Chapter 13: Change of Heart

Draco cleared his throat and looked down at the ground. "Yes. You're right."

Ginny didn't know what to say. "Excuse me?"

"But… I came down here in hopes of clearing everything up. And… I don't know if I have yet," Draco spoke as he lifted his gaze to Ginny again. "But being with you… I don't know, it sort of makes me forget about it all." He coughed for no reason. He realized he was being rediculously cheesy and he didn't know how the bloody hell he had gotten this way! She wasn't even TRYING to attract him. And if she was, she was damn good at it.

"You realize that was the sappiest thing I have ever heard you say, right? It's sort of weird, you being... nice I guess..." Ginny spoke shakely. It was so hard not to laugh. She knew it was hard for him for whatever reason to say it. But it was a bit fluffy.

"Right so now that I know lying my heart out like that will get it run over by a train..."

"Sorry. No really, it was nice. I'm just not used to it is all."

They just stood there together for a moment. Rain falling down their faces. Finally Draco broke the silence.

"So… why were you down here?"

"I… I realized earlier that I had lost something important. A bracelet. With a little heart on it that my mother had given me after my first year at Hogwarts. But I realize, it's gone forever, as is the girl that received the gift. I guess I'm just attached to it because I hope one day I can find that girl and be okay again," Ginny answered, teary eyed. "But you know, standing here now, like this, I think I'm fine with not finding the thing."

Draco began digging around in his pockets. "Was it silver?"

"Yeah."

He finally stopped fidgeting and his hand pulled out a little bag. "Hold out your hand."

"I swear, if it's trash, I'll hex you." Ginny laughed.

"And if it's not?" Draco asked raising an eyebrow with curiosity.

"I don't know. Depends on what it is."

"Okay, we'll discuss a reward after I give this to you." He untied the bag and tipped its contents out into her hand. It was a silver bracelet with a heart at the end of it. Ginny just stared at it. She didn't know what to say. What to do. She just stared at it. Draco smiled.

"I found your heart last night. Even though you slightly stepped on mine. It fell off after you plowed into… well, me. Outside the Great Hall." He picked it up and locked it around her left wrist again.

" You?..."

"Me."

"But…"
"Yeah I took the mask off. It did nothing for my face."

"Will you let me finish a complete thought!"

"Yeah I guess." Ginny just stood there for a second. She really have an answer to the entire situation. It was amazingly overwhelming.

"I don't know what to say."

"Well see, that's why I finish your thoughts for you. I can't stand it when people don't know what to say," Draco replied, back to his usual self, smirk and all. And Ginny when back to being herself, and smacked him in the arm.

-------------------

Ginny entered the Gryffindor Common room very quietly in a slight daze. Her hair was wet, her cheeks were red and she didn't acknowledge anyone. Hermione and her friends however had to stop her when she didn't come to sit with them.

"Ginny! Where is your book?" Bella asked genuinely confused by the way she was acting. "Aren't we going to study?"

"Oh right… I forgot my book," Ginny said shaking her head and smiling for no reason.

"Yes… and you said you were going to get it."

"Right. And I then realized I had lost my bracelet." Ginny said holding up her wrist. She smiled even bigger at this.

"I have your book for you. You left it when you ran out. Is that why you're all wet?" Harry asked quizzically. Everyone was rather suspicious of Ginny's weird mood.

"Yeah. I ran out there and it started to rain."

"You weren't wearing a cloak when you left. Where'd you get that one," Hermione asked slowly.

"Oh." Ginny blushed. "I ran into a friend… Susan Bones. She gave it to me because she was just coming in."

"It's rather big for a cloak from Susan Bones…." Ron mumbled.

"It's her brother's old cloak. She said it's not a big deal. I have to go," Ginny mumbled quickly as her cheeks turned flaming red.

As she closed the dorm door, she jumped on her bed and smiled. She really loved the rain. She loved the way it smelled. Her cheeks again turned red as she remember what had just minutes ago happened. She quickly realized that everyone was rather suspicious for some reason about the stupid cloak. She decided to unpin it reluctantly and hide it in her trunk. She'd give it back later….

Downstairs Hermione sat quietly and continued to look at the girl's dorm door. There was something going on. It was obviously not of much importance to Ron and Harry as they had resumed their chess game, but she knew something was going on. And she had to know what it was.

The next morning, Ginny went skipping down to breakfast. Finally, things were going in the right direction. She knew she deserved this. There was nothing wrong with everything going right. Some people, however, did see something wrong in the way she was acting. Ever since Ginny came back from her rain rendezvous, Hermione had suspected that things were not right. Ginny was hiding something. And the last time Ginny Weasley had hid something, a dangerous animal had been set loose in the castle. Who's job was it if not the Head Girl's to make sure everything was right?

"Well guys, it's been fun, but I have to run off to my first class" Ginny chirped, smiling widely at everyone. It was too early for her to be this happy. Ginny Weasley was not a morning person.

"Alright… well we'll see you later I guess," Ron responded, not even bothering to cover his mouth as he yawned. The second she had skipped off towards the doors, he turned to Harry and said, "That girl there is bloody mental." Harry simply lifted up his drowsy head and nodded. But Ron continued anyway. "I mean, you'd think she was hiding a boyfriend or something." At this, Hermione looked up. Ron always said really random things. But they usually turned out to be right when he was merrily trying to joke. She quickly snatched up her things and made a run after Ginny.

"It seems to be contagious, mate…" Harry laughed as they watched Hermione run off as well. "maybe they have some sort of potion against it."

Ginny walked quickly down the hallways, scanning the crowds of people. Finally, her eyes lit up when she saw him.

"Hi Draco. I'll see you tonight during our patrol?" She asked, giving him a smile. Draco looked up from his book and locked eyes with Ginny. For the first time, she felt like it could work. But then Pansy had to speak.

"You're joking right? A filthy thing like you hanging out with Draco Malfoy,here? He doesn't socialize with blood traitors like the likes of you Weasley," Pansy laughed, putting her arm around Draco. He looked away from Ginny and up at Pansy who was standing at his side.

Ginny on the other hand, looked like she was on the verge of tears. He didn't acknowledge her existence. He had simply looked away. The nerve of him to just humiliate her like that!

"Aww, look boys. I think we broke her heart. OOOH did you have a crush on dear ol' Draco here? Isn't that precious…" Pansy cooed, crossing her arms and giving Ginny the one over. "My my, we do have high aspirations don't we." At this the entire crowd started to hoot and holler. Draco looked down at his book again and gave a little smirk.

Blaise noticed this instantly and had to take advantage. "Well it doesn't look like he's interested. But then again, I'd be glad to patrol with a fine slice like yourself…" Like on cue they all again started to laugh.

And Ginny just stood there. She couldn't move. She couldn't speak. All she could do was stare at Draco. And he wouldn't even give her the satisfaction of looking at her when he mocked her. She put her hand in her pocket in search of her wand. She didn't know what was going through her mind, thinking about taking on the lot of them single handed, but instead of a wand, she felt a piece of paper. She pulled it out and saw what it was. Channeling all her anger into it, Ginny crumpled it up and tossed it at Draco's forehead. She wasn't going to cry in front of them. She wouldn't stoop that low. With a quick turn she ran down the hallway, away from the laughter. A few people turned to see what was going on as she ran towards no destination in mind.

"I don't know Draco, it would have been fun to just take her up on her offer. You know, just for the sake of it. I mean, she's not bad looking…" one of the guys laughed punching Draco in the arm. All Draco did was laugh and pick up the paper. He smoothed it out and saw that it was a photograph of the night sky. He quickly looked down the hall, but Ginny was gone. He suddenly got the feeling that he had lost her for good. This wasn't going to be easy to fix. He smoothly slipped the photo in his pocket and told the gang they had class to get to.

As he walked down the hall, a girl hid behind a book, pretending to read. When she knew to coast was clear she put her book away and crossed her arms and smiled. Well, it seems that whatever was up with Ginny was soon coming to an end. It was all going to go back to normal. After all, it was only a little school girl crush.

Good lord! I'm grossing myself out. This is rediculously and completely cheesy. And I don't know how to s top it now that it has started. I mean, it just keep coming! Yeah I know die Loreley, Draco is well... to freakin sweet. I think I'm going to dry and un-sissy him soon. It's just... I can't help it.