A/N-Thank you all for the wonderful reviews and being so understanding about the update delay. I hope you continue to like the last few chapters.

Chapter seven

The first meal since Ginny had left Draco's room started off very easy. She was alone at the Gryffindor table and enjoying her pork chops and stew. However, good things don't last long as she very well knew. She heard footsteps heading to her table and knowing that everyone had either finished or was already seated Ginny just knew it had to be him. She lowered her head and tried to seem fascinated with her stew. She could tell it was him out of the corner of her eye. His light hair and tall build was just too much of a giveaway.

She kept her head down hoping he would go away. But of course, he slowly sat in front of her and laid his hands on the table. A few minutes went by so he leaned down resting his chin on his hands causing Ginny to lower her head further. After a few more minutes he began strumming his fingers on the table and propped his head to the side on his other hand. Ginny looked to her right and continued to eat as if no one was around. This caused him annoyance so he climbed over the table sitting to her left extremely close.

Ginny didn't even flinch at his movements even though her insides were turning. He moved her foot gently with his and still received nothing. He pushed her foot a little harder which caused Ginny to stomp hard on his. "So you do know I'm here." Draco said casually.

She finally looked at him with a forced smile. "Yes. I know."

"Have you finished studying yet?" Draco said curiously.

Ginny looked at him appallingly. "How is that possible? I just started."

Draco shrugged disappointedly. "I guess it's not possible however, I was hoping we could go somewhere. You know, relax a bit."

Ginny gaped at him. "What do you think we-I mean I have been doing the past week? I'm back and I need to study."

Draco gave a look of frustration. "Well how long will that take?"

Ginny chuckled. "As long as it does I guess."

"What kind of an answer is that? As long as it does!" Draco said angrily.

"I don't see why you care so much Malfoy." Ginny snapped.

"Because, I want to go somewhere with you and you're delaying it. I don't like being put off you know." Draco said arrogantly.

Ginny laughed loudly. "Oh dear me! I'm delaying the Prince of Slytherin! Send me off to Azkaban why don't you? Isn't there some sort of punishment for such a terrible crime?"

"I can think one up if you like?" He smiled. "Look, I want to go somewhere, anywhere together. Even if it's just outside for a short walk. What exactly do you need to accomplish before we can do something like that?"

Ginny pondered her homework. "Well, I have a ten page essay due in potions, I need to interpret a dream for divination, I need to read a book for-" Draco raised his hand to silence her.

"Alright, I get it. Why don't we go into the library? Potions is a breeze for me so I can help you do the essay quickly. Divination is a completely useless subject so you should just ignore the assignment and drop the class. You can read after we do something together. How does that sound?" Draco said commandingly.

Ginny started laughing hysterically. Draco waited until she was done to ask. "And what's so funny Kitten?"

Ginny wiped away a small tear out of the corner of her eye while stifling more laughter. "You can't help yourself! You can't survive unless you're telling someone what to do!"

Draco shrugged. "So you've figured me out. Hooray for you. Let's get going then."

Ginny just shook her head with a smile and followed him to the library. "Okay, what's the potion we'll be writing about?"

"Wolfsbane." Ginny said as she scanned some of the books in the shelves.

Draco nodded happily. "Perfect. Been there, done that. Here, this one will help. Oh and this one as well….."

They sat down at a table near the window and Ginny immediately started scanning one book while Draco did the other. He started writing down notes on a piece of parchment as Ginny started to watch him. She had never noticed he was left handed. She was enjoying watching his forearm flex with each flick of the quill. She liked how his hair fell forward over his face and he stroked his chin as he stared at the parchment. Just as she started enjoying his eyes she became startled. She could see his eyes because he was now looking at her with an amused expression. "What are you staring at?"

Ginny coughed and cleared her throat. "Uh, nothing. I was just uh, wondering what you've got so far?"

Draco laughed and grabbed a hold of her chair scooting it next to his. He put his arm around the back of it and handed her the parchment. Ginny smiled embarrassedly and scanned it quickly. She was immediately impressed. "Malfoy! You've found all the ingredients and how strengthening each one will affect the subject! That would have taken me all day. Thank you."

Draco nodded and gestured for her to begin writing. Ginny obeyed and started writing quickly with a happy expression. In less than an hour, she was done. "Finished! Oh you're so wonderful Malfoy! I was dreading that essay so much!"

Draco gave a shocked face. "Did you just hear yourself?"

"What?" Ginny asked curiously.

Draco imitated Ginny's voice. "You're so wonderful Malfoy!"

"Oh shut it you prat!" Ginny laughed. "You know I never thought words like wonderful and Malfoy would be in the same sentence. Nor did I think Draco Malfoy, Prince of Slytherin would ever help me with an assignment. What is this world coming to?"

"A bit scary isn't it? Well at least you can tell your boyfriend Potter that you've found a potions tutor."

Ginny smacked him in the arm. "He is not my boyfriend. And I'm not even attracted to him in the least!"

Draco nodded. "I know you're not."

"You do?"

"Sure I do!"

"How do you know?"

"Because you're attracted to me!"

"Ugh! If you weren't the reason this essay was finished I'd, I'd." Ginny wasn't sure what she would do.

Draco laughed. "Well Kitten, while you're figuring out what you're going to do to me, I'm taking you outside."

Draco grabbed her hand and drug her out of the library. They walked out onto the grounds and headed for the pitch. Ginny was immediately excited. "Excellent idea. I'll just get my broom."

Draco grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. "Sorry Kitten but we'll only be using one broom today and as I'm sure you already know, mine is better."

Ginny shook off the insult and waited while he got his broom. He flew over to her and scooted to the back of the broom making room for her in the front. Ginny took a deep breath and got on. She grasped the broom with both hands and kicked off from the ground in sync with him. The chill in the air made Ginny shutter so he moved closer and snaked one arm around her middle and rested his chin on her shoulder. Ginny liked him being that close and leaned against him. They flew around the snowy grounds and over the forbidden forest.

Everything seemed so small below while his presence felt so large. Ginny loved the feeling of him holding her while flying. Even though she was an accomplished flyer, he somehow made her feel safer. She interlaced her fingers on one hand with his and he squeezed it gently. She felt him kiss the side of her cheek that now tingled and grew hot. After a few hours of flying and closeness, they descended and landed back on the pitch.

Ginny's teeth were chattering under her blue lips. Draco noticed and eyed her with a look of concern. "Are you alright?"

Ginny nodded. "JJJJJust aaaa lllittle ccccold."

Draco smiled but then looked at her more closely. "We need to get you inside."

He placed his own cloak around her shoulders and his arm around her waist. He hurried her inside. Once through the oak doors, he looked her over again. "You shouldn't be alone. Let's go to my dormitory and you can leave when you're warm again."

Ginny nodded and followed him. Once inside Draco started a fire and removed both cloaks around Ginny. He walked her over to the fire and summoned up hot chocolate. Ginny's hands and face burned as they thawed. She stopped shivering and looked behind to find Draco pacing. "What are you doing Malfoy?"

"Huh, oh nothing. I wasn't sure if you were alright or not? Are you okay?" Draco said quickly.

Ginny smiled. "I'm fine. It was colder than I thought out there. Thanks, I had a great time."

Draco sat down next to her smiling. "Me too. We can do it again whenever you want alright?"

"Alright." Ginny sipped her hot chocolate and watched the flames of the fire.

The next few days weren't very productive for Ginny's studies. She completed a few more assignments but then couldn't resist Draco's invitations. Ginny was relieved that he hadn't tried to do anything other than spend time with her and she was wondering if they were actually becoming friends. The last day of break, Draco ate with Ginny at the Gryffindor table and was throwing pieces of his biscuit at her. Ginny sighed. "Malfoy, do you really have to be you right now? I'm trying to eat in peace."

Draco leaned over and whispered. "This is our last meal together for a while I'm sure. I wanted you to remember it."

Ginny laughed. "That's a poor excuse for being a complete git you know that?"

"I know. Anyhow, have you seen Red around? I just realized I haven't seen her in a week. I'm getting worried."

"Oh didn't I tell you? She's been coming into my dormitory with me on occasion. She's perfectly fine. I'll bring her to your room next time I see her. I'm sure she misses you." Ginny said trying to sound convincing but spoke a little too quickly. It just sounded rehearsed.

Draco sighed and looked at Ginny suspiciously. "Right. I would like to see her."

Later that afternoon, they walked through the empty corridors talking about what would lie ahead. Everyone was due back very shortly and they were a bit sad. Ginny scooped her arm around his and sighed. "I've actually had a great time with you Malfoy!"

Draco nodded. "Me too Kitten. But all good things must come to an end right?"

Ginny smiled. "Right. Oh well, at least I know your secret."

Draco stopped and stared at her. "What secret?"

Ginny spoke excitedly. "Oh I really shouldn't say. What if someone heard me?"

Draco replied slightly frustrated as he looked up and down the corridor. "Kitten, no one's around."

Ginny shrugged. "Alright. Well, I've always believed that you were this horrible death eater that couldn't wait to get rid of everyone that didn't worship the ground you walk on. Now that we've had this time to get to know each other, I realize you're not like that at all."

Draco looked curiously amused as Ginny continued. "Malfoy, you are a decent, sensitive, and thoughtful person. You could actually love someone if you allowed yourself. You are truly kind to those you care about. You are the exact opposite of what I thought you were. If anyone found out your secret, you'd actually have to stop being a pompous jerk and what fun would that be for you?"

Draco cupped Ginny's hands in his. "So you know my secret….Big deal. How about confessing yours to me right now?"

Ginny removed her hands from his and stepped back. "I-I don't have a secret."

Draco pulled her back to him. "Yes you do Kitten." Draco's eyes were looking deeply into hers. Ginny could feel her heart pounding into her throat. Suddenly the silence around them was deafening to her. She started feeling faint. How could he possibly know?

Ginny couldn't speak and Draco knew it. He sighed deeply. "Fine then. You don't have to admit it yet but it's terrible to keep things like that to yourself. But I have more than one secret."

Ginny's heart was still pounding as she just stared with a dumbfounded look. Draco leaned in closer and whispered. "And it's the same as yours." It is? You're an animagus too? Is that why I lose track of you for weeks at a time? What, are you slithering through the forest at night?

Just then, they could hear students piling into the corridors. Ginny looked worriedly at Draco holding her so closely. No one seemed to be heading their way but Ginny tried to push away from him cautiously. Draco objected and pulled her back to his arms. "No, not yet. I'm not ready."

Ginny sighed as a leaping feeling overcame her insides. He didn't want to let her go. "Malfoy, it has to end. You know it more than I do. It won't work. Slytherin's and Gryffindor's were never meant to be friends."

Draco brought her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly without removing his gaze on her. "It's not going to end….Just so you know. We may not speak for a long time but this will never end. It wasn't meant to and you know that more than I do."

Ginny smiled and hugged him tightly. "Thank you Draco. Thank you for everything."

Draco grinned at the feeling her saying his name gave him. "You're welcome Gin."

All of the sudden, they heard it. There was no denying the sound. They could hear Ron and Harry walking towards their corridor boasting about some new Quidditch move. Ginny tried again to pull away but Draco brought her back. "Malfoy stop. He'll kill us both."

Draco smiled flirtatiously and cupped her face in his hands. Footsteps were growing louder behind them. He leaned down slowly and brushed his lips gently with hers. They were getting closer. Ginny's knees were sure to crumble. The pounding in her throat was even stronger. He pressed his lips against hers and Ron was laughing close by. Ginny's limbs were tingling and her face grew hot. Harry was yelling at someone in Ravenclaw to not bother showing up for the next match. Draco placed his hand around her waist and pulled her closer. The light around them was being shadowed by advancing students. Ginny parted her lips and allowed him to deepen the kiss. Scuffles of footsteps seemed just behind them. Draco gently pulled away. Ginny sighed in relief. Ron yelled at Neville to not lose the password again. Just then Draco pulled her in one more time for a more powerful and deeper kiss. Harry yelled at Hermione for heading towards the library. Draco smiled, stole one more hug, and walked away.

Ginny stood in the corridor watching him walk as students strolled passed her in his direction. She felt two people stop behind her. "Ginny? Are you alright?" Ron said.

Ginny didn't turn to face him but whispered. "Never better."

Ron and Harry exchanged glances and then stepped in front of her. Ron waived a hand in front of her content face. "Earth to Ginny!" Ron tried to see what she was looking at but Draco was long gone around the corner.

Ginny smiled but did not answer as she brought her hand to her lips replaying it in her head. Ron sighed. "Really Ginny, I knew you shouldn't have stayed behind. All that studying has fried your brain! Will you ever listen to me?"

Ginny spoke casually. "No, but thanks for asking. I'll be seeing you." She turned on her heel with a grin and went to her dormitory. The rest of her day was spent daydreaming about the tender kiss she had just shared with Malfoy.