September 30th ,1996

Dear Journal,

Sorry it's so late, I couldn't get alone. Everyone wanted to catch up, and find out why I was late for the feast yesterday, and with a bloody nose. And the fact I walked in with The Draco Malfoy. I kid you not. So where did I leave it? Oh yeah. I was being moved.

So there I was. I was still now, in a sitting position. I was resting on something. It was pretty comfy so I snuggled further into it. It moved. I sat up fast. I looked around and I was still on the train, in a compartment I didn't recognise. It was not homely and it smelt like fertiliser. I looked to the comfy thing I'd been snuggling up against. I almost vomited. I'm not even joking.

Draco Malfoy gave me a small side grin, and looked down. As though he was shy or embarrassed.

What?! I know!

I backed up. It was only me and him in the compartment, and there were no lights on, just the light from a streetlamp outside the window. The train was still. It was silent. I stared at Malfoy disgustedly. He recoiled. He put on an unemotional, plain face.

"You collapsed. I didn't want to get in trouble, so, um, I brought you here to save our own necks." He told me simply and in forced politeness.

"Why here? You could have taken me back to my compartment; it's not like you don't know where it is." I answered hotly. I was angry he'd even looked at me, never mind touched me.

He stared daggers at me. "You think I want Potter and Weasley making noise?!" He made a sound like a huff.

I stood up to storm out, but my head went fuzzy, and the blackness threatened to spread again. I wobbled forward dangerously. Malfoy grabbed my hand to pull me back, but I tried to shake him off. Putting us both off balance. We fell, and I managed to fall on top of him, on the floor of the compartment. I tutted. I couldn't believe this was happening. First he touched me, now I was on top of him?! What next?! I looked at him. He looked at me. I think we were both as surprised as each other to be in this compromising position. He did that weird thing with his eyes again. Made them look human and sympathetic. It was unnerving. There was a touch of something else there too. Surprising? Caring? I was still on top of him.

'I guess I should thank him for stopping Pansy…' I thought to myself. I gave myself an inward shrug. It didn't matter who he was, he had saved me…

"Thanks… For stopping her I mean…" I whispered. I don't know why I whispered. But I did. Malfoy's reaction was strange. He seemed to look at me. Like really look at me. Like he finally saw me. He smiled slightly. I smiled back. Then I realised I was still on top of him. Not just any him. Draco bloody Malfoy. I scowled.

'Get off of him Ginny!' I practically screamed at myself.

But I couldn't. And I know girls say that when they're like 'oh I want to stay here forever, with you' I can assure you, this wasn't one of those moments. I just couldn't get up. I looked around. I realised there was a suitcase on my legs, and the rope was wrapped around us both. Tying us together. I told you it wasn't one of those moments. I tried wiggling free. But something escaped Malfoy's lips. Something like a gasp? A moan? Oh God! 'What do I do?' I was seriously thinking about cutting my legs off right then and there when the compartment door opened.

Rubeus Hagrid, my Care of Magical Creature's Professor, walked in. I could have died. Right there. I would have easily chosen being Crucio'd over being looked down upon in this position with a pasty faced Slytherin. Oh. My. Merlin. I wanted to wriggle and writhe free. But I did NOT want Malfoy making that sound again. Ever. Ever ever ever. I mean it. I looked up and apologised with my eyes to Hagrid.

"Oh, er, I 'ad to come and, er, check everyone 'ad gotten their, er, things." Hagrid was rubbing his hands together frantically, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

"Oh, Hagrid, I'm stuck, could you help me?!" I raised my voice at the end, because Malfoy put his hands on my hips.

"Help?! What, um, Ginny I don't think that, that's-"

"No, Hagrid. NO. The rope from the suitcase, it's got us, I mean, we're stuck, could you?"

I interrupted him, because I did not want to hear the rest of that sentence.

"Oh, right, I, I see…" Hagrid stammered, he reached for the suitcase that had us trapped and untangled the rope from our legs. I stifled a squeak because Malfoy now seemed to be rubbing his hands on my hips. The rope was pulled from us and I didn't even get the chance to push myself off of Malfoy because he propelled me forward away from him. I staggered back into Hagrid.

"Oi, watch it Malfoy, don't want any detentions yet!" Hagrid warned, catching me. He got up and glared at me, grabbed his suitcase and stormed past us and off down the corridor. He didn't look back once.

I looked up at Hagrid, who had to duck nearly half his height to fit on the train.

"I'm so sorry you had to see that, it was no way what it looked like, I collapsed and he brought me in here to save his own neck, I'm sorry-"

"Ginny, I didn't see nothin' ok." Hagrid reassured me. "And nobody's gonna' know" I smiled at him warmly. I was so embarrassed, and ashamed. I began down the corridor in front of Hagrid, when I realised.

"Hagrid, where is everybody? And where are my things? And I'm not even in my robes!" I looked down at myself. I was slightly relieved, because then there was one thing Malfoy hadn't dare do. Good.

"They've all gone to the Main Hall, you, Miss Weasley, are 'alf an hour late. As for yer things, they've been taken up to yer common room, as well as yer robes. So I'm afraid you'll 'ave to attend the Great Feast in the things yer wearing." Hagrid looked down at my clothes. I looked down too, there were blood splatters on it, I reached for my nose and cringed. It hurt. Badly.

"Oh Ginny, what 'appened now?" Hagrid asked, looking questioningly, but not surprised. I told him as we made our way up to the main gates.

"That Parkinson girl is a snotty one, not to be hung around with." Hagrid advised.

I nodded. I realised that if I was that late, then Malfoy must be too.

'He stayed with me?!' I was utterly freaked. Why would he stay?

Suddenly, we could hear loud voices. I grimaced. Malfoy. I don't care about him. He's a pasty faced Slytherin bad boy. Ew.

I looked at who he was arguing with. It was Professor Flitwick.

"No, you cannot enter without another Professor, as you are late, Mr Malfoy, we need you escorted." Professor Flitwick's voice was rising as he spoke. Malfoy looked at him as though he were below him. Technically he was, but Malfoy was thinking in a more 'blood status' way.

"I know where I am headed, I do not need an escort. Do you not understand? I need to go!" Malfoy didn't hold back his fury, and shouted right in the Professor's face.

"Now, what's going on?" Hagrid bellowed, so that they stopped bickering and looked up. Malfoy took one glance at me and turned away, angrily.

"Mr Malfoy thinks that he can make up his own rules." Professor Flitwick explained.

"Well, Malfoy, let's see what Professor Snape 'as to say about yer disobedience once the feast is over. You will accompany myself and Miss Weasley to the Great Hall. Yer robes are in yer common room so you will 'ave to go in the things yer wearing." Hagrid stated in a stubborn tone that said 'end of discussion.' Malfoy was not happy at all.

"Thank you Hagrid." Professor Flitwick squeaked as he pulled open the gates. He stared at me curiously.

"Miss Weasley, what on Earth has happened to your face?"

I gasped. Hurt at what he'd said, then I realised I was probably still covered in blood. I wanted to tell the truth, but then they'd ask what I was doing with Malfoy, so I changed my story.

"Um, well, er, I was, I was going to put my robes on when I ran into a crowd, and I think somebody mustn't have seen me, and elbowed me in the face." I lied. I hoped I was a good liar. Professor Flitwick seemed to believe me though. I let out a relieved sigh. I saw Malfoy watching me inquisitevly. I guess he thought I was doing it for him. Hah!

We made it to the school, and I took in the perfect sight. The moon was up and the lamps were burning bright. Hogwarts seemed to be glowing. It literally screamed 'Welcome Home!' I sighed happily.

We strolled to the doors of the main hall. I'd tried wiping my face of blood because Hagrid doesn't have a wand, and I wouldn't dare trust Malfoy with a spell aimed at my face. So I licked my hands and tried to scrub off most of the blood. I exhaled slowly, trying to stop the butterflies inside my belly, which were going crazy. Hagrid bode us farewell and left us standing at the doors.

"After you Gi- Weasel." Malfoy whispered tauntingly. I held my head up high and ignored him. I started forward. The doors swung open.

I gasped. In awe and in embarrassment.

Everyone. Everyone turned our way. Even the Professors. Oh. My. God. I smiled and began walking toward the Gryffindor table, Malfoy was still next to me.

"Ah, nice of you to join us, Miss Weasley, Mr Malfoy, I expect that your robes are in your common rooms, as you are not wearing them." Professor Dumbledore exclaimed. I wanted to answer, but my tongue had twisted and I felt that if I said anything, I would vomit. I just nodded, as Malfoy replied.

"Yes, Professor, we're sorry we're late." Malfoy was perfectly polite and unafraid. I stared at him, because he'd said 'we', I didn't expect him to apologise for me too.

Professor Dumbledore looked at us from above his half-moon spectacles.

"I see, and why is it that you are both so late?"

I swallowed. Hard. I had no idea what I could say. I couldn't just say 'Oh Malfoy stayed with me when I fell unconscious' Good God. But… I didn't have to.

"I had to go back for my suitcase, as I'd forgotten it, and Ginny was found by Hagrid, as she'd fallen asleep in the Ravenclaw carriages, otherwise her own friends would have gotten her." I couldn't believe it! Malfoy had just saved our skins. Twice! What was wrong with him?

"I see, well, better get you two to sit at your tables. Welcome back." Professor Dumbledore ended the conversation as big piles of food now appeared at the long house tables.

I looked at Malfoy. He'd already started towards his table. But he looked back and gave me a sassy grin. I couldn't help myself. I grinned back and started towards my table.

It was a great feast, everyone catching up. Eventually the 'you came with Malfoy?!' died down after a couple of hours. We left for our common rooms and I didn't tell anyone what really happened, I told the same story about my nose. The elbowing one. There was only one person who was suspicious.

"You're hiding something Ginny, I just don't know what yet." This was about the fourth time Hermione had said so. Fortunately, she knew to keep it between us. We finally went to sleep, quite late. But full from the food, and excited to be back.

I never thought of Draco Malfoy once that night.

I told you it was weird. He actually smiled at me, and I smiled back! I know, I know I promised I'd not have anything to do with any boys this year. But it's not like I do have anything to do with Malfoy. He's an idiot. I hate him. I hope you believe me.

Love Ginny xx