A/N sorry about the mix up, dont know what happened

For the last term they were what one might call friendly acquaintances. She would join him on occasion if he was alone in the library or the grounds, and sometimes they would even talk about things other than school. It was never much, she didn't want to push him too far and he had no inclination to help her.

She even sat with him on the train back to London. He really had no idea what her brother thought of all this, but he didn't ask, that indicated interest. What he found interesting was the feeling in his stomach as he watched her join her family on the platform. He was going to miss her. He, Draco Malfoy, was going to miss her, Ginevra Weasley. He shrugged and found the car waiting for him.

He didn't really have much time to miss her, however, because worrying took up most of his free time. The war was raging thicker than ever. It was ended surprisingly soon, though, and Voldemort was dead before the seventh month had died. Most of the known death eaters were imprisoned, the rest killed. His father was among the latter.

September first found the wizarding world in the middle of trials for suspected death eaters. Not that he had any interest in them. He looked up from his book as the red-head flopped into the seat opposite him on the train. She didn't look very happy.

"Something wrong?" he asked.

"Hm?" she looked at him, "no, not really. Just my brother being an ass, but that's nothing new."

He set his book down, this could be interesting. "What did he do this time?"

She sighed. "You promise you will remember these are his words and let me finish everything before you react?" she looked a little worried.

He frowned slightly. "Sure."

"Well, he wanted to know if I was going to continue my project to fix the bloody little evil ferret."

He raised an eyebrow but remained silent as promised.

"I tried to explain for the millionth time, with Hermione's help, that I do not have a project. That I honestly did not set out to change or fix you in any way. I just stopped hating you and wanted you to know it. I think it's ridiculous to hate someone for no reason at all and that is all we seem to do at school, yeah? Anyway, he threatened to tell Mum and Dad. That's when I told him they were well aware of the fact that I had...become...friends..." she hesitated, unsure of how he react to her calling them that, but continued when his expression didn't change. "They are even proud of me, for some reason. That's when he warned me that I was being a fool and that you are nothing more than a souless clone of your father."

He raised his eyebrow again.

"I told him I think he's pathetic and people like him had as much to do with the war as people like your father, and besides, you're nothing like Lucius." She sat back to indicate he was allowed to react.

"Well..." he didn't really know what to say.

She shrugged. "Feel free to punch him when you see him, I won't care. After what he said about you no one can blame you. I, however, walked away from him and am determined not let his power to effect my mood outstretch his power to make himself heard."

"You'd really let me punch him?" Draco really didn't believe her.

"Yeah. I don't know how you feel about your father, but to me, that last comment warrented it based on the soulless bit alone."

He grinned. When they got to school, he did not take her up on the offer. To him, knowing she would let him was enough retribution. She had sided with a Malfoy over her brother. That was enough to build his interest in the friendship.

If anything, this made the relationship harder for Ginny. It was easy to keep things light and superficial when he didn't care, but now he did. She could see it in his eyes. He cared about her. He was glad she was around. He was happy to see her when she approached him.

The problem was that no matter how much she talked about her family, he never talked about his. She knew he would be reserved, but it didn't make it easier. She couldn't bring herself to ask him anything personal, either. There was just something there, whenever she looked at him with a question on the tip of her tongue she always thought better of it.

They talked about a lot of things now. They discussed the trials, never his father's. They discussed the reconstruction and politics; she learned he didn't really care much about blood purity at all, it just made a rather handy insult is all. They talked about everything from art, music, and literature, to foord, science, and nature. They covered beauty and truth and fear and pain. They talked phislosophy and abstracts as well as deeper meaning of popcorn and peanuts.

She was getting to know him, but she still felt so far away. She knew his favourite color but not his worst fear. She knew his least favourite food but not his best memory. He never used any examples from his own life and he never discussed how he felt. She felt like she was standing on the edge of deep river but her toes just touched the water.

One day he found her sitting by the lake, staring out across it. She didn't turn to face him with a smile as he approached. That was odd. A thoughtful look spread across his features as he sat down beside her. She still didn't turn to face him.

"Red?" he asked tentatively, "everything all right?"

She sighed. "I love sunsets, they are so incredibly beautiful and you'll never see the same one twice."

He turned to face the same direction she was, mimicking her pose, ankles crossed and knees pulled up with her arms wrapped around them.

"You can't reach them, though. No matter how you try or who you are, you simply can't walk in the sunset."

He lowered his head and stared at his knees. "I do trust you."

"I know."

They sat there in silence for a moment.

Looking back up he turned his eyes to the girl beside him. Reaching up with his hand, he brushed her hair behind her ear. "You know, sitting here like this, the setting sun turns your hair almost pure gold." She turned to face him. "And the way it shines in your eyes makes it look like they have stars swimming in them."

She blushed and lowered her gaze. He tilted his head so he could look up at her and recover it, "From where I'm sitting, you are in the sunset." He kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry Red, I'm slow. Just give me some time."

She nodded before scooting closer and leaning against him. She rested her head on his shoulder, he rested his on hers, and together they wathched the sunset.