Chapter 4- "Behind A Mask"

"Here." Ginny tossed the presents at everyone in the Room of Requirements. Everyone meaning: Draco, Natalie, Amber, Emily, Blaise, Hermione, Harry, Lavender, and a very angry Ron. Natalie, Ginny, Amber, and Emily had planned to go to the room for gift exchange by themselves, but Natalie wanted Blaise to come. Ron wouldn't hear of the Slytherin being alone with his sister so he said he was coming, and Lavender forced him to take her. Harry and Hermione came only to keep Ron in check, but Draco would not let Blaise be alone with all the Gryffindors. So they all came. Christmas night would be a blast.

"Funny Ginny, just hilarious," Draco was holding up a stuffed animal, but not just any animal. It was a ferret. Everyone chuckled at Ginny's gift except Emily who didn't get it. After explaining it to her she found the humor in it.

"Thanks Gin," rang around the room. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Lavender were sitting with their presents looking very pleased. Ginny had already given her 3 friends something, and Blaise refused to take her gift. He said she had done enough for him.

"I am tired, so I'll be going." Emily stood up and went over to everyone and hugged them. She hugged Draco from behind so he couldn't yell at her. When she hugged Blaise he picked her up and took her to the door shooing her out.

"Well what should we do?" Blaise sat down next to Natalie and started staring at her.

"It doesn't matter what we do as long as we don't give Ron too much butterbeer," said Harry. When everyone stared at Ron, he turned scarlet. Harry continued, "He starts to think he is a professional Quidditch player and then starts to zoom around the room. After a while he picks up something and hits you with it thinking you are a bludgers. Total sugar high."

Everyone laughed and Ginny and Hermione exchanged glances. They were remembering that Christmas at Grimmauld Place where Ron had acted just exactly how Harry had described.

"A year later and they never forget," Ron muttered.

"What was that Weasley, 'More Butterbeer'?" Draco was howling. His face was as red as it had ever been.

"Shut it." It was Ginny who intervened. She was stated to get annoyed that two people who fight just when the fun began.

"He started it," Ron and Draco said together. They looked at each other and then looked away. When they realized their defeat Hermione spoke.

"Oh Lord look at the time." She was staring at her watch.

"You gonna tell us the time or just have a staring contest with your watch because I think it'll win?" Blaise was lazily lying in Natalie's lap. His face was calm.

"It is 4 in the morning." as Hermione finished her words both Draco and Ginny shot up. When Ginny stood up she stepped on Natalie's robes and slipped on them. This caused her to fall forward onto Malfoy. Draco fell back as soon as Ginny fell on him.

"Listen I know you like me and all that, but making a move on me in front of your brother. I didn't know you where that daring." Draco was almost laughing. When Ginny was getting up she purposely shoved her hand onto his chest. When she was standing she quietly walked out the door. Draco just sat there his hand in the spot she hit him. Everyone was quite.

"That was our que wasn't it?" Natalie looked at Amber when she said this. When Amber nodded, both girls stood up and walked out. As Amber went out the door she looked at Draco with her eyes. They told him that he was right on the mark.

When the girls left Hermione and Blaise burst out laughing, "Oh Blaise you win." Hermione couldn't control her laughter.

"I knew I would, but let's keep it to ourselves." He wiped a tear from his face.

"Blaise wins what? Did you two make a bet?" Lavender sat up ready to hear it all.

"Shut up," Hermione snapped. After talking everyone left and they shifted aside the memory of Ginny on top of Draco. No one else noticed what Blaise and Hermione noticed.

At breakfast the day when the new term started Dumbledore stood up. "I am sure that many of you have heard the rumors of a ball being held in honor of Professor Madison's 50th birthday," he began. "Well they are true. All years may come, but appropriate attire is a must. You do not have to wear dress robes, but nothing vulgar. Also, it is a mask party. Please do not abuse the privileges given to you. 3rd years and below must leave at 10pm, 4th to 5th years must leave at 12 and 6th & 7th years can leave when they may but that is a privilege so please be mature and don't abuse it. If you arrive with a date and that date is in an older year you may leave when said date has to leave. That is all. Tuck in."

"Ginny?" Amber was waving her hand in front of Ginny's face.

"Amber I am just looking out the window, what?" Ginny wasn't to be bothered in the morning.

"What do you think about a masked ball?"

"I hate the idea, how can we see our faces and the faces of others?"

"I think that was Dumbledore's point."

"Maybe."

"Who you going with to the Ball?"

"No one."

"Didn't Blaise's bro want to take you?"

"I told him to shove off." All laughing ceased when the girls heard a familiar laugh. They turned to see Blaise standing laughing.

"Oh that was a real killer." He sat down next to Ginny in front of Natalie. Over the break Blaise sat with the girls so often he felt lonely without them. So when he started to hang out with them everyone stared. When people's jaws dropped he would mimic their expression right back at them.

"Why do you want to torture us by sitting here?" Ginny said while slapping his hand for trying to steal her bread.

"Stingy. Well Malfoy has been totally unbearable since-"

WHACK

A newspaper found its way on the back of Blaise's head. When everyone looked up Draco was holding a copy of the Morning Prophet.

"Here Blaise, your mum sent it." He handed the copy to the boy

"Thanks mate, but please don't deliver express next time." Chuckling at his own joke Blaise shut up when he heard an interesting conversation between Natalie and Amber. He kept his ears focused on Draco and Ginny too.

After laughing at Blaise's stupidity Draco turned to Ginny. When he stared at her he just simply said, "Yes."

As he left Ginny wasn't the one who got up but Blaise stood up and smiled at her, "I told you so." He ran after Draco thudding him on the arm. Inside Ginny was 10 times as glad and happy to receive her answer.

Her mind was lifted from that cloud and brought to one question, what should she wear? When her head was brought back to earth she rushed up to the owlery and began to hurry a letter.

Mum,

Remember my Christmas gift from Fred and George? Could you send it to me? We are having a masked ball.

Love,

Ginerva

She quickly motioned for Griffin, Blaise's Owl, to come. When she sent him off with the letter she ran to her classes.

During class Ginny had be called aside by Professor Snape. When everyone left he sat at his desk and motioned for her to stand in front of it.

"Miss Weasley, you have been placed in Potions, and charms with the Seventh years." he looked displeased. Probably because she was moved ahead when no other student (i.e. a Slytherin) was. Before she could speak he snapped, "Leave."

When she rounded the corner the new students were arriving. She winced when she noticed they were Ravenclaws and Slytherins. One stood in front of her. He looked at her with cold eyes. She knew who this was. It was Alabaster Zabini, Blaise's Brother.

"Well, well. Gryffindors in Slytherin territory." Ginny backed away from him. Which she wished she had not done because she backed herself into a corner. She saw two other boys stand at his side.

"Zabini, who is this here." A gruff voice came from Alabaster's right. He was staring at Ginny. When she was consumed in the shadows she dropped in the corner.

"Oi, Alabaster. Don't start now class is starting." Blaise rang across the hall. He didn't notice Ginny in the corner.

Draco who was at his side asked him, "Who is he taunting now?"

"I don't know. Want to see?" Blaise waltzed over to his brother. "Okay Alabaster who you doing in now?"

"Just a scrawny Gryffindor." Alabaster's voice showed his attempt to hide the fact he wanted his brother to disappear. Blaise, fortunately, knew that his brother was doing something wrong.

"Gryffindor Meat! Yay, Draco lets join in." He gave Draco a look telling him not to bother to go away.

"Is it that Ron Weasley?" Draco looked like he could go for a nice torture session.

Ginny didn't know why, but she spoke, "No it is his sister." Upon hearing her voice Blaise and Draco shoved Alabaster aside and looked at her.

"What the hell are thinking Alabaster? You asked out Pansy before Ginny could even answer you. You are bloody nuts." He lifted Ginny up expecting her to not be able to walk.

Draco stood back. His thoughts were racing. 'What should I do? Everyone in Slytherin is here, should I save her? Should I help Blaise beat up his brother?'

Before he could act on his decision professor Snape came out of the classroom. "Zabini I hope this is a brotherly spat. What are you doing here Miss Weasley I dismissed you ten minutes ago."

"Alabaster and his goons attacked her Professor. I, like Professor Dumbledore says we should do, promoted inter-house relations by helping her. That and I fancy her best friend." Ginny tried to pull away, but Blaise thought she was slipping so he held on tighter.

Snape looked at Alabaster and shook his head, "In the classroom now, 50 points from Slytherin. Blaise, Draco you take the Weasley up to the Infirmary, I think you all need to be checked."

The three started walking, no one speaking. When they reached the Infirmary door Ginny jerked out of Blaise's grip and walked in the room. Her stance was daring the boys to follow. Hey, they are Slytherins, and they love challenges. They walked behind her looking around.

"Ginny!" a voice sprang out from behind a curtain. When Ginny turned she turned too hard and hurt herself. She saw Padma Patil in a bed with a bandage on her face. Ginny limped over to her and sat down. When the boys looked in the curtain Padma screamed. She thought they were going to pull something.

"It's okay Padma. They were- stop it Blaise- helping me." Blaise ran behind Ginny. When Blaise came out he saw Padma's face into a wicked smile.

"I know you. You beat up Michael." Padma laughed as she was remembering the moment.

"You beat up whom?" Ginny looked at him shooting daggers.

"Well it was a favor. Come on after the rumors I had it."

"What rumors?" Ginny looked hurt. When they looked at her they didn't believe she had asked that question. Then they turned away, no one wanting to tell her the truth.

"Blaise you will tell me," She demanded of him.

"Well Orson was being a prick and telling his buddies that he refused you so when he saw you with Malfoy he just wanted to walk on by but you made some comments on what he did. Then he said something, anyway in the end he beat up Draco and some other stuff bout you begging for him to take you back. Then he told his idiots that I, Goyle and Crabbe all lied to get him in trouble and you helped us because he refused you twice." Blaise was out of breathe for he spoke so fast that Ginny almost didn't catch what he said. Almost.

"That leech!" She started muttering cursing under her breathe and open her mouth wide to make a statement but she heard Madame Pompfrey coming.

"Scaring patients are we boys? Mr.Zabini get out from behind Ms.Weasley immediately." She looked over at the three visitors. Then she turned to Ginny. "Professor Snape already flooed me and explained to me what happened. Come I will check you out."

The boys sat talking to Padma. Well only Blaise talked. When Ginny's voice could be heard gasping Draco sat up right staring into the void. When Ginny did come back she was limping and holding her back.

"What happened?" Blaise purposely knocked into Draco when he stood up to knock him out of his trance.

"Well I cut myself so she had to clean it and it hurt." She sat down in the seat Blaise abandoned. She winced as she leaned to sit but the pain subsided. Draco stared at her as though he were boring holes into her.

"What have you guys been talking about?" Ginny looked up.

"Nothing except how these two boys are your knights in Shining Armor." Padma had her sister's talent of giving just enough information to get just the thing she wanted to hear.

Ginny looked at the boys. Everyone in the room took what she said next differently, "Only one was."

(A/N: I need to know if you want Ginny and Draco to get back together gradually or suddenly. Review and/or email. I know this is a very short chapter, but something came up when I re-wrote this story.)