Disclaimer: Unfortunately, my name isn't J. K. Rowling...which means that I own nothing. While you guys read, I'll go cry in a corner about the fact that I didn't create this marvelous world and these amazing characters.

I felt like I had been ignoring Dean for the past few days where I had been holing myself in the library to study so when he suggested that we go for a fly, I agreed.

Dean was a bit sour that he hadn't made the Quidditch team but he was still supportive of me. We tossed the Quaffle back and forth and then he would throw it as hard as he could and I would have to race to catch it. When we tired of that, we raced each other around the pitch and then we glided along at a nice pace while we talked.

It was dusk when we packed up and went back to the common room. I trooped upstairs to my dormitory and changed out of my dirty clothes into jeans and a sweater. I hooked my bag filled with work over my shoulder and clomped back downstairs.

"Come sit Ginny," called Dean, gesturing to the empty space by him and Seamus.

I pointed to my bag on my shoulder. "I can't. I have to go to the library to look up some spells for this essay for Snape."

Dean looked disappointed but he wished me luck with my work as I clamoured out of the portrait hole.

I found Ron and Hermione seated at a table strewn with parchment. Books were open in front of them as they poured over them.

"Can I sit?" I asked, approaching the empty seat at their table.

Ron grunted and reached over to push some of his parchment to the side so I would have room to sit down.

I unloaded my Defence of the Dark Arts textbook, my partially completed essay and my quill and ink.

"What are you working on?" Hermione asked.

"An absolutely horrid essay for Snape."

"We're doing one for McGonagall," groaned Ron. "Hermione is refusing to let me copy so she's trying to help me."

"How else will you learn Ronald if I just let you copy," scolded Hermione.

"Where's Harry?" I asked. I flipped through my textbook until I came to the page I had marked by sticking a piece of scrap parchment between the pages. The title of the book I needed for the essay was written in my loopy handwriting.

"Harry—well I don't know where Harry is. I reckon he's off just doing something," said Ron.

"Isn't he with Professor Dumbledore?" whispered Hermione. I could hear her loud and clear despite her hushed tone. She really had to learn to whisper.

"I'll be right back," I said, getting up. "I need to get this book."

The fact that Ron wasn't asking me why I had been sitting with the Slytherins meant that neither him, Hermione or Harry had noticed my absence. I hoped that my good luck would continue for awhile.

After a few minutes of pursuing the shelves, I found the book I needed and I turned to go back to my table. What I saw when I turned the corner was tall, blonde and standing across the table facing Ron and Hermione.

Draco Malfoy.

I kept walking and tried to ignore Malfoy as I sat down. Even though I sat with him and his friends twice already, we still hadn't said a word to each other. When we were at dinner, I was forced to sit across from him and I practically felt the waves of hostility rolling off if him.

"Oh look, it's the little Weaslette," taunted Malfoy when he noticed me.

"Sod off Malfoy," I muttered, sinking back into my chair.

Malfoy leaned down until his lips were right by my ear. I refused to react to him invading my personal space. "You might have got Astoria under your spell and she might think it's friendship but you must know little Weaslette, Slytherins will never be friends with blood traitors like you."

Malfoy had growled it loud enough for Ron to hear and now he was standing up, his chair skidding across the stone floor.

"Take that back Malfoy!"

"Ron, don't—," warned Hermione.

"What Weasley? Don't like your family being called blood traitors?" asked Malfoy with a smirk. He straightened up and crossed his arms. "You can't deny that you aren't blood traitors. Especially when you associate with Mudbloods." Malfoy gestured with his chin to Hermione.

"Shut it Malfoy!" I yelled.

"Now you asked for it you git!" roared Ron

"Ron! No!" screamed Hermione.

Ron pulled his wand out and pointed it at Malfoy's chest. With reflexes born from a Seeker, Malfoy already had his wand out and it was pointing right between Ron's eyes.

Maybe I was stupid but I jumped in between the two wands; whipping out my own. "Stop it both of you before we all get detentions because you two couldn't keep the testosterone level down!"

"Shut it Wealsette," growled Malfoy. "Or I'll have to tell your boyfriend to keep you on a shorter leash."

"That's my sister! You don't talk to her like that!"

"Ron—drop it," squeaked Hermione.

"Yeah, drop it Ron," I said. "Malfoy's just looking for a place to vent his anger since his precious father got sent to Azkaban."

"Don't talk about my father!" yelled Malfoy.

I turned to him. "Why, you gonna hex me?"

"Ginny, don't," moaned Hermione.

Malfoy just glowered at me and I smirked. "I knew you weren't going to hex me. Too bad your convict for a father isn't here to do it for you."

Malfoy must have forgotten that he had a wand because next second, he launched forward and tackled me into the bookcase behind me. Ron was quick enough to dodge out of the way before Malfoy and I toppled into the bookcase. The shelf quaked and heavy books fell onto the heap of tangled limbs that was Malfoy and I, creating extremely loud thumps as books repeatedly hit us and the stone floor.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!" shrieked a female voice.

I shoved Malfoy off my lap and blew my hair out of my face to look up at the piercing stare of Madam Pince.

She didn't even wait to hear what happened, so great was her outrage that we had damaged her precious books. "Detention, both of you!"

"But—" protested Ron. "Malfoy tackled Ginny! Ginny didn't do anything!"

Madam Pince rounded on Ron. "And you too Mr Weasley! No wands in the library!"

"But Malfoy had his wand out too!" pointed out Hermione.

Madam Pince turned back to me and Malfoy. We had both scrambled to our feet among the strewn books and Malfoy looked very disgruntled at the rumpled appearance of his robes.

"So that's two detentions for Mr Malfoy for destruction of the library and having your wand out, two detentions for Ms Weasley for destruction of the library and having your wand out, one detention for Mr Weasley for having your wand out and both your heads of houses will hear about this!"

Ron and Malfoy looked like they were ready to pitch a fit. I bent down and started to shove books back into the bookshelf to avoid looking at Madam Pince.

"DON'T TOUCH THEM ANYMORE!" yelled Madam Pince, bearing down on me. She suddenly whirled around to face our little group. "OUT! Get out!"

I hastily shoved my books into my bag and dashed out of the library after Ron and Hermione. Malfoy bumped into my side on purpose as he shouldered by us but he refrained from insulting us as he strolled away down the corridor.

"Git," mumbled Ron under his breath.

"You two shouldn't really have provoked him," said Hermione, her arms around her books. "He would have had his say and then walked away, but you two had to get in your two cents."

Ron looked flabbergasted. "Did you expect us to just to sit still while he was insulting our family?!"

Hermione looked thoughtful. "Well…no, but it was still wrong to trade jabs like that when you knew he was just looking for a fight."

"Whatever," I sighed. "At least I managed to snag that book I needed so I can finish my essay in the common room."

The next morning, Professor McGonagall and Professor Slughorn tapped me on the shoulder during breakfast.

"Madam Pince informs me that you, your brother and Mr Malfoy got detentions yesterday," said Professor McGonagall. "As Mr Flich already claimed your brother to polish the plaques in the Trophy Room, you and Mr Malfoy shall serve detention with Professor Slughorn."

"The both of us?" I groaned. "Like, together?"

I swear I saw McGonagall's lips twitch like she was fighting a smile. "Yes, I daresay the both of you Ms Weasley. What Professor Slughorn has in store needs two pairs of hands."

I turned to Professor Slughorn. "So what am I doing for my detention?"

Slughorn patted his belly happily. "Madam Pomfrey needs some potions brewed for her store cupboard so you and Mr Malfoy will go to dungeon two tonight at seven and follow the instructions I have written for you."

"And tomorrow night?" I asked, remembering that Malfoy and I had both received two detentions.

"Same time, same place tomorrow evening."

I nodded and watched the two teachers stroll back up to the teachers table. Once they were gone, Evanna and Florence both turned to me.

"Sucks to be you," sniggered Evanna. "I don't envy you at all."

"Stuck in the dungeons for hours, brewing potions with Malfoy," laughed Florence. "I feel kind of bad for you Gin."

"And I'm not even good at Potions," I groaned. "And Malfoy is a git."

"Why would Filch want your brother to polish the trophy room?" asked Evanna, breaking apart her toast with her fingers.

I smiled. "Don't you remember? He and Harry flew to Hogwarts in their second year in my dad's enchanted car and they crashed into the Whomping Willow. They both got detentions and Ron had to polish the Trophy Room. But that same day Ron tried to curse Malfoy with a broken wand and it backfired so while Ron was polishing, he kept burping slugs all over the plaques he just polished."

"Oh yeah," laughed Florence. "I remember now."

"I'm sure Filch would think it's funny to make him polish it again," I theorized.

"Poor Ron," laughed Evanna. She looked down the table to watch Ron gesturing angrily as he told a story. "He hates doing things the muggle way, doesn't he?"

I laughed. "That's Ronald for you."

After I had finished eating and ran up to the dormitory to change out of my school uniform into jeans and sweater, I trouped down to the dungeons. Malfoy wasn't there yet so I didn't feel bothered to start until he arrived.

On the blackboard were instructions for a Sleeping Draught with all the ingredients and supplies needed already laid out.

While I waited, I perched on a desk and brought up my legs; resting my chin on my knees. I was only waiting for about five minutes before Malfoy strolled in and dropped his bag by the door. He was wearing dark jeans and a plain black sweater and even though it was plain, he looked good in it.

I hopped off the desk and mentally shook my head. I did not just think that Malfoy looked good! "'bout time you show up."

"Whatever Weaslette, let's just get this over with."

"You took the words right out of my mouth."

"I'll start crushing the lavender and you start measuring the standard herbs."

I crossed my arms over my chest and rested my hip against a desk. "Who says you get to dictate what to do?"

Malfoy turned to survey me with a quirked eyebrow. "Are you one of the top students in your Potions class?"

I blushed and tried not to fidget.

Malfoy smirked. "I thought so. Start measuring the herbs."

With a huff, I turned to the table and measured the mixed herbs that Slughorn had set out. From my peripheral vision, I watched Malfoy crush up the lavender in the stone mortar.

"Do you have two measures of the herbs?" asked Malfoy. He held out his hand without looking at me.

I rolled my eyes and passed him two measures. "There you go Your Highness."

"Add two more measures to the cauldron and then drop in two blobs of Flobberworm Mucus," said Malfoy.

We hadn't even being making the potion for ten minutes and I was already getting tired of his attitude. "Yes, of course Your Highness."

"Blimey! Stop that," snapped Malfoy. "I'm trying to finish this as fast as possible."

"Well I'm going to keep getting on your nerves until you start acting decent!"

"How am I not acting decent!" shouted Malfoy. "I'm simply telling you what to add."

I dumped the Flobberworm Mucus and two measurements of the herbs into the cauldron. "There, happy!?"

Malfoy smirked. No doubt he enjoyed getting under my skin. "Measure me six more measures of herbs."

I growled but turned back to measure the herbs. I watched as Malfoy dumped the contents of the mortar into the cauldron and then lit a small fire under the cauldron. He then took two of my measured herbs and crushed them with more lavender. He did the same thing to my other four measures into different mortars.

"Now what?" I asked.

"Can't you read Weaslette or are you so poor that your family couldn't afford books to teach you how to read?"

I chose to ignore his jab. "Well you're the supposed Potions Expert."

Malfoy added the three mortars of crushed up herbs and lavender and then waved his wand over the cauldron. It instantly started to swirl and bubble. "Now we wait 70 minutes."

"70 minutes!" I exclaimed.

"I see you weren't smart enough to bring some schoolwork Weaslette," said Malfoy, pulling a textbook from his school bag and sinking into a desk.

I mentally kicked myself. I had a chapter in my Transfiguration textbook that I had to read for tomorrow. "Do you think Slughorn will notice if I run up to Gryffindor Tower?"

Malfoy looked incredulous that I would even ask. "Why would I care Weasley?"

"Prat."

Malfoy sniggered as I stalked by him. I slipped out of the dungeon and was almost to Gryffindor Tower when I was stopped in my tracks. Professor McGonagall had just left her office and I almost ran into her.

"Ms Weasley! Are you not supposed to be in detention at this very moment?"

I grinned sheepishly. "I am but the potion has to brew so I was going to get a textbook and—"

McGonagall looked down at me with a severely stern expression. "That's another detention Ms Weasley. One does not simply skip detention because one feels like it. Detention is a punishment, not a time to catch up on homework. Now get back down to the dungeons."

She looked so angry that I didn't dare protest. I turned around and legged it back down to the dungeons. When Malfoy saw me return empty handed, he smirked.

"Got caught, did you?"

"Shut it Malfoy," I growled, sitting down on a desktop

Malfoy looked gleeful. "Did poor Weaslette get another detention?"

"I'll hex you Malfoy, I swear I will."

"Try it?" challenged Malfoy.

"Do you remember being on the receiving end of my Bat-Bogey Hex?"

"Whatever. Just shut up so I can do my homework."

We sat in silence for about an hour while I stewed over how much I hated Malfoy and he did his homework. Only once did he tell me to shut up when I was fidgeting too much because I couldn't get comfortable on the desk.

"Why are you such a bully!?" I suddenly spat out.

Malfoy looked up, his eyebrows up to his hairline. "Why do you have such a temper? Some would think you're constantly PMSing."

"Is it because you're unloved?" I asked, hoping to get a rise out of him.

"I'm perfectly loved, thank you very much," snarled Malfoy.

I smirked. "Not by your father, obviously. I've seen the way he treated you."

"Why do you care Weasley?"

I shrugged. "I don't care—not really."

"Then shut it. I can't concentrate when you won't shut your bloody mouth!"

"I can talk if I want to!"

Malfoy suddenly threw down his book and stood up. "I knew Astoria was mental when she said she wanted to be friends with you!"

"What's wrong with me!?" I yelled. "And what does Astoria have to do with this!"

"I'm tired of having you around! Just stay away from Astoria and I'll never have to worry about her bringing you to lunch again!"

"You can't tell me who I should be friends with! If I want to sit with Astoria every day, I will!"

"It's like I said in the library little Weaslette, a Slytherin will never really be friends with a blood traitor."

"Are you implying Astoria is playing me!?" I asked, outraged.

"What purpose would she have for that? She's just as mental as you are for wanting to be friends! She's a Slytherin and you're a Gryffindor."

"So now I'm mental too! Why's Slytherin and Gryffindor being friends such a big deal Draco!"

I caught my slip-up right after I said it. Malfoy seemed to register it too and he looked dumbfounded. Instead of addressing it, he turned to the cauldron.

"It should be about ready now to continue mixing."

I nodded and we continued to brew the Sleeping Draught in silence. Once we were done, Malfoy bottled the potion and I cleaned up our mess. We labelled the bottles and sat them beside the now clean cauldron. We both slipped out the door and Malfoy stalked towards the Slytherin common room while I marched upstairs.

Florence and Evanna were waiting for me in the armchairs by the fire.

"How'd detention go?" asked Florence as I sunk into a squishy armchair.

"Not too bad but I got another detention."

"A third one?" asked Evanna. "How?"

"While the potion was brewing, I tried to come up here to get a textbook. McGonagall caught me and she thought I was skipping out on detention."

"Tough luck kiddo," said Evanna. "How was Malfoy?"

I shrugged. "We didn't talk much."

"At least tomorrow is your last detention with him," said Florence.

"True," I said, stretching. I still had to read over the chapter in my Transfiguration textbook and I had to do my Arithmancy number chart. "How long was I down there?"

Florence checked her watch. "Only an hour and a half."

"It's only 8:30!"

"Yeah, why?" asked Evanna.

"Because I'm exhausted. Don't laugh but I'm going to bed early."

"Blimey Ginny! When did you get so boring?" asked Evanna.

I stuck my tongue out at her before I trotted up the stairs to the dormitory. I changed into my pajamas, curled under the sheets and closed the hangings around my bed.

As I fell asleep, I cursed myself. It was rule number one to call your enemies by their last name or else they'll think you're going soft. My hate was not lessened but why had I slipped up?

I had called him Draco.

Review! Review! Review!

So, I'm currently writing final exams right now but I'm doing this instead of studying...oh well :) Hope you liked this chapter since it's the first time Ginny and Draco really kind of talked! (If you count insulting one another talking...)