A/N: I know you're all shocked. It hasn't been many months, or long weeks since my last update, but I had the extra time so I thought I might as well post another chapter. It's a start to updating more quickly and really getting this story going…hopefully.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, just the plot!

Forgotten

Chapter Ten:

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked incredulously. "The Chudley Cannons are destined to win the Cup this year!" Harry scoffed in response, and Hermione grumbled under her breath about the immaturity of boys obsessed with Quidditch as they continued arguing on who they thought would 'win it all,' that year.

The three had been lingering outside Draco's Transfiguration class for the last ten minutes waiting for the bell to signal the end of the period. Dumbledore had sent for Harry, asking him what he knew about the Slytherin's plans. After guiltily explaining that he'd included Ron and Hermione in the event, he'd quickly extracted from his pocket the now well-worn note and handed it to the Headmaster.

Dumbledore's face had turned first thoughtful, then grave, then thoughtful again, until finally he asked Harry to go get Draco. Harry had hurriedly grabbed Ron and Hermione and the three of them had traveled to the hallway outside of Professor McGonagall's classroom, thinking of excuses to pull the prat away from the crowd without attracting much attention.

Finally, the bell sounded and Hermione sighed in relief as she saw the overconfident Slytherins and trembling Hufflepuffs beginning to pour out. Squinting her eyes, Hermione scanned the mass of students for an icy blonde head. She found him with a scowl on his face, looking extremely irked as Pansy Parkinson continued clinging on his arm, oblivious to his annoyance.

"Malfoy," Hermione shouted, and smirked when she saw the tiniest amount of relief fill his eyes as he quickly slid away from Pansy, but frowned when she saw the agitated look return. He nodded at her with a sneer.

"Granger, Weasley…Potter," He spat with venom. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Ron glared in response, his face becoming slightly flushed. Hermione shook her head, all he'd done was rudely greet them and already Ron was in a sour mood.

"I see you and Parkinson have become quite close," Ron said with a smirk. Draco looked genuinely sickened by this statement.

"Is there a reason you've singled me out? Conversation with you three is about as appealing as kissing Trelawney's shoes." He said, casually shoving a third year Ravenclaw into a wall after the student had run into him.

"Do that often, do you?" Harry retorted angrily, fingering his wand leisurely. Hermione sighed, giving the two boys on either side of her a light nudge. She waited till the halls became loud enough that they wouldn't be overheard, and crowded enough that they wouldn't be noticed before deliberately stepping next to Malfoy and snatching his wand.

"Granger-" He growled, but stopped mid-insult when she immediately gave it back time, but as she gave it to him he felt a folded piece of parchment along with his wand. Noticing Blaise Zambini standing a little off to the side waiting for him and watching the exchange with curiosity, he put a smirk back on his face.

"Sorry, but I don't like you like that," He said. "In fact, I rather think I don't like you at all." Ron quickly stepped in front of Hermione as a hurt look crossed her face, but Draco had already begun walking away.

xXxXx

It had taken Draco a further ten minutes to convince Zambini that he was going to the Hospital Wing to snitch a headache potion, and another fifteen after that because he knew the git was following him so he'd actually had to go inside the Hospital Wing. Glancing out the window, he'd been able to determine that Zambini was leaving and spotted him just as he rounded the corner away from the Wing.

Finally arriving at the Headmaster's office, he pulled the note Hermione had previously given him and muttered the written password.

"Lemon Drops and Acid Pops," he said tartly, not moving a muscle as the gargoyles leapt aside. He tiredly walked up the steps and knocked on the door, and after hearing the anticipated, "Come in," he walked with an air of confidence into the office.

"Ah, yes. Good afternoon Mister Malfoy," Dumbledore greeted politely. Draco nodded in response and took a seat in the offered chair, declining a piece of candy. Seeing that the Slytherin wasn't willing to initiate any conversation, the Headmaster got right down to it and produced the parchment Harry had given him.

"I do believe you will recognize this," He said, a twinkle in his eye. Draco pursed his lips but said nothing. "I called on you to inquire what exactly this meant." Dumbledore leant forward, his glasses sliding down somewhat as he looked pensively at Draco.

"I assume you already know, otherwise you would've have sent someone other than Potter and his sidekicks to fetch me," Draco said curtly, his hands gripping the arms of the chairs in suppressed frustration.

The man sighed. "Indeed. In that case, I'll only offer you these to take with you over the holidays. Consider it an early Christmas gift," he said kindly, giving him two small, carefully wrapped gifts and watching as Draco looked at them inquiringly. As he began to open one, however, Dumbledore stopped him.

"I suggest you wait until you arrive at the Manor to open it. Just a suggestion, of course," He said, before standing and moving towards the door.

Draco stood as well, putting the items in his bag and pocketing the letter so he could re-send it later. As the Headmaster held open the door for him, he nodded grimly, the scowl returning on his face as he left.

xXxXx

A sizeable cloud was slowly, but surely, drifting over Hogwarts. It was grey in color and hung low over the trees of the Forbidden Forest, wrapping its icy temperatures around their branches. There were streaks of white hues, mixed in with ethereal looking shades of silver. The frost licked at the leaves' edges, before passing over them and inching ever more close to the school itself.

Ginny took all this in without a second thought, thinking only of the biting cold as she burrowed deeper within her cloak. Despite her repeated warming charms, she could not keep warm. It didn't seem to matter all that much to her though, as she continued to sit underneath the tree by the lake.

It was just after dinner and Ginny had traversed outside looking for a place to sketch. She'd never been much of an artist, and hardly ever practiced her drawing skills. During dinner that night, however, she'd smiled in remembrance of past Decembers when the teachers had begun putting up decorations, as they were doing again that night.

There was a traditional sentiment about it all that had caused a warm feeling to settle into Ginny's stomach. She'd watched in fascination as Professor McGonagall had conjured a layered frost to settle on the window panes with practiced care.

It was nothing overzealous, just a few trinkets here and there, reminding all students that Christmas was hardly a month away. Ginny had merely noticed the young first year students beginning to glow with anticipation for the upcoming holidays, when she'd suddenly had the random impulse to capture their simple, yet genuine expressions.

Acknowledging that she hardly had the talent to do something that, though it sounded effortless, took great time, concentration, and dedication, she'd told her friends she was off for a walk, grabbed her bag, and went outside to be alone.

Deciding that a drawing of a section of the castle would be a good place to start, she'd begun sketching the Great Doors with the towers and the great clouds in the background, remembering to press lightly on her pencil at first. That way, if she made any mistakes, they could easily be discarded and drawn over. She furrowed her brow, glancing up for reference, as she came to a difficult area to discern properly.

There were numerous shadows in the ancient building, especially when you looked at them from a distance. She was trying to draw the depression in the frame, but couldn't seem to get the shape right. Ginny tried once more before growling, frustrated, as it now looked more like a cartoon than realistic.

She snapped her head to the left as she heard a twig break. It was Draco, and stifling a gasp, she couldn't help but stare. The cold weather certainly suited him. His cheeks were slightly flushed, his hair falling softly around his face. The light illuminating from the castle caused his hair to glow, giving him a fallen-angle appearance.

"You need to give it an arch," He said with a smirk, noting her gaze.

"What?" Ginny asked dumbly, shaking her head to clear her previous thoughts.

"The drawing," He explained, crouching down next to her and lightly taking the sketch from her hands. "You want it to look more practical right?" Ginny nodded. "Give it an arch, right there, above the hollow of the door." He said, reaching out to point, before handing it back to her and standing, casually putting his hands in his pockets and leaning against the tree.

Taking his word on it, Ginny did as he advised and drew in a bold arch above the door. Holding it out in front of her to get a better view, she was startled to see that it now looked more life-like, with only a few minor mishaps here and there.

"You were right," She whispered, still astonished.

"Now those were three words wasted," He answered, his scowl returning, though it was more sarcastic than anything else.

Ginny looked up at him skeptically. "Since when did you become the artist?" He shrugged, turning and facing the lake. Ginny took that as his answer and went back to her landscape, beginning to erase a few things she'd looked over.

"My mum knew a thing or two about art, taught me some before she passed," Draco said quietly, still not looking at her. Ginny dropped her pencil and waited for him to continue. When he said nothing, she sighed and resignedly closed her sketch book.

"It's been 15 seconds and we haven't argued," she commented, trying to lighten the mood.

"It's been 20, shut it." He snapped and Ginny rolled her eyes at his immaturity.

"No need to get hostile," She said with a huff as she placed her things in her bag and stood, leaning against the tree as Draco was doing, though she didn't find the lake half as fascinating as he seemingly did.

"You know me, hostility makes me shrink up like a… I can't think of a non-sexual metaphor," He said, with a mock surprised expression on his face.

Ginny scoffed. "What a shame," She muttered dryly, before taking a deep breath. Smelling something familiar, she stepped away from the tree, looked up at the sky, and took another breath, inhaling deeply. She did this twice more before noticing his bewildered stare.

"Are you having a heart attack?" Draco asked, looking alarmed. God forbid he'd have to help her. Ginny laughed.

"Snow," she said simply.

"Pardon?" He asked roughly, his expression unchanging as he too stepped away from the tree but continued contemplating her. Ginny twirled giddily, spreading her arms out as Draco dodged her. "Weasley," He barked. She stopped abruptly and looked at him with a grin on her face.

"Can't you smell it?" She asked exasperatedly. He raised an eyebrow. "It's going to snow, I can tell." Her voice took on a dreamy expression that sounded too much like Luna Lovegood for Draco not to roll his eyes.

"You sense this, do you?" He asked caustically. Ginny nodded, gesturing at the great clouds now gathered above their heads. He looked up and narrowed his eyes, barely discerning the specks beginning to fall slowly down to them.

Glancing at the Gryffindor from the corner of his eye, he expected to see her smug, but instead saw that she had a peaceful expression. The snow contrasted so greatly to her blood-red hair that he couldn't help but think that she was at least decent looking…for a Gryffindor. She grinned as a flake landed on her eyelashes, her face glowing in childish delight.

He hastily looked away, feeling like he hadn't the privilege to see such a sight. He cleared his throat before speaking again.

"Anyone who told you to be yourself, couldn't have given you worse advice," He muttered under his breath. Ginny looked quickly at him, an injured look flashing in her chocolate colored eyes before anger replaced it.

"You're not as bad as people say, you're much, much worse," She spat, stepping over to the tree to grab her bag so she could leave. Draco's eyes widened in surprise and he was stunned to feel a small amount of guilt beginning to pit in his stomach. Feeling the eerie need to mend her hurt feelings, he hurriedly muttered a spell under his breath, pointing his wand at the falling flakes, while absently curing his sudden appearance of a conscience.

Ginny was just beginning to walk, throwing the Slytherin a look of contempt. Her expression quickly changed into one of curiosity as she stopped to watch what he was doing. Though there was snow drifting to the ground all around her, the ones falling around him had paused mid-air, as if frozen, glistening in their moisture.

"How'd you do that?" Ginny whispered, inching closer. Draco shushed her but motioned her nearer. Gently taking her hand as she stood next to him, he faced her palm upward directly underneath one of the still flakes. He muttered yet another spell under his breath, and Ginny gasped as the snow not only started moving again, but got bigger until it was nearly the size of her palm.

The one that had previously been above her hand now softly landed on it. It was breathtaking in sight, with its snow crystals clumped together forming plate-like arms, and layered with numerous ice ridges. So fragile and delicate that she had trouble keeping her trembling hands from shattering it.

Ginny grinned and looked up, but was jolted to find that Draco was gone. She glanced towards the castle just in time to see the Great Doors slam shut.

"Sodding git," She mumbled, but nonetheless cast a permanent freezing charm on the flake before tucking it in her bag and heading back towards the castle.

xXxXx

A loud smack echoed throughout the common room, causing many to turn and stare as Colin held the back of his head and glared at his girlfriend.

"Oi!" He hollered. "What the bleeding hell was that for?"

"How come you never do anything romantic like that for me?" Kendra cried, and then turned to wave off the crowd of spectators beginning to gather, expecting a fight.

Ginny had hurried back to the Common Room, and upon arriving after a fleeting utterance of the password, looked for Colin and Kendra so she could immediately tell them what happened.

Kendra's eyes had glazed over as Ginny had pulled out the frozen snow flake to show them as proof.

She'd held it in her own hands so carefully, that Ginny had struggled not to laugh. Colin, however, had doubts. Still rubbing at his head, though every now and then he would direct an affectionate smirk at Kendra, he glanced towards Ginny.

"Why, though?" He asked, leaving the Gryffindor in question looked perplexed.

"What do you mean why?" Ginny asked with a sigh, taking a seat next to her two friends on the floor by the comforting fire. Kendra slowly and tediously handed the snow crystal back to Ginny before conjuring blankets for the three of them.

Colin frowned. "Why the sudden change of…character? Think about it, Gin. This is Draco Malfoy we're talking about here." He rolled his eyes as Kendra and Ginny immediately shushed him, frantically looking around the Common Room for Ron or anyone else that might've overheard. Not seeing anyone, they nodded at Colin to continue, though he understood the intended warning.

"All I'm saying is," He whispered, leaning in closer to the girls so they could hear him. "What reason would he have to apologize for insulting you? Sure, he didn't say it outright, but enlarging a falling snow flake? Honestly, he's completely fooling you, Gin." His hands shot up to fend off Kendra's smacks.

"You always ruin the mood," She muttered with a glare at Colin and shooting a sympathizing glance at Ginny.

Colin laughed, but retorted defensively, "I'm only looking out for her, Ken. 'sides, you know its true. Don't try and convince yourself he has feelings all of a sudden. If you kicked him in the heart, you'd break your toe."

"Sorry Gin, but I have to agree with Colin on that one. What do you see in him, anyway to make you continuously snog him?" Kendra asked softly. Ginny thought for a moment before answering.

"I don't know," she said truthfully. "I guess all I want is for one guy to prove to me that they aren't all the same, you know? Not including you of course, Col." She added hastily.

Colin sighed and reached over to rub her back comfortingly. Ginny leaned her head against Kendra's shoulder as she spoke again.

"It's a hopeless cause though, isn't it?" She asked quietly. She was met with silence from her two friends.

"I think I'll head down to the Kitchens. You two want anything?" Colin asked with forced cheerfulness in a desperate attempt to change the subject. Standing up and stretching his arms above his head, he looked down expectantly at his best friends.

"Two hot chocolates," Kendra and Ginny said simultaneously, and then looked at each other and grinned.

Colin laughed. "You two are easy,"

"Spread that around, will you?" Ginny muttered sarcastically with an amused roll of her eyes.

"Will do," Colin said with a wink.

xXxXx

A/N: I got this up as quick as I could. I was happy to see I got more reviews for the last chapter, mostly readers commenting on Snape's behavior. I warned you I was in a sarcastic mood…

TropicalTreat101: Yes, Snape was a bit…rude towards the Gryffindors in particular, but then again, that's completely expected.

Padfootedmoony: Thank you! Hope you enjoyed this one as well.

.spitxfire.: Yeah, I really used the last chapter just to move things along quicker. Let's hope it's the last.

Jade Summers: I can definitely relate to the feeble life you mentioned, especially when I'm updating. I zone out completely and ignore anyone who tries to talk to me, then when I take a break from writing, they don't want to talk to me anyway. Ah, oh well I guess haha. I LOVED Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, wonderfully done if you ask me.

Invisibleink: Love the name, thanks for the review!

By the way, if any of you would like to see a picture of the snowflake Draco gave Ginny, tell me so in a review and I'll gladly email it to you.

Otherwise, just leave one telling me what you thought, thanks!