Love, Lies, Mercury Messaging, and iPods

Disclaimer: Not Rowling. I'm not profiting from this story, either.

Author's Note: I just decided to update. You all seemed to love it so much.

Chapter 4: Beginnings

BY SUNDAY Ginny decided she didn't like her first choice in her bedroom décor. So she asked her mother if she could repaint the room and take the furniture she didn't want back to the store. Mrs. Weasley agreed, only because they could afford it and because her youngest daughter had been through a lot of trauma in so little time.

So Ginny sponge-painted her walls with a grey-blue color, and mixed and matched blues for her bedding, lamps, and furniture. She preferred the new style to the old one, and left the Weasleys' new home on Monday morning feeling slightly accomplished.

THOUGH GINNY and Ron arrived at Hogwarts a little behind schedule, they were able to attend their last morning classes. Ginny slipped into Potions as quietly as possible, but Professor Snape's head snapped up at her arrival.

"Ah, Miss Weasley. Late, that's a first. Ten points from Gryffindor," the greasy-haired man snarled.

Ginny furrowed her brow and argued back, "But, sir, I've just come from home. I have a – "

Professor Snape interrupted her rather rudely, "Do not argue with me, Weasley. Take your seat and collect the notes from someone after class."

The red-haired girl frowned, not positively sure what she had done to Snape, who had always treated her fairly, even though she was related to Ron and considered a 'blood traitor'. She sat down next to Laila, who sat with her chin in her hand, dozing off when Snape wasn't looking. Ginny nudged her with her elbow as she started to take notes.

Laila stirred and gazed over at Ginny, "Oh! Hi!"

Ginny grinned and whispered back, "Did you take notes?"

"No…but you can probably get some from Nat."

Ginny nodded and dipped her quill in ink, and then she began to take notes on what Snape was currently talking about.

DURING LUNCH Harry and Hermione only questioned Ron and Ginny about Charlie's tape for a few minutes. Ron gave them a brief description of what had happened to him and what he gave everyone after his death. Harry ended up leaving lunch early with Ron so the two could go pick through Charlie's old Quidditch valuables. Hermione was curious about the books Ginny had gotten, and Ginny named some titles and described one of the books she had already finished. She told Hermione she could go through the collection, which still sat in boxes for the most part, and pick out what she wanted to borrow. The bushy-haired girl was particularly pleased about this, and did not bother Ginny about that dreaded weekend once more.

Ginny met Draco in the courtyard that afternoon after classes. He was with Blaise Zabini, who took one look at Ginny and left, either because he was still being sympathetic towards her, he wanted nothing to do with her, or he was just being kind because he had a secret infatuation with her. The latter would never be proved correct because he 'would never touch that scum'.

Draco gave her a feeble grin as she neared him. Ginny did not know how to thank him for all that he had done over the last week. So she threw her arms around him and embraced him for several minutes. He didn't pull away like he did when they were by the Lake, but he was slightly tense.

Finally Ginny pulled back and grinned, "I don't care how much it reminds you of teddy bears."

"Ha ha. What was that for?" He scratched the back of his head and glanced down at her.

Ginny shrugged and answered sheepishly, "For, you know, being there. It meant a lot to me. I swear on Merlin's beard, if you would have given me any sympathy, I probably would have tried to kill myself."

Draco put his arm around her shoulder and steered her in one direction. The two walked along as Draco spoke, "I figured that much. Plus, I'm not really the type of guy that gives sympathy for too long. I mean, I told you I was sorry that time on the dock. I'm not going to reiterate."

She nodded and pressed her face against his shoulder, "Do you want to know how he died?"

"Sure."

Ginny took a breath and stated, "He got involved with drug trafficking. He was murdered in a get up."

Draco cocked an eyebrow, "Really. Huh. Bet you didn't see that coming did you?"

She grinned and shook her head. "Nope, not at all. Then he left me all his books and music. They're pretty great to remember him by."

"So the tape was a will, sort of?"

"Yeah, I guess so. He mostly gave out all the money he earned trafficking. We bought a new house. It was how Mum dealt with the tragedy – by change. So, it was a new beginning for me." Ginny paused. "Speaking of new beginnings, I was thinking. Since we know who the other is on messenger, why don't we start over? I mean, switch screen names or something. Lady Wisteria Winter 17 has too many false memories, I think."

Draco nodded approvingly. "I agree. I have too many younger Slytherins bothering me all the time on my current screen name, anyway. What were you thinking of changing yours to?"

Ginny pondered, "I was going through lyrics, but I couldn't decide on anything. So I thought about something using my family. I came up with 'of Weasleys' and 'seventh child', but then I decided on 'not of aristocracy'."

He smirked and said, "Well, we could work on last names for mine and use the meaning of Malfoy. I am particularly fond of 'of bad faith'."

She rolled her eyes but still approved of his choice. "Nice one. So I'll see you on, then?"

"Yes, milady," replied Draco.

GINNY SIGNED onto her newly created screen name after dinner. She switched back and fourth between two friend conversations between Laila and Ashley. In Laila's window was Kendal and Laila's newest friend Haley, who was Hufflepuff and was the biggest gossip queen there ever was, and she didn't care who she hurt when talking about them. In Ashley's window was Holly and Natalie. Holly was cussing quite a bit, but other than that, the latter three weren't talking about the others. Ginny was transferring all the smack Laila and Haley were talking about Ashley and Holly into Ashley and Holly's window, and then she listened to them complain.

She was thankful when of bad faith signed on.

not of aristocracy: About time.

of bad faith: Huh?

not of aristocracy: My friends are driving me nutters.

of bad faith: Oh. What a surprise.

not of aristocracy: Yeah, I know. What are you up to?

of bad faith: Trying to avoid Tracey Davis, Daphne Greengrass, and Pansy Parkinson while attempting to listen to Blaise ramble about atheism in history. He's crazy, I swear. Never start a debate with him. You won't win.

not of aristocracy: That sounds like fun.

of bad faith: Oh, yes! It's loads!

not of aristocracy: You want to save each other and go outside?

of bad faith: Where do you want to meet?

not of aristocracy: Um, our tree?

of bad faith: Sure, we can meet at my tree.

Ginny laughed aloud, but before she could respond, Draco had already signed off. She said goodbye to her friends and signed off also. She grabbed her green petticoat and slipped into her beat up trainers, and then headed outside.

It was a bit chilly outside, and the sun was almost entirely gone, but Ginny could still make out the location of the tree. Draco was already there, leaning against it with his arms crossed. Ginny grinned and waved, ambling quickly over to him. She leaned against the tree too and asked, "What's happening?"

"Not much. I was thinking, you never did say if you liked that kiss."

"What kiss?" She knew which kiss, but she just liked to hear him talk.

Draco brushed his hair away from his face and pulled his coat closer to himself against the wind. "At the ball. Remember?"

Ginny nodded, "Yes, I remember. Did I like it? Of course not."

He was quiet for a moment and then spoke, sounding slightly disappointed, "Well, why's that?"

She teased him, "I got boy cooties. Duh."

Draco snickered loudly and reached for Ginny's head to give her a noogie. "You," he made a fist and rubbed it violently against the top of her head, "are the biggest dork." He paused and let her regain composure. "Ever."

Ginny smoothed out her hair and giggled uncontrollably. Draco smirked, "Think that's funny, huh? Well, I'm going to give you more boy cooties."

He pressed her against the tree with his body and kissed her, long and hard. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed back. His tongue was in her mouth, and she pressed her lips against his all willingly. He held her hips and pressed his body into hers. They kissed fiercely until they ran out of breath. Draco rested his forehead on her shoulder, breathing raggedly. He tugged on the collar of her coat, revealing her skin through a plain tank top. How she could still wear a tank top in the beginning of November was a mystery to him. He planted kisses along her collarbone and neck, gently biting when she pulled too hard on his hair. It was his current area of infatuation, her collarbone. He loved the freckles that were dotted all over the place, even though he couldn't see them in the dark. He could feel the warmth of her body on his lips as he kissed her, and the way she ran her hand through his hair made him loose the last ounce of self-control he had.

He forcefully pressed his mouth against hers again, and he could feel her mutter his name against his lips. It felt good, what they were doing. Not wrong, but good. It felt good until she shoved him away and pulled her coat closer to her body.

Draco frowned and took a step back towards her, but she stepped the other way. "What's wrong?"

Ginny stumbled over the words in her head for a moment and then cried, "I don't know if I love you!"

She took off towards the castle, but he grabbed her wrist and aggressively whirled her around. "Who cares?"

Ginny ripped away from his clutch and stormed away, "I do, Draco! I do!" God, what was she doing? She just wanted to turn around and run back to him and let him kiss every part of her like there was no tomorrow. She wanted to feel his silvery hair between her fingers, but yet she ran. As fast as she could.

He called desperately after her, "Ginny! Damn it, Ginny!"

He hadn't a clue what he had done wrong, and now he had a tingly feeling coursing through him that he couldn't shake.

End Author's Note: Okay, this probably wasn't what most of you expected, but it's a start from the long hiatus I was on. Review with any ideas or events you would like to see happen in the next chapter!