Author's Note: Heehee, so many reviews! I love it!!! Thanks to my reviewers:

Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.

You've Got Mail: Ch.3-Diagon Alley, Shmiagon Alley

"Ginny, get down here, we're about to leave!"

Said Weasley groaned and turned over in her sleep.

"Come on Ginny!"

She just groaned louder, grabbing the pillow and stuffing it over her ear.

"GINNY!!!"

Thump.

With a feral growl, Ginny sat upright on the floor, blowing the unruly red waves out of her face. Eyes still half closed, she stumbled to her feet, searching around quickly for a pair of clean clothes.

"Ginny!!!" That was Ron, and Ginny felt the distinct urge to smack him.

It was already August 25, a week before they left for Hogwarts. And you know what that means; letters and Diagon Alley.

Normally, Ginny would have loved to go, to browse the many shops and sigh wistfully at all the absolutely useless things her parents had the money for but would never buy. But that was before Dragon.

As sad as it sounded, Ginny considered him a real friend. Most of her days were spent online talking to him, and though she still managed to keep him from knowing about Hogwarts, he knew most of the stories of her life, just like she knew his. She knew his birthday (January 14), his favorite color (black), even his favorite drink (it was a tie between espressos and whiskey). If she had a quiz on Dragon in front of her right then, she'd ace it no question.

So, Ginny had been looking forward to a nice day of relaxation before she had to go back to school. Going online, maybe going for a walk, and most of all sleeping.

And now, because of that blasted thing called back to school shopping, all three were out of reach.

"Diagon Alley, shmiagon alley," Ginny muttered under her breath as she picked a shirt off the floor, sniffed, grimaced, and put it back. Finally, though, she managed to cobble together a clean outfit of her favorite black capris and a polo shirt. Since her computer, now that she thought about it, she was beginning to appreciate Muggles more.

She heard a couple more shouts from downstairs, and after giving the laptop one last sad look, headed down the stairs, mentally bracing herself for what she could feel would be a bad day.

***

Draco wasn't doing too much better.

At that moment, he was sitting in the huge dining room, grimacing as he jabbed at his eggs.

He hated eggs.

But, of course, Narcissa had had the bright idea that she cook breakfast that morning. Ever since Lucius' exit, she had been excessively upbeat. Frighteningly so, in her son's opinion.

Naturally, this breakfast ended up being composed of most of Draco's least favorite foods, and tasting like crap. Draco managed to stumble through most of the foods, spitting half of them into his napkin and still making loud noises of enjoyment for Narcissa's satisfaction.

Draco loved his mother dearly, but this was getting to be too much. Last week he had found her digging up his old baby pictures and placing them lovingly on the mantle. He had loved that, especially when she put up the one of ten-month-old him naked. And just last night he had walked in his room to find her cleaning.

Malfoys don't clean.

So, this had resulted in a huge row between them, one that ended half an hour later with Narcissa bursting into tears. Awkward wasn't even the proper word for what Draco felt.

That was about half the reason why he was here at that moment, eating repulsive food and lying through his teeth. The other half was that he had already promised to spend the day with her a week or two ago. And since he had just gotten his Hogwarts letter, that meant Diagon Alley.

Mental shudder for Draco.

It was about the same thing as what Ginny felt. He really liked Cocoa, and the ironic part was that he had no idea if she was pretty or not, so he actually liked her for her personality. Cocoa was funny online, and she seemed to accept his vague answers about school and his family.

That was the main thing that worried Draco. He hoped she wasn't a Muggle. He may like some Muggle inventions, but Muggles and Mudbloods annoyed the hell out of him. He sighed into his coffee. But, she was probably a Muggle. Her no magic answer had pretty much proved that.

He was snapped out of his brooding by his mother.

"Draco, honey, (he winced inwardly at the 'honey') we're about to leave," Narcissa called from the other end of the huge table, and he nodded miserably. With all the luck he was having, he'd probably run into Scarface and Weasel, not to mention Granger.

Did I mention Draco was rather psychic?

***

Ginny stifled a yawn in one of the aisles in Flourish and Blott's. As soon as they got their money from Gringott's. Hermione had dragged Harry, Ron, and Ginny to get their new schoolbooks first thing, and they had been there ever since. Ginny was pretty sure Harry and Ron had snuck off to Quality Quidditch Supplies, but she couldn't be positive because she too was hiding from the boring-ness of Hermione.

"Oooh, Ginny, come look at this, isn't it fascinating?" That was Hermione, in the next row over. Ginny slunk into a corner, praying the older girl would pass her by.

No such luck.

"Ginny! What are you doing there?"

Ginny grimaced, and stood, plastering on a smile. "Oh nothing, I just had to tie my shoelace that's all. What were you saying?" She asked with a reassuring smile.

Hermione showed her a book on advanced medicinal potions, one that Ginny oohed and ahhed at properly, before finally Hermione paid, and they left the store. They wandered around for a bit, until Ginny spotted Madam Malkin's. The two girls headed for it quickly.

They stepped inside the brightly-lit store, hearing the ting that announced their presence, and within a moment Madam Malkin appeared from behind a curtain in the back.

"Yes dears?" She asked them pleasantly.

Ginny was the first to speak. "Um, I need new school robes, and a new set of dress robes," she said hesitantly, clutching the moneybag tightly.

The madam nodded at her with a smile and turned to Hermione.

"Oh, I just need some more buttons," the older girl said quickly, and once those were paid for, she gave an apologetic look to Ginny.

"Sorry, but I have to go find the boys. I promised Harry I'd help him find some new ingredients for his potion kit. Let's meet at the Leaky Cauldron in an hour, at noon, okay?" Hermione asked, and Ginny nodded before following Madam Malkin into the dressing room.

She had just been fitted for normal robes, and was now looking through the many racks of dress robes as Madam Malkin bustled off to fix the school robes and ring them up. Ginny had just picked up a dark green thin-strapped dress and was modeling it against herself when she heard a ting at the door.

Ignoring it, she quickly changed into the dress robe, and looked at herself in the mirror. It was a perfect color, just like she knew it would be. She sighed wistfully.

"What's wrong, weasel? Upset because you know you can't afford it?" Came a drawling voice from the door.

Ginny jumped, then whirled around quickly to glare at Malfoy, who was leaning against the doorway smirking. "As if, Mal-ferret. I knew you were stupid, but I thought that even you would know who the present Minister of Magic is," she sneered at him.

Malfoy continued to smirk, arching one perfect eyebrow slightly. "Oh, don't worry, Weasel, I know. And let me tell you, I'd rather not know. Weasleys with money, who'd have thought?" He said with mock surprise.

Ginny's scowl deepened. She didn't have time for petty quarrels with the spawn of all evil today, and she told him as much.

To her surprise, Malfoy, instead of cursing her or anything else, just threw back his head and laughed. Laughed. Heartily, too. He quieted to a small chuckle, and uncrossed his arms, walking over to where she was standing, still paralyzed with shock.

He leaned in close, and whispered right in her ear. "Like I always say, you can take the Weasley out of the street, but you can't take the street out of the Weasley," he said nastily, and with that last word, turned heel and walked out of the dressing room.

Needless to say, Ginny was fuming by the time she paid for the green dress, thanked the shop owner, and marched to the Leaky Cauldron at twelve.

When she got to the table her brother and his friends occupied, she threw her bag down on the table viciously and fell into a chair roughly. Ginny looked up, still scowling, and noticed all three staring open-mouthed at her.

"What?" She snapped at them, and they all immediately looked away.

"What happened to you?" Ron asked with slight amazement.

"Malfoy is what happened," she spat out through gritted teeth. Instantly, Hermione sighed, shaking her head, Harry scowled in anger, and Ron turned bright red at the thought of Malfoy doing something to his baby sister. Seeing the damage she had just done, Ginny hurried to calm them all down. "No, no, nothing really bad happened. I just ran into him at the robe store, we argued for a bit, and then he left. I'm just pissed about it, that's all," she finished. She didn't have to add in his last comment, she knew that would just send Ron over the edge and into psycho mode.

"Oh," was all Ron said. Eager to change the subject, Hermione quickly asked what Ginny had bought, and she showed her. They talked for a little longer about clothes, before finally Harry promised he would scream if they kept it up. They moved into talking about Quidditch gradually, so by the time they were walking back to meet with the rest of the family, Ron and Harry were arguing, Hermione was laughing and all thoughts of Malfoy had gone from their minds.

All but Ginny's.

***

Draco, on the other hand, was feeling pretty good by the time he got fed up with furniture shopping and left his mother to go back home. He had picked up his new robes, managed to sneak a couple illegal ingredients in his potions kit, made his mother happy by helping her find jewelry, flirted with several Slytherin girls, and even gotten the better of the youngest weasel in an insult match.

He got online, and upon seeing Pyropinkmonkey12 wasn't signed on, sighed and began surfing the Internet, waiting for Cocoa. He was just browsing through Muggle music when he heard the AOL beep for someone signing online. Within a second a screen had appeared, containing the message from Pyropinkmonkey12.

Pyropinkmonkey12: I am so pissed!

Draco felt a flicker of confusion cross his features. He sat back to wait for her to explain, which she did quickly. In the short time she had the computer, Ginny had gotten quite good at typing, and was increasing her speed daily with all the talking to Dragon she did.

Pyropinkmonkey12: I went out to get some new school clothes with my family, and when I was alone, I ran into a guy from school.

Draco failed to see the point.

ResidentEvil: So?

Not quite the right response to temperamental Ginny.

Pyropinkmonkey12: I AM GETTING TO THAT!!!! Anyways, he is a really big git, and so we immediately started arguing. The worst part was when he started in insulting my family about money, which is stupid because we aren't even poor anymore!!!

Draco felt an odd swelling of anger in his stomach. That was odd, because not only had he never met this girl, even for people he knew well, he rarely ever felt so protective.

ResidentEvil: Who is this bastard?

Ginny had just typed in Draco Malfoy, when the unthinkable happened. Her computer, the trusty thing, had just frozen. Her brow furrowed, and she began clicking on random parts of the screen, though none responded. She used the random key combinations taught to her by Colin and Hermione, but nothing happened. Finally, with a frustrated growl/sigh, she unplugged the laptop, pouting slightly as she watched the screen fade to black.

She booted it up again promptly, and within five minutes was signing online again.

ResidentEvil: What happened?

Ginny almost rolled her eyes. Gee, I wonder, Dragon, she thought sarcastically, before typing in her reply.

Pyropinkmonkey12: Nothing, just my damn computer froze.

ResidentEvil: That sucks. God, I really don't want to go back to school.

And with something as simple as that, the whole question of who insulted her disappeared in Draco's mind, and he was kept blissfully ignorant for at least a while longer.

***

"MOM!!! Where are my new robes???"

"Is there any breakfast left?"

"MY CAULDRON!!! WHERE IS IT???"

"Mrs. Weasley, have you seen Hedwig? I can't find her anywhere!"

"Try the shed dear. Ron, toast is on the table, and hurry!"

"AAAAHHH!!! MY HAIR!!! FRED, GEORGE, GET IN HERE!!"

"Oh, right, sorry Dad, that was meant for Ron."

"Hey!!!"

It was a typical first day of school morning. People were rushing about collecting belongings, even Fred and George, who were out of school. There were bits of toast everywhere, random articles of clothing hanging over the railing, and a jumble of trunks in the front hall, and the four still attending Hogwarts were running about extra hard trying to stuff sweaters and books into their already full trunks.

Ginny collapsed on the couch, still munching on a stray piece of toast. She dozed off for about five minutes before she felt someone shaking her shoulder.

"Ginny, get up, we're about to leave," Harry said quietly. Ginny wiped her eyes blearily, still yawning slightly.

"Thanks," she muttered, sitting up quickly and shoving hair out of her face quickly. He smiled at her, affectionately tousling her hair before he stood and offered her a hand, which she took. They were halfway out the door when Ginny gave a shriek.

"What's wrong?"

But Ginny was already running up the stairs quickly. She rounded the corner into her room dangerously fast, sighing in relief as she saw the laptop lying innocently on top of her bed. She picked it up and hugged it to her tightly, before running back down the stairs with it still clutched in her arms.

Harry, who had been waiting for her near the door, laughed when he saw what she had forgotten. He knew how much she loved that thing, though he didn't know the exact reason, and to see her holding it gently like an object of reverence just confirmed his suspicions.

They walked to the car, a new mini-van that Arthur had gotten upon becoming Minister, and Ginny put her computer in her shoulder bag quickly, before they climbed into the car. All their stuff was already packed in the back, so they were ready to leave. Hermione and Ron were already squabbling good-naturedly in the back, and so Harry and Ginny took the two seats in the middle, then immediately turned around to watch the duo.

Molly gave her two kids one last bone-crushing hug, and big kisses, then, to their embarrassment, did the same to Hermione and Harry. She let out one last sob, before closing the door, and waving at them tearfully as she walked back to the house. Arthur got in the driver's seat, and soon they were speeding down the road towards the train station.

Once there, Ginny could have sighed in relief. This was her element, all the bustling people, the loud noises, the huge trains. She loved the train station, and had ever since she was a little girl going with her mother to see off Bill.

"Come on, kids, the train will leave in ten minutes! Hermione, Ginny, you two go first, then Harry and Ron," Arthur ordered, glancing at his watch frantically.

Ginny and Hermione began to talk inconspicuously, heading towards the barrier at a slow pace. When they were in range, and sure no one was looking, they pushed their carts through it quickly, stepping to the side to await Ron and Harry, who came through quickly at a run. Arthur came next, and once he was there they began to load their trunks onto the train. They said their last good-byes, and boarded the train.

Once they were on it, Ron, Harry and Hermione immediately left to find their own friends, leaving Ginny alone. With a small sigh, she set off down the train, looking for an empty compartment, but finding none. At last, she pushed open the door to the very last one, and upon finding no kissing couples or nervous first-years, she sat down in the seat next to the door.

Too bad someone was already sitting in it.

*** Yay, I love cliffies! Granted, you all hate them, but hey, author's codebook. So far in this story I haven't really had a cliffie. Anyone know who she sat on? Guess in your REVIEWS!!!!