The next couple of days Hermione hardly saw Ron. She caught glimpses of him here and there, but didn't dare speak to him. He looked too fragile. Hermione often heard Lavender crying to herself at night, when she thought she and Parvati were sleeping. Ron had broken up with her.

Ron never stayed too long at meal times, to avoid people, mainly Harry, trying to cheer him up. Harry was also suffering, because Hermione had to not talk to him for a while for good measure for their plan to work, and Ron was simply ignoring him. Harry and Hermione rarely got together anymore, due to a mountains of homework they were receiving from teachers.

But Ron wasn't the only Weasley down in the dumps though. Ginny Weasley was still distraught by having caught Harry and Hermione snogging in a corridor. In fact, she was glaring daggers at Hermione whenever she became within her line of vision. Ginny still exchanges polite greetings with Harry, but it never travels far from there.

Ginny entered the Gryffindor common room, with a stoic expression. She glanced around to see Harry and Hermione in a civil conversation, near the fireplace, parchment and books strewn before them. Her expression hardened when Harry grinned at Hermione as she threw her head back in laughter.

Ginny flipped her hair back, and walked over to them. She plopped down next Harry on the love seat, across from Hermione. It was a bit too close for Harry, seeing as their shoulders and thighs were touching. "What's so funny?"

Hermione glanced at Ginny warily. "Harry said something about Professer Snape".

Ginny turned to Harry, who was nodding furiously. "What was it that you said?"

"Er -- I said that Snape's nose is -- is so big, it always manages... to get in our business," Harry mumbled on the spot. Hermione face palmed herself in her head. She forgot Harry was terrible at improvisation. They were actually discussing how easily everyone believed they'd broken up.

"Mmm hmm," Ginny hummed, raising an eyebrow at him. "Anyway, Hermione I was wondering if I could borrow Harry for a while?" She paused, and then burst out laughing. "Who am I kidding, you don't own him. Harry. What do you say?"

Hermione was having an internal battle, and was sure many emotions flashed across her face at that moment. She was wondering whether to slap Ginny, or grit her teeth and bear it. Although the former appealed to her, Hermione went with the latter.

Harry glanced at Hermione, pain evident in his eyes. "'Course Ginny. 'Mione I'll be back soon".

Ginny grabbed his hand softly, and led him to the portrait hole. They exited, hand in hand.

SNAP!

Hermione looked down, surprised, and discovered the pencil she was using, snapped in half with the force she was holding it in. Hermione sighed.

"So... What do you need me for?" Harry asked, nervously, as they walked aimlessly around the school corriders. It was an hour to curfew, so there were a few stragglers.

"Oh Harry. I just wanted to tell you something. I needed to tell you alone. Away from busy bodies." Ginny mumbled, "like Hermione, the stuck up Princess."

Although Harry had heard what she had said, he said, "what was that last bit?"

"Oh nothing," Ginny amended, quickly. They stopped walking, when they reached a secluded corridor. Harry glanced around. They were on the seventh floor. The Room of Requirement lay before them. Ginny faced Harry, and looked him in the eye.

"What was it you wanted to tell me, Ginny?" Harry murmured, fully aware of her intentions.

Ginny took a deep breath, and looked at the ground. "I like you, Harry. A lot. You have no idea how hard I've fallen for you. Hermione told me to date different guys, so hopefully you could see I wasn't messing around and could see me as a women, not just Ron's little sister. And then I realised she only said that to get you herself. That sneaky little --"

Harry coughed loudly into his fist, knowing that Ginny had cursed. Ginny continued like Harry hadn't interrupted her well thought out speech. "It's no longer some harmless crush. I..." Ginny let out a breath, and looked at his emerald green eyes, that sparkled in the dimly lit corrider, as she said, "I think I might love you".

Harry had been expecting something along these lines, but nothing could of prepared him for the guilt that filled him and the pang in his chest, reminding him that he fancied someone else. There was no way he could lie to sweet, innocent Ginny. If he told her the truth, that he fancied someone else, their friendship would be ruined. But if he lied and said he returned those feelings, he would be dating someone that he thought of as a sister, no more and no less. And then there would be breaking her heart when he ended it. He didn't know what to do.

Ginny was nervous. Her heart was surely beating a world record for how fast it was beating. What would he say? Would he laugh in her face and tell her she was being pathetic? Would he look sympathetically at her, before saying he was interested in someone else? Or would he simply say she was amazing and he loved her so much it overwhelmed him?

"Er -- Ginny... thank you, but... I'm still cut up from Hermione. I'm sorry. I really am".

Ginny looked down. She knew it. It's the same "It's Not You, It's Me" talk. She let out a frustrated sigh, before looking up, giving him a curt nod and walking away at a high pace.

Harry looked after her, before deciding to let her have space to process things. Harry walked back to the common room, this time unaccompanied by anyone.

Ginny had no idea where she was headed. Tears willed themselves free before she could stop them. Ginny walked for 10 minutes, before she collapsed against a wall her body racked with sobs. She buried her head in her knees, as she shook uncontrollably. Never. Never in Ginny's life had she had an inevitable crying session. And in Hogwarts of all places.

Ginny stiffened, as she felt someone rubbing gentle circles on her back, saying soothingly, in a male voice, "It's alright. Everything will be alright".

Ginny thought it was Ron. So she allowed her muscles to relax. She didn't think twice. She lunged at the person, who was now gently stroking her hair, and wrapped them up in a fierce, yet passionate hug. The person didn't respond immediately, clearly shocked, but soon melted into the silent embrace. The person dragged her to a standing position, without breaking the hug.

Ginny noticed, as her head buried into the person's neck, that it was not Ron. She knew this because she usually didn't reach Ron's neck. He was too tall, for her to do what she was doing now. She knew this person was a male, because of his voice. The light scent of his cologne filled Ginny's nostrils. She sighed. She smelt his hair. It smelt rustic and musty. It reminded her of the Forbidden Forest. Ginny opened her eyes so she could see the mysterious figure with the sensual touch and mystifying voice. She lifted her head from the crook of his neck, and gasped as she saw misty silver eyes, staring at her with concern. She looked at his pointed face, and stepped back taking in his full figure.

"M-Malfoy?" Ginny croaked, confused.

"Weasley. I'm sorry. But I'm not going to lie. I heard your conversation with Potter. The way you poured your heart out to him, and he blew you off. Even I wouldn't stoop that low," Malfoy said. "I thought you needed to be comforted. Plus, I know some information that you don't. I'd like to help you on one condition".

Ginny stared at him with wide eyes, before narrowing them. "What's the piece of information that I don't know?"

"Ah. I'll tell you if you agree to my condition. All I can say is it can tear Potter and the Know-It-All down".

Ginny raised an eyebrow, before asking cautiously, "What's the condition?"

"Be my girlfriend," Malfoy stated simply, smirking as she eyed him suspiciously.

"And what's in it for you?"

"Potter's humiliation and a beautiful bird to show off to my friends".

Ginny scoffed. "Am I some sort of trophey?"

Malfoy smirked. "No. I honestly just like you".

The look of shock on Ginny's face, was priceless in Malfoy's opinion. She found it so hard to believe that she was attractive. No one would deny that she was attractive. No one.

Ginny composed herself, and squared her shoulders. "Draco," she dragged out his first name, "I would absolutely... love to be your girlfriend".

Ginny took a step closer, so their lips were centimetres apart. Draco closed his eyes. She put her lips to his ear murmuring, "remember to call me Ginny". She then kissed his cheek. Draco opened his eyes, and she was gone.

So... Constructive criticism would be helpful! Please leave a review on what you think of the story so far and how I could improve. No mean comments, though.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter

Cya,

HermioneSmexyBeast