"Hello Weasely."

Ginny tried to keep her face compassionate, but failed, so she settled with disgusted.

"Malfoy." She said, nodding her head in his direction.

"Care to join me?"

Ginny almost choked. In fact, she was so surprised she didn't immediately reply with a snort and a "fuck off".

"Right." Malfoy drew up a stool in front of him with his wand.

Very reluctantly Ginny sat down, still looking like she'd rather be facing a mountain troll than drinking hot chocolate with Draco Malfoy.

"Okay, what's the deal Malfoy?" Ginny asked after about 3 minutes of him not criticizing her.

He looked up confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Why are you being so… creepy?"

"Polite equals creepy?" He asked rather icily, in Ginny's opinion.

"In your case, yes."

Now he looked slightly hurt. "Listen just because I'm not sneering down at you, it doesn't mean you have to jump to rather harsh conclusions."

"What are you trying to say Malfoy? You've finally learnt some manners?"

Now he looked mad. "No. I am trying to apologise for being so horrid. It's just… it's my dad. You don't know what it's like, being around him."

"No, I don't and thank God for that."

"He's not always horrid you know."

"Yeah? Somehow I find that very hard to believe."

"Can't you just accept that I'm trying to be nice here? That I don't want to be my dad? That I hate him for who he is, and that ever since I was a little boy he counts on me following in his footsteps and being a death eater? Can't you realise that I don't want to be mean? That I want to have normal friends? That I hate being stuck in Slytherin, and being looked down on by all the teachers excepting Snape, who my dad is very well acquainted with? That I-"

He stopped in mid-rant when he realised what he was saying. He looked at her disgustedly. "I wouldn't expect that you know what it feels like. You're just a wretched little girl. A cold hearted bitch.

And without another thought, he stood up and fled, not once looking at Ginny who was staring at him as if he had just grown another head.

-----

Ginny sat there in shock for a whole 3 minutes. All the house elves were staring at the door, from which he had just escaped.

Numbly, she reached for her hot chocolate and took a sip. Instantly she felt a little better.

She set her mug down. Her thoughts were too mixed to think about how Malfoy must feel. Still in shock she thanked Dobby and promised to visit him soon, dazedly walked back up to the Gryffindor common room, climbed the stairs to her dormitory, changed and got into bed. She managed to spare a couple seconds thought before rolling over, and falling into a deep sleep.

-----

The sleepy red head sat up resignedly, and rubbed her eyes tiredly. Checking the time, she was satisfied to see that she still had enough time to shower before dressing and making it down to the great hall for breakfast. She stumbled, still sleepily, into the bathroom, and brushed her hair before stepping into the shower.

Hermione had been amazed once that the showers heated up instantly. Apparently muggle showers were first cold, and then eventually got warm. And you had to turn knobs. Poor muggles. She thought. It's so much easier just stepping in and once the doors are closed water spouts from all directions. Hermione had loved taking showers in her first year, she'd confided in Ginny. Ginny had always thought Hermione was slightly mental, but then again, she'd never been introduced to muggle life, so she guessed she couldn't exactly fairly call her that.

10 minutes later Ginny was dressed, and stepping out of the portrait hole, and walking in the direction of the owelry. She'd been thinking about Malfoy, while under the shower, something she'd rather not experience again, and came to the conclusion that she should at least apologise to him. Much as she disliked him, she had been rather rude, and he had looked rather upset about something she was sure wasn't entirely her fault, but she still played a part in it.

She took out a piece of parchment and scribbled a note down hastily.

Malfoy;

Sorry about yesterday if I offended you.

Dobby says hello.

- Weasely.

She attached it to the nearest owl's leg, and watched it take off. Satisfied, she made her way down to the great hall, sat down across from Hermione, and helped herself to some sausages.

She looked up at the sky, which looked even stormier than the day before.

"Lovely weather isn't it?"

Hermione looked up at the ceiling. "Splendid. Let's hope Malfoy gets knocked off his broom."

Ginny grinned. "Lets."

"Oh, have I told you? Derek plays quidditch. Beater. Don't you think it would be the perfect solution for him to get knocked off his broom too, so you have an excuse to visit him in the hospital wing?"

"No! I mean, yeah okay I want an excuse to be near him, but I'd rather not see him hurt!"

"See who hurt?"

Harry asked, sidling up to the table and sitting down next to Ginny.

"No one." Ginny hastened to assure him. Luckily he wasn't able to peruse the question since the mail had arrived.

Ginny watched in surprise as a brown owl soared towards her, and dropped a package in her lap. Shortly after, another owl dropped a letter into her (now thankfully) empty plate.

She first opened the parcel. It was cylinder shaped, and felt rather cold. She wondered what it was. Ripping the paper, she looked down at it and smiled secretively. Fanta. She looked over at Derek who had been watching her and mouthed 'thank you.' He grinned at her. She felt butterflies in her stomach, and quickly turned to the envelope before she managed to throw up.

Weasely,

Sorry for being a total ass hole jerk.

- Malfoy.

Ginny gaped open mouthed at the note. Malfoy was apologising to her? Malfoy? As in Malfoy, Draco Malfoy?

This could not be happening. She crumpled the letter and stuffed it in her book bag. All of a sudden, she didn't feel so hungry any more. She picked up her bag, muttered something about forgetting something in the common room, and fled the hall.

Well, it was her fault. She mused, while trudging up a flight of stairs. She had apologised to him before. So she couldn't blame it all on him.

But still… Draco Malfoy apologising… It was nearly as scary as watching Derek being hit by a bludger and thrown off his broom, she decided, 20 minutes later.