Chapter 10

Ginny refused to fall asleep that night either, not because of Tom Riddle but because of her close encounter with Malfoy. Who could have possibly ever thought that things could lead this way? Even her amulet couldn't help her, even though she wore it around her neck all the time as a personal sense of security

"God can't I sleep in peace at all!"

She fumbled with the clasp of her pendant and pulled it off, trying to fall asleep again making a promise to herself that the next day she would wear it again

Slytherin 7th Year Dormitory

Draco twisted and turned in his four poster bed trying to get some sleep but every time a certain Weasley just seemed to pop into his head. He needed some definite sleep tonight for the match the next day - Gryffindor versus Slytherin. He would be against the Potter and Weasley and another Weasley, one that never left him in peace.

He turned to face his chest of drawers and pulled out a cloth bag with a silver thread which kept the open neck of the cloth closed.

Flashback

Oh God! The old hag's here again. The twelve year old boy thought to himself

I wonder what's this year another one of the useless ancient artefacts of our family?

He walked over to his ageing grandmother, somehow she reminded him of his headmaster at his school, even though she looked old, she was brisk and carried that energetic aura around her. She was eyeing him as though inspecting him for some reason. She looked at the boy straight in the eye and told him,

"I know what you must be thinking that old hag's back again, well don't worry. I just felt that my grandson deserved something better than an ancient artefact this year."

The boy gulped at his grandmothers words, she wasn't being herself. She handed to him a dark blue velvet pouch with a silver thread, which tied it up. Draco felt disappointed.

That's it? A small bag with an even smaller thing inside it?

Pretending to be enthusiastic he untied the bag and turned it upside down to drop the content in his palm. It was a long, fine chain made out of silver with a striking green stone at the end. He looked up at his grandmother and asked her?

"Is it an emerald?"

She smiled and replied, "Oh no dear, it's much more than that" She got up and kissed the boy on his forehead, as she left the chamber she told him, "When the time comes you will soon find out how valuable it is. As for now I would take a closer look at that if I were you." she said and closed the door behind her.

The boy looked back at the stone to see a silver streak pass through the stone whenever light reflected on it.

End of Flashback

Draco looked at the stone one again and he couldn't help it, however nagging his grandmother was she had given him something he had really appreciated. He desperately pulled the amulet over his head and fell back to sleep hoping he could save some strength he needed for the match the next day.

The next day

"And there you have the Gryffindor team already 20 points ahead of Slytherin after the two goals made by Ginny Weasley and Colin Creevey.! Those two can pair up and really show some great tactics for the opposite team to follow and speaking of the opposite team, I have just seen a green blur, carrying the Quaffle, going past the two red beaters, looks like Kelson to me and launches the Quaffle towards the goalpost and the Gryffindor Keeper, Ron Weasley who dives just in time to save!"

Jennifer Hooch, the first female commentator in Hogwarts had sharp eyes and could give good descriptions of the game, she was said to be a good beater and was a close relative of Madam Hooch but strictly believed in keeping her feet to the ground. Her enthusiasm and good knowledge of Quidditch made her capable of giving good commentary but there were a few drawbacks.

"Creevey just ducked to dodge the bludger knocked towards him by the Slytherin beater and saved himself, and as we're speaking of Creevey, I would very much like to ask him on a date. HEY CREEVEY HOW ABOUT A DATE ON FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE LIBRABY!" she smiled happily as she received thumbs up from Colin.

"Oh dear! And I used to think Lee was worse" Professor McGonagall said shaking her head slowly.

Up in the air Draco was thinking to himself that this was his life's most pathetic game, Gryffindor is 20 points ahead, his best beater missed Creevey and Creevey was asked out by a good looking girl in front of the whole school, he had to take some action and do it his own way.

He turned his broom towards Ginny and headed straight for her, blocking her from Colin and pushing the Quaffle towards his team's chaser. He quickly scanned for Potter who still seemed to be searching for the Snitch, so good that bought him some time.

Once the Slytherin chaser had scored Colin had possession of the Quafflle and leaned straight on broom giving him a lot of speed to cover the distance to the opposite hoops in less time, just as he threw the Quaffle towards the far right hoop, Malfoy came out of nowhere and blocked the quaffle which bounced off his elbow to the his chaser below him. Draco had earlier seen Colin's intentions and raced after him. He dived below Colin, just so that he could pull his broom towards the sky and take off straight up blocking Colin's aim.

"And that's another smart move from the Slytherin seeker, it seems he's looking out for the snitch as well as helping his team-mates…."

Ginny had been watching Draco ever since he had blocked her for the first time. He was using his head but she still hated seeing him get away with it, after all technically he hadn't done anything wrong, he just happened to be there knocking Quaffles to his team-mates. Ginny was determined to stop him if he decided to get to another Quaffle. It was irony as just when the thought crossed her mind she saw Draco speeding towards her direction at the goalpost, diagonally in front of her. As had the advantage as she was ahead of him and turned her broom horizontal to the goalpost and headed towards Malfoy to cut him off his path which would slow him down. She raced ahead and was only a few metres away from him when she heard,

"GINNY! What are you doing!"

Ginny turned to look to her side and saw a furious but startled Harry, she was extremely confused, she replied by saying, "Harry? What happened?"

"Why don't you turn around and look for yourself?"

As soon as she had done that she realised what a big mistake she had done. Malfoy hadn't gone to block someone or reach the Quaffle, he was going to catch the Snitch and she had just got in Harry's way blocking him from the Snitch itself. It was for the first time she had seen Malfoy smile so happily because he had raised the golden Snitch above his head, which was tightly clasped in his hand.

"And the Slytherins have won the match ….."

Ginny felt miserable when her feet reached the ground. She had made the situation much worse for herself. Now everyone on her team was going to blame her for getting in the way and the Slytherins were going to thank her for giving them a memorable victory. She walked into the changing rooms hoping to get changed quickly and get away but came face to face with Ron instead.

"Ginny! What just happened back there?" He grabbed her arm and asked her furiously "You just gave away our game! Were you out of your mind or is there something between you and Malfoy that I don't know about and you're just doing him a favour"

Ginny blinked and stared at her brother disbelievingly. "Ron you're the world's biggest prat and moron I have ever known. What even makes you think that something is going on? I was trying to stop him but I didn't see Harry at all, besides your no one to have a go at me like that, if it is its Harry. First coz he's captain and you are not and second I blocked him and not you and why don't you just go away and leave me alone!"

"I don't care whether or not you saw Harry." Ron's ears were going red, "You just stay away from the rest of the team before they say something to you that you won't like."

"Like you haven't done that already"

"Ginny, I am your elder brother and it's about time you start treating me like one"

"Well you never really gave me a chance did you?"

"Uh… Guys?"

"If you don't stop this attitude of yours I am gonna have to write to mom"

"Awww why Ron haven't you got a better method to cope with me?"

"Guys!"

"No, because whenever I try to say something to you it backfires, I am getting really tired of you now!"

"Isn't that supposed to be my line?"

"GUYS!"

Both Ron and Ginny looked up to see Harry who had ended the conversation successfully with a lot of effort. "I am afraid you two are going to have to do this some other time. Right now both teams have to go to see Madam Hooch for some notices about today's game."

At that line Ron threw Ginny an annoying look and walked out with Harry following him, both of whom didn't look back. On the pitch both teams faced each and Ginny made sure she was a good distance away from Malfoy and faced down.

"Ahem! I am glad that Slytherin has won the game after a long time but the tactics I have seen today are cheap, indirectly cheating and even unusual to some extent. All of you know what I am talking about and get to get my point clear I am going to be very specific. Mr Malfoy you should have stayed looking out for the Snitch. The chasers of your team are able to look after themselves very well. Miss Weasley, you should have stayed in position as well. You should have stayed more alert and looked where you were going. You took an action before thinking and obviously you have had your consequence hurt you and your fellow members. I hope that this will not be repeated in any other Hogwarts game and I will make this clear to the other teams as well. You are all dismissed now"

Ginny stayed back because she didn't want to her any remarks from anyone. She felt miserable more than before and waited until everyone was inside in the castle. She sighed heavily and put her hands in her pocket feeling something cold against her fingers. She picked out her pendant and for the first time realised how dependant she had become on it. Her feelings were being controlled. She needed it not only as a sense of security but it also gave her that confidence that she wouldn't have been to use if she was herself. Her mind was reeling events like a movie projector. First of all the night she wore the pendant, then breaking up with Terry, her confrontation with Malfoy in the Great Hall, slapping him, helping him and eventually ending up kissing him. Most of these events seemed to revolve around Malfoy. Getting angrier by the minute she started blaming Malfoy for everything. It was insane she was being stupid. She clutched her pendant and walked back to the castle.

Draco Malfoy quickly stepped out of the changing rooms. His victory against Gryffindor certainly meant a lot to him and he had to question Weasley as to why she blocked Potter, but he had to be careful not to show his true intentions. He still wanted to play her on the string. He sneaked behind a pillar in front of the castle doors waiting to catch hold of her. The door started opening slowly and he could make out it was her. No mistake in the flaming red hair. She started walking towards the staircase and Draco caught the exact odd expression on her face he had seen the night earlier. Before he could stop himself his curiosity made himself step out of his hiding place and ask her "What wrong?"

Ginny turned around and saw Malfoy. He's really being pathetic now, asking me what's wrong when he knows every bloody detail of it.

"What's wrong Malfoy! Alright I'll tell you what's wrong! It's you and your attitude is what's wrong! Can't you ever leave a person in peace? Does it always have to be smirking, teasing and hurting people all the time? Do you get some pleasure out of it? Because if you do then I was really mistaken in thinking you did it to keep your image but were actually a considerate person.

I now know for sure that you do this because it's become a habit for you, it's a trait in you now Malfoy! Cause harm! Pick out on people's weakness! Then make them look down on themselves!

Have you ever realised how many and how much people hate you because of it? You may be good at Potions but never better than Hermione, you may be good at Quidditch but never better than Harry! Do you know why you have never been able to prove yourself? Because you want things to be done your way by any means, even cheating which you very smartly showed today!

You never want to listen to people, your arrogance, you have an inability to give in to people and the list could go on forever and ever. Malfoy after listening to all of this you should really be ashamed of yourself but I guess there's no point in explaining it to you because you are probably beyond that stage already. But still here's a request. Take it or leave it. Please! Keep away from me for the next 4 detention periods and don't bother talking to me or making a scene while we happen to be at the same place because it will only make matters worse for yourself and I will just ignore you."

Ginny finally relaxed her breathing slowly as she had said so much so quickly and furiously. She turned around and kept walking back to the Gryffindor room not bothering to look back at Malfoy. When she reached her dormitory she opened her drawer and threw her pendant back in, promising herself that from tonight it was just another accessory to her collection.

Authors Note:: I know I have updated it after a very long time and I am really sorry for keeping you waiting. Its holidays for me now, so I can write more often. I have to thank to my recent reviewers because it all to their comments that have encouraged me to get off my back side and continue writing. So thx to all of you sooooo much. I also want to give credit to two of my friends who have helped me immensely with a further plot for the chapters. Siobhan and Wena Thank you Sooooo Much.

U Guys reading this keep reviewing!