"Ginny! Hurry up!"

Ginny stumbled down the stairs from the dorm, still only half in her shoes and her hands working furiously to tie a worn blue ribbon around her braid, "Sorry, Colin. I know I'm late."

Colin just smiled at her, "Writing to him again?"

Ginny nodded, "Yeah. Anyway, can we get going? I need to get as much studying in as possible between now and next week."

Colin laughed and stuck his hands into his pockets, grinning at her, "N.E.W.T.s!"

Ginny shuddered, "Don't remind me."

They made their way to the library, book bags slung over shoulders, talking happily. The seasons had turned and it was so nice to have sun streaming in those high windows again.

They managed to study for almost two hours before Ginny slammed a book closed, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes, "I think my brain has turned to goo and is going to leak out my ear as I sleep."

"Oh…" Colin looked worried, "You'll want to be careful of that. It'll attract BittleBrees."

Ginny laughed and shook her head, "You've been hanging around Luna too much."

"You know as well as I that I want absolutely nothing to do with her!" He winked at her, "Alright, then. Why don't you tell me about Draco's latest letter?"

She grinned and reached into a pocket to withdraw the note, "It's rather shorter than usual and it's almost a week late. He usually writes me every week so I was getting worried."

My Dearest Ginny,

I was glad to get your last letter about Professor Snape. Most people around here think he's a Death Eater, one of the worst. Definitely someone to be feared. I hope he had a nice Spring Break with the rest of you. He could use some rest, from what I hear.

I heard about Harry's hand. At least it was the left one he lost, he doesn't have to learn how to write with his off hand or anything like that.. You should go visit him in St. Mungo's or something. I'm sure he'd appreciate the company.

Nothing really interesting has happened here, but Dumbledore's moving this group to somewhere that's 'undisclosed', as usual. Don't worry, but I won't be able to write for a while. Dumbledore doesn't want anyone following the owls from our new location.

All My Love to You,

Draco

Colin had read the letter over her shoulder, "He has very nice penmanship."

Ginny laughed, "Yes, it's so elegant. You might say I fell in love with his cursive before him," She grinned, "At least it means I can read his letters, unlike with Harry." She smirked and indicated the recently covered scroll of notes, "I'm amazed that Draco can even follow my ugly chicken scratch." She shook her head and looked back at the letter. "Don't worry, but I won't be able to write for a while." It was not something she liked to read. The inability to write meant that he was going somewhere more dangerous.

As if reading her mind, Colin's hand came up to her shoulder and squeezed lightly, "It'll be alright, Gin. He'll be okay."

Ginny nodded and pocketed the letter, "Come on. Let's go swimming before the heat breaks. I could use the rest from all this studying."

Colin smiled and followed her from the library.

They swam out into the lake, Colin's strong strokes taking him into the deep water quickly, "So what are you two going to do when he gets back?" He tread water.

Ginny swam out to join him, "Well, I don't know. We've talked about it, of course, but always in the hypothetical. He doesn't want to stay an auror after the war ends and I was thinking of studying to become a healer."

"Thus N.E.W.T. potions."

Ginny nodded and dunked her head backwards, slicking her hair back against her head, "Exactly. Draco was really good at potions, actually, and talked once about opening an apothecary in Hogsmeade." She smiled and looked out in the direction of the village, "It'd be nice. I know that Snape'd help. Hell, I bet he'd want to be partner." She laughed.

Colin grinned, "It'd be a nice life."

Ginny nodded, thinking, "It's not what I'd planned, before the war. I was going to be an auror or a healer or something-" she slid under the water suddenly.

Colin rolled his eyes and swam to the shore to wait for her to resurface. This was easily one of the most annoying parts of swimming in the school lake.

A few moments later Ginny reappeared, gasping for breath, "Stupid squid."

Colin laughed, "Come on, I've got towels."

Ginny swam back to shore to soak up a little sun before pulling out Transfiguration texts for more revision.

But Transfiguration wasn't sinking in. Ginny couldn't stop thinking about their earlier conversation. Life with Draco would be very nice. She was in love with him, that much she was sure. She hadn't had a date all year, not even held hands with the other guys in school, as cliched as that was. This whole point had been driven home by that stupid fifth year she'd caught snogging in the Charms classroom the night before.

"Geeze, Gin! You wouldn't be so bitter if you got out more, got laid. Are you so frigid that you enjoy being alone?"

Ginny'd handed out detentions and rolled her eyes, thinking to herself 'I won't be alone forever. The letter'll come saying that Draco's comin' home and I won't be alone again.'

The fifth year had just sneered and taken her detention before leaving the Charms classroom. Ginny had stayed though, her back pressed against the wall as she slid to the floor, crying. I can't do this much longer, Draco. Come home to me...