A Blank Verse Romance

Chapter Seven: Confessions of an Incredibly Drunk Slytherin

"You promised Marc!" Ginny pouted.

"I told you, I have quidditch practice in ten minutes. Seeing as I'm the captain, I need to set a good example and not be late."

"Please?" she said, opening her eyes imploringly. He groaned and then grinned at her.

"Alright, but just a quick one." Marc mounted his broom and Ginny followed suit. The moment the broom took off, Ginny clutched his waist tightly, feeling that twist in her stomach. Marc laughed at her fright. "Why is it that you want to ride with me so badly and then you're scared out of your wits the entire time?" In response, Ginny clutched his waist tighter and leaned into him, nuzzling him with her head.

"That's why," she said, "and I'm not scared out of my wits. I like riding brooms." They soared over the lake. It was crystal blue, reflecting the cloudless sky. It was the end of a good weekend, probably the last remotely warm and sunny Sunday they would see in a long time.

"So, do you think we should shoot for this Hogsmeade trip?" It took Ginny a moment to realize what he was talking about.

"Oh yeah. Mona wants to make it a double date. She says she can't go alone because she's too frightened that Tom doesn't really like her even though you said he does." They both laughed. "I think it's so nice to see them getting together. Besides, it's another excuse for us to go on a date, right?"

"Yep. Won't say no to that." Glancing at his watch, he started. "Ginny, I'm going to be late if I don't go to the pitch right now. Can you walk back to the castle by yourself?" Ginny said yes and Marc landed the broom easily at the entrance of the quidditch pitch. He gave her a quick kiss and grinning widely yelled, "Tell Mona that Tom and I will meet you at the Three Broom Sticks!" And he was gone into the changing rooms.

Walking slowly back up to the castle, she thought back to Marc's abrupt exit. Why was it that he was always so busy with quidditch practice anyway? It seemed like he had something to do with it every night, not just twice a week like Harry did. Then again, she reminded herself, he is the captain. He probably has extra duties and needs to plan out strategies. She had just begun to think about how it was possible that not only Oliver Wood had been a quidditch obsessive when a hand grabbed her from behind and dragged her into a closet.

It wasn't completely dark but what little light shone in lit up the dust in the air. The hands of her captor spun her around and she was face to face with Draco.

"Don't do that ever agin," she said, straightening her robes and looking at him with disdain.

"It was a courtesy to you," he said. She glared at him. "Honest. Do you really want to be seen with me all the time?" Ginny considered that for a moment, unsure of her answer. Draco continued, "You're half an hour late. Where were you?"

Ginny grinned. "With Marc. Boyfriends demand a lot of attention. And don't you scoff at me," she said as he made a suppressed noise. "Come on. You have a girlfriend. Don't you ever lose sight of time when you're together? You know what I mean," she trailed off, waving he hand as if to say what she meant. Draco looked thoughtful and frowned.

"No. I don't know." Checking that no one was around, they snuck down to the dungeons, making their way to Draco's secret passage to his dormitory. As the stone slid away, he asked in all sincerity, "What is it you two enjoy so much as to make you late for a much more important thing of hanging out with me?" Ginny rolled her eyes and smiled.

"I consider this forced attentions, not hanging out. If you must know, Marc and I were going for a ride on his broom. He takes me on rides all the time."

"On that old thing?" Draco said with disgust as he pulled away the curtain. "He has a Clean Sweep 7 doesn't he? Couldn't have been much of a ride." With a click he unlocked his trunk and pulled out his new , top of the line Mar Tresser broom stick. "Get on."

"What?" Ginny was slightly taken back at this. His back was turned to her as he opened the large windows.

"I'm taking you for a ride, Ginny." He made sure she had heard her name. She still stood in shock.

"Are you taking the piss? Since when are we friends? Hanging out and now broom rides?" His eyes flickered with astonishment for an instant. "Look. We have a truce Draco. I don't think --"

"How can we become friends if you won't let me do things with you? I'm being friendly aren't I?" And before she knew it, Ginny was on the back of Draco's broom and they were flying steadily around the castle towers. It was only when Draco began to weave slightly and speed up that Ginny felt in trouble. She couldn't grab his waist like she did Marc's. It wouldn't be right. Yet holding the broom stick with her hands was not enough and she thought she might fall off. In compromise, she took hold of his shoulders.

"Don't grab my shoulders, Ginny," he yelled over the wind that was whistling by them. "You had better hold me 'round the waist." Without thought, Ginny did as she was told. It was, in all honesty, not a bad feeling despite the fact that she was still terrified she would fall off. However, Draco slowed down a few minutes later and she let go quickly.

"What, abandon me as soon as you feel safe?" Was he mocking her?

"Draco, you shouldn't be doing this," she said, leaning forward in order that he might hear her. The broom lurched slightly.

"What? Why not?" The broom held a steady pace now, but Draco had stopped steering it. "I can be nice to people when I want to, can't I?"

"That's just it. You're not supposed to want to be nice to me." Or anyone, she added to herself. "You're blackmailing me, remember? Like I said before, we have a truce. Can we go back now? We have a lot of work to do on the story."

"Yeah. Sure," he said in an almost angry way. When they were back in his room, Draco seemed truly displeased about something. Surely it wasn't what she had said? I mean, Malfoy had to have some kinda of motive behind his niceness, something he wanted from her? If so, why wasn't he just using his old blackmail excuse.

"Draco?"she ventured after working in silence for a half hour.

"What?" he fumed, making parchment from the coffee table fall to the ground. They both got on their hands and knees to pick them up.

"When I said what I did," Ginny began, not knowing remotely where she was going, "I didn't mean I wouldn't want to be friends. It's just that, well." She straightened some of the parchment.

"That I'm a Slytherin and you're a Gryffindor? I'm a Malfoy and you're a Weasley? I'm a punk and you do ballet?"

"What?"

"Never mind. Listen, I get it alright? Why don't you go now." She sat there on the floor, watching him tie up the parchment into a bundle.

"No. You don't get it Draco." Their eyes met. He looked completely hacked off, his eyes were blazing. Still, Ginny pressed on. "Someone who is blackmailing you and has hated you for years does not suddenly want to become friends without an ulterior motive. And I want to know what it is." His eyes widened and he seemed to calm slightly.

"What was so important that you had to become my friend to get it? Why didn't you just use more blackmail on me rather than put on this charade?" Draco's face broke and he began to laugh. Really laugh. He was laughing so hard that he flopped onto his bed and began to roll around, clutching his stomach. Startled, Ginny got up and sat on the edge of his bed by him, slightly worried for him. No wait, she told herself, I'm not worried about Draco. I just am worried about his sanity, that's all.

When he didn't stop, she asked, "What's so funny?" He sat up next to her, gasping for air, his hand held up as if telling her to wait. When he had finally regained his composure, he just looked at her with a somber expression.

"What was so funny?" she repeated.

"You! You thinking I wanted something." She stared at him curiously.

"Then why ..." she began.

"Listen, if I ever need anything at Hogwarts, I have my connections to get it. In all honesty, I can't believe you came to that conclusion." Ginny felt a slight tension in the air between them. Getting up, he shoved the bundle of parchment into her arms. "I think I need some time to think. You can go now. Meet me again on Tuesday night at eleven." And she left. It was only when she was halfway back to the common room when she realized Draco hadn't exactly given her a straight answer. She laid her stuff down and was beginning to doze in one of the comfy arm chairs.

"Ginny, we need to talk." Ginny spun around to see Josceline, who had just gotten in from the portrait hole. Her face was pale and she looked quite angry.

"Look, Josceline, I don't really have the time to fight with you over cat hair again." Lately, P.C. had taken to spreading cat hair all over Josceline's bed. It had become a spot of extreme annoyance to her and it seemed no matter what Ginny did, she could not get P.C. to stop doing it. It had given Josceline a very small amount of patience.

"This isn't about your bloody cat!" she cried in frustration. Ginny was startled to see her eyes were over bright as though she was about to cry and her cheeks were stung with pink. Her voice was husky and ragged. "I want you to stay away from my boyfriend." Blinking, Ginny opened her mouth, but Josceline ranted on. "I saw you, snuggled up to Draco on his broom for the whole of Hogwarts to see." She spat out the words like poison.

"Listen, it's not what you think," Ginny said before her words were drowned out.

"Just because you think you're all that doesn't mean I'm going to let you spoil what Draco and I have! Stay away from him or else." Quite flabbergasted by this mistake, Ginny tried again, speaking quietly.

"Josceline, I think there's been a mistake. There is nothing going on between us. Why don't you just talk to Draco about it? If you two love each other, you can work it out right?" Josceline glared at her.

"You know perfectly well why I can't," she snapped, "You and Davies may go skipping and dancing about, but not all relationships are like that! Just keep out of my way or I will seriously make you regret it!" And she stormed off through the portrait hole

Ginny, now completely out of her doze, sat in rigid shock. Why was Josceline so angry about this? It wasn't as if she had even wanted that broom ride, let alone wanted to steal Draco from her. It was obvious Draco liked her. Why else would he go around snogging her all the time? Deciding it would be a good idea to go to sleep before Josceline came back, Ginny headed up for an early night.

"Ginny, you alright?" came a voice. Glancing up, Ginny saw Mona coming over in a blue face mask and spacers between her freshly painted toe nails. She grinned at her appearance.

"Perfectly," she said, "you seem to be busy." Mona nodded, now painting her fingernails.

"I got a french tipping manicure set over the summer and I haven't tried it out yet."

"That'll be handy on your date with Tom." Ginny laughed as her friend jumped and smeared polish all over her finger. Her eyes were wide and excited.

"Really? You did remember to make it a double date didn't you?" she asked, her face wrinkling with anxiety, cracking her mask.

"Of course. They said they'd meet us at The Three Broomsticks during this Hogsmeade trip." Mona gave her a hug, being careful not to let her nails touch her.

"I'll love you forever for this Ginny. You don't know what it means to me!"

"I'm sure I'll see exactly what it means to you this weekend."

-*-*-*-

The rest of the week passed by quickly in the anticipation of a Hogsmeade weekend. For Ginny, the week also made her soften up to Draco. He had been quite nice to her the entire week without a clue as to why.

The school was buzzing with excitement, third years especially. Ron and Hermione weren't going. They claimed they had to do some homework and this was a perfect opportunity for peace and quiet as everyone was leaving. Ginny took this as an added bonus to her good fortune. No angry brother to find her and shove Marc away from her. His arms had gotten quite large since he became the Gryffindor keeper.

"What are you going to be doing Bonnie?" Ginny asked, as she was brushing her hair. "I feel like we're leaving you all alone!"

"Yes, you will forgive us won't you?" pleaded Mona from her corner. Bonnie grinned and shook her shiny blonde hair.

"Don't forget I still have Jake," she said in a sly voice. "We're going to --- together." Ginny thought back guiltily to when she had vowed to tell Jake about Marc and Bonnie. "Aren't you and Marc going to be official after today? Exclusive and all?"

Ginny grinned foolishly. "Yeah, he's really sweet. I like him so much Bonnie."

'Are you sure he returns your feelings?' said P.C. in her head. She glared at her cat, giving him her worst look. 'Well, you never know about those fickle Davies boys. That Roger has made a real mess of things you know. Why, when I saw him and --'

"Oh do shut up!" Ginny groaned. Bonnie looked at her, quite hurt. "It's my cat," she said, throwing the hairbrush at P.C. "Stupid thing keeps talking to me inside my head, hoping I'll mistake his voice for my own thoughts no doubt!" Retrieving the hairbrush, she picked up P.C. and looked him straight in the eye.

"Is that so?" he said aloud, sounding innocent and giving her that sleepy look he wore when he was feeling very smug. Ever since Ginny had discovered his ability to speak into her mind, P.C. had been chatting all day, any time, to her. Mostly, to slander her boyfriend and give her tips on other guys she may stand a better chance with. Although, P.C. had yet to reveal to her which guy it was that he had an eye on for her.

In annoyance, she dropped him back into the tangle of sheets on her bed. Mona laughed. It seemed to be a very amusing thing to her that Ginny would fight with her cat all the time. Soon, the girls finished getting ready. Ginny wanted to make doubly sure that Ron was not going to walk in on their date and decided to check and see how busy Hermione had made him in the library.

As she turned the corner, she heard a little "Psst!" from the shadows. She turned, couldn't see anyone and walked on, but then a hand grabbed her arm and she saw Draco. His face looked anxious.

"Hey, I was wondering if you could make your Hogsmeade visit short so we could work on the story some more. I had a great idea for the scene with the cream pie." Ginny blinked in confusion.

"Shouldn't you be going to Hogsmeade too? I'm sure you and Josceline have a lot to talk about." She had said it in a meaningful way, but Draco looked puzzled. "The broom ride thing." When yet again he failed to understand, Ginny began flapping her arms around and said, "She saw me on your broom! She is under the impression that I'm trying to steal you!"

Draco looked quite pleased at this. "Are you?"

"No," Ginny said, rather louder than she intended. "I have to go Draco. I have a date with Marc." She walked away rather quickly, feeling his eyes after her. When she reached the entrance hall, she saw Mona talking excitedly to a rather dull and sullen looking Colin.

"Yes, it's so sweet of him and I really don't want to miss the opportunity. You understand." Colin looked as though he understood all too well. Looking at his feet, he mumbled something about going to the library and shuffled away. Ginny tapped Mona's arm and they began the journey to Hogsmeade.

"What was all that about?" she asked Mona, hoping she hadn't understood the situation correctly. She was tying to sound off hand while she fastened up her winter cloak.

"Oh, that. I'd promised Colin we'd spend this Hogsmeade trip together, but then the date with Tom came up." Ginny was staring at her with a mixture of anger and amazement.

"You've known about this date with Tom all week and you only just told him it was off!?" Mona rolled her eyes.

"Ginny, you'd think I had canceled a date with Colin. We only just got back on speaking terms you know." And yes, Ginny did know. Because it was her that Colin kept talking to about Mona. All the time. It seemed that Mona had gotten over him having a crush on her when she had first seen Tom. In her heart, Ginny knew that Colin was probably close to having a heartbroken right now as he had probably considered this a date, even if it was a friendly one.

Feeling it was best to drop it, a silence fell between them until a very familiar voice came along. It was Harry.

"Hey Ginny. It's Mona, isn't it?" he asked Mona politely. She nodded shyly and smiled at him. "Since Ron and Hermione aren't coming this trip, I wanted to know if you wanted to, well ..." He looked slightly embarrassed. "Er, not that I'm asking you on a date or anything, but ..." Trailing off in a hopeful way, Ginny helped him out.

"Uh, maybe next time Harry. Me and Mona have a double date going. I'm sorry," she added, but his spirits weren't dampened in the slightest.

"Nah, that's alright. Thanks though. I'll see where Neville's got to. Have a game of chess with me later?" She nodded. Looking as though he had done his duty, he fell behind them and began chatting to Neville and Dean.

"Are you sure he didn't mean that like a date?" Mona said slyly beside her. Ginny looked down at her and rolled her eyes. It was so odd being taller than she had last year.

"Of course not. Harry could have any girl he wants. He's just nice to me because he's best friends with my brother. And I told you, I'm over him now that I have Marc." Mona prodded on.

"But if you didn't have Marc? What then?" Ginny thought about this. Her crush for Harry had been as alive at the beginning of term as it had the day she met him at the train station. Yet, ever since she had met Marc, she hadn't been giving Harry a second thought.

"Well, I think," she began slowly, "that I'll always remember Harry as my crush. I don't like him like that, but it's still fun to think about. Remember the feeling of anticipation. You know what I mean?" Mona shrugged her shoulder.

"I don't exactly get your nub. You haven't made any sense this year. I think all that poetry has gone to your head. Made you a bit loony." This sparked an idea in Ginny to write a poem about being a poet that is scorned by others. Not that she was treated like a leper or anything, but still. No one seemed to appreciate that talent of hers. She pulled her cloak tight around her in the tentative air. It was just beginning to hint at frost.

When they finally reached the Three Broomsticks, the chilly air made them longing for a nice butterbeer. Which was a good thing, as they were about to have some. Warm air pervaded their persons as they opened the door. Rubbing her hands together for warmth, Ginny spotted Marc and Tom. She pointed to them and Mona became all girly, dithery and shy. As they approached, the boys both stood up.

"Er, hi," was Mona's intelligent remark.

"Yes, hello," was Tom's smashing return.

"Hi," Mona said again, shaking his hand.

"Hi," Tom said, and they both sat down, blushing.

"I'll get the butterbeers, shall I?" said Marc, grinning like mad. Ginny was finding it hard not to laugh full out at Mona. She never was this girly! She sat there, flicking pieces of her brown hair, laughing far too loudly at Tom's jokes that were hardly good. Yet, there did seem to be some sort of chemistry between them.

"You think they're getting on then," said Marc suddenly. He had returned from getting the butterbeers. Ginny glanced at her two friends. It seemed they were doing well. At least, they were completely ignoring Marc and Ginny's presence in their vivid conversation.

She smiled. "Yes, they'll be fine." Within the next twenty minutes, the two couples has drunk their butterbeers up and had settled for some major snogging to finish off the date.

-*-*-*-

Meanwhile, back up at the castle, Draco had been pacing in front of the library. (He would have gone in, but that mudblood was practically eating Weasel and he didn't want to get sick just now.) Josceline had found him earlier and had left pouting.

"I think there's something you're not telling me," he had said, thinking of what Ginny had mentioned to him. She looked saddened by this.

"Draco, please. I just don't want to lose you. I love you --"

"No, you don't," he said quietly. "You like me because you're trying to prove something to everyone at this school. Ever since you and Davies broke up two years ago, you've been trying to be different. And I'm about as far from Marc Davies as you can possibly get. Well, am I right?" Josceline held her head up stiffly, keeping back her tears.

"Is that what you really think of me? You can still think that, knowing what he did to me? What I went through?" He remained silent, staring her straight on without any emotion. She swiftly kissed his cheek and whispered, "I hope you change your mind."

Of course, Draco didn't really think these things of her. He knew that she was one of the only people who really knew him. And Marc Davies. How many times had he wanted to warn Ginny, to burst out and tell her? To kiss her. His thoughts were then interrupted by the appearance of none other than Creevy.

"What's the matter Creevy? Lost your girlfriend?" He had meant Ginny, but Colin shook his head sadly. It looked as though he had been beating himself up pretty bad.

"She's on a double-date with Ginny."

"So we're in the same boat." Colin looked at him, confused. Both of them were in a terribly looking state. The girls they loved were both out on a date with someone else. In one of those rare moments when two people can truly relate to one another, Draco clapped Colin on the shoulder.

"Lets go have a drink, shall we?"

-*-*-*-

"Are you cold, Ginny?"

"A little, I guess. Oh, no don't do that. Then you'll be cold." She held up a hand to stop Marc from giving her his cloak. Instead, she converted the offer to huddle with him underneath it.

"That's not a bad idea either," he said, grinning. He was always smiling. Leaning against him, she closed her eyes, capturing the memory forever. The most memorable moments she had with Marc were little things. His hand holding hers, his thumb on her cheek, a kiss on the forehead ... all of these were more memorable than anything else.

It was just after sunset and the sky was still blazing orange. The only sound was the crunching of autumn leaves under foot. Until a song began to weave into the air as well. It sounded like two or three boys had decided to get themselves extremely pissed and were singing drunken songs. She recognized one as Ager Doo. As the noise grew louder and louder, Ginny finally looked back to see who was making the annoying racket. They were almost to the castle in any case and they were going to disturb the peace.

She stopped dead in all astonishment to see Colin Creevy and Draco Malfoy, arms around each other, singing at the top of their lungs and weaving across the path quite drunkenly. Colin had a bad case of hiccups and was giggling. Draco kept bellowing out words and waving his free arm around, only to then drop it limply at his side and shake his head in an agitated manner.

Furious, Ginny walked right up to Colin, who's breath was horribly of wiskey, and said, "Colin, are you insane? What have you been doing? And with Malfoy of all people!" Draco may have been hurt by this, but it was hard to tell when his eyes were so dialated and his mouth sagging. Straightening up, Draco put a finger in the air dramatically, swaying slightly.

"We," he announced in a slurred voice, "have been drinking." Mona, Tom and Marc had come up to see them as well. Mona took Colin off Marc and was supporting him.

"That, is obvious," said Marc, disgustedly.

"Ah, it was jus' some fun. Drowin' our woe." He grinned at Draco and they began singing again:

Hey, ho to the bottle I go!

To fill my heart and drown my woe!

Rain may fall and wind my blow!

But there still be many miles to go!

"Oh, honestly!" Ginny said, now supporting Draco, who still had a bottle of Firewhiskey swinging in hand. "Look, Mona. You get Colin off to his dormitory. I'll find Josceline or some Slytherin to help Draco." Of course, she had no such intention. She would just take him to his own dormitory, but she obviously couldn't tell this lot about that. She looked at Marc and Tom, who were both feeling uncomfortable.

"Ginny, we should be helping you two. I mean, you're girls and er, I mean --" Frustrated and tired from Draco's weight, she said exasperated, "Marc, I am not questioning your manhood. It's just we know them better and it only makes sense." The boys eventually did as they were told and left them, after giving them bother a good night kiss. Mona was scolding Colin just like a concerned sister as they parted from Ginny, who was leading Draco to his room via the secret passage.

"Draco, why did you have to get Colin drunk?" she asked in a tired voice. Draco, being no where near sober, stopped and looked at her in a serious and sleepy manner.

"He needed to as much as me."

"Why did you need to get drunk? Waxing crescent." Ginny had discovered the password on the stone block changed depending on the phase of the moon. It was hard getting Draco through, stooping as well as holding him up.

"Because you were out snogging with Marc." Ginny nearly let go of his arm that was slung over her neck.

"What?" she said, willing herself to move.

"I was jealous. You were out snogging with Marc," he repeated. Pulling the velvety green curtain aside, they stumbled into the room. By this point, Draco was getting very tipsy indeed and seemed to be falling asleep. He collapsed onto his bed. Debating whether or not to tuck him in, he rolled over and looked at Ginny.

"You look real nice like that," he murmured. Was he trying to tell her that he -- no, of course not. He was drunk. He was liable to say anything. However, she was still angry that he had gotten Colin drunk and still couldn't understand why. There was only one way to get a straight answer out of him.

"Sobrerius Uniefy!" she said, waving her wand. It was just lucky she had practiced this sobering charm on Fred and George so many times when they had come home drunk. If Mrs. Weasley had ever found out, it would have been quite a problem. Draco sat up and held his head, groaning.

"I always hated that charm," he muttered, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. Ginny sat next to him on the edge of the bed.

"Draco, do you remember anything? Anything you just said?" She was only half hoping he would. Her heart was beating slightly faster than was normal.

He looked at her and said, "Not so loud." She smiled. "I think I said you looked pretty."

"Before that?" she said, ignoring the way he was looking at her. "Why did you get Colin drunk Draco?" She couldn't quite look in his eye. He was staring at her so intensely.

"We met up and went out for a drink together. Is that so unnatural?"

"For two people who hate each other desperately? Let me think. Yes!" He clutched his head before smiling lazily at her, making her arms get goose bumps. She didn't quite feel safe around him, he still didn't look completely sober even with the charm.

"Ginny, we weren't friends very long ago either."

"You're avoiding my question."

"So what if I am? Alright, we were both jealous that you and your friend were dating someone else and well, we got drunk to forget about it." He was still staring hard at her.

"Draco, you don't mean what you're saying. You're still drunk." Although she knew quite the contrary.

"Ginny, I like you." He reached out to take her hand, but she withdrew coldly.

"Let's get a few things straight. I-I have a boyfriend and you have a girlfriend. We're not friends and our relationship is purely professional."

"I didn't know blackmailing was professional," said Draco quickly, standing up. Ginny kept backing away from him. She felt she was in a very dangerous situation right now. He was the one who had just confessed something he should be blushing about and yet, it was she who was cringing away. Draco Malfoy could not have a crush on her!

"I have a lot more I'd like to tell you," he began. While she had been thinking, he had closed the gap between them and taken her hand in his two larger ones. This had to be some sick idea of a joke! Just because he had been drunk, doesn't mean he can keep pretending he was when she knew he wasn't!

"I have t-to go now," she said, making towards the door. He didn't let go of her hand. Staring into her eyes with a look of extreme passion and pain, he merely kissed the back on her hand and let go. Ginny ran through the curtain and down the passage to the dungeons as quickly as she could. When she emerged from behind the stone, she slid down against the wall and just sat.

It was hard to decide whether she wanted to cry or laugh. The feeling of his soft lips lingered on the back of her hand. She was so confused as to her own feelings in this. Obviously she didn't like Draco. She could never. It was such an absurd thing. Yet, he must have been sober; she had preformed the charm. Had he meant it?

She got up shakily and made her way to her dormitory. Mostly everyone was still at dinner, but Ginny didn't want to have to talk to anyone. Deciding to take an early night, she found Mona already in her bed.

"Did you get Colin into his dorm alright?" Mona didn't say anything. She pulled the covers up over her head. "Mona? What's the matter?" Ginny pulled the plush red cover away from her face. Mona's eyes were red and she had been crying. She was hiccuping with sobs.

"H-h-he was angry. Said I had u-used him. It was awful. I c-can't ever talk to him a-again." Ginny sat down and patted her back. Could anything else go wrong in one night? She was about to stand corrected. Josceline came in at that moment.

"I told you!" she practically screamed at Ginny. "I told you to stay away from him! And you just couldn't, could you!" As she lunged at Ginny there was a savage hissing yowl. P.C. had leapt up onto Josceline's head and commenced in making her even more furious by scratching up her face. Then Bonnie came in to the fray.

"You leave Ginny alone!" P.C. was hissing over Josceline's screams.

"P.C. stop that!" Ginny leapt up and grabbed grey fluff ball. Josceline would have lunged at her again if Bonnie hadn't stopped her, holding her back.

"That's enough, both of you!" she said. She had managed to get Josceline to sit down on a bed, where she instantly burst into tears. Bonnie patted her shoulder. Mona was sitting up in bed, tear stains on her face but her eyes were dry now. Ginny was wrestling with P.C. who was still purring dangerously, "Let me at her! I'll show her a thing or two!"

"What is the matter?" came a voice from the door. It was Hermione, wearing her shiny Head Girl badge and a frown. "We just got back from dinner and we heard someone screaming. What happened?" the four girls looked at each other, at a loss of what to say.

"Ginny?" Hermione looked at her sternly.

"It was my cat," she said at last. "He attacked Josceline. I think we're alright now, thanks though." Hermione surveyed the scene of teary-eyed and (in Josceline and Ginny's case) bleeding girls. She left after giving them a stiff lecture, but didn't seem completely convinced.

"I think we better call it a night," said Bonnie quietly. The others nodded mutely and slipped into bed. Ginny made sure P.C. was locked in his travel case to be sure he didn't get out during the night. He kept thinking loudly at her that Josceline was spoiling everything, all his plans until he finally drifted off. That left Ginny to think on what had happened earlier that evening.

Reviewing the situation, she realized exactly how complicated life was. Colin was mad at Mona for standing him up to go on a date with Tom. While Mona was only beginning to feel guilty about this, Ginny could tell they wouldn't get along for quite some time. Josceline had apparently seen her with Draco again and suspected the worst. Draco had confessed to liking her and kissed her hand. What would Marc say if he found out about this?

Nothing, Ginny decided. Because he would never know. She fell asleep smiling into her pillow without quite understanding why.