Well, here ya go! This chapter is dedicated to softballpitcher.
Thanks for everyone's reviews they really motivate me!
Harry and Ron walked into breakfast the next morning with looks of pure determination on their faces. They were going to get Ginny back at all costs. They scanned the room for Ginny and found her sitting next to Blaise at the Slytherin table. They glanced at one another and went over to her.
"Hey, Gin." Harry said.
"Um… hi harry." Ginny answered hesitantly.
"We just want to apologize." Harry said nudging Ron in the ribs.
"Right." Ron chimed in unconvincingly.
"We were just in shock." Harry said. "If changing houses and moving up a year wasn't bad enough, we found out you had been dating Zabini. So, we're sorry about the way we acted. If you ever need anything, just let us know."
"Gin, I'm sorry." Ron said through clenched jaws. "I may not be happy, but I'll just have to be since you are. But, Zabini, if you hurt at all, you're dead."
They both walked away before Blaise or Ginny could answer. Blaise looked at Ginny who just stared after Ron and Harry. This is all wrong Ginny thought. They're planning something and it's not going to be good.
"Well, that was sure an interesting development." Blaise said going back to eating his breakfast.
"Something's not right." Ginny said staring at the backs of Ron and Harry as they sat at the Gryffindor table.
"I thought you would be happy that they are letting you go? I mean it seemed pretty sincere. Ron even seemed a little stubborn still but he did it because he loves you."
"No, Blaise. The Ron I have known for sixteen years would never ever be ok with me dating a Slytherin. Let alone skip a year and be in Slytherin. They're up to something."
"Ginny, just let it go. We'll deal with it when the time comes." Blaise said slightly exasperated. "Besides, we need to focus on Quidditch tryouts. They're this weekend, you remember that right?"
"Of course I do. If I don't make it on the team, I'm doomed."
"Well, I wouldn't put it that way."
"Yes, I would. If I don't play on a team my last year at Hogwarts then I won't have the stats to even consider going pro."
"You want to play Quidditch professionally?" Blaise asked in shock.
"Yeah… You didn't know that?" Ginny asked incredulously.
"No, I knew you were good, but I didn't realize you were that good."
"Well, I have the record in Gryffindor for most points. Besides, quidditch is the only thing I really truly care about. I don't want a desk job or to be an auror. I want to be free. So, that just leaves sports."
"I see." Blaise said pondering this new information for a minute. "Well, we better get practicing then. Draco likes you well enough, but if he doesn't think that you're good enough he won't be persuaded to put you on the team."
"Ok, well then, how about after dinner and before breakfast every day until tryouts then. You're the keeper right?"
"Yeah, I am. Why?"
Ginny got a wicked twinkle in her eye and answered. "Well, let's see just how good of one you are."
Blaise leaned back in his seat and burst out laughing. Everyone at the Slytherin table stared at him in disbelief. Ginny looked around her at the stunned faces and thought it's like they've never seen him laugh before… that is odd…
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*Earlier this morning*
Astoria was woken up by someone shaking her shoulders quite forcibly and calling out her name loudly.
"Tori!" Ginny called out. "Tori wake up! I'm leaving for breakfast. Are you coming or are you going to skip classes and just sleep all day?"
Astoria rolled over and mumbled, "Five more minutes, mum."
"Astoria Greengrass! I am not your mother!" Ginny yelled shoving Astoria off her bed as hard as she could.
"OW!" Astoria screamed as she encountered the hard marble floor. She picked herself up and glared icicles at Ginny.
"Don't give me that look, Astoria." Ginny said as she grabbed her books and began to walk out the door. "Be glad I woke you up, the other girls wanted to levitate you into the great hall as you are now and drop you on the Hufflepuff table. However, I managed to convince them otherwise. So, get dressed and don't be late for class!" With that, Ginny left and slammed the door behind her.
Astoria begrudgingly got dressed and grabbed her books. When she looked at the time, she realized that Ginny was right. There were only ten minutes until her first class. Oh well, she thought sadly, no breakfast today.
She briskly walked down the hall towards the common room to leave. Just as she was walking out the door, a voice called out from behind her.
"Astoria." She turned to see Draco sitting in an armchair next to the fire. He was holding a plate of food. "I brought you breakfast."
She stood there dumbstruck. "What did you just say?" she asked incredulously.
He smiled and got up saying "I said I brought you breakfast. Come sit down." He gestured towards one of the study tables that were never actually used for studying on the other side of the room. She cautiously followed him over and sat down. He put the plate of food in front of her with utensils and she began to eat.
"How did you know that I wasn't going to be able to eat breakfast?" she asked after a few moments of silence.
"Ginny told me when she came to breakfast this morning that you were running late. She said she was going to bring you some food, but Potter and Weasel detained her. I gallantly offered to do it for her, since I have prefect privileges and it was getting dangerously close to class time." Draco said leaning back in his chair. "And besides, I wanted to talk to you."
"The last time you said that, you yelled at me."' Astoria said timidly.
"I promise I won't yell at you this time. I merely need to ask you for a favor."
"Ok… What is it?"
"I need your help with my task from the Dark Lord. Thanks to my stupidity in stating that Ginny is now in Slytherin, he now wants me to kidnap her to lure Potter to him. She refuses to help, because she says she can't betray them like that. I need help with coming up with some way to either get her without actually harming her or coming up with some other kind of plan altogether. Will you help me Astoria, please?"
Astoria didn't move. She only stared at him in disbelief. After a few moments, she composed herself and said "Polyjuice potion."
"What?"
"That's my answer. Use a polyjuice potion and have someone else be Ginny. They can be manipulated in many ways. I'm sure we could find one that lasts at least twelve hours if not a day or two."
"That's a great idea, Astoria. But, who would willingly be captured and pretend to be Ginny?" Draco asked shaking his head.
"I would." Astoria answered confidently.
"No." Draco said sternly. "I can't ask that of you."
"You're not asking me, Draco. I'm volunteering." Astoria said taking his hand in hers. "I want to help."
"I can't put you in that kind of danger, Tori." Astoria stared at him. He has never called me Tori before…
"Please, Draco. It's the only way." Astoria said pleadingly leaning towards him slightly.
Draco averted his eyes slightly, but finally looked at her and said, "I can't, Tori. I just can't bear the thought of what they might do to you."
Astoria touched his cheek lightly with her hand. "It'll be ok, Draco. I'll be fine, I promise."
He reached up and pressed her hand to his face. "You're hands are warm."
"And, you're cold." She said moving closer.
"That's because I'm a cold hearted bastard." Draco said letting go of her and standing up.
"No you're not." Astoria said standing up too and putting her hand under his chin, making him face her once more. "When I look into your eyes, Draco, I see a strong young man, who is just confused inside."
They stared into each other's eyes for a moment or two and then Draco leaned in closer to her till their lips brushed each other slightly. Astoria closed her eyes and he leaned in more kissing her forcefully on the lips. They kissed for what seemed an eternity, then they broke apart each slightly winded.
"I can't lose you Tori. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something happened." He whispered to her his voice cracking slightly. Astoria felt a tear begin to roll down her face.
"You won't lose me, Draco." She whispered back holding his hand again. "I promise you I will be with you till the very end, because if something happened to you, I wouldn't be able to go on." As she finished tears began to fall freely down her face. Draco pulled her close to him and just held her. She, in turn, wrapped her arms around him. And there they stood, when Snape walked into the common room.
"Why aren't you two in class?" he spat. Astoria and Draco broke apart and stared at him.
I like to know if my readers would continue to read this story if the rating went up for some scenes in later chapters... PLEASE REVIEW!