching my heart bleed?" She asked icily. "I remember now. That was the day you shoved me and called my brother gay. How could I have forgotten?" She spat, wondering why she loved him so much after what he'd done to her.

Draco's eyes softened. "Ginny, I didn't mean to hurt you. You were just being so stubborn! You just wouldn't accept that Pansy was trying to kill you! I was afraid you were going to get hurt, and…well, you told me what to say, so I said it." He looked at her speechlessly. She was so adorable.

And suddenly, all the anger and hurt he'd felt from her over the past few months disappeared. And all the love and tenderness he'd wanted to feel with her surfaced. He stood and walked carefully towards Ginny, who froze.

"I know I can't ever make up for what I said, but…hopefully you'll find it in you to forgive me."

She stood, looking at him thoughtfully. "I don't know." She said, evasively, even though she was already moving toward him.

He placed a cold hand on the back of her neck, pulling her closer to him. Her eyes widened and her lips parted slightly as she suddenly had trouble breathing.

That was all he could take. He pulled her face to his, their lips smashing together. This wasn't like any of the soft, sweet kisses they'd shared, but a rush of emotions and suppressed feelings on both parts. His tongue probed her lips, insisting they open. She opened her mouth hesitantly, nearly gasping as his tongue separated her lips, inquisitive and domineering.

He brought his other hand around her lower back, crushing her body against him. She smiled into his mouth and nipped at his lower lip. He inhaled deeply, catching a whiff of the intoxicating orange shampoo she used. Her mouth broke from his, only to trail demandingly along his jaw.

Heat washed over the pair, warming them in the frigid weather. Draco sucked in a mouthful of cold air as Ginny's lips persisted, traveling down his neck. Electricity shot down his spine. Ginny moved her lips back to his, crushing their lips together. She simply couldn't get enough of him!

Draco moved away slightly, brushing her hair from her face. Her eyes were unfocused and dancing, shining brightly once more. "Forgive me?" He asked, running his lips over her collarbone.

She shuddered, relinquishing to his touch, pushing herself against him. "I dunno, Draco. I think I might need a few more kisses to find out." She whispered throatily, pressing her lips to his, more gently this time.

Draco sighed into her mouth, feeling content with his lips on hers, his arms around her back, hers around his shoulders, running fingers along the back of his neck.

He stiffened and broke away gently as she brushed his chin with her lips. "Gods, Ginny, you've been driving me insane. I can't believe what an idiot I was. I haven't been able to sleep at nights without seeing you. I can't look at a red-head without thinking of what it's like to run my hands through your curls. I can't smell oranges without thinking of you." He shuddered as she dragged her bottom lip up to his, smiling so widely that she could barely kiss him.

He pulled his lips from hers, catching her contagious smile.

"I can't believe I've missed six years of this." He ran his hands over her hips.

She pulled from him and stared seriously into his eyes. "Are you willing to stay with me for six years to make up for it?" She asked, her voice deep and hopeful.

Draco looked at her face, and realized that she wasn't beautiful. She was pretty, but to him, she was gorgeous. She was his. She loved him, and he loved her back.

He pulled her to him, cradling her against his chest. "I could stay with you like this forever. I love you, Gin."

As he covered her mouth with his, Ginny's heart soared. She arched up into his kiss and responded with fervor. They stood, kissing in the cold for what seemed like eternity. When their lips finally left each others' Ginny stared up into his grey eyes. They didn't seem so harsh and hateful anymore. And he was smiling down at her with all the love she'd ever hoped for.

She placed a smooth kiss on each of his cheeks. "Thank you for being there for me."

He kissed each of the freckles on her nose, causing her to giggle. "Thank you for not giving up on me." He responded.

"Thank you for loving me." She whispered, kissing the smooth flesh on the bridge of his nose, between his closed eyes.

Draco planted a kiss on her forehead. "Thank you for everything." He grinned. "Including some colorful bruises." He added, referring to her attack on him after he'd insulted her brother.

Ginny flushed, but placed her lips sweetly on Draco's. He nearly melted the snow under him; her mouth was so soft and tender, sending heat wave after heat wave rushing over him. Breaking away from him for a second, she smiled.

"Hey Draco?" She said in a small, but contented voice.

"Hmm?"

"I love you too." She said softly.

Staring down at the two unlikely lovers from a large window in the castle, Professor Snape, McGonagall, Hagrid, and Dumbledore stood. Professor McGonagall was gaping at them, her cup of cocoa lying smashed on the floor where she'd dropped it.

Hagrid looked like he was going to be sick, and hastily took a swig from a bottle of whiskey. Dumbledore looked mildly surprised and Snape was grinning broadly.

"Well, Minerva, I do believe I win." He chuckled deeply, catching the gold Galleon Professor McGonagall grudgingly tossed him.

Dumbledore smiled at the end of the small bet between the two Heads of House, and stared down at the two students, lost to each other, stood in the snow.

"You're not the only one." He muttered cheerfully, eyeing the two meaningfully.