Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! Er...I'm late, I know. Anyway, just a few things, first this story just passed the one year mark! Well, actually that happened last chapter and I just forgot to mention it, I had to sleep on the couch for weeks. (Thanks to yrouna for reminding me). So I'd just like to thank all of you who haven't given up on me and my irratic posting habits. I love you all so much!

Also, I will probably be doing some minor editing of earlier chapters (just to check for errors and things like that) and so if you get a New Chapter Alert! don't get too excited, it might just be me editing.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not a thing. Well, the plot, but I don't always want to claim that.

"But seriously, I mean like, how would it steer?"

"I don't know, Ginny!" Colin said, clearly exasperated.

"Circles!" She called in her a singsong voice.

"I don't care what you say, just because a duck only has one foot does not mean it can only swim in circles!" Colin cried.

"I happen to agree with Ginny." Luna, who had decided (much to Ginny's delight) to come home for the holiday, said happily. Ginny grabbed her hand and grinned.

"I knew there was a reason you were my best friend." She said.

"Hey! I thought I was your best friend." Colin said indignantly.

She glared. "You don't think one-footed ducks swim in circles."

"I'll tell you what," He said, "If you ever find a one-footed duck swimming in circles, I'll concede with you're superior duck knowledge."

She grinned. "Don't bother sucking up now. You've already been replaced."

"Ah, Ginny, don't be like that." He said, placing a hand on her thigh, purposefully squeezing a bit, just above her knee. For a moment her face reddened as she tried to bite back laughter. Finally, she succumbed and opened her mouth, admitting several loud, unladylike peals of laughter.

"Darn you Colin! You know that's my tickling spot." She said, making an amusing attempt to glare and giggle at the same time.

"Really? I'd forgotten." And, abandoning all pretenses leapt up from his seat and began tickling her mercilessly. Ginny, who unfortunately had not had the foresight to release Luna's hand, collapsed onto the floor pulling an irritated Luna with her. As the two tumbled unceremoniously to the floor, Colin took this opportunity to pounce. Ruthlessly, he raked his fingers up and down her sides as she emitted aloud squeals. Ginny tried to roll over, only to find herself more entangled with Luna, who was now smiling brightly at her friends antics. Her expression changed after a moment from supreme amusement to a cringe as Ginny elbowed her repeatedly in the ribs in her mad attempt to escape from Colin.

And that, Luna and Colin on the floor with Ginny between them, was how Blaise Zabini found them as he slid open the compartment door.

"Well," He said and whistled approvingly, "Congratulations, Creevey." He was grinning crookedly.

"We weren't-I mean we didn't- it's-"

"He was just joking, Colin." Ginny said, her face flushed from laughter. She propped herself up on one arm and rested her cheek on her palm. It suited her. Only Ginny, Blaise thought, could manage to look perfectly at ease on the floor like that.

"Of course," A voice drawled as Draco Malfoy, looking either bored or amused, stepped from behind Blaise into the compartment. "We're not that optimistic."

"What are you doing here?" Colin asked, voice laden with displeasure.

"Well, it's generally called standing. In a second I'll walk over to that bench there and sit. I'd explain that concept, but it gets a bit technical." Draco deadpanned. Blaise grinned.

"Go away, Malfoy." Colin said sourly.

"I would if I could. Or, actually, I probably wouldn't. I'd probably just stand here and see how red your face can get before you explode." He sneered and took a step towards Colin. Meeting the challenge, Colin too stepped forward. Blaise, thank Merlin for him, derailed any possible conflict by smoothly inserting himself between the two boys and explaining, "There aren't any empty seats, unless of course you want us to sit with Pansy. Not even you could hate Draco enough to wish upon him."

He smiled and Ginny could see how he had ended up in Slytherin. It wasn't so much what he had said as it was how he said it. He had combined that gentle, now-you-don'- really-want-to-do that- now do-you?-voice with his charming smile and had, that easily, soothed both boys. Manipulative little thing. She'd have to remember that.

"Besides," Draco said, almost sulkily, "I wouldn't stay here with her, if I had any sort of choice."

"Oh, just give up, Malfoy." Ginny said, ginning as she untangled herself from Colin and Luna and stood. "You know you love me."

"It's not love if I have to pay for it, puppet." He said.

She grinned. "I charge you double." And for a second she glared, then, suddenly, burst out laughing. Draco was startled, he stared, opened mouthed for a long moment before, slowly he began to laugh too. Ginny doubled over, still laughing and the more pleased she became, the more Draco had to laugh too. Blaise, Colin and Luna stared. It was Blaise who laughed first, holding onto Draco for support, growing only louder as the other two joined in,.

Luna, laughing insanely loud and panting for breath and grasped Blaise's shoulders just to keep upright. Everyone, except Luna herself, noticed when Blaise abruptly stopped laughing and looked, delightedly, at the slender, pale hand on his arm.

"First Colin, now Blaise, I had no idea Ravenclaws were so easy." Draco said Colin blushed and Ginny glared, but Luna was still snorting and Blaise was too busy looking strangely pleased for either of them to notice.

Draco shook his head and sighed, placing a consoling hand on Blaise's arm. "I've lost you. You went and fell in love with Looney Lovegood."

Luna had removed her hands and was wiping mirthful tears from her eyes. She stiffened at the use of her less than flattering nickname.

"Well," Blaise said, "At least I didn't fall for a Gryffindor. Oh Ginny, you're so beautiful. Oh Ginny, I want to have you babies. Oh Ginny, I loooooovvvvvvvveeee you."

Draco fumed and was, Ginny was quite sure, about to have words with Blaise. Four letter words in particular.

"I knew it!" She cried, grinning. "I knew you loved me."

"In your dreams, Weasley." He said, too angry to sound indignant.

"Actually Draco, I believe those were your dreams." She grinned again.

He frowned an opened his mouth to retort, but closed it wordlessly only a second later, and Ginny got the feeling this was one of the few times she had won.

The rest of the ride couldn't really have been described as pleasant, but it didn't leave Ginny feeling the need to gnaw off one of her own limbs as encounters with him usually did. There were of course the standard remarks about her clothing as she changed out of her school uniform when they neared the station, but all in all he actually seemed to be making an effort to be pleasant. It was the first time in her life Ginny had seen him make an effort to be nice to anybody, or at much of anything for that matter.

Maybe, she thought, allowing herself just a little hope, maybe this Christmas won't be so bad after all.

Draco wasn't exactly certain what he should be doing. He had his trunk ready and waited, somewhat impatiently, for Ginny to get hers from the overhead compartment. It wasn't a polite gesture, it was simply a testimony to the pathetic fact that the plan, as it now stood, was follow Ginny. He had been worried that they would have to try and justify the fact that Draco Malfoy was waiting for Ginny Weasley of all people, but luck was on their side. Luna's father had been waiting to greet them as the train pulled in, snapping pictures with an insanely large camera. Luna had run off the train, trunk whipping behind her so quickly that several first years had to jump back in their seats to avoid being impaled. Blaise had quickly said goodbye, hugged Ginny, sapped Draco on the back, shot him a look that clearly said don't get into any trouble, and not-so-subtly scurried off in Luna's wake. Colin murmured something about having to go keep his brother from jumping onto the train tracks again, and, with a quick embrace for Ginny, hurried away.

But that still left him here. Waiting. Ginny was up on her tiptoes, trying to maneuver the enormous trunk down without getting crushed.

"Oh just move over." He snapped and brushed passed her. With the ease that came with being nine inches taller than her, he pulled the trunk down. He loved being tall, not only because, being a full three inches taller, it meant Potter had to look up to him.

"Can we go now?" He asked.

"Ah…well, yeah." She grabbed her trunk and pulled it behind her and Draco followed. Fitting her trunk through the door was not an easy task. Halfway through the jam, the trunk got wedged in the doorway. Clumsily, she lumbered over the thing, nearly falling in the process, but finally righted herself on the other side. Grabbing the handle, she pulled with such comical effort the thing almost moved. Only when she was absolutely positive they was no persuading the massive trunk from its perch did she look at him.

"Isn't there something you could do?" She asked, tapping her foot. With a sigh, he leaned down, shoulder against her trunk. Ginny didn't need to be told what to do; she leaned down once more and grabbed the handle on her end. With him pushing and her pulling, the truck never stood a chance. It was immediately dislodged, sending Ginny tumbling backwards with it.

Draco's trunk was a bit more cooperative; it slid most of the way, only to get caught on the last corner.

"It's never been this hard to get these bloody things out before." He snapped irritably, as he leaned into his trunk. "Someone must have hexed the door. Ha, bloody, ha."

With one great shove, he freed the trunk, only to find himself colliding with Ginny.

"What-"

She stood frozen, back to him, and showed no indication at all of even realizing he had just run straight into her. It took him only a moment to grasp why. Twisting around so he could see past her, he found himself peering at Potter, Granger, and Weasley, all staring with looks of utter bafflement.

"Ginny were you just- were you riding with Malfoy?" Ron asked, too bemused to sound suspicious.

"There weren't any other open seats." She said quickly. Getting over his uncertainty, Ron was beginning to look angry.

"Really Ron," She said soothingly, "You don't think I'd choose to sit with the Mal-Ferret, do you?"

"It's not you I'm worried about." He snapped, looking at Malfoy.

Malfoy sneered, "I wouldn't do anything she didn't ask for."

Ron looked furious. He was about to say something, and probably not anything that he would have repeated if his mother were in the room, but Harry, bless him, interjected. "Ginny, do you need help with that?"

"Oh, no thank you, Harry. I've got it."

Draco snorted.

"Oh!" Ginny said, putting a hand to her forehead. "I've forgotten my bag. I've got to go back for it on second thought Harry, could you take my trunk."

He nodded, taking the handle and the three, Ron sending one last withering glare in Draco's direction, headed off.

"You shouldn't bait him like that." Ginny said reproachfully when they were gone.

"But he makes it so easy." Draco smirked. "Forgot your bag then, did you?"

"Oh do shut up." She snapped. "I couldn't think of anything better and I need to talk to you for a moment. If this is going to work, I need you to follow my lead."

"And do what?"

"Just go along with it."

"That's all I get? Go along with it? What kind of plan is that?"

But she was already walking away and he, Merlin help him, was back to following Ginny.

"Oh no." Ginny said, as they stepped out of the platform. The stationed was packed with travelers going home for the holiday; all around them they could hear the happy greetings of families. But none of that seemed to be what was bothering her. Draco followed her gaze. Even in the crowd it was hard to miss the woman, standing on her tiptoes, waving at Ginny. Namely because she had hair in the brightest shade of bubblegum pink Draco could have ever imagined. And next to her were three towering redheads. One was unfortunately Ron; also hard to miss because he stood nearly a head taller than anyone else in the crowd, and beside him was Mr. Weasley, who Draco remembered vaguely. The third, Draco didn't recognize.

Harry was kneeling down, being happily licked by a huge, black dog. Hermione smiled, almost reproachfully, as the creature chased its tail, barked jovially at a few passing people, and returned to Harry.

Ginny, however, was staring at the short, hunched figure that seemed to be barking orders at the pink-haired girl. As they approached, Draco realized with horror who exactly the man was. Alastor Moody was quite a sight, eliciting nervous glances from people, even with an eye patch covering his magic eye.

"Well, then." She said, grimacing. "Last chance to run."

He too cringed. "Well, you know what they say, that which does not kill you…"

"Only makes you stronger." She finished wearily. He gave he a queer look.

"Only delays the inevitable." He corrected.

She laughed, and Draco decided it was a sound he rather liked. It was gently and not forced. There was absolutely nothing about it that implied that she was laughing for his benefit, which Draco had noticed most females seemed apt to think; that the male ego was so fragile that they would be insulted if not completely devastated when a girl didn't giggle obscenely loudly at every one of jokes. The only problem with that was with Draco most of his jokes went quietly over their heads, completely unnoticed. Sometimes Pansy and her friends would give hi looks as though they were trying to figure out if what he said was funny or not. Sometimes, they'd still laugh, not having got the joke at all but knowing that it must have been clever, most times, however, they'd just nod.

But Ginny was different. He wouldn't describe her laughter like the sweets ringing of bells on the distant horizon, as he'd known some poets to do; her laughter didn't sound like bells, it sounded like human laughter. In fact, it didn't sound remarkably unlike anyone else's laughter. It was perhaps more than anything, what it did to her face that he liked. When she laughed her whole face lit up, and it was so truly happy that it made everyone around her smile too.

Draco almost smiled. He was talking about her almost as I they were friends, which of course, they weren't. Even if he was beginning to like the girl, it didn't make them friends.

He paused at his own thoughts. Did he like her? He thought for a moment, before deciding that yes, he did, if only a little. One of the things Draco demanded of himself was that he should never lie to himself, even if the truth was brutal. But he had to admit that in the past few days he'd grown almost- no, not fond, that was too strong. He couldn't really think of a word to describe what they were. It fell somewhere between tolerance and familiarity.

"Don't get to close." Ginny advised, pulling him abruptly from his thought. "They can smell fear."

Only after a moment did he realize she was talking about the group that stood, waiting now impatiently for her to come.

"Don't worry. Just follow my lead." She said, smiling. And Draco, in the spirit of self-actualization, admitted what he might have already decided, but hadn't wanted to admit; Ginny was very pretty, even if she was a Weasley. It almost made him sad, knowing he could never have something so very exquisite. He was, after all, never one for second best.

"I hate you Weasley."

Still smiling, she responded, "Right back at you, Malfoy."

With that, she grabbed the handle of his trunk and began fighting her way through the crowd toward the group, that Draco could now see also included the former Professor Lupin. He watched her go for a moment, eyes following the gentle sway of her hips as she walked, allowing himself to enjoy the sight.

Maybe, he thought smirking as Ginny turned around and smiled at him, clearly waiting for him to follow, this holiday won't be so bad after all.

So, brave reader, I applaud you! You made it through yet another chapter. Let me say that I don't know if I like end...it'll get better next chapter. Anyways thanks sooo much to those of you who take the time to review.

And may I say, Master Sirius Black, that even though I can no longer delete you I CAN BLOCK you so there! (sticks out tounge) Just because I got the smarter genes in the family doesn't mean you have to be jealous (pats head)