Chapter Seventeen

A Marvelous Night for A Moondance...

"You're WHAT?"

Ginny glanced up from her ruminations over her closet to see her brother, Ron. Fred and George, doubtless the only reason Ron had managed to make it up into the girl's dormitory, stood behind him, wearing identical expressions of shock and disbelief.

Ginny sighed and returned her gaze to her thread bare dresses. She hadn't really thought she might go to the Yule Ball and so she had no dresses truly appropriate.

"Don't stand there like a fish, Ron. Finish your question or leave."

"You're going to the ball with Malfoy?"

Ginny glanced at them again, before returning to her dresses. "Yes Ron."

"But why? I mean, I understand that you want a date, but com'on! There's Harry--"

"He's going with Luna."

"... There's Neville--"

"He's going with Pansy."

"... Krum?"

"Now you're just being desperate." Ginny fully faced Ron, pulling her features into a mask of sorrow. "Ron, going with Draco would make me happy." She made her voice small and weak, knowing she was playing on Ron's feelings and not really caring. She just needed protective brother to take a break for one night. "Don't you want me happy?" She asked.

Ron blanched and Fred grabbed him by the arm, pushing him from the room.

"There's no right answer to this question, Ron! Learn that now! Just like when they ask you if they look fat! Run! Save yourself!"

Fred shut the door and he and George turned to Ginny.

Ginny smiled at them. "Should know it won't work on you."

"Is this really what you want, Gin? I know there's the whole house unity thing, but..."

Ginny looked at the light blue dress she held in her hands and nodded. "Yes. I really want this."

The twins sighed and gave her a quick kiss each. "So be it, kitten. Just let us know if he tries anything."

Ginny smiled and hugged them. "Thanks."

888

Ginny looked up from her makeup at the knock on the door. Hermione stood in her door way. Ginny was tempted to tell the older girl to screw off, but she resisted. She was trying to be good about this, but it was pretty damn hard.

"What's up?"

"Truce?"

Ginny gave a half smile. "Okay, for now."

They stood for a few moments in silence as Ginny managed not to poke out her eye with her mascara wand.

"That dress is hideous."

Ginny laughed and looked down at the blue dress she had settled on. Green would have looked best with her hair but she owned nothing green. The hem was a good six inches off the ground, making it look stupid and the top was too tight across the breasts. It had been a few years since she last wore it and she had grown.

"May I?" Hermione pulled out her wand.

Ginny shrugged, "Go for it."

Hermione waved her wand and the dress lenghtened to reach the floor. The waist drew in even as the breast went out to a more decent size. The color changed to a deep emerald and the neckline dropped a good two inches. The dress had had sleeves but now they receeded and transformed to shear cuffs that just covered her shoulders. Sparkles danced across the front of the dress in a pattern like shamrocks.

"It will only last for a day, but that should be enough."

Ginny looked down at herself. "You didn't have to, you know."

"I needed to. God, Ginny, you have to know I didn't mean for this to happen. Hell, I tried to stop it! I thought I..."

"You thought you could ignore it and it would go away. It never does."

Ginny sat on her bed, looking at her hands. "I knew, I think from the begining that there was something special about Draco. I fought it. I told myself I loved Harry then Ly. But you can only lie as long as you want to believe the lie. When I found out about you and Ly, I stopped wanting the lie. And I remembered what I was hiding."

Hermione bit her lip, "So you love Draco?"

"I don't know. Honestly. I would love to say that, but I can't tell right now."

(A/N: Next chapter: the ball!