Well hello my fellow fanfictioners. I have to say I LOVE writing this story. AND it gets me away from HOMEWORK. Joy! No really....its so fun....and thanx for al the reviews......I REALLY appreciate it. So kind.................................................ANY WAY......I hope you like this chappy.....I thought it was ok..... and there is a ickle bit of D/G action but not a lot....the REAL stuff is later...but this may tickle your fancy a bit......this kinda stuff ALWAYS does with me....so I hope you like. Enjoy....take care now...bixxx

Disclaimer: you KNOW the score....I don't own ANYTHING!

Ginny was lying peacefully in her hospital bed. She had slept well, despite her leg. She was ready to get up and run around; she was so full of energy. Energy that had built up inside her from lying in the damned hospital bed for too long. Madam Pomfey had given her a very strong Skele-grow, which was guaranteed to have her leg healed with in 24 hours of use.

Ginny moaned. She wanted to stand up. She wanted to run around. She wanted.....a shower.

She sat up abruptly in bed. "God I STINK!" She exclaimed.

"Yeah ditto" Neville voiced from his own bed.

"Same!" Came a voice from beside Ginny.

"Lavender.....you're awake!"

"Yeah...looks like it.....god my head hurts...someone wanna tell me what the hell happened and WHY I am in here?"

"Well......there was an accident in the common room. Something blew up......don't ask" Ginny added at seeing Lavender quirk and eyebrow.

"o...k. But I don't get it....who-"

"Malfoy!"

"Oh I see. That explains a lot"

"Mmmm"

At that moment...Pomfrey decided to walk in. "Ah...how are the wounded worriers?"

"Fine. When can we leave?" Ginny queried.

"Well...it just so happens I have come to remove your cast today Miss Weasley. You and Mr. Longbottom should be able to leave today, but I want to keep Miss Brown here in for a bit longer."

"Oooooow do you have to.... Can't you see I am FINE!"

"You are far from FINE young lady. You have been unconscious for more than a day....I think you should stay here ...atleast until tomorrow."

Lavender huffed and folded her arms across her chest.

An hour later, Ginny had had her cast removed and was walking around the hospital wing in her night gown, getting used to having her leg back to normal. Hermione, Ron and Harry dropped by later to see how she was doing, and Madam Pomfrey told them that they could take both Ginny and Neville away with them if they so wished.

As the fivesome walked through the corridors, Ginny thought of something that would prove to be a problem when it came to where they were heading.

"Where are we staying?"

"What...oh.....Dumbledore allowed us entrance to the room of requirement." Hermione replied.

"What! Wow! I've never been in there before. What's it like?"

"Well....erm....I couldn't say....I think last night before I went to bed it was a Genies lair...something to do with Seamus...don't ask....and this morning when I woke up the whole thing was covered in straw and smelt vaguely of horse." Hermione pondered. "I heard that had something to do with Denis Creevey...although I haven't the faintest idea why."

Harry and Ron laughed. "Yeah....haha....that was Denis...he...he..." Harry couldn't finish what he was saying, as he was soon on the floor in hysterics. Ron....who was trying to stifle his own giggles, soon found it too hard and was soon on the floor with Harry.

Hermione tutted. ".....Children."

Ginny and Hermione carried on walking down the corridor while Neville stayed behind to tend to Harry and Ron, who could still be heard up one flight of stairs.

Hermione linked arms with Ginny as they walked.

Ginny was feeling a bit down. She had so many things on her mind. The last thing she wanted to think about was what had happened the previous day....however this was the main thing occupying her thoughts..

"Hermione?" She asked.

"mmmm?"

"Have you seen.....have you seen Dra-Malfoy recently?"

Hermione stopped mid-stride and glared at Ginny. Ginny was wincing under her stare, and tried to walk away when she was grabbed from behind and pulled to a stop.

"Virginia Weasley. Don't you even THINK of telling me you still like that ...that ......Death Eater!"

"No No not at all.... its just...well.....I can't help but wonder.....I mean....I don't know what to think....I mean I hate him...I really really hate him.... But there is still something......I dunno...something there...that's telling me-"

"Yeah ok...what ever.....I didn't expect you to go completely off him.....but if you are even....for one second thinking of forgiving him-"

"No! No I'm.....I'm not....I know he did wrong.....but he knows it too. He knows it was a dumb thing to do... and-"

"No Ginny. I won't just STAND here and LET you forgive him.....YES it WAS a really REALLY dumb thing to do....but he's 18 now for god sake....he should KNOW the difference between right and wrong."

Ginny let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "I know....you're right......"

"Ofcourse I am. Look Gin...I'm not doing this because I want you to be miserable.....I'm doing this because I'm your friend....where would liking Draco Malfoy get you in the long run ay?"

"....No where..."

"Exactly.....now come on....lets go and see what the boys have done to the room of requirement ay." Hermione softened.

Ginny face lit up a bit and they made their way to the room.

Sure enough...when they got there....the place looked like a giant chicken coop....and Dean, Seamus and the Creevey brothers...were all in hysterics on the floor, all covered in straw.

"WHY....do you guys even THINK of turning the place into this...?" Hermione sighed as she entered the room, watching her step.

"Because...its...so...funny......"Seamus wheezed out.

Ginny and Hermione sat down on two large hay bales that were situated in the corner of the room. They watched as the 4 boys regained their composure and stood up. They were all calm until Harry and Ron fell into the room having just stopped laughing them selves from their own little joke. They took one look at the place in its new form.....and began to kill them selves with more laughter. Colin keeled over with unwanted giggles, while Denis, Seamus and Dean had to hold on to the wall for support while they erupted with laughter.

Ginny and Hermione looked at each other and sighed.

"Boys!"

With it being Saturday.....the Castle grounds were full of students enjoying their weekend. Particularly as the cold weather had brought snow...and people were outside throwing snowballs at each other. The entire Gryffindor house was outside as McGonagal had kicked them out after she had found the Room of Requirement in a rather bad way. She had happened upon it when the 7th year boys were mid way between changing it from a giant sauna- complete with masseuse, to the Westham football teams changing room......Deans idea.....

"You may be allowed access to this room but that does not mean you can use it for your own pleasure" She had said after she had lectured them about not being allowed their own personal masseuse unless she was allowed one, having claimed she needed one in her job.

So the entire house was outside playing in the snow. Harry was tackling Ron to the ground and burying his face in the snow, whilst Dean was chasing Padma and Pavati Patil with a snow ball the size of his head. Hermione and Ginny watched as a few Hufflepuff girls skidded around on the frozen lake.

"Be funny if they fell in" Ginny laughed.

"Yeah..." Hermione laughed too.

"I hope they fall in!" A voice yelled from behind the girls. Ginny turned to see Blaise Zabini heading towards the frozen lake. He was soon followed by the rest of the 7th years.....Draco included. Draco was wearing a jet- black cloak, pulled tightly around his body, and his trademark Slytherin scarf. His hair, which hung to just above his shoulders, was blowing in the wind. Ginny felt her knees quake.

Blaise bent down and picked up a stone the size of his fist a lobbed it out onto the lake. The Hufflepuff girls screamed they heard the ice 'crack'. Blaise laughed... "Alright there ladies.....enjoying the ice...?" He mocked as the girls skidded off the ice onto hard ground. The other Slytherins around started to laugh; Draco as well. Ginny scowled. She remembered why she hated him so much.

Draco picked up some snow off the ground, rolled it into a ball, and lobbed it a Blaise's head.

"Hey!" He yelled, and threw one back, which hit Draco with such force, it knocked him off his feet. So began their snow ball fight.

Hermione and Ginny watched with awe until Harry and Ron came over.

"Fucking Slytherins. They all need to be fed to the squid!" Ron growled. Harry merely grunted in agreement.

Hermione put her arm around her boyfriend. "Oh just ignore them....in a couples of months you wont have to see them ever again." She kissed him playfully on the lips. Ron went to kiss her again, but she ran off into the snow. She grabbed a snow ball and threw it at him.....which hit him square in the face

"Hey....get back here...!" He yelled, as he grabbed some snow off the floor and ran after her.

Soon, the Gryffindor were having their own fight. Harry had just throw a snow ball at Seamus- which hit him in the backside, and was just about to throw one at Ginny, when he was hit painfully hard on the back of his head with another snowball. He turned to see Blaise smirking at him.

"Oh....so sorry Potter......I meant to hit Weasley....." He laughed.

Ron stormed past Harry in a rage and launched himself at Blaise. He tackled him to the ground and shoved snow into his mouth so he choked.

"Ron....STOP!" Hermione ran in to pull her boyfriend away. "Harry..Ginny help me..."

Harry and Ginny ran over and managed to pull Ron away....or atleast they were able to, once Draco and Pansy pulled Blaise out of the fight too.

"You little shit Weasley!" Blaise yelled as he coughed up snow.....or water as it was now....

"You started it you great big Prick!" Ron yelled back. The entire time, Ginny, Hermione and Harry had a hold of Ron, while Draco and Pansy kept Blaise in toe.

Ginny was furious. She watched the Slytherins snickering. She looked at Draco, expecting him to be laughing. But he wasn't. He was looking intently at Ginny. His face was hard to read. He looked like someone he knew so very well had just lost their life and he was mourning. Ginny just scowled at him, and looked to Hermione.

"Come on...lets get out of here." Hermione nodded and they dragged a struggling Ron away to a near by tree and plopped him down under it.

"WHY did you do that...?" Was his initial reaction. "I could have-"

"You could have gotten your self expelled Ron!" Hermione yelled. "Both you, and all the Slytherins are waking on very thin ice right now. After all the pranks you've played on each other these last months I wouldn't be suprised if they had surveillance camera's following your every move!"

"Surveillance?"

"Argh...never mind....just STAY AWAY FROM THEM RON!"

"OK......ok...I won't go near them...or FIGHT them ever again.....!"

"Yeah...says the violent one!" Harry laughed.

"You too Harry. I don't want to see you get expelled at the hands of the Slytherins." Hermione looked genuinely worried.

"We won't Herm..." Ron stood and pulled his girlfriend into a hug. "We won't go near them again...I promise sweet heart"

"Good!" And that was that.

Ginny hadn't been listening to their little conversation. The whole time she had been watching the Slytherins. Or, one Slytherin in particular.

She watched as Draco led Blaise up to the castle.....no doubt to take him to Pomfrey and find some excuse to get Ron into trouble.

Draco led Blaise inside. Once in the entrance hall, Draco turned around to go back outside again.

"Where are you going?" Pansy asked.

'None of your damn business' "I need to talk to.....er...Hagrid....." 'Yeah...way to go Draco......that was SO believable.'

"Hagrid.....but you hate Hagrid....what could you possible have to say to him....?" Blaise asked......disgusted.

"Erm....its about his class....I forgot to get some notes....I'll be right back..." And he ran out before he could get interrogated even more.

Once outside, he ran to Hagrids hut, and hid just behind it. He had to talk to Ginny. He had to clear the air.

He waited and waited and waited. But still, the Gryffindors remained outside.

"Oh come ON!" Draco huffed, as he slid down the side of the cabin, and sat on the cold, snow covered floor.

Just when he was ready to give up and go back into the warmth of the castle, he heard a voice.

"Hey...shall we call in on Hagrid....we haven't seen him for ages?" It was Potter....oh, dear sweet Potter, wanting to call in on the great big oaf.

"Yeah...that would be nice"

"Yeah ok"

Draco watched as Potter, Granger, Weasley and Ginny walked towards the small hut and knock on the door.

The door opened.

"ARRY, Ermione, Ron...and ya brought little Ginny along with ya. How nice, come in, jus' made a pot a tea!"

Harry, Ron and Hermione disappeared inside. Just as Ginny was about to step over the thresh hold, Draco grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his body. He covered her mouth with his hand.

"Hey...where did Ginny go?" Draco heard Ron say.

"Hmm....dunno....lets look!"

"Shit!" Draco whispered. He picked Ginny up, hauled her over his shoulder and ran into the forbidden forest just as Ron and Harry came outside.

"Hmmmmm...she must have gone back to the castle..." Harry said.

"Yeah...come one...lets go back inside."

The door shut and Draco waited until he could hear voices coming in side before he put Ginny down. He took his hand away from her mouth and opened his mouth to speak, when her hand swiped him hard across the cheek.

"WHAT the HELL do you think you are doing?!"

Draco massaged his sore cheek. "Look....I need to talk to you.....WE need to talk....."

"No WE don't" Ginny turned to leave but Draco grabbed her wrist. She struggled to get free. She managed to hit him a few times but he was far too strong for her. He managed to tackle her to the ground and he straddled her waist. He then clasped his hand over her mouth so she couldn't scream. Ginny looked Livid.

"Look...Ginny...I'm not going to hurt you...I just want to talk to you......Please." Draco pleaded with his eyes. Ginny made no noise. Draco took this as a window to continue. "Ok......I know I have said sorry before....and that I have tired to get myself out of this mess.....but I'll have you know I have detention with Filch tonight so I think I should be forgiven...." He tried to lighten the mood with his joke....but it failed.... "Look.....I am so sorry for what I did.....I am sorry for hurting your friends...for damaging your common room.....but most of all...I'm sorry for hurting you....I never meant to do that."

Draco paused awaiting the verdict.

Ginny's eyes softened. She mumbled something...and ...realizing she couldn't speak with his hand covering her mouth...Draco moved his hand away.

"Ok....for a start...its gonna take A LOT more groveling for me to forgive you Malfoy....and second....I KNOW you didn't mean anything like this to happen......just yesterday I was telling Hermione that it was a mistake....." Draco's eyes softened at the thought of her standing up for him. "But we ALSO discussed that fact that you ARE 18 now....you can't go around playing these pranks forever....."

"I know.....and I admit...I'm an idiot.....but I'm blond...what can I say...." He flashed his white sparkly teeth at her. She laughed.

"Yeah...well....don't give me an excuse to start cracking the blond jokes Malfoy...." They both laughed together. Draco suddenly realized that he was sitting on Ginny's hips, and, covering his blush.... Stood up. He offered her a hand and she stood too, brushing away dead leaves form her clothes.

"Well...maybe we should get back....."Ginny voiced.

"Yeah...you go first...we don't want to be caught together..." Draco looked at the floor.

"K. Well...bye...."

"Yeah...bye..."

Draco watched as Ginny left. She went back to the castle. Draco soon followed.....he had to attend his detention with Filch. Oh joy.

Phew....I think that was my longest one yet....hope you liked.....Take care...bixxx