The train slowed, stopping at the familiar station. The students began filing out, Ginny recognizing Hagrid as he bellowed, "Firs' years, over here!" She ignored the scared, shivering first years, dragging Harry, Hermione, and Ron towards the castle. Ginny hadn't seen Malfoy since that strange man, who she had yet to find out who he was. She ignored the creeping feeling of regret at not seeing him, and instead fixated on the carriages that would take them to Hogwarts.

Hermione and Ginny climbed in first, leaving Harry and Ron to their own devices. Hermione kept looking back, towards the castle, obviously excited about seeing who that man was. Ron was muttering something, stealing a glance or two at Hermione, who had a completely peaceful look on her face.

"You know, I bet you that man is a total git, Hermione. You'd better not get your hopes up. Remember Lockhart?" Ron burst their amiable silence suddenly. Hermione turned red, muttering about her obsession with Gilderoy Lockhart in her second year at Hogwarts.

"That was different, and you know it, Ronald Weasley. You're just… just… jealous!" She stormed out of the carriage, which had luckily ceased movement just a moment before, and Ron had the most peculiar, smug look on his face. Ginny didn't linger on it; Ron had always been a bit strange about Hermione. She rushed out after the bushy-haired girl, quickly losing her on the steps as the stream of students closed around her. She heard a sleek laugh behind her, and turned to see Draco and that rather annoying friend of his. What was his name? Blaine.. Blair…

"Ahh, Blaise. Look. The Weasley girl is trying to follow us about." Ginny flushed as Draco fixed her with his infamous cold stare, and she hurried inside Hogwarts to the Great Hall. She heard Draco laugh again with his friend Blaise, and it managed to echo in her mind well after they were gone from view.

The Great Hall looked splendid, as usual. The ceiling was softly fading to indigos and violets, and Ginny immediately sat down at the Gryffindor table. She spotted Harry and Ron sitting down not too far away, and Hermione sat next to Harry, ignoring
Ron in every way possible. Ginny was immediately bored, and didn't pay the least bit of attention as the first years were sorted, as instead she looked, quite unconsciously, over at the Slytherin table. She spotted Draco, who looked quite as bored as she did, and had a glazed look as the first years continued to be sorted. 'When he isn't being a bloody git, Draco doesn't look half bad.' GINNY! she chided herself. What are you doing, even considering Malfoy as a human being? Do you remember all that he ever said about your family? He shamed you every chance he got. He's just a spoiled brat. She was still staring at him, while furiously thinking, and didn't notice as the food appeared on the tables and everyone began to eat.

Draco turned, glancing at Ginny, then noticing she was staring at him, with a rather pained expression on her face. He remembered his thought on the train; She doesn't look half bad when she's livid. She didn't look half bad now, either. Wait. What was that, Malfoy? Cold, detached Malfoy. Are you already fixing yourself upon that Weasley minx? Do you even consider her to be at your level? Look at her family, Malfoy. Look at the hate they have for you.. You shouldn't be liking her. You shouldn't even be noticing her. What's the matter with you? I do.. I do like her. I do notice her. . . and I'm not sure I mind it. Malfoy shut out the thought with a shudder, turning to his table and piling food delicately onto his plate, immersing himself in a conversation with Blaise.

Ginny turned away, once she realized she had been staring at Malfoy for no less than ten minutes. She looked down the table at Harry and Ron, who were chatting genially; probably about Quidditch. Hermione was picking at her food, staring up at the teacher's table with a blank look. Ginny looked up, too. It was the man! He was sitting next to Professor Flitwick, having a serious discussion, by the looks of it, about one thing or another. Most of the female population seemed to be buzzing about the ordeal, and Ginny realized that Dumbledore had probably introduced the man. And she hadn't even been paying attention. Now even more furious with herself, Ginny turned to Lavender Brown, who was sitting across from her.

"Lavender.. what is the name of the new teacher again?" Lavender stared incredulously at Ginny for a moment, as if wondering if she were joking or not.

"You mean you didn't listen to Dumbledore? That's Professor Moontide, new teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Isn't he just divine?" Lavender and her friends giggled, staring up at the attractive teacher. Ginny rolled her eyes, wondering what the year would be like with a teacher like Professor Moontide.

Back up in the common room, Malfoy was having a game of wizard's chess with Blaise while Crabbe and Goyle (whom he had found lurking at the back of the Hogwarts Express) watched on with amazement. It was turning out to be a heated battle, which Draco was winning, and both boys had expressions of serious concentration on their faces. Blaise threw up his hands in defeat as Malfoy took his king, then settled back in his chair, full from the feast that he had eaten.

"So, Draco. Did mine eyes deceive me, or were you staring at the lovely Miss Weasley during the feast?" He laughed, watching Draco's face turn pale, then a bit pink. That made him laugh even harder; it must be true, to make Draco Malfoy blush!

"Hah! I have you there, Malfoy. I don't blame you. She's very pretty, mate. Just.. she is a Gryffindor. It'd be hard to just snog her, you know. You'll have to work for that one, and I know working isn't something you like doing." Malfoy's brows drew together, his eyes heated passionately.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Blaise. Why would I ever have feelings for a Weasley! That thought is utterly revolting." Draco took a breath, regaining his composure. He gave a cold stare to Blaise, then stalked off to his room, where he immediately flopped down on the bed, exhausted.

Ginny, in her bed, did the same as Malfoy, flopping onto her bed with one thought; Malfoy.