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Chapter 15: Agreements, Plans, and Newfound Feelings

It had been three whole weeks since the incident that occurred in Diagon Alley. People worried that other Death Eater attacks would probably come to pass. Hermione was still upset, but Ron had been spending more time with her than usual, so the brunette began to focus her thoughts on him. Harry had not yet gathered the courage to ask Stephanie out. Every time he was around her, he acted like a blubbering idiot, and for the past couple of days, Stephanie had begun to question if he was actually sane. Draco and Ginny had made their library meetings a routine, but when they were caught by Ron, he began to question his sister's sanity as well.

"I just don't see why she's hanging out with that git, Hermione," Ron said, pacing back and forth. She rolled her eyes at her boyfriend.

"Maybe she's tutoring him," she suggested helpfully.

"Malfoy is the smartest in all his classes." Hermione huffed at this. "After you of course," Ron covered up smoothly.

'I didn't think he noticed anything in class,' she thought, suprised. "Ron, I don't know why Malfoy and Ginny are meeting each other, but I do know that we have to let them."

"Are you insane?" he cried. "This is Malfoy! We have to find out what they are doing," Ron said, determined to do just that.

"We?" Hermione shook her head, "Oh no, there is no WE in this situation," she emphasized. "There is no way I will be a part of this. I already told Ginny that we, well mainly you, would stop nosing in her personal life."

"Why would you do something like that?" he asked, horrified.

"Because you're supposed to let her live her own life and figure out things on her own," Hermione replied wisely. "And I won't get in the way of that."

Ron scowled. "I don't want that git around my sister."

"You might not want him around her, but as long as she's okay, then there really isn't any harm in it. Besides, what can happen to her at Hogwarts?" she asked, taking his hand in hers.

"Hopefully nothing," he grumbled. "But if that git hurts her, I'll kill him myself."

"Agreed," she said with a small smile.

"Can I really?" he asked, grinning.

"No, not really," she said, then almost laughed at the look of pure dissapointment on his face. "Ron, I don't think there is anything going on with them," Hermione assured. "Maybe he feels indebted to her, since she almost saved his life."

He shrugged. "Maybe."

"Don't worry about Ginny, Ron. She's perfectly capable of taking care of herself," Hermione said, putting her head on his shoulder as he sat down.

"Right. So, are you excited about the ball?" Ron asked.

"Yes, I just don't want to worry about what will happen afterwards," she replied, thankful that he had changed the subject.

"What do you mean, afterwards?"

"Well, what if something happens during Christmas break?"

"Hermione, nothing is going to happen so don't worry." Ron said, pulling her into a hug.

"Maybe. I just wish this was over with," she said sadly.

He sighed heavily. "I do too. And not just for me, but for my family, you, and especially Harry."

"Poor Harry. It must feel awful having the weight of the world on his shoulders," Hermione said, her eyes appearing glassy.

"It actually doesn't feel that bad," Harry replied, sitting on the couch opposite of them.

"Harry!" Hermione and Ron cried out in surprise. "Just how much of that did you hear?" Hermione asked.

"Pretty much everything that had to do with me," he answered, grinning.

"It isn't polite to listen in on people's conversations," Hermione said, smiling slightly.

"It isn't polite talking about other people behind their back either," Harry pointed out to the both of them.

She and Ron smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, we can't help it if we're worried about our best friend," Ron replied.

"You don't have to worry about me."

"Yes we do," said Hermione, tears filling her eyes.

"Look, I know that you worry to much and I wouldn't if I were you," Harry said simply. "This is our last year at Hogwarts and I don't want the both of you, and Ginny, worrying about me."

"I would be worried if Hermione didn't worry," Ron said, smirking at the glare that she sent him.

"Me too," Harry said seriously. Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation.

After a few moments of silence, she sighed. "I think that he has picked this year, Harry," she told him.

He nodded wearily. "I know."

Ron looked at them in confusion. "What the bloody hell are you two talking about?"

"Voldemort," Harry and Hermione said and surprisingly, Ron didn't shudder.

"Oh, yeah."

"All these attacks are happening for a reason. Obviously he thinks he's strong enough to fight me," Harry said worriedly.

"Yeah, that would make sense," Ron replied. "So, what are we going to do?"

"I don't know, but we'll think of something," said Harry, convincingly.

"Of course we will," Hermione said in her know it all tone. "We always do, and we always win, and we always will," she said, confident. "I just want you two to know that no matter what happens, you will always be my best friends, and I love you both."

Harry and Ron smiled at her. "We love you too, Hermione," Harry said and quickly added, "but in a different way of course," after seeing Ron's glare.

She gave them both a teary smile. "Best friends, no matter what?"

"Always," the boys answered in unison.

"Hey, Drake," Stephanie greeted, sitting in the seat that was usually occupied by Ginny.

"What do you want?" Draco asked her, irritated. Ginny was supposed to be here twenty minutes ago and she still hadn't shown.

Stephanie smiled at him. "Oh, nothing. Just wanted to let you know that Ginny won't be coming tonight."

"Oh and why is that?" he asked, pretending to be uninterested, but clearly disappointed that she wasn't coming.

"Well, this guy named Michael Corner asked her to have dinner with him tonight and she accepted," she replied, smirking when Draco scowled.

"Does she even know this twit?" he asked, growling angrily.

"Well duh. She only went out with him before like ten times," Stephanie said sarcastically.

"She never told me about him," Draco said, looking surprised.

She smiled. "Oh, so you two are talking about ex's now?" He shifted uncomfortably.

"What's it to you?"

"Absolutely everything," Stephanie said seriously. "And you want to know why?" At his hesitant nod she continued, "It's because she's my best friend and I know how you are with girls, Draco. You have broken every one of their hearts and I don't care about that, but this is Ginny." She looked at him and glared. "If you hurt her, I will hurt you, and the dream team probably won't mind helping either." Draco smirked at her.

"Don't worry little cousin, besides, there isn't anything going on with us. She's a Weasley and I'm a Malfoy. Nothing could ever happen between us." 'Nothing except the bet,' he added silently.

"So then, why are you hanging out with her so much?" Stephanie asked, curiously.

"I don't think I've figured that one out yet," he replied. He felt guilty because of his lie. 'What is wrong with you? You're a Malfoy, you aren't supposed to feel anything, especially guilt,' he chastised himself.

"Does she know that you're a Death Eater?"

He scowled, "I don't fucking know, ask Weasley yourself."

"Ask me what?" Ginny said, sitting next to Stephanie.

"Ginny, what are you doing here? I thought you had a date with Michael Corner." Stephanie replied.

Ginny scowled at the name, "No, not anymore." Draco perked up at this.

"Why, what happened? That git didn't hurt you, did he?" Stephanie asked and Draco frowned.

"He didn't really hurt me, he just tried to.." Ginny trailed off uncomfortably as she looked at Draco.

"Gin, what did he do?" Stephanie demanded.

"I...he...well, he...Do we have to talk about this now?" she asked Stephanie, obviously not wanting to say anything in front of Draco, but Stephanie didn't notice.

"No, you can tell me now or I'm going to go punch the fucker in his face," she replied angrily.

Ginny smiled, "Well, you don't have to do that, cause I already did that." Draco smirked.

"What is it with you and punching guys in the face?" he asked her.

"I only do it when they deserve it," she said scowling and then grinned at him, "and you deserved it." Stephanie laughed.

"Ok, we aren't changing the subject people. I want to know what Michael did," replied Stephanie.

"Well, he tried to.." Ginny stuttered.

"Yeah? He tried to..."

"He forced himself on me." At their looks of shock she quickly replied, "Oh, but he didn't get anything from me, hence his black eye and me sitting here," Ginny said, acting as if it wasn't a big deal.

"I am going to kill him," Stephanie said, getting up.

"Steph, no you aren't," Ginny replied, pulling her back down.

"Well if you don't let me," she sulked, "I'll just go tell Ron."

"Oh no you won't tell my brother! If you do, I'll tell Harry that.." the rest was mumbled by Stephanie's hand over her mouth.

"Well if you do that, then I will just have to tell Draco about that time you.." Stephanie was cut off by Ginny's hand. Draco raised an eyebrow at them.

"About what time?" he asked, interested and intrigued.

"Oh, nothing," Ginny replied, willing herself not to blush. "Stephanie is obviously not feeling okay." Stephanie smirked and Ginny scowled.

"Well, I think that Stephanie's right. I think that you should tell your brother what that git tried to do to you," Draco said.

Ginny's eyes widened, "Are you out of your bloody mind? He would kill Michael!"

Draco nodded, "Yeah, that's the point."

"No! No one is going to tell Ron and that's it!" Ginny declared. "And that's final. Besides, if you do, I will just have to tell everybody who you fancy."

"I don't fancy anyone," Draco said, smirking.

"No, but Stephanie does," Ginny replied mischieviously, smiling at her friend.

"Well, so do you!" Stephanie shot back.

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do."

"Okay, okay," Draco interrupted their little spat. "Who cares? I don't, that's who." He smirked. "I just hope neither one of you fancies Potter." Stephanie stiffened.

"Umm, I have to go do some homework. I'll see you later Draco, bye Ginny." She dashed off.

"What's up with her?" he asked Ginny.

"Oh, um nothing," she said with a small smile, then sat back down across from him and pulled out her books.

"So, he didn't hurt you or anything?" Draco asked with concern, making her look up,

Ginny smiled, "No, he didn't hurt me." She smirked, "You know, for a minute there, I thought you actually cared."

He scowled. "No, I don't bloody care."

"Okay," she said, a look of hurt on her face. "You know, I think I'm going to do my work in the common room tonight. I'm going to get sick of this library if I'm here all of the time," she said, gathering her things.

"Look, Gi-Weasley." Draco stood up and grabbed her wrist. "That's not what I meant, I just...I..don't.."

She smiled, "I'm going to take that as a sign of caring."

"Ok," he said, "but don't tell anyone, it'll ruin my image." Draco grinned.

Ginny nodded. "Oh, of course." She smiled at him. "A Malfoy caring about a Weasley," she said, teasingly.

"No, you aren't allowed to do that." Draco said.

"Do what?" she asked innocently and backed away, "Oh, you mean saying that you care about me?"

He growled and moved around the table towards her. "No, I don't care."

"Yes, you do!" she shrieked, running around the table.

Draco started to run after her and Ginny laughed. "Malfoy, you care about me," she taunted him, still running.

"No, I don't, and where in the hell did you learn to run so fast?" Draco asked her, acting serious.

"Oh." She stopped, turned around and shrieked again. Draco was running towards her, and it didn't look like he would be able to stop anytime soon.

Draco toppled over her and they grunted in pain. "Ow, you're a lot heavier than you look," Ginny said, rubbing the back of her head.

"Hey, I will have you know that this is absolutely all muscle," he replied smugly. 'Oh yeah, she could feel that'. A blush crept up onto Ginny's neck when she realized the sexual position that she and Draco were in and he smirked at her.

"I didn't know my body felt that good."

She growled. "I didn't say that. Stop being so damn smug, you bloody git." She wiggled, "Get off of me." He groaned at her movements.

"Would you stop moving?" Draco asked desperately.

"I will when you get off of me," Ginny said stubbornly.

He looked uncomfortable, "No, it isn't that."

Ginny felt something poke the side of her thigh and she gasped in realization. "Oh, um sorry." Smiling, she decided to tease him again. "You care about me," she sang happily.

"No, I don't, so shut the bloody hell up."

"You do," she argued.

"Don't."

"Yes you d.." She trailed off when she felt something move at her thigh again. "Oh," she gasped.

He smirked. "What were you saying, Weasley?"

"I said that you care about me," she said, breathing harder.

He leaned down and looked into her golden-brown eyes. "No, I don't."

She smiled at the warmth she found in his ice blue eyes and shivered. "Yes you d..." She was cut off be his mouth coming down on hers. She moaned and arched herself into him when he plundered his tongue in her mouth. The hard kiss became soft, as their tongues danced with one another and they sighed in pleasure. Pulling back for air, they looked into each other's eyes and neither could place the other's emotions. Ginny's eyes widened, "Oh my gods." She shoved him off of her and stood up quickly. "I can't do this, not with you, not again," she said, picking up her book bag and leaving.

Draco sighed from his place on the floor. This was going to be hard, and the thing was, there were no thoughts of the bet when he kissed her. But the thing that scared him the most, was that she was right...he did care about her. He cared about a Weasley.

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