"I believe that is our cue to leave," said Goyle rising to his feet.

"Now that I think about it, you know, I do think I saw a lion and a snake together, sleeping or something," Crabbe said.

"Lion and a lamb, you oaf," Blaise laughed.

"Well, as for your predicatment, I have seen an eagle and a snake together, I think the snake was being eaten." Crabbe said, thinking seriously.

"That's the flag of Mexico." Blaise threw a look at the Ravenclaw's by the lake. "Well boy, I have some flying to do."

"Snakes can't fly!" Goyle hollered after him.

"Lovely friends you've got," Ginny said, sitting down next to Malfoy. Inside, Hermione wished she could sit closer, but as she didn't want to give herself away…

"They're alright. A bit rough around the edges. You know, us Slytherin's aren't as bad as everyone thinks. One rotten egg spoils them all." Malfoy said. "But I do believe it's your friend in question."

"Very true," Ginny fiddled with the grass. "What would you like to know?"

"You okay, Weasley?" Malfoy asked, noting her straight posture and eloquence.

"Just, uh," Hermione filed through her brain, working out different Ginnyish problems. "It's just Harry, no need to worry. He'll figure it out eventually."

"He's a bloody git if he can't realize how great you are."

"Right, anyway. We're talking about me, here."

"You?"

"Sorry…Hermione, it's a nickname…Mi. You know." Blabbling seemed to sound very much like Ginny.

"Oh Gods," Malfoy said lowly.

"No, it's not a serious nickname, just something…"

A shrill voice echoed off the shore.

"Drakie-poo!"

"Time to go," Draco seized Ginny's arm and hauled off towards the castle.

"Where do you suppose they're off to?" A Ravenclaw by the name of Judy asked Luna.

"Plotting," said Luna, unphased by the odd couple.

"Hey, Luna," Blaise approached the group, with Crabbe and Goyle behind him.

"Hi, Blaise."

"Can, I, uh, talk to you for a minute." He said, obviously uncomfortable.

"No." she said, still oblivious.

Blaise looked back atCrabbe and Goyle for help, they both just shrugged.

"I really need to talk to you, Luna." He motioned for them to move away.

"I think he's flirting," Judy said.

"Oh!" Luna caught on. "Are you flirting with me, Blaise? See, you kept ignoring me...I assumed I was nothing to you."

Blaise squeezed his eyes tightly, then turned to Crabbe and Goyle again, both of whom were gone.

Ginny and Dracoran up towards the Head's dorm that Hermione and Draco shared. Stopping at the portrait, both out of breath, Ginny muttered, "Felix".

"How did you know the password?" Malfoy asked.

"Hermione told me," Ginny covered quickly, walking through the portrait. "Now, I don't have much time. So what do you need to know, or what do you have to tell me? I mean, what'll make this work?"

"Slow down there, Weasley. I just wanna get to know her. I mean, we all know thatGranger is brilliant, but I have the feeling there's a lot more to her. I want to know everything about her. It's just; I've been with Pansy for so long. It's not that I'm bored and using Granger as rebound. I truly care about her. How crazy is that! I don't even know the girl but somehow she keeps worming her way into my dreams. I told her, I told her everything I felt the other day. About wanting to be with her, and all she did was tell me she hates me."

"She doesn't hate you, Malfoy," Ginny said, tearing up slightly. "Quite the opposite."

She stood up and began advancing toward him.

"Uh, Weasley?" Draco said, confused.

"Alright, I'm going to get Hermione up here to talk to you, okay? Just, don't screw anything up." Ginny sped off, out the portrait and out of sight.

"Oh yes, I'm not totally screwed at all, the witch hates me and now Weasley wants to lock me in a room with her."

"Ginny!" Ginny yelled tearing around the corner. The sight that greeted her was not welcome.

Harry, apparently, had disappeared. Leaving Ginny to her own devices.

Her feet were propped up on the table, a forgotten book in her lap. She was twirling her hair and beaming a 100-watt smile at the nearest boy…McLaggen.

"Oh, Hermione…" Ginny said, grabbing her and hauling her up.

"I'll talk to ya later," she smiled flirtatiously once more.

"Oh, you're so dead," Ginny said pulling Hermione out of the library.