Disclaimer: not mine. Not even remotely close to being mine. I will probably forget many times to put a disclaimer in so just in case I do not own it now and nor will I ever.

Chapter 6: Bed of Dirt and Leaves.

Ginny woke up slowly. Glancing at her clock and seeing that it read 5:34 a.m. she cursed at her own internal alarm. Sighing she heaved herself out of bed. She grabbed her things and heading for the loo to get ready for her day. Bored, with way too much time to kill before breakfast started she headed outside to her favourite spot by the lake.

Sitting at the base of her favourite tree, she let her mind drift, thinking about the past couple of days. When she first hatched her plan of getting Harry to notice her, she had been hoping to enlist the aid of a male friend. Someone safe and who would help but hopefully not become attached or hurt in the end. Someone she wouldn't get attached to in return, but then she hadn't believed that she could become attached to anyone but Harry. She didn't believe that she had to worry about the sex god of slytherin becoming attached, but she was becoming much to used to his company. She needed to be spending some time with her friends. Some amount of time spent with the golden trio to see how Harry was taking all of this. But she found herself spending most of her free time with Draco.

When she first thought about using Draco in her scheme she had never thought she would be spending time with him in private, much less that she would enjoy it. They had fallen into such a comfortable routine, it was hard to believe that just over a week ago that they were mortal enemies. She had grown to enjoy the quiet barbs that they flung back and forth; even the harsh ones he used lacked their old sting. If she was honest with herself, she quite enjoyed his company. He was very considerate, funny, and sometimes-even kind. His helpful insight into not only potions but charms as well had helped not only her but Nikki too. With the comments and reminder hints he told her she managed to get an E on her essay for potions, and then managed to brew a faultless calming draught much to Snapes disappointment.

Draco, she mused was turning out to be helpful on many different fronts. He was even beginning to grow on Nikki, which worried her some. After all, it was all just an act…wasn't it? What was throwing her off the most was after Saturday; he had made no move to be alone with her in private. He still showered her with drugging kisses in the library and in the halls between classes, but again those were all for show. At least she was sure thought that they were for show.

Dropping her head with a hollow thunk onto her knees she silently berated herself for worrying so much about him. 'It is all an act. They would never be able to remain friends.' She felt a hollow pang deep in her gut at this thought. 'What is going on with me?' she wondered briefly before sighing and leaning her head back against the tree and staring off across the lake.

"Mind if I join you amongst your bed of dirt and leaves?"

"What have I told you about shuffling your feet Draco? You are going to give me a heart attack." She groused before scooting over to make room for him next to her among the roots that all but hid her from casual view. "What are you doing up so early? I know you like to sleep, isn't this interrupting your beauty sleep?"

"I do like my sleep, and I never need beauty sleep. I always look flawless. But I figured 6 a.m. had to have some redeeming qualities since you are continually up at this godforsaken hour and don't seem to mind. I thought I would check it out and when I saw you leaving the castle I decided to just ask you instead of trying to figure it out. Honestly there has to some reason. Please tell me you have a reason and your not just plain bananas?"

Laughing, she opened her mouth to tell she was just bananas but was shocked when the truth came out in stead-at least part of the truth. "Ever since my first year I have had trouble sleeping. Not just at night either, so it's not a darkness thing, it's a not being in control thing I guess. At first the waking early drove me up the wall, I used to sleep past noon if my brothers would let me. Once I got over the resentment I started noticing how nice it was to be awake so early. The sunrises that I catch during the end of spring are breathtaking. The quiet solitude is calming no matter how bad the day before was, does amazing things for my temper, probably the only reason that my brother hasn't suffered an attack of bat-bogeys yet this year. For better then an hour every morning no one bothers me or intrudes on my thoughts, dead helpful during O.W.L.s last year. No one is up and being loud, there's no fights, no pitying looks, no nothing, just…me." She turned her head away to stare across the lake, trying to hide the moisture in her eyes at the memories of her first year that she tried so hard not to think about.

"I see what you mean, about not dealing with anyone. Rather nice not to have to watch what you say or do constantly and still be able to leave your dorm. What I don't understand is what affect your first year could have had to make you fear a loss of control so much. The professors couldn't even find that chamber, what could you have done?" Bewildered, he glanced down and the girl next to him, about to speak again he stopped when he noticed that her cheeks were glistening in the early morning light. Pulling her into his arms and stroking her hair he murmured silly nonsense to her and tried to get her to stop crying.

A bit stunned, Ginny stiffened in his arms thinking 'how can he not know? Why is he acting like he doesn't know what that diary did to me?" Soon she relaxed into him, having someone comfort her so tenderly without giving her pity was so rare, and she broke down completely.

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Draco was lost. He didn't know what to do with a weeping person, much less a weeping girl. He really couldn't figure out why he wanted to do anything at all. Slightly disgusted with himself, he stood up as soon as Ginny went quiet. "Come on, we'll be late if we don't go get our stuff." Ginny nodded silently and performed and cleaning charm on her face to get rid of any tear tracks. She followed him up to the entrance hall where she turned to go up the stairs toward gryffindor.

Draco grabbed her hand to stop her, "You all right?" he asked concern in his voice. When she just nodded again he had to bite back a groan of frustration. Telling himself he shouldn't bother and he had better things to worry about, he leaned down and kissed her gently on her forehead anyway. Straightening he asked, "Sit with me?"

She gave a small smile that didn't reach her eyes and nodded, still with out saying a thing. Draco just stood there watching her slowly climb the stairs, his almost constant internal argument raging in his head and showing in his eyes. He turned and headed to his rooms to get the books that he would need for his class that morning. Thankfully his schedule was arranged in such a way that the rest of his day was free. He planned on avoiding everyone with the exception of going to meals and doing head boy patrol with Granger. He really needed to sort himself out and start acting normal again. He really hoped Potter would wise up soon and make a move for Ginny. Once that happened he would be off the hook and not have to act like stupid prat of a boyfriend. He could go back to the way he was before.

Draco entered his rooms still trying to convince himself that he just wanted to be able to act normal. 'I can't wait for all this to be over. Then I won't have to pretend to like the Weaslette. I can go back to making her cry instead of trying to get her to stop. She looked like she was in so much pain though. I don't want to cause her anymore pain then she already has inside of her.' He stopped dead in his tracks. Shock coursed through every fibre of his being. 'Bloody hell, this is not happening.' He ran his hand through his hair and went into his room to get his things then headed down to meet Ginny in the great hall to eat.

He reached the great hall before her and took his place. Figuring she would be down soon he made up a plate for himself and then one for her, knowing after just a week what she would and wouldn't like out of what was on the table. He had just finished piling food on her plate when his attention was drawn to the entrance. Ginny was walking through the door with her friend Nikki, they stopped and said a few things just inside the hall before Nikki turned to the gryffindor table and Ginny walked towards him at the slytherin table.

Draco almost growled and leapt over the table when he saw bleeding Potter grab Ginny's arm and try to steer her to the other table. He had to remind himself that he didn't really care and shouldn't do anything. 'After all,' he thought, ' this is what she wanted. For Potter to notice her. Guess I'll be off the hook soon enough.' Draco barely stopped the gasp that tried to rise out of his throat at the sharp pain in his stomach that had seemingly accompanied that last thought. Thinking that it must be hunger pains since he skipped dinner the night before he ignored it and tucked into his dinner trying to ignore anything and everyone around him.

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Ginny sat through the morning meal quietly. She smiled brightly at everyone around her, laughed at all the jokes, just like she was supposed to. She even managed to be polite to her brother and Harry even thought they spent most of their time talking about quidditch or bagging on Draco saying things like he was a death eater already, or that he was only using her to get information. All things she was getting tired of hearing. She wanted to defend him, to argue that he really wasn't that bad, but how could she. He hadn't done anything when Harry dragged her over here. Everything was just an act. Nothing was real.

She pushed away from the table with a sigh and turned to leave for her first class, not caring that she had barely touched her food and would undoubtedly be sitting for a good half hour before anyone else showed up. She just needed to get away from all the noise. She saw her friend Nikki glance wistfully at her plate and start to get her things to join her.

"No, it's all right Nik. Finish your food. I'll see you in class in a few."

"You sure?"

"Yeah I'll be fine." Ginny walked out of the hall and didn't catch the worried glance that Nikki sent across the hall at Draco. But Draco caught it. Brows furrowed he got up from his table and immediately headed out after Ginny.

Ginny had just started up the stairs, heading for the transfiguration classroom. She was seriously considering skiving off classes and just hiding in her bed all day but she really didn't want to give Ron anything else to go schizzo over. She felt a hand, way to big to be Nikki's, on her shoulder. Sighing she said, "Look Harry, I don't want to talk about it, and I'm sick of listening to you and Ron talk bad about Draco. Just leave me be and maybe I'll talk to you later."

"Well as pleased as I am to hear that people can't stop talking about me, I hate to believe that you truly think so poorly of me as to call me by Potters name." His now familiar drawl rolled over her.

"Sorry Draco. Listen I have to get to class. I'll talk to you later." She tried to start back up the stairs, having never turned around to speak to him, but his hand on her shoulder stopped her and pulled her around to face him.

"No. You have time before class. I'll walk you."

She was only a step above him as he pulled her forward for a soft kiss. It was more a feather light brush of his lips then a real kiss. He pulled away before she could completely register the touch. He turned her back around and hugged her tight to his side. Ginny wanted to pull away but he felt so solid and real that she couldn't bring herself to move. She just kept moving forward until they were outside of her class.

"Why are you doing the Draco?" she asked bluntly, not able to stand not knowing anymore. She never thought that Draco could be this way.

"Doing what?"

"This," she gestured vaguely, "All this niceness. The comforting, the consideration, the, bloody hell, why are you being to sodding nice?"

"Well I am supposed to be your sodding boyfriend right? And I figured the best way to act it is to be as overbearingly nice as I can anywhere Potty might see."

"But he can't see. Not here."

"What if he had followed? What if he ever hid somewhere and noticed that everything stopped the minute no one was around? He sure as hell wouldn't believe your effing scheme then would he?" He stormed off, unbelievable pissed off and not sure entirely why.

Ginny was a bit shocked at his reaction. She wanted to go after him but other students, including Nikki were starting to show up. So she just smiled and went into class, thinking the whole time about why Draco had gotten so angry. She couldn't figure anything out. What she wouldn't give for some veritaserum. Then she wouldn't have to wonder about anything. Herself included.

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A/N: This one is a little bit shorter then I wanted it but it was a ness Cary interlude and if I had continued I would have had to continue for way to long. I Hope I am up to par, and I apologize for any errors you may find. I try my best but I have no Beta, at least I have not found one that can keep up with me.

Thank you to my reviewers: Daisy Rae; Michelle Draynor; stevania-felton; Velfin (Of course we know what her problem is, we are not in her head); MaelynMcRey; Just Call me Stevie (yep, I'm tweeking an over used plot); Barefoot Bohemian; Anna-Bananna890; and last but never least moon pixie (Fine No pushing up daisies for me, well not yet my kids would miss me)

And thank you to everyone who has taken the time to put me or my story on alert or favourites.