After searching the common room top to bottom, the Gryffindor quintet sat down to rest. Ginny's shoulders heaved as she sobbed. "They stole it! Those dirty bastards stole it."

Harry hastened over to her, placing an arm around her shoulder. "Ginny, I can get you another one…"

The girl cried louder, breaking away and running up the stairs to her dorm.

"What's her problem?" Ron watched his sister curiously.

Hermione tutted, rolling her eyes at the boys. "Isn't it obvious?" She calmly followed Ginny upstairs. She found the younger girl perched on the edge of her bed, reading a piece of parchment. One of the school owls rested on her knee.

"Hermione! It's from the thief!" Ginny looked up from the note.

"Who is it?"

Ginny frowned, folding the note and tucking it away. "I… can't say. Sorry, I've got to go."

"What? Ginny? Come on, we've got to see Dumbledore!" Hermione's face mimicked Ginny's frown.

Ginny ignored her, running back down the stairs and out into the hallway. She maneuvered her way down several flights of moving staircases, running the entire time. When she finally reached the library, she was gasping for breath.

"I know I'm handsome, but I never thought that I could take your breath away." Blaise Zabini appeared from behind a bookshelf, smirking.

"What do you want, Zabini?" Ginny spat, clutching her side to try to alleviate the forming cramp.

"My homework done. You'll find it over on that table." Blaise nodded towards a pile of books, sending his shaggy brown hair flipping around his face. "Draco's too. And remember our deal, please."

Ginny scowled. "What? Malfoy's decided to join your escapade?"

"Quite the contrary, Weasley. Malfoy was the mastermind behind it."

"Right, I should've known. How stupid of me." Ginny drawled sarcastically.

"Yes, but your idiocy can be forgiven… As long as it doesn't show in my homework." Blaise patted Ginny's head as if she was a puppy, then, smirking, left the room.

Hours of essays and research later, Ginny fled from the library, the older boys' homework in hand. She walked briskly through the corridors until she reached her first class. She entered Professor Binn's classroom with a sigh of relief, knowing the history lectures would lull her into much-needed sleep. She chose a seat near the back of the room, arranging books on her desk in a sort of make-shift pillow, laying her head down upon them, awaiting the beginning of class.

When she woke up, class was just ending. Ginny rubbed sleep out of her eyes, and saw several of her classmates do the same. Gathering her belongings, she exited the classroom.

Ginny had second period free that day, so she decided to go mull things over out by the lake. She ran by the dorms to grab a cloak, and then headed outside. When she arrived, Ginny found two people already sitting at the shore, chatting. One of them turned around, and Draco Malfoy's eyes caught hers.

Well, there you go. The third chapter... Thanks for all of your reviews! I'm really glad you like my story. I've gotten one more chapter written, which I'll type up soon. And it's the most... Shocking one yet.