Harry, his expression unreadable, turned on his heel and walked quickly back through the village. Dena's mouth was still hanging open and she watched, stunned, Ginny and Malfoy hurriedly pull on their clothes.

'See you later,' Malfoy mumbled when he was dressed and swept past Dena into the night.

Dena lent on the doorframe and folded her arms looking sternly at Ginny.

'I don't want to talk about it,' Ginny said, grabbing her things and walking past her friend. Dena hurried after her and they walked up through the village in the direction of Hogwarts.

'What do you mean you don't want to talk about it?' she said, 'what the hell do you think you were doing? If you weren't aware you just told me to bring your ex-boyfriend to watch you and Draco Malfoy have sex! What's got into you'

'Yeah funnily enough I was aware. I was there remember.'

'Don't be smart with me Ginny. How could you do this to Harry?'

'Harry? You're feeling sorry for Harry? He was the one that cheated on me!'

'So I assume this is just a petty revenge thing then because I can't imagine that you could actually fancy someone was vile as Draco Malfoy.'

'Draco isn't as vile as you think.'

Dena rolled her eyes. 'So you do fancy him then?'

'Yes. We're going out together.'

Ginny had decided that in order for people to believe she and Malfoy were an item she would have to fool everyone. Even her best friend.

'Well you can go out with him, I can't stop you, but I wont be civil to him or hang out with him, he's hurt Gryffindor house too many times, not to mention you! Just be careful Gin.'

They reached the castle and Ginny went straight up to her dormitory to go to bed. She was changing into her pyjamas and just as she had unhooked her bra when Harry knocked on the door and entered the room.

'Oh sorry,' he said, hurriedly averting his eyes as Ginny stood half naked in front of him, 'i'll come back later.'

'Don't worry about it,' said Ginny, 'it's nothing you haven't seen before.'

Harry nodded and sat down on a chair next to Ginny's bed. After a minute of silence he spoke.

'What's going on with you and Malfoy?' he asked.

'We're, ah, going out I suppose.'

Harry nodded slowly with his eyebrows raised. 'Are you just doing this to get back at me? Because if you are then you can stop it right now. I'll admit it hurt me to see you with him tonight but I can't help the way I feel about Lavender.'

'Don't flatter yourself, I'm going out with him because I like him. He's a good guy and we have a great time together. Plus he satisfies me in a way no one else has ever come close to.' At this last remark she looked poignantly at Harry.

He scowled. 'Well I hope you're happy together,' he said and stormed off.

-----------------

The next morning at breakfast Ginny and Draco sat together at the Slytherin table. They got lots of curious looks from other students who had heard a rumour that they were a couple but needed proof before they beliebed it.

'We've got just over a week until the Christmas ball so we've got our work cut out,' said Draco, 'by the end of today no one should be in doubt that we're together and people will start to talk about us.'

'So what are we going to do to make Harry jealous?' Ginny asked.

'Just spend all our time together. I'll sit with you at meals and walk you to your lessons. In fact I think it would be a good idea for me to come to your quiddich practices too. Meanwhile you need to ignore him as best you can, talk about me when he's in earshot and just act like we're a couple.'

He took her hand over the table so that everyone could see and stroked her thumb with his.

'Are you ready for this?' he asked.

Ginny nodded and giggled.

'I can't believe we're doing this,' she said.

They got up to go to their lessons and walked hand in hand to the charms corridor where Draco had a lesson with Harry. Most of the class were already assembled outside and watched as Ginny and Draco approached. They came to a stop right near Harry who was determinedly looking at the wall. Draco put his arms around Ginny's waist and she put hers around his neck and stroked his hair.

'You'd better get to transfiguration love bunny,' Draco said before kissing her so deeply that she had to bend backwards with the force.

When they broke apart Ginny stared into Draco's eyes, 'last night was amazing,' she said and smiled before kissing him again.

When they finally broke apart again she walked back down the corridor to her lesson.

'I miss you already babe!' Draco called.

------------------

After lunch Ginny had a free lesson so Draco walked her back to Gryffindor tower. He handed her a rose and kissed her, holding her up against the portrait of the fat lady so no one could get past.

'Get a room!' someone called and they finally parted.

'See you at dinner,' Ginny said, stroking Draco's face.

When she entered the common room she sat with Ron and Hermione. Ron turned his chair so that his back was to Ginny.

'What's up with him?' Ginny asked Hermione.

'He's just annoyed about you and Malfoy I think,' Hermione said.

'Oh Ron you're so pathetic,' said Ginny.

Ron spun his chair back round to face her. 'How can you go out with him Ginny? He's evil! You parade around as if you don't care what anyone thinks of you,' he said.

'I don't care what people think of me. I really like Draco and I'm not afraid to show it. It's you that cares too much about what people think. You're too worried about what effect this has on your reputation that you forget to be happy that your little sister has got a boyfriend she really likes!'

'You're more deluded than I thought. If you think for one minute I'm going to be happy you're going out with that scum then you don't know me at all,' Ron said and stormed off to his dormitory.

'Don't worry about him,' Hermione said, 'I think you're really brave going out with Malfoy. I mean, I don't like him but you obviously do and I know how hard it is to follow your heart when everyones trying to stop you.'

'What do you mean?'

'Well in fourth year I went out with victor remember? A lot of people didn't like that, especially Ron.'

'Oh yeah, that's true. Well at least someone is on my side. Thanks Hermione.'

-----------------------

That evening before dinner, Ginny and Draco went to professor McGonagall's office on a mission. They wanted permission for Draco to spend the evening in Gryffindor tower so that they could rub their relationship in Harry's face further but permission could only be granted by the head of house.

'Professor, we were wondering if you could give permission for Draco to enter Gryffindor tower this evening?' Ginny asked.

'Why?' asked McGonagall, not looking up from her marking.

'Well I'm selling a few items to raise money and Draco is interested, only they're too heavy to keep moving around, it would be easier if he could just come and see them.'

Professor McGonagall considered for a moment and then nodded.

'All right, but no funny business,' she said, looking pointedly at Draco.

They had a hurried dinner and then ran arm-in-arm to Gryffindor tower. As soon as they entered, the whole room hushed and turned to face them. It was rare for a member of another house to come in but it was unheard of for a Slyherin to want to be there.

Draco looked around, impressed at how warm and cosy the common room was compared with his own.

Ginny dragged him over to a sofa close to the one Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting on and straddled his lap.

'What's he doing here?' Harry asked.

'He's got every right to be here Harry,' Ginny said, 'we've got permission from McGonagall, besides he's my boyfriend, he doesn't need a reason.'

Harry scowled and beckoned Lavender over while Ginny started to kiss Draco passionately. Draco snaked his hands up her shirt and scratched lightly at her cold stomach.

'Would you mind not doing that here, you're grossing everyone out,' a seventh year girl shouted from across the room.

'Fine,' said Ginny smiling. She pulled Draco out and leg him to the dormitory.

Meanwhile Harry was badmouthing her to his friends.

'She's such a little slut, I can't believe I ever went out with her. I dump her and five minutes later she's fucking my enemy the filthy little tramp.'

'Oh Harry, will you just give it a rest, all you ever talk about is Ginny! How do you think that makes me feel?' snapped Lavender.

'I'm sorry, it's just that she makes me so mad!'

'Yeah but can't you see she's just trying to get you jealous? She's pathetic, you need to move on.'

Up in Ginny's dormitory she and Draco were discussing their plans.

'If I want him to ask me to the ball it'll need to be soon,' said Ginny, 'we're going to have to do something drastic tomorrow.'

'Yeah don't worry I've got something good planned,' said Draco quietly.

'Are you alright? You seem a bit down.'

'I'm fine. Actually I'd better go.'

Ginny nodded. 'Hey, we should try out those nicknames we thought of!' she said.

Draco nodded and they went downstairs to say goodbye at the portrait hole. They kissed for a long time and then stared into each others eyes lovingly.

'Goodnight foxy,' said Draco.

'Goodnight Blondie,' said Ginny, laughing and he left.