Thanks to everyone who reviewed (and consequently seemed to fall in love with the outfits I picked) AnitaBlakeBuffyFan, GlassBroomsticks (I'm afraid I've changed their friendship to something of a rivalry...I didn't mean for it to happen, but it just did) youngwriter56, TheDoomer, I-Confuse-Everyone (Thanks very much for that, I really need to check over my work while typing) america sucks move to europe, Yochy, blackfox360 (Those occasional moments are due to the fact that I usually type up these chapter as THREE IN THE MORNING. I'm an insomniac; for example, at the moment, it looks to be...4:46 AM) PP Ruffie (Nein, zey are normal) siriusandharryluvr, Acontiae Malfoy, GoldenFawkes (Bless you, you're one of those rare people who really understands my jokes. My parents think I have a morbid sense of humor...) Nickitjuh, joanne, My Dream's Shadow, A Lonely Heart Breaker(You should be my beta...gang up on him, eh? You wait for the chapter after next...) and brownsugar3.

To see a picture of Rabastan (Ok, so it's Rabastan Lestrange, but I chose the name and features and I needed a model so…) type in etcDOTslashcityDOTnetBACKSLASHtrinityBACKSLASHcharactersBACKSLASHrabastanlDOThtml Oh, and if anyone's wondering, click back on the list of characters and you'll see how I picture Blaise, Tonks (her picture is awesome) and Neville. (Gods, they made him look v.v. cute!) I haven't used the pic of Draco as he looks too much like a vampire for me, or any of the other characters because…I dunno, I don't really see them that way.

Disclaimer: I—oh, piffle. It's not mine, all right?

meeting bast

issalee

Ginny was on top of the world.

Well, maybe not on top of it, but she fancied she was close enough. Rather, she was sitting on the sill of a window in the Astronomy Tower, at three in the morning. In her lap were the two bracelets she had been awarded by Dumbledore.

With slightly hesitant hands, she slipped one of them on and let out a muted gasp as it shrank to fit on her wrist. With carefully veiled interest, she watched as the diamond glowed of its own accord, making her skin feel a little hot underneath the band, but then it cooled and dulled again.

Shrugging it off, Ginny made her way back to the Slythindor Room.

Blaise was awoken the next morning by an owl. It was of medium stature, with wide, yellow eyes and totally white feathers. It stood stiff until Blaise had removed the letter from its leg before taking off, not waiting for a treat or a reply. Blaise picked up the letter and scanned it quickly.

Blaise,

I'm visiting. I'll be here by dinner; take it outside, by the lake. Dumbledore has called me in for some business regarding my company; it will be done by then. Bring the Malfoy and Carina with you.

Rabastan

Blaise let the letter drop slowly, before covering his face with his hands. "Holy crap…" He wasted no time in getting out of bed and throwing on some clothes, then rushing off to find his sister and Draco.

"Do we ever get anything other than pumpkin juice to drink around here? For Merlin's sake, I want a SODA!" Tessa picked irately at her food, still obviously angry about the dissection of her relationship with Blaise the other day.

Ginny wasn't really paying attention to her. Her eyes were focused on Draco, who seemed troubled, as did Blaise and Carina. "Tessa, Colin," she said softly. Her dark-haired friend rolled her eyes and looked at her.

"What?" Colin, on Ginny's other side, was already looking at her inquisitively. Ginny motioned to the Slytherin table. "Are you guys up for a little spying?"

Blaise, Draco, and Carina all got up and left just as she finished with her statement. No Slytherin looked twice; no teacher seemed to care. Ginny didn't have to wait to see her friend's nods. Carefully, she slid away from the table and out of the Great Hall.

The group of Slytherins seemed jittery, she noticed, as they walked. Colin and Tessa joined her soon, and the three followed the people ahead of them silently. The assemblage ahead led Ginny and Co. to the lake, where someone was already sitting under a tree with a dark cloak covering his face. Ginny performed a Disillusionment Charm on herself, and motioned for Tessa and Colin to do so also.

They crept behind a tree, just as the man spoke. "Blaise, Draco, Carina. Always good to see you."

Blaise didn't seem to feel the same way. "What is it you want, Rabastan?" The man pulled back his cloak, to reveal a very handsome face. He was pale, with dark eyebrows and the same blue-green eyes that Blaise and Carina shared. A diamond earring glittered in his left ear.

The most striking thing about him, however, was that his hair was a pure, untouched white, roots and all. Draco raised an eyebrow.

"I thought it was blonde before."

Rabastan shrugged. "My work is killing my hair color." He smiled, exposing perfectly white teeth. "And you, Draco? How are you?"

The blond Slytherin didn't make any move to show that her had heard what Draco said, Rabastan didn't seem fazed and looked down at Carina.

"Dearest girl, I've heard much about your doings. You aren't so against Muggles as we thought you to be, is that right?" Carina seemed to quail in his presence, something that she didn't do to just anyone. Rabastan flinched.

Blaise stepped in front of her, eyes cold. "I said, what is it you want, Bast?" The white-haired man shook his head, almost fondly.

"I remember how you used to call me that when we were younger. You couldn't pronounce my full name. What happened to those times, when we were the best of friends?" Blaise smiled coldly.

"Things change. Could you tell me the nature of your visit so that you may leave?" He clearly didn't want Rabastan around any longer, and the man took the hint.

"Fine, Blaise. I understand. I just wanted to drop by and say hi." He looked about for a moment, as if checking no one was there, then leaned and said, "But just to tell you, little brother, Father is not pleased. I don't suggest going home for the holidays."

Ginny felt Tessa reel back, and almost did the same. Colin was leaning against the tree, and she could feel his hand stiffen, close as it was to hers. Rabastan was Blaise's older brother? But he was a Lestrange, wasn't he?

Blaise nodded impassively. "Thank you, Bast. We'll be leaving now." And with nary a backward glance, he and Draco started uphill.

Carina hung back for a moment, before leaping up and giving the man a hug. He looked surprised and patted her back awkwardly. "It'll all be right soon, Bastan." She said softly, then ran after her brother.

Rabastan didn't leave, though. As soon as they were out of sight, he strode over to the tree where Ginny, Colin and Tessa were, and randomly groped about. Ginny gasped as she felt him grab her arm, and in her panic removed the charm.

Rabastan looked at her coldly. "A spy? At Hogwarts? Surprising, and one so young too. What were you doing, pretty one?"

Ginny was determined not to show any fear, and didn't say anything. Rabastan smirked. "No matter. How about I take you with me, eh? One less worry for the Headmaster."

Ginny's nerve failed her as he started to walk away, and she began to struggle. Behind her she heard the whispers of the counter-spell for the charm, but a voice caused them to stop.

"Leave her, Bast."

She looked up and found Draco looking coolly at the both of them, walking back from the school. He stopped when he was next to them. "She's with me."

Ginny had a terrible urge to shout out some very degrading things about that time, but kept her mouth shut as she felt the white-haired man's grip loosen. But his jaw was set.

"She's with you, Draco? She looks like a Weasley." He quirked up an eyebrow. "I heard from your mother that you were changing but this—this comes as a surprise."

Draco let the insult slide. Instead, he took Ginny's hand in his own and pulled her to him. Rabastan reluctantly released his grip, but Draco didn't let go of Ginny. Rabastan was still eyeing them suspiciously.

"I don't believe it, Draco. You've been raised too strictly for something like this, even with your father gone. Prove it." Draco's grip tightened.

"How would you like me to, Bast?"

Ginny suddenly felt very much like a rabbit caught between a wolf and a fox. She looked behind her for help, but she had the feeling Colin and Tessa were way too interested in this exchange to be of any help.

"Kiss her." Unknowingly, Ginny cringed as soon as he said it. Rabastan noticed and a smirk made its way onto his face. "If she is so repulsed, how is it that she is—with you?"

Draco resisted the need to roll his eyes, and before Ginny could protest, he pulled her closer to him, dipped her back and kissed her.

But as soon as he initiated the kiss, he found he couldn't stop. His fingers were running through her hair, ruining the braid she had put it in. In some sort of retribution (or maybe she hadn't noticed and was just doing it) Ginny let her own fingers play with his hair, removing the effect of the gel to produce spiky-haired punk look.

Ginny took the initiative this time, when she broke off the kiss so as to nibble lightly on his lips. Draco groaned and pulled her back up, realizing at the same moment that they probably needed to sit down else they'd fall over. Instead, he stood up straight, taking Ginny with him, and breaking them apart.

Panting, red in the face, and disheveled, the two looked to Rabastan, who had something akin to horror and amusement on his face. "Gods, Draco, I asked you to kiss her! That was way too much for me!" He waved, and walked a brisk pace towards the gates.

Draco let go of Ginny and stuck his hands into his robes. "Don't kid around with Rabastan." He said softly. "He's one of Blaise's older siblings. They don't contact him often; Rabastan was named for Lestrange. Very weird, he is. He's nice, but spent a year in Azkaban for leaking information to Voldemort."

Ginny, still reeling from the kiss, managed to question him. "Is he mad?" Draco looked stunned for a moment, before letting out a chuckle.

"He's as sane as Lestrange, so yes. He's Carina's favorite brother, but she's been afraid of him because of his fling with the Dark Arts. Blaise used to look up to him. Now he's got nothing much left to look up to."

Ginny could sense that Draco's brain was starting to shrug off the effects of the snogging, so she quickly asked him one last thing. "Why won't it be safe for Blaise to go back home?"

Draco was silent for a moment, before he sighed. "Our fathers were alike in many ways. His has probably learned that Blaise is nothing like what he pretends to be. That's why Carina spends all her holidays here and her summers with her cousins."

He looked sharply at her. "And be careful, Weasley. I'm not going to snog you again to save your life. It's becoming tedious." He swept his cloak about him and stalked off, leaving Ginny to lean against a tree.

Colin and Tessa soon became visible, and they immediately rounded on her, eyes wide. "That seemed like an enjoyable kiss!" Colin teased. "I was wondering if you guys were going to be latched at the lip for a moment."

Tessa merely smiled, and Ginny shook her head contritely. "It's not over yet, you guys." Sighing, she slid down the trunk. "He's an excellent snogger, mind you, but I'm supposed to have the last word before I forget about him!"

"What are you talking about, Gin?" Tessa looked down at her.

Ginny shrugged. "I'm not sure, really. See, what I was thinking is if I can get the last word in, maybe even a snog or two, then walk away from it and leave him behind and whining, I'd win. And I did, yesterday, in the Slythindor room. But he just had the last word, which means that I have to try and get the last word in!"

"You mean last snog," Colin said wryly. "Are you sure this isn't just a ploy to kiss him? And don't you still have that bet?"

Ginny smiled. "But that's where all this comes in! See, if Malfoy and I hate each other and everything goes back to normal, I give him the gift, he burns it. I'll ask him out to Hogsmeade for Valentine's Day, he says no."

"But if he's whining after you, then there's a chance he'll treasure the gift and say yes to Hogsmeade." Tessa said reasonably. Ginny sulked.

"Malfoy won't like me, ok! It's obvious, anyways." She said, a bit sadly. "But that's just fine!" At her friend's looks, she attempted to change the subject. "I got a letter from Mum saying I could go to Beauxbatons this weekend. Are you both coming?"

They nodded, and she stood and linked arms with them. "Well then, we must be off! We've got packing to do!"

Her infectious humor soon had the three of them laughing, and the dilemma with Draco was forgotten—for now, anyway.

"You snogged her again?" Blaise smiled at the fuming Draco. "This is getting to very redundant, don't you think?"

Carina snorted. She was sitting on the edge of the desk and letting her legs dangle over the side. "It was only twice, Blaise, but from what I can tell, they seemed quite steamy."

Draco was banging his head against the wall, and stopped only to glare dizzily at her. "Shut up. You don't know what you're talking about." And he resumed.

Carina rolled her eyes. "I'm gonna go find Colin." And she hopped off the desk and walked out. Blaise stood abruptly, worry in his eyes.

"Why is she going off to find Creevey? What's so good about him?" Draco, who had only succeeded in giving himself a headache, slumped in the window seat. "Mate, you sound like the girl Weasel's brother."

"Sod off." Blaise kicked absently at the bed. "Your rocky relationship with Weasley is ruining mine with Tessa."

Draco looked over at him. "You've asked her out?"

Blaise blushed and rubbed at the back of his neck. "I did last night at the party…she's a great girl. And our families are both pureblood and hers is well-off…so it's really a good thing—"

Draco suspected Blaise was just babbling on, as he knew his friend would have gone out with Tessa even if she had been say—a Hufflepuff.

"Are you going on the trip this weekend?" Blaise said suddenly. Draco nodded an affirmative, still gazing out of the window. If he squinted, he could see Ginny's hair as she, Colin and Tessa walked back into the school…

"AARGH!"

Blaise stepped back as his best friend suddenly jumped off the window seat and unto his bed. "Why can't she get out of my head!" was the muffled cry.

Blaise smirked as he walked over to the bed. "What did I tell you, mate? You're in lurve… and it looks like you've fallen badly."

"But I can't like a Weasley!" Draco's head shot up. "A WEASLEY, for Merlin's sake. Do you know how much dishonor I'll bring to the Malfoy name? It's bad enough with my dad in jail—I mean, come on!"

Blaise shook his head. "You're hopeless. I think someone should knock some sense into you. It would really do you a load of good, you know?"

Draco dropped his head down on a pillow. "I hate her…" Blaise patted his back.

"No, you like her, and funny as it may be to see you so confused, I think you need to realize that. Now, why do you li—hate her?"

Draco rolled over onto his back and stared at the air. "She's bittersweet, you know. She'll say two words and my whole day is ruined (A/N: Recognize this, Nikki-chan?), and even then all she has to do is smile and I'll forget all about it." He covered his mouth afterwards, but Blaise was already grinning.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!" He crowed. "Draco Malfoy has indeed fallen for Ginny Weasley!"

"Holy hell, Blaise. Shut up!" Draco leapt for the covers, but Blaise had already pounced on him and was dragging him off the bed.

"Oh, joy of all joys! The bells are ringing, Lucius Malfoy is probably crying, the Dark Lord is spitting in his grave, DRACO MALFOY IS IN LOVE WITH A WEASLEY!" Blaise started repeating the words over and over in a singsong voice, twirling Draco around the whole time like a ballet dancer.

Draco grit his teeth as he tried desperately to get away, but his feet were caught in the covers, and Blaise was only making it worse.

"Holy crap! Look at that! Draco and Ginny are kissing! They seem to enjoy it, but Gods they enjoy it! It's a love that will last forever!"

"I'll kill you…I'll kill you…I'll kill you…" Draco whispered under his breath. The only worse possible thing that could happen now was—

"Hey, I forgot my bag here—oh, holy—my brother is gay." Carina stared at them for a long time, catching the whole moment when Blaise tripped and fell, causing Draco to go with him, and both of them to end up sprawled out on the ground on top of each other.

Carina dissolved into giggles, and as Draco pushed Blaise off of him, he muttered, "I would like it to be made known to the public that all Zabinis will die, and just for good measure, let's throw in Potty too."

Carina threw a pillow at him, and it caught him square in the face. He toppled backwards and fell back on top of Blaise. It took him a moment, but he finally found his wand and jumped up.

"I will be avenged!" he cried and sprinted after Carina, who had already taken off. Blaise lay back on the floor and looked around.

"I wonder what kind of damage I could do here…" He gave an experimental wave of his wand, and came up with a picture of Ginny. Another flick and it had turned into a poster. Blaise rubbed his hands together, an evil gleam in his eyes.

"Excellent…"