AN: You lucky people - two chapters in one day. Enjoy. Any writing in italics is Ginny's point of view.

So Malfoy wouldn't normally be her first choice for a confidant. Hell, he wouldn't normally even make it onto the list. Right now, however, she didn't have a lot of choice – Ginny was Ron's sister, and was bound to side with him, at least initially, and she didn't want to cause Harry to feel uncomfortable (and make him choose between the two of them again), so that meant she couldn't talk to him.

"He's dumped me for Lavender, is what he's done."

Draco had to think for a moment. "Lavender… Brown? The one who was obsessed with that old hag Trelawney?"

"That's the one."

"He must be deaf to put up with the giggling and the sickening pet names she comes up with."

"You heard about it in fifth year, when she was calling him Won-Won?"

"Much as I would like to forget it, the image of them at dinner is engraved into my brain."

They laughed – Lavender had inadvertently managed to thoroughly embarrass Ron that year.

"So, did he give you a reason for it?"

"Apparently, I'm not adventurous enough for him, and he's going back to Lavender because she actually likes…" Hermione paused, not certain how to phrase the next part. Draco finished the sentence for her.

"She likes screwing him and you're not bothered by it?"

"Basically, yes."

"He's thinking with his dick instead of his brain."

"There's nothing new about that, Malfoy. Sometimes, I'm not sure there's even a difference between the two."

Hermione was surprised to find that the conversation (her first civil one with Malfoy) had actually cheered her up. She didn't want or need Ron hanging around, pestering her to do things she wasn't sure about, or things she thought were downright disgusting.

Later that day, Ginny Weasley appeared in the office. Not even waiting for Hermione to speak, she launched into a raging attack on her brother.

"He's a complete idiot, Hermione, and I don't know how you managed to put up with him for so long. I'm supposed to tell you that he's now taking Lavender to the Ministry ball, since he hasn't got the guts to say it to your face."

Despite being furious, Ginny had a slight smirk on her face that meant she was up to something. Hermione had seen Fred and George use the same expression too many times – it always, without fail, led to trouble.

"Ginny, what have you done?"

"Me? Why would I have done anything?" She was trying for an innocent expression, but it wasn't working. "Ok, fine, I'll tell you. I gave him a potion this morning – Lavender's going to be so disappointed when his… erm… bits don't work tonight."

Draco, overhearing this, looked up from his work. "You are an evil woman, Weasley."

"It's no more than he deserves."

…………………

I'd noticed that Draco and Hermione weren't hurling insults at each other, but that would get pretty tiresome if you did it all day, every day. They did have to work together if they wanted to keep their jobs, after all. You couldn't call their attitudes towards one another friendly – it was a purely business arrangement. An "entente cordiale", I believe is the term. I dragged Hermione out of that poky little office, and we went for lunch. A very pleasant lunch, I might add, filled with lots of gossiping, sharing stories, and plotting revenge on Ronald. I think we scared several passing males, who could be seen checking their bits were still firmly in place after hearing us talking.

"You have to go to the Ministry ball, Hermione. Don't let my idiot of a brother stop you."

"Who am I going to go with, Ginny? We are expected to bring a date, you know."

"Why don't you try asking that charming – and I use the term very loosely indeed – co-worker of yours? Nothing would irritate Ron more than seeing you show up with Draco Malfoy."

She sat there and thought about it. Torn between having to ask Draco Malfoy out and wanting to embarrass Ron, she didn't really know what to do. Eventually, I pulled a coin out of my bag.

"Heads, you can stay home; tails, you ask Malfoy."

I flicked the coin high into the air, and then caught it. Tails. I knew it would be – you don't live with Fred and George without picking up all sorts of tricks – but Hermione didn't know about this specific one.

"Looks like I'm asking Malfoy."

"If he gets too annoying, Hermione, you can always take a leaf out of Moody's book and turn him back into a ferret."

We both laughed. Malfoy the amazing bouncing ferret is firmly fixed in our minds as the high point of that year, and it never fails to amuse anyone who saw it.

"I suppose it can't be too bad – if he laughs, I can always obliviate him."

"That's the spirit, Hermione."

…………………

I wonder, now, if that dance was the start of it all.

AN: Over to you, my lovely readers, who will now hopefully become even more lovely reviewers!