Disclaimer: All HP belongs to JK Rowling.
AN: I feel horrible about how long it's been since I last updated. I just have been in a writing slump. So sorry. I'll try to not take as long next time. Well, here's the next chapter, enjoy. Please review.
Chapter 5: Unlucky pairing, or is it…?
"Okay class, well be doing a lot of partner projects this term." Snape began as everyone settled into their seats. Ginny and Draco had been the last ones into the classroom, other than Professor Snape of course. The only seat left near the other Gryffindors was in the back next to Harry and her brother. Luckily for her, it was next to Harry, not Ron. Unluckily for her, the only other available seat in the room was right across the aisle from hers, thus Draco Malfoy was right across the aisle from her.
"The partners you get today will be your partner until Christmas break. So choose carefully." the professor continued. "Once class is over today, you're choice will be permanent, there will be no trading or switching partners, under ANY circumstances, if your chosen partner does not show for class, you will have to complete the project alone. Now go ahead and pair up." The room filled with the scraping of chairs and the bustling of the students as everyone scrambled to find a partner. Harry and Ron hadn't even bothered getting up, they already knew they would be partners.
It was then that Ginny wished Hermione would have still been in this class, but as she was not, Ginny had to find someone else to pair with. After a few minutes the noise lessened as her classmates settled into their new seats, and she was still without a partner.
"Miss Weasley, why are you still standing?" Snape demanded, when he noticed that not everyone had taken a seat. "Go sit with your partner, immediately."
"I didn't find a partner, sir." Ginny replied softly.
"What do you mean, you didn't find a partner? We have an even number of students in this class, everyone should be able to be paired up." he was beginning to sound rather irritated with her, "who else does not have a partner."
"I don't, professor." drawled an all too familiar voice. Oh no, ANYONE but Malfoy.
"Miss Weasley, please take a seat next to Mr. Malfoy, he will be your partner this term. I'm sure you will work quite well together, as you are two of my best students."
Ginny grabbed her bag and reluctantly crossed to the vacant seat next to the blonde boy. She hoped fervently that her luck the rest of the day would turn out better. Class went by without incident, but they were assigned a project that would require they get together outside class to work on it.
"So Weasley," Draco asked as they left the classroom, "when would you like to see me again?
Ginny snorted, "Never, but unfortunately the fates are against me. I have second period tomorrow free, and third period the next day."
"What about after dinner tonight?" Malfoy questioned, "Are you free then?"
"Yes, but I'd rather use that time to do my other homework, you know the ones that aren't due weeks from now." Ginny replied, heading up towards Gryffindors common room. "Aren't you going a bit out of the way of your dorms?"
"Yes, but I thought we should figure this out before we part. Besides, if you'd stop for a minute, I wouldn't have to go so far out of the way." he retorted. Ginny came to a stop, causing Malfoy to almost run into her.
"Fine, I'll meet you in the library after dinner if it will get you to leave me alone. But tonight we need to make other arrangements, I can't give up every evening to this project, I do have other classes." Ginny sighed resignedly.
"Fine, see you after dinner. Weaselette." Draco smirked before stalking off in the direction of the dungeons. Ginny glared at his back, before turning herself back in the direction of her common room.
------------
"Hey Draco, where've you been? It doesn't take that long to get here from the potions room." Blaise asked as soon as Draco walked into the common room. "Aren't you a little old to be getting lost in the castle?"
"Ha Ha Zabini. I was arranging a study time with the Weaselette. For our potions project." Malfoy rolled his eyes at his best friend's lame attempt at a joke.
"Study time…sure….if that's what you call it these days." Zabini teased.
"What are you talking about?" Malfoy asked as he made his way to the boys dorms to put away his bag.
"Oh please, Drake. I saw the way you watched her during class. And how you didn't even attempt to find yourself a partner. You probably already knew that at least one Slytherin would have to pair up with a Gryf. Not to mention the fact that talking to you during meals seems pointless, as your attention is focused on a certain redhead who sits with the Golden Trio, and I'm NOT talking about Ron." Blaise blurted out at his stoic friend. "You have a thing for her, just admit it already."
"Whatever Blaise, I told you, she intrigues me. That's all. Plus, she's fun to mess with." Draco responded, taking a seat by the fire.
"Fine, enjoy your denial." Blaise huffed, " by the way, you'll be without Pansy and I tonight. Think you can handle the dunderblocks alone?"
"Don't have to, I talked Weasley into studying with me tonight in the library. Where will you two be?" Draco looked at the darker boy curiously, he knew his friends had fooled around, but they'd never went on a date with each other before.
" I've got a meeting with Granger and the headmaster, we're getting our new rooms tonight. And Pansy's found a new play toy, well, potential play toy. She hasn't snagged the guy yet. But apparently tonight she's got a plan to." Blaise informed him.
"Who is it?" Draco asked, only slightly interested in the answer. Pansy picked a new guy at the start of every year. Her yearly 'challenge,' always some she thinks will take all her sneaky ways to catch. She just really enjoys the chase, and proving she can get anyone.
"Not sure, she wouldn't tell me. Said she had to make sure he wasn't too easy first. I think tonight is more of a information gathering stage." Blaise replied, getting up from his seat, " Ready to go to dinner?"
------------
"So Ginny, any homework tonight?" Hermione asked as she joined the rest of the Gryffindors for dinner. "I have to wait till tomorrow night to do mine, the headmaster is giving me my new room tonight."
"Nah, luckily I just have the potions project. Malfoy is meeting me in the library after dinner. I would have preferred meeting with him during one of my free periods, but he wouldn't leave me alone, so I just agreed." Ginny sighed. "Can I come see your room tomorrow?"
"Of course, maybe we can have a 'room warming' party this weekend, us and a few other girls. Like Luna, Lavender and the Patil sisters." Hermione suggested.
"Sounds great. Are you sure that won't bother the head boy?" the redhead inquired, taking her time with her meal, as to prolong the time till she needed to meet with the dreaded blonde.
"I don't think so, Blaise doesn't seem like the type to mind, but I'll talk to him about it tonight when we meet the headmaster." The brunette replied, looking towards the door. Ginny turned to see what her friend was looking at, to find Ron and Harry entering the room arguing about something in loud whispers.
"RON, it's really not something I want to talk about here." She heard Harry whisper harshly as they approached the two girls.
"Well, then you shouldn't have told me right before dinner." Ron whispered back.
"Hello boys, what's going on?" Gryffindors resident know-it-all inquired. Both boys jerked their heads up in surprise, as though they hadn't realized the girls were there.
"O-oh, nothing 'Mione. Just a little misunderstanding." Harry stuttered. Ron just took a seat by his sister and began piling food on his plate, the only evidence of the previous argument was the way Ron pointedly avoided looking in Harry's direction.
-------------
Draco sat patiently in the library, awaiting his partner. He'd left the great hall shortly after her, so he knew he wouldn't be waiting long. On the way to the library he'd run across Pansy questioned some scared looking 4th year Gryffindor. The poor kid looked petrified. When he'd approached the two, he seriously thought the boy would faint right on the spot. He'd heard the end of her question before she noticed the kids frightened eyes were now resting on something behind her. It sounded like she was trying to make sure somebody was straight, must be that research she does on her potential targets. She was very thorough when she wanted to be, and he supposed that would be a good thing to find out before pursuing someone.
"Off in your own little world there Malfoy?" a soft voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked up to find Ginny seated in the chair across from him, her parchment and quill already out.
"Uh yeah, sorry, how long have you been there?" He apologized, getting lost in those so familiar eyes. Where had he seen those eyes before? She just stared back at him. "What?" he asked.
"Did you just APOLOGISE?" She asked, eyes wide.
"Uh, yeah. I do know how to do that you know, just not many people are worth the effort." He replied, a smirk appearing on his pale features.
"Well, I suppose we should get started, but first, when are your free periods, we need a different time to do this." Ginny said, breaking eye contact to shuffle through her bag.
"How about the period before potions, does that work for you? I assume we both have that off since you were flying during it today." He replied, pulling out his own parchment and quill.
"That's fine." She said. And with that, they got to work.
After a few hours of working in mostly companionable silence, they were interrupted by Madame Pince asking them to please pack up their stuff, the library was about to close. They did as they were told, and after leaving the library, Ginny turned to her blonde partner.
"Well, I suppose you're not such a bad partner after all, Malfoy. Snape was right, we do seem to work quite well together."
"Yeah, I guess he was. You really know a lot about potions." He replied with a slight smile.
"Wow, Draco Malfoy can compliment a person without a hidden insult. And look, you can even smile…sort of." Ginny teased. Draco gave her an annoyed look as she turned towards the hall that would lead her back towards her own dorms.
"See ya around Malfoy." She said, but as she began to walk away, he grabbed her wrist. Bloody Hell, What am I doing! She turned back towards him, probably to demand he let go of her. Heart hammering in his chest, mind racing for reasons as to why his body seemed to be moving of it's own accord; Draco leaned forward, pressing his lips against the silken pink ones that belonged to a Weasley. She gasped in surprise, which allowed him to slip is tongue tentatively into her mouth, rubbing it gently against her own. As he began to pull away, he was amazed that she responded, kissing him back. As the kiss began to deepen, she must have come to her senses. One minute he was kissing the beautiful redhead, the next he was sprawled on his butt in the middle of the corridor, watching her flaming hair flare out behind her as she ran towards her dormitory.