-Chapter Three-

Draco continued holding Ginny in his arms for another few minutes before he realized she had fallen asleep on him! He could only smile with slight amusement, and… was it tenderness?

Her peaceful and steady breaths calmed Draco more than he already was, but still he wondered if she would have any problems sleeping. It didn't seem like it though. He glanced at his watch and saw that it was 6 o'clock am.

Deciding it was time to get back to his dorm to have a rest before going to breakfast, he tried to prise Ginny away from his body.

But she just wasn't having it.

The more Draco tried to pull Ginny's arms away from his shoulders, the tighter she held on. Draco only smiled half-heartedly and buried his face in Ginny's thick and soft hair. For the second time in the matter of minutes, he found he didn't mind holding Ginny. She was just so soft and warm, her curves seemingly melting onto the hard lines of his muscled body…

Draco mentally slapped himself and thought he was getting ahead of himself.

'It's not that I like her right?' asked Draco to himself.

'Like her? You're bloody falling in love with her!' fired his self talk.

'Fuck off!' Draco scolded himself. Then he realized how absurd it was, swearing at himself that he shook his head roughly. It stirred Ginny and he ceased his actions immediately. But then she fell asleep again. This time, Draco decided he really needed to go. So with much resolution, he used his strength to displace Ginny's grip. He then gently supported her upper body so it leant on the coffee table.

And then he left with only one glance back.

Draco strode back to his dorm as quickly possible, keeping in the shadows and trying to keep his thoughts neutral. Once he was in the privacy of his four poster bed, he finally let his mind untwine and relax.

Draco had been with a lot of girls in his short lifetime, but none of them seemed to have such an aura like Ginny. She could be sweet, she could be bad tempered, yet totally sexy at the same time.

Ever since he fled the school that fateful night when Dumbledore was murdered by Snape, he felt so lonely. He hated the idea, but he lived as a muggle for a few months.

Since Draco couldn't go through with the murder of Dumbledore, he had effectively failed Voldemort. And that was a heinous atrocity. But since Voldemort was very preoccupied, he didn't have the time to look for Draco to punish him.

Staying in a youth hostel somewhere in muggle London, Draco received much kindness even though he was quite an unsocial person. In those short months, he had to quickly grasp muggle technology. He was surprised at how efficient a telephone was, and how muggles could have portable light with something called a torch when they didn't have wands.

Draco was slowly getting into the routine of a new life, and meeting new people, when he received an owl from out of the blue.

For a moment a owl flying down to him actually seemed strange, but he quickly snapped out of it and took the letter from the owl.

A handsome tawny owl.

"Hogwarts," murmured Draco, ripping open his letter. Inside was the standard book list, instructions to get to Kings Cross by 11 o'clock…

Draco was so surprised he was actually invited back to Hogwarts. There must have been a mistake. But as he kept perusing through the letter, he noted a post script. It read;

Dear Draco Malfoy,

Do not believe we are not disgusted with your behavior. You threatened to kill the late Albus Dumbledore and we believe you would have if it had not been for Severus Snapes' interference. However, there has been no direct link to you and to Lord Voldemort.

Again, do not believe we don't know your whereabouts. Inner London Youth Hostel.

By magical law, you are required to attend school until you are a fully qualified Wizard. During this last year, Mr. Malfoy, I highly recommend you keep your head down and work hard. You are skating on extremely thin ice as it is.

Regards,

Minerva McGonagal

Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry Head Mistress.

It was already mid-August when Draco received that letter, so he had to disappear from the youth hostel. It pained him to leave the people who cared for him, but there was no other alternative. He just didn't have the will-power to make up a story for his leaving.

He apparated to the Leaky Cauldron and then apparated back out since lots of objects and curses started flying in his direction. Quite shaken, Draco went back in with a few facial disguises and booked a room for the two remaining weeks till school started.

The only time he went out was to eat and to buy his school books. The rest of the time was cooped up in his little room, contemplating life. His mother escaped with his father to Merlin knows where. Draco really was alone. Except for… Ginny? He wasn't so sure.

Draco squeezed his eyes shut and used sheer will power to keep the tears from falling. Soon the lump in his throat subsided, and the layer of moisture on top of his eyes dissipated.

Letting his body clock wake him up just before breakfast, Draco left his eyes closed and drifted into unconsciousness.

Ginny slowly stirred to the smell of sausages, porridge, bacon and eggs. She was still half asleep when she realized she was sleeping and she suddenly jerked up with a start. Her eyes opened to a teeming kitchen with hundreds of house elves furiously cooking.

Ginny was extremely thankful she didn't have any dreams the second time she fell asleep, and she hoped she would never have it ever again. Her attention was soon drawn to the two mugs on the table. Groaning, she remembered Draco was in the kitchens as well. She had fallen asleep on him! How embarrassing!

Yet Ginny was hit with immediate confusion. Draco had been… nice. It was so strange. It just didn't seem like Malfoy. In the end, Ginny decided to leave things be and left the kitchens for her dorm.

Just as Ginny was about the say the password for the portrait (cinnamon sticks) it swung open to reveal Harry Potter.

"Harry!" exclaimed Ginny, jumping back with a touch of shock.

"Ginny, what are you doing out here so early in the morning?" replied Harry with a smile. Ginny was beginning to fall for Harry's smile again. Even though she worked so hard over the holidays to get over him.

"Oh, just wanted something to drink from the kitchens, as you do," countered Ginny, smiling herself. Just seeing Harry again, made her heart pang for his attention. Ginny obviously still had feelings for Harry, even after the break up. "Are you going to breakfast now?"

"Yeah, I am. I like the Great Hall when it's pretty empty."

"Don't mind if I join you?" asked Ginny. Harry's face had a expression that Ginny couldn't put a finger on, but it passed within a nanosecond.

"Sure."

Ginny and Harry walked slowly towards Great Hall, chatting about each other's holidays. Harry spent his time at Remus Lupin's place, while Ginny stayed at home with her family. Often, Ginny couldn't stand being at home, and spent a lot of time at her best friend Collin's place because Ron had finally asked Hermione out.

Whilst Ginny was happy for her brother and friend, she was revolted at how they couldn't keep their hands off each other. It was as if they knew they wasted too much time being just friends, and now they were catching up all in one holiday.

Ginny and Harry reached the Great Hall at 7:45 and it was a fifteen minute wait until breakfast would be served. They continued chatting animatedly until Harry noticed Draco Malfoy stride in.

Immediately Harry's face had a pink tint of anger, and he started clutching his cutlery tightly. "How I'd love to shove this knife into his heart," hissed Harry, brandishing the butter knife in front of Ginny's face.

Ginny had a flashback of her dream and she shuddered involuntarily. Closing her eyes to try to get rid of the image of Voldemort piercing her vital organ.

Harry immediately ceased brandishing and asked Ginny with concern "are you okay? I'm sorry if the knife offended you," whilst putting a hand on her shoulder. Memories flooded back into Harry's mind as well. Memories of when they still went out.

On the other side of the room, Draco sat down facing the Gryffindor table. He was jealous from the moment he walked into the room and saw the pair talking. He saw the lust in Ginny's eyes when she looked at Harry and she didn't even notice him walking into the hall.

Then Harry waved the butter knifed in front of Ginny, whose face suddenly cringed. She seemed to be afraid. What kind of an idiot was Harry?

Finally, the final blow was to Draco when Harry touched Ginny's shoulder to console her. There was a pause, and then Ginny and Harry leant in for the kiss. At the last second Harry pulled away. He said a few words which couldn't be heard by Draco and then he walked quickly out of the room. Ginny was simply left there, staring at the empty space in front her.

'Serves you right,' thought Draco viciously. Then he stopped himself. Why did he care about the youngest Weasley so much? He couldn't have fallen for her. But if he hadn't fallen for her… why did he feel so jealous?

"Ginny! Wait up!" yelled Collin from further down the dungeon's corridor. The laces of his shoe had come undone and he had tripped over them and fallen flat on his arse. Subsequently, his bag fell to the floor with him, spilling it's contents everywhere.

Ginny only sighed and pulled a face at her friend. "You are such a klutz! God I'm starving, I wanna go to lunch. And you just HAVE to trip over and spill all your gear, and then expect me to help you pick it up," ranted Ginny angrily. Collin only gulped and nodded meekly. Ginny just couldn't help but laugh.

Within the shadows of the dungeon corridor, a pair of eyes which belonged to Draco Malfoy watched the pair. He had dropped off his books and was on his way to lunch when he heard Ginny and her friend make all this noise.

Draco just couldn't explain why he was so attracted to Ginny! Here was Ginny and her idiotic friend picking up books and here was Draco hiding in the shadows hoping he wouldn't get an erection from just looking at her red hair.

Getting a boner right now would mean he would need a cold shower, and it was just too cold for that.

Then again he never exactly felt cold around Ginny.

Eventually, Ginny and Collin packed up their gear and ascended to the Great Hall and Draco could breathe a sigh of relief. The way Ginny's too small robes clung to her as she walked past Draco's hiding place made Draco decide he couldn't go without a cold shower.

As Ginny ate her shepherd's pie with sophistication, she ignored Collin basically shove the whole thing in his mouth. Ginny's eyes suddenly clouded over with memory, as she saw Harry walking towards Gryffindor table, waving to Ron who was next to her.

Ginny swore Harry was going to kiss her, but he stopped and told her that they shouldn't be doing this. That there was a reason why he broke up with her and that he didn't want to hurt her.

This only left Ginny feeling numbed and childish. Ginny was only brought out of her reverie when Collin nudged her. "You okay Gin?" he managed through a mouthful of pie.

Ginny only looked at him and smiled sadly. "Yeah." Her attention was suddenly diverted when she heard the name "Malfoy."

It came from Ron's mouth.

"I seriously can't believe he's back at Hogwarts though, after what he did. I even went to McGonagal but she just glared at me," continued Ron.

"It's not right," muttered Hermione. "He should be sent to Azkaban. Everyone knows his motives. I don't seriously believe he's just going to sit here and be a model student."

"Perhaps we should find out. Or we could always make it seem he's done something wrong. We'd be doing everyone a favour if we plant something now than have something really bad happen later," added Harry.

Ginny had to look away because she knew had jaw had dropped. How could her brother and… her friends do such a thing? She knew Draco wasn't a good person, but lately, the way he had been treating her was actually civil.

Ginny just couldn't help but be extremely confused. But there was one thing she knew. She had to thank him for putting up with her that morning. Ginny also felt that, Draco seemed to be drawing her in, even though she still had feelings for Harry. Every time she saw him in the corridors, she'd start to feel flustered. It was just that Draco's recent actions kept taking up her attention for the past day, and it was hard not to think of him.

Or his eyes…

Or his touch…

His scent…

His deep, soothing voice… Ginny stopped right there and shook her head, trying to rid the thoughts from her mind. Her pigtails ended up smacking Collin in the head.

Draco turned off the cold water and watched the hair on his arms stick up. At least no other appendage of his was sticking up.

He stepped out of the shower and rubbed himself down with a towel and then proceeded to dress himself. Draco then completed his uniform by straightening his silver and green tie. Satisfied he looked presentable, he dug into his sweets stash and brought out two cauldron cakes.

'They'll just have to do for lunch,' thought Draco before collecting his things for his last two classes.

After Draco was done with dinner, he decided he would go to the library again to work on his enormous pile of homework. In every class, he wondered why he even bothers with attending. He was fairly sure no one would want to employ him.

Even though he didn't support Voldemort anymore.

Draco was getting into the rhythm of working when he was interrupted by a soft and tentative voice that said "excuse me Malfoy. Can I please talk to you?" He looked up and saw Ginny, pigtails, tight robes and all.