Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series. *Insert witty comment here.*

Okay, sorry about the delay in getting this up. I kept trying to write it but the keyboard for my iPad only occasionally decides to actually connect and so I was only able to write when it cooperated. But, it finally worked with me long enough to get this done!

Without further ado:

Chapter 4

Ginny POV

I woke early that Saturday morning, excitement about the coming day opening my eyes at the crack of dawn. Today was going to be a big day. I had at date, my very first date. Up until this past summer, I'd been so concentrated on Harry that I didn't let myself look at other boys. It wasn't that I didn't notice them, I just had my heart set on Harry.

Over the summer though, Hermione and I were talking and she pointed something out. Harry was never going to be able to see me as anything other than Ron's little sister with a crush on him if that's all I acted like. So, I made the decision to move on. If he noticed me, great, I'd be glad for a relationship with him. In the mean time though, I planned on seeing other boys. Maybe I'd find someone I really liked.

So, when Dean Thomas asked me if I wanted to go out with him on the first Hogsmeade weekend, I said yes. Dean was nice, and very handsome. I'd long been friends with him and it was a natural step to move into a relationship. But today would be the real test. How would the date go? Would we hit it off romantically? I just didn't know yet, but I sure had high hopes.

Letting out a sigh at my wakefulness at such an early hour, I sat up and pushed my blanket back. Running a hand through my sleep messed hair to get it out of my face, I looked around the room. The other girls I shared the dorm with were still fast asleep. Slipping quietly from bed, I padded my way to the bathroom for a shower.

Making my way to the furthest of the shower stalls, I flipped the hot water on to get it warming. As the bathroom begun to fill with steam, I slipped my pajamas off and brushed out my hair a bit, ridding myself of the worst of the tangles. Stepping into the hot water was like a little bit of heaven and I closed my eyes in contentment.

My mind was far from my shower though as it wandered to the coming afternoon. When Dean had asked me out, I'd already had a few things I needed to do in Hogsmeade. I had to go by the pet shop and pick up some special owl food to send home to Mum and Dad. We could only find it in Hogsmeade and it was supposed to help Errol in his failing health. Once I picked it up I had to go to the post office and get it send on it's way home.

After that, I was supposed to be done. But thinking about it, I probably needed to go by the apothecary shop too. There were a few ingredients I needed to pick up for the potion Malfoy, Zabini and I had to brew. Honestly, I should make them buy them but they didn't know we needed them and it was the only Hogsmeade weekend for a while.

Only then, after all my errands were run, could I finally go on my date. I was to meet Dean in Honeydukes at eleven. I didn't know where he planned on us going for our date and as long as it wasn't that frilly little tea shop then anything was fine. That place was just a bit too over the top for me.

Clearing my mind of all these thoughts, I focused on my shower. After quickly washing up, I regrettably turned the water off. Wrapping my towel around myself and wrapping up my hair, I strode from the bathroom to get ready for the day. I pulled on a nice pair of jeans, green blouse with a while lace undershirt, and stepping into a simple pair of black flats. Turning to assess myself in the mirror, I smiled.

Checking my watch, I sighed when I realized it was only seven thirty in the morning. It wasn't even a decent time to leave for Hogsmeade. It wouldn't take long to run my errands and I didn't want to be wandering around Hogsmeade for hours by myself. So I decided I'd grab breakfast. As I made my way down the many winding staircases towards the Great Hall, I couldn't help but noticed few others were up at this hour. I passed one Ravenclaw girl on the stairs but that was it.

Even the Great Hall had very few gracing it's tables. There was many a dozen or two people eating breakfast. I looked over the tables as I found a seat. My eyes met a pair of familiar gray ones from the Slytherin table. Draco Malfoy held my gazed for a moment before giving me a small smile.

Up until these past few weeks, he had never been nice to me. It made me suspicious as to why he was suddenly so cordial but I figured it was just because we were going to be stuck as partners in potions. It made sense. Wasn't I doing the same thing, trying to act civil to make this year easier? Then why did I feel like he had more on his mind than just being nice to his potions partner.

Shaking off the feeling of suspicion, I nodded towards him before taking a seat with my back to him. I pushed the thoughts of Malfoy to the back of my mind as I settled down to eat. Filling my plate with waffles and bacon, I began to eat. A few bites in though and I felt I couldn't eat anymore. My stomach was too filled with butterflies about the coming date for me to be able to eat.

After about twenty minutes, I gave up on breakfast entirely. It was hardly eight but I couldn't just let myself sit still any longer. Abandoning my half empty plate and taking one last sip of pumpkin juice, I made my way out the Great Hall and started outside. The walk to Hogsmeade would take about half an hour, getting me there about nine. That would leave me with just two hours to kill. That wasn't too bad.

The weather outside was nice for a late September morning, warm with hardly any wind. There were a few people outside already, most heading the same way I was. In front of me, I saw two couples. Each pair was holding hand, completely engrossed in each other. I smiled, imagining that would be Dean and I on our way back after our date.

"What kind of date doesn't walk his girl to Hogsmeade?" I heard a voice ask from behind me.

I let out a small sigh and kept walking. "It's none of your business Malfoy," I retorted, not even glancing back at him. I was spared the need as he fell into step beside me.

"Well, it doesn't seem like this boy, whoever he is, really appreciates you," he said lightly as he put his hands in his pockets. I let my gaze fall on him for a moment. He was wearing dark jeans that looked like they probably cost more than my entire wardrobe and a black t-shirt that hugged him a little too tight for my comfort. I couldn't help but noticed the faint outline of his abs under the fabric. Looking up at his face, I could see the knowing smirk in his eyes.

Angry at myself, I flushed and looked away. "He wanted to go with me but I have errands to run first," I said quickly, as much to defend Dean as to distract him from my horribly obvious ogling of his chest.

"Well, I'll accompany you then," Malfoy said, rather than asking if it was okay with me. Knowing him though, it didn't really surprise me.

"If you must," I said much to my surprise. I knew there was no point in arguing it. I'd learned in the past few weeks that when Malfoy had his mind set on something there was really no point in trying to stop him. He'd probably follow me anyway if I'd disagreed. Besides, I could make him pay for the potion ingredients this way.

"Hmm, that was easy," he mused beside me. "I thought for sure you'd put up a fight."

"What's the point?" I asked with a small laugh. "Would you have left me alone if I'd said no?"

He laughed beside me, a deep, real laugh. It was such a shock to hear something so natural and kind come out of him. I never imagined Draco Malfoy was one given to full, mirthful laugher. Not the kind that made your stomach hurt if you did it too long or brought tears to your eyes. I found a smile tug at my lips despite myself.

"Of course not," he said after his laugher subsided. "You learn quick." He gave me a smile as we continued the trek to Hogsmeade. "So where are we going?"
Rolling my eyes, I couldn't help but smile. "I need to pick up some owl food, go to the post office and by the apothecary shop," I told him.

As we fell into easy step together, I couldn't help but wonder what was happening. Malfoy and I were actually having a decent conversation, acting more than just civil, and having a fairly good time. And it had only begun as it would seem he was going to accompany me on my errands. Part of me wondered if he had some other motives behind this sudden friendliness, but I found myself pushing those feelings away.

For some reason beyond me, I was enjoying myself with Malfoy. And more surprising, I didn't want to question it. I just wanted to enjoy this. Maybe it was because I had such high hopes for today and I'd been looking forward to it for quite some time. I didn't want anything to ruin this day, not even Malfoy. So I wasn't going to let him. If he wanted to be nice, I wasn't going to question it.
The trip to Hogsmeade took much less time, or at least it seemed to, with company. The easy conversation made the trip go faster and and before I knew it the familiar buildings of Hogsmeade came into view.

"So, you said you need owl food first?" Draco asked as we made it onto the main road amidst the familiar buildings.

"Yeah, my family's owl is, well, old and he needs special food. Only place we can find it is here," I told him as we walked towards the pet store. Draco stepped forward when we got close and opened the door for me, waiting for me to step past before coming in.

As I wandered towards the owl food in search of what I needed, Draco seemed to get distracted by the cat display. Several cats were sunning themselves on a carpeted tower. A smile played over my lips as I watched him stroke the smallest of the cats, hardly more than a kitten. I'd never seen such a gentle side of him before. But the kitten seemed to soften his edges.

Grabbing the owl food, I made my way back to him and the cat tower. "She seems to like you," I said, gesturing to the little sliver kitten who was currently purring loudly under his ministrations.

Draco let out a small laugh, pulling his hand away. The kitten followed it, intent on resuming the petting. "No girl can resist my charm," He said, winking at me.

I let out a snort of laugher, rolling my eyes. Yes, he was still very pompous. Acting nice or not, the git we all knew and loved was still in there. "Yeah, whatever. I need to go pay for this and we can go," I said, turning to go to the register. "Unless you'd rather stay with the kitten." I laughed as I walked away.

Draco's footsteps followed behind me as I walked to pay for the owl food. At the register was a kind young woman, probably hardly five years out of Hogwarts. She had opened the pet shop here only three years ago. I was thrilled that it opened, and even more when I found the food for Errol here.

"Did you find everything alright?" she asked with a smile as she waved her wand over the bag of food.

"Yes," I replied, smiling back. I snuck a glance at Draco to see if he was staring at her. It was no secret that nearly every boy in Hogwarts was infatuated with the pretty young witch. But my eyes met his and I flushed and looked back to the pet shop owner.

"That'll be two sickles and seven knuts," she said, the total appearing over the register in bold red numbers.

"Alright, just let me grab my money," I said, turning to pull out what I needed from the coin pouch I kept on me. Before I could get it open hardly though Draco had put three sickles onto the counter.

"You can keep the change," he said, picking up the owl food and turning to me. "Ready to go?"

"Have a nice day," the young witch said, turning to help another costumer who was currently looking at her rat display.

"You didn't have to do that," I said, planting my feet. "I can pay you back. I have the money for it." I had hoped he would offer to by the ingredients at the apothecary shop as it's something that he needed too, but I hadn't expected this.

"Don't worry about it," he said, taking my hand and pulling me towards the door. "It's my pleasure."

I didn't pull my hand from his, instead let him lead me along. "But I feel bad," I protested meekly. It would be nice to have the little extra money that Mum and Dad had given me for the food but I didn't want to owe Draco.

"Nonsense," Draco said with a roll of his eyes. "Just let me be nice and leave it at that. So you said post office next right?" He cut off any further argument with his question, already pulling me in the direction of said post office.

"Umm, yeah," I said, still very confused by his actions. "Post office."

The same thing happened at the there. He paid the seven knuts for the post and an owl was sent on it's way with the package. This time I didn't argue it, deciding it would be very nice to have the extra three sickles in my pocket. And so we continued on to our next destination, the apothecary shop. We needed several ingredients that were not kept in the student stock at school for the kissing concoction.

I stood back and let him pay, happy that those extra sickles now jingling in my coin pouch didn't have to be spent on powdered unicorn horn or essence of rue. I looked at my watch as we walked from the store, Draco shrinking down the package of ingredients and pocketing it. "It's only ten," I said, surprised at how little time that took. "I'm not meeting Dean until eleven."

"How about a butterbeer then?" Draco asked as we strolled along.

I thought about it for a second. Dean would be meeting me at the three broomsticks at eleven. He might get the wrong impression if Draco and I were sitting together at a table already. But then again, a butterbeer did sound tempting. Besides, surely Draco and I would have parted ways before then. How long would it take to drink a butterbeer?

"Sure," I agreed, giving Draco a smile. "Butterbeer sounds great."

Five minutes later found the two of us settled in a corner booth sipping the smooth warm beverages. "So, you said you're meeting Dean, right? He's the one in my year isn't he?"

"Yeah," I replied, taking another sip from the mug. I sighed in content as it slid down my throat. "He asked me out a few days after start of term."

"Have you gone out with him before?" Draco questioned, his long pale fingers wrapping around his own mug. I wondered idly if the heat would give his skin some color.

Shaking myself from my odd thoughts, I answered him. "No, it'll be our first date. My first date in general actually." I surprised myself at the confession, but it felt good to talk to him, easy. "I've never had a date before."

"How is that possible? You're already a fifth year," Draco asked, sounding genuinely stunned.

I shrugged, not wanting to get into the fact I'd turned down every offer before in hopes Harry would ask me out. No, friendly or not, that wasn't a detail I was about to give to Draco. Who knew when this nice streak might end and I didn't want him to have that kind of ammunition. "Just never did."

"So you must really like this Dean for him to get the privilege of getting to be the first to win your heart," he said, taking a sip of his drink, his eyes unusually intent.

I started. Win my heart? He hadn't won my heart, not so much as he fulfilled my desire to no longer be single. Sure he may eventually win my heart and at the moment I did like him, but just like.

Draco seemed to sense my hesitation. "Or do you fancy him as much as he you?" he asked, the intense look still in his stormy grey eyes. How had I never noticed how nice his eyes were before? Grey would seem like a boring color usually, but it suited him amazingly. They were so expressive, intense. I could probably loose myself in the almost silver pools.

"I don't know," I said softly after a moment, pulling my gaze from his eyes back down to my mug. "He's a really nice guy and I do like him. But I will admit the desire to have a date in general is nearly as strong as the desire to have a date with him. I feel like I'm the only girl in my year that's never had a boyfriend. Even fourth years seem to be coupled up already, and some even younger. It's not like I never had the opportunity, but I never acted on it. And I was tired of being alone."

Once the words started, they didn't stop. "Every other girl in my dorm goes on about 'my boyfriend this' or 'my boyfriend that.' I was sick of being the only one not to have a boyfriend. And so when Dean asked me out, I thought it was all finally going to change. For once, I could talk about having a date. Tonight I'm going to be able to lay in bed and tell the girls about my date. I might even be able to use the word boyfriend. I've waited so long to say that. Sure, this isn't at all what I pictured, but if I waited for what I've dreamt of, I'll probably never be in a relationship. So no, Dean isn't my dream date, but maybe with time this small attraction to him can grow into a real relationship. That's what I want. That's why I said yes to him."

Once my heart was all poured out, I regretted it. My eyes found my mug, and I could feel my face heat up. Here I was, bearing my heart, my worries, my feelings to Draco Malfoy. I half expected to see him smirk, hear a snarky comment, or at least see a roll of his eyes. This was what he would have done last year, or even at the beginning of this year. But instead, when I finally chanced a look at his face, he had a soft smile playing on his lips.

"You've been holding that in for a while haven't you?" was all he said, putting his mug down and lacing his fingers under his chin.

I smiled nervously, looking down before I answered. "Yeah, a bit," I said softly. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," was all he said. Picking his mug back up, he let the subject drop.

Thankful for it, my heart felt lighter. We sat there talking for long after the last of the butterbeer was drained and the mugs taken away. I was amazed that just two days ago this boy in front of me, who I so easily found myself talking to and confiding in, didn't even know my name. It was definitely strange, but I found I didn't want to question it. This would sure make the year go by better than if we still were snapping at each other every other word. It would be much easier to work with him if we were friendly.

"Well," I said, glancing at my watch. "Dean will be here any minute. I better go."

"Aren't you meeting him here though?" Draco asked.

"Yeah, but," I gestured to the two of us, words failing. How did I explain without sounding completely insulting that I didn't want Dean to see me sitting here with Draco.

"No worries, I'm supposed to be meeting someone outside myself," he said, seeming to understand. "I'll see you Monday," And with that, he stood. Giving me one of those rare smiles, he was gone.

I shook my head, marveling at the past two hours. Had they really happened? Had I actually spent two hours, happily, with Draco Malfoy? What was the world coming to when I Malfoy and a Weasley could sit and have a butterbeer without trading insults? I shook my head, a smile on my lips despite myself.

So lost in thought, I didn't even noticed Dean walk up until he was sliding into the booth across from me, where Draco had been just moments before. "Hey, Ginny," he said, beaming. "I see you already got a table."

"Yeah," I said, smiling back. Trying to push the thoughts of Draco from my head, I focused instead on the date, my first date, which had just begun. "I hope a booth is okay."

"Sure is," he said. "Would you like a butterbeer?"

I didn't bother to tell him I'd already indulged in one. "Sure, sounds good."

"I'll be right back then," he said, standing up to go to the counter and order our drinks. As he walked past me, his hand touched my shoulder for a moment, making me smile.

As I waited for Dean to return, my eyes wandered towards the window overlooking the street. My eyes immediately landed on the familiar blond hair of Draco. He was standing by himself, looking off down the road with a frown on his face. I found myself wondering what was bothering him. As I stared, he turned and his eyes met mine. I felt my face flush at being caught starring, but gave him a smile before turning away, watching Dean returning.

Well, that was a bit longer than the last one. I hope you all liked it. Draco sure is working on "Befriending the Weasley." Tell me what you guys think!

And remember, a happy author writes better and faster! So review and make me happy!