Author's Note: After much deliberation, I decided that even though practically no one reviewed the last time I updated, that's no reason not to post now that I have chapter 23. So here it is. Really bad chapter, but it's got some great vocabulary.Who can honestly say they wouldn't want to have a wit-matching contest like that? Probably everyone but me. Oh well, I'm weird. Get over it and read the chapter. But most importantly...enjoy. And if you haven't read Nowhere Girl, PLEASE DO! Cheers.

Disclaimer: You know, it was the strangest thing...this morning I woke up and I was J.K. Rowling...not falling for it? Yeah, me neither...not mine unless it is.

Dancing Life

Chapter 23: And One-Two-Three-One-Two-No-One-Eighteen-Uh…

"No, no, no. It's five steps back, spin, and two to the left. Left, Ginny, left!"

"Perfectionist."

"Clumsy."

"Dance Nazi."

"Goody two-left-shoes."

"Disciplinarian."

"Ungainly twig."

"Martinet."

"What?"

"Ha! I win. My vocabulary surpasses yours!" Ginny blew a teasing raspberry at a very disgruntled Draco.

"Just because you're overenthusiastic about the exuberance of your verbosity and spend uncountable hours in front of the mirror practicing ways to outsmart your unworthy lover doesn't mean you're any better than the rest of the intellectually-obsessed morons that litter your pitiable excuse for a school house." Feeling this display of intelligence was just far too serious, he briefly stuck out his tongue at Ginny. Tactical miscalculation.

"Child."

"DAMNIT!" Draco leaned over and banged his head on the table. Blaise and Heather looked up from where they were doing a sort of tango on the other side of the room.

"Um, Ginny…you may want to revive your erm…partner, seeing as we only have two, no…an hour and a half left to practice today, and you absolutely cannot practice a dance with an unconscious mate."

"Good point, Heather."

"Shut up you two…I just gave myself a fucking migraine, and I don't need to listen to you two discussing my welfare."

"Lighten up and get up Draco, you're making an arse of yourself."

"SHUT UP BLAISE!"

"Ha."

"You know that takes off five minutes of your life span every time you do that."

"What, yell at Blaise? Well, yeah Ginny, I'd say that's fairly accurate-"

"No, banging your head."

"Oh. Yelling at Blaise is more dangerous, though."

"This is true."

"Damn."

"Nice language, Draco. I'm absolutely swooning with love for you. You know, that's exactly what every girl wants in a boy…a foul mouth-"

"-and an even fouler temper."

"Shut it Blaise."

"Get off your fat arse and make me, Draco."

"Gr."

"Draco, get up. You're going to learn you can't win every time."

"Somehow I'm getting the idea that as long as I'm with you, I'll never win. Damn you, you triumphant…little…bugger."

"Sore loser."

"Aarrrgggghhhhh!" Draco made as if to bang his head on the table again, but Ginny (rolling her eyes) shoved him onto the dance floor. "Draco, shut up and dance."

"Yes, mum." Draco replied smartly, bowing mockingly.

Ginny rolled her eyes again and stepped close to him.

Draco wrapped one arm around her waist and dipped her back gently. Ginny wrapped her arms around the back of his neck, letting her fingers trail up to tangle in his hair. "Right, you ready?" Draco asked, looking somewhat nervous. Ginny smiled reassuringly and nodded. "You'll do fine, Draco. After all, I'm the one with the two left feet, remember?"

Draco grinned. "Well, you do have a habit of tripping all over yourself…" Ginny laughed, blushing lightly. "True enough. Well…shall we?" A mischievous smile slipped onto Draco's mouth.

Ginny barely had time to become fully suspicious before Draco pulled her up quickly. Ginny bit back the gasp that tried to work its way through her lips. Draco pulled her close in one swift move, his forehead touching hers, their lips inches apart. "Prat." Ginny whispered playfully.

Draco smiled again as she pushed away, her feet following the steps of the complex dance. Her face was impassive, but her eyes betrayed her concentration. Draco stood in his stance, weight resting on his back leg, his hands falling loosely on his hips.

Ginny continued to back up, her arms coming up to make rhythmic patterns in the air. She finally stopped, landing on her back leg and throwing her head back, arms held outstretched to either side of her.

Draco, his face also set in concentration, now moved forward, his feet bringing him closer to Ginny in complicated steps that twisted and warped what would have been a straight-line walk.

He stepped close to Ginny and (bracing his legs) picked her up, careful to do so by the hips. He spun her around once before bringing his knee up as a kind of chair for her as her arms snaked once more around his neck, brining her head close to his.

She placed a quick kiss on his cheek before he collected her legs in one arm and brought the other around to her back, lowering her down to the ground.

Ginny sat back on her arms, her knees drawn up slightly, biting her lip as she watched Draco carry out an extremely intricate part of the dance, twisting and turning (he would absolutely not be caught "twirling", it was twisting and turning, which were far more masculine) around her, finally stepping one leg over her middle, and reaching down to pull her up by her hands.

Ginny leapt up fairly nimbly, throwing her arms energetically around his neck as he fully wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flat against him. "You're doing excellent." Ginny commented cheerfully as Draco lifted her a few inches off the ground, spinning around with her several times.

Draco grinned as he let her down and spun her twice. "You're not doing too shabby yourself." He grinned and she stepped back, spinning and dancing farther and farther away.

Blaise and Heather stopped their discussion on the other side of the room to watch the couple immersed in their dance. The two spun far away and danced closer, merging and becoming one, moving rhythmically and passionately.

"Wow." Blaise commented, absolutely stunned. Heather's jaw had similarly dropped. "That's a bit of an understatement." She said softly.

Blaise turned to her again. "Yeah, they dance almost as well as we do." Heather rolled her eyes and smiled, smacking him playfully on the arm.

"Yeah, right."

"I'm serious. You dance…"

"If the rest of your sentence has anything to do with a simile containing 'chicken', 'frog', or any other insulting type of animal, I may be compelled to harm you."

Blaise laughed. "You dance exquisitely." He assured her. Heather rolled her eyes, but had to look down to hide the pleased smile her lips were fostering.

"Yeah, well…you're quite an amazing dancer as well, you know."

"I know."

"Of course you do." Heather smiled. Blaise could be quite arrogant and conceited sometimes…but most of the time it was just in jest and the rest of the time…he really did have something to be bigheaded about.

"We need some music, though. This dance is great, but it just wants some decent tune to accompany it. Where are we going to find a composition or song that fits our dance?"

Blaise looked thoughtfully at the floor. "Well, I'm not really sure, but we'll definitely be able to find something that fits. Or else we can make our own." He said confidently.

Heather's large eyes widened. "You play an instrument?" She asked, awed.

Blaise turned to her and nodded. "Just a few."

Heather's eyes bugged out larger. "Just a few! Just a few, how many is just a few?"

Blaise shrugged nonchalantly. "Well…there's the piano, harp, violin, and the flute – those I learned at home…but Janet taught me how to play the guitar and the drums, so that's-" he counted up on his fingers. "Six, then. Nothing doing, Draco can play eight."

Heather's jaw actually did drop this time. "Six? Eight? I can only pound away a few keys on the piano, and that's hard enough. How in the hell did you find time to learn six different instruments?"

Blaise shrugged. "You learn to play when you're young, and it stays with you forever…besides, once you've learned one instrument, others come easier."

Heather's eyebrow seemed to be stuck in an incredulous arch. "Uh-huh." She murmured noncommittally. Blaise shrugged. "Oh well, shall we continue on with our dance?" he extended a hand to the dance floor. Heather fluttered her eyelashes and grinned. "Why, thank you, Mr. Zabini." She drawled, taking his hand and turning away to the dance floor.

Blaise came around behind her and enclosed her in a crushing embrace. "Not at all…Mrs. Zabini." Heather spun around, her eyes wide. "W-what?" she stammered, the mask of collected cool dropping away like water.

Blaise stepped back for a moment, stunned. "What, I just said-"

"Yeah, I heard what you said Blaise." Heather cut him off, regaining a fraction of her composure. Inside, however she was a bundle of frantic nerves.

Good god, did he really say- well, he couldn't have meant…that's it, he was just joking around. But he sounded so serious. But he couldn't have been serious. No, he was just messing around with me. Or was he?

"Hey, Heather. Come on, it was just a joke." Blaise said, trying to hide the hurt in his voice. So maybe he hadn't been completely joking…still, she didn't have to act like the prospect was such a bleak one, did she?

Heather looked visibly relieved. "Oh, right." She breathed, not noticing the stormy look that passed over Blaise's face. She was just about to say something to lighten the mood when Blaise suddenly turned and grabbed his robes.

"Uh, listen. I've really got to go. I have a prior engagement with someone that I absolutely cannot miss. You can clear up, right?"

Heather was baffled at the hard, almost angry tone underlying his words. "Uh, yeah. No problem. Blaise, are you alright?" She asked, reaching out to touch his arm. He pulled away and she snatched her hand back. "Just peachy." He gritted out, and without looking at her, stormed out of the room.

Draco and Ginny sopped their dance and Ginny walked over to Heather. "Hey, are you alright? What happened?" She asked softly, patting Heather's back. The younger girl looked like she was about to cry. Tears were welling up in her huge black eyes.

"Um…I don't really know. He just got sort of angry and left. Said he had somewhere to be." She squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to block out the tears. "Oh, gods, Gin. I don't know what I did, but I think it's bad!" She reached up and pulled at her hair, tears now falling from her closed eyes.

Ginny wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged her tightly, rubbing her back and whispering soothing words. Draco's eyes hardened as they went to the door Blaise had stalked out of.

He looked to Ginny, who was watching him. She nodded understandingly and Draco hurried from the room, leaving Ginny to calm one very distressed fifteen-year-old.

Blaise reached his room in a matter of minutes; those few people in the hallways had been smart enough to steer clear of the enraged, bulky Slytherin.

Slamming his door, Blaise threw himself onto his bed, staring moodily up at the ceiling. He wasn't sulking…Zabinis didn't sulk. He was just…contemplating things. Very negative, complicated things. Things that made him slam his fists into his pillow repeatedly until it was reduced to a pile of goose feathers and cloth.

After a few more minutes of "contemplation", Blaise heard a demanding knock at the door. He knew who that had to be. Anyone else would have knocked timidly, for fear of finding either him or Draco in a rage. Which meant it had to be Draco knocking.

"Come in." He sighed heavily, sitting up to face the pale blonde as he entered the room, closing the door firmly behind him. Draco walked over to the foot of Blaise's bed and stood their, saying and doing nothing.

Blaise sat in the silence for as long as he could take it. Finally he cracked, turning to Draco with a scowl on his face. "Well?" He growled, surprised at his own anger.

If Draco was surprised, he didn't show it. "Waiting for an explanation." He said simply, as Blaise had to know what he was referring to.

"For what?" Blaise growled again. Draco sighed. So much for his friend's intelligence. "You know what for. What just happened with you and Heather?" Blaise sat for a moment, assuming an annoyingly self-righteous, condescending glance.

Draco frowned. "Oh, get over yourself, Blaise and tell me what you did. Practically had the kid crying." Blaise bit back the "she's not a kid" that was already forming in the back of his throat. Instead he just sneered.

"I didn't do anything. She got herself in a tizzy because of a joke I made and things got out of hand. It was just a joke. It was just a joke." He said, almost as if he were trying to convince himself rather than Draco.

Draco arched an eyebrow, and restricted himself from saying something that might get him a fist in the stomach. "Really?" was all he said. Blaise's head rose as he caught the sarcasm in his friend's voice. "You know what, Malfoy? Talking to you is absolutely pointless; you're going to be on her side no matter what I say, because she's Ginny's friend, and Ginny comes first, doesn't she? Well, forget it. Go talk to someone who wants to listen." With that, he whirled off, slamming the door forcefully as he left.

Draco sighed and briefly considered going after his best friend. He decided against it, however. Blaise wasn't really mad with Heather. It was just his pride. He just needed some time to let off some steam. And besides, Draco had his own problems to worry about.

He sat up suddenly and went over to his bedside. Slipping a hand under his mattress, he pulled out a box and a neatly folded letter. The box he set on his bedside table, and the letter he picked up and re-read.

Draco,

While I must admit, your letter greatly surprised me (and not in any good way, I must assure you), I must say I am somewhat relieved to you owled for your…belongings. As I stated quite clearly in my last letter, I want nothing to do with you. I have already taken it upon myself to go about getting the proper paperwork. Before the summer is out, I will no longer legally have a son. You will receive the papers at the Hogwarts Express. Do not under any circumstances, ever return to the manor. If you do, I will see you as a potential threat as an ordinary citizen and have you arrested. Enclosed is the rest of your shares in your father's company, and the items you required.

Narcissa Malfoy

Draco set down the paper, feeling absolutely nothing. Picking up the box, the corner of his mouth quirked. Flipping open the box's lid, he stared down seriously at the glittering diamond and emerald ring set in silver that winked up at him. Had his mother known that embedded in one of the picture-frames she had sent him was this gorgeous family heirloom that had gone mysteriously "missing", she never would have given his things to him.

Draco removed the tiny ring from its bed and held it up to the light. In the center was one rather large, round diamond surrounded by silver leaves with tiny emeralds fixed into the band. He frowned at it and placed it back into the box, closing it and shoving it back under his mattress.

He put his head in his hands and exhaled deeply. He had come so close today. So close to asking her…Blaise had interrupted, of course, but maybe it was for the best. What if she wasn't ready? Or worse, what if she just said 'no'? He'd never live through it.

Sighing, he fell back in the bed and groaned wearily.

Meanwhile, Ginny was sill comforting Heather, though now in the seclusion of Ginny's room. The younger girl was now reduced to sobs and tears. Her eyes were red and she was incessantly wiping them with both hands.

"Shh, Heather. It'll be fine. Just tell me again what happened." Ginny cajoled. Heather sniffled several times, blowing her nose in a tissue. "I just don't understand. I flipped when he said Mrs. Zabini, because…well, I thought he was serious for a second. It scared me. And then he got angry, and…and…" she broke down again, putting her head in her hands and weeping.

Ginny wrapped a sisterly arm around her and pulled her close, rocking her back and forth while murmuring softly in her ear. Eventually, Heather calmed down and sat rocking peacefully in Ginny's arms. Finally, she sat up and dried her eyes.

"Now," Ginny began, as she had a vague idea what might have happened "why did you freak out when Blaise called you Mrs. Zabini?"

Heather's eyes widened as if the answer should have been obvious. "Well, because I thought at first that he was serious." She repeated. Ginny shook her head. "And why would it be bad if he was serious?" she questioned softly.

"Because…" Heather began, and stopped. In truth, she couldn't find a reason why it would be bad. It had just frightened her. "Because…well, let's say he was serious…that's talking about marriage. Ginny, I'm just fifteen. Usually people don't even think of that kind of thing until they're at least twenty. I just want to get through school." She bit her lip. "I guess it's just timing. Right now, I can't even think about it." She shook her head again.

Ginny nodded, though she really didn't understand. Perhaps it was just her, but she would die for Draco to say something like that…not in jest, of course. Ginny merely smiled comfortingly at Heather, who was looking a little worse for wear.

"Tell you what. I think you both jus need a little alone time. Why don' you get some sleep, huh?" she gestured to her own bed. Heather's eyes widened even as she held back yawn. "Are you insane, it's the middle of the afternoon!"

Ginny smiled. "I know, but you can use the sleep, even if it's just for a couple of hours." Heather needed no more encouragement. With a quick hug, she slipped under the covers of Ginny's four-poster bed and within minutes was asleep.

Ginny smiled softly at her friend and left the room noiselessly to go find Draco.