Ok so here is the 6th Chapter of this story.

I deeply apologise for taking so long but I was totally stuck on what to write!

I hope this writers block is now dissolved and I can update sooner with the next chapter then the time it took me to write this one.

Also I hope that I will not have tested your patience by messing this chapter up.

As for my reviewers:

Like Totally Like

Wow that kinda bites. I liked that chapter. I think you should have called the cat just that, cat. I have a cat named cat, it's kinda funny cause my friends get confused when she answers to it (if she answers to it that is) lol I really liked your story PLEASE continue ASAP!

Lol At your cat's name! I had one called Moggy (British slang for cat) As far as the story, well it continues now! I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Nyahl
Very cute story. I'm waiting for some real G/D action grin... well done so far. Go on :)

Very glad you liked it! And the action starts right here :D

kool girlmc
this is a brillient fanfic! yeh, i reconised da name smaug 4rm the hobbit, i'm a big lord of the rings fan! well, keep up da gud job, and hope 2 read da nxt chappie soon!

I also love lord of the Rings, and I will keep it up and hope to fulfil your wishes of doing so.

faeriepuck
I knew I had heard the name somewhere. I thought that this chapter was really nice. I especially liked the presents that Draco and Ginny got. and I really liked the cat. I noticed a few errors in your chapter and I thought I would give you some advise. you should write your chapter, leave it alone for a day or two and then read it outloud. that way you will catch most of the mistakes. for example, a couple of times you said mad instead of made. if you had read that outloud you would have caught that instantly.
anyway,
enough of my blabberin, just update soon.

Thanks for the tip and I will do so until I get a new Beta. I hope you like this next chapter as well as the last and I am also hoping to update sooner now ;)

Chapter 6: Surprising new year!

After the rude interruption at the Christmas dinner Ginny and Draco hadn't spoken again.

Although Ginny had been filled with questions about what he had meant.

Draco as well could not help but think about what Ginny had been on the verge off saying. Just a few more days lasted and they would be back at school, there He would be

able to talk to her in the room, where there would be no more interruptions.

Due to an illness of an aunt Hermione's parents had asked her parents if it was alright for Hermione to stay with them till the start of term.

The Weasely's had been pleased to honour that request and so Hermione stayed behind as the others had left.

Ginny sat in the living room petting Smaug on her lap and trying not to think about Draco. For the past few days that had been an impossible task, all she could think about was him.

"Ginny dear you have a letter from school." Her mother said walking in with an envelope.

She was holding two more which were identical to hers, no doubt meant for Ron and Hermione, but why would the school send them a letter?

She took the envelope and ripped it open.

"Miss Weasely,

Gladly we are announcing that the new your will be rung in festively at Hogwarts this year.

Upon your arrival on the 2nd off January you will be expected to be in your dress robes, in light off all the events that happened over the past year the school and its board have decided to start an annual New years ball.

This will take place in the main hall, there will be a Dinner starting at 19:00 followed by the ball at 20:30.

As seating arrangements will need to be made please inform us whom you will be escorted by.

Sincerely yours,

Albus Dumbledore"

Ginny looked up, a school ball? She had attended one once before, when she had been in her 3rd year. Back then she had gone with Neville, only because Harry had been Champion and she had really wanted to go.

Draco looked up as he finished reading the letter. "Whom you will be escorting!" He was going to have to ask someone to come with him…but who? The first name that sprung into his mind was Ginny's.

But then he shook his head, that was a stupid idea! She though off him as a friend, she had said so a few times already. Bedsides he was not going to a ball with her, what would everyone at school think? He was still Draco Malfoy and he did not go around with what would be called a blood traitor.

He sighed as he looked up and thought about a potential partner for the ball.

After a few more moments of thinking about it he reached for the nearest quill and a peace off parchment, there was only one other person he could think off to ask.

Ginny sat in her room when there was a knock on the door.

When she had said for the person to come in Hermoine popped her head in the door. "Have you got a moment?" She asked walking into the room.

Ginny put her book aside and looked at her. "What is it?"

Hermoine bounced on one foot from the other. "Well I wanted to ask your opinion about something."

Ginny noticed she to was holding the school letter. "You wondered about your partner for the ball?" She said leaning back and looking at Hermoine.

"Actually I did, I was wondering if……it would be……appropriate for a girl……me…to ask a boy out to the ball." Hermoine said taking a deep breath.

Ginny could not help but smile. "And which boy are we talking about?"

"Well to be totally honest……I was thinking about……" Right when Hermoine paused there was another rapt knock on the door. Ron stood in the doorway now.

"Moinee, couldIhaveaword?" Ron mumbled.

"What did you say?" She asked looking at him after his one breath sentence.

"Could you just come out here?" He asked again almost sounding desperate.

As She followed Ron out the room, Smaug jumped up on the bed. "I think he finally worked up the nerve." Ginny said petting his head, the cat gave a purr and then glanced at the door with an almost sorry expression on it's face that it seemed to have missed a change of attacking Ron.

She wrapped her arms round Smaug and got up with mixed feelings, she crept up to the door and pressed her ear against it.

"So who are you going to the ball with?" She heard Ron ask. "Is Vikky flying in?"

Ginny sighed at her brothers words, would he ever learn.

"Or is LaStrange taking you?" He continued.

Would her brother actually be that dumb to realise that Hermoine was waiting on him to ask her?

"And what about you, figured out any which girl you are going to ask to the ball at the last minute?" Hermoine shot back, reminding him of his dismal attempts to ask a girl to the Yule ball.

"NO! I was actually planning on asking you! But if you are going to act like this then forget it!" Ron said in a raised voice.

"So your asking me because you are not sure you would be accepted by anyone else?" She asked curious.

"NO! I thought we could have a good time together." Ron said sounding ashamed. Ginny could imagine his ears turning red right about now.

"Well then I would love to go with you." Hermoine said softly.

Ginny backed away from the door with a smile on her face, finally things were starting to get a move on between those two!

That night when the family sat down for dinner Ginny couldn't help but notice the smile on Hermione's face and the slight pinking of her brother's ears each time he looked across the table.

She smiled as her mother handed her a plate filled with desert and then frowned as she saw shadowy figures approach the house.

"What on earth is that?" Her father said pointing at them.

"I think it is owls dear." Her mother replied peering through the window.

She opened the window and no sooner had she done this or several owls landed on the table all sticking their leg out to Ginny.

She untied the rolls of parchment and one by one the owls departed after taking a drink from Errol's water tray.

While Ginny read all the notes she frowned, Hermoine who was looking over her shoulder smiled.

"I never knew you were this popular." She took the read notes from the table and started to flip through them. Then she read the names of some of the senders.

"Dean, Seamus, Michael Burke he is in Hufflepuff, and there is even one from Neville!" She said with a smile.

"What would they want from you?" Ron asked raising an eyebrow.

"They all asked her out to the ball." Hermione grunted looking at him.

"Why would they want to do that?" Ron asked amazed.

"Most likely because they like her!" Hermione said scowling at him now.

"But she won't go with them! She will go with Harry. I already wrote him asking him to." Ron said spooning more pudding on his plate.

"You did what!" Both the girls said looking at him.

"I asked him to take Ginny to the ball, Pig should be back soon with a note saying he will." Ron said plainly.

At that note Pig came furiously flying in and twirled round his head a few times before Ron managed to grab him.

"See!" He said letting go off the feathered fluff and waving the note around.

Then he unfolded it and started reading it out loud.

"Ron,

I got your note, you are my best friend and I would do almost anything you ask, but I can't take Ginny to the ball.

I had already asked Phoebe to the ball and her reply with yes came at the same time as your note.

So sorry I can't help you, but Ginny will find someone to take her. (or she has already)

See you on the Hogwarts express!

Harry."

"What does he mean he isn't taking her!" Ron said crumpling up the note.

"Like he said he is taking Phoebe." Ginny said with a smile knowing how happy her friend would be right now.

"But how will you go to the ball!" Ron said looking amazed.

"I will probably go with……" Ginny looked at the notes still on the table, she let her hand glide over them for a second before picking on up. "I'm going with Dean."

"No your NOT!" Ron said getting up.

"I am too, and who do you think you are ordering me around!" Ginny yelled back as she got up.

"Now, now! Ginny can go to the ball with whom ever she likes." Their mother said playing the role of referee.

"But mum Dean is…he…is…I share a room with him!" Ron finally blurted out as an answer.

"Well then you should know him and be glad your sister is going with one of your friends." His mother responded.

"Ginny who was getting tired of Ron scowling picked up Smaug and walked to her room.

The new year had come and gone, even though their mother had forbid him to go on about the subject, Ron still kept going about Ginny going to the ball with Dean.

When they reached the platform on the 2nd of January, Ginny had resolved to not speaking to him.

"And further more he has that stupid poster of that football team above his bed, how could you like a guy who isn't into Quidditch?" Ron asked as he dragged his cart towards him.

"Ron leave her alone……" Hermione said with a sigh. "If she wants to go with Dean then she shall."

"Hey look there is Harry!" Ron said wanting to change the subject.

The three of them walked over to Harry, Ginny could tell by the expression on his face he was looking for someone.

"Hello Harry." She said with a smile.

"Oh hi, I didn't see you there." He said looking at his three friends with a smile.

"Phoebe always comes at the last minute, she told me so at the end of term." Ginny whispered to him.

"Right……" Harry said looking a bit sad. "So who are you going to the ball with?" He asked now more focused on his friends.

"Me and Ron are going……" Hermione confessed with a slight blush.

"And I will be going with Dean Thomas." Ginny said looking at her brother.

"Well Lucky Dean Thomas." The voice of Sirius sounded behind her.

Ginny turned and smiled at him, she just saw the glimpse of Draco as he climbed on the train, she wondered if he had heard her.

Draco stormed through the cramped hallway of the train, he was so angry!

Ginny was going to the ball with Dean Thomas! She was going with that muggle born idiot!

When he found an empty compartment he sank down in the seat and crossed his arms.

The anger he had felt at her words still boiling in his chest.

'What did you think? That she was going to ask you? You never even asked her!'

A small voice said inside him.

"Well I could have……" He said aloud.

"You could have what?" Pansy Parkinson said walking in and ripping him from his thoughts.

She sat down close to him and looked at him with a large smile.

"I got some new dress robes for the ball, I told my mother I wanted some as soon as I got your note. We went to buy them………"

As she started to tell him in detail, where she had bought them and what her robes and accessories looked like Draco started to tune her out.

He didn't even notice all the others filling the compartment.

Ginny was sitting in a compartment with Phoebe, Harry, Ron and Neville. The last looking surly occasionally throwing her glances but not looking her in the eye.

She had written him a note explaining as nice as she could that she would be going to the ball with Dean. But she thought, even though he was pretending not to, he was still hurt by her rejection.

"So who are you going with?" Phoebe suddenly asked her finally tearing her look away from Harry.

"Dean Thomas." Ginny said softly not wanting to add to the sad look that was already on Neville's face.

"Oh that is so nice, we could all go to the hall together!" Phoebe said smiling. "I never knew he liked you."

"Neither did I." Ginny confessed.

"Listen, Harry and I will be right back. We have to……go talk……to someone." Ron said pulling Harry with him as he got up.

"Don't you dare Ron!" Ginny said looking at his face.

"What!" Ron tried to look as innocent as he could.

"Don't you and Harry go and threaten Dean!" Ginny said getting up as well now.

"We weren't ……." Ron started but Ginny had already stopped him from going out off the compartment.

"Just sit down and stay here." She scolded him as she forced him and Harry back in their seats.

Draco sighed as he looked out the window, Pansy had not left him alone since the train had started moving. He wondered how he was going to get through the rest of the evening with her.

Eventually he looked at Crabbe and Goyle. "So who are you taking?"

He tried hard not to laugh out loud as the both of them semi grunted 'no one' at the same time.

"Ohoooo I wonder who that mudblood Granger is taking!" Pansy almost shrieked.

"Ron……I mean Weasel King." Draco said looking at her.

"How do you know?" Pansy asked looking suspicious.

"I overheard them on the platform." Draco replied dryly.

"Well I bet that Weasel Girl would at least managed to scrape up an escort, I mean she is good looking in a poor and dishevelled way." Pansy said with an evil grin.

Draco suppressed the urge to speak up and defend Ginny.

'Remember who you are and who you are with!' He reminded himself.

"I couldn't care less." He lied, trying to sound blank.

"She is going with Dean Thomas, I overheard him boasting about it when I passed his compartment." Crabbe said looking at Pansy.

"Well he is muggle born so he probably doesn't deserve any better." Pansy said at a giggle looking at Draco to see if she had made him smile.

Draco forced a smile onto his face, he was trying to fight the image of Ginny dancing with Dean from his mind.

There was a gong sound that travelled through the train, this was a warning sign that they would arrive in Hogsmeade soon.

"We had better get changed." Phoebe said with a smile as she coached Ginny out of the compartment.

When the train finally came to a staggering halt there was still a bit of commotion going on in the pathways of the train.

People were trying to get to their partners, girls were nervously giggling about their appearance.

Dean had come to their compartment and had smiled at Ginny when he had offered her his arm.

Now she was still holding onto that same arm as she made her way down to the carriages.

The ride up to the castle was pleasant for Ginny, she shared a carriage with Phoebe and Harry. Ron and Hermione had stepped into the one behind them.

Dean made her laugh as he imitated professor Dumbledore doing a dance.

In the carriage in front of Ginny's Draco was trying to get Pansy to let go of his arm.

"We only need to do that as we walk in you know." He said half heartily as he put her hand back in her own lap.

"Yes, but it would look so much nicer if we came out of the carriage like this." Pansy declared interlocking her arm with his again.

With a sigh Draco gave up his attempts and looked out the window.

As Ginny accepted Dean's arm once again to be guided up the steps to the entrance hall she smiled at people she knew.

Walking in they saw that the staff had done a wonderful job in decorating everything for the upcoming ball.

Large life like ice sculptures stood at either side off the entrance to the great hall, there were little fairy's flying round. Each off them emanating a glow that looked nothing like anyone could produce, even by magic.

Ginny felt better about this ball with each moment that passed. Ron was to busy trying not to seem nervous with Hermione by his side. Harry and phoebe seemed to be enjoying themselves and even Neville had stopped to look gloomy as he had been approached by Ravenclaw girl.

From the side of her eye she spotted a familiar blond head, she looked in the direction of Draco. He seemed to be confounded by something, his eyes were looking like they were slightly out of focus. She wanted to at least acknowledge him but before she could he had turned away.

Draco turned his head as soon as his eyes had met hers, his heart was still pounding in his chest. He somehow felt like a small kid again being caught doing something he wasn't supposed to do. But he hadn't been able to stop himself from staring at her. She looked so gorgeous! Her hair shone in the light of the fairy's above and her smile had kept him caught.

He now wished he had taken the chance of asking her, throwing all his caution and carefully built reputation aside.

He looked over his shoulder once more and saw her laughing at something Dean had said.

"Draco we have to go in." Pansy said tugging on his arm.

Reluctant Draco followed her and walked into the hall.

The dinner was arranged well and prepared beautifully, There were no house tables, instead there were round tables which had place cards.

To Draco was torn between sorrow and relief that he was not at the same table as Ginny. She was there and that was in his eyes a good thing, bit so where her Brother and Potter.

When the dinner was over the tables magically disappeared and a band had started to play music.

Draco kept feeling annoyed by the way Pansy demanded to dance, and by the amount of times Ginny had danced with Dean Thomas.

Ginny looked across the hall and saw Draco leave Pansy and walk towards the doors of the hall.
It annoyed her that since he had seen her in he entrance hall he had scowled at her every time he had looked in her direction.

When she had first walked in there had been a different look in his eyes. But within seconds that had changed, once he had reached the doors he looked once more in her direction and then left.

Even though she was having a good time with Dean, Ginny felt she needed to go and talk to Draco.
She excused herself to Dean and then made her way out the doors, if she hurried she could catch him.

Ginny raised her head a bit and noticed that Draco was scowling at her again, what was wrong with him?

Every time she had looked at him tonight he looked like he had been angry with her.

She had to turn her attention back to Dean as he said something to her, but as soon as she had responded she wondered again.

Draco sighed as he was growing tired of this evening fast, he looked at Pansy and felt even more annoyance creep up.

He didn't excuse himself to her as he turned round and started to walk towards the doors.

Ginny looked across the hall again and saw Draco leave Pansy and walk towards the doors of the hall.
It annoyed her that since he had seen her in he entrance hall he had scowled at her every time he had looked in her direction.

When she had first seen him in there had been a different look in his eyes. But within seconds that had changed, once he had reached the doors he looked once more in her direction and then left.

Even though she was having a good time with Dean, Ginny felt she needed to go and talk to Draco.
She excused herself to Dean and then made her way out the doors, if she hurried she could catch him.

Ginny walked out into the entrance hall and saw Draco's back, she wanted to call out to him but the saw him go up the stairs instead of going down the hall towards the dungeons.

She followed him at a small distance making sure she made no sound as she did.

At the door off the room of requirement she saw him pause with his hand on the handle, then he pushed the door open and disappeared inside.

Ginny followed, when she stood in front off the door she wondered what was going on.

Since before Christmas they had been friends right? Or at least she thought they had been.

They had stopped early exchange of the room as an excuse to meet.

They had talked about so many things that she knew him pretty well now or at least she thought so.

She shook her head and entered the room, in the light off the fire she saw him sitting on the sofa.
She knew he had heard the door but he did not look up, not until she stood next to the sofa.

"Hi, you were not having fun with Pansy?" She asked sitting down.
Draco looked at her for a second. "Not really but you seemed to be enjoying yourself enough."
Ginny raised her eyebrows, something in the tone off his voice had made the hairs in the back off her neck stand up.
"Yes I was having a good time, but it was kind off undermined by certain people looking at me like I was committing a crime." She sneered back at him.

His eyes shot up and he looked at her but did not say a word.

"What is the big problem with me having fun with my friends?" Ginny continued. "You were having fun with your friends."
"Oh yes I was having a world off fun." Draco said sarcastically. "And you hanging out with your brother, Potter and Granger wasn't the problem." He turned from her and stared back into the fire.

"Then what is the problem? Obviously something was bugging you downstairs? You can tell me you know, we are friends you can tell me anything." Ginny tried again.

"There was no problem!" Draco got up and took two steps.
"You are not being honest, there is something bothering you, something about me! And I would appreciate it if you told me." Ginny said walking to him and facing him again.

"Nothing." Draco said through clenched teeth, he wasn't supposed to say it! The things he was thinking or the things he wanted to do were not supposed to be in his head.

Ginny felt frustrated at his un-reluctance to tell her what bothered him.

'You know what? I don't care, if you want to be up her sulking like a small child then do so! I will go down stairs and go back to the ball." She turned on her heels and started to walk towards the door.

"Right go back to Dean!" Draco hissed.

"What?" Ginny asked slowly turning.

"That is where you want to be don't you? In Dean Thomas' arms dancing and laughing with him. Much better then being here with me." Draco said no unable to stop the flow of words that had come streaming our of his mind and towards his mouth.

"Draco I like spending time with you, you are my friend." Ginny said looking at him not knowing what to think.

'Yeah well maybe I don't want to be your friend anymore." Draco said as he advanced on her.

Ginny slowly walked backwards as he came closer, but she was stopped by the door against her back. "What do you mean by that?"

Now face to face with Draco Ginny looked at him, his eyes were no longer that silvery grey set of pools. They were now flashing and there seemed to be golden sparks flying across them.

Draco looked at her, she could not go anywhere, he might as well let his thoughts do all the leading. He had said to much already.

"I mean that I can no longer be your friend." He said calmly.

"Why not? What did I do?" Ginny asked not looking away from him, she felt a deep feeling of sadness crawl into her chest. "I thought we were friends?" She said trying to swallow the lump in her throat.

Draco kept looking at her he noticed the glaze of water creeping over her eyes and he felt a sting of guilt in his gut.

Slowly he raised his hand, letting it creep up to her shoulder and caress the strand of hair that was lying there.

He could feel her breath pass his cheek and it somehow made his stomach go tighter then it had already been.

"I can't be your friend anymore……" Draco stared as he looked at her, his fingers now wound with the stand of hair. "Because I want to be more then that." It had come out like a whisper, a soft movement of air from between his lips.

Before he allowed time to pass, before Ginny could full well process his last words he leant forward and kissed her.

Surprised as she was by his action Ginny could feel warmth creep up from her toes, it filed her all over like the cold potion her mother would whip up for her in winter.

Slowly she allowed herself and Draco to get deeper emerged in the kiss.