Ginny sighed to herself before getting up to prepare for the Heads' meeting that was supposed to be happening that afternoon. It wasn't that she wasn't flattered to be offered the job as the Head Girl, and a year early too. It was just that being Head Girl was a lot more difficult than what she had thought it would be.

The main problem was that it was inconvenient. It was so awkward to study for her NEWTs, prepare for any upcoming battles, worry about the Trio and her family and be Head Girl all at the same time. Not to mention trying to work out the puzzle that was Draco Malfoy. Life was hard sometimes.

Professor McGonagall had scheduled the meeting on a Friday afternoon after their last lesson when she knew they were both free. It was in McGonagall's new office - Dumbledore's old one. Ginny found that if she could, she avoided going to this place. It felt odd to be there when Dumbledore was not. She walked through the halls to the office and said the password to the gargoyle, which she always felt looked sad. It opened and she stood on top of the stairs until they brought her to the entrance of Dumbledore's office. She braced herself outside the door for what she was sure was going to be a tough meeting.

The office was slightly different to how it had been when Dumbledore was the Headmaster. There were no more strange shining silver objects, no bowl of lemon sherbets and, most importantly, no Fawkes. Ginny had often found herself wondering where the bird now resided. Nevertheless, some things had remained the same. Dumbledore's old desk still remained and so did the cabinet holding the Sorting Hat and Gryffindor's sword. Sitting down in one of the comfortable armchairs, Ginny looked at the pictures of the school's old Headmasters that lined the wall. She smiled as her eyes lit up as she saw the portrait of Albus Dumbledore, but before she could say anything to him, Professor McGonagall and Draco entered the room arguing.

"I don't care about your protests Mr Malfoy! You will attend and you will dance!" McGonagall harshly told Malfoy as he dropped into his seat. "Ah, Miss Weasley. As I was just telling Mr Malfoy here, there is going to be a Halloween Ball this year at Hogwarts to raise morale and it is your job as Head Boy and Head Girl to organise it. Obviously, you will have the assistance of the prefects and the teachers."

Ginny stared at the professor in shock, trying to think of the right answer.

"A ball?" she finally answered. "How exciting! What was that you said about dancing?"

"Ah yes, you and Mr Malfoy will have to open the Ball with a dance. Now, on to other business, is there anything a student has come to talk to you about?"

The meeting continued in such a manner until McGonagall finally dismissed them.

Ginny walked back to the common room in a daze. She had thought that the Headmistress was too strict to plan anything like a Ball, especially during such turbulent times. She could only suppose that McGonagall had noticed the general depression around the school and was trying to cheer everyone up. It was a good idea although it would be a lot of work for her and Malfoy. He hadn't seemed too happy about it; he probably didn't want to have to dance with something filthy like her. Then Ginny remembered something: she couldn't dance.

"Merlin," she whispered. "What am I going to do?"

She stood up and rushed towards the portrait hole to tell McGonagall about her problems and promptly ran straight into Draco Malfoy. He quickly caught her before she could fall.

"Merlin! What's the matter with you? Watch where you're going!"

Ginny blushed. "Well I'm sorry, I just remembered that I can't dance and now I'm being asked to open a Ball!" she said, a touch of panic in her voice.

"Well of course you can't. You're a Weasley. Dance instructors cost more money than your whole family has." Draco released a long-suffering sigh and rolled his eyes at her. "If it matters that much I'll teach you to dance."

"You can dance?" Ginny asked incredulously.

"Of course I can, I'm a Malfoy. I received a classical education before coming to this place. Now, I will give you lessons so that you will not make me look bad at the Ball. I will tell you when your first lesson is. Now move, you're in my way."

He coolly moved her to the side and walked to his room. She shook her head at his retreating back. Honestly, that boy was constantly confusing her.