Author's Note: Right. So I've been away on vacation with my family in hot, sticky, thunderstormy Ohio. And while it was great fun, I missed you guys and this story! So here it is, my first day back, and I'm writing more for all of you. FanFiction is being a dork and not loading properly, however, so I don't know if I'll be able to post it until later. On to the reviews! (Note- since I can't load my FanFiction page, I don't know if I'm missing people, so PLEASE accept my apologies if I'm missing anyone.)

Luna Elentari: Yes, a Weasley and a Malfoy together during dinner… I wonder how that will turn out… ;)

Erry: Thanks for reviewing! I hope I can meet your standards again with this chapter!

LilyAmongTheThorns: Glad you liked it- keep reading!

Elbereth: Awww... thankee much for the review! As for the twins…they're my favorite material, so I'm glad they came across right! Let's see if I can make this next chapter live up to your expectations…

Voided: Thank you so much! I'm sorry I wasn't able to update sooner, but I had no computer access… L And I bet you're not the only one willing to take Draco off of Ginny's hands… *coughcough* I'm really glad you enjoy my story!

Acidity: Not to worry! I fully intend to follow through with this story, even if I'm a little sporadic with my updates. Please keep reading!

Polkat: Blackmail? Hmm… that is an idea, isn't it? Even I haven't decided what she's going to do yet… Guess you'll find out when I do! lol!

Jenni: Oh great… now how can I live up to that last chapter? lol… I know! If I put a little Bill in it… ;)

WildChild: Ohhh yes! I'm excited about the party too!

LynxKitty111: Don't let the suspense kill you, I'm not done yet!

MelissaAdams: Thanks, as usual… ;)

Nancy: If you make me read you this next chapter… I'll throttle you. ;)

New Reader: Awww…. I feel so honored that you picked my fanfic out of all of the ones you could have read out there! Change the PG-13 rating…why… that would simply be scandalous… lol

            Again, if I missed people in that, I'm terribly sorry- I was going by what I had in my email, you know… And I'm well aware that you're all waiting for Draco and Ginny to hook up…but you'll just have to wait and see when they decide to make it happen… ;) On to the story!

            Ginny scowled. There was no way that she was going to this party. Her mother had found the invitation while cleaning her room, and confronted her about it.

            "Ginny? Have you replied to this, dear?" She had asked her, lips pursed and eyebrow arching as she dared her daughter to give the wrong answer. Ginny had sighed.

            "Not yet Mum… I'm going to, don't worry!" She had said hastily. "I'm just not sure if I want to go."

            "Well, your father and I aren't going because we can't stand to be around that pompous, stuffed-shirt of a- ahem," she cleared her throat. "…because we don't want to spend the night with Fudge. However, your father and I were discussing this, and we think that it's a good idea," Here she paused, and glared at Ginny significantly before continuing. "if you attend. Seeing as you have no job," her mother had said hastily, as Ginny opened her mouth to protest, "it would be in your best interest to mingle with some of the Ministry officials and see if you can't land yourself some sort of employment." With that, her mother had handed her the invitation and pursed her lips once more, leaving Ginny with the impression that she couldn't have refused the party even if she tried.

            I am not going…Maybe I'll just tell them I'm going and then- no, Dad will talk to people from the Ministry…Damn it! Ginny simply couldn't think of a way to get out of it. Her mother would have her head if she didn't go, and even Draco Malfoy stood a chance as a more welcome evening than one with an angry Molly Weasley.

            Ginny was sitting on a stump in the backyard, chewing on her lip in desperation, when she saw a tall figure come into the garden. It was followed by a smaller one, and they both stopped suddenly upon seeing her. Ginny turned to face Hermione and her brother.

            "What do you want?" she snapped, and without waiting for an answer, she stalked out of the yard quickly, having realized that they probably wanted the garden for their own uses… she decided that her parents' guests were probably gone by this point, and all she wanted to do was sit in her room and figure out how to get out of the party. She tried the front door, but it was locked; even a spell wouldn't fix it, so Ginny figured her mother must have padlocked it several times from the inside. She sighed again. Her life just kept on improving, didn't it?

            "Accio bag!"  Ginny deftly caught her old school bag, still containing parchment and quills, as it came soaring through her half-open window onto the lawn. "Well… the only thing to do is accept, I suppose…" She took out a roll of parchment, and ripping off a piece, tried to string together some half-decent words. Finally she came up with a very simple, direct reply, in which no malice could be detected.

            I'll be there. –Ginny (she had to resist the urge to add 'scumbag' to the end)

            Ginny was able to coax Errol, who was miraculously still alive, out of the house, and sent him off with her reply. Running her hand through her hair, she shot an angry look at the kitchen. I am never going to forgive you guys for this one…

            Draco was sprawled ungracefully in a chair on one of the manor's many patios later that day, trying to escape the intense heat of the afternoon. Glaring into the house, he voiced (yet again, these servant were so slow) his desire for something to     quench his thirst.

            "Isn't there any ice in this house?" he bellowed, his voice echoing off of the walls. Grumbling, he shifted his position so that his left leg was draped over the arm of the chair. Suddenly, a large, dishevled-looking owl came into view; it was headed straight for Draco. He watched it with increasing interest until it was a few feet away from his face, with no intention of stopping. It appeared to be unconscious. Quickly, he put up his hands and skillfully caught the animal; skills left from his Quidditch days at Hogwarts. It was Virginia Weasley's reply to the invitation.

            "Well, well, well… what have we here?" Draco unfolded the piece of parchment to find:

            I'll be there. –Ginny

Draco had to admit, he was a bit surprised. He hadn't expected her to reply so promptly, and if so, he had imagined a long-winded, harsh'raco unfolded the piece of parchment to find:

s. the animal', with no intention of stopping. It appeared to be unconcious.t ar retort. But he couldn't really complain, could he? His plan was fitting into place. His mother had readily agreed to let Virginia sit next to him; in fact, he had a sneaking suspicion that she was going to try and set them up. He chuckled, and tossed the paper onto the table in front of him, only just noticing that his drink had finally been brought out. Oh…what a night this was going to be. Draco downed his drink and strolled languidly into the house, humming a tune he couldn't place.

Her mother still wasn't letting her into the house. Ginny was going to throw something through one of the windows and sneak in. She would have climbed through hers long ago, but her mum wasn't dim, and had secured all of the windows already. She headed for the back garden, one of her favorite spots, before realizing that she hadn't seen Ron and Hermione at all since they walked back there. Turning around, she racked her brain for something to do.

Well… I imagine they'll want me to look presentable at this dinner party thing…she thought, a slight smile playing about her lips. I don't believe anything I own is quite fancy enough- and I've already worn that brown dress…I suppose it would be acceptable for me to do a little shopping. Ginny shrugged, always up for a bit of shopping, and disapparated with a pop.

            Draco found himself so eager to set his plans into motion that he was actually helping the servants on the night of the dinner party. He had been hovering around them as they set places at the table in the dining hall, and it was only when the housekeeper turned and gave him a glare worthy of his old teacher, Professor McGonagall, that he realized he was making a ridiculous pest of himself. He went to settle himself in a side room, tapping his hands on his knees in anticipation, and he watched a tall grandfather clock tick slowly back and forth. His excitement was beginning to irritate him; the past day or so he'd been having trouble distinguishing his enthusiasm for The Plan, and the slight excitement he felt whenever Virginia Weasley's name was mentioned. As he watched the pendulum of the clock sway back and forth, Draco sighed, and settled back into the sofa to wait until the party began.

He woke with a start. The tall clock in front of him was chiming very loudly – Draco checked and saw that it was nine o'clock already. He had fallen asleep, and dinner started in half an hour. Frazzled, he jumped up and ran into he hall, almost smashing into one of the maids. Snarling at her to get out of the way, Draco dashed up to his room to get dressed. His plan was about to take form.

Author's Note: I apologize for the weird typos in the middle of Draco's experience with the owl – I couldn't get it to appear right on FanFiction – it's fine on Word… I'm hoping it's just my computer, but I'M SORRY!