From Ginny to Draco

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Harry Potter, and you can't give him to me either

Draco Malfoy walked into his empty dorm. He had just come from Quidditch practice

where the Slytherins were trying to train their new players. The practice had been very frustrating- Slytherin's Captain, Montague, seemed to have picked people with the least amount of skill to be a part of their team. In Draco's opinion, they needed a few prodigies if they wanted to win back the Quidditch Cup from the Gryffindors. Especially now that the Gryffindors had that guy from Durmstrang who was supposed to be so great. What was his name? Oh yes, Alistair Tobias. Very dark sounding name, Draco thought. How the hell did that guy end up in Gryffindor? He should have been put in Slytherin. His skills would really help the team. If he was even any good.

As Draco lay on his four poster bed, his thoughts eventually wandered to Lenore Merrill, his newest love interest. Of course, he really wasn't interested in love. Love was not for Slytherins. The very word was made for emotional Hufflepuffs or sickeningly good little Gryffindors. So what should he call Lenore? The victim of his attentions? Yes, Draco thought, that exactly what she is. That pretty girl was made just for my pleasure.

…………………………….

Ginny nearly ran away from the Great Hall and up the many flights of stairs to the Gryffindor common room. She wanted to be the first one in her dormitory so that she could conduct her nightly ritual in peace.

First, she pulled out her piece of parchment and her quill. Then, Ginny ripped off a strip of the already ripped up paper and wrote, Friends like A.T. Ginny jumped off her bed, still holding the tiny strip and walked over to her mirror. The mirror had a border with tiny painted roses. Ginny loved this mirror because it had been Grandmum Ginevra's. Holding the strip in front of her with both hands, Ginny stood before her mirror and said, "I am grateful for friends like Alistair Tobias." To complete her ceremony, Ginny took out her Gratitude Box and placed the paper inside.

…………………………..

Draco was still lying on his bed when he saw a bright flash of light coming from inside the drawer of his bedside table. Very curious, he opened the drawer and began rummaging through everything. The light did not continue, so there was no way of knowing what had caused it. Draco was about to give up and close the drawer when his eyes fell upon a dark blue box he had received for his 15th birthday. Draco had obsessed over that box for many weeks after it had appeared on his bed. He had no idea who had given it to him, but he had eventually forgotten about it.

Now, the mystery of the box took over him, and he pulled it out of the drawer. He opened the lid, and to his surprise, saw many tiny strips of paper. Who has been in my personal stuff? Draco thought, already getting mad at any and all of his dorm mates.

Draco picked up a strip of paper and read My best friend, B.S. What in hell? Draco thought. He quickly read he rest of the strips. They all said things like House elf chefs at Hogwarts, My Family, Dumbledore, and Friends like A.T.

For a long time, Draco sat, staring at his box and at the unfamiliar handwriting of whoever was now using it as their box. Not knowing what else to do, and as there was no one there for him to interrogate, Draco decided to write back. Taking quill and a strip of parchment, he wrote Keep your bits of paper out of my box! After writing this message on both sides so the culprit couldn't miss it, he closed the box and returned it to the drawer.

…………………………….

Ginny and Alistair sat in the Gryffindor common room, playing a game of Wizard's Chess. Bianca sat at a nearby table, finishing her homework. It was Saturday night, but only a few students remained in the common room.

"So, Alistair, what's it like at Durmstrang?" Ginny asked.

"It is very different from Hogwarts," Alistair replied.

Ginny had learned to take his frugal answers, although she always wanted to know more.

"Did you know Victor Krum?"

"Yes, I did. Why?"

"You know my friend Hermione?" Alistair thought for a second, then nodded. "She dated him for a while two years ago."

"Really? When did he dump her?"

"She dumped him, actually."

"Why?" Alistair asked.

"I think it was because she was already in love with Ron."

"That is very surprising."

"What is? You didn't know that Ron and Hermione are together?"

"No, I've just never heard of a girl not wanting to be with Krum. He is so famous that he usually ends up dumping girls because they're so in awe of him."

Ginny giggled. "Wish I had that problem."

Alistair gave her a startled look, then said, "No, you don't. We're much better off the way we are."

"So, we're the same?" Ginny asked, playfully.

"Yes," Alistair's face was dead serious, "we're both hopeless losers."

For a second, Ginny looked defiant, then she shrugged her shoulders and said, "You're right. It's still you're turn, by the way," she added, turning her attention back to the chess board.

"Oh. I almost forgot we were playing," Alistair said, while contemplating the board.

Just as Alistair's knight knocked down one of Ginny's pawns, Bianca's book slammed shut.

"Well guys, I'm going to bed. Have fun, and tell me who wins in the morning."

"Alright, sweetie," Ginny said, "Goodnight."

"'Night, Bianca," Alistair said.

Bianca blew both of her friends kisses, and trotted up the stairs.

After Ginny moved her bishop, she looked thoughtfully up at Alistair. Then she spoke, "What happened two years after your parents divorced?"

"What? How did that suddenly come up?"

"I've been thinking about it ever since your weird silence at breakfast the other day."

Alistair sighed. "I never open up to people."

Ginny stared at him, wondering if that was his way of answering difficult questions. Curiosity still strong, Ginny said, "You can trust me Alistair. I never really open up to people either. Well, except for the Dark Lord, but that's a long story." Alistair gave her a disbelieving look. "I'll tell you my secret if you tell me yours," Ginny bargained.

Alistair considered this for a moment, then finally agreed. Ginny told him the whole story of her tragic first year at Hogwarts. Alistair listened very intently, and when she was done, he sat silently for many minutes.

Eventually, Alistair spoke, "I suppose I must share with you now. Fine. When I was ten years old, Voldemort was gathering a lot of followers throughout Europe. My father became one of them. He moved up in Voldemort's ranks pretty quickly, but my father is the type who wants to be the best. He wanted to be Vodemort's right hand man. I still don't completely understand how or why, but my father sacrificed my mum to Voldemort. I knew that he didn't love her after they got divorced, but I can't rationalize why he would want to kill her. He didn't even end up with the 'promotion' he wanted so badly."

When Alistair stopped speaking, Ginny stared at him in astonishment. She didn't know what to say. She felt like crying for Alistair's tragedy, and she was mad at herself for bargaining her story to get this out of him.

"Am I the first person you've told?"

"Yes," Alistair replied, staring at the immobile chess pieces.

"I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry that happened to you. And if my friendship will help you at all, I really want to be your friend."

"Thank you, Ginevra."

"How did you know that was my name?" Ginny asked, surprised.

"Just a guess," Alistair said. "Now, are we going to finish this game, or just go to bed?"

"My vote's for sleep."

"Me too. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Alistair."

As Ginny made her way to the dorm, she thought again about Alistair's sad past.

Damn Voldemort, she thought with the uttermost hatred. Even when he's closest to defeat, he still wins. His goal is to cause us all pain, so really, he's already won, Ginny thought. Usually she could appreciate good irony, but she was in no mood for it now.

Ginny was about to collapse miserably onto her bed when she remembered her Gratitude Box. Perfect time to use it, Ginny thought as she snatched it from its usual spot. She sat cross legged on her bed, reading her precious strips and trying to feel genuinely grateful. The she picked up a strip that wasn't in her handwriting. It read, Keep your bits of paper out of my box! Ginny stared at the paper, completely confused.