Ginny awoke as she became aware of footsteps approaching her. She had hardly anytime to do her homework after her detention, and had, consequently, fallen asleep in the library during the attempt.

"Do you make a habit of staying out past your bedtime?" She recognized his voice almost instantly.

"As if you never have," she scoffed, forcing herself not to fall into another coma.

"I'm a prefect, Weasley, and duty calls. Especially when little weasels can't seem to figure out their bedtime."

"Do you expect the time to be engraved on the inside of my eyelids, Malfoy?"

"Draco," he corrected her instantly. "And one would think that you would make more of an effort to follow the rules, especially since breaking them is what got you in this condition in the first place. Now, I don't care that you've been exempt form your patrolling duties. With someone alongside you, you'll have no problem fulfilling your obligations."

"Do you mean to say that I'm obligated to spend time with you just because I fell asleep in the library?"

"I would consider it more of a privilege, little Weasel. And plus, I know that part of you is just dying to do it."

Ginny gave him a sardonic bark of laughter. "Ha! You would think that, wouldn't you?"

"Naturally. And even the late hour can't hide your crimson cheeks. Blushing, Weasley?"

Ginny felt herself flush as he pointed this out. Doing her best to not let him get the best of her, she straightened herself. "Well Malfoy, if you're too afraid to withstand the dark hallways by yourself even a little while longer, I suppose I could be inclined to acquiesce to your request—out of mere pity, of course," she added quickly.

"Of course."

He led her from the library, deliberating her normal brisk walk to a slow ambling about the castle. Ginny wasn't even sure where they were, but she knew right away that mischief was about when Peeves' familiar cackle graced her ears.

"What do we have here? Two kiddies out past bedtime…AGAIN?"

"I beg your pardon?" Ginny was wondering if she'd heard him correctly. From the sound of it, Ginny was sure that Peeves was implying that both of them had been out before. Meaning that Malfoy…

"How very stupid you must be. The last time you were out you both ended up in the Hospital Wing."

"I beg your pardon?" Ginny hissed, turning in the direction where she thought Malfoy to be. He gave a soft chuckle before pointing out that she was facing a suit of armor, and not his 'lovely self'.

"What? Keeping secrets? Didn't know that he was outside the other night as well?"

"Go away, Peeves," Draco ordered firmly through clenched teeth.

"Fine. I know when I'm not wanted," Peeves gave a mock-sigh. "Perhaps I should inform the caretaker that students have taken to the hallways for their romantic endeavors. Oh Filchie, my love!" Peeves called as he dove through the nearest wall.

"Oh, good job, Malfoy," Ginny congratulated sarcastically.

Malfoy took a firm hold of her shoulders, pulling her closer to him than she had ever been or had wanted to be in her life…until that moment.

"Draco. I said Draco, remember?"

Ginny found herself breathless as she stuttered "Right. Draco. Sorry."

Draco picked up on this easily, giving a soft laugh and asking her, his voice low and inviting: "What's the matter Weasley, too close for comfort? …or not close enough?" he closed the gap between them even more so. Ginny could feel his quick, rhythmic breathing on her ear and cheek. She felt herself going red and was at a loss to prevent it. And what was more; she didn't trust herself to answer his question.

"So you lied about your foot then. That wasn't how you hurt it," she only wanted to change the topic and put space between her and Malfoy's hard body. Was that so much to ask?

Malfoy gave an amused huff and stepped away. Grabbing hold of her wrist, he led her a few feet down the hallway before he paused, noticing how much her pulse had quickened. "Because I'm so sure that you told Pomphrey the entire truth as well."

"It doesn't count as lying if she never really asked. Besides, I imagine that my reason would be far less secretive than yours. What were you doing out there?"

"I was outside on business, none of which concerns you."

"So you were outside then. Did you see me fall?" she noticed the change in the way he gripped her wrist as they continued on.

"I did, as a matter of fact, though I didn't know it was you at the time."

"And you just let random strangers fall to their death without a care in the world?"

"You didn't die," he pointed out. "Although when I found out it was you I had hoped otherwise. I didn't bother to check if you were alive. You looked so peaceful I just assumed it to be true."

"Such compassion," Ginny sneered sarcastically. "Wait a minute! You just left me out there?"

"Doing otherwise would have meant an…interrogation for me as well. What were you doing outside?"

"Nothing that should have sent me plummeting through the sky," Ginny muttered.

"What are you implying?"

"I'm a good flyer, Draco. The rain wasn't that heavy. Something else had to have contributed to my fall. I know you saw something. I can feel it in your grip."

Though her last comment took him somewhat aback, Draco had a response whipped up within seconds, as was his Heaven-sent talent. "So perceptive. At least you seem to think so. It's not as if I did see anything. And even if I did, it's not as if I'd tell you anyways…at least, not until you tell me what you were doing out there."

Ginny sighed, recognizing defeat. They could dance in circles all night, she knew, but they would always end up in the same position: Malfoy pressing Ginny for information. And, it seemed, Ginny wasn't prepared to dance all night, for her resolve was already slipping. "If you must know…I was flying."

"Really?" he sounded astounded. "Fell from a broom while flying, did you? I never would have guessed that one."

Ginny, finding her face growing hot once more, continued reluctantly despite her stupid answer. "It calms me to fly. I like to do it when I'm upset."

"Oh? And what was it that had our little Weasel all in a huff anyways?"

Ginny hadn't even noticed that they had stopped walking. "I suppose you already know that my brother's gone missing."

She felt him shrug, as he was still clutching her wrist. "Hadn't heard, actually," he'd sounded passive enough, but now that they were on the subject Ginny felt that she wanted nothing more than to pick a fight with him.

"What the matter Draco? Not keeping you well informed these days?"

"Again, I find that none of your business. So you had just found out about your brother then? Thought a nice cool ride in the rain would calm your nerves?"

It was Ginny's turn to shrug. She really didn't know why she'd decided to go out. "I was hoping for anything I guess. Of course, what I got…"

"Well, you did look quite peaceful."

"Looks aren't everything, now are they?"

"No, but they do count for something," Ginny felt him growing closer to her once again. Not wanting to appear weak and passive, Ginny stood her ground as he advanced on her.

"So I've answered your question then. Now you answer mine. Did you see something?"

"Well…see? Not really. The rain was blinding my eyes. Actually I was having difficulty recognizing shapes," she knew that he was playing around something, but for some reason Ginny couldn't seem to be able to connect the dots.

"But you did see me. We already went over that."

"But I didn't recognize you. We already went over that," he was closer now, even more than before, and Ginny found it hard to keep her feet glued to the ground and her knees locked when his tone chest was brushing against her, almost forcing her back, and his addictive scent was doing its best to turn her legs to jelly.

"Yes…yes I suppose we did."

"Then we're right back where we started, aren't we?" she could feel his breath on her face once again, and could sense that his lips were only inches from her own.

"Wh-where's that?" Ginny breathed, trying her hardest not to give in and fall back…or was it falling forward that would be giving in? And if that were the case, wasn't it falling forward that Ginny was trying to stop herself from doing anyways? Ginny contemplated this in her head before being drawn back to him by his smooth voice answering her question.

"Right back where we started," he whispered again. His voice was husky and his breath came in heavy, short bursts. "Your Common Room."

His hand slid down her wrist to her hand, where it lingered momentarily before he pulled away and stepped back. He didn't say another word to her, but left her standing before the portrait of the Fat Lady, completely ignoring the painting's string of questions as she mumbled the password and stepped in slowly, holding her hand over her racing heart the entire way up to her room.