Chapter Six: "You And Me"

A/N: Well, it's quite obvious to me that this story isn't nearly as popular as my other story): Hopefully, the more I get into the story, the more reviewers I'll get. I'll be trying to update a little more often. Sorry for the long delay, but Iwas really jammed in school. I have more time now :
Tell me what you think and make sure you review. I love reading them.

Ginny still hadn't spoken to Draco. It seemed obvious to Ginny that he just wanted to forget the kiss had ever happened. Although Ginny was slightly disappointed, she realized that it was for the best. Harry had obviously told Ron about the kiss, because the two of them weren't saying a word to Ginny. Hermione would try to make conversation with Ginny, but Ginny knew she was uncomfortable. Often there would be long, awkward periods of silence between the two of them.

The worst part was that Ginny was supposed to attend the Winter Ball with Draco. He hadn't exactly told her they weren't going to go, but since Draco hadn't said a word to her… Ginny wasn't sure if they were still going.

Luna Lovegood, however, seemed to be the only person that wasn't acting awkward. In fact, she was actually offering advice for Ginny. "Ginny, you should just ask him if you're going together," she had told Ginny.

This wasn't exactly helpful advice, since Ginny could barely speak every time she saw Draco. She knew she couldn't continue to put it off, though, since the ball was this Friday. Ginny would have to just do it.

Ginny left the Gryffindor Common Room, feeling uneasy. She had just spotted Draco with Crabbe and Goyle near one of the statues.

"I'm going to make a fool of myself," Ginny muttered under her breath. Before she could change her mind, Ginny walked over towards the three Slytherins.

Draco stopped talking immediately as Ginny approached them. Ginny tried to read the expression on his face, but there was none.

"So, did you come over here to stare at me or are you going to say something?" Draco finally asked, when Ginny didn't speak for several moments.

"Uh…" Ginny was feeling extremely nervous now. Her palms were getting sweaty, and she could feel her cheeks flushing. "I was just wondering…"

"Wondering what?" Draco asked, losing his patience, "Come on, Weasley, spit it out."

Ginny took a deep breath. "Are-we-still-going-to-the-ball-together?" she asked in one breath. She crossed her fingers, still red in the cheeks.

"Well…" Draco mustered, "I suppose since you already asked me and I already agreed, it would be kind of rude to back out of it. Also, all the good girls probably already have dates…"

Ginny felt the urge to hex Draco. Why was he being so cold and distant? Had he forgotten that they had kissed just a week ago? Had the kiss meant anything to him? "You know, Malfoy, if you don't want to go to the ball with me, just say so, okay?"

Draco shrugged. "Parkinson is already going with Zabini, so I guess I have to choice but to go with you."

"I'm just thrilled," Ginny shot back sarcastically, "I'll see you on Friday and hopefully not before then."

"Finally given up on spying on our Quidditch team?" Draco asked, smirking, "You make a lousy chaser anyways, and Ronald is about the worst Keeper I've ever seen."

Ginny pulled out her wand, and pointed it threateningly at Draco. Crabbe and Goyle yanked out their wands also, but Draco told them to stay out of it. He pulled out his own wand, smirking.

"Crabbe…Goyle… I'll catch up with you guys later." Draco and Ginny watched as Crabbe and Goyle obediently hurried out of sight.

Ginny pointed her wand at Draco. She didn't want to hex him, but her hate was growing for Draco. How dare he make fun of her Quidditch playing! She was better than him, and he knew it. He was a lousy seeker.

"I know you don't want to hex me, Weasley," Draco sneered, his wand still up. "If you don't want to do it, don't do it."

"Why wouldn't I want to hex you, Malfoy?"

"Because you're attracted to me." Draco replied, running his fingers through his hair. He was smirking.

"Well, you wouldn't hex me either," Ginny answered, blushing slightly. "You kissed me after all."

Draco scoffed, but lowered his wand slightly. "I've kissed many girls. It doesn't mean I care about them."

"But you haven't kissed many Gryffindors."

"True."

Ginny stared into Draco's eyes for a few moments, before breaking the connection by looking down at her feet. Her wand was fully lowered now, and so was Draco's. She knew she didn't have the heart to hex him.

Although it seemed as though Draco didn't care about her, Ginny knew there was a moment when their eyes had connected. She knew there was a moment, but did Draco? Had he felt what she had when she had looked into his eyes?

Draco put his wand back in his pocket, so Ginny did the same. Neither one spoke for a few moments. Draco moved a little closer to Ginny, and Ginny held her breath. Was he going to kiss her?

Draco pulled her close and then whispered softly in her ear, "See you on Friday, Ginny."

Then, without kissing her or anything, he walked away leaving Ginny breathing heavily, her heart racing.

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Everyone noticed that Ginny was in a remarkably better mood. She hummed to herself as she did her homework, and seemed to always be smiling. Ginny, however, did not tell anyone about her encounter with Draco. She felt like just keeping it to herself.

Ginny already knew that nobody approved of her and Draco, so telling them would only make her feel worse. Therefore, whenever anyone asked why she was in such a good mood, she'd just respond by saying "snow."

Ginny hadn't seen Draco since the time she had almost hexed him. She wasn't expecting to see him again before the ball, which was that evening. Ginny shivered slightly. Just thinking about the ball gave her shivers. The whole evening was going to be about Draco. She was going to dance with Draco, laugh with Draco, have fun with Draco…

Later that evening, Ginny had gotten dressed and was ready for the big evening. She felt pretty good about how she looked, and was getting more and more excited by the moment. Checking a nearby clock, she realized that she was way too early for Draco. She wasn't expecting him for another twenty minutes, so Ginny decided to wait in the dormitory. She climbed up the stairs to find a beautiful, but panicking Hermione.

"Hermione, what's going on?" Ginny asked, panicked. Hermione was muttering under her breath, and digging through all of her stuff, trying to find something.

"I look horrible," she wailed, "I can't go to the dance looking like this. I haven't done my makeup or my hair, and Harry's going to pick me up any moment."

"Okay, sit down Hermione," Ginny commanded. Meekly, Hermione sat down in the chair. Her pale pink dress brought out the tones in her face and she looked lovely.

Ginny pulled out some makeup and started applying it on Hermione's face. Hermione sat still, not saying a word. She looked as though she was starting to calm down. After this, Ginny brushed Hermione's hair so it hung straight down from her head.

"You're all ready," Ginny announced, standing back to examine her work. Ginny smiled to herself. It was hard to believe how different Hermione looked with a dress and a little bit of makeup. In fact, you could hardly call her a bookworm after looking at her.

Hermione stared at her reflection in the mirror, trying not to look too pleased. "Well, I don't look half bad, do I?"

"You look beautiful," Ginny told her. She was feeling kind of glad that Hermione and Harry were going together. If they ended up getting together, everyone would stop pestering Ginny about going out with Draco.

"You look lovely as well, Ginny. Which is a stupid thing to say since you always look pretty." Hermione was rambling now. She looked even more nervous than the night before her OWL's. Ginny could swear she was going to melt down any second.

Hermione was now muttering, "We're just friends. Harry and I are just friends. Best friends." Ginny smiled, and realized that the two of them were going to be late.

"Hermione, let's go. You look great and the evening is going to be great, okay?" Ginny told Hermione impatiently, as Hermione continued to babble.

Hermione stopped talking and followed Ginny out of the dormitory. As they descended the steps and left the Fat Lady, Ginny spotted Harry… but no Draco. Ginny sighed, and realized that Draco was probably going to be a few minutes late.

Ron was also standing next to Harry. Ginny felt like laughing. She had never seen Ron in something so formal…well, maybe except for the Yule Ball.

Harry and Hermione started talking in low voices, and then took off. Ron looked like he was waiting for someone.

"Waiting for Luna, Ron?" Ginny asked, "It was really nice of you to go with her. She's thrilled."

Ron grumbled. "It's not like I had another person to go with. Hopefully this evening will go by without any problems."

Ginny looked around and then looked up at the clock. Draco was already eighteen minutes late. Where was he?

Ginny spotted Zabini heading towards the Gryffindor Common Room looking steamed. It was clear that he was upset over something.

"Hey Blaise," Ginny called, "Have you seen Draco? He was supposed to meet me here twenty minutes ago."

Blaise scoffed. "Oh yes I've seen him. He's over by the Slytherin Common Room, with my date, Pansy, and it didn't look like they were just talking."

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