The Answer and Playing Hooky

""Mum, what's…GINNY!"" I realized was the head at the other end.

""I mean, mum. What's wrong, mum? Are you okay, mum?""

""Stop saying "Mum" like that. Just get here.""

"Where's here, Gin?"

"The Leaky Cauldron, don't ask I'll tell you later."

"Okay, but what do I tell McGonagal?"

"Leave that to me, tell her your mum wants to speak with her, I have someone here to be her, you just get here as soon as possible."

Ten minutes later I was set to leave, but I still couldn't think of how to get there. Then it hit me, Draco.

I stood outside of Muggle Studies, waiting for him.

When he passed, I grabbed his shirt and pulled him back.

""Hey,"" he said grinning. I still felt a rush whenever he looked so happy to see me. ""What's up?""

""I need a favor.""

""Sure. What is it?""

""I need you to skip Muggle Studies with me.""

He thought for about a second, then said, ""Done. Let's go.""

""Wait." I pulled him back. "And I need a ride somewhere.""

""A ride?""

""Yea.""

He shrugged. ""No problem. Come on.""

We walked to where his dorm was, and I waited until he got his broom. Even though I was "excused" for the rest of the day, Draco wasn't.

""Wait," I said as we were leaving. "This isn't going to work. You don't have a pass.""

""Don't worry about it,"" he said casually, grabbing a note from his pocket, scribbling on it.

Filch stopped us.

""You got a pass, Malfoy?""

""Right here,"" Draco said, handing him the scrap of paper.

Filch glanced at it, handing it back, then looker at me.

""What about you?""

""Right here,"" Draco said cheerfully, taking my pass and handing it over.

""I cannot believe you,"" I said as we soared through the air, playing hooky on a Friday. It was my first time, ad everything looked different, brighter and nicer, the world of nine to four on a school day, a world I never got to see.

""Do you have a whole stack of those, or what?""

""Just a few. Definitely not a stack.""

""I hope I don't get you into trouble,"" I said.

""No problem, I usually get into trouble all on my own anyway. It's nice to have company.""

I smiled.

""Besides, at this point, I don't think I could get into any more trouble,"" he laughed. ""Playing hooky together. Should I look at this as our first date?""

""Shut up,"" I said jokingly.

""Where are we going, anyway?""

"Leaky Cauldron."

He turned left, ""What's at the Leaky Cauldron?""

I looked at him, so cute, and knew I'd have to trust him. We both would.

""Ginny.""