Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything belong to JK Rowling.

Note: Thanks again to everyone who review - This is officially part one of my x-mas present to those who enjoy this fic.

Note 2: I'm tempted to write a sequel to this, once it's done. Everyone, if you would, tell me how you feel about that, and enjoy this in the mean-time.

Beads and Lace

Chapter Three

Part One

The following day was hell on Harry. Scene's from the previous night replayed, fresh in his mind. May times, he received odd looks and questions from his friends. He simply just brushed it off with the lie that he was fine.

How could he let it go so far, his mind kept repeating. He tried looking on the bright side, that nothing extreme went on, but every time he did, the question of 'what if' entered his head. What if he stayed? What if he did go further, like Draco had asked him to? What if Harry didn't leave that night? How would he explain that, not only to Ginny, but to Ron and Hermoine, and his other friends as well? Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"Harry? Harry! Harry, I'm talking to you!" Ginny jabbed him in the rib with her index finger. Her face was red with anger, and she was frowning deeply. Harry muttered a small sorry. Ginny simply sighed and tossed a lock of hair away from her face before speaking "I was asking you if you wanted to go to Lee Jordan's party this weekend."

"Yeah, sure. Are you going?" This earned him a slap on the arm.

"I meant you're going with me! Harry, what is with you, lately? You acting as odd as those freaks." She gestured to where Pansy, Crabbe, and Goyle were huddled together, probably cooking up another scheme for world-domination. Harry realized that Draco wasn't with them. "Harry, what is going on with you?" Ginny asked finally, looking as though she were about to cry. "Don't tell me there's someone else…"

"No! No, it's just…I really don't want to talk about it right now, okay?" the girl bit her lip, as though she were biting back tears, and, being the loving boyfriend he was, Harry reached up and caressed her cheek gently. "Ginny, I promise, the moment I'm ready, I'll tell you. But for right now, just trust me, okay?" Ginny let a single tear slip by as well as a tiny sniffle. Harry kissed her forehead and held her close.

-

"I can't believe it. He was rubbing your leg?" Blaise asked. Draco nodded as he brushed his hair up into a messy ponytail. "And then what happened?" The blonde sighed bitterly.

"He jumped up, knocked me on the floor, and then left. Something about, 'it has to stop' or some such nonsense. Probably started thinking about that red weasel." Blaise chuckled. He could have told Draco it wouldn't be so easy, but why ruin it. Besides, Draco was a big boy, he could handle it.

"So, what's the plan now?" he asked, easing himself up onto the sink. Draco tossed the brush back into his book bag, sighing miserably.

"I'll just have to back track. I think I moved a bit too fast…" he bit his lip gently, deep in thought. Suddenly, realization hit. "Blaise, I have a wonderful idea." Blaise just stared at him, wide-eyed. He really didn't like where this was headed. "Oh, come on, it's simple. All I need you to do is seduce Ginny…"

"Why the hell would I do that?" the brunette shouted, jumping from the sink and glared at his friend. Draco sighed heatedly.

"Because, it's the perfect plan." As Draco proceeded to explain his scheme, Blaise was dreading it more and more and soon only one question was on his mind.

"Draco…what exactly do you have against Ginny Weasley?" the blonde scoffed.

"You've got to be kidding, Blaise. You were there when it happened-"

"No, I know about all that, but something like this, I think, goes way beyond some piss-poor argument. Why do you hate her so much?" Draco just shook his head in response.

"It's nothing that concerns you, trust me. I just really, really hate her."

"Obviously."

"Anyway, are you going to do it or not?" Blaise looked thoughtful for a moment. Should he really hurt a girl who, as far as he knew, didn't do anything completely wrong? Sure, she was a bitch a lot of the time but she could also be really sweet. But, then again, Draco was his best friend.

"Sure, I'll do it. But you owe me big time."

"Of course."

-

Harry sat as far away from Draco as possible during Biology, hoping the blonde didn't so much as look his way. He was still nervous about the events of the previous night, even though he knew he should just get over it. How was he going to get through tonight?

"Penny for your thoughts, Potter?" Snape drawled, suddenly looming over the young man with a none-too-pleasant scowl marring his features.

"N-no, sir."

"Then perhaps you should do as I ask and move to sit with your partner for today's lab." Harry looked around the room for another student who was partner less. Just his luck, it would be Draco Malfoy.

"I guess we're partners, Malfoy. So, what're we doing." Draco smiled at him and handed him a slip of paper.

"We're following these directions. Listen, Harry, can we talk?" Harry had the distinct feeling that he wouldn't like this in the least. "It's about yesterday…you know if I had any idea you'd react that way, I'd have never asked you to it…right?" A few students sitting close enough to hear looked at the two oddly. One of them, one of Ginny's close friends, even leaned over to her partner, whispering something. "I mean, I honestly didn't know that it would make you so uncomfortable." At this point, Harry's face was burning. Draco almost made it sound like they had…

"I was thinking…if you wanted to, you could come over again today and, maybe, we could try it all again?" Draco's silver eyes looked pleading, and the puppy look was Harry's one weakness.

"Um…sure, I guess I can make it. What time?" the raven-haired boy muttered, trying to hide his face from the prying, curious eyes.

"Same time as yesterday?" Draco looked hopeful, biting his lower lip. Harry just sighed and nodded. Something told him that today wasn't going to go as well as he hoped.

Sorry this part is so short, but there's a pretty decent reason. The rest of this chapter takes place after school, and it should be coming soon.