Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or his magical world.

-----------------Chapter 16: Are you Jealous Now?

Although the ball had only been announced the night before, there was an increase in excitement around Hogwarts. As it always was for this type of event, there seemed an abundance of giggly girls and nervous boys around the school. All of the commotion made Draco nauseous. That and the fact that he was going to ask Ginny to the ball the next time he saw her. He didn't know quite why he was nervous about that, since no girl could resist his charm and winning looks. Perhaps the reason he felt nauseous at the prospect of asking her was that he was betraying her, but Draco dismissed that thought quickly. He refused to feel any guilt; the whole ordeal was strictly business and it was not his fault if Ginny didn't realize it.

Draco saw Ginny walking down to lunch with Creevy. He quickly strode up to her.

"I need to talk to you," he said.

"Alright."

"Alone, " Draco added, eyeing Creevy distastefully.

"I'll see you in a minute, Colin," Ginny said as he walked off. Then she turned to Draco with a warm smile, "Yes?"

"Would you give me the pleasure of escorting you to the ball?" he said smoothly, despite the erratic beating of his heart. He saw her smile falter. This was not good.

"I am very sorry, Draco. I cannot give you that pleasure," she said, with a slight tinge of what was either pity or sadness.

"Potter?" he almost snarled.

"I am afraid he was too late, also."

"What? Who are you going with then?"

"Colin."

"You're going with Creevy?"

"Yes."

"Oh," said Draco feeling increasingly stupid.

"I can save you a dance though."

Draco considered this and realized that it would work for his task. "Alright, is a little before ten o'clock fine with you?"

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"I believe so," she said calmly, how she was that calm was a mystery to her. Draco Malfoy had asked her to the ball. Draco-bloody-Malfoy. She was shocked; she had to try very hard to cover it up. She was a bit disappointed that she had to decline, but she knew it would have been harder to have to ditch Colin, which she would never do to her best friend. She knew he would not mind if she saved a few dances with others; in fact, he was as well.

"Good, then," said Draco. "Would you like to work on Potions work with me tomorrow?"

"I would love to," she smiled, captivated by his enchanting silver eyes.

"Meet me in the library at seven?"

"Okay."

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Draco walked off with an odd feeling in his gut. He was disappointed, but then again her going with someone else didn't jeopardize his task. Plus, he would get to spend sometime with her the next day.

The whole rest of the day Draco received many offers from girl wanting to go with him to the ball. He was painstakingly picky. Thoughts like 'too tall' or 'not pretty enough' ran through his head. Sometimes he found himself even thinking things like 'eye brows are not even enough.' Yet, the main thing that was in the back of his mind was 'not Ginny.' He ended up turning down every single girl who asked him that day.

The next day went by too slowly for Draco. He was very anxious about his meeting with Ginny. As he walked to the library, he saw Ginny and Potter talking down the hallway. He was fuming. Just then a pretty sixth year Slytherin, Elise Bole, came up to him.

"Draco, will you go to the ball with me?" she asked tossing her hair and smiling.

"Sure, " said Draco sending a glare towards Ginny and Potter.

"Great. What color are your dress robes?"

"Dark blue. Why do you ask?"

"Color coordinating, silly!"

"Oh, yes of course."

"Mine are pink and blue, so it will work nicely."

"That's great," Draco said cringing; he hated pink.

Draco talked to Elise for a while longer. It wasn't that he wanted to, but she was rather hard to get away from. The pleasant part of his conversation with Elise was that he now had a date with a very attractive girl to the ball. He ended up being fifteen minutes late meeting Ginny.

"Nice of you to show up," Ginny said eyeing him.

"I got into a conversation that was hard to get out of."

"Ah," she said smiling.

"I did get a date for the ball though," said Draco hoping to find an envious look upon her face.

"That's great. With who?"

"Elise Bole."

"Nice, she is pretty," said Ginny cheerfully. Draco heart sank a bit, but he pretended to even himself that it didn't.

"Yes and she is quite a conversationalist also."

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"Yes, I know. I have charms with her," said Ginny frowning slightly. She knew she shouldn't be, but for some reason, she felt slightly jealous that Draco was taking Elise Bole. Ginny did her best to ignore those feelings.

The studying went accompanied by very little chatter. For some reason or another, there was an awkwardness between them. Ginny was just about to break the uneasy silence when someone walked up. Actually, three someones walked up.

"GINNY!" Ginny felt like slinking under the table. Her brother was not going to take the scene in front of him well. Neither was Harry, for that matter. Hermoine was bound to be a bit more reasonable.

"What are you doing with Malfoy?" said Ron with venom, with Harry backing him up.

"Studying. Just because you are too daft to open a book, doesn't mean we all are," sneered Malfoy. Ron made threatening movements toward Draco, but Hermoine restrained him. Ginny took the opportunity to kick Draco under the table.

"Ron, he is not worth getting mad at," said Hermoine turning to leave with Ron following in suit.

"Come on, Ginny," said Harry. She did not follow. "Aren't you coming?"

"No, I am studying," replied Ginny coolly.

"I know, you can study with us."

"Thank you for the offer, but I am studying with Draco."

Harry turned a bit pink. "Why would you study with him? He is just a arrogant prat, just like his bastard father."

Before Ginny had time to react, Draco had thrown himself into Harry. Ginny wasn't quite sure of what to do as she looked down at the two brawling boys, who were throwing fists and insults at each other. Ginny glared down at them. She marched over, grabbed each of them by the ear, and dragged them off each other. By this time, they had developed spectators and Ron and Hermoine had come to find Harry.

"That's enough!" she Ginny sharply, as Draco and Harry rubbed their sore ears. "What is wrong with both of you? You are acting like delinquent children, and in your case, it is not proper behavior. Both of you need to apologize to each other, right now!"

"Why would I apologize to Potty—" started Draco, but he did not get to finish; Ginny had stomped on his foot.

"Apologize. Now."

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Harry was quite surprised. Ginny was more like Mrs. Weasley than he had thought.

"Sorry, Potter," said Malfoy. Harry was amazed. He did not think that Malfoy had ever apologized in his life. Furthermore, he had apologized at the will of a Weasley.

"Yeah, sorry, Malfoy," said Harry frowning.

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Potter had apologized and then turned to leave. Ginny had already sat down to continue studying.

"You put one finger on her, you will wish you had never even came to Hogwarts," said the Hairy Potter as he left. Draco just laughed; this threat meant nothing to him. Draco went and sat back down across from Ginny. She didn't look up, nor did she say a word to him.

"Look, I am sorry. I let my temper get away from me," said Draco, thinking that he had never apologized so much in his life. Ginny gave him a hard look, but it softened quickly.

"I am sorry, too, for Harry's behavior. He is about to get the silent treatment."

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A/N: Well, that would be Chapter 16. Thanks you to everyone reading and a special thank you to: ice princess grl, louey31, hazelburger, and SonMina! I really appriciate the reviews!

--Perplexity