A/N: Pleeeeeease don't hurt me. Mea Culpa. I've been in a coma. Okay, maybe not. But I've definitely been comatose. I have finally encountered the dreaded writer's block. It kidnapped my plot bunny and didn't bother to leave a ransom note, the bastard. So, in advance: I apologise for this chapter. It is crap. It is un-beta'd. I hate it. I forced myself to write SOMETHING. I will likely re-write it when inspiration strikes. But as I fear the wrath of angry readers, I offer this as a shot of anaesthetic. Also, with university back in session, and my first baby on the way, real life intrudes. I promise to try and get a chapter done once a month, though.

Katie's disjointed tangents for the day -

1.) Morning sickness is evil. I am so, SO glad it's finally over. I love food way too much to survive on a diet of ginger ale and saltine crackers. Blech.
2.) In an effort at motivating myself, I went back and checked out reviews for last chapter again. Legolas-Obssesionist's promise of Naked Draco Cookies did it. How can anyone resist an offering like that? (Though she's probably retracted the offer since it took me so long to write anything.)
3.) Pimpage of the update: The lovely tkmoore's 'Hands', here on this site. Beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful story with fantastic imagery. Okay, I'm done with my fangirl squeeing. But I adore her story.
4.) I retain my right to pimp. Recommendations are always welcome.
5.) Love D/G ficcage? On LiveJournal (since website addresses don't appear here), Sarea Okelani had a Christmas Fic Contest. The UserID is the(underscore)feast , and there are lots of great stories in there, including a fantastic one from Mynuet. D/G goodness aplenty; a Merry Christmas indeed.
6.) 'She's Plotting Our Downfall' will be a spur of the moment thing. If inspiration strikes, I will dive for the keyboard. I promise.

-Katie-

Disclaimer: Routine disclaimer applies. Simply too brain dead at this point to try and be cute.


Chapter Thirteen: No Smooth Sailing For the S.S. Fire and Ice

Ginny silently vowed to learn a few of the more insidious hexes as she listened to Pansy Parkinson loudly berate her for being out past curfew. She had tried to look suitably ashamed, at least for the first five minutes after Pansy strutted to the Gryffindor table and began to harangue her with a vicious smile. The shamed look quickly slid off of her face and was replaced with embarassed anger as Pansy droned on.

The worst moment was when Pansy turned to Hermione. In a syrupy voice, she inquired, "I'm sure the Head Girl would know what the rules are regarding prefects that break regs?"

Hermione, face pinced with distaste at having to agree with the Slytherin, said, "Pug-fa... I mean, Parkinson," she corrected with a false smile, "is right, Gin. If you're caught out again, Prof McGonagall will have the option to appoint a new prefect in your place."

With a menacing glare at Hermione, Pansy sniffed in disgust and stalked to her own table.

After a few pats on the back for Hermione and sympathetic murmurs for Ginny, everyone returned to their breakfasts. Ginny, face still red from embarassment, decided she owed Draco a kiss and a punch. A kiss for his remarkably effective solution, and a punch to the ribs for letting his nasty friend have free rein to berate her in public.

-

Pansy gave Blaise a saucy grin as she gracefully slid into the empty place he had saved her. Cutting her eyes at Draco, she asked, "That what you had in mind?"

He gave her a noncommital shrug and continued to spread jam on his toast. "Good enough, I suppose."

Blaise snorted. "Please, Draco. You're making her blush with all that praise." Snaking an arm around Pansy, Blaise laid his head on her shoulder and peered at Draco through his hair. "Besides, I do believe you still owe us an explanation. Surely you didn't expect Pansy to do that out of the kindness of her heart?"

"So much for male solidarity," Draco grumbled.

With a wicked smile, Blaise replied, "Maybe I'm feeling feminine today."

Draco snorted. "Can't express shock I'm not feeling, I suppose."

"Subterfuge from a Slytherin? No, can't expect that," Blaise purred. "So, how about that explanation?"

Draco eyed his friend with open malice. Obviously, he wasn't going to get out of this. Blaise had carefully chosen seats at the end of the table, with Crabbe and Goyle acting as a buffer between them and their housemates further down. At least he had the foresight to provide a little privacy, Draco thought sourly. Heaving a sigh of resignation, he leant forward and motioned them to do the same. "I will kill you both, with endless rounds of torture first, if this leaves the three of us. Understand?"

They nodded eagerly. If Draco was this defensive without saying anything, what they were about to hear would doubtlessly be the juiciest gossip of the year.

"I paid her a visit in the girls' changing rooms at the Quidditch pitch, and we came to an understanding," he murmured, stressing the last word with a self-satisfied smirk. "She invited me to meet her at the Astronomy Tower last night to finish our... discussion."

Pansy gave him a knowing grin. "Girl must be one hell of a conversationalist to snag widdle Dwaco's attention like this." Raising an eyebrow, she added, "Must have a very talented mouth."

Blaise snickered at Draco's thunderous look. He and Pansy had worked out their game plan earlier this morning in the Common Room. "Easy with the claws, Pans. Draco seems slightly put out. Is it true love, widdle Dwaco?" he needled.

Draco rolled a shoulder and took a deep breath. Play it cool. Smooth. "Not at all. Just a bit of fun. She's decent looking enough. Nice tits. Just enjoying what's being offered, is all." Draco silently added, It's not serious. And they're just having a bit of fun, trying to rile me up. Besides, things with Ginny are just a snog here, a feel there, a dash of enjoyable companionship in between. It's not like we're going to be married. Just normal attraction. It'll go away soon enough, I'm sure. I'll get bored and move on.

Blaise fought to keep his face impassive. "Must be nice not to have to worry about the niceties of a relationship," he said consideringly.

Not liking the calculating look on his face, Draco replied warily, "What do you mean?"

With the air of one about to impart a great secret, Blaise gave a small smile. "Well, just that there's no obligation. You meet, you snog, you leave. No annoying getting-to-know-you chats, no silly romance, no feelings, nothing. You're not tied down. And you don't have to hex every boy that looks at her, since you're not together." Blaise tucked his hair behind his ears. Earnestly, he continued. "Really, you're free. She can prance around with her little Gryffindor boyfriend, Thomas. He'll have to do all of the dull lovey things. You get no-strings-attached. Free as an eagle owl, mate. In fact..." he trailed off consideringly.

Draco bit. Leaning forward even more, he motioned impatiently. "In fact, what?"

Blaise shook his head, as if to clear away his musings. Took the bait. Oh, I've got this set up perfectly, don't I? "I was just thinking that, if she was amicable, I might take her off your hands when you're done with her," he said thoughfully. "Like you said, great rack. Never would have noticed if you hadn't pointed it out. But yeah, think I'd fancy a go with little Ginny Weasley. Nice change of pace."

A strange desire to drag Blaise across the table and pound his face into a monstrous pulp overtook Draco. Swallowing his ire, Draco resolved to not lose his composure. "I don't think she's your type, Zabini," he said, a hint of a snarl edging his words.

Blaise gave a capricious laugh. "What do you care, Malfoy? She's not your type either, but that's not stopping you. We should both just leave her to her adoring boyfriend, Thomas. I'm sure he'll take good care of her," Blaise offered up as if it was the logical conclusion.

A conclusion that Draco didn't like. Not because I'm jealous, mind you. Because that halfblood bastard is a clumsy oaf that doesn't deserve her. "Thomas couldn't take care of a prostitute in a whorehouse," he sneered. "Not that I care. Like you said, I'm free. She can do whatever she bloody well likes, no skin off my back."

Pansy jumped in. "Now that's the Draco Malfoy we know and... well, almost love. Fuck and run, I always say. Now's the time when a girl should sample as many chocolates as she can." Smiling at Blaise, she stood up. "We should get going. I need to get started on that Transfiguration assignment, and I wager neither of you have started it either."

Draco lagged a step behind as Blaise and Pansy made for the door. He was too busy swallowing the bile in his throat at the thought of Ginny whoring her way through the school to see the significant look shared between Blaise and Pansy.

-

"Ponced off for a massive sulk, has he?" Pansy asked as Blaise came down the boys' staircase with his Transfiguration texts.

Dropping his things carelessly on the table, Blaise collapsed into a chair and proceeded to swing his legs over the arm, getting comfortable. "Oh yes. Claimed he had a bit of a headache and was going to take a lie-down. Stewing over the facts we presented him, in reality."

"Fell for it too easily, Blaise. It was hardly any work at all, and his feelings were written all over his pointy little face. That's not our Draco," Pansy mused as she flipped open her book. "I thought you were wrong, or at least overstating the case, but I think you've hit this one dead-on. Draco actually feels something for Ginny Weasley. Did you see his expression when I said she should try out as many boys as possible? I thought he was going to retch right there on the table."

Blaise sighed and fiddled with his cuffs. "Oh, Pansy. Trust me. If I know one thing, it's compatibility. And they fit together quite well. Or they will, once we manipulate things to where they should be. We gave Draco enough half-truths to bring him to the realisation that he wants Ginny Weasley to be his, and no one else's. Draco's pride is the key. He can't stand the thought of sharing something he actually desires. He'll convince her to be exclusive, even if it stays a secret. And once they're exclusive, he's as done as charred biscuits."

They shared a smile. "Think he'll thank us?" Pansy asked jokingly.

"In about ten years, he will," Blaise replied in all seriousness.

-

Draco threw his hairbrush in a fit of temper. Next he hurled his toiletry kit, and then the pedestal it was standing on. Feeling slightly better, he looked for more things to throw. Deciding that everything else was either an antique or too heavy, he flopped on his bed and contemplated the headboard.

"Stupid Pansy, saying Ginny is going to whore around the school. Hmph. She has better taste than that. Why would she go after lesser men when she could have me?" he demanded.

The bed-hangings gave no reply.

"And the Ambiguously Gay Man Whore suggesting he'd take her. She'd likely catch something. When I am obviously the cream of the school, he thinks she'd leave me for him!"

The pillow he punched viciously failed to answer him, so he stuffed it under his head.

"What's wrong with just me?" he demanded of the duvet.

Kicking off his shoes, he muttered, "And Thomas. Don't even get me started on that half-blood. Who the hell sneaks around on a girl that looks like Ginny with that overgrown beanpole Frobisher girl! Not only colossal stupidity, but apparently Thomas is blind, as well."

He sat up and squirmed under the bedclothes. "I need a plan," he announced. "Get her jealous. Show her that I'm desirable to other girls, too. Once she sees that, she'll beg to be with me." Smoothing his pillow, he mused, "Yes, that's it. I'll pay a bit of attention to... hmm, who's good looking? I suppose Daphne what's-her-name will do. Pretty enough, if you like that sort of thing. Yes, precisely. Chat up Daphne where she can see, get her all insecure, and then snatch her up. Make her tell Thomas to shove it, and spend her time with me. Secret rendevous, and all that. Bring her back here, a little romance, get her hooked." Closing his eyes, he snuggled down for a nice nap. "Need my beauty sleep if I'm going to make my cunning little plan work perfectly. She'll be all mine. Don't share," he mumbled as he drifted off.

-

Ginny had caught Draco giving her flirtatious little glances all through lunch. He would smirk knowingly when she met his gaze and smiled back tentatively. When he got up and left with several of his housemates, Ginny waited a minute before getting up and leaving. Hoping she was right, she left the Great Hall and headed towards the dungeons. Hearing voices down a side corridor, she peeked around the corner. Seeing Draco talking to a girl in his House, she moved forward confidently and gave him a flirty smile to catch his attention.

The smile slid off of her face as he inclined his head and pressed his lips to the girl in front of him. Her throaty laugh stunned Ginny into immobility.

"Oh Draco," she purred as her hands slid around his neck. "Kiss me again."

His eyes flickered up as he pulled her closer with an arm around the waist. Seeing Ginny, he hesitated a brief moment as something flickered in his eyes. "What's wrong, Weasel? Have to resort to spying to get your kicks? Run along, we're busy," he drawled coldly.

The girl turned around and gave Ginny a measuring glance. "Find your own. This one's taken," she hissed with a fake smile. Turning back, she ran her hands up Draco's arms and moved to kiss him.

Breaking free of her stupor, Ginny whirled and bounded back up the corridor with a manic energy. Turning the corner, she stopped just short of barreling into Blaise Zabini.

"Lost, are we?" he smiled. "Let me show you back to the main corridors. Ginny, isn't it?"

Ginny's sluggish brain refused to work at a normal speed. Slowly, she nodded. Attempting civility, she replied, "And you're Blaise Zabini."

"Guilty," he laughed. "You seem a little unnerved. Are you all right?" he inquired solicitously.

His question seemed to drain the energy right out of her. Sagging against the wall, Ginny shook her head dazedly. "No, but I will be. Apparently I was mistaken in something. But I should have known better. Mum used to say leopards never change their spots. I should have kept that in mind."

Blaise took her elbow. "Look, you are very obviously not all right. Why don't you come with me to the Common Room? I'll just pop inside and get you a glass of water, and then when you're ready I'll take you back upstairs. Is that okay?" he asked, worried at her pale face. Draco's mucked things up somehow. Hopefully, he's in the Common Room, so I can kick his arse out the portrait to fix things. "Come on," he said gently, putting an arm around her shoulders in case she fainted.

Moving her around the corner, he stiffened in surprise when she flinched and tried to break free. Looking up, he saw Draco and Daphne parting, his hair obviously messed up and her lips rosy. Stupid bastard! You've ruined everything!, Blaise fumed. Thinking quickly, he pasted a predatorial grin on his face as he looked at Draco. "Your loss, mate," he said, his low voice carrying easily to Draco's ears. Urging Ginny forward again, he moved them past Draco quickly. "Easy on, little one," he murmured in her ear. "A lesson. You must appear strong when you're at your weakest. Smile at them both and pretend we're on our way to a previously planned outing."

Ginny gave him a weak smile as soon as he pulled back from whispering in her ear. "It's alright, Blaise. Just turns one's stomach to come upon that," she waved negligently at Draco, "when I was hoping to find you. Ready to go?"

He ran an appreciative finger along her cheek. "I am now. A fiery ray of sunshine in my dismal dungeons, Ginbug. Come on."

"Have fun, you two," he threw over his shoulder to the stunned-looking Draco. "It's a good Saturday to enjoy a pleasant woman's company."

-

Ginny sat in the library and listened to Blaise Zabini educate her on the twisted mind of Draco Malfoy. She was extremely grateful to him for his quick assistance in the dungeons, when she was too shaken to think for herself. He told her he believed that she and Draco were well suited to one another, but that he was apparently more stupid that Blaise had previously given him credit for. They agreed that Daphne Snodgrass was a ruse to make her jealous.

Ginny rather thought his mind was a bit too convoluted for her tastes, but Blaise had spent many minutes persuading her to listen to his advice. If Draco was irritated at seeing Blaise with Ginny, he would be much more inclined to reveal his feelings if Ginny flaunted a 'real' opponent in his face.

"But the only boy I've seen at all lately is Dean," she protested. "And he is much more interested in Vicky Frobisher than me."

"Darling, a rule to know and live by. Men ALWAYS want what they are told they can't have. After telling Thomas 'no' so many times, if you offer to kiss him, he'll jump at the chance."

"I can't do that," Ginny argued vehemently. "I am not going to use him like a toy."

Blaise adjusted his attack. "I'm not suggesting you use him," he assured. "I'm suggesting you kiss him one last time, to see if you still feel anything for him. It's only fair to poor Thomas. If you do, you two can work things out. If you don't, you both can finally have a nice clean break. It's much kinder in the long run, Ginny. This way neither of you will wonder what might have been." Blaise smiled helpfully, praying his hunch was right and that a girl like Ginny wouldn't be able to kiss Draco when she still felt something for Dean Thomas.

Ginny thought that while Blaise made sense, he was perhaps a little too smooth. "What do you get out of it?" she asked suspiciously.

He laughed quietly. "Not stupid, this one. Draco is probably the only boy I know that genuinely likes me, regardless of what, or who, I do. I think, after all of this nonsense is sorted out, you'll both find that the other will make you happy. And I would like to see him happy, for once. My proposal gives you the chance to sort out your relationship with Thomas. All I suggest is that if you conduct your 'experiment' in the library at a certain time, when I will have Draco in view, he will realise what a stupid move he pulled with Daphne. The shoe, when on the other foot, as it is, often pinches. He'll hate it. He'll likely snarl and make death threats. But he will come around. And if you decide that Thomas doesn't hold an attraction for you any longer, then Draco will be primed for you to take. Simple."

Ginny snorted. "Simple? Hardly."

With a self-deprecating smile, he acknowledged, "Simple by my usual standards."

"Okay," Ginny said in a small voice, twisting her hands in her lap.

"Okay, as in: Yes, Blaise, have Draco here tomorrow at ten in the morning, so I may conduct my experiment?" Blaise asked with a raised eyebrow.

Smiling, Ginny nodded decisively. "Yes. Tomorrow."

-

Blaise had to employ Pansy in the next portion of his plan, as Draco refused to even look at Blaise. So it was that Pansy and Draco were researching their Transfiguration assignment in the library the next morning, alternately comparing notes and discussing Blaise's behaviour.

"Atrocious," Draco grumbled. "Some mate he is, pouncing on Weasley when I had made it clear I was still... still, well, whatever," he trailed off agitatedly.

"Still what, Draco?" Pansy prodded. "You said very clearly that it wasn't serious. Field's wide open for everyone. Not like the girl has your family crest branded on her forehead to warn off others. Besides, Daphne said you two had a very pleasant interlude yesterday. You know what I always say. Can't have it both ways."

"But it's Blaise," he whined.

"Yes, it's Blaise," she smirked. "And we both know how Blaise is when it comes to new and interesting sexual conquests. You mentioning her brought all of this about, you know. Stop pouting and go snag 'Transmogrifications Of Bi-Valves and Shellfish'. It's at the end of that row there. We need it for this next part."

Grousing about Blaise's lack of loyalty, Draco ambled to the end of the aisle and scanned the shelves for the title. A flash of bright hair caught his eye when he stepped back to look at the top shelves. Peering around the corner, he watched as Ginny and Dean Thomas pulled their chairs closer together, obviously deep in conversation. Glancing back at Pansy, who tapped her quill impatiently, he grabbed the book and strode back to the table. Dropping the book in her lap, he muttered something about getting another book they needed and moved back down the aisle.

Crouching down and making a show of checking the books on the bottom shelf, he watched Ginny avidly. She looked flustered, especially when Thomas leant forward and took both of her hands in his own. The hopeful look on the git's face gave Draco a sudden and severe case of heartburn. What a massive ponce, he thought uncharitably. What happened next caught Draco completely off-guard. She shook her head with a small smile and leant forward, her eyes drifting closed. Coming half-out of his chair, Thomas brought his mouth over hers in a passionate kiss. Draco was drawing his wand and standing when Pansy sidled up to him and grabbed his arm in a vise grip.

"WHAT are you doing?" she hissed.

He turned burning eyes on her and shook her off. "Sod off, Pansy," he hissed back, voice dripping with venom. "Just look for yourself," he snarled, hauling her in front of him so she could see.

"She's kissing her boyfriend, you twit. So what?" she spat as she forcibly dragged him back to their table. Pushing him into his seat without ceremony, she ordered, "Sit down, before you embarass us both. Stay."

Pinning him with a glare, she perched a hip on the table next to him. "We discussed this. Either it's serious, or it's not. If it's not, you get no say in who she kisses. She can plant one on Snape if she chooses. Potter. Whoever. Now-calm-the-bloody-hell-down."

He glared back impotently.

Pansy stuck her finger in his face and leaned forward until their noses almost touched. Very clearly, she enunciated, "You are acting like a git. A big, soppy git. A very transparent one too, and I'm tired of listening to you. You want to act like some lovesick Hufflepuff? Mucking things up and making Slytherin seem incompetent? I don't think so. Talk to her. Send her a note. Something. But sort your shit out quietly, because I'm not bailing your sorry arse out again."

She stood, gathered her things and left, a cloud of hostility trailing behind her. A quick check told him Ginny had left also. As tempting as it was to go over and challenge Thomas to a duel, Draco carefully packed his things up and wandered back to his room.

"How the hell do I do this?" he wondered.

-

The morning before the Gryffindor-Slytherin match was quiet. Ginny was surprised when a strange owl dropped a letter in front of her. She put down her apple and slowly broke the plain wax seal.

Meet me by the copse of ash trees by the lake after the match. There are things we need to discuss.

-D-

Ginny considered shredding the parchment into tiny pieces, but she thought he was just contrary enough to keep sending notes until she answered. Borrowing a quill and ink from Ron, who was working on plays with Harry, Ginny scrawled back one word.

-NO-

Retying it to the owl's leg, who was obviously ordered to wait for a response, she watched as the bird flew back up with the other owls until it was lost to the eye. Turning her gaze to find Malfoy, she saw the owl descend to him. Quickly removing the parchment, he scowled as the owl soared away.

-

The morning of the match dawned cool and clear. Ginny was too busy talking with Dennis about the match to notice the owl next to her until he pointed it out. Frowning, she untied the parchment, knowing who it was from.

Either meet me there willingly, or I'll drag you kicking and screaming from the Quidditch pitch the second the match is over.

-D-

Shaking her head at his juvenile behaviour, she again borrowed a quill.

Fine.

She sent the owl off without bothering to look over at where Draco sat, moodily wondering how his grand plan could have backfired so badly. When he read her response, he heaved a sigh. I guess I'm actually going to have to resort to drastic measures here.

-

It took Ginny a good ten minutes to extricate herself from the mass of cheering Gryffindors that flooded the pitch after Harry caught the Snitch. She slipped away, still clutching her broom and wearing her kit, and walked tiredly to the lake. She found him sitting on the ground, propped up against the trunk of a tree, staring out over the water.

She looked down at him with a confused frown. "I saw what you did," she accused quietly.

"I didn't do anything," he replied flatly.

Ginny carefully laid down her broom and moved so that she could see his face clearly. "You let Harry catch the Snitch. You hesitated. He knows it, I know it, you know it. Why?"

He shrugged. "Would you believe it was an accident?"

Ginny snorted, picturing him 'accidentally' letting Harry catch the Snitch and being this calm about it. "Yes, I'd believe that the same day I'd believe Albus Dumbledore was a transvestite."

He threw her a disgusted glance before turning his gaze back out to the lake. "Thanks for the vomit-inspiring visual."

"Anytime," Ginny responded cheerfully as she sat down next to him. "So why'd you do it?"

Draco picked up a fallen twig and began snapping it into pieces. "Don't know," he mumbled. "It was a sodding stupid idea anyway." When Ginny remained silent, he burst out, "I wanted to show you I'm so... that I apo... that I could be some stupid bleeding-heart ponce, like all of your stupid Gryffindor friends. That I could be nice," he spat, making it sound vile, "if I wanted." He threw the twig at the water. "It was terrible," he sulked. "I don't like it, not one bit. Evil and terrifying is so much more my thing."

Ginny looked at the miserable boy next to her solemnly, fighting the laughter bubbling in her throat. "If I wanted nice, I'd date Neville," she intoned.

Although a hopeful look lit his face, he refused to meet her eyes. "So I don't have to be nice to the Wonder Twits for you to like me again?"

Ginny let a satisfied smile touch her lips. "I don't like you." His face crumbled. "Maybe I do. But only a little," she amended.

Finally, he looked at her. "So you're not angry anymore? You understand?" he asked.

She narrowed her eyes. "Oh, I'm still angry. Plenty angry. But if I keep ignoring you, you'll likely do something even more absurd, like offer to carry Hermione's books. Just don't expect kissing anytime soon. At least not from me." It was Ginny's turn to look distinctly uncomfortable. "Why'd you kiss that girl and say those things?"

Draco's expressionless face was inscrutable. "Why not?" he shrugged. "It's not like you and I are together. You're free to go round kissing man whores and great, ugly half-blood gits that cheat on you, if you like," he threw out nonchalantly.

Ginny gave him a nasty look. "You're a real charmer, Malfoy."

"Quite a prize yourself, Weasley," he parried.

"You've made your point," Ginny sighed.

"Have I?"

"The answer is yes."

Draco paused, brow creased in confusion. "Yes, what?" he asked, perplexed.

Ginny stretched and rearranged herself against the tree. "Yes, I'll date you, since that's what this whole temper tantrum has been about."

Draco gaped at her as she calmly regarded him with those steady brown eyes. He looked as if he had just swallowed a spider. "What?" he croaked.

As she unstrapped her armguards, Ginny said casually, "You know, the vaunted Slytherin cunning plans aren't all they're cracked up to be."

"You knew!" he gasped, horrified.

Conversationally, she continued. "It's not like it was that difficult to figure out. You were looking at me the whole time she had her tongue stuck down your throat. I just needed a little time to sort it all out."

"And Blaise?" he demanded.

"Pure coincidence. Almost ran him down. He thought I was lost, and was taking me back upstairs. We ended up chatting in the library."

"Oh, the library. Your favourite," he sneered.

"What are you talking about?" Ginny sneered back, her temper rising.

"I saw you snogging Thomas there. I-"

"Oh, for the love of Merlin! We were seeing if there was anything left between us, you ninny. We dated for two years. I figured we both deserved a clean break, and that's what you saw. We kissed. It was awkward, and neither of us had the slightest inclination to continue. That's it. So onto bigger problems. Like your stupid, convoluted plans that just complicate things."

"Stupid? Convoluted!"

"Stupid and convoluted," she confirmed. "Your plans are atrocious. Pull a stunt like you did in the dungeons again, and not only will I dump your idiotic arse, but I will hit you with every hex I know. You want to see each other? Fine. Keep it quiet? Fine." She poked him in the chest with a finger. "But believe me, Draco Malfoy. I like my relationships simple. No more stupid plans. Agreed?"

He looked down at where she was digging her finger into his chest, and then up at her face, flushed with emotion. "Agreed," he said quietly, before grabbing her hand and pulling her against him for a soft kiss.


I'm pretty sure "Ambiguously Gay" is a quote from Saturday Night Live, but I'm not positive. I'm also too damn tired right now to Google it.

Again, I'm really sorry to have kept you waiting so long. Hope you liked it. I couldn't just let everything come up roses for them immediately, could I? Part of their charm is the misunderstandings, fights, and making up. :)