This is an edit of my previous chapter! Hope it's better...

Draco's Pov:

Weirdly, crazily enough, I was satisfied to hold Ginny in my arms. She molded against me perfectly, warm and soft and perfect. Her hair curtained on my shoulder, a rich dark red that sparkled in the light. It was vibrant and wild and chaotic, just like Ginny. Her big, owl-ish brown eyes glanced up at me before she nestled back into my shoulder, delicate, little, lightly freckled hand tightening around me as she sighed in contentment.

I'd watched her over the years, going to the ball with Longbottom, dating Harry, jealousy eating away at me like a disease. I'd wondered so many times, wondered about what could have been, if only I were someone other than Draco Malfoy.

She, of course, didn't know anything about how I felt about her. I had always tried so hard to hate her, to see her as a blood-traitor Weasley with no standing, but she'd always caught my eye.

And now she had a firm hold on my heart.

Ginny's Pov:

I couldn't believe it. Draco Malfoy, sworn enemy of my family and many others, was holding me in his arms, and had evoked from me a promise to stay with him.

He'd always been the forbidden fruit. The bad boy, the wild one. The girls in my dormitory had always gossiped about him, giggled about him. He was the epitome of cruelty, of silken-voiced lies. I had never participated in these discussions, as I had been firmly resolved to like Harry or whatever guy I was dating at the time. I didn't try to like Malfoy, or find some redeeming quality in him. I had known better, known to leave the attraction be. Now though, I wasn't as smart.

I was throwing caution into the winds and I knew it. There was only so long that I could keep this from everyone. And the deadline was just two days away. There was no way that I could pretend that I didn't like Malfoy at the ball, because it wasn't in my nature to pretend. The jealousy, I was afraid, was unavoidable.

The only one who had any kind of clue how I felt for him was Luna, and I was sure that she understood much more than she let on. Maybe it was another fling, but I hoped it wasn't. For the last couple of days, his focus had been solely on me.

Reluctantly, my head swimming, I tried to pull away from him, his grip on me tightening.

"Draco," I said lightly, liltingly, "classes."

He groaned and let me go. "Fine, fine, my little lecturer."

I swatted at him, but glowed at the word 'my'.

I had it bad. Terribly, horribly squiggly-wiggly sparks-in-my-stomach bad.

I finally got out of the room about ten minutes later, ready to go to classes. Luna caught me just before Transfiguration and handed me two notes before rushing off to her own class.

Curiosity was killing me, but I knew well enough to pay attention in McGonagall's class. I needed the good grade in Transfiguration.

I finally got to History of Magic an hour later. The first note was printed on yellow parchment and printed quickly in Luna's blue-inked hand. I read its contents first.

Gin,

You weren't at breakfast! Luckily, I had Binns' class earlier (I know you're reading this during his class, some things never change, do they?) so I wrote you a letter as a substitute.

Our dresses came today! My green dress is absolutely lovely, though it was a little lighter a green than I was expecting. Harry came up to talk to me as I was opening the package, and I had to shove it under the table so that he didn't see. I got lucky, you Quidditch players have such quick reflexes, and he almost saw it! I'll have them altered by Saturday, don't worry. But, you aren't allowed to see it!

Nevertheless, I do see what you saw in him for all those years, Gin, if you don't mind my saying so. He's still a pretty ignorant guy, but ever so much better than your brother, Ron (poor Hermione!) and he's just adorable.

However, I don't think that you're disappointed in Draco. (Winks) Did you have fun last night?

Watch for those wrackspurts!

Luna

I smiled at her letter. It was obvious just how much Harry and Luna liked each other. I was glad that this ball had given them an opportunity to get together.

I hoped that my dress would turn out all right. Luna hadn't mentioned it in her letter, and I hoped that the design looked okay.

I sighed and opened the other letter, the white parchment and black ink.

Dear Genevieve,

I know that it'll turn out just fine. A person's House doesn't always determine who they are, after all.

Until we read again,

Oblivious

Reassured by this assessment, I put my worries about Draco out of my mind, for now. I answered both of the letters, and Binns assigned homework for the night, informing us in his usual dreamy monotone that there would be a short quiz tomorrow.

Finally, we were dismissed, and I went to the rest of my classes. When I got to Potions and handed Snape my essay, he looked over it briefly before proclaiming it "passable". Luckily, a 'passable' from the Professor was a lot more like an 'excellent'. I struggled to hide my beaming face as I sat down; there was no reason to let him reconsider the grade he'd given me.

While waiting for my Shrinking Potion to turn into the 'pearly translucent color' that was expected, I wrote letters to my Committee, calling a meeting after classes on Friday. It would be the last before the ball.

After classes, I went up to the Owlery to deliver my letters, ignoring Everdeene's irritated hoot as I tied the majority of the letters to the school owls' legs.

I turned to the eagle owl sternly. "You should be happy that you don't have to do it all."

She hooted again, obviously disagreeing with me. She was my owl, and here these other ingrates were, taking her work. It was just unfair, but that was an underappreciated owl's life.

I laughed and shook my head, finishing the knot on her letter. "If it makes you feel any better, Everdeene, you got the special-est letter."

She looked down at me loftily before flying away. Apparently, it didn't matter.

"Talking to birds now, Ginny?" a familiar voice asked me.

I turned to the older girl, a smile on my face. "Hey, Hermione."

"How's the ball going?" she asked, walking over to a school owl and absentmindedly tying her letter.

"Great. It's shaping up really well. One more meeting and we're finished."

"I'm glad. I saw Luna out in the East Courtyard. She told me to tell you to meet her there."

"I should probably go then," I said. "See you later, Hermione."

"Bye, Gin."

I wasn't halfway around the corner when I felt familiar hands catch me about the waist.

"Hi, Draco," I said to the figure behind me, smiling happily at my quick deduction. After all, only he could have such pale, long-fingered hands.

I felt his laugh as he pulled me to him, arms still around me. "Luna sent me after you."

"Geez," I said, shaking my head, "first Hermione, and now you. It must be important."

"Or she's just impatient, like you, Gin," he laughed again.

"She isn't my friend for nothing," I said playfully, "but I think that's its important. She's a reasonable Ravenclaw, after all. Now, come on!"

I pulled him along behind me on my quest to find Luna, despite his spluttering about it "not being dignified to be dragged around…" and stopping suddenly.

"By a Weasley?" I finished, debating whether or not to be angry at him. As he hadn't finished the thought, I cut him some slack, "yeah, tough luck, pardner. You decided to stick around. Deal with it."

"Did you just call me 'pardner'?" he asked incredulously, still being pulled by me, "with a country western accent?"

I turned around and grinned at him, "did I? I thought that was you."

We'd reached the courtyard by then and I saw Luna. She was laughing easily at something Colin Creevey had said.

I stopped suddenly, making Draco stumble into me. Luckily, his Quidditch skills kicked in and kept us from tumbling into a very undignified heap on the ground.

I was sure that my face was milk-white, and almost as pale as Draco's was.

"What's wrong, Weaselette?" he asked me teasingly, "you look like you've seen a boggart."

I couldn't tell him. I'd told him that I wasn't ashamed of him, and here I was, frozen at the thought of being seen with him.

I was a bloody hypocrite and he bloody knew it.

"Nothing," I stuttered out, smiling wobbily. "There's Luna." I pointed over to her.

"Gin." He turned me around, grey eyes looking at me concernedly, "what's wrong?"

He glanced over at Luna and Colin, discernment dawning in his eyes. "Oh," he said darkly. "I'll leave you to it, then," and he left, black robes swishing as he walked away, proud and cold and stiff.

I felt awful. Torn between running after him and keeping Luna waiting, I simply stood there, frozen.

"Ginny!" Luna called, distracting me from my inner turmoil. She jogged lightly toward me, abandoning Colin.

I looked at her, comprehension hitting me like a bludger. "Hi, Luna," I said faintly. "Erm, what's up?"

"I finished altering your dress! And it looks bloody fantastic, if I do say so myself." She beamed proudly, waiting for my response.

I tried to ignore my guilt and smile happily. "That's fantastic! May I see it?"

She grinned mischievously at me. "Nope."

I looked at her in shock. "What do you mean, no?"

"No."

I looked at her, pouting. "Why not?"

She kept on grinning, "Because I'm going to dress you for the ball."

"Why?"

"Because it'll be fun!"

I shook my head at her. "For you maybe."

She frowned at my pessimism. Shaking her pale blonde head, she changed the subject.

"What sent Draco away so quickly?"

I gulped.

Luna looked at me sympathetically. "Gin," she said, "you're going to have to tell people on Saturday anyway."

"I know," I said, "I just don't want to. And he's probably angry at me. I'm such a hypocrite. I told him that I wasn't ashamed, and here I am, afraid."

"just go find him," Luna said encouragingly. "I'll see you at dinner."

She gave me a solid push, and I began walking, zombie-like, to go and find him.

Which is better? This one or the one I had up previously? Let me know!

Cheers!