~ Flashback ~

The next few weeks had passed very quickly. The budding friendship between Draco, Harry and Hermione being the talk of the school for most of the school year thus far. Hermione was quite pleased on how the year had been progressing. Harry had been applying himself, managing very, very good grades in each of his courses. What she really enjoyed though, was seeing his interactions with Draco.

The friendship between Harry and Draco was quite intriguing to Hermione. Sure, she had gone years with seeing Harry and Ron being, "Best Mates", but in just the matter of months this friendship had put theirs to shame. There was no jealousy in their friendship, they actually seemed to enjoy eachothers company, neither of them even once starting a row between eachother.

She loved seeing Harry happy. He had fought most of his life, lost so many loved ones and friends, he deserved to be happy.

However, there was one thing she didn't like. She knew it was bound to happen. Draco Malfoy randomly changing the way he had acted for the past 6 years in the matter of a summer? That was sure to not sit well with some people in Hogwarts. Draco had been the constant target of many "not so nice names", as he had put it. He knew he deserved most of it, but Hermione and Harry were very protective of their friends. They hated seeing them targeted in any ill mannered way.

Draco had brushed them off when they adressed him about it.

"Honestly, I thank you guys for caring so much, I honestly don't deserve any of your kindness, let alone your friendship, but really, I deserve it. Its fine, I can deal with it."

Of course this didn't sit well with neither Harry or Hermione. Harry had just gave him a slight nod, the frown never leaving his face. Hermione had stormed out of the library, muttering "stupid boys" as she exited.

Today saw Draco sitting near the black lake. Harry and Hermione were off in the library, revising their potions essays for what seemed the seventy-second time.

He was relaxing near the tree, reading a book that Hermione had suggested, or demanded if you didn't know Hermione very well. Draco sat there for a moment until he was brought out of his story, reather forcefully.

"How dare you." The near shriek sounded into his hears. "What are you playing at Malfoy? Don't you think you've caused Harry and Hermione enough trouble over the years? Now you're pretending to be their friends? They might not see it Draco, but theres no way I'm letting you hurt two of the people I care most about."

Draco was in shock, being caught off guard by the fiery red head.

"Ginny I-" He tried, but once the Weasley temper gets rolling, theres really no stopping it.

"No! You listen here Malfoy. If you betray their trust in any way, You'll have me to deal with. Do you understand?"

Before he could even nod, she turned around and headed back to the castle.

Draco let out a sigh, attempting to return to his book.

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The week following their "encounter" had been strange for Draco. No matter what he did, how hard he tried, he couldn't get Ginny Weasley out of his head. He didn't know what it was, but she just had this certain... pull to her.

Things started going alot smoother as time passed. Much to Dracos amusement, everytime someone would insult him for his change in character, they had to deal with the full rath of Hermione. Speaking from personal experience, that was easily one of the scariest things he ever had to deal with.

He did notice that nearl everywhere he went with either Harry or Hermione, Ginny managed to pop up. When he saw her in the halls, she would give him a death strare accompanied by a sneer.

Draco had just made his way into the great hall, in an attempt to fit in a late lunch before his potions class, when he noticed Ginny sitting at the Gryffindor table, alone. Against his better judgement, he walked over to her table and sat beside her.

As she noticed him next to her, a from instantly covered her face.

"What do you think you're doing Malfoy? You're a Slytherin. You sit over there."

Draco sighed, he didn't know why, but he wanted nothing more than things between him and Ginny to go better.

"I wanted to talk to you. I know you hate me," Ginny rolled her eyes, letting out a snort. Draco brushed it off and continued. "Its quite obvious why. I was terrible to not only you, but everyone you consider a friend. If I were you I would have a hard time believing someone like me could change so suddenly. In all honesty Ginny, I'm deeply sorry for any wrong I may have ever caused you. I'll make the same promise to you that I made to both Harry and Hermione. I promise to try my best to never lowerm yself to that level again, all I ask is that you give me one more chance. I don't expect you to forgive me, if ever, but I promise I will never go so overboard with insulting people in the future."

GInny sat there, shockedi nto silence. Who was this and what did he do with Draco Malfoy? She had known the prat for years, and not once had he ever appologized for something he had done.

"I.." She tried, she just couldn't manage to find any words. She let out a sigh, got up from her seat and walked out of the great hall, not seeing the sad frown that covered Dracos face.

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Time rolled on quickly, as it normally did when things were going well. Before anyone knew it, the christmas holidsays had snuck up on the Hogwarts students. Hermione would of course be going home to her parents while harry had elected to spend the holidays with Lupin, Tonks and Teddy. Draco on the other hand had decided to stay at Hogwarts. His mother would be spending time with her sister, Andromeda, nad honestly, Draco just wanted time away from everything, to think.

His situation with Ginny had been quite odd. She had stopped scowling at him, now going out of her way on occasion to avoid him. Even when they passed eachother in the halls, the looks they shared just felt.. awkward.

It was the day of christmas. The castle was alot emptier than pass years, most students choosing to spend their christmas holidays at home, with their parents. Draco found himself wondering the halls. He had finished all of his homework and had decided to go to the library for a little bit of light reading.

Upon entering the library his eyes instantly fell on the last, and in all honesty first, person he wanted to see. Building up all the courage he could muster, he made his way to the reading area where she was sitting.

"Hi." He said, shier than he would of liked, as he drew closer. He sat next to her and grabbed a book that had been set on the table.

"Hello." she replied, not taking her eye off her book.

"I uhh," He started, struggling with his words, "I'm sorry."

She turned her head, looking at Draco with a confussed look on her face.

"For?" She replied.

"Well, thinks have beed awkward between us. Not they weren't always, its just, I uhh.."

Ginny let out a chuckle. "Honestly, this is one of the times you have nothing to be sorry about. Its just, Harry and Hermione were two of my first friends. Its understandable that I would be overprotective when they're involved."

"Sure its not because you fancy Potter?" Draco said, a somewhat bitter laugh .

"What? No. Merlin no. That was just a passing crush in all honesty. I mean hes a great friend, more like a brother honestly. Not that I needed another one of those."

They shared a nervous laugh. A short awkward silence fell over the two of them, until they both adressed eachother.

"So, why did you stay at Hogwarts for the holidays?" They said at the same time, drawing another laugh from each of them.

"You first." Draco said.

"My family went to visit my brother Charlie in Romania. Hes a dragon trainer there, I just didn't feel like it this year. You?"

"My mum went to visit her sister this year. I could of went, I just wanted some time to myself. To think, you know?"

Ginny nodded in agreement. She felt the same exact way.

"What kind of things are you thinking about?" She instantly regretted asking. Why was she so interested in what Malfoy was thinking anyways?

"My future. What I want to do after Hogwarts. I've spent so much of my life in my fathers shadow that I've never actually thought much about it."

Ginny nodded, her parents had never pushed her into anything like that, but she understood the burden that would come with it.

"What kind of things would you be interested in?" She asked.

He thought about it for a second, "I just want to make a difference. Help the future wizards of this world be brought up in a less bias world. Teach things to them that actually help them."

Ginny chuckled, "I think its obvious what you want to do then."

Draco looked at her, curiousity in his eyes. "A teacher Draco."

A teacher? Draco ran a hand over his hair. That did fit exactly to what he wanted to do.

"Well, that was obvious."

They both chuckled, until Draco controlled himself. He turned and met Ginnys eyes.

"You know I'm really sorry about everything. "

She nodded and gave him a small smile. "I can tell. The way you are with Harry, its like you finally found your best friend."

This made Draco smile. "I have. Hes honestly the first bloke I haven't wanted to kill after three minutes of conversation."

They spent nearly the rest of the day talking. Topics changing from future goals, career choices and just overall what they wanted in life. They both left the library, parting ways with huge smiles on their face, the two of them feeling like much more than just a mere friendship had just been formed.

~ End Flashback ~

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"It just kind of went on from their. We talked nearly everyday after that." Draco wsaid, finishing his story.

"So, all the times you were off "studying" alone, you were with her?" Hermione questioned.

Draco gave of a sheepish grin. "Yeah, sorry about that. I just didn't want either of you mad at me. After her overprotective scene, I didn't want to risk it with either of you."

They all shared a laugh, returning to finish the last of Dracos plans.