No Such Thing

"Welcome to the real world", she said to me
Condescendingly
Take a seat
Take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Well I never lived the dreams of the prom kings
And the drama queens
I'd like to think the best of me
Is still hiding
Up my sleeve

They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side

I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you've got to rise above

So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers
And all of our parents
They're getting older
I wonder if they've wished for anything better

While in their memories
Tiny tragedies

They love to tell you
Stay inside the lines
But something's better
On the other side

I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the
Top of my lungs
I just found out there's no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you got to rise above

- John Mayer (LOVE HIM!)

"HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!"

Ginny crowed, landing with a muffled 'thump' on Colin's bed.

He simply rolled over and continued snoring.

Ginny rolled her eyes at his laziness and leaned down, right beside Colin's ear,

"IT'S CHRISTMAS MORNING, TIME TO WAKE UP!!!!!" She roared.

He sat up, disgruntled and extremely annoyed.

"What is wrong with you?!? It's a crime to be this hyper in the morning." Colin stated, frowning. Ginny returned his frown with a sickly sweet smile, "It's Christmas, mate. You've presents to open."

Colin shook his head, but smiling nonetheless at the sight of a rather handsome pile of presents at the foot of his bed, "Opened yours?" He asked.

"Summoned them here,"

With that they proceeded with their yearly ritual of ripping the wrapping paper apart, gasping at cool or special ones (A photograph of the entire Chudley Canon Team, signed by everyone of them from Harry); or groaning with disappointment at the ones that did not really meet up to expectations (Fred and George's cockroach clusters) or smiling at the expected ones (a book about writing poems from Hermione).

"What's that?" Colin asked, pointing to a brown package at the bottom of all their torn wrapping paper.

"I don't know." Ginny pulled it out, the brown wrapping paper rustling in the silence of the room. Colin was the only male seventh year Gryffindor staying for the holidays.

"Who's it from?" Colin, seated on the floors across from Ginny, took the package from her.

He turned the package over, looking at it this way and that way, even lying flat on his back and trying to look at it, sending Ginny into giggles. There was no sign on it that indicated who it was from.

"Open it you, git," She gasped through her laughter at Colin's stupidity.

She knew he just acted up sometimes, he had said so himself. He liked making other people laugh. It gave him a rush, especially when it was his friends.

He ripped it open. Ginny gasped in admiration at the silvery red cloak that tumbled on the floor.

"Oh my, Ginny," Colin murmured in a hushed voice.

Ginny suddenly realized what it was. She had seen Harry disappear under a similar one for so many years that she knew instantly what it was.

"An invisibility cloak," She whispered, fingering the cloak, which was strange to the touch, like water.

"And for you," Colin added. Ginny jerked her eyes from the admirable cloak to Colin, questioning. He held out a small white square piece of parchment to her.

"Happy Christmas, Virginia," It read.

Ginny's breath caught in her throat.

No one called her Virginia, only her parents but that was when there were angry.

Virginia.

That made her feel, like those dreamy romantic heroines in the books she read and lived vicariously through.

"Could be Hamilton, though I don't think he's capable of such mystery and romanticism." Colin offered his opinion.

Ginny nodded, her face still very flushed. She was obviously enthralled by this gift, having always envied Harry for owning one.

"If you don't like it, you could always give it to me you know." Colin suggested, teasingly.

Ginny glared at him, "Don't even think that!" She growled.

"Aaah! Growling Ginny," Colin got to his feet as quickly as it was possible under the weight of all the shreds of gift wrapper, "run!"

"Yeah, Collie!" Ginny teased, adding a few growls for dramatic effect.

Colin took off, out of the room, Ginny right behind him, pillow in her hand to hit him when she caught him.

The sight of two seventh years cashing each other around the common room on Christmas day did not faze the other Gryffindors.

"She's a Weasley." Was the ready explanation to any bewildered glances (even the first years were aware of the crazy Weasley reputation) at their direction.

Looking over in their direction Ginny let out another snarl, and attacked Colin again.

-------------------------------------------------------------

"Col-col!" Ginny called out, as she sat in the armchair by the fireplace waiting patiently for her best friend who was taking longer than usual even for a girl to dress up.

"Col-col?" Colin asked, bemused by the nicknames Ginny came up for him.

"Yes, Col – col, finished your makeup?" Ginny teased mercilessly. Colin rolled his eyes at her as he followed her out of the common room towards the Grand Hall.

As they entered the Grand Hall for lunch, they found that the house tables had been moved against the walls and that a single table set for fourteen stood in the middle of the room. Professors Dumbledore, Maconagall, Sprout, Paulo (DADA professor) and Draco were there.

 There were only five other students there: two third years, three Hufflepuffs and a Slytherin.

"Merry Christmas!" said Dumebledore, as Colin and Ginny approached the table.

"As there are so few of us, it seemed foolish to use the house table…sit down, sit down!"

The only two empty seats were beside Malfoy at the end so they sat down side by side, Colin sitting beside him quite reluctantly but rather himself than Ginny.

"Tuck in!" He advised the table beaming around proudly. Ginny helped herself to the mashed potatoes, feeling as if someone was watching her, only to glance around and meet glassy grayish eyes.

Colin was too busy eating to notice this, so he got quite a shock when Malfoy spoke, "So how was your Christmas?"

 He seemed to be addressing both Ginny and Colin.

When Colin realized that Malfoy was addressing him with utmost civility, he choked on his chipolata.

Ginny thumped him on his back, as he gulped down his pumpkin juice.

She raised her eyes to meet Malfoy's gray ones, dancing with mirth.

Her lips twitched as well.

For a moment, she forgot that Colin was barely recovering beside her, or that Dumebledore was inquiring about Colin's welfare or that the entire table was watching them.

 It was just her and Malfoy, enjoying this thoroughly amusing but private moment.

As she snapped out of her reverie, she realized how surreal the whole thing was.

"I'm fine," Colin gasped back. Dumebledore nodded, turning to the other students, urging them to eat.

"As I was saying," Draco continued.

"Great, Fine." Colin replied curtly. There was a slight pause that Ginny took as the end of that brief conversation.

"Miss. Wealsey," Professor Malfoy leaned forward, looking past Colin at her.

She reacted rather well, calmly looking back at him. She presumed he was referring to his earlier question.

"Same here," she said nonchalantly

"I detest that phrase," Flitwick who was sitting beside Draco, probably the only member of the staff who could tolerate him, squeaked. Ginny smiled amused. Even Colin laughed a little.

"It was good as well." Ginny rephrased her answer in a bid to humor Professor Flitwick who nodded approvingly.

"Actually it was better than good, Gin." Colin commented.

Now it was Ginny's turn to gape at him. What was he talking about?

Malfoy shot him a bemused but quizzical look, even McGonagall was looking their way.

"Ginny got an invisibility cloak."

There were gasps of awe from everyone at the table except Malfoy who just kept looking at Ginny's horrified face, his own blank and expressionless.

"My, that's a great gift." Professor Dumebledore commented, peering down at her behind his half moon glasses.

Ginny nodded, swallowing hard.

"Now wandering around after hours in it like Mr. Potter did." Professor Maconagall warned lightly.

Ginny nodded, not daring to speak for if she did she would start screaming at Colin who by the way was looking rather strangely at Malfoy beside him.

A/n -- sorry that this chapter took so long to come up…my com was down and still is…actually…hope you like it,,and review PLEASE..do check out my other tow short story fic..For D/G lovers please read and review 'Harder to Breather'.

For those who like H/G as well…please check out 'Only Love Can do.'..

This chappie goes out to my wonderfullest beta reader – Kat! You rock..this chappie goes out to you mate…for tolerating all my demands and idiosyncracies…and waiting while my com is down…

Ainur Agar: Thanks..i tried and it WORKED!!! Yeah…read and review can???

Wizzabee: Yeah ill be updating more frequently but you must promise to keep reviewing and thanks for the tip..oh and I agree about Darco being a HOT!HOT! man..when I think of him I think of the Giordano model who so looks like the grown up version of him sans the blonde hair..i could send you a pic if you want?? Family emergency will be explained soon..patience is an underrated virtue my ardent reviewer…

LunaMagic: I love my story too! Sorry a bit egocentric…today only.. managed to do it…

Bearries: Will try and email you but the plot thickens some more..i hope..

Write-on3108: I love it that you're lovin it..as my beta reader says can you feel the love???? Hehe..

Elfgirl: Here's the next chappie..

RosyCheeks: I'm glad you find my story funny..i personally think it lacks just that – humour… a nice serving of fluff coming right up, mate…

Sapphire-Honey: I'm glad you liked Draco as a teacher and I actually thought of bringing this story out of Hogwarts but my com broke down and I started to think and I realized I did not want to do that..cos that would make it like any other D/G fic..i think the professor student angle made it all the more complicating…hehe..and scandalous..as my beta reader said..

Cavaradossi: I  didn't thank you in my last chappie for the review but thanks and do continue reviewing..and reading..

San-san: I don't think this is a great story though.The author of 'footprints' (a D/G fic) writes super well..you should read hers..

Mynuet: No problem I tried that and it worked..hope u continue reading it

Eve: I already have one glorious beta reader..but I don't mind another one..so please email me..thanks..

Channy: Really? Fallen in love with my story or with gorgeous Draco?? Hehe

DaDawnofAges: Just email me if you want to be a beta reader..as many people as I have working with me, the better it is....no worries be happy…Plain original of course..wat if I told you that there will be both…angst and fluff..woven together smoothly I hope…keep reading

Write-on3108: Chill mate..A beta reader is some one who proof reads and edits your story for you and tolerates all your idiosyncrasies as well..

dracoscutie: u can email me please at nutsaboutremus@hotmail .com

Everyone to contact me, please email me at nutsaboutremus@hotmail.com

 Next chapter – Colin's stupid theory.. Ginny wandering around at night …stay tuned…