Chapter 4: Sharing is Caring.

When Malfoy, Ginny, and Ron finally got to the meeting, Hermione was just in the middle of explaining detentions to a new prefect. She was in the middle of a quite animated speech involved a lot of hand motions as if she were to land a plane any moment, but as soon as she spotted the three she narrowed her eyes and glared in a very Snape-like fashion. The look on her face sent the room to turn their heads in a wave towards the offending persons.

"Well, well look who decided to show up," Hermione scolded.

"Fashionable late," Draco replied casually, with a smirk as he walked to the front. A few girls giggled. "So what did I miss?"

Ginny just too a seat in a back corner where no one would notice her. She had hoped for as little attention as possible. It was bad enough entering with the attention vacuum of the century, but being lectured in front of a large group? That would be unbarable. But Ginny's hopes were not answered as Hermione shot a look at her.

"What did Ginny and you miss? Patrol partners. And guess what you two the last two to arrive and everyone's already are paired up so I guess you two have to be partners. Sorry Ginny, next time don't socialize with Malfoy," Hermione retorted. A few girls glanced over to her and started whispering.

"Aw give me a break! It's her fault I was late!" Draco moaned dropping into an empty seat in complete dissatisfaction.

"Hey I'm not doing the victory dance over here either," Ginny replied coldly. "And if you weren't being so selfish and had just let me have the compartment, we wouldn't have been late."

"You know it doesn't really matter what it was. You two are partners and that's that. Meeting adjourned," Hermione concluded.

Everyone started to leave, and then Ginny smiled. She could still have a pleasant ride up to Hogwarts…

"It's still my compartment!" she yelled as she quickly maneuvered between people and ran out. Malfoy, with a furious look of wanting to kill, ran after her.

She was within sight but was definitely going to reach their destination first. Unless…

Malfoy tripped and fell to the floor with a loud thud. Ginny stopped and looked back. He looked hurt. Her conscience kicked in. She should go back to see if he's okay. But she wanted the compartment really badly.

"Damn," she swore as she jogged back. She got down on her knees. "Malfoy are you okay?" Ginny asked, almost concerned. He rolled over and with a smile jumped up.

"Such a sap, Weasley," He laughed as he got up to run.

Ginny was quick though. That year on the Gryffindor Quidditch team really got her reflexes up. She quickly jumped up and grabbed a hold of Malfoy's cloak causing both to fall down.

"Oww! God Weasley that was a really immature thing to do! For craps sake my arm," Malfoy yelled, still on the ground.

"Stop being a drama queen. So your little stunt wasn't immature?" Ginny asked, examining her carpet burned knee. It wasn't that bad. Malfoy was still on the ground clenching his arm. Maybe he really was hurt.

"Malfoy I'll fix your arm if you let me have the space," Ginny offered. She in her mind was being very generous.

"Not a chance! It doesn't hurt… that bad," He replied sitting up.

"Fine." Was all she said as she got up and entered the compartment and shut the door quietly.

Moments later, Malfoy slid the door open holding his arm. "Why didn't you lock me out?"

"I don't know. Maybe that fall hurt my brain," Ginny shrugged, still looking at her book.

Draco sat down in the opposite seat and looked at her for a minute. She had a lot of spunk that's for sure. A lot more than the last time he saw her. But she still had her soft side. Together it made for quite an interesting person. Ginny looked up. She had felt his gaze on her head when she was reading.

"Aren't you going to kick me out?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"Why do you want to be kicked out?" Malfoy asked, turning to face the window. He didn't like looking at her for some reason. He didn't know what it was, but he felt like she could see right into his thoughts. Ginny could tell she was making him uncomfortable so she just went back to her book.

"Thanks."

Ginny was startled. "For what?"

"Coming back to see if I was hurt…offering to fix my arm…" Draco mumbled. Obviously he wasn't used to thanking people.

Ginny smiled to herself. "No problem. You would have done the same."

Draco looked over and gave her a look. "You think?"

"I don't have to think. I know."

"Well you seem to know a lot then. What makes you say that?"

"I can see it in your eyes," Ginny replied smoothly, looking into those blue, gray eyes of his. He looked away quickly. Yes he definitely didn't like looking at her. Not when they locked eyes, anyway.