DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything except the story.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Written in response to the "48 Hours" challenge thrown out by Cheelalaucha in the forums. And yes, I still can't get "Three Bloody Years" finished. My muse has disappeared. And yes, I know my "Experiencing Love: 100 Themes" ain't finished yet. This story is quite AU, as I have omitted the fact that the Wizarding World is threatened by Lord Voldemort. The students are just leaving a quite ordinary life- well, as ordinary as magic can be.

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Chapter 2

With Seeker-quick reflexes, Malfoy stretched his right hand around Ginny's waist and caught the crystal ball that Ginny had dropped. He brought the ball close to him and weighed it in his hand thoughtfully before he returned it to its original resting place, rather carelessly for someone who had just rescued a crystal ball from the fate of being a million pieces.

Ginny was still staring at him, utterly dumb and distraught. She was gave not even the slightest bit of attention to the crystal ball that was previously in her hands. It barely registered in her mind that she had dropped it. All she could do was watch numbly as Malfoy turned around to give Ginny his well-known smirks. She continued to stand like a dummy on display as he made himself comfortable on the armchair.

"Shocked you with my good looks, eh?" Malfoy said, quite amused. "I get them often but this is the first time I've received such a violent reaction, though." Sure, he had a number of fan clubs but this was the first time he had seen a girl scream in delight before going mute. The others either squealed like pigs or screamed like a banshee when he turned their way and flashed a smile or two.

'Malfoy can't be my life mate!' Ginny thought in horror. The same thought kept whirling round and round her head, as she stood there, staring blindly at Malfoy. Sure, he was quite good-looking- many girls would tell you that. He even had a good body to go with it, thanks to all his Quidditch training. He also had the brains included in the package, seeing as he's in the second spot, after Hermione naturally. He even had some sort of charisma and qualifications as he's Head Boy after all. And he's the heir to the Malfoy fortune. All that put together and Malfoy would be the most eligible bachelor. But he had an absolutely terrible personality that matched the sneers that he often threw out.

"Honestly, Weasley! Did my good looks turned you dumb or are you like that all the time?"

Ginny forced herself to return to the physical world, leaving the mental turmoil behind. She shook her head roughly, trying to clear it of the thoughts that were playing squash in her head.

"So you aren't dumb all the time?"

Ginny suddenly realized he was talking to her. "What?"

"Glad to see that you learned how to speak," Malfoy said with an amused quirk at the corner of his lips.

Ginny tried harder to recollect herself. She was here, alone, with Draco Malfoy of all people and he seemed to be amused with something she had done. She noticed that he had not even started being really nasty, yet.

"Glad to see that you learned how to be semi-polite," Ginny retorted.

"I am always polite," Malfoy said, calmly. "At least, I am when I'm around people who are worthy of it anyway."

There you go. Nasty Malfoy had emerged. "Yes, people who are as horrible as you are at any rate."

"No, just people who do not irritate me. Which is what you are doing. Do sit down and tell me what the little Weaselette is doing all alone." Malfoy gestured to the armchair opposite him.

Without thinking, Ginny reached out a hand to touch Malfoy's forehead. "Hm, I don't think you're having a fever. Did you hit your head hard just now? Or did you accidentally feed yourself with Fenella's Polite Potion (a spoonful a day to keep bad manners away!)?"

"I'm heart-broken, Weasley. Here I am on my best behaviour and you're acting like an absolute harridan." Malfoy said mockingly, putting a palm onto the left-side of his chest. "Do sit down. I'm surprised that your ox of brother would let you out of his sight."

"No, thank you. I find that I get ill when I'm over-exposed to you, Malfoy. Good day," Ginny said, grimly. She turned on her heels and was just reaching the spot where the hole in the ground with the ladder was when she realized that the ladder had disappeared and there was no hole in the ground at all. She whipped around and stared accusingly at Malfoy. "What have you done?"

"Well, I woke up this morning, had a shower and brushed my teeth. Then I dressed myself and went to the Great Hall for a hearty breakfast before going out for a walk with Crabbe and Goyle. Unfortunately, they came down with some stomach ache and had to go to the Hospital Wing. I had to explore the castle alone to keep myself from drowning in boredom. I went to look for Professor Snape but he was -er- engaged, and so I went looking for other amusements instead."

"It was too much of a hassle to join the snow fights outside so I walked around and somehow found myself here. I came up behind you and when you saw me you screamed and dropped Trelawney's ball. Of course, I rescued it and sat myself down to have a nice chat with you."

"And now you've asked me about what I have done, do tell me whether you intend to ask your future husband where he has been the whole day and whether he must describe all his actions to you. Or have I not explained what I have done in enough details? Would you like to know what I had for breakfast? Or what flavour my toothpaste is? Perhaps you would like to know whether I wear boxers or briefs, what colour are they or maybe you would like to see them for yourself," Malfoy said sardonically.

"I don't want to know what you have done the whole day! I am not interested in your choice of toothpaste or food either! Neither do I want to know the colour of your underwear, Malfoy! I want to know what you have done to the exit door!" Ginny screeched. She was ready to hit Malfoy good and solid. Her head was pounding with the rush of blood and her fists were clenched tightly.

"First of all, it isn't the whole day. It was only four hours. Secondly, I didn't do nuts to any door," Malfoy said, annoyingly calm. "And are you sure you wish to remain ignorant of my preference for underwear? I'm sure you would find it interesting." Malfoy gave her a sweet smile.

Ginny breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly. She counted backwards from ten. It was no use getting worked up over an idiot like Malfoy. "Malfoy," Ginny said calmly. "The hole in the ground where the exit ladder is supposed to be is gone. Do you know what might have happened to it?"

"Nope, not a clue," Malfoy said cheerfully.

Ginny rubbed her temples. "Do you know when it will appear again?"

"No idea."

"Do you know how I can make it appear?"

"Nope."

"Do you know how to make it appear?"

"Nope."

"Is there another exit?"

"None that I know of. You can try the windows, though."

"Malfoy, we're hundreds of feet above ground."

"I know."

"So how do I get out through the windows?"

"No idea."

Ginny was growing more frustrated with every question but Malfoy was just sitting there, happy as you please, answering all her questions rather cheerfully.

"Malfoy?"

"Yes?"

"Are you fucking high on drugs?!"

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To be continued...