It had been a few days since they got Narcissa Malfoy out of her home. Even though Greyback was dead, word had gotten back to Voldemort who had, in response, destroyed everything the Malfoys hadn't brought with them to Hogwarts that night. With his home destroyed, and his mother in grief, Draco had skipped many meals in the Great Hall, and Ginny was curious about how he was fairing in such a new situation.
"I wonder where Malfoy's been." she mused
"Please, who cares? I'm glad he hasn't been coming. Ya know, he hasn't been to many classes, either. Seriously, though, Ginny, I doubt he's even on our side. I can't believe Tonks took you to get his mom --" Harry was ranting, but Ginny didn't mind interrupting
"Harry, honestly. He killed Greyback - I watched him kill the werewolf that almost mauled your classmates. You'd think you'd be grateful! Of course he's on our side, I know you heard that speech Dumbldore gave him in June --"
"How do you know about that?" Harry demanded.
Ginny blushed, and looked down at her breakfast. "He told me - Draco - he told me that night while we were in his room packing up his stuff."
"You went into his room?" Harry asked, flabbergasted. Ginny looked him square in the eye as if he had just asked if Rufus Scrimgeor was still Minister of Magic.
"Of course I did. He needed help packing - Voldemort was going to destroy his house...I don't even know why I'm still here" she said as she rolled her eyes. And with that, she got up and left the table, Harry's mouth hanging open in shock.
As Ginny walked out of breakfast, she wondered where she would go. She'd left all of her friends back at that table, and so she decided to see if she could find Draco - see how he was doing. She decided to take a walk around the grounds. As she headed outside, she crossed her arms to keep warm in the newly brisk October wind. She walked back to the Quidditch Pitch, where she saw a swirl of green flying around in the sky. She sat in the stands watching him whirl around, and she assumed there was a Snitch somewhere that she couldn't pick out. That's why she played Chaser. She was an ok Seeker, but she loved being the one fighting for the quaffle.
As her mind wandered through Quidditch while watching Draco, he began to land. He slowly made his way up to where she was sitting.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, hello to you, too, Draco." She said politely, smiling. He couldn't help but laugh.
"Hi...so what are you doing here?" She smiled and rolled her eyes at his tone.
"I'm just bored. I didn't feel like finishing breakfast, and I don't have class for another few hours, so I thought I'd come see how you and your mom are doing."
"Oh. We're fine." he said. Then he stopped and looked around.
"...that's it? You're fine? I doubt you're fine." He looked at her curiously. She was so matter-of-fact, so sure of herself.
"Ok, so I'm not so good, but what do you want?"
"I want you to be nicer to me. I'm just trying to be nice." She looked at him, and saw him soften a bit.
"What should I say? I mean..."
"You could start with a simple 'thank you'. --she's safe now." Ginny looked at him earnestly, trying to convince him with her eyes that his mother would be safe now, but with that he hardened again.
"I don't need to thank you - you're the idiot who let Greyback get into the castle. He would've killed us all!" Ginny looked down at her feet while he was making this...not-so-subtle remark.
"That's true. I'm really sorry about that..." They sat in an awkward silence for a few minutes, until Ginny got up the nerve to speak again. "So, how's your mom doing? I mean, of course she's not ok, with your dad and all...but is she ready to move again?"
"She's ok, I guess. She's really upset about losing the house and everything, but I think she realizes it could've been worse. So where are you taking her, anyway?"
"Oh, just to one of the houses the Order has cloaked."
"The Order?" That's right, Ginny realized, no one had really explained anything to him. She took a deep breath.
"The Order of the Phoenix. It's sort of...an organized group of people to fight Voldemort." Draco cringed,
"I still can't believe you can say his name. I guess that's part of being in your special group."
"It's not a 'special group'. We just don't want that psycho running around killing everyone, and no offense, but your Aunt Bellatrix doesn't help."
"Yeah...she's a nut." Draco smiled to himself, "So who's part of this Order thing?" She eyed him nervously, not sure whether to tell him or not. "C'mon, I killed a Death Eater. if I saw another one I'd be a goner - theres no one for me to tell." it wasn't much, but it was enough to convince her.
"A bunch of us...well, not me yet - they're all convinced I'm too young - baby of the family and all. But my whole family is - except for Percy, he's a prat. Mad-Eye Moody, Professor Lupin, Tonks - she's the one with pink hair - a few Aurors, a few teachers...there really aren't many of us." Ginny seemed a little discouraged, and Draco felt bad for her.
"Well, i better get going to class. I guess, we'll talk later?" He looked almost hopeful. She knew he wasn't hanging out with his old friends much, but she didn't expect him to want to talk to her again.
"Yeah, I'll see you later." She smiled at him as he got up to leave,
"Oh, and Ginny? ...thanks." he walked off, and she smiled. Someone had finally broken his shell...