Disclaimer: I disclaim

What Happened Last Time:

"What changed? We were so happy once, I made you smile. I made you laugh, not snicker or sneer, but laugh. We fought our parents and our houses so we could be together. Why destroy all we built?" Ginny tried to hold her tears in and managed a strangled mutter, "You told me you loved me."

More silence followed as Draco contemplated the response to this. He had loved her. They had fought to be together, they had been happy.

"Things just change, people change. I can't explain my feelings I only know how I feel, and I think we would be better off friends."

That was last thing Ginny wanted to hear. Turning from the window toward the sliding door of the small compartment, Ginny looked at the ground instead of Draco. Tears leaked down her cheeks as she grabbed the handle of the door.

"It never works that way."

But he never doubted his decision to end the relationship, well, at least he didn't until a month later...

Chapter 2: Painful Giggles

Draco had never understood how girls could group together and giggle incessantly for hours on end about apparently nothing. For example, for the past six weeks he had been followed by incessant giggling wherever he went. Slytherin girls were masters at keeping up a continuous flirty stream of them. He had learned to mostly tune them out though. Pansy's was hard to ignore however, because of a slight wheeze after each one that reminded him of a cat coughing up a particularly nasty hair ball. Not pleasant.

At the moment Draco sat at in the Great Hall, picking at his chicken and potatoes, tuning out everything around him. He hadn't talked to Ginny since the break up. This bothered him but not overly much. He hadn't run up to try to start a conversation with her, but he had wanted to stay friends. He didn't dislike her, he just didn't feel chemistry between them anymore, he wasn't in love anymore.

(giggle giggle )"You're so funny!"

The simple phrase burned into Draco's ears and whirled him around as he sat. Ginny had just entered the Hall on the arm of a tall, strong, dark-haired individual. She looked up at him adoringly and giggled as Harry smiled proudly. Draco's jaw dropped.

She's going out with him? He's stuck-up! He's stupid! He's wimpy! Draco rumbled inside his head but tapered off considerably when he came to the stunning conclusion, He's not me.

Was it possible that the infamous Draco Malfoy could be so easily replaced? And by such an unworthy candidate? Had he not been a wonderful boyfriend, before he dumped her that is. Ginny seemed cured of any left over grief. He thought he had broken her heart, not lightly bruised it. Not that he had wanted to hurt her! No, He never wanted to hurt her, but the idea that the loss of him meant that much to her was, nice. It made him feel good, confident, mean and cruel, but confident. Seeing her smiling and obviously not thinking of him was a slight blow to the old ego. Well, no more guilt now. She's finally over me, just like I'm over her. That's done.

But it wasn't done. Harry and Ginny were the new gossip of the school. Every corner he turned, if he didn't encounter someone chattering about the new couple, he saw the new couple themselves! Huddled in corners, kissing happily. How can she enjoy kissing that stupid, pampered, mama's boy? This thought was repeated every time Draco saw them together, and every time he thought of them, and every time he thought of her.

Draco would never admit it to anyone, but he missed Ginny. He missed talking to her and laughing with her. They had gone through a lot to be together and he missed the challenge. Maybe she doesn't. Maybe she was tired of the constant struggle and went with Potter because no one would question the relationship. What if she thought I dumped her because I didn't think she was worth the effort anymore? Is that the reason she hates me?

Draco pulled away from this train of thought and tried to focus on his Potions homework. Harry and Ginny had been dating for a month now and he hated it. He didn't want to be with Ginny, but he didn't want to be without her. He definitely didn't want Potter to be with her. He didn't want to admit Potter was probably a better boyfriend but he did want Ginny to be happy. He just wanted her to be happy with him. But not with him. To tell the truth, he didn't know what he wanted.

He had considered apologizing to her and asking to be taken back but the following scenario always played in his head after contemplating on this too long:

(SLAP) "Draco, you had your chance and you threw it away. You made your choice now live with it! Harry and I are happier than you and I ever were. I hate you and I never want to see you again in my life. Go jump off the North Tower!"

Ok, so the last part might be a little far fetched, but he couldn't blame her if she did say that. The imagined rebuttal always put him against begging forgiveness. And the fact that Malfoy's don't beg.

Stuck at an impass, Draco decided it was easier to just do nothing. He wallowed in self-pitying misery and Ginny continued her happy relationship with Harry. Well, mostly happy.

Ginny would never admit it to anyone, but she missed Draco. Yes, he had broken her heart and yes, he was a selfish, unfeeling, jerk. But she still missed him. No, I'm happy with Harry. I've dreamed about being with him since before I started Hogwarts. No, I dreamed of being with him before I met Draco. No, Harry is better than Draco. He's nice and chivalrous and simple. Simple. Draco was never simple. That's what made him exciting. No, Draco broke my heart. I wish we could still talk. He probably thinks I hate him and is enjoying his solitude.

She had considered apologizing to him and asking if they could talk or hang out but the following scenario always played in her head after contemplating on this too long:

"Ginny, you said yourself, it never works that way. I don't want to be your friend. I dumped you to get away from you. I hate you and I never want to see you again in my life. Go jump off the North Tower!"

Ok, still exaggerated but she came to the same conclusion Draco did. Staying exactly where she was until something changed. Their wishes did come true, something did happen. Just not something either of them would have chosen in order to jump-start them into action.

Ginny disappeared.

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A/N: sorry for the cliffie! I needed something to get me going on the next chapter. No songs because it would have been confusing with them and the thoughts. More to come eventually, when my muse strikes again. Thank you Jack Robinson, Blood Crested, Virginia-Draco28, and CocoaQT15 for reviewing! They really help motivate me to write!(cough HINT HINT cough) Luv ya all

Thalia05