"Mora."

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Draco waited with baited breath, for something to happen. He wasn't scared, and his eyes weren't screwed up like Ginny's, but he couldn't deny that he wasn't completely confident that nothing horrible would happen either. His thoughts seemed to be stuck on wondering if Ginny would drag him up to Gryffindor tower risking her reputation if he fainted or got too sick to walk.

Probably not, he thought bitterly. Although, she didn't have a rather dangerous secret which could have her expelled and in Azkaban for two years holding her back either.

Ginny in the mean time, was slowly opening her eyes, and looking at him cautiously. "Are you… are you okay?"

He just remained silent and opened the door wider, nodding his head, gesturing for her to come inside.

She didn't pursue her question however, and he felt slightly put off at that. She could have at least shown a bit more or at least some worry about him. But then realisation struck him, and he knew that this way was best. Slytherins and Gryffindors did not inter act, or act remotely polite or friendly toward each other. It was just like a rule of nature. It could not be changed, and it would not be.

The red haired girl was watching him in the mean time, as if questioningly.

"What?" He snarled at her as she did not look away.

"What can I do to help? Where do we start?"

He glared at her, and she glared back, the venom in her face clear and obvious.

"Look," he said, still glaring at her. "If you are really going to help with this, there will have to be guidelines." When Ginny nodded, he pursued "One, everything will be going my way."

"Unless your way is wrong and I come up with a better idea," Ginny interrupted him.

"Which you won't. Two,"

"Minimal physical contact."

Malfoy glowered at her even more, but his silence showed his agreement.

"Three, when I tell you to shut up, I expect you to shut up. This potion is extremely difficult to brew, and needs a lot of attention and devotion, and if we mess up once, it will fuck up."

"And four, we take turns in bringing stuff."

Draco glanced in her direction again. "Stuff? What are you talking about, stuff?"

Ginny sighed. "Stuff that might come in useful. Books, pamphlets, anything with handy information. And coffee," she added, pulling a large thermos can out of her book bag, and summoning two chipped and faded Mickey Mouse mugs.

She poured herself a steaming mug, and took a gulp. Then she noticed Draco looking at her in disbelief and set her mug down on a nearby sink.

"Oh, right, sorry. D'you want some?"

Draco accepted a cup numbly and nearly scored his throat. He chocked and Ginny laughed. "Sorry, my own recipe, its extra strong, overloaded with caffeine."

Draco nodded through watering eyes. "I'll keep that in mind," he said, and wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve.

"Okay, let's get to work. List of ingredients..."

"What, you haven't started yet?"

Draco glared at her yet again. "No, the book says the water has to boil for a month before being able to add any ingredients, so we have three days to manage to steal powdered unicorn hoof from Snape's private stores. I've already got the lighting beetle shells and the sphinx hair from its mane. The shells go in first, but we only add that in three days, at the moment we have to plan getting the remaining ingredients."

Ginny nodded, reading the list over his shoulder. "Dragons blood… I doubt Snape owns that. Fairy wings... pixy dust… these are all classified B ingredients."

Draco nodded. "Yeah, I know. But I still have 2 months to find a contact, so I guess that's not the most pressing matter. I suppose we could use my invisibility cloak to get into Snapes stores."

"Excuse me?" Ginny said, spluttering. "I am not sharing an invisibility cloak with you. What happened to the minimal physical contact rule?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Look, it's not like we have another choice."

"Yes there is. One of us takes the cloak – preferably me – and the other walks behind, the one with the cloak checking if the coast is clear."

Draco snorted. "If anyone gets the cloak its me. Any other options?"

"Or I could get Fred and George to lend me theirs. Possibly I'd have to steal it because I don't think I'd be able to support any more taunts about me "sneaking off to snog my boyfriend."

Draco chocked once more, his face edging on skin colour. "You told your brothers what?"

Ginny tutted impatiently, and explained, as if talking to the very dim, "No, of course I didn't tell them that. They saw me leave the common room, and obviously since they have no common sense, thought I went off to meet someone, and it doesn't seem very likely that I am going to meet my best friend from another house or something, does it, so it leaves no other option unless I like spending my Saturday afternoons in Snapes dungeons serving detention."

Draco looked at her blankly, his facial expression had remained the same stony look he always wore, although she could tell he was tired, and his disgusting smirk was gone. From this close up, he was actually quite good looking, if he got himself a tan and stopped fixing his hair back with deliberate amounts of magical-ever lasting effect gel.

Ginny wondered if he went to a manicure salon, because his nails, who were now un-doing the latch to his school bag, seemed to be as healthy and as even as hers. His hands also seemed to be made of wax, and Ginny had the suspicion that he carried moisturiser around with him. It didn't seem as if there was anything not perfect about him. She doubted he even had any split hairs.

"Be back here at 3am, on Saturday and with an invisibility cloak, unless you know how to dilluse yourself." He handed her a parcel which she accepted from him numbly, before brushing past her and out the door.

It took Ginny about half a minute to finally comprehend what he had said, and when she did, she let out a splutter of rage. Three in the morning? Three in the bloody morning? He was going to pay.

Stuffing the parcel in her robes without opening it – she would open it in her dormitory, it would be far too risky to open it here because there was always the odd risk that Filch or Snape might catch you – she opened the door a creak and stepped out the bathroom.

She turned right into a passage she knew Derek used to get to his head boy headquarters, as if hoping she might see him. She was sadly mistaken however, when instead of running into Derek, she collided with Malfoy once more.

"For God's sakes Malfoy, you almost gave me a heart attack."

He looked down at her in amusement "am I really that handsome?"

Ginny didn't go red, but contented herself with another glare, and started to walk off again. "I saw you watching me in the bathroom," and Ginny choked.

"Excuse me?"

Now it was Malfoy's turn to be embarrassed. "I meant moaning myrtles bathroom."

Ginny let out a snort. "If you must know, my thoughts were about if you carried moisturiser around with you and if you went to a manicure salon."

Draco was still hurrying to stay in pace with her long strides. "You what? Why?"

Ginny stopped and frowned, then held out her hand. When he didn't get it, she grabbed his hand, and held it out for him. "See, look." She said, trailing her finger over her hand. "No bumps. No dry skin. No nothing."

Malfoy looked at her slowly. "Yeah… so?"

"Herbology. You need strong hands for that. Care of magical creatures, same. Quidditch, splinters and dry or irritated skin. Don't tell me your skin is immune to that."

Draco shrugged. "Maybe it is."

Ginny looked at him, then gave up and sighed. "Never mind. If you don't feel like sharing your skin care secrets with me, I'm fine with that."

She didn't leave however, but instead, leaned against a wall and crossed her arms, and watched as he copied her.

She smiled slightly, and he smiled back. "You're nicer when you're not around the Slytherins," she said quietly, and his smile grew slightly.

"You're okay when you're not in a hateful mood."

Ginny raised her eyebrows and laughed a little. "Hateful mood… I'll remember that."

They stayed leaning against the wall, watching each other for a while, before they heard Snape's rasping voice, as he and Filch passed by the corridor.

"You can't keep it quiet for long Argus, Dumbledore already knows." Draco and Ginny froze, staring at each other in horror.

"I know Severus, but what am I supposed to do? I can't stay here, and you know that."

Ginny started forward, creeping down the corridor, to the sound of the diminishing voices.

"Flee! For God's sake! Minerva will help you, she knows parts of the truth, explain the rest to her-"

Ginny heard Filch moan and she thought he had buried his face in his hands because his voice came out muffled. "I can't tell her! She'll kill me, or at least hate me for the rest of my life."

"How can that matter to you at a time like this, Argus? Minerva will help you, if she really is the person I have learnt to know and trust."

Ginny looked back over her shoulder and saw Malfoy still in the same spot, not moving and watching her, but he didn't look as relaxed as he did about two minutes ago.

"Come on!" She mouthed at him, gesturing with her hand for him to follow her.

He looked rather shocked that she was asking him to creep around the castle with her, but then again, she probably thought he would try to make it all seem like her fault if they got caught.

Slowly, they crept around the corner cautiously, and Draco was alarmed to see that they were tracing Snape's and Filch's previous footsteps. Maybe she was interested in the caretaker's love life, but he most certainly wasn't.

"Weasely, what the hell are you doing?" He hissed, when he was almost sure that Snape and Filch couldn't hear him. Ginny however, ignored him and kept creeping down the corridor, careful to keep a safe distance between them and the slowly disappearing voices.

"Ginny," he said, and grabbed hold of her robes. "I mean it, what the hell are you doing?"

Ginny stopped, and turned around slowly. "Number one," she said, prying his hands off her robes, "minimal physical contact. Number two, we are going down to Snape's dungeons, seeing as how he is gone at the moment, and number three," she said, holding up another finger, "don't call me Ginny."

"Well, what do I call you then?" He asked a little more loudly, now that he was sure Filch and Snape were out of earshot.

"Oh, I don't know? Mud-blood lover? Muggle fanatic? Cheap slut?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "Oh, never mind."

They walked on, occasionally stopping for any un-common noises or approaching footsteps, and were two corridors away from Snape's dungeons when an astounding racket reached their ears.

"Shit." Ginny muttered, and without pausing to think, grabbed Draco's hand and fled down the corridor and into a secret passage, right as peeves banged out of the classroom, laughing manically, and swooping away just in time to avoid Filch and Snape.

"Damn that retched poltergeist!" Filch yelled, stomping away; Snape hurrying behind him, and mending a chair with his wand as he did so.

"That's the final straw. If Dumbledore doesn't get rid of him, I'm resigning!"

"Let's hope peeves stays then," Draco whispered into Ginny's ear, and Ginny nearly shivered as she felt his breath on her neck. Quick as a flash, she let go of Draco's hand, and peeked out behind the enchanted mirror.

Draco had had quite a fright when she pulled him right through it. He wondered how many secret passages she knew around Hogwarts. She had, of course, grown up with the Weasely twins. He sincerely doubted the fact that she didn't know every secret passage way in Hogwarts.

Ginny managed a feeble smile. "Yeah, let's. Although I have a feeling he'll be leaving soon anyway. Well, I got to go, it's already half past midnight… can you imagine that?"

Draco looked down at his watch, which was impossible to read in the dark. "If you say so. So I guess the Saturday 3am plan is still on?"

Ginny looked up at him once more. "Uh, yeah, that's the glitch."

Draco grinned. "Not much of a morning person?"

She shook her head and he smirked. "Too bad," and then without further a do, he was strolling down the corridor in a leisurely fashion, as if he wasn't the least bit worried that it was the middle of the night and there were two very grumpy teachers around.

Ginny gaped after him. "Wait!" And he turned around to face her.

"What?"

"Aren't I supposed to be the one making the witty comment and then I walk away, leaving you gaping and spluttering?" Ginny asked indignantly.

He just raised his eyebrows at her. "All right," he said after a moments thought. "If you've got to be a proud Gryffindor I suppose I can't object."

"You're so obnoxious."

"Okay, can I go now; you've had your cold departure."

Ginny frowned at him and pouted. "No. I want a hug."

He looked down at her coldly. "No way in hell."

Ginny smiled. "Very good! Except once again that was my line."

She held her arms out, and pouted at him.

She's really good at puppy eyes, Draco thought irritated. But I'm not falling for it.

When he made no move to hug her, Ginny let her arms fall. Well… it was worth a try. Kneeing him in the groin would have been satisfactory though.

She was startled however, when instead of walking away, he looked down at her once more, then slowly stepped forwards and hugged her very stiffly indeed.

She was so taken aback, that she couldn't think of anything to do except hug him back awkwardly and try to decide if she should remind him of the minimal physical contact rule – something she noticed annoyed him greatly – or if she should slap him.

She couldn't seem to decide however, and as time trickled by, she found her hold on him tighten, and her head finding his chest. She noticed how he didn't make a move to mover away either, but instead moved closer, wrapping his arms around her properly, instead of holding them in front of him like a porcelain ballerina.

This thought made the youngest Weasely member smile, and she was especially glad that Draco was too busy leaning down to whisper in her ear rather than to notice it.

"I think," Draco said, sending shivers down her spine "that it's time for your dramatic exit."

Ginny grinned up at him, and stepped away.

"I think so too. Good night Draco."

And then with a flick of her long red hair that whipped him in the face, she was gone.

The blonde 17 year old boy watched her retreating form with a shrug and raised eyebrows, before turning on his own heel, and making his way to the Slytherin head quarters, a small smile on his pale face. Little did her know that the person in his thoughts was doing the exact same thing, although she was trying to persuade herself the smile was actually a grimace.

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"There you are!" Fred Weasely exclaimed, the minute the portrait hall swung open and Ginny climbed in through the hole that had formed in the wall. "We were about to send a search party."

"Lucky you didn't then. Well, I'm wrecked. Good night." She said, holding her head high and trying to stalk past her twin brothers.

"Hold on," George said. "Aren't you going to tell us who you were meeting down there?"

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "No, and, what makes you think I was anywhere downstairs? Could have been in the astronomy tower for all you care."

"We'll take that as a confession then?"

The red haired girl rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she muttered and started moving again.

Too bad for her that George was faster, and latched himself on her arm. "Aw come on Gin, it's us. You know you can trust us!"

Ginny gave him a cold look, and he retreated. "Well, okay, we're sorry about that whole green pickled toad business but that was like… 5 years ago…"

"Or you don't have to tell us." Fred said hastily, noticing the murderous looks she was sending his twin. "It really isn't our business. Why don't you go rest Ginny? Yes, that's right. Have a nice long sleep." He added nervously, stumbling for words.

"Why, thank you Fred. I think I will. Good night." And she was gone.

Fred Weasely waited until he was sure she was in her dorm and couldn't hear them. "Didn't pick up on anything unusual then?" He asked his twin hopefully.

George's face was contorted into a confused look. If Fred had been a girl, he might have found it cute.

"Nope. Not unless she likes wearing men's cologne. She smelt a bit like Jeopardy."

Fred's face fell. "You're not considering smelling every single bloke in the school as they pass us are you?"

"Ever heard of the word discrete?"

"It's a very hard to find word in my dictionary. Oh God, here goes our social life."

"Unless of course, those nifty noses aren't as malfunctionate as we thought they were."

Fred grimaced. "I guess it's worth a try."

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Malfuntionate isn't really a word is it? Review please, even if you don't like it. Flames are appreciated!