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I have updated, and i did so ages ago, but I replaced the chapter, so i dont think anyone knew. I got no reviews for it though Please read and review.

PLF

xXx

Talk of the ball was high and Ginny found herself enjoying it. She had her own thoughts of what the ball was going to be like, but no one apart from the Head girl and boy know what it looks like. The prefects only find out what it looks like on the day as they help to set it up.

Ginny had woken up later than usual and Hermione had only come to wake her up with twenty minutes of breakfast left.

'I shouldn't have this responsibility in the first place' she had told her when Ginny had complained that she had not woken her up early enough.

Ginny was now rushing to Transfiguration with her homework that she had stayed up late last night finishing, stuffed in her bag, and feeling slightly ill after just rushing and her breakfast.

-x-

Coming out of Transfiguration Ginny was walked past Seamus Finnigan and gave him a big smile.

He seemed to stop so Ginny stopped next to him to say hey.

'Listen Ginny, I am sorry about Dean, I don't know what has happened to him lately. It was ever since he got back over the summer he has been kind of… different, but I just want you to know I have nothing to do with anything he does'

Ginny smiled sincerely at him 'Thanks Seamus that means a lot. You're right Dean has changed a lot when I was with him this was the last thing I expected from him'

'Yea…well I have to go I will see you around' and with that he smiled at her and walked on.

It was only a few more steps when Ginny ran into Dean as well.

Speak of the Devil.

'Hey Ginny' He said in a very leering way.

Ginny gave him a fake smile and said 'Hi' through gritted teeth.

'Listen Ginny, you have been a bit off with me lately and I think we need some time to sort things out. I don't know what has made you mad at me and act the way you do, but I miss us! I was wondering if you wanted to come to the ball with me? What do you say? Have fun, like the old days?'

Ginny stood there in total awe. Her mouth hung open, trying to digest what she had just heard.

Slowly her thoughts caught up and she felt like screaming.

No! I won't give him that satisfaction.

'Sorry Dean, but I have been mad at you for quite an obvious reason and if you are going to act like you have not been a totally obnoxious pig the last month hen please yourself. Don't come running to me because no one wants to be your date to the ball, you are the last person I would even think of going with. I have a date you see, I have not been manipulative and turned into a total jerk so thankfully people still want to go with me. Shame we cant say the same for you.' Ginny growled at him. 'Also, don't you dare bring up the 'old days' and throw it in my face. That obviously meant nothing to you as you couldn't be quick enough to outdo me and make me feel like shit. Don't think you can just be a cocky arrogant prat and try and think you are better than me because you are not. I am the one with the date. Not you. Now get off your pedestal you big jerk.'

Ginny seethed and stormed off leaving a stunned Dean staring after her.

That felt good.

-x-

Draco sat in the cold and gloomy Slytherin common room alone by the fire. He sat staring intently into the vicious flames.

He found that when he looked into the flames they reminded him of Ginny. All the things that he once hates about her, he found positive things now. Her annoying back chat he thought was just her being quick witted. Her fiery temper always keeping him on his toes.

When he used to look at her he would only see her poor family history, that nasty red hair that the whole family had, that annoying way in which they all stand out. But none of that seemed to bother him as much anymore. That was Ginny and he found that she wasn't actually half bad.

Just wait till the bet is over and everything will be fine. I won't notice anything positive about her, and I can stay out her way for good.

Draco was so lost in thought he had to control himself from jumping when Blaise threw himself into the seat next to him.

'You managed to get her to go to the ball with you?' he said straight away.

It took Draco a minute to realize who he was talking about.

'Weasley? Yea I have to go somewhere with this bet if I want to win' Draco shrugged it off.

'What about Pansy? And your dad? Your rep?'

'What about it?'

'What is with you? Do you know how your father will react if he finds out? How will you explain it? You don't need to keep going with the bet Draco, the fact that she agreed was good, I get it you win I will shake the bloody saints hand. Just stop ok? I know what your father is like' Blaise looked at him intently, Draco was his best mate, he had seen how his father had dealt with him before, and no one deserved to go through that.

'I have my alibi sorted. If he finds out I will say it was all a bet, make out that I have set out to humiliate the Weasley and cause shame upon her family' Draco explained.

That sounds quite close to the truth actually.

'Fine… whatever but that is what you set out to do anyway, I don't like this anymore mate, if she finds out she will be crushed and this hasn't exactly been the easiest month for her has it?'

Draco looked at Blaise; he had taken to looking out for the Weasley always was so protective over her. Whenever she entered a room he would send her a wink, or he would seek her out of a crowd. Draco thought there was more to him just looking out for her and himself.

'It's fine Zabini.' Draco snapped. 'I have her falling and no one can stop it' he smirked

The truth was that this bet was the only connection he had with the Weasley, when it's over so will everything between them. He thinks everything between them will go back to normal, but you can't toy with emotions. Everyone knows that… but Draco.

Both boys sat lost in their thoughts neither felt the need to fill the comfortable silence that lay between them.

-x-

Draco was walking along the Charms corridor later that day, and as he was approaching the Golden Trio their whispering halted and they all turned to glare at him.

Usually this wouldn't faze Draco but today was different, it really hacked him off that they couldn't even be subtle about it.

'Take a picture Pot head it will last longer.' He smirked.

Now I am using Ginny's insults…what is going on?!

Harry raised an eyebrow at him and crossed his arms trying to show Draco he was better then him.

Stupid prat how dare he look at me like that.

'Did your parents never teach you that it was rude to stare- Oh no that's right they didn't get the chance to teach you anything seeing as they were blasted to smithereens and all'

Shit. I did not just say that.

Draco watched as the anger rose in Harry and Ron and Hermione stood telling them to calm down.

It only took a second but Harry was pelting towards him and Draco barely had time to react and he was thrown to the floor.

Harry was punching his face in and Draco was trying to throw him off. He managed to get his want and yelled 'EXPELIARMUS' and Harry flew off him.

Harry stood up with his wand drawn. His eyes blazing and panting hard.

Ginny was just coming along the corridor herself and her eyes widened to the scene unfolding in front of her.

No one had seen her as she watched as Draco picked himself off the floor he pulled his robes on properly which had half fallen down.

Ron and Hermione were trying to control Harry who was raging.

Ginny opened her mouth to speak but was cut off as Harry spoke.

'Jealousy is a terrible thing hey Malfoy? Just because my parents actually showed me love the only way you can feel wanted is to join your father's pathetic Death eater clan. Fancied yourself a pretty tattoo did you?' He spat.

Ginny gasped just as Malfoy ran at Harry and threw him to the floor. It was now his turn to punch Harry's face in.

Both boys were yelling and screaming at each other in rage when Harry blasted Malfoy with a hex and a full blown duel broke out.

Slowly people started to gather and Ginny wanted to stop it before it all got so much worse, but she felt she couldn't move her legs.

She wanted to scream at them and tell them they were being pathetic, that this was all going to end badly but she couldn't find her voice. The scene unfolding before had her frozen to the spot.

Draco threw another insult to Harry about his parents and in next to no time Harry and Draco were rolling on the floor both trying to hit each other, with their wands which lay forgotten beside them.

The insults flying between the two were mostly the same, Draco would say something about Harry's family, and Harry would say something about him being a Death eater.

Ron managed to pull Harry off of Draco and Draco dragged himself up off the floor.

'I hope when the Death eater attacks get higher, they come after you three next. It's what you deserve' Draco spat

SHIT! Absolute idiot!

Ginny couldn't believe what she had just heard, her ears had gone numb but she new for sure that Harry was about to blow and she had to stop it.

'SHUT UP!!!!!!' Ginny screamed on the top of her voice causing everyone to look at her, but she didn't stop, she walked right between the two boys and looked at both of them.

Harry was red with anger and panting, where as Draco was more composed as he glared at Harry.

Ginny was just about to say some thing else when Harry, out of no where had broken lose of both Ron and Hermione's grips and pushing Ginny aside, knocking her to the floor at the same time, he landed a smack right on Draco's nose and in no time blood was gushing from it.

That didn't stop him though, Harry was raging and no one could stop him. No one but-

'MR POTTER!' came the voice of a teacher no one wanted to see right now.

Snape.

Snape had used a simple 'Expeliarmus' spell to knock Harry off of the bleeding Draco.

'Mr. Potter I might have known it was you involved when I heard the noise. In my office right this minute'

The few people who were gathering around started to filter out quickly when Snape came, but Ron and Hermione were first in there to explain to the professor that Malfoy was involved too.

'Miss Granger stop being an insufferable know it all and let me do my job. I saw what a saw, and Head girl or not I will decided the punishment. Now please move along' He snapped and a really irritated Hermione, before turning on his heel and walking in the direction of the dungeons.

Hermione was so angry she turned to glare at Malfoy who had a smug look on his face and his arms folded across his chest.

'Malfoy you are head boy, you should have know better-'Hermione started

'Yea don't think you won't go down for it too ferret' Ron snapped

Ginny saw the anger rise behind the mask of Draco and new he was going to blow yet again.

'Shut up you pathetic blood traitors go tell someone who gives a shit about what you think' Malfoy spat at them

'Draco! Just walk away and leave this alone, you have caused enough damage, just LEAVE!' Ginny screamed fed up with the whole situation.

Draco turned and gave a glare so cold a shiver went down her spine. He turned his lip up in disgust and turned on his heel fuming as he walked away.

Ginny stared for a moment before her own anger kicked in, and with a 'huff' she stormed off the other way.

-x-

Ginny entered the common room and found Hermione and Ron sitting by the fire, both deep in thought.

'No Harry?' Ginny asked as she threw herself into the seat next to them

'No he's still not back yet' Hermione told her.

They all sat lost in their own thoughts none of them feeling the need to fill the comfortable silence between them.

Moments passed and Hermione was the one who broke through their thoughts.

'You called him Draco'

Ginny's head shot up in alarm where as Ron raised his slowly, confused.

Ginny tried to hide her panic stricken face.

'Sorry?' Ginny dared to ask.

'You, you called him Draco' Hermione seemed to be looking her differently, like she knew something.

Bugger, bugger, bugger!!! BIG dilemma!

'Did I?' Ginny tried to arrange her features into a confused expression.

'Yes. How come? You never call him anything but Malfoy' Ginny started to feel like the temperature in the room was rising by a hundred degrees.

'I was angry, I must have meant to shout Draco Malfoy but I forgot to say the last bit as I was so furious' Ginny lamely explained.

Both Ron and Hermione had their eyes burning into Ginny, like they could read her mind.

'Oh right well that's ok' Hermione dismissed quickly that Ginny's head shot up to look at her and so did Ron's.

'Yea…' Ginny muttered, and Hermione gave her a sideways glace with an eyebrow raised.

-x-

It was later that Ginny decided to go for a 'thinking walk' as both Draco and Blaise called it.

Her mind was racing of thoughts of earlier.

Why couldn't he just have left it? If they were provoking him then he should have walked away.

Her feet carried her and she just went with it, it was before curfew so she was fine walking.

When they see us at the ball they are going to be even worse now.

She started to make her way towards the kitchens following her feet, but decided she would rather not and turned around.

What was with that glare he gave me?

Ginny was getting fed up with wandering and turned to make her way back to the common room, not thinking about where she was and looking at the ground still deep in thought.

Ginny was walking and didn't realize who was approaching her. The two figures that had female structures were looming closer and Ginny still didn't seem to notice.

There was a giggle from one of the two girl's walking towards her, which made Ginny snap out of her trance as she realized people were walking towards her.

She looked around to take in her surroundings and froze.

Dungeons

'Look who it is Nancy' the first Slytherin Misha in Ginny's year sneered at her with an evil glint in her eye.

Misha was the leader of the two, they were the two Slytherin bitches in Ginny's year who she tried to keep clear of.

Nancy was Misha's lap dog with her short height and shoulder length hair and dull features, making her look fat and stubby.

Misha was quite the opposite of Nancy. She was tall with sleek blonde hair, but she had blue eyes which always had an evil glint in them. She didn't have such pretty features but they were better than Nancy's.

Ginny immediately put her hand in her pocket when they approached so she knew her wand was with her.

She was never scared of the two, they were both "wana-be's" always trying to be tough, but the situation was different Ginny was in their territory and near their common room, so anything could happen.

'What's a pathetic weasel like you doing on the wrong side of the castle?' Misha sneered and Nancy smirked with her.

'Your side? Please don't make your self out to be big' Ginny replied.

'Don't step up to me Weasley not when you're here on our side one on two.' She snapped back.

Ginny rolled her eyes dramatically at her.

'Don't tell me what to do, your not all that, now if you don't mind I have places to be'

She made to step round them and leave but they moved out to stop her.

'You blood traitors should be taught a lesson, you never know when to shut up or when to step on your bloody pride' Nancy stepped in for Misha.

'Ah, I was just waiting for the lap dog to jump in and try earn brownie points her' Ginny nodded her head at Misha.

'How dare you! You're nothing but a pathetic blood traitor that has no friends your own age. Still liking Potter's ass? He's obviously not into you as he didn't get you on the team. Shame you must really feel wanted.' Misha stepped forward to try stand up to Ginny whilst Nancy laughed at her "witty" remark.

Ginny stepped even closer and glared at her.

'Don't act like you are better than me. Don't think you can take me because we both know you cant, and DON'T talk about shit that you know nothing about' Ginny shoved her so hard she went stumbling back and reaching for her wand.

'YOU STUPID BIT-'she started.

'HEY!' Came a male reply and Ginny cringed as she noticed who it was.

'Draco!' Misha cooed and he gave her a dirty look. 'The stupid blood traitor Weasley here decided to take me on'

Ginny turned to her and gave her the deadliest glare she could manage.

'I don't care about your pathetic arguments' Ginny's head spun round and glared at him next 'I am just telling you to stop because being head boy, it's my duty. Don't make me have to this; I have better things to be doing then telling off some pathetic students trying to have a duel. Make your petty arguments more discrete next time.' Ginny was fuming.

HYPOCRITE!! LET ME AT HIM!!!

'Now Weasley I know you know you shouldn't be down here unless you want trouble, which is probably what you are trying to start' He concluded not even looking at her.

'We were just heading back Draco, we just got… held up' Misha said giving Ginny a dirty look.

'Yea well keep going then.' And they both scurried off.

Ginny felt like she was about to scream. She turned on her heel and stormed off holding in her screams.

Instead of heading back to her common room she stormed outside into the cool air and headed towards the lake. She was walking so fast fists clenched she reached the lakes edge and picked up a huge rock and launched it into the lake with a 'dunk'

'ARGH!' she screamed letting her anger out, she picked up another rock and another and another.

She collapsed onto the floor in defeat after a few minutes, exhausted. Picking up a few pebbles she started throwing them into the lake watching the ripples of the water as they landed, lost in thought.

'What crawled up your ass and died then?' came the voice of the person she really didn't want to see right then.

'I could say the same thing to you about earlier Draco' she snapped emphasizing on his name. He took a seat beside her and started throwing pebbles into the lake with her.

They both sat in silence throwing pebbles into the lake, both thinking. In the end Ginny couldn't take it, she had to get it off her chest.

'Why did you do that?' She shouted at him.

'Do what? My head boy duties?' He smirked.

'Oh sod off if you are going to patronize me, you know what I mean'

'I had to. I wasn't going to walk in on that and go "hey you two please stop being mean to Ginny she is my friend" am I? Somehow I don't think they would really appreciate that'

'Argh! I can't believe you. You really are insufferable at times.'

'So are you, but I don't complain do I?'

Well not to you. I have to be nice to you!

'You didn't need to degrade me in front of them like that. You were such a hypocrite by the way you acted today. You know you have made the situation for tomorrow so much worse? When my friends see me with you that are going to go off on one asking why I would go against them after what you did today.'

'Everyone looses it at times, even you…well actually you most of the time' He smiled 'Today was my day to lose it. I am sorry it was to them, but I am not exactly best mates with them now am I? They will react badly anyway. Tomorrow night we are just going to have fun, we will think about how to act on it the day after ok?'

Ginny looked at him, understanding his reasons. She of all people could not accuse him of getting angry.

I like the way he says "we" like we are a team.

'Yea... You're right. I'm sorry; I guess I know it's going to be like what it was today the day after the ball. I just have to prepare myself for it. But I am really looking forward to it you know?' She grinned at him.

'How could you not? I am your date after all, girls have been crying over the fact that I have turned them down' He grinned back.

'Really, People actually asked you?' She laughed.

'Throwing themselves at my feet' He stated

She laughed and threw her head back with delight. She had happiness dancing in her eyes and he looked at her and how happy he was when he was with her.

They sat having a laugh and generally getting on both talking of ideas for the ball the following night.

There you go, thank you for reading!

R&R

PLF

xXx