Chapter 11: Don't Spoil It

The day of the masquerade ball arrived and all anyone could talk about was who they were going with and what they were wearing. Ginny got a few stuttering invites from some 3rd years, but turned them all down politely. She didn't want to be at the ball. Everyone was going with someone they liked except her. But then again she didn't like anyone… didn't want to ask that person… and he hadn't asked her. Oh whatever! She thought to herself. She was going to go stag and that's that. It was nothing but an excuse for the girls to dress up ridiculously in a desperate attempt to get attention from certain boys they fancied. She continued down the hall till a hand grabbed her arm and spun her about.

"We have a tutoring session today," Draco Malfoy flatly said.

Ginny looked down at her arm. His hand was still on it. Draco also cased his eyes down. Upon realize what he was doing he snatched his hand away and mumbled, "Sorry." He looked up at her face and didn't know what it was that caught him. She looked rather composed and calm but there was something in her eyes that gave her feelings away. Sadness, hope… and something else. A look of liking. Desire.

"What is it? Didn't get asked to the ball?" Draco asked raising an eye brow. He was rather surprised at that.

"No I got asked. But not by anyone I wanted to go with," Ginny responded shrugging. Her eyes no longer revealed anything. As if she had closed up the once change of getting at her secret.

"So you don't just give away your company to anyone?"

"No… I'd only go with someone I… never mind. I guess I'm just not as easy as you. Flowers won't get anyone anywhere with me," Ginny smiled sweetly.

"Just a romantic at heart aren't we…" Draco simply responded.

"I guess so."

"Well… I sort of have to do something tonight… you know, in preparation for this ball and all that, being Head Boy…. And… what I'm saying is, maybe we'll cut the session tonight," Draco stammered. Ginny didn't respond so he added, "Okay I'm going to go now," And ran off.

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Ginny ran down the stairs, desperately trying to attach her mask to her face. She was late. Not only could she not find a place to finish her costume, but the bathrooms had been full of girls gluing their hair into place. So she was left behind, sitting in a chair in the corner, attaching the many pieces together. It wasn't a revealing outfit, but she rather hoped she looked well enough in it to attract someone's eye…

A tall boy stood in the corner of the Great Hall observing the many dancing, unaware of all the ladies looking at him. He didn't much care for them nor did he choose to accept their regards. He was there for one purpose and one purpose only. To find her. He looked up from his drink and was mesmerized by the site of HER.

From the complete opposite side another boy was running towards the Hall. But upon seeing what was flying towards him he stopped dead in his tracks. She was the most amazing site to behold. Dressed in a deep blue floor length gown, embroidered with gold, a princess with fiery red hair pinned back with a clip ran down the stairs to him. Correction. At him. She did not have the luck of seeing him first and collided right into him. He stumbled back but stopped their fall.

"Excuse me. I didn't see you there. Thank you for saving me the embarrassment of literally falling into the ball," She smiled and curtsied.

"I assure you, it was my pleasure of catching you," He responded giving a little bow, "Princess."

She opened the Hall doors and before entering, stole a glance back at him.

He moved to follow her but noticed something on the ground. As he bent down to pick it up, he realized it was a silver bracelet with a heart on it. Maybe he had finally won her heart after all…

All eyes were on her. People knew who she was. They just didn't know how she turned into THAT. As Ginny, walked past everyone, heads turned. Finally, she stopped at Ron's side.

"Dreadfully dull isn't it…" She yawned.

"Yeah…" Ron mumbled looking down at her. His eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Ginny…. You look…"

"Honestly Ron, isn't my ego big enough? No need to give me more reasons why I'm better than you…" Ginny laughed.

"I was going to say put some clothes on. Honestly…" Ron responded looking away, smiling. "You don't want people to get to wrong idea about you, and you certainly don't want to attract certain peoples' attention…."

"Well don't we clean up nicely," A lazy voice called out. Ginny turned her head and spotted Draco Malfoy approaching.

"No need to pick on her, Malfoy," Ron responded, grinding his teeth.

Draco turned his attention to him and said with a smirk, "I wasn't talking about her. I know Miss Weasley can dress herself. I was talking about you."

"What are you supposed to be, Malfoy?" Ginny quickly jumped in before Ron could do anything stupid.

"I'm not quite sure. All I know it makes me look right dead sexy."

"Oh? Are we going as Casanova then?" Ginny asked, tilting her head and giving him a sly smile.

"For you, I'd go as Prince Charming." Ginny's eyes quickly shot up to meet his. She tried to study his face before he closed up again. Too late. His expression was emotionless to her.

"I believe there already is someone here as Prince Charming."

"Oh really? Well, then lets make him jealous shall we? Would the princess care to dance?" Draco asked, taking out his hand.

Ron made a noise. "Ginny. Don't. He's just going to try and make a fool out of you."

Ginny quickly shot Ron a glance. "Ron. The only one looking like a fool here is you. You don't even bother dancing. You just stand there looking stupid. Excuse me." She then took Malfoy's hand and let him lead her to the center of the room.

"So… who are we making jealous today?" She asked as he spun her out.

He quickly snapped her back in and said, "Everyone, Wea…Ginny. Everyone."

Ron stood still staring in complete shock as Ginny was swept around the dance floor. A few people noticed, but it wasn't a big deal. Lots of people dance. As he gawked on, Harry spotted his friend and decided to see what was wrong.

"Is there something the matter, Ron? Did you accidentally eat a spider?" Harry asked, trying hard not to laugh at the face Ron was making. He was starting to turn funny colors.

"Ginny… is… dancing…"

"Yes Ron, most people dance at a ball."

"With Malfoy?"

"Yes Ron, most girls dance with a boy… WHAT?" Harry yelled as he finally let the name sink in. "What did you say?"

"Yeah, not so calm anymore are you Harry. Not so peachy when you realize that someone who could be your sister is dancing around with the enemy! This is worse than Krum!" Ron snapped, smacking his forehead with his hand. "And I tried to tell her not to. I tried to explain that she was crazy for even talking to him…"

"I thought she said she didn't like him…"Harry mumbled as he watched Ginny and Malfoy. She looked happy.

"…and its all Hermione's fault. If she hadn't had paired them up for patrol partners. 'it'll do them both some good' she said. Yeah we'll see what good it does…" Ron rambled on while Harry just observed.

"Hermione did this on purpose?"

"Well… not necessarily. It sort of just happened and then she decided it might be a good thing. You know, inner school relations, getting to know different people, bla bla bla bla," Ron opened and closed his hand like a duck while mimicking Hermione's voice.

Harry cleared his throat. "Yeah well, I think I'm going to go now. I have a head ache. I'll see you later, Ron."

As Harry left, the song ended and Ginny walked back over to Ron.

"Well I hope you're immensely pleased with yourself. You gave Harry a headache after he saw you with… HIM."

Ginny was taken aback. "Now why would I give Harry a headache?"

"Oh I don't know, maybe because you used to like him, and then all of a sudden you start hanging around with Malfoy, but you still talk to Harry, you know Ginny, you shouldn't lead a guy on," Ron replied sarcastically.

"I don't lead guys on! I don't know what his problem is. Or yours for that matter. Now excuse me. All this stupidity is starting to irritate me and I'm going to leave before I hex you," Ginny growled at Ron. She then turned on her heel and stormed out of the hall.

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The doors flew open as Ginny ran down the steps and into the garden. She pushed a hanging branch out of the way as she continued to walk. A few students moved out of the storming girl's way. A 4th year was brave enough to whistle at her and in return got a smarmy remark. She finally stopped when she reached a large fountain. Ginny slowed down to a walk and finally, after circling the fountain a few times, sat down on it's ledge.

Honestly, like there was something to matter with dancing with a boy. Had it not been Malfoy and instead… Dean, then they wouldn't have made a big deal out of it. Well, Ron might have still. He was becoming prodigiously overprotective and it was not pleasing her. And Harry! What right does he have to criticize her. Just because she had moved on and found someone else to like… No. She didn't like him. She did not like Draco Malfoy!

"It's a bit cold out hear to be sitting around, don't you think?" Draco Malfoy said as he walked into sight.

"It's a bit creepy to follow someone, don't you think?" Ginny responded, turning away from him.

"Well aren't we charming tonight. You know, I thought you didn't mind hanging out with me. Am I cramping your style?" Draco asked crossing his arms and giving her a smirk.

"Stop trying to be a git. It's not cute," Ginny mumbled as she tried to get past him.

"Stop trying to run away from someone who's just trying to be your friend," Draco spat as he grabbed onto her hand.

"Let go Malfoy."

"I thought we were having fun tonight. Or is it that you only like to be pleasant when people can't see you with me."

"No one can see us here."

"So what's the problem?" He asked walking towards her.

"Nothing's the problem! I had a great time! You were wonderfully charming, even though you didn't ask me to go with you to the dance, and if you had been dressed like the guy I saw outside before I came in dressed as Prince Charming, this would have been straight out of a fairy tale!" Ginny cried, yanking her arm away from him.

"Ginny wait!" Draco yelled as he walked after her and pulled her back. She spun around and lost her balance and the worst thing imaginable to Ginny happened. They kissed. She quickly pulled away.

"I'm sorry…" She whispered shakily.

"Hey… I wanted…" Draco started.

"NO! Don't. Don't say it. You don't want this. This… it's just stupid. We're just being dumb and acting like a bunch of stupid kids. Just… Don't Draco. Don't." Ginny stammered as she started to back away.

"I didn't want this to happen either! Do you think I planned on actually enjoying the time we spent while I tutored you? Do you think I planned on wanting to be friends with a Gryffindor? I don't know what it is about you, Ginny, but I can't keep away no matter what I do…" Draco spoke, dragging his hand through his hair.

"Don't Draco. Just don't."

"Don't what?"

"Don't spoil it."

No seriously. Review.