Dreams

Both Ginny and Draco stood in absolute silence, frightened that speaking would one way or another make things worse and a great deal more complex. Following Ginny´s outburst, Draco took several steps back. His face was paler than usual, as if he knew what he had done.

However contrary to the expression on his face, Draco had entirely no idea what he had done wrong. Ginny stood before him, looking down at the ground, as if looking up at him was illicit. Her hair spilled around the sides of her face, blocking any inspection he could have possibly had at her face.

He felt completely vulnerable to the situation and the feeling of vulnerability, was never something he enjoyed too much.

Malfoys just did not *do* vulnerable.

Several minutes passed by. The minutes seemed like hours, due to the thick tensions in the tower. Neither had any grip on what just happened. In the end, Draco became irritated and decided that he would speak up.

"Ok, may I inquire what the predicament is? Does my breath reek or something? I assure you, I brushed after dinner tonight," he stated, trying to ease up the mood. He wasn´t getting any feedback from her, and that was all he really wanted. He wanted her to look up and smile, to say she was just teasing, so they could go back to snogging. He knew he would be insincere if he said he was not enjoying it. But he would never confess it to another soul.

But she never looked up, smiled, or said anything at all. Draco started tapping his foot.

"I am waiting," he said merely. She finally lifted her head and he right away regretted saying anything in the first place. Her eyes were red from the tears, and her brow scrunched up as if she were in tremendous pain. Draco tried to look away, but he couldn´t. It was like she was drawing his eyes to her face. Like she sought after him to see the pain that was going on inside of her and feel completely accountable.

It worked.

The look of complete downright terror and sorrow in her eyes was enough to make Draco Malfoy completely innocent. To be pleasurable to the world and never be disrespectful again.

"We better go. I should not be--I mean, *we* should not be up here. I do not know what I was thinking. I am a prefect for crying out loud and I should know better," Ginny whispered. She looked away again, not wanting Draco over-analyzing her face, figuring out the complete truth. She may have blown her `bad girl´ cover, but that was the least of her problems right now.

She turned towards the door to leave, but Draco had plans. He quickly moved and placed himself between the door and Ginny. She was not leaving that tower until some things were cleared up.

"Please move Malfoy, I do not want to have to take points away from Slytherin because you held a Prefect back and defied her," Ginny spoke, with very little threat in her voice.

Draco crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his eyebrow.

"And what do you suppose you would say?" he asked. Ginny stood in silence and Draco continued. "You just happened to climb the Astronomy Tower in the middle of the night, and coincidently there was another student beside yourself out of bed? Very unlikely," he smirked.

Ginny mouthed something that Draco couldn´t understand, then tried to find a way past him. He grabbed her wrist and she froze. He was touching her. Forget the fact that he was all over her about ten minutes ago. He actually made an effort to touch her so he could try to talk to her.

"Oh, no you don´t. Are you even listening to me? Or to yourself at that? I do not know what has gotten into you lately, but the girl who was in Potions today could not have cared less about getting caught. Or at least, that is what she wanted me to believe. Nonetheless, you being a prefect has nothing to do with what is going on right now, at this very moment. Throughout this entire day, you have not thought once about getting caught, admit it! You were willing to risk your precious title for this little meeting, and you and I both bloody well know that means something," Draco stated firmly. Ginny´s eyes widened at the words that came out of his mouth and she suddenly felt the need to sit down.

The fact that Draco seemed so settled on what was going on, made her wonder if he had thought about all this before he had come up there himself.

She gathered up her strength and angrily pulled her arms out of his grasp. He was shocked that she did that, but he did not make any move to try to grab her wrists again. He watched as she tried to straighten herself up. She startled him by looking at him suddenly and slamming him with the anger in her eyes.

"Don´t you dare tell me that I did not consider any of this! You have NO idea what is going on in my mind or me! So don´t tell me what I am feeling," Ginny yelled. She realized quickly after how loud her voice had been and she quieted down.

"Tell me Malfoy. Did this..." Ginny started, while motioning at everything around them. "Did this mean anything to you at all?" she asked, looking hard into his eyes. He would have taken a step back, but his back was already against the door.

"Ex-Excuse me?" he questioned. Ginny stepped closer to him.

"This "little meeting" as you call it. Did it mean anything to you? You go on about how I wanted it and how I could care less about getting caught. But tell me Malfoy. Did it mean ANYTHING to you?" she asked again, poking him hard in the chest. Draco just looked at her, unable to speak.

Draco´s silence was enough for Ginny. A fresh batch of tears formed in the corners of her eyes and she spoke again.

"For the six years I have been here at Hogwarts, you have never called me by my first name. As trivial as it may seem to you, it is something that means a lot to me. You would imagine that being in such a large family, people would call you by your first name, to avoid confusion. Still, the majority of the people at this school still call me Weasley. So you can imagine the little satisfaction I get when someone actually uses my first name. You just called my Ginny! and even if you don´t want to admit it, it is *that* that means something!" Ginny said, before pushing him away and leaving the tower.

Draco propped himself up against the wall and listened as her footsteps echoed down the tower. He gently banged his head against it. After a few minutes, he slowly slid down, pulled his knees to his chest and sighed. He closed his eyes tightly and thought back to a few moments ago when Ginny asked him if any of it had meant anything to him.

It made him think hard and come to a conclusion. It scared him and made him feel even more helpless than before, admitting to himself that it did mean something to him.

But now, he had to figure out if it was the situation or the girl that meant more.

"Damn you Malfoy. Why did you have to go slip and say her name?"

*+:*+:*+:

She couldn´t sleep. Her eyes were wide open and her breath showed no signs of slowing down any time soon. In a few hours, most of the student body would be getting up to go to breakfast. The good thing about it being a Saturday though, was the fact that Ginny wasn´t required to do much of anything today. She could stay in bed all day if she pleased.

After several more silent minutes of lying awake in bed, Ginny sighed and sat up. She was about to burst. It was times like these that she wished she had someone who she could talk to, other than Ron, Hermione, and Harry.

Keeping a journal was completely out of the question.

Ginny visibly shivered as the thought back to her first year at Hogwarts. She had been so naive.

But now was different. She was torn between something she was so comfortable and familiar with, and something that was dangerous and possibly very exciting, but forbidden.

She had not mistaken what was said. Draco had said her name loud and clear. Hell, his mouth was over her ear when he had said it. It was something she never thought he would say. He pulled away so quickly and the silence was horrible. When he finally did say something, he said it to the affect of making Ginny want to pass out. He caught onto things quick, and it startled Ginny when he made the point that being a prefect meant nothing.

Things were not supposed to happen this way. She was supposed to be the one to tease and tag him along. She was supposed to lead him on, then drop him on his ass.

It obviously was not going to happen this way.

Ginny then suddenly realized that there was someone she could talk to. She hurriedly searched around then reached under her bed to grad some parchment and a quill.

Mum,

It is me, Ginny. I needed to talk to someone and to get some advice, so I thought I would owl you. I think I am in trouble Mum. Don´t worry, not Fred and George kind of trouble. (By the way, how is their shop coming along?) I meant more like an inner battle I am having with myself. I do not know where to begin

Ok, say everyone expects you to be one way because that is how everyone knows you. Like, you are safe in a way. But then, something happens and something unlike what you are familiar with comes along and then you start thinking that you may be turning into something else. Something that none of your friends want you to be. But if you went this new way, you are risking having your friends think differently of you. Yet, you have this inner urge to be diverse and try something new.

Am I making any sense Mum? If so, what would you do? Well it is almost time for breakfast. I think I am going to go grab a bite to eat. Owl back soon.

Ginny

Ginny folded up the parchment and carefully put it into an envelope and sealed it. She would probably send it with one of the school owls when she went to breakfast. Quietly, Ginny threw the covers off of her, and began to get dressed. She made sure the letter was safely placed in her robes before she forgot. Not wanting to wake any of the other girls, she silently left the room and made her way to the owlery.

After attaching the letter to an owl and sending it off, she left and went into the Hall to eat breakfast. To her surprise, more than half the student body were up and eating.

She spotted Ron, Hermione, and Harry and sat down with them.

"Why is everyone up so early on a Saturday morning?" Ginny asked, rubbing her tired eyes. The group of three gave her an incredulous look.

"Uh Ginny, it´s a Hogsmeade Saturday. Did you forget?" Harry asked. Ginny´s eyes widened and she banged her head against the table.

"Oh my gosh. I cannot believe I forgot," Ginny said.

"Is everything all right Gin?" Ron asked, giving her a sideways look. Ginny shrugged.

"Yeah I am fine. I just didn´t get much sleep last night," she said, reaching across the table for the pumpkin juice.

"Did you have any more dreams? Is that what kept you awake last night? You know you can tell us. Don´t hold back Gin,´ Ron urged. Ginny chuckled silently. She wished she had had only a dream last night. But no, instead she was in the Astronomy tower having her heart playing with by Draco Malfoy.

"Hello? Ginny? You there?" Ron asked, snapping his fingers in front of her face. Ginny jumped and looked up at the three before her. She turned slightly red.

"Yeah, well since I *have* to go, I need to go get a few things in my room. I will be back in a few minutes," Ginny said, standing up and making her way out of the Hall.

Ginny had never once complained about being a prefect until this moment. She was required to go on all Hogsmeade trips due to her title. It was Dumbledore´s brilliant idea of keeping all Hogwarts students in order.

"Like anyone listens to me anyway," Ginny mumbled as she came to the doors of the Hall.

"You would be surprised," a voice silently spoke. Ginny´s head jerked around and there was standing Draco. He was about to enter the hall when he spoke. He wasn´t being rude, there actually seemed to be some sincerity in his voice. He stood and looked at her for a moment before brushing past her and into the Hall. Ginny stood dumbfounded.

"You´ve got to be kidding me."

*+:*+:*+:

"Uh, you guys, Hermione and I are going to...um...walk to Honeydukes...I am uh out of Fizzing Whizbees," Ron stammered, turning slightly pink in the face.

Harry rolled his eyes and gently nudged Ginny.

"Yeah, uh huh. Sure, you wouldn´t mind picking up some peppermint creams for me huh Ron?" Harry asked, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Ron looked panicked and tried to find something to say. Hermione was equally flustered and tried to cover her face with her hands.

Harry laughed loudly and watched as the couple in front of him tried to look modest. He looked beside him to see if Ginny was laughing as much as he was, but the sight before him was distressing.

"Ron, Hermione, you two go ahead. We can meet back here in an hour," Harry said. The two nodded and walked away holding each other´s hands.

Harry turned his attention back to Ginny. He stuck his hands in his pockets and he poked out his hip. Ginny was obviously caught up in her thoughts. But was distracted her so much to the point of completely zoning everything else out?

"Gin?" Harry spoke softly. She didn´t move or acknowledge him at all. Unbelievable.

"Gin?" Harry said, a little louder, this time nudging her gently. She shook herself out of her thoughts and looked up at Harry. His green eyes were full of concern and she could tell he wanted to talk. But at the same time, she couldn´t help but look into his eyes and soak up every bit of emotion that were in them. For the past six years Ginny always wondered if Harry would look at her this way. For six years there was never any doubt in her mind that she would ever love someone as she loved Harry.

She still didn´t doubt that love for this man. But there were definitely some issues now.

"Ginny, what is going on? Why have you been acting this way? I really wish you felt you could tell me things. Please don´t be afraid of me," Harry pleaded. Ginny´s heart broke. She was and never would be afraid of him. She was just scared of telling him about what she was going through right now.

"Harry, I-I-I don´t want you to think that I am afraid of you, because I am not. There is just so much going on with me right now. The school term is almost over, I don´t know if I will be Head Girl next year, this is your last year at Hogwarts, being a prefect is stressful enough as it is, and I don´t know what to do about anything anymore," Ginny explained. It was all true too. She just left out the unneeded details about Draco.

"You are upset that I won´t be at Hogwarts next year?" Harry asked, gently smiling.

Ginny nodded shyly. Harry reached out and cupped her cheeks with the palms of his hands.

"Harry, I don´t know what I will do without you and Ron and Hermione not here next year,´ Ginny said, her eyes misting up.

"Ginny, you are looking at this all wrong. You are one of the strongest people I know. You can handle anything if you put your mind to it. You know that. And imagine, you will finally be the only Weasley at Hogwarts," Harry joked, wiping a falling tear from her cheek with his thumb. Ginny looked up at him, his lean frame was bent at he tried to keep her eyes-contact. The simple gesture made her heart go crazy.

It was when Harry´s face became completely serious that Ginny spoke again.

"Harry...what are you doing?" Ginny asked, as he came closer. His face scrunched up as if thinking hard about something.

"I am leaning in to kiss you Gin," he whispered, a smile touching his lips. He descended and gently covered her lips with his own. If Ginny´s heart went crazy before, it was having convulsions now. Harry was a much slower kisser. Painstakingly slow. Like his was pretty secure that Ginny wasn´t going anywhere.

His hand found it´s way to her neckline and his fingertips tenderly touched the hair at the nape of her neck. She trembled and all her concentration was focused on Harry.

He slowly kissed her parted lips once more, before pulling away. Words weren´t said, Harry simply reached out and grabbed Ginny´s hand.

For the first time in days, Draco Malfoy was driven out of her mind.

But not for long...