AN: I know, I know. It's been ages! I'm really sorry for taking so long! Life has been a bitch to me. Sorry for that too. My schedule's become very hectic. I am not sure when the next update will be up but I'll try to make it quick.

rowan-greenleaf : Thanx! Your review made me think about resuming with the fic! I wasn't very sure about it!

janea : Thanx a lot! I'm glad you liked it.

Devastation and Reform : Thanx! Lolz, I know, the over-protective brother thing can be cute.

Babiiee-Z : Thanx! I know, there was hardly any conversation there between them. I guess this chapter is better in that respect.

Dracoginnylover24 : Thanx so much!


Recap:

"You are not going anywhere wearing that. Go and change now or I'll tell – "

Hermione sighed, fed up of Ron's over-protective brother attitude. "Stop being a tattletale Ronald. She will wear whatever she wants. C'mon Gin, we're leaving." She said the last part while glaring at Ron. She grabbed Ginny by the arm and dragged her off.

Ron turned to Harry to say something and found him drooling at Ginny's back. His 'over – protective brother' instinct kicked in.

"Close your mouth, Potter," he snarled and stalked away, leaving behind a shocked and embarrassed Harry.


Surprise, Surprise


"Where have you two been?" Ginny asked, taking a swig of her butterbeer. Ginny and Hermione had been enjoying themselves in The Three Broomsticks for quite some time when they were joined by Harry and Ron. The two boys had entered arguing fervently about something. Hermione, noticing this, had just rolled her eyes and gone back to their conversation with Ginny. Ginny, however, was too curious to not ask.

Ron and Harry, not noticing the girls before, shut their mouths with a snap.

"N-nothing," Harry stuttered, "we were just discussing about – er-"

"We were just discussing about the formation of our Quidditch team." Ron lied smoothly. Ginny raised her eyebrows at the two of them but seeing their discomfort decided to let it go. She knew Ron would tell Hermione later. She could always needle the information out of her.

"So, what were you both doing? Ron asked, coming back with butterbeers for him and Harry.

Ginny shared a look with Hermione. It was their turn to look uncomfortable and Ron's to raise his eyebrows at them.

"Nothing, we were just having some girl talk. You know girl talk, Ronniekins? Cramps, bad moods, etc, etc." Ginny answered, lying just as smoothly as her brother.

"Eeww," both boys exclaimed simultaneously. Hermione looked at Ginny and winked at her. Ginny just winked back.

"How's your project with Malfoy coming up, Gin?" Harry asked, looking around for the blond.

"Fine, actually. He's being civil and so am I. We are both interested in getting over with it and going back to our lives. It's become so tiring now, what with the project, school work, and Quidditch all dumped onto me."

"Why don't you just drop out of the team for this session? You could always come back next year." Ron asked, looking concerned for his sister.

"Nah, I can handle it. A Gryffindor, and a Weasley, never backs down from a challenge."

Ron looked at her with an expression akin to awe, "When did my sister grow up so much?"

"Good, now that you know I've grown up you'll let me date boys as per my wish."

Ron choked on his butterbeer, Harry thumping him on the back while holding back laughter. "Hey! I never said that you've big enough to date!" Ron scowled at her.

"Well, you know what Ronald? I'm with Ginny on this one. She is big enough to date whoever she likes. And if you complain, I'll tell Mrs. Weasley about a stack of Playwizard kept underneath your bed."

Ron just glared at her and sulked, all the while muttering about 'stupid sisters' and their 'stupid best-friends'.


Ginny got down from the carriage to see Malfoy waiting for her outside the castle.

"What is he doing here," Ron asked, nodding at Malfoy.

Ginny shrugged in response. "I don't know. You guys go ahead, I'll just come."

Making her way towards him, she could see that he was definitely uncomfortable standing there waiting for her, his hands behind his back. Probably not used to wait for anyone, she thought to herself.

"Malfoy," she nodded to him in greeting.

"Weasley," he returned, going silent. She looked at him curiously, impatience making her tap her foot.

Having caught the signal he ploughed ahead. "I – I was waiting for you."

"I can see that," she dead-panned, waiting for him to continue.

Thinking how the deed was already done and it was better to just get over with it, he resolved to just get it out in a rush. "I decided, um, no – I observed that you needed new quills. I brought you some to work with seeing how yours are beyond mending. Not that you have to take these, you know. It's just that -"

"Malfoy," Ginny interrupted his rambling, looking incredulous, "you got me something?"

"Quills," he mumbled, looking down in a very un-Malfoyish way. He was doing a number of un-Malfoyish things lately, like getting a Weasley something.

"You got me quills?" Ginny asked, continuing to look flabbergasted.

"You don't have to take them, if you don't want to," he snapped in return, her shock embarrassing him much more than he already was.

"Oh no! It's just that I – you – oh hell. Do you even plan to give me those?" She could see him hesitate, naturally not used to getting anything for anyone. It made her wonder why would he get her anything in the first place. Did this mean they were friends? Should she ask him?

"Here," his quite voice broke her reverie.

"Thanks," she said, her eyes fixed on the packet. He just shrugged in response and walked away, his feet taking quick steps.

"Malfoy!" She called out to him. He turned around to look at her, eyebrows going up. "Does this mean we're friends?"

He smirked for the first time at her question. "What do you think, Weaslette?"

She smiled and rolled her eyes at him in response. "I think we are."

"Then we are," he smiled at her, making her feel warm from the inside and walked away

She watched him leave, her eyes fixed on his retreating form.

Friends, she thought to herself, the word bringing with itself an unusual warmth.


AN: I know this is very short but my imagination just failed me after this. Oh well. What can I say?

Anyways, you know you guys love me. Why not gift me something? wink wink Maybe a nice review??

xx fic-princess xx