Author's Note: I just wanted to say a huge resounding THANK YOU for the great response this story has had so far! Sorry I've been bad about updating—I figured no one would read it, so what I had written already was good enough. After all your reviews and story alerts, I got self-conscious; it had to be perfect.

I hope this chapter is up to your expectations!

Ch. 3: Poor Little Rich Boy

Poor little rich boy, all the couples have gone

You wish that they hadn't, you don't wanna be alone

But they wanna kiss and they got homes of their own

Poor little rich boy all the couples have gone, they've gone, they've gone

And you don't love your girlfriend

You don't love your girlfriend

And you think that you should but she thinks that she's fat

But she isn't but you don't love her anyway

And you don't love your mother

And you know that you should

And you wish that you would

But you don't anyway

"You know, Malfoy, I think I've figured it out," Ginny said from where she was resting on the purple side of the divide. Without caring much if he was paying attention, she continued. "I think we're in us."

"What the bloody hell are you gabbing on about, Weasley?" Malfoy's trademark drawl came to her from where he was leaning up against one of the gray rocks on the green side.

"Seriously, Malfoy, it only makes sense. The purple side is me, and the green side is you. Why else would we feel so comfortable on our respective sides?"

He raised an eyebrow at her. "You're basing this theory on the fact that I feel more comfortable sitting up against a rock and you feel more comfortable laying down in yarn?"

She grinned for a moment. "Well that, and you know the piano music over on this side? I finally recognized it-it sounds like me." He gestured for her to continue. "I'm assuming you know what happened in my first year, with the Chamber of Secrets? I'm sure your father told you all about it."

She waited a bit, and at his nod, she continued. "After first year, what with being possessed and all, I had a lot of nightmares and flashbacks, but I found I could calm myself down, you know, control and prevent them with music, so I taught myself how to play piano. The music playing over here sounds like my style when I'm just messing around."

He pondered this for a moment. "That does make sense, I suppose. That also explains why your side is all soft and mine is tough-differences in our personalities, if nothing else. You may be on to something, Weasley."

"So, why do you think there's a giant galleon symbol in the sky, if we're in our minds?"

"How in the bloody hell am I supposed to know that, Weasley? Maybe it's because you truly wish you could have as much money as the Malfoy family does," Draco sneered.

"Seriously, Malfoy, is money all you think about?" Ginny questioned. "Money is not everything. Sure, I can't go out and buy everything when I want it, but that's made me be able to pick what is truly important, it's taught me how to work hard to get what I want, and it's shown me how amazing it can be when that all pays off. What has money taught you?"

Draco stood up and craned his neck to look at the symbol in the sky. "Money is everything to a Malfoy. We owe our prestige, our power, even our genes to our fortune. Without it, we would not be who we are as a clan. Although I've never had to 'work hard' for what I want, I..." he faltered, still looking at the sky.

"What is it?" Ginny asked, moving her eyes from Draco to the symbol in the sky. It had begun to fade and the tendrils of green and purple which were encircling it began to loosen and draw back into their respective sides. She stood and moved near him.

"I think we need to talk about the images, it makes them disappear," he said. "Anyway, although I've never had to work hard for items, that doesn't mean I don't know what it means to have desires withheld. I am able to appreciate those things which have no cost even more, such as my allies in Slytherin, or my position as Head Boy, which I earned completely by myself with my grades."

Ginny pondered this. "So, I suppose you're not such a spoilt brat after all, are you?" She grinned and stuck out her hand. "Truce about money? I won't hassle you about being a poor little rich boy and you don't give me shite about being broke?"

Draco stared at her proffered hand for a moment and nodded, taking her hand. "Truce."

With that, they heard a weird sucking sound from above them and saw that the symbol had completely disappeared and the two colors of sky were rushing to fill the gap which it had previously filled, the "whirlpool" completely gone.

"You know," Draco said. "I think this might be our key to escape. As much as I loathe the thought, I think we need to understand each other's position on all of these images and only then will we be able to get home."

Ginny nodded. "Well, should we get started then?"

~ooOoo~

"WHAT?"

Madame Pomfrey winced as she heard the shriek that was let out by the group of students. After Draco and Ginny's parents had been informed of the situation, she agreed to explain to their friends. Pansy snorted.

"Figures a Weasley wouldn't be able to afford Unbreakable Bottles." Harry had to hold Ron back from lunging at her, but all three Gryffindor students sent scathing glares her direction.

Dumbledore stood and held out his hands, effectively stilling the commotion. "You heard Madame Pomfrey. Yes, young Mr. Malfoy and Miss Weasley are trapped, but it should by no means be permanent. I have complete faith that they will be able to discover the secret to their entrapment and free themselves. In the meantime, Miss Granger, I will be appointing one of the seventh year prefects to assist you with Head duties until Mr. Malfoy is fit to resume them. Now, if you will excuse me, I will go fetch him and alert him to his temporary promotion." With that, Dumbledore turned and strode out of the Hospital Wing, leaving the Gryffindor and Slytherin students alone in the foyer.

"Poor Ginny," Ron said, sitting down with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Hermione sat beside him and draped an arm over his shoulders.

"It'll be okay," she soothed.

"Yeah, mate, Ginny can take care of herself," Harry added. "She's tough; she won't let that git get away with anything."

~ooOoo~

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