usual disclaimers apply. blah blah blah. don't own it. blah.

Chapter 5 Passing Notes

Ginny tried to shake off the dream she'd been having. It was far too disturbing for words. She'd dreamt that she was permanently kissing Malfoy. Yuck! She had a crick in her neck. She must've slept on it funny. Finally she opened her eyes only to be greeted by a shocking pair of pale blue ones right next to hers. She shrieked again and her hand flew up in surprise, her nails raking across Draco's cheek.

He winced and put his finger to his cheek where she'd scratched him. A small drop of blood appeared on his finger when he pulled it away. He glared at her and she shrugged her apology helplessly. After a few seconds he nodded curtly and returned to his own thoughts.

As the day wore on, their boredom grew. There was absolutely nothing to do. Madam Pomfrey came in a few times and administered the Nutrius spell a few times to satiate their hunger, but besides that there was absolutely nothing to do. Finally Ginny couldn't stand it anymore. The next time Madam Pomfrey came in she made writing motions and Madam Pomfrey returned with a quill and ink and a piece of parchment.

Sorry about this, she wrote. My brothers are… insane. Then she handed the parchment to Draco, who held it out to the side of his head and read it with his periphery.

Then he took the quill from her and wrote back, out of sheer boredom, I can see that. I sometimes wish I had siblings though. You're lucky.

She read what he wrote, then scribbled, You can have them. Having six older brothers isn't what it's cracked up to be.

He shrugged. I wouldn't know.

Then you'll have to take my word for it. They are completely nuts!

He laughed slightly, although it sounded kind of garbled since it couldn't really escape his mouth. Her eyes crinkled in a smile and they kept writing back and forth for a majority of the day. Before they knew it, it was after dinner and they had to stop because they were going cross-eyed from having to read sideways.

Madam Pomfrey came back in and administered the Nutrius spell again then told them they had visitors again. Harry and Hermione entered in behind her, followed this time by Ron.

"Hey, Ginny, how are you doing?" Hermione asked.

Ginny picked up a blank piece of parchment and wrote, Bored out of my mind. How about you?

Hermione patted her arm sympathetically. "I'm sorry, but if it'll make you feel any better, we talked to all your professors, and yours too, Malfoy, and they said you wouldn't have to do any of the homework, seeing as how you're indisposed and all." Hermione trailed off awkwardly then cleared her throat. "I mean, um, yeah."

Ginny nodded and wrote, Thanks, Hermione.

Both Harry and Ron were just staring stupidly at Draco and Ginny. Finally Hermione kicked them and they both snapped out of it.

"Ow, Hermione!" Ron complained while he rubbed his shin. "Sorry, Ginny. I, um, I'm sorry this, um, happened and… stuff." He finished lamely then stared intently at the floor.

Now it was Harry's turn. "So, um, you have, like, another 24 hours of this, right?"

Ginny nodded and rolled her eyes.

Then Harry noticed the scratch on Malfoy's cheek. "Man, Malfoy, what happened to your face?"

Draco pointed to Ginny and shrugged.

Harry nodded and seemed to run out of things to say.

Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation. "Boys. Ginny, is there anything I can get you from your room or anything, like a pillow or a game or something?"

Ginny's eyes lit up and she scribbled, My pillow! My neck is killing me from having to sit like this!

Hermione nodded. "Okay, I'll go grab it after this and bring it back."

Thank you, Hermione! I'll love you forever for this!

Hermione nodded again. "We'd better get going anyway. Unlike you two, we have homework. Oh, also McGonagall said the play practice is being postponed until we get our two leads back, so you don't have to worry about that." She kicked the boys again and they snapped out of their stupors and turned to go.

"Yeah, um, we should go." Ron stuttered lamely. With that the three of them exited the room.

Ginny rolled her eyes again and sighed. See, I told you my brothers are dumb, she wrote.

Draco didn't reply. He just laughed again, making his eyes crinkle up, and shook his head.