Chapter 5: Unexpected Suprises

Ginny sunk into the sofa chair, letting her books fall carelessly to the floor. Today had been a long day and she hadn't even planned what she was going to tell Draco and the others later that evening. A handful of first years were jabbering excitedly about what kind of presents they thought they were getting for Christmas, and another pair of Gryffindors sat playing a game of wizard's chess by the fire. Taking a deep breath she got back on her feet, grabbed her book bag, and resolved that if she was going to get anything done she needed somewhere quiet to work. On her way to the library she ran into Ron, who seemed a little stressed.

"Gin, what's up with you and Harry?" Ron asked anxiously.

"Nothing at all." She replied simply, she didn't have time for long explanations.

"Nothing, huh? Harry's seems to think there's something. He said he asked you winter ball and you turned him down..." Ron trailed off, waiting to see how she would respond.

Ginny sighed, "Yes, he asked me and I said no."

"Yeah, but I thought you liked Harry?" Ron replied, a tad confused.

Ginny began to wonder how her brother would react if he found out about Draco. "That was awhile ago- things have changed." Not now, she needed to talk to Draco first.

Ron shrugged. "Well I guess I can't do anything about it. But Gin, please just think about it. Harry's been through a lot." Ginny watched as her brother headed toward the portrait of the Fat Lady. She had never seen her brother so cool and laid back about something like this before. She had expected a lecture or - something other than that. Maybe telling Ron about Draco wouldn't be so bad after all. But Harry, he was a different story... He had been through so much, had he really had enough time to recover?

Once in the library Ginny piled her books on table and began sorting through her notes- at least the ones she manged to take. After finishing her Potion's paper, which took a good hour to write, she set about looking over some information for her History of Magic exam the next day.

"Hey psst... Weasley, you wanna have some fun?" Someone whispered behind her. Ginny swung her head around seeing no one. "Over here!" Behind a bookcase along the wall Ginny caught a familiar eye.

"How did you get behind there?" She said beginning to giggle.

"I'll tell you later. Right now I have a little pre- Christmas surprise for you. Meet me by the Whomping Willow in a few minutes. Until than my love!" Draco teased blowing her a kiss. Ginny found herself laughing even more, feeling the all the frustrations of her horrible day just melting away. She often wondered how someone once so cold-hearted, now made her laugh and smile. The Draco she had known years ago had truly been a different person, but how was she going to make her family see that?

Grabbing her jacket from around the back of her chair, she quickly rushed to the Main Entrance, and soon found herself outside. To her delight, white fluff was starting to drift heavily down from gray skies. She loved the snow, it just made everything so beautiful.

Finally she made it down to the willow, being careful not to tread to closely to it's branches. Suddenly someone grabbed her from behind. "Guess who?"

"I don't know Malfoy you tell me?" She replied sarcasticly, trying hard not to laugh.

"A little cocky are we? I thought that was my job," Draco grinned, kissing her on the cheek.

"Well I can't let you have all the fun.. now can I?" She said kissing him back. "So what's this surprise you have?"

"The surprise is right here..." He said, revealing a neatly wrapped box.

Ginny looked up a him oddly. "But it's not even Christmas. Why?"

"Do I have to have a reason for everything? Just open it!" He pleaded, handing her the gift. Carefully unwrapping the tiny box, reveled a small golden compact mirror with gems set around the edges.

"It's beautiful but.." Ginny began, wondering whether or not to ask him what he had intended her to use it for. Strangely though when she went to look in the tiny round mirror, she couldn't see herself or anything else. "Huh?"

"I know it doesn't make sense now, but you'll know soon enough." He said in an almost regretful tone.

"Well thank you, I love it!" She smiled wrapping her arms around him. "But there's something I need to talk to you about..."


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