Chapter 4

Ginny left lunch early, so that she could be early to DADA that afternoon. Draco was lounging in his chair with his feet propped up on his desk as usual when Ginny came waltzing into his classroom. "Good afternoon Professor Malfoy!" Ginny said in a sweet voice. She smiled up at him and sat on her desk with her bare legs dangling. My Gods! That skirt can't be regulation! Oh well, who am I to complain.

"Miss Weasley," Draco drawled as he eyed her up and down. "Detention, your skirt is not regulation, surely as Head Girl you knew that didn't you?"

"Oh sorry professor, but seeing as my family is so poor, it is one from last year because I couldn't afford a new one." Ginny replied, sarcasm dripping from her voice.

Draco looked slightly affronted (and guilty) by what she said, and then regained his suave demeanor, "Whatever, but you still have detention tonight at six o'clock." With that final note, students started trickling in from lunch and the lesson began.

That night, Draco changed out of his everyday teaching robes and donned some black slacks and a crisp white button-down. He let his hair fall into his eyes, and then he went to his classroom to meet up with Ginny for her detention.

As usual Ginny walked in, still in her school uniform, to see Draco lounging in his chair waiting for her. "Hello Miss Weasley, we are going to grade some papers."

Ginny sighed and plopped down in the chair next to his desk for her to grade papers. While they were grading they began to talk, not as teacher and student, not as life-long enemies, but as two people with something in common: quidditch. "No way! Holyhead Harpies are way better than the Falmouth falcons!"

Their friendly quidditch talk continued until unexpectedly Draco apologized. "Look Gin- uh Miss Weasley, I'm really sorry about making fun of your family for being poor all those years, I was trying to live up to my father's expectations of me and that was to hate blood-traitors and 'mudbloods.' I still don't like your brother, mind you, but your okay."

Ginny stared at him with wide eyes. Did Draco Malfoy…THE Draco Malfoy just apologize to me? A Weasley "Oh, yeah forgiven, I understand about living up to expectations. I have six older brothers to live up to, not that I need to explain to you how much they overshadow me, but I really want to do something that makes me stand out from them."

"So what do you say, can we make a new beginning?"

"Sure, Hi my name is Ginny, Ginny Weasley!" Draco thought this was a bit ridiculous, but was necessary. He needed a friend, a real friend.

"Name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," he said with a mock 'Bond, James Bond' attitude. Ginny giggled and shook his outstretched hand. Draco looked at his watch. "Blimey Ginny it is already 11:00! You had better go. I'm glad that we are friends now, but during class you still have to call me professor."

"Yeah I figured as much. G'night Draco," Ginny said as she got up to leave.

"G'night Gin," Draco left the room and went down to his quarters thinking about Ginny, not as a new 'conquest' but as a friend, a very beautiful friend that he was attracted to, but a friend nonetheless- all thoughts of seduction far from his mind.

Over the next couple of months Draco and Ginny had begun a kind of routine. She would stay after class and help him grade papers, and they would talk about everything under the Sun- from classes to philosophy. A lot of the students even began to call her 'Teacher's Pet.' Ginny didn't care though, she enjoyed the time she spent with Draco, even if he never would see her as more than a friend.

The Christmas Hols were approaching, and one night during their late night talks Draco decided that he could no longer sit in the same room with her and she not know how he felt about her. He walked over to her chair and pulled her up into his arms, looked her in the eyes, and kissed her. It was a kiss full of so many emotions, tenderness, passion, and maybe even love. "Draco! We can't, you…you are my teacher, even though you are only a year older, I don't want you to lose your job."

"Ginny, there are more things at stake than my job. I really like you and we have so much in common, I really want to be with you."

"Okay, but we will have to be discreet," there is that word again, thought Draco.

"So what are you doing for the Hols Gin?" Draco asked cautiously.

"What do you think I'm doing Draco? I'm going home to the Burrow, they would kill me if I didn't go home. Would you and your mother like to come over for Christmas dinner? I'm positive my mother wouldn't mind, and she will need to know about us eventually."

"On one condition," Draco looked down at Ginny, and she leaned forward to kiss him.

"What's that?"

"You come to the Manor for Christmas eve Dinner with my mother and me, and maybe just maybe keep your brothers from trying to hurt me…I'm quite fragile," Draco smiled.

"Ha! You big baby! I would love to come to Dinner Christmas eve! I'll just owl Mum and see if my 'boyfriend' and his mother can come over for dinner."

"Potter won't be there will he? Just because I like you does NOT mean that I like Potter and your brother and Granger."

"Of course they will be there, but I'll protect you," Ginny swatted his arm playfully. "Good night, I'll see you tomorrow," Ginny leaned forward and gave him a passionate kiss and walked out of the room. 'Finally' she thought to herself.

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Reviews would be appreciated. I'd like to know if it totally sucks or if I should continue, or what I could do to make it better!