a/n: oh yeah, I forgot this at the beginning of the last chapter, so TAKE NOTE: flames are mean. It can't get simpler than that. If you don't like a fic, or a ship, don't read it! Jeez, that was dumb. Why would you waste your time reading a fic just so you can tell the author how awful it is? That makes you...a really not-nice person.

SO, moral of the story: be nice. be constructive. if you don't like something, that's cool ((if it's something that can/should be fixed, lemme know, if it's something like Draco being nice to Ginny, you're gonna have to either learn to live with it or hit the highway, because I don't know if you noticed yet, but this is a fic about how they get together)). Just please be nice about it.

oh, and thank you thank you thank you to all you guys who ARE being nice to me, and encouraging me - it means a lot.

Chapter Seven, Friends?

"Even the best fall down sometimes,
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme.
Out of the doubt that fills my mind,
I somehow find you and I collide"
-'Collide', Howie Day

"You came back," Ginny said in quiet astonishment. All she got was a smirk in return.

"You would have thrown a fit if I didn't." He replied. She cocked her head to the side and lifted her eyebrows in thought.

"Yeah probably." She said with a light giggle. Then she looked at him seriously. "There are a few things we need to discuss, Draco."

He cocked an eybrow at her, "Oh? And what might they be?"

"First of all, you're in my seat." She stated, giving him a look that was supposed to say 'get down now!', but he just kept smirking at her.

"So?" She paused. He was supposed to move!

"So move!" He chuckled and turned back to his view from the top.

"Sorry, Red, not happening." She glared at him as she transfigured a couch to sprawl out on grumpily. Once she did she sulked for a minute, and when he saw her he started laughing. She smiled at her own actions and lightened up.

"So what else must we talk about?" He asked with mock seriousness.

"Us." He faltered and looked at her, confused.

"Us?"

"Yes, us."

"There is no 'us'. There's you, and me, but there's no 'us'." He said with an unidentifiable look on his face. Ginny rolled her eyes,

"If you think I came here to tell you that I love you and want you and need you, you're sadly mistaken. What I meant was you and me. Us. We're two people, that makes us an 'us'. ...Are we friends?" There. She said it. She'd been thinking about it, and as much as she hated Malfoy, Draco wasn't so bad. She kind of missed his silent company sometimes. It was nice to just have someone realize you didn't want to talk, or vice versa - know that you're comforting someone just by being there.

"I don't have any friends." He stated simply. Ginny sighed,

"Then what are we? Window buddies?" Draco smirked at her and chuckled.

"I guess so."

"I'm serious, Draco."

"Me too, Red." She smiled - she really liked her new nickname. It gave her something else to be for a few minutes, kind of pushed aside her whole life. It was better than being 'Just Ginny'...it was something else entirely. ...Or maybe she was just reading too much into the whole situation. She sighed again in exasperation and spoke up.

"What's wrong with being my friend?"

"Just because we sit up here, and it so happens that we do it at the same time, does not make us friends." He said seriously.

"Yeah, but you listen to me complain and everything. I've told you a lot these past few months. Moreso than I have even Hermoine. And you've told me a lot of things. I don't know where these confidences came from, but I happen to think you're not such a bad guy."

"What?"

"What do you mean 'what'?"

"You 'happen to think I'm not such a bad guy'?"

"Did I miss something?"

"No, I'm just surprised, that's all." She spoke nonchalantly, but he didn't bother to hide his surprise.

"Well, you're not. Not to me, at least."

"Where did this come from?" He asked suddenly.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, last week this wouldn't have come up, but suddenly you're asking all these questions about 'us', and 'where we stand'. Why?"

She considered it. She really didn't know, but it had been bugging her for awhile.

"I don't know. It's just been bugging me for awhile. I mean, why would I go through the trouble of creating a potion to ease the pain of someone I didn't consider my friend, not to mention fight with them about trying it out. By the way, did you try it out?"

"Yeah, the other day." He sighed, glancing at his arm, "It's actually quite a strong substance you got there. It made the pain go away completely and no one even suspected." She smiled triumphantly, she'd hoped it would work.

"That's great! I'm glad." She relaxed into the couch she was laying on, a smile on her face. He chuckled at her enthusiasm and pride. She closed her eyes to just gather her thoughts, and they sat in silence.

"I'm really not a bad a guy, you know." He almost whispered. She opened her eyes to find him looking longingly out the window.

"I know. It's my brother and Harry you'd have to convince. I happen to have a lot of respect for you." She smiled, she'd kind of hoped to slip that in there somehow, just so he knew and to gauge his reaction. He looked at her with surprise, and she just joked, "I know, I was shocked to find that out, too." He smirked and went back to looking outwards.

"You're not so bad, yourself."

"Aw, gee, thanks." She replied sarcastically. She was kind of hoping for a little more than that.

"No, for one of them you're not that bad."

" 'One of them'?" She frowned. Who were 'them'?

"Gryffindors...Weasleys...'good guys'. Girls. Whatever."

"I'm never going to get past all that, am I?"

"I'm never going to get past being a Death Eater, am I?" He retorted.

"You already have, you dolt. I don't hand that potion out to every Death Eater I meet, you know."

"Oh really? Shame. You should tell someone about your accomplishment." She laughed openly.

"I can see it now - 'Hey Mum, guess what? I created a potion for a Malfoy, that makes it so that his Dark Mark doesn't hurt as much when Voldemort calls him'. Thaaat'd go over real well." She was being completely sarcastic, and she almost failed to notice the shock on Draco's face. "What?" She asked soberly.

"You...you said the Dark Lord's name." He stated.

"Yeah, Harry yells at anyone who doesn't anymore. Literally, you should hear him go off. You get used to it after awhile."

"I would get killed for that." He emphasized.

"Really?" He nodded, "That's stupid. But like I was saying, this potion isn't something I'm just going to run to them with."

"I guess so. But it really is quite an accomplishment. Potions isn't a simple subject."

"You're telling me," she breathed out heavily. Her long hours in the Hospital Wing were prime opportunity, though, to begin to really learn about the basics of the complicated subject. "and thanks. I'm glad I could help." She smiled. They fell silent again, and Ginny couldn't stop thinking about whatever this relationship they had was - their window-buddy relationship - and why it's all he had.

"So why don't you have any friends?" She asked tentatively. Without even looking in her direction, he went through just about everyone in Slytherin, and what was wrong with them.

"And I'm not exactly begging to be friends with other Death Eaters." He finished.

"That doesn't explain why we can't be friends." She stated.

"I never said we couldn't. Why are you pushing this?" He asked with a questioning glance.

"Because. ...I don't know why, I just feel like I need to know where we stand. This window buddy thing is kind of confusing, and I sought you out to help you. I just want to know if you would have done the same for me - if we're friends."

"Well, I definitely wouldn't have done the same for you," Draco smirked, "because as cunning and conniving as that was, it was quite Gryffindor of you to do. But I do enjoy your company, if that's what you're asking."

"That's all I'm ever going to get out of you, isn't it? Fine. I enjoy your company as well, and worry about your well-being. Is that what you want to hear?"

"I didn't want to hear anything - you brought this up. But yes, it's nice to hear." She rolled her eyes. He could be so difficult when he wanted to be.

"That makes us friends, you prat." He chuckled,

"Do you always call your friends prats?"

"When they're being prats." She retorted. With a smile, they both relaxed into more silence. After a long while of just sitting together, Ginny yawned and stretched.

"You should get to bed. I'm not carrying you back tonight." She giggled,

"By the way, thanks for that."

"It was nothing." He climbed down from the sill and she retransfigured the couch into the desk. Ginny left the library in high spirits, finally having sorted the whole thing out in her head. So he really could be a nice guy...

The next few days passed without incident. December was fast approaching, and Mother Nature had decided it was time to really kick it into gear. Violent winds made it difficult even to get to the greenhouses for Herbology, and freezing rain had canceled a few Quidditch practices.

Ginny had been feeling a little better about her whole situation, now that she had Draco to talk to. They would sit up at night, in the library, talking about life, the War, even sometimes dipping into philosophy. She wasn't sure if her change in demeanor had gone unnoticed, or if it was just that everyone was silently glad she was back to the way she used to be.

She was surprised to think that Draco Malfoy, of all people, had been the one who brought her back from the misery of her situation. He even offered to knock out one of his own Chasers so she could play Quidditch under the effects of the Polyjuice Potion. At the time, she'd laughed it off, but seeing the games this season, and the pathetic state of the Slytherin Chasers, she was seriously considering it. The only problem would be convincing the girl she'd played in the game.

They were so different - the only thing they had in common was lineage (they were both purebloods), and yet here they were, every night. Outcasts on opposite sides, taking heart in the fact that they weren't the only ones unhappy in their situation. Misery loves company, and she'd found her company quite entertaining at points, but always comforting.

She walked towards her Transfiguration class one morning, and on her way from the Great Hall, spotted Draco teasing a second year Hufflepuff. She couldn't hear exactly what was being said, but the poor boy was looking so scared and angry, she knew it wasn't a chat about the weather.

"Having fun making other people miserable, Malfoy?" She inquired casually, coming up next to the small Hufflepuff. He smirked at her,

"Always do, Weasley."

"I suggest you let it go, and leave, you stupid prat."

"You should tell your little friend there that he shouldnt have walked right into me."

"Is that what this is all about? You're more of an idiot than I thought."

"Is that so, Weasley? Well, I hate to disappoint."

"Sod off, Malfoy." Both officially smirking, they stared each other down. Out of the corner of her eye, Ginny noticed the Hufflepuff trying to inch away.

"Why should I?" He spat.

"Because if you don't knock it off, I'm going to hex you. Get out of here." With that, the little boy took her advice to Draco seriously, and ran off. They both laughed, knowing full well who Ginny had been speaking to, and watched him run off.

"You spoil all my fun, you know that?" He said lightly.

"Terrorizing people is fun for you?"

"Actually, yeah, it kind of is."

"You're sick."

"C'mon, you know me. What's there to be afraid of? Stupid gits get what they deserve."

"Does that include you?" She shot. He smiled and just walked off to class, not bothering to dignify her pot-shot with a response.

"So what was that about?" Harry said, coming up behind her with Ron at his side.

"Oh, just Malfoy being a git." She sighed.

"Did you hex him?" Ron said hopefully.

"Didn't have to. He let it go."

"Spineless Death Eater." Harry spat. Ginny's blood boiled, and she coudn't help but defend him.

"Maybe you should ask him why he didn't kill Dumbledore before you go judging people." She spat with malice. Harry didn't care about anything but himself and Voldemort. His quest, his friends, his journey, his life. It was all about him, and he never even gave it a second thought. It made her rage that Draco was the one who gave everything a second thought, who really considered the world around him, and yet here he was, the one being attacked.

"Whoa, Gin. Are you defending Malfoy?" Ron asked. She froze, she couldn't just tell them about her relationship with him.

"Of course not, I'm just not happy with Harry, so it comes out like I'm defending him."

"Why are you mad at me!" Harry cried, completely shocked at this supposed revelation.

"Are you kidding?" They both sputtered for their next words. "Harry, you've done nothing but feign concern for me since we broke up! And even that's a lot from you these days - you usually just ignore me completely. You're completely judgmental and you consider your thoughts, ideas and words infallible! Well, there are some people out there who actually DO care about me. Who DO listen to me when I'm upset, although I wouldn't want you to, because it's usually your fault anyway." She noticed their identical looks of horror, Harry's seemed to be tinted with rage.

"All I've ever tried to do is protect you, Ginny!" he cried.

"AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING!" She roared, "I do NOT need your protection! Every excuse you come up with is lamer than the last! I have six older brothers who would die to protect me, along with the entire Order! However, I am a completely capable witch! If you can't realize that I cane TAKE CARE OF MYSELF, then I suggest you let me go find people who CAN respect that!" With the two boys at a loss, Ginny turned on her heel and walked away.

As she rounded the corner, her blood still boiling, she saw a smirking Draco leaning up against the wall. Her heart calmed down immediately when she saw the look on his face, and she couldn't help but laugh as she felt her face heat up.

"What are you still doing here?" She asked, breathing a little easier.

"I heard you defend me as I walked away, and wanted to see where it got you. Apparently not so far." Ginny rolled her eyes, and peeked around the corner to make sure Harry and Ron weren't coming their way. The corridor was now empty, so they were safe, for now.

"Yeah, well. That's what happens when you try to talk to him. At least nowadays. He used to listen to people."

"I must admit, I liked that last part." Ginny rolled her eyes again and giggled.

"You're so vain - you probably thought I was talking about YOU, you prat." Draco smirked,

"Were you?" Ginny's smile faltered before turning into a smirk, identical to Draco's.

"That's not the point." Ginny smirked right back at him as he chuckled, and silently dared him to press the issue. He seemed to catch on and concede, and hesaid goodbye and made off to his own class. She realized she was about to be late to Transfiguration and ran off down the corridor.

She thought later on about the situation, and about how seeing Draco smirk like that made her feel so much better - she'd been livid, and then suddenly...she just wasn't. She thought about their nights together, and how much she laughed. He always made her laugh, purposely or not.

She walked into the Hospital Wing, to meet Madam Pomfrey again, thinking about what more there was for them to do, or talk about. They seemed to run into each other more nowadays, but she wasn't sure if she did that intentionally or not. Maybe she did, maybe he did, maybe it was just...something else. Fate? Nah, fate's a silly concept if you believe in free will. Did she believe in free will? Or did she believe in fate?

"Someone help!" Her thoughts were interrupted by Demelza's voice coming from outside the door. She ran to see what was going on, and found Demelza doing her best to help Aaron limp to the Hospital Wing.

"What happened!" Ginny cried, as she hustled to Aaron's other side, to help the poor girl drag him inside.

"I don't know, he fell down the stairs...or something...it's his leg, he said! I don't know!"

"I do still have my voice, you know!" Aaron said indignantly. Then he turned his head to Ginny. "I tripped or something, and fell down a flight of stairs...or two...something. I don't know, my head hurts, and my leg, too. Ouch!" He gasped when Ginny grabbed his right wrist to pull him over to a bed.

She did the normal check-up and found he had a sprained knee, broken wrist, and a few bumps and bruises on his head.

Harry showed up a little later, complaining about how they were now down one Chaser for the game tomorrow against Ravenclaw. Ginny stayed silent, and let him rant, but Demelza rolled her eyes at him.

"You're dumber than they say you are, Harry." She giggled. "We have a perfectly good Chaser right over there!" She pointed at Ginny. "You can still play, right?" Ginny froze, and her heart leapt.

"Um, yeah...I mean, I guess..." she mumbled. Demelza made it official, that Ginny would play against Ravenclaw. Even through Harry's protests (which made Ginny resent him just a little bit more), Demelza stood strong and wouldn't take 'no' for an answer - they needed a Chaser, Ginny was a Chaser, and that was that.

That night,in the library, Ginny gushed through the whole scene for Draco. He smirked the whole time, much to Ginny's amusement. She just couldn't help but be excited.

"I mean, do you even realize what this means to me?" She asked, grinning like a maniac.

"I knew it would." He stated. She froze. 'I knew it would', implies...prior knowledge...suddenly a light bulb flicked on in Ginny's head and her eyes widened.

"You didn't..."

"I think that's the kind of thing friends should do." He shrugged off her shock, and just relaxed back onto a couch. Ginny climbed down from her seat and sat next to him, staring right at him.

"You didn't..." she repeated.

"What? Oh, c'mon, he'll be fine. You fixed him, didn't you? There you go, two for you. You Healed someone, and you get to play Quidditch."

"Draco! You can't just...you can't just hurt people!" She said in astonishment, she still couldn't get over her realization.

"Red, he's fine. He just needs some rest, right? You said so yourself. And now you can play Quidditch."

"You shouldn't have done that!"

"Maybe, but I did." She knew what he did was wrong, and she really felt bad for Aaron, who now had to spend the night with Madam Pomfrey, but she threw her arms around Draco. She hesitated in thanking him, so he just smirked and whispered a 'you're welcome' without provocation.

The game the next day was the best Ginny had ever played. She was flying like she'd never flown before, looping and swirling, diving and climbing. She outran the Ravenclaw Chasers, and dodged the Bludgers. She didn't say one word the whole game, and barely heard the cheers from below.

Gryffindor won, 290-80, and Ginny had never felt a victory so sweet. She hesitated in finding Draco, because the victory party seemed to center on her and Harry, and she still had a Healing session and homework to complete. She decided that after all that she'd find him and thank him again...

Being friends with Draco Malfoy was going to be a handful, she could already tell.