Labelled Caustic

**********

The weeks flew past and soon Christmas Holiday would descend upon the Hogwarts students and many had plans to go home to be with their families.

Draco was wondering whether he should return home but he had heard that Ginny and the Mouseketeers were staying behind. It was the perfect time and setting to put his plan into action. So he owled his parents that he wasn´t coming home for Christmas and his mother immediately owled back with lots of candy and small presents. Some things still never changed since he was a first year.

He was strolling through the corridors resplendent with Christmas decoration, when he saw a crowd gathered near the entrance of the Great Hall. He couldn´t really see what was so fascinating so he just perked up his ears and slowed down his pace.

"Christmas Ball! Next Saturday! Isn´t that great! I know-"

"Cor, not another one, Diane would want me to dance with her all night-"

"I wish Harry would ask me-"

Draco smirked at the sound bytes but rolled his eyes at the last one. Must be another group of fanatical first years. Perfect. He smiled, just perfect and he strutted away when something or rather someone caught his eye.

**********

"Oh Hermione, no one would ask me to the ball. Maybe Collin or Neville but really! I want a real date and not one that just steps on my toes and spills punch on my gown."

"Better them than ferret boy," Ron grunted.

Ginny scowled deeply at him but he just looked away as if he didn´t say anything wrong.

Hermione looked at them and sighed. " Don´t worry about it Ginny! You´re gorgeous and lovely, I´m sure someone will ask you!" she said with confidence. With that Ginny just hoped she was right and gave a great big sigh and walked out of the common room getting an `oof!´ from Ron as he was propped up against her.

She just walked without having anywhere to go and found herself in the corridor leading to the Great Hall when she spotted Draco Malfoy. Ginny was drawn to him and her feet were leading her towards him when Dean Thomas stepped up in front of her blocking her path.

"Ginnywouldyougoballwitme?"

Ginny snapped out of it and shook her head, "What?"

"Would you go to the ball with me?" Dean asked slowly, his eyes sparkling.

Ginny looked taken aback for a moment, it was common knowledge that he was with Parvati, so this must be a ploy of some sort. Well she knew no one else would ask her and she didn´t want to get stuck playing floormat to Neville or worse Collin. The boy was nice and all but he was worse then Neville on the dance floor and that was in itself a big turnoff not to mention a danger to her feet. So she agreed and when he left, Draco was gone.

She stood there thinking of him, thinking of what to wear. Something that would knock Draco's socks off.

"Ginny what are you saying!" she half yelled. People around her stared weirdly around her and she felt herself blushing.

"First signs of madness Virginia," Ginny gave a tiny shudder as she felt the smooth voice roll over and the person´s hot breath on her neck. "Well with all those flaky brothers of yours, it shouldn´t be a surprise should it?" Draco said with a smirk and walked away from her.

"See you at the Ball Malfoy," she said to him. He just continued to walk away.

**********

"Ok Ginny you can do this. Pull yourself together!" she said to her reflection. She was quite flustered at this point of time. She pulled back her flaming curls letting some of it hang around her face, her make up wasn´t very much as she liked the natural look. It was the robes. She didn´t know if she could go down in it. She had half a mind to change but stuck with her plan stubbornly. It was getting late and most of the students should be there by now and Dean must be anxious. She took one deep breath and exhaled loudly.

"Let´s go," Ginny said to the reflection.

"Goodbye dear, have fun," said the mirror lazily.

When she reached the stairs leading down to the common room, Dean wasn´t anywhere and she found no one there. She looked around the common room but there were only a couple of first and second years. When she reached the bottom stair, a boy with curly brown hair and a cherubic face came up to her breathless with a note in his hand.

Ginny looked confused but took it from him and he scampered away with a bright blush.

Ginny,

Sorry can´t go with you to the ball. Hope you find someone else.

Dean.

Ginny was positively shaking with rage. She ripped the letter to shreds and growled deeply. She stalked over to the portrait and slammed it open causing the Fat Lady to curse loudly.

Her eyes became mere brandy coloured slits and her hands clenched into tight fists. She wanted to scream bloody blue murder right them but all she let out was a growl. A Weasley in a temper was a great misfortune to anyone in their path. Before she could even reach the doors of the Great Hall though, she was swept into a pair of arms. She gasped but then recognised the pair of silver eyes.

"Draco- what the hell are you doing?" she yelled, her furore getting the best of her.

She wanted to punch something and he seemed like a good target. Pity he had such a pretty face though.

"Where´s your date?" he smirked. Ginny couldn´t be bothered with small talk at the moment. She had someone to deal with. The damage she would incur would be far worse than what a Whomping Willow can do. She´ll be sure of that.

But when she got through the doors she felt something in her hands and by the time she realised what it was. Everyone had seen it.

Draco´s hand in hers!

Ginny looked onto the crowd and saw them whispering hurriedly. She knew Ron was having a fit at the moment and then her eyes hit on Dean who was too busy exploring new ways to get his tongue in a twist with, who else but Parvati Patil.

"Dance?" he asked casually. Ginny gave a sniff and raised her chin defiantly.

"Why not," and she placed both her arms on his broad shoulders.

"Nice dress you have on," Draco remarked softly. Ginny then looked down at it and her eyes widened. A blush creeping onto her cheeks. She had transfigured it slightly, well actually quite a lot. The neckline plunged madly and revealed so much cleavage that it didn´t leave very much to the imagination. It had a very tight bodice that accentuated her figure and the rest of the material was very flowy and a single slit went up one side revealing her milky white legs almost up to the top of her thighs.

Self conscious, one hand went off Draco´s shoulder and landed on her chest, her head bowed a little. She raised it once again when she heard him chuckle though.

"It was supposed to knock your socks off," Ginny said simply. This gave Draco a rather astounded look but it changed back to a smirk.

"It´s knocking every other guy´s socks off."

Ginny looked around and he was quite correct. Any male who had a pair of eyes were staring at her or at least tried to steal glances of her. Even Dean tried to cut it on her dance with Draco.

"Shove it, Thomas," Ginny scowled and he backed away, shocked. Draco just cocked his brow and smirked.

"Can we go outside?" Ginny asked quietly into his ear. He breathed her in letting himself savour it before sneering. "Moving a tad bit fast aren´t we?"

"It´s getting rather uncomfortable," Ginny said scowling, eyeing everyone in the Hall. She couldn´t find her brother, or Harry and Hermione anywhere! Probably on another escapade she thought.

Draco made a face but took her hand and led them outside. He wanted to go near the lake but her clothes were far too thin. So he took off his black robe and tossed it to her and made a beeline towards the lake. Grateful for it she pulled it on and snuggled in it as she followed Draco´s back.

He looked out toward the frozen ice block with his hands in his pockets and felt Ginny stand beside him. Looking up at him.

"What are-"

But she suddenly smiled and brought a hand to her hair and let it tumble around her face. It was soon filled with white fluff; as her face. Her eyes closed. Draco felt his stomach lurch as he looked at this fiery beauty being consumed by ice.

He took a step nearer and blew away some of it that settled on the tip of her nose. Ginny´s eyes fluttered open and just stared at him. Her eyes were playful, confused and scared all at the same time. At least that was he felt. He stood there memorising her features. His mind seemed to be numb as he didn´t know what he was doing. He didn´t think Ginny was either; as she took off his cloak and made him put it back on. Draco was even more confused by this. Then she faced him again and this time he knew what to do, he pulled her in and let his cloak wrap around her as well.

Draco´s mind started racing along with his heart, which he was sure she could feel, `He couldn´t be in love with her. He was just using her, wasn´t he?´