"Are you sure I should do this?" Ginny asked Draco for the up tenth time on their walk to Professor McGonagall's office.
"I'm sure, but you really don't have to do it Ginny, it's not that big of a deal, I mean we'll see each other at lunch and in the halls…" Draco trailed off.
"Okay, it's okay I can do this." Ginny reassured herself, as they reached her office.
Draco nodded, looking just as nervous, as Ginny reached out and knocked on the door in front of them.
Professor McGonagall's voice trailed through the door, inviting them in and Ginny opened the door and stepped through the threshold, Draco right behind her.
Professor McGonagall's looked up, her eyebrows rising as she took in the two, she indicated to the empty seats across from her desk, and Ginny and Draco took a seat.
Professor McGonagall was dressed in Emerald green robes -which Ginny had always found a bit odd for someone who was head of Gryffindor. Her hair was tied up in a tight bun, and she wore a crooked witch's hat that sat tilted to one side at the top of her head. Her square glasses were tilted down on the tip of her nose, as she continued writing before putting her quill down and giving them her attention.
"Now Miss Weasley, I'm very glad and also very surprised that you and Mr. Malfoy both sent me owls this morning asking for this test, although I have no doubt in my mind that you can complete it, or of course I wouldn't have invited you here, but I'm obliged to ask if you're sure you want to do this. You do realise that this means you will have to take potions at a sixth year level rather than a fifth, that you aren't getting a free period?" Professor McGonagall asked Ginny.
Ginny nodded slowly.
"Okay then," McGonagall flicked her wand and a stack of parchment appeared in her hand.
"This is the written part of you examination, and you will complete your second part in Professor Slughorn's office once you are done. Now Ginny I don't want to put too much pressure on you, and you are more than welcome to refuse. But when I approached Professor Dumbledore with the idea of you moving up a level in potions, he agreed. However, you've always been the top of your class, and after meeting with your other Professor's, we came to the decision that, if you wish, you can move up to the sixth year completely. You would have to complete simple examinations for all of your fifth year classes, and we can arrange for you to take your OWLs tomorrow. You do understand that it is almost halfway through the year, so there will be material that hasn't covered, but-"
"Okay," Ginny said quickly.
"Okay? You're sure?" Professor McGonagall asked, searching her face, her eyes flicking momentarily to Draco who sat silently beside her.
"Okay then, I had all your teachers supply an examination just in case, and Dumbledore will have to inform you parents. If you pass, you will have to meet with your teachers today after dinner, to get filled in on everything you've missed. Where you can be assigned tutors if need be." McGonagall looked down on Ginny once again with a half-smile on her face this time.
"I can tutor her Professor, I received an O in everything but defence against the dark arts and care of magical creatures," Draco said, speaking for the first time.
Professor McGonagall turned her gaze to him for a moment, before folding her hand in her lap and smiling.
"Yes, I do recall that, it's not often a Slytherin receives all O's and two E's. You parents must have been proud Mr. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall smiled, slightly.
Ginny turned to face Draco, she had no idea that he scored nearly as well as Hermione- and she was the top of her class, maybe they had more in common than they thought.
"I'm very glad that you are in Gryffindor Miss Weasley," Professor McGonagall added, before she flicked her wand and the small desk in the corner was stacked with examinations.
"Mr. Malfoy, if you would continue with your Saturday, I do believe you have Qudditch practice this afternoon- you'll need it if you plan on beating Gryffindor," she smirked, as she indicated for Ginny to take a seat and get to work.
"So she's going to owl you, when your results are in?" Draco asked, turning to face Ginny.
The two were sprawled on the floor in front of the fire in Draco's room. Ginny was twirling her hair nervously around her finger as they waited patiently for the results.
"But how will she know you're in here?" Draco asked suddenly, turning to face her.
"I told her I would be here," Ginny said.
"I bet she loved that." Draco smirked as he stood up and began pacing the room.
"Draco have you forgotten that I am the one who took the examinations?" Ginny laughed. As Draco stopped his nervous pacing.
Draco blushed as sat back down beside her.
"I hope I passed," Ginny said quietly.
"Oh course you did," Draco reassured, meeting her gaze.
"I'm top of my year, but I'm no Hermione Granger," Ginny stated.
"You have a lot of qualities that Granger doesn't have that you can't get in a book," Draco added.
"Were you not the one pacing around the room nervously for about an hour before I convinced you to sit down? Only to get up once again and pace?" Ginny asked laughing.
"McGonagall wouldn't have let you skip ahead to sixth year if she didn't think you could do it. Besides I've been on the receiving end of some of you spells, and trust me I've never seen a Bat-Bogey hex like yours. Obviously Professor Slughorn noticed if he invited you into his little club," Draco said laughing.
"Don't remind me," Ginny groaned once again remembering Parvati Patil's gossip.
The two sat in silence as they watched the flames flicker, both lost in thought. Now that the pressure of the examinations were lifted, she replayed their conversation from this morning.
Draco had proposed that the best way to get the ones they were really in love with was to 'pretend to date'. It was so simple, Harry hated Draco, and once he and everyone in the school saw that Ginny and him were dating they would begin to talk. Harry would instantly become jealous and spend more time around her, convincing her along with her brother not to date him. The more time Harry spent keeping Ginny away from Draco, the less time he would have for Hermione. It seemed foolish when it was mapped out in her head, but Draco had made a very convincing case this morning.
Ginny was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard scratching on the window. They both jumped, and Draco raced to the window when he spotted a barn owl waiting outside.
Draco threw the hatch open and pushed out the window, letting the freezing cold air enter the room. The owl flew in and stopped in front of Ginny with its leg held out. Ginny quickly untied to letter and watched as the owl flew out the window and Draco latched it behind it.
"Well are you going to open it?" Draco asked, excited.
Ginny didn't wait another minute to open the letter and she ripped it open.
Miss Weasley,
I am pleased to inform you that you have passed all your examinations excellently. If you could come to my office tonight we can brief you on your OWL testing that has been arranged for tomorrow. Based on your marks your schedule will be made.
Congratulations
Professor McGonagall.