A new chapter is finally here! I'm soooooooo sorry it took so long! I've had to babysit three nights a week for the past two weeks (Yeah,really puts a damper on you're social life) and every other night I've been too tired from babysitting to do anything but come home and crash. I promise i'll try and get the next chapter up quicker.

On the plus side this is a really long chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope, still not J.K. Rowling. IfI were I'd be at home with my children writing HBP right now.

"Ginny, are you okay? As cozy as this is, darling, you have to finish your homework, which requires you to actually be conscious. " Blaise said gently, and then with slightly more force added, "Besides, I can't feel my arm."

"Hmmm…?"

"Ginny wake up. You're drooling."

She woke up enough to argue. "No I'm not, Colin."

"Then how do you explain the puddle on my shoulder?" Blaise asked, shaking his arm back and forth to rock her head off its perch. She rolled over to lean on Colin.

"Oh, no you don't." He shifted in his chair so that her head fell upon the desk.

"I need beauty sleep." She grumbled, turning over and closing her eyes. "You just want me to be ugly."

After a moment she sat up, frustrated. "Grr…now I can't get back to sleep."

"Poor ickle Ginny." Blaise said, tousling her already untidy hair.

She rolled her neck, wincing at the unpleasant cracking sound. "My neck hurts."

"You just spent the past half an hour sleeping on a desk. What do you expect?"

"Oh shut up." She snapped, looking annoyed at her unfinished homework.

"Colin, let me copy you transfiguration homework."

"You're not in my year anymore, remember?"

"Blaise?" She asked hopefully.

"Sorry." He said shaking his head.

"I hate you both."

"Don't say that." Colin said, reprimanding her.

"I do."

"Don't make me tickle you." Colin warned.

"And I'll hate Ron forever, too, for telling you that."

"What?" Blaise asked.

"Nothing!" Ginny squealed, even as Colin answered: "Poor little Ginny is dreadfully ticklish."

"Really, now? I'll remember that for future reference."

"Colin, watch you're back. I know where you live. I know where you sleep. I will find you and get you back for that."

She returned her gaze back to her homework. "This is boring." She announced, packing up her books and incomplete paper on animal-object transfiguration. "Let's go get something to eat. Ummm…I bet they have pie."

"You hate pie."

"Yeah, but I love the whipped cream."

Blaise looked scandalized. "How can you hate pie, you Gryffindor freak!"

"I am in Gryffindor and I do hate pie but I doubt that the two are in anyway related." She said serenely as she led her two friends through the halls that led to the kitchen.

"Sorry. It's a reflex. If ever there is anything wrong, blame it on a Gryffindor. Fail a potions test? Blame Gryffindor. Get stood up for Hogsmeade? Blame Gryffindor."

"If you get trampled to death by a troop of rampaging Hippogriffs being chased by an evil dragon with a bad case of the measles?" Ginny inquired cheerfully.

"Blame Gryffindor of course. I hate to break it too you guys, but you're the universal scapegoat."

"Of course."

"And," Colin asked, "Does the whole school feel this way, or is it just Slytherin?"

"Primarily Slytherin, but other houses seemed to have picked up on it."

"That explains why Hannah was shooting me dirty glances in Herbology." Ginny said.

"Hannah Abbott? The Hufflepuff?" Colin questioned.

"Is there another Hannah at this school?"

"Well no, but Ginny, I sincerely doubt that's why Hannah's annoyed with you."

Her eyes narrowed. "Why then? I haven't done anything to her."

"I can't believe you didn't see it before, Gin." Blaise said, "Hannah's liked Seamus for ages. She's been peeved ever since he asked you out."

"How did she know about that? In fact, how did you know about that?"

"This is Hogwarts, Red, everyone knows about it. Nothing stays secret here."

"I-" She paused and looked impatiently up the wall at the portrait, "Do you mind?"

"Hmm? Oh, of course." Blaise reached up and tickled the pear at the kitchen entrance.

"Great, just what I need. A bunch of gossiping girls bothering me."

"By the way Ginny, Draco said to remind you about Saturday. What's that all about?"

She paused, unsure what to say. Finally she decided the best defense was feigned oblivion. "Who knows? Mad as a hatter that one is."

"Hello Seamus."

The blond blushed slightly, but smiled sheepishly. "Hey, Ginny."

She collapsed on the couch next to him. "I'm so tired."

She pulled her legs up underneath her. He opened his mouth to say something, and then stopped.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"No, tell me."

"Nothing."

"I don't believe you."

"Persistent little thing, aren't you?"

"Yes." She smiled proudly. "Now tell me."

"I just wanted to, you know, thank you."

She furrowed her brow slightly. "For what?"

"For saying you'd go to Hogsmeade tomorrow with me. I've wanted to ask you since term started. I was just afraid you'd say no. I mean, not that you would, because you're the nicest girl I've ever met, but then I was scared-"

"Seamus?"

"Yes?"

"You're babbling."

"I-I…"

"And you are so sweet." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "Goodnight Seamus."

"Goodnight Ginny."

Ginny awoke Saturday morning to a burning sensation in her chest. The feeling passed as quickly as it had come. Looking at her clock she groaned. It was eleven thirty, much later then she normally slept in. Then again, with her recent dreams she hadn't been getting a lot of sleep.

Ginny had had another one last night. This time it had started off with her as a child of only eleven and Tom was once again only her sweet friend. More a memory then a dream really. Except, this time he wasn't inside the diary; he was walking and talking like a real person. Strangest of all was the presence of Draco Malfoy, who seemed to have no active part in the dream, but served only as a spectator who sat quietly in the corner.

She shrugged off her worries as easily as she did her clothes as she stepped into the shower, letting her thoughts wander to happier subjects while the hot water soothed her fatigued body.

She was supposed to meet Seamus at one o'clock. And Malfoy at noon. She snorted; as if that was going to happen. She had to wonder if he was really stupid enough to expect that she would show up.

Quickly she got dressed in a nice pair of jeans and a dark green Kenmare Kestrels Quidditch T-shirt adorned with four-leaf clovers that Seamus was sure to love.

Suddenly, there was another bout of burning on her chest. It was only now that she realized the source of the pain. The necklace. This was not the normal warmth the necklace frequently acquired, but instead sharp and unbearably painful, much more so then it had been only a moment ago. Had it been any other day she would have taken this as a bad omen and paid mind to her unsettling feeling, but today she ignored it. She was going to meet Seamus.

Annoyed, she attacked the knots in her hair with a harshness that caused her scalp to sting.

Once again there was a twinge of pain, only this time, it faded not completely away but to pulsing throbs of enervating ache. It seemed as if an invisible rope had wrapped itself around her, gently pulling her toward the castle gate.

She closed her eyes trying to push away the pain. And, suddenly, in that moment she knew, though she didn't completely understand how she knew, that the only way to make the suffering stop was to do as Malfoy wished and meet him in the ridiculous restaurant.

Silently cursing the blond she checked the clock again. It was nearly noon already.

She let out a small cry as another wave of pain washed over her. A knock came at the door.

"Ginny? Are you okay?"

"Colin?"

"You sound sick. Do you need to go to the hospital wing?"

"I'm just-" Another small squeal. "-Just not feeling very well. I'm fine." She hollered at the door, hoping he wouldn't want to come in.

"Should I get Madame Pomfrey?"

"No, no I'm okay."

"Ginny, let me in."

"I think I might be contagious. I don't want to get you sick. I'm fine, really. I think it's just a twenty-four hour bug or something. I'm sure I'll be better by morning."

"Ginny, just let me see you so that I know you're not lying to me."

She sighed. Darn Colin and his stupid brotherly concern. For a moment she planned to ignore him, but then realized he was likely to then go and get Ron. Then she'd be in for some real brotherly concern.

"Fine Colin." She sighed and opened the door a crack, enough that he could see her face.

"You don't look to good, Gin. Can I do anything for you?"

"No, no I'm fin- actually, scratch that. I would love you forever if you would do me a favor."

"And you won't love me if I don't?"

"Of course not."

"I feel so used."

"As well you should. Now will you, please?" As she finished another series of sharp pains emanated from the necklace, as if adding to her story. She cringed slightly, further convincing her friend.

"Sure. What do you need?"

"I hate to ask this of you, but could you please tell Seamus I probably won't be able to make it to Hogsmeade today."

"The things I do for you."

"Thanks Colin. You're the best. I'd kiss you but then you'd end up sick and hate me."

"Promise me you'll get Neville or me if you get worse?"

"I promise if I'm not feeling better by tomorrow I'll go to the nurse. Happy?"

"Extremely."

"Good. Now go…and be gentle with him."

When she was sure he was gone she closed the door and rushed to the mirror. The darn necklace looked completely normal, not even a hint of the pain it was causing her was evident. How could something so pretty and delicate be so…evil?

12:05. Crap.

The pain was steadily growing more intense. She was ready to simply run out of the dorm room, when she realized what she was wearing. Only a few minutes ago she had thought she looked nice, but now her clothes felt old and tattered. She considered for a moment simply wearing them anyway, merely to spite Malfoy. But, finally, she decided against it, considering that if C'est La Vie was as nice as Lavender claimed they would probably have a dress code that didn't include jeans and T-shirts. While normally embarrassing the blond prat would have made her smile, the thought of them not letting her into the restaurant and coming all the way back to castle, changing, and going all the way back with the pain of the foul necklace ripping out her insides was enough to make her change her mind. Not a pleasant thought.

Hurriedly she threw open her wardrobe searching for a suitable outfit, finding only worn muggle clothes and school uniforms.

Then, in answer to her silent prayer, her eyes fell on something green.

Draco was impressed. He had, in anticipation for the resistance that she was sure to raise, made the restaurant reservations at 12:30, knowing she would probably be late. It was now however nearly 12:20 and she had yet to arrive.

Glancing around, he reached into his pocket and extracted the necklace's counterpart, the small gold ring. It was still glowing red. With an irritated grunt he replaced the ring.

Draco Malfoy was not a patient person and being expected to wait on a Weasley of all people was just plain degrading.

"Draco? Is she here?"

"No, Sylvia. Hold the table."

"As mush as I would hate to even think that there is someone on the planet capable of resisting the Malfoy charm, are you sure she's coming?" The girl's voice was teeming with sarcasm, but also with barely concealed concern.

He smiled. "She'll be here. Trust me, she'll be here."

Ginny had sprinted towards the quidditch field and urged the carriage on at breakneck speeds. Now, making every attempt not to trip over the hem of her robes, she jogged down the dusty road. The pain, her constant incentive, seemed to be ebbing slightly. She knew she was getting closer.
It was impossible not to see her. Her sun-lit hair gleamed red in the bright afternoon light. Her finery changed from black to green as her body moved and bent. The flowing skirt of her robes masked her movements, which Draco knew were not in the least graceful. She looked vaguely confused, turning her face in one direction and then another as if trying to get her bearings. Her dainty features were painted with uncertainty.

Then she saw him and her look of puzzlement changed to one of annoyance intermingled with rage.

"Malfoy! Do you know what this stupid thing has put me through for the last hour!"

"Tsk, tsk. You wouldn't have felt anything if you were here on time."

"How dare you!"

She put her hands on her hips, looking as if she were debating whether to wait to kill him in his sleep or to just murder him now. She furrowed her brows, apparently deciding that there were far too many witnesses on the street.

There was something annoyingly familiar about her robes that he couldn't place.

"Weasley, you're making a scene. Come inside and I'll explain."

"You'd better or so help me I'll-"

"Draco? Is this her?" The speaker was a rather thin, pale girl. Her flaxen face was unreadable, and her crystalline blue eyes were impassive. She wore a black dress that couldn't have been tighter if it had been painted on. Her hair, the same shade as her dress, fell straight down bellow her hips. Ginny had never seen anyone as lovely as her in her life.

"Yes. This is her."

"Hmmm…" Ginny's face burned as the girl examined her.

"Very well, follow me." The girls walked away slowly, her gently swaying hips drawing many males' eyes as they entered the restaurant. From the older girl, their eyes soon traveled to Ginny, who was quite sure she was blushing. She felt like she was a doll on display.

Draco had moved ahead of the redhead and fallen in step with his exquisite cohort.

"Another one, Draco? Really, this is becoming unseemly. Though I must say, she's not like your usual birds. Your normal booth?" Her voice, like every other part of her, was beautiful, but laced with an icy edge. Though she hadn't looked at Ginny since her arrival, it was spoken loud enough that she knew she was meant to hear the comment.

"This." Draco said wincing. "Is not a date. More like a…business proposition."

"Draco I didn't know you were that desperate." She said, voice dripping with repulsion.

It took Ginny a moment to understand what the stunning waitress was implying, and then in almost a righteous rage, spoke to defend herself. Unfortunately for her she never got the chance. Hardly being at ease walking normally, she was horribly awkward on the high heels she had 'borrowed' from Lavender's closet. She faltered, tripped, and would have crashed to the ground had it not been for the waiter who so conveniently was there to catch her.

"Are you okay?" He asked, gripping her elbow with one arm and the other wrapped around her shoulder.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Draco laughed. "Don't bother with her. You can put pigs in pretty clothes, but they still long to wallow in the mud."

"Yeah, but at least the pig is happy. You put a ferret in fancy outfits and give him lots of Daddy's money to spend, and he's not any less of a ferret."

"Isn't that ever going to get old?"

"Nope."

"Ummm…?"

"Oh!" Ginny blushed uncomfortably as she realized the waiter was still politely holding her up. "Sorry."

"Quite alright." He helped her onto her feet and she attempted to smooth her dress. She stumbled slightly; one of her heels was broken.

"Thank you…" She paused to read his name tag. "Err…Luther. Yes, thank you, Luther."

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, thank you." The picturesque girl, rolled her eyes, accompanied by Draco. With a parting nod, she hobbled after the two with as much dignity as a hurt ankle and a broken heel would allow.

She could feel the boy's eyes on her back and her face burned as she walked away.

"Well," Came the boy's voice from behind her. "This just won't do. What will people say if they see our customer's hobbling out?"

Before she could reply, she felt his arms wrap around her and she was lifted off her feet. He, smiling down at her, followed after her escorts.

"I'm not sure, but I'll spread the word that you have great service here."

"How quaint."

"What?"

"You're blushing."

"Well this is the first time I've been to a restaurant where the waiters carry you to your seat."

He scoffed. "Oh, how deprived you've been."

"Clearly."

"Luther, put the girl down." The girl named Sylvia ordered.

"Don't want to." He whined.

"Put her down."

"Fine, if I have to. Look's like this is your stop, princess." He carefully set her down in a plush velvet lined chair. He pulled her broken heel out of his pocket and placed her foot on his knee as a father would to tie a young child's shoe. "Repairo. There you are." He said as the heel magically fused with her shoe.

She smiled. "Thank you. If I stay out past midnight will I turn into a pumpkin?"

"You're clothes might turn to rags." Malfoy muttered, Ginny glared in response.

"That depends," Luther said, wiping a strand of brown hair off his face, "Will your

fairy godmother swoop down and spirit you away with singing mice?"

"No, she's on vacation. Why do you think I'm stuck with the amazing bouncing ferret?"

Draco glared; Luther only managed to look confused. "Am I supposed to understand?"

"No, not really. Umm…can I have my foot back?"

He smiled and gently put her foot back on the ground.

"Just…call if you need anything."

"Thank you, I will."

He turned and left with Sylvia. Ginny shivered. There was something about that girl. She looked at Malfoy.

"What?"

"You owe me an explanation."

"About what?"

"Cut the crap."

He had to give her points for bluntness. "I'm just returning the favor, love."

"Excuse me?"

"Look, I don't feel like wasting me valuable time explaining to you what you already know. That night in the dungeons, I know you heard everything."

"And Malfoys are never wrong." She said bitterly. "So just humor me. Pretend for one minute that I think you're stark mad and I have no idea what you're on about."

He rolled his eyes. "Fine. I need a favor. I need a place to stay over the winter holidays. You're close in with Potter and I thought…well, if anyone would know someplace safe it'd be you."

"Why?"

"I already said. You're close to Potter and-"

"No." She closed her eyes in what could have been frustration. "I mean why you need a place to stay."

" Look, I won't beg. And I don't have to. You owe me, Weasley, you owe me big."

"I-"

"Hello, my name is Andrea and I'll be your waitress for the evening. Can I get you something?" The server was a young, plump woman with a friendly smile. As she spoke she placed two crystal glasses of water and offered them menus. "Some champagne, maybe? This looks like a special occasion."

"No." Draco said harshly.

"Very well." The woman looked taken aback. "May I get you something else to drink?"

"I need a firewhiskey."

"And you, Ma'am?"

"Umm…This will be fine for now." Ginny answered, gesturing to her water.

"Would you like to order or do you need a few minutes?"

Draco looked at Ginny, who was looking at the menu in mild puzzlement. "I think we'll need a minute."

The waitress nodded and left.

"Do you know what you're going to order?"

"I was really hopping I wouldn't have to stay to eat. Couldn't we just discuss this and leave?"

"They tend to frown upon that. Besides, it would look suspicious. Why do you think I brought you here instead of The Three Broomsticks or, better yet, just stayed at Hogwarts? Because then we'd have people eavesdropping. Stupid people go to quiet places to talk; a wise man uses noise to his advantage."

"Thank you for that." She had stopped listening halfway through and had turned her attention back to her menu, which to her dismay, was written in French. Annoyed she looked around.

"You, yes you. Luther." It was the waiter who had helped her walking by on his way to the kitchen. She grabbed his arm and pulled him to the table. "I can't read this."

He smiled. "Tell you a secret. Neither can I."

"So…what's good?"

"Hmmm…" He walked over, platter in hand, to stand over her shoulder. "Feel like duck?"

"Sure, if it's made with chicken."

He laughed. "Let's cross that off the list. Do you like salad?"

"Are you kidding?" She looked up at him in disgust. "It's so…green."

"I'll take that for a no. Hmmm…how about steak?"

"Do you put pepper on it?"

"Yes."

She shook her head.

"What about cheeseburgers? Do you like cheeseburgers?"

"I really don't think that's on here."

"Well for you, love, we'll make an exception."

"Really? That would be wonderful." He winked at her as he walked away. Much to Draco's annoyance, the girl called Andrea only returned once more to give him his firewhiskey, before informing them that Luther would be taking her table. It was bad enough being stuck with the Weasley. It was just plain sick to watch men swoon over her.

When he finally spoke again, his annoyance was evident. "I just need you to find a safe place for me to stay for three weeks. Just three weeks."

She sighed.

"So you'll do it?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Not really."

"Then yeah, I guess I'll do it."

There was a long, rather uncomfortable silence while they waited for their food. Ginny fiddled with the buttons of her robe. Then, he remembered. It was the robe she had gotten that day with him. The one she had been given. He wanted to make a joke about them, to say she looked horrible. To remind her that she had been too poor to really pay for them. Heck, even something as remedial as to say she looked fat, but the words wouldn't come. The truth was, he couldn't blame men for swooning.

Luther approached, holding their food and smiling.

"Have I turned back into a pumpkin yet?" She asked, smiling brilliantly.

"Nope. Fully human." He said smiling and setting down Draco's food. Then, with an extra flourish, he set down a covered platter, and removed the lid to reveal the best (and most expensive) cheeseburger Ginny had ever seen. Lying to the side was a rose.

She blushed.

"Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful. I bet you do this for all the girls." She smiled, trying to cover up her surprise.

Draco scoffed.

"No, just all the pretty red-headed ones who fall into my arms."

"You hear that, Draco? There's a proper protocol for helping girls who fall according to their hairstyle. Would you teach him that? When I fall he just kicks my books. What would you have done it I were say…brunette?"

"Well then I supposed I'd have to give you a carnation."

She blushed.

"I have to go, see you later? And by the way," He added laying down the small leather book containing the check, "dinner's on the house."

She nodded, still slightly pink. Draco was looking at the bill. He had only been charged for his own meal.

"Man, I wish Pansy were this cheap."

"That was weird." She said, looking entirely shocked.

"What?" He asked, looking up.

"The flower, the bill, it was almost like…"

"He was flirting with you?" He finished, "Of course he was, you dolt."

Looking absolutely appalled, she shook her head. He, however, was simply amazed she hadn't realized that the waiter had been hitting on her the whole afternoon.

"How much longer do we have to stay?"

"A few more minutes. Why, do you have somewhere more important to be then with little 'ole me?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes." She glanced at the clock. 2:00. Seamus had probably already given up on her.

He raised his eyebrows. "And where is this place that's so important. A date?"

Sarcasm, she knew it was, which gave her all the more satisfaction when she smiled sweetly and nodded. "Yes, in fact."

He laughed.

"What's so funny?" She looked slightly offended.

"What poor bloke is desperate enough to want to date you?"

"Seamus."

He laughed again.

"That's it. I've heard you're angle, I've done my duty. I don't have to sit here and take this. I'm leaving."

He glanced in the direction of Sylvia. She nodded discreetly towards a booth, in which he saw two mountains, which he assumed to be men.

"Weasley, we can't; we're being watched."

To his surprise, she didn't ask by whom.

"I have a plan."

"What?"

"Listen, we're supposed to be two angsty teenagers aren't we? We'll just get into a little fight and I'll storm off. Think you can handle that?"

"I'm not an idiot, Weasley." Which she took as a yes.

"That is a matter of opinion, Malfoy."

For a moment she said nothing, leaving Draco to wonder if she was going to make the first move or if he should. Then, in answer to his question, her palm connected painfully with his cheek.

"I can't believe you would do this to me!" She screamed, purposefully making a scene. The music that had been playing quietly in the background stopped. "I thought- I thought-I-"

"Well you were wrong, okay!" He shouted back, not to be out done.

"What, are you going to tell me it's not my fault next? That it's not me it's you?"

"No, no it was all pretty much you."

"I hate you! I never want to see you again!"

"Good!"

"I-I-arg! I can't even talk to you." And before he could figure out what she was doing, she dumped her water on him. She turned and stormed out.

Draco, slightly more quietly, cursed. Muttering a charm to dry his clothes he, too, stormed out, yelling at Sylvia as the door slammed to charge the bill to his tab. When he emerged from the building he was able to see the form of Weasley, slipping away through the crowd, her form shaking from laughter.

She kept her hood up, shielding her face. Though with the hair-coloring charm she had employed for the evening she doubted it was necessary, the cover was a comfort. Thank God it was still gently raining or else a fully cloaked and hooded figure would have been conspicuous. She entered their usual building and sat at her normal corner booth. It was only 6:50; she was ten minutes early. She, with slight hesitation, pulled back her hood and waited. Their meetings were always, always, at 7:00- an hour after classes let out, giving him time to shower and change- and he was never late.

"Narcissa?" His voice was hesitant, as if he didn't recognize her. Then again with her now-black hair, he might not have, especially in the shadows like she was. Then, more certainly, "Narcissa."

"Yes, Severus." She turned so that the light hit her.

Draco's mother had always been stunning. Her hair- normally fair blond, not like Lucius and Draco's silver-white- was long, almost reaching her hips when she stood. Her face was not angular; instead her nose and chin were soft curves. Bright blue eyes revealed both confidence and intelligence. At the corners of her mouth, only evident to those who looked very carefully, were slight frown marks. He hated Lucius for putting those there. Now, even when she smiled it was slightly marred with sadness. Severus would have given anything to make her once brilliant smile shine again.

She extended her hand in greeting.

"Hello, Severus."

"How have you been?"

"Well, you?"

He shrugged.

"And Draco…?"

"Is taken care of."

"Thank God. Where?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why?" She seemed indignant.

"Surely you must understand that his whereabouts must be secret"

"But he's my son!"

"And you want him to stay alive, don't you? The less you know the better, should you be tortured…" He didn't need to finish. While she would never intentionally she knew that if Lucius thought she might know where Draco was he would use a truth curse on her and then she'd have to tell him. She sighed.

"He's safe?"

"Yes."

"Promise me?"

He promised. Of course he did, he couldn't deny her anything. When she announced she had to go a few moments later, he was sorry to see her go. He kissed her gently on the cheek before watching her depart, pulling up her hood as she left.

He felt slightly guilty, having withheld information from her, but there was no reason to tell her the truth: that he couldn't tell her where Draco was staying because hestill didn't know.

Another chapter done!Hmm..not my best chapter, butI still like it.

Please reveiw (or e-mail me) with comments about the story! Construtive critism is appretiated but flames will be laughedat.

To everyone who reviewed my last chapter, I LOVE YOU ! YOU ARE SO AWESOME!