Ok i am really sorry for the late update! this was the chapter i wanted to get up quicker but i have had so many problems with my internet, and it has been deleted 3 times!

lol sorry please review!

He seemed to stare at Ginny for moments, slowly taking in what she said.

She watched him as he sat there in silence for a moment or two and finally gave up and walked off.

It hurt her to have to turn him down, to break the dare, but she did. She had to save both of their futures, but she was really looking forward to a fun night.

The last month had been hard for her; she wanted to have a night where she got to have fun, not be watching out so no one saw her with Draco.

When they were together Ginny always had a laugh and she wanted to go to the ball and have an amazing time.

Ginny didn't know if she was more upset that Draco didn't even speak to her after she told him, or that he did not come after her.

But still, Ginny walked off trying to convince herself that what she was doing was for the best. But she could quite get used to it.

&&&&&&

When Ginny reached the Griffindor common room her mind was spinning.

She went straight to her dorm to put her broom away and get showered, then put on her sweats and headed down to the common room to find a seat by the fire.

Ron and Hermione both sat in their usual seats by the fire and Ginny fell into the empty one.

It was not a surprise to see both Ron and Hermione doing homework, Hermione was just reading the latest book of 'Hogwarts A History' and Ron was obviously doing his homework that he had left till the last minute.

'You look exhausted Ginny, where have you been?' Hermione asked trying to make polite conversation.

'Just went flying for a bit, had a free period'

Hermione smiled at her for a bit and Ginny realised she had no done her transfiguration homework.

She pointed her wand to the girls stairway and muttered 'Accio transfiguration book'

'That is just being lazy! Don't abuse your magic Ginny' Hermione muttered.

Ginny chose to ignore her comment and grabbed her book as it came flying towards her.

She stole a piece of parchment of Ron, but he didn't seem to notice as he was scribbling away furiously.

'Can I borrow a quill please Hermione?' She asked.

Hermione didn't answer just dove into her back and pulled out a quill.

'Thank you' Ginny said politely.

The homework was on transforming a kettle into a black beetle, and Ginny just buried herself in her work.

She tried to take her mind of the whole Draco situation and found it worked perfectly.

Hermione must have a lot of issues to take her mind off of… or just wants to do well.

It was an hour later when Ginny looked up as Harry walked through the portrait hole all muddy.

He didn't stop and chat but went straight upstairs and twenty minutes after came tumbling back down again perfectly clean.

'Hey' Ginny said brightly. The last thing she wanted was him asking about Draco.

'Hey' He smiled 'Oi Ron, what homework is that?'

'Potions' Ron grunted and carried on scribbling.

Harry's eyes flew open as he raced upstairs to fetch his book.

'See? He is not lazy, he is sensible' Hermione teased.

'Pfft, do I look like I care?' Ginny grinned 'Anyway, when is dinner? I am starving'

'Well we can go now, these two look like they will not be down for an hour or so' She smiled and both girls got up and left whilst Ron complained and told them to bring him back some food.

'As if!' Hermione laughed.

'Are you two going to the ball together then?' Ginny asked and Hermione turned a light shade of pink.

'Ha ha! That's great! When did you say yes?'

'Well he asked me again today in transfiguration I gave in and said yes.'

'That's great' Ginny grinned as they entered the great hall and immediately her eyes darted over to the Slytherin table, where there was no sight of Draco but Blaise gave her a quick wink.

&&&&&&

Half an hour later after both girls had chatted and eaten as much as they could Ginny had not seen Draco enter the hall.

He is obviously at the kitchens!

But Ginny did not go to the kitchens to look for him, both her and Hermione headed back towards the Griffindor common room to see the boys.

Hermione had given in and grabbed a chicken leg for both boys.

When both girls reached the common room both the boys had finished and were just relaxing by the fire, talking in a low whisper.

'What's going on?' Hermione asked them both.

'We were just talking about a certain someone' Harry told her.

'Oh I see.'

'Whom are you talking about?' Ginny asked intrigued.

'Oh don't worry. Ginny what were you and Malfoy doing together in the stands? I saw him after u flew off' Harry asked.

Ginny's breath caught in her throat.

'Erm…well, I was flying because of my free period…and well I saw him in the stands and made my way over'

'And? What did he say to you?' Harry probed.

'Erm, just the usual insults you know. How my flying was rubbish and it was no surprise that I did not make it onto the team. You know what he is like, stupid idiot and that. Anyway it was Dean that made me angry, he came and started making fun that I was not on the team as usual and then started saying how me and Dr- Ah Malfoy were a good couple' Ginny rambled 'It made me sick really'

Ginny looked up from fiddling with her hands and all eyes were on her.

'What? It wasn't any thing big!' She claimed.

'Oh. Well don't listen to either of them Ginny, we know as well as you do that you are a brilliant flyer, they know it aswell they are only trying to put you down' Hermione said.

Ginny smiled kindly at her.

'I am going to the library for a bit to get find a book to help with my transfiguration homework, see you in a bit' Ginny lied.

&&&&&&

Ginny found herself wondering the halls her mind spinning about her decision.

I can't say I am not upset because I am. Those dreams I had of myself in that dress being the most beautiful girl on the dance floor with the most handsome boy of Hogwarts dancing with me. I had my dream that Draco was the most liked boy in Hogwarts and all the girls were jealous that he was my date, and all the boys were jealous that I was his date. But that dream now seemed to have evaporated in front of my eyes. Even though it was most likely to never happen. Ha! Draco? Popular? As if! But everyone can dream right?

When she stopped to think about where she was going, and she found herself face to face with the painting of the fruit bowl.

If I just tickle it, I may find him sitting just beyond it, waiting for me.

Ginny felt a rush of excitement; she wanted to speak to him. She needed to speak to him.

She stood there for a moment trying to think of something to say to him, how to explain it to him.

Finally she reached up and tickled the pair and as the door swung open she seemed to forget everything she was going to say to him.

She clambered through the entrance and when she straightened up she noticed there was no one sitting at the table.

It was empty apart from the dozen or so house elves making their way towards her.

Ginny gave a heavy sigh and dropped down in a seat at the only table in the kitchen.

'Excuse me Miss, what can Zefty gets you?' A small house elf asked her.

'Is that your name?' Ginny asked just to have the excuse to talk to someone.

'Yes Misses Zefty is my name' She squeaked.

'Oh, right. Well Zefty if you don't mind I will just have a cup of tea.'

'Yes Misses right away.' And she scurried off.

Moments later a hot cup of tea was placed in front of Ginny and she added the milk and sugar.

She sat staring into space cradling the hot mug of tea in her hands warming herself up.

Her thoughts were of what she would say to Draco when she finally did get to speak to him.

How she would try to explain it all to him.

That's if he would talk to her.

'Not waiting for anyone in particular are you?' Came a deep voice.

Ginny beamed and turned round to face... Blaise Zabini.

'Blaise!' Ginny smiled and placing down her hot mug and standing up she wrapped her arms around his neck.

She was pretty sure she heard another click and immediately her arms unclasped from around his neck.

Worriedly she looked around her and exhaled a breath she did not realise she was holding in when she saw a house elf pick up a fork from off the floor.

'Anything the matter little red?' He asked worriedly as he watched her.

Ginny smiled 'No, sorry, no not at all'

'OK. So what's been happening with you? I have heard no more about you and your dress dilemma and I have seen nothing but smiles on your face. Something is seriously wrong' he teased.

Ginny playfully hit him on the arm and he sat down opposite her.

'Well my dress dilemma has been sorted and that was one of the reasons I have had nothing but a smile on my face'

'Wow, that really explains nothing' He said sarcastically.

Ginny laughed aloud.

'Where do you want me to start?' She asked him.

'From where we left off' at Hogsmead'

'OK. Well basically we ended and I was still feeling low, even though you cheered me up a bit the feeling was still there. Like I had lost something. So I made my way-'

'Stop right there.' Blaise put his hands up.

'What!' Ginny asked confused.

'I do not want to listen to a story. Merlin, please spare me. Just give me the summary and save me from the pain' He laughed.

'Pfft' Ginny murmured 'Basically, he sent me my dream dress, and I was floating on cloud nine, then I started to feel bad and you know- ok you don't but Weasley's never accept charity from anyone. Then I started thinking about what would happen after the ball and everyone would be talking about us going together, and my friends and family will probably turn their backs on me. So I told him I wont go with him and I am going to send my dress back tonight. Now since then he has not spoken to me and I have not seen him.' Ginny sighed.

'Wow. That's a lot. But you missed out a major detail my little Red.'

'What's that?'

'Whom are you talking about?' He smiled.

'Oh. Draco.'

'What! You and Draco were going to go to the ball together?' Ginny could barely see his eyebrows now they had shot so far up his head they were almost hidden in his short gelled fringe.

'He didn't tell you? Well yes we are, well we were.'

'And he bought that dress that you were in love with for you?' He asked

'Yes'

'Then your pride got in the way and now you want to send it back?'

'Hey! It was not my pride… ok well it kind of was.'

'You two are so similar' He smiled at her. 'And wait now you have turned him down and you have not seen him?'

'Yep' Ginny shrugged.

'Right. Well I have not seen him either. But don't worry; he is probably doing one of his 'thinking' walks around the school.'

'Oh, well actually I was hoping to find him in here.' Ginny downed the last of her tea, which had cooled down a lot. 'So I will speak to you soon Blaise, I am going now' and she leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek.

Ginny frowned as she thought she heard another noise but shook it of as paranoia.

'Ok Red see you around' And he gave her a wink as she walked away feeling like someone was starring at her so she turned round and Blaise was talking to a house elf.

Weird.

&&&&&&

Ginny was walking through the halls when she noticed someone walking straight towards her.

Great, a prefect now I am just going to get done.

But as Ginny got closer she started to recognise the prefect.

'Ginny?' Came a deep voice.

'Last time I checked it was' She grinned.

There were at least three meters between them but Ginny found she couldn't move closer.

'Look Draco-'

'Don't worry; I don't want to hear why you don't want to go with me. I am sure Potter will make a better date anyway, and you will not be ruining your rep' He grunted.

'What? I already told you that I turned Harry down, and that is not the reason at all!'

'Well why else would you drop me?' He asked her.

'Because there is too much at steak! We can still be friends and not go to the ball'

'Yea, OK whatever. It just shows that you haven't really got a reason Ginny.'

'I have! You think I don't want to go just because of my reputation but that's not it! I wont go with you because I don't want you to get hurt! If your father can lead me to Voldemort, and try to get me killed, someone he doesn't even know, then who knows what he will do to his own son when he finds out that he went with the person he wanted dead to the ball. I don't not want to go to the ball with you, I was looking forward to it so much, from not wanting to go at all I was now counting the days! But I am not going to risk what we have, I don't want to sit around and find out what your father will do Draco.

So don't tell me I have no excuse because I have and it is not an excuse it is I looking out for… for a friend. Would risking everything we have now be worth just going to a dance together? Will it Draco?' Ginny asked.

'Ginny… I can handle my father, Merlin I already have my excuse. I wanted to take this chance to show everyone that I care about you. That I am not as bad as I look. I want to show them that you actually mean something to me… as a friend. I don't care about my father, Merlin; he has taken almost everything away from me. I don't want him to take my freedom too! Ginny I was looking forward to the ball just as much as you were. To see the looks on everyone's faces and to open the ball with you and have a laugh, be myself. But I only wanted to do it with you.'

Ginny could see him shuffling his feet and looking at the floor.

'I want all that just as much as you do. I don't want to show your father he can control everything' Ginny said.

'Then go with me, lets go and have fun and not care about what people think. Just for one night. And wear that dress, because they said I could not refund it and it cost a fair bob'

Ginny grinned at him 'Oh, so you already looked into returning it when I still have it?'

'No, but I suspected you would have some kind of Weasley pride thing so I asked when I bought it' He grinned back.

Ginny took a step closer to him and looked at him.

She laughed out loud 'OK, you win. I will go with you…and wear that gorgeous dress'

'Great' He said smiling at her.

'Why are you out here anyway?' She asked him.

'Oh I was just thinking' He smirked.

Ginny laughed aloud,

A thinking walk, Blaise was right.

She threw her arms round his neck giving him a hug.

Still hugging him Ginny started laughing, for no reason at all she started cracking up and it was not long until Draco joined in with his deep laugh.

It's a shame they were both laughing because after they both broke apart the person hidden in an invisibility cloak had already taken a picture of them.

Ok i want to say i am sorry again! I will try get the next one up sooner but i have alot of trouble with my internet.

Also my beta had trouble too, its been a troublesome week! haha.

anyways thank you to all of you who did review, just want to list some people who i owe a great thank you to:

Momo and zuko make me happy- Thank you for being my beta as well as reviewing! Your great thank you!

The marauders and Lily- Thank you fro reviewing so much, it means alot to me to get reviews and you always help make me smile by reviewing! Thanks alot.

Vexy5260- Sorry about the late update, it is hard for me to get on, and I have been having so much trouble with my computer lately, will try and reviwe again sooner! Thanks for reviewing.

Lily and James love forever- Thank you for reviewing! keep it up Lily and James forever, I love that ship! haha

Meemes- Thank you so much, it is nice to know I can pull it off! that made me so happy! I find that the ideas are better in my head, but it is hard for me to write it up :S if that makes sense.. haha thank you!

Flipinpenname- haha i am so sorry, I know it was harsh and even worse that i did not update sooner! thanks for all of your reviews your great

Tanelle- You are a great reviewer, thank you so much for taking the time to review for me!

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All of you have helped my get all the reviews i now have! thank you so much and dont stop !

PLF

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