Disclaimer: All right, I am sick of writing these; this disclaimer applies to all chapters from here on. I, Ashen, don not own Harry Potter, or any other of JK Rowling's wonderful characters. YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUB IT IN!!!!

GoldenFawkes: It's okay, Draco will be around more. No worries! But I am afraid, I do not find him very mysterious in this chapter...it is okay, he will redeem himself later.

Holly Mariano: I hate it when Draco's are OOC...unless for a good reason. So, I tried my best to let my readers no he was not just randomly..."nice" he DOES have a good reason to be! : )

Ginny13: One UPDATE! Coming right up!

Ami-ImaTomLOVER:Lol, yes, well, your FRIGGIN' review FRIGGIN' made my FRIGGIN' day! Lol, thanks for the encouragement!

Annabeave: Awww! You missed me? I am so flattered! Well, another chapter!

pamie884: Yes, I know how horrible those twitches of Draco loss can be...I get them a lot. So, I put extra Darco in the last chappie! And of course, there will be Draco in this chapter too! Sorry I couldn't write before, those groundings can be so stifling...

Orlando's Dancer: A WHOLE box???? WOW! THANKIES! digs in enthusiastically What? Oh, I should be writing the story? Not stuffing my face? Aww...alrighty then puts cookie box aside rather disappointedly and gets to writing thanks!

Bigreader: Grins evily sure...I can send the chickens after you! opens the door to the chicken coop and watches the chickens chase you Enjoy!

Mars18: Yes, tiss true! You have been here since the beginning! And I am ever so grateful, thank you!

MissyNoGrace: You are a hopless romantic? ME TOO! Though, you would never guess if you knew me personally...my friends think I am cold...maybe I am...maybe that is why I like writing Draco so much...but I try to be warm and fuzzy on fanfiction! Am I doing a good job?

Dracosbaby7: I was so proud of my Draco in that chapter! He controlled himself very well, I hate stories where he just throws all consideration aside and just kisses her...the real Draco would never do that...nope.

LoyalRose: I read your story! It was GREAT! I just cant wait for you to update! So hurry it up! Thanks for the great review! As always, your review was one of the best I ever get. I don't want you to mistake this as being pompous, but I love how you compliment my characters. I know that I didn't make up Harry, Ginny, or Draco, or any other of the characters, but when I write with them, I feel so close to them. As if I know them in reality, so when you compliment how real they seem, it makes me all the more proud of them. Also, your reviews always make me smile, the kind of smile you get when the rain is drenching you and you feel all your troubles slip away, when the sweet elixir of the raindrops seem to make life perfect! So thanks! And keep reviewing!

Ashen

May the stars be with you always...

DarkFaerieyMagick: YAY! I was about to update again with out ur review! Just wait, I have a whole load of Giddy Girly chapters in my head just waiting to be written...but we have to get there one chapter at a time...so, just cuz you sent such a nice review, I will restrain my chickens. Evil chickens look disappointed and slouch away Well, I hope you enjoy this next chappie!

BlondeChicky: feels special I rocked your socks off? Wow...I feel so important! I really hoped people would warm up to the Pansy/Harry interaction...and so far they have! Thanks for your support!

A/N Can you tell I am excited to be back? I just can't stop writing! Thanks to all of you who have reviewed! They make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! I assure you, the more reviews I get, the faster I update!

Ashen

Chapter 11: Late Night Swim

Ginny paced angrily around the Gryffindor Common Room. It was so late that it was nearly empty, all except for the trio, who for the last twenty minutes were throwing impatient glances at her, obviously waiting for her to leave so they could get down to business on what ever secret plan to vanquish the Dark Lord they had now. Ginny sighed angrily and glared at all three of them, they looked back coolly, waiting for her to speak or leave...no doubt hoping for the latter.

"If you want me to leave so bad why don't you just say so?" She growled at them, her emerald green cat eyes flashing in the firelight.

"Ginny," Ron started every so politely, "Could you lea-"

"Oh, spare me!" She snarled impatiently and left through the portrait, dashing into the shadows before the trio could follow her. She considered heading down to the dungeons to find Draco for a moment, then quickly discarded the idea, he was the reason she couldn't sleep. She sighed again, only this time in confusion. Nothing made sense. She slipped out the doors onto the grounds silent as a cat, and sprinted across the damp grass, the moon full and reflecting across the lake. It hung in the night like a pearled orb, shedding its silver light on the world, helping Ginny's boiling blood to cool.

She didn't understand, he had almost kissed her, and she had wanted him to...oh goddess had she wanted him to. She wanted to run her hands through his perfect silver hair, feel his hot lips on hers, touch his skin, how she wanted every part of him, his eyes, his hands, his arms...his hair, everything. She wanted him for her. She knew how impossible this was. She was a Weasely. She had red hair and freckles, no social status other than the sister of Ron, best friend of Zoe, the rebel, and Luna, the weirdo. She had no money, no mansion, and a whole lot of kindness that was not welcome in his world. But she wanted him any ways. By now she had reached the lake, and despite the cold November air, she decided to go for a swim. She slipped off her robes, shoes and socks. In nothing but her skirt and blouse, she dove in. The dark water filtering through her hair, her cat eyes pulling in the silver light from the moon, allowing her to see quite well in the dark waters, though everything was very blurry. The giant squid slipped beside her and seemed to smile. It reached out a great tentacle, and lifted up the emerald ring hanging around her neck with the tip of it. The squid examined it for a moment with a great eye, and then seemed to nod. With a wave of his tentacle, he disappeared, and Ginny waved good-bye before surfacing, the cold oblivious to her as she pulled herself out of the lake. Sopping wet, she sighed again, and climbed up a near by tree to dry off. She wasn't worried about getting sick. She never got sick, even when she was a child; she had never once caught the flue, or even the chicken pox.

Draco pulled up one of the heavy oak chairs next to the small window, over looking the grounds. He watched as the moon twinkled delicately over the black lake, and tried in vein to think of something besides the little crimson kitten. He didn't know what it was about her. She wasn't beautiful, or spectacular. She had bright red hair and gangly legs. The freckles that dusted her nose stood out so clearly that he could count every one on her face. But...he cared about her. Maybe not romantically, but enough so that her knew he would protect her. He was sure, that if he let himself, he would fall in love with her. He was not surprised when he saw the little female Weasely creep out of the school and across the lawn. He watched her shed her robes and her shoes, then dive into the lake. He smiled, then quickly turned it into a smirk, in case Blaise or Pansy walked in. He decided he would go for a walk outside and talk to his Kitten. He was curious to how she would react after their...almost kiss.

The cold air hit him like a curse. He stifled his goose bumps easily, and waited for his skin to numb to the cold. He watched from the shadows as his Kitten pulled herself out of the lake. She seemed oblivious to the cold, and then as she climbed up a tree. He crept closer and pulled himself up after her. She had her eyes closed and water was dripping steadily from her hair, her breathing told him that she was awake, but the way her eyelids twitched meant she was deep in thought. Her arms curled around her bent knees as she leaned against the trunk of the tree told him her thoughts were embarrassing ones, ones that she wanted to keep a secret forever. He smirked again as he realised that she was probably thinking about him.

"Hello, Kitten." He said quietly. Ginny's eyes shot open and she jumped in surprise, falling off her branch. Draco caught her arm and pulled her back up before she hit the ground. They now sat on the same branch. She was dripping water all over his legs and she crossed her arms like a child.

"Couldn't you rustle some leaves or something next time?" She scowled at him. (I got that line from the book 'Demon in my View,' by Amelia AtWater-Rohodes, great book; y'all should read it some time.)

"No." He said simply. Her hair was darker when it was wet, almost brown, and her white blouse was completely see-through. He could see the blue flower on her white bra. Ginny rose her eyebrow as he examined her, and a blush touched her cheeks as she realised that she might as well be topless for all he was seeing, but she refused to let herself be embarrassed.

"Late night swim in late November...now there's intelligence. I though cats didn't like water." He commented, not acknowledging her see-through top. Though, the sight did make his heart speed up. He was struggling to regain his self-control. If only he could just look into her eyes...somewhere other than her...well...somewhere else.

Ginny looked at him with a fairly amused expression.

"Don't you go swimming in the middle of the night?" She asked, as if their situation was something to be dealt with on a daily basis.

"Only when I am sure that by doing so I will not catch pneumonia," He answered, making a point to look at her face while he did so.

"I don't get sick." She said, squeezing water out of her hair, onto the grass below. "Well, what are you doing out on such a cold night? Not patrolling again?" She asked, shifting slightly, so she was facing him and less of her weight was on his legs. Draco was glad as they were starting to go numb.

"No, just out." He answered vaguely. He didn't need her to know that he was chasing her about, just to get the chance to talk to her. She raised her eyebrows and smiled slyly.

"Sure you were," she said, watching him again, clearly not believing him. Draco was getting uncomfortable. He was losing his self-control fast. Her shirt wasn't drying at all. She was just so exposed; he wanted to touch her...he wanted to...

'No Draco.' He warned himself, 'You don't want to go there.' He blinked his eyes instead of shaking his head to clear his thoughts. Ginny was oblivious to his inner turmoil, and he wanted to keep it that way. Just then, she yawned and stretched out her arms and legs, her soaking skirt ridding up her thigh ever to slightly, he almost snapped. He groaned inwardly and blinked again. With another yawn, Ginny hopped out of the tree.

"I'm exhausted," She said, yawning again. "As much as I love your company, I think I am going to turn in." Draco nodded and watched her leave. Only when she was safely in the castle did he let out the breath he was holding, then proceeded to smash his head rather hard against the tree trunk in exasperation.

"What the hell is happening to me?" He asked the stars. The just winked at him mockingly.

A/N Somebody is in LOOOOOVE! And for once it is not me! YAY! This is getting g exciting! Even for me! Next chapter, it will be hogsmead weekend. The weekend before Christmas break. You just wait and see what excitements Christmas will bring! Also, short chapter, I know, but what can I do? You'll just have to wait patiently for the next chappie. Plus my computer is being a retard...It has like, three viruses and is really starting to piss me off...Review, or be abducted by slimy green aliens that like to eat eggplant. Really, I'm not kidding...