Disclaimer: I own nothing, nada, zippo, zilch . . . well, except for Ginny's friends, Draco's cousin, my clothes, my bed, my stereo . . .

A/N: sorry for the wait, I would've updated sooner but this website was being a pain and wouldn't let me upload. And can I just say how amazed I was at all the reviews I got for chapter one? OMG, I have never gotten that many for one chapter. I should have started this story a long time ago!

The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

Ginny entered the Great Hall looking forward to another year at Hogwarts. It promised to be an exciting year what with quill pals and Harry finally noticing her. Okay, so he hadn't actually said anything to her since the day he arrived at the Burrow, but the glances had continued.

"Virginia Weasley!" Chloe shrieked when she saw her. They hadn't been able to find each other on the train and this was their first time seeing each other since school had let out in June. "I didn't recognize you at first. Is that make-up?"

Ginny gave a sheepish grin, "Yes"

"Well it looks fantastic! Did your Mum put it on for you?"

"No, she taught me how at the beginning of summer and I've been doing it ever since."

Chloe's mouth formed the shape of an "oh" before continuing, "And I love what you've done with your hair! Much prettier than that sloppy ponytail."

"Gee, thanks Chloe" Ginny replied sarcastically.

"You have to admit it was a rather hurried hair-do," Chloe hastily replied in and effort to redeem herself.

"It's because the Weasels can't afford to take the time," they heard a cold voice say.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Ginny snapped, turning to face Harry's arch nemesis and his thugs who were laughing stupidly. Sometimes I think that's all Crabbe and Goyle know how to do.

"Nothing cheap enough for you to give, little weasel," he sneered.

Ginny wasn't going to take this anymore. She had spent four years cowering from the ferret and cowering did not go with the sophisticated look she was trying to achieve to win Harry.

"You're right, Malfoy," she admitted nearly laughing at the look of shock that covered his usual smirk "I probably couldn't afford anything you'd want, but there is one consolation to that."

"And what's that?" he asked.

"I'll never be a spoiled rich prat who spends so much time using his money to get what he wants that he doesn't have time to grow up. Really Malfoy, I would think by now you'd be mature enough to realize that the world doesn't revolve around you." Ginny was amazed at how calm her voice had remained throughout her diatribe.

Malfoy stood there a moment as Crabbe and Goyle tried to look menacing, but only achieved looking stupid. "Crabbe, Goyle," he said and they followed him to the Slytherin table.

"Ginny," Chloe breathed, "Do you realize what you just said and to whom?"

"Yes and yes, but really Chloe! The boy must be around the age of sixteen and he still tries to insult my family with unoriginal remarks about our poverty! He's so bloody stupid you'd think he was still eleven years old!"

"Yes, but to say it to his face. You're asking for trouble Ginny Weasley."

At this point Ron, Harry, and Hermione interrupted them.

"Ginny!" Ron exclaimed, "What happened? Are you okay? What did that git say to you?"

"Oh you should have seen it!" Chloe broke in, suddenly proud of Ginny rather than worried, "She told that ferret off and left him utterly speechless!"

"What did you say to him?" Harry asked; a new respect for her glimmering in his gorgeous green eyes.

"Just that he really needs to grow up," she replied blushing. Why do I always have to blush? Why?!

"What did he say to that?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing"

"He stood there like a complete idiot before stalking off with his two dogs," Chloe added.

"Looks like the sorting is about to start," Ginny said, eager to change the subject. "We'd better go sit down."

Chloe and the three sixth years followed Ginny. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat towards the front end of the table while Ginny ad Chloe continued on to their own friends.

"Ginny!" Amber exclaimed, "You look so pretty!"

"Thanks," Ginny blushed.

"What did that slime ball Slytherin say to you?" Jackson asked.

"Oh you should have heard her . . ." Chloe began. Ginny remained silent as Chloe told the story. When she was finished they were staring at her in awe.

"What?" she asked uncomfortably. The sorting was over by now and, before they could answer, Dumbledore began to speak.

"I would like to welcome you all back to another year at Hogwarts," he began in his soft, but powerful voice, "For those who don't know, the forest is off limits. Also, in light of recent events," the students knew he was referring to the return of Voldemort, "Hogsmeade weekends will not be canceled, but will be less frequent. We've also upped the age limit to fifth year and above. My apologies to the third and fourth years. Now, before we begin this feast I would like to speak to those of you who signed up for quill pals . . ." The great hall erupted in chatter when he said this and he patiently waited as the prattle died down.

"Hey Draco," Pansy Parkinson asked, "did you sign up?"

"Are you joking?" he smirked, "I wouldn't do something as pathetic as quill pals if you paid me. And we all know how much money means to me."

"Oh" Pansy looked abashed.

"Did you sign up?"

"N-no," she said, looking very uncomfortable.

"I suppose we should listen to Dumbledore, anyway," Draco said relieved that he didn't need an excuse for hushing her. "In case there's anything he says of interest."

A look of relief flashed across Pansy's face. "Yeah, I guess we should," she agreed as Dumbledore began to speak again.

"As I was saying, concerning quill pals, we have arranged it so that those of you who want to remain anonymous may. You are to write a letter to your pal telling them anything you want, including if you'd like to remain anonymous. We also encourage you to not tell them what school you go to so as to avoid stalkers," he chuckled at the shocked looks that adorned some of the faces before him, "When you have completed the letter, take it up to the owlery and give it to the owl whose name you will be receiving when you go to the owlery. Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall, or I will be there for one hour prior to breakfast for the remainder of the week. They already know who to take the letter to. You won't get a letter from your pal until they get one from you. You'll be sharing your owl with your pal. That's it. Let's eat!"

Draco hurriedly ate without really tasting anything. He needed to get to his dormitory before the others so he could write his letter.

"Draco, where are you going?" Blaise asked.

"I just remembered some homework I forgot to do over holiday," he said as he hurried out of the hall.

Ginny sat on her bed later that night with her curtains drawn and her wand lit. She had been trying to write a letter for the last half-hour and her bed was covered in crumpled drafts. She looked down at the one she had just finished and re-read it.

Hi! I guess you and I are quill pals. I'd like to remain anonymous if you don't mind. Just for the time being . . . um, but I will tell you that I am very excited for this chance to get to know you and hope we can become good friends. I guess I can tell you something about me. I'm a fifteen-year-old girl and I come from a rather large family. I have red hair and brown eyes. Well, I guess that's it!

V

Ginny smiled. Not a very fluent letter but it will do. Folding it, she placed it under her pillow to send before breakfast.

Ginny awoke early the next morning and hurried to the owlery with her letter. She hoped it wouldn't be Snape there this morning. The man had a way of sucking the fun out of everything. She breathed a sigh of relief when she opened the door and found Dumbledore talking to a third-year.

"Ah, Miss Weasley," he said looking up and seeing her, "do you have a letter for me."

"Yes Professor Dumbledore," she said moving forward and holding out the letter. Rather than taking it Dumbledore turned and called an owl to him.

"This is Clex," he said stroking the beautiful short ear owl. "He'll be your quill pal owl. Whenever you have a letter to send just come up here and call him. You're the only one he'll answer to for the rest of the year. Why don't you tie your letter to him?" He handed Ginny a piece of string and she tied the letter to Clex's leg. The owl flew off with a hoot and Ginny left to go to breakfast.

She arrived just as the majority of the student body at Hogwarts did. After much pushing and shoving she finally reached her table and sat beside Amber.

"Finally get your letter done last night?"

"After a half-hour and a bed full of paper."

Amber laughed, "Yeah, I saw that pile of paper on the floor this morning. I threw it away for you."

"Thanks" They were interrupted by the morning mail. Ginny watched hopefully for an owl approaching her. What's wrong with you Weasley? Dumbledore said you'll be sharing an owl. The soonest you'll be getting a letter is in a couple days. Just then she heard a hoot and looked up just in time for a letter to hit her in the face. Curious, she ripped open the letter and began to read.

Hello,

I would like to remain anonymous for now if you don't mind. I'm a sixteen-year-old boy and your quill pal. I look forward to exchanging letters throughout the year. Please write back soon.

Ginny was astonished. Had he already gotten her letter? Or had there been a miscommunication between the schools and they each had an owl? She bet the latter.

"Gin? You may enjoy your food, but that doesn't mean the rest of us want to see it," she heard Jackson say. She quickly closed her mouth and stuffed the letter into her pocket.

Draco hurried to his dormitory before classes. He had been very surprised when he had received a letter from his quill pal at breakfast. Hadn't Dumbledore said they had to write first? Not that Draco minded, he was very excited to discover who his pal was. Making up an excuse he had quickly excused himself from breakfast to read the letter. He was almost to the dungeons when he realized he was alone enough where he was and needn't go any further. Ducking behind a suit of armor he opened the letter and read. He chuckled to himself (a rarity that no one ever witnessed) when he had finished. The poor girl had sounded so nervous in the letter, but she had seemed sincere. He wanted to reply back right then but decided to wait until he received another letter from her.

"Malfoy what are you doing hiding back there?"

He looked up and scowled. It was the Weasley girl. "None of your business," he sneered stuffing the letter into his pocket. "Aren't you supposed to be following Potter around?"

"Fine," she snapped, "as if I wanted to know." She turned and left, flipping her gorgeous red hair over her shoulder. Had he just thought gorgeous?

Ginny didn't know what had come over her to approach Malfoy. Curiosity, she supposed. After all he had been hiding behind a suit of armor laughing. That was the part that had confused her. He had been laughing. Not his usual scornful laugh, but a genuine, happy chuckle. He had looked to be in such a good humor and she had wanted to know why. She should have known it would only end with him biting her head off. Now she was furious and needed to vent. Sitting down in a desk in the back of the History of Magic classroom she tried very hard to concentrate but her thoughts kept returning to Malfoy. I need to get my mind off Malfoy! Pulling a piece of parchment out of her bag, she began a letter to her quill pal.

Hey, how are you? I got your letter and am glad to see that you are excited too. So what kinds of things do you like to do? What's your best subject? I'm rather good at charms and enjoy flying. Oh Merlin! My History of Magic teacher's so boring I decided to write you during his class. I have no idea what he's droning on about! Of course, I've been rather distracted all class and finally decided to write to you to get my mind off the thing that's got me so worked up. Sorry, I didn't mean to rant off like that. Well, please write back soon!

V

Ginny set the letter aside and struggled for the remaining time to listen to Professor Binns as he taught them about the house elf acts of 382 A.D.

Ginny ran to her dormitory for her charms book. It was the second week of school and she was already swamped with homework. She had stayed up late the night before finishing homework and had missed breakfast because she was so tired. Thinking she had time to run down to the kitchens before class, she was now five minutes late. Ginny stopped when she noticed two pieces of paper on her bed. Picking them up she read the first one.

Gin -

This came for you at breakfast. Don't worry, we didn't read it!

- Chloe

Ginny smiled when she recognized the handwriting on the second letter. I'm already late, she thought to herself, What's a few more minutes? Sitting on the edge of her bed she opened the letter and read.

V

Sorry it took so long writing back. I've been drowning in homework and my father has been pestering me about the family business. You're History of Magic teacher sounds a lot like mine! To answer your questions, I'm pretty good at potions and I also enjoy flying. I play seeker on my house's Quidditch team. Do you play Quidditch? I'm sorry to hear something or someone has gotten you "worked up" as you put it. You can tell me about it if it'll help. Merlin! My father just popped up in the fireplace again. I'd better go. Write back.

D

Ginny sighed happily as she finished the letter. Her quill pal sounded like a great guy. This looked to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. She laid back on her bed and felt something hard. Pulling it out from under her she saw it was her charms textbook and remembered that she was late. Dropping the letter back onto her bed Ginny jumped up and ran to class.

A/N: In case you didn't figure it out, V stands for Virginia. Again, sorry it took so long updating but it wasn't my fault!!!!