Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

-----------------------------Chapter 14: Detentions and Apologies

Ginny was livid. She could not handle being in that closet a second longer with Malfoy the arrogant jerk. He was just like his father. She was so intent on getting out she started to beat down the door. Three blows and she had it knocked off its hinges and she stomped out, right into Argus Filch.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" sneered Filch. "A Weasley and a Malfoy in a closet together. Of all things, this is quite interesting."

Ginny just glared up at Filch, trying to restrain from punching him.

"If it were up to me, I would have you two dangling from the ceiling in one of the dungeons. Fortunately, for you two, Snape will decide your punishments. Come with me."

Ginny and Draco followed Filch. It looked like it was pretty early in the morning, perhaps about four thirty. Along the way to Snape's office, Ginny tried to trip Draco several times. They caught Snape just as he was walking out of his office.

"Professor Snape, I believe you have some punishments to be handing out. I caught these two just now in a closet on the third floor," said Filch.

"Did you, now?" sneered Snape. "A Malfoy and a Weasley in a closet together, at five in the morning. That is quite curious. A weeks detention for both of you. You will start tonight at eight."

Ginny, throwing Malfoy one last look of contempt, stomped up to the Gryffindor common room. She was still furious. She still had two hours until she needed to get up, so she decided to get a little sleep.

--

Ginny woke in a horrible mood. She quickly dressed and walked down to breakfast. Colin, Harry, Ron and Hermoine were all there already.

"Good morning Ginny," said Ron in a cold voice. "Have a good time last night?"

"What are you talking about?" aid Ginny shooting Ron a glare.

"Well you and Malfoy were in a closet together all night." At this Harry stood up abruptly and stalked off. Ginny gave him a funny look before replying.

"How did you know? Also, what is with Harry?"

"The Marauder's Map and you go ask Harry. Also, I demand an explanation."

"Ron, it is none of your business to demand an explanation. If I want to snog Malfoy in a closet all night, it is my business, not yours." Ron paled at this.

"YOU DID WHAT?" he shouted, gaining the attention of many people.

"Ron, calm down, I didn't snog Malfoy. I just said that to prove a point."

"Ginny, I know it is not our business, but could you please tell us before Ronald goes ballistic?" asked Hermoine, shooting Ron a look.

"I went to go get food from the kitchens. On the way back, I ran into Malfoy. Filch was coming. We hid in a closet. The door wouldn't open. I got bored. We talked a while. I asked Malfoy a question. He got touché and insulted me. I slapped him and broke down the door. I ran into Filch. He took us to Snape. Snape gave us a weeks detention. I stomped up to my dormitory and went to sleep. The end."

"That is a relief," said Ron.

"So that is why Malfoy's face has a big reddish purple hand print on it," snickered Colin gesturing to the Slytherin table.

"He deserved it," muttered Ginny.

"I would beat him up for you, but it looks like you did a good enough job already," smiled Ron.

Ginny smiled. "I had better go find Harry."

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Harry sat on the stairs in the Entrance Hall. Malfoy and Ginny together. He could not believe it. He cursed himself for not telling her his feelings sooner. Now it was too late. Harry looked up as someone walked towards him. It was Ginny, looking as good as ever. Harry couldn't look her in the eye.

"What's up, Harry?" she said plopping herself down next to him.

"Why would you do it?" he asked.

"Do what?"

"Snog Malfoy."

Ginny just laughed. She explained what happened to him. Harry felt much better.

"How are thing going…um…you know…with Tom?" Harry asked. He knew Dumbledore was helping her, but he did not know if there had been any improvements.

"He is completely gone," she smiled.

"That is great."

"You're telling me! Well, I'd better get to class, I'll see you later."

"Bye, see you later," said Harry feeling ecstatic.

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Draco had been cursing himself all day. He ruined his plan in a matter of seconds. Not only was he failing at his task, but he also got a week of detention and had the girl that he denied liking furious at him.

"What is with you?" said Blaise, as Draco stabbed his fork into his dinner for the fifth time.

"Nothing," he growled.

"Am I really supposed to believe that after you mutilated your dinner? Also, you had a pretty bad bruise on your face this morning."

Draco did not have time to say his scathing retort. He and Blaise were joined by one of the people Draco really did not want to see right now.

"Drakie! I just heard! Are you all right? Oh, of course you aren't, after being stuck in a closet with that wretched Weasley girl all night!"

Blaise started laughing. "You were stuck in a closet with her all night? If that happened to me I would be happy about it!"

Both Pansy and Draco glared at Blaise. Draco knew what he was getting at, and if things had happened a bit differently, he might have agreed with him. Yet, as things turned out, the comment irritated him.

"I have to go to detention," said Draco, standing up abruptly.

"Okay," said Blaise. "But you are going to tell me what happened last night and what happens this night, or I might have to hex you."

"Right," said Draco stalking off.

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Ginny entered the dungeon for detention wearily. She was sleep deprived and not in the best of moods. She just hoped Malfoy had learned to keep his mouth shut.

"Good evening, Miss Weasley," Snape sneered.

"Good evening, Professor," she muttered.

A few minutes of silence later Malfoy entered the dungeon.

"Good evening, Mr. Malfoy," Snape said more pleasantly than he had said to Ginny. "Tonight you two will be going into the Forbidden Forest to find some Myrtaceae. It is very important in some potions and here is a picture. It can be found near small creeks. Try not to kill each other."

Ginny and Draco walked in silence down to the Forbidden Forest. Although Ginny had only been in the forest once or twice, she was not scared, but she thought that Draco was a bit nervous. It was not that he looked nervous, for she knew he masked his emotions, but she could just tell. Not that she cared anyway.

"Stop."

Ginny turned to look at Draco at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

"What do you want," she said coldly.

Draco seemed to struggle with himself. "I am sorry."

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Ginny gave him a hard look, but didn't say anything, so Draco continued.

"I had not right to say such a thing to you. I really didn't mean it, I was just angry."

"I didn't know Draco Malfoy apologized for anything."

Draco laughed softly. "I normally don't." Draco meant it. He was being utterly un-Malfoyish. He had to for his task, but there was another reason too, a reason he would not admit to himself.

"Then I should apologize too. I am sorry for saying those things to you about your father. However, I did mean what I said."

"Fair enough, but I still would like to know what my father did to earn such a hatred from you."

"You mean besides being a Death Eater?"

"Yes."

"I would suggest that you take that up with him," she said shortly.

"So, do you forgive me?" asked Draco, knowing that his task might rely upon her answer. Despite his nervousness, Draco kept his face of stone.

"I can forgive you, but I cannot forget."

"Fair enough."

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Little by little as the detentions went on, Ginny and Draco became closer. They were almost like friends. They still insulted each other, but it was not particularly mean spirited. Ginny wouldn't admit it to herself, but she was developing a slight crush on Draco. She still thought of him as arrogant and stuck-up, but she realized there was much more to him than he let on.

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A/N: And that would be Chapter 14. Only...about...eight to ten chapter left...I think. That you to everyone for reading. A special thank you to my fifteenth ever reviewer, who happens to have been my 5th..6th...how every many reviewer, ice princess grl! Another special thank you to my fourteenth and sixteenth reviewer louey31!

--Perplexity

PS--I may have mentioned it in the last chapter, but I will type it again. I have now posted the first chapter to my second ever fan fiction, Jungle. It is a Neville/Ginny fiction.