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. 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.

Thank you all for your lovely reviews. Please excuse me if I have not replied your review personally. I will try to do so; however, right now I'm busy with work and university applications. I've just gotten back my A Levels results and they suck really badly. Anyway, here's the next instalment of the story. By the way, there really is the existence of Dugbogs that love eating Mandrakes in J.K. Rowling's world, according to Harry Potter Lexicon. Enjoy.

---

Chapter 10

Malfoy stopped playing as soon as he realised that the room was unusually quiet. He glanced over towards Ginny's direction, only to see that his only audience had fallen asleep. Gently, he laid down his violin and bow onto a table. Stretching his arms upward, he grimaced at the condition of his shoulder and neck muscles. They were sore from being in a cramped situation for over two hours. His muscles had forgotten the memory of practicing the violin for hours at a time. As he flexed his fingers, Malfoy glanced over Ginny's sleeping form. It had been a long time since he had performed for someone.

Malfoy had hated performing for anyone except his parents. He felt as if he was being scrutinised like a Muggle item under Arthur Weasley's fascinated gaze- except, the audience of Malfoy's performances were not exactly fascinated by his skill. They were most possibly waiting for him to make a mistake, so that they could poke fun at the Malfoy name later. The stress of performing for such pathetic audiences, who never knew how to enjoy the wondrous sounds of the string instrument, made Malfoy give up the violin. After he had given up performing, Malfoy had refused to touch a violin ever again- except when he was within the relative comfort of Malfoy Manor, playing only for the beings who lived in the Manor but never for the guests.

But somehow tonight, he had wanted to perform for Ginny. He had wanted her to see this side of him for some unknown reason. Maybe he had just wanted to impress her? To make her think better of him? Or maybe Malfoy had hoped that Ginny would be able to read the hidden message within the songs, to feel from the melody what Malfoy had wanted to tell her but was unable to put in verbal words. As he gazed at Ginny, Malfoy wondered if Ginny had possibly been able to decipher the message.

Malfoy quietly moved to where Ginny curled in sleep. He took out his wand to dim the lights from the wall scones. Realising that she would wake up with sore muscles and a sprained neck if she continued to sleep in that armchair in her current position, he waved his wand to cast an Enlargement Charm on the armchair and to put a few cushions under Ginny's head. Malfoy started when Ginny shifted and sighed in her sleep, stretching from her cramped position gladly. He smiled as he watched her throw the offending article that was constricting her movements away- his cloak. He bent down to pick it up and laid it over her, making sure to cover her entirely.

He stood back and watched, in a dazed mode, as Ginny snuggled deeper within the comforts of his cloak. She seemed to be very comfortable with his scent on his cloak. Unconsciously, his hand had reached out to brush her hair away from her face. He blinked, his heart skipping a beat, when Ginny suddenly opened her eyes. Her brown eyes were gazing directly at his own grey ones, not a hint of sleep in them.

"What are you doing, Malfoy?" Ginny's voice was clear and concise, as if she had never fallen asleep.

"Er-" Malfoy cleared his throat. "You looked cold, so I thought I'd tuck you under my cloak."

"Don't be stupid."

Malfoy immediately frowned at her sentence. "What-" He was about to start off about how ungrateful she was.

"What about you?"

"Wha-?" Malfoy said, unable to grasp what she had just asked.

"Come on. There's plenty of space," Ginny said, gesturing that he was to sleep next to her on the now-humongous armchair.

"Er- I'll be fine, thanks," Malfoy said, still in disbelief.

"I don't want you to fall sick on me tomorrow morning, Malfoy. Shut up and lie down already."

"Fine."

Ginny scooted closer to the back of the armchair, giving Malfoy ample amount of space to lie down on. Malfoy kicked off his shoes and left his wand under the armchair, before bringing his legs up onto the chair as well. He laid down on his right side, facing Ginny. She threw part of Malfoy's cloak over him, indicating that they were to share the make-shift blanket. He slowly moved so that he was covered partially by it as well, all the while ensuring that Ginny had enough covering from it. Then he saw that Ginny was looking at him expectantly. He stared blankly back at her.

"Well, we can't both be facing each other to sleep. Do you want to turn or do I turn?" Ginny asked, rolling her eyes.

"Huh?" Malfoy could not understand just what on earth Ginny was doing.

"Never mind," Ginny said, huffing in impatience. Then she turned around to face the back of the chair, but back-scooted so that she was almost touching Malfoy. "Good night."

"Good night," Malfoy replied softly, quite plainly confused.

"By the way, you wouldn't happen to know what a Dugbog likes to eat, would you?"

"Er, Mandrakes?" Malfoy replied, his brows drawing together as he grew more confused.

"Oh yeah, that's right. Thanks." Ginny shifted a bit and finally settled down.

Malfoy gazed at the back of Ginny's head. She was completely still and her breathing had deepened.

"Ginny?"

There was no reply. Malfoy got up on one elbow to look over Ginny's shoulder, to see her face. The girl was fast asleep. Chuckling, Malfoy laid back down, scooting even closer so that he was practically spooning with Ginny. While Malfoy liked to call himself a gentleman as he did practice gentlemanly ways most of the time, he was not one who will pass up an oppurtunity to take advantage of a person. He was definitely no saintly, honourable Gryffindor. So he should and will definitely take advantage of his position in this case then.

He slowly moved his left arm so that it draped over Ginny's waist. Feeling her cold left hand, he gently held them in his own warm one, trying to lend her warmth. His legs were drawn up and he shifted them carefully so that Ginny's legs were warmed by his. Feeling comfortably drowsy suddenly, Malfoy snuggled closer, moving his head so that it was touching Ginny's back. Malfoy could smell the vanilla-scented perfume and apple-scented shampoo Ginny used. They were soft, light and sweet, so befitting of the girl wearing it. Malfoy had one last thought before his eyes crashed shut and he sank into his dreams.

'I hope she doesn't throw me off the chair tomorrow morning.'

---

To be continued...