A/N
January
"Doesn't it seem odd to you?" Seamus asked as Harry and Hermione walked off for some alone time.
"No." Ron shrugged but you could see he was holding something back.
"I mean it's been just you three forever now but," Seamus started, "Now it's Harry and Hermione…and Ron."
"Seamus leave it okay?" Ron pleaded.
"So it does bug you…" Seamus smirked.
"Oi Lavender!" Ron called going over to her.
"Hi." She sad shyly almost looking pleased to see him (he had gotten quite sexy).
'You want to do something tomorrow?" Ron asked, "In Hogsmeade."
"Like a date?" Lavender asked.
"Ya like a date." Ron agreed.
"Sure." Lavender smiled rushing away to Pavarti…all that could be heard was their squeals of excitement and he knew everyone would know by the morning.
"See you in the morning then!" Ron called walking back to Seamus.
"Wow." Seamus nodded appreciatively.
"I'm not alone." Ron shrugged indifferently going up to the boys room.
"Ronald Weasley is officially on the rebound." Ginny announced to the whole common room before leaving to meet Draco. The sounds of the Gryffindors laughter filled her ears as she walked away. Her and Draco were meeting by the lake, he wanted to show her something.
"Hello Ferret." Ginny said reaching the entrance hall.
"Red, let's go." Draco smiled she was early and had caught up to him by the door instead of their arranged meeting place he had been hoping for that.
"What did you want to show me?" Ginny asked.
"You'll see." Draco led her by the arm to the lake.
"Oh Draco…" Ginny sighed.
--
The night sky was an inky black and the stars were like gleaming fairies. Ginny stared up and wondered what was going to happen. Draco muttered an incantation and something can flying toward them. Ginny watched as a broom flew into Draco's hand. "Draco, what's going on?" Ginny asked.
"You'll see," Draco grinned. He lifted Ginny gracefully onto the hovering broom and got on himself.
"Are we leaving the grounds? Oh Draco we can't! We'll get in so much trouble," Ginny said worriedly.
"Don't worry. I talked to Dumbledore," Draco told her and felt her body stiffen, "I asked him not to tell anybody and he agreed. Plus Harry and Hermione are covering for you."
"You really have this all figured out don't you?" Ginny smiled.
"Well we better get going or we'll be late," Draco kicked off the ground and they sped into the night.
"Can't you give me a tiny hint?" Ginny yelled over the whirling wind.
"No way," Draco laughed and sped up the broom. After 15 minutes of flying, Draco landed the broom in front of a fancy café. Ginny stared wide-eyed at the tiny building glittering with lights.
"Draco," Ginny whispered taking his hand, "I can't go in there. I don't have anything to wear."
"I already thought of that. See that little store?" Draco asked pointing to another small shop with a window full of dresses, "Knock on the door three times, pause, and then knock three times again. A woman will answer the door and let you in to choose a dress and change. Meet back here in half an hour."
Ginny smiled up at Draco, squeezed his hand and walked over to the door. Ginny knocked three times, paused and knocked three times again. A woman, about the age of 40 answered the door. Her hair was a golden blond with wisps of grey. Her face was pale in the moonlight but lined with knowledge. Grabbing Ginny's hand with her own pale, worn one, the woman pulled her into the shop. Not speaking a word, the woman pulled out her wand and began making sweeping motions. Fabric can flying from every direction and wrapped around Ginny's body. They would stay for a moment but the woman would shake her head and they would fly back to their shelves. Suddenly the woman ran to the back of the room, opened a closet and pulled out what looked like a dress. Ginny craned her neck to try and see around the woman. The woman turned around quickly and walked towards her. "Try this on in there," the woman said quickly pointing to a dressing room. Ginny took the dress and opened the door. Changing as quickly as she could, Ginny stepped out a few moments later and stepped in front of the mirror. Ginny gasped at the beauty of it. The dress was a Flower Child Green, strapless with tiny yellow flowers encircling the bottom and all over the top. The woman brought out a matching shawl and purse. The woman flicked her wand and green shoes appeared on Ginny's bare feet. (A/N To see the dress visit http/ Ginny looked outside and noticed that it had started to snow. Apparently the woman had noticed that too. Muttering a spell, the woman once again flicked her wand at Ginny. Ginny suddenly felt as though she had stepped into a hot bath. Warmth trickled over ever bit of her body. The woman grabbed her hand and pulled her to the door. "You can keep the dress. Someone has paid for a dress and that one suits you. Come back to retrieve you're other clothes," and with that Ginny was pushed out the door. Puzzled beyond belief, Ginny saw Draco standing outside the café. Running over as fast as she could, Ginny noticed that none of the snow came close to her and that, even though the temperature was in the negative 20s. Draco looked amazed, took her hand and lead her into the café. Ginny finally realised that this was going to be the best night of her life.
--
"I wonder how Ginny and Draco are doing." Hermione said thoughtfully as Harry and herself lay on a couch in the Room of Requirements.
"They're fine, I'm sure she's enjoying herself." Harry said playing with Hermione's hair lovingly.
"Ow." Hermione swatted his hand away as he pulled on a strand.
"Sorry." Harry apologized smiling slightly, she was so cute.
"Mmm." Hermione rolled over yawning and burying her head in his chest.
"You tired?" Harry asked rubbing her back.
"Mmm Hmm." Hermione nodded.
"You want to go back to the tower?" Harry asked.
"Ginny gets to stay up late with Draco…why don't you want to stay up late with me?" Hermione pouted.
"I thought you were tired?" Harry asked.
"I am." Hermione agreed, "But I don't want to leave."
"Fine, try and sleep, though." Harry ordered.
"'Night." Hermione yawned kissing him lightly.
"Goodnight." Harry kissed her back and soon all thoughts of sleep were forgotten. Back at the café Draco and Ginny were just enjoying a dessert of cappuccinos and biscotti after their wonderful dinner. A three course meal that was served piece by piece and only when they were done the course they were eating was the next one served. The service was quite incredible and the café was gorgeous.
"I suppose we have to go back sometime." Ginny sighed taking a sip of her drink.
"Not quite yet, there's something else." Draco smiled, "But you need to get changed back into your other clothes first so we can go."
"Oh Draco this is too much." Ginny said looking at him happily.
"Not for you it isn't now go, Red and hurry." Draco smiled teasingly.
"Yes, sir." Ginny saluted.
--
"What time did you get back last night?" Hermione asked a sleepy Ginny the next morning at breakfast.
"I don't know," Ginny mumbled, "Around 3am. But I'm just guessing."
"Cool. What did you do?" Hermione asked taking a sip of coffee.
"Will you let me wake up first?" Ginny poured herself a huge cup of coffee.
Hermione laughed and went back to reading the morning paper. Half an hour and four cups of coffee later, Ginny told Hermione every detail and showed her the dress that she wore. "It's so beautiful Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed, "The seventh years are having a graduation ball this year. When he asks you to go with him, you should wear that."
"Oh I'm really hoping he'll ask me," Ginny blushed.
"Well why wouldn't he?" Hermione questioned.
"Well what do you think his parents and my parents would think if we showed up together," Ginny explained, "I know for sure his parents would murder him on the spot. I'm foul to his parents. Mione, you've met them and you know what they're like."
Tears were running down her face. "Do you think he and I will last? Honestly," Ginny was crying harder now.
Hermione pulled her best friend into a hug. "If he loves you he won't care where you came from. I mean he seems to be accepting me, slowly, but he doesn't call me a Mudblood any more. Gin, I think that he really loves you."
"Really?" Ginny wiped her eyes, "Oh I was being silly. The end of the year is so far away. I should be thinking about now."
"If this really means something to you, then you should talk to him Ginny. Don't roll your eyes at me, it's true you should," Hermione flung an arm around her, "Now, I'll tell you what I did last night…"
--
"Wait stop..." Ginny pushed Draco away as he went to kiss her again.
"What's wrong?" Draco asked brushing a stray strand of hair out of her eyes.
"Nothing. Never mind. Forget it." Ginny kissed him again.
"Ginny, stop. What's wrong?" Draco repeated holding her shoulders tightly so she couldn't kiss him again.
"It's just..." Ginny started.
"Yes?" Draco urged.
"I know my parents aren't going to like this and I'm sure yours won't either so...what if we don't last?" Ginny asked hurriedly avoiding his gaze.
"Oh Ginny, listen I don't give a damn what my parents want or think, if I did I'd probably be a death eater by now so I won't let what they say break us up...not now and not later. I know your parents are important to you and I'm hoping that together we can show them that I'm not all that bad." Draco told her sitting down against the tree they were standing near pulling her down with him.
"Draco how do you..." Ginny started but he interrupted her.
"Always know what you need to hear? Because I'm a guy and that's what we do. Besides I was having the exact same worries last night when I was thinking about asking you to the dance at the end of the year." Draco explained.
"That's exactly how I got thinking about this. Hermione said I should wear the dress from last night if you asked me to go and I said I didn't know if you'd ask me and I've been freaking out ever since." Ginny confessed.
"Well let's solve that problem right now. Ginny?" Draco started.
"Yes?" Ginny asked nervously.
"Will you go to the graduation dance with me?" Draco finished smiling at her.
Ginny kissed him and assuming that was a yes he kissed her back all worries and troubles were forgotten.
--
Hermione packed up her things for potions and shoved her books in her bag. Draco stayed behind to talk to Snape. Telling Harry and Ron that she would see them in class, Hermione waited outside the door for Draco to come out. The dungeon door flew open five minutes later and Draco came out. "Hi," Hermione greeted, "Don't worry there's nobody here but me."
"What's up?" Draco asked relaxing.
"I assume that Ginny talked to you," Hermione said eyeing him.
"Yes and we sorted everything out. I'm not just going to drop her Hermione. I love her," Draco answered. Hermione could see it in his eyes that he wasn't lying.
"When are you going to tell Ron?" Hermione continued to question.
Draco ran a hand through his hair. "I'm really not sure. Ginny and I haven't talked about that yet. You know how angry Ron can get."
Hermione laughed. "Okay. I'll see you later Draco. Gotta get to class."
Hermione ran to History of Magic and slipped in unnoticed between Ron and Harry. "Where were you?" Ron asked, "I had to take notes for five whole minutes. Now that you're here I can relax."
Ron shoved his quill and parchment into his bag and kicked up his feet. Hermione rolled her eyes and took out parchment and quill. "So...where were you?" Harry whispered.
Hermione eyed Ron who was staring across the room at Lavender and Pavarti. Hermione turned back to Harry. Keeping her voice low so Ron wouldn't hear her, Hermione told Harry word for word what was said. When Hermione was finished Harry said, "Draco is right you know. Ron can get pretty angry. Remember when he first found out we were going out. Now imagine that times two."
Hermione thought about it. Smiling she answered, "Then we have to keep Draco as far away from Ron when he finds out."
"Ginny too," Harry chuckled, "Ron might lock her in his room so that he can keep an eye on her."
Hermione giggled and went back to taking notes, hoping that Ron would find out the right way.
--
"Ron you went out with Lavender?" Harry asked up in the dormitories that night.
"What are you jealous or something?" Ron asked angry all of the sudden.
"No I was just wondering. I thought maybe it was a rumor." Harry explained himself.
"Well it's not." Ron asked.
"Well maybe the four of us can go to the next Hogsmeade trip." Harry said, "You've got Lavender and I've got Hermione."
"No! Stay out. This is mine. Not ours for once it isn't the trio it's you and Hermione and me and Lavender. Back off." Ron yelled.
"Sorry. Didn't know you were so touchy." Harry laughed quietly to himself before going to sit down next to Hermione in the common room.
"Well it's true." Harry told her.
"Oh my god." Hermione laughed, "He's on the rebound from a relationship that never existed it's a new level of pathetic-ness." Hermione smiled at Harry.
--
"I've got to tell him." Ginny said, "I'm dying here, I can't keep this from him."
"You've done well so far, I don't think it's the best idea right now." Hermione told her.
"But Mione it's killing me." Ginny whispered dejectedly sitting down against the wall.
"Gin...he just went out with Lavender Brown he's obviously not very sane right now so maybe it's not a good time." Hermione explained.
"It's not like I killed someone...I'm just dating..." Ginny started.
"His worst enemy, the guy who's made his life miserable for the past 7 years and a slytherin. But no I agree he won't overreact." Hermione said sarcastically.
"Touché but Hermione you're so not helping." Ginny whined.
"Sorry Gin." Hermione put a comforting hand on Ginny's shoulder.
"That's alright." Ginny looked down at the ground sadly.
"Maybe you could tell him." Hermione said quietly.
"I don't know maybe your right." Ginny said in a small voice.
"Wait a bit maybe." Hermione suggested.
"But for now there's no way he can find out. Ron must not know." Ginny said firmly.
"Know what?" Ron asked coming up to them.
"Umm." Ginny froze looking up at her older brother. Suddenly realizing that his 6'2" frame would tower over Draco's smaller 5'7" height.
"Ron..." Hermione started.
"What it can't be that bad? It's not like your dying or dating Malfoy is it?" Ron asked laughing.
Ginny choked. He had hit it right on the nose and that couldn't be good.
"No way..." Ron said looking between the two.
"Ron please." Hermione said.
"I'll kick his ass!" Ron yelled angrily running off.
--
"Oh my God…oh my God…oh my God…" Ginny hyperventilated.
Hermione patted Ginny's back as she rocked back and forth on a chair facing the Gryffindor fire. Tears were starting to form in her eyes and fall down her face. "What is he going to do to him?" Ginny sobbed.
"I don't know. Harry went after him and if you let me go I'll go and help him," Hermione said staring down at where Ginny held onto her wrist.
"Oh…ok," Ginny stuttered, letting go of Hermione's wrist.
Hermione ran out of the common room and went to search for the boys. Hermione suspected that they would be down by the dungeons as that was where the Slytherin house was. Her feet thumped against the hard stone of the dungeon path as she made her way down. Suddenly she heard voices, but mostly she heard Ron's. "What did you do to her! WHAT!" Ron's voice echoed off the chamber walls.
Hermione ran harder then ever. When she turned the last corner she saw that Draco was pushed up against the wall by Ron, his feet dangling a few inches off the floor. Harry was trying to tug Ron's arms away from Draco, but had no success so far. "RONALD WEASLEY! What do you think you're doing?" Hermione's hair seemed to stand on end with anger. Ron immediately dropped Draco, who grasped his throat massaging it roughly. Ron's eyes, which had been full of fear, where now showing anger.
"What are you going to do? Defend him? After all the things he's done to you? To Harry? TO ME?" Ron yelled angrily.
"Oh you wait, you just wait!" Hermione snapped her head toward Harry, who was now helping Draco up. He also looked scared at what was coming. "Go get Ginny."
Harry immediately got up and ran toward the Gryffindor tower. Ron got even more angry after what Hermione had said. "Why is he going to get her? What is she going to do? She's my little sister!" Ron yelled at Hermione.
"In case you haven't noticed Ron, your sister has grown up. She can handle her own problems without you hovering over her!" Hermione yelled back. On the floor, Draco was frozen with fear of the conversation. Suddenly Hermione heard people approaching. She turned around to find Ginny and Harry. Ginny's face was no longer covered in tears. Her eyes flashed angrily at Ron as she ran over to Draco and kissed him. Ron stood frozen for a second before walking over to Ginny.
"Don't you dare do anything to him or me ever again!" Ginny yelled pulling out her wand, "Just because you're my brother doesn't mean that I can't hex you for hurting my boyfriend."
Ron backed away and began to walk out. Suddenly he stopped and turned around. "Mom will be hearing about this," he hissed and walked away.
Ginny's eyes filled with fear but she quickly turned away so nobody could see. She then helped Draco up and escorted him to the Hospital Wing. Harry and Hermione walked up to Gryffindor Tower, luckily not encountering Ron. When they reached the common room, Hermione burst into tears. She buried her face in Harry's chest as he picked her up and brought her to the couch. They sat there and watched the fire, Hermione eventually calming down. Hopefully Ron had calmed down too and would not send an owl to Mrs. Weasley. Tomorrow they would find out.