To Know Him is To Love Him
Chapter 27: Awkward Indeed

"Ron, please tell me why you have woken me up at the crack of dawn…" Ginny asked between yawns, rubbing her eyes for what seemed like the millionth time, hoping the friction will wake her brain up. She sat lazily in the worn out chairs of a local café shop, waiting for Ron to come back from the counter.

Sloshing the tea, Ron set the two cups down, followed by the plate of scones he had carried back. Ginny greedily dove at the tea, receiving a smack on the hand from Ron, sending her back to her seat to nurse her hand.

"OWW! That is not the way to convince me to stay and help you shop!" She yelled, scowling at him, over her hand which she held at eye level for inspection. "Look! It's turning purple!" She thrust her hand into his face. To pacify her, Ron leaned in to look, only to be smacked in the nose. Ginny folded her arms and snapped, "Do not smack my hand. I am not five."

Ron took a moment to rub some feeling back into his nose before he said, "I was simply trying to keep your hand off my tea. Yours is this one, Merlin knows you need the stronger cup…and I'll forgive for the smack as well, considering the fact that you aren't awake yet, even though it is 11 o'clock."

Ginny smiled a broad innocent smile and ruffled his hair. "Aww well isn't that sweet of you…" Both sat in silence as they ate, relieved at the gentle warmth that spread through their bodies in waves as gulps of tea traveled down their throats. The winter weather outside was nothing like the "Christmas Snow" everyone was raving about. It was cold, wet, and downright inconvenient, if one asked Ginny. But then again, this new found agitation might be due because of her early rising, and because it was one day till Christmas and Ginny hadn't received even a bloody generic card from Draco Malfoy. To tell the truth, she didn't think he was the card-sending-type-of-guy, but a short letter would not have been out of the question and unexpected. She shook her head, telling herself to stop brooding over it. It was stupid for her to think that Malfoy would send her a card, or a letter, as if he was just like any other guy… They had parted on such odd terms that Ginny didn't even know what to say. He had simply said that they wouldn't run into each other anywhere as he had things to take care of over break and he'd be busy. There was no mention of writing. Only a simple, "I'll see you when we get back," and even that had been a little forced. Ginny came back to reality and looked up from her cup of tea at the sound of Ron clearing his voice.

"I said, what do you think I should get Hermione? You know how things are… she's been pretty mad lately, because of, you know… and I just wanted to make it up to her," Ron stuttered, as his ears got pinker.

"I don't know, a big fat sloppy kiss under the mistletoe might do the trick…" Ginny evilly quipped. Ron instantly began turning red all over, the color rising from below his maroon sweater and matching scarf.

"Do not say things like that around me! I do not like the idea that my little sister thinks and knows such things," Ron babbled uncomfortably.

"Ron, we have been over this before on many occasions, one with the quite awkward presence of Harry. Not to mention I do have friends that are boys…"

"Alright, alright cut it out, back on topic here."

Ginny pondered over what to tell Ron. A book was just so impersonal and generic when one thought about who the person was. Hermione lived in books and the act would only seem friendly. She probably wouldn't respond well to something fluffy like perfume and candy….

"I've got an idea… actually three ideas," Ginny blurted out, smiling slyly to herself.

"Why does that face not tell me I won't really like it?" Ron replied, more to himself than to Ginny.

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Ginny walked slowly down the aisles of books. Ron had run off to get what she had instructed for Hermione, giving her at least fifteen minutes to do what she pleased. Ginny ran her hands over the books on the display tables, loving the rapid change in texture. She had been in here a few days earlier, purchasing and embarrassingly pink romance novel for Hermione that she knew would make her instantly turn the same exact shade right after her vocal disapproval but secretly wanting to see what will happen next to Tristan and Julia. Hermione owned every previous installment of the series. Ginny knew, because she had found the books by accident while searching for her jumper once.

Her hands continued from Romance to History. Ginny could feel the change, leaving the tables of silky covers and moving to smooth leather bindings and raised gold lettering. Her hands traveled over a continuous sea of dark, thick texts, each it's own authority on something most people had forgotten about or lost interest in. abruptly however, her hands stopped where her eyes spotted a glint of red. She moved several copies of books she'd never read, and uncovered a dull red book. The title read "Godric Gryffindor, a Biography". She absentmindedly fingered the gilded edges as her mind wondered off. Ginny was startled by Ron coming up, beaming and asking if they could go.

"You go ahead, I'll be right there, I'm just going to get this," Ginny replied holding up the book.

"Is that for Harry?" Ron asked, taking the book and flipping through it.

"Yeah, I guess… I don't know who I had it in mind for," Ginny replied, taking the book back and playing with the ribbon book mark.

"Well I'm sure he'll like it. Look I'm just going to go across the way and get the last bit of Hermione's gift. I'll meet you there in a little?" Ron asked, motioning to where he'd be.

Ginny simply nodded and headed over to pay for her book. The man asked her if she wanted it gift wrapped. She said no just to put it in brown paper. She continued to finger the edge of the package all the way down the street. She didn't want to give it to Harry. She didn't know who she wanted to have it, but it seemed like something to give anyone but Harry. He would think it was some sort of noble gesture that she liked him or something or that it was encouragement for him for the final fight. It was anything but that. It just seemed special, tucked away behind all the normal books, waiting to be found.

"Excuse me," Someone mumbled as they ran right into Ginny. She stumbled back a little, barely registering what had happened. Her head snapped up with a look of confusion.

"I'm sorry, did you say something?" She asked, trying to regain her balance in the slushy snow covered walk.

"I said excuse…me," Draco Malfoy trailed off as he got a good look of who he had run into. It was unmistakable. Rosy cheeks have hidden behind a brown scarf, flaming red hair flaring out behind her in the wind.

Ginny quickly tugged her scarf down out of her mouth, nearly strangling herself. She unwound it and stuck it in her pocket viciously, never breaking her gaze. Finally she responded with simply a winded, "Hi."

Draco stared for a little. He hadn't expected to run into anyone he knew here. After all, it was Christmas Eve, and everyone would be at home with their families. Only he would be running around like a complete loser. The last person he expected to see was Ginny. He didn't know if he was happy to see her or terribly mortified. He cleared his throat and finally spoke up, "Err, hi. What brings you here?" he asked politely, not really knowing what was expected from him.

"Oh! Um, I'm here with my brother, doing some last minute shopping. I didn't expect to see you around, you had said you'd be busy doing something, I don't remember what though," Ginny finished finally, realizing she was boarder line rambling. After the initial shock she realized how altered Draco looked. He was a lot quieter and he looked a bit tired.

"Yeah, I didn't think I'd find any bit of spare time to get out, but… here I am," He mumbled, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "And how is your family?"

"Ginny was a bit startled by the awkward politeness of the conversation but finally managed to say, "Fine, just fine." She stared down at her shoes for a second and then asked, "How has your break been?"

"Busy. Not a lot of fun though. I haven't had any time to just sit around. And when I do it's usually late and I just sit around and read. I think I'm going to run out of books soon."

Ginny gave him a worried look. She didn't know why, but she was almost positive that he was sugar coating it, even lying. It didn't seem logical to her.

Draco gave a short cough and finally said, after an short uncomfortable moment, "Well I have to go. I was looking for something so I better be off. You look like you're getting cold out here anyway. And Weasley's probably worried. It was Ron you came with right? I guess this is goodbye then," and with that he gave her a nod and started to walk off from the direction he came from.

Ginny bit her lower lip nervously and finally yelled, "Wait!" Draco paused and turned around only to see Ginny run a short distance and hand him something wrapped in brown paper. "Happy Christmas," She said in a puffing voice, giving him a quick smile and walking backwards a few steps till she tripped over the scarf sticking out of her pocket. He continued to watch her, holding the package in his hand as she mumbled something under her breath, wrapped the scarf around her neck and gave him an embarrassed smile. She then turned around and covered her face with a gloved hand in complete and utter mortification.

Could I have been more of a klutz back there, she thought to herself, feeling her face get hot. It's bad enough that I had to run literally into him… she continued to mentally scold herself as she entered the warm shop where Ron stood waiting.

Later that night, as Ginny finished wrapping her gifts, she contemplated their chance meeting. It was as if they weren't randomly snogging in the dungeons instead of studying, or as if they weren't at least friends. Draco had been civily cold and she didn't know if it was because he really was in a rush, or if he just wasn't happy to see her. Granted she hadn't exactly made it seem like she was all that pleased, but that was because he had caught her off guard! What if they came back to school and everything changed?

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The rest of Christmas went off rather well. Harry had stopped sulking and they were back to being friends again. Hermione had indeed blushed over the gift from Ginny, but not half as much as from the gifts from Ron. He had bought her a new basket for her cat, yarn for her knitting, and even an instruction book that showed her new patterns. He had indulged all the things she loved and he hated, and the fact hadn't escaped her notice. For the rest of the day Hermione blushed and smiled shyly at Ron who didn't know what to do but smile while slightly embarrassed by the new found attention.

With everyone in such a great mood and no nagging, fighting, yelling to drag time out, Ginny was soon surprised to be packing up once again to head back to Hogwarts. Whether she looked forward to it, was another matter.

A/N: WOW. Did it take a long time for me to buckle down and devote some time to writing or what? Honestly I don't think I've ever gone that long without at least writing something for this story. And mind you, this story has been around for a long time before it was put here. So hopefully this will pacify you guys for at least a little. I know it's not very long, but honestly, I feel like our story is coming to an end pretty soon. I can't think of any other way to drag it out...